I hope everyone had pleasant Christ-centered Easter. We had a great time with my in-laws.
Two things happened over the weekend that prompted this post. The first was Wickle's post about how people should actually read their Bibles and not take everything they hear from a TV preacher as truth. Wickle pointed out that "Will there still be disagreements? Sure there will. We’ll be a lot closer to the real truth, though, if we’re looking in the right place for it." That is the whole point. You have to look for truth. That involves actual effort.
The second was an e-mail from the Barna Group describing the percentages of self-proclaimed Christians that do not agree that Satan or the Holy Spirit are real beings. According to Barna, only 26% of people claiming to be Christians can strongly disagree with this statement: Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. I think this fallacy comes from two sources. First, people are not making an effort to read their Bibles. Second, many denominations are claiming more and more of the Bible is just nice stories and not fact (generally starting with Genesis). With this being the case, why should the parts about Satan be factual? Also only 25% of self-proclaimed Christians strongly disagreed with this statement: The Holy Spirit is a symbol of God's power or presence but not a living entity. How sad! How can they rely on Him and listen to His voice if they do not believe in Him? I think many people are relying on spiritual gurus for guidance instead of the Spirit. And honestly, I think many of these gurus are just fine with that.
So here is the point of this post: SEEK the Kingdom. Seek truth. Seek the Lord. Seek the Holy Spirit. Let me take a little break here to insert a definition. According to dictionary.com the definition of seek is : "to go in search or quest of"
People, this is not a passive thing. Who ever heard of a knight going on a quest by siting in his living room? No! Quests take effort and risk and perseverance and determination. So does finding the Kingdom and the Truth. The definition also implies that you can't really seek more than one thing at a time. So a quest requires focus. Even in a game of hide and seek with multiple players, you can only find one secret hiding spot at a time. That is why Jesus says seek first the kingdom. If you are busy searching for accolades from your boss or the latest fashion trend, you will not likely find much of the Kingdom or Truth. So get on your armor (see Ephesians), put your game face on, get out there, and start questing!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
HAPPY EASTER!
It makes me sad to think how a celebration that is supposed to be about Jesus' triumph over Satan and death is so often replaced with a celebration of rabbits and painted eggs. I thought this video was an excellent reminder of what is important.
So as I am expecting company in a few hours, I wanted to say Happy Easter now. Make it a celebration of a wonderful Savior.
So as I am expecting company in a few hours, I wanted to say Happy Easter now. Make it a celebration of a wonderful Savior.
Anti-human Environmentalism
HT: Cornwall Alliance
This is a video from http://www.co2science.org/ explaining how some leading environmentalists are calling for the curbing of Americans who wish to have more than 1 (possibly 2) kids and how the Obama administration might be on board.
It made me want to watch my copy of Demographic Winter again. If you haven't seen it, try to get your hands on a copy. It makes a great case for having more kids instead of fewer.
This is a video from http://www.co2science.org/ explaining how some leading environmentalists are calling for the curbing of Americans who wish to have more than 1 (possibly 2) kids and how the Obama administration might be on board.
It made me want to watch my copy of Demographic Winter again. If you haven't seen it, try to get your hands on a copy. It makes a great case for having more kids instead of fewer.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Books and a Movie
I have been wanting to mention a movie and some books for a while now so here I go. These are certainly not reviews by any means. Just a quick mention of some of my new favorites and why I like them.
Come What May
Come what May is an independent film produced by 40 homeschoolers with a little professional help. If you must have blockbuster cinematography and acting, then you probably will not like this movie. On the other hand, if you like a good story about courage and doing what is right regardless of the consequences, this is the movie for you. I really enjoyed the pro-life and courtship angles of this movie.
Mysterious Benedict Society
This book was recommended by Wickle at the Book Nook Club. I enjoyed this book because of the emphasis on different kinds of intelligence and the emphasis on the love of truth being important. Each of the kids in the society is chosen because they are gifted and love the truth, but each is gifted in a different way. One knows tons of facts. Another is a planner and puzzle solver. The oldest is athletically gifted and very resourceful. The littlest is gifted in ways that you don't understand until the very end of the book. There are many excellent philosophical tidbits throughout the book that I doubt kids really notice but were right up my alley. The official Mysterious Benedict Society website has some puzzles and information about Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.
Miss Spitfire
I wish that every adult would read a book about Anne Sullivan before they have children. She thoroughly understood that being allowed to be a brat is a greater disservice to a child than physical punishment. This short little book is a good one. I enjoyed reading the story of Miss Sullivan's courage in the face of an unruly Helen Keller and how her rather extreme discipline changed Helen's life for the better.
Wilderking Trilogy
This series is based on the story of David's life so if you are against allegory, don't read it. It is not historical fiction by any means. It is fantastical with made up animals and kingdoms on a made up island. It is about living the life God unfolds before you even if you don't understand what this phase of your life has to do with his promises for your future.
Mysterious Miss Slade
This is my favorite Dick King-Smith book by far. It is a short book in a big font, but there is a lot packed in there. This book deals with treating others (even strange and smelly others) how you would want to be treated. It deals with prejudice and spreading rumors. It is a really great little book aimed at 8-10 year-olds.
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
This book is about looking at your problems as God-given opportunities to grow. It looks at the life of Beniah, one of David's mighty men, as an example and the reason for the rather odd title.
The Qwikpick Adventure Society
This is another book that was recommended by Wickle. It is really delightful if you aren't bothered by a little gross-out-ness. It is about friendship and making special clubs and seeking adventure right where you are.
Come What May
Come what May is an independent film produced by 40 homeschoolers with a little professional help. If you must have blockbuster cinematography and acting, then you probably will not like this movie. On the other hand, if you like a good story about courage and doing what is right regardless of the consequences, this is the movie for you. I really enjoyed the pro-life and courtship angles of this movie.
Mysterious Benedict Society
This book was recommended by Wickle at the Book Nook Club. I enjoyed this book because of the emphasis on different kinds of intelligence and the emphasis on the love of truth being important. Each of the kids in the society is chosen because they are gifted and love the truth, but each is gifted in a different way. One knows tons of facts. Another is a planner and puzzle solver. The oldest is athletically gifted and very resourceful. The littlest is gifted in ways that you don't understand until the very end of the book. There are many excellent philosophical tidbits throughout the book that I doubt kids really notice but were right up my alley. The official Mysterious Benedict Society website has some puzzles and information about Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.
Miss Spitfire
I wish that every adult would read a book about Anne Sullivan before they have children. She thoroughly understood that being allowed to be a brat is a greater disservice to a child than physical punishment. This short little book is a good one. I enjoyed reading the story of Miss Sullivan's courage in the face of an unruly Helen Keller and how her rather extreme discipline changed Helen's life for the better.
Wilderking Trilogy
This series is based on the story of David's life so if you are against allegory, don't read it. It is not historical fiction by any means. It is fantastical with made up animals and kingdoms on a made up island. It is about living the life God unfolds before you even if you don't understand what this phase of your life has to do with his promises for your future.
Mysterious Miss Slade
This is my favorite Dick King-Smith book by far. It is a short book in a big font, but there is a lot packed in there. This book deals with treating others (even strange and smelly others) how you would want to be treated. It deals with prejudice and spreading rumors. It is a really great little book aimed at 8-10 year-olds.
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
This book is about looking at your problems as God-given opportunities to grow. It looks at the life of Beniah, one of David's mighty men, as an example and the reason for the rather odd title.
The Qwikpick Adventure Society
This is another book that was recommended by Wickle. It is really delightful if you aren't bothered by a little gross-out-ness. It is about friendship and making special clubs and seeking adventure right where you are.
Pro-life Tidbits
Oklahoma is considering a bill to allow a pregnant mother to use lethal force to stop an attack on her unborn baby. This is a quote about it from koco.com.
Oklahoma already has a law allowing a person to use force to protect himself or another person from someone else. The new bill includes an unborn child as "another" person. Oklahoma has also had a law covering the murder of unborn babies since 2005.
I got an e-mail from my TX State Senator saying that she is supporting the Texas ultrasound bill. The original vote was delayed. It is now scheduled for some time this week.
The White House got 2 million red envelopes from the Red Envelope Project. I somehow did not know about this until after it occurred, but I am glad so many people participated. You can read more about it on WorldNetDaily. I am not sure how effective this will be, but I pray that it will at least touch the hearts of the White House staff.
HT: LifeSiteNews.com
Oklahoma already has a law allowing a person to use force to protect himself or another person from someone else. The new bill includes an unborn child as "another" person. Oklahoma has also had a law covering the murder of unborn babies since 2005.
I got an e-mail from my TX State Senator saying that she is supporting the Texas ultrasound bill. The original vote was delayed. It is now scheduled for some time this week.
The White House got 2 million red envelopes from the Red Envelope Project. I somehow did not know about this until after it occurred, but I am glad so many people participated. You can read more about it on WorldNetDaily. I am not sure how effective this will be, but I pray that it will at least touch the hearts of the White House staff.
HT: LifeSiteNews.com
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Home Again from Oklahoma City
My husband had a pre-paid business trip to Oklahoma City Friday and Saturday. The kids and I got to go too and all it cost us was our food and site seeing. We had a lot of fun. We got there Friday about lunch time. My husband ate lunch with us and then went to his conference. The kids and I went to the Myriad Botanical Gardens. All of it was interesting to a Landscape Architecture major, but the Crystal Bridge Conservatory was definitely the best.
Later that evening we went with my husband to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It seems odd that the bombing was almost 15 years ago. This memorial was being designed when I was getting my degree so the landscape architectural aspects of it were very interesting to me. It was touching to see each chair with someone's name on it. It made me think of all the nameless people that abortion has taken from our land and how amazingly huge the field would have to be if we had chairs for all of them.
Then Saturday the kids and I spent the entire day at the Oklahoma City Zoo. The kids really enjoyed the sea lion show and the Dinosaurs Unearthed temporary exhibit.
The animatronic life size dinosaurs were very cool especially if you didn't read any of the evolutionary rubbish on the signs. They also had life size fossil replicas.
It was a great trip marred only by the announcement about the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling on "gay marriage" that we heard over the radio while in the car. As Caffeinated Thoughts has already said much on that topic (and probably better than I would have), I am leaving you with links.
Responding to the decision and Consequences
It is a great thing to see something new, learn, and relax with family.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Last Day of 40 Days for Life
Today is the last day of the official 40 Days for Life Campaign. So far the known total of babies saved nation wide is 368. I thank God for these precious babies and the many people who have prayed for an end to abortion. I ask God's special blessing on those parents who are now preparing for a birth instead of trying to make sense of a death. I am already looking forward to the fall campaign.
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