Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Water

Hey, readers, Now, this may sound a bit cheesy, or green, or earthy, or something weird, but it's not. This is a call up, a new perspective, a different way of looking at things.

I'll admit, I first heard this idea on the Disney channel, and I don't entirely agree with why they are doing what they're doing, but I do agree with the what, and I think that we Christian, Kingdom people can do something. Disney channel suggested that we focus on conserving water, just a drop at a time. They mentioned turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth or washing the dishes. Just by turning off the faucet for a few seconds will eventually add up to thousands of gallons of water saved.

Now I don't want to judge or condemn Disney by saying that they're doing something wrong, or their motives are all messed up, because I don't know that they are. And the thing is, they are doing something.

So I would like to challenge you, my readers, to save some water. But not for the express purpose of "saving the planet." Here's the thing: we own the planet! We were told to take dominion over it {check out the first few chapters of Genesis!}, but we are also told to steward it. I have to check myself sometimes, because I get so anti-tree-hugger that I think, augh! I'll just go use whatever I want, because it's mine anyway!

But that's not true. God has called us to rule and subdue, yes, and also to steward. That means multiply, and add to, not waste just because we've been given possession of it. I hope that this challenges you, readers, and gets you thinking about how you can be a better steward of the earth, not because the earth is fabulous {although I think it is}, but because God has given it to us to steward and take care of, and saving water when we brush our teeth is one way we can do that.

Monday, December 21, 2009

So I've been applying to a bunch of colleges this Christmas season, and I'm praying that God will lead me to just the right school...but I haven't been trusting Him to do so. I keep wanting Him to do things in my timing, my way, but that's not how God operates. He has perfect timing, not me, so I have to wait and rest in Him. He has the perfect school all picked out, with testimonies ready to abound as I apply and get in...I just don't know where it is yet!

My mom told me the other night that I have to worship my way through this. Yes, I can pray, but I can have a sucky attitude while I pray, so that doesn't really work. But it is impossible to have a bad attitude and remain mad at God while you worship Him. It can't be done. Try it, I dare you. Your attitude, your problems, your anger and frustration and desire to strangle some necks will all diminish as His Presence invades your heart and mind.

So that's where I'm at, readers. I'm choosing to worship as I trust and rest in Him. God SO has the better plan than me, so I just have to praise Him for that and keep believing Him.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Disciples

When Jesus called out to His first disciples, before they even knew what they were getting into, what made them come? Was it that Jesus knew their names?

Did the term "fishers of men" ring true in their spirits? Was it the "ordinary man" thing, that because they were working with their dads, it meant that they had been rejected by other rabbis?

But what would make them walk away from all things familiar, right away? Was it such a deep hunger for something that they had to go, even though they had no idea what that something was? Did they ever think back to the first day: gosh, look at where I'd be if I had ignored Jesus. I can't believe that this was the awesome plan God had for me...this is why all that stuff happened to me as a kid- it was preparing me for this!!!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Deafness

I've been thinking a lot about deafness again, and the main concept I keep coming back to is what do we as the hearing world know about not hearing? Think of all the things that make noise. Typing on this computers. Clothes rustling as my arms move. The bed creaking when you lie down. Shoes walking down a hallway. Doors opening and closing. Chairs and couches sighing as you seat yourself. Curtains humming as you pull them open or shut. Swallowing.

All these things and more make noise that we hearing people take for granted. In the book Deaf in America, the point is made that when a fork falls off the table, a hearing person would pick it up because they heard the fork fall. A deaf person would pick it up because they could no longer see it on the table. The deaf don't associate a noise with the action. What are your thoughts, readers?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Scars

"Scars remind us where we've been...they don't determine where we go." "You can't change where you've been, but you can choose who you'll become." I've been contemplating past and present recently. How much of our past determines our future?

What have we done in the past that needs to change so that our future can be better? Is the hope of the future worth the pain of the present as we work to change the results of the past? I can make a better future, and it will be worth the pain of the present as I work to overcome my past. You can, too.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

On my dresser, next to my mirror, I keep a vase with dried roses. There are some that are rubber-banded together because they came like that, and there are some that are individual roses. I have kept them because they each represent a special time, and because they are beautiful.

What is in us that desires beauty? Why do we yearn for something pretty? How come some things are not right until they have that "special something" that completely transforms that common item? I think it is the Lord's DNA in us. God is beautiful; He made [and makes!] beautiful things, and He has placed in us, His creation, the desire to create beauty also. We can't create something of His caliber, but with what He has given us, we do pretty well!

Because we are made like Him, we desire to see things that remind us of Him. Even when we're not conscious of it, our spirits desire beauty. The roses on my dresser reflect Father's heart. They are beautiful. This is why I keep them.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Beautiful

I don't remember if I've mentioned this before, but in case I haven't, YOU, my dear readers, need to see the movie Bella. It is the most incredible story I've ever seen, and my favorite part is that most of the movie takes place in one day, with some flash-backs and -forwards.
Here is the link to one of the best songs of the movie, and this is also the information about some other great songs. Unfortunately, Bella does not have a soundtrack put together, although I've heard that the producers are working on it.

But for right now, here are my favorite songs.

Joey Ryan ~ Light On

Rosemary Clooney ~ Sway

Rachael Yamagata ~ Meet Me by the Water

Enjoy!

P.S. Here is the link to one of the movie trailers...GO SEE IT!!!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Torn

I've been contemplating a lot recently on God's view of deafness. For those of you who don't know me, or just didn't know this about me, I have been studying American Sign Language for about a year and a half at my college. These classes fulfill both my foreign language requirements and my cultural diversity requirement, because in the classes, students are taught about the Deaf culture as well as the language of the Deaf.

First of all, I must say that the Deaf culture has one view of deafness, and then there is another view that the Deaf dismiss. The first is the cultural Deafness, and this is where the capital D comes in: when someone is culturally Deaf, it means that they cannot hear and they are proud of their deafness {the physical non-ability to hear}, their sign language, and their culture.

The other perspective of deafness is the medical perspective, that there is something wrong with the ear or the nerves around the ear, and that something should be done in order to fix the individual's hearing so they can be normal. As you can see, the Deaf culture dismisses this medical view of deafness as an insult to the core of who they view themselves as! How offensive for someone to tell you that there is something WRONG with you, that you need to be FIXED!

My struggle as of late has been finding the Lord's perspective. I'm trying to leave the culture and the feelings and all the individuals' personal preferences out of this, and just hear Him. But at the same time, He loves all those individuals and made them perfectly how they are. What is "normal" anyhow? Who decides what normal is? Are we too insecure with ourselves that we feel so threatened when someone else is comfortable with their differences? Why does everything have to be uniform and the same? As you can see, I don't have all the answers. I haven't heard a voice from above saying that this way or that way is right. I don't know what His perspective is on deafness. All I know right now is that I need to keep seeking Him and His heart, and as I get closer to that, revelation will follow. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or resources, please post them below! Thanks.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

TRUST

This is called TRUST and I wrote it March 25th, 2008

It's an impossible situation, and the consequences are dire.

Where will I turn for strength? The choice is right there: fake it all by myself, or give it up to Someone else. 

Of course I'll take control! Who else is there? Who else can I trust to weather this storm?

But then I find that I can't do it. I'm not strong enough; I don't have enough control to ever survive.

So I begin to loosen my grip, and as my fingers peel off the wheel, the world slowly turns to right-side-up.

I realize that my control causes death, and His control only brings life.

So I choose to trust Him with my life.

Hmmmm....poetry

Hello again, dear readers. As I've caught up on all of your blogs, I realized that my blog is missing something very crucial and life-giving: poetry.

I've written poems; I keep a journal of sorts specifically for poems. But what good are they in a book if no one but their author gets to read them? So I'm going to post some of my poems. I've tried to record the date they were each written, and I'll do my best to remember to include that when I post them.

Oh, and there's one really cool story [If I do say so myself!] that I will include...it might be a while, since I'll have to dig it out of one of my old journals, but I will definitely post it soon! So enjoy, and comment as you are led.

A Poem for God by His favorite daughter {written February 24th, 2008}

The Father is good; He's great all alone.
But that's not what He wants; He wants to share His throne
So He created a daughter just for His heart
But she ran away, breaking Him.
She put sin in between them, forcing them apart.
Her sin was painful, even for Him, Because He loved her so much,
and He went to rescue her, and went out on a limb.
He sent His Son to die for this girl, His girl,
And pay for her sins so she wouldn't have to.
He brought her back and then gave her a pearl.
He said, "You are mine, and that is for always."
She couldn't believe that He'd want her back.
But He did, and she decided to worship for the rest of her days.
So now this Father and daughter live happily, walking together side by side,
and I'm happy too, because this daughter is me.

Amazing Principles and quotes

Hello, friends. I hope that by now I may consider you my friend, and that you consider me friend as well. This has been an exciting journey so far, this journey of life. Let's get inspired and continue our journey!

It is a family tradition at my house to receive a calendar for Christmas. This year, my calendar has a beautiful picture, a virtue, and a quote about that virtue for each month. November's virtue is faith. St. Augustine said "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of faith is to see what you believe."

This ties directly to what John Maxwell says about vision {remember that I'm reading his book}. He says that vision, or faith, is essential for leaders. Leaders themselves need to have a vision, and they need to impart this vision to those around them; otherwise, these leaders know where they are going, but are going there alone.

Maxwell describes this importance: "During World War II, parachutes were being constructed by the thousands. From the workers' point of view, the job was tedious. It involved crouching over a sewing machine eight to ten hours a day and stitching endless lengths of colorless fabric. The result was a formless heap of cloth. But every morning the workers were told that each stitch was part of a life-saving operation. They were asked to think as they sewed that each parachute might be the one worn by their husbands, their brothers, their sons. Although the work was heard and the hours long, the women and the men on the home front understood their contribution to the big picture." [pages 156-157]

Let vision guide you to see the bigger picture, even in the mundane tasks. Visualize the end result, and fight for it!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Leadership

Hello, readers! My, it has been a long time! School has definitely been keeping me busy, but I'm back!

I've been reading John C. Maxwell's "Developing the Leader Within You." Some of his principles are amazing, and they're simple! Please allow me to share with you some of my favorites. [This first one is Maxwell's paraphrase of Norman Vincent Peale, just for copyright's sake.] "...positive thinking is how you think about a problem. Enthusiasm is how you feel about a problem. The two together determine what you do about a problem." [page 84]

"A great philosopher once commented that an eagle's only obstacle to overcome for flying with greater speed and ease was the air. Yet, if the air were withdrawn, and the proud bird to fly in a vacuum, it would fall instantly to the ground, unable to fly at all. The very element that offers resistance to flying is at the same time the condition for flight. The main obstacle a powerboat has to overcome is the water against the propeller, yet, if it were not for this same resistance, the boat would not move at all. A life free of all obstacles and difficulties would reduce all possibilities and powers to zero. Eliminate problems and life loses its creative potential." [pages 77-78]

I'll keep you informed of more great leadership principles as I continue reading. I hope these inspire you!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I don't want to be apathetic

Readers, I'm sure you remember a recent post about apathy. Last time, it was in the context of World War Two and the politicians who signed their own death warrants through apathy.

Today, I want to tell you about a recent encounter with apathy that I had. It was the first week of classes, and the teacher was introducing himself and explaining how he grades and what he looks for and how we can get an A in the class. He paused and said "Hey, all you students who have to get an A in every class...don't worry about it. Settle for a B, will ya?" And the class chuckled and the teacher moved on. I thought to myself, how awful!? The teacher is telling us to NOT give all our effort, to NOT try, to NOT be hard on ourselves and strive for the best grade we can earn. Why would he tell us that!?

I have disregarded his advice. Now, that is NOT to say that I'm going to jump off a cliff to my sudden, instant death if I earn an A- or even a B+, but it does mean that I am going to work with an A mentality. As my high school adviser and mentor told me, "What level do you want to play at [in life]? THAT is the level that you have to train at." So if I want to "play" in a world-renowned school of business, I better be training at the top as I prepare to go there! Don't let apathy rob you of potential. Or rather, don't give away your potential to apathy.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Trains.

Hello, dear readers My, it's been a while since I've written. Why is that? Hmm...oh yes. School started. So now I've completed today's assignments, and I was chatting with a dear friend.

We were talking about a couple of mutual friends who are about to get married. To each other. In March. And I thought to myself, I want to ride the train. Why, you might ask. What does two friends getting married have anything at all to do with riding a train? How are these subjects related? What is the correlation between them?

The answer, I must warn you, is not a profound one. It is not a brilliant, well-planned out answer. It is the truth, so I must answer it, since you have asked. The answer is, I have to take a train to get to their wedding. That is all. But can you grasp what expectation and anticipation is held in this simple train ride? Two of my dear friends are about to embark on the journey of wedded life together, and I get to be a part of their celebrations, and my travels start with a train ride.

Oh, that's pathetic! you might say, How can you long for the train ride when you should be anticipating the ceremony?! My friends, I cannot tell you. All I can say is that I want to go on a train for a long ride. I am planning on it, and I will get on a train on March 24th and I will ride that train till it gets to my stop. And then I will get off the train, and I will embrace many, many people who are dear to me...and then I will get back on a train, and I will ride the train back home.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Why

Hello once again, dearest readers, I told you recently that I've been pondering some deep thoughts these days, and one of them has to do with the difficult topic of why bad things happen to good people...or why God lets bad stuff happen. I realize that this more a question that unsaved people ask when they are trying to reconcile the facts that God loves them and that bad things happen.

But I want to offer my explanation to you, my readers, in hopes that it gives another perspective, and if you're ever in such a conversation, this might help to have in the back of your mind. When I picture life and circumstances, I think of a conveyor belt. God is in charge, and He has the things that He's putting on the conveyor belt, and they're all in the right order and He is in control.

Then I think of satan and how he will try to mess up God's plans and put something on my life's conveyor belt that doesn't line up with God's will, and then God kinda scrambles and puts something else on my conveyor belt and life isn't as good as it was before. Then I heard something, and I really, really wrestled with this one. I believe it was Malcolm Smith who said that God only allows in our lives what we can handle. And I thought, how horrible! I had just begun to get convinced that God loves me, really and truly, and then I find out that He allowed the painful things in my life! Way to rain on my parade!

Then I thought about my conveyor belt picture. satan isn't sneaking around putting stuff on my belt when God's not looking. It's not like God doesn't see what the enemy is doing! No, my mental picture had to change. So my picture adjusted to make room for God's sovereignty, and this is how it now looks. God has His plans for my life, and He knows what I can handle.

The enemy attempts to put horrible stuff on my conveyor belt, but God takes off what doesn't align with His will. He knows my plimsoll line, and He lets stuff happen, either because of my choices that I've made, or that seem awful to me but are really the kinder act.

You see, what my mental picture was missing was the fact that God is absolutely sovereign. Even when bad things happen to the world, like a disease breaking out, or an economy suffering, God is in control. He works everything to the good, because that is Who He is. He doesn't want these bad things to happen, but He allows them so He can work the greatest good.

I think that Papa, in William P. Young's book "The Shack," says it the best. "...your choices are not stronger than My purposes, and I will use every choice you make for the ultimate good and most loving outcome." You see? We don't even know what the other options are! We don't know what we've been saved from! God is the only One Who does, and thank goodness He chooses the best option! God is so sovereign!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Value of Life

Recently, my dear readers, I've been considering the value of human life, both how we are valued by God and by society. I've come to some interesting conclusions that I would like to share with you, but I do want to forewarn you that they are interesting!

First of all, we must lay the groundwork. Human life is valued because God values it. Humans have a different value than anything else on earth, because we are the only creatures on earth made in the image of God. This is what distinguishes us from the beasts: we are like Him. I have pondered the soul/spirit of animals idea, and I have concluded that animals do not have a spirit, and I have also concluded that they might have parts of a soul...but that's a different post. :)

Next, what about the value society places on people? The characteristics promoted via the media tell us that beautiful bodies and intelligence are valued, but who decides what is beautiful and what is intelligent? I propose that not everyone agrees on what is beautiful or intelligent; in fact, I think that not everyone would agree with a dictionary's definition of either of those words. So what makes someone beautiful or intelligent?

Society would tell us beauty is possessing physical qualities that fall under a certain mold or model; intelligence is getting into the right schools and studying the right subjects and earning the right grades. But I think God's definitions are different. Again, this could go into a deep conversation about beauty and intelligence, and I hope that I will be able to come back to this and continue to explore the topic, but right now I really want to focus on the human value discussion.

So if society has specific definitions of beauty and intelligence, what happens to the value of someone who doesn't live up to society's standards? And I don't mean just the next John Doe off the street. I mean the mentally- and physically-handicapped, the "special needs," the "mentally challenged" group of people.

Unfortunately, they are labeled less-than-human or sub-human or some other derogatory, demeaning term that denies their true worth. As I've mentioned before, I'm reading a book series about Europe as Hitler reigns, right before World War II. The 5th book introduces a character named Alfie. Alfie was "judged to be mentally incompetent," and lived in a home for children like him. Some of his peers had polio or were paralyzed by other means; some had cerebral palsy and couldn't speak. As the Nazis took over Vienna, the homes that cared for these children were taken over, cleansed, and turned into hospitals for Nazi purposes. I'm sure you can imagine what is meant by "cleansed." I personally do not want to- it's too painful, too shameful to think about.

We've all read about it in the history books, but have we really considered the individuals involved? Have we put faces to the sheer numbers we read about? What will happen when we do? My dear readers, I hope that you recognize the value that all human life has, simply because it is a human life. I hope that these thoughts presented here cause you to value people more, as an act of worship to God, because it is His image represented in all of mankind.

Follow Up

Dear readers, if you would like to add another log to the fire burning inside of you against public schools, read this article published today by the Seattle Times. As you read this article, or even if you don't, think about something that my mom told me.

I was complaining to her about my English 101 teacher. He would continually make comments about us writing our papers the morning before they were due, or he would give us time in class to read something that we should have read before class. I was telling my mom this, and she said something like this, "Your students will only go as far as your expectations. The lower your expectations, the less the students will do, because they will respond to the level of expectation on them."

This message was confirmed by my pastor at the beginning of my year as a Master's Commission student. My pastor encouraged my class to write down our expectations for the year, and then as we neared graduation, look and see how many of our expectations had been met and exceeded. I have to say, all of mine were, and I believe it's because I was expecting it!

If I had thought that nothing would change, that I wouldn't learn anything, that life would just be the same, I believe that that reality would have been established. But because my pastor encouraged our expectations, they were met, and things changed! Expect more.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Convictions

Hello again, dear readers, I was talking with a dear friend today, and she encouraged me to write down some of my thoughts, specifically those about which I am particularily passionate. So here goes!

First of all: public education Since WHEN did the government get permission to stuff our young children full of their personal worldview!?!?!? When did responsibility transfer from the family to the state?! Since when do parents only interact with the educators of their children on a quarterly or semi-annually basis?! When did parents LOSE the ability to dictate what is and isn't taught to THEIR OWN offspring!?!?!? As you might have guessed, beloved readers, this subject "gets my dander up," so to speak. I am so very passionate about the responsibility of families to educate children, and so very against the idea-that-is-present-reality of the government controlling the promotion of the worldviews that shape the next generation.

God set up the biblical model in the Old Testament: parents were to educate their children, from a very early age, about the Scriptures. Later, a local, family rabbi might further instruct students, but keep in mind that the rabbi was only instructing the children about more and more Scriptures and commentaries that were already discussed and taught at home!!! I think that now for our current situation, a homeschool co-op is one of the best models of God's model. The parents are the main educators of their children, but for some subjects that are not the parents' particular strong suit, another parent would step in and teach the subject.

For example, my mother is an English major, so I know English backwards and forwards. However, when I finished Algebra 1 and continued into Algebra 2 and beyond, my mother found another person, who shared our beliefs and convictions, to help me understand the mathematics that I now so adore.

However, I have found that I am the exception to the rule, rather than the rule. Most of my peers were educated at public schools, and all I can say is that I am grateful that I was not! My passionate dislike of public schools encompasses more than just the worldviews taught and the way that it contradicts God's model; I don't like that the teachers don't expect practically anything of their students!

Excuse me, but in "real life," as in after graduation, bosses and college instructors don't give assignments for you to do "if you have time..." or "if you want to..." or "if you feel like it..." Teachers and bosses tell you to do something and they expect it to be done on the time line they give you, and to the specifications that they require. But you never would learn THAT in a public high school!

Let me give you one example: a former co-worker of mine attended a public high school that has a reputation for academics. His senior English class was assigned a 5 page paper. My co-worker wrote 2 & 1/2 pages... and got an A. I asked him how on earth he got an A on a 5 page paper that was half the assigned length, and he shrugged and said, "At least I turned it in. Some kids didn't."

I ask you, readers, what do you expect of future presidents' inauguration speeches? Do you think they will stay the same length they are now? Do you think that there will even be speeches? How many of these future presidents will have college degrees? I don't even want to think about it!

Well, dear readers, this is only one of many subjects about which I am passionate, but I'm saving more for later. I hope you enjoy, and I hope that this causes you to ponder education in new ways, and to pray for leaders to rise up and speak out for biblically-based education.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Apathy

Hello, dear readers, What I'm about to post is pretty heavy. I mean, it's not light and fluffy; it's dark and powerful and inspiring.

Let me tell you the context. The series is called the Zion Covenant, by Bodie & Brock Thoene. It's the story of several Jewish people in Germany, Prague, Munich, Poland, and Jerusalem during World War II. There is an American reporter who is stationed in Europe, and even as he communicates the horrors of the Nazis to his superiors, he knows that his report will be a small blip in the back of the newspaper, because Americans and British and French people didn't want to become involved.

Here is his revelation: "...apathy was the glove into which evil slipped its hand. Apathy protected the fist of evil from skinning its knuckles as it slammed babies against a wall. The searing of a man's conscience was, in the end, just as deadly as a machine gun fired into a classroom of children, just as final in the end as the sinking of a ship."

Please contemplate this, dear, dear readers. Think about any apathy in yourself; now, what are you going to do about it? If you answer "nothing," then let me tell you, reader, that you have just given into apathy and let it rule over you. Your conscience has just been seared. I hope that thought scares all the apathy out of you.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Thorns & Changes

Hello, dear readers, I address you tonight on a more solemn note. My mind has been filled recently with some deeper broodings, and I ask you to bear with me.

I pulled some sticker bushes today, and my arms and legs got cut up. As I grimace at my discomfort, I think of Another One whose cuts made Him unrecognizable as a human, and I am thankful.

A single mom was blessed by housework today, and I ashamedly admit that I begrudged her, momentarily. Then I realized that she was truly grateful, and that it was the least that could be done, and I changed my begrudging into gratefulness for my parents.

My sister and I argued tonight...and then I realized, after watching The Soloist, that I know where my sister is, that she is still alive and well, and that not everybody goes to bed with that priviledge. I am thankful for my family.

As I took a warm shower and wrapped up in clean towels, I considered those who have not showered in weeks, even months. And what of those who do not live within 50 miles of running water? Or those who risk their lives to disease with every contaminated sip?

 As you can tell, readers, I am immensely blessed. I have my family, a comfortable house, and now I have a changed perspective.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

September already?!

Wow, my dear readers, how did August go by so quickly? It just started practically yesterday! Well, that is to be expected, I suppose. Time flies when you're having fun...or when you're old, asleep, or under pressure. I think I only qualify for the fun part and maybe the old part...I was definitely awake for August, and I was only under pressure on Monday mornings...new campers.

I am excited for this September. There are a lot of new things starting this month, like I start my second year at school, my sister starts Master's Commission, so she'll be moving out and someone else will be moving in, and then I will only have 2 little sisses in high school! Wow, it's definitely weird!

But I'm learning that things are SO going the right way. This is how God created things to work: change happens, people grow up, plans are adjusted, etc. It is a good thing. I mean, the Creator finished His work and then stepped back and said, "It is good." I'm liking God's goodness, and I'm liking His handiwork. Welcome, September!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Catch up

I was reading some of what I wrote a while ago, and I realized I never told you readers if I got into Oceanography. I did! That class was so much fun! I also took ASL 123, History of Rome, and English 271. Oh, and I can't forget volleyball and pickleball! So yeah, 23 credits!

I will be done in one year...I'm starting my accounting segments this coming quarter, and finishing my economics classes. The only classes I get to choose are a social science and an arts & humanities. I'm thinking literature! Easy! Especially compared to business law and statistics! Well, there ya have it...my education. Thanks for listening!

Thoughts

Good morning, my dear readers! I have promised to attempt to write more often, so I think 2 posts in one day is fulfilling that promise! What to write, what to write?

Something that has been on my heart recently is World War II and how no one wanted to become involved with stopping Hitler, and how can we prevent that from happening again, in our present time? One of my favorite history teachers spent many weeks on just this subject, and through his lectures and other readings that I did during this class, I have become convinced that the policy of appeasement is to blame. I say policy, but policy is nothing without men and women to enforce it. Look at the treaty they made with Germany at the end of World War I!

It was a great policy, but no one enforced it because they were acting under a different policy: peace at any price. Because Britain and France and the U.S. all wanted peace, because they did not see how the slaughtering of millions of people affected their respective countries, Hitler literally got away with murder.

Readers, I will not attempt to apply that to your life; I know that it will fall short. But I hope that you see that peace at any cost will not result in peace. Abraham Kuyper said it beautifully, "When the principles that run against your deepest conviction begin to win the day, then the battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith." [italics mine] Beloved readers, I hope that this has struck some chord in you, and I hope that the strike goes deep and resounds whenever you face a choice between peace and your convictions.

Finishing my goals

Hello, dear readers. Well, as you can see, I did not accomplish my goal of writing every day, but guess what? There is an amazing song by Addison Road called "Start Over Again" that completely captures what I feel every single day. The song goes "It's never too late...to start over again...you can't change what you've done...but you can choose who you'll become."

So even though I haven't written every day in the past, that will not stop me from writing more frequently in the future. See, as long as I'm getting better at writing and I'm writing more often than I was before, I'm improving! When I made my goal, I started writing about the arguments against abortion. I don't really feel inspired about writing it, but I've learned that when I have the opportunity to finish something I've started, even if I don't want to, I should. Guilt is something that I continually have to surrender to the Lord, and the less I have to give Him, the better. I'm not saying that I'm acting independently of God; I'm saying that instead of allowing a foothold of guilt and then struggling over it and finally giving it to God, I'd rather finish the task and have it work for me, not against me.

So, the 2nd difference between an unborn child and a newborn baby is their levels of development. A five year old is more developed, physically, emotionally, and intellectually, than a 2 year old...does that make the 2 year old less human? I am more developed than that 5 year old...am I more human than the 5 year old? Of course not! Just because a child that has been born is more developed than a child that has not yet been born does not make the born child more human than the unborn!

The 3rd difference between a newborn baby and an unborn child is their environment. The newborn baby has just left the womb to come "into this world," as the cliche says. The unborn baby is still in the womb. They have simply changed "homes," so to speak. When I leave my house and go over to a friend's house, I have changed my environment, or my immediate surroundings. Do my surroundings affect how human I am? When you travel from home to work, does your level of human-ness vary? Of course not! Environment has absolutely nothing to do with how human you are!

The 4th difference between an unborn child and a newborn is their dependency on others. Newborns are obviously very dependent on other people for food, clean diapers, and comfort. They cannot do practically anything for themselves. An unborn child is the same way. It depends on its mother's body for food and warmth. Does that make them any different? Is one more human than the other? I have a 15 year old sister. My parents drive her places, feed her, provide a roof over her head and clothes for her body. She is dependent on them for a lot of things! Is she less human than my parents, because she depends on them for things? No, of course not! How dependent or independent one is does not affect how human one is!

Alright, readers, there you have it. The final 3 of the 4 differences between a newborn and an unborn baby. Consider them well, because the whole argument of the pro-abortion side is that an unborn child is not a human. But as you hopefully saw through these arguments presented here, there is really nothing different between an unborn and a newborn except for these 4 aspects; they are both human beings!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Definitely some more thoughts...

There's this new movie coming out called Julia and Julie, and basically the modern lady has a blog and it turns into a book. So I've been thinking, what if my blog did that? What would it take to make my personal thoughts into a book? What would I even write about?! So this is my new goal. Not to publish these simple thoughts, but to write more frequently. Because it seems that one of the main things Julie did was write every day, or close to every day. So I'm going to write more.

That being said, a goal is not a promise! There are things that come up, but at the same time, if Winston Churchill could write 1000 words every day, and he was also leading a country that was at war, I think I can write at least a few paragraphs several times a week. My only hesitation is this: what will I write about? Fiction? My experiences? History? Dreams? Essays? Novels?

I think what I will do is set on "paper" those arguments that I wish everyone could know and understand, because with understanding, the world will change. And I am, after all, a world changer and a history maker. First things first. One of the most important topics of our world today is abortion. Stay with me! I'm not going to get all political and start arguing semantics and actions and all that. I want to focus on the facts of a pregnancy, because if people knew what was really inside a woman's body, things would be a lot different.

Let me start by saying that one of the main arguments abortionists make is that the unborn baby is not a person. I will argue against that. There are only 4 differences between an unborn baby and a born baby. These differences are size, level of development, environment, and dependency.

Today I will discuss size. Size refers to the obvious: how big is the baby? Abortionists argue that because an unborn child is smaller, it is not a person. Let me apply that argument to some well known people. Andre the Giant is a bigger person than the Munchkins; does that make him more of a person than them? My dad is taller and heavier than I am; is he more of a person than I am? Obviously not, so person-hood is not dependent on size. Tomorrow I will talk about the level of development argument. I hope you enjoy!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Summer Thoughts

Oh my goodness, thank the Lord that summer is FINALLY here! Whew! It took its sweet time to get here, didn't it? But now that it's here, praise Him!

So I was showing my sis my blog, and I realized that I haven't done anything since the beginning of March! That is not ok! So here are my thoughts about summer and other related [sorta] topics.

Sunshine is the BEST gift [aside from Jesus] from God EVER! Seriously, it provides Vit D, warmth, green grass, tans, smiles on people's faces, and you can roll down your car windows all the time!

School is going well. I'm taking one class this summer, just to catch up. To update you, I did take 23 credits last quarter, so right now I have 55ish credits. Unfortunately, my foreign language, although 3 quarters are needed, only one counts towards my A & H credits. So I'm one class behind, so summer quarter it is. I'm totally fine with it. The teacher rocks, and I'm understanding all the concepts so far.

I'm working at a day camp this summer, and I'm pretty much in love with two of these little campers...OMG they're adorable! One of them is Vaughn, and the other one is JJ. They're both like 5-6, and Vaughn wears these glasses, and his eyes are really blue, and he's very opinionated and vocal!!! JJ is little and he's a sweetheart. He has a little brother that isn't walking yet, and JJ hugs him goodbye every morning. He hurt his knee yesterday, and I held his hand and brought him upstairs and I had hurt my knee also, so we washed our knees and then put bandaids on them together. Before we even went outside, he was lined up, and I was talking with some other kids, and JJ just kinda leaned on me without even realizing it. He is SO cute! I guess I should add these two to my list of kids under the age of 8 that I'm going to marry someday. :)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Update

OK, so here's an update on what's going down. My schedule for next quarter is improved.

I might be taking 23 credits, but 17 if I don't get into Oceanography. The good new is, I'm now 7th on the waiting list, and the teacher figures he can give me the blue card [needed to register from the waiting list] if I come to the first day of class and am dedicated and all that jazz. Well, that's me, so it's pretty much a go.

Also, this is completely off topic, just to warn you, you NEED to read this book called "The Shack." It's by William Young, and it pretty much transformed my life and how I think. I won't give away the plot, but basically this guy spends a weekend at God's house. Seriously. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost live at this house, and the guy spends a weekend with the 3 of them and has these conversations that, just by themselves are incredible and life-changing, but together rock your world upside down, inside out, and never leave it the same.

Trust me. Read this book. I still have my favorite part on the side of my computer so that I can read it every day, several times a day. It took me SO long to get this, and even now I marvel. It goes "...your choices are not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice for the ultimate good and the most loving outcome." -Papa. Oh my goodness, just read it! That's all I have to say right now, but let me know what you think of the book!

**Update: there have been many conversations regarding the theology of this book, and while I know it is not 100% Scriptural, I think that there are some parts of the story that can bring freedom to believers. However, I would not recommend this book to not-yet or new-believers; discernment and knowledge of the Word is crucial.**

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Some thoughts

So I've been thinking about trust a lot recently. The school I'm attending just released the schedule for the next quarter, and the general consensus on campus is that Spring Quarter sucks. All the classes are arranged so oddly that it feels impossible to get just the right schedule.

So I sat down with my wise father one evening, and we worked out a schedule. It was a great schedule...just notice I used the past tense there. The class I wanted was full; a teacher recommended that I not take a certain class online; and now I'm in a different class than the rest of my foreign language friends. AUGH! So as I wait to hear back from the science teacher about my chances of getting into his class this coming quarter, since I'm 8th on the waiting list, I hear the Lord whispering, "Rest and trust, My daughter; rest and trust that I have it all taken care of." And I know that, in my spirit, but sometimes my mind freaks out and just goes BLAH! I want to take care of it all, NOW!

But my spirit wins. That's the good news. I have to consciously choose, several times a day, really, to not give in to fear and doubts and what-ifs, but to let the Lord handle it all in His perfect timing and way. I mean, He's God! What can't He do?!

My church watched the video of Louie Giglio last week, about how amazingly GIGANTIC the universe is, and then realizing that God holds all of that in the palm of His hand. So my class schedule is SO not an issue for Him! It may seems like the biggest thing in my life, but God can totally handle it! So let me encourage you to rest and trust. He's got it. That's all you need.

Friday, February 13, 2009

A Funny Story, Imagined

OK, so I was on the bus the other day, and there's this guy who's kinda wierd and he always stares straight ahead and he wears this long trench coat-ish thing, but it's open over his behind but long down his legs.

Anyway, this guy always pulls the rope to request a stop at the college, even though that's where most of the people get off anyway. And I had to wonder, what happened if the bust driver just kept driving? So this is a little brainstorm of this comical situation...and it's getting me away from my math book for a short while! Ha, the truth comes out! Anyway, here goes. Oh, and this kinda has a sing-songy rhythm to it; try and pick it up. 

The bus driver was driving along his normal route. The student was planning on attending class. He had a perfect record he didn't mean to break. He had never missed a class, had never even been late. He pulled the string to let the driver know that this was where he left. The bus rumbled to the bus stop, releasing its exhaust. But to everyone's alarm, something strange took place. The bus driver kept driving, right on past the stop! He didn't even brake as the student leapt to his feet.

Pandemonium broke out upon the bus as people looked longingly at their stops. The bus driver kept driving, unaware of his frantic passengers. The student demanded to be let out, but the bus driver kept on driving. A mother hugged her baby close as the bus rolled through the park and ride. She looked mournfully at her car as the bus driver kept on driving. Realizing that the bus would just keep going, the passengers settled back into their seats, and then something stranger began to occur. The passengers began to enjoy the scenery. They had never paid attention before to the scenic route they took, but now they gazed in awe as the city came into view. The bus driver kept driving through the city, taking his passengers for a ride that they had not planned. And when they left the city, what sights their eyes saw! They saw nice homes, mowed lawns, kids on bikes, and clean cars.

And even beyond the residential area, they saw horses running races with the bus. They saw cows trotting to be milked. They saw hay before it had been picked. They saw grassy hillsides covered with growing corn. And through it all, the bus driver kept driving. Well, there was one person on the bus who was not enjoying the view at all. The student couldn't see the scenery; he could only see the big red ABSENT his teacher would surely write upon his attendance sheet. He began to sweat and squirm when suddenly a small hand touched his arm. "Excuse me, but can you help me?" A small child asked. The student wondered what he meant, then looked around the bus. Because of the beautiful view, many passengers had stood to their feet, blocking the window from the poor lad's sight. The student gave a little sigh, then picked up the child. The boy cried out in delight when the landscape came into view. The student also looked at the beautiful land.

Slowly, the thought of missing class left his mind. His attendance sheet slipped out of his consciousness. All he thought about was the beauty of the land and the appreciation of the small child in his arms. The student realized that even though his education was important, appreciating the small things was more so. He grinned, leaning forward so as to give the boy a better view. The bus was now returning to the city, and the hustle and bustle returned. The passengers seated themselves again, but continued to gaze out the window. The student also took his seat again, and the little boy returned to wherever he came from. The bus driver kept driving, now back on his normal route.

With a wise smile and a twinkle in his eye, he let the student off at the college. The student awoke with a start, feeling the adrenaline rush of having fallen asleep on the bus and nearly missing his stop. He pulled the string cautiously, and this time, the bus driver stopped. The End.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Hey, all!

The Master's Commission Conference starts in a few days, and I will be reunited with some of, well, actually, they are my very best friends in the world. I have missed several of them for a long time...ok, it's only been 6 months, but after spending a year together, and I do mean spending a full year in each other's presence, 6 months feels like a long time to be apart. It's especially hard with the whole time-difference thing, because it's hard to catch people, either online or on the phone.

But all that will be irrelevant in just a few days, because I will see them! Oh, happy day! [whoa-oh-oh! haha] Tomorrow I will be reconnecting with an old friend from a long time ago. I'm not sure how it will all work out- he's going to help me conquer calculus, and it's been 7, wow, almost 8 years since we've seen each other. I talked to him tonight, actually, for like 2 minutes. Yeah, awkward! It was really fine...though it definitely had potential! :)

Ha, well, I'll let you guess as to whom I will be meeting- have fun! I'll let you know how it goes in the next post, I promise! So, it is now time for me to turn my focus to you, my dear reader. How are you? How is your life? What do you think about all day long that you can hardly wait to come home and share? Do you have someone to share with? If not, I'm here. And even if you do, I'd still love to hear about your day. Until then! ~Bek

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Welcome!

Hello out there! Well, I have to admit, I wasn't planning on starting a blog. I just wanted to check out a friend's blog, and then somehow I ended up creating my own. But I think it was a little intentional. I mean, I saw my friend's, and then I just kept clicking and filling in answers and picking a picture, and then the button said "Create Blog" and I was, ok, let's do it!

Come on now, who doesn't like to fill out information about yourself, your personal likes and dislikes, your interests, your favorites, etc. I'm not making excuses for myself; I'm simply noting that these blogs and other online sites draw a big crowd because of human nature. We like to know, or at least believe, that someone out there cares about us. It's comforting to realize that we're not alone, that we're not the only ones who feel a certain way about stuff. It's the way God made us, to desire interaction and fellowship with other people.

Unfortunately, a lot of people create blogs so they feel loved and all that jazz because they DON'T feel loved by the human interaction they already have. They lack a deep, real, loving relationship with the One who loves them more than life itself.

 So in essence, that is why I am here, on my own blog, writing about humanity. I know that I am loved by that One who died for me, and I hope to share this love with someone out there who doesn't yet know how loved and adored they are. Hey, if that's you, post a comment, and we'll "talk." Remember, it's online, so there's potentially no risk. But there's always the chance that your life will get changed forever. Talk with y'all later! ~Bek