give me wings give me peace
May 15th, 2008

A Growing Disdain

Our church has been showing and talking of apologetics recently, and we’ve been on a Creation vs. Evolution bit for a while. When we watched the video last night, I really just couldn’t help but notice how we sometimes brand and treat others as ‘the enemy.’

For me, I’m a Creationist, but then I’m not going to take the approach as some are by being upfront and telling you you’re going to Hell. I really just don’t like the stand some Christians have taken by saying evolutionists are so wrong (even though, really it is just a theory not a proven fact… like I said, my blog, my opinion, end of story), stupid, and a bunch of other adjectives. Like I said in another post, aren’t we taught to treat others with respect even if we don’t like them?

Really, this is a touchy subject and unless I get my words correct, I might just sound like a total prejudiced person, but it’s something I think a lot of people need to think about. I’m not trying to attack individuals but to shed light on how we treat those individuals.

A teacher of ours had brought up the point that some Christians believe in a Theistic evolution. He explained that some Christians just believe it because they’ve been taught it since they were ‘knee high to a grass hopper,’ and they really don’t know anything else because their local church hasn’t (yes, I did a double-negative, shoot me. I couldn’t figure out another way to word this) provided a solid foundation. If we, Christians, were really take to the stand of the gung-ho Creationists, we’d be branding them along with every other evolutionist as ‘the enemy’ when in reality they have an innocent ignorance of the whole thing.

I really don’t like the theory of Evolution and how it’s been taught in the public schools and generally accepted by the public, but I’m not going to go Jonathan Edwards on your tail and call you a cotton headed ninny muggins. Really, it’s not the position that a Christian should take part of – despising, calling names, nurturing bitterness and hate – just because someone believes differently. Christ tells us to love and respect others and to show them our light, not shove it down their throat.

The only thing that I can really do is just pray that through my attitude and actions, you can see Christ in me, and you’ll want what I have. You’ll want the relationship and the peace that Christ brings.

by Rachel | Posted in Christianity, Church, Devotions, Life, Political, Vent | 6 Comments » |
April 17th, 2008

Self – Examination Part III

Part III: Continuously Praising God

(If you do not know what I’m doing, you can refer to this post)

On Sunday night, the teens of our church presented all our Teens involved presentations to the congregation. We did our dramas, puppet skits, a few sang songs, others played their instruments… I played the piano.

I messed up a little bit, here and there, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Really, my mind wasn’t in it at all… With all these inner conflicts going on, I just kept thinking ‘This isn’t like before… My heart’s not in it. I didn’t pray beforehand like I usually do. I didn’t dedicate the whole piece to God like usual…’ Honestly, I just didn’t play my best, and that was my sin.

There’s a verse in the Bible that deals with this subject, and it’s a favourite of mine.

‘Wherefore it is our ambition… to be pleasing Him.’ 2 Corinthians 5:9

I really do believe that unless we give our absolute best in everything, we’re sinning because we’re not giving our entire selves and actions to God. He deserves our best. He really does. This includes washing the dishes (getting that extra speck even though we really want to finish), practicing our hardest (and not just doing it to say we’re done), or even the things we do in front of people. We have to give our best in everything we put ourselves into, or else we’re sinning against God.

So, when I messed up Sunday night, it was because my conscience finally got to me that I haven’t been the same. It wasn’t because of the air conditioner, or because I could hear people talking and laughing. It was because I came to the realization, mid-piece, that I was doing that for myself and not for God.

by Rachel | Posted in Christianity, Church, Devotions, Life, Myself | 1 Comment » |
April 1st, 2008

Self – Examination Part I

There are a lot of things I’ve been struggling with, and I’m hoping that those who read my blog that I know in real life will keep this to themselves and not spread it around. I know how we often say ‘Sure, I’ll keep it a secret!’ and then go off and tell someone else. Seriously. It’s not too much to ask.

As I said, there are a lot of things I’ve been struggling with in my relationship with God, and I really do believe that when I write things out, my head becomes more clear and things are easier to understand. It’s not just a ginormous jumble of thoughts pinging back to each other like my friends are when doped up with skittles and Mountain Dew. I’m going to try as often as I can (seeing as how I can’t type for too long, the muscles in my hand start to fail), to blog each part of everything I’ve been struggling with.

Part I is going to deal with Hypocrisy/Judgement in Peers.

There’s a specific person I have issues with. I probably always will have issues with him. We just don’t get along. We manage to butt heads all the time, and because of past experiences, I guess I’m sorta unwilling to let go the ‘You did me wrong’ type of attitude. He’s arrogant, cocky, judgemental, demeaning, and he just doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. There have been numerous times when he’s been a jerk to me and my friends.

I write all this because most of the time I’m reminded of ‘Me thinks that thou protest too much.’ What I’ve come to understand about that is sometimes we protest and complain about others because we see those character traits in ourselves.

I have such problems with his whole character and how treats others, and I have to be honest and think ‘Do I think this way because I’m no different? Do I see those same characteristics in me, and because I’m unwilling to admit it, I blow things out of proportion?’ I have to admit this, and I really have to examine how I’ve treated and spoken to others.

I probably complain about people because I can see their character flaws in myself.

by Rachel | Posted in Church, Devotions, Life, Myself, Relationships | Comments Off |













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