On Growing Up

 My 16th birthday is quickly approaching. My sister (not really blood related, but all the same to me) is graduating next month. Actually, a lot of people are graduating next month and most of them are going away! I got my permit yesterday (finally :P). Milestones, milestones, milestones. Every week it seems like I hit a new one. My little brother is 13. 13!! My baby sister is not a baby, but 10!!! WHAT IN THE FREAK JUST HAPPENED!?!?!?

 Growing up is exciting, and every kid wants to grow up. Until they are grown up. Then they want to be kids again. I personally want to stay a child, but I want high school to be over. I want to have responsibility, but not too much. I'd love to get a job, but I fear I would flounder in the "real world". Growing up is full of fear for me. College is right around the corner. What in the world will I do there?! I can't believe how fast time has gone, the minutes of my life ticking past and I haven't even noticed until now.

 Not only am I growing up in ways like getting older, I am growing up in ways of life. A life well lived is a life in God's service. My life is currently, and will always be, in God's service. I am afraid of what is going to come in my life in the next 2 years. But I am not going to be alone. God is going to carry my through adversity, and bring me out stronger--but still leaning on his grace, as always :) I wouldn't want it any other way.

 Even though growing up is a daunting task, I think I will survive. Even if I can't get the minutes back. I am looking forwards to life ahead, and looking back at memories of time gone. God's been with me the whole time. He is still with me. He will be with me forever.

 Bailey

 P.S. This is post number 80!! WOOT WOOT!!

#27 (i think)- Growing up

Why I Read Harry Potter

Alright, promise me that you won't block me forever or anything, because I just want to share my opinion on the issue of Harry Potter. Yes, Harry is a wizard. But he's not demonic. Yes, there are things from the books/movies that I don't necessarily agree with. But the good outweighs the bad in this case. For a few weeks now, a couple of my friends and I have had a "debate" (for lack of a better word) on Harry Potter and whether it's wrong or not. So I will now address some of the main issues that I have encountered within these debates.

 1) The characters are wizards. Most people in the Christian community at this point will make a face and walk away, noses up-turned. But in our fallen world, wizard means something much different than in there world. In our world, a witch or wizard is someone who takes advantage of demonic powers to use for their own personal gain. Anyone can do this, and it is utterly wrong. But it's not wrong when you are special, and born with the gift. You don't think that superpowers are demonic, right? Well the wizards and witches in the Harry Potter books and movies are just like their own breed of superheros. It's not wrong in their special case.

2) There is no distinction between good and bad. WHAT?!?!?!?! This is probably the most stupid point I have ever heard coming from someone who has never read the books. Harry and his friends are up against a villain through the WHOLE SERIES. Seriously, people? Lord Voldemort is an evil wizard (there's the exception to the rule stated above. If you are LV, you are bad.) planning to rule the wizarding world, and destroy all the "half-blood" wizards and regular people. There is a clear fight between good and bad. There are also a lot of great morals for friendship, loving your enemies, etc.

3) People who are allowed to read Percy Jackson and The Olypimpians (which is a series about gods, demi-gods, and everything from Greek mythology thrown into modern times.) but not the Harry Potter books. I don't get it. Granted, it was the parent's choices and they are probably making the right choices in leading their kids, I don't understand how gods and demi-gods aren't considered on the same level as Harry Potter. I can see how it's mythology and all fake, but so is HP! This point just confused me. I don't read PJATO. I just don't like them as much. They are great stories, but i'm just not as big of a fan.

  So there you have it. My main points, and one concerning something I don't get at all (aka those kids have no room to argue with me about how HP is bad). There are draw-backs to the Harry Potter books just like many, many other books. But they are still some of my favorites.

  Bailey

 ps- Don't get me started on Twilight. There i'm much less of a fan. GO ORIGINAL DRACULA!

Good Friday

    Ah, Good Friday. Easter is probably my favorite holiday. And it's not just because of the candy (although that is a lovely addition). It's because of the true meaning: The death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. How much these things mean to me I cannot say in words. 

    As a child (if I have even moved on from childhood :P), I knew that the meaning of Easter was the day that Jesus rose from the dead, but not until recent years did I take into account what this meant. This meant that Christ had already died for my sins and conquered death, and now he had risen again. He revealed himself to many people on earth so that they could tell others about his sacrifice. Then he ascended to heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father, leaving behind hope where there was once was none.

    I thank God that He revealed all this to me. That I have the hope that Jesus died to give: the hope of eternal life to live with him in heaven. He has also given me a light to shine into the darkness of this world. If you are reading this and have never heard this news before, I urge you to find a Bible and read the entire Gospel. See what God has done for you! I wish that I could convey the Gospel better, but I hope that you can at least understand why I love it so much. And why I love Easter and Good Friday so much. On Good Friday he died. On Easter he rose victorious.

    Enjoy your Easter!

   -Bailey

 # 22- Easter
    23- Good Friday
    24- Hope
    25- How much God loves me, and how much He loves you.