#fupc

[tinpani]

which one of my magical girls is your favourite ? leon's mine :)

[tinpani]

which do u like the most ?

[jpwned]

Thanks, LUMC and FUPC!

Thanks, LUMC and FUPC!

So, I’m a little late saying this, but I just wanted to thank the Luling United Methodist Church and the First Union Presbyterian Church for the care package they sent me! So, thank you a ton!

A few weeks ago, I received a care package from them including a thorough collection of food and such. Everything from popcorn to hot chocolate (you have no idea how cold it STILL gets here) to fruit roll…

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[ivegotapotofdirt]

So lots of things happened today...

First, a bit of background. I identify as pansexual, but I have had a long history of being bullied because of rumors that I was a lesbian. Luckily for me, I have a lovely family, wonderful friends, and an amazing church community that has always supported me. I grew up attending a Presbyterian Church near my hometown. Presbyterians are Christians, a Protestant sect derived from the teachings of Calvin and started by Scotsman John Knox. The church is what is known as a "More Light" church, which means they accept all people regardless of race, gender (and gender identity), and sexual orientation. When I was being bullied, the love I recieved from the members of my church was amazing. It kept me going, kept me from committing suicide, and made me strong. After going through confirmation class, I realized I didn't believe in Jesus as the savior. In fact, I wasn't quite sure what I believed but I believed in something. So fast forward to this weekend. This weekend our church hosted a man named Patrick Evans. Patrick is currently the interim director of More Light Presbyterians, which is an organization of more light churches. Patrick talked about marriage and the Presbyterian church at a supper last night, and again today in the adult ed class. That wasn't what got me. What got me was Patrick's sermon. He talked about God's love for all people: the bullied LGBT youth, the kids on the streets, the elderly LGBT people who have been out all their lives and must be in the closet in their retirement homes. And during this sermon, I realized two things. The first was that no matter what I believe, or where I am, I will always have First United (the church I grew up at). They will always be supportive, and I will always be safe there. And let me tell you, as a high school senior going off to college, that is an amazing realization. The other thing I realized is that, while people have bullied me and beaten me, I am loved. Every single person in that congregation loves me, my parents and family love me, my friends love me, and, even though I don't believe, God and Jesus love me too. And that made me cry, right in the middle of church in the pew next to my mom. So that was my day. I'm never going to forget that, and that's enough for me to never ever commit suicide. Because I am safe in the knowledge that I am loved, and that is more powerful than any hateful and hurtful words.

[thelifeguardlibrarian]

Have you voted for the ALA 2013 Conversation Starters yet?

VOTING CLOSES THIS SUNDAY! You help decide which presentations actually happen, so please and thank you, log in or create an account and vote us up!

(Feel free to check out all the other great proposals, but keep in mind, I have personal investment in kicking some PC ass. We've got two days to cover 10+ votes! Let's do it!)

[juarhela]

This week has really changed me.

I went to a place in Green Lake, Wisconsin run by YCM called The Great Escape. This place really changed my life.

I'd always considered me to be a person of strong faith because I went to church and blah blah blah. Going here, made me realize and learn what it really means to be a christian. 

I realize now all the things I was/am doing wrong, and how far I really was/am from God. 

This week not only changed my faith, but it also changed me as a person in general. I mean, it's almost unfathomable to think that you can be loved so immensely and unconditionally by something. 

It helped me realize that I don't have to be anything special to be loved. I don't have to be 100 pounds, or have blue eyes, or be right handed, or like hip-hop music, or have normal hair, read those lame teenage romance novels, or do anything most 14 year olds do to be loved. 

I just have to be me. 

Now, if you've made it this far and not completely hated me yet, I want to thank you. And I hope you've at least taken into consideration what I've said. 

A few of my favorite quotes from this week:

"You can literally snatch people from hell."

"Make prayer your first response, not your last resort."

"The media is a lie to manipulate your minds and think you have to conform to society."

"God's love is like oxygen; It's like a gas in that it fills and takes the shape of it's container, and we can't live without it."

Again, thank you for reading my little rant. This week was just a very important and big change for me, and I wanted to tell people about it. Maybe it'll help somebody out, and maybe your're reading this saying to yourself the entire time "Lies. This is shit." etc.

Honestly, I don't really care, but I hope you got something from my rant. 

I love you guys, and God does too, whether you believe it or not, he does. 

Hugs, 

Emily