Another season has ended and another has begun!

Long title for just that! I am starting a new blog. One with purpose and with a motivating partner in crime. This is a practice blog but one to help give me feedback and growth and possibly lead to a serious hobby!

Here is my newest blog about traveling and enjoy all life has to offer called "Livin on a prayer"... and a Dime" 

Enjoy, comment, share. I desire to learn and grow while sharing what I have learned and seen!

Jesus > Religion Chapter 4

The timeliness of Sunday school showing me three videos below can only be attributed to God. The first one is a recent song by Switchfoot. The second and third videos I have not been able to locate. One video is of an "Open Air Holiness" church yelling against Switchfoot. It's words of people going to hell for listening to music, being drunk, looking at pron, were of hate and judgement. How are we suppose to respond to such yelling, even when talking or holding a conversation is out of the question. Maybe some of you have seen or heard this on your college campus, maybe on a literal street corner or downtown.

This chapter really hit home on how we are suppose to consider the second video. For many (Christians and non-christians alike) there is an immediate reaction of rage, anger, and a desire to punch them in the face for their hurt, inability to listen and hold even a close to a decent conversation, and further more mis-representing who Christ is. However, even the leader of Switchfoot in one a video (sorry it is not posted idk the name...) states that we are to love them. To bring them water, get them coffee, do not try to show the same level of anger and hate back, do not try to overcome them with your anger. After reading this chapter and remembering James 4:10-11, I feel there is a better more desirable reaction Jesus wants us to take. TO be aware of the devils work in this situation. To realize the amount of sin you and they have equal to same level of brokenness and that God, from HIS washing, is the only way anyone can get into Heaven. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul writes and points out common sins not just one over arching or  "worst sin" and leads that because of such sin WE will not and can not "inherit the kingdom of God." But yet those who have accepted God's grace and believes in His love have been WASHED by HIM, not of ourselves. "We were washed" not we washed so that we will be "justified in the name of the Lord..." It does not work that way. Nothing I did, nothing you can do will get us "right" before God unless we make Him our God. Our true religion as the song goes.

The chapter discusses our our culture and our society breaks down into us and them paradigms. Democrats vs Republicans, blacks vs whites, rich vs poor, Dallas Cowboys vs Steelers, your highschool team against another.

1. Why is it so hard to love "them?"
1. Loving them can take so much more effort than loving those you act like you or like the same things as you. You have to find topics and ignore the difference, it takes patience, love, grace, a quite heart, to explore the differences. It can be hard loving them if you want to please people.
2. How come Christianity flourished the most when it was under persecution and not sanctioned by the government. Why do you think that is the case?
1. If you are going to go against culture and the government then you better have strong faith and a strong understanding of what you are fighting for. During those times of strong faith Christ's love and true self shown through individuals and groups of Christians. Those are my thoughts. They (Christians) were considered rebels, they were thought of as causing problems, they showed strength that has superseded power, and society.
3. Have you ever tried washing yourself from your sin rather than letting Jesus do this work of grace?
1. I;m sure I have but I can not remember a specific time. Since salvation of my soul, I have always known that I will never be removed from heaven and Gods love but even then when I feel I am not the best Christian I can be or a did something wrong such as enjoyed a little dirty dancing in the clubs (lustful) I think that I was still in good standing based off my habit of reading the bible every morning, and going to church every Sunday and then small groups every Tues night! 
4. Describe what most attracts you to the person of Jesus.
1. His love. He seems like he would be a very approachable and attractable man. So wise but patient. I guess like a father figure. 
5. Jeff suggests that idolatry is "the act of placing anything or anyone above Jesus as the ultimate source of worth, satisfaction, and identitiy." why do we place other things above Jesus in our lives? Where do you find your worth, satisfaction, and identity?
1. my first thought is that anything or anyone we place above Jesus is physical and able to give us direct and instant feedback and response. I place my fiance above Jesus quite often. It is because he loves me, he hugs me, he talks to me directly. Thats physical, that immediate. Jesus is not like that exactly. His use of the holy spirit is AMAZING and is worth more than my fiance will ever be able to give me (even when married) however it is not as easily accessed as a relationship with a human....
2. I ultimately find my worth and satisfaction in anything anyone complements me on. I love to know I did something well. I love to hear how I helped someone and how special I am...
6. If you were truly to follow Jesus, what would be different in your life?
1. that's a tough question.... i feel I may need to meditate on this further... My first reaction is not desiring to please people and simply please Jesus for out of love for Him! Like a child wanting to make her dad happy and proud. This way my future marriage is Christ-Centered, my relationships are all Christ-centered, My heart and mind are Christ-centered, not pinterest centered, or cultured centered, or people-centered. My life, my heart, and my mind is not truly following Christ to the fullest. I know that... That is an area of continuous growth for me. :)

Judging, Loving, and Judging about Loving

Oky HERE in my last post (and specifically in number 3) about a book I am reading I made the case for a baker and showing love to others especially those in the Gay community. Here is a question were the actions of a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple right?



 It stemmed from a debate within a small group not of my own but where it was asked of my thoughts. I didn't give any (granted to opportunity to was short since they continued in giving their points haha). I was still processing mine. And, once processed, I gave mine on the last blog post. Well, God presented Himself and HIS thoughts in a wonderful quiet manner. By the random choosing of James 4.

James 4:11-12

"Brothers, do not slander one another. ANYONE who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping i, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-- who are you to judge your neighbor?"

When James is addressing specifically Jewish Christians throughout, the family of believers; brothers and sisters in Christ. The "law" is the law that as a Christian we are to follow, the law God has set before us....Love.  If we are to judge a brother or sister in Christ for what they did especially if it is on the matter of loving others then we ourselves are not loving them! We have yet again become hypocritical, selfish, prideful, beings who think that we have the right to decide whether the baker's actions were right. (Me included btw...) its so natural to form our own opinions on what is Christian love suppose to look like and make sure that they know it. We can find MULTIPLE Scriptures, view points, and anecdotes on the matter but in essence God is the Judge of the Law. He is the maker of the Law, he has the right to judge. We however do not. We however let lose our tongues on our brothers and sisters, and judged horrifically, in the most unloving of ways. To our own family.  (this is not to say we are free to judge those not of our spiritual family! not at all!!)

So the answer to the baker refusing service to the couple who is gay? there is none, it is not our place to simply talk about and judge her actions for we are just as unloving as the judgments we made about her...

How are we to act in those situations I am not sure... I am sure the response of James 4:11 is sufficient enough to say I do not want to take part in the conversation and we need to assess our own actions. Are we loving her as well as loving the other side?


Thank you God for your quiet and perfect timing. Only when my mind was open, my heart was at ease do You speak and show me so much truth and areas of growth. God, please take my lesson from this morning and guide me in applying it to all my words, actions, and especially thoughts! Control my tongue, control my actions and give me the desire of the Spirit.  Thank you again God! In love, You show me how to Love!

Amen.