This is the beginning of a new day. As I shared in my recent post, I am going to just show up on my blog and write. Nothing fancy. No “ten steps to This” or “five easy ways to That.” I’ve got you pictured in my head, and I’m writing to You. Nobody else. Just You. Get your coffee (I’ve got mine) and let’s go.
I think the reason I can’t seem to publish anything lately is because the truth of my life is brutal right now. And I want to be able to understand it myself first. Organize it in meaningful categories – each one with a cool, totally-makes-sense solution.
The fact is, my life right now makes no sense.
Today I read Self Harmers in the Church by Sharon Dickens, and I remembered my close brush with becoming a cutter just 18 months ago. I’m not super excited to share this with you. It’s something I’d like to pretend I never thought about. But my experience gave me some personal insights into this subject, […]
Here are some of my tried and true organization and planning strategies. And I’d love to hear some of yours!
I hate selfies. I hate any kind of picture of me. I’m not photogenic. It’s self-centered. It’s stupid. I’ve got a million reasons why it’s uncomfortable. But maybe it’s time I started showing up on my own blog.
I cannot heal so-and-so.
I cannot rescue fill-in-the-blank.
I cannot change such-and-such.
I cannot protect you-know-who.
I cannot fix you-know-what.
But I can spend time with Jesus.
And I can go for a bike ride.
And I can eat something that’s healthy.
And I can take my dog for a walk.
And I can do a load of laundry.
And I can do what is right in front of me today.
And I can write.
And I can pray.
And I can love the people that God has put in my life.
The first time I heard it, I was like, “YEAH MAN! That’s me. I’m a LONE RANGER! Nobody gonna hurt ME no more. I’m tough. I don’t need NOBODY.” I put on my bad face and did a few workout punches. Then I added that song to my workout playlist.
I’m reading Telling the Truth by Frederick Buechner. I don’t know why I’ve never heard of him or read anything by him before, but I know I’ve found a kindred spirit. This book is about the gospel and how it is like a tragedy, a comedy, and a fairy tale. So far I’m on the […]
Concerns with the Homeschooling Movement?: RC Sproul Jr. Responds
Do Christians Have Rights?
In some Christian circles people are taught, “When you get angry, it’s because you thought you had rights, and you thought those rights were violated, but that just shows your pride and self-centeredness. Everything you have belongs to God, so if you’re unhappy, you’re claiming a right you should have given up, and you’re in sin. You’re not entitled to anything, but God will give you everything you need. So that should make you happy, and if you’re not, you’re in sin.” (This is paraphrased from an explanation of the concept that I found in a forum. My impression was that the one explaining it was a proponent of the teaching.)
So imagine you’re a vulnerable person (for example, a child, or a naïve young woman) in an outwardly Christian home or institution that is covertly extremely abusive. (These are far more common than you might think.) You’re taught that you have no rights.
Then you’re sexually violated. Again and again. Besides whatever threats and manipulation and lies the evil offender might snarl or whisper in the dark or write on the wall with your blood, in your ears is ringing the dictum, “You have no rights. Christians have no rights.”
The fallacious nature of this argument and the odious results are—or should be—painfully, painfully obvious. But someone asked me to please address this issue from a Biblical perspective, because she grew up thinking that the Bible taught that she hadno rights. (“We had no right to expect safety. We had no right to defend or protect ourselves. We had no right to be angry. We had no right to feel sadness.”)
Read the rest of this article HERE.
Five points that nail it. Read them HERE.