Paris

One Day

With all of the sad news in the world this week - fighting in Iraq, bombings in Syria, rockets fired to and from Israel, hostility in Ukraine - I found this song to be very timely and encouraging today. It's called "One Day," and it's by Matisyahu, a Jewish reggae artist whom I was introduced to through in a culture class a couple of years ago ... all of his music that I've heard is very uplifting and filled with powerful Old Testament passages; but this one is one of my favorites.

It's so powerful to listen to this as a Christian because I know that this will all come true one day - when Christ returns and establishes His reign on this earth and the next, once and for all, we will have no more fighting, no more wars, no more hatred, nothing forever but peace, harmony, and joy.

One Day

Matisyahu

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray,
Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around, because

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day ...

It's not about
Win or lose
'Cause we all lose when they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood-drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging

In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you, no way
No way

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around because...

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day ...

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day ...

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play

One day ...

Polar Vortex + Debate

Kitty tracks in my backyard!  :-)

What a cold start to 2014! I have to say, I find it rather suspicious that Disney released Frozen just a month before the commencement of the coldest and snowiest winter in recent history ...

I am living right in the middle of the polar vortex that has gripped the Midwest for the last couple of weeks, and let me tell you, it is all it is cracked up to be! I waddled around campus today in a thermal shirt, fleece vest, double-layer coat, two pairs of pants, long socks, heavy boots, a thick scarf, thick gloves, and earmuffs ... and I could still feel the cold seeping through all those layers! I rejoiced at how "warm" it was when I saw that the thermometer read 12ºF around 5 o'clock this evening!

Despite the cold temperatures, however, the semester is going well for me so far. My classes are mostly related to history, language, and social studies, which is a weird change that I've been really enjoying. I've also had a lot more free time than normal in the last few weeks, so I've been wasting spending time doing photo shoots at my favorite buildings on campus, writing one of my stories that has taken a shocking and bizarre plot twist, singing, reading Austen and Dickens, and having way too much fun researching and writing about Luke Skywalker. Especially the latter.  :-)


***

I wanted to give you guys a heads-up to something very special and important that's coming up in just a
few days. Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum is going to be hosting a debate with Bill Nye the Science Guy over the question "Is creation a viable model of origins to teach children in the 21st century?". This is something that the Creation science community has been asking and pushing for, for as long as I can remember; and to have the first creation/evolution debate of the 21st century be between two of America's best known origins scientists is absolutely spectacular. I am SO excited. I really can't wait!

The debate is next Tuesday, February 4 at 7PM. It's going to be live-streamed online for free through their specially-created website, and also through Google+ Hangouts. The details for sign-up can be found here:

http://debatelive.org/

I will definitely be watching, and regardless of which side of the fence you're on (if any), I hope you will take the time to watch this historic event and consider the evidence to support literal six-day creation as the Bible teaches it!

***

Well, the time seems to have slipped away from me again ... soon, though, I'll be back with my (glowing) tribute to my next film hero, Captain America; and I also want to muse a bit on singleness, femininity, and God's purpose for our lives. If I can manage to quit dawdling with Pinterest and Weird Al songs, that is.  :-P

I love you all and hope you're staying warm in this ridiculous weather!!

Hugs!
~ Vicki

The Gift of Voting

I was so humbled and convicted as I stood in my polling place this morning - John and Heather and I voted in a really old building that was full of old flags, memorials, and plaques honoring veterans from our university; and as I waited in line and looked at those names and faces, I felt horrible for all of the apathy and disinterest I've felt leading up to this election.

Friends, the right to vote is an American right, yes; but it is also a huge gift. Our soldiers and veterans have given us this gift. It can feel empty to toss around the word "sacrifice" because we use it so much; but that word means loneliness, hunger, weariness, pain, and death for the ones who make that sacrifice for us. Generations of young men and women just like us have slept in fields and foxholes, slung muskets and rifles across their aching shoulders, run their fingers over the worn-out picture of someone a million miles away - all so we can stand in line and complain to our bored neighbors about how much we hate both candidates.

For their sake, get out and vote today. Make their sacrifice worthwhile. It doesn't matter so much who you vote for, as long as you raise your voice through the ballot and accept this gift of having a hand in your own government.

They died for this day.

~ Vicki