What If We Valued All Human Life?

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Across the nation church services today have been dedicated to celebrating human life as starting at conception and outlining the evils of abortion. that is not what this blog is dedicated to. Don't get me wrong, I hate the very idea of abortion. I've worked at a pro-life pregnancy center. I firmly believe that abortion shouldn't be the option that it is today. I agree whole-heartedly with Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and if you want me to talk about it, I can go for hours on how I feel about abortion. But that isn't what I want to focus on today. I want to focus on the fact that despite the fact that millions of Christians are proclaiming the value of life loud and proud when it comes to the topic of abortion, those same Christians are the people constantly degrading those around them who live a different lifestyle or have a different belief system, or look different than they do.

It breaks my heart that so many of the people I know who are Christians - not just church-goers, but actual Christians - are the same ones who will see a homosexual couple in a store and make comments about it being "gross" or "nasty" instead of showing love. I will see these people react to mixed-race couples with disgust without even taking the time to talk to either person in the couple. I see these Christians balk at the idea of even holding a conservation with someone who is of a different religion unless they are on a mission trip hours from "home." How can we call ourselves "little Christs" (which is what "christians" means) when we don't show love to those we deem unworthy of our love and compassion? We will sit and talk for hours with those that we are similar to, listening to every struggle and situation with compassion and curiosity. Why don't we do this with those who are markedly different from us?

I used to hate the term "homophobic" because I always said that just because someone doesn't agree with someone doesn't make them afraid of them. Unfortunately, it is hard for me to justify not using that term when referring to most Christians. I constantly witness Christians act like they are terrified with someone else will wear off on them with their struggles or situations. guess what: you are not going to catch homosexuality any more than you can catch a skin color or a chemical imbalance such as depression. You simply can't. So, please, quit acting like you will.

Someone being gay or practicing any act that you don't agree with isn't a reason for you to shun them or act disgusted by them. If anything, these are reasons to go out of your way to show them the love of Jesus. Trust me, you aren't going to make a positive impact on someone by condemning them or being so disgusted by them that you don't even want to sit on the same pew as them.

After all, who are we to judge fellow sinners? That's right, fellow sinners. It isn't the Christian's place to judge. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned. Not some, not everyone else, not just those who don't agree with you, but everyone. How can we judge others when we are just as guilty? Our duty is to show God's love and compassion. We can't fully celebrate the value of all human life until we show that we see all of human life as valuable. My prayer on this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is for more than the end of abortion. My prayers include:
1) the end of abortion in the U.S. and the world.
2) the end of Christians judging others while complaining about our own persecution.
3) for Christians to show the love they profess even when it isn't easy.


I'm attaching a link to a wonderfully written article that includes a very well-spoken speech by Diane Bass, the Southern Baptist mother of gay celebrity Lance Bass. Read it. It is thought provoking and sparked this blog.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lance-bass/the-first-thing-my-mom-di_b_4556471.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment



And as a bonus, here's an awesome video for one of my favorite TobyMac songs:

Until next time!
-Ashlee

14 Plans for 2014 (pretend I actually posted this on New Year's Eve)

Well, 2013 is coming to a close and it’s time to start thinking about what we want to change in our lives for 2014. I normally make the same resolution year after year and end up stopping working on them a month or two into the new year. Then it’s wait ten months, make the resolutions again, and start the process all over again. This year, I’m going to try something a little different.

One of my best friends from high school (and the bride that I will be a MOH for this year) told me last week that she set 14 resolutions for herself for 2014. 14 for ’14. When she first told me this, my reaction was “holy cow that’s a lot of resolutions.” Then I thought about it. She might be on to something. My sister started a tradition of setting goals for each year at her birthday so this year it is “19 things before turning 20.” I like this concept even better. Not necessarily resolutions, but more of a combination list goals, bucket list items, etc. So thus begins a new tradition: 14 Plans for 2014.

My 14 Plans for 2014:

1. Read through the Bible COMPLETELY. I have started this the past two years and end up not finishing. I actually end up stopping before the end of April so this is hopefully lucky number 3.

2. Graduate undergrad with a Bachelors degree in Christian Counseling.

3. Blog at least once a week. Maybe putting a specific number on the goal will help me actually follow through with it since just putting “blog more” doesn’t seem to actually work.

4. Journal. I got a beautiful leather journal with the serenity prayer from my internship this year and I plan on putting it to use in 2014.

5. Take a road trip. Short or long. Road trips with friends are always a good idea.

6. No Sodas. Drink more water. Be less dependent on caffeine to stay awake at weird hours.

7. Take time for myself. I tend to go, go, go instead of taking time to smell the roses and I end up getting agitated or exhausted or both. In 2014, I am going to take time to enjoy life. Read more. Go to the movies occasionally. Just enjoy life.

8. Get organized, Stay organized.

9. Go somewhere I’ve never been. I am a travel geek but it amazes me how little I actually go somewhere completely new. This year, it’s happening.

10. Read 100 books. I tried this one last year as well. I want to at least get closer this year.

11. Start Christmas shopping before Black Friday. This year it was ridiculous trying to get everything bought and wrapped. Maybe if I buy throughout the year and wrap as I buy it will be easier and much less stressful.

12. Follow politics. It’s an election year, and as much as politics annoy me on facebook, I am eligible to vote, therefore I should at least know who to vote for without asking dad.

13. Procrastinate less. Considering I woke up on New Year’s Eve and my first thought was that I needed to finish writing my 14 Plans, I really need to work a lot on my procrastination.

14. Save $5 bills. I had a customer during the holidays say that she saved every $5 bill she got throughout the year and used it for Christmas shopping. She dropped about $200 on clothes for her family and still had a lot left over. This year, I’m going to give it a shot. Another way to not break the bank buying gifts.