I finally gave in and read Twilight in the last couple of days. It was pretty good, but I don't see what all the obsessions has been about it. Then again, I'm not a teenage girl, either. I started New Moon today.
And, in case any of you are thinking that my salvation is at stake because I'm reading a FICTIONAL book about vampires, get over it. And just so you have something else to gripe about me over, I've also read all of the Harry Potter books (and loved them), parts of the Book of Mormon (and hated it), and parts of the Baghavad Gita (and hated it). I've also ready all of the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and own the movies), but most people don't make a fuss about that because they were written by Christian men (even though Tolkein never made any comment that LOTR was based on anything Christian).
By the way, I also used to have earrings.
Sorry for the rant, but several people I know (my wife included) have been bashed by comments on their blogs because they've read the Twilight saga, and it really irritates me that people take the time to comment like that. For those of you thinking of doing that on my blog, here's some advice. Use the 10 minutes it takes you to fume about this and the 2 minutes it takes to write a comment, and go outside, knock on your neighbor's door, and show them love. I promise you won't be nearly as concerned about my reading after that.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Week In Review
This week was reeeeeeeeeeeeally long. It wasn't bad at all, but just long.
Monday we had parent-teacher conferences at school. That means that my work day was over 13 hours long. It didn't help that I woke up tired, so by the end of the day, I was kaput.
Tuesday was great. Nothing spectacular.
Wednesday, I left work right at 3:30. My head was pounding, and I had a meeting with my principal and curriculum coordinator near the end of the day, so I couldn't really leave early. I went home and crashed on the couch and just sat there until Sarah and I went to bed.
I figured, the work I didn't get to do because I left early could easily be made up on Thursday morning, considering I get to school before 7 each day.
Thursday, I overslept, which means the work I had put off on Wednesday couldn't get done before school on Thursday. Not most of it, anyway. I still got to school on time and with time to spare, but the whole day I felt like I was running behind and missing things.
Friday was a Friday. My students were relatively well-behaved and respectful, but it was Friday all the same, and so they were somewhat antsy and inattentive.
That's my week in a nutshell. The plans for the weekend - lounge around and relax.
Monday we had parent-teacher conferences at school. That means that my work day was over 13 hours long. It didn't help that I woke up tired, so by the end of the day, I was kaput.
Tuesday was great. Nothing spectacular.
Wednesday, I left work right at 3:30. My head was pounding, and I had a meeting with my principal and curriculum coordinator near the end of the day, so I couldn't really leave early. I went home and crashed on the couch and just sat there until Sarah and I went to bed.
I figured, the work I didn't get to do because I left early could easily be made up on Thursday morning, considering I get to school before 7 each day.
Thursday, I overslept, which means the work I had put off on Wednesday couldn't get done before school on Thursday. Not most of it, anyway. I still got to school on time and with time to spare, but the whole day I felt like I was running behind and missing things.
Friday was a Friday. My students were relatively well-behaved and respectful, but it was Friday all the same, and so they were somewhat antsy and inattentive.
That's my week in a nutshell. The plans for the weekend - lounge around and relax.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
15 Things You Should Know About Abortion
This is just a cut-and-paste from John Piper's blog, but I thought you may want to read it. These are fifteen things about abortion. Some of them are purely scientific. Others are purely faith-based. Even if you don't believe in God, there's an overwhelming amount of evidence that abortion is just as wrong as any other murder. Here's the list:
1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the baby in a mother's womb (except in the case of abortion).
2. Fetal surgery is performed on babies in the womb to save them while another child the same age is being legally destroyed.
3. Babies can sometimes survive on their own at 23 or 24 weeks, but abortion is legal beyond this limit.
4. Living on its own is not the criterion of human personhood, as we know from the use of respirators and dialysis.
5. Size is irrelevant to human personhood, as we know from the difference between a one-week-old and a six-year-old.
6. Developed reasoning powers are not the criterion of personhood, as we know from the capacities of three-month-old babies.
7. Infants in the womb are human beings scientifically by virtue of their genetic make up.
8. Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound. All the organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. Virtually all abortions happen later than this date.
9. Justice dictates that when two legitimate rights conflict, the limitation of rights that does the least harm is the most just. Bearing a child for adoption does less harm than killing him.
10. Justice dictates that when either of two people must be inconvenienced or hurt to alleviate their united predicament, the one who bore the greater responsibility for the predicament should bear more of the inconvenience or hurt to alleviate it.
11. Justice dictates that a person may not coerce harm on another person by threatening voluntary harm on themselves.
12. The outcast and the disadvantaged and exploited are to be cared for in a special way, especially those with no voice of their own.
13. What is happening in the womb is the unique person-nurturing work of God, who alone has the right to give and take life.
14. There are countless clinics that offer life and hope to both mother and child (and father and parents), with care of every kind lovingly provided by people who will meet every need they can.
15.Jesus Christ can forgive all sins, and will give all who trusts him the help they need to do everything that life requires.
1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the baby in a mother's womb (except in the case of abortion).
2. Fetal surgery is performed on babies in the womb to save them while another child the same age is being legally destroyed.
3. Babies can sometimes survive on their own at 23 or 24 weeks, but abortion is legal beyond this limit.
4. Living on its own is not the criterion of human personhood, as we know from the use of respirators and dialysis.
5. Size is irrelevant to human personhood, as we know from the difference between a one-week-old and a six-year-old.
6. Developed reasoning powers are not the criterion of personhood, as we know from the capacities of three-month-old babies.
7. Infants in the womb are human beings scientifically by virtue of their genetic make up.
8. Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound. All the organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. Virtually all abortions happen later than this date.
9. Justice dictates that when two legitimate rights conflict, the limitation of rights that does the least harm is the most just. Bearing a child for adoption does less harm than killing him.
10. Justice dictates that when either of two people must be inconvenienced or hurt to alleviate their united predicament, the one who bore the greater responsibility for the predicament should bear more of the inconvenience or hurt to alleviate it.
11. Justice dictates that a person may not coerce harm on another person by threatening voluntary harm on themselves.
12. The outcast and the disadvantaged and exploited are to be cared for in a special way, especially those with no voice of their own.
13. What is happening in the womb is the unique person-nurturing work of God, who alone has the right to give and take life.
14. There are countless clinics that offer life and hope to both mother and child (and father and parents), with care of every kind lovingly provided by people who will meet every need they can.
15.Jesus Christ can forgive all sins, and will give all who trusts him the help they need to do everything that life requires.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pharisees
On the way to work this morning, I was passed by a policeman. I was driving down Hwy. 31. He was going at least 75 mph (speed limit is 65 mph), and I saw him change lanes twice without ever using a turn signal.
It made me think about the fact that this man's job is to uphold the law, and yet there he was, breaking the law, right in front of me.
It's a trivial example, of course, but it got me to thinking.
In the Bible, the Pharisees and Saducees were given the task of upholding the Law and teaching others to do so, and yet, often times they were the ones breaking the Law. Was this policeman a modern day Pharisee? But I didn't stop thinking there...
How many times have I, as a child of God and an Ambassador of Heaven, broken the Law while telling others the obey it? How often have I proven to be a hypocrite? Of course, as a child of grace, I'm no longer under the Law, but that doesn't mean that I should just live how I want. It means that I should desire to live in God's will...not because I'm scared of punishment, but because I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.
How about you? Have you ever found yourself in this situation?
Lord, forgive me for being a modern-day Pharisee. Help me to live under your grace and to give that same grace to others. Help me to love you the way that you desire for me to love you. Amen.
It made me think about the fact that this man's job is to uphold the law, and yet there he was, breaking the law, right in front of me.
It's a trivial example, of course, but it got me to thinking.
In the Bible, the Pharisees and Saducees were given the task of upholding the Law and teaching others to do so, and yet, often times they were the ones breaking the Law. Was this policeman a modern day Pharisee? But I didn't stop thinking there...
How many times have I, as a child of God and an Ambassador of Heaven, broken the Law while telling others the obey it? How often have I proven to be a hypocrite? Of course, as a child of grace, I'm no longer under the Law, but that doesn't mean that I should just live how I want. It means that I should desire to live in God's will...not because I'm scared of punishment, but because I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.
How about you? Have you ever found yourself in this situation?
Lord, forgive me for being a modern-day Pharisee. Help me to live under your grace and to give that same grace to others. Help me to love you the way that you desire for me to love you. Amen.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Windows 7
So, this week, I downloaded the Beta edition of Windows 7. Windows 7 is the new operating system Microsoft is working on to release towards the end of this year. So far, it's been pretty cool. I'm trying it out on my old laptop, so it's definitely not going to run as well as it would on a newer, average system, but it's working a lot better than I thought it would. It's actually running better than XP right now. How crazy is that? Anyway, here's a couple of screenshots of the Desktop, Start Menu, Libraries screen, and Computer screen, as well as a shot of Microsoft Word (it's not a new version...still Office 2007). Enjoy!
Desktop Screenshot, feature the Betta fish (get it...Windows 7 Beta--Betta fish...you're so funny, Microsoft)
Start Menu. One of the features of Windows 7 is that the Quick Launch toolbar is integrated into the Taskbar. You can see the icons just to the right of the Windows icon.
Libraries are another new feature...you can put all of your pictures, videos, music, etc. into libraries even if they're from different folders.
The Computer screen (formerly My Computer) shows the drives and how much space they're using.
Microsoft Word...nothing new here.
Desktop Screenshot, feature the Betta fish (get it...Windows 7 Beta--Betta fish...you're so funny, Microsoft)
Start Menu. One of the features of Windows 7 is that the Quick Launch toolbar is integrated into the Taskbar. You can see the icons just to the right of the Windows icon.
Libraries are another new feature...you can put all of your pictures, videos, music, etc. into libraries even if they're from different folders.
The Computer screen (formerly My Computer) shows the drives and how much space they're using.
Microsoft Word...nothing new here.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Snow?
This morning, I was at work, and it started snowing...in Little River, SC. That's crazy! The funny thing is that people just freak out about it. A little bit of snow, and the second half of the Staff Development day was canceled, and tomorrow we have a 2-hour delay. Can't complain about that (even though I'll still be at work just as early in the morning). Happy Sort-of-Snow Day!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Buffalo Wild Wings
Tonight, Sarah and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. Quite a few people have told us how great it was and that it was a whole lot better than Wild Wing Cafe. Well, let me tell you...all of those people are wrong. The restaurant felt more like a bar than a restaurant, and the selection wasn't that great (14 wing sauces compared to over 30 at Wild Wing). Sarah ordered the boneless wings, and guess what...they tasted like they were Tyson frozen boneless wings that were dipped in sweet barbecue sauce.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my opinion.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my opinion.
Painting
Yesterday I finished painting the living room, so here are those pictures. All we have left for now is the master bathroom, and then we're done (until we decide what we're doing with the office and guest bedroom). Enjoy!
Today, we finally finished the living room. Woohoo!
Today, we finally finished the living room. Woohoo!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
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