Rants, Recommendations, and Realizations.

Hey everyone!

Rant #1: Books geared toward teenage girls that spell everything wrong.

The other day I spent an abnormally large amount of time at Family Christian. I had some coupons and they had some books I wanted, so we seemed like a perfect match. I looked at the clearance tables, then the Bibles, then the DVD's, and finally to the teen girl aisle. I don't particularly love the teen girl aisle; it seems a little shallow and self-centered, but I was on it. I skimmed the titles and even picked up a few books. I learned something that day. I learned that none of the authors on that aisle could spell. Actually, I think they just wanted their books to look like text messages. I have two problems with that: 1) If I wanted to read a text message, I would open my phone and read one. I obviously wanted to read a book. 2) Not everyone rites lyk dis when they text. I, for one, spell most things out and proofread before I send the message. Needless to say, none of the books I purchased came from that aisle.

Recommendation #1: Mark Driscoll

Wowsers. This guy is insane. I listened to his sermon on Ecclesiastes 12:9-13 last week. It pretty much changed my life. http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons That's the link if you want to listen to him.

Realization #1: I don't want justice; I want a t-shirt.

I used to think that I was really selfless. I used to think that I cared deeply for the poor. I thought about orphans in Africa. I bought TOMS and told lots of people because everyone knows that they send a pair of shoes to needy kids with every pair you purchase. I got on the Invisible Children website and swore that, when I got a job, I would sponsor a kid through Compassion International. I prayed for kids in the Congo and spoke of my hatred for the Lord's Resistance Army. I wanted, and still want, to go on a mission trip to see poverty firsthand. But I don't want justice; I want a t-shirt. I want more Facebook Causes to join. I want to wave a banner saying, "Hey! Look how selfless and passionate Marissa is! She gives to the poor! She cares!" But she doesn't. Not today.

Rant #2: Children's Ministries

God: "Hey, Noah. You're a pretty good guy. I want to take you on a boat ride."
Noah: "A boat ride? What's that?"
God: "You'll see, and you'll be the first person to go on one. Come on, it'll be fun. I'll even let you take the animals and your family."
Noah: "The animals? Really? I get to take them? Ok, I'll go. It actually sounds kinda fun."

That's more or less how I learned the story of Noah's Ark. I didn't learn that it was a horrible judgment for horrible sins people committed. I didn't actually realize that people died until I read Blue Like Jazz. I thought it was just a nice little day on the water.

Are kids even supposed to get saved? I've never heard of anyone saying, "Man, I got saved when I was 4 and Jesus completely changed my life. He taught me so much in preschool." But I've heard a lot of people say, "I 'got saved' when I was 4, but I didn't really care that much about Jesus until I was 12." As Christians, we're called to be disciples. We're called to give to the poor. We're called to love. We're commanded to teach those younger than us. We're called to share our faith. We're commanded to not gossip. And that's just the beginning. How are kids who can barely talk expected to do all that?

If we don't tell kids the truth about God, what's the point of talking about God at all?

Recommendation #2: My favorite things this summer.

Journaling, reading, Twitter, swimming, splatter-painting, wraps(as in tortillas with cheese on them. ha), Come What May, and kayaking.

Realization #2: Our worth isn't based on us.

The other day I made a list of all the things that I think make me cool or give me my worth. I put things like hairstyles, certain books, writing, my hobbies, and my favorite clothes. As I was making this list, I realized that I base other people's worth on these things. But I don't think our worth is really based on those things. The Bible says that we were bought with a price, and that price was Jesus' life. The God of the universe said that we are worth His life. That is what we are worth. I'm not better than you. You're not better than me. Our worth is the same. Our worth is the God of the universe's life.

Well, I could write a lot more, but I think that's enough for now.

Much Love,
Marissa.