run *clap clap* DIVE *clap clap* DUCK TAPE!!!
Monday, October 25, 2004
this was an email I received after coming home from the retreat. I thought it was cool how it kind of related to some of what we heard there. It's a great reminder of how we should not limit God's power, because there truly is no limit. The only reason we don't see some of these great miracles every single day of our lives is the fact that our imagination of what God can do is so humanly small. When we pray big prayers, He'll give us a story to tell as a testimony to what an amazing God he really is....
Isaiah 65:24
This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa...
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but
inspite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature
baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty
keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to
run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with
treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for
such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came
back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had
burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).
"And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be
considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by ending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly.
Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, if God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of course, "He replied"!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon.
"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another. This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it and break its hold over my friend's life. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
email from my hilarious CBS leader.....
BATHROOM HUMOR
Only a woman will TRULY relate to this (and husbands will better understand...)!
My mother was a fanatic about public bathrooms. When I was a little girl, she'd take me into the stall, teach me to wad up toilet paper and wipe the seat. Then, she'd carefully lay strips of toilet paper to cover the seat. Finally, she'd instruct, "Never, NEVER sit on a public toilet seat. Then she'd demonstrate "The Stance," which consistedof balancing over the toilet in a sitting position without actually letting any of your flesh make contact with the toilet seat. By this time, I'd have wet down my leg and we'd have to go home to change my clothes. That was a long time ago.
Even now, in my more "mature years, "The Stance" is excruciatingly difficult to maintain, especially when one's bladder is full. When you have to "go" in a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women that makes you think there's a half-price sale on Nelly's underwear in there. So, you wait and smile politely at all the other ladies, who are also crossing their legs and smiling politely. You get closer and check for feet under the stall doors. Every one is occupied.
Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter. The dispenser for the new fangled "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook if there was one but there isn't - so you carefully but quickly hang it around your neck (mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume "The Stance." Ahhhh, relief. More relief.
But then your thighs begin to shake. You'd love to sit down but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance" as your thighs experience a quake that would register an eight on the Richter scale. To take your mind off of your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you would have tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It is still smaller than your thumbnail. Someone pushes open your stall door because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet.
"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle, and sliding down, directly onto theinsidious toilet seat. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late.
Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper -not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly ashamed of you if she knew, because you're certain that her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get."
By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, sending up a stream of water akin to a fountain thatsuddenly sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged off to China. At that point, you give up. You're soaked by the splashing water. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket, then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks. You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past a line of women, still waiting, cross-legged and, at this point, no longer able to smile politely.
One kind soul at the very end of the line points out that you are trailing a piece of toilet paper on your shoe as long as the Mississippi River!(Where was it when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this." As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has since entered, used and exited the men's restroom and read a copy of War and Peace while waiting for you. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?"
This is dedicated to women everywhere who have ever had to deal with a public restroom (rest??? you've got to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked question about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other woman can hold the door and hand you Kleenex under the door.
BATHROOM HUMOR
Only a woman will TRULY relate to this (and husbands will better understand...)!
My mother was a fanatic about public bathrooms. When I was a little girl, she'd take me into the stall, teach me to wad up toilet paper and wipe the seat. Then, she'd carefully lay strips of toilet paper to cover the seat. Finally, she'd instruct, "Never, NEVER sit on a public toilet seat. Then she'd demonstrate "The Stance," which consistedof balancing over the toilet in a sitting position without actually letting any of your flesh make contact with the toilet seat. By this time, I'd have wet down my leg and we'd have to go home to change my clothes. That was a long time ago.
Even now, in my more "mature years, "The Stance" is excruciatingly difficult to maintain, especially when one's bladder is full. When you have to "go" in a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women that makes you think there's a half-price sale on Nelly's underwear in there. So, you wait and smile politely at all the other ladies, who are also crossing their legs and smiling politely. You get closer and check for feet under the stall doors. Every one is occupied.
Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter. The dispenser for the new fangled "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook if there was one but there isn't - so you carefully but quickly hang it around your neck (mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and assume "The Stance." Ahhhh, relief. More relief.
But then your thighs begin to shake. You'd love to sit down but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance" as your thighs experience a quake that would register an eight on the Richter scale. To take your mind off of your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you would have tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It is still smaller than your thumbnail. Someone pushes open your stall door because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet.
"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle, and sliding down, directly onto theinsidious toilet seat. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late.
Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper -not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly ashamed of you if she knew, because you're certain that her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get."
By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, sending up a stream of water akin to a fountain thatsuddenly sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged off to China. At that point, you give up. You're soaked by the splashing water. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket, then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks. You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past a line of women, still waiting, cross-legged and, at this point, no longer able to smile politely.
One kind soul at the very end of the line points out that you are trailing a piece of toilet paper on your shoe as long as the Mississippi River!(Where was it when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this." As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has since entered, used and exited the men's restroom and read a copy of War and Peace while waiting for you. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?"
This is dedicated to women everywhere who have ever had to deal with a public restroom (rest??? you've got to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked question about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other woman can hold the door and hand you Kleenex under the door.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
season of the seasonal rut.....
have you ever felt that everything in your life was a complete scramble and it just seemed to be going perfectly opposite of perfect...leaving you hopeless, helpless, and depressed....feeling as if your world had been turned upside down and all of life as you knew it was at rock bottom?
At times, I feel like I have it bad. However, I truly believe that it's all in perspective. What about that child that's been molested? What about that family sufferining a loss? What about that little girl sold into prostitution? And what about the man who just found out he has terminal cancer? If you think about it that way, most of us have it pretty well off. What in our life is so bad that we just want to fall on our faces and slump our butts into depression? Just a thought....why did Jesus come to Earth again? He came to DIE so that we could have the most ABUNDANT life possible. Could you imagine waking up each morning knowing that your ultimate purpose on Earth was to die for every living soul past, present, and future? I mean, if that was my purpose in life wouldn't I feel like I have a big problem (then again I'm not Jesus). I'm curious, why aren't we living abundantly?
I think part of it has to do with our selfishness. Humanly speaking, none of us like it when things just don't go our way. We are very me-oriented people. It's so easy to make life self-centered versus God-centered. When God is the center of our everything, the soul purpose for which we live, all depression slowly fades away. Every trial and every joy is meant to bring abundance to our lives. Abundance is found in wisdom through circumstance, discovering God's character through experiences...which means living purposefully and noticing the little puzzle pieces that God places in our sight. Selfishness is such a small world.
There's so much in my life right now that makes me feel like it's growing in abundance. Not everyone has the opportunity of a college education, a loving family to run home to, authentic relationships that are a source of accountability, and physical health to be able to enjoy running and jumping in the great outdoors. The realization of being blessed takes away from Satan's lie that I have it really bad when it's all just part of filling life with more abundance.
Like I said, our self-centered worlds are so small....and facing the hard times are just a part of the character, faith building aspect of the larger God-centered world we want to be living in. What we experience is always a source of drawing us closer to God and feeling more abundant in our daily living =)
Don't worry I'm not depressed... I've just been feeling like there's a lot of unecessary unhappiness out in the streets.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
have you ever felt that everything in your life was a complete scramble and it just seemed to be going perfectly opposite of perfect...leaving you hopeless, helpless, and depressed....feeling as if your world had been turned upside down and all of life as you knew it was at rock bottom?
At times, I feel like I have it bad. However, I truly believe that it's all in perspective. What about that child that's been molested? What about that family sufferining a loss? What about that little girl sold into prostitution? And what about the man who just found out he has terminal cancer? If you think about it that way, most of us have it pretty well off. What in our life is so bad that we just want to fall on our faces and slump our butts into depression? Just a thought....why did Jesus come to Earth again? He came to DIE so that we could have the most ABUNDANT life possible. Could you imagine waking up each morning knowing that your ultimate purpose on Earth was to die for every living soul past, present, and future? I mean, if that was my purpose in life wouldn't I feel like I have a big problem (then again I'm not Jesus). I'm curious, why aren't we living abundantly?
I think part of it has to do with our selfishness. Humanly speaking, none of us like it when things just don't go our way. We are very me-oriented people. It's so easy to make life self-centered versus God-centered. When God is the center of our everything, the soul purpose for which we live, all depression slowly fades away. Every trial and every joy is meant to bring abundance to our lives. Abundance is found in wisdom through circumstance, discovering God's character through experiences...which means living purposefully and noticing the little puzzle pieces that God places in our sight. Selfishness is such a small world.
There's so much in my life right now that makes me feel like it's growing in abundance. Not everyone has the opportunity of a college education, a loving family to run home to, authentic relationships that are a source of accountability, and physical health to be able to enjoy running and jumping in the great outdoors. The realization of being blessed takes away from Satan's lie that I have it really bad when it's all just part of filling life with more abundance.
Like I said, our self-centered worlds are so small....and facing the hard times are just a part of the character, faith building aspect of the larger God-centered world we want to be living in. What we experience is always a source of drawing us closer to God and feeling more abundant in our daily living =)
Don't worry I'm not depressed... I've just been feeling like there's a lot of unecessary unhappiness out in the streets.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Monday, October 11, 2004
waaazaooo.......
what a crazy cool weekend. We celebrated Juice's bday and I listened to her tell the "surprise" story to her family three different times in exactly the same manner cuz the Chen's are cute like that. =) Oh and she has got to be the worlds greatest trasher-taker-outer warrior in the world! But dont ask her to take your trash out, she's already been reserved by this here basement room, no sharing!
I saw the world's scariest piece of earwax this weekend....and it wasn't mine. I wish I had dry ear wax that would just fall out, but I was blessed with sticky. When was the last time your earwax fell out?
Today at EV we had this message on envy. The part of the message that really stuck out to me was the part about how envy can sometimes be a barrier to a genuine friendship. I've experienced genuine friendships in my life and it's true that you can share in their joys and in their sorrows and not envy. The beauty of authentic friendships is that once you've experienced them, you want others to experience it for themselves. No more of those petty friendships that last for a season and the next season you have a whole new posse. Making friends isn't like forming basketball teams, you dont trade your players, just like you don't trade in friends for different ones.
It's frustrating sometimes seeing how the definition of friends just encompasses telling secrets and being able to hang out. Of course I don't think there's anything wrong with those things, but do you ever wonder if there's more? Can these people truly be happy for you when they see you succeed or excel? I agree with what the speaker said about how sometimes sharing in sorrows comes more easily than sharing in joys. When you're down and discouraged, you can relate with someone; feeling your own share of pitty in the process. But when people experience joy because of a personal gain or achievement in life, they've acquired something you may not have, and it makes it hard sometimes to not sprout an imp of jealousy. And that's why I find Paul so admirable in the area of contentment and full satisfaction with being given all that he needed. Just be convicted, that if we need it, God will give it.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4: 10-13
When we have that kind of mentality in a friendship, we can share in the joys of those we love. So what was Paul's secret?
I also feel that the genuine relationships I have, have grown as a result of prayer. There's something SO powerful about prayer that brings people together. When you pray it's like saying, "yes God we come in agreement about your will, so now we're talking to you about it." I feel like there's a sense of oneness when people can come and pray together. I believe if God is ever asking you to take the next step in a superficial friendship, learn to pray with one another. So maybe the whole prayer thing isn't for you, and maybe you don't even pray. A few other things I value about my friendships is encouragment and support and not being afraid of getting bashed for honest, edifying criticism.
I love my friends and I know that if God didn't bring them into my life for a lifetime, I know it was or is to fulfill a reason, or maybe to show me something during a season. In any case, friends are always a blessing from someone who takes cares of all our needs, and yes....people need friends.
would it be great to have a friend like this? (This would be Paul describing Timothy)
Philippians 2:20 "I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare."
what a crazy cool weekend. We celebrated Juice's bday and I listened to her tell the "surprise" story to her family three different times in exactly the same manner cuz the Chen's are cute like that. =) Oh and she has got to be the worlds greatest trasher-taker-outer warrior in the world! But dont ask her to take your trash out, she's already been reserved by this here basement room, no sharing!
I saw the world's scariest piece of earwax this weekend....and it wasn't mine. I wish I had dry ear wax that would just fall out, but I was blessed with sticky. When was the last time your earwax fell out?
Today at EV we had this message on envy. The part of the message that really stuck out to me was the part about how envy can sometimes be a barrier to a genuine friendship. I've experienced genuine friendships in my life and it's true that you can share in their joys and in their sorrows and not envy. The beauty of authentic friendships is that once you've experienced them, you want others to experience it for themselves. No more of those petty friendships that last for a season and the next season you have a whole new posse. Making friends isn't like forming basketball teams, you dont trade your players, just like you don't trade in friends for different ones.
It's frustrating sometimes seeing how the definition of friends just encompasses telling secrets and being able to hang out. Of course I don't think there's anything wrong with those things, but do you ever wonder if there's more? Can these people truly be happy for you when they see you succeed or excel? I agree with what the speaker said about how sometimes sharing in sorrows comes more easily than sharing in joys. When you're down and discouraged, you can relate with someone; feeling your own share of pitty in the process. But when people experience joy because of a personal gain or achievement in life, they've acquired something you may not have, and it makes it hard sometimes to not sprout an imp of jealousy. And that's why I find Paul so admirable in the area of contentment and full satisfaction with being given all that he needed. Just be convicted, that if we need it, God will give it.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4: 10-13
When we have that kind of mentality in a friendship, we can share in the joys of those we love. So what was Paul's secret?
I also feel that the genuine relationships I have, have grown as a result of prayer. There's something SO powerful about prayer that brings people together. When you pray it's like saying, "yes God we come in agreement about your will, so now we're talking to you about it." I feel like there's a sense of oneness when people can come and pray together. I believe if God is ever asking you to take the next step in a superficial friendship, learn to pray with one another. So maybe the whole prayer thing isn't for you, and maybe you don't even pray. A few other things I value about my friendships is encouragment and support and not being afraid of getting bashed for honest, edifying criticism.
I love my friends and I know that if God didn't bring them into my life for a lifetime, I know it was or is to fulfill a reason, or maybe to show me something during a season. In any case, friends are always a blessing from someone who takes cares of all our needs, and yes....people need friends.
would it be great to have a friend like this? (This would be Paul describing Timothy)
Philippians 2:20 "I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare."
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Thursday, October 07, 2004
go tell it on the mountain......
It's been many hours and even some running, but I can still feel the turkey leg I consumed tonight in my stomach. Bottomless stomachs do not exist. I regret not finishing all of my grilled cheese sandwich; dont know when I'll get to eat one again. Is salad gaseous food?
I miss driving home and seeing the sunset back behind university blvd. If you live over there, go watch the sunset....it's truly priceless and it's something worth doing before you turn 60.
further insight on gay marriage issue: (it's an issue I think is important to our society and it's important what others think...so something else to think about and I'll silence a bit for now about gay marriage but anyhow, I'm sure I'll have more interesting social issues I find interesting to hear comments about from my sw class in the future.)
Love the sinner. Hate the sin. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. All sins lead to death, and being heterosexual does not make me less of a sinner than a homosexual is. I can love the homosexual. Loving them is one thing. However, agreeing with their "alternative lifestyle" is another.In Leviticus 18:22 God calls homosexual acts a detestable act. Most of the sexual sins listed in Leviticus 20 are punishable by death (including homosexuality, adultery, and bestiality). God completely annihilated Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness (Gen. 19:5-6). All throughout the Old Testament, whenever a city fell into deep sin, God judged them. God judged the cities of old. If indeed God is unchanging, who's to say that He won't judge the cities of today? As a Christian do we not have the right and good reason to fear God's judgment upon America?"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Rom. 1:18).
In a Christian magazine I was reading about the upcoming election, same-sex marriage was a big topic. In an article, Alan Chambers, a former homosexual, writes:"I hope we are not so naive that we think their agenda stops with legalizing same-sex marriages. Ultimately, if this process is not stopped, the gaying of the United States will begin to affect religious freedom:-Churches will be forced to hire gay people in staff positions.-Christian broadcasters will be penalized or even shut down if they air programs that call homosexuality a sin.-Religious people will be jailed for violating "hate speech" laws--because they describe homosexuality as abnormal or immoral.I hope we wake up soon. The apathy that has gripped the church for so long has been costly...The moral crisis we face today is the result not of sinners running loose but rather of Christians remaining passive and prayerless.",
I think by allowing same-sex marriages, we are hurting the gay community rather than helping them. If the church starts to accept same-sex marriages, won't the gay community start to "reconcile homosexuality with Christianity?" Then they will start buying into the lie that homosexuality is merely an "alternative lifestyle." A different "sexual orientation." Are we beginning to forget the freedom that is promised in Christ (1 Corinth. 6:11)?Alan Chambers, the author I quoted earlier, was freed from his bondage of homosexuality through Christ. As Christians, we should proclaim freedom to homosexuals with LOVE. The gospel of Christ is not one of condemnation but one of forgiveness (Rom. 8:1-4). And Christ enables us to love homosexuals and approach them with compassion (not pity) and humility because our own sins also nailed Christ to the cross. Christ bled for the heterosexual and the homosexual. And homosexuality is definitely not the only thing that should be addressed.
The list of sins is endless in this adulterous, lustful, greedy, deceitful nation.This upcoming election is a crucial one. We need to pray heavily about issues like abortion and gay rights. May God guide your voting.
It's been many hours and even some running, but I can still feel the turkey leg I consumed tonight in my stomach. Bottomless stomachs do not exist. I regret not finishing all of my grilled cheese sandwich; dont know when I'll get to eat one again. Is salad gaseous food?
I miss driving home and seeing the sunset back behind university blvd. If you live over there, go watch the sunset....it's truly priceless and it's something worth doing before you turn 60.
further insight on gay marriage issue: (it's an issue I think is important to our society and it's important what others think...so something else to think about and I'll silence a bit for now about gay marriage but anyhow, I'm sure I'll have more interesting social issues I find interesting to hear comments about from my sw class in the future.)
Love the sinner. Hate the sin. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. All sins lead to death, and being heterosexual does not make me less of a sinner than a homosexual is. I can love the homosexual. Loving them is one thing. However, agreeing with their "alternative lifestyle" is another.In Leviticus 18:22 God calls homosexual acts a detestable act. Most of the sexual sins listed in Leviticus 20 are punishable by death (including homosexuality, adultery, and bestiality). God completely annihilated Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness (Gen. 19:5-6). All throughout the Old Testament, whenever a city fell into deep sin, God judged them. God judged the cities of old. If indeed God is unchanging, who's to say that He won't judge the cities of today? As a Christian do we not have the right and good reason to fear God's judgment upon America?"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Rom. 1:18).
In a Christian magazine I was reading about the upcoming election, same-sex marriage was a big topic. In an article, Alan Chambers, a former homosexual, writes:"I hope we are not so naive that we think their agenda stops with legalizing same-sex marriages. Ultimately, if this process is not stopped, the gaying of the United States will begin to affect religious freedom:-Churches will be forced to hire gay people in staff positions.-Christian broadcasters will be penalized or even shut down if they air programs that call homosexuality a sin.-Religious people will be jailed for violating "hate speech" laws--because they describe homosexuality as abnormal or immoral.I hope we wake up soon. The apathy that has gripped the church for so long has been costly...The moral crisis we face today is the result not of sinners running loose but rather of Christians remaining passive and prayerless.",
I think by allowing same-sex marriages, we are hurting the gay community rather than helping them. If the church starts to accept same-sex marriages, won't the gay community start to "reconcile homosexuality with Christianity?" Then they will start buying into the lie that homosexuality is merely an "alternative lifestyle." A different "sexual orientation." Are we beginning to forget the freedom that is promised in Christ (1 Corinth. 6:11)?Alan Chambers, the author I quoted earlier, was freed from his bondage of homosexuality through Christ. As Christians, we should proclaim freedom to homosexuals with LOVE. The gospel of Christ is not one of condemnation but one of forgiveness (Rom. 8:1-4). And Christ enables us to love homosexuals and approach them with compassion (not pity) and humility because our own sins also nailed Christ to the cross. Christ bled for the heterosexual and the homosexual. And homosexuality is definitely not the only thing that should be addressed.
The list of sins is endless in this adulterous, lustful, greedy, deceitful nation.This upcoming election is a crucial one. We need to pray heavily about issues like abortion and gay rights. May God guide your voting.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
the day I fell in love with the weather.......
Did I ever tell you how much I love cold weather? Well....I love cold weather a ton. I think I was born to soak up coldness. Maybe that's why I enjoy cold showers. Can I get a holla from all them winter babies out there?
a simile for thought:
Praying is like exercising; we want fast, immediate results, but some things are worth waiting for.
I think it's the season for "I miss blah blah blah from high school." Most people had their little niche in high school, from choir to football, there was a thing that people liked, that made high school worth going to. Myself personally, I miss the track and I miss wearing my too-small spikes. It's a shame I didn't pick a sport I could grow old with. I've always been curious why after years of playing tennis, I never got into it. So I tell ya, the love for sports is definitely not genetic, cuz if you know my parents, you know they're tennisaholics. When I go home, remind me to go take a bounce on the brand spankin new rockin clements track. It'll be a party, you should come.
I really liked this and thought I'd share it with you (it pertains to my previous post).
I think that God's second commandment is what really matters here. Love your neighbor as yourself. I recently changed my views about the GLBT community. I am for gay marriages, because I believe that there is no doubt that 2 homosexual people can love each other just as much as a heterosexual couple can.
And if us as Christians want to show them the truth in God's love, shouldn't we love them and by loving them, respect their lifestyle, by agreeing to same-sex marriages..and other rights that homosexual couples don't have.
I think a homosexual person will be more likely to listen to someone who accepts them than someone who condemns them, and I think that thats what God commands us to do. If we love them as people and not as homosexuals, then I think God will take care of the rest. Okay I'm done. Heh, that was long, but thats what I think :)
P.S...COUNTRY MUSIC?? Ophi.....whats happened to you?? we must come save you!!
Did I ever tell you how much I love cold weather? Well....I love cold weather a ton. I think I was born to soak up coldness. Maybe that's why I enjoy cold showers. Can I get a holla from all them winter babies out there?
a simile for thought:
Praying is like exercising; we want fast, immediate results, but some things are worth waiting for.
I think it's the season for "I miss blah blah blah from high school." Most people had their little niche in high school, from choir to football, there was a thing that people liked, that made high school worth going to. Myself personally, I miss the track and I miss wearing my too-small spikes. It's a shame I didn't pick a sport I could grow old with. I've always been curious why after years of playing tennis, I never got into it. So I tell ya, the love for sports is definitely not genetic, cuz if you know my parents, you know they're tennisaholics. When I go home, remind me to go take a bounce on the brand spankin new rockin clements track. It'll be a party, you should come.
I really liked this and thought I'd share it with you (it pertains to my previous post).
I think that God's second commandment is what really matters here. Love your neighbor as yourself. I recently changed my views about the GLBT community. I am for gay marriages, because I believe that there is no doubt that 2 homosexual people can love each other just as much as a heterosexual couple can.
And if us as Christians want to show them the truth in God's love, shouldn't we love them and by loving them, respect their lifestyle, by agreeing to same-sex marriages..and other rights that homosexual couples don't have.
I think a homosexual person will be more likely to listen to someone who accepts them than someone who condemns them, and I think that thats what God commands us to do. If we love them as people and not as homosexuals, then I think God will take care of the rest. Okay I'm done. Heh, that was long, but thats what I think :)
P.S...COUNTRY MUSIC?? Ophi.....whats happened to you?? we must come save you!!
Monday, October 04, 2004
(working on stats hw and suddenly weather bug signals that the temperature is now 67 degrees outside. Juice turns to window and touches it)
Juice: It's cold *with an imp of cool weather anticipation*
Oph: Dear Lord please make it cold
Juice: Yes, I want to wear a jacket
It's less funny written out. I guess you just had to hear her interesting voice. My roomate is cool but I bet all our neighbors think we're strange....We have this tendency to say random things to our computers, don't deny it, you've done it before. I guess when you live with someone you come to discover all their strange quirks.
food for thought....
Today in my intro to sw class, we had a really interesting speaker. Basically the speaker came and shared with us about the agency that she works at. The work the speaker deals with includes those of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transexuals (glbt). The speaker was a lesbian and a co-teacher here at the university. One of the first things she addressed was how some people who are biological women, but lesbian, are offended when you call them a "she" "lady" "miss", so social workers have to learn the language of their clients and not place gender labels on them. An interesting fact about marriage licenses is that it gives you 1049 rights which non male and female couples are not entitled to. For example, if someone is sick, their partner is not allowed to go and see them, unlike married couples. If a GLBT couple gets married, they have to pay $10 for a name change, where as people with legal marriage certificates get them for free. When filing taxes, they have to say that they are single thus disabling social security benefits and many other major issues.
I admit that this makes going into the social work profession difficult. I'm not a glbt basher, but what do I really think about the issue? What do you think about gay rights? Being in this intro class has been great, it's helped me think about some of the issues that I'll be dealing with and struggling to find where my stance is now before I dig deeper into the profession. It's no joke when they say it's hard being a Christian social worker. I'm not even a social worker yet and I can see the trials that potentially lay ahead. I think it's important that people know what they stand for and not be afraid to ask awkward questions; that's how society progresses sometimes. But as a Christian, it's even more important to be grounded in the word and know what your faith is, what you really believe. If only the Lord made everything black and white, then life wouldn't be such a struggle. In a society that is rapidly changing, causing people to be okay with the way of the world, we need to learn to pray BIG prayers....cuz a pretty BIG God is listening. I know it's a touchy subject, but what does God think about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals? Please comment.
Juice: It's cold *with an imp of cool weather anticipation*
Oph: Dear Lord please make it cold
Juice: Yes, I want to wear a jacket
It's less funny written out. I guess you just had to hear her interesting voice. My roomate is cool but I bet all our neighbors think we're strange....We have this tendency to say random things to our computers, don't deny it, you've done it before. I guess when you live with someone you come to discover all their strange quirks.
food for thought....
Today in my intro to sw class, we had a really interesting speaker. Basically the speaker came and shared with us about the agency that she works at. The work the speaker deals with includes those of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transexuals (glbt). The speaker was a lesbian and a co-teacher here at the university. One of the first things she addressed was how some people who are biological women, but lesbian, are offended when you call them a "she" "lady" "miss", so social workers have to learn the language of their clients and not place gender labels on them. An interesting fact about marriage licenses is that it gives you 1049 rights which non male and female couples are not entitled to. For example, if someone is sick, their partner is not allowed to go and see them, unlike married couples. If a GLBT couple gets married, they have to pay $10 for a name change, where as people with legal marriage certificates get them for free. When filing taxes, they have to say that they are single thus disabling social security benefits and many other major issues.
I admit that this makes going into the social work profession difficult. I'm not a glbt basher, but what do I really think about the issue? What do you think about gay rights? Being in this intro class has been great, it's helped me think about some of the issues that I'll be dealing with and struggling to find where my stance is now before I dig deeper into the profession. It's no joke when they say it's hard being a Christian social worker. I'm not even a social worker yet and I can see the trials that potentially lay ahead. I think it's important that people know what they stand for and not be afraid to ask awkward questions; that's how society progresses sometimes. But as a Christian, it's even more important to be grounded in the word and know what your faith is, what you really believe. If only the Lord made everything black and white, then life wouldn't be such a struggle. In a society that is rapidly changing, causing people to be okay with the way of the world, we need to learn to pray BIG prayers....cuz a pretty BIG God is listening. I know it's a touchy subject, but what does God think about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals? Please comment.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Beautiful beyond description......
My hearing came back, after Grace and Meson kindly told me how to fix my perhaps infected ear; go to the doctor and get antibiotics. I guess the Lord just wanted me to save $90. The ear is still a little fuzzy, but I guess that comes with the package of being deaf for a week.
Today was by far the most tiring, yet exciting, football game ever. It was definitely sweet victory. Run*clap clap* dive *clap clap* Duck Tape =) And kudos to the awesome cheer squad.
Now that I think about it, this was the most tiring weekend ever (even though I've only been around for 3 weekends...I think). For starters, battle of the sexes was pretty wild. I tell ya, boys and their competativeness....they just couldn't accept a tie. Given that the girls were a little more anxious about the number-of-fingers duel out, and a little more energy, we surely would have dominated the male species. However, we fought the good fight, and though we did not conquer, life goes on and all is well. After the tragic night, Juice and I awoke to join Emily, Xiao and Mel to waltz which abruptly ended due to football practice engagements, followed by the Upperclassmen girls taking out the frosh on a girl date to dinner and dessert. The night was futher prolonged at slosh and before the crack of dawn, my favorite roomate and I retired to our Jesterwest Basement connecting bath suite =) Bright and early the next day, the EV mob arrived at the beach for service in which worship and message was ever refreshing with the presence of the Lord. Hence returning to our residence, lunch was sought, as was nap, woke up, played football, won, ate food....and now I'm here.
I guess making phone calls to cool people and getting phone calls from cool people sort of topped off the weekend. Now I can rest easy and prepare myself for another fun-filled week of something wonderful.
My hearing came back, after Grace and Meson kindly told me how to fix my perhaps infected ear; go to the doctor and get antibiotics. I guess the Lord just wanted me to save $90. The ear is still a little fuzzy, but I guess that comes with the package of being deaf for a week.
Today was by far the most tiring, yet exciting, football game ever. It was definitely sweet victory. Run*clap clap* dive *clap clap* Duck Tape =) And kudos to the awesome cheer squad.
Now that I think about it, this was the most tiring weekend ever (even though I've only been around for 3 weekends...I think). For starters, battle of the sexes was pretty wild. I tell ya, boys and their competativeness....they just couldn't accept a tie. Given that the girls were a little more anxious about the number-of-fingers duel out, and a little more energy, we surely would have dominated the male species. However, we fought the good fight, and though we did not conquer, life goes on and all is well. After the tragic night, Juice and I awoke to join Emily, Xiao and Mel to waltz which abruptly ended due to football practice engagements, followed by the Upperclassmen girls taking out the frosh on a girl date to dinner and dessert. The night was futher prolonged at slosh and before the crack of dawn, my favorite roomate and I retired to our Jesterwest Basement connecting bath suite =) Bright and early the next day, the EV mob arrived at the beach for service in which worship and message was ever refreshing with the presence of the Lord. Hence returning to our residence, lunch was sought, as was nap, woke up, played football, won, ate food....and now I'm here.
I guess making phone calls to cool people and getting phone calls from cool people sort of topped off the weekend. Now I can rest easy and prepare myself for another fun-filled week of something wonderful.