SallyTomato’s blog

What personality trait has gotten you in the most trouble? 

My openness. I am still learning the balance between what I feel is "honesty" and what is actually appropriate. I believe my condition is known as "diarrhea of the mouth."

God really takes care of me.

My cell phone recently started malfunctioning. It was just past the 1 year manufacturer warranty, and I'm not to the point in my contract yet where I get a new phone for free. Since my cell phone is attached to me at the hip (literally, most of the time) I was very worried.

I went to the Verizon kiosk in the mall yesterday and two different employees told me there was nothing I could do but get a new phone or deal with the malfunctions. They recommended looking for a new phone on Ebay or Craigslist. They also referred me to the Verizon store down the road to talk to a manager, but the store was closing in 8 minutes.

Today when I went to the Verizon store, I prayed before I went inside "Please don't let this cost much." Sure enough, the technician I talked to, Tina, right away found that I'd paid for the extended warranty. Honestly, I didn't remember this at all, and the two people I talked to last night did not mention anything about it. Tina saw it right away and got to work prepping my replacement phone.

As I was waiting for all my numbers and pictures to be transferred, I found a cell phone case I really liked--with little Paul Frank moneys on it :)  I decided to buy it to replace my current cell phone cover, which is falling apart. The new cover was tagged as $25 but at the checkout I prayed just "Please let it be on sale." It was. I only paid $12.

I know these two things sound frivolous, but God knew how important they were to me. It means so much to me that God gave me these gifts today and watched out for me.

Thank you, God, for blessing me!

" According to FLDS beliefs, you must be free from sin -- as with most Christian religions -- to get to heaven."

This quote comes from today's article on the FLDS debaucle in Texas.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this quote?

This: 

I kind of like it. :)

The Olympic torch was lit in Beijing, China on Monday and will be taken on 130-day journey throughout the world. What is your reaction to the Tibet activist groups who plan to demonstrate in large cities as the torch passes through because of China's plans to take the torch through Tibet?

I am boycotting the Olympics, not just because of Tibet. I am boycotting because of the one-child policy and the resulting forced abortions and abandonment of baby girls.

If that's not enough, I am boycotting the Beijing Olympics because China will not acknowledge Taiwan's independence, and are a quiet threat to Taiwan every day. (Our own government does not recognize democratic Taiwan as a separate country; a cowardly reaction to China.)

Maybe that is not enough? Maybe human rights violations aren't close enough to home--they do seem unreal, don't they? Well, maybe you are a pet owner. Have you heard about China's sickening, government-sponsored slaughter of dogs and cats? This didn't happen decades ago, this is in the last year (cats) and two years (dogs).

Don't try to tell me China is improving. It is only whitewash. Their oppression of Christianity and other religion continues, despite the watered-down churches the Chinese government allows to meet. (Yes, as long as they don't preach the second coming of Jesus and other "revolutionary" ideas, and as long as no children are "forced" to attend by their parents...). They continue to persecute house churches thanks to the broadly-interpreted constitution, which states that `No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the State.'' Who gets to interpret what is "disruptive"? Who gets to design the educational system of the State? Yes, the Chinese Government.

I have been to Beijing, central China and Shanghai. I have been inside a Chinese orphanage. I have seen just glimpses of the poverty that China is trying to hide from the world as they whitewash Beijing for the foreigners. If you still think China is worth supporting by watching the Olympics, I challenge you to watch all 38 minutes of this video. I couldn't. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, just skip to the last 5 minutes... about the length of a commercial break.

In 1938, China purposely flooded the Yangtze river to keep Japanese troops from advancing any further. The Chinese government decided it would be best not to warn their citizens. It is estimated that at least 500,000 died in this flood. Fundamentally, their mentality has not changed. To this day, the Chinese government believes that they alone can judge what is best for China as a whole. They do not take individuals into account, they have no respect for human rights, religion, freedom...even basic human compassion escapes them.

I visited Tienamen Square and never before or since have I sensed evil, but I did that day. It was thick and heavy. I refuse to watch the Beijing Olympics, and I hope you will also consider taking a stand.

April 4 is the start of the final season of Battlestar Gallactica! Ok, yes, for those of you who don't know it yet, I am a bit of a Sci-Fi nerd. I am pretty excited, though. Letterman's top 10 lists are another of my favorite things:

How often do you go to a place of worship? What is it like there?

Every Sunday I go to Coram Deo Reformation Church. (Coram Deo means "before the face of God," which is how we are encouraged to live our lives). Hubby and I met Pastor Carl at the same church camp where we met each other. When we heard he had started a church locally, we decided to visit and it ended up being a really good fit for us.

We meet in a school cafeteria, there are only about 50 of us each Sunday, and the style of worship is pretty old-school. We sing hymns, only have a keyboard for music, and worship is somewhat liturgical. I like the structure and order of it... and it is Biblical to do everything (especially worship!) "decently and in order".

The people at church are very friendly... we have two services in the morning, rather than one morning and one evening service, to accommodate those who drive quite far to get to church. The sermons are on different topics. There are refreshments and coffee in between services, and it's great to chit-chat with everyone there.

I love my church!