So my family loves to watch movies. It's kind of almost a weekly, or at least monthly, thing for us. We order pizza, kick back in the den, and watch a movie on our super cool big TV with the surround sound blaring (of course my dad claims it's MUCH louder in the movie theater, but I have to say it gets pretty loud in our house when we crank up that surround sound).
Anyway, so tonight was a movie night for the Bruces. We decided to watch National Treasure. One of my all time favorites. It's not only a great adventure movie, but a very historically accurate movie as well. Of course the whole story is fiction, but the way they incorporated so many accurate historical facts to make the story and the treasure seem believeable is just phenomenal.
I think one of the reasons I've begun to love these historic types of movies is because of taking AP History with Mrs. Maddox. I was never really that crazy about history but I definitely liked learning about American history facts more than I did world history facts, so I decided to take Mrs. Maddox's class for that reason (plus getting some advice from older friends that it was worth it). The way Mrs. Maddox taught history made me love it. She always talked about how the study of history isn't just the study of facts. It is the study of how historical events happened, what could have gone differently if those events hadn't happened, and how those events changed the world from then on.
After taking a class like that and really processing every thing that the people who founded this nation went through, plus by watching movies such as National Treasure that really bring that history to life, I have to wonder...what have we done? Would the Founding Fathers really be proud of what has become of this nation? Or would they look at us and say, "What have you done here?" And then I wonder...is God proud of what we're doing here? The nation that was originally founded to be a "city on a hill", according to John Winthrop, has become...what exactly?
This past week for my AP Government class I read Federalist Paper No. 51, written by James Madison, and was moved by this very powerful line in the letter. Madison wrote, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Madison wrote this letter as a response to the Anti-Federalist argument that the new Constitution was not necessary (which it definitely was...) and he did so by stating this simple fact: we are not perfect and therefore we must be governed properly. The nation was not holding up under the Articles of Confederation and it was very clear that a new government system needed to be set up. (sorry if I'm losing those of you who don't care too much for history...) But basically I was just amazed by this statement. Madison realized that human beings by nature are not perfect and therefore must be governed. Also, since men are governed by men, the government must be given the right amount of power so that they do not abuse their power because by naturally selfish tendencies, the government would seek the most selfish solutions possible in their governing without the right controls.
I believe the Founding Fathers really got it. They understood what it meant to be given responsibility and do with it what was necessary. And that is why I admire them.
One thing I know I'm thankful for is that we can learn from history, whether the history we learn from is good or bad, and can continue to work towards positive change for the future. History is always in the making.
Sorry this blog post has been so scatter-brained, I can't really piece together what I'm trying to say so I just kind of threw it all out there. Make of it what you will. After all, interpreting someone's writing is usually more fun than just reading it.
-------------------
"Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of all free government, but of social felicity under all governments and in all the combinations of human society." -John Adams
"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation." - John Adams
"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have...a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean the character and conduct of their rulers." - John Adams
"By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty." - Samuel Chase
"It is the duty of mankind on all suitable occasions to acknowledge their dependence on the Divine Being... [that] Almighty God would mercifully interpose and still the rage of war among the nations...[and that] He would take this province under his protection, confound the designs and defeat the attempts of its enemies, and unite our hearts and strengthen our hands in every undertaking that may be for the public good, and for our defense and security in this time of danger." - Benjamin Franklin
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson
"The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His Word in his greatest darkness, a lantern to his feet and a lamp unto his paths.' He will therefore seek to establish for his country in the eyes of the world, such a character as shall make her not unworthy of the name of a Christian nation...." - Francis Scott Key
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." - George Washington
"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed....No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people." -Noah Webster
"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Where, some say, is the king of America? I'll tell you, friend, He reigns above." - Thomas Paine
Grace and Peace.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
tribute to Disney
I've been meaning to write this post for quite some time because thoughts about what to write for this have been on my mind for a while, but I just haven't had the time to write it until now. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to write this blog because I want to give credit where credit is due and make sure I say everything I need to say without rushing or messing anything up.
That being said, now that you think I'm going to write about something important and mind-boggling, I want to talk about how incredible Disney is. (not joking).
This past Monday, we were out of school because of bad weather and I was stuck at home working on some homework. Not the most fun thing ever. I began to get a headache and was having trouble focusing, so I decided to pop in a classic Disney movie. I went with Mulan since it's all about girl power and has some of the best music ever (such as I'll Make a Man Out Of You). It's times like these when I realize just how incredible Disney is (talking about the one and only Walt Disney himself and his company). It's something that you can't really describe, because frankly it's just magic, but the way they can tell a story and make you feel like you're really there, it's just...incredible. One of the things I love most about Disney is the music. Oh, the beautiful music. Every time I listen to "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," I get goosebumps. Of course that happens to me with several indescribably wonderful pieces of music, but no matter how many times I listen to a good Disney song, this happens. Honestly, there is no way for me to explain just how many great things Walt Disney has done because this blog would be too long to read and I would rant so ridiculously much that you may start to lose me. When I start talking about something I love, I tend to go into a little world of my own where my imagination roams free. But I will add this one little fact that I love....Walt Disney is afraid of mice. It's true. Some of you reading this may have known that, but I think it's just so cool. I think this is a sign of pure genius. Taking something that scares you and turning it into something magical and fun. And I believe this is a lesson that everyone can use throughout life. No matter how old you get, you will always be afraid of something. And the best way to conquer these fears is by making the most of it. Looking fear right in the face and saying, "HA. Nice try." Also, it's better if you realize that you don't really ever have to grow up. Not really. As long as you love and believe in the magic of imagination deep down in your heart.
Here are some quotes, just for the fun of it.
"Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language." -Walt Disney
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney
Cinderella: "Oh, no. No, it isn't true. It's just no use. No use at all. I can't believe. Not anymore. There's nothing left to believe. Not anymore."
Fairy Godmother: "Nothing, my dear? Oh, now you don't really mean that."
Cinderella: "Oh, but I do..."
Fairy Godmother: "Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am."
"Listen with your heart. You will understand." -Pocahontas
"Oh, yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it or learn from it." -Rafiki, The Lion King
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." -The Emporer, Mulan
Wendy: "But Peter, how do we get to Neverland?"
Peter: "Fly, of course!"
Wendy: "Fly?"
Peter: "It's easy! All you have to do is to....is to....is to....Ha! That's funny."
Wendy: "What's the matter? Don't you know?"
Peter: "Oh, sure. It's just that I've never thought about it before...Say, that's it! You think of a wonderful thought!"
"What do you do when things go wrong? Oh! You sing a song!" -Snow White
Belle: "Gaston, may I have my book back please?"
Gaston: "How can you read this? There's no pictures!"
Belle: "Well some people use their imaginations."
Mr. Banks: "Just a moment, Mary Poppins. What is the meaning of this outrage?"
Mary Poppins: "I beg your pardon?"
Mr. Banks: "Will you be good enough to explain all of this?
Mary Poppins: "First of all, I would like to make one thing perfectly clear."
Mr. Banks: "Yes?"
Mary Poppins: "I never explain anything."
"What did I tell ya? There's the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps." -Bert, Mary Poppins
Mr. Banks: "These silly words like...Superca....Supercal...Supercali...."
Mary Poppins: "Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious."
Mr. Banks: "Yes, well done! You said it!"
"Even miracles take a little time." -Fairy Godmother, Cinderella
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney
"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." -Walt Disney
That being said, now that you think I'm going to write about something important and mind-boggling, I want to talk about how incredible Disney is. (not joking).
This past Monday, we were out of school because of bad weather and I was stuck at home working on some homework. Not the most fun thing ever. I began to get a headache and was having trouble focusing, so I decided to pop in a classic Disney movie. I went with Mulan since it's all about girl power and has some of the best music ever (such as I'll Make a Man Out Of You). It's times like these when I realize just how incredible Disney is (talking about the one and only Walt Disney himself and his company). It's something that you can't really describe, because frankly it's just magic, but the way they can tell a story and make you feel like you're really there, it's just...incredible. One of the things I love most about Disney is the music. Oh, the beautiful music. Every time I listen to "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," I get goosebumps. Of course that happens to me with several indescribably wonderful pieces of music, but no matter how many times I listen to a good Disney song, this happens. Honestly, there is no way for me to explain just how many great things Walt Disney has done because this blog would be too long to read and I would rant so ridiculously much that you may start to lose me. When I start talking about something I love, I tend to go into a little world of my own where my imagination roams free. But I will add this one little fact that I love....Walt Disney is afraid of mice. It's true. Some of you reading this may have known that, but I think it's just so cool. I think this is a sign of pure genius. Taking something that scares you and turning it into something magical and fun. And I believe this is a lesson that everyone can use throughout life. No matter how old you get, you will always be afraid of something. And the best way to conquer these fears is by making the most of it. Looking fear right in the face and saying, "HA. Nice try." Also, it's better if you realize that you don't really ever have to grow up. Not really. As long as you love and believe in the magic of imagination deep down in your heart.
Here are some quotes, just for the fun of it.
"Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language." -Walt Disney
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney
Cinderella: "Oh, no. No, it isn't true. It's just no use. No use at all. I can't believe. Not anymore. There's nothing left to believe. Not anymore."
Fairy Godmother: "Nothing, my dear? Oh, now you don't really mean that."
Cinderella: "Oh, but I do..."
Fairy Godmother: "Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am."
"Listen with your heart. You will understand." -Pocahontas
"Oh, yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it or learn from it." -Rafiki, The Lion King
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." -The Emporer, Mulan
Wendy: "But Peter, how do we get to Neverland?"
Peter: "Fly, of course!"
Wendy: "Fly?"
Peter: "It's easy! All you have to do is to....is to....is to....Ha! That's funny."
Wendy: "What's the matter? Don't you know?"
Peter: "Oh, sure. It's just that I've never thought about it before...Say, that's it! You think of a wonderful thought!"
"What do you do when things go wrong? Oh! You sing a song!" -Snow White
Belle: "Gaston, may I have my book back please?"
Gaston: "How can you read this? There's no pictures!"
Belle: "Well some people use their imaginations."
Mr. Banks: "Just a moment, Mary Poppins. What is the meaning of this outrage?"
Mary Poppins: "I beg your pardon?"
Mr. Banks: "Will you be good enough to explain all of this?
Mary Poppins: "First of all, I would like to make one thing perfectly clear."
Mr. Banks: "Yes?"
Mary Poppins: "I never explain anything."
"What did I tell ya? There's the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps." -Bert, Mary Poppins
Mr. Banks: "These silly words like...Superca....Supercal...Supercali...."
Mary Poppins: "Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious."
Mr. Banks: "Yes, well done! You said it!"
"Even miracles take a little time." -Fairy Godmother, Cinderella
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney
"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." -Walt Disney
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
random thoughts from snow days
Well, it's been a while since I last wrote a blog post, so I guess I should go ahead and update it.
So I've been enjoying these extra surprise days off of school due to the "blizzard"...very nice! I'm guessing it's pretty sad that I was already desperate for a break from school when we just had two weeks off for Christmas and we have next Monday off...but what can I say, I'm a senior, school gets rough, and I like catching up on sleep every once in a while :)
So...I don't really have anything extremely profound to say, since I just decided to write this as an update, sorry. I guess I'll just talk about how excited I am that I only have a semester left of high school and after that will be headed to the best university in the nation...Auburn!
Haha, seriously though, having these few days off to kind of take a breath and relax, and to watch Auburn win the national championship, have been SO wonderful for me and have definitely helped me remember that balance is always a good thing. Meaning that I've realized if I would stop stressing out about school so much, I may actually have time to just FOCUS on what I need to get done and finish SO much faster, and then have time to do more fun things, like watch a football game with my family, go out with friends, watch a good old classic Disney movie, or even have a longer quiet time (if I could stop doing my homework in the mornings before school and finish it at night like I really should be able to do...). One thing that really hasn't hit me HARD until the past few semesters of my high school career is that life is tough and stressing out about it doesn't make it ANY better. For instance, I took AP History my sophmore and junior year and I continually let myself stress out, even though I knew I would finish my work (even if it meant staying up late and drinking lots of coffee) and I knew that it would all be over soon enough. Still, I was so set on trying to make sure I worked out everything and had control over what I was doing...I was missing the point!!!! This stuff is supposed to be hard (in fact, impossible at times) for me to do on my own, which is why God is constantly having to come back and tap me on the shoulder, clear his throat and say, "Ehem, that's my job. Would you please let me take care of it? Don't worry, you'll help." As I've begun to realize this and calm down about things that I know he will take care of, I've had less headaches over school, less stress...everything. I mean I definitely try to control things every day and have to constantly remind myself to chill out, but knowing that God is going to take care of everything is hands-down the only thing that I know will ever get me through anything in life. And I'm so thankful to know that.
Sorry that was about the most random string of thoughts I've put together, but hey....that's how I write.
I'll close with a verse, since that's kind of become my thing for these blog posts. This verse is one that I memorized with my Core Group once. It has been on a notecard on my mirror for the past two years and is a constant reminder to me to chill out and let God give me the peace I need to accomplish the goals that not only I have for myself, but also the goals that He has for me.
*"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7*
Grace and Peace.
So I've been enjoying these extra surprise days off of school due to the "blizzard"...very nice! I'm guessing it's pretty sad that I was already desperate for a break from school when we just had two weeks off for Christmas and we have next Monday off...but what can I say, I'm a senior, school gets rough, and I like catching up on sleep every once in a while :)
So...I don't really have anything extremely profound to say, since I just decided to write this as an update, sorry. I guess I'll just talk about how excited I am that I only have a semester left of high school and after that will be headed to the best university in the nation...Auburn!
Haha, seriously though, having these few days off to kind of take a breath and relax, and to watch Auburn win the national championship, have been SO wonderful for me and have definitely helped me remember that balance is always a good thing. Meaning that I've realized if I would stop stressing out about school so much, I may actually have time to just FOCUS on what I need to get done and finish SO much faster, and then have time to do more fun things, like watch a football game with my family, go out with friends, watch a good old classic Disney movie, or even have a longer quiet time (if I could stop doing my homework in the mornings before school and finish it at night like I really should be able to do...). One thing that really hasn't hit me HARD until the past few semesters of my high school career is that life is tough and stressing out about it doesn't make it ANY better. For instance, I took AP History my sophmore and junior year and I continually let myself stress out, even though I knew I would finish my work (even if it meant staying up late and drinking lots of coffee) and I knew that it would all be over soon enough. Still, I was so set on trying to make sure I worked out everything and had control over what I was doing...I was missing the point!!!! This stuff is supposed to be hard (in fact, impossible at times) for me to do on my own, which is why God is constantly having to come back and tap me on the shoulder, clear his throat and say, "Ehem, that's my job. Would you please let me take care of it? Don't worry, you'll help." As I've begun to realize this and calm down about things that I know he will take care of, I've had less headaches over school, less stress...everything. I mean I definitely try to control things every day and have to constantly remind myself to chill out, but knowing that God is going to take care of everything is hands-down the only thing that I know will ever get me through anything in life. And I'm so thankful to know that.
Sorry that was about the most random string of thoughts I've put together, but hey....that's how I write.
I'll close with a verse, since that's kind of become my thing for these blog posts. This verse is one that I memorized with my Core Group once. It has been on a notecard on my mirror for the past two years and is a constant reminder to me to chill out and let God give me the peace I need to accomplish the goals that not only I have for myself, but also the goals that He has for me.
*"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7*
Grace and Peace.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
define epiphany
I just had one of those moments where my brain thinks "epiphany." Just to be sure that this is really what I was experiencing, I decided to look up the definition of epiphany. According to the Google Dictionary (oh, I always "google" it.. google being a verb, naturally), the definition of epiphany is "the sudden realization or comprehension of the larger essence of something." Why, yes, I would say that is EXACTLY what I just experienced.
In case you don't know too much about me, I'm a senior this year and will be headed to Auburn in the fall. My plan as of a few moments ago was to major in Nursing. I can't necessarily say I was 100% sure about that at any point in time, but I did spend major (whoops...pun intended) amounts of time praying about whether or not this was God's plan for my life. I love helping people, and I feel like I would really enjoy getting to help people get well. But I also have many other traits and interests that have influenced my thoughts about majors in the past, but I kind of decided to do away with. For instance, I LOVE English. Seriously. Anyone who knows me well can back me up that I am a book worm, a spelling and grammar freak, and enjoy writing (for the most part...I'm not going to lie and say that I've enjoyed EVERY paper I've had to write for school). So a while back, I had considered majoring in English. I think I began to consider what a major in English would lead to in a career and all I could think of was an English teacher. And I just really can't see myself being an English teacher. I don't enjoy speaking in front of people unless I REALLY know them and I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable actually teaching classes. I mean maybe that is something to still consider, I don't know. But as I was sitting here a few moments ago, reading a short story for my AP Literature class, I was making notes in the margins of the story and I stopped for a moment. I realized something. I really love doing this. I love reading a story, looking for the deeper meaning, making notes about the possibilities of what the author could be trying to tell the reader, all of it. It's something that I could see myself doing. I immediately stopped and began to pray that God would give me the wisdom to realize whether or not this was really something I needed to reconsider. I will still be praying about this for a while (probably until I graduate college...and I would be happy if you would pray for me as well) because I want to be sure that whatever I do...college major, career, life goals...always has God's will at the center. Always.
So what if I'm one of those people who changes majors in college (which I never wanted to be). If that's what God wants for me, so that I can learn why He doesn't want me to do one thing and why He does want me to do another, then I am completely alright with that.
I just wanted to share this because I feel like often times a really small thought can become an epiphany moment if you allowed God to really lay some thoughts on your heart. If you would just pause and listen. So I hope this is an encouragement to you that God can speak to you, even (and especially) when you're not expecting it. And if you just take a moment to listen, it can change your life.
*"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does....Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:6-8,12*
Grace and Peace.
In case you don't know too much about me, I'm a senior this year and will be headed to Auburn in the fall. My plan as of a few moments ago was to major in Nursing. I can't necessarily say I was 100% sure about that at any point in time, but I did spend major (whoops...pun intended) amounts of time praying about whether or not this was God's plan for my life. I love helping people, and I feel like I would really enjoy getting to help people get well. But I also have many other traits and interests that have influenced my thoughts about majors in the past, but I kind of decided to do away with. For instance, I LOVE English. Seriously. Anyone who knows me well can back me up that I am a book worm, a spelling and grammar freak, and enjoy writing (for the most part...I'm not going to lie and say that I've enjoyed EVERY paper I've had to write for school). So a while back, I had considered majoring in English. I think I began to consider what a major in English would lead to in a career and all I could think of was an English teacher. And I just really can't see myself being an English teacher. I don't enjoy speaking in front of people unless I REALLY know them and I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable actually teaching classes. I mean maybe that is something to still consider, I don't know. But as I was sitting here a few moments ago, reading a short story for my AP Literature class, I was making notes in the margins of the story and I stopped for a moment. I realized something. I really love doing this. I love reading a story, looking for the deeper meaning, making notes about the possibilities of what the author could be trying to tell the reader, all of it. It's something that I could see myself doing. I immediately stopped and began to pray that God would give me the wisdom to realize whether or not this was really something I needed to reconsider. I will still be praying about this for a while (probably until I graduate college...and I would be happy if you would pray for me as well) because I want to be sure that whatever I do...college major, career, life goals...always has God's will at the center. Always.
So what if I'm one of those people who changes majors in college (which I never wanted to be). If that's what God wants for me, so that I can learn why He doesn't want me to do one thing and why He does want me to do another, then I am completely alright with that.
I just wanted to share this because I feel like often times a really small thought can become an epiphany moment if you allowed God to really lay some thoughts on your heart. If you would just pause and listen. So I hope this is an encouragement to you that God can speak to you, even (and especially) when you're not expecting it. And if you just take a moment to listen, it can change your life.
*"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does....Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:6-8,12*
Grace and Peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)