Adversity

This weekend's sermon was on Overcoming Adversity at CCV. The question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" is one I encounter when talking about the Christian faith with non-believers so I was interested to hear more.

There are five basic reasons for adversity: 1) Our sin and bad choices, 2)Someone else's sin, 3) Victims of laws of nature, 4) Random tragedy, 5) We are followers of Christ.

And then Pastor Don said that "Adversity is God's way of getting man's attention." And then, "Adversity is the training ground for spiritual responsibility." This to me was one of the most encouraging nuggets that I got last night. I wonder what God is preparing me for. I like to think that the trials I go through with the girls, and with Erik, and with friends, are pepping me for some higher purpose. At least it helps get me through the tough times.

Adversity can be used by God, if we let it, to make us into the men/women He wants us to be. The Bible uses the comparison of refining gold for spiritual refinement.

Did you realize that refining gold, is a lengthy and intense process? In the 1st century several steps had to be repeated until the gold reflected the face of the goldsmith, that's how he knew the gold was fully purified. Isn't that interesting? The goldsmith was looking for his reflection, and that's how he knew the gold was perfected.

I understand this to mean that adversity is the process we have to go through in order to perfectly reflect God's face.

To Kill A Mockingbird

I just got back from my monthly book club meeting where we discussed To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It was such a great meeting. And actually, every time I leave the meeting I am refreshed and energized. What a wonderful thing it is to discuss books with other readers. It is a treat, and this month's book was like the whipped topping on top of a delicious dessert.

This book is chock-full of things to discuss, so I'm just going to briefly one of the things I found.

Don't you love Atticus? He is the ideal father. Well, at least it seemed to me. But the girls today brought up a couple things that make him less than ideal; his lack of physical affection (although Scout was free to cuddle in his lap.) and he didn't attend the Halloween Pageant to see Scout as the 'Ham'. I loved how he spoke to his children as if they were adults. And I especially loved his way of explaining why we fight even though we will lose. How important that is today. Sometimes I forget that winning is not always the point; there is as much value in losing as there is in winning.

What a great book. There is just too much in there to discuss. I feel like I need a term paper to get it all out.

What are your favorite parts of the book? Who is your favorite character and why?

Erik to India

The most admirable Erik left yesterday for India. I already miss him. Read his blog here as he posts from Dumoh. He will be working with the Mid-India Christian Mission and staying with the David Lall's.

If you could, please pray for him and for his family. We will miss him terribly.

Michelle Obama

KEEP IT PITHY AND WITH A TOUCH OF GENTLENESS.

I know a few of you will find this completely unoriginal, but I can't help but not post on this.

Really, has Michelle Obama never been prouder of her country? Like on 9/11, was she ashamed of our country? Was she one of those who felt we brought the terrorist attack on ourselves? And like John Podhoretz said in this article, she became an adult in 1982. The Cold War ended during her adulthood, welfare increased, the economy grew...Really? She's never been more proud?

It's not like I ever mis-speak. I have a tendency to exaggerate, but I'm not a lawyer with double-Ivy League degrees like Mrs. Obama. Anyways, I'm perplexed and not a little concerned.

The troubling thing about this, for me, is that it shows a bit of narcissism. Like she couldn't possibly be proud of America unless the people loved her and her husband. I am so tired of politicians acting like saviors and the means of saving is the government. It's not true! The government can not give you happiness and success and the Obamas will not save you from decisions, whether good or bad. Arghhhh!

Birthday Blow Out

Matilyn is two. Need I say more? :)

We had our family over for a birthday party to celebrate the wonderful creation that Mati Grace is. She had an Elmo themed party. And by the way, so did I. Yes, it was my birthday as well. And since I am not 30 yet I thought it would be nice to have a joint party. We had an Elmo party for her, and grown-up brunch for me.

Since I have discovered my absolute love for cooking and baking I thought I would make something divine. I picked an Egg Casserole with hard-boiled eggs on the bottom, Canadian bacon and then covered it with a Gruyere Cheese sauce and Parmesan cheese. It was a Paula Deen recipe, and it didn't disappoint. I got the idea to make it like Eggs Benedict so I served the egg on top of an english muffin with a side of asparagus. Yum-oh!

I also made a fruit dip, chocolate chocolate-chip muffins, and of course we had cake. It was delicious! Here are a couple of pictures.




That evening, Erik took me to Abuelo's (Mexican food-my favorite!) and then to a play called "Forever Tango". It was mostly dancing with a tiny bit of storyline. And it was all tango music and tango dancing. I can't say enough about the dancing; it was amazing. However, did you know that the accordion (called the banderon (sp?) is predominant in tango music? Oh yes. And there were three of them! Needless to say I got my accordion fix that evening.

But it was a lovely evening and the wonderful Erik really went out of his way to plan something nice for me on my birthday. He even got someone to cover his work-shift!

Nap Time

Normally I work during my girls' nap times. I usually have a million things on my to-do list and if I'm not working I try and work on the list.

Today, I did something special.

After receiving a call from Katie who was standing in line at Paradise Bakery, after having a massage and was then going for a haircut (I'm sure she'll be posting on it), I decided that I too needed a little pampering. (The most admirable Erik has been working late for the last couple of weeks and I am starting to show signs of becoming the "contentious wife" of the Proverbs fame. I am sorry, darling.) So, I thought a little rest and rejuvenation was needed.

I filled up my bathtub with hot water, added bath salts, got in and read. It was so relaxing. I have never taken a bath in the middle of the day. And now I don't know why I haven't! How wonderful it was with my kids asleep, natural sunlight coming in through the window and my book. (I'm reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.)

And then I took a nap. I love naps and take far too many of them and I usually wake up feeling a little indulgent and guilty for not working. But today I knew I was going for indulgence so I napped. I have awoken without guilt and I am so happy that I can face another night of Erik staying late at work and not be embittered.

Exit Romney; Enter McCain

Well, it has taken me a few days to gather some thoughts about the week that the Republican party just had.

Admittedly, Super Tuesday did not go the way I anticipated it would. With Romney and Huckabee splitting the Republican Evangelical vote, McCain emerged as the clear winner. I was a Romney supporter so his announcement on Thursday to suspend his presidency was equivalent to a fairly good sized tremor to my world. I have never supported a Presidential nominee that lost. This is an interesting place to be in. And those of you who know me know that I hate to lose.

Erik, my dearest, supported McCain. He reasoned that McCain can beat Hilary. But, will he be able to beat Obama? I have my sincere doubts. Especially since Obama raised about 28 million dollars in the month of January alone. That kind of money is almost impossible to beat.

So, McCain is likely the nominee for the Republicans. And the only good thing about that is that now he can start hammering away at the Democratic party. With the Democrats undecided between Obama and Hilary there is a lot of time and money that will be spent just on the primaries. The Republicans do have an advantage there.

Also, it is important to keep in mind that a third of the Senate is up for re-election as is the entire House. This is an opportunity to begin to put into place those Senators and Representatives that more closely align with our values. I, for one, am tired of the Republicans who get elected to Congress and then compromise on the core values of the party. And don't talk to me about bipartisanship; that's code for Republicans compromising on core values while Democrats get exactly what they want. Who even came up with the term? I am for compromise, of course, but I would like to see Republicans exercising their muscle to get the Dems to compromise. How about it?

Post from My Mom

My mom has a new blog, www.vastright-wingconspirator.blogspot.com. She posted about an interesting comment by the Bishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church in England. I like her post and here's a link to the story.

Read the article; it's quite good and something to keep in mind as we discuss where we want US culture and society to go because under Shari'a law, there is no separation of the church from the state.

Politweets: This is the coolest political aggregator I've seen! It tracks what candidates are being talked about and how popular they are. Jack Asses on the left (of course) and Elephants are on the RIGHT! (As they usually are right...)

Handmade Goods

I just found this amazing site where you can buy and sell handmade goods, like clothing, toys, desserts (yes, chocolate!) and art. It's called Etsy and it seems pretty neat. (Especially if you're the type to want handmade stuff...probably the same type of people who buy organic....)

Anyways, it's kind of cool and something to browse around when you have a moment!

Notorious

I have been watching Notorious on TiVo recently when I'm flossing my teeth. This is the Notorious with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

It is perhaps one of the best movies ever. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and rent it. You will thank me for it. And yes, it's in black and white. But that adds to the depth of the film.

There is so much restrained emotion on the part of Bergman and Grant that you can feel it through the television. And then there is the story. Wow! I have seen it so many times, thanks to my mom. She got me involved in old movies and I have never regretted it. There is so much feeling in the old films; today feelings are just a part of the dialogue, where as in the 1940's and 50's, the feeling was acted and the audience felt it.

And Bergman and Grant. Hubba Hubba! They are amazing together in this film. Again, you should see it!

Detecting Psychological Disorders

I came across this interesting article on Suite101.com about detecting psychological disorders.

If you read through the four common ways of determining if someone is eccentric or insane, you may notice that a couple of them are completely subjective to the time and culture. I noticed that even someone's psychology is held in reference to what is accepted socially. I guess I found it a little disconcerting. A person's mental health dependent upon what the American Psychological Association says...

I like what the prophet Isaiah says in the Bible: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 That does not mean that I don't believe in therapy as a means of psychological treatment, because of course I do. My point, however, is that God's standard of mental health doesn't change. I believe He desires us to be at peace with Him, mentally, spiritually, physically.