I get so sad when I see Christians backsliding. You'd think they would learn from the mistakes of others, but they don't. Loving them to Jesus and just smiling at them while they completely disregard the Savior of their souls just won't work. There needs to be boldness... and lots of prayer. No one should ever think they are above temptation, no matter how devout they are. The fact is that the enemy of our souls wants to take our attention off God, and he will do that any way he can. Let's guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and not give the devil a foothold. Take time to read God's word, to pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. Where you are weak, God is strong.

Revival Hymn

All about Revival.

It's me!

Hello, everyone!

I thought I'd start putting pictures on my blog to keep you interested.

If you have not guessed, this is a picture of me. I am no longer faceless!

Um... I don't really have much to say today, so, see ya!

The Revival Hymn

If you want to be challenged in your faith, please watch this movie. God has used it to convict me... and I think every person who calls him/herself a Christian should watch this. This is the Revival Hymn. This is what Jesus Christ is all about. This is what Jesus wants from His people!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwbps9k5Dj0 *

I must warn you, it's quite lengthy, but that shouldn't matter. JUST WATCH IT!!!



*If this link doesn't work, then go to http://youtube.com and type "Revival Hymn" into the search bar. Click on one that is 35:52 in length.

The Grad Soap Opera II

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the creation of this blog! I must confess that blogging this past year has been... sporadic, at best. It seems as that stereotype is on it's way out, though, as I have been blogging faithfully for the past week or so. But enough about my blogging habits.

I can think of nothing better to do than create a sequel to "The Grad Soap Opera" on this day. One year ago, I was involved in a different dating relationship, I was just starting at a new school, I was packing up my room to move, and I could not completely comprehend the excitement of the upcoming graduation. Fast forward to today, and you find a girl that is now being courted by an amazing guy, quite settled and established in her school, plagued with messy room syndrome, and absolutely beside herself with excitement for her own graduation.

"Grad fever", as I like to call it, is almost at a climax in my little country school. Almost all of the girls have secured their grad dresses, and some are still working on their grad escorts. I have succeeded in obtaining both, although I think I feel a little unworthy of my wonderful escort. All that's left now between me and that diploma is 4 months of diligent studies.

The preparations for the day of grad are underway, and right now I am stuck in a battle to keep the decor simple and elegant. Building a big archway is definitely not what I'd consider simple, and lattice is not what I'd call elegant. Hopefully the "woman's touch" and attention to detail will prevail.

Graduating will be the end of a very long chapter in my life; the beginning of something completely new. I'm almost afraid to flip the page from the dress-rehearsal to the real performance, but I know that it's what needs to happen. I can only ask God to give me guidance and wisdom, because I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing.

Aren't you, my readers, so lucky to have a little insight into this transition?! Bear with me: it may be a bumpy ride.

Pride

I met the monster Pride today. I felt it... saw it... cowered before it. It's ugly.. grotesque... and when it rears it's ugly head, I lose all of my resolve to stand against it. Most of the time I don't even notice it's there... It lies just beneath the surface, and I grow accustomed to it's presence. Haughtily I deny it exists in me... but when it jumps out of hiding, it's unmistakeable. I don't understand why I can't kill it... why I can't tell it to leave and never come back. It haunts me day and night. Sometimes I'm afraid of it, and other times I do everything I can to make it comfortable. What I do not realize is that this monster is me. This pride is me, and I can no sooner tell my arm to leave my body than get rid of the beast. The only thing that will ever kill it would be to assume a new identity... one that has never been defiled by arrogance. I must identify myself with Christ, with His sufferings.... I must die! Oh, thanks be to Jesus that He has set me free from the law of sin and death! Praise God that we can don white robes of righteousness! Pride will only be a problem when I slip back into my own, soiled self. I'm not afraid anymore!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:1-2

Happiness, or Joy?

What's with the lack of joy in Christians? This is an issue that has been popping up everywhere lately, it seems. Many a time it has been blamed on the church.... the pastor... the congregation... but I am going to suggest something entirely different.

To do this, I must first define "joy". Joy is not happiness, although both are often lumped together. Happiness depends on happenings... on immediate surroundings. Joy, on the other hand (at least joy as it was intended to be) is a complete contentment and depends on the state of a person's relationship with God. Joy is not carnal... it's spiritual.

I would like to suggest that the real problem of the life lacking joy lies with the person not experiencing joy. Because joy has to do with a person's own spiritual life, and because God is faultless, the only thing that can hinder it's developement is the person--not the pastor, not the church, not the congregation. If you are not joyful, then critique your own relationship with God, and not other people's words and actions. True joy will flourish without encouragement from man!

Once again, sense may be eluding my simple blog. These are just some thoughts, and they are not the gospel! If you want absolute truth, then go to the Source. Go to the Bible! Ask God to open your mind to His truth. He is the one that holds the keys to life!

Until next time...

Debates and Integrity

Well, today we had another debate in English class, and I found myself adamantly arguing my particular point of view. It wasn't even my debate, and yet my "feathers" were ruffled and I was being defensive. What does this say about me? I am almost ashamed to think of myself such a controversial person. I don't think I was emulating Christ's behavior at all. I should be quiet and gentle in spirit... and yet I let things get to me. Please, if you call yourself a Christian, take care to examine how your behavior reflects on your most holy Savior. I am glad that we are just debating in English to build our own thought skills, but I sure hope I will think things through when people are actually critiquing my behavior.

Enough!

Alright, I'm done blogging about pointless things, like pretty pink jackets I got on sale.

I have been confronted with the harsh reality that many Christians are living very lukewarm, comfortable lives. People show up to church because it's "what we do", not expecting anything other than to chat with their friends before, after, and sometimes during the service. I myself have discovered that I do not go to church seeking to be lovingly kicked in the rear. It feels good to be in an accepting, comfortable place.... but is that what church is supposed to be? Coming under God's conviction is the most uncomfortable place a person could be, and I am convinced that people are not perfect. Whatever happened to people being excited to open up the Word of God? Why don't people jump at the opportunity to talk about our Savior? What can possibly be wrong with hearing where we need to change to glorify God? I don't know if any of this is making sense, but I still feel there is a horrible deadness in church. I feel it in Sunday school, I see it when people criticize the worship team, and I recognize it when everyone plans out their whole entertainment-filled day one minute after the benediction. Where has the joy gone? Lord, please, light the fire again!

Good bye, deep freeze!

Hello, everyone! We are now officially out of the deep freeze! It's a balmy -4 degrees outside, and it's never felt so good.

On a different note, Kristy and I participated in our debate entitled "Canada is the best country in the world". I think our arguments were strong and well put together, but we were weak on the war front. Ironically, we were actually arguing against the German exchange student, which was not planned! It was a landslide, of course, with the entire class siding with the Canadians (who would dare to be so unpatriotic?). I think I'll quite enjoy this whole debating unit. Now that the hard work is done, all I have to do is sit back and observe other debates, such as "Fat people are happier" and "dueling is a sensible way to settle an argument." What fun!

Pursuit

Keep pursuing God's holiness daily. Submit yourself to His will constantly. Don't ever think that one time covers all, for we are only human.

A Verse for Valentines Day

Finally, brethren,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence

and if anything worthy of praise,

think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Valentines and Purity

Ahh, Valentines. The day that smitten lovers choose to lavish myriads of stale chocolates, cheap perfumes, and wilting flowers upon each other. Love is said to be in the air, although I would like to argue that hardly anyone really knows what "love" is anymore. It has been substituted with completely selfish lust, which leads to actions that completely disregard the fact that the other person's body should be respected as a pearl too costly to be bought. This is then justified by each person's "right" to have whatever kind of pleasure they want, whenever they want, no cost whatsoever. Purity's been drowned in a sea of self desire.

Given my blunt opinion on how love has been degraded, you might ask why I chose to belittle the sweet little sentiments that accompany Valentine's day, such as the chocolates, perfumes, and flowers. Well, this is why. Purity is the most beautiful gift you could ever give anyone you love. It comes at a high cost, requires complete sacrifice, ignores all distractions, signifies undying commitment, and demonstrates unconditional love. It is the most expensive gift a person could ever give. How can chocolates, perfume, or flowers even compare?

Isn't it ironic how the entertainment industry, which is built on everything BUT purity, pays so high?

The Blogger Blues

I recently decided that I would try to find some obscure blog to read and engage my thoughts in, only to be completely discouraged about blogging altogether. I tried my best to give an honest, unbiased response to the blog I read, only to be shut down completely. I was so discouraged and so... almost hurt by the response I got that I vowed I would not blog again. Obviously I haven't stuck with that. And now I have come to this conclusion: Blogs are not meant to be unbiased! It's nearly impossible to do. A person can rant and rave all they want because they have their keyboards to hide behind! So, here I am, once again spitting forth my own ideas, in hopes that someone may read them. Maybe my ideas of the harshness of the Blogger world will be proven wrong!