It seems as though from the beginning of time humans have had a simple, yet brutal, way of dealing with wrong: rocks . Someone would point out the offender, and the whole community would stand ready to hurl stones in the direction of the accused. This arc
Little Whip, The truth you share is accurate. Your presentation was a bit harsh, but honest. I agree that my thought patterns are not always healthy. My feelings still get the be
My recovery will never be stronger than the disease of Alcoholism. <span style="font-f
Your children are blessed to have a daddy who loves them so much. I'm confident the seeds you plant now will take root someday.
I have been a huge fan of the author Nicholas Sparks for as long as I can remember, so when my husband mentioned the possibility of catching this North Carolina writer’s latest chick flick on the big screen I was thrilled. We decided to grab a bite to eat at Logan’s Steak House before the show started at 7:30, and our conversation took us down memory lane. Both of us di
[quote]Soul searching is a necessity, I get it, but at this juncture I would think you'd be closer to your proverbial roots than ever.[/quote] My proverbial roots huh? I'm not so sure I want to return there. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts Alta. I have been on a difficult spiritual journey these last few years, and I've basically come to understand that the world is NOT black and white. Tim McGraw has a song called "Drugs or Jesus" and the following lyrics usher
[quote]You have begun to listen to the world and not your heart. [/quote] Do you know me? Do I know you? Your assessment of my current spiritual condition leaves me feeling a bit puzzled. Perhaps you are the author of confusion. [quote]Seriously? [/quote] Brandie, I second your comment!
[quote]How are we going to see our own sin if there's no-one to point out the log in your eye? But if you're looking for a church that will accept your sin so you can be comfortable in it, that's no good either. [/quote] I agree that iron sharpens iron, and I recognize the value of fellowship. Thankfully, I have some long standing relationships with folks from my old church who continue to hold me accountable. My husband and I are in the process of moving, and we are hoping to get conn
[quote]I live my life based on doing the best that I can do to be a good person and hope that I can be worthy. But I won't deny that I am human, prone to mistakes, exempt from perfection and therefor, as Jesus once said "he who is free of sin cast the first stone", I do not judge people, I simply disagree with their actions.[/quote] I think everyone I know is just doing the best they can . . . How is disagreeing with other's actions different from judging? Is my par
[quote]I too grew up in a Southern Baptist Church (in Canada, they decided us canucks needed to be evangelized properly by some Texans... go figure!)[/quote] Evangelism is another topic of faith that rubs me the wrong way. I spent a couple of weeks as a college student participating in an event that coincided with the Southern Baptist Conventio
[quote]Why can't you be happy where you are without putting down where you came from? Would someone putting you down while you were into that way of life have helped you at all? Or would it have made you more certain it was the right way to be?[/quote] These are very insightful questions. Thank you for prompting me to look inward and reflect. [quote]If Christanese gives someone peace, contentment, well-being, who are we to vomit all over their way?[/quote] I have no right
[quote] I also had a problem with the attitude that you had to "prove" that you were really Christian at your new church.[/quote] I know exactly what you mean. The sad part is there are a lot of obnoxious Christians who expect everyone to pass the "I know Jesus" test. I have an amazing friend whose life is a beautiful testimony of faith, and one of my former bosses actually made the statement, "I hope God gets a hold of your heart someday", simply because she is unchurc
The following definition of Christianese can be found on Wikipedia. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-lang
Post vacation hangovers have a way of stripping joy from your life. My husband and I recently returned from a week long family trip to Walt Disney World, and reality seemed to slap me in the face the moment I walked in the door. I wanted to savor those sweet moments of serenity, but exhaustion coupled with anxiety, got the best of me. <p class="MsoNormal" style=
[quote]It seemed from your articles, though, that you guys were nit-picking people more than describing abuse[/quote] I will agree . . . One of the things I've learned along the way is that it's human nature to swing from one extreme to another. Chris and I have been dealing with lots of ex-wife drama recently, and because she is hell bent on punishing h
[quote]1. Everyone changes. Not necessarily intentionally in order to grow or please someone else, but life changes and shapes us with or without our consent. 2. You can't change another person. You can demand, beg, manipulate, sweet talk, model change, and anything else you can come up with, but you can't make or convince someone to change if they don't wish it so.[/quote] These two universal truths changed my life. Thank you for articulating them so well . . .
This is a beautiful article Becky. Belonging makes the world seem right. I wish that journey to self acceptance didn't require so much heartache, but perhaps we wouldn't appreciate the truths we discover along the way if it were easy.
[quote]LOL, Loca. It does seem sort of biased and holier than thou, doesn't it? [/quote] It's amazing how someone can spend a lifetime trying to conquer the character defects she's grown to
[quote]If you're looking for something you will find it. [/quote] I certainly agree with this statement, and perhaps my outlook is skewed based on personal experience. To answer your question, YES we saw a few agressive men. At one par
My husband and I recently took a family vacation to Disney World. We spent an inordinate amount of time wa
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My husband and I are celebrating our very first wedding anniversary today. This time last year we were boarding a plane headed for the great state of California. Chris and I said our vows on Santa Monica beach, and the only witness was the local minister we had found on the Internet. The wedding was picture perfect, and I have no regrets. The intimate mo
I appreciate everyones thoughts and encouragement. It's nice to know I have fellow strugglers . . . I wish life came with an easy button . . . http://www.oculuspress.com/picture$512 Then again, the search for answers is half the fun, right?
[quote who="erathoniel" comment="2"]Are you in a small group at your church?Fellowship with other believers is one of the best ways to stay in touch with God.[/quote] No. Actually I am not. Although, I do have amazing friends outside the church who nourish my soul and help me grow in my faith. Does that count?
Why do I hate going to church so much? I woke up today wishing Keller weren’t so far away. In the beginning, I didn’t mind driving forty miles to hear Brandon speak because he was dynamic and his sermons provoked questions and deep thinking. Lately, his messages seem disconnected and haphazard. I don’t look forward to Sundays anymore, and they used to be my favorite d
“Tenille, you are so smart! You can be anything you want to be when you grow up!” <span style="font-size: small; fo
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