Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Life Without limbs -Nick Vujicic
You must see this to understand how a young man can live a life without limbs as a life without limits. I found him on Texas Rainmaker's blog. He was at his church. Texas Rainmaker said that Nick was recently in Indonesia, a Muslim country, speaking to a group of 350,000 people, and 80,000(!) gave their lives to Christ. He has been able to go all over, sharing the message of his love for Christ and Christ's love for him. A torso! A torso goes all over the world preaching and bringing people to Christ!
I have seen pictures of people lying on the streets of India, for example, without limbs and thought of how I want to restore them, and how horrible their situation. Nick is the perfect person to give hope to such people. While I believe it is God's perfect will to restore Nick to wholeness (because that is Christ's gospel), it is awesome what God has been able to do in and through him in the state that he is. He is an inspiration. He causes me to be drawn to the hope of heaven, because he obviously relies on that. On Texas Rainmaker's blog you will find a video of Nick doing everyday tasks.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
"I'm Just Fixing Up My Manspace"
I just thought this article was pretty funny, unabashedly calling a man's private area to hangout at home his "manspace"
Virginia Tech Had Gun Control
Virginia Tech already had gun control laws in place preventing anyone from defending himself and stopping the crazy person. This ought to be a perfect example of what can happen to a country with gun control in place. Why isn't it obvious that gun control only leaves the majority of people defenseless but still allows the killer a way to find a weapon? And gun control happens when people want to put more trust in their government than in themselves. I found this writing on the topic.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Discerning God's Will
I found this in the bulletin of my parents' church and thought it was good. Based on Dr. James Dobson's answers to the question "how do you make decisions that are in line with God's will?".
1. A search for God's will should begin on your knees. He will meet you there.
2. Examine the scriptures for principles that relate to the issues at hand. The Lord will never ask you to do anything morally wrong or in contradiction to His word.
3. Seek advice from those who are spiritually mature and solid in their faith. A godly counselor or pastor can assist you in avoiding the common mistakes that confuse many people.
4. Pay close attention to what is known as "providential circumstance." When you begin to be blocked on all sides in a particular pursuit, you might consider the possibility that God has other plans for you. Don't give up at the first sign of obstacles, but be attentive to what God is already doing around you.
5. Do nothing impulsively. Give God an opportunity to speak while you concentrate on the first four approaches.
In addition to these five steps to determine God's specific will, you can know His general will for each of us. The Scriptures give all believers the same assignment, and we find it in the words of Jesus, who said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15). So in whatever you do, whether you are a dentist, a truck driver, an artist, or a homemaker, you have the privilege of using that position as a springboard to witness for the Savior.
1. A search for God's will should begin on your knees. He will meet you there.
2. Examine the scriptures for principles that relate to the issues at hand. The Lord will never ask you to do anything morally wrong or in contradiction to His word.
3. Seek advice from those who are spiritually mature and solid in their faith. A godly counselor or pastor can assist you in avoiding the common mistakes that confuse many people.
4. Pay close attention to what is known as "providential circumstance." When you begin to be blocked on all sides in a particular pursuit, you might consider the possibility that God has other plans for you. Don't give up at the first sign of obstacles, but be attentive to what God is already doing around you.
5. Do nothing impulsively. Give God an opportunity to speak while you concentrate on the first four approaches.
In addition to these five steps to determine God's specific will, you can know His general will for each of us. The Scriptures give all believers the same assignment, and we find it in the words of Jesus, who said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15). So in whatever you do, whether you are a dentist, a truck driver, an artist, or a homemaker, you have the privilege of using that position as a springboard to witness for the Savior.
Fred Thompson?
I was watching some videos that my politically minded cousin put together for me and my family of Fred Thompson and was not feeling comfortable with him. He was clearing his throat too much in a Fox news interview and I just thought, "Oh no. We've got Obama and Clinton sharks waiting to devour us on one hand, and candidates like this on the other." He just seems to lack confidence. And Drudge Report has an article that expresses doubt in other conservative minds too.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Sexuality Issues
Journal notes.
When someone negates the basic, innate, healthy, normal attraction and desire that human beings have towards the opposite sex, when you condemn that, problems arise, and the result is rebellion, it causes things to be out of balance. Doesn’t it seem strange, when you teach people in the clergy to be celibate, when it is not their calling, they end up in perversion? Perversion results from twisting God’s natural, healthy order of things. Matt 19:11 – “he who is able to accept this..”
God had just been dealing with me on this issue of sexual purity, and I was traveling to the Toronto church to be in revival power with a friend, and she was telling me how she could “see” I was lusting after men, just because I would look at one or say that I liked another one who seemed to be my type. Example of when God deals with an area (sexuality) and after that someone says they see that problem in you – after the fact, after it’s cleansed – weird.
It seemed to boil down to open jealousy of an older woman towards a younger one, I don’t know. She is old enough to be my mother and I know she still wants to get married and maybe it’s just too much for her – a young (attractive, if I do say so myself) female, making her feel old or something.
I had to carefully avoid taking her too seriously, even though I wanted to be sensitive to God if He was trying to say something. Recognize how she might be twisting and skewing the truth. I knew the danger of trying to surgically cut out my most basic sexual interests.
I have had a huge problem coming to balance in sexuality, because what does a person do with his/her sexuality if one is single but has sex drive? This is the basic question and all the problems stem from that. I see stuff about the internet perverts and am reminded of how many isolated people there are in our culture who get sick in their isolation and loneliness.
SCRIPTURE ON SEXUALITY ISSUES
It is wrong even to think lust, so Jesus said. My definition of lust: sex with an object, negating the spirit, soul, mind, value of the individual and denying responsibility for them in a total commitment. This is what has to go. We cannot even think it, moreover, we must not even like it, otherwise we cannot defeat it. See, He must change our desires from within.
There are degrees of lust, and shades of sexuality in complex beings. One may have a positive fantasy about someone close to them whom they love and wish to be married to, and someone else may have degrading fantasies. It is up to the individual to determine if what they are thinking is lust and not godly – that which leads to spiritual death.
The following are passages from the bible about sexuality, and short references to what these passages say. You really need to go and look them up.
Rom 6: 12,13
Sexual immorality mentioned as one of main causes of being in judgment, or even hell. (see Revelation)
Rom 1:29, Rom 2:22
Rom 1: 26 - sexual perversion the first result of exchanging truth for a lie
1 Cor 6: 9-13 do not keep company with sexually immoral people
1 Cor 6: 9 Fornicators mentioned first! vs 13 sexual immorality, 18 flee sexual immorality. Every other sin is outside the body. The immoral person sins against his own body. vs 19,20 you were bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body…..!
1 Cor 7: 8, 9 If you burn with passion, marry! 1 Cor 11:11 Man and woman not independent of one another. One flesh!
1Cor 11:27-30 Don’t take Jesus’ body and blood unworthily. What would unworthily be? Casually taking the body and blood without intent to let these do what they are meant to do: change you, redeem you from sin.
2 Cor 4: 7 We have a treasure in earthen vessels (our bodies)
2 Cor 12: 9 God’s grace is sufficient for our weakness - the hinge. Don’t rely on your own strength. All commands are written to inspire conviction, but the power to change does not lie in deciding to “try” to obey them but to cast oneself upon God’s grace and mercy to help in time of need. Righteousness is a work of God.
Gal 5:13 Don’t use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh
Note: Paul wrote a lot of things that imply to us that we are to do this or do that – and it sounds like something we are to do instead of God. Be reminded that Paul was of all people most aware of the need to fall upon God’s mercy and have God’s righteousness replace his own. The things we hear, the exhortations are things God uses to instill good within us, but we need to hear these things through the Holy Spirit and NOT allow our flesh to rise up and say “I’m going to try to do that!”
Col 3: 5,6 wrath!
1 Thes. 4: 3-7
Hebrews 12: 15,16 Bitterness and fornication equated
2 Peter 2:14 Eyes full of adultery, weak women
Jude vs 7
Rev. 21: 8 and Rev 22: 15 sexual immorality
Marriage is sacred and binding - what then, is sex outside of
marriage?
Matt 5: 27-28 lust is a degrading view of someone. It is ignoring the soul and spirit and looking on the body instead of the soul. vs 32
Matt: 19-3-9
If unmarried man sleeps with unmarried woman he can actually make it up to God and to her by marrying her, and he cannot divorce. Deuteronomy 22: 28 But Deut 22: 25 If she is betrothed and he isn’t and he forces her in the country, where no one would be able to hear her cry out, he is killed. If in the city, both killed. vs 22 If she is married, both die also. How do these laws play out today, considering God fulfills his law through His spirit, even when man doesn’t carry out punishments?
Deut. 27 - more laws on sexuality
Deut. 24:5 1 year of happiness to the newly married
Similar to Don Juans and Donna Juans
Beware oh beautiful young woman of your beauty. Men may desire you, but not love you, and women may find it hard to love you, even hate you. It’s because of beauty walls are created. One can merely concentrate on being attractive as the primary thing, leading to trouble.
If a woman or girl has a lot more on the inside - more self love and an awareness of one’s value on the inside, then that woman or girl will demand that value to be seen by others and will not lean on her exterior qualities. What leads to depending on the exteriors? Something goes wrong.
In the Mall of America tonight, I am reminded of things past. I remember loneliness -a spell that would be broken only by the admiring glance of a handsome young man. Now, I am thankful that with time and learning, when I walk around in the mall that I seem to be more of an object of scrutiny for reasons beyond beauty, to both young women and men. Particularly it is the young who notice me. With those women who are not young, I am always afraid of jealousy popping up, so I avoid looking at them at times. But things have changed. The old ways are breaking.
I saw a baby crying as his mother walked away to throw trash away, and look at her with glee again as she returned. She approached him inching, making wide smiles at him while he giggled. I thought of how a child sees his mother as beautiful, even if she has shoulders too wide and wears camp, masculine clothing and isn’t pretty. To him she is beautiful. And this is reality we were all born for: to be loved by people who know us, not to be admired, not to live inside a glass case. To live on the inside of who we are and what we believe and to be known and loved for who we are. How did I get so isolated?
Immoral sexuality is indulged by those who deny healthy family ties, who deny that sex can bring a baby and that a baby needs to come into the world through a home. But how do we get like that? How do we become lost so that we desire sex outside of love and family - so that we attract people we find attractive, but we don’t love them and it doesn’t lead to love, but it looks good, it feels good, and it seems as if one is reaching for love and intimacy, while all the time one is pouring sand through a sieve.
How did it get that way? It comes from pain in those significant relationships. It comes from hurt. But in looking back at the life that led to the wrong things, one has to forgive, one has to forget wrongs that were done. Bitterness underlies all wrong sex, and bitterness has to go.
Sexuality that is evil desires pleasure and even intimacy, but denies responsibility for the person or persons. In the past I chose those who wanted me for a moment, and then ran away. I chose wrongly because there was something wrong in me.
MARRIED, literal translation: “possessed.” Scary!
When someone negates the basic, innate, healthy, normal attraction and desire that human beings have towards the opposite sex, when you condemn that, problems arise, and the result is rebellion, it causes things to be out of balance. Doesn’t it seem strange, when you teach people in the clergy to be celibate, when it is not their calling, they end up in perversion? Perversion results from twisting God’s natural, healthy order of things. Matt 19:11 – “he who is able to accept this..”
God had just been dealing with me on this issue of sexual purity, and I was traveling to the Toronto church to be in revival power with a friend, and she was telling me how she could “see” I was lusting after men, just because I would look at one or say that I liked another one who seemed to be my type. Example of when God deals with an area (sexuality) and after that someone says they see that problem in you – after the fact, after it’s cleansed – weird.
It seemed to boil down to open jealousy of an older woman towards a younger one, I don’t know. She is old enough to be my mother and I know she still wants to get married and maybe it’s just too much for her – a young (attractive, if I do say so myself) female, making her feel old or something.
I had to carefully avoid taking her too seriously, even though I wanted to be sensitive to God if He was trying to say something. Recognize how she might be twisting and skewing the truth. I knew the danger of trying to surgically cut out my most basic sexual interests.
I have had a huge problem coming to balance in sexuality, because what does a person do with his/her sexuality if one is single but has sex drive? This is the basic question and all the problems stem from that. I see stuff about the internet perverts and am reminded of how many isolated people there are in our culture who get sick in their isolation and loneliness.
SCRIPTURE ON SEXUALITY ISSUES
It is wrong even to think lust, so Jesus said. My definition of lust: sex with an object, negating the spirit, soul, mind, value of the individual and denying responsibility for them in a total commitment. This is what has to go. We cannot even think it, moreover, we must not even like it, otherwise we cannot defeat it. See, He must change our desires from within.
There are degrees of lust, and shades of sexuality in complex beings. One may have a positive fantasy about someone close to them whom they love and wish to be married to, and someone else may have degrading fantasies. It is up to the individual to determine if what they are thinking is lust and not godly – that which leads to spiritual death.
The following are passages from the bible about sexuality, and short references to what these passages say. You really need to go and look them up.
Rom 6: 12,13
Sexual immorality mentioned as one of main causes of being in judgment, or even hell. (see Revelation)
Rom 1:29, Rom 2:22
Rom 1: 26 - sexual perversion the first result of exchanging truth for a lie
1 Cor 6: 9-13 do not keep company with sexually immoral people
1 Cor 6: 9 Fornicators mentioned first! vs 13 sexual immorality, 18 flee sexual immorality. Every other sin is outside the body. The immoral person sins against his own body. vs 19,20 you were bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body…..!
1 Cor 7: 8, 9 If you burn with passion, marry! 1 Cor 11:11 Man and woman not independent of one another. One flesh!
1Cor 11:27-30 Don’t take Jesus’ body and blood unworthily. What would unworthily be? Casually taking the body and blood without intent to let these do what they are meant to do: change you, redeem you from sin.
2 Cor 4: 7 We have a treasure in earthen vessels (our bodies)
2 Cor 12: 9 God’s grace is sufficient for our weakness - the hinge. Don’t rely on your own strength. All commands are written to inspire conviction, but the power to change does not lie in deciding to “try” to obey them but to cast oneself upon God’s grace and mercy to help in time of need. Righteousness is a work of God.
Gal 5:13 Don’t use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh
Note: Paul wrote a lot of things that imply to us that we are to do this or do that – and it sounds like something we are to do instead of God. Be reminded that Paul was of all people most aware of the need to fall upon God’s mercy and have God’s righteousness replace his own. The things we hear, the exhortations are things God uses to instill good within us, but we need to hear these things through the Holy Spirit and NOT allow our flesh to rise up and say “I’m going to try to do that!”
Col 3: 5,6 wrath!
1 Thes. 4: 3-7
Hebrews 12: 15,16 Bitterness and fornication equated
2 Peter 2:14 Eyes full of adultery, weak women
Jude vs 7
Rev. 21: 8 and Rev 22: 15 sexual immorality
Marriage is sacred and binding - what then, is sex outside of
marriage?
Matt 5: 27-28 lust is a degrading view of someone. It is ignoring the soul and spirit and looking on the body instead of the soul. vs 32
Matt: 19-3-9
If unmarried man sleeps with unmarried woman he can actually make it up to God and to her by marrying her, and he cannot divorce. Deuteronomy 22: 28 But Deut 22: 25 If she is betrothed and he isn’t and he forces her in the country, where no one would be able to hear her cry out, he is killed. If in the city, both killed. vs 22 If she is married, both die also. How do these laws play out today, considering God fulfills his law through His spirit, even when man doesn’t carry out punishments?
Deut. 27 - more laws on sexuality
Deut. 24:5 1 year of happiness to the newly married
Similar to Don Juans and Donna Juans
Beware oh beautiful young woman of your beauty. Men may desire you, but not love you, and women may find it hard to love you, even hate you. It’s because of beauty walls are created. One can merely concentrate on being attractive as the primary thing, leading to trouble.
If a woman or girl has a lot more on the inside - more self love and an awareness of one’s value on the inside, then that woman or girl will demand that value to be seen by others and will not lean on her exterior qualities. What leads to depending on the exteriors? Something goes wrong.
In the Mall of America tonight, I am reminded of things past. I remember loneliness -a spell that would be broken only by the admiring glance of a handsome young man. Now, I am thankful that with time and learning, when I walk around in the mall that I seem to be more of an object of scrutiny for reasons beyond beauty, to both young women and men. Particularly it is the young who notice me. With those women who are not young, I am always afraid of jealousy popping up, so I avoid looking at them at times. But things have changed. The old ways are breaking.
I saw a baby crying as his mother walked away to throw trash away, and look at her with glee again as she returned. She approached him inching, making wide smiles at him while he giggled. I thought of how a child sees his mother as beautiful, even if she has shoulders too wide and wears camp, masculine clothing and isn’t pretty. To him she is beautiful. And this is reality we were all born for: to be loved by people who know us, not to be admired, not to live inside a glass case. To live on the inside of who we are and what we believe and to be known and loved for who we are. How did I get so isolated?
Immoral sexuality is indulged by those who deny healthy family ties, who deny that sex can bring a baby and that a baby needs to come into the world through a home. But how do we get like that? How do we become lost so that we desire sex outside of love and family - so that we attract people we find attractive, but we don’t love them and it doesn’t lead to love, but it looks good, it feels good, and it seems as if one is reaching for love and intimacy, while all the time one is pouring sand through a sieve.
How did it get that way? It comes from pain in those significant relationships. It comes from hurt. But in looking back at the life that led to the wrong things, one has to forgive, one has to forget wrongs that were done. Bitterness underlies all wrong sex, and bitterness has to go.
Sexuality that is evil desires pleasure and even intimacy, but denies responsibility for the person or persons. In the past I chose those who wanted me for a moment, and then ran away. I chose wrongly because there was something wrong in me.
MARRIED, literal translation: “possessed.” Scary!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Bush Has One Of Those Days Where He Feels Like 68 Percent Of People Hate Him
WASHINGTON, DC—In an East Room press conference Tuesday, President Bush told reporters that he had the "sneaking feeling" that 68 percent of the U.S. population hated his guts that day.
"Maybe it's just me, but when I woke up this morning, it really seemed like 60 percent of men and 77 percent of women didn't want to have anything to do with me," Bush said. "I'm even getting the feeling that nearly two out of every three people who identify themselves as devout Christians—people who usually love me—are giving me the cold shoulder lately." From: the Onion
Friday, May 04, 2007
National Day Of Prayer - OOPS!
Almost missed it! It was yesterday. This is what they said about it:
The 56th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 3, 2007. The theme for this year is "America, Unite in Prayer" and is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." NIV.
Well, did you PRAYYYYYYYYY????! Actually, I prayed all day, but I missed putting it on my blog.
The 56th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 3, 2007. The theme for this year is "America, Unite in Prayer" and is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." NIV.
Well, did you PRAYYYYYYYYY????! Actually, I prayed all day, but I missed putting it on my blog.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
There Are People Struggling With Homosexuality Who Don't Want To Be Gay
And there is an answer: Jesus Christ. That's why someone wrote the word "lie" on this billboard. Jesus isn't going to "affirm" a gay couple when it is his desire to set people free from the bondage of homosexuality. But if you are one who is honestly seeking to be free, there is an organization called Exodus International, dedicated to helping people leave the homosexual lifestyle through the power of the cross. And the power is through the cross. I've been struggling to get my own testimony on here, to tell you how I do not stand in my own righteousness but in the power of the cross. I've been tempted by the gay lifestyle, but managed to escape getting involved in it by simple confession. My post Win Over Sin tells how I later won over heterosexual sin.
Wow, reading that over I actually thought "that sounds like no more fun left. No heterosexual sin either. Wah!" Just kidding. My good Christian friends know: sin is bondage.
An Example Of the Disease Of Radical Islam
I say radical, because I don't want to offend Nonie if she's reading (Nonie, who still wants to call herself a Muslim. OK, if she insists). But really, if you read the article on this story, this is an example of the disease of self-righteousness that pervades the deception that has become this religion. He wasn't supposed to affectionately kiss a woman, though it's his one act of non-sexual love towards an older woman, which made me think maybe this man has a chance at having a soul after all! He isn't supposed to even touch any of her skin, but she was gloved and had her skin covered, but there's still an issue! Ach! Ach!
Why? Because they are so ho-o-o-o-oly. So holy they use language such as: "This type of indecency progressively has grave consequences..." And holy people are indeed concerned about whether or not things are right and correct. And if things are wrong, they should be punished. Hats off to hilarious (and truly holy in the eyes of our God) Kingdavid who determined that this man should have his lips cut off! But he's only interpreting the law as it has been interpreted before!
You see, Nonie, the truth is that radical Muslims, because they are so deceived, actually believe in the devil. Muslims like you recognize God, our God, but Muslims like these, unreasonable, and unhealthy, do not recognize the true God. Being caught up in laws such as these characterize Jesus' worst enemies: the Pharisees, the Jews of his day who also didn't know the true God and who he himself said were sons of the devil.
What's interesting about this story is that Mr., ah, Mr. "A" is getting caught at his own game.
Al Gore's Book Is The New Bible
I think this is a hoot! See, this is what God meant when he said "have no other gods before Me." A California hotel is placing Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth in the nightstand drawer instead of the Gideon bible. It's one thing to wonder about global warming and another thing to believe in it like this.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
I Guess I Got Tagged Over At Night Writer's Blog
Reverend Mother mentioned that she wanted to tag me. So here goes.
A- Available or Single?
I'm single and available, but that depends on who you are, he he.
B- Best Friend.
Definitely Jesus Christ.
C- Cake or Pie.
This is a very tough question because of the existence of chocolate tortes and French silk pie. It would have to be a toss up. There's caramel pecan too.
D- Drink of Choice.
Here is one of the reasons there has to be a heaven. There are never enough beverage choices in life. We are so limited. Pop is sweet and the sugar is bad for you and for your teeth. Milk is good for you but can be fattening. Juices can add up to too much sugar as well. Tea and coffee become our choices for the non-caloric benefits. Unfortunately, I don't like the taste of tea that well, leaving me very few choices. I love coffee, but how much coffee can you drink? I also love mango juice.
E- Essential Item.
I learned to have only essentials while traveling around the country in a car with my two cats. Cats are essential, thus a cat-box is also essential. The Bible is essential. My computer is essential.
F- Favorite Color.
Red. I've always loved red. As a kid, when I'd get a fever during a cold I'd go asking for red. I also like periwinkle blue.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms.
Love gummi bears.
H- Hometown.
Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It was a heavenly beginning.
I- Indulgence.
My indulgence is travel and camping, if I have the money to do so. I want to go global. Lately my indulgence is to be on the internet. I almost prefer that to going to movies, but actually movies are a big indulgence.
J- January or February.
February. Weird question. In Minnesota, aren't we just getting through both of them?
K- Kids.
Kids? I have taught Sunday School to compensate for not having them. But I have some awesome nephews and nieces in my life too who have made the difference. Oh, I almost forgot. Cats have been like little kids in my life. Pet owners are pretty silly about that.
L- Life is incomplete without…
Animals. And of course, a relationship with Jesus.
M- Marriage Date.
Can't predict that, especially now when it looks like it's going to be the marriage supper of the Lamb coming sooner.
N- Number of Siblings?
Five. Three brothers and two sisters, living around the country and the world.
O- Oranges or Apples?
For some reason I don't like apples that well and they're supposed to be so healthy!
P- Phobias/Fears.
I'm better at denial than fear. Don't like to think about my fears. God has been at work to help me overcome numerous fears. I live above fear better at certain times in my life. My biggest fear to overcome is lack of provision and failure.
Q- Favorite Quote.
Man was born free, but he is everywhere in chains, by French philosopher Rousseau
And since you already read this coming into my blog...here's another one:
And with what do we pay when we purchase the truth? Why, young man,
we buy it with our time, and with our youth.
And here's another:
There's only one trouble with running away. You always meet yourself when you get there.
from the movie "The Leech Woman"
R- Reasons to smile.
On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. I think that if Jesus can overcome death, then anything in life can be transcended. Laughter is transcending.
S- Season(ing).
Season: Spring
Seasoning: Curry
T- Tag Three.
Kingdavid, Kev, Trailady
U- Unknown Fact About Me.
Should I say? OK. I am a weak thing. I am the weakest thing there is. When God said He chose the "weak things of the world..." He meant me.
Vegetables are nice, but what am I supposed to do when I'm hungry?
W- Worst Habit.
I'm too embarrassed to admit that I'm still trying to teach myself to get out the tissue instead of using my finger when my nose needs cleaning.
X– X-rays or Ultrasounds.
I can't believe how many X-rays I've had, and every time I freak out just a little, you know, worrying about radiation.
All I can think of is chocolate and chicken. I love chocolate and it's amazing all the ways people have thought of to prepare chicken.
Z- Zodiac.
This is the perfect opportunity to take out the four spiritual laws and preach. The Zodiac is naughty, I don't believe in it.
(hide
A- Available or Single?
I'm single and available, but that depends on who you are, he he.
B- Best Friend.
Definitely Jesus Christ.
C- Cake or Pie.
This is a very tough question because of the existence of chocolate tortes and French silk pie. It would have to be a toss up. There's caramel pecan too.
D- Drink of Choice.
Here is one of the reasons there has to be a heaven. There are never enough beverage choices in life. We are so limited. Pop is sweet and the sugar is bad for you and for your teeth. Milk is good for you but can be fattening. Juices can add up to too much sugar as well. Tea and coffee become our choices for the non-caloric benefits. Unfortunately, I don't like the taste of tea that well, leaving me very few choices. I love coffee, but how much coffee can you drink? I also love mango juice.
E- Essential Item.
I learned to have only essentials while traveling around the country in a car with my two cats. Cats are essential, thus a cat-box is also essential. The Bible is essential. My computer is essential.
F- Favorite Color.
Red. I've always loved red. As a kid, when I'd get a fever during a cold I'd go asking for red. I also like periwinkle blue.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms.
Love gummi bears.
H- Hometown.
Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It was a heavenly beginning.
I- Indulgence.
My indulgence is travel and camping, if I have the money to do so. I want to go global. Lately my indulgence is to be on the internet. I almost prefer that to going to movies, but actually movies are a big indulgence.
J- January or February.
February. Weird question. In Minnesota, aren't we just getting through both of them?
K- Kids.
Kids? I have taught Sunday School to compensate for not having them. But I have some awesome nephews and nieces in my life too who have made the difference. Oh, I almost forgot. Cats have been like little kids in my life. Pet owners are pretty silly about that.
L- Life is incomplete without…
Animals. And of course, a relationship with Jesus.
M- Marriage Date.
Can't predict that, especially now when it looks like it's going to be the marriage supper of the Lamb coming sooner.
N- Number of Siblings?
Five. Three brothers and two sisters, living around the country and the world.
O- Oranges or Apples?
For some reason I don't like apples that well and they're supposed to be so healthy!
P- Phobias/Fears.
I'm better at denial than fear. Don't like to think about my fears. God has been at work to help me overcome numerous fears. I live above fear better at certain times in my life. My biggest fear to overcome is lack of provision and failure.
Q- Favorite Quote.
Man was born free, but he is everywhere in chains, by French philosopher Rousseau
And since you already read this coming into my blog...here's another one:
And with what do we pay when we purchase the truth? Why, young man,
we buy it with our time, and with our youth.
And here's another:
There's only one trouble with running away. You always meet yourself when you get there.
from the movie "The Leech Woman"
R- Reasons to smile.
On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. I think that if Jesus can overcome death, then anything in life can be transcended. Laughter is transcending.
S- Season(ing).
Season: Spring
Seasoning: Curry
T- Tag Three.
Kingdavid, Kev, Trailady
U- Unknown Fact About Me.
Should I say? OK. I am a weak thing. I am the weakest thing there is. When God said He chose the "weak things of the world..." He meant me.
Vegetables are nice, but what am I supposed to do when I'm hungry?
W- Worst Habit.
I'm too embarrassed to admit that I'm still trying to teach myself to get out the tissue instead of using my finger when my nose needs cleaning.
X– X-rays or Ultrasounds.
I can't believe how many X-rays I've had, and every time I freak out just a little, you know, worrying about radiation.
All I can think of is chocolate and chicken. I love chocolate and it's amazing all the ways people have thought of to prepare chicken.
Z- Zodiac.
This is the perfect opportunity to take out the four spiritual laws and preach. The Zodiac is naughty, I don't believe in it.
(hide
May Day
Whew! Our parents who had us celebrate May Day probably never heard this description of the holiday:
May Day (May 1) is a spring festival celebrating human fertility and the renewal of nature. The festival originated with the celebration of the Roman goddess Flora and spread to other countries of the Roman Empire. May Day was especially popular in England during medieval times. Activities centered around the maypole, a tree collected from the woods and brought to the village to celebrate the upcoming summer. Many people participated in temporary sexual encounters while they were off in the woods.
Fortunately, Christians liberated the holiday and transformed it. I remember as a kid we made our May Day baskets which we brought to friend's houses.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Lutefisk Capital Of The World
Did you know that there is a town in Minnesota named Madison, after Madison, Wisconsin, that is called the Lutefisk capital of the world? Neither did I. It was on the travel channel, the Taste of America show with Mark DeCarlo. And I didn't know that they have a Norsefest with an outhouse race - an outhouse on wheels! Pictured is 'Miss Lutefisk' humor and the outhouse race. Those crazy Minnesotans!
The Madisonians couldn't answer the question: "what does Lutefisk taste like?" And what do you think Mark thought of it? Did he like it or find it disgusting? Answer in comments.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
"Partial-Birth Abortion" Ban Upheld
The Supreme Court upheld a 2003 Congressional ban on intact dilation and evacuation of a fetus. What do you think?
Theresa Bennell
Systems Analyst
"But what if you don't find out until late in the pregnancy that your fetus is doomed to be a total nerd?"
Keith Milan
Gymnastics Coach
"Partial-birth abortion is a horrific practice second only to the grotesque act of sexual intercourse."
Ivan Sarkisian
Respiratory Therapist
"This ban just ruins the whole abortion experience for me."
Silly humor from The Onion
Theresa Bennell
Systems Analyst
"But what if you don't find out until late in the pregnancy that your fetus is doomed to be a total nerd?"
Keith Milan
Gymnastics Coach
"Partial-birth abortion is a horrific practice second only to the grotesque act of sexual intercourse."
Ivan Sarkisian
Respiratory Therapist
"This ban just ruins the whole abortion experience for me."
Silly humor from The Onion
Friday, April 20, 2007
Love Of The Brethren
This is Lauren McCain, one of the slain at Virginia Tech, only a 20 year old Freshman! She was quoted as saying Jesus was the "love of her life" and reading about her, the tears just welled up in my eyes, and something just takes over inside, letting me know there is something inside me that isn't me, it's God, making me love my sister in Christ. It is just amazing. Just think, she was taken away from all of life's troubles and will live in glory now. I'm so jealous. She is definitely a testimony to the godly elements that still live on our College campuses today.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Imagine The Pain
of Cho, the killer at Virginia Tech, or the pain of his relatives now after this tragedy. His parents, reportedly have been hospitalized with shock. I imagine Cho was as miserable with the things that were tormenting him, as he was ready to hurt others. His parents probably didn't raise him in a godly, loving home and he was probably isolated from godly influences. He got into the hands of American psychiatrists - whose healing "arts" are Godless - trying to heal the soul and the spirit without God. He was on an American campus, a place that is increasingly Godless.
Dennis Prager, radio talk show host, made the statement that in our society it is easy to be isolated from the conservative stream of thought but be inundated by the liberal one, but not the other way around. At the same time, it is possible to be isolated from the love of Christ and the saving message of the gospel in our society, and to be isolated from God. Oh sure, one may have heard the story of Ted Haggard or seen Jan Crouch on TV, but not really heard a heartfelt gospel message.
As the psalmist David said, "truly thou art a God who hidest thyself oh God of Israel." (passage?) Hard to understand, but Cho did not have Christ revealed to him.
He would have had more chance being exposed to the amazing wonders of people turning to God and mighty miracles in China, where thousands have been turning to Christ.
There is talk about gun control as an answer - ridiculous! More people should be carrying guns. I thought that would be the obvious answer. But aside from that, the answer is not really something that we should "do" now. There is talk about working harder to solve the problem of the rising number of mental health cases on college campuses - not an answer. The rising number of mental health cases is a symptom of a larger problem, but many don't see the problem. God help us.
Dennis Prager, radio talk show host, made the statement that in our society it is easy to be isolated from the conservative stream of thought but be inundated by the liberal one, but not the other way around. At the same time, it is possible to be isolated from the love of Christ and the saving message of the gospel in our society, and to be isolated from God. Oh sure, one may have heard the story of Ted Haggard or seen Jan Crouch on TV, but not really heard a heartfelt gospel message.
As the psalmist David said, "truly thou art a God who hidest thyself oh God of Israel." (passage?) Hard to understand, but Cho did not have Christ revealed to him.
He would have had more chance being exposed to the amazing wonders of people turning to God and mighty miracles in China, where thousands have been turning to Christ.
There is talk about gun control as an answer - ridiculous! More people should be carrying guns. I thought that would be the obvious answer. But aside from that, the answer is not really something that we should "do" now. There is talk about working harder to solve the problem of the rising number of mental health cases on college campuses - not an answer. The rising number of mental health cases is a symptom of a larger problem, but many don't see the problem. God help us.
Hero In The Midst Of Tragedy
Liviu Librescu is a great testimony to the Jewish spirit to be told on the day of solemn remembrance of the Holocaust. He died on that day. Little did I know when I did my last post on Hitler that it was Yom Ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, the day the professor blocked the door to protect his students in the worst shooting rampage in American history. What a great story. He survived the holocaust and later escaped from Communist Romania only to end up at an American university at 76 years of age to be a hero to young students at his last breath!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Hitler Basically Inspired By Jihad
Here it is again, a point that was made by the movie Obsession, that Hitler got his inspiration from a Muslim cleric and that he was basically learning Jihad. It is hatred of Jews they have in common, and as the movie made me realize, the Islamo-fascists are our new Hitler! Hatred of Jews spells out hatred of God. That's who they actually hate because one fact remains: the Jews are God's people.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Great Global Warming Swindle
Now before you accuse me of having a political belief about global warming, know that I don't know what to believe. And I believe in asking questions and not getting in a frenzy because the world is coming to an end. Here is the perfect answer to An Inconvenient Truth and this documentary, The Great Global Warming Swindle, which if I've done everything right you should be able to watch here, suggests that any warming of the earth may be caused by the sun! Of course! I thought that made so much sense. It also states that scientists who are convinced about man-made global warming have to convince people of their beliefs in order to fund their research.
It states that third-world countries are prevented from development of things like access to electricity by "believers" in global warming because they feel the earth can't stomach any more development. This is unfair and selfish. This means: "We have already polluted the earth, and used the earth's resources for our own ends, you must remain in a crude state and can't progress because there's no more room for you!"
It states that third-world countries are prevented from development of things like access to electricity by "believers" in global warming because they feel the earth can't stomach any more development. This is unfair and selfish. This means: "We have already polluted the earth, and used the earth's resources for our own ends, you must remain in a crude state and can't progress because there's no more room for you!"
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Abortion Spells Out Double Standard
Partial birth abortion, or just abortion and a teen stabbing her newborn infant (even if 135 times) are in my mind no different, yet here is a frightened teen facing first degree murder charges. What a double standard. Something just goes off in my head when it comes to our judicial system hearing about this story. It reminds me of the story of Adam Bede, set way back in the early nineteenth century in England, when a pretty young girl also kills her infant, under duress. It is interesting how they convict her at this time in England, how they treat this, and to compare it to today. She is given a commuted sentence. At first she is sentenced to death, but since her lover is an aristocrat who has influence on her behalf, instead of death she is sent to Australia with other convicts.
This, by the way is a beautiful story worth reading and seeing. The British did a film version in 1992 of it that is lovely.
I thought when reading the story that surely the sentence was so harsh back then because it was pre-abortion times. Today they wouldn't see it that way. How could the sentence attached to the baby be so much harsher?
In our society, abortion is OK (and is funded by the taxpayer!) partial birth abortion is being fought for, but when a girl who is overweight comes up having a child under all her weight and in a panic stabs the baby repeatedly, she is charged with first degree murder. Wow! I just find that staggering.
Apology to Nonie Darwish
You may notice her name connected to the book Now They Call Me Infidel in an earlier post. I wrote her an e-mail, as she has a website of her own called ArabsforIsrael.com
I directed her to this blog. And after reading her book I realize that she is this amazing person. She is, at last, a Muslim who is temperate in her beliefs.
In my post Muslim Attitude Toward Dogs Says It All, I say some pretty harsh things about Muslims, but I am referring to radical Muslims - Islamo-fascists. I am referring to Muslims who are irrational and harsh themselves, intent on destroying and frustrating all those who don't fit into their belief system. Nonie is Muslim, but not one of these. I am apologizing to her because I sometimes forget that there are those who call themselves Muslim but don't fit the narrow-mindedness that I describe in that post. Although Nonie probably understands that, I just want to make that clear. I have made this new acquaintance - a meaningful one, and I don't want to mess it up.
I directed her to this blog. And after reading her book I realize that she is this amazing person. She is, at last, a Muslim who is temperate in her beliefs.
In my post Muslim Attitude Toward Dogs Says It All, I say some pretty harsh things about Muslims, but I am referring to radical Muslims - Islamo-fascists. I am referring to Muslims who are irrational and harsh themselves, intent on destroying and frustrating all those who don't fit into their belief system. Nonie is Muslim, but not one of these. I am apologizing to her because I sometimes forget that there are those who call themselves Muslim but don't fit the narrow-mindedness that I describe in that post. Although Nonie probably understands that, I just want to make that clear. I have made this new acquaintance - a meaningful one, and I don't want to mess it up.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Hot Cross Buns Are Too Christian For Hospital
Can we put two and two together? There are two articles referring to removing something too "Christian" today in the news, for those seeking a more secular society. One was a hospital banning hot cross buns on Good Friday and the other was the Easter bunny being renamed Peter Rabbit because it was too Christian. And it causes me to think of how many things in our world we owe to our Judeo-Christian roots, but do we know that? D. James Kennedy wrote in What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? about all the ways that Jesus and Christianity have impacted our world. Did you know that hospitals and Universities were founded in the middle ages by the church? Literacy and education for the masses? The abolition of slavery? Modern science? The elevation of women? Inspiration for some of the greatest works of art? The list goes on.
How can we continue to enjoy the many benefits and blessings of the things God has given us if we choke the very source? Will we figure it out finally, but too late? We who enjoy the blessings the most are the ones who are denying the source the most. In third world countries where people don't have these blessings they are running "to the cross" in large numbers.
In Nonie Darwish's book Now They Call Me Infidel (see earlier post) she makes the observation that Muslims in America will say that they enjoy certain privileges and things are OK for them, but she has to show them the things they enjoy are made possible by American rights and privileges that are not guaranteed in Muslim countries and do not originate in Islam. Again she is affirming the Judeo-Christian roots and the blessings offered by them.
How can we continue to enjoy the many benefits and blessings of the things God has given us if we choke the very source? Will we figure it out finally, but too late? We who enjoy the blessings the most are the ones who are denying the source the most. In third world countries where people don't have these blessings they are running "to the cross" in large numbers.
In Nonie Darwish's book Now They Call Me Infidel (see earlier post) she makes the observation that Muslims in America will say that they enjoy certain privileges and things are OK for them, but she has to show them the things they enjoy are made possible by American rights and privileges that are not guaranteed in Muslim countries and do not originate in Islam. Again she is affirming the Judeo-Christian roots and the blessings offered by them.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Don Imus' Racial Slur
Now this is ridiculous. Drudge Report had several items related to this story today. First, Don Imus, radio talk show host out of New York city, makes this stupid remark about the Rutger's University women's basketball team, who are black, that they are a bunch of "nappy headed hos." Of course, it was wrong. But then, there are all these reactions and repercussions. A bunch of sponsors decide to pull out of his show. MSNBC decides to drop his show.
The whole world turns against Don Imus. He's got the head of the NAACP crying that he has "violated our community." Oh come on. And what about the lyrics in rap music? What about all the "ho" words there? I can't believe a guy can make one comment and because he's white he can get pummeled to death. Now they are talking about firing him. Obama called for him to be fired. And lily white Hillary, lover of black people, said "I've never wanted to go on his show."
Then, a Pennsylvania DJ got fired for repeating the comments, or, he had people call into his show to repeat them for a "phrase that pays" contest - kind of disrespectful.
Rosie O'Donnell talked about the 'thought police' are coming, and defended Imus. She talked about freedom of speech. I agree with her. Why can't he apologize? There's all this vindictiveness over a few words. When will black people be free of the victim syndrome?
The whole world turns against Don Imus. He's got the head of the NAACP crying that he has "violated our community." Oh come on. And what about the lyrics in rap music? What about all the "ho" words there? I can't believe a guy can make one comment and because he's white he can get pummeled to death. Now they are talking about firing him. Obama called for him to be fired. And lily white Hillary, lover of black people, said "I've never wanted to go on his show."
Then, a Pennsylvania DJ got fired for repeating the comments, or, he had people call into his show to repeat them for a "phrase that pays" contest - kind of disrespectful.
Rosie O'Donnell talked about the 'thought police' are coming, and defended Imus. She talked about freedom of speech. I agree with her. Why can't he apologize? There's all this vindictiveness over a few words. When will black people be free of the victim syndrome?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Much to their surprise, the Virgins awaiting Muslims
in Heaven were not quite what they expected. Kingdavid had this on his site, but my sister also sent this to me, so I thought I'd put it on mine too. Isn't it great?!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Now They Call Me Infidel
Why I Renounced JihadFor America, Israel, And The War On Terror
This is a book I just finished by Nonie Darwish, an amazing Arabic woman from Egypt, daughter of a "shahid" - a martyr for jihad. She has renounced jihad as the book says, which tells so much. From her childhood she has had an independent mind.
She made her way from living with her mother who was widowed and living independent of a man, to living in America, the land of her dreams. It is great to hear what America means to someone like Nonie. You ought to hear how it is appreciated, for once - truly appreciated! She stands strong against the terrorist mindset and stands for Jews and for Israel.
She has even started a website for Jews called ArabsforIsrael.com. She speaks at colleges every where about her anti-terrorist beliefs. This book is worth reading.
How Does Al Gore Explain This..?
Record-Shattering Cold Threatens Crops
(State College, PA) - A brutally cold surge of arctic air into the eastern half of the United States will easily bring record-low temperatures on Easter morning and could cause significant losses in some of the nation's most prolific agricultural areas.
(State College, PA) - A brutally cold surge of arctic air into the eastern half of the United States will easily bring record-low temperatures on Easter morning and could cause significant losses in some of the nation's most prolific agricultural areas.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Global Warming Hasn't Helped Minnesota
I don't know what you believe, but here it is, Friday before Easter and it's Co-0-0-0-0-ld. Cold like it's always been in Minnesota. It's only about 20 degrees in April! Frankly, I have been counting on global warming, thinking that at least in Minnesota we will benefit from it (selfishly.) I have thought that people were moving here because they figured a cold place was safer while the earth was warming. But now, it doesn't look like there is any warming, I'm sorry. And it is surely getting to me. The cold wind blows even into April and I'm sick of it, but I guess it could be worse.
Anyway, if you believe in global warming, come to Minnesota and you will think twice. This is ridiculous.
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes (live)
Here is the song to listen to... the "flavor" Gabriel added is Latin. Imagine as you listen to it the whole time he is doing this as a worship to Jesus and not as a love song to a person.
Love Heals Your Heart - Third Day
For Good Friday - this song by the most prolific of Christian musicians in my opinion - every song a novelty. This is one of my favorites. (I am going a little YouTube happy since I figured out how to use my account)
Note: funny thing is singing along with this song I find myself singing "love breaks your heart" because it does. When you love you always risk breaking your heart. I broke my heart loving that cat right there - Tubby, because he's gone now. But the love in this song is God's love, and His love always heals.
Note: funny thing is singing along with this song I find myself singing "love breaks your heart" because it does. When you love you always risk breaking your heart. I broke my heart loving that cat right there - Tubby, because he's gone now. But the love in this song is God's love, and His love always heals.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Bush Refuses To Set Timetable For Withdrawal Of Head From White House Banister
Bush has refused to budge from his position. From The Onion.
Christ Getting In Shape For Second Coming
The Onion Reports, Jesus Christ, Son of God spends each morning trying to attain perfect abdominal definition.
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