I think I've posted this quote before, but that's okay because it's a good quote.

e.e. cummings once wrote, "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."
When you're a child we're molded and disciplined by our parents and other authority. We're inspired to be like our big brothers and sisters. We try to be just like our favorite movie star or super hero.
When you're a teenager it's not only your parents you rebel against, but we fall into peer pressure. We try to be just like our friends or do things to be noticed/liked by others. To add on to that we try to copy what the media shows us as being ideal.
Then when you reach adulthood, you would think you wouldn't be so easily influenced  by the media and peer pressure, but we are. Even as we age we're then influenced by our children, spouses, doctors, and caretakers.
So I agree with cummings. It's hard to define who the self actually is when we are influenced by so many outside sources. Yes, these things mold us into who we are but it's from my experience that figuring out who we are is a never ending journey.

Christians are not perfect. Just forgiven.

I have that saying on a key chain that hangs with my keys. You know, I have friends that are not Christians. The ones who don't go to church. May believe that there's a god, but are not quite sure. Or you know, those one friends who grew up going to church and Sunday school, and confirmation class, but then they grew up and drifted away from that life. Some of those friends may claim to still be Christians but as the old saying goes, "Going to church makes you as much of a Christian as sitting in the garage makes you a car."
I think sometimes people choose not to be Christians because they think they have to give up all their fun and I think they do view Christians as being stuck up....but just like my key chain says we're not perfect and we definitely don't call ourselves that, but we remember that when we do screw up we're forgiven. Now that doesn't mean we should take advantage of that. I strongly dislike the people who think it's okay to live together and have premarital sex. When you know it's wrong, why do you do it?
Another reason people may have a hard time believing is because they're afraid to put their trust in something. I've always had the philosophy though that if some how God doesn't end up being real and when I die I figure that out at least I believed in something and I'd rather believe and have Him not be real than to not believe and come to find that He is real. Probably not a good reason to be a Christian but hey, I'm not perfect. :)

In the words of C.S. Lewis "I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity."

I'm sure there are countless other reasons why people don't believe and I really don't know why I was thinking about this but I just felt the need to write about it. So if this was offensive I apologize and if you didn't like it then don't read it.

Collin McCarty

I think this dude is some kind of writer but I found this poem that I really love and really wanted to share it.

"Your presence is a present to the world. You're unique and one of a kind. Your life can be what you want it to be. Take the days just one at a time. Count your blessings, not your troubles. You'll make it through whatever comes along. Within you are so many answers. Understand, have courage, be strong. Don't put limits on yourself. So many dream are waiting to be realized. Decisions are too important to leave to chance. Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying. The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets. Remember that a little love goes a long way. Remember that a lot...goes forever. Remember that friendship is a wise investment. Life's treasures are people...together. Realize that it's never too late. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Have health and hope and happiness. Take the time to wish upon a star. And don't ever forget...for even a day...how very special you are."

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Liz of...the parsonage?

The past few days I've been on an Anne of Green Gables kick. Which if you've seen the movies or read the books, can you really blame me? They're wonderful! Every time I watch the movies it makes me wish that I was Anne. That I had red hair. That I lived during the early 20th century. That I was as creative and imaginative as she. That I was as witty and carefree as she. That I had Gilbert Blythe as my beau. :) Even that I was an orphan and nobody wanted me. Crazy isn't it? Anne is such as inspirational character. The more carefully I listened to her dialogue the more I realized that we all have a little Anne within us. I may not have her red hair or live in the early 20th century, but I think the lessons she learns are lessons we have  or will realize.

"I went looking for my ideals outside myself and discovered, it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it. The dreams dearest to my heart are right here."-Anne Shirley

The other quote I was going to put on here that I can't seemed to find had to do with Anne and Gil in the last movie Anne of Green Gable: the continuing story. After Anne and Gil return home they decide to give Green Gables to Diana and Fred. Anne finally realized that a home, it's not the place or the building itself, it's the people in it. That was a good lesson to learn. Especially when you're away at school and starting to get a little homesick. :)

I think Anne Shirley is definitely someone I aspire to be. I hope to be more like her not just in the ways of her imagination and creativity but also by her generosity and enthusiasm. Her love of life and love for others. And I am like her when it comes to my sarcasm and arguing with people, but Anne knows how to mend things and takes care of them a little better than I do.


I know this is not a very good picture but I don't really care. I was trying to get one where there wasn't any kissing. Besides finding myself a Gil is not the point. The point is the what the quote says. :)

I am a little church (no great cathedral)

i am a little church (no great cathedral)
far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities
-i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make April

my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth's own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying) children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection:
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope, and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains

i am a little church (far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish) at peace with nature
-i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing

winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him whose only now is forever:
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)

poem by e.e. cummings

e.e. cummings is probably my favorite (well, only) poet. On the wall next to my bed in the dorm I have this poem posted. Occasionally, when I'm having some technical difficulties I find myself looking over and reading this poem. Lately, this poem has been on my mind. There are so many things that I believe the poet is trying to say but the things that stick out the most to me are:

• You don't have to be big or fancy for your prayers or worship to count.
• It doesn't matter where you are or how you worship as long as He is the one you are worshipping.
• Not only should we rejoice in our happiness but also in our sufferings.
• You should not measure your amount of worth or how Christian you are by your actions alone nor by the number of people you share God with.
• We should rejoice even if it is just one person's life we change.
• Just like in my ASL class God only cares if you try.
• God knows your struggles.
• We need only plant the seed and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.
• Overall, always be rejoicing because we have so much to be thankful for. :)