I've read the opinions of countless people regarding the election, and at first I was saying I'd not bother throwing anything of my own out there. But as I talked to some of my very liberal, Obama-supporting friends, I decided I would go ahead and write something.

The reason I've been so pessimistic is not necessarily because I think Obama is the ultimate evil or the anti-christ (though I do believe the later is at least remotely possible). It's because this election has directed me to the state of our nation as a whole, and how incredibly sick it is. Obama is a product, not the root problem. I am willing to bet that he is not the only person with a role in running our country who has these ideas. For me just the fact that they have been elected is proof that our country is no longer, by any definition of the word, a “Christian” nation as it once was. Christian values are seen as being archaic, never “progressive” enough. And because of that, my statement that America is going to burn is absolutely, 100% true. I don't care who's running it; any country that is not following God's will is going to crash and burn.

As I study history, I find countless examples of countries that have fallen under similar circumstances as America's. For that reason, I have absolutely no faith in this country or the naïve belief that “we'll pull through somehow.” We won't. America isn't meant to. Earthly kingdoms will fall. As I have also said earlier though, this life isn't the end, so I don't worry too much about it. I've got a much better country waiting for me.

Another thing that's been on my mind is simply the fact that so many people around me, including people I love and respect, have been ardent Obama-followers. This Obama worship (as it often becomes) is frightening, to put it mildly. People have put him on a very high pedestal. It has frustrated me immensely that so many people won't stop for just a few minutes to think this through and realize that Obama is, basically, a Muslim-sympathetic Socialist and a liar. How could people not see him this way? Can't they see the warning signs screaming in every single word he says? Are Americans really that easy to control? It makes me feel extremely betrayed, in a sense I can't explain. Their unwillingness to think will affect everyone in America (I find it hilarious that liberals claim to be open minded – all they mean is that they're not smart enough to think, and they can but accept the popular opinions of the surrounding masses). Their unwillingness to think will affect me. When I graduate from college, Obama will be ending his term. Will I be able to find a job after he's messed with the economy? Able to find a house? Able to find a stable income without having half of it bled from me in taxes? This line of thought made me very angry for a while.

Then I started to think: why does it bother me that I'm in the minority? Am I really that selfish? When I promised myself to Jesus, I promised myself persecution. I believe what I do politically and economically because of my faith. This is just an offshoot of that. In some ways, the fact that conservatives are fighting a losing battle just confirms that we are right. Wasn't persecution promised from day one? Today we examined two different speeches about honor in English class. Isn't it honorable to be doing and believing the right thing, even if people are turning against us one by one and we have no hope of actually saving our nation? What a glorious fight this is!

Another thing: if our country continues on the road to a very government-controlled system, there is a very good possibility that religion will also be regulated by the government. If Christians are already in the minority and seen as offensive for their political beliefs, what will happen in the future? I think there is a good possibility that, centuries or maybe even decades down the road, there will be much less freedom of religion. That will naturally lead to persecution. I may be frowned upon for saying this, but I'll say it anyway: bring it on. The church needs to be whacked with something so devastating and painful that they'll leave the pretty little bubbles they've built around themselves, that they'll dare to fight, dare to love passionately even when it hurts. I cannot begin to describe what a low opinion I have of the church as a whole in modern America. Persecution is historically the best possible way to increase spirituality and devotion in the church. We need to wake up. If it takes a socialist government to do that, then so be it. Christians are far, far too comfortable.

And one last thought: we cannot absolutely guarantee that everything that comes from this election will be bad. We can sit back, pray, and allow the democrats to attempt to prove themselves. Not that they often have in the past, but it's unfair to make assumptions. After all, it's not like the republicans have always done a stellar job either.

God bless,

-Elraen-

"When I can't see, I will trust You
And when I get weak, I trust You
And when I just can't let it go
I trust that You are in control..."

Suillad!

I figured this might be an interesting story to read, so I shall post it.

Last night I slept over at my friend Linte's house, after attending a really sweet wedding. We only stayed up until a little past midnight, as I was absolutely exhausted; on Friday I had been moving furniture around all day. I slept really well, actually. I didn't used to be able to sleep deeply at all when I was away from home, but that has changed since the beginning of this year. We had set the alarm clock for 8:00, because neighbors were going to pick up Linte and take her to church at about 9:45, and I had to be back to shower and get ready to leave for my church by 9:45.

I was woken up by a knock on the door (several rooms away). I ignored it, assuming I must have dreamed it, or that it wasn't important. Then I heard the phone start ringing, and the answering machine pick up. I heard my neighbor's voice, saying that they were waiting in the driveway, and asking if Linte was there.

I rolled out of bed and moved to where I could see a clock. 9:34. Panic.

I woke Linte up and told her what was going on. She jumped out of bed to get ready and told me to go tell them she was coming. I ran out the door. I told our neighbors that Linte was coming, and then realized that I was standing there in the driveway in my pajamas and socks. I quickly forgot that though because the dogs pushed out the door and ran off into the neighborhood. My neighbor (this family is totally amazing, by the way, and hopefully won't think less of me after this morning) dashed off to catch the dogs. I decided there was no way I was running with him in my pajamas and without shoes on, so I went inside and told Linte they were waiting and started throwing my stuff together. I pulled my tennis shoes on, but knew I didn't have time to change into my clothes.

Linte went out to their car. By this point the neighbors had caught the dogs and put them back in the house. I ran out the front door and jogged the half-block to my house in pajamas, carrying my pillow and purse. It didn't take long for me to start laughing so hard I had to slow down. I tend to be the rather up-tight, perfectionist type. A few months ago I would have been humiliated beyond belief had this happened. But I knew that I could either be incredibly upset and angry, or I could just laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of me. So I did the later.

I rushed into the house. The stunned stares of three younger siblings greeted me. I rather breathlessly explained what happened, and then waited a few seconds for my mother to get off the phone with my older sister, who was en route to Canada (where she is playing in a friend's wedding). My mother told me I had ten minute to get ready for church.

I think I deserve some kind of prize for showering (and washing my hair), getting into church clothes, and properly parting and brushing out my hair in 10 minutes. It was only when we were getting into the van that I realized I hadn't had breakfast or, more importantly, my morning cup of tea.

Overall it was interesting, if only because that kind of thing never happens to me. I like people to think that I have it all together all the time. I think I need to learn to take myself a little less seriously – or a lot less seriously. If nothing else, this morning's adventure helped me do that.

Have a great day!

-Elraen-

I am updating again partly just because I can, and partly because right now it seems so much more attractive than writing on my massive writing project, even if the deadline is in less than a week.

Yesterday was the first really “different” day I've had in the past month. First of all, in the morning, the two CDs I have been anxiously awaiting arrived: Collide and Alien Youth by Skillet. Of course I already had Comatose, but I wanted some of their older music too. I had heard every single song off of those two albums (there are very few Skillet songs I have not heard), but I wanted to actually own them. My expectations were met and surpassed.

Alien Youth is really the last old-school Skillet album... somewhere between electronica, 80s rock, and hard rock. The album was basically written as a way to encourage youth, to inspire them to live for something bigger than themselves, something hopeful. Shortly before the album was produced, John Cooper (the lead singer and song writer) attended a Marilyn Manson concert to find out if what people said about this artist was true. He was saddened by all of the lies he heard at the concert, and even more so by all the teenagers in the audience who believed them. Alien Youth is in a lot of ways kind of a response to a secular music, Rippin' Me Off in particular. It has some beautiful worship pieces on it, songs like The Thirst is Taking Over, You Are My Hope, Will You Be There and Come My Way, as well as some old-fashioned rock like Alien Youth, Kill Me, Heal Me, and Eating Me Away.

Collide was released three years later (in 2004), and this album represents the major shift in Skillet's style and focus. It is definitely the hardest album to date. John Cooper has said that he wrote the albums Collide and Comatose for a different audience than that of Alien Youth, and that is apparent. Where as Alien Youth is mostly to encourage and inspire Christian kids to stay strong in their faith, Collide deals more with the people who aren't strong in their faith yet – the struggles, the raw basics of faith, hope, and love. By far the best song on the album is Savior. The basic premise behind that song is that no matter where you are, no matter what you've done, no matter who you think you are, there's Someone out there who loves you and who will be your Savior. That was the second to last song they played when I saw them live, and although it was one of my very favorites even before that, seeing it live also gave me a whole new perspective on the song because of the passion they put into it. Other highlights of the album for me are Collide, Forsaken, Imperfection, and My Obsession.

For the sake of those who are reading this and don't care at all for Skillet, I will move on. I listened to those two CDs all morning. I also wrote a little bit. In the afternoon I went in for paperwork and job orientation at my University's library. I will be working there this coming semester. I spent close to two hours having information poured into my brain. It was exhausting, and overwhelming, but at the same time exciting. I am looking forward to working there. I already get the feeling I'll like it so much better than my current job (which I have been finding beyond stressful as of late). One thing I'm really looking forward to is seeing all the students who come in, helping them find stuff, so on. I've figured out that the part of my current job that I enjoy most are the times where I get to talk to and interact with people (excepting answering the phone, which I do NOT like). I find it interesting that this is the case considering the way my attitude has been in the past.

Anyway, after two hours of walking around a library learning about stuff, filling out paperwork, and listening to my future employer rave about my brother (Maranar has been working there for a few years now), I came home and was ready to chill a bit. So I wrote a bit more, working on a project I started a few days ago, and listened to music some more. I was informed of a plan for my mother and older sister to go and see Prince Caspian while Maranar and Telpë went to see Speedracer (which Mar had already seen). This would mean I would stay home to babysit.

Right before dinner Mar asked me if I wanted to go see Speed Racer. I responded that I kind of did, but it didn't matter because I had to stay home to watch the kids. He said that if I wanted to go he'd stay in my place so I could. He loved the movie, but he'd already seen it and I hadn't, so would I go?

After going back and forth for a while, I agreed to let him stay in my place. Big brothers are cool like that. So we went off to the theater.

I could do a very detailed review of it, but that might bore you all. Honestly, I went in expecting not to like it. There are very, very few movies I like; I always feel like I'm completely wasting my time when I watch TV or movies. But this movie was honestly fun to watch. The colors are vibrant, so over-the-top (like everything else in the movie, which is what made it work). The visual effects are absolutely stunning. Everything about the visual effects and the cinematography is slick and smooth, and modern to a fault. The cinematography is very splintered and fragmented, which is a growing trend in the movies I have seen lately... I assume it is because we have such short attention spans, an issue that is only growing worse. Sometimes it got to the point where I found it a little distracting. The screen writing was pretty bad, but it didn't try to take itself seriously, so it worked. One of the parts that had Telpë about to die with laughter was the whole ninja scene. Ninja assassins are sent to take out a few of the drivers (including Speed Racer), and some absolutely hilarious over-done martial arts moves follow. In fact, if I were to describe the movie in one phrase, it would be “over the top.” At the same time, it has one huge merit: it promotes families bonding together. It portrays an actual real, classic view of family... with parents who are still together after many years and who love each other, brothers who get along and look out for each other, and an overall sense of loyalty to each other. It is so rare to find this in any branch of media now. It was special to find it even in a movie as ridiculous as Speed Racer.

So after that I came home, messaged with a friend for a while, wrote, watched some videos online, and then went to bed. Overall it was an interesting day. Though I only got one Snapshot written. Today I'd better write two...

-Elraen-