I am a 27 yo husband, father of 2 and an undeserving vessel hungry to have a supernatural encounter with Yeshua. I am very excited about the plans God has in store for me.
1. What is the name of the President's office? a. Circular Office b. Square Center c. Triangle Corner d. Oval Office
2. President Bush often flies on a plane provided by the Air Force. What is the name of the airplane? a. American Flyer b. Air Force One c. President's Plane d. Marine One
3. The United States flag has many nicknames. Which of the following is a nickname for the flag... a. Oh, Beautiful b. Stars and Stripes c. Wavy Blue d. Red, White and Blue
4. The Vice President's last name is... a. Cheney b. Chester c. Childress d. Cherry
5. The First Lady and the Vice President's wife share the same first initial. What is it? a. G b. J c. L d. B
6. President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its name. What are some other names for the White House? a. The People's House b. The President's House c. The Executive Mansion d. All of the above
7. Many of the State Rooms in the White House are named for ... a. Numbers b. States c. Colors d. Cities 8. What does the "W" stand for in President George W. Bush's name? a. Washington b. Walker c. Winston d. William
9. How many United States Presidents have been named George? a. One b. Two c. Three d. Four
10. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution? a. Virginia b. Delaware c. Florida d. California
* BONUS** How many stanzas does "The Star-Spangled Bannar" have?
Answers: 1. d. Oval Office, 2. b. Air Force One, 3. b. Stars and Stripes, 4. a. Cheney, 5. c. L (Laura and Lynne), 6. d. All of the above, 7. c. Colors, 8. b. Walker, 9. c. Three, 10. b. Delaware Bonus ** 4 Stanzas, do you know one?
1. The Boston Tea Party was committed by... a. Dutch traders who were angry at being excluded from the lucrative trade in tea. b. Patriots who were angry with the way England was trying to change the price and distribution of tea. c. Tories who were angry that quality of tea in Boston was lower than in London. d. British soldiers trying to make trouble for the colonists.
2. The Declaration of Independence was signed in... a. 1776 b. 1777 c. 1775 d. 1783
3. Who said the famous phrase"Give me liberty or give me death?"
a. Samuel Adams b. Thomas Jefferson c. Patrick Henry d. Benjamin Franklin
4. The first state in the Union was? a. Virginia b. Delaware c. New Hampshire d. Maryland
5. What is the supreme law of the United States? a. The Bill of Rights b. The Emancipation Proclamation c. The Constitution d. The Supreme Court 6. Who elects Congress? a. The Judicial Branch b. The Senate and the House of Representatives c. The citizens of the United States d. The Vice President
7. Who is the head of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? a. The Speaker of the House b. The Vice President c. The Cabinet d. The President
8. What is one of the requirements to be eligible to become President? a. Must be at least 30 years old b. Must be a Senator c. Must have lived in the US for the last 14 years d. Must be a US citizen either by birth or naturalization
9. How many Supreme Court Justices are there? a. 12 b. 9 c. 50 d. 13
10. What is the executive of a state government called? a. Senator b. Mayor c. Governor d. Judge
**Bonus** Who was President during the Civil War?
Answers---
1. b. Patriots who were angry with the way England was trying to change the price and distribution of tea. 2. a. 1776 3. c. Patrick Henry 4. b. Delaware 5. c. The Constitution 6. c. The citizens of the United States 7. d. The President 8. c. Must have lived in the US for the last 14 years 9. b. 9 10. c. Governor Bonus answer: Abraham Lincoln
1. American involvement in World War I brought about which of the following social and economic changes in the United States? a. Extensive black migration to the North. b. Decline of trade unions. c. A loosening of controls on freedom of speech. d. A strengthening of anti-trust laws.
2. Which of the following was most crucial in bringing about U. S. participation in World War I?: a. British propaganda. b. German use of submarines against merchant and passenger ships. c. Revelation of a German proposal to Mexico for a joint war against the United States. d. German violation of Belgian neutrality.
3. The first American Government was a a. Republic b. Democracy c. Confederation d. Anarchy
4. Who was the first president to occupy the white house? a. George Washington b. John Q. Adams c. Thomas Jefferson d. John Adams
5. The main law of the confederation was called ... a. The Bill of Rights b. The Articles of Confederation c. The Constitution d. The Declaration of Independence
6. The confederation existed from ___ to 1789 a. 1781 b. 1776 c. 1777 d. 1779
7. The Articles of Confederation were replaced by a. The Emancipation Proclamation b. The US Constitution c. The Bill of Rights d. None of the above
8. Which of the cities below was the first capital of the U.S.? a. Philadelphia, PA b. Washington, DC c. New York City, NY d. Boston, MA
9. Which of the following jobs is the president responsible for? a. to write laws for congress to vote on b. to be Commander in Chief of the armed force c. to declare laws unconstitutional d. to provide income and support for other nations
10. Why did the Pilgrims come to America? a. To celebrate Thanksgiving b. To gain religious freedom c. To enslave the Indians
d. To become US Citizens.
**Bonus: What are the three branches of our government?
ANSWERS: 1. extensive black migration to the North, 2. b. German use of submarines against merchant and passenger ships, 3. c. Confederation, 4. d. John Adams, 5. b. The Articles of Confederation, 6. a. 1781, 7. b. The US Constitution, 8. New York City, NY, 9. b. to be Commander in Chief of the armed force, 10. b. To gain religious freedom
I found this on the net, I thought some of you would find it interesting and amusing. Of course I edited it, and added my own personal insight, but if you must see the original, you can view it here.
The Twenty Most Annoying Liberals In The United States: The 2007 Edition
20) BarackObama: Defining Quote: "The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a (flag) pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security." -- BarackObama explaining why he refuses to wear a flag pin Here you see him as he refuses to show any respect to the American Flag.
19) Cindy Sheehan: Defining Quote: "(The collapse of the Twin Towers) does look to me like a controlled demolition - I'm not an expert - but it does look to me like a controlled demolition - I'm looking at common sense. I do see some very high profile people saying it was an inside job." -- Cindy Sheehan
18) Michael Moore:
Defining Video: Fred Thompson helped gin up a hot following on the net by putting out this video declining Michael Moore's pathetic request for a debate and suggesting instead, that Moore should enter a mental institution.
17) Ted Rall: Defining Quote: "Over time, however, the endless war in Iraq began to play a role in natural selection. Only idiots signed up; only idiots died. Back home, the average I.Q. soared." -- Ted Rall
(Only "Idiots" give their lives to defend your (and mine) freedom! What a stupid statement)
You have to see this video
16) Jimmy Carter: Defining Quote: "And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world." -- Jimmy Carter castigates the British for cooperating with his own country -- Can he be expelled from the US? -- I often wonder...
15) Bill Maher: "I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power, people wouldn’t be dying needlessly tomorrow....I’m just saying if he did die, other people, more people would live. That’s a fact." -- Bill Maher
Here's another one, "I love America; it's Americans I can't stand!" -- Bill Maher
14) The Huffington Post: Whether it's trashing the troops, conspiracy theories, or making merry after some Republican goes to the hospital or dies, the HuffPo will be ready, willing, and able to meet your annoying liberal needs.
13) Chris Matthews: Defining Quote: "Calling his show "Hardball" is like rechristening ping-pong "Thermonuclear Warfare." Displays the slurred, unmodulated speech and unfocused antagonism of an aggrieved middle-management drunk. Can read a scurrilous political attack into any paragraph at twenty paces. Continues honing his pointless questions as his guests attempt to answer, cutting them off with an affected imperial weariness when their responses are insufficiently inane. Apparently ignorant of the implications of satellite technology, Matthews shouts louder at geographically more distant guests." -- The Beast
12) Geraldo Rivera:
Geraldo is so rabidly pro-illegal that he would probably favor driving Americans out of the Southern half of the United States to make more room for people who might want to sneak into the country. Defining Video: Geraldo's screaming match over illegal immigration with Bill O'Reilly.
11) John Edwards:
Then there was the time that he had his sick wife call Hardball to attack Coulter for beating up on him for being a pantywaist -- which, incidentally, just enforced that impression.
10) Mike Malloy: If you ever want to know why liberal talk radio hasn't caught on, look at Mike Malloy. Rush Limbaugh andSean Hannity get accused of being angry because they're tough on the Democrats, but you can almost picture Malloy secretly murdering Republicans on the week-ends and burying them in the crawlspace under his house.
9) The Daily Kos: The funny thing about the Daily Kos is that the farther "out there" they get, the more thoroughly they seem to be mainstreamed into the Democratic Party. Last year, Democratic contenders for the Presidency -- like Hillary Clinton, BarackObama, and John Edwards -- went to the Yearly Kos convention to kiss the rings of Kossacks and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas got a gig writing for Newsweek.
8) Joy Behar: Defining Quote #1: "I don’t know what it’s going to take for people to really wake up and understand that they [the Bush administration] are liars and they are murderers." -- Joy Behar
Al Sharpton:In recent years Al Sharpton has surpassed Jesse Jackson to become America's race-hustler-in-chief. If there is money to be made or media coverage to be had playing black and white people against each other, you can be sure that Al Sharpton will be right in the middle of it, mugging for the cameras and trying to find a way to make a few bucks. Defining Quote: "I can’t think of a time when the Rev. Sharptonwasn’t under investigation." -- Al Sharpton's lawyer, Michael Hardy, after a FBI and IRS investigation into Sharpton was launched.
6) Al Gore: Just when you thought nothing could make Al Gore more pompous after the tongue bathing he has gotten from liberals begging him to run for President, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, bizarrely, decided to give him an award for spreading alarmist propaganda about global warming. Defining Quote #2: "We are what is wrong, and we must make it right." -- Al Gore, accidentally hitting closer to the mark than he realized in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.
5) Keith Olbermann: Defining Quote: "Al Qaeda really hurt us, but not as much as Rupert Murdoch has hurt us, particularly in the case of Fox News. Fox News is worse than Al Qaeda — worse for our society. It’s as dangerous as the KuKlux Klan ever was." -- Keith Olbermann
4) Nancy Pelosi:
San Fran Nan has been such a horrible Speaker of the House that she has led the Democratic Congress to the single, lowest approval rating in HISTORY.
3) Harry Reid:
Reid is a sleazy, nasty-tempered liberal who puts petty political concerns in front of everything else, including the troops in Iraq, and he's a walking, talking embodiment of what people like the least about the Democratic Party.
Defining Quote: "Now I believe, myself, that the secretary of state, the secretary of defense and you have to make your own decision as to what the president knows: that this war is lost, that the surge is not accomplishing anything." -- Harry Reid
2) Rosie O'Donnell: Defining Quote: "I do believe that it's the first time in history that fire has ever melted steel. I do believe that it defies physics that World Trade Center tower 7 — building 7, which collapsed in on itself — it is impossible for a building to fall the way it fell without explosives being involved. World Trade Center 7. World Trade [Center] 1 and 2 got hit by planes — 7, miraculously, the first time in history, steel was melted by fire. It is physically impossible." -- Rosie O'Donnell
(I am glad we have such renown Physicist who can make such groundbreaking assessments about the collapse of the WTC, she should have contributed to Fahrenheit 9/11)
1) Hillary Clinton: Defining Quote: "I think the fact of the matter is that Sen. Clinton is claiming basically the entire eight years of the Clinton presidency as her own, except for the stuff that didn't work out, in which case she says she has nothing to do with it. There is no doubt that Bill Clinton had faith in her and consulted with her on issues, in the same way that I would consult with Michelle, if there were issues. On the other hand, I don't think Michelle would claim that she is the best qualified person to be a United States Senator by virtue of me talking to her on occasion about the work I've done." -- BarackObama
I wonder what happened with Jeremiah Wright? He should have won 1st place if you ask me, but hey, I don't make the rules.
1. The first ten ammendments to the U.S. Constitution are called... a. The Articles of Confederation b. Bill of Rights c. The Preamble
2. _______ has been given the titile "father to his country." a. Benjamin Franklin b. Abraham Lincoln c. George Washington
3. Prior to successfully colonizing the New World, England defeated a major rival, and just prior to losing many of its New World colonies, England defeated another major rival. The rivals were first?: a. France, then the United States. b. France, then Holland. c. Portugal, then Spain. d. Spain, then France. e. France, then Spain.
4. Which of the following was NOT involved in the Triangle Trade during the colonial period?: a. rum. b. slaves. c. tabacco. d. cotton.
e. all of the above.
5. How many stars are on our flag? a. 48 b. 55 c. 49 d. 50
6. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War? a. France b. Spain c. England e. Canada
7. How many changes, or amendments, are there to the Constitution? a. 13 b. 27 c. 28 d. 19
8. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? a. 100 b. 445 c. 345 d. 435
9. Who becomes President if the President dies? a. The Speaker of the House b. The Attorney General c. The Vice President d. The Commander in Chief
10. Who were our enemies during WWII? a. France, China, Italy b. Russia, Germany, England c. Japan, Germany, Italy d. Italy, Russia, France
e. All of the above
**Bonus question** What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
Answers** 1.b. Bill of Rights, 2.c. George Washington, 3.d. Spain, then France, 4.d. Cotton, 5.d. 50, 6.c. England, 7.b. 27, 8.d. 435, 9.c. Vice President, 10.c. Japan, Germany, Italy. Bonus - The Preamble
I am starting a new series called "10 questions" that I will be posting periodically.
The purpose is to challenge you to see how much you know about America. We call ourselves 'Americans,' but do we really know what America really stands for? I believe it is particularly important to know about our Nation's history during this presidential election to see what really is important to us and what makes us the great nation that we are. I was shocked to find out how ignorant our students are regarding American History, particularly in AZ (where we proudly hold the 49th place nationwide for education)
I suggest you have something to write down your answers with prior to beginning the quiz.
1. How old must a person be before becoming eligible to run for President? a. 30 b. 35 c. 21 d. 25
2. The Gettysburg Address was a famous speech given by _______. a. Richard Nixon b. George Washington c. Abraham Lincoln
3. The _______ War was fought in the U.S. between the northern and southern states. a. Civil b. Vietnam c. Korean
4. The Fourth of July was _______. a. the day George Washington was born b. the day when the Declaration of Independence was adopted c. the day the Civil War began
5. The _______ was the fort in Texas where a group of Americans fought a large Mexican force in 1836. a. Stonewall b. Appomattox c. Alamo
6. The assassin of Abraham Lincoln was _______. a. John Wilkes Booth b. Benedict Arnold c. Robert E. Lee
7. Can you name all the original colonies?
8. Who was the first Vice President of the USA? a. Thomas Jefferson b. George Washington c. John Adams
9. How many terms can a President serve? a. 1 b. 3 c. Unlimited d. 2
10. The _______ was the ship that carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620. a. Mayflower b. Pinta c. Santa Maria
** Bonus question - Can you name two senators from your state? **
Answers.
1. b, 2. c, 3. a, 4. b, 5. c, 6. a,
7. Massachusetts New Jersey New Hampshire Rhode Island Connecticut Pennsylvania Delaware North Carolina Maryland South Carolina Georgia Virginia New York, 8. c, 9. d, 10. a,
I just received this "Action Alert" from the America Family Association and I wanted to pass it along so those of you who disagree with McDonald's decision on homosexual marriage can take a stand... I have done my part so far, and I have discontinued the little attachment I had to McD, since not only do they promote gay marriage, but support illegal immigration as well. - I know one of the requests for the following petition is to call your local McDonalds, so I wish you good luck trying to talk to an illegal allien who speaks little or no english-
McDonald's has refused a request to remain neutral in the culture war, choosing to continue support of the homosexual agenda. AFA wrote McDonald's asking the company do two things:
Remove McDonald's name and logo from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Web site listing McDonald's as a "Corporate Partner and Organization Ally" of NGLCC. Remove the endorsement of NGLCC by Richard Ellis, Vice President of Communications for McDonald's USA, from the NGLCC Web site. McDonald's refused both requests. McDonald's donated $20,000 to NGLCC in exchange for membership in the NGLCC and a seat on the group's board of directors. The NGLCC lobbies Congress on a wide range of issues including the promotion of homosexual marriage.
This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald's, or how homosexual employees are treated. It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, choosing to put the full weight of their corporation behind promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.
Pat Harris, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Vice President, Inclusion & Diversity at McDonald's, responded:"I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our position on diversity." Notice that Ms. Harris said "reaffirm." Translated: McDonald's will not change their policy of supporting the NGLCC and their promotion of homosexual marriage.
Richard Ellis, who is openly homosexual, was given a seat on the NGLCC Board of Directors. He was quoted as saying: "I'm thrilled to join the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and ready to go to work. I share the NGLCC's passion for business growth and development within the LGBT community, and I look forward to playing a role in moving these important initiatives forward."
Addressing McDonald's promotion of social issues, McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said earlier the company will aggressively promote the issues they approve. In remarks on its Web site, Skinner said: "Being a socially responsible organization is a fundamental part of who we are. We have an obligation to use our size and resources to make a difference in the world ... and we do."
Take Action!
Sign the online Boycott McDonald's petition and urge your friends and family to do the same. Print and distribute the Boycott McDonald's petition. Call your local McDonald's. Speak with the manager. Tell him or her (in a polite manner) that you will be boycotting McDonald's until they stop promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage. To find the phone number of your nearest McDonald's, click here.
On December of 2007, while Marie and I were driving back from Philadelphia, PA to Edison, NJ, we were listening to the conservative radio station. I remember the talking point that day was about the "Boy Scouts."
If you have not heard the story, here are the main details.
One city official is managing to displaced 80 yrs of scouts traditions. Nearly eight decades ago – 1928 – the city of Philadelphia granted the local Cradle of Liberty Boy Scouts Council property at the corner of 22nd and Winter Streets "in perpetuity" for only $1 yearly rent. Now, because the Boy Scouts believe as much in moral principle as they did in 1928, perpetuity is ended. Mayor Street's solicitor Romulo Diaz threatens eviction from what has become the council's headquarters building. Here are the few options for the Boy Scouts.
First, end the policy of excluding homosexuals from positions of leadership, a policy which the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2000 the Scouts are within their rights to hold and which they will continue to hold by every indication. Second, pay a market rent in the upscale Philadelphia Art Museum district, which would require significant new council funds on top of the city government's broken promise ( a staggering $200,000). Finally, leave the headquarters building.
The Scouts built the building with the promise that as long as they maintained it on their own, they would only have to pay $1 yr. They have invested over 2.6 billion dollars, but now they are facing a conviction by an openly gay official, as he claim the Scouts are discriminating agains homosexuals.
http://www.silencingchristians.com/ The 4th episode does mention this shameful story about the Boy Scouts.
What was sad about this is not only that this has not made the front page on any news paper, as the left media has failed to expose such incident, and the second thing is that it was our first time visiting Philadelphia, where the some of the most important events that shaped our nation happened. We had just left the Liberty Hall, admired the liberty bell and learned about the swearing of the first and second presidents! What an irony and a shame it is that a once conservative and Godly community (in fact, the first capital of the USA), is now attempting to become the first gay capital of the USA. I was hoping to find the whole series premiere episode, but I could only embed the trailer. It is a very interesting series that defines liberalism with topics such as "hate crime" and discrimination against Christians. I highly recommend this for anyone who is fed up with the "political correctness" nation in which we live and urge you all to take a stand and make your voices heard. Do not assume that someone else will do it for you, as your voice does make a difference.
I thought this was pretty good. From Dinesh D'Souza's blog ...
The historicity of Christ, including his death by crucifixion, is a fact that about as well attested as any in the ancient world. The evidence for Christ's existence is much stronger than that for Socrates, Alexander the Great, and numerous figures of ancient times whose historicity no one doubts. Historians are unanimous that Christ was born, that he developed a following, that he antagonized the Jewish and Roman authorities, and that he was put to death. But what about the resurrection?
"If Christ had not been raised," Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "our preaching is useless and so is your faith." The resurrection is the most important event in Christianity. (For this reason, Easter is actually a more important holiday for Christians than Christmas.) Other religions such as Judaism and Islam may feature miracles but miracles are not central to their theology. Christianity, by contrast, is based on the miracle of the resurrection.
Since the nineteenth century, some biblical scholars have refused to accept the biblical account of the Resurrection because it was produced by people obviously biased in Christ's favor. Interestingly Christ's followers, by their own admission, did not expect the resurrection. Arriving three days after his death, the women brought spices to his tomb to anoint and preserve his body. Only then did they observe that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty.
The fact of the empty tomb was admitted by the Roman guards and also by the Jewish magistrates, who told the Roman authorities that Christ's followers must have stolen the body. In Jewish polemic against Christianity, this has been the standard explanation for the empty tomb. Yet it is prima facie implausible, since how could a handful of female disciples have subdued Roman guards and moved the stone blocking access to the tomb?
The apostles were deeply skeptical about reports of a resurrection, and Christ had to appear to them several times before these doubts were dispelled. Paul writes that Christ "appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, although some have passed away." Paul here appeals to direct empirical evidence: the testimony of multiple witnesses who actually saw Jesus alive after his execution. Of this group, Paul says that many are still alive, which means they are in a position to refute him if what he is claiming is wrong. In the history of hallucinations, is there a single instance in which five hundred people all saw the same person--a figure known to them--and were all equally mistaken?
But is the testimony of the early Christians reliable? Well, let us see. The disciples became so convinced of what they had seen that their dirges of lamentation were replaced with cries of joy. Proclaiming Christ crucified and Christ risen, they launched the greatest wave of religious conversion in history. Historians tell us that the number of Christians increased from around 100 at the time of Christ's death to around 30 million by the early fourth century, when the Roman emperor himself converted to Christianity.
These conversions occurred in the teeth of fierce political opposition and the persecution of the greatest empire in the ancient world, the empire of Rome. The early Christians did not hesitate to identify themselves with a man who had been branded a traitor and a criminal. They endured imprisonment, torture, exile, and death rather than renounce their commitment to a resurrected Christ.
Imagine a disputed event in court where numerous eyewitnesses gave evidence of the same fact and stood by their testimony so firmly that they would be willing to endure life imprisonment or even the death penalty rather than say the contrary. Would any jury doubt that such people, who would have little to gain and everything to lose, were telling the truth?
"Yes," an atheist friend of mine conceded. "But aren't the radical Muslims also willing to die in order to get the virgins in heaven?" Perhaps so, but the two cases are not comparable. The radical Muslims are taking on faith that their actions will take them to an Elysian place where the virgins will be waiting. By contrast, the Christians who went to their deaths at the hands of the Romans did so because they refused to renounce an event in their own experience. Why would someone be willing to die for something that he knew to be a lie?
Even from a secular point of view, the evidence for Christ's resurrection is surprisingly strong. It might even be sufficient to convince an impartial jury in a court of law. The big question surrounding Good Friday and Easter is not: did all this happen? It did. The big question is whether we will let Christ into our hearts, so that he can raise us up on the day of judgment.
Make plans now to celebrate Easter at Phoenix First. This year’s Trilogy features a powerful message, worship, drama, multimedia and more! Join us as we unite together to honor and remember Jesus’ humble sacrifice on the cross and His victorious resurrection.
Bring your kids out to the annual Easter Egg Hunt following the 2nd service (approximately 12:15 p.m.) in the outdoor amphitheatre, located west of the main sanctuary.
Mark your calendar for the annual Easter Sunrise Service – Easter Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. in the outdoor amphitheatre, located west of the main sanctuary.
For further details please visit PhoenixFirst
13613 N. Cave Creek Road Phoenix, AZ 85022
On Cave Creek Road just north of Cactus, between Sweetwater and Sharon Dr.
This hymn was written after several trau matic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville Du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spaf ford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, his own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, and the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord! Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul
This Sunday kicks off Pastor's School. Normally, each year we host pastors and leaders from around the world who cannot afford to pay for a hotel room during Pastor's School. This year, however, we volunteered to host pastors, but we were not selected. Apparently the generosity of the church members exceeded the church's expectations and over 40+ families who offered housing were refused because of the vast number of households offering help.
We were a little disappointed because we really enjoy meeting people from other countries and different cultures who are visiting (perhaps for the first time) the US or Phoenix.
Oh by the way, if you wish to find out more about this conference, please visit the official website.
These last few days have been spent searching for a job. I am uncertain as to what to do, since I am only looking for a temporary position, however, I am a bit high maintenance (as Marie calls me) because I want to get a good-paying job. I am most certain I can get an OK paying position, but our lease is due for renewal within the next few months, and quite honestly I am tired of living in a place that does not belong to me. I would like to buy our first home, but without a job, that seems relatively impossible. Marie and I were driving back home on Saturday, and we came upon an open house. We were NOT searching for homes, but it looked really inviting, so we stopped and the realtor came over and said we were welcomed to look around. He showed us the property and we absolutely loved it. It is a little more than we could possibly need, but it could be a good investment property. The home has a FULL basement (which if you live in AZ, you know that is a very RARE find) which features an outstanding playroom, dance/work-out area, THREE bedrooms, one bath and one home office, in addition to the entertainment area, and fireplace. On the main level it also has a really spacious master bedroom, three more bedrooms and 2 baths. A nice (SMALL) kitchen, double fireplace, dinning area, breakfast nook and a formal living room. The backyard was somewhat small, but there was a large swimming pool (which is also quite nice in Scottsdale), and 3 car garage. Yeah, I know, big house for the two of us, but as I mentioned earlier, we could definitely close the basement and add an entrance to the basement and easily turn it into a duplex. Get a couple of roommates to share rent and we could be on our way to becoming homeowners!!
I guess I am raising my hopes up, but if I do a diligent research, I am sure we can somehow afford it. The first thing is finding a good job!
Please keep us in your prayers as this search continues...
For those of you who want to understand more about the new wave of atheism, you absolutely must watch the following interview. Conservative speaker and writer Dinesh D'Souza explicitly describes the idea of the war against religion, so Christians can understand what we are up against.
This other video explains the recently released book by Dinesh D'Souza. It has been in the NY's best seller.
Dinesh D'Souza mounts a spirited intellectual defense of Christianity in the face of its many detractors. He argues that Christianity and modern science are really not in conflict, and he explains how questions about the origins of the universe, and about evolution, can be reconciled. Atheists who attack Christianity's historical excesses are, says D'Souza, misreading and misinterpreting history for their own ends, and he claims that it is atheistic regimes that have been responsible for the terror and mass murders throughout history. In D'Souza's eyes, the atheistic stance is tired and worn, and, in his view, it is Christianity that offers a viable hope for the future.
I have not yet obtained a copy, but I am eager to, as I am currently reading his predecessor best seller. "What's so Great About America?"
This is actually my second time reading it, as it is very "juicy" and cannot get enough of it.
A MUST read for all conservatives.
You can also read D'Souza's blog. Please click here to be redirected. I have added it to my favorites.
We attend Phoenix First Assembly of God, and absolutely love to be a part of such great world known ministry. Our church has developed a system in which people can interact with minded-like individuals. There are small groups called “Fusion Life Groups,” which meet on Wednesday nights and are primarily related to a particular topic of interest. Now, I know that most Christians, when they hear the word “Small Groups,” feel as though it is all about a bunch of crazy radical people trying to find friends, weird outcasts, or simply do not feel that they fit in with anyone in their groups, this is one of the reasons why our church implemented these topic-based groups, so members can have a sense of belonging. The series for this month is called “Welcome to the Real World,” hence the title of this post. Marie, my siblings and I are considering becoming a part of the leadership of such ministry (Life Groups). We realize that, while the 130+ groups have covered most topics, there is one that has been neglected, perhaps because it is very controversial, nonetheless, extremely important in the society in which we live; that is “politics.” We are seriously considering leading a group for people who are into, or want to learn more about politics; despite of the fact that we are of no erudite nature, we strongly believe there is an enormous misconception about politics in church (generally speaking), not to mention the need to teach politics from a Godly perspective. We know this is a challenging task, but we truly think it is absolutely worth the effort. As Christians, we have a serious responsibility in taking a part of our nation’s governmental decisions, actions and beliefs. We will be held accountable by our future generations, should we give these responsibilities little thought and leave them in the hands of the secular world. A lot of Christians are confused and simply decide to either ignore politics or take a neutral stand because they don’t understand, others have never been educated or exposed to politics, or have been brainwashed by the bias media. The problem in America is that we are deviating from our conservative principles and have become accustomed to the political correctness wave.
Our Nation was founded on Christian principles, therefore it is imperative to take a stand as believers, and not let the left wing infiltrate worldly ideals such as: communism, socialism, big government, dictatorships, and so on. These issues are extremely serious, and Christians MUST have a clear understanding of the importance of such issues. Some believe politics should be left outside the church, whereas, we know our Founding Fathers were strong believers, and it was because of their impeccable Christian foundation that God allowed us to be set free from our oppressors.
I had a roast in the freezer and wanted to jazz it up a bit, so I decided to make it Wellington style. Here is the recipe, and a picture, I did not take a picture of mine, but it looked something like this.
Serves 6
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil One 3-pound beef tenderloin Salt and freshly ground black pepper (To taste) 1 pound/450 g button mushrooms 3 large shallots, finely chopped (Onions would work too) One 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed 1 large egg, beaten to blend 1/2 cup dry red wine 1 pound fresh thin green beans, trimmed 2 tablespoons butter Juice of one key lime
pinch of oregano
Method:
To prepare the beef and mushroom mixture:
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper. Add the beef to the hot pan and cook until brown on all sides but still very rare in the center. This will take 8-10 minutes total. Transfer the beef to a plate and refrigerate until it is cold. Set the pan aside (do not wash the pan).
Place the mushrooms in a food processor and blend for 10 to 15 seconds or until all the mushrooms are very finely chopped. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the same frying pan over moderate-high heat.
Add the shallots and sauté for 1 minute or until the shallots are tender, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the finely chopped mushrooms and sauté 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the mushroom mixture is dry. Set the mushroom mixture aside to cool completely.
To assemble and bake the beef:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each pastry sheet into a 16x10-inch rectangle.
Brush 2 inches of one long side of one rectangle with some of the beaten egg. Place one long side of the second rectangle atop the egg-coated edge of the first rectangle, overlapping the edges by 2 inches. Press gently to seal.
Spread half of the mushroom mixture lengthwise over the center of the pastry. Place the beef on top of the mushroom mixture. Spread the remaining mushroom mixture over the top of the beef. Fold the pastry over the beef, overlapping the pastry on top of the beef.
Brush the pastry ends with some of the beaten egg, then fold the pastry ends over the sides and top of the beef. Turn the pastry-encased beef over and onto a heavy baking sheet so that it is seam side down. Brush some of the beaten egg over the pastry. Score the top of the pastry decoratively with the dull side of a knife.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the pastry is cooked through and a meat thermometer registers 130°F when inserted into the center of the beef for medium-rare doneness. The temperature of the beef will rise as it rests.
Let the beef rest for 20 minutes. Transfer the beef to a cutting board. Reserve the pan juices. Simmer the wine in a heavy based small saucepan over a high heat for 5 minutes or until reduced by half. Pour in the reserved juices from the beef. Simmer 1 minute. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, to cook the green beans:
Boil the green beans in a large pot of boiling salted water for about 3-4 minutes or until they are crisp-tender. Drain. Melt the butter in a medium sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the beans and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper, oregano and lime juice.
To serve:
Cut the beef and pastry crosswise into thick slices. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon some wine sauce over the beef and serve with the green beans.
Marie is trying to get a job at a modeling agency, so we have been trying to find a good place for her to submit her portfolio. My brother Nathan has done a terrific Job with Marie's pictures for her new portfolio, so I want to share a few in here. Nathan has won various contest in photography and video production). During an interview today, Marie was told to also pursue an acting career, but needless to say, she thinks she does not have the personality for acting. We both agree that for a few extra hundred bucks ANYone could have "the personality." It even makes me want to sign up, although I don't think I am a very good candidate. However, we are not financially able to that at this time, it may be something to consider down the road. Here are the pictures.
As Marie and I were driving to church this morning, we reflected on certain things that we hope to accomplish this year, involving anything from secular jobs, life at home, with family, earthly possessions, and most importantly, a life with God. We realized how imperative, how crucial it is to place God before anything else ("Seek ye first the Kingdom of , His righteousness; and all these things shall be added onto you...") in order to have a successful life. It is no coincidence that He mentioned it very clearly on His word. We discussed the importance of being accountable to one's self for everything we do, on a daily basis, as well as on a yearly basis. If we wish to accomplish certain things, we must have a vision for them, a goal and work towards fulfilling that goal every second of every day. Well, to our complete surprise we arrived at church and the first thing our pastor said is the very same thing. He actually had an outline of the things we, as a church, need to do in order to achieve our goals. He has a vision, where he wants the church to go, and he encouraged the church to commit to certain things, funny enough, we had to write down our commitments (in order to hold ourselves accountable) and work towards that vision. I think it is a time to reflect on where we are, as individuals, as a nation, and most importantly, as children of God.
I have been home all day trying to figure out how to rearrange our new home. Marie has been working all day (we exchanged roles hahaha) and I am trying to surprise her with a new look, a more inviting, intimate and cozy setting (which is what she likes). I don't think I was very successful, since the apartment still looks quite messy, but I guess that is just a part of the process. I cannot wait for her to be back and tell me what she thinks of it. I would take some pictures, but I am sure she would want to either move it all back the way it was, or simply rearrange my "arrangements" haha =). In any event, I will update this post later with the end product. Oh, and by the way, does anyone else feel they have collected too many pieces of furniture? I sure feel that way, and hey, I've only been married for a month, go figure!
These photos are from our wedding. We were married on November 24th, 2007. I will post some pictures of our honeymoon as well, but not until I sort them all out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you for the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Marius" - Pastor Greg.
