Stall

Many people possess stories about how they nearly died. Similar and unique stories regarding near-death encounters are countless—violent accidents, deadly illnesses, grotesque injures, dangerous defects. The horrible stories emphatically describe the frailty of each and every one of us. It seems that death gives no quarter, stalking our race at every turn. My story is similar, but it tells me of a new, better way to exist. It does not tell me to hopelessly exist, to pointlessly exist. My story is of hope, a confirmation of a certain truth. My story begins nearly three-and-a-half years ago.

I stood on a tarmac, proud stare directed across Ephrata's dusty, crusted landscape. Not even possessing a driver's permit, I prepared to take to the air. Fellow comrades, cadets of the United States Air Force's auxiliary, purposefully moved about. We were at flight school, a basic glider encampment program offered through Civil Air Patrol. With the assistance of a few grizzled adults, a jerry-rigged tow truck, a white twelve-passenger van, and an aluminum-framed, canvas-skinned sailplane, we were to conquer the heavens.

Excited cadets moved toward the soaring jalopy and positioned it on the runway. For the next few hours, I, as all the other cadets, alternated between steadying the glider's wings and tail during the takeoff's onset, recovering the dropped tow cable's chute with the truck, ridding in the van to pick up and shade cadets who steadied the glider, and piloting the sailplane with Major McKinnon, our primary flight instructor, as copilot.

As those hours passed, I focused on my labors, sweating freely and sipping gingerly at the somehow sparring water bottles, but my turn came soon enough.

Someone called out, “Cadet Mullins!”

I glanced over, “Yes, Sergeant.”

“You're up,” shrugging off a slap to my back.

I nodded.

“Eh-hm,” he hinted.

“Yes, Sergeant,” I said, smile curving my lips slightly.

He departed with another slap to my back and toothy grin.

I exhaled deeply, depositing my water bottle in the cab of the aged and peeling van, and headed over to the glider as three cadets wheeled it into position. This was not my first time up, nor my second nor my third. It was nothing new. I knew the general routine of the flight and knew—well, almost knew—all of the checklist details. If I forgot something, Major McKinnon would back me up, just as he had reminded us in the classroom, just as he had reminded throughout the day on the tarmac.

We went through the checklist, and as I expected, I fumbled on a few details, and as he said he would do, he briefed me on the missed or confused details. I bobbed my head in understanding.

“You ready, Cadet,” his voice of sixty plus years rasped.

I nodded once again. I may have lied. Though inexcusable, is not lying that which we all do when unsure, proud, or fearful?

As McKinnon watched quietly from the copilot's seat, I strapped on my harness, tested the different flight control surfaces, and communicated the go-ahead to a fellow cadet waiting just outside the cockpit. His muffled voice sent the cadets scrambling into position, leveling wings and tail and cabling the glider to the tow truck. Thumbs up—we were go. I thumbed back an affirmative. The tow truck chugged forward, easing up to takeoff velocity. Quickly, the chaperoning cadets dropped back as I leveled out the aircraft on its mono-wheel landing piece. Faster, faster—we hovered off the ground.

“Let's take her up,” McKinnon said.

Very quickly now, we shot into the air, a thirty-five to forty degree incline that put us at the cable release altitude within a few seconds. At nine hundred feet, I released the cable.

“Release.” Cli-clank.

A sudden up and down motion confirmed the cable's release. Now, remember that this was not my first time up. The novelty of realizing that I was held up by nothing more than air—merely physics, if anyone can ever describe such an awesome thing as flight with such an insensitive phrase—sometimes escaped me, and on this flight, it did. Though the seemingly illogical and amazing reality of many hundreds of pounds of flesh and bone, canvas and aluminum, floating effortlessly through the air avoided me at the time, I did not escape—and if I am so blessed, I shall never forget—the beauty that flight showed to me. Everything was gorgeous. The landscape east of Mt. Rainier, dry and barren, mysterious and martian, exciting and exhilarating, can never be appreciated by the woefully limited minds in our possession. Our minds can only comprehend so much of the beauty that so bountifully carpets the world around us. I was awestruck.

“Beautiful, isn't it,” Major McKinnon spoke, softly.

“Yes, sir” was all I mustered.

McKinnon brought me out of my muse.

“Okay, Cadet, let's bring her around.”

I responded with yoke and rudder pedals. We banked and looked down at the cadets and vehicles far below.

So small and yet so close, I marveled. So close.

Then I remembered how close we actually were, that we were definitely no more than nine hundred feet up—nature dictating that we came down—that we were really ridding in a big, stiff-winged egg shell in a controlled fall. I reacted.

Tacking on over- to reaction better defines my response. I pulled back on the yoke too much, too quickly, or a little of both. Within a few seconds, I lost control. We stalled and dove back toward the earth. My stiff hands continued grasping the yoke as my thoughts drifted to a new reality, one in nearly polar opposition to the beauty of the earth. That reality was death. Death really did seem right there, down there on the ground, opening its mouth. At that moment, I was literally falling to my doom.

But I can remember a voice.

“Let go!”

And I did.

In nearly the same amount of time it took for me to doom myself, he rescued me. From the rear of that cockpit, Major McKinnon pulled me from certain destruction. He saved me.

If I had held on to that yoke, I may not have been here today. Salvation came with trust, offering up control of something I did not know how to control and could not control. To hold on was to damn myself. The pride that I felt while standing on the tarmac could not save me; the hard work that I did while biding my time could not save me; the exhilaration that I felt while taking in the beauty of nature could not save me; the preparation that I had taken beforehand could not save me. I could not save myself. As it turns out, I actually needed to be saved from myself. I needed someone who did not have the same weakness as I did. I needed someone else to save me, and when I took my misplaced trust in self and gave it to him, he saved me, straight away.

What Are We to Do?

What are we to do? What are we supposed to feel ill for doing and not doing? Are we to not regret anything for it has been washed away by Christ's blood as we are forgiven by Him? Are we supposed to ever dwell on that which we could or should do? Are we supposed to dwell on the past, now, or future? Are we supposed to have a balance of all of the above?

I think, I believe, but I do not know. I think we are supposed to function and the now and look out for what we can do for others now, not worrying or fretting about anything of the past or the future, but trusting Jesus for the now. If we realize we aren't trusting Jesus, we aren't supposed to beat ourselves up for it. We are supposed to repent, then turn our eyes back to Jesus--pure and simple.

Focus on helping and improving others because Jesus wants us to helps us take our eyes off ourselves. With our eyes off ourselves, we do not worry about what we have done or what we will do. We dwell on what we are doing not, for others, not ourselves. If we dwell on ourselves, we dwell on our flesh. If we dwell on our flesh, we think of sin. If we think of sin, we do more sin. What you think more about you are more prone to do. Thus, think on helping others, serving others, assisting others, pleasing others, and these things--through God's grace, His power to do what is right--we will do.

I believe what I've said here, but if someone could confirm and encourage (or correct) my belief as truth through the written word of God, that would be awesome!

familiar events

Hm, well . . . flour is annoying. I found today that my vehicle was thoroughly disheveled: TP and flour smothered the whole thing. I saw some gooey substance under my driver side handle . . . I didn't bother to touch it. I suppose some would call this a prank. I shouldn't be surprised. I have pranked people in the past. Only one thing bugs me: the flour. It was kinda dry and it took me finding a old plastic card and good bit o' scrapping to dislodge the splotchy substance from the vehicle. I have decided one thing for all future pranks I conduct: for the sake of others, I will not use flour. It is a pain. In months and years previous, I have attempted to keep my pranks merely inconvenient, causing, on part of the prankee, not so much work as nervous, annoyed smiles and giggles. That flour did cause me to get the car cleaner than otherwise, but still, it was slightly more annoying than soggy TP.

Essay - ( 0 |\| + |? 0 \/ 3 |? $ 3 `/

• Another essay.
  
  Comment however.
  
  
• Same-sex Marriage and Child-Rearing
  
  Legalization of homosexuality is a hot topic today. The opinions about it seem polar at times. The sentiments behind it seem charged quite often. Many people hesitate to step on people's toes while some boldly rush forward, fired by heartfelt conviction. Everyone has their reasons for supporting or not supporting homosexuality. Since the legalization of homosexual marriage in several states around the union, the issue of homosexual parenting became significant in the minds of proponents and opponents. Opponents claim that homosexual parenting does little if anything to aid the upbringing and nurturing of children. Broadly speaking, homosexual parenting hamper the healthy development of children, even in a country so enmeshed with openness of mind and acceptance of diversity.
  
  Diversity is an important matter of discussion. From school to the work place, diversity presents itself to the world at all times. No doubt education regarding diversity, especially in such a land as our own, is valuable. What better way to teach about diversity than to have homosexual parents, an education-through-experience opportunity, some would say. Indeed, homosexual parents may very well successfully supply a doss of diversity education to children. The children would learn all about how their mothers share their lives together for their mutual benefit; the children would learn how to be polite. Bigotry never saw a bigger stone to budge. This approving view of homosexual parenting, however, is fairly odd, when considered as an argument. Yes, the parents would be diverse; yes, the teaching would be fair to homosexuals; but such teaching goes far beyond the most simple facts of diversity. By simply being homosexual parents, they teach extraordinarily complex lessons on diversity. They start with differential calculus instead of simple addition. Mentally and physically, they violate the most basic of diverse teachings: man and woman. The most basic, common form of diversity on the planet is the existence of men and women. Every other diverse thing—race, religion, sexual orientation, or what have you—proceeds the fact of men and women. Thus, the most logical introductory lesson on diversity should regard both sexes, man and woman. Learning to relate with a man and a woman, the two most common types of people anyone deals with, should come before learning how to relate with a man and a man or with a woman and a woman. Learning to personally relate with only men or only women is like a birthday party with only cake: it is never complete without ice cream.
  
  At least passively, homosexual parenting promote a false biological view. This view denies the necessity that both men and women need to exist in order for humanity to continue. Of course, a young adult understands mentally that it is impossible for life to continue through just men or just women. This biological lie still resides subconsciously within homosexuals and any of their children; the homosexual life-style rails directly against the facts of nature governing reproduction. Men and women, not men and men or women and women, beget offspring. Whether intentional or not, any other message attacks, though futilely, all standards of sexual biology. Who knows what the minds of children concoct to justify as natural homosexual parents' actions. They may turn over in bed one morning and decide they can only relate to people that are like them, people who are the same sex, that is. But this argument may also go against heterosexual parenting: a child may think that they can only relate to people that are not like them. In a sense, neither is true. Anyone may relate to anyone else as a friend, but no one may relate to just anyone else in a legitimately intimate manner to produce children. At least biologically, homosexuality and heterosexuality differ in that unnatural and cannot result in our species continuance while one is natural and can result in our species continuance. Also, by constantly being aware, subconsciously or otherwise, that their homosexual parents are intimate and later knowing that they cannot reproduce naturally, a child may come to believe that unnatural reproduction or adoption is the way that it meant to be, that it is better than natural reproduction. In fact, that is another lie. Not even considering the possibility of having children with syndromes or contracting diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis, consider the average costs of artificial reproduction (Wilkins-Haug, Hines, Colburn). Artificial insemination costs an average $300-$500 (CostHelper.com). At a particular institute, other artificial means—intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro fertilization, and gamete intrafallopian transfer—average $1,200, $9,500-$32,000, and $8,000-$10,000, respectively (AdvancedFertility.com, ParentingWeekly.com). Adoption may as much as $35,000 (TheAdoptionGuide.com). Fostering natural biological reproduction, which is free, seems quite sound and proper—at least, if the pocket book factors in, and except for those with a Beverly Hills address, the pocket book always factors in.
  
  Another thing uncommon to the Beverly Hill addresses is the traditional American family, consisting of a mother, a father, numerous children, and probably a Fido or two. As far as biology is concerned, homosexual parenting removes the father-mother standard of a family. A same-sex parenting team consist, by definition, two fathers or two mothers. Even if one parent takes a more traditionally father-like or mother-like stance, the image is forced, and the parent will tend to fall back into more natural habits—if a woman functioning as a father, back to nurturing sweetness without the necessary firmness; if a man functioning as mother, back to commanding authority without the necessary understanding. Of course, both of these standards find themselves challenged in modern society, but according to history and nature, it seems such womanly softness and manly boldness are standard. Without a well-defined version of either parental unit, a child face confusion about his own parental purpose in the future. Is he to be feminine or masculine? Confusion, as everyone knows, leads to misplaced emotion, unjust anger, self-pity, or some other undesirable thing. If left to fester, these emotions find their way into actions. Actions helmed by rampaging emotions nearly always result in a ghastly wrecks. The wrecks make up the acts of a play that the emotional actor calls his life. Though seemingly indirect, mothers and fathers, or lack thereof, do mold the lives of their children. Mothers and fathers function as the behind-the-scenes specialists—lighting technicians, prop-movers, make-up artists, and choreographers. Many people get where they are because parents provided them with the stuff they needed to get there. Some of those emotionally charged, so-called fatherless children—technically, no one is fatherless—grow up only to become worse off than the fathers they never knew; more likely than not, these fatherless children do, in fact, turn out materially worse off than their own fathers (Sorensen and Zibman). Those same fatherless children, probably suffering from loneliness and lack of encouragement, are twice as likely to become sexually active at a young age, increasing their likelihood of becoming pregnant by seven times (Ellis, et al). Dare anyone consider the sorrow of a motherless home? For now, pass it by and suffice it to say that it seems quite sound that children should be in homes with both a father and a mother, a man to function as man and a woman as a woman.
  
  Homosexual parenting possesses some drawbacks, not to say heterosexual parenting has none. Nothing is perfect, but to add more hurt to the hurt that exists already seems beyond unreasonable. It sounds insane. By no means are these problems exclusive to homosexual parents-to-children relationships, but issues presented above are significant. It presents serious questions demanding thoughtful answers. Should all couples, no matter sex or sexuality, be permitted to have children? Should children be had naturally or artificially? Should children be adopted? Who should decide who has children—couples, doctors, attorneys, families, governments, nature, or something or someone else? When do we start and stop protecting children, whether from themselves or their parents? When does protecting innocents begin and allowing freedom end and vice versa? What is innocence, and what is freedom? So broad and vast is the topic, it is hardly worth trying to limit to a few pages, difficult to argue and easy to question. Both the questions and the answers are ours. Now our minds must answer.
  
  Works Cited
  
  “Artificial Insemination – How Much Does Artificial Insemination Cost?” CostHelper. August 2008. CostHelper.com. 23 October 2009. Web.
  
  “Cost of IVF at the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago – High [Q]uality, [L]ow [C]ost IVF.” Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago. AdvancedFertility.com. 23 October 2009. Web.
  
  Colburn, Don. “Artificial Insemination Cited in Hepatitis B Infection.” Washington Post 3 March 1987. Web.
  
  Ellis, B.J., et al. “father absence place daughters at special risk for early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy?” Child Development 74 (2003): 801-821. Web.
  
  “Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer.” PreconceptionWeekly. ParentingWeekly.com. 23 October 2009. Web.
  
  Hines, William. “Artificial Insemination and AIDS: The Risk of Infection Is Small but Worrisome.” Washington Post 5 January 1988. Web.
  
  Sorensen, Elaine and Chava Zibman. “Getting to Know Poor Fathers Who Do Not Pay Child Support.” Social Service Review 75.3 (2001): 420-34. Web.
  
  “How much does adoption cost?” The Adoption Guide. TheAdoptionGuide.com. 27 October 2009. Web.
  
  Wilkins-Haug, Louise, et al. “Isolated fetal omphalocele, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and assisted reproductive technologies.” Birth Defects Research 85.1 (2008): 58-62. Web.
  
  
• If I get around to revising this essay (or any past or future essays), taking into account others' input, I'll put up the revision somehow and somewhere on the blog.
  
  
• Invisible kudos to the being who deciphers the non-letter part of the title. ;P

here again

• It's been so long, but it's never too late. I'm going to post things again whenever I feel like it. I think I might post some school material--I can always use feedback on that stuff.
  
  
• The following bullet is the first essay. Feel free to smash, dash, and slash away at it. I welcome it.
  
  
• Confronting Action
  
  By trade, law enforcement has always been involved in confronting and apprehending criminals and would-be criminals. Officers have always been challenged to develop new methods of fishing out the bad apples. Profiling is one of those methods. In recent years, profiling has taken a hard check. Accusations of racism and bigotry, some emboldened by humane virtue others misconstrued by dangerous ethics, have pelted the method. Unfortunately, all of this fire regarding morals and rights has burned out the original, true quality version of profiling that many officers practice today. This profiling not only packs away the discussion of race and dress, but it establishes a standard of legal action for law enforcement officers to follow under any circumstance for any class, religion, race, or age. As separated from all modifications, profiling means observing someone until he acts in a manner that will undoubtedly lead to something bad, something criminal in this case. At this point, at the point when the officer knows something criminally bad is just about to happen, action should occur, not sooner, not later, but now.
  
  There are a couple issues with this wait-until-it-happens approach. As intrusive but effective preventive measures begin disappearing, no longer being obstacles of crime, many would-be criminals will find in much easier to commit their crimes. Of course, it is not responsible for anyone to ignore such an obvious issue, and that issue—preventative measures for white collar and other nefarious crimes—may have many non-law enforcement answers. Against white collar crime, increased private and personal security for computer systems could be implemented, or more people could be better educate themselves in such areas as accounting, banking, or another business disciplines. Combating physical or violent crimes, people could become more fluent in martial arts, whether using their body or weapons. The issues of white collar and other assorted crimes is but a cobble stone before the great pillar, a pillar that now often feels so small in this nation: freedom. With each step distancing ourselves from the government, our dependence on it shrinks while its dependence on us expands. The government is to be kept alive by the people, not the other way around. Removing law enforcement as a necessity to our peace of mind makes us more independent, free to pursue that which we ought.
  
  An officer, however, does not have the option to pursue what he ought. He must pursue what he ought. He cannot mull about what should be done; he must do what should be done. In our justice system, having opinions about facts has been reserved for other positions—judges, attorneys, juries, but not officers. Facts mold the occupation of law enforcement. No one ever hears about a detective who speculates lackadaisically about the drugs and the guns and the blood. Likewise, an officer, following the example of that good detective, would quickly realize that preemptive confrontation, confrontation speculating about the future, is very illogical and risky, especially himself. No matter how they are formed, speculative opinions remain speculative opinions. All this is not to say that opinions are totally worthless. On the contrary, opinions, even if they are based upon appearances or whatever other information and thoughts are running through the head, can do much to aid any officer. As opinions of one person alert him to the opposition of other opinions, so opinions alert officers through reminder, whether necessary or not, to pay attention and keep an eye out.
  
  Eye-balling such an issue as profiling turns up much fruit to sort through. Profiling is a tool to be used wisely. Though it has stirred up anger and abusive language, yet it is not without useful purpose; its image can be reformed. Its proper application improve the effectiveness of officers. It reestablishes the responsibility of officers to prevent crime, not to play hide-and-seek with it, while elevating their status in the eyes of their constituents. It improves tranquility, streamlines procedure, and focuses purpose. Profiling proves to be more than just an issue of social rights; it is a single word holding a whole world of meaning.

ahdalozzee

Hey, folks, it's been awhile, and it'll be awhile again. You see, there's much in this life I'm attending to, and I'm enjoying it. Thus, I haven't been blogging. In the last few weeks, this blog has served mainly as a channel by which I update myself with the words and works of those I know.

Peace and joy.

Moving

I've entered a new period of my life, a giving away of myself to the One who wants me. I took a step that may have been better to take earlier, but now it is done. I am to proceed forward, not looking back but hopefully maintaining prayer for those events that have not yet come to pass. It will be different, but as long as my eyes are focused on my Savior, all will go well.

I've said something before, and though I've thought otherwise at times, I want to reaffirm this thought: life is simple; we just make it complicated. Why is it simple? I mean, the daily, daunting prospects stampede around us, and we feel so lost and confused. Nothing seems simple, but truly, life is simple. The only thing we need to do is the right thing, and though we feel we aren't sure of "the right thing" at times, time will show what was the right thing, the plain thing that we deluded ourselves into thrusting aside. The right thing always exists. We only need to trust God and act. That's simple.

I am excited for the future and what our great God will do. Amen, no?

One Shot

"This Is Your Life" by Newsboys from In the Hands of God:

This is no the warm-up round
This is not a trial
It can't be repeated when your time is gone

This is not an infinite resource
Or the prelude to a starter course
You don't send it back if it gets done wrong

[Chorus:]
This is your life
Treat yourself right
Treat others right
Live like you know you should
This is life
Fight the good fight
Fight for what's right
Do what you know you should

Every living soul completes
A finite number of heartbeats
This is not the sum of what you're here for

Every breath you take will be exhaled
Every rising sun will fall
The measure of it all is what you live for

[Chorus]

You had a dream, but it got lost in a life of regret
The devil knows you get just one shot
You had a dream, are you still dreaming?
Or did you forget that heaven's calling for your best shot?

[Repeat Chorus 2x.]

This is but one of an album full of good songs, but it caused me to reflect--as all things should cause me to reflect--"Where am I at?" This song seems to be directed particularly to lost people, but the chorus got to me, in particular. If I am to treat others right, to treat them the way I wish to be treated, why do I pass up opportunities to expound our Christ, opportunities that have eternal consequences, not only for myself but for that person I fail to communicate with? The greatest and best way to treat someone right is to declare Christ crucified. They've only got one shot; we should provide them the best shot.

In the Hands of God is a superb album, by the way. I'm pleased with the original work as well as the perceived authenticity of the Newsboys'[s] joy and hope for the work of Christ and His gospel.

May our Father bless the work of the Newsboys to glorify Himself and to gather children back into the fold. May our Father give us the grace, the desire, and the excited ability to speak His Word, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God for the sins of this world. In His Name.

Feet

A week or so ago, I went to a foot doctor for athlete's foot. During my visit, I also learned about things that should be taken into consideration for foot-wear:

heel strength
Grasp the heel portion of a shoe. Squeeze. There should be little give here. A stiff-heeled shoe, compared to a floppy, soft-heeled shoe, helps prevent rolling ankles. For added heel, anti-roll-your-ankle strength, look for a shoe with something called anti-pronation. That is, the shoe will typically have a darker (typically gray) color on the rubber on the inside of the heel. This added stiffness helps further reduce the likelihood of rolling ankles.

sole stiffness
Grasp the toe and heel portion of the shoe. Try to twist the shoe. The sole should only allow a minimal amount of warp. If you can turn the toe and heel perpendicular to one another, you're in trouble. A stiffer sole helps prevent damaging your feet by running on steeply uneven surfaces.

If you've got less than normal arches in your feet, check out Super-feet. This arch supports are what the doctor recommended. He said the other stuff, particularly mention Dr. Scholl's, just don't cut it. "Basically garbage" is what I remember him saying. When running, about three times your body weight's worth of force is brought down on the arch of your foot. Now arch supports don't sound so bad!

Also, the doctor said, addressing running shoes (and thus all other shoes involving faster-than-walking activity), "Get shoes with at least an inch of free space."

Survey Regarding Good, Evil, and Absolutes

I took a survey. For some reason, Blogger doesn't allow the spacer-bars, so I replaced the tick marks with numbers.Take a look and decide for yourself:

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE HAPHAZARDLY WRITTEN; THUS, PLEASE FORGIVE ANY ERRORS (WHETHER FROM PROPER USE OF ENGLISH TO SOUND LOGIC). HAVE A DIFFERING OPINION OR WANT TO EXPOUND ON ONE OF THE QUESTIONS? E-MAIL ME AT vortexwhispers@yahoo.com. THANK YOU.

ANSWER EACH OF THE QUESTIONS WITH A SINGLE TICK MARK (UNLESS EXPLAINED OTHERWISE) BELOW YOUR OPINION/ANSWER.

SOME ANSWERS HAVE BEEN OMITTED DUE TO CONTENT DEEMED UNNECESSARY TO CARRY ACROSS A POINT (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE, OVERTLY SEXUAL COMMENTS, ETC).

THE QUESTIONS WERE TAKEN BY A HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE TEAM. SOME QUESTIONS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME TOTAL NUMBER OF TICK MARKS BENEATH THEM BECAUSE SOME CHOSE TO SKIP OR DID NOT RECEIVE THOSE QUESTIONS

THE REMARKS SECTIONS HAVE WRITTEN MATERIAL FROM THE SURVEY TAKERS, NOT THE AUTHOR OF THE SURVEY.

1. Are people basically good or basically evil?

good
11

evil
9

not sure
14

Remarks:
N/A

2. Are some things absolutely good or absolutely evil (evil or good no matter what)?

yes
18

no
12

not sure
3

Remarks:
N/A

3. Disregarding whether or not people are basically good or basically bad, where do you consider yourself?

good
13

evil
7

not sure
16

Remarks:
N/A

4. Do you think most people who know you for about a week think you are good, evil, or something in between?

good
13

evil
5

something in between
15

Remarks:
N/A

5. Do you think the mind of man or the environment of man dictates whether that person does good or evil?

self
15

environment
4

both
21 [I have no clue why there are twenty-one here. =S oh well....]

Remarks:
Man's natural, instinctual state is what gives him unwholesome urges and temptations[. O]vercoming this is a large part of life's journey [and,] even though impossible[,] is what ennobles the spirit and lifts us from the dust to the heavens. It is this that sep[a]rates Homo sapiens from other species.

6. If an environment dictates that a man does evil (ie, he doesn't seem to have a choice), does that make the evil truly evil, or is it just something between good and evil?

Evil is evil.
5

Evil isn't truly evil.
3

not sure
6

Remarks:
[E]vil isn't truly evil in the proposed scenario simply because without [c]hoice[/free will,] there cannot be either good or evil.

7. Is there always a case in which some evil is actually good?

always
4

never
3

sometimes/not sure
7

Remarks:
By our [c]hoices[,] we are sometimes forced to choose between multiple bad things[—]“the lesser of two evils” scenario.

8. In the view that good and evil exists, if an individual has the choice to do good and does not do that good, has he done evil?

has done
2

did not do good or evil
6

not sure
2

Remarks:
N/A

9. What is the most important thing in the world? (Attempt to write neatly and briefly.)

snow
[L]ive every moment of life to the fullest[.]
[N]ever compromise[.]
God's glory
lacrosse
Oz
chicks
[o]ur ability to choose our path and make ourselves better people … or not

10. What is the greatest good any person can do—the greatest, physically possible good? (Attempt to write neatly and briefly.)

no limit[s to] selflessness
Try to [l]ive by [G]od[']s [W]ord and [l]ove [H]im[.]
Give God [g]lory[.]
idle
Give away money[.]
Listen.
Save [b]abies[.]
Absolute selflessness[—w]hen one's actions are neither for glory no[r] the preservation of one's own life, but for the safety and well[-]being of the man beside him, his actions touch the sublime, and contempt for death is lost. This is the opposite of fear[—a]bsolute love.

11. Is classical (baroque, romantic, etc), folk (celtic, bluegrass, etc), or modern (jazz, rock, etc; I'll put new age in its own category) better for helping enter a thoughtful mindset?

classical
2

folk
4

modern
N/A

new age
N/A

Remarks:
THE GENRE “METAL” WAS ADDED BY THE SURVEY TAKERS; IT RECEIVED THREE TICK MARKS.
It depends on what I need to reflect on.

Posting

Folks, what's wrong? Why can't I copy and paste stuff on to Blogger? It's not working. What I want to post is too long to casually re-type out.... Help?

It's Been Awhile

• I spent several hours throughout the last week and a half looking into martial arts, particularly eastern martial arts. This is more or less the conclusion I've come to: too much or all eastern martial arts are related to, either closely or distantly, to non-Biblical religious activity.... I don't plan to intentionally engage myself in such practices. If I learn some self-defense styles or martial activities through military or police training, so be it, but I think it unwise for someone to intentionally engage themselves in an activity they know to be closely related to wrong practices.
  
  
• But life is good! This weekend has been filled with much prayer, getting closer to God, and joy through gifts He has given to us, especially people we hold very dear. Anticipation and excitement decorate the thoughts of my future. What glories does God have planned for even such a simple, poor soul as myself? I only ask Him that I am given the grace to get through whatever happens, whenever it happens. God is good, and I praise Him for the life He has given me!

Zeek to Dewey

• lees: the sediment of a liquor (as wine) during fermentation and aging
  
  
• Isaiah 25:1:
  O LORD, You are my God.
  I will exalt You,
  I will praise Your name,
  For You have done wonderful things;
  Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
  
  
• Joshua 1:9: ". . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
  
  
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7:
  
  [6] "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
  
  
• 
  

Letters from Books to Music

• Isaiah 55:8-9:
  [8] "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
  Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
  [9] "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
  So are My ways higher than your ways,
  And My thoughts than your thoughts.
  
  
• U2's No Line on the Horizon came out yesterday. I like it enough (and I'm "loyal" enough to U2) that I would like to get it. One song in particular, "White as Snow," harks U2's constant reminder of something more, something better. I have great hope that God has and does great good through U2:
  
  Where I came from, there were no hills at all;
  The land was flat--the highways straight and wide;
  My brother and I would drive for hours,
  Like years instead of days,
  Our faces as pale as the dirty snow.
  
  Once I knew there was a love divine,
  Then came a time I thought it knew me not;
  Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not?
  Only the lamb as white as snow.
  
  And the water, it was icy,
  As it washed over me,
  And the moon shone above me.
  
  Now this dry ground--it bears no fruit at all;
  Only poppies laugh under the crescent moon;
  The road refuses strangers--
  The land--the seeds we sow;
  Where might we find the lamb as white as snow?
  
  As boys we would go hunting in the woods,
  To sleep the night shooting out the stars;
  Now the wolves are every passing, stranger;
  Every face we cannot know;
  If only a heart could be as white as snow;
  If only a heart could be as white as snow.
  
  
• So far, the Basic Life Principles seminar is very good. I would recommend it to anyone.
  
  
• Here is a very good variation of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major": http://www.scribd.com/doc/10511974/George-Winstoncanon-in-d.
  
  
• Joshua 1:9: ". . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Shnookims Isn't an Angel: An Oh-so-brief Lesson on Life

• Ever get the feeling that something isn't right . . . in the middle of a test? Well, I had that feeling a few days ago. I consider that to be a very bad feeling, but one thing makes it worse: getting the test back to find out that your feeling was correct. In other words, I did poorly on a test. Frustrating, yes; demoralizing, no. I just get to look forward to the next test when I can apply myself harder. Look at life like a challenge. Challenges are a ton of fun when you beat them!
  
  
• Job 23:10-11:
  
  [10] But He knows the way that I take;
  When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
  [11] My foot has held fast to His steps;
  I have kept His way and not turned aside.
  
  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2023;&version=50
  
  NOTICE: In no way does the author believe that he is morally righteous as refined gold. He believes this because he knows it is lacking in truth. Such a statement of purity would be a lie.

A New Month

• Psalm 73:25-26:
  [25] Whom have I in heaven but You?
  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
  [26] My flesh and my heart fail;
  But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
  
  Psalm 73: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073;&version=50.
  
  
• The beginning of the third month of 2009 is here. I'll be turning 18 in twenty-three days. Lacrosse begins tomorrow as well as a Bible seminar. I will see old and close friends. The wedding of people I've known for many years will occur. Spring break will commence and end. Many things will happen, but will I go through them in a manner befitting an envoy, an ambassador? I pray I will. And in all truth and honesty, I will act in a proper manner as long as I depend on Christ for and as my strength, my all in all, just as in Psalm 73:26 above. I hope you too will challenge yourself to let yourself be free of challenge: give everything to Christ. I hear He's a pretty good manager.

Marriage and 2 Timothy

• What follows is a good portion from an e-mail. If anyone becomes confused or worried about me, it's likely because the whole picture isn't being painted with this excerpt. "Ask and you shall receive." Here it is:
  
  . . . But it makes me think: why isn't it immoral? Who established marriage: the state or God? Who is the one in charge of marriage: the state or God? Who are married couples accountable to: the state or God? As far as I can tell, the state making anything "legal" really isn't the issue as much as what God has made "legal," at least in the sense of marriage and family. Now, I understand that we don't want people sinning, and for that reason, getting people married off is a good thing. Nevertheless, this whole new and interesting situation among people we've known for years brings up interesting questions: Why should or shouldn't they do that? Should or shouldn't I do that when I get to that point? These questions are mostly to be dealt with between the couple and God, but listening to the advice of parents and true friends is also good. So . . . the question facing couples should not be: How can we have sex as quickly as possible in a manner that has some legitimacy (moving in together, getting a license from the state, or having a religious ceremony)? The question should be: What does God want us to do? It wouldn't surprise me at all if answering that question meant a lot of prayer, a lot of getting into the Bible, a lot of talking to each other, a lot of talking to parents, and a lot of talking to friends. It's a tough question to answer, but once you've carefully considered everything, the joy and peace you'll receive from knowing you're doing God's will will be an example and satisfaction you'll carry with your husband or wife all the way through your life.
  
  
• 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
  
  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%201;&version=50

John Pandora

• 1 John 3:18: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
  
  
• 1 John 4:9: In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
  
  
• Check out http://www.pandora.com/. It's an excellent place to listen to music, period.

For Further down the Road

Howdy, all. Hey, I'm not going to post my personal thoughts on Scripture anymore. I'm going to let the Spirit do that. I mean, after all, they're God's words so I'm sure He can explain them.

If you'd like me to explain my "why" further, I'll be happy to.

Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37-39: [37] Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' . . ."

These are good reminders that love is the commandment, that it encompasses and fulfills all other laws. Let us therefore be loving. Ask God to guide and to give you the strength to be loving because everything apart from Christ is fruitless and anything by Christ is profitable.

No Backsliding

Proverbs 14:22: Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

Devising evil ultimately results in some form of ruin, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. Those who have God living in them, who have good living in them, speak truth and are merciful. So, let us continually focus on our Savior and ask that He would live in a us moment by moment.

Those who slip back into a hard and ill mind against God will become like their heart, a heart that they think nobody knows of, a cold, sickly, violent heart that only lives for self. Those who continue to call on God for their strength will be filled and always joyful because their Father cares for them.

^a = Proverbs 14:22: The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.

Espanol y Biblia

• OK, so one translation of spouse from English (duh!) to Spanish is esposo. Now, the translation for handcuffs is . . . esposas. HA! I thought that was funny.
  
  
• 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
  
  This is related to my fear-love thing (and no, I'm not even sure if I've ever written something about that on this blog). See, there is NO fear in love. It's a process: beginning in fear for fear is the beginning of wisdom and ending in love, the end of fear. In wisdom, we begin to learn of Christ's mission, His purpose, His obedience. We fear what God may do to us because we put His Son on the cross, but when we understand--when we gain insight--we gain wisdom, because our understanding has opened up to us the reality of Christ's crucifixion: obedience and blamelessness by Christ for the redemption of all who confess their nature and need for Christ through the pouring out of perfect blood.
  
  Those who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh are not to be considered truthful. They are to be considered Antichrists. Now, notice it is not that they say, "Jesus the Christ, the Son of God who is God, did not come in the flesh"; it says someone "that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (1 John 4:3^a3). This means that the person--through which some spirit is working, whether of God or of the other--either says nothing of Christ coming in the flesh or says that Christ has come in the flesh but is not God. In other words, if people never say that Jesus came as a man and as God, he is not of God. Essentially, not saying that Christ came as a man as God in the flesh is the same as saying He didn't come at all or didn't come as God. At least, this is what I would say from a logical point about saying Jesus is not the Christ or saying nothing about Jesus being the Christ. All of that is from verses 1-6^a
  
  ^a = 1 John 4:1-6:
  
  [1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
  
  [4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. [6] We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

"Autobots" by Steve Jablonksy

Of roaming tracks . . . no, tracks that roam . . . hm, tracks of Rome? Roman tracks. Tracks and Romans!

• An essay on tracks:
  
  Everybody desires to stay in shape. To do this, some people go run. As they tune their iPods to their favorite music and stretch, they think, “Where shall I run?” Their next question may be, “Where should I run?” A track is a great place to run.
  
  “A track?” contemplates the runner, “Who wants to use a boring track?” Boring seems to be the description of choice. Fortunately, many people have iPods or MP3 players. Any boredom associated with land-based fitness effectively ended the moment iPods and MP3 players arrived on the market.
  
  A track shows the runner where he is and how far he has to go. Lines, lanes, and numbers help runners trace their exact location and distance. By using a track, the runner has the resources for knowing location and distance without purchasing an odometer or some other gadget.
  
  Both literally and psychologically, a track is prime running material. Tracks lack bumps, rocks, sticks, potholes, and other obstacles. Durable, traction-consistent running surface defines a track. Hand-in-hand with a track's design is the motivation it inspires. The official air of the track, coupled with knowing location and distance, motivates the runner to push himself. It is an exclusive spot for competitions to occur. The track is designed for running and, as such, provides incentive for pushing harder and faster.
  
  Knowing how far he has gone, where he has to go, and what he is running on are all good reasons for a runner to use a track. Decisions about life should be approached in a similar manner. Everyone has goals. From there, he must choose which routes he will take; however, he should note that there are many paths but only a few great ones.
  
  
• Romans 8:35-37: [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written:
  
  "For Your sake we are killed all day long;
  We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
  
  [37] Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
  
  What will separate us? Nothing. The love of Christ will always be there--for us, for you, for me. But it is our choice to accept this love. We can either turn our back on it, or we can embrace the Creator of this love and trust Him to guide us in His ways. When we are guided by Him, no thing can do permanently harm to us. The perceived strength of evil pales in the face of God's grace and Christ's sacrifice. Tough situations are powerless. Pain of mind is powerless. Destruction of life and property is powerless. Starvation is powerless. Exposure and shame is powerless. Danger is powerless. Violence and death is powerless. The Triune Being, the God of the universe, is the only power because from Him all power comes.

Praise God!

I have just finished reading The Shack by William Young. The sheer joy of Christ, God, and His Spirit has been more strongly portrayed in this book than in any other book I have read in my entire life. I praise and adore our great God and Savior, Jesus the Savior of the universe, for this book, and may God bless and build up William Young, a marvelous creation and instrument of our Father.

http://theshackbook.com/index.html

Please, do not fear for me. The truth enclosed within The Shack is only there because God has allowed Scripture to be studied and expressed in the novel. It is William Young's belief of what Scripture says, and on much or all of it, I believe I agree. And I don't add this paragraph to be a safe and sound Christian, "secure" form the criticism of my fellow brothers and sisters. I say this because it is the truth. Young likely would have never written The Shack without having first read the Bible. But I also don't want anyone to come to the view that the Bible should be given a "Oooohhh, holy Bible" status. Though Scripture is a wholly-truthful inspiration from God, it is not salvation, and it doesn't grant salvation. Any appreciation or joy we receive from Scripture should not ever--for even a nanosecond--be attributed to the Bible, a physical book. Thanks should be given to God, the Creator of the book, of our joy, of our appreciation, of our emotions, of all being and existence.

John to John--What?

• John 3:16: ". . . For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. . . ."
  
  The time-old message: believe on the Son of God and you will live in communion with God forever, the excellent of selfless love. Christ died for the sins of everyone, even though only a few will accept the gift. The rest will spurn the good He has done for them.
  
  John 3:5-8^a has me wondering (ie, thinking of what it means), especially verse 8: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." We understand that the wind blows where "it wishes" because God has created it, ultimately controlling where it blows. We can hear the wind, but we don't really know how it starts blowing or where it will end up. Being saved is similar, if we are to believe this passage. (And so we are to believe!) We do not know who God will choose from His field, and when He selects, we do not know all the sin from which he has been rescued. We do not even know what God will have him do. Truly living life dangerously in the hands of God: true life through Christ's sacrifice and the grace God has given us and dangerously because we know not what fires God has preordained us to go through in this age.
  
  ^a = John 3:5-8: [5] Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
  
  
• Here's the recipe for a delicious spinach smoothie (no joke, it is delicious!):
  
  1 orange
  handful of grapes
  1/2 c of pineapple
  1 banana
  several handfuls of spinach
  soy milk
  
  Feel free to substitute in normal milk or whatever. Also, the more stuff you free, the yummier it's going to be. (I like really cold smoothies.) We have a Vitamix, so I don't know how well other blenders hold up to ice. =( Oh, well, it's still tasty! =)
  
  
• Here's a link to excellent, traditional American politics, Imprimis: http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp.
  
  
• 1 John 4:10: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  
  We do not love God in the sense of our own working out of love. We love God because the Son who dwells within us loves God. Everything good is from Christ; apart from His mercy and grace, we can do nothing good. Thus, we should not fret about our failures; instead, we should commit ourselves to Christ, living in hope and faith.
  
  My dad did a good teaching with 1 John 4:17-19 once. I can't remember all the verses he used, but it tied in with this. You see, he was saying that the beginning of a good relationship with God is, first, fearing Him (He is almighty, powerful, creator, etc) and, in maturity, loving Him (He is good, love, kind, etc). It is good to fear God because He the only one who can do permanent damage to you, but this is not the relationship He wants to have with anyone. He wants to have joy and communion with all the children of Adam; unfortunately, He can't/won't because He has given the children of Adam the choice to turn away or toward Him. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
  
  1 John 4:17-19: [17] Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. [19] We love Him because He first loved us.

Fact to Fiction

• Here follows a letter from Terry Brooks, a favorite author of mine:
  
  
  
• New oven! My parents got a new oven today! Appliances are wonderful; they are blessings.
  
  
• I found some weird stuff in Leviticus 13:47-59: “warp and woof” (NKJV).
  
  Warp: a series of yarns extended lengthwise in a loom and crossed by the weft.
  
  Weft: a filling thread or yarn in weaving.
  
  Woof (synonym for weft): woven fabric.
  
  “Warp and woof”: foundation or base.
  
  =/ Weird stuff, no?
  
  
• Last night, I saw Transformers (on ClearPlay) with the family. It was a fun movie. Fun was the purpose of the movie. This should not be our sole purpose in anything, really. If we have joy from fun, fun is good, but if we don't have genuine joy, it is a poor, unsightly reflection of joy. We should endeavor to find something worthwhile in all things, or it is a waste. Though I slip in this matter, I have sought to find something worthwhile in the movie; thus, I have been drawn upon a few quotes from the chief Transformer, good-guy Autobot, Optimus Prime. (The good guys are called Autobots; the bad guys are called Decepticons). Here follow some quotes and my observations:
  
  Optimus Prime's opening: “Before time began, there was the Cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. For a time, we lived in harmony. But like all great power, some wanted it for good, others for evil. And so began the war.”
  
  Yes, it is a deification of something other than God, but we should remember that this is a science-fiction film. Unlike the typically liberal-slanted Hollywood film, this is actually saying that the universe was created. It didn't happen by chance. Also, like the cube in the movie, the true God of the universe, the Savior of mankind, is infinite: we do not know where He has come from because He has not ever come; He has always been; God gives us life, though we may not always understand why He gives us this life. It is glorious! Then as the cube created the Transformers, so God created us, but it didn't take long before we were tempted away by knowledge (“knowledge is power”?), and we fell through Satan's tempting, even though we had the power through God to resist. And so began the war between flesh and God.
  
  The good guy robot weapons specialist, Ironhide: “Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive and violent race.”
  
  Optimus Prime: “Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war: we must destroy the Cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest.”
  
  Ratchet, the medic robot for the good guys: “That's suicide! The Cube is raw power, it could destroy you both!”
  
  Optimus Prime: “A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. . . .”
  
  (OK, I'm going to avoid the killing the cube thing because I'm trying to think of the positive. We all know that we can't kill God.) This exchange is quite interesting. “Were we so different?” As Christians, we should keep this in mind. Those who haven't been saved by grace through God's Son are reminders of who we used to be. We should be moved by compassion to help them. Even though we--born-again and not so--are capable of evil, God has given us the ability to do good, to do His will. We have been given the choice—the freedom—to choose to do good or ill. “We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes.” That line reminds me that we can't point blame, and that no matter what, we are accountable for our own actions. Also, our misdirected action or inaction can result in harm to others. That is irresponsible to ourselves, our fellow men, and our God.

Saying and Toy

• “The great are many, but the best are few.” – Isaac Mullins
  
  Is that an original saying, or is it just me?
  
  
• Here follow some pics of that Transformer, one normal and one converted:
  
  
  
  (Please don't ask about my childish fascination. I don't really have an answer.)

A Fine Recipe of Love, Spinach, and Music

• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: [1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
  
  If we speak languages for the sake of the gospel, if we understand all things, if we have great faith, if we give everything away, if we die for the sake of the gospel--if we do ANYTHING good but do not have love, it is meaningless. Love is to be the over-riding motive for all we do. By God's grace and mercy, through prayer with faith, we can have this become our motive. If we allow Christ to live in us, we will reach that goal, a challenge for days ahead!
  
  If the greatest thing is love (1 Corinthians 13:13^a), we should become love. It should define us. I would even dare to say that from love through Christ comes all other good things. Let us be and do love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 simply states what love is and is not: [4] Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; [6] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
  
  ^a = 1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
  
  Now, here is an example of where we can do the above--where we can love. It was a note to myself. (Actually, many of my posts are notes to myself. =P Anyhow, read on):
  
  My father overlooked one of my corrections on a physics test, so more of my time was consumed trying to find an error that didn't exist, and his time was wasted going over more than what was necessary. In the process, both of us became angry at one another. We should learn from this that everyone makes mistakes so we should be Christ-like—forgiving, understanding, gracious, patient, kind—and press on, knowing that everything is passing and does hold fast. Essentially, we must love.
  
  
• There's this really great spinach smoothie my mom makes with the Vitamix. Unfortunately, I don't have the recipe currently. If you are curious, let me know, and I'll try to get it to you. (If you aren't curious, too bad. I'll probably post it later anyway.)
  
  
• Hey, everyone should go take a look at Steve Jablonsky's soundtrack from Transformers. I think it's pretty cool.

2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1:3: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

What higher form of thanks is there than to praise our God for the love that He causes to dwell and flourish among His children! How marvelous it is! May God spur our own spirits to love and good deeds through His Son Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1^a is a chapter of praise, rejoicing in the good God has done among His elect and bringing to mind the righteous judgment God will enact upon the whole Earth--both upon those who despise Him and those who are covered by the blood of Christ, justice for the punishment of sin and justice for the purity of righteousness, fire to the former and endless joy to the latter. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. . . ." (Psalm 92.1)

^a = 2 Thessalonians 1: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%201;&version=50.

Message from Calvary Chapel on 2-8-09

The few following notes (observations) were taken from a sermon at Calvary Chapel, Sequim, focusing on Revelation 3:1-6 but referencing to Acts 8:26-38 and Romans 13:8-10:

(Revelation 3:1-6) Christ is our everything in everything--a light in the darkness, a strong tower in our weakness.

(Romans 13:8-10) Christian infancy is focusing on the don't's. Christian maturity is focusing on the do's. What we think of, we are more prone to do, whether or not we are trying to do that. For instance, if one says, "Don't think of pink elephants"--by the way, that metaphor is borrowed from the pastor :)--we will think of pink elephants. Similarly, if we think of being kind, we will be more likely to be kind. If we think of not doing something bad (lusting after women, yelling at people, eating too much cake, etc), we will probably do it because we have it in our minds.

(Acts 8:26-38) We should not allow ourselves to be in either of two extremes: 1.) in the camp of those who love God, but because they are keep themselves so pure out of their love for God, they fail to be kind and welcoming to those who would otherwise benefit from being in their company, and 2.) being in the camp where everything is accepted out of kindness, resulting in no reflection of Christ's goodness because everything is messy collage of good and bad. We want to be pure and reflect Christ without trying to drive away others or make them feel as if they shouldn't change anything. We want to be out of those two comfort zones.

Psalm 18, Transformers, and Proverbs 21

• Psalm 18:1-2:[1] I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
  [2] The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
  My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
  My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
  
  Our love belongs to God first. Persevering trust and love will bind us to Him, our strength, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our shield, our salvation, our stronghold, our God. In the days ahead, let us keep this in mind and heart.
  
  You know that song "I Shall Call upon the Lord" or "The Lord Liveth"? Psalm 18:3 and then down to Psalm 18:46:
  
  [3] I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
  So shall I be saved from my enemies. . . .
  [46] The LORD lives!
  Blessed be my Rock!
  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
  
  
• Anyone ever thought Transformers were cool? Well, I have and do. I ordered one online, and once I get it, I may post pictures.
  
  
• Proverbs 21:21: He who follows righteousness and mercy
  Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
  
  If we do what is right and are merciful to all, we will have vitality, perfection, and honor in Christ. In application to my own failings, I have collected some Scripture dealing with righteousness and mercy--Romans 6:12-14^a and a few portions throughout the New Testament.
  
  Righteousness is simply living in a manner that only One has ever attained, Jesus the Christ. Jesus never gave in to sin, and essentially, sin is lust. I'm not talking about sexual immorality either (though that is a lust). I'm talking about lust, period. Lust [period] is basically giving in to something before its time. Sexual immorality is an excellent example. When someone looks at another person and gets "turned on" or something of the like, he is thinking of something before it's time. When you aren't married to someone, it isn't time to go, "Wow, honey, you look good!" That's for later! And here's a radical example of lust really encompassing all sin: you get agitated by someone swearing constantly, so you want to sock him in the face for taking God's name in vain, but guess what: that wouldn't be the right thing to do. Why? Because God is the one who will punish the blasphemer. It never will be your place to mete out God's justice.
  
  Mercy is another interesting thing. It seems related to love (selfless service that may not be returned). At least in the reports on Jesus' healing of beggars, blind men, and demon-possessed, mercy is showed by someone who has the power to relieve something of another without necessarily getting repaid. (Don't those examples of mercy sound like love acted out in kindness--lovingkindness?) Also, mercy is just doing good to someone whether or not they deserve it. God gives us good things like a brain and feet out of mercy (Romans 9:16^b). Especially us Gentiles (sons from other than the physical Abraham), God was merciful to send His Son (Romans 15:8-9^c). Even life--a beating heart and a pair of working lungs--is from Him with mercy (Philippians 2:27^d). I only listed a few verses, yet my point already seems apparent: God has mercy that is broad, through all ages and to all people.
  
  ^a = Romans 6:12-14: [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. [13] And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
  
  ^b = Romans 9:16: So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
  
  ^c = Romans 15:8-9: [8] Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, [9] and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
  
  "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
  And sing to Your name.”
  
  ^d = Philippians 2:27: For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Psalms 89

• Psalm 59:16: But I will sing of Your power;
  Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
  For You have been my defense
  And refuge in the day of my trouble.
  
  (Likewise, Psalm 59:17^a applies to what follows:) Praise God! He has been my defense and my refuge. My peace in moments and times of fear and apprehension. O praise Him! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpVsF4W8V2Y.
  
  See the whole of Psalm 59^b for more encouragement . . . even when you are in a storm: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2059;&version=50.
  
  ^a = Psalm 59:17:To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
  For God is my defense,
  My God of mercy.
  
  
• Sorry, fellas, I'm not getting any new topics, but Scripture is always new, so we're good.

1 Corinthians 2:9

1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

The gifts of God do not proceed to those who do not love Him (1 Corinthians 2:10^a). Those who love God learn the things of God (ie, the things of God are revealed to those who love Him through His Holy Spirit.) We are greatly blessed! And imagine, if you will, the things God has prepared for us in heaven if He has withheld from some the things of the earth! The thought is marvelous and exciting!

When we are apart from God, we don't like the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14^b). But when we are in the Spirit, we judge--we see all that is good and evil--for the sake of ourselves so that we may follow God. All of this is accomplished through Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:15-16^c)

^a = 1 Corinthians 2:10: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

^b = 1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

^c = 1 Corinthians 2:15-16: [15] But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. [16] For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

As Happens to All Young Believers: A Work on Modesty

This was compiled in a brief go-through on modesty, particularly directed to girls and women who would rather just where whatever:

Here's a link that is related to modesty: http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/.

Let me go through some Scripture that supports girls being physically modest, both for the sake of modesty and for the sake of their brothers in Christ (and in due course, for the sake of God).

". . . [27] You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. . . ." (Matthew 5:27-28) As a guy, I can tell you that I have most definitely committed adultery. It's bad, but thankful our great Savior and King Jesus Christ has washed me. I can also tell you that the easiest way for myself to stumble (and likely, this applies to all guys) is that I see someone wearing revealing or suggestive clothing. In the modesty survey, I basically agree with all the common beliefs guys have about modesty.

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). Wouldn't you consider it harmful to be immodest in the eyes of most guys? If that is so, you wearing that clothing would not be loving; thus, it would be sin. Don't let your pride or desire to "do my own thing" or "I don't care" attitude blind you. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:14). That verse is quite applicable to both guys for not lusting after girls, and for girls not desiring to keep their pride and wants regarding clothing.

No one is supposed to judge one another, and indeed, I'm not judging girls for wearing immodest clothing. They may not know that they are being immodest. The same applies to girls. They should judge guys for having the thoughts they do. That's between God and them--their reliance upon God to be their self-control. Look at Romans 14, and whenever you see something about food, days, etc (the things Paul discusses), relate it to modesty for yourself:

[1] Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. [4] Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

[5] One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. [6]He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. [8] For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. [9] For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written:

"'As I live,' says the LORD,
'Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.'"

[12] So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

[14] I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. [16 ]Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; [17] for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. [20] Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. [21] It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. [22] Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Ask yourself: am I glorifying God wearing what I'm wearing? (Romans 6:20)

1 Corinthians 7 is very related to the relationship of man and woman.

Take a look at 1 Corinthians 8:4-13. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9).

Now, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 is definitely a controversial bit about women, but take a look at 9: "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,"

Here are some quick facts form the Modesty Survey:

According to the Modesty Survey, 59.3% of guys strongly agree that bikinis are immodest, while 25% agree, 6.8% are neutral, 6.1% disagree, and 2.7% strongly disagree. I strongly agree.

8% of guys strongly agree that shirts or dresses that show the shoulders (ie, more than a normal sleeveless top) are immodest, even if they are not otherwise revealing, while 30% agree, 23.7% are neutral, 30.1% disagree, and 8.2 strongly disagree. I agree.

29.5% of guys strongly agree that strapless dresses are immodest, while 36.4% agree, 16.8% are neutral, 13.6% disagree, and 3.7% strongly disagree. I agree.

28.6% of guys strongly agree that it is immodest for a girl to expose her legs up to mid-thigh, while 35.9% agree, 15.1% are neutral, 16.3% disagree, and 4.1% strongly disagree. I strongly agree.

41.9% of guys strongly agree that any shorts that are shorter than mid-thigh are immodest, while 41.9% agree, 7.5% are neutral, 6.7% disagree, and 2.1% strongly disagree.

12.9% of guys strongly agree that any shorts that are shorter than knee-length are immodest, while 21.3% agree, 13.5% are neutral, 39.8% disagree, and 12.5% strongly disagree.

FOTR and More Good Stuff

• OK, if you ever want to see a fantasy film, go watch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I believe is has the most substance and meaning of any fantasy (or any other film) I have seen . . . well, I suppose The Passion of the Christ might be hard to beat, and praise God that it is!
  
  I guess the problem with FOTR is that, well, it doesn't actually resolve the story . . . you kind of have to watch Two Towers and ROTK to get the full feel, but FOTR is cool and edifying nonetheless.
  
  
• Ephesians 4:1-2: [1] I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, [2] with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
  
  As fellow prisoners, slaves, bondservants, workers of Christ Jesus, we are to be humble, gentle, patient, and lovingly bearing one another. "Bearing one another in love"--this is a more difficult statement to understand than the other things we see here. " Bearing one another" sounds like giving support, helping with needs or work, or taking full responsibility for the needs or work of one another. I think love is doing a good work that results in the benefit of someone other than yourself with the possibility of the not getting anything in return. So, "in love" sounds as if we are to give this support, help, or responsibility without taking into account or thinking that we may receive something back.
  
  And since I'm familiar with Ephesians 1:31-32^a, it's fairly easy for me to write about it. . . . (Never mind that comment. Pretend I never said it.) We are not to be harshly reproachful, cynical, or ill will (bitterness). We are not to have hate with vengeance in mind (wrath). We should not express hostility toward men (anger). We should not be rudely offensive (clamor). We should not talk about evil all the time (evil speaking). We should be caring of spirit (kind). We should be easily moved to love (tenderhearted). We should give up our resentment and our desire for requital when someone sins against us because before we could forgive them, our Father forgave us for the infinite sin we committed against Him (forgiving as God forgave us).
  
  ^a = Ephesians 1:31-32: [31] Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. [32] And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Bit of NT, a Never-really-was-finished Essay, and Origin of Words

• John 4:24: ". . . [24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
  
  God does not care where, when, or how someone worships. He cares that they worship truthfully from their hearts. There are some activities that never can be done with purity; thus, those activities never could worship God. But that is not my point. My point is that worship is of the heart and not of the body. Worship occurs when you turn yourself over to God. (John 1:21-24^a)
  
  Take heart when the produce of your labors is hidden! The sown shall be reaped. (John 1:34-38^b)
  
  a = John 1:21-24: [21] Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. [24] God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
  
  b = John 1:34-38: [34] Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. [35] Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! [36] And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. [37] For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' [38] I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
  
  
• Mark 9:35: And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
  
  It's interesting how this verse has both spiritual and physical implications. If we are humble and wholly trusting of Christ, we may look physically lowly, we may travel the ends of the earth with the gospel, and yet in heaven, our reward will be great. On the other hand, if we are humble, work hard, and persevere in the real world, people respect that, and in due time, the humility in work pays off: you get the job, the money, the high position, etc. (Yes, some seize these things selfishly, but God blesses godliness in many, many ways. One of those seems to be physical reward, though it should never be our focus.)
  
  I lacked any other valuable thought, so you can view Mark 9 here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%209;&version=50;.
  
  
• Here's a [likely] weak essay:
  
  Colleges have changed much over the years. Where bastions of free thought and godly principle once resided, now fortresses of liberalism and atheism stand. Many professors, teachers, and scholars set themselves against Christianity and even the thought of God. Because Christian students hold ideals, principles, and beliefs defined in Christianity by God, scholastic professionals have taken up their cause against these students, and since Christian students are under attack, they can least afford to be ignorant of how their teachers and professors are aligning themselves against traditional beliefs. As light shows cracks and potholes in a road, so awareness reveals the intentions men. The ignorance of Christian youth regarding what the world desires for them likely causes many to fall away.
  
  Keep in mind that though ignorance may be an aspect of fallen men, awareness alone does not prevent or save men from falling. Men cannot be saved by going through college without “falling,” or by getting good jobs, or by buying fancy cars. Men are saved by God's grace through the perfect, cleansing blood of Christ Jesus. The purpose of salvation is also not so that men can have a college education, jobs, or cars. Men are saved so that they may bring glory to God. Lack of ignorance is not the corner-stone of getting through college; Christ is the corner-stone of getting through college. But for men to be ignorant, or for men to know the ignorance others and not to relieve them of their ignorance, is not good. This essay does not exist to provide or to give an opinion that solves the issue of young Christians going astray but to make people aware of their ignorance, to free them from ignorance of their ignorance.
  
  Some people suggest that a Christian's ignorance or unpreparedness is peripheral to where the young person should go to college, whether the person should attend a secular or a Christian school. The people who suggest this may be missing something: all people are sinners. The problem of falling away is not honestly solved by going to a Christian school rather than a secular school. Take, for instance, a piece of moldy bread. A single piece of moldy bread can cause a whole loaf to become moldy. Unless each piece of bread is protected, the whole loaf will go bad. Unless each student protects his mind, unless he is aware, a single bad student can cause him to go astray. Because of this, picking a Christian college over a secular college cannot really solve the problem of straying students.
  
  But colleges and students are the least of our worries. Watching, guiding, directing professionals are most damaging to young Christians, more dangerous than peers, a college atmosphere, or society as a whole. The reason is simple: most students go to college so that they may learn, and unlike peers or a college campus, teachers teach. Professional appearance combined with seemingly unending knowledge can cause many to question whether or not what they believe is true, that is, cause many to doubt. In and of itself, doubting is not bad. Doubting should cause men to wonder, study, and think about the thing doubted until a decision of belief can be met. College promotes doubting. Professors and teachers stimulate doubt, the first step in the process of allowing students to think freely, but these elders of thought, and thus college as a whole, fail to take the next step: providing diversified, related subject information to allow students to logically and fairly weigh ideas so as to make up their own minds.
  
  Professors could be failing to provide diversified information, such as the possibility of their own ideas being wrong or Christianity having worthy aspects, for multiple reasons. They could be ignorant. They may believe that time spent on such subjects is wasteful, or they could simply despise Christian or traditional ideas. But neither ignorance, perceived wastefulness, nor hate of something are legitimate excuses for not knowing, showing, or allowing information to be fairly represented before students. As teachers, not only are they responsible to provide and to teach about related information, they are supposed to separate their personal beliefs or views from what is presented by the information. As a calculus teacher would not withhold from his students the text book that helps them understand a principle, so a sociologist teacher should not disallow a student from using traditional philosophies, or even a Bible, to help his students decide, argue, or understand whether or not something as peculiar as unisex bathrooms should be allowed in professional work environments.
  
  College is dangerous for Christians. Knowing this and being aware of it is a good thing, but even awareness cannot remedy or prevent failures of colleges and students. Nothing apart from God's grace can improve anyone's college experience. If any student ever wants to be safe and wise at college and throughout his life in this dangerous world, he must continually commit his life to God through the redemption found in Christ's blood. History proves how the wisdom of men so often fails. Christ has promised that He “will give . . . wisdom which none of [our] opponents will be able to resist or refute” to those who are His (Luke 21:15). Indeed, He has fulfilled this promise for Christ is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
  
  
• Origin of Words - "dibs": The word derived from dibstones, a type of game involving assorted pieces that are thrown and collected. Since the game is related to gaining possession or taking possession, "dibs" is a method of slang (possibly developed in the later half of the 19th century by schoolchildren) meaning that the speaker has certain rights or ownership over something.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibs; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knucklebones

Ephesians

OK, in-line Scripture's going to appear in NKJV.

Ephesians 6:12-13: . . . [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Our striving and warring should be against the evil that attempts to pervade our hearts, the hearts of others, societies, organizations, and every other man-made institution. Because evil comes from without, very easily tempting the heart of men, we fight and direct our enemies toward combating those things that will drag down our brethren, and indeed our fellow men.

But given the situation of our lives, Ephesians 6:1-3^a caught my attention. We are to obey our parents. God has given us godly parents to exercise their will for His purposes. Honoring our parents brings peace and joy to God and men, and in time, we will receive the benefits of our labor. We have nothing to fear; we have everything to trust and hope for.

^a = Ephesians 6:1-3: [1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: [3] "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."