Late Sunday night, Katie received a text message from her friend Elisia. It said that her grandma (my friend Roxanne's mother) had been killed in the tornado in Parkersburg, Iowa earlier that evening. Her grandpa was recovering in the hospital from injuries he sustained. Pray for the Luhring family.
Here is an article I found online.
Friday, May 30, 2008
What Rick or Bubba Said
Taking a little break from TV evangelists, I had to mention Rev. Michael Pfleger's "sermon" about Hillary. Or, at least what Bubba or maybe it was Rick said about it on Fox and Friends this morning.
This is a paraphrase, but it's close to an exact quote:
"When your priest or pastor swears from the pulpit, that's a big, red flag."
It might seem over the top to you, but, yeah, we went to a church where the pastor swore from the pulpit. He was speaking at a youth retreat. He used a word that began with the letter "f". I guess he wanted to be "edgy" and reach today's youth. We found out about it a few years after it happened.
Needless to say, we no longer attend that church.
This is a paraphrase, but it's close to an exact quote:
"When your priest or pastor swears from the pulpit, that's a big, red flag."
It might seem over the top to you, but, yeah, we went to a church where the pastor swore from the pulpit. He was speaking at a youth retreat. He used a word that began with the letter "f". I guess he wanted to be "edgy" and reach today's youth. We found out about it a few years after it happened.
Needless to say, we no longer attend that church.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
God-TV
Two years ago we made the move to Direct TV instead of cable. One of my least favorite aspects of Direct TV (besides the fact that when a storm is coming and you want to check the radar and you turn on the TV to see what's happening you are met with the words "searching for satellite") is the "Christian" channels.
At the top of the list of least favorite Direct TV channels are Daystar, TBN, and God TV. Today, I'll touch on God TV and in particular the latest offering which is the "Healing Revival with Todd Bentley" in Florida.
It's hard not to watch, it's quite the spectacle, and it has been going on for weeks now. Every night. The screaming, the shouts of "Bam" as people get pushed over by the tatooed man who occasionally takes the Lord's name in vain, the bizarre sounds people make, and the twitching and seizure like behavior that comes upon most people present. There are claims of people being healed of horrible diseases and 14 or 15 have been raised from the dead. The thing is, there is no real medical confirmation of any of this, but people by the hundreds are there and willing participants, believing everything Mr. Bentley says (when he is not sprawled out on the floor motionless visiting heaven or whatever he is doing).
What is obviously missing from the mix, is the Word of God. What does the Bible say? Why can't people just preach and pray for the sick. Yes, God can heal, but after watching this you begin to wonder if this spectacle has anything to do with God.
I find it frightening and I don't know what it means.
At the top of the list of least favorite Direct TV channels are Daystar, TBN, and God TV. Today, I'll touch on God TV and in particular the latest offering which is the "Healing Revival with Todd Bentley" in Florida.
It's hard not to watch, it's quite the spectacle, and it has been going on for weeks now. Every night. The screaming, the shouts of "Bam" as people get pushed over by the tatooed man who occasionally takes the Lord's name in vain, the bizarre sounds people make, and the twitching and seizure like behavior that comes upon most people present. There are claims of people being healed of horrible diseases and 14 or 15 have been raised from the dead. The thing is, there is no real medical confirmation of any of this, but people by the hundreds are there and willing participants, believing everything Mr. Bentley says (when he is not sprawled out on the floor motionless visiting heaven or whatever he is doing).
What is obviously missing from the mix, is the Word of God. What does the Bible say? Why can't people just preach and pray for the sick. Yes, God can heal, but after watching this you begin to wonder if this spectacle has anything to do with God.
I find it frightening and I don't know what it means.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sir Paul Misses the Point
My favorite Beatle, Paul, had his new luxury Lexus hybrid flown to him from Japan. Some carbon emissions footprint guy said that shipping the car in a cargo plane was the equivalent of driving the car around the world 300 times. The story was pleasantly reminiscent of Bono's hat.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Poetry Monday
Today's poem was going to be Flander's Field, but I posted it two years ago so was trying to come up with a different Memorial Day poem. I just visited Truth v. the Machine, read this poem there, and in doing so found this week's Monday poem. You can read Flander's Field here.
It is the Soldier
by Charles M. Province
It is the Soldier
by Charles M. Province
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Chapmans
SCC's blog is one I regularly read. It is hard to get this out of my mind.
Read the comments if you have time. Pray for the family. It's not Poetry Monday, but here's one anyway.
The Solid Rock
by Edward Mote
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Read the comments if you have time. Pray for the family. It's not Poetry Monday, but here's one anyway.
The Solid Rock
by Edward Mote
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Quotable Quote
Christopher thinks that maybe it's time for the church in America to cancel their "capital campaigns" and, I dunno, maybe send a few bags of rice to Myanmar or something.
--Chris Dugan, Facebook
--Chris Dugan, Facebook
The Check's in the Mail
To my friends and acquaintances in the blogosphere..
As the Economic Stimulus Checks are arriving, I just thought you might want to think about what to do with yours. Might I suggest that you think about sending all or part of it to ME. Ponder that and if you feel called to do that, shoot me an e-mail.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah, this post was written in response to a letter we received in the mail today from a very large church, with a very large new building, with a very large mortgage, with highly paid pastors who had the audacity to suggest that the Lord might be wanting me to send all or part of this unexpected provision to THEM.
By the way, this isn't "extra" money, this is a REBATE on taxes I already sent the government. They are giving me some of my money back. I probably will just deposit it in time to write them a big fat check for the June estimates.
END OF RANT.
As the Economic Stimulus Checks are arriving, I just thought you might want to think about what to do with yours. Might I suggest that you think about sending all or part of it to ME. Ponder that and if you feel called to do that, shoot me an e-mail.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah, this post was written in response to a letter we received in the mail today from a very large church, with a very large new building, with a very large mortgage, with highly paid pastors who had the audacity to suggest that the Lord might be wanting me to send all or part of this unexpected provision to THEM.
By the way, this isn't "extra" money, this is a REBATE on taxes I already sent the government. They are giving me some of my money back. I probably will just deposit it in time to write them a big fat check for the June estimates.
END OF RANT.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Poetry Monday
Results and Roses
by Edgar Guest
The man who wants a garden fair,
Or small or very big,
With flowers growing here and there,
Must bend his back and dig.
by Edgar Guest
The man who wants a garden fair,
Or small or very big,
With flowers growing here and there,
Must bend his back and dig.
The things are mighty few on earth
That wishes can attain.
Whate'er we want of any worth
We've got to work to gain.
It matters not what goal you seek
Its secret here reposes:
You've got to dig from week to week
To get Results or Roses.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Prince Caspian
Tuesday night, Mr. D and I were treated to a free screening of Prince Caspian. Niece Sue and her husband Scott had been given 6 tickets by their daughter Erin who couldn't use them. So, the Molines, the Steve Dahlens, and the Terry Dugans got to go. Thanks Molines (and Erin)!
We felt so special. We even got searched for cameras (Fortunately, mine was at the bottom of my purse under the box of Dots I had thrown in. I didn't get the memo about no cameras and wasn't planning on doing anything sinister, just didn't want to be denied a seat at the last minute so was glad she didn't see it when she searched my purse. Who'd have thought they would search for cameras, they didn't do that at the free screening of Evan Almighty we attended last June!) Then, we all got wanded. I suppose a screening of the new Indy movie would have involved a background check, but I digress, and no one has offered me tickets to one, although I promise that if you give me tickets to a free screening of Indy, I won't bring a camera. Now, back to Prince Caspian.
Here is what I wish to say to Hollywood screenplay people. Just my little tip. FIRST, READ THE BOOK. Then, keep the story the same. Don't change the story, but keep the title the same. I don't remember any griffins in the book, and the old nurse was nowhere to be found, and they didn't even eat one apple when they arrived at the ruins of Cair Paravel, but, to their credit, I did see some apples.
I will now get off that soapbox and tell you a few of my favorite things about it. First, Reepicheep. Gotta love Reepicheep. Especially the tail thing at the end. They were pretty faithful to his little story line.
Second, the hag and the werewolf at Aslan's How part. It was sort of a monster and a "wolf like" bear in a cape, but they got the gist of it and added a visual element that I liked to that part. I won't tell you, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.
Third, one of the most vivid visuals of the movie was at the end (again, in a scene not in the book, but close enough) when the bad guys were trying to retreat and go over the bridge at Beruna Ford. They begin to cross the bridge and Lucy (who had gone for help), suddenly appeared at the other end of the bridge. She seemed to be standing all by herself and she bravely pulled out her little dagger as she looked at the vast army about to cross. Then, we saw why she was so brave. Aslan was right behind her and Lucy plus Aslan is a majority. I liked it that she pulled out her puny little dagger in spite of the fact that Aslan was perfectly capable of handling the situation alone. She did her little, brave part.
Finally, I liked the cute little way it ended. Here's a hint: Phyllis. I also liked the first song that played at the end of the movie and over the credits called "The Call" sung by someone I've never heard of. Regina Spektor. Here is a link to a little taste of the Prince Caspian soundtrack. I read that the credits took 3 full songs to roll. I didn't hear the other two songs. We only stayed for the first song, but got home in time to hear Switchfoot sing "This is Home" on Jay Leno and that was nice, as well.
Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes, but it didn't seem that long.
All in all, it was an enjoyable movie and evening.
Next week, I will review Indy 4. Bet you can't wait...I know I can't.
We felt so special. We even got searched for cameras (Fortunately, mine was at the bottom of my purse under the box of Dots I had thrown in. I didn't get the memo about no cameras and wasn't planning on doing anything sinister, just didn't want to be denied a seat at the last minute so was glad she didn't see it when she searched my purse. Who'd have thought they would search for cameras, they didn't do that at the free screening of Evan Almighty we attended last June!) Then, we all got wanded. I suppose a screening of the new Indy movie would have involved a background check, but I digress, and no one has offered me tickets to one, although I promise that if you give me tickets to a free screening of Indy, I won't bring a camera. Now, back to Prince Caspian.
Here is what I wish to say to Hollywood screenplay people. Just my little tip. FIRST, READ THE BOOK. Then, keep the story the same. Don't change the story, but keep the title the same. I don't remember any griffins in the book, and the old nurse was nowhere to be found, and they didn't even eat one apple when they arrived at the ruins of Cair Paravel, but, to their credit, I did see some apples.
I will now get off that soapbox and tell you a few of my favorite things about it. First, Reepicheep. Gotta love Reepicheep. Especially the tail thing at the end. They were pretty faithful to his little story line.
Second, the hag and the werewolf at Aslan's How part. It was sort of a monster and a "wolf like" bear in a cape, but they got the gist of it and added a visual element that I liked to that part. I won't tell you, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.
Third, one of the most vivid visuals of the movie was at the end (again, in a scene not in the book, but close enough) when the bad guys were trying to retreat and go over the bridge at Beruna Ford. They begin to cross the bridge and Lucy (who had gone for help), suddenly appeared at the other end of the bridge. She seemed to be standing all by herself and she bravely pulled out her little dagger as she looked at the vast army about to cross. Then, we saw why she was so brave. Aslan was right behind her and Lucy plus Aslan is a majority. I liked it that she pulled out her puny little dagger in spite of the fact that Aslan was perfectly capable of handling the situation alone. She did her little, brave part.
Finally, I liked the cute little way it ended. Here's a hint: Phyllis. I also liked the first song that played at the end of the movie and over the credits called "The Call" sung by someone I've never heard of. Regina Spektor. Here is a link to a little taste of the Prince Caspian soundtrack. I read that the credits took 3 full songs to roll. I didn't hear the other two songs. We only stayed for the first song, but got home in time to hear Switchfoot sing "This is Home" on Jay Leno and that was nice, as well.
Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes, but it didn't seem that long.
All in all, it was an enjoyable movie and evening.
Next week, I will review Indy 4. Bet you can't wait...I know I can't.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Most Annoying Song Ever
Okay, this is hysterical!
Here is a link to THE MOST ANNOYING SONG EVER WRITTEN.
Some guys who I have never heard of surveyed a bunch of people in an attempt to write the most annoying song they could.
The annoying elements according to Wired include "holiday music, bagpipes, pipe organ, a children's chorus and the concept of children in general (really?), Wal-Mart, cowboys, political jingoism, George Stephanopoulos, Coca Cola, bossanova, banjo ferocity, harp glissandos, oompah-ing tubas, and much, much more. It's actually a fascinating listen, worthwhile for the opera rapping alone."
It's kind of long and I admit I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but, I loved the beginning.
Here is a link to THE MOST ANNOYING SONG EVER WRITTEN.
Some guys who I have never heard of surveyed a bunch of people in an attempt to write the most annoying song they could.
The annoying elements according to Wired include "holiday music, bagpipes, pipe organ, a children's chorus and the concept of children in general (really?), Wal-Mart, cowboys, political jingoism, George Stephanopoulos, Coca Cola, bossanova, banjo ferocity, harp glissandos, oompah-ing tubas, and much, much more. It's actually a fascinating listen, worthwhile for the opera rapping alone."
It's kind of long and I admit I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but, I loved the beginning.
Poetry Monday
I chose today's poem because I am in a hurry and knew it would be easy to find. Next week perhaps I should do a poem on laziness.
If
by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
If
by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Friday, May 09, 2008
What do they teach children nowadays?
Back in the day, all personages of the male gender were required by the rules of etiquette to take off their hats when entering a building or to tip them when passing a lady. If you would like to know when to "don" or "doff" your hat, go here.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Paper Wonderland
The Internet is amazing.
You can get free graph paper.
You can get free ledger paper.
You can get semi-bisected trapezoid paper.
In the market for free music staff paper?
Or a free guitar/bass tab pdf generator?
Maybe you simply need a free number line.
Polar graph paper, storyboards, Moorish patterns, brick layout, Japanese/Chinese Character guide paper...they're all here.
You can get free graph paper.
You can get free ledger paper.
You can get semi-bisected trapezoid paper.
In the market for free music staff paper?
Or a free guitar/bass tab pdf generator?
Maybe you simply need a free number line.
Polar graph paper, storyboards, Moorish patterns, brick layout, Japanese/Chinese Character guide paper...they're all here.
More Stolen Quotes Day
“Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely expressed for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent busybodies.” C.S. Lewis
“When you break the big laws, you do not get liberty; you do not even get anarchy. You get the small laws.” G.K. Chesterton
“We do not need to get good laws to restrain bad people. We need to get good people to restrain bad laws.” G.K. Chesterton
“When you break the big laws, you do not get liberty; you do not even get anarchy. You get the small laws.” G.K. Chesterton
“We do not need to get good laws to restrain bad people. We need to get good people to restrain bad laws.” G.K. Chesterton
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Laminin
I don't know why You Tube won't let me post this, but I found this fascinating.
Here's what Wikipedia says:
Here's what God says:
Here's what laminin looks like.
Okay, so my photo has disappeared. Just click on the link above and see for yourself what laminin looks like!
Here's what Wikipedia says:
Laminin is a protein found in the "extracellular matrix", the sheets of protein that form the substrate of all internal organs also called the "basement membrane".
Laminin is vital to making sure overall body structures hold together.
Here's what God says:
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Here's what laminin looks like.
Okay, so my photo has disappeared. Just click on the link above and see for yourself what laminin looks like!
Monday, May 05, 2008
Poetry Monday
Tim's A Beka literature book has come to the rescue for today's poem. There Is No Frigate Like a Book. Tim tells me that he thinks a book would make a lousy frigate. Books are too small and, besides, when the pages get soggy they will sink. (He got the literal genes from me and the sarcastic genes from his father.)
There Is No Frigate Like a Book
by Emily Dickinson
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
There Is No Frigate Like a Book
by Emily Dickinson
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Pardon My Mess
I have attempted, without the help of any graphic designers, to tweak my blog. Mostly I was trying to add a bookshelf dealie (which now that I see it looks kind of clunky) and had to do some type of upgrade in order to accomplish that. I really have no idea what I have done, so if this looks quite odd, please pardon my mess. I'm sure there is a graphic designer in the neighborhood who can help me out if need be.
Hats
As Meg Ryan says in You've Got Mail, hats are almost always a mistake. Not in this case, however.
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