Matthew 22:37-39

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."  ~Matthew 22:37-39

This is the Verse of the Day today, and it is quite appropriate for what's weighing heavy on my heart:  Bullying. 

Last night I found a publicly posted situation between two of the kids from the youth group, and it broke my heart.  I'm not going into any further detail than that, but man.... it's a prime example of the hypocracy in Christianity that is such a turn-off to so many others!  How does someone who's raised in a loving, Christian household with kind and gentle parents resort to public humiliation and slander for entertainment?  How does gossip really, truly make you feel better about anything you do? 

Choosing to call yourself Christian and then choosing actions motivated by anything LESS than Christ's love is a travesty to Christianity.  It's a false, absurd, distorted representation of what Matthew writes, of what Jesus teaches us. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  You NEVER know when your actions or inactions may affect someone's life, for the better or worse.  You may be the last person they speak with before they decide to end their life.  You may be the person they speak with that helps them change their mind about ending their life.  You may be the person they speak with who turns them off once and for all from what they think is a joke-of-a-Christian.  You may be the person they speak with who helps them see that Christianity is no joke. 

"Love your neighbor as yourself."  That doesn't mean look in the mirror and tell yourself that you're a bitch or a slut (and I'm quoting that).  It means looking at those around you and saying the same thing you'd say if you were looking in a mirror..."You look good today." "That outfit compliments your figure." "Your hair looks really nice.".... You get the idea! 

None of us are perfect, but we can definitely make a more concious effort each and every day.  That's a direct order from J.C. right there.  Forget wondering how someone sleeps at night after tearing someone down.... they've got to work to make things right between themselves and God. 

The Logan Foundation

Shortly before Christmas 2013 my friend lost her son to a very tragic suicide.  He lived with his father and stepmother in another state, and it's been.... an experience beyond words for her.

In Logan's memory, she has managed to establish two non-profit organizations over the last 6 weeks!  One of them is to build a loving, safe, supportive network to help stop teen suicide.  The other is to raise funds for a park in Logan's name. 

Please visit The Logan Foundation website for more information and for donation and volunteer opportunities!
 

The starting cost for a park to be built/dedicated is around $50,000.  *wince*  It sounds like a lot, well, because it is!  Any little bit helps. 
~
Suicide is no joke.  It's not taboo.  It's real.  It's a discussion that needs to be had.  It's a subject that can't be brushed to the side or hidden in the closet.  TALK ABOUT IT.  I promise you, if someone is truly suicidal, you bringing it up - out of genuine concern - is not going to make them follow through.  Discussing it with someone who battles depression will not push them over the edge or plant the idea to end their own life. 

Don't be a mannequin in someones life.  Take an active role.  Open that line of communication, and leave it open! 

It might save someones life.