Something we looked forward to every day was to see what new fruit/vegetable and pastry/bread displays there were in the buffet.
Isn't this stuff amazing?!
Isn't this stuff amazing?!
Reynald, who carved the fruit and veggies. 
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Cruise: Food, Glorious Food!
Everything you've heard about food on a cruise ship is true... great food and lots of it. You could have a steak and potato or you could have something a wee bit different. You know me... if it was "different" I had to try it. After all, if I didn't like it I could order a different entrée.
Check out some of the better things I tried...
*Free-range Guinea Fowl Smitanne: Grandmother's Sunday Roast served with a wild mushroom cream sauce, Vichy carrots and chateau potatoes.
*Sea Scallops Mediterranean Fashion: Presented on a bed of eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, black olives, capers and fresh herbs.
*Lobster Tail and King Prawns with Tumeric-Fennel Emulsion: Wilted arugula and romaine lettuce, whipped potatoes.
*Royal Pheasant in Pan Juices: An oven roast with Brussels sprouts, caramelized shallots and Parisienne potatoes.
*Oven-Baked Spring Leg of Lamb, Aussie Style: slowly oven roast with aromatic herbs in a pungent apple cider, sweet mint baby peas and sliced potatoes with onions.
*Braised Lamb Shank Pirate's Style: slowly braised tender lamb, flavored with fenugreek and cardamom served with gratinated calabasa, corn bean casserole and fruitbread croquette.
*Risotto con Pollo e Asparagi: a combination of Italian rice with green asparagus tips and strips of chicken, finished with fresh herbs and parmesan cheese.
*London Mixed Grill: Beef Medallion, lamb chop, English banger, tomato with green beans and shoestring potatoes.
*Alaskan Salmon in Dill Sauce: broiled filet with garlic mashed potatoes and cucumber sauce.
*Vol-au-Vent a la Reine: creamed chicken, sweetbreads and mushrooms in a puff pastry case.
*Moroccan Orange Salad with Dates and Golden Raisins
*Chilled Yogurt and Tamarind Soup sprinkled with grated lemon rind.
*Chilled Banana and Strawberry Soup
We won't even talk about the desserts...
There are several dining options. First is the dining room, a formal served meal. This is where you get the best meals. But if you're tired and don't feel like dressing up, you can go up to the top deck for the buffet, which runs 24 hours. It will have a few things from the dining room menu but not the best stuff. There's also a pizza place and a grill where you can order a burger or hot dog. Finally there are several "upcharge" restaurants that you have to pay to eat at. The Italian restaurant is Sabatini's and they advertise a "20 course meal". We decided we had to check that out... 20 courses is a bit amazing even if it is tasting portions. Well... it wasn't 20 courses... it was 20 items. There was an appetizer course, antipasti, pizza, soup, salad, pasta, entrée and dessert courses. Eight courses... 20 items.
Have you ever seen the Food Network series "Iron Chef" where 2 chefs compete making a complete meal using just about anything and one select "secret ingredient"? Chef Ulrich must have dreams of going one-on-one with Bobby Flay because our Thanksgiving menu looked like it could be an episode of that TV series... Iron Chef Battle Pumpkin!
Appetizers
*Pumpkin Gnocchi Gratin: potato pillows with fresh tomato and truffle pumpkin coulis.
*Delicate Snow Crab Salpicon: sweet crab surrounded by pumpkin puree and crisp pumpkin straw.
Soup and Salad
*Roasted Pumpkin and charred Sweet Corn Chowder with Cumin Croutons
*Double Chicken Consommé with Pumpkin Quenelles
*Chilled Cream of Pumpkin & Chestnut Soup with Fried Pumpkin Seeds
*Winter Mesclun Greens Salad Tossed with a Pumpkin Seed Oil Vinaigrette
Entrees
*Broiled Filet of Deep Sea Cod: served with pumpkin risotto and a cardamom cream.
*Slow Roasted Vermont Turkey: dressed with a traditional stuffing, oven roasted sweet potatoes, pumpkin polenta and warm cranberry chutney.
*Center Cut Pork Loin Chop: braised red cabbage and pumpkin spaetzle in a tarragon jus.
*Grilled Medallion of Aged Beef Tenderloin: with a sautéed pumpkin rosti and caramelized shallots on a rich bordelaise sauce.
Dessert
*Pumpkin Crème Brule with Cinnamon Ice Cream
*Traditional Pumpkin Pie with Bourbon Crème Fraiche
*Caramelized Pumpkin and Apple Strudel
Check out some of the better things I tried...
*Free-range Guinea Fowl Smitanne: Grandmother's Sunday Roast served with a wild mushroom cream sauce, Vichy carrots and chateau potatoes.
*Sea Scallops Mediterranean Fashion: Presented on a bed of eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, black olives, capers and fresh herbs.
*Lobster Tail and King Prawns with Tumeric-Fennel Emulsion: Wilted arugula and romaine lettuce, whipped potatoes.
*Royal Pheasant in Pan Juices: An oven roast with Brussels sprouts, caramelized shallots and Parisienne potatoes.
*Oven-Baked Spring Leg of Lamb, Aussie Style: slowly oven roast with aromatic herbs in a pungent apple cider, sweet mint baby peas and sliced potatoes with onions.
*Braised Lamb Shank Pirate's Style: slowly braised tender lamb, flavored with fenugreek and cardamom served with gratinated calabasa, corn bean casserole and fruitbread croquette.
*Risotto con Pollo e Asparagi: a combination of Italian rice with green asparagus tips and strips of chicken, finished with fresh herbs and parmesan cheese.
*London Mixed Grill: Beef Medallion, lamb chop, English banger, tomato with green beans and shoestring potatoes.
*Alaskan Salmon in Dill Sauce: broiled filet with garlic mashed potatoes and cucumber sauce.
*Vol-au-Vent a la Reine: creamed chicken, sweetbreads and mushrooms in a puff pastry case.
*Moroccan Orange Salad with Dates and Golden Raisins
*Chilled Yogurt and Tamarind Soup sprinkled with grated lemon rind.
*Chilled Banana and Strawberry Soup
We won't even talk about the desserts...
There are several dining options. First is the dining room, a formal served meal. This is where you get the best meals. But if you're tired and don't feel like dressing up, you can go up to the top deck for the buffet, which runs 24 hours. It will have a few things from the dining room menu but not the best stuff. There's also a pizza place and a grill where you can order a burger or hot dog. Finally there are several "upcharge" restaurants that you have to pay to eat at. The Italian restaurant is Sabatini's and they advertise a "20 course meal". We decided we had to check that out... 20 courses is a bit amazing even if it is tasting portions. Well... it wasn't 20 courses... it was 20 items. There was an appetizer course, antipasti, pizza, soup, salad, pasta, entrée and dessert courses. Eight courses... 20 items.
Have you ever seen the Food Network series "Iron Chef" where 2 chefs compete making a complete meal using just about anything and one select "secret ingredient"? Chef Ulrich must have dreams of going one-on-one with Bobby Flay because our Thanksgiving menu looked like it could be an episode of that TV series... Iron Chef Battle Pumpkin!
Appetizers
*Pumpkin Gnocchi Gratin: potato pillows with fresh tomato and truffle pumpkin coulis.
*Delicate Snow Crab Salpicon: sweet crab surrounded by pumpkin puree and crisp pumpkin straw.
Soup and Salad
*Roasted Pumpkin and charred Sweet Corn Chowder with Cumin Croutons
*Double Chicken Consommé with Pumpkin Quenelles
*Chilled Cream of Pumpkin & Chestnut Soup with Fried Pumpkin Seeds
*Winter Mesclun Greens Salad Tossed with a Pumpkin Seed Oil Vinaigrette
Entrees
*Broiled Filet of Deep Sea Cod: served with pumpkin risotto and a cardamom cream.
*Slow Roasted Vermont Turkey: dressed with a traditional stuffing, oven roasted sweet potatoes, pumpkin polenta and warm cranberry chutney.
*Center Cut Pork Loin Chop: braised red cabbage and pumpkin spaetzle in a tarragon jus.
*Grilled Medallion of Aged Beef Tenderloin: with a sautéed pumpkin rosti and caramelized shallots on a rich bordelaise sauce.
Dessert
*Pumpkin Crème Brule with Cinnamon Ice Cream
*Traditional Pumpkin Pie with Bourbon Crème Fraiche
*Caramelized Pumpkin and Apple Strudel
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Cruise: The cruising experience
We took our first cruise this last November, just got back on Sunday. I had decided I wanted to take a vacation where once it started I wouldn't have to be taking care of a thousand details. I wanted to be the Queen.
First thing you have to do is to decide WHERE you want to cruise to. At first we thought Hawai'i, but then discovered the Panama Canal cruises. Wow! Then you have to decide which cruise line to use. For us it was between Holland America and Princess. We picked Princess because of the ports of call. Besides going all the way thru the canal, you also stopped in 6 countries.
We boarded the Island Princess on 16 November, not knowing what to expect but very excited. Over the next 14 days there were ups and downs... mostly with the cruise line itself. But overall we had a great time as most things are what you make them.
The Good:
*We had a balcony mini-suite and it was wonderful. Lots of space. Queen size bed, sofa & chair, desk, 2 TV sets (so you could watch from the sofa or bed!) and a mini fridge. Nice size closet (and you could store your suitcases under the bed). Big bathroom.
*Our balcony. It was lovely to sit out and watch the ocean slide by and catch the sea breeze. And on canal day, it was fantastic.
*The food in the dining room was delicious!
*Free room service. Gotta love it!
*The server staff (dining rooms, pursers, our room steward) were people (mostly in their early 20s) from all over the world. Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, South Africa, Italy, Portugal, England, Wales, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, India, Thailand, Bali, Philippines, Australia, Austria, New Zealand.
*Crafts. The cruise line hires people to come on and do craft classes. What fun! I learned to watercolor. I'd always wanted to try it, but didn't want to shell out the $$$ to take a whole class. Here I was able to take 3 free workshops and discover that I do enjoy it.
I learned to throw pottery on a wheel. What a hoot! It's still fun to play in the mud!
And I also painted a ceramic mug.
*Room stewards. Now THIS I could get permanently used to! Go out for breakfast and come back to a made bed and fresh towels. Go out for supper and come back to a turned down bed with chocolates on your pillow and the schedule of the next day's events to peruse.
*The gym (this was a plus for Himself - I never went near the place! Hey, I was on vacation, you know!)
*Going thru the Panama Canal was awesome! There was a commentator brought onboard who told all about the canal over the speaker system and in-ship TV channel.
The Bad:
*The bed. Well, the bed wasn't fabric covered concrete as some had implied, but it was pretty hard. Two egg-crate pads made it OK. For me, the more annoying thing was the rigid metal framing and the way it sagged to the middle. It was uncomfortable to sit on.
*No towel animals! OK, I know this is silly... but I was looking forward to that!
*The ship's officers were pretty stuck on themselves. 'Nuff said.
*Excursions. Whoever writes up the descriptions for each excursion package must have at one time written real estate ads. Only 2 of the 6 packages we went on met their description (although we did have good time on all of them - you know us!) Some of the bus drivers were pretty wild (one of ours, and ones we heard of from fellow cruisers). If we cruise again, we won't be doing any excursions thru the ship. At every port were companies offering trips (sometimes the very same ones as the ship at a lower price!) or a taxi you could hire. We did the taxi thing twice which I'll write about later.
*The spa. When you got there, you had to fill in a form that asked all sorts of questions about your aches and pains. They tell you the info is needed so they can take care during your massage. Baloney. During my "Relaxing Hand Massage with manicure" the girl didn't shut up trying to sell me things I "needed" - like a gel that would fix my ankle I twisted years before. I cancelled my back massage. Living commercials are a drag...
*The photographers were along the order of your standard no-name-set-up-in-a-mall-walkway variety. They didn't wait for you to get ready for the picture. Talk about some BAD photos. I didn't see a whole lot sold.
*"First run movies" were not so. All the movies had already been released to DVD or would soon be so. Example: The Great Debaters was released in theaters Dec 07, released in DVD May 08.
The Ugly:
*We were shocked by the 'entertainment' provided by Princess Lines. Every show (even the culinary demos!!!) where loaded with sexual references. And the "International Crew Show" where regular crew members could share their talents was made downright vulgar as between the real acts there were "skits" put one by the Cruise Director's staff. We had no idea that the Princess was one of Hugh Hefner's girls!
*There was an incident where we were unwarrently loudly verbally attacked by a member of the Princess crew who accused us lying about having permission from the Cruise Director for Himself to play a piano in the wedding chapel. I filed a complaint and said I wanted to see that person's superior. I was assured I would be most definitely contacted that day (Thanksgiving). Got the same assurance again on Saturday. Never happened, never got an apology. Now I write corporate.
*The boozing. I saw too many people who are going to have no memory of those 2 weeks except thru the DVD movie of them acting the fool. Oh my...
And I also painted a ceramic mug.
*Room stewards. Now THIS I could get permanently used to! Go out for breakfast and come back to a made bed and fresh towels. Go out for supper and come back to a turned down bed with chocolates on your pillow and the schedule of the next day's events to peruse.
*The gym (this was a plus for Himself - I never went near the place! Hey, I was on vacation, you know!)
*Going thru the Panama Canal was awesome! There was a commentator brought onboard who told all about the canal over the speaker system and in-ship TV channel.
The Bad:
*The bed. Well, the bed wasn't fabric covered concrete as some had implied, but it was pretty hard. Two egg-crate pads made it OK. For me, the more annoying thing was the rigid metal framing and the way it sagged to the middle. It was uncomfortable to sit on.
*No towel animals! OK, I know this is silly... but I was looking forward to that!
*The ship's officers were pretty stuck on themselves. 'Nuff said.
*Excursions. Whoever writes up the descriptions for each excursion package must have at one time written real estate ads. Only 2 of the 6 packages we went on met their description (although we did have good time on all of them - you know us!) Some of the bus drivers were pretty wild (one of ours, and ones we heard of from fellow cruisers). If we cruise again, we won't be doing any excursions thru the ship. At every port were companies offering trips (sometimes the very same ones as the ship at a lower price!) or a taxi you could hire. We did the taxi thing twice which I'll write about later.
*The spa. When you got there, you had to fill in a form that asked all sorts of questions about your aches and pains. They tell you the info is needed so they can take care during your massage. Baloney. During my "Relaxing Hand Massage with manicure" the girl didn't shut up trying to sell me things I "needed" - like a gel that would fix my ankle I twisted years before. I cancelled my back massage. Living commercials are a drag...
*The photographers were along the order of your standard no-name-set-up-in-a-mall-walkway variety. They didn't wait for you to get ready for the picture. Talk about some BAD photos. I didn't see a whole lot sold.
*"First run movies" were not so. All the movies had already been released to DVD or would soon be so. Example: The Great Debaters was released in theaters Dec 07, released in DVD May 08.
The Ugly:
*We were shocked by the 'entertainment' provided by Princess Lines. Every show (even the culinary demos!!!) where loaded with sexual references. And the "International Crew Show" where regular crew members could share their talents was made downright vulgar as between the real acts there were "skits" put one by the Cruise Director's staff. We had no idea that the Princess was one of Hugh Hefner's girls!
*There was an incident where we were unwarrently loudly verbally attacked by a member of the Princess crew who accused us lying about having permission from the Cruise Director for Himself to play a piano in the wedding chapel. I filed a complaint and said I wanted to see that person's superior. I was assured I would be most definitely contacted that day (Thanksgiving). Got the same assurance again on Saturday. Never happened, never got an apology. Now I write corporate.
*The boozing. I saw too many people who are going to have no memory of those 2 weeks except thru the DVD movie of them acting the fool. Oh my...
Saturday, November 1, 2008
A New Tradition
From reading yesterday’s post, you already know how I feel about Halloween…
Yesterday night – to avoid it – Himself and I went out to supper, and then went shopping to finish up getting what we needed for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. We had to get them done this weekend, since we aren’t going to be around for the drop off time.
It was such a wonderful evening, that we have decided that from now on we will spend 31 Oct by going out to eat and finishing shopping for the ‘shoebox’ items and putting the boxes together.
Almost done!
What each box contained.
Yesterday night – to avoid it – Himself and I went out to supper, and then went shopping to finish up getting what we needed for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. We had to get them done this weekend, since we aren’t going to be around for the drop off time.
It was such a wonderful evening, that we have decided that from now on we will spend 31 Oct by going out to eat and finishing shopping for the ‘shoebox’ items and putting the boxes together.
All the items laid out for packing into the six boxes.
Almost done!What each box contained.Friday, October 31, 2008
Halloween - NOT in this house!
I was asked yesterday how I was going to celebrate Halloween.
The answer is: I’m NOT. As a Christian, I loathe Halloween and everything it stands for.
And “Yes” I did do trick or treat as a child, and “yes” I decorated the house as a young adult.
But then I grew up… spiritually.
I don't care about the origins of the day waaaaay back when, tho that in itself is bad enough!
What are the symbols of Halloween TODAY? What are the “decorations” you see in the stores? Devils, witches, skeletons, monsters. Scenes of murder, death, torture, blood, … "Trails of Terror", "Murder Mansion" and other such attractions. These are terrible, evil images.
Oh yes, there are the cute little costumes for the little ones. Smiling witches. Dancing skeletons. Dapper devils. And it doesn't matter if the costume is a "not scary one". If you put gold leaf on dog feces it is still feces.
And Halloween is still a holiday celebrating Satan's influence on Earth...
3 John 1:11
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Avoid every kind of evil.
James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
The answer is: I’m NOT. As a Christian, I loathe Halloween and everything it stands for.
And “Yes” I did do trick or treat as a child, and “yes” I decorated the house as a young adult.
But then I grew up… spiritually.
I don't care about the origins of the day waaaaay back when, tho that in itself is bad enough!
What are the symbols of Halloween TODAY? What are the “decorations” you see in the stores? Devils, witches, skeletons, monsters. Scenes of murder, death, torture, blood, … "Trails of Terror", "Murder Mansion" and other such attractions. These are terrible, evil images.
Oh yes, there are the cute little costumes for the little ones. Smiling witches. Dancing skeletons. Dapper devils. And it doesn't matter if the costume is a "not scary one". If you put gold leaf on dog feces it is still feces.
And Halloween is still a holiday celebrating Satan's influence on Earth...
3 John 1:11
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Avoid every kind of evil.
James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
KIVA - a hand up... not a hand out
I've discovered a new outlet for making a difference in the lives of others. Two magazines this month have had mentions of this group (AARP and one of my National Geographic mags). The organization is called Kiva.
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money.
I made a loan to an entrepreneur named Chhin Sun in Cambodia. Mrs. Chhin Sun was born in 1974 and she lives in Samraong Village in Kampong Cham Province. She is a vegetable farmer who owns 2 hectares for cultivating. In her plantation, she faces a small problem because her field is infertile soil which affects her crop, so she decided to ask for a loan to buy fertilizer to amend her field to make her plants more productive. Her husband, Mr. Chhun Tith, helps his wife in the plantation. Mrs. Chhin Sun has two children who are both attending the local school.
Care to join me in changing the world - one loan at a time?
---------------------------------------------------------
What others are saying about http://www.kiva.org/:
'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC
'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money
'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money.
I made a loan to an entrepreneur named Chhin Sun in Cambodia. Mrs. Chhin Sun was born in 1974 and she lives in Samraong Village in Kampong Cham Province. She is a vegetable farmer who owns 2 hectares for cultivating. In her plantation, she faces a small problem because her field is infertile soil which affects her crop, so she decided to ask for a loan to buy fertilizer to amend her field to make her plants more productive. Her husband, Mr. Chhun Tith, helps his wife in the plantation. Mrs. Chhin Sun has two children who are both attending the local school.
Care to join me in changing the world - one loan at a time?
---------------------------------------------------------
What others are saying about http://www.kiva.org/:
'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'
-- BBC
'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'
-- CNN Money
'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'
-- Entrepreneur Magazine
Monday, October 27, 2008
Can a Christian vote for either Presidential candidate?
As a Christian, I’ve had a lot of people coming at me with reasons I should or should not vote for a presidential candidate from a spiritual view point.
After looking into the core beliefs and actions of both candidates, it is my opinion that if you are voting on a spiritual basis… you cannot vote for either one.
Here is just one example of why I feel that way:
McCain states he is a Christian, a member of the Baptist church. However, McCain carries around a “lucky” penny, nickel, quarter, feather (given by a Native American shaman), compass and four leaf clover. He has a “pouch of sacred stones”.
He also brags that he is superstitious. He knocks on wood and won't put a hat on the bed (bad luck). He refuses to pass a saltshaker from hand to hand. He has lucky shoes, sweater, hat and even food.
Obama states he is a Christian, a member of the Church of Christ. Obama carries around a "lucky" poker chip, eagle pin, and a statue of a Hindu god. The only superstition I could find that Obama practices is playing basketball before a primary for good luck. ??
Charms are defined as: An item worn for its supposed magical benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet. An action or formula thought to have magical power.
Both men have stated with their words that they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Both men have shown with their actions of carrying "lucky charms" and believing in superstitions that their faith in Jesus Christ is not strong enough to overcome believing they need to also have faith in a man-made object (called an idol in Biblical days) or ritual over the power of the Living God.
Isaiah 44:17
From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
After looking into the core beliefs and actions of both candidates, it is my opinion that if you are voting on a spiritual basis… you cannot vote for either one.
Here is just one example of why I feel that way:
McCain states he is a Christian, a member of the Baptist church. However, McCain carries around a “lucky” penny, nickel, quarter, feather (given by a Native American shaman), compass and four leaf clover. He has a “pouch of sacred stones”.
He also brags that he is superstitious. He knocks on wood and won't put a hat on the bed (bad luck). He refuses to pass a saltshaker from hand to hand. He has lucky shoes, sweater, hat and even food.
Obama states he is a Christian, a member of the Church of Christ. Obama carries around a "lucky" poker chip, eagle pin, and a statue of a Hindu god. The only superstition I could find that Obama practices is playing basketball before a primary for good luck. ??
Charms are defined as: An item worn for its supposed magical benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet. An action or formula thought to have magical power.
Both men have stated with their words that they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Both men have shown with their actions of carrying "lucky charms" and believing in superstitions that their faith in Jesus Christ is not strong enough to overcome believing they need to also have faith in a man-made object (called an idol in Biblical days) or ritual over the power of the Living God.
Isaiah 44:17
From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)