I have not seen this movie, nor will I.
I am pro-life.
But I cannot handle violent things to that extent.
However, I support this movie because it is trying to start a conversation.
But the issue I see is that social media and the world is trying to hide the light this movie is going to bring or is bringing. People will have their eyes open.
This is a short post because I'm so tired of seeing twitter accounts being shut down because they follow this movie or the actors in it.
And tell me what you think in the comments. I'd love to have a conversation with you.
3/10/19
Lauren Daigle// Why I'm Defending Her
Okay, so from the title you may be wondering why I'm defending Lauren Daigle.
I'm not completely defending her actions. Let me make that very clear.
To begin, let me start back to when I first heard Lauren's music.
It was a time of anxiety and depression for me. Though I have everything I could ever need and want, I still suffered from anxiety and depression. I would listen to a lot of Christian music then, and I tried to focus on my relationship with God. Along the way, I would find different blog posts about what I was going through, some a bit damaging. (I would love to go more in depth if you'd like a post like this. Let me know in the comments.)
Anyway, I listened to Air1 a lot. And Lauren Daigle had just started her career, at least, she was gaining attention. Her song, How Can It Be, was becoming very popular. At first, I thought the song was too slow. Then one day, I gave in and actually listened to the lyrics. Maybe God was communicating something to me then.
Lauren's music, as I've seen so far, has been for Jesus. It has been in the worship of the Lord. Even her new album, which many people have tried to tear down because she may not say the name Jesus or God in a song. (but hey, they'll listen to Hillsong and they don't always say Jesus or God in their music.)
Lauren made some comments recently about homosexuality. And at first, I boycotted her with everyone else. But then, I let my own thoughts run their course. I put myself in her shoes.
While I may be unapologetically honest here, I can't say I would be the same in a position such as hers.
Let me ask you a question: Why must we, as Christians, ask each other the homosexuality question?
To expand, why do we give other people, who aren't Christians, the right to ask us that question, too?
All the people who asked her these things, they were radio hosts who probably haven't opened a Bible in a long time. They aren't Christians. But they will find a way to make us stumble, to not only be hated by the world we're trying to reach if we say we're against it, but be hated by those who are supposed to be our brothers and sisters in Christ if we don't really give an answer at all.
The more I researched, the more I learned. And then I thought, "What would I do in Lauren's position?"
Well, I would kind of dodge the question like she did. She never said it was a sin and she didn't say it wasn't. All she said was she's not God and she's still learning. That she's reading her Bible and learning more and more about the Creator we serve. And that if we are also growing and learning, to let her know what we find. She encouraged others to open their Bible and think for themselves.
I'm not saying that was completely the right thing to say, but it was said with poise.
Lauren, for some reason, is hitting the mainstream charts. She's reaching people who would otherwise never listen to worship music.
So yes, I still listen to some of her music, but I feel it's fair to say I never was a regular listener of her anyway. If one of her songs were in my playlist, I ended up skipping it if I wasn't feeling it. When all of this happened, I removed all of her songs from my playlists, but the more I began to do my own research, and not let other Christians think for me, the more I realized that she was probably scared. They were cornering her with a question that shouldn't even be asked.
They wanted to make her fall and she didn't fall.
Other Christians began commenting on the way she was dressing and how she didn't give thanks to God in a speech about her success.
Okay, I don't completely like how she dresses, either, but there are Christians who I'm sure wouldn't like how I dress, that some dresses I wear come just above my knees, that I do wear tank tops and I do wear athletic leggings/yoga pants. (I call them athletic leggings because I don't really do yoga.) So really, it isn't for us to judge her. One dress had a small slit on the front, near her chest, but the entire dress went down to her feet. It wasn't really immodest.
As for giving thanks to the Lord, she had a few seconds to even answer the question. We, as humans, are not perfect. Just because she chose to talk about reaching people and didn't mention God does not mean she doesn't worship or praise Him.
Why must we attack each other? Isn't that what the Enemy wants us to do?
So yes, I am defending her in a way. I don't agree with all of her actions, but I don't think she should have been asked the questions that led to this.
Put yourself in her shoes and answer this: what would you have done with all that pressure and such a loaded question?
You may say you would have spoken the truth, that she sold out her soul to sing for the world. But our world is falling apart and maybe the hope Lauren is spreading will help many people come to Christ because her music is on mainstream radio.
That's really all I have to say about that. If you'd like to hear more about the article on anxiety I was talking about above, let me know in the comments. Also tell me your thoughts on Lauren Daigle and if I changed your mind or made you think in any kind of way.
Bye for now.
~Hope
I'm not completely defending her actions. Let me make that very clear.
To begin, let me start back to when I first heard Lauren's music.
It was a time of anxiety and depression for me. Though I have everything I could ever need and want, I still suffered from anxiety and depression. I would listen to a lot of Christian music then, and I tried to focus on my relationship with God. Along the way, I would find different blog posts about what I was going through, some a bit damaging. (I would love to go more in depth if you'd like a post like this. Let me know in the comments.)
Anyway, I listened to Air1 a lot. And Lauren Daigle had just started her career, at least, she was gaining attention. Her song, How Can It Be, was becoming very popular. At first, I thought the song was too slow. Then one day, I gave in and actually listened to the lyrics. Maybe God was communicating something to me then.
Lauren's music, as I've seen so far, has been for Jesus. It has been in the worship of the Lord. Even her new album, which many people have tried to tear down because she may not say the name Jesus or God in a song. (but hey, they'll listen to Hillsong and they don't always say Jesus or God in their music.)
Lauren made some comments recently about homosexuality. And at first, I boycotted her with everyone else. But then, I let my own thoughts run their course. I put myself in her shoes.
While I may be unapologetically honest here, I can't say I would be the same in a position such as hers.
Let me ask you a question: Why must we, as Christians, ask each other the homosexuality question?
To expand, why do we give other people, who aren't Christians, the right to ask us that question, too?
All the people who asked her these things, they were radio hosts who probably haven't opened a Bible in a long time. They aren't Christians. But they will find a way to make us stumble, to not only be hated by the world we're trying to reach if we say we're against it, but be hated by those who are supposed to be our brothers and sisters in Christ if we don't really give an answer at all.
The more I researched, the more I learned. And then I thought, "What would I do in Lauren's position?"
Well, I would kind of dodge the question like she did. She never said it was a sin and she didn't say it wasn't. All she said was she's not God and she's still learning. That she's reading her Bible and learning more and more about the Creator we serve. And that if we are also growing and learning, to let her know what we find. She encouraged others to open their Bible and think for themselves.
I'm not saying that was completely the right thing to say, but it was said with poise.
Lauren, for some reason, is hitting the mainstream charts. She's reaching people who would otherwise never listen to worship music.
So yes, I still listen to some of her music, but I feel it's fair to say I never was a regular listener of her anyway. If one of her songs were in my playlist, I ended up skipping it if I wasn't feeling it. When all of this happened, I removed all of her songs from my playlists, but the more I began to do my own research, and not let other Christians think for me, the more I realized that she was probably scared. They were cornering her with a question that shouldn't even be asked.
They wanted to make her fall and she didn't fall.
Other Christians began commenting on the way she was dressing and how she didn't give thanks to God in a speech about her success.
Okay, I don't completely like how she dresses, either, but there are Christians who I'm sure wouldn't like how I dress, that some dresses I wear come just above my knees, that I do wear tank tops and I do wear athletic leggings/yoga pants. (I call them athletic leggings because I don't really do yoga.) So really, it isn't for us to judge her. One dress had a small slit on the front, near her chest, but the entire dress went down to her feet. It wasn't really immodest.
As for giving thanks to the Lord, she had a few seconds to even answer the question. We, as humans, are not perfect. Just because she chose to talk about reaching people and didn't mention God does not mean she doesn't worship or praise Him.
Why must we attack each other? Isn't that what the Enemy wants us to do?
So yes, I am defending her in a way. I don't agree with all of her actions, but I don't think she should have been asked the questions that led to this.
Put yourself in her shoes and answer this: what would you have done with all that pressure and such a loaded question?
You may say you would have spoken the truth, that she sold out her soul to sing for the world. But our world is falling apart and maybe the hope Lauren is spreading will help many people come to Christ because her music is on mainstream radio.
That's really all I have to say about that. If you'd like to hear more about the article on anxiety I was talking about above, let me know in the comments. Also tell me your thoughts on Lauren Daigle and if I changed your mind or made you think in any kind of way.
Bye for now.
~Hope
3/3/19
Hillsong// How Our World Is Failing
Hello. It's been a while.
I can't say I'm back for good. I can say I have a lot on my mind right now that I need to get out there. What I'm going to say here, a lot of people may not like. And I'm okay with that. But if you're going to try and say inappropriate things to me in the comments, I have a way of dealing with such things and you won't like it.
Anyway, yesterday, I was scrolling through YouTube when I found a video that kind of interested me about Hillsong Church. I've known for a long time that Hillsong is a scam. The other day, on the radio, one of their songs was playing and I didn't know it was them, or else I would have changed it. It was a beautiful song, but my problem is the conviction behind it isn't what they claim it to be.
I will link the video here if you would like to watch it for yourself. It isn't long at all and it's very informative. Of course, it's always from one perspective and everyone is going to have an opinion. So, it's important to conduct your own research. Which I did.
This is what I found...
(My opinions will be in parentheses.)
Hillsong Church is a Christian Mega Church. It originated in Sydney, Australia. Brian Houston founded the church with his wife, Bobbie. They are both pastors at the church. Their son, Joel Houston, is a worship leader of Hillsong United, one of the many "bands" that have been played on Christian radio stations.
Joel is married to Esther Houston. She has a clothing line with clothes that are extremely sexy and graphic.
As of November of 2018, Brian Houston, founder of the church, is under investigation for covering up his father's crimes of sexual abuse of young children.
A former member of Hillsong, Tanya Levin, has openly stated Hillsong is toxic Christianity, that the church suppresses free thought and wants to rule over you. (Sounds kind of like a cult to me.)
Carl Lentz, one of the American Pastors of one of the Hillsong Braches in New York, (because churches have branches, right? churches expand like a franchise all over the world?) is known for dancing around big social issues, such as Homosexuality and Abortion. I will link a video on those topics here.
(why is the view the place where people all of a sudden think abortion is okay?? How is calling anyone out on Twitter brave? we hide behind our phone screens. Ugh, this video angered me, but it shows just what this "Pastor" believes. He is not a Pastor of the Lord.)
So that's what I found about Hillsong. Besides that, there are books dating far enough back that Brian Houston wrote about making money, and if I recall, they were about scams to make money.
Lauren Daigle is a different topic that I also felt compelled to talk about. If anyone is interested in my opinions about the controversy about her, comment below. I will write a part two to this post.
Also, tell me what you think. What is your opinion on Hillsong? Have you learned something you didn't know before?
Comment below and start the conversation.
God bless each and every one of you. We are the change. <3
I can't say I'm back for good. I can say I have a lot on my mind right now that I need to get out there. What I'm going to say here, a lot of people may not like. And I'm okay with that. But if you're going to try and say inappropriate things to me in the comments, I have a way of dealing with such things and you won't like it.
Anyway, yesterday, I was scrolling through YouTube when I found a video that kind of interested me about Hillsong Church. I've known for a long time that Hillsong is a scam. The other day, on the radio, one of their songs was playing and I didn't know it was them, or else I would have changed it. It was a beautiful song, but my problem is the conviction behind it isn't what they claim it to be.
I will link the video here if you would like to watch it for yourself. It isn't long at all and it's very informative. Of course, it's always from one perspective and everyone is going to have an opinion. So, it's important to conduct your own research. Which I did.
This is what I found...
(My opinions will be in parentheses.)
Hillsong Church is a Christian Mega Church. It originated in Sydney, Australia. Brian Houston founded the church with his wife, Bobbie. They are both pastors at the church. Their son, Joel Houston, is a worship leader of Hillsong United, one of the many "bands" that have been played on Christian radio stations.
Joel is married to Esther Houston. She has a clothing line with clothes that are extremely sexy and graphic.
As of November of 2018, Brian Houston, founder of the church, is under investigation for covering up his father's crimes of sexual abuse of young children.
A former member of Hillsong, Tanya Levin, has openly stated Hillsong is toxic Christianity, that the church suppresses free thought and wants to rule over you. (Sounds kind of like a cult to me.)
Carl Lentz, one of the American Pastors of one of the Hillsong Braches in New York, (because churches have branches, right? churches expand like a franchise all over the world?) is known for dancing around big social issues, such as Homosexuality and Abortion. I will link a video on those topics here.
(why is the view the place where people all of a sudden think abortion is okay?? How is calling anyone out on Twitter brave? we hide behind our phone screens. Ugh, this video angered me, but it shows just what this "Pastor" believes. He is not a Pastor of the Lord.)
So that's what I found about Hillsong. Besides that, there are books dating far enough back that Brian Houston wrote about making money, and if I recall, they were about scams to make money.
Lauren Daigle is a different topic that I also felt compelled to talk about. If anyone is interested in my opinions about the controversy about her, comment below. I will write a part two to this post.
Also, tell me what you think. What is your opinion on Hillsong? Have you learned something you didn't know before?
Comment below and start the conversation.
God bless each and every one of you. We are the change. <3
1/10/19
If Your Heart Is Hurting...
We don't need any more brokenness in our lives.
Our hearts hurt and we try to fit a design the world made, a design we were never meant to fit.
Something new, something coveted, something we have to have
Occupies our minds more than what is already in front of us.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm trying something new if you couldn't tell. Sometimes, we have a lot on our minds and the way I best let it come out is by writing my feelings down or painting something. But lately, I haven't had much time for either, hence the fact that I haven't been very present.
My priorities lie somewhere else andmost times honestly sometimes, this blog falls on the backburner.
I created this blog to speak my mind.
And sometimes my mind isn't filled with the political and social issues of our country. Sometimes, it's filled with the sadness of the fact that we aren't reaching our full potential. We have so much to offer and we fall short of what we could be out of fear, out of worry, out of holding back.
I don't know if any of this makes sense, or if I'm rambling nonsense. For all I know, this post won't be posted, or if it is, I might delete it later.
Life is beautiful.
Sometimes it's hard to see.
But there is a rainbow to every storm and a shining sun waiting to peek out from the clouds. Life can suck sometimes. (I'm very aware of this right now, haha.) But there is so much life has to offer to us.
And we have a higher purpose.
So reach for the stars because you shine like one. <3
(This is what happens when you ramble late at night.)
Our hearts hurt and we try to fit a design the world made, a design we were never meant to fit.
Something new, something coveted, something we have to have
Occupies our minds more than what is already in front of us.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm trying something new if you couldn't tell. Sometimes, we have a lot on our minds and the way I best let it come out is by writing my feelings down or painting something. But lately, I haven't had much time for either, hence the fact that I haven't been very present.
My priorities lie somewhere else and
I created this blog to speak my mind.
And sometimes my mind isn't filled with the political and social issues of our country. Sometimes, it's filled with the sadness of the fact that we aren't reaching our full potential. We have so much to offer and we fall short of what we could be out of fear, out of worry, out of holding back.
I don't know if any of this makes sense, or if I'm rambling nonsense. For all I know, this post won't be posted, or if it is, I might delete it later.
Life is beautiful.
Sometimes it's hard to see.
But there is a rainbow to every storm and a shining sun waiting to peek out from the clouds. Life can suck sometimes. (I'm very aware of this right now, haha.) But there is so much life has to offer to us.
And we have a higher purpose.
So reach for the stars because you shine like one. <3
(This is what happens when you ramble late at night.)
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