I have been challenged recently by a friend on some fairly "set in stone" , "basic common sense" type guidelines I held in my own life. Growing up in church, we all learn some extra rules and think nothing of it. I'm someone who always understood rules in general as things meant to keep us safe. I found it easy to follow rules because they made sense to me. Go outside the rules and you'll find a negative consequence. Easy.
As I've gotten older, I have come to realize that specific rules aren't even really necessary if you understand the underlying principle. I remember when I was helping out at my old elementary school while in high school and they had just switched over to the "Make your day" program. They threw out the long list of rules and whittled it all down to just one. "No one has the right to interfere with the learning or safety of others." Simple, but I think it really covers everything. This new rule got me thinking. Isn't that really the bottom line? Isn't that why we make specific rules for ourselves? It all comes down to acting in a loving manner. Don't hurt people and allow them their freedom to do what they need to do. It's fair.
I look around our culture and notice how many stinking rules we have! Why? Because people aren't able to police their own lives very well it seems. Too many people walk around thinking only of themselves and hurting others in the process. Jack wants Joe's iPod, so he hits Joe over the head and takes it. Inability to govern himself to act in love. We are drowning in rules around here! It's like slavery. Don't do this, don't do that, one person screws up and ruins it for the whole crowd. Aren't we tired of this?
I was reading Kris Vallotton's book Supernatural Ways of Royalty today and I came across this same concept again. This quote stood out to me.
"I am against governmental structures that react out of fear to the abuses of leadership..."
I began to think about our rules. Every time there is a school shooting, there is a big push to make more gun laws. Reacting in fear as if more laws would help when the shooter already broke a handful of the laws already in place. Instead of dealing with the real root issues of why people shoot up schools, we make more stupid laws that never fix the problem. It is a useless and expensive process. We constantly punish people who break the law, but how often does anyone stop to address why they broke the law in the first place? I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge that hurting people hurt people. It's the theme of so many movies and tv shows, I'm certain that it's no secret, but who is trying to help them? Make more rules, punish more people. Is it working? I don't think so.
So back to my initial statement about the challenges in my own life, my friend pointed out to me how I was also making rules for myself based in the fear of messing up. Specifically in the arena of boy/girl relationships, there are a lot of basic rules in a church setting. They have put up a lot of boundaries to try to keep kids from sleeping together. Side hugs, no boys in your room, no dates alone, no kissing... the list goes on and on. My friend made me see that it is a fear based response to the possibility of sin and an ignorance of the roots of sin. Anything that is based in fear is not of God. Perfect love casts out fear, so if you're walking in that perfect love with Jesus, you don't have to be afraid of mistakes, or sin. It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. If two people truly honor one another, no sin will be committed, and if you're in a relationship where you can't trust yourself or the other person to do that, I would suggest you not be in that relationship, because what is the point without love and honor?
Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't be careful, we all have areas where we are weaker and it is wisdom to put up some guardrails, especially if the consequences of a fall are big. I'm saying that we don't all have to have the same guardrails. I'm saying that we shouldn't live in fear of mistakes. God loves us, He knows our heart, and that is what matters. Are you being stupid and just trying to get away with something wrong because you know God forgives? Then your heart probably isn't right and that's another issue. But if you just slip and fall, God is right there to pick you up and help you out. The intention of the heart needs to be love, and as we learn to hear God's guidance more and more, we worry less and less about falling into temptation. His love and grace is what enables us to have victory over sin. Rules are just more bondage. He wants us to live in freedom. He came to save the broken and lost. He doesn't expect us to be perfect on our own, He just wants us to join Him on the journey called life and to do our best to live in love.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Good news!!
If you've clicked through to here, I'm asking that you read all the way through and not give up thinking you've heard this line before. The whole point of writing it is that I think you haven't. Based on my observations and conversations with all sorts of people, I don't think you've heard this. At least get through the 5th paragraph before you decide to quit.
I grew up in church, so God was always just there, a fact, something I never really questioned. To me He just made sense, I saw the rules and they seemed a logical way to live. As I got older, I learned more about life and I decided made the faith my own. I began my own journey of seeking out this God I'd been told about. I want to share with you what I've learned.
I think the idea of salvation has gotten pretty muddled up over time. The tactics used are those of a used car salesman, or worse, the hellfire and brimstone style. I'm not down with those methods. In this blog I hope to offer up some basic info that will hopefully help you to find the truth so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
I read a lot of apologetics type stuff, and I read comments on public forums from athiests and the like. 'God is a big whiny tyrant in the sky that wants everyone to choose him or he's gonna throw them in hell as a punishment. God doesn't want us to have any fun, and if we do, he's going to punish us. God can't be loving because he allows evil to torment us.' The list goes on and on, you know what I'm talking about. But the Bible says that there is no fear in love because fear has to do with punishment. If God is love, as He claims to me, punishment can't be a part of Him can it?
It really breaks my heart that people think like this. What it tells me is that they are grossly misinformed about so many things. That is heartbreaking, because this choice is of ultimate and eternal significance. If God is really true, don't you think you better have the right facts? Isn't it worth looking into with an open mind, just in case He's real? Seems to me that is the intelligent choice. If He's not true, an open minded honest bit of searching should show that, and what have you lost? A little time? But if He is true, you've lost everything. I think that alone deserves some serious consideration.
.
God is good. He loves us, He created us to be loved by Him. He wants to walk side by side with us in friendship. He is always good and always loving. The only way we can love Him is if we have a choice not to, otherwise, it's not really love is it? That is why there is evil. God is a gentleman and He won't force anyone to love Him. Where we run into trouble is when we really look at what His love means.
Are you a parent? If not, can you at least think like one? If your child wants to play in the fire, you're going to tell him "no" right? That child might think you are a big meanie for not letting him play in the fire right? But you love him and don't want him to get hurt. That is the bottom line with God. He created us, so He knows what will make our life run the best possible way. Initially He only gave one rule. 'Don't eat from that tree.' That one choice was His love, simply giving us free will to choose Him or not. All the other rules came later, and I don't think they were really what He wanted, nor what He expected. (IMO - this bit is my understanding) Mankind didn't want to listen to God directly, so they asked for rules, and they asked for a king. It wasn't how God wanted things, but He gave them what they asked for. He gave them a ridiculous set of rules and penalties that they could never hold to so that they would come back to His original plan of relationship. People who quote old testament law all the time have missed the point of it all if you ask me. God didn't intend for us to have those rules, or He would've given them to us all back in the Garden of Eden instead of waiting a couple thousand years. (again, this little portion is my own belief based on my understanding - I am not a theologian)
The Israelites chose over and over to walk away from relationship with God, and they ended up stumbling into trouble every time. Was that God's fault? Was that God punishing them for ignoring Him? No! He wants to be in a relationship where He can talk to us about our path and our choices and help us make good ones that bring blessing instead of consequence. This world is fallen, so the consequences are piling up as we make more and more poor choices. It's just a big sick circle..... but there is a way out!
Some people think that all the things that God tells us are bad are actually fun. I understand that they may be fun in the moment, but if you're really honest, there are plenty of not so fun results from those choices. They may not be immediate, but they're there. The thing is, God loves us enough to still allow us to make those choices, but I'm sure it breaks His heart to see the pain that we suffer as a result. But He still doesn't stop us. Do you know of anyone who has been struck down by a lightning bolt because they sinned? I don't. God loves us enough to tell us the way to go, but also to not drag us kicking and screaming down said road.
I've heard people talk about hell being one big party full of all the 'fun' behaviors that God calls sin. They seem to think it's going to be great. Here's the problem with that theology. Hell wasn't created for humans, it was created for Satan. We are given a choice. Be God's friend, or not. Choosing 'not' leads to an eternity without God. There is a verse in the Bible that says that ALL good things come from the Father. That means that apart from Him, nothing will be good. I don't believe it's direct torture, but there will be no comfort, no peace, no happiness at all without God's presence. Hmmmm... Kinda throws a wrench in that whole 'Party in Hell' theory. That is why the Bible also tells us that it is God's will that none should perish. He doesn't want us to choose eternity without Him, but He will still let us make that choice. Would He really be loving if He didn't?
God is good. I believe that with all my heart because that has been my experience. Does that mean my life has been all wonderful and perfect? No way! It means that bad stuff happens, but as I look to God for my help, He makes all things work out for good, some way or another. I fully believe that He has my best interest in mind. He wants to see me healed up, set free, and living life to the fullest in His love. He knows the hurts of my past and He is working with me gently to heal them up and help me to be me in every situation. He is helping me grow in so many ways. Always gentle, always loving, never condemning, never throwing lightning bolts. Jesus already paid the price for my sin, so I don't have to. Being a Christian isn't a license to sin because we're forgiven, it's the freedom to live a life full of love, peace, and joy without being tied down to the consequences of our sin. It's a beautiful gift given freely by an incredible loving Father.
I would love to converse with anyone who has thoughts on this topic. If you liked this post, please share it on your own wall.
I grew up in church, so God was always just there, a fact, something I never really questioned. To me He just made sense, I saw the rules and they seemed a logical way to live. As I got older, I learned more about life and I decided made the faith my own. I began my own journey of seeking out this God I'd been told about. I want to share with you what I've learned.
I think the idea of salvation has gotten pretty muddled up over time. The tactics used are those of a used car salesman, or worse, the hellfire and brimstone style. I'm not down with those methods. In this blog I hope to offer up some basic info that will hopefully help you to find the truth so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
I read a lot of apologetics type stuff, and I read comments on public forums from athiests and the like. 'God is a big whiny tyrant in the sky that wants everyone to choose him or he's gonna throw them in hell as a punishment. God doesn't want us to have any fun, and if we do, he's going to punish us. God can't be loving because he allows evil to torment us.' The list goes on and on, you know what I'm talking about. But the Bible says that there is no fear in love because fear has to do with punishment. If God is love, as He claims to me, punishment can't be a part of Him can it?
It really breaks my heart that people think like this. What it tells me is that they are grossly misinformed about so many things. That is heartbreaking, because this choice is of ultimate and eternal significance. If God is really true, don't you think you better have the right facts? Isn't it worth looking into with an open mind, just in case He's real? Seems to me that is the intelligent choice. If He's not true, an open minded honest bit of searching should show that, and what have you lost? A little time? But if He is true, you've lost everything. I think that alone deserves some serious consideration.
.
God is good. He loves us, He created us to be loved by Him. He wants to walk side by side with us in friendship. He is always good and always loving. The only way we can love Him is if we have a choice not to, otherwise, it's not really love is it? That is why there is evil. God is a gentleman and He won't force anyone to love Him. Where we run into trouble is when we really look at what His love means.
Are you a parent? If not, can you at least think like one? If your child wants to play in the fire, you're going to tell him "no" right? That child might think you are a big meanie for not letting him play in the fire right? But you love him and don't want him to get hurt. That is the bottom line with God. He created us, so He knows what will make our life run the best possible way. Initially He only gave one rule. 'Don't eat from that tree.' That one choice was His love, simply giving us free will to choose Him or not. All the other rules came later, and I don't think they were really what He wanted, nor what He expected. (IMO - this bit is my understanding) Mankind didn't want to listen to God directly, so they asked for rules, and they asked for a king. It wasn't how God wanted things, but He gave them what they asked for. He gave them a ridiculous set of rules and penalties that they could never hold to so that they would come back to His original plan of relationship. People who quote old testament law all the time have missed the point of it all if you ask me. God didn't intend for us to have those rules, or He would've given them to us all back in the Garden of Eden instead of waiting a couple thousand years. (again, this little portion is my own belief based on my understanding - I am not a theologian)
The Israelites chose over and over to walk away from relationship with God, and they ended up stumbling into trouble every time. Was that God's fault? Was that God punishing them for ignoring Him? No! He wants to be in a relationship where He can talk to us about our path and our choices and help us make good ones that bring blessing instead of consequence. This world is fallen, so the consequences are piling up as we make more and more poor choices. It's just a big sick circle..... but there is a way out!
Some people think that all the things that God tells us are bad are actually fun. I understand that they may be fun in the moment, but if you're really honest, there are plenty of not so fun results from those choices. They may not be immediate, but they're there. The thing is, God loves us enough to still allow us to make those choices, but I'm sure it breaks His heart to see the pain that we suffer as a result. But He still doesn't stop us. Do you know of anyone who has been struck down by a lightning bolt because they sinned? I don't. God loves us enough to tell us the way to go, but also to not drag us kicking and screaming down said road.
I've heard people talk about hell being one big party full of all the 'fun' behaviors that God calls sin. They seem to think it's going to be great. Here's the problem with that theology. Hell wasn't created for humans, it was created for Satan. We are given a choice. Be God's friend, or not. Choosing 'not' leads to an eternity without God. There is a verse in the Bible that says that ALL good things come from the Father. That means that apart from Him, nothing will be good. I don't believe it's direct torture, but there will be no comfort, no peace, no happiness at all without God's presence. Hmmmm... Kinda throws a wrench in that whole 'Party in Hell' theory. That is why the Bible also tells us that it is God's will that none should perish. He doesn't want us to choose eternity without Him, but He will still let us make that choice. Would He really be loving if He didn't?
God is good. I believe that with all my heart because that has been my experience. Does that mean my life has been all wonderful and perfect? No way! It means that bad stuff happens, but as I look to God for my help, He makes all things work out for good, some way or another. I fully believe that He has my best interest in mind. He wants to see me healed up, set free, and living life to the fullest in His love. He knows the hurts of my past and He is working with me gently to heal them up and help me to be me in every situation. He is helping me grow in so many ways. Always gentle, always loving, never condemning, never throwing lightning bolts. Jesus already paid the price for my sin, so I don't have to. Being a Christian isn't a license to sin because we're forgiven, it's the freedom to live a life full of love, peace, and joy without being tied down to the consequences of our sin. It's a beautiful gift given freely by an incredible loving Father.
I would love to converse with anyone who has thoughts on this topic. If you liked this post, please share it on your own wall.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
God's Not Dead: a review (possible spoilers)
Since this blog is called "Through My Eyes" - it stands to reason that I should write about what I see, and that includes movies. I love movies. I go to the dollar theater to see pretty much every movie I'm interested in, which can mean weekly. Sometimes I splurge and go to the "big theater" and pay the higher price to see something I'm really interested in.
Today I saw God's Not Dead. If you're not aware, the premise is a college philosophy professor asks his students to write "God is dead" on a sheet of paper and sign it, acknowledging they won't be wasting any time talking about God in this class. Freshman student, Josh, can't sign the paper, so instead he must defend the antithesis in three 20 minute lectures to the class and they get to decide.
I enjoy apologetics, so I thought this movie looked fun. It didn't hurt that my favorite Clark Kent (Dean Cain) was in the movie, as well as Kevin Sorbo as the professor. I did enjoy the movie, but I will say that I don't think they proved the point they set out to prove. (Here come possible spoilers)
Josh started out his lecture by basically trying to prove the Creation story. He shared quotes from famous scientists, athiest ones, and shared how they sort of line up with the Bible. While that's all well and good, how does that prove God is not dead? If anything, it might prove that God was once alive, but something that happened thousands to billions of years ago (depending on your beliefs) hardly proves He is alive today.
It later gets a little better when Josh discovers why his professor is so adamantly against God. When we start to hear the backstory, then we gain some compassion and understanding. That's great.
I won't go too deep with the story, in fact, I think I'll stop there. It goes on to show some divine interventions and one powerful miraculous moment with Dean Cain's character.
My thought in leaving is that if you want to prove God is not dead today, all you'd really have to do is the very things Bethel church is doing every day. Bringing God's supernatural power into the here and now. We see people healed every week of all sorts of things. Pain leaves, cancer disappears, blind eyes open, deaf ears open, crooked feet straighten out, metal dissolves out of bodies .... the list goes on and on. If those things don't prove God is alive and well today, nothing does.
Apologetics is fun, but I don't think an intellectual debate is going to have half the sway that an outright supernatural encounter will. The thing is, a lot of today's church doesn't really believe in that stuff. When we pray for people, not everyone sees the answer they're looking for. So instead of continuing to take God at His word, we re-write our theology to say that God once healed people, but He stopped. Why would He stop? That makes no sense. When we stop expecting a miracle, we stop praying for them.
I know that not everyone gets the healing they were looking for. I can't answer the why question that comes with that. I know that when Bill Johnson and his team started praying and believing for healing, they didn't see anywhere near the positive results they do today. I know that they just kept pressing in, believing that when Jesus told His followers to go out and heal the sick, He actually meant it. Now, 20 yrs later, they have a totally amazing healing ministry with many, many healings every week.
I was diagnosed with the need for a root canal in July 2012. I told the dentist "no" and have gone to the healing rooms almost every week since then to receive prayer for healing. It's been almost 2 yrs, and I still have a slightly tender tooth and a small bump on my gums. But I keep going. I know that God showed me a picture of some new teeth He was making for me. I know that my time is coming. I also know that it hasn't gotten worse, and I would expect after 2 yrs in the natural, it probably should have. I believe that God is good, and in His time, I will get this tooth fixed.
Why do I believe that? Well, because God's not dead. ; ) I don't believe in God because some old book tells His story and I'm just supposed to blindly believe in it. I don't believe in God because my parents took me to church and raised me to believe. (although that gave me a baseline from which to start) I believe in God because He has revealed Himself to me in such personal ways. He has shown me love and spoken to me in my language. He has physically healed my arm in a powerful way. 11 yrs of pain, gone in an instant when I watched online as Bill Johnson called out a word of knowledge about a left arm. He's healed my heart, changed the things inside me that I hated but had no power to change, pulled me out of the miserable pit I'd found myself in. There's too much to even list. He has proven Himself real, alive, powerful, and GOOD to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. I can't call a list this long coincidence. There are no other explanations.
I did enjoy the movie, but I would much rather have seen them give testimony of God in the here and now. He is here, He loves you, and He has an amazing plan for your life, for which He wants you to be saved, healed, and set free to do. He's not out there with a lightning bolt waiting for you to screw up. He loves you and wants more than anything for you to find what you were created for and do it with all your heart! I've found my purpose. He planted Uganda in my heart back in 2007 and everything about me makes sense in light of that calling. I am thrilled to find what He made me for. I look forward to stepping into the now with that vision. I have hope and a purpose, because Jesus loves me. He has only good things for me. Life may throw me some curves, but I know that God will give me the grace to knock 'em out of the park.
Today I saw God's Not Dead. If you're not aware, the premise is a college philosophy professor asks his students to write "God is dead" on a sheet of paper and sign it, acknowledging they won't be wasting any time talking about God in this class. Freshman student, Josh, can't sign the paper, so instead he must defend the antithesis in three 20 minute lectures to the class and they get to decide.
I enjoy apologetics, so I thought this movie looked fun. It didn't hurt that my favorite Clark Kent (Dean Cain) was in the movie, as well as Kevin Sorbo as the professor. I did enjoy the movie, but I will say that I don't think they proved the point they set out to prove. (Here come possible spoilers)
Josh started out his lecture by basically trying to prove the Creation story. He shared quotes from famous scientists, athiest ones, and shared how they sort of line up with the Bible. While that's all well and good, how does that prove God is not dead? If anything, it might prove that God was once alive, but something that happened thousands to billions of years ago (depending on your beliefs) hardly proves He is alive today.
It later gets a little better when Josh discovers why his professor is so adamantly against God. When we start to hear the backstory, then we gain some compassion and understanding. That's great.
I won't go too deep with the story, in fact, I think I'll stop there. It goes on to show some divine interventions and one powerful miraculous moment with Dean Cain's character.
My thought in leaving is that if you want to prove God is not dead today, all you'd really have to do is the very things Bethel church is doing every day. Bringing God's supernatural power into the here and now. We see people healed every week of all sorts of things. Pain leaves, cancer disappears, blind eyes open, deaf ears open, crooked feet straighten out, metal dissolves out of bodies .... the list goes on and on. If those things don't prove God is alive and well today, nothing does.
Apologetics is fun, but I don't think an intellectual debate is going to have half the sway that an outright supernatural encounter will. The thing is, a lot of today's church doesn't really believe in that stuff. When we pray for people, not everyone sees the answer they're looking for. So instead of continuing to take God at His word, we re-write our theology to say that God once healed people, but He stopped. Why would He stop? That makes no sense. When we stop expecting a miracle, we stop praying for them.
I know that not everyone gets the healing they were looking for. I can't answer the why question that comes with that. I know that when Bill Johnson and his team started praying and believing for healing, they didn't see anywhere near the positive results they do today. I know that they just kept pressing in, believing that when Jesus told His followers to go out and heal the sick, He actually meant it. Now, 20 yrs later, they have a totally amazing healing ministry with many, many healings every week.
I was diagnosed with the need for a root canal in July 2012. I told the dentist "no" and have gone to the healing rooms almost every week since then to receive prayer for healing. It's been almost 2 yrs, and I still have a slightly tender tooth and a small bump on my gums. But I keep going. I know that God showed me a picture of some new teeth He was making for me. I know that my time is coming. I also know that it hasn't gotten worse, and I would expect after 2 yrs in the natural, it probably should have. I believe that God is good, and in His time, I will get this tooth fixed.
Why do I believe that? Well, because God's not dead. ; ) I don't believe in God because some old book tells His story and I'm just supposed to blindly believe in it. I don't believe in God because my parents took me to church and raised me to believe. (although that gave me a baseline from which to start) I believe in God because He has revealed Himself to me in such personal ways. He has shown me love and spoken to me in my language. He has physically healed my arm in a powerful way. 11 yrs of pain, gone in an instant when I watched online as Bill Johnson called out a word of knowledge about a left arm. He's healed my heart, changed the things inside me that I hated but had no power to change, pulled me out of the miserable pit I'd found myself in. There's too much to even list. He has proven Himself real, alive, powerful, and GOOD to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. I can't call a list this long coincidence. There are no other explanations.
I did enjoy the movie, but I would much rather have seen them give testimony of God in the here and now. He is here, He loves you, and He has an amazing plan for your life, for which He wants you to be saved, healed, and set free to do. He's not out there with a lightning bolt waiting for you to screw up. He loves you and wants more than anything for you to find what you were created for and do it with all your heart! I've found my purpose. He planted Uganda in my heart back in 2007 and everything about me makes sense in light of that calling. I am thrilled to find what He made me for. I look forward to stepping into the now with that vision. I have hope and a purpose, because Jesus loves me. He has only good things for me. Life may throw me some curves, but I know that God will give me the grace to knock 'em out of the park.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Sexuality is a Choice
I could be called all sorts of things for this one, but I am ok with that. I'm tired of hearing the gay rights struggle compared to the race struggles of this country. I don't believe they are parallel issues.
Race is something you are born with and cannot change, and has no moral implications, nor does it cause any damage to yourself or anyone else. Sexuality on the other hand is all about choices and has many ramifications.
Before anyone jumps all over me yelling, "no one chooses to be gay!" let me clarify that that is not the issue either. None of us can choose how we feel about anything, but maturity and responsibility means that we make choices about what to do with our feelings. That's all I'm saying.
I believe in a certain moral code. So do you. We may not agree on what that is, but we do each have one. My moral code says that sex is to be enjoyed solely in the marriage relationship between a husband and wife. I believe that is the only context in which sex can be morally participated in. It is not a basic human need (except in the large scale of society). We can live without it if the appropriate context never arises. While I know that not everyone holds that view, we all do have a belief on this issue. We are all free to choose how we believe and act accordingly.
In any relationship, I think that more often than not, the partners expect the other to be faithful to them. That brings to mind a popular modern idea - 'if I feel like doing it, it's ok to do it.' So what happens if you are attracted to another person while committed to your spouse? It happens. Here is the moment of truth. What do you really believe? What is more important? Your feeling, or your commitment? It all comes down to a choice. Stereotypically, a man is sexually attracted to many women. In today's logic, he should be able to follow those attractions whenever he has them, but we all know that his wife will probably be very upset about that. In general in this society, we expect our spouses to make a moral choice to go against their feelings and stay faithful. Do we believe our feelings are more true than our convictions? Are we swayed easily by emotion until we compromise our core values?
A person can make a choice to be monogamous, polygamous, promiscuous, or celibate. What do you believe, why do you believe that, and how true are you to your own beliefs? Do your beliefs change based on your feelings, or are they grounded on a solid foundation?
We always have a choice, and in the end, we each reap the consequences and benefits of the choices we make. I'd just like to say, count the cost. Make educated decisions. Don't act out on your feelings without adding logical thought to the situation. I've seen so many people go through so much pain because they act in the moment, based on emotions instead of solid core beliefs. I want this message to be an encouragement to people to think through their own process. Consider who you want to be, what you want to stand for, how much lasting pain you want to endure for the sake of temporary pleasure. You are powerful and you can control your feelings and make choices that you won't regret in the morning.
Race is something you are born with and cannot change, and has no moral implications, nor does it cause any damage to yourself or anyone else. Sexuality on the other hand is all about choices and has many ramifications.
Before anyone jumps all over me yelling, "no one chooses to be gay!" let me clarify that that is not the issue either. None of us can choose how we feel about anything, but maturity and responsibility means that we make choices about what to do with our feelings. That's all I'm saying.
I believe in a certain moral code. So do you. We may not agree on what that is, but we do each have one. My moral code says that sex is to be enjoyed solely in the marriage relationship between a husband and wife. I believe that is the only context in which sex can be morally participated in. It is not a basic human need (except in the large scale of society). We can live without it if the appropriate context never arises. While I know that not everyone holds that view, we all do have a belief on this issue. We are all free to choose how we believe and act accordingly.
In any relationship, I think that more often than not, the partners expect the other to be faithful to them. That brings to mind a popular modern idea - 'if I feel like doing it, it's ok to do it.' So what happens if you are attracted to another person while committed to your spouse? It happens. Here is the moment of truth. What do you really believe? What is more important? Your feeling, or your commitment? It all comes down to a choice. Stereotypically, a man is sexually attracted to many women. In today's logic, he should be able to follow those attractions whenever he has them, but we all know that his wife will probably be very upset about that. In general in this society, we expect our spouses to make a moral choice to go against their feelings and stay faithful. Do we believe our feelings are more true than our convictions? Are we swayed easily by emotion until we compromise our core values?
A person can make a choice to be monogamous, polygamous, promiscuous, or celibate. What do you believe, why do you believe that, and how true are you to your own beliefs? Do your beliefs change based on your feelings, or are they grounded on a solid foundation?
We always have a choice, and in the end, we each reap the consequences and benefits of the choices we make. I'd just like to say, count the cost. Make educated decisions. Don't act out on your feelings without adding logical thought to the situation. I've seen so many people go through so much pain because they act in the moment, based on emotions instead of solid core beliefs. I want this message to be an encouragement to people to think through their own process. Consider who you want to be, what you want to stand for, how much lasting pain you want to endure for the sake of temporary pleasure. You are powerful and you can control your feelings and make choices that you won't regret in the morning.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Dancing --> Love
I just wanted to say something, not really deep or anything, but I wanted to say it. I love Dancing With the Stars. :) Normally I don't watch any reality shows, but this one I've watched pretty consistently since the 3rd season. So many people complain about different parts of it, but I just wanted to write about why I think it is beautiful.
Sure, some of these people have some dance experience, but not specifically in ballroom. Every dance is different and they all have something to learn. I'm sure some have a harder time than others each week. Some say Derek always wins because they give him the best partners, but I say he's just a great teacher and great choreographer, and the girls vote for him. But that isn't why I watch anyway. I don't care about the logistics of the show.
I love to watch the pairs grow together. The pros are all wonderful teachers, adapting to each student and showing so much patience and encouragement. We see two strangers fall in love. (and I don't mean romantically) Whether it's the two young beautiful people that everyone is whispering about, wondering if they're becoming a real couple, or the older man with the 20 something dance partner that become like father and daughter, a really cool relationship is developing week by week.
It's not just the pairs either, we get to see how all the competitors love and support one another. There's something that happens when you go through something difficult together. You form a very tight bond. I love seeing them cheer each other on, even though there is only one prize. I see them tear up each week as the star who is going home is announced. The respect and admiration and friendship among the stars and pros is so great!
Each star has a mountain to climb, and the pro is there to help them in any way they can. I love to see the creative ways they work to achieve a goal each week. Some of the stars have come with major disabilities and everyone wonders how they will dance. There was the deaf girl who had to feel the music, stars in their 70s that have bad hips and knees, and this season a girl with 2 prosthetic legs! They are inspiring beyond words. How much can a person accomplish, is any mountain too high? The pro partner is the coach, the teacher, the encourager, the cheerleader... How far can one star go?
I don't care so much about the actual dance routine, though some of them are great fun. I just love to watch love bloom. Love is something our screens are greatly lacking in. True love, that is. Hollywood throws us so much crap and calls it love, but they rarely have a clue what love is. Love is partnering together with a commitment to chase a prize together. Love is supporting each other, encouraging each other, working together. What I love about Dancing with the Stars is seeing TRUE LOVE in action. I see two people that see each other sweaty, frustrated, angry, and worn out, and they still love. No one ever bails because the other person fails. They just pick back up and go back to work. True partnership. True love.
Sure, some of these people have some dance experience, but not specifically in ballroom. Every dance is different and they all have something to learn. I'm sure some have a harder time than others each week. Some say Derek always wins because they give him the best partners, but I say he's just a great teacher and great choreographer, and the girls vote for him. But that isn't why I watch anyway. I don't care about the logistics of the show.
I love to watch the pairs grow together. The pros are all wonderful teachers, adapting to each student and showing so much patience and encouragement. We see two strangers fall in love. (and I don't mean romantically) Whether it's the two young beautiful people that everyone is whispering about, wondering if they're becoming a real couple, or the older man with the 20 something dance partner that become like father and daughter, a really cool relationship is developing week by week.
It's not just the pairs either, we get to see how all the competitors love and support one another. There's something that happens when you go through something difficult together. You form a very tight bond. I love seeing them cheer each other on, even though there is only one prize. I see them tear up each week as the star who is going home is announced. The respect and admiration and friendship among the stars and pros is so great!
Each star has a mountain to climb, and the pro is there to help them in any way they can. I love to see the creative ways they work to achieve a goal each week. Some of the stars have come with major disabilities and everyone wonders how they will dance. There was the deaf girl who had to feel the music, stars in their 70s that have bad hips and knees, and this season a girl with 2 prosthetic legs! They are inspiring beyond words. How much can a person accomplish, is any mountain too high? The pro partner is the coach, the teacher, the encourager, the cheerleader... How far can one star go?
I don't care so much about the actual dance routine, though some of them are great fun. I just love to watch love bloom. Love is something our screens are greatly lacking in. True love, that is. Hollywood throws us so much crap and calls it love, but they rarely have a clue what love is. Love is partnering together with a commitment to chase a prize together. Love is supporting each other, encouraging each other, working together. What I love about Dancing with the Stars is seeing TRUE LOVE in action. I see two people that see each other sweaty, frustrated, angry, and worn out, and they still love. No one ever bails because the other person fails. They just pick back up and go back to work. True partnership. True love.
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