The Chain

i started reading a new book the other day. i have now something like 8 books i am trying to read at the same time. it makes life very interesting. add to that, books for research for a paper i am writing. my life surprisingly stays busy (or should).

but i read something in this new book the other day that really convicted me. it has come to my attention as of late, both by simple personal conviction from God directly, and also that of God via Amanda, that somewhere along the line recently, i have allowed my priorities to switch. it went from God being at the top, to Him being somewhere lower. and then i read this:

To be prepared to relate to a member of the opposite sex, you must first learn how to relate to the Creator of the opposite sex.

When God Writes Your Love Story, pg. 37-38


something clicked. lately my attitude has not always been the best, easily defensive over nothing. looking back, i have had a hard time understanding and relating to Amanda......and now it makes sense. to better understand her, to better relate to her i must first understand the one who created her, God.

my priorities must shift back to where they were. i have always believed that if you are in a right relationship with God, all else falls into place as it should. it is time for me to follow that. it is time for me to once again, get to know and understand the Creator, so that i may better understand the one He created, and blessed me with.

What the Media will not tell you

i have stumbled across more information pertaining to the good coming from this war. information that our own media sources here in America as well as across this world seem to conveniently ignore and forget to report. this sickens me. rather, they would like to and do report nothing but negativity. here are some facts that you will never see on the media:

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established
their embassies in Iraq ?

Did you know that the Iraqi government
currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated,
364 schools are under rehabilitation,
263 new schools are now under construction
and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational
structure consists of 20 Universities,
46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers,
all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed
for the United States in January 2005
for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?
They have 5 -100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels
and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons,
which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft
(under Iraqi operational control)
which operate day and night, and will soon add
16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist
unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000
fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq
that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100
building projects going on in Iraq ?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics,
15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations,
22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities
and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5
have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were
enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000
cell phone subscribers in Iraq
and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent
media that consists of 75 radio stations,
180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange
opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi
presidential election had a televised debate recently?

these facts as well as others can be found at the following websites:

http://www.defense.gov/
http://www.pentagon.mil/
http://www.defenselink.mil/
http://www.defendamerica.mil/iraq.html
http://www.jcs.mil