HAPPY FRIDAY TO EVERYONE! I am really looking forward to this weekend - we are heading to Medora... one of my favorite places on earth... and we are meeting up with BOTH of our families... my favorite people on earth! :D It will be a grand time!
Jordan and I RARELY go out for movies! We have a BOMBING projector, screen, and sound system with Blue Ray high def. so watching movies is almost BETTER at home because you don't have the crowds and the extra high prices. However, because I am a hopeless romantic and think that a date and going out to a movie can be more romantic than just staying home (maybe some of you can relate). Therefore, my wonderful husband appeases my request by taking me out way more often than I deserve! :D Our last date night, we went out to a fun little pizza place in downtown Fargo, Spicy Pie! $2 per slice of pizza and a very casual atmosphere.... I would HIGHLY recommend it! After our fun meal, we went to the "epic saga" in the Twilight series - "Eclipse!"
After seeing the first 2 movies, I can't say that I was IN LOVE with the shows, but I did enjoy them. The series is different than anything else that I have ever watched, the vampire and werewolf thing is edgy, and I liked the cinematography!
However, this last film has caused me to BLOG/RANT/RAVE whatever you want to call it...
*disclaimer* This is where I may lose some friends/hardcore Twilight fans ;)
On a couple lighter notes -
#1: Bella should TOTALLY go for the Werewolf! COME ON, GIRL! A Wolf = Warm, A Vampire = Cold, A Wolf = life/soul, A Vampire = Death/soulless! Also... Werewolves are just COOLER than Vampires... end of story! I'm sorry but sparkling skin can NOT keep you warm at night (I thought the scene up in the mountain was pretty hilarious - plus the fact that Edward could read Jacob's mind).
#2: The movies would be NOTHING without the supporting actors/actresses! I loved how Eclipse shared some of the stories of Cullens family. Jock Vampire, Emmett, is AWESOME... loved some of his one-liners through the show. I also loved Jasper and Alice's stories... plus I simply adore Carlisle Cullen and his drive to do good in a world that he doesn't even belong to anymore!
A few more serious notes -
#3: Family is VERY important in these films. I really appreciate how the families stand up for each other - fight against evil together - and support each other. Whether human, werewolf, or vampire, family is valued relationship throughout these movies.
#4: HOWEVER... marriage is NOT as valued as it should be, especially in this third movie. If I may quote Bella... "Marriage? It is just a piece of paper..."
*(I could not find the direct quotes online sooo I am paraphrasing a bit)
When I heard this... I WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO SCREAM (and then I remembered I was in a theater and not at home). Marriage is WAY more than a piece of paper... it is sacred union (between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN) to represent and reflect the grace, peace, and love that Jesus shows to His church! (I am still learning about the amazing significance of this relationship... I don't have room to blog about it.... but MARRIAGE IS WAY MORE THAN A PIECE OF PAPER, BELLA)!
#5: In referring to Edwards stance of saving sex until after marriage, Bella says something like, "Yeah, it is totally old-fashioned!" I don't remember hearing such blatant, clear language about this subject in such a popular movie... and this GREATLY concerns me! The ONLY reason Bella can not throw herself on Edward is because the physical action would kill her (vampires EAT blood... which humans are full of)! Bella is ready to throw away her precious gift of purity to a soul-less being... well I guess to her... purity is not that precious. However, purity boundaries were already crossed with Bella having a very intimate relationship with Edward as well as Jacob... this does NOT teach us about commitment and fidelity. (I think Jacob even talks about another relationship where there are three people involved (love triangle) while he's trying to convince Bella that she CAN be with him too... ??? WHAT ???) Also, did you notice the humorous scene where Bella's father tries to talk to her about sex. Unfortunately, the humor came through the awkwardness and few-words that father and daughter were able to say while talking about this very important issue. I was DEEPLY saddened by the disregard to purity, commitment, and the closed communication shown in this film.
Subpoints:
~Fathers, BE READY TO TALK TO YOUR DAUGHTERS HONESTLY AND OPENLY ABOUT SEX!
~Physical purity is VERY important, as the Bible states numerous times, and should not be taken lightly! Also, emotional and mental purity are just as important as physical purity! We need to teach our young people about emotional and mental purity before we can expect them to make a sound commitment to saving sex for marriage... (wish I could rant more but this is already VERY long)!
~Marriage is amazing and worth WAY more than this movie portrays!
Popculture, through movies like this, change our values without even knowing it. Do not let ECLIPSE eclipse the values that Christ has set for us.
*told you I was going to rant* ;)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Yet another direction!
This will be short and sweet today!
Next year, JORDAN WILL BE A GRADUATE ASSISTANT IN THE NDSU ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT!
God has answered our prayers with this job and we are really excited about this opportunity. Jordan thinks he would enjoy becoming a professor of accounting at NDSU, so this experience will be wonderful in getting to know the staff and seeing first hand what it would be like to be a professor. (Plus... it takes care of his tuition for us... YEAH)! However, this will be a REALLY busy year for him. He will be working 10 to 12 hours per week along with his full-time gradschool classes. Also, because he's a graduate student now, many of his classes are in the evenings.... boo... which may cause some conflict in our schedules. In other words.... we're excited but nervous!
Please remember us in your prayers... I will continue to work my full-time job, part-time job, and teach voice lessons... which leaves little time for us to focus on each other. (which makes me nervous). I know God will use this time to challenge us and change us... but we would definitely appreciate the prayers!
For now... we are going to continue to enjoy our FUN summer! We have a wedding this weekend, going to Medora the following weekend, and then I'm sure a few more lake weekends before the school semester begins!
Until next time ;)
p.s. In my next blog.... I plan to give my personal review of the latest Twilight movie "Eclipse".... STAY TUNED.... :D
Next year, JORDAN WILL BE A GRADUATE ASSISTANT IN THE NDSU ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT!
God has answered our prayers with this job and we are really excited about this opportunity. Jordan thinks he would enjoy becoming a professor of accounting at NDSU, so this experience will be wonderful in getting to know the staff and seeing first hand what it would be like to be a professor. (Plus... it takes care of his tuition for us... YEAH)! However, this will be a REALLY busy year for him. He will be working 10 to 12 hours per week along with his full-time gradschool classes. Also, because he's a graduate student now, many of his classes are in the evenings.... boo... which may cause some conflict in our schedules. In other words.... we're excited but nervous!
Please remember us in your prayers... I will continue to work my full-time job, part-time job, and teach voice lessons... which leaves little time for us to focus on each other. (which makes me nervous). I know God will use this time to challenge us and change us... but we would definitely appreciate the prayers!
For now... we are going to continue to enjoy our FUN summer! We have a wedding this weekend, going to Medora the following weekend, and then I'm sure a few more lake weekends before the school semester begins!
Until next time ;)
p.s. In my next blog.... I plan to give my personal review of the latest Twilight movie "Eclipse".... STAY TUNED.... :D
Thursday, July 8, 2010
My Food Idol...
Greetings on this BEAUTIFUL day.... I really wish I was outside and NOT in this office! We have another slow day today but I am going to attempt to enjoy the slowness!
SO... as I wait for the first of our 2 patients for today... I felt like blogging about some personal struggles that I have been battling with for 9 months! (But I really have struggled with them my entire life)!
One of the many idols in my life is food... maybe you can relate. I enjoy food... probably too much! I love the accomplishment of cooking, I love the pleasure of tasting and eating, and I take MUCH comfort in food and I have often used it to cope with the stresses that life brings.
Last October, after finally getting a new job and being settled back in Fargo (from our summer in Minot), I decided it was time for a change in this ridiculous almost addictive relationship I had with food. I began counting my calories using a online site that helped you find out how many calories I was consuming daily and then helped me set goals of eating a healthier, balanced diet... without the binge eating! With the help of my husband in encouraging me to exercise, challenging me when I go for the ice cream, and praying for me, I have learned quite a few lessons....
Lesson #1: This is not just a physical battle.... this is a spiritual battle. A recent realization I had was that SELF-CONTROL REALLY IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! Jesus has given me the power to overcome these addictive behaviors. Max Lucado states it well in his book "When God Whispers Your Name"... " "I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control." (this is my new motto)
Lesson #2: Because I am imperfect... I will fail... but that does not mean that I quit! I have had many bad days (4th of July weekend for example.... WAY too many smores). It is sad that I did not allow the Holy Spirit to help control me... but I learn more about my weaknesses in those moments and I am up for another challenge when the next holiday comes.
Lesson #3: Exercise is actually fun and yes... I CAN RUN! For years, I told myself I hated running and running was just something I simply could not do. Well, surprise surprise, when I put my mind to it, running is not so scary. I started slow... jogging only a couple blocks at a time... and I'm not saying I'll be doing marathons anytime soon... but exercise does not scare me anymore and I have found going out for a jog a great way to meet with Jesus and talk with Him... thanking Him for the physical body He has given me and the beautiful creation... again... it is a neat spiritual experience!
Lesson #4: I'm not only obsessed with food.... I'm obsessed with my own vanity! I am now less excited and less motivated because I have come to a plateau in my journey. For a while, I was loosing weight and things were fitting looser and looser... I was gaining some serious confident and I was very pleased with how I looked. I'm not making that type of progress anymore and I have found myself down about it.... What I think Jesus is trying to teach me is that I have a vanity idol (another idol) and I need to focus on becoming more healthy... not just more thin!
I'm going to the gym tonight... :D My biggest prayer request is that I can continue these healthy habits all through my life, especially after big changes... (moving, children, death in the family etc.)
Hope this has encouraged some of you and maybe challenged others.... I will end with a few verses that sum it up pretty well....
1st Corinthians 10-11-13
11These things happened to them [Israelite] as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
SO... as I wait for the first of our 2 patients for today... I felt like blogging about some personal struggles that I have been battling with for 9 months! (But I really have struggled with them my entire life)!
One of the many idols in my life is food... maybe you can relate. I enjoy food... probably too much! I love the accomplishment of cooking, I love the pleasure of tasting and eating, and I take MUCH comfort in food and I have often used it to cope with the stresses that life brings.
Last October, after finally getting a new job and being settled back in Fargo (from our summer in Minot), I decided it was time for a change in this ridiculous almost addictive relationship I had with food. I began counting my calories using a online site that helped you find out how many calories I was consuming daily and then helped me set goals of eating a healthier, balanced diet... without the binge eating! With the help of my husband in encouraging me to exercise, challenging me when I go for the ice cream, and praying for me, I have learned quite a few lessons....
Lesson #1: This is not just a physical battle.... this is a spiritual battle. A recent realization I had was that SELF-CONTROL REALLY IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! Jesus has given me the power to overcome these addictive behaviors. Max Lucado states it well in his book "When God Whispers Your Name"... " "I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control." (this is my new motto)
Lesson #2: Because I am imperfect... I will fail... but that does not mean that I quit! I have had many bad days (4th of July weekend for example.... WAY too many smores). It is sad that I did not allow the Holy Spirit to help control me... but I learn more about my weaknesses in those moments and I am up for another challenge when the next holiday comes.
Lesson #3: Exercise is actually fun and yes... I CAN RUN! For years, I told myself I hated running and running was just something I simply could not do. Well, surprise surprise, when I put my mind to it, running is not so scary. I started slow... jogging only a couple blocks at a time... and I'm not saying I'll be doing marathons anytime soon... but exercise does not scare me anymore and I have found going out for a jog a great way to meet with Jesus and talk with Him... thanking Him for the physical body He has given me and the beautiful creation... again... it is a neat spiritual experience!
Lesson #4: I'm not only obsessed with food.... I'm obsessed with my own vanity! I am now less excited and less motivated because I have come to a plateau in my journey. For a while, I was loosing weight and things were fitting looser and looser... I was gaining some serious confident and I was very pleased with how I looked. I'm not making that type of progress anymore and I have found myself down about it.... What I think Jesus is trying to teach me is that I have a vanity idol (another idol) and I need to focus on becoming more healthy... not just more thin!
I'm going to the gym tonight... :D My biggest prayer request is that I can continue these healthy habits all through my life, especially after big changes... (moving, children, death in the family etc.)
Hope this has encouraged some of you and maybe challenged others.... I will end with a few verses that sum it up pretty well....
1st Corinthians 10-11-13
11These things happened to them [Israelite] as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
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