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�� Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream
������ is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by
������ good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they
������ speak and hear much about faith. ``Faith is not enough,'' they
������ say, ``You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.''
������ They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working,
������ creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ``I
������ believe.'' That is what they think true faith is. But, because
������ this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything
������ from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this
������ `faith,' either.

����������� Instead, faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives
������ new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us
������ completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits,
������ our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with
������ it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this
������ faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't
������ stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone
������ asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without
������ ceasing.� Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an
������ unbeliever.� He stumbles around and looks for faith and good
������ works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are.
������ Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many
������ words.

����������� Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of
������ God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.
������ Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy,
������ joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The
������ Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you
������ freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve
������ everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who
������ has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to
������ separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from
������ fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard
������ against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough
������ to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.
������ Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without
������ faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.

An excerpt from
������������ "An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans,"
������������������������ Luther's German Bible of 1522
������������������������� by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
��������������������� Translated by Rev. Robert E. Smith
����������� from DR. MARTIN LUTHER'S VERMISCHTE DEUTSCHE SCHRIFTEN.
���������������������� Johann K. Irmischer, ed. Vol. 63
������ (Erlangen: Heyder and Zimmer, 1854), pp.124-125. [EA 63:124-125]
��������������������������������� August 1994

im the happiest woman� alive! i stepped out in faith� praying to jesus christ for amiralcle! and he heard me,through faith perservance and stepping out in faith i now have my mr right,the man ive longed for and dreamed about all my life,im totally in love. and feel like the luckiest woman in the world.we agree on so many things,and he is sexy handsome gorgeous and the most wonderful man ive ever met and he has made me so very happy in life.� LADIES� MIRACLES� HAPPEN WHEN YOU BELIEVE,JUST� BELIEVE.IM LIVING PROOF THANK YOU GOD ALMIGHTY,THANK YOU TO THE SON THANK YOU SPIRIT OF GOD,IT CAN HAPPEN IT DID HAPPEN,IT HAPPENED FOR ME,NEVER GIVE UP I DIDNT� NOT COMPLETELY,AND IM SO GLAD I WAITED IN FAITH,he is the sexiest best looking best friend� terrific� im hoping my family will be happy for me as im� so very very happy!

Thoughts become things,
����The Universe

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Well, I have been out of the hospital going on three day's today. That's the most I have been out since my surgery on May 12, 2008.

Life has NOT been great. I am mad that the doctor lied to me about getting rid of this gastroparesis (g/p) by having this surgery. No doctor I see thinks this surgery was a good idea. Funny thing is that I had to have three doctors sign off on this surgery BEFORE I was able to have it. SO WHAT THE HELL?

�Today I got up around 9am. I took my insulin. I had a smoothie that was left over from yesterday. I was able to drink 5 3/8--and that's all. Then I went to my dad's office for a little bit. Then we sat in the car by the beach. Can you believe I was tired already??? I guess that was a lot since I have been in bed--in the hospital for the last month. I came back to my dad's house.

Since I have been having so many problems I am staying at his place until I get some what better. I tired to sleep but all I could do was cry and pray to God to help me. I ate two pudding (sugar free) for lunch around 12:20. Then around 2:30 I are two chicken fingers (small round ones) and I am feeling like I am going to throw it all up.

I am misserable. I am so angery at the doctor for lying to me. He came in the room as I was reovering and said "YOU have NO more gastroparesis!". SO...how come the test showed I still have it??? I feel like this is some one else's life. When am I going to wake up from this nightmare? All I hear are great things from this sugery...why am I in hell??? I would love to gulp water again, be happy and not depressed.

They say give it six months... am I going to make it six months? I can't look to the future right now. I can only see the hell I am in right this moment. Now since I don't have any veins, if my sugar goes low no one knows how I will be able to come out of it. I can't drink that much...to make my sugar better and I have no veins to push dexro (which would make me come out of the low sugar).

This is a serious thing and I know it scares my father as well. How do you watch your child go through hell?? I am so glad that I have my dad here for me! If I knew how it would be now...I would not have gotten the surgery. But I guess I will have to see what happens next???

等地铁回家的小猫

�

泰康路有个艺术街, 散布着一些小画廊, 周二上午带加拿大回来的老友和她爱画画的小女儿, 抓紧时间体会一下上海的街边画趣, 循着我一个星期前探的路, 我们直奔田子坊由旧街道厂房改造的五号楼画室群, 几幅奔跑的孩子和飞翔的少女的画吸引了我们的眼球, 淡蓝, 浅绿色调清新, 朦胧水雾的表现力很强, 我们指手划脚地胡乱评论一番后, 眼神从地上放着的一个滚水的电锅转向画室的主人, 一个一脸蜡黄并留着灰胡子的东北汉子身上, 他跟我们主动寒暄, 我突然崩出一句没头没脑的话: “就这样?”, 画师漫不经心地回了句, “也只能这样!” “锅里煮的是两只玉米, 我就是兜里有三十万, 也不会去住五星级酒店, 我觉得那就是堕落!”� “现实的都市生活太过奢侈复杂了, 我想多画点简单纯真和自然的东西, 多找回点大家心里失去的东西. 我小时候, 一睁眼就能看到地平线. 我画的是童年乡间的记忆和感觉.” “我的画目前在国内没市场, 兴许要再耐心等上5-6年吧.”

�

“我收过一个香港的白领做学生, 我教他画自己的内心体验, 他告诉我, 他想家, 还特别地想念他们家的猫, 我让他先选一个可以折射自己感受的载体, 他选择地铁, 他拍了几百张地铁的照片, 选了一张表现力强的地铁画面, 画了一只猫在空旷的地铁站台上等地铁回家.� 这幅画很快就被一个老外看上, 花1,500元买走了. 有情感的作品是能打动人的. 技巧是其次.”

�

主动承认自己的作品没市场的画师应该算是诚恳了. 但愿他的‘童年梦呓’ 会有未来市场. 回家的路上, 朋友觉得画师的 ‘画’和 ‘话’ 都很有意思, 直到送她上火车站的路上, 她还在回味画师的感慨, “他说得挺对的”.

�

是啊, 在一个平常的时候, 一个平常人说的一句平常的话, 并不见得离真理很远.

10:00 - There are two things I need to say right up front.�

1. I caught a cold yesterday and I'm miserable today.

2. When Becky asked me about the "cannot resolve DN" yesterday, the _first_ thing I asked was "did anyone check the LDAP account?" and she told me they didn't use LDAP.� I asked "Are you _sure_?� I think DN is short for Distinguised Name, that's LDAP.� This is a WAS server.� I'm pretty sure this means Distinguished Name and not Domain Name."

-- It was an LDAP issue.� One thing that really tweaks me is spinning cycles on bad information.� People who make me run around in circles because they give me bad info should have to do my laundry or something.� They should be flogged with wet noodles and have to swim 3 laps in earthworm soup.� That is all.�

-- Chez and I had a good time at the Mercury game last night.� She said she'll be my wingman when we go out.� lol.� For some reason that really cracks me up.� I can tell that she's a good hearted person.� I think she's got a restless soul, I really hope Kellie turns out to be good for her.

-- The box seats were really neat, but we snuck down to the floor and sat in about the 17th row to watch the second half.� I'm not much of a sports fan at all, but I'll have to admit it was fun to watch and just be around lots of enthusiastic people.� The game was good, clean, family entertainment.� Even if the prices were unreal.

--