How does a perfect relationship go so bad so quickly? I don't necessarily mean just romantic relationships, but any relationship. It could be a family member, a marriage, a dating situation, or a friendship. How can one moment change one person's mind about the other, and the naive one in the relationship doesn't pick up on it until it seems like it is too late?
I always seem to be the mediator in other people's relationships, but when it comes to my own, I am oblivious. It is hard to notice every disappointment and every nuance of a change for the worse.
I don't know why I am surprised every time a relationship goes sour. I am very used to them; actually, I anticipate them so that I won't get hurt. Even so, I still have a hard time with untangling two intertwined lives and restructuring my own as an island of singlehood.
I guess this is rambling, but I can't exactly find the words to describe the feeling of being "in between."
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Sunday, October 23, 2005
My Short History with New York
Kevin and I in Times Square
This is a picture of Kevin and I when we went to New York this past March for Spring Break. Ignore the lady in red beside us; she is just one example how my life is riddled with things being almost, but not quite, perfect.
We explored the city for a few days and Kevin is itching to get back. What can I say, he has the bug.
If I did get accepted to one of the graduate programs in New York, I wouldn't have the cushion of the Christian south to protect me. It would be really hard to find a Biblical church, but I am sure I could find something.
"Hate Crimes" Committed in the Church
Today I learned of a bill that has already been passed by the Senate and could go to Congress soon. It is Bill S. 622, also known as the "Hate Crimes" bill. This bill was introduced by none other than Ted Kennedy. I found an article that better explains the bill's implications and I wanted to share it.
"Hate crimes" legislation can come up for a vote in Congress this fall if the House and Senate conference members attach the legislation to the Defense Authorization bill. "Hate crimes" refer to crimes motivated by race, etc. and democrats in Congress want to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation. "Hate crimes" are typically charged as felonies having serious consequences, including prison and fines.
Preachers could be threatened with jail sentences and fines if they speak out about homosexuality or speak against homosexual "marriage" from their pulpits. This is what is already happening in certain Canadian provinces. The United States Senate passed the "Hate Crimes" legislation by a 2/3 margin. The vote will be extremely close in the House of Representatives if it is ever sent there from the House/Senate conference.
Christians are put in a predicament because we are commanded to speak out and teach the truth about sin; however, we are also commanded to obey the laws of the land. I know what my stance will be on the matter. I do not believe that this bill will stop anybody from preaching or teaching any differently.
"Hate crimes" legislation can come up for a vote in Congress this fall if the House and Senate conference members attach the legislation to the Defense Authorization bill. "Hate crimes" refer to crimes motivated by race, etc. and democrats in Congress want to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation. "Hate crimes" are typically charged as felonies having serious consequences, including prison and fines.
Preachers could be threatened with jail sentences and fines if they speak out about homosexuality or speak against homosexual "marriage" from their pulpits. This is what is already happening in certain Canadian provinces. The United States Senate passed the "Hate Crimes" legislation by a 2/3 margin. The vote will be extremely close in the House of Representatives if it is ever sent there from the House/Senate conference.
Christians are put in a predicament because we are commanded to speak out and teach the truth about sin; however, we are also commanded to obey the laws of the land. I know what my stance will be on the matter. I do not believe that this bill will stop anybody from preaching or teaching any differently.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Christian education
I am starting to think seriously about grad schools, and one of the major dilemmas I am having is whether to go to a Christian school or another liberal arts university. There are pros and cons to both are obvious, so how does one choose? More specifically, how do I choose?
A liberal arts university has the disadvantage of very little Christian fellowship inside the college atmosphere (at least, the CORRECT Christian atmosphere). The advantage is that I would be prepared for heathen beliefs being thrown in my face, so I could discount those theories as false.
A Christian university is a great environment for local and foreign mission work. There is a great possibility for enrichment, but the disadvantage would be falling for misleading information from professors. Just because a university is affiliated with a certain "denomination" (and I use that term loosely to include The Church of Christ) does not mean that the professors must teach the corresponding doctrines.
My brother attended David Lipscomb University, and some of his religion teachers were Methodist. One of his professors told him that The Church of Christ came out of the Methodist church during the Reformation, and to this day he believes it. I hope I would not fall into a false doctrine, but as the Bible says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
A liberal arts university has the disadvantage of very little Christian fellowship inside the college atmosphere (at least, the CORRECT Christian atmosphere). The advantage is that I would be prepared for heathen beliefs being thrown in my face, so I could discount those theories as false.
A Christian university is a great environment for local and foreign mission work. There is a great possibility for enrichment, but the disadvantage would be falling for misleading information from professors. Just because a university is affiliated with a certain "denomination" (and I use that term loosely to include The Church of Christ) does not mean that the professors must teach the corresponding doctrines.
My brother attended David Lipscomb University, and some of his religion teachers were Methodist. One of his professors told him that The Church of Christ came out of the Methodist church during the Reformation, and to this day he believes it. I hope I would not fall into a false doctrine, but as the Bible says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Isn't the Bible enough?
I believe there are absolute truths in the Bible. Not only do I believe it, the Bible clearly states it. I also believe that these absolute truths do not limit or persecute believers; they guide and lead God's followers in the way that they should go.
2 Peter 19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Two passages clearly show that there is a right way to worship (God's way) and a wrong way (man's way). I don't know how to "interpret" these verses any differently than the way Jesus said it. If people feel comfortable making assumptions about what God will and will not allow in the sense of worship, then that is their choice.
Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
God carefully chose every word in the Bible for our instruction, but it's more than just a rule book. This is His voice talking to each of us in every generation and every culture. The Bible is timeless and is never outdated. There is no need to make "contemporary" changes in church worship and doctrine because that underestimates the power of God to reach the entire world.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
I know that God does not want division. He wants everyone to believe the same thing; therefore, there IS an absolute truth.
1 Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
I believe that I am supposed to correct any skewed beliefs that my loved ones may have because I want them to be blessed by God and because I care about their salvation. The Bible commands us to correct each other, and I intend to do so while I learn to repent from my sin with a humble spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
2 Peter 19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Two passages clearly show that there is a right way to worship (God's way) and a wrong way (man's way). I don't know how to "interpret" these verses any differently than the way Jesus said it. If people feel comfortable making assumptions about what God will and will not allow in the sense of worship, then that is their choice.
Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
God carefully chose every word in the Bible for our instruction, but it's more than just a rule book. This is His voice talking to each of us in every generation and every culture. The Bible is timeless and is never outdated. There is no need to make "contemporary" changes in church worship and doctrine because that underestimates the power of God to reach the entire world.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
I know that God does not want division. He wants everyone to believe the same thing; therefore, there IS an absolute truth.
1 Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
I believe that I am supposed to correct any skewed beliefs that my loved ones may have because I want them to be blessed by God and because I care about their salvation. The Bible commands us to correct each other, and I intend to do so while I learn to repent from my sin with a humble spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
Monday, October 17, 2005
Truth in Love
Why is it so hard to teach the truth in love? Even when you try so hard to share your opinions about religion, someone is always going to be wrong. I just want everybody to believe the same thing about God and the church and have it be the truth. I don't want to feel that everything about the Bible and religion is up to interpretation. I think that there are absolute truths in Christianity, and I don't want to feel badly about that. I hate feeling bad about what I know to be true about the Bible.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Beautiful Day
Today is the most beautiful day I have ever seen. I walked my dog for longer than I have for a while. I was going to take a nap, but I don't want to miss one of the truly perfect days in Georgia.
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