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Faith is a journey, not a destination
Driving home this evening, I slowed to a 4-way stop. There is a little Lutheran church to the right which always has the most interesting comments on their sign. I find myself looking at it every time to see if they have changed it.
Today, I spent a lot of my time thinking through some recent events, and a lot of my energy was spent being angry towards and sad about someone who has recently come into my life. We can refer to them as Person A. We are not related, and we really do not even speak, but because of person A's relationship to people I care very deeply about, I find that their actions affect me on a surprising level.
I couldn't stop thinking all morning about how hateful Person A is. How bitter. How full of anger. This is someone who claims Christianity, but has a biting tongue, unkind words, and is filled with animosity. In my "righteous indignation" I wanted so desperately to protect those whom I love that Person A was hurting. I also wanted to lash out. To show Person A how wrong they were.
As the day progressed, it became brighter, and even though I was exhausted by the end of it, the cloud I was carrying in my mind had lifted for the most part. As I drove home and saw that sign however, I was struck with the realization that yes. That person may be bitter, yes they may be cruel, selfish and unhappy. But I just allowed myself to be angry, I just allowed myself to be completely consumed by them and unproductive. Who am I to think that I am in any way a "better" Christian? Bitterness is a scary thing. It takes root, grows strongly, quickly, and takes hold of your life. It shifts your focus, changes your attitude, and affects those around you. It is something to fear and something to aks God for help with.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you
Faith is a journey, not a destination. That sign was a poignant reminder to me, that while some people's struggles may be more blatant than others, we are all still sinners. How many times do I fail daily in my walk with Christ?
Warning Warning: To all who may think on occasion (like myself) that you have "arrived".....you've probably just come to a grinding halt in your spiritual walk.
My Mom has taught me that there will always be someone out there who is a better singer than I am. So what can I do to stand out? Be a hard worker, be kind, be happy, be a joy to work with etc.....In order to get hired, you need to have something that catches people's interest, that sets you apart.
As Christians, we are to be set apart from the world. We are to be Loving. Patient. Kind. Joyful. There is always more that I can be working on. So persevere Dear Christian, and continue to grow through Christ who strnegthens you. Lets choose todday to live in the freedom He provides, and release any trace of bitterness or anger from our hearts.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
Luke 6:27-28
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you
Women and their Roles
Women's rights, women's freedom, and women's roles in society is a huge topic in today's church. Different denominations and religions hold drastically different opinions. Historically, women's opinions, thoughts, and value as a whole person are not respected as highly as a mans. Religions throughout history and even today, promote the degradation of women, and society is more blatant than ever with it's trafficking of women, acceptance of pornography as the norm, and nonchalant attitude towards women as objects of entertainment.
I actually had a conversation somewhat related to this with my boyfriend the other day. He knows a married guy who on Pinterest had a "sexy women" board. I was horrified as any women in any relationship would (and should) be. My boyfriend made the observation that his friend is a nice guy, has a daughter who he loves, is a good husband etc. His wife must not be bothered by it. I would (and correct me if I'm wrong ladies) be of the opinion that EVERY woman is bothered by it deep down, but because society says it's "OK" and she loves her husband or boyfriend, she lets it slide. I'm sure different women have different struggles and may react more or less strongly to it, but I cannot fathom not flinching at all, knowing your significant other ogles another woman. I said "It's just disrespectful [to his wife]". Of course, my awesome boyfriend agreed, and we moved on with our conversation.
This is just one small example of how society normalizes disrespecting women. Think about the movies you watch, the magazines that are at the gas station. A man cannot walk out of the house without easy access to visual temptation. How does religion fit into this equation? Well, religious groups take many different approaches, but more common than naught, they go to the conservative extreme which also devalues women. By forcing a woman to cover herself from head to toe, to be "submissive" with the interpretation of being a doormat, and stripping her of her right to have opinions and make decisions, religion has also devalued women as much or more so, than non-religious society.
Christianity is the one Faith that stands out from others in that since the beginning of time it has promoted respecting women, loving them sacrificially, and holding them in high regard.
What about "submission"? "What about women's roles in the church?" you may ask. Well, Scripture is Truth, and it is also consistent right? Well, those passages( 1 Cor 14 and Eph 5 for example), don't seem to be consistent with the rest of scripture. That is because, in my opinion, they are often misinterpreted.
Let's begin with the concept of submission. (Eph 5) Religious wackos and let's face it, MEN - like to interpret this passage as: "I am the head of the house, I get to make all the decisions, and my wife needs to be modest, humble, submissive and while she may feel free to state her opinion, I have the final say". Somehow, they completely ignore the verses that tell the husband to love his wife more than himself and to give her respect.
So what do we do? We dig deeper. English was not the language the Bible was originally written in, and as we know well from the word "love" in the Bible, English cannot always encompass the full meaning the authors intended. One visual I found particularly helpful for me, is actually architectural in nature. "As a column submits to the roof of a house so a wife submits to her husband". Wait, a column SUPPORTS the roof. It is a integral, and very very important part of the structure as a whole. All of a sudden, wives everywhere would agree that this fits into their spousal role. A simple shift in our thinking shed a completely different light on this passage.
I would also like to point out, that if you have a husband who loves you as Christ loves the church, and who respects you as the Bible commands him to, then deferring to his leadership role in the household is a piece of cake. Discussions may be had, and decisions made as equal partners in the marriage. I would caution any woman that is dating, or engaged that if your significant other pulls the "I'm the husband" card or "I'm the spiritual leader, defer to me" and/or does not voluntarily guard his eyes and heart, then you may need to take a serious look at his spiritual foundation, and talk about your expectations for the future. Believe me, I have been there and it is not a happy life.
Next we tackle the horribly uncomfortable passage that seemingly squishes women in the church (1 Cor 14). Again, dig deeper. In Jesus' society, women didn't GO to church. At all. Ever. They stayed at home, raised the children, and cooked for their husbands. Paul was actually doing an extreme thing here by inviting women INTO the church! Since it was new, instructions were being given as to what to wear, how to behave etc. Is this unreasonable?
Just some thoughts. You may or may not agree. To me, this unifies scripture and is consistent with the respect given to Esther, the Proverbs 31 Woman, Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, having female disciples, loving his mother, etc etc...
Speaking of the Proverbs 31 woman, this gives us a guide of behavior. A relationship is two sided and the woman has a lot of responsibility on her part too!
Proverbs 31
Her husband has full confidence in her!
She is a working, and profitable woman!
She is generous.
She is well dressed.
She is strong and dignified - full of character
She watches what she says.
She is a good wife and mother and her children and husband love her.
When men and women follow their respective "roles" that the Bible lays out (for our own happiness by the way) then the relationship is give and take, mutually respectful, and equal in importance. How fulfilling!
If a woman's perspective doesn't convince you, check out John MacArthur's interpretation of women in the Bible
I actually had a conversation somewhat related to this with my boyfriend the other day. He knows a married guy who on Pinterest had a "sexy women" board. I was horrified as any women in any relationship would (and should) be. My boyfriend made the observation that his friend is a nice guy, has a daughter who he loves, is a good husband etc. His wife must not be bothered by it. I would (and correct me if I'm wrong ladies) be of the opinion that EVERY woman is bothered by it deep down, but because society says it's "OK" and she loves her husband or boyfriend, she lets it slide. I'm sure different women have different struggles and may react more or less strongly to it, but I cannot fathom not flinching at all, knowing your significant other ogles another woman. I said "It's just disrespectful [to his wife]". Of course, my awesome boyfriend agreed, and we moved on with our conversation.
This is just one small example of how society normalizes disrespecting women. Think about the movies you watch, the magazines that are at the gas station. A man cannot walk out of the house without easy access to visual temptation. How does religion fit into this equation? Well, religious groups take many different approaches, but more common than naught, they go to the conservative extreme which also devalues women. By forcing a woman to cover herself from head to toe, to be "submissive" with the interpretation of being a doormat, and stripping her of her right to have opinions and make decisions, religion has also devalued women as much or more so, than non-religious society.
Christianity is the one Faith that stands out from others in that since the beginning of time it has promoted respecting women, loving them sacrificially, and holding them in high regard.
What about "submission"? "What about women's roles in the church?" you may ask. Well, Scripture is Truth, and it is also consistent right? Well, those passages( 1 Cor 14 and Eph 5 for example), don't seem to be consistent with the rest of scripture. That is because, in my opinion, they are often misinterpreted.
Let's begin with the concept of submission. (Eph 5) Religious wackos and let's face it, MEN - like to interpret this passage as: "I am the head of the house, I get to make all the decisions, and my wife needs to be modest, humble, submissive and while she may feel free to state her opinion, I have the final say". Somehow, they completely ignore the verses that tell the husband to love his wife more than himself and to give her respect.
So what do we do? We dig deeper. English was not the language the Bible was originally written in, and as we know well from the word "love" in the Bible, English cannot always encompass the full meaning the authors intended. One visual I found particularly helpful for me, is actually architectural in nature. "As a column submits to the roof of a house so a wife submits to her husband". Wait, a column SUPPORTS the roof. It is a integral, and very very important part of the structure as a whole. All of a sudden, wives everywhere would agree that this fits into their spousal role. A simple shift in our thinking shed a completely different light on this passage.
I would also like to point out, that if you have a husband who loves you as Christ loves the church, and who respects you as the Bible commands him to, then deferring to his leadership role in the household is a piece of cake. Discussions may be had, and decisions made as equal partners in the marriage. I would caution any woman that is dating, or engaged that if your significant other pulls the "I'm the husband" card or "I'm the spiritual leader, defer to me" and/or does not voluntarily guard his eyes and heart, then you may need to take a serious look at his spiritual foundation, and talk about your expectations for the future. Believe me, I have been there and it is not a happy life.
Next we tackle the horribly uncomfortable passage that seemingly squishes women in the church (1 Cor 14). Again, dig deeper. In Jesus' society, women didn't GO to church. At all. Ever. They stayed at home, raised the children, and cooked for their husbands. Paul was actually doing an extreme thing here by inviting women INTO the church! Since it was new, instructions were being given as to what to wear, how to behave etc. Is this unreasonable?
Just some thoughts. You may or may not agree. To me, this unifies scripture and is consistent with the respect given to Esther, the Proverbs 31 Woman, Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, having female disciples, loving his mother, etc etc...
Speaking of the Proverbs 31 woman, this gives us a guide of behavior. A relationship is two sided and the woman has a lot of responsibility on her part too!
Proverbs 31
Her husband has full confidence in her!
She is a working, and profitable woman!
She is generous.
She is well dressed.
She is strong and dignified - full of character
She watches what she says.
She is a good wife and mother and her children and husband love her.
When men and women follow their respective "roles" that the Bible lays out (for our own happiness by the way) then the relationship is give and take, mutually respectful, and equal in importance. How fulfilling!
If a woman's perspective doesn't convince you, check out John MacArthur's interpretation of women in the Bible
A Minute Post
Thought for the day:
When God places trials in your life, whether they be another person, a traumatic event, drama or unkind gossip about you etc....how we choose to respond to that trial is us choosing to let God mould our character into something beautiful....or not.
You never know what His plans are for you. A bitter acquaintance may be there to teach you kindness. A breakup may occur to teach you to depend on Christ more fully. In the depths of despair, we can choose to react in human nature and be unhappy with the path God leads us down, or we can respond with the knowledge that He has a magnificent future laid out for us - if we only receive His gentle instruction on how to get there.
His plans for you are beyond your imagination. Look back, and see how He is good :-)
When God places trials in your life, whether they be another person, a traumatic event, drama or unkind gossip about you etc....how we choose to respond to that trial is us choosing to let God mould our character into something beautiful....or not.
You never know what His plans are for you. A bitter acquaintance may be there to teach you kindness. A breakup may occur to teach you to depend on Christ more fully. In the depths of despair, we can choose to react in human nature and be unhappy with the path God leads us down, or we can respond with the knowledge that He has a magnificent future laid out for us - if we only receive His gentle instruction on how to get there.
His plans for you are beyond your imagination. Look back, and see how He is good :-)
Guilt Me no more - Part 2
Dear Friends,
I hope that my last post got you thinking about enjoying Jesus more. Our purpose on earth is to glorify God. How can we do this when we are always focusing on our constant failures? It is of great importance to be able to let go of your guilt and move on because if you cannot do this, I am afraid you are doomed to project your guilt wrongfully onto others.
As I was discussing my previous post with my Mom I made the comment that people get all defensive when I talk about these things because I focus on freedom in Christ so much. She looked surprised (rightfully so - it's a very silly response I think). For some reason, Christians see my bubbly attitude and persistent focus of having Joy in Christ and when I talk about releasing yourself from guilt so much they feel like they need to remind me of it. I assume they must think I am terribly prideful, or I must forget that I am redeemed because I simply don't walk around with enough humility and self degradation - so I must not get it. I must not take things seriously.
I realize releasing guilt from your own life is difficult. Trust me, it's a process and an effort. One of the main reasons to do this however is so that we can be obedient to Scripture by encouraging others. You have probably heard, or perhaps experienced, that if you have a fault or weakness it's easy to spot and project that sin or behavior onto others. It's no different with guilt. If you aren't daily rejoicing in Christ, then it's much easier to assume others aren't either and in your effort to justify yourself and your own beliefs you can make unfounded accusations and hurtful comments to others.
While confession to Christ is important and a humble spirit of thankfulness is a necessity, much damage can be done if you tell a sensitive Christian brother or sister how much of a sinner they are instead of encouraging them and reminding them to thank the Lord for forgiveness!
I consider myself to be a very conservative Christian. Most of the world would agree with that as well, except some very very conservative Christians that would label me as liberal. This puts me in a kind of awkward limbo. I believe that there are many life issues where two genuine Christians can look at the same scripture passage and come up with two different convictions. I also believe that this is perfectly acceptable. (Excluding some blatant theological basics that are black and white in Scripture such as Jesus being the only Savior, the Trinity, and one God that created the world etc). I've run into a lot of Christians that are not ok with this concept at all and so I have been accused of sinning, simply because I disagree with them.
Personal example: let's touch on the uncomfortable topic of physical intimacy before marriage. There are some Christians who hold the conviction that they are not to be physically intimate in any way with their significant other before marriage. This includes kissing. I disagree with that, but I can also understand it, respect it, and encourage that person in their conviction should they ask me to do so. Although my personal convictions allow me to kiss my boyfriend, some people have a hard time extending the same courtesy to me, assuming since they are convicted differently in their own life, that my standard must be lower and will inevitably lead me down the slippery slope to sex before marriage (which i would agree is unscriptural).
There are many valid reasons for conviction and - listen closely when I say this - *I believe that God can convict different people differently*. Let's stay on the topic of kissing just as a basic example. The Bible has no specific regulations, laws, rights or wrongs about this - so I think it's quite plausible for many Christians to have many different views on this subject.
To illustrate, let's say Person A has had physical relationships in the past that she felt like went too far (outside of marriage) and so she has set more stringent boundaries going forward. This is completely reasonable and I would encourage her in that if it is her conviction. Person B on the other hand is perfectly fine kissing her boyfriend but has set standards of going absolutely no farther, and within the confines of kissing has set limits to prevent getting to a point of regret. That too is acceptable and I would encourage her in that. Just as we have different personalities, and different strengths and weaknesses, we are allowed to have different convictions on a variety of subjects.
My challenge to you is to stop freaking out if someone has different standards than you. Stop for a second and think about what sin is. Also think about the heart of the person that makes you uncomfortable. Think about the big picture, and think about what the Bible actually says regarding a topic - it may be different from what you assume you should believe.
One last thought - how did Jesus treat people? He was always gentle, loving, forgiving, and never accusatory. The only people He would get angry at were those who thought they were better than everyone else and flaunted it publicly - because their hearts weren't in the right place. So please, watch what you say to a friend who thinks differently. You could be the encouraging light in their life, or you could be a judgemental hypocrite. Watch your words, watch your actions and take a seriously long look at your motivation. Most of all, let them speak and listen carefully to where they come from. It may be God trying to shake YOU up!
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Guilt me no more - Part 1
In my previous post I opened up several different topic trains: denominations, limiting God, and judging other Christians unnecessarily. These are all things that you will see come up in future posts as they affect many aspects of our thinking and behavior as believers. Another thing I will repeatedly harp on is guilt, which brings me to today's post. I drafted and re-drafted this before coming to the conclusion that it needs to be a two-parter. Part 1 will focus on the importance of eliminating the guilt from our own lives. Part 2 will focus on how we may intentionally or unintentionally guilt others. I feel that if we cannot eliminate guilt first then we will always accuse and guilt others, so it's good to think it through in this order.
Guilt. It's something every believer struggles with. As soon as you embrace the concept that we are born sinners, feeling unworthy and guilty becomes like second nature. It's easy. We never achieve perfection on earth, yet we are to strive daily to become more Christlike, a seemingly insurmountable task...all of a sudden everything you do is full of flaws. Humans by nature are selfish, quick to anger, and impatient. I know those are three very major struggles in my life.
Here's the exciting part. Jesus came to FREE us from guilt! When I was going through my divorce, I was receiving Christian counseling. One of the main things we had to work through was how to release guilt from my life. I grew up a people pleas-er and cared very much about others' opinions. This had been such a problem in my life that it went beyond receiving godly advice to feeling some sort of extreme form of subconscious pressure to do what I thought OTHERS thought was right....essentially no longer making my own decisions. It was a long process to get to the point where I can say to myself "I don't care what others think." The point of this is not to be self-righteous or to make you think I've achieved some extreme enlightenment, but I will tell you, that in my life this was a huge revelation. This has allowed me more confidence in many aspects of my life including my performing abilities with singing. The point is, we should ALL feel this way. Who cares what other people think? If you know what the Bible says and you are firm on your conviction through prayerful consideration then that's first and foremost. There will always be someone who has a different opinion than you - so know what you believe and have peace in your heart about it.
How often does the Bible talk about being released from our guilt? And how often do we achieve this? I heard something once that has really stuck with me. If you ask God to forgive you, He does.The first time. If we ask over and over and over again it's offensive because He has already done it! Our constant request of forgiveness for something he's forgotten is rude. Why do we do this? Because we cannot forgive ourselves.
Guilt. It's something every believer struggles with. As soon as you embrace the concept that we are born sinners, feeling unworthy and guilty becomes like second nature. It's easy. We never achieve perfection on earth, yet we are to strive daily to become more Christlike, a seemingly insurmountable task...all of a sudden everything you do is full of flaws. Humans by nature are selfish, quick to anger, and impatient. I know those are three very major struggles in my life.
Here's the exciting part. Jesus came to FREE us from guilt! When I was going through my divorce, I was receiving Christian counseling. One of the main things we had to work through was how to release guilt from my life. I grew up a people pleas-er and cared very much about others' opinions. This had been such a problem in my life that it went beyond receiving godly advice to feeling some sort of extreme form of subconscious pressure to do what I thought OTHERS thought was right....essentially no longer making my own decisions. It was a long process to get to the point where I can say to myself "I don't care what others think." The point of this is not to be self-righteous or to make you think I've achieved some extreme enlightenment, but I will tell you, that in my life this was a huge revelation. This has allowed me more confidence in many aspects of my life including my performing abilities with singing. The point is, we should ALL feel this way. Who cares what other people think? If you know what the Bible says and you are firm on your conviction through prayerful consideration then that's first and foremost. There will always be someone who has a different opinion than you - so know what you believe and have peace in your heart about it.
Gal 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore
keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
How often does the Bible talk about being released from our guilt? And how often do we achieve this? I heard something once that has really stuck with me. If you ask God to forgive you, He does.The first time. If we ask over and over and over again it's offensive because He has already done it! Our constant request of forgiveness for something he's forgotten is rude. Why do we do this? Because we cannot forgive ourselves.
Think about it. And learn to let it go. I have been surrounded by so many people consumed with guilt - and do you know what it does? It turns our focus inward. To our self. We continue to beat ourselves up as the devil giggles with delight that we are currently distracted from doing what we are supposed to do. As Christians, where is our focus to be? On Christ and on others....which leads us to why it so desperately important to watch what you say to fellow believers (in part 2) :-)
Rom 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life
has set you free from the law of sin and death.
What's in a name?
I am a Christian and unashamed to admit it . I do not believe in denominations, I believe in Jesus. Once you begin to claim a denomination, it has the tendency to soak itself into your very identity. You then begin to live by dogma rather than conviction through scripture. Christians of all denominations tend to believe in what I call "God in a box". That box has very distinct corners, and walls which we are defined by our denomination and we are quite comfortable living with God in that box.
Catholics have church law, catechisms, levels of sin (mortal sin or not mortal sin?),and human demands outside of scripture. So much so that church goers are bogged down with rules, regulations, and most of all confusion. Protestants on the other hand throw off all the external substances (except for perhaps their home church constitution if it has one) and work very hard at internalizing guilt among its members through sermons, accountability groups and the constant reminder that we are all sinners (as if we aren't terribly aware of that fact already)
Now. Why am I blogging about denominations? Because. When you identify yourself as "a Baptist" (just as an example) instead of simply "a Christian", then you tend to view the world with a Baptist lens. Which means, *should God want to teach you something outside the realm of Baptist traditions, you may very well not be willing to accept it.* And it is at this point that we have a problem. Most people don't realize they do this.... most people also don't realize how addicted they are to coffee and sugar until they stop having it every day ( more personal experience right there) :-)
When you open your world up to the possibility that God is a vast, wonderful, loving God that lives OUTSIDE of your comfortable box, then maybe you can begin to grasp the details of his design for your life. But you have to let go of preconceptions or this won't work.
I believe that God is constant. I believe He is Holy, Perfect and True. I also believe that to be a successful church, to have a loving accountability group and live in the freedom that Christ provides, we have to focus on the right things. And I also believe that we need to be willing agree to disagree with other believers - without automatically assuming they are sinning if they have a different thought than ours. (GASP!!!!)......but more on this later :)
Catholics have church law, catechisms, levels of sin (mortal sin or not mortal sin?),and human demands outside of scripture. So much so that church goers are bogged down with rules, regulations, and most of all confusion. Protestants on the other hand throw off all the external substances (except for perhaps their home church constitution if it has one) and work very hard at internalizing guilt among its members through sermons, accountability groups and the constant reminder that we are all sinners (as if we aren't terribly aware of that fact already)
Now. Why am I blogging about denominations? Because. When you identify yourself as "a Baptist" (just as an example) instead of simply "a Christian", then you tend to view the world with a Baptist lens. Which means, *should God want to teach you something outside the realm of Baptist traditions, you may very well not be willing to accept it.* And it is at this point that we have a problem. Most people don't realize they do this.... most people also don't realize how addicted they are to coffee and sugar until they stop having it every day ( more personal experience right there) :-)
When you open your world up to the possibility that God is a vast, wonderful, loving God that lives OUTSIDE of your comfortable box, then maybe you can begin to grasp the details of his design for your life. But you have to let go of preconceptions or this won't work.
I believe that God is constant. I believe He is Holy, Perfect and True. I also believe that to be a successful church, to have a loving accountability group and live in the freedom that Christ provides, we have to focus on the right things. And I also believe that we need to be willing agree to disagree with other believers - without automatically assuming they are sinning if they have a different thought than ours. (GASP!!!!)......but more on this later :)
Are YOU ready?
Hello,
If you are reading this blog, more than likely you are intrigued (or offended) by the title of it. Allow me give a brief introduction to it and explain what I hope to accomplish with it.
I am 25 years old and have so far lived quite a full and interesting life which I hope to continue for a very long time. God has thrown many trials my way all of which have shaped me and continue to change me into a better person. I generally find his tests to be a refining fire for my soul. This being said, I have had many experiences that others my age have not and therefore I find that the lens with which I view life is often a bit...different. I love Jesus, and He is the reason past experiences have not turned me into a bitter person but rather one that is MORE capable of loving others because of new understanding. I'm a sharer and so I want everyone to know the excitement of a real relationship with Jesus - one that brings freedom and joy that you cannot imagine.
Let me state a few disclaimers here. I am human and I am a very opinionated (and fallible!) human. There will most likely be thoughts on here that you disagree with. I hope to challenge your thinking, and I ask you to be open-minded. I hope to raise questions, to break the stereotype of stuffy conservative thinking, and I certainly and most importantly, hope to shake you up enough that you look directly to scripture to see if your beliefs/thoughts/opinions really come from it! We may end up agreeing to disagree on things - but as long as you seek His Truth first and foremost, that's all I ask :)
Send me topics you'd like to talk about - I have a full list of topics already, but would like to know what you are interested in as well!
Let's begin our journey shall we?
If you are reading this blog, more than likely you are intrigued (or offended) by the title of it. Allow me give a brief introduction to it and explain what I hope to accomplish with it.
I am 25 years old and have so far lived quite a full and interesting life which I hope to continue for a very long time. God has thrown many trials my way all of which have shaped me and continue to change me into a better person. I generally find his tests to be a refining fire for my soul. This being said, I have had many experiences that others my age have not and therefore I find that the lens with which I view life is often a bit...different. I love Jesus, and He is the reason past experiences have not turned me into a bitter person but rather one that is MORE capable of loving others because of new understanding. I'm a sharer and so I want everyone to know the excitement of a real relationship with Jesus - one that brings freedom and joy that you cannot imagine.
Let me state a few disclaimers here. I am human and I am a very opinionated (and fallible!) human. There will most likely be thoughts on here that you disagree with. I hope to challenge your thinking, and I ask you to be open-minded. I hope to raise questions, to break the stereotype of stuffy conservative thinking, and I certainly and most importantly, hope to shake you up enough that you look directly to scripture to see if your beliefs/thoughts/opinions really come from it! We may end up agreeing to disagree on things - but as long as you seek His Truth first and foremost, that's all I ask :)
Send me topics you'd like to talk about - I have a full list of topics already, but would like to know what you are interested in as well!
Let's begin our journey shall we?