The product description exclaims,

“Nothing radiates the endless love of Jesus like the shimmering light of nearly a half carat of full cut diamonds – perfectly set in solid 18k gold. Worn close to your heart, our uniquely elegant Pavè Tear boldly expresses your love and faith.”
Regular Price: $999.95
Special Offer: $849.95

What?! How does spending 850 bucks on a shiny necklace boldy express your faith? How does a diamond encrusted drop of gold radiate the endless love of Jesus more than anything else?

If we want to radiate Christ’s endless love let’s put away our selfish vain greed and actively love people.

How about using that money to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit those in prison, and minister to widows and orphans?

James 2:14-17

Matthew 25:34-40

I know it’s just marketing, advertising, a way to sell stuff. But I’m tired of it. I’m tired of people thinking Christianity and unbridled consumerism somehow go hand in hand. Our culture sells us a lie, and the church continues to buy it… on credit. How much is the interest going to cost? How soon till we’re spiritually bankrupt?

Music Video: Shawn McDonald - Greed

It’s that time of year again… when I start ranting about Christmas and commercialism. When I start complaining about six weeks of Christmas music on my favorite radio station… That’s right in 23 hours The Wind starts their Clean Air Christmas.

I better stock up on triple A batteries for my Mp3 player. For my friends with more holiday cheer… enjoy!

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.
—

* 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.

If ever you point out some minor skin irregularity to your doctor and her eyes light up… If ever she says with too much enthusiasm, “We could zap them off!”

Say, “NO.”

She just wants to play with the cool freezy chemicals. I know it’s fun… fog rolling out of the shiny metal container, freezing random parts off of patients… but really. It hurts! And it doesn’t actually freeze them off… it just makes thinks look worse. Five days later… I’m still wondering, “Why?” “Why?” And now I’m getting this sick feeling that maybe my insurance won’t cover it and I’ll actually have to pay my own money to be tortured and uglified.

I only have one turtleneck sweater. Surely I can not continue to wear the same sweater every day. Thank God for this ridiculously cold April weather!

Lab work and CT Scan came back as perfectly normal. The doctor said perhaps it’s a skeletal/muscular thing instead. She suggested… wait for it… wait for it…

IBUPROPHEN.

Yes, my nurse told me to try taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for 10 to 12 days and see if that helps.

I told her I’ve been doing that for two months and it DOES NOT HELP.

Update:
She called back.  They’re going to refer me to physical therapy…  I think I need a nap.

So am I supposed to be flattered or frustrated when someone uses something I wrote without saying where they got it?

Blogger: User Profile: Awnaa sounds a lot like Why I Write.

P.S. This does not apply to my good friend who uses one phrase from the same post as her MySpace quote. That was cool.

Joel tried to call me. He called all the way from Afghanistan… and Cingular dropped the call in my own apartment.

I love Cingular. They’re consistent. They provide the same lack of service Nation Wide. From Texas to Oklahoma, Missouri to Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Detroit to Indiana… It’s predictable. It’s comfortable. I know I’ll have no service. I know my calls will be dropped.

It could be my phone. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and blame it on my phone… because surely… surely their service isn’t THAT BAD.

Is it?

Update: He called back. Third time my phone actually rang. I think I’ll buy a new phone today.