Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Recommended Reading

The back of my copy of The Imitation of Christ states that, "After the Bible, this is the touchstone and probably the best-loved book of Christianity". I'm inclined to agree.

When I read my Bible, I am drawn in. I am overcome. And in pondering the meditations in The Immitation... I feel the same way.

On one level I cannot help feeling a sort of longing...For a distant time. Free from the constant rush of interDVDmicrocell distractions. I'm convinced that the simpler our lives get, the quieter, and the more likely it is that we will be able to hear the Lord's voice and feel his presence.

(The other night I turned my computer off early. I felt so glad. I was in the mood to meditate on my faith, and I felt no regret. Only peace.)

Most recently, I have felt the weight of these words: "If you seek comfort or gain from others you will often meet with loss. If you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Jesus." (76)

Jesus.

The man who is beyond men. The peace that he brings is deeper and more rewarding than any pleasure this world could ever hope to contain.

Any book that points your soul to the one who created it is a blessing indeed.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Just Jesus.

This morning I read this article about Jesus. Made me long for the days when everyone wasn't determined that he take sides.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

“Abstinence is for Virgins” aka The World Thinks Christians Don’t Have a Clue

Especially when it comes to sex.

I like glarkware. I really do. Currently I covet their "Good Grammar Costs Nothing" tee.

But one of their pieces of merchandise leaves me cold.

They have a shirt that says “Abstinence is for Virgins”.

Its accompanying write-up includes a few things which I will comment on. Keep in mind that the tone of the description is facetious…


in many parts of America, high-school students aren't even taught how sex works
Which, if it’s true, is a cause for concern.


their sex education ends with the deadly serious admonition that they not do it
until they get married (whereupon it will surely be just...awesome.)
So? Who says it won’t be? I intend to have a great sex life. In fact, I’m sure that I will. When I’m married. And what is it with this idea that people who choose to wait are doomed to have a boring bedroom life?


Abstinence-only education leads to one thing, people. No, not to a generation of
students so misinformed about sex that the rates of teen pregnancy skyrocket
When people make statements like that…I wonder what planet they’re on. (In keeping with the tone of the text, it's clear to me that the people at glarkware believe that abstinence education does lead to students being misguided, having sex without comprehending its consequences.) I would argue that the main reason for the high pregnancy rate among North American teens lies with the way sex is--or rather, isn't--taught to students. That, combined with what young people are fed by the media should be enough to cause everyone to be concerned. The prevailing idea is the idea that sex is a fun activity. And consequences, schmonsequences! ;) A properly-used condom, a few birth control pills…Prophylactics can help anyone avoid all harm! :D

Yet there is reality. A condom is not a cure-all. That information is readily available on ordinary web pages such as this one at iVillage. Not just Abstinence Education sites.

And notice what they said on that page:

Condoms make sex *safer* -- they do not make it absolutely safe...The only
surefire way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases is to avoid sex.


Back to the t-shirt. What, according to glarkware, does abstinence result in?

it leads to happy, healthy, well-adjusted virgins who don't understand how their hoo-hoos and pee-pees work, but who love the Lord.

By the time the write-up reaches it’s conclusion, it’s gotten on my last nerve. I’m a happy, healthy, well-adjusted-and-not-just-technical virgin. I know very well how my entire body works. And I love the Lord.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

A challenge.

And it is an interesting one:

Read the Bible in 90 Days.

Reading the Bible from cover to cover is something I need to do. I've completed the New Testament and Psalms more than once. The Old Testament is foreign to me. I've read a few sections, but never the entire thing. The only thing that puts me off of this challenge is the idea that I would need to buy a book to motivate me to do so.

La Perla, eh?

So I'll admit it. I'm a grown woman. I like window shopping...er...web shopping for cool undies.

Not that I have anyone to wear it for. No husband.

But even then. Given the money, I'd wear something that I liked...Purely for myself. ;)

Just now I decided to check out the La Perla site. (The link's in this entry's title.)

Something about the way some of those girls were posing...They frightened me.

And I wish I could tell you I was kidding about that. But I'm not.