Spring!

Paradise River Surrounded by Spring Flowers, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

Image: here

Italian Documentary

This is an email sent by Jeff B. I thought you'd like to hear Jeff's thoughts on this.
Video here.
I stumbled upon this documentary on the Internet several months ago; I bookmarked the page with the intention of sending it to you.....but have not gotten around to it until now. It was made by an Italian documentary filmaker--Lorella Zanardo, in 2009. It exposes the phenomenon of the sexist portrayal of women on Italian television; apparently it is rampant in that country. It focuses on how women become decorative & sexualized props on TV shows, and the reluctance of the Italian media to show older women, unless they’ve had botox/plastic surgery/implants etc.

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Now, if you watch it, it may be difficult to keep up.....as the narrator is speaking in Italian and there are subtitles in English you have to read to understand. It is a fast-paced video with a lot of quick scenes & cuts to the next scene. So I recommend turning down the audio somewhat (but not all the way) so that you can better focus on reading the subtitles.

Plus I must let you know in advance that they show a lot of women's flesh; it is riddled with clips from actual Italian TV shows showing scantily-clad women. There is even one female contestant on a show who is tricked by the host into extending her arms out--which causes the towel she is holding to suddenly fall, and her bare breasts are exposed (much to the delight of the audience members).

But it is an incredible documentary to see, as it exposes the way that Italian TV shows degrade women & create a false reality in which real women are nearly non-existent. It is well-worth watching & a thought-provoking expose. And although this one highlights what is happening in Italy, you know that this is happening (albeit to a lesser degree) in other countries, including America.

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I have looked around on the Internet for related articles & blog post about this documentary; they are very prevalent as the documentary has created quite a stir it seems. I recommend skimming through 1 or 2 of these articles; as that will help get you oriented to the story......because as I said the video is fast-paced & can be hard to follow the 1st time through due to having to read the subtitles.

To me, there seems to be 2 aspects to the story: 1. the sexualized visual portrayal of women on the shows (which obviously we know that appeals to men's fleshly desire; and as you must know by now this issue is such a struggle for us men); they dress them in an immodest way plus they get them to do things that are degrading. and 2. the phenomenom of the deliberate "removal" of real women on Italian TV. By real, I mean average-looking women & older women; and women that may be short, overweight, have wrinkles, etc. You know what I mean??

I have been more interested in that 2nd aspect of the story; you know the impact & consequences of it. For example, one consequence may be that in Italian society/culture, normal average-looking women (and/or older women) will be less valued in by that society. Such a shame & an evil!! The whole society is degraded by this; they have lowered their dignity, etc.

And what terrible message this must be sending to girls as they are growing up over there; you know they are tacitly being told that their value to society is largely based on their physical appearance.

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Well, that is all I have for now on this; I thought you would find this documentary & issue of interest to you.

Thank You Victoria Jackson!

If Only In America!

This was an email sent to me:

On February 12, 2010, President Préval of Haiti called his nation to 3 days of fasting and prayer in place of the regular Mardi Gras celebration.

Not long after the devastating earthquake wreaked havoc on Haiti, President Préval made a monumental decision; together with his people, he would humble himself before the Lord, calling on Him for forgiveness and healing for his land.

It was the time of the Mardi Gras celebration, but the people of this impoverished nation were more than willing to change their plans, as their hearts had already been broken.

President Préval announced to his nation that there would be 3 days of fasting and prayer in place of the usual annual festivities. There were only about 5 days to organize the vigil which was to take place before the earthquake-ravaged presidential palace.

But, would the people heed the call to prayer? Would the people come?

Indeed, they did. Hundreds of thousands of Haitian people gathered in a picture of true repentance; hands uplifted to God, tears streaming. The prime minister arrived. He didn't speak a word, but he cried for an hour, then left and returned with Haiti's President. Reportedly, thousands came to Christ during that time, with over 100 voodoo priests turning to Jesus.

I invite you to watch a video report of what took place that moved me to tears.

Now if only this would happen in America! See how a wounding like the earthquake can produce the fruit of repentance. This is so wonderful! Let's watch and see what great things this will produce in the country of Haiti in the months and years to come!

New Health Plan

To prepare for the new healthcare reform package, we felt it necessary to develop a new medical symbol that truly depicts the Health Care Plan you will be getting!

(now that the bill has passed, we must put our trust in God whose power is greater than all, and whose judgment rests on those who flagrantly defy him on abortion and other issues)

Bill's New Video! - "Poker Night"

Here is Bill Graver's new video that his church put together of some guys at his church hanging out together. Bill is the guy who knocks on the door at the beginning and walks in.

Ok, this needs some background. See, Bill took off for California to be near his son, because his ex-wife took his son there. His job sort of allows him to live in different places. So, he's living in L.A. and he finds himself in a church in West L.A. with a bunch of twenty-somethings who are in film. He finds a niche with this church and just loves it, and discovers that he has a knack for film-making, and feels called to help reach the lost in Hollywood - the rich and famous, the vision that the church has.

This video is just one of the many projects that the church has worked on. It was just for fun - a way of announcing to the church that the guys would be getting together at one of the guys' apartment.

This video ministered to me. It put an inexpressible joy in my heart all day long! I attribute that to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Samba's New Fruit JEWS!

Once you could only get Fruit Chews by Samba, but now there's Fruit Jews!

there’s the Hasidic Jew shaped chew with the hat and the long curls
there's the rich movie producer
there’s Marsha Schwartz, with an attitude
there’s the Jewish American Princess
there’s the rich jeweler from the Bronx
there’s the Israeli soldier

Just for those times when you are mad at a Jew!

Is it because he's too smart?
Or too rich?
Or because he's trying to steal back old territory you think belongs to someone else, or to you?

Try chewing on one of these.

The sweet, fruity taste in the shape of a Jew will make you forget about punching out that Jew, or bombing him.
And it will delight your palate!

Loved by Arabs and most Muslims!
They're Chewy, they're Jewy!
Chew on a Jew!

See what some users are saying about Fruit Jews:

"I do like them!"


"They're pretty darn good!"

So chew on a Jew today!



an Eden original fake ad, taken from Go Free Now
candy pictured from candywarehouse.com
Ahmadinajad photo:drx.typepad.com/.../2007/09/ahmadinejads-id.html
Obama photo:reason.com/.../06/23/obamas-not-so-secret-shame

Tolerance or Patience

If you can't find these virtues amongst humans, perhaps you need to look in the animal kingdom.

Fascinating drawing

The gentleman who drew this is Joe Castillo. He went to Asbury Theological Seminary.

He did this during a chapel service. It was fascinating - he told the Gospel story - each part of Jesus' life - and he was drawing the story as he told the story.

Notice the lines of the drawing. They are scenes from Christ's life.

Searching for Integrity

This is mainly to those Minnesota Organization of Bloggers members who have noticed that my blog(s) have been filled with images that may or may not have come from legitimate sources.

Most of my posts lately have images that come from emails that are being circulated - thus, I believe that the images are public territory.

Only occasionally have I been going to Google images and finding pictures that suit a particular post.

But one of you made comments at the party Saturday night about using legitimate images. Katie Kieffer's amazing blog, which is all above board, makes me aware of the need for integrity in blogging as well.

I have almost 1,100 posts on Garden of Eden and over 300 posts on Go Free Now. What an arduous task to remove all the images that have come from websites that I probably shouldn't have taken them from.

Can anyone in the M.O.B help me with this? I have found a website that offers some information about taking images and I have emailed them, asking them for help. If you have any additional comments, please leave them.

My blog(s) should reflect greater integrity in the future, but oh, what a task I have ahead!

Update: Katie Kieffer emailed me, (thank you) and explained that Google is a great, legitimate source of free images, but I should give credit from now on for the source of the image - name the photographer. I am just wondering if I will know who that is.

The Hard Truth

Go here to read the article about how people worry more about the pain lobsters feel when they are dropped into boiling water than the pain a human being in the womb feels when being severed.

A Tear Jerker

Pet Python Story by The Onion - for KD

Boy’s Tragic Death Could Have Happened To Any Family With 20-Foot Pet Python
KD is Kingdavid - coauthor of Grumpy Old Men, The Prequel. He had his own blog for eons, and loves to post about animals killing people when people are incredibly stupid - and trust them when they shouldn't. I love animals, but not like this!

If This Won The Olympics

Remember when I said: if this is all it took to win the Olympics, I'd be great. Here is what I was talking about.

My Toyota - too funny!

Jay Walking

Wow - really restores your faith in the American people.

Thank God for Barack Obama!

That is right - I will say it "THANK GOD FOR BARACK OBAMA".

WHY?
He destroyed the Clinton Political Machine: Driving a stake thru the heart of Hillary's Presidential aspirations -something no Republican was ever able to do.

Remember when a Hillary Presidency scared the daylights out of you!

He killed off the Kennedy Dynasty: No more Kennedy's trolling Washington looking for booze and women wanting rides home. American women and Freedom are safer tonight!

He is destroying the Democratic Party before our eyes!

Dennis Moore had never lost a race - quit

Evan Bayh had never lost a race - quit

Byron Dorgan - had never lost a race - quit

Harry Reed - in all probability - GONE

These are just a handful of the Democrats whose political careers Obama has destroyed! By the end of 2010 dozens more will be!

In December of 2008 the Democrats were on the rise. In the last two election cycles they had picked up 14 senate seats and 52 house seats. The press was touting the death of the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party.

In one year Obama put a stop to all of this and will probably give the house, if not the senate back to the Republicans.

He has completely exposed liberals and progressives (extremists) for what they are. Every Generation seems to need to relearn the lesson on why they should never actually put liberals in charge. He is bringing home the lesson very well!

Liberals tax, borrow and spend - check

Liberals can't bring themselves to protect America - check

Liberals want to take over the economy - check

Liberals think they know what is best for everyone - check

Liberals aren't happy till they are running YOUR life - check

He has brought more Americans back to conservatism than anyone since Reagan

In One year he rejuvenated the Conservative movement and brought out to the streets millions of Freedom Loving Americans

Name me one other time in your life that you saw your friends and neighbors this interested in taking back America !

In all honesty one year ago I was more afraid than I had ever been in my life. Not of the economy but of the direction our country was going.

I thought Americans had forgotten what this country was all about. My neighbors, friends, strangers proved to me that my lack of confidence of the Greatness and Wisdom of the American people was flat out wrong.

When the American People wake up no smooth talking teleprompter reader can fool them!

Barack Obama woke up these Great Americans!

Again I want say - Thank you Barack Obama!

Psalm 84 - read it out loud!

<sup>My soul is parched and thirsty. My soul longs for God. I don't know what I am going to do until I get enough of God.

Nothing satisfies. Church is people getting together but not reaching God, so it doesn't satisfy. Only for a moment during worship do we touch God. Then we depart again.

When will I again find the power of renewal that I have known where people hungry for God worship endlessly until God comes, and in His presence, all deals are off - the enemy is stilled, the soul's thirst is quenched, and healing flows? I have found something here in St. Paul that is something like what I am talking about. They meet once a month and it is called "His Presence." Waiting for that for a month is almost too much!

In the meantime, there is God's word. God's word has power. Read it out loud. Here is the heart cry of the psalmist. It is the same heart cry.

1</sup> How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O LORD of hosts!
² My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.^b]">[b]

⁸ O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
⁹ O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

¹² O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

I Love Maxine

A friend just sent a bunch of Maxine cartoons. They are too good for words!

The reason I like this cartoon is that this saying bugs me. "Everything happens for a reason." Do you know that this isn't really scriptural?

Many things happen because of Satan. Satan is the god of this world and causes disasters. Many things happen because sin has reaped its reward. God does not expressly cause everything that happens.

Romans 8:28 promises that all things "work together" for good for those who love God and are called according to His promise. Things work together for good, not all things are good, nor were they planned by God.

That's why you never catch me saying, "everything happens for a reason" and that's why a cynical response to that saying in this cartoon cracks me up!

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.