Does learning ever cease? God is Green April 29, 2009

I have become absolutely fascinated with the idea of our history, what and whence we came from.  I am watching Waking the Baby Mammoth and to see a creature from 40,000 years ago in near perfect preservation is breathtaking.  She is a little baby mammoth, with so much that she has been able to tell our world.  I find the same fascination in learning our ancient languages and customs.  I would love to study Hebrew, Greek and the ancient of both languages and cultures.  The Bible has never fascinated me as it does now.  As we near towards the crux of civilization.

I find a sort of sadness in the idea that there is so much information about so much: people, places, languages, cultures, land, earth, vegetation, etc.  And I can’t learn it all in my lifetime.  I want to be a scholar of the Bible, and understand some of the references to the language and culture it refers to.  To better understand what the text tells us.  I want to hear the voice of God through the ancient language he communicated to the authors in.  I wish I understood the climate factors that impacted our planet changing as it has since it was created by God, and why the tragedy of our planet continues to unfold.  I feel sad that we don’t care for our planet, and consume so much without replenishing or caring.  I am saddened as well that we don’t care for the creatures of this planet and one another as God intended us to.  Animals that were resplendent and in great number when I was a child, just 25 years ago are now nearing extinction.  Something in that is disturbing and terribly sad.

We need to recycle, we need to reduce our carbon footprints. We need to cherish the planet that God so skillfully and wonderfully created.  We need to honor it.  And in the words of the great Grand Rapids Pastor Rob Bell ‘God is Green.’

So may you go out today and learn, may you find something about our planet and our world and culture that you didn’t know before. May you treasure it and share it with someone else and continue the spread of knowledge.  Appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.  God doesn’t make mistakes.

Who I am and Who am I… April 14, 2009

So I suppose I should start with a little about me?  Well, my name is Martina and I am indeed, the Brit’s Wife!  His blog was ‘The Wandering Brit‘ so I figured I should be the Brit’s wife!!

I am a devout follower of Jesus, and can’t imagine a love like He gives me from anyone else.  I will never understand who am I that Jesus should love me the way He does.  But because of  God, I am who I am.  I love my husband, Dave…my wandering Brit.  I literally have the best husband.  Again though it all comes back to my Jesus though.  Jesus really really loves me and brought me this wonderful husband.

I have an extreme passion for animals.  My dream is to work under Cesar Millan and train to learn some of the behavioral analysis skills that he uses in a hands on setting.  I want to BE the Cat Whisperer.  I do NOT believe that animals are throw aways.  NO animal is a throwaway.  Our animals behavior is a direct result of how we have trained them and our energy.  Discipline, without beating an animal, is effective in establishing dominance over the animal and establishing who the pack leader is.  Who should always be the human!  By us leading our animal, they feel safe, secure and protected.  I AM an animal rights type person.  I try to use only products that are ‘green’ and not tested on animals.  No body or personal care item that we use in our home has ever been tested on animals.

I am GREEN.  I believe in recycling.  I believe in cherishing our planet.  God gave us this earth to care for, not destroy.

So now that you’ve heard my political ravings…lol.

Some of my favorite TV shows:  Criminal Minds, The Unit, The Dog Whisperer, Dog Town, House, Saving Grace, Last Restaurant Standing, Gavin & Stacey, Hotel Babylon (come back to BBC America!!!,) the Graham Norton Show, The Closer, The Cleaner and I’ve recently gotten really into documentary type mystery stuff that has to do with Jesus & the Knights Templar, artifacts, finding a baby mammoth that is a billion years old, etc.

My favorite books: The Bible, and ALL of Paolo Coehlo’s works.  I LOVE his books.  The Alchemist is my favorite.  I would have to say that aside from the Bible, I have learned most from Terri Dieter’s book “Servant of the Lord.”  I like reading mystery books…I’ve read all of Dan Brown’s books and read most of John Grisham’s.

For music, I love music.  LOVE it.  It has always spoken to me deeply and connected to my emotions.  I believe that music can have a huge impact on mood.  Garbage in, garbage out.  I try to listen mostly to Christian music.  I absolutely HATE Rap and R&B as of late.  I love old school stuff, even through to about 2001 but recently its just gotten ugly.  I love rock music and I love alternative music.  I’m a huge Nickelback fan, Linkin Park, still a die hard Limp Bizkit fan.  Some of my favorite Christian bands are: 10th Avenue North, Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, Barlow Girl, Casting Crowns, Need to Breathe…oh and I could go on and on.

I love most foods.  My favorite is definitely sushi.  Sushi in St. Pete/Tampa I have 2 favorites: Sushi Rock in St. Pete (AMAZING) and Soho Sushi in Tampa (also AMAZING and super reasonably priced.)  I LOVE to try new foods.  I thought I hated Indian food, nope!  Love it!  LOVE Vietnamese food.  Ben Thanh in Pinellas Park is SUPER yummie AND its healthy!  I love Thai, I love Cuban, Japanese, Mexican (if its fresh and done right.)

I LOVE wine.  I am a bit of a wine snob after an amazing trip to Paso Robles Wine Country with my Mom for my 30th Birthday.  (Don’t hate…I’m not saying how old I am, I am just eternally 30!)  My favorite wines are jammy, loaded with berry flavors.  I don’t care for most ‘oak’ tasting or ‘peppery’ wines.  I love my smooth berry, jammy, chocolate finishes.  I love Cabernet’s, Shiraz, Syrah, Zinfandel, blends…not keen on Merlot’s though so much.  I also LOVE Moscato, dessert wines, sweet yummie wines!

I love culture and cultural experiences.  I think that what makes us different, culturally, is fascinating.  I find traditions of other cultures and religions to be fascinating and alluring.  Judiasm is one of THE most beautiful religions and I long to learn Hebrew and be able to read my Bible in the language it was first written in/first translated to.  For that matter, I also need to learn Greek to learn the original language.  And Greek culture also fascinates me.  I would love to spend time traveling the world learning different languages and traditions by culture.

I hate ignorance and cockiness.  NO ONE is always right.  Like I will say now, I have opinions.  I have no problem expressing them.  However, I also believe that my opinions are not the only opinions.  Sometimes I may be ‘right’ but it’s more about expressing myself than proving a point.  I got over that when God started changing my soul.  I don’t claim to be humbe, in fact God is still working hard on my spirit.  I pray for myself to be further humbled.  I pray that I am kind and project a kind spirit to people.

One of my biggest weakness’ is that I like animals more than I like most people.  We all have faults, but animals for the most part just want to love us and be loved.  I HATE animal cruelty.  There is no reason for it and it is absolutely dispicable.

I love storms, I love the lightning in Florida.  I hate humidity.  I love to cuddle in bed on a cold morning, or on a rainy day.  I love my cats.  Nothing in this world brings me more calm and happiness than to have them snuggle me to show me their love.  I love writing, journaling, talking to people and meeting new people.

I think that is about enough for now.  I sure can go on and on!!

The last thing I will close with is that I am currently seeking my new career.  I need to start contributing to our family and we sure would like to find a house before the end of the year!  (want that tax credit!!)  But I really, really need to get a job.  In the meantime, someway, somehow God continues to provide for us.  Grace & Peace.