That time when Christian groups weren't

I am ticked.


I followed an account on Instagram called Proverbs Daily (http://proverbsdaily.net). I thoroughly enjoyed the one or two a day postings that were of creative photos and quotes of Bible verses and related encouragement.

Until now.

I woke up this morning and did my routine Instagram browse of recent postings. I do love Cats of Instagram and have an unhealthy obsession with the Kardashians… As I made my way scrolling down, I noticed two recent ProverbsDaily postings:

1.

“We support the better choice of two choices. Please vote the Bible, vote America, vote for redeeming America and bringing us back to the values that made us great. VOTE #RomneyRyan2012 #Romney #Ryan #President #Elections #Ryan2012 #2016Movie #BishopJackson #MittRomney #SaveAmerica #PROLIFE #HOPE #CHANGE #VOTE #Bible #ProverbsDaily “

2.

1.       #prochoice #yolo votethebible #election #prayer #causeofdeath #swag #death #prolife #romneyryan #roewade #mittromney #christian #proverbsdaily #amen #church #noobama #president #stopabortion #faith #bible #light #abortion #supremecourt #truth #youthgroup #gospel #stopobama #romney2012

Republican? That’s fine. Pro-Life? That’s fine. Those posts are not why I am bothered.
To be clear, I only comment on friends’ Instagram posts. I never tell Khloe her nails are cute or gush about Mason’s new outfit. But the juxtaposition of how much I enjoyed ProverbsDaily's previous posts and how opinionated I am about Jesus+politics caused my blood pressure to escalate and I began typing my response.

My response to the first post was plain and simple:

@ProverbsDaily, it is unfortunate that you are making a political PSA under this otherwise noble account. “…vote the Bible, vote America,… vote Romney” ? If you just read the book of Matthew it is clear that Jesus would have thought both political parties are bogus, especially the fiscal matters and foreign policy that Romney has supported. That doesn’t make it wrong, but it certainly doesn’t make it ‘voting the Bible’, as you say.

My second response was as straight forward as the first:

@ProverbsDaily Highlighting sins that YOU deem are worse than others while hashtagging “swag” “yolo” and “vote the bible” is not a fair representation of what the Bible is actually is about.


You can’t actually look up my responses because they were deleted, as well as all the other comments that agreed in response to mine. And I was blocked from continuing to follow ProverbsDaily on Instagram.

Now THAT’S what really gets me piqued. Aren’t discussions with differing opinions fruitful? No one knows the mind of God and healthy discussion with each other helps us to understand a little more than before. Being deleted and blocked because I don’t think that ‘voting Romney is voting the Bible’ or that I should be Pro-Life because, well, its swag-worthy and ya only live once is a poor representation of what Jesus was all about-- especially when you promote your account as sharing Biblical verses and inspiration.

I don’t have it all figured out and it is clear that Proverbs Daily doesn’t either. But in response to all of this I’ll leave you with my own hashtags... and feel free to pass along. ;)

#votesmart #votefair #votedemocracy #jesusisntdemocratorrepublican #jesuswasntarichwhitemale #jesushungwithsinners #ithinkjohnthebaptistwasahippie #dontdeletemycommentsorillblogaboutyoutaylorswiftstyle



Mawage Is What Bwings Us Together Today

I find that my lack of frequent posts is because I don't have the answers.

There are so many topics I want to blog about but I don't know how they end... or how to tie them up in a cute bow to offer the reader. Heck, you should see the Christmas presents I wrap. Neat little bows are not a part of my genetics.

However for this post I am fighting my deep urge to be Dr. Phil and and write about something I don't pretend to have figured out.

Marriage.


Lord willing, in five months, I will walk into a church as a single lady and walk out a wife. And there is no 'post engagement test' I have to take that will score my abilities or readiness....



In that hour I will unfortunately not have been given life's ultimate wisdom, I will not become miraculously mature, I will still not know how to cook, and I'll be just as selfish and emotionally dramatic as when I woke up that morning.

But I will be someone's wife. WIFE!!! What does that even mean? What are my roles and responsibilities? What is expected of me? The old, "To whom much is given, much is required", falls flat on me.

I don't mean to make blanket statements but it's fairly typical that our culture dates for awhile, starts itching for the ring, (because diamonds are pretty and that's just what you do) and then buys a kick- ass dress, and plans a huge expensive party.

And boy, do I have that covered.

Do you know what I don't have mastered? Healthful, fruitful, respectful, honoring relationship skills. Sure I love my fiance, we do eachother's laundry, we argue, we compromise, we mostly have the same dreams for our future... we are excited about the idea of being married...  But no one has asked us our reasons for why we are choosing marriage.
I mean really asked us.


Let me put it this over-used, exhasted, cliche way:

          Finishing a marathon is awesome! You muscles look hot, your facebook photos have street cred, you get to eat a million calories that day, people tell you how awesome they think you are. Sounds pretty good to me!    
But how does one get to that point?   A runner has to plan out: what shoes they need for their foot structure, what stretches their bodies need to incorporate before and after their runs, what pace to run on certain days to build endurance, how many carbs to eat, how much protein to eat, how much  sleep to get. ALL of these factors will determine whether a runner will successfully run the race, walk some of the race, crawl over the finish line, or give up on mile 15 because, well,  this shit is ridiculous.


I think that's a lot like being married....married, of course, the way marriage is intended.


I don't want to set out to run a marathon and end up walking the last five miles, or violently puke at mile 10 and quit, or train for a few months and give up because I'd rather sleep in on Saturday mornings than get up and run. If I set out to run a marathon I'm either gonna do it or I'm not; there are too many time investments and sacrifices at stake to not make it worth it.

And that's where I am right now. I'll be the first to confess I suck at being engaged. Over the last few months my main focus has been me. What makes me happy? What pisses me off? Or most frequently, what does my fiance do to make me upset and how does he need to change? How do we make this relationship pleasing to me?

This is not good. This is not getting me ready to flourish in my marriage. This will not prepare me to be the wife I am called to be.

I believe in the Biblical roots of and intention for marriage. God gives us eachother to love, respect, build up, challenge, be helpmates, and lay down our lives for one another. (And have lots of sex.) As much as I try to pick and choose which of those qualities I will be for that day, I know the key is to not only to be consistent, but to be consistent with a joyful heart. And that's counter-cultural! It's not human nature! It's HARD WORK! 

In other words, I wouldn't expect to run 26.2 miles because I once ran a 5k. My desire (and prayer) is that I'll  be further along in this process than where I am now...

...That I will walk down the aisle with an intentioned and prepared heart for my husband.


So here I am... 172 days away from Wifedom. May there be abundant grace and generous forgiveness along the way.





You're welcome:

                                                                Princess Bride- The Wedding

How little (and much) has changed in a year!

How little can be a good thing. I'm finally consistent!

But a year later, now less afraid of routine, less afraid of settling down... less afraid of growing up (which ultimately means I grew up a little, I suppose).

It's safe to say, the catalyst of all is that I'm getting married. Yikes! That's still weird interesting to say. This topic goes much deeper and I'm sure I'll get into it later, but I haven't gotten completely comfortable with the term marriage yet. So instead I define it as:

            "That guy I met who was the first mostly normal guy that I was ever attracted to... someone whom I daily admire because he is a very good and thoughtful person, someone with whom I've argued many a time, tested boundaries, learned how to comprimise, taught me to admit when I'm wrong and finally say I'm sorry, continuously accept my shortcomings and show me how they're strengths, teach me me to be loved and by default I've learned to love him when I'm not feeling particularly sweet, someone who has a lot of gas and doesn't try to hide it any more yet I'm still shamelessly attracted to him--- this guy I decided to spend the rest of my life with- for better or for worse- and I'm pretty stoked."

Mush, mush, mush. Call it what you want, but I still prefer that (long-winded) term.


Well that and it doesn't have anything to do the a current loaded term that does not recognize particular orientations...


BAM.