Author Archives: MzEllen

Dr. Helen interviews Glenn Sacks (if you care about the bad rap that too many men get in today's legal system...)

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The "top 50" dystopian movies of all time...

I think I may start from the bottom and work my way through...

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Mark Dever on complementarianism.

Of course there are issues more central to the gospel than gender issues.  However, there may be no way the authority of Scripture is being undermined more quickly or more thoroughly in our day than through the hermenuetics of egalitarian readings of the Bible.  And when the authority of Scripture is undermined, the gospel will not long be acknowledged.  Therefore, love for God, the gospel, and future generations, demands the careful presentation and pressing of the complementarian position.

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I don't generally like war movies (a blast from the past), but this movie was striking. From the "other side", regardless of which side was right or wrong, the scene when the beach was invaded made me think about what the soldiers must have felt.

Many of these men were drafted; they were not there by choice (thinking of the one who left behind his pregnant wife).

The futility that they must have felt when they saw the massive numbers of ships that were landing and the seemingly endless stream of troops on the beach.

The flip side is the Americans; landing, facing the machine guns in the caves. The need to face the mountain side, with spurts of gunfire.

As a Christian, I can imagine myself in the place of the Americans.

I know the outcome. Christ has already won the battle. There are other Christians all around me who are fighting the same battle that I am.

Like the fire from the caves, the flaming darts from the evil one are raining down. It is a battle - my temptations are not your temptations, yet there are no temptations that are not unknown.

I can feel like the Japanese; I can give in, I can cave. Or I can live to fight another day.

The soldier who the other thought was there to "tattle", but was there because he was discharged from another service - I feel like that sometimes.

To me, this movie is less about war and more about humanity - the feelings of anger, futility, fear.

All of those are known to me.
This is a good movie; it made me think about humanity, about emotions, about fear and temptation. It is not about who was right and who was wrong. It's about what the men went through to get to where it ended up.
4 out of 5 stars.

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"A Greater Gift" -

A Greater Gift is a program of SERRV International, a nonprofit alternative trade and development organization. Our mission is to promote the social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by marketing their products in a just and direct manner.

I'm doing some of my Christmas shopping here...

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Okay...it's been a slow week...

Here is some music...

Rodrigo y Gabriela - this is some of my favorite walking music...also to study by...and ride on an airplane...etc...

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

It's been a while since I've participated in the Carnival of Beauty...but I'm here.

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First off: happy birthday to me!

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From Denny Burk:

6. If you have NOT pastored, then please just answer this question the best you can. What practical difference does this “Comp. vs. Ega.” thing make to a church member?

It makes all the difference in the world. When Jesus calls people to be His disciples, He’s not calling them as androgynous creatures. He calls them as male and female. A man’s role as a Christian husband is different than a woman’s role as a believing wife (Ephesians 5:21-33). A Christian husband will lead his family as Christ leads and “heads” His church, or else the husband is a disobedient disciple. A Christian wife will follow her husband’s leadership as the church follows Christ’s, or else she is a disobedient disciple. These two biblical principles alone have massive practical implications for the ordering of family life, for the raising of children, and for the continued health of marriages. Within the church, Complementarianism has enormous practical implications.

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People who have lived in three different centuries: (HT Dark Roasted Blend)

One man in this series of photos is a:

110 year 320 day-old American man of Native American, African American and Swedish descent — the 44th oldest living person in the world.

His father stood on the platform next to President Abraham Lincoln as Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. His father was the illegitimate son of Lincoln's Vice-President, Andrew Johnson, who became President after Lincoln's assassination.

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This is weird.  An "invisible" octopus that seems to appear out of nowhere...this earth that God created is amazing!

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More amazing creation...from the Hubble site.

Yes - I know.  It's "eye candy" - but the desktop folders for windows Vista are cool.  You can catch a glimpse of the photos that are in the folder.

(this is not a good photo, but considering the subject is about a 1/2 inch tall...)

Here is a photo of my "set up" - I got the new laptop, I have the huge monitor that was gifted to me (thank you!) and a mini-port.  I stick the laptop in the port - that's where all of the peripherals are plugged in.  So I can have a "panorama" desktop spread over both monitors (the laptop and the big one) and use the keyboard/mouse/etc. with minimal fuss.

You can see here that I've got wordpress on the big monitor and iTunes on the laptop - actually one "screen", but spread over two monitors with the windows side by side.  All I have to do in order to "go" is unplug the one thing.  Yes, I'm spoiled...but with the classes I have, and have coming up the portability will be very helpful.

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COMPUTER UPDATE:  I'm typing on the new laptop (Vista and all).  So far, all is well, but the thing came with Norton and Comcast gives me McAfee - so there's a bit of a conflict that I haven't taken care of yet.  But so far the my software is working.

HEALTH UPDATE:  Thank you for the prayers - part of me knows this is really minor, but the part that doesn't know the future frets... The surgical nurse has to talk to the doctor before they'll schedule.  The nurse said "D&C", which I didn't know was on the agenda.  I don't like generals, but if that's what it takes, I'll make sure I take an extra day off.

CAT UPDATE:  It took about 3 shots before Henry figured out that "insulin bottle = canned cat food".  Manda was out so I gave him the injection last night - as soon as I took the insulin bottle out of the fridge, the cat was next to the cupboard with the cat food...
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My new laptop is on its way...with the wrong operating system. It comes with Vista, NOT the XP Pro that I ordered (and paid extra for). I am currently playing phone tag with the guy who is "taking care of it".

My cat has diabetes. That means 2 insulin injections every day and high protein, low carb food (why do vets recognize that low carb is the way to go for diabetes, but the American Diabetes Association is still recommending a high-carb diet for humans?) Amanda learned how to give the shots (I've given cats shots before) and she was a real trooper. Put food in front of Henry and he doesn't even notice the needle.

And I'll be having a (below the fold for TMI)...test/surgery

...continue reading

Okay - here's my thing. I have about 60 Spanish flashcards that I carry around with me. To those I've added important information that I want to learn (student bus numbers, school phone numbers, other phone numbers that I want to know more of besides "speed dial 2".

To those I had started to add the Westminster Shorter Catechism, but after only a couple of questions decided to go with the Larger. I'm also using the ESV
Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?

A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God (1), and fully to enjoy Him forever(2).

(1)...to glorify God

  • Roman 11:36 For of Him and through Him, and to Him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(2)---and fully to enjoy Him forever.

  • Psalm 73:24-28 (this is not going to go on a business card - I don't usually memorize with verse numbers within the text, but I'm leaving them in here so I can use more than one card...)
  • 24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
    25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
    26My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.27
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
    28But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.
  • John 17:21-23that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.