The Hunger Games - A Christian Review

I just devoured the first two books of the Hunger Games. (Pun intended.)

Riveting. Spell-binding. These books are page-turners for sure. But there's just something about this series, something that really sickens me. Honestly, I don't really know what to think about them. While I like the action and I like the suspense, there is definitely something I don't like about these books. I just haven't quite pin-pointed what it is yet.

Originally, I started the series after all the ranting and raving I saw about them on facebook. So many of my friends seemed fanatical over them. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. Plus, I wanted to have read the book before the movie came out.

Not knowing much except from what my friends had told me, I downloaded the first book to my kindle. I made the mistake of starting it at the beginning of the week. Needless to say, I was not the most productive person that week. =) I couldn't put the book down!

(Note: I'm not going to use this review to summarize the plot; so if you are unfamiliar with this series, I suggest reading these articles first so that my thoughts make more sense. Focus on the Family, CCB Review.)

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I read the Hunger Games. Generally, a book centered around teens who are forced to kill each other would appall me. I would never think of reading such a book! So why was this one different? Why did I consider it worth my time? I think it's because so many people I knew were crazy about them. They kept going on about how great they were. So I assumed it was just that. Maybe it's just me, but reading about how teens must kill each other to stay alive isn't "great" to me.

While I can absolutely see why people would love this book for its thrilling experience and relate-able characters, I just can't get past all the killing that goes on. Yes, I know it's necessary for the central plot of the story. But it's still a little disturbing. What really bugs me is how I cannot figure out the morality of these books: the morality seems to be so circular. On the one hand, killing is wrong and terrible. But the tyrannical Capital forces you to take innocent lives in order to save your own. But that's all the other person is trying to do as well! The other person is only trying to kill you because they don't want you to kill them, but the only reason you're trying to kill them is because they're trying to kill you.

Do you see how it seems so circular? I just can't figure it out. Is it honorable to kill someone in order to save your own life? If it is, then each one of the Tributes displays honor. And if all of them are honorable then no one is wrong. But I just cannot get past that there is something wrong.

I'm not saying that protecting your own life is wrong. In fact, it's right. But all of the Tributes are trying to protect their own lives. So in essence, the Capital forces these teens both to be the criminal AND the defender at the same time. You become guilty of murdering an innocent person who is only trying to preserve their own life; yet you've just preserved your own.

So this brings me to another question. Can Katniss be considered the "heroine" of the story if she is both criminal and honorable? The book series puts a bazaar twist on the dynamics of the protagonist in this plot. Is she really heroic? And if she is the protagonist then who or what is the antagonist?

I really haven't come to any final conclusions about this series. Maybe some of you could help me. I really want to know your thoughts on this series because I'm still trying to sort out my own. What do you think?

• Why (specifically) are these books best-sellers? What is different in this series that makes these books stand out above the rest?
• Is it okay for Christians to read about gore and death simply because the book is a best-seller or because everyone recommends it?
• What do you think of Katniss as the protagonist or heroine of the story? Is she really a hero?
• What do you think is the main conflict of the books? What is the struggle driving the entire plot?
• What would you say is the morality of these books?
• Is there some kind of political message the author is trying to portray? What are the major themes?
• Are these books that Christians should read?

There are parts of these books that I like. And parts that I don't like. While I haven't decided for sure what my stance on these books is, I don't think that I could truly recommend them to anyone. To me, they were too hopeless, dark, and twisted for me to call them "great." Maybe there's something I don't see, and I'd love to hear your thoughts! But for now, I guess I'll have to conclude that I didn't like the Hunger Games as much as everyone said I would.

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Poaching, Contacts, and Other Various Contemplations

After many months of continual matches, the tennis season is finally over. For those of you who don't know, I joined a home school tennis team this year. My dad and my brothers have played for years, so I figured this would be a good year to join in (not to mention that my dad is the coach)! It has been so much fun playing all the schools around the area--our team has a winning record!

I have learned so much this year and have improved a bunch (if I do say so myself) =D. It definitely has been a challenge learning to play with one hand, but I've learned not to let that stop me from trying anything new! I'm so glad I decided to play this year!

So, as the tennis season is coming to an end, I thought I'd leave you with some of my "profound" thoughts about this tennis season:


~Whoever came up with the scoring for tennis was a complete wacko!
~Don't judge a player by their "cover"
~Poaching does not refer to illegally killing animals or cooking eggs (and is totally legal in tennis!!!)
~Always have an extra pair of contacts with you in case one falls out while you're in the middle of a match
~And if you think your contact fell out while you were playing, make sure it's not stuck somewhere in your eye
~Half of the battle is footwork
~Put sunscreen on before you play
~The wind is a great excuse for a bad shot =)
~"Hit the strings" means the middle of your racket
~Don't call a shot out until it hits the ground (oops!)
~Overheads are awesome!
~It's not uncommon to get pegged in the face
~Tennis matches can go on for a LONG time (my teammate had a 3-hour match!)
~Keeping your eye on the ball doesn't guarantee you'll hit it


Now I'm still planning on playing tennis through the summer, but it will be mostly practice an tournaments. What about you guys? Do you play any sports? If not, let me recommend tennis. =)

Check out this court! I would totally play on this one (just be sure to bring plenty of balls)!!!

Purity Challenge - Week 1

Hey everybody! Lexi at Choosing to Wait has a neat-o challenge for the month of February: a purity challenge! All her posts for this month will be focused on purity - but she doesn't want it to be just her! She challenges all of us to post about why waiting for our future spouse is important to us. I encourage you guys to check out her blog and even join the challenge! (If you're interested, check out the challenge rules first.) Anyway, here's my first post....


Getting married. Isn't that what every girl dreams about? That handsome prince who will gallantly ride up and sweep you off your feet =), someone who will love and cherish you--and even risk their life for you! Dreaming about our future husbands can be exciting, but it's important that these are not the thoughts that consume our minds. Marriage is a special gift that God blesses some people with, but to others He gives the gift of singleness. Whichever situation you find yourself in, God wants us to keep focused Him.


1 Corinthians 7:25-28 (ESV)
So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

Paul is saying here that marriage is not a sin, but his personal opinion is that a person can better be focused on the things of God as single person, than a married one. When reading this passage, though, we must keep in mind the Corinthian culture. Corinth was a city where the Christians were persecuted for their faith. It was hard enough just being a Christian, but having a marriage partner would be even harder! You'd have another person to care for, provide for, and worry about. Your attention is divided.

Now, of course, things are different than the Corinthian society, but we can still apply Paul's main point to our lives: we should be devoted to the Lord right now. "Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called," is Paul's instruction is 1 Corinthian 7:20.

Looking forward to marriage is not bad! But we (as young singles) shouldn't be looking for or seeking out attention from the opposite sex. Boyfriends/girlfriends and "crushes" aren't things we should be thinking about. God wants us to be content with where we are right now. One of my small group leaders gave an awesome illustration of this, and so I drew a couple simple pictures to help illustrate it.

In our life, we should be solely focused on Christ, running with all our might toward the cross. We let go of every distraction and burden and let Jesus become our only passion. Our eyes are fixed on Him.


But as we're running, out of our peripheral vision, we see someone else running straight for the cross too...

God designed marriage and blesses many people with this gift. If this is the plan God has for me, then I want Him to be the initiator of it. Instead of constantly dreaming about when I'll get married and who it might be, I want to stay focused on God. I will be waiting. I won't be chasing other guys. I won't be giving my heart away. I am choosing to wait because I want to honor the Lord and a future husband God might bring me. My mind and body is not my own, and I my Savior to be honored with it. And someday He might bring me someone else who is focused on God too, and we can run the race together. Until then, I'll be focused on the cross, running toward Christ.

What I'm Learning

Have you ever heard any of Laura Story's songs? I got her CD a year or two ago, and I loved it so much that I got the songbook too! Currently, I'm learning to play her song "Grace" on the piano (and I like singing it too =D). I was gripped by this song the moment I heard it! It's one of those songs I can sing and play with all my heart and soul.

God is beginning to teach me more about His grace. Yes, I know it's a free gift, and I know I need it everyday - but how often do I take it for granted? Each night, I can kneel down and ask God to forgive me of all my sin and mistakes, but I tend to forget how much God HATES my sin. Do I take His forgiveness lightly? Every sin that I commit is what nailed Jesus to the cross. Every selfish action is what killed my Savior.

But. God. Is. Gracious.

I don't want God's grace and forgiveness to be taken for granted in my life! And that's what God is teaching me. I'm learning "Grace" and grace.

Well...

This is my first post in 2010. Yeah, I know it's a little later than most everyone else's. . . but that's a sign that school has officially started up for me! (I haven't gotten it into my brain yet that it's 2010, because on all my school papers I keep writing "2009." lol!)

I have made some goals for this year. But already I have not been consistent in them! When life gets so busy, I tend to set my goals aside, thinking I've done so much today, I just want some time for myself! But then I'm reminded of this:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV)

I need to forget what's behind, all my mistakes, and press on towards THE goal: the upward call of Jesus Christ!

Oh, how I see I will need help in the days ahead! Looking at my calendar, I see more and more activities approaching (which means less and less time for me in my day). I've decided that in order to be consistent and diligent in my goals, I'll need accountability!

Would any of you consider being accountability partners with me? There's a little button on my sidebar that says "email me." All you have to do is click it and say, "Chloe, how have you been doing in reading your Bible?" Or waking up earlier? Or spending more time with your siblings?

I know that it will motivate me a lot!!! Even if you just did it once, I'd appreciate it. I wouldn't mind if it was once a day, once a week, once a month, or even once a year! And I'm willing to help keep any of you accountable for something--if you want me to. =)

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Here's a list of some of my goals that I need to be held accountable for...

• Reading my Bible every day
• Spending more time in prayer
• Spending less time on the computer *winks* =)
• Waking up earlier (which means going to bed earlier!)
• Eating healthier
• Spending more time with my siblings
• Keeping my room clean (no matter how busy I am!!!!)
• Reading at least 50 books this year
• Learning to cook better by helping Mom out in the kitchen
• Staying diligent in my science, the hardest subject for me
• Diligence in Bible memorization
• Diligence in practicing for my piano and voice lessons

I know those are pretty much just basic things, but those are becoming the hardest for me. If you do send me an accountability email, just pick a few of those things to ask me how I'm doing in them--I don't want you, or me, to get overwhelmed!!! lol!

I want to thank you all for your encouragement in the Lord! I've been so blessed by starting this blog and I pray that you all have been too. =)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.

Your sister in Christ,

Chloe

Why?

I thought I'd share with you some reasons that I started this blog.


To glorify the Lord
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I pray that everything I say will ultimately bring glory to the Lord! And this is number 1 of all my goals.

I think it sounds fun!
I've been reading many blogs for several months, and I've always wanted to start one. How cool is it that I can share my thoughts - and just about anything else - with the world?! The internet has provided a great opportunity! I look forward to sharing fun things I find, recipes, interesting information, pictures, and tons more!

To encourage other believers
As God is teaching me new things, I want to be able to share and encourage others with what I'm learning.

That I will grow in the Lord
Starting a blog, I know, will require me to dig deeper into the Word so that I will fully understand what I'm wanting to share (and will also keep me accountable in my walk).

It's an opportunity to share my faith
I am a sinner, saved alone by the grace of God, and I want the world to know it! God's gift to me is so amazing, I can only live my life in gratitude for Him.

To meet other believers
I love making new friends and am excited about meeting new people through the blogging world! And it's a great way to stay connected with friends I already have!!!


So now you know! That's it for now!