Thousand Foot Krutch

Thousand Foot Krutch
I love this band. I listen to them daily. Even though we are looking at another camera, we all look like we're alert for it being a fan signing and it's 11:30 p.m. on a Friday.

20 December 2009

Ram's Game

Today, even though I live in St. Louis, I went to my very first Rams game - and I am almost 20 years old! They lost 13-16 against the Houston Texans in the last quarter, but that does not matter. What matters is that I discovered a team - the Rams. They may not be the best, they may not have won the Superbowl this century, but at least they do not cheat. They played well today, and I wish God had rewarded them - and the audience - with a win. But it isn't about winning. It's how you play the game. And they played well.

Really, though,

Lots of Love,

Rachel

18 December 2009

The Princess and the Frog

I am watching the Princess and the Frog - Disney's version of the slightly famous fairy tale. It has magic, Disney's recent favorite fad, love, a prince, friendship, hardwork, laziness, wealth, evil, greed, money, a hardworking young woman enslaved to her American dream, and spoiled rich girls.

It also has African-Americans starring in the lead roles of Tiana and the prince, the first for Disney princesses.

I can definitely see little Tiana Barbie dolls coming out and little prince dolls. Not that I would mind. I'm glad Disney is stretching his horizon and incorporating everyone. I'm sure that Spike Lee's comment about racism had no effect on their recent princess choice. Why should it? (Anyone else notice a correlation - money + pressure = new horizons?)

Not that I'm saying Disney is racist. I believe that racism is becoming a thing of the past - but it still ever present in society, like the pink elephant in the living room - only people not used to it questions its presence.


Lots of Love,

Rachel

17 December 2009

1 Peter 1:13-16 A Little Commentary

Now I'll write the real blog, even though I enjoy both videos and just had to post them.

1 Peter 1:13-16 says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

The Lord expects us to mimic him in all behavior. That includes being holy, or set apart, and acting appropriately. God is holy, and can stand no sin. We should act that way as well. Standing and enduring sin is evil.

God does not want us to lose our minds. That's why he wrote prepare your minds for action and renew your minds. He knows our minds are the most important thing he gave us, so he wants us to take care of our minds and bodies. A sick body is not worth much and makes everything slower.

I am reading through the New Testament and will finish on Dec. 31. This is a meaningful Scripture from today. I just got home from college for winter break and am currently finishing up Criminal Minds. It is my all-time favorite show. I haven't gotten my grades yet, but I know I did well.

Lots of Love,

Rachel

Colby Rasmus Song



The creepiest girl alive I think. She made my sister who likes Rasmus cringe.



Tim Hawkins has other music videos at http://www.timhawkins.net I suspect he is a political entertainer.

Hi everyone. These are my favorite youtube music video. Just wanted to share it with everyone who sees it. Obesession is NOT a good thing. Neither is governmental debt. Enjoy!

Lots of Love,

Rachel

16 December 2009

Federal Shield Law: Why Don't We Have One?

A shield law, according to dictionary.com, is a law protecting journalists from forced disclosure of confidential sources of information. Since I am a journalism major, I am vastly interested in any topic related to journalistic ethics and safety.

There are 40 shield laws in various states in the United States with various degrees of protection for journalists. What happened to the others? No one knows.

There is no federal shield law.

The question is why?

I have an answer.

The court wants to be able to force journalists to testify. They understand that people are more willing - and closer - to the free press than to attorneys. They are far more likely to spill their guts to a journalist, who just wants to protect the public's right to know, than to an attorney, who usually has more dubious reasons for questioning someone. Also, attorneys are hampered to dig for information, while journalists basically have free reign. If they don't know it, they can find out. If they can't find out, they can make it up and no one cares. Just kidding. Almost everything that true journalists report are fact. We are scientists, in a way.

And journalists can find out. They know that somewhere, someone knows something who is willing to talk, especially if they will be protected.

It is a matter of trust. The public trusts the media. The public does not trust slick attorneys. I don't blame them, especially when they forget what justice is.

During the Civil Rights Movement, the media enhanced and kept segregation part of the public's attention. They advocated for it. The White House, the courts, Congress, the states, they all wanted it to go away (as we saw with Kennedy's silence and Johnson's appalling lack of federal troops). The media made sure it did not fall through the cracks.

And we call the media corrupt. Ha! The media is the only reason we don't have more corruption. We are the watchdogs of society, the fourth branch in the checks and balances. If the media didn't exist, segregation would still be around. Thank God for the media!

Lots of Love,

Rachel

College, beliefs, and recent news events

Right now I am preparing to return to my home from college.

I am listening to my music and cleaning out my room. Unfortunately, I will probably have to move next semester. The thing is, no one seems to want me to room with them. Finally I just said, "Screw it." I'm going home tomorrow, Thursday. I'll wait for the consolidation process to discover my new roommate, whoever that may be.

I hope I get a normal roommate who will not pilfer through my stuff and will actually leave the room sometimes (not just for class). With my luck I'll get the person obsessed with studying or watching TV. I also hope I do not end up with a TV next semester. As much as I adore TV, I have enjoyed this semester without it. My grades are good because of it and I have advanced quickly in Farm Town.

I do not know that I want my blog to be a political or religious blog - but I guess what else is there to talk about?

I would not call myself religious. That means I follow an organized set of rules and regulations in an attempt to win favor with God. That is a waste of time. God loves me because He created me, not because I can win Citizen of the Year. God wants us to do good things, but He wants to make sure that I properly fear and respect Him, as well as love Him. He doesn't care about my money or reputation.

Also, I leave the judging up to God. Take Chris Coleman, for example, the man jailed in Monroe County for allegedly killing his wife and sons because he did not want to divorce her so he could keep his job at Joyce Meyer. At least that's the rumor. Does anyone else find that mildly suspicious? How does that even relate to murder? Whose boss could have that much power over someone that he would wipe out his entire family?

I have information that just over a year ago his wife recently told him about her childhood sexual abuse by her grandfather, who also molested her cousins. It was a huge family secret. For their entire marriage he didn't know that, just about her former years when she was promiscious before she met Him and the Lord. She hid it from him - and herself. That tidbit of information makes him look more guilty, like he might be angry she hid such a huge thing from him and only just recently told him. I still find the entire thing pretty sketchy.

Whether or not the man did it is not the question. The question is whether the jury will think he is innocent or guilty. I am glad I am not a jury or in his position, because I leave that kind of judging up to God.

The reason the man does not want any visitors is because he does not want to look at people's faces and know they think he is a child killer. Neither does he want to see pity because he fell so far. Sometimes it seems like his story would have been more believable if he had been spotted in Florida at the exact time of the murders. I bet he wishes he had been there, too.

Lots of Love,

Rachel

James 1-5

Hi everyone.

I have been reading through the New Testament in a semester, sponsored by my pastor, Fred.

Today I was in James 1-5. That is the entire book of James. James is an interesting book to read. Because it is short and dynamic, it is usually a popular book to read because of that. My sister likes James. I remember how we read it aloud one night. It took us about three hours, including discussion. See? Find an easy copy and start in an easy book and reading the Bible is easy.

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (James 1:2-4).

That is James' introducation. He does not mince his words. He tells the flat-out truth. To hell with lies and shame. By being tested and trialed, God shows us our true colors. We need to endure trials so that we can see our colors. If we try to escape, we become deficient in living a true, holy life. We also become blind and deceived to our true nature.

Trials create us. Perhaps we should embrace them, praying to God that at least our character comes out right.

Lots of Love,

Rachel