another one bites the dust

I think Jedi-ism is growing faster than Christianity in the UK.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7200531.stm

do you think George Lucas ever dreamed his movie would be the basis for a religion (or rather, a cult)?

moving on to something even more bizarre:

"A New Zealand inventor has been forced to defend the use of worms in a composting toilet he has developed after officials became concerned that the creatures might become traumatised by the procedure.
Coll Bell was told to get an expert's report on the mental impact on the tiger worms being used after an official became concerned during a site visit.
He says the official felt that the worms were being unfairly treated, being expected to deal with human faeces, and that it could affect them in a psychological way.
Mr Bell was told he had to get someone with the necessary qualifications to say the worms were happy.
A vermiculture consultant was called in and she has found the worms are in excellent health and breeding happily."
- AFP

oooooooooooookkkkkkk then.

thank you, Ellen

Last night I saw abortion in a whole new light.
And of all the people to illuminate the issue, it had to be Ellen Degeneres in one of her comedy routines...and she wasn't even talking about abortion. I can't quote her exactly, but here's the general jist of the routine. She was talking about how odd it is how humans love to kill things like house flies and ants. She was joking that the reason it was so easy for us to smash a helpless little ant or fly is because we can't see the expressions of horror on their faces before we....well annihilate them. And its not their fault the flies are in the house -- we named them HOUSE flies.

In the midst of her hilarious routine about the absurdities of humans, I almost cried, and for two reasons:
1) We do the same things to babies that we do to house flies. We treat insects and babies the same way -- as pests.
2) I actually felt love towards people who kill babies. I can't imagine how awful it must be for the doctors who see the little faces of the babies they abort. Only God can soften a heart that has been hardened for so long.

Yet God loves us.

That was so refreshing for me because I've been praying for compassion lately, and I think that moment was a little answer to prayer. One of my passions is the protection of the weak and helpless. I'm not sure how specifically I am supposed to do that, but I do know that anger and hate towards the people who prey on them is not a Christ-like attitude. Whenever I hear a story about a little girl or boy being abused, the first thing that pops in my head is that the abuser should be thrown in the ocean with a huge millstone tied around their neck. While a love for justice is good, I took it a little too far and had deep hate for those people. While I still believe that there is an even hotter place in hell reserved for people who prey on the weak, I also know that Jesus died for those wretches and I have to love them. Even more terrible is the realization that I am a wretch myself. I am not perfect and I sin just as much as those abusers. ouch. I have to be reminded of that fact quite frequently.

God has slowly been softening my heart towards people who hurt and kill the helpless.

And God used a lesbian to convey that message to me.

So, if you are free tomorrow around 10am to 12pm, come and pray with me and a bunch of other people at the Hillcrest Abortion Clinic. All we do is stand around the clinic in silent prayer for two hours...so don't worry about evading police or anything : ). The Life team has been praying for years for the removal of this clinic and the salvation of the doctor who performs the abortions, and every new prayer warrior is greatly needed. If you need more information, you can call me (986-4445), facebook me, or you can call Kempsville Presbyterian Church.

that's it : )

Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter

Well hello. Because today is the 13th day of the New Year, I have decided to share 13 interesting things with you guys....

1) Planet Earth by the Discovery channel is AWESOME!! It just goes to show what a creative and wonderful God we have...if only the writers had included that in the show. But be prepared....animals eating each other is part of life...and its sad.

2) I just realized the reason Switzerland is always neutral -- an old Swiss proverb says, "When in doubt who will win, be neutral."

3) Giving someone "the finger" originated from the English, who were experts at the longbow. When English archers were captured, their middle finger was cut off so they wouldn't be able to shoot anymore....therefore archers would taunt their opponents by waving their middle fingers, which meant, "we can still kill you" etc.

4) Shakespeare never spelled his name the same way.

5) No one will ever know Chuck Norris' last words because he will be the last person on earth.

6) It is estimated that at any one time, 0.7% of the world's population are drunk.

7) The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.

8) A survey reported that 12% of Americans think that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.

9) The Muppet Show was banned from Saudi Arabian TV because one if its stars was a pig.

10) Santas in Australia were prohibited from saying, "Ho ho ho" because it is considered derogatory to certain women.

11) It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.

12) The weight of a carat (200 milligrams), standard unit of measurement for gemstones, is based on the weight of the carob seed.

13) The Biblical significance of the number 13 is "rebellion, backsliding, apostacy."

Don't worry, I don't spend all my spare time finding out these things...my brother and I have competitions to see who knows the most random facts.

I briefly wanted to be a wildlife photographer last week. After watching Planet Earth, the thought of being in the wild with strange and dangerous creatures was the most thrilling thing I could think of to do. Wouldn't that be an awesome job!? I'm open to anything, Lord : )

Inspirational thoughts to come next time....

peace out

Ravi = awesome

I'm officially the Government rep as of today. woohoo, its exciting : )

Ravi Zacharius is AWWWWEEESSSOOMMMEEE. I started getting his weekly podcasts, and I listen to them over and over again. He is my favorite modern Christian apologist. He researches so much and makes complex issues seem so simple. Of course, they aren't easy, but he helps you bite into an elephant of a worldview question, so to speak. (And, he's Indian, so he has a beautiful accent that makes everything so much more interesting.) He travels around the world speaking in universities, to world leaders, and churches. Again, awesome.

"When moral issues are discussed, we only talk about right or left, forgetting there is an up and a down."

"They [politicians] moralize on politics and politicize morality."

good stuff. look him up.

ONE MORE WEEK OF CLASSES!!! Come to my Logic class next Monday, because I'm bringing chocolate chip cookies!! : )

Happy Studying!

hello

Happy Thanksgiving!!

God
is
good.

All
the
time.

can we be thankful, please?

So, last year, my sister and I decided that we were going to give my mom a break from making the annual TONS AND TONS of food feast....and needless to say, we are giving her back the baton this year. My aunt and uncle came up for Thanksgiving last year, and Sarah and I timed everything horribly, so what was supposed to be a huge lunch, turned out to be a huge dinner. But, you know, nobody should have complained about our tardiness, because for goodness sakes, its Thanksgiving! and at least we had food!

Sarah and I have decided to make sure everyone in our family is thankful this year, or else no one gets any food : )

I saw Bella this weekend, and I loved it. Hopefully, you will go see it and love it too.

I am so thankful that I am not a politician. That sentence sounds odd coming from me, being that I am a Government major, but honestly, politics stresses me out. Most people assume that I want to be the first female president when I state my major, but they assume that erroneously : ). I think it is a sad reflection on a church/state/nation when the only capable leaders available are women. I think men should lead, which reminds me of a poem (don't laugh, this is good stuff)

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

(by Josiah Gilbert Holland)

there you have it.

One last note, I really Tavis Smiley. He's clever, smart, and tonight, he asked Lyle Lovette about his worldview. Never thought that word would be in his vocabulary. I'm pleasantly surprised : )

ok, tchuss

"You're not the sort of girl I normally go out with - I mean, you're loud, you're disorganized, your friends are an embarrassment."

I FINALLY started researching the presidential candidates. After I was given grief for not knowing who I was supporting, I decided it was time to at least know where everyone stands on the issues. So, I went to Barnes & Nobles and picked up The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President by Mark Halperin. So far, it has been very helpful, though it has made me more undecided about who I am going to vote for next year. This is going to be my first presidential election, so my guy better win : )

While browsing through Blockbuster last night, Lauren and I found a version of Pride and Prejudice that we had never heard of before, so we thought we'd give it a try (and it was free with out other movie). So, even though it was a super low budget movie made by Mormons with cheesy actors, there was a hilarious book that all the characters read called the Pink Bible: how to bring your man to his knees. By the way, no one is meant to take the advice seriously...ITS A JOKE...or at least I hope it is. So here's what you should fill your cart with at the grocery store:

- any fruit which could be easily fed to a partner, such as grapes of berries.
- pineapples, kiwis, or coconuts. these will make you seem exotic.
- vegetables. men rarely buy vegetables, so they will make you seem mysterious.
- flour, sugar, and baking powder. these create the illusion you can cook.
- bottled water. it makes you seem athletic.
- gum. it implies fresh breath. avoid mouthwash, which implies you have a problem.
- steaks. if men think you will provide them with steaks, your foot is already in the door.

The whole premise of the book is that men are "simple creatures" who must be ensnared by women. As we were laughing through the ridiculousness of the entire book, I realized for a moment that lots of women honestly believe they have to "trap" their man and get married. No wonder so many women are depressed...they've been taught they need to go out their and find their man...just a thought.

"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment." (Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 6)

In other news, I'm trying to play the piano everyday and regain my "lost" talent. I took lessons when I was about 10, but after a year of complaining about practicing, my parents stopped the lessons. So, I'm determined not to lose what little remains of my piano skills, but unfortunately, its slow going right now.

: )