The kids saw Santa at the mall…
…and neither of them cried.
Success!
Commercial Act of Christmas December 20, 2008
Crazy Christians December 18, 2008
Just like in the world of non-believers, there are some characters in the world of believers. One of my favorite blogs to read daily is Stuff Christians Like. Totally sarcastic most days and funny (he is a Christian who makes fun of Christians). Other days Jon really gets deep and goes inward in ways that anyone can relate to. It’s like that song you hear on the radio that spoke perfectly to you and your neighbor and the guy in California who is tuning in on his computer. All of you perfect strangers, but all of you able to relate to that song on some level. You’ll be able to relate to most of Jon’s deep posts and you’ll probably laugh out loud to most of his funny/sarcastic ones. He’s a blog dynamo and has recently signed a book deal based on the blog. Cool, huh?
When I first started my journey as a salvaged wreck of a person, I was quite zealous. I don’t mean that in a totally good way either. I flat got carried away. I offended so many people I can’t even begin to list them all. I probably even offended people I don’t know I offended. I used the Bible as a weapon on many occasions and stood on my throne of righteousness a time or two too many. I was so spiritual and perfect back then. Ha! Not!!
As I’ve matured in my faith (and I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go), I have realized a few things.
- It is far, far better to live your life authentically (yes, that means flaws showing) and honestly. There is no bigger turn off than a person who claims to be so perfect and to have it all together. Christians are redeemed, but they are broken and flawed and sinners and beyond needy just like everyone else. What do Christians have that’s different? Hope of undeserved and perfect eternal life. Grace that only comes from God. Joy that makes no sense.
- Battling it out with other Christians about stupid goofy things kills a person’s testimony or witness. You want to make a non-Christian roll their eyes and do this whole “just like I told you, Fred, they are nuts at that church” then get into a battle with another Christian in a public forum. Better yet, start throwing Bible verses at each other no matter how far out of context you’ve taken them. I am just as guilty of this as the next guy so don’t get all screwy faced on me. I know.
- Speaking your Christianese turns Christians off so what the heck do you expect to accomplish by telling every Tom, Dick, and Harry “Jesus loves you man”? Makes you look like some weirdo cult member. Makes people think that if they sign up to follow Christ they have to become all strange and say things like “Praise the Lord” and wear make-up like Jan what’s-her-name on TV. Soooo entirely freakin’ crazy weird and psychotic. Yikes!
I could go on and I’m sure you could add your own stuff here as well.
There is a flip side too. It’s called condemnation. You may try to justify your actions by saying you’re “calling someone out” or “sharpening a fellow Christian”. But, in reality, you are being a jerk plain and simple — and a judgmental one at that. It’s so very immature and unkind. It definitely bears no fruit of the Spirit. None.
“What on earth do you mean by that, Heidi?”
There are a handful of Christians out there who like to pretend to not judge other people. They seem to be so open-minded and carefree on the surface. But all it takes is a little paying attention and the dark and ugly are revealed. I have something to say about that because I am flabbergasted almost every single time I see it. It’s like they expect other Christians to live a life of perfection and they raise this ridiculous bar that cannot possibly be reached by any human being on the face of this planet. However, they get all the leeway they need to be broken and shattered. Huh? What a double standard. Wow.
But here’s the reality. We’re all broken and shattered. We aren’t perfect in our walk of faith. We aren’t perfect parents or spouses or siblings or children or friends, etc. We are not even close. If we were, why the heck would we need Jesus? I mean, seriously? Think about that.
So to all you crazy Christians out there (myself included), lighten up. Save your negative and judgmental rants for after December. Better yet, make it your New Year’s resolution to stop harping on each other. Do you know a Christian who annoys you? So what. The more you allow that person to irritate you the more you are letting that person control you. Let. It. Go. God will deal with him or her. You should know this.
Let’s focus on what matters this season. It’s the birth of Christ. Reconcile your differences. Bury your hatchets. Drop your stones. Just stop the craziness already. So you hate Santa, Christmas trees, lights, and eggnog. Who the heck cares? Really? Who?
Stop. Focus.
Jesus really is the reason for this season. And isn’t it lovely? Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it amazing?
God became flesh. He who rules over angels. He who sits on a throne. He who created the universe.
He came as a helpless baby. Born in a stable filled with stinky animals. Laid in a manger full of hay rather than a soft bed of silk and satin. Raised by a carpenter and a young girl. From Nazareth (which was a nothing town back then). He humbled Himself for us. To save us. Focus on Him.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Peace in your hearts.
Joy on your lips.
Love flowing from your every deed.
Merry Christmas
Elf Yourself December 16, 2008
Click the link below
to see the most fantastic
performance of the entire
Christmas season.
Me, Rich, Brianna, Jeremy, and Rich’s mom
Merry Christmas!!
Binge December 15, 2008
Ready. Set. Go!!!
That is how I feel I could start out with this. Fork in my right hand. Knife in my left hand. Cake sitting before me all glorious smelling and sweet chocolate wonderfulness.
I can’t take eating sticks, bark, dirt, and grass any longer. I am going to my doctor tomorrow to BEG for insulin. I am hungry. It’s the holidays. I want some freakin’ eggnog and cake and cookies and pie and potatoes and a pumpkin spice latte or a white chocolate peppermint mocha latte. I am LOSING it folks!!
Losing.
It.
I won’t make it. Not without lying about my glucose numbers. Truthfully, I’ve already fudged on a few. Glucose meter says 135, I write down 119.
I’m sick of it.
Sooo sick of it.
Gimme cake. Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme some freakin’ cake!!
If the cake appears to be topped
with pieces of curled up bark
then it’s ok to eat it.
No, really, it is.
Now. Gimme cake!!
The Jesus Post December 13, 2008
People are searching.
“Jesus” has had over 500 searches that landed someone on my site in 10 days.
Ten days = 500+ searches for “Jesus”
Wow!
What does this mean?
What should we do?
They’re searching.
What are we going to
do about this?
Don’t Forget About Them December 13, 2008
Two pairs costs $5.00.
Five bucks.
Five dinero.
It’s as much as a Subway sub.
Or a Little Caesar’s pizza.
Or a Venti Latte from Starbucks.
Do you have an extra $5.00?
If you’ve already donated THANK YOU. But maybe you’ll donate again?
Have a lovely weekend.
Days of Christmas December 1, 2008
This is the coolest version EVER of this song. The video is funny.
Enjoy the countdown. Happy December!!
The 12 Days of Christmas
by Relient K
Video courtesy of YouTube
My Kind of Weather October 22, 2008
So I love summer. Darn good thing considering where I have chosen to live. Actually, that’s precisely why I love Florida so much — perpetual summer. But around this time of year I start missing Autumn. I miss that crisp air and the smell of it. I miss the leaves turning colors and wearing long sleeved flannel shirts. I miss bonfires and roasted marshmallows. I miss frost on the grass and the cold floor in my kitchen. I miss it for about a month and then I am back to fine in my tropical paradise. I have no affection for winter or spring. When I lived in that northern dreary town I would curse the winter and desire for spring to quickly dissolve into summer.
We are starting to cool off down here. From late October to about mid April I enjoy my Florida home the most. I especially enjoy it when I see the weather reports from around the country in January. While you northerners are bundling up and avoiding the outdoors we are spending time at the parks and having garage sales and picnics and festivals and evening strolls around our neighborhoods. It’s absolutely gorgeous in the winter down here.
You can tell me all day long how beautiful the snow is. My answer is “yeah, from your window”. It’s not beautiful piled up black and gray on the sides of the roads. It’s not beautiful when you’re trying like heck not to spin out or hit someone when you’re sliding uncontrollably through your neighborhood streets with your kids crying in the back seat while you grip the steering wheel in fear of injury to you or them or your vehicle. Snow is dangerous. Snow can knock out power lines. Snow is a nuisance.
You can tell me how pretty spring is with its budding trees and tulips and daffodils. Yeah. It is. But one day you’re hot, one day you’re cold, it rains and rains and rains and rains and [you get the picture]. No thanks.
Summer. I’m all about summer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This weekend I am going to start baking. I love to make homemade pumpkin pies and apple pies. Yumalicious. I’ve already asked my Mom for a few “comfort food” recipes to make for dinner. I can hardly wait. I am finally, after 3 years, not hosting the holidays at our house so I get to just relax and enjoy them this year. What a relief! Shopping will begin soon for Christmas. I like to start and finish early. I can’t stand the crowds. I’d rather spend an extra couple of dollars on something rather than have to fight my way through angry and broke shoppers after Thanksgiving. Not to mention trying to find a parking spot at the mall. Jeepers!!
I am looking forward to the holidays this year. I can’t wait to drive through our snowless neighborhoods singing Christmas carrols and looking at the pretty lights and decorations. I am excited to put up our tree and decorate at our new house. I feel like a kid all over again.
Are you getting bitten
by the holiday bug yet?
What’s your favorite
season of the year?
