Have you ever notice that there are the full on Christians who seem to stick to the Bible’s every word? Then there are those Christians, who go to church and say that they are Christians, but you hear them saying bad words a lot and find it hard to believe. Have you noticed that there are a lot of really cool and nice non-Christians, that never say bad words? And there are non-Christians, who might be nice, but say a lot of bad words, and you just know that they are not Christians. Well, I have, but a Christian isn’t defined by what they do and say, they are defined by what the believe.

We seem to rate people on their doings a lot. In a way it is like the Pharisees. They judged people by their good and bad deeds. They thought that they would be righteous by following all the laws. I admit that I see someone doing something and I think, “They aren’t Christians,” or “She is weird! She doesn’t go to church.” I think we all do, but we are not defined Christian by what we do or think. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it is okay to cuss or treat others badly, I am just saying that those things don’t define whether we are Christians or not. We are defined by what we believe.

Simply put, a Christian is someone who believes that Jesus is the way to heaven. A Christian believes that Jesus died on the cross to wash away all our sins. We believe that the only way to righteousness, and heaven is through Jesus, God’s one and only son. Almost everybody believes what is in the Bible, but not a lot believe that Jesus is God’s son, and died to forgive our sins. Most believe that he was just a prophet.

That is the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. So next time you think, “She can’t really be a Christian,” think about what a Christian really is. If you hear someone talk about a friend who they don’t think is a true Christian, remember what defines a Christian.

Every once in a while I am sitting at my bedroom desk in front of the big window looking out at the street below.  Just across the road is a blue house similar to mine but slightly smaller (not to mention a different color).  A young family lives there,  the oldest child about seven or eight.  The couple still madly in love and still hovering just above thirty years.  I can see in their back yard from my hight perch, and see the children running in the sprinklers, crossing into magical lands.  I remember those days.  Those days where the most exciting thing was getting to dial the phone by yourself.  And the worst thing that could ever happen to you was that your friend wasn’t aloud to come over.  I see those red haired little kids sliding down their slide playing tag and getting tickled.  Laughing their heads off because they made up a funny dance.  I remember all the club houses us boys had with “No girls aloud!” signs. I remember those days.  Now everything has changed.  Now the most exciting thing that can happen is that you get away from those busy days that you once loved.  And the worst thing that can happen is that something or some one important to you goes terribly wrong and you lose it forever.  I miss those days.  I really do.  The simplicity of it all.  I loved swimming in the kiddy pool that was only a foot and a half deep but still came up to my waist.  When I see that family across the street I feel nostalgic.  Not that I want to throw away all I have now and go back there, it just seems so peaceful.  No problems.  No hurt.  No sadness.  Those were the best times,  the old times……

Have you ever thought, “How do I know I’m not dreaming?” I have. I will be getting a drink of water or something, when I think that this could all just be a dream. Maybe I never woke up, I could still be dreaming. I could pinch myself and it would hurt, but you can feel things in dreams, can’t you? I could ask someone if this is a dream, but they would answer even if it was a dream. It is kind of scary to think that this could be a dream. Maybe the difference between dreams and real life is that no matter how weird a dream is it makes sense, but in real life not everything makes sense.

Wouldn’t it be weird if life was a dream, and you woke up? Where would I be? How old would I be? What if I had been dreaming since I was two years old? If that was the case, I would never have had this blog, and I would never have met most of you, but I could be dreaming that I did. Well, whether life is a dream, or a dream is life, I am glad I met you.

Did I write this whole post just to say I am glad to have met you? Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t, but most likely I didn’t.

I’ve figured everything out.  Okay so I was sure I was quitting swim team like a couple months ago, well now I decided that I’m going to stick with it.  All of a sudden swimming started getting way more fun.  I am going to be home-schooled this fall and just take a few classes at Walker.  What also made me think about swimming, is what would I do if I quit swim team?  I mean yeah I can do track but I have to wait till spring for that.  So now I am still going to do swim team.  Hey and guess what???  At my last swim meet I got first in four of five races!!! It was really awesome. I guess this will be a short post, ’cause I don’t want to bore you with another long (and as lizzie put it) depressing post.   Well have a good summer!!

1. China invented the first fireworks, what a surprise.
2. Fireworks in America started way before the first Independence Day.
3. In 2004, Disneyland launched the first aerial firework by air compression rather than gun powder. Doing that reduces the fumes caused by fireworks, and promotes greater accuracy in timing and hight.
4. The world record for biggest fireworks display  is in Madeira, Portugal at the New Years’ Eve celebrations.
5. If you tape one end of a firework and hit it with a hammer it can do some pretty sweet stuff, and it can chase you until it hits a curb flies up in the air and explodes(ask Elliot about that one).

*do not try #5 at home. It may result in getting a ticket and some serious injuries.*

Summer is an odd season.  Even thought the sun is shining and the birds are singing their song, it still doesn’t seem right.  This summer (or at least what’s happened yet) seems like it’s missing something.  Maybe it’s a pool, or fireworks (I can’t wait till 4th of July!!!) but like I said somethings missing. I want this summer to be just as adventurous as all the others I’ve had but I just can’t find the one little thing that will make all the other things fall in place. I’ve tried bike rides, reading, movies, running, and so many other things but nothing clicks. So I am trying to make everything fit.  Maybe when my swim meets start it will seem right again. But only time will tell.  The only way we can find things out are by waiting and asking questions.  And for this I will have to wait.

The song “Handlebars” by “Flobots” is a really random song if you just turn it on for a second, but if you really listen to it, it actually makes sense. The beginning seem so stupid, I mean, “I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars,” but the song gets gets better and better. It starts by listing little stupid things that we boast about, but then it gradually starts listing bigger, and yet just as stupid, things that we can do. The song kind of seems to be saying that look at all these things we can do, but none of it is really that great of an accomplishment. Okay, I have to say that I still don’t completely understand it myself, it may sound stupid that I don’t because it is actually pretty a pretty simple song, but I just don’t. The things he is listing sounds like pretty big accomplishments to me.

So just to let you know, I am not lame. I mean I do all the cool things. I play on Barbie.com, PollyPocket.com, and a whole bunch of other cool sites. Okay, now that I listed those I see how lame I really am. *sigh* If only I could be like you, which is why I am giving you a chance to tell the world your ways of staying cool. Just comment telling us your awesome ways!

I have been watching way too much TV. ah. No offense to those who really like those sites. I do every once in a while, but what can you say I’m a girl! Joe

J.K.

• Are you wearing space pants? 
• Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?
• Is your dad an astronaut? (No?) How did he manage to put the stars in your eyes?
• Your feet must be hurting. Cause you’ve been running through my mind all day long.
• Excuse me miss, I seem to have lost my phone number, can I borrow yours?
• It’s not my fault I fell in love. You’re the one who tripped me.
• I’ve had quite a bit to drink, and you’re beginning to look pretty good.
• My boys over there bet that I wouldn’t be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful girl in the room. Want to buy some drinks with their money?
• I may not be the best looking guy in here, but I’m the only one talking to you.
• Hi, my name is (insert your name here). How do you like me so far?

 

Some guy actually said the first two.  Haha. 

Ah, you can smell it in the air, Summer! For most of you there are just a few more weeks of school left. I just can’t concentrate on school(mostly math, lol) any more. I just sit there for hours trying to stay focused. It doesn’t work! As the minutes go by I don’t think about much, except for, “Focus, focus, focus.” It is useless. So, what am I excited for nothing in particular. I will probably spend a lot of summer days just being bored, but bored normally reins over school! Ah, the days go by sitting in the sun. I am hoping to do a lot of fun stuff this summer. I am pretty sure this summer will be one of the best. I am not totally sure why. Are any of you people reading this thinking the same things? Are you doing something fun this summer? Tell me about it! I know this post just kind of went all over the place, lol. I hope you enjoy my thoughts.