Thoughts on Pentecost

Why is Pentecost not celebrated like a big holiday in the US? Growing up in Switzerland, days like this are a big deal. Tomorrow, people will have a nationwide day off, "Pfingst Montag" or Pentecost Monday -yeah, that's how big of a deal it is in Switzerland and in other surrounding European countries, especially more traditionally Catholic ones.

I remember a few times when I was at a Pentecost Camp with others from my church over the holiday weekend and we would meet for a time of worship and fellowship and the Holy Spirit would come on us like in Acts 2 (well.. minus the tongues of fire over our heads) and we would speak in tongues and prophecy. Not that we don't do that on other occasions too, but it was a celebration of the very first time it happened in history and continues on in the same way today. Oh, what marvelous days those were!

Maybe a day will come when this tradition will be celebrated here too.. instead of mocked, even by some Christians :-(

Other thoughts, literally "on" Pentecost...

I saw a lady today wearing a dark blue sweatshirt that said in strong light blue letters "SEX" across her chest.. not sure what she's trying to say with that. Is she sex? (can a person be sex?) Would she like to have sex? I should have asked her what her shirt meant. Well, maybe not. Maybe she might have thought that I was asking her for sex. Maybe she sells it out of the trunk of her car. In little baggies. For 20g at a time.

Today I also met one of my neighbors. She was painting her car. No, literally -with acrylics and paint brushes. She has a black beetle and she was painting bright colored flowers all over it and listening to blues. It looks awesome! If you're ever stuck in traffic and see that car, you'll smile. It'll make your day.

I don't like to drive slow. If I pass you, it's not because I want to drive fast, it's because I want to not drive slow. Don't drive in the left lane if you're going to drive under the speed limit. Please.

Equality

I recently saw a post of a person I went to school with, who is considering becoming a lawyer to fight for "equality" and build a Class Action Law Suit against the “State of California” and “Yes on 8” for Gender Discrimination.

"A Gay Man and a Gay Women can marry and enjoy all the benefits of a married couple according to the wording of Prop 8. The denial of the right to marry has nothing to do with being Gay but because both parties are the same Gender." -so goes his post..

I don't think it's not worth pursuing a law degree for.. not for this reason... It should be about something "smarter" than that -i mean, the gay marriage thing; is it worth fighting to call it "marriage" or is there a problem with calling it a "civil union" and extending the same rights to that institution as a marriage in california currently enjoys? Is it really about equality or is it trying to get the foot in the with a hidden agenda -and money?

I've seen people do dumber things for money... just my thoughts

Other stuff I see:
Like this quote...
“When any society says that I cannot marry a certain person, that society has cut off a segment of my freedom.” - Dr. Martin Luther King
Don't get me wrong, he was right when he said that, but the equality these people can hardly be compared to the equality MLK was talking about. Since when is "being gay" a race or skin color??

Giving

Lately, I've been downsizing and just getting rid of a bunch of stuff I have around but really don't need or use... and one thing I've found out about giving stuff away and just blessing others who have a need for it, is that I've started to enjoy it. I mean, it seems like the more I give away, the more I enjoy giving and blessing others. I'm starting to try to find ways how I can be a blessing to other people. Strange.....but in a good way :-)

Psalm 139 (New King James Version)

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.