I Pledge
So, after my last trip back to my hometown, I brought back a box with various elementary school papers, report card, artwork, etc.
In it I found a ‘pledge’ that apparently I was told to sign by the teacher in my ‘gifted program’ (extra credit nerd class, if you were home schooled or are unfamiliar with such things). I guess I signed it at the end of the year as a committment over the summer, this was at the end of fourth grade, here are a few key points:
1) I now realize that the greatest power in the world is the power of knowledge.
2) I want to be smart. Dumb, misinformed people go through life missing so many rewards that could be theirs.
(skipping a few more mundane ones here)
7) I will set aside time each day to think about my future, to discuss it with people I respect and to work on accumulating knowledge that can guarantee that future.
8 ) I pledge this to those who love me and are trying to help me succeed. More important, I pledge it to myself.
Wow.
By the grace of God I’ve broken every one of the above ‘promises’ I’m happy to say, in spite of the attempts to brainwash me.
It still amazes me that the single lie told by the serpent in the garden gets so much airtime: “eat from the tree of knowledge and you will be as god”. It’s ironic to me to find this little blast from the past, especially, in light of the fact that I’ve been spending a lot of time praying out of 1 Corinthians chapter one. What is God’s opinion on the value of ‘knowledge and self-knowledge’?
For the [knowledge/message] of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe…we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block…and foolishness…, but to those whom God has called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
The depths of mans arrogance, pride, self-deceit, and depravity are seen most clearly in their belief that human knowledge is the answer to life. In pursuing knowledge, men will find only destruction and death. In acknowledging that Christ’s merciful gift on the cross, they will be set free. The tragedy, of course, is that most people would rather die feeling smart than live feeling weak. Good luck with that.
Bad news if you choose to pursue that path, in the moment of death, when you see the ruler of the universe (and the judge of all) you will realize that he himself choose the path of the cross, that is the path of weakness. And then you will realize that living in luxury and power on the earth is, in fact, the depths of foolishness. Check out Luke 16:19-31 for details.
Obama’s Speech to Kids Tomorrow
a few choice tidbits that made me laugh:
“I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.”
“I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work — that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.”
“Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone…”
“Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.”
Apple, Google, Microsoft (Xbox), Twitter and Facebook gotta be loving it…well, maybe not Xbox, that was a little bit of a negative reference I suppose…
All in all, I really like a speech, there is very little that I disagree with or wouldn’t feel like I could say to students…now, I wonder if they are going to see the speech at TDA?
Absolutely Amazing
She lives alone with her cat, named pebbles, and she’s never been kissed. This is her audition for England’s version of “American Idol.”
Check out Susan Boyle, if you haven’t heard of this woman, than this link is guaranteed to make you smile.
Why would Bart Ehrman go on this show?
Bart Ehrman is what happens when you decide to lose faith like a child, and let your brain rule over your heart. It is so sad. I call it “smart-guy syndrome.”
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/224128/april-09-2009/bart-ehrman
My favorite line: “why don’t we both die and let God settle it.”
I don’t know if it is good to love this interview this much.
Government Bill Will Criminalize Home Gardening!
Not.
Just heard noise about a federal bill (HR 875) before Congress. The noise was that this bill would end backyard food gardening. Thankfully, it is just alarmist language being thrown around by the beleaguered organic and raw foodies.
The bill (called the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009) was created as a response to the recent contamination problems within peanut butter, lettuce and spinach which transmitted e. coli to American homes.
The bill, essentially, requires anyone who sells food to register with the US government, receive an identification number, and potentially be subject to inspections by federal employees. Failure to comply with regulations could bring a $1,000,000 fine.
Apparently the bill’s sponsor (Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]) is married to a Monsanto employee. The conspiracy minded foodies out there have concluded that it is a secret ‘agro-industrial’ plot to prevent us from growing our own food and put CSA’s and Farmer’s Markets out of business. This is not only an unfounded accusation against the Representative, but inflammatory rhetoric. Ironically, this bill has not just polarized the left, but is also making the reactionary right nervous
So, if you get an email about the ‘end of home gardens’ – be aware that you are probably receiving some of the propaganda spreading through the internet and not an accurate of the actual congressional bill. This website has a more moderate analysis of the bill’s purpose. (It almost sounds like they read through the bill themselves…like I did!)
The problem with food contamination is actually because the food distribution system is already too centralized. When one link in the massive food distribution system gets contaminated, it spreads like wildfire to tens of thousands of products and people. The idea that the government plans to step in to make it even more centralized (shiver)…
Local (decentralized) growers maintain genetic diversity and create long-term, personal relationships with their customers, thereby assuring a greater accountability in the safety and quality of their products.
If you are a local grower, you are probably involved with the cultivation of that food from seed to market. You probably feed your family with it. You sell to your friends and neighbors. The bonds of friendship alone ‘protect’ your customers. Of course, it’s also very bad for business to make your customers sick.
I dislike this bill not because it will ‘put organic farmers out of business’ but because it will put the US government even more directly in control of our food resources. It is another example of the US government exhibiting a patronizing attitude towards the American people. In ‘protecting’ us they create a paternalistic dependence.
The ability for humanity to sustain itself with some seeds, sunlight, good soil and a little water has been a most basic skill for all of recorded history. The US government wants to help us now to make sure we don’t make ourselves sick because we eat a bad apple. Do we really need their help with this? In any case, I’m sure that by the time the bill makes it to the floor vote some language ‘de-regulating’ home gardens and small growers will be included. There are probably 15 home gardeners on the Agriculture sub-comittee alone.
The bottom line is that government control of a nation’s food supply is a slippery slope to go down. Though I don’t agree with the tone or rhetoric of the organic fanatics out there – I agree that this is a very unfortunate bill to rule over us if it passes Congress. I might even call it a sign of the times.
Twitter: On
So, I jumped on the twitter wagon to see what it’s all about. Click here to follow me…
One of the things that got me interested was the fact that Claire McCaskill updates on Twitter – interested in keeping up with the day-to-day of her maneuvers in Washington.
Hope to hear from ya if your tweeting.
38 New Notifications (and Counting)
I’m nothing, if not a social critic. I watch people. I offer (often unsolicited) commentary on their actions and reactions – and fight against slightly cynical tendencies in the process. And I’m not sentimental. Precious Moments? My sworn enemies. Cliche’s and warm fuzzies? I gag on them.
My thought today, however, is the strange glory that is the Facebook Birthday Party. I signed up with facebook last year – and was thrilled to gain over 78 friends in a single day. It felt good, all that friendliness. And today – opening my FB to discover that I have at least 38 fans (and the day is still young!) Who says the Internet isolates and alienates people from one another! Shame on them.
So a quick thanks to those who chimed in to celebrate that awesomeness that is me. And a reminder that I do have an amazon wish list if you want to take it to the next level.
Amanda Beattie Knocks it Out of the Park.
This post is amazing. Some of the best writing and thinking I’ve heard in a long time.
