Lil Brown Dress makes her goal!

Congratulations! That's a long time to go without a personal update ;)

I like simplicity. I liked the brown dress idea. I already use a simple wardrobe with additions to my basic black, browns & greens etc. Just the same I don't think I would have made, let alone enjoyed such a pledge. I salute you!

Sweet Carmel Meme :-D

Apparantly get-to-know- you questionaires are now sometimes regarded as 'Meme's


Accent: American Standard

Butter or Margarine: butter.

Chore I Hate: mess happens. stinkiness happens. I deal with it and go on. Stinkiness not found for awhile because the cat hid while doing it, because a glass was forgotten for a couple of days...with juice in it, or because the container was invisible behind the jelly in the fridge that nobody likes... this takes on a whole different dimension. I deal with that too, but I don't like it very much.


Dog or Cat: either can be wonderful :-D



Essential Electronics: to those who would live wired, I suppose they are ;-)

Favorite Cologne(s): Sunflowers, Spiced Green Tea, Green Tea(hard to find now), Liz Claiborne, Ghost Myst, and an unidentified Arabian oil-based perfume my hubby got me last year. It has such a warm scent :)

Gold or Silver: I would be pleased to receive plenty of either. I won't complain, promise!


Hometown: New Jerusalem?

Insomnia: *presents insomnia pet for your inspection* Its been feeling neglected for awhile now. You can have it if you like...

Job Title(s): wife, mom, nurse, crafts artist, writer, feeder of pets, adding more but I don't think I want to anounce until I have something I am ready to show


Kids: two great young'uns abide with me. I don't know how they put up with me sometimes, but I'm grateful they do. They even allege to enjoy it. lol

Living arrangements: A decent-sized house with lots of headroom. Tis' a pity we're mostly short. lol

Most admirable trait: affection, honesty, forgiveness. All fresh gifts passed on daily by Jesus

Nicknames: The main one I go by now is MMMmmmmooooommm!!! Then there's my hubby's endearments. :-)

Overnight hospital stays: for me or for the whole family? recently had one connected to pre-surgical check on my hubby. It went very well! One more session, and we may finally see the end of this trial. Unbelievably he may *still* be cleared for a small vacation trip soon afterward. I was surprised the doctor said that. We'll have to wait and see tho


Quote: I am always encountering quotes I think are worthy of thought and remembrance.

This one caught my attention recently in 'Christianity & Culture' (Part of Lewis' 'Christian Reflections")

"our leisure, even our play, is a matter of serious concern. There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan. But will Brother Every agree in acknowledging a real difficulty about mere recreational reading..., as about games? ... It is a serious matter to choose wholesome recreations: but they would no longer be recreations if we pursued them seriously"

God made us with a need to relax, to play. Hard to find many guidelines for what is 'edifying' play and what isnt, aside from avoiding obvious sin. I've heard about everything condemned by Ephesians 5:4.

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
3 But lewdness and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no lewd, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. -Webster 1833 ed

"much bad criticism, indeed, results from the efforts of critics to get a worktime result out of something that never aimed at producing more than pleasure."

Amen. He was referring to literary reviews but the concept is larger than that. Some people don't know how to just play. That would be sad enough but then they will judge others' responses based on their outlook. If all they do is for an intended effect or to get ahead in "x" way, everything you do must be for some deeper darker purpose. :/ IMHO Online gatherings seem to be especially vulnerable to the effects of people who join a play group with work/ politics/ personal ambitions foremost on their brains.

==========================
I had a dream recently about otters playing in the surf near an island with Riven-blue waters. They were just a bunch of tumbling, silly, friendly, innocent creatures splashing each other and dancing in the waves. For a minute I thought I was also an otter until I realized they were molting, and beneath that they were injured. I reached out to help one and realized I had hands. I was human but that difference wasn't enough to help them, so I prayed. A thinnish Ursula sat on a rock nearby shouting to the otters to do her bidding (they mostly ignored her) and insults at me ~ including "where is your God if he really is on your side?" ~ until Aslan bounded up the beach. Everytime she'd look, he'd look like something else ~ a smaller lion, a deer, a lamb, even a donkey. She'd turn away and laugh at us for paying these lowly creatures any mind ~ but we could see the huge lion steadily approaching.

Eventually Aslan appeared next to her and blew her off her perch. The otters laughed and spontaneoulsy healed as they rolled about in energetic play. The rest of the dream was just plain fun. Aslan bounded in and out as he pleased, which made us feel safe. I collected shells, played in the sand and splashed the otters. fun. I like fun. 'Ursula's are too focused on success to know what innocent lesiure time looks like!
======================


Religion: 'mere' Christianity. I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ in its entirety. I will accept any other sincere believers as being in the same spiritual family as myself be they Catholic, any variety Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, or un-Orthodox. ;-) I've even known a few sincere Mormons & Jehovah's Witnesses that I truly hope are claimed by heaven when they go to home.



Conversely, if the fruit of someone who claims to be a believer is consistently bad (See Galatians 5, Ephesians 4, Colossians 3, 2 Timothy ch2-3, Titus 3) their denominational protestations don't mean a whole lot. Everybody screws up sometimes but the believers will regret any wrong-doing intensely, will want to work out differences, won't seek to see how far they can spread the quarrel and who they can use against you, and will try to not to keep sinning in the same ways.

Siblings: Both half-brothers passed away years ago (when I was still a kid). I've been trying to adopt another ever since. My Mom doesn't seem to think this will work...

Time I wake up: varies wildly during trials like these.


Unusual talent or skill: writing, crafts of different sorts, design concepts

Vegetable I refuse to eat: lima beans - blecch!

X-rays: the initial check-up dental thingy is the only one I have had for years

Yummy stuff I cook: lamb roast with scratch gravy, homemade bread, decent breakfasts, quiche variations, noodle & rice casseroles with my own spices, scratch soups...

last books read: the Bible, "Babylon Rising" by Tim LaHaye, "Food Allergies and Intolerance," "Humor for a Mom's Heart," "Culture of Complaint" (I'll read political books from all over the ideological spectrum: Huffington to Coulter.), and a bit ironically, Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden - as I actually like to see our antlered neighbors stroll across the yard.

Strange to finally find this book now. I was looking for something like it for years on behalf of someone online I once thought was a friend ( seeking to be a good friend) and kept on because resulting discussions informed us that some local pals had the same trouble. I've never actually had that much trouble myself, despite our deer's fondness for our cantalopes & legumes. I recommend this book to anyone who has deer for neighbors whether you've got problems or not, as it explains rather well why deer do what they do when they do.

currently reading: "," "Christian Reflections" by C.S. Lewis, "Steal This Computer Book", The World's Religions, and rereading Behe's "Darwin's Black Box" & the Bible


verse for the day:

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. Proverbs 9: 10-11

Pattern quiz

I liked two patterns about equally so I put 'em both on here.

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy. You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts. People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused. But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

+++++>>>>> and <<<<<+++++

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is an incubator for good ideas, it just takes a while for them to develop. But when you think of something, watch out! Your thoughts tend to be huge, and they come on quickly - like an explosion. You tend to be quiet around others, unless you're inspired by your next big idea.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Happy 4th of July!

(clickee the image for more cool ecards you can send to friends all over the net from 123greetings.com)


Tis a glorious day to honor our vets
and remember the declaration that said
We are a free people with God-given rights
to tyranny we'll not bow our heads


Tis a Hot, stormy day, this 4th of July
and many still wonder if we
are still proud as a people
of our leader and laws
are we still the land of the free?

Liberty is always journeying on
there is never an end to the cost
We must always be ready to answer all men
or our dearly bought freedom be lost

So let us stand strongly and bravely for cause
that we believe in heart's heart to be right
'gainst enemies out and temptations within
that our torch remain brightly alight

-Salar

Blogging Independence

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Everybody is already celebrating the 4th around here. They have for days! Those beautiful fireworks will be shining somewhere in the area for several nights. The 4th is a big deal here, with all the military, gov't orgs, and the Revolutionary/Civil War historical sights in the area. Its quite impossible to forget the price of freedom when surrounded by so many reminders. Thank you so very much, veterans present and past, for your dedication to our country and to liberty.

freedom rings out o'er our land
purchased dearly by the blood of brave men

Also want to point out that one of the freedoms so dearly purchased is freedom of speech. That is, freedom to speak of your faith and out of your conscience, to come right out with happy sentiments as well as uncomfortable truths.

I was surprised how openly people declared their beliefs (religious, political, & other) when I first started checking out other folks' blogs. Blogging has become the new 'front porch' or even the 'soapbox in the park' where people can dare to be people again. People dare to debate the issues of the day, ask for prayer for a friend, or just share their lives.

Had a friend grouse that blogs were just online diaries. I said no, more like a public announcement system. What you announce is up to you, be it politics or how cute your grandbaby was in church today. Diaries are private.

To put it another way, imho blogging is the online equivalent of your own corner at the local soda fountain/barber shop/diner/general store where everybody meets and can have a say ~ with improvements. Your comments stick around instead of being 'interpreted' for latecomers. You can't get shouted down. You can allow others to comment or not. Even better, those comments will always come in order & can't be changed later. Anyone commenting on your blog is there because they want to be. You are never 'holding them up' or 'drowning' other conversation. You are never 'off-topic.' You decide what belongs here. Speak intelligently and you may change those your words touch.

Lots of folks are natural essayists/lecturers. & They'd like you to think about what they are trying to get off their chests. Face to face conversations benefit by sparking new thoughts but limit you in other ways. You always think of something you wish you'd said. Bloggers benefit from having the time and space to collect their thoughts without interruption. (okay you may have distractions around you in rl while you post, but that is why 'draft' & edit are such a nice features :)

People have remarked on their surprise at the large number of people who enjoy blogs. Who do they all post to? Each other, of course! Blogging is talking. People love to speak when they can do so freely. Blogs are a freer form of communication than most. You can share your thoughts with anyone who stops by ~ or just friends & family. Its great to find folks who have similar interests. That's also why people like webboards, especially when they are actively and fairly administrated. Ones that aren't run well face the danger of being taken over by cliques, but this is another reason blogs & personal websites are great for expanding freedom. The world always has its share of would-be tyrants, but on your sites, forums, & blogs you have a voice too, and that is a crucial checking power. You can get the truth out, as you know it. You can share your insights and have them expanded by other thinkers. You can talk over life, the universe, and everything. Blogs can be very good things indeed.

aaahh freedom!

Liberty will always rescue the art of conversation from her underground hideouts.

sparkling wit glows bright
only with free flowing air
closed boxes stifle life
-Salar

Split Second

Amethyst's poem struck a chord
string field that whirled 'round my mind
the dream of alternate pathways
of lives that could have been mine

For a moment I played in her shadow
in zephyr-like stream of accord
I went along her ghost walk unassuming
and savored the taste unexplored

but where would I have gone if I could have gone anywhere?
what kind of home would I choose
what hope would I keep
what languages learnt
what old baggage would I stand to lose?

my visions fail me when I think on what would be
if what could have occurred ~ had been
I gave Christ what once was frustration,
and peace has stilled those if-then's

I still have a fondness for change ~ and stability
A love for the ancient ~ and new
for silence and stillness
for resounding rich melody
deep vibrations I happily sing too

In the end I've found joy with the family I love
Change, I've found, is best dealt with ~ not sought
I take each day as it comes
enjoy the warmth of each sun
let Jesus bring wisdom to thoughts

On this side of heaven no certainty is that the path
we have taken is best.
I count no tomorrows
I accept joys and sorrows
and I'll trust my sweet Lord for the rest

>

(I've never been a poet, but sometimes I get bitten by the rhyming bug when I read someone else's efforts. heh)

Soda quizzles

Which Pepsi-Cola or Coca-Cola soda are you most like?

PEPSI-COLA.
Take this quiz!

I like Pepsi okay but its not a favorite. Like the write-up though ~

Its like I'm on my own journey
exploring the path less taken
handmade rucksack in hand
KI on alert
for the Quendor vending machine
near the oldest of universities

lol

----------------------------

Take the quiz:
Which soda are you?

Sunkist
You are a very cheerful and sweet person.Everyone loves you (except for those who envy you)
Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!

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Sunkist actually was a favorite at one point growing up. I still like the color & remember the flavor with reasonable fondness, I just couldn't (and still can't) deal with the artificial dyes they used.

-----------

DR. PEPPER You scored 11 fizziness!

You scored as Dr. Pepper. you are sweet, likable, and somewhat addictive. you like having people around you at all times, but sometimes will go to great lengths (that could get you into trouble) just to have the attention of those around you. or not. Maybe you already have your own crowd. One of the two.

You scored higher than 99% on fizziness

Link: The what soda are you Test written by DancySpongecake

------------------------
Yeah, baby! Momma-san likes zee Dr Pepper :-D
(Not real worried about the crowd thing. :)

My actual favorite sodas are:: Dr Pepper, Cheerwine, Coca-cola classic, Sierra Myst..errr..Mist, & IBC rootbeer. Actually, I wouldnt say no to any old-fashioned rootbeer or sarsaparilla. Enjoyed quite a few organics from the local co-ops and such growing up.

how 'bout you?

Mantra

While I was attending a public high school, a popular song came out that insisted "everybody wants to rule the world." I wasn't very pleased with it. I knew I didn't want to rule the whole world. I wouldn't want to have to account to God for it! Most of my fellow students agreed that it was pretty silly to think that everyone had delusions of grandeur...the first week.

It was interesting to watch the effect this chant-sounding song had on people as the weeks passed, and the radios (& MTV) played it more and more often. I especially remember a good friend who laughed at the song with me the first week, was humming it often three weeks later, and finally debated the 'truth' of it with me (a true convert!) a month or so after that. He had decided that everybody *did* want to rule the world, and insisted he'd come to this conclusion on his own and not because he was listening to a message to that effect day in and day out. I may say it had a deleterious effect on his character. The guys who went for it become snots until they quit listening to it so much.

What made me different? My faith? Perhaps. But I was always a different kid, so much so that several friends and relations insisted I was an 'old soul.' (God made it plain eventually that He made me like I am). So some of my resistence to modern humanism may be a natural gift from my Maker, but I was also blessed to take breaks from popular culture while growing up. My earliest years included exposure to the ARE crowd in Virginia Beach, but I rarely saw Sesame Street. Some years I attended public school and sometimes I was in private situations, including a cottage homeschool system in N.C. that I still remember fondly. We ate from our gardens & organic co-ops whenever possible. We had a tv at home (purchased when I was nearly 7), but it stayed off for much of my childhood. I had the chance to know gentle back-to-the-Earthers, Mennonites, Messianics, Jesus Freaks, and other counter-culture folks. I learned to read books for fun. I observed nature myself, without another's interpretation coloring everything I saw. Most of all, I had time to think and encouragement in forming opinions all my own. I had no idea how blessed I was in this!

& I still remember the shock of kids who couldnt believe I didn't regularly watch the latest shows or want the latest toys (a lot of them were really stupid- this was the 70's.)

Why were they shocked at my lack of interest in such ephemerals?

I was really glad I liked Star Wars. That gave me some common ground to continue speaking to those who apparantly had nothing else in their lives to discuss (that they valued). Their worlds were full of oft-repeated ads, idolized images, and injunctions ~ mantras saying buy this, eat that, play with these, believe this, and you'll be fashionable/popular/on the road to success! Some of these would be true (eat your veggies and you'll be healthier) and others were... advertising.

By way of gentle example:: Remember the Song "Its a Small World After All?" Many of us actually believe that the world IS a small place after all. If you think about it, you know this is silly. The Earth is huge compared with us. It hasn't shrunk in the slightest since our ancestors reflected on the vast expanses that surrounded them. This view (& Disney's song) is a paean to motorized transport, to the relative size of our planet to the enormous hugely hugeness of the heavens beyond, and, most especially, to aircraft travel. But the impossible-to-truly-envision enormity of the universe doesn't make our globe any tinier. Anywhere the connections don't connect or don't go, those ole miles stretch out just like they used to. (Palin's Pole to Pole & Around the World in 80 Days travelogues demonstrate this admirably.) But it meant, you may protest, that we can get there faster and that the cultures of the Earth are much more connected. Yep, flight & cars usually make travel faster, and the nations do know about each other, but in many minds, wherever the song (and slogans like it) have taken root and haven't been critically examined, the ridiculous idea remains that our planet is much smaller than previously thought and that this makes it quicker and easier to get anywhere. The warm-fuzzy variegated global society suggested by Disney's song (among other sources), has yet to materialize as well. The Chinese don't identify with us all that much. Many Europeans disown any 'family' resemblance to Americans quite regularly. Tourists are welcome because they bring money. Globe Trekkers are welcome because they will probably be followed by tourists. Journalists impact the global reputation of the nation. If you, however, trust to a 'family of nations' ethic to keep you safe in other countries... Well, actually, I don't think you are that stupid. Danger does lovely things for causing folks to reconsider what they've been told.

You've been told soooo many things over and over since your early school years. Did you ever notice how often the 'thinking critically' sections of your textbooks were invitations to support the arguments in the chapter? Were you ever encouraged to consider how or whether a theory promoted in your textbooks was true? I wasn't, not in public schools! I still remember the elementary school instructor who screamed at me for better than an hour, and even threatened to flunk me for refusing to say on a multiple choice test that I was a descendant of a primate. I respectfully offered to write an answer that showed I understood the theory, but could not agree with it. This was not good enough. She wanted a statement of faith in her mantra. Until that day and hour I had thought her a fairly reasonable person, despite her earlier irritation when I read my literature book for the year over the weekend. It took the intervention of the church we attended to resolve the situation, and with their help I finished the year in a private academy with religious ties. This turned out to be great news for me. My new Christian tutors allowed me read and think as much as I liked, and my educational deficit (I was lagging well behind my potential) was largely addressed. Who do you think looked more 'progressive' to me? Whose liberality had more credibility?

Did you ever get the 'lifeboat' scenario in middle school? I did, as part of the 'great books' program in another public school. You remember how those went? You were asked to come up with a quick response in round-table discussion (I chose 'pray.') and was then told to write a naturalistic (trans: no God) response to the situation. I wrote that it would be better to risk death than destroy your character by purposely planning to harm others for personal gain. (I was very much into Tolkein & tales of knight errantry at the time and had decided the ideals presented had merit.) I thought hard about my answers, as I was asked to do. I honestly expected my answers to be tossed into the mix as one of many possibilities. Instead my answer was immediately passed over by a decidedly shocked-looking assistant instructor (Later we were told that my reply wasn't included in her teacher's discussion manual and she just didn't know what to say.) My teacher in that place was actually a better person, and didn't try to penalize me academically for speaking my conscience, she just didn't call on me much... Not too bad, except that I actually liked answering questions.

Its so much easier to write what you know others want to hear, isn't it? So much easier to assume the 'experts' have all the answers. It so much easier to believe blindly what you are told. Don't think. Don't make waves. Of course you decided to believe it yourself.... aahh IT* has such a soothing voice!

*from L 'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time"

Remember the high school kids who bought into that song "everybody wants to rule the world?"They'd also insist that no oft repeated song/music video, tv show theme, textbook, or slogan convinced them of what they then believed. Point out that the very phrasings they used came from textbooks or popular culture and all you'd get was a resounding "so what?!?"

Not that people didn't ever disagree, but even then it wasn't unusual to hear conflicting viewpoints reference another literary or pop culture icon ~ like the song above versus Annie Lennox's "sweet dreams are made of this..." ~ rather than their simple personal opinion. My own view ran the other way. I felt their voices counted because these were their personal opinions (however influenced), and these were friends. I cared about them - not the mantras they had accepted.

The earlier the repetition begins, the more certain the individual is that whatever has been told to him/her is a fact, unless they take some time to think over the 'certainties' of their existence. That doesn't often happen before a kid leaves formalized schooling, if it happens at all.

While we were on the road the other day, Tom and I were reflecting on how some people seem to mature rapidly once they leave institutionalized schooling/corporate structures. Why some and not others? Could it be that mantras lose their impact with stronger personalities when not continuously reinforced?

Food for thought anyway.

Happy Father's Day!

(clickee the image to send this card or another one from 123greetings to a Dad you wish to honor :)

Happy Father's Day to my husband, Tom, & to my most honorable father-in-law!

Happy Father's Day to all good Dads
May love and honor crown your life
May you live long and happily with kids and wife
May God preserve your little ones, girls and lads
and see your household safe to heaven




and to father of the fatherless, our dear sweet Saviour

Thank you for being the one to catch us when we fall
For valuing us when others did not
For being the Dad who'll always be there
for calling us on to a better life.
You give us what we need the most
and comfort us always through your Holy Ghost.
Your peace fulfils our family
Your promise protects us from harm
Your joy gives our lives a new song
and I want to thank you all the day long

:)

Piccies!

Put some new family piccies up in my photo site. Most of them are nature-oriented, but in honor of the weekend here is one for my beloved, talented, devoted, (& occasionally irascible) spouse



Gimli on his hot rod :)

David & Saul

Great blog!

Obi Wan Kenobi

Yep. I'm still aligned with the good side of the Force. Got Kenobi again. I don't recall taking one of these quizes and *not* getting Kenobi.

He really is my favorite Star Wars character too. Has been since I was a little kid. :)

Your results:
You are Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi 78% Princess Leia 69% Yoda 68% R2-D2 68% Luke Skywalker 67% Padme 66% Qui-Gon Jinn 65% Chewbacca 59% Han Solo 58% An Ewok 58%

You are civilized, calm, and have a good sense of humor, even when those around you don't. You can hold your own in a fight, but prefer it when things don't get too exciting.

(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters)


Click here to take the "Which Star Wars character are you?" quiz...

The Fear of the Lord

Got inspired by a blog..only to realize the writer has long since ceased to tend that particular garden. So I'll add my tuppence here. :P

From Jan

"We are told to fear God- I have heard that explained as a different kind of fear, not a "bad" fear. What do you think it means to fear God? Is there a better word, or is that simply what it is, to have the same intense feeling that is fear?"

From Fred

"Well I don't know if I know the answer to your question or not, but I think Proverbs 9:10 sheds a little diffrent light on the fear of God. It says The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. This kind of couples wiht Proverbs 8:13 which says To fear the Lord is to hate evil: I hate pride and arrogance,evil behavior and perverse speech." My note in my bible says The phrase "fear of the Lord" doesn't mean fright or terror. it means "a good relationship with God" based on reverence and respect for him and his commands. Here, for instance, the fear of the lord means righteous living. So I don't really know how to answer your question exactly. But I do know that fear of the lord doesn't seem to mean fear as we usually know it. I don't think we should be scared of God...but let's recognize his greatness and be humbled by that."

from Zack::

"For when they tried to look as Aslan's face they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn't look at him and went all trembly" - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I just finished reading this, and thought of your blog.

I agree that knowledge of the Lord will (or should) bring fear and trembling. I will compare it to the fear I got when I leaned over the railing at Niagara Falls. To behold such power, magnificence, beauty, and awesomeness. To realize how powerless and tiny I am in comparison. To have knowledge of the Lord, to me, is to realize how little control I have, and to understand how much Greatness is beyond and around me. God created everything. I guess this type of 'fear' is more like 'reverence' or 'awe-struckness'. However, along with this (and more than this) I was also 'afraid' of Niagara Falls. The slight butterflies in the stomach. The heart begins to race. As I leaned over the rail, I was afraid, but I also was extremely alive! To be so close to such awesomeness was scary yet exhillarating. If Niagara falls is this magnificent, what can we say of its Creator? Niagara Falls must be like watching a dripping faucet as compared to the face of God.

I thought of Aslan too. C.S. Lewis was trying to help a modern audience understand what deep adoration the sudden appearance of He who is perfect wisdom, strength, and purity would inspire. Its not an easy topic for mortals.

God is good. God is completely just. God is the source of all wisdom. God is also the ultimate power not only in, but beyond the universe. Proverbs 16:14 mentions that there is death in the anger of a king. How much more is this true of God?

It is great to understand God is so wonderful that He actually deserves all of our love and adoration. It is amazing to contemplate His Love for us, awesome to consider His glory, humbling to understand how unworthy we are of His attention (let alone of so much sacrifice on His part) and terrifying to know what we really deserve at His nail-scarred hands.

"The fear of the Lord" which brings wisdom can encompass all of this.

IMHO limiting our understanding of the "fear of the Lord" to awe is not good. Awe is hard to get a grip on when we have little sense of the restrained power that actually confronts us. More folks would behave themselves better if they thoroughly understood that "the (meek and mild) image (of Jesus) we present" (Michael Card, "Scandalon") is not a complete picture of Messiah/God.

I think people forget that God is not bound by the same limitations Christians have.

Christians are not to judge because that is God's job. (2 Tim 4:1, Heb 12:23) It is He who judges all sinners who do not repent (2 Peter 2:9) AND chastises His erring children (Heb 12:7). Christians do not seek vengence because vengence belongs to the Lord (Heb 10:30). Christians are ordered to refrain from strife whenever possible because "the Battle Belongs to the Lord." ( Google credits this song to Petra, but I know it from one of John Michael Talbot's praise albums) 2 Chron 20 :15, Prov 21:31, 1 Tim 2:2, James 3:17, Rom 12:18,

Whenever we call down judgement on one another, we are judged equally harshly ourselves. (Matt 7 :1-2 , Luke 6:37) Whenever we refuse to forgive others, we put ourselves square in the path of God's wrath. (Matt 6:15 )

God is meek and mild to those who will receive Him that way, but a literal Holy terror to those who will not receive His mercy. The only wise posture to adopt before an all-knowing, all-powerful Judge is thankful humility for the clemency you receive from Him (because we have all transgressed against Him).

A healthy fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom as it discourages you from making decisions that put you on the wrong side of God's promises.

Acceptance of His forgiveness is the next step.

"Our God is an awesome God! He reigns from Heaven above in wisdom, power, and love. Our God is an awesome God."
Rich Mullins, 'Awesome God'

Dan Brown Novel Generator

"Archs and Archs is a shocking masterpiece!"
The Guardian

The Knights Templar have kept the secret of the blood line of Jesus for nearly a millennium. A beautiful violinist, Chloe Alberti, has stumbled upon their trail. The Knights Templar will stop at nothing to keep their secret, but can The Osirica stop *them* first?!

"A shocking tale of suspense! *****"
The Washington Post

Got this from a writer's list. Hilarious (if you manage not to reflect on how often we see these sorts of books). Have fun! Just click the image to go make your own! :-D

quizzleness

You Are a Boston Terrier Puppy

Aggressive, wild, and rambunctious. Deep down, you're just a cuddle monster.

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

You Are an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

On the surface, you're a little plain - but you have many subtle dimensions to your personality. Sometimes you're down to earth and crunchy. Other times, you're sweet and a little gooey.

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

You Should Drive a Jaguar XK 4.2

You don't care how you get there as long as you get there with class. And having a little power doesn't hurt either!

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?