There's a Place Off Ocean Avenue

Don't you ever wonder what's out there besides this small piece of earth you live on?

My name is Laura Michelle Hampton, I am sixteen years old. I'm about to begin my Junior year at a small private school in Gardendale, Alabama. I am never content.

Everyday I wait for life to really begin. What do I do to make that happen? Patience. I'm not good at that. I never will be.

Some people say it's a small world, I like to think differently. I live in America, the country people found refuge in. The place where people dreamed to live. The land of the free, the home of the brave. Why do I feel so far from where I am supposed to be? A place like this isn't for everyone. I live in the south, the heart of Dixie. But that's not what I'm looking for. My happiness will not be found in a country boy wearing blue jeans. Call me hard to please, but I'm looking for something more.

This world you call small has so much more to offer me. When will I find it? I'm starving for adventure, for something new. While I could be out finding waldo, I'm instead searching for x in an algebra equation. I'm trapped here; I need something beautiful.

There's a place in New York City where people may be rude and steal your cab, but hey, at least they know what they want. There's an island devoted to a statue. There's a tower that's leaning, but is still standing. There's a cathedral painted every color. There's a Colosseum that's full of history. There are monuments and landmarks. There's food I've never heard of. Things I will never taste, never see, or feel.

If God put me here on His creation, I want to see more than a small suburban city in Alabama.

I'm not sad anymore, I'm just tired of this place. 

I am in a hurry to grow up, and find what I am here for. I want to be a missionary and help the starving children. I want to see the plains of Africa. I want to be a writer and tell stories of new worlds. I want to be a nurse and heal the broken. I want to be a teacher and give passion to the apathetic. I want. I want. I want. Can't I do it all? I want a life to be proud of, something to leave behind.

I want to move away and not look back.


I may be in love, but I don't want to be married. I smile when I see kids, but I could never have them for my own. My life is a contradiction.

I've failed people over and over, and people have failed me in return. I want to go somewhere where the people don't know me, and I can be something different. Something meaningful.

My name is Laura Michelle Hampton. I am only sixteen years young. I am about to start my Junior year at a small private school in Gardendale, Alabama. Despite what I say, I will never know what I want.

Personally, I believe this whole Chick Fil A deal is getting out of hand.

Ever since the company was established, it has been known that Chick Fil A is a Christian organization. They have always been closed on Sundays, and have always been known for their good service and respect for their customers.
As everyone knows however, a few weeks ago the CEO stated that personally, he believed in a biblical marriage between a man and a woman. Of course, with our society and the media capturing everything, this was made into a huge deal. What I don't understand is, didn't he just assure everything we already knew?

Honestly, it's worrisome that the belief of a CEO for a place that sells chicken could bring this much controversy. (And if it wasn't for the fact that I'm pretty sure Jake is the only one who reads stuff on my blog,   I'd be worried about people beginning to hate me for what I have to say.)


Christians are known to be against gay marriage. Is it all of them? No, but I believe that some will argue that those who support gay marriage, cannot be real Christians. Then again, what is a "real" Christian? If it's someone who is sinless, then it doesn't exist.

I posted a status on facebook yesterday about "Chick Fil A Appreciation Day." My point was that I was not going, and I felt bad for my sister who had to work the entire day for twelve and a half hours without a break. (Which is illegal, right?) Anyway, just with that being said, it brought up so much tension. Next thing I knew, my best friends mom left a comment on it explaining how it wasn't about going to show their opinion on gay rights, but instead because it was an attack on religious issues. She stated that Chic Fil A Appreciation Day was instead about letting Christians voice be heard and being able to stand up for what they believe as God-fearing individuals, without worrying about the media lashing out on them, calling them stupid because of what they believe a marriage should be between. I totally understand her point, and everyone who agrees with her. However, I know for a fact that she cannot speak for everyone who participated yesterday.
My sister works at Chick Fil A, and according to her, people were forced to wait at least an hour for their fast food chicken. According to her, she overheard people talking, and while some are just good-hearted Christians who want to support Christianity, she also heard people calling out "F*** the gays" and simple comments about their being against homosexuality.
Some people might have gone yesterday to support a Christian foundation, while others went yesterday as an attack on homosexuality. Chick Fil A does hire gays, and I'm sure many of them worked yesterday, having to listen to peoples remarks about them. So is that being a real Christian? I'd say no.


I know being gay is a sin, I know what the Bible has to say about it, I know it's not pleasing in the eyes of God. Then again, is everything straight Christians do pleasing in the eyes of God? If you read through the gospels, you'll realize Jesus talks way more about judgment than what he does on homosexuality. Why, then,  do so many people feel the need to judge them just because of their sin, when we all sin? Matthew 7:1-5 is a popular passage, but I think it's very applicable. 
“Judge not, that you be not judged. ²  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." 
Why focus on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality and not take a moment to focus on judgment? You can prove your opinion, you can let your voice be heard, but you can do it in so a way that people do not feel condemned because of you. We are no better. We are all human living in a sinful world; we are all the same. Remember what Paul says in Romans 2:1 "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself." God has given us so many things in life. He gives each one of us spiritual gifts and dominion over animals and the earth, but he does not give us dominion of one another. He did not give to us the right to judge, because that is His job.
We do so much to make sure that people live according to the law of God, but we don't do anything for ourselves.
Again in Romans 2, verses 17-21, "¹⁷ But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸ and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹ and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹  you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?"
While we can preach what we believe, we cannot force anyone to change. We are who we are. We are all made by God. Shouldn't that be enough?
Romans 14:1,4 "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." "⁴  Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?"
As a Christian, I know we are supposed to be loving. To love your enemy, to love your neighbor, to love your brother. Isn't that everybody? Time and time again in the New Testament, you'll find passages discussing the importance of love. There's that famous love chapter in 1 Corinthians, and also there's a great passage in Romans 12. I know in the ESV version, verses 9-21 are titled "Marks of the True Christian." So maybe that's what a real Christian is. Not someone who is against or for homosexuality, but someone, who in all things, shows love.
"⁹  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,^[a] serve the Lord. ¹²  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^[b] Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Something that people seem to miss is that we are all sinners. I know I already said something like this, but why judge someone for sinning when we do the same? Romans 3:10-12 is proof that we are all equal, "“None is righteous, no, not one;
¹¹     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”

And as verse 23 states, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
So why, then, do we count ourselves better? 

Why do we try and change the sin of others? Sin is sin and we are all slaves to it.
We count ourselves lucky to be able to have our sins forgiven yet we forget that that goes for everyone. Matthew 12:31 says " ³¹  Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven"
We count ourselves wiser for knowing the law, and for pointing it out. However, knowing God's law does not make us any better, it does not take away sin, however, it just makes us aware of sin. Romans 3:20, "²⁰ For by works of the law no human being^[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." Knowing the law makes us no better. Sin is sin. 

We count ourselves more righteous for doing our best to keep His word, but James 2:10 says, "¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."

Sin is sin. 

We pride ourselves in being God's children. For His love and compassion for us. For our life through Him. At the same time, we pass judgment and feel hatred for those who are also His children, yet may live differently than us. Romans 3:29, "²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also"

God is the God of everyone, Jew or Gentile, gay or not straight.

I'm not saying I support gay marriage, or even their lifestyle. Like I said, I know it's a sin. I also know that judging others is a sin. One that we all commit.

So back to the Chick Fil A issue, I know many people didn't go to say they hate the gays, but I also know some did and that's what I don't support. I know a lot of people just went their for the opinions to be seen and voice to be heard. But who's going to remember that? Is anyone going to remember, or care that you went to Chick Fil A on August 1, 2012? Was it worth it to wait an hour and half for chicken that you can get anywhere? Personally, I think people should leave fast food out of their personal beliefs. I think it's great that Chick Fil A is a Christian organization, but should there really be so much controversy? Was it really worth it to spend money you didn't have on food that will make you fat so the gays will think that you hate them and Facebook may be assured that you're a Christian? I think that going to Chick Fil A yesterday was a way for people to make their opinions known, when they're too afraid to do it another way. I'm sorry, but going to Chick Fil A yesterday did not get much done. If you want people to know what you believe, stand up and make them known yourself, without having to go through a fast food chain, and without being afraid of the media or society. Take chances, let your voice be heard, not Chick Fil A's. 

This past year of my life I've really been struggling to find what I'm supposed to be here. This past year I've gone through so many changes in my attitude, my thoughts, and even my appearance. I've gone through judgments and people telling me they don't like how I've become.

This past year I've been trying so hard to be who society wants me to be, who I want me to be, and who God wants me to be.

Honestly, it's hard to even think about this year.

Everyday I've been praying that God will show me what he wants for me; for my future. One of my biggest fears is making one wrong choice in life and making it turn into something completely different than what He ultimately wants. It's not that I don't trust my life in God's hands and have faith in Him, it's just that I don't have faith in myself.
In January I started a one year Bible reading. I've kept up with it, knowing if I don't spend time with Jesus one day, I'll have to make up for it and read extra the next day.
My readings started out pretty slow, mainly because that's how I made them. I read them to get through them. Later on I found a study Bible and started using that, then I began taking notes on everything I read. During that time, I really started connected with God like I should be.

The past few years I've been so tied down by my sin. Even though I knew I was forgiven by the grace of God, I never felt good enough for Him. Maybe I'm not, but I let my disgust of my sin control my whole life. I stopped trying to do anything, I guess, because I wasn't good enough. My sin weighed me down and stopped me from living right.

I don't know what happened, but suddenly I realized that my record is clear. I sin everyday, and I'm disgusting, but God is willing to look past that in me and love me the same.

That whole realization is only recent. And that's as far as I've gotten.

I don't know what I've been doing this year. I pray to God that I will be who He wants me to be, that I will live for Him. However, ultimately, I've still been living for myself.

The comments I've gotten from people, the talks people have given me, the accusations I've heard about me,  the whole high-schoolish gossip that I feel has been going on around everyone I'm close to about me, it all made me realize how I've changed, but also made me feel like people won't accept me anymore. I've felt so distant from the closest people to me. And I realize it's my fault for trying to be everything.

I'm aware that I've changed. It all came with good intentions of trying to be who God wants me to be, but being selfish, it became about myself.

I don't want to relive this year again. I guess this is my second round and I want to make it right this time. I'm ready to change, and not be selfish about it. I'm ready not to worry about society or myself, but only about God. I know my record is cleared now, I don't feel trapped anymore by my sin; nothing is stopping me this time.

I'll live for God now. Hopefully this time, I will change for the best. Hopefully this time, I won't feel ashamed. Maybe, I'll feel accepted. Maybe complaints from people about me will stop.

My only hope is that people will see Christ in me. That's all I want now. I want to be a witness. I want to be what every Christian is supposed to be. I want, more than ever, to be completely and totally Christ-like. This time, I want to turn out as a help and not a burden.

Even as I might have changed for the worst, Jesus was still my only form of help. I never needed a doctor, I never needed reminders, I only needed Jesus.

I guess, really, I know I haven't been easy this year. But, I want you all to have patience with me and not make me feel any worse about myself. I don't need people talking anymore. I don't need anymore questions.   And as I'm trying, and as I may fail, I want people to love me the same like Jesus does.

I belong to Jesus. I am His for the saving and He is mine for the keeping.

Reading Crazy Love, I realized what I have to do if I don't want to spend eternal misery in fire with the one thing I am scared of the most. I can't rely on my words to get me into heaven. I can't say I just believe in God, and then I'm welcomed into eternal paradise with the Creator of the universe, of Heaven and Hell.

You can easily try to prove me wrong and point to John 3:16 where it clearly states that if you believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life. But turn a second to James 2:19 where it says, "You believe in one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." (NIV)

The Bible in some ways can be one giant contradiction. But I don't believe that is an example. In John 3:16 it says if you believe in Him, you will spend forever with Him. But wouldn't it make sense that if you really believe in Him, you'd act like you do? You'd have real faith and sacrifice everything for Him, to spend forever with Him? There's more to believing in God than just saying you do. God clearly calls us to be a spreader of the gospel, a comforter, a helper, and a hope for the world. Matthew 5:13 says that we are the light of the world. If we really believe in Him, don't you think we'd act as the light of the world?

After reading Crazy Love, I'm not being scared away by the gospel. I'm supposed to drop everything, to leave everything to follow Jesus. I'm supposed to give freely, I'm supposed to be a messenger of Christ. And that's what I'm striving for. Because one day I want to feel like I can be worthy enough to enter into the gates of heaven.

I can see God is planning something awesome for my life. I mean, if I'm not dead yet, I must still be here for something. God is going to use me for great purposes. It might not be spending years as a missionary in a dangerous country and getting martyred, but it'll be something because I believe in Jesus.

I always hated the question why I believe in Jesus. Because I was raised that way? That's the way I was taught in school? Because of my parents? Or because the world is so beautiful and I know it's His creation?
Aren't those the typical answers? I've always wanted something real to answer that question with. Something that should be made known.
Maybe I don't have that real answer yet for me, but at least I have another one.

I believe in Jesus because of his effect on the world. You could argue with me and say that the world is being corrupted and turning away from Jesus and our nation is turning away from its Christian foundation, but then again, every day someone is getting saved. I believe in Him because I've never heard of someone having a life altering experience through Buddha's name. Maybe it's just because I'm not a Buddhist but I've never seen miracles happen to hopeless people through Buddha. God shows us His existence when some dirty, filthy sinner like one of us changes his life by sitting in a pew listening to an old preacher. Because honestly, you can make Christianity sound pretty dumb. I mean some magic baby being born from a virgin, dying, and coming back to life like a zombie. To me it all makes perfect sense because it's what I was raised with, and what I've always been taught. But think of someone who was raised in a pagan home, heard that and then completely changed his life. I believe in Jesus because of people like that. For people Like C.S. Lewis who was once a Satanist but now famous for being a Christian author. I believe in Jesus because I can feel Him with me all the time, telling me what to do; because He turns the pagan's life around by listening to crazy stories from random people.

My life belongs to Jesus.

Jacob Patrick Stewart

Let's see.....

• Jacob Patrick Stewart apparently trolls for life.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart listens to rap which is gay. But I suppose he listens to a little bit of decent stuff.
• Once upon a time Jacob Patrick Stewart was a cripple. But now he's not and it's weird seeing him carry his own books out of class these days.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart is good at making me smile.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart always takes my pens during class and ends up either throwing them across the room, making me not able to find them, or he just breaks them. Either way, he should stop. (:
• Jacob Patrick Stewart doesn't know how to spell ferryboat.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart has made it to where I cannot say taco without being completely disturbed. This is bad because I really like tacos. Like...the food.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart is a recovering alcoholic .
• Jacob Patrick Stewart sold me drugs once.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart loves me.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart always finds a way to pervert anything I say.
• Jacob Patrick Stewart is pretty awesome, I must say.

There you go, Jake. :D

"If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin,

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain."

-Emily Dickinson

I absolutely love this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyFxArMeRDI