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Monday, November 14, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Holy Status Update, Batman!
This may be a record for blogging twice in one day. At least for me. I accidentally caused a ruckus on my Facebook page this afternoon when I posted the following:
"Dear Duggars, Maybe instead of confusing fertility with holiness, you could adopt a child that needs a family. Children are a blessing, yes, but there are literally thousands of abandoned blessings sitting in their own filth while being trapped in their cribs/cages. But you go ahead and claim godliness while having baby #20. I'm sure the 147,000,000 waiting orphans understand."
The Duggars are a part of the Quiverfull movement. This is based off the verses Ps. 127:4-5 "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." They also site Gen. 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
There are lots more verses they use to defend their beliefs. You can easily find things on the Internet for yourself, and I quite frankly don't have time to go into every single verse and what-not here.
People who know me, know I am opinionated. If you have known me for more than 5 years, you will know I am also much more open minded and accepting now that I used to be. I rarely debate things. So I was surprised at my reaction when people reacted in favor of the Duggars and the Quiver full mentality.
Let me state a few things that I didn't get to this afternoon. People were commenting so fast, it was hard to keep up.
This next bit may shock you:
I was raised in a family that adopted the Quiver Full belief system. They joined a homeschool organization that was ubber strict, like the Duggars- in fact- the SAME one the Duggars are (or at least, were members of. (No music with a beat, no pants for women, and you willingly had all the children God gave you.) I went to countless meetings and get togethers. For hours and hours on end, I listened to this teaching. I promise it's not an exaggeration to say I spent at LEAST 9 weeks of my life listening to them teach about Full Quivers and other topics.
So, yes, I while I never bought the no dating/no pants, I DID buy into no birth control. I was going to trust God and accept His will. I had lots of heated debates where I defended my position. I was RIGHT. I was RIGHTEOUS. I had Bible verses to back me up.
Then there were a few years of 'real life' and maturing. I began to realize that not everything I had been taught was true. And it was very upsetting. I had to systematically look back at all the brainwashing (sorry- there's not a better word) that I had been thru all my teen years and into my 20s. Some things stood the test of study and research, but the Quiver Full beliefs did not.
You cannot pick and choose what verses you want to believe and use. You cannot look for Bible verse to back up what you already believe....you believe what you believe based on the Bible. There is a HUGE difference.
There were some times during my 'reshifting of beliefs' (as I call it), that it seemed like my whole life had been a lie. There were days when I was depressed and wanted to walk away from 'religion' all together. Growth hurts, and in the midst of it all the pastor that I had grown up with admitted to a 25 year affair. More angst.
I don't have all the kinks worked out of my thinking yet, but I am willing to study the Bible for MYSELF and not just believe what comes out of the pulpit on Sunday morning.
I have a great group of friends, and we think a lot alike, and even on the topics we don't, we can spar with each other and walk away friends. So even though the 90+ comments on my status may be astounding, I know they still accept me and I still accept them.
At least until I find out they are really serial killers, or something.
****If you are interested in what changed my mind about following the Quiver Full movement, you can read my friends blog HERE. She set up a whole blog dedicated to breaking down the beliefs. And she was raised almost exactly like me- same homeschool organization. In fact, it's how we met. And she is the only one from that time of my life I still talk to and wish I lived near.
"Dear Duggars, Maybe instead of confusing fertility with holiness, you could adopt a child that needs a family. Children are a blessing, yes, but there are literally thousands of abandoned blessings sitting in their own filth while being trapped in their cribs/cages. But you go ahead and claim godliness while having baby #20. I'm sure the 147,000,000 waiting orphans understand."
The Duggars are a part of the Quiverfull movement. This is based off the verses Ps. 127:4-5 "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." They also site Gen. 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
There are lots more verses they use to defend their beliefs. You can easily find things on the Internet for yourself, and I quite frankly don't have time to go into every single verse and what-not here.
People who know me, know I am opinionated. If you have known me for more than 5 years, you will know I am also much more open minded and accepting now that I used to be. I rarely debate things. So I was surprised at my reaction when people reacted in favor of the Duggars and the Quiver full mentality.
Let me state a few things that I didn't get to this afternoon. People were commenting so fast, it was hard to keep up.
This next bit may shock you:
I was raised in a family that adopted the Quiver Full belief system. They joined a homeschool organization that was ubber strict, like the Duggars- in fact- the SAME one the Duggars are (or at least, were members of. (No music with a beat, no pants for women, and you willingly had all the children God gave you.) I went to countless meetings and get togethers. For hours and hours on end, I listened to this teaching. I promise it's not an exaggeration to say I spent at LEAST 9 weeks of my life listening to them teach about Full Quivers and other topics.
So, yes, I while I never bought the no dating/no pants, I DID buy into no birth control. I was going to trust God and accept His will. I had lots of heated debates where I defended my position. I was RIGHT. I was RIGHTEOUS. I had Bible verses to back me up.
Then there were a few years of 'real life' and maturing. I began to realize that not everything I had been taught was true. And it was very upsetting. I had to systematically look back at all the brainwashing (sorry- there's not a better word) that I had been thru all my teen years and into my 20s. Some things stood the test of study and research, but the Quiver Full beliefs did not.
You cannot pick and choose what verses you want to believe and use. You cannot look for Bible verse to back up what you already believe....you believe what you believe based on the Bible. There is a HUGE difference.
There were some times during my 'reshifting of beliefs' (as I call it), that it seemed like my whole life had been a lie. There were days when I was depressed and wanted to walk away from 'religion' all together. Growth hurts, and in the midst of it all the pastor that I had grown up with admitted to a 25 year affair. More angst.
I don't have all the kinks worked out of my thinking yet, but I am willing to study the Bible for MYSELF and not just believe what comes out of the pulpit on Sunday morning.
I have a great group of friends, and we think a lot alike, and even on the topics we don't, we can spar with each other and walk away friends. So even though the 90+ comments on my status may be astounding, I know they still accept me and I still accept them.
At least until I find out they are really serial killers, or something.
****If you are interested in what changed my mind about following the Quiver Full movement, you can read my friends blog HERE. She set up a whole blog dedicated to breaking down the beliefs. And she was raised almost exactly like me- same homeschool organization. In fact, it's how we met. And she is the only one from that time of my life I still talk to and wish I lived near.
30 Days of Thanksgiving....Compacted
There is a trend on Facebook right now to count down to Thanksgiving with what you are thankful for. Being the rebel that I am, I am doing them all at once and on my blog. I don't want to play catch up or get behind, but I think listing what you're thankful for is a SUPER idea. And since I am in a super duper crappy mood today, I think now would be a great time to do this.
1.) I am thankful for God, His Son, and Holy Spirit. God, that He made me and has a plan and purpose for my life: Jesus, that He saved me and loves me and wants to have a relationship with me....ME, of all people....and Holy Spirit, that He prompts me to speak and to be quiet ;-)
2.) I am thankful for my family. We all love each other and have the same insane humor. They are always just a phone call away.
3.) I am thankful for Gabe, because he is the only person on the planet that could possibly love me unconditionally and not let my moods or tears phase him. We work as a team, and he leads our family with love, not an iron fist.
4.) I am thankful for Jadyn Anna, Ava Jane and Hadley Gabrielle. Jadyn was our miracle baby: due to complications she went into heart failure in the womb at 21 weeks. She was born early, but whole, and has since been checked by a cardiologist and declared well. Ava was the red headed baby I wanted my whole life. Her freckles, blue eyes, long blond eyelashes and facial expressions get me every time. Hadley was the baby that joined our family so seamlessly, I can't imagine life without her. She is smart and witty and loves to cuddle.
5.) I am thankful for 'K'. I am thankful she was brave enough after all her trauma, to fly halfway around the world to take a chance on us. I am thankful she loves us and misses us. I am thankful for her heart and her laughter. I am incredibly thankful to be her mama, with or without a paper that states it!
6.) I am thankful for our church- for the teaching, guidance, support and love. We would be lost without them.
7.) I am thankful for my friends, old and new. They are funny, helpful, willing to listen, willing to pray....willing to keep my kids and let me use their shower, willing to pass along clothes and shoes for the girls, willing to buy me coffee and lend me toothpaste ;-)
8.) Internet
9.) my soft bed
8.) a/c and heat
9.) hot water
10.) microwave ovens
11.) modern medicine
12.) Netflix
13.) chocolate and coffee
14.) a safe neighborhood for the kids to ride bikes in
15.) ink in my printer
16.) super fluffy socks and sweats
17.) washer/dryer
18.) dishwasher
19.) That thumbtacks and hot glue can take care of so much
20.) the choice to home school my kids
21.) autumn
22.) naps
23.) scented candles
24.) fire pits and marshmallows
25.) That Gabe rescued me from the error of my ways and showed me a better way to go....the way of the Gators. ;-)
26.) Memories of my grandparents
27.) a fall birthday
28.) my health
29.) love
30.) the smell of crayons and masking tape
1.) I am thankful for God, His Son, and Holy Spirit. God, that He made me and has a plan and purpose for my life: Jesus, that He saved me and loves me and wants to have a relationship with me....ME, of all people....and Holy Spirit, that He prompts me to speak and to be quiet ;-)
2.) I am thankful for my family. We all love each other and have the same insane humor. They are always just a phone call away.
3.) I am thankful for Gabe, because he is the only person on the planet that could possibly love me unconditionally and not let my moods or tears phase him. We work as a team, and he leads our family with love, not an iron fist.
4.) I am thankful for Jadyn Anna, Ava Jane and Hadley Gabrielle. Jadyn was our miracle baby: due to complications she went into heart failure in the womb at 21 weeks. She was born early, but whole, and has since been checked by a cardiologist and declared well. Ava was the red headed baby I wanted my whole life. Her freckles, blue eyes, long blond eyelashes and facial expressions get me every time. Hadley was the baby that joined our family so seamlessly, I can't imagine life without her. She is smart and witty and loves to cuddle.
5.) I am thankful for 'K'. I am thankful she was brave enough after all her trauma, to fly halfway around the world to take a chance on us. I am thankful she loves us and misses us. I am thankful for her heart and her laughter. I am incredibly thankful to be her mama, with or without a paper that states it!
6.) I am thankful for our church- for the teaching, guidance, support and love. We would be lost without them.
7.) I am thankful for my friends, old and new. They are funny, helpful, willing to listen, willing to pray....willing to keep my kids and let me use their shower, willing to pass along clothes and shoes for the girls, willing to buy me coffee and lend me toothpaste ;-)
8.) Internet
9.) my soft bed
8.) a/c and heat
9.) hot water
10.) microwave ovens
11.) modern medicine
12.) Netflix
13.) chocolate and coffee
14.) a safe neighborhood for the kids to ride bikes in
15.) ink in my printer
16.) super fluffy socks and sweats
17.) washer/dryer
18.) dishwasher
19.) That thumbtacks and hot glue can take care of so much
20.) the choice to home school my kids
21.) autumn
22.) naps
23.) scented candles
24.) fire pits and marshmallows
25.) That Gabe rescued me from the error of my ways and showed me a better way to go....the way of the Gators. ;-)
26.) Memories of my grandparents
27.) a fall birthday
28.) my health
29.) love
30.) the smell of crayons and masking tape
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