At 5:07, she says: "Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life; on man cometh unto the father but by me'. Do you believe this and do you think Islam is a way to salvation?"

Wright responds:  "Jesus also said 'Other sheep have I who are not of this fold."
Followed by about 20 seconds of applause, whooping, and hollering from the audience, as if they were at a sports event.

The "Rev" forgot to say the rest of the verse:

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.




Here's the deal:

If Jesus were not the only way to heaven, then God the father is a sick bastard.  If Jesus were not the only way, God would have been completely malevolent in allowing his Son to die.  Jesus asked if this cup could pass from him, if at all possible, his father would take it away from him.  Yet God still put him on the cross.  God killed his own Son!  Why in the world would God lie to Jesus?  Why would Jesus die if there was another way?  There is no other way.  Jesus is the Mr. Exclusive Christ.  Orthodox Christianity is the only way to heaven.  Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.  I know this will offend some people...but it's the truth.  God offers you this gift, and you won't find it anywhere else but in Jesus Christ. 

Reverend Wright is using Christ as the whipping boy for his racist, victim-mentality-ridden church.  Christ is the Lord of THE church.  Not the white church.  Not the black church.  Not the church of any country, race, political persuasion.  I read an awesome blog about this written by a sister in Christ, who also happens to be black.  You can find it here.  We need more level-headed thinkers like her as black Christians, so that the idiotic loud mouths like "Reverend" Wright, Jesse Jackson, etc.  You can read her awesome blog here.

I got the lead in a play!!

I know, you're thinking I do plays all the time...right?  But this is different.  This is a PLAY.  Not a musical... no singing involved.  Weird, huh?  This actually scares me more than any musical I've done.  Singing is what I'm most comfortable with, so relying only on my acting is really strange!  I hope this is going to really challenge me so that I can become a better all-around performer.  Also, this will keep me REALLY busy in June, around the time Andrew first leaves.  I think this is a blessing from God.  Yay!  I don't know when we start rehearsing, because My Fair Lady opens in a few weeks, and we have longer than usual in the schedule this time.  Only 3 more days of teaching, then I'm done for summer...life is moving so fast now.  Scary?  Exciting!

Something happened that made me mad today, too.  I was at school, teaching (as usual).  I went down to the cafeteria to the stage to make sure that some of my equipment was there for my recitals on Tuesday.  Some of my 8th grade girls were sitting at the end of one of the long tables, so I went over and started asking them some recital-related things.  The next thing I know, the assistant principal is standing there in my face, telling me the kids aren't allowed to talk right now.  I was...stunned.  I managed to get out ..."So...I'm not allowed to talk to them??"  She said "yes" and that I was welcomed to go sit down and wait for lunch to be over.  I was shocked...so I just sort of stood there for a few seconds till the bell rang and she walked off.  All my kids were looking at me with shocked looks on their faces.  I just wanted to cry.  I don't think the asst. principal knew I was a teacher...I had jeans on and a jacket covering my name-tag...and my hair back in a ponytail.  If I had it to do over again, I'd have said "Ma'am, I don't think I've met you yet.  I'm the voice teacher, and I'm here everyday teaching back in my little room." ...and then flashed her my badge.   In the next class, those girls told me they were so sorry she was rude to me and that they don't like her.  It was super-embarassing...to be treated like that in front of my students.  I didn't' pretend not to agree with them.

I'm back from the weekend.  The Loooonnng weekend. 

Most of it was spent driving and eating.  We'd stuff our faces, then get in the car and drive for about 4 hours on average.  So...it all went straight to my hips and butt.  Yeah, not happy about that. 

We went to: Stillwater, OK....Erick, OK (for 4 hours of sleep in a motel)...Plainview, TX...Lubbock, TX...Littlefield, TX...Abilene, TX....then back home.  It all went well, but I'm in serious need of some alone time.  Being an introvert will do that to you when you are around people for days in a row, no matter how nice they are.

And I'm obviously in need of some gym time.  But I have rehearsal tonight.  I wonder if Andrew can still hoist me up?  Hmm...we'll see.  I know what you are thinking..."what is a post without pictures?"  Well, I will not disappoint you...here you go!

The ceremony went really well.  There were 10 people commissioned.  Andrew spoke up the loudest out of all of them during the oath.   The Colonel who gave the address was really great.  He talked about basic leadership stuff, and then also talked about military spouses/girlfriends, etc...and said that was such an important job and that he couldn't have done it without his wife.  I really enjoyed hearing that!  Here is Andrew talking to him and his wife at the reception:



He gave Andrew a coin:
Apparently this is what people do in the Army.  I learn new stuff everyday.


The cake!
The pin on top is a "butter bar", which is what 2nd Lieutenants wear.  I got to pin one of his on, along with his parents.  There do exist pictures of that, but I obviously couldn't take any, because I was busy doing the pinning :)
So...you'll have to wait for those pics.


Me and Andrew with his official written commission:



I was very proud of him.  Doesn't he look handsome?

Plaza Theatre Company celebrated it's official first birthday...and the 17 shows they've done in the time they've been open last night.  Andrew and I went...here are pics!

Andrew wore his brand new uniform that he got for becoming a 2nd Lt.  He already is one, but his formal commissioning is on Friday in Oklahoma.

I think he's trying really hard not to smile...


I wore my grandmother's wedding rings that she left to my mother. 
I thought it was a sweet pic...with Andrew's hat.


Me and Daron!


And again with Steph...



Dancing with a soldier :)


Andrew and Eden:


There were the usual formalities...awards, volunteer guild things...door prizes, and performances from those shows.  I got to sing "I Heard Someone Crying" from The Secret Garden (remember back in October when we did that show?) with Greg and the two girls who played Mary.  I was so glad that Andrew got to see it!  I 'met' Andrew online on the very last night of The Secret Garden...so this was very special to me. 

It was a fun night!  And I won a basket full of awesome bath stuff!

Today just wasn't the best day.

As I said in my last post, my laptop sound stopped working yesterday.  Last night's rehearsal was stressful and frustrating...we worked really hard but it didn't feel like we got much done.  I know it will be better.  There was a massive storm last night, and lots of people went home during rehearsal. 

Andrew and I got in a tiff, which is normal and healthy.    I'm glad we have a real relationship where we can be ourselves and voice our hurts and frustrations instead of glossing things over.  I was way too emotional last night, and I'm feeling the residual emotional drain today.  I'm not too keen on my body today.  I have danced for three days in a row for a few hours a night, and today I weighed more than I have in like a year.  Ugh.  I know I shouldn't be obsessive, but I get like this under stress.  I need a massage, but I have no time.  I'm looking forward to school being out (for me) on May 13th.

But then there is the question of what my job will be.  I like teaching my kids.  I don't like the 45 minute drive.  I also don't like the fact that gas prices have gone up one dollar per gallon over the course of this school year, and no reprieve is in sight.  I can't see me paying $4.00 + per gallon to drive that far every single day.  There is no easy solution.  It's a lot to think about.

I really just am ready for a break.  I don't handle stress well, but I'm getting better.