For the love of Christ constraineth us: because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
II Corinthians 5:14-21
Monday, January 24, 2011
Well it is a Book, isn't it?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Not a book, a poem
Thought certain of you (Jo) would find this amusing. This is from my Kipling book Jo gave me awhile ago. Love Kipling's Just So stories and his "If" poem. I have a copy of Kim but have never read it.
The Female of the Species
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it as he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail,
For the female of the species in more deadly than he male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
T'was the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husband, each confirms the other's tale -
the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations-worm and savage otherwise,-
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger! Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with and issue - to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity - must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions - not in these her honour dwells.
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate!
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim,
Her right as femme (and Baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions- in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!-
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges - even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes and poisons - even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish - like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice - which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern - shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
: ) Hey, it's true, unflattering as it is.
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it as he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail,
For the female of the species in more deadly than he male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
T'was the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husband, each confirms the other's tale -
the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations-worm and savage otherwise,-
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger! Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with and issue - to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity - must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions - not in these her honour dwells.
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate!
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim,
Her right as femme (and Baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions- in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!-
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges - even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes and poisons - even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish - like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice - which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern - shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
: ) Hey, it's true, unflattering as it is.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Switch
Since it seems like the book review thing is not progressing I thought I'd post some movie reviews. They are both based on books that I have read so it kind of counts as a book review...... sort of. Just got finished watching the Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. Even though both of the main actors can not act and Keira Knightley never for a moment lets you forget that she is Keira Knightley, I find myself liking this movie a lot. Of course you can't for a second think "Colin Firth" or the whole thing comes tumbling down, but the filming is beautiful. Love the directing, the filming, the camera angles, the music, occasionally even the characters. Keira Knightley does exert her self once or twice such as the scene where she is begging her father not to let Lydia go to Brighton, which I find a little amusing seeing as the actresses moral standing doesn't exactly fit with the scene, the acting must have been very good to come across so concerned. Love the camera shots during the dance. There is one really long take going through the whole house with no breaks. It's like your there walking around with everyone else. And I love the shot where she is on the swing after Charlotte tells her is going to marry the cousin. And I love the second proposal scene, sorry can't help it.
" You have bewitched me, body and soul."
What's up with the Narnia movies ending on such downers??? Loved the first movie and thought everything in it was perfect. Loved Prince Caspian also until I watched it with a certain very serious someone who currently lives on the other side of the world in quest of martyrdom who pointed out all the flaws and American Hollywood insertions. Thanks a lot, certain someone, now I can't watch it without cringing!!! : ) Watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader this weekend (as a side note: What's so cool about 3D? It amazingly fuzzy and gives me a headache.) Was prepared for it to be a total flop after hearing all about it from Tobi, our resident movie and music critic, but it wasn't that bad. Of course it was not nearly as good as the book, and they sort of made up their own plot and forgot all about Lewis', but because of my low expectations it was very enjoyable. One thing bugged me. The sea serpent looked like something out of Pirate's not Narnian in the least. And would some one please tell me what the lighting was all about??? This is what happens when you let the special effects people have too much say. Edmund, Lucy, Caspian and Reepicheep were true to character and wonderful, and the ship was beautiful, and they did a very good job on the dragon. I've cried at every ending of these movies and this one was the worst knowing that they are probably not going to make another. When I read the books as a kid Narnia was real to me, so real that the thought of having to come back to the this world after being there was shattering. When Lucy closes that door I feel exactly the same way.
What's up with the Narnia movies ending on such downers??? Loved the first movie and thought everything in it was perfect. Loved Prince Caspian also until I watched it with a certain very serious someone who currently lives on the other side of the world in quest of martyrdom who pointed out all the flaws and American Hollywood insertions. Thanks a lot, certain someone, now I can't watch it without cringing!!! : ) Watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader this weekend (as a side note: What's so cool about 3D? It amazingly fuzzy and gives me a headache.) Was prepared for it to be a total flop after hearing all about it from Tobi, our resident movie and music critic, but it wasn't that bad. Of course it was not nearly as good as the book, and they sort of made up their own plot and forgot all about Lewis', but because of my low expectations it was very enjoyable. One thing bugged me. The sea serpent looked like something out of Pirate's not Narnian in the least. And would some one please tell me what the lighting was all about??? This is what happens when you let the special effects people have too much say. Edmund, Lucy, Caspian and Reepicheep were true to character and wonderful, and the ship was beautiful, and they did a very good job on the dragon. I've cried at every ending of these movies and this one was the worst knowing that they are probably not going to make another. When I read the books as a kid Narnia was real to me, so real that the thought of having to come back to the this world after being there was shattering. When Lucy closes that door I feel exactly the same way.
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