Disneyland July '08

Day One- High energy, High spirits
Picture of Family in front of the famous castle...Ashlee was quite excited about seeing it in real life.
Haunted Mansion...Checking behind her to see if there was someone or something there...
She thought she was so tough...
Awww the end of day one...Yes it is close to Midnight and Cinderella was turned back into Mom with 3 Cute tired children...Heee Heee

I could not believe this when I read it. I had to research it because I thought it was a hoax. This is an actual program to be aired this fall. The last sentence really sums it up for me:

“It’s a waste of time to argue with fundamentalists,” Dever said. “And this film doesn’t do it. It’s designed for intelligent people who are willing to change their mind.”

Intelligent people willing to change their mind. What does intelligence have anything to do with faith. Faith that the Bible is God's holy word. These are the times we are living in:


TCA: Nova uncovers 'The Bible's Buried Secrets'
03:49 PM PT, Jul 13 2008

It’s not often you hear “Nova” and “shocking” in the same sentence.
But participants in “The Bible’s Buried Secrets,” a two-hour special airing Nov. 18 on the PBS program, promised this morning that the show would trigger a fair share of controversy.
The special explores the ancient Israelites’ adoption of monotheism and seeks to explain who wrote the Hebrew Bible and what influenced them. Relying on archaeological work and biblical scholarship, the show poses provocative ideas -- including the notion that many Israelites believed that God had a wife –- and disputes literal readings of the text.
“It’s a shocking film in many ways, but it’s truth, revolutionary, and it’s as fresh as yesterday,” said William G. Dever, a noted biblical archaeologist who specializes in the history of Israel.
Carol L. Meyers, a religion professor at Duke University, said that “most of us start out as naïve Bible readers and take it at face value.”
In fact, Meyers argued, “there was no consciousness about the construction of history” when the Bible was written.
The stories of Exodus and Abraham and Sarah “are unlikely to represent real historical events, but rather there’s some kernel of ancient experience in there which has survived and which helps give identity to the people at the time,” she said.
Dever said he has participated in two dozen films about the Bible, “and most of them are dreadful.”
“They either pander to the public’s misunderstanding that the role of archaeology is to prove the Bible to be true, or, at best, they’re simply dishonest, outrageously so,” he said. “And I vowed not to make any more such films until 'Nova' came along. I knew their reputation, and I knew this one would be good.
“Most people simply misunderstand archaeology and the Bible. Some of them are not going to like this film, but nobody will see this film without changing their mind about the way the Bible ought to be read.”
Nobody?
Well, with one exception.
“It’s a waste of time to argue with fundamentalists,” Dever said. “And this film doesn’t do it. It’s designed for intelligent people who are willing to change their mind.”
-- Matea Gold

HNFS

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080711/20080711005096.html?.v=1

Check out the above link. A glimpse into my work life...

Note: the quote from a patient of mine...

I learned a lot from this program. Mariah was very knowledgeable, patient and helped me to understand asthma and my medication. Because of her I knew what questions to ask my doctors and what worked best for me. I went from needing my inhalers four to six times a day, to needing it once in the last month! I went from an 18 percent to a 63 percent lung improvement! – Deborah F., Maryland

Youth Camp -short but sweet

When you may be feeling old and need a little uplifting in your spirit, you must attend a week of youth camp. What a refreshing feeling to be surrounded by children, youthful spirits. I was the "camp nurse" this year and yes, I was busy with broken noses to high temps, plenty of ice packs and splinters. But, what a joyful feeling to walk through the camp and have all those smiling little faces waving at you. Having them run up to you and give you a hug. To watch them pray to a God so large that our human minds can not grasp the fullness of. But as these small wonders pray to Him, they receive Him into their hearts either for the first time or the hundredth time. To watch the magnificent powerful God take time out for the little ones of the world.

What a time it was. I am priveleged to be a part of it all.

Glasswing Butterfly

These are called "Glass wing Butterflies". What an amazing creation. After seeing such wonders as this beautiful butterfly so simple yet so magnificent...who can wonder whether God really exists. Just look around you and see all the beauty of this world. Thank the Lord that we are able to enjoy all of it.

...and God saw that [it was] good.

This shows us that

-you don't have to be flashy to be beautiful to God

-transparency sometimes is best

-even the smallest thing can make someone stop and have admiration

A poem...

A friend like no other

I have a friend, many of you may know
He is faithful to me, though harsh words I may throw

He cares about my every need, sees that I thrive
In his presence, I am always…satisfied.

He is my closest friend, closer than a brother,
For once you know Him, you will look for no other.

You ask me who this could describe, what is His name,
Oh, but you ask is he really all that? Even lift me of my shame!?

He can take away my sins, and take away my pain
He can relieve me of my sicknesses, and even stop the rain

Yes, He is a miracle worker, a healer, a comforter and more
He is my heavenly Father, my friend I will always adore.

He has been so good to me, though troubles have come my way
But when He walks beside me, nothing harmful wants to stay.

I could speak of His goodness and mercy all the day long
But you may not listen, for it is not your life, it is not your song

For you must know Him for yourself, you cant live off my testimony
You should call upon Him, ask Him to show you what He has shown me.

Yes, you will meet him, someday, your choice or His
If you don’t meet Him on Earth, you will meet Him, a promise this is

Call upon His name right now, for He knocks at your door
Once you have met Him , searching you will do no more

You ask me “How would you find this perfect friend I discuss?”
The answer I give is very simple you see, Just call out the name JESUS!

A humble person is...

Humility: the quality or state of being humble.
Humble: not proud or haughty ; not arrogant or assertive, reflecting...etc.

Now first off, if you are someone who always has the best story at a gathering, the worst animal bite, the worst bodily injury known to man, the highest paying job, the best family in the world, the most expensive car, flown the longest distance, stayed awake the longest before dropping, or been to the moon and back. This blog is not for you. Just skip this reading, you have my permission. But for the rest of us minority, please continue. Sorry for my sense of humor... :-)

Jesus was a humble man. What an example to live by. He had all power given to Him by God. But instead of using this to show how much better He was than mankind, He used His power to heal people that had a need in their life. He did not brag or boast of what He could do. He did not belittle man even when they persecuted Him. They taunted him and yet he still refused to argue with them of who he was.

If you let me, I would imagine that as he walked around the cities. He would come upon men that thought they were hot stuff. There many accomplishments in life. The higher educated men. Maybe some heroes from battle. Some inventors etc. As Jesus may have spoke to these men, they may have boasted about their many accomplishments in life. Thinking they were only talking to a carpenter. You know those kind of people I speak about. They are the greatest of all because of what they have been able to do in life. They are those well accomplished people who whatever you tell them, they have a story that would top yours any day. Well those types of people must have existed long ago in Jesus' day as well. Could you imagine them talking with Jesus. Jesus all knowing what he would accomplish in the near future. He did not brag. He probably just listened to them talk. He did not try to top them, even though he easily could have. The devil tempted him with recognition. Jesus did not give in. He took the humble path. He was humiliated among throngs of people. His final words "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

The people did not grasp the full concept of what really was taking place. Jesus did not fight it. He was humble in all his ways. In our daily lives we are tempted with recognition. We see others that don't really deserve, in our eyes, the recognition. Yet, they receive it. They stand among the crowd and brag about what they have accomplished. But when we don't get that special attention of someone saying "good job or well done," how do we respond. Do we respond the humble way and just continue our daily routine? Without growing bitter.

Its easy to watch others, see them recognized when you know you have been working so hard and no one said anything to you, the entire time. But, just smile because God knows that they need that recognition. Give it to them as well. Everyone can't be like this. Some people have to be the ones to give the recognition. If we all needed to constantly be patted on the back, who would be the ones to do the patting. Some are meant to be patted but maybe you are one meant to be the "patter". Either way be happy with your role in life, it was given to you by God.

The next time you see someone get the recognition that you think should be sent your way, think about Jesus. How he responded to this situation. Be a humble person. Be grateful for what you have. The Lord knows what you need in life. Let Him be the one to pat you on the back when you need it. I would much rather have my Lord be pleased with my life and give me a thumbs up than anyone in this world. If God is happy with my life and my accomplishments then that is all that matters to me. So look to God, your heavenly Father, for all the recognition that you need. Don't base your satisfaction on people's applause.

My daily life is motivated by the words "Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. "