http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:DragonTamer2000&section=today deviantART RSS for by:DragonTamer2000 en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:43:04 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28544783/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28544783/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:45:40 PST Those four words are part of one of my most vivid Thanksgiving memories. My family used to have a sign we would put in the window, a cut-out of a baby-faced little pilgrim only one step more realistic than a "Precious Moments" illustration. In front of him he held a stop sign that said "Stop and Give Thanks." Regrettably I wasn't able to find little Miles Standish this year, but I remember his features as well as I do my own.

Thanks has always been an important theme, especially in Christianity. According to biblegateway.com, the word "thanks" appears 143 times in the Bible (not including variations such as "thank"). "Praise" appears 149 times, "Give glory" 8, and "glorify" 25. Many times in the Bible, people performing amazing feats claimed no thanks for themselves, but fully accredited them to God. Joseph, for example, asserted before Pharaoh that he himself could not interpret dreams, and David clearly voiced the source of his strength when, in his most famous accomplishment, he referred to God nine times and Goliath only twice.

In the movie Ratatouille, the foreboding food critic Anton Ego took great delight in a meal of vegetable soup. When he learned that Linguini, the famous budding chef, was not the genius behind this tasty delight, he immediately wanted to know, "Then who must I thank for the meal?" He actually waited, gladly at that, until the other customers had left. And even after learning that his food had been cooked by a rat, he expressed his gratitude both personally and publicly. Far too often, we fail to acknowledge the rightful recipient of our gratitude for things far greater. Some even try to say there is no one to thank, like a stranger I once encountered on YouTube who blasphemously said, "Let's just be thankfuil that God is imaginary." I was quick to point out the obvious question, "Whom does one thank?"

So listen to the pilgrim this year. Take the old adage literally, and count your blessings. And remember who we owe those blessings to. Be like Ego, and thank the cook. He's entitled to it, after all.

With regard to the holiday, I am going to choose a different verse to post here. Rather than my usual memory passage, I have chosen to conclude this journal with 1 Chronicles 16:8. Please enjoy your Thanksgiving (note: it is not, and never will be, "Turkey Day"), and please leave your favorite verse of gratitude.

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1 Chronicles 16:8 "Give Thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done."

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28447320/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28447320/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:10:29 PST
In other news, we should be able to get down to Connecticut this weekend, so I can have Dad take a look at my computer and hopefully get it fixed. While most of my other projects are in a holding pattern, I've been making some good progress on a Balto variation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Treasure Island (after all, why should Wishbone get all the fun?). As it becomes possible, I'll be putting it up on here, Balto Source, and fanfiction.net in sections.

Romans 2:1-4 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for that in which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28309915/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28309915/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:40:35 PST
On the positive end of things, I'll soon be bringing the Toby Series to fanfiction.net under the username Omnitrix 12 (and possibly here as well). This series, a set of fanfics based on the popular Balto movies, centers on a young dog with an almost worshipful admiration of Balto and an incurable penchant for getting in trouble. The stories proved immensely popular on Balto Source, so now I decided to expand.

Also, I've finished going through the first chapter of Romans, but a few verses didn't take on the first round. Accordingly, I will be re-memorizing a few before I go on to chapter 2.

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Romans 1:3-4 ...concerning His Son, who was born a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of Holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord...

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28012701/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/28012701/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:55:02 PDT
The job is incredible. Great pay, an unbelievable employee discount in case I decide to become a customer too, and I get to work close to home in my own hours. And best of all... well, let's just say I can't wait to see the looks on my brothers' faces when they find out I'll be selling knives. XD

The catch is, there are a few delays to me working. The meetings would lead to some schedule conflicts with my Mom, and since I don't have a driver's license, even sharing a car would prove problematic-especially since the office is several miles away, and our car needs an oil change we don't have the money for. Fortunately, the manager understands my difficulty and says I can just let him know when I'm ready to start training.

In the meantime, I'll still be looking for a job with regular hours and pay (this job I'll get paid by visit) so I can have a consistent budget. Whatever I make once I start as a salesman will probably go to savings or charity.

Thank you to everyone who's been praying for me. God really has provided.

In an unrelated note, I'm on the thirties of chapter one in Romans (some of the lists like the one below are tough to memorize completely and in order). The memory verses in this journal have nothing to do with my job. lol

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Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, and though they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but give hearty approval to those who practice them.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/27372372/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/27372372/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:16:59 PDT
Pro-Life activist James Poullion was known to frequently stand outside Owosso High school of Owosso, Michigan, holding a large poster of a baby with the word "Life," in large letters... until he was shot and killed on September 11 in the act of so doing. Authorities have confirmed that he was killed for his pro-life stand. Harlan Drake, a resident of Owosso, has been charged with the first-degree murder of Jim, along with the death of another resient earlier that day.

Erin Biermacher, President of Students for Life of Michigan, had this to say: "Pro-life students across Michigan are shocked and saddened by the senseless death of Jim Poullion. Jim cared deeply for innocent unborn children and their mothers, and his strong witness will be missed. Students for Life across the state of Michigan pledge to honor Jim's legacy. Today, despite this tragic news, we renew our dedication to shining the light of truth on the tragic impact of abortion in our campuses and local communities."

Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life of America, offers her own view. "Pro-life students across America were shocked to hear the news about the senseless killing of pro-life activist Jim Poullion on Friday. Jim was peacefully protesting trying to educate those most targeted by the abortion industry about what abortion really is. He was doing what many of us have and continue to do on a regular basis. We are saddened to see someone decide to take a life because he did not agree with Jim's position on abortion. Just as it is with abortion, killing never solves the problem."

As for my own view on the matter, call me cynical, but it doesn't surprise me. Drake was obviously pro-choice, and it's hardly a shock that anyone who thinks they have the right to decide an unborn baby's death would think the same with regard to an active "inconvenience" like Jim Poullion. Even the very doctors who perform the heinous "legal" murders known as abortions surely realize, deep down, that Dr. Suess was right. "A person's a person, no matter how small." Sadly, though, the rational of abortion has reared an ugly head in the logic one can infer behind the terrible crime of Harlan Drake: "An obstacle's an obstacle, no matter how big." Erin Biermacher and Kristan Hawkins have spoken the truth. This murderer clearly wanted to silence Jim's message. But, as is appropriate for something taking place on September 11th, he only put a mousetrap to a lion's tail. He showed us what abortion, and its advocates, really are, and he has done so more vividly than Jim's protests ever could.

We will remember. Jim's death will not be in vain.

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Romans 1:8-17 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far), that I may obtain some fruit among you, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. For I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise men and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not asahmed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/26790483/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/26790483/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:12:10 PDT First of all, I graduated from college yesterday, with honors! I'm now living in an apartment close to the college, and I hope to tutor my brother when he attends (maybe along with some other students). First, though, please pray that I can find a job soon, along with the resources and training I need to get some wheels under me aside from my bike. Also, in order to avoid losing my momentum from Bible college, I have decided to memorize the book of Romans.
Second, I. Am. In. Love. I met a girl while working at the same summer camp I worked at last year, and after a somewhat un-promising start (we were introduced by a somewhat excitable friend, and she at first tok me for another spazz case), she and I were hooked; so much s that had we not agreed never to kiss until the pastor gives us the go-ahead (hey, it doesn't hurt to consider how things might turn out), we would have probably done so every day, if not every waking hour. She is kind, sincere, intelligent, wholly devoted to God, and downright beautiful on the outside too. I've only known her for a short time, but in that short time God has used our relationship for more good than the bad of all my past relationships put together. We've been a real help to each other, and from what I understand she's even, largely through our bond, been able to reassure a friend of hers that God is good and faithful, instead of some cosmic bully who is the cause of everyone's problems. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I really think she might be the one.
And one final piece of news: I am laying off DA. I've had some good times here, but it came to my attention that someone I don't even know, evidently angry at my opposition to a certain malignment of Balto characters, has posted slanderous claims I won't repeat regarding my conduct on the internet. Although I refute these false accusations, and have been utilizing the filter provided by this site for quite some time, I would not leave any room for reasonable doubt even in my most irrational enemies. For that reason, I am setting up a filter on my laptop, which will block me from sits I wouldn't go on anyway, along with this one. I will still be on from time to time, through public computers, which I know no one will delude themselves into thinking I would misuse. I may also come on from here to post my art, but that will only be under the supervision of the friend to whom I am entrusting control of the filter when we next meet.
I've had a lot of changes in a short span of time. I went from single to courting, fromstudent to graduate, from employed (in the sense that I worked in the kitchen at school/camp) to unemployed, and from dorm life to an apartment I have mostly to myself. But wherever I go, and whatever I do, I will serve the King of the Ages.

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Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have recieved grace and apostleship t bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/25222794/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/25222794/ Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:20:08 PDT
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]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/23737301/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/23737301/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:26:35 PDT In some news (as you can see) I managed to get a deviation up. More will come, I hope, starting with text and then pictures later on. I hope you all enjoy them when they come up.
I recently watched Fireproof, and if anyone hasn't seen it, I strongly recommend that you do. Out of all the movies I've seen, I think this one is the best. Bar none.

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Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humiliy, gentleness and patience.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/22375462/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/22375462/ Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:10:59 PST Thanks to my friend xArialx, I have a tip now on how to post text deviations on here. So hopefully soon, I'll be able to submit one or two of my stories from elsewhere on the internet.
Also, I got pegged by a friend with this and intend to pass it on. I'll pick my victims just as soon as I get unstuck from other business.
Well I was tagged again by: FaPingMulan
1. Post these rules.
2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.
4. Go to their pages and send them a message saying they have been tagged.
5. No tag-backs

1. I am a steadfast Christian.
2. I love writing
3. I am working towards being a published author
4. I play the Redemption card game
5. I love a good piece of art
6. I am old enough to keep a secret (and tht's all you need to know)
7. I have three dragons, each within three feet of the other, in my room
8. I don't know the meaning of giving up a fight

I tag
ITTOFAN04
~BrotherBearKenai
~Whitegermanshepherds
~Kelev
~FATtimon
*Spuderific
*SeekHim
~Sand3some

Oh, and a few other pressing matters:
As I mentioned a few journals ago, I will be going to Uganda for a course called Missions Reality. We're supposed to have half our funds in by January 15, and so far I have managed to raise $100.00. I am not asking for money here, nor will I take it via the internet if it's offered. But please, PLEASE pray for this effort, since we know God's resources are unlimited.

Also, over te next few weeks, we will be running our annual Snow Camp here on campus. For those who aren't familiar with it, Snow Camp is more or less what it sounds like. We, the students and staff, run a camp here at the college every weekend, where we minister to literally hundreds of children through rallies, one-on-one counseling, and a host of fun activities. Please pray for this, too. We don't just want Christian kids to come, we want the monsters. Cursers, cutters, brats; you name 'em, we want 'em to come because it's people like that who can go back home and have people asking what changed them so dramatically.

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1 John 4:14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21608065/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21608065/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:36:44 PST
Prop. 8 supporter Jose Nunez, 37, was assaulted brutally while distributing yard signs to other supporters after church services at the St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto.

Calvary Chapel Chino Hills was spray painted by vandals after they learned that the church served as an official collection point for Prop. 8 petitions.

Letters containing white powder (obviously mimicking anthrax) were sent to the Salt Lake City headquarters of the Mormon church and to a temple in Los Angeles. (Thankfully, the FBI said the substance was nontoxic.)

The 25-year artistic director of the California Musical Theatre, who also happens to be a Mormon, was muscled to resign because of his $1,000 donation to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California.

A pro-homosexual, pro-anarchy organization named Bash Back marched into the middle of a church service and flung fliers and condoms to the congregants. They also hung a banner from the balcony that featured two lesbians in provocative positions at the pulpit.

And lastly, the tolerance-preaching activists also have taken their anger to the blogosphere, where posts have planted ideas ranging from burning churches to storming the citadels of government until our society is forced to overturn Prop. 8. You even can find donor blacklists online. The lists include everyone who financially backed Prop. 8 -- even those who gave as little as $46 -- with the obvious objective that these individuals will be bantered and boycotted for doing so.

What's wrong with this picture? Lots.

First, there's the obvious inability of the minority to accept the will of the majority. Californians have spoken twice, through the elections in 2000 and 2008. Nearly every county across the state (including Los Angeles County) voted to amend the state constitution in favor of traditional marriage.

Nevertheless, bitter activists simply cannot accept the outcome as being truly reflective of the general public. So they have placed the brainwashing blame upon the crusading and misleading zealotry of those religious villains: the Catholics, evangelical Protestants, and especially Mormons, who allegedly are robbing the rights of American citizens by merely executing their right to vote and standing upon their moral convictions and traditional views.

What's surprising (or maybe not so) is that even though 70 percent of African-Americans voted in favor of Proposition 8, protests against black churches are virtually nonexistent. And everyone knows exactly why: Such actions would be viewed as racist. Yet these opponents of Prop. 8 can protest vehemently and shout obscenities in front of Mormon temples without ever being accused of religious bigotry. There's a clear double standard in our society. Where are the hate-crime cops when religious conservatives need them?

There were many of us who passionately opposed Obama, but you don't see us protesting in the streets or crying "unfair." Rather, we are submitting to a democratic process and now asking how we can support "our" president. Just because we don't like the election outcome doesn't give us the right to bully those who oppose us. In other words, if democracy doesn't tip our direction, we don't swing to anarchy. That would be like the Wild West, the resurrection of which seems to be happening in these postelection protests.

I agree with Prison Fellowship's founder, Chuck Colson, who wrote: "This is an outrage. What hypocrisy from those who spend all of their time preaching tolerance to the rest of us! How dare they threaten and attack political opponents? We live in a democratic country, not a banana republic ruled by thugs."

Regardless of one's opinion of Proposition 8, it is flat-out wrong and un-American to intimidate and harass individuals, churches and businesses that are guilty of nothing more than participating in the democratic process. Political protests are one thing, but when old-fashioned bullying techniques are used that restrict voting liberties and even prompt fear of safety, activists have crossed a line. There is a difference between respectfully advocating one's civil rights and demanding public endorsement of what many still consider to be unnatural sexual behavior through cruel coercion and repression tactics. One thing is for sure: The days of peaceful marches, such as those headed up by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seem to be long gone.

The truth is that the great majority of Prop. 8 advocates are not bigots or hatemongers. They are American citizens who are... ]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21454709/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21454709/ Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:49:58 PST This has me really fired up, so much so that when I get home I intend to take my brothers out to do it right in our hometown!

On a related note, there's a "trend" I'm trying to start: Verse of the Day. The way it works is every day (or perhaps every week, depending on how often you get on your favorite site), take a verse and type it in at the end of every post you make. A lot of you may have noticed I've taken to doing this. It's a valuable way to memorize a verse quickly and effectively, remind yourself on a repeated basis to live God's word in the way you speak to others, and in the words of Ken Davis, help others to "Lighten up and live." I encourage you to do this if you feel so led. If you're not on a set program for it (like the one at my college), you can get a daily verse at biblegateway.com, or by using the Verse of the Day" application on Facebook.

And one last thing, a little project I came up with out of the blue: I'm trying to come up with a list of 25 ways to live the joy of Christmas. Not just decorating and stuff like that (although that's good too), but real things like caroling or helping at a food pantry or homeless shelter. If anyone has any ideas they might like to put on the list, please let me know (I may make an Advent Calendar out of this). All contributions are appreciated.

God bless you all!

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Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand. that we would walk in them.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21043744/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/21043744/ Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:15:55 PDT
This coming Friday, I'll be working the the Word of Life Superbowl, an event where kids come to watch a sports game, hear a gospel message, go skating, pig out on pizza, and (again) basically have a good time.
My grades are picking up a bit from a brief drop, and if all goes well I should come back up to at least a three by the end of the quarter.

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Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20922065/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20922065/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:11:03 PDT Getting through seventh grade may not seem like much of an accomplishment. But for Divya, a student in Karnataka, India, it was an amazing feat. She was blind and could only study by listening to the teachers and answering questions aloud on her exams.

In spite of obvious obstacles, Divya made it through junior college and also became a good singer. But while she was able to accomplish much more than her society thought her capable of, she felt empty deep inside. And that was not from blindness.

At the worst point, Divya considered suicide. Her accomplishments were just not satisfying. Then the Lord sent Gospel for Asia missionary Balaji to her house at the right moment.

When Balaji visited, he offered Divya a Gospel tract, not knowing she was blind. When he realized that she could not read the tract, he stayed and talked with her. As he shared the Gospel, she was touched. Divya said she never knew that someone died for her sins and cared for her. She gratefully received Christ, realizing that He would fill the void she felt so deeply.

Enthusiastic with this newfound hope, Divya began visiting all the homes near hers and sharing Jesus with them. She still can't see, but she is guiding many to the knowledge of God's love for them.

Divya asks for prayer that the Lord would heal her from blindness, and that her ministry will bear much fruit for the Kingdom.

"Nothing is impossible with Him," our correspondent wrote. Divya believes it.

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For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20809594/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20809594/ Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:59:58 PDT That's the good news. The other side of it is...
- I need to raise 2.5 grand by then.
- A friend of mine, kindly looking out for me (I won't name her unless she chooses to come forward herself) has pointed out that Uganda is prone to some violence, so although I put my confidence in the school and the fact that they have never lost a student on any such trip, there is some possibility that I might not get back in one piece.
However, I have full trust that God's got plans for me, and whatever they are I know he's going to keep me as intact as I'll need to be.
If anyone wants to fund the trip, the answer is no thank you. I appreciate any such intention, but I'm not going to ask total strangers to send me across the Atlantic. What I will ask for is prayer support. Pray for me, and for all of us, that God will use this trip for His honor and glory.

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Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
1 John 5:4,5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20623641/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20623641/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:36:55 PDT [link] ), with plans to set up another one. Well, here's the big news: I asked the makers of the well-known webcomic, "Faux Pas" if I could link to some of their comics as examples in the tutorial. Not only did they give the OK, but they want to see the tutorial when it's done!
This is a pretty big achievement for me, considering how careful they are about copyright issues (they don't even allow fanart or fanfiction of their work).
Also another word: from now on I'm going to start posting semi-random Bible verses in my journals as an addition to my memorization plan. Just thoguht I'd add that note

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Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, batizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 15:6 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20391413/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20391413/ Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:19:02 PDT First off, my cousin recently got married. I'm not giving out her name or the groom's, for obvious reasons, but here's hoping their life together is long and joyful!
In other news, we have a small pest-control problem: a possum has been slipping in and eating our cat's food. We've set out a have-a-heart trap, but I have my doubts since the the thing tends to go off on nothing at all. Any suggestions?
And finally, I'm returning to college before too long, so pray for me on that as well. And pray for my roommates, since I've been gathering a few... ideas for some light-hearted mischief.

UPDATE: I've got a few bits of good news and bad news. The good news is, we got something in our trap last night. The bad news is, it wasn't a possum. And the other good news is that I now know it is possible to get within three feet of a trapped skunk without getting sprayed. Two feet might, just might, be another story. *holds nose*

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20021815/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/20021815/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:03:30 PDT
My plans for the coming year: study more, and finally get my book to an editor if humanly possible. My plans long-term: wherever the Lord takes me, although I've been thinking about maybe living in Israel. A certain friend of mine has said a lot of things about that country that make it sound quite appealing.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19862408/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19862408/ Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:50:51 PDT
"Thank you for a terrific week!! This was our first "away from home" experience and my camper has already asked to return next year. She is the fourth generation in our family to take advantage of your facilities."

"My husband is not a believer and our daughter was better prepared to talk with him about spiritual matters!"

"A week after coming home from camp they were still talking about it. Thank you so much for making their camp experience so meaningful and for the love that was shared. They truly had a wonderful time and my husband and I were at peace knowing that they were in good hands. God's love was truly present there. Thanks again they are already talking about going next year."

"Never having sent our kids away to camp before, My husband and I were very impressed with your camp and felt a sense of comfort in leaving our children in your hands for a week. There counselors were sweet, loving, thoughtful and great role models. We are very impressed and happy with the camp as a whole."

"My son enjoyed the bible study times and now says he wants to continue to do quiet time at home."

And one response from a parent asked if there was any way we could improve:

"Nah, WOL is the best place on earth!"

If you want to come next year, or know someone else who might, I'll provide info on how to get here more easily as soon as possible.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19667782/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19667782/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:59:34 PDT In other news, I had an operation. The old wich-doctor didn't give me any anesthetic (didn't even ask until afterward) and had me walking out less than ten minutes after it was over. It was an epidecomy for an injury caused by repeated minor abrasions to a lower micro-appendage. If you know what that means in English, good for you (I'm not sure about the last part).

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19513065/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19513065/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:01:15 PDT I never thought it could happen, but after hating every minute of it since September I'm finally starting to enjoy dish pit!
We had a game a few nights ago where (after hours) we had to sneak out of our cabins past a bunch of guys with flashlights (mostly unite leaders) to a certain spot on the campus- sorta like "Red Light- Green Light," ony a little more complicated and you could take almost any route to get there instead of just going straight. Those who made it got free pizza
And last but not least, a pretty funny thing happened to me a few days ago. I was jotting down a list of things I wanted to do, and one of them was to look up some movie or other (I think it was Inspector Gadget) on pluggedinmag.org. But when I went to writie it down, I suddenly forgot the movie I wanted to look up. I decided to just leave the words "Look up" in case I remembered later.
The following day, as I was adding another note to my list, I started to erase the incomplete post when it suddenly hit me: LOOK UP. How many times do we go through life always staring at the ground and never looking up when we need help?

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19216930/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19216930/ Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:27:31 PDT (Matthew 4:19)

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19094855/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19094855/ Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:18:01 PDT Activities include, but are not limited to:
*Mud Pit. We actually sell "I Survived" T-shirts for this one. The Mud Pit is a great (and quite fitting) setting for games like "Steal The Bacon."
*The Beach. We have two beaches, actually, which include a water slide, inflatables, and water tubing (which you have not LIVED until you have tried).
* Horse and Pony Rides.
*Arts and Crafts.
*Archery (don't worry, parents, it's totally safe).
*Climbing Tower and Zip Line.
*Rallies with music, skits, and Bible teaching.
And much more. More information available at [link] .
Other WOL Camps:
*Florida Youth Camp, ages 6-12
*Ranger Camp (NY) ages 11-12
*Florida Youth Camp, ages 13-18
*WOL Island (aka The Rock) ages 13 to 18.
*Inn and Family Campground, all ages. Inn is 4-star (would be 5, but no wine).
If anyone wants more info on any of these, I can easily provide it.
Oh, on a side note, can someone tell me how to make text bold or itallicized in comments on this site?

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19094846/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/19094846/ Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:01:44 PDT "Blocked01": Blocked permanately for obscene jokes.
"Blocked02": Given a time-out for indecent language and vulgarity in signature (I call this the "dress code").
"Blocked03": Blocked for needlessly graphic sexual comments. I should probably make it permanate, but against my better judgement I'll cut her some slack and let her back in a while.
"Blocked04": Said he was too busy to "waste time with me," so I gave him a time-out to get his other business in order.
"Blocked05": Banned for refusing to even acknoledge the main subject. People who come just to get on someone's case are not welcome. Ban time undecided.
"Blocked06": Obscenities, off-topic, and refusing to leave when asked. Probably going to stay blocked.
"Blocked07": Blocked for spamming me with text-images of swastikas and other symbols. Permanately, since he never posted anything else.
"Blocked08": Banned permanately for EXTREMELY vulgar comments which I won't specify here. Take note, you trash-talker, I'm not scared of you.
"Blocked09": Major use of obscentities. Against better judgement, I may allow him back.
"Blocked10": Obscene text in literally every post (not only in what he wrote, but in his avatar). Will be blocked indefinitely.
I think there are others, but that's all I'm going to bother with for now. If you want details on the posts I've hidden, you can ask via note. But you... probably don't want to know.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18943199/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18943199/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:42:34 PDT We learned a lot of things at the campfire, but the most important thing we were told, I think, was this simple fact: If He's not Lord of all, He's not Lord AT all. So let me ask you, dear reader, have you been holding back something from God? Saying, "God, you can have this part of my life, but don't touch this?" I know some who have, and it's a foolish game to do so. Don't be false like Ananias and Saphira (this has no connection to Eragon). Lay it all down at the feet of Jesus.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18808039/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18808039/ Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:49:46 PDT The site in question claims that Hitler was a Christian because he was baptized as an infant and raised in the Catholic church as an altar boy. Now, church upbringing is fine and dandy, but being an altar boy doesn’t make you a Christian any more than working in a stable will make you a horse! And infant baptism shows nothing about a person’s heart or mindset. That’s like saying that if you paint a baby he’ll turn into a house.
The same holds true for the matter of Hitler attending a monastery school in his boyhood. This means absolutely nothing! As a young boy, I devoured books and videos about dinosaurs, many of which chanted the mantra, “Millions of years, millions of years.” All the way up until college I attended a string of secular schools which promoted evolutionary thinking, and in the process I was frequently vilified by teachers and classmates alike for believing otherwise. My father was an evolutionist (I am not sure if he is still, as we have not discussed the matter for some time) who, when his parents saw me reading a book purporting Creation Science, felt the need to apologize to them for me possessing such literature. He, like my education from kindergarten through high school, did everything to beat the notion of a literal Genesis out of my head. Yet despite these early influences I hold firm, and with the blessing of God I shall always stand where I stand. Now tell me, or be silent, how is it that such an upbringing could not beat me down, yet the opposite upbringing could not have possibly FAILED to shape Hitler? If one’s school were so valid a determining factor in what one believes and does as an adult, I would be an evolutionist.
It is also of note that Hitler saw a swastika on the monastery’s coat of arms. I confess I have not studied the swastika’s history to much extent, but answer me this: if racists encircled a black family’s home with gasoline and set it alight, would that make circles a symbol of evil back to their roots (for example, would we forbid children afterwards to watch The Lion King because of the “Circle of Life”? Only a fool would claim so!
Regarding Hitler’s desire to be a priest as a boy, and his love of church and clergy, here is a quote from “Mein Kampf.”
“I had excellent opportunity to intoxicate myself with the solemn splendor of the brilliant church festivals. As was only natural, the abbot seemed to me, as the village priest had once seemed to my father, the highest and most desirable ideal.”
Again, a cursory glance reveals the flaws in any claim to use this. In the first place we know that Hitler was a twisted man, certainly not above lying to promote his ends. It would be child’s play for him to pretend to be a friend of the church, as we shall see more later on. In the second place, it is of note that he expressed love for the positions of authority within the church, which makes perfect sense since he was clearly intoxicated with the idea of power. He also showed a love for, not the church itself, but the pageantry of it. In other words, he loved the trimmings and trappings. He was, in short, concerned with what he could get out of the church instead of what he could put into it. He was not seeking, as Christ put it, “treasures in Heaven,” but was storing up his wealth on Earth.
The article my “informant” directed me to went on to say that Hitler’s actions were never condemned by the Catholic church. Note that the Catholic church has largely been as much a political party as a religious one through its history, and in that particular time it was especially so. With Hitler all but running the economy and being in total control of the military, the Catholic church cannot have felt safe with the idea of condemning him. If you think I am pulling this out of a hat, think again. Consider when King Henry VIII wanted his first marriage annulled. The Pope denied it, not because of religious purposes, but because a powerful ruler related to the queen was already miffed at him and had threatened to “shorten him by a foot” (behead him, in other words) if crossed again. Besides all this, the Catholic church has historically held a hatred of Jews as the ki... ]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18092833/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/18092833/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:02:11 PDT My birthday is coming up, May 5th! For personal reasons I choose not to reveal my age publicly, except that I am "As old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth (Chris Kindle, "Miracle on 34th Street")."
I am still in the process of writing my first deviation for this site, which will be titled "Blood From A Stone," and is my first crac at historical fiction. It will likely be followed in short order by a number of stories which have little or nothing to do with history, but will nonetheless be, I hope, very enjoyable. Not the least of these is the story I am co-authoring with Kelev, which is a prequel to my immensely popular "Toby Series."
Well, that's all the news for now! Until next time! (and to my friend who has stated a fondness for my editorials, don't worry; I have not gone soft by any means, and my next project is a real doozy)

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17938889/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17938889/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:23:39 PDT Apparently the girl has been troubled by heart problems for some time, having recently undergone surgery. But in the follow-up examination in the wake of her heart attack, it was discovered that the problem was worse than thought: she has no main coronary artery to the left side of her heart. It wasn't blocked, it wasn't cut, it simply wasn't there. If not for the heart attack she had while in the hospital, she could have gone through her treatment without the doctors ever knowing this fact and at some point down the road had a heart attack away from the hospital, which most likely would have killed her.
Thanks to this seemingly terrible event, she is now undergoing treatment and will soon recieve a heart transplant. If all goes well, this will allow her to live out a normal, healthy life. It is no wonder that her grandfather was reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says,"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Personally, I'm reminded of the story of Shadrach, Meeshack, and Abednego in the book of Daniel. As He did with those three brave young men, God did not see fit to keep this girl out of the "furnace." Instead, He kept His hand on the situation (and the thermostat!) and walked with her through the fire.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17743034/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17743034/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:47:48 PDT First of all, some have said that I am a Nazi. This is far from the truth, and I have the witnesses to back me up. Were you to ask them, my own room-mates would testify that in spite of pressure from them I cannot even bear setting a lethal mousetrap, only the catch-and-release variety. Outside of capital punishment, and then only in extreme cases, I am firmly against killing any human being. In fact I find it interesting that a certain party who shall remain nameless (and I'd appreciate it if he remains silent as well) flamed me mercilessly for standing against abortion in my past journal about National Right to Life Month, yet turned right around and tried to paint me as tantamount to a Nazi in my last journal on moral corruption.
Also, my denomination has been called into question. Only (and let me repeat that, ONLY) to put this long-tongued Pharisee to silence do I answer, I am of no denomination. My "denomination" is the Bible itself, and my pastor is God or anyone He sees fit to guide me by.

And now, a refresher course on the rules for those who do not know them or are hasty to forget:
*No vulgar language or obscene humor.
*Questioning the Bible IS permitted. Backhanded mockery of it in any way, shape, or form will not be tolerated here. If you want to do something of that order, go someplace else.
*If you're going to make an accusation, be ready to back it up.
*I am all for freedom of speech (Heaven knows I've been deprived of it often enough in the real world and online). But if I ask you to leave, please leave.

I hope this clears matters up.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17544125/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/17544125/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:36:23 PDT I've been thinking lately, and I came to a conclusion: People don't like the Bible, even though they need it.
They try to change or ignore what they don't like about it. People today are trying to claim that the Bible says nothing bad about homosexuality. It does! Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped off the face of the Earth because of that sin. The book of Romans explicitly condemns it right in the fst chapter. And in Leviticus, it is listed as a capital crime.
Some people will try to dismiss the Bible with alternative theories like evolution. But where does that lead? Let's look at some examples. The Aborigines, the native peopleof Australia, were hunted down like animals. Their heads were cut off and their brains removed for study because they were thought to be the missing link between people and apes.
Another, more noteable example: Many of you have probably heard of Mein Kampf, the infamous book written by Adolph Hitler. You probably have not heard , however, that it was dedicated to Charles Darwin. Hitler's whole regime was founded on the idea of "cleansing" the human gene pool of "inferior" DNA (that of Jews, Gypsies, Negros, and the mentally disabled, among others) in order to advance mankind's evolution into a "superior" race! Mind you, I am not saying (as everyone apparently thinks) that science is evil in any way. I am all for a greater understanding of the world God has given us, especially when such exploration stands to benefit humanity. But when people try to put aside even part of the truth of the Bible, look what happens!
These facts are not as widely known as one might think, and no wonder when a preacher (whom I have personally met) needed an armed bodyguard with him in order to speak against sexual immorality. I myself have been ridiculed, even by fellow "Christians," for thinking and believg according to the word of God. You name the insult, it's been used on me before. People have called me dim and narrow-minded for opposing sex outside of marriage, bigoted for believing in universal morals, and idiotic for lining up with the Bible as my guide for living and thinking.
This is what happens when we depart from God's Word. And a P.S. to the mockers mentioned above: if you wear the name "Christian," then I will hear no rebuke from you except on Biblical grounds. Otherwise, you'll just be wasting your time and mine.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/16721374/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/16721374/ Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:58:01 PST As some of you know, I do a lot of writing. So I thought I'd see if anyone wants to see me post my fanfics on here. I have stories for:
*Animorphs
*Spiderman
*Balto (lots of these, and a poem as well)
*Road Rovers
*American Dragon Jake Long (none complete yet)
*Ben 10 (none complete yet)
*All Dogs Go to Heaven (incomplete)
I might also take requests or suggestions if anyone has one I think I can work with. So, who wants to see my stuff?

UPDATE: I've been thinking lately, and I decided it would only be right to put God first here as in everything else. So my first Deviation on this site, be it art or story, will be one about Christianity in some way. After that I'll put up whatever other stories people seem most interested in. Don't worry, I'll try not to keep you waiting too long.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/16451319/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/16451319/ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:39:37 PST Abortion is a serious issue in today's world, so for anyone out there who cares enough to listen, I have some statitics:
*1 out of every 67 deaths worldwide is an American abortion.
*1 fourth of all deaths in America is an aborted child.
*Half of the deaths on the planet are abortions.
*Abortion has claimed seven times more lives than the Holcaust- more lives than all of America's wars put together, a number that continues to grow at 180 per hour.

Abortion is murder. Let's put a stop to it.
To find out more, go to Abort73.com. WARNING: Has videos that are NOT for the faint of heart.

]]> ~DragonTamer2000 http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/15945705/ http://DragonTamer2000.deviantart.com/journal/15945705/ Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:53:24 PST [link]
P.S. No Balto Source username is required. Just post submissions here and let me know. Thanks!

]]> ~DragonTamer2000