Citizenship Test: Part 1- Nova saves the day

Yesterday morning marked the first half of my citizenship test!   I had to drive down to Houston to have my biometrics taken, aka. my fingerprints :)  

I woke up about 7 and took a shower, (wanted to look like I cared) and then got dressed and did my makeup.  Luke woke up and got breakfast ready for me.  He did a great job of being excited about my day with me.  He pulled out a tub on pineapple, some grapes and a yogurt.

I read over the form one more time to make sure I had all of the necessary items before I devoured my breakfast and hightailed it to the immigration office.  

Green Card.....  check
State Drivers license.... check
This form..... check
Keys.....  check
Pen.... (they never have enough for everyone).... check
book... (for the long wait).... check.

And then I noticed it... this little sentence at the bottom that may as well have been called fine print.  It read "If you have open wounds or bandages/casts when you appear, the USCIS may reschedule your appointment if it is determined your injuries will interfere with taking your biometrics."   I remarked to Luke how strange the comment was and put the piece of paper down.

Now was time for breakfast.  I scarfed my yogurt, and then decided to go for the tub of pineapple.  As I was popping the plastic lid off, it happend... it sliced my middle finger open.     The first thing I thought of was NOT how much it hurt, or the fact that I was now bleeding, but OMGosh... they won't let me take my biometrics!  I have an "open wound!"   I got really nervous... I have been waiting for this for a long time.

I remembered what someone once told me about dog saliva and it's "healing properties."  I didn't know if I believed it, but at this point it was worth trying.   I tilted my finger to Nova and she began to lick it.

I got to the office and presented my forms, knowing in the back of my mind that I have this cut on my hand.  The officer looked at me and asked to see my hands.  Palms to the sky, I was sure I would be turned away.   "Go ahead, your great!" she replied.  I have never been so thankful for wives tales at that moment.  I don't claim dog saliva to be a miracle worker, as I still have a bandaid on today, but I do know that it got me through my biometric testing :)  Thanks Nova

"I would be a Christian..... if it were not for the Christians"

As someone who identifies myself as a Christian (a follower of Christ), it is convicting to read these words that Ghandi once spoke.  In essence he is saying that because of the way we live our lives, treat other people, the decision we make...  he is turned away from the faith that we cling to. 

Every family has stories... I remember sitting down with my grandpa a few years ago and listening to the story that made him walk away from his church family.  He was a Catholic and was going to confession after a long hiatus from the church (caused by the illness of my grandmother - he had to take care of the kids and her).  When he entered to confess his sins to the priest,  he was told his sins would not be forgiven because of his lack of attendance and faith.   WOW.... I would leave too.  

I look online at many websites of people who claim to be Christians with titles that teach intolerance.  Hatred toward homosexuals, prostitutes, orphans, select people in our society...  sometimes it's enough to make me want to label my faith in a different way as not to be associated with these people.

Now, I am no scholar, I don't have a PhD in biblical studies or even a masters... but I have read the bible many times and find this intolerance nowhere!  Where does it say in scripture that because we don't come to confessional our sins will not be forgiven for lack of attendance.... IT DOESN'T..   what is does say is:

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"    Romans 10:9

Where does it say that it is our responsibility to shout from the rooftops that people are going to hell for who they are... NOWHERE!   I don't believe that Jesus condemned any person directly... so if the perfect "Christian" didn't do it... then why do we?

The book of James lays it out in the first chapter.

               "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

James 1:26-27

My thoughts:  If we stuck to these things in scripture the world would be a much happier place, and Ghandi may have been a Christian :)