I finished reading the section from Alexander Pope's "Epistle" and section ten blatantly reveals the authors intention. It's scary to me though because it seems as if the lie he portrays is masked in lingo....

"All Nature is but Art, unknown to thee; All Chance, Direction, which thou canst not see; All Discord, Harmony not understood; All partial Evil, universal Good: And, spite of Pride, in erring Reason's spite, One truth is clear, WHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT."

I'll five you that discord could be "harmony not understood" as we often don't see the Lords' big picture however, discord could very well be discord and not harmony. Evil is evil, there is no getting around it and whatever is, is NOT right, Romans 3:23 as well as in life when kids simply do the wrong thing are proof of that.

Excerpt taken from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man" included in The Norton Anthology Western Lit. book Eighth Edition Vol. 2 Copyright 2006

Did You Know?

Did you know....

-that when you are a baby all of your taste buds are in your cheeks and when you get old that's where they are as well since you lose your tongue taste buds and have to add lots of salt to everything

-your nose and ears always grow

-as for relationships, those between siblings are supposedly the strongest...when you're old and sick siblings are more likely to take care of you...it beat out husband and wife and parent child

-by the age of a 3 a child's character is usually determined

-in MS a child's hearing ability is usually checked at birth by seeing of brain waves respond to sounds

Just a few fun/interesting facts from my psych classes and fyi i don't know if i want to grow up.

"Laugh where we must, be candid where we can; But vindicate the ways of God to man."

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast..."

"In Pride, in reasoning Pride, our error lies; All quit their sphere, and rush into the skies. Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes, Men would be Angels, Angels would be Gods. Aspiring to be Gods, if Angles fell, Aspiring to be Angels, Men rebel: And who but wishes to invert the laws Of ORDER, sins against the Eternal Cause. 

"From pride, from pride, our very reasoning springs; Account for moral, as for natural things: Why charge we Heaven in those, in these acquit? In both, to reason right is to submit."

"....The general ORDER, since the whole began, Is kept in Nature, and is kept in Man."

I've gotta think about these quotes. I'm wondering if perhaps in that final line the author was taking the Christian worldview and hinting that because of the order of nature, every man is "without excuse". I like the rhyme schemes and deep concepts though I'm still trying to decide if I agree with the original intent of the author. See the final line could be saying that Man is God in which case, I would disagree.  

Excerpts taken from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man" included in The Norton Anthology Western Lit. book Eighth Edition Vol. 2 Copyright 2006

Today, the first day of classes was quite a day. I forgot what I had planned to say in speech class as we had to introduce ourselves. It rained a lot so most of the day I found myself quite drenched. My W4 form got soaked and had to be dryed out. We thought we were going to be struck by lightening in the short walk from Caldwell to Gilespie just to pick up a friend only to walk the rest of the way to the caf., across the Gilespie commons which are made of stones that are accidents waiting to happen. Got a key chain from ROTC, unfortunately I don't know that they are looking for a girl like me. Continued to spill tea all over myself at dinner. Went to the mall and got Bubble Bubble gum tropical fruit chicklets. We signed up for free apparel from Dippin' Dots and tried to get a Krispy Kreme donut but the hot now sign no longer eludes to free donuts. In the middle of the day I started feeling that 2:30 nap slot but went to my dance class about that time anyway. (As I wind down, I am starting to feel the lack of sleep but it's ok, I'll pick up some more hours sooner or later. My first class is at 10:00!!! I've had 8's for the past two semesters and am thrilled!). The sunset was just gorgeous, truly one in a million. With all this monsoon rain, the clouds looked so light! Every time I looked there was a different and even better picture. God is so good. The day was ended with some old school truth or dare and quite a few laughs to say the least. The fireball dare even made an appearance. Apparently, fireball dares trump all the rest. At least that's the word on the street. Oh and I also went to three classes today. Dance was a blessing, I'm glad to be back in a studio, speech was alright, and Psychology of the Exceptional Child is going to be a very good and informing class. Well there you have a day in the life of this college student.

Today I re-opened my blister, dropped a can of mountain dew on my foot, and was told I looked awful and needed some sleep. Which, this was probably quite true. But it's ok and I am going to bed.

Be Thou my Vision. I think the words of that song are my prayer for this semester. I'm back on campus and as busy as ever. I forget how busy it gets and tired I can be, but God is good and in the midst of it all, I pray that He will be my glorious vision. Well it's almost 12 and i think i have to get up at 7? whew. Still not back to college bed time. Now there's a catch 22.

So recently I read a book called Compassion by Charles Swindoll. It was a quick read but very powerful and challenging. There were some great passages and excerpts that I wanted to share but for today, I'll just pick one. The challenge: show compassion as Jesus showed compassion. Now that's quite a calling. I found myself failing miserably after my first test. Our neighbor was trying to get a sprinkler to work in the yard of a house for sale and boy was she having trouble. I asked my dad if she needed help and claimed that I wouldn't know how to help. Well, problem A. I asked someone else to help and problem B. even if I didn't know what to do, an extra hand or someone to talk to could go a long way. Sure it's a sprinkler and I could get quite wet but hey it's like 90 + degrees here in SC, I could use a refreshing shower and some laughter. Yes she figured it out and there was no problem but I saw a need and missed it. Hopefully next time, I'll see the need and act.

"Invariably, compassion says, 'Get involved. Reach out. Risk. You can't ignore the person's needs. You care too much to walk away.' "

One Day

One Day. I have one day left in SC before going back to school. I'm thinking about what One Day means. One day this or that will happen. One day my dreams will come true. One day the Lord will return. One day, I'll apologize for that. One day I'll go to Hawaii. One day I'll go back to Kieve. One day I'll see my brother and his wife in their new house in Portland. One day I'll graduate. One day I'll have a Keeshond puppy. One day I'll live life to the fullest. One day I'll reach out to that person. Why should I wait for one day when one day could be today? What will you do with one day?

With all that is going on in the world are own views and opinions a side, though there is a time and place in which it is our responsibility to express them, know that God knows all and sees all. My mom always tells me, "this wasn't a surprise to God." Rest in the Lord today.

Think About It

Two main thoughts this morning

I heard the song I'd Need a Savior by Among the Thirsty. Before I even talk about some of thoughts that were triggered, I really like the name of the group. Among-as much as you like or don't like it, we're all walkin' walks together. The Thirsty-may we never lose the thirst for the living and satisfying water that only Christ can give. So the song, I heard on the radio that God is using this song mightily but unfortunately I didn't get to hear the stories from the group. Nevertheless, it reminded me of the power of the Name of Jesus. All to often I know I forget this. Sadly, the misuse of His name I've ignored, as if I've become immune to it. Now that is something that must change. It's like I heard a comedian say do you ever here someone say oh Joe, when they stub there toe? Likewise the Name above every name should not be taken for granted. It is the only name that saves (Romans 10:13), rescues, and restores.

The return of the King if you will, is something I don't believe I think about enough. Maybe it's because it is all the scary Revelation stuff. But for the believer it is the exact opposite. As a believer, I am called to "eagerly wait" his return (Hebrews 9:28). Though Revelation is scary I believe that God intended it as a warning, fear results from warnings. Without a fear, would we heed the warning? And for believers, it is a call to witness all the more fervently. After all, its is God's desire that no one should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Take a look at this picture.....

Excerpt from John Piper's Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

" 'By the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself' he will 'transform' our disease-ridden, decaying bodies into the likeness of 'his glorious body' (Philippians 3:21). 'In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...we shall be changed' (1 Corinthinas 15:52). 'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall ther be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore' (Revelation 21:4)
And perhaps most glorious of all is the jealousy with which he wil magnify his grace. He will not share the glory of being the grace-giver. Peter tells us simply, "Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ' (1 Peter 1:13). And what will that grace look like? Jesus pictured it in a parable: 'Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them' (Luke 12: 37). It is the grace of God's being our 'Servant'- the Giver-even to eternity."

I went to the eye doctor today and walked in by myself and the receptionist said, "Are you here by yourself?" So I guess i didn't look like I was nineteen. Then i went to Moe's and the check-out lady said, after i had my food, for future reference you can only get this if your 12 or under. And the day concluded with awkward stares from the Hollywood video store people as I tried to go inside when it was closed. It's been quite a day.

I was reminded of what good quotes are in the Chronicles of Narnia. The first movie was on disney channel which in and of itself is great! Then I got to thinking about how God really had his hand on C.S. Lewis' work. Who would've thought that it would be such an epic and timeless story? I always love the image of Aslan and I especially like his portrayal in the movie: kind and compassionate yet as fierce as ever. Can you imagine what it will be like to walk with the Lord? And as humans we are one of a kind, unique just as the 4 kids were in Narnia. I was also reminded of how God gives us the breath of life i.e. Aslan breathed on the creatures of stone and they came back to life. Now for the quotes

"This may be harder than you think."-Aslan to Peter (talking about Edmund, the youngest one's betrayal)
"Do not sight the deep magic with me witch, I was there when it was written!"-Aslan to The White Witch
"You have to trust me, this must be done."-Aslan before going to the stone table
"Impossible!"-The White Witch
"Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a King or queen of Narnia."-Aslan
"He's not a tame lion, no but he is good."-Lucy and Mr. Tumnus

There are many more good quotes from Prince Caspian as well