We will not find fulfillment in the constant pursuing of knowledge, pursuing of results from work, or pursuing of pleasure (Eccl. 1-2:12-23). But rather, we are to enjoy the life God has given us: enjoy what we have; remember with joy what we have had, and not dwell on the sorrow of what we have no more; and do not be in want of what we don’t have (Eccl. 3:12-14). For there is a time for everything and it is in God’s time, we cannot know when (Eccl. 3:1-8, :11, :17). It brings a freedom that we can be content with what we currently have and that we do not need to worry about when the right time is for other things (Eccl 9:12). Also, that we “are not expected at all times to be working, to be doing something productive, or to be dong [our] duty. There are also times for eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing” (“Encountering Eccl.”, Eccl 2:24-26, 3:12-14).

http://www.prodigalmagazine.com/my-responsibility/

This is a really great article. Shame is not something from God. We have turned Jesus’ teaching into ways which make us feel shameful about the way God has created us.

This is a snippet of it. Please read the whole thing by going to the link above. It’s worth it.

“I propose that we’ve lost sight of what lust actually is. In fact, we have confused biological sexual attraction with lust and called it sin. This is one reason why shame is so rampant in Christian circles, why we hide rather than confess our reality, why we try to control rather than offer each other the open love and freedom of Christ: we have made into sin something that is not sin.

God created you to desire another person for affection, intimacy, and relationship! Being physically attracted to someone is not lust. Wanting to kiss someone is not lust. Enjoying kissing someone is not lust. Those desires can be a catalyst for lust, but in themselves, they are morally-neutral, God-created, biological and chemical reactions. Your body recognizing sexual compatibility with another person is not inherently evil.

Don’t get me wrong. Lust is serious and lust is a sin. But lust is about control, not just sex.

Lust is dehumanizes a person in your own heart and mind. It is the ritual taking, obsessing, and using someone else for your own benefit rather than valuing that person as an equal image-bearer of God. Lust is forming people in your own image, for your own purposes, whether for sexual pleasure, emotional security, or moral superiority. In lusting, you are creating a world where every other person exists for your approval or dismissal. Lust reduces the complexity of each individual and their story to something you get to manage. Lust certainly can have a sexual component, but when we reduce it merely to sexual reactions, we miss out on God’s heart for all people: infinite value.”

bubbleplantsandzombies:

First time I saw this



this happened:



and then this:



and then through the rest of the movie:



And when I came home and told my mom about the two very hot dwarves I was like this:



And she was like this:



And then I went tumbling and saw various spoiler posts, which made me feel like this:




 

Truth

(Source: superwhohanlockvenger)

I am f-ing sick of cleaning up other people’s shit.

Sometimes it’s not the kid in the corner who wants to be reached out to. Sometimes it’s the social butterfly who just wants to be someone’s first though so they don’t have to push for inclusion anymore.

On my walk to class this morning the topic of analysis in my head was “Why is it so much easier to be sad or angry and express those emotions than it is to express care?” This is a big question in my life because it is so true for me. I find no problem with sharing aspects of my life that involve great sadness or anger and can talk about it matter-of-factly, but when it comes to expressing deep care, I become a deer in the headlights. I feel extremely vulnerable and can’t think of a single word to say. Here’s what I’ve come up with for explanation: sadness and anger do not require reciprocation. There is no expectation for anyone to respond in the same way, and we probably wouldn’t want them to respond in the same way anyway. But with care, there is the desire that the same level of care is returned.

This then brought up another question “Does care have to be returned?” Thinking from my Christian viewpoint, what does the Bible/God say about the subject? He doesn’t say that care has to be returned. In fact, Jesus encourages to show care for all of those around us, even when they don’t deserve it (such as in the case of them not reciprocating). But expressing care makes the heart open to greater hurt. Then this Psalm came to mind “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” Both this idea and the idea of caring even when it’s not reciprocated as strongly need to be intertwined. I’m not entirely sure how to achieve this, but it’s an interesting thought. I am attempting it by changing my expectations and thinking more about what my expression of care can do for the other person rather than what expressing that care and the reciprocation of that care can do for me.

There’s something to chew on for you. I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts if you want to compound on this.

Glad to see that I’m being replaced. I guess I’m just that forgettable and seem to be nothing but an empty placeholder than can be exchanged without even remembering that I was there in the first place.