Yesterday, Rachel wrote a beautiful post about my little girl. Many of you left sweet comments on my site or hers. One person, submitted an anonymous comment on her post which … well it hurt.

“Rachel, the things you say are so touching. Its great that you have such a good friend as Amy. Although I feel as if you have changed in many ways since you have had this friendship. I feel as if you have changed your mind on many different issues. The KJV* for instance. Maybe you should be a little more careful when it comes to being so easily influenced. I am praying for you. I am praying that you will stay strong, and remember the things you have learned ever since Sunday school. You cannot separate God and HIS Word.”

Rachel didn’t approve the comment on the post about Sarah but she has published it and her reply in a new post on her blog: Anonymous by Rachel Harmon

I try to think the best of people, to assume that they are merely misguided, not mean. That’s probably the case here.

The thing that bothers me most about this comment, isn’t that the author thinks I’m a bad influence. I expect people to disapprove of Rachel being friends with a “Pentecostal Preacher Lady.*” It’s sad [and wrong] that so many denominational lines divide us, but it isn’t surprising.

There are two things that do bother me though.

1. Anonymous said, “I feel as if you have changed in many ways since you have had this friendship.”

I have seen Rachel change over the brief time we’ve been friends. We’ve both changed. I can’t imagine why anyone who really knew how we’ve changed would think that’s a bad thing. I assume this person has been reading Rachel’s blog. Which means he or she has read things like this over the last few months:

“That night, I confessed to God that I had been hanging on to sin for years. I asked Him to take it from me, because I couldn’t do it on my own. I asked Him to break the chains that bound me. You know what? He did. Chains that had bound me for years were broken in one moment of obedience and surrender. I can point to that moment and say, ‘That is when He set me free.’”
- Freedom

“When I started including God in my life…reading His Word, talking to him, listening for Him…it amazed me how He met with me. The more I talked to Him, the thirstier I was for more of Him. I wanted to know what He wanted from me. I wanted to do His will. I wanted to be with Him…

I am so expectant. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. He satisfies my soul. He gives me water that, not only satisfies, but is so sweet that I can’t help but thirst for more. I am expecting more. He has promised me more.”
- Friendship and Faith

“I think the best part of this summer has been the way the Lord has been working in my heart. He’s doing big things for me. He’s changing who I am. It’s been a little painful at times. Parts of it are terribly uncomfortable, but I know it’s worth it. I’m learning, I’m growing, and I’m falling in love with Him.”
- Best Summer Ever!

Anonymous is right. Rachel has changed. I can’t take the credit or blame for that. But I praise God for it.

2. Then Anonymous said, “Maybe you should be a little more careful when it comes to being so easily influenced.”

This is what really got me. It seems to suggest that my friend is a mindless, terribly impressionable young woman who should be protected from people who disagree with how she’s been told to think. Rachel Harmon is an incredibly intelligent person, she’s not some weak-minded woman swayed by any traveling salesman or friendly Pentecostal. Any one who thinks Rachel would quickly change her mind about important theological issues without thorough study, prayer and earnestly seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit simply doesn’t know my friend.

And that’s the point. The person who posted this anonymous comment must not really know my friend. The author may care for her, may even be concerned for her, but they must not really, truly know her.

I’m glad I do.
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* Note for clarification, not discussion: KJV stands for the King James Version of the Bible. Some Christians, including many in Rachel’s church, believe it’s the only version a person should read.

* Another note: “Pentecostal Preacher Lady” - I called myself that sarcastically because that is sometimes all people see. Labels, not people.

Rachel wrote a touching post about my little girl. I could never in ten lifetimes repay her for the love she shows my daughter.

I’m so thankful for her friendship, it’s a daily reminder that God must really love me.

Forever Friends by Rachel Harmon.

Last night, a friend told me that there’s a war going on and many people around her don’t seem to notice. It’s easy to ignore. People get tired of hearing the rhetoric, the political debate. After so many years, people sometimes turn their attention to other things. It hurts less. They call upon consumerism to comfort them. They let the busy mundane details of everyday life distract them. It’s easier.

I can’t do that. While war is an abstract idea for many in this country, it is all too real to others. It’s all too real to me.

I’m not just talking like this because my husband is deployed to Afghanistan. Last night, I started trying to list off the friends I have who are serving in Iraq. I’ve not kept up with all of my Chaplain Officer Basic classmates, but I can think of at least eight good friends who are serving as Chaplains in Iraq or Afghanistan right now. I’m sure there are more I just haven’t heard from for a while. That’s at least eight men and women I trained with, laughed with, ate with only a few months ago. And now they’re in a war zone caring for our soldiers, doing what we were taught to do.

Don’t let everyday life distract you. At least, for today, pray for my friends. Pray for my husband. And pray for the families that are waiting for them to come home.

The Chaplain Candidate Fellowship Group put on a mock field service for chapel at AGTS today. I got to lead the prayer… in uniform with ridiculous camo face paint. Sorry you don’t get to see a photo of that. But here’s one of Sarah and me after I washed my face.

Hello friends, if you choose to leave me a message in the Meebo Me chat box on the right, please leave your email address and name. I’m often getting messages that I can’t respond to. Here’s the last one:

“Amy, have you heard from Joel yet? I read the news this morning. call me if you like…”

I’m not really sure who to call or even what day this was sent, because I’ve not logged into Meebo for a couple days. So um…

Thanks! Yes, I’ve heard from Joel. He’s doing well. I miss him. A Lot.

It seems I’ve broken my obsession with blogging. I’ve not posted for a week.

Last week was hard.
Sunday was Sarah’s 5th birthday. Her daddy was gone.
Tuesday was September 11th. My man was in Afghanistan.
Saturday we went to a Cardinals game. It was the championship series… Jeremiah, Sarah and I went by ourselves. Very little makes me miss Joel more than a Springfield Cardinals baseball game. Don’t worry Joel, I let Sarah have cotton candy and I let Jer get pizza.

Homework
The real reason I’ve not been writing. I have a lot of homework. A lot of reading to do. A lot of book reviews to write. An exam to study for.

Even when I start to write a post, I don’t finish it. I see 15 posts abandoned to the drafts section. Only one or two of them will ever be published. Sorry bout that. Stick around, eventually I’ll have something to say.

Over the last year I’ve posted several music videos. Some of those posts are insanely popular. Here’s a list of them. If you plan on watching them all at once, you should probably go get a box of Kleenex first.

Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne

When You’re Gone - Avril Lavigne

If You’re Reading This - Tim McGraw

Have You Forgotten - Darryl Worley

A Marine raps about freedom

A Soldier’s Wife - Roxie Dean

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Updates:

I just came back from a war - Darryl Worley
[Thanks Barb]

If You Want Me To - Ginny Owens
[Thanks Holly and Old WM]