The Right Question

I'm to stupid to figure out how to post a video on my blog so here is the link to a clip from a Voddie Bauchum sermon on you tube as he answers the Question "If God is so powerful and good why do bad things happen"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID1yv4J6ohE&feature=player_embedded

I knew that I was right…but it turned out I was wrong

I lost my temper today, and felt perfectly justified in doing it. But after a long run and walk I finally got emotions under control and realized though I was probably wronged I didn't have the right to lose my temper. Of course that meant I had to apologize, sigh, something I don't think anyone is good at. I know for me it means swallowing my pride and admitting I was wrong. Of course who in their right mind would want to admit they were wrong. Certainly not me, and to know it myself is one thing. But to admit to the other person involved is quite the other.

But what do I do when this type of situation comes up again, one of those circumstances when I just absolutely know that I am right and am the one being wronged, that I am being treated with injustice and unfairly.

Hopefully I've learned for the next time not to answer until I've allowed my temper to cool down a little bit, for me something physical like running is helpful. There is something about the physical pain of muscles screaming and concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other that gives me time to forget what I am so mad about, or to think things through and come to a conclusion in a rational state of mind.

A soft answer putteth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Yeah I guess I failed that one this time. Instead I used angry scornful words, and after just listening to a sermon on scorn and mockery…sigh. It wasn't even so much that what I said was wrong, but the spirit and attitude that was behind it.

While I do think there is a time when it may be appropriate for us to get angry, but not lose our tempers. I think the only justification that I can see from scripture is matters of God's principles, not my prideful feelings hurt. Even if falsely accused.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty man, and he that ruleth his own mind is better than he that winneth a city. Proverbs 16:32

An angry man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to wrath appeaseth strife Proverbs 15:18

He that is hasty to anger commiteth folly Proverbs 14:17a

It is amazing what a little bit of self control can do, how many hurtful words would not have been said, how many angry feelings would have been checked and examined for what they are, sin. Once the damage is done it's hard to repair, and if I would just control my tongue and temper I could avoid ever having to apologizing. Did I mention I don't like to apologize?

Please excuse me while I go apologize.

A pastor

October is pastor appreciation month, and as a Pastor's daughter let me encourage you to encourage your pastors and let them know that you appreciate them. Your prayer and gifts and words and gestures of gratefulness are such and encouragement to your pastor. As someone who is in the know on what goes on inside a pastor's home, head and heart, it is a hard life to live, and all the more harder when you feel unappreciated or worse. Of course no pastor is perfect but then neither is any congregation. My father is not perfect but as his daughter that does not make void the fact that God in his word requires me to honor him regardless. So let me step up to the plate and say to the world dad I appreciate you as my father and my pastor. You are incredibly slow to anger and patient. I have never met a more selfless man that you. I don't know how you do it, but it amazes me. So here is to your honor dad…love you.

Who is this man on his knees

Seemingly small and humble

Trying his best his Father to please

While he hears the people grumble

Who is this man who for years

Has wearily tried to change

The people through his Father's tears

In a place unfamiliar and strange

Who is this man the truth he's spoken

A soldier prepared to fight

A fire inside his bosom has woken

Shining a radiant light

Who is this man worried with care

Wounded a broken apart

He's always tried to give and share

The vision buried within his heart

Who is this man tired and tried

He has risen on eagles wings

He's rested in peace by heaven guide

And now in the fire he sings

Who is this man brave and strong

But not in his own power

He runs the race though it is long

Looking forward to life final hour

Who is this man leading the sheep

Harvesting ripe golden fields

Gathering all for his Father's keep

Teaching other to love and to yield

Who is this man on abyss of hell

Pleading the case for you

He says in his soul all is well

When it seems that his dreams are through

Who is this man showing the way

Willing to faithfully run

Hear a voice from heaven say

I am well pleased with my son

Who is this man willing to stand

To push against the tide

He's lead by an invisible hand

The Spirit of God is his guide

Who is this man who is never alone

A warrior reaching for the prize

Chosen to be his father's own

Beautiful in his Father's eyes

~melody varney~

The maid to my mind

I found this poem in a Ladies magazine I have from 1776, enjoy!

I'm a youth in my mind and if people say true

Have virtue sufficient good manners my due

Content in my station, such graces combined

Might sure render happy, the maid to my mind

If my choice should be granted, I freely confess

I ne'er could like one who's a slave to her dress

Though pleasing her beauty, her whit unrefined

Would prevent her from being the maid to my mind

Nor she that doth practice the patch and the paint

Whose heart is deceit though she looks like a saint

If ever so rich, since to nature unkind

I never would choose her for the maid to my mind

Above all the fair sex my contempt would set

On her who is surely a finished coquette

For as pride and conceit keep fair virtue confined

She could never please me as the maid to my mind

Then to banter no longer, but to end your suspense

I like one of prudence, good nature and sense

And coy to a fop to sincerity kind

In peace then I'd live with the maid to my mind

Her age and the size in her person should be

In neither superior, but equal to me

Her dress not to rich, yet to neatness inclined

The this and no others the maid to my mind

Her shape should be handsome and graceful her air

So charming her features both lovely and fair

With these a fair portion by fortune entwined

Would make her completely the maid to my mind

Sound heaven but attend to my prayer and request

To make her my wife I should be so blessed

That the world might see hence that I never once repined

At choosing for life the fair maid to my mind

Twilight, a movie review

The book series Twilight by Stephanie Meyers has become a sensation for the majority of the teen girls in our church. I haven't heard much of anything good about these books about vampires, but it all seemed to be based upon speculation.

I asked my father's permission to read the books to review them in hopes that I could engage the young ladies in church in conversation about the danger of certain things we take into our bosom to entertain ourselves.

I borrowed the movie from the library this week.

The plot

For those unfamiliar with the film, The story is of Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks Washington to live with her dad, the rainiest cloudiest place in the entire United States. What she anticipates as a terrible move turns out to not be so bad and in fact wonderful from the first time she sets eyes on Edward Cullen. The problem is that Edward from the beginning seems to hate her.

Bella soon finds out that this is due to the fact that Edward is a Vampire, and although he is attracted to her, his attraction manifest itself in an intense desire to eat her.

The two fall into an emotional infatuation, (I wouldn't call it love especially on Bella side). A tracker vampire makes Bella the object of his pursuit that Edward and adopted family of Vampires band to save her.

In the climax of the film Bella is bit by this vampire and Edward must make a choice between allowing the poison to turn Bella into a vampire or sucking it back out. Although he wants to stop the poisons course he is afraid that if he starts to suck the poison out of her blood he won't be able to stop. He makes the choice to stop the poison and resist the temptation to kill Bella and instead saves her life.

The Bad stuff

First off let me say that Bella is an idiot and no one for young ladies to admire or fashion themselves after. From the moment she sets eyes on Edward she thinks she is captivated and obsessed by him, even though she doesn't know him at all, and then even when he snub her in absolute rudeness. She does not take every thought captive as the Lord commands us, she does not guard her heart but instead follows after it blindly, which the Lord warns us is wicked and deceitful above all else.

When she finds out that Edward is a vampire, it doesn't change the way she feels about him.

Edward confesses that everything about him is designed to kill, but Bella says she doesn't care. He confesses that he has killed people before, and once again Bella says it doesn't matter.

"I wanted to kill you, I've never wanted a humans blood so much in my life." Edward says.

"I trust you." Bella says.

WHAT!!?? I would be running for the nearest gun, and she says she trusts him. This trust seems to be based on the beauty of his face, the sweetness of his voice, and raging hormonal surge that he is sending coursing through her body. Like I said, she is an idiot.

The entire feel of the movie is sensual to me from the music to frequent an long scenes where Edward and Bella are basking in each others presence silently with music in the background that encourages the sensuality. From the beginning the looks that Bella gives Edward suggest she is desperate to rip her clothes off and crawl in bed with him.

There is a scene where Edward and Bella are kissing and groping in bed, but Edward puts a stop to it, not because he has a sense of abstinence, but because it increases his desire to eat her.

And of course the movie has to end with the Hollywood kiss.

Bella's father encourages her juvenile behavior with her friends. Bella deceives her father and hurts him, when she should be confiding in him and going to him for protection.

Edward want to formally introduce himself to Bella's father, and informs him that he is taking her out, there is no permission asked.

Edward casually jokes that he is going to hell.

The Good stuff

Now I must confess that I understand why girls love this film and the book. Edward despite the fact that he want to suck Bella's blood is a gentleman. He opens doors for her, helps her with her jacket, saves her life and ultimately gives up what he really wants (which is to eat her) and faces his greatest fear and selflessly saves her life. This climatic scene is what I am sure every sat waiting for in the theaters, and why because this is what we want in a man. Girls are tired of the superficial, selfish, and weak men that our culture has encouraged and eagerly assisted in making. Here we are presented with a real man, and it stirs a desire inside a girls heart if she is not careful to guard it.

Not only are we presented with a an example of this gentleman, (sort of) in Edward, but in Edward's adopted father, Carlisle. Carlisle is quite obviously the leader of his family. He commands his family with authority, ease, and respect. When Bella's life is endangered he is the one who thinks clearly and directs the family as to how to keep Bella safe and stop her pursuer.

Despite the Cullen's nature as Vampires to kill and eat humans, they resist this temptation and are a family of vegetarian Vampires, eating only animals blood. A parallel can be seen between this and our sinful human natures.

My conclusion

The film ends with Edward being the hero, and Bella's not growing any wiser, ever the idiot resenting the fact that Edward didn't allow the poison to take its course and turn her into vampire

And of course the film concludes with every American girls dream ending to their perfect love story, no they didn't get married and live happily ever after with a quiver full of children. No they go to the prom and kiss in the gazebo.

This film is one of those movies that you hate but you love. A film that you would love, but should feel guilty about watching. Why? Because there are good points and themes in the movie, but they are surrounded by a thousand bad aesthetics and messages.

What we take into our hearts to entertain ourselves reflects what we truly love, so dear ladies please let us be careful and avoid things that allow our mind to linger where it shouldn't go and condone things that we know are wrong. Just because it it classified as entertainment doesn't make it ok.