There are so many things going on in the world today. People and companies keep compromising their values whether it be in support of GMO crops or in support of Homosexual Rights or a host of other things. I am tired of them trying to pull everyone into their mindset. I know what I believe and I plan to stick with it and NOT to compromise! While staying steadfast in my faith, I also feel I have to stop depending on these companies who support the very things which I am so strongly against. However, just this week, I read a list of those companies who are supporting the things I am against. I deducted it is going to be more difficult than I thought to boycott ALL of those companies on the list! Google is on the list. I use Google for this blog as well as my email. Motorola is on the list which is the cell phone I use. General Mills, Shell Oil, Dell, Microsoft, Target, JC Penny are also on this list not to mention many, many others. To boycott all of the ones on the list I would have to go live off the grid somewhere without a computer, a car, or a cell phone. I would have to raise my own food and live off the land. Actually, it does not sound so bad! It is really one of our goals to be totally self sufficient and depend on the labor of our hands and the blessings of God to provide all our food. Unfortunately, as of this moment, it is not currently in God’s plan. So, I ask, “What can I do to make sure my money I contribute to these companies is NOT going to where I do not want it to go?”
- Start Small
I am starting small with boycotting. I can stop using General Mills, Target, and JC Penny. In fact, I have been for several months. General Mills has double against them and HAS to go in my book! They are also owned by a company which partners with Monsanto and you who have read my blog at all KNOW how much I do not approve of Monsanto!
- Do not begin using any on the list I do not already use.
Nike is on the list so are Nordstrom, MetLife, and MasterCard. I do not use these and of the four have only used Nike in the past when I played sports in school.
- Do not continue to purchase from the companies on the list.
I already have a Dell computer which uses Microsoft on it. I also have a Motorola phone. I can choose a different computer next time I need a new one, however, I cannot guarantee it will have something besides Microsoft on it! I can get a different brand of phone next time I need an upgrade.
- Figure out all the brands included in each company.
To fully boycott General Mills, I can no longer purchase Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen, or Lara Bars as they are all products of General Mills not to mention MANY others! Same goes for Pepsi and Coca-Cola which are also on the list! I am going to try my best to NOT post any deals, coupons, etc., in support of these companies; however, I am human and I am sure I will make a mistake especially with the larger companies which are comprised of so many different brands!
To fully boycott ALL of these companies is going to take some work. Therefore, I have an alternative to boycotting!
- Stand Firm and DO NOT COMPROMISE!
Stand Firm in what you believe! Just because these companies support such immorality does not mean you have to support it as well. Yes, boycotting them would be best, but there are other things you can do as well.
- Write the Companies!
I plan to email these companies and let them know how I feel. I will especially point out I am a blogger and plan to let the world know where they stand on issues. After all, they are here to please the customers. Sure, I am just ONE person, but God has often used the small in Number or stature to work for HIM with success!
- Look for other sources.
I will not be able to boycott everything right away. However, I can begin (and already have) looking for other sources or methods which hold the same values as me. It may mean I will stop blogging and using the computer and a cell phone all together one of these days. However, I feel right now, I can use these things to my benefit and to express how I feel. Google Blogger may shut me down. They do not really like me anyway as they already turned off my Google Ad Sense last fall for no just reason in my opinion (at least they could not give me a just reason).
- PRAY!
Pray for everyone! Pray for God to show HIMSELF in their life and do a mighty work! One day every knee shall bow before HIM whether they want to believe it or not!
I realize this post is probably going to offend many. However, I am adamant at standing steadfast in my faith and unmovable! I am also the first to admit when I am wrong. I am not a hateful, unloving person. I have many friends and some relatives who support GMO and.or who are homosexual. I believe we are to love everyone unconditionally. I do love them and I pray for them. However, those who know me, know I do not support them in their lifestyle. As far as the GMO issue goes, my friends, family, and colleagues have agreed to disagree. With the homosexual issue, I have had a friend who has admitted she knows what she is doing is wrong, but she is happier than she has ever been in her life and has no plans to change. I have reminded her there is pleasure in sin for a season. She says she knows and she plans on enjoying it while she can! She is the daughter of a deacon in a Baptist church. On the GMO note, I have actually made people at least think about where they stand and consider no longer supporting the GMO part of Agriculture. Being an Agriculture major, a farmer and gardener, with a brother who still teaches AG in school keeps me involved in the Agriculture Community. I am a minority not in gender, but in the values I hold.
I teach my children to LOVE everyone! We do not have to like what they do or do the things they do, but we are to love them and treat them kindly! Just this past week at church there were some children teasing a little boy about being black. Coming from rural South East TN, my children have not been around black children very often. However, they are surrounded by them here in Michigan. Anyway, I was proud of my oldest three children. They told the other children to stop teasing the boy! God loves HIM too and the only difference in us was the color of our skin which really did not make a difference in God’s eyes! The bullies said he knew they were just kidding, but my children said it did not matter because you did not need to have fun at another person’s expense! I was so very proud of them!
I encourage you to pray and seek God’s will for your life! One thing HE does command us to do is to Love Our Neighbor! It is possible to LOVE one another while still standing firm and steadfast in your faith!
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