Black and White

To make a block of white text on black background, use the following HTML and CSS code:

<div style="color:white; background-color:black; padding:4px">

This is more than an example of changing the background color. This is a declaration that, within the context of this blog (and serving as an analogy for real life), few things are necessarily permanent. As knowledge of CSS opens the doors of possibility on the web, so is the door open to those who know the Creator of all things. Let us always be willing to question the status quo. And as we test things, let those which are found to be firm be acknowledged as firm, and those which are weak be called weak. And should any be found to be useful but temporary, let us hold them with open hands.

One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,

and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.

—Psalm 62:11-12

</div>

Explanation:
<div> = an HTML tag used for dividing text into sections
color = the color of the text (any color; ex. white, blue, #8A27EE)
background-color = the color of the background (same color choices as text color)
padding = helps keep the text away from the edge of the background color box

Creative Writing + J-term + Ali = ?

The Pursuit

Wheels on wheels on
www rocks
wwon wheels

Gaining the ground
to ground down
the hounded

With the path, clear and open
superior strength
wwwwwwwwwwiisurging like water

light glinting on armor of avarice

The prey just within reach
wwwwwwthe hand reaches out
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwto grasp

wwwwwwwwwWhen the eye espies
wwwwwwanother hand reaching back
wwwstretching to stop
the wobbling wheels

too late comes the warning
wwwof water raging

A blow by the Hand of the Hebrew God
crushes the curses with
the furious flow of the sea

released.

A Risk

I am taking a risk posting this here, but, oh well, life is full of risks. Here is some of my favorite poetry that I have written. Please comment as to how it makes you feel or how it might be enigmatic or rotten. I would love detailed, critical feedback. By the way, any idea how to make the background black? Color is crucial for these poems.

At the Monastery

Matins

It is cold

And dark.

All night I have been anticipating this.

The appointed time is come.

I dress quickly and splash my face

For I have not allowed myself much time.

Dong.

The first bell.

I fasten my hair and slip on my shoes.

I open the door and enter the cold pre-dawn. Pausing,

I notice the stars.

Ah. Orion.

I do not normally see you in the summertime.

Good 3^rd watch of the night to you.

Dong. Dong. Dong.

The second series of bells begins.

I walk towards the sanctuary, open the door, and enter in.

I find a place,

I kneel,

I bow my head.

Lauds

After Matins I do not want to return to sleep.

That feels wrong.

So I stay awake and do what seems most natural:

Read scripture.

Your Word, O Lord, is a light.

My God, enlighten my darkness.

O Lord, my God, enlighten my darkness.

O Lord, my God, enlighten my darkness.

The simple song sings in my head.

It repeats itself,

Filling my whole body,

Infusing me with its melody.

Perhaps God is trying to tell me something.

Oh, yes. I know He is.

He is trying to bring the steel down.

He’s trying to remove the metal from the wall of my life;

The cynicism I cling to for comfort.

Very well, I’ll give it a try.

Lamentations 3.

Very good.

Commentary.

It is well.

Just as usual.

Perhaps I should read it again?

Interesting.

This passage stands out to me.

I know it was written regarding the exile but I can relate to this feeling of being

Abandoned by God and

Shunned by Him.

I like being the victim.

I focus on these verses, thinking that they are for me.

I re-read.

What’s this I find?

Verses of hope.

Okay.

That’s nice.

Too bad I didn’t feel that at the time.

(I’m caught up in the past).

I’m sleepy.

It’s dark.

Drooping eyelids.

Tired mind.

Beep! Beep!

It’s my watch.

I hold it up to my sister’s bed.

No response.

There’s the bell.

There are the stars.

I take my place, kneel, and bow.

Dawn/Terce

The sky has changed.

Still there are stars

But less.

The world is lightening.

I enter the house

And sit to write.

A division of self is the focus.

I wrestle with my identity.

I cannot be both at once!

Must I deny one for the other?

Insight.

No.

There are far greater things in store.

Redemption. Change. Transformation.

To what?

The real self,

That was already plucked from danger

And placed in the basket.

A journey of two gains a third companion.

The weight lifts

And I understand those lines of hope;

I experience them.

But this do I call to mind,

Therefore I have hope:

The kindness of the LORD has not ended,

His mercies are not spent.

They are renewed every morning—

Ample is your grace!

“The LORD is my portion,”

I say with full heart;

Therefore will I hope in Him.

I find myself outside.

I am walking, bouncing,

Hardly able to contain the joy within.

Nor do I want to.

Freely and gladly do I express my glee

To the sky,

To the trees,

To the rising sun.

I walk to the East

In excited anticipation

Of the world within

And the world without.

As the dawn breaks

I make my way back.

To the ringing of the bells

I enter the chapel,

Find a place, kneel, and bow.

Requiem Mass

“Today’s reading is from the Lamentations.”

I sit agape.

“Your mercies…new…morning…”

A double confirmation.

As if I even needed one.

Amazed.

I am amazed.

Going to the front,

I anticipate this holy meal.

We give each other the sign of peace.

“And also with you.”

“Peace be with you.”

“The body of Jesus,

The Bread of heaven.”

Amen.

“The blood of Christ,

Shed for you.”

Amen.

A mouthful of warmth

Courses through my whole body.

The wine strikes me in a way

To which I am unaccustomed.

We return to our seats.

The mass concludes.

We walk to the house,

Take seats at the table,

Give thanks,

And partake of the feast.

A Thought

A thought occurred to me as I was reading through some old posts. If I changed the template settings, would anyone notice? John, if you don't like this you can always change it back. But, like I said, I'm bored and I don't really think anyone checks the blog that much anyway.

Emily

Predestination Part I

Predestination

I

I believe in predestination, but I have found that many people do not. I did not believe in it at first, but after some discussion with my brother, he was able to convince me. That was two years ago, and by now many of our friends who previously had not believed in predestination now do.

It seems to me that the primary reason that people do not believe in predestination is the idea that if we are all predestined, then we must not have free will. However, I am going to explain how we can have both predestination and free will.

God created Adam and Eve with free will. He gave them the option of living freely in the garden, with only one restriction: they were not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve exercised their free will by eating the fruit of that tree. This one sin, of course, caused the fall of man. Four thousand or so years ago, God sent his son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, God offered his grace to the entire world. However, in his omniscience, he knew that not all of the world would accept his gift of grace. He knew, as well, exactly which people would accept his gift of grace.

God prepares people to accept his gift in various ways. He provides people in their lives who have already accepted God’s gift of grace. He shows them miracles and signs, that his glory may be revealed through them. It is when God opens their eyes to the truth that they accept his gift of grace. Then they begin to understand the importance of the people in their lives who were willing to tell them of God’s grace as well as the reason for the signs and miracles that they witnessed before they became Christians.

It is important, though, that we remember to live lives of faith. Yes, God’s grace does cover all of our sins. But that does not mean that we should go on sinning in the same manner as we did before we accepted Jesus Christ as our savior. If we accept God’s grace, we must show our acceptance with faith, which means doing good works.

Carrying out good works is how we display our faith in God and our acceptance of his grace. We must remember the proper order. Grace comes first, then works, not the other way around. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV).

When James says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” he does not mean that one cannot be saved without works (James 2:17). He means that faith without works is not a living, active faith. True faith is followed up with works. This is simple logic. When we believe in something, we act on those beliefs. If one were to say, “To make money, I need to get a job,” would it make sense, then, for him not to get a job? If he wants money and believes that without a job he cannot get money, the obvious choice would be to get a job.

Without acting on our faith through works, how can we glorify God and point others to the gift of grace through Jesus Christ, his son? God opens our eyes so that we will accept his grace and live the rest of our lives to glorify him. In this way we can fulfill the Great Commission and lead others to Christ. We, ourselves, can become the ones that God uses to help prepare people to accept the gift of grace.

Predestination and free will are not mutually exclusive. God has known since before he created the world which ones of us would accept his free gift of salvation. Because of this knowledge, he prepares us before he opens our eyes to the truth of his gift so that we may have the understanding necessary to live our lives in devotion to Jesus Christ.

Una Poema

To College, a Sestina

There’s nothing better than to go to school
everyone says, “you need an education to make it in life”
it’s all about making money
supporting yourself, because the future is no party
I don’t want to be poor
when I’m no longer a student

Isn’t it great being a student?
three, four, ten more years in school
with all this tuition, how can I not be poor?
I might be in debt for the rest of my life
but at least now I get to (soberly) party
I really wish I had some money!

I need some toothpaste, but I have no money.
personal hygiene is forgotten when you’re a student
some return and vomit all night after a crazy party
but I stay in and study so I don’t fail out of school
and I stay sober so I can remember life
besides, I don’t have quarters to wash my clothes ‘cause I’m still poor

But then who isn’t poor?
Does anyone in college have money?
Maybe people drink so they can forget the hardships of life
but is life so hard as a student,
protected by the familiarity of school?
It may be hard now, but like I said, the future is no party

I’ve never been to the casino or a drunken party
I’d rather not come back feeling poor-
ly like some of the other kids in school
and I’d rather not go to a place that consumes my money
after all, I am an impoverished student
besides, I have a life

Someday I’ll decide what I want to do in life
but this weekend I’ll just have a movie party
and continue being a directionless student
so what that I’m poor
to have a good time, I don’t need any money
although I guess I do to stay in school

Anyway, life isn’t all about having money
school is a party if we choose to have fun
I’ll always be a poor college student at heart.

Cogito ergo sum

So I've been thinking a little lately about what it means to live without regrets. What is the difference between shame and regret? Why do people insist that we must live life without regrets? Is that possible? I've come up with a few conclusions of my own, but I'm curious as to what you all (or whoever still checks this) think.