A bit of help

I need some help from any of you who are computer savvy and I mean really computer savvy.  Here's the deal.  I have/had a hidden hard drive on my computer.  It had to be mounted by a piece of software called TrueCrypt. Passwords and everything. I accidentally uninstalled the TrueCrypt software and now cannot use it to mount my hidden hard drive.  Therefore half of my computer's space is somewhere in computer space not able to be used and my MS Outlook is out there as well.  Does anyone know how I can get this part of my hard drive back?

Grey's Anatomy

Propaganda.

 

China is not the only country that has it.  In fact, it’s right here in our very own good ol’ U.S. of A.  And it’s all over the television.

 

Last Thursday I was watching Grey’s Anatomy.  One of the doctor’s on the show is a homosexuality (per the story line).  Her father is very against it.

 

There was a scene with the father and daughter confronting the issue together in the presence of a priest.  The father is quoting scripture to the daughter about how homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord and a sin and what not.  The daughter counteracts with quoting scripture at him about how the Lord loves no matter what she does.  Also quoting that her father shouldn’t judge.  There were others but my memory escapes me.

 

From my view here it seems that this is some right out propaganda.

 

There is a continuing discussion about how the Bible says that homosexuality is not okay and is, in fact, a sin.  Other people say that it is okay and cannot be helped and, in fact, should be completely accepted.  I felt like the show’s whole point was to put Christians in the light of looking like they are judgmental and off-base.

 

I need to watch out with these shows.  They have underlying messages to them and they sneak their way in there and then before you know, we’ve wandered a bit from Biblical Truth.

 

 

Would You Rather

You know that game that middle and high school boys (and sometimes girls) play, often times on a bus or when they’re just sitting around? It’s called “Would you Rather?”  Often times it is usually a question of would you rather see this something gross or that something gross.  So you’re getting the point that it’s pretty much just gross.  Anyway, today’s question is kind of along those lines, except not gross.

 

My roommate read a story to me last night after dinner about a school in Boston that is apparently distributing a little black book as part of the school curriculum to teach on same-sex relationships.  It’s advocating this and teaching that it’s completely acceptable and right.  And not only that but it lists ideas for these kids (and yes, they are still kids) to do if they are experimenting with homosexuality.  It goes into detail about how to do certain things. 

 

Listen carefully, this book is being distributed in the schools as a part of the curriculum.  Granted, while it promotes homosexuality and all of its acts it DOES discourage smoking because smoking is not good for you.  Thank you for that Boston.

 

So here’s the question-Would you rather have your child’s school teaching that smoking is okay or that homosexuality is okay and how to go about being involved in that?

Cavier and Bananas-restaurant review

Julia and I headed downtown Charleston tonight to try out a restaurant called Cavier and Bananas. She and I had seen the place a few weeks ago and thought it sounded interesting.

It's got a very European feel to it and it's broken into sections of hot food, salads, sandwiches and bakery/coffee. We walked right up to the hot food section and saw a lot of choices there before us.

Here's the scoop: this food is already prepared and then put into bowls or onto plates and put into a cooler that you can view from where you are. Everything is priced by the pound. So you tell the little man behind the counter what you want and how much you want of it. He puts it on the plate, weighs it and then, get this, he microwaves it. He heats it up in the microwave! And...everything is served on plastic plates that you would buy from the grocery store.

Here's what we got and how it tasted:
Chicken Satay with peanut dipping sauce-not as sweet as it really is in Thailand and the chicken was tough after being put in the microwave.
Plantain encrusted chicken breast-tough after being reheated
Roasted duck breast spring roll with plum dipping sauce-this was delicious! The spring roll itself was not crispy like it's intended to be because of the reheating, but the flavors were right on and everything about it was great!

The rest of this food was served cold, therefore no turn in the microwave:
Zucchini ribbons with goat cheese, pecans and dried cranberries-subtle flavor and very good
Apple and Fennel salad-heavenly! Julia and I both could not get enough
Greek Pasta Salad-the same that any restaurant would make

She and I then headed on over to Paulo's Gelato. Julia has been to Italy and so she was set on finding a place here that she could get gelato. She found it and apparently it's right on with the real thing. This was my first time having gelato and I really enjoyed it! So smooth!

And right now I'm going to tell you a lovely secret about gelato. The difference between gelato and ice cream is that ice cream is made with full-fat milk and heavy cream, but gelato is made from skim milk, there making it not as bad for you and allowing the flavors to come through more because they're not being overpowered by the fat of the milk. :)

All-in-all: I don't know that I'll go back to Cavier and Bananas. I might go back to get the salads to take home, but definitely not something that needs to be heated.

Something that would happen in China

Last night/early this morning I was awakened from such a wonderful time of sleep by this ringing in my ear.  At first I ignored it, thinking it was a dream or something.  But it wouldn’t go away.  So, in quite a bit of a daze, I went out into the hall to find both of roommates standing there in what seemed to be a similar daze.  “What in the world is going on?”, I asked.  Elisabeth told me that the fire alarm was going off in our building.  Simultaneously I’m thinking, what?! Fire alarm?!  OMG!  But I’m also thinking, this thing isn’t that loud.  I could have slept through it and burned to death.  And the three of us just stand around a chat for a bit before it hits us that we should probably leave the apartment and go outside.  For a split second I thought about using the restroom really quick, but instead I was encouraged to leave ASAP.  I grabbed some flip flops and a fleece and my earrings (I feel naked without them. J ) and headed out into the cold and the rain. 

 

We get outside to realize that it’s only our building, not the whole complex.  A bit jealous that others don’t have to be out here, but glad for them at the same time.  We wait….

 

The fire trucks show up about 15 minutes later.  (There are two firehouses less than a mile from my place.  And so I thought that 15 minutes was kind of a long time to wait.  Am I wrong?) Meanwhile, the fire alarm is still going off and is practically making us deaf.  We watch the little firemen in their outfits walk around the complex making sure everything is okay.  Come to find out, someone pulled the alarm and left.  Ugh!

 

Two good things: funny story that I now I have in my back pocket, and I got to meet more of my neighbors!  We had a nice little chat and they’re most enjoyable to be around. J

 

Doesn’t this sound like something that would have happened in China?  Oh the similarities….

 

Get some

The difference between nominal Christianity and the real thing is ABUNDANT LIFE! So what do you want? You want to just live a life like everyone around is living or you want abundant life? You want it? Go get it! Jesus says if you seek Him you will find Him. Go find Him!

Hominy Grill-restaurant review

I had dinner with a friend tonight at the Hominy Grill on Rutledge Ave. in Charleston, SC. I have been there once before for brunch.

The Hominy Grill is known for their breakfast/brunch and they should be! It's delicious!

But dinner...a bit different.

It's southern food for sure, so go in there expecting that. But what I wasn't expecting were the high prices and kind of small portions. My meal cost $13.95 and it was not a dinner's plate full of food. And really, nothing expensive on there at all!

I ordered the "Southern Steak with Gravy". It was a pot roast. Now don't get me wrong, the roast was good and very tender. But it was a little misleading when called "Southern steak". I also ordered my two vegetables-Crowder Peas and Lima Beans. The Crowder Peas? Very flavorful. The lima beans? Bland, bland, bland. I don't believe I've ever put so much salt on lima beans in my life!

My friend ordered the sesame-crusted catfish to which she said it was dry and "chalky" to quote her. :) And the deep-fried grits that were underneath the catfish were bland as well (I tasted them myself).

The service at Hominy Grill is very good and our food came out rather quickly, which was nice. The atmosphere is quaint. But make sure you really like being close to people. :)

To sum it all up, the food is not worth the price. Not when there are places like Poogan's Porch and 82 Queen out there in downtown Charleston that serve mouthwatering southern style food. And let's never forget Cracker Barrel, which is equally as good for a much cheaper price!

Oh and I have I ever mentioned that to find the best Shrimp and Grits in Charleston you have to go to the Francis Marion hotel on the corner of King St. and Calhoun St. Really, the best!

Faith

You know, I like to think that I do have great faith in my God.  But when the rubber meets the road, it comes down to acting  on that faith.  Faith without deeds is DEAD.

 

It’s easy for me to say that I’ll step out on faith and follow.  But what if I’m not absolutely positive that it’s Him who’s calling me?  There have been a couple of times in my life when I was absolutely positive that what I was hearing was God’s voice in my life.  And both of those times He has confirmed it through scripture for me.  There have been other times in my life where I thought it was Him speaking to me.  In answer to that voice, there have been times that I have been obedient and times that I haven’t (out of fear and uncertainty).

 

What do I do; how do I respond when I’m not absolutely sure that it’s God speaking? I feel like there are two aspects of faith to be played here.  Like, one of them is to have faith that when I am obedient He will provide or protect or teach.  But the other is to respond to Him in faith, when I’m not sure it’s Him.  That’s the faith I’m not so sure about.  That’s the one that I go back and forth about on whether I’m walking in faith and trusting Him or whether I’m taking risks and flying around wherever the wind takes me.

 

Maybe I over analyze.  I am a female.  We tend to do this.  And I am no exception.

 

But what are your thoughts on faith-both sides of the response/question?

 

Not one.

In regards to missions and all these lost people groups out there…

 

If our thought is, let the local people reach their own people.  THERE ARE NO LOCAL CHRISTIANS! So how are they to reach their own?

 

Did you know that there are many people groups that do not have one person who believes in Christ?  Not one.

 

Did you know that Saudi Arabia is 100% Muslim?  They are the only country in the world that is 100%! 

 

Check out the message I am listening to today from John Piper, “Proclaiming the Excellencies of Christ, Not Prosperity, Among the Nations”.  I downloaded it from iTunes.  My second listen through this morning.  Listen for yourself!

 

On the Move

Currently reading "The Road to Reality" by K.P. Yohannan. I'm on page 34 (not far at all). Wow! Here is an Indian Christian and pastor who came to the West (being America) expecting Christians to be what any person would expect of people who are in easy reach of anything "Christian". Easy reach to Bibles, Bible studies, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. But he was disappointed. I have been brought to sadness while reading how disappointed he's been in our churches here and how we believers are representing our Savior. It's shaking me for sure!

Rather, God is shaking me because as I write this I'm realizing that I said the same thing about the other two books I just finished reading. Therefore, one conclusion-it is not the books that I'm reading that are shaking but rather, the God speaking through them. He's saying,

"Kathryn, get off your tail and look around you! Do something about it!"

I'm on the move...

The Ugly Truth-movie review

My roommate, Julia, and I went to the new IMAX theater in Charleston tonight. It was kind of a grand re-opening so all of the admission tickets as well as ANYTHING in the concessions (no matter the size) were $1!!!! So, yes, we took advantage of that!

We went to see "The Ugly Truth" with Katherine Hiegl and that Irish fellow that was in "P.S. I Love You" with Hillary Swank. Anyway, this movie is about a girl who is very controlling and this guy who says he knows what guys are really thinking. The guy is helping the girl to relax a bit and get the guy she wants. Yes, a chick flick or a romantic comedy. Of course Julia and I would want to see it! :)

For those of you out there who like to be entertained by the talk of genitals and very crass references to those, this is the movie for you! For those of you who like the degrading of both sexes, definitely see this one!

For Julia and I, this was not the movie for us. In fact, after 45 minutes, we left. I leaned over to Julia at one point and said how thankful I was to not be on a date seeing this movie. I would have been mortified to be sitting next to a guy watching this. In fact, I was embarassed to be sitting there at all.

In my humble opinion, not a good movie.

Accept it in thankfulness

I’m sitting at my desk listening to a sermon from my church, East Cooper Baptist Church, and Buster is sharing a story about a woman who has physical deformities and she’s telling him that it grieves her that she’ll never get married.

 

I felt compassion for her.  And in a small, very small, way I understand her grief.  Definitely not in the physical deformity way, but rather in the desire to be married.  It is a desire of mine.

 

I read a something a friend mine shared.  And bear with me here as I can’t remember the exact quote but I’ll do my best to convey the gist of it. 

 

It said something to the point of:

 

If we truly  understood how much God loved us we would gladly accept the blessing, burdens and trials that come into our life because we know that it’s out of love that He gives them.

 

That struck me and when I listened to this woman’s story and then thought about my own life my thoughts began to do a little turnover.  I was just thinking that it’s not so much something that is being withheld from me or that is not being given to me, but rather, God loves me sooo much that this is a reflection of His love.  Kathryn, try and not frown upon something given in love.  And now am praying that I would more truly understand just how much He really does love me so that I can accept EVEYRTHING He gives me as a gift and as a reflection of His love me.  To accept it with thankfulness and praise.   

 

Thought process

Last night as I was driving home from Pop-Pop's house I was thinking about discipline and reading the Bible.  A friend of mine asked me the other day how I keep my relationship with God going.  I think she was hoping to hear more than she did because I didn't offer much.  Here it is…I'm not really good at the discipline of reading my Bible everyday.  So last night I'm thinking back through this conversation with my friend and I'm rationalizing why I don't read my Bible everyday. 

 

ra⋅tion⋅al⋅ize

   /ˈræʃənlˌaɪz, ˈræʃnlˌaɪz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz] Show IPA verb, -ized, -iz⋅ing.

Use rationalize in a Sentence

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–verb (used with object)

1.	to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.

 

As you can see from the definition, maybe not so good.

 

In the rationalizing my thought process says that I will read my Bible when I feel like it.  Like I should only read it because it's in my heart to do so, otherwise it's a waste of time and it never really speaks to me.  What?! This is clearly a lie that I've been believing.  One, it makes light of the power of the Word and of our God.  Two, it's a copout and an excuse for laziness. 

 

I got to thinking about a scenario where I gain 10 lbs.  I want to lose weight.  Do I wait until I feel like not eating ice cream to stop?  Do I wait until I feel like running a few miles?  No.  Goal: to lose 10 lbs., therefore what must happen?  I must stop eating ice cream and I must go running, even when I don't want to.  Because (and here is the big "ah hah!") I want to be thinner more than I want to eat the ice cream and sit on my couch and do nothing.

 

This, then, led to me asking myself what my spiritual goal was.  My goal?  To know Christ intimately and have my entire life be centered around Him and for Him; nothing else.  So…I ask myself, "Kathryn, does it, then, make sense to be waiting to feel like diving into your Bible?"  No, I'm thinking not.  So I'm thinking, there's my goal out in front, what do I do to get to my goal.  Just like the weight-loss goal, only way more important! J