What does the name of Jesus bring to your mind?
For most, it rips open the covers of our eyes and exposes us for who we truly are. Sinners. Destined to Hell, eternal separation from Love Himself. For others, it means nothing. Simply a word they have never heard. (Practically impossible if you are online right now.)
No, the 'nothing' comes from something. Either, they have heard His name, as a curse. Or they have heard, they know about Him, but are too callous to care. Why should they?
Perhaps, then, this name is something to wage war against. You are so against it, in fact, that you actually miss the point.
Is the name threatening? From the looks I get when I speak of my God, my faith, my joy and passion in front of others, you'd think so ... But the bottom line is, His name is powerful. It is wonderful, awe-inspiring, great, terrible; it evokes a reaction.
A serious reaction. With serious ramifications.
I will share with you next week about the stall ink. About a lost girl. About true Love.
29 May 2009
disgust, in brief.
Justice is blind.Sotomayor believes the judicial system should do the work of the legislature. What happened to the idea of checks and balance in the federal government?
Oh, but she's Latina.
Whee.
Facts:
- Lawyers who have presented evidence before her say she is appalling.
- 5 out of every 6 of her decisions in court have been OVERTURNED.
- I'll have more on this topic soon.
10 May 2009
soapbox topics : unashamedly and most definitely homeschooled.
You know, I hear a lot of kids bashing homeschooling these days -- especially those who have been homeschooled, themselves. Did your parents really mess you up or are you just jealous that you weren't exposed to certain things as a young person (through high school)?
Believe me, you didn't miss out on much. Between the countless breaks, school closures due to snow, teacher strikes .. what kind of learning do you get at public school? Why is it that our nation DRAGS behind others in higher forms of Arithmetic and Science? Why can't we spell? Public school. They teach to the test. No one learns a thing. Do you remember what you learned back then?
Some colleges today seem to be larger-scale high schools, where people fit into categories and department heads act as counseling services for undergrads. But the prevailing mindset among clientele at college is -- Whatever floats your boat will get the job done. As long as I merely pass the grade. No one looks at grades once you're done with college. They just look at the degree. But please, please don't use red ink. It's bad for my self-esteem.
Really?
I'm more ashamed of people who are doing well, are attending a four-year university, know where they are heading in life and yet, have little respect for the diligence, patience, frustrations, and love it took to get them through school at home. [Thank you Mom, for putting up with me through high school! I still marvel at how you did it all!]
Being private schooled and home educated up through high school, I naturally was not exposed to the blatant acceptance and promotion of the homosexual agenda, "pro-choice" monologues, Darwinian ideologies, New Criticism (i.e., "Truth" is up to the individual based on the situation), "whatever floats your boat" mentality (e.g., the "it's perfectly normal to have sex before marriage" mindset), and etc. until I entered the University scene.
And yes, I am glad for it.
Sure, I knew they existed but I was taught as a child from a Biblical perspective at school. I also attended church, was involved in youth group and missions, service projects, outreaches. This served to further form a foundation of morality, as well as a knowledge of true Truth and a thirst for Godly wisdom.
Brings me back to the larger argument of ..
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Now, if we, as Bible-believing Christians, are allowing our children to be taught that homosexuality is natural .. that abortion is an acceptable option .. that the world was formed through spontaneous bonding and combustion of atoms in a primal goo (thus, speech is really nothing more than sequenced sound and thoughts are only electronic impulses between neurons) .. if they are taught that there is no real "truth" .. that there are no consequences for premarital sex .. then we have failed. Allowing this, with full knowledge, is on par with teaching it to them ourselves.
Children are incredibly impressionable. Especially the youngest. And here's what scares me about public school: they know.
The administration that is, for now, presiding over our country plans to extend school. They plan to create a "zero to five" support, in terms of care and education of infants. A "voluntary, universal preschool" system that "is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten" and that provides "affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families." Sure sounds all kind of nice but problematic.
When government takes over the role of parenting, what will become of our nation?
Believe me, you didn't miss out on much. Between the countless breaks, school closures due to snow, teacher strikes .. what kind of learning do you get at public school? Why is it that our nation DRAGS behind others in higher forms of Arithmetic and Science? Why can't we spell? Public school. They teach to the test. No one learns a thing. Do you remember what you learned back then?
Some colleges today seem to be larger-scale high schools, where people fit into categories and department heads act as counseling services for undergrads. But the prevailing mindset among clientele at college is -- Whatever floats your boat will get the job done. As long as I merely pass the grade. No one looks at grades once you're done with college. They just look at the degree. But please, please don't use red ink. It's bad for my self-esteem.
Really?
I'm more ashamed of people who are doing well, are attending a four-year university, know where they are heading in life and yet, have little respect for the diligence, patience, frustrations, and love it took to get them through school at home. [Thank you Mom, for putting up with me through high school! I still marvel at how you did it all!]
Being private schooled and home educated up through high school, I naturally was not exposed to the blatant acceptance and promotion of the homosexual agenda, "pro-choice" monologues, Darwinian ideologies, New Criticism (i.e., "Truth" is up to the individual based on the situation), "whatever floats your boat" mentality (e.g., the "it's perfectly normal to have sex before marriage" mindset), and etc. until I entered the University scene.
And yes, I am glad for it.
Sure, I knew they existed but I was taught as a child from a Biblical perspective at school. I also attended church, was involved in youth group and missions, service projects, outreaches. This served to further form a foundation of morality, as well as a knowledge of true Truth and a thirst for Godly wisdom.
Brings me back to the larger argument of ..
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Now, if we, as Bible-believing Christians, are allowing our children to be taught that homosexuality is natural .. that abortion is an acceptable option .. that the world was formed through spontaneous bonding and combustion of atoms in a primal goo (thus, speech is really nothing more than sequenced sound and thoughts are only electronic impulses between neurons) .. if they are taught that there is no real "truth" .. that there are no consequences for premarital sex .. then we have failed. Allowing this, with full knowledge, is on par with teaching it to them ourselves.
Children are incredibly impressionable. Especially the youngest. And here's what scares me about public school: they know.
The administration that is, for now, presiding over our country plans to extend school. They plan to create a "zero to five" support, in terms of care and education of infants. A "voluntary, universal preschool" system that "is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten" and that provides "affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families." Sure sounds all kind of nice but problematic.
When government takes over the role of parenting, what will become of our nation?
the grass withers.
So is consistency a good thing or bad? You be the judge.
Doesn't surprise me if you say "good." And naturally, I agree. In fact, I say it is a great thing!
If you ever want to find out the true colors of someone's soul, look no further than the heart. What does that person say or do consistently? Do their actions line up with their words? How genuine is this person? Do they fully commit or is it half-hearted? What does that person believe?
Belief systems fuel actions. We all know this and yet, some of us make the mistake of thinking that we can hide those belief systems. Futile effort, my friends, futile effort.
I know of quite a few people whose words and actions line up. I think we all do.
But my biggest concern is one person who has consistently contested all I hold dear and who smears my God's name on the big screen in order to appease the gods of the Middle East.
That's right, folks. Obama.
And I quote (from the week leading up to Easter, 2009) :: "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation .. uh, uh .. We consider ourselves .. uh, uh .. a nation of .. uh, uh .. citizens."
Brilliant.
Interestingly enough, the American name is also decried in his administration. Who won't he sell out to?
And then check this out:
1. Within those first one hundred glorious days in office, Obama attended the tour "Hate America" in Europe, where along with others, he supported a campaign of hate toward Americans. Okay, well I guess the title was obvious, but just in case you missed the memo. Obama also bowed to the Muslim king of Saudi Arabia. Look it up, there are plenty of sources.
2. He refused to visit the graves of WWII veterans buried in Normandy, while in France. As one blogger put it, this is clearly "a disgrace to the patriotic men that liberated Europe and protected our Freedoms here in America."
3. In Turkey, he praised Muslim contributions to America -- WHAT!? Oh, maybe he was talking about 9/11, or any of the recent bombings, Embassy attacks, beheadings .. take your pick.
Well, I guess this justifies removal of God from money, national songs, the Pledge of Allegiance. Don't disagree. You can't. We let it happen.
Thus, it does not surprise me that on this day, 7 May 2009, Obama decided to "tone down" (CNN's contribution) the National Day of Prayer. In other words, sure he will sign the proclamation of the day, but he will not participate himself. According to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, Obama prays every day.
Big whoop. So do I. The question is, who do you pray to?
This press statement says to me, "There is no need for prayer. I am doing everything right; and prayer implies I need Divine help, which is what I am already receiving. After all, I am president." Well, I don't know about Divine, sir. God may allow you this plot of time, but as Bible proclaims in Isaiah 40 ::
"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."
I know some of us value prayer and a relationship with the most High. Why is it that it takes a national catastrophe for the nation to get down on it's knees?
Doesn't surprise me if you say "good." And naturally, I agree. In fact, I say it is a great thing!
If you ever want to find out the true colors of someone's soul, look no further than the heart. What does that person say or do consistently? Do their actions line up with their words? How genuine is this person? Do they fully commit or is it half-hearted? What does that person believe?
Belief systems fuel actions. We all know this and yet, some of us make the mistake of thinking that we can hide those belief systems. Futile effort, my friends, futile effort.
I know of quite a few people whose words and actions line up. I think we all do.
But my biggest concern is one person who has consistently contested all I hold dear and who smears my God's name on the big screen in order to appease the gods of the Middle East.
That's right, folks. Obama.
And I quote (from the week leading up to Easter, 2009) :: "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation .. uh, uh .. We consider ourselves .. uh, uh .. a nation of .. uh, uh .. citizens."
Brilliant.
Interestingly enough, the American name is also decried in his administration. Who won't he sell out to?
And then check this out:
1. Within those first one hundred glorious days in office, Obama attended the tour "Hate America" in Europe, where along with others, he supported a campaign of hate toward Americans. Okay, well I guess the title was obvious, but just in case you missed the memo. Obama also bowed to the Muslim king of Saudi Arabia. Look it up, there are plenty of sources.
2. He refused to visit the graves of WWII veterans buried in Normandy, while in France. As one blogger put it, this is clearly "a disgrace to the patriotic men that liberated Europe and protected our Freedoms here in America."
3. In Turkey, he praised Muslim contributions to America -- WHAT!? Oh, maybe he was talking about 9/11, or any of the recent bombings, Embassy attacks, beheadings .. take your pick.
Well, I guess this justifies removal of God from money, national songs, the Pledge of Allegiance. Don't disagree. You can't. We let it happen.
Thus, it does not surprise me that on this day, 7 May 2009, Obama decided to "tone down" (CNN's contribution) the National Day of Prayer. In other words, sure he will sign the proclamation of the day, but he will not participate himself. According to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, Obama prays every day.
Big whoop. So do I. The question is, who do you pray to?
This press statement says to me, "There is no need for prayer. I am doing everything right; and prayer implies I need Divine help, which is what I am already receiving. After all, I am president." Well, I don't know about Divine, sir. God may allow you this plot of time, but as Bible proclaims in Isaiah 40 ::
"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."
I know some of us value prayer and a relationship with the most High. Why is it that it takes a national catastrophe for the nation to get down on it's knees?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
