January 2006 Archives

I just got this in email and wanted to pass on the news ...

You may already know that our 95-10 Initiative has garnered the attention of the media and of lawmakers around the country. Now, 95-10 is being heralded by Democratic strategists Paul Begala and James Carville as a practical solution to the tragedy of abortion in their new book, "Take It Back: Our Country, Our Party, Our Future." Read the following excerpt:

"A group of pro-life Democrats called, appropriately enough, Democrats for Life, has come up with what it calls the 95-10 Initiative. Its goal is to reduce abortions by 95 percent in ten years. The 95-10 Initiative has been championed in the House of Representatives by Tim Ryan, a bright and engaging congressman from Ohio. One of the youngest members of Congress, Ryan was fed up with extremists on both sides who endlessly debated Roe v. Wade without doing anything constructive to reduce the need for or number of abortions. The 95-10 Initiative is built around seventeen concrete policy proposals that would reduce the number of abortions. In announcing their plan, the pro-life Democrats said their goals are to empower women, to defend pregnant women, and to protect unborn children... Democrats should challenge Republicans who do nothing more than give lip service to pro-lifers to put some policy behind their speeches. This is both good politics, and we think, good policy."

Sincerely,

Kristen Day
DFLA
email: info at democratsforlife.org
web: http://www.democratsforlife.org

If you would like to become a member of DFLA or would like to renew your membership, click here. And, if you haven't done so, please consider giving to the $95.10 Campaign.

The AFA wants to know who your choice for the next president would be. I, of course, chose Hillary Clinton. :) But, in all fairness, if Hillary does not run ... I would choose John McCain in a heartbeat. He is probably the only Republican I would pick.

Click here to vote.

As a Christian, I know that war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ and I reject the use of war as an instrument of national foreign policy. I believe that it is the moral duty of all nations to resolve conflicts by peaceful means. And, because I believe as I do, I supported Cindy Sheehan's efforts to protest the war in Iraq in a peaceful manner. Being a mother as well, I could understand her pain.

But, I don't understand this:

"I admire him for his resolve against my government and its meddling," said Sheehan, who gained notoriety when she camped outside US President George W. Bush's ranch last year to protest the Iraq war. She said she hoped to meet Chavez later in the week.

I don't think I am going to anytime soon either.

Unfortunately, sometimes life interferes with blogging and lately mine has in a big way. I apologize for the lack of posts and will see what I can do to get myself jump started come Monday. In the meantime, remember God is good and faithful. He sometimes has to remind me of that, but I am so glad He does.

As many of you know, I took down my Radio.Blog sometime ago due to juke.blog player eating up my bandwidth. Well, the site admin said he could see where it made sense to be able to disable the juke.blog player and now the instructions include directions on how to remove your radio.blog from the radio.blog.club database! And, since I love my Radio.Blog, it is now back. I have it linked over there under Navigation. When you click the link, it will open in a pop-up window for your convenience.

This week I am playing Hymns by Shirley Caesar. Enjoy!

For those that did not know (and I was one of them) Way of the Master Radio is now on the air. Listen to Kirk, Ray, and Todd on your local station Monday through Friday, 2-4 PM CST; or online anytime ... including free podcasting. What is even better is that this isn't just a static show! Anyone can call and talk to them on the air (1-800-811-WDJD) or email them questions and comments (studio at wayofthemasterradio.com) to be discussed on air.

Too, too cool! :)

Yes, it is another puppy post so get over it. :) I just have to post about :Peanut: today as today is the first day that Peanut has went and whined at the front door that he has to go potty! We have been potty training him now since Monday and he is doing an excellent job of it. But, I figured he would. He is so smart ... just like his mommy and daddy.

In other news, I am cleaning my desk which looks like a garbage can puked on it. Fun, fun, fun.

I just received this press release in email and wanted to share:

Civil Rights Leader Joins Pro-Life Democrats
Events Surrounding 33rd Annual March for Life a Success

Washington, DC - Jan 24, 2006 Democrats For Life of America held their annual March for Life Breakfast yesterday in Washington, D.C.. This year's breakfast featured Dr. Alveda King, daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..

During the years of the Civil Rights Movement, led by her uncle, Alveda's family home was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama in the heat of the struggle. "Daddy's house was bombed, then in Louisville, Kentucky his church office was bombed. I was also jailed during the open housing movement," Alveda King recalls.

Democrats For Life of America was one of the many pro-life organizations participating in the annual march proclaiming the need to protect the rights of the unborn.

"We are committed to protecting life. That's why we are so excited about this year's march, and hope that more Americans learn more about our efforts to foster a respect for human life from conception to a natural death," said Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats For Life of America.

During her speech, King recalled a time when "'liberal' meant 'generous, caring, concerned for others." She shared a story in which a young child she spoke to compared abortion to slavery- no choice for the unborn, no choice for the slaves, and she has since taken that message to the public. In telling her own story of being a post-abortive mother, she said, "abortion has consequences for the mother." King spoke of her own guilt, detachment from her other children, cervical problems leading to surgery.

Democrats for Life of America were also present later in the day at the March for Life Rose Dinner. The guest speaker at the dinner was former U.S. Ambassador Ray Flynn. Flynn urged those working in the pro-life movement to continue their efforts using both their "heads and their hearts." He recalled a time when every elected Democrat in his home state of Massachusetts was pro-life. "The only pro-choice people you could find were Republicans." He highlighted social justice as an issue that should be part of a pro-life ethic. Flynn thanked Nellie Gray for having the courage to invite a Democrat to be the speaker at this year's dinner. As the crowd applauded, he commented, "sounds like there are more Democrats out there."

Democrats For Life of America was founded in 1999 to mobilize Democrats at the local, state, and national levels. Their primary mission has been to elect pro-life Democrats, support pro-life elected officials, promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform and achieve legislation that fosters respect for human life.

Democrats For Life of America currently has 32 state chapters with plans to expand the group into additional states by the end of the year. In addition to the grassroots support across America, the group has several Members of Congress who are actively promoting the group's mission.

Learn more...

DFLA
Kristen Day
Executive Director
email: info at democratsforlife.org
phone: 202-220-3066

Don't forget to check out the DFLA's 95-10 Initiative.

I cannot think of anything to blog today, so I am going to create an open thread instead. Drop in and say hi, or tell me about your latest post, or even what is going on in your life. Share with me! If you don't want to comment, then email is fine.

If you have anything really good, I may just highlight them in this post. Kind of like a trip around the blogosphere thingie. :)

• Jacke has a lengthy, but interesting, post on the Emergent Church.
• Paul says not to give up. Definitely uplifting!
• JR wants to know if there is a religion that would cause you not to vote for a politician if they adhered to it? Interesting, indeed.
• H.H. Patriarch Anthony posts his disgust at the The Book of Daniel being cancelled due to pressure from Christians. I am not happy with it either. It was an entertaining show and one we could jump start many a witnessing opportunity. Too bad we Christians have to be so judgmental at times.

I rarely ever take up blog space tooting the horns of other bloggers, but this time I just have to. I read a lot of blogs, but rarely do I read a blog everyday, a couple of times a day. I can count the ones on one hand that I do. Independent Christian Voice is one. The political commentary is awesome and when you mix it with their faith, well you have a powerful combination. They are definitely a must read. And, if you don't believe me ... check out this particular post. It is just one post of many that will make you think and wish you were a much better writer. :)

Now ... go!

Have you heard that the Society for the Promotion of Individualized Theologies will be publishing two new translations this year? If you haven't, you should really check them out. I am particularly fond of the following translation ...

The Bible is the Very Word of God, inerrant in all that it teaches, including matters of history or science, and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Bite me, Charles Darwin!
-2 Timothy 3:16 (NCB)

It Seems to Me has the scoop. :)

I got this from David ...

how jedi are you? :: by lawrie malen

I am so loving it too. I love me some Yoda!

I have been thinking a lot about how some of my brothers and sisters in Christ overly focus on homosexuality and have developed a hyper-sensitivity to it. One cannot surf the blogosphere without coming across such topics as the homosexual agenda, who is homosexual, what homosexual character is on TV, etc. Two weeks ago it was about a gay Republican on The Book of Daniel and this week it is about Chad Allen playing both Saints in End of the Spear.

I'm confused. I don't understand. When did one sin become more important than any other sin? When did the call come to totally ignore lying, stealing, adultery, idolatry, and so on? When did those sins become lesser sins? And, they have to be in the minds of some Christians. We don't hear about the liars agenda or the adulterers agenda. We don't hear how Hollywood is presenting stealing and idolatry in a positive light and how that is destroying our culture. I haven't read any blog posts about how which adulterer or thief is playing what role in such and such movie. No one is filling up their blog about how the culture wars are being fought by those that don't love their neighbors as themselves or who covet the belongings of others.

The Bible says ...

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

It doesn't just say homosexual offenders. And, when you look at that scripture ... do you not see yourself in it? Have you never been greedy or drunk? Have you never stolen anything or slandered another person? Have you ever had sex outside of marriage? Do you have blind or excessive devotion to anything other than God? Where is the righteous indignation for all those things?

Do you honestly believe that a homosexual playing a character in a movie is somehow worse than an adulterer playing the same role? Or a liar? Or a thief? It isn't. If you are going to speak out against sin do it with an even hand. If you are going to be offended by the lifestyle of one ... be offended at the lifestyles of all. Don't play favorites with sin. God doesn't. It even says in James 2:10 ...

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. It only takes one to be guilty of them all.

I don't know, maybe I just look at things differently. Maybe I see that it isn't just one wicked act, but all wicked acts that are destroying this world. I don't practice homosexuality, but I don't demonize those who do. I know that it is a sin, but I don't go around casting stones. I love them, pray for them, and talk to them about what God has for them if they will just come to Him, ask for forgiveness, and follow Christ. I do the same for liars, thieves, adulterers, idolaters, drunkards, myself, and every other human being. The sin of the homosexual does not impact the world anymore so than the sins of the liar, the cheater, the slanderer, the thief, and everyone else.

I think it is time for us to stand up against sin as a whole. Not just one or two ... or the one or two that we don't commit ourselves ... or the two or three that we don't try to justify. All sin is wicked and all sin corrupts.

:Peanut: goes to the vet today for his puppy shots. He is also 5 weeks old today as well. I took a really good picture of him earlier, but since I posted a pic yesterday, I will save this one for another time. I may go ahead and put it on Dogster later though. :Peanut: also has a new friend. He is now in love with a pink fluffy stuffed bunny rabbit. I think they just might get married when he grows up ... if the bunny lasts that long. :)

In other news, I have had a calico cat hanging around here for a couple of weeks and I have found her a home. She is a sweet cat and well behaved. I am happy to see my friend Kim taking her to her farm where she will take up residence in her stable. She will be loved, well fed, warm, and have lots of company. Kim's farm is a mini zoo with dogs, cats, chickens, and horses.

Now, I am off to finish my laundry and clean some house. Lata!

Update: :Peanut: has worms and he has them bad. They gave him some dewormer and he has been getting them out of his system ever since. I never knew something so small could house so many of these things and some of them are longer than he is! Other than that, he is in perfect health. :)

Our demand is simple. We want truly democratic government, served by elected representatives who uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity. We demand sweeping reform to return our government to its basic responsibility: serving all the people of this great nation.

American history tells a story of expanding democracy, opportunity, and accountable governance. Throughout our history, the American people have demanded that their government reflect our nation’s highest ideals of openness and honesty, transparency and integrity and -- above all else -- a clear commitment to protecting the interest of the American people, not powerful special interests.

When the excesses of a corrupt establishment have gone too far, the American people have risen up and reformed the political process to correct our course -- because ultimately it is the people who must lead.

Today, to achieve and maintain power, the leaders of the Republican Party have built a system where money not only buys influence, but the right to govern. Special interests and their lobbyists not only buy access, they buy results -- on any issue, no matter the public interest. This Republican culture of corruption prevails through all levels of government.

Republican leaders have made the terms of the deal very clear. Those who make an investment in keeping Republican leaders in power will see a huge return on their investment in the form of corporate welfare, no-bid contracts and favorable regulation -- at the expense of the public interest.

This corrupt cycle must be broken. When our elected officials bend government to serve their own interests or those of their friends, our democracy is at risk.

Honest leadership is not a partisan goal -- it is the key to a stronger Union. It is time to put progress ahead of politics. Together, we can change this government and rebuild trust with the American people. I call on Republicans to join Democrats in restoring honest leadership to all levels of government. The American people deserve nothing less.

» Sign the petition.

Isn't he the cutest thing?

And, you can tell he just wants me to leave him alone so he can sleep. Which he immediately did after I took the picture. :)

Oh and guess what? I found out today that :Lady:, his momma, is not Lab and Blue Healer! No, she is Lab and Border Collie. And, you can't see any of that looking at :Peanut:. Nope. He looks just like his Papa ... who is the sweetest dog you could ever meet.

When I first laid eyes on the cover for Living Under God I was immediately apprehensive. I will be honest, overt displays of hyper-patriotism make me nervous. It is one thing to enjoy where one lives and support our nation and quite another to commit idolatry, which is how it comes across to me when one starts mixing patriotism and faith. But, we have all heard the old adage to not judge a book by it's cover so I said a little prayer and sat down to read.

The meat of this book matches it's cover. It's all about America and it's heroes. Fortunately for the reader, it makes for an interesting read. That holds true even more so if you enjoy history, which I do. Each chapter focuses on a biblical principal, features a historical figure of faith in American history, includes scripture to compare the principal and story to, and then explains how you can live that principal in your own life and why you should from a biblical standpoint. In the back of the book you will find some closing thoughts, a statement of faith, a theme and scripture index, and a brief bio of the authors. The only thing that I found lacking was there are no sources listed for the stories of our heroes.

Each devotional is presented in a compelling manner. They draw you into the story of each historical figure and their faith. The stories themselves are quite touching as well. I actually cried reading the story of Harriet Tubman. And, I loved how they included such a diverse group of historical figures. It is also very interactive as it makes you think about your own life and the changes you may need to make to fully live under God. This book is definitely worth the read.

- Living Under God by Toby Mac and Michael Tait was sent to me as a gift by Mind & Media. I was not paid for this review.

Newsvine is this really neat site I found. It is like del.icio.us but more on the news end of things and much more interactive. You can post your own articles, seed news links, and comment on the articles and seeds of other users. It is still in beta, but it looks promising.

From the site ...

At Newsvine, you can read breaking news from around the world, write your own articles, and publish links from across the web directly to your column. You'll also keep ad revenue from all traffic your pages generate. Feel free to register and select a domain name for yourself (yourname.newsvine.com) whenever you'd like. It's all free of course.

I have sent out a few invites to a few friends that I thought would be interested. If any of my other friends/readers are ... let me know. :) I can be found on there at http://therogueangel.newsvine.com/.

I got this from Michelle ...

Five (5) Things I Miss About Being a Kid:

1. Riding around with my Daddy.
2. TV. I liked the shows better back then.
3. Music. I liked it better too.
4. Playing all day long with my friends.
5. Going to my Grandma's house for Sunday dinner.

Five (5) Jobs I’ve Had:

1. Account Specialist
2. Documentation Specialist
3. Intranet Coordinator
4. Project Manager
5. Switchboard Operator

I will never understand why people feel the need ... preacher, politician, or lay person ... to put words in God's mouth:

"Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.

"Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."

I am sure Nagin is correct. God calls on us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to love Him with everything we are (Luke 10:27). But, I am pretty sure there are a lot of things that God does not approve of. I know that for a fact. If God was handing out natural disasters every time we did something that He did not approve of ... there wouldn't be a planet left, let alone a human being standing on it.

Judgment will come to the earth and her inhabitants one day, until then ... strive to put sin out of your own life and follow Christ. The weather has nothing on the wrath of our Lord and we haven't seen anything yet.

It is funny how life is sometimes. You do your thang day after day and then you realize that you need to make some changes in your life. For me, the major change was turning my life back over to God and letting Him deal with my heart and life. And, of course, that led to more changes. That led me to be even more forgiving than I already was (what my friends call me being too nice). It also opened me up to a more peaceful existance. It helped me see that I had way too much negativity in my life.

Negativity is harmful. Period. Drama truly is not my thing and I don't want any part of it if I can help it.

So, I made even more changes. I reread every post on my blog and removed any post I felt was negative, full of drama, or talked about things that are way too personal and shouldn't have ever been on my blog in the first place. In doing so, I noticed a trend. The more negative, dramatic, or personal the post was ... the more comments it received. Those posts had the lion share of all my comments. Sad, but true.

I have also noticed something else. I have noticed that since I made all the changes I have in my life and on my blog, my friends don't drop by much anymore. Or, if they do ... they don't say anything. On one hand, I can understand it. Some of my posts, the things that I write about that actually interest me, might not interest them. But, on the other hand ... I do throw in some personal posts as well. Of course, those personal posts aren't negative now and maybe that is the problem. Maybe my friends are only entertained by me as long as I am giving them some soap opera drama to grind their teeth on.

I would so hate to believe that is true. But, considering I still comment on my friends' blogs and I am still the same person I was ... just drama and negativity free ... and I am not hearing much back in return ... maybe it is true. I doubt my asking everyone not to cuss on my blog has caused this echo chamber. Who knows? I do know I am not going to cater to it. There are far too many blogs out there that do cater to drama and all that goes with it. They can keep it. I don't want it.

I found this especially fitting today. I just had a conversation yesterday where another person couldn't understand how I could be "nice" when most people wouldn't be. Instead, they would choose to be angry, hateful, or even do things to "get even" with the person they were upset at. But, prayer helps me tremendously. I am not going to say that I have never behaved in an unbecoming manner or that I don't want to at times, but the Lord calls for us to do as He says and not behave the way we want to.

How often do you want to "get even?"

The Lord despises double standards of every kind. - Proverbs 20:10 NLT

Never pay back evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. - Romans 12:17-19 NLT

Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the Lord to handle the matter. - Proverbs 20:22 NLT

God's Measure

How often do we see the evil around us and pray for God's justice? We wonder, Why does God allow this evil to go on! This kind of thinking leads to two of the most common double standards: (1) judging others more harshly than we judge ourselves, and (2) believing God should judge others but remain lenient with us.

The Lord despises double standards because they elevate one person at the expense of others. These man-made standards also lack the mercy of God.

In our cry for fairness, we should not forget the frightening consequences of justice. As sinners, God could justly destroy each of us today for missing the mark of perfection. When we remember that God's patience and mercy block his judgment towards us, we will more likely show others patience and mercy.

WISE WAYS: Before you rush to judge another person, ask yourself whether you would be able to endure the same standard.

Today, Lord, give me strength to replace judgment with mercy.

From the newsletter, God's Daily Promises. To subscribe, enter your email address and scroll down until you find the newsletter. Click subscribe and submit. God's Daily Promises is provided by Left Behind.

We have had so much fun this weekend! Hanging out with all these puppies and keeping up with them has been exhausting and fun. Tomorrow, they will all leave ... except for :Peanut:. :Lady: has stopped nursing and all the puppies are eating food now, so I am going to go ahead and keep him. He is already quite attached to me and loves sleeping on my chest. He spent most of the night snuggled under my neck. :)

No pet could ever take the place of my Sir Jasper, but I definitely do think I have found me a new baby.

David, I can think of more flattering things to be called than a Large Mammal, but I can think of a lot worse too!

It's all good. :)

We are spending a little time today with ten puppies! :Lady: had them four weeks ago while I was on hiatus. She started giving birth in my youngest daughter's bed, but we moved her into our room to give birth to the last six. She had eleven in all, but LM has already given one away.

Lady giving birth ...

Here is another one ...

I spent a little time in the Methodist Church, so I am not really surprised that some of their teachings may have rubbed off on me ...

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavily by John Wesley and the Methodists. What's Your Theological Worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

Interestingly enough, another quiz on worldview said I was a Fundamentalist. :) If you take the quiz, trackback or comment and let me know!

We are so lucky to be able to worship as we choose here in America. So many others are not so lucky ...

Twelve house church leaders were arrested at a Christmas celebration in Ma Na Si County in Xinjiang, North West China, on Christmas Day, 2005.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a Christian human rights watchdog organization, officers of the Religious Affairs Bureau confiscated Christmas food, 80 Bibles, a rented minivan, a car and a piano. One of the female pastors reported that the police stated that the meeting was an "illegal religious gathering."

CSW says that seven of the pastors were released at midnight the next day, leaving Pastor Guo Xianyao (54), Ms Lu Jianzhen (47), Ms Wu Haifang (28), Ms Wang Ximei (54) and Ms Zhou Bin (50) in custody at Ma Na Si County Detention Center. An eyewitness reported Pastor Guo Zianyao was beaten. All those arrested were fined and fingerprinted.

In a separate incident on Christmas Eve, CSW says police forcibly ended a house church meeting and directed about 100 Christians who were meeting at Korla City in Xinjiang to go to the government-sanctioned Three Self Patriotic Movement church.

For more on Christian persecution, visit The Voice of the Martyrs.

My dryer caught on fire this morning. I kid you not. For over thirty minutes I searched my kitchen for the "something burning" that I could smell but could not locate. I knew something was on fire, I just couldn't find it. Then LM came in and he could smell it too. By then smoke could be seen in the kitchen. But, the stove was off and all the appliances appeared to be okay.

My laundry room is attached to my kitchen. Since I had not done laundry in two days, I did not think to go in there. Thankfully, LM stepped in there and realized that was where the smoke was coming from. We opened the dryer and smoke started rolling out. Our eyes immediately started watering and it took our breath. LM unplugged the dryer and took it out the back door. He pulled the whites that I had forgotten to fold out of it and within seconds of the air hitting them, they were engulfed in flames.

My dryer does not look like it was on fire. The inside is not damaged. The outside is not damaged. I found out that my oldest child had turned on the dryer for a few minutes this morning to get the wrinkles out of a pair of jeans she wanted to wear, but other than that ... I can't imagine what started the fire. I am so freaking out though. I have a serious fire phobia. It took me three hours of deep breathing just to calm myself down.

I am just so thankful we found the fire before it could have gotten out of control. *shudder*

Christian Bloggers is opening up the main blog to contributors! I have already signed myself up and look forward to reading the contributions. It will be a great way to showcase some of our posts, don't you think? :)

Jesusland? How tacky can one get? Sheesh.

And, I don't know what is worse. Robertson tripping all over himself to take back his comments about Sharon to salvage Jesusland or the fact that he said what he said in the first place? I think it is the former.

Independent Christian Voice has posted on this as well.

The last few days have been hard. I miss Sir Jasper something fierce. Everywhere I look, I see a place he would have been. Losing him was like losing one of my children, I think. I cry everyday. I figured I would have him until he was 20 years old or even longer. I never imagined life without him.

The vet said that I should hurry up and find another pet. He said it would make the grieving process easier and give the children something to focus on. I am not ready. There is a little calico that hangs around outside and I feed her everyday, but I do not want another cat. I am actively seeking her a home right now. Sir Jasper cannot be replaced. There is no other cat anywhere that is as unique and interesting as he was.

I am considering getting a puppy, though. I have come to enjoy the companionship of a dog by spending time with LM's dogs, :Lady: and :Gentleman:. They had puppies three weeks ago and they are so cute. I am partial to the runt and have already named him :Peanut:. He looks just like :Gentleman: too. Both dogs have beautiful personalities and are incredibly smart. I like that in a dog, especially since I have kids.

I guess we will wait and see what happens. I am going to spend some time with :Peanut: this weekend and see if I get that "connection" with him. I can't explain what happens between a human and an animal, but I have always known if a animal was for me or not. Just like I have always "felt" their names more than I have just picked them. It was like that with me and Sir Jasper too.

I wonder why we haven't heard more about this ...

The American Civil Liberties Union brought the case against Mercer County, arguing the display violated the Constitution's guarantee separating church and state.

The appeals court said the ACLU was relying on a false understanding of that clause.

"This extraconstitutional construct has grown tiresome," it wrote. "The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state. Our nation's history is replete with governmental acknowledgment and in some cases, accommodation of religion."

I have been saying that for a long time.

For those of you who are not aware, NBC has a new show. The Book of Daniel debuted last Friday night after much brouhaha from the AFA about how the show was a slap to the face of Christians everywhere and how Christians should protest it even airing. I didn't protest. I actually wanted to see the show before I made a decision regarding it.

Anywho ... I watched the debut and I liked it. It was funny. It was definitely entertaining. Aidan Quinn is excellent in it. He portrays an Episcopal priest dealing with Vicodin addiction and the dysfunction of life all around him. He isn't perfect. He screws up. And, he talks to Jesus on a regular basis--who doesn't approve of his popping Vicodin right and left.

The show is full of sin. I am not going to pretend it isn't. One son is having sex outside of marriage with a girl whose mother is prejudiced (he is Asian and adopted). The other son is gay. And, while Aidan's character does not approve of his son being homosexual, he loves him and acts like he loves him. The daughter turns to selling pot to pay for her hobby, gets arrested, and later repents of her ways to her father and promises not to do it again. The mother is drinking way too much in an effort to deal with the death of her other son. And, the bishop is sleeping with Aidan's dad ... who is still married to Aidan's mom. Everyone in the show is struggling with sin in one form or another.

The only thing I can think of as to why the AFA is having such a fit, well other than the portrayal of a gay Republican, is that all the Christians in the show are struggling with sin. The thing is I don't know one Christian who isn't struggling with sin. We all sin. We all fall short. None of us is perfect and that is why Jesus is so important. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't strive to remove sin from our life, it is just the truth of human existance and to pretend it isn't the truth is dishonest as well.

While the show is somewhat irreverent when it comes to it's humor, it is genuinely funny. And, one has to remember that it is TV. It isn't a documentary. They say it is a drama. I say it is a comedy. It isn't going to be precise or even completely accurate. But, as long as they keep Jesus as he is, I am okay with it. They start disrespecting my Savior or have him condoning sin ... well, that is a different story all together. In the meantime, I plan to enjoy it. :)

Related: Check out The Blog of Daniel!

Let me say up-front that Sex And Love In Intimate Relationships is an interesting book. As a former psychology student--it was one of my minors in college--I was quite encouraged with the approach taken. It is quite unique, in my opinion. Usually when the psych field takes on sex, they take on sexual dysfunction from a purely technical standpoint or they focus on the deviant. This book takes on sex from an intimate point of view. It focuses on our internal makeup and the deep inner psychological defenses we form throughout our lives. It also discusses sexual intimacy in relation to love and how rewarding they are together.

There are a lot of case studies documented as well. While the book is quite easy to read and understand, the case studies help give the principles espoused a more personal flavor. They help the reader better understand the concepts they are reading and how they can better utilize them in their own life. The case studies also allow the reader to see their own triggers and circumstances in the lives of others. I really like that! Readers immediately see themselves and that they are not alone. They see that someone else, and in some cases many others, have went through similar experiences and have had similar reactions.

For anyone looking to expand their sexual pleasure and the ability to love and be loved, I highly recommend this book. Not only will it help you pinpoint the defenses you have built, it will help you overcome them. This book provides a valuable resource to individuals and couples alike. Also, couples would do well to read this book together. With the right tools and a "can do" attitude, any couple should be able to attack the internal demons that prevent them from obtaining true sexual intimacy. This book will definitely put them on the right track.

- Sex And Love In Intimate Relationships was sent to me as a gift by Mind & Media. I was not paid for this review.

Yesterday I came across a devotional that I really want to share. Not only is the content excellent, but it is also short and sweet. Anyone has time to read it. It only takes one minute!

Sunday, January 8, 2006

Wings to the Feet of Service

The Bible speaks of putting on "the breastplate of faith and love..." In another place Scripture speaks of a breastplate of "righteousness." Righteousness without love is no defense against the enemy. The religious Pharisees had a form of righteousness, and yet Jesus still called them sons of the devil. The Bible tells us that without love, we are nothing. Charles Spurgeon said, "Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labor." So, if you are a Christian, today make sure your heart is guarded with the breastplate of righteousness, by never allowing sin to have any dwelling place in your heart. Then let love have its way-put wings to the feet of service, and go and take the Gospel to this dying world. There goes another minute. Gone forever. Go share your faith while you still have time. Listen.

And, don't forget to bookmark The Way of the Master Minute!

I also got this from David ...

Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Take the quiz here.

Since I don't feel much like blogging (see previous post), I will do a meme instead. I got this one from David. And, from the questions it is obvious people have been meme'd to death and cannot think of interesting questions anymore. Most of the answers to these can be found on my About Me page.

• What time did you get up this morning?
  5:30 AM
• Diamonds or pearls?
  Diamonds
• What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
• What is your favorite TV show?
  Law & Order

Today has been such a hard day. Sir Jasper, the most loved kitty in the world died today at around 11 AM. I adopted him seven years ago and he would have been eight years old next month. The day I adopted him, I hadn't meant to get a cat for myself. I was there to get a kitten for my daughter. But, when I passed his cage and heard him purr, I fell in love with him. I adopted him that day. He was loved completely. He will be missed immensely.

Well, an Italian court has decided to take that question on. And, not surprisingly, it is yet another athiest behind all the brouhaha ...

An Italian court is tackling Jesus -- and whether the Roman Catholic Church may be breaking the law by teaching that he existed 2,000 years ago.

The case pits against each other two men in their 70s, who are from the same central Italian town and even went to the same seminary school in their teenage years.

The defendant, Enrico Righi, went on to become a priest writing for the parish newspaper. The plaintiff, Luigi Cascioli, became a vocal atheist who, after years of legal wrangling, is set to get his day in court later this month.

"I started this lawsuit because I wanted to deal the final blow against the Church, the bearer of obscurantism and regression," Cascioli told Reuters.

Cascioli says Righi, and by extension the whole Church, broke two Italian laws. The first is "Abuso di Credulita Popolare" (Abuse of Popular Belief) meant to protect people against being swindled or conned. The second crime, he says, is "Sostituzione di Persona," or impersonation.

Via CNN with a nod to JollyBlogger. His post was the first I had heard of it. I am sure it won't be the last though.

Well, I am out of here for the evening. It is my youngest daughter's birthday and we are having a party. The presents are bought, the cake is ready, and the guests will be arriving soon. My baby is now eight years old! I cannot believe it. Time goes by way too fast!

You know, after reading the article on CNN about what Pat Robertson said about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke being some kind of divine retribution, I had this huge post already written out in my head. But, then I got to surfing around looking for another news story to compare it to when I came across this post over at blogs4God. Well, I liked it better than what I was going to write! Especially this part ...

And what I wonder will others say when Pat’s body gives out? He is after all only 2 years younger than Sharon and isn’t a svelte as once was. I can read the bloglines now – God strikes-down Pat Robertson because:

• because he indulged in the idolatry of politics?
• it was the only way to get him to shut up?
• he made the rest of Christianity look bad?

No, because like Sharon, Robertson’s eventual physical condition will give out due to the effects of the human condition otherwise known as sin. At which point Roberston, like Sharon, and even eventually like your's truly, will all stand before God.

RightFaith also has a post on how Robertson's interpretation of scripture isn't actually accurate. It is a good post. Go check it out. :)

Update 1/7/2006: Pat Robertson explains himself, but I have to agree with JollyBlogger. His explanation doesn't exactly cut it. JollyBlogger does an excellent job of elaborating, so go check out his post.

I started my morning crying my eyes out. I read that some of the miner's that died this past week had left notes. They wanted their families to know that they did not suffer. The carbon monoxide made them sleepy and they just drifted off to sleep. That just tore me up.

The last few days have been hard around here for me. Watching the news of the miners trapped in the explosion over in West Virginia has been heartbreaking. When the word came in that twelve of them perished, I bawled my eyes out. I could imagine what the families were and are still going through. I can even imagine my dad writing that same note. That is something he would have done. He would have wanted us to know that we were loved and that he didn't suffer.

I am the daughter of a coal miner. Born and raised here in Kentucky, my Daddy spent his life in the mines. He used to crack me up talking about rats that were as big as a German Shepard. It was even funnier considering he was afraid of mice and he was no small man. He would always calm my fears by telling me that he watched the rats and everyone knew that if the rats started heading for the surface, it was time for the men to high-tail it out of there.

He would come home with coal dust on him and his gear. It was a daily reminder of where he worked and made his living. It was also a daily reminder to me to pray that God would protect him and not let anything bad happen to him in the mines. I was terrified of a cave in. We all were. It was something that you carried with you all the time. And, if a news report came in that something had happened at the mines ... your heart would just stop.

I grew up in a coal mining community. Most of my friends were children of coal miner's. We all knew what our father's did for a living and we all understood, even at a very young age, the risks they took. Even so, when I was a little girl, I wanted to be a coal miner just like my Daddy. When I would tell him that, he would just look at me and shake his head. He would say, "Oh no. That is the last thing you want to be. Women aren't treated very well in the mines and it is a hard way to make a living." As I grew up I realized just how hard of a living it was by just watching him and the toll it took on his body.

My prayers are with the families of those miners today, just as they have been everyday. I am a coal miner's daughter and I know the pain they are feeling, the anquish they have been experiencing, and the hope that their loved ones would be brought back to them safely. And, even though the pain is sharp ... I hope they are proud of their miner's and the work they did. Not many men have the fortitude to go inside of a mine everyday and do that kind of work.

The Sims 2: Open for Business will be hitting shelves February 28, 2006! Whooo Hooo! I cannot wait! TheSims2.com had this to say about the new expansion pack ...

Now your Sims can create their own businesses. They can design their own clothing boutique, beauty salon, florist, high-end electronics shop, bustling restaurant chain, or virtually any other type of business. Hire your staff as the business grows and put talented Sims to work making toys, running the register, crafting floral bouquets, giving sales pitches, or manufacturing robots. But watch out for slacker employees and be prepared to fire them on the spot. From clever tinkerer to master craftsman, develop your Sim's talents to best suit your business needs. Will they build a thriving business empire or become eccentric entrepreneurs designing the next big thing?

Don't forget to pre-order it now!

Just so you know, I have decided to go with Feedburner for my primary feed. It is much more interactive, versatile, and it rawks! So, if you are subscribed to this site using Bloglines, Blogdigger, Feedster, or any other RSS reader ... please update the feed you are using.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheRogueAngel

Over on the right sidebar, under Syndication, you will find a variety of buttons that allow you to subscribe easily. Feel free to take advantage of them! :)

Billy Graham has a free offer this month for Just As I Am and Other Favorite Hymns of Billy Graham by Wintley Phipps.

This special compilation features nine well-known traditional hymns such as “Just As I Am,” “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” and “Great Is They Faithfulness.”

Click here to take advantage of this free offer.

David tagged me ...

• Four jobs you've had in your life: Account Specialist, Documentation Specialist, Intranet Coordinator, & Project Manager
• Four movies you could watch over and over:
  The Outsiders, The Shawshank Redemption, Color Purple, To Sir With Love
• Four places you've lived:
  Providence, Paducah, Oldsmar, & Milburn
• Four TV shows you love to watch:
  I Love Lucy, Medium, The Biggest Loser, and Law & Order
• Four places you've been on vacation:
  Smokey Mountains, LA, San Francisco, & Orlando
• Four websites you visit daily:
  Donna, Shylah, David, & Sis
• Four of your favorite foods:
  Ribeye Steak, Ribs, Chicken Gizzards, Strawberry Cheesecake
• Four places you'd rather be:
  At home, San Francisco, in the country, visiting the ocean
• Four albums you can't live without:
  My Name is Joe, Keith Urban, Truly: The Love Songs, Mother Wit

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. :)

I have officially returned from hiatus and I am so glad to be back. Many of you have no clue, but I have been sitting here everyday on my blog. I just haven't been blogging. Instead, I have been installing MT 3.2 and tweaking out this template. I have also been going through my entire archives and weeding it out. I went from over 1200+ posts to slightly less than 800. Big difference!

For those of you that had subscribed to my blog, you will need to do so again. The subscription service has now been updated as well so it is much easier to alter your preferences. I apologize for deleting your subscriptions, but honestly, it was for the best. I am sure you did not want a notification each and every time I edited a post or added one to the blog, especially while I was weeding out the archives. :)

I have made a lot of changes on the blog the last month, so take a moment to look around and aquaint yourselves with the setup. The comment pop-up window has been removed. I have taken some pages down completely. Other things have been implemented. If you have any questions, just shoot me off an email.