Remembering 9/11

I'll never forget that day. I was sitting in chapel at my private Christian school when they announced that the first plane had struck the tower. We watched the rest unfold, glued to the small TV that normally showed war documentaries in my history class. It didn't even fully hit me until a few days after, the scope of what had happened. I can't believe it's been 10 years. So today, I remember. God bless the families of the victims. God bless the first responders. God bless all those who didn't make it home. We will never forget.

Honest to Blog...

Honest to Blog: Five Reasons Why I Have Trouble Updating Regularly.

1. This is a spiritual blog. I feel the goal is to enlighten, encourage, or entertain while containing some nugget of spiritual truth or lesson I’ve learned personally that might benefit a would-be reader. Some days, I just don’t feel I have that to give, and rather than write something for the sake of updating, I’d rather stay silent out of fear of doing more harm than good.

2. I’m lazy. This is a half-truth. I am lazy; but the truth is, after logging in 8+ hours at a cubicle and driving 40-70 minutes in rush hour traffic each way, sometimes the last thing I want to do when I get home is write a worthwhile blog entry. (Not to mention walking the dog, cooking dinner, etc.)

3. Fear of failure. One of my favorite bloggers (and the reason I started writing this blog), Jon Acuff says, “It’s better to be 90% perfect and published than to be 100% and stuck in your head.” (I'm pretty sure I paraphrased this because I couldn't find the exact page of his blog where he mentions it.) While I wholeheartedly agree, I don’t always take this advice. Though I know my readership is but a handful of people (mostly the BFF and a few of my Facebook friends who stumble upon the link), I have a fear of not being good enough to post something readable.

4. Forgetfulness. I’m not kidding. I have the memory span of Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates. Someone seriously needs to invent a real-life pensieve. If they did, I’d never want for blog entries or songs or ideas to make the world a better place. My inner monologue throughout the day is filled with so much good stuff, but by the time I get home and open my Macbook, I have no recollection of what that great blog idea was.

5. I’ve already forgotten my fifth point (see point 4). In all seriousness, this last point should probably be my lack of discipline. I’m smart, passionate, and well-spoken, but one of the many things I lack is discipline. I’ll do really well on a diet for the first two weeks and then start to peter out. I think I got to about February in my attempts to read the Bible in a year. I think it’s something that I learned growing up that I swiftly need to unlearn.

Anyway, I’m sure I could add much more to this list, but the point was not to make excuses. I wanted to give you a little view into my inner psyche and why I set myself up for failure at times. I’m trying to get better on all these points, but I’m just like everyone else- a work in progress. Also, perhaps I need to reformat the blog a little bit more. I’ll still do the weekly (*gulp*) spiritual lesson essays, but maybe on other days, I’ll add quick little nuggets- a verse, song lyric, poem, video, etc. that stays true to what this blog means to me: finding ways to live God’s love in motion.

Label Maker

Unless you're one of these, you shouldn't be making labels.

I'm not a big fan of labels. Sure, they can be useful for telling your salt from your sugar, but they're not as effective when applied to people (or music, but don't get me started on that). I think a lot of people misapply the term "Christian." Some people apply it to themselves when they have no idea what it means to be a follower of Christ. Some people have the label forced upon them by outsiders who don’t understand all the nuances of the term they use so loosely. Regardless, the term “Christian” has come to mean many different things to different people. Some of these things are wonderful (as they were meant to be), some are awful, cruel, and intrinsically false.

The first recorded use of the term, “Christians,” dates back to when the disciples were at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Furthermore, it was used by others to describe the disciples, as in "those Christians." Jesus never actually used to word to describe his followers. In fact, the early church used to call themselves The Way (Acts 9). As in they were followers of The Way (and the Truth and the Life). Some believers today have taken to using that term again, as many people have started to associate the word “Christian” with negative connotations. To those people, the word brings up images of hate, prejudice, and hypocrisy. This is our fault, people. We are the ones who have done the most damage to our “good name.”

I was shocked and upset to learn that the man who carried out the bombings and mass shootings in Oslo, 

Anders Behring Breivik, considered himself a “Christian.” If that isn’t the example of the diametric opposite of Jesus’ teachings, I don’t know what is. To me, it would seem he misapplied the label. Just because you call yourself a Christian, doesn’t mean you’re a follower of His Way. Yet, when people on the outside read the news stories, that’s not going to be the first thing that occurs to them. It’s just going to be another nail in the coffin of why Christianity is just like every other religion. It will be one more reason for them to ignore the advice of true Christ followers.

Which got me to thinking… you know, I’m not so sure God is concerned with labels. I don’t think He really cares whether you call yourself a Catholic, a Baptist, a Methodist, or a plain old Christian. I don’t think He is taking copious notes on which church you attend and whether they wear suits or jeans. I think He’s more concerned with how you’re carrying out His will. Are you looking after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27)? Are you feeding the hungry? Clothing the naked? Forsaking worldly possessions for  heavenly gain?

The word says that people will know we are followers of Christ by our love (John 13:35). Our love, not our labels. I think if more people concentrated on that, then it would be crystal clear that this guy in Norway is simply a wackadoo who doesn’t understand what a Christian is. If we were able to look past our self-inflicted labels and work together, how much more could we accomplish for this Kingdom we all say we belong to?

I’m not saying we should throw away the labels altogether. Sometimes in the haste to be progressive and sensitive to society, we throw out things that others might find offensive, and in doing so we compromise our values. All I’m asking is that we look past the exterior, get to know people on a personal level, and love them no matter what our labels have asked us to do in the past.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day from Kinetic Love! I hope as you enjoy your fireworks, grilled meats, and maybe a beer (if you're a drinking Christian), you remember what it means to be independent. Independent from judgement, fear, and tyranny. Independent from the control of others. But dependent on the grace and mercy of a loving God, whose perfect will allows freedom.

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Wake On Up From Your Slumber

Well, I wrote this on Wednesday and tried to post it, but internet problems have prevented me from posting it till now.

This week’s post (sorry I skipped a week), is admittedly not born out of love. Or even a desire to do good. No, this week’s post is born out of annoyance.

I’m not a morning person. You can ask anyone who knows me. I stay up too late for someone whose schedule requires her to be up at 6:00 am (and I usually oversleep). This being said, morning people can really irritate me sometimes. Especially today. Have you ever gotten to work and wanted to just muddle through until you fully wake up? Just let me get my coffee, sit at my desk, and do some stuff I don’t have to think too hard about until 10:00 am. That’s all I ask, really. But some people are up and peppy and wanting to tell you EVERYTHING. ABOUT. THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

I can’t handle that. Honestly, I want to see you through Christ’s eyes, but when you’re yakking about every minute detail of your day at 8:00 am, I want to punch you in the face. That’s not Christian love, and I should really work on that. But it made me think about something. How often do we think about all the things we’re saying? Like really, take the time to stop and think about ALL the stuff you say to other people throughout the course of the day. How much of that has substance? What percentage is positive? What percentage is negative? Psalm 19:14 says, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight…” Whatever is in your heart will wind up coming out of your mouth (Luke 6:45).

I’ve been told I’m a glass half full kind of person. I haven’t felt like it lately, but I usually do try to see the silver lining in situations. After all, I know the only One who can see the big picture, and I’m glad it’s He rather than me. But I do wonder about the things I say. Several weeks back I had someone confront me about my actions and how they might be considered as not very Christ-like. Though I felt this correction came from a place of judgment rather than love, I’m glad it happened because I started to evaluate my behavior. How much of what I do and say during the day is benefiting God’s kingdom? And how much is for my own personal gain or comfort? If the ratio is off (and I can tell you it’s off more often than I would like), then something needs to be fixed.

All too often, I treat life like I treat my mornings. Daily drudgery that I have to wade through until I can finally wake up and experience all that God has intended for me. That’s no way to live. Jesus called us to an abundant life (John 10:10 NKJV), not a mediocre life. Not a middle-of-the-road life. A vibrant and vivacious life. A life worth living.

My favorite band, NEEDTOBREATHE, released a new single this week. I don’t know how they do it, but I swear, sometimes those songs are written just for me. If there was ever a time I needed to hear these lyrics, it would be now. “All these victims stand in line for crumbs that fall from the table, just enough to get by. All the while your invitation- wake on up from your slumber, baby, open up your eyes!”

If things aren’t going the way we want, if life becomes mundane, if the ratio of abundance to drudgery is off by a landslide, then maybe it’s time to wake up from the slumber and start really living.

Victor or Victim?

I want to crawl in a hole right now. Well, I want to get into my 2010 Nissan Cube and drive into a hole somewhere. A place where both my car and I can be safe from the harsh reality of the world. I know, that sounds pathetic and pessimistic and there’s really not a lot of hope in that.

I finally got my car back yesterday after 2 weeks of playing the mooch card and bumming rides from others. Now, I’m just so paranoid that something else is going to happen to my baby that I’d rather go hide in a cave somewhere with him than drive him out on the open road. Ridiculous, right? I haven’t been the best version of myself lately. I’ve been walking around all defeated, constantly worrying about all the things on my plate (besides the accident stuff, there’s a lot of other crap going on that is just making me feel like world is out to get me).

I used to be so sunny and hopeful… well, maybe not sunny, but certainly hopeful. What happened to me? It hit me the other day that I’ve made myself into a victim. I’ve let this world that I am subject to living in steal my joy. And that’s not ok. Not only is it not ok, it’s not true. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Wait… you mean, I already have the victory? I don’t have to walk around hunched over in fear like a loser? Jesus tells us we’re going to meet with opposition, but it doesn’t have to overtake us. In John, He says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We don’t have to do the overcoming ourselves, because Jesus already did it for us. He already won the victory over every obstacle in our lives when He rose from the grave. I don’t have to rely on my own strength for these struggles, because the power that conquered the grave lives in me.

How soon we forget… I know I can’t be the only one who lets the earthly problems invade until I lose sight of my heavenly treasures. Regardless of what man can do to me, I still have a Savior. He still rescues me. He still has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). Though my road may look dark right now, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And the best part is, I’m not in there all alone. Not only do I have my victorious Savior by my side, He’s also blessed me with brothers and sisters to lift me up in prayer and stand beside me when things get rough.

Romans 8:31-39

 ^“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I wrote this post mainly for myself, but I hope you get something out of it, too. Walk with your head held high. Be a victor not a victim.

Keep on Truckin'

I slept for over 4 hours this afternoon. I would normally be ashamed of something like that. I'd be upset I wasted a big portion of the daytime... but today, I accepted the fact that I needed that sleep. And probably more than that. I've been exhausted. Hence, the lack of updates. I've been exhausted... emotionally, physically, spiritually. Just exhausted.

Without getting into all the gory details, I've had a crapstorm of a week that involved my brand new car being backed into, thinking I was going to loose my tooth, and worrying that my dog might meet the big fire hydrant in the sky. It sucked, and I didn't feel like I had anything to give to anyone, let alone this blog. I felt defeated, dragged down. And that's how I was living my life for the better part of a week.

I started comparing myself to Job. I realized that I still had my mom, my friends, my church and my job. But I just wasn't sure where God was in all of this. I mean, I had just been in a car accident a few weeks ago. Now, to make matters worse, my baby needed over $4,000 in repairs. AND on top of all of that, it has now been almost a whole month since my best friend moved away.

When it rains, it pours.

But I realized something. Regardless of the crappy things that happen to us as a result of living in a fallen world, God still has a plan. He still has a purpose for my life. He's still given me a dream to chase. I'm not going to give up just because the waters are getting a little choppy. It may sound silly, but I actually found encouragement from a fortune cookie yesterday. It said, "A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor." It's true. If I'm expected to navigate this crazy life, I'm going to need to learn how to handle some difficult situations.

So, as I learned in Bible study this week, I'm just going to "keep on truckin'..." no matter what puddles I have to drive through.

Also, no matter what junk I've been though this past week, it's nothing compared to what the people in Joplin and other areas affected by the tornadoes are going through. Here's an article I found of ways to help.

Mean

I skipped a week. I know, I'm so sorry. But to make up for it, this week's post has a video!

Taylor Swift - "Mean" from Taylor Swift on Vimeo.

Last Sunday I was on my way to church, driving in my cube, no worries. Then, on the side of the road, what do I spot? A roadwork sign... but not just a regular road work sign. This particular bright orange sign had a nice, black swastika spray-painted over it, with a little "wp" written next to it, presumably standing for "white power."

I was appalled. Not because of the content of the sign, but because this was the third time I've seen such markings on this same stretch of road. Frankly, I've grown tired of it. Tired of the ignorance, the hate. Why do people have to be so mean?!

I'm currently reading Love Wins by Rob Bell. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about, and frankly, I'm not into judging something until I've read/heard/seen it for myself. Personally, I haven't found anything he's said in there particularly offensive. I'm only half-way through, but I think as usual, people are making a big deal over something that may very well be a whole lot of nothing. What I did find interesting is one thing he says won't be present in heaven- racism.

"Imagine being a racist in heaven... and realizing that you're sitting next to them. Those people. The ones you've despised for years. Your racist attitude would simply not survive." His point is that heaven (whatever he may regard that to look like) is going to be filled with all kinds and colors of different people. There's no room for bigotry in heaven. And there shouldn't be any room for it in the body of Christ.

If we are to follow the example of Jesus Christ, we have to love everyone. Everyone. Even our enemies. The Gospel makes that very clear. In fact, the only people Jesus ever showed anger towards (besides the people misusing the temple of God), were the Pharisees. The religious leaders of the day. They were the hypocrites; they were the racists. Which is why Jesus felt it necessary to speak in parables like the Good Samaritan. Why He informed us that the second greatest commandment is loving your neighbor as yourself. I've said it before- love is not an option. It's a command.

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he writes, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." At peace. With everyone. Not name-calling. Not picketing. Not arguing. Living in peace. It shouldn't be that hard. I don't know... maybe it's just because that's how I was raised, but I don't think it should be a chore to be civil to your fellow man. Sometimes when I see all the hate people can spew at each other, it seems so childish. Isn't so very "high school" of us to form cliques and shun the weaker/nerdy/different from the group? Maybe it's time we all grew up.

Moving Week

I'm not going to lie to you. I don't have time to write this post. I have to have all my possessions out of this townhouse and have it spic and span by Saturday. Sure, my roomies will be helping, but I really don't have time to sit down and write a blog. Although, that's what I'm doing right now.


Anyhoo - if you're desperate for something to read, my BFF just wrote a new blog post about "embracing the suck." Go read it here.


And finally I'll leave you with this, from Ecclesiastes 3: 


 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.


So there's a time to move and a time to blog. I've gotta get back to packing. Will resume normal blogging next week!

Everybody Hurts... Sometimes

Everything hurts, and everything is sore right now. I think it’s mostly stress… but also, that’s what happens when you’re in a car accident. The BFF and I were being good, little Christians, on our way to Bible study yesterday, when- BAM! Some loser-face jerkwad child of God flew through the stop sign and slammed right into us. Had it not been for her swerving, it would’ve crashed right into the driver’s side. I shudder to think what would’ve happened to my best friend if that were the case. Thankfully, God chose to spare us and we veered off to the side of the road- right between a telephone pole and chain link fence.

You’ve probably heard the phrase that God’s got you right where He wants you. Well, I think in that situation, He wanted us right between those two objects. Not a foot to the left or a foot to the right. In fact, had anything happened one millisecond off the way it did, my bestie and I could be toast right now. But we’re not. ‘Cause God’s got our backs… and our fronts.

Often, when crazy things like this happen, we start to focus on the negative: how much damage there is, how much it’s going to cost, all the 1,001 aches and pains going through our bodies the next day. Instead of all that, I want to focus on the positive- the holy crap, I’m alive positive. We didn’t see that car coming. We had no way of knowing he wasn’t going to stop at that stop sign. But God did. He also knew we were going to be fine. I’ve been through things like this before, and to be honest, the first inclination is always, “Why did God let this happen to me?” Sure, He could’ve stopped that other car. He could have slowed us down by making a dog run out in front of the car. But, we sometimes forget that we are subject to this fallen world we live in. The guy who hit us made a bad decision, and now he’ll have to live with the consequences of that decision.

The point I’m trying to make, is that we can’t always see where the road in front of us is going. We don’t know the destination. But we have a Father who can see every side street, every intersection. He knows where it’s going to be gridlocked and where construction is taking place. Are we going to run into some red lights? Sure. A few fender benders? Most definitely. But it makes me feel a whole lot better knowing I serve Someone who can see all the road before me and knows where my final destination is.

Side note: please pray for my friend’s car. The insurance company still has to assess the damage.

A Full Time Job

My BFF is one smart cookie. Sure, she's deathly afraid of lizards and her hair being too greasy, but she knows a lot about life. Today in the car she told me about when she used to work with kids a lot, she would tell them, "Just worry about yourself... that's a full-time job." Sure, that's great advice for kids. Just pay attention to what you're doing instead of trying to tattle on everyone else. Then, you're more likely to behave and less likely to be upset over what someone else does/has.

It got me to thinking... some adults, myself included, could really use the same advice. If we were only concerned with what we were doing and not into everyone else's business, how much better could our lives be? Jesus talked about not trying to pick out the speck in your brother's eye when you yourself have a plank sticking out of yours (Matt. 7:3-5). The truth of the matter is, if we all payed attention to our own troubles and what we're doing for the kingdom, we wouldn't have time to point out anyone else's faults or start needless arguments over things that are really inconsequential in the light of eternity. My pastor, Randy Humphrey also put it this way- we spend too much time arguing about today, that we don't think about the future. In other words, we're wasting time!

I think this little proverb has other applications to life as well. I'm a musician. My greatest passion (besides Jesus, of course) is music. I love writing, singing, playing it... but sometimes I spend too much time comparing myself to others. I wish I could sing like her; I wish I could play guitar like him. And today I heard God saying to me, "I made you to be you, not someone else. You be the best you can be." I know it sounds simple, but it really brought me such a sense of peace over things I used to really be insecure about. I guess I used to think of God listening to me sing like a heavenly Simon Cowell (that's not blasphemous, right?). Anyway, I used to imagine Him just kind of sitting there listening to Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, and me. I would think, clearly I'm not as good as they are. But God doesn't sit there comparing the gifts and talents He gave us to the ones He gave others, so why do we?

Whether it's comparing yourself to others or judging others for their wrongs, it's not how God intended for us to view the world. I think God cares more about our unity in Christ (Eph. 4:2-6) than our momentary squabbles. Things that are really important, like building encouraging relationships (both with believers and nonbelievers), should take precedence over wondering whether Susie's pineapple upside-down cake tastes better than yours. And you should be listening to the sermon on Sunday morning, not pondering if Jimmy went out drinking the night before. In short, just worry about yourself... that's a full-time job.

Aftermath

No, I'm not talking about an Adam Lambert song... Last week, we saw some severe weather in Central Florida, and a couple tornadoes touched down. My mom saw a downed tree in her courtyard, and the porch area in the townhouse I rent saw some minor damage. I heard stories like this from several people- downed trees, small damages here and there. The general consensus was mostly everyone was safe, and thankful for it.

When nature throws us hardballs like this, it's difficult to not notice the devastation. With the earthquakes, tsunamis, and craziness that's been happening around the globe, we think about all that damage. Flooding, destruction, death of loved ones. It's a lot of catastrophe and mayhem to take in sometimes. One can't help but wonder, where is God in all of that?

God never promised that this life would be easy. In fact, just the opposite (John 16:33). But He did say He would be with us. I believe that He is there. In the desperate prayers of the hurting, in the tears of the grieving mothers, in the touch of the ones there to help.

In my experience, I've faced more emotional disasters than natural ones. The aftermath of those kinds of trials can be just as devastating as the physical damage caused by mother nature. When you feel you have no friends or no one to turn to, where is God then? Sometimes the last thing we want to do is admit we need help. That we can't do this thing called "life" alone. But I believe in a God who sees every tear we cry and waits for us to call out to Him to come dry them.

If we truly believe that our help comes from the Lord (Ps. 121), that He is on our side, then we have to not be afraid to call on Him for help. Whether your crisis is personal, financial, emotional, or physical, God is capable of dealing with it. The question is, can you let Him handle it for you?

Being Sick Sucks

I promise I didn't push my blog day back to Thursday. I've been sick all this week, and to be honest, it's quite hard to think of spiritual lessons when you're figuring out how to breathe through one nostril. I didn't really feel like doing much of anything, which, in a season where I have so much to do, is not very constructive.

Something that I've come to realize more and more over the years, is that life doesn't fit into the timetable you might have imagined. I know that seems obvious, but I used to think that way. I used to thing A things needed to happen by B time or the world would like explode... or something. But life doesn't work that way. I easily forget that God's ways are higher than mine (Isa. 55:8-9), and I try to take the reigns myself. But that rarely works out for me. It's times like these that I come to understand I just need to trust God. I may not know where I'm going, but He does.

So, that's really it for this week. Hopefully, I'll be back on my feet (and more into my blog) next week. Here's wishing you good weather and good health!

Martha (and no muffins)

I almost forgot to write a blog entry this week. Last night I wasn't feeling well and tonight I need to pack for a weekend of visiting my family on the other side of the state. (Plus, I'm still coming down off the high of hearing that Fringe has been renewed for season 4... but I digress.) I totally pulled a Martha.


No, not Martha Stewart (although, I'm thinking her parents gave her that name for a reason!), but Martha, sister of Mary. Her story is laid out in Luke 10. Jesus came to stay at the home of Martha and Mary while He was travelling through their village. Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to Him teach while Martha busied herself with all the preparations. She probably cooked, and cleaned, and got distracted with all the little things that start to go wrong when company comes over. And along the way, she probably thought to herself, "I'm the only one who does any work around here; no one appreciates me." In her frustration, she finally asked Jesus to tell her sister to help her. 


What did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (verses 41-42). Martha got so involved in all the work to be done, she forgot that the ultimate Teacher was there, waiting to spend time with her. She could have been listening to Jesus the whole time, but she was too busy. 


How often do we do that? Pretend we're too busy for God? I do it more than I care to admit. I did it tonight by almost neglecting to update this blog. I need to remember that my Master is always ready to spend time with me, if I'll just put down the broom and sit at His feet.


On the flip side of that, I wonder... what would have happened if Martha had been sitting alongside Mary, listening to Jesus? How would the food have gotten cooked? The beds made? The house cleaned? We need Marthas. We need people who are willing to work when others are not. Marthas tend to run the world (or at least the household). The thing about Marthas is, they need to learn how to take a break. And that work isn't the only thing in life. 


So how about you, are you a Mary or a Martha? I tend to be a bit of both at times. 

I Need a Doctor

I drink the Glee Kool Aid. There, I said it. The show can be a bit racy and inappropriate at times, but I love the way the creators tackle difficult subjects. So far they've covered sex, religion, and bullying, just to name a few. (And with a wonderfully fun soundtrack, no less!) This week's episode saw a big milestone for one of the main characters, who happens to be a homosexual teenager. I'm sure it caused quite a stir in the Christian circles that watch the show, but here's my question: should it, really?


Personally, I'm glad Glee takes on tough subjects like teen homosexuality. I think the demographic it targets needs to know that there are kids who are different from them, and that it's not ok to make fun of those kids. You don't have to agree with the lifestyles and beliefs of all the people around you, but it shouldn't make you shy away from them.


One of my favorite things about the ministry of Jesus Christ on this earth was that he attracted a motley crew of people. Did He let what those people did affect the way He treated them? Absolutely not. Jesus didn't look at those people and see definitions: whore, tax collector, leper, thief. Sure, He knew their past (and our present!). But our God is not a surface-dweller. He looks beneath what outwardly "defines" us (1 Sam. 16:7). He sees the broken and wounded soul that needs mending only He can give.


I'm not trying to outline what's right and wrong here. I think the Bible does that well enough. I am, however, quite exasperated at the "Christian" attitude toward the gay community. From where I stand, it's not very Christlike. We don't look at the drug addict and say, "Hey, you have to get clean and sober; then I can talk to you about Jesus." We don't cast heterosexual couples out of our churches when we find out they're living together without being married (at least, I hope no church does that!). Then, why of all things, do we shy away from the issue of homosexuality like it's the unforgivable sin?


From Matthew 9:

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”


Sinners, friends. This means all of us. Together. Not the mediocre sinner and the severe sinner. In the hierarchy of Christ there are only 3 categories: the Savior, the sinner, and the saved. No one gets preferential treatment based on age, gender, race, creed, or sexual orientation. 


I don't claim to be an expert in any field. I just speak from the heart. If you're looking to go deeper on the issue of homosexuality, however, I recommend Love is an Orientation by Andrew Marin. I do, however, want to leave you this week with a challenge. To heed the words of Jesus, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).

What Are You Giving Up?

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent for many Christians. Lent marks the beginning of a season for abstinence, sacrifice, and reflection in the days leading up to Easter Sunday. Though not raised Catholic, or any other denomination that observes Lent, I have long respected the tradition of abstaining from something in order to get one's spiritual life back on track.

This year, when thinking about things I could give up, I ran the gamut from Facebook to meat to diet coke. I wondered if I could go 40 days without watching TV. I started racking my brain so hard wondering what I would give up for Lent this year. Then I remembered Psalm 51.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart  you, God, will not despise" (v. 16-17).

I had totally missed the point of Lent. It isn't about what you give up, even though the sacrifice should be a difficult one. The point of this season is to bring you closer to God. Empty rituals have never been able to do that. Many people observe Lent, and I'm all for that. I especially applaud those who are doing the 40 days of water. But this year, I decided the best thing for me was to not focus on giving anything up. Rather, I've made a commitment to God to spend time with Him every day of Lent. I know that doesn't sound like such a big deal to some, but for me it is. My quiet time has been rather non-existent as of late, and I've been treating God like an old friend I just don't have time for right now rather than the King of my heart.

So, how about you? What are you giving up (or not giving up) for Lent? Either way, I pray this is a blessed season for you!

Love Your Neighbor (unless he/she is really annoying)

I'm really starting to get sick of the way Christians treat non-Christians. Or the way we treat each other. And the way non-Christians treat each other. Basically, the way everyone treats everybody else...


Is it really too much to ask for us to treat each other like freaking human beings?!?


These Westboro Baptist people really grate on my last nerve. It's like they were sitting around one day, talking- "Hey guys, you know what would be a really great way to show Christ's love? PICKETING FUNERALS!" And then everyone else was like, "Oh yeah, that sounds like a great idea, and we should really hate on the gays, too..."


I'm sorry, but Jesus gave us some pretty specific instructions in Matthew 22:
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”"


There isn't an asterisk there. No caveat saying, "love your neighbor- unless he's gay or liberal or a different race or a different denomination than you- then that loving thing is completely optional." Nope. He said love your neighbor as yourself. Period. It's not dependent on your neighbor; it's dependent on your capacity to love as Christ loves. And that's not an easy thing. That kind of love will stretch out its arms and die for you while you spit in its face. That kind of love will look at you and tell you you're beautiful while the rest of the world calls you ugly.


The thing is, if you're a Christian, loving others isn't an option. It's a command. But you know what? Besides being called to love the ostracized and marginalized "sinners," we're also called to love the Pharisees, the religious zealots who think they're better than everyone else. The bullies as well as the bullied. Meaning, I have to let my resentment for the Westboro Baptist congregation go, and pray that they learn the real meaning of why Jesus did on the cross for us. That we're all the thief to His side and He's offering us all a shot of redemption. Because we all started out in the same gutter.


So I feel for the victims that have their loved ones' funerals picketed by these misguided folks, and I pray for them. But I also pray for the misguided ones holding the picket signs, because they need Jesus just as much as they think the people they're picketing do.


Read the blog that inspired this entry.

The Little Things

Do you ever let yourself get really annoyed by the little things? You know how it is; you're having a bad day and one little thing can set you off. Someone cuts you off in traffic, you get a paper cut, the top of your ice cream cone falls off, etc.

Today the opposite thing happened to me. I was having a pretty normal Wednesday, nothing special really. But something so small made it a really great day. I feel that often I get caught up in the habitualness of my everyday life, that I don't take the time to enjoy the little things. A beautiful sunset, a smile from a friend, a really great piece of chocolate.

There's no big lesson I really learned this week. Nothing truly enlightening or heart wrenching I have to share. But I did want to share a small lesson, one I've seemingly forgotten time and again.

Enjoy life. As Christians, we are here to serve God and bring Him glory, but I think He also wants us to have fun while doing it. So this week if you receive a random act of kindness or a few extra dollars come your way, receive it as a blessing. Remember that life is short and meant to be enjoyed.

Happy Birthday, Nanny!

Today would've been my grandmother's 95th birthday. My mom's mother, I called her "Nanny," passed away in 1999. I think of her sometimes, and wonder if I ever really knew the real her. You see, my Nanny had Alzheimer's disease, but it wasn't diagnosed at first. For much of my adolescence, I helped take care of her. She was also diabetic, so I would help give her insulin shots, make food for her, and spend time with her while my mom was working. She was usually fun to be around and enjoyed pretending with me during the early years. Later in life, she didn't feel much like playing. We wound up having to put her in a nursing home and move out of the house we had shared with her. She was usually a pretty amiable person, but the stories she told, the way she acted, I don't know if any of it was her true self. 

Sometimes I think I feel that way about other people, too. They may not have a disease that makes them forget simple things, but we are all inflicted with the disease of sin. I often wonder when I'm talking to someone, "is this who this person really is? Or is this what he/she wants me to see?" How often do we do that ourselves? We hide the ugly parts of ourselves we assume people don't want to see, and in doing so we lose a vital connection that could have been shared.

Many times, what draws people together aren't common interests, but common hurts. We feel a special bond with people who have been through the same things we have. It's cathartic to share stories, compare scars. After all, we weren't meant to walk through this life alone. Sure, this life can be filled with heartache and pain, but the load can be lighter when it is shared with someone else (Eccl. 4:11-13). 

I hope that my Nanny is enjoying herself today. I imagine she is eating rum raisin ice cream in heaven and bragging about her grandchildren. I like to think in the short time I was privileged to know her, I got to know who she really was in the way she cared for those she loved.

The Wisdom of Katy Perry

Yes, you read the title correctly.

"Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed, so you could open one that leads you to the perfect road..."

"It's never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called, standing on the front lines when the bombs start to fall."

"She could be a Joan of Arc, but he's scared of the light that's inside of her, so he keeps her in the dark."

These are all lyrics from songs on Katy Perry's album Teenage Dream, but they also feel like they could be embossed on a plaque or stitched into a pillow on your grandma's sofa. Now, I wouldn't advocate for everyone to go out and listen to the whole album, but there are some nuggets of truth in a few of the songs. The lyrics above are from songs that encourage girls to not be held back by adversity, but to press on to a greater purpose. That's sort of my point for today... lessons can come at any time, from any angle, often when you're least expecting it.

John 4:1-26 tells the story of a Samaritan woman who was performing the mundane task of drawing water from a well when she encountered the Living Water. She probably didn't think anything exciting was going to happen to her that day. But at the well, she had a conversation with the Son of God.

In Acts 9, we read about a man who once persecuted followers of Christ, then meets his Maker on the road to Damascus. And so Saul becomes Paul, one of the heroes of our faith.

Maybe you are having a bad day. Maybe someone really annoying, who you don't think has anything of value to say will strike up an awkward conversation with you. Maybe... just maybe you shouldn't run from a bad situation. But wait for the wallop of wisdom to hit you- "Boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon."

Three Ways God Amazes Me on a Daily Basis

1. He lets me live... and be myself while doing it. Seriously. If I had His job (and be glad I don't), there's no way I'd let me run around doing half the things I do. Not that I'm always bad... just a bit ridiculous and crazy at times.

2. He forgets about the day before. Even though I don't. I remember how stupid I was yesterday. But He doesn't let that stop the blessings from coming my way. Sometimes I think nothing good can possibly happen to me today because of how bad I was yesterday, but then BAM! God blesses me in a big way that humbles me to the core.

3. He puts me at the top of His "to-do" list. I'll admit, I put God at the bottom of my "to-do" list sometimes. I go to work, I cook dinner, I do the laundry, I watch Glee. Then often I'm so tired I forget to spend time with God. I put quality time with Him at the end of my list and then it doesn't get done. But He never does that to me. He makes sure I'm safe, fed, still breathing. And how do I thank Him? I forget to.

I'm sure there are plenty more ways that God amazes me, but those are the three I thought of first. How about you? How does God amaze you on a daily basis?

New Blog Rollout!

Ta-da! Well, as you (all less than 5 but maybe more than 1 of you) may have noticed, I have taken a brief hiatus from the blogosphere. But, I'm back, baby! With a brand new outlook on life (and blogging!) and a dedication to do at least weekly updates. I have chosen Wednesday as the day for new posts.

Why Wednesday? That's a fair question. Wednesday tends to be the day I feel the most burned out. It's no longer Monday, but it's still not Friday yet. If I could use a little revitalization mid-week, I'm sure others can too. So Wednesday is the day!

Also, I'm keeping the name of the blog, "Kinetic Love," because I think it will become more about God's love in motion in relation to my life. If I can share some of the things He teaches me with others, maybe we can learn together. I'm not going to always promise to add a Bible verse or be the best example (Lord knows I learn a lot from being humbled), but I will promise to be honest and look for light among the darkness. I hope that there will be post that are funny, sad, quirky, and everything in between. Let's face it: life is messy. And mine is no exception. But having God around to teach me about grace and mercy through the messes, well that's what it's all about.

The Call

I got a call from Jon Acuff the other day.

It was somewhat unexpected, as I had forgotten that I bought his book on the day he was offering blog advice for this very reason. It was also unexpected because I had pretty much forgotten that I had a blog for over a month. OK, that was a lie. I knew I had this blog, but every time I would think about updating it, I'd say to myself, "Oh, I'll do it later." Or, "No one reads my blog anyway." But you know what happened? Jon Acuff, author of two books, came to read my blog and was met with a big fat nada from me!

It was a little embarrassing, but I'm also kind of glad it happened because he gave me some great advice. He asked what I wanted my blog to be, and to be honest, the answer I gave him sounded a little weak to me. What do I want this blog to be? Why did I start it? Those are questions I'm going to be answering in the next few days as I decide what direction I want to take this blog in. The great part about it, is that my readership pretty much consists of my best friend, and the occasional member from my church, so I've got some pretty understanding people who are rooting for me.

Another piece of advice Jon Acuff gave me was to pick one day of the week that I want to update. I explained that I had gotten really excited about doing the blog and then fizzled out as I tried to think of what to write. He said it was better to be at "80% and published, than 100% and still in your head." It was great advice. It also kind of made me realize that I sometimes treat my faith a lot like I treat blogging. Like a burden rather than a blessing.

Why is it that I can find time to watch my favorite TV show, but not to read God's Word? It's because I've been treating my faith like a burden, like it's something I have to do instead of something I am and get to do.

My pastor gave a great sermon on Sunday entitled "Now and Later." He illustrated it with candy, but one of the big things I took away from it is that I have been living too much in the now- focused on the instant gratification over the eternal rewards. My faith isn't meant to be a chore, but a way of life. I shouldn't view my Christianity by the laundry list of things I need to do that day for God, but by the love of Christ which transcends menial tasks and should bleed over into every aspect of my life.

So be on the lookout for a rejuvenated, updated weekly blog. It shouldn't have taken a phone call from a famous, unibrowed author to get me there... but it did.