Not a bit dear Stephen.

Actually, I've always enjoyed the limited conversations we have shared in times past. I'm always up for furthering a friendship. :)

I could write a really long piece on each one of those things. But unfortunately I don't have time right now to give you the dissertation. ;) Hopefully though, this will be explanatory and serve as a door-opener for more conversation.

As for injustice and judgemental attitudes...well. I've always been a little bit of a spit-fire growing up, and always very sensitive to when something or someone isn't treating a situation, or a person fairly, or how they would like to be treated. The reason I added "especially in the church" is because I've been involved with about 5 different churches through the course of my life, and almost always somewhere down the line, you get burned by certain church members (or even, sadly, church leaders) who respond to situations as a judge, rather than someone who has also been saved through grace alone. I know so many people who have been badly hurt only because they were never allowed to speak, and then "condemned" (in so many words) because someone else assumed things about them that weren't true, or were true, but twisted. I feel like this is a battle we just have to fight...I mean, satan only has his deception left...and he knows that the children of God, the church, is still where he can cause the most damage. It makes sense that there is so much confusion and distortion...satan is seeing to it that we're getting caught up with the wrong things. I could go on and on, but I must move on for now.

The concept of joy. Well, I stumbled upon this soap-box when I was about 17, shortly after I spent about 7 months in a very weird, nearly psychotic depressive state. It was brought on by a snowball-effect series of events (as these things generally are), and I took the hit, and didn't know where to go with it, or who to give it to. I felt alone, and like even God had left me. After those months feeling like I was being perpetually swallowed by darkness, I started to realize just how bad I needed saving. And God did save me. :) Shortly after he led me out of that time, he brought to my attention a verse in Psalm 16:11 which says: "You have made known to me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." I fully identified with that passage, because it was true of my experience. It is my favorite verse to this day. Then, I became curious about other passages involving joy, and what I found was exciting. Turns out, joy is integral to a relationship with Jesus, and is so much more than a feeling. In Nehemiah 8:10 it says "the joy of the Lord will be your strength." In Hebrews 12:2 it says that it was for the joy of being reunited with us that Christ endured the shame and wickedness of the cross. And that is to only name a few that I remember the reference for off the top of my head. When I think about joy, it means so much more than being happy...it's something that comes from the inside out...something that is a sure-fire sign of the Holy Spirit working in my life from inside my heart. It's something I get very excited about. :)

So, there you have it...still a very long message, but only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to my thoughts on these topics. I hope I was able to make sense. :) I'm glad you asked.

Love you too,
Hillary