Let's Fight

            As I’m watching what’s going on in this country, I’m saddened. No, scratch that, I’m angry. You wanna know why I’m angry?

            There are tons and tons of Christians, Catholics, and Christian cult (Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.) members in this country. In terms of pure numbers, we should be a force. But we aren’t.

            The atheists are being more impactful than we are, and the theists of this country blow them out of the water numerically. The atheists are winning court battles and campaigning and getting their gospel out.

            We proceed to sit on our rears.

            What happened to fighting? I don’t know about you, but standing up for the faith gets my adrenaline pumping. But right now we don’t have a nation of Christian fighters, but Christian pacifists.

            Now, I’m not talking about war pacifism. I’m talking about action pacifism. We look at our receding liberties and say, “Bummer.” Never mind that we have the numbers on our side. Never mind that this country has a Christian history.

            No, we see our nation being turned atheistic and we are… okay with it. “Eh, whatever happens, happens.” We seem to forget that Christianity is the center of Christianity in terms of impact. America sends out the most missionaries. America gives the most money. America is where many of the great Christian scholars, theologians, philosophers, preachers, and writers are. The best Christian charity organizations are based in this country.

            If this country turns atheistic, ALL of that disappears. Our liberties to do all the amazing things we’ve done will be gone. We’ll have to go underground, just like the believers in the Middle East and Asia.

            Let’s fight while we still have the numbers. Get involved. There are many Christian organizations trying to wake America up and they would love to have you. Get ready, these next few years are going to be rough. Will you take a stand?

Take a Stand

            One of my favorite superheroes is Superman. Besides being pure awesomeness, he has a sign that stands for something I hold very tightly to: hope. No, the “S” does not mean “Superman”, but something much bigger.

            I’ve always been enamored with hope. Something about what it represents just grabs me. I’ve been thinking about it. Why does hope matter so much to me?

            I realize it’s because hope is everything my life stands for. Why I’m here. What I’m supposed to bring. Who I try to serve.

            I’m a Christian. I represent a kingdom that hasn’t come in all its glory quite yet. I hope to be here when it arrives.

            I’m a Christian. I serve a King who made the Universe. He’s coming to reign and make everything perfect again.

            I’m a Christian. I’m here to bring the good news of my King’s return. I’m to tell people how they can enter that kingdom.

            I’m a Christian. I model a man who wasn’t just a man. I model a man who is the way, the life, and the truth. I mirror His image and how He lived. At least I try to.

            I’m a Christian. I stand for hope.

Look Around

            One of my favorite things I tell people to do is look around. This world is hopeless. Wars, rumors of wars, hunger, disease, narcissism, theft, murder. It needs hope.

            We can be the world’s hope. When people look at us and see the joy we have, they’ll wonder what’s up. "What is in you that makes you like that?" "What do you have that I don’t?" This and more will be running through their minds as they contemplate going through another day in their currently worthless life.

            As Christians, we know the world we live in isn’t it. There’s a better one coming, and we live for it. We grind for a nation that will soon rule, and won’t ever pass.

            So how can you be hope? If you have troubled friends, come alongside them and tell them it’s going to be okay. You are here for them because Jesus is here for you.

            Be encouraging. Don’t leave compliments unsaid; you’ll never know when they might make someone’s day.

            Be cheerful. Unless you have a reason to be down, stay upbeat! The energy you bring to your surroundings is needed, believe me.

            Be there. People just want to know someone cares for them. Let those around you know that you are always there if they want to talk.

            You can change your corner of the world. If enough people change their situation, we’ll have a changed world. I don’t know about you, but that’s something to hope for.

Report Card: From a D to an F

            I can see it now. You’re just going to roll your eyes. “Oh, yeah right, you’re one of those crazy nuts no-fun types.” What could possibly lead you to react this way?

            I’m going to talk about desensitization.

            Now, I’m not going to be like those people that tell you if you watch that dad-gum movie you are going to turn into a demon from Hell. Or a fallen angel. No, I’m not going to tell you that you should bury your head in the ground and not take in any media or non-Christian stuff.

            And no, I’m not going to talk about all the sexual or violent stuff that wears away at you. I’m going to talk about cursing.

            Why would I do that? Because I’ve experienced first hand how being around cursing 24/7 leads to changes in how you talk. At my work, my coworkers curse up a storm and a couple could match sailors with their vocabulary. I've worked there for 6 months.

            But before I continue, I have to answer a question I hear a lot. What’s wrong with cursing in the first place? Quite frankly, curse words are rude, lewd, and crude. As a Christian, there are better words for me to use in ANY situation I MIGHT be tempted to use curse words in. 

            But anyways, back to desensitization. I was in a CHURCH PARKING LOT recently, and I looked into my car trunk for something. It wasn’t there. The first thing that came pretty loudly out of my mouth was, “d—- it.”

            I was shocked. Thank goodness no one was around me. Where did THAT come from? I’m considered by some to be a choir boy goody-two-shoes.

            Later I did something really retarded (I mean, I do a lot of stupid things, but this really took the cake). Afterwards, I walked outside and yelled under my breath*, “You effin’ idiot!” Because I was really disappointed in myself, I said it twice.

           And no, I did not say “effin’”.

           I didn’t get it. Why was I saying these words that were previously unused by me? They sprung so easily from my mouth. This is from someone who is supposed to be a light to the world.

            I thought about how I’d changed. It was because I’m around coworkers who curse constantly. They curse in every situation and before I knew it, I became like them. If only for a split second. Now, I’m not blaming them. I am supposed to control my mouth no matter what and I failed to do so.

            But over time my defenses have been eroded. Those episodes showed me how bad it had gotten. Fortunately, no one heard me say those things, so people could still think I was a good Christian.

            It goes to show that anyone is susceptible to being worn away. People fill their minds with senseless violence. Then when they see an old lady get beaten up on a bus they do NOTHING. Why? They’ve seen it all before. It doesn’t matter.

            Pornography floods the world and the internet. Then we see teens engaging in destructive behavior and ask, “Why would they possible do these things?” They see it all the time in movies and television. They hear it all in what our culture calls “music”. It doesn't matter anymore.

            I wanted this post to be about desensitization. But I didn’t want to get into all the sex and violence our culture promotes because things would instantly get heavy. I chose cursing because there might be a tad bit of humor to keep things light.

            But this is for you. Just examine your life as I’ve had to do mine. Are you watching shows or movies that push unacceptable behavior blatantly? Are you listening to music that doesn’t encourage you to behave as you should? Think through these things.
             The danger of desensitization is that when you encounter evil, you witness it and leave completely unaffected. That is the symptom.

             So what have I done with my own life? I need money, therefore I need this job. Plus, I’ll have cursing coworkers everywhere so switching to another job wouldn’t change anything.

             What I’ve done is simply not engage in worthless, idle conversations that aren’t leading anywhere other than an earful of… colorful metaphors. Plus I’ve prayed that God would help me guard my mouth so I don’t shame Him when I speak.

             I’m not going to give you the “slippery slope” sermon you’ve heard so often. “If you do this activity today, you are going to be worshipping Satan tomorrow!” No, that just turns people off.

             But think about what you are doing, watching, and hearing. Is it leading you to accept behavior that is clearly unacceptable? If so, it would be best to do something about it.


*Yes, that was an oxymoron. I didn't know any other way of putting it.

Gotta Stay High

            You’re gone and I’ve gotta stay

            High all the time

            To keep you off my mind

            Spend my days locked in a haze

            Trying to forget you babe

            I fall back down

            Gotta stay high

            All my life

            To forget I’m missing you

            That is the heartbreaking chorus to Tove Lo’s song “Habits”. Unfortunately, the verses aren’t anywhere as good and contain, uh, questionable content (understatement). But the chorus is perfect in its imperfection.

             Because while the singer believes it’s because of the guy that she’s like this, it’s not. He was just the catalyst for her to bare her soul to the world. He was just the mirror for her to see who she truly is, if she would but look.

             She’s empty. She’s nothing.

             She looks around for affirmation of herself, and she found it for a fleeting second in a relationship. The glorious freedom she experienced was truly a drug. Someone loved (or at least said he loved) her, and there’s nothing like it.

             But then he was gone, and her security and value disappeared with him. This broke her, and the despondency was too much to bare. She has to alter her reality through other fleeting highs to keep going.

              That’s why relationships are so dangerous. They are but little models of the real, true relationship we should have with God. And just like our relationship with God, they offer joy, peace, and value, just on a much smaller and imperfect scale.

              Unless you want to end up like her, start and build a true relationship with God before you jump into one with an imperfect human being. He’ll be your rock that will never leave you. He’ll be your security and worth. You don’t have to stay high all the time to forget Him because He’s always there with you.


(An hour after I posted this, I came across Proverbs 31:6-7, "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more" (KJV). Getting high to forget pain isn't new)

Flying in New Chains

            I was talking to a friend the other day about how a person should go about living his life. He told me, “Yeah, I know about all that God stuff. I know you actually live how you’re supposed to. But if I live like you, I can’t do what I want. It’s restricting.”

            I thought about what he said. He’s absolutely right. Living for God is extremely restricting.

            Then I compared him to me a few years ago. I was at a cross roads in my life. I was tired of doing the church thing. I was a good kid. I got good grades. I was good at sports. I was good at life. I was good at being a Christian, you could say.

            And I was tired of it all. It was just empty.

            I looked around and thirsted for something that actually mattered. I wanted purpose and meaning. I realized that the only place I hadn’t looked was up.

            So I made a deal with God. “Lord, make my life matter. Make me into something that has some value, because living to live is worthless. Living to go through the motions is so empty. I don’t want to act at being a Christian. I want to live life with a fire.”

            God pointed me to Himself. As our Creator, He made us with instructions. Only if we follow them will our lives be successful. But we never do.

            Would you use a lawnmower to cut a birthday cake? Of course not. Then why do we use our bodies and our talents and our time to live for ourselves? Those were not their purposes. And we wonder why we wander aimlessly.
             We aren’t following the directions. We aren’t living the reason we are on this earth.

Back to My Friend

             As I was listening to my friend, this came to me. As God has been molding me, He has restricted me. I’m not going to lie. I can’t do everything everyone else does.

             It’s been the most freeing thing I’ve ever experienced.

             Because, while God has closed the door to the world’s pleasures, He has opened up His. It’s like going from baby food to steak.

             Endless cycles of empty relationships? No. Harmful sexual intimacy before marriage? No. Drugs? No. Living for the next high? No.

             But does anything better replace these things? The answer is yes. A burning passion for life? Yes. Impacting your world? Yes. Helping others and making a difference wherever you are? Yes. A joy and a peace and a purpose? Yes. A deep love for God and those around you? Yes.

             The world dangles play toys in front of us to hold us back. To keep us from living greater. These “kid’s meal” toys are holding my friend back because he can’t see the better life God has for him.

             God has His arms open. When you come to Him fully, completely, He’s there to hold you. He gives you what you need. He’ll give you a life greater than what you had in store for yourself.

             God does restrict you from living an empty life. But these restrictions lead you to turn to Him. Once you do that and let this world go, that’s all she wrote.

              It’s a wild ride. Get started and hang on.

Something's Wrong

            How are we living? I mean, I look around and I just don’t know. I look at what we call church in America, and compare it to Acts 2. Something’s wrong.

            I look at how I spend my time. Then I look at the results of how I spend my time. Something’s wrong.

            I look at how Christians talk. Then I read Proverbs and James 3. Something’s wrong.

            I see how Christians treat each other and non-Christians. Then I look at Jesus. Something’s wrong.

            I look at how men are living today, with little leadership and responsibility. I then see David after he messed up with Bathsheba. Something’s wrong.

            I look at myself. Something’s wrong.

What Are We Doing?

            I look around and see the world isn’t how it should be. Christians aren’t who they should be: saintly sinners. Or sinning saints. People who are honest with their mistakes but still setting the example for others to follow.

            I realized that there is only one truth in the world. One right way. If we stray from this, we’ll get what we have now. A world of missed opportunities and wasted lives.

            This truth is God and His divine revelation. He gives us what we need to live a productive, fulfilling life. He gives us guidelines that we can follow by His power. He is Jesus, the man we can emulate. He is Jesus, the God who defeated this world because we couldn’t.

            So open up the dusty book. The book that has changed the world and set fires in the hearts of believers in every age. It will get you on the right path. Mold your life to the Truth.

Oh My

            “Oh my God.” There it goes again. We hear people say it all the time and we get our Christian selves riled up over it. How dare they? That’s breaking the third commandment:

            “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”

            We actually miss the boat if those three words are the focus. While we shouldn’t go around saying “oh my God”, the commandment is bigger than that.

            How do you use God’s name? How do you talk about Him? Is it with respect? Our culture is so flippant with everything that the concept of anything being sacred is alien.
            The Jews thought of God’s name as holy to the point they wouldn’t even fully write out “Jehovah”. And after every time an Israelite scribe would write the shortened form of God's name, he would wash himself.

            They would die before they said, “Oh my Jehovah.” In fact, Israelites wouldn’t even say God’s name out loud. That’s reverence.

            When you talk about God, are you giving Him the respect He deserves? I’m not going to get into the supposed gray areas (is “oh my gosh” okay? etc.), but the third commandment is much bigger than a three word phrase.

            God is holy, and so are the names used to describe/denote Him. Do our conversations reflect that? What about our hearts? Actions?

God Among Men

            One argument used against Christians that absolutely drives me nuts is misogyny in the Bible. The Bible supposedly demeans wives. Critics point to Ephesians 5:22:

            “Wives submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord” (NIV).

            This riles the feminists up. Submission? What? This is the 21st century, Christians. Wake up! Why do the women have to submit? Men have it so easy.

            I find it amusing because feminists never get to verse 25. Let’s see why:

            “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (NIV).

            They don’t ever rail against Christians using this verse, do they? Because while wives have to submit to their husbands, husbands have to be prepared to die for their wives.

            Christ is the example for husbands. Jesus was tortured and died a horrible death. In fact, dying on a cross was so painful that the culture of the day had to create a new word to describe it: excruciating. “Ex” means “out of” and “crux” means “cross” (out of the cross).

            Husbands have to be prepared to be tortured. Then die an excruciating death. For their wives.

           I think it’s safe to say both sides have it tough. Women have to submit to faulty men who make a lot of boneheaded decisions. That’s rough, I’m not going to lie. But men have to live up to and submit to Jesus Christ Himself, the ultimate Mr. Perfect. That’s harder.

*If you want stomach-wrenching descriptions of what Jesus went through, go here and here.

Truth

            I don’t know if anyone likes it. It makes sand of stone, mud of brick. It makes what was previously secure seem untenable. It causes confusion and anxiety. It leads to trust issues and a lack of joy. It causes pain.

            What is this thing? Doubt.

            I am what you could call a professional doubter. I doubt everything because I think about everything. If parts of life don’t make logical sense, if they don’t line up with reality, I discard them. If your words don’t follow your actions, I won’t believe them. If I do something simply because “that’s the way things have always been done”, I’ll change if I can find a way I deem better.

            This leads me to my faith. I don’t want to live a certain way “because that’s how my parents tell me to live”. I don’t want to believe things because “that’s just what you are supposed to believe”. No, I want to live life to the fullest, and that means throwing off things that may be wrong.

            For instance, I used to be very critical of Christian denominations I didn't agree with. The Pentecostals? Their worship was way over the top. The Catholics? Rules and rituals. The Amish? Foolish.

            But I’ve doubted my beliefs about everything, and that includes my views of other denominations. The Pentecostals? They have a passion for worshipping God not seen since a certain naked dancing king by the name of David. The Catholics? They have exemplary saints and mystics who strived to live the Christian life with such a fervor we may never know. The Amish? They are radical enough to live their faith; there is no room for the lukewarm.

            Does this mean I suddenly agree with everything everyone believes? No, but I’ve come to appreciate, through doubting myself, that there is truth in other positions. If we could extract the best from each denomination (and even other religions), what we would have would be Jesus Himself. No longer do I dismiss something because it’s not the position I hold.

            What else have I doubted? Well, I’ve not only doubted my beliefs about other denominations, but my faith itself. Does God exist? If so, He sure doesn’t know how to run the world. I would do better. I wouldn’t allow so much pain or suffering

             But then I doubted my doubt. I found through reading something called “the free will defense”. God could’ve created us with a limited potential for either good or bad. He could’ve made us like the plants, predictable and not likely to mutiny. We could’ve done little evil because we couldn’t have done much at all.

            But then our potential to do good also would be very limited. If you can’t do horrendous evil (think Hitler), you can’t do amazing good (think Mother Theresa), and vice-versa. Our potential for good or evil is equal to the free will we have. God created us with free will (I really don’t care to quibble over the definition of “free will” at the moment). So we do horrible things with it. We burn and we torture.

            But our potential for doing good is just as strong. We give kidneys to those who need it. We give our lives to save others (policemen, firefighters). We live day in and day out in thankless jobs (pastors, stay-at-home moms, missionaries, volunteers, etc.) so that we can change the world.

            Yes, the world is filled with unspeakable evil. But God gave us that potential for evil when He gave us our potential for good. You can’t have one without the other. I don’t want to be a plant. Do you?

Back to You

            So why am I telling you about my doubts and how doubting has affected me? I’m telling you this to let you know that it’s okay to doubt. Nothing’s wrong with it. This post has been about me, but really it’s about you.

            Do you doubt? Nothing's wrong with that, I do, too. All the time. It’s through doubt that you can see truth. But make sure to bring others with you on this journey because “doubt + being alone = depression”. If you don’t have anyone sympathetic you can voice your doubts to, the world is a lonely place and doubt will hurt, not help.

            In the end, it’s about truth. We all need it, but you won’t get to it if you don’t question what you accept and the life you live. You won’t get truth if you don’t think about what you believe and what others believe. What is a meaningful life? Doubt all the answers (including mine), think through them, and you will be better for it.

He Got This

            “Be ye perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, KJV).

             Ladies and gentlemen, that is the standard Jesus gives us. God is perfect, therefore we are to be perfect. Let’s do this thing! That’s great and all, but then you look in the mirror and you’re like, “Yeah, uh, not happening.”

             Why would God hold us to something that is impossible? I’m not perfect, and I’ve yet to meet someone who is.

             It’s just not fair. And I think that’s the point. You think you are “good enough” to get into Heaven? Well, are you perfect? That’s what it takes.

             Jesus was living in the times of the Pharisees; the ultimate legalists who created rules on tops of rules so that they could “make it”. The religions of today, from Islam to Buddhism, are no different.

             The Creator of the Universe raises His hand to His shoulders and says, “You have to reach here to make it.” We don’t have a shot.

             That’s where Jesus steps in. He tells us, “Get on my back and I’ll make it for you. I’ll be the perfection you need.”

             So from one imperfect person to another, I can tell you to stop trying. You aren’t going to make “it”, because “it” is so high you can’t even begin to imagine. Just relax and trust that Jesus got this.

When the Sun Don't Shine

             Right now it’s raining outside. I like the rain. I thought about that. Why in the world do I like the rain? I’ve never really thought about it before.

             I think it’s the same reason I like mornings. It’s a fresh start. When the rain stops and the clouds fade, the sun comes out and everything feels warm again. Leaves glisten and shine. People smile and everyone wakes up a little.

             So when it’s raining and I look up, I know something better is coming. It’s not here yet. I don’t even know when it’s going to happen. But I know better times are around the corner. The sun is still there, even when I can’t see it.

             Every time I move away, it’s like that. I don’t know all the answers. I don’t know why I have to leave the friends I’ve made. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know anything, really, and it’s hard. My life’s raining.

             But I know the sun is still there. I know there’s going to be a fresh start. It’s gonna be okay. I just have to believe that.

             It can be the same for you. Maybe’s life’s raining, and you don’t have the answers. But you can hope for the best and live your best.

The Forgotten Blessed

            Recently I’ve been thinking about my life. Am I living it the way God intends me to? This always brings me back to the beatitudes of Matthew 5. How am I when measured against those attributes?

            Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do.

            The one that struck me the most was in verse 8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (KJV). We often overlook this blessed. We like the first one (the poor in spirit), or the third (the meek), or the seventh (the peacemakers). We don’t notice the third blessed.

            What does it mean? Well, John 1:18 tells us that no one has seen God (at least fully and in His unrepressed form), so Jesus couldn’t have meant it in the physical sense.

            I think Jesus meant, as He often did, our heart. When our desires are godly and our ways simple and honest, we see God’s Kingdom, His will, and His work everywhere. We see Him. We see how He moves. We see who He’s using. We see the fruits of our obedience. 

            So am I pure in heart? Am I upfront and honest? Our society values the sophisticated, complicated, mysterious individuals. We want to learn their secrets. They have an aura of power.

            But as Christians, we can’t be that way. What you see is what you get. I’m going to love you and care for you and listen to you. I’m not going to lie to you. I’m going be a man of integrity, a man of character. I’m going to speak plainly and not act like I’m someone I’m not. My life goal is simple: I want to live like Jesus.

            Because, if I ever do, I’ll see God in the little things. When a mother brushes the hair out of her child’s eyes. When a man gives me a warm handshake and a warmer smile. When leaves fall and nature prepares for another winter. God is in it all, and He’s moving.

            You have to have a pure heart to see it.

End It All

            Just look around. So much pain. So much thoughtless destruction. So much hunger. People are lost and everyone has an answer… and no one has an answer.

            Why is there pain? Where’s the joy? Where’s the hope? Why are we alive?

The Sunday School Answer

            The church answers are the following: pain and suffering is the result of sin, and we are alive to glorify God by serving Him. But I’m not going to lie… those answers sometimes seem hollow.

             Tell the parents of the many Christian children murdered recently at the hands of ISIS that their children’s fate was the result of sin. Tell the child whose family has been taken away from her that she exists to love the God that allowed it to happen.

             You have to forgive them if they don’t take comfort in those answers.

What Is the Answer?

             What is the answer to the hopelessness that sometimes is life? I tried an experiment. I tried to take myself out of it all (my Christian biases, etc.). I set myself up outside everything and looked in. Is there another answer besides the Sunday school one?

             I thought about pleasure. The people who live for the moment seem to enjoy themselves the most, right? They have the good times and the fun friends and they couldn’t care less about life. Maybe that’s the way to go?

             But it can’t be. I look at the people who define that lifestyle, the celebrities, and they aren’t happy. They have the money and the sex and the fame, yet they are even emptier than everyone else. Their words and actions echo that they, too, still are looking for an answer. That means that pleasure-seeking isn’t it.

            I thought about work. Maybe we are alive to produce things. Our worth and life’s value is tied to what we make.

            But then that means that the mentally ill and the physically deformed aren’t equal to everyone else because they can’t produce like “normal” people can. That also means that the very old and very young are inferior to everyone else. And, on top of that, the people who embody this belief also aren’t happy. They spend all their days at the office, only to find their life has gone by and they haven’t enjoyed a moment of it.

            I thought about helping others. Maybe that’s it! We are alive to help others. This hits close to home for me, because I sense that this is my calling in life.

             But in the end, this fails if left by itself. It doesn’t last, because what are you helping them towards? You are helping them to go above and beyond… what? What are you pointing them towards? If you point them to helping others, then they point others to helping others… this is a continuous cycle with no fulfilling ending. No one is helping anyone out to anything final and eternal.

This Leaves… the Sunday School Answer

            Let’s revisit the SS answer: pain is the result of sin, and we are on earth to serve God. Why does that just feel so empty?
            It hit me. The reason why is because I don’t hear what should, but rarely does, come next.

            We are living to serve God, yes, but what has He promised us? An eternity of joy. An eternity of Himself, one of pure purpose and fulfillment. We serve God so that one day there will be no more pain and suffering. No more hunger and hatred. We serve God so that one day we can have pure relationships where there is no disappointment. No letdowns.

             Without eternity, there is no purpose to life.

             If you look to this world for answers (obedience to God, pleasure, work, helping others), you will be left feeling empty. It’s only when God Himself is the goal that you will find happiness. You serve Him, yes, but you serve Him so you can perfect your relationship with Him. Obedience isn’t the goal, an eternity with God is.

Like the Cool Kids

            I tell you what, songs are the greatest things in the world for inspiration. They’ve given me several things to write about, and Echosmith’s song “Cool Kids” has given me another.

            “I wish I could be like the cool kids,

            ‘Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.

            I wish I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.”

            So goes the chorus. And I was contemplating why this song resonated inside of me, the words “self-worth” came to mind.

            There is no escaping it. God created us to be drawn towards the attractive, because it hints at something deeper. God created us perfect, and the more attractive someone is, the closer that person is to outward perfection. Which is closer to how God created us originally. That’s why we are drawn towards the athletic, beautiful, humorous, brilliant, talented, and charming people among us.

             That’s why people who are any combination of those things don’t have trouble finding their group… which is mostly comprised of others like themselves. Everyone else is left on the outside.

             And if you pause there, absolutely nothing is wrong. The attractive (the cool) hang out with themselves and everyone else forms their own groups. Nothing is wrong with that… until we confuse attractiveness (coolness) with worth and value. That’s where the destruction begins.

             You see, there are other people more attractive than you or me. I look around and I see guys who are better-looking, funnier, more athletic, smarter, and more charming. It may be the same for you. The sooner we come to grips with that reality, the better. But that doesn’t mean they are worth more than you or me. It doesn’t mean they are better people.

             No, because all mankind is worth the same before God. We were made in His image (Genesis 1:27), and He loves us (John 3:16). Those two things give us our worth. The fact that we have a little of God’s mind and personality in us, and the fact that the Creator of the galaxies cares for us deeply.

             Nothing’s wrong with being one of the cool kids. Nothing’s wrong with not being one of the cool kids. I’m no more valuable than the aborted child that never was given a chance. The aborted child is no more important than the few mega-rich individuals that run the world. And the mega-rich are no more important than the cool kids that you want to be.

            Because, before the glory and holiness of our Maker, all the petty differences that give us our social status fades away. We are all sinners in need of a Savior, and we all bare the mark of His touch.

            So maybe you are a cool kid. That’s great. Maybe you aren’t. That’s great. We are all equal in worth. Our social status does not determine our eternity, which is the only thing we should care about anyways.

Back When I Was Her Age…

             Recently I had the privilege of being able to give advice to a friend who had her 9th birthday. She is going to be something special in the future. Things are definitely looking up for her. So what did I say?

             I told her to stay in the moment and appreciate it. I remembered when I was her age. I couldn’t wait to grow up. I was going to get my license and get MUSCLES (woo-hoo, I was gonna impress the ladies). I was going to be important and make important decisions. 

             Oh yeeeaahhhhhh… about that. I got my license. I still don’t have muscles. I guess I’m making important decisions now… but it’s not overly amazing to do so. And I’m still not very important. So you see, there isn’t a whole lot to growing up, so appreciate the present.

             You’ll grow up whether you want to or not. But you can never stay the age you are now, so learn to love it. Recognize it as fleeting. Hold on to it while you can.

             I was going to end with that, but her mom suggested I continue using my blog. And that’s just what I’m doing now.

More Advice for the 9-Year-Olds of the World

            It will get better with siblings! Especially if you are the oldest. Your brothers will get less annoying and your sisters will acquire a fashion sense that includes other colors besides pink. Lord willing.

            But you need to work on developing relationships with your family NOW. If you shut yourself off now, don’t expect to suddenly be best friends with them once your teenage years start and you need shoulders to cry on. Spend time with your family and get to know them.

            Also, understand your parents aren’t perfect. Now, before you go to your parents in triumph and repeat this fact, understand also that you aren’t perfect, either. Everyone is learning in life, including them.

            Also remember that your parents love you dearly and want what’s best for you. So in the future, when you argue over curfews and rights and what you should be able to do and who that special someone is (“but dadddddd, he’s only murdered a couple people! I love him!”), keep this in mind. In the end, your parents will still be there for you when no one else is.

            I guess I could continue, but this is enough. Just remember that you are only this young for so long, and don’t wish to grow up too soon. But it’s never too young to set yourself up for a great next few years. You can both hold on to the present AND mature as a person. This goes for any age.

You Will Remember Me

            “You will remember me/ Remember me for centuries.”

            So goes the memorable line from Fall Out Boy’s single “Centuries”. Besides getting stuck in my head (I keep humming the ”da-da-dada” over and over again), it also has me thinking about the legacy I’m going to leave.

            We all want to be remembered. We all want to have an impact and make a difference. We don’t want to fade into obscurity and be forgotten. We want eternity.

            “Some legends are told/ Some turn to dust or to gold/ But you will remember me.”

            Our fear is to die alone. We are afraid to disappear. There is strength in numbers, and family in friends. We want to matter. We want to be valued. We want to change the world.

            I’m sure it’s the same with you. 

What Are You Going to Do about It?

             So that’s all fine and dandy. What are you doing to make sure that happens? Think about your relationships. Are you making an impact?

            Think about your friendships with your peers. Are you influencing them? Does your reputation give you a chance to help your friends? Do they respect you and value your input?

            Think about your reputation with authorities in your life. Do your parents trust you? Do you try hard for  your teachers? Do your bosses rely on you? When you make decisions, are they wise and conducive for success?

            There is nothing wrong with wanting greatness. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be remembered. Think of all the heroes of the faith (both in the Bible and out of it). These people did amazing things with the strength of God (Hebrews 11 gives a great summary of what heroes are made of).

            But you won’t be remembered if you don’t set yourself up to impact the world around you. Take the time and put in the work to improve your reputation. 

            Be reliable. Be trustworthy. When you speak, say something worth listening to. When people speak of you, they respect you because they can’t do anything else. Don’t complain (I need to listen to this one), and keep fighting. Never stop fighting. Never give up.

            Your reputation turns into your legacy. That's what will be remembered.

A Tribute to You, My Friend

            “Put a lid on it, butterscotch!”

            That line often came from the mouth of one of the most cheerful kids I’d ever known. He was always smiling. He was always helping. He was an angel in every sense of the word.

            And he died.

            I knew this boy. I loved him. He had great things for the future. Big plans, big dreams. He was the nicest kid you would’ve ever met*.

            Now he’s in Heaven.

            Why? I don’t know why. How could God allow him to die? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. As I see his face and his joyful smile and his unique way of telling people to be quiet, it hurts. It hurts to say I don’t know. Why did God take him and not me?

            I can’t tell you the pain his family went through, because I could only look from the outside in. There are scars. But there are memories.

            My mind is unsatisfied with “I don’t know”. I want answers. And my heart breaks because a child should never die. Especially not this child.

            Why did I write this? I don’t know. Maybe it’s to tell you that life is short, so make sure to enjoy it. Maybe it’s to tell you to hold those you love closer, because they may not always be there. Maybe it’s to tell you to remember your Maker, because you will have to face Him one day.

            But what I do know is that the world lost a child who would’ve made an amazing husband and a wonderful father. The world lost a future man of God who loved Jesus dearly. The world lost someone it desperately needs.
            I love you. I miss you, and so does your family. But I know you are happier now than you could've ever been here. This is for you.

*Some people exaggerate the good qualities in people who have died. I am not. This boy was truly one of the sweetest, nicest kids you would’ve ever met. There is no way for me to make you believe that, but if there was, I would try. I’m not exaggerating with anything I said.

On the Wall: 2

            I was going to end my previous thought with my last post, but I think I hit on something bigger. How self-reflective are you? Now that you have the standard for how you should be, are you taking full advantage to become the person God wants you to be?

            How much time do I spend thinking about how I act and what I say? It’s uncomfortable, I can tell you that. It’s not fun thinking about the day’s conversations and what you could’ve done differently. But it leads to amazing results.

            That’s why I try to have some alone time every day if I can. This is where I think about life. Was I loving with my actions and kind with my words? Could I have served anyone I didn’t? Did I live like Jesus that day?

            If my answers are unsatisfactory, I think of tomorrow. How will I change? How can I improve? What can I do better?

            But self-reflection doesn’t only have to be about earlier that day or about tomorrow. It can also be about where your life is going. All of us are heading in some direction. Are you setting yourself up for a successful future?

            It can also be about how you spend your time. Are you being productive in your free time? Mindless fun is fine, just make sure it doesn’t render you… useless and unfruitful. Make sure to grow as a person using your free time.

            Think about what you believe. Does it line up with the standard set in the Bible? Does it lead to positive thoughts and a strong faith? Beliefs lead to lifestyles and mindsets. They are the foundation for who you are as a person, so make they are well thought-out.

            That’s what self-reflection is all about.

So What about You?

            How self-reflective are you? How much time do you spend thinking about how you can improve as a person*? I’ve found that the most mature people I’ve met are the ones who think the most. They are very self-aware, and they try to be the best people they can be.

            Find a time of day when you can be quiet and alone… and just think. If you don’t know what to think about, use the above thoughts to start out. It might be uncomfortable at first. American culture doesn’t like purposeful self-reflection. That’s why we are always around people or always watching television or listening to music or on the computer or on our phone.

            Because then we can’t think. Thinking brings us to the bare bones of ourselves. We can put on an act to others. But you can’t fool yourself. You see yourself as you are, and some of us don’t like that.

            Thinking is scary, and it can be depressing. But it leads to improvement. It leads to original ideas and refinement. It leads to maturity.

            Self-reflection will give you a depth to who you are. You’ll see things in new ways. You’ll grow. There will be pain, but the joy you’ll experience is incomparable as you see yourself becoming who you want to be.

*Now, the purpose of self-reflection isn’t to beat yourself up and get depressed. The more you think about who you are and how you act and what you say, there will be times when you will get down. But the goal of thinking is to improve as a person, not commit suicide.

On the Wall: 1

            As I looked into the mirror recently, I realized the mental image I have of myself didn’t exactly match the reflection I was looking at. Was there a huge discrepancy? No, but there were differences. By spending the time to look at myself (I probably sound like a girl), I could see how I really was.

            I wondered about this. Mirrors show who we truly are on the outside (unless you are at a carnival). Is there anything we can use to show who we are on the inside? Or are we just left with our opinion of ourself and others’ opinions of us?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

            There is a mirror for our soul. Okay, that’s not entirely accurate. There is a standard for our soul. By comparing ourselves to it, we can see where we are and what we need to be.

            Mirrors show who you are. Standards give you a goal or a vision for who you need to be. What is this standard? The Bible.

             In the Bible is someone called Jesus, the perfect human. He is our example of how to walk and talk. If you want to find out more about how to live, read James and Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. If you want to find out how to think, read Romans and Hebrews. If you want to learn of God’s standard, read the Old Testament. If you want to read about humanity’s sinful nature, read 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. And every other book.

             The Bible sets the standard for perfection in Jesus. It also tells you how to walk closer to God so that you can be more like Him. By comparing yourself to this standard, you can see where you are now and what you can do to grow.