Today, upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,
I envied her, she seemed so gay and wished I were as fair;
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle;
She had one leg, and wore a crutch, and as she passed - a smile.
O God, forgive me when I whine.
I have two legs. The world is mine.
And then I stopped to buy some sweets.
The lad who sold them had such charm,
I talked with him - he seemed so glad -
If I were late, ‘twould do no harm.
And as I left he said to me: "I thank you. You have been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
O God forgive me when I whine.
I have two eyes. The world is mine.
Later, walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue,
He stood and watched the others play;
It seemed he knew not what to do.
I stopped a moment, then I said: "Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew - he could not hear.
O God forgive me when I whine.
I have two ears. The world is mine.
With legs to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow -
With ears to hear what I would know.
O God, forgive me when I whine.
I'm blessed indeed. The world is mine.
So, my hubby has found out that 5 new stores (he's in retail management) will be opening sometime next August in the next state. He talked to his store manager and let him know that we would be willing to move if he could get his own store. The disrict manager came in to sit down with hubby and the store manager to discuss what he needs to do in order to be ready to get his own store. A promotion would mean a raise. We would sell our house, which would pay off three of our debts (mortgage, HELOC, and our water heater). This would leave only hubby's student loan - about $4000 - left to pay off. We would also get an apartment at first if we move. With the raise in pay, reduction of debt, and reduction in rent/house payment I would definately be able to stay home!!! I'm trying to temper my excitement since nothing is a given, but it's really hard. (If it's your will God, if it's your will)
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mom who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who couldn't make change this morning is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Help us to remember that the old couple that was walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress, was savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Help us to remember that the frumpy, pot-bellied, balding, middle-aged guy that was selling magazines and gum at the airport is a highly decorated war veteran who saved the lives of several of his unit in battle while we were home safely asleep.
Help us to remember that the three teen girls we saw hanging out at the mall, dressed like little prostitutes and trolling for boys, come from indifferent homes, their parents God-less and consumed with themselves, their worldly goods, and their careers.
Help us to see that the pale woman with the ill-fitting wig that was arguing with the pharmacist had just finished her 3rd chemo treatment and is deeply worried about what her husband and children will do without her.
And the lady on the cell phone that was driving erratically in traffic had just learned that her only son will be going back to Iraq for another tour of duty…
Lord – help us know that the dark-skinned man that had 20 items in the 12 item express lane just emigrated to America from Poverty last month, and he is very grateful to be working and buying food for his family in America - where there is more opportunity than he had ever dreamed existed.
Lord, Help us remember the person who was so disrespectful and hurtful to us yesterday does not have a personal relationship with You, and is living an empty existence without You, a slave to his worldly goods and desires. He probably doesn’t even realize his actions hurt us so deeply. Remind us to pray for him often.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge & always quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
Karla at Karla's Korner is hosting a contest. Simply list 5 things you are thankful for to be entered. You can either do this directly in the comments of her post or you can blog about it and leave her a comment that you posted. I truly have so much to be thankful for...
1. I am so thankful that God sent His only Son Jesus to redeem us.
2. I am thankful for not one but two beautiful miracles that I get to kiss and tuck in at night.
3. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who makes my life whole.
4. I am thankful for our military for protecting all of the freedoms that I take for granted.
5. I am thankful for the food, shelter, and clothing that God provides for us. We are truly blessed with these riches.
I grew up Southern Baptist. My mother and her parents were Methodist. I don't think that I understood as a child that there were differences in "denominations" and I think I was quite a bit older when I heard someone describe themselves as a Protestant. I do remember spending the night with a friend and going to a church with her were there were people speaking in tongues, I thought that was odd. And I had heard my parents talk about some churches in the next county that did a lot of snake handling. I knew this boy in my class who had to go stand in the hallway during the pledge, but I don't think I ever realized he wasn't there for all the holiday parties either. But it wasn't really until I was in high school that I really started observing the differences in different churches. One realization came my ninth grade year when the boy behind me (the same boy who had to leave the room in my grade school class) started telling me that Hell did not exist, I think this was the first time I realized that he wasn't a Christian. Then sometime later that year or the next year I was in Sunday school at my Southern Baptist church. Our teacher was talking about sin. She had even made a poster board listing and illustrating various sins. The typical Southern Baptist things were on there, drinking, rock music, dancing, and Ouija boards. However, I was just shocked when I looked down the list and toward the bottom was listed "being Catholic." "How can that be?" I thought. "Catholics are Christians, just like we are!" After this I think I slowly began to lose faith in what my church was teaching. During my tenth grade year, we read My Antonia in English Lit. We came to a part in the book where Antonia's family was praying for (I think it was) her father who had just died. My teacher took this opportunity to explain that Antonia's family were Catholic and she gave a little explanation of purgatory and praying for departed souls. When I was sixteen my parents divorced. My dad lived with my grandparents for a while. It was during this time that I really began to see my grandfather's true nature. He was the Southern Free Will Baptist patriarch of the family and had a very bad opinion of anyone who didn't follow those same beliefs. He boasted of telling "door-knockers" that they were going to Hell and slamming the door in their faces. In our "football is life, everything else is just details" area, he refused to watch Notre Dame (even if they were playing us) because, "Those Catholics pray to Mary!" and of course were going to hell. Between my junior and senior year in high school I decided to go to summer school and get some classes out of the way. My best friend that summer was Catholic. I spent the night with her, help her baby-sit during a big Catholic wedding of friends of her parents, and listened to her tell stories of Catholic school. All of these things fascinated me. I began to wonder what Catholicism was all about. My church's and grandfather's views of Catholics failed to plant a seed of anti-Catholicism in me, instead they planted the seed of curiosity. I began to develop a profound respect for Catholics, even though I had no idea what most of their beliefs were. When I graduated high school I vowed to find out about those beliefs. I started spending a lot of my time at the local library, where I found the book Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnson which I devoured. When I got to college, oddly enough, the girl who had the dorm before I did must have been a Catholic because I kept getting these Catholic catalogues, I think they were Leaflet Missal catalogues. How I poured over those! I wanted all the books they had listed! I decided to search the University library especially for one of the books, Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid. Unfortunately, they didn't have it, but they did have interlibrary loan, of which I decided to take full advantage. After this my roommate, who was a preacher's kid, gave me the book Roman Catholicism by Loraine Boettner to try to dissuade me of the truth of my findings. My boyfriend told me he would never set foot inside a Catholic church. I started going to RCIA classes on campus, my boyfriend even met me after a class one night, but, true to his word, he stayed out on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, I decided to drop out of the RCIA classes. I went to an Episcopal church for a while, my mom even went with me a couple of times. I thought I was happy, but something just wasn't right. I left the Episcopal church. A while later I decided to try the Catholic church again. I started RCIA classes at the Cathedral and loved them. They used a course called "Come and See" which used Scripture readings following the liturgical year along with related Catholic Updates. I loved it! I was Baptized, Confirmed, and received my first Holy Communion on Easter Vigil 1999. I became a CCD teacher. Two years later I was honored to sponsor my dear husband in his journey home to the Catholic Church. I would absolutely love it if my extended family would come home. I pray that they will begin to earnestly study the Faith as I did. I cherish my relationship with Christ and the Church that He founded on Peter, the Rock. I'm proud to proclaim the Faith of the Apostles. Thanks for listening. Erika~Tiber Swim Team '99
In the United States, there are many situations in which abortions are recommended, even encouraged. Sometimes an abortion is recommended because of difficult circumstances and other times simply for convenience. Here are four cases for you to consider. Should this baby be aborted?
Four Cases:
Case #1. There's a traveling preacher and his wife who are living in poverty. They already have fourteen children. Now she finds out she's pregnant with the 15th child. They are very poor and probably will be unable to afford a doctor's attention. Considering their poverty, the excessive world population, and the number of children they already have, would you recommend she get an abortion?
Case #2. The grandmother is an alcoholic and the father spends his evenings out drinking in the taverns. His mother has tuberculosis. She has already given birth to four children. The first child is blind, the second child died, the third child is deaf, and the fourth child has tuberculosis. Now the mother is pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending an abortion?
Case #3. A white man raped a 13-year-old black girl and now she is pregnant. Her family lives in extreme poverty; in fact, to survive, food often has to be stolen. If you were her parents, would you recommend or require her to have an abortion?
Case #4. A teenage girl of thirteen or fourteen year old is pregnant. She is not married and lives in an outback area with very little in way of money or resources. The man she hopes to marry someday is not the father of the baby, and he's considering walking away due to the embarrassment of the situation. There is no hospital available nor are doctors able to give her medical attention. Would you consider recommending that she get an abortion?
The Reality:
Case #1: You would have just aborted the world-famous Methodist preacher John Wesley.
Case #2: You would have just aborted the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Case #3: You would have just aborted Ethel Waters, the marvelous black Gospel singer.
Case #4: You would have just aborted Jesus Christ, the savior of the world!
Since we are killing off over a million of our babies each year, how many other geniuses, artists, musicians, scientists, saints, and others have we assassinated? If the "pro-choice" (pro-abortion) folks have their way, the world may be deprived of a genius with the cure for cancer, the first female president, the inventor of new technologies, the saint who could have led us closer to God, the inventor of medical miracles, etc. In the lust of personal peace and pleasure, are we Americans killing the very people that God has sent to assist, teach, and save us?
May God have mercy on our land!
Phil P
Ethel Waters graphic courtsey of afroamhistory.about.com
This review of Bella says everything I felt better than I could ever say it myself.
Bella is a breath of fresh air in a stale movie atmosphere. It is positive and thoughtful tale without being forceful or preachy. It is a story about real people going through pain and finding a way out. It is tale about humans, our modern world, and what makes the world human.
The story focuses on two characters. Jose, an ex-soccer star who has experienced a horrible tragedy that still haunts him, and Nina, a struggling woman in New York who has recently discovered that she is pregnant. Bella takes place during one day during which their lives intersect and they learn how to help each other.
Like most great movies, it defies simple categorization: the best way to understand it is to watch it and let it work its magic. Nevertheless, a few points can be brought out.
While life-affirming, Bella doesn't sugar-coat or ignore the hard facts related to its subject matter. Particularly through the conversations between Jose and Nina, both sides of the abortion debate are given their time. Nina uses every excuse in the book, but they don't come across as excuses - they reveal real anguish and difficulty. Jose, on the other hand, doesn't lecture her. He never says explicitly in words what he thinks. He acts. He is a silent, stoic individual who provides a listening ear, a caring heart, and an understanding mind.
I think it's no accident that Jose's appearance through most of the film is starkly similar to the typical portrayals of Jesus. He has a great grizzly beard, piercing eyes, and a rugged demeanor. The question "What would Jesus do?", and even "What would Jesus look like?" find a contemporary and authentic answer in Jose. Eduardo Verastegui plays the character effortlessly and flawlessly. He makes virtue look easy, albeit hard-earned. Tammy Blanchard puts forth a tour-de-force performance. In contrast to Verastegui's coolness, her character sobs and shakes with the full force of the desperation she is feeling. Her world is falling apart, and you feel it.
The movie teaches in an unassuming manner, and it's extremely effective. Instead of transparent storytelling where it is obvious what the movie wants you to think, Bella's careful understatement slips in truths about human nature, compassion and redemption in a blink of an eye. In this way it mirrors life (which rarely provides a director's commentary or helpful moralizing narrators).
For instance, Nina is prone to think the worst of the world and its inhabitants. And indeed, there is much in her life that would condition her towards pessimism. Then she witnesses a spat between a small store owner and a customer. While she reacts to the situation superciliously when the store owner realizes that he has been wrong in accusing the customer, she would have done the same. Recognizing that there's some goodness in the world doesn't happen all at once, but it can happen within a single day.
The movie provides a wide spectrum of personalities. Jose's [sports manager] is a professional promoter, dedicated to profit and the pursuit of its pleasures. Jose's ex-girlfriend and past-acquaintances reveal worldly facets of his prior life that he has given up as a self-punishment for his past. Jose's eldest brother, the owner of an upscale restaurant where he works, reveals another path that people take in search of happiness - even if it means taking advantage of his unfortunate brother. The interplay between Jose and his older brother is particularly redemptive.
On the other side, Jose's family is good. Not perfect, but functional, loving and caring. Nina is as much converted by Jose as by his family. In this point particularly, the movie refuses to discuss abortion in a vacuum. The crucial attitudes about and experiences of family life account both for Nina's plight and Jose's safety net. Taking Nina into his family is the first way Jose reaches out to her and also begins his own appreciation of how blessed he has been, despite whatever misfortune he has suffered.
Bella is not only a great story, it is well told. The cinematography, musical score and pacing all support the "worldview" it presents. The musical score is very moving (they should really consider releasing it separately, I'd buy it). The cinematography is gorgeous, with most scenes shot in rich hues that all the more set apart more somber sequences. I especially enjoyed the cinematographic style which spliced normal time with flashbacks and hypothetical future events.
Again, this artistic choice has a meaning. In this case, the single day which constitutes the timeframe of the movie is dependant upon the decisions and experiences of the past as well as open to diverse futures that are in the process of being evaluated. As a consequence, the stakes for each decision made during the day are raised. Truly, the stakes couldn't be higher: there is a human life at stake, and the happiness of many more.
Bella's pacing might at seem times slow, but don't let that mislead you. It's progress is measured to prepare for a climax that sneaks up on you and, if you haven't been watching closely, will surprise you. What at first glance might be dismissed as a wasted day, where we might want much more said and demanded, becomes a providential ordination of events that yields a result so beautiful that only life could provide.
If Bella is beautiful, it's because life is beautiful. And it is. +++
As early as the third century Christians were already accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of the death of a martyr for Christ in the place of the person's martyrdom. During the persecutions of Diocletian, however, there were so many Christian's martyred that it was impossible to give each one their own separate day. Still, the Church wanted to recognize their sacrifice, so she appointed a common day for all. At first the Church only recognized martyrs, but over time others who had lived exemplary lives for Christ were added as well. Gregory III (pope from 731-741) fixed the anniversary on November first. The vigil of All Hallow's Day (more commonly known as All Saints Day) seems to have been celebrated as early as the feast itself.
Although the big orange pumpkins with glowing scary faces are uniquely American, this is our remake of an old Irish custom, based on a folk tale about a man who was so miserly that, after he died, his ghost had to walk about at night with a lantern made from a hollowed-out turnip, in order to make amends for his sins by warning the living to repent. As the story goes, people later began to carve the miser's ghostly features in the turnips as a reminder of his message.
Number your paper from 1 to 10, then answer each question with the choice that most describes you at t his point in your life , and then add up the points that correspond with your answers.
1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Rollerblading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one
2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative
c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz
3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery
4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender
f) Business person
5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out
c) Watch TV
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read
6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red
7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail
8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b) Christmas
c) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July
9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia
10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with
NOW take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:
(10-17 points) You are MADONNA:
You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes.. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.
(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY:
You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.
(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS:
You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.
(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:
You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.
(43-50 points) You are KATHARINE HEPBURN:
You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends". You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.
(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR:
Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right
I await, as do many others, with baited breath, the long anticipated return of Victoria - a magazine like none before or since. However eager my anticipation, I am also quite a bit apprehensive. Why, you may ask? After Nancy Lindemeyer's departure in 2000, Victoria, a magazine I had subscribed to since it's Premier issue in 1987, took a rather sour turn, an effort that was apparently made to "modernize" the magazine. After about three years under the new editor's eye the magazine stopped publication altogether. Why, just this morning I was reading an old issue, when I came across this beautiful piece:
We each choose what's important, where we'll put our watchful eye and imagination. I've watched a friend sew on her children's name tags with stitches feather fine. And know another who reads beautifully illustrated hardbound copies of children's classics to her son at bedtime, convinced that the gold-lettered cover and creamy pages are part of the story.
Those who make the extra effort may sometimes wonder if it's worthwhile, especially on a day when no one seems to notice that the bread is freshly made, even though the house is full of the scent of its rising. But then, she has only to search her heart and remember what she cherishes of her own childhood, the territory where the memories lie: the way the crystal pitcher made a rainbow of light when the table was set, perhaps, the starched curtains that blew in the window, or the cinnamon toast mother cut into butterflies. These are the epiphanies that lie beneath the surface of the rush through life at home, the "grace of the quotidian" as author Susannah Lessard puts it-grace unsought, and caught forever, a landscape of unassuming beauty where a woman's touch has smoothed the way.
Victoria
, Volume 12, Number 5, page 92
I truly hope that the new publication of Victoria will be able to live up to the high standard and vision Nancy Lindemeyer had. Our daughters would greatly benefit from beauty such as this.
Just a Bumper Sticker
Gregg Cunningham The following is excerpted from the July 1994 In-Perspective.
While speaking to worshipers in a mainly pro-life church on Long Island, New York one recent Sunday morning, I ended with my inevitable plea that everyone place pro-life bumper stickers on their cars. Just as inevitable were the expressions of disapproval which this suggestion caused to over-spread the faces of many.
At least a few might have responded differently had they had an opportunity to hear from a woman in her mid-forties who came forward moments later with a five year old child to confide that when she had become pregnant with this little boy she was single, in her early forties and alone. So great was her panic that she yielded to conventional wisdom and reflexively scheduled an abortion. It was a profane appointment she would never keep because of a divine appointment she couldn't cancel; a providential encounter with, of all things, a pro-life bumper sticker.
Not one word of conversation was exchanged between her and the driver of the bumper sticker-bearing car, but at a glance her life was changed and her baby saved by a simple, one dollar, strip of vinyl-displayed by someone who couldn't have known of her desperate need for direction, someone who probably never noticed her presence.
This article appeared in the Nov./Dec. 1994 issue of Eternal Perspectives.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:
by Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries, 2229 E. Burnside #23, Gresham, OR 97030, 503-663-6481, www.epm.org Feel free to reproduce and distribute any articles written by Randy Alcorn, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this information, not protect or restrict it.
