What is this dude thinking (Koran-burning)?

Dear Ken,

It has been a minute since I last updated. For the past month, life has kept me rather busy. I have had a couple of joys and a few minor setbacks. Nonetheless, being able to rise up and face another day keeps me #optimistic.

Only when I thought the world could not get crazier, I turned to CNN and read about the Rev. Terry Jones, the pastor of a small church in Gainesville, Florida, who is planning a Koran-burning ceremony on the 9th anniversity of the September 11th terrorist attack. The church, with fewer than 30 congregants, plans to burn 200+ copies of the Muslim holy book.

Rev Jones has ignored harsh criticism from Gen David Pataeus, Secretary of State Clinton and even the President. Secretary Clinton calls his act “disrespectful [and] disgraceful".

While Rev Jones' act of burning the Koran is probably protected by the First Amendment, has he forgotten the principles that Jesus taught of honoring, loving and respecting other people? I am reminded of the scripture that Jesus wrote: treat others as [we] would like to be treated.

Rev Jones can disagree with Muslims and their beliefs, but to set ablaze to these books only incites violence, places several troops in Afghanistan in harm’s way and will only encourage a recruiting drive for al-Qaeda. President Obama mentioned on Good Morning America that "this could increase the recruitment of individuals who'd be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities".

Dude really needs to start practicing what he preaches!

Stop defining me!

I really don't want to be defined by religion. Too often, we get caught up in who's right, who's wrong, how it should be done, etc and forget the purpose: serving God and having a personal, intimate connection with Christ.

Winning a philosophical or religious debate is what some preachers have resorted to. What if I like some of the principles of the Catholic faith and some of the beliefs of the Jewish? How about finding those guiding principles that best relates to me and begin living and walking them out without being handcuffed or classified as a Baptist, COGIC, Muslim, Pentecostal, or Budhist.

Religious figureheads would counter and say that a "double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways" or it is appropriate to be "cold or hot - not lukewarm". Fine with that, but I am more convinced than ever that relationship trumps religion.