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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Interesting Story - Day 133

Thanks Katie: @ http://katiegrace7.blogspot.com/ - check it.

Marital roulette
Exclusive: Vox Day advises men to avoid wedding working women

Posted: May 30, 2011
1:00 am Eastern
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=304781

Sunday, May 29, 2011

By Vox Day

There has been an amount of discussion of a marriage strike in recent years as various male and female commentators alike attempt to explain the continuing decline in marriage rates throughout the advanced nations of the West. As more and more men have become aware that women file for most divorces and that family courts are now little more than thieves' dens designed to funnel financial resources from men to women by any means or legal-sounding excuse necessary, they have understandably become considerably more marriage-averse.

In the last 40 years, the percentage of 25-34 American adults who were married has dropped from 80 percent to 45 percent. In 2009, it was reported that at only 52 percent, the percentage of married adults of all ages was the lowest percentage recorded since the U.S. Census Bureau began collecting marital information 100 years ago.

When one considers the widespread availability of wildly entertaining, time-intensive video games as well as high-quality, high-definition pornography produced to suit even the most esoteric sexual tastes, it is not terribly surprising that American men are becoming ever more disinclined to risk pledging their lives and fortunes to the increasingly adipose, decreasingly reliable creature known as the American woman?

Dr. Helen Smith writes: "Nowadays, for many men, the negatives of marriage for men often outweigh the positives. Therefore, they engage in it less often. Not because they are bad, not because they are perpetual adolescents, but because they have weighed the pros and cons of marriage in a rational manner and found the institution to be lacking for them."

The problem is that marriage is more than an institution; it is a structural foundation of society. Moreover, marriage is historically proven to be the best means of producing and raising healthy children, which means that it is integral to the continuation of both American society as well as the human race. Without a strong base of healthy marriages between men and women, no society is likely to survive, let alone prosper.

(Column continues below)

So, what is a young man who wishes to be a happy and productive member of society but does not wish to find himself locked into a life of post-divorce serfdom to an ill-tempered, overweight woman with a legal obligation to children who may not even belong to him? Fortunately, the answer is both clear and easily applied. To increase your chances of marital and familial success in life, it is vital to stay away from what are known as "career" or "working" women.

While this will not eliminate all the risks of what has become known as Marriage 2.0, it will return a man's probability of successful marriage to that of the earlier, more marriage-friendly era. Marriage to a stay-at-home wife rather than one with a full-time job reduces the risk of divorce by nearly one-third. Just the simple act of avoiding romantic involvement with working women is nearly enough on its own to again make marriage a viable option for young men.

Moreover, stay-at-home mothers make for much better mothers as they spend 91 percent more time with their children than working mothers do. The most remarkable observation is that stay-at-home mothers spend 12 more minutes per day on the physical care of their children than working mothers spend with their children in total; the net result of this insufficient attention is that the children of working mothers are 23 percent less likely to pass college entrance exams, 29 percent more likely to be unemployed and are more likely to be overweight by age 11.

Although it may appear to be disturbingly like one, this column is not intended as an indictment of career women or working mothers. The facts are what they are, and my only objective is to point out to men that it is a mistake to conclude the societal changes of the last 40 years have rendered all American women equally unsuited for marriage. No one would dispute that the odds of successfully raising a family with a meth head or crack addict tend to be on the low side, and no one should be upset by the statistically observable fact that men who wish to marry and have children will have a significantly greater probability of success if they choose to marry women who are dedicated to making a career of being a wife and mother.







And that's my blog, because I'm lazy. I know, I know...

Monday, May 30, 2011

Followthrough?? - Day 132

Lately I've heard a lot of talking about a bunch of nothing. I'm going to go do this, I'm going to go do that. Sure you are. I'll believe it when I see it.

Ha ha ha ha.

Oh wait, that's me I'm referring to....

*cough*

;-P

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 131

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. - John Calvin

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Planning - Day 130

Planning is very important. In order to make something well done and professional there should be planning that goes into it. I.e. If I actually wrote out this blog with a real topic in mind........

Have a wonderful Sunday. :-)

Picture of the day coming soon..

Friday, May 27, 2011

Love for Others - Day 129

Love for others is hard. But just remember that they may be killed in a car accident today or die in 20 years. But don't waste the time you do have and remember to say I love you.

That's it. ;-)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Creating a Panacea - Day 128

One thing that people do very often is create beautiful perfect places in their minds. Oh, if I was only there, in some random place, all would be perfect. If I just had the perfect idea I would make a million dollars. Every day I'm learning that things actually take a lot of hard work if they're going to be worth it. Relationships and ideas take work to make something worthwhile.

Picture of the Day #128: (old picture)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Power of Music - Day 127

Oh music. You are quite an interesting topic. You are a powerful force in people's lives. People use you to get an adrenaline rush, an emotional pump. They want you to make them feel good, to grow, and for many other reasons. People absorb you many hours out of the day. You make them happy and sad. You make them cry and laugh. You teach and shape them.

Music is moving. Anyone who says otherwise is naive. If you spend 5-6 hours of your day (my guess as to the average) doing anything, whether it be listening to music, reading novels, or eating potato chips, it's going to change who you are as a person. It's going to have more influence than the hour and a half church service once a week.

Consider your music choices. If you are going to be successful, the first thing to remember is that much of life is growing and building yourself up in Christ. Too many Christians are happy with mediocrity. Once we stop striving for the end goal, that's when we die in apathy.

Picture of the Day #127

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Content - Day 126

The grass is always greener on the other side. So true. We're always looking for the bigger and the better. Of course we need to constantly be improving. But it's the new young wife and sports car for the middle aged man. It's the wish for an easy life for the young. Contentment is hard to come by.

Picture of the Day #126:

Monday, May 23, 2011

Gratitude - Day 125

Gratitude day to day is difficult. When we're healthy and our lives are fairly hassle free the tendency is to become complacent in our spiritual walk. But then when there are trials and difficulties we cry out to God. That is until the point where he saves us, and then we quickly forget. So instead of forgetting let's become more grateful for His daily providing and caring for us.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 124

"For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God"
— John Calvin

Picture of the Day #124:

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Meeting New People - Day 123

Meeting new people is fun. You can see them from a distance and never know who they are. But when you get to know them up close you realize how different they may be. Sometimes it will surprise you. Both good and bad. ;-)

Picture of the Day #123:

Friday, May 20, 2011

Thankful - Day 122

Our cat was lost. Everybody was worried. There was no sign of her. But today after three days she showed back up. I'm thankful to the Lord for the little blessings in life.

As well as the big ones. :-)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Times are Good, The Times are Bad! - Day 121

There are those days that you have that are just great. There are the days that are not so great. But through it all there's a friend that sticks closer than a brother. One we can depend on and who laid down his life for us.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, and our friend.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

De-stressing - Day 120

If I don't get my exercise in I start to stress. I just need that blood moving to get the brain moving. Weird..

What helps you to de-stress?

Ultimately it should be our faith. Are we trusting in our little exercises, drinks, music, etc? Or do we have the faith in God to trust enough that we don't stress about our little problems and issues?

Picture of the Day #120: - Oh yeah, exercise and candles. ;-)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Too Much Encouragement? - Day 119

I'm tired of people being happy with mediocre. This happens to be the reason that Christians are so well known for being so incompetent. Do you want to watch something hokey, eh?  Switch on a Christian radio station or TV channel.  

Much of this incompetence is a consequence of our failure to challenge ourselves. We want to be "encouraged", but encouragement certainly doesn't involve criticism and critiquing. If you want to improve, you need to seek after criticism, as after a precious commodity. Ask competent trustworthy people, to preview your work and tear it apart. The Kendrick brothers who've been making increasingly better films all the time will send out their stuff to people they respect and just ask them to tear it apart. Over time they've become excellent filmmakers. Imagine if no one ever offered them helpful criticism.   What if they were always told how wonderful they were?   Why would they have any reason to grow?

Remember, if you're going to be tearing someone's stuff apart, you need to do it in love, because you desire to see them grow. I'm tired of bloggers vying for your assent with their position because they hate your position. They're not driven by love, just hate.

We need a balance of truth and love. We need those that will be truthful when we do a good job, to offer enthusiastic encouragement! When we do terribly, we need them to challenge us to grow and to improve.

This all takes wisdom. Sometimes people just need to be encouraged with well worded questions and little nudges. At other times they just need someone to get in their face and speak in plain (not rude) terms.

Let's strive towards heaven. And I hope I love you enough to encourage you, criticize you, and pull you with me.   I hope that you'll do the same with the people around you.

Picture of the Day #119:

Monday, May 16, 2011

More Than Enough - Day 118

It's easy to complain. It really doesn't matter what state of life you're in. You could be a bum on the sidewalk or the guy next to him in his Ferrari. Both people have a temptation to complain. They could be different issues. Or they could be the same.

When we dwell on how much we are blessed I see much less complaining and discontent. Just remember that God has given you life, breath, and Himself. How could we ever ask for more?

We have more than enough.

It's hard to live that out from day to day though..

Picture of the Day #118:

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 117

Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands. -Japanese Proverbs

Picture of the Day #117:

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Living Life - Day 116

Don't say tomorrow I'll start my project. Today is the day. Tomorrow can become a very long period of time. :-)

Picture of the Day #116:

Friday, May 13, 2011

Creativity in Business- Day 115

Ecclesiastes 1:9 - That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

There have been billions of humans and quadrillions of thoughts. People shaping the first brick ovens, people creating the first ink, people creating the first airplanes, etc. There really isn't anything that's brand new. Maybe different variations of things, etc.

People are always trying to come up with ways to make money. They sign up for a franchise, they go to college with the hope of that turning into a money making endeavor, they take someone else's idea and try to compete with them. But in the end, it seems the best businesses are creative. They may take someone else's idea and spin up to a whole different level. (I.e. how the Facebook movie was portrayed.) Or the guys who come up with amazingly creative ideas like Henry Ford. (And even his product just developed on someone else's)

These businesses that bring new products to the market can be much harder because there isn't necessarily a well established market, but with the internet today people can literally learn about your product or service within seconds of you posting them.

Technology today helps those truly good creative ideas take off. Get creative, get smart, and get working.

:-)

Picture of the Day #115:

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Emotional Deadness - Day 114

I posted this on buzz yesterday, blogger was down...

They walk in and out. Into one part of life and out of the other. As a PK I've seen mucho much peoples flow in and out of church. The visitor's who are visiting for a couple Sundays all the way up to the people who are there for 5-6 years and then drift away over time/leave mad. Over time I've found it to be especially easy to disconnect. When you see people who are passionate you remember the other guy who was passionate who now is passionate about how much he hates you. You remember the silent, quiet, and seeming wise one who was really abusing his wife.

I have that tendency of being that skeptic. The one who sees the worst things first. I know, I know it's bad in many parts of life, especially this one.
There's a ditch on both sides. I see some people who are trusting of everyone. Here's my bank account #, here's my heart, here's my emotions, do whatever you want. This person has forgotten that people sin and really our hearts are evil and most desperately wicked. While on the other hand you have me. The one who hates to give any real emotions to anyone. The one who doesn't want to even have a true relationship because of the assumption that I'll be hurt by it, because "I've seen it all before."

In reality, hoping all things is what's important. Not being naive, but neither are you some Scrooge (Daniel ;-P).

1 Corinthians 13

Oh love, so hard.

Picture of the day #114:

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Time To Talk - Day 113

Guys, let's chat.

How's it going? How's your life?

It's interesting. People generally don't really want to know what's going on when they actually ask how you are. One time, I was on a phone conversation and asked them how they were and they said terrible. And then I said GOOD. I felt terrible. Oh that thoughtless mouth.. <_< Glad I could be so helpful..

It's that annoying little thing called being superficial. We act like we care. We act like we want to help. But in the end we could care less, sadly.. If your relationships are built on superficiality and flattery it's going to fall apart in the end. Number one you won't enjoy the relationship because it's based on lies. And then of course people can eventually see through superficiality and flattery. It doesn't mean that we should be rude and say whatever's on our minds to avoid superficiality. Conversation and writing takes wisdom.

Picture of the Day #113: I lost this Vlog, and it was epic so here's a couple pictures of it. :-(




Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Different People - Day 112

I love my family and church. It's built of many different parts and pieces. People, they're so fun. They all look different. They all have different personalities. It's fantastic and exciting. So many gifts, so many talents. It's like putting together a person. It's made up of different people with different thoughts and different dreams. It's never going to be perfect. Just like when you look at a person you can always find things you hate about them. Some people are just uglier than others. And then some people look more beautiful to one while uglier to another. But in the end, it's normally better to be part of a body than hanging out by yourself in a cave.

I truly do feel blessed.

Picture of the day #112:

Monday, May 9, 2011

Laughter - Day 111

Sometimes it feels that laughter is the best medicine. Yet, instead we stress out and worry. Take a load off and laugh a little.

Picture of the Day #111:

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day Quote - Day 110

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories. ~Honoré de Balzac

One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. ~George Herbert

Picture of the day #110:

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day - Day 109

As I sit, I see on my left side mothers taking care of their babies and loving them even when they've been screaming in their ear for the past twenty minutes and it reminds me that I was that same way as a tiny baby. (Except I screamed for 6 months straight as I understand. ;-P ) 

All of us at one time or another have been children. We all have mothers.

I look to my right hand side and see a 7 year old boy with a candy bar clenched in his hand.  His mom tells him to put it back. He runs around screaming "I want it!"

Motherly love is amazing. The love that gives until there's nothing left to give.  

I look behind me and I see a 12 year old girl crossing her arms and refusing to respond to her mom when she reproves her for something. 

I see so much disrespect for mothers. So little appreciation. 

Then as I turn to look at my computer again I look up and see an older son rolling his eyes as his mother tells him to pull his pants above his knees. 

Thank you mom. And you don't deserve only one day a year. Every day you give of yourself so much. You had me, you've fed me, you've reproved me, you've given so much, and love much, and yet I struggle to honor you from day to day. 

Thank you. I love you.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Awkward - Day 108

Most people don't like awkward moments. Yet their typically the most fun to laugh at later. Irony.

iPhone post ;-)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Faithfulness Before Marriage - Day #107

Ninety five percent of Americans have pre-marital sex. That's a pretty rough statistic. We place marriage at such a low standard. What's the point of getting married? Statistics show that when one has pre-marital sex with a future marriage partner, the marriage is almost twice as likely to end in divorce. Also, women are 62x more likely to receive abuse from a live-in boyfriend than a husband.  However, statistics mean very little to people.

Pleasure is the name of the game now. It's all about now. I want pleasure now. I want someone to love me now. 

Well, sex before marriage isn't love. It's lust. True love is the ability to give oneself fully when those vows have been said, the rings are in place, and the kiss seals it. God created sex to happen in a marriage, and in a marriage I see beauty in it. Outside of marriage, there's absolutely no benefit that I can see in it.

Premarital sex isn't the only thing that's the problem. The average woman in the UK kisses 22 guys before getting married.  Sure, she didn't sleep with all of them., but it's that giving herself away piece by piece that slowly destroys a woman. As she gives herself away emotionally and physically, there's a part that she can never fully give to her spouse. The little images and memories of previously broken relationships just don't disappear.

It's our job as unmarried young men to honor women and not ask for that emotional commitment, especially if we're not ready to get married. If you're some 17 year old with no job and no maturity, then don't go around acting like you're god's gift to women.

I honestly don't know what advice to give to girls, but I'll just say what is a stumbling block to most guys: Our culture says to dress sensually. Ride that dress up your leg. Pull that neckline down. Guys tend to be very visual.  They notice things. They look and they lust. Why do you think pornography is a monumental struggle for men? It's difficult for men in our culture, and it doesn't help when girls around us are displaying their bodies in such a way as to trip up men. Clothes are wonderful, and they can go together really well.  Sadly, some guys will lust after anything, but there is a responsibility to not try to stumble a brother in Christ.

Our end goal in all of our pursuits should be to serve Christ and strive to glorify him more and more each day. 

Sincerely,
Someone With Very Little Maturity or Knowledge. :-)
P.S. Let me know what you think. Agree? Disagree? Better application? Different applications? Let me know in the comments down below. :-D

P.S.S. I'll add a pic of the day later. Posting on my phone...

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Humility - Day 106

Philippians 2
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul starts out here by explaining to us that for the Philippians to be likeminded they should be of one accord and one mind. And one of the ways that happens is by letting nothing be driven by pride and esteeming others higher than himself.

Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Most conflicts in our families and churches are going to be driven by pride. This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be debates and edifying conversation where we are sharpening one another. Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

This is an important thing to remember. Humility will be trying to sharpen the countenance of our friend while pride will try to take our friend’s sword and plunge it into him. One large part of humility is humbling yourself and exalting others.

Then in verse 4 of Philippians he tells people to stop looking at all things they’ve done and instead look at what others are doing and honoring them for what they're doing.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The tendency is to become proud when we’re doing a lot. We make the most money, we have the biggest library, we’ve gone to seminary, or anything that will give us that edge over others. But if we humble ourselves and instead are always looking to push others up and admire their accomplishments, then the tendency is not to get proud but be encouraging and pushing others. When we’re in a group of people that are constantly pushing others to do better and encouraging them in their works we’ll grow together and hopefully up.

Then Paul in verse 5-7 continues with saying that this was Christ’s mind. Christ is God and yet came to this earth in the form of one of his creations. And he didn’t come as a ruling king who cam with horses and chariots. He came into the world in a stable. He showed himself to be a servant. Christ was the one who got down and washed the feet of his disciples. Here’s the God of the universe washing the feet of his disciples. What are we doing?

Matthew 18:3-4
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Verses 8 – 9. He showed the ultimate humility and came down as a man and even died for our sakes. And then he was raised up and exalted. This is also promised to us in Scripture when we humble ourselves. When we are humble, God exalts us.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 3:34
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

Psalms 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

Psalms 147:6
The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.

Psalms 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace

We see here that God will bless the humble man and curse the proud man. We hear a constant message from the world about how we need to be proud. Be proud of your school. Be proud of your accomplishments. We should be proud of our country. But here God shows the exact opposite. God will disgrace and cast the proud to the ground. But he will sustain the humble. He’ll bless him with wisdom. He will give him the land and give him peace. And most important, he’ll save the humble man.

Psalms 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

Finally, in verses 10-11 Paul touches on how every knee shall bow and how every tongue confess the name of Christ. Our God and Savior humbled himself to save us. We have no option but to humble ourselves and follow the example of Christ.

Picture of the Day #106

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Posting Fast! - Day 105

Sorry guys I got distracted, so I have to post this in under 3 minutes.

One thing that I've been thinking about lately.

Selfishness is never fulfilling. Sure, you may get some junk and save yourself some hassle in the short term. But in the long term it's never fulfilling.

It's hard to think long term. Our flesh wants things now. We want, want, want. You need to take those reins and say Whoa!!!

Picture of the day #105:

Monday, May 2, 2011

Press On - Day 104

It's when things get tough that you prove who you are. When things don't go as planned and things start to fall apart it's at that point that will show who you are to those around you. At some point you can't just give up and say it's over. Of course there are times that you will say this. But there are other times that prove your character and will show to others where your character stands at this point in time.

Good night all. :-)

Picture of the day #104:

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 103

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. - Saint Augustine

Picture of the day #103: