The Great Separation

Free Book to First to Meet the Challenge.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES)
Hurry up! - Okay. I've got a challenge for you. I've got a number of books I recently came into and thought, 'Hey, why not reward those faithful folk who stop by here at TGS? It'll be fun!'

The only catch being, you've got to be the first to correctly answer the challenge.

Here's the first book, I'm giving away and it is in new condition:

A Journey into Prayer, Devotional Selections from Evelyn Christenson Compiled by Sarah M. Peterson.

Looks like a good book to me. I've scanned through a couple of the devotions.

You know what? I should give you a choice of books. Here's the other book you can choose if you don't want the one above. It's a great picture book titled, In the Footsteps of the Master. It features photographs by Russ Busby from the Holy Land with Bible scripture. Very Nice. New condition:

Now, the CHALLENGE.

From this one line tell me the name of the poet, title of the poem, and how the poet signed the poem when it was originally published - if you can figure this part out you should be able to tell me which publication it was first printed in, but that's not part of the challenge unless you want to show off:

[Click Pic to ENLARGE]

First person to get it correct gets the book shipped to their doorstep.

GO!

(Update: 2006-08-01)
Okay. I see Sara has the poet and the poem but not the third ingredient in the challenge.

So to sweeten the deal here is another book, God's Beautiful World, I'm throwing into the mix. It's wonderful coffee table book with beautiful photographs and scripture.

And to make it better you can have your pick of two of these three books.

Scripture for the Week: Matthew 6: 9-10.

Stand in it. - I've been attending a refreshing bi-montly luncheon here in the Bay Area where you can get a meal and the Word.

It's called Life Lessons Over Lunch and I highly recommend it if your in the St. Petersburg vicinity. It's been a blessing to me and I've seen the messages bless others I know.

They are showing a DVD message series right now by Andy Stanely of North Point Community Church on prayer and I'm loving it. It's been a wonderful reminder to me about the purpose of prayer.

So this week's scripture is from there:

This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

Matthew 6:9-10.

It's not our will we should be concerned about. It's the will of God, our Father. Christ being the wonderful example of that obedience to the Father's will.

It's not easy for me, a fallen creature, but thanks be to Christ for His atoning sacrifice in obedience and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Christ doesn't redirect my old nature but gives me a completely new nature putting to death the old.

May the Father be praised for He is Holy and Righteous above all and surprise of surprises He desires a relationship with us.

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Technorati Tags: Scripture, Matthew, Bible, Life Lessons Over Lunch, North Point Community Church.

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Update of X-Box Murder/Mutilations.

What masters you? - This is an update on a post of mine from 2004.08.09, titled: 6 Murdered over $150 X-Box Video Game System.

Almost two years ago some people snuck into an empty house and the granddaughter of the people who owned the house had them evicted. Here's what I originally wrote giving the gist of the story:

The story is that the 22-year-old victim found some of the killers living in her grandparent's vacant home and had them kicked out. Apparently the X-Box and clothes of the ringleader, Troy Victorino, were left behind and boxed up by the victim while he was in jail after being arrested on a battery charge on July 29.

When Troy got out of jail he and three teens went looking for the woman, Erin Belanger, and murdered her and five others using baseball bats and knives.

Mike Branom's AP reported then:

An ex-convict who blamed a young woman for taking his video game system and clothes recruited three teenagers to stab and beat her and five others to death, investigators said Sunday.

The 22-year-old woman was singled out for an attack so vicious that even dental records were useless in trying to identify her. Some of the victims were attacked in their sleep, according to authorities.

Today, BayNews9 is reporting:

The three men accused of beating six people to death inside a Deltona home in 2004 over an X-box video game were found guilty of most of the counts against them Tuesday, including first-degree murder.

The jurors reached their verdict against ringleader Troy Victorino, 29, Michael Salas , 20, and Jerone Hunter, also 20, after two days of deliberation in St. Augustine, where the trial was held.

The other person, Robert Cannon, charged in the murders apparently plead guilty originally and was to testify against the other three, but once he got on the stand he recounted his guilt and refused to testify. So he's probably going to go through a separate trial if the judge throws out his original plea.

Now, I am not saying that video game playing is bad. But there are some serious problems in the realm of video games that lower man's inhibitions for violence. Do yourself a favor if you're a parent or youth leader and pick up several months worth of a video game magazine like Game Informer and you will get an education in the violence and sex present in video games today. More importantly you may discover how sex and violence are being linked.

This medium is worse than the television and movies because of the interactive elements.

Get wise to it.

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Related TGS Posts:

Teen Kills Toddler for Playing With His Playstation 2.
"Manhunt" Video Game Player Acts Out Virtual Kill on Real Person.
New Zealand Bans Computer Game.
Is this Kind of Realism Useful in a Video Game? Shellshock: Nam '67.
6 Murdered over $150 X-Box Video Game System.

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Technorati tags: Xbox, Murder, Crime, Video Games, Movies, Television, Violence.

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Quote for Today.

Ponder it. - In full, here is the July 12th, devotional from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers:

"Till we all come . . unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Ephesians 4:13

Rehabilitation means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. The Church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out for the development of its own organization. The rehabilitation of the human race on Jesus Christ's plan means the realization of Jesus Christ in corporate life as well as in individual life. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this purpose - that the corporate Personality might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.

Am I building up the Body of Christ, or am I looking for my own personal development only? The essential thing is my personal relationship to Jesus Christ - "That I may know Him." To fulfil God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. It will be a big humiliation to realize that I have not been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, but only about realizing what He has done for me.

"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God."

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by anything less?

I won't speak for anyone else, though I'm certain it's largely true, but that part about fulfilling "God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted," is one of the biggest problems for me in my walk with God the Father.

Whether it's fear, or selfishness, or sheer stupidity upon my part, it is an area I struggle with daily. The only saving knowledge in the midst of it for me is what Chambers notes in the beginning, Christ is Redeemer. He accomplished what I can not in faulty self not just for me but all of creation.

Wonder of wonders, by accepting Him as Savior, Redeemer, and Lord of my life, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in me that Christ may be the conqueror in my weaknesses. And I pray build and strengthen His bride, the Church, as He sees fit for that final presentation to the Father.

In Him we all find forgiveness first and then strength to become more like Him.

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Technorati tags: Quote, Faith, Oswald Chambers, Church, Christ.

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When looking...

When looking, what does one look for?

Hannah, Me, & a Poem.

Pardon my love. - Yeah, I know, but this is my blog and I sometimes like to post things about myself and those I desire to remember. The blog is after all a journal of sorts. (click pic to enlarge)

So today, I'm posting a picture of one of my favorite girls and me. Hannah, as you may know is the beautiful baby girl of my best friends Caleb and Sara. Sara was down here this past weekend with Hannah - wish Caleb could have been too - and I got to see how big this baby girl has grown.

So here I am cooing over her. And I'll tell you what, I've never seen a baby girl who smiled and laughed so much. She covered me with her blown raspberries taught to her no doubt from her daddy.

Before she was born, I wrote Hannah this poem. I framed it and gave it to Sara and Caleb. It hangs in Hannah's room.

Graceful Hannah.

Hannah, sweet child, have you seen
     The face of God;
Awesome, fearful, wonderful, and
     Full of love for you?

Nameless you've never been to
     Him who is I Am;
Nature's creator; our deliverer,
     Shield, sword; Savior.

Already, He journeys before you
     Marking your path.
Harken to His voice little one.
     He names you beloved daughter,
     Child of the King of kings!

Refrigerator Poetry: Poetry Steams From

Stickin' it to the.... - Here's numeral five in my ongoing quest for chilled poems (aka fridge poems, haha).

Click pick to enlarge if necessary for your reading pleasure.

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Technorati tags: Refrigerator, Poetry, God, Christ, Free.

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Watching Videos Does Not Make a Good Muslim?

But I thout it was all about peace? - This really is unbelievable. I fear and hurt for the people under such oppressive rule.

Dhimmi Watch: Somali Islamic Crackdown: 60 Arrested for Watching Movies.

Islamic militiamen who rule Somalia's capital arrested about 60 people for watching videos in several overnight raids in the capital, an Islamic court official and residents said Wednesday.

Those arrested won't be released untill they go through rehabilitation classes where they will learn what Islam says about it and how watching such films is bad for them.

Lewis's Screwtape Letters coming to the Silver Screen.

Will that translate? - With the success of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it's no surprise that more of C.S. Lewis's great works would be sought after for the that big screen in a dark room.

My brother sent me this link to the Belfast Telegraph which gives some interesting tidbits.

The Screwtape Letters, which portrays hell as the province of bureaucratic demons called Tempters, is in stark contrast to the child-friendly world of Narnia, with its giants and talking animals. Ralph Winter, who produced X-Men and Planet of the Apes, has already confirmed that he is trying to develop a movie based on the novel - a series of letters written by mid-level demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood.

Translating the Screwtape Letters to film will be a daunting task I think. Particularly the attempt to sell it to today's viewers. Which isn't to say that it shouldn't be tried. But if it's to succeed the work will need to remain true to the original and not try to make it PC.

A Fish with Human Teeth?

Bite on this. - With all the weirdness going on in the world from war to weather to this fish with Mr. Limpet teeth, the strangeness of Revelation just can't help but come to mind.

Fishy with teeth link: local6.com - Local News - Texas Man Catches Fish With Human-Like Teeth.

A fish caught in Lubbock, Texas, with teeth that look like they belong to a human has baffled wildlife officials in the area, according to a report.

It's quite the fish story.

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Hat tip to Drudge.

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Update 2006.07.24. From All Headline News:

They now believe that it may be a Pacu. The only hitch however, that this type of fish is only found in South America.

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Update 2006.07.27.
Amy DeMilia of the SUN CHRONICLE has info on what these human like teeth in this particular fish are used for.

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