My Business class

I'm very excited about my new business venture. My business plan is really starting to come together.

If I ever become a very wealthy woman I would invest it in America, starting with Michigan. None of that off-shore banking for me, thanks.

Spiritual Warfare discussed

Tomorrow, Pastor Greg Laurie of the Christian radio show "A New Beginning" (http://www.harvest.org/podcast/feeds/?feed=anb.xml) is going to tell me how I got involved in my current Spiritual battle and I'm curious to see what his perspective is of my problem is.

Life online

You know what. I'm sick of talking to people I meet online when the topic always ends up about sex. I long for companionship, but maybe I just need to perfect a hobby until this conspiracy is over and I can finally live my life again. I'm not intentionally cheating on you John, that is if you're actually interested in me. It's so hard for me to tell. You told me you loved me and then you told me that you didn't. But you've done little things that make me think that you might. I'm just going to be celibate in words and deeds until further notice.
And for those of you who think I think I'm perfect. I'm not. But I'm still going to heaven. So let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

My Feelings About America

It started out as such a great idea for a country...but now where are we? I grew up believing what I was told in school, but around 2003, I noticed a great division between what I was told and what had come to be.

We were taught about "freedom of speech," but I guess that only applies if you are criticizing the poor. Oh, and "all men are created equal." Now, that I wholeheartedly believe, that no man (or woman) is below (or above) me.

When you've been betrayed by close to every person you know, get back to me and tell me how you feel.

I Don't Think That Reverend Wright is a Bad Guy

You should have heard what the nuns were saying at the "Canticle of Mary." They were saying "what an arrogant nation" and comparing it to the ancient Roman Empire.

I, personally, can't stand behind a false nation that says it believes in Christianity, yet tries to undermine their citizens by advocating against it. Oh, I could go on and on about this...and I will.

I would say that we are a Godless nation, as long as we keep servicing the needs of the plentiful. And by nation, I'm speaking of the leadership. I'm sure there are a handful of citizens that still won't take a bribe.

Not long ago, I got into a discussion with an atheist who claimed that God was into genocide because he called for "the destruction of the wicked." Let me just tell you that the destruction of the wicked is not genocide, but rather justice and well if you're identifying with the wicked, maybe that says something about you.

There's genocide going on in this country and it's not being talked about! It's being bought and paid for by Hollywood. The FOX media empire, in my instance.

GENOCIDE IS THE DELIBERATE AND SYSTEMATIÇ DESTRUCTION OF an ethnic, racial, RELIGIOUS or national group.
While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Article 2 of this defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group;CAUSING SERIOUS bodily or MENTAL HARM to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."[1]

My business class

I've been trying to do research on my class now for 3 weeks, and where there once was information, now there is not. I'm just trying to start a small video production company, but the information is being hidden from me.

Word for the Day

Tyranny
c.1368, "cruel or unjust use of power," from O.Fr. tyrannie (13c.), from L.L. tyrannia "tyranny," from Gk. tyrannia "rule of a tyrant," from tyrannos "master" (see tyrant). Tyrannize is first attested 1494, from M.Fr. tyranniser (14c.); tyrannical was formed 1538 (tyrannic was used in this sense from 1491).

South Haven

Today I took this picture at South Haven's pier. I did a little bit of free location scouting for the Michigan Film Office too.

St. Philip's

Today I went to church at my old church, St. Philip's Catholic Church, to see my friend Paula play her bass guitar. I was surprised to see Mrs. Smith (I believe her name is Carole) that was to be hosting the Obama party. She was playing the acoustic guitar and has this cool hippy vibe about her. She used to pack Courtney really interesting lunches in elementary school. I remember one time she packed homemade guacamole, something that was very exotic to my bologna and cheese sandwich palate (I didn't become a vegetarian until i was 15). I really wanted to apologize to her for not making the party (I had offered up to bring my digital camera and my cell phone), but I didn't know how. I kind of caught her eye for a minute, then looked away. Maybe next time I'll muster up the courage.

Beckah Shae

I really love her lyrics in the song "No, No." I don't have all of them yet, but here's what I do have:

CHRIST GAVE ME AUTHORITY
SO I CAN DO ANYTHING
WITH THE STRENGTH HE GIVES ME, OH

No, no I won't stop till He's done with me
And nothing ever could've would've made me be
Ashamed or ever stop believing
SO WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

No, no I refuse to be discouraged
I'm gonna keep on hanging on with courage
The battle's not mine, it's already been won
So, I'm gonna keep on giving till my time's done

Mary Mary

"Shackles (Praise You)"

Whoo!
It sure is hot out here
Ya know?
I don't mind thought
Just glad to be free
Know what I'm saying, uh!

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE
I just wanna praise you
(What'cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What'cha gon do?)
I'm gonna praise you

In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise you through my circumstance

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG
ALL WENT WRONG AT ONE TIME
SO MUCH PRESSURE FELL ON ME
I THOUGHT I WAS GON LOSE MY MIND
BUT I KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE
IF I WILL HOLD ON THROUGH THESE TRIALS
BUT I NEED YOU TO LIFT THIS LOAD
CAUSE I CANT TAKE IT NO MORE

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
[repeat x3]

Take them off
What'cha gonna do, yeah

Take the shackles off my feet so I can DANCE
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Hellen Keller

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Sure the world is full of trouble, but as long as we have people undoing trouble we have a pretty good world.

I Won't Ever Stop by KJ-52

So while you spread gossip we gonna spread gospel
Speak that truth and keep it moving like some real apostles

But listen and think about the next time you wanna hate
See God's got a way of using the least likely candidates

To everybody that thought that I would fade away
Well here's a big fat God bless you have a nice day

My favorite new word

verbal aesthetic
A pleasing way to say something that may employ wit and rhythm.
She loved the verbal aesthetic of 40's films.
Source: Nicole Bracy, Battle Creek, Michigan

It's in the Urban Dictionary

Billy Idol was soo cool.

"Dancing With Myself"

On the floor of Tokyo
Or down in London town to go, go
With the record selection
With the mirror reflection
I'm dancing with myself

When there's no-one else in sight
In the crowded lonely night
Well I wait so long
For my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
I'll be dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself

So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
I'll be dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself

So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance

[Scat]

Dancing with myself
Dancing with myself
Dancing with myself
Dancing with myself

If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself

So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance

Mary Brodbeck

Mary Brodbeck is a Kalamazoo artist that works in Japanese woodblock prints. Last year, I purchased my second piece of original art, the one above "Sycamore."

This one, "Curl", I'd love to buy when I have the money.

You can't catch a squirrel in a bear trap, Larry!

I wrote that while I was channeling the Coen Brothers for inspiration.

Flying squirrels don't really fly...they coast!

The State of the Nation

You know, we're a young country and, as a friend of mine recently said, empires only last about 200 - 300 years. I wonder exactly who are we to liberate other countries (as is the case with Kosovo), when democracy so clearly isn't working in our own country! When the rich are allowed to oppress the poor and your opinion is only valid if the check you are writing is large.

The second song in my beer drinking journey with Jesus

I've Got Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks. I LOVE that song! I remember being huddled over a keg at Northern singing this very song.

"Hey I didn't mean to cause a big scene just give me an hour and then, I'll be as high as that Ivory Tower that you're livin' in."

Do you serve God or money?

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper, I'm more than a conqueror."
Kirk Franklin, Stomp

Psalm 27

I really like the bit at 27:13


27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

27:2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall.

27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

27:4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

27:6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!

27:8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.

27:9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

27:10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.

27:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

27:12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

27:13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10-13 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.