Christian – Page 20 – 1 Timothy 4:12 Girl

The Meaning Series Part Five: Faith

August 7, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

Good afternoon to all of you reading this blog. Today has been a pretty eventful day. I went to the beach with my family and started on book three of the Bailey Flanigan series, played Uno with my mom, and tossed a football around with my dad. Following the beach, I went out to eat and got some really awesome fries. Nonetheless, the topic of this blog isn’t going to be fries or football, it’s going to be a different topic of the same first letter.

Faith.

I saved the most important topic in The Meaning Series for last; the importance of faith in God in one’s life. I began attending church at age nine and asked Jesus into my heart at age eleven. I remember my first experience at church pretty vividly, partly because it was drastically different than what I had expected. I was expecting a very traditional type atmosphere, with an organ and people in frilly dresses. Needless to say, I was pretty surprised to walk in and find a band with an electric guitar and drums, along with a pastor who cracked jokes during the sermon and people who dressed in casual attire. I suppose that whole story kind of illustrates what my walk with God has looked like over the years; there have been a good amount of surprises and unexpected things along the way. I’ve found that there really is no cookie cutter mold for what each Christian’s life is going to look like; every Christian is going to find themselves in different circumstances with different challenges to work through. However, as Christians we serve a really big God who can help us sort out the details of our lives and situations.

I think that what you believe is going to affect the way that you live; the views that we hold are going to seep out into life, touching the lives of others for good or for bad. Some of you out there may be wondering, “If that’s the case, than why do some Christians treat others so poorly?” The only answer that I can give to that question is that we’re all fallen. We all have the capacity to become prideful or act in a way that’s hurtful to others. Nonetheless, if you’ve had a bad encounter with Christians, I urge you to not hold that against God. If you read through the Gospels, Jesus always showed immense kindness towards others. In fact, the people He usually expressed frustrated towards were the religious leaders who acted as if they were better than everyone else.

As Christians, I believe we’re called to emulate the love and mercy that Jesus demonstrated on earth. He was God in flesh, yet He walked in incredible humility that I believe sets the standard for each of us. As Micah 6:8 says, we’re called to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” My goal in my blog, 1timothy412girl, is to write in a way that’s compassionate to people of all life situations, creating a safe haven, while staying true to my beliefs and the Bible’s teachings. I suppose that’s my goal in life too. In a very chaotic, broken world, we’re called to be a light; to show people the hope of the Gospel and walk with them through different trials and seasons of life. Though I’m still fairly young, I’ve gone through rough patches in my own life, and it’s the people who have taken time to listen and be there for me who stand out the most. I can still remember instances, no matter how “small”, where someone took the time to listen and walk with me through a trial that I was going through. To this day, I’m grateful for those people whom God has put in my path and I hope to be that person to others.

To me, faith is not just a belief, but a lifestyle. It’s a flashlight that illuminates God’s love, truth, and hope. It’s a gift that we’ve been given, and that we’ve been called to pass along. In the words of Mother Teresa “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

My topics in this series may all be different, but they’re interconnected. God gives each of us dreams; dreams that can become a reality through hard work and perseverance. We are all unique and special individuals, part of a greater picture of humanity and called to become part of the family of God. And, it is God who gives meaning to each of these things. I could go on to talk about various other topics, such as hope or wisdom, but I believe that the things covered are good starting points: loving God, loving people, and striving to make a difference.

The Meaning Series Part Four: Individuality

August 5, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

Individuality is probably one of the most discussed topics in modern day society; you cannot go on a social media website without seeing some sort of quote about being yourself. Be yourself is one of the most widely used themes in many well known movies throughout the decades. Everywhere you turn, you hear messages about embracing your individuality, but what does that mean? The definition will likely vary a little for everyone, but to me it means accepting the person God created you to be. It would make sense that as creations, we ought to look to our Creator to find out who we are and who we’re meant to be.

Psalms 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Emily P. Freeman, in her book A Million Little Ways; Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, says “I can’t imagine anything more dangerous to the enemy of our hearts than people who know who they are.” If we know who we are, we’ll be less apt to fall for Satan’s lies about who he tells us we are. Though the concept has been secularized by some, I believe that it remains a pretty spiritual concept. If we know who we are, we’ll be better able to find God’s purpose for our lives. A big part of this, is being honest with ourselves about our personalities and passions.

Being that I have a couple of teen years in my rearview, I’ve experienced (And am still experiencing) some of this process. I’ve gone through a good deal of different stages, which have resulted in some interesting photographs. In jr. high school, I went through a stage where I looked like Laura Ingalls Wilder with glasses and acne. For a brief period of high school, I went through a phase with small colored hair extensions. Those were fun, but a bit of a pain.

Nonetheless, discovering who you are goes much deeper than hair and clothes phases. It’s something that you often find bits and pieces of when you least expect it. I remember taking a short, unofficial, free version of the Meyers Briggs Personality Test during my freshman year of high school. Prior to that test, I always saw myself as an introvert. I’ve never been someone who feels comfortable in large crowds, and I sometimes feel like hiding behind a very large object in a new environment. Thus, as you can imagine, I was surprised to see my Meyers Briggs results say I’m extraverted. In retrospect, it makes sense, as I tend to gain energy around people, even if I’m somewhat shy and reserved. Another surprise came during that same year, when I discovered my passion for communicating through song. Watching movies about characters who wrote songs made me want to try my hand at it myself. Little by little, I began using songwriting as a medium to express emotions and beliefs, and found that I loved it. I still write songs, and hope to get them published someday. In addition to discovering a love for songwriting, I’ve also discovered that I enjoy singing and I have begun taking voice lessons.

True, these are all relatively small pieces of myself, but each piece brings us a little closer to the person God created us to be. You can’t define yourself by things like extravert or songwriter, but those things bring out deeper parts of your personality. In my songwriting, I’ve found a sense of carefreeness in myself that I might not have discovered otherwise, being that I often tend to be a bit on the uptight side. In my extraverted-ness, I’ve come to see how being around other people makes me feel alive. Each piece of yourself is part of the larger picture of you, and each person is part of the larger picture of God’s creation. If you look at the journey of finding yourself in this light, it becomes something bigger than you: God and living a meaningful life that touches the lives of others. Everyone has a purpose and a voyage in life, and finding out who you are as a person, and who you are in Christ, is one of the first steps to beginning that voyage.

The Meaning Series Part Three: Community

August 4, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

Today’s topic in The Meaning Series is Community (No, not the TV show). I wasn’t quite sure how to address this one, as it’s going to be a bit of a broad topic, but I think the word Community about covers it.

People need other people. It’s been this way since the Garden of Eden, when God decided to create someone for Adam to be with. Humans were not meant to live a life of solitude, we were meant to interact with other humans, forming meaningful relationships. In the modern age of the 21st century, this will likely look a little different for everyone. Studies show that Milennials are marrying much later in life, creating more of a need for creative solutions such as living with a roommate. I think we’re entering an era where the threshold to adulthood will look very different in coming years than it did in past generations; leaving the Church with questions about how to minister to their congregation.

One Bible passage that I have always loved and that I believe applies here is Matthew 12:48-50. “He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”” I believe that this is a particularly powerful and overlooked passage in the Bible. I love the idea that as Christians, we’re one big family; that all of my Christian friends are my brothers and sisters. Could you imagine what it would look like if we, in the Body of Christ, operated like this? One phenomenon that I’ve noticed at different churches throughout the years, is that we often fall into a pattern of looking like small, individual puzzles in the same box rather than one big puzzle. What if we really took the time to invest in each others lives and love each other like a family?

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m a big fan of 80’s TV shows. One thing that I’ve noticed in watching some of those shows, such as Full House, Who’s The Boss, Boy Meets World, etc., is that they really show strong examples of loving those who aren’t biologically related. On Full House, Jessie and Joey really become Uncle/Second father figures to D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle. On Who’s the Boss, Tony and Angela treat other’s kids as if they were their own. On Boy Meets World, Cory and Shawn are close enough to be brothers, with Cory’s parents treating Shawn as their own son. Not to mention that Mr. Feeny is like a grandpa to his students. What would it be like, if we as Christians looked like that? What if we saw each other: our friends, our mentors, and those younger than us, as family? Imagine the witness of Christian love this would be to the world. What if, instead of living disconnected and independent of each other, we lived in such a way that we could count on others to be there for us, and in turn, we were there for them. What if we lived out friendship and community in such a way, that we really became a family? I believe that a vital aspect of life is other people, both our biological families and those who aren’t related to us. As the song, No Man is an Island by Tenth Avenue North says “We’re not meant to live this life alone.” This may look different for you than it does for me, and yet even more different for your neighbor across the street. Nonetheless, we all need others and God calls us all to be one big family; loving each other as He loves each of us.

The Meaning Series Part Two: Work

August 2, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

Work is something that has always been part of the living experience. Throughout the ages, people have always done some sort of work. As early in the Bible as Genesis 2:15, we read that The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.(NIV). In some of the earlier ages of human existence, work was mostly limited to fieldwork; tending to crops and animals. Today work can include anything from fieldwork to working as a high executive at a major business firm. Throughout the mid 1900s, America experienced the wave of the women’s movement, which gave woman the right to work in job fields that have typically been limited to men. Throughout my preteen years, I remember watching TV shows from the 1980s and being drawn to hardworking female characters. As I watched them, confident, well respected, and influential, I knew that I too wanted a career someday. For me, it was never about money, but rather contributing something to society. The characters on those shows were like big sister figures, telling me that yes, I have a voice and I too can succeed in a career.

I believe that it’s important for people to work in some way, shape, or form. Work is not limited to a career, it could mean the stay-at-home-mom who works to take care of her kid(s). Some of you reading this blog might have aspirations or dreams to become a famous singer or actor. You may be wondering what you ought to be doing right now. Personally, I believe that even if your end goal is to become a famous singer, it’s still important to have an “ordinary” job in the mean time. Kelly Clarkson was a waitress before she was a majorly successful pop singer. There is something inherently human about working, it was commanded by God even before the Fall. I think that the first time I really experienced the value of work firsthand was when I was thirteen. I had written a manuscript of my first book to try to self publish. Self publishing costs money, and being that I was only thirteen, I didn’t have a whole lot. My parents agreed to pay for part of it, but I had to come up with the remainder. Thus, my Dad had me work in the yard with him to earn the money to publish my book. There were days that I sweat like never before, but I was determined. After a lot of hours working, I earned my share of the money that I had to come up with to publish my book. The feeling of productivity and accomplishment was incredible.

I believe that working towards our goals, even if the work only looks like serving tables, makes the end goal seem a whole lot more special. Furthermore, by working, we have the chance to contribute to the well-being of society. For instance, waiting tables may not seem like a lot to you, but to the tired family coming home from a road trip, it’s a major blessing. I challenge you to, throughout the week, look at the work you do, no matter how “small” through a different set of eyes. Colossians 3:23-24 says Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men…It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

The Meaning Series Part One: Dreams

August 1, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

Today is day one of a new blog series that I’m starting, called The Meaning Series. The Meaning Series is going to basically talk about some of the things that I believe give meaning to life. The series isn’t in order of importance, but rather in a random order. This is going to be a five part series with a different topic for each post, covering the subjects of dreams, work, community, individuality, and faith. Today, I’m going to be discussing dreams.

I suppose I’ve always been a big dreamer. I love possibilities, looking at what could be rather than what is. I’m probably more of an idealist than a realist. Some people would argue that dreaming is futile and silly, but I disagree. It is dreams that have created some of the realities we see today. Where would we be without the dreams of the founders of America? Or, Martin Luther’s dream for equality? Dreams (along with hard work) are the things that progress society into something better and brighter. You may be thinking “Wait, how can my dreams benefit others?” I believe that if you look to the heart of your dreams, you’ll find that they often aren’t just about you, but about something that you feel you can offer others. Say you want to be a be a writer; Do you desire this because you feel you have something important to say to your readers and you want to teach through story? Or, say for example, you want to be an actor; Do you believe that film is a medium that influences society greatly and are there truths about the world that you want to demonstrate through your acting and movies?

Sometimes, if you take a closer look at your dreams, you’ll find a lot that you didn’t realize was there.

Thus, I urge you to hold onto your dreams. Keep working hard to make your dreams a reality. From my perspective, dreaming, and wanting something more in life is an important part of living and being fully alive. Don’t miss out on life now in the midst of dreaming, but hold onto those dreams, in hopes that someday in the future, they’ll be a reality.

A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman

July 27, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

I just finished reading an incredible book called A Million Little Ways by a previously reviewed author, Emily P. Freeman. Emily is one of those rare authors; the kind of author who writes as if they know you personally. It’s almost as if she’s been sitting on the edge of my brain, taking notes of my thoughts, feelings, ideas, passions, and concerns. Though she’s a good twenty years older than me, I feel that if I knew her, we’d be best friends. I could easily sit in a coffee shop with her, discussing the abstracts of life over decaf tea and a plate of donuts.

That being said, A Million Little Ways is the kind of book that stays with you. I found so many wise statements that I drained two poor highlighters, fiercely coloring impactful statements They may have recuperated by now, but they were in bad condition when I was using them. Anyways, the theme of the book, is how every good thing that we do in this life is art. We are all image bearers, called to create for the glory of God.

Being that I’m somewhat of a creative type, I love how she views our dreams and personalities as art, as unique ways that God expresses Himself to humanity. The way she describes God’s creation of each one of us as art reminds me of a belief that I held as a child. I didn’t have any church background as a kid, but I did believe in God’s existence and that He created the world. I often imagined that God created the world through painting. I believed that he painted a portrait of the earth, and it sprang out of the canvas and came into existence. This view was probably more cartoon based than theologically based, but I did get one thing right: God is an artist.

Furthermore, as Emily Freeman states, because we’re made in the image of God, we’re also artists, and the unique aspects of our personalities, as well as the things that make us come alive, are forms of art. This could mean more obvious forms of art such as painting and drawing, but it could also mean any hobby or talent that God has given you. When I think about all of my friends unique interests, it’s pretty incredible how different they all are. I have friends who are into acting, sports, math, science, politics, psychology, singing, cooking, computers, photography, etc.

All unique forms of art.

Throughout the book, Emily also gives helpful advice that could be applied to various forms of art, and challenges the reader to do some deep soul-searching to find their desires and passions in life. One thing that I found particularly interesting, is how she points out that our passions can often be traced back to our childhood. I personally related to this, as I’ve always had an intense obsession with stories. I asked to learn how to read when I was about three years old, and have read books compulsively ever since. Throughout grade school, I read books the way I ate food. During middle school, I obsessed over The Left Behind Young Trib Series, feeling as if I knew each of the characters, and mourning when a character died. I’ve also told stories from a young age, driving my whole family crazy with the way I made every inanimate object talk. It didn’t matter if it was a doll or a hairbrush; It became a character with a unique personality. Not to mention that from the moment I knew how to write, I didn’t stop. I wrote and illustrated stories with pencils and crayons in elementary school, graduated to short stories and two nonfiction published works in middle school, and now the current series that I’m working on (As well as a stand alone book). I suppose looking back, storytelling and writing was always in my DNA. I’m sure that you have your own memories of dreams growing deep inside of you from your childhood as well, if you look hard enough.

In addition to our passions, she goes on to teach that our personalities and the things that move us are forms of art. Each of us were knit together in a way that is completely different than any other person throughout history. Each of of us have unique quirks, traits, and temperaments that shape us. Each of us are moved by something, just waiting to emerge in a way that makes the world a better place.

To summarize the point of the book A Million Little Ways, and paraphrase some of the information, you were created by a Divine Artist, and because you were created in His image, you are an artist as well.

Not as an equal to God, but as a reflection of Him.

God created you the way you are for a reason, and you have something to contribute to this world. The things that God has gifted you in were placed inside of you for a reason, to come out as a form of worship in a million little ways.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

To conclude, I found this book incredibly informative and would highly recommend it to anyone who desires to learn more about how they can live their life as art offered up in worship to God.

Note: I got much of my information here from the book A Million Little Ways, so I owe credit to the author, Emily P. Freeman.

God’s Direction and the Rocky Road To Our Callings

July 19, 2015December 7, 2015 CourtneyLeave a comment

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

This seems to be a lesson that God is trying to teach me right now, as the concept behind this verse appeared in a Christian nonfiction book that I was reading last night, as well as the sermon that I listened to in church today. Both places emphasized something that I tend to have a bit of a rough time doing.

Trusting God even when He’s calling you to do something that doesn’t make sense in the flesh.

Sometimes, God calls us to things that we may have never pictured, prompting us to lead in a way that we feel less than equipped to do. By this, I don’t mean things that we would hate doing. I believe that along with a particular calling, God will also place in us a desire to fulfill that calling. Nonetheless, we may sometimes doubt if we can really succeed at the task that we feel God has given us. When God stretches us beyond what we feel we can handle, it’s easy to start making excuses and questioning it in our minds

“I’m not qualified. I’m too young. What if I fail?”

Lately I’ve been battling these types of thoughts in my own life as I feel led to take a leap of faith in the way that I believe God is calling me. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably battled similar thoughts of incompetency in your own life. Nonetheless, we’re not alone and we’re certainly not the first to question God’s calling for our lives. Moses felt inadequate in speech and eloquence when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Jonah obviously felt afraid when God called him to go to Nineveh and preach, as his first instinct was to run. It seems that God often uses people who feel unqualified or incapable. “Why is that?” you may ask. After all, God could call anyone. Why would He choose the unlikely?

Perhaps He does so on purpose. Maybe He calls the unlikely so that we rely on Him, and so that His power is made evident through us. Maybe He wants us to be in a place where we’re humble enough to rely on His wisdom and not our own. Maybe His power is made the most clear when our callings seem illogical according to human reasoning.

You may feel inadequate by your own power, but as Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” I believe that whatever God is calling you to do, He’ll walk with you every step of the way.

If you feel unqualified about God’s calling, know that you’re not alone. We all have moments when we wonder if we have the strength to follow through with the way that God is leading us. Nonetheless, I believe that if we trust God and follow His will, He’ll lead us on the right paths in our lives and make a way when it seems there isn’t one.

In the words of the Christian band Anthem Lights, we just have to keep following God’s heart, allowing Him lead us, guide, us, and direct our path.

Appreciating Diversity: God’s Fingerprint on His Creation

July 6, 2015February 4, 2017 CourtneyLeave a comment

I’ll be honest, people fascinate me. Some people like to observe trees or mountains or animals, but personally, I enjoy observing people. I find it incredibly interesting to observe differences among people. The ways that different people think, feel, and interact among others. Perhaps it has something to do with being an author. Being that I tend to see life as a story, it seems only natural that I would see people as an interesting cast of characters. Naturally, on the surface, there are the obvious things that we notice.

Baker. Activist. Stay at home mom. Career woman. Firefighter. Actor.

The list goes on and on. Nonetheless, I try to look deeper than labels. Why is that person the way they are? What life experiences has shaped that person’s political, religious, and life views? What are their deepest desires in life? What are their motives? I often find it incredibly hard to view people through the lens of black and white, because I believe that people usually have experiences and dreams that have helped shape who they are.

Furthermore, I don’t just look at outside experiences that shape people. I believe that a lot of who a person is at their core is the fingerprint of God. God’s stamp of approval, saying “This is my unique child, whom there is no one like.”

Perhaps a person is deeply moved by the underprivileged.

An expression of God’s compassion.

Maybe a person is drawn to ensuring equality

An expression of God’s justice.

Maybe a person is into the arts, loving things like painting and music

An expression of God’s creativity.

Unfortunately, as a society, we sometimes have a hard time understand and relating with those who are different than us. You see this everywhere, ranging from the local high school’s hallways, to hateful comments on Youtube and social media. Instead of embracing each others differences, we view people negatively for being different. What if we didn’t turn a nose down on people who are different, but instead embraced those differences? What if we saw those differences as a form of beauty, rather than a threat? I believe that if we appreciated, learned from, and tried to understand people who are different than us, we’d be a much kinder and more Christ-like society. God created mankind in His image. Though we’re all fallen as a result of Adam and Eve, I believe that we still bear the unique fingerprints of our Creator.

I personally am grateful that God decided to make each of us so unique, and create a diverse group of humans. Imagine how boring the world would be if we were all the same. Not to mention that we wouldn’t function that well as a society. If everyone had my personality, we’d have a whole lot of people who wrote novels and observed people, but things like scientific discovery and mathematics would suffer greatly. Nonetheless, because of all of you out their with your unique and special personalities and concerns, our society is able to function in a way that we can flourish in multiple areas of life. I encourage you to take a fresh look at the unique and awesome people all around you and appreciate the masterpiece of God’s creation.

In the words of Britt Nicole, “you’re worth more than gold!” 🙂

A Better Way (Part Two)

June 18, 2015January 30, 2021 CourtneyLeave a comment

Jesus payed much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come-Casting Crowns

Good morning fellow bloggers and readers. Sorry I did not get a chance to blog yesterday. I had insomnia the night before, and thus, was pretty exhausted yesterday, with little energy to think in-depth about my current blog two-parter.

Nonetheless, I’m feeling good today and I’m going to pick up where I left off. In my last blog post, I talked about a way for Christians to have a more compassionate response to the LGBT Community, and information and conclusions that I’ve personally come to find. Thus, today I’m going to be talking about what we, as the church, can do.

1. Accept singleness as a viable option. I think that is one that can apply to both gay and straight people. There have been times when the response to being single in the church seemed to be “What’s wrong with you?” In not so many words. If churches solely focus on marriage and the nuclear family, it can leave a gay celibate person in a very awkward position. If you look through the Bible, singleness is actually commended, not discouraged. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:8. “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.” Nevertheless, the single person in the congregation should be looked at in the same way that the married couple with kids is looked at. Valued members of church and society.

2. Be a family.The last thing that I’d ever want to tell a gay person is to be lonely. This was a big reason why I struggled with my response to this topic for a while. Because whether you’re an introvert or an extravert, we all need people. We all need love, acceptance, and community. Someone to vent to after a long day and someone who we can share a pizza with. In the words of Bill Withers (I’m actually listening to a cover of this song right now!) “We all need somebody to lean on.” Nonetheless, I believe that if we, as Christians begin outreaching to this community and acknowledging these genuine needs, gay oriented people can find this love they need in friendships. Wesley Hill even has a book on this concept, called Spiritual Friendship. I believe that there are a lot of steps that we can take to show Jesus’ command to love your neighbor to the LGBT Community. Julie Rodgers recalls an experience once had in the video that I posted to my last blog entry. She said that her friend once told her that if she ever gets to a place in her life where she feels she’s not known, she’s welcome to live at her house and be Aunt Julie to her kids. Now, I recognize that we can’t all have someone live in our house, but I really love the aunt and uncle concept. What if nuclear families in the church did have an honorary aunt or uncle? I feel that this could be a blessing to both single people and nuclear families. The single people would have a place to go for Easter and Christmas, and a family to call their own. Meanwhile, the nuclear family would have someone to help watch the kids when they go out, or when they simply need an extra hand.

3. Don’t be afraid. I’ve noticed that a lot of people seem to have at least some fear of gay people. However, I believe that once we become more informed, the topic no longer becomes one to be afraid of, but rather a people group that aren’t that different from you and me. I believe that pastors need to be especially careful about what they say from the pulpit. It would do immense good to create an atmosphere where gay people feel welcomed and loved, not outcasted and hated. Gay people aren’t just out there somewhere in the world, they can be in your church, silent about their struggle.

4. Never Stand For Gay Bullying. http://www.bullyingstatistics.org says, “According to recent gay bullying statistics, gay and lesbian teens are two to three times as more likely to commit teen suicide than other youths. About 30 percent of all completed suicides have been related to sexual identity crisis. Students who also fall into the gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgendered identity groups report being five times as more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe after being bullied due to their sexual orientation. About 28 percent out of those groups feel forced to drop out of school altogether.” This is devastating. Gay people deserve to be treated like people. They do not deserve hate crimes or hate speech. No one does. If you see a gay person being bullied, stand up for them. Though this one ought to be somewhat obvious, we should never condone people being bullied. For orientation or for other reasons.

5. Don’t push for a universal mold-Though there are likely many gay guys who are athletes or soldiers, and many lesbian girls who are supermodels or fashion designers, some may not fit the stereotypical mold of what a guy is “supposed” to be or what a girl is “supposed” to be. Julie Rodgers wrote in one of her blog posts about being paranoid that someone would find out that she was gay, and how she’d even question if she was sitting gay. Granted, I’m sure there are many straight guys and girls who deviate from gender stereotypes as well. Basically, what I’m getting at, is to not freak out or turn your nose in disgust to someone who isn’t your typical model of “guy” or “girl”. If you look through the Bible, there is not one place that says that a guy can’t take ballet or that a girl can’t play sports. In fact, if you look at 2 Samuel 6:16, you see King David leaping and dancing before God. Furthermore, 1 Samuel 16:7 says “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”” (NIV) Furthermore, according to http://www.theguardian.com, in 1890, the Ladies’ Home Journal advised blue for girls, and pink for boys. “In the UK the Women’s Institute was still recommending pink for boys up until 1921.” Thus, I urge you to not make jokes about a guy acting “girly” or a girl acting too guy-ish. It would seem to me, that God looks more at the heart than what a person takes up as a hobby or their mannerisms. If we take the focus off stereotypes, and embrace people’s wonderful and unique personalities, I believe it will take a lot of pressure off of a lot of people and allow us to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation.

This is the final post for my A Better Way two-parter, nonetheless, I hope that the information that I have posted within the last two blogs has been interesting and beneficial to you. I believe that we all have the opportunity to create a better way for gay oriented people. Change starts right where you are, as you interact with people everyday. I urge you to show kindness and God’s love to LGBT oriented people and people in general. Who knows, you could make a new friend, and you could impact a life.

I have no idea what the band Tenth Avenue North had in mind when they wrote their recent hit, No Man Is An Island, but this song has always seemed to fit very well with what I just blogged about. Thus, I feel it is fitting to post this song as a final conclusion to my two part series.