4:59 AM - "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb..."
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

  AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  I officially saw Twilight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

  I was actually very impressed.  They kept ridiculously close to the book... putting in all the little details.  The sparkly vampire skin was especially well done.  They kept dialogue close too, using lines straight from the book.  Stephenie Meyers would be proud.  I mean, all the details were there... even down to the cars!

  <<  They even made a point to (however covertly) put in the image from the book cover!!!  (I heard squeals throughout the theatre when they showed that part.)

  The van scene was done excellently.  Just how I imagined it.  I couldn't have been more happy with they way they filmed it.  OMG, and the detail they put in to Edward's ever-changing eyes was TO DIE FOR.  They really were dazzling. :)

  The only major departure from the book that I caught was the part where Edward took Bella to the meadow.  I don't know if they changed it for the sake of time or what... but it's not like that part would've been difficult to film or anything.  Maybe they just needed the excuse to show Edward running.  As if the sparkling wasn't enough...

  I also wish they would have added more to the part when Bella was with Jasper and Alice in Phoenix.  There was so much more to it in the book than what they showed in the film.  They could've done a bit more explaining about Alice's gift... although they did include the basics.  They didn't say anything at all about Jasper's gift, nor did they include the fact that Alice and Jasper were basically holding Bella hostage to keep her safe. 

  They did a brilliant job with James, though.  Evil never looked so good.  lol  I can find absolutely no fault with the fight at the end.  Brilliantly done!  Sexy and lethal... What a combination. 

  My official review:  FANTABULOUS!!!!  GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Currently listening : Twilight: The Score Release date: 2008-12-09

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4:59 AM - Grrrrr.
Category: Life

So, Wednesday was supposed to be my big day...  My big day to get to see Twilight before everyone else.  I was totally excited.  I was going to stay late after my shift at the consession stand, and watch it with the other employees.  It was going to make that 5 hour shift much more tolerable...

Until I found out that the managers had decided NOT to show Twilight, because they would rather go home early.

GRRRRRRRR.

So now I have to wait till tomorrow to see it, like everyone else.    I know, I know... I'm whining.  One more day isn't going to kill me.  But I really really REALLY wanted to see that movie!  The hope of seeing that movie was going to keep me sane through that 5 hour shift on a very DEAD Wednesday night on consessions, but knowing that I wasn't going to get to just made it that much longer.  And now I've lost all my gloating rights! 

*sigh*

I need a hug.

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4:32 PM - Greeting’s From... - UPDATED WITH POEM!
Category: Writing and Poetry

Dia dhuit, everyone, and welcome to another Tuesday Greetings challenge!

_____________________

Wildflowers, tall through the meadows and hills of our lives, like jewels through the mundane hours. Each has a story, a song. Each touches our hearts with some spark of memory. Plucked by running children; tucked into a wedding bouquet; a sprig in the lapel of the one you love; brilliant in the sun on a day you crossed life's hurdles. Or simply the heart's signposts of a perfect country day. Pen here, one vision, one moment when wildflowers added to the story of your life journey. Pick one glowing blossom from your memory to post today.

_____________________

Amoung the purple fields of flow'rs deemed wild
Did I once wander, breathing in the scent
Of life and love; for even as a child
I understood what being lonely meant.
Afraid was I of throwing life away
And never did I wish to be alone,
So to the fields I came to search each day
For laughter, love, and hope till I was grown.
And then, at last, I knew my search was through
When through the field I spied your lovely face;
I saw at once that you'd been searching too,
And in each other's arms, we both found grace.
My solitary fear has now been healed,
For I have found my love in purple fields.

Toiréasa Alisón
18 November 2008

_________________________

Please post your contributions at the Pub!!

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4:59 AM - Oh no! Not another learning experience!
Category: Life

I so love randomness.

  My Saturday morning was spent on a mission project with the Youth from my church.  We went up to the Brevard Sharing Center in Cocoa to help sort out food in theie food pantry.  Apparently, the Boy Scouts had just done a major food drive and doanted all the accumulated food to the Center, so we got to sort through it all and put it in the necessary places.  My job consisted of finding all the cans of green beans and putting them in boxes.  The corn boxes and the misc. veggies boxes were on either side of me.  There were also boxes that consisted of nothing but pie fillings.  It must be close to the holidays.

  My Saturday afternoon was spent helping some friends renovate their house.  We've actually been helping them do this for the past 2 weeks.  Today we painted the master bedroom, installed cieling fans, and put down floors in 3 rooms.   I am now in pain.  My back hurts, my legs hut, my feet are killing me, and my head is about to explode.  I'd say ouch, but it just seems redundant.

  I had my first few days at my new job at the movie theatre, and have learned some interesting things.  The popcorn machine intrigues me.  Making popcorn should not involve so many buttons, but somehow it does.  I'm actually quite impressed with myself that I've managed to remember as much as I have about running consessions.  Ushering isn't nearly as hard, but it's definitely much more disgusting.  I spent 5 hours ushering on Friday night, and I think I've passed initiation.  With James Bond fans making quite a turnout for Quantum of Solace, we had full auditoriums to contend with, and much spilled popcorn... Such a waste.  The worst part was finding a wet diaper shoved into one of the seats.  Someone was clearly too lazy to get up and take their child to the restroom.    I will never leave trash in a theatre again.

  Speaking of the theatre, Twilight officially opens next week.  I'm excited!!!  We're having a midnight showing Thursday... Well, I guess it's technically Friday morning.  I'm expecting a sellout.  I'd go to the midnight premiere, but it turns out I don't have to.  I get to see it Wednesday... or technically Thursday morning at midnight.  We're having a special showing for employees only, so I get to see it before everyone else.  HA!!

  I finally started writing my story!!!!!  YAY!!!  *giggle*  I've been working on the outline and planning for a year now, and I've finally gotten into writing the damn thing.  The "fluff" is killing me, but I'm learning through the process, so it's all good.  Plus, I've been very blessed to have my dear friend ~M~ as a beta writer.  She's been so helpful.  Ta so much, m'dear!  Without you, I wouldn't be much of a writer!

  So it's been decided that I shall run a special Christmas project at the Pub this year.  All I shall say is that it starts 2 December 2008 as a part of the Tuesday Greetings Challenge at Harmony Pub, it involves some creativity on the part of the patrons, and the winner will be very glad they entered. 

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6:09 AM - Oh, It Is Love
Category: Writing and Poetry

Oh, it is love
From the first time I set my eyes up on yours
Thinking oh, is it love?

Oh dear
It's been hardly a moment
And you are already missed
There is still a bit of your skin
That I've yet to have kissed
Oh say please do not go
But you know, oh, you know that I must
Oh say I love you so
But you know, oh, you know you can trust
We'll be holding hands once again
All our broken plans I will mend
I will hold you tight so you know
It is love from the first
Time I pressed my hand into yours
Thinking oh is it love?

Oh, dear, it's been hardly three days
And I'm longing to feel your embrace.
There are several days
Until I can see your sweet face.
Oh say, wouldn't you like to be older and married with me
Oh say, wouldn't it be nice to know right now that we'll be
Someday holding hands in the end
All our broken plans will have been
I will kiss you soft so you know
It is love from the first
Time I pressed my lips against yours
Thinking oh is it love?

Your heart may long for love that is more near
So when I'm gone these words will be here
To ease every fear
And dry up every tear
And make it very clear
I kiss you and I know
It is love from the first
Time I pressed my lips against yours
Thinking oh is it love?

Oh it is love from the first
Time I pressed my lips against yours
Thinking oh is it love?

I kiss you and I know
It is love from the first
Time I pressed my lips onto yours
Thinking oh is it love?

Currently listening : Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! By Hellogoodbye Release date: 2006-08-08

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4:59 AM - Sonnet 27 - A Thousand Poets
Category: Writing and Poetry

I tried agin to write a picture true
Of all the briliant wonders you have brought
Into my life, and of the beauty too,
But find words to describe you I could not.
So gathered I a thousand poets near
From lands across the world both near and far
To write until a picture became clear,
Describing you exactly as you are.
But though a thousand hours they did write
In words of every language they could learn,
Not one did pen a verse that could recite
The depth nor breadth nor height my heart has earned
From loving you so true, my handsome Prince;
For none had seen such love, nor have they since.

Toiréasa Alisón 
12 November 2008

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4:59 AM - Bonfire Night - A piece written for Full Moon Thursday
Category: Writing and Poetry

You ask me why I follow this man,
This masked man
Who vows to take down what you stand for,
What you say I should stand for.

I follow him
Because his words
Make more sense than yours.
I follow him
Because he is right
And you are wrong.
I follow him
Because I should not be afraid of you...
Because you should be afraid of me.

So be afraid.
Be afraid
Because it shall not be long
Before you shall be outnumbered,
And the people begin to realize
That you are not their Saviour.
Be afraid
Because truth has power,
A power that will overtake you
Because you are not willing
To use it in your own arsenal.
Be afraid
Because life has more meaning
Than what you say it does,
And once others figure that out
You will be left in the ruin
Of your own making.

Toiréasa Alisón
6 November 2008

Currently watching : V for Vendetta (Full Screen Edition) Release date: 2006-08-01

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4:59 AM - OK, I admit it... I was weak.
Category: Writing and Poetry

  Aye, I read Twilight.  I couldn't help it!  My sister and I were in the library, and my curiosity got the better of me.  It seems like every time I log into MySpace or Facebook, I see countless ads, notes, blogs, and pieces of flair about the damn book, and I wanted to figure out what all the fuss was about...

  Well, now I know.  THE BOOK IS FRIGGIN' FANTASTIC!!  Nearly 500 pages, and I finished it in 8 hours.  I absolutely couldn't put it down.  This is the kind of stuff I get in trouble over.  See, I'm what some people might call a "bookworm".  When I get into a book, I'm hooked.  I get transported into another world, and become absolutely oblivious to the world around me.  You could walk into the room and start talking to me, and I wouldn't even notice you were there.  You could have Flyleaf screaming in the next room, and I won't hear a thing.  The book plays out in my head like a movie, and I'm just transfixed...  and if, by chance, you do happen to pull me out of that world,  I get pissed.  Severly annoyed at the very least. 

  Now I'm just glad I work for the movie theater... I get to see Twilight for FREE!!!   Mwahahahaha!!!!!

  I will be the first to admit that I am not a fantasy reader.  I mostly enjoy historical fiction and Christian fiction novels.  Fantasy is simply not my genre.  (Of course, I said the same thing when Harry Potter came out... Now I own the entire series.)  I don't like horror, either, so when I heard the book was about vampires, I was convinced that it was simply a phase.  Like Titanic.  It would all blow over soon, and in about six months, I wouldn't have to hear any more about Edward Cullen's perfect butterscotch eyes or Bella's constant flirtation with death.  It would all go away, and we could all go on with our lives. 

  Now I would be content to read about vampires all day long!  So long as they belong to the Cullen coven, of course.     I was very content to find out that the book is not just about vampires, it's about romance.  Anyone who knows me even slightly, knows that I am all about romance.  You don't even find out about the vampire detail untill about half way through the book, and let me be the first to tell you...  Edward blows Angel out of the water!!

  New Moon, Eclipse...  Here I come!!!

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3:59 AM - Is it bad manners to post twice in a day?
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I have no idea.

My church had a big leadership summit today from 9 till 2.  It was based on some of the talks given at the Leadership Summit at Willow Creek Church in August.  One word:  BREATHTAKING.  I mean, really... It touched me and made me think in a way that I hadn't been able to (or hadn't tried to) before. 

At the original summit, there were 11 speakers.  Today, we listened to 3 (on DVD).  We heard from  Efrem Smith, Craig Groeschel, and Bill Hybels himself, who is the senior pastor of Willow Creek Church (affectionately called Willow).  I'd like to discuss some of what we learned, specifically from Craig Groeschel.

First of all, this is not simply about church leadership.  This is about leadership in general.  The knowledge and information can be applied to any leadership position, be it a CEO, a church, or a city counsel.  This is simply looking at it from a Christian point of view.  If you find something here that spikes your interest, let me know and I can refer you to a place to learn more.

Have you ever walked into a place and felt a kind of energy that is contagious?  Felt that there is just something driving that place?  That there was something there making people excited and energized, but you couldn't figure out exactly what it was? 

I have no idea what IT is, but IT's a spiritual something.  IT's a divine anticipation, an excitement, and a special working of the Holy Spirit.  IT is contagious.  IT can't be taught, but IT can be caught.  We can't make IT, and we can't create IT.  It's rare that one person can bring IT, but common that one person can kill IT.  IT attracts critics.  If you don't have IT, it doesn't mean that you can't get IT.  If you do have IT, there's no guarentee that you will keep IT.  But what is certain is that God makes IT happen.

Now the question becomes: Do you have IT?

There are four qualities of places or ministries that have IT.

1. Focus.

Some seem to think that the more projects you have going on, the better.  The more ministries, the more outreaches, the more things in your life that you're involved in... More equals better, right?  No.  BETTER EQUALS BETTER.  It's great to be able to do a bunch of things well, but isn't it an injustice to the things that you can do awesome?  Focus on what you do awesome.  That is what will make the difference.

If you're trying to grow, the best thing to focus on is, obviously, outreach.  But how do you reach people?  In order to reach ones that no one else is reaching, you have to do things that no one else is doing.  In order to do things that no one else is doing, you can't do what eveyone else is doing.  Take risks.  Stand out.  Be different.  Be focused.

2.  The ability to see opportunity where others see obstacles.

I am a firm believer in the saying "God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called."  No one can say that they have given absolutely no thought to what their purpose in this life is.  Somewhere in our consciousness, we all know we are called to do a specific something, and many of us will spend our lives trying to figure out what it is.  What we need to realize is that we already have everything we need to accomplish it.  God provides.

Sometimes God also guides by what He doesn't provide.  If you find that there is something missing, perhaps you should ask what God is trying to show you through your "limitation".  It may be that a solution is found in that void, thus turning an obstacle into an opportunity.

3.  The willingness to fail.

There are many groups and organizations that say failure is not an option, and they would be correct.  It's not an option; it's a necessity.  Many times, failure is the first step to success.  I believe it was Thomas Edison who said, "I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."  So fail.  Fail like you've never failed before.  Then get back up and learn from it.

There's a story about a farmer.  He was in the fields with his laborers when his mule fell in a hole.  The hole was so deep, the mule couldn't climb back out.  The farmer and the laborers tried everything they could think of to get the mle out of the hole, but nothing worked.  Finally, the farmer said, "I guess we'll have to bury him."  So they got their shovels and one by one started to shovel dirt into the hole.  But every time they did, the mule would just shake the dirt off his back.  The bottom of the hole started to fill, each time the dirt hit around the mule's feet, it would just shake it off and step up.  The farmer was perplexed, but continued to shovel dirt into the hole... and every time, the mule would simply shake it off and step up.  Eventually the dirt got high enough that the mule simply stepped out of the hole.

We need to be like the mule.  We aren't who people say we are.  We are children of God, and therefore need to learn how to act like it.  We have to have the courage to step out of the boat.

4.  Leaders that have IT.

Aye, that's right.  If you want your place to have IT, then you, as the leader, have to have IT so you can live IT and share IT and spread IT.  Leaders who have IT attract people.  IT is contagious.

How do you get IT, you ask?  By being passionate.  By following your purpose.  By letting God break your heart and show you what He is asking of you.

A place that has IT has these four things.  As a leader of a place without IT, there are some basic questions to consider... However, I cannot tell you what those questions are.  They are questions that you need to discover and ask yourself.  I pray that God may fill your heart with the things you need most.

Questions I asked myself:

God makes IT happen... Am I in line to receive IT from God?

One can't bring IT... but can several?  What are we doing as a group of leaders to bring IT and spread IT?

God guides by what He doesn't provide... What is He not providing for me?  How can I use that "limitation"?

Better = better...  What am I awesome at?  What do I need to drop to focus on what I'm awesome at?

Failure is a necessity...  Am I willing to fail to achieve IT? 

 

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that in the presence of the living God you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that in the presence of the living God you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that in the presence of the living God you may reach out your hand to comfort them, and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that in the presence of the living God you can do what others claim cannot be done.  Amen." 
~Franciscan Blessing

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7:30 PM - God Went To Beauty School
Category: Writing and Poetry

So I went with my sister to the library today.  I love the library.  We were looking for another movie to check out... It's our latest hobby.  Pick out a movie from the library and watch it.  Lots of fun. :)

Anyway, I got distracted and wandered into the Young Adult section... I always seem to find the best books there.  I was browsing the many titles on the cluttered shelves, and found a book I hadn't read in a long time, but am extremely fond of.  I couldn't resist.  It's a favourite.

It's called God Went To Beauty School, by Cynthia Rylant.  It's basically a book of poetry about how God's curiosity inspires Him to go out into the world and experience human things.  It makes me laugh, and it makes me think, and it's generally just a good read.  I thought I'd share a bit of it with you...

GOD FOUND SOME FUDGE

In the mail.
It was from an
archangel who'd been
through the Denver airport
and had it shipped
out from there.
The candy store thought
they'd sent it to
Grant's Pass, Oregon.
Well, more goes on
in Grant's Pass
than you might think.
Like God UPS.
But anyway-
He got the fudge
and He liked it.
So He thought He'd
make some of his own.
But everything God
does tends to turn out big.
Really big.
God's fudge wouldn't harden
so he kept stirring it
and stirring it,
and when he dropped it
in some water
to see if it formed
a ball,
it made
Neptune.
Or that's what it's called now.
God called it fudge.

Currently reading : God Went to Beauty School By Cynthia Rylant Release date: 2006-02-28

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