What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar? (And Ten Million Dollars)

Money.

Everyone wants it. People who have it, want more. It's caused pain, it's caused joy. It's one of the biggest causes of worry.

What is it about money that is so desirable?

Maybe it's the fact that while knowledge is power, money can buy you almost whatever you want.

Almost.

What are some of the things money can't buy?

1) Children
2) Purity
3) Being a natural-born American Citizen
4) Faith
5) Family
6) Life
7) Natural Gender
8) Love
9) True Nationality

In a recent study people were asked to participate in a FICTIONAL game, and were asked how they would respond.

The game goes as follows:

Picture a stage with thousands of people in the stands surrounding the stage. in the center on the stage is a announcer and a wheelbarrow full of 10 Million Dollars. The announcer calls pick one of these follow options to win 10 Million dollars instantly.

#1 Put your children up for adoption

#2 Become a prostitute for a week

#3 Give up your American Citizenship

#4 Abandon your church

#5 Abandon your family

#6 Kill a stranger

#7 Have a sex-change operation

#8 Leave your spouse

#9 Change your race

Thats the list the announcer calls, now make your choice. the audience in the stands go quiet all waiting for the sound of your voice. You have a choice to make...

Now although this game never happened, people just like you were asked what they would have said, of the people asked:

25% would abandon their family

25% would abandon their church

23% would become a prostitute

16% would give up their American citizenship

16% would leave their spouse

3% would put their children up for adoption.

Now, what I'm going to say next may sound like I'm changing the subject, but just bear with me, I am going somewhere with this.

Finishing and publishing these old blog posts has been an interesting experience for me. Especially which posts land on what days. Take my pro-life posts from a couple days ago for instance. Right before I logged onto Blogger to begin my "finishing blog posts" excursion, I was on the YouTube homepage. The featured advertisement had a pro-life video. The post at the top of my editing list was the pro-life posts. Coincidence? I think not.

Today, I was thumbing through a phonebook (with a purpose, I promise. I don't read phonebooks for fun). I stumbled across an ad for a jewelry shop. It advertised that money could buy happiness--especially at that particular jewelry shop. I, being me, made fun of the ad. But frankly, I was also rather disturbed. Whether the advertisers believe it or not, they were advocating the idea that money bought happiness. 

This mentality, whether meant as for real or not, is not only disturbing, it's wrong. Money does not buy  happiness. This may sound like a simple, mundane, and obvious concept, but it's true. 

No matter how much we try, earning money and buying "stuff" is not going to make us happy. The only way we can be truly happy is to be at peace with God. 

The empty place in our hearts can only be filled by God. 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; 

and be content with such things as ye have: 

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrew 13:5

The Kind of Friends We Are (part 2)

A while back I started a series about friendships: past and present. I finished my posts about the past, and started with posts about the present, but never finished. This is my final installment in this series.
The Kind of Friends We Used To Be (Part 1)
The Kind of Friends We Used To Be (Part 2)
The Kind of Friends We Are (Part 1)

You were the competition. That random person who joined my Facebook group for the sole purpose of scouting out who you were up against.

Not that I was much of a challenge: out of the running after the first round and all.

That whole week was such a blast.

Being in our little group was such a blessing.

Our crazy, random conversations and dorky inside jokes still made me smile. Maybe it's because they continue.

Every time we talk, I become more encouraged and affirmed.

You're the kind of person I can have the strangest, most off-the-wall conversations with, and it be all apart of a perfectly normal afternoon.

Lately, our conversations have gravitated towards a season in life that is inevitable and creeping upon on us: growing up, moving out of our respective homes, and being on our own. We're both trying to reach out towards our goals and dreams. But reality is striking. Goals and dreams aren't as easy to accomplish as they once were.

It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that you're going to reach your goals.

But if God wants you somewhere, there's going to be no stopping you.

You are a wonderful blessing of a friend. I can't wait to see where life takes you.

See you soon. :) ::heart thump::

There is Life

A while back, I had an opportunity for a first. Well, it was a sort-of first. I've held small children and babies before--even babysat one about eight or so months old. But I have never in my life held a child less than a day old.

Okay, now some of you homeschooled people (okay, probably a lot of you) are probably thinking "what's so important about that? I hold babies that young all the time". And I'll tell you this:

1) I thought it was really neat that I got to hold this child (especially when she was so young--I didn't think her sweet mother or grandmother would want to let go of her).

2) There's something about holding a tiny baby in your arms that really let's you marvel. Not just at how tiny a person can be, but at God's wonder in creating this tiny human.

She is the newborn daughter of my a nurse at my dad's clinic. My dad needed to round on her and I (having been at work as well, and he having the only car between us) tagged along. I hoped that she would let me come in and see the baby, but my dad wanted to ask first. So, he examined the baby and asked her. She said yes!

So I knocked on the door and slipped into the room.

She had a full head of the softest hair I have ever touched in my life. It was like bunny fur.

I was a little nervous when I got permission to hold her and took her into my arms.

But as I held her, and chatted with my dad and the baby's mother and grandmother, I marveled at the realization that in my arms was a living, breathing miracle. From conception to birth, she was a miracle every step of the way.

And as I held her, I couldn't help but wonder:

How could anyone abort the life of a child in-utero?

Life is so precious. From the moment of conception, a living, breathing baby is developing inside his or her mother's womb. He/she is constantly growing and developing.

Many people often argue that a baby is "just a clump of cells" until a certain month of pregnancy.

That's not true.

By the time a mother is able to know that she is pregnant, the baby already looks like a fully formed baby. All he/she has left to do is grow and strengthen his/her organs.

There are always options.

Abortion should never be one.

Adoption is a beautiful thing.

My mother is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet (and I'm not just saying this because she's my mom).

She was adopted.

She was unplanned.

Her mother was unmarried.

Is my mom worth less than others because of this?

No.

Then why would any other unplanned child be any different?

A baby is a baby. No matter how small, how young, or anything.

God allowed that baby to be conceived for a reason.

Who are we to take life into our own hands? And not just our own lives, but the life of another? No. If someone killed the baby I mentioned at the beginning of this post today, they would be charged with murder.

What makes that baby any different from a baby in the womb?

Nothing.

Here's an illustration I found that exemplifies this wonderfully:

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

...

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

Choose life.

Love lets live.

I will praise Thee; 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: 

marvelous are thy works; 

and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

A Task Left Unfinished

Or, in this case, a post.

Or, in the actuality of this case, multiple posts.

In my archives, I have recently discovered several blog posts I have left unfinished and thus unpublished.

In accordance with this, I have also recently read a well-written, well thought out blog post on sluggishness.

All of this brings me to a conclusion.

I must finish these posts.

So, my next several posts will be posts I have started but did not finish.

And, I'm sure you're scratching your head and wondering.. and why is she telling us this?

It's partially to keep me accountable.

Go ahead, ask me if I've finished my unfinished posts.

Look for 'em published on my blog.

The other reason is difficult to explain.

Maybe it's because my unfinished blog posts give evidence to the scattered way I tend to run my life.

Sitting on my kitchen table is unfinished math homework.

Waiting for me in the school room are unfinished (or even unstarted) English essays.

Unfinished classes (well, that gives evidence of the unfinished school year, which is logical since it's May 1).

There's a saved file on my desktop. It's an unfinished Inkscape tutorial drawing.

Bookmarked on my web browser are websites I haven't finished fully checking out.

Items I haven't finished deciding whether or not to purchase.

An Inkscape tutorial I haven't finished.

Waiting for me are unfinished e-mails, books, lists, and designs.

People call me a busy person.

A hard act to follow.

The kind of person who runs from here to there without stopping.

But in my wake, I leave the unfinished.

Prioritizing the things I want to do, and leaving the rest by the wayside.

Truth is, I'm a bit of a flake.

Okayyy, a lot of a flake.

Have you ever heard me say, "Oh, I need to e-mail so-and-so" or "I'll text/call you about that!" or "You bet I'll get it done!" only to wait, and wait, and wait?

Sure, I get things done.

But at what cost?

How much time do I take to do something that would take almost none if I would just do it?

I think my biggest problem is I recognize that I need to do something, but then don't do it. Or delay when I do it.

I even procrastinate with things that will benefit me.

I'm currently losing weight. But how many years did it take for me to actually get on the stick and get it done? More than I'd like to admit.

I applied for college, got accepted, and made the deposit to officially reserve my space. But how many months did it take for me to get the application in? How close to the deposit deadline was I when it was finally made? Too many. Too close.

I got the FAFSA filled out. But how long after the ideal time to fill it out (before March 1) did I wait? Almost two months.

I am a procrastinator of the professional kind.

A legendary flake.

But no more.

I'm sick of my own "I don't care" and "I'll do it later" attitude.

Things are going to get done in a timely manner.

Nothing will be left half way done any longer.

My blog posts will be completed.

My math homework will be finished.

My senior year will be annihilated.

My room will become a sparkling example of cleanliness (and stay that way).

But I won't do any of this by myself.

I can't stop being a flaky, uncaring procrastinator on my own.

BUT.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me. (Phil 4:13)

This verse means that any things that strengthens me can be done through Christ. I'm not going to do any of this on my own. Christ will lift me up and give me the strength to reach my goal and stick with it.

[The unfinished posts will begin tomorrow.]

Why?

When I got home from work today, my mom was watching a random show on television while she was organizing stuff for our garage sale. I semi-watched it as I fixed my afternoon snack. The shows she likes are usually not of any interest to me--especially after I get home from a long day at work and would rather watch something mindless. When the show switched to commercials, I began to completely ignore the blare of the television. Commercials are one of the worst things ever invented. But that's not what this post is about.

As the commercials were doing their little song and dance of "buy this! Buy that! You couldn't possibly live without this!" one commercial popped up that caught my ear.

"He only has one night to get everybody [or, something along those lines. You get the point.]…." Obviously, I jumped instantly, thinking to myself "tomorrow's Easter! Not Christmas!"

But as I turned my attention to the television screen, I discovered that the commercial for Walgreens was not discussing Santa Claus's one-night feat of reaching every child in the world. It was, in fact, telling the world about the Easter Bunny's feat of delivering Easter baskets to all the children in one night. Yes, you heard me correctly. Not only does Santa bring presents, so does the Easter Bunny.

Later, while in Fred Meyer waiting for my sister, I relayed the commercial to my dad. We were standing in the foyer, and had an excellent view of the shelves loaded with chocolate eggs, Easter baskets, and Easter-themed balloons. He rolled his eyes and relayed to me a story of a town that holds annual Easter egg hunts. But, the no longer call them Easter egg hunts. They call them egg hunts "so as not to offend people with religious affiliation".

The holiday of Easter stemmed from the Christian celebration of Christ arising from the dead, and with it, the salvation He brings. Thus, as a Christian, the celebration of Easter has great significance for me.

Every holiday stems from a tradition or a celebration of something or someone. St. Patrick's Day is meant to commemorate the work of St. Patrick. The Fourth of July commemorates the birth of the United States. Thanksgiving recognizes the Pilgrim's thankfulness in arriving in the New World safely, and Christmas comes from the acknowledgement of Christ's birth. Like I said before, Easter comes from Christ's arising from the dead. Halloween stems from pagan traditions and celebrations.

Every holiday comes from somewhere. To celebrate a holiday is to recognize where it comes from. No one is required to celebrate any holiday. Everyone has a choice as to what they do with that particular day that is marked by society as "special".

Every year, society tries to make Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter into a consumer exploitation. They've replaced Jesus Christ with a rather large man and a fluffy bunny. People get offended or try to avoid offending others by not speaking of why these holidays got started. People just want an excuse to eat all the junk food they want and get presents.

Society is acting like we have no choice but to celebrate the holidays that are marked on the calendar.  But if you do not agree with or are offended by what the holiday was made for, WHY?

What is the purpose in celebrating that holiday?
Why would you support something that you don't agree with?

Celebrating Easter and Christmas is akin to saying, "I believe in this and it doesn't offend me."

It's great to use Christmas as a time to get together with family you haven't seen in a long time. My family does every year. But if you need a holiday you don't believe in to have a reason to get together, maybe you need to examine the relationships you have with your family members. If you have to come up with some sort of "requirement" for having these times of extended family fellowship, maybe your family isn't so close as you thought it was.

I do not celebrate Halloween. This confuses people. They have said to me, "Why wouldn't you celebrate it? You get tons of candy!" I don't agree with the worship of demons. I am offended by the origins (which, incidentally, this day was originally a special day for demon-worshippers to go out and kill Christians). So why would I celebrate it? If I celebrated Halloween, I would be showing my support for its origins. If I need to justify pigging out on candy, it's a sign I need to re-adjust my thinking (and my cravings, for that matter).

Why celebrate something you don't believe in? There is no solid answer.

The meaning behind so many holidays has completely disappeared. No one (or, hardly anyone) knows the origin of St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day. Memorial Day, President's Day, Veteran's Day, and Labor Day have become more excuses to take a day off of work than a day to remember people who have worked hard to keep our country free. Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas have become excuses for junk food and/or gifts rather than times to reflect on what God has given us.

Wearing green, celebrating love, taking the day off of work, and getting gifts aren't bad things in and of themselves (junk food is kind of another story..). But when we use these things to overshadow what these holidays mean, they become bad things.

Tomorrow is Easter. Tomorrow, people everywhere will gather for Easter egg hunts, receive Easter baskets, and sit down for a delicious dinner of ham (or some other meat) and other delectable delights. But I wonder how many people will be doing this with the reason for this holiday in mind. How many will take the time to reflect on what this holiday represents?

But what does this holiday represent?

The greatest gift that has ever been given (which, incidentally is the greatest that ANYONE can receive).

Salvation.

Salvation from what?

Salvation from eternal torment in Hell.

Christ died and rose again for our sins. He conquered death, Hell, and the grave. He went through unspeakable tortures.

And for what?

For US.

Poor, lowly, despicable sinners.

Easter represents the day Christ arose. It was established as a day of celebration of Christ's perfect gift.

And what have we turned it into? A commercialized, bunny-concentrated, mad-house.

If you do not believe in or are offended by what this holiday represents,

Why are you celebrating it??

Be honest with yourself.

If you do not want to support my religion, please do not exploit my holidays.

Christianity: A Label or a Lifestyle?

Chris•tian 

[kris-chuhn]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings

2. decent; respectable

3. human; not brutal; humane

noun

1. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity

2. a person who exemplefies in his or her life the teachings of Christ. 

(definitions from dictionary.com)

What is a Christian? Is a Christian merely someone who says that they are? Is he someone who is decent? Is he the person who goes to church and says he believes?

Or is he the person who lives what he says he believes?

Everyday, people walk around wearing the label "Christian" on their chests. They walk around saying that they believe in God and His power and will and the Bible. But in their next breath, they're telling raunchy jokes, swearing, and running around causing trouble. Please don't look around and think that this is not happening: because it is. 

When I log into my Facebook page, I scroll through a feed of posts from many different people from many walks of life. I know a variety of people: both Christian and not. I recently had a disturbing realization. I can open two separate tabs on my browser with one tab open to the profile of a non-Christian friend and the profile of a Christian friend and the profiles will be so much the same. I'm not talking about the layout or anything like that.

I'm talking about the posts.

Friends, this disturbs me. A lot. 

And be ye not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Be ye not conformed!

Love not the world!

Friends, are you listening?

To be a Christian is to be the very essence of different!

Christians are called to make a difference in this world! We are to reach out to the world and win souls for Christ! 

If we are acting just like the world, how are we supposed to do this? 

The answer is simple: we can't. 

We cannot live like the world and expect to produce spiritual fruit. 

We are to live as called people!! Because, if one is truly redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that is exactly what one is: a called person. 

But, what are we called to do?

We are CALLED!

Called to:

Look different.

Act different.

Talk different.

Dress different. 

Live different.

Friends, you have to choose.

You have to choose between the things of God and the things of this world. 

A True Christian is someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Does someone with the Holy Spirit in them:

Swear?

Tell raunchy jokes?

Purposely cause trouble?

Listen to music from blatantly anti-Christian artists?

Listen to any music with lyrics that contain swearing, innuendos, or portray sin in a good light?

Allow themselves to be associated with those who are known to be trouble?*

Tell rude jokes about a person (and I mean any person--celebrities included)?

NO.

A person filled with the Holy Spirit repelled by these things. These are not merely trivial things. These are things that go directly against God's Word.

Friends, I am extremely concerned about the spiritual well-being of my peers. Christians and non-Christians alike. My generation is falling into a downward spiral. We are running down a path to destruction. 

I encourage you to get rid of the conforming habits in your life. But don't just decide to get rid of them. Doing so by yourself will only take you on a u-turn. Life lived right is not achieved on one's own. This is something you can only achieve through the use of God's strength. 

Here's something my mom told me once about changing in the strength of God:

Imagine your struggles are all old, unwanted objects. Now, put them all in a box. Take that box, and lay it down at the throne of God. And leave it there. Don't come back for it. Don't pick it up again. Don't open it. Leave all of your troubles to God. Let Him guide you down the path to deliverance. Let Him give you the strength to break away from the world. 

Christians are chosen people. Now, go act like one. 

Ye have not chosen me, 

but I have chosen you, 

and ordained you, 

that ye should go and bring forth fruit, 

and that your fruit should remain: 

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, 

He may give it you.

John 15:16

*NOTE: I am not saying a Christian should not be around those who aren't Christians. I'm saying that people who aren't Christians are not the people who should be our best friends or the ones whom when others think of you, they think of those people and their actions and think of them like you. 

It Started Out As a Feeling

Feelings.

Love.

Hate.

Joy.

Sorrow.

Excitement

Indifference.

Renewal.

Heartbreak.

Warmth

Chill.

Smiles.

Frowns.

Sun.

Rain.

Good.

Bad.

Happy.

Sad.

Dance.

Sleep.

Hug.

Alone.

Friendship.

No one.

Family.

Rejection.

Light.

Dark.

On my skin.

In my heart.

Reflecting through my eyes.

Sifting through my fingers and toes.

Wrapping me up.

Gently.

Smoothing my hair.

Brushing my cheek.

Feelings surround me.

Overwhelm me.

One would be nice.

Two, maybe three.

But my feelings don't listen.

Sometimes they attack me.

Poking.

Pulling.

Contradicting.

Confusing.

How do I know

The start of something good?

I don't.

I just do.

How do I harbor

A contradiction in one emotion?

I don't.

I just do.

What would my life

Feel like?

Taste like?

See like?

Hear like?

Smell like?

If I did not feel?

Or maybe

I've already answered this.

I don't want nothing.

But sometimes I do.

Is wanting

To not feel

A feeling too?