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| I think I just had an epiphany (and that happens as often as I use the word "epiphany" in sentences).
I have been trying much too hard to make things work out for myself. Today I found an article that I thought was interesting and I decided to post it to my blog. Then I got to reading my friend's blogs (most of whom I haven't been in touch with for awhile and I regret that). I'm depressed that the school year at CBU is ending and I wasn't there to be a part of it. It makes me wonder if I really was suppose to be at CBU in the first place. No matter how hard I try I can't do enough to get what I want, and that it to return to my school. I rarely stopped to think whether or not that was for a reason, and part of me resents that idea and still wants to try harder. Part of me wants to throw in the towel and settle on going to a Cal State or something. And then there's that part of me that wants to believe that God had a hand in keeping me away for all this time. I mean if I hadn't left CBU, I probably would have never found the courage to permantley break up with Seidu, I would have never met my husband and I wouldn't be happy with him today. Sure I would still be at CBU if I had taken my classes more seriously, but I've always believed that God can take something bad and use it for good. I love Emmanuel, and if nothing else, I have that much going for me right now. Sure I am separated from my friends and stuck not even attending community college, but nothing stays the same forever. Maybe I will go back to CBU some day. Maybe I won't. In the future my life will be tied to Emmanuel's so I have to learn to submit to him as a caring wife and do what is best for both of us. I think this is a time set aside for me to grow up and learn to depend on the Lord more. Because thusfar I have been doing a crappy job at maintaining my spiritual life. I barely even go to church anymore. I always say that it's the times in my life when I'm closest to God that I miss the most..have I gotten so lazy and apathetic that I can't even pursue that level of happiness and joy anymore? I've sabotaged myself with that apathy....I won't let it happen anymore. I want to chase after God again. I want him to be the only thing that I see. Man, those days are so clear in my mind. And I want them back now more than ever. My life has become so rusted and worn...it will take some time for me to polish up again. | | |
| I thought this was interesting. The original content is from http://www.carm.org/atheism/santa.htm:
Why do you believe in Jesus but not Santa Claus?
Sometimes atheists will ask why Christians believe in Jesus and not Santa Claus. Some atheists say that you cannot prove Jesus existed anymore than you can prove Santa Claus exists. Of course, this is not accurate for several reasons.
First of all, Jesus is presented as an historical figure by reputable people in both secular and sacred historical writings. Santa Claus is simply presented as a fictional character.
Second, Jesus is presented as a real person who claimed to be divine and who performed miracles. These accounts are attested to by reputable witnesses and have been transmitted to us reliably; the New Testament documents are 99.5% textually pure. Santa Claus is intentionally and knowing presented as a fictional character who lives at the North Pole.
Third, the intention of the gospel writers was to convey the physical reality of Jesus to responsible adults where the accounts of Santa are intended to entertain the wild imaginations of children. This is why the vast majority of healthy, mentally competent adults do not believe in a real person known as Santa who can travel through air being pulled by several flying reindeer, who can carry in his sled enough presents for all the good children in the entire world, and who can descend and ascend through chimneys even though he is quite overweight.1
Fourth, the writings concerning Jesus exhibit an historical, cultural, religious, and political context with verifiable names, events, and places being an integral part of the record of that context and reality. Santa Claus stories do not contain any such integral contextualization except to state that there is a north pole and that there are cities and countries where Santa visits at night.
Fifth, the facts are that parents are the ones who buy, wrap, and deliver presents to children and we know of no documented occurrences where Santa Claus has been caught breaking and entering, tripping home alarm systems, caught on film, vanishing up a chimney, and riding a sleigh through the air pulled by flying reindeer. This latter point is worth commenting on since we additionally have no evidence at all that reindeer can fly which further adds to the irrationality of the Santa Claus story. Additionally, if a large sleigh (sufficient to carry millions of toys) approached the Washington D.C. area (surely there are at least some good children there), we would expect to hear of military fighter jets being scrambled to intercept the intruder. No records of this have yet surfaced.
Sixth, given that the gospel accounts were written by individuals who knew Jesus personally (or were under the guidance of those who knew Him), that the gospels are historically accurate, superbly transmitted to us through the copying method, we can then assume at the very least, that Jesus was an actual historical person. But, we have no hard evidence to establish the validity of Santa Claus. We have found no reindeer tracts on the roofs of snow covered homes strewn about millions of homes on Christmas Eve. There are no video accounts of Santa roaming throughout peoples' homes. We know of no flying reindeer, and no one has yet established how Santa can live at the North Pole for hundreds of years without being detected -- particularly in this technologically advanced culture. Add to that the lack of Santa Disciples going about the world, risking their lives, being ridiculed by religious and political adversaries, writing inspirational text, performing miracles, etc., and you really don't have much evidence at all that Santa exists except in the mind of children.
Finally, it really comes down to whether or not either one can be reasonably supported to exist. Very few people deny the historic reality of Jesus and though millions of children affirm the existence of Santa, we know well that the minds of children are not capable of differentiating between fantasy and reality -- particularly when the parents they are trusting tell them that Santa is real.
For an atheist to reject Jesus' existence based on arguments found against Santa Claus demonstrates the inability for the atheist to distinguish between historical verifiable documents and known constructed children's' stories. Jesus was an actual historical figure. Santa, of course, is not.
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1. Granted there are probably some adults why may believe in Santa Claus as a reality, but I suspect they would be mental patients or some other such people not fully in touch with reality. | | |
| Okay, four in the morning and I'm just getting home from work. Now I know how truckers feel! I'm really tired..yet somehow finding energy to post this (and talk to Emmanuel simultaneously of course). So I've survived my first and second day of work. Thankfully I don't have to work tomorrow so I can get things moved to the new apartment. I saw it today, by the way. It's a really nice two story joint. I would have rather slept than go to see it this morning though.  But I went. I slept a little before I left for work. Three things I have learned thusfar about this job: 1) I will have to regularly overdose on caffeine to function, 2) The paperwork is almost overwhelming...too many trees have died to keep this business afloat. And 3), there are a ton of awesomely fun things that you can do in a warehouse! So, thanks to my overly active imagination and too much time on my hands, I have compiled a list of:
Yes, I had to do the banner. Okay, let's get started:
BOXES
Hide-n-go-seek: This is the more obvious choice. Piles and piles of cardboard boxes would make an ideal hide n go seek game.
Alice in Wonderland: A variation of hide n go seek. Someone plays Alice and the rest of your friends can take on the other characters, like the cheshire cat and the evil queen. Alice goes walking through "wonderland" meeting the various characters. If your'e over 16, I find this is a great way to go beyond dorkiness.
FORKLIFTS
Forklift polo: Everyone gets their own forklift. Use an empty paper roll to hit a roll of duct tape into your oppontent's box.
Main street forklift parade: Kinda like the mainstreet electrical parade, except not as many lights. But you can still flash the lights that you do have and spin around in circles. forklifts are surprisingly nimble machines.
Forklift derby: Ten laps around the warehouse. Whoever crosses the finish line on the last lap first wins!
Reverse forklift derby: The same thing, except you race in reverse! This might be more fun than the original. Just be sure to honk your horn often to avoid killing innocent bystanders.
Running of the forklifts: Always wanted to go to Spain and run with the bulls? Here's a clever alternative! Have your friends agressively chase you with forklifts! You might want to wear some sort of protection in case one of them takes this game too seriously.
OTHER STUFF
George of the jungle: Swing from the hanging hallogen lamps just like the king of the jungle. Don't worry about falling. George falls all the time and the most he gets is little birdies flying around his head.
Saran wrap cocoons: Take one of the huge rolls of saran wrap and pretend you're in a butterfly cocoon! Make sure at least one person stays uwrapped though for obvious reasons.
Disclaimer: Some of this stuff might get you injured, killed, grounded, blackmailed or arrested, so do so at your own risk. Otherwise, have fun!  | | |
| Yay, I got a new job! I get to stay up all night and boss people aroud. lol. Really, I work the 2nd shift at a warehouse in Mira Loma. I just have to tell people what trucks to load and unload. So I get to work with big macho trucker guys. I wonder if they'll give me a trucker name, like Big Birtha or Mama Tee.  Just a thought. Hehe. I have to leave in an hour and a half, so I'm gonna take a short nap since I'll be up all night. Pray for me! First days are always nervous for me.  Toodles. | | |
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Which Disney Princess are you?
I know, attack of the freakin' quizzes. lol. But I'm Belle! Hurrah, I have so many unique qualities. | | |
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