December 2008 Archives

I suck at committing to things. This is something I totally recognize about myself. I can commit to God ... but let me say I am going to read the Bible every single day and I will fail. I will miss one, then I will miss another ... and then a week will go by and I will still not have read it. Same with exercise and eating right.

I have good intentions. I want to be healthier. I want to be fit. I want to be spiritually sound and know my bible from front to back and then some. And ... I can come up with a multitude of things that get in the way of my very good intentions. We have eight kids. They range from 17 years of age to nine months old. I am always busy. I always have a million things that I need to be doing and most of it is not getting done. I don't have the time to do everything I need to do ... let alone do all the things I want to do.

Plus ... it does not help that I love doing mindless things that take up far too much of my time. Blogging is one. Facebook is another. Simming is yet another. I am shameless. I really am.

Just so you know ...

1. I am tired.
2. Facebook is addictive.
3. I wish I had more money. My wishlist is growing.
4. I still want a Wii and a Wii Fit. In a very bad way.
5. I am tired of hearing about The Shack. It is fiction people! God is not Aunt Jemima, Jesus is much more than just a carpenter, and the Holy Spirit is not a fairy.

That is all for now.

I differ from many of my Christian friends in that I believe gay couples should have legal partnerships. I am all for them having inheritance rights, being able to make medical decisions for their loved ones, having legal protections should their relationship end, etc. I have taken some flack for it through the years, but I have never seen any reason for society to deny homosexuals these basic requests. I think they should have all the protections and benefits of heterosexual marriage ... I just don't agree with them calling it "marriage."

Well, one of the arguments a lot of Christians have had against "gay marriage" has always been that eventually the government would try to force churches to marry homosexuals. I have always thought that was the most ridiculous thing ever. That would be like me trying to force a mosque to marry me with a rabbi officiating. I am not Jewish. I am not a follower of Islam. Why would I expect either to even want to have anything to do with my relationship when I don't keep the tenets of their faith? It would be absurd.

Baby NoNo has been sick for a bit now. The week before Christmas we took her to the doctor and they said she had bronchitis. Christmas Eve she went to the ER because she had a high temperature and they said she was fighting off a virus. She kept that fever for three days ... and now she has a fine red rash on all over her. She has been congested for a month and has been waking up in the middle of the night wanting to play until 3 AM.

Needless to say ... mommy is tired. Very tired.

Christmas was good. We had a ton of food and a lot of fun. The guys played cards and Sis and I played SingStar. We rocked the 80's and the Pop II games. I loved it even though I have been fighting off something as well and my voice was not up to par.

Which reminds me ... Sis wrote a really good post about Christmas. Check it out.

Fully God, fully man ... Jesus was born of a virgin and came to live a sinless life, the ultimate sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. There is nothing that can compare to the greatest gift ever given. Nothing.

Merry Christmas.

I can't see me doing much blogging in the next few days. Things are going to be crazy around here. Today, I need to make my cornbread for the chicken and dressing I am making for Christmas. I also need to clean the house. Big time. Later today ... I need to sit down and work out my Christmas menu and make a trip to Wal-Mart for some bleach. I have been needing bleach for over a week and have been to the store at least five times and have forgotten it each and every time.

Fibro Fog ... gotta love it.

Anywho ... tomorrow I have to fill in for the Pastor's wife who was filling in for the secretary. I have to get the church bulletin done, January's calendar, mail out the birthday cards, and whatever else is on the agenda. When I get home ... I have to make two cakes and six pies for Christmas. Plus make supper. I also need to buy my ham. I already have my turkey ... but I need my ham. I also need to buy whatever else I need for Christmas dinner.

Wednesday ... I will do most of my Christmas cooking ... everything but the turkey, ham, gravy, rolls, deviled eggs, and mashed potatoes. I will make the dressing up, but I won't actually cook it until Christmas day. I need the broth from the turkey, donchaknow. :) Everything else will just get reheated and will make cooking on Christmas much easier.

This year we are having my sister and her family, my sister-n-law and her family, my husband's uncle and cousin, and probably my friend K and her family. I don't know if Mom is coming or not. You never know with her. My brother and his family will probably make a stop in ... maybe. I don't know yet. Dinner is at 2 PM and friends and family will be coming and going throughout the day until probably 9 PM or so.

We will be showing The Nativity Story throughout the day. It will make for a very full and wonderful day. I am excited already and cannot wait!

Heterosexual sex outside of marriage is a sin. Getting drunk is a sin. Stealing is a sin. Having sex with someone else other than your wife or husband is a sin. Gossiping is a sin. Lying is a sin. Worshipping idols is a sin. Homosexual sex is a sin. Disrespecting your mother and/or father is a sin. Greed is a sin. Murder is a sin. Gluttony is a sin. Taking God's name in vain is a sin.

Having said all that ... which sentence makes me an intolerant bigot?

Calling sin a sin can get you called a bigot these days ... especially by gay activists. It can also get you called intolerant. In the last two days I have read a number of posts from gay people who are angry that Obama picked Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. They say Rick Warren is an intolerant bigot because he believes what the Bible says about homosexuality and he is against gay marriage. A few make it quite plain that all Christians are intolerant bigots if they believe the same thing.

See ... I do not hate gay people. I personally don't know any Christians that do. No one I know is calling for them to be strung up, whipped, or quartered because they are gay. Do I think they are sinning if they have sex with someone of the same sex. Yes, I do. Just as I believe it is a sin for my unmarried daughter to have sex before she is married ... or with someone other than her spouse once she is married.

Some people may not like this ... but I think it is awesome! Love it! Love it! Love it!

I have always received email from readers of my blog. Sometimes more so than I do comments. Sometimes people just feel more comfortable saying what they have to say in private and I understand that. I am all cool with readers emailing me.

Unfortunately, there are times when I offend some of my readers. It is not that I set out to do so ... it just happens. I say what I think about something and they don't like it. That is life when you have a blog. Some readers will love what you have to say and some won't. Some may experience both emotions in the same day ... depending on the number of posts you have.

Today, one of my reader's took offense at me referring to racist people as ignorant. They felt it was an unfair assessment and said that it seems I take pleasure in referring to them that way. Well, I probably do take some pleasure in referring to them as ignorant ... I admit. To me, they are.

An article in The New York Times states ...

Barack Obama has selected the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, a role that positions Mr. Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation's pre-eminent minister and reflects the generational changes in the evangelical Christian movement. (emphasis mine)

I have nothing against Rick Warren. I don't always agree with him and sometimes he says things that make me go, "huh?" But, I don't in any way shape or form believe that Rick Warren could even begin to fill Billy Graham's shoes or ever impact the world for Christ the way Billy Graham has. Nothing against him ... I just don't believe he is of the same caliber by any stretch of the imagination.

Addendum: Tony Miano, of The Lawman Chronicles, has a post regarding Rick Warren. I am not going to say anymore and give it away. Go read it for yourself. All I will say is that it left me speechless.

Speaking of Reality TV ... I watched Momma's Boys last night. The Biggest Loser is normally the only Reality TV I watch, but I couldn't help myself after seeing the previews. Plus, the girls wanted to check it out too and see what all the fuss was about.

Is JoJo's mom not the most obnoxious woman? I about fell out when she started saying that her son couldn't date "a black one" or "an Asian" or even a Jewish girl. No ... she said the girl had to be white. Mom is from Iraq. Does she think she is white? I don't think people consider Iraqis to be white. Obviously, she does.

Momma is seriously prejudiced and I cannot believe that they have actually put this woman on a television show. Of course ... she claims she is not racist at all but what came out of her mouth was indeed racist. How many more people can she offend before the show completes? And ... to top it off she wants a daughter-n-law that she can control ... who will obey her every command.

And ... from the looks of next weeks show ... it may just be another doozy when Momma catches her son kissing on a girl that definitely did not look white. I can't help but wonder just how ugly they are going to let this show get. I guess we will find out. If anything ... it will be a good teaching tool to educate my daughters on just how ignorant some people can be.

Michelle took the prize on The Biggest Loser last night! She lost 110 lbs! I am so happy for her. I loved her mom and her so much. I was also tickled that it was another pink shirt that got it. I am crazy about Ali and think she is just the cutest thing ever ... maybe even more so than Suzy.

Plus ... I favor Jillian's team. I don't know why ... I like Bob. I think he is awesome. But some of his team members can be something else. They tend to be so much more manipulative. I think that is why Heba wasn't voted to the finals and Ed was. Ed just comes off as such a nice guy. Heba comes off as manipulative and willing to sell her husband down the river if it will get her what she wants. Same with Vicky.

The new season will start January 6th and I cannot wait!

Ben asked in a comment about my great-nephew since I haven't mentioned him in awhile. Honestly, there isn't a whole lot I can say. We still really don't know much.

What I do know is this: the baby went back to the children's hospital for testing. They are trying to determine if there is anything wrong with the baby that would cause his bones to break. It is my understanding that they have ruled out my nephew when it comes to determining if someone did this to the baby. They also ruled out a babysitter. The baby is still in the care of Social Services and they go back to court in January.

We are still very much in prayer. That is all I know for now.

Related posts:

• Urgent Prayer Request
• Update

The outreach went really well. We are so happy with how it went. The only thing we weren't happy with was the weather. It got nasty out there last night and once it started sleeting heavy ... it was just too much for some to come. But, we opened up earlier than expected and I think we served over 200 people before it got too bad for them to come.

We have put up all the new stuff that was left for next year. The used items will be given out throughout the year as we come out to feed and minister on the streets. I can't wait for next year to get here already! We had the outreach in the projects, using one of their community buildings ... and they are all for us coming back. I am hoping to get approval from our coordinator to go ahead and reserve the building for next year and do the outreach on a weekend so we can have more time to prepare and more time to serve those that come.

I think a few people came out of it surprised by the need that is out there. One of our ladies was brought to tears when she saw everyone huddled outside an hour before we were to start ... willing to stand in the cold and rain just to get in. C got really tore up when she saw a dad shopping for his child. He was wearing basketball shorts, no socks, and some ragged sneakers. It was almost more than she could bear.

This morning, I was listening to Joel Osteen before heading to church and I got to thinking. I know a lot of people pick on Joel. They say he doesn't preach the whole Gospel. Others say he just tells people things that will make them feel good ... kind of like a self-help guru. Some even go so far as to claim he is a cult leader.

Well ... I am going to tell you upfront ... I like Joel Osteen. I think he is funny. I think he is interesting. I don't think he is a self-help guru or a cult leader. I think he serves a role in the Body of Christ. I repeat ... I think he serves a role in the Body of Christ.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:14

1 Corinthians 12 is a very interesting chapter and one I think more of the brethern need to read. We find that while we are one unit, we each have different jobs to do in service to our Lord. Joel Osteen teaches the brethern to remain positive ... to keep the faith no matter what the circumstances. He tells us that God loves us and He wants what is good for us ... and as His children we should want what He wants for us too.

The comment from Tom A. Trottier that never seems to die. It just keeps showing up again and again. It is still as stupid now as it was back then.

Kos posted it and Blondesense adds graphics.

And, my response back in 2004 ... still stands.

So ... what do you want for Christmas?

Me ... I want a reading light. I even have it on my wishlist. Bryan falls asleep faster than me and I end up watching TV because I do not have a light that I can use to read instead.

There is also a t-shirt and a bible cover I really want as well.

But, if we had the money ... I would want a Wii and Wii Fit. That would be so much fun! I think I would like exercising so much more if it was fun. :)

Let's say that I decide to write an article on Islam and what it advocates (or does not advocate). I go to a store and I purchase the Quran. But, instead of taking time to read it and study it, I decide to grab bits and pieces of it to write my article. People who have never read the Quran might buy my assertions and think my article rocks. People who have read and studied the Quran will know that I am a fraud and a fool.

Same with Lisa Miller and her Newsweek article ... except she used the Bible.

I was thinking the other day about how much my life has changed in the last few years ... especially since I started this blog back on November 24, 2003. Life is so interesting. It never ceases to amaze me. I have changed and grown so much since then.

Going thru some of the old entries is hard. There is stuff in there about my ex-husband. He is still a difficult subject for me. I still have trouble dealing with the fact that I never really knew him. I thought I did. But, I didn't. I was a fool and a very big fool was I.

Sometimes all that seems like a bad dream ... something that isn't even real. I couldn't really blog about what was going on there at the end. We had trial coming and I didn't know who was reading my blog or who could be feeding him information. It was during that time that I came to realize that he was not the man I thought he was in more ways than one. I had to accept that he actually targeted me and used me to get himself in the position to do what he did.

Dan Barker, president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, has put up a placard at the Washington State Capitol that says ...

At this time of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

His group put up the sign because Barker feels ...

If there is going to be a nativity scene that's pro-Christian, which basically insults those of us who are not Christian, by telling us we're going to go to hell unless we bow down before that Baby Jesus, then we want an equal time, too.

Interestingly enough, there is also a menorah and "Holiday Tree" on display as well as the nativity scene that so offends Barker and his group. But, I guess that is not offensive to him. He seems to only be offended by Jesus and the Gospel.

This morning, my husband picked me up so we could go to the church and get some work done. I needed to print out some more flyers for the Christmas Outreach we are having so we could get them passed out this afternoon. On the way to church, I stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up some ink and then we went to Big Lots to see about a gift we wanted to get the girls.

When we entered the checkout line, I noticed a lady and her son in the next line counting out change. The reason I noticed them was because of the lady running the register on that aisle. She was loudly asking the woman if she had anymore money and she kept asking ... and she kept asking. As the customer searched her purse, pulling out single bills and more change, the employee kept asking her if she had anymore money ... exclaiming loudly that all she needed was twenty more dollars and asking if the customer had it.

The customer's son was mentally handicapped. It was obvious by his behavior and you could tell that whatever their purchase was ... there was something in there for him. He was tickled pink ... but his demeanor changed as he saw his mother searching for more money and not coming up with enough to satisfy the lady at the register. He began to get aggitated and the more the employee loudly exclaimed how much more money they needed ... the more aggitated he became. Then he started to cry.

I have a question for you ...

I used to call my children by their names here on my blog. I would even post the occasional picture of them. I got spooked and went through all my posts, took out their names and replaced them with nicknames and removed all of their pictures. But, I see other parents calling their kids by name, posting their pictures, etc.

Do you think it is safe to use your children's first names on a blog or post pictures of them online? Or am I being too overprotective or anxious about it?

I would love to feel comfortable doing so ... I just don't know if I feel safe doing it.

I have had a stomach bug for a couple of days now. Yesterday, I spent the day in bed. My whole body hurt! Today, it is a bit better. I have been up most of the day and have actually accomplished some laundry. I still can't eat much, but that will come with time.

My husband's dad and his wife stopped by this afternoon. It is always good to see them. I couldn't hug or kiss them ... but the conversation was good. :) They couldn't believe how much NoNo has grown and Little Foot got a crisp, new twenty dollar bill for being on the honor roll at school.

I guess I am going to jump off here and make me a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Lata, y'all!

I woke up this morning and turned on the TV just in time to hear ... "Own a piece of history commemorating the day the world changed ... forever."

Puhleeze.

I am sorry. Really I am. I get that the election of Barack Obama is an historic event. I really do. I get how important his election is to black people. I know my husband, his family, and every black person I know ... is ecstatic. This really means a lot to them and I understand that and I even understand why. I think it is great that a black man was elected to the highest office in the land.

But to say that his election marks the day that the world changed forever? Forever? Forevah and evah and evah? I don't think so. My kids are still niggers to ignorant people who have nothing better to do with their lives than sling ethnic slurs at children. They are still "zebras" and "oreos" to the uncivilized redneck masses who live in rural areas and spend more time with farm animals than they do other human beings.

No ... the world did not change just because a black man was voted President of the United States. That very instant ... the very moment Barack Obama was elected ... something historic happened. That is for sure. But, racism did not die when Barack Obama was elected. Prejudice did not disappear. Peace was not declared across the world. Wars did not end. Evil was not conquered. The hungry were not fed. The homeless did not find shelter. The hearts of men were not changed.

It would have been nice had it been so ... but unfortunately for us ... we still live in the exact same world we were living in ten seconds before Barack Obama was elected. One day, the world will change forever ... but that has everything to do with Christ and nothing to do with politics. But, I guess that doesn't sell many commemorative plates.

Have you ever been to a secular site or blog where a discussion of the Bible was taking place? Have you ever noticed that most of the people in the conversation have no clue what the Bible says and the ones who profess that they do ... really don't and it is really obvious that they don't?

Yeah. Me too.

I always feel compelled to "set the record straight" but have found that it is best that I don't. Honestly, I don't think they really want to know what the Bible actually says because normally it just starts a fight if you tell them. They want to argue about how the Bible "contradicts itself" and will claim that it says the most bizarre things. Or, better yet, they will claim it does not say what it says and you can show them all day long ... but in the end it will be that you are interpreting it wrong. Or my all-time favorite ... someone changed the Bible to say what it says now but that is not what it originally said.

It is not productive conversation. Not at all. Their interest really isn't what the Bible actually says ... but more along the lines of using pieces of the Bible to justify their beliefs about what they claim is in the Bible or why no one should read the Bible in the first place. They can't grasp the difference between religion and faith or what it means to have an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior. Nor are they interested in reading passages in context of the other passages around the one they are quoting.

I guess that is why Jesus tells us not to throw our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). They don't appreciate them. They trample them underfoot. They mean nothing to them. Instead ... they just try to rip you to shreads. It is better to just turn and surf away ...

Over the weekend, I watched The Nativity Story. I bought it last year, but had never sat down to actually watch it. I don't know what took me so long! I loved it!

I loved the way Mary and Joseph were portrayed and how their relationship grew from one of acquaintance to husband and wife. To watch Mary fall in love with Joseph was so touching. You watch her respect for him develop. You see his gentleness and character. It was all so moving.

If you haven't seen this movie, I would definitely recommend it this Christmas. The parades are nice and so are all the shows about Santa and Rudolph ... but the reason for the season is Jesus. This movie definitely reminds you of that and the great sacrifice our Lord made.

It has been a rough couple of days. Thanksgiving was overshadowed with what happened to my great-nephew. I have been in prayer for days. I can't understand how anyone could do that to a two month old baby. I am thankful he is alive though. Whoever did that ... they could have killed him. I praise God he is still breathing and that Social Services is investigating.

We found out this morning that the baby was moved to a children's hospital and is now in foster care. He did not have a concussion as we were originally told, but he does have a broken leg and eleven broken ribs (we were originally told it was four, then three). The break in his leg is from where it was twisted and we don't know if they were able to repair it properly or not.

Every time I think of him, I start to cry. I can't help it. I can't imagine how anyone could do such a thing to another human being ... let alone a helpless little baby. I just pray that they find out who actually did this. Considering the injuries my great-nephew has sustained, I cannot help but believe that his life depends on it.

Please keep him and this situation in your prayers. And, thank you for all the emails and the concern you have shown. It is appreciated more than you know.