Travel

So Alana and I are currently in Orlando visiting my folks, and it's always nice to come back to the place I grew up. But let me tell you, I hate the act of traveling, I like to be in and visit new places but the actual act of getting there is really bothersome. I really don't like spending my day on a plane in a tiny seat, sitting next to strangers who are trying their best to ignore you, where the pilot keeps waking you up to tell you, when you can move and when that buckle needs to be on, and where the flight attendant try their best to pretend they like you but you can tell they want to curse you out. Oh and this flight was great, we had to drive two hours to get to the airport so we could wait another two hours, to sit on a plane for over five hours so we could get to new Jersey, yup New Jersey, that's right on the way to Orlando. We left a 10:00 pm Tuesday, and got in at 10:00 am Wendesday. And I have a real hard time sleeping on the plane, but on the second flight from New Jersey to Orlando there was a empty seat next to us so we were able to 2 hours of sleep. Well it is nice to be here and spend time with my parents all is going well. I hope that is entry finds you all well and enjoying your Christmas.

Christmas merrieness

So Alana and I have had our personal Christmas already. We had our Christmas this past Sat. night because we were going to Orlando (where were at now) and we didn't want to lug all our stuff there. It was a nice evening and here is a pic of the night before the opening of gifts. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and may you get what you want, but make sure that even if you don't you thank God for the reason we have to celebrate, Jesus. By the way like my mohawk, I loved it wish I could have had it longer, but I didn't want my Mom to freak, but is was my favorite hair cut in a long time. God Bless.

Narnia Review

So I saw Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe, a movie I have been waiting ages to come out, seeing as I love the books. And seeing as I have always wanted to be a critic I will tell you what I think of it.
Overall I think this movie was very well made, some nice special effects, relatively good casting and a story line that for the most part followed the book.
I thought it was well acted and I liked the character development of the kids. Edmund really made you want to slap him, but they developed why he was like that. Lucy I thought was played very well as well as Susan seemed a little uptight but knowing her mentality later in the series I thought it worked. I would have liked to see Peter be a little manlier and Tumelus a little older he seemed a little young. They did a good job on the talking animals, though I would like to have seen some more of them.
The story stuck close to the books and only a few seems were added and after thinking about it they were ok. The spirit of the books was definitely there and I thought the meaning was not lost in translation and that was very important.
After the movie was over I was sad not because the story was sad but because I wanted more, and I hope they continue to make the series and that they do them as well. And it is only the second movie that after it was done I wanted to see it again right away, the other being The Incredibles. So I guess you could say I love this movie. Out of five stars I give it all five it's a great family film with a great story all will love.

Seeing Santa

So here I an sitting on Santa's lap, a grown man sitting on the lap of another grown man. This is our school's staff Christmas party and they usually the parents bring a gift for their kids and since we have none and I ask for toys my wife decided that is she was going to get me pez I must pay the price. Sorry the pictures a little blurry the camera wasn't on the right setting. I hope you all are enjoying the Christmas season, it's my favorite time of year. Even with all the crowds and commercialism I'm still a little kid this time of year.

Feeling Theological

So I'm sitting here at my desk on a beautiful Sabbath day and decided to share a few thoughts on the law. See today I gave my Christmas tale, long story and better in person, but the point is that Christmas is all about gifts. That's right gifts... The gifts God gives us especially the gift of grace (Ehp. 2:8&9). So how if we are saved whets the point of the law, on one hand Paul states we no longer need it, on the other God says if you love me keep my commandments. It is an interesting dichotomy because on one hand we are saved by grace and on the other, we are known by our fruits. So here it is my thoughts. Are we saved by grace? Yes. So then do we need to follow the law? Yes. Why? Well because if you have a relationship you show love by actions not words, and any married person can tell you that. In Romans Paul addresses the law and states we are no longer subject and in Romans 6:1 he ask so shall we just go ahead and sin then, his answer: "by no means! We died to sin how can we live in it any longer. Some say the law was only part of the first covenant, to that I say not-ah. Here is how the new covenant reads: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts I will be their God and the will be my people. (Hebrews 8:10) Even if you think that covenant is only for one people Israel, which by they way were Gods first chosen and we were grafted in, well why does the Bible constantly hold us accountable for our actions. James is a good book, to see how deeds and faith intertwine, if for some reason it's not clear in Paul's writings. Even Jesus said I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Read Matt 5:17-20 to see how important the law is, as a matter of fact read the whole sermon on the mount and you will see Jesus expanding the law not taking away for instance Matt 5:21&22 he says not just murder, but hate is also a sin. So am I saying that you must keep the law to be saved? No only grace saves you, but keeping the law is a byproduct of your salvation and relationship with Jesus. You know the bible describes our relationship with God as that of a marriage so I will look at the ten commandments and see them from the eyes of a marriage. I. No other God's before me, well in a marriage context that would read don't cheat on me, because if you did would that be love. II. No idols, or hey don't look at other women like that, don't have pictures of other women around of be looking a pornography. III. Do not misuse the name of God, or hey don't talk bad about spouse and drag her name through the mud. IV. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy, or please remember our anniversary, you don't want to forget that now do you. The rest are self explanatory in a relationship with others, the first four is our marriage to God. So do we keep them because we have to, or because it's just the common sense way to treat someone when in a relationship. If you continualy break the sanctity of your marriage, what are you saying about it. Are you saying I love you or are you saying the opposite. I have a sneaky suspicion that if we treated our spouses the way we treat God, we wouldn't be married very long. I do things or don't do things for my wife because I love her, not because it's her law, so intern we should keep the law out of love and thankfulness for His grace, because after all it is that grace that saves. And we could follow the law till we are blue in the face, but without a relationship with Jesus it will do us no good. So it is grace that saves, the law shows we have accepted that gift and are treating God and each other right, out of love.