Hehe

We Are a Eugenic Society

The Chromosomal Barrier
(written by Carolyn McCulley, solofemininity.blogs.com)

It's been an incredibly hectic week -- with a busy, potentially hurricane-soaked weekend ahead. But despite the many distractions, I kept thinking about two pieces I read in yesterday's Washington Post. The first was about how Trig Palin is helping to break "the chromosomal barrier." As columnist Michael Gerson noted, Trig was another first in this history-making presidential campaign.

In addition to Barack Obama making history as the first African American to be nominated for president and Sarah Palin taking her shotgun to the glass ceiling, there was a third civil rights barrier broken at the political conventions this year.

Trig Paxson Van Palin -- pronounced by his mother "beautiful" and "perfect" and applauded at center stage of the Republican convention -- smashed the chromosomal barrier. And it was all the more moving for the innocence and indifference of this 4-month-old civil rights leader...

...Trig's moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But it comes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americans and women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome have rapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Down syndrome diagnosed by prenatal testing each year, about 90 percent are eliminated by abortion...

(for entire article: solofemininity.blogs.com/posts/2008/09/the-chromosomal-barrier.html)

Fellowship

During some lovely hours at Starbucks this evening, of thinking and praying and drinking coffee, I was thinking about the importance of integrity in my life and heart and came to Psalm 15. Verses one and two as applied to a New Testament believer seem to coincide with the concept of fellowship with and knowing God.

O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

These thoughts in reference to verse one are from the Treasury of David commentary:

...truly humbled souls often shrink under a sense of utter unworthiness, and would not dare to approach the throne of the God of holiness if it were not for him, our Lord, our Advocate, who can abide in the heavenly temple, because his righteousness endureth for ever.

We have that access through Christ. And that salvation provides for and reaches into our every day living. Verse two:

He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

Speaks truth in his heart... I was reminded that much of the battle for integrity and truth starts in my mind. There are plenty of ways to speak things other than truth to my heart...self-pitying, what-ifs, if onlys, rationalization, prideful fearings and musings, anxious ponderings.

May I spend more time instead speaking the truth of God's word to my heart... and cooperate with the process of growth that He is taking me through...letting him develop these characteristics in me that I could never muster up in myself.

Recommendation

If you are a college student or in your twenties, if you like reading, I want to highly recommend boundless.org

Intelligent and Biblically solid authors offer thoughtful articles about Biblical manhood and womanhood, college, career, singleness and marriage, living well before God in either of those states, church and body life, faith, culture, politics, etc.

For a variety of good perspectives, read the ones that catch your attention, follow the links at the bottom to related articles. Agree, disagree, enjoy.



For a list of topics: http://www.boundless.org/bestof/

Just for Fun

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling. From glen to glen, and down the mountain side...



I like how the first guy is unintelligible, the second guy messes up the rhythm of the song, and the third guy is called beeker (my nickname off and on the last seven or eight years!). I've always liked the muppets. : )

Encouragement

God has been sending special moments of encouragement my way through my job. The other day I got to talk to another teacher whom I discovered is vaguely associated with CBC and believes much the same I do.

Today I spent some time being trained by another woman who mentioned the Baptist church she attends. It was encouraging to hear her endorsement of the discipline/intervention system I am working through with kids. She was excited about the opportunity to influence the lives of children even though I can't really share my personal beliefs.

Of course I enjoy getting to know others who have different background/worldviews than I, but sometimes it's nice to have a moment of familiarity.

It has been fun to work a little bit with the two ladies in the front office, which is right around the corner from my room. They are so funny and very gracious to answer all my questions and teach me all the procedures and protocall of the school. There are also so many other quality teachers/administrators/faculty that are teaching me lessons about working with children, handling different types of situations, etc., as I watch them interact with their students. They are wonderful people.

It is an exciting learning experience, and I know at this time in my life that this is where God wants me to be!

Laughter

On a day such as this, I look for ways to laugh. : ) I know that God is sufficient for my emotional, material, etc. needs, but I think He gives us the ability to find humor in life. It lifts our spirits and lightens our hearts.

I love to laugh. The way words can be perfectly combined with a facial expression, causing a reaction in us, is fascinating to me. And enjoying humor brings some balance to my introspective tendencies. : ) I especially love things like dry humor, sarcasm, and anecdotes.

Here is a true story from RD to bring a little laugh, or perhaps only a quick eye roll and a sigh, into your afternoon. : )

We rushed our four-year-old son, Ben, to the emergency room with a terrible cough, high fever, and vomiting. The doctor did an exam, then asked Ben what bothered him the most. After thinking it over, Ben said hoarsely, "I would have to say my little sister."

There. I'm smiling again. I like the joke, yeah, but I'm also thinking about who God is and how much He loves me. : )