Curled up on the couch, lights out, TV on; we watched E.T. with the boys. (the movie --not Entertainment Tonight)
J1: "He looks like a Grandma!"
uh huh...I don't think I'll be sharing that little tidbit with his grandmothers. They might take offense at being compared to a 3-foot-high, squat, wrinkly space alien.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Grass Farmer Extraodinaire
This is what I am dealing with; a barren wasteland. Yet, my hope springs eternal as some of the grass seed, that I have so faithfully drenched with hundreds of gallons of water, has sprouted and has begun to appear on the face of the ground like green stubble--Five O' Clock shadow, the humble beginnings of a lawn.
Atheism and Proof of God...Part 3
Last night, I woke up around 3:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. I goofed around on the computer for a few minutes and then laid down on the couch, turning on PBS. Ahhh PBS. What would I do without you? Your documentaries always have the calm, soothing monotone, of a gentle, male voice. I have gotten my best naps accompanied by various nature shows and scientific explorations. While awake, they are very fascinating; if drowsy, they are a one-way ticket to drool-inducing sleep.
Maybe the timing was coincidence, but there before my eyes was, A Brief History Of Disbelief, a show I had caught the last five minutes of just a couple of days ago. Considering all that I had already been pondering this week, it was like a nudge to my mind. The film is an exploration of the evolution of atheistic thought and development narrated by Jonathan Miller. It's fascinating.
I couldn't possibly post about all of the thoughts I had concerning Jonathan Miller's commentary--there were just too many.
Here's a brief rundown of things that I want to address in more thought-out posts:
Maybe the timing was coincidence, but there before my eyes was, A Brief History Of Disbelief, a show I had caught the last five minutes of just a couple of days ago. Considering all that I had already been pondering this week, it was like a nudge to my mind. The film is an exploration of the evolution of atheistic thought and development narrated by Jonathan Miller. It's fascinating.
I couldn't possibly post about all of the thoughts I had concerning Jonathan Miller's commentary--there were just too many.
Here's a brief rundown of things that I want to address in more thought-out posts:
- Is atheism the exclusive domain of "intellectually superior" white men? The most important thinkers quoted in the series were exclusively well-off, white, European men. Not much for the diversity of thought--this is only a minor thought that I had regarding the development of atheism.
- The assumed facts that are a starting point for atheism. There was a very interesting quote by Richard Dawkins, regarding natural selection and genetic mutations that really sent me over the edge, not for its outrageousness, but for its sheer illogicity from a supposed rational thinker.
- The place of intelligence, consciousness, and purpose in atheistic thinking. Despite all the "scientific" spin on atheism, this is really the heart of what most people must confront before embracing this philosophy.
- The role of evil and suffering in the world. Of course, volumes could be written on this subject alone. However, Miller made a claim that disbelief is so embraced today because of the relative comfort that science has given us. We are more in control of our lives than before, and therefore do not need any gods to alleviate our suffering.
- The focus of atheism aimed against Christianity as opposed to other belief systems. Atheism's venom is almost always aimed solely at Christianity.
There's a lot more swirling in my head, but it will take more time and research than I usually put into a blog post. So, I think that I will post sporadically on this subject as I cobble together the main point I'd like to make in a more refined way.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Nightline and Proof of God...Part 2
While thinking more about the debate between "The Rational Response Squad" and the dynamic duo--Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort--I had a few more thoughts.
I am not sure if this is a word for word quote, but Kelly of the RRS at some point said,"I would rather burn in hell than serve a megomaniacal God." This statement was made in the context of one of the most common atheistic arguments against God and religion: Great atrocities and genocide have been committed in the name of God. Atheists feel that since horrendous things have happened at the hands of religious leaders and movements, that religion must therefore be false and hateful.
Well, I definitely am not going to deny that terrible things have occurred throughout history at the hands of religious people. Yes. It has happened.
However, once again let's use the atheists' own arguments and logic to examine their beliefs. If genocide is a point of exclusion for belief, then we should run screaming in horror from the atheist point of view.
Stalin: communistic atheist in USSR
death toll during his reign: at least 20 million--though some say that number is actually low
Pol Pot: communistic atheist in Cambodia
death toll during his reign: about 2 million
Hitler: crazy, whacked-out "suspected atheist"--Suspected is in quotes, because though Hitler occasionally used the Church and spoke in "religious" themes, the general consensus is that it was all part of his manipulation and propaganda to get the German population to accomplish his will. Much of his inspiration came from Nietzsche, an avowed atheist.
death toll during his reign: at least 6 million Jews, 5-6 million others
What is even worse about these facts is that all of these people were murdered by atheistic regimes in less than 50 years.
So, let's not kid ourselves about the implications of belief systems. The truth is that power-hungry people will use any excuse to accomplish their goals. They might cloak their motivations in religion or atheism, but either way, it doesn't prove that there is no God. It only proves that great evil can dwell in the human heart, a given premise in Judeo-Christian thought.
I am not sure if this is a word for word quote, but Kelly of the RRS at some point said,"I would rather burn in hell than serve a megomaniacal God." This statement was made in the context of one of the most common atheistic arguments against God and religion: Great atrocities and genocide have been committed in the name of God. Atheists feel that since horrendous things have happened at the hands of religious leaders and movements, that religion must therefore be false and hateful.
Well, I definitely am not going to deny that terrible things have occurred throughout history at the hands of religious people. Yes. It has happened.
However, once again let's use the atheists' own arguments and logic to examine their beliefs. If genocide is a point of exclusion for belief, then we should run screaming in horror from the atheist point of view.
Stalin: communistic atheist in USSR
death toll during his reign: at least 20 million--though some say that number is actually low
Pol Pot: communistic atheist in Cambodia
death toll during his reign: about 2 million
Hitler: crazy, whacked-out "suspected atheist"--Suspected is in quotes, because though Hitler occasionally used the Church and spoke in "religious" themes, the general consensus is that it was all part of his manipulation and propaganda to get the German population to accomplish his will. Much of his inspiration came from Nietzsche, an avowed atheist.
death toll during his reign: at least 6 million Jews, 5-6 million others
What is even worse about these facts is that all of these people were murdered by atheistic regimes in less than 50 years.
So, let's not kid ourselves about the implications of belief systems. The truth is that power-hungry people will use any excuse to accomplish their goals. They might cloak their motivations in religion or atheism, but either way, it doesn't prove that there is no God. It only proves that great evil can dwell in the human heart, a given premise in Judeo-Christian thought.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Nightline and Proof of God
Despite the fact that I should have already been in bed, I was still awake last night at 11:30 watching Nightline.
Part of the program was a very truncated presentation of a debate between "The Rational Response Squad," a self-appointed group of atheists that have come up with The Blasphemy Challenge--a website that encourages people to deny the existence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit--and Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, christian evangelists-- actor and author respectively.
The debate took at least 90 minutes, but I think ABC only showed about 5 minutes of it.
Trying to prove that God exists to an atheist is really an exercise in futility. By the time a person boldly declares themselves an atheist, they usually have their minds made up; otherwise, they would simply call themselves agnostic or say that they don't "think" that there is a God.
But anyway....
Ray Comfort's main point, featured on the show, was that creation itself is an indicator that there is a God. He held up a painting, stating that the painting itself is proof that there was a painter that created it. The painting could not exist without the painter. At this point, Brian Sapient tried to discredit this point by saying that if creation warrants a Creator, then who created God? Who is the creator of the eternal being?
What bugs me most about atheists' thinking is that it is so often illogical and hypocritical in its application. For instance, asking who created God and of course not being able to get an answer that makes any sense to the human mind, an atheist will very smugly think that he has struck a fatal blow to religious belief. ("Haha! You can't tell me where God came from! That must mean He isn't real and you are just an irrational idiot!") However, people of faith already know that they can't understand the paradox of God's eternal existence and nature, so this question is not a real challenge to their faith.
What smug atheists often fail to do is to use their own logic on their beliefs. If you believe there is no God, and that matter is the only guiding force in the Universe, you must still reconcile those beliefs with the Beginning Of All Things. The Big Bang, physics, and evolution are fine ways to try and observationally look at the material world and create a framework for understanding, but they too must try and explain the Beginning. The question that atheists can't explain, any more than Christians, is where it all came from. If we rewind everything back to The Big Bang--a time in which every atom that exists was compressed and contained in a tiny space no bigger than a period--you still have to ask.......where did matter come from? If it wasn't created, what was there before The Big Bang? It is the atheist version of "Who created God?"
They can't explain it any more than we can.
This inability to explain where matter came from also trickles down into the theory of evolution. Evolution is based on the assumption of life starting at a bacterial, micro-organism level, and over billions of years, producing very complicated organisms. Yet evolution still cannot explain how inert matter and atoms were imbued with life. How does a chemical, primordial soup transform into a living form, focused on "surviving." Survive what? If chemicals suddenly sprung to life, how could they know that there would be "death?" How does a one-celled organism fear no longer living when only moments before it was an inanimate molecule?
Bah!
An atheist cannot answer any of these questions. Their belief system is full of holes and requires as much faith as any Christian's. The difference between the two is that atheists are loathe to admit the inconsistencies in their thinking. They cling tightly to their versions of truth, science, and rationality, but seem to lose all rationality trying to explain the First Cause of everything. They don't understand the why and how of the universe any more than a simple believer.
Science is their God. The only problem is that Science is not perfect and the emperor has no clothes.
**afterthought**
Isn't it interesting that the focus of The Rational Response Squad is focused solely on Christianity? Their blasphemy challenge has nothing to do with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
Also, why do atheists always seem to be so angry? Every time I encounter an online discussion or see something on TV, atheists always come off as extremely angry, outraged people. Maybe I'll post about it later.
Part of the program was a very truncated presentation of a debate between "The Rational Response Squad," a self-appointed group of atheists that have come up with The Blasphemy Challenge--a website that encourages people to deny the existence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit--and Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, christian evangelists-- actor and author respectively.
The debate took at least 90 minutes, but I think ABC only showed about 5 minutes of it.
Trying to prove that God exists to an atheist is really an exercise in futility. By the time a person boldly declares themselves an atheist, they usually have their minds made up; otherwise, they would simply call themselves agnostic or say that they don't "think" that there is a God.
But anyway....
Ray Comfort's main point, featured on the show, was that creation itself is an indicator that there is a God. He held up a painting, stating that the painting itself is proof that there was a painter that created it. The painting could not exist without the painter. At this point, Brian Sapient tried to discredit this point by saying that if creation warrants a Creator, then who created God? Who is the creator of the eternal being?
What bugs me most about atheists' thinking is that it is so often illogical and hypocritical in its application. For instance, asking who created God and of course not being able to get an answer that makes any sense to the human mind, an atheist will very smugly think that he has struck a fatal blow to religious belief. ("Haha! You can't tell me where God came from! That must mean He isn't real and you are just an irrational idiot!") However, people of faith already know that they can't understand the paradox of God's eternal existence and nature, so this question is not a real challenge to their faith.
What smug atheists often fail to do is to use their own logic on their beliefs. If you believe there is no God, and that matter is the only guiding force in the Universe, you must still reconcile those beliefs with the Beginning Of All Things. The Big Bang, physics, and evolution are fine ways to try and observationally look at the material world and create a framework for understanding, but they too must try and explain the Beginning. The question that atheists can't explain, any more than Christians, is where it all came from. If we rewind everything back to The Big Bang--a time in which every atom that exists was compressed and contained in a tiny space no bigger than a period--you still have to ask.......where did matter come from? If it wasn't created, what was there before The Big Bang? It is the atheist version of "Who created God?"
They can't explain it any more than we can.
This inability to explain where matter came from also trickles down into the theory of evolution. Evolution is based on the assumption of life starting at a bacterial, micro-organism level, and over billions of years, producing very complicated organisms. Yet evolution still cannot explain how inert matter and atoms were imbued with life. How does a chemical, primordial soup transform into a living form, focused on "surviving." Survive what? If chemicals suddenly sprung to life, how could they know that there would be "death?" How does a one-celled organism fear no longer living when only moments before it was an inanimate molecule?
Bah!
An atheist cannot answer any of these questions. Their belief system is full of holes and requires as much faith as any Christian's. The difference between the two is that atheists are loathe to admit the inconsistencies in their thinking. They cling tightly to their versions of truth, science, and rationality, but seem to lose all rationality trying to explain the First Cause of everything. They don't understand the why and how of the universe any more than a simple believer.
Science is their God. The only problem is that Science is not perfect and the emperor has no clothes.
**afterthought**
Isn't it interesting that the focus of The Rational Response Squad is focused solely on Christianity? Their blasphemy challenge has nothing to do with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
Also, why do atheists always seem to be so angry? Every time I encounter an online discussion or see something on TV, atheists always come off as extremely angry, outraged people. Maybe I'll post about it later.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
A New Blog To Read and My Worst Nightmare
Sometimes, I surf through the "next blog" button on Blogger's navbar just checking out what other bloggers are up to. Usually, I get a bunch of nothing, but I happened across Jake's Life, a marine's blog about his current time serving in Iraq. I know several military families, but none who are serving in Iraq right now, so it was interesting to read through his blog and get a flavor for what the average soldier is going through.
Now comes the worst nightmare part. Apparently, there is something called a camel spider that lives in Middle Eastern deserts. Can I just say that I would rather be in downtown Baghdad, carrying a "Down With Mohammed" sign, than be anywhere near this.
My heart would burst from sheer panic if I saw this scurrying towards me.
Breaking News--Superman Retires!
5:15 pm--City Hall
Superman announced his early retirement from crime fighting citing a breakdown in contract negotiations and a loss of health benefits as a major factor in his decision.
Speculation and rumors surround the timing of his retirement. Unnamed sources say the loss of his right leg has greatly impaired his ability to fly in a straight line, leading to numerous collisions with skyscrapers, power lines, and an occasional NBA basketball player. Others point to Superman's newly receding hairline as evidence of a secret tie to his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor, who established the International Hair Institute for Men with the billions he stole from the World Bank last year.
Minutes after Superman's announcement, offers began to pour in from industrial companies. The Nevada Association for Wind-Farming presented a hefty compensation package to him for the use of his Super-Breath abilites. Johns Hopkins presented an offer to name Superman as head of the Radioloogy Department. His X-ray vision is said to be more accurate than current technologies.
When asked about his future plans, Superman was quoted as saying, "I'm going to Disney World!"
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Got Water?
Typical water bill--$65-$75.
What this month's water bill will probably be--$459,465.34
It seems the most essential ingredient to being a succesful grass farmer is an unlimited supply of water. I am expecting the water company to call me at any moment asking if we have an undetected leak, a new pool, or if we decided to try our hands at producing meth.
"Keep top 1/2 inch of soil moist. Do not let it dry out."--Those are the instructions on my fancy grass seed. If I lived up north that would be no big deal. Here, in the 90-degree Florida sun, I am having to divert the Colorado River through subterranean channels, city pipes, and my pea-green, rubber hose.
If you go to the Grand Canyon and it's dry as a bone, blame my tiny back yard.
What this month's water bill will probably be--$459,465.34
It seems the most essential ingredient to being a succesful grass farmer is an unlimited supply of water. I am expecting the water company to call me at any moment asking if we have an undetected leak, a new pool, or if we decided to try our hands at producing meth.
"Keep top 1/2 inch of soil moist. Do not let it dry out."--Those are the instructions on my fancy grass seed. If I lived up north that would be no big deal. Here, in the 90-degree Florida sun, I am having to divert the Colorado River through subterranean channels, city pipes, and my pea-green, rubber hose.
If you go to the Grand Canyon and it's dry as a bone, blame my tiny back yard.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Grow Already!
I have spent the last two days being sweaty and dirty. Yuck.
Our backyard is a pitiful mess that has slowly turned into nothing more than a sandy pit. Between the dog chasing squirrels and cats that tease her from the top of our 6 foot privacy fence, and the drought conditions for the past few months here in Florida, it has become a useless space.
Wednesday, I leveled out the barren wasteland and watered it down. Yesterday, I drug my little monkeys to Lowe's to buy supplies to begin my grass farming adventure. As I contemplated the million types of seed and fertilizer, they proceeded to climb on bags of topsoil, put their noses in flowers, and generally irritate me. I know they are young. I should be patient. I don't want to be the unhinged mother griping at her kids in the store--and yet, it comes to me so naturally.
I gulped down my irritation, paid for everything, and headed home $40 poorer. The boys helped me clear out some weeds in the yard and then I went to work.
I spent hours last night raking, grading, fertilizing, planting seed and watering the yard.
I have tried to repair the yard before. Once, I bought plugs of grass that you plant sporadically throughout the yard, and as they grow they spread out and complete the lawn. Shortly after spending hours putting about 40 in the yard, my dog promptly decided that they were invaders and ripped every single one of them out of the dirt. She greeted me happily, tail wagging, as I surveyed the shredded remnants strewn about the yard.
"I saved our yard from the weird, green sprouts!"she seemed to say.
Last year, we bought sod and put it in a few, key places in the yard. I watered it faithfully for a month and then went to watering it only 2-3 times a week. It promptly dried up and died.
If this doesn't work I will officially paint my thumb black.
Our backyard is a pitiful mess that has slowly turned into nothing more than a sandy pit. Between the dog chasing squirrels and cats that tease her from the top of our 6 foot privacy fence, and the drought conditions for the past few months here in Florida, it has become a useless space.
Wednesday, I leveled out the barren wasteland and watered it down. Yesterday, I drug my little monkeys to Lowe's to buy supplies to begin my grass farming adventure. As I contemplated the million types of seed and fertilizer, they proceeded to climb on bags of topsoil, put their noses in flowers, and generally irritate me. I know they are young. I should be patient. I don't want to be the unhinged mother griping at her kids in the store--and yet, it comes to me so naturally.
I gulped down my irritation, paid for everything, and headed home $40 poorer. The boys helped me clear out some weeds in the yard and then I went to work.
I spent hours last night raking, grading, fertilizing, planting seed and watering the yard.
I have tried to repair the yard before. Once, I bought plugs of grass that you plant sporadically throughout the yard, and as they grow they spread out and complete the lawn. Shortly after spending hours putting about 40 in the yard, my dog promptly decided that they were invaders and ripped every single one of them out of the dirt. She greeted me happily, tail wagging, as I surveyed the shredded remnants strewn about the yard.
"I saved our yard from the weird, green sprouts!"she seemed to say.
Last year, we bought sod and put it in a few, key places in the yard. I watered it faithfully for a month and then went to watering it only 2-3 times a week. It promptly dried up and died.
If this doesn't work I will officially paint my thumb black.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Why Christ Is Offensive
He demands everything. He exposes everything.
Persecuted Church and Martha's Distraction both recently had posts about the persecution of Christians in Turkey. "Martha" linked to this letter that explains, in great detail, the martyrdom of three Christian men this past April. Be sure to scroll down to read it.
Reading the account of the horrible murder of these men, and the response from their communities, sickened and outraged me. Unfortunately, it is all too common in many areas around the world.
What had these men done that was so terrible? They had chosen to follow Jesus. They had turned away from Islam and, in so doing, had become outcasts within their own communities. They had not protested against the government, perpetrated violence against their neighbors, or even been disrespectful to people. They simply believed in Jesus.
Why did a simple religious belief fuel such hatred against these men?
Very simply, they were offended, deeply offended by the scandalous implications of Christianity. Whenever people encounter the gospel for the first time, there is a shock to the system. Without saying one word to people about their own lives and enumerating the various sins harbored in the confines of their souls, people can become angrily defensive. You cannot escape the implication and conviction that somehow, you have failed. You are wrong.
People don't like that. There is no more politically incorrect thing to do than to tell someone, in no uncertain terms, that they are flat-out, completely wrong about something--and not only are they wrong about what they are thinking, but they have acted badly and sinfully.
It's a hard pill to swallow.
Most Christians don't present the message of Christ in such stark, harsh language. The days of fire and brimstone have long since burnt out in most churches. However, even if the gospel is presented in a loving, gentle way, the effect is the same. To believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation implies that all the other ways are wrong.
Just as Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness from God, humanity is always scrambling to cover over their own unseemly parts. Removing the fig leaves that we have placed about us reveals us for what we really are. After all, who wants to be naked in front of everyone? Certainly not me.
Choosing Christ means forsaking everything else. If your allegiance is to Jesus, everything else must fall away. Cultural beliefs, family traditions, and community expectations all come far behind the single priority of serving Christ.
Luke 14:26-27
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and
children, his brother and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my
disciple.
Jesus doesn't want us to "hate" our families in the sense of doing them harm. Yet, when we are faced with a weighty choice between what God wants from us and what other people wish for us to do, God must always come first. In the United States that isn't a problem. We might be mocked a little if we don't go party with our friends, or follow social norms, but we would rarely face true persecution.
In places hostile to Christianity, allegiance to Christ before all else is tantamount to sedition and considered subversive. After all, how can you control someone who answers only to God? In places where totalitarianism reigns, an unwillingness to sacrifice one's soul to the state in all things, marks a person as a possible revolutionary.
Jesus warned us of this dangerous reaction to the gospel.
Matthew 10:22
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
and also
John 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
It would seem to set things up for an us vs. them mentality,but we always remember:
Matthew 6:27-28
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Why?
Because....
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
May God be with the families of these men. May He also help us to pray for those who have taken their lives.
Persecuted Church and Martha's Distraction both recently had posts about the persecution of Christians in Turkey. "Martha" linked to this letter that explains, in great detail, the martyrdom of three Christian men this past April. Be sure to scroll down to read it.
Reading the account of the horrible murder of these men, and the response from their communities, sickened and outraged me. Unfortunately, it is all too common in many areas around the world.
What had these men done that was so terrible? They had chosen to follow Jesus. They had turned away from Islam and, in so doing, had become outcasts within their own communities. They had not protested against the government, perpetrated violence against their neighbors, or even been disrespectful to people. They simply believed in Jesus.
Why did a simple religious belief fuel such hatred against these men?
Very simply, they were offended, deeply offended by the scandalous implications of Christianity. Whenever people encounter the gospel for the first time, there is a shock to the system. Without saying one word to people about their own lives and enumerating the various sins harbored in the confines of their souls, people can become angrily defensive. You cannot escape the implication and conviction that somehow, you have failed. You are wrong.
People don't like that. There is no more politically incorrect thing to do than to tell someone, in no uncertain terms, that they are flat-out, completely wrong about something--and not only are they wrong about what they are thinking, but they have acted badly and sinfully.
It's a hard pill to swallow.
Most Christians don't present the message of Christ in such stark, harsh language. The days of fire and brimstone have long since burnt out in most churches. However, even if the gospel is presented in a loving, gentle way, the effect is the same. To believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation implies that all the other ways are wrong.
Just as Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness from God, humanity is always scrambling to cover over their own unseemly parts. Removing the fig leaves that we have placed about us reveals us for what we really are. After all, who wants to be naked in front of everyone? Certainly not me.
Choosing Christ means forsaking everything else. If your allegiance is to Jesus, everything else must fall away. Cultural beliefs, family traditions, and community expectations all come far behind the single priority of serving Christ.
Luke 14:26-27
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and
children, his brother and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my
disciple.
Jesus doesn't want us to "hate" our families in the sense of doing them harm. Yet, when we are faced with a weighty choice between what God wants from us and what other people wish for us to do, God must always come first. In the United States that isn't a problem. We might be mocked a little if we don't go party with our friends, or follow social norms, but we would rarely face true persecution.
In places hostile to Christianity, allegiance to Christ before all else is tantamount to sedition and considered subversive. After all, how can you control someone who answers only to God? In places where totalitarianism reigns, an unwillingness to sacrifice one's soul to the state in all things, marks a person as a possible revolutionary.
Jesus warned us of this dangerous reaction to the gospel.
Matthew 10:22
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
and also
John 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
It would seem to set things up for an us vs. them mentality,but we always remember:
Matthew 6:27-28
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Why?
Because....
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
May God be with the families of these men. May He also help us to pray for those who have taken their lives.
Lost and Heroes---indulging my sci-fi/fantasy craving
Wow...Last night's Lost was pretty creepy. Locke's father finally gets his due, but I wish Sawyer had chosen to spare him at the last minute. Sawyer's the bad boy that you know you shouldn't like, but you just can't help it. Every time he gets close to redemption, the writers make him do something shocking and apalling. It's starting to annoy me.
Heroes--even though the *set in the future* storyline doesn't further the current storyline, it was still good. Syler and Peter duking it out at the end, in a battle of accumulated super-powers, was a nice touch. Why does Peter have a giant scar across his face? Shouldn't his super-healing power have prettied him up by now?
Even though they're on different networks, I think they should do a crossover episode. We'd find out that Syler is really Ben's long-lost son sent to take over the world in order to repopulate it with mutated Others.
Yes, I sometimes watch too much TV.
Heroes--even though the *set in the future* storyline doesn't further the current storyline, it was still good. Syler and Peter duking it out at the end, in a battle of accumulated super-powers, was a nice touch. Why does Peter have a giant scar across his face? Shouldn't his super-healing power have prettied him up by now?
Even though they're on different networks, I think they should do a crossover episode. We'd find out that Syler is really Ben's long-lost son sent to take over the world in order to repopulate it with mutated Others.
Yes, I sometimes watch too much TV.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Always A Bridesmaid....Great Supporting Characters
Last night, while watching Gilmore Girls, my husband and I compiled a list of shows in which the supporting characters are better, and usually funnier, than the actual leads. This was sparked by the neurotic, machiavellian, steamrolling character of Paris on Gilmore Girls. I love her!
This is what we came up with:
Arthur from King of Queens--Jerry Stiller Rocks!
Andy from According to Jim
Marshall from Alias
Robert from Everybody Loves Raymond---my favorite character on the show.
I'm sure there's a whole lot more. I'll add them as I think about them. If you have a favorite supporting character let me know!
This is what we came up with:
Arthur from King of Queens--Jerry Stiller Rocks!
Andy from According to Jim
Marshall from Alias
Robert from Everybody Loves Raymond---my favorite character on the show.
I'm sure there's a whole lot more. I'll add them as I think about them. If you have a favorite supporting character let me know!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Life Of The Mind--Cliff's Notes
Random things I am currently contemplating but would take too long to blog about:
1. The balance between the idea of the vast God of the universe--unknowable, unfathomable, and beyond simple comprehension--and the God who strolls through the Garden of Eden looking to chat with His creation--the God who chooses to walk among men, break bread with them, and call them His friends.
2. When both kids are finally in full-time school this August, will I go back to work? If I do, will anyone want to hire a woman in her thirties who has spent the last seven years living in a cocoon of home life, trying to raise two boys without having to go on Prozac or developing an online gambling addiction in order to cope?....maybe I shouldn't put that on the application.
3. Have I forgotten my purpose in Christ? Has being so intensely focused on my home life, and somewhat isolated, made me forget about the difference between me and the new life I have and the way the rest of the world operates? I occasionally forget that most everyone else is living by a different set of rules.
4. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
1. The balance between the idea of the vast God of the universe--unknowable, unfathomable, and beyond simple comprehension--and the God who strolls through the Garden of Eden looking to chat with His creation--the God who chooses to walk among men, break bread with them, and call them His friends.
2. When both kids are finally in full-time school this August, will I go back to work? If I do, will anyone want to hire a woman in her thirties who has spent the last seven years living in a cocoon of home life, trying to raise two boys without having to go on Prozac or developing an online gambling addiction in order to cope?....maybe I shouldn't put that on the application.
3. Have I forgotten my purpose in Christ? Has being so intensely focused on my home life, and somewhat isolated, made me forget about the difference between me and the new life I have and the way the rest of the world operates? I occasionally forget that most everyone else is living by a different set of rules.
4. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
Overheard Conversations..2
Background info: We had ridden a few roller coasters at a theme park with the boys.
J1: "Do you remember riding Cheetah's Chase?"
J2: "Yeah...that was so fun!"
J1: "It was kind of scary. Remember that big hill we went down so fast?!"
J2: "yeah...it felt funny. It made my peepee scared!"
J1 and J2.....hysterical laughing.
I never heard anyone describe that internal feeling you have as you plummet down a steep hill that way....but I guess it makes sense.
J1: "Do you remember riding Cheetah's Chase?"
J2: "Yeah...that was so fun!"
J1: "It was kind of scary. Remember that big hill we went down so fast?!"
J2: "yeah...it felt funny. It made my peepee scared!"
J1 and J2.....hysterical laughing.
I never heard anyone describe that internal feeling you have as you plummet down a steep hill that way....but I guess it makes sense.
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