Respecting... tolerance...

I've been studying about socialism this semester. And I have learned so so much! God has revealed stuff to me about people and I've read a lot of history especially African history. It's been a eye and mind opening...

One thing I want to talk about is the often misunderstood word respect and tolerance.
I am a person who boldy speak of my faith in God, and in my faith of the word of God - the bible.
Some people that I have talked to has wondered about how I can believe and stand for a lot of the stuff the bible says and states. And some might believe that I am intolerant of others and is narrow minded.... I want to say.. I am not at all... and I love learning new things... I love seeing things from a brand new perspective... and is a very open person.... I am at the same time very opinionated... and will not just bend and be ok with whatever the world.. or other people try to convince me... I will always seek the truth and study things for myself......
What I've come to realize is that a lot of people that might think others are intolerant often is intolerent themselves... because they don't even listen to others and different opinions, and is not open to the reality that we are allowed to have different opinions...

First off I want to say that I do study the word of God regularly.. and I believe it is the word of God --- literally... I have studied bible history and also missionary history. With that I want to say... God is God.. people are people.. and we, humans we're created with a free will.. and often choose wrong...and do bad things.. it's just how it is... A lot of people have used God's name in war and in other horrible ways.. that does NOT mean that it was God's idea...
And I have experienced a lot of religion and I can't stand religion....But God is not a religion....
Also.. like the saying.. what comes around, goes around... or "karma" is a reality on earth.. we will have to face consequenses for what we do and say.. and that is explained in the bible.. and that is why God.. eventually sent Jesus.. because us humans chose again and again to go our selfish ways....
with all this said.. Respect and tolerance I think is being very misunderstood by a lot of people.

First I want to share some dictionary facts of the words:

Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person or other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment"). It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. Rude conduct is usually considered to indicate a lack of respect, whereas actions that honour somebody or something indicate respect.

tolerant
Toleration and tolerance are terms used in social, cultural and religious contexts to describe attitudes which are "tolerant" (or moderately respectful) of practices or group memberships that may be disapproved of by those in the majority. In practice, "tolerance" indicates support for practices that prohibit ethnic and religious discrimination.
1. able to tolerate the beliefs, actions, opinions, etc., of others
2. permissive
3. able to withstand extremes, as of heat and cold

To respect another person does not mean to "leave him/her alone".
To respect someone means to make ourselves available for communication where we both stand equally, where we listen and consider eachothers views/opinions, obligation, commitment, liability, hope and expectations.
A open commuication like this will also make us aware of our own identity and our own values. In a communication situation like this can a exciting opportunity for equal correction and negotiation of political and ethnical goals happen.

Humans are not empty baskets that we can fill with a certain belief, development concept, or medication from what we think is best from where we stand and what we ourselves has grown up in. Humans has the right to think and consider what they want and believe. They will do and believe what they want and throw away what they don't want or like. This right is what most people want, and how i want it...and it is what we should also allow other people from other cultures to do.
It is a equal respect for a communication fellowship that makes us friends, neighbours, a fellow human.
We can identify ourselves with others, their misery and also their hopes and dreams.

To be tolerant and respectful does not mean the same as converting or being ok with what someone else believe is right.

We can still be tolerant even though we strongly disagree with someone.. or something.

We become intolerant when we judge a person, and does not open for a equal communication.

But it is about disagreeing, and at the same time fight for the other opinions right to keep their beliefs and opinions.

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I think it is so important for people to understand this.. and to be able to agree to disagree, but still Love people and be openminded!

PEACE YA'LL.. MAY GOD BLESS YOU TODAY!

My life of uncertainty... but still so thankful! My visa process etc!

I get a lot of questions about how I am doing and how the visa process is getting along.
I have been frustrated so much the last couple of months. I have been angry at times.. sad.. just full of emotions... I feel like it has been a testing time.. of patience.. but also charectar. Through it all I have learned so much. And I am sure that this has been a thing that has made me stronger and taught me some things I wouldn't have learned if I was without this whole process...

The news on my visa is that it will take about 4-5 weeks from now until I can go to the US. The longest process of my visa is done, and my application is being sent to Norway where they will recieve my information and then send out a letter of forms I need to fill out. Then I have to book an appointment with a doctor, and do a interview at the embassy in norway. When all that is set it will only take a couple of days until my visa is done, and I can go to the US.
The hard thing about this whole process is that we haven't really known what has been going on. All we can do is wait for letters in the mail. If we called.. (believe me we have done a lot) they wouldn't tell us anything other than that we have to keep waiting for the letter. We finally got one letter. But the letter states now we have to wait for another letter. Only giving us a tenative timeframe.
This is so frustrating, not knowing and not being able to plan anything.. cause we just don't know when we will recieve a letter.

BUT! I am praying and hoping this next process will go fast. Sierra is on tour with Foundation skateboards.... and again we are apart for weeks... not a ideal situation at all... Sierra will be going on tours in the future.. so offcourse we are used to that and prepared for that but we would have been apart way less if I was living in the US.. but because I am not.. it makes it so much longer to be apart...
God is still good and I know He has only good things in mind for me. And I praise Him in these circumstances..
Sierra has his pro shoe release party in Santa Monica on December 12th. I could get my visa in time to be there with him.. but it's not for sure... and that makes me sad..

All I can do is pray and hope that things will go fast.
Friends and family, please remember us in your prayers!
LOVE!