Cliche, I know. New Years resolutions are often mocked because no one ever carries through with them. But I think it's important to share your New Years resolutions, otherwise, they just become more broken promises to yourself. So I'm sharing mine with you, so you can keep me accountable.
1. Run a half-marathon: In May, I will be running thirteen-ish miles. Since the most I've ever run is seven consecutive miles, you can guess why I'm a little nervous. Plus, it's been three years since I was serious about running. But, as a good friend put it, I have to "get back on the horse" and make it God's race, not mine.
2. Eat less chocolate: Since I will be running this half-marathon, I figure I should cut back on chocolate, and any other sugar that I occasionally/frequently indulge in. This is going to be especially hard because I just received about a pound of m&m's for Christmas. Chocolate anyone??
3. Be a better friend: This one is really important to me. If I succeed at nothing else, I hope I can keep this resolution. I tend to hold grudges towards my friends. Obviously, I'm tired of being angry with them. So, I resolve to be a better friend and let go of the grudges.
4. Better grades: I'll admit, junior year has been really hard for me. I've never been an A plus student, but I know I can do better than what I've been doing. I'm going to study harder and do whatever it takes, but I will get better grades!
5. No more complaining: We all should work at this one. I think I'm a pretty positive, optimistic person. But sometimes I get a case of the blues and will go on forever about whatever and that needs to stop! No more complaining, not from you, not from me.
6. Re-defining beauty: Our society focus' so much on what beauty isn't. Let's focus on what beauty is. As Lindsay and Lexie Kite put it, 2012 is going to be the end of body hatred as we know it . . . AKA the body hate apocalypse.
7. Save my money: Now that I have a job (did I mention I have a job now?!) I am making a lot of mula . . . or just minimum wage, same thing. I'm pretty sure I've been shopping more in the past month than I had been all year! So it's time to save my money, both for a trip to France and for college. Did you notice how France comes first?
8. Drink more water: I am always drinking water during the summer and I always have to go to the bathroom. Since teachers never allow you to go to the bathroom during class (ahem!) I drink less and, therefore, am never hydrated. So I'm going to start drinking more water, I'll just have to walk a little bit faster in between class periods.
9. Save the planet: Now this one is for you too. Do your part. When you go to the grocery store, ask them not to use so many bags when bagging your items or, even better, bring those reusable grocery bags. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, buy reusable ones. Recycle everything! Pretty much everything is recyclable nowadays. Use energy efficient light bulbs and turn the lights OFF when you leave a room. Instead of constantly using your garage door, use the front door for once (if you're not taking a car, that is). Shorten your shower by a minute or five. Don't leave your car running! You'd be surprised by how much this can make a difference.
10. Make God number one priority: When I got back from camp at the end of the summer everything seemed so perfect. And maybe I don't need perfect but I've been slacking off on my time with God lately. So before any of that other stuff happens, God comes first.
Happy 2012 everyone! And no, the world is not going to end based on the Mayan calendar.
What are your New Years Resolutions??
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Heaven or Hell?
I was talking to a friend the other day about heaven and hell. This friend asked me if he was going to heaven. What a strange thing to ask someone. So I asked him if he was a Christian. And he replied with the standard answer "I go to church." So I asked him if he prayed and he said yes and I asked "When do you pray?" He replied that he prayed when he needed help and sadly, I told him that if he were to die right then and there, he would not be going to heaven.
Why don't people get it? Praying and going to church on Christmas&Easter doesn't make you a Christian. I'm not sure if it's right to tell people they aren't going to heaven, but I also don't think it's right to let them believe everything is fine and dandy. If praying when you needed help was what got you into heaven, everyone would get there.
I hate to be a "debbie downer," but James 2:19 says, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder." So if even demons know that their is a God, doesn't that mean that just because you recognize a higher power doesn't mean that he recognizes you. You have to know Him as your Savior and ask Him to forgive you.
1 Corinthinans 15:54-57 says, "Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."
There is no "good" Christian, because there is no "good" person. We have to accept the saving grace of Jesus' shed blood and let Him change us.
I wish I could tell you that you're going to heaven. But it's so easy already! Jesus loves you no matter what. God created you. But you have to come to Him first, before He can come to you.
Why don't people get it? Praying and going to church on Christmas&Easter doesn't make you a Christian. I'm not sure if it's right to tell people they aren't going to heaven, but I also don't think it's right to let them believe everything is fine and dandy. If praying when you needed help was what got you into heaven, everyone would get there.
I hate to be a "debbie downer," but James 2:19 says, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder." So if even demons know that their is a God, doesn't that mean that just because you recognize a higher power doesn't mean that he recognizes you. You have to know Him as your Savior and ask Him to forgive you.
1 Corinthinans 15:54-57 says, "Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."
There is no "good" Christian, because there is no "good" person. We have to accept the saving grace of Jesus' shed blood and let Him change us.
I wish I could tell you that you're going to heaven. But it's so easy already! Jesus loves you no matter what. God created you. But you have to come to Him first, before He can come to you.
Hear the Bells.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
Okay, so I'm a little late; late as in you-already-forgot-what-your-presents-were late. But hey, better late than never.
On Christmas Day, they played the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow wrote this song after his wife died and his son was crippled while fighting in the Civil War. The day before she died, Longfellow's wife, Fanny, wrote in her journal: "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land, one filled with dust." The story of Fanny's death is tragic, but it led to something beautiful. After years of grief over his wife's death, Longfellow wrote the words to his poem "Christmas Bells" on Christmas Day of 1864.
As the congregation sang this song at church on Christmas morning, I just felt so burdened with life, I guess you could say. The song fit so well with my emotions:
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day.
There old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
For some reason I always get the "holiday blues." Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Christmas, and four weeks between Thanksgiving and December 25th is "the most wonderful time of the year" for me. And then January comes, and the horrible cold winter, and life just seems so hopeless.
The third stanza of the song goes like this:
"And in despair I bowed my head:
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'"
You feel so lifeless and wonder what more is there to life?
And:
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'"
God is not dead. Jesus was born on Christmas to die for us so that we may live for him. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Okay, so I'm a little late; late as in you-already-forgot-what-your-presents-were late. But hey, better late than never.
On Christmas Day, they played the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow wrote this song after his wife died and his son was crippled while fighting in the Civil War. The day before she died, Longfellow's wife, Fanny, wrote in her journal: "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land, one filled with dust." The story of Fanny's death is tragic, but it led to something beautiful. After years of grief over his wife's death, Longfellow wrote the words to his poem "Christmas Bells" on Christmas Day of 1864.
As the congregation sang this song at church on Christmas morning, I just felt so burdened with life, I guess you could say. The song fit so well with my emotions:
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day.
There old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
For some reason I always get the "holiday blues." Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Christmas, and four weeks between Thanksgiving and December 25th is "the most wonderful time of the year" for me. And then January comes, and the horrible cold winter, and life just seems so hopeless.
The third stanza of the song goes like this:
"And in despair I bowed my head:
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'"
You feel so lifeless and wonder what more is there to life?
And:
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'"
God is not dead. Jesus was born on Christmas to die for us so that we may live for him. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Beginning of Existence
Heartbeat. Toes, fingers; nails and all. Eyelids, sight for the first time. Ears, listening to your every word. A mind, an individual, a human. Heartbeat. The beginning of a life.
. . . just a fetus??
Or is it a baby . . .
Fact: Half of pregnancies in the United States are unintended.
If everyone just waited until marriage to have sex this wouldn't be a problem. I'm not saying all of these pregnancies happened outside of marriage, but I'm sure a great deal of them did. I love the movie To Save A Life because it one of the stories in that movie is about a pregnant teenage girl. Amy doesn't want to disappoint her mother and so she decides to have an abortion. However, her boyfriend, Jake, decides that he doesn't want his child to die and he and Amy decide to give the baby up for adoption. I realize how hard it can be to be a pregnant teenager, but there are consequences for your actions, and a baby is one of the best things that could happen. There are so many options outside of abortion. Don't murder a child because you made a mistake.
Fact: One in ten women will have an abortion by age twenty, one in four by age thirty, and three in ten by age forty five. Twenty-two percent of pregnancies end in abortion.
Fact: Eighteen percent of women in the United States who get abortions are teenagers.
I wonder how many of those abortions are regretted later? Most of them I'm guessing. I'm trying not to make any judgments, really, but how can you kill your own child? I wonder how many of these teenagers tell their parents their pregnant before making the decision.
Fact: About sixty one percent of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children.
This is the most sad statistic I found. How could a mother kill her child when she already knows what a blessing they can be? I was reading stories about women who regretted having an abortion. One women said that she will regret it for the rest of her life. Another said that it hurts to know that she murdered her firstborn. Still another said, "I regret what I have done and I have to live with the fact that I killed an innocent child." Think before you act, you don't want to make a decision you will regret for the rest of your life
Fact: Worldwide, forty six million babies are murdered due to abortion. That's one baby every two seconds.
I watched a video a few weeks ago that compared abortion to the Holocaust. The film 180 begins with interviews with people off the street who believe that the Holocaust can be justified or deny that it ever happened. The interviewers go on to ask questions about abortion. Ray Comfort, the narrator of this film, said that allowing Americans to have abortions is exactly like when Hitler had the sanctioned of the German people to kill the Jews. Some people might find this extreme, but the fact is that more innocent babies have been killed in American than Jews killed in the German Holocaust.
So what do you think? Is abortion justified? Or is it cold-blooded murder?
Information on abortion found here and here.
. . . just a fetus??
Or is it a baby . . .
Fact: Half of pregnancies in the United States are unintended.
If everyone just waited until marriage to have sex this wouldn't be a problem. I'm not saying all of these pregnancies happened outside of marriage, but I'm sure a great deal of them did. I love the movie To Save A Life because it one of the stories in that movie is about a pregnant teenage girl. Amy doesn't want to disappoint her mother and so she decides to have an abortion. However, her boyfriend, Jake, decides that he doesn't want his child to die and he and Amy decide to give the baby up for adoption. I realize how hard it can be to be a pregnant teenager, but there are consequences for your actions, and a baby is one of the best things that could happen. There are so many options outside of abortion. Don't murder a child because you made a mistake.
Fact: One in ten women will have an abortion by age twenty, one in four by age thirty, and three in ten by age forty five. Twenty-two percent of pregnancies end in abortion.
Fact: Eighteen percent of women in the United States who get abortions are teenagers.
I wonder how many of those abortions are regretted later? Most of them I'm guessing. I'm trying not to make any judgments, really, but how can you kill your own child? I wonder how many of these teenagers tell their parents their pregnant before making the decision.
Fact: About sixty one percent of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children.
This is the most sad statistic I found. How could a mother kill her child when she already knows what a blessing they can be? I was reading stories about women who regretted having an abortion. One women said that she will regret it for the rest of her life. Another said that it hurts to know that she murdered her firstborn. Still another said, "I regret what I have done and I have to live with the fact that I killed an innocent child." Think before you act, you don't want to make a decision you will regret for the rest of your life
Fact: Worldwide, forty six million babies are murdered due to abortion. That's one baby every two seconds.
I watched a video a few weeks ago that compared abortion to the Holocaust. The film 180 begins with interviews with people off the street who believe that the Holocaust can be justified or deny that it ever happened. The interviewers go on to ask questions about abortion. Ray Comfort, the narrator of this film, said that allowing Americans to have abortions is exactly like when Hitler had the sanctioned of the German people to kill the Jews. Some people might find this extreme, but the fact is that more innocent babies have been killed in American than Jews killed in the German Holocaust.
So what do you think? Is abortion justified? Or is it cold-blooded murder?
Information on abortion found here and here.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Thin Ideal
I once read a story about a mother who walked in on her six year old attempting to purge because the kids at school called her fat. A six year old! At first I didn't believe it. Children that age are, well, children. All they think about is playing, eating sugar, and waiting for they day that they're finally "grown up."
And then I read about how children's toys are teaching toddlers sexual objectifications. Did you know about some of the toys they have out there now? I had no idea! But it makes sense.
The first toy that comes to mind is the Barbie doll. Barbie has been loved by almost every girl in America, including myself. After all, she's perfect. That's the problem . . . no human being - breathing, eating, flesh and blood human being - has a body like Barbie. The original Barbie was created in 1959 and automatically became the number one doll for little girls all across America. She began her career looking like an almost-normal person. I'm sure you have all heard that if Barbie was a human being she would be missing a rib and be severely underweight. This has only gotten worse in the last fifty years. The Barbie dolls manufactured today are created to emphasize a thin waist and, to put it in a nice way, is quite grown-up.
Barbie isn't the only children's toy that gives children distorted views of beauty. Apparently My Little Pony is now creating horses with luscious hair, long legs, and pink high heels! And did you know that ponies love accessories and make-up? Troll dolls are also toys that have been made to look less like trolls and more like scantily dressed teenage girls.
Not only are toys being sexualized, but children's television shows are teaching fewer morals and giving more fashion tips. Let me remind you, these shows target three to six year olds. In a show featuring a fairy named Rainbow Bright, the characters wear revealing clothing and some might say they speak in seductive tones.
Why are the toy manufacturing companies and the media targeting children? The thin ideal in our society has gone so far as to make six year olds feel fat. They see the stereotypes that fat equals lazy, stupid, and a person with no friends and put themselves in that position. Everywhere you look the media points towards "thin and beautiful" people to be kind, popular, smart, everything that a "fat" person isn't. Thinness does not equal goodness.
To the parents out there and especially the mothers: don't ever call yourself or someone else fat, ugly, or stupid in front of your child. You have no idea how much those words can influence them. Help your children. Teach them how to be healthy, to exercise and to eat right, and don't ever let them think that if they aren't skinny they aren't worthy of your love.
I recently saw a commercial for the show Toddlers in Tiaras. There are some messed up people on that show. One of the mothers said that if you aren't pretty and skinny you won't go anywhere in life. My heart breaks for her daughter and for all the little girls on that show. And I pity the mothers because they probably are teaching their children what they were taught growing up. Is this what our society has come to? If you aren't pretty and perfect you're nothing?
Don't let your children believe the lies the media is feeding us. Don't let this be a lost generation.
And then I read about how children's toys are teaching toddlers sexual objectifications. Did you know about some of the toys they have out there now? I had no idea! But it makes sense.
The first toy that comes to mind is the Barbie doll. Barbie has been loved by almost every girl in America, including myself. After all, she's perfect. That's the problem . . . no human being - breathing, eating, flesh and blood human being - has a body like Barbie. The original Barbie was created in 1959 and automatically became the number one doll for little girls all across America. She began her career looking like an almost-normal person. I'm sure you have all heard that if Barbie was a human being she would be missing a rib and be severely underweight. This has only gotten worse in the last fifty years. The Barbie dolls manufactured today are created to emphasize a thin waist and, to put it in a nice way, is quite grown-up.
Barbie isn't the only children's toy that gives children distorted views of beauty. Apparently My Little Pony is now creating horses with luscious hair, long legs, and pink high heels! And did you know that ponies love accessories and make-up? Troll dolls are also toys that have been made to look less like trolls and more like scantily dressed teenage girls.
Not only are toys being sexualized, but children's television shows are teaching fewer morals and giving more fashion tips. Let me remind you, these shows target three to six year olds. In a show featuring a fairy named Rainbow Bright, the characters wear revealing clothing and some might say they speak in seductive tones.
Why are the toy manufacturing companies and the media targeting children? The thin ideal in our society has gone so far as to make six year olds feel fat. They see the stereotypes that fat equals lazy, stupid, and a person with no friends and put themselves in that position. Everywhere you look the media points towards "thin and beautiful" people to be kind, popular, smart, everything that a "fat" person isn't. Thinness does not equal goodness.
To the parents out there and especially the mothers: don't ever call yourself or someone else fat, ugly, or stupid in front of your child. You have no idea how much those words can influence them. Help your children. Teach them how to be healthy, to exercise and to eat right, and don't ever let them think that if they aren't skinny they aren't worthy of your love.
I recently saw a commercial for the show Toddlers in Tiaras. There are some messed up people on that show. One of the mothers said that if you aren't pretty and skinny you won't go anywhere in life. My heart breaks for her daughter and for all the little girls on that show. And I pity the mothers because they probably are teaching their children what they were taught growing up. Is this what our society has come to? If you aren't pretty and perfect you're nothing?
Don't let your children believe the lies the media is feeding us. Don't let this be a lost generation.
Happy Holidays?? Pshh . . . Get Real!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Oh no! What did I just say?
Say it louder? Okay!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Yeah, that should do it.
You know what makes me mad? When people refuse to say "Merry Christmas" and replace it with "Happy Holidays." Who do you think you are to take CHRIST out of CHRISTmas? I mean, get real here. God sent His Son into the world to save YOU and you can't even say "Merry Christmas." How pathetic are you? God sent His Son to DIE for YOU! YOU are cleansed because God sent Jesus CHRIST. And that's why we call it CHRISTmas.
Do you get my point?
Oh no! What did I just say?
Say it louder? Okay!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Yeah, that should do it.
You know what makes me mad? When people refuse to say "Merry Christmas" and replace it with "Happy Holidays." Who do you think you are to take CHRIST out of CHRISTmas? I mean, get real here. God sent His Son into the world to save YOU and you can't even say "Merry Christmas." How pathetic are you? God sent His Son to DIE for YOU! YOU are cleansed because God sent Jesus CHRIST. And that's why we call it CHRISTmas.
Do you get my point?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Prayers
“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” -G.K. Chesterton
This is how we should pray! All the time.
This is how we should pray! All the time.
If Beauty Hurts, We're Doing It Wrong!
This is my favorite saying of the Beauty Re-Defined movement. Yes, it is a movement as much as abolition and suffrage were. If beauty hurts, we're doing it wrong. I think this has a lot to do with emotional pain as well as physical. If striving to look beautiful hurts us emotionally, if you're always thinking about how you look compared to her or what he is thinking about your appearance, then our thinking is wrong.
Too bad some people disagree! A man from Utah, who testifies as a Christian, wrote this letter against "inner beauty" verses "outer beauty."
The gist of the letter is against how women are turning towards inner beauty and not trying to look beautiful anymore. He wrote, "Some girls I know tell themselves it doesn't matter how they look because they're beautiful on the inside, and then they just . . . well, let themselves go."
The letter begins by claiming that you shouldn't be convinced that beauty on the inside is all you need and you shouldn't let this "hinder your quest to achieve your physical ideal." Try the media's physical ideals, which are impossible to achieve because everyone is photoshopped and whatnot. We are striving to be healthy! not to be perfect.
But it's not about forgetting our outward appearance. It's about embracing who we are and instead of picking what we hate about ourselves, we try to focus on what we love about our bodies. The writer of this letter said that focusing on inner beauty took away from taking care of our bodies. Lies! If we are happy with our bodies won't we want to take better care of them? For example, if you have something that you love, something you treasure, you aren't going to throw it around like garbage, you're going to take care of it and keep it beautiful.
Another accusation is that "for those who are still dating," if you're not taking care of yourself, well that's the reason you're not married! He goes on to say, "The right person will love you eventually, but it's your physical aspect that often catches the eye." You know what? I believe the right person will be attracted to you right away, flaws and all. You don't have to look like Barbie to be found attractive.
At the end of his letter, this gentlemen says that we should strive for "healthy improvement." What does that mean? Seriously, he was just telling us not to let ourselves go. Like I said before, if we feel beautiful we will want to be healthy.
I thought Beauty Re-Defined had an interesting response to this letter as well. They wrote, "We don't need any more reminders [of "physical ideals"]. What we need a reminder of is that our perceptions of beauty and ideal bodies - even healthy bodies - are skewed by forces that no other generation has had to deal with." We should take care of our bodies, but taking care or ourselves and being healthy are different than being crazy about our appearance.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "You're beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and find clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
The problem with people thinking being beautiful is everything is that, well, first of all, there's a lot more to life than looking pretty. It doesn't last forever. Second, their ideas of beauty are so skewed by the media. Because of the invention of photoshop and cosmetic surgery and maybe even make-up, we don't know what true beauty is anymore. It's lost underneath the powder and behind the computer screen. It's forgotten behind the eyeliner and lipstick. We live in a society where if you're not perfect than you aren't anything. But remember, "You are capable of much more than being looked at" and "there's more to be than eye candy."
Too bad some people disagree! A man from Utah, who testifies as a Christian, wrote this letter against "inner beauty" verses "outer beauty."
The gist of the letter is against how women are turning towards inner beauty and not trying to look beautiful anymore. He wrote, "Some girls I know tell themselves it doesn't matter how they look because they're beautiful on the inside, and then they just . . . well, let themselves go."
The letter begins by claiming that you shouldn't be convinced that beauty on the inside is all you need and you shouldn't let this "hinder your quest to achieve your physical ideal." Try the media's physical ideals, which are impossible to achieve because everyone is photoshopped and whatnot. We are striving to be healthy! not to be perfect.
But it's not about forgetting our outward appearance. It's about embracing who we are and instead of picking what we hate about ourselves, we try to focus on what we love about our bodies. The writer of this letter said that focusing on inner beauty took away from taking care of our bodies. Lies! If we are happy with our bodies won't we want to take better care of them? For example, if you have something that you love, something you treasure, you aren't going to throw it around like garbage, you're going to take care of it and keep it beautiful.
Another accusation is that "for those who are still dating," if you're not taking care of yourself, well that's the reason you're not married! He goes on to say, "The right person will love you eventually, but it's your physical aspect that often catches the eye." You know what? I believe the right person will be attracted to you right away, flaws and all. You don't have to look like Barbie to be found attractive.
At the end of his letter, this gentlemen says that we should strive for "healthy improvement." What does that mean? Seriously, he was just telling us not to let ourselves go. Like I said before, if we feel beautiful we will want to be healthy.
I thought Beauty Re-Defined had an interesting response to this letter as well. They wrote, "We don't need any more reminders [of "physical ideals"]. What we need a reminder of is that our perceptions of beauty and ideal bodies - even healthy bodies - are skewed by forces that no other generation has had to deal with." We should take care of our bodies, but taking care or ourselves and being healthy are different than being crazy about our appearance.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "You're beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and find clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
The problem with people thinking being beautiful is everything is that, well, first of all, there's a lot more to life than looking pretty. It doesn't last forever. Second, their ideas of beauty are so skewed by the media. Because of the invention of photoshop and cosmetic surgery and maybe even make-up, we don't know what true beauty is anymore. It's lost underneath the powder and behind the computer screen. It's forgotten behind the eyeliner and lipstick. We live in a society where if you're not perfect than you aren't anything. But remember, "You are capable of much more than being looked at" and "there's more to be than eye candy."
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Taking Off The Mask
Lie: Society tells us that we have to stick to one social group. You are what you are. Jock. Prep. Band geek. Nerd. Art freak. Whatever. Everyone has a label.
Truth: It doesn't have to be this way.
Everyone has their group of friends. The ones who you are so close to, you share everything with them. I absolutely adore my group of friends. And since we're talking about labels, I might as well add that we might be known as the "Jesus Freaks," and that's perfectly fine with me.
In high school especially, people tend to separate themselves into these groups and never look back. If you're in the "cool" crowd you can't talk to the band geeks and if you're a nerd you can't associate with the jocks. I know you're probably thinking "oh that's so cliche" but why would it be cliche if it weren't true? In my high school, if you're a show choir person you're like wayyy up on the totem pole. (Of course, I might be biased. I'm jealous of anyone who can sing and dance without falling on their face.)
I tried really hard to find some research on this but I couldn't. So this is just going to have to be my opinion: could social groups and clicks possibly lead to suicide? In the perspective of those on the outside looking in, so desperate to fit in and what do we do? We ignore them entirely. Maybe we're pressured into acting cool-er than we are, maybe we just don't care but we're still ignoring those who are searching for strength. Those on the inside looking out. Are they perhaps too pressured to be who their friends are? If they slip up they'll be shunned and no longer a part of the "in-crowd?"
Maybe that isn't true at all. Just a thought.
Romans 12:3-7 says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
It's so easy to get caught up on who you are based on what people tell you. But God clearly says that we are individuals for a purpose, each with our own talents, no one is better than the other. I think it's time to take off the mask and cross the social boundaries that we have set for ourselves. They only hinder us. When we all see each other as people loved by God, created by Him, then we can work together, successfully.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Christmas Spirit
Christmas comes just once a year, my favorite time of the year, and every year my family has a tradition. On Thanksgiving night after all the hubbub of stuffing ourselves to bursting we come home and set up our Christmas tree together. We look at all the ornaments and remember why it's special. And of course, we put the star on top of the tree. Silver, shining, the first thing someone looks at when they see a Christmas tree.
While setting up the tree this year I was feeling rather down. Just another year. Nothing new. Whatever. You know the feeling. And as we were sitting around the Christmas tree admiring our work there was one ornament in particular that stuck out to me. It was a square nail, about four inches long, with a red bow tied at the top.
I remember, when I was younger, asking my dad why we hung a nail on our Christmas tree. He took the opportunity to remind me of the story of Christ's death and resurrection. Yes, yes, I knew the story well, but I still didn't understand why we had an ornament that celebrated an end when Christmas was to celebrate a beginning.
As I scrutinized the ornament this year, I realized this: Christmas does signify a beginning, a birth. But it also is the end; Christmas is the end to ordinary. Jesus came to save the world. He saved us all. He saved you.
We get so caught up in the presents and the tinsel that we forget what we're creating all the stress of this holiday for. We lose focus on who's birthday we're celebrating.
This Christmas don't celebrate for you. Celebrate for Him and what He has done and what He is doing in our world today.
While setting up the tree this year I was feeling rather down. Just another year. Nothing new. Whatever. You know the feeling. And as we were sitting around the Christmas tree admiring our work there was one ornament in particular that stuck out to me. It was a square nail, about four inches long, with a red bow tied at the top.
I remember, when I was younger, asking my dad why we hung a nail on our Christmas tree. He took the opportunity to remind me of the story of Christ's death and resurrection. Yes, yes, I knew the story well, but I still didn't understand why we had an ornament that celebrated an end when Christmas was to celebrate a beginning.
As I scrutinized the ornament this year, I realized this: Christmas does signify a beginning, a birth. But it also is the end; Christmas is the end to ordinary. Jesus came to save the world. He saved us all. He saved you.
We get so caught up in the presents and the tinsel that we forget what we're creating all the stress of this holiday for. We lose focus on who's birthday we're celebrating.
This Christmas don't celebrate for you. Celebrate for Him and what He has done and what He is doing in our world today.
The Pretenders
I was on facebook the other day (of course!) and saw that one of my friends wrote a status about how she hates it when people who claim to be Christians do unChristian things like cursing, taking the Lord's name in vain, stealing, lying, cheating, etc. You get my point. And at first I was like, "Yeah, you go girl! Call 'em out on it!" But then I thought about it for a little while (stupid brain!) and realized that doing drugs and smoking weed behind the school aren't the only sins that makes you "unChristian."
Believing in Jesus isn't the only trait that "proves" you are a Christian. Any common sinner can do that. Even demons believe in Jesus (James 2:19). Just because you've been to church once or twice, that doesn't make you a worshipper. As G.K. Chesterton put it, "Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in your garage makes you a car."
I'm going to take it one step further: guess what? there is no perfect Christian!
But does that make us all pretenders of the faith? If no one is perfect, if we don't follow the Ten Commandments or obey God's will without question, does that make us "unChristian" also? We go through life pretending to understand the Bible and pretending to be good, but is that enough?
There are a lot of people out there that think just because they are mostly good people that they will go to heaven. This is simply not true. You can't be wholly good enough to see the face of God without accepting Jesus' shed blood to cleanse your sins. Now, you might say that you don't have any sins. But have you ever lied? Or stolen? Or cheated?
The Ten Commandments say do not steal or lie or cheat or take the Lord's name in vain. Doing these things is just as bad as murdering in God's eyes. So are you a good person. I'd say no. There isn't a single one of us good enough to go to heaven.
So we have established that there aren't any "good" people in the world. We all sin, we are all sinners, we are all doomed to go to hell.
Unless . . .
What if this God that supposedly loves us so much made a way for us to be good enough, with a little help, of course? What if this God, that loves us so much, sent His Son, His only Child, to die for us? What if His perfect, flawless, Son was sent to die for cruel, unmoral, judging, murdering, comfort zone seeking humans?
What if there is no what if?
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whomever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
And we don't have to be pretenders anymore.
Believing in Jesus isn't the only trait that "proves" you are a Christian. Any common sinner can do that. Even demons believe in Jesus (James 2:19). Just because you've been to church once or twice, that doesn't make you a worshipper. As G.K. Chesterton put it, "Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in your garage makes you a car."
I'm going to take it one step further: guess what? there is no perfect Christian!
But does that make us all pretenders of the faith? If no one is perfect, if we don't follow the Ten Commandments or obey God's will without question, does that make us "unChristian" also? We go through life pretending to understand the Bible and pretending to be good, but is that enough?
There are a lot of people out there that think just because they are mostly good people that they will go to heaven. This is simply not true. You can't be wholly good enough to see the face of God without accepting Jesus' shed blood to cleanse your sins. Now, you might say that you don't have any sins. But have you ever lied? Or stolen? Or cheated?
The Ten Commandments say do not steal or lie or cheat or take the Lord's name in vain. Doing these things is just as bad as murdering in God's eyes. So are you a good person. I'd say no. There isn't a single one of us good enough to go to heaven.
So we have established that there aren't any "good" people in the world. We all sin, we are all sinners, we are all doomed to go to hell.
Unless . . .
What if this God that supposedly loves us so much made a way for us to be good enough, with a little help, of course? What if this God, that loves us so much, sent His Son, His only Child, to die for us? What if His perfect, flawless, Son was sent to die for cruel, unmoral, judging, murdering, comfort zone seeking humans?
What if there is no what if?
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whomever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
And we don't have to be pretenders anymore.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Jesus -- the "Nice Guy"
I was listening to the radio the other day (yes, I'm addicted to Air1) and Brant was talking about Jesus. You're probably thinking, "Well duhh! It's a Christian radio station. Who else would they be talking about?" and you're right. Christian radio stations tend to talk about Jesus a lot. I'm rambling. To get back to the point: Brant was saying how Jesus couldn't be described as a nice guy. That's about all I heard before I had to go to work, but it got me thinking.
Of course Jesus was a "nice guy." He was the nicest guy in the world. Right?
And then I decided to look up the word "nice" in the dictionary. Did you know to be nice means to be agreeable?
Let me see . . . Agreeable Jesus. No, no, I don't think that quite fits.
You see, Jesus wasn't born to be agreeable. He wasn't born to follow; he was born to lead and to save. A savior can't be agreeable. You don't want someone who is trying to save you to be agreeable! I think that would go something like this:
Agreeable Savior: Hey! I'm going to save you, okay?
You: What? Save me from what? I'm not in trouble. Nope. Perfectly fine.
Agreeable Savior: Ohh, okay. Sorry. My mistake. You're right. The knife you're about to stab through your heart won't cause any pain. I'll just let you be.
Agreeable savior? I think not! (Kind of extreme conversation but you get my point.)
So we have established that Jesus isn't a nice guy. Then who is he?
Jesus came to save the world. He came to save your soul. He was a pretty radical guy! I mean, he walked into the temple and started overturning tables (Matthew 21:12). I bet that gave the religious leaders a little heart attack.
Speaking of radical, I looked up that word too, just to make sure I had the right definition. It means thoroughgoing or extreme in regard to change from respected and traditional forms of, in this case, religion. Radical also means forming a basis or tradition. I'd say that Jesus formed the basis for Christianity, don't you think?
So Jesus was radical. Was he compassionate (which means a feeling of great sorrow or sympathy for another who is stricken with misfortune and a desire to relieve the suffering)?
In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus enters a town called Nain. As he is entering the city gates he passes a funeral procession, a young man, the only son of a widow, was being carried out to be buried. Verse 13-15: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
After this happened the funeral-goers were "filled with awe and praised God."
Let us praise God today for sending his radical, compassionate Son, who changed the world and became our Savior.
Of course Jesus was a "nice guy." He was the nicest guy in the world. Right?
And then I decided to look up the word "nice" in the dictionary. Did you know to be nice means to be agreeable?
Let me see . . . Agreeable Jesus. No, no, I don't think that quite fits.
You see, Jesus wasn't born to be agreeable. He wasn't born to follow; he was born to lead and to save. A savior can't be agreeable. You don't want someone who is trying to save you to be agreeable! I think that would go something like this:
Agreeable Savior: Hey! I'm going to save you, okay?
You: What? Save me from what? I'm not in trouble. Nope. Perfectly fine.
Agreeable Savior: Ohh, okay. Sorry. My mistake. You're right. The knife you're about to stab through your heart won't cause any pain. I'll just let you be.
Agreeable savior? I think not! (Kind of extreme conversation but you get my point.)
So we have established that Jesus isn't a nice guy. Then who is he?
Jesus came to save the world. He came to save your soul. He was a pretty radical guy! I mean, he walked into the temple and started overturning tables (Matthew 21:12). I bet that gave the religious leaders a little heart attack.
Speaking of radical, I looked up that word too, just to make sure I had the right definition. It means thoroughgoing or extreme in regard to change from respected and traditional forms of, in this case, religion. Radical also means forming a basis or tradition. I'd say that Jesus formed the basis for Christianity, don't you think?
So Jesus was radical. Was he compassionate (which means a feeling of great sorrow or sympathy for another who is stricken with misfortune and a desire to relieve the suffering)?
In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus enters a town called Nain. As he is entering the city gates he passes a funeral procession, a young man, the only son of a widow, was being carried out to be buried. Verse 13-15: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
After this happened the funeral-goers were "filled with awe and praised God."
Let us praise God today for sending his radical, compassionate Son, who changed the world and became our Savior.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Daisies
"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning. "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old. and our Father is younger than we." -G.K. Chesterton
The Last Ten Hours
I woke up on Saturday morning with ten hours left of the thirty hour famine. My first thought: "I'm never going to make it!" I always start my day with breakfast, I don't know how people who don't eat breakfast survive. So I got out of bed, took a shower, and tried not to think about how I had nothing in my stomach; just like the starving children in Africa.
We spent the morning doing service projects. We raked leaves out of three neighborhood yards and behind a school baseball field. I couldn't stop shivering from the hunger and the cold. After working hard all morning we returned to the church and spent the half hour we would be lunch time reading the Bible.
Before our alone time with God we watched another video about the thirty hour famine. It started out with a girl who had everything but was suffering from a horrible disease - the disease of wanting more. It was pretty hilarious until they showed a child on the other side of the world who was living her life with nothing. No. Less than nothing.
Who could ever want the "American Dream" when there are millions of people around the world who don't even have enough money to have one meal a day. Children are starving and yet we dare to spend money on a new car or that fancy homecoming dress. It's murder.
Who could ever want the "American Dream" when there are millions of people around the world who don't even have enough money to have one meal a day. Children are starving and yet we dare to spend money on a new car or that fancy homecoming dress. It's murder.
Once we were finished "filling our stomachs" with the Word of God we headed back outside and greeted a slightly warmer day. Car wash time! We lined both sides of the streets with signs telling everyone who was passing about the free car wash for starving children in Africa. How can you get your car washed by hungry teenagers who are starving themselves for thirty hours for hungry children around the world and not give money? We didn't get as many customers as we had hoped but we did raise a lot more money than I expected.
By the time we had washed the last car our energy was spent. It was exertion just to walk up the stairs. We huddled in the warmth of the teen room and gathered our stuff before driving out to a friends house to wait for our meal. At last!
The final hour was the hardest without a doubt. We were so close, yet we still had sixty minutes until we could feel the warm food in our bellies. Fifteen minutes left and the food was put out on the table. We all huddled together and put our hands over the steam that rose off the hamburgers and hotdogs. Our mouths watered as we breathed in the smell that our noses had been missing, the smell of good food. We all piled our plates high with sandwiches, chips, potatoes (my favorite!), and fruit. The twenty of us sat down on the ground in a circle and counted the seconds until we had officially not eaten for thirty hours. Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . . seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . we all had some sort of warm food held up to our mouth . . . one . . . FEAST!
I dislike hamburgers and I hate hotdogs, but I have never tasted anything so good in my entire life. The warmth of it, the smell. Yumm! Anyone who has gone hungry for a day will tell you it was worth it just to taste the goodness of food again.
And then I remembered the starving children in Africa, I remembered Kasia.
The starving don't get to stuff their mouths full of food. They don't get food. They're still starving.
And I'm still starving to help them.
By the time we had washed the last car our energy was spent. It was exertion just to walk up the stairs. We huddled in the warmth of the teen room and gathered our stuff before driving out to a friends house to wait for our meal. At last!
The final hour was the hardest without a doubt. We were so close, yet we still had sixty minutes until we could feel the warm food in our bellies. Fifteen minutes left and the food was put out on the table. We all huddled together and put our hands over the steam that rose off the hamburgers and hotdogs. Our mouths watered as we breathed in the smell that our noses had been missing, the smell of good food. We all piled our plates high with sandwiches, chips, potatoes (my favorite!), and fruit. The twenty of us sat down on the ground in a circle and counted the seconds until we had officially not eaten for thirty hours. Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . . seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . we all had some sort of warm food held up to our mouth . . . one . . . FEAST!
I dislike hamburgers and I hate hotdogs, but I have never tasted anything so good in my entire life. The warmth of it, the smell. Yumm! Anyone who has gone hungry for a day will tell you it was worth it just to taste the goodness of food again.
And then I remembered the starving children in Africa, I remembered Kasia.
The starving don't get to stuff their mouths full of food. They don't get food. They're still starving.
And I'm still starving to help them.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thirty. Hour. Famine.
As I was writing this post I was trying to come up with a clever title. Something catchy, memorable. The more I thought about it the more I realized that thirty hour famine is the only title that will do. I mean really, hearing about someone not eating for thirty hours - that's a pretty good attention grabber.
Thirty hours. I watch the seconds slowly tick by. I can physically feel the energy drain out of my body; I leave it behind me. We keep going. Ten hours left. I can hardly stand up without the room spinning, the floor slips from beneath my feet . . .
Just kidding! It wasn't that dramatic. But at the same time it was, but not in the way I expected.
We arrived at the church on Friday sometime around five o'clock. I was already feeling hungry. What else do you do on the weekends except eat? Plus the fat girl inside of me likes an after school snack (more like a pre-dinner). Thirty hours without food. It was all my friends and I could talk about that day. How were we going to survive? Just like those starving children in Africa who survive every day with little to nothing in their stomachs.
We all congregated in the teen room and gave each other looks: "What are we doing here?" and "Why are doing this?" I know. For the starving children in Africa. We watched quite a few videos about children who have nothing. (What else are we going to watch a video on? Children who have everything? Uh, yeah, no.)
After being moved to almost-tears we received a card with a child's name on it. We were to be that child for the weekend. My child's name was Kasia from Afghanistan. Each child had a disability and along with that disability came a story. Kasia was in a firefight that devastated her village. She was placed in a camp with thousands of other people who had lost their homes. She has a severely damaged eye. The aid workers tell her she will never regain her vision.
In order to act out my child I had to wear sunglasses with duct-tape over one lens. I thought it would be easy, no problem. But you know what? It was really hard to see with one eye, and a shaded one at that (they were really dark sunglasses!). As I ran into chairs and people, I squinted to see what my friends disabilities were. They received limps and burnt hands and damaged vocal chords.
We hobbled down to service and waved at all of the adults who were watching us. I found my way to a chair without smashing into anyone and the music started playing. Just like any other worship service I began to sing. It's so easy to let your mind wander when you're singing. I am constantly thinking about homework that isn't finished or that guy over there who keeps staring at me. (Keep your eyes to yourself!) But since I was half-blind this time I just closed my eyes and swayed to the music. Before I knew it I was completely and totally one with the lyrics I was singing. The song that was playing was "Marvelous Light." How ironic. My favorite line from that song: "Lift my hands and spin around/See the light that I have found/Oh the marvelous light, the marvelous light." I was able to shut out the world and focus on worshiping my God. The God who loves everyone, even the starving, even Kasia.
Thirty hours. I watch the seconds slowly tick by. I can physically feel the energy drain out of my body; I leave it behind me. We keep going. Ten hours left. I can hardly stand up without the room spinning, the floor slips from beneath my feet . . .
Just kidding! It wasn't that dramatic. But at the same time it was, but not in the way I expected.
We arrived at the church on Friday sometime around five o'clock. I was already feeling hungry. What else do you do on the weekends except eat? Plus the fat girl inside of me likes an after school snack (more like a pre-dinner). Thirty hours without food. It was all my friends and I could talk about that day. How were we going to survive? Just like those starving children in Africa who survive every day with little to nothing in their stomachs.
We all congregated in the teen room and gave each other looks: "What are we doing here?" and "Why are doing this?" I know. For the starving children in Africa. We watched quite a few videos about children who have nothing. (What else are we going to watch a video on? Children who have everything? Uh, yeah, no.)
After being moved to almost-tears we received a card with a child's name on it. We were to be that child for the weekend. My child's name was Kasia from Afghanistan. Each child had a disability and along with that disability came a story. Kasia was in a firefight that devastated her village. She was placed in a camp with thousands of other people who had lost their homes. She has a severely damaged eye. The aid workers tell her she will never regain her vision.
In order to act out my child I had to wear sunglasses with duct-tape over one lens. I thought it would be easy, no problem. But you know what? It was really hard to see with one eye, and a shaded one at that (they were really dark sunglasses!). As I ran into chairs and people, I squinted to see what my friends disabilities were. They received limps and burnt hands and damaged vocal chords.
We hobbled down to service and waved at all of the adults who were watching us. I found my way to a chair without smashing into anyone and the music started playing. Just like any other worship service I began to sing. It's so easy to let your mind wander when you're singing. I am constantly thinking about homework that isn't finished or that guy over there who keeps staring at me. (Keep your eyes to yourself!) But since I was half-blind this time I just closed my eyes and swayed to the music. Before I knew it I was completely and totally one with the lyrics I was singing. The song that was playing was "Marvelous Light." How ironic. My favorite line from that song: "Lift my hands and spin around/See the light that I have found/Oh the marvelous light, the marvelous light." I was able to shut out the world and focus on worshiping my God. The God who loves everyone, even the starving, even Kasia.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Don't You Know You're Beautiful
I was looking up music on YouTube when I came across the song "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" by Kellie Pickler.
What a great song! It just makes me happy. Kellie explained her song on her MySpace page. She wanted to share with all the girls out there that they are important and they do matter. She said, "In today's society we, including myself, often compare ourselves to that person or model on the front of the magazine, and we all want those expensive clothes that are displayed. I think that is just human nature. I will be the first to tell you all of that is not real."
This song was Kellie's first single and it shows that she is just like every other woman out there and she too struggles with insecurity. Her song empowers women to have confidence in themselves and that there are more important things in life than fitting in.
You are beautiful! Know it. Live it. Love it.
This song was Kellie's first single and it shows that she is just like every other woman out there and she too struggles with insecurity. Her song empowers women to have confidence in themselves and that there are more important things in life than fitting in.
You are beautiful! Know it. Live it. Love it.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I Dare You Look Up and Try to Mold The Skies
I'm pretty sure that in the past week I've listened to this song over a hundred times. I love it. Beauty Redefined by Jules Morrow was written for the Beauty Redefined website created by Lindsay and Lexie Kite. Their goal is to help women recognize and reject the harmful messages in the media about our bodies. Their Beauty Redefined program has been running for two and a half years and has gone from a simple blog to a (almost) government sponsored "business."
Their new song was written especially for people like you and me. It was written in a way that shows you how beautiful you truly are. Like I said before, I love it!
The first line: "Take back what we let fade away." Let's take back healthy and search for true beauty within ourselves instead of beauty on the outside. Let's be the "voice of tomorrow" and stop depending on the "product of yesterday" to make us beautiful. Because we already are beautiful. "And once you feel it, you will never be the same."
I love the chorus. "All that we can do is strut, now make it loud." If we're going to change the world we need to make it LOUD! "Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned." Decide for yourself what beauty is, don't let others tell you what is or isn't beautiful. "Ask the brave: 'Step forward help us straighten all that's been misshapen, torn and barely left alive.'" Love! I challenge you to be brave and redefine beauty with me. Life live beautiful-ly
"We need beauty redefined."
"You're captivating, don't be captive to the lies." So true. Don't fall into the trap of "fake." Be real. Be beautiful. "I dare you look up and try to mold the skies."
Make up your mind that you are beautiful, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! "Make up your mind and not your face, we all know it is a happier chase. And in the end you'll finish out the race."
"We need beauty redefined."
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
Their new song was written especially for people like you and me. It was written in a way that shows you how beautiful you truly are. Like I said before, I love it!
The first line: "Take back what we let fade away." Let's take back healthy and search for true beauty within ourselves instead of beauty on the outside. Let's be the "voice of tomorrow" and stop depending on the "product of yesterday" to make us beautiful. Because we already are beautiful. "And once you feel it, you will never be the same."
I love the chorus. "All that we can do is strut, now make it loud." If we're going to change the world we need to make it LOUD! "Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned." Decide for yourself what beauty is, don't let others tell you what is or isn't beautiful. "Ask the brave: 'Step forward help us straighten all that's been misshapen, torn and barely left alive.'" Love! I challenge you to be brave and redefine beauty with me. Life live beautiful-ly
"We need beauty redefined."
"You're captivating, don't be captive to the lies." So true. Don't fall into the trap of "fake." Be real. Be beautiful. "I dare you look up and try to mold the skies."
Make up your mind that you are beautiful, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! "Make up your mind and not your face, we all know it is a happier chase. And in the end you'll finish out the race."
"We need beauty redefined."
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Give Thanks
I was reading this blog (which I totally love!) and came across a blog post about gratitude. It was so refreshing to read about someone being thankful for the little things in life.
When you give thanks it helps release stress. Being thankful helps increase the immune system, increase energy, lower heart rate, you are more likely to live longer, and it decreases stress.
Ten things I am grateful for:
1. I am so thankful for the warm weather and the sunshine. It was such a wonderful day!
2. I hardly had any homework tonight so I was able to work ahead and relax, which is always good for a Monday.
3. I am grateful for my blog. As hard as it can be and even though somedays I just want to call it quits, I really think it is making me, dare I say, wiser? Maybe not, but it is definitely helping me be more aware of the things around me.
4. I love words. They are amazing!
5. I am thankful that you are reading this right now!
6. I am so appreciative of my youth group and my amazing friends who are always there for me.
7. I am thankful for phone conversations.
8. Even though I hate raking the leaves, I am so grateful for the changing season and the beautiful colors it brings. Plus, for some reason, I am super excited for winter!
9. I am so grateful for e-mail. I love getting e-mails!
10. I am thankful that God sent His Son to die for me. I am so thankful that because of Jesus' shed blood, we are made clean.
What are ten things you can give thanks for today?
When you give thanks it helps release stress. Being thankful helps increase the immune system, increase energy, lower heart rate, you are more likely to live longer, and it decreases stress.
Ten things I am grateful for:
1. I am so thankful for the warm weather and the sunshine. It was such a wonderful day!
2. I hardly had any homework tonight so I was able to work ahead and relax, which is always good for a Monday.
3. I am grateful for my blog. As hard as it can be and even though somedays I just want to call it quits, I really think it is making me, dare I say, wiser? Maybe not, but it is definitely helping me be more aware of the things around me.
4. I love words. They are amazing!
5. I am thankful that you are reading this right now!
6. I am so appreciative of my youth group and my amazing friends who are always there for me.
7. I am thankful for phone conversations.
8. Even though I hate raking the leaves, I am so grateful for the changing season and the beautiful colors it brings. Plus, for some reason, I am super excited for winter!
9. I am so grateful for e-mail. I love getting e-mails!
10. I am thankful that God sent His Son to die for me. I am so thankful that because of Jesus' shed blood, we are made clean.
What are ten things you can give thanks for today?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Fighting for Our Rights
For centuries women have been fighting for equal rights. Fighting to be heard; fighting for a public voice. It wasn't until August 26, 1920 that women finally gained suffrage.
It wasn't until the 1800's that the women of American began to truly fight for their rights. On her deathbed, Mary Walker Ostram said, "Don't be afraid, not afraid, fight Satan; stand up for Christ; don't be afraid." Ostram began her fight for women's rights during the Second Great Awakening when the spiritual activities of the church became the responsibility for the women. During this time, they found a "sphere of influence" in numerous areas of their family life that they didn't have before.
In 1834 women in New York founded the Female Moral Reform Society. The goal of this society was to end prostitution and moral corruption of women all over the country. Not only did they demand chastity for women of their group, but also for men. This society soon had members in the North and the Midwest and founded homes across the country for prostitutes.
Angelina and Sarah Grimke were sisters who supported abolition and women's suffrage. These women became antislavery lecturers, to the disappointment of Congregationalist clergymen, and often used the Bible to support their lectures about abolition and suffrage. "Men and women are created equal. They are both moral and accountable beings and whatever is right for man to do is right for women," wrote Sarah Grimke.
Susan B. Anthony was one of the few women of the 1800's who had the opportunity to attend school alongside her brothers. She was born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia and her father believed in equal treatment of genders. Her family supported the temperance movement and also the anti-slavery movement. During the Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, Susan, along with her family, signed the "Declaration of Sentiments." In her adult life, Susan continued to be an advocate of women's rights. She wrote the Susan B. Anthony Amendment that became the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution and gave women the right to vote. She led the only non-violent revolution in our country. Susan B. Anthony led women to freedom.
Women's rights advocates like Susan are still needed around the globe. In places like Africa and in the Middle East, women are fighting for their equality. They are often mistreated and abused by the men of their society. We need to stand up for those women and fight for those who can't fight for themselves.
In the words of Susan B. Anthony: "Nothing is impossible."
Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
It wasn't until the 1800's that the women of American began to truly fight for their rights. On her deathbed, Mary Walker Ostram said, "Don't be afraid, not afraid, fight Satan; stand up for Christ; don't be afraid." Ostram began her fight for women's rights during the Second Great Awakening when the spiritual activities of the church became the responsibility for the women. During this time, they found a "sphere of influence" in numerous areas of their family life that they didn't have before.
In 1834 women in New York founded the Female Moral Reform Society. The goal of this society was to end prostitution and moral corruption of women all over the country. Not only did they demand chastity for women of their group, but also for men. This society soon had members in the North and the Midwest and founded homes across the country for prostitutes.
Angelina and Sarah Grimke were sisters who supported abolition and women's suffrage. These women became antislavery lecturers, to the disappointment of Congregationalist clergymen, and often used the Bible to support their lectures about abolition and suffrage. "Men and women are created equal. They are both moral and accountable beings and whatever is right for man to do is right for women," wrote Sarah Grimke.
Susan B. Anthony was one of the few women of the 1800's who had the opportunity to attend school alongside her brothers. She was born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia and her father believed in equal treatment of genders. Her family supported the temperance movement and also the anti-slavery movement. During the Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, Susan, along with her family, signed the "Declaration of Sentiments." In her adult life, Susan continued to be an advocate of women's rights. She wrote the Susan B. Anthony Amendment that became the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution and gave women the right to vote. She led the only non-violent revolution in our country. Susan B. Anthony led women to freedom.
Women's rights advocates like Susan are still needed around the globe. In places like Africa and in the Middle East, women are fighting for their equality. They are often mistreated and abused by the men of their society. We need to stand up for those women and fight for those who can't fight for themselves.
In the words of Susan B. Anthony: "Nothing is impossible."
Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Be Courageous
The other day I was having a "religious" conversation with one of my good friends. We were driving on the highway, listening to a Christian radio station. About halfway through the song "Courageous" by Casting Crowns, my friend commented on how she didn't know any of the songs that were being played and then she asked why there weren't any Lady Gaga songs played.
I think I laughed out loud.
How could she think Lady Gaga is Christian? She talks about God in a few of her songs and she claims to be religious but being religious and being a Christian are totally different things. Just because Lady Gaga believes in Jesus and God doesn't mean she cares. It doesn't mean she believes the Bible is true.
And then I read this.
I've heard a lot about Max Lucado. My dad loves his books and I've probably read a book of his myself. My Sunday school group just started a Bible study written by him. His quote, "There must be in God's great world a soul who has never doubted God's existence or questioned his goodness. But that soul is not writing this book," took me by surprise. It's good to know I'm not the only Christian who has questioned God's existence.
It's easy to think that you're better than someone because you know what you know, and you know that the person you're better than is wrong. (If that makes any sense at all.) But is it possible to know, is it possible to be one hundred percent positive, that you're going to heaven?
I am not saying it's okay to support Lady Gaga by purchasing her music. It is a fault of mine to argue vehemently with you if you suggest that Lady Gaga is indeed a Christian. (She isn't!) But I think she understands that something is missing from her life. Maybe you do too, and maybe you're searching for something to fill the hole.
But maybe you do know what you know you believe. If that's true of you, then you need to find the courage to live out your faith. Walk the walk and talk the talk. It's cliche, I know. But maybe it's cliche because it works. Go! Be a missionary to your school. Shine God's light in your classrooms. Share the love of God with the people who are searching, people like Lady Gaga.
I think I laughed out loud.
How could she think Lady Gaga is Christian? She talks about God in a few of her songs and she claims to be religious but being religious and being a Christian are totally different things. Just because Lady Gaga believes in Jesus and God doesn't mean she cares. It doesn't mean she believes the Bible is true.
And then I read this.
I've heard a lot about Max Lucado. My dad loves his books and I've probably read a book of his myself. My Sunday school group just started a Bible study written by him. His quote, "There must be in God's great world a soul who has never doubted God's existence or questioned his goodness. But that soul is not writing this book," took me by surprise. It's good to know I'm not the only Christian who has questioned God's existence.
It's easy to think that you're better than someone because you know what you know, and you know that the person you're better than is wrong. (If that makes any sense at all.) But is it possible to know, is it possible to be one hundred percent positive, that you're going to heaven?
I am not saying it's okay to support Lady Gaga by purchasing her music. It is a fault of mine to argue vehemently with you if you suggest that Lady Gaga is indeed a Christian. (She isn't!) But I think she understands that something is missing from her life. Maybe you do too, and maybe you're searching for something to fill the hole.
But maybe you do know what you know you believe. If that's true of you, then you need to find the courage to live out your faith. Walk the walk and talk the talk. It's cliche, I know. But maybe it's cliche because it works. Go! Be a missionary to your school. Shine God's light in your classrooms. Share the love of God with the people who are searching, people like Lady Gaga.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Fat Talk Free Week!
Fat Talk Free Week. Take a guess at what that is. This week is meant to be a week of absolutely no fat talk, which includes thinking your fat or talking about how you've lost weight, or thinking about how you wish you could be as skinny as another person, etc.
I wish I would have found out about this at the beginning of the week; however, I am pledging, right now, to go a week without "fat talk." Forget that, I am going to try to go for a month, starting today. Zero fat talk.
When I found out about Fat Talk Free Week, it was brought to my attention how often we use fat talk. It's all around us! No wonder even the skinniest of us want to be skinnier. Fat talk reinforces the thinness ideals that our society revolves around. Everything we see on TV, what we read about in magazines, how "thin is in," it lowers our self-esteem and our self-worth.
I found a good way to reinforce Fat Talk Free Week; Anytime someone says something negative about their body, they have to list five things they like about their body. You guys have to help me stick to this, alright? And I'll do the same for you.
Another reason to participate in Fat Talk Free Week is to support those struggling to recover from an eating disorder. As a society, we place too much value on body image, and it shows. If you don't feel the need to stop the fat talk for yourself, do it for a friend who's struggling with her self-worth.
I hate how negative we are about body image. It is so hard to be content with how you look when everything around you is telling you that you should NOT eat that second cookie.
You know what? I am going to eat that second cookie and I will be happy about it!
I wish I would have found out about this at the beginning of the week; however, I am pledging, right now, to go a week without "fat talk." Forget that, I am going to try to go for a month, starting today. Zero fat talk.
When I found out about Fat Talk Free Week, it was brought to my attention how often we use fat talk. It's all around us! No wonder even the skinniest of us want to be skinnier. Fat talk reinforces the thinness ideals that our society revolves around. Everything we see on TV, what we read about in magazines, how "thin is in," it lowers our self-esteem and our self-worth.
I found a good way to reinforce Fat Talk Free Week; Anytime someone says something negative about their body, they have to list five things they like about their body. You guys have to help me stick to this, alright? And I'll do the same for you.
Another reason to participate in Fat Talk Free Week is to support those struggling to recover from an eating disorder. As a society, we place too much value on body image, and it shows. If you don't feel the need to stop the fat talk for yourself, do it for a friend who's struggling with her self-worth.
I hate how negative we are about body image. It is so hard to be content with how you look when everything around you is telling you that you should NOT eat that second cookie.
You know what? I am going to eat that second cookie and I will be happy about it!
Finding True Happiness
Happiness: 1. The agreeable sensation which springs from the enjoyment of good; that state of being in which his desires are gratified by the enjoyment of pleasure without pain; felicity; blessedness; satisfaction. 2. Good luck; good fortune.
Our society today, teenagers especially (sorry!), place their happiness in worldly things, items, activities, physical appearance, or sports, maybe even a lifestyle. When we can't obtain the new iphone four (is there an iphone five now?) or be the absolute best at our sport we tend to react negatively towards everything. "If I can't be the best at something I just won't try" or "If my parents won't buy me a car I'm just going to spend the rest of my existence hating them" or even "Since I'm not pretty enough or smart enough I'm just going to give up all together, life like a hobo, take the easy road out." Have you ever thought any of these?
My mother has often pointed out, and I know she's right, that I am so much happier when I'm getting ready for school in the morning when I feel pretty. Pathetic, right? And definitely not okay!
I know some people out there that are unhappy if, during their sport, they end up sitting on the bench for the whole game. It's hard to realize you're not the best, but at least you get to be a part of a team. I love that I can still be a part of my volleyball team, even though I don't get to start in a game.
Do electronics make you happy, really? I guess I can't really relate with this one. I know nothing about electronics! I mean, yeah, it would be awesome to have an iphone and I would greatly appreciate a new lap top (preferably one that isn't so incredibly slow) but I don't base my happiness on electronics. They aren't very reliable. Of course, if I feel pretty then I'm happy, so I have no room to talk.
If you place your happiness in your friends, you're going to be disappointed. Your friends are human. They make mistakes just like you do. They aren't perfect and they never will be. Stop blaming your unhappiness on them.
Unhappiness is different than sorrow, but sorrow can lead to unhappiness. If a loved one passes away you can feel great sorrow, but you can also be happy, especially if you know your loved one believed in Jesus and is in heaven. You don't have to let your sorrow be unhappiness because you know that they're in a better place and that you'll see them again soon. I realize it's hard when someone close to you is suddenly gone but you can't stop that from you living your life. You have to be able to find joy, even though it hurts.
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up." -Mark Twain
No matter how happy or unhappy you are right now, remember that whether you feel happy or not depends on YOU! No one else. You are responsible for your happiness.
Are you unhappy? Go do something about it!
Our society today, teenagers especially (sorry!), place their happiness in worldly things, items, activities, physical appearance, or sports, maybe even a lifestyle. When we can't obtain the new iphone four (is there an iphone five now?) or be the absolute best at our sport we tend to react negatively towards everything. "If I can't be the best at something I just won't try" or "If my parents won't buy me a car I'm just going to spend the rest of my existence hating them" or even "Since I'm not pretty enough or smart enough I'm just going to give up all together, life like a hobo, take the easy road out." Have you ever thought any of these?
My mother has often pointed out, and I know she's right, that I am so much happier when I'm getting ready for school in the morning when I feel pretty. Pathetic, right? And definitely not okay!
I know some people out there that are unhappy if, during their sport, they end up sitting on the bench for the whole game. It's hard to realize you're not the best, but at least you get to be a part of a team. I love that I can still be a part of my volleyball team, even though I don't get to start in a game.
Do electronics make you happy, really? I guess I can't really relate with this one. I know nothing about electronics! I mean, yeah, it would be awesome to have an iphone and I would greatly appreciate a new lap top (preferably one that isn't so incredibly slow) but I don't base my happiness on electronics. They aren't very reliable. Of course, if I feel pretty then I'm happy, so I have no room to talk.
If you place your happiness in your friends, you're going to be disappointed. Your friends are human. They make mistakes just like you do. They aren't perfect and they never will be. Stop blaming your unhappiness on them.
Unhappiness is different than sorrow, but sorrow can lead to unhappiness. If a loved one passes away you can feel great sorrow, but you can also be happy, especially if you know your loved one believed in Jesus and is in heaven. You don't have to let your sorrow be unhappiness because you know that they're in a better place and that you'll see them again soon. I realize it's hard when someone close to you is suddenly gone but you can't stop that from you living your life. You have to be able to find joy, even though it hurts.
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up." -Mark Twain
No matter how happy or unhappy you are right now, remember that whether you feel happy or not depends on YOU! No one else. You are responsible for your happiness.
Are you unhappy? Go do something about it!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Follow the Leader
I graduated eight grade from a small private school. When I say small I mean two hundred students, pre-school through eight grade. Small. I never would have thought that three years later I would be back, mentoring seventh and eight grade girls.
How can I be a mentor? I have no idea what I should be doing (or not doing). I'm only sixteen! How am I supposed to help middle schoolers when I don't even know how to help myself?
By setting a Christlike example.
As I was watching these girls, trying to remember names and faces and getting to know them, I realized how amazing they are. We were standing around the fire in a circle doing a popcorn prayer. One after the other, they began to pour out their hearts to God, sometimes interrupting each other because they all wanted a chance to pray. I know I didn't have the courage in eight grade to pray out loud, I'm not even sure I'm always brave enough now.
I want to do right by these girls. I want to be able to set a good example. I want them to be able to ask the questions that I was too afraid to ask going into high school, about what it would be like. I want to be able to tell them the truth.
So I'm going to be watching myself more carefully, judging my actions with more scrutiny, all while remembering that no one is perfect except God. So I'll turn to him, he who is always ready to forgive and always perfect, I'll turn to him for the answers, and hope that I have the patience to await his response.
How can I be a mentor? I have no idea what I should be doing (or not doing). I'm only sixteen! How am I supposed to help middle schoolers when I don't even know how to help myself?
By setting a Christlike example.
As I was watching these girls, trying to remember names and faces and getting to know them, I realized how amazing they are. We were standing around the fire in a circle doing a popcorn prayer. One after the other, they began to pour out their hearts to God, sometimes interrupting each other because they all wanted a chance to pray. I know I didn't have the courage in eight grade to pray out loud, I'm not even sure I'm always brave enough now.
I want to do right by these girls. I want to be able to set a good example. I want them to be able to ask the questions that I was too afraid to ask going into high school, about what it would be like. I want to be able to tell them the truth.
So I'm going to be watching myself more carefully, judging my actions with more scrutiny, all while remembering that no one is perfect except God. So I'll turn to him, he who is always ready to forgive and always perfect, I'll turn to him for the answers, and hope that I have the patience to await his response.
With(out) Feeling
I listen to the radio all the time. My favorite station is 89.1 or Air1; they always seem to play the right song at the right time.
The afternoon host, Brant, has his own blog, Brant's Blog (creative, I know). As I was reading a few of his posts I stumbled across Blessed are the Spiritually Bankrupt. I was instantly curious, of course.
He begins by talking about how great the feeling is when you can feel God right there, when you know he is with you and he never left you and he never will leave you. You think, "Wow, Brant, I wish I could feel that way," as he goes on to explain is thinking the exact same thing.
Now wait, this is a Christian radio host. He should be having God moments all the time! Apparently this isn't so. He calls himself spiritually bankrupt. Spiritually bankrupt, not because he doesn't believe, not because he doesn't love God, but because he just hasn't felt him. And he knows he isn't the only one out there.
And so do I, because I'm out there too.
I've had a few God moments. It truly is amazing to know that the Creator of the universe is speaking to you! However, I don't feel spiritual, like I supposedly should.
The definition of spiritual is relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible, untouchable. But God isn't untouchable.
You don't have to be spiritual to be a Child of God. You don't have to get swept up in the moment of "powerful worship." If you aren't comfortable with worshipping, still participate, but also worship God in your own way. Worship doesn't mean just singing; you could play an instrument, dance, write a novel even, as long as it is worshipful to God.
Maybe even my friends, the ones who I look up to spiritually (and physically), my friends who I trust to always be in the "right" with God, maybe they aren't really spiritual either.
But they know he's there. And that's all that matters.
The afternoon host, Brant, has his own blog, Brant's Blog (creative, I know). As I was reading a few of his posts I stumbled across Blessed are the Spiritually Bankrupt. I was instantly curious, of course.
He begins by talking about how great the feeling is when you can feel God right there, when you know he is with you and he never left you and he never will leave you. You think, "Wow, Brant, I wish I could feel that way," as he goes on to explain is thinking the exact same thing.
Now wait, this is a Christian radio host. He should be having God moments all the time! Apparently this isn't so. He calls himself spiritually bankrupt. Spiritually bankrupt, not because he doesn't believe, not because he doesn't love God, but because he just hasn't felt him. And he knows he isn't the only one out there.
And so do I, because I'm out there too.
I've had a few God moments. It truly is amazing to know that the Creator of the universe is speaking to you! However, I don't feel spiritual, like I supposedly should.
The definition of spiritual is relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible, untouchable. But God isn't untouchable.
You don't have to be spiritual to be a Child of God. You don't have to get swept up in the moment of "powerful worship." If you aren't comfortable with worshipping, still participate, but also worship God in your own way. Worship doesn't mean just singing; you could play an instrument, dance, write a novel even, as long as it is worshipful to God.
Maybe even my friends, the ones who I look up to spiritually (and physically), my friends who I trust to always be in the "right" with God, maybe they aren't really spiritual either.
But they know he's there. And that's all that matters.
Re-Defining Heathy
In 1861 Lillian Russel was born. During her lifetime she not only became an actress and singer, but also became known as "one of the most beautiful women on the American stage" (obituary from the New York Times, 1922). During the time of her life when she was most famous she weighed two-hundred pounds and was beautiful because of her "curvaceous figure."
Yeah, two hundred pounds! And people loved her for it! How is it that a hundred years ago that was seen to be a healthy weight when now a healthy weight is half that at six foot two. Russel's weight was a sign of her health and she was not seen as obese.
Are we not tired of wanting to look skinnier? Are we not tired comparing ourselves to others? Are we not tired of looking in the mirror and wanting to crawl back into bed?
Lie: If you are thin than you are healthy and "fit."
Truth: Being skinny does not mean you're healthy. People who are active and "overweight" may be healthier than those who are thin and sedentary.
Everything in the media - television shows, magazines, movies - they tell us it isn't okay to be a healthy weight, that we can never be happy with the way we look. It's like our society is pro-eating disorder.
You know, because it doesn't matter if you die young, as long as you die skinny!
Kate Moss, British "anti-supermodel," was quoted in a fashion magazine, Women's Wear Daily. She said, "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I'm pretty sure my chocolate bar tastes better than looking like a stick.
I came across this blog, Thinspiration. I scrolled through hundreds of pictures of anorexic girls, all ribs and hip bones and skeleton legs. Why is it that I couldn't help wanting to be as skinny as them? Dangerously skinny.
I have drawn the conclusion that the way "skinny" is viewed in society today began in the nineteenth century. Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quatelet was a Belgian mathematician in the early eighteen hundreds. He graduated from the University of Ghent with a doctorate in mathematics and afterwards began to study "social sciences." A firm believer of statistics, Quatelet discovered the "Quatelet Index," better known as your body mass index (BMI).
To measure BMI you measure your height and weight. You divide your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters squared) and voila!, you now know your BMI.
BMI is the statistic of how healthy you are. On the scale, if an adult has a BMI of over twenty five they are overweight, if your BMI is over thirty, you're obese, and if it's over forty, you are classified as extremely obese. (Notice the word "classified," like an animal.)
However, the BMI system is flawed. By standardizing weight and height you overlook bone structure, the thickness of skin, and the obvious, whether the person you are categorizing as fat is male or female. Insurance companies began to use this in the nineteen hundreds as a way of deciding how healthy you are for their own selfish reasons and were able to collect more money from those who were "overweight."
As of March 2011, scientists have begun to replace BMI with a system called body adiposity index (BAI). This new way of measuring relies on waist and hip measurements and takes into account whether the person is male or female and if they are of a different ethnicity.
Instead of focusing so much on our appearances, let's put our time and effort into staying healthy. Don't put it off until tomorrow, start today! Put down that bag of potato chips, turn off the computer, and go outside. It's a beautiful day! Your time is now to feel beautiful.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Name Game
I love names. I believe that your name takes a big role in defining who you are or who you will become; maybe it describes who you want to strive to be.
I love looking up definitions of people's names and looking for comparisons in their name and in who they are. How is it that parents are so accurate when they name their children?
In the book God Girl, by Hayley DiMarco, it has the definition of grace from the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.
Grace: the dimension of divine activity that enables God to confront human indifference and rebellion with an inexhaustible capacity to forgive and to bless. God is gracious in action.
Wow. That's a lot of power in one word. I pray to God that I can live up to my name.
How do you think the definition of your name describes who you are as a Child of God?
I love looking up definitions of people's names and looking for comparisons in their name and in who they are. How is it that parents are so accurate when they name their children?
In the book God Girl, by Hayley DiMarco, it has the definition of grace from the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.
Grace: the dimension of divine activity that enables God to confront human indifference and rebellion with an inexhaustible capacity to forgive and to bless. God is gracious in action.
Wow. That's a lot of power in one word. I pray to God that I can live up to my name.
How do you think the definition of your name describes who you are as a Child of God?
Friday, October 7, 2011
College Student for the Weekend!
It is never too early to start looking at colleges. There are so many colleges out there and so many factors influencing your decision that I decided to begin visiting college campus' . . . last weekend.
Red Carpet Days is a college visit for sophomores and juniors at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. It was nothing like I expected. And now you're going to ask me "What did you expect it to be like?"
My answer to that, "Don't ask!" I honestly don't know what I expected; I just know I didn't expect that.
And that is what I am going to tell you about.
Let me tell you that riding in a fifteen-passenger van, all females, for four hours, it gets pretty crazy. On the way there we stopped three times, mostly for food. Miraculously, we arrived at ONU. I expected to feel an immediate sense of belonging when we drove through the campus gate. I didn't really feel anything, so that was a little disappointing.
We were warmly welcomed by at the front desk as we found our activities packet and map. The really cool thing about being there was that we were able to stay in the freshman dorms, and I know that it really helped me picture myself living there someday.
After we were assigned our rooms we gathered up our many belongings we plodded to our rooms. As we walked through the corridor, one by one, we each found where we would stay the night. I was staying with a friend and we were both eager to meet the freshmen we would be rooming with for the night. When we arrived there was a note on the door, welcoming us and inviting us to make ourselves comfortable.
So we did. Our luggage was everywhere, and once we couldn't hardly walk across the floor of the tiny dormitory we headed back out to eat lunch in the cafeteria.
Not going to lie, it was a little intimidating walking through the cafeteria doors and eating with the college students. And there was so much food! At my high school we have about five choices for lunch; here there were twice that many, and it was all you can eat. My mom said that's why they call it freshman fifteen.
When our stomachs were sufficiently filled, we all left the cafeteria and split up to attend different college classes. I attended a language class and a speaking class.
The language class was pretty interesting. The way they "discussed" wasn't much different from the conversations that we have in AP Lang, except they were God-based. I was surprised to find that I understood everything they were talking about, and was even able to answer a few questions.
I didn't actually mean to walk into a speech class. I have no interest in public speaking what-so-ever, but it proved beneficial. The teacher grouped us in with the college students and we were able to complete an outline for a paper about "How to Successfully be a Freshman." I was proud of myself for being able to contribute to the thesis statement.
During the third class period we went on a tour of the campus instead. It was so much fun to be able to just hang out with my girls and dream about attending Olivet someday. It really is a beautiful campus and all of the buildings are up-to-date, which is fantastic.
All the visiting high school students ate dinner together and were able to meet advisors of the college. When we had finished eating we loaded onto buses and hung out at this PlanetX/YMCA place. It was boring until we decided to play volleyball, then it got intense. We had a lot of fun getting to know the other students visiting Olivet and just getting to know each other better.
Saturday morning we woke up way too early and ate a way too big breakfast in the cafeteria with our way cool freshman dorm-mates. Afterwards, we wandered around campus until it was time for service.
An Olivet football game brought an end to our adventure, if only for the weekend. Maybe in a few years we will all find each other there again, living in the freshman dorms, and finding our place in life. Maybe not.
All weekend I was waiting to hear God's voice, telling me that this was where I belong. While I'm still searching, I know that when I find the right place, the decision won't be hard and God will always provide.
Red Carpet Days is a college visit for sophomores and juniors at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. It was nothing like I expected. And now you're going to ask me "What did you expect it to be like?"
My answer to that, "Don't ask!" I honestly don't know what I expected; I just know I didn't expect that.
And that is what I am going to tell you about.
Let me tell you that riding in a fifteen-passenger van, all females, for four hours, it gets pretty crazy. On the way there we stopped three times, mostly for food. Miraculously, we arrived at ONU. I expected to feel an immediate sense of belonging when we drove through the campus gate. I didn't really feel anything, so that was a little disappointing.
We were warmly welcomed by at the front desk as we found our activities packet and map. The really cool thing about being there was that we were able to stay in the freshman dorms, and I know that it really helped me picture myself living there someday.
After we were assigned our rooms we gathered up our many belongings we plodded to our rooms. As we walked through the corridor, one by one, we each found where we would stay the night. I was staying with a friend and we were both eager to meet the freshmen we would be rooming with for the night. When we arrived there was a note on the door, welcoming us and inviting us to make ourselves comfortable.
So we did. Our luggage was everywhere, and once we couldn't hardly walk across the floor of the tiny dormitory we headed back out to eat lunch in the cafeteria.
Not going to lie, it was a little intimidating walking through the cafeteria doors and eating with the college students. And there was so much food! At my high school we have about five choices for lunch; here there were twice that many, and it was all you can eat. My mom said that's why they call it freshman fifteen.
When our stomachs were sufficiently filled, we all left the cafeteria and split up to attend different college classes. I attended a language class and a speaking class.
The language class was pretty interesting. The way they "discussed" wasn't much different from the conversations that we have in AP Lang, except they were God-based. I was surprised to find that I understood everything they were talking about, and was even able to answer a few questions.
I didn't actually mean to walk into a speech class. I have no interest in public speaking what-so-ever, but it proved beneficial. The teacher grouped us in with the college students and we were able to complete an outline for a paper about "How to Successfully be a Freshman." I was proud of myself for being able to contribute to the thesis statement.
During the third class period we went on a tour of the campus instead. It was so much fun to be able to just hang out with my girls and dream about attending Olivet someday. It really is a beautiful campus and all of the buildings are up-to-date, which is fantastic.
All the visiting high school students ate dinner together and were able to meet advisors of the college. When we had finished eating we loaded onto buses and hung out at this PlanetX/YMCA place. It was boring until we decided to play volleyball, then it got intense. We had a lot of fun getting to know the other students visiting Olivet and just getting to know each other better.
Saturday morning we woke up way too early and ate a way too big breakfast in the cafeteria with our way cool freshman dorm-mates. Afterwards, we wandered around campus until it was time for service.
An Olivet football game brought an end to our adventure, if only for the weekend. Maybe in a few years we will all find each other there again, living in the freshman dorms, and finding our place in life. Maybe not.
All weekend I was waiting to hear God's voice, telling me that this was where I belong. While I'm still searching, I know that when I find the right place, the decision won't be hard and God will always provide.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
American Pride
Don't you love meeting foreign exchange students? They have such great stories to share and are always willing to make new friends. It would take so much courage to leave your family for a year, your friends, your school; it would take so much courage to make a "home" in a different country with a different culture.
Props to you guys!
I saw a recent facebook post from a foreign exchange student. She talked about how coming to America has always been her dream. She said it was still her dream to live here.
Hold up . . . How many of us take for granted living in the United States? I know I do! (Of course, that comes from the girl who wants to live in France someday. But that's another story.) We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom of worship (I don't like the word religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press. We are so blessed to have FREEDOM!
This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she wrote that she loves the "sweet taste of freedom."
I was at a volleyball game last night and they started the game with the National Anthem. We all stood, which was fabulous, except the guy in front of me stood and continued to eat his hot dog and lick his fingers free of mustard. How disrespectful. Millions of men have fought and died for our freedom and he can't even take a minute to stop what he is doing, put down his food, and place his hand over his heart. Umm, hello? I think we're missing something here!
This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she knows all the words to The Star-Spangled Banner and she sings them with pride and with her hand over her heart.
I attended a Christian school from the start up until freshman year. We always started the day with the pledge of allegiance to the United States Flag, the Christian Flag, and the Bible. I miss that. Every school should start the day with the pledge of allegiance. Just because it states "one nation, under God" doesn't mean we can't recite it in a public school. Honestly!
This would probably be a good time to tell you this blog post is directed at me personally, just as much as it is you. We all need to take a stand and "re-invent" pride in our country.
1 Peter 2:13-17 says, “Makes Jesus your Lord proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of fools. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”
Props to you guys!
I saw a recent facebook post from a foreign exchange student. She talked about how coming to America has always been her dream. She said it was still her dream to live here.
Hold up . . . How many of us take for granted living in the United States? I know I do! (Of course, that comes from the girl who wants to live in France someday. But that's another story.) We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom of worship (I don't like the word religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press. We are so blessed to have FREEDOM!
This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she wrote that she loves the "sweet taste of freedom."
This foreign exchange student that I was talking about, she knows all the words to The Star-Spangled Banner and she sings them with pride and with her hand over her heart.
I attended a Christian school from the start up until freshman year. We always started the day with the pledge of allegiance to the United States Flag, the Christian Flag, and the Bible. I miss that. Every school should start the day with the pledge of allegiance. Just because it states "one nation, under God" doesn't mean we can't recite it in a public school. Honestly!
This would probably be a good time to tell you this blog post is directed at me personally, just as much as it is you. We all need to take a stand and "re-invent" pride in our country.
1 Peter 2:13-17 says, “Makes Jesus your Lord proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of fools. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Faith is Fact
In one of my more recent blog posts, Coasting Through, I made the statement faith is not based on feeling or emotion but on fact. I thought I would take some time to explain what I mean by that.
When I was at camp over the summer we talked about knowing your faith. The camp slogan is "Do you really know what you say you believe? Is this your faith or your momma's faith?"
Unlike believing in evolution or atheism or something, the Christian faith is the most intelligent faith in the world. When you put your faith in God and the Bible you aren't believing without evidence. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is very consistent. Even though it was written over a period of 1500 years, every copy says the same thing. The Bible was written over forty generations and by over forty different authors ranging from a variety of social positions and occupations such as peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, kings, etc. Something that I find really interesting is that it was written on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was also written in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
How can something written such a long time a go, in several different languages, and on several different continents be consistent with itself?
Because the Bible is the Holy Inspired Word of God.
The Bible has been translated into 2,400 languages and dialects. How amazing is that? While at camp they told us that all great works of (ancient) literature have several surviving handwritten manuscripts. They gave us examples like Plato's Tetralogies, which has seven surviving manuscripts. Aristotle has forty-nine manuscripts and Homer's Iliad has 643 surviving manuscripts.
The New Testament has 24,633 surviving, handwritten manuscripts.
2 Samuel 22:31 says, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless."
That is why I believe that faith is based on fact and not emotions. How else can you explain it? The Bible is the truth, it has survived for thousands of years and remained consistent throughout. The Word of God is alive and will speak to His people yesterday, today, and forever.
When I was at camp over the summer we talked about knowing your faith. The camp slogan is "Do you really know what you say you believe? Is this your faith or your momma's faith?"
Unlike believing in evolution or atheism or something, the Christian faith is the most intelligent faith in the world. When you put your faith in God and the Bible you aren't believing without evidence. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is very consistent. Even though it was written over a period of 1500 years, every copy says the same thing. The Bible was written over forty generations and by over forty different authors ranging from a variety of social positions and occupations such as peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, kings, etc. Something that I find really interesting is that it was written on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was also written in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
How can something written such a long time a go, in several different languages, and on several different continents be consistent with itself?
Because the Bible is the Holy Inspired Word of God.
The Bible has been translated into 2,400 languages and dialects. How amazing is that? While at camp they told us that all great works of (ancient) literature have several surviving handwritten manuscripts. They gave us examples like Plato's Tetralogies, which has seven surviving manuscripts. Aristotle has forty-nine manuscripts and Homer's Iliad has 643 surviving manuscripts.
The New Testament has 24,633 surviving, handwritten manuscripts.
2 Samuel 22:31 says, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless."
That is why I believe that faith is based on fact and not emotions. How else can you explain it? The Bible is the truth, it has survived for thousands of years and remained consistent throughout. The Word of God is alive and will speak to His people yesterday, today, and forever.
The Shaman
There are religious experts of all kinds in every generation: pastors or reverends, priests, in Jesus' day his disciples and afterwards his apostles, or any member of clergy. In the days of the hunter-gatherers it was the Shaman or "one who knows."
Shaman have different "powers" depending on which people group you are talking about. In North America they were believed to be possessed by spirits that spoke through them. Another way the spirits would communicate with shaman would be through visions or dreams. Shaman had the power to let their spirits wander and go wherever they wanted or become whoever they please.
It was believed by the Amazonians that their shamans were able to become jaguars and they would growl, pant, and strike the air with claw-like fingers. Shaman paid special attention to illness, the weather, predators, and prey and focused their powers on postponing the inevitable. Scholar Mircea Eliade wrote, "What is fundamental and universal is the shaman's struggle against what we could call 'the powers of evil.' It is consoling and comforting to know that a member of the community is able to see what is hidden and invisible to the rest and to bring back direct and reliable information from the supernatural worlds."
To become a Shaman you had to become a master of num, a spiritual healing energy. In the !Kung San to become a master of num you had to participate in all-night curing dances and enter into a "trancelike state." If they were able to cure the sick or "call down" rain they became more credible as a shaman.
They shaman used their social status to become wealthy. If they were called to cure a fellow hunter-gatherer they would do so only in exchange for an item of their choosing. The Gitskan shaman from western Canada had the dignity to return the gifts if his patient died.
As a whole, shamans were experts at trickery. They used ventriloquism to help spirits speak and performed sleight of hand when curing patients. They would watch their fellow shaman for trickery to expose a rival as a fraud or to simply learn his trick. If a shaman was found to be a fraud it didn't shake the belief of the people in the shaman group as a whole.
Why is it that we believe in trickery and deception without question but we can't see the truth that's right in front of us? Jesus didn't use magic when performing miracles. Jesus wasn't a fraud.
Jesus heals. Jesus protects. Jesus loves.
If you had a choice to put your trust in a shaman or Christ who would you choose?
I choose Christ.
Matthew 9:35 says, "Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness."
Shaman have different "powers" depending on which people group you are talking about. In North America they were believed to be possessed by spirits that spoke through them. Another way the spirits would communicate with shaman would be through visions or dreams. Shaman had the power to let their spirits wander and go wherever they wanted or become whoever they please.
It was believed by the Amazonians that their shamans were able to become jaguars and they would growl, pant, and strike the air with claw-like fingers. Shaman paid special attention to illness, the weather, predators, and prey and focused their powers on postponing the inevitable. Scholar Mircea Eliade wrote, "What is fundamental and universal is the shaman's struggle against what we could call 'the powers of evil.' It is consoling and comforting to know that a member of the community is able to see what is hidden and invisible to the rest and to bring back direct and reliable information from the supernatural worlds."
To become a Shaman you had to become a master of num, a spiritual healing energy. In the !Kung San to become a master of num you had to participate in all-night curing dances and enter into a "trancelike state." If they were able to cure the sick or "call down" rain they became more credible as a shaman.
They shaman used their social status to become wealthy. If they were called to cure a fellow hunter-gatherer they would do so only in exchange for an item of their choosing. The Gitskan shaman from western Canada had the dignity to return the gifts if his patient died.
As a whole, shamans were experts at trickery. They used ventriloquism to help spirits speak and performed sleight of hand when curing patients. They would watch their fellow shaman for trickery to expose a rival as a fraud or to simply learn his trick. If a shaman was found to be a fraud it didn't shake the belief of the people in the shaman group as a whole.
Why is it that we believe in trickery and deception without question but we can't see the truth that's right in front of us? Jesus didn't use magic when performing miracles. Jesus wasn't a fraud.
Jesus heals. Jesus protects. Jesus loves.
If you had a choice to put your trust in a shaman or Christ who would you choose?
I choose Christ.
Matthew 9:35 says, "Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness."
Monday, September 26, 2011
Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall
There are a lot of lies our society tells us. The media, especially, targets women and the lie that they have to be six foot two and weigh one hundred pounds to be someone. Every woman in America, every woman in the world, has felt the weight of this lie, looked into a mirror and saw ugly.
In her blog Beauty Redefined, Lexie Kite shared an interview with her friend about how she views herself due to the focus media puts women and their bodies. Lexie asked her friend "T" when the first time she felt self-conscious about her body was. "T" shared her story about how when she was seven her and her cousins were comparing themselves. Even though she was skinny, she was solid because she was active as a child. When her cousins struggled to lift her off the ground they couldn't believe how much she weighed. This experience greatly influenced the rest of "T's" childhood and even into her adulthood as she struggles with body image. She shared that when she realized she wasn't skinny enough she turned to food. Her mother also played a big role in how she viewed her body because she was always on a diet and talking negatively about her body.
How can people be so insensitive? And "T" isn't the only one with a story like this.
Before I go any further, why is it that we as girls feel the need to "fix" ourselves up? Why do we want to fit this "perfect" body type, when that body has been so distorted that it is impossible to really look that way?
I'll tell you why and so will Lexie. All the media sells us the "perfect" body image and we buy into it. We look at the magazines and watch the TV shows and even the billboards tell us that we aren't perfect. News flash: there is no perfect body!
Now, I am not telling you to stop exercising or to stop eating healthy. Trust me, I promote healthy eating! All I'm saying is don't let your body, your hair, don't let the mirror or society, define who you are.
"To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are." -Anonymous
You can't live up to your full potential if you don't stop hating who you are. So stop the negative self-talk. Yeah, that's right, I called you out on it. I do it too. You look in the mirror and think, "Wow, what a train-wreck." It stops here. I want none of that! The more you appreciate yourself now the better you'll take care of your body in the future.
A group of friends and I are reading a book called "The Truth about Guys" written by Chad Eastham (I know, it sounds pretty shallow, don't judge!). In his book Chad writes, "The perfect body is not what you see in the mirror; it's the one you are in. When you learn to love your body, it will love you back."
And that's coming from a guy! How cool is that?
Lexie advises us to "take up the lifelong fight against these lies, the time to start is now." I'm in! What about you?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Beauty Redefined
I recently found this blog (recently, as in today) called Beauty Redefined. It is written by two sisters (twins), Lindsay and Lexie, who are working on their PhDs in Communication and studying representations of female bodies in popular media. Their mission statement is to take back beauty for girls and women everywhere through continuing the discussion about body image, women's potential and media influence. Lindsay and Lexie also hope to help women everywhere rethink their ideas of beautiful and healthy that are shown in the media. Women who are confident in they way they look and feel take better care of themselves.
Their latest blog post is what caught my attention: "Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History. Let's Misbehave!" They got this title from a quote by Laurel Thatcher who won the Pulitzer Prize for her work about 19th century women who weren't considered "extraordinary" by historians because they were well-behaved. While Laurel's advice to miss-behave doesn't sound like a necessarily good idea, it makes sense. Name one woman in history who did exactly as she was told. Name a woman who followed the rules and didn't step outside her comfort zone. Name a woman in history who didn't stand up for what she believed in.
You can't.
Their latest blog post is what caught my attention: "Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History. Let's Misbehave!" They got this title from a quote by Laurel Thatcher who won the Pulitzer Prize for her work about 19th century women who weren't considered "extraordinary" by historians because they were well-behaved. While Laurel's advice to miss-behave doesn't sound like a necessarily good idea, it makes sense. Name one woman in history who did exactly as she was told. Name a woman who followed the rules and didn't step outside her comfort zone. Name a woman in history who didn't stand up for what she believed in.
You can't.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Life Book Project
I'm sure by now that you've heard of it. The Life Book. It's such a little book, how much information can be packed into one-hundred pages, anyway? Enough information to save your life.
On Wednesday youth groups in our area met together for a youth rally. We split off into our school groups and were able to meet other Christians who went to our schools. We talked about See You at the Pole (held on Wednesday, September, 28th) and were able to really get excited about what was going to happen in our schools.
(Honestly, I was a little disappointed in the turnout for my school. There weren't nearly as many students there as I thought there would be. On the bright side, this just means more Life Books for me to pass out!)
We are passing out the Life Books for one week. Our goal is that every student, every teacher in our school will have the opportunity to read The Life Book. We're calling this week Saturation week: a short term mission trip to our school.
If you received a Life Book this week give it a chance. Read a page or two, that's all I'm asking. If you have any questions let me know. I don't have all the answers, no one does, but I'll try my best.
Don't have a Life Book? Download an online version here.
On Wednesday youth groups in our area met together for a youth rally. We split off into our school groups and were able to meet other Christians who went to our schools. We talked about See You at the Pole (held on Wednesday, September, 28th) and were able to really get excited about what was going to happen in our schools.
(Honestly, I was a little disappointed in the turnout for my school. There weren't nearly as many students there as I thought there would be. On the bright side, this just means more Life Books for me to pass out!)
We are passing out the Life Books for one week. Our goal is that every student, every teacher in our school will have the opportunity to read The Life Book. We're calling this week Saturation week: a short term mission trip to our school.
If you received a Life Book this week give it a chance. Read a page or two, that's all I'm asking. If you have any questions let me know. I don't have all the answers, no one does, but I'll try my best.
Don't have a Life Book? Download an online version here.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Coasting Through
There's been something wrong in the past week. I just haven't been happy, not that you need to be "happy" to be "joyful," but whatever. One of the students in my class made a comment about happiness. He said that there are so many more things to be sad about than to be happy for. This broke my heart.
Ever since I got back from camp everything has been sky high: my relationship with God, my friendships, just everything. And then school started. (Is this only our fifth week of school?) I don't hate school, really! but when my alarm goes off in the morning the only thought in my head is I HATE SCHOOL! But I don't! So there it goes, and as happiness plummets, so do my grades. Although, that might just be because of all the stupid quizzes teachers feel are necessary to hand out. And that is when I know something is wrong.
I'm going to be honest with you here, up until this summer, I never actually read my Bible. I mean, yeah, I knew the stories, and I knew a few verses (I need to work on my memorization skills!) but I didn't get it. You know that feeling when you're sitting in math class and it feels like the teacher is speaking in Japanese? And then maybe you have a substitute teacher, or you just wake up on the right side of the bed for once and everything clicks. That's what happened this summer.
It was a week before camp and we were on our way back from a youth event two hours away. It was dark and I wanted to hear a ghost story, because I'm crazy like that. I don't know how we got on this topic but one of my friends started talking about heaven and hell and how people have been there and come back to life. I know there are books out there like 90 Minutes in Heaven and 23 Minutes in Hell and I can't say that I agree or disagree with the stories these people are telling because I haven't had the opportunity to read the books. What I did know was that if I died at that moment I would not go to Heaven. Needless to say, this was a very disturbing realization!
When we arrived home it was like one o'clock in the morning. But whatever, it was summer, no worries. I immediately pulled my Bible off the shelf where it had sat since eighth grade graduation. Yeah, it had been that long. I flipped to the Book of John and started reading. My dad always tells new Christians to read John first, because it's like the beginning of the world and Jesus' life all in one book. So that's where I began. It was amazing, the words came alive, Jesus' Words. When I had read a few chapters I flipped to the very back of my Bible and began to read Revelations. Now, I'm not sure why everyone says Revelations is boring. It isn't! It is a little hard to understand at first, I'll admit to that but it is so amazing to think that Jesus is going to come back and take us Home with Him.
When I had absorbed more information than I had all summer I began to pray. And not just "Jesus, thank you for this day, Amen" pray, but really pray. After I had exhausted myself and my emotions I finally was able to fall asleep, knowing that if I were to die at that moment I would indeed find myself in Heaven.
Before I go any further I need to make something perfectly clear to you. I am not telling you this to brag or try to scare you into reading your Bible or going to church. I am simply telling you my story, the way it needs to be told. It is yours to do with what you want.
A week later I found myself at camp and had the most amazing experience out of the four years I have been going to Camp Table Rock (see blog posts Knowing Your Faith, Proving the Truth, Seeing the Face of God, Go Light Your World). When at camp we have accountability partners, someone to tell everything to and they are supposed to tell you the honest truth. This year I wound up being accountability partners with someone I knew and the way we were able to share with each other and pray for each other . . . it's just something I can't explain.
When I got home I was so excited to share what I had found, Whom I had found, with everyone at school. I'm not sure if this is working very well but at least all of my friends know where I stand. Anyway, the whole point of all my rambling is that in the past week I've just been feeling blahh. And that's when I started feeling unhappy. Every night before I go to bed I tell myself that faith is based on fact and not emotions and every morning when I wake up I scream at my alarm clock to shut up because life seems so hopelessly pointless.
Tonight at youth group we talked about going outside of our comfort zones. Such a simple suggestion, but it's the only way to truly live for God. Starting Thursday, the youth groups in our community will be handing out "Life Books." It's the Book of John, in "teenage language." There are so many people who need God, who need hope. My prayer is that every student, every teacher in my school will receive one of these books and will read it with an open mind and an open heart and maybe, just maybe, God will work a miracle in your life.
Ever since I got back from camp everything has been sky high: my relationship with God, my friendships, just everything. And then school started. (Is this only our fifth week of school?) I don't hate school, really! but when my alarm goes off in the morning the only thought in my head is I HATE SCHOOL! But I don't! So there it goes, and as happiness plummets, so do my grades. Although, that might just be because of all the stupid quizzes teachers feel are necessary to hand out. And that is when I know something is wrong.
I'm going to be honest with you here, up until this summer, I never actually read my Bible. I mean, yeah, I knew the stories, and I knew a few verses (I need to work on my memorization skills!) but I didn't get it. You know that feeling when you're sitting in math class and it feels like the teacher is speaking in Japanese? And then maybe you have a substitute teacher, or you just wake up on the right side of the bed for once and everything clicks. That's what happened this summer.
It was a week before camp and we were on our way back from a youth event two hours away. It was dark and I wanted to hear a ghost story, because I'm crazy like that. I don't know how we got on this topic but one of my friends started talking about heaven and hell and how people have been there and come back to life. I know there are books out there like 90 Minutes in Heaven and 23 Minutes in Hell and I can't say that I agree or disagree with the stories these people are telling because I haven't had the opportunity to read the books. What I did know was that if I died at that moment I would not go to Heaven. Needless to say, this was a very disturbing realization!
When we arrived home it was like one o'clock in the morning. But whatever, it was summer, no worries. I immediately pulled my Bible off the shelf where it had sat since eighth grade graduation. Yeah, it had been that long. I flipped to the Book of John and started reading. My dad always tells new Christians to read John first, because it's like the beginning of the world and Jesus' life all in one book. So that's where I began. It was amazing, the words came alive, Jesus' Words. When I had read a few chapters I flipped to the very back of my Bible and began to read Revelations. Now, I'm not sure why everyone says Revelations is boring. It isn't! It is a little hard to understand at first, I'll admit to that but it is so amazing to think that Jesus is going to come back and take us Home with Him.
When I had absorbed more information than I had all summer I began to pray. And not just "Jesus, thank you for this day, Amen" pray, but really pray. After I had exhausted myself and my emotions I finally was able to fall asleep, knowing that if I were to die at that moment I would indeed find myself in Heaven.
Before I go any further I need to make something perfectly clear to you. I am not telling you this to brag or try to scare you into reading your Bible or going to church. I am simply telling you my story, the way it needs to be told. It is yours to do with what you want.
A week later I found myself at camp and had the most amazing experience out of the four years I have been going to Camp Table Rock (see blog posts Knowing Your Faith, Proving the Truth, Seeing the Face of God, Go Light Your World). When at camp we have accountability partners, someone to tell everything to and they are supposed to tell you the honest truth. This year I wound up being accountability partners with someone I knew and the way we were able to share with each other and pray for each other . . . it's just something I can't explain.
When I got home I was so excited to share what I had found, Whom I had found, with everyone at school. I'm not sure if this is working very well but at least all of my friends know where I stand. Anyway, the whole point of all my rambling is that in the past week I've just been feeling blahh. And that's when I started feeling unhappy. Every night before I go to bed I tell myself that faith is based on fact and not emotions and every morning when I wake up I scream at my alarm clock to shut up because life seems so hopelessly pointless.
Tonight at youth group we talked about going outside of our comfort zones. Such a simple suggestion, but it's the only way to truly live for God. Starting Thursday, the youth groups in our community will be handing out "Life Books." It's the Book of John, in "teenage language." There are so many people who need God, who need hope. My prayer is that every student, every teacher in my school will receive one of these books and will read it with an open mind and an open heart and maybe, just maybe, God will work a miracle in your life.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Why Bad Things Happen
In the first chapter of The Evolution of God, Robert Wright writes about "when bad things happen to good people." According to hunter-gatherer societies, their gods are the cause of why bad things happen. The Ainu, a Japanese aborigine tribe, treated their gods like humans, threatening them when something bad happened and thanking them when it "rained" down blessings. This is typical to several hunter-gatherer societies, however when they do show ritualized respect they seem more fearful of their gods than respectful.
Wright then goes on to talk about the "Christian tradition" of believing that reality is governed by an all-knowing, all-powerful, and good God. The big question is why would an all-powerful God let His people suffer when He is above suffering?
I think Job (from the Bible, the Book of Job) has the best answer to this question. You see, Job learned the hard way what it meant to suffer. Job was "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil" (Job 1:1). He was given everything, seven sons, three daughters, sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, and servants. In Job 1:7-12, it says that God allowed Satan to test Job in order to prove that Job was truly a man of God. Job ended up losing everything: his children, all his worldly possessions, even his health failed; yet in the midst of all his suffering he was able to praise God and trust Him.
Suffering isn't from God, it's from Satan. God allows Satan to test us so that we know we know what we say we believe. With God we are able to overcome any obstacle because He has already overcome.
John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Something about hunter-gatherers that I find interesting is that their gods aren't morally perfect. They resemble humans too much to be called "gods." An anthropologist said of the Klamath tribe that relations to the spirits [gods] have no ethical implication. Their "religion" wasn't about morals or establishing right from wrong. How could you follow a god(s) that isn't any better than you? In this world, I need something stable to hold onto, that "firm foundation" is found in trusting God and in His Word.
How great is it to believe that Someone was able to overcome the world!
Wright then goes on to talk about the "Christian tradition" of believing that reality is governed by an all-knowing, all-powerful, and good God. The big question is why would an all-powerful God let His people suffer when He is above suffering?
I think Job (from the Bible, the Book of Job) has the best answer to this question. You see, Job learned the hard way what it meant to suffer. Job was "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil" (Job 1:1). He was given everything, seven sons, three daughters, sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, and servants. In Job 1:7-12, it says that God allowed Satan to test Job in order to prove that Job was truly a man of God. Job ended up losing everything: his children, all his worldly possessions, even his health failed; yet in the midst of all his suffering he was able to praise God and trust Him.
Suffering isn't from God, it's from Satan. God allows Satan to test us so that we know we know what we say we believe. With God we are able to overcome any obstacle because He has already overcome.
John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Something about hunter-gatherers that I find interesting is that their gods aren't morally perfect. They resemble humans too much to be called "gods." An anthropologist said of the Klamath tribe that relations to the spirits [gods] have no ethical implication. Their "religion" wasn't about morals or establishing right from wrong. How could you follow a god(s) that isn't any better than you? In this world, I need something stable to hold onto, that "firm foundation" is found in trusting God and in His Word.
How great is it to believe that Someone was able to overcome the world!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sir John Lubbock
After writing such nasty things about Sir John Lubbock in my last post I felt that I should get to know him better, so I went to trusty old Google and began to research his name.
John Lubbock was born in 1834 and was the oldest son to Sir John William Lubbock, a banker and mathematician. At the age of fifteen (2), Lubbock stopped his studies at Eton College and became a partner to the family bank. He self-educated himself and focused mainly on natural history. Lubbock had the "privilege" to have known Charles Darwin, who took him in as a student. When Darwin worked on his treatise of barnacles, Lubbock helped Darwin re-draw his scientific papers on zoological specimens from the Beagle (2).
In 1858, Darwin submitted Lubbock’s account of the methods of reproduction in Daphnia to the Royal Society. The Royal Society (3) was a scientific organization in Great Britain that sought to find experimental evidence in medicine, botany, and the physical sciences. The leading scientists of the world were members in this organization including Sir Isaac Newton and Lord Rutherford. Lubbock was made a member of the Royal Society three years later (2).
Lubbock became a Member of Parliament in the 1870s (1) and introduced reform bills in banking. He sponsored the Bank Holidays Act in 1871 (2), which is now called St. Lubbock's Days. He provided an evolutionary framework for the accumulated archaeological remains about human beginnings and, for this, gained an international reputation (2). Lubbock also came up with the terms Neolithic and Paleolithic when talking about the Stone Age periods. During his lifetime Lubbock published twenty five books, over a hundred scientific papers, and gave many lectures on the subjects he wrote about.
Sir John Lubbock died in May of 1913 at the age of 79. A century later, I have had the opportunity to "meet" Mr. Lubbock.
As I was researching more about Lubbock I found one of his books called The Pleasures of Life. I went to chapter 11, Religion (4), and was surprised to see that he began with a Bible verse. Intrigued, took some time to read through the chapter. At the end Lubbock's rambling he came to this conclusion: "In religion, as with children at night, it is darkness and ignorance which create dread; light and love cast out fear."
I wish that Lubbock had realized that this "religion" he talks about takes less faith to believe that evolution does. The Bible explains how life happened, not evolution. Lubbock was so influential during his lifetime; if only he had been able to be influential for Christ.
Research:
1. infoplease.com
2. encyclopedia.com, John Lubbock
3. encyclopedia.com, Royal Society
4. The Pleasures of Life
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