Is faith in the bible?

I was at a meeting for the kids youth group today and there were some guest pastor speakers.   They were fantastic but they made me question some things.   They said we should have unwaivering faith and we must read and follow the bible and the rules of the bible and god will give us the everlasting peace that he died for us to have.    This poses questions for me?  I believe in the ideas of the bible; Love one another/ take care of one another/ turn the other cheek/ etc.... and I wake up everyday with the intention of being a good person and doing the right thing.  I try to help others and I try to love every day with all my heart but I'm not a bible reader... I have some versus I like that I've heard, I've been in bible studies but I do not sit down and read the bible as a book.  Does this mean I don't have enough faith, does this mean I won't be a good christian.  Must we read the bible and go to church to have faith and be a good christian?  I believe god is with me and loves me.  I also believe that god will not always give me what I want but he will always give me what I need.  I believe in asking god not to fix things but to give me the strength to work through things.  I try to ask him for the wisdom to say the right thing when it needs to be said the the wisdom to hold my tounge when it needs to be held.   I don't raise my hands in church and yell "hallelujah", I don't preach to my friends, I don't forward jesus emails, but I share what I have with whoever needs it, I stop to help someone when I can, I try to do what's right even if I don't "feel" like it.  but am I a bad christian and is my faith lacking because I don't read the bible and follow the rules as laid out.   Does anyone?   Well here is my answer,,, yes I have faith... it may be different from yours or his or hers, but I have faith.  I have my own faith and to me God is private.  I am a christian and proud of it.. but my relationship with God is more private than public.   I don't read the bible and don't know all the books of the bible but I know right from wrong and I love God with all of my heart and when I meet him in heaven I'll ask him if I should have read the bible!

Birthday Girl!

So today was my Birthday!  I had an amazing day.  We didn't do anything spectacular, but I was blessed to be able to spend the day with alot of people I love.  I was enlightened today about how truly blessed I am to have so many people in my life who love me so much and want me to have such a great day.  I have great kids who have great friends who all make me feel special for being none other than myself.  If I could do one thing in my life it's make someone feel as special as the people in my life make me feel.   If my life was taken from me tomorrow, I can honestly say that I have gotten everything I could have ever wanted out of it!   

Is it time to get a hobby?

So here I sit on a Friday night, my youngest daughter has a friend over hanging out and my boy girl twins are at a football game with their respective boyfriend/girlfriend.  This time has me left wondering... do I have a hobby?  No... but why not?  I always wondered if my mom put so much into us growing up that it left little time for her to have something of her own, was that out of choice or obligation...  I know now that it was out of choice but as my own so called "freedom" draws near I'm left to ponder if It was a good choice for me.  I previously thought I always made time for myself.. but it seems that maybe I have not.   I'm thinking of all the things I should do and all that comes to mind is pay bills, laundry, or cleaning up.  None of which I feel at all like doing... so I'm glad I started this blog... I declare today that this blog is my new hobby.. hopefully it will stick!   Well at least for another 1/2 hour or so when I have to put on my taxi hat and go pick up the older ones... I guess my "freedom" is not as close as I thought... LOL

Mr. Wendel (circa 1992)

First let me say, I have great pride that some of my childrens favorite music or movies are from the 80's and early 90's...they know all the artists and songs and actors. 

Next... let me say why I started this blog today.  I was riding in the car with my 13 year old daughter on the way home tonight when my ipod started playing Mr. Wendel.  This is a song I love but forgot I had.  I wonder how many people actually "hear" or "listen" to the lyrics when they hear this song.  I wonder how many people remember this song.  I know my son was first affected by this song when he was about 10 or 11 and he used it to write a review for english and he still talks about how this song changed him.  My daughter enlightened me to her thoughts on this song this evening and they both speak with such compassion for this "Mr. Wendel"     I think we can all stand to show a little more compassion these days.   It shouldn't be rare that children speak with such compassion but why do I find that it is?  Why is it that it is getting harder and harder for us to teach our children about the compassion needed in our lives?  Should we be teaching "Mr. Wendel" in our schools?  Should the parents be teaching "Mr. Wendel"?  

As I'm nearing my birthday this upcoming weekend I find that while I'm only turning 37 (which by most standards is young) I feel like I'm much much older in terms of ideas and classic theories.   I will admit that I think I'm more open minded about some ideas and I consider myself to be pretty liberal, however there are certain basics that we all as human beings should be equiped with.  Kindness, Compassion, Respect... are just a few.   I ask myself everyday as I interact with my children, am I teaching them the right way? Is there a right way?  I wake up everyday intending to be the best person I can be and love everyone as I want to be loved...am I successful?  How do I teach my kids to be the same.... well I geuss "Mr. Wendel" is a start and I love when we can learn and dance at the same time, who doesn't!

If you have some time and you never really "heard" Mr. Wendel... here are the lyrics to this awesome song:  http://www.lyricsdepot.com/arrested-development/mr-wendal.html