Why do I gotta do stuff? Isn't believing enough?

One of the things I've wondered about in the past has been the struggle between works and faith. In the early times of Jesus, He wrestled with the legalism of the Jewish leaders... Do this, this and this. Don't do that, that or that. Properly obey all rules and you will receive salvation. And then Jesus came along and said "Believe in me. That's all it takes to receive salvation." But then there still seemed to be rules... things you ought to do, things you shouldn't do. So, what was the deal? As I've grown in my own understanding, this has become clearer. Today's sermon was also on this topic and I got some good stuff from it. Like the idea that "works as proof of faith (I do this to prove my piety) flies in the face of what Christ did by dying on a cross. But works as an expression of faith complements Christ's work." That is, a faith that is not dead, foolish or useless will produce good works. That is, your honest believe in Christ and that He did for your sins will compel you to seek out a live that shows His love through you to others. Because we love Jesus and receive the gift of His sacrifice we act, not because we're trying to get His attention. Just thought that was worth writing down... usually I take notes, capture "nuggets" and then they end up in the recycling bin as we tidy up our kitchen.

Not Feeling So Smug

First my dad tells me that H&R Block's online program fails to check a box on his tax form and that it probably didn't check it on mine, either. A box worth about $150; and that he recommends I file a 1040X. I'm 75% tempted to not -- what better way to pick a candidate for an audit than someone who files an amended tax return asking for money. Only last night I realize that I failed to account for $210 a contractor paid me in June 2007 for work I did in October 2006. Ugh. So now I must file. It's still a net gain, but it's not all that exciting. All this work avoided by paying H&R Block $20 to do my taxes overturned by mistakes on both parts leading to a form which the IRS says takes people an average of 3-1/2 hours to complete. Blargh.

Caucus-mamie

Ok, after Hillary last week declared she'd lose Washington because it was a caucus and not a primary, we started doing some research.

First off, caucuses seem incredibly stupid. As bad as the whole electoral college as far as rigged, fraudulent and not representative of the population. I've decided this evening that I support the popular vote, even if it means that Al Gore would have been president. (On the other hand, Cheney wouldn't be. Down with Cheney!)

Apparently in Washington, Democrats rely solely on the caucus. To vote for a Democratic candidate in the Washington primary is simply helping to create a "trend indicator" - a wasted vote that has no impact on who Washington puts its support behind. On the Republican side, it's a half vote, since the votes are split between the primary and the caucuses.

So, diving deeper into Hillary's quote, it strikes me as quite humorous. If people just go to the polls and vote, they would vote for her. If they gather together in small groups and make impassioned speeches, they vote for Obama. That seems to suggest that caucuses are made up of more informed people who are actually more interested in politics (maybe a flaw in my support of popular vote) and that when people are more informed (not voting for someone based on their husband's reputation), they make a better choice.

I was going to vote for Obama in the primary until I realized (a) it means nothing in the Washington primary and (b) the state shares my name and address with the democratic party. So now, I'm left with a dilemma... vote for John McCain or myself as a write-in... either way the republican party gets my name and address or abstain entirely as this is a useless waste of time.

I hate politics. And lately people have been discussing them in morning devotions at work. I don't know if that's worse than the sports discussions that keep erupting at the morning devotions, but it's enough to make me want to just regularly skip them.

Still voting yes on the school levy and the ability to elect our own mayor.

Cool Site: Songerize.com

This is a cool site, Songerizer.com. I don't know how it works (or if it won't be gone tomorrow for running afoul of copyright laws), but you type in a song and an artist and hit "Play" and a few seconds later the song begins.

Beat Yesterday

Hard to believe, but I feel more tired today than I did yesterday. I know I got more sleep. Maybe it was because I was suddenly awake 1 minute before my alarm was to go off. So now I sit on the exercise bike and man do my eyes hurt. Mostly just keeping only one opened.

But, it's Friday. That's encouraging. I feel like I got a lot done yesterday and got a little unburied. Today I'll hopefully be able to get some good work done on a proposal I need to build. Some people have flags or sheets they hang across their cubes to indicate that they don't want to be disturbed. I need to get one of those.

Just saw a goofy ad. Their name is "Two Men and a Truck" - and yet in the voiceover, the guy says "we're more than two men and a truck." And their website address is easily misread... www.twomen.com. Thanks to T-Mobile, I don't read "TwoMen.com" when I see that, I read "T-Women."

Tired

Wow... I feel tired. I slept ok last night, but not nearly enough. I could have tried sleeping in like I did yesterday, eschewing exercise. And that would not have accomplished anything.

I'm feeling a little bit down this morning. I think it was the insufficient sleep, but also a rather discouraging day yesterday. I'm trying to put on a brave face, to aim to have a better day, though I'm feeling slightly defeatest, that in some cases, some of this is circumstances beyond my control.

I Deserve a Treat

I'm behind on posting on here... and we're one-tenth of the way through the year already... wow. 10.1% to be quite precise.

I am behind on talking to most of the family.

I am behind on my assessments, legitimate posts and weight loss. I am ahead on flossing (wow) and behind on being in bed by 11 pm. I am also behind on walking, but that will improve as the weather gets better. I am ahead on all of the other exercise.

I had a really rough day and so I had my last piece of birthday ice cream cake. I had considered saving it, but I really deserved it today.

I am not happy about being behind on stuff. I had a great day of exercise yesterday and then a rather poor day today.

But, 9/10 of the year left to go. I believe I can get caught up. (moved from The Year was 2008)