30 December 2005

Post Holidays



Well I've had my schedule completely
filled up with out of town visitors lately.

25 December 2005

CHRISTMAS

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:


“ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.


“ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

CHRISTMAS EVE

Rebuilder got to spend Christmas Eve (and Christmas for that matter)
with people who were exactly family, werent exactly friends,
werent exactly from my church, and not with people from work.

24 December 2005

SPEAKING OF HURRICANES . . .

WILLOUGHBY SPIT

To get to Va Beach, one must traverse Norfolk. The map above shows where US-6O and I-64 cross the James River, and they enter the ocean View neighborhood on the little neck of land called Willoughby. Now that could be its own travelogue. But I'll just hit on my favorite spot in Norfolk: WILLOUGHBY SPIT


= = = This place was created by Hurricanes. = = =

this chart shows what happens if a storm surge hits this area. Strategically, the whole place could go away from a hurricane. Realistically it probably won't. But who knows. But many of the same arguments applied to New Orleans apply here. This place could flood on any given September. Its about 7 feet above sea level. Willoughby Spit took the longest to recover from Isabel in 2OO3.

The Origin of the Place:
1749 October 19 - Tremendous hurricane. A sand spit of 800 acres was washed up. and with the help of a hurricane in 1806 it became Willoughby Spit. The Bay rose 15 feet above normal.

Matthew 7:26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them,
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:


Big Plus: I didnt have to use Wikipedia for my data, either.

WINTERTIME at the SUMMER RESORT

VA BEACH

I had to go to Virginia Beach the other day on business. To the average man there isnt much more depressing than a beach town in the dead of winter. Here's pix of the empty cold sand, that stretches off into the distance like a highway leading to Gloomtown. Imagine a beach bum in a long winter coat. Imagine the swimsuit clerk in a big sweatshirt. Imagine the only tourists around are from like Nunavut, because to them, its warm here. Anyways the Egyptoid hates the cold time of this season. I feel like every winter I go through just takes another year off of my life. It doesnt depress me, because my peace resides of a surety, but that doesnt mean I have to celebrate like some do.


What business was I on in Va Beach? What did I have to do there I could not accomplish on the Va.Peninsula? What do they sell here that comes from no place else? There's plenty of boutiques near my residence. Its a secret, not necessarily related to Christmas, either.

EET EEZ the CHAMUL of CHRISTMAS !


People put up enough pix of lights
and trees and Santas.

Here's holiday memo- rabilia for ya:

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

Now I could have just included the Camel, that should bring on enough holiday cheer for anyone, but I am the Egyptoid, to I HAD TO pan left and include the sarcophagus. Just think how big a present you could wrap in that sucker!

16 December 2005

Merry Christmas. Who is the Real Reason for the Season?

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!!
If you say it like Tiny Tim, you've got it right.

No, not the guy with the ukulele.


If you have a safe Christmas,
and have had one for the past 60 years,
thank the USAF
okay they're not the only reason.

15 December 2005

JOB SEARCH


Lets face it: December is the worst part of the year in which to look for a new job. No one cares. They are all wrapped up (pardon ye punne) in buying presents, planning their plane tickets, buying their cranberry sauce and dodging fruitcakes. So how can my wonderful resume hope to float to the top of their stack? And their stack got so high because they were busy downloading carols from napster instead of doing their job. Thats just my opinon. I've got a hot resume, chock full of skills and brimming with experience.


The Rebuilder may actually do some Rebuilding. My group plans another trip to Slidell LA on January 13th. I should go even though I'm still keeping my eye on the Biloxi area. This would be anctual building trip, as opposed to the kitchen work.

But in Biloxi, there is no housing available there. Period. The place I talked to there about work said they might hire me, but it just didnt matter because they couldnt get me a place to live even if they wanted me. It doesnt matter how ready I am or they are, there's no place to live. I'm probably to blame since I havent done all the Rebuilding I should have.




The Lord should be my steering wheel, not just my spare tire.

12 December 2005

RAMBLING REBUILDER


Here's more of the garbage on Wikipedia.
WIKI PEDIA FOLLOW UP Wikipedia is a PUBLIC encyclopedia. That means: If I'm an expert on ancient fossilized scorpions, I can log in and write an article on them. But then later on some college boy with an attitude can come back on-line later, and re-write my article with his comic-book biology and his leftist agenda.

So quickly its chaos. for example, who writes the Wikipedia article on Islam? I'll bet its someone passionate on the subject, whether their passion involves agreement, disagreement, or clearing the air, they will write with fervor and intent. But since its a public forum, someone else is free to divert and rework their text. who has the last say? Whoever logs in lately?

Imagine all the topics people can be passionate about. Transubstantiation, Criminal Psychology, Universal Origins, Women, the Crusades, the Civil War (English or American?)
Now imagine 30 people arguing at equal volume on each topic.


Picture above shows an ancient scorpion. the sucker was 5 feet long. scientific name Hibbertopterus

10 December 2005

Aslan Isn't a Tame Lion, You Know.

Review of the LION the WITCH and the WARDROBE:
again, 5 out of 5 possible bricks.


I suppose I ought to change my scale. But here's the deal, I'm not going to see a movie blind. If I go to see a movie, its already got 3 bricks going for it, because I'm prejudiced about the content already. In other words, since I'm no WWF fan, no wrestling movies will be viewed. Therefore no 1 brick movies will probably ever get reviewed.

In the vast archives of ancient history, meaning the 10th grade, I devoured the series known as the CHRONICLES of NARNIA. It was a natural progression to come to (or go from) them to LORD of the RINGS. Here's the trip down memory lane:


I went with Zachary Starbucks to see the movie, since Miz Vikkie wasnt available. Of course the lazy bum hasnt posted his review yet. Okay now he has. During our discussion of the big flick, we had fun. I could recall 6 of the 7 book titles, and he only 3 of them. We both noticed the various dresses of the WHITE QUEEN JADIS. She had some nice costumes to be sure. I mean she was queen for a while. But she didnt show nearly enough cleavage. I only say that because in the MAGICIANS NEPHEW it makes such a big deal of what a hussy she was. And part of the discomfort for Edmund and Eustace is her charms. And these charms are in direct contract to her demeanor. Reminds me of someone. But I digress. The other thang Zach and I both saw was the head-dress she sported for the big battle.

Now this is patently a lions mane remade into dreadlocks. This is sinfully gorgeous of her to make such a garment. What a potent symbol to her minions. Probably gave her a warm rushy feeling to wear it around. so the argument with Zach and I was of course, did she do this in the book? or was it a hollywood invention? Either way its cool. If it was in the text, then the costume people did excellent research and interpretation. If it wasnt in the book, then the costume people performed an elegant leap of logic and made a fantastical connection from her "triumph" at the Stone Table to her perception of her self "post" Aslan. FANBOYS PROOF
So it took me about 5 seconds to find the reference. No it doesnt specifically describe her garb in the battle scenes.

Shouldnt I write a religious review of the film? Isnt that the big deal of it? You know the allegory? Yep and Nope. You have to read it or view it yourself. You have to decide for yourself with which character you most identify. And if you don't identify with any of the characters, why not?

07 December 2005

Reason Number 17 Not to Consult Wikipedia

Who wrote what you're reading?

I have no way to prove it, but I've been anti-Wiki
since I first heard of it. The only thing I trust from Wiki
sources is fan related items like the genealogy of Luke Skywalker
or the air speed of the Silver Surfer.

Who wrote what you're reading?
Even Wiki-directors don't know. Opinion

Sample

02 December 2005

The King of Jerusalem was a Leper


Kingdom of Heaven, 5 out of 5 bricks rating.

this is an old movie, but the topic keeps coming up.

Quotes from the movie:

King Baldwin IV:
Come forward. I am glad to meet Godfrey's son. He was one of my greatest teachers. He was there when, playing with the other boys, my arm was cut. It was he, not my father's physicians who noticed that I felt no pain. He wept when he gave my father the news, that I am a leper. The Saracins' say that this disease is God's vengence against the vanity of our kingdom. As wretched as I am, these Arabs believe that the chastisement that awaits me in hell is far more severe and lasting. If that's true, I call it unfair. Come. Sit. When I was sixteen I won a great victory. I felt in that moment that I should live to be one hundred, now I know I shall not see thirty. You see, none of us chose our end really. A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice. Remember that.

Balian of Ibelin: I will.

King Baldwin IV: Then go now to your father's house at Iblen, and from there protect the pilgim road. Protect the helpless. And then perhaps one day when I am helpless you will come and protect me.


Balian’s motto is, “What man is a man who does not leave the world better?”

His oath as a knight is to “be brave that God may help thee, speak the truth even if it leads to death, and safeguard the helpless.”

Godfrey tells his son, “You are not what you were born, but what you have it in yourself to be.”
  • Be without fear in the face of your enemies.
  • Be brave and upright that God may love thee.
  • Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death.
  • Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong.
That is your oath. [SLAP] And that's so you remember it.


Photo shows the mask Baldwin wore so that others could talk with him and not have to see and smell the revulsive face he had from the leprsoy.
How did King Baldwin not hate the Lord? He had the worst human indignity of all cursed upon him, leprosy. Yet he obeyed God, in his heart, even more important than his deeds.

My friends mock me because I like this movie so much, because I practically rant about it whenever the subject of it comes up. Chivalry that sounds good in speeches, or that gets you into the princess's pants is easy. Chivalry that puts you on the crossroads making decisions, that's hard. The chivalry in this movie isnt some pretty Kevin-Costner type of white wash. Day after day chivalry is a daunting task, and not easily approached without some sort of grace to make you capable. One of the great saints of all time was John the Baptist. Of him Jesus said none other greater shall come. Of himself John said he wouldnt even be worthy to tie up Jesus' sandal laces. Who was right? John went to jail and died for what he believed in.

01 December 2005

Trivia

Well I took their quiz.
I've never set foot in a Welseyan church in my life.

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan


71%

Fundamentalist


64%

Neo orthodox


61%

Classical Liberal


46%

Emergent/Postmodern


46%

Reformed Evangelical


46%

Charismatic/Pentecostal


32%

Modern Liberal


29%

Roman Catholic


18%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com


The time I spent on the quiz I could have been doing something constructive, even though there was nothing wrong with the quiz.

Was the Movie a Comedy at its Beginning ?

In a rare night of gallavanting (normally the Rebuilder reposes at the coffee shop) I went out to see Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, with my buddy Zachary Starbuck. I havent read any of the books, but I am a fan of big "guy" movies with explosions, adventure, and princesses.

Quick Recap:
HP + Sorcerors Stone was allright,
I had no idea it was based on such Teen lit.

HP + Chamber of Secrets put me to sleep, literally.

HP + Prisoner of Azkaban made feel stupid.
(I love Gary Oldman, and didnt even recognize him)

HP + Goblet of Fire made up for all that in spades.

It had humor, a big dragon, french girls, deaths-heads, and ballroom dance.

Here's Zach's review:
Brick-Muppet

there were comedy relief bits including a bit with a beard and a crumb that resulted in Rambling Rebuilder staggering from the theater to get his inhaler.

His comment: "The movie made me get the puffer! That's worth points!"


Its true: the scene in the woods where the chaperone and Haggrid are getting romantic made me howl. They pull close, and you assume they may kiss, but instead she spots a crumb of food in his beard, pulls it out and gently sucks it off her finger. I totally lost it. I laughed so hard I cried. I got so cracked up I had to take my glasses off and undo the top button on my sweater. I had to get up and leave the theater for a few minutes to calm down. My convulsions set off my asthma symptoms, and I had to take a hit off the primatene. It took me about 5 minutes to re-enter the movie.

Here's why: I am a beard wearer, and I try to be hygienic, but you can never be completely clean, and I know how gross the beard can get. So the scene poses a huge philosophical question for men with beards:

Do you want to meet a woman that loves you so much
she's willing to eat food crumbs right out of your beard?


I also give the movie 4 out of 5 bricks.

Book of the Month Club

Book of the Month Club : Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians