Motivational Wednesday

Once again I did not take the picture or put the quote on it, but I did love it so there you go!

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Favorite Quotes

Insta-Sunday

New Dinner Idea's

So, last night I figured I'd see what else my new Pampered Chef Brownie pan could do.  Part idea from Pampered Chef, part my own, I came up with some Creative Pizza Pockets!  They turned out fabulous.  Ethan and Erica ate them up.  LOL  Here is my Step by Step on how to make them.

Step 1: Pre-heat oven per back of dough.  I cooked mine for about 15 minutes but that is because we like "crunchies" from our cheese and sides.  

Step 2: I used Pillsbury pizza dough cut into squares pushed into the squares.

Step 3: Place a tiny amount of sauce on each square, as you can see I have one left blank and that's for the twins to try it.  I'm not sure how they will handle red sauce yet.  

Step 4: Add your ingredients.  I used Mozz Cheese, Pepperoni and Mushroom.  I've also thought about doing a Ham and Cheese melt too.

Step 5: I put on some of them a top layer for that Pizza Pocket feel.  Some of them I left open faced. 

Final Step: Finished product.  Let me tell you something, not only did my children enjoy these but so did I.  

I hope you enjoyed this!

Motivational Wednesday

Here is your Motivational Quote for the week:  Again I did not take the picture and put it together.  I found this and liked it and thought I would share it.

Have a wonderful day!

Favorite Quotes Tuesday

Insta-Sunday

Acquaintance, Friends and Those we call Family

I truly had no intention of blogging today.  I was going to get my Quotes ready for tomorrow, but I didn't have anything for today.  Than events that have taken place over the last 24 hours have inspired me to write something.

There are people that come into our lives everyday.  Every single one of those people will mean something.  It might be for a brief encounter that lasts but a moment or it could very well be a lifelong friendship that you cherish forever.  No matter if it is for the briefest of moments or a lifetime you should ALWAYS enjoy the time you have.  You never know who that friend for life might be.

I've meet some pretty rotten people in my life but flip the coin and I've meet some pretty fan-freaking-tastic people too.  Some were just a fleeting dance in a now distant memory and others have remained like a moth mesmerized to an eternal flame.  There were some that burned liked acid when the dance was over and there are some I'm still dancing with.  Hopefully you understand where I'm coming from.

Some of you reading this know me and pretty much know my friends and our story, but for those of you who don't I'm gonna give a brief background so you understand.

I still talk to a handful of people I knew as a child.  I am grateful for these people.  They remind everyday where I came from and how the road to who I am now started.  One of my oldest and dearest friends is Travis.  Travis and I met in the 3rd grade and I when we first met, I wanted nothing to do with him.  But than I got to know him and understand his story.  Everyone in this world has a story.  Some are just more elaborate than others, some are more bumpy than others and some are just ordinary.  My friend Travis's story is pretty freaking spectacular.  When he was born he was born with one lung and his heart on the wrong side of his chest (that is his story to tell).  His parents were told he'd never make it, but here we are 32 years later and celebrating a 26 year friendship.  There are three friends from the 3rd grade that I still keep in contact with on a somewhat regular basis thanks to modern technology and Facebook.  I met Jara and Rachel at the same time and they became my best girl friends.  Jara is actually the first friend I made when we moved to Grand Rapids and it's all because of my mom.  As we all know as girls grow we become more picky and more fickle.  Though we remained friends our friendship evolved and changed.  By the end of my 6th grade year while yes we were still great friends we had branched out and had different friends.  Here entered Emma.  We hit it off instantly even though we were a grade apart.  From the middle or so of my 6th grade year until my family moved to Florida after my 8th grade year we were inseparable.  Even with her moving 20-30 minutes away we spent as much time together as we could.  You know what I'm talking about.  Those weekends were you spent the whole weekend at one or the others house, or over the summer where you spent as many days as the others' parents would let you.  But like everything in life our friendship changed and evolved into what we have today.  She and I still keep in touch and we still talk, but we were childhood best friends.  Now I understand what is when they say you pick your family and she is part of that.  :D  Now during my 7th and 8th grade year I met another totally different group of people.  We all went to what you call magnet schools and the one I went to was a preforming arts school.  I still talk to quite a few of the people I met during that time.  Facebook is a fabulous thing.

Enter the next stage of my life.... high school!  I'm a military brat and between my 8th and 9th grade year we moved to Florida.  We drove down and Emma came down with us for about a month.  We did all kinds of things before she left.  It was the last time we spent any significant time together.  Because I knew no one, my mother thought it would be great for me to go to summer school so I could meet some people.  So I took newspaper over the summer and hung out with Juniors and Seniors.  LOL!  I didn't meet my first friend that was my age until about a month, month and a half into the school year.  That is when I met one of my two besties, Leslie Anne.  We've been friends since Sept/Oct of 1994 and yes we are still besties.  We still hang out, our children hang out, ect.  I also meet a lot of wonderful people during high school.  Some I would call acquaintances, some friends and some family.  Michael, Matt, Daniel (not my husband), Sharra Lynn and Leslie Anne.  I still talk to them all and they are all family.  Daniel is my oldest son's Godfather and Sharra Lynn is my Middle son's Godmother.  Michael and I while we don't talk all the time he is still family.  We were the best of friends in High School.  Matt has come and gone and we've always remained friends.  In fact our children (my younger ones) are really close to his daughters age and I hope they are great friends.  Now I haven't forgotten anyone, those are just the ones I call my close family.  I have others that a great friends and than those that I rarely talk to anymore.  One of my sweetest friends from high school is Karen.  We still talk on a very regular basis and hopefully when she comes home for a visit this year she'll get to meet the children.  I also have my black brother, Marcellus.  He and I met via my job on the base.  He was/is a Marine and we became great friends and now he is family.  Even though his lives in the dreaded Chi-Town.  LOL!  Kelly I love you too, though we don't get to hang out and talk nearly as often. My dear friend Scott I wish we talked more.  I miss you!  I am probably forgetting people and later I will kick myself in the butt, but we all know how that goes.  

Next came college/life  in general and let me tell you something I've meet so really awesome people and I'm very thankful they are in my life.  I met Ethan's Godmother at this time and she is now married to his Godfather Daniel.  :D  LOL!  I also met the beautiful and wonderful Kimmie.  How the two of us became friends is beyond me, but friends we are.  We can go months ( I mean months) without talking and with one phone call it's like we never stopped talking.  I love you girl!

My trip to Washington and having my beautiful son Ethan is the next stage in my crazy life.  I met many people up there, some of which I still talk to and others I'm glad I don't.  Schimmy & Trinelle, thank you for being my rocks through everything that happened up there.  Love you guys!

I came home and pretty much stayed to myself and didn't make very many friends.  Than I met a group of younger girls and I still keep in touch with them and they've turned into some pretty wonderful people.  One of them even has a set of twins a couple of months younger than mine.  But truthfully I didn't try and find or met any new people and for that I will never know if there was someone out there that could have been a great friend.

Through my oldest son's school I have met some even  more wonderful people, some of which I call friend, a couple I barely call acquaintances and a couple that are now family.  Pam, you have been my savior this past year and half helping me out getting Ethan two and from school.

Now, 4 children and a husband later I have a very wonderful group of friends and a fantastic family support system.  There is one person I Have to make sure I say something about and that is Jacob.  God placed him in our life at just the right moment.  I was going insane with the four children and he needed us just a much as us needing him.  Again, God did a good job.  Jacob has become such a huge part of our family.  The boys love him and so do we.  Daniel and him think of each other as brothers and he's just Jacob for me.  When we need him, he is always there and he loves our boys.  I couldn't ask for a better friend.  You have become my best guy friend Jacob next to my husband.  I love you and am very thankful God placed you in our lives.

The reason I write this, is so people understand that like everything else in life friendships/relationships change and evolve and you either work at and keep the friendship or they slip away to the sidelines or the crowd to never be heard from again.

There are some friendships that are just bad for you and when the dance ends you jump off and run screaming into the night.  I've had a few of those and I know you have too.  Those ones where you do things that are not in your character and you than get into some massive trouble.  I pray my children never go through that but I know they will and I know it will make them a better friend to the true friends they have.

Last night I hung out with a wonderful family and I'm so glad they took a chance to get know my family and Sharra Lynn's family.  They were awesome and I can see a great and beautiful friendship coming out of it.  Something that will last a while and grow with time.  Jennifer, I hope that you see it the same way.

Remember to keep your friends and family close to your heart at all times and say I love you when you/they leave or you/they hang up.  You never know what tomorrow is going to bring and for that you should always so I love you.

I think I've babbled enough and yes I know to some of you it's just that.  Hopefully though you will see a little bit more of me and my unique self.  I have no brothers and sisters that I did not choose.  They are the best kind.

Have a wonderfully blessed day my readers and we'll catch you on the flip side.

My Favorite Things - Blue & Pink Edition

So growing up for as long as I can remember there has been two things of my dad's that I have always wanted.  I used to kid with him that when he died these would be the first two things I would take.  LOL!  Please understand my dad is full on color blind, so the fact that he did these are amazing and I will be forever thankful when he decided to give them to me.  They are two of my most treasured pieces.  I love you Dad!

Have a fabulous weekend y'all!

Chef Shots and his Wonderful Leftovers

As I told you a while back, my wonderful father was going to guest blog about food.  He will be talking about left overs and what you can do with them.  My father doesn't get how to do it from his blog to my blog so for the time being he is sending it to me and I am copying and pasting.  So I hope you enjoy this.


From the mind of Chef Shots!

Here’s another in my line of leftover yummies!

Ingredients:

Left over chicken

Portabella mushrooms (or any fresh or canned depending on your preference)

Onion (I used a sweet onion but any would do cut into the size you want)

Garlic to taste, I used 2 cloves (I used a garlic press on mine, but as long as it’s chopped fine)

A box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (the one with real soft cheese in it)

Course Kosher Salt to taste

Fresh ground Black Pepper to taste

Italian seasoning to taste

Parmesan cheese

Cut chicken into whatever size pieces you like. You may use any meat I just prefer chicken.  In a large pan sauté chicken, onion, garlic and mushrooms until chicken is cooked and onions and mushrooms are soft.  Meanwhile cook Mac & cheese according to directions. Mix chicken with Mac & Cheese and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan Cheese.        

As with any of my recipes you can add or subtract any ingredient you like to suit your taste.

Bon Appétit

Motivational Thought Wednesday

I did not take this picture or put the quote with it.  I found it on the internet, but Loved it and had to share it with all you wonderful readers.

When I read this quote all I could think of was my son Ethan.  

Life and it's on going stupidity

So yes I know a lot of my posts start out like this, but you'll have to bear with me and understand that this is my blog and if at any time you do not agree with me or do not like what I'm posting you are more than welcome to stop reading.  Yes I know some times it's like a train accident where you just can't turn your head away, I'm that good of a writer but if you do not like it, don't read it. 

  We’ll move on to each issue and I’ll address them until my heart is content or I feel my point has been made. 

            With so many broken families you treasure the people that love you with all your heart and even if they piss you off you DO NOT BAD MOUTH them.  Especially on the internet.  As Phineas and Ferb say “Flame is fleeting, but the internet is forever.”  Once you post it on there than it’s there.  People have seen it and you can’t take it back.  I think this is why when I’m pissed off at something instead of posting right away I wait a day or two so I’m posting it as a Southern and not as my Northern side.  I’d probably piss more people off if I did most of my posting as a Northern.  I don’t care if you don’t like the person at the moment or they’ve really pissed you off remember they love you.  If this is someone who has been a mother/father figure to you remember they choose to love you.  They didn’t have to, but they did.  So please remember this when you decided to bash this person that loves you by choice.  No matter how upset I get with my oldest son’s Biological father, I will NOT bash him in front of my son.  You do not bash the other parent in front of the child. 

            While, yes I will allow my children to have their own privacy, if at any point in time while they live under my roof if I feel they are hiding something that could hurt themselves or someone else in my house I WILL GO THROUGH THEIR THINGS!  I don’t care if they are 16 or 25.  If you are in my house you are under my rules.  I’m not saying that my boys will be under lock and key, but they will have rules they will have to follow.  I’m not ashamed to admit I lived at home until I was 22 and there were rules I had to follow.  My mom woke by 5:00am so; unless I was working I had to be in by 11pm so I didn’t wake her up by the dogs barking.  She didn’t demand to know where I was all the time, but as a courtesy I 97% of the time told her where I was going and who I was with.  (I’m talking about when I turned 18).  In fact I was still in high school when I turned 18.  I hope that I can be ½ the parents mine were to me. 

            Okay on to the next subject.  Everyone is entitled to raise their children and behave with and around their children their own way.  Just because you/we might not agree with it doesn’t make it wrong or right.  I just hope that parents that are always going out and don’t spend as much time with their children as possible realizes just how special their children are.  Before you know it you’ll look up and that baby that was cooing at you is 8 and is sitting at the table doing homework and talking about his next project. Or even forbid what girl he has a crush on.  Time is precious when it comes to kids.  I know I don’t have the patience to home school my children, but I am very grateful for this time I have with my three little ones.  Yes I need time for me every once in awhile, but it’s not once a week and it’s not once every two weeks.  I might get some time to myself once a month that is more than 5 minutes.  I hate to break it to people but running to the store without the kids while it’s nice is not a break.  If you haven’t figured it out yet being a parent, but especially a stay at home parent is a 24 hour, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year kind of job.  I take mine very seriously.  I know I have people that will gladly watch my children, but the way I see it, I use those very far and few in between.  I need those for when there is an emergency.  My point of this one, is just because we don’t raise our children the same doesn’t mean either one of us is right or wrong.  Now common sense should always prevail.  You always buckle your children in the car (they should never be running around while you are driving), children under the age of 1 probably should be eating a whole lot that can rot their teeth, and while I have one like this their favorite food should not be Fries from a fast food place. Personally I do not believe in going out all the time now.  When I was younger I did do this, but still not a lot.  At this time in my life I am a home body and don’t need the bar scene. 

            People who think just because you have WIC checks or have food stamps you must be lazy.  I hate to break this to you people, but there are a lot of us out there, that are not abusing the system.  My husband works his ass off to provide for us.  He works at his main job 50 hours a week and then works a 2^nd job 15-40 hours a week, depending on the demand.  We were blessed with one job in this economy and having two is even better.  There are weeks though were he isn’t needed at all.  We use it for what it was intended.  For a helping hand up, not to be our only source of income.  I know families that are military and have food stamps, because our soldiers aren’t paid enough to begin with.  Believe me I’ve seen the women that go into the store and have 3 carts of food and pay with food stamps and then pull a wad of cash from their bra’s that’s nothing but $20’s to pay for whatever is left over.  They then go out to their brand new cars that have rims on them that cost more than van and all you can do is shake your head.  Yes I BELIEVE you should have to pee in a cup if you are on public assistance.  It’s not fair that the cash you are getting from the state is paying for your drugs.  You have to pee in a cup for 90% of the jobs out there, so why not for assistance.  Oh wait, that’s why they don’t have jobs.  Never mind.  My point in this one is next time you are behind someone who is paying with WIC and food stamps, remember they might not be abusing the system. 

            People who don’t realize how good they have it.  Do you have a roof over your head?  Is there food in your belly?  Are your children (if you have them) clothed?  If you replied yes to these than you have it better than some people.  Yes I know there are things that could make your/our lives easier but truthfully you are blessed in what you have.  If you have people that help you remember to thank them and let them know you appreciate everything they do for you. 

            People that are two faced is my best way of putting it.  When you condemn someone for something, yet you do not condemn someone else for doing the same thing.  A friend of mine wrote a blog post and was called into the “principle’s” office about this post.  She was told that the “principle” had received many emails on this and was told she was wrong to write it and that she wasn’t setting a very good example and even though it was her opinion on this subject she should basically take it all back and say she was wrong and that she was sorry.  It cause much contraversy and she felt she was no longer welcome in a place she had been welcome for 30+ years.  Fast forwarded two – three weeks and I write a blog post (http://lilbitsthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/church-and-my-views.html) which is basically the same thing my friend wrote.  We have the same “principle” and here it is a week after mine and nothing.  We both feel that she was targeted for some reason and that is not right.  We also have mutual friends that told her she was wrong for hers and yet have basically applauded mine.  What is right or wrong for one has to be right or wrong for the other. 

            Yes now I am going to bring in the Church subject.  I really thought I covered all this in my last big post, but I forgot a couple of things and so I will say them now.  I firmly believe if we have more Missions trips here in the USA and reach out more in the USA we’d have more Christians. I understand that the Bible tells us to go out and if it wasn’t for the people in the beginning going to other places we wouldn’t have it, but I’m a firm believer in you have to fix home before you can fix away.  If we don’t have enough Christians here at home, why are we trying to get people in other countries to believe what we believe.  People in the Church (this is everywhere) need to learn the facts and the whole story before the start running their damn mouths.  If you don’t know the story don’t talk about it.  Are we still in High School?  Also please do not tell me to watch what I say because it reflects upon myself.  Yes I know it does.  I 99% of the time do not say anything I do not mean and would not stand behind.  I get that I’m a Christian and that I am to help non believers become believers, but non believers need to see that we aren’t perfect.  Being a Christian does not mean that we are perfect.  Human’s as a race is the most imperfect thing every.  We have sin and sin and oh more sin.  You have to accept Jesus as your Savior to pass through the doors of Heaven (John 14:6 reads: Jesus Answered, “ I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”)  We are all sinners.  Some of you may or may not know (and I’ll try and post a picture) but I have a tattoo of a Devil on my back.  He isn’t completely filled in and under it, it says, “I’m not completely Evil.” It helps remind me that everyone has it in them to be evil and nasty.  I try very hard not to be.  Every time someone comments about my Devil it reminds me even more that I am not evil.  I am a good person, even though people may think otherwise.  We need to work on home and fix home before we go abroad. 

         I think I’ve said enough and I’m sure I’ll get some WONDERFUL Comments and I’m even more sure there will be things at Church said because of this.  Just remember one thing, GOD is the only who will Judge me and He will Judge me at Heavens door when I get there.  Matthew 7:1-2 reads: “Do not judge or you too will be judge. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  As you read in (http://lilbitsthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/church-and-my-views.html) my Favorite verse is in Revelations.  I would have to say that Matthew 7:1-2 is right up there with that.  I hope that everyone has a fantabulous evening and that after reading this, I’ve given you some things to think on.  

Favorite Quote Tuesday

Insta-Sunday

My Instagram pictures for the week!  I hope you enjoy them!

I took Ethan to see Disney on Ice.  This will be probably be his last one.  Which is kewl, because it had Stitch in it which is his Favorite character.

Food I took pictures of through out the week.  The Burger is from Blue Dot, best Burger in Town hands down!  I made the rest.  The Turkey, Cheese & Apple grilled sandwich was fabulous!  

Twins playing!

Three of the most important men in my all four of my sons lives.  Thank you guys for being the men you are!

NICU Reunion Walk 2012!  Personally I think it's one of the best pictures I've ever taking of Peanut.  

Peanut and the E-Man!

Brothers Unite! 

Perfectly Random things through out the week!

Gemini!  I love all my boys!

My Favorite Things

So I decided this week to show you my favorite piece of cookware.  Out of everything I own, I think this gets used more than anything.  It can be used for so many things.

Yes that's right it's the Large Stone from Pampered Chef.  Mine is not as well loved as others yet, but it will get there.  My mom's is even darker than mine and our consultant Kate's is almost black it's so well loved.  You can make anything on this thing, but our favorite thing is My Mom's Deep Dish Pizza.  Holy Rusty Metal Batman, this thing is fantastic.

Imagine if you will, a pound of hamburger, a pound of sausage, 2 cans of mushrooms, pepperoni, and lots of cheese.  This thing has to weigh at least 3-4 lbs.

Just the other day I did homemade tortilla chips on it.  Personally I think anything made on or in stoneware just tastes so much better.  I don't know why, but to me it does.   I hope maybe showing you this fabulous piece of cookware will inspire you to get one of your own.  I don't know what I would do with out mine.

Thought of Inspiration

My wonderful Best Friend Sharra Lynn usually does a Though of Inspiration on her blog, but she is taking the month of May off to get somethings together with her business.  I know I am not her, but I thought I would do one until she comes back, I'm just gonna do mine on Wednesday's instead of Thursday's like she does.  I hope you enjoy!

Church and my views

So I have promising for weeks now a post about something that happened awhile back.  I have to get you some background on myself and a few other people.  So please bear with me.  For those that have already heard the tale than oh well.  LOL!

 I come from a non religious background and for that I am very thankful.  I have heard horror stories from friends that grew up one denomination or another and they tell stories of their own confusion and of things that happen in churches behind the scenes.  Now please do not take this blog post in any way that I’m bashing church. 

        

 The first time I remember going to church is with a friend of mine when I was 10 or 11.  I don’t even remember.  I do remember it being HUGE church and the dude up front (I didn’t know who or what he was) yelling about how we were going to hell!   I only went two or three times with her before I never went back.  They guy scared me.  There was no explaining of anything, just hell, hell and more hell.  I know now, that it was a non-denomination church. 

    I did not go to another church again until I was 14 and what didn’t scare me in that first church sure the Hell scared me in the next one I went to.  It took me going just once to realize that it wasn’t for me and probably never would.  A friend of mine, Fuzzy (yes this is what we called her and for the life of me I can’t remember her real name) all of a sudden found religion.  She went from being the fun loving young lady we (my Best Friend Leslie Anne and I) hung out with to this uptight one wrong thing you are going to Hell person.  She invited Leslie Anne and me to join her at her church.  We decided that’s fine, we’d go and see what it was all about.  For those of you here in Pensacola, you know that back in 1995ish Brownsville Assembly of God started the “week long Revival” that proceeded to last 4 or 5 years.  We went to the 3^rd night of this Revival during the 1^st week.  The people were rolling around on the floor speaking in “Tongues” and the “Pastor” of this Church was going around touching people’s head and screaming, “FIRE! NOW! MORE!” and the people were falling to the floor twitching and speaking in “Tongues”.   I was 14-15 at the time of this and I leaned over to Leslie Anne and told her that if Fuzzy twitched any harder with the guy she was holding hands with they’d be on top of each other.  I whispered this very quietly, but one of the ladies over heard it and called the “Pastor” over and tried to “SAVE” us as they called it.  We ran to the top balcony and hid until it was time to go.  I did not go to another Church again until I was almost 17. 

        

In between this incident and my going to Church I read a lot.  Some of which was the Bible, which I completely didn’t understand at all and I read a lot of history books and romance novels.  There was something in one of the books that I read, that I had to check to see if it was correct.  I have found that the Bible is very confusing and it’s all about interpetation.  Though at the time I didn’t understand this because I wasn’t a Christian and could care less about the Bible.  The book that I was reading was talking about how women could not enter the Church after Child birth for X amount of time.  This really confused me, because I had always been under the understanding that Women were made to have children, so why if we were doing what God had made them for were they not allowed in Church. 

I found this: Leviticus 12:1-8 which reads:

And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

² Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

³ And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

⁴ And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

⁵ But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.

⁶ And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:

⁷ Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.

⁸ And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Again I could not understand this, but not being of a religious background or having any religion I truthfully did not care. 

   About the time I turned 17, Sharra Lynn (my other Best Friend) talked me into going to her Church.  Now talk about an eye opener.  These people were very nice, they explained things in Sunday School (I had no clue what that was) and the Pastor wasn’t screeching about Fire and Brimstone.  Now truthfully I do not remember much of those early times going with Sharra Lynn on the rare occasion she talked me into going I just knew that her Church was a very nice place.  Around this time I started dating a young man whose parents were Nazarene.  To appease his mother I started to go to Church with them on Sunday mornings.  That is until I was politely asked by the Pastor to think about if I was going to the right place or not.  Now I didn’t do anything horrible.  I asked questions.  I wanted to know why, this and why that.  I asked too many questions I guess and was a labeled a trouble maker. 

 From the time I was 17 until I was 25ish I visited many different religions and many different Churches to see what I was missing.  I can tell you the one that scared me more than the Assembly of God Church was a Satanic “Church”.  I stayed there until they brought a goat out and I politely explained to the person I was with that, I had to go.  Thankfully they understood and there was no hard feelings.  I still keep in touch with this friend, but not as much as I would like too.  I asked questions about everything I could think of at the time.  Around 2009 Sharra Lynn asked me to join her at Church and I did.  By this time my eldest son Ethan had been in a Christian School since 2006 and in the spring of 2009 he was Saved and asked Jesus into his heart.  That winter at Sharra’s Church Ethan was baptized.  We continued going to Church (Though at the time I was still a non believer) and I soaked up as much information as I could.  I still didn’t understand things and the Bible was even more confusing.  In Jan 2011 I prayed and I felt something come over me.  I was praying because we just found out that we were going to have twins.  (I have my eldest by my first marriage, and we now have Peanut who is two and our twins who are 10 months.) When I felt this calming spirit come over me and I knew that everything was going to be okay.  So this was the day I asked Jesus to come into my heart and was Saved.  In June of 2011 I was Baptized.  We dedicated our Children in Church on April 29, 2012. 

  My husband grew up in Churches and at one point was the “Preachers Kid” and a Deacon Son.  My husband doesn’t agree with Church at all.  He’s seen too many things growing up on the back end of it that he doesn’t like them.    He and I both believe that a lot of Churches (NOT ALL) are built more on a “Social Network” than the true meaning of Church. 

But now I will get into the many reason I do not like 95% of Churches and why I have an issue with the Bible. 

1.     I have an issue with Church Politics.  Even before attending Church regularly I heard stories from other friends (NOT JUST MY BEST FRIEND) about the inner workings of their churches. 

a.     How one group or another group basically controlled what happened within the Church walls.  Not the Church as a whole, but this group or that group.  It goes with the saying of it’s Who you know, not what you know.

b.     In EVERY Church I’ve visited I’ve witnessed Church Politics and they are dangerous.  Not only to the Church itself but to the people there.

c.     With Church Politics you have a tendency to have a few people deciding what is good for the Church as a whole and from what I’ve seen they 9 out of 10 times have no clue what is going on with 75% of the Church Members.

2.     People getting places of position because of either who they are or how much they tithe and not because they are lead to the position by God. 

3.     Speaking of tithe, that is a big thing with me.  Yes I know God will provide, but until he does I have to provide for my family.  When you live paycheck to paycheck it’s hard to tithe what the Church says you are to tithe. 

a.     The Old Testament states you are to give 10% of everything you have.  Hello everything you have…not just how much money you make in a week, month or year.  But Everything you have.  Your NET WORTH basically. 

b.     Nowhere in the New Testament does it state a % amount.  It states that it should be keeping with income.  2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

c.     Here is my question, a man/woman or family living off the streets that literally has nothing, has nothing to tithe.  So are they going to Hell because they have nothing to give?

d.     I believe if you give your time and what you can when you and you do it with a pure heart (not a heart of I have to do this to get into heaven) than God will understand.

e.     Also Tithe is should be between a person and GOD.  The only person who should know how much is the book keeper of the Church and hopefully they are not a big mouth and don’t tell what everyone Tithe’s.  If they do, remember they will have to answer to GOD!

4.    I do not believe that you should do anything or go anywhere that you are not lead by God to do.  Meaning:

a.     Do not go to a Church that God has not led you to

b.     Do not volunteer for a position that you were not led by God to do.

c.     Pastors do not let people led in your Church just because they are your friends.  They need to be led by GOD, not a Pastor.

d.     Pastor’s DO NOT let people be in charge of a position in the Church just because of how much they Tithe each month.

5.    I understand everyone gossips every once in a while, but Church should be the one place you do NOT do IT!  You are there to do one thing and one thing only.  Worship the Lord with other people.  It should not be used to discuss anyone else’s business.  If you have an issue with someone have the BALLS to go to the person you are having issue’s with.  Do not go to the Pastor to “tattle”.  Really?!  Are we adults or are we still in High School? 

6.   The last thing is the Bible.  I’ve discussed this with numerous people and friends.  The Bible is a guideline. 

a.     It is all about interpretation.  When listening to a Pastor or reading the Bible by yourself, God will show you how he wants you to understand what the passage means.  What God wants me to get out of what the Pastor is saying and what He wants the person next to you to get out of it could be different.  It depends on what is going on in your life. 

b.     While yes, God told the people to write the Books of the Bible and even the Bible itself, but please remember MAN wrote it.  MAN who can be swayed very easily.  So how can you tell me that everything in the Bible is exactly as it was all those years ago.  It’s been handed down and re-written and re-written and even a King had it written again.

c.     I’m not sure how to explain this one, people who use portions of the Bible (Please read Leviticus) but don’t go with all of it. 

d.     How can you believe in the Bible and not believe in magical creatures?

7.   I know you are to forgive everyone and you know what, I can forgive someone for things they might have or have not done.  What I and many other people can’t do is FORGET!  Example:  At a Church camp one year I witness a CAMP LEADER throw a chair across the room (Where children were playing) because the Youth were listening to something one of the other Leaders was saying.  I was a parent that saw this.  I can forgive this person for that, but I will never allow my children to be alone in the same room with this person, because I can’t FORGET what they did.  Seriously!?  I can’t imagine anyone wanting this person to be in charge of their children.  Yes I can forgive the incident, but never will I forget the look of fear on the children’s face as a chair came flying towards them. 

8.   Just because what I may or may believe and just because what I got from the Sermon and what you got might be different but neither of us is wrong.

9.   Never should anyone, let alone the Pastor, laugh (even jokingly) when asked a question about a book/passage in the Bible.  Remember that the other people around might not understand why you are laughing and assume you are laughing at the person who didn’t understand the book/passage. 

10.Finally No One in the Church: Not the Pastor, the Deacons, the members, NO ONE BUT GOD judges you!  If they do Judge you, than they themselves shall be Judge by GOD! 

One of my favorite verse’s in the Bible is: Revelation 19:16 “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  I love this one because I interpret this as he will have a tattoo on his leg as well as it written on his robes.  So if Jesus will have a tattoo on his leg how can it be bad for me.  Again Interpretation. 

There are other things that go on in Churches and People I hate to tell you this, but Non believers, new Christians and People who have been Christians their whole lives know what goes on in Churches.  So do not think for a minute anything I’ve said in this blog post is not something people didn’t already know.  The point of this is to help you understand where I am coming from.  Where and why I believe in things I do or do not. 

I did not believe in Churches and slowly I was on my way to believing and in the last 4 weeks things that have happened at more than one Church to friends of mine, it’s made me realize that I still don’t believe in Churches.  Now before you judge me, remember: Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” I can worship from home just as easily as I can at Church.  So for now, Bible studying is what we’ll be doing as a family instead of going to Church to Worship. 

I’m sure I’m forgetting points I wanted to make, but it’s taken me 3 weeks or so to write this. 

Thank you for reading my blog and remember as long as you aren’t bashing I love comments.  Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion.  

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