Rock bottom. I think it's so important that we understand what those two words mean. The reality is that some of our friends, acquaintances, and colleagues may be in that place right now. The reality is that thousands of people in our country and around the world are there right now. I think it's important to understand the pain they're going through, be able to sympathize with them, and have compassion for them.

Here are two poems written by a good friend of mine, Jessica. Her drawing Heart of Hearts is also featured above.


☙  ❦  ❧  ❦  ☙  ❦  ❧


Addiction

A needle pricks the pale flesh that is draped over shrinking muscles and red bones.
He is the unwanted; the unloved.
No one sees him; no one wants to see him.
People accuse him of being a bum or a whore,
But they don’t see that he has to fight to live.
They don’t see him being molested and raped.
So he has to run away and he runs himself off a cliff.
He takes the demon in a shot of heroin.
And he has no control.
His body craves poison, and if he does take he will die.
But he knows it will kill him slowly.
But to others he is already dead.
He then smiles in agony, knowing that his death may make some foot note in the day’s news.
He knows though that he is unwanted.
He knows that no one cares.
And so he walks up and down;
Waiting, waiting.
Dreaming of a better tomorrow.


☙  ❦  ❧  ❦  ☙  ❦  ❧


Depression

My heart sunk. Too deep, too deep in to the shadows... Tears flood my mind and pour out of me. I cannot see the path that lays before me. I am just being played by the others around me. Like a dead puppet that lost her strings. Watch her cry, watch her die. Let her suffer, Let her lie. I wander though this world, blinded by the thoughts of others, suffering from my hand. These lies, these lies. Why can't I escape? Every step turns into a trail of blood. Every tear is hidden. I cannot get out, this feeling in my soul stays. I cannot get out, can I withstand this pain? I cannot get out, tears screaming in the dark.

Desire

If you desire popularity, know that there will always be people way more sought after than you.

If you desire praise, know that there will always be people much more deserving of it.

If you desire to be beautiful, know that there will always be people who appear much more beautiful than you.

If you desire beauty, know that there will always places and objects more majestic, elegant, and sublime.

If you desire to be trendy, know that that there will always be people more au courant.

If you desire knowledge, know that for every subject and speciality you learn about, there will always be people who knows a heckofalot more than you.

If you desire wisdom, know that there will always be people who can come up with better solutions in less time.

If you desire to be religious, know that you will always find people who make you look like a miscreant.

If you desire sexual fulfilment, know that the term is an oxymoron outside of marriage.

If you desire money, know that there will always be people with 100 times more money than you.

If you desire God, know that He is not far from any one of us.

If you desire love, seek God.

If you desire joy, seek God.

If you desire peace, seek God.

Homosexuality and the Christian Community

        There is a significant and divisive debate in the Christian community over whether or not homosexuality is sinful. Many people believe that all Christians are "anti-gay," but there is really no consensus on homosexuality among Christians. Some conservative Christians are vehemently opposed to homosexuality and gay rights, believing that homosexuals should "become straight." However, some liberal Christians fully support homosexuality and gay rights, emphasizing God's love and forgiveness. Many Christians find a middle ground, believing that being attracted to the same sex is okay, but that the Bible prohibits sexual behaviour between people of the same gender. This wide range of beliefs is reflected in the differing positions of Christian churches and organizations. The United Church of Canada welcomes homosexuals into its congregations and allows its clergy to perform same-sex marriages. The official catechism of the Roman Catholic church states that homosexuals can be Catholics, but that they are called to chastity. The New York Times reported about a conservative evangelical Baptist church in Ausbury Park, New Jersey that attended the city's annual gay pride celebration, giving out water bottles. The church believes that homosexuality is a sin, but went "to show God's love" to the people there.

        The debate over homosexuality in the Christian community largely centers around particular Bible verses relevant to the issue (e.g. Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9). Scholarly, contemporary translations of the Bible (such as the New International Version) support the view that homosexual behaviour is sinful, though not necessarly same-sex attraction (an important distinction). However, some Christians believe that the Bible has been misunderstood and mistranslated, arguing that the Bible means to condemn other practices such as child abuse and rape instead. This is likely a debate that will divide Christians for many years to come, with implications for the relationship between the Christian and LGBT communities. However, Christians from every standpoint should be able to agree on the importance of treating homosexuals with love and respect, as the Bible commands (Mark 12:31 and Proverbs 10:12). It is also helpful to consider that too much of an emphasis on sexuality can detract from the Bible's main message, that of the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.

In writing this post, I have done my best to put aside my own beliefs on the subect and remain unbiased, in order to present an impartial summary of the differing standpoints Christians have on homosexuality. You can read my personal standpoint here.

Photo credit

LOVE

– 1 John 4:8

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:36-40  (Jesus speaking)

“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.” – John 13:34-35  (Jesus speaking)

     As these Bible verses show, following Jesus is all about love. But hold on a second... what is love? Is it just a fuzzy feeling we get when we're around the person we like? Let's find out what the Bible says...

First, take a look at 1 Corinthians 13, well known as "The Love Chapter." Here is a lot of information about what love is. Right off the bat, the first three verses tell us that love is extremely important, and without love, everything we do is meaningless. Then the next couple verses say:

1. Love is patient.

2. Love is kind.

3. Love does not envy.

4. Love does not boast.

5. Love is not proud.

6. Love does not dishonor others.

7. Love is not self-seeking.

8. Love is not easily angered.

9. Love keeps no record of wrongs.

10. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

11. Love always protects.

12. Love always trusts.

13. Love always hopes.

14. Love always perseveres.

     Wow, that's quite the list, eh? But there's a pattern here – I think it's clear that love is about putting others first.

Second, visit John 13:1-17. In this passage, Jesus washes His disciples' feet because of His deep love for them. Here Jesus demonstrates true, perfect love. Jesus was God! Yet He humbled himself, taking the job of the lowest servant. And He told us to do the same. In this passage, Jesus showed us that the opposite of love is selfishness. Without humbling ourselves and putting others first, we can't love properly. Love is about action, not mere feelings or rhetoric (1 John 3:18). Without acting out our love to the people around us, what's the point?

Third, read Galatians 5:19-23. Here we learn that true, pure love needs to follow God's plan. Otherwise, it's just a cheap imitation. Stuff like sexual immorality, jealousy and quarrelling have nothing to do with love. You can see a lot of this in the world today: instead of true, pure love, we find stuff that corrupts and perverts love, or simply goes against it altogether.
     For example, some people think they can have sex with as many people as they want, or with people of the same gender, or with young children. Others think it's okay to kill their unborn baby if he or she poses an inconvenience to them. Many people don't see any problem with treating someone as a mere sexual object, by lusting after friends and viewing pornography. In short, we find selfishness and hedonism – the complete opposites of love.
     I'm still trying to untangle the love and lust in my life. I'm still trying to fully understand what love means. I hope you'll join me in this quest for a deeper understanding of pure, true love. But in the meantime...

Follow God. Love. Change the world.

God Is Love Photo Source

Where is the Love?

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach?

And would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?

     Hate abounds everywhere. War rages across the globe, pitting man against man in a whirlwind of death and destruction. Racism beats down people just because they're "different". Children are abused by adults and bullied by their peers. Half of marriages in the US and Canada now end in divorce.

     In short, the world needs more of this thing we call love. Every single person I know would agree with that. But where can we find it? Visit my blog tomorrow to find out!

Gr8 Words

     I've decided to base my life on the Bible (yes, that does mean you have the right to correct me if I say anything contrary to it!). Here are some of my favourite Bible verses. I believe they are particularly relevant to how one should live as a disciple of Christ. This first two verses remind me that everything I do should be done in love and for the glory of God. That's hard. The third verse reminds me that I need to fully surrender to God's plan for my life. That's hard. The fourth eliminates the excuse "I'm just a youth, so I can wait until I'm older to follow God" and lists five things I need to work on continually. That's also hard. The last verse reminds me that it may be hard, but through God I can do it all.


Do everything in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:33

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (NASB)


These verses are all from the New International Version except for the last one, which is from the New American Standard Bible.

Vs.

Joy

is

Love

Understanding

Unselfishness

Compassion

Kindness

Empathy

Affection

Concern

Passion

Feeling

Care

and

Peace

Contentment

Confidence

Satisfaction

Untroubled

Tranquility

Harmony

Safety

Hope

Calm

Rest

------------------------------

Despair

is

Loneliness

Friendlessness

Abandonment

A lack of love

Unneeded

Unwanted

Forsaken

Unloved

Isolated

Outcast

Solitary

and

Shame

Self-condemnation

Disappointment

Remorse

Disgrace

Distress

Sorrow

Regret

Failure

Grief

Guilt

Spiritual Warfare

     I recently visited the house of a man of God for a delicious supper and dangerous prayer meeting. I say "dangerous" because God was really to be found there and one's life could be changed by it. It soon became obvious that he had an uncommon amount of faith in God. But every time someone said something about how inspiring his testimony or his faith was, he would point them back to God. He knew that he himself wasn't great, but the One he had put his faith in was all-great.
    After sharing his testimony, he began to talk about how Islam is harmful and threatening and reminded us that we are in a spiritual war against the powers of darkness, to which Islam belongs. Here my mind started to rebel.
    "War? Really? That's a strong word. We need to be accepting of Muslims and love them, not wage war against them," I thought. "Doesn't this go against everything that I think about open-mindedness and multiculturalism?"
    I struggled internally with this for a while, then found myself thinking about a previous testimony I had heard - from a former Muslim who gave his life to Jesus and now reaches out to his own people with the good news. He talked about God's unconditional love and about how Muslims need Jesus.
    Then something clicked inside of my mind. Love. As found in 1 Corinthians 13 and 16:14, 1 John 4:7-21, Matthew 5:42-44 and 22:39, and hundreds of other verses across the Bible. We don't kill and destroy - we forgive and build up. Ours is different kind of war, not a crusade to "kill the infidel". Our war is a war of love. Our weapons are peace, hope, and love (but the greatest of these is love). We don't fight against flesh and blood. In our fight against the darkness, only the Fruit of the Spirit will be effective and only God will conquer.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5  NIV

    We tear down the walls that divide us - walls of race, colour, ethnic origin, prejudice, pride, hedonism, sorrow, bitterness, anger - and let all men know that God loves them and wants to know them. We replace hatred with divine love. We replace mediocracy and complacency with a passion for Jesus.
    That's our war.
    On a side note, killing nearly a hundred innocent people in an attempt to protest against Muslims is obviously grossly wrong, and I have no doubts when I say that the terrorist who did this, Mr. Breivik, is not a born-again Christian (in fact, he himself admitted to not having a personal relationship with Christ). Hatred and murder is about as nonChristian as one can get. You shall not murder, says Exodus 20:13. Jesus said to love both our neighbours and our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). It is my opinion that multiculturalism is the best way to accomplish this, because then people can keep their identities while co-existing with other people in peace. Then when they come to Jesus, they can worship in their own culturally comfortable ways.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20  NIV

    Now go. Jesus didn't say, "Sit at home and hope someone comes to you to ask you about your faith." He commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. Whether that means going to the ends of the earth or just reaching out with love to the people in your own town or city, go!
    Canada is a multicultural country and embraces all cultures and people from across the world, which adds another dimension to evangelicalism. We have the chance to reach out to people from around the world here in our own country and in our own cities.
    So go, and serve in whatever way God wants you to serve. If you are only a teen, know that being a youth is no excuse - read 1 Timothy 4:12 for proof of that. If you are poor, know that God will provide. If you are scared, know that Jesus is with you always, to the very end of the age. If you think that you aren't qualified enough, know that being a child of God is qualification enough.
    I've finally reached the point of faith in my life when I can truly say, "Lord, just point me in the right direction. Make it clear where you want me to be, and I promise to do your will."
    God is calling you. Will you follow him?

Life

Painting by Kari Fell

     I wanna write another blog post... what should I write about? Can't think of a topic... I'll just write about life. It's complicated, and it's hard. Sometimes I feel like it's not even worth it. But I guess life is worth living - even mine.
     I'm nobody famous. Hmm, I don't even know anyone famous! But fame isn't really that important... in fact, it would be a bit of a bother, don't you think? It still would be nice, though, to be known and have ppl actually care about what you said.
     I'm not rich. Life would probably be a lot easier if I had wheelbarrow-loads of cash... especially since I'm so lazy :P But I'm not out begging on the streets; I have enough. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, so I'll try not to love money.
     I don't have a cool car. My mom says that cars are just to get you from point A to point B, but a cool car would be gr8! I'd drive around all day, in my nice, new Lamborghini Gallardo, with the radio cranked. Hmm, that's not very deep, is it? I've always thought myself an intellectual... ok, what argument can I bring against a Lamborghini? I know: My conscience would make me follow the speed limits... and what good would a Lamborghini be if I couldn't go any faster than a rusty, old, dented up minivan?
     I don't live anywhere cool, like Florida, New York, California, or Hawaii. It would be nice to live somewhere like that, instead of here in the middle of nowhere... Vegreville, Alberta. The big thing in our town is the new Wal-Mart :P Oh well. At least here we can breathe clean air and see the stars every night. Here we aren't stuck in the fast lane. Here we have some nice people, and a gr8 church - Vegreville Alliance.
     I'm still looking for love... no wait, what are you saying, Toblerone? Don't you remember the quote you saw on that gravestone in the Vegreville cemetery? "God gives us love. Someone to love he lends us." God has given me his love, abundantly. And some day (hopefully sooner rather than later) he'll lend you someone to love.
     Well, my life isn't very exceptional, or very exciting. But it's still life. And life's always worth living. It doesn't matter if you're famous, or rich, or what car you drive, or where you live, or if you have a super-hot girlfriend! Those things are extras! I'm lucky, I have all the basics - a good God, a good family, with food to eat and a roof over my head. Heck, this computer and this blog are extras!
     So... to conclude. Wow, I've written a lot, considering I didn't know what I was writing about. Hmm, is this post good enough to put on my blog? Sure - right now I'm clicking "Publish Post". Oh wait, I still need to conclude! Um... just live life! And do something with your life - stand up and stand out! And if you aren't already a Christian, become one - you'll see the world in a whole new, vibrant way! And finally, become a fan of my blog on Facebook! TTFN (Ta Ta For Now!)