A Dollop of Sour Cream

I'm not much into spicy food. I have recently discovered that if a meal is just a tad too spicy for me, I can put sour cream on top and make it not just palatable, but wonderful. This blog is devoted to doing the same for life.

www.flickr.com

7.26.2005

Sanhedrin rebuilding the temple?

At our bible study last night, a fellow came into the store with his three sons who is friends of the proprietor's (as it turns out). And it was VERY encouraging, because he was a Christian and participated in our study -- a little. (And he REALLY knew his Bible. We were reading a passage and he recognized it, not just book but chapter too.) And he invited us to come to his church -- they go out two by two soul-winning into the streets of Seattle. Just like I remember when I was younger, in a different state. (not invited as in trying to get us to leave our church. But to come soul-seeking with them.)

He also let us know that the Sanhedrin are all ready to rebuild the temple. He gave us a website about it that I don't have with me at the moment. But I found an article on WorldNetDaily. Revived Sanhedrin discusses Temple

Although, there is one thing in that article: "These religious authorities believe it was necessary to re-establish the Sanhedrin because only this properly ordained body of sages can authenticate a Messiah when he comes." -- Huh? Surely this is a man-made law, not in the Bible. (not even the Pentateuch) Because the Messiah is who He Is, even if NO ONE on Earth had recognized him while on Earth. Despite our propensity for trying to put God into a box, that's just messing up the proper relationship.

Though-- there was some interesting stuff in our bible study last night about that. About how Satan likes to tangle the wires that are proper.

And this comment: "Anything you have to manipulate to get is rarely yours to keep."

7.23.2005

What I did today

(I should find a better title. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll use this one too much)

I decided it was about time I found things to get rid of around here.

So, I cleared out a bunch of VHS tapes (including every single Little House tape we had. Since I now have two years on DVD -- I can get my Little House fix elsewise) And tapes that we had duplicated on DVD. And tapes that I didn't think I'd ever watch again.

Then I went through my shelves of knickknacks -- and basically decided to get rid of almost all of my "old" ones -- ones I've had for any lengths of time. just perusing the shelves it seems everything I kept was newer... I'm not sure what that means. Maybe I'll take pictures later. Things aren't really "clean" looking yet. I've got piles all over the place of things that need to be filed -- but I did the best I could to throw things out, recycle them, send them to Goodwill,etc...

Though I'm sure at that I've kept things that will later end up going out.

I cleaned out my junk drawer, moving some of the stuff to another drawer NOT in the kitchen. Now I have to decide how best to take advantage of the new space I've got...

ETA: I made space to display the GORGEOUS cake stand I got for my wedding -- then realized I'm not sure how this is done. Are there official means of doing it? I mean, it has to be on its side so you can see the prettiness on the plate... And then what does one do with the matching cake knife (Is this really meant to be used? I'm afraid using it would scratch it all up!)

Oh! I just found it online: India Garden pattern -- maybe I won't be quite so paranoid about displaying it perfectly

Christian Humor -- One Liners

I got this in the mail today. I'm sharing it with my wide readerbase now.

> "Don't let your worries get the best of you, remember, Moses started out
> as a basket case"
>
> Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit
> in their pews.
>
> Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers
>
> It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
>
> The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes
> come close.
>
> When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
>
> People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road,
> and the back of the church.
>
> Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door
> forever.
>
> Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
>
> If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it
> has.
>
> God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why
> should you?
>
> Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
>
> Peace starts with a smile.
>
> I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it
> make which one you stay home from?
>
> A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are
> just sitting on the premises.
>
> We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges
>
> Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
>
> Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
>
> Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
>
> Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
>
> Forbidden fruits create many jams.
>
> God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
>
> God grades on the cross, not the curve.
>
> God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over
> "religious nuts!"
>
> God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
>
> He who angers you, controls you!
>
> If God is your Copilot - swap seats!
>
> Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
>
> The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
>
> The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not
> protect you.
>
> We don't change the message, the message changes us.
>
> You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to.........discourage
> him.
>
> The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
> 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
>
"Father, bless the person reading this in whatever it is that You know they need"

7.21.2005

Unwanted answers to prayer

Okay, I can't say this is the first time I've had this happen. (Asking God for something and wanting a yes and getting a definite answer -- but it turns out to be other than what I wanted.) OTOH, getting a definite answer from God and -knowing- that it is from him is exciting anyway. Knowing he cares enough to answer, and to make sure you know his answer...

Anyway, at our IMPACT group on Sunday, we asked for prayer for our grandma Ruth, who is very old (over 90) and has had several health problems in the last couple of years. And specifically, we asked for prayer for wisdom as to when to best plan to go see her -- sooner, later, etc.

And on Monday, we found out she had had another episode and was just coming out of the hospital. And this time she is refusing rehab. And, well, the answer was really clear -- don't wait for October. Sooner is better than later. So now we are making hurried plans for going up mid-August. (And my new company is being VERY good about things, letting me go and all.)

If you think about it, I also want to ask my readers (all two of you) to pray for her as well. And pray for her salvation, or for our assurance of her salvation.

7.20.2005

Goodbye, James Doohan, once and always Scotty

More and more of those I grew up with are dying.
Today, it was time for James Doohan, who played Scotty in the original Star Trek.

(And yes, I would not mind if they played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes at my funeral -- NOT because it was done in my favorite Trek movie, but because it was beautiful. I'll never forget my surprise the first time I heard a Christian hymn being played on a Star Trek movie!)


The Actor, Boldly Going With the Flow

Mr. John Roberts

Squee! (okay, I know that is teenage-ish)

I just found out that Mr. Roberts' children are adopted!

7.19.2005

My Niece!

Oh and I found out that my niece is signed up to be in Girl Scouts this year!

It's a homeschooling troop (They don't deliberately leave anyone out, but they meet 2-3p on Thursdays...), with all ages in it, just like their school days. (No having the entire troop graduate and leave you behind like I was!). The Cadets lead the group for the first third. Then they split into age-mate groups. And finally they socialize and work on crafts.

Evidently they are going to work on sewing this year -- wish I was closer so my almost-6 year old niece could teach me as she learned. *sighs*

Long weekends and great news

Well first, my great news that I can now tell because its public -- I got a job at the place I've been temping. It's a PERFECT job for me -- better even than the one I applied for. And working with NICE people at a WONDERFUL company, who are willing to grow the job to use the skills I want to spend more time using. And at a bonus to the paycheck level as well!
Start date is August 1st!

Anyway, I spent this past weekend sick -- hoarse more like. Losing my voice. So much so that my husband thought it best that I rest my life. So we "talked" by me writing it out on paper. Except, the paper is actually a bunch of beginnings of sentences. It's amazing how fast my husband could catch the thread of what I was saying and answer it -- and at that point why bother finish writing?

It was just as well, though. The new Harry Potter came out on Saturday and my husband finished it first then I sat down and read it (my Boaz is a VERY fast reader whereas I wanted to really take it in as I read. As well, this way I could "talk" about it as I read.)

7.14.2005

Subway Restaurant

I LOVE the chicken and clam chowder at Subway Restaurant. However, while there today I saw a new "deal" they have going on and frankly, now I'm kind of puzzled.

While at this Subway, I see they have a Take 2 special that is $5.89 for "A small sub of any kind OR a craveable salad + a side salad OR a cup of soup"
(With $1 extra charge for the Black & Bleu salad)

However, -by themselves- the craveable salads are $5.99

...Is Subway REALLY getting so much profit off of the salads they can afford to give away the soup for -10 cents?

I'm confused at the pricing here.

I'm also certain I will not be buying their salads anymore.

7.13.2005

Ants!


I wish I could take a better picture of what we found tonight.

Boaz's parents are moving away and they gave us their old heirloom furniture. (So old, my husband is the 6th in his family to own these!) And, well, 550 square feet isn't enough to hold onto them real well. But, growing up, we had nothing like that, so I'm determined to keep them anyway -- other things can go away. So the bed went into storage and the dresser came home with us, replacing one of the dressers we had already. Except, it turned out that it was larger than we expected :( So we ended up, at the last moment, pretty much rearranging the room to make it even fit where we can pull out the drawers. (And I'm not happy at the moment with how crowded it makes the room either! But it's good enough for the night)

But in the midst of -- we found that there a ANT HILL in the cubby hole next to the water heater! Not just ants, the dirt and everything for a hill! I mean I'm thankful for finding them NOW -- I guess... but I've never had a whole ant hill inside. In fact, I've had VERY few insect problems at all in Washington!

Ugh. I have NO idea what to do now :(

Original Sin=Original evil?

So I got into a thread on a bulletin board because someone said "I don't think anyone would say babies were born evil."

And (thinking of original sin) went "actually, I know quite a few who would." And pointed out how children do not have to be TAUGHT to do bad things. But that it is natural, and up to parents to teach them out of it.

I DID point out that we don't punish babies for this because they don't know better. But did I mess up here? is sin NOT the same thing as evil? Because I've stirred up quite the controversy and now I'm second guessing myself. Bleagh.

7.12.2005

Sad

I just found out that the actor who played Doc Baker on "Little House on the Prairie" died this weekend.

Link to USA Today article

5 Things Meme

This comes from the new link: Quiet Life

5 snacks I enjoy: (that I am allowed to eat) Hot Tamales, apples, cherries, baby carrots, jello
5 songs I know all the words to: In God's Green Pastures Feeding, O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E, Onward Christian Soldiers, Love in Any Language, In His Time
5 things I would do with $1 million:Tithe, Pay Taxes, pay off all debts, buy my sister's family a house, invest
5 locations I would love to run away to: Israel, Texas, New York on New Year's Eve, England, Ireland
5 things I like doing: Playing computer games, surfing the web, quilting, taking pictures, reading
5 things I would never wear: (out in public) rings in holes anywhere other than my ear, see through clothing, anything my husband doesn't like on me, strapless dresses, high heels
5 recently seen movies I like: (what's recent?) Veggietales' Jonah, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lilo & Stitch, Lord of the Rings, Sound of Music
5 famous people I'd like to meet: The President, Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, Stephan Sharkansky, K. Lopez
5 biggest joys of the moment: My husband, _The Patriarchs_ bible study, God's blessings, the class I'm teaching my friends' kids, talking to my niece on the phone
5 favorite toys: my laptop, my Palm, my library card, DVD player, radio

7.09.2005

Friday -- doctor's news

Finally, on Friday I went back to the eye doctor to see the results of a battery of visual tests I've had lately. And the verdict is -- glaucoma. Yes, I'm younger than they usually see it in. Yes, my eyes aren't showing any high ocular pressure... but there is something called low pressure glaucoma and that is what they think I have.

This is one of those "You put eyedrops in your eyes for the rest of your life" kind of diseases. Thankfully, they CAN retard the progress of the disease this way. While glaucoma is not curable, and current vision can not be restored, they can keep the vision from being any further retarded in a variety of manners. I do not, myself, see any loss of vision. So it hasn't affected me yet, it was caught quicker than that. And they are starting me off with medication that only has to be taken once a day (not three times as some of them have) So things could be MUCH worse.

But this is still really scary because I LOVE to read and play on the computer, etc and it seems most everything I really enjoy involves seeing in one way or another -- so going blind has always seemed the worst thing.

Oh and I forgot to ask the doctor if this medication is going to harm babies inside me when I get pregnant.

Bad week

Sorry for not posting more.

Sunday I was sick pretty much all day (probably? dehydration... but that's just a guess that this point)

Monday was July 4th. We had a decent day. Went to the park and watched Dad play with Brass Band Northwest. It was his last time playing with them, and he's one of the founders, so they did a big send-off for him. (They will be moving to Arizona at the end of the month.) Then we went out to dinner with them.

The week was pretty busy. I was filling in at a different building at work, which was much quieter. (but involved doing things like loading and unloading the dishwasher, filling coffee machines,etc... and for some reason I've got a TERRIBLE attitude about that.)

And then, on Thursday, my husband woke me up with the news of the London terrorist attacks. Reminding me of the morning I woke up to a plane having "accidentally" collided with one of the Twin Towers and everything that has happened since then. Bless God, this time it wasn't that bad. But bad enough to bring all the memories back.

7.01.2005

"1 in 3 youth who smoke die prematurely"

I'm not at ALL for smoking. I won't touch cigarettes, etc myself and I don't particularly like the smell when I, or my husband, have been somewhere with smokers and it gets all over our clothes, etc.

However... the crusade against them has gotten to the pitch that I could not consider myself anti-smoke either. I won't vote to increase taxes on them, or to force business to be no smoking. And I get really annoyed at this ad on the side of the city buses.

For example, what do they mean by dying prematurely? Dying of something other than old age? Don't they realize that a great number of people, smoking or not, do this? Living is hazardous to your health. And nothing you do is going to extend your life one day past the time God has allotted to you.

As far as I'm concerned, there are MUCH better reasons to use to convince teens not to smoke:
1. The smell clings to you and will discourage others from wanting to be around you.
2. Cigarettes are EXPENSIVE. Surely there are toys and necessities you'd rather spend that money on?
3. Your body is a temple of the Lord. Do only that to it which would be pleasing to Him.