Who do you want to live next door to?

People have a tendency to lump everyone together instead of sizing them up individually. Nowhere is it more prevalent than in racial matters and no one seems to escape being stereotyped.

Recently an African American cook at one of the congressional buildings in Washington DC got nationally chastised for stereotyping blacks when she put together a menu that she thought was honoring Black History Month. It featured fried chicken, black eyed peas, and other items normally included on a soul food menu.

It created a mild uproar for a day or two as the media speech police revolted against stereotyping and insulting blacks by labeling them as being fried chicken eaters. Whoopee Goldberg came out on national television and reminded the world that not all African Americans eat fried chicken or even watermelon and some can’t even dance.

Hmmm I can buy that. Not all Italians are mobsters; not all Latinos have a mistress; not all Columbians are in the cartel; not all Mexicans pick vegetables in California; not all Arabs are terrorists; not all University of Florida graduates pick their nose. I could go on, but I haven’t had my coffee yet.

The other day I chided a good friend of mine for being one of Obama’s “Fat Cats”. He happens to be the CEO of a large bank and President Obama has dubbed all CEO’s of large banks as “Fat Cats”. My buddy sighed and told me that since the economic downturn he has never worked harder and longer hours for less money and he is hardly a “Fat Cat”. (I might add that he works out every day, most of it spent on the treadmill and he’s as thin as a rail. He’s not even approaching being a “Chubby Cat”.)

I suppose Christians are the easiest targets for stereotyping. Does it bother you for the liberals to label you as a right wing religious fanatic? It does me. For one thing I’m left handed.

I have a friend who is Pentecostal. One day I was needling him and I referred to him as a “Holy Roller”. Unfazed he broadly smiled at me and said, “That’s right and I’m going to roll all over heaven!” — Good comeback!

Aren’t you glad that God looks individually at our hearts and does not stereotype us according to the color of our skin, our profession, where we live, our political persuasions, etc.? Regardless of all that stuff, God has invited one and all to accept His Son Jesus as their Savior and join Him in heaven forever. No one has been left off of the invitation list; it includes people of every color, from every continent and of every gender. We are all invited. Jesus Christ died for the entire world’s sins and this very moment He stands at the door and knocks.


Don’t want to share a meal or live next door to a Puerto Rican, White, African American, Latino, or Haitian? You won’t like heaven better start practicing


Revelation 3
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.