Author Archives: MzEllen

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First, let's define "blasphemy": from Answers.com

    1. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity.
    2. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.

What brought this question on?

Paula, from Words of a Fether, wrote on a set of sample wedding vows from Bible.org, saying,

Especially repulsive is no. 12.

Here is the text of the sample:

Male

I love you, ______, and I thank the Lord for the love that has bound our hearts and lives together in spiritual fellowship of marriage. I will love, honor and cherish you always. As we enter upon the privileges and joys of life's most holy relationship, and begin together the great adventure of building a Christian home, I will look to Christ as Head of our home as I have looked to Him as Head of the Church. I will love you in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy, and will be true to you by God's grace, trusting in Him, so long as we both shall live.

Female

I love you, ______, and I thank the Lord for the love that has bound our hearts and lives together in spiritual fellowship of marriage. I will love, honor, cherish and obey you always. As we enter upon the privileges and joys of life's most holy relationship and begin together the great adventure of building a Christian home, I will look to you as head of our home as I have looked to Christ as Head of the Church. I will love you in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy, and will be true to you by God's grace, trusting in Him, so long as we both shall live.

Paula's take:

Sorry, bible.org, but that makes the husband a blasphemer (taking the place of Christ in the life of another person) and the wife an idolater (looking to a man instead of Christ). This abominable trend in the churches has infected influential leaders in the Christian community, and it’s spreading rapidly. Those men love to “keep their place” and to be “head over” someone, especially women. We women are expected to spend our lives stroking their delicate egos, making them little gods over us, and believing it’s God’s divine order. (the bolded text is my emphasis).

My take, let's compare Scripture to the sample vow (just the "repulsive" part):

(Scripture):  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

(the vow): I will look to you as head of our home...

(Scripture):For the husband is the head of the wife...

(the vow): as I have looked to Christ as Head of the Church...

even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Scripture goes on: Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Paula called her post "Vows and Wows". I agree.

It's a "wow"...when wedding vows that reflect Scripture are called repulsive, blasphemy and idolatry.

I wonder if it would be blasphemy if the bride quoted (as her vow) Ephesians 5:22-24 directly from Scripture, the groom quoted (as his vow) verses 25-28 and the pastor quoted the rest?

I wonder....

Paula goes on about Bible.org and complementarian belief that a wife should submit to her own husband, as to the Lord, and as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands:

Now evangelicals can take their place beside Muslims, Jews (traditional rabbinical views), Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses in making women truly subhuman.

I repeat:  wow.

And I am truly saddened.

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snow men....and other snow sculptures...very "cool"...

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Children's Literature and Disability
This list of Resources You Can Use is intended to help parents and professionals identify books that are written about or include characters who have a disability. The list is grouped according to disability or issue (see list, above).

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AND...another good man goes down to race-baiting and smear-campaigning.

In Ron Paul's words (from 2002)

“The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity. In a free market, businesses that discriminate lose customers, goodwill, and valuable employees – while rational businesses flourish by choosing the most qualified employees and selling to all willing buyers. More importantly, in a free society every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Rather than looking to government to correct what is essentially a sin of the heart, we should understand that reducing racism requires a shift from group thinking to an emphasis on individualism.”

http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul68.html

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LOTS of weight watchers recipes

Joyce's Fine Cooking..

More (drv)...

Recipe Gold Mine...

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The word "mature" is used in the English Standard Version 8 times.

The first time is in the parable of the seeds.

Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

This is a lesson in how NOT to mature. Those people who are "choked" by the trials and tribulations of life, who are distracted by riches and pleasure; these do not mature.

In order to mature...keep your focus on the cross, follow the Word.

The second is 1 Corinthians 2: 6

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

Don't get sucked in by the "wisdom of this age". What is the direction that "culture" is moving? Should the church be moving in that same direction (this is not outward appearance, music style, etc).

Are our churches getting "squishy" on abortion? Some are and that is the wisdom of this age.

Are our churches getting soft on homosexuals in church leadership and/or gay marriage? Some are and that is the wisdom of this age.

Are our churches caving in on women in head leadership roles? If so, then they are caving to the wisdom of this age.

The wisdom of God is not the wisdom of this age and it is to the mature that the wisdom of God is imparted.

The third time (ESV) is in 1 Corinthians 14: 20

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

This passage speaks to the speaking of tongues in a worship situation...There is an order to worship, our God is not a God of confusion.

To teach and worship in a way that is against Scripture is to teach and worship in a way that is immature.

In issues of today (women in leadership, etc.) it seems that those who claim to be more mature (since Scripture does not tell us that women in leadership is the sign of maturity) may in fact be the ones who need to mature...

To be mature, follow Scripture in your worship and teaching...or maybe just as important, if you label others as immature because they do not worship and teach as you do, it may be time for a little self-examination.

The fourth time the word "mature" is used in Ephesians 4:13

...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

We see steadfastness in this passage. The mark of maturity is steadfastness. Clinging to the doctrines proven, the "Old, Old Story", shying away from "every wind of doctrine". Being steadfast in our doctrine, rather than running to those who are aligned with the wisdom of this age, is maturity.

To be mature, be steadfast according to Scripture

5) Philippians 3:15

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

  • In what way does Paul want us to think?
  • Look out for the dogs...the evildoers...those who seek righteousness by outward acts...
  • count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...
  • not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law...
  • having a righteousness which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith...
  • do not consider that you have made it your own...
  • forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead...
  • press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...
  • join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

What is this example that we are to imitate? Do not follow the wisdom of this age, keep your faith in Christ (not in your faith or in your works or in your own righteousness), submit to the authorities in your life, love one another.

To think in a mature way, read Paul and follow his example.

The sixth use of "mature" is in Colossians 1:28

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ...

In order to understand this maturity, we must look back to the warnings and teachings of Paul (see the above points)...to think like Paul, imitate Paul, teach and worship like Paul.

To be presented as mature, heed the warnings and teachings of Paul.

Number 7 is found in Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Whether he is praying that the Colossians stand mature, or prays for the trials that make them mature, I don't know. What I do know is that mature Christian needs, wants and asks for the prayers of others.

Why would we not? If it is pride that keeps us from baring our struggles, turning aside that pride will bring maturity...ditto if it is shame that prevents us.

Prayers of other Christians help to bring us to maturity.

The eigth time "mature" appears is in Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Discernment is a mark of maturity; the ability to know/distinguish good from evil. How do we learn this? By being in the Word! By seeking the meat of the Word, digging deep, studying to show yourself approved.

To be mature, be trained with constant practice to know right from wrong.

The Greek word used for "mature" appears many more times, translated as different things...but this post is already long...

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Continuing my "tradition"- an array of posts that struck me over the past week, posted on Monday (that's lunes in Spanish)
One dead blogger...Really...

What I don't want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends...I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It's not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn't hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn't bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose.

Read Andrew Olmsted's last post.

So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

and

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Ahh...tis the week before the last week before Christmas...

I just turned in a Spanish paper, I have a Education Psychology paper due on Monday, a final exam (Spanish) on Thursday - and (extra credit) I just found out that I can do a recitation for the equivalent of one test (I'm doing the Lord's Prayer).  I could conceivably bring my grade up to an A-...except that I have to be pretty good at pronunciation, and I'm not.

So the kids at work are getting weird (and will be until Christmas).

I have a final exam on Thursday night and surgery on Friday morning.

I'm a bit busy...

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In no discernible order:

  • for Godly leaders in my life
  • for God's hand on the leaders of the world, godly and ungodly
  • for my family; whether they be by blood, by marriage, by Christ or by love
  • for my home, cozy and warm
  • for the smell of the turkey (those who are familiar with anosmia know the significance of my ability to detect a faint whiff of turkey)
  • for the continued relative health of my parents
  • for the work God continues to do in my life
  • for the family Christmas, coming up just next week, with my parents here!
  • for life, liberty and freedom
  • for the work of Christ on the cross, the sovereignty of God, for salvation for those who believe
  • for my children; those living and those waiting for me
  • for my job and my ability to help
  • for my health
  • for my love

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Saturday, she was fine. Chased a moth even.

Sunday she sat on the stairs, hunched over and cried when I touched her.

This morning she was laying on her side in her bed over the heating register, crying when I pet her.

This afternoon she went to sleep.

Simone was about 16 years old and the most affectionate and cuddly cats I've owned. She was known (even among people who don't like cats) as "Sweet Simey". She consented to be worn as a hat by my son and stuffed into the front of his t-shirt. She slept with my daughter and Amanda doesn't remember life without her. Simey even liked little kids.

The trip to the vet was hard, but not as hard as seeing her hurt.

God created man in His image, we are the ones with souls. It is our job to take care of the earth and those that belong on this earth with us.
Animals don't fear death, they fear pain and Sweet Simey didn't deserve pain.

(The photo is from a time when she was fat, healthy, happy and very relaxed...)

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I'm reading a book by Thom Hartmann (it's a book I've had for years but don't remember the title and it's sitting in my desk at work). It questions ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder - with or without Hyperactivity) as a disability and looks at it through the screen of a personality type, or skills set.

I have an "official" diagnosis of ADD (inattentive); it gets me ritalin if I want it during exam weeks, although I have not used prescription meds in years. I do self-medicate with caffeine.

The prescriptions that work for those with this diagnosis? psycho-stimulants.

But wait...why would a stimulant work to slow down a person?

Here is the theory: There are a certain number of people who have a function in their body that releases less of a chemical than the body of the person living next door to them. (Do I remember the name? no, but the book is at work.) This chemical stimulates the nervous system.

So (the theory goes) I have less of this chemical running around in my body, so I feel less "stimulated". How would this affect the way I run my life?

How would a child sitting in a class for hours give him(or her)self stimulation. Impulsively jumping out of the seat? Pulling the hair of the nearest child? Bouncing legs, doodling, watching the birds fly by the window?

How would this play out in an adult life? Waiting until the last minute to write a paper, somehow liking the stress of the impending deadline? Careening down a hill on a piece of wood called a "snowboard"? Strapping a big piece of fabric to one's back and jumping out of an airplane?

"Normals" look at this behavior and say, "That person has a death wish." They are wrong.

We have a life wish. If you ask somebody at the bottom (or top) of a cliff after a rappel or climb, they will tell you that they feel alive.

Alive!

It is the desire for the feeling of "aliveness" that brings with it the urge for "high risk" behaviors, whether sports, exploration or sexual acts.

I have a "life wish" - I want to do new things. I want to experience the wind in my face, snow in my eyes, water in my ears. I want to feel the sun on my back as I climb, the cool of water in my face as I dive.
I want to experience danger, excitement, even fear. I want to feel the flash in my limbs as adrenalin shoots down to my fingertips and toes. These are the feelings that life is made of and I want to experience life.