Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
WORDLE
Fascinating gadget. Find out what you're really writing about with a word cloud. Copy and paste
any text on the site below to see which words you use the most.
http://www.wordle.net/
any text on the site below to see which words you use the most.
http://www.wordle.net/
Into the Twilight
ARTICLE
http://www.crosswalk.com/
je's COMMENT I've read the whole series, and enjoyed them, and I think the fascination is simple: Edward is a vampire who does not kill humans, who loves a simple teenaged human girl. His attraction to her (for her blood) is strong because she has an enticing "fragrance," but his love for her is stronger. He's dangerous, but he controls himself. As a literary character, he fulfills innocent girls' wishes for a strong, brave, platonic hero, all romance without embarrassment, pain or messiness--prince charming--who sweeps the heroine off her feet, carries her to safety, cradles her, fights for her. He fights to save her life from those who want to kill her. He sweeps her behind him and stands bravely to defend. He can't bear to be separated from her and literally carries her to mountain heights and tops of towering trees. When she begs him to change her from human to vampire, he refuses because he loves her too much to see her miss out on meaningful life experiences as a human. The Twilight series doesn't follow any of the historical or literary precedents: vampires are able to live in the daylight but must hide because their skin sparkles as diamonds and they don't sleep in coffins or dress in 16th century costumes. They are fabulously wealthy because they've been around for decades or centuries. The werewolves are not the same either. They are protectors against vampires. Where vampires are cool, dangerous and independently powerful, werewolves are warm, strong and pack-oriented. Werewolves protect the town and their village from attack by aberrant vampires. They are always men and always strong and always physically attractive. Their werewolfishness is hereditary. People attacked do not become werewolves, they just die. Once a young man attains a certain age and there is danger in the area, he learns to change into his werewolf self (and to carry a change of clothing because what he was wearing is destroyed each time and running home in the nude is cold.) I haven't read the article, so I don't know what the writer says, but I don't think Twilight is likely to lead girls away from God. Twilight is a fairy tale dressed up in blue jeans and glittering skin with innocent temptations and heart-thumping gallantry. The books aren't even well written-- way too much dialogue and hardly any narrative or description. The writer's skill improved with each book, but never approaches literature. It's simply mind-candy, a 21st century fairy tale. The girls who read Twilight long for a man who loves them, defends them, shelters them and desires them. That's not such a bad thing to wish for now, is it?
friend's REBUTTAL
Thanks for writing from the perspective that I can't...and that is, one who has read the series. But just speaking to what you mentioned in your last paragraph...
http://www.crosswalk.com/
je's COMMENT I've read the whole series, and enjoyed them, and I think the fascination is simple: Edward is a vampire who does not kill humans, who loves a simple teenaged human girl. His attraction to her (for her blood) is strong because she has an enticing "fragrance," but his love for her is stronger. He's dangerous, but he controls himself. As a literary character, he fulfills innocent girls' wishes for a strong, brave, platonic hero, all romance without embarrassment, pain or messiness--prince charming--who sweeps the heroine off her feet, carries her to safety, cradles her, fights for her. He fights to save her life from those who want to kill her. He sweeps her behind him and stands bravely to defend. He can't bear to be separated from her and literally carries her to mountain heights and tops of towering trees. When she begs him to change her from human to vampire, he refuses because he loves her too much to see her miss out on meaningful life experiences as a human. The Twilight series doesn't follow any of the historical or literary precedents: vampires are able to live in the daylight but must hide because their skin sparkles as diamonds and they don't sleep in coffins or dress in 16th century costumes. They are fabulously wealthy because they've been around for decades or centuries. The werewolves are not the same either. They are protectors against vampires. Where vampires are cool, dangerous and independently powerful, werewolves are warm, strong and pack-oriented. Werewolves protect the town and their village from attack by aberrant vampires. They are always men and always strong and always physically attractive. Their werewolfishness is hereditary. People attacked do not become werewolves, they just die. Once a young man attains a certain age and there is danger in the area, he learns to change into his werewolf self (and to carry a change of clothing because what he was wearing is destroyed each time and running home in the nude is cold.) I haven't read the article, so I don't know what the writer says, but I don't think Twilight is likely to lead girls away from God. Twilight is a fairy tale dressed up in blue jeans and glittering skin with innocent temptations and heart-thumping gallantry. The books aren't even well written-- way too much dialogue and hardly any narrative or description. The writer's skill improved with each book, but never approaches literature. It's simply mind-candy, a 21st century fairy tale. The girls who read Twilight long for a man who loves them, defends them, shelters them and desires them. That's not such a bad thing to wish for now, is it?
friend's REBUTTAL
Thanks for writing from the perspective that I can't...and that is, one who has read the series. But just speaking to what you mentioned in your last paragraph...
"It's simply mind-candy, a 21st century fairy tale. The girls who read Twilight long for a man who loves them, defends them, shelters them and desires them. That's not such a bad thing to wish for now, is it?"
...that can be a concern, depending on the emotional makeup of the girls themselves. I think what the author of the article is trying to say is, if a young lady looks to a human to fulfill the ultimate longings of her heart for love, acceptance, protection, then she will be misled and ultimately disappointed and unfulfilled, because only God can meet the deepest needs we have--and that's true for males or females. Further, I think she's concerned about the "dysfunction" of the relationship...based on what you wrote, it truly is unworkable from the outset, because they are mismatched, and it can be said that the unattainable/impermissible relationship has more allure than one that can be pursued freely. The clandestine or "forbidden fruit" factor is one that we don't want to foster in our kids, if that is indeed a concept that fits this series. The author of this book is "cashing in" on the natural desire of a woman's heart. But those natural desires can lead us astray, if we aren't taught discernment. I have 3 nieces who are reaping the heartbreaking consequences of following ONLY their heart and instincts...literally, having "looked for love in all the wrong places"...and their children are bearing, and will continue to bear, the brunt of their choices, as well. As I know all too well, unhealthy relationships and choices can reap generational pain, even for those who belong to the Lord. With the divorce rate in the US well above 50% (and even within the church), we have many young people whose hearts ARE yearning for love, assurance, safety, acceptance from the opposite sex; looking for the foundation and affirmations that come from a healthy, intact family, but it's not there. Teen pregnancies and rampant STD's are one indicator that kids are looking for love...and yet are settling for the counterfeit that the enemy offers. In my own life, I know that the lack of those things was a big factor in my "Cinderella/Prince Charming" mentality, and only by the grace of God did I not end up in some reallllly bad relationships. So...providing our young people with positive role models and examples of healthy, godly, mature relationships founded on God's principles--and investing in one's own healthy relationship with God first and finding wholeness in Him--is what I think the author is driving at. I think what it confirmed for me is that it's incumbent upon John and me to offer words of warning to Joseph to guard his heart and mind...to look at everything through the lens of Scripture and God's principles and seek Him first.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Would you believe this? Before I could post the previous post, I received this in an email:
MERRY CHRISTMAS
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Obama, Now Biden, Now Sharpton, and Jackson*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Ried, and Pelosi !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout "MERRY CHRISTMAS" ,
not "Happy Holiday"!
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet during the holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is S-T-I-L-L The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!"
What did I just say? Tell me, what did I just say? Puhleaze. Not a Christian was praying? Since when did we need government approval to pray? Retailers promoting Kwanzaa and Ramad? Let them! Christmas isn't a shopping holiday! Didn't Christ throw the money-changers out of the temple?
Let the TV Prosperity Preachers rile up their audiences while they deceive for money, but fellow believers let's take back Christmas!
Let's have a quiet, God-glorifying time together. Let's be thoughtful with gifts. What does this person use that I could help provide for a little while? Every year my children get a brand new toothbrush in their stockings. And if they don't find it, they notice. This has been a tradition for 25 years. In our larger families, we give hand lotion, postage stamps, light bulbs, books we've loved, cowbells and skillets handed down from two generations. These are appreciated because we know that our family has thought about what we need or what would cheer us.
So, this year I'm skipping the day after Christmas all day shopping. Did that last year, never have to do it again. Fewer batteries, fewer noises, more family and friends. Join me?
I should never start writing before I changed from my pajamas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Obama, Now Biden, Now Sharpton, and Jackson*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Ried, and Pelosi !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout "MERRY CHRISTMAS" ,
not "Happy Holiday"!
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet during the holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is S-T-I-L-L The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!"
What did I just say? Tell me, what did I just say? Puhleaze. Not a Christian was praying? Since when did we need government approval to pray? Retailers promoting Kwanzaa and Ramad? Let them! Christmas isn't a shopping holiday! Didn't Christ throw the money-changers out of the temple?
Let the TV Prosperity Preachers rile up their audiences while they deceive for money, but fellow believers let's take back Christmas!
Let's have a quiet, God-glorifying time together. Let's be thoughtful with gifts. What does this person use that I could help provide for a little while? Every year my children get a brand new toothbrush in their stockings. And if they don't find it, they notice. This has been a tradition for 25 years. In our larger families, we give hand lotion, postage stamps, light bulbs, books we've loved, cowbells and skillets handed down from two generations. These are appreciated because we know that our family has thought about what we need or what would cheer us.
So, this year I'm skipping the day after Christmas all day shopping. Did that last year, never have to do it again. Fewer batteries, fewer noises, more family and friends. Join me?
I should never start writing before I changed from my pajamas.
What should Christians Do?
I just received an email begging me to refuse the new US coin which was minted without "in God we trust" stamped on its face. Regardless of the truth about the minting, I have an idea that some well-meaning Christian hasn't thought this through. Remember this?
Matthew 22
Matthew 22
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
16And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
17"Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"
18But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
19"Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.
20And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
21They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
22And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.
I think believers should stop and think before they jump on the next email bandwagon. What should concern a believer more: the minting of a government coin or living a life which glorifies God? Did Jesus declare that the coins should be re-minted? For that matter should we all buy the buttons that proclaim "Merry CHRISTmas?" Should we boycott stores which say "Happy Holidays" instead? Should we really be thinking about where to shop instead of WHY we are shopping?
Don't misunderstand me. I love giving gifts--the Wise Men brought gifts to Christ which foreshadowed His majesty and crucifixion. I wish that all gift-giving could be so thoughtful.
Don't misunderstand me. I love giving gifts--the Wise Men brought gifts to Christ which foreshadowed His majesty and crucifixion. I wish that all gift-giving could be so thoughtful.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thoughts on overcomers--in progress
I started highlighting the word "overcomes" in Revelation when I first started the book. This is my attempt to find the significance of the word. I've copied my notes below. Any stray letters come from the kitten sitting on the keyboard.
Revelation: He who overcomes will receive... NASB
In Reformed Theology, the theology of R.C. Sproul, Calvin, and Luther, Scripture should be interpreted in three ways:Revelation: He who overcomes will receive... NASB
- by Scripture itself,
- remembering that all Scripture, OT and NT, point towards Christ,
- from a Redemptive Historical viewpoint: no longer, already, not yet
Words in italics are strictly my thoughts about the following scriptures.
2:7 (Jesus speaking)
"To him who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, (false teaching/practices)
I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God."
(everlasting life in Paradise/Eden--Ezekiel 28:15 Eden, garden of God)
2:17 (Jesus speaking)
" To him who overcomes, (false teaching/practices)
to him I will give some of the hidden manna, (manna was food for Jews in the Exodus)
and I will give him a white stone, (Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone.)
and a new name written on the stone which no knows but he who receives it."
(God changes names of people to indicate a new relationship with Him; i.e. Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, Jacob/Israel, Simon/Peter, Saul/Paul)
2:7 (Jesus speaking)
"To him who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, (false teaching/practices)
I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God."
(everlasting life in Paradise/Eden--Ezekiel 28:15 Eden, garden of God)
2:17 (Jesus speaking)
" To him who overcomes, (false teaching/practices)
to him I will give some of the hidden manna, (manna was food for Jews in the Exodus)
and I will give him a white stone, (Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone.)
and a new name written on the stone which no knows but he who receives it."
(God changes names of people to indicate a new relationship with Him; i.e. Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, Jacob/Israel, Simon/Peter, Saul/Paul)
2:26 (Jesus speaking)
"He who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds until the end, (false teaching/practices)(Jezebel)
TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON
AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES,
as I have also have received authority from My Father; and
I will give him the morning star." (morning star=Jesus Christ )
"He who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds until the end, (false teaching/practices)(Jezebel)
TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON
AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES,
as I have also have received authority from My Father; and
I will give him the morning star." (morning star=Jesus Christ )
(1 John 3:2 "2)Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." We will have the appearance of Christ.
3:5 (Jesus speaking)
"He who overcomes will thus be (apathy, complacency, unfinished deeds)
clothed in white garments; (washed clean, purified from sin)
and
I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, (eternal life)
and I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels. (He will claim us at judgment.)
Matt. 10:32, 33. 32"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
3:10-12"Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 7:3, 9:4)
I am coming quickly; hold fast (to the Word, to Truth, belief, faith, wisdom) what you have so that no one will take your crown.
He who overcomes, (Jews who want to force OT practices, legalists)
I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, (pillars are permanent)
and he will not go out from it anymore;
and I will write on him the name of My God,e4
and the name of the city of My God,
the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God
and My new name."
3:21
"He who overcomes, (persecution and death)
I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (eternal life)
5:3-5
"Stop weeping; behold the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has
overcome (overcome death, been resurrected)
so as to open the book and its seven seals."
Personal Study Notes on Revelation
"Be in the Word daily" is a mantra in womens' Bible studies. Sounds profound, doesn't it? Yet, we often allow our "abiding in the Word" to become superficial or anecdotal and rob ourselves of the richness of God's wisdom and truth.
While studying Revelation, if we insist that the how of Christ's return is more important than the when, we risk losing sight of the provisions He's made for us. If we say, "I don't care when it happens. I just know that He's coming back for me," we cheapen his Majesty. If the Lord doesn't want us to think, then why do we have his Word to study? He could have sent DVDs like manna so that we could watch mindlessly without wrestling from Genesis to Revelation and back again.
Since childhood I feared Revelation. Way back when we had Wednesday night prayer meetings, before children were separated from their parents to go play while the adults studied, I sat through a study of Revelation with my parents. It scared me. I was too young to understand that Christ would provide for our care and only heard scary images. As a result, I've avoided Revelation like the plague. But several months ago I determined to read the Bible through while sitting with my daughter while she fell asleep. I started with Genesis, but soon started following cross references that led me to Revelation. My hands shook with fear as I turned those pages, but with prayer and perseverance, I read.
I was amazed to discover that Revelation isn't scary after all! And it isn't hard to understand! And it isn't easy to forget everything I've ever read or heard in order to plow through God's Word only. I must keep reminding myself that I can't let science fiction or "christian" movies and novels to determine what I believe. I must abide in God's Word and listen to His voice.
I'll be posting my personal study notes and links to other pages here. You're welcome to join me.
While studying Revelation, if we insist that the how of Christ's return is more important than the when, we risk losing sight of the provisions He's made for us. If we say, "I don't care when it happens. I just know that He's coming back for me," we cheapen his Majesty. If the Lord doesn't want us to think, then why do we have his Word to study? He could have sent DVDs like manna so that we could watch mindlessly without wrestling from Genesis to Revelation and back again.
Since childhood I feared Revelation. Way back when we had Wednesday night prayer meetings, before children were separated from their parents to go play while the adults studied, I sat through a study of Revelation with my parents. It scared me. I was too young to understand that Christ would provide for our care and only heard scary images. As a result, I've avoided Revelation like the plague. But several months ago I determined to read the Bible through while sitting with my daughter while she fell asleep. I started with Genesis, but soon started following cross references that led me to Revelation. My hands shook with fear as I turned those pages, but with prayer and perseverance, I read.
I was amazed to discover that Revelation isn't scary after all! And it isn't hard to understand! And it isn't easy to forget everything I've ever read or heard in order to plow through God's Word only. I must keep reminding myself that I can't let science fiction or "christian" movies and novels to determine what I believe. I must abide in God's Word and listen to His voice.
I'll be posting my personal study notes and links to other pages here. You're welcome to join me.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
From Patrick
If you haven't already heard of it, which you most likely have, Obama is going to sign a "global climates treaty".
If you read article 17A and 17B:
I've heard rumors that it may get rid of U.S. Sovereignty but I'm not sure yet. Also, its said that the treaty will take presidency over our constitution.
Are our freedoms going to be taken away because of this treaty?
Here is a PDF of the treaty:
This is very strange, but it doesn't surprise me!
And
I really would like to know the truth about this treaty and its affects
on the American people and their freedoms. I don't believe a world-wide
government would be the solution to any of the "problems" that people
are saying there are to push this bill forward. I don't think a
world-wide government would be... safe? Efficient? Anything but
communism?
I really would like to know the truth about this treaty and its affects
on the American people and their freedoms. I don't believe a world-wide
government would be the solution to any of the "problems" that people
are saying there are to push this bill forward. I don't think a
world-wide government would be... safe? Efficient? Anything but
communism?
17. [[Developed [and developing] countries] [Developed and developing country Parties] [All Parties] [shall] [should]:]
(a) Compensate for damage to the LDCs’ economy and also compensate for lost opportunities, resources, lives, land and dignity, as many will become environmental refugees;
(b) Africa, in the context of environmental justice, should be equitably compensated for environmental, social and economic losses arising from the implementation of response measures.
Which means: Developed countries (USA, Canada, China, Britain, etc.) and their developed country parties (Parliamentary, democracy, socialist, communistic, etc.) will distribute their wealth in some kind of world-wide socialist welfare program for the least developed countries (LDC's) that were hurt by economic and environmental disasters that were (not) caused by the developed countries. Not caused. Not even existent.
I'm confused, when will the American government start caring for its own people and not other countries?
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