trimming the fat

kristy and i have been on a diet for about a month now. we began trying to eat better and then went on weight watchers. in that time, i have lost around 13 pounds. it started with completely cutting meat out of our diet. the realization of how many chemicals are added to meat, plus the high content of fat (yes, i know there is low fat meat but it still is over-processed and full of chemicals) just became a no brainer for us. since we stopped eating meat, i have felt so much healthier. not to be gross, but i had bathroom issues for years and they have cleared up just this past month. i have more energy and my body is starting to look different. i completely agree that God gave us permission to eat meat (only certain types in the OT, and then all types in the NT), but a careful reading of the first few chapters of Genesis shows that it was not always that way. God only gives us the green plants of the world to eat. we were created vegetarians! in God's perfect design (Eden), we don't eat meat at all. again, i know that God has since given us permission to eat meat so i will not argue that it is wrong to eat meat by any means. but, i have come to really believe that it is not in God's perfect plan for us. what He originally intended was for us to not eat meat. in the month i have stopped (i stopped for a year once before and felt the same effects) i have become convinced that this is how our bodies are supposed to function. i still have around 30 pounds more to lose to get back to a healthy weight for me, but i feel well on my way.

big, hairy, issue

This map ranks states by their abortion rates per 1,000 live births. California ranks highest with approximately 575 abortions for every 1,000 live births; Idaho ranks lowest with only 36 abortions per 1,000. The CDC tracks some cities individually as well as in their state totals: New York City gets the prize with 767 abortions per 1,000, with Washington, D.C., not far behind at 706. To be fair, California cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco may be just as high, but California stopped reporting its abortion statistics to the CDC in 1998, making information about abortions trends there hard to discover (the point, I suppose). Other non-reporting states are New Hampshire and Alaska. Hawaii ranks 23rd. Wyoming's abortion numbers are so low that meaningful statistics are hard to come by. Accurate data would probably rank Wyoming as the state with the fewest abortions in the nation.

this website here has some great info on abortion. although the founder is a Christian, he and the rest are using purely rational arguments against abortion. no matter what side you are on in this debate, i think we can all agree that abortion rates need to be lowered (if not completely wiped out).

get ready to drink from the fire-hose

all year long we've been talking about what it means to believe in God. we looked at what other world religions say and we studied the creeds of the Christian faith. we spent time talking about what our lives would look like if we truly believed the things we say we do. well, this summer is going to be a chance to see how to live it all out practically. we are going to love God and others this summer by serving them in an everyday way. the calendar will be out soon, and you will see all the different opportunities we will have for you to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk as well.

Spider Man 3 Review

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Spins a web steals my dough for making me watch his awful show. Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man

Spider-Man 3 is out! A cause for celebration? Sorry, but no. It is terrible! Don't waste your time or money. People actually laughed out loud at how corny it was and some wondered how to get there money back. And this was at a midnight show that is usually filled with loyal, over-excited fans. Sam Raimi, the producers, and the cast should all apologize over this debacle they dare to call an action movie. There is a freakin' dance scene for crying out loud!! I thought Toby Maguire was trying out for a role in West Side Story (I'm sure he'd make a good Jet... too caucasian for the Sharks) instead of playing our favorite webslinger. It's just awful.