4 Search Results for "independence"

• Free to Be Me Free to Be Me

  • From: susanhlawrence
  • Description:
    It's Independence Day. Not a day I typically get ultra-excited about. Not that I don't think it's important. I'm honored to live in the United States of America. I say thanks to servicemen and women whenever I get the chance. I respect the flag. I appreciate this country's history. I appreciate the freedom I have.
    
    

    Or do I?

     

    I had a busy week, but God prompted me to pause occasionally to remind me of the freedoms I have...and often take for granted.

    • I drove from Illinois to Kentucky to Missouri. I didn't worry about my security. I stopped when I wanted to get a drink. I chose where to buy gasoline. I talked to whom I wanted.
    • I ate when I wanted, where I wanted. One day I walked into a restaurant and asked to see the menu before I decided. I chose to eat there with two of my girlfriends...and what a great choice it was!
    • I walked through a convention center for several days, chatting with such a wide variety of people about different topics: family, ministry, government, travel.

    That's my sticky note version. Make a list of your own. Think about today. What have you been free to do today?

    Do you consider your everyday freedoms as "rights" or "privileges"? I'd certainly like to say privileges...but I'd be lying. I make choices every day that I treat more like a right than a privilege. I should be able to access the internet. I should be able to shop where and when I want. I should be able to talk about whatever I want with family and friends. I should be able to worship where, how, and when I want.

    When I consider my choices as rights instead of privileges, it all becomes about me. And it's not about me at all. With freedom comes requirements and responsibilities. Not selfishness.

    Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. - Romans 6:14 (NLT)

    Sure, I'm free to be me...the me God created me to be.

    For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. - Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

    God gave you freedom. How does your life reflect it?

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 140
  • Not yet rated

• Christian and Democrat: Can Yo Christian and Democrat: Can You Be Both?

  • From: agapejustice
  • Description:

      For many Christians the 2008 Presidential Election was the first time they voted for a Democrat. Recently I heard a NYC pastor discuss the belief he held that to be Christian meant you were Republican, but while attending The Sojourners Mobilization to End Poverty  in Washington, D.C. (a non-partisan gathering of 1,000+ Christians from around the country who came together because their faith inspired them to fight against poverty) he realized that a Christian did not have to be Republican and he resigned from the party. With a focus on abortion and marriage (two very important issues) many Christians are bound to the Republican Party and do not question this allegiance. This summer Christian author, inner-city minister and activist Shane Claiborne admonished Christians to “pledge allegiance to the Lamb” instead of either political party on his Jesus for President nationwide tour. As Christians I think we should align ourselves with politicians and policies that most reflect the message of Jesus Christ who proclaimed in Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me, to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed…”

    Worship at The Mobilization to End Poverty
    

      I am currently a fellow for Faithful Democrats  an online community of Christians who are members of the Democratic Party. I know some might find this sacrilegious but there have always been dedicated followers of Christ who we also Democrats. As an African-American Christian my community of faith has overwhelmingly been members of the Democratic Party because Republican policies do not speak to the needs of our community, yet African-Americans are also overwhelmingly pro-life. You may ask yourself how this paring can exist, well for me to be pro-life means I support life from the cradle to the grave. I work towards ending poverty because I know many poor women are pushed into abortions for economic reasons. I do not support the death penalty or war. I think it is interesting that Christians can advocate for children while they are in the womb but once children are born we do not advocate for them to have equal educational opportunities, or a life free from hunger, sickness and disease. Mother Theresa once said “I am so pro-life that if a woman does not want her child she can leave the child with me”; hence so many Children were given to her that she received the name “Mother Theresa”. She is an example of not just holding onto arbitrary pro-life or pro-family values but actually living them out in practical ways.

    Christians Lobbying in D.C.-Holding their elected officials accountable.

    

     I am critical of both major parties and personally want to see our country move past the two party system that dominates because more choices will ensure that we have a true democracy. At the end of the day if a candidate is dedicated to those who Jesus calls “the least of these”, than that person will get my vote whether they are a member of the: Democratic, Republican, Green or Independence Party. As Christians we cannot let our dedication to a political party, or even the American flag surpass our dedication to the Gospel of Christ. Our true citizenship is in the Kingdom which includes: Black, White, slave, free, male, female, rich, poor, American, Mexican, undocumented, citizen and anyone else who is born-again.  I think Lisa Sharon Harper author and co-founder of NY Faith & Justice put it best when she stated: "Evangelical Doesn't Equal Republican or Democrat”. 
    

    A Book to read:
    I would encourage all of you to read Matthew 25, review the platforms of the different political parties, and then prayerfully ask God who you should align yourself with, the answer may surprise you.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 114
  • Not yet rated

• Help? I (Don't) Need Somebody. Help? I (Don't) Need Somebody.

  • From: betha
  • Description:

    Do you know what I have a problem with? Letting people help me. I hate it. I always seem to be the one to carry the heavy bags, multi-task instead of delegate and just say “No, thanks” when really- it was beyond me to begin with. I’d rather do things myself, make my own mistakes then have to rely on other people to mess up for me. Is that selfish? Or is it independence?
    
    It’s funny because you would think I have it together then, right? That I shout confidence and my swagger has the “Miss Independent” song attached to it. Not even close though.
    
    Earlier this year I had to move apartments within the same complex. I had asked a few of my guy friends to come over that morning to help me move the furniture and other things. As I sat there that morning looking at the dozens of boxes, I thought, “Why wait for them? I’m gonna start now and they can pick up later.” I ended up moving every single box (besides three extremely heavy ones) down one set of stairs to my car and then back up another set of stairs to my new residence. My entire body was bruised, and let’s just say several items of kitchenware fell victim to the move. When the boys showed up they only had to move the furniture. That was when I realized I might have a problem.
    
    When I think about it though, its not because I don’t want the help- I just know I don’t really need it.
    
    I knew someone once whose boyfriend was so, well accommodating, that she never opened a door. Rather, when we would go out places just the two of us she would sit in the car waiting for me to open her door, until she realized I wasn’t coming. Do we train ourselves then to be reliant? Does independence stem from periods where we can’t rely on people?
    
    It’s weird when it trickles over into relationships- especially with God. I will admit, that usually the last place I go to for help is to seek the wisdom of God. It’s like I figure I can tackle another obstacle on my own- just like I’ve been trained. But I can’t, and yet I know that. Its usually when I become completely overwhelmed that I need to be reminded of the hands all around me extended to pick me up.
    
    I want help. I need help. I just don’t go for it right away. It takes time and coaxing, but I’m learning. I have to tell myself- It’s not a sign of weakness. It not a sign that I’m in some kind of distress. God told us to help one another, and sometime we need to let others follow the commandments of God in our life.
    
    So, can someone open that door?

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 385
  • Not yet rated

• Re: Thanksgiving plans Re: Thanksgiving plans

  • From: Former member
  • Description:

    Coming to a dinner table near you: a perfect stranger, possessing a new sense of independence, a faded grasp of routine, a need to sleep till noon, pierced nose, a seriously bad haircut, and the nonspeaking/noneating goth girlfriend.

    Introducing,

    my baby brother,

    Nathan

    --prodigal college student, home for the holidays.

    Grandma Helen took one look at them, "This is going to be fun." 

    It was.

     

  • 2 years ago
  • Views: 27
  • Forum: Life...