Get Up - Go Out - Be a Blessing!

I heard somewhere that we have to make a decision that our life is going to count.  But that it's also okay to be a regular person.

What do we need to experience to pick up the Cross?

Church in Second Life - Christians

After a few weeks getting my Second Life legs, I'm a little more comfortable talking about the experience. SL is a very amped up sensual world.  But just like real life (RL), we have choices. Do we look for sex (you don't have to look too far), or for the Lord (this takes more work)?

Yes, the Lord is present in Second Life.  Every religion seems to be represented, including a large occult base. So far, I've been to the wailing wall, a large Jewish community, a Muslim region replete with a book store loaded on the "Real Jesus." These are free and downloadable. I stumbled into a vampire's lair, and was nicely asked if I'd like to join...for the price of being a "blood bride" for the night. No thanks.

The very first thing I did when I joined SL was find a good Bible-based church. There's a wide selection of choices, but Calvary is the most known to me.

This is me in Calvary Chapel in SL. There is no dress code I'm aware of, by the way.  People attend in many styles, some that seem really inappropriate for church.  

This church is a fully staffed and operational. They have Sunday services and Bible studies. Included in the church are "praise animations" so you can get into the spirit.

Here's another view. As you can see in this photo there are other avatars talking after the service.  I've heard many say that they do not attend church in RL, but come to worship in-world (in SL).

You might think church would be a lonely spot in a fantasy land filled to the brim with sexual offerings, but it's not. Sunday services are pretty crowded, and there's nearly always someone on the site. The first time I went, there were about six people appearing to be praying or meditating. I spoke to one of the women and she'd come to unburden her sexual activities in SL. Apparently, she'd been having regular sex with another avatar and felt this was conflicting with her beliefs in RL.  But most of the people I've met in-world feel SL is a fantasy and it's okay to do anything, including marry each other.

Upon entering the church they give you a note card with their core beliefs, the history of the church and it's objectives.  If you join the group, you'll get emails reminding you of Bible studies and services. Generally, on Sunday, the services repeat throughout the day, with a minister avatar giving the talk.

They give away free Jesus T-Shirts, crosses and Bibles. The Bibles are fully animated and can be read just like a real Bible. You can also carry it around with you.

The Slurl is: Calvary In SL

What is a Slurl?

Not Living Life to the Fullest

For years I've noticed a flock of pigeons that gather on a traffic light post stationed on an off ramp that intersects with the 5 Interstate freeway. There are four lanes of traffic on that street, along with the off ramp and below the bridge, the freeway. The noise and air pollution must be abhorrent, but these birds sit there day and night oblivious to the congestion, noise and smell. Just to their left is a patch of pine trees, which might give them some respite, but they don't seem to notice. With their wings they might go anywhere, maybe a few miles south to the Pacific Ocean, a few miles north to the mountains, but they never move. Whenever I see these birds I'm reminded of human self imposed limitations and how we don't move far from our perches. We get up and do the same thing day in and day out, even though the environment might be noisy, polluted and the route congested.

It's really hard to get up and out of ourselves, and not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, to try flying to the left, the right, north or south. Instead, we watch the sun rise and set on our lives without ever expanding our wings to our full potential.

Christians in Second Life

I am an avatar in Second Life.  I'm also a Christian.

For those who are not familiar with Second Life, it's a role playing virtual reality.

Whatever you're looking for, like real life (or what is called RL in SL), you'll find.

Clubs of all kinds, from strippers to Bible groups. Friends and affairs. Well kept suburban neighborhoods and the wrong side of town. Angles and demons.

There is a different mind set in Second Life because the thinking is you can "try" anything once, and no harm no foul...and no sin?  Can an avatar sin?  My quest over the next few posts is to answer that question as I go "underground" as a Christian in Second Life.  I'll be interviewing Christians, as well as other faiths and those of no faith.

Let's get acquainted with life in virtual realities.  First, you can live there for free, but this means you've no home, and all your things are in inventory and not visible to anyone but yourself.  Part of the experiences is to show off your creative skills.  Without a home of some kind, to change clothing or avatars, you'll have to find a secluded spot where they allow changing of clothing.  Usually this is done in an area that allows "rezzing" or opening up objects. Changing of clothing can be done if the object you want to wear is in your inventory, but if you, say, just buy it, it's likely in a "box" that requires you "open it" into your inventory.  To do this you must find a "sand box" that is, an open area that all homeless (and those who want to build things too big to do so at home), come.  First thing you learn is these places are not very safe, though some are safer than others and it's important to read the content information before flying off into the land of  lunatic asylums.

I found several that were rated "moderate" (meaning no visual nudity but possible sexiness) to begin my life as a SL shopper--that is, trying on all the things I bought.  But these places "are not" Macy's dressing rooms, though I would like to note there are dressing rooms, you just have to find them, which I found harder than just transporting to a local sand box.

Each time I went to a sandbox (and I tried a few) to change, I would find myself in serious situations.  Once I "rezzed" under a jet plane, with full sounds.  I did not know I was under a jet because it was so huge!  I ran, and eventually spun around to see what  I had the misfortune to appear underneath!

And just like the real sand at your local "beach," even though there is plenty of "room" for everyone, someone will "stand on your head," or right next to you, forcing you to move to complete your wardrobe.  The sandboxes are interesting places, though, as you can see the creative process that makes Second Life so amazingly different than other virtual realities, say "Yoville" on Facebook, where you can only buy items, but not make changes to them. In fact, Second Life and Yoville are like Earth and Mars.  You can't compare them, other than to say they are both virtual worlds.  There are many virtual worlds but Linden Labs (creator) sets the standards in allows participants to own the intellectual property rights to the in world content they create.

Once you get your Second Life "legs" you'll want to change your avatar from the "free" one to a more "natural" looking body.  There are plenty of free full avatars in the stores but they are last years (or older) models.  I broke down and used real money converted into "Linden dollars" to buy a hot looking babe.  The everyday people you see in "moderate" locations are extremely youthful and beautiful.  Most women are dressed like hookers at a Sunset Strip nightclub.  They hang around the local "hubs" using animations that suggest they're bored and horny at the same time.

I try to dress somewhat appealing but not like a slut--in SL there's a very fine line, which I'll get into later.

Many people join and never change their avatars or there clothing.  I, myself, went on a shopping spree.  I also bought into their premium account so I could have a small house in a controlled community to "learn" the ropes of SL in private.

The first thing I did was find a church.  I'll write more about that later.

Born Again

I think we’ve all known someone who became born-again and changed so much that we never saw them again.  

Our rational is, “well, he thinks he’s too good for me now.”  But that maybe isn’t what he’s thinking at all.  His eyes have been opened to a better life, and perhaps…ouch…we weren't good for him.  There's a difference.

Or, how about those Christians we knew who didn't seem so “Christian,” or those who were hog-wild on a mission to convert everyone in their path, or those that reverted back to their old ways, which were usually quite bad.  Aren't we very cynical about the Christian walk of others when don't know Christ?

I didn’t know anything about transformation, and judged other Christians harshly when it was really impossible to know their hearts.  

I just didn’t put it all together that accepting Jesus into my life was far more than my interpretation of other Christians.  I honestly didn’t think having a relationship with Jesus would matter either way, that things were going to happen regardless.  I never considered that I would change if I became one of his disciples.  

And I did.

Too Busy Meditating?

Also read: Hoarders ~ Illness or Lazy?

How Should Christians Respond to Yoga?

How Should Christians Respond to Yoga? (This will take you to Christian Research Institute)

I said the same thing in my article about practicing yoga.  Are you Worshiping the Son or the Sun?
Also of note in this article Kundalini-fashion or Foe?

Don't be Fooled

Make Bible Reading a Priority!

I just stumbled on this article and wanted to add that if you have a reading partner it helps to be accountable. I have a few friends who have joined me this year, and it's pretty amazing how I now put my Bible Reading higher up on the priority list.

Make Bible Reading a Priority!

Blogger Next Button ~ In Search of Blog Readers

Why do we hit “next” on a blog bar when it’s a Christian blog? I do it too. I guess there are a few obvious reasons. 1), you’re a Christian looking for something else on the web (hope not porn), 2), you’re not a Christian and that explains that. 3), the blog isn’t well written.

Wait, this phenomena isn't just a Christian problem. We all flip through blogs like a Sear's Catalog (for those who remember them). I have a program that tracks how  long people stay on my site. If this is indicative of my ability to interest the blogger community, I better give this up now.  I've kept this blog for five years just because I hate to quit anything. Obviously if I stayed in a toxic religion for over 30 years. Okay, that was more like ignoring the warning signs, but still, if something doesn't work it doesn't work, and we have to hit the next button.

How do bloggers get followers if they’re not a news blog, a computer help blog, a porn site, or recommended byTechnorati?

I don't know. But I suspect it helps to follow other blogs, and make it around the blogger community, which is what I'm doing these days. I'm really impressed by the creativity in blog sphere.

Most blogs seem more arty,  than composition. I've tried to adjust. My earlier posts are too long.

They look like this:

Instead of this:

I remember learning that when opening a book, small print and exposition, as opposed to larger print and "dialog" effects how long someone will stay on your page.

 I heard that Twitter was taking over blogs. I'm all about less words to make a point, and I publish on Espresso Stories--a story in less than 25 words. Try it sometimes.

Are Bible Quotes a turn off for the blog browser? Let's find out:

"He who rejects You, Rejects Me…” Luke 10:16

Are you still here?

How can Jesus help us with a healthy attitude about rejection in any aspect of our creative lives?

Creativity is God’s Gift. It’s a talent. God doesn't want us to squander his gifts, and even if he's the only one reading our work, he delights in us.

Thanks for making it to the end of the page.  I hope you follow this blog.

Complainers

Someone is complaining about my blog.  Don't you wonder why they'd be so offended?  I mean, if what I write about didn't happen, or isn't true, why worry? Why go to all this trouble to bother Blogger with complaints? Then the poor Google people, who happen to be the most amazing Internet experience in the world, have to come here and find out if what I'm doing goes against their rules, and all that jazz, then make a decision. Usually they don't do anything, except remove copyrighted pictures.

Tho some blogs have disappeared mysteriously, so if mine goes dark, you know why, and you'll find me elsewhere as I own this domain name. Basically, I can go to Word Press. So, if it gets that nasty, then that's what will happen. But I don't think Blogger cares about this kind of thing. If they did, there wouldn't be much blogging, other than scrapbooks of families.

The thing is, this blog has been here for like, uh, five years, or more. I think they got mad about the picture of the church falling into the ocean, though that is public record, and maybe my snarly comments about fantasy land. Okay, that was nasty, I admit, but sometimes I get annoyed, knowing what I know...

Well, anyways, I feel sorry for the Guru lovers. I loved him once, too. It sucks to find out your guru isn't a God.


Anyways, settle down, I'll be off on another subject before you know it.

I am temporarily making it harder for the Yogi police to track my blog.