I tend to become irritated by the small things in life: The teacher who doesn’t really teach, the friend who steals your keys as a practical joke, or the small fact I shouldn’t have blurted out yesterday. God has been working on helping me with the small things my entire life. Grudges have always come easily to me. Sometimes I lose the grudge as fast as I gained it, other times I wallow in self-pity. God is constantly teaching me to change the way I act and to change the way I forgive both myself and those I know.
One summer, I went to summer camp. I found out on accident that a friend of mine planned to play a practical joke on me. I took it the wrong way and decided to get even. I took measures to defend myself and the day before the planned joke I played a guilt trip on her, telling her how much I loved and trusted her. Nothing happened the next day.
Another summer, I went kayaking with some friends. We stopped to play in the water on the shore for a short while. I didn’t play. I didn’t like getting wet when I had my clothes and no bathing suit. My friends snuck up behind me and splashed water all over me. I was soaked and I added more water to my clothes with my tears. I cried and yelled at them and held a grudge against them for a day or two before I got over it, but I never fully or officially forgave them.
Most recently, while playing a game of Apples to Apples, my college friends decided to steal my keys and hide them. They refused to give back my keys until we had finished the game. The stress built up inside me and once the game was over I ran to my room to cry. I wasn’t so much mad at them as I was mad at myself for getting stressed over such a small thing.
Another day, a college friend of mine called me an idiot for skipping chapel. It hurt my feelings, and I yelled back at her. We didn’t talk for most of the day. After a while, however, we talked it over and forgave each other.
Some of my college teachers also get on my nerves. One teacher, in particular, talks down to her students a lot. There have been days when I wanted to shoot her or myself (figuratively speaking – not literally) because I didn’t want to be in class. I felt her class was pointless and that she didn’t teach anything. When Professor Cook gave his lecture on forgiveness, this teacher was the first person to come to my mind.
As the days went on after the lecture, I began to think of all the other areas of my life where I have forgotten to truly forgive. I needed to forgive my teacher and get the most out of her class as I possibly could. I needed to forgive my friends for playing practical jokes on me. I needed to forgive myself for all my sins.
I have the most trouble forgiving myself. The guilt won’t always go away. I often feel drained inside. I question God. I ask Him how He could have a plan for me, a sinner who never seems to stop sinning. I question how He can forgive me and why I can’t forgive myself. I ask Him if He still loves me even after all the stupid things I’ve done and continue to do. Even the little sins tend to grow on my back as a burden. I know God sees all sins as equal, but it’s hard to see things through God’s eyes. I keep reading verses about how God has a plan for my life and about how He will never stop forgiving me, but they don’t seem to register in my heart.
A few months ago I opened my Bible and found Luke 17:4. It says, “And if he sins against you 7 times a day, and 7 times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” This verse applies both to forgiving my friends and forgiving myself. It stood out to me because it was different. I had never read it before, although I had read Matthew 18 plenty of times.
I continue to try to allow God to work in my heart. While things don’t seem to register, I know God will always be there for me. As a step of faith, I often randomly open my Bible and start reading. I ask God to speak to me. Even if I don’t feel His presence or His forgiveness today, I ask Him to show Himself to me and to use me. I ask Him to take my bitterness away and to help me forgive myself and my friends.
Recently, I opened my Bible to Proverbs 24:10-11 which says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” Reading this, I said a short prayer to God:
Lord,
I know I am weak. Lord, be my strength. Do not let me fall again. Help me to forgive others and to forgive myself. I need You and You alone to deliver me from. Hold me back and keep me from death. Show me your ways. Help me to be careful what I say and to not let my emotions get the best of me. When I am tempted to show my frustration, I will go to you. I will love others as you love me. Thank you for being the light on my path. Please continue to shine in my life. Make me whole in You.
Your Daughter, Harmony
Monday, March 17, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Tom Cruise on Scientology
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/01/15/the-tom-cruise-recruitment-video-scientology-tried-to-hide/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol1I3E3-pHY
Sounds a lot like you could insert Christianity wherever they talk about scientology in most parts of this video. I'm sure Cruise leaves a lot out and I'm sure there's a lot they're not telling Cruise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol1I3E3-pHY
Sounds a lot like you could insert Christianity wherever they talk about scientology in most parts of this video. I'm sure Cruise leaves a lot out and I'm sure there's a lot they're not telling Cruise.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The Sociology of Fast Food: Starbucks
My mother loves flavored coffee. Naturally, she loves Starbucks. She often goes there to relax. She’ll bring a book and sit and read for an hour while drinking her coffee. I observed that this is a common practice at Starbucks. My partner Rachel Steiner and I went to Starbucks to observe the kind of people who go there, the way they interact with the employees, and what they do once they get their drinks.
Since I’m not a coffee person, I decided to buy a cup of hot chocolate. The servers didn’t think it strange that I was not buying coffee. They kindly asked me what I wanted. After they had charged me, they gave me my receipt and told me I had been randomly chosen to take a survey. If I took the survey, Starbucks would enter me in a drawing for prizes.
“Give us a good rating,” the woman at the counter teased.
“20 out of 10,” I replied.
“Come back and tell us if you win. We like to know when our customers win.”
There were two women taking orders. One of them was middle-aged and the other looked like she was in her twenties.
“What’s your name?” the older of the two asked. She needed to put my name on my cup.
“Harmony.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty name,” she replied.
Once Rachel and I got our drinks, we sat down in a corner near two men. The men were dressed professionally and were talking about business. It looked like they were having a business meeting or were two co-workers talking about work.
“It’s one of those deals… business managing. I’ll let him know,” one of the men said.
“I try to do what’s best for my clients,” the other man said.
“I emailed him the quote and am trying to meet with him, but he’s so darn busy he can’t fit me in right now.”
The younger woman who had served me and Rachel began to sweep the floor. I saw her coming near me and moved my feet to give her more room.
“Sorry about that,” she said as if it were a great trouble for me to move my feet.
The two female servers were very nice and interacted with customers, but the man who made the drinks did not talk much. Some customers were regulars and knew the two servers. One gentleman came in and the servers talked to him as if they had always known each other. Male customers often came in talking on the phone or otherwise task-oriented. They came in, bought their drink, and left. Many women also came and went but chatted with the employees more. Some students also came in to hang out and study.
Some customers sat quietly, drinking their coffee. Others talked with friends. Many just came, bought a drink, and left. A few people looked at the knick-knacks for sale. As I sat, listening to the relaxing jazz music that played and observing customers coming and going, I wanted to fall asleep. The environment was a comfortable one.
Since I’m not a coffee person, I decided to buy a cup of hot chocolate. The servers didn’t think it strange that I was not buying coffee. They kindly asked me what I wanted. After they had charged me, they gave me my receipt and told me I had been randomly chosen to take a survey. If I took the survey, Starbucks would enter me in a drawing for prizes.
“Give us a good rating,” the woman at the counter teased.
“20 out of 10,” I replied.
“Come back and tell us if you win. We like to know when our customers win.”
There were two women taking orders. One of them was middle-aged and the other looked like she was in her twenties.
“What’s your name?” the older of the two asked. She needed to put my name on my cup.
“Harmony.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty name,” she replied.
Once Rachel and I got our drinks, we sat down in a corner near two men. The men were dressed professionally and were talking about business. It looked like they were having a business meeting or were two co-workers talking about work.
“It’s one of those deals… business managing. I’ll let him know,” one of the men said.
“I try to do what’s best for my clients,” the other man said.
“I emailed him the quote and am trying to meet with him, but he’s so darn busy he can’t fit me in right now.”
The younger woman who had served me and Rachel began to sweep the floor. I saw her coming near me and moved my feet to give her more room.
“Sorry about that,” she said as if it were a great trouble for me to move my feet.
The two female servers were very nice and interacted with customers, but the man who made the drinks did not talk much. Some customers were regulars and knew the two servers. One gentleman came in and the servers talked to him as if they had always known each other. Male customers often came in talking on the phone or otherwise task-oriented. They came in, bought their drink, and left. Many women also came and went but chatted with the employees more. Some students also came in to hang out and study.
Some customers sat quietly, drinking their coffee. Others talked with friends. Many just came, bought a drink, and left. A few people looked at the knick-knacks for sale. As I sat, listening to the relaxing jazz music that played and observing customers coming and going, I wanted to fall asleep. The environment was a comfortable one.
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Sociology of Fast Food: Wendy's
I know that eating fast food too often harms your health, but I often wonder if there are other aspects of eating out that harm you. Does it cause you to spend less time with friends and family? Does it keep you so time-oriented that you never slow down to appreciate life? Visiting a nearby Wendy’s fast food restaurant, Rachel Steiner and I knew that what we were about to eat was unhealthy. We knew that if children get used to eating out every day, they will likely eat out every day when they grow older.
We wanted to observe the types of people who go to fast food restaurants and how customers and employees interacted. There was only one problem: There were only two people inside. Several people came to the Wendy’s but went through the drive-through instead of coming inside to eat. I’ve been in a hurry before and used the drive-through to get food, but sometimes I think I was just too lazy to go inside. It was cold out the day we went. I wondered if people were using the drive-through because they didn’t want to get out in the cold weather to go inside.
I wasn’t very hungry, so I only ordered a medium French fry and asked for a cup of water. The cashier stared at me in disbelief and asked, “That’s all?”
“They must get a lot of overeaters here,” I thought to myself, “or maybe he wonders why I bothered to come inside for such a small order.”
“That’s all,” I answered.
The cashier hadn’t been kind to me. He had asked what I wanted and charged me. He seemed task-oriented instead of customer-oriented. There were no women working there at the time.Taking our food, Rachel and I sat down near two girls, the only other customers in the restaurant. They were not talking. They sat, eating their food in silence. It reminded me of the many times I’ve eaten out with my mother. We go out for dinner often to places like Wendy’s and Olive Garden. We often go because we don’t feel like cooking our own meal, not because we want to spend time together. We order our meal, read a book while we wait for our food, and eat when our food comes.
My mother did teach me one thing about eating out: Always treat your servers with loving care. Her mother worked as a waitress. Because of this, my mother gained an appreciation for what workers at restaurants do. She has passed this appreciation on to me. With little to observe at Wendy’s, Rachel and I began to talk about good service and tipping. I decided that no matter how badly an employee may serve me, I can never know their reason and should always leave a tip with a good attitude. Unfortunately, fast food restaurants don’t allow you to tip.
Upbeat, contemporary music played. The chairs were stiff and the tables were sticky. I did not feel comfortable or relaxed. Rachel and I waited for thirty minutes before leaving, but no one else came in and the cashiers didn’t talk amongst themselves. All had been quiet.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Fun in the Form of a Slide
I was there strictly for the yearbook. Camera in hand, I took pictures of the Sadie Hawkins event at my high school. My expectations, however, fell sideways and tumbled onto the floor. My peers looked at me the way celebrities look at paparazzi. I loved taking pictures, but they hated having their pictures taken. Fortunately, this night, something else was about to lure me: fun. It came in the form of an inflatable slide. I looked at that slide and it baited and reeled me in. Our worldly desires often mislead us.
The slide’s design allowed two people to go down it at once. Who would go down it with me? My drama teachers’ wife, Mrs. Anderson, stood nearby. She made a good candidate. One problem existed, however, that we failed to recognize: We were both just a tad overweight.
First, Mrs. Anderson climbed to the top of the slide. Then I followed. As I neared the top, I began to have trouble climbing the slide. My feet began slipping off the ladder.
“Help me, Mrs. Anderson, help me!” I cried out.
She leaned to help me. Our combined weight flipped the slide over onto its side. I felt like a tree as the lumberjack calls “timber!” I screamed. She laughed. We tumbled onto the floor and rolled about on top of each other.
While most people use “laugh out loud” (LOL) or “rolling on the floor laughing” (ROTFL) as figures of speech, that night, I literally rolled on the floor, laughing. Mrs. Anderson never let me forget that night. She told everyone she knew about it and whenever I see her she exclaims, “Help me, Mrs. Anderson, help me!” We learned that slide cometh before a fall.
The slide’s design allowed two people to go down it at once. Who would go down it with me? My drama teachers’ wife, Mrs. Anderson, stood nearby. She made a good candidate. One problem existed, however, that we failed to recognize: We were both just a tad overweight.
First, Mrs. Anderson climbed to the top of the slide. Then I followed. As I neared the top, I began to have trouble climbing the slide. My feet began slipping off the ladder.
“Help me, Mrs. Anderson, help me!” I cried out.
She leaned to help me. Our combined weight flipped the slide over onto its side. I felt like a tree as the lumberjack calls “timber!” I screamed. She laughed. We tumbled onto the floor and rolled about on top of each other.
While most people use “laugh out loud” (LOL) or “rolling on the floor laughing” (ROTFL) as figures of speech, that night, I literally rolled on the floor, laughing. Mrs. Anderson never let me forget that night. She told everyone she knew about it and whenever I see her she exclaims, “Help me, Mrs. Anderson, help me!” We learned that slide cometh before a fall.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Book Review: How to be Heard in Heaven
HOW TO BE HEARD IN HEAVENBy Eddie Smith
Bethany House, 0764203924, PB, 172 pages, $14.99
In How to be Heard in Heaven, Eddie Smith reminds readers, “as long as we whine to God about our problems, we’ll see nothing. Begin to celebrate God’s answer, and He will show it to you” (p 130).
Smith explores prayer as an intimate relationship with Christ wherein we acknowledge God’s power and submit to His will. We should trust God to provide and should become expectant prayer warriors, praying as if God has already answered us.
Smith uses simple stories, concepts, and verses to support his ideas. His ideas are refreshingly different from those in typical books on prayer. He covers thought-provoking concepts with easy-to-understand language. Smith also discusses controversial aspects such as healing and miracles. Occasionally you have to read something several times to understand it, but most of the book is an easy read. How to be Heard in Heaven fits church libraries best because Smith writes to mature teenagers and adults who want to further their relationship with Christ.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Review - 10 MPH: A Segway Documentary
I can't imagine how much money and how much effort it would take to ride a segway across the US. Can you believe someone actually did it? Of course, he did it with his friends riding behind in a car, but still, how awesome would it be to go across the country in slow motion at 10 miles per hour!Two men quit their jobs and headed for Seattle, where they would start their long segway journey. They dealt with financial problems along the way. They had to find sponsors because they did not have jobs to support the trip. They stayed in hotels, in the homes of strangers, and in their car. They drove through rain and through snow. Finally, they reached Boston where they arrived to applause and balloons. The two men made a documentary about this trip called "10 MPH."
Last night, I watched this documentary. Overall, it was somewhat boring. It kept going on and on with nothing to add oomph to the film. However, the concept of riding a segway across the US kept me interested. The film includes interviews with people the men met along the way as well as interview with news channels.
The men also faced challenges along the way. I yelled at the screen of my TV as an arrogant police officer pulled the men and their friends over for driving too slow. The men also had to change the batteries of their segways frequently. They planned on going 60 miles per day, which would require at least 6 battery changes per day. One pair of segway batteries will get you anywhere from 10 to 20 miles on a charge.
I enjoyed the scenery the film showed. The men passed through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on their trip as well as through several cities. What I did not enjoy was the language. The film was very down to earth and realistic (it did not seem scripted at all), but the men who took the journey used distasteful language frequently throughout the film including the s and f word.
Despite its negative sides, the film was informative and interesting. I recommend it to anyone who can handle the language and who is interested in segways
You can explore the documentary's website here: http://www.10mph.com/
Friday, December 14, 2007
A Bible Quiz
I found this quiz through http://msp31wannabe.blogspot.com/2007/12/something-fun-quiz.html
You know the Bible 98%!
Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes
Thursday, December 13, 2007
An Extra Hand: How I Got My Segway Tire Off the Segway
God is so amazing! When I'm in the tightest pinch, He always works things out for me! He waits for me to totally freak out and then reminds me that I need Him. Then, he solves the problem. Sometimes 
He does it in an unexpected way, as well. Today I put my segway tire back on my segway. This afternoon, I realized the other tire was flat. I began to freak out. I tried to remove it so I could pump it up, but couldn't figure out how to do it. I tried to pump it up while it was still on the segway and that didn't work. I called my dad to try to figure out how to use the tool to remove the segway. I scratched and hurt myself. I broke a nail! I cried. I whin
ed. I was exhausted. I had quite a work out! But then, I decided to give it one last try. I started to try to unscrew the screws the opposite way I had been
trying and it worked! It worked a lot easier than I thought it would work! I'm not very strong, so it was as if God had given me an extra hand! I pumped it up, and at first the air didn't seem to stay in the tire. I kept trying, however, and now it's full of air (15-20 psi)! Now I'm waiting to see if the air leaks out. If it doesn't, my segway, Brooklyn Segway Wheeler, will be officially fixed!!!
P.S. This is a reminder to post on the following topics: 1. My trip to Chicago and 2. Those times that we'll never forgive ourselves for and 3. A review of Harry Potter 5Harry Potter 5
I though since Harry Potter 5 came out this week I would repost my review on the film.
The fifth film has less of a plot to it and very little mystery. The book builds more on Harry's visions that lead him to go to the Hall of Prophecies, but the movie, with very little time, must choose what is most important to the film. I am happy with what writers and directors chose to keep. In this film you see very little of Harry's friends and professors and lots of Harry. You will find that the development of Harry's character in this film will become very important in the sixth movie. While the fifth installment lacks mystery, it lays the foundation for future installments. Harry deals with his dark side and must choose whether to give in or stand up to evil.
Part of Harry learning to stand up for himself comes from his experience with Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic. Too proud to admit Voldemart has returned, the Ministry turns to lies and deception to keep up their reputation. They take over Hogwarts in the form of Professor Dolores Umbridge, who tidies things up by enforcing harsh rules, firing some questionable professors, and preventing the students from practicing spells. In response, students form their own secret society where Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Death Eaters, or Voldemort's followers. Harry grows as he teaches them, but still struggles with teenage hormones. He gains his first kiss with Cho Chang. On top of this, he still does not know what to do about his violent emotions. He says he's angry all the time and isolates himself from his friends. Luna Lovegood reminds him of the importance of community in fending off our foes. By the end of the film, Harry has a better idea of who he is as a person and of what his purpose is in life. Although it has been mentioned in past films, (spoiler alert) he finally understands that he has something Voldemort will never have: love and friendship. He chooses the good and pushes Voldemort out of his mind. Voldemort leans over Harry and whispers, "You will lose." The Ministry walks in and there's no denying the truth any longer.
David Yates directs the film for his first Harry Potter flick and I have to say I really enjoyed it. While the third film was my favorite, I did not like the direction of "The Prisoner of Azkaban." I would not mind the original director of the Potter films returning, but I also dislike the director of the fourth film. The sixth film should be interesting. I did not like the fifth book much, but loved the movie. I love the fourth book, but hated the fourth movie. I wonder what my impression will be of the sixth movie. The sixth movie is the beginning of the end of the series and cleans off looses ends from the fifth film. It will be important that it is done well and that parts of the book left out are tastefully chosen. One thing's for sure, I hope they bring back Nicholas Hooper as the composer. "Order" has the most beautiful and fulfilling soundtrack out of all the films. It builds off the original soundtrack in small amounts, but contains mostly new material that really connects with characters and events in the film. I highly recommend it. The acting in the film is also worth mentioning. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have grown so much in their abilities; it's hard not to like them. Newbie’s also do not disappoint. Imelda Staunton is ironically wicked as the cat loving, pink wearing Dolores Umbridge and Evanna Lynch's calm, strangely pitched voice adds character to the role of Luna Lovegood. It really is the best Potter film yet. Helena Bonham Carter also joins the cast as Bellatrix Lestrange. Considering how few lines she has she portrays a lot about her character just by body language and costume.
I found extra meaning in this film because I recently read a book called "Looking for God in Harry Potter" by John Granger. Reading this book and thinking more about the plot lines I found three main Christian elements in the story of this film:
1. Community. Harry tries to go it on his own, but finds he can't. Luna Lovegood reminds him that his friends provide support and loving care to him, encouraging him in his fight against evil, not to mention his fights against his own hormones. In the end, it is the memory of this love and friendship that enables Harry to say no to Voldemort. Likewise, we as Christians have many battles to face. We find support in community. We pray for each other and treat each other as we wish to be treated. We find that we all have a part to play in the building up of the church and no individual God-given gift can accomplish anything on its own. We also find community in the Order of the Phoenix, which bands together to fight Voldemort, as well as in Dumbledore's Army, the group of students Harry secretly teaches when Umbridge forbids the practice of magic. Interestingly enough, throughout history the phoenix has been a symbol used for Christ. Dumbledore also stands as a God-like father figure.
2. Life after death. Harry hears voices coming from the archway that Sirius disappears into at death. From this we gather that there is life after death and we always have something to hope for. Luna Lovegood tells Harry at the end of the film that things have a way of coming back to us in unexpected ways.
3. Good vs. Evil. Throughout the film, Harry struggles with the possibility that he could become just like Voldemort. A dark side in Harry begins to rise. He questions Sirius, asking why he feels so angry and what exactly the implications of his anger are. Both Sirius and Dumbledore indicate to Harry that everyone has both good and evil in them, it is which side they choose to act upon that matters. As Christians, we find the same thing true with our hearts. We all have a sinful nature that came with the fall. We can't get rid of our fleshly tendencies, but we can choose to say no to the temptation when it comes. It won't stop coming, we can still say no. Satan will try to attack our minds telling us that we, too, will "lose," but with God's help we can do anything. Once you decide to accept Christ, you belong to Him and Satan cannot take your soul. All he can do is try his best to keep you from bringing others to Christ. We all have the potential to do evil, but it is our choices that matter because God gave us free will.
So, I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I am a Christian. No that is not redundant or contradictory. Harry Potter is a great story that we all can learn from. You'll find that the fifth Harry Potter film will fill you up with a lot to digest. Not just the great special effects (I especially like the transitions, dueling scene, and newspaper headlines) and great acting, but the morals and the continuation of a great story worth watching over and over again.
The fifth film has less of a plot to it and very little mystery. The book builds more on Harry's visions that lead him to go to the Hall of Prophecies, but the movie, with very little time, must choose what is most important to the film. I am happy with what writers and directors chose to keep. In this film you see very little of Harry's friends and professors and lots of Harry. You will find that the development of Harry's character in this film will become very important in the sixth movie. While the fifth installment lacks mystery, it lays the foundation for future installments. Harry deals with his dark side and must choose whether to give in or stand up to evil.
Part of Harry learning to stand up for himself comes from his experience with Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic. Too proud to admit Voldemart has returned, the Ministry turns to lies and deception to keep up their reputation. They take over Hogwarts in the form of Professor Dolores Umbridge, who tidies things up by enforcing harsh rules, firing some questionable professors, and preventing the students from practicing spells. In response, students form their own secret society where Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Death Eaters, or Voldemort's followers. Harry grows as he teaches them, but still struggles with teenage hormones. He gains his first kiss with Cho Chang. On top of this, he still does not know what to do about his violent emotions. He says he's angry all the time and isolates himself from his friends. Luna Lovegood reminds him of the importance of community in fending off our foes. By the end of the film, Harry has a better idea of who he is as a person and of what his purpose is in life. Although it has been mentioned in past films, (spoiler alert) he finally understands that he has something Voldemort will never have: love and friendship. He chooses the good and pushes Voldemort out of his mind. Voldemort leans over Harry and whispers, "You will lose." The Ministry walks in and there's no denying the truth any longer.
David Yates directs the film for his first Harry Potter flick and I have to say I really enjoyed it. While the third film was my favorite, I did not like the direction of "The Prisoner of Azkaban." I would not mind the original director of the Potter films returning, but I also dislike the director of the fourth film. The sixth film should be interesting. I did not like the fifth book much, but loved the movie. I love the fourth book, but hated the fourth movie. I wonder what my impression will be of the sixth movie. The sixth movie is the beginning of the end of the series and cleans off looses ends from the fifth film. It will be important that it is done well and that parts of the book left out are tastefully chosen. One thing's for sure, I hope they bring back Nicholas Hooper as the composer. "Order" has the most beautiful and fulfilling soundtrack out of all the films. It builds off the original soundtrack in small amounts, but contains mostly new material that really connects with characters and events in the film. I highly recommend it. The acting in the film is also worth mentioning. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have grown so much in their abilities; it's hard not to like them. Newbie’s also do not disappoint. Imelda Staunton is ironically wicked as the cat loving, pink wearing Dolores Umbridge and Evanna Lynch's calm, strangely pitched voice adds character to the role of Luna Lovegood. It really is the best Potter film yet. Helena Bonham Carter also joins the cast as Bellatrix Lestrange. Considering how few lines she has she portrays a lot about her character just by body language and costume.
I found extra meaning in this film because I recently read a book called "Looking for God in Harry Potter" by John Granger. Reading this book and thinking more about the plot lines I found three main Christian elements in the story of this film:
1. Community. Harry tries to go it on his own, but finds he can't. Luna Lovegood reminds him that his friends provide support and loving care to him, encouraging him in his fight against evil, not to mention his fights against his own hormones. In the end, it is the memory of this love and friendship that enables Harry to say no to Voldemort. Likewise, we as Christians have many battles to face. We find support in community. We pray for each other and treat each other as we wish to be treated. We find that we all have a part to play in the building up of the church and no individual God-given gift can accomplish anything on its own. We also find community in the Order of the Phoenix, which bands together to fight Voldemort, as well as in Dumbledore's Army, the group of students Harry secretly teaches when Umbridge forbids the practice of magic. Interestingly enough, throughout history the phoenix has been a symbol used for Christ. Dumbledore also stands as a God-like father figure.
2. Life after death. Harry hears voices coming from the archway that Sirius disappears into at death. From this we gather that there is life after death and we always have something to hope for. Luna Lovegood tells Harry at the end of the film that things have a way of coming back to us in unexpected ways.
3. Good vs. Evil. Throughout the film, Harry struggles with the possibility that he could become just like Voldemort. A dark side in Harry begins to rise. He questions Sirius, asking why he feels so angry and what exactly the implications of his anger are. Both Sirius and Dumbledore indicate to Harry that everyone has both good and evil in them, it is which side they choose to act upon that matters. As Christians, we find the same thing true with our hearts. We all have a sinful nature that came with the fall. We can't get rid of our fleshly tendencies, but we can choose to say no to the temptation when it comes. It won't stop coming, we can still say no. Satan will try to attack our minds telling us that we, too, will "lose," but with God's help we can do anything. Once you decide to accept Christ, you belong to Him and Satan cannot take your soul. All he can do is try his best to keep you from bringing others to Christ. We all have the potential to do evil, but it is our choices that matter because God gave us free will.
So, I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I am a Christian. No that is not redundant or contradictory. Harry Potter is a great story that we all can learn from. You'll find that the fifth Harry Potter film will fill you up with a lot to digest. Not just the great special effects (I especially like the transitions, dueling scene, and newspaper headlines) and great acting, but the morals and the continuation of a great story worth watching over and over again.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Ice
It's raining today, but it's been icy and it's supposed to get icy again. I love the ice, I just hope it doesn't cancel my flight home on Friday! Anyway, The link below will take you to a great video with pictures of ice. You can also go to my photo site: http://declarationphotos.blogspot.com/ for some of my ice photos.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid823425597/bclid877032950/bctid1341032239
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid823425597/bclid877032950/bctid1341032239
Saturday, December 8, 2007
In the Mood for a Good Scare?
My roommate and I somehow started looking at videos about subliminal messages in Disney cartoon movies and in advertisement. What we found were these:
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Worship
I'm working on a term paper about worship styles and how worship should be planned to meet the congregation's needs (what styles they like), but most of all still focus on God. Any comments would be appreciated. I've posted a few comments on worship based on other blogs at my other blog if you are interested: http://confabremarks.blogspot.com/
Update on Brooklyn Segway Wheeler
For those of you who don't know, I named my segway Brooklyn Segway Wheeler. Thus the title of this post.
I haven't posted much about my segway lately because, unfortunately, Brooklyn is still extremely sick and disabled at the moment. That is, she has no right wheel. Her wheel is currently in the mail on its way back to me. I took it home to fix the flat tire and now my parents are sending it back to me. At least this is happening at a time when its too cold to be outside. It's in the 30s and 40s outside right now. Having no segway to journey out on is also preparing me for going home without Brooklyn. I can't bring her on the plane, so I will be segwayless for a month and a half.
In the mean time, I take joy in looking back at old memories of Brooklyn, like the time a middle-aged man turned to an elderly woman and said, "That's what you need!"
I haven't posted much about my segway lately because, unfortunately, Brooklyn is still extremely sick and disabled at the moment. That is, she has no right wheel. Her wheel is currently in the mail on its way back to me. I took it home to fix the flat tire and now my parents are sending it back to me. At least this is happening at a time when its too cold to be outside. It's in the 30s and 40s outside right now. Having no segway to journey out on is also preparing me for going home without Brooklyn. I can't bring her on the plane, so I will be segwayless for a month and a half.
In the mean time, I take joy in looking back at old memories of Brooklyn, like the time a middle-aged man turned to an elderly woman and said, "That's what you need!"
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Prejudices in Society
God created all things. Compared to His glory and the wonder of His creation, we are nothing. Yet, He chose us to have dominion over the earth. We are His stewards, though we do not deserve it. He loves us enough to put all He has made under our hands and feet. We are not biological machines. Psalm 22:9-10 says, “Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.” God created us for a purpose and we should strive to follow His purpose for our lives. We are uniquely made. He knew us before we were conceived. Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
The Declaration of Independence says, “all men are created equal.” God created man in His own image. He made every person unique and special and every person equally has the chance to accept His gift of salvation. We should not judge others based on their ethnic or racial background because God created people of various colors, all unique and all equal in His eyes.
Some people tend to base their opinions of ethnic or racial groups on a select few who gave a bad impression. I once assumed that all Mexicans were bad and thought that the United States should not allow them to become such a large part of our society. I thought that if illegal immigrants were inconsiderate of our culture and came to the United States only for the free benefits, then all Mexicans were that way. I’ve caught myself thinking wrong thoughts about African Americans as well. I did not like that they received special benefits because of their race. Also, I grouped many of them as poor people who were too lazy to work their way up in society.
God has slowly brought me to see that my prejudices are wrong. I am too quick to judge and often allow my prejudices to get in my way. Not only do I judge too quickly based on race, ethnicity, and looks, but I also tend to form quick opinions on first sight of a person. I’ve learned that once I get past my judgmental views, I can see more than the outside of a person. John 7:24 says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." I still have prejudices, but I try to throw them out and replace them with God’s point of view. Human nature does not allow us to become completely righteous. Because of this, we have no right to judge others. We all have sinned. Romans 2:1 says, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” As Christians, we should reach out to others instead of judging them. The ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord. Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.”
Genesis 3:16-18 says,
To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." '
To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it.' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”
While I believe in equality of the sexes, I also believe that each sex has limitations. Man and woman were created one way, but because of the Fall, woman was placed under man’s authority. Woman has more strength for giving birth and man has more strength for work. Woman desires man and man rules over woman. Many women manage to make their way to the top, but because of the Fall, most have trouble getting there.
Many people tend to judge people based on their sex rather than on their race or ethnicity. God created all men equal, but He also created them unique. No two people are the same. He knows the sex of a child before its birth. He also created males to differ from females. Each has their own characteristics that the other does not possess. Together, the two sexes make a whole. Marriage should be between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, today, many women are seen as sex objects or airheads. Many believe in the survival of the fittest, and to men that means dominion over women.
We live in a selfish world. People focus on self-gratification instead of on the greater good. Because of this, many overeat, spend too much time playing video games, or live sedentary lives as couch potatoes. When people feel restless, they look to the world for fulfillment and entertainment. When stressed, people buy things or overeat. I have three weaknesses: DVD’s, CD’s, and food. I overeat and often buy DVD’s or CD’s I don’t need.
The world cannot fill the holes within people. As Christians, we find fulfillment in Christ. We should spend time with God. The world makes it easy for us to get caught up in what we are doing and to forget to praise God for what He has given us. We need to remember to take time out for God. People are reduced to race, ethnicity, sex, and self. We must remind society that these prejudices and activities are not all that matter in life. We should glorify God in all that we do. This means we should not allow our prejudices and worldly activities to control us.
The Declaration of Independence says, “all men are created equal.” God created man in His own image. He made every person unique and special and every person equally has the chance to accept His gift of salvation. We should not judge others based on their ethnic or racial background because God created people of various colors, all unique and all equal in His eyes.
Some people tend to base their opinions of ethnic or racial groups on a select few who gave a bad impression. I once assumed that all Mexicans were bad and thought that the United States should not allow them to become such a large part of our society. I thought that if illegal immigrants were inconsiderate of our culture and came to the United States only for the free benefits, then all Mexicans were that way. I’ve caught myself thinking wrong thoughts about African Americans as well. I did not like that they received special benefits because of their race. Also, I grouped many of them as poor people who were too lazy to work their way up in society.
God has slowly brought me to see that my prejudices are wrong. I am too quick to judge and often allow my prejudices to get in my way. Not only do I judge too quickly based on race, ethnicity, and looks, but I also tend to form quick opinions on first sight of a person. I’ve learned that once I get past my judgmental views, I can see more than the outside of a person. John 7:24 says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." I still have prejudices, but I try to throw them out and replace them with God’s point of view. Human nature does not allow us to become completely righteous. Because of this, we have no right to judge others. We all have sinned. Romans 2:1 says, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” As Christians, we should reach out to others instead of judging them. The ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord. Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.”
Genesis 3:16-18 says,
To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." '
To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it.' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”
While I believe in equality of the sexes, I also believe that each sex has limitations. Man and woman were created one way, but because of the Fall, woman was placed under man’s authority. Woman has more strength for giving birth and man has more strength for work. Woman desires man and man rules over woman. Many women manage to make their way to the top, but because of the Fall, most have trouble getting there.
Many people tend to judge people based on their sex rather than on their race or ethnicity. God created all men equal, but He also created them unique. No two people are the same. He knows the sex of a child before its birth. He also created males to differ from females. Each has their own characteristics that the other does not possess. Together, the two sexes make a whole. Marriage should be between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, today, many women are seen as sex objects or airheads. Many believe in the survival of the fittest, and to men that means dominion over women.
We live in a selfish world. People focus on self-gratification instead of on the greater good. Because of this, many overeat, spend too much time playing video games, or live sedentary lives as couch potatoes. When people feel restless, they look to the world for fulfillment and entertainment. When stressed, people buy things or overeat. I have three weaknesses: DVD’s, CD’s, and food. I overeat and often buy DVD’s or CD’s I don’t need.
The world cannot fill the holes within people. As Christians, we find fulfillment in Christ. We should spend time with God. The world makes it easy for us to get caught up in what we are doing and to forget to praise God for what He has given us. We need to remember to take time out for God. People are reduced to race, ethnicity, sex, and self. We must remind society that these prejudices and activities are not all that matter in life. We should glorify God in all that we do. This means we should not allow our prejudices and worldly activities to control us.
New Award!
Thanks to http://mumsdadschildren.blogspot.com/2007/11/here-we-go-again.html, who has given me this award! I now pass it on to the following blogs:
http://thewhatifwomen.blogspot.com/
http://holyghostspeaksplainly.blogspot.com/
http://touching-world.blogspot.com/Sunday, November 25, 2007
What's your form of worship?
http://www.sacchurch.org/action-steps/sacred_pathways.htm
Harmony -Based on your responses to the Sacred Pathways Assessment, your temperament favors a Naturalist approach to worship.
Intellectual
23
Contemplative
21
Enthusiast
18
Caregiver
19
Activist
13
Ascetic
24
Traditionalist
14
Sensate
17
Naturalist
28
The information contained in this online assessment has been borrowed from the following book:"Sacred Pathways" by Gary L. Thomas© Copyright Zondervan Publishing, 2002click here to purchase this and other books by Gary Thomas, from Amazon.com
Summary of spiritual temperaments:
Intellectual - Loving God with the Mind:These Christians live in the world of concepts. They may feel closest to God when they first understand something new about Him.
Contemplative - Loving God through Adoration:These Christians seek to love God with the purest, deepest, and brightest love imaginable. They want nothing more than some privacy and quiet to gaze upon the face of their heavenly Lover and give all of themselves to God.
Enthusiast - Loving God with Mystery & Celebration:Excitement and mystery in worship is the spiritual lifeblood of enthusiasts. They are inspired by joyful celebration; cheerleaders for God and the Christian life. They don't want to just know concepts, but to experience them, to feel them, and to be moved by them. They like to let go and experience God on the precipice of excitement and awe.
Caregiver - Loving God by Loving Others:Caregivers serve God by serving others. They often claim to see Christ in the poor and needy, and their faith is built up by interacting with other people. Caring for others recharges a caregiver's batteries.
Activist - Loving God Through Confrontation:These Christians define worship as standing against evil and calling sinners to repentance. They are energized more by interaction with others, even in conflict, than by being alone or in small groups. Activists are spiritually nourished through the battle.
Ascetic - Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity:Ascetics want nothing more than to be left alone in prayer. Let there be nothing to distract them--no pictures, no loud music--and leave them alone to pray in silence and simplicity.
Traditionalist - Loving God Through Ritual and Symbol:Traditionalists are fed by what are often termed the historic dimensions of faith: rituals, symbols, sacraments, and sacrifice. They tend to have a disciplined life of faith and have a need for ritual and structure.
Sensate - Loving God with the Senses:Sensate Christians want to be lost in the awe, beauty, and splendor of God. They are drawn particularly to the liturgical, the majestic, the grand. They want to be filled with sights, sounds, and smells that overwhelm them. The five senses are God's most effective inroad to their hearts.
Naturalist - Loving God Out of Doors:The naturalist seeks to leave the formal architecture and the padded pews to enter an entirely new "cathedral", a place that God himself has built: the out-of-doors.
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Struggle Between Pen and Pride
“This girl at school loves the Lord and is awesome at writing,” Shanna Cirka had written. My pulse quickened.
The questionnaire had said, “Choose one friend and write a paragraph about him or her.” The yearbook staff had distributed questionnaires to students, and we were using quotes from them throughout the yearbook. I wondered whether anyone had written about me. I had no friends. Flipping through several questionnaires, Shanna’s had caught my attention.
Was she talking about me? No. I barely knew her, and I wasn’t the best writer at my school.
Shanna continued, “When you read her stories they come alive. They sweep you away. This girl may not be the most popular girl there is, but she’s very strong.”
I’m not that strong.
“I pray that one day people may see the beauty in Harmony Wheeler’s heart.”
How could she write this about me? Could she really know how I felt? I hated that I had no friends and was not popular; but here she was, a friend I didn’t know I had, writing such things about me. I knew then that I wanted to become a writer. I wanted to touch people such as Shanna, and I wanted people to touch me the way Shanna had touched me.
As time went on doubts entered my mind. My freshman year in college I attended a school in New York City. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write or whether I wanted to write at all. I told myself that the city had many opportunities and that I would learn what to write about, even if I didn’t learn how to write.
Living in the city, I attended many Broadway shows and operas. As my love for music grew, I wondered why God hadn’t gifted me in performance. Finally, I realized that God had given me a love of theatre so I could write about acting and singing. I devoured reviews and read about opera and musical theatre. I saw that sexual humor and bad language helped to sell many shows, so I knew that the world needed greater Christian influences.
Every time I stray from writing, God brings me back. I run, but He pulls. I argue, but He wins. God used Shanna’s note to shove my talent right into my face, but I still doubted my abilities. When I realized I would never sing for a living, I resisted God. In New York, God showed me that I could write about things I love.
I often doubt my abilities as a writer, but then I remember the ways God has used writing in my life. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God started something good in my writing and will continue to develop my talents. I am a writer. Music is my passion, but writing is my life, and God is my everything.
The questionnaire had said, “Choose one friend and write a paragraph about him or her.” The yearbook staff had distributed questionnaires to students, and we were using quotes from them throughout the yearbook. I wondered whether anyone had written about me. I had no friends. Flipping through several questionnaires, Shanna’s had caught my attention.
Was she talking about me? No. I barely knew her, and I wasn’t the best writer at my school.
Shanna continued, “When you read her stories they come alive. They sweep you away. This girl may not be the most popular girl there is, but she’s very strong.”
I’m not that strong.
“I pray that one day people may see the beauty in Harmony Wheeler’s heart.”
How could she write this about me? Could she really know how I felt? I hated that I had no friends and was not popular; but here she was, a friend I didn’t know I had, writing such things about me. I knew then that I wanted to become a writer. I wanted to touch people such as Shanna, and I wanted people to touch me the way Shanna had touched me.
As time went on doubts entered my mind. My freshman year in college I attended a school in New York City. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write or whether I wanted to write at all. I told myself that the city had many opportunities and that I would learn what to write about, even if I didn’t learn how to write.
Living in the city, I attended many Broadway shows and operas. As my love for music grew, I wondered why God hadn’t gifted me in performance. Finally, I realized that God had given me a love of theatre so I could write about acting and singing. I devoured reviews and read about opera and musical theatre. I saw that sexual humor and bad language helped to sell many shows, so I knew that the world needed greater Christian influences.
Every time I stray from writing, God brings me back. I run, but He pulls. I argue, but He wins. God used Shanna’s note to shove my talent right into my face, but I still doubted my abilities. When I realized I would never sing for a living, I resisted God. In New York, God showed me that I could write about things I love.
I often doubt my abilities as a writer, but then I remember the ways God has used writing in my life. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God started something good in my writing and will continue to develop my talents. I am a writer. Music is my passion, but writing is my life, and God is my everything.
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