Is Language Sexist?

"Is language sexist?"  That is what my comp 1 teacher asked the class.  My teacher went on to explain his point by putting up on the board "proof."  For example, you can't use "she" without "he", "woman" without "man", female with out male.  Personally, I hadn't really thought about it.  But when I did, I realized it all made sense.  In Genesis 2:22-23 it says, "The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. ²³ The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”  If you look at the "is language sexist" issue with biblical glasses it all makes sense.  Woman is called woman because she was taken out of man.  Anyone who wants to dispute this is going against God's word.  My Comp 1 teacher DID dispute this when I gave this simple explanation.  He (yes this was a male teacher) said, "Well the Bible was written by men so we can't trust what it says, that automatically makes it sexist" (that's a paraphrase but essentially that was what he was saying).  I had never heard anyone say that before and frankly I was shocked.  "The Bible is the inspired Word of God," I said.  "The men that scribed the Bible were divinely inspired by God.  It was not their word but God's Word."  I didn't figure anyone could dispute that argument.  However, my teacher did.  "But it was written by man."  We went back and forth for some time about this.  It shocked me how illogical one can be when they don't want to accept the obvious truth.  Anyone that says the Bible is not the divinely inspired Word of God has every reason not to trust it.  However, the Bible IS the divinely inspired Word of God and we can trust it.  So is language sexist? NO!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Evolution, it makes me laugh...

You can tell it is summer because instead of being outside in the heat I am inside with the air conditioner.   A record high was set the other day in Kansas, which didn't manage to thrill me to much.  Why not a record low?  However, throughout the sweltering temperatures and dry grass, I can still see God shining through nature.  Summers like these remind us whose in control; we don't have authority over the weather, only God does.  This weekend I had the amazing privilege to attend the Heartland Creation Conference where Dr. Jonathan Safarti spoke on how it is utter foolishness to believe in the myth of evolution for "the heavens declare the glory of God."  One thing he said over and over again that really was at the core of the issue was "you can't prove the bible with science; you have to prove science with the bible."  His point was, if you put science as a higher authority over the bible you are saying that what God said isn't as important as the deductions of fallible scientists.  Man is evil, born in sin, and will make any excuse it can conceive to get out of obeying the one true God, even something as utterly ridiculous as evolution.  Today evolution is taught in the schools as truth.  That's putting it as an equal to the bible right there.  In "Expelled", when Richard Dawkins (notorious Evolutionists and author of "The Greatest Show on Earth" which by the way was refuted in Dr. Jonathan Safarti's book "The Greatest Hoax on Earth") is pushed back and pushed back as to where the first life came from he finally has to resort to (get this, it is too funny) aliens!  Aliens?  That's how silly the whole evolution movement is.  They have no evidence so they have to say aliens.  Intelligent men saying aliens?  You can laugh with me if you want.  Now, I am not a scientist, or anywhere close, but I do know one thing, you can't get something from nothing and the evolution movement, well it makes me laugh...

By the way, where did the aliens come from? :)

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Bridling our Tongues

After a long cold winter spring is finally here... in Kansas that is!!! :)  The red bud tree and the lilac bushes are bursting with color and there is even talk of putting in a garden this week!!!  This has got to be the best season of the year... as long as there aren't any tornadoes. :)
Today in Sunday school we were talking about the last judgement.  One of the things we talked about in relation to that was how everything we say is going to be taken into account when God judges us.  To me that is a very scary concept.  I know I have heard it a million times but somehow I just tend to forget it when it comes to having conversations with people.  It is so easy to let slip a foolish or mean word when I am talking.  It is something that needs to be on my mind all of the time so that I do not forget.  However, I tend to let other things be on my mind such as worldly pleasures.  When I was thinking about this I realized that I would be able to be more careful of my words and be paying more attention to what I say if I was not concentrating so much on the pleasures of this world and more on the pleasures of God.  Man's chief end is to glorify God.  So really, it comes down to how much easier it is to worship God if you are thinking of Him, instead of the things of this world.  I know I am not the only person that struggles with this and so I hope this will be helpful to others.  
Have a great spring! 

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

TOO MUCH SNOW!!!

Sara, Dan, Tim and I have spent half the afternoon shoveling snow! :(  Not the most enjoyable experience! However, when one is able to come inside to hot chicken soup and of course a cup of tea, it doesn't seem quite so bad.  I would like to share an absolutely superbly delicious recipe (obviously this an extra special recipe)!!!

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

1 recipe sweet roll dough

1/4 C. butter, softened

1 1/2 C. finely chopped apples

1 C. sugar

1/2 C. chopped pecans

1 tsp. cinnamon

Prepare dough.   When ready to shape, divide dough in half.  Roll out each half into a 9X12 “ rectangle.  Spread with butter.   Combine finely chopped apples, sugar, pecans and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over dough.  Roll up the long way so it is 12” long.  Cut into 1 inch pieces and place them into a 9X13” pan sliced side down.   Let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.  Bake about 20 minutes in 350˚ oven.  Drizzle with powdered sugar icing.  Best when warm but also good when made Saturday night and eaten for a special Sunday morning breakfast.  Makes two 9 X13 pans. 

You can serve my apple cinnamon rolls with what else but a hot cup of apple cinnamon tea!  Apple cider would also be tasty with these. 

Well enjoy baking and have a wonderful day!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Tea, History, and Snow!

My fingers are going numb!  I think my family should, without a doubt, move our computer upstairs where it is warmer:)  This morning I decided to indulge in a little history and a cup of cherry tea to try and forget about the snow and cold outside. So I read a little of volume four of  A Basic History of the United States by Clarence B. Carson.  His series of books on American history are very informative and intriguing, though they are sometimes hard to read.  I would definitely recommend them for high school and older.  Also for history lovers, if you have never picked up G.A. Henty's historical novels, do so now! They are the best historical novels I have read yet, covering from Ancient Egypt to the time of Queen Victoria.  The heroes of these books are real men, and the heroines real woman!  G.A. Henty's books leave you with all sorts of snippets of historical knowledge without you even realizing it!  These books work well for middle school age and up (one can never be to old for these), and are a perfect supplement to any history curriculum.  Well enjoy your day and happy tea drinking and reading!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

A Good Book and a Cup of Tea

There is nothing like a good book and a cup of tea, especially on those cloudy and gloomy days.  My friend Beth calls those Jane Austen days.  You curl up on the couch with a blanket, cup of tea, and a Jane Austen book.  So for my first post I would like to recommend just that.  Grab your favorite Jane Austen book, a cup of steaming hot tea, and indulge in fifteen minutes of wit and humor.  If you have never read a Jane Austen book then I would recommend starting with her very best Pride and Prejudice.  For me I will curl up by our wood burning stove, with a couple blankets, a cup of hot peach tea, and... well I am not sure yet which Jane Austen book to choose. :)

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.