Dec. 16th

December 16, 2003
People get ready!
HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT…

On Tuesday, January 20, there will be two special elections held to fill vacancies in the Texas Senate. In Northeast Texas’ District 1, Sen. Bill Ratliff is retiring after 15 years of service. On the opposite side of the state, District 31 Sen. Teel Bivins is stepping down to accept an appointment by President Bush to become Ambassador to Sweden.

Candidates for these special elections must file applications with the Secretary of State no later than Monday, Dec. 22. The early voting period for this special election runs from Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 16.

Victory in both special elections is critical to maintaining a strong Republican majority in the Senate.

The echo of King David

The echo of King David taken from Psalm 5


Lord you...

*Are the God who takes no pleasure in wickedness.

*Hate the workers of iniquity.

*Destroy those who speak leasing: Abhor the bloody and decietful man.

*Will bless the righteousness and compass him with a shield.

David cried to you for........

* A listening ear

* Guidance

* A straight path

* The destroying of his enemies

Lord,
I ask you for these same kind of things. Give ear to my words, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, My King, and my God; for unto Thee will I pray. (Psalm 5:1-2)

Nov. 27th

Lord you are......

Dear Lord,
You are righteous. You are the most Holy God. I come before you today thanking you for all that is and the things that will come. You are wise beyond my imagination. You are truth, and judgment, and justice. You are the most High God.
In you do I place my faith. Let me not fall into the temptation of the evil one. Deliver me from the ways of the wicked. Direct my paths to things of a higher nature. Let me not fall. Lord, you are my stay. In you alone can I place my trust. My heart desires to follow after you. Let me not waiver in my love toward you. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Lord, turn my heart towards things heavenly. Take away my desire for earthly pleasures. Purge me from all ungodliness. May you find me a willing and faithful servant.

You are the God of my Salvation. My Guide and Friend. You heal the broken hearted and bind up their wounds. You have counted the stars and called them each by name. Your understanding is infinite. You lift the meek and cast the wicked to the ground. You prepare rain and make the grass to grow. You feed the beasts even the young raven when they cry. You take pleasure in those that fear you and in those that hope in your mercy. You make peace at our borders and fill us with the finest wheat. You cause the winds to blow and the water to flow.
Today I stand amazed in Your presence.
May my Spirit be in continual harmony with you.

In your awe,
Sarah

Something to laugh about...

As many of you know a new computer worm has been getting a lot of media coverage over the last few weeks. The other day a little girl sat gazing thoughtfully at our screensaver which features fuzzy caterpillers climbing across the screen. After giving the matter some consideration she turned to me and asked, "Sarah, does your computer have a worm?"

Headlines in the making...

Headlines in the making...
Elections in California take on an amusing form.
How are these for election campaign statements?

Arnald Schwarzenegger terminates Gray Davis

or

Arnald states during his closing campain, "I'll be back."

Test

Test results for a job placement quizz

Sarah, the Right Job for you will allow you to be:
Strategic and Creative
As a Strategic type, you want to be able to express yourself and your ideas through work. Sure there's a time and place for rules and procedures, but when a good thought strikes you, you don't want it to be boxed into one way of thinking. You're willing to go outside the rules if there's a chance that the risk will reap big rewards.
You are stronger than most when it comes to generating ideas. And because of this, it might sometimes feel easier to take on all aspects of a job yourself instead of wasting time explaining it to someone else who might not "get it" like you do. But because you have so many ideas and are willing to take on so much, you might find that you sometimes have trouble finishing every project you start.
Your diplomacy and adaptability make you a valuable asset. But your need to feel invested in a company that allows you to express your original ways of thinking will ultimately impact how happy you are in the workplace.

Life at the Moment...

Life at the moment isn't what it seems to be, or is it?
I read a post on the RI that asked what 10 things everyone wanted to accomplish by the time they were 30. That is 9 years away from me and I have already done several of the things most people listed i.e. graduate from high school and the like. Instead of motivating me and helping me get excited about the future that is ahead. It depressed me. I don't have goals. I mean, I do but they are the far off, never become reality kind of goals.
In reality, I am sitting here thinking life stinks. (I am 21, supposedly, one of the greatest ages there is in someone's life.) There really doesn't seem to be much to be done that is really worth doing. My mind comes back to the critical "So what, if someone has a degree and works for Motorola." I mean good for you, but jobs don't define life. Or do they??
I'm right in the middle of a dilemma. It isn't that I don't want to be doing something important..........I just haven't defined what the word "important" means.
Eternal value is the only thing I can place in a high standing but even in that my influence isn't very broad.
Well, I guess that is all the venting I'm going to do for now.
Here are the small things I said I wanted to accomplish by the time I am 30:
1. Do some extensive traveling2. Buy my first car or truck 3. Buy some land to call my own4. Build a cabin/art studio5. Own a horse 6. Get married7. Start a family/teach my children at home8. Teach/speak at home schooling conferences9. Be an active part of my husband's ministry 10. Lead at least 300 people to the Lord
See, nothing is big. Why can't I dream higher? Where are the dreams of youth?? *sighs* Ok, well TTYL

Wild and Restless

Have you ever seen a stranger drive by who flashed you a genuine, friendly, how's it going, life is great kind of smile? Someone smiled at me like that today as I passed him on the road. It made me want to slam on the breaks, hop out of the car, climb into his old beat up FORD truck and go for a spin. ...I didn't, just kept driving but now I wonder if fate will ever arrange a meeting with him again and if it did would I recognize him if he wasn't smiling.
Today, I'm ready for life in a calf length cotton dress, sexy straw hat, sunning in a hammock, drinking a cherry lime aide, listening to a country tune with one of those handsome, hard working guys who has a cute crooked smile a sense of fun and romance and loves me like crazy. The kind of guy a girl always dreams of to keeping for good. Is he out there???
Perhaps I'll settle for a good family outing. I'll just pray for the guy, save for the hammock and a couple of palm trees, and wear a dorky straw hat for a rather normal day at the beach.

We got him...

December 17, 2003
Saddam Hussien Captured
Well, we got him!!!

The capture of Saddam Hussien was inevitable. It has taken months to hunt down and capture this ruthless dictator.
Victory is ours at last................but what is victory? Are we to meet only the bittersweet success of capture? Why didn't we shoot the guy?

Now, the questions are:

1. What will the world do with this brutal man who is responsible for the deaths of many?

2. Will they let the man, one inhumane enough to torture people with acid, sit in comfort and safety for the remains of his days?

3. This man who ruthlessly changed the faces of human beings so that he might use them as a type of shield for himself, a barbaric fiend who would force unwilling victims to do his bidding.......will we let him off without just reward for his actions?

The UN is the most despicable piece of junk the world has ever put together. What earthly good is an organization such as this? Can they not require a man to take responsibility for his actions? Do they expect a pat on the hand and a promise that he will be better in the future??? Truly this is the sad cry of reality. I hope that the UN gets no say in the matter of what happens to Saddam Hussien. They deserve none. May they have less and less say in every area of government period.

It is my hope that the Iraqi people will see the wisdom in a death sentence for this murderous man. May the government it has established realize the grave importance of justice. Death in this case is the only real justice.

Teaching schedule

Well, it appears that my new schedule will look like this...

Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Friday
I'll be teaching 2nd grade from 10:00am-2:00pm
On Thursday we will go from 9:00am-1:00pm

Subject areas
10:00 AM Math
10:30 AM Reading
11:00 AM Spelling
11:30 AM English
12:00 AM Lunch
12:30 AM Handwriting
1:00 PM History
1:30 PM Science
2:00 PM Dismissed

Then I'll walk or drive Kelby home after she is finished with her lessons for the day. There will not normally be homework for her to do, but she might have something to complete on occasion.

On Wednesday mornings, Mom will supervise Kelby’s Math and Reading because I have a private art student here in my home from 10 AM to 11 AM.
Then on Thursdays the schedule will be the same but it will start and end an hour earlier so that I can teach my already scheduled group art lessons.

The story of the Key

The story of a key.....

Once there was a lovely young girl who lived inside the protected walls of a far away kingdom. She wasn't the princess but sometimes people called her one because of the lovely glow that radiated from her face. She loved life and was very fond of tromping through the woods, wading in the creeks and exploring outside of the castle walls.

The little girl made friends easily and had many exciting adventures, however, the thing she enjoyed most in life was having her father return safely to the cottage after his day of work. Sometimes he worked late into the evenings but she would always stay up waiting to hear the pleasant tone of his voice as he whistled his way down the lane. When she heard him coming she would throw open the door and run to greet him.

He loved to see his little girl and if he had arrived home at a reasonable hour he would go for a walk with her or help her get the table ready for supper, but if it was late and time for her to get some rest, he would scoop her up into his arms and tuck her into bed. The little girl loved this part of the day most of all because her father never left the room without sharing a story with her. He told her how to live her life in a way that was pleased God, how to be good and kind, and he would always end the evening by offering a prayer to the Lord on her behalf. Then she would drift off to sleep in the happiness of knowing that God and her father loved and cared for her.

One day as the girl's father tucked her into her bed, he pointed out a shiny little key hanging precariously on a shelf in her room. She had spent many hours that day pretending to be a captive maiden who was escaping the gloom of a dingy tower prison using that very key which had been snatched out of the unsuspecting guards pocket. She apologized for not being more careful with it, and listened eagerly as her father recounted the story of the key.

He told her that it was one of her most valuable possessions and worth more than any of her other things. He told her that it had been a gift from the King on the day of her birth. He told her that it represented the King's willingness to do anything for her safety and protection and that it was the key to a nearby castle which the King had tried to give him once after they had closely escaped death in the hands of an arch enemy. He warned her to guard it carefully and that although she was allowed to take it out she needed to watch it carefully and make sure that it never left her sight. The girl flinched because though she usually took very good care of the key and stored it safely away with the other things that she deemed important, she had on that very day lent it to a friend who had promised to be the handsome knight who would save her from her fate.

That night as she allowed herself to drift once more into sleep, she purposed in her heart to be more careful with her precious key and not to lend it carelessly out for play in the future.

As the days passed the young girl stood by her resolution. At first her friends where confused at her reasons for not playing with the beautiful little key, but gradually they grew accostumed to this change and learned to accept it.

To be continued...

Things of Importance

Everyone has basic ideas about the standards they want to see built into their marriage. I started working on writing down some of my basic belief patterns and standards. Here is the uncompleted list. I'm sure a lot of editing will be needed in order to turn this into something useful but it is a start!

1) A quiet home with well laid out rules and regulations

2) Orderliness in the home ~ A place for everything and everything in its place.

3) Respectful communication

4) The Sabbath is a day of rest. This day is to be set aside for rest and worship.
Sports and Jobs (activities that take away from the devoting the day to the worship of God) do not belong.

5) Debt is not an option. Never spend what you have not earned. If the money isn't in the bank we can't write a check to spend it. If the money will be there tomorrow we will spend it after that point. Not now.

6) Church attendance is important. I understand that God may call one to home church for a season of life however the Scripture is clear that we should not forsake meeting with the body of Christ.

7) Children will be taught to sit quietly through Church services, and programs. Leaving should only be done with a parent and a belt. (An occasional trip to blow his/her nose or use the restroom will be allowed)

8) Laws put into effect by higher forces will be followed in our home unless they violate scripture. Seatbelts for children are not optional. ~Should I mention speeding? (Tickets are optional. ~You pay for them.)

9) It is important that parents stick together. The rules should remain the same no matter who is watching the children.

10) Standards of dress will be made. ~We will discuss this one as we go.)

11) Home is the best place for school.

12) I would prefer to be a "stay at home Mom." ~If extra income is needed I can teach art or take on extra students in my school classes.

13) Music ~ Music listened to inside the home should glorify the Lord not the flesh.

14) Drinking alcoholic beverages is not wise. The Bible says not to be a companion of the foolish. Therefore I do not drink and do not allow drinking in my home.

15) Smoking makes me sick. (As you can guess it is non optional in my home.)

16) Children's plans especially during the younger years should be discussed ahead of time. Asking about plans in advance will be encouraged.
*Children should be taught to privately check with parents before they make plans with other children.

17) Children should be taught to treat adults with honor and respect.

18) Table manners are important. These will be taught and used in the home so that when in public they are a natural not put on.

19) Put no unclean thing before your eyes.
~TV viewing should be monitored by parents until children have developed a keen sense of spiritual depth. I have grown up having a tv in my home that was only used to view videos. This is my preference.

A sermon I heard...

Sermon.....
On the way home from shopping the other day I turned on the radio and started listening to a sermon.
The speaker was annointed and as I sat listening to his points I was humbled and my thoughts brought me before the Maker just as I was. No pretences, no pretending, just unworthy and with a desire to serve Him in an even greater capacity.
The Preacher had three main points

~Learning to hear what the Lord has to say. Learning to listen to others.

*Tone down
~learning to control your tounge. Learning that the wise listen and control speaking.

~Learning that your tones often control the outcome of your conversation, "it isn't always what you say but how you say it."

Quote of the day...

"But if we are to be told by a foreign power...what we shall
do, and what we shall not do, we have independence yet to seek,
and have contended hitherto for very little." --George Washington

Suggested Reading

Common sense, Thomas Paine
Editor Isaac Kramnick

Quote of the day...

"Nature is the glass reflecting God, as by the sea reflected is the sun, too glorious to be gazed on in his sphere."
~Young

Some thoughts on Rock music

It is said, today of many trusted leaders in our community that “Contemporary’ Christian Rock” is acceptable and that those who disagree are being legalistic or old fashioned. However, as I asked the question “Do good words really make this type of music right?” I found answers to the real issue of rock music and why the Rock beat is evil in any form.

God himself gives us clear examples in scripture that good words do not always make something right. A Demon gave testimony of Jesus saying, “I know who Thou art, the Holy One of God.” Jesus rebuked and silenced him. The clairvoyant girl proclaimed of Paul and Silas “These men are servants of the most High God, which show unto us the way of Salvation,” Paul was grieved and rebuked the spirit within her. The demons were speaking truth but their words had no place in the plans of God.

A survey cited that teenagers didn’t know what about 37% of 622 rock songs were about ~they just liked the music. I believe this should prevent us from looking at the value of Contemporary Rock Music based solely on the words. So what is unique about “Rock Music” and its effect on millions of people? Why do those who listen to it become touchy when Christians question its value?

Addiction = a physical or psychological dependence, or both. In 1993 a survey of 2,750 young people between the ages of 12 and 26 were asked if they believed that Rock music was addictive. 99.3% said “yes!”

Rock music is addictive because it causes the release of adrenaline which creates a high, explains a Psychiatrist. He says that one of the most powerful releases of the “fight or flight” adrenaline high comes from music which is discordant in its beat or chords. If you have ever watched intense movies you can identify with this. Music is used to create drama and suspense, or relieve stress. The reason it can be used to do this is because music follows patterns. Good music follows exact mathmatical rules which causes the mind to feel comforted, encouraged and safe. Musicians have found that when they go against these rules the listener experiences an addicting high.

Think about this high in terms of music sales. Like the unscrupulous “diet” doctors who addict their clients to amphetamines to ensure continued dependence, musicians know that discordant music sells and sells. As with all addictions victims become more tolerant. Which means the same music which once created a pleasant tingle of excitement no longer satisfies. Thus the music must become more jarring, louder, and more discordant. One generally starts out listening to soft rock, then rock -n- roll, and eventually moving on to heavy metal music.

Even without an addiction to the rock beat there are health concerns to look into when listening to music. It is important to listen to music at a sound level this being safe at decibels of 20-65. In most Rock concerts even “Christian concerts” the music is kept at decibels from 110-140. Exposing yourself to this level of sound for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing damage.

Turning the volume down may keep hearing loss from being a problem but even if you don’t listen to your music loud you should consider the next few things I have to say.

A study in New Jersey proved that the brain cells of animals actually become deformed if they are placed under the constant rhythm of the rock beat. Scientific studies show that the rock beat, on the 2nd and 4th beats of the measure, actually interfere with the normal human heart beat. This problem occurs regardless of whether the words are Christian or secular.

Another reason for not listening to Rock music is found in Romans 14:21. This verse says that it is not good to do anything that would cause another brother to stumble, to be offended or to be made weak.

A Christian man named Stephen Maphosah who had been trained to use beat to worship the demonic in his life prior to meeting Christ, evaluated ten individual “Contemporary Christian” music sample tapes and classified them all as being unacceptable to be listened to because he said the tapes all contained a demonic beat which he was accustomed to using in his old ancestral worship of Evil spirits

A Christian brother in Russia, who was imprisoned 15 years for his faith explained that Rock music was used against him day and night to destroy his faith. You can imagine how he felt when Christians from America brought “Christian Rock Music” into his country in our attempts to appeal to the young people of Russia. The music became so much of a problem that in 1993 the Russian Parliament passed laws restricting western missionaries from coming to their country because of the use of this kind of music.

Because of Scriptural examples-
Because the “rock beat” is a proven addiction-
Because the rock the rock beat damages hearing, brain cells, and heart function- and because it damages other believers, I exhort you to remove rock music of any kind from your life and to appeal to your church leaders to remove it from your church.


For more information on this subject I would suggest you read:

Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement
~Dan Lucarini

How to Conquer the Addiction of Rock Music
~Written by Youth Who have Found Freedom

Music in the Mind ~I can't remember who wrote it!

May 31, 2003

Would you risk all?
At this very moment deep in the heart of Bangladesh a man named Moses is being held prisoner by a terrorist group. News has been recieved through GFA (Gospel For Asia) that he will be killed unless a large ransom is paid to this group. Please lift Moses and those who are trying to save him up in your prayers.

Thinking of our christian brother being held for ransom reminds me of the ransom price that Christ paid for us. Had he not died on that cross in our place we could not have been freed from the debt of sin. Moses has been spending his time spreading the Word. He may now have a chance to give the ultimate sacrifice of love. Would you be willing to risk all to show the Love of Christ?

Update on life

Hey, just in case anyone ever comes in here I thought I would give you an update on my life.

Latin finals, piano recital, missionary staying with us, last choir preformance over with, Sunday school teaching, church building, web sight checking for homeschool group, art teaching, meeting attending, Bible reading, movie watching, and in other words very busy this month.

Idiot though you may be...

Idiot though you may be.....(inspired by a letter from a friend.)

Idiot though you may be,
some natural tendencies do I see
To carry burdens on your own
instead of placing them before God's throne.
Can't find the prison key, you say?
The load and strain causes you to sway.

Black the heart, and dead the soul,
the Lord gives mercy. Let him console.
He'll take the knotted souls of men,
the dying hopes, the walking dead,
and give them life with him instead.

So if your soul be black and cold,
Your actions ever wrong and bold.
If your life is caged and sad,
Your thinking -it is ever bad.

Fear not. For though death's sting is near,
Eternal life is given,
and lest you think it's cost not dear,
Face the picture of his agony.
Watch the tears of blood and sweat,
The beaten back, the thorn crowned brow,
His dying breath as He, for you and me,
gave up His spirit, His body held by cross and nail.

All this to conquer death and hell,
To render aid to those in prison cell.
If you but place your trust in him,
He'll take those dim and dying thoughts.
Replace those walls, untie those knots.
'Tis His delight for sinners dear
to find in Him freedom from fear.

Idiot though you may be,
Remember it was He who died to set you free.
Taste in Him the conquering victory.
Live your life for all to see
In you a picture of the living free.
For that, my friend, is what He intended you to be.