Blah!

Everything is blah. I have nothing to say.

I visited a new church this morning and no one even spoke to me. That really helped.

"The Devil Wears Prada"- and Autumn wears Braxton's Dinner!

Autumn and I went to see "The Devil Wears Prada" on Saturday afternoon. I liked it a lot. The movie did an excellent job of satirizing the shallow, materialistic, image driven society in which we live. There were some really funny lines. One of the funniest and most ridiculous lines in the whole movie is when one of the girls says to the other, "I am on a strict diet. I don't eat anything. Then, when I feel like I am going to pass out, I eat a cube of cheese."

After the movie we met my mom and Braxton at the mall. We had dinner at Bennigans. Braxton was well behaved, but started to get restless toward the end. Autumn graciously offered to take him for a little walk while we finished our meals. She hadn't been gone long when a waiter frantically approached and said, "The girl with the baby needs you immediately." My mom went to the rescue, only to find that our worst fear was true. Braxton had gotten so upset to be away from my mom that he threw up all over himself, Autumn and the floor. The poor host was so nice, but I felt terrible for him. How gross! We gave him some cash as we left the restaurant.

I really think Braxton needs to see a doctor about all the vomiting. It is not normal. Every time he gets upset he makes himself throw up.

"The Lakehouse"

I went to see "The Lakehouse" tonight. I thought it was an ok movie. However, the plot is filled with a lot of holes and you definitely have to go for the whole "willing suspension of disbelief" thing. If you are willing to disregard logic and you like a good (although predictable) love story, I would recommend seeing this movie in the theater. Otherwise, wait until it comes out on video.

Thoughts on Grace

I have been stressed out lately over a situation in my office involving one particular person. This person appears to enjoy getting ahead at the expense of others. In recent weeks, attitudes within the office have gotten very negative as a result of all the drama this person has initiated. I was at the point of having a talk with my boss when she came to town today, but one of my other co-workers said that she has been praying about the situation and thought we should wait and let God work things out in his own timing. As I pondered this in my heart, I agreed to wait, though not fully convinced it was the right thing to do.

"But he who has been forgiven little loves little..." Luke 7:47

In a book I have been reading recently, the author suggested that we should be willing to extend the same grace to others that God has given us. When I read this, I have to admit I felt a little guilty. This past weekend I ran into a guy that I had a brief (but totally immoral) relationship with prior to becoming a Christian. In my flesh, I felt this guy should be getting his "just desserts" for being an adulterer who never even felt guilty for cheating (at least I felt guilty, right??) Instead, he was strolling casually through the bookstore downtown, holding hands with another woman. I will not lie, seeing this angered me. I got a little self-righteous and wanted to kick and scream to God about how unfair it is that he is happy and I am the one who has repented and tried to live right. I wanted to start quoting one of the imprecatory psalms, calling for God's vindication on all my enemies! What I failed to realize at the time is that if God gave us all exactly what we deserve when we deserve it, I probably wouldn't be here. I had to ask God to forgive me.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

In these two situations, I have started to realize areas in which I need to grow. First, I am guilty of getting angry (a thoroughly useless emotion) without thinking about why people might be the way they are. Someone once said, "When you know better, you will do better." I really believe this. Therefore, I am going to try to make a conscious effort to pray for those who hurt me, instead of getting angry. I have asked God to give me a sympathetic heart towards these people. It is a lot harder to be angry when you feel sorry for someone.

One Year Ago, Today...

My dad died.

¡Hola mis amigos!

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately. I have been extremely busy. I've been going in to work early, leaving at noon for my Spanish class, and coming back at 3:30 and finishing out the day. I feel like all I ever do lately is drive!

My Spanish class got off to a rather rocky start. I failed my first vocabulary quiz because I misunderstood the nature of the quiz. I memorized all the words by recognition instead of being able to write them from memory. Now that I know what she expects, I anticipate that things will get better. We had our first major exam on Tuesday. I think it went well. I was hoping to get my exam back today, but my professor was sick and had to cancel class. Hopefully I will hear something tomorrow.

I will try to post something more substantial later...

Gina

Happy Mother's Day!

(Mom and Deidra)


Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the other moms out there. Parenting is a tough job. You have my utmost respect!

My best friend...

My best friend got married last month and yesterday her husband told her he thinks they made a huge mistake and wants a divorce. Basically, he just wants it all to go away as quickly as possible. She offered to go to counseling and he refused to go. He didn't even want her to say goodbye to his kids, but she insisted.

I went with her today to say goodbye to the kids. We met her husband at the cafe that he owns. She was crying, the kids were upset. It was awful. He didn't even speak to her the whole time...

According to my best friend, they never even had a fight. So, I don't know what brought all this on. He said something about feeling pressured to get married. But, he had plenty of opportunities to get out if he had wanted to. Personally, I think he was just using her. She put a lot of money on credit cards helping him out and paying for him to go to a writer's conference. Not to mention the fact that she gave up her job and moved to another state to be with him. Now, he thinks she is just supposed to go away like a bad dream.

Please pray for this couple.

What a Relief!

I am finally finished with all of my finals. I took my last exam last night and turned in my political theory paper this afternoon. It turned out to be 21 pages long, which was 6 pages longer than I had anticipated.

I am completely exhausted, not to mention starving. I haven't eaten all day. I think I am going to meet my friend Debbi for a drink and some dinner. After that, I will probably crash for the rest of the weekend.

On Christian Love

I am studying for finals and will not have time to write much over the next few days. So, I thought I would post a few things I find around the blogosphere. De(Bill) over at the Thinklings posted an excellent piece here on Christian love (and the lack thereof). He begins by posing this question:

Why are Christians hated so deeply ... by other Christians?

An excerpt:

I have read far too many posts and articles that can be summed up like this: “I’m a Christian but I’m really, really embarassed to be associated with all those hateful, ignorant, hypocritical Christians out there”.

Well, I’m not. I’m done being embarassed. I’m not ashamed of my brothers and sisters. God will take care of us, will correct us, and will make us perfect in the end. If you think about it, one of the things about Jesus that is just so . . . well, so breathtakingly awesome is that He was never embarassed of the weird people in His society. If He has saved someone, He isn’t embarassed of them. He doesn’t mind being associated with them. Because He knows that one day they will truly see Him, and will be like Him, because they will see Him as He is. And they will, one day, be glorified - a creature, redeemed by God and made perfect, before whom (as C.S. Lewis writes) we would sink in awe and might even be tempted to worship.

Jesus has plans for His bride. He plans on making her beautiful. You will not see me pointing at her and telling her she’s ugly. One day the angels will stand in awe.

In the meantime, may we do a better job at working out our salvation with fear and trembling, in walking more wisely toward those who are outside, in never being the cause of an unbeliever’s blasphemy before God, and in loving each other as Christ promised we would. And may God discipline us (starting with me) like crazy as we journey on this road. He will make us perfect - He promised it. And He is stubborn and zealous and determined and all-powerful, so I know he will do it!

Mandi reminds everyone in the comments section of this post: "love is not a feeling, it is a choice." Therefore, we truly must choose to love onen another as Jesus commanded us in John 13:34:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Finals

I have finals coming up next week. I also have to write a 15 page paper for my political theory class. I have to choose two themes that we have covered since the last paper. I have chosen to write about about race, and will include material from Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, June Jordan and several articles about the Holocaust. The second theme I have chosen is the economy. I am going to focus on the shift from the laissez-faire ideology of classical liberalism to modern welfare state liberalism and modern conservatism (in its many flavors). For that section, I am using material from Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Regan and a few others.

Luckily, one of my professors gave us a "free pass" on the final. So, that is one less thing I have to worry about. However, I do have a biology final on Monday, a comprehensive (oh yay!) final in my corrections class on Tuesday, and a final in my computer course next Thursday.

After this is over, I only have to finish some Spanish stuff online and then I should be ready to graduate. Hopefully, I can apply for graduation this summer.

Goodbye and Hello

You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
'Cause the good old days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems- Billy Joel

Today is my 30th birthday. To say that I have been depressed about leaving my twenties behind would be an understatement. Yet, as I started to reflect on my twenties, I realized that I had made a big mess out of most of my twenties. So, I suppose I can look at turning 30 in one of two ways: I can either be totally devastated and feel like the world is coming to an end, or I can look at it as a new beginning. I choose the latter. Besides, my friend Doug says that thirty is the new twenty. :)

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen Indeed!

Good Friday Lectionary Reading

GOOD FRIDAY LECTIONARY:
Isaiah 52:13-53:12

[13] See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high. [14] Just as there were many who were
astonished
at him--so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his
form beyond that of mortals--[15] so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not
been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they
shall contemplate.

[1] Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the
LORD been revealed? [2] For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we
should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire
him. [3] He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering
and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their
faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

[4] Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet
we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. [5] But
he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we
are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned
to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his
mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that
before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By a
perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his
future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for
the transgression of my people. [9] They made his grave with the
wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

[10] Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When
you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and
shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.
[11] Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction
through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many
righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore I will
allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil
with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was
numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and
made intercession for the transgressors.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my coworker's husband, Woody. He had a heart attack yesterday and is in intensive care. They are unable to stabilize him so that he can be moved to another hospital for a heart catheterization.

A Response From The Pastor

I got a reply from the email I sent my pastor regarding the lecture series last weekend. I am posting the response here. I have intentionally removed the names of the parties to protect their privacy interests.

Thanks for your thoughts on the lecture series, I shared them with (the two associate pastors). The three of us have talked about some of the statements made by Dr. _____. Of course, we can't speak for her, but it is safe to say that at least a point of her message was the diversity within scripture interpretation. She exemplified just that! There is a wide range of scriptural interpretation, no two people see every word the same way. However, I did appreciate the way she upheld the Bible as inspired, as the word of God, as our authority as Christians.

Some of her words (ie "convoluted") were rather abrasive, rough, and at times, even disconcerting to some, I'm sure. However, as (one of the associate pastors) commented, Dr. ______ is used to an academic environment, one with a purpose to challenge, to test, to dispute, to confront, to tantalize one's curiosity to plumb the depths of God's word - ie to do theology.

All of us can agree that Paul was more than just a computer keyboard for the HS. We can also agree that he wrote in a certain period, within a certain culture. What we cannot agree on all the time is how all of those ingredients fit into the equation we call inspired word of God.

You've made some good comments which any of us would enjoy discussing further with you, though I'd much prefer face to face. I'd also encourage you, if you'd like, to write an email to Dr._____. It would be interesting to hear her comments.

Thanks again Gina, for caring so deeply for the Word, for sharing your faith, and for joining together in our quest for a discerning heart.

Grace and Peace,

_________

"Rejoice in the Lord always!.... and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Phil. 4:4,7)

What are your thoughts?? Comments??

"We Are Marshall" Cast to Visit Huntington on Saturday

Matthew McConaughey and other cast and crew members of the upcoming "We Are Marshall" movie will be in town this weekend to meet with reporters at the Keith Albee. Also on Saturday, there will be a block party on 4th Avenue to kick off the movie.

Phone Duty

I called the Social Security office yesterday regarding a matter I have been trying to get taken care of since my dad passed away in June of last year. After getting the run around for the last few weeks, I was finally able to talk to someone in the local office where I had originally filled out a form that has since vanished from the face of the earth. I was told that without this form (that I filled out almost a year ago) that I would have to start the process to get this matter taken care of from scratch, which means it would take at least another two months. However, I was told that if I contacted the local office they should have my form on file and could fax the form to the appropriate person to expedite this matter. Great, I think. Maybe I will get this taken care of before I die!

Unfortunately, I forgot that I was dealing with the a governmental organization. Here is what happened:

Me: Hi. I am calling regarding.....

SSA rep: Oh. Well...um yeah, it says they don't have the form and there is nothing I can do about that.

Me: Yes, I know. But, I was told that your office should have it on file.

SSA rep: Yes. We might have it on file, that's true. I would love to help you, but I am afraid I can't get up from my desk to check the filing cabinet because I am on phone duty and there are other callers waiting in the queue.

Me: I've been waiting for 9 months!

SSA rep: Yes, ma'am. I apologize. But, I am afraid I can't get out of my chair right now. As I said, I am on phone duty... We have other callers waiting...I am really sorry...I could call you back in a few hours perhaps...It's just that I am on phone duty and I have other callers in the queue...

Me: (Interrupting) Yes, I understand. (Sigh!) Ok, please return my call as soon as possible at _____________. Thank you!

SIGH!

I Guess Nathan Gets To Say, "I Told You So"

I posted here about my concern over the guest speaker from Columbia Theological Seminary that was scheduled to speak at my church today. I thought that it was only fair to find out what she had to say before jumping to any radical conclusions. Unfortunately, my fears were validated. In a nutshell, she essentially took a blowtorch to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. In a series of lectures on family values she declared that there are several ways in which to understand family values from a biblical perspective and indicated that these various ways create a contradiction. At one point she declared that Paul's letters to the Corinthians were very "convoluted." She also said she hoped Jesus was wrong about there being no marriage or giving in marriage at the resurrection. Oh, lets see...what else? She further claimed that both Paul and Jesus thought celibacy was superior to marriage.

There are two more lectures in this series, one tonight and one tomorrow afternoon. Based upon what was said in her sermon during morning worship, I anticipate that she is setting the stage to justify alternative lifestyles, like homosexuality and same sex marriage. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely believe in equal rights in the workplace and etc... regardless of sexual orientation. I also believe that as Christ's church on the earth, we are to preach the truth in love. At the same time, the church must not redefine morality to make it more popular.

So, now I am not sure what to do. Do I stay and take a stand for the truth? Or, do I leave in order to preserve my mind from unsound doctrine?

Comfort

I had a terrible headache all morning and most of the afternoon. I hadn't eaten anything all day so I went out to get something around 2:00 p.m. or so. I thought that if I ate something and took some ibuprofen, I might feel better. As I was driving, Steven called. Here is an excerpt of our conversation:

Me: What should I have for lunch?

Steven: Hmm. A salad.

Me: Yuck. I don't want a salad...

Steven: Why not? Salad is good for you...

Me: Yeah, but salad is not comforting.

Steven: Ahhh! Food is not supposed to be comforting! Food is not a substitute for love.

Me: Oh...

Bittersweet Memories

Today would have been my dad's 54th birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away on June 14th, 2005. I think of my dad often, especially on days like today. I miss him so much more than I ever imagined was possible. I miss the way we used to discuss religion and politics until the wee hours of the morning, or how we listened to music together and talked about the lyrics. We also shared a love for reading, suspense movies, and most importantly, God. (Oh, how I wish I could have shared more of this part of my life with my father. But, it was not to be. In many ways my journey of faith echoed that of St. Augustine, who cried out in lament: "How late have I loved thee, oh God.")

My dad and I didn't always agree. In fact, we rarely saw eye to eye on many things. We were both very opinioned. In the earlier years of my life, this inherited trait kept me in a lot of trouble. Those years were not the easiest by any means. We had a lot of problems in our home. My parents argued a lot and my dad battled alcoholism. (He was sober for many years and then he relapsed and my parents divorced...) But, as I became an adult, we did grow closer. For that I am very thankful.

When someone dies, I think it is easy to put them on a pedestal and forget about their flaws. I don't want to do that. My dad wasn't perfect. No one is. Ultimately, it took cancer to bring him to his knees in repentance. In one day, after hearing the words, "You have cancer," my dad was able to do what he had declared for years was impossible. He gave up smoking and drinking cold turkey, and never looked back. (This from a man who drank from the time he got out of bed in the morning, until he went to bed at night). Its amazing what we can do when we have no choice. In my father's hospital room, a few days before he passed away, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I am so sorry. I know I did this to myself." What an awful realization!

Today has been hard. I talked to my associate pastor this morning and he invited me to a LOGOS dinner that the kids have on Wednesday nights and offered me some quiet time in the prayer room at our church. (It is a very peacefully little room that looks like a miniature sanctuary, complete with mini pews and an altar). I thanked him for the invitation, but I didn't go. Instead, I opted to have dinner with my mom and my grandmother. One thing I have learned from my father's passing is that, as much as your family members can get on your nerves or drive you crazy, time stands still for no one. Life is short. We must make the most of it. Of all the mistakes I have made in life, one that stands out among the ones for which I am most regretful, is the time, a couple of years prior to my fathers passing, that we did not speak for several months. I can't even remember why I was angry with him. But, I do know that in the end I would have given anything to have those few months back.

I bought my dad a birthday card today. I don't know why. My mother asked me what I was going to do with it. I said, "I don't know." I suppose a part of me just can't accept the fact that I can never give my dad another Christmas card or birthday card again. When I was in New York City over the holidays I saw many cards stuck in the fence at ground zero. I guess those people are a lot like me, and find it hard to accept the fact that their loved ones are gone.

Despite my grief,I know we will see each other again. I take comfort in this:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV

And this:

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

1 Corinthians 15:54 ESV

I love you Dad. Happy Birthday!

"We'll Always Have Paris"

I knew it! I would LOVE to go to Paris...

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and a little sassy, you were meant for Paris. The art, the fashion, the wine, the men! Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park... You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?

Removing My Sister's Link

After a brief review of my sister's my space link, I had to remove it from my blog because of the content. There were several questionable comments and a couple of photos that were not in good taste. So... sadly, I am not able to link to her. In my opinion, a link is an endorsement, and I can't endorse some of the stuff I read on there.

That being said, please pray for Deidra. She was baptized at an early age and professed a strong faith in Christ early on. When we were growing up, she was always the one who defended Christianity when I questioned it. However, as many people often do in their college years, she has wandered from the faith. I have been praying for her constantly. I was encouraged last week to hear that she went to church on her own a couple of weeks ago. That is a good sign, I think. But, from what I can tell, she doesn't have a lot of positive influences in Florida from which to draw upon. Her boyfriend is essentially a non-practicing Catholic who thinks that the bible should not be taken literally (ever) and believes he can do whatever he wants now and pay for his sins in pergatory later. Her best friend is also Catholic, and holds similar views. (By the way, I am not picking on Catholics. From what I can see, neither of them appear to even understand the doctrinal positions of "The Church." Much of their conduct would be considered mortal sin according to my understanding of Catholic doctrine, and thus, not subject to the refining fires of pergatory. In other words, if you die in unconfessed mortal sin, you go to hell, not pergatory, as the RCC teaches that pergatory is for venial (less serious) sin.)

I have been trying to share the gospel with them. Pray that God will remove the blindness from their eyes so that they may see the truth.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Jesus: "The Author and Perfecter of Our Faith"

I have been thinking this week about Kansas Bob's recent comment about faith being lived in the heart and not the head. I have been really struggling lately with fear and discouragement. As I pondered Kansas Bob's words in my heart, this passage was brought to my mind:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

It appears that Paul was able to stay focused on his journey of faith by refusing to live in the past. He could have easily allowed himself to become discouraged, had he focused on his past failures and missed opportunities. Instead, however; he chose to focus on Jesus Christ, realizing, as Kansas Bob pointed out, that faith is lived in the heart and not the head. It is a gift from God. Hebrews 12:2 affirms that it is Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Therefore, faith is not something we can manufacture on our own. This truth should be extremely encouraging to those of us who are all too aware of the depth of our own shortcomings.

I am convinced that fear is the main reason so many people (myself included) appear to reach a stalemate in their Christian walk. What limits us from doing the things we believe God may be calling us to do? Why do we sometimes fall away? Is it a fear of failure, or anxiety about the future because of mistakes we have made in the past? When we allow these things to take up residence in our minds it is a indication that we have taken our eyes off of Jesus. This is dangerous thing to do. Just imagine what would have happened to Peter if Jesus had not been there to rescue him when he took his eyes of Jesus and began to drown when he was walking out on the water to meet him!

While, we may be inclined to conclude from some biblical passages that faith is something we do, we must realize it is not something we do apart from Christ. Jesus affirms this is John 15:5, saying:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

We get in trouble when we forget this basic truth.

Self Esteem?

As I have been reading and studying about ways to overcome my fears and negative feelings from the past, the notion of self-esteem keeps popping up. Should Christians have self-esteem? I am so perplexed and frustrated. On one hand, I know that my negative self image is hindering my ability to develop relationships with others and God. Yet, when I read someone like John MacArthur I hear that we are all just "privy pots." :) So, what is the correct way to view oneself?

I'm Not Sure What To Make Of This

This was in the church bulletin this morning:

We are very excited and pleased to have one of our very own present this year’s Leckie Bible Lectures. ___________, daughter of ____________will share five lectures with us, from Saturday evening to Monday lunch. She will also preach Sunday morning, with the sermon “Whose Family Values?” with biblical texts Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33.

She states:
North American church and culture are aflame with debate about what constitute ppropriate family values.

• Crowds of protesters urge federal and state legislators either to defend the institution of heterosexual marriage or to extend its benefits to gay and lesbian couples.
• Child welfare agencies encounter increasingly harsh criticism in the face of repeated failures to protect the most vulnerable people entrusted to their care.
• Religious communities of every stripe battle over issues of human sexuality, clergy misconduct, and the proper character of family life.

The Bible serves as a significant authority—or weapon—in these struggles, with opponents hurling Bible verses at each other. I think the multiple voices of the New Testament offer several different answers to the questions we raise about kinship and family life, and I think this very diversity may itself prove helpful for the debate. My thesis is that there are among New Testament writers broadly three ways of construing family values, dubbed for the sake of conversation apocalyptic disorientation, theological reorientation, and ecclesiastical domestication. We will consider them and ask what each contributes to our thinking about life together in the household of God and in the individual households we create within it. If the water of baptism is thicker than the blood of kinship, what does that suggest about how we live together as families?

First of all, she states that the Bible is, "a significant authority" in these struggles. Ummm. Well, for Christians, it should be THE authority.

And, this really concerns me:

"My thesis is that there are among New Testament writers broadly three ways of construing family values."

I am not even sure I want to know what THAT means.

What a Relief!

I called my cell phone company today and talked to a really nice guy there. He agreed to backdate my rate plan and give me a credit for the minutes I went over. Of course, I will have to pay the difference between the plan I had and the plan I am switching to. But, that is a lot better than paying over $400.00.

I am happy.

Another Prayer from God's Word

Another great prayer from Beth Moore's Praying God's Word:

Lord, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-help me to make the choice to think about such things. (Philipians 4:8) Lord God, help me to feed the Spirit, not the flesh!

I talk too much

On the way home from class, I called to see how much my cell phone bill is this month. I almost fainted when the automated system said, $412.74!

Ok, wow...

I can't recall ever having a cell bill that high. My first impression was that there must be a mistake. Unfortunately, there wasn't. I realize I went over my minutes but it kinda burns me that for just $5.00 more they have a plan that would have covered me. But, instead, they are going to charge me .40 cents a minute for all my calls that went over the limit. Sigh!

I talk too much.

Biblical Affirmations

From The Bondage Breaker:

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I have been bought with a price: I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
I can be confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected. (Philippians 1:6)
I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)

Some others:

With man things might seem impossible. But with God's help, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

I can regain control over my eating disorder because "greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

I will not be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. In my temptation, God creates a way of escape for me. ( 1 Corinthians 10:13)

If I trust the Lord with all my heart and do not rely on my own wisdom, he will direct my steps. (Proverbs 3:5)

Prayers from Beth Moore's Praying God's Word:

Father, the false teachers of this world promise freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity- for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Peter 2:19) I acknowledge my slavery and deeply desire to be mastered by You alone. Only Your mastery brings liberty.

"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial "Everything is permissible for me"-but I desire not to be mastered by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12) Lord God help me to recognize and discern what is not beneficial for me. Help me to see that authentic liberty is being free to do certain things and not free to do others.

More later...

"A journey of a thousand miles..."

It has been said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Today I am taking that step.

I believe that life is a spiritual journey. While I have been on that journey for 29 years, my public profession of faith did not occur until the spring of 2004 when I was baptized- March 20, 2005 to be exact. As I come upon the anniversary of that event, my observation is that I have noticed very little in the way of spiritual development in the last year. Certainly, I have gained a tremendous amount of intellectual knowledge about Christianity. However, looking at my life, I have seen only miniscule growth in the areas of faith, love, and discipleship. I have to wonder why that is.

I think I know.

In Romans 6:12-14, Paul says:

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

At first glance I might be inclined to dismiss this passage as having any relevance to me. I haven't killed anyone. I don't sleep around. I don't do drugs, or drink so much that I am falling down drunk. All this might lead me to conclude that I am basically a good person...

A few weeks ago I read a post on someone's blog regarding a woman who used to be a prostitute and adult film actress. The woman has since turned her life around and is actively involved in ministering to young women from similar backgrounds. The author of the post was very critical of the media attention and accolades this woman had been receiving, wondering why those of us who "get it right most of the time" hardly ever get any credit. This led me to think about what "getting it right most of the time" really means. Do I get it right most of the time? Just because I have never been a drug addict or a porn star, does that somehow make me better than someone else? I don't think so. If anything, I think that the sanctification process is often easier for people who have committed grave sin than it is for those of us who "get it right most of the time." Professing Christians know that "big" sins like, Adultery, Murder, Stealing, etc... are wrong and must be dealt with. But, what about those little things like, pride, envy, jealousy, and gossip?

I have an eating disorder.

So what? So do thousands of other Americans, you might say. But it is a big deal. Anorexia, Bulima, and Compulsive Overreating are definite signals that something is adrift in the areas of moderation and self-control.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Although this passage primarily refers to sexual immorality, it is clear that any sin against the body dishonors and grieves the holy spirit.

2 Peter 1:5-9 refers to the importance of self-control:

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Similarly 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be "self-controlled and alert" because, our enemy satan, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

If self-control is a fruit of the spirit, why don't I have it in certain areas of my life? Could it be that I have not been willing to look at the underlying reasons for my eating disorder? Someone once said, "you cannot fix what you will not face." It is often easier to live with a problem than to explore the solution.

Ultimately, I must admit that my unwillingness and inablity to trust God to heal my past hurts and restore my mind is sin of the most serious variety. In Luke 18, Jesus asks a very troubling question: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Ridiculous? Not really. We believe in God. But, as Beth Moore asks, "Do we believe God?"

In my next post I am going to discuss faith and list some positive affirmations that I found in Neil Anderson's "The Bondage Breaker" as well as some that I have come up with myself. God may not be the genie in a bottle of the WoF variety, but I also don't believe that He intends us to live in bondage to strongholds that impede our faith and cause us to live as less than who we are in Christ.

Strathairn joins "We Are...Marshall" cast

Warner Bros. recently announced that "Good Night, and Good Luck" star, David Strathairn, will be joining Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox in "We Are...Marshall," the upcoming movie project about the 1970 plane crash.

Daytona 500 Preshow featuring Bon Jovi and... my sister?!!

I got a phone call from my sister, Deidra, last night. She called to tell me that she is going to be on TV today. Apparently she got a VIP pass to go on stage with Bon Jovi during the Daytona 500 preshow. It will be airing this afternoon on NBC.

You go girl!

What to do about the Sabbath?

My friend Doug and I were recently discussing whether or not Christians are still required to keep the Sabbath. He says yes. I say no. I found an excellent analysis of this issue from John MacArthur here.

What do you think?

Marshall University Football Movie

This is pretty cool...

Earlier this week, Warner Brothers Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced plans to make a movie about the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, staff and fans as they returned from a football game at East Carolina. The movie will focus on the team's inspirational recovery after the crash. University President, Stephen J. Kopp, describes the movies as "a story about people shaped by loss and how people can overcome that."

Matthew McConaughey has been cast to play Jack Lengyel, who coached the Thundering Herd football team after the crash. Lost star Matthew Fox will be playing Red Dawson, who worked with Lengyel.

Filming Begins March 20th, 2006 in Huntington.


This should be good for Marshall and Huntington.... (And, lets face it, Matthew McConaughey is easy on the eyes)





More info here


UPDATE: The movie now has a name. Apparently, it is going to be called "We Are Marshall." While the phrase means a lot to the locals, I am not sure sure it is going to grab anyone else. Personally, I think they could have picked something a little more interesting.

It's Official...Almost

I passed my licensing exam this afternoon! Yay! The test was much harder than our intructor suggested it would be. There was a lot of information that we did not cover in class. The basic premises we covered were all there, but they went into much more detail than I anticipated. I tried not to panic. I just reasoned them out to the best of my ability, using the process of elimination. Luckily, that worked. Plus, I prayed a lot before the test. Now, all I have left to do is some paperwork that will make me officially appointed by the insurer that I work for to sell for them as an agent, or as the law now calls it, producer. By the way, did you know that technically speaking, an agent is the agent of the insurer and not the insured? Just something to ponder.

It is really times like this when I realize that without him, I really am nothing...

This week

This week I am taking a pre-licensing class for Property and Casualty Insurance. There is soooooooo much information. I am beginning to run out of steam. They literally cram the equivalent of a whole semester of information into a week. I am taking the exam on Saturday afternoon. I could have waited longer, but everyone I have talked to advised me to take the exam as soon as I possibly could after completing the class. I hope they are right.

I would appreciate your prayers.

My brain

I found this interesting quiz today. I did it and it seems pretty accurate. Here are my results:

Your Brain Usage Profile:

Auditory : 50%
Visual : 50%
Left : 58%
Right : 41%




Gina, you are somewhat left-hemisphere dominant with a balanced preference for auditory and visual inputs. Because of your "centrist" tendencies, the distinctions between various types of brain usage are somewhat blurred.

Your tendency to be organized and logical and attend to details is reasonably well-established which should afford you success regardless of your chosen field of endeavor, unless it requires total spontaneity and ability to improvise, your weaker traits. However, you are far from rigid or overcontrolled. You possess a degree of individuality, perceptiveness, and trust in your intuition to function at much more sophisticated levels than most.

Having given sufficient attention to detail, you can readily perceive the larger aspects and implications of a situation or of learning. You are functional and practical, but can blend abstraction and theory into your framework readily.

The equivalence of your auditory and visual learning orientation gives you two equally effective sensory input systems, each with distinctive features. You can process both unidimensionally and multidimen- sionally with equal facility. When needed, you sequence material while at other times you "intake it all" and store it for processing later.

Your natural ability to use your senses is also synthesized in your way of learning. You can be reflective in your approach, absorbing material in a non-aggressive manner, and at other times voracious in seeking out stimulation and experience.

Overall you tend to be somewhat more critical of yourself than is necessary and avoid enjoying life too much because of a sense of duty. You feel somewhat constrained and tend to sometimes restrict your expressiveness. In any given situation, you will opt for the rational, and learning of almost any type should be easy for you. You might need certain ideas explained to you in order to fit them into your scheme of things, but you're at least open to that!

Gazelle

Thanks to my friend Debbi and her husband John, I can now use my new Gazelle. In the spirit of exercising more in 2006, I purchased this fun little piece of exercise equipment. It arrived on Wednesday in a million pieces. Luckily I did not have to put it together. John offered to help and so I gave them a bookshelf I had been wanting to sell or get rid of to say thanks. They have a daughter, Megan, who is in college and starting to accumulate household items so that she can furnish an apartment soon. I gave her some stuff that I had in storage a month or so ago. It worked out well. I wanted to get rid of some clutter and she needed the stuff.

I'm back!

Hi everyone! I know it has been a while since I have posted anything. It has been crazy around here for the last few months with work, school and the holidays. Also, after prayerful consideration, I decided to take a hiatus from blogging and the net for a while. All things considered, I think it was a good thing.

We spent Christmas in New York City this year. We stayed at the Waldorf=Astoria on Park and Lexington. The hotel was great, but our rooms were kind of small. But, who goes to New York to hang out in a hotel room anyway? So,it wasn't a big deal. We were only there four and a half days so we didn't get to do everything we wanted, but we did a lot. The highlight of our trip was Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Former mayor Giuliani was there. A gentleman from the New York Opera sang "Oh Holy Night." It gave me chills. Good stuff! Oh, and of course I can't leave off all the shopping on 5th Avenue and Madison Ave. That was a blast. Finally, on Christmas night we had dinner at Tavern on the Green and then we took a carriage ride through Central Park.

What else is new? Let's see. Oh, I got a promotion at work. When my boss came to me to discuss the opportunity I was hesitant and not sure it was something I wanted to do right now because I am in my final semester of college and I am taking 19 hours of classes. But, I decided to pray about it and I asked a couple of close friends to pray about it with me as well. In the end, my boss was practically bending over backwards to accommodate my schedule. So, I decided to take it. I am glad I did. I think it is a step in the right direction and will be good for my checkbook and resume. The only drawback is that I have to go to a pre-licensing class in week or so and then take a state licensing exam to get my property and casualty insurance license in West Virginia. Ordinarily, this would be no big deal. But, on top of all my classes, its a bit daunting. So, I really would appreciate your prayers.