God's Gift-Christmas Message from Sam Butcher

Date: 12/25/2010
Location:  In your heart 

GOD'S GIFT! 
One night in Bethlehem, a heavenly host of angels appeared and announced the birth of Jesus to a group of lowly shepherds. One would think by this passage of scripture that only the Israelites were aware of his birth, but they were not. Long before he was born, the prophets spoke of His coming and prophesied throughout the Middle East and Asia. As a result the wise men came from afar to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world (mankind) that He gave (as a gift) His only begotten Son that whosoever (anyone) who believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

What greater gift can we receive for Christmas than the gift of Eternal Life? And by faith, it can be ours if we put our trust in Christ. May your season end with a new beginning and may the love of God encompass you throughout this coming year.

Sincerely in His love,
Sam

inmate (n) one of the people living in an institution such as a prison or a mental hospital

cross (v) oppose, speak against

drift = gist = meaning

[catch sb's drift]

[get the drift]

ransom note

It bugs me

dues (n) = member fee

French braid = French plait

slit your wrist

not the sharpest knife in the drawer / not the sharpest tool in the box = not intelligent

unconscionable (j) (of an action) so bad, immoral,... that it should make you feel ashamed

in your element: doing what you are good at and enjoy

Eggs don't agree with me.

 You will answer to me for any damage to the car.

 Sometimes my mom criticizes me without allowing me to answer back. Not having the chance to defend myself feels unfair and uncomfortable.

Sometimes what I say in my daily stories in my dairy just don't add up.

I bank on God's program. I count on Mother Mary. I reckon on the Holy Saints.

I hadn't bargained on joining GLV the previous year.

I really don't like it when the subject is brought up.

Every time I talk to my Father it all boils down to me being a nun in the end.

I keep running into him all the time. I hate it.

Full scholarships are hard to come by these days.

Sometimes I daydream I'd suddenly come into a great fortune!

I don't know what came over him to lay eyes on her.

One of the greatest things about coming home after being away is the return to familiarity. Familiar places, sights, feelings, roads, friends. It’s the “default”. I often think of home as the “constant” in my life. While everything else in my life is up in the air in a whirlwind of variables, home stays consistent and therefore helps remind me of what’s real, and what’s important.

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/687472572/homepage-set-to-default/

creep up on sb/sth = to surprise someone by walking up behind them silently

leave/make its mark on sb/sth = to affect s.o or sth so that they change in a permanent or very noticeable way

moped (n) xe gan may

demise (n,v) death 

valiant (j) very brave, especially in a difficult situation

hit an emotional chord with

strike/touch a chord (with sb) to do or say sth that people feel is familiar or true

inherent (jl) IN: a quality that is inherent in sth is a natural part of it and cannot be separated from it

wok (n) cái chảo

skank (informal) = heroine

partake (v) IN: take part in an activity

hold the fort = to be responsible for something while the person usually responsible for it is not there

retract (v) take back what you said or did

retraction (n) an official statement that something that you said previously is not true

angst (n) strong feelings of anxiety and unhappiness because you are worried about your life, your future, or what you should do in a particular situation

condescending (jl) behaving as though you're superior to other people

eat your words = to admit what you said was wrong

pensive (jl) thinking a lot about something, especially because you are worried or sad

It dawned on me that...

dawn on sb: if a fact dawns on you, you realize it for the first time

legit (j) honest and not trying to deceive people

have a lot/enough on your plate = (informal) to have a lot of problems to deal with or to worry about

at fault: if someone is at fault, they are responsible for something bad that has happened

[A special day calls for a special post.]

hanky panky (n used informally and humorously) sexual activity

for days/weeks etc on end = for many days, weeks etc without stopping

case = a set of reasons why something should happen or be done

[make your case]

[And I'd make my case to my Mom as to why she should buy me a new dress.]

eloquent (jl) able to express your ideas and opinions well, especially in a way that influences people

eloquence (n)

plug (n) a way of advertising a book, film etc by mentioning it publicly, especially on television or radio

Over the holiday, I watched "Meet the Robinsons".  I was looking forward to watching it for some time (ever since I saw the T Rex say "I have a big head, and little arms"...genius writing) It was, a really great movie.  Not gonna lie either...I almost cried at the end when everything was coming together for the main character, Lewis. (Yeah so?! I'm not gonna front) =P 
Anyway, Lewis' main motto in the movie was "Keep moving forward".  No matter what mistakes you make, or however you've failed, you must keep moving forward.  Never quit, never turn it into anger at others or yourself. Turned out it was taken from a quote from Walt Disney himself.

"Keep moving forward" Yeah, I know it was probably a movie aimed at 12 yr olds, but I'll take my lessons and advice where I can get them.  Seemed fitting what w/ it being the end of the year and stuff.
Somehow another year has gotten by me. It's amazing how time can pass by so quickly, while feeling so slow at times.
So like, I do this thing on any given day, where I think back to where I was one yr ago.  I don't know why, but I get some kind of satisfaction out of examining the difference.  Today is no different.  It's just another day, but according to our calendar, dates must now end with Zero Eight, rather than Zero Seven.  Therefore, I do reflect on where I was, one year ago, and how to keep moving forward.
What was only 12 months, feels like a long time ago.  In that time, I had some amazing highs, and some pathetic, shameful lows.  But what would a year in ones' life be w/out those ups and downs?  All I can do is acknowledge the change, pray that I learned something from the progression, and of course....be thankful for all that was given to me when I probably didn't deserve it.

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/635097062/ohhh-seven-t/

My spiritual walk with God is at a stand still if not slowly going in reverse.  I WANT to make it more of my life...no, encompass all of my life. =\.  And I feel as tho my life is full of so many amazing blessings, like He's screaming for my attention, but, I ignore, or don't return the attention...because, my mind is obviously somewhere else.

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/628216691/homeslice/

in reverse = in the opposite way to normal or to the previous situation

go into reverse/put something into reverse = to start to happen or to make something happen in the opposite way

encompass (v) to include a wide range of ideas, subjects, etc.
                     to completely cover or surround something

stupendous (jl) surprisingly large or impressive, magnificent

horrendous (j) frightening, terrible, extremely unreasonable or unpleasant

[I'm in a horrendous debt.]

glimmer of hope

recap (v) ON: to repeat the main points of sth that has just been said

recap (n)

be on the edge = (informal) to be behaving in a way that makes it seem as if you are going crazy

pertain to something = relate directly to something

standstill (n) a situation in which there is no movement or activity at all

[at a standstill]

[come to a standstill/bring something to a standstill]

I saw a couple walk in to the store.  They entered side by side, preoccupied...looking around in random directions.  If they were standing a few more feet apart, you'd think they were strangers.  What struck me, was despite their lack of focus on one another, their hands, their hands gradually came together, almost as if they found each other on their own. I thought that was really cool. Like, they had their own mind...or subconsciously, the couple was thinking of one another, and despite the hustle and bustle of the rest of their body, they were still connected.

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/609602450/its-all-in-the-hands/

"10.7.06
So, last weekend, I was in San Diego to be a judge for Ascension tryouts.  It was the first time I was there since school started again.  It never hit me before…but this time when I went down and saw ppl again, walked on campus…it felt pretty dang sucky.

Yes, college is over, and yes it sucks.  But like I said, everyone has to deal with this.  Everyone has their own dilemmas and feelings toward the end of their college years, facing the real world.  This transition…really sucks for some because their change in lifestyle is depressingly dramatic.
But, for me…the transition hasn’t been so bad.  I’m still living away from home.   I've been given the opportunity to  pursue my dreams, doing something I love.  I’m living w/ two great  friends who are pursuing this dream with me.  and I have a wonderful girlfriend/companion/friend. 

So…yes, though I helllaaaaa miss college and all the fun associated w/ it, everyone hasta move on.  And if I hafta move on…what I moved on to…is pretty much the best thing I could ask for (realistically).  So I can’t really complain.  So when people ask me how post-college life is, how’s LA?  I tell them... honestly, I can’t complain, because everything I have right now, is truly a blessing. 

And truth is, I did what I could to live college to the fullest.  So I should be thankful for what I got. I had the buddies, excitement, purpose, experiences, struggles, lessons…all the things needed to make some of the most ideal college memories. There isn’t a thing I would change.  So maybe that’s why I miss college so much.  Cause it was everything I wanted (whether i knew it at the time or not).

Now, ripped away from it…I begin something new.  Though what I’m living right now, is not part of the college era…it’s part of some era.  And though it’s not the same as college…it’s not supposed to be.  It has to be different so that I can grow and move forward w/ my life.  College happened, and it was amazing.  Now, I’m starting something new…that could potentially be even more amazing. 
But for now…I’m good.  It’s ok that it’s over and that things aren’t the same.  This is how we progress in life.  Good things end, good things start.  I’m at a start right now, I know it. =)"

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/537001258/why-i-miss-college-but-know-i-shouldnt/

"... our insane tour guide had other things in mind. This is Gordon. He had legs of iron and no mercy...

So Wes and I ventured onward, not questioning where we were being led." 

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/584213266/i-got-rocked/ 

It was really neat being there... I felt ..."classy" But it was also a good reality check. We still have a long way to go. But I think we're ready.

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/538746692/1-year-ago/

it's a shame...

it's a shame...
that time cannot stand still...that it passes so fast...even worse that it'll go even faster as i get older, right?  it's a shame that good things have to end.  Sometimes i wonder if it's better if they never happened in the first place, that way they don't have to have an ending.  It's a shame that people so close to you at some moment or time in your life... are strangers now.  You used to kno when they woke up everyday...now you don't kno anything about them.  Then you wonder...who's next?  It's a shame that so much of what ppl feel, or think, goes unsaid, and therefore unheard.  Unheard usually by the ppl that need to hear it the most.  So often what we really thinl or want, we never say, and it never even gets the chance to happen.  It's a shame that there are really awful guys out there...like, really pathetically bad...even worse, my future gf or wife could be getting screwed over by one of them right now.  It's a shame i didn't pay this parking ticket, when i had 30 days to...and now it's doubled...  =P  stoopid stoopid

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/487655169/looking-for-the-exceptions/

Indescribable thanks, undeniable respect, and infinite praise to Wes and Ted. 

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/494501765/honored/

nostalgia :: a curse and a blessing

As much as I look forward to the future, I long for the past.  When things were simpler, and more fun.  I don’t want my childhood, even my high school years, to just be history.  I wish I could have them forever.  But I guess that’s what sucks about time; one can only go forward, little by little…but never back.

I strongly encourage everyone to keep a written journal of some sort.  It's amazing to read back.  It's worth the extra time to record ur thoughts and events.  It makes you see how dumb you were before, and how dumb you probably are right now...=P 

Source: http://wongfuphil.xanga.com/442028858/nostalgia--a-curse-and-a-blessing/ 

nefarious /nɪˈfɛːrɪəs/ (jln) wicked, criminal

get something out of your system (informal) = to do something that helps you get rid of unpleasant strong feelings

This morning, Lily Allen took to her Twitter to thank her fans and followers for sending her well wishes in the wake of her miscarriage. It's obviously been a difficult time for the singer, but thankfully, she has a lot of support in her corner.

 Source: PerezHilton.com

 

in the wake of = following s.o/sth, especially as a consequence

 

in someone's corner = on someone's side; giving someone support and encouragement 

 

vilify (v) sb/sth as sth

             sb/sth for sth/doing sth

             say/write unpleasant things about sb/sth so other people will have a low opinion of them.

             = malign, revile

vilification (n)

underhand (j) (less frequent form: underhanded) secret and dishonest

linger (v)

lingering (jl)

[They lingered over coffee and missed the last bus.]

[I spent a week at New York and could happily have lingered on.]

halt (v, n)

halting (jl) if your speech/movement are halting, you stop for a moment between words or movements, especially because you're not confident

A ray of sunshine = someone who's happy and makes a difficult situation seem better.

catch some/a few rays = sit/lie in the sun

a ray of hope/light = something that gives hope or happiness in a difficult situation

construe (v) as # misconstrue (v)

orthodontist (n) a dentist whose job is to help teeth to grow straight.

[I remember in grade 10 my friend Trà had to go see her orthodontist pretty frequently.]

permanent (n) = perm

dark (j) mysterious/secret

righty/lefty

downside

progressive (jln) supporting, welcoming new modern ideas and methods, especially in politics and education

cronyism (n) the situation in which people in power give jobs to their friends

sanguine (j) ABOUT

iniquitous (j) very unfair or wrong, wicked

iniquity (n)

turbulence (n) a situation that has a lot of sudden change, confusion, disagreement, violence

= UPHEAVAL

turbulent (j)

detrimental

self-effacing (j) modest

self-efface-ment (n)

ascertain (v) find out the true and correct info about sth

ascertainable (j)

ascertainment (n)

Ascension Day: Lễ Thăng Thiên

cardinal (j) most important, basic

zenith = peak

mismanagement (n)

indigenous = native

on the premise that = an idea/theory on which a statement/action is based

enticing (jl) appealing

entice (v) persuade

enticement (n)

double as = have another use of functions as well as the main ones.

mimic = imitate, take off

mentality = a particular attitude or way of thinking, especially one that you think is wrong or stupid

There exists...

disparity (n) a difference between two or more things, especially an unfair one

disparity IN/BETWEEN

deem (v)

theoinglis asked: Dear type jerk, I agree with everything. My question is why do you think these people who clearly know nothing about typography consider themselves typographers? and how long til they take over the design directory too? Glad theres somebody on tumblr pointing out the crap! keep up the good work.

p.s submitting a relevant venn diagram

It’s a matter of exposure. It’s the same thought process of unexperienced people buying high end cameras and calling themselves photographers. Ten years ago the availability of digital camera was by far less than what it is today, the same with design programs. Obviously typography has been mastered for a very long time, the same with photography, but now design programs are easily available. I remember first touching Photoshop when I was in high school and being completely engulfed, but now there are programs built into websites that make it easy to add “typography” over a picture or to a blank canvas. Software piracy plays a role as well, which plays a large part into why people call themselves designers. People believe teaching yourself a program makes you a designer, which is clearly wrong. I’ve taught myself to cook and I’m damn good at it, but I’m no chef. These people who fill up the typography and design directories are uneducated about the basic rules and visual standards that accompany great work. It’s internet culture. Don’t get me wrong, I love the internet and it’s in my opinion, the greatest technological advancement to date, but it comes with consequences. The great works from experienced designers are now readily available for people to mimic and plagiarize, and the more that happens, the quality of work goes down. 
I’m by no means an expert of design or typography, but I know what is acceptable and the reasons to why it is. I created this blog to vent my frustrations of the of the candy coated trash I see on Tumblr, or on the internet itself. It’s just a shame that good design blogs go unnoticed because of some 14 year old bored teenager making things in Picnik or Photoshop. 
I’m here to change that and I couldn’t do it without the people who actually do enjoy me being bitter blogger. So if you haven’t already, recommend this blog, it’s the only way to push some of the waste out of the typography directory.

Thanks,
Type Jerk

Source: http://typejerk.tumblr.com/post/1293575180/dear-type-jerk-i-agree-with-everything-my-question-is

versatile (j)

                - (of a person) having many different skills

                - having many different uses

 versatility (n)

social norm

legitimize (v) make something that's unfair/morally wrong seem acceptable and right

go with = accept someone's idea or plan

hitman = assassin

sporting (j) # unsporting

underhand (j) (or less frequent, underhanded) secret and dishonest

permanent (n) = perm

Dear Meat: Dear Sarah

Dear Sarah

You were the life I’ve always wanted. All my hopes, dreams and ambitions involved you standing beside me, holding my hand. All my fears, nightmares and heartaches involved you holding me and telling me that it’ll be okay - that I’m okay.

You were my inspiration. The reason why I strived to be kinder and a much better person. You were every good feeling and you are all kinds of wonderful. I love you - and I wish it was that simple. I wish that could have been the answer to everything.

I hope we’ll find the lives that we were meant to lead. I hope you’ll fall in love with someone who is better than me and I hope he loves you more than I ever can. I hope that man is the life you’ve always wanted.

Always emotionally yours,
I wish I was the one.

Source: http://dearmeat.me/post/1370974063/dear-sarah

Dear Meat: Dear Ex-Friend

Dear Ex-Friend,

I heard the other day that you are thinking about transferring here next fall. At first, I was a bit in shock. I spread the news like a faithful Southern gossip. I told those that had once been our mutual friends, I told some of my best friends, I told my mother. And then, I expected the shock to go away as the news faded in its newness. But it didn’t. It persisted. Now, everywhere I looked, I caught glimpses of guys I thought might’ve been you. It’s been messing with my head for days.

So now, I’ve decided: I don’t want you to come here. I told everyone that I thought it was a great idea, that it would be perfect for you, that it was exciting, your decision to return home. But I take it all back. I am angry. I am anxious. I do not want you here.

And I thought I had come so far. I thought that I had forgiven you. I still believe that you are forgiven: I said I was sorry for my mistakes, you said you were sorry for yours, and we have thus moved on. I have learned the lessons there are to be learned from our failed friendship: about love and loyalty and forgiveness—of others and of yourself—and hurting. I’ve even almost completely gotten over the fact that everyone else still seems to think that you are this tremendous person, incapable of wrong.

I had moved on. At a new school, in a new city, here at my college, I did that. I made new friends, who understood being used and sympathized with my anger and my hurt and my sadness. I made memories, fabulous memories of side-splitting laughter and memories that only seem to happen in movies, memories of astounding life-lesson understanding. No, I didn’t go far away like you, but I made a new me. A me that would not make the same mistakes that I had made with you.

And now you want to come back. You want to be here. Yes, things are different. I have my new friends and my new lessons and my new memories and my new hair, and you have your girlfriend, your old friends, your old personality. As surely as I know that we can never be friends again, I know you. I know what you’ll want. You’ll want to pretend like we’re friends. You’ll want to do friend things together and give me hugs and act like nothing bad ever  happened between us. And a childish part of me still wants that too, so I’ll bend a little. And then I’ll bend some more because I’m a good person and I don’t like saying no. And then I’ll bend even more because you are you and I am me and that’s what our relationship always was before, for seven years: you using and pushing and asking and me bending and bending and bending.

But I don’t want to bend.  I am standing and I am saying that I am angry. This place, which felt so wrong at first, has grown on me. There were times that I hid in my room and bawled my eyes out, because I hated this place. But it loved me still. It was patient and it let me adjust. It surrounded me, holding me in its traditions and its citizens and its scenery, waiting for me to realize what a resource I had in its presence. It has helped me grow and become a better person. I can be me here, but I can’t be me here with you.

Stay Gone,

M

Source: http://dearmeat.me/post/1416904916/dear-ex-friend

iRecommend: Dear Meat

Dear Meat is a site consisting of anonymously submitted letters. I love reading Dear Meat! It's fun, it's new, it's original. Plus, it's a nice and interesting way to keep up my English.

A paragraph from Dear Meat's introduction post:

Dear Meat is a collection of love and lust, depression and solitude, hate and spite, secrets and revelations, thoughts and philosophies, silliness and playful writing: verbosity to its greatest extent, when they’re all put together.

hubby (n) (informal) husband

side-splitting (j) extremely amusing, hilarious

side-splittingly (a)

glitch (v, n) a sudden, usually temporary malfunction or fault of equipment.

by courtesy of = given or allowed by

guile (n) sly or cunning intelligence

guileful (jl)

guileless (jl) devoid of guile; innocent and without deception

guilelessness (n)

devoid of (j) entirely lacking or free from

Given the choice, I would...

trauma

traumatic

traumatically

mood swings

gut feeling

gut instinct

gut (j) based on feelings and emotions rather than thoughts and reasons

not so much

hysteria

impact = collision

absorb