$25 Anyone?

I saw an ad for this new service like PayPal, called Revolution Money Exchange on my friend, Julie's blog. I just signed up and got $25. I've placed a banner here at the top right on my blog, if you would like to sign up as well. A neat extra is that if you sign up, I'll get another $10 for the referral. Cool, huh? You can actually get up to $500 by referring people, so check it out! Clicking the banner will automatically give me credit for referring you. The $25 promotion is going on through May 15th, so I hope you'll sign up soon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Oprah, Labels & Other Such Things

It's been a while since I've posted anything, especially that wasn't a song or a music video but there's something that's been on my mind since last night that I would like to blog about.  I've had so much welling up inside me throughout the day that I haven't written down but I'm trusting that what I want to articulate will be there as I go...

My subject matter for this post is Oprah Winfrey.  Hers is a name that brings any number of words to mind with people.  For me, three words would be inspiring, passionate and spiritual.  I read a blog post last night from someone I consider to be a friend...however, this is one subject that we do not agree on and that's what I want to talk about here.  He gave a link to another blog called, "Oprah and other false gods:  The Jealousy of God."  In glancing over this blog, I saw phrases like, "Oprahanity, the gospel of Oprah, the gospel of self."  I also saw this quote:  "I admit I am not what I would call an "expert" on Oprah.  I have followed quite a bit of the info that comes out now and then about her religious/spiritual beliefs but I can't watch her show (I do look now and then to have some idea of how she views these things, sort of my pop-culture "investigation"), it is tedious/boring and brain numbing viewing, (give me Plutarch any day over Oprah LOL) its torturous...I feel bad for just posting this video!!!  LOL  But hey people should have an idea of what is out there plus I like to engage with the culture around me..."

What are we so afraid of??  I have been greatly inspired and touched by this woman's courage and compassion....my life has been changed and is continually being changed, as a result of watching her show.  I do not worship Oprah but I do highly regard her as a wonderful and caring human being, with a powerful influence.  To the ones who are criticizing and quoting her I want to ask, "Do you have the WHOLE story or are you taking pieces out of context to propagate* your fears?!?"  I read these blogs (this isn't the first time I've seen one like this about her) and the comments that are made, along with the foolish e-mails that come through my inbox from time to time, with strong warnings to stay away from her and I think, "I'm not getting this at ALL from anything I've seen on her show or have read in her magazine, etc."  I do, however see how that impression could be gotten by skimming over or watching bits and pieces here and there; after all, none of us have ever been guilty of trying to communicate with someone else, only to have them cut us off mid-sentence, misconstruing* everything we were attempting to get across...right?  

Growing up in a Christian home, I was taught (in the church) intolerance, fear and judgement. Oh, but we don't call it that.  Anyone that wasn't saying what they (the church) told me was right was considered evil, the devil or demon possessed, worldly, new-agey (whatever term would work) and I needed to run far away from that as fast as I could go. Now that I'm an adult that just translates as not being open to consider anything else as having truth...I've got to pick it apart to the point that it's not even recognizable by the time I'm done.  This is sickening to me!!  Is God not big enough?  I mean, is he really so small that he's wringing his hands in worry that we're going to hear something that will *God forbid* CHANGE and TRANSFORM us??  Oh wait, I mean make us one of "THOSE NEW AGERS or false gods or prophets."  *sarcasm intended there*  In other words, I just cannot believe that he's in a fit of anxiety about these things.  I also do not believe that he's this cold, disconnected entity* that is not very much involved with our lives.  On the contrary, I fully believe that he indwells* me.  

If we're so willing to "investigate" Oprah, as was mentioned in the quote above, what, may I ask, are we going to do with just about every Disney movie ever made?  Case in point, the following:  Brother Bear, Balto, Mulan, Cinderella, Lilo & Stitch, Pocahontas, The Ant Bully and LOTS more.  I have many Christian friends who absolutely adore these movies and they and their families watch them repeatedly and have them in their libraries; including myself.  Okay, so Brother Bear; fantastic movie, full of "new-agey" type stuff.  Balto, definitely lots of spiritual aspects.  Mulan was looking to her ancestors for guidance in her decisions, right?  This is one of our personal favorites!!  Cinderella has a fairy Godmother.  Stitch in Lilo & Stitch is an alien.  Wow, what category does that fit into?  Do I even need to mention Pocahontas??  Indians, ancestors, talking trees......oh yeah, Lord of the Rings has talking trees too!  :o)  The Ant Bully is also very spiritual and "new-agey" in its approach.  Do all of us who call ourselves Christians suddenly boycott Disney movies, for fear that we might be indoctrinated?  Seriously, though; what's the difference?  

Have Oprah's accusers seen any of 'The Big Give' shows?  I've watched every week and they have been phenomenal!  It's not just good TV, folks.  This is life-changing, truly inspirational stuff.  I guess we can't call it 'Christian' because there's no condemnation in it.  Nothing telling us that we had better do this or God's not going to accept or approve of us.  

The one question that leaves for me however, is this - Where is grace in all of this discussion about Oprah and her affiliates?  Where is grace?........  

Is there a possibility at all that we are the ones not understanding, rather than spending so much time and energy attacking someone whom I believe is making a wonderful impact on this earth?  Just some food for thought tonight.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear..."

*propagate - to transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another.

*misconstrue - to mistake the meaning of; misinterpret

*entity - the fact of existence; being

*indwell - to exist as an animating or divine inner spirit, force, or principle

*sarcasm - A form of irony in which apparent praise concels another, scornful meaning.

If you've read to this point, thank you.  My daughter also put together her own post on this subject earlier today, and if you'd like to read that, just click the name, Inside My Heart.

Peace be with you all!