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November 21, 2005

The Lonely in Families

Please go read this. It has a lot of wisdom.

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November 17, 2005

A Thought about Submission

I know the Biblical ideal of submission is not the image of a puppy that just piddled on the floor and now has his tail tucked between his legs and his head bowed in shame, but that idea is nonetheless there. (Picture that image and the angry words "Submit, woman!" Yeah, that's what I struggle against.)

That is not what submission is!! It's not, and Scripture is clear on that. But to help my struggle, I read last night that the NKJV rephrased "submission" as "willingness to yield" in James. I like that better than "be submissive." It's "Mrs. Work, be willing to yield."

Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Wisdom that Comes From Heaven

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18 NIV

I learned this in NIV but I really prefer the NKJV of this passage:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18 NKJV

Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Tie that Binds

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4

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Farm Imagery

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NIV

Posted by The Newest Worker at 12:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Evil in the Dark

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

John 3:20-21 NIV

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Judgment

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

John 7:24 NIV

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November 04, 2005

Pithy Quotes and Blog Sabbatical

Dear Friends,

I've neglected my reading. I haven't been taking in anyone else's opinions on things, and have consequently grown too opinionated (read: b**chy) here.

I'm sorry.

So, until further notice, you'll see occasional pithy quotes here. Others' opinions, but not my own.

And I'm not reading anyone else's blogs, either. Don't worry, I'll catch up when it's time to come back. But I need some boundaries.

Your Friend,
The Newest Worker

*****
Update 14 Nov 2005
I've begun reading blogs again. But only once a day, or maybe every other day.
*****

Posted by The Newest Worker at 03:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Take Heart

Are you listening? Did you hear? It isn't her--it's Him. The witch's magic is weakening! You thought it would last forever, but the ice is melting and the winter of your discontent is drawing to an end. This is the meaning of Father Christmas's unforeseen appearance in the Narnian woods. It's also the intensely real, eternally rock-solid, and deeply personal significance of the birth of Jesus--that same Jesus who was born during the days of Herod the king. Therefore, take heart, "for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).

Bruner, Kurt, and Jim Ware. Finding God in the Land of Narnia. Saltriver (Tyndale House), 2005.

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November 03, 2005

The Hardest Music EVER!

I laughed myself silly when I first saw this in high school.

Go laugh yourself silly.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 04:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Leaving College Isn't the Solution

Hey, people, especially Covbloggers...

Leaving/graduating Covenant isn't the answer to getting a life.

Being able to drink, do drugs, have sex, dance, and skip chapel isn't the answer to having a life.

Being freed from the grind of papers, hundreds of pages of reading each day, midterms and finals, isn't the answer to having a life.

Getting a life is often a task frustrated by responsibility. You think it'll be easier on the 'other side' of matriculation? Nope. Now you've got loan payments, rent, car payments, car repairs, grocery shopping, bill paying, checkbook balancing, daily meal preparation, church attendance, an actual effort at finding community for yourself (as opposed to tottling down the hall to your friend's dorm room where someone's always awake), traveling, keeping up with family, keeping up with college friends who've all scattered all over the continent and the globe, &c.

You have to make a life where you are. You have to prioritize what you want, and if you want a life, don't get bogged down in excuses. Being a Covstudent, living in Covdorms, eating in the Covdining hall, being under the Covcontract--these are excuses.

Stop making excuses to yourself and live your life. Each stage of your life has benefits and drawbacks.

Continue reading "Leaving College Isn't the Solution"

Posted by The Newest Worker at 10:52 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 02, 2005

Three Conclusions about categorizing people (finally, not filler)

Recently, John Lennon posted a defense of kinism as racism. I don't know much about kinism, but the two kinist blogs I've looked at (then closed, disgusted) didn't seem like shining stars of kinism. Back to John Lennon. I made the mistake of posting comments in his comment stream, to which Winston Smith responded by calling me 'girlie.' Oh, I hate being called girlie! It's a tactic used to aggravate and belittle the one being called girlie. Well, I spat nails for a while, but thankfully, not in the blogworld.

I had a long series of thoughts, insights, and convictions I think are worthwhile to share. Here's the summary. (Read the extended version for...the extended, detailed version.)

Continue reading "Three Conclusions about categorizing people (finally, not filler)"

Posted by The Newest Worker at 03:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Movie Meme (also known as filler until I get it together)

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead, Harry. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy." ~~Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

What upcomimg films are on your "must see" list? Why are they must see? Is there anything coming out soon that you have absolutely no interest in seeing? Why not?

Must See and why:
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Because! It’s Lewis and it’ll be good, thanks to the high standards of the LOTR film trilogy. Woo hoo.

Harry Potter IV. Because I’m a Harry Potter fan, because I can’t wait to see how they depict the merpeople, the maze, Moody, and the re-embodiment of Voldy.

Rent. I saw a trailer for it in a movie theater in August, and the song just caught me. Must see it now!

The Legend of Zorro. It’s Zorro, and I’ve always liked Zorro, even before the first Zorro movie came out!

Memoirs of a Geisha. It was a good book and the poster looks intriguing.

The Family Stone. A young woman goes to her boyfriend’s family home for Christmas and doesn’t quite fit in, and they aren’t really trying. Sounds like a tearjerker, at the very least. And...you know, in-laws can be challenging. This type of movie, where the inlaws seem to caricatured, will probably be a laugh fest for me now.

The Producers. Because it’s a good story. Will Ferrell is silly, and a good actor, and he’ll be funny writing lyrics for "Springtime with Hitler." Hah!

Would Like to See and why:

Chicken Little. The trailer with the sky cracking, the pig getting upset by the vending machine, and the hedgehog all make me giggle.

Zathura. I liked Jumanji.

Yours, Mine, and Ours. Husband laughs every time we see the trailer in the theater.

North Country. It’ll probably win some Oscar or another.

Flightplan. Jodie Sawyer goes crazy on a plane. But I’ll wait till it hits the cheap theater.

Aeonflux. It looks cool. I like dystopic movies and novels.

Casanova. The trailer looked like a tear-jerker. And secretly, every woman wishes she could be the inspiration of the bad-boy-turned-good.

Movies I’ll not see and why:

Jarhead. I saw We Were Soldiers and was grossed out. I’m afraid of the same thing here.

Pride and Prejudice. I’m so Keira Knightley’d out.

Prime. A woman psychoanalyst hears her client tell all about sexual exploits with the psychoanalyst’s son. Can we saw eeew?

Doom. Duh.

The Fog. Horror and thriller movies creep me out.

Big Momma’s House II. Just because. Duh.

Rumor Has It. Because I do not want to see Jenny Aniston sleep with the man who slept with her (movie) mother and (movie) grandmother. Can we say eeew?

Meme taken from here.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In the absence of actual material, I provide you with a very lame meme.

1. Have you ever said "I Love you" and not meant it? No. Has someone told you "I Love you" and not meant it? No.

2. Do you believe in love at first sight? No. Lust at first sight, but note love. Do you believe in karma? No.

3. What person do you trust the most? Husband. And parents, and Sister. What person do you trust the least? President Clinton? I’m not going to post any people I actually know here, duh!

4. What type(s) of music do you like? I’m eclectic. What type(s) of music do you dislike? Angry rock, where the dude singing is screaming his rage and hate. Rap, like M&M, who seems to like making rhymes out of filthy habits.

5. Who is your celebrity crush? I guess I like Colin Firth? I never really had celebrity crushes... Who do you think is your celebrity look-a-like? There’s an extra in Center Stage who looks like me. I’ve only noticed her in the end of the movie, during the big workshop, when the curtain warmers are about to go out on stage…

Boy, this is a boring meme. So sorry.

But I got the questions (which are apparently written for junior high kiddoes) from here.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 02:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In the Bleak Midwinter

It was during the days of Herod the king that the Savior was born. And it is in the "bleak midwinter" of personal failure, heartbreak, and disappointment that Jesus delights to encounter us today.

Bruner, Kurt, and Jim Ware. Finding God in the Land of Narnia. Saltriver (Tyndale House), 2005.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 02:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

For Bobbo

You asked about categories. Well, when you have the "Main Menu > the back burner Editing Menu > Create New Entry" thing going (you know, the form where you actually write your entry), there are two blanks above the writing box. (Man, can you tell I don't know any of the terminology?)

There's the "Title" box, and to the right of it is the "Primary Category" box, which is a pull-down menu. Pull it down, and click on "Add New Category."

A dialog box will pop up: "Add a Category." Type your (witty, of course) category name in the box and click Add.

I don't know all the neat things you can do with this, I'm sure. I learned this by playing around with it. You play, too. And here's a note: you can assign multiple categories after you save an entry. Once it's saved, you can click on the link to "Assign Multiple Categories." Then, do your assigning.

Have fun.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 01:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 01, 2005

Random 20 Meme

I found this here.

1. I have one sister.
2. I am bilingual.
3. I surprised my parents for Thanksgiving last year.
4. There was bad weather in Chicago, so I ended up spending the night in the airport there.
5. And then they rerouted my flight from Denver to Colorado Springs.
6. Probably because I cried when they told me the flights to Denver were all delayed.
7. My favorite tree is the aspen tree.
8. I honeymooned in the Colorado mountains.
9. I've been married 3 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day.
10. I've never been to the northwest.
11. But I have been to the southwest. I love Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park (Utah).
12. In 74 days, I won't be the newest Worker anymore. My brother-in-law's new wife will be.
13. I miss Central Pennsylvania. Not the weather, but the people. And this one cornfield with dogwoods planted behind it; it was lovely in any weather.
14. I put 20,000 miles on my car the first year I owned it.
15. It's because I drove to Western PA and to Center Hill a lot.
16. Also because I drove to Covenant from Central PA once. And back.
17. My Sister-in-Law is a Junior at Covenant.
18. She has a great sense of humor.
19. I'm ready to see Office Space again, but I have to see it with SIL.
20. Gilmore Girls is on tonight, and I am recording it.

Posted by The Newest Worker at 01:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack