a question has been brought to my attention recently that is quite challenging.

what is the difference between me and my group of friends and non-christians?

sometimes it seems like the only difference is that we pray before we eat. it's getting to me... what is the difference? i mean besides the obvious sunday school answers. we believe in Jesus and his saving work on the cross. we have the Holy Spirit in us. we believe that God is our all loving Father. but how is all that shown in a tangible way to outsiders?

i started reading a new book. it's called unchristian. it's one of those books that's been sitting on my shelf that i bought from upper room maybe a year ago. i was so excited to read it when i first bought it. and after a long time now, i'm still pretty excited to read it. it's a book about how non-christians (or outsiders as the book terms it) view today's christians in a negative light and why that matters.

We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.

according to national surveys that the writers studied.. the top 3 common perceptions of christians today are that we are anti-homosexual, judgemental, and hypocritical.

why do ppl associate us more with things we are against rather than JESUS who is the person we carry around in our name?

another small interesting thing from what i've read so far is about the way we address ppl who don't believe in God. non-christians would be the most popular term among my circles. pagans, the lost, seekers, non-believers. apparently all these names can be viewed as offensive. that's why the book uses the term "outsiders". the writers don't even like using that term but they have to use something.

Labeling people can undermine our ability to see them as human beings and as individuals.

i think it's time to be a lot more aware of the way i act around my non-christian friends. and i guess even around my christian friends come to think of it. Holy Spirit give me guidance!

the strike is ending!!!? the question mark at the end indicates that little bit of lingering uncertainty.

gonna be sooooo weird to be back at school.. altho very enjoyable. having my classmate jules back and reminiscing about our first 2 months of school has been good times.. lots of laughs and fun times!.......... will finally resume.

still reading that book from yp.. yes i'm an incredibly slow reader. because i hardly read :P but i wanna read a lot more often this year!! i should probably set a goal. but setting realistic goals is a difficult task. anywaysss.. a few quotes.

Good is always the enemy of the best.

something i've had to learn the hard way a couple times...... but turning over a new leaf and trusting God to always provide the BEST!

Let me not slumber in the refreshment of this season. Let me respond rightly. Help me respond rightly. Oh, give me the grace to respond rightly.

it talked about how there are seasons in the christian walk. spring and winter. spring is a time of growth, discovering, and new things. winter is a time to remember and reflect. altho it is physically the season of winter right now.. i feel like it is spiritually the season of spring for me. the summer was actually winter. so i pray that during this time of refreshment.. i will not become lazy.. but press on forwards! all the while resting... and hoping that i am responding rightly.