While my eighteen month old was being an angel in church this Sunday (I seriously don't know what got over her) I was able to absorb that, not worrying about what we'll eat or drink doesn't just mean not to worry about if we will eat but it means in this day in age that we shouldn't be concerned about what we eat or drink. This helped me get through the disappointment of missing a big 'ole steak dinner at a fancy restaurant tonight.
I'm very disappointed. But trying to be diligent in my praying about acceptance of what God wants for my life. Even if its as small as what he wants for my daily bread.
Monday, February 28
Sunday, February 27
The sermon on the mount
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
Friday, February 25
Super cool!
The last place on their list... http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.html
Thursday, February 24
The Christian Quarter
Interesting that our Jewish friends will be visiting the Church of The Holy Sepulcher in the Christian Quarter:
http://www.christusrex.org/www2/baram/B-sepulchre.html
I'm learning so much history! Makes me wanna travel...
http://www.christusrex.org/www2/baram/B-sepulchre.html
I'm learning so much history! Makes me wanna travel...
Wednesday, February 23
Jerusalem's Old City
Oh and within my reading of the old city I came across that The Kotel or The Western Wall is also referred to as The Wailing Wall. That was actually familiar I think...
SO- Did you know that B.C. and A.D. are totally out now? I know I shouldn't be surprised but when reading about Jerusalem's Old City I came across the terms B.C.E. (before common era) and C.E. (common era). I feel offended. And old.
SO- Did you know that B.C. and A.D. are totally out now? I know I shouldn't be surprised but when reading about Jerusalem's Old City I came across the terms B.C.E. (before common era) and C.E. (common era). I feel offended. And old.
The Kotel ~The Western Wall
http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=2871&CatId=2&all=1 Ok- It is just funny to me that they posted a pic of "mini me" visiting...But click on The Story of the Kotel after you've chuckled like me at the whoswho of guest lists.
Neat!
Neat!
Tuesday, February 22
Beautiful...
Aren't these gardens amazing?! They are on the Israel trip itinerary as well...
Monday, February 21
Repairing the world
Several representatives from my daughter's Jewish day school are going to Israel and as I was researching the sites/locations they were visiting, this term came up: Tikkun Olam -Repairing the World.
How cool of a "slogan" is that? When I looked it up I came across this http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper169.html
And I hope you all aren't getting sick of my posts that are just links but I really look at this blog as like, a training exercise. Like. I'm building up endurance for a long race or something. So these things that I post aren't just easy ways out (ok. well. sometimes the articles might be just skimmed by me instead of really truly reflected upon) but they are a daily search that I feel is flexing my soul.
How cool of a "slogan" is that? When I looked it up I came across this http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper169.html
And I hope you all aren't getting sick of my posts that are just links but I really look at this blog as like, a training exercise. Like. I'm building up endurance for a long race or something. So these things that I post aren't just easy ways out (ok. well. sometimes the articles might be just skimmed by me instead of really truly reflected upon) but they are a daily search that I feel is flexing my soul.
Sunday, February 20
Saturday, February 19
Sometimes you stuff up my nose, sometimes you stiffen my bones
Thank You God
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
You help my toe nails grow.
You help my blood flow.
Sometimes you stuff up my nose, sometimes you stiffen my bones,
it’s amazing how it all goes.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
You keep my ears clean.
You help my body digest ice cream. You put the notion in my noggin,
to keep my fingers bobbin,
whenever I sing.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
©1997 Peri Smilow
from Peri’s Album Ashrey
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
You help my toe nails grow.
You help my blood flow.
Sometimes you stuff up my nose, sometimes you stiffen my bones,
it’s amazing how it all goes.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
You keep my ears clean.
You help my body digest ice cream. You put the notion in my noggin,
to keep my fingers bobbin,
whenever I sing.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making our bodies work.
Baruch atah, we thank you God,
thank you for making us work.
©1997 Peri Smilow
from Peri’s Album Ashrey
Friday, February 18
The LOST Chapter
Luke 15. I really didn't think I'd find all of your references in one place mom :)
http://christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_e/that_which_was_lost.htm
http://christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_e/that_which_was_lost.htm
Thursday, February 17
Wednesday, February 16
Thanks Mom :)
http://www.evangelicallutheransynod.org/we-believe/els/webtc.html
12. HUMAN LIFE AND HUMAN SEXUALITYWe confess that Scripture upholds the sanctity of human life. We recognize that God has given the State the right to administer capital punishment and wage just wars, but we believe that any taking of human life beyond that which is authorized by God is to be abhorred. We believe that all human life has intrinsic value, regardless of its perceived "quality," and that God calls on us to preserve His gift of life. Because abortion results in the death of an unborn human being, we believe that it is never justified except in those rare and tragic circumstances when the continuation of the pregnancy would clearly threaten the life of the mother. Abortion for any other reason is a great sin in the eyes of God. Because God is the giver and taker of life, we condemn any deliberate efforts to shorten one's own life or the life of another, for example: suicide, euthanasia (mercy killing), and the withholding or withdrawing of appropriate care from the critically ill person. See Rom. 13:4 and 9, Ps. 139:13-16, Ps. 51:5, Luke 1:41, Jer. 1:5, Ps. 31:15, Phil. 1:21-26, Lev. 19:16.
12. HUMAN LIFE AND HUMAN SEXUALITYWe confess that Scripture upholds the sanctity of human life. We recognize that God has given the State the right to administer capital punishment and wage just wars, but we believe that any taking of human life beyond that which is authorized by God is to be abhorred. We believe that all human life has intrinsic value, regardless of its perceived "quality," and that God calls on us to preserve His gift of life. Because abortion results in the death of an unborn human being, we believe that it is never justified except in those rare and tragic circumstances when the continuation of the pregnancy would clearly threaten the life of the mother. Abortion for any other reason is a great sin in the eyes of God. Because God is the giver and taker of life, we condemn any deliberate efforts to shorten one's own life or the life of another, for example: suicide, euthanasia (mercy killing), and the withholding or withdrawing of appropriate care from the critically ill person. See Rom. 13:4 and 9, Ps. 139:13-16, Ps. 51:5, Luke 1:41, Jer. 1:5, Ps. 31:15, Phil. 1:21-26, Lev. 19:16.
Tuesday, February 15
God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life
I was directed to Acts 10 by a sermon from http://www.timeofgrace.org/ and it's an awesome chapter. Tied in with 11 (the explanation) I think it's a hugely defining moment for me as a Norwegian/German/non-Jew. 10:44,46 is neat- "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God" How awesome for these Jesus converts to see that EVERYONE can be saved through Jesus :) That God gave us the same gift.
Monday, February 14
Sunday, February 13
Birth Control
Ok. Typing that out just is weird. Birth. Control. Controlling birth? Can I get a prescription for a Life Control pill :)
Nevertheless, family planning is important to my husband and I. When I brought up the idea of an IUD to my mom she presented an interesting question about how it works. Why is that important? Because the timing of the prevention might make all the difference in whether or not we are sinning. But that also is a gray matter. Take for instance this article (I paged through quite a few and wow there's a lot of junk out on the internet these days): http://www.godweb.org/stemcell.htm The author explains, "The relatively modern idea that life begins at conception is entirely unbiblical. Not only that, it is more in accord with a purely humanistic perspective for it places the initiative for life in the hands of the human parents." And I suppose that ties RIGHT in with my sassy comment at the top.
Ugh.
I HAVE been having heartburn over this matter for some years now. I never did anything about it when I was on the pill because it was just easy to push the questions out of my mind.
How the pill I've taken works (from the mfg website)
The two types of Pill work slightly differently to prevent pregnancy. With the Combination Pill, the estrogen prevents pregnancy by stopping the development of the egg in the ovary. The progestin component may prevent the egg from being released by the ovary in about one-half of users, and thickens the mucus in the cervix to help prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Progestin may also slow the movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes. The POP relies fully on the activity of progestin to prevent pregnancy.
Both the Combination Pill and the POP may also prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus (womb).
How the IUD I am thinking of getting works (from the mfg website)
The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system slowly releases very small amounts of the hormone levonorgestrel directly into your uterus.
There is no single explanation for how a hormone IUD works. It may:
-Thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering your uterus
-Inhibit sperm from reaching or fertilizing your egg
-Make the lining of your uterus thin
It may stop the release of your egg from your ovary, but this is not the way it works in most cases. Most likely the above actions work together to prevent pregnancy. Like other forms of birth control, this method is not 100% effective.
First of all ~Let me express my frustration that they don't know exactly how these all work. Wow! I mean, I understand that all bodies are different but it's crazy to me that they don't have a narrowed down explanation for what they put in people's bodies?! I suppose. Perhaps that's an argument for natural family planning?
The vague explanation I think my mom was remembering when she heard I was considering an IUD (from the mfg website) with concerns that the body was trying to rid itself of a foreign object thereby aborting a possibly fertilized egg. Can I just comment that this "explanation" is the very mostest ridiculous? I was interested at first because I would really love to be drug/hormone free but I don't suppose I can in good conscious consider what even the drug company seems to know nothing about??
Ideas about how copper IUDs work include preventing sperm from reaching the egg and preventing the egg from attaching (implanting) in the uterus. It does not alter your body's natural menstrual cycle.
Nevertheless, family planning is important to my husband and I. When I brought up the idea of an IUD to my mom she presented an interesting question about how it works. Why is that important? Because the timing of the prevention might make all the difference in whether or not we are sinning. But that also is a gray matter. Take for instance this article (I paged through quite a few and wow there's a lot of junk out on the internet these days): http://www.godweb.org/stemcell.htm The author explains, "The relatively modern idea that life begins at conception is entirely unbiblical. Not only that, it is more in accord with a purely humanistic perspective for it places the initiative for life in the hands of the human parents." And I suppose that ties RIGHT in with my sassy comment at the top.
Ugh.
I HAVE been having heartburn over this matter for some years now. I never did anything about it when I was on the pill because it was just easy to push the questions out of my mind.
How the pill I've taken works (from the mfg website)
The two types of Pill work slightly differently to prevent pregnancy. With the Combination Pill, the estrogen prevents pregnancy by stopping the development of the egg in the ovary. The progestin component may prevent the egg from being released by the ovary in about one-half of users, and thickens the mucus in the cervix to help prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Progestin may also slow the movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes. The POP relies fully on the activity of progestin to prevent pregnancy.
Both the Combination Pill and the POP may also prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus (womb).
How the IUD I am thinking of getting works (from the mfg website)
The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system slowly releases very small amounts of the hormone levonorgestrel directly into your uterus.
There is no single explanation for how a hormone IUD works. It may:
-Thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering your uterus
-Inhibit sperm from reaching or fertilizing your egg
-Make the lining of your uterus thin
It may stop the release of your egg from your ovary, but this is not the way it works in most cases. Most likely the above actions work together to prevent pregnancy. Like other forms of birth control, this method is not 100% effective.
First of all ~Let me express my frustration that they don't know exactly how these all work. Wow! I mean, I understand that all bodies are different but it's crazy to me that they don't have a narrowed down explanation for what they put in people's bodies?! I suppose. Perhaps that's an argument for natural family planning?
The vague explanation I think my mom was remembering when she heard I was considering an IUD (from the mfg website) with concerns that the body was trying to rid itself of a foreign object thereby aborting a possibly fertilized egg. Can I just comment that this "explanation" is the very mostest ridiculous? I was interested at first because I would really love to be drug/hormone free but I don't suppose I can in good conscious consider what even the drug company seems to know nothing about??
Ideas about how copper IUDs work include preventing sperm from reaching the egg and preventing the egg from attaching (implanting) in the uterus. It does not alter your body's natural menstrual cycle.
Saturday, February 12
Friday, February 11
Heaven is simply an extension of earth
I read a magazine article and now an explanation of Litany where the authors propose that heaven is not a far off place but since Jesus died for our sins thereby crushing the head of Satan, heaven is close. There is no dividing wall between us...heaven is like a phone call away ~ And I can feel/believe that. Praying a Litany seems to be like praying with a group of friends who you know share your similar interests.
So here's my Litany :)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for me.
St. Francis de Sales (patron saint of writing), pray for me.
St. Dymphna (patron saint of mental health), pray for me.
St. Margaret Clitherow (patron saint of business women), pray for me.
St. Therese of Lisieux (patron saint of florists), pray for me.
St. Anthony of Padua (patron saint of lost items), pray for me.
St. Monica (patron saint of married women), pray for me.
St. Olaf Haraldson (patron saint of Norway), pray for me.
St. Clare (patron saint of Television), pray for me.
All Holy Men and Women, pray for me.
So here's my Litany :)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for me.
St. Francis de Sales (patron saint of writing), pray for me.
St. Dymphna (patron saint of mental health), pray for me.
St. Margaret Clitherow (patron saint of business women), pray for me.
St. Therese of Lisieux (patron saint of florists), pray for me.
St. Anthony of Padua (patron saint of lost items), pray for me.
St. Monica (patron saint of married women), pray for me.
St. Olaf Haraldson (patron saint of Norway), pray for me.
St. Clare (patron saint of Television), pray for me.
All Holy Men and Women, pray for me.
Thursday, February 10
Litany
A friend of mine went to St Robert Parish for her childhood through marriage (I've done flowers for a wedding or two there and it's simply BEAUTIFUL). They had a neat section on their website titled Homilies and Reflections. I found myself very interested in the litany explination and St Robert Parish Litany with detail
Wednesday, February 9
akouó
One sentence of the article I referenced yesterday stuck in my head... So in my journey towards mensch-hood, I diligently practice listening.
As I was searching my fave Bible website for "listening" references I came across this neat tool - http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/191.htm
And seeing the original Greek reminded me of a section of the Gideon hotel bible that I liked. It said that John 3:16 has been translated into several hundred languages! http://www.everytongue.com/john/index.htm
That was the Greek and here is the Norwegian because that's close to my heart * For så har Gud elsket verden at han gav sin Sønn, den enbårne, forat hver den som tror på ham, ikke skal fortapes, men ha evig liv;
As I was searching my fave Bible website for "listening" references I came across this neat tool - http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/191.htm
And seeing the original Greek reminded me of a section of the Gideon hotel bible that I liked. It said that John 3:16 has been translated into several hundred languages! http://www.everytongue.com/john/index.htm
Tuesday, February 8
Those kids songs...
The JCC (where our daughter goes to daycare) released a CD of kids songs and MAN are they catchy... I suppose that's why you have kids songs. So they get stuck in heads and help little ones through the learning years.
We Grow
And because of those sticky Jewish songs I now know what a Mensch is.
http://www.jewishealing.com/theartofthemensch.html
This description was particularly good I thought.
(this line should be read sing-song-i-ly)
~I wanna be a Mensch~
We Grow
And because of those sticky Jewish songs I now know what a Mensch is.
http://www.jewishealing.com/theartofthemensch.html
This description was particularly good I thought.
(this line should be read sing-song-i-ly)
~I wanna be a Mensch~
Monday, February 7
The sign of Jonah
Skimmed across a few books at the end of the O.T. and then into Matthew and came across 12:38-45 which is titled The Sign of Jonah. I didn't realize that it was prophesied that the three days before Jesus resurrection would be reflected as the three days/nights of Jonah in the belly of the whale. Cindy by the Sea had a really neat and lovely post that I found while Bing searching the sign of Jonah ~
Which reminds me... I need to take the time to update my bibliography and/or change that gadget to be a list of other Christian blogs I've stumbled across and liked :) Oh. And this week is busy but I am going to make a sticker chart (who doesn't like stickers?) for myself to make sure I'm on track with talking to someone about God, religion, the Bible, ect every day.
Which reminds me... I need to take the time to update my bibliography and/or change that gadget to be a list of other Christian blogs I've stumbled across and liked :) Oh. And this week is busy but I am going to make a sticker chart (who doesn't like stickers?) for myself to make sure I'm on track with talking to someone about God, religion, the Bible, ect every day.
Sunday, February 6
neat -
So in the media section of that cool magazine I picked up yesterday I saw a review of BASIC. FEAR GOD. Which is part of a series from this NOOMA group Flannel that seems to have been designed for youth group sorts of settings. Unfortunately my internet connection is slow :( So I didn't get the full artistic effect of the trailer but I may have to buy a copy. I can't help but be super double-y drawn to things that are pleasing to my eyes as well as to my heart :)
Life; Beautiful
Special thanks to a friend for turning me on to this wonderful publication! http://www.lifebeautifulmagazine.com/
Friday, February 4
Jonah the pouty
I believe a lot of people know about Jonah and the whale but I'd never actually read the tiny little short story that's the book of Jonah.
-Oh how I understand him! Telling God "I told you so" ~ And obviously how ridiculous is he? And how dramatic. Sheesh
3:10-4:3 When God saw what they (the Ninevites) did and how they turned from their evil ways (upon Jonah's warning), He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee (that's how he got into the belly of the whale) to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
-Wow. So Jonah believed in God SO much that didn't want to witness to others lest they not be punished because then he might have egg on his face. Crazy!
-In this section I kinda love how God provides good things and the Bible uses the same verb that he provides the destructive worm and the scorching east wind.
4:6-11 Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"
"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
-Oh how I understand him! Telling God "I told you so" ~ And obviously how ridiculous is he? And how dramatic. Sheesh
3:10-4:3 When God saw what they (the Ninevites) did and how they turned from their evil ways (upon Jonah's warning), He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee (that's how he got into the belly of the whale) to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
-Wow. So Jonah believed in God SO much that didn't want to witness to others lest they not be punished because then he might have egg on his face. Crazy!
-In this section I kinda love how God provides good things and the Bible uses the same verb that he provides the destructive worm and the scorching east wind.
4:6-11 Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"
"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
Thursday, February 3
Wednesday, February 2
The mind
We watched a show that had a really driven character in it and the dedication was shown in his every thought and action. The next thing that brought that same "focused mind" idea to me was thinking of the army and how it seems they drive you so hard it must simply erase straying thoughts and it kinda seems to make men/women machines. So I looked up being a monk and found that St.Anthony the Great was the first -This blog post was awesome: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/01/st-anthony-great.html
Tuesday, February 1
Justice!
I don't know why but that title just really felt like it needed an exclamation point...
Anyway...
Dear God, I'm going to skip the A.C.T.S. style prayer and just get on with my rambling thoughts. I made an attempt to give our Tzedakah money as a charitable, anonymous gift to a friend over Christmas but that didn't work easily so I took what I thought was "a sign" that it wasn't the right place for our saved pennies.
I have an opportunity now to use it for another definition of the Hebrew word Tzedek which can mean righteousness, fairness or justice (I can never get away from Wikipedia). My hesitance is in what I recently read in Romans chapter 12...How do I decide what is just and fair? How can I know that it's proper to fund a defense instead of pushing harder to encourage the friend to turn the other cheek? How do I argue against Matthew 5:40?? Please help me God. Help me know how to best help my friend.
Anyway...
Dear God, I'm going to skip the A.C.T.S. style prayer and just get on with my rambling thoughts. I made an attempt to give our Tzedakah money as a charitable, anonymous gift to a friend over Christmas but that didn't work easily so I took what I thought was "a sign" that it wasn't the right place for our saved pennies.
I have an opportunity now to use it for another definition of the Hebrew word Tzedek which can mean righteousness, fairness or justice (I can never get away from Wikipedia). My hesitance is in what I recently read in Romans chapter 12...How do I decide what is just and fair? How can I know that it's proper to fund a defense instead of pushing harder to encourage the friend to turn the other cheek? How do I argue against Matthew 5:40?? Please help me God. Help me know how to best help my friend.
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