Cold

Believe it or not, it actually got a bit chilly here in Florida. A record low for October actually. Yesterday we woke up to around 50 degrees. I walked to work, beautiful outside! All day at work there were people coming in in sweaters, jackets, and even some in coats. It was a bit humorous, especially in the afternoon when it was around 65 degrees. Poor little Frodo has been cold, so he slept in bed with us last night cuddled up to Terry the whole time for warmth. We need to get him a sweater. It has been quite refreshing to be a little cold here and it not be caused by the ac. It finally feels like Fall!

Sarah Elizabeth

Roses

Just thought you all would like to know, when I came home from work tonight there was a beautiful vase full of roses waiting for me from my wonderful husband. Just thought you would like to know.

Sarah Elizabeth

Pimp My Pumpkin

The example we were given:


We got the adults involved in the challenge:





Our judges:


Finished products:

United Socialist States of America, Part 2

It's partially my fault. I brought up a subject where I made rather vague points. Let me explain this in a little more detail (but I still want to keep this somewhat brief).

What's wrong with Socialism and Marxism? Why is it more scary than our current situation? Here's just a few of the points that frighten me about Marxism and Socialism.

1. Socialism sounds like wisdom to the ears of some men. It's sort of a Robin-Hood style of government, because "people are less fortunate" and the government is "supposed to be the one to step up and help them". Again, it sounds like wisdom and it tugs on our heart to help our fellow man, but if firm believers in socialism REALLY loved those who were less fortunate then why don't they give to help these people. Obama's giving record is less than the national average and Biden's is almost nonexistant. Socialism isn't about helping those in need it's about getting control. The more control we give to the government the less freedom we have.
2. Socialism rewards the mundane and mediocre. It creates generations of people who believe there's no need to work for anything and it's the government's job to take care you even though you're a good for nothing, lazy slacker.
3. There's never been a successful Socialist/Marxist government. Spain has only been socialist for about 4 years so they certainly have not proven themselves as the first example of success yet.
4. Socialism typically prefers to capitulate to aggressors (such as terrorists) rather than say "no" to their demands and possibly fight.
5. Socialism is anti-religion (or only accepting of "social religion").

A document I've only stumble on in the past few weeks, so I know little of its author, but really got my attention was from the "Naked Communist" by Cleon Skousen. In the book 45 goals of socialism/Marxism/communism is stated. Now I'm not saying I'm totally buying into this but this is definitely interesting; it also catches my attention that it was written over 45 years ago. I'm only posting the points that grabbed me the most but you can easily Google the whole thing.

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

Thirty-Two

So I'm thirty two today. I've never been big on birthdays, although I did always enjoy going to other people's birthdays. My wife is determined for me to at least not work on my birthday (at least before youth group), so I'll be spending the early part of the day with her. She protested at the idea of me working on my birthday.

It's Gone!

Praise the Lord, it is finally gone! After over a week my mysterious white spots are finally gone. Thanks to a comment under my previous post made by Jennifer I have found out what they are. Tonsilloliths, or tonsil stones are hard white spots that appear on your tonsil. Everything I read about them on the internet makes me believe that is what they were. They are harmless, other than causing great irritation that you can do nothing about. Pretty much, it was something, either food or something from post nasal drip, that gets stuck on the tonsil. It is loaded with protein, therefore attracting lots of bacteria making them white. They fall off eventually. Two of mine fell off by Monday, but the most annoying one stuck around until tonight. This does not occur if your tonsils have been removed, which would explain why this is not a commonly known problem; before my generation most people got their tonsils removed. Tonight I am going to start gargling mouth wash in the hopes to prevent a re-occurance. This was not a fun experience, but at least I didn't get sick.

Sarah Elizabeth

Wii & Youth Group

Sarah put the bug in my ear a couple a months ago that I should seriously consider getting a Nintendo Wii for the youth.  

Why?  We'll many of the games on a Wii do not require the same skills that an XBox or PlayStation would require (being familiar with buttons and being able to perform certain combinations of buttons very quickly) since many of the Wii games are based on moving a remote.  So whether we had youth who spend 8 hours a day playing video games or youth don't own a video game consul, everyone would be on a somewhat equal playing field.  Plus, many of the games for Wii think outside the box and are fun in a whole new way (something other than running around and shooting each other).

Our youth have been meeting twice a week, Wed. for the main youth gathering and Sunday morning for Sunday school, but now we're adding a third gathering.  This gathering, called "Hang-Time" is different from the other two in that it's only designed for hanging out to provide a bridge to get to know the youth who've been coming better, and to encourage them to invite friends to a no strings attached evening of fun.  And the attraction we've added: a Wii!  Not to mention a pool table, ping pong, foosball, snacks (we're having nachos with cheese dip for the first meeting), and soda.

Our first Hang-Time is this Sunday.  Sarah is in charge of the Wii rotation (taking turns).  I'm excited, and so are the youth.  I'm really hoping they have the courage to invite some of their friends, not because I want the youth size to grow; I do want to see growth, but for youth to invite their friends is a big step for them.

Since we announced that I found a Wii to the youth tonight (Wii's can be difficult to find) the youth have been begging for Rock Band, since we had them over this past weekend and they loved playing it, but it's just too expensive of a game to buy for the youth group right now.  Maybe after the holidays (by then Rock Band 2 should be available).

Mysterious White Spots

It all started on Wednesday night when I felt like I had something stuck in my throat. Thursday morning that feeling was still there. I spent the day wiggling my tongue around and hacking trying to dislodge the foreign object from my throat. Then I decided, just for fun, to look down my throat with a flashlight...and that is when I saw...

The Mysterious White Spots!!!

I have at least three white spots on my left tonsil. After calling "doctor mom" I took her advise and called our doctor (who really is just a nurse practitioner). I went in, she checked me out, and we still don't know what it is exactly. It could just be food she said, and she got me to gargle water for a bit to see if it would dislodge itself. That didn't work, so then she prescribed me some antibiotics, just in case. She said it isn't strep throat, because my throat doesn't hurt at all. It could be the beginning of tonsillitis, but my throat still doesn't hurt.

Today, still no sore throat. I do feel a bit fatigued, but no fever. I am going into work late today so I could just relax and rest, in case I am getting sick. So, I guess we will see what happens over the next few days.

Sarah Elizabeth

United Socialist States of America

What do you think?

I've been a guy who has studied and followed history for quite some time.  My love of history was birthed late in my senior year of high school.  But I must admit that, until recently, I've made very little connection between history and things that are happening here and now (probably has to do with coming from a generation that rarely reads newspapers or tries to follow what's going on in the world).  Maybe I'm finally getting old enough to start paying attention to past mistakes.

Is it just me or is the national democratic party's policies highly based on Marxism and Socialism?  And if so, shouldn't history tell us how incredibly scary that is?

Maybe this is something that is well known and I've been far too unobservant, which means I need to wake up and start paying attention more.  Or maybe I'm just way off here. . .nah, I don't think so.

What do you think?

Wednesday Night

We've been looking at what walking with Christ looks like and tonight we talked about legalism through exploring three major points:

1. You don't have to live by a huge set of rules.
2. You don't have to wonder about your place in heaven.
3. You don't have to earn God's approval.