Driver's Test For Learner's Permit

Hey guys. Well, Mom and I went on down to DMV today, so's I could take the driver's test for my learner's permit. First time going and I was shaking like a leaf when we first got in there, I was SO nervous. Of course, that was probably mostly due to the cold. We got a tid bit of snow last night, so it was kind of cold.


Well, we got into the place and went to the information desk like the sign said. Then I told the guy why I was there, and he gave me a chart to fill out as well as a number thingy that they would use to call me up. It was something like F708... Yeah, the dude at the counter seemed a little skeptical about mine and Mom's ages at first. Lol.


After gathering all the stuff, we went to sit down. Well, I filled out everything in my horrible handwriting... Then we just sat there for awhile... After what seemed like forever (and I was about to jump out of my skin!!), they finally called me up. "F708 to counter 12!" Well, I went on up there, and the lady there tested my eyes. Passed that. Then she snapped my picture. Told me to look at a red square of duct tape for that...


I also had to sign my name on this little computer-like thing-a-ma-bobby that had a certain kind of pen... Yeah, I think you understand. I KINDA...messed...up... My "y" looked like a bunch of scribbles. But whatever...


When that was all done the lady ran through the instructions for the test...blah...blah..blah... I already pretty much knew what I'd have to do for that. It was this touch screen computer. There were 10 questions for the traffic signs (which you HAVE to get ALL right otherwise you FAIL), and then there were 25 questions for general knowledge (you can get up to 6 wrong for that).


Well, I went up to the computer (#4 to the right). They had this phone attached to the side so you could hear what was being said on the screen, but I figured since I could read, I didn't need it. Well, I aced the test for the traffic signs.


Then I came to part 2: General Knowledge. Wasn't too sure about the 1st (or maybe it was the second), so I skipped it (they said you could come back to it later). Went through all the questions and....PASSED!!!


I got about 3 or 4 wrong, 2 of which had to do with drugs and alcohol... Guess I wasn't too sure how much a...whatever they called it...measured in ounces....and then something about what happens if you mix drugs and alcohol... Yeah, well, I'm not too concerned about that.


I never got to come back to that skipped question, but my theory is that that was because even if I failed it, I STILL wouldn't have failed the test. So I guess they didn't think it mattered.


So yeah...got my permit. They should be sending the I.D. card or whatever it is in the mail, along with some paper saying I can drive. I think it's pretty cool that I passed first time. I'm so RELIEVED. Can't wait to see how dumb I look in that picture they took of me! And my scribblely "y"!!

-Courtney-

THE TEST - Will you pass?

Many people have found themselves asking that same question: what is this life about? And: What are we here for? The answer to those questions is that this life is nothing but a test. God created the world and placed man in it in order to test him/her. (By 'man' I simply mean people) But man sinned, and was therefore separated from God. This world is imperfect because of our sin. All have sinned.


Romans 3:23
***for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,***


But, Jesus Christ died to save ALL people. He desires ALL men to be saved. God (or Jesus Christ) came to earth in the form of man. He remained sinless throughout His life up until the very end when He was to die on the cross to pay for our sins. He died the death of a murderer and a sinner. He died for us.


1 Timothy 2: 3-6

***For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,***


Now here is where the test comes in. Whether or not you will choose God is your choice. You can either choose the choice of accepting His free gift of salvation unto eternal life (which will result in passing the test), or you can choose to reject Him and His free gift, continuing in your sin which will lead to eternal damnation in Hell (failing the test). Your choices in life will determine where you will go when you die.

This life is only a test! You must choose God, your Creator (whether you believe in Him or not), and OBEY Him. Let me tell you, it is not legalism to obey God!


John 14:21
***He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.***


If you love God, you are going to be obedient to Him. A sinner has no inheritance in the things of God. A sinner will BY NO MEANS enter Heaven. Heaven is for the Godly person. Heaven is for the righteous one.

This is a test, nothing more than a test. It is a test to see who will willingly serve God and who will rebel, desiring to serve themselves in their own sinful lusts. A Christian, though not completely free from sin (but we will be when we are taken to Heaven with Christ, that is, as long as we hold fast), will not serve sin.


Romans 6:11-13

***Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.***


A Christian will serve the Lord in all that they do, though failing at times. We don't love God in word only, but in all that we do. Anyone can say they love you, but if they don't show it in their actions, do they truly love you? ...or is it just words without meaning? No Christian has the desire to live in sin. Yes, we are tempted and do sin sometimes, but we must get back up and continue fighting the good fight against sin and all that is evil.


1 John 3: 18-19

***Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence***


....a test...


Zechariah 13: 8-9

***“ That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
But one-third shall be left in it:
I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”***


Christ will refine us as gold or silver is refined. He will put us through tribulation (the refining) in order to test us to see if we will really follow Him to the very end. Some will fall away, but those who remain true to God will be as refined silver or gold. We will be without blemish (or without fault), cleased from sin through Jesus' dieing on the cross, and refined (or perfected) through persecution. When we die or are taken to Heaven with Him (in the rapture), we will be as pure gold. We will never have to go through any more tribulation. The test will be over.

....But it is not over yet! Choose who you will follow now! Jesus Christ who died in your place, or Satan who cares nothing for you except that you continue in sin and perish in Hell with Him. Don't be rebellious; you will regret it in the end! Choose today who you will follow!


Joshua 24:15

***...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve....***


God bless!


-Courtney-

Board Breaking Video

Hey, everyone! Jaime tested Saturday (in Taekwondo) for her advanced red belt. She did awesome as usual, and I managed to get some great board breaking clips with my digital camera.

For the next few hours of the day, I spent my time editing this video which I've posted below. Hope you enjoy!

-Courtney-

Black Belt Testing (Alexa, Emily, and Erin)

NOTE: This first part, although just now posted, was actually written on the 19th of December.


There's a Taekwondo testing going on tomorrow. Emily and Erin (both girls), the twins, will be testing for their black belts. Alexa will also be testing for her black belt. Emily and Erin are somewhere around 15 and 16. Alexa, judging by her height, is probably around 13 or 14. I'm going to help out. I'll probably mostly be partnered with Alexa for grappling, free sparring, 3 steps, etc. Judging by how long it took for my black belt testing, I'd say it'll probably go from 1 o'clock to 3 or 4 o'clock. That'd be from 2-3 hours. That's the only thing I'm dreading. I'll let you know how it goes when I get back.


Ok here's how it went. In the very beginning, Mr Simpson, the Taekwondo instructor, lined everybody up and introduced all of us black belts; besides me, there were about 10 other black belts. Most of whom had tested for their black belts around the same time I did, July. After that, the testing began. They went through a few warm up stuff first. After that they did paddles, which is where you do these certain memorized moves on the kicking paddles. I (and everyone else who was there), then watched all three girls do their forms for 30 minutes to possibly and hour. (A form is basically a series of kicks, punches, and blocks put together in a certain order. The girls each had about 11 of these to memorize for their testing.) Everyone did great on these.

After that they went into self defense and other things. There were about 20 different self defense moves the girls had to go through, but it didn't take half as long as those forms took. I got called in to do the boxing drill with Alexa for a few minutes. Pretty soon they went through 3 steps. I, again, went with Alexa. (3 steps are where 1 person acts as the attacker and throws some stuff at the other person who has to try to deflect the blows or step out of the way and throw some kicks, punches, etc back at them.)

Pretty soon they went through grappling. Alexa went with someone else for this part. Then there was also free sparring. I free sparred with Alexa here. I love free sparring! (Free sparring is similar to sparring, but you don't actually hurt each other.) The testing finally ended, and the girls were each rewarded for their efforts with a black belt, some punching gloves, grappling shorts, a sword, and a framed certificate. They were awesome! They were going to have a celebration afterward, but Mom, Mommom (my Grandmother), and I were so tired by this time that we were ready to leave. Before we left, however, I congratulated Emily, Erin, and Alexa. Finally, at 4 o'clock, we drove off, headed home. It had been a loooooooong day. Well, that's about it.

PS: Mommom kept dozing off in the middle of it, but she never missed a clap. LOL.

-Courtney-