Someday...

Someday I will get on and post on here, I promise. My main reason for not posting in so long...well, two really...first of all I have no time...and it's very difficult to not have any time. What time is not at work or actually socializing is spent working again or cleaning or preparing for my open house. Or working. And my second reason is my little notebook in which I record pretty much everything and all my notes and all my blog posts (just on paper) vanished...into thin air. SO...until such time as I find it or I decide to get a new one ...have a lovely...well, ...yup just be lovely!

Being An Example As A Christian

I found this article and I was able to really relate to what the author was saying! Whether it applies to you or someone you know, I hope you can benefit from it as well!

"In the middle of a radio interview I did last week, the host decided to take calls from listeners. This happens during longer live interviews – the host greets the caller and then hands the reins of the conversation over to me. Might I pause here to point out how this practice evokes equal amounts of panic and excitement into my bones.

I panic because I have absolutely no way to prepare for what a caller might say. This isn’t a problem in normal conversation but on the radio it gets a little tricky. Because after exactly 15 seconds of listening I will be expected to have some kind of “expert” answer which stands in direct opposition to both my personality and the natural way I believe a conversation is suppose to work.

I gag. Still, I realize this is the nature of interviews like this and I accept it as part of the process while I work desperately to avoid ever trying to sound like Dr. Phil by refusing to say statements like “How’s that workin’ for ya?” and “Do you wanna be right or do you wanna be happy?”

Still, there is also something exciting about having people call in. It’s true, there is no way to prepare for what someone might say, but that’s kind of the fun part. There is no way to prepare for what someone might say!

In a way, this takes the pressure off and frees me up to be myself.

So last week when the host opened it up to callers, I got that familiar ache in my knees I always get when I am anxious and also excited. One of the first callers was a girl, a junior in high school.

After two minutes of listening to her story, it was obvious she was a good girl – dedicated student, obedient daughter, sweet disposition, high anxiety, unrealistic expectations of herself. Her main concern was being a Christian in high school and wanting to be a good example for her friends.

But it was hard, she said, to always be a consistent one.

Then the host turned it over to me.

I made a few observations, told a story about how I could relate – I don’t think anything I said added much to the conversation in that moment, which was fine. This is the downfall of handing over the reins of conversation to an INFJ on a live call – I can usually assess the situation fairly accurately but it takes a lot of time for my observations to reach my mouth.

I tend to just want to ask a question or say, “Hmm, that’s so interesting!”

Which is decidedly not interesting on the radio.

Lucky for me, this particular radio host was deeply invested in the conversation and responded to her in an appropriate way – he told her the worst thing she could do is to try to have it all together in front of her friends.

Instead of trying so hard to be an example, just be honest. “If you struggle,” he said, “say so. If you hurt someone, apologize. Then they really will get to know you and they won’t have reason to call you a hypocrite.”

Brav. O.

When the interview was over, I sat in my room and thought for a few more minutes about the conversation. I kept rolling her words around in my head: “I want to be an example to my friends, but sometimes it’s so hard to be a good one.”

The more I thought about her struggle, the more frustrated I got. I paced my room, made my bed with the excess energy. I thought about what the host said to her and began to think how I would put his response in my own words.

Here’s what I came up with: She isn’t supposed to be an example. Her friends don’t need an example, they need a friend. A real one. An honest one. A touchable one. They  need a friend who doesn’t think she’s better than everyone, but one who knows she isn’t. They need a friend who knows she needs Jesus.

So what about being a leader and setting the example? Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that what parents and youth leaders tell students all the time?

The more I think about it, the more I believe this well-meaning statement is not only a manipulative way to try to control our daughters’ behavior, but can also be dangerous to their spiritual health. When we tell her to be an example, we may as well just hand her a mask right there – Here. Hide behind this. Don’t let them see you struggle.

I know that’s not what we mean. I know. But it doesn’t matter so much what we mean, it matters what she hears.

And when she hears adults tell her to be an example, she thinks that means she can never mess up, can never have problems, can never just be a teenager with struggles like everyone else.

She might then mature into a woman who believes being a Christian means having it all together, saying all the “right” things, staying a few steps above everyone else.

She may become a person people look up to, but she will never be someone they can relate to.

She may be successful at managing her behavior, but she will always struggle to manage people’s opinions.

She may have a great reputation, but her character will be clouded with bitterness and anger.

She may be a good church-goer, but she will not know how to be a good friend.

This may keep her out of trouble, but it will suffocate her soul.

But what about holiness?!  I can hear the protests now. Don’t we want her to be a light in a dark place?

Yes. But telling her to be an example won’t let her shine, it will just cause her to shrink.

She already is a light in a dark place, but here is the part most of us forget when we’re telling our teenagers to be an example:

Her light comes from Jesus, not from her awesome behavior.

Do you believe Christ himself has taken up residence within her? Do you trust him with her life – her decisions, her emotions, her relationships? Do you truly believe he goes with her wherever she goes?

If so, then instead of telling her to be an example, how about encouraging her to be herself?

When she is hurt, she can deeply feel it. When she messes up, she can own it. When she hurts someone, she can apologize. When she has doubts, she can voice them. And when she is joyful, it will be from a real place inside her, not a manufactured mask she puts on for show.

If you have a daughter graduating in a few weeks, don’t be afraid. As she packs her bags for her summer trip or her college dorm, encourage her to leave the mask behind.

Believe Christ is in her. Believe she already has everything she needs. And for the love, don’t tell her to be an example. Free her up to be herself – a girl who has the living Christ living inside her."

To Text Or Not To Text...THAT Is The Question

Maybe this will come across as harsh. Good. I mean it to be jarring and forceful. Too often people brush off this message as old news that doesn't apply to them. Trust me, it applies to everyone with a phone and a brain...but especially to those with a phone but without a brain. 

Studies have shown texting is more impairing than driving drunk. Driving Under the Influence is illegal. We know that and we know not to do that. But we think texting while driving is just fine. Texting is considered normal and harmless. We never assume that a texting accident could happen to us. 

Texting while driving is one of the most selfish things you can do. Not only are you putting your own life at danger, but you also endanger the lives of those you might hit. You are disrespecting the image of God by disrespecting His creation made in His very own image.

Another aspect of being selfish while driving...imagine if you were the person texting the person who crashed and died. The guilt over knowing it was your text that ended their life is not a guilt easily gotten over or brushed aside. It is selfish of any person driving and texting to possibly force that kind of guilt on someone just for innocently texting you...they probably didn't even know that you were TWD (Texting While Driving). If you are texting someone and you know they are driving, don't risk it...just don't text them or ask them to let you know when they are at their destination.

All in all, the greatest problem wrong with TWD is the disrespect you show to God's image with yourself and others who may be involved. God made your life particular and when you put yourself in danger, especially in great harm like that on purpose, then you are essentially breaking God's commandment of "thou shalt not murder" by putting yourself in purposeful harm when you know that it could mean life and death to yourself and others. 

We brush off this message because we never think it will happen to us. Do you think that those who die in accidents ever thought it would happen to them? We think we are invincible and untouchable until it happens to us, and then it's too late.

Here is a great video if you want to hear more of a Christian's perspective on TWD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s3Sbvhc--sE

It Matters Whom You Marry

(Note: I did get this from another blog...the original link is here: http://thechristianpundit.org/2012/08/15/it/)

"My husband and I were once with a youth group. There were three kids sitting across from us at a meal: two guys and a girl. The one guy was a computer geek with glasses. The other one was a college student with slightly cooler hair and no glasses. The girl was obviously with him. But while the computer geek was busy serving everyone at the meal, clearing plates and garbage, the college student got angry with the girl for a small accident and poured red juice over her leather jacket and white shirt. She picked the wrong guy, and the juice didn’t seem to change her mind. She is in for some grief if that relationship continues and especially if it leads to marriage.

So to all the young, unmarried Christian girls out there, listen up: who you marry matters. You might think that the way he treats you isn’t so bad. It’s not going to get better after the wedding. You might think that he’ll change. It’s possible, but most don’t. You might think that you’ll be able to minister to him and help him. Possibly, but if you can’t now, you won’t then, and you will be at risk yourself. A husband should lead and cherish you, not need your counsel for basic personality or behavior issues.

Unless someone married is very frank with you, you can’t understand how much a husband will impact your entire life. Next to salvation there is no other long term event that will change so many areas of your life so deeply. Here are just some of the ways that marriage will impact every aspect of living.

1. It will impact you spiritually. If the guy is not a believer, you can stop right there. You have no business yoking a redeemed soul with an unregenerate one, even if he seems open to change. Christ has bought you with a price and it is not an option to give away that blood bought heart to someone who doesn’t know and love your Lord. It will cripple your spiritual development, open up a host of temptations, stifle your prayer life, make regular church going difficult, and cause massive parenting conflict if you have children.

If the guy is a believer, is he a strong one? Will he lead you in prayer, Bible reading, family devotions, and public worship? Or will you be on your own? Is he going to make spiritual growth a priority or do other things come first? Is he going to ask you how it’s going with your soul so he can help you grow in holiness and love for Christ, or will he leave that to your pastor? Is he going to lead the children in this, or will you have to spearhead that? In church, is he going to help the kids sit well, pray, find the hymn, or will you be the one pointing out what is happening next and helping the family keep up? Many women have married spiritually immature men, thinking that it wasn’t a big issue, or that the man would change, and they were wrong. They bear the scars.

The health of your eternity is at stake. Think carefully.

2. It will impact you emotionally. Is the guy you’re thinking of going to encourage you, love you, be kind to you, and seek to understand you, or will he want to go out with the guys when you’re having a hard night? Will he listen when you are struggling with something or will he be preoccupied with a video game? Is he going to be annoyed when you cry or will he get you Kleenex and give you a hug? Is he going to going to understand that you are probably more tender than he is, more sensitive to issues and comments, or is he regularly going to run rough shod over your feelings? One woman was struggling to breastfeed her new baby, believing that that was the best thing for her, but it was very difficult. Instead of giving support and encouragement, the husband would make mooing sounds whenever he saw his wife working at it. We have to get rid of princess complexes, but we do have emotional needs. Any guy who is uncaring about your feelings and self esteem is selfish and should be left alone.

Be careful – a husband can cripple or foster emotional health.

3. It will impact you physically. Is the guy you’re with going to provide for your basic needs? Will he be able to shelter, clothe and feed you? At one point in our marriage, I was worried that there was no employment opportunity. My husband assured me that he would work at McDonalds, dig ditches, clean up roadkill – whatever it took to provide for the family, regardless of his gifts and training. That’s the kind of attitude you want. A man who doesn’t provide for his household is worse than an infidel (I Tim. 5:8). You might have to help ease the financial burden, but unless your husband is disabled or there is another unusual circumstance, you shouldn’t have to carry it yourself.

Will the man you are with care for your body or abuse it? If he gives you little smacks, kicks, etc. when you’re dating, get away. It’s almost guaranteed that he will abuse you after marriage, and stats show that’s especially true when you are pregnant. Is he going to care for and protect your body or will he hurt it? There are women in churches across America who thought it was no big deal to have little (sort of friendly) punches or slaps from their boyfriends, but who are covering up the bruises from their husbands.

Will the man you are with care for you sexually? Is he going to honour the marriage bed in physical and mental faithfulness to you or will he flirt, feed his porn addiction, or even leave you for another woman? You can’t always predict these issues, but if the seeds or practices are already there, watch out. I recently saw a newly married couple and the husband was flirting openly with another woman. Unless something drastic happens, that marriage is headed for disaster.

Is he going to be tender and gentle to you in bed? An unbelieving co-worker once told my sister that after her first sexual encounter, she had trouble walking for a few days because her boyfriend was so rough. In other words, he wasn’t selfless enough to care for the body of the woman he said he loved.

Watch out. Your body needs care and protection.

4. It will impact you mentally. Is the man that you’re thinking of going to be a source of worry or will he help you deal with your worries? Is he going to encourage your intellectual development, or will he neglect it? Is he going to value your opinions and listen to what you are thinking, or will he disregard your thoughts? Is he going to help you manage stress so that your mind is not burdened that way, or is he going to let you struggle through issues alone? Is he going to care for you and be thoughtful of you if you are experiencing mental strain, or will he ignore it? I know of a woman who could handle pregnancy and child birth very well physically but postpartum depression took a huge toll on her mind. The husband overlooked it, continuing to have more children, until his wife ended up in a mental institution.

You might think that the intellectual or mental side of a marriage is small. It’s bigger than you think. Consider it seriously.

5. It will impact you relationally. How’s your relationship with your mother? Your dad? Do you love them? Does your boyfriend? Fast forward ten years: you tell your husband that your mother is coming for the weekend. Is he excited? Disappointed? Angry? Making snide jokes with his friends? Of course, a husband should come first in your priority of relationships, as you both leave father and mother and cleave to one another. But parents are still a big part of the picture. Whatever negative feelings he has about your parents now will probably be amplified after marriage. Your marriage will either strengthen or damage – even destroy – your relationship with your parents. The people who know you best and love you most right now could be cut out of the picture by a husband who hates them.

It’s the same with sisters and friends. Will they be welcomed, at reasonable times, in your home? Will the guy who you’re with encourage healthy relationships with other women, or will he be jealous of normal, biblical friendships? Will he help you mentor younger women and be thankful when older women mentor you, or will he belittle that?

Don’t sacrifice many good relationships for the sake of one guy who can’t value the people who love you.

So how will your boyfriend do after the vows? Because this is just a sampling of the ways that a husband can bless or curse his wife. The effects are far reaching, long lasting, and either wonderful or difficult. True, there are no perfect men out there. But there are great ones. And it’s better to be single for life than to marry someone who will make your life a burden. Singleness can be great. Marriage to the wrong person is a nightmare. I've been in a church parking lot where the pastor had to call the police to protect a wife from a husband who was trying to stop her from worshiping and being with her family. It’s ugly. Don’t be so desperate to get married that your marriage is a grief. If you are in an unhappy marriage, there are ways to get help. But if you’re not married, don’t put yourself in that situation. Don’t marry someone whose leadership you can’t follow. Don’t marry someone who is not seeking to love you as Christ loved the church. Marry someone who knows and demonstrates the love of Christ."

Romans 5 - Encouragement of the Day

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Crazy Pea's Quotes - Part 7

"You can't catch Cocoa, you can't catch Cocoa!" Peas

"Who is Cocoa?" Me

"Oh, just a...well, I don't know who Cocoa is!" Peas

"Com on, let's run! I've got lots of energy!" Peas

"Peas, remember to share." Me

"Oh yeah, that's right." Peas

"Ohh, pretty. What is it?" Me

"A big macaroni and cheese to eat with it!" Peas

"You're very big." Peas

"Big or heavy?" Me 

"Oh, heavy." Peas

"Peas, you can't just grab things. You have to ask for them nicely." Me

"Nicely!" Peas

"No, you have to say, "May I please play with the whistle?" nicely." Me

"May I please play with the whistle nicely?" Peas

"All aboard!" Peas

"All aboard what?" Me

"Nothing! All aboard!" Peas

"I think I will climb the shelves and sit on the op to blow my own bubbles." Peas

"You can't catch me, I'm the baddest guy!" Peas

"Don't get my baby." Ally

"I must. I'm naughty." Peas

"But he's a nice baby and he doesn't like bad naughties." Ally

"I'm a bad superhero and I've got your baby!" Peas

"Come here you nice guy!" Peas

"No! Naughty boy!" Ally

"Haha...I'm on your roof." Peas

"No, this is our car." Ally

"Help! Get me down! I'm nice!" Peas

"I thought you were the naughty guy?" Me

"No, I'm nice now! Get me down!" Peas

"Here's your baby. She has a diaper on." Peas

"No, I'm having my own." Ally

"What? A real one?" Peas

"Yes." Ally

"But why? You have to have a toy one!" Peas

"Do you want to come in my clubhouse? It's a bit squishy, but it's purple." Peas

"Can I have some for my baby?" Ally

"Okay. For pretend?" Peas

"Presto! It's all ready!" Peas

Adorable Pea's Quotes - Part 6

(concerning hand-sanitizer) "It's sooo...pretty. I love it." Peas

"I don't like brown babies...or old babies." Peas

"Hey! Oh, I think I need to climb on the kitchen." Peas

"When you got food in your tummy you have lots of energy. So you run." Peas

"I'm tired...I got a lot of energy now!" Peas

"Let's wrestle! I've run out of energy!" Peas

"We need to run in circles and leave them off!" Peas

"How about you put your arms out and catch us?" Peas

"I look swimming like the water." Peas

"Wanna touch my tail?" Peas

"Do mermaids swim in water?" Peas

"Do you love my tail?" Peas

"What is it? What is it, tummy?" Peas

"It's my costume so people pick me up." Peas

"Am I beautiful like a mermaid?" Peas

"You are gorgeous like a mermaid." Me

"I know." Peas

"Follow me, princesses!" Peas

"Are you going to make me a big birthday cake so I can turn into five?" Peas

"Mommy?" Ally

"Yes? What do you want?" Peas

"Candy." Ally

"Candy?" Peas

"Yes, candy." Ally

"Why do you want candy?" Peas

"Cuz I love candy." Ally

"Candy is so yucky and gross." Peas

"No, I like it." Ally

"Candy is for big, gross, long kids." Peas

Modernity Class Notes

Sarah Bacon - Modernity
Week 15: The Romantic Poets and Their Principles

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty, - that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” -John Keats

Vocab:
American exceptionalism - the myth that de Tocqueville wove into his book.
sovereignty - the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign; royalty.
delegates - a person designated to act for or represent another or others
jurisdiction - the right, power, or authority to administer justice by hearing and determining controversies.
jurisdictionalism - the right, power, or authority to administer justice by hearing and determining controversies
relegated - to send or consign to an inferior position, place, or condition
electoral - pertaining to electors or election.
magistratal - a civil officer charged with the administration of the law
interposition - the act or fact of interposing or the condition of being interposed.
chads - a term used in the ‘08 election
bedevil - to torment or harass maliciously or diabolically, as with doubts, distractions, or worries.
relegate - to send or consign to an inferior position, place, or condition


Revolution Vs Reformation:
Quick, Hasty Results vs. Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Loud Publicity vs. Quiet Reputation
Unrelenting Science  vs. Gentle Persuasions
Programs and Policies vs. Covenant and Callings
Charts, Graphs, Stats vs. Faith, Hope, Love
Gargantuan Purposes vs. Small Beginnings
Undeterred by Facts vs. Undeterred by Obstacles
Never Fails to Disappoint vs. Never Fails

Reformation moves slowly as is slower to change. It is not bothered by incremented results. Revolution wants BAM! Results. Revolution will fit reality to form new reality while Reformation will take time to form man to fit God’s reality.

Romantic poets were named that because they wrote romantic things of man. The true meaning of romance writers came from the romance languages. The romance languages were French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish. These came from Latin and that was spoken by the Romans. So really it was all a movement to get back to antiquity and Rome. Human relationships and the release of emotions.

Theology is ideas externalized. The ideas come from a small percentage of people and those get translated into the general public’s life. The “little people” don’t think about the ideas driving their lives. The reshaping of the soul and minds of men come from the language that a culture uses and how the ideas are distributed throughout the communities.

Man is a passionate being. Revolutionaries seek to change man and his culture from the outside in, but the Romantics they come to know the passions and emotions of man and seek any change from the inside out.

Precursors to the Romantics
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was one who sought to release passion from reason through his essay On Passion versus Reason. A professing believer with strong convictions, but you can still do other contradictions. Music is one great way you can do this. This was a push of Rousseau...emotion apart from reason. Music enters and it’s very powerful and can enter your head and alter who you are even if you don’t consciously realize it.

Johann Goethe (1749-1832) wrote Sturm und Drang. Passion and impulse released from the objective realities. Poetry was created to remove a person temporarily from his natural state to feel something. Movies are this way today...they mold your emotions to get attached to something or someone...to scare you...to anger you...to make you cry, to make you love, to make you laugh.

Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805) used folk tales from the past to create a nationalistic connection. Ballad of William Tell was used for this purpose so that people would begin to look for larger-than-life heroes with all their passion and leaving their reason behind.

Robert Burns (1759-1796) retouched the whole idea of the noble savage into the common man. He appealed to the common man to appear as normal and general as anyone else. The noble savage is seen as good. People in their primitive state is the best way to have a person. It is put into a new setting to rephrase it all and introduce it to a new audience where it will appeal to them. You speak the language of common man to connect with them.

William Blake (1757-1827) who wrote Songs of Innocence and was deemed insane for his whole adult life. It was a reflection on returning to man’s first and truest nature. Man before the idea of the fall. Man is inherently good and without evil...all innocent. He believed that man is really good and was made that way but the idea of evil was introduced and man believed it. Now he has to remember and return to being educated that he is really all good. It is the perfect unhinging of passion from reason.

William Cowper (1731-1800) with his Olney Hymns was a devout Christian in his sane moments but then hide away in bouts of deep depression. Whether it was related to medical or religious depression we don’t know. But whatever he wrote was very influential in the laying of the groundwork for Romanticism.

Walter Scott (1771-1832) began his career by translating other previous German romantics like Goethe and Schiller into English and so he got that background. He loved the idea of German nationalism and he was Scottish and attempted to use the German style to achieve his own end. In a sense he was a conservative revolutionary. He used the tactics of the Romantics for his own purpose. But the more we look at it the more we realize that there is not much difference between the left or right parties. It is more a matter of speed, not goal...they have the same goal in mind but can work at different speeds...slower for the left and faster for the right. This came out with his The Lady of the Lake.

Philip Freneau (1752-1832) focused on nature. Man is in a sense attempting to return to nature and his noble savage. But nature for nature’s sake. What is the pleasure coming from the physical world? He began talking about Mother Nature as Mother Nature as opposed to it being a figment of our nature. The Wild Honeysuckle portrayed this. He separates nature entirely from God and it being His creation even if it isn’t rational.

George Crabbe (1754-1832) focused on the rural life and being politically correct and loving all things agrarian and rural.

The Great Romantic Poets
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) - Rime of the Ancient Mariner
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) - Upon Westminster Bridge
Lord Byron (1788-1824) - Don Juan
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) - Prometheus Unbound
John Keats (1795-1821) - Ode on a Grecian Urn
George Darley (1795-1846) - Mermaid’s Vesper Hymn

They have the ability to take ugly things of the world and make it something beautiful and attractive to anyone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but many beholders are crazy or ugly themselves. Unleashing passion however you want, it doesn’t matter how as long as you do. They take the most abstract things and focus so intently on it. Everything they write is in the context of their “Christian worldview” but they use it to tear the true Christian worldview down. They clothe it in Christianity and cloak it in Biblical theology...but it’s stripped of the real truth and is portrayed in order to tear down true Christianity. All their agenda was pushed as was to separate entirely the what people thought and knew to be true and what people felt to be true. But this is really impossible because what you feel is directly based off of what you think. This idea of feelings has been introduced to the modern church and now we have gotten away from thinking solidly to thinking due to emotion and feeling.

Heirs of the Romantics
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) - Ode to Beauty
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) - On Walden Pond
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) - Ichabod
Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) - The Raven
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) - On Religion and Society
James Montgomery (1771-1854) - The Christian Poet
Richard Mant (1776-1848) - The Happiness of the Blessed Dead
John Keble (1792-1866) - Tracts for the Times
John Henry Newman (1801-1890) - The Prophetical Office

They wanted to get in touch with their feelings...examine what they really thought and felt beneath the surface. This is the excuse they used to explore passion and romance. The eyes are turned inwards and thoughts focus on the self. Focus on man is pushed. It is a more democratic, humanistic, pantheistic, and spiritual movement. You separate how you think from what you feel and act which creates ultimately a whole new world. A world without ration.

When Revolution ultimately failed, those who held to the Revolutionary mindset attempted to bring about the Revolution by other means. They realized they would have to reshape the very soul of man. Thus Romantic Poets laid out this remarkable set of ideals that changed the way we think and feel, laying the foundation for a modern nihilism. So the things that matter most, we don’t feel anymore. And the things that matter least, we feel intensely.

Peas's Crazy Quotes - Part 5

"What color are my eyes?" Me

"I think they are blue." Peas

"Are you sure?" Me

"Oh yes." Peas

(My eyes are very much black)

"You make a good baby, Ally" Me

"Yes, and so do I." Peas

"I thought you were the mama?" Me

"Yes, but I have a good baby voice too." Peas

"Are you a baby mama?" Me

"Yes." Peas

"Talk like a baby!" Peas

"You gotta get out, baby. Stand up like this, baby. You got to put your feet up like this. And then you can take a ride with me, baby." Peas

"Get out! You want to take a ride!" Peas

"Does she want out?" Me

"Yes!" Peas

"Ally, do you want out?" Me

*Ally shakes her head*

"See?" Me

*Peas grunts*

"Well, that's not..." Peas

"That's not funny?" Me

"Yeah...it's...no." Peas

"At this time I'm going to play with the car." Peas

"You're still the baby! Babies don't drive!" Peas

"You guys look kind of squished." Me

"Yeah, we are squishy." Peas

"Okay, now let's pretend I'm a big bad wolf and you build a house of bricks so I can't blow it down." Peas

"You wanna walk back forwards?" Peas

"What's wrong, baby Allison?" Peas

"Hey! Get own! You're not a baby! You're just a baby boy." Peas

"Ah, poop nuts." Peas

"Um, where did you get that from??" Me

"Duh...the toilet." Peas

"Oh coconuts." Peas

"If you want more crackers you let me know. Did you hear me, Ally?" Me

"I heared you!" Peas

"Do you want which one for a cup?" Peas

"Red or green?" Me

"Yes." Peas

"Hmm..the green one." Me

"No, you pick the red." Peas

Kari Jobe - Encouraging Words

Last weekend I got a CD from the library...a brand new CD! I was the first to check it out...that always excites me. It's by Kari Jobe...I haven't actually ever heard her music before, but she's under the Christian section and I love finding new Christian artists. I still haven't listened to the music yet, but I have it on my computer! In the meantime...I read her "thank you" list. At the end, this caught my eye and lifted me up tonight.

"To you, my friends: I pray these songs would draw you closer to the Lord so that you sense His nearness and hear His heart beating for you. 

He is FOR YOU, His love is FOR YOU, His grace is FOR YOU.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. You will find Him when you search for Him with all your heart. Nothing is too hard or difficult for the Lord. He cares for you and everything you're walking through. As you listen to this album, I encourage you to stop, be still and take time to meditate on His word. Instead of only your own thoughts, I encourage you to fill your heart, mind, and spirit with HIS word and thoughts for you! 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your cares upon HIM, for He cares for you." Lean into Him and "be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Be encouraged and full of hope!"

This really uplifted me...the fact that a Christian artist really does focus on GOD! So many of them claim to be...but then their lyrics are dull and man-centered...more about how man should feel good and just so focused on us. Instead, I really feel like she centers God and places Him first. I really like how she talks about us searching for Him. I think that's really important in any Christian's life. My prayer for myself and for you, my readers, is that we would *want* to seek him...*want* to search for Him. Not just do it...but desperately and passionately WANT to. That should be part of a Christian's prayer life: Lord, give me a fire to want to know you more...a yearning to think your thoughts after you...a desire to make you known to others! That's what I'll leave you with, dear readers. May God plant that seed of want and need in your heart so that He may be glorified through it all! 

Me + Lord Of The Rings =

Sisters of Shortness! 

Midgets! 

My sisters. 

I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. 

A day may come, when the courage of step stools may fail, when we forsake our tall friends, and lose all hope of ever growing again. 

An hour of short jokes, and shopping in the kids' section, when the Age of climbing up on the counter just to get the peanut butter fails. 

But it is not this day, this day, we climb!

Pea's Quotes - Part 2

"Hang up your coat, please." Me

"No, you hang it up." Peas

"No, I hung up your scarf and hat and mittens." Me

"Oh, chicken poo nuts." Peas

"I was playing tricks on me." Peas

"Hey! No! Stop that! Here, have this you sleepyhead!" Peas

"I burped! Did you hear it?" Peas

"I'm making you lunch! Here...I made you elephant chicken." Peas

"Blow out your candles! It's your birthday and all your worst dreams will come true." Peas

"Let me get by butt out of here!" Me

"Ewwww" Peas

"What?" Me

"Butts are gross!" Peas

Moral Support

Did you know the people who are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are usually the first to get mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most and don't get it? Did you know the three hardest things to say are "I love you", "I'm sorry", and "Help me?"? Sometimes, just because a person may look happy, you have to look past their smile and see how much pain they may be in. Every is going through some issue at any given time. We all need positive intentions right now. 

We've all been there...the "lowest point of our lives". Maybe we had someone come along side of us and help us out. Maybe we were left there by ourselves. Either way, we experienced the strength of moral support, or the lack of moral support. Having someone there to listen and pray for you...to help you through whatever you're going through...to lift you to God above with supplication and love...that can mean the world to someone. 

Over the years, I've come to see that those with the biggest hearts are the ones who ache in private. Those who have the biggest smiles are the saddest at heart. Those who laugh the loudest cry the most in private. Those who love openly are those who have been hurt and may continue to be hurt regularly. People are rarely, if ever, what they truly appear to be on the outside. Who do we let in truly? Well, that answer should be God alone. But letting in a few other people to love and pray for you is never a bad thing.

Moral support. What it means to each of us may look like something different, but at the end of the day, it just means being there for one another. Loving selflessly. With no regard to our own interest, but to the interests of others. Everyone has problems, everyone can be stressed, everyone has bad days...moral support is always a welcome thing. Lately I've come to see this with two dear friends of mine: Amanda and Savannah. They are both such lovely ladies in Christ who have become so dear to me for their amazing moral support of me. 

Throughout our lives, people come and go. Everyone makes some mark on us. Either we see a person with characteristics that we yearn for and we seek to be more like them in that way, or we see people who we desperately don't want to end up being so we try to do everything in our power to be anything but that. Either way, we learn and grow from people...and then turn to share it with the world. So share yourself with those around you, today. Be yourself, be good, be glorifying. Be a moral support. 

Despondency

This is not actually mine! But I really enjoyed reading it so ...copy and paste!

Recipe for warding off despondency

1.) Keep returning to the word of God.

2.) Cultivate a mindset of thankfulness

3.) Be familiar with the saints of old who fought the good fight and never surrendered. Realize that one day I will be in their company and keep in mind that I don't want to be shamed when I am among them.

4.) Remember the example I must set for my family .... for God's people.

5.) Recall that I am duty bound to be confident.

6.) Exercise vigorously daily. Remember there is a mind body connection.

7.) Keep in mind that postmillennialists have no reason to be despondent.

Most importantly

Keeping my eyes on Jesus -- the Author and Finisher of the Faith.

Beautiful Song Lyrics That Encouraged Me Tonight

I can’t say that everything’s okay
‘Cause I can see the tears you’re crying
And I can’t promise to take the pain away
But you can know I won’t stop trying

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side

I know it feels like you’re running out of faith
‘Cause it’s so hard to keep believing
But if I can bring a smile back to your face
If for a moment, you’ll forget all about it

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side

‘Cause this won’t be the last time
You’ll need a little hope
But I want to be the first to let you know

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side