I've been thinking a lot about distance lately. I find it funny how it effects the way you see and feel things. Time changes when someone you care about isn't a short drive away. You may still talk to them the same amount, even see them the same amount, but the fact that their over an hour away makes you miss them more than ever. That makes the time you do talk to them and you do see them more special. Why is that? Why does distance change our perseption? Maybe when we know people are close to us, we take them for granted. We realize this once they leave. Okay, enough sappy thoughts for now. I shall write later.
Jane
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
This is What it Is
"This is what it is/ this is who I am/ this is where I finally take me stand"-Born Again by the Newsboys
In the world today, I hear many different takes on what a Christian is. Fanatic, hypocrite, mislead but well intended, and racists are among some of them. Everyone is watching the Christians. Everyone has an opinion on what a Christian is and whether they play a good or bad role in this life. Yet, they judge based on false assumptions. If you are going to judge me and my brothers and sisters in Christ, then I submit that you know who you judge. This by all means will not be an in-depth study on everything a Christian is, but I hope that it will at least give you insight into the group of people that you ridicule.
In the simplest terms, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. They are people who have admitted they are sinners, and asked Christ to cleanse them. They give their lives to do what Christ has instructed them to do, and try to live by the example He set. We were sinners, but Christ has transformed us into a new creations. This does not mean we are perfect. It means that our desire is to follow Christ's instructions. From that desire should come all our actions. I say "should" for a reason.
Christians are often charged with hypocrisy. In this there is some truth. Our actions do not and not ever live up to the standards we proclaim. As a Christian, I strive to live like Jesus Christ, as do all who are truly Christians and not just someone with a title. However, as I said before, we are not perfect. Becoming a Christian did not give us super human powers over evil in this world. We still fall, and come up short. Christ gave us the ability to over come, but we still stumble. This does not excuse our wrong doings. We must go to God and the people around us to ask for forgiveness.
If I could get one point across, it would be that Christians try to do good and at times fail. I abhor the fact that our short comings constantly drive those away who we are trying to reach. I wish I could live perfectly. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has achieved that. He is the only one that will. What I can do is not try to hide my short comings and hypocrisy. Maybe through honesty others will be saved. It is when our pride gets in the way, and we can't admit we are human that we drive the most people away.
One of the most recent charges is that of a hater. Homosexuality has become a hot topic in our culture. Those who disagree with this way of life are called haters, homophobes, and the like. Let me make this clear. As Christians, we do not hate the person. Christ has called us to love everyone. However, Christ did not call us to love their actions. This is what it means to "love the person, but hate the sin". God clearly taught in the Bible that homosexuality was not the way he created things. He calls it an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). We cannot pick and chose which sections of the Bible to obey and which to throw aside. Would we not be guilty of the hypocrisy we are charged with?
The act of loving people, but not their actions is the action taken when it comes to many things. Christians are told to not have sex outside of marriage. This view is an uncommon view in our world today. I know people who have, yet I do not love them any less. I have lied and been unkind to people, but God and the Christians in my life still love me. If we hate the person, we do not have the love of Christ.
Christians are also charged with being arrogant. Holier then thou is an often used term. I wish I could say that we do not at times deserve that. We at times forget that those around us who are not Christians have no reason to act like a Christian. We have judged and put down those who do not live up to our standards. I wish that never happened! Yet in those moments our human side rises up and fall into the Devil's temptation. I would ask that you know that not all Christians are like that. Please, do not judge the majority based on the actions of a minority. They need as much forgiveness as everyone else in this world.
Another reason arrogance is associated with Christianity is the belief in absolute truth. We believe that there is only one way to be saved and go to Heaven: salvation through Jesus Christ. We believe that there is a right and there is a wrong, and that it is Jesus who defines them. Again, this is not arrogance. God has said all of this in the Bible. We would bring God's name down if we reject half of what He teaches. It is all or nothing.
I hope this will give you some insight to the stand that Christians take. Maybe this will inspire you to talk to a Christian and find out what they think and believe. I don't know. I hope that it will do something against the falsehoods out there regarding Christianity.
Jane
In the world today, I hear many different takes on what a Christian is. Fanatic, hypocrite, mislead but well intended, and racists are among some of them. Everyone is watching the Christians. Everyone has an opinion on what a Christian is and whether they play a good or bad role in this life. Yet, they judge based on false assumptions. If you are going to judge me and my brothers and sisters in Christ, then I submit that you know who you judge. This by all means will not be an in-depth study on everything a Christian is, but I hope that it will at least give you insight into the group of people that you ridicule.
In the simplest terms, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. They are people who have admitted they are sinners, and asked Christ to cleanse them. They give their lives to do what Christ has instructed them to do, and try to live by the example He set. We were sinners, but Christ has transformed us into a new creations. This does not mean we are perfect. It means that our desire is to follow Christ's instructions. From that desire should come all our actions. I say "should" for a reason.
Christians are often charged with hypocrisy. In this there is some truth. Our actions do not and not ever live up to the standards we proclaim. As a Christian, I strive to live like Jesus Christ, as do all who are truly Christians and not just someone with a title. However, as I said before, we are not perfect. Becoming a Christian did not give us super human powers over evil in this world. We still fall, and come up short. Christ gave us the ability to over come, but we still stumble. This does not excuse our wrong doings. We must go to God and the people around us to ask for forgiveness.
If I could get one point across, it would be that Christians try to do good and at times fail. I abhor the fact that our short comings constantly drive those away who we are trying to reach. I wish I could live perfectly. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has achieved that. He is the only one that will. What I can do is not try to hide my short comings and hypocrisy. Maybe through honesty others will be saved. It is when our pride gets in the way, and we can't admit we are human that we drive the most people away.
One of the most recent charges is that of a hater. Homosexuality has become a hot topic in our culture. Those who disagree with this way of life are called haters, homophobes, and the like. Let me make this clear. As Christians, we do not hate the person. Christ has called us to love everyone. However, Christ did not call us to love their actions. This is what it means to "love the person, but hate the sin". God clearly taught in the Bible that homosexuality was not the way he created things. He calls it an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). We cannot pick and chose which sections of the Bible to obey and which to throw aside. Would we not be guilty of the hypocrisy we are charged with?
The act of loving people, but not their actions is the action taken when it comes to many things. Christians are told to not have sex outside of marriage. This view is an uncommon view in our world today. I know people who have, yet I do not love them any less. I have lied and been unkind to people, but God and the Christians in my life still love me. If we hate the person, we do not have the love of Christ.
Christians are also charged with being arrogant. Holier then thou is an often used term. I wish I could say that we do not at times deserve that. We at times forget that those around us who are not Christians have no reason to act like a Christian. We have judged and put down those who do not live up to our standards. I wish that never happened! Yet in those moments our human side rises up and fall into the Devil's temptation. I would ask that you know that not all Christians are like that. Please, do not judge the majority based on the actions of a minority. They need as much forgiveness as everyone else in this world.
Another reason arrogance is associated with Christianity is the belief in absolute truth. We believe that there is only one way to be saved and go to Heaven: salvation through Jesus Christ. We believe that there is a right and there is a wrong, and that it is Jesus who defines them. Again, this is not arrogance. God has said all of this in the Bible. We would bring God's name down if we reject half of what He teaches. It is all or nothing.
I hope this will give you some insight to the stand that Christians take. Maybe this will inspire you to talk to a Christian and find out what they think and believe. I don't know. I hope that it will do something against the falsehoods out there regarding Christianity.
Jane
Friday, November 13, 2009
Out of this Town
Right now President Obama is in Asia. He has now traveled out of the country more in his first year then any other president in theirs. Maybe it's just me, but I want my president to be in our country. He is after all suppose to be running it. Wouldn't you want to spend time to get to know your job and the country ever better then before? I would think it would make it easier to run the country if you were actually in it. Just me though.
Jane
Jane
Saturday, October 24, 2009
To Break a Laid Foundation
"The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon."- President Washington
"that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the federal government can’t do to you..."-President Obama
Picture this: there is a beautiful house. It's been standing tall for over 200 years. Suddenly a new master of the house comes along, and he says he wants to make changes to house for better. Okay, you think, he's gonna expand the store rooms, make the servants better, and make the house look even better then it already is. Instead, he goes straight for the foundation of the house. As he begins to chip away at the foundation the house begins to crumble. Slowly, it starts to fall away.
Quickly you try to make him stop. This is change, but not the kind of change you wanted. Yet you know that even if you were to make him things never could be the same. The foundation will never be the same again. It will never be as strong as it use to be. That doesn't mean you can't make things better, but it will never be as good as it once was.
This is the situation we find ourselves in. The new administration in our White House wanted to change our country, and they are starting with the foundation. As they tear away at the foundation of our country, the Constitution, they weaken the country that stands on it. We can stop them. We must stop them, but our country will never be the same. Our Constitution has been compromised and will never be as strong as it was when it was first laid. That doesn't mean things are hopeless. What we need to do is stop this administration from eroding our foundation before it can no longer be saved.
To break a laid foundation is to destroy the whole house.
Jane
"that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the federal government can’t do to you..."-President Obama
Picture this: there is a beautiful house. It's been standing tall for over 200 years. Suddenly a new master of the house comes along, and he says he wants to make changes to house for better. Okay, you think, he's gonna expand the store rooms, make the servants better, and make the house look even better then it already is. Instead, he goes straight for the foundation of the house. As he begins to chip away at the foundation the house begins to crumble. Slowly, it starts to fall away.
Quickly you try to make him stop. This is change, but not the kind of change you wanted. Yet you know that even if you were to make him things never could be the same. The foundation will never be the same again. It will never be as strong as it use to be. That doesn't mean you can't make things better, but it will never be as good as it once was.
This is the situation we find ourselves in. The new administration in our White House wanted to change our country, and they are starting with the foundation. As they tear away at the foundation of our country, the Constitution, they weaken the country that stands on it. We can stop them. We must stop them, but our country will never be the same. Our Constitution has been compromised and will never be as strong as it was when it was first laid. That doesn't mean things are hopeless. What we need to do is stop this administration from eroding our foundation before it can no longer be saved.
To break a laid foundation is to destroy the whole house.
Jane
Monday, August 31, 2009
A Moral and Religious People
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.-John Adams
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.-George Washington
Our country is in trouble. All one has to do is read a news paper or what the news to get that. Our laws and government are being corrupted. Yet slowly people are beginning to not be content with where we are. Tea Parties to combat government control and give people a chance to have their voices heard are springing up around the country. People want change, and not the socialistic kind we are being offered.
However, change will not solve our problems. Even if we manage to cut down government and put control back in the hands of people, we will still be falling. That is because God, religion, and a true sense of morality has been taken from our land. Without those, our nation can not prosper. If we are ever to truly be a great nation again, we must turn the people back to God. We must be a nation under God again to ever succeed. It was only because of God that we rose up the first time, and it will only be God that brings us out of darkness.
Jane
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.-George Washington
Our country is in trouble. All one has to do is read a news paper or what the news to get that. Our laws and government are being corrupted. Yet slowly people are beginning to not be content with where we are. Tea Parties to combat government control and give people a chance to have their voices heard are springing up around the country. People want change, and not the socialistic kind we are being offered.
However, change will not solve our problems. Even if we manage to cut down government and put control back in the hands of people, we will still be falling. That is because God, religion, and a true sense of morality has been taken from our land. Without those, our nation can not prosper. If we are ever to truly be a great nation again, we must turn the people back to God. We must be a nation under God again to ever succeed. It was only because of God that we rose up the first time, and it will only be God that brings us out of darkness.
Jane
Saturday, August 29, 2009
JK Wedding Entrance
This is the wedding entrance dance of a couple named Jill and Kevin I think. Anyway, it's very cool. I think whenever I get married I want to do something like this.
Jane
Jane
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Good and Faithful Servant
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’-Matthew 25:21
I can not speak for the people around me. I can not say how they think and feel. What I can say are my thoughts and feelings on certain issues such as responsibility. To me, responsibility is not a burn or something I have to do. I included the above quote because it embodies my thoughts and feelings of what responsibility is. Responsibility to me is just a way to show faithfulness. I accept responsibility in church because of my faithfulness to God. I take on responsibility at home because of my faithfulness to my parents. When I look at responsibility this way, it does not appear as much of a burden. Instead, I find joy in being faithful to those I care about. This does not mean that there are not times where I feel over whelmed or really just don't wanna do it. I have those moments. Remembering why I am responsible helps give me the strength to get throw those moments to the better moments in life.
I hope not only God, but those in my life that I serve can call me good and faithful.
Jane
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