Cowboy Hats & Coffee Huts

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

5 Most Overrated Movies Of All Time

Look! ^^^ 7 Brides For 7 Brothers! Now THAT is worth the watch!

We all know those movies; the ones quoted about a gazillion times, the ones whose merchandise and collectibles swamp stores around the holidays, the ones OTHER movies even reference. Yep, the movies that have slipped from entertaining film to legendary folklore.

But are they all deserving of the title "EPIC"? My answer? A resounding NO.

Below is a list of the top five most overrated films in cinema history. Keep in mind, this is not a list of bad movies; the flicks listed here pass as good. However, they are no where near deserving the cult following of fans they've adorned throughout the years.

Buckle up Betsy; this might just take a jab at one of your all-time favorites (but all in fun.) Here we go:

Gone With The Wind (1939)

Beautiful everything. Underwhelming movie.

There, I've finally said it. Gone With The Wind is overrated. Wow, that was liberating; like announcing the emperor isn't wearing clothes, I've daringly stated what many of us think. Yes the costumes and acting are to die for but after all the hype around this classic film, I really expected more when I first watched it.

What's wrong with it? Well, first of all, it's loonnngggg; this isn't always a bad thing for a movie... unless it feels as loonnngggg as it is and, trust me, Gone With The Wind feels very, very loonnngggg. Maybe it's because the main character has no redeeming qualities at all. Seriously people, Scarlett O'Hara is a horrible human being! Urgh. I spent the second half of the movie begging the screenwriting gods to throw in a twist and have Rhett and Melanie run off together leaving whiny Ashley and conniving Scarlett to each other. And then, good riddance I say! Now that would have made the 36 hour long story worth sitting through.

What to watch instead:

My Fair Lady (1964) ~ If you're in the mood for a classic film with mind-blowing costumes and great acting then this one is the better bet AND, as a bonus, the main character is actually likeable. Thumbs up for that!

Little Woman (1949) ~ Dying to watch a classic film set during the Civil War? This little hidden gem is charming, endearing, and beautiful.

Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

Classic Audrey but not her best role.

Audrey Hepburn was a great, beautiful actress but even she couldn't redeem this film. Why do people love this movie? Why is this considered an iconic romantic hit? I honestly have no idea. The main characters are shallow, selfish, and desperate. The script drags on and on and nothing important ever happens. Sorry Tiffany lovers; this is the type of film that should have been popular for a few years afterwards and then fizzled off. It certainly is not worthy of note over fifty years after its release date.

What to watch instead:

An Affair To Remember (1957) ~ This movie is everything Tiffany's is not and perfect if you want a vintage "modern" love story to enjoy.

Grease (1978)

Nope and no. Still don't get it.

Aw, Grease; the ultimate "had to be there" type film. Seriously, that is the only reason this film has hung onto its popularity; people who love it do so because it reminds them of a time that's long gone. In reality, it lacks charm which is something a film this campy desperately requires. Maybe I would "get" this film if I had a huge John Travolta crush but since I don't, I'll pass on it if I ever make an epic cinema must-see list.

What to watch instead:

Hello, Dolly! (1969) ~ Dolly! blows Grease out of the water any day. The songs are not only catchy but catchy AND good. It's campy AND funny. AND, Barbra Streisand with Walter Matthau -- now that's a treat for the ages!

E. T. (1982)

A plush E.T.?! Okay, seriously, this has gone too far everyone!

It's been over thirty years since E.T. first debuted on the silver screen and people still love this film. It's supposed to be a memorable and delightful children's romp with an adorable alien but, quite frankly, E.T. comes across as more than just a little creepy. I'm pretty sure I've picked shriveled bits of food out from under my kitchen table that look a lot like this little extra terrestrial. Despite the cult following that surrounds it, E.T. is void of the warmth we've come to expect in what are timeless children's films. It's cold, complicated, and the adults in it are detached and aloof.

What to watch instead:

Old Yeller (1957) ~ A heartwarming tear-jerker, Old Yeller is a timeless and lovable story of a boy and a dog who adopt each other and then have to say good-bye in the end. Includes loving parents who are attune to their children and, also, some lessons in responsibility and coming-of-age are tackled along the way. (Geez, I've just made this film sound so good I'm tempted to go watch it again!)

A Christmas Story (1983)

This film has still yet to make me laugh, even once...

Look! A Christmas movie totally void of Christmas spirit and magic. Nothing says holiday cheer like watching a potty mouth dad lose his cool repeatedly, a boy spending the whole film trying to figure out how to get the stuff he wants (yes, because Christmas is all about the stuff), and a weak and haggard mother trying to hold everything together. Sounds exhausting and not fun to me.

Let me add, I utterly loved the book this tale is adapted from; it's hilarious and resoundingly true in it's depiction of growing up "back in the day" in small town USA. Living in the shadow of this awesome novel might be what makes A Christmas Story feel so empty to me.

What to watch instead:

ANY Christmas movie would be a better pick for holiday fun!

Riding In Cars With Boys (2001) ~ If you truly want to enjoy a movie of family dysfunction and life in vintage, small town America, Riding In Cars is a treat. It's subtly funny without being obnoxious and the whole cast does an excellent job of making each character feel real.

~~~

So, what's your favorite forgotten, underrated cinema masterpiece? Let me know, because I'm always looking for a good movie to take me away on a cloudy day...

Thursday, March 5, 2015

What I'm Reading

Transforming Discipleship

Greg Ogden

Last year, in a moment of brilliance (*insert sarcastic tone here*), I embarked on an extensive reading list on discipleship and ministry, one of the recommended books being Transforming Discipleship by Greg Ogden. It takes a lot for me to like non-fiction, so it's truly saying something when I share that I practically devoured this book! I love how it offered up a simple and practical approach to discipleship and still inspires a sense of urgency in the reform of current discipleship programs.

What Greg Ogden does is essentially lay out a plan for growing disciples in our modern church, emphasizing discipling triads (groups of three people growing together in the word) and relationships. He contends that a simple approach to discipleship is better than elaborate programs and believes the pastor's primary job is equipping the flock to minister to others (not doing all the ministry and care giving for the church by himself). He states that by investing in a few (the twelve apostles) and using multiplication through them, Jesus demonstrated to us the most effective way to see true growth within the church; growth that comes from "infant" believers making strides to full maturity.

I think what I loved about this book the most was how it validated feelings I'd had for years regarding my thirst for discipleship. I grew up in the church (well, several churches to be exact) so I'm well seasoned and familiar with the inner workings of the Christian community.  For most of my adult life I've struggled with the "one size fits all" approach to discipleship.  The standard programs the church puts out every year promising growth for believers left me feeling empty and detached from my fellow Christians.  There was something superficial about the process; people could sign up for these programs so they felt like they were growing in Christ but, in reality, all they were doing was thinking deep thoughts about Scripture without ever really practically applying what they learned (or where taught) to their lives. I often felt like part of the class was too advanced for the curriculum and the other part was being presented brand new information. I sensed people were going through the steps of what it meant to be a "good" Christian while the intimacy I longed for was barely there.

Please don't misunderstand me; there are several classes offered in churches and small group studies I earnestly enjoy. However, there have been many times where I have felt like I was studying the same material over and over again. I felt stuck in my discipleship, like I was trapped in a bizarre, religious twist on the "no child left behind" curriculum.

I cannot being to tell you how guilty I've felt for these feelings; as if I'm infested with a spirit of dissension and am causing mini-revolutions by my inability to stomach more of the same lessons without intimacy or growth from my fellow sisters.  I was frustrated beyond belief; how was it that I was an enthusiastic follower of Christ but was not fitting into a certain mold of what a believer should be like and how they learn? I just craved more and I wasn't being fed.

But not one to sit on my hands and wait for another human to take the lead, I began devouring the Scriptures on my own, as if I was starving, and there I found satisfaction and fulfillment. I began my own study and memorization regiment; it was (and still is) awesome! However, there were times I felt as if it would be even more amazing if there were a couple of other people there with me, learning the incredible things the Spirit was teaching me.  Jesus meant so much to me; there was no doubt about that. But why didn't the programs leave me feeling discipled or help me to produce the fruit I yearned to see?

Why was I upset at the assembly line approach to learning God's word? Why didn't I feel the programs offered by the many churches I attended allowed my sisters and I to really go deep and allow vulnerability? To bash through the ice and see each other for the broken but redeemed women we are?

Transforming Discipleship answered many of those questions for me. It validated what I've felt for so long but wasn't able to express and, honestly, didn't feel justified to speak of. This is a must read for anyone wanting more out of their spiritual growth.

So, what does this mean for me? Will I be able to apply some of Greg Ogden's suggestions on discipleship programs? I don't know, but it's given me much to think about.

~excerpts from book~

...from The Strategic Question

"I hear objections from pastors who say they can't have a few in whom they invest because they will be accused of having favorites... These suspicions are rooted in two assumptions. The first assumption is that the pastor's primary role after preaching is to be a caregiver... The second assumption revolves around an appropriate concern about the abuse of power. A perception can grow within a congregation that a small group controls what happens in the life of a church or ministry. Church members can then see themselves as outsiders who find it difficult to penetrate the invisible barrier of an undetectable inner circle. The egalitarian model of equal access, however, is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of the pastoral role. In the biblical view, pastors are gifts to the church, and they are to equip the saints for their ministry, not minister on behalf of the saints. Just so, Jesus thought that investing in a few was so important that he made the selection process public, even at the risk stirring up jealousy and pride."

...from Multiplication

"Jesus' strategy illustrates a principle that church leaders witness regularly: The reach of our ministries is directly proportional to the breadth of our leadership base. Only to the extent that we have grown self-initiating, reproducing, fully devoted disciples can new ministries touch the brokenness of people's lives. Therefore we see unmet needs because we have not intentionally grown champions to meet those needs. However, Jesus knew the human limitation of his incarnate state. As a solitary human being his reach was limited. His strategy was designed to touch the whole world through the multiplication of disciples who were carefully trained. On the eve of his date with the cross, he saw how much fruit his deliberate strategy of multiplication would bear. He said to his disciples, 'Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father' (John 14:12). How can it be that someone could do greater works than the Son of God? The 'greater works' were most likely a matter of quantity more than quality. By Jesus' multiplication of himself in the Twelve, they would geographically cover far greater territory than he ever did in his limited itinerant ministry. By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit carrying them to the entire known world, the sheer volume of Jesus' ministry would expand exponentially. And so it has been. By focusing on a few, Jesus was not displaying indifference to the multitudes. Instead, Jesus had a different vision for reaching the masses than our approach through mass gatherings. Jesus had enough vision to think small. Robert Coleman captured Jesus' methodology with the turn of a phrase: 'Jesus' concern was not with programs to reach the multitudes, but with men the multitudes would follow.'"

...from Jesus' Preparatory Empowerment Model

"How did Jesus set about shaping these twelve into people prepared to carry on his work after he returned to the Father? Acts 4:13 echoes Mark's version of the call of the Twelve to be apostles: 'And he appointed twelve, whom he named apostles, to be with him' (Mark 3:14). Being with Jesus in a relational setting served as the basis to shape the disciples' character and instill Jesus' mission in them. What was the relational, developmental process that Jesus took these disciples through so that they would be ready to carry on his mission? At the outset we must acknowledge that there is no clear step-by-step formula outlined in the Gospels."

...from Developmental Stage Two: Jesus, The Provocative Teacher

[An] encounter in Mark 10 becomes another occasion in which Jesus corrects the theological myths that the disciples have absorbed. A man we have come to know as the 'rich young ruler' approaches Jesus. Here is a great catch, if he can be reeled in. The young man seems eager enough. 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' (Mark 10:17). Jesus responds with a mysterious retort, 'Why do you call me good?' In response to what he must do, Jesus enumerates some of the Ten Commandments. Upon hearing these, the rich young ruler pronounces himself spotless. But Jesus doesn't accept his self-justification. He exposes his god: 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own...then come, follow me' (Mark 10:21). Jesus calls the question. The young ruler walks away grieving because of his attachment to his great wealth... Mark records the reaction of the disciples. They are perplexed. All of their life they have been taught that there is an inseparable positive correlation between wealth and righteousness... Jesus allowed the disciples to live with conundrums... He wanted disciples who would have to think through the issues... Jesus intentionally troubled the disciples by challenging their cherished assumptions."

...from Climatic Condition One: Transparent Trust

"What are the elements of transparent trust that will allow us to move gradually into the deep waters of transformation?
- Affirming one another through encouragement
- Walking with one another through difficult times
- Being a reflective listener who assists another to hear God's guidance in life's complexities
- Confessing our sins to one another that we may be healed"

...question posed from The Discipleship Difference

"What would happen to the health of your ministry five to seven years from now if multiplying discipleship groups proliferated in the church community?"

...from Leaving A Legacy

"'Every Christian must see themselves as the link to the next generation,' writes William Barclay. We need to practice the hand-off. When all else fails, read the directions. It is not that Jesus' way has been tried and found wanting; it has been largely talked about but not implemented. Return to small, reproducible, long-term relationships as the means of transmission of the gospel from one generation to the next."

Thursday, January 29, 2015

You Intended To Harm Me...

From these ancient texts...

The Bible tells a story about a man named Joseph. Though his story had a happy ending, it was riddled with heartache, hard times, and betrayal. At a young age his older brothers conspired to murder him. They didn't follow through on it and instead sold the lad, their own brother, into slavery and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast.

If you know the story it's easy to glaze over the details but, seriously, stop and think about it for a moment; Joseph's big brothers SOLD HIM INTO SLAVERY thus setting in motion a series of horrific events for the guy including years of slavery, exploitation, and hard time served in jail.

We've all been hurt, but Joseph had tragedies to cope with many of us cannot even begin to fathom.

However, God preserved and rescued Joseph on countless occasions and eventually made him a ruler in the most powerful nation on earth at the time, Egypt. He gave Joseph the resources and foresight to help thousands of people from starvation during a desperate time of famine on earth. Joseph's journey, so horrible at first, ended in, not only salvation and peace, but the rescuing of countless other lives.

Okay, so many of us would be quick to believe Joseph had a right to be bitter, hurt, and angry at those who abused and betrayed him and I would venture to guess he had issues that took him years to work through.

However, at the end of this ancient drama, Joseph's long lost brothers make a reappearance, ironically coming to beg their brother (whom they betrayed in heinous fashion) for food.

Wow, what a great opportunity to really let them have their comeuppance!

But that's not what Joseph does.

Instead he utters one of the most profound and powerful statements in history:

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

(Genesis 50:20)

Mind. Blown.

Thanking your enemies? That just doesn't happen everyday...

I've never had anyone try to take my life nor have I been sold into slavery. However, there have been times in life I've believed myself to be treated unfairly or harshly. In the bitterness of my reality and my brokenness I've asked God "Why!?" Why didn't He rescue me when I wanted it? Why did He put me in that situation in the first place? After all, He had the power to surround me with different people and easy stories. Why did He see fit to allow all this to happen?

The questions that grab you -- Why me God?

One thing I know is that God has a high respect for mankind's free will and man's choice, whether for good or evil. He also knows how this whole journey called life will play out. God knew how the people who have hurt me were going to behave long before they even existed.

As He knew what Joseph's brothers were going to do, so He knew what people around me were going to do, how they would hurt me, or how they would simply let me down. God knew this and, in His all-knowing wisdom, God chose to put me right where I was for times such as these. Why? After all, didn't my heavenly Father's heart break when mine broke? Yes.

But He knew that, out of everyone else, I was the one who could go through "xyz" and come out on the other side of this thing. He knew I could shine brighter in the end because of the trials. He knew I could possibly go on to accomplish an important task, a task that may not have been presented to me if I didn't have the experiences I've had.

It's really corny sounding but, to twist an old expression -- sinful man and a cruel world can and will give us lemons BUT God can take anything broken and give the world lemonade.

So may I be able to say, "You, {insert name}, intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Thank You Jesus for the storms. Thank You for the trials. Let the things that have hurt me, the things that have broken me, make me shine brighter for You Lord, so, through my weakness and my scars, Your strength and power may be seen and You may be glorified!

Praise Him through the storm

(frayed Bible)
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(close portrait)
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(surprise)
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(Silhouette)
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(worship)
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Torture Debate

Waterboarding
"Enhanced Interrogation"

A truly strong person will show compassion even when they are afraid. A weak person won't.

This week has been one of many squawkers on TV and the internet going on about the U.S. and new torture reports.

Again, a truly strong person will show compassion even when they are afraid. A weak person won't.

So which are we America? Is it disgusting to anybody else that torture is an issue up for debate? Why is this even morally arguable?! If you think harming another human being is allowable under certain circumstances, then you need to be willing to stand in the room while it's done and stomach listening to the person scream for mercy. If you're comfortable with this, then I have serious reservations about your character.

If we fight for this country it should be because we believe we're doing the right thing. By doing the right thing, we would believe we're the good guys; good guys fight for humanity. If we lose our humanity, what on earth are we fighting for? The state? The government of the piece of earth we just happened to be born upon?

If we decide there is no such thing as heroes and we all need to become villains to win, then what's the point of winning? Honestly, if our moral boundaries have been so blurred by the end of our struggle against our "enemies", who cares if we win. We've all lost already.

What kind of America do we want to leave our children? Are we simply a new Roman Empire, conquering the world and stomping all our enemies beneath the boots of our military? Or are we a people who chooses to take the moral high ground and fight (not always literally) for something better and bigger than ourselves?

I'm beginning to believe in our frantic fear to preserve our culture we've started to lose everything worth preserving in the first place.

We can definitely do better.

When torture is part of public policy, morality fast erodes.
I would sooner not leave my children an America than leave them this ^^ America.

(torture)
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(torture 2)
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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

9 Silly Christian Battles

Grab yer breastplate and sword friend; we're going to battle!!!

Human beings love to major in the minors and Christians are no different. In fact, there are several small molehills that have been transformed into a religious mountains with well-meaning, fundamentalist Christians standing atop them, yelling through megaphones, "We shall persevere no matter the cost!"

Don't take this the wrong way; I love being a Christian but I also know the difference between conviction and condemnation. I want it known that I applaud people who stick to their convictions. I myself am convicted on several issues many people would write off as being silly. However, those are my convictions. The danger is when our personal convictions drift over into condemnation (legalism).

For example, my husband and I feel convicted to live a debt free lifestyle. That's our personal choice and we have a right to it. However, if we began to feel that everybody needed to do things exactly our way and, if they don't, they are simply falling short on some sort of "holiness" scale, that would be condemnation; something I don't think we have the right to do.

Below is a list of the nine silliest battles many of us Christians have decided to take our last stand on. My goal is not to poke anyone in the eye but to give us all a good chuckle as we spend a moment laughing at ourselves and how ridiculously minor some of our majors are.

Tattoos

Battle Cry: Tattoos are a way to dishonor God with your body!

In the U.S. today, 1 in 3 adults under the age of 30 has a tattoo.

Let's put aside the fact it's fast become a cultural norm (because we all know that just because something is popular doesn't mean it's right). There are several anti-tattooists who point to a scripture out of the Old Testament, a part of the Mosaic Law, which forbid the Israelites to be inked. However, this same passage includes a plethora of laws and decrees I don't see fundamentalist Christians practicing. For example, the order that an Israelite cannot wear clothing of differing material. Now, if you are going to condemn tattoos on the basis of this Scripture, you also need to condemn anyone who mixes their polyester with their cotton. You don't see this movement in the church because it's inconvenient to be so strict with your clothing; it's super convenient to not get a tattoo.

Why did God forbid His chosen people to be tattooed during the pre-Jesus/grace era? Well, for starters, at that time and place in history the pagans tattooed their bodies as part of their worship of false gods. Tattooing meant something totally different than it does today. Back then, people could immediately associate it with idol worship. Nowadays however, when you're at the playground with your kids and see another mom with a butterfly inked onto her ankle, it's highly unlikely she branded herself in worship of Baal.

But what about our bodies being temples, as the New Testament clearly states? Well, our bodies are temples but I fail to see how tattoos dishonor them. It really comes down to differing views on what's beautiful and what's not. If you don't think something is beautiful, don't wear it but you can't expect another's ideas of beauty to completely adhere to yours.

Finally, I feel that it's important to remember 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

Whether or not you feel convicted about tattoos and if you should have one is between you and God. But when you see others with them, remember they only go skin deep; what matters is beneath the surface.

Halloween

Battle Cry: Celebrating Halloween is worshipping the devil!

Obviously a den of demons dripping with heathen rituals!

As a child, my sister and I were fairly close in age so our Halloween costumes were often themed together, the piece de resistance being the year we went as Mary and Laura Ingalls. Then one October 31, at church, we heard the other children babbling and chatting about what costumes they were planning on wearing for trick or treating that night. We were confused; we didn't even know it was Halloween (we were still fairly young at this point) and found it odd that our parents hadn't even prepped. However, undeterred, we began to excitedly plan our costumes, thinking what we had in the house to wear. As the day wore on our puzzlement AND excitement grew; it was Halloween after all!

Finally, late in the day, our dad sat us down and told us Mom and he had decided Halloween was an evil holiday and we wouldn't be celebrating, explaining it was a way to worship Satan. We argued but he went on to say that because the origins of the holiday were in reverence of death and some people still viewed it that way, we, as good Christians, would never, ever trick or treat again.

Now, I love both my parents very much. They were not being malicious; at the time they truly thought they were doing the righteous thing but, still, our Halloween ban always felt odd.

Needless to say, as a parent, I celebrate Halloween with gusto; I just don't feel convicted about the holiday. I don't see how the Kingdom of Heaven is being hurt by my children putting on costumes (who doesn't love dress up?) and going out into our community while people we should know (our neighbors) give them candy. I don't see how the Kingdom of Heaven is being helped by us hiding in our basement with the lights off upstairs, patting ourselves on the back because we're doing the "righteous" thing while the naive heathens run rampant around the neighborhood.

Are there some people who celebrate Halloween as a way to worship death and the devil? Yes. On the same hand, are there people who celebrate Christmas for different reasons than I do? Yes. Are there people who use the Christmas holiday season as a chance to party and get wasted? Yes. Just because they choose to behave this way doesn't mean I don't celebrate Christmas as the day of Jesus' birth, regardless what others are doing. The same goes for Halloween. I don't worship Satan on Halloween; I participate in a fun, community-oriented custom that has been part of our culture for decades.

And, truthfully, I can't picture my Jesus hiding in His dark house with the porch light off on Halloween. I like to think He'd be handing out candy and greeting neighbors, perhaps taking an opportunity to form new relationships.

You see, for the majority of the year, my neighbors ignore me and keep to themselves. Halloween is the one time they come to my door with smiles and friendliness. Am I going to miss this unique moment? Absolutely not!

Piercings

Battle Cry: Piercing is another form of body mutilation!

Nose and lip! Tsk tsk tsk...

I've heard a lot of ridiculous claims about piercings; for example, a girl can have two ear piercings but any more than that is wrong. What?! Who makes these rules? As with tattoos, this is a personal preference, not a Scriptural issue.

How about this one -- "If people see a boy with pierced ears they'll think he's gay." Um, just wow.

Or -- "Piercings are a way to attract boys; if parents let their young daughters pierce their ears they are sending the wrong message and setting them up for promiscuity."

Now, if you as a parent don't want to pierce till a certain age, that's called parenting and it's your right and your preference. Other people may, can, and will do it differently. But to pass judgment and assume someone is a lost soul because they have a ring in their nose is silly. Stop it. Beauty is always, always in the eye of the beholder.

(On a side note, I pierced my girls' ears at four months. Scandalous, I know.)

Alcohol

Battle Cry: Alcohol is evil! DO NOT drink... ever!

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate -- bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart." Psalm 104:14-15

I know strong Christians who abstain from alcohol consumption. I respect their devotion to what they feel convicted about.

I also know strong Christians who have enough booze in their house to cater a rock star's New Year's Eve party. They don't feel convicted in this area.

You see, alcohol is not an issue where we should mark a line in the sand and declare the holy stand on one side and the drinkers on the other.  It's interesting to me that this is such a battle ground for many Christians considering our God, Jesus, chose to turn water into wine as His first miracle. And no, it was not because there wasn't anything else sanitary to drink. He was God; He could have just purified the water or created grape juice if that was the case. He made wine because He was at a wedding and everyone was celebrating. And, perhaps, He made wine to make a statement. Of course He knew alcohol would be controversial among fundamentalist Christians years down the road but He chose to have His endorsement on the side of wine recorded for all history.

Yes, He clearly spoke against drunkenness but that is not the issue we are discussing. This is not my encouragement of alcoholism or other behavior which could master us.  Can alcohol be abused? Yes it can. If you have a tendency to let liquor control you, don't drink.

I find it interesting though that many things God gave us to enjoy can be abused and warped if not handled with prudence or maturity.  Alcohol is no different so let's not make it into something it's not.

Dancing

Battle Cry: Dancing is immoral and lewd!

What is your arm doing around her waist!? In public no less! Let me get out my morality whistle!

We've quoted Scripture, now time to quote Shrek Forever After (yes, as all moms and dads know, spouting childrens' movie lines is just part of the parenting gig).  In this deep theological film, a character named Donkey enthusiastically states, "When somebody tooties the flutie, I got to shake the booty." Amen, Donkey, amen.

I wish I had some deep, religious reasons why I'm a huge proponent of dance. I don't; I just simply love to do it.

Some might argue that holding another man's wife while you cha-cha is grossly immoral. But, if believing that same logic, shouldn't a man never be allowed to hug or have any contact with any woman other than his wife? This would mean contact with the opposite sex in and of itself is immoral.

I would argue that a boy who has been taught to dance with women knows how to hold them with confidence and respect; not pawing at them awkwardly and eagerly. He has been taught how to lead them gently and subtly, something you would think the Christian culture would commend. I would appreciate it if my daughter's future husband will have learned these lessons long before becoming her significant other.

Personally, I find dance absolutely beautiful; it's a universal form of human expression, transcending all language barriers.  We all (can) dance.

Christmas

Battle Cry: Keep Christ in Christmas!

Look; a cattle dog made it to Jesus' birth. Neat-o.

I see the bumper stickers everywhere -- "Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas." And I most certainly do keep Christ in Christmas. I love the holiday and I set it apart as a special time to worship and thank my Savior for what He has done for the world.

However, the "Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas" movement has turned into a battle cry and, over time, has started to promote a mentality among believers of "them vs. us". The whole point in Christians celebrating Christmas is to remember Jesus and His love for the world. Love should be the whole focus of our holiday but we've become distracted by details.

Let me ask you something; when you legally go toe to toe with an atheist or atheist group to battle for a nativity display on the front steps of the local courthouse, are you showing the love of Christ to them, the unreached? Since we know that the Spirit of God doesn't indwell inside the wooden statue of the baby Jesus, have you, in fact, turned the nativity scene into idols, placing their importance over showing the love of God? Have we become so concerned about defending our constitutional religious rights that we forget to honor our Biblical calling?

I'm certainly not saying we should be ashamed or hide why we celebrate. I'll scream it from the rooftops, "Hallelujah, the Messiah is born!" But if the cashier at Target wishes me a Happy Holiday or a Blessed Hanukkah, I'll take her words as they are meant and not feel huffy that someone is attacking MY HOLIDAY. And maybe that's the problem; it's not our holiday, it's God's holiday. Christmas should be about showing His love through our actions to others with great humility, patience, and understanding.

Truthfully, I'm unafraid of how much Christianity in Christmas is removed from the government or our culture. God's bigger than all of those who oppose Him and I know He will never be removed from my heart. I'll celebrate God in Christmas and I don't need the public school to sing religious Christmas songs or the TV to still say "Merry Christmas" in order for me to do it.

So calm down brothers and sisters. You can celebrate Christmas without needing everyone else to agree with you. You can celebrate Christmas even if you hear people loudly disagreeing with you. Just please know it's vitally important you don't let noise steal the holiday joy from your heart.

Unconventional Hair

Battle Cry: Good Christian boys and girls have the decency to style their hair in a polite, conservative fashion!

Dude, I LOVED you in Final Fantasy XXXIV!

Every other silly battle on my list does not compare with this one. Honestly, I don't know what to say except that if you're taking direct issue with another person's hair then you might want to reevaluate how much time you have on your hands.

My viewpoint? Hair is fun. You can dye it, style it, and cut it however you want and it grows back, giving you limitless possibilities on what you can do. It's one of the safest ways to be unconventional.

So no, I don't lay awake at night wondering if my girls will wear purple dreads someday and date guys with a Mohawks.

Moving on...

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Battle Cry: Fantasy books, artwork, movies, etc., are of the devil and gateways to the dark side!

Advert your eyes children before Disney poisons your soul!

I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. There probably isn't a single Disney movie I haven't seen. My hardcover copies of the Harry Potter series are some of the most beloved editions on my bookcase. I cannot get enough of Sci-fi or Fantasy television. Do I summon spirits and join occult clubs because of it? No. My life has only benefited from the creativity inspired by these adventurous stories of lands unfamiliar.

The most valuable thing about fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales is they spark and excite the imagination of children. God has given us amazing imaginations and when you watch youngsters play they are often pretending to be a fairytale princess or slaying a dragon or something fantastical and over the top. Does this mean they are dancing with the devil and going to slip into a lifestyle of witchcraft? No. There is nothing wrong with letting your mind embark on amazing adventures where good triumphs over evil and heroes can be anyone.

A well-written story of good vs. evil? Now that sounds like something we all could enjoy.

Proper Church Attire

Battle Cry: It's important to dress nicely when coming to worship the Lord!

Darling, your Sunday best should always be the very best.

Come as you are I say. Does it matter if your pants are frayed? Does it matter if you have shoes? Does it matter if you don't have a dress shirt? Does it matter if you just stumbled in from the street bench where you slept the night before? No; you are welcome in the church of God.

A lot of people like to dress up for church and they look fantastic. I swear I've seen most of their outfits in street shots gracing my Pinterest fashion board. But that's not what church is about and I don't think a dress code is needed to worship our Savior.

I know there are a lot of arguments made for looking presentable to our Savior but He's looking at my heart; you're the one looking at my garments. It's not that I'm a grunge hippy; it's just I would rather be approachable than presentable. I would want the man with the grease-stained pants and the five o'clock shadow to not feel unwelcome. I would want the tired single mom who just showed up in a sweatshirt and jeans to not feel under-dressed or embarrassed.

My dream for the church is that it feels like a family to everyone who walks through the door, a place where showing up for each other is more important than showing off for each other.

Yes, as country bumpkin as it may seem to some, I wear blue jeans to church. What does everyone else wear to my church on Sunday? Doesn't matter.

~~~

There you have it; my nine all time favorite silly Christian battles. There are many many things we spend way too much time and energy on but sometimes it's healthy and fun to take a step back and laugh at how humans can get so caught up things that just aren't that important.

Yes, I know there are many out there who could pick any one of these nine battles as their life code, beat me into the ground using Scripture, and righteously win the fight every single time. I say a big congratulations to them for being able to out argue me. I also sigh inwardly for their sake because they miss the point entirely.

Indeed, some of these are a BIG deal to many folks but, seriously, is heaven only for the un-pierced, crew-cut man sporting un-inked flesh and who has never uttered "Happy Holidays"? If you are wearing flip flops after having died on a Sunday morning, will you be turned away? What if, on the day you die, Jesus notices you have all the Harry Potter DVDs in mint condition displayed on your shelf and Salsa lessons scheduled for Tuesday on your calendar?

Does it come down to religion or spirituality? Do we have regulations or do we have a relationship? Is it a heart issue or a performance we put on?

Like I said before, being convicted is a good thing but let's not turn our convictions into a form religious hierarchy; a way to divide up people as those who do as we do and are "in" on what God wants and those who just aren't as "Christian" as we believe ourselves to be.

Christians are called to be servants. We don't get to use pedestals.

Don't let your battles become more important than your relationships;
who can you show the love of Christ or minister to if you've fought everyone away?

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

6 Things I'm Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Psst, want to know the secret to happiness?
Thankfulness. If you can be grateful right now, especially for the little things, you can be happy.

Thanksgiving is here! What a fantastic holiday; a day devoted to remembering how blessed we are and reminding us to be grateful.

2014 has been a very joyous year for my family. Of course I'm thankful in a million ways for the big things in life (my daughters, my husband, health, home, etc).

However, there are specifically six things that top my list for this year and will be part of my Thanksgiving prayer of joy to my Maker.

The 6 Things I'm Thankful For

Be thankful for the surreal power of music...

1. My husband's new job.

This is such a big deal; before he switched jobs, he was working eighty hours a week for wages that were competitively lower for his field of work. Now, he's home much more often and his pay has been much more reliable.

As an added bonus, in order to switch jobs we had to pay off a work contract with his old employer. This was the last form of debt we owed and now we are truly are debt free which feels so so incredible. No amount of stuff could taste as good as financial liberty! Now, when we get paid, our money is ours to do with what we see fit. It may not be normal but it's freaking fantastic!

Getting to the point of being debt free was a lot of work but I'm glad I didn't give up; I know I would have looked back now and wished I'd started the process five years ago. There was a fork in the road and I'm so happy we chose this path!

Be thankful for the beauty of a rainy day...

2. New home.

This last year we moved out of our sketchy but very interesting apartment complex and into a new place. Now we actually have a back yard, no icy, steep steps for me to lug kids and groceries up, AND storage areas so my daughter's bike isn't parked in our kitchen. Sure, we had to give up our weekend night pasttime of observing the colorful antics of our old neighborhood; I mean, nothing says entertainment like watching the cops search vehicle after vehicle, wondering what exciting find they are going to discover or waiting to see just how far the neighborhood yelling match in the common area is going to go. Yes, we have had to forgo these types of cheap thrills but, deep down, I feel it was worth it.

Be thankful for those serene morning hours...

3. Daily Bread

There have been a lot of unforeseen financial things pop up this last year but God truly has been faithful. Amazingly, through every monetary obstacle that's come our way, God has set us up to be ready to face it. No, He hasn't made us millionaires nor has He abandoned us to poverty. He's given us our daily bread, which is all we've needed. I could list of dozens of times things have just fallen into place and it's truly miraculous.

Be thankful for abundant food to eat...

4. The health of my daughter.

This year, we discovered our youngest girl was allergic to peanuts. Before she turned one-year-old, she was in the ER twice and had an overnight hospital stay due to exposure to the dreadful little nuts. I'm grateful she's alive and healthy and that we are aware of this problem and are now equipped with the knowledge and tools to protect her for further reactions.

Be thankful for the darkness that let's us see the lights...

5. New Niece!

This last year my sister-in-law and her husband welcomed a brand new baby into their family. Though the little angel gave everyone a bit of concern before her big debut, she safely entered the world and is such an adorable blessing!

Be thankful that solitude teaches you much about yourself...

6. New brother-in-law!

This last summer, I was a bridesmaid in my little sister's beautiful wedding. It was such a blessing to be able to share that very special day with her and I'm so happy for the joy she's found. (Plus, it's always exciting to welcome a new family member into the fold.)

Be thankful for the sea and the beauty it gives our earth...

~~~

There you have it; 6 specific reasons I'm thankful this year.

I can't wait to see what joyful things we'll have to be grateful for in 2015!