Why are you so contentious?

There's a running joke in my family that, while many adjectives have been used to describe me in my life, the word "sweet" is never one of them. I think I give people around me the impression that I'm just inherently contrary; that I'm ornery, petulant, and constantly spoiling for a fight. This couldn't be farther from the truth. While I'm certainly not the sweetest girl you'll ever meet, I hate conflict, and have spent most of my life avoiding it by any means necessary. Even today, when I know that I need to open my mouth in dissent, my hands shake and I start to sweat, and if you listen carefully, my voice is probably quavering. But in the last few months, I have come to realize that conflict is sometimes not just unavoidable, but imperative; sometimes avoidance or placation is an act of cowardice. Or worse, betrayal.

So I speak up. When my heart and mind, powered by an indwelling Spirit and knowledge of God's Word, tell me to speak, I speak. Even when it's uncomfortable, tense, or or downright incendiary, I speak.

So why do I start this blog?  I believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God, and the supreme standard by which all teachings, ideaologies, and actions should be tried.  It is the beginning and end of all truth, and is the authority against which all beliefs and revelations must be weighed (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23-25).

I want this blog to be a place for serious Christ-seeking believers, who want nothing more than to better understand God's Word and how it applies to the way we live;  to better understand God's Word so as to better obey Him. Jesus told us that if we love Him we will obey Him (John 14:15); if obeying Him is equal to loving Him, than obedience is of paramount importance in our lives as followers of Jesus! But there are so many voices out there, so many denominations, sects, movements, etc, claiming authority and telling us that they have the corner on truth, that they've got the answers, if we'll just listen. How can we know? How can we discern what's true in a sea of babbling voices? 

Together. Colossians 3:16 says: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom..."  So together we can take everything we are told, by our culture, from the pulpit, by popular Christian authors, and fearlessly weigh it all against the inspired Word of God.

God wants us to seek (Matthew 7:7)! 

He wants us to know (James 1:5)!

He wants us have the truth (John 8:31-32)!

Who's in?