Faith, love, and other deep subjects...

As a Christian, I am called to love and live as Christ did. While that is easier at some times than others, I often struggle with two things...our responsibility to lead others to Christ, without ostracizing someone to the point of feeling hated (a primary example would be the homosexual community), and standing up for what we believe in, without wavering.

I think the phrase "hate the sin, not the sinner" is particularly important to remember. As I look back over my adult years, and I think about my faith, I recall the specific frustration of watching Christians being portrayed (and rightfully so in many arenas) as haters. Certain people came out so strongly against homosexuality that I feared there would be no place for them to go when they were looking for Christ. Why would they want to enter into a house of God when they are being told how evil they are? I actually heard a Christian say that no one should own an American Express card because Ellen DeGeneres is a company spokesperson. If that were true, we shouldn't buy anything, because every human being sins. Why must we focus on one or two sins? I overeat, so people shouldn't be my friends, or come to my youth group?

Danny Gokey (American Idol finalist and Christian) recently said it so well on his blog,

"Because I was very open about my faith in God, people speculated that I hated certain groups of people whose lifestyles or beliefs differed from mine. But in fact it is because of my faith that I have learned that love is unconditional and it goes beyond lifestyle, beliefs and any limitation that we as humans tend to put on it."

Yes, we have a responsibility as Christians to encourage others to live as Christ would want us to, but there's a difference between loving someone to Christ and beating it into them. Christ let people know when they were making bad choices, but he showed them love and compassion in the process.

Just when I thought teen angst was in my past...

I realize that at 41, technically, I'm not anywhere near a teenager - chronologically anyway. Those who know me well might argue that I do, in fact, act like one on a regular basis. I get positively giddy when I get a present, I giggle on the phone with my girlfriends, get my feelings hurt fairly easily, and scowl at myself in the mirror daily. I have also recently started reading the "Twilight" series, and can't put it down!



All of that said, I do realize that I'm an adult. As a high school teacher, I've very clearly drawn lines between myself and my students, and have often thought of how thankful I am not to be where they are now. That's a very difficult time in their lives. I remember it all too well. While they're going through it, they need support and direction.



The kids here in Cotton Center are absolutely wonderful. When I left my teaching position after having my son, so many of my former students stayed in touch with me. When we go to football and basketball games, I spend a good portion of that time catching up with them. I just love them to death. Which is why when our pastor came to my husband and me and asked us to consider becoming the youth directors at the church, I was so conflicted. Was I qualified in the least to do that? What a HUGE responsibility.



Living in a small town as we do, it's difficult to get ordained, qualified youth ministers to come here, and if they do, they are usually just passing through. We have had some great ministers in the past (Zane and Tara, Hal, to name a few), but they were only able to serve for a short time.



After weeks of prayer, my husband and I decided we felt called to do it. We were voted in by the church yesterday. We are so honored that they would entrust their kids to us, and pray we can aspire to deserve it.