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.