subjective

I'm just wondering how the general, average Bob or Sally American would respond to a political candidate who unashamedly defended the rights of those who choose to spend their money (among other things) at brothels stocked with scared, scarred little eight and nine and 10-year old girls trafficked from their moms and dads and siblings.

Or what would be the reaction to a candidate who ardently defends those individuals who set up and stock such places with these tiny human beings?

Would their reaction be any different to candidates who defend the practice that will snuff out the lives of 3300 pre-born babies today? The practice that will leave 3300 scarred and maybe scared moms with a piece missing from their lives forever because they don't know the truth.

boots and hats

easy-going type

What an amazing story! Oh, it's not that it's about triplets, triplets are not uncommon today. It's how they came about and most importantly their parents comments to the press.

The last quote from Kerry Lyons just makes me smile.

real religion

Religion that God our Father acepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~ James 1:27

In recent months, I've become very aware of a mandate given to Christians in the Word. It's something that those who don't claim to follow Christ (and other variations between them and Christians) seemed to think they have the edge on us as believers just a little. "They" have lots of programs to cover the bases in this area, generally involving the government and large sums of money in various forms. It bothered me a little, well, quite a bunch, because it's been on my mind.

It started when our neighbors adopted five kids from two continents to their family. This James 1:27 verse came up a lot in our Bible study that included them. I started to notice how many times God talks about caring for orphans, widows, the poor.

Several months ago, we heard Rick Warren speak about the subject of taking care of those in need: orphans, widows, the unfortunate. The church, he reminded his listeners, is the best source for taking care of others - there are many churches, in the U.S. and worldwide; there are many people involved in churches and everyone has something to offer as far as help.

Then in Sunday School. our neighbors who also go to our church have been leading a small series on a workshop they attended in Florida on orphan ministry. This morning, James 1:27 came up again and I noticed the second half of that verse in a new light: "and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Jodi, our neighbor, nailed what I've been mulling in my mind for a long time when she noted that we, as Christians, are to be offering them what they need, but also offering them the Gospel. Otherwise, she said, what's really the point? Jodi said it this way: "We are to offer them a cup of cold water to drink but also the Living Water."

Here we are blind as bats: the Bible has been written for at least two thousand years defining a real Christian: look after people who need help but don't lose your focus on who it's all about - the Saviour. I am frequently mildly and wildly frustrated with my children: 4 and 2 years of age who can't seem to think beyond their own comforts. How must our God think of us. He hasn't chosen to use angels to get His work done on earth, He picked us. We seem to be either standing around waiting for somebody more experienced or with more money to help those people or we get involved in a cause but ditch Him, the real reason behind our work.

What if we partnered with the county social services, not for their money, because we've got more resources than they could imagine, but to be willing to take in foster kids, teenage moms, divorced moms and dads? Several churches in the U.S. have already done this.

What if social services didn't need so many on their staff because us church people were taking care of people with needs AND serving them a cup of Living Water at the same time?

Now I see quite clearly, it's been there all along. Social programs can ONLY offer money to fix social ills and maybe some good advice sterilized of any mention of Jesus. But we have a Heavenly Father, who not only owns the cattle on a thousands hills (all the resouces and money) but who created each of us with a purpose and place in history and sent His Son to live and to die and to live again to redeem all those ills, all that wasted time, all those broken hearts and minds.

It's all in the perspective: once I realize that He's calling me, He's calling all Christians to be willing, to get it straight He is the answer, He provides all the resources.

A worm killed at least one of our squash plants. The cucumber plant produced a half dozen cucumbers - all except one of which were severely bitter. The fancy radishes were a disaster. BUT...the carrots are spectacular. There should be enough potatoes for at least a couple months and even a few parsnips made it.

truth

As I was reading I Chronicles tonight, the thought struck me: I wonder how many things we attribute to our own petty little selves when actually God is completely behind it. In the 22nd chapter of I Chronicles, David is preparing to hand over the throne to Solomon. As a man of war and blood shedding, God wanted Solomon to build the temple. God promises to "give him [Solomon] rest from all his enemies." That's huge. God would protect Israel from their enemies.

People in older times than now seemed to have the good sense to credit God when He was blessing or punishing them. Today, very few - and they are immediately labeled as bigots and intolerants - even have the courage to stand up and label something "evil" or "bad." And when something goes well, we pat ourselves on the back and boast about our good fortune, our smart policies or our brilliant planning.

The people in Isaiah's day and Jeremiah's day and Hosea's day treated them shamefully for speaking the truth - the truth that was coming straight from God. So I'm wondering, are we ignoring some voices God has ordained to set us straight while we're looking for newer, more gentle, tolerant methods of truth imparting? Or does God not use people to speak the truth like He did in Old and New Testament times, trading that method for more palatable methods?

about God

While I was preparing for our final study for youth group on "Do Hard Things" yesterday. I came across perhaps the most honest, Biblically driven argument against abortion. On his blog, Alex Chediak features a eight-and-a-half minute YouTube clip, reiterating to me that my opposition to this grisly practice that we, as supposedly a civilized nation, have in common with some other rather uncivilized nations, is not just an nice opinion.