The message I received...

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ********

For a man who doesn't believe in Christ, you sure give Him a lot of airtime bro. So, thank you for that, because those who may not know what He's about, they've just heard His name on your show, and they go looking into it and find the Truth.

Not tryin' to jump ya man, but I know what that side of the fence is like. For most of my life, I was a headstrong Atheist. As a 19 year old that truely found what fit that empty hole in his heart, it kinda sucks to hear the things on the show that are said. I work in a warehouse where the station is played by the manager, so I can't really do anything about it. It would be cool though if you could cool down on some of the Jesus stuff, because aside from that, you're a freakin' funny dude haha. I just hope you hear me out on that.

Nice sleeve you got going too, someone local do it? God bless

________________________________________________

Now My response...

Hey *****,

I appreciate you taking the time to write. Forced to listen to my show or not I appreciate the comments.

As far as the christianity issue. As you have come from "my side of the fence" I have also seen yours. I am 31 years old and from the time I was 13 I was a believer. Not forced by my parents, not over churched, I just had found "Christ" and was "on fire" as well.

At 16 I started leading bible studies, eventually becoming a Youth Pastor for youth for christ, then on to working as a FT Youth Pastor for multiple churches. That is when I really started seeing the major hypocricies of that orginization/business that is "Christianity".

In 2000 I found that the "empty hole" was filled with random thoughts of hypocrites. Not to mention the Pastor of the church where I worked had embezzled over $1,000,000 So at that point I walked away.

So, from your Christian backround, you will now be tempted to say "Don't look to men, but to God, because men will always fail you". I get it and I have heard all the christian rhetoric, I have read the Bible from cover to cover.

In that same vain, I have now become able to think for myself. I have looked into many religions, and have gone on to take parts from many of them to apply to my life. Funny thing is, when you start looking at other religions, you see a lot of common threads and stories that are identicle to your bible. You also start talking to many people who have had that "hole in their heart" filled by there God. God can take many shapes...

Do I believe in something? Sure. I am not so blind to see that there is some sort of creator or higher being. What is that? Not sure. But, whatever "God" is to me. He has a sense of humor, and can laugh... even at him or herself.

The bottom line is I choose to believe not in a "God" that is looking to damn his people for not believing just in "one way to heaven".

Have you thought of ALL the people left out of that.

How many amazing people, who may be jewish, or hindu, muslim, or atheist, etc. that have done amazing things for people who will burn in "hell" just because there religion teaches something different?!

I think when we all get to where ever we are going, we will be very suprised to see who is hanging out with us.

Bottom line, as the tattoo says on my arm, Live Life, Love Much, Laugh Often.

I try not to take things too seriously.   I just live my life, and try and be the best person I can be.

Thanx again for writing...

-j

ps. JD at Psychotic Ink does my art work!