A Priest, a Pentecostal, a Baha'i & a Protestant walk into a bar...

** This article is not intended to offend any of my beautiful readers **

** Please know that I love you **

As usual, it's midnight and I can't sleep. I have a pain in my heart.

Tonight I had the honour of having dinner with some of my Aunt's closest friends and learn a little about their lives. Since I've been in LA I seem to have attracted many conversations about religion, the importance of faith in this life, and how it affects us in the after-life.

I mean, do I have a sign on my forehead or something? Haha

Enjoyably, we talk/argued about how the bible is a Historical piece of literature, the point of salvation, salvation as being received by all, biblical foundations for belief and more.

All over delicious food!

As we left, I said goodbye to all of Aunty Lesley's friends.

One particular friend, I hadn't gotten the chance to really talk to and as I said goodbye I apologised for that fact, she responded graciously adding she had nothing to add in the religious debate anyway and that everything will be okay as long as we go to church every Sunday.

"And love Jesus," I jovially added.

Now, I'm used to a pentecostal environment, so my anticipated reaction was "Absolutely!" but instead, I received a laugh and "Yeah, well. We all go to church because we feel guilty".

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My. Heart. Shattered.

❤ = 💥

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No. No. No. NO!

This is not why Jesus died!

This is not why He was brutally tortured for hours on end.

This is not why He prayed hanging naked on a cross "Forgive them, for they know not what they do".

This is not why He cried out "It is finished" with His last remaining breath.

This is not why He extended grace and mercy to the very end of His life.

This is not why He ROSE AGAIN.

Jesus rose again so we can have victory! (1 Cor 15:57)

He rose again to give life and life abundantly! (John 10:10)

He rose again to give us hope! (Romans 5:5-7)

He rose again to give us boldness! (Romans 8:38)

He rose again to give us dominion over things unseen! (Ephesians 6:10-12)

He rose again to breath life into a fading humanity! (Mark 2:17)

HE ROSE AGAIN!

Jesus is the one true pathway to a relationship with God and offers unconditional love, inexplainable joy, peace beyond understanding and... a new outlook on life! The hardest part of my faith, is that I have to believe the reality that there are people I love and care about that I won't get to party with in Heaven for eternity.

It hurts.

Truly, deeply, to my very core.

I am not the decider of someones salvation.

I am not to say that the man on the street cussing and delusional is not guaranteed a place in heaven.

I am not to say that native people that have never been given the opportunity to hear the gospel cannot be saved.

But I am to say that Jesus puts it as clear as day regarding multi-faith in other religions.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me...

-John 14:6

I break's my heart to think the importance of ^ this Gospel is being lost in translation to so many people in desperate need to hear it. Even those in church.

Jesus goes on to speak about giving us peace, taking away our fears and our hearts troubles (v27).

Jesus gives so much more than He takes.

I don't go to church out of guilt.

No. I go to church out of love and gratitude.

I love my God, I love Jesus and I love the people I encounter every day.

I am thankful for the honour to write this blog in a country with free speech and no persecution.

I am thankful to be able to visit a country that's not facing war or extreme poverty.

I am thankful I am alive with hope and assurance for tomorrow, even though I don't really know what lies ahead.

I am thankful and in love with Jesus for the beautiful life He's given me, in return for the broken mess I gave to Him 7 years ago.

I love you. And burn with a passion to show the love I received from Jesus, that is available to all.

With (immense) love & learning,

K.