Why it isn't cool to be Christian...

First, I realize that this is a pretty loaded topic. If you have thoughts or opinions on this subject, please share. But please keep an open, educated mind and a thought out response.

Today, a man posted a sentence on a friends status about how Christian use the Bible as a weapon, using it to tear people down instead of build people up. That's when it all clicked, literally, I literally clicked "like". Tools are most often inanimate objects that can be picked up and used to create some sort of energy or reaction. There are generally only two types. One can be used to build things like a hammer or nail, the second can be used to destroy things like a sword or a bulldozer.
I do consider my self a "Christian". I believe and follow God, I pray and read the Bible but I don't identify myself under the label of Christianity. Mainly because of what Christianity has become. Many "Christians" nowadays use their religion as a tool to destroy those who do not believe the way they do. They judge before they see and say before they think. They are very quick to defend a belief that has been handed down from pastor to pastor and rarely create opinions and thoughts for themselves. They quote the Bible without knowing what the words really mean or what is on the next page.

In Sunday school, when I was young, I was force fed Bible verses. I never read the verses for myself, I was just told to memorize and recite. Being a pastors kid, you did what you were told. Growing up, I was told that believing in God was my only option. It was imperative, no other choice. Well, there really isn't. But I never got the chance to know God for who he really is, instead I was told to believe in him without knowing why. As I developed more of a conscious, God was no longer a relationship but more of some far away distant being that would zap you with lightening and thunder if you didn't strictly adhere to the way you were brought up. Going against the church was more wrong than disobeying God or treating people without kindness.

Now, there are good Christians out there. We are currently attending a church that surprises me every time I go there. The people there are true and good and it's amazing-and intimidating- how close they are with God. However, I am scared every time I cross the threshold of that church. Not because of the good people behind the doors but because of the other people that used to be hiding behind the pews, judging and whispering. Condemning you to Hell if you wore pants or watches or even if you talked to someone outside or your "church". Unfortunately, those "Christians" are the ones who stand out in the world. The world only sees the radicals. It's not cool to be Christians, not because the world twists the image of Christianity but because Christians themselves send out a negative image of what God is. They use the Bible as a weapon instead of a tool. They use it to cut people down, not build them up. As soon as they see sin in the world, they attack, destroying and distorting everything around them. They use the Bible as an excuse to judge and ridicule and gossip, quoting and manipulating scripture to fit their ideals.

As Christians, our first priority to love God and love people. Our current position in the world is one of judgment and force-feeding religion to people who simply don't want to hear it. If our own opinions are too loud, we can't hear the people reaching out to us. If we tear people down, we won't be able to build them up. So listen before you speak and love before you judge, let God take care of the rest.

Stay shiny, loves.

Facebook Hates

There are six things that I see everyday on Facebook that I absolutely hate. 

1) When people complain about the troubles of everyday life, acting like the world is out to destroy them. News flash: it isn't, stahp crying about it and move on. The world is so slam packed with negativity already. No one wants to hear about how your life is falling about because something did go your way today. 

2) When people talk about how lonely they are or how they don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend, ect. News flash part 2: Everyone is lonely. No one cares. The world isn't going to stop because he didn't text you back. In three years, you will forget her name. 

My advise: If you want to find a soul mate: Good things come to those who wait. There isn't just one type of soul mate. Your soul mate could be the best friend you've know since kindergarten. I could be the person you talk to every morning at Starbucks. You don't always have to create a life with your soul mate, maybe your soul mate is already in your life. 

3) When people post pictures of their feet at the beach. If you just look up, you'll see something way bigger and more beautiful than a few grains of Angel Fish poop. (By the way, Angel Fish create sand by excreting coral, their food source.) Go swim in the ocean. You'll feel better. 

4) When people complain about how terrible their day has been. Trust me when I say that if you have food, a house, and Wifi to have the freedom to complain about how terribly hard you have it, you don't have it very hard. 

5) Religious or political statuses that are completely one sided. I am not a religious person, nor do I give a crap about your political standing. I believe that if you have a good heart and if you do good things, there is a reward. I cannot stand when people post these types of beliefs on Facebook. I don't care if your a Democrat or Republican. There are more important things in life. Kings and queens die, presidents are outvoted, and your opinion will fade away as quickly as the setting sun. Why destroy friendships over something that is so fleeting. Just so you know, I serve God, not religion. I support all people who like to get married and the last president I liked was Winston Churchill. 

6) Also. This >>>>> , <<<<<< is a comma. Learn to use it. 

I try my hardest to not let these types of things leak onto my Facebook wall. I think is shows weak character to whine so much in such a public place. It's unladylike and ungentlemenly.

So. You should know, that when I saw I have had a really bad day. It's pretty bad. 

***I would like to say that this post is not directed at anyone in particular. These are my views, if you disagree with me, good for you! That means you are thinking for yourself. That also means you can keep it to yourself. ***

Rant number 5,380,296

I have an obsession with movies. I love watching them, I love making them. I cannot stand the idea of not being a filmmaker. But there is one thing that turns me off about movies. It's not the movies themselves, but the people who watch them.

Backstory:

 In the early parts of the 20th century, movies had just been born. They had just invited cameras that could make pictures movie and they learned that a pair of scissors and some tape could edit the rough parts out. People were immediately mesmerized by this. It was pure magic. People watched movies to be transported into different worlds, they watched to escape from their everyday, mundane lives. 

 Last night, my dad and I went to go see Oz: the Great and Powerful. As I sat down and began to listen to the people around me, I realized that our outlook of the film industry has changed. We now expect movies to be perfect 100% of the time, no matter the budget, no matter how much time it took to make. We have turned into pretentious, judgmental movie D-bags. Nothing is ever good enough. 

As we walk into the movie theatre, we have already judged the actors, the director, the set design, the makeup and costuming.  

I noticed that everyone thinks they are movie experts. They are the only ones who know how the movie really should have been shot. 

I myself am a victim of the judgement disease. Normally, I spend the whole movie looking for mistakes in editing and cinematography or gaps in the story that the screenwriter over looked. Last night, while watching Oz, I turned my film critic super powers off and just watched the movie for the sheer enjoyment of it. I must admit, even with my powers turned off, there were some mistakes that jumped out at me. But other then that, I genuinely enjoyed the movie. 

Every artist pours their heart, soul, body and mind in their art. Every artist wants their work to be heard and felt.  

Interlochen rant.

**Please note: this is my opinion. I respect yours but I don't wanna know it.**

I once agent to a magical place. Called interlochen. Where, the film program had thousands of brand new macbooks but the cabins where almost falling apart. There were years of signatures Sharpied onto the walls. There was no air conditioning and the windows came unlatched during storms. Sometimes the roof leaked and naughty things drawn on the walls of the bathrooms. There were only two showers, they were disgusting but you would still fight to the death over using one of them. Now... something tragic is happening. The are IMPROVING IT!!! They are painting over the signatures and pictures, putting in cooling fans and fixing the roofing and bathrooms. What interlochen doesn't seem to understand. we are artists. We need places like those cabins to force us to capture our emotions and create masterpieces from it. You are an art school, not a private school that caters to rich, spoiled brats who want a/c and good food.

FILM RANT TIME

Film Rant: My film teacher is one of those cocky, egotistical people who acts like they know absolutely everything about film and the Hollywood movie industry. Its funny though... I thought to be a filmmaker, you actually have to make at least one movie in your life time and if you're going to be an expert about the industry, that you've had to have actual experience working on a film set. I guess I still have a lot to learn.... oh yeah, Mr Smartypants McStupidface, Orson Welles is so much better Von Trier.

35 mph

Sometimes when I am driving, I come across an area that you are only allowed to go 35 MPH in. As a person, I am highly impatient and like to get things done quickly. Sometimes, when I am driving in one of these zones, my left foot starts to get itchy and gets like 57 pounds heavier.
Also guys that smell good are automatically hot. 

The bright side of a chrashed computer...

There once was a very stupid girl who, while cleaning her too, knocked over a glass of water. She stared in horror as she watched the glass tumble over the black keys, the water rushing from the rim, covering the keyboard with the clear liquid. Everything was suddenly a blur as she dove for the towel carelessly thrown on the floor after this mornings shower. She quickly cover the computer, praying as hard as she could that the computer would soon return to its former glory. Over the next thirty minutes, she would be frantically texting her uncle Andy, in search of a solution to her lastest heart break and after doing everything he said and pacing around the kitchen for an hour. She finally fell into a depression, which promptly insighted deep thoughts of life without her other half (MacBook Pro). These are the bright sides to having no Mac for a while.
*not as many distractions.
*can spend more time writing.
*can get in touch with the artist within.
*learn the guitar faster

Then, just as the bright side started getting brighter, darkness started to settle in. Her mind began to race against logic and her thoughts were all a blur. Now everything sucks and I hate this day. And I need my computer back before the semester starts. The end.