Sheep Among Wolves...

Something mildly disturbing happened today. We held an event called "See You at the Pole", during which we all gather around the flagpole and pray.

Now, I understand that we aren't allowed to be picky as to who joins us. Such a thing would be hypocritical, and there's no way for us as human beings to tell who is honest and who is not.

However, one kid, the one standing next to me. He did one of the most disrespectful things I can think of doing. To understand, I suppose, one must also understand that I was raised very VERY Catholic, old school, centered a lot around ritual, and YES RESPECT. Therefore, everything having to do with prayer and service is to be treated with an amount of respect, even if you don't believe in it.

This kid, during my prayer, started mumbling about "smokin' a dubie".... It interrupted me... I know it shouldn't have, but an amount of fury welled up in me. That is simply something you DON'T DO. I understand freedom of speech, I understand that he had every right... But WHY would a person be so incredibly disrespectful, especially when they claim to Christianity themselves??

But alas, this post is not really about them, or my interrupted prayer, or The Pole... It's about something out of the bible that we all need to recall every now and then.

I refer myself to Matthew 10:16, "See, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves." (ISV)

This is a predictable happening. We are going to be the outcasts, and when we get together, we are all going to have to face the fact that we are the freaks... Like in Middle School, when the SciFi club got together, there was always the one guy, who would go undercover, simply to mock them. How? Because even in groups, even AMONG fellow Christians, we are still VASTLY outnumbered.

We are Sheep among Wolves. And let's face it, Wolves wouldn't be Wolves if they didn't try and bite every now and again.

Just remember, when this happens, don't react like I did, with wrath and resentment.

In the face of adversity, Be as cunning as snakes, and as innocent as doves.

-Bethany Faith

Starting Over...

Alright, so we're taught as kids about God, usually in a very weird, wildly incorrect way.

A lot of us were told things like, "Honey, be good and you won't go to Hell..."

These sort of philosophies are hammered into our brains as children, and often we grow up with a completely twisted thought of God... I know I did. The reason I began going to church again wasn't because I wanted a relationship with Christ. In fact, Christ, God, the Spirit, these were all just far off figures to me. People that existed and still exist, but in a way almost completely disconnected from myself.

Essentially, I began going to church again because I rationalized, "Assuming there IS a Hell... I certainly don't want to go there".

This is an ASTOUNDINGLY flawed thought. One doesn't come to Christ simply under the pretenses that they don't want eternal punishment, one truely comes to Christ because they either recognize that they can't do it on their own, or they truely want a relationship with Him...

So, sometime in life, one actually reads the Bible, and may find that "Oh, there are some contradictions in here with some things I learned as a kid." or, "What the Frik??? I've never heard THAT before..."

At this crossroad, we, as real followers of Christ, have to make a crucial choice... Do we remain in our thinking, and hope that we're right?.. Or do we do something that is near impossible and Start Over?

If you haven't done this yet, it's Just something to think about... But it's also something that we should all consider... If you have, then great!!! And if you never have, nor will ever have to, we should all be so fortunate...

-Bethany... :)

"TheReal234" ???

So, before I begin, I suppose I should clarify... Exactly what does "TheReal234" mean???

Well, it's simple... In trying to find a name, I was going through a bunch of names to coencide with the numbers "234". Both parts of the name mean different things...

234... It comes from what's always been one of my facorite verses, because it can mean so many things to so many people, and yet it's astounding simple... Psalm 23:4... Though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall fear no evil... That one just means a lot to me...

God is known as "The One", "The Way", "The Word".... I chose The Real, because, let's face it, in this crazy human-filled world, He's the only constant.

In a world of variables, in a world of "x"es... He's the only constant... The only REALLY REAL thing we've got.

TheReal234... :)

Ladies and Gentlemen...

I suppose introductions are in order.
My name is Bethany Faith. And I am a Christian. Simple as that.

But there is this great, understated truth about every Christian, which is that each one is different. Everyone comes to the Great Truth in their own way. Every one rationalizes, or chooses not to, loves, rejects, adores, and worships in their own way.

And I, being incredibly analytical and scientific in nature, am no different. I find that when people speak of Christ and their Salvation, very few have a mindset like mine. And I get incredibly excited thinking about helping people with my own Bethany-ness, with the help of God, of course. Let's face it, if I tried this on my own, it might not turn out too well.

Now, perhaps throughout this blog, you might learn more about me, but this is not about me.

This is about God.

- Bethany Faith