Cherish the Journey

Where would we be, or what would we do without the internet? Many people have their opinions, some PG and some not so PC. But it is a question that came to my mind in light of the Writer’s Guild of America’s (WGA) on going strike.

In brief summery the members of the WGA, yeah those guys that write the shows we know and love on TV, have gone on strike because they are not receiving any royalties from the DVD sales of the shows we’re addicted to, or any compensation for internet downloads of their hard work. Resulting in late night shows (Jay Leno, David Lettermen, etc), and many of the primetime line up will be going to reruns soon, if negotiations go poorly. Now whether or not you agree with the strike, the potential for a rerun of 1988’s five month strike raises many questions about what the internet has done to our working society.

Most of us read the news on the web, instead of buying a news paper. We send email instead of paper mail. We can download music, movies, TV shows, and even books online. Even though the internet allows tons of information to be at our finger tips it’s also cutting away some of jobs and revenue with in some industries. Almost adding to the lazy, selfish, give it to me now mentality that has swept our nation in the last twenty years.

Granted I have no idea what our world or society would be without the internet, but it’s something to consider do the benefits out weight the cultural changes that have occurred. Identity Theft, solitude, the number of teens/children that have gone to meet an internet friend and never come home, and many more threats come with this web-concoction.

At this point, I’m at an impass, and a quote from Spiderman comes to mind, “With great power comes great responsibility.” I love the internet, just like anyone else, but even though information is at our fingertips, we need to be careful in how we use it. The more we exploit the more trouble we can cause through our E-society.

Recently on CNN.com I found an article about a Church that was ordered to pay $10.9 million for a funeral protest that took place in Maryland. As I read on I was saddened and practically ashamed to call myself Christian.

This church group apparently has picketed at the funerals, in several states, of many fallen military killed in Irag and Afghanistan, claiming “God is punishing the United States because of its tolerance for homosexuality”. I don’t know what homosexuality and the War on Terror have to do with one another, but that’s a topic for another day.

Now I try to talk/listen to God everyday through prayers and reading the Bible, and I don’t think I could ever make a statement like that. To say what God is doing based on our actions. I’m not trying to defend or offend on the second half of that statement, but more on the part that a Christian associated group is dragging the title of Christian through the mud.

To make statements like “God hates [homosexuals]”, is ridiculous. It is my belief that God hate no one person on this planet. He may hate certain choices we make and is saddened when we turn away from a relationship with Him, but to blatantly say God hates any one group of people is against what the Bible shows as the nature of God. The whole purpose of our being is to have a relationship with God, and in that, as in any relationship, there are many emotions, but at the core of any long term relationship is LOVE, not hate.

What saddens me the most is what non-believers are taking away from the media attention the church group is getting. They are not seeing the gospel. They are not seeing what believing in Jesus Christ is about. They are not seeing the purpose of a church body. All non-believers are seeing are extremist being insensitive to the grief of people who have lost loved ones, under the banner of church and Christianity.

It seems our own humanity is the greatest hindrance to the work God has given to each believer. “Go make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19) Over the course of history humanity has done many awful things, at times under the ‘banner’ of Christianity, as almost a justification to their actions. And I think the fact that we are just a fallible as non-believers is often the greatest hindrance to Christianity. Not that we can be perfect examples 24/7, but it is important to present ourselves and any concerns we see fit to protest about, in a manner that presents the truth of Christ. With humility. With a prayerful spirit. With an eternal perspective.

I am currently reading through Dave Miller’s Blue Like Jazz (Non-religious thoughts on Christian Spirituality), and one of the chapters speaks of Miller and his friends setting up a confessional booth at their liberal college. But instead of listening to the confessions of non-Christian students, Miller and his Christian friends confessed the hindrances, we as a general community of Christian’s, that have been placed as a road block to non-believers’ understanding of Christianity. This was a profound and relevant act, and it feels like something I want to put out there as well in light of the referenced article.

If you have been hurt by a person or persons that claimed Christianity, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we fail to represent the truth peace and love of my savior, Jesus Christ. My failure is not due to disbelief or what I believe in, but to the mere fact that I am human. I am imperfect, but because of the LOVE of God and the perfection of Christ, this burden has been lifted. Forgiveness from the creator is there for anyone willing to shed their sinful nature and live a life where perfection is not expected only repentance, trust, and a willingness to live for more than yourself.

LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOUCAN TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

HOUSE # 1: A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas.Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in anorthern or Midwestern "snow belt" either. It is in the South.

HOUSE # 2: Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet, (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity requiredfor a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Waste water from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then the collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house.Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surroundingrural landscape.

HOUSE # 1 (20 room energy guzzling mansion) is outside of Nashville, Tennessee . It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker) Al Gore.

HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas.Also known as "the Texas White House," it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

So whose house is gentler on the environment?

Yet another story youWON'T hear on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC or read about in the New York Times or the Washington Post. Indeed, for Mr. Gore, it's truly "an inconvenient truth."

AN EMAIL FORWARD I RECIEVED

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, ''Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?''

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young:
I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddingsand funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill ofthe teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort ineverything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cocklebursout of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help outsome poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, orchop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior ineverything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, orheroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, North America would be a better place.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/02/28/students.survey.reut/index.html

A survey of 81,000 students is 26 states; found that two-thirds of high school students are bored in the classrooms. Shocking numbers if you ask me, but why?

Is it because teachers don’t have the motivation to teach and make their subjects interesting. Are teachers pushed too much on standardized test scores revealing their success and not paid enough?

Or is it because a high school degree won’t get you very far? Cause once you get a high school degree, you need a college degree, and once you get a college degree you need a masters, PHD., or professional school to actually get a good job.

Or is it that teens come from a give it too me now, I deserve it, I don’t have to earn it culture. Why do they have to put effort into something they will be given if they keep their head about water long enough?

I think all of these play a part in the boredom of our teens. School is not seen as a privilege any more. Not by the government and not by it’s people. It is just something to do until the school bells ring and they can get on with their real lives. I heard someone say once that school should be made illegal in order to make kids want to go.

For better or worse that won’t happen, but it is the mentality we as voters and you as students and teachers need to adopt. The world holds so many things to learn and develop if we can step out of our selfishness and value learning.

Take the time to value yourself, value your future to make school an active choice, and an active opportunity to move forward. The way the school system is set up isn’t beneficial to its students, but you can’t make a change if you don’t know how to learn and motivate yourself forward.

Take a step out and make learning fun, interesting, and worth every minute. So that when the school bells ring no one makes a run for the door.

James Madison, the fourth president, known as "The Father of Our Constitution" made the following statement:

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said:

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777. Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.

The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said:

"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers."

JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR)Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13

Some people still don't understand why military personnel
Do what they do for a living. This exchange betweenSenators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaumis worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressivei mpromptu speech, but it's also a good example of oneman's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living.

This IS a typical, though sad, example of whatsome who have never served think of the military.

Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn):"How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn (D-Ohio):"I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program . It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank.""I ask you to go with me ... As I went the other day...To a veteran's hospital and meet those men ...With their mangled bodies in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job!You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee...And you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags. You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job? What about you?"

For those who don't remember During WW II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney Representing the Communist Party in the USA. And now he's a Senator!

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.

"Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it."
--The Case for Christianity, C.S. Lewis

Give this a try....

LOVE IN THE YOUNGER YEARS…

It’s interesting to think back to Valentine’s days as a teen and remember how that affected me and my self-esteem. The only boyfriend I’ve ever had is still my Valentine today, but the years before I met him made the holiday almost unbearable.

As teenagers, and for many this doesn’t end after high school, you are looking for the things that will define who you are, and many times teens feel that having a boyfriend or girlfriend is a defining factor they can’t go without. Which often gives room for ones self esteem to take a nose dive, but why is that?

Why must we cling to the sweet NOTHINGS of someone else to feel good about ourselves?

Unfortunately I don’t have the tell all answer. I wish I did, but part of it lies in what we put value in. Is it the kind of car you drive, the paycheck you rake in, the house you own, the hottie on your arm and what they say is good and bad about you? OR…….is it that you are a child of GOD? You are loved and cherished as you are. God’s greatest pleasure is for you to be his Valentine.

He longs to have a relationship with you. He is continuously whispering the sweet SOMETHINGS that you do need to hear. His love for you is eternal, and best of all he has no faults. Nothing for us gals to ‘fix’ and nothing for the boys to complain about. He will never break your heart, or lie to your face. Because the human failures we see in relationship are not part his character.

It is his opinion that matters, no one elses. And he believes you to be beautiful, handsome, intelligent, witty, everything you need to be is inside of you because of GOD.
I challenge you this Valentines week, to plan a date with God. No need for fancy restaurants, candle light or spiffy clothes. Just take the time to sit down in prayer with him. Let him be your Valentine. Let the peace and love he will whisper to you be the person you run to when you need comfort. When you need love. When you need strong arms wrapped around you. He can be all things to you if you will let him into your heart.

Let him define you. For if you seek his love and guidance you will know who you are, and the fickle words of your peers will not leave scars behind. He is the best Valentine for he defined love, he is love, and he wants to share his love and blessings to you.

MAY THE LOVE OF GOD FILL YOUR HEARTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT

Ok so have you ever see the movie ‘Super Size Me’?

If not let me give you a summery. A man decided to make a documentary of himself eating McDonald’s for every meal for about a month I think. He documented his health status before and throughout the process, and before he could finish his doctors saw elevated liver toxicity, so high that he had to end the documentary.
Now this does say a lot about fast food and what we ingest sometimes on a weekly…..or daily… basis.

But even after watching this documentary, I’m still addicted to McDonalds. Yep I admitted it. So let’s hope the healing can begin. ;)

There has to be some addictive substance in those fries, cause they’re the best, and sometimes I just can’t help myself.

Granted the guilt does come and I have to pop in another yoga video. So enjoy your Saturday, and I’m going to do some yoga.

Who will I be?

You’ve heard it many times from family and friends, ‘you can grow up to be anything you want to be’. But part of this statement is false. The word ‘anything’ implies that you could be an astronaut, a fireman, president, or Bill Gate’s fiercest competitor.
I can’t say for certain you won’t be any of the above, but when choosing what to aspire to there are things you need to consider.

When I was growing up I loved animals, so I thought since I loved animals so much I should be a Veterinarian. Now, five years after college, I am not a Vet nor will I ever be because that is not what God intended for my life. Not to say that I would have been a bad Vet, but God had given me other gifts that I had ignored.

I have a vivid imagination, that can get me into trouble sometimes, but ever since I was able to talk or write, I have been creating stories, and drawing. It makes me laugh sometimes to look back at my class notes, because there are more doodles than medical terms.

So when you make a decision to pursue a career of any kind you need to look at three things.
What are your talents?
What is your personality?
Is this God’s plan or mine?

I encourage you to make a list of your talents. What are you good at? Are you good at Math, Science, English, Soccer, Baseball, Art? What do you excel in and where do you see yourself falling behind? I was never good at math, and surprisingly there is a lot of math involved in being a vet or a doctor, but English, History, and Art were my favorite classes. So surprise, surprise, I find myself writing historical fiction. Sometimes it’s the things you do in your free time that can be the window to your future. So don’t forget to consider that, too.

So now with a list of your talents look up the jobs that involve those things you enjoy. Cause if you don’t enjoy your job that can be a long road of unhappy and depressing emotions and events. Now that you’ve found the jobs that involve the things you enjoy, you need to evaluate your personality. Trust me you have one.

Are you a people person, or prefer to be alone. Are you and extrovert, or a wall flower? Would you feel comfortable having to talk to a lot of people, or like the confines of a cubicle? Each aspect of your personality can help you choose a career that fits you best. Don’t forget that whatever path you take will lead to what you study in College, and the job that will define your future, so take your time.

For the last question you need to find a quiet place, or a mentor with bible in hand. God knows you best of all. He has thought about your life and who you are from before you entered this world, so who better to talk to. He molded and shaped your heart, so his advice and guidance will be the best.

So pray. For some people God does use lighting bolts and neon lights to say this is your purpose, but don’t enter into prayer expecting that kind of answer. God has a way of knowing how to communicate with us and many times it takes a few crossed wires before we are ready to listen.
I know that for me, my crossed wires lead me to meet my husband, and God knew the best way for that to come about. And in my misdirection I learned a lot and struggled through many things that allow my writing to be real and relatable. Now that’s God’s wisdom. He knows what we need to go though to set out on the path of our purpose in order to give him the most glory.

But if you are trying to decide what you will be when you grow up, know that many times it is the journey not the destination that will reveal your purpose. So seek God’s wisdom in all things, and know its ok to change your mind along the way. Because you are still growing and changing into an awesome child of God, and if you keep to that, God will show you great things.

This Monday motivator is rather simple. Cherish the Journey. It is a motto that I try to live by. In my life, I’ve many time focused too much on where I’m going or where I want to end up that I miss out of so much of what’s around me.

As you’ve heard it said ‘hind-sight is 20/20’, well why is that? Well in looking back over our lives we can see how God has moved and motivated each of us in the smallest things as well as the large ones. But why not have that attitude now?

What is keeping us from enjoying the people and places we find around us at this moment? I know it’s an idealistic thought, but in cherishing each step I take the journey is filled with hope and joy. Not the worry of tomorrow, or where I will be in five years, but this moment, this sunrise, this hug, or this breath.

For better or worse we do have to keep moving forward, but think and pray on your focus. That will determine how your will feel on the journey and can make the destination that much more enjoyable.