Thoughts On: Is God Real?

Tonight Dad, Mom, Trissy, and I went into town and got frozen yogurt at a new shop that opened up recently. We took it to eat at a rather unconventional hang-out (the rest stop on the highway going through town), but that's just how we roll. We strolled along the walking paths and sang silly old cowboy songs. As we got ready to leave, Trissy stopped to give someone a Gospel paper, and invite him to Victory Rd. A dear man, he is eighty-five and works as a security guard at the rest stop. And he is an atheist.

Trissy said he was very kind and polite, and very sad. His wife died more than thirty-five years ago and now he lives his own life waiting to die. He has chosen to believe that there is no God.

But denying something exists does not make it go away - sooner or later it must be faced. One can, for convenience' sake, deny that the "check oil" light is on in their car. But that does not negate the fact that they must eventually deal with the issue, or risk ruining their motor.

Oh that the Lord would open his eyes! If God were not real, and our human souls were not destined to live on, but our bodies to simply return to dust when we die, yet those who believe on Him still have lost nothing. But if God is real, and our human souls are destined to live on forever - in either a state of incomprehensible joy with Him, or ghastly terror without Him - then those who refuse His mercy stand to lose everything.

For me personally, I simply cannot understand how it is possible for a person to live without God, without Christ.
For starters, if there is no God, then there is no purpose to life - an idea that the human spirit's very core rebels against.
And if there is no God, then where did everything come from? Where did we come from? Some say that everything evolved to the state it's in through a sequence of long, slow events and processes, taking millions, or even billions, of years to accomplish.

Ok, so how exactly did this supposedly happen? How did humans get here?
Well, they say, we are evolved from the monkeys.
Ok, where did the monkeys come from?
Well, they evolved up from a lower life form.
Where did the 'lower life form' come from?
Well, a wet and sort of 'soupy' environment provided the conditions for the cells of that lower life form to emerge from.
Where did the 'soup' come from?
Well, after millions of years of acidic rain on the prehistoric rocks, this 'soup' was produced.
Ok, so, where did the prehistoric rocks come from?
They were already part of the Earth.
Where did the earth come from?
Well, billions of years before, all the matter in the universe was condensed into a very small area that spun faster and faster until a huge explosion scattered it all back out into the forms of the stars and planets there are today, including the Earth.
Where did all the matter come from?

Now, I do realize that above I am - for demonstration's sake - greatly simplifying the evolutionary theory. But they still can't answer that last question. They don't have an answer. They can't tell you where all that dust that supposedly got together, and supposedly got squished, and supposedly exploded into us originated.
Science proves that 'matter can neither be created, nor destroyed'. So, the obvious answer to, "Where did the dust/dirt/matter come from?" is that someone who transcends the laws of science put it there. Well, then, why don't they just say that and answer the question?

Because if they answer the question by saying, "Someone made it and put it there," they are recognizing the fact that there is a 'higher power' that made everything. That made the world, and everything that is in it. That made them. And if there is someone that powerful, he must be God.

They also don't mention a few other little scientific details when relating the way they believe everything came about. They don't tell you that the 'geologic column' has not been found anywhere on the earth. They don't tell you that, when layers with fossils in them are found, many times the fossilized animals are out of the order in which they were supposed to have evolved. They don't tell you that if the big squish and the big explosion happened at the beginning of time, then all the planets would be spinning in one direction, and that actually many of the planets and moons are spinning in the opposite direction.

In their defense, if they did tell things like this, it would totally undermine their theory, and they need an alternative theory to that of Creation. Because, if Creation is true, then there really is a God who made them. And if there really is a God who made them, He has the right to an answer from them on how they have spent the lives and resources He's given them. And they do not want to have to answer for that.

It may be convenient to believe that there is no God, but it isn't safe.

P.S. Pray for Mr. G. to find what is truth.

(Past) Thoughts On: Love

I was doing some cleaning out today and found this brainstorm I'd scribbled on a sheet of scrap paper about a year ago. It must have been about a year ago, maybe a little more, because the back of the sheet had my notes printed on it from the presentation I did for the teenage class at The Grandparents' church (which I tell about in this post) in March of last year. I remember I was really feeling convicted about how I treated others, and was thinking alot about what it really means to love. I was with Mom and Trissy shopping, and while they went in a store, I sat in the car and wrote. These scribbled notes were the honest, candid beginnings of the thoughts I began to write down on this subject (and included on this blog in my Thoughts On: Love post) - one I still struggle with from time to time.

"
What does it mean to love?
How do you know when you love someone?
It's so easy to love the loveable.  What about the despicable?
How do you channel your love in order to use it's power to accomplish the Goal? What are the best and most effective ways?
What is the Goal? - To serve and please God by: Leading the lost to him, and by encouraging and edifying His children.
Pray for love. Beg God to give you the love you don't have, and to tell you how to use the love you do have.
The only way to love is to first be loved.
I love because I have been loved. I am loved because I love.
But one that has been loved, does not necessarily love. *Sigh* It's all so simple, but so confusing.
Is love just love, or are there degrees to love? If you 'love' one person a little bit, but 'love' another person so much that you'd die for them, do you really love either?
"

A Few Thoughts On Life

"Life is full of light and shadow." Life is a journey. There will be darkness, battles, temptation bigger than one's self, and times so heart-rending that there seems to be absolutely no hope. And yet the strongest courage is forged in the hottest fires; and though there may be many losses, the deepest darkness comes just before the sun's rising.

"Fear no darkness." Above the blackest clouds, the sun gathers strength to break forth with it's glory.

When the air is free from smoke, confusing mists, and the awful stench of battle and death, when the trees are leafing out and the grass is green and thick, when the sunrise is glorious in scarlet and purple-blue and the clouds are fluffy and guilded with gold, when the air is sweet with the fresh cool breeze of the free lands, then is the time to rest. To soak up the brilliant blue of the sky, the purest perfume of the roadside flowers, and to seek out the faithful companions of youth and bravery.
But above all these things, forget not the One Who gives them, the One Who sends the breeze and Who is the Sonshine. The One Who strengthens the sword-arm of His warriors, and Who decides the fate of all Kings. For if you live not - if you fight not - for Him, you live and fight in vain. He is God. He is Good.

Good always wins out in the end. So it has been since the beginning of time, and so it will be at the End.

Thoughts On: "The Hunger Games"

I love a good story. I love to read, and I enjoy movies. So any time a person or a bunch of people I know start raving about some new book or movie, I'm naturally interested.
Well, the big hype in my area right now is about this new book and movie series called "The Hunger Games". From what I've gathered through asking friends who've read the books or seen the movie, and doing some research online, the story in a nutshell is basically about a futuristic land where the rulers force the youth of the inhabitants to fight to the death for food, and one girl (Katniss) and her family's journey through the situation.
After my research, my curiosity and interest quickly changed to disbelief and disgust. The whole thing reminds me of the Roman coliseum, where thousands of people watched other human beings fight to the death, viewing it as entertainment.
I have been shocked and saddened about how many Christian people even have been sucked into the craze over these stories!
I could rant on, but I will let another young blogger express my feelings better than I probably could. The difference is that she read the book and saw the movie before deciding how she felt about it. After reading and hearing all I have on the issue, I don't feel like I should, or that I need to, experience it in order to formulate an intelligent opinion.

"There's this sick sense of irony in fanship of The Hunger Games. I've heard the argument, 'Hey, Katniss and Peeta didn't agree with the Games. All the districts had to watch them and they didn't like them either. We're not saying it's good--we know the Capitol is evil.' Well first of all--the districts, watching the games...they are fictional. Okay, glad we got that straight. But we are real, we are really watching this, and we're not even being the districts. We're being those colorful people in the Capitol with their ridiculous attire and insane love for the 'fun' which is the Games. We say how awful it is that the Capitol would force the Games plus make people watch them, and yet we're the ones in real life out supporting it and watching it for entertainment. And obsessing over it and not caring that 22 children had to kill each other out there. But it's okay because the only characters we care about survived.

Bah, the more I think about it, the more disgusted I am. Seriously, America? This is what we're obsessing over? This is the only taste we have? This is what we enjoy seeing on screen? Are we so desensitized that this no longer bothers us? What is wrong with us?

To summarize how I put it on facebook:

I read the book and was not impressed and enthralled like everyone said I would be. I was hardly emotionally involved at all.
The movie (the style of which I actually found kinda obnoxious with the whole shaky, out-of-focus, way close up deal) just took it to a whole different level and the more I think about it, the less I like it. It's not the killing itself...goodness knows I've read/seen enough of that on screen. I just think there's a strange irony in the fact that in the movie, they say 'what if everyone rebelled & didn't watch the games' and watching it we're all like 'yeah, how sick it is that they do that'...and yet in real life, we're the ones actually watching it for entertainment. Ugh. So messed up.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt, guys. I went in thinking I would like the hunger games just like everyone else. In the end it's rather sickening, and it just doesn't stack up to real, good literature.

So that's my opinion. It's rather strong, I know, compared to all the love the story gets. I know there's two more books, including a revolution against the evil Capitol. Argue with me. Tell me if there's some redeeming quality I missed. Because, the only thing I caught was a sense of sick, sad irony."

I have only published a portion of her post, but if you are interested in reading it in it's entirety, you may see it HERE.

Thoughts On: Persecution

Sunday morning's music service a couple of weeks ago seemed especially poignant somehow. The impact of it has not gone away, and I think it is worth making note of.
From the expressions on many faces, I think others felt it too, and Mrs. Renae mentioned it the next Wednesday night in class. Perhaps it was the exceptional songs, rich with musical excellence, but more importantly, with deep theological meaning:
"Jesus Messiah"
"There Are No Orphans Of God"
"You Are My King"
"Refiner's Fire"
"Beneath The Cross Of Jesus"
and "Amazing Love"
There was a strong sense of unity and oneness among the people there, and the Spirit of the Lord seemed to be infused into the very air as we sang for and to Him. It was an amazing time! The kind of Sunday morning that you remember for years, and pull out of your cranial file cabinet periodically to savor and enjoy again.
But I also had a strange keen feeling of something like sadness - a bitter/sweet premonition-like feeling that moments like this would soon be only precious memories. I don't have any idea, of course, how long religious freedom will still be ours, but I often wonder how long it will be - and how prepared we will be - when the Christ-followers here in America will be forced to meet secretly because of the hatred against us, and the danger we are in. So many dear believers are now, in other countries, suffering for the sake of our Lord, and if we are truly His, it will come to us eventually.
I pray often, so often, that if it comes in the lifetime of the Victory Rd. members, that we will be strong and courageous, loving, humble, and brave, willing to suffer or die if need be, for each other and for Christ. That our God will give us the wisdom to know when to hide and when to be bold, and the courage to face whatever comes with joy and strength - most of all, that we will be ready, and will stay true to Him.
Trissy and I both sing in the choir at Victory Rd., and that Sunday morning as these and similar thoughts passed through my mind, as the rich words of the precious hymns lifted with all the voices, my eyes rested on face after dear face in the audience before me and on the platform beside me. And as I thought of what we may eventually face, it was all I could do to keep the emotions that were welling up inside me from spilling out in full force. For, though I had seen tears in the eyes of several others in the congregation, when I looked over and saw both Mrs. Shannen and Bro. Earl with tears running down their faces, the ones trickling down mine threatened to become a flood.

The thought of suffering for the sake of Christ is, in a strange way, both exciting and terrifying. Peter, Paul, and so many other of the great heroes of the Faith counted it something to be thankful for - that they were thought worthy to suffer horrible tortures from others, for Jesus' name's sake. And what an honor if the Lord should think me and my dear people worthy! Yet the thought of it also horrifies me!
I've heard that it's easier to go through a difficult time oneself, than to see someone you love suffer, and I can believe it. When I consider the possibility of some of those I love being viciously persecuted for their Faith in Christ, I am overcome with sadness.

Though for this season God has blessed us in America with freedom to worship and serve Him, I believe we should be prepared for the possibility of losing that blessing. I also believe we should be working for His cause with all the hope and zeal and anticipation of a revival! The apostle Paul thought the Lord would come back in his lifetime and that was two thousand years ago! We may have hundreds of years yet!
Either way, we must be ready to give an answer, to serve others and to serve Christ with love and bravery, and to do this to the best of our ability and with the height of our potential.
And we must never forget to be thankful for and to cherish each precious moment with all of our heart!

The music part of the service ended, and the musicians and singers went to their seats. When I got to our pew, I got a pen and the morning's bulletin and wrote:
"Dear God keep us true!! Whatever comes, keep us true!!
Dear God help us cherish these moments with all our hearts, so that when they are gone, we may revisit this holy place & receive strength."

I believe it was that very afternoon, as we were at The Grandparents' house for Sunday dinner, that Trissy went into their living room to the old upright piano and began playing hymns. The only one she got through before lunch was ready was "When I Can Read My Title Clear". Fitting, don't you think? Funny how the Lord works little things like that out.

For anyone who may not know this precious old hymn, and would like to benefit from the words, I've included them here:

"When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
And wipe my weeping eyes,
And wipe my weeping eyes
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.
And face a frowning world,
And face a frowning world,
Then I can smile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.

Let cares, like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall!
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav’n, my All.
My God, my heav’n, my All,
My God, my heav’n, my All,
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav’n, my All.

There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heav’nly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.
Across my peaceful breast,
Across my peaceful breast,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast."

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

-Kyrie<><

Thoughts On: Dating

A few of weeks ago, the pastor's wife of the church The Grandparents attend told me the teenagers' class on Wednesday night was doing a study on dating, as well as what may be right and what may be wrong with it, and also alternatives to dating. We used to go to that church years ago, and our family friendship goes deep both with the church and with the pastor's family, who used to be missionaries in the same area where Uncle Alvin was at the time. The pastor's wife knows that alot of our family doesn't believe dating is a good practice, and asked me if I would come and talk to the class about our family's thoughts on the subject. I pondered and prayed over it and when it was all said and done, felt like it had gone very well. I hope and pray that the Lord will use it to give the young people that heard a mind of purity and a purpose of righteousness.
I worked so hard on my notes and struggled so hard about wording and how to say what I had to say! The Lord just guided it all, even down to helping me memorize most of it, so that I could make eye contact with the kids and still keep my thoughts collected into the points I wanted to get across, as well as giving me the idea for an illustration using chocolate heart boxes. It pretty much sums up my thoughts on dating.
Here is the lesson:

"I’m Kyrie. I think most of you kind of know me, though I see some faces that are new since I've been here. [The pastor's wife] told me y’all have been discussing dating in your class on Wednesday nights, and asked me to come talk to you about how I and my family approach this idea of dating and relationships.
First off, I want to ask you a question. How many of y’all want to get married one day?

(Most of the class raised their hands.)

Well, I asked [the pastor's twin sons] if they would help me with an illustration I would like to try, so you two can come on up here.
Ok C., it’s a bunch of years from now, say you’re 26, and you’re fixing to get married. So one day the girl you’re going to marry says, 'C., we’re fixing to get married, and I think it’s time I gave my heart to you. After all, you’ll be my husband, and a husband should have his wife’s heart, right? Ok, so here it is.'

(I handed him an empty heart-shaped chocolate box. He took it, and I had him open it. He got kind of a funny look on his face when he saw it was empty.)

What first pops into your mind when you see that empty heart?"

"It’s all gone."

"That’s right. It’s all gone.
'Well,' the girl says, 'I had a boyfriend in Junior High, and I gave a piece to him. Then I gave a piece to my boyfriend in High School, then one to someone else, and to someone else... but the rest is yours! You can have all that’s left!'

(There was a murmur of understanding, and I paused, hoping my point was sinking in.)

Ok J., it's you're turn. You're fixing to get married. One day your fiancee' comes to you and says, 'J., you know we'll be married in a few weeks, and I think it's time I give you my heart. I believe that when a girl gets married, her heart should belong completely to her husband, the one who leads her, and takes care of her. So (I handed him a new and unopened chocolate heart box), here it is. I’ve kept it safe all my life. It’s all there. I’ve kept it away from the other men that have wanted it. Now I’m giving it to you, as new and special as when God gave it to me.'

(I thanked the boys and had them sit down. I'd asked the brothers to help, 'cause I knew the one with the new chocolate box would share with the one who got the empty box :) .)

Can you tell where I’m going with that? Who wants to marry someone who's heart has all been given away to others?!
I once heard someone say that when you're dating, every time you date someone new, you give a tiny piece of your heart away to that person. That goes for girls and guys. Some people have this idea that there are degrees to dating. Some people are 'serious' when they date, come people are just for fun, nothing serious. But the truth is that all dating is serious, in that you are in a 'romantic' relationship with a person, and no matter how innocent it may seem, you are losing some of yourself to that person, and that will leave less to give to the person you will one day marry.
The dating game is a dangerous one to play. Even if a relationship starts out innocent enough, it can lead way too far! I've heard lots of sad stories of young people who have given more than their hearts to the person they were dating. Besides the broken hearts from break-ups, and betrayal and all that drama.
Save yourself that pain.

I work at a school, and one of the young men I'm in charge of is eleven, and he thinks I’m hilarious because I'm in my twenties and I've never had a boyfriend. Now that may seem so boring, so old-fashioned. It may seem like I'm missing out on an exciting life. Let me tell you something: The Bible is old-fashioned – it was written thousands of years ago – and it’s just as current now as at the time it was written! And you believe that, at least to some extent or you wouldn't be here at church now – the reason we have church is because of the Bible!

Maybe I am old-fashioned. I probably am. But I know young men and women who have decided to keep all of themselves for their future husband or wife, and when they marry, are SO glad they did that, instead of 'having fun' like everyone else.

Sometimes when I talk to other teenagers about this idea, they ask me, 'Well, if I don't date, how am I ever going to find someone to marry?' That is a super question, and I would love to be able to say, 'Well, the Bible says to do this.' and there's your simple answer. Well, it has lots of advice on relationships, but as far as I know, the Bible doesn't say anything specifically about how to find the right husband or wife. Probably because in those days, your parents picked who you were going to marry, and you just had to live with it!

But what alot of Christians are doing now as an alternative to dating, is group dating, 'intentional dating', or courting. The idea is to get to know someone you may be interested in – but in a group setting, and ideally in a group of Christian people. One of the dangerous things about dating is that you're alone alot of the time! A guy and a girl alone together is just plain trouble. Even if both of you are completely honorable, removing yourself from that kind of situation is just a smart thing to do. Why do good drivers wear seatbelts? Why do careful construction workers wear hard hats? Well it's not because they're sloppy or careless. It’s to protect them from some fluke accident that might happen.

And just 'cause you’re courting doesn't mean you can never have a conversation without someone listening in. But it means that you don't go anywhere or are never alone together, and you have a 'hands off' mentality – which is the kind of mentality anyone should have even if they are dating.

I have several cousins and friends, both young men and young women, who have courted, and the person they married was the first person they were ever interested in. They will tell you that they are so thankful that they did not go the dating route. Their marriages are exciting, fulfilling, and they are completely in love with their husband or wife. Now, of course that doesn't mean they never have problems. Anytime you get more than one opinion involved in a situation you are going to have little disagreements. But they are trying to do things the way they feel like the Lord wants them to. They started out by praying for a Godly husband or wife, and the Lord led them to the right person. Most of them met at church.

Guys – don't just pick a girl because she looks good. Watch her for a while. Is she just beautiful on the outside? Beautiful girls are everywhere. Or does she have a beautiful spirit too? Do her actions show a love for God and for others too? I read a quote that says, 'A woman should be so lost in God, that a man has to seek Him, in order to find her.' If she jumps at the chance to get you, she may not be a good choice. Pick a girl that will be worthy of your love and sacrifice. Pick a girl that will support you all your lives and work with you in whatever the Lord may call you to do with your life, whether He wants you to be a missionary in Russia, or whether He wants you to be a garbage man! Pick a girl that will love you because you love God and are trying to follow and serve HIM.
And another thing to think about: Be the kind of guy, around all girls, that you wouldn't mind your daughter being around.

Girls – don’t settle for the first cute guy that comes along and acts interested in you. You may not like how this sounds, but take this advice: It's better to be single, than to settle for someone who is just out for a good time, and no commitment. DO NOT, please, I beg you, do not give yourself to someone just because they say they love you and they're good-looking. Don't give yourself away, heart or body, so cheaply. Make him work to get you. And an honorable man will be willing to do what it takes to win you – the right way.
You are special. You are beautiful. Don’t believe Hollywood when they tell you that you have to look a certain way to be beautiful. Those women and girls are just made of plastic surgery and Photoshop. And ten-to-one if you asked one, they would tell you they have a miserable life. God made you to complete a man – one man! God made woman because He saw that man was alone and needed someone special. If your 'guy' doesn’t treasure and honor you like GOD does, dump him. Dump him! Now that may sound cruel, and you may say, 'But oh I love him! I couldn’t live without him!' Let me ask you something: Will that guy love you sixty years from now when you're old and wrinkled? When you're not pretty anymore, not healthy, not always able to give him what he wants? Does he love you because you love God, and he does too? Does he love God more than he loves you? That's the kind of man worth waiting for.

Guys, be that kind of man. Girls need that kind of men around. Even if they're not interested in you in 'that' way, having Godly men around is a comfort and encouragement.

I'm thankful for what I'm hearing about some of you guys here. Thank you. Keep going. Become a man that a girl will be thankful to be married to one day.

Well, [the pastor's wife] said I had 5 – 10 minutes, and I think I've about used that up :) so I'll quit. If any of you have any questions about courting or this topic in general, that I haven't really answered here in what I've just said, come ask me and I'll try my best to answer them."

As I was leaving church later, five or six of the boys were out playing basketball in a corner of the parking lot. As I passed going to my car, one called out, "That was good!" and several of the others chimed in, agreeing with him. It really encouraged me, and I hope and pray my efforts were used to encourage and challenge the whole group.

Thoughts On: Love

Ok. I'm going to take a plunge here. I've been dealing with this idea of being 'real' on my blog for a while. And while often I am 'real' - and maybe even what may be called 'brutally honest' - I'm afraid I sometimes come across as if I'm a pretty perfect Christian (or at least trying to portray myself as such). Please let me assure you, I am not.
So, lately there have been some thoughts swirling around in my head. Ideas. Doubts. Consolations. Questions. And here I am to share them. I don't know who all reads this blog. I know some believers do. I'm pretty sure non-Christians do too - at least pop in now and then. For you who profess to know Christ, you will either read and condemn my thought process, read and shake your head and love me anyway, read and have no idea what I'm talking about, or read and relate and love me because you've been here.
For you who do not know Christ as your Savior, you will probably not understand where I'm coming from, and maybe not even care. But hopefully you will be encouraged that not all who claim to be Christians think that they are perfect, holy, and too good to admit that they have struggles. We are human, we have doubts, and we make mistakes, just like everyone else. The difference is, that we who belong to Christ are also the most blessed of men, for we have hope - and not just the hope of Hope, but the guarantee of Hope - and a purpose for life and living, both now and forever. So whatever our imperfections, we are safe and at peace.

I am writing for you, but talking to myself. If you can gain from reading this conversation, it will have accomplished it's purpose. Whoever you are, I pray that you can benefit from, or at least be comforted by, my bared heart...


I want to love people. I do love people. But I don't ever want to love anyone so much that my love for them overshadows my love for God.

I wrestle with alot of things. One thing is love.
How to love the people I should, but don't. Or how to love different people in different ways. How to love those I love a little bit, more. How overwhelming my love is for some, and how to show it in God-honoring and them-encouraging ways.

Or how to love God. Truly love Him. Or if I love Him at all.
Wow. Sobering thought? You bet.
My next thought is, "But surely I love Him! I belong to Him! I am His child! I'm not in this falsely?! Could my heart be so good at it's deceitful game that it has even fooled me?"
Well let's pause there a minute. The Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
So, technically, I guess it could have fooled me all these years. But the Bible also says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35) and "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. ..." (1 John 3:14) I know I love God's people. I do not love them all alike. I do not even love them all to the same extent - without favoritism - as I should. But I know I love them.

But how do I know I love them? How can anyone know they love someone else?
Well, I know my heart breaks when they hurt, and that it sings when they are happy. I know I mourn in their sorrows and rejoice in their victories. I know I want them to be blessed. I know I feel like I am on top of the world whenever I can help or encourage them in some way. I know I have great pride for them in their beautiful qualities and great thankfulness in their Godly traits.
Am I wrong to interpret those facts as evidence that I love them?

This question takes us to the need to consider the fact that "love" must be a choice. True love, that is. Many people interpret feelings of attraction or infatuation as "love", when in fact those feelings are no more than selfish desire of one form or another.
True love must be a choice. There are people I love now that I had to decide to love.
Some people are easy to "love". But those who disagree with you (or you with them), those who are unpleasant to be around, those who are just negative people, those who are unkind to you (or to others who are important to you), all of these are hard to love! One must make a conscious decision to love those people.

When I first heard that love is a choice, I totally disagreed. Well, maybe not totally, but I sure didn't think it could be completely true. You had to be attracted to someone, at least to a certain extent, right? Whether it was romantic attraction, or love for someone who had been kind to you (parents, friends, family, etc.), or sympathetic love for someone you felt sorry for.
But I learned that even those loves deal with choice. Romantic attraction is just that - attraction. It doesn't mean you truly love that person. And of course it is natural to have kind feelings for someone who has benefited you in some way, like your family or friends - you would be totally selfish if you didn't!
The last one gets closer to the 'choice' deal. Feeling sorry for someone who is in a sad or less fortunate situation is good but, number one, you must choose to feel for them - some people harden their hearts against those kinds of people because it's easier and they feel less guilty. And number two, how far does your sympathy go? If it is true love, you will want to do something to help them out of their suffering. Whether it's a family member who's just having a bad day, a homeless man at Wal*Mart, or the starving orphans in a World Vision commercial.
How far should "love" reach? With the family member, sometimes just a kind comment or offer of help is appropriate. With the homeless man, maybe giving him some of the groceries you just bought is what's needed. With the orphans, maybe the Lord has blessed you financially so that you can sponsor a child, or if not, praying for them on a regular basis is worth more than any amount of money!
All of these things involve a choice, a choice of love.

Now, as I've grown in experience, met more people, and faced more decisions to love or not love, I've learned that loving really is a choice! I can think of a person at Victory Rd. even, who I could not stand at first. I thought they behaved themselves inappropriately (and they did), and I was angry at them for their silliness and lack of modesty. I never showed my disgust outwardly (at least as far as I know!), but I just avoided that person as much as I possibly could.
One Sunday, I realized something. Through Bro. Dennis' teaching I had been learning that many things in life deal with choice. You have a choice to be joyful in a discouraging situation. You have a choice to let someone offend you, or to refuse to let it bother you, forgive it, and move on. Etc. Basic stuff, but somehow more obvious and 'do-able' the way he presented it.
I remembered that I'd heard that love is a choice too. So, I decided to try it. That person was not going to go anywhere. I was becoming more and more involved in the things that were going on in the church, and was having to rub elbows more and more with this person. I couldn't go on avoiding them without being downright rude. So, I decided that I'd just better love them.
Longer story shorter, that person is one of my most precious friends at Victory Rd. now.

Love is a decision.
Yes, some people are hard to decide to love. Some people are easy.

So how do you know if you love someone?
Well, how far are you willing to go to benefit them?
In all my mulling-over of this whole topic, that is about the simplest, most direct way to come to a conclusion that I have come up with. The answer to that question is a good place to start analyzing.

For myself, I'll go back to Victory Rd. for my starting place.
At times I am nearly overcome by my love for my dear friends there.
Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen and Austin, Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie and precious Maxwell, Bro. Mike and his family, Bro. Blake and his, the dear S. family (Archer, Law, Abigail, Piper, and their sweet parents), Lindy, Toby, Russell, and all our other college friends, Mrs. Renae and her dear family. And so many others.
As far as I can evaluate myself without actually physically coming to that situation, I believe I would give my life for them if it was necessary.
John 15:12-13 says, "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Hmm, ok, so laying down one's life is the highest symbol of love.

Christ laid down His life for us. The highest symbol of love. And His followers are commanded to love each other as He loved them (us).

I know I love these people. It would be hard to die, if it was to be a painful death. But through Christ Who gives me strength, I could.

Do I love Christ enough to die for Him?
Once again, without actually facing that situation, I don't suppose I can know for sure. But once again, in His strength (and only in His strength), I could.

After all, the only reason I could ever love anyone is because Christ loved me first.

I just thought of something else. In 1 John 4:20 and 21 it says, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? ... he who loveth God love his brother also."

My thing is that I love my 'brothers', but am wrestling with being able to know that I love God more! Luke 14:26 says, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." meaning that the love we have towards God should be so huge, that our love for family and friends seems almost like hate in comparison.
Do I love Him that way? My love for 'my people' is enormous! Is my love for God hundreds of times greater than that, as it should be?

Another thing about loving my 'brother'. What if I do not love all my 'brothers'? Does it mean I don't love God if I love some, but not others (see 1 John 4:20 above)? I know I have hard feelings toward certain people who claim to be followers of Christ (and therefore 'brothers'), but live in direct disobedience to His Word. Are my hard feelings only 'righteous anger', or are they the result of a spirit of unforgiveness?

There's also the love that Christians are to have for unbelievers. The reason the Lord left us here, is so that we would show them the love He has for them, through the love we have for them. We have seriously neglected this aspect of our duty and reason for living. It shouldn't be the movie stars, politicians, and celebrities running the charities and humanitarian organizations; it should be Christians! And years ago, it used to be! When did we drop the ball?! When did we begin to get caught up in the 'me' mentality that has become such a trademark of American culture? And what are we doing to pick up where we have been failing? It should be our daily goal to spread the love of Christ to those who are hurting, whether it is the glum cashier on our trip to Wal*Mart, or the war-torn refugee on the other side of the world. Our lives as followers of Jesus Christ should be dedicated to two things: Showing the love of Christ to others so that they too can know His peace and joy, and encouraging and edifying those who are already His.

Love. Wow. What a huge subject; and I haven't even scratched the surface - I've just touched on a few aspects that have been on my mind lately. The whole thing is so complicated.

But with all my unanswered questions, I can say that my analysis has brought me to these definite conclusions:

1) No matter how much I love God 'now' (whenever 'now' is), I must always be striving to love Him more.
2) It is alright to love other Christians with overwhelming love.
3) I must learn to love unconditionally.
4) I must work harder at my part to actively demonstrate Jesus' love to those who do not know Him.

Pretty simple huh? Maybe.
I do feel like I have things a little straighter in my mind now though, after just getting all my thoughts laid out so I can study them without one running over the next.
Thanks for letting me ramble :) .

Keep Looking Up!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

-Kyrie<><

Thoughts On: Blogging

What is the purpose of blogging? What do people hope to accomplish? Why do they spend so much time on it?

For several weeks, I have been thinking about these and other questions regarding blogging.

What has really been bugging me, is when people let their followers dictate when they post, what they post, and how they post.
It seems sad when I read people apologizing because they haven't posted in two days. Really?! Two Days! Unless you promised something, it's not a big deal if you don't post every day. If your readers are any kind of friends, they will still be there when you get back. If you are a good writer, especially. It's not about how often you write, but about the quality of your writing when you do...

Why did you start blogging in the first place? Was it to gain followers? If so, why? What is the purpose of having a bunch of followers just for the sake of having them?

According to Wikipedia, "The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives."

What happened to that?

Some people blog because they have something to say, and a blog is the easiest way to get it out there. Ideas or opinions on political issues, documenting experiments, or posting helpful tutorials for others to enjoy. Quilting diaries, photography blogs, or businesses.

But why post for the sole purpose of keeping people reading?

I don't know, it just doesn't seem to make sense.

My blog is just an online journal. It's where I record things I want to remember about my life, as I live it. I originally started it because there were changes happening in my life, and I wanted to remember the details about the amazing journey the Lord was taking my family on. I wanted my journal in a place where it wouldn't get lost, and where it would be safe in the event of some unforeseen local disaster like a hurricane or fire. So, the logical answer was the internet. A blog.
And to be honest, I hoped no one would find it. I didn't really care if they did - I wasn't going to post anything I would be ashamed of other people reading, I just didn't think anything I was going to be saying would mean much (if anything) to anyone else, and I wanted to be able to be 'real' without people judging me. Plus, I love to write, and it would be good practice.
Along the way, I have met several dear, good, friends - other Christian young people and adults, who have encouraged me in so many ways. Now I am kind of glad other people decided to read my blog - I got to meet them that way!
I've been told by some of them (and if it is indeed true, I thank the Lord!) that I have been an encouragement to them as well.
I know people are reading, no matter how small the number, so when I post, I try to be as interesting as I can and post things I think would be beneficial to others, not just for myself. I don't always succeed (at least with the 'being interesting' part :) ), but it just seems courteous. If someone is going to honor you by reading what you're writing, why not make it a good experience?
So my purposes for blogging have broadened somewhat since I started out, but my basic purpose stays the same: to record my life so that I can look back along the journey and visibly trace the Lord's hand at work in it.
Thank you for taking the journey with me.

Note: Since this post, I created a page explaining more about why I blog. You can visit it HERE.