Alexithymia

You may have looked at the title with a puzzled look on your face. After all...what on earth is "alexithymia"? First of all, "Alexithymia" is one of my favorite songs by Anberlin. It took me a while to fully understand the meaning of this song, until I learned what alexithymia actually was.

According to Wikipedia, alexithymia is a personality trait in which a person has a hard time expressing his feelings. That shed a whole new light on the meaning of the song. Pretty much the meaning of the song is how people have a hard time communicating with each other, especially when it comes to deep topics. However, my favorite line of the song goes like this:

"It's not that we don't talk; it's just no one really listens and honesty fades."

How true is that statement! Everyone wants to talk. Everyone wants to express themselves. Everyone wants to share what's deep inside of them. Everyone wants to tell one person--at least one person--what's really going on. The problem isn't that we don't talk. The problem is that no one wants to listen. No one wants to share their problems with others because not everyone is honest. There's always the fear of gossip, and that if we tell someone else what's happening, they'll be thinking things about us.

Today, we have so many ways to communicate--texting, emailing, IMing (instant messaging, in case you don't know!), blogging, Facebook, and of course, the classic phonecall. With all these ways to communicate, why is communicating still so difficult? Perhaps it's the selfishness inside every one of us. While I was in Corpus Christi, the pastor leading the youth told us that it's so easy to talk, but it's hard to listen (Justin remembers, right? :D). When we're listening, we get impatient. That's the problem with communication. It's not that we don't talk; it's just no one really listens. That's why we don't want to communicate at all, because we know that no one will listen anyways.

So what are we supposed to do? Proverbs 11:25:

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

Just like this verse says, instead of trying to "refresh" ourselves, we need to "refresh" others. Instead of wallowing in our own problems and hoping for someone to walk up and encourage us, why don't we encourage others first? Like what the pastor in Corpus Christi said, sometimes all we have to do is listen. We don't even have to say a word. We just need to listen. Not just hear, but listen. Have you ever vented to someone? Wasn't that so refreshing just to let everything out and have someone listen? Did the other person have to say anything? No, but you were still grateful that you had them there just to listen to you. And if we take the time to listen, to encourage, and to refresh others, we ourselves will be refreshed!

So many people need someone that will just take the time to listen to them and to encourage them. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to listen and not everyone is trustworthy. However, we can change that by starting with changing ourselves. Someone might be needing your encouragement and a listening ear.

Someone might be me.

Have you noticed......

To be honest I like to listen to mostly rock and hard rock, and not only Christian rock but also to some of the popular secular rock bands. But one thing I noticed that all the secular rock bands had in common was their lyrics. Most of them are about broken love, depression, suicide, and despair. Not that the music sounds bad, many of those songs sound really good, and there's a lot of skill involved in playing them. But when it comes right down to it, why are they so depressing? Because being a musician is kind if like being an artist. An artist often looks around them and paints what they see. I think it's the same with musicians, they look around themselves and see these things. And it comes out in music, often enough it's something that actually happened to them. Since they see no hope in life that's the kind of music they sing about.
And that's what I think is the BIG difference between Christian bands and secular, they have no hope, but praise God we have been given hope through our Lord Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. And so Christian bands like David Crowder and 4Him have something to sing about, someone to worship, just like we were designed to do from the start.

Don't know if that makes any sense but I had to say that.

Can't you see the Resemblance?

On Friday night I went to a concert with my best friend, Samantha, featuring Skillet and The David Crowder Band. During one of the songs we got together with a youth group that was sitting in front of us. We all linked arms and started jumping up and down singing songs to our maker. We were covered from head to toe in sweat, our hair looked like a bird's nest (well, mine anyways), yet here we were singing out our hearts. I had no idea who was standing next to me (well, besides Samantha), but something kept coming to mind. We are all brothers and sisters, better than that, our father is God! I looked over the whole crowd thinking how cool it was that we all have the same dad! That all these people love God like I do. That's why I love going to christian concerts, it's just you, God, and your bros & sisses. You can't experience anything like that at a concert like, say, the Jonas Brothers : P God is a bazillion times more awesome than them! ~Grace

Not So Fabulous...

My thoughts for Proverbs 3:13-35:

"Ask for whatever you want me to give you." -God (2 Chronicles 1:7b)

FABULOUS! Okay, God's not telling this to everyone, just Solomon. *sigh* When Solomon became king, God told Solomon that He'll give him anything he wanted. If God asked you that, what would you ask for? I know some of us like to cheat and say, "I ask that You keep asking me," just like how we cheat on our birthday by wishing for a million more wishes when we blow out the candle.*

*I didn't do that, by the way.

But of all things, Solomon replied, "Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people." (2 Chronicles 1:10a)

And as a result, God said, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)

I think Solomon wrote Proverbs 3:13-18 based on this experience. Wisdom is more valuable than riches.

13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

I can think of a bunch of people with riches but no wisdom. Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan...big stars with big money, living a glamorous lifestyle, getting everything they want. But with everything they have, are they happy? When you hear the name Britney Spears what comes to mind? Issues...

Exactly.

There's nothing wrong with being rich; but without wisdom, we'll become like a very unhappy, very unfabulous Sharpay Evans.

Instead, let's be like King Solomon and CHOOSE WISDOM!

QUESTION:

Since I got verses 26-35 messed up on the schedule, let's give them some spotlight and discuss some of the "do not" verses. The one that stood out to me was verse 27:

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."

To me, this verse meant that I need to do good to others that "deserve it." Who are the people that "deserve" our good deeds? What are some ways we can do good to them?

Also, feel free to put which verse (v. 26-35) stood out to you.

WAKE UP! WAKE UP!

Here's what I thought about yesterday's and today's reading...

Half asleep...I'm so bored counting sheep.

From reading Proverbs before, I found these verses underlined:

Proverbs 1:32-33- "For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complaceny of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me [wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs is all about wisdom. Of course, everyone wants wisdom! Everyone wants to be smart. Everyone wants to make the right choice the first time, right?

I honestly have to question that. Some people say, "Well, not everyone is born smart." Well, no one is born smart. Is a baby born already able to walk, talk, and solve algebra? No. We all had to learn. I believe that everyone, every person in the world can be intelligent--they just have to choose to be. I think that most of us kids these days literally don't want wisdom. Sorry to say, but no one really wants to think anymore. Kids like to spend the day sleeping, watching movies, texting our friends, and surfing the Internet. School is coming up...do we want to go back? No. Sure, I've said that I miss school, but I know deep in my heart that I don't miss school and I don't want to go back and start using my head again. I'd much rather stay here on the computer, googling music videos like "Wake Up! Wake Up!" by Everyday Sunday...not even thinking about what that song is trying to say:

'Cause I don't want to keep sleepwalking through endless days/I've had enough of going nowhere/God, I want to wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP!

Trey Pearson, lead singer of Everyday Sunday, says, "'Wake Up! Wake Up!'" is about realizing we all have a crucial role to play in God's story, not just going through the motions, wasting our life in boredom."

Even Wavorly tells us, "So many days go by where our focus is to be entertained, rather than loving and helping others and fulfilling the great commission."

Or Leeland, "We're not called to live a normal life, but to be constantly going forward, witnessing and advancing the kingdom of God."

Okay, so why are all the bands telling us to get off our seat? Because the complaceny of fools will destroy them! As much as I don't want to get out of my comfort zone, I have to. I don't want to be destroyed.

We always feel safe inside church--sing a few songs, listen to the preacher, chat with your friends, then go home. No danger. No risk. No worries...there's more to Christian life than that! We need to get out and change the world! We need to tell our non-Christian friends about Jesus, help our Christian friends grow in their faith--and as a result, we ourselves will get closer to God.

Do you want to be smart? If so, let's fear God, since it's the beginning of knowledge. Also, remember what we read today in Proverbs (verses 3-5):

"if you call out for insight and cry aloud of understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

WAKE UP! Search for wisdom, and you will find it.

In Full View of All the Birds

Here are my thoughts on today's reading!

Today, we all read Proverbs 1:8-19. This passage talks about being pressured by others to do the wrong thing.

Many teen movies like High School Musical and others stress the same message--be yourself. Be like Troy and Gabriella. Choose to do something different, and everyone else will understand and like you and dance around singing, "We're all in this together!" Reality is so totally like that...right?

I think we're old enough to understand that life is not High School Musical. Even the real Troy

and Gabriella have made mistakes. At our age, everyone wants to fit in. Everyone wants to have friends and feel accepted. So if no one accepts us, we find ways to make others accept us. Then we adjust our tastes...change our wardrobe, buy new CDs, and maybe add or subtract a few words from our vocabulary. Eventually, we're so sucked in that we change into "one of them."

Remember the first two verses we read today? When we go back to school this year, let's remember who we are. Homeschooled kids are not exempt--don't leave the house forgetting what you've learned at home. We are Christians first and foremost. We need to put our foot down, draw the line, and be who we are whether people accept it or not. At the Liberate Conference I recently went to, one speaker said, "Let's quit being pressured and be the peer pressure."

"Do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood." (Proverbs 1:15-16)

Sure, there's nothing wrong with making friends; but friends aren't perfect. We should be careful with who we decide to hang out with.

Right after Proverbs 1:15-16 is obviously verse 17: "How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!"

QUESTION

I thought this verse was pretty interesting. A net in full view of all the birds--an obvious trap. What do you think Solomon meant by this verse?

Thanks for your time!

~Samantha

Proverbs

It's not fun to have a car and not drive it...it's not fun to have a Bible and not read it!

It's time to begin! Together, we will be reading the book of...

PROVERBS

Here is what The Holman's Illustrated Study Bible has to say about it...

Proverbs gives positive and negative principles of successful living, no matter the situation. The book applies to everyday life; the great commandments to love God supremely and to love one's neighbors as oneself. Proverbs shows that humans may live by a right way or a wrong way, a wise way or a foolish way. The right way is not the easy way, but those who live by it find great reward. All of life's relationships may be governed by the wise teachings of this book.

Here is the August reading schedule for Proverbs starting Sunday, August 10. A good idea would be to print this out and stick it in your Bible:
August 10- Proverbs 1:1-7
August 11- Proverbs 1:8-19
August 12- Proverbs 1:20-33
August 13- Proverbs 2:1-11
August 14- Proverbs 2:12-22
August 15- Proverbs 3:1-12
August 16- Proverbs 3:13-25
August 17- Proverbs 4:1-19
August 18- Proverbs 4:20-27
August 19- Proverbs 5
August 20- Proverbs 6:1-19
August 21- Proverbs 6:20-35
August 22- Proverbs 7
August 23- Proverbs 8:1-21
August 24- Proverbs 8:22-36
August 25- Proverbs 9
August 26- Proverbs 10:1-15
August 27- Proverbs 10:15-32
August 28- Proverbs 11:1-15
August 29- Proverbs 11:16-31
August 30-Proverbs 12:1-15
August 31- Proverbs 12:16-28

As you read...

• Watch for verses that stick out and underline/highlight them.
• Think about how the passage relates to your life today.
• Pray and ask God to help you apply what you learned.
• Think, What exciting things has God done to me since I started reading this week?

Another good idea would be to get yourself a journal and write down your thoughts about the day's passage and what you've learned. Journaling will help you keep track of what you've been learning, and you can use this journal to help you when you blog.

Remember--It's not fun to have a car and not drive it...it's not fun to have a Bible and not read it! Christian life is an adventure! With that said, let's start! Ready, set, go go go!*Also, be thinking about what we can officially name our blog! This is YOUR blog (unless, of course, you haven't accepted your invitation yet!) Post your ideas in the comment section, and I will make a poll so we can vote on an official name!

The Challenge

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

-Jesus Christ (John 10:10b)

Jesus came so we can live life to the fullest, so why does being a Christian seem so boring? Sitting in church, listening to Christian music, wearing the Christian t-shirt...is that all there is to it?

The answer is plain and simple: NO!

Many of us have taken the cliche "knowing God" for granted. Think about it--knowing God. Imagine...the God that created the universe, the God that planned the story of the earth...imagine being as close to Him as you are to the computer you're staring at right now.

Life is an adventure--good times, bad times, making friends, losing friends, school, marriage, careers, success, and failure. What if you had a friend that was there with you to walk you through the seasons of life? Yeah, right. Nobody's perfect. But God is. And to have God holding your hand every step of the way, that's huge.

So how do you get that close to God?

GETTING INTO GOD'S WORD!

Picture it like this:

• Reading the Bible - God talks to you.


• Praying - You talk to God.

Sound like fun? Together, we will be reading a certain book in the Bible. Everyone will read the same passage, on the same day, and head to the same blog (this blog!) to discuss what God has been teaching us and what He has been doing in our lives.

I guarantee when you join this challenge, God will do something amazing to you. I can't tell you what it is, but I will tell you things have been happening to me since I started seriously getting into God's word and praying regularly.

It's about time we stopped thinking that Christianity is a religion and start knowing that Christianity is a forever friendship with God!

If you want to join, post a comment on this blog with your email address and I will send you an official invitation for access inside this blog so you can start posting your own blogs.

I can't wait to see what incredible things are going to happen! ~Samantha