For instance:
“Well, if you know that you’re right, then you don’t need to argue with her! Just know that you’re right and leave her alone.”

“If you don’t obey quickly, you’re not really obeying.”

“etc.”

The point I’m trying to make is that I say these words, and then realize they’re probably just as applicable to MY life as my kids, if not even more so.

I especially have been thinking on the one about arguing.
Do we really NEED to argue with people when we know we’re right?
Most of the time, the person we’re arguing with doesn’t want to know the truth, they just want to argue.
Of course if there is a genuine desire to understand each other’s point of view that’s different. And at that point I’d consider it a lively discussion, not so much an argument.

Thoughts?

Okay not really. What I was thinking, though, is that I have a lot of swirling, unprocessed thinking going on in my brain and what better place to deal with it than on my blog? You know? Maybe I’ll get some feedback, and maybe I’ll figure a few of my own questions out as I put figurative pen to paper.

So here’s a bit of a rant that’s been going on in my mind recently:

Why do people do big “church” gatherings?

Why are there these monstrous buildings, large crowds, and corporate singing times?

You might say, “It’s the way you learn to be a better Christian!” or something more vague like, “I don’t know, that’s just how we do it…” or maybe something totally different. See the comment button below.

I’m sitting in one of these corporate gatherings, in a large building, surrounded by people singing the same song together, and I just feel…alone. I feel dwarfed, I feel judged (not b/c anyone is, that’s just usually how I feel around a lot of people I don’t know) and I feel kind of like I’m wasting my time.

What IS all this? What is the point? And what is really being accomplished that can’t be accomplished in other ways, cheaper ways (how many times have you heard an offering taken because “It costs a lot to keep the lights on here!”) and in ways that don’t make people feel all alone in a huge crowd?

As far as I can figure it, Jesus really loves us, and pursues us, and when He really gets to us, we realize how awesome He is, we love Him back, and the primary way we do that is by loving other people.

So.

If life is about loving Jesus, and loving people, then to me…that seems pretty simple. It seems like the best way to do this would be:

a) hang out with people

b) live normal life together, share meals, share Jesus, share birthdays and good times and bad

c) grow together. Actually practice positive confrontation and tough love.

d) help each other. In real, practical ways. Yes, praying & making music together is good stuff, but also teach someone how to make bread and babysit their kids and let them bring you a meal when you’re sick.

My point being, it’s all about relationship. Relationships built on real life, and daily interactions, and going through real crap together.

I feel like the corporate image of church in America has just gotten in the way of the pursuit of the real community required to make disciples (people like Jesus).

And it’s way past my bedtime, so I’m going to just leave this blog post dangling here, unfinished and rough as it is… I’ll have to do a “take 2″ next time.

Have at it:

1. The Tunnel of Parenthood. This article is from a Catholic author (I’m not Catholic) and references Natural Family Planning several times, but that’s not really the point….the most encouraging thing I found in the article was just the perspective that the first 5 years of parenthood are the hardest…be not discouraged, oh my soul!

2. A funny one, this momma blogger. Jess Clark puts a hilarious spin on “mom guilt.” I honestly hadn’t been able to articulate WHAT was stressing me out until recently, when I realized I was just heaping way too much guilt on myself for silly stuff like not going for enough walks or eating good or what not. I’d rather be relaxed and make some mistakes than uptight and STILL making mistakes. If that made any sense.

3. Lastly, a bunch of thoughts from Jess Craig on being a mom and being a whole person. Lots of thought provoking stuff here…I’m still processing.

It’s way past my bedtime! Goodnight.

a) thrift stores!

b) alterations!

This outfit is a little of both. I already owned everything except for the shorts, which I bought for less than $3 at a thrift store yesterday and altered some.

So here’s me trying to be “hip and with it.” Riiiiiiight.

Okay but I do love clothes. And fall. So here goes:

It’s a really simple and *awesome* way to keep track of things you find online that you think you’ll try “one day” or even things like gift ideas for husbands (shhhh!) or wedding reception inspirations!

I could go on and on…

ANYWAY, here’s what I did today…

(click to see step-by-step instructions)

This is on my “me & clothing” board– how to tie a scarf into a turban. I have lots of scarves so….WIN.

And here’s my first attempt:

(bonus! a view of my messy kitchen counter!)

Let me know if you’re on Pinterest and we’re not following eachother yet (oh yeah: the “social network” aspect of Pinterest is that you can follow your friend’s– all or just some of their boards– and re-pin anything cool you find there onto your boards.

Happy Thursday!

My point? If you’re a jerk, or sad, or lonely or scared and you’re tired of letting it rule your thoughts and actions and people pushing you away (or ignoring you) then how about this–
GET HELP.
ASK FOR HELP.
And don’t be too proud to do whatever it takes to get all of the help you need.

And I say that because so many people *don’t* get help in the following forms, even when it could really be what they need:
Professional Counseling
Group Therapy
Support Groups
Etc.

Don’t spend your life blaming other people or circumstances or lack of opportunity to do something about your problems.
It’s your decision and no one else’s.

So there’s a little bit of my angst from my soap box.