radicalramblings's Xanga

The Saga of the Idiot Neighbors

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:05:44 GMT

You may remember me ranting about my idiot neighbors and their obnoxious dogs a while back. The dogs that barked, all the time, for no reason, at all hours of the day or night. I referred to them as the barksalots, lol.

Well a lot has happened since then. The barksalot people moved, but their younger brother moved into the house. They've done a total remodeling of it, which involved several loud and obnoxious construction projects at unusual times (6am on a Saturday, 9pm on weeknights, etc.). But last night they took things to a new level entirely.

At nearly 1am, after contacting the owners of the house and calling the police several times, and a lot of unnecessary drama, their construction crew finally left.

I'm tired of being nice about it. Their constant nonsense has got to stop. I am researching my legal options.

What's the most obnoxious thing you've ever had a neighbor do?

SEATBELTS - USE THEM!

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:56:12 GMT

Proudtobeachristianfruitcake's latest ENTRY reminded me that it's time to re-visit this topic...

Many states have laws requiring the use of seatbelts. While I don't think the government should regulate personal safety, I do think it is important for us to take responsibility for ourselves. In this case, that means taking the simple step of putting on a seatbelt.

I have heard many ignorant reasons for not wearing seatbelts, and none of them hold up under scrutiny.

One line of illogic goes, "people who wear seatbelts are actually more likely to be injured by it." That is technically true. People who wear seatbelts are more likely to survive the crash, but seatbelts do not eliminate all injuries. Thus, people who wear seatbelts are more likely to be injured than those who did not, and find themselves dead instead.

Another line of illogic goes, "seatbelts are uncomfortable to wear." I don't see how a simple belt can possibly be that uncomfortable, considering a properly adjusted belt should rest across areas protected by clothing anyway. But even if it is somehow still a nuisance, is it really more painful than having your head slammed against the windshield or, worse, the concrete outside the car?

But maybe I'm looking at this all wrong, or being unfair in my judgment of those who refuse to wear seatbelts.

Is there any good reason for not wearing a seatbelt?

Calling all my Christian friends...

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:50:12 GMT

At church the last few weeks, we've been talking about ministry, living a great commission lifestyle, sharing the gospel, and praying for those who do not know Christ. I have a prayer project for Xanga in mind, and I am looking for some committed prayer partners to help with it. It is all going to be "behind the scenes," that is, nothing public and flashy to let anyone know what we're doing (aside from this post), just simply uniting in prayer. If you're interested, leave a note in the comments or send me a message & I'll give you the details.

Meet Beza

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:27:18 GMT

This is Beza - the child I sponsor through Compassion International.

Beza lives between Awassa and Shashemene in Ethiopia. The average monthly family income in her area is the equivalent of $18. Typical homes are simple wood-frame structures with dirt floors and corrugated tin roofs. The area has been highly impacted by HIV and AIDS, as well as other diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and water-born illnesses that are virtually unheard of in developed nations. The community has limited access to electricity and clean drinking water.

I have been sponsoring Beza since 2006. Here are the yearly photos I've received of her since I began sponsoring her.

I'll never forget the first birthday gift that I sent for Beza - or rather, the thank-you letter that she sent me in response. It was only $25, an amount that would hardly buy a single gift of significant value for an eight year old child in the United States. Beza's letter, however, told a far different story. She was able to have soda, and some candy, for her birthday - two things she'd never had before. She bought two pairs of jeans, a pair of shoes, three shirts, some socks and underwear.

But it was the last item she bought that really broke my heart. She bought a mattress, for her and her mother and sister to share. It was the first that they had ever owned.

My contribution of just $38 per month allows the staff of Shashemene Mekane Yesus Student Center to provide Beza with Bible teaching, health screening, health and hygiene education, food grain, recreational activities, picnics, school supplies and school fees. The center staff also provides HIV awareness programs and counseling for Beza's mother (her father is deceased).

That's less than two dollars a day. Most of us spend that much on our morning coffee.

Click here to learn how you, too, can help a child like Beza have the things that we take for granted.

Cell Phones & Bibles (from an email)

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:39:01 GMT

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Friday, December 04, 2009

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:57:58 GMT

Xanga Life Raft

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:48:45 GMT

A lot of folks seem to think that Xanga is the internet version of the Titanic. They say we've struck the iceberg, we're taking on water, and it's just a matter of time before this ship goes down for good.

I'm not sure about that yet, though the recent DNS outages make me wonder. What I do know is that the site has experienced crashes and data loss before, and it would be nice not to lose track of all of my friends on here in the event of some catastrophic failure - whether that be the sudden and abrupt closure of the site, or a massive server crash, or some other unforseen event.

So, with that purpose in mind, I now present you... the Xanga Life Raft, on the major social networking sites!

FACEBOOK - MYSPACE - BLOGGER

Please rec this entry so no one misses the life raft!
THEN, click on your preferred network above & follow the steps to get on the raft! This part is important - if you aren't signed up over there, on one of the networks, then no one will be able to find you if/when the raft is needed!

AIDS Orphans

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:49:44 GMT

Today is World AIDS Awareness Day.

Every fourteen seconds, a child is orphaned by AIDS. For millions of children living in poverty, the loss of a parent to AIDS is inevitable.

Learn how you can help...

AIDS Orphan Ticker

Compassion.Com - AIDS Initiative

Sponsor A Child

P.S. Thanks Bronze_for_Gold for providing this link to the New Life Foundation, which is another program helping children orphaned by AIDS.

So, I guess I should write something here...

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:41:35 GMT

... So you at least know I'm still alive and haven't completely abandoned this site.

Thanksgiving was nice. I hope you had a good one? I'm getting quite tired of turkey leftovers though. Proudtobeachristianfruitcake has a blog on what to do with them... why don't you head over and check it out? Share your ideas, too, please!

I've been sort of out-of-the-loop news-wise. I don't watch a lot of television, and my internet connection at home is iffy at the moment. More correctly, my computer is iffy. The connection itself is fine. I'm going to head over the Shamelesslyred and Provokingthought's sites to find out what I've been missing. If you're feeling news-deprived from the holidays, I hope you'll join me there.

Anyway, part of the reason I haven't been writing a lot is because I haven't really felt like doing so. I've been battling sinus infections and colds for months, one after another. Well, at least I thought I was. Turns out, the swine flu back in September left me with a parting gift - walking pneumonia. Can't say I'm really surprised, but it's annoying.

What have I missed around here lately? Fill me in...

Something a bit different today.

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:59:34 GMT

Note: This was originally written for another forum, but the message is one that I think many may benefit from.

I found myself unable to type the words "Happy Sabbath," because it doesn't feel like a happy day at all. My phone rang this dreary Saturday morning with news that there could - finally - be some memorial service for Catherine [Matteson; "Waco" survivor who passed away in September]. Maybe the cold, and the rain, has had a negative impact on my mood today... but I find myself particularly bitter that - once again - these people were slapped in the face.

Instead of allowing her to be given a proper funeral and burial, her body was held for months, until most people gave up on trying to leave time available for whatever arrangements would eventually be made. Then, her body is finally released for burial, on short notice, during a holiday week, effectively insuring a small number of folks able to obtain time off work and make the trip to Waco to remember her life.

And yet, even as I sit here typing this, I am convicted by the Spirit for my bitterness, my inability to forgive, and by extension of those - my lack of faith. Do I not absolutely trust in the Lord, who knows the number of hairs on my head and everything that would happen before I was even created? Do I not believe that I am to forgive others, as the Lord forgives me for my transgressions? And if I do, then why do I live as though I don't?

The Bible tells the story of a man named Job, who suffered more loss, heartache, and hardship than any man should ever see. His children were killed, his possessions were destroyed, his friends turned their backs on him. And yet his faith remained strong, and he refused to dishonor the Lord in reaction to his pain.

Whenever I read the story of Job, I cannot help but think of Clive [Doyle], and Sheila [Martin], and Catherine [Matteson], and Bonnie [Haldeman], and all of the others [surviving Branch Davidians] who have lost so much. They lost children, and grandchildren, and spouses, and parents. They lost their home and their friends and their place of worship. They very nearly lost their lives.

And yet, their faith is still the central driving force in their lives. Time and again I have seen a grace exhibited from these people, that can only come from God. Alongside the memorials for their loved ones, they placed one for the fallen agents who did this to them - and their names are read each year at the memorial service as well. When asked, a few years after the tragedy, what could be done to help - they didn't request homes, though they had none of their own. They didn't request money, or vehicles, or any of the other material things that so many volunteers would have been grateful for the chance to provide. Instead, they asked for a place to gather, and worship - a place they would then open to all who would choose to come.

This kind of grace, and faith, amazes me. It is what I remind myself of on dreary days such as this, which begin with bittersweet news and leave me feeling so ungrateful for all of the good things that I have. Relative freedom, a computer that I'm sitting here typing this on, a roof over my head, my health. Sure, I've had losses in my life. It hurts to think of both Bonnie and Catherine no longer being here, both gone in a single year. But, what do I know of loss, compared to theirs?

If you're still with me, there's a point to all of this. It's okay to be upset when bad things happen in this life we live. But don't be upset with God. The Lord didn't design this world to be filled with pain, and heartbreak. That came into the world with sin, when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Instead of blaming God, and being angry with Him when bad things happen, we need to look to Him to comfort us and carry us through it. We need to remember that the time He's given us here is but a gift, and remember to be thankful for it.

And on that note, I'll leave you to contemplate the things that you are thankful for in your life.