"they dissect everything we say."

Yet another Hawk Nelson lyric.  Haha, I'm a band skipper I 'spose.  I'll really, really like one band, but after I know every single lyric to all of their songs, I'll move onto another one.  Horrible, I know, but it's true :)

As Christians, it's almost as if everyone is continually examining our every move.  We can't do anything wrong without it going unnoticed.  You slip up and say a cuss word and everyone goes ballistic.  You put down someone and you're automatically a hypocrite that doesn't love anyone and hates the world. Lame, I know.  But it happens.  A lot.

Maybe I see it more 'cause I'm in public school.  I don't know.  I just feel like I have to be perfect all day everyday.  And you all know that's impossible.  So how do we take this constant criticism without blowing up and ruining our reps (not to mention our witnesses)?

Well, I found some verses that pretty much spilled it out for me.  God wants us to take it.  He wants us to love on them, even if they're everything but loving to us.  Hard? Yes.  Doable? Yes...with His help.

1 Peter 2:23 (this one was my favorite) - When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

James 1:2-4 - Consider pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, and always perseveres.

So, on an ending note...

"You can take the one thing I have left, I'd give it all away for so much less.  Can even take the heart inside my chest, whoa, whoa.  You can take the one thing I have left, beat me to the ground and take my breath.  But you can't take who I am, whoa, whoa..."

hello: a post about guys.

"Every time I want to say hello, every time I want to stay, I go..."

This lyric is completely and wonderfully ingenious.  Just thought I should say that before I jump headfirst into this post.  Okay.  Now I can jump in ;)

I've written a few posts about guys, but none of them have really told you about my guy experiences (not that I've had all that many, haha).  But anyway, you're gonna hear a little more of Anna's mind than usual.

I'm not even going to try and act like I haven't had crushes, 'cause I have.  I've probably had at least 10 in my 15 years, not counting Jason Dunn, Matthew Thiessen, and all of those other amazingly blunt and witty artists out there.  And then of course there's Peter Pevensie, but, ya'll already knew that was coming...

The point is I like guys.  Whoa.  Did I just say that on a Christian blog?  Why, yes I did.  Because it's the truth.  A lot of Christian girls I know try to act like they've never had butterflies in their stomach or gotten all red when a certain guy comes around.  They're all 'I'm waiting for the right guy to come along and not looking at anyone else until he does'.

Well, for some of you that might be the case, but not for me.  Now I'm not telling you to not wait and to go have sex with some guy you think you're in love with.  Because you should wait.  I'm just saying that it's alright to like guys.  Thinking they're cute and cool to hang out with is fine...it's supposed to be that way.  But there is a difference bewteen liking and lusting.

Lusting is definined as a passionate or overwhelming desire or craving, or in my mind, more passion for a person than for God.  If a guy consumes your thoughts 24/7, if he's the name on your notebooks, your shooting star, well, to me, that's lusting.  He's become more important than your Savior.  And nothing should be more important than Him. (I believe He adressed that in the 10 Commandments).

I realized that I was lusting over a guy the other day, and I want it to stop.  There's a difference between daydreaming and thinking about constantly.  I noticed that all I think about is trying to impress him, hoping he'll talk to me.  And that's not the way it should be.  I'm supposed to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strenth (Matthew 22:37). Not some sophmore soccer jock.

So - there's my take on the whole thing.  And I know someone is going to ask this, so I might as well go ahead and answer.  Do you have I crush right now?  I do actually.  And I wish I had the guts to say hello.  Hence the song.  Hence the 'I like guys'.  Hence this post in general...

more than my next breath.

You open up Your arms // and give me a new start // i need You // i need You more than my next breath

Cussing gets on my nerves.  It just does.  It's unnecessary, rude, and pretty much pointless.  I've always felt that way.  And I never thought I would fall to such cheap tactics.  Never say never, though.

Yesterday -- I slipped.  I am so ashamed to admit it, but God saw it, so you guys might as well know, too.  

Now, I'm not trying to make excuses, but I want you to get the whole back story.  There's this kid in my gym class that really gets under my skin.  He's immature and just plain makes me angry.  Most freshman guys do, but his case of being annoying is ten times worse.  He was running his mouth (as usual), but for some reason, I just couldn't handle it.  Normally, I tend to let it roll off my back, but yesterday, it stuck.  And as I entered the locker room, I shouted, "Shut the **** up!"

All the girls stopped what they were doing to look at me, mouths hanging open from pure astonishment.  I literally wanted to crawl in a hole and die of embarrassment.  Anna, the Jesus freak, had just cursed.  I immediately started apologizing, but most of them just laughed it off.  Some people even told me they were proud of me.  But I felt awful about it.  I had just bruised my reputation... and even worse -- my witness.

I always have to have music playing to lull me to sleep.  Call me weird, but I have to.  Silence drives me crazy.  So last night, I stuck in 'Crazy Love' by Hawk Nelson.  And track four let me know even when I slip up, when make a mistake, even when I cuss -- He loves me anyway.

i know that i am loved // 'cause You bought me with your blood // i need You // i need you more than my next breath

if i was brave i'd write a letter to the president...

If you ask me, Hawk Nelson is completely ingenious.  But lucky for you this post isn't about Hawk Nelson.  'Cause if it was, you'd be reading for the next 24 hours ;)

No, it's about standing up for what's right.  *crowd gasps*

How else do I put it?  CHRISTIANS ARE BABIES.  And you're thinking, "Um, Anna, you say you're a Christian, so technically aren't you calling yourself a baby...?"

Okay, I admit it.  I AM A BABY WHEN IT COMES TO STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.

"Christians, we're all afraid of fire.  We prefer to suck on pacifiers."

I've sat through many a conversation about homosexuality, abortion - you name it - and not said a word.  Sure, if someone gets me fired up or challenges me.  But until then, I'm quieter than a mouse.

"If I was brave I'd write a letter to the President and he would pass it to the leaders of our Parliament.  But for now I won't say nothing..."

So right here, right now I'm gonna tell you exactly what I think.  America is going down the drain.  Why?

1. HOMOSEXUALITY.  I don't care how much you 'love' each other.  It's wrong, nasty, and God blatantly tells us it's detestable.  (Leviticus 20:13)

2. ABORTION.  It's murder.  It just is.  There's no other 'nice' way to put it.  That baby is an innocent, living creature of God - someone who shouldn't be taken for granted.  I wrote my research paper on it last year, so believe me, I know my stuff when it comes to this.  (Psalm 139:13-14)

3. SEX BEOFRE MARRIAGE.  God tells us to save ourselves, to be pure.  Paul even encourages staying single if you can control yourself from lusting!  (1 Corinthians 7:2)

"Not to mention date rape, felony, and car theft.  Break it down and tell me what we got left."

Nothing.  We have nothing but a nation that has flushed morals down the toliet.  But as for me, I'm not gonna take it anymore.  I can't stand to let teenagers to wonder what's right and what's wrong.  Okay, so maybe I won't write Obama a letter.  But I'm gonna voice my opinion, put in my two cents.  No more doormat.

"As for now I'll start with something."

[songs: "Down in Flames" by Relient K and "Letters to the President" by Hawk Nelson]

[...i wanna be innocent, Yours whole heartedly...]

The truth is, I don't feel like doing a full-fledged post right now.  So.  Here's whatcha get :)

Songs on replay:
-Letters to the President by Hawk Nelson
-Innocent by Stellar Kart
-There's A Place For Us by Carrie Underwood
-Identity by Lecrae
-Forward Motion by Relient K

Songs I'm dancing to:
-Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble
-How We Roll by Britt Nicole
-Centerfield by Stellar Kart
-The Change Inside of Me by Mercy Me
-Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient K

Songs that sing me to sleep:
-Angels in Chorus by Stellar Kart
-Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift
-Somewhere in the Middle by Casting Crowns
-Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
-Background by Lecrae

P.S. - I would like to publicly apologize to Ky for saying his blog looked girly.  I feel horrible! His blog's really cool and I would totally encourage to check his blog out right ---------> HERE! :)