Blog Spotlight: Forthright Fixation
From the earliest days till now, blogging has been a central part of the Rebelution movement. It all started as a group of teen bloggers in late 2005 — teens like Agent Tim, Jake Smith, Alex King and Kierstyn Paulino (no, they weren’t courting back then), Hannah, Kristin, and Lindsey, David Ketter, and Karen Kovaka.
With so many young bloggers turning out quality content, one of the main features of the Rebelution Blog has always been the Blogroll. In past months it’s gone a bit out of date with bloggers retiring or relocating. However, we’ve recently cleaned it up and added several great new ones that we’re excited to share with you.
One of those blogs is Forthright Fixation — the collaborative effort of eight girls, including long-time rebelutionaries Hännah Schlaudt, Kaitlin Atmore, and Katie Marie Smith. The quality of substance and presentation is top-notch.
But enough from us, here’s how the girls describe their blog:
Forthright: adj., free from ambiguity or evasiveness, going straight to the point.
Fixation: noun, an obsessive preoccupation.
(Webster Merriman Online Dictionary, 2008)
Eight girls. One fixation: the truth of the Gospel.
As sinners, there’s nothing we need more than the Gospel to change our hearts. As Christians, saved by God’s great mercy, we need to be focused on that truth each and every day. There’s never a time when we don’t need to be reminded again of the Gospel and brought back to stand in awe of the cross.
That’s why we’re committed to speak truth to each other, to tell of God’s goodness to us to build up our faith, to celebrate the Gospel’s all-encompassing application to our lives. And here at Forthright Fixation, we’re going to write about it, to help each other and you to be amazed at God’s steadfast love, and to combat our sin nature’s deceptions through a celebration of truth. And while we can’t do this on our own, there’s One who can. And we’re going to try, by His grace, to make much of Him every day.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Wow. I have been following this blog for a few months. I would not mind if you posted my blog up here.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Josiah: We’re always open to submissions for consideration. Thanks.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
God bless these young ladies! After reading FF’s most recent post, I have already recieved a new outlook both in regards to living a Christian life, AND windows!
Many thanks,
Elisabeth J. Gruber
February 15th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Thanks for the link! ‘Tis always nice to see new bloggers!!
Every blessing,
~Camille
February 15th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Hey Alex and Brett,
Thanks so much for the sacrifices you make to pursue God’s calling - I know what you do inspires much God-centered action in so many people (including myself!).
I’d really appreciate it if you guys could check out the blog I co-author with my sister . . . we don’t get a lot of traffic, but I know that could change if it gets listed here.
The URL is www.chaliceofwonder.blogspot.com
Thanks!! (and I’m definitely looking forward to April!)
February 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
[…] February 16, 2008 at 11:07 am (Blogroll) I found an unusual blog this morning. Young ladies interested in theological discussion! I’m sure that’s not all they’re interested in. Usually, however, high school students and first-year college students are not interested much in theological matters. Tolle lege! HT: Rebelution […]
February 16th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Alex Harris: I just sent in an email submission for my site. Thanks!
February 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Yay!
Thanks so much!
February 16th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
this is a great site! very inspiring to see young people helping in witnessing to the Word. Keep up the good work!
February 16th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I hope it’s alright if I post my honest feelings after reading the posts on the blog that you recommended. At first, I was reminded that I need to make some vinegar and water stuff and windex the windshields on the cars (shows how spiritual I am). But then I was reminded of something that my mom wrote on her website years ago about us being like “windows” to Heaven. Cool, huh? Here’s the link to the page: http://www.resurrectionpower.com/page60.htm (Keep in mind that this isn’t a blog so I am not posting this link to get it on the blogroll — I’m just sharing it because it relates.)
Also, I wanted to say that there was something I disagreed with that I wanted to sort of clarify. In the post about the window story it said that the Holy Spirit cleanses us. It’s actually the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us because Jesus died on the Cross bearing the punishment for our sins, Sacrificing, so that we could be made clean fully by His Blood — something no other sacrifice could or had accomplished. The Holy Spirit was sent after Jesus was Resurrected and ascended into Heaven. The Holy Spirit Guides us and Helps us and Teaches us.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Thank you so much for telling us about Forthright Fixation. Your site has opened up new worlds of encouragement and inspiration to me. I pray for you and your ministry, and will continue to do so. God Bless!
February 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
THAT IS WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!THAT IS WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!THAT IS WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of way cool,has anyone been able to get a hold of Zach Hunter?I have tried again and again.If anyone has,please let me know?I have something very important to discuss with him. your sister in Christ,Hannah
February 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Nicole: You’re right; Jesus washes us of our sins. After we allow Him into our lives and recognize Him as our Lord and Savior, we are cleansed of our sins and are perfectly spotless in God’s eyes.
However, in the practical, physical realm, we are still fallible. Obviously, you and I and every Christian sin every day, and so we are still, in the fleshly realm, “dirty.” The Holy Spirit is the one who “cleanses” our “mortal soul,” if you will, and sanctifies it so that it matches up with our spiritual soul, which has been purified by Jesus’ holy blood.
I think it was just a case of misunderstanding - because you’re right, but I think they are too.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Thanks for all the information you guys are giving us.
Its absolutely incredible.
Thanks guys
February 18th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Becky W.: No disrespect intended, but I must disagree with what you said. We only have one soul each. But we do also each have a mind, a body, a spirit and a heart. When we sin each of these is damaged in the spiritual sense and in the physical sense (in the flesh) because we are doing something that makes us unclean and unable to fellowship with God as He desires for us to and designed for us to.
When we first become Christians, we go to the Cross. We realize, I am a sinner and it is only by God’s Grace that I am Saved. I could not give ANYTHING to become worthy of being Saved. It is my sin that condemns me to damnation in Hell. But God Loved me so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to bear my sins and to bear their penalty in my place. It is because of my sins that He was crucified. As I sinned, I nailed Him to the Cross, spit on Him and mocked Him — my sin did that to Him. But still, He Loves me. He offers me Forgiveness and Life if I but repent, surrender, believe and profess that He is Lord, ask Him to cleanse me and ask Him to abide in my heart forever. He Loves me that much. He went through all that and Hell for me — to be with me — so that I could live with Him in Heaven forever. And STILL He Loves me! Sacrifices were given throughout the ages, but none were able to fully cleanse me and to save me. Only by His Blood shed at the Cross am I cleansed — and cleansed fully I am — and only by His Life given am I Saved and Redeemed.
As Christians, we struggle with sin daily — yes. Does that sin — the sin that happens after we are Saved — still mock Him, spit on Him, drive the nails and crucify Him? By all means, yes. How can that be since the death is over and He has already been Resurrected? How can it be that He died on the Cross over 2000 years ago for the sins of all of mankind, present and future? You and I weren’t even born! When He died on the Cross He did bear OUR sins, though — the ones we’ve done and the ones we will do. His Sacrifice is the only innocent and worthy Sacrifice that CAN cleanse us. Nothing else could. He Sacrificed and shed His Blood to cleanse us. That is Biblical. It doesn’t say anywhere in the Bible that we have 2 souls or that or soul is dividable or that the Holy Spirit cleanses us.
But I am beginning to feel uncomfortable talking about this on this site. I said what I said before carefully to clarify something in a simple way that I didn’t think should be overlooked for people who were linking over there. But to talk about it more, I’d rather do it on the girls blog or privately through email with them so that they don’t feel like we are talking behind their backs (although we haven’t meant to) — that is unless they started posting over here and we all discussed it here. So, I guess I’m saying, it’s cool so far, but if you want to keep discussing this let’s go over to the other site. It was their words, so I’d like to include them if we are going to go any further into this discussion. I don’t want any of them to feel uncomfortable here or to make it awkward for them to comment here (because we are disagreeing about what they said) since they do seem like girls who really do want to grow in God and spread Truth. Is that alright with you?
February 18th, 2008 at 4:10 am
I’ve been looking into this more.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and in 1 Peter 1:2 the Holy Spirit is spoken of as sanctifying us.
In Hebrews 9 it talks about the Blood of Jesus cleansing us and how by law there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. (I was thinking of quoting a couple verses, but it’s best to read the whole chapter so I didn’t.)
In the Forthright Fixation post, “Transparent,” it says that “the Holy Spirit empowers us and sanctifies us” — which I agree with — but later it also talks about sanctification being Him “scrubbing off those smudges of sin to conform us to His Image” — which is what I’m not sure about (the scrubbing).
I looked up “sanctify” and “cleanse” in my dictionary (American Heritage College) and they actually seem to have quite different meanings. “Cleanse” means to rid something/someone of dirt, grime, etc. by washing or as if by washing. “Sanctify” means to purify, to make holy, to empower, to set aside, and to make useful.
Purify would seem to mean the same thing as to cleanse, but in the dictionary it too sounds different. Its definitions include to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish and to free from undesirable elements.
I believe the Holy Spirit convicts us, keeps us pure, sets us free from the power of sin that would taint us, causes us to go to the Cross to be cleansed by the Blood, makes us holy, and empowers us and makes us useful.
I believe that the Blood of Jesus cleanses us/rids us of sin and impurities that are already in our lives so that we can be set free from their hold and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Since the author on Forthright Fixation used the word “sanctify” when first writing, it makes me think it was based off of the verse in 2 Thessalonians or in 1 Peter. I agree with that part. I think because of the part about “scrubbing” the sin away sanctify came off as “cleanse” to me — and still does, I guess. Could be they have a different version of the Bible that says it differently than I’ve read or that their definition of “sanctify” is different than mine. I’m sure nothing unscriptural was intended (and I hope I didn’t give the impression that I thought so). I’m sure they just interpret the Scripture, or words, differently than I do.
Feel free to add what you’ve learned to the topics of sanctification and cleansing and purity. I’m intrigued. This could be cool to discuss.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:15 am
….. meaning let’s talk about the core topics more (here) if you all want. But if it still relates a lot to the girls post (as it has) I’ll meet you over on their site on the “Transparent” post (where we can talk about it if it’s alright with them).
I only added this last post ^ because I had found out some interesting info that I thought explained why they and I (and maybe others) took stuff differently (and even disagreed). More clarifying. I’m done though. I promise.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Nicole: I think Becky W. is correct. Jesus has washed our sins away before the throne of God, Justified. But the Spirit washes us with the word so that we walk in His truth, Sactified.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Guess what! My mom is having her baby today!It is a girl!Elizabeth Joy, is the name!I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your sister in Christ, Hannah
February 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
YAY HANNAH!
February 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Wow. I know Karen. She was at CFC this past year as an intern. Way to go Karen!
February 18th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
*Nicole:* Thanks so much for catching that! The last thing any of us want to do is distort the truth with confusing or inaccurate language. After reading your comment, I clarified the language to mean the Spirit’s on-going sanctification, not the one-time justification only achieved through Christ. There couldn’t be a more important distinction, so thanks for picking up on it, and thanks Becky for explaining it further. Keep being faithful to guard the truth, and please feel free to leave comments on our site _anytime_ with your thoughts or concerns, seriously!
February 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
It seems your last couple posts, Nicole, lagged on my computer so I hadn’t read them when I just posted! Sorry about that. Yes, do come on over to our site and discuss it further. Thanks for your sensitivity, though you haven’t made me uncomfortable. Let’s be productive in better understanding and magnifying the truth of the Gospel.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Alex and Brett,my baby sister is here!Those who read this are the first of my friends to know.She was born ten minutes ago.she is 8 pounds.Your sister in Christ,Hannah
February 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Congratulations, Hannah! My mom recently had a baby as well.:)
February 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I am always glad to see sites like this. I wish the media would pay more attention to young people doing things like this instead of leading the news with Britney Spears’ shenanigans every night.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Hannah:Congrats!!!!
February 19th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Stephanie: Thanks for responding to my comments and for the effort to clarify. I will definitely take you up on that offer! Thanks.
Grace: Check out my last few comments on this (the one addressed to you and the one with the verses and dictionary definitions) and let me know what you think. I’m assuming you responded before those were actually posted. You can meet me over at “Transparent” on the Forthright Fixation blog if you want by posting your response there.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Amen, Joel!
February 19th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hey guys, just wanted to say thanks for the link. My site went from about 5-8 hits a day to 50, 65, 80 hits and still climbing. Oh, that and it inspired me to start writing again haha
February 19th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I got to see my new baby sister today.She is so cute.She has not opened her eyes yet though.My mom had her at 37 weeks.She is 8 pounds and 23 inches tall.If she had come at 40 weeks,she would probally be very big.I will start a blog after I move to Indiana,and I will post pictures for ya’ll to see. Your Sister in Christ, Hannah
February 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
BY the way, why does the time on my last post say 12:47?I posted that at 2:47
February 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Hi guys,
Thanks for mentioning these girls. I’ve been to their site before, and they reall are amazing. In fact, they’ve inspired me to take up blogging once again.
[Ahem…time for shameless self-promoting…] I used to blog at Mish-Mosh (one of the blogs you guys had to delete due to my cancelling it) and have been dabbling here and there at “Pursuing the Mystery”:http://pursuingthemystery.blogspot.com with Katie Marie Smith. Since then, however, and in conjunction with the new launch of ROC, I’ve just started “God-Writing”:http://godwriting.blogspot.com, a blog that focuses on “seeking first God’s kingdom” in _everything_ we do, even our writing and other spiritual gifts. Thought you might want to take a look.
Thanks.
Excellent blogrolls and rebelutionaries you have there already, by the way.
Keep up the faith. Looking forward to working more with you guys through ROC and other ventures.
In Christ,
Veronika
February 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Thanks for updating your blogroll…this is one of my favorite spots to come looking for serious blogs by young folks!
February 20th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hannah, it is so wonderful that you have a new baby sister! I love her name!
It’s so special that you shared this news with other Rebelutionaries. Feel free to leave a comment on my blog and let me know about your blog when you start it–I’d love to see pictures of Elizabeth!
I think why the time shows up different is that this blog is set in the Pacific time zone (I think), and so it shows that time instead of yours.
Blessings in Christ,
JoAnna
February 21st, 2008 at 10:57 am
JoAnna,thank you.What is your blog?Your Sister In Christ, Hannah
February 21st, 2008 at 9:17 pm
If you notice, my name at the top of my comment is in red. If you click on it, it will take you to my blog.
I saw your comments on another post and will continue to be in prayer for your sister–and for strength and peace of mind for your family.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Brothers:
Thank you for the recommendation. It is very much appreciated and it is humbling to receive it. Forthright Fixation, however, is definitely an amazing site and I encourage every Rebelutionary to check it out.
In the Shadow of the Cross,
David
For those of you interested in [Re]Connected, I promise I’m getting back to writing.