Twihard

Or....

Why Twilight is good for the soul.

1. It's finally fashionable to stay out of the sun. More importantly, pale skin is in (this is good for me).
2. It's okay if you aren't a good actor -- you can still make a lot of money (also good for me).
3. It may not be werewolves and vampires, but it's good to be reminded that there's a spiritual world out there.
4. The moral of the story for me is not "wait for an Edward"; rather, it's "don't be a Bella." Man, that girl is annoying. She pretty much does the opposite of whatever Edward (who always has her best interest in mind, by the way) asks her to do. Don't do that. Why he stays around is beyond me.
5. Never underestimate the power of a tailored shirt (speaking mainly to my male readers here). A well-fitting shirt can make you hotter than Taylor Lautner and his serious six-pack.
6. It's good -- not classic, but good -- literature and it means people are reading. Nearly anything that promotes a love of reading is going to get my stamp of approval. (And what a stamp that is).
7. Moreover, it promotes critical thinking and analysis. Anyone who reads the books has an opinion: Jacob or Edward? Why? And saying "because Jacob is hot" is not enough. Teenage girls and women are learning to back up their opinions with legitimate reasons that they can point to in the text. This is an invaluable life skill. Better to learn it from theatric vampire pseudo-angst than never to learn it at all.
8. Because we otherwise would never have known Jackson Rathbone.

not quite a ce-ment pond

My sister bought an above ground swimming pool. Which makes me related to someone who has an above ground swimming pool. Which pretty much makes our family the Clampetts.

quit playing games with my heart

If you walk with God for any amount of time, then a day will come when you will wonder if He is callous or wicked. Sometimes He doesn't answer prayer, but it's easy enough (for me anyways) to convince myself that I didn't pray well enough. But other times -- like today -- He does answer prayer, but in the most backstabbing, spiteful way. It's one thing to feel screwed. It's another thing altogether to feel screwed by God.

Thankfully a pop sensation of my high school days gave me words to express my anger. "God - quit playing games with my heart" (Oh Backstreet Boys, I always knew you loved me).

So I told God that. And He didn't get mad at me and lightening didn't strike. And He didn't use mind-controlling super powers like Jasper (ooh, Twilight) to calm me down either. Instead, He asked me to keep talking to Him. And you know what? I did. Because in that moment -- when a wound that is just starting to heal got ripped open by the only Surgeon who has the power to heal -- I knew God was real. I knew without question that it was God who was wounding me.

We convince ourselves that God doesn't hurt us. And when we do get hurt -- and it's not by our own sin -- we wonder what happened to the good God? What happened to our dearest friend, our healer, our savior?

The answer? He's still there. He's a surgeon. He's cutting deep -- but you can trust Him because He's not reckless. Every pain, every disappointment, every hurt has purpose. And that purpose is far bigger than playing games with your heart. He's making you -- and me -- more like Christ. We're losing us and gaining Him. That's a good thing.

So if you're like me and feeling a little broken, a little shattered--take heart. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

On Censorship

Censorship has been on my mind recently. From controversy last week regarding a highly esteemed RTS/Orlando professor resigning after his views on Genesis 1-2 sparked fires among mainline evangelicals, to a comment I posted within my organization being removed today for its own controversial stance -- censorship is apparently all the rage.

Christians silencing Christians. Hardly a fulfillment of Christ's prayer for unity.

I'm frustrated that Christians are primarily characterized by what we are against. How might our world be different if we were characterized instead by what we would die for?

begin again

"Beginning again requires believing relentlessly that if we had all the wisdom and power of God and could truly see the scope of our entire lives, we would choose exactly the path that we’ve been on — because the end of that path is Jesus." -- Sharon Hersh

quest

I need to find this Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Ruched Faux Wrap Dress from Nordstrom at Ross ASAP. Also, someone sign me up for French class so I know what I'm buying.