I grew up Church of Christ. The hard asses. "You're going to hell for this you're going to hell for that". I got baptized on a Sunday morning and then later that day I lied about getting out in wiffle ball, thought I was going to hell for sure unless I prayed all night.
My whole upbringing I felt there was no hope. I would go to Hell no matter what. Then in my early 30s I started reading the New Testament. I learned who Jesus was. He hung out with the gamblers. drunks and the prostitutes trying to help them. He told the Pharisees that they were just a bunch of judgmental ass holes. The pharisees to me was the Church of Christ I grew up in. The people who turned up their nose when my parents sent me to another rehab. I learned that Jesus was about Grace an understanding. I wasn't going to hell and most of all I WASNT A PIECE OF SHIT. I put my faith in Him.
There were so many times in life where I could have died. Layed out in my bedroom floor choking on my own vomit from drinking (I had many friends die that way). But I never did. And I thank Him for that. Yes there are things that happen in this world that I do not understand. Child Abuse, Domestic Abuse all of it. But all I can do is keep my faith in Jesus. I wish the world would end today so we wouldn't have see people hurt. God warns us that you will struggle in this world. It's those who have a strong heart and have faith who will see it through.
Joel Osteen is hack, Jim Bakker is a hack, 15% of the ministers and pastors out there are a hack.
So the naysayers on here saying its stupid, that's fine, I don't care. I'm not going to try and argue with you or try and save you on Surly fucking Horns. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I always thought I would die young like my Father and Brother did at a young age to substance abuse. But I am made that promise I wouldn't.
I love this scripture:
Psalm 118:17 - I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.