From Habakkuk...

     I'm a youth leader at my church, and right now for our devotions, we're reading in Habakkuk. I actually just read this book because my Sunday school class was studying it; I think it's pretty awesome when God keeps bringing certain passages of his Word to my attention...it's always got to be for a reason, right?

     Well, this time going through the book, a couple things have stood out to me (don't you love how God always shows us new things no matter how many times we read a certain book of the Bible??). First, the other night, I read Habakkuk's second complaint to God about how there was so much evil going on in Israel. After he had told God his complaints and asked him, "Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?" (1:17) Habakkuk then says, "I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint." (2:1)

     This really stood out to me, because so often I will ask God questions...or tell Him things that are on my heart, but then I'm "done praying" or whatever. I never really take time to WAIT for an answer. To be quiet...stop talking...just listen. That's what I need to be doing more often. Now, I don't expect God to answer in audible words that I can hear with my physical ears, as he did when responding to Habakkuk. However, I know that if I stop and listen, he will bring things to my mind that I know come from him. Or he will show me something in his Word that answers my question. Or he'll even use the words of a friend or even a person I don't know writing on their blog. I think sometimes these types of answers don't come immediately, but even the next day or next week or the next month! But that makes me think another thing... I need to be waiting and listening at all times -- not just for a few minutes while I'm praying. I can't just sit with my hands folded in my lap, listening for three minutes, and then put my listening ears away and go about the rest of my life. When the Bible says to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17), I think that includes listening without ceasing. If you think about it, God already knows what's going on in our heads...if we have a question for him, we don't really have to ask him directly in order for him to know what we're thinking. But we do, because God wants us to ask him and talk to him. It doesn't go the other way, though...if we're doing all the talking, and not listening, we're not going to know what God has to say. We need to be constantly in our watchtower, standing at our guardpost, listening for what the Lord has to say to us.

     The other thing that I particularly latched onto is where God speaks to his people of their practice of worshiping idols...idols that they themselves had created. He says to them, "What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation - a god that can't even talk!" (2:18)

     This caught my attention because the statement "how foolish to trust in your own creation" so easily applies to our own "creations" that are beyond physical creations. This applies to our accomplishments...our good grades, our position at work, our popularity among our friends, even the level of respect we've managed to earn from those we look up to. I so often find myself putting my trust in these things -- especially the last one. It's so easy for me to put my security in whether or not the people I admire in my life (parents, pastors, teachers, mentors) approve of me. But how foolish it is to put my trust in my own creation...my creation of a particular image that will win the approval of others. Why is this foolish? Because if I created it...then how easy it would be for me to destroy it. One mistake, and I could easily lose this approval. And then my security would be broken down. If I simply put all of my trust in my Father -- the one who created even those people I admire, the One who is stable, and does not change like the shifting shadows -- then my trust will be truly secure.

     Now to actually apply these things...that's the hard part.

New Blog Title

     Hello! Who am I, you may ask? Well, my name is Beth...that girl who used to post on her blog almost every other day... Yes, I do feel guilty about my blogging failure, but I guess there's nothing I can do about that now, huh?

     Well, I decided that if I am to ever get back to blogging regularly, it is time to change my blog a little bit. I mean, "Catcrazee" was a great blog name when I was in 7th grade, but, well, I think it's time to move on. So, I decided to rename the blog "Of My Musings..." I know...it's certainly not the most creative name I could have come up with; but I feel it's pretty accurate. A vast array of musings pass through my head from day to day, and of those, I would only choose to share a few. I know that even those which I do write about probably aren't worth reading, but hey, I've got to get them out of my head sometimes...

     Anyway, I guess I could use this post to update anyone who actually reads my blog on how my life has changed since I last posted! Well...I was still in high school when I wrote my last blog post. Now, I'm halfway through my sophomore year of college! And I guess I'm technically at my third college... Well, I only took a couple of classes at our community college my senior year of high school, so that probably doesn't count...haha.  Last year, I was a student at Pensacola Christian College in Florida. That was quite the experience! I learned a lot about myself, I think. I learned that I get to be pretty cynical when smothered with rules that I don't agree with. That was frustrating for me, because I knew full well what I was getting myself into when I went to PCC: wearing skirts all the time, no contemporary music, King James Version Bible only, no mixed-group outings, etc. I was expecting to be able to put up with it and be positive about it! But that's not how that year went for me; I became increasingly cynical toward all of the rules that PCC enforced, and it put me in basically a chronic bad mood. Another unfortunate thing I learned about myself is that I am really and truly not a people person. Being around people other than family all the time was a new experience for me, and I don't think I handled it all that well. I always tried to eat breakfast alone, and I got angry if people came to my table and said something like, "Hi! Can I sit with you so you won't be alone?!" It kind of ruined my day. How lame is that?! I never knew I was like that...  But the funny thing is, the thing I miss most about living on campus, are my roommates! I don't know...I'm just a confused child.

     So, to make a long story short, I decided that Pensacola was not the place for me. While I miss my friends there, I really do LOVE where I am now! I came back home, and I am now a student at Liberty University. I just finished my first semester at LU, and I can't wait for the next semester to begin! Honestly...I was absolutely depressed when I had to go back to PCC, so I'm pretty sure this completely opposite feeling is a pretty good indicator that LU is a better fit for me. ;)

     Oh! I almost forgot! My major was Graphic Design my first year of college. I absolutely loved my art classes at PCC. But I've wanted to go into missions for years, now, and over the summer I realized that I really want to work with people, rather than sitting behind a computer all day. :) Speaking of summer, I worked at Grace Bible Camp as a senior counselor for the first time! If you've read my blog in the past, you'll know that being a junior counselor at GBC was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm so thankful I'm now able to be there all summer as an SC...it was such a blessing to me, and I learned so very much from the kids, my fellow counselors, the speakers, and especially our new camp director, Pastor Scott. Most importantly, though, seven girls in my cabin accepted Christ as their Savior, plus many many more kids over the course of the whole summer. It was incredible, and I can't wait until next summer. :)

Well, that's the last year and a half of my life in a nutshell! ;) It was definitely one of the most eventful times of my life... I kind of wish I had blogged throughout that time. Well, there's no time like the present to begin again, right? Hopefully I'll keep up with it this time! ;)

Thanks for reading! :)

~Beth~

Spring is in the air...

I could feel it as soon as I woke up this morning. :) I slept in until 9, and then laid in bed and read for a while... So relaxing! Then once I heard my parents stirring in the kitchen, I decided I had better get up. My mom and I had decided that this morning would be dedicated to cleaning, so we cleaned and listened to the Radio Theatre adaption of Left Behind. It was really nice, actually! You know that satisfied feeling you get after cleaning your house or just working hard on anything? It's awesome. :)
After that, I decided to FINALLY go for a run (I "took a break" for about a month...big mistake.). The weather made it pretty enjoyable! :D I'm certainly hoping for the warm temperatures to stick around.
Then I took a shower, which added to my happy feeling. Lol :) Then we went over to my grandparents' house to visit my aunt and her fiance while they're here! That was fun...we passed around the blood pressure machine and took turns taking our bp...haha :P
Finally, my family came home to eat dinner and watch our new favorite show (which we watch with Clearplay), Smallville! :D
The End.

Anyway, yep...that was my day. I thoroughly enjoyed it. :) Okay. I know that was the most boring entry I have posted. Ever. And I really was going to add more to it, but I have way too much to say, and I very much would like to go to bed now. Lol! :) So, I'll post more later about the more exciting/interesting topics... :)

Alone

Short story I wrote for my first essay this semester! :) Don't skip to the end. Or you will face my wrath. :P Enjoy!

Alone

I shut the door and quickly turn around to lean against it, releasing a long sigh. I am finally in my new apartment! My own apartment. I had been begging my parents for over a year, now, to let me move out, but they wouldn’t hear of it. That is, until I announced that if they wouldn’t let me go with their permission, I would just run away without it. Then they may never see me again; I am eighteen, after all.
So they finally let me go. Maybe they weren’t all too pleased with me…but it’s better for everyone this way. Now we all have a little breathing room. I can come visit when I want, and they will no longer have to pay my expenses. 
I’ve had a job for four years, and I have saved all of my earnings – haven’t spent more than fifty bucks the whole time. Between that and the second job I just applied for, I will certainly be capable of caring for myself. I’ll admit, though, I understand my parents’ reluctance to let me leave; I am their firstborn and only daughter. However, I’ll never get how they still don’t see the benefits for themselves! Oh well…they’ll wake up one of these days.
I turn around again to lock the door, and realize the latch is already in place. “That’s odd…” I think. “I guess I was too distracted to even remember locking it!” I chuckle and then mosey on into the kitchen. 
I’m not much of a cook, but the thought of making dinner for myself is exciting. I can’t help but revel in my independence throughout the entire cooking process. 
I open my refrigerator to get an onion to chop for stir-fry. Stir-fry is easy; even I can’t mess it up. The perfect meal to make me feel good about myself! I dig around in the well-stocked vegetable drawer, but cannot find the onions. “I swear I bought a few today,” I mutter to myself. “Two yellow and one red onion. Now where did I put them?” I search the other drawer and all the shelves, but still can’t find my onions. I sigh. “Stir-fry will be extremely lacking without onion, but I guess that’s the way it has to be.” I turn back to the counter to chop the other vegetables, and my heart jumps a bit.
On the counter, sit three onions. One chopped and two intact beside it. My eyes widen and I swallow hard. “I must have been more distracted than I thought.” My chuckle is a bit more nervous this time, but I continue fixing my dinner. 
Later that evening, I recline on my small sofa with a good book. The novel is gripping – a mystery filled with deceit, murder, and confusion. Too late, I realize this is not the sort of tale in which to indulge on my first night alone. Despite myself, I finish the novel within a few hours.
Eventually, still feeling jumpy from the story, I begin the process of going to bed. I am about to brush my teeth when I realize that I want to wash my hair, first. I have an unusual preference for sleeping with damp hair. My mother used to scold me, insisting it was a waste of water. Seeing as how I always have to wash it again in the morning. I suppose she was right; I always did it anyway, though.
As the warm water soaks my hair and massages my scalp, I begin to relax and the slightly apprehensive feeling leaves me. I turn the water off, wrap a towel around my head, and straighten from bending over the tub. A contented smile settles on my face, but is suddenly chased away when I notice the toothbrush sitting on the sink. A large glob of pink bubblegum toothpaste sits on the bristles and is even smeared a bit on the sink. My heart begins to pound.
I know I did not get my toothbrush out. It should have been in the drawer beside the sink. As images of intruders, ghosts, and murderers pop into my head, I further regret my decision to read that book. On top of this, it is now, of course, that I choose to recall the fact that this apartment building was originally a factory, back in the early 1900’s. Furthermore, the landlord had thought he should enlighten me with a bit of history about the factory: in 1927 there was an explosion in one of the machines, killing six employees. I hadn’t appreciated this information then and I appreciate it less, now.
I’ve never believed in ghosts, but at this point my mind is willing to consider any possibility. What if the dead factory workers still haunt this building? Maybe they enjoy playing pranks on new residents. 
“Ha. Good one, Mister Ghost. You got me,” I say aloud, for the benefit of any nearby spirits.
It is then that I notice the locked bathroom door; I quickly forget the humor of the joke. I unlock the door and run around my apartment, flipping on every light. Somehow, this makes me feel safer. I turn on some quiet, soothing music to drown out the silence.
I sit down to paint my nails. Manicures have always had a soothing effect on me. As I run the brush over my pinkie nail, the whistle of a train jolts me, causing me to smear polish on my finger.
“Good gravy,” I think. “I didn’t know that train would be so loud!” Immediately after I think this, I realize that it shouldn’t be so loud. At least not if the window was closed. It is all I can do to stifle a scream. I have not even touched the window since I’ve been here! How is it open?
I frantically close and lock the window, and then grab my phone to call the police. I think twice, however, and decide to call my parents, instead. I’m not quite sure how the police would handle my situation; an eighteen-year-old girl frightened by her first night of independence? I’m not entirely convinced they would take me seriously.
My parents aren’t much better, filling my ear with “told you so” and “this is what happens when you don’t listen to us”, but at least they do care about me. They say I can come home for the night, until we can figure out what is really going on.
I grab a few things and get to the door before remembering to turn out all the lights. When I turn around, though, all the lights are already off. I close my eyes and take a shaky breath. Then I quickly exit the apartment, making sure to lock it.
I run to my car in my pajamas, jump in, and turn on the ignition. It’s a good thing my parents don’t live far away, as I’m not sure I could handle a long drive. I blare the radio the whole way so I don’t have to listen to my own thoughts. It’s strange how trees look like looming spirits and cars appear as fierce beasts when your sense of apprehension is aroused. 
Finally, I arrive at my parents’ house. I reach to turn off the radio, and realize it is no longer playing. Now my heart threatens to pound its way through my breastbone. How long has the radio been silent? Wasn’t I just listening to one of my favorite songs? I let out a groan and exit my car. Then I scamper up the sidewalk as quickly as I can.
My mother opens the door, and I run into her arms. Any sense of independence I had earlier in the day has vanished.
“Mom, I think my apartment is haunted. But then the…ghost – or whatever it is – followed me here!”
My mom doesn’t laugh at me, but I can tell it will take more convincing evidence to persuade her. “Sweetheart,” she says as she rubs my back, soothingly, “how about you get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”
I almost protest, but then realize she’s probably right. We’ll all be more level-headed in the morning. My mom walks me to my room and actually tucks me into bed, stripping down my independence even further. It works, though; within minutes, I am asleep.
The rest of the night is uneventful, and I wake in the morning feeling much more relaxed. I get up and go into the kitchen for some breakfast. Both of my parents are already there, sitting at the table with their coffee. They stare at me as I walk past them. I stop and stare back. “What?” I ask.
My dad gives an incredulous laugh. “What?” he repeats. “So, your apartment is haunted, is it? Ghosts?”
I sigh. “Dad…I don’t know what was going on, but it was crazy.” Before explaining further, I turn to pour myself a bowl of cereal; but I stop cold when I see a bowl full of Fruit Loops already on the counter.
“See?” I yell, pointing at the bowl. “How did that get there?”
“Quiet down,” my mom says. “Your brothers are still sleeping.”
I had forgotten about my two younger brothers. Their rooms are just down the hall, and I certainly don’t want to involve them in this predicament, so I lower my voice.
“How did this bowl of cereal get here?” I ask as calmly as I can manage.” Did one of you pour it for me?”
Now my parents are really staring. My dad is the first to answer. “No, hon. You poured it yourself when you walked in here.”
It’s my turn to be incredulous. “What are you talking about? I just got here, and all I’ve done so far is talk to you two!”
“You also poured that mug of coffee,” my mom states, gesturing to a third mug on the table. I hadn’t noticed it until just now.
I grab my head between my hands and close my eyes, trying to recall myself doing these things; but it’s no use. I don’t remember pouring that coffee any more than I remember assassinating Abraham Lincoln. 
I open my eyes to see the disturbed expressions on my parents’ faces. My dad clears his throat. “I think we may need to take you to see a specialist.” Surprisingly, I don’t object.

A month later, I sit in my apartment alone, once again. I am sipping a cup of tea that I don’t remember brewing, and reading a new book that I don’t recall buying. But I’m not afraid this time.
After visiting many psychologists and enduring countless tests, it was concluded that I have a special mental disorder. It’s a form of short-term memory loss, possibly even a sort of early Alzheimer’s disease.
I cried a lot when I found out, but I have come to terms with the fact, now. As often as the disorder leaves me confused, at least I always have an explanation to offer myself.
Sometimes, though, I wonder if the doctors are wrong. Especially when I hear the voices.  

A Look into the Benefits of Vaccinations...

Here's another one of my rather controversial essays. I feel quite strongly about this topic, and I hope it will be beneficial to anyone researching this topic and trying to make decisions for their own family. :)
I also included my works cited at the bottom. :)

Vaccination: A Vehicle of Immunity

With so many deadly diseases in the world, the desire to prevent their contraction at all costs seems only logical. However, vaccines – the most obvious form of protection – are a source of much disagreement among many parents. Some want to take advantage of every vaccine available to them. Others feel that vaccines are unsafe and that vaccinating their children would do more harm than good. Nonetheless, in order to slow the spread of disease, help keep their community disease-free, and protect the health of their own children, parents should be committed to having their children vaccinated.
Before the widespread use of vaccines, disease was much more common and deadly. It was not unusual to know multiple people who were infected with a deadly virus. Once a person contracted a disease, not much could be done for them.
Thanks to vaccinations, however, this prevalence of disease no longer exists in the United States and other developed countries. One example in the article, “Childhood Vaccinations Are Important for Public Health”, is that of smallpox. This lethal disease was the cause of death for millions worldwide per year. That is, until in 1967 when the World Health Organization embarked on a mission to vaccinate the world against smallpox. In the span of twelve years, the virus was entirely wiped out. There has not been another case of smallpox since, and the credit goes to vaccination (2). Thus, smallpox is no longer a cause of concern in the world, but if it had not been for vaccinations, the disease would still be killing countless amounts of people.
The attack against the smallpox virus was obviously a highly successful effort. It is, however, the only disease to have been completely removed from the world, as of yet. Other diseases – such as measles, whooping cough, and tetanus – are still rampant in underdeveloped countries, and continue to be responsible for the deaths of millions every year. Some parents may be under the impression that since such diseases are not common in the United States, there is no need for their children to receive vaccination against them. This is a dangerous assumption. All it takes is for one person to contract a disease, and it can pass along to any who are not immune to it. For instance, if a person carrying a measles virus visits a previously uncontaminated area, an unvaccinated child would be completely vulnerable to contracting measles. On the other hand, if the child’s parents had been diligent in vaccinating her, she would have a much greater chance of avoiding the measles virus.
Furthermore, if the child, herself, wishes to travel to foreign countries later in life, having been vaccinated will help to preserve her health while surrounded by disease. As previously stated, many diseases are still rampant and lethal in other countries. One cannot assume that he or she will remain healthy when traveling, especially to third-world countries. Vaccines allow one to travel without fear of disease.
Not only must one be concerned with the worldwide spread of disease, but also with protecting the health of one’s own community. If an unvaccinated person contracts a disease, he could be responsible for infecting many others around him. While vaccinations are extremely effective in protecting against disease, they do not guarantee 100% immunity. Thus, people rely on the health and immunity of those around them. This being the case, parents who choose to take the protective measure of vaccinating their children will not appreciate the risk an unvaccinated child presents. As the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society puts it, “Even a small number of unimmunized individuals in a community can facilitate the spread of disease. In the late 1980’s, pockets of unimmunized children in the U.S. led to a resurgence of measles that caused 11,000 hospitalizations and 123 deaths” (2). Clearly, endangering an entire community because of a personal choice to refrain from vaccinations is not worth the risk.
As mentioned earlier, people must rely on the immunity of those around them. Even more so, people who are unable to receive vaccinations due to health issues depend upon their community’s immunity. “Childhood Vaccinations Are Important for Public Health” points out: “Some children can’t get certain vaccines for medical reasons, or some children are not able to respond to certain vaccines. For these children, the immunity of people around them is their only protection” (1). It displays inconsideration when parents put the health of other children at risk by refusing to vaccinate their own children.
Some parents’ refusal of vaccines comes from the belief that vaccines are morally wrong, and they claim exemption from them on the basis that vaccines go against their convictions. However, the predominant claim that these people make is, in fact, incorrect. Many people would insist that vaccines contain tissue from aborted fetuses, thus leading anti-abortionists to believe that receiving a vaccination contradicts their values. This, however, is simply a case of misinformation. In his article “Vaccines DO NOT Contain Fetal Tissue” Dr. Jay L. Wile states: “[A]nyone with a modicum of training in biology will tell you that it is impossible for vaccines (or any other injected medicine) to contain human tissue. The reason is simple: if you are injected with anything containing tissue from another person, your body will immediately recognize it as an invader and begin attacking it.” (1). Ergo, those who choose not to vaccinate their children due to pro-life beliefs are making this choice based on faulty information.
While the claim that vaccines contain fetal tissue is untrue, it is not completely unfounded. The viruses used in Hepatitis A vaccine, the MMR vaccine, and the chicken pox vaccine were originally derived from the tissue of two aborted fetuses. These fetuses were aborted in the 1960’s because they were infected with a virus, but not for the purpose of using the tissue for scientific research. In short, the fetuses would have been aborted whether their tissue was donated for use in the vaccines or not. Dr. Wile compares this situation to a case in which a murdered individual is able to donate his or her heart to save a dying child in need of a heart transplant. He then states:
                "Two innocent babies were killed. However, they were able to donate something that has been used not only to make vaccines, but in many medical research projects over the years. Thus these cells have been saving millions of lives for almost two generations! Although the babies were clearly murdered, the fact that their cells have been saving lives is at least a silver lining in the dark cloud of their tragic murder" (1).
Hence, to abstain from taking advantage of the benefits of these vaccinations is to waste the good that came of the deaths of those two aborted babies. Furthermore, since such claims that vaccines are morally wrong are incorrect, parents who continue to refuse vaccination of their children are endangering others without cause.
Ultimately, though, the most compelling reason for parents to accept vaccinations is the protection of their own children. Beyond concern about worldwide and local health, it is the desire of all parents for their own children to be healthy. Parents have a responsibility to do all they can to preserve their children’s well-being, and one way to do so is by having them vaccinated.
No good parent would want his or her child to become infected with a lethal virus – or any illness, for that matter. Hence, it seems only natural that all parents would jump at the chance to safeguard their children against infection. However, just as there are concerns about the morality of vaccines, there are also concerns about the safety of them. Many parents have heard that vaccines cause autism, leading them to fear that their child may develop this disorder upon receiving vaccinations. In her article, “Increase in Autism”, Sarah Glazer says, “A third of the parents of autistic children say their children developed normally in their first months or year and then began losing social skills or language. Many of the parents blame vaccines, since they first observed the regression after the children received routine vaccinations” (7). However, there is no proof that vaccines were indeed the cause. Glazer also states: “[T]he Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — the standard handbook of psychiatrists — has broadened the definition of autism in recent years to include milder variants of the disorder” (5). Consequently, the seeming increase in autism could, in reality, be only a broadening of terms, rather than a problem caused by vaccines.
Another concern that many parents have is a valid one. If a child is allergic to an ingredient of a vaccine, then the injection of the vaccine could be fatal. There is, however, a way to avoid this danger: parents should wait until their child is at least two years of age before having them vaccinated. In doing so, they will have time to discover any allergies and therefore avoid any vaccines which would cause an allergic reaction in their child.
One of the most obviously beneficial reasons for parents to have their children vaccinated is simply to prevent them from contracting disease. There are vaccines providing immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis, diphtheria, and the list goes on. Unless he or she is unable to receive vaccinations due to health problems, there is no reason not to shield a child against such devastating diseases. Additionally, the only way, other than vaccination, to gain immunity to a disease is to contract it. Vaccines provide immunity to children without requiring them to become infected.
        Moreover, parents who fail to vaccinate their children are not doing all they can to prove their care and protection. Parents who genuinely care about their children would not willingly withhold from them defense against danger. Nonetheless, this is what they are unknowingly doing by refusing to vaccinate their children. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society makes a good point concerning exemptions from vaccinations based on personal beliefs:
                "For example, parents cannot be exempted from placing infants in car seats simply because they do not “believe” in them…In this context, it is wrong to allow parents to exempt their children from required immunizations based on their personal beliefs. Exemption directly exposes children (who have no personal say in the matter) to harm." (3)
Thus, parents should not be allowed to endanger their children, even indirectly, by failing to protect them against illness.
        All in all, the success of vaccines seems to speak for itself. Despite any possible dangers, the overall effectiveness of vaccines has been dramatic. For this reason, parents should not hesitate to provide for their children that vehicle of immunity called “vaccination”.

Works Cited

"Childhood Vaccinations Are Important for Public Health." Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunizations. Portland, OR: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007. Rpt. in Should Vaccinations be Mandatory? Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 Nov. 2012.

Glazer, S. “Increase in Autism.” (2003, June 13). CQ Researcher, 13, 545-568. Web. 31 Oct. 2012

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. "Mandatory Vaccinations with Few Exceptions Are Necessary for Public Health." Vaccines. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "A Statement Regarding Personal Belief Exemption from Immunization Mandates." 2011. 1-5. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.

Wile, Jay L. “Vaccines DO NOT Contain Fetal Tissue”. (2009). Proslogion, n. pag. Web. 4 Nov. 2012

Corporal Punishment

This is one of my more controversial topics. I hope it will not offend anyone, as I am just sharing my personal opinion. :) This was a causal essay, and the point was to argue that a certain action will reap either positive or negative effects. Thus, I chose to argue that Corporal Punishment reaps positive effects. It's something I'm rather passionate about, although I will not say that it is the only  correct form of discipline. I am sure that in some cases, other methods certainly suffice! :) I am, obviously, not speaking from the experience of being a parent. However, I am speaking from the experience of being raised under this form of discipline - loving correction through corporal punishment. I know that it benefited me tremendously, and I will be forever grateful to my parents for choosing to raise me in this manner. :)
Anyhow, I hope it is enjoyable and possibly even beneficial! :)

Discipline in Love

       As modern times advance, people increasingly discredit corporal punishment as a valid disciplinary action. Many people see it as a form of abuse, or may believe it to harm a child’s self-esteem. Some would even say that it gives children a sense of justification to abuse others. In reality, however, the proper application of spanking is the most constructive form of discipline. The benefits of corporal punishment in children’s lives carry through to adulthood by teaching them responsibility for their actions, respect for others, and the concept of correction in love.
       The natural default in human nature is to blame someone or something else for all shortcomings. No person truly wishes to accept the fault of a mistake; nevertheless, it is a necessary way of life to give judgment where it is due. When a child behaves wrongly, it is imperative that she realize her own accountability for the offense. The consistent enforcement of corporal punishment proves to a child that she must face consequences for her negative actions.
       The main reason for the success of corporal punishment is a child’s instinctive understanding of pain. As Gary Ezzo points out in his parenting course, Growing Kids God’s Way, pain exists as a signal to alert one that something is not as it should be (202). This natural signal to physical danger also translates to moral dangers. Ezzo states, “The sensation of pain draws attention to foolish decisions that can lead to wrong behavior” (204). A young child who may not be old enough to comprehend why something is wrong will understand a spanking due to her intuitive response to pain. Just as a person who touches a hot pan is not likely to risk pain by touching it again, this understanding will teach the child to avoid repeating the action that initially caused her pain.
       Another key factor in corporal punishment is consistency in its administration. When a child has the guarantee of receiving a spanking for misbehavior, she will realize that there are inevitable consequences for her actions. The repetition of the punishment will strongly ingrain into a child the knowledge that she cannot expect to rebel without incurring judgment. Just as it takes multiple instances to create any habit, consistent consequences for an offense will cause a child to form a habit of obedience.
       Furthermore, a child raised under the discipline of corporal punishment will be more likely to carry that sense of responsibility into her adult life. When a child’s parents administer a spanking as a result of her misbehavior, she will see that she is the only one directly suffering for her actions. As a result, she will remember later in life that if she rebels, she will be the one who must accept responsibility.
       In addition to responsibility, corporal punishment also teaches respect. When a child receives a spanking for his mistreatment of someone else, he will develop an innate sense of respect for others. Respect has multiple aspects. For instance, if a child promptly receives a discipline after acting negatively toward a friend or sibling, he will learn that he should treat everyone with kindness. As he grows older, he will eventually understand that kindness is a form of respect that all deserve. He will also realize that failing to treat others kindly often reaps unpleasant results.
Likewise, the way one responds to authority also demonstrates respect. The article, “Corporal Punishment”, suggests that “overly permissive parents who do not spank are partly responsible for fostering social problems such as…young people’s disrespect for adults” (1). Parents willing to spank their child for disregarding authority will teach him proper courtesy toward his elders. A humble and respectful attitude toward authority is a vital trait for a child to learn. A child who possesses this quality is often pleasant for adults to be around; and when he grows older, adults will be impressed with his maturity. This admiration from adults also gives a child’s parents a good reputation. As the Bible says, parents who faithfully train their children will enjoy the results later (Proverbs 29:17).
       Yet another benefit of corporal punishment is the way in which it declares the care and concern of parents for their children. The Bible states, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them” (Proverbs 13:24). When parents correctly administer a spanking, it will show a child the concept of a loving form of correction. Children are inclined to view discipline as being only negative. However, if parents take the time to explain to their child the reason for the spanking, let her know that they do not enjoy it, and finish by reminding her of their love, the child will gradually see punishment as being for her ultimate good.
       Once a child reaches the realization that a spanking is for her benefit, she will eventually begin to notice and appreciate specific aspects of her parents’ disciplinary methods. A child will respect – even if it is subconsciously – parents who demonstrate consistency in punishment, rather than allowing her to make poor choices without consequence. When parents are lax in their disciplinary actions, they may communicate to their child that she is not worth the effort. This may even inspire her to further rebel in the hope that it will catch their attention.
       Later in life, a child will see that her parents were willing to spank her because they cared about her well-being. As stated in “Corporal Punishment”, when parents take the time to spank their children, they may be sparing them from the harm of many tough issues (5). Looking back on her childhood, an adult will see the many ways in which her parents protected her from harm by administering punishment. At the time, a spanking may have seemed a terrible occurrence, but the result may have been much worse had the behavior gone unattended.
       Overall, while the world highly debates and criticizes corporal punishment, it has proven itself a successful child-rearing method. The long-term effects of a spanking are certainly worth the short-term discomfort it may bring. While spankings are unpleasant experiences for all involved, children and parents alike will be thankful for them in the end.

A Reflection of the Heart

I know...I never finished posting my camp journal entries. Maybe I'll get around to it later, but I'm not feelin' it at the moment. :P
Anyway, I'm taking an English course at our community college this semester, and I've really enjoyed writing these essays. The focus of the course is writing argumentatively, so I've chosen a few very controversial topics...my favorite! ;)
So, since I've taken so much time to write these essays about topics which really are important to me, I figured I might as well share them on my blog! :) I hope you enjoy them!
I'll start with one that, hopefully, isn't too controversial... This essay was a definition argument, and I chose to define the word "modesty".

A Reflection of the Heart

  The modesty of women’s attire is a subject of much disagreement and debate.  People are always attempting to designate the appropriate length of skirts and shorts, height of necklines, and tightness of outfits.  These constantly varying sets of rules are a source of much dissension among all concerned with modesty.  As very few people possess the exact same standard for what types of clothing are acceptable, this leads to unnecessary judging of one another’s personal choices.  How ideal it would be if there were a set of rules including exact measurements and specific examples of what is truly modest.  Modesty, however, cannot be pinpointed as one particular dress code, but is rather an outward representation of a woman’s attitude, regard for others, and respect for herself.
The way in which a woman clothes herself often exemplifies her inward motives and attitude.  Clothing styles are a strong expression of one’s personality and morals; and as such, bold outfits imply bold personality and moral statements.  For instance, flashy and revealing attire gives the impression that a woman wants to draw inappropriate attention to herself.  Such attention is often from those who do not have her best interest in mind, and may be the cause of uncomfortable situations.  Additionally, wearing this type of outfit is likely to evoke the judgment of others.  While this reaction is often uncalled for and unnecessary, it is generally the natural inclination of humans.
Conversely, when a woman chooses to dress herself in shapeless or unflattering attire, she implies that she is unsure of herself and lacks confidence.  To be modest is not to be unattractive.  In fact, it seems that when a woman goes to extremes in her attempt to conceal her body, she often attracts more attention to herself, thereby defeating the original intent behind her clothing choices.
  A modest wardrobe should consist of clothing that is attractive in a way that reflects both a woman’s confidence and her humility.  Her apparel should flatter her body without flaunting it, thus representing a humble and unassuming beauty which is a direct result of her heart’s attitude.  This modest character is embodied in a woman who is, as the Oxford English Dictionary says, “decorous in manner and conduct; not forward, impudent, or lewd”.
       From this humble attitude, there should stem an ambition in women to prove their regard for others by what they wear.  Women should consider their audience when choosing their outfit each day.  One group of people in said audience is men, who tend to be more visually stimulated than do women.  By wearing revealing and indecent clothing, a woman may unknowingly be causing men to have improper thoughts toward her.  It should be considered a common courtesy on the part of a woman to adequately cover herself, so as not to be a negative distraction to men.
       Another group in a woman’s audience is, of course, other women.  Outfits that flaunt and draw attention to a woman’s body often create envy and jealousy in other women.  Once again, while this certainly does not mean that a woman should hide her figure, she should take into consideration how her clothing might affect her fellow women.  As a member of this gender herself, a woman should typically understand this feeling and wish to lessen it for others.
       A third group to consider is those in a woman’s audience who view her as a role model.  Often, the people in this group are those younger than she – particularly girls.  When a woman decides to wear an outfit, it would be prudent of her to first contemplate what message she will be sending to younger girls who may be observing her.  She should ask herself whether she would want to see these girls wearing an outfit such as hers; and if not, she should consider changing it so as to set a positive example.
       Just as proving their regard for others, women’s apparel should also indicate a certain level of respect for themselves.  Every woman has a desire to be considered beautiful, but women should wish to be viewed as attractive based on their natural beauty, rather than how much their clothing reveals.  If a woman is wearing a risqué outfit and receives a compliment on her appearance, she cannot know if the compliment referred to her true beauty or simply to her body.  A woman should want to be attractive in a manner that is wholesome and not in ways that only serve to cheapen her beauty.
       Women should consider their clothing an opportunity to preserve their dignity, and even to create an air of mystery and intrigue.  When a woman chooses to flaunt her body through the clothes she wears, she immediately loses this opportunity.  A woman wishing to earn the respect of others must realize that one aspect of this is to treat her body as a delicate vessel which is to be properly concealed from the public.  Additionally, a woman who clothes herself properly ensures that her body is a secret to be shared with only her husband.  Such intrigue in a woman certainly adds to her attractiveness.
       Outward appearance, however, is not the only trait to be considered in women.  A woman does not need to attract attention to herself by the way she dresses, but more importantly by her other noteworthy qualities.  The apostle Paul states that “women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1 Timothy 2:10, NLT).  The most beautiful aspect of every woman should be the admirable attributes she exhibits.
       If a woman’s beauty is judged by such features as her character, values, true motives, and love for others, then modesty should be an extension of these things.  Modesty is an outward exhibition of an inward condition, in that the level of humility within a woman will inevitably translate to her external appearance.  Every woman must decide for herself what is to be her standard of modesty, but she should remember that what she wears reflects who she is.  Women have a great responsibility to represent themselves with propriety; they simply must choose to take advantage of every opportunity to do so.

GBC Diaries 2012: Entry 3

Thursday, July 5, 2012   7:36a.m.

Good morning! :)
Wow. So, last night's chapel was amazing. Our speaker this week is so good! He has been incorporating the Gospel message into all the lessons, but last night was totally about salvation. He began by going through what Jesus did for us, and then explaining why it's so important and how it really applies to us.
Well, I don't know about anyone else...but it majorly touched me. The way he explained everything really caused me to appreciate Jesus' sacrifice again! And that is exactly what I needed! The message also helped me understand once again how awful my sin is. And that's something else I needed!
So...I was sitting there crying my eyes out...my nose was about to slide of my face along with all its contents. But I didn't really care too much. :) I felt like that message was just for me.
But I was (and still am) praying that it touched the kids, as well! Whether they're already believers or not. I don't know how someone could hear the Gospel explained so powerfully and not be amazed in some way, shape, or form!
One thing I want to write down so I won't forget it is something Mr. Eric (the speaker) said that I hadn't really heard before. He said, "Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus wants to be part of your life. I'll even go so far as to say that Jesus doesn't want to be first in your life! Because what happens after we do a "first" thing? We move on to the second! No, Jesus wants to BE your life! Everything you do should be centered around Him!"
That really hit home. I hope and pray I'll never forget that and that I will truly be striving to live like that. I so want Jesus to be my life!
Yep! Pretty exciting night! And then we got to watch fireworks, which made me even happier! :D
Okay, well, it's almost eight, so I'd better finish up! Adios! :)

GBC Diaries 2012: Entry 2

Wednesday, July 4, 2012   7:39a.m.

Happy Independence Day! :) I'm pretty excited because we're having fireworks tonight! And I just saw Miss Shelley and Miss Pam hanging decorations. :)
So, yesterday was pretty interesting! It was kinda rainy and stuff all day; and then during dinner, the power went out! Which also means no water! BAD NEWS at a camp with a hundred people! Lol  So, JC girls couldn't do dishes, boys couldn't mop floors, nobody could flush toilets (and OF COURSE I had to pee as soon as the power went out!), no running water!
So, we started our "cabin connections" time which, last night, consisted of coming up with a skit for tonight. And then we went to chapel. Chpel was great! I love our speaker this week (his name is Eric)! And during chapel, the power came back on! But after about 15 minutes, it went back out! So, we went back to our cabins. No one could shower or brush their teeth before bed (eewww!) ;) So we started cabin devos early! Rachel asked if I wanted to do it, so I did. And in the middle of that, the power came back! Yay! :) And my devotional actually went well! I wasn't even nervous! :)
So...I've been thanking God quite a bit since last night. :)

GBC Diaries 2012: Entry 1

I got back from two weeks of being a junior counselor at GBC last week! :) And now...I will transfer my thoughts on it from my journal to my blog! :) Here be the first entry!


Monday, July 2, 2012   7:31a.m.

Well good morning! FIRST FULL DAY OF CAMP! WOO! :)
This year, I am in Sarah's Tent again! But it's teen weeks instead of children's camp! So, it's going to be pretty different. But so far it's going well, so I'm glad. :)
I seem to have a good cabin! :) I don't know the girls well yet, obviously, but they seem sweet. :) A couple of them are pretty interesting..but it provides for some entertainment. :P One of the girls marched into the cabin yesterday and announced, "I brought my trumpet!" We were so thrilled...haha! :P
I absolutely LOVE the other JC girls so far! It seems like we'll get along great! I don't know the guys well, yet, but they seem cool. :)
And my Senior Counselor is awesome! :) Her name is Rachel, and I like her a lot already. :)
Miss Shelley is da bomb, as usual! And our other JC coordinator this year is Aaron, who was an SC the last two years. [he's really awesome, too!!! :D]
So...this is seeming to be a great start to the week! I'm pretty pumped! :)