From the mouth of babes...

7 year old: I like Barack Obama.
me: Why?
7 year old: Because he's a Christian. and Hilary's a democrat.
me: uhhh, Christian and Democrat aren't opposites.
7 year old: They're not?

This conversation was actually sort of comical, but it also kind of makes me sick. While this is a minor false assumption that this kid had, it makes me wonder what other falsitys we teach people? One has to assume that this child picked up the idea that a person cannot be a Democrat AND and Christian. Who knows from where! But what other detrimental things do we learn by what people say or do not say? Do or do not do? And it is for the next generation, that we need to ensure that our actions AND our words are saying things that Christ would say, rather than what the popular Christian culture would say.

The Cubs are the best in the major leagues!!!!

Books

I love books. When I was younger, I read all the time. I was the kid in class who read the most books for the reading program and who had the highest reading level. Even in high school during the summers, I would read a lot. Slowly the books became more informative and less fanciful, more convicting than inviting.

I started to read yet another Christian /Religion/Spirituality book this summer and could only read one chapter at a time because it took so much energy and pondering. This was a good indication that I am wiped out. I've hit emotional overload.

So I picked up some fiction. :) It is not quality fiction, but rather cheesy Christian fiction which doesn't require much thinking. (Please give me some titles of good non-Christian fiction...please) It's good none the less.

The thing which prompted this little post was my trip to the local public library today. I realized that I totally lose track of time when I'm there. I'm lost in the world of books and imaginary lives. I can rent DVDs and travel the world for free. I wish there were more hours in the day sometimes so that I could continue in my story.

So, what books would you recommend?

Therapy

So my sister and I have been watching entire seasons of Gilmore Girls this summer. It's to the point where we comment on the same things at the same time (i.e. "Wow she's cute in this episode" at the same time as "I love her jeans!"). It's been fun to bond with her over something outside of having very similar DNA.

The Gilmore Girl side of things is great. I just LOVE the witty, sarcastic humor which I find myself relating to in many ways, for many days. I'm not sure it's entirely healthy to relate my own life to a TV show, but that happens some times :).

I'll be sad when we've completed the show :(.

I don't know if anyone reads this, but here goes nothing. Leave a comment if you'd like :).

Today I tried out my church's new college group. I went knowing it could be good or it could be bad, depending on who went and what the discussions were like. Let's just say I won't be going back. However, my feelings throughout the hour proved what I had already suspected...

I'm ready to be in a place where I don't have to prove myself. My ideas/beliefs have morphed over the past 3 years and I have found myself feeling like I need to defend them, or that I have to prove that my beliefs and passions are legitimate. I still affirm the Apostles' Creed, I still call myself a Christian, I still love God. Yet somehow, my new (to me) beliefs are challenged, my passions are intimidating to other people, and I constantly debate and defend.

While I do not mind a good discussion about politics, religion, and other controversial issues, I want my beliefs to be accepted, to be considered the norm. I want to be challenged and stretched, rather than being the one to challenge and to stretch others. Perhaps I am in people's lives now in order to challenge them, but I also need people who are going to challenge me.

I'm going to Chicago in the fall for my internship at a non-profit (yet to be determined), to take two classes, and perhaps to run away. I want to find a community that will love me for me and will encourage me to follow my dreams and ideas, instead of trying to persuade me to change. I'm hoping to meet people passionately following Jesus and living out their faith in tangible, radical ways that are similar to how I find myself living out my faith.

Let me declare to the world that I, as a Christian,
-am voting for Barack Obama in the November elections
-think that women should be allowed to be pastors
-believe that Christians should not be in favor of war
-am sick of the way that Christians have represented Christ to the world (just to name a few).

Perhaps you are a person in my life who also holds some of those beliefs. Thanks for entertaining these "radical" ideas with me.

If you do not hold to those same beliefs, I beg you to encourage me, none-the-less, as I strive to live a life following God's heart. Perhaps my ideas are too "out of the box" for you, but please just let them be my beliefs for now. Who knows, maybe you'll share them someday too :)

Incompatible, it don't matter though
'cause someone's bound to hear my cry
Speak out if you do
You're not easy to find

Is it possible, Mr. Loveable
Is already in my life?
Right in front of me
Or maybe you're in disguise

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone

Here we are again, circles never end
How do I find the perfect fit
There's enough for everyone
But I'm still waiting in line

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone

Most relationships seem so transitory
They're all good but not the permanent one

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I'm on my own
If there's a soulmate for everyone