I know. You’re Jealous. You Should Be.

I stole this from Bruce’s blog… *grin*

ego boost

So, we had a pot luck today at work.  After I finished eating we were just sitting around talking and this one guy is like “hey I hear Bruce has a hot ass wife.”  Let me tell you, that feels good to hear.  I am lucky enough to say that he wasn’t the first at all.  I seriously here comments like that all the time.  One of the i.t. guys I guess talked to her when she was waiting for me one time and still tells me how sweet she was.  It is just so cool to not only know that I am lucky but to also know that others realize I am very lucky too.  It really isn’t a compliment “for me” but it makes me feel awesome.  So, cheers to all the lucky guys with sweet, hot wives.

I know. I know. I know. lol. 

Kids say the darndest things…

Quote for the  day:

“I’m Asian just like you!”

-4-year-old Alexis Gosselin (from TLC’s Jon and Kate + 8), to the camera guy filming her getting her face getting cleaned. Alexis is half Korean. And darned cute.

Me Against the Media

So, you may or may not have noticed that I have a definite love-hate relationship with the media. First of all, I LOVE the media. Websites, books, magazines, music, movies, television…. I mean, the possibilities for expression and communication are endless. And we all know that I’m into expression and communication. That the being said, the media scares me. To the point where I’m seriously tempted to just turn it all off completely. In my never-ending quest to follow God and live my life closer to Christ, whether or not to indulge in what today’s media has to offer often worries me. First of all, I feel like I’ve been immensely blessed with a heart for what pleases God. Granted, I’m not quite so blessed with the ability to follow that annoying nagging voice in my head, but the voice is definitely there.

The second Family Guy comes on, the little guy in white is sitting on my shoulder going, “oh come on, really? lets see you try to tell yourself that there’s going to be ANYTHING God-honoring in this! Try telling yourself that this isn’t completely polluting your mind with trash!” And of course, I can’t. Sometimes, when there’s something more positive in whatever I’m watching, reading or listening to (for example, well-written music and well-written lyrics with not-so-well chosen expletives), it’s a little harder to turn it off. The little guy in white is like, “oh, yah, because those are definitely pure and holy words.” But then another guy (not sure if he’s in white too or red) counters, “but the talent in it DOES glorify God, and so does what they’re trying to say. They’re just having trouble. But it’s not all bad.” The other guy laughs, “so send him an encouraging letter… and a bar of soap!”

Okay, so that’s a little extreme, but you get the point. I get pretty conflicted. Lots of times, in those situations, I tend to cave. But I still get that nagging feeling. If Jesus were sitting here, you would not be watching this… 

I’ve discovered that while it helps to think “What Would Jesus Do,” it’s immensely more helpful to think also, “What would he think? How would he react? If you discussed this with him, what would he tell you about it?”

Through that thinking, I’ve discovered that my aversion to gore and violence and so-forth isn’t just wimpy-ness (although I am most definitely around 60% wimp). It’s also my heart for God. God never relished in violence. Violence wasn’t entertainment. Blood and guts outside of one’s body wasn’t something to get excited about. We definitely serve a God who wages war. But he doesn’t do so gleefully. Nor is he entertained by it. He does not torture the sinful for his gratification or satisfaction. In the Bible, judgement is fair and quick. And often even death is as clean as it can be; he rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorra and basically evaporated the people there; later he simply opened up the earth and swallowed a group of people whole. Wars where God was involved were hardly ever long and dragged out.

Apparently God doesn’t enjoy blood and guts and violence. So why should I? God tells us specifically that he doesn’t appreciate foul language. Sex taken outside of it’s sacred boundaries offends him. He tells us to beware of “strong drink” and not to pollute our bodies. He also makes it clear that he is a “jealous” God and that he does not tolerate any deviation. He also makes it clear that we are to honor him. Furthermore, he instructs us to love one another. Among a whole host of other things. So I don’t feel particularly guilty for walking out of a movie that contradicts all or a lot of what God is about. If sex-out-of-context offends God, shouldn’t it offend us? If so, then, how does it make sense that we entertain ourselves with it. Frankly, I think that our cultures definition of “entertainment” is enough to make Jesus “weep” all over again. 

And honestly, if you go to the movie theater, turn on the tv, or pick up a book or magazine with your God-tinted glasses on, you’re going to find your pickings slim. Honestly, I’ve probably seen three or four movies this year that wouldn’t make God cringe. And even I have to keep reminding myself,

“Yah, they’re using what God gave them to do what they’re doing. And they’re heading in the right direction. But this isn’t about them. This is about God and me. I’m not trying to honor the artist or give them credit for what they did right. I’m trying to honor the Artist and give Him credit for all he’s done.”

This weekend, I had lots of options for movies, but I’d read reviews on all of them, and honestly, the only one I could go see with a clear conscience was High School Musical. And everyone goes “Oh, goodness. Tell me you just stayed home.” Nope. I went. And I enjoyed myself. Because honestly, there’s something unbelievably refreshing about watching unabashed purity and innocence on the big screen. In all fairness, it was cheesy; people randomly broke out into song and all the loose strings are tied up by the end of the hour and forty minutes. But the story was true to life. They honestly admitted that there are less-than-likeable characters in this drama called life. Life isn’t always for sure. Change happens and it can be scary. Everything doesn’t work out the way you want it too. But just about everything can be overcome with a positive outlook, wise decisions, good advice, a smile and a song in your heart. And of course, love. Maybe not Disney, puppy-dog love. But something like that. 

Frankly, I walked out of my movie feeling uplifted, positive, and hopeful. I could think, “God, thanks for music. And smiles. And love. Give me that kind of joy in my every day life. And encourage me with a song in my heart.” 

But if I’d gone to see Saw V, or W, or Pride and Glory, or Body of Lies or Quarantine, I’m not sure what I’d feel. Or what I’d have to say to God. I’d likely feel like I’d filled my mind with trash and probably think something along the lines of “please remove those, thoughts, images, words, emotions and everything else from my spirit.” Or maybe I’d feel more concerned for what the movie said about this world and I’d be burdened with the unGodly things I’d seen, “Father forgive us, for we know not what we do.” Maybe I would have enjoyed it, but then, as a I walked out, and thought, “so, did God enjoy that?” I would suddenly be disturbed by the fact that I got so much pleasure out of something that probably offended God immensely. 

Obviously there are movies, magazines, shows and songs that have their flaws, but ultimately do glorify God. No man-made thing is perfect, and God can use even our imperfections. But I think what God is looking for, though, as we make decisions about what we indulge in, is our heart. You can’t really help hearing the f-bomb fly when you’re walking down the street. But you should be bothered by it, and maybe we shouldn’t pay someone $10+ to fill our heads with it.

Imho.

HSM!

I forgot to mention….. I saw High School Musical!! And yes (of course) I loved it. It was fun and funny and completely adorable. Most of you know that I’m very much against media thats not really “good for the soul,” so I report back to you that HSM definitely is. I’m telling ya; if MY high school had been like that, I may have never left…. hahaha

Jimmy Needham- Hurricane

So, I couldn’t find a better video. But I’m currently addicted to this song. I LOVE Jimmy Needham. He is unbelievably fantastic.

Verse for the day

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

I love this woman

Did you know that Kate Gosselin (from the TLC show Jon and Kate + 8 ) wants another baby? She swears she only wants one more. But she said in an interview (and I quote), “we have eight kids… what’s one more?” Hahaha. That is a woman after my own heart. The even better part is that they’ve looked into adopting a taglog baby, but they have about double the maximum amount of children to adopt from Korea. That would so be me. lol. She really inspires me. Her and Jon’s commitment to family is extraordinary. Here’s to praying I’ll manage to be at least half the woman she is. Frankly, I’d love to meet her sometime. Maybe in heaven. = )

I have to go to work

I’m telling you; I’m still not sure this paycheck nonsense is all it’s cracked up to be. Seriously, sometimes going to work seems like the least purposeful thing I could possibly be doing. Like the most meaningless, empty activity ever. Is that dumb? Am I just lazy? ‘Cause it’s not like I don’t like working. It’s just like, “making coffee for hours? oh yah, that’s going to make the world a better place…”

Deliberate friendships?

So I was looking at Bethany’s blogroll today (because she hasn’t posted in awhile) and it made me think about Sandals. Which made me start flipping through the blogs on the list (which is largely comprised of Sandal-ites). It kind of made me sad. Sandals is such a fantastic community. And I don’t just mean “group of people.” I mean community. The people who are involved are really apart of an awesome community of God-fearing, God-honoring people who are really commited to each other…. which is awesome. Seriously, just check out their blogrolls. Everyone’s got everyone else’s blog! lol. It’s funny.

But it kind of made me sad. Bruce and I do NOT have that kind of community AT ALL here. Not even close. And it’s frustrating and disheartening, and frankly I think it’s really draining our marriage. We should be dependent on each other, but I think we’re at the point where we’re really taking everything out of each other. Recently, we decided that we really don’t feel that the Rock is the best place for us, so we’ve been going to this place called Eastlake, which is MUCH smaller and significantly more community-driven. So I think we’re going to stay there. However, the church is in Chula Vista. Meaning the church is like, walking distance from Mexico. Meaning, the church is kinda far. lol. So if that’s what we really want to do, I REALLY want to move closer. A lot closer. But people seem to think that’s the worst idea ever (“you’d, like, basically be living in Mexico!”). But the area near and around the church is really nice, really suburban (yay) and frankly, not San Diego (double yay). We’ve been thinking about where we’re going to move in February (stinkin’ right before the baby gets here!), and I think moving out there might be a good idea. I don’t think we can really be apart of a church community if we never want to go out there except for church and then we feel the need leave immediately after because it’s going to be a long drive…

I’m starting to think that perhaps you don’t just meet the right kinds of people; you have to go find them. If so, I’m going community shopping; and not just residential community shopping.

Britney

So Bebo Norman (yes, the Christian singer) who is known for his honesty-to-a-fault songwriting, wrote a song…. for Britney Spears. He says in several interviews that he wrote it after just writing her off for years as just another Hollywood trainwreck, and then seeing a news clip of her being taken out of her house on a stretcher. He said the look on her face really resonated with him, and he was compelled to look at her in love as opposed to in judgement. I think the song is actually very touching. Britney has always sort of saddened me. If you think about it, really, the poor kid never had a chance. But I hope she hears this song because I think if anyone could sit her down and tell her something, at this point, this all that anyone could really say. God go with her.