I'm reading through a "Ten Country Survey of Pentecostals"  (HT: Boars Head Tavern).

There's some pretty expected inforamation that compares Pentecostals, Charismatics, (sometimes) "other" Christians and "all" Christians.

What caught my eye was a question about the "U.S. Led War on Terror".  In the United States, Christians in general  - and Pentecostals and Charistmatics even more so - support the war on terror.  That's not particulary surprising.

It's the other parts of the world that are interesting.

In Latin America, South Africa, and South Korea, the war is very much NOT supported.

In northern Africa, India, and the Phillipines, the war IS supported.  In the Phillipines, Christians support the war on terror more than Christians in the United States do.

Outside of the United States, what is the difference in the political and/or religious climate in these regions of the world?

The population of Muslims.

I think this is normal for me, this time of year.  But, here's a couple of updates...

1. I either did really well, or really terrible on my test.  I don't think there's an in-between.
2. I'm either looking at sleeping with a CPAP or having surgery - if I can I'll opt for the surgery.
3. My son's car died.  Really died.

I'm in a women's Bible study on Wednesday evenings and I'm sure I'll be blogging about that and I have lots of posts started, I'm just swimming in anatomical terminology and I need to get "balanced"

On the "anatomical terminology", here's a cute kid story:

One of my students was walking with me and I (sort of) study 2 or 3 seconds at a time.  I asked, "quick, what's a sarcomere?"  His pointed off to a corner and said, "I think there's one over there."  This is also the student that said, "I can't be Romeo...I'm Spanish."  (for the record, he's Bosnian).

(This is the "science lab" that I've been putting off - it's the last requirement before I transfer.  I should have taken geology)

hopefully I'll be better this weekend...

Lecture exam on integumentary system, skeletal system, muscle system.

Need to know all of the chemical processes needed for muscle contraction...

I normally don't have trouble with classes, but this one is kicking my butt.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but labelling parts of things (like the parts of a long bone, parts of a sarcolemma (or whatever), parts of a muscle (all of the little thingies inside), parts of the layers of skin, yada, yada...

And I sign up for next semesters classes...I need to choose between getting back on the math track (needed to transfer) or retaking Spanish 101.

And I'm definately taking a Dreamweaver course.

I don't usually "do politics" here, but this relates directly to me.

I'm not big on unions; my labor union is for this proposal, but I've voted in ways contrary to their recommendations before and I will again.

This is about making sure public schools funding keeps up with inflation.

From a "pro-5" site

WHAT IS PROPOSAL 5?
Proposal 5 is an education ballot initiative that requires the State of Michigan to provide annual funding increases at the rate of inflation (based on the previous year’s Consumer Price Index) to local public K-12 schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges and higher education institutions.

It also requires the State to fund any deficiencies in the School Aid Fund from the General Fund, allow base funding for school districts with declining enrollment to use a three-year average; cap Retirement Fund contribution for public schools, community college and universities and require the State to pay remaining portion. 

Proposal 5 reduces funding gap between school districts receiving basic per-pupil foundation allowance and those receiving maximum foundation allowance.

I intended to also post a clip from an "anti-5" site, but they're in pdf and wouldn't let me cut and paste - I'm too lazy today to retype.

Basically, for both sides, it's about funding.  The "anti's" say that the funding increase is not tied to performance.  HELLO?  "No Child Left Behind" ties the school directly to performance.  If the school doesn't perform, the government takes it over.

The "anti's" say that it's about staff pay and pensions.  Well....yes.  Actually, it is.  Staff pay and pensions are part of running a school.  For any business, staffing is a part of the overhead.

Put another way...

Over the last four years, our state legislatures have voted themselves a raise of about 40%.

But public schools don't deserve to keep up with inflation.

(you might be better off not knowing!)  😉

My family Christmas is today!  My mom and dad spend the winter in Florida, so we always have our "Christmas" in October so they can leave before they see snow (HAH! they got fooled this year, didn't they?!?!?)

I got them this (autographed by the author) and gift cards to their favorite restaurants.  I'm looking forward to spending most of the day with my siblings and parents (and all of the "cousins" who are younger than my kids - the older three have moved away).

At any rate, on the weight watchers end, I'm taking this recipe (I'll post a photo and opinions tonight when I hear from people who have a good sense of taste):

Sweet Potatoes

3/4 cup orange juice
1 very large or 2 medium sweet potatoes (1 1/2 pounds), cut in half, then lengthwise into 8 wedges
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries (optional)

Toss potato wedges with orange juice, olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, honey and salt. Spread in a shallow baking dish and bake, covered, in a 400-degree oven until fork-tender but not mushy (about 45 minutes), basting once or twice during baking.

Uncover for the last 15 minutes and sprinkle with cranberries or cherries if desired. Serves 6.

Per serving: 104 calories, 1.5g protein, 1g fat (0.2g saturated), 23g carbohydrates, 2.3g fiber, 10mg sodium.

Weight Watchers Points Per Serving: 2

Source: Yahoo groups

Health plus: Sweet potatoes are a rich source of the antioxidants beta and alpha carotene. Cinnamon and other spices raise insulin activity, needed to process sugar.

The Carnival is hosted by Lindsey at "just enjoy the journey"

There are many good posts!

If they tell you that you can sleep normally during a sleep study:  they LIE.

If they tell you the glue they use to stick electrodes to your head washes out of your hair:  they LIE.

And no.  I didn't go to work today.  I came home and slept.

Results of the test in about 2 weeks.

This light bulb is the first "start to finish" project I completed in Adobe Illustrator.

My family camps in the summer - sometimes just the three of us, sometimes with my parents and siblings. Always, there's a fire.

I can sit for hours just staring into the flame. Life-giving and life-taking. Sometimes we don't use campstoves at all - we just cook over the fire.

We keep it burning.

The Bible sometimes portrays God as flame.

One of the first times is when God entered into the covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 15, Abraham prepared the animals for entering into a covenant. The phrase most often used was to "cut a covenant" - animals were cut in half and both parties entering into the covenant walked between the halves together.

God did not do this with Abraham. The animals were prepared and God appeared to Abraham in a dream, as a smoking firepot and a flaming torch. The flame alone moved between the the halves of the animals. God alone would keep the covenant, regardless of how man would fail.

He would keep it burning.

Later, Moses would have an encounter with God - in the form of a burning bush.

The Lord said,

"I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey..."

It was the Lord that kept it burning.

Much, much later, entering the New Covenant time, it was the Holy Spirit that appeared. Divided tongues of fire rested on the people gathered and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit keeps it burning.

What is our fascination with fire? Life-giving, life-taking. Essential for life, yet dangerous.

Remember the line from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”

Like fire.

Like Abraham, it is not us that keeps it burning - it's God.
Like Moses, He appears where and when we do not expect.
Like at Pentecost, He rests in each of those who trust in Him.

"He's the King, I tell you..."

He keeps it burning.

I'm going to be "out of touch" for a little while.  I'm "having my head examined" - mostly the sinus part.  It seems I have a "small mouth" - I'm sure that's stunning news to some of you all - and a low soft palette.  And an overbite.

Combined, they want to do a sleep study.  I've packed and I'm not coming home tomorrow night (work, class, pick up a couple of things like cold meds, then sleep clinic).

I'm hoping that apnea is involved - if it is, then treatment for the other bothersome things is covered by insurance.  It seems weird to ask for prayer that something IS wrong with me...but...

😉