10 February 2017
HB1386 Sentiments
Thank you to each of the individuals and the many organizations that fought again for continuing the battle for
01 February 2017
HOUSE BILL 1386: House Human Services Hearing
HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017
HOUSE BILL 1386: Relating to prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Please include with the Committee Hearing testimony journal for public record
Chair Robin Weisz, Vice Chair Karen M. Rohr, Members of the 2017 House Human Services Committee, and fellow citizens of North Dakota, Greetings. My name is Kevin R. Tengesdal, and as a citizen of North Dakota, I resolutely request a unanimous DO PASS on House Bill 1386 as presented.
17 January 2017
Rambling Journal Entry #170117: So, minorities. Think about it a bit more.
Rambling Journal Entry #170117: So, minorities. Think about it a bit more.
30 December 2016
Five-year Summary Report * Years 2012-2016 * Kevin R. Tengesdal
Five-year Summary Report * Years 2012-2016 * Kevin R. Tengesdal * Bismarck, North Dakota
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21 December 2016
together
my hand reaches
your hand receives
my hands give
my heart yearns
your heart bleeds
my heart cares
my ears hear
your eyes see
my feet run
life hurts me
life wounds you
life becomes aware
together we battle
together we encourage
together we grow
giving
caring
running
aware
we grow
your hand receives
my hands give
my heart yearns
your heart bleeds
my heart cares
my ears hear
your eyes see
my feet run
life hurts me
life wounds you
life becomes aware
together we battle
together we encourage
together we grow
giving
caring
running
aware
we grow
01 October 2016
Which Gospel
Friends, in the name of Christ, Greetings.
Here in 2016, the rally cries are loud and persistent. "Make America great again!" "Bring God back to our nation!" "We need Christian leaders!" Fundamentalists will have us to believe that we are a heathen nation heading to hell in a hand-basket. Yet, for many continuous years, a vast majority of our policy makers and shakers proudly wear the Christian moniker, often with an (R) attached to their name.
The American Christian Fundamentalism sect is just over a hundred years old. In the grand scheme of the ancient two-thousand years history of the Christian faith, it is but a newborn. Judaism, of which Jesus the Christ lived, originates in an Eastern philosophical mindset, completely foreign to a Western mindset. To me, the ACF too often carries itself as if it were a cult.
Lucy Patrick has commented: "Although we live in a democracy, cult behavior manifests itself in our unwillingness to question the judgment of our leaders, our tendency to devalue outsiders and to avoid dissent. We can overcome cult behavior, he says, by recognizing that we have dependency needs that are inappropriate for mature people, by increasing anti-authoritarian education, and by encouraging personal autonomy and the free exchange of ideas." [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult]
From the vantage point of evangelical Christianity, one definition might be: A cult is a perversion of the gospel, based upon an unholy devotion to a person, a principle, or both.
"Cult behavior reflects the wish for a loving, accepting sibling group that is protected and cherished by a powerful, omnipotent parent. The problem with such a wish and its accompanying fantasy is that no human being can fill the role of the superparent, and adults can never again be children. To preserve the fantasy, reality must be distorted, because of this distortion, cult behavior results in a loss of realism." For many, the ACF was "initially very warm and loving, until it would reveal its cold, punitive side whenever someone questioned the [ACF] beliefs or behavior. Such dissent was labeled “selfish” or “evil,” and group approval was withdrawn and the dissenter isolated." [http://www.deikman.com/former.html]
It's as if the ACF wants God to fit in their definition of Him, and want to challenge any who dare to believe any different. How is it that they know that their infant belief system is greater than the whole history of the Christian religion? How is it that any other faith practice is deemed inferior?
God's grace and mercy is a mysterious gem with a myriad of unique facets waiting to be discovered. The hard-lined interpretation of the Bible should not be worshipped. The living Word of God is he who we are to emulate and follow. A strict literal following of Scripture by the ACF puts them in contrast to the compassion and welcome that Christ has asked us to share.
The Apostle Paul aptly reminds us, in the book of Galatians, "I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News, but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ."
I am but another mere human with countless flaws, seeking to please God alone, following his grace. My question to followers within the ACF, which gospel is your life showing to the world? Would the world see Jesus the Christ in your condemnations, your judgements, your demanding conformity?
For now,
Kevin R. Tengesdal
Here in 2016, the rally cries are loud and persistent. "Make America great again!" "Bring God back to our nation!" "We need Christian leaders!" Fundamentalists will have us to believe that we are a heathen nation heading to hell in a hand-basket. Yet, for many continuous years, a vast majority of our policy makers and shakers proudly wear the Christian moniker, often with an (R) attached to their name.
The American Christian Fundamentalism sect is just over a hundred years old. In the grand scheme of the ancient two-thousand years history of the Christian faith, it is but a newborn. Judaism, of which Jesus the Christ lived, originates in an Eastern philosophical mindset, completely foreign to a Western mindset. To me, the ACF too often carries itself as if it were a cult.
Lucy Patrick has commented: "Although we live in a democracy, cult behavior manifests itself in our unwillingness to question the judgment of our leaders, our tendency to devalue outsiders and to avoid dissent. We can overcome cult behavior, he says, by recognizing that we have dependency needs that are inappropriate for mature people, by increasing anti-authoritarian education, and by encouraging personal autonomy and the free exchange of ideas." [ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult]
From the vantage point of evangelical Christianity, one definition might be: A cult is a perversion of the gospel, based upon an unholy devotion to a person, a principle, or both.
"Cult behavior reflects the wish for a loving, accepting sibling group that is protected and cherished by a powerful, omnipotent parent. The problem with such a wish and its accompanying fantasy is that no human being can fill the role of the superparent, and adults can never again be children. To preserve the fantasy, reality must be distorted, because of this distortion, cult behavior results in a loss of realism." For many, the ACF was "initially very warm and loving, until it would reveal its cold, punitive side whenever someone questioned the [ACF] beliefs or behavior. Such dissent was labeled “selfish” or “evil,” and group approval was withdrawn and the dissenter isolated." [http://www.deikman.com/former.html]
It's as if the ACF wants God to fit in their definition of Him, and want to challenge any who dare to believe any different. How is it that they know that their infant belief system is greater than the whole history of the Christian religion? How is it that any other faith practice is deemed inferior?
God's grace and mercy is a mysterious gem with a myriad of unique facets waiting to be discovered. The hard-lined interpretation of the Bible should not be worshipped. The living Word of God is he who we are to emulate and follow. A strict literal following of Scripture by the ACF puts them in contrast to the compassion and welcome that Christ has asked us to share.
The Apostle Paul aptly reminds us, in the book of Galatians, "I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News, but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ."
I am but another mere human with countless flaws, seeking to please God alone, following his grace. My question to followers within the ACF, which gospel is your life showing to the world? Would the world see Jesus the Christ in your condemnations, your judgements, your demanding conformity?
For now,
Kevin R. Tengesdal
16 September 2016
2016 Bismarck-Mandan Out of the Darkness Community Walk Address
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121
Kevin R Tengesdal’s address with the 2016 Bismarck-Mandan Out of the Darkness Community Walk to help bring awareness to suicide attempts, depression, and PTSD, along with the stigma and silence of men and crisis mental health situations.
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