Fool Me Once!

But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15

"Fool me one, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."  We've all heard this saying before, yet we fall for it time and time again, don't we?  And when we fall for it the third, fourth, fifteenth time, we STILL don't take responsibility for not learning.  We are enticed by our own desires because what we desire "feels so right."  

Just because something "feels so right" does not make it right.  The Ancient Chinese General Sun Tzu is quoted as saying: "Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him."   

We are enticed by what? The opportunity to earn some extra money?  To get that bigger house?  To fudge on the rules because, after all, "everyone does it"?

Think about how we are enticed by advertisers with phrases like "But for only a few dollars more, you could have....." or "Why would you settle for the silver package when for just a little bit more (usually a couple of pints of blood or a limb) you can upgrade to the GOLD package."  Or you are looking at a home to purchase and get caught up in all the "high end" upgrades, when what you truly need (since you're working so much to make the money to pay for all these upgrades) is simply a place to put your clothes.

We are constantly being enticed, and with things that are appealing to us.  Let's face it, if sin wasn't fun...we would have no trouble resisting.  This is why I am not enticed by the offerings of broccoli, or onions, or big bags of stable muck. These things are not attractive to me and I have no trouble saying "No thanks, I'm good without them."

I'm also not advocating a life of living in a cave, eating crawly critters, and having disregarding personal hygiene.  We must learn that not everything the glitters is gold and we must learn to be strong enough to resist the temptation by thinking things through.  

Weighed Down?

Worry weighs a person down;
    an encouraging word cheers a person up

Proverbs 12:25

Prepare to gasp out loud...I confess I am NOT a fan of the Rolling Stones!  I know, I know, but it's the truth.  I just don't care for their music.  Although, they did release a song WAY back when music was actually recorded onto vinyl records, called "Beast of Burden."  I thought it appropriate to coincide with today's photo. And then I began thinking, which my bride tells me must be very painful for me.  

For the most part, we are all beasts of burden.  We try to carry all sorts of loads: personal relationships; family relationships; professional relationship; finances; buying food, clothing, shelter and transportation; trying to do the job to the best of our ability (and hoping someone notices); trying to make a life, help others, and move ahead, and on and on.

We struggle!  We get frustrated!  We get tired!  We get BURNED OUT!  And then we give up.  Why? Because we are trying to carry it all alone!  Worry, stress and anxiety are burdens we are not meant to carry, yet they are the ones we cling to more than any other burden.  Why is that?  I can tell you that I am guilty of that too.  I cling to these burdens because I feel if I don't do it, it won't be done and I will lose credibility.  

And guess what I'm learning?  That God didn't create just me!  God doesn't expect me to handle everything!  God doesn't want me to carry unnecessary burdens!  If God made me responsible for everything then God isn't God and doesn't love me.  But because He DOES love me, He brings people into my life that can help and that I can help.

Remember: A shared burden is half as heavy, a shared joy is twice as bright!

Don't wait until you are so frustrated that you want to throat-punch the next person who talks to you, start right now building the relationships that will help share your burdens AND your joys!

Treat Me Like A Child

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!

~Psalm 116:1-2

When my daughter was a toddler, she was quite the social butterfly.  She would talk with anyone and everyone as if she had known them for years.  But I noticed that her conversations would be fairly brief when she had to look up because the adult was standing over her.  But if the adult would talk to her face to face, she was in her element and the conversation would flow.  I've noticed this about people in general as well.  When there's a barrier or some obstruction, the conversation is rather formal, relatively short, and pretty much very formal.

Sadly, when we talk with God we put barriers between us as well.  We think of God as some old geezer sitting piously on His throne holding His rod of smiting ready to smite us with it.  Doesn't make for a very good conversation, does it?  But here's what I want you to understand about God, when He hears us, He comes face to face with us as a loving parent who WANTS to talk with us.  God wants us to see the love in His eyes.  God wants us to hear the caring in His voice.  God wants us to feel His protection.  God wants us to talk WITH Him, not at Him.  God created us so we can have a relationship WITH Him!

Where Do I Go From Here?

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!  You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.

~Genesis 4:9-15

Cain had made a VERY bad choice.  He took a life out of anger.  Cain made an even worse mistake in taking the life of his own flesh and blood...out of anger.  When God confronted Cain, notice how Cain's sarcasm is used as a defense: “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

When you are dealing with God, it is NEVER a good idea to use sarcasm, especially as a defense regarding our own actions.  God called Cain out on the fact that Abel's very lifeblood cried out to Him from the dirt, and Cain knew it was over.  God pronounced His judgement and told Cain that from here out, life was going to be painful.  

But also notice something about God's Mercy!  When God's judgement is pronounced, Cain told God that his life would be too hard for him to live.  People would kill him if they found out that he took a life, especially his own brother's life.  And as a wanderer, he would be left to fend for himself which would leave him vulnerable to thieves, bandits, and thugs.  But God's Mercy is shown when He tells Cain that ANYONE who does him harm will be punished SEVEN TIMES worse than anything they had done to Cain. And to prove His point, God put a mark on Cain.

Have you ever messed up SO badly that you thought your life and usefulness were over?  Have you even made such a bad decision that you wondered how you would ever recover? I have.  It's not a good feeling at all!  You wonder why God even allows another breath...yet He does.  Is it for His own grins and giggles watching our torment?  No.  God has two reasons for keeping us here: 1) So we can learn from our mistakes and, thus, help others to avoid making the same mistakes, 2) Because God is in the miracle business and can make diamonds out of lumps of coal!

You see, we demonize Cain for his rash decision and for just being a bad guy.  But God uses Cain's story to remind us that, even though we mess up and must accept the consequences for our decisions, God is STILL merciful to us!  He doesn't have to be, but loves us so much that He rains down His mercy on us every day!

Rescue Me!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

     We are a busy bunch, aren't we?  I am guilty of filling my calendar with appointments and activities to the point that I become exhausted, drained, and irritated.  I also feel guilty when I can't be everywhere every time to help everyone.  But God...

     You see, nowhere in Scripture does God tell us to work ourselves into exhaustion!  Not even when doing "good work."  Paul tells us that we should not grow weary of doing good, and I had always taken that to mean I should always be busy doing SOMETHING good.  But when I get tired (my bride can attest to this) I get.....how can I put this......testy.  But God has shown me in the past the busy-ness will do more damage than good.  Each of us MUST take time for ourselves!

     In today's passage, Martha is bustling around getting the house and meal ready.  All these are good things!  She is busy doing good works.  But notice that she gets irritated that Mary is taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn and relax.  Jesus reminds Martha that being busy drowns out the voice of the Savior and takes our focus OFF of what is important!  

     One of the things I learned in the Army was a very simple lesson: "If you want to help rescue others, start with yourself!"  Take care of you so you can take care of others!  Let's face it, Jesus took time away from His ministry to recover. God is all powerful and can do everything AND even God took a day to rest, so who are we to say we can do better.

     Therefore, while I am still more than willing to help and minister, I will be taking time to recover and rest too (away from the phone and away from the appointment calendar).  How about you?

The Land Of Far Far Away

If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:9-10

Have you ever wanted to just get away from everything and everyone?  Ever thought about escaping to some tropical island and living the rest of your life as a beach bum?  Me too!  I love the beach!  There's something relaxing about listening to the surf.  The only reason I don't go to the beach every time I have an opportunity...all the PEOPLE!  And it never fails, when I take time to "get away" to think...the one person who doesn't understand the whole "boundaries" concept will park right next to me and chatter away like a monkey mainlining Starbucks Espresso.

But guess what? No matter where I go, no matter where I try to hide, God is always there.  Even if we run away to the most desolate place on earth, God is there loving us and caring for us.  And here's the MOST important part of this...even if we try to hide within ourselves and let no one in...God is there too!  The One who created us also loves us, cares for us, provides for us, gives us strength, and wants us to know how loved we are.

If you need to escape, run to Him!  

Trust Issues?

The Lord is good,
    a strong refuge when trouble comes.
    He is close to those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

Is it easy to trust?  I have the honor to work with Law Enforcement Officers (and am grateful for them EVERY DAY), and I can tell you...Cops are NOT among the most trusting of people.  Matter of fact, most people I know have been burned by trusting too quickly. 

Think about this: You don't go buy a surfboard and just dash off to go surfing.  In order to surf, you start small, practice a lot, and trust your new skills a little bit at a time. You will have some setbacks, but you keep at it and you will eventually have the trust and confidence to do amazing things on a surfboard.

Now....consider trusting people.  Think about your best friend.  Did you just pick someone at random, trust them completely, and have never looked back?  I doubt it.  Trust is built over time.  But here's the kicker: Trust can only grow by trusting!

Ponder one more: Do you trust God?  He's been around a LONG time.  He knows more about you than you are willing to admit or that you may even know about yourself.  As a matter of fact, God knows your every thought before you think it.  And He loves you anyway.  He is always with us, even when we don't think He is.  One more thing, If God wasn't trustworthy then you wouldn't be reading this because He wouldn't bother to keep you around, but since He loves you so much that He wants you to trust Him...you are here, right not, reading this.

Trust grows by trusting!  

But I'm In Control!

When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help. 
The officer said, “Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can’t move his body and is in much pain.”

Jesus said to the officer, “I will go and heal him.”

The officer answered, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed. I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant does it.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, “I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel. Many people will come from the east and from the west and will sit and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But those people who should be in the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.”

Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home. Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Matthew 8:5-13

We like being in control, don't we?  We love being put in positions of authority and power (whether we can handle the responsibilities or not).  For some, being in the spotlight (believing we are more "important" than everyone else) is worth whatever the cost to cling to.  We get a taste of power and we aren't about to let it go.

But look at today's story...the Centurion, who is a man of authority able to order his troops to kill, defend, destroy, guard, build, tear down, move or anything else he had a mind to do. Yet, this man of power found himself in a position where all his authority and power were useless.  Understand, that servants during this time in history were disposable.  If one died, you just went to the market and bought another one.  So when this Centurion takes such an interest in his servant as to go as Jesus for help speaks of an unusual relationship.  Perhaps the Centurion and this servant grew up together in the same household, perhaps even played together, and were together throughout their lives (as sometimes happened).

But the Centurion recognized that all his hard won power and authority could not save his servant.  And in admitting that he needed Jesus' help, he achieved something most of us have yet to understand...that Jesus is in control and is the Great Physician.  He understood that God is God and he is not.  

I wish I could remember who wrote it, but this quote stuck in my mind: "Some of us think holding on to power makes us strong, but it is in the letting go that true power is unleashed!"

If you want to know just how powerful you are, grab a handful of sunshine.  When night comes, open your hand and see how brightly your handful of sunshine glows.  The only one who controls the sunshine is the One who created it...and it ain't us.

Got something you're trying to deal with?  Stop trying to control it and let God deal with it!

A Little Dab Will Do You

 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

~Matthew 17:20

Faith is not an easy concept to grasp, so let me try to explain it as best as I am able.  Every time you take a breath, you expect there to be oxygen for you to take in.  This is faith!  Every time you sit in a chair, you expect it to hold you (unless you are using doll furniture).  That is faith!  We have faith in a lot of daily happenings that we don't even give conscious thought about.  Our faith in these things is strong and we can rely on the routine of these things.

Now....when I was young, my elders (who shall remain nameless for now) thought the best method of teaching me to swim was the "sink or swim method" whereby I was heaved off a dock into water well over my head, and I would have to figure out pretty quickly how to keep breathing.  Not fun in the least, was that!  But I grew to have faith in the fact that water and my chubbiness would bring me close enough to the surface that I could manage to get my head above water long enough to gasp a breath.  After several times of doing this, I figured out that if I just relaxed, I would float.  I hated learning to swim and still don't enjoy the endeavor, but my faith in God's physics of floating fat has grown dramatically.

The same holds true as we we seek to grow our faith in God as He deals with us in our every day life!  Recently, I submitted my Timesheet at work and received a rather abrupt response that it had been rejected.  I tried again and several hours after they were due, I got another notice that it had been rejected again.  By this time, the deadline to submit my timesheet was past and, try as I might, I could not access my Timesheet to see what could be done.  And in the midst of the images of missing a paycheck and all the repercussions of the absence of funds I felt as though I was drowning, and I prayed for help. And, believe it or not, a peace settled on me and I in the quiet of my heart I heard "Trust Me."  The next morning, the most wonderful person in the world helped me make sense of the issue and helped me get it corrected. And my Faith Grew!

If you look at the photo, you will see a single mustard seed.  It is tiny!  Jesus said if our faith were even as big as that tiny seed, we could move mountains!  The giant plant you see the man standing in front of grew from a single tiny mustard seed.

Think about this, people go to the gym and lift weights until their muscles are huge and their veins look as though they will explode.  But they had to start small.  Just like our faith starts in the small things.  Imagine what we could accomplish if our faith grew like the muscles of the weightlifter.  Just imagine....is it time to start working out at the Faith Gym?

What If I Don't Like You?

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

~Mark 12:30-31

Last week we talked a little about how true love is a conscious decision and we are choose to love often in spite of each other.  Well, guess what?  Jesus teaches us what love looks like!

Jesus and I have something in common...neither of us are overly fond of "church folk."  You know the ones.  They go to lots of conferences, memorize Scripture by the book, pray in Ye Olde English because they don't think God understands the voice of our hearts, and they are very quick to tell you how you are doing life wrong (without ever looking in the mirror).  "Church Folks" almost drove me away from the church completely, until God showed me something from today's passage: When I love God with everything that I am, I understand how much He loves me, so how can I not love other people?

Now let me be VERY clear...loving others does NOT mean accepting or agreeing with their choices.  For example, I disagree with the militant vegans who will have nothing to do with anything that is not a plant, but I still love them because they are also God's children.  People disagree with the fact that I am rather unorthodox in the sharing of my faith, but they still love me anyway (I am led to believe). After all, Tootsie Rolls and other candies open doors to conversations that a Bible upside the head won't (go figure).  I am not a fan of the "christians"  who insist on yelling and screaming that I am going to Hell if I don't agree with them, but they are God's children too and deserve my love (and prayers and compassion and help if needed).

You see, Jesus didn't hide behind a pulpit, He went where the people were who needed Him.  He didn't condemn people, He loved them (even the "church folk" if you remember Nicodemus).  Jesus CHOSE to love others as much as, and even more than, Himself.  He shared wine and meals with people who the church didn't want.  He went to weddings and celebrations where the "pious" would not be caught dead attending.  He touched lepers, let a prostitute was His feet with her own tears (that's a LOT of tears).  He made friends with the rejected.  He told an adulteress that He did not condemn her as a person, but He did tell her to stop with the adultery. He that loved people!

Yet we look at someone and see what we DON'T like about them.  WE choose to be divisive! WE throw up fences!  WE stab people in the back instead of building them up! WE discourage others instead of encouraging!  WE CHOOSE TO BE JUST LIKE 'CHURCH FOLK'!  And we can CHOOSE to think differently.

Let me put it another way....I have an eclectic taste in music but I am not a fan of Country Music (sorry to all the country music fans).  BUT that doesn't mean I will not spend time with, ride with, or enjoy the company of those who like country music.  And I hope they will still love me when I listen to my classical or rock or Harry Belafonte or any of the other non-country genres on my MP3 player.

We must learn to love and care for other people as much as we care for ourselves!  One way to do that is to pray for the people we don't like!  

Buddhist student: "Master, I am discouraged."

Buddhist Master: "Then Encourage!"

You see?  Pray FOR those we don't like and we will begin to see them as God's Children too because God will remind us that people who don't like us are praying for us as well.  Make a difference and make a friend, love others as yourself by loving God above all!

I Love Weddings

Love is patient and kind; 

love does not envy or boast; 

it is not arrogant or rude. 

It does not insist on its own way; 

it is not irritable or resentful; 

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, 

but rejoices with the truth. 

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I have the honor of officiating a wedding last night.  I like weddings.  They are a time to celebrate the love that has grown between two lives to the point they want their lives to become one.  

I like weddings because it is during the ceremony where today's passage is read that the attendees are asked to remember the reason they love each other.  You see, the word used by the Apostle Paul in this passage is a word whose true meaning doesn't translate well from Greek into English, but I'm going to try.

The word Paul uses is "AGAPE".  This word indicates a feeling as a result of a conscious decision.  Therefore, true love is not a feeling...TRUE love is a CONSCIOUS DECISION which results in the feelings.  You see, every moment of every day, I decide to love my Bride. And because of that conscious decision, I smile every time I see her or think of her or get to talk about her and the feelings of love I have for her grow because of the conscious decision to love her.  And it is her decision to love me (which I know is quite the challenge at times).

Now, having said that, let's take this one step further.  We have been told that God loves us and we think "Yeah, yeah, God loves me, okay....big flipping deal."  But consider this: God made the conscious DECISION to love you even before time was time!  He didn't have to, but He did.  There are times He might wish He could reconsider His decision, but I rather doubt it.  Because the DECISION to love means God will love REGARDLESS what happens.  God will love whether you love Him back or not.  God will love you even when you hurt Him. God will love you even when you turn your back on Him and tell Him you don't believe He exists.

Once we understand that God loves us IN SPITE of us most of the time, we begin to love Him in return.  And because we love Him, we want to spend time talking with Him and listening to Him (after all He does have a lot of wisdom to share and quite the sense of humor. If you don't believe God has a sense of humor, look at the people you work with).  AND when we spend time with Him, our entire perception of the world will change from pessimist to realist to optimist.

So....if you take this definition of love and look at that famous verse John 3:16, you will see it reads a little more realistically:  "God CHOSE to love the world SO MUCH that He DECIDED to send His ONLY Son, so that whoever accepts God's love will never perish, but will live forever in His love."  Hmmm...don't know about you, but that makes a lot more sense to me than some vague ethereal image I had when I learned to recite it.

Creation's Song

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
    and awesome above all who are around him?
O Lord God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?

~Psalm 89:5-8

I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who do a LOT of wondering.  I wonder about things like: 

• "Why did God create salt water AND fresh water instead of just making all aquatic critters use the same water?"
• "Why did God make lobsters so ugly but taste so good?"
• "Why are dogs usually affectionate, while usually aloof?"
• "Why don't cows have thumbs?"

Over the last few days, I have done a lot of wondering.  Remember when God told Job to put on his big boy britches because God had some questions for him and he WOULD answer them?  You can find the discussion in Job 38.  But God asked Job, "WHO told the sea 'You can come this far and no farther?' Who put the leviathan in its cage? Who put the stars in the sky? Who told the mountains how high to climb?"  You see, God was reminding Job (and us) that all of creation is God's handiwork.  We can believe that WE are the ones in control of God's creation and God will show us who really is God.

Most mornings, I have a cup of coffee (or more....stop laughing) and watch the sunlight come through the trees, listen to the birds start their songs, watch Abby (our greyhound) stand on our deck and survey her kingdom, and know that all of creation is celebrating God, and so should I.

From time before time until the end of all time, let us praise God for His blessings, gifts, and LOVE for us.  It makes the day a LOT better!

I'm Done!

*   Ever get tired of trying?  I do.  
*   Ever feel as though your efforts are wasted?  I admit it.
*   Ever reached the point where you feel like Job, one punch to the heart after another?  I would be lying if I denied it.
*   Ever been so exhausted and frustrated that you honestly considered walking away?  Yeah, me too.

There have been times when, in spite of every ounce of Best Effort I could muster, it still didn't seem to matter.  There have been times when I was so frustrated that I couldn't even think straight.  There have been times....

And there will be more.  

A number of years ago there was this song. The lyrics of the chorus reminded me that I am not the only one who felt like Job:
"I get knocked down, but I get up again, You're never going to keep me down!"

Getting knocked into the dirt gives you one of three options:

1. Learn to become a fossil.
2. Learn to be an archaeologist.
3. Learn that getting knocked down is not the end of the world.  Sometimes you just have to dust yourself off and try a different trail.

The Apostle Paul was quite familiar with feeling beaten and even felt like giving up.  But God.....!

What Do You Mean 'We're Similar'?

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our likeness. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

~Genesis 1:26

We are made in the likeness of God.  That may be difficult to fathom, and a bit daunting, but God decided to make humans in His likeness.  In today's photo you see my Grampa on the left, and I am on the right.  You can see that we share a likeness.  Why? Because we come from the same bloodline and the same gene pool (and I just heard my Bride groan). Therefore, I have many of the same traits as my Grampa (like it or not).

But it doesn't stop there!  Every single human being that has ever existed or will exist is made in God's likeness, we ALL share traits of God.  And we are just like each other in more ways than we imagine.  Some tend to believe that the pigmentation of the skin is where we are to draw the line of similarities.  But guess what? God didn't stop at the skin pigmentation.

Consider this:

     * We all must breathe

     * We all must have water

     * We all need love

     * We are all born helpless.

     * We all have a skeleton.

     * We all have blood that flows through us.

     * We all have the same organs inside.

     * We all have a brain (whether we use it or not)

     * We all feel pain (physical, emotional, spiritual)

     * We all were born (none of us hatched or were found under a cabbage leaf or were dropped off by a stork)

     * We all have a purpose. (God does not make mistakes)

     * We all are really good at messing up. (Which is why Jesus came to die for us).

     * We all have God's lifebreath within us.

You see, we have so many more similarities than mere skin color.  WE are the ones who create these boundaries and barriers.  WE are the ones who limit each other with our prejudices.  

Are we different?  Absolutely!  Not saying we're not.  But if we were all the same, nothing would be accomplished.  Let us delight in the fact that we are God's Creation!  He loves us enough to let us be part of His creation!  Be part of the celebration instead of part of the division!