50 Shades of Magic Mike and Chicken

It has taken me a while to address this  hot topic in a public way.  As a Christian, I never want to come across as preachy or judgmental - two labels that too many Christians have earned for our group.  While some may say I'm conservative, I think I'm more of a fence rider on several topics, although I can see myself quickly moving more to the conservative side.  (I'm not talking politic here, by the way).

Before I share my thoughts: some background on how I've come to them...

I've been participating in a daily Bible study that our youth group is doing.  There is a verse or passage to read every day.  Then you write down your first thoughts, your version, how to apply it to your life, and a prayer.  Many of these verses are familiar or even some that I have committed to memory, but it's like I'm reading some of them for the first time.  I'm so thankful to Cody, our youth minister, for putting this together and giving me a book.

Romans 7:14-16  We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

My thoughts on this passage: This is addressing the battle of sin and the Holy Spirit.  We all know the difference between right and wrong and we want to be good people, yet we continue to sin.  Why???  Because of sin in the world.  None of us can claim perfection and sin has a grip on us as long as we are still in this world. The more of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us, the stronger our ability to resist sin.  That will not be perfected in us until we reach Heaven.  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
There are times when things of the world appear normal to us when they shouldn't.  Every generation says that the next generation is more lost than the last.  It seems that every day more and more is acceptable to the world that is offensive to God, so maybe that is true.  But, the more we see, the less we think of it as offensive.  Peer pressure continues into adulthood.  When "everyone else is doing it" it doesn't seem so bad.

2 Timothy 1:7  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

My thought: I've been timid for way too long.  I've been afraid of hurting feelings or looking like a weirdo to my friends.  I don't want my friends to think I do not respect them, but we are also called to help each other GENTLY, while avoiding temptation, to stop sinning.  Why is that so hard??? I want to avoid being judgmental so I avoid being helpful as well.
But this passage also says the Spirit gives us power, love, and self-discipline.  We've got the power to stand up for what is right and against what is wrong, but to do it in a loving way, with HIS strength, and without letting ourselves get out of hand.

***I am not passing judgment on my friends or even strangers who happen to read this.  I am simply sharing my thoughts and how I've come to them through my most recent bible study.  This is why I will not be reading this book, not watching this movie, and continuing to eat yummy chicken.***

First up...Fifty Shades of Grey.
 No, I haven't read the book(s).
 And I'm not going to.
I don't think sex between a married couple is dirty in any way.  It is a beautiful gift from God that is an expression of love and the one-ness that God created us to have.
Sex between two people who are not married is a disrespect of that gift and can never be as spiritually or emotionally beautiful as God created it to be.  This book makes that type of relationship seem wonderful.  Unfortunately, that is now the norm.  This isn't the first book or movie or TV show to do that.
The reason I really can't stand the idea of this book is that it is referred to as "Mommy porn."  Pornography has been a huge stumbling block in relationships for a long time.  Marriages have been destroyed over it.  Women have lost self-esteem because of it.  Men have been viewed as dirty or weak because of their addiction to it.  So, now it's ok for women???
Pornography is never ok.  Never.  Not for men.  Not for women.  Proverbs 6:25
While women everywhere are wishing for their own Christian Grey and wondering where all the good men are, there are REAL men out there who aren't getting this type of attention.  What about the men in Colorado who died to protect the women they love?  That is true love (John 15:13).
Of course I am intrigued by what is in the book because it seems like everyone else in the world has read it.  My natural curiosity makes me want to know what everyone else knows.  But, that's why we have the Holy Spirit.  Even though I know it is wrong, I am tempted, but the Spirit keeps me from doing it.

Next...Magic Mike.
They sure knew what they were doing when they cast this movie!  I don't know many women who don't find Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum extremely attractive!  This one was a temptation to me - again, because "everyone else is doing it" but also because I've always like Matthew.
Before the movie even came out, I knew I wouldn't go see it.  The thought that kept going through my mind was this:

If my husband wanted to see a movie about female strippers I would be hurt and mad.

Simple as that!  He wouldn't do that and I wouldn't do that to him either.  Most of what I said about Fifty Shades applies here as well.  This movie is pretty much soft-core porn and I don't have to see it to know that much.

Last Hot Topic: Chick-fil-a
Adam Ford, a Christian Cartoonist, summed it up for me here:

I won't say how I feel about gay rights, etc. because I'm still torn on the topic.  I know what the Bible says about homosexuality, but I also know what the Bible says about loving each other.  It is too sensitive of a subject to make harsh judgments in writing without alienating people.  It is a topic I would rather address face-to-face in a loving way.

I do think that Chick-fil-a did a brave thing by standing up for what they believe.  I do agree with that.  We should all stand up for what we believe in, as I said before.  The Spirit of God is not timid!!!

I will continue to eat their tasty chicken simply because it is tasty chicken.  I have complete respect for their right to have beliefs other than what is politically correct.

Now that I've made everyone angry for either being too judgmental or too liberal, let me say this - 

Jesus died so that I may live.  I sin daily.  I struggle with temptation, but I want to do what is right.  I don't want anyone to feel judged by me, but to be able to answer to God for their own sins.  I want everyone to know the joy I feel now that I have TRULY given my life to Christ.  

John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

I love you all because Christ first loved me.

Supporting a Friend with Breast Cancer

Recently, a very good friend from my small group at church was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Of course, the rest of her friends and I are desperate to be as supportive as possible.  Several of us helped them unpack as they were moving into a new house at the time of her diagnosis.  We've all been supplying meals and many of us went wig shopping with her.  We are also getting a team together for the Race for the Cure in October.
Here is another small (but prayer is BIG) thing we are doing.  I wanted to share because I know girlfriends walk through this together often.  Feel free to copy all of this!
They have had several visitors bringing food and doing what they can to help out.  We wanted to provide a way for each person to leave with a reminder.  So, we put together a basket with pink ribbons ready to wear and scripture cards with specific ways to pray on the back.

Here are some of the scriptures we used with the prayer request that matches:

What a privilege to be able to walk with my friend through a hard time.  And what an honor to be among these other very godly women who are walking with her.  I'm so thankful to know these ladies!

CHAOS - Random Acts of Kindness

Kids these days!  What is going to happen to this world when the next generation takes over?  It's  a question that is asked often.  If the teens I spent the last week with are a true representation of "kids these days" then we are going to be fine!
Our church youth group has a tradition of spending a week doing local missions around Birmingham.  They've participated in things like Habitat for Humanity in the past.  This summer has been so busy that there wasn't a time in the schedule for something like that.  God knew what He was doing and knew that some of our own would need service.
On Tuesday we attended a memorial service in Nashville for the father of two teens that used to be in our youth group.  They were so happy to see all of their old friends.  The other attendees were touched by the massive group of teenagers who took a summer day to support a friend.
On Wednesday we visited the home of one of our church elders. He was recently diagnosed cancer and has been doing a lot of studying and reflecting.  The day was lovely to watch.  He taught the kids somethings they may not have known about the Bible; he shared his love of creation through gardening with them; and he told funny stories about his career in the military.  Everyone was touched in some way by the visit.  The biggest blessing was that of fellowship - "old" and young sharing time because of the shared love of God.  At the end of our visit, he told us that he hadn't felt a bit of pain the whole time we were there - hadn't even thought about it!
Thursday was a huge blessing to me.  This is the day referred to as Chaos Mission.  Each teen shows up with $10 and they split into groups.  The rest of the day is spent using their pooled resources to bless people in our community.  The group I was with decided to do several random acts of kindness.

Here's the rundown:
1. We went to the Dollar Tree to buy park toys, plastic baggies, sticky notes, Bibles, and cards.
2. We gave a card to our cashier, Jalenda, thanking her for starting our day of kindness with a  big smile.  She was just adorable!

3. We went to Krispy Kreme to buy 3 dozen donuts - one box for the under appreciated librarians and 2 for our local firefighters.
4. We went back to the church to write scripture and worship song lyrics on the toys, boxes, and sticky notes, write notes in the Bibles, and to fill out the cards we bought.

  

5. We stopped at the church elder's house to secretly leave a thank you card for his hospitality the day before.

6. We went to the bank to get $16 worth of quarters.

7. We stopped at one of our local parks to give toys to kids playing outside.  While we were there, we gave water to the groundskeeper and taped quarters in baggies with scripture to the drink machines (that's what the sticky notes were for).

8. We dropped off a thank you card and donuts at the library.

9. We stopped at the fire station to deliver donuts and a card.  They wanted to know what we owed them!

10.  We stopped at the community college and taped a TON of quarters and notes to machines.

11. We went to another local park where there were a lot of children and a lot of hot and tired adults.  We gave out the rest of the toys and bought bottled water for all of the adults.  We left most of the rest of the change taped to drink machines there...and a Bible on one of the benches.

12.  Lunch time!  We ate at Five Guys (yummy) and left a card for our severs - as well as a BIG tip!  We also left Bibles on tables around the restaurant.

After lunch, all of the groups met back at the church to talk about how we had been blessed while trying to bless others.  A couple of groups worked together at a Starbucks writing notes of encouragement to strangers and paying for coffee in the drive-thru.  I want to do that now!  I loved hearing the hearts of the teens.  Many of them said they wanted to do more like that on their own, with their families, and with their friends.  They reflected on how people may have been touched and how they may pass it on.  It all starts with one blessing and turns into more.  Those kids saw that first hand!

Run Forrest Run

I don't think I have shared my Father's Day gift for my Daddy with you yet.
A couple of years ago, my dad lost both of his legs above the knee after battling a really aggressive infection for over a year.  Sitting in a wheel chair and learning to do everything from a seat has been difficult - physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Daddy has always been active in the sense that he was always up to something - fixing cars, building furniture, or trying something new.  Some of my favorite childhood memories were in his workshop in the basement of our house. I can remember hearing all of the noises downstairs in my childhood - the clang of his hand tools, the grinding power tools, and the loud exhales during his exercise routines.
If there was anything in the world I could have given him for Father's Day it would be new legs so he can get back to his active lifestyle.  I can't do that, so I decided to give him my own. Since I can't take them off and give them to him, I decided to use my legs for him.
I plan to run one 5k race a month until I am ready to run a half marathon.  I'm hoping that will happen in February and I'm certainly praying that we can get him there at the finish line with me!  Daddy and I will be doing this to raise money for several special causes that are important to both of us, beginning in September.
He's got a really big heart.  He likes to do things for others and see the smile that appears on their face.  He's always finding some little toy or treat to give to any child he comes in contact with.  His children, grandchildren, and surrogate grands are all so precious to him!  I wanted to give him something that helped him give more.

Below are the dates, the race, and the charity we will be raising money for.
September 3 - Color Run, for Team OneVerse (you can click that to sponsor me)
October 20 - Race for the Cure, for Cathy's Chemo-sabes
November 11 - World Run Day*, for the Greater Birmingham YMCA (?)
December - ? (Wish I could do St. Jude, but maybe I'll be ready for that half next year!)
January - ? 
February - Mercedes HALF MARATHON, ?

Here's the problem - I'm NOT a runner!  Well, I wasn't a runner.  I am becoming a runner!  I am on week 8 of Couch 2 5k.  I ran 2 miles straight this morning. I'm still a slow runner, but I'm doing it!  Every time I run and I want to stop, I just think about my Daddy who can't run.  Ever.

I wish Daddy had running legs!

*World Run Day can be done anywhere with anyone.  We are doing this at the local YMCA so Dad can ride in his chair next to me while I run.  I'd love to have a whole herd of people with us that day!  Anybody want to join us???

ML Nutshell

Here's a nutshell version of the trip:

My "I'm here!" face

Friday: Woke up well before the crack of dawn to head to the airport with part of our team.  Everything went very smoothly all the way to Mission Lazarus ranch.  It's a very long day of travel, but well worth it!  I was ready to see my hubby by the time we got there!

My perspective all day

Saturday: Our first work day.  We worked at the ranch helping to build a warehouse for all of the supplies the mission uses and also the offices for the Hondurans who work there.  The weather was so mild that we were almost chilly when the breeze blew.  My hubby was in charge of wiring the building for power, so there lots of people up on ladders that day.  I had the very important job of holding the ladder. :)

Sunday: Our day off and the day to worship with our Honduran brothers and sisters!  My husband, our BFFs, and our nephew went to Cedeno for church.  I understand just enough Spanish to catch bits and pieces of the sermon.  There are a few songs that they like to sing a lot, so I was able to participate in worship here and there.  Cedeno is a small fishing village right on the Pacific Coast.  There are also many shrimp farms there.  We went to a restaurant that is right on the water and had the BEST shrimp of my entire life.  Oh, and some fish that was just barely dead!  It was a lovely day! 

Monday: This was my first day as a crew leader in Renacer Marcovia.  I've written a bit about this experience in this post. We started the day with enough food and clothing to visit with 12 families.  We finished by lunch, so my co-leader went back to San Marcos (the temporary storage in the church) and got 12 more food bags and clothing bags!  We visited 24 families in just the first day!  Usually 12 is pushing it.  God took care of us :)

 

Tuesday: Our second day in RM.  I was excited to see the same locals there - including the children.  I had a different team of North Americans with me this time, so it was fun to introduce my new friends to everyone.  The children were excited to have some new teenagers to play with as well.  We visited so many families again that day. 

Wednesday: We went to a town about half a mile down the main road from RM to deliver food and clothing again.  This time, we were delivering to people who are just beginning to learn about Jesus.  Santos spends his Thursdays going to this village to preach and then have church in the afternoons.  He takes his job seriously and is passionate about sharing the GOOD NEWS.  It was an awesome (I really mean that word) experience to witness his preaching in another language and be able to understand what was going on.  

Got my hubby with me that day!

Sweet Genesis was so sleepy.

Preach it, Santos!

Thursday: My last day with my new friends and forever family in RM and LP.  It was so hard to say goodbye to those people I had worked so closely with.  We didn't understand most of what we were trying to say to each other and we only spent a few days together, but I just couldn't say goodbye without sobbing halfway back to the ranch.  I can't wait to see them all again!

Precious 84 year old sister

Sweet man with a traumatic brain injury

Natalia!

Friday: SHOE DAY!  The whole Crossbridge crew finally got to work together that day.  We loaded up several trucks and headed for Cedeno and Monjaras to pass out new shoes to every person in the families that had received food and clothing earlier in the week.  We also had dresses and shorts that had been lovingly made by women from Crossbridge.  On the way to distribute shoes, a couple of trucks got to stop in Limon where our friend Socorro teaches school.  We had a huge surprise for her - a truck load of school supplies including TVs and DVD players!!!  The teachers and kids were all so excited.  Tears were flowing! 

Our dear friend.

Nina made a book of Socorro's son's baptism pictures.

 
I love shoe distribution because you get a few minutes of one-on-one time with the children.  They have no idea what I'm saying and I usually can't make out much of what they say, but we have so much fun!

 

 

The whole gang!  What a motley crew.

 

Saturday: Sad day.   Time to go home.  The loooooooong day of travel started before the crack of dawn.  Everything went pretty well and we all made it home safely.  We are still trying to catch up on rest...and laundry!

Thank you, Lord for your providence, your little surprises, and your sense of humor!