November 4, 2008
Semi-Unconscious Habit
My fingernails reveal my mental state; I bite them when stressed, bored, or nervous. Try as they might, my parents were unable to cure me of this habit. (That and my inclination to stay up late were the two areas in which their stringent discipline failed to "correct" the behavior.) It's interesting that my nails are a physical manifestation of mental troughs and peaks. They've long been nubs from the infernal boredom of my internship...
November 3, 2008
Good stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6GPlTBV2qc \
This is a classic film. Good stuff.
I am learning to appreciate the gift of time increasingly. Lately I don't seem to have enough time for everyone and for everything I want to do. I pray that the Lord gives me wisdom in allocating this precious gift. Quality time is my second love language, which also provides an interesting dynamic.
My eyes are hurting from staring at a computer all day. 9 more office work days! Probably fewer since we are moving offices in a week and the transition will provide a welcome interupption.
This is a classic film. Good stuff.
I am learning to appreciate the gift of time increasingly. Lately I don't seem to have enough time for everyone and for everything I want to do. I pray that the Lord gives me wisdom in allocating this precious gift. Quality time is my second love language, which also provides an interesting dynamic.
My eyes are hurting from staring at a computer all day. 9 more office work days! Probably fewer since we are moving offices in a week and the transition will provide a welcome interupption.
October 27, 2008
Struggling to Glory
Struggling to glory,
We're shuffling dust,
Beautifully messy,
Laden with trust.
Fire frees function
After pressure molds clay.
Now we hold water
For which no one can pay.
June 2008
(I wrote this one for my Pop's birthday.)
We're shuffling dust,
Beautifully messy,
Laden with trust.
Fire frees function
After pressure molds clay.
Now we hold water
For which no one can pay.
June 2008
(I wrote this one for my Pop's birthday.)
More than politics...
This is an email I sent to a couple of friends this morning:
Hey, someone sent me an email this morning about Obama being pro-abortion, with which I was already familiar as I have scanned his voting record. I decided to look a little more deeply into the extent of how much he supports it, as I had heard that he has always voted pro-choice for every issue. Actually, I was surprised to discover that for a person who presents himself to the public as pro-life, he is indeed intensely pro-choice. He strongly opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (also known as the Induced Infant Liability Act) in the state of Illinois in 2001-2003. Reports were circulating that babies born after botched late-term abortions were being left to die in the Chicago hospital. (What from what I've heard from pro-life organizations, this happens fairly often nationwide.) After a nurse discovered an abandoned baby dying in a linen closet, lawmakers tried to pass the Born Alive Infant Protection Act to say that those babies who survived the abortions had to be treated humanely as citizens. I read part of the transcripts in which Obama argued against the act, and what he said didn't hold water. He also voted against the ban on partial birth abortion (nationally) and against parental notification in his state. Moreover, in July 2007 he spoke at a major Planned Parenthood fundraiser and promised: "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." I just watched him say this. He also said, "There will always be people who disagree with my views on the issue of choice. In this matter, I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield." I included the links below. Granted, these are conservative sites, but I looked at the legal transcripts and the footage. He also opposed the federal version of the act in 2002, which, unlike the Illinois act, did end up passing. (At least he's consistent in this, right?)
As you both know, the issue of abortion takes precedence above all else for me, particularly as it is one in which the president actually has quite a bit of influence (unlike the war or the economy, which are largely dependent on Congress...oh yeah, Congress). I don't dispute that Obama is an excellent communicator. However, his main accomplishments seem to be writing two books during his short years in public service and then charismatically converting a large portion of the population (largely youth) to believe that he is the answer to ... well, to just about anything. As a politician, I find him fascinating and untrustworthy. He votes party and has no foreign policy experience. You may note that I am not extoling the virtues of McCain. This is because I am not completely enamored with him as a candidate, but I do trust him more than Obama and admire his lifetime of service to our country -- with actual accomplishments.
When it comes to social policy, I think it is the church's job to take care of the poor and sick, not the government's. It took me awhile to come to this conclusion because, as you know, I desperately want to help the poor and hurting both domestically and internationally. I'm not saying that the government can't lift a finger, just that it's wrong (and in the long run, inefficient) to hand the government the entire responsibility as the Democrats are wont to do. If I'm going to be an idealist living for God's Kingdom on earth, then I should be consistent and charge the church with our responsibility. Though socialized health care sounds appealing, there are serious drawbacks as will be seen when studying Canada or the UK (and I spent a semester studying the UK's social welfare state). These reasons and a strong stance on pro-life and marriage are why, though I vote for individuals based on their own merit, I designate myself as a Republican.
Synopsis of Obama's opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act with links to the transcripts: http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/02/links_to_barack.html
Movie of Planned Parenthood speech: http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html
More about Obama's opposition to the BAIPA: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/01/top-10-reasons.html
Hey, someone sent me an email this morning about Obama being pro-abortion, with which I was already familiar as I have scanned his voting record. I decided to look a little more deeply into the extent of how much he supports it, as I had heard that he has always voted pro-choice for every issue. Actually, I was surprised to discover that for a person who presents himself to the public as pro-life, he is indeed intensely pro-choice. He strongly opposed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (also known as the Induced Infant Liability Act) in the state of Illinois in 2001-2003. Reports were circulating that babies born after botched late-term abortions were being left to die in the Chicago hospital. (What from what I've heard from pro-life organizations, this happens fairly often nationwide.) After a nurse discovered an abandoned baby dying in a linen closet, lawmakers tried to pass the Born Alive Infant Protection Act to say that those babies who survived the abortions had to be treated humanely as citizens. I read part of the transcripts in which Obama argued against the act, and what he said didn't hold water. He also voted against the ban on partial birth abortion (nationally) and against parental notification in his state. Moreover, in July 2007 he spoke at a major Planned Parenthood fundraiser and promised: "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." I just watched him say this. He also said, "There will always be people who disagree with my views on the issue of choice. In this matter, I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield." I included the links below. Granted, these are conservative sites, but I looked at the legal transcripts and the footage. He also opposed the federal version of the act in 2002, which, unlike the Illinois act, did end up passing. (At least he's consistent in this, right?)
As you both know, the issue of abortion takes precedence above all else for me, particularly as it is one in which the president actually has quite a bit of influence (unlike the war or the economy, which are largely dependent on Congress...oh yeah, Congress). I don't dispute that Obama is an excellent communicator. However, his main accomplishments seem to be writing two books during his short years in public service and then charismatically converting a large portion of the population (largely youth) to believe that he is the answer to ... well, to just about anything. As a politician, I find him fascinating and untrustworthy. He votes party and has no foreign policy experience. You may note that I am not extoling the virtues of McCain. This is because I am not completely enamored with him as a candidate, but I do trust him more than Obama and admire his lifetime of service to our country -- with actual accomplishments.
When it comes to social policy, I think it is the church's job to take care of the poor and sick, not the government's. It took me awhile to come to this conclusion because, as you know, I desperately want to help the poor and hurting both domestically and internationally. I'm not saying that the government can't lift a finger, just that it's wrong (and in the long run, inefficient) to hand the government the entire responsibility as the Democrats are wont to do. If I'm going to be an idealist living for God's Kingdom on earth, then I should be consistent and charge the church with our responsibility. Though socialized health care sounds appealing, there are serious drawbacks as will be seen when studying Canada or the UK (and I spent a semester studying the UK's social welfare state). These reasons and a strong stance on pro-life and marriage are why, though I vote for individuals based on their own merit, I designate myself as a Republican.
Synopsis of Obama's opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act with links to the transcripts: http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/02/links_to_barack.html
Movie of Planned Parenthood speech: http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html
More about Obama's opposition to the BAIPA: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/01/top-10-reasons.html
October 22, 2008
Such an awesome job!
I just spoke to a woman with the most awesome job title. She works for First Church of the Nazarene in San Diego and is in charge of Compassionate Ministries & Social Justice. After I raved about it, Scott joked that it is a sign that I am supposed to have a job. (The interns are taking turns sharing at devotions about where we are in our lives, and I shared this morning.) I hope he's right.
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