So I tried repeatedly to post from my iPod using Blogger in Safari. For whatever reason, it wouldn't let me select and type in the main body portion (where I'm typing now). I could enter a title and save it to drafts but that was all. I'm happy to say that I solved my problem and invisible_gurl is now mobile :) Just in case you were interested. Don't worry, a post actually worth reading (well, that's debatable, I suppose) is in the works.
- Posted from my iPod :)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Excuses Excuses
Probably no one has questioned my extended hiatus from posting, but I'm going to offer an explanation anyway. Say it's for posterity. Whose, I don't have any clue. But anyway...
I have not blogged because at the present time I feel in no way qualified to tell anybody anything. Or even submit my views on a given topic. Or suggest an alternative opinion on a matter to someone.
Why this is, I'm not entirely sure. I know that God has been working on my heart and showing me just how very wicked it is, and how much I need His help in every aspect of my life, so that probably has some bearing on my current state of mind. Also, I'd heard from multiple people that junior year is the most difficult, trying year of high school, but until I started this year I didn't really have a grasp on just how challenging they meant. Now I comprehend. So that might have an effect on it too - not only am I learning spiritually that I am nothing but inherent evil, I am learning intellectually that everything I know amounts to pretty much nothing.
And, given the discovered magnitude of effort and brainpower this year will take, I've been extremely busy. Not to mention that I'm playing volleyball again on top of working at stables and all the other activities that occupy my time in a given week.
So there are my reasons. I hope to blog sometime soon, bur I'm going to see about maybe posting differently - more open-ended questions and less me airing my unspoken opinions on my own private website.
Blame the PSAT for all the semi-large words I used. Or maybe it's Pride and Prejudice. Or the ridiculous amount of early American literature we've had to read (for American Literature class). I don't know. I'm done now.
I have not blogged because at the present time I feel in no way qualified to tell anybody anything. Or even submit my views on a given topic. Or suggest an alternative opinion on a matter to someone.
Why this is, I'm not entirely sure. I know that God has been working on my heart and showing me just how very wicked it is, and how much I need His help in every aspect of my life, so that probably has some bearing on my current state of mind. Also, I'd heard from multiple people that junior year is the most difficult, trying year of high school, but until I started this year I didn't really have a grasp on just how challenging they meant. Now I comprehend. So that might have an effect on it too - not only am I learning spiritually that I am nothing but inherent evil, I am learning intellectually that everything I know amounts to pretty much nothing.
And, given the discovered magnitude of effort and brainpower this year will take, I've been extremely busy. Not to mention that I'm playing volleyball again on top of working at stables and all the other activities that occupy my time in a given week.
So there are my reasons. I hope to blog sometime soon, bur I'm going to see about maybe posting differently - more open-ended questions and less me airing my unspoken opinions on my own private website.
Blame the PSAT for all the semi-large words I used. Or maybe it's Pride and Prejudice. Or the ridiculous amount of early American literature we've had to read (for American Literature class). I don't know. I'm done now.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Our Backwards Culture
My brother has taken to saying "sick" when he thinks something is cool. This really bothers me, but until recently I couldn't really put my finger on why. "Sick" to me means unhealthy or mentally ill, but there was more to my aversion to the word in that context. And now I know why.
It seemed rather backwards to describe something cool as sick. If you heard or saw something you thought was awesome, would you say, "Wow, that's totally nauseating" or "I can't believe how mentally deranged that is"? I know I wouldn't. What it took me a while to realize is that calling something "sick" is just an indication of how backwards our entire culture is.
Think about it. I posted a while ago on how people don't care about movies or tv shows unless they're crude, edgy, violent, intense or full of sexual humor (not to mention just plain sex). Happy endings and intact marriages are thought of as cliche and predicable. It's considered cool to drink and smoke and do whatever illegal street drugs you can get your hands on. Parties, swearing, and flouting laws, rules, and authorities are in-vogue activities. Graphic and gory video games are appealing to not just older audiences, but to kids as young as 5 years old (maybe not a widespread fact, but I heard straight from my younger brother's mouth that the five year old brother of a kid on his baseball team plays Call of Duty 4). Rebellion is accepted as a normal teenage behavior because parents are overbearing and don't know anything about us, much less what's good for us, and it seems like no one rises above expectations anymore. Marriage is now a burden that just falls apart anyway, and of course there's nothing wrong with extramarital sex or sex with no marriage. Kids are raised to believe that there is no God, and that evolution is fact. This belief makes abortion (syn: murder) acceptable and depreciates life because they learn that we're all just animals anyway.
And at least one thing that all of this has in common is this: it's ALL AGAINST GOD'S NATURE. There are countless verses I could reference that support this claim, and I'll list a few. For starters, Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Very few if any of the things written above could be considered pure, lovely, or admirable, even by a vast stretch of imagination. Matthew 15:4: "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'" Ephesians 6:1: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Notice this verse doesn't say "Obey your parents, except when you know better than they do" or "Obey your parents until you're a teenager; then it's okay to be rebellious and unsubmissive." Granted, we're not always children, but we are always sons and daughters. There is never a point in time when our parents are not our elders, and even when they're not bringing us up under their rooves anymore, they are still our authorities. Hebrews 13:17 says "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Proverbs 23:20-22: "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Exodus 20:13 could not possibly be clearer: "You shall not murder." Hosea 4:1-3 describes Israel in a condition similar to that of our country - or even our world - today: "'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.'"
So what can we do? Be lights. Abstain from ungodly behavior. As one Rebelutionary said, taking God's name in vain is more than just using it as an exclamation. It's doing or saying anything that goes against His nature! Of course, we all fail at times. But we should keep in mind the words of 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
It seemed rather backwards to describe something cool as sick. If you heard or saw something you thought was awesome, would you say, "Wow, that's totally nauseating" or "I can't believe how mentally deranged that is"? I know I wouldn't. What it took me a while to realize is that calling something "sick" is just an indication of how backwards our entire culture is.
Think about it. I posted a while ago on how people don't care about movies or tv shows unless they're crude, edgy, violent, intense or full of sexual humor (not to mention just plain sex). Happy endings and intact marriages are thought of as cliche and predicable. It's considered cool to drink and smoke and do whatever illegal street drugs you can get your hands on. Parties, swearing, and flouting laws, rules, and authorities are in-vogue activities. Graphic and gory video games are appealing to not just older audiences, but to kids as young as 5 years old (maybe not a widespread fact, but I heard straight from my younger brother's mouth that the five year old brother of a kid on his baseball team plays Call of Duty 4). Rebellion is accepted as a normal teenage behavior because parents are overbearing and don't know anything about us, much less what's good for us, and it seems like no one rises above expectations anymore. Marriage is now a burden that just falls apart anyway, and of course there's nothing wrong with extramarital sex or sex with no marriage. Kids are raised to believe that there is no God, and that evolution is fact. This belief makes abortion (syn: murder) acceptable and depreciates life because they learn that we're all just animals anyway.
And at least one thing that all of this has in common is this: it's ALL AGAINST GOD'S NATURE. There are countless verses I could reference that support this claim, and I'll list a few. For starters, Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Very few if any of the things written above could be considered pure, lovely, or admirable, even by a vast stretch of imagination. Matthew 15:4: "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'" Ephesians 6:1: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Notice this verse doesn't say "Obey your parents, except when you know better than they do" or "Obey your parents until you're a teenager; then it's okay to be rebellious and unsubmissive." Granted, we're not always children, but we are always sons and daughters. There is never a point in time when our parents are not our elders, and even when they're not bringing us up under their rooves anymore, they are still our authorities. Hebrews 13:17 says "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Proverbs 23:20-22: "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Exodus 20:13 could not possibly be clearer: "You shall not murder." Hosea 4:1-3 describes Israel in a condition similar to that of our country - or even our world - today: "'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.'"
So what can we do? Be lights. Abstain from ungodly behavior. As one Rebelutionary said, taking God's name in vain is more than just using it as an exclamation. It's doing or saying anything that goes against His nature! Of course, we all fail at times. But we should keep in mind the words of 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Monday, September 1, 2008
What the World Needs
"People aren't confused by the Gospel. They're confused by us. Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination or my translation of the Bible. They just need Jesus. We can be passionate about we believe, but we can't strap ourselves to the Gospel, 'cuz we're slowing it down. Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe, the best thing we can do, is just get out of the way." - Casting Crowns, What the World Needs
I love Casting Crowns. Their songs are powerful and they speak truth to my soul. Even this one, which tells of the world's need for a loving Father, a rescuing Savior, and a leading Spirit, is no exception. But then come this interlude, spoken in sections by teenagers. And my spirit rebels against what they say.
It's true that the world doesn't need our possessions, denominations, or interpretations. But if we just stop witnessing and decide not to obey our commands to be salt and light, how else will the world find Jesus? Yes, God is all-powerful. He could very easily save the world without any help from us. But I don't think that's His plan. Because what, then, would be the reason behind the Great Commission?
How can we be slowing the Gospel down if we are fulfilling the purpose we have been chosen for? If every single Christian on the planet suddenly stopped evangelizing, if missionaries stopped going out, if we stopped trying to invite people to church, what would happen? If we got out of the way, would the Gospel reach more people on its own, without any human interference? Are we in the way at all?
Most of these questions are rhetorical. I don't know that anyone could answer them, because we don't know what would happen if we forsook our calling. And I pray we never find out.
God calls people to be witnesses, evangelists, missionaries. Who are we to decide that it would be better if we didn't do what God has ordained for us to do? Who are we serving then? It's not the lost people of this world, to be sure.
I will be the first to admit that I'm not a very passionate evangelist. I'm slightly terrified by the thought of approaching a stranger, or even a neighbor, and sharing my faith. But the idea of ceased evangelism appalls me.
I'm more or less fixed in my viewpoints and opinions, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I love Casting Crowns. Their songs are powerful and they speak truth to my soul. Even this one, which tells of the world's need for a loving Father, a rescuing Savior, and a leading Spirit, is no exception. But then come this interlude, spoken in sections by teenagers. And my spirit rebels against what they say.
It's true that the world doesn't need our possessions, denominations, or interpretations. But if we just stop witnessing and decide not to obey our commands to be salt and light, how else will the world find Jesus? Yes, God is all-powerful. He could very easily save the world without any help from us. But I don't think that's His plan. Because what, then, would be the reason behind the Great Commission?
How can we be slowing the Gospel down if we are fulfilling the purpose we have been chosen for? If every single Christian on the planet suddenly stopped evangelizing, if missionaries stopped going out, if we stopped trying to invite people to church, what would happen? If we got out of the way, would the Gospel reach more people on its own, without any human interference? Are we in the way at all?
Most of these questions are rhetorical. I don't know that anyone could answer them, because we don't know what would happen if we forsook our calling. And I pray we never find out.
God calls people to be witnesses, evangelists, missionaries. Who are we to decide that it would be better if we didn't do what God has ordained for us to do? Who are we serving then? It's not the lost people of this world, to be sure.
I will be the first to admit that I'm not a very passionate evangelist. I'm slightly terrified by the thought of approaching a stranger, or even a neighbor, and sharing my faith. But the idea of ceased evangelism appalls me.
I'm more or less fixed in my viewpoints and opinions, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Beauty
What is beauty? It can be defined in several ways, depending largely on context. You could call a person and a landscape beautiful, but is it the same? I don't think so.
"Beautiful" is kind of a loosely used word. As already mentioned, people and nature can be described as beautiful. But so can animals, interior decorating, food, architecture, landscaping...even technological items, such as computers or cameras or mp3 players, could be described as beautiful (although maybe only by a very techie kind of person).
When I think of beauty, I tend to think of people. And that begs the question - what makes a person beautiful? And I really can't answer that question. Beauty, to humans, is subjective.
It can also be judgmental. I know I'm not the only one who sometimes makes a decision about a person's character based on their outward appearance before even meeting them. This, I know very well, is wrong.
The only definition of beauty really worth caring about is God's. And when God looks at people, He doesn't see their outward appearance, though He knows and loves everyone just the way they are. He created them, for crying out loud, and this fact convicts me time and again. But that's kind of off-topic.
God looks at people's hearts. And if their hearts are right, in a place of humility before Him, then to Him they are beautiful.
My desires are that 1) my heart is beautiful in God's sight, and 2) He helps me not to judge people by outward, false beauty, which fades.
True beauty is all that matters. Man, insignificant, mortal man, looks at the outward appearance and draws potentially limiting and even condemning conclusions as to a person's character. God, everlasting, perfect, awesome God, looks at the heart and sees man for what he or she really is, no matter how handsome/beautiful, well dressed, and put together they may seem on the outside.
"Beautiful" is kind of a loosely used word. As already mentioned, people and nature can be described as beautiful. But so can animals, interior decorating, food, architecture, landscaping...even technological items, such as computers or cameras or mp3 players, could be described as beautiful (although maybe only by a very techie kind of person).
When I think of beauty, I tend to think of people. And that begs the question - what makes a person beautiful? And I really can't answer that question. Beauty, to humans, is subjective.
It can also be judgmental. I know I'm not the only one who sometimes makes a decision about a person's character based on their outward appearance before even meeting them. This, I know very well, is wrong.
The only definition of beauty really worth caring about is God's. And when God looks at people, He doesn't see their outward appearance, though He knows and loves everyone just the way they are. He created them, for crying out loud, and this fact convicts me time and again. But that's kind of off-topic.
God looks at people's hearts. And if their hearts are right, in a place of humility before Him, then to Him they are beautiful.
My desires are that 1) my heart is beautiful in God's sight, and 2) He helps me not to judge people by outward, false beauty, which fades.
True beauty is all that matters. Man, insignificant, mortal man, looks at the outward appearance and draws potentially limiting and even condemning conclusions as to a person's character. God, everlasting, perfect, awesome God, looks at the heart and sees man for what he or she really is, no matter how handsome/beautiful, well dressed, and put together they may seem on the outside.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Thankfulness
Thankfulness. It's not a very small word, but its length really doesn't do its meaning justice. The dictionary definition is, "feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative." Sure, that's just a few words. But they mean so much, and I know that I personally forget what it means to be thankful quite often.
We live in a country where everyone wants instant gratification. No waiting, no work, no cost. We want what we want now and we don't care about anything else. Once we get whatever object we currently have our sights set on, it doesn't seem worth it anymore. Then it's on to the next thing.
It's so easy to forget.
I talk to God frequently. But I realized recently, all I'd been talking to Him about was my problems. My never-ending, extremely frustrating problems. All the ways my life wasn't exactly how I wanted it to be. In the middle of my complaining, it hit me: God's given me so much...and all I can do is ask Him for more, for better?
I then resolved to stop complaining and try to be thankful. And I began to see little, tiny occurances in each day that could only be God working in my life, reminding me that He loves me no matter how whiny I am, that He will always give me another chance at being thankful for all He's done for me.
Yesterday, I wrote an entry on thankfulness in my journal. I just began listing anything and everything I was thankful for, and when I reached the end of the page, I could hardly stop. The more I wrote, the more things I came up with to thank God for. He's given us everything - our lives, our families, every material possession we own - and the least, the very least, we can do is stop and thank Him, and express our gratitude for the great, amazing, wonderful things He has done for us undeserving, wretched sinners.
We live in a country where everyone wants instant gratification. No waiting, no work, no cost. We want what we want now and we don't care about anything else. Once we get whatever object we currently have our sights set on, it doesn't seem worth it anymore. Then it's on to the next thing.
It's so easy to forget.
I talk to God frequently. But I realized recently, all I'd been talking to Him about was my problems. My never-ending, extremely frustrating problems. All the ways my life wasn't exactly how I wanted it to be. In the middle of my complaining, it hit me: God's given me so much...and all I can do is ask Him for more, for better?
I then resolved to stop complaining and try to be thankful. And I began to see little, tiny occurances in each day that could only be God working in my life, reminding me that He loves me no matter how whiny I am, that He will always give me another chance at being thankful for all He's done for me.
Yesterday, I wrote an entry on thankfulness in my journal. I just began listing anything and everything I was thankful for, and when I reached the end of the page, I could hardly stop. The more I wrote, the more things I came up with to thank God for. He's given us everything - our lives, our families, every material possession we own - and the least, the very least, we can do is stop and thank Him, and express our gratitude for the great, amazing, wonderful things He has done for us undeserving, wretched sinners.
Words
Words are interesting things to think about. They are different, sometimes almost random, combinations of the twenty-six letters in the English alphabet. Each combination has a meaning attached to it. Strung together in a sentence, words mean not just what they mean individually, but, depending on their placement and the accompanying words, they can mean something else entirely.
Words are powerful. They can be used to hold everyday conversation, make a joke or comment, criticize someone or something, teach, build up, tear down, scold, and they can mean different things in different situations, given the frame of mind and current emotions of the person speaking them. Words can be used to draw people in or push them away. They can affect a person in nearly unlimited ways.
Words provide a common way to communicate, which is good. But they can do so much damage, too. Proverbs 12:18 says, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Life would be nearly impossible without languages that can be spoken and written. We would rely on symbols and movements to communicate. I couldn't be writing this entry without words. Written directions on street signs keep us safe. Books, newspapers, magazines, etc., teach, inform, and entertain us. But the most important things words do are enable us to read the Bible and allow us to witness to others. Though they can be painful sometimes, words are arguably the most valuable thing we have.
Words are powerful. They can be used to hold everyday conversation, make a joke or comment, criticize someone or something, teach, build up, tear down, scold, and they can mean different things in different situations, given the frame of mind and current emotions of the person speaking them. Words can be used to draw people in or push them away. They can affect a person in nearly unlimited ways.
Words provide a common way to communicate, which is good. But they can do so much damage, too. Proverbs 12:18 says, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Life would be nearly impossible without languages that can be spoken and written. We would rely on symbols and movements to communicate. I couldn't be writing this entry without words. Written directions on street signs keep us safe. Books, newspapers, magazines, etc., teach, inform, and entertain us. But the most important things words do are enable us to read the Bible and allow us to witness to others. Though they can be painful sometimes, words are arguably the most valuable thing we have.
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