Auto-Tune the News #9: Nobel. health care. United Nations.

Jesus Makes Me Look Good

I'm a fraud. At least that's how I feel right now. I was visiting a website that a friend of mine suggested... http://andrewkooman.com . She thought I might be interested in his writing and what he is doing with his life as many of the things are what I claim to be passionate about. Civil liberty and freedom. Abolition of modern slavery. True religion, taking care of widows and orphans in their affliction. When I say that I am thinking very specifically about some of those my brother David visited and lived amongst when he was with Hands at Work in Africa this year.
I do care... but there is still a great part of me that is loathe to give up the life I have here.
It is not that it's perfect, in fact there are many things I would change in a heart beat. But I have a job that I enjoy, and love to see the ways some of the children in the school are growing in the knowledge and understanding of God's love for them. I am close to my family. I enjoy close friendships. I have a comfortable little nook in the basement of my parents home... not everyone's dream I know, but the rent is cheap and the company is fantastic :D

It is an easy life.
But I am not certain it is the abundant life that Christ has called me to. I know there are times when I felt really alive. When I knew without a shadow of a doubt I was just where God wanted me, doing just what he wanted me to do. They were exciting times. Fearless times. Times when Jesus had the reigns on what I did and when I did it.

If I were to recount some of the stories... and I do, especially to my students. I come out sounding very brave... very godly even... But here's the thing - It wasn't really me. It was Jesus. Just when I was at my least capable He took over. I'm very grateful He did because I got to experience with Him some extraordinary things. I learned things from Him with words that came out of my own mouth. Wise things that made me look very clever. But they were not my own.

I love that kind of life, so I am not sure what keeps me from living it every day. I love that Jesus makes me look good. I know the way I would act if it were just up to me. In fact I have done too much of that kind of living in the last year. I have done too much 'giving up in the face of adversity'. I have done too much 'how can I do just enough to look like I'm still giving my all to Jesus, while still maintaining some control of my actions, words and thought life'. I have done too much talking. I want to go back to letting Jesus do it.
So that is my pray for this year... I was tempted to call it my new years resolution, but then we'd be right back to what I am going to do. So my pray for this new year is... that He might increase and I might decrease. That I will go with Him wherever He wants me to. That I will do less talking to others and more walking and talking with Him. I pray that I might do all this through Christ Jesus who strengthens me!

NOW... Here's to an exciting AD 2010... and the rememberence that it is THE YEAR OF OUR LORD...

A favorite Christmas poem of mine by John Schienbein

T'wasn't it the night before Christmas? (A Christmas eve poem)

In the winter as the cold winds blow,

Atop my roof on ice and snow,

No sound is heard, no hooves, no bells,

For Santa is dead, our town crier yells,

At half past eleven this Christmas eve night,

The town gasps and weeps at that terrible sight,

A once jolly fat man with red cheeks, suit, and hat,

Freshly gored by a reindeer is lying down flat,

The sirened cars come, the policemen get out,

They question if anyone’s seen Rudolf about,

A little plump boy with a tear in his eye,

States that he saw that villain, just this moment fly by,

The police call a hunter renowned for his aim,

Quite ironically Chris Kringle the third was his name,

He got out his rifle with a scope he called Mark,

They looked to the sky but the sky was too dark,

That same chubby boy, snot running down on his clothes,

Cried out "That monster can't hide, cause he’s got a red nose!"

They looked for that red glow, surveying the night,

Yet not one could see Rudolf’s red nose’s bright light,

Just then "Not my Johnny!" a mother was crying,

Rudolf's struck again, a fresh body was lying,

This time it was Johnny that same pumpkin shaped boy,

With this message in blood "Snitches die with no toy!"

The message was, without a doubt scribed,

By the tip of an antler, as the little boy died,

"That's gone too far!" roared Chris Kringle in thund’rous tones,

"By dawn Rudolf's pelt will be mine, I shall grind up his bones!"

Chris then picked up his gun and was gone on his mission,

The town mourned dear Johnny and sent for the mortician,

As for the two bodies, the town did agree,

They were boxed up like presents, buried under a tree,

Then at about dawn, there arose such a racket,

Chris Kringle returned in a new reindeer jacket,

You could hear Him cry out, with a deep, "HOHOHO!"

As Rudolf’s ground bones, fell to earth like fresh snow,

That Christmas held sorrows yet joy was still found,

For we had a great feast and roast reindeer abound.

A lesson was learned by the children that day,

That the one who’s a snitch, will most certainly pay.

Keeping up with the Schienbeins...

Last year we decided to send out a "family Christmas photo" so we bought matching t-shirts on a trip to North Dakota and posed as a human Christmas tree. Great fun. It was so well received, especially by family that we figured we needed to do it again. But we also knew we had to top it. For the last few weeks I have been working on my Norman Rockwell style, family Christmas masterpiece. If you would like to be a recipient of said work of art... please do request one, and add your address to the comments sheet. Who knows... it may be worth something someday. After all there will be a limited number of prints made :D
Above is last years... We topped it!
buh bye... and happy holidays!

Confession time.

So, I bought a bar of chocolate yesterday... a delicious fruit and nut bar, one of my favorites... but that's not the confession.

I also bought some cleaner for the bathroom. In the bag, the cleaner spilt and covered everything. I really wanted the chocolate so I decided to wash it off instead of throwing it out. Today when I opened it up it looked a little wet, so I dryed it off and had a few pieces. Now I am worried I poisoned myself. AND for no good reason! Just wanted chocolate and didn't want to go to the store again. True story.

New News!

Well, I have news.... and I know how you like news.

They are filming some scenes for the new A-Team movie in town.

I am more excited than I should be. Honestly, I found out this morning and have already spent hours thinking about what they would be up to and how I could just happen to bump into someone from the cast. BUT, I'm not alone. It seems like everyone on facebook is posting about this... well, everyone on facebook from Cold Lake anyway. Things like, "Jim Carey is at the highschool, Im a gon see him" why he would be at the high school, I don't know. Or ... "My hubby and I just saw Jessica Biel on the security tapes at his work.", also " Bradley Cooper was walking down the hall at my husbands work." and even, "The cast was at the Beehive this afternoon." What's the Beehive? A second hand store on the airbase. So I know I am not alone in this excitement.

Still... I wish I was alone in... a room with them, I have questions and some comments and a few exclamations. :D

Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be THE day. I'll pull out my biggest camera and be the local papparazzi.. Papparazzi always know where to find them!

Kitty Genovese Syndrome?

I was reading this article in "intresting thing of the day" entitled Kitty Genovese Syndrome. Also known as "the guilty bystander" syndrome. You I'm sure are familiar with the shocked reports of someone who was killed or injured or mugged, in plain view of the general public and no one stops to do anything.

Some also relate it to lack of care for the homeless, passing by people in obvious distress because we manage to come up with a logical reason why we shouldn't. Or a practical reason why what appears to be distress, may in fact be merely a misunderstanding.

But, more often than not, it isn't... is it? More often, there really is something quite horrible happening. Someone really is in desperate need of assitance.

The article carries on to talk about 'International Bystanders'. The idea that there are horrific things happening in other areas of the globe that we have become desenstized to...

" When I saw the film Hotel Rwanda, I left the theater very upset. The genocide in the early 1990s that left 800,000 Rwandans dead occurred with very little intervention from either those within Rwanda or the international community—a profound example, as several commentators have pointed out, of Kitty Genovese Syndrome. I simply couldn’t fathom that anyone could know what was going on and do nothing. And yet, paradoxically, I can imagine no other response—with so many other people in the world, surely this must be someone else’s problem. Someone wiser, more powerful, or closer to the situation. What could I have done anyway? I have my own problems. But then, so does everyone else.
There’s no cure for this problem. Even knowing about this effect as I do, chances are, I’ll someday be an unhelpful bystander once again. But just maybe I’ll have the presence of mind to realize that the person best qualified to help is the one willing to take action in the face of confusion and doubt. —"

Yesterday I was watching "Hands at Work" videos with my brother David. He was trying to decide what would be appropriate to play in church. The work this group is doing in some of the most impoverished spots in Africa is amazing! Even more amazing is what God is doing. However, I was so convicted that I am a bit of a guilty bystander... I know what is happening there. People, that are my brothers and sisters because of Jesus, are dying horrific deaths. They are starving to death. They are being ravaged by diseases that we have medicines for. Children are suffering the sting of rejection from family members that are terrified of catching the diseases that killed their parents. I cried. Rightly so. But how can I do more. How can I most effectively reach out to my hurting family?

One video Dave played for me profiled a family that Hands at Work was just starting to help out. They seemed excited about the possibility of building a care centre in the area so that the family, and many others like them in that area could have consistent support. Apparently the group that filmed them wanted to do a follow up 12 months later, but were unable to give a good report. There was so much unrest in Mozambique, and the present government is so closed, that although the money was raised to build the centre they are unable to get it into the country. They can only smuggle (literally) small amounts at a time. I know that some people would be disappointed to hear this, and possibly even wonder what the point is. BUT shouldn't this then elicit a different repsonse? It's not enough for us in the west to throw money at the poverty there.

Obviously, they need our prayers. We should be praying that the country opens up in a way that allows this center to be built. Maybe they need more "smugglers". People that would take the time to help bring in the funds... the hard way.

Okay, so obviously I am a bit removed, and don't know the perfect solution, but I know that I can be doing much more than just sending money. I know I can give more of myself, my time, my gifts and abilities. In fact, I must. It is a biblical mandate.

I must not be a guilty bystander, international or otherwise.

A new day...

Summer's gone. The weather has taken a turn for the colder and the leaves are changing. Work has started again. I hate that it makes me melancholy, but it does. It just seems like I have to gear up for another year of "the same old, same old." It's strange to feel like that because I know that technically the year already holds a lot of changes in store.
I think it probably has more to do with another approaching birthday. I wish I could hold back the years. It seems like there is still so much undone I can't afford another birthday. I want to leave each year brightly... but somehow I managed to wile away my time on silly little things that don't add up to anything great in the grand scheme of things.
I wonder if that disappoints God? I know He loves me no matter what. But... he has given me so much and I feel like I do so little with it sometimes. I know for certain that I spend to much time on myself and not enough on others. I don't want to be like that. I want to give more. Somehow, I end up embracing our culture that says "you need to take more and more time for yourself and what makes you happy." Although, I know from experience that I am happiest when I am thinking of, and doing, less of/for myself and more of/for others. I tell myself I don't have time in the day. That between work and studies I just can't. But the truth is... I have time to paint, and read, and knit and watch tv. So I definitely have time for others I just need to channel it. To choose it.
So... what am I going to do about it?
I need a plan. I need to get involved with people that will keep me accountable. I need to give all my life to God (again) to use as He pleases.

What it's like....

It's like watching the clouds... seeing one in particular that catches your eye, reminding you of something but you can't quite put your finger on it. It's not a dinosaur, a bunny, a bird, or any of the usual things. Then the wind high above turns, almost unfelt by you... Down below it is just an almost imperceptable breeze - but it pushes and the large cloud moves and finally what you were looking for and straining to discern becomes clear.

You see clearly what it is you thought you saw from the beginning; and you can start to put into words what was once just an idea or a hope. A cloudy dream taking shape.

Water, Water for King David

2 Samuel 23 :13-17
And three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time to David in the cave of Adullam, and a troop of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
And David said longingly, Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!
And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem by the gate and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.
And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, to drink this. Is it not [the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives? So he would not drink it.
This passage about David has bothered me for a long time. I didn't pay VERY much attention to it to be honest; I just thought it was one of those stupid things David did, that showed how very human he could be. "Acting so irrationally and with such carelessness and yet... God still calls him a man after His own heart." (that was my first thought)

Now I can hardly believe how careless I was with this passage.

Of course David wanted water... a little taste of home in the midst of war, and not as a passing whim but with a type of hunger that homesickness can create for the things you once enjoyed . He did recognize the sacrifice and risk his men took in order to get him this drink -- so why did he pour it on the ground without so much as a sip?

He did it because of it's value. He did it because it was the very best. It was water fit for a King! So he gave what he most desired at that moment to God. He didn't even sample what he would offer to his LORD. There no "two for you, one for me!" in his thinking. He loved God. He had something of great value now in his possession that could be laid before his God.

It reminds me very much of Genesis 22 where Abraham is asked to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac his beloved son! -- a result of a longstanding promise from God! I can understand the passage as it relates to Jesus and the Father, but it's hard to wrap myu mind around the willing sacrifice of a blessing from God.

My immediate thinking when God sens a blessing is that it is for my enjoyment. I do not immediately think, "Yay! God has provided a way for me to give to him the very best!" And so the blessings, although very much a blessing no mater what is done with it, remains in that moment mine alone. BUT, if I were to offer it back to God as it says in Malachi 3, just wait and see... "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Instead I often give left overs... left over time, left over talents... I don't mean left overs as in... bits that have sat around and are now useless, I mean giving out of an abundance, but not when it costs something. Is it as bad as offering second best? Probably, earlier in Malachi it gives a warning to Priests who were not offering "the best". It says in verse 7-9 "You place defiled food on my altar."But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
"Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty.

The thing is... God does not demand EVERYTHING, just the recognition that because of His position he should be considered first. If we do put Him first the blessings in our lives, through that right relationship with Him will expand to include not only ourselves but those around us.

In this act of pouring out the water, and throughout his time in the cave David offered praises to God. Leading by example, he showed these men that worship, true worship, picks you up out of darkness and into the Light. It pulls your attention from your own distress and/or depression and focuses it on the one who holds LIFE in his hands.

It makes life in a "pit" not only bearable but joyous! It makes heroes out of mere men. To pour out the water didn't, as I had first supposed, reveal David's human-ness by some rash reaction; but rather, revealed the heart of God in him as he humbly offered the best that he had.

Good Grief

If I could paint a "living" picture to represent grief, I think it would be an asteroid landing in a lake. There is that initial tidal wave. Emotion that is so completely overwhelming everything around is overwhelmed by it. Immediately following are waves, they come quickly one after the other, with very brief moments of respite. Following this, smaller waves a greater distance apart, but still moving in against the shore, carrying out with them a bit of the soft sand. Later, possibly much later, are little ripples... so far apart they are hardly noticed by those that are not close to the water, but they are there and they still upset the water enough that the calm "glassy-ness" is not yet returned.... maybe it never will.

I was talking with my sister in law the other night and we were talking about this very thing. I know I've written about it probably more than one can bear to read, but I am still surprised that I can randomly cry over a friend that passed away many years ago now. I was sitting in church on Sunday and these waves of grief just kept washing over me. It had nothing to do with anything specific that was said... I just remembered her and missed her. My sister in law was telling me her similar story and we talked about missing family and friends even some that although still alive, for one reason or another are no longer a part of our lives. When the grief again creeps in after so many years it can be a little surprising, don't you think? The larger gaps in between the ripples give you a false sense that things have returned to the way they were before the tragic event that immersed you in a time of grief.

Well, all that said... I know it will sound very strange, but I am glad for the ripples. Somehow it validates once again the stronger emotions that came first. It reminds me that my life was forever changed by someone else being in it. Even though the time seemed short, there are phrases and ways of looking at things that are a part of me now because of that friend... the grief is a sort of reminder of where it came from.
More than that, those ripples remind me of the fact that I miss this person because death in and of itself was not a part of God's perfect plan. He has given us a chance to join Him in eternity. He conquered death, he conquered sin and there will be a day when I can enjoy the fullness of that victory. So deep down under the sadness there is still always a glimmer of hope and joy and perfect peace.

It is in that way... a Good Grief.

Project Natal for XBOX 360

So amazing!! You have to watch it, it's crazy.
It feels like all of a sudden they've taken things straight out of science fiction and made them fact!

The Dave is in Africa Bilbo Baggins says...

the title is an ode to my brother Dave :P

He is in fact in Africa, at this very moment... staying in a child headed household*, apparently not very far from the city of Nelspruit.

Working with a group called Hands at Work Africa...

I highly encourage you to check out the website. I really appreciate the mission and vision of

this group. It seems they really throw you right in the deep end though.

David hasn't even been in the country a whole week, but he will be spending the next few days

alone in a village, hopefully with some sort of interpreter as he doesn't yet know the language...

and with a list of jobs that need to be done there.

* a child headed household, is a home where both parents are missing - usually orphaned children with one older (12 year old in this case) sibling taking on the role of both Father and Mother.

I'm sure he would value your prayers and if you would like to follow his adventures he has a blog that he will update as often as he can.

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

beautiful... I love how an entire audience was called out...
she really is somehow entrancing.

LIFE

It's fragile isn't it?

This week I was talking to someone who is struggling through a rough patch. I noticed how much of the problem is caused by a desire to control ones own circumstances. But it's all an illusion. We don't really control anything, except perhaps our choice of reaction. Things happen that are so outside our control that it's almost laughable that we could ever even imagine we have control even for a moment.

I always watch the news, especially Hollywood news, and I was surprised to hear they were covering a story about Natasha Richardson who, by all accounts, suffered a very minor accident. But tonight, they reported she has passed away. A freak accident on the bunny slope. It is tragic and sad. Completely beyond her control... beyond even the control of the physicians attending her.

Another friend is applying to Universities, but seems to have been living too long elsewhere to still be considered in State.

We have a several students moving on, and now wonder the direction the school will take. What the future holds is not within our control.

None of us knows with certainty the days marked out for us.

Knowing this... what is my role? How, now, shall I live to make the most of each moment. I was reading through an excerpt with one of my students, "Markheim" by Robert Louis Stevenson. In it, Markheim, asks a miserable looking shop keep, why do you not live? Why don't you treat each second as a fiery precipice? You have no friends, you spend your holiday alone reviewing your bookkeeping. There is no life in that living. Take a chance, stand on the edge...

It's so easy to "take control". It's so safe. Or at least that is the illusion. I don't want to live this way, but I realize that more and more the last few years I have allowed myself to be controlled and managed by my culture. I have been seeking out a living, I have been saving my monies, I have worked hard, and taken time for myself... and I have become a product of that. It has become a much greater effort to abandon myself to God. It has become harder to give joyfully without counting "the cost".

But in the span of eternity, what does it gain me.

What am I really in control of? Whether or not I die to myself daily. Life is really to short, to not live with eternity in mind. The only way to live in a way that effects eternity, is to abandon my life to God, the one who has created time and eternity, the one who has created me and knows just what I am fitted for. The only one who can direct my life in a way that has maximum effect.

You want to talk about control - He's got it.

There is a verse... that says that he keeps everything in place... He sustains all of creation by His Word.

There is nothing that happens that God is unaware of. Not one sparrow falls to the ground that he doesn't know of. He knows every hair on our heads. He searches us out. There is no where we can go that He is not there.... Before we took our first breath He knew us... all of whom we would be.

Knowing this, (and liking the feeling of some sort of control) why would I live a life in any way separated from the one who knows what's next. The one who can change hearts and lives. Why would I let my lazy or selfish pursuits put up barriers between us?

I am so glad that despite the fact that I can be... have been, at times unfaithful... God is always faithful. Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. (Rom 3:3,4)

"But now, God shows us a way to be made right with Him.....

.... by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for our sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith...." Romans 3

Father, help me to abandon myself to you. Thank you for saving me, I pray that you give me the strength to accept the abundant life you have for me. Forgive me for trying to take control away from you... it is so proud and so foolish. I pray that I will really live, and not waste this precious time you have given me. Father, please do bless those that have become aware this week of their lack of control. I pray that they will soften their hearts towards you. That they will accept you and the good plans that you have for them. Plans to prosper and not to harm... plans to give them a future and a hope. Father please be their peace, when life feels like it's falling to pieces. Surround them with the warm and inviting light of your love. Please Father, I pray that though some may try and whisper lies, they will see the truth of Your word... in Your Word made flesh.

Be'shem Yeshua, Amen!

Kunio Kato 2009 Oscar's Speech

My favorite speech of the evening!! He is an absolutely genius...

Peace! Peace! But there is no peace - A conversation

This is written by a man named T S*, a former Muslim PLO Sniper who fought for Yasser Arafat following the '67 War. He was born in Gaza and this is what he writes about the war, on the website onceanarafatman.com
"Now, onto the current war in the Gaza strip...it is so amazing to me how many people suddenly become experts about the Middle East. I am not, by any means, an expert. War, any way you look at it, is an ugly thing. One thing I must say, the world is becoming so "anti-Israel" because of the lack of understanding of the real conflict. Let me say this, the real conflict is spiritual and not political. If Hamas could get their hands on the same capabilities the Israelis have, they would have erased Israel off the map a long time ago. The casualties of war that we see is horrified and expanded by AlJazeera and the like because of their being so "biased". Don't take everything they show you as truth. Their goal is to win sympathy for people like Hamas.I feel horrified by the loss of innocent life in Gaza. Yes it is ugly, it is mean, it is vicious, but Hamas is the one to blame for all of this. They put their people in the line of fire and they hide underground. Karen and I have been there. We lived there. We have seen what Hamas is capable of and what they do when they fight with Israel. They are not as brave as what AlJazeera wants us to believe. They are ugly, mean spirited evil people and many are demonically possessed.Let us pray for the victims on both sides of this war. Pray that God will bring Hamas down to save their own people from their evil government."-T A S

E-There's no way you can justify killing of innocent life… war is always an ugly, horrible thing. What also can't be justified, though, is the undeniable fact that Hamas is intentionally sacrificing its own women and children, basing their operations from schools and from civilian homes to maximize collateral damage and to garner the world's sympathy. By having the men 'warriors' or 'soldiers' cowering behind a human shield of women and children, or worse, hiding out safe in Damascus like the leaders of Hamas are doing now, they are going against all moral rules of warfare and giving Israel no choice if they want to save their people from being pounded by rockets as they have been for the last 7/8 years. It's a catch-22 situation, and it's escalated into a madness, yes, but we need to look at more than the numbers and see why so many innocents are being killed.

S - this is not a classic warfare because the palestinians do not have a state and consequently no legitimized army. I do not support Hamas' actions and use of force. But since the disengagement from Gaza the palestinian in Gaza have been under siege. {my note: this is only after they themselves have started an assault against israel – they have always been the first to break a ceasefire agreement} Control of export, import, basic resources. Sadly enough resistence without violence does not seem to work in a sum-zero conflict. Israel has a right to defend its citizens, but as a state it also recognizes its duty to reducing innocent casualties. yet it did not succeed in that.

A - What would you do if you were the Prime Minister of Israel about Hamas was shooting rockets into to Israel?

S - Habibi, i am not the prime minister. It’s like me asking you what would you do if you were a gazan, would you join Hamas and shoot rockets or not?

A- That's easy, habibti. I would not join Hamas nor would I shoot rockets. The problem is that many people are criticizing Israel for her actions, but they offer no other solution.

S- You have a point there. I would say it's because neither side will talk to the other. Both sides don't trust each other and the international community is not mediating. It's hard to find a solution when neither of them wants to compromise. It's obvious that Israel is stronger militarily, and that is why the criticism is on Israel. With power comes responsibility, you know?

A - Ya, it's too bad Hamas didn't realize that before they murdered Fatah and took power. So, how do you deal with them? You talk? How do you talk to someone who doesn't recognize your right to exist and wants to wipe you off the face of the earth and drive you into the sea? How do the leaders of Israel protect their citizens to whom they are first and foremost responsible?

S - I could say the same about Israel's attitude towards Hamas. That's what I mean about no compromise on both sides

A - What could you say about Israel's attitude toward the Hamas? That Israel doesn't recognize their right to exist? They are an internationally recognized terrorist organization. I think they have terrorized the Palestians as much as they have the Israelis, especially if you take into account how many Fatah were killed in the Hamas take over. I once heard them say, before they took over Gaza, that the PLO was their main enemy, and attacking Israel was just a way to get at the PLO

S - I don't think bringing up the international norms in relation with Hamas is adequate. Internationally Israel was condemned for their attack on Gaza. {my note: but why? This seems to me entirely hypocritical, what western nation would allow terrorists to pound their land with missiles and then roll over and play nice?} There is a possibility they might be referred to as an equivalent to terrorists themselves with the way things are going. {Also, only because of the global communities complete lack of understanding in the stituation}In the 90s PLO i.e Fatah persecuted Hamas members as a way to rid of their opponents. This policy was created by Fatah themselves. Just because Israel doesn't like Hamas we are told of these inner conflict, and even raising sympathy with palestinians. However, Arafat did the same after Oslo but Israel didn't mention it because the served their interest. Because Hamas refused to abide to Israel's demands, they are unrecognized. In Israel we have inner conflicts and the claim that the government dafka chose to attack Gaza now is for political parties to gain more votes before the elections. So, they were using Gaza to get at their opponent political parties. How is that different?

A – S*, thank you for the info about the PLO's activity against Hamas. I was unware of this, but not surprised. However, there is quite a difference between the international community recognizing an organization as terrorist organization and condemning a country for actions they took in defending themselves. I am familiar with the claim that Olmert, Livni and Barak started the war for political gain (even though Olmert is on his way out and has already destroyed his party), but unless I am mistaken, grad rockets were falling in Ashkelon before Israel started bombing in Gaza. And I think this is the reason why Israel decided "enough is enough." Sadly, I think if the Hamas had only continued to fire kasam rockets on Sderot, Israel would have continued to wait. It was also Hamas who broke the previous cease fire that led to the way. Shadia, I have to admit, I am a bit surprised that you are defending Hamas.

S - I am not defending Hamas. I was trying to show you that they too have a rationality to their actions, whether we like it or not. I think Israel does have the right to defend itself as a sovereign state, but proportionality has to be taken into account. This brings another issue whether the means of the Isareli strategy have met the ends or no? If not, who is going to be held responsible? I am not siding either one because I do not want to. I want this situation to end, and not postponed. I think the only solution possible is one that will have to force both sides to compromise for the benefit of their people.

A - Hi S*, I have a hard time calling what lies behind their actions "rational," I think hate, might be more appropriate, but I understand what you're saying. As far as the proportional bit, I don't get that. I mean, what should Israel have done, every time they fire an unguided rocket on Israel, we fire an unguided rocket on Gaza. Taking into consideration the lack of population in the South and the population density in Gaza, they would probably hit nothing most of the time, and most of the time we would hit civilians. I heard a clip from Al-Jazeera English where they asked a British expert on international law about this and he gave an example of someone running at you with a knive on the street. He said, you don't have to wait til the person stabs you in the heart to defend yourself. Needless to say, I don't think he will be invited back to Al-Jazeera.

Now, your next question is very interesting, especially since some Israeli politicians are saying yes and some no. The problem with saying no, is that Hamas can use that to say that they won. Now, within the Western world that doesn't really matter, we know that nobody really wins in war, but in the Middle East, when Israel always feels like she has her back against the wall, or the sea, she has to have a deterent so that others will not attack her. Now, what I think, I'm not sure. I would have to say, not really. The israeli leaders did not make known any goals about the war, so that Hamas could not hold them to them and say, "You didn't do this, so we won." I think we would have to ask ourselves a couple of questions: 1) Is the south of Israel a safer place to live? For right now, yes, for the long run, probably not. So, there is a temporary victory. Is Hamas still in power? there's another good question, by aparently so, or partially. Not much victory there.
Even though I don't think getting Gilad Shalit back was ever part of the plan, the fact is that Hamas still holds him. So, no victory there either. Perhaps more importantly I believe Israel got back much of the deterent that seemed to be lost after the 2nd war with Lebanon. That may be more important than any of the other goals. Especially if it prevents possible wars in the future.
How do you see the two sides compromising?

S - That sounds like an even use of collective punishment. Palestinians who happen to live in Gaza became casualties, and Israelis who happen to live in the Negev became potential targets. i can see the similarity but i don't accept it because in the Palestinian side the misguided rocket caused more than a 1000 lives. I would be as upset if these casualties were on the Israeli side but they aren't. {my note: Again Israel is not placing their people purposefully in the way of danger as the Hamas do so of course the number of casualties witll be different}Israelis have the choice to temporarily move from the 'war zone' until safe again. Gazans couldn't, why? because Israel controls the borders. So, Israeli knew innocent people will die because it's not our own. This shows how Israeli perceive Palestinian lives, cheap and disposable. it's ok because it's a war, right? Al-jazeera is like any other network. They have specific audience and I am sure that guy won't come again either. I totally agree with you. Israel, in order to maintain the deterrent had to prove it’s might once again. They did that also knowing with what they were facing. Hamas is not like Hizballah. it's less dangerous and that is why the risks were lower. i see the two sides compromising only through external pressures and Economic growth. Both sides lost trust a long time ago and that should be restored first. How? if it worked in the 90s in the midst of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations, there is a possibility now. We need to broaden our options.

A - I was suggesting that as a supposed use of proportionate force, I personally don't believe in proportionate force. If Israel had the choice/ability to only kill militants, they would have done it. If Hamas had the choide/ability they would kill us all. I am very sorry that so many innocent palestinians died, but how do you expect Israel to "fight" Hamas when Hamas hides. Even when Israel tries to just kill the Hamas leaders, shooting their cars etc, innocent people usually get hurt. Don't forget that Israel killed more of her soldiers than did Hamas. I don't think Israel did that on purpose (although there is one case of Israel bombing a house where Hamas was holding a supposedly badly wounded Israeli soldier).

Twilight

I heard a piece of news so shocking today that I had to look deeper.
At youth they posed the question. “Would you give up your soul, for the kind of love described in the Twilight.” The overwhelming answer was yes. Not just from the girls who are non believers or come from bad home situations... which shocked me even more.
I have never read Twilight, it is one bandwagon I have NEVER felt the urge to hop on. So I thought I would read a few reviews and find what the hype is about... the first review I read gave me all the answer I need to understand where the girls are coming from.
She said...
“Look, this book is bad. Shockingly bad. But it's bad in that epic, unselfconscious sort of way that makes me kind of obsessed with it, in the same way I'm obsessed with other ridiculous cheap thrill type novels. Although it's bad, it's not that surprising that it's popular. It's full of romantic grandiosity and shoots straight to the heart of teenage girl fantasies about being special and unique and being loved madly by a dreamy bad boy...
... If someone had told me that this book was written by a 15 year old who'd never kissed a boy, I would have said "well, that makes perfect sense. The tone and writing level is pretty much what I would have done when I was a 15 year old who'd never kissed a boy." It's the fact that it was written by a grown-up mother of 3 with an English degree that amplifies the WT* factor.”
I can’t speak for men, but I know girls/ women. There is something in us that desperately desires to be desired, to be desirable. We long for someone to come along that thinks we are extraordinary, that will lead us on adventures and say we are brave and strong and beautiful. We want that someone to be strong, to protect us... to know what we are feeling and still encourage us to talk about it. We want someone who will tell us how beautiful we are and show us how proud they are to be a part of our lives. We want someone who makes us the best version of ourselves, just because we are around them.
To be honest, what we are looking for is God in the body of an attractive man.
Twilight paints that kind of a picture. Here is an amazingly handsome, strong, eternal being that wants to be with one girl, for the rest of eternity. How lucky is she!!
I hate what these books do to girls. Not only does it create unrealistic expectations of what men should be. It is a form of idolatry. These young girls were so in love with the character... if they could find anyone close to that, they would give their life, their body, their soul to him. It’s so dangerous.
Unfortunately, it becomes a very short leap to, giving up your life and even your faith, to have a relationship with a man/boy who fulfills only a very small fraction of the “list.”
I can’t even tell you how my heart hurts for the MANY women that I know that settled, they married a Non Christian because of how he made them feel at the beginning. Because of how he loved them... Only to find themselves a few years down the road desperately lonely and wondering why the man is not filling the God shaped space in their lives... After all, he managed to do it in the beginning didn’t he... What changed?
I wish I could just help them see, before any life changing acts take place. HOW MUCH God loves them. I would share testimony of how God has protected me AND led me into adventure. How He has made me feel beautiful and cared for and loved. How I am the best version of myself, the more I spend time with Him. I wish He would reveal to them his strength, his power and majesty, his mercy and meekness. I wish they could see clearly that God, who knows every detail about them, still longs for them to talk to him. He wants to hear everything they have to say. He knows just how they feel but wants them to express it with words. He would never tell us to shut up, or leave him alone. He wouldn’t go out with the guys and leave us at home.
A husband IS NOT GOD, A boyfriend IS NOT GOD... we need to allow them to be men, on their own journey with the Almighty. We need to allow God to show His love to them through us and recognize when God is using a man to that same purpose for us... Never accrediting God’s love, power, strength, humility to the man himself. He is not God -I don’t think I can say it enough. You will NEVER know true undefiled love from anyone other than him.
But how can we encourage anyone to think this way, when it is so hard to do ourselves?
Oh Father, please reveal your heart to these girls. I pray they never trade their heart and souls for a weak imitation of Love. Protect them.
Be’shem Yeshua, Amen.

Shady

I know I've said it before, but I gotta say it again.

Vladimir Putin is one shady character. There is just something about him that worries me. It seemed strange that he would come into power on New Years Eve 2000 - under the radar, this guy appears on the global political scene. A former KGB man, no less.

Everything he does seems hidden in the shadows of a larger world event.

More recently it was Russia's attack on Georgia during the Olympics...

This past week, they cut of the supply of gas to the Ukraine and by default the Eastern European countries surrounding. Sure it's back on now, but rerouted in a way that makes it difficult for the Ukraine to send it on the the surrounding countries. All this while the tensions in the Middle East have captured the medias attention.

I was watching a show - worlds best dancer, or something to that affect, and the Russian judge said something very telling. He said, "that was wundafull, so amazingk (he's russian so "ing" ends with a k) I think I will write to the president and ask for everything station to play this dance again and again, it was beautiful."

ASK THE PRESIDENT!? Wow, I mean round here we would never expect the President or our Prime Minister to control what is put on television... we would petition heads of Networks, but not government...

Telling wouldn't you say?? Seems to me Putin is a powerful, powerful man, and is used to doing things under the radar... just what else is he up to?