June 10, 2012

• Summer

   

  I haven't been to church in a while because of school, and some other things but I went recently and the topic of conversation/preaching was tithing- aka taxes, biblical giving, etc etc.

  For those of you who don't know, tithing, or tithe, means 1/10, which was tthe amount of income the people back then paid to the church as tax (I believe it was to the church). So what the pastor was discussing with us was how much togive, when to give, whom to give to, etc etc.

  I liked the sermon, it was insightful and had many points to ponder over. But I started feeling a bit uncomfortable at these sermons and I've been  getting this feeling quite often lately. These sermons, as good as they are, rarely focus on the family, the unit that should be the strongest, the people that deserve the most of your attention and love. 

  As he talked of  giving, I kept wondering about those who can't, and what influence this will have on their families. Possible things that could happen, that Iwas thinking of

  1.) they are now inspired to be better Christians and give in the name of God.

  2.) They will now, becuase of this sudden burst of inspiration, whether it be from guilt or passion or change, want to go out and give to all the homeless

  3.) They will not necessarily consult with their families or seriously consider those in their family and financial situations

  4.) People act upon passion too quickly

  5.) Now that they've decided to give, they perhaps give incorrectly. Whatever finances at home that need to be taken care of should be taken care of first.

  6.) - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  Or, the sermon about evangelism, going to another country and giving talks there. While I do think these are grand and courageous acts, I always wait for the moment when the pastor talks of the family. Without unity or stability in the family, or with loved ones, what example do we have to learn from? What, then, are we trying to change the world in to if those closest to us are falling apart, away from us? Isn't that the strongest, most courageous thing, confrontation?

  It's easy for us to be nice to strangers, to feel this chemistry and connection, to be helpful, and to feel renewed and want to form that connection with strangers. But to those whom we have taken to be our closest, be it family, friends, lovers, etc, we often tim avoid those necessary confrontations, treat them much more disrespectfully than those strangers or acquaintances,  and let our "true sides" show.

  It's great that you get to show your "true side," but if you truly love these people, change it. 

  The sermons, while very inspirational and true, take people away from their families instead of reminding them to build up on families. 

  As @paperblanks said and what I truly believe in, "I've always reasoned that whatever the change you want to be in the world, just make sure you start at home."

   home, loved ones, wahtever/whomever is closest to you. That is a true test of will and courage. I'm not trying to say that those who have left families are to be blamed or ridiculed, but those who have done so and left those closest to them, give to those who have done nothing for them yet cannot give back sufficiently to those who have done everything for them, that might be a problem. 

  I am not free of guilt in this aspect at all 

   

  _______________________________________________________________

   

  I finally have a desk!!!! After 13 years of not being able to sit at a desk to do homework in my house, I finally have one at home. It is amazing. 

  People talk of spring cleaning, but since spring break is a week long and usually my family is crazy, we leave that for summer since I'm home for much longer. I completely reorganized everything, reassembled the beds for my bro and sis, got myself a desk (it's small and just a board but it will seriously really suffice) and moved around couches and chairs and stuff. ahhh summer cleaning  

  so recently i took pictures for my bro bro for his prom and it was adorable. 

  waiting at her house 

   

  awkwardly trying to figure out the flower situation

  

  finally

   

   

  that suit took FOREVER to get..stood in line for so long, waited the next day to get it fitted, then waited again to get it sewed. Omg -.-

  But I was like d'awww!!! 

  And since summer's finanly here and the up and down weather is more or less rescinding, 

   

  

  at lake artemesia on le special day

  pulled out shorts from forever21 i got some time ago. I think 3 years ago?  and orange crop top from tobi (nastygal and those other stores also hhave/had the same ones)

  I was talking to some friends about favorite seasons during a guitar/singing around fire session, and a guy had said fall and a girl had said spring. Though the temperature here is at times suffocating during the summer season, it's still my favorite. It is the one time of year that I am truly free for a bit; it is a transition period, academically; it is a time when I have to be at home so that I am forced to both take hurt and heal; and of course, it is the time of the sunnn. It to me is a cleansing time. 

  (Now...fashion wise, autumn is my favorite! F/W over S/S)

  In the mean time, I will be figuring out how to remove toxins from my life, both in terms of food and emotions. 

  and buying a lamp because I've been using candlelight for a while, since I am not allowed to have my lamp. =[

   

  Lumineers- stubborn love 

  love them.

  	The Lumineers - Stubborn Love .mp3
  	Found at bee mp3 search engine

   

   

  • 8:40 pm
  • 18 Comments