my reflection on hope

I've been reading a series of Advent scriptures for the first time this Christmas. Yesterday, God really helped these passages come alive to me and I want to share my reflection with you all to encourage you as well.

There are many this year who seem to have nothing to celebrate this Christmas. Those who are out of work, barely scraping by to just put food on the table...those who lost their homes (or vacation homes) in Hurricane Sandy...those who lost children at Sandy Hook elementary...and even my family who lost my uncle Kent just a couple months ago. If Christmas is about material gifts, then the poor have nothing to celebrate and the rich who suddenly lose revenue or homes, etc have nothing to celebrate. If Christmas is about family, then those who lost children, or spouses, or family members, or friends have nothing to celebrate. If Christmas is about security and peace, then none of us have anything to celebrate because there is war and instability everywhere we look.

BUT.

Christmas is not about any of these things. Christmas is the celebration of a promise fulfilled. God promised a Savior would be born in a manger, that He would be born of a virgin, and that He would save us for all eternity. The people in the Bible who believed in those promises in the Old Testament (and did not see them fulfilled) lived in terrible circumstances. The Israelites were wanderers in the wilderness and when they had their own country it was taken from them and they were captives and slaves. And yet, they continued to rejoice and follow the Lord...because they had HOPE. In the gospels, the shepherds and the three wise men were told that a king and a savior was born, they believed, and they went and saw baby Jesus and saw the fulfilled promise. Nothing changed in their circumstances. But they had hope.

We can celebrate and rejoice this Christmas because God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth, to live as a man, fulfill the law, and die on the cross for our sins. Then, he rose from the dead, conquering death, and finalizing our salvation. We who believe in this saving power have the only hope available. We are adopted as sons into God's family and will live in eternity with him forever.

And even better, anyone who doesn't have this hope now, or understand it, is welcome. God has his arms wide open for any who choose to believe. That's the greatest gift.

I hope that this encourages you as much as it encourages me. 

Merry Christmas,

Emily

Cream of Zucchini Soup

I made Cream of Zucchini soup tonight for dinner. Yummy! I never liked eating zucchini as a kid, and I still don't like it raw on salads, but there are so many good cooked recipes for it!

Recipe from my grandmother:

1 lb zucchini sliced (4 cups)

1/2 c water

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp sugar

2 Tbsp chopped onion

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp salt

dash pepper

2 c milk

Peel, cut out seeds and slice zucchini. Combine w/water, 1/2 tsp salt and sugar. Bring to boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Puree in blender. Cook onion in butter til tender. Blend in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk and pureed zucchini. Cook and stir until thickened and boils.

Enjoy!

Women Deserve Better

Last year, "Dr." Kermit Gosnell was arrested on murder charges, for murdering women as well as infants. He ran an abortion clinic in Philadelphia which had the most horrifying conditions. It's now being referred to as a "House of Horrors."

Women were given "anesthesia" by a teenager, instruments weren't kept sterile, and Gosnell carried out shoddy abortion procedures. Women contracted diseases, became infertile, and died at his clinic. Infants were born alive and then had their spines severed with scissors to complete the abortion.

What decade were these horrors happening? 1970s? No. 1980s-2000s. Present day. Under the nose of two different state administrations (both governors were pro-abortion).

How are abortion clinics kept safer than before abortion was legal? Through regulations. However, the abortion industry is less regulated than nail salons. They don't come under any of the safety provisions as any other surgical facility in the state. Don't women deserve better care?

Senate Bill 732 will give Pennsylvania women the protection they deserve from men like Gosnell. But the abortion industry claims abortions are safer without it. That this will endanger women more than help them. Abortion clinics fight safety regulations with passion. And claim to support women's health. False.

Time to pass Senate Bill 732. Women in 2011 deserve better!

The truth about Planned Parenthood

Truth about planned parenthood:

Planned Parenthood cites that they do breast cancer screenings, in truth they admit they don’t do mammograms http://tinyurl.com/6jk7ajr

Planned Parenthood fights against laws to protect child sex abuse victims http://tinyurl.com/6kyy7jm

Planned Parenthood was founded in the eugenics movement http://tinyurl.com/4j69nno

Planned Parenthood recently mandated every affiliate perform abortion http://tinyurl.com/2bwegyb

Planned Parenthood fights against statutory rape reporting laws http://tinyurl.com/4ac9xjm

Planned Parenthood is a billion dollar company http://tinyurl.com/67aa53f

Planned Parenthood opposes a any “legislations that elevates legal status of a fetus to that of an adult” http://tinyurl.com/45csn4w

Planned Parenthood ignores statutory rape reporting laws & fights against them http://tinyurl.com/4vj6o6z

Planned Parenthood would willingly accept donations for racist purposes http://tinyurl.com/kjnmmn

Planned Parenthood vows to spend $10 million to elect pro-abortion Dems http://tinyurl.com/4hh9a8b

Planned Parenthood's affiliates have been caught bilking and overcharging taxpayers http://tinyurl.com/4whho86

Planned Parenthood in Washington State tried to force a young girl to have an abortion http://tinyurl.com/4t5q5zl

Planned Parenthood in Kansas ignored at least 164 cases of statutory rape http://tinyurl.com/4fbk4om

Planned Parenthood in San Francisco tried to cover up an 11 yr old girl’s rape http://tinyurl.com/4aevx98

Planned Parenthood in Virginia advised a man with STD’s to donate blood http://tinyurl.com/4zfn9zy

Still think they should get taxpayer funding??

(information from The Cloakroom Blog)

Spinning...

I just took a personality test that said I am interested in security and peaceful living above all else. Wow, isn't that boring? True, but boring.

It's definitely been my mode of operation for most of my life. But right now, I'm craving an adventure. Ever since I "took the plunge" and involved myself in the Sam Rohrer for Governor campaign during the primary, I've started enjoying the unexpected. Now that the campaign is over, where do I go from here?

I still have my full-time job, and I love what I do, but is there something more I can be doing (in my free time)? Do I have more skills than I thought I did? Am I capable of more?

I'm currently reading Going Rogue by Gov Sarah Palin and it's inspiring me to jump in more. But what to jump into? Local politics? Help another conservative organization? I just don't know.

Any ideas out there?

If the post office ran healthcare...

Congress passing regulations based on who they want to punish and who they want to reward, affecting our mail (and maybe our health?)...read this blog post and leave your comments.

And this is by far the best description of how the postal system works (regarding customer service), and it's funny too!

Enjoy!

GEICO for Health Insurance?

Last night I watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" with a friend. A co-worker had loaned it to her, singing its praises, and my friend was not really sure what to think of it. I feel honored that she came to me for advice and asked me to watch it with her and discuss it in depth.

I held my tongue until about the last 15-20 minutes. I wanted to make sure I heard what he was saying and allowing my friend to form her own opinions (this was her second viewing) before jumping in and tearing it to shreds.

There were of course the usual villians involved: Richard Nixon (how is this not old yet?!), Ronald Reagan, Republicans in general... Hillary Clinton was a knight riding in on a white horse...gag.

I could write post after post on the problems with the film, however, I just want to talk about one point. I do agree that the system we have today has many flaws. But, turning into Canada and Britain is not the answer. (or shipping people off to Cuba)

Why can't health insurance be like auto or homeowners insurance where it's on an individual basis (not through a company policy)? I think McCain talked about changing it to this type of system in his campaign. Does anyone know why it isn't like that now?

Allow more competition, and allow people to choose the plan that works best for them with their health needs, income level, and life situation. Personally, I'd love to have a health savings account plan where I can put away money now for when I may need it in the future. I never go to the doctor and I'm not using any prescriptions. I'd love to accumulate my current insurance payments into a fund for if I get married and have a baby, or get a devestating illness or injury. Instead, I'm throwing money away every year on a plan that includes free colonoscopies and mammograms which I don't need at this time in my life, but my co-workers do.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you know how the health insurance system became tied to employers instead of individuals?

New Budget Plan: Profiting from Others’ Losses

The state legislature is in the midst of their annual budget debate and a new idea seems to be taking hold: the legalization of table games (poker, blackjack, etc).

• Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, officially introduced his proposal to legalize table games in PA casinos and Senators Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks, and Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna, plan to introduce a similar bill in the Senate.
• Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the Senate President Pro Tempore, stated that he is considering them as options.
• Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Lehigh, wants to use table games to support teachers’ pensions.

All of this on top of Governor Rendell’s proposal to legalize video poker machines in bars and taverns around the state to fund secondary education.

Where does the greed end? How many Pennsylvanians will we need to lose money to support all of these plans? Building our budget on the backs of our fellow citizens seems like a pretty foolish idea.

What do you think?

News That Makes Me Sick

I cannot think of anything more chilling to read in the news, but this:

The Philadelphia Women’s Center gave away free abortions Tuesday in honor of Dr. George Tiller, the abortionist who was murdered last week.

Absolutely disgusting. Abortions involve emotional distress, medical risks, etc for the woman involved. To hand them out free as a way to honor someone shows a complete disregard for human life (the lives of both the infant being murdered and of the mother).

Deeply saddening.

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Also disturbing news: An anatomy professor at Temple is confused about gender?

Wow. Glad I didn't spend the money to go to that school for biology. This type of thinking is also being taught to elementary school children in Vermont.

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Lines are being blurred everywhere...

PA Dept of Education Funding Gay Activist Groups

I guess it shouldn't be a huge surprise, but the Pennsylvania Department of Education is actively sponsoring an event with the PSEA (teacher's union) and Planned Parenthood for students and teachers run by LGBT Center Coalition.

Read the flyer here.

Check out Pennsylvania Family Institute's blog post on the event.

Think about all the tax money being used for this "field trip."
-State money through the PA Dept of Ed.
-State and Federal money most likely through Planned Parenthood
-Local money paying the teachers, transportation to the event, and substitute teachers to fill spots

Your money hard at work.

Welcome to Change, Part 1

Recent News:
Obama Receives Wish List from Abortion Activists. Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America and more than 50 of their pro-abortion allies have laid out their priorities for the incoming president in a 55-page memo. The document covers everything from suggested executive orders and presidential memorandums to legislative changes and regulatory initiatives. Included in this list are requests to eliminate funding for abstinence education, pro-abortion judicial nominees, a $400 million increase in funding for Planned Parenthood and funding for international organizations that promote abortion.

Of course, none of this is shocking news. What else would they seek to promote? However, there are some smaller things mentioned that surprised me and might surprise you as well. I'm also planning on commenting on some of the obvious requests, just because I want everyone to be aware of this.

First, a listing of some of the groups that signed onto this memorandum that you may not have expected (or maybe you did).

• Advocates for Youth
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Medical Student Association
• American Social Health Association
• Healthy Teen Network
• Sierra Club

A few of these are reputable organizations that are heavily involved in the education of our medical professionals. And involved in our schools in promoting teen health. Unfortunately, you'll see that what they are advocating for does not actually help teens.

Second, I am saddened when I read this and when I see the list of organizations represented. Those who put together this paper are lost and blinded. They need our prayers most of all.

More to follow...

Coming Soon

coming soon to a blog near you...I'm going to pick apart the pro-abortion "wish list" submitted to the Obama-Biden transition team.

Read it for yourself.

My Christmas present to my readers (the few that are left).

Picture Tagging

My friend Allie tagged me in this little picture thing going around so I thought I'd participate, but I won't be tagging anyone else. Sorry.

I was supposed to go to the sixth picture folder on my computer and pick the sixth picture.

The picture to the left is that picture. It's my friend Andy from college. I say friend, although since we've graduated I don't think we've talked at all. But he's a pretty cool guy, very funny, very nice, but a little afraid of girls. Maybe I took this picture to help him find a lady...I have no idea.

Not very interesting, eh?

Great Luther Quote

Great quote from Martin Luther:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all of the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.

Where Were You On This Day in 2001?

Today is September 11, 2008. It's hard to realize that it was seven years ago when the World Trade Centers fell. I remember that day so vividly. It was one of the first weeks of my freshman year in college. They announced in chapel that a plane (I was thinking small chartered plane) flew into one of the towers and we had a special time of prayer before ending that morning. I quickly raced back to my room to find news on this piece, but the internet was ridiculously slow and I couldn't get on to any news site. I went downstairs to the lobby where there was a crowd gathered around the television in the corner. We watched as they replayed tape of a plane (a commercial jet) fly into the first tower and explode. Then live footage started as a second plane flew into the second tower, and then the first tower completely collapsed from the first explosion (I think, my timeline may be faulty...just going by memory). I broke down crying, right there, in front of all these other people who I didn't know, but who were also greatly affected by what they saw. I don't cry often, but I just realized that I was watching something that would impact our country. I thought, "we're the United States, this isn't supposed to happen here." And to realize that those buildings would be gone forever, and those people would be gone forever, and children who right now were in daycare or school would go home to find out that their parent or parents were never coming home again. Today, pray for those who lost loved ones in those buildings, in the Pentagon and the crash in Schwenksville, either because they worked there or were working to rescue those inside. I'm sure today is still a sad memory for them.

The plane in Shanksville, I believe, was somewhat of a blessing from God? Not that those people died, I don't mean that at all. That is a tragedy. But that we were left at the end of that day with a glimmer of hope and profiles of courage. The people on that plane realized what was happening and decided to take a stand. Todd Beamer and others showed us, and the world, that Americans aren't weak pansies, that we're not just going to let people walk all over us. But we'll fight back and thwart their evil plans. I cannot imagine doing that myself, although I wish I would, but the sacrifice of the people on that plane to spare the lives of others is awesome and humbling.

My words are pretty shabby to talk about all of this and to express what I'm really feeling today, but I hope that this gives you a glimpse.

Where were you on this day in 2001? I want to hear from you.

P.S. - I recommend watching the movie, United 93. I think it does a good job of telling the story of what was going on during that day.

We Have A Greater Hope

At church this morning someone shared a word from Philippians 3:20-21, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." We have a citizenship in something other than the U.S. Yes, we should be good citizens here and vote and get involved in our government and country, but as Christians that's not all there is to our life. We can look past this world here and this election and look forward to when we will be with Christ for all eternity. Everything on earth is subject to God, doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better about life?

We also sang "Nothing But the Blood" by Matt Redman and this line stuck out to me:
"What can wash away our sin?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus"

I was struck by these words because of all the talk about uniting the country and bringing us all back on track, etc. While we need good government to do this, we can't rely fully on it. Only the blood of Jesus has the power to change anyone or anything. So while others are begging for more government programs and relying on certain candidates as a "messiah," let's remember the real Messiah and the change that he brings. Let's pray for revival. That's a real change you can believe in!

Why I love Sarah Palin

1) She's a wife and mother who cares about her family
2) Not afraid of her femininity and honoring her husband
3) Strong charisma
4) Dynamic speaker
5) Clear with the facts
6) Funny
7) A great role model for younger women
8) Reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher (from my knowledge of Thatcher)
9) The future of the Republican Party (a party I'm able to support with passion)
10) Not afraid to burn the competition

For more on the Margaret Thatcher comparison check out the two following articles from the Wall Street Journal:

John Fund - A future Thatcher

Obama is the Anti-Thatcher

Why do you like Sarah Palin? Post your comments.

Establishing My Street Cred

When I interned for Townhall.com I was attacked on a few blogs because I made some crazy liberals angry. Just thought I'd share from the World O'Crap blog that obviously didn't like me:

Emily the Intern:

It is with great delight that we present a major new wingnut talent: Townhall summer intern Emily Shaheen. She has written a brilliant column about the profound and beautiful lessons taught by Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Here are some highlights:

White Goodman (Ben Stiller) is the founder and owner of Globo Gym, frequented by the professional athlete and all around beautiful person. Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) is the laid-back lackadaisical owner of Average Joe's Gym, which caters to the misfits of the community. Debt problems force La Fleur to come up with $50,000 to prevent Goodman from turning Average Joe's into a parking lot. This leaves his gang of misfits searching for a way to raise the money. They find it in an "Obscure Sports Quarterly" ad for The National Dodgeball Championships, which offers a grand prize of $50,000.

The Championships have no prizes for second, third, or fourth places. This is very different from the feel-good sports of today, including the Olympics, which give almost everyone a prize. Why should a 16th place finisher receive a ribbon? They have not achieved the goal of being the best.

Liberals espouse this same ideology in society. They want all winners and no losers, but this is not real life.

In real life, and in sports, the losers go home with shame.

Emily claims that liberals are outraged that "Bill Gates makes more money than Joe Schmo." See, in real life, Bill is a winner. Everybody else is a loser. They should go home in shame -- and not get any insurance or retirement benefits.

Liberals want everyone to be winners, but if everyone is a winner then there is no excellence. There's no motivation to become better if nobody is in front to beat. Failure creates motivation, motivation inspires work, and work leads to victory.

Emily, honey, you're a loser and a failure -- even Ben Shapiro and Mike Adams did better than you did. I hope this motivates you to work harder so you won't suck so bad next time.

I don't really like talking about my flair...

Excerpt from my latest column in the magazine I edit:

How many pieces of flair do you have? What are your favorites? Do you even know what a piece of flair is?

Pieces of Flair are the latest application on Facebook (a social networking site). Here’s the online description:

“Show off your interests with Pieces of Flair for your profile! Describe yourself with buttons. Send them to friends as gifts. Browse through our growing collection. If you don't find what you want, it's easy to make your own! Track how popular your creations become as they spread from friend to friend all over Facebook!”

This sounds very exciting to a teenager or a college student, or, I admit, even to a young professional like me. But, as I began sifting through all the different buttons with their unique phrases and designs, I caught myself wondering, what does describe me and my interests? How can I narrow that down to several buttons?

Most of the buttons say, “I love shoes,” “I love frogs,” “swimmers rule” or include movie quotes. There are buttons with different pictures of actors and actresses, singers, athletes and brand names. All designed to fit specific interests and to help the user display a broad picture of themselves so their friends can know more about them.

Am I really only about shoes, sports and my favorite movie catchphrases? Is that what I want people to see about me? What if I died and the only thing left were my Pieces of Flair? That doesn’t really describe my life, or at least I hope not. To truly know someone, you need to make a connection with them and get beyond the flair.

When voting for a candidate for office, don’t just latch onto the catchphrases and the media sound bites. Delve into their policy statements and their voting records. When reading about the numbers of women choosing an abortion, don’t assume that they made an informed decision, volunteer for a pregnancy care center and find out what’s really going on in their lives and offer them an option for life. When a strip club sets up shop in your small town, don’t assume that the goings-on are legal, go find out if you can fight for your community.

We need to get beyond the statistics and the news and get involved. Will you join me?

PA Primary Today

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