Jesus died for Lady Gaga as much as He died for me...

I love Monday.

Today was especially fun.

Adeline and I had a lot of time at home today so we got to just hang out. I downloaded some new music and we had a dance party of sorts. She put on her ballerina costume and was a dancing fool.

We danced to "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga and it was so fun! I captured the entire thing on camera and I smeared it on facebook. I posted it to all of our family. Everyone loved how cute it was! ... well... maybe not EVERY one.

A couple of hours later, I read a post that basically said people who claim to be followers of Christ should not be "supporting" Lady Gaga and proceeding to quote Ephesians 5:11 - "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

I'm not going to lie, I wanted to scream.

I just heard an amazing sermon series called "Cow Tipping" by Steven Furtick at Elevation Church.
The message was all about killing the sacred cows in the church.
Listening to secular music, watching rated "R" movies, drinking a glass of wine with dinner, etc.

Making black and white out of things that are gray. That's called Legalism.

Don't put your convictions on other people. Just because you have a conviction about something that is a gray issue in the bible doesn't mean that you are allowed to put that conviction on someone else. Don't be legalistic.

The exception to this rule is when you accept a leadership position and the authority in charge has asked something of the people who lead. If you agree to something and then choose not to obey it for whatever reason, you are in sin. Not because of the act, but because of the disobedience.

For example, Ryan has put in the Revolution application that you will agree not to drink while on staff at the Revolution. The bible doesn't prohibit drinking. It speaks clearly about getting drunk. Drinking is a gray area. HOWEVER, Ryan has asked his staff to agree to not drinking at all. If someone agrees to that rule and then breaks the rule, they are not sinning because they drank alcohol, they are sinning against the authority over them.

I have come to realize about myself that I have a real problem with people who push their convictions on me and my family.

I have a good, solid relationship with God. I know Him and I know His voice. I know the Holy Spirit and understand the thought and the process of conviction.

Pray for my soul, if you must, that's fine.

I promise that listening to Lady Gaga will not send my soul to hell.

On a lighter note, the video that I recorded is absolutely adorable. It's going to remain on facebook, so if we're friends, feel free to check it out.
If we're friends and you think that listening to Lady Gaga is sinful, please avoid watching said video.

Jesus died for Lady Gaga, too...

A Help(WHAT)?!?

It's been almost six years since I said "I do" to my husband. We actually used the words "I will" but for simplicities sake, our anniversary is in a month.

We had no idea what we were getting into. We were (barely) twenty years old and were completely crazy about each other. We didn't care that we were completely opposite in almost every single way. The things that drove us crazy about each other were the things that brought us to each other. The things that we fought passionately about were the same things that made us passionate about each other. It's just who we were... Ryan and Sunshine.

Over the last six years, we have grown exponentially. Individually and together. We have changed, drastically, from the people we were to the people we are... individually and together.

I am a naturally a "take-charge" sort of person while Ryan is naturally a "laid-back" sort of person. I am often too opinionated while he is often (in my opinion) not opinionated enough.

Yesterday I had some major mind-shifting revelations. I can't explain it. I would liken it to what Oprah would call an "Ah-ha moment".

Except it wasn't so ah-haish.

It was more like ... ... ... thank you GAWD!!

I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!

I am here to be Ryan's helper!! Not his boss, critic, devil's advocate, co-worker, or fellow church staffer... I am his HELPER.

I help him succeed.
I help him look good.
I help him grow.
I help him follow Jesus.
I help him live life!

For so long I have resisted being "Ryan's Wife".

MY NAME IS SUNSHINE!!! NOT RYAN'S WIFE!

But now...
Hi, I'm Ryan's wife, Sunshine.
My job in life is to love Jesus, love Ryan, love my family, and love my friends... in that order.

This "helpmate" thing is going to take some time for me to figure out.

If you're a close friend of ours, you're probably dying laughing at this moment at the mere THOUGHT of me being a wife who ADORES her husband instead of CRITICIZING him. I'm going to do it.

I think he's bringing sexy back in a whole new way. He's a hard working man who loves God, has incredible faith, adores his wife, loves his family, and shares his life with the people around him. He's loyal and content and extremely hot. I have no reason not to be crazy about him and crazy in love with him.

here's to the new adventure of being a helper to the one I love...

don't hold my words against me.

some days I want to work out
and
some days I want to lay around
and
watch way too much TV.

I want to learn to knit.
I want to master the art of photography.
I want to work out consistently.
I want to be lazy.
I want to be a nutritious snob.
I want to eat cheap, not healthy.
I want to earn a lot of money.
I want to experience sacrifice.
I want to fight to the death.
I want to give up.

Some people feel that this sort of non-sense is

wishy-washy.

This is me.

If I say I want to do something
I want to do it.

I might not ever follow through.
I might change my mind.
I might feel like I'm going to fail.
I might be scared to tell you I don't know.
I might hate you if you pressure me.
I might break down in tears.
I might give up.

This is me.

I will overcome.
I will live life.
I will be better than your expectations of me.
I will come out stronger.
I will fight harder.
I will show you that I can do anything.
I will pursue greatness.
I will surpass your limits on me.

But if I don't.

Will you love me?
Will you think I'm good enough?
Will you value my existence over my achievements?
Will you ensure I survive?
Will you follow through with your promises?
Will you never leave?

Whatever you do.

Please.

Don't hold.

my words.

against me.