I don't know why exactly. I think it's for more than one reason. At first I thought, "Well, rarely have I seen anyone - Christian or otherwise - lined up to help at a food bank/homeless shelter." I'm not saying there aren't volunteers who faithfully feed the poor and give to the needy. I just don't think that kind of event gets our attention like standing up for "our rights." But also because I see a little bit of truth there and it stings. I had some time over the weekend by myself (I know, rarely does THAT happen) and I was able to put together my thoughts on this.
I drove past a Chick-Fil-A and my first thought was, "Why can everyone have an opinion and express that opinion but Christians? Why is it that anytime a Christian does express their opinion people get offended, call us bigots and declare us wrong?" It made me mad.
My second thought was this...we have done it to ourselves. Really, please read that again, and then, stick with me. Obviously we have been so judgmental, so pious, and so wrapped up in our "religion" that people hate us. And not only do they hate us, they hate everything we stand for. I don't believe this has been an overnight thing. I don't believe one generation or denomination has caused this. But I do want to know...how do we right this wrong? How do we show Christ to people who want NOTHING to do with Him? How do we affect our culture without being misquoted, misrepresented and mistaken? How do we change things that have gone wrong for so long? I know the answer is to love people with a genuine, Christ-like love. What I really want to know - for myself and my fellow Christians - is when are we going to do that? What does that look like? Do we line up outside food banks and homeless shelters to volunteer? Do we take the money we would spend on a Chick-Fil-A (or other restaurant) meal and give it to those organizations? Do we volunteer at abuse hotlines? Do we spend time with kids after school? Do we pick a day to start to make a difference? And if we do - will it be met with the same support that Chick-Fil-A had last week? Or will we let this be another chance we don't seize when we could have shown Christ's love to a lost world?
Just my two cents worth...
Sunday, August 5, 2012
My Two Cents Worth
Well, many people have weighed in on the Chick-fil-A issue, so why not me? Usually, I'm a self-proclaimed ostrich. When it comes to news and events, I stick my head in the sand and don't care, pretend they didn't happen, whatever. Well this Chick-fil-A thing has been on my mind and I've read things from both sides regarding the issue. I have gone back and forth...glad that Chick-Fil-A had supporters and that Christians have (finally) taken a stand together. I have been ill that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion and drawn lines.
And then...I saw this picture a few days ago and it rubbed me the wrong way.
I don't know why exactly. I think it's for more than one reason. At first I thought, "Well, rarely have I seen anyone - Christian or otherwise - lined up to help at a food bank/homeless shelter." I'm not saying there aren't volunteers who faithfully feed the poor and give to the needy. I just don't think that kind of event gets our attention like standing up for "our rights." But also because I see a little bit of truth there and it stings. I had some time over the weekend by myself (I know, rarely does THAT happen) and I was able to put together my thoughts on this.
I drove past a Chick-Fil-A and my first thought was, "Why can everyone have an opinion and express that opinion but Christians? Why is it that anytime a Christian does express their opinion people get offended, call us bigots and declare us wrong?" It made me mad.
My second thought was this...we have done it to ourselves. Really, please read that again, and then, stick with me. Obviously we have been so judgmental, so pious, and so wrapped up in our "religion" that people hate us. And not only do they hate us, they hate everything we stand for. I don't believe this has been an overnight thing. I don't believe one generation or denomination has caused this. But I do want to know...how do we right this wrong? How do we show Christ to people who want NOTHING to do with Him? How do we affect our culture without being misquoted, misrepresented and mistaken? How do we change things that have gone wrong for so long? I know the answer is to love people with a genuine, Christ-like love. What I really want to know - for myself and my fellow Christians - is when are we going to do that? What does that look like? Do we line up outside food banks and homeless shelters to volunteer? Do we take the money we would spend on a Chick-Fil-A (or other restaurant) meal and give it to those organizations? Do we volunteer at abuse hotlines? Do we spend time with kids after school? Do we pick a day to start to make a difference? And if we do - will it be met with the same support that Chick-Fil-A had last week? Or will we let this be another chance we don't seize when we could have shown Christ's love to a lost world?
Just my two cents worth...
I don't know why exactly. I think it's for more than one reason. At first I thought, "Well, rarely have I seen anyone - Christian or otherwise - lined up to help at a food bank/homeless shelter." I'm not saying there aren't volunteers who faithfully feed the poor and give to the needy. I just don't think that kind of event gets our attention like standing up for "our rights." But also because I see a little bit of truth there and it stings. I had some time over the weekend by myself (I know, rarely does THAT happen) and I was able to put together my thoughts on this.
I drove past a Chick-Fil-A and my first thought was, "Why can everyone have an opinion and express that opinion but Christians? Why is it that anytime a Christian does express their opinion people get offended, call us bigots and declare us wrong?" It made me mad.
My second thought was this...we have done it to ourselves. Really, please read that again, and then, stick with me. Obviously we have been so judgmental, so pious, and so wrapped up in our "religion" that people hate us. And not only do they hate us, they hate everything we stand for. I don't believe this has been an overnight thing. I don't believe one generation or denomination has caused this. But I do want to know...how do we right this wrong? How do we show Christ to people who want NOTHING to do with Him? How do we affect our culture without being misquoted, misrepresented and mistaken? How do we change things that have gone wrong for so long? I know the answer is to love people with a genuine, Christ-like love. What I really want to know - for myself and my fellow Christians - is when are we going to do that? What does that look like? Do we line up outside food banks and homeless shelters to volunteer? Do we take the money we would spend on a Chick-Fil-A (or other restaurant) meal and give it to those organizations? Do we volunteer at abuse hotlines? Do we spend time with kids after school? Do we pick a day to start to make a difference? And if we do - will it be met with the same support that Chick-Fil-A had last week? Or will we let this be another chance we don't seize when we could have shown Christ's love to a lost world?
Just my two cents worth...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Speaking Gold and Silver
Sometimes I am a failure of epic proportions. I don't say this because I am having a bad day or a low self-esteem moment. We are all victims of this thinking from time to time. No matter how hard we try to do everything right, sometimes we manage to mess up a two car funeral. I wake up everyday determined to have patience and speak kindly to my husband and my children, but inevitably by the end of the day, I have spoken something to hurt someone's feelings. No matter what stage of life you're in, you have to deal with people and dealing with people can sometimes get ugly. We hurt the ones we love, the ones we live with, the ones we work with and play with. We hurt our friends and we hurt those we hardly know. But there's good news - we cannot take back the hurtful things we say, but we can ask for forgiveness. Better yet, we can grant forgiveness. Just as we hurt others with our words and actions, we have been hurt by the words and actions of others. After all holding on to a grudge hurts you more than the person who inflicted that pain on you. There's a verse in Proverbs I especially like. It says that "a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." I got a clearer picture of that a few years ago when silver and gold jewelry became popular. It was just the right mix and made both the silver and gold stand out beautifully. That is what our "fitly spoken" words are. Beautiful. I hope today that someone speaks kindness to you and that you have the opportunity to speak kindness to others. You might not get it right every time, as I'm sure I won't, but words spoken in love can make something beautiful.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A False Start
Well, my last blog entry was about starting to use my blog to share more than just stories about my kids. I am supposed to be using my blog to share my heart, to share the things God is showing me. I guess I was off to a "false start." I kept thinking of things to share, but I just haven't taken the time to blog. At first my excuse was the holidays but that came and went. Now my excuse is I don't have enough hours in the day. I don't have enough time for Facebook, Pinterest, eBay,cooking, cleaning, caring for my children and husband and blogging. Add to that I have an incredible urge every January to buy every possible organizational thing advertised and reorganize something. This year I set my sights on the computer room, cubbies, and snack cabinet. None of those are finished, but they are at least a work in progress.
So enough of excuses...update time. Our new year has been off to a good start. Corey and Donnie and a few friends went to the Capital One Bowl and had a BLAST! Not only did they have a fun time, they got to watch an awesome game! Corey really wanted an XBOX 360 for Christmas, but Santa brought him tickets to the game instead. I am sure it was an experience he won't forget! Also Hannah was able to contacts, instead of glasses, which she has been begging me for since last year's eye exam. Thankfully she was a good candidate for them and after a few days of stress about not being able to get them in, she has the hang of it. Allie has started taking ballet lessons, and she loves it. It is so fun to watch her. Soon enough I will remember to bring my camera so I can share pictures. Jon Tyler is just enjoying hanging out with me, I suppose. At least that's what I gather from the fact that he is very reluctant to leave his momma.
School started back on the 9th. Some people assume that I am thrilled when they go back to school, but it is usually the opposite. It is so much calmer around here during the day, but I pay for it at night when everyone has homework and is grumpy from being in school all day. This is the longest nine weeks we have - literally - they actually have to go 11 weeks. State testing interferes with our schedule since we aren't a traditional school. Believe me when I say those 2 extra weeks are really L-O-N-G.
I am...well, I'm trying without success to find time to do everything I need and want to do. My earlier kidding aside, I am trying to find time to work on my novel that has been floating around in my head and for the first time in years, I have actually put more than a paragraph on paper. (well, in the computer, anyway. I really miss actually writing, but that's a side note and yes, I know I'm a nerd.) I also am toying with a way to start a small (maybe tiny is the better word) card and craft business. This is probably a phase, but I would love to find a way over the next two years to make enough money at that not to have to go back to work full time. It think it would be best for my family if I can be on a flexible schedule even when they are all in school.
Well, unless you are one of my kids' grandparents, you probably found this post incredibly boring. I apologize for that. But stay tuned...Wordless Wednesday is coming.
So enough of excuses...update time. Our new year has been off to a good start. Corey and Donnie and a few friends went to the Capital One Bowl and had a BLAST! Not only did they have a fun time, they got to watch an awesome game! Corey really wanted an XBOX 360 for Christmas, but Santa brought him tickets to the game instead. I am sure it was an experience he won't forget! Also Hannah was able to contacts, instead of glasses, which she has been begging me for since last year's eye exam. Thankfully she was a good candidate for them and after a few days of stress about not being able to get them in, she has the hang of it. Allie has started taking ballet lessons, and she loves it. It is so fun to watch her. Soon enough I will remember to bring my camera so I can share pictures. Jon Tyler is just enjoying hanging out with me, I suppose. At least that's what I gather from the fact that he is very reluctant to leave his momma.
School started back on the 9th. Some people assume that I am thrilled when they go back to school, but it is usually the opposite. It is so much calmer around here during the day, but I pay for it at night when everyone has homework and is grumpy from being in school all day. This is the longest nine weeks we have - literally - they actually have to go 11 weeks. State testing interferes with our schedule since we aren't a traditional school. Believe me when I say those 2 extra weeks are really L-O-N-G.
I am...well, I'm trying without success to find time to do everything I need and want to do. My earlier kidding aside, I am trying to find time to work on my novel that has been floating around in my head and for the first time in years, I have actually put more than a paragraph on paper. (well, in the computer, anyway. I really miss actually writing, but that's a side note and yes, I know I'm a nerd.) I also am toying with a way to start a small (maybe tiny is the better word) card and craft business. This is probably a phase, but I would love to find a way over the next two years to make enough money at that not to have to go back to work full time. It think it would be best for my family if I can be on a flexible schedule even when they are all in school.
Well, unless you are one of my kids' grandparents, you probably found this post incredibly boring. I apologize for that. But stay tuned...Wordless Wednesday is coming.
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