Month: September 2011

Life

Where are the Cute Scrubs?

Karen

I bought my scrubs today.

Even though there are some pretty cute (that may be an oxymoron because scrubs in general really aren’t “cute”) scrubs out there, I had to stick with the brand/style that my office wears.

I’m modeling the “wine” color. I also bought olive, eggplant purple (favorite), teal, and lavender (least favorite). I asked for long pants, given my height, but when I tried them on at home, they drag the floor. So I’m going to have to take two of them back tomorrow and exchange them.

They weren’t as expensive as I thought they might be. I bought one set of each color and may buy more in later weeks, but for now, this should do me for a while. I’m waiting to remove the tags until my orientation next week. Even though I’m not anticipating any hiring problems, I’d still like to play it safe until I know for sure.

I think they look pretty dorky, if you want the truth. And they’re not as comfortable as I thought they might be. In fact, they’re pretty stiff. But I haven’t washed them yet so … they’ll probably be more comfortable after I wash them.

I hope they don’t shrink.

Abundant Life

Teaching: Where was God on September 11, 2001?

Karen

Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.

If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.

Let’s get started:

With the release of a new movie on 9/11, we will once again see the horrible images that are burned into our collective consciousness. And, concurrently, many people will again ask the same questions, like the one above, that they asked years ago in an attempt to make some sense out of this indescribable tragedy.

How sad that such questions will continue to remain unanswered because most people in the world lack true knowledge about the Word of God. Rather than let Him speak for Himself by reading and properly understanding the Bible, far too many well-meaning people, Christians included, will venture their own groundless opinions about the critical issue of God’s relationship to evil. Even sincere and loving Christian leaders, called upon for some spiritual explanation by those still grieving, can say only what they have been taught, and the traditional responses to which they are shackled will bring little comfort.

Some will mention “evil,” but fail to mention the Devil (Hey—just add a “D”). Thankfully, some Christian leaders will tell the truth that it was Satan who is ultimately responsible for this unspeakable evil, but the majority of dear people asking questions will be left with the false idea that God allowed it to happen as part of His overall will. It is very hard to see how that idea will enhance either their love for or their faith in our heavenly Father. In fact, it will no doubt turn many away from His outstretched heart, wherein lies their only hope for truth, which is the only basis for genuine comfort, strength, and hope.

Americans inundated by postmodernism’s “truth” that “there is no such thing as truth” are stuck between a rock – “no standard for right and wrong beyond the mind of man” – and a hard place – their visceral knowing that what happened on September 11 was wrong. What standard can we use to evaluate Osama Bin Laden’s assertion, which he bases upon the words of the Koran, his source of “truth,” that what happened was the will of Allah? We can, and must, use the God-breathed revelation from the Creator of life. And what is the chief difference between the Bible and every other document purported to be the Word of God? The rock, Jesus Christ, who went through a hard place, the world.

Where was God on September 11, 2001? His answer to that question, taken from His own Word, is: “I was right there looking on in great pain, and unable to stop those planes from crashing into those buildings.” Yes, we have by now heard countless stories of how He worked in a myriad of ways to keep people away from the Twin Towers that day, and to save as many as He could who were there, but He could not stop those planes from hitting the Towers.

You may be thinking, “What? He’s God! He can do anything He wants to do.” If so, you are contradicting what He says in the Bible. No doubt those who believe that well worn lie do so because of misguided Christian teachers who continue to propound the fallacy that “God is in control,” and that whatever happens is somehow in line with His will. Apparently Jesus did not understand that, however, because he encouraged us to pray that “the will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Why should we pray that if everything that happens is God’s will? Good question.

How do we know that God could not stop those planes? Because He did not. The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8), which means it is impossible for Him to do anything that is not loving. Is it loving to “allow” (that is, be able to stop something from happening but choose not to) thousands of innocent people to be killed? No. Okay, then we know that God didn’t allow it, and since He sure didn’t cause it, that means He couldn’t stop it.

That certainly brings up the question: Why couldn’t He stop it? And the biblical answer is: He did not have enough human cooperation. Hey, did God stop Goliath? Did He stop the 850 prophets of Baal? Did He stop a number of Old Testament armies bent on destroying Israel? Totally–because David, Elijah, and other people stepped up and did their part. And will God one day stop the Devil, as in crush his ugly head? Absolutely. Why? Because Jesus Christ stepped up like no other man and perfectly cooperated with God, all the way to the Cross.

Jesus Christ is the subject of Scripture from Genesis 3:15 to the last page of the book of Revelation, and what the Bible says about him is either true or false. Scripture, history and the human experience of those who trust him combine to prove that he is the crux of history and the linchpin of life. Those who follow him must proclaim that the written Word of God found in the Bible is the only source of truth because it is the only book showing who Jesus Christ is and why he is man’s only Savior from sin and death.

Scripture says that Jesus Christ is also the only valid “image of the invisible God.” As such, it is he who most vividly shows us God’s heart. Jesus Christ is the key to our understanding that God is not in control of everything that happens; that God’s will does not always happen; that God never causes or “allows” evil; that God gave free will to all men; that God weeps with us in our trauma and sorrow; and that He is there to comfort us.

What happened September 11 should make clear to all men that we live in a perpetual war zone. September 11 was a manifestation of the spiritual war raging between God and the Devil, and that war, fought on the earth between godly people and evil people, will go on until Jesus Christ comes back to the earth and wins it! Remember that it was his love for people that cost Jesus his life, because the Devil’s total hate could not coexist with such pure love.

What you have read so far may have raised many questions in your mind. Great! Because the Word of God has the answers. Here are some links for you to pursue your quest for truth and spiritual understanding. Enjoy.

*SIDE NOTE: Read (and watch) about the 9/11 memorial that is set to open to the public TODAY. Visiting the memorial is definitely on my bucket list.

If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about God’s wonderful message, please visit the Truth or Tradition website. You can also keep track of the ministry through their Facebook page, their YouTube Channel, or follow them on Twitter.

Thanks for reading.

(Comments have been turned off. The information is here to inform and bless you. God granted you the gift of free will – take it or leave it).

More from Write From Karen

Saturday Stuff

Lost Without Her

Karen

“Mother,” Sylvia sat gingerly on the bed. “I have a question. And before you say no, hear me out, okay?”

She cleared her throat. “I know I said I would never do it again, but I’ve …” she paused and took a breath. “… met someone. He’s very kind and really smart,” she hurriedly added. She sighed before continuing. “Mother, may I …”

“Sylvia,” a voice interrupted from the doorway. “You know mother is dead, right?”

Sylvia glared at her sister before leaning closer to her mother’s picture. She whispered conspiratorially, “don’t listen to her, she’s crazy. I know you can hear me.”

.

.

.

*************************

Write up to 100 words, fact or fiction….

This is a themed writing meme hosted by Jenny Matlock. The goal is to write something that does not exceed 100 words (not including said prompt). The prompt is in italics.

Politics

One of the Lessons of 9-11 is That Evil is Real and So is Courage

Karen

George W. Bush Flight 93 Memorial Speech, September 10, 2011

And may I just point out … do you see how Bush ignores the teleprompters entirely and sticks to reading his speech old school style? Do you see how he looks up from his speech and looks out at the crowd with kindness and compassion? Do you hear how he speaks TO the audience and not AT the audience?

This is what makes a great public speaker.

Obama does none of these things. When he speaks, his nose is up in the air, he’s focused on the teleprompters and he rarely looks at the people he’s addressing. The rare times he looks at the audience, his demeanor is defiant and arrogant.

It’s insulting.

I just wanted to bring this to your attention. Let’s make sure our next president is FOR the people and not AGAINST the people.

Deal?

And one last thing, NEVER FORGET September 11, 2001.

NEVER FORGET that evil is real.

Work Stuff

Gainfully Employed

Karen

But who is gainfully employed, you ask?

ME!

That’s right, friends, I have jumped back into the working pool. I was interviewed for the job yesterday and she called me yesterday afternoon to tell me I had the job.

I can’t go into details, obviously, but I can tell you that I’m now working in a doctor’s office.

I KNOW!!

My title is “scheduler” and I’m in charge of making sure people are referred to the right places and to take care of patients who come in. I will be working with three other gals (though I will also be directly communicating with about seven doctors and their nurses and PA’s, too!) and I couldn’t be more excited about this. It’s a challenging position and requires quick thinking and good communication. Since I thrive in that environment, I say, BRING IT ON!!

The woman who interviewed me is SUPER NICE and we hit it off immediately. I wasn’t too sure about this position when I first went in to interview. I had a general idea of what I thought the job would be, but when she explained it to me I got excited because it really sounds fun. I’ll be super busy and I love jobs where I’m busy all day long. I feel productive and on top of my game.

I went in this morning and filled out some preliminary paperwork and was taken around the facility to meet everyone. The facility has a basement, which I wasn’t aware of, so suffice it to say, this place is HUGE and WOW, so many people! I quickly felt overwhelmed, but everyone was so nice and I really felt like I could fit in.

After I left, I went and got my drug test taken care of and then came up to the office to give Kevin and Dude the good news. I have a stack of papers to fill out to have ready to go when I go to orientation on September 19th. I have two days of orientation and then I will start my first day at the facility on Wednesday, September 21st.

But the best part of this? (Though it’s really only icing on the cake because I really think I’m going to like what I’m doing) is that I GET TO WEAR SCRUBS!!!!!!!!!!

*SQUEE!!!!*

I’m insanely excited about that. I know that sounds lame, but I’ve always thought scrubs were ‘da bomb and I can’t wait to wear them. It’ll be like working in my pajamas!!

The office wears certain colors certain days, so I will be going to a place that sells scrubs this next week to buy what I need. My boss said to tell them where I’ll be working and they would know what sort of stuff I would need.

Here are the colors:

Monday is olive
Tuesday is eggplant purple (FAVORITE COLOR)
Wednesday is teal
Thursday is lavender
Friday is wine

I’ll be working 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday, which is PERFECT, because I’ll have my Saturdays off to go to Jazz’s band competitions next month.

I can’t wait to buy the scrubs. I’ll take pictures, of course. 😀

When I had my drug test, they made an appointment for me for a general checkup. They said it was standard practice for all employees, so I will go in on October 10th and have that done. I’m sort of nervous about that actually because I haven’t been to the doctor for a general checkup in … gosh, probably not since the boys were born.

I’ll try and write about my experiences as much as I can, but it will be limited and generic, of course.

I have no idea how often I will be updating this blog, but I want to keep a record of what’s going on, so I’ll try and get to it as much as I can. I have 30 minutes for lunch, which means I’ll be taking my lunches and eating in the break room. I plan on taking my laptop with me to stay on top of emails. (They have free Wi-Fi at the office).

I still plan on maintaining websites while I work. So, in essence, I will have two jobs. I will catch up on emails when I get home every night. In short, I’m going to be busy and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve already told Kevin that he’s going to have to be Mr. Mom now. I won’t have the flexibility to drop what I’m doing and take care of the family now. He says he’s more than ready to take on that role.

I can’t believe all of this happened in just two days. I’ve been looking for a job now for quite a few months, but this is only the second one I actually applied for. I’m really surprised they gave me the chance considering I don’t have any medical experience to speak of.

But I suppose we all have to start somewhere, right?

I seriously see myself working in this industry for the next 30 years. There are so many opportunities that it makes my head spin. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find some way to utilize my technical writing degree.

I can’t wait for September 19th to get here!