Well...Over the years, In spite of the fact that I try really hard to be smart on my own, there are some things I've learned, in spite of myself:
1. Children will learn from what you do, not what you say.If you go to church, they'll think that's the thing to do.
2. Babies will get sick when you least have the time, or the money to go the doctor.
3. Dogs will eat anything.ANYTHING!
4. Emergencies will expand to fit your emergency savings.
5. Your friends and family will be just enough to help you through the rough times. But most friends suck. Stick with God. He's cool, and He's there ALL the time.
6. All those hymns you learned in sunday school will be just what you need to help you up on days you couldn't get up otherwise.
7. God is GREAT!
8. I'd rather have Jesus, than anything... (that's a hymn...)
9. A husband is a gift from God.
10. So are children, and friends...
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Winter Marches On
Up here, in the land of the 8 to 10 inch snowfall on a really depressingly regular basis, we are plodding along through winter, as best we can. The new puppy has taught us that black labs don't like snow, and will pee on the porch in an attempt to avoid the deep drifts in the back yard. Our Malamute has taught us that old dogs dislike new puppies but love deep snowdrifts, and will bury themselves in them, given the chance. The current baby I sit for has taught us that Influenza type A this year, is very contagious, and comes on fast. (So far we've avoided it in our family! ) Owning a house has taught us that old pipes break on regular basis, leading to savings account deprevation.
On the other hand, we thank God for the cash available to fix those leaky faucets, for cute if hyperactive little puppies, for old furry huuuge dogs, and for the opportunity to hold those sick babies and offer them comfort.
Now that we've been back from our Washington trip for awhile, and have had the chance to make up for missing our dd's 13th birthday by being snowed into DC (our airport at home was closed because of the snow in Chicago;DC was a beautiful balmy 65 to 70 degrees while we were there), we've had the chance to settle back into our routines a bit more, but like every other day, unexpected things will happen.
I've been obsessively blog-hopping lately, a wonderful sort of treasure hunt that started with a search for a new apron pattern, and lead to the discovery that there are whole bunches of women with small children out there, who sew their own clothes and dress their children in what I can only assume is some sort of hippie-retro-live off the land-cool style, and who make their living by sewing little stuffed doll creatures on Ebay.
I started looking for the apron pattern because our new puppy ate my vintage cotton apron that I bought at the flea market last year. That's right, he ate it. Fortunately, it was a thin cotton, worn thinner by years of wear. So on that note, I'd like to offer this partial list of things the new puppy has eaten since we brought him home:
1. DS's headphone/mic combo for his xbox.
2. An entire 2 lb. tub of butter. (Resulting in an every-2-minutes trip outdoors for something like 4 hours that evening. )
3. An entire 5 lb. box of clementines
4. the apron
5. DD's barbie's shoes. Several of them. No barbie feet were harmed, however.
6. Many, many socks
7. Several pepsi bottle caps, plus the rings
8. The antique baseboards in the upstairs hallway-approximately a 4 inch square
9. A corner of the linoleum square in the downstairs bath.
10. part of the downstairs bathroom door.
11. small clothes that were glued to the "laundry room" sign on the laundry room door.
I'm sure that he's eaten more than these few things, but the point is, what in the world are puppy stomachs lined with?
Anyway, happy rest of winter!
On the other hand, we thank God for the cash available to fix those leaky faucets, for cute if hyperactive little puppies, for old furry huuuge dogs, and for the opportunity to hold those sick babies and offer them comfort.
Now that we've been back from our Washington trip for awhile, and have had the chance to make up for missing our dd's 13th birthday by being snowed into DC (our airport at home was closed because of the snow in Chicago;DC was a beautiful balmy 65 to 70 degrees while we were there), we've had the chance to settle back into our routines a bit more, but like every other day, unexpected things will happen.
I've been obsessively blog-hopping lately, a wonderful sort of treasure hunt that started with a search for a new apron pattern, and lead to the discovery that there are whole bunches of women with small children out there, who sew their own clothes and dress their children in what I can only assume is some sort of hippie-retro-live off the land-cool style, and who make their living by sewing little stuffed doll creatures on Ebay.
I started looking for the apron pattern because our new puppy ate my vintage cotton apron that I bought at the flea market last year. That's right, he ate it. Fortunately, it was a thin cotton, worn thinner by years of wear. So on that note, I'd like to offer this partial list of things the new puppy has eaten since we brought him home:
1. DS's headphone/mic combo for his xbox.
2. An entire 2 lb. tub of butter. (Resulting in an every-2-minutes trip outdoors for something like 4 hours that evening. )
3. An entire 5 lb. box of clementines
4. the apron
5. DD's barbie's shoes. Several of them. No barbie feet were harmed, however.
6. Many, many socks
7. Several pepsi bottle caps, plus the rings
8. The antique baseboards in the upstairs hallway-approximately a 4 inch square
9. A corner of the linoleum square in the downstairs bath.
10. part of the downstairs bathroom door.
11. small clothes that were glued to the "laundry room" sign on the laundry room door.
I'm sure that he's eaten more than these few things, but the point is, what in the world are puppy stomachs lined with?
Anyway, happy rest of winter!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Back From Washington
We went to Washington, D.C. last week, my dh and I, with his union, to lobby members of congress for help for a little more attention to the plight of the middle class.
We had fun, and I learned alot. Like, how well-spoken my dh can be when he's passionate about something. And how the other members of his union care about what happens to you. But mostly, I learned that certain political parties, who shall remain nameless here, just don't really give a crap about the middle class. And some from the other party do care.
But aside from that, we really did have fun. We went to the National Archives, and got to see the Declaration of Independance and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was behind a large screen while it's case was being repaired. My dh asked the guard if the prez was back there erasing the parts he didn't like, but the guard only laughed in response, so we still don't know. I was a little sad to see how much the Declaration and Bill of Rights have faded since I last saw them, in the eighth grade. They can hardly be seen now, just a few words are still visible. Fortunately, with a nod to Ben Franklin, the truths set down in writing there are "written upon every man's heart". If you have a heart, of course.
Democracy , even a limping old decrepit democracy in need of a triple-shot of double-caffeine espresso, is a wonderful thing. We listened to Congressmen speak, visited with their aides, saw the great documents of our nation, and just generally got to participate in the running of said Democracy. Of course, everyone can do this. Vote, call or email your reps in congress, run for local office-just do something to make your voice heard.
And on a side note, bring walking shoes. And bandages. Or lots of cab fare. But if you opt for cab fare, don't go during a cab strike.
We had fun, and I learned alot. Like, how well-spoken my dh can be when he's passionate about something. And how the other members of his union care about what happens to you. But mostly, I learned that certain political parties, who shall remain nameless here, just don't really give a crap about the middle class. And some from the other party do care.
But aside from that, we really did have fun. We went to the National Archives, and got to see the Declaration of Independance and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was behind a large screen while it's case was being repaired. My dh asked the guard if the prez was back there erasing the parts he didn't like, but the guard only laughed in response, so we still don't know. I was a little sad to see how much the Declaration and Bill of Rights have faded since I last saw them, in the eighth grade. They can hardly be seen now, just a few words are still visible. Fortunately, with a nod to Ben Franklin, the truths set down in writing there are "written upon every man's heart". If you have a heart, of course.
Democracy , even a limping old decrepit democracy in need of a triple-shot of double-caffeine espresso, is a wonderful thing. We listened to Congressmen speak, visited with their aides, saw the great documents of our nation, and just generally got to participate in the running of said Democracy. Of course, everyone can do this. Vote, call or email your reps in congress, run for local office-just do something to make your voice heard.
And on a side note, bring walking shoes. And bandages. Or lots of cab fare. But if you opt for cab fare, don't go during a cab strike.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Shades of Paint, Thirteen Dwarves and Other Random Thoughts
Today's post is one of random thoughts, mainly because I haven't posted in awhile and have nothing else to say.
We painted the lower half of our dining room yesterday, below the chair rail. When we moved in it was Go-Bears Blue. Not a bad color, but it didn't go at all with the green carpet and '80's-small-print-mauve-and-hunter wallpaper above the chair rail. Since I don't currently have the money or the patience to rip off and replace all that wallpaper, we updated it by painting the patterned paintable wallpaper below the chair rail a more updated color. I was aiming for a
tan-ish linen color, but the dear people at Menards just couldn't get it right, and we ended up repainting at 11 pm with paint that was already in the basement when we moved in. This was after two coats of primer/concealer on top of the Go-Bears Blue and a coat of the paint I actually bought. I'm praying that the wallpaper is not now so heavy with paint that it falls right off the wall. So far, so good, and the new color looks a lot better than the one that was there to begin with. Next project: the hot-pink room that my daughter inhabits. Who paints a room hot-pink anyway?
While I was doing the breakfast dishes this morning, my mind was wandering aimlessly towards nowhere(A pleasant place to be when you're stressed and not feeling too well, as I was). Of the things that were cavorting around in there was the fact that I can still name the thirteen dwarves without even thinking too hard about it.(If you just said,"Thirteen? Aren't there only Seven Dwarves?" Then you are not sufficiently geek-ified for this blog. Please move along to a nice Disney oriented blog where you will feel more at home.) I suppose that being able to name all thirteen dwarves means I am still, after all these years, just a nerd at heart. That's alright, I guess, because I feel at home here. (And for the record, Dori , Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bomber, Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, and Thorin Oakenshield. Nod to Tolkien.)
Another thing in my mind is that our new puppy, whose official name is Buddy but has been known affectionately at various times as Vlad, Imhotep, Dingbat, Stupid, Trouble, and D*&^^%! , is, sad to say, not the brightest of dogs. Our four year old Alaskan Malamute seems to think Buddy's going to go away if just ignores him long enough.
Black Labs are supposed to be intelligent fast learners. Ours is just stubborn, or lacking a few marbles, I can't decide which. When we took him for shots recently, the vet said he needed obedience classes badly. We got some, in the form of a shock collar, which is not as bad as it sounds. All the other members of our family tried it and said it wasn't bad, it just sort of vibrated. We used this same collar on our Mal, and it worked wonders. Schooled him right up. We'll see about Vlad.
The last thing I'll write about is my new-found interest in old houses. New-found, that is, since I first walked into this house, and wanted it right away. It just felt like my house the moment I walked in. It's a 1920's - era Craftsman style house. I love all the cool touches put in by whoever built it. Aside from the woodwork every where, which is what drew me to it, there are neat little extra's everywhere. In the closets, for instance, are brass coat hooks. If you look closely you can see flowers have been carved (molded?) into them. This is something that no one but family will ever see, but the care this little touch speaks of makes the house feel like a home.
Since we moved in, I've almost stopped reading the other things I used to read. Now I read things like This Old House magazine, The Old Home Journal magazine, and browse the web for old home websites. I worry about whether or not our lighting is period-appropriate, and whether or not my dishes look right with the cool new period-appropriate dining room table we seriously splurged on. It's sort of an obsession.
Oh, well, just an adult form of geek-dom I guess! Have a great day!
We painted the lower half of our dining room yesterday, below the chair rail. When we moved in it was Go-Bears Blue. Not a bad color, but it didn't go at all with the green carpet and '80's-small-print-mauve-and-hunter wallpaper above the chair rail. Since I don't currently have the money or the patience to rip off and replace all that wallpaper, we updated it by painting the patterned paintable wallpaper below the chair rail a more updated color. I was aiming for a
tan-ish linen color, but the dear people at Menards just couldn't get it right, and we ended up repainting at 11 pm with paint that was already in the basement when we moved in. This was after two coats of primer/concealer on top of the Go-Bears Blue and a coat of the paint I actually bought. I'm praying that the wallpaper is not now so heavy with paint that it falls right off the wall. So far, so good, and the new color looks a lot better than the one that was there to begin with. Next project: the hot-pink room that my daughter inhabits. Who paints a room hot-pink anyway?
While I was doing the breakfast dishes this morning, my mind was wandering aimlessly towards nowhere(A pleasant place to be when you're stressed and not feeling too well, as I was). Of the things that were cavorting around in there was the fact that I can still name the thirteen dwarves without even thinking too hard about it.(If you just said,"Thirteen? Aren't there only Seven Dwarves?" Then you are not sufficiently geek-ified for this blog. Please move along to a nice Disney oriented blog where you will feel more at home.) I suppose that being able to name all thirteen dwarves means I am still, after all these years, just a nerd at heart. That's alright, I guess, because I feel at home here. (And for the record, Dori , Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bomber, Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, and Thorin Oakenshield. Nod to Tolkien.)
Another thing in my mind is that our new puppy, whose official name is Buddy but has been known affectionately at various times as Vlad, Imhotep, Dingbat, Stupid, Trouble, and D*&^^%! , is, sad to say, not the brightest of dogs. Our four year old Alaskan Malamute seems to think Buddy's going to go away if just ignores him long enough.
Black Labs are supposed to be intelligent fast learners. Ours is just stubborn, or lacking a few marbles, I can't decide which. When we took him for shots recently, the vet said he needed obedience classes badly. We got some, in the form of a shock collar, which is not as bad as it sounds. All the other members of our family tried it and said it wasn't bad, it just sort of vibrated. We used this same collar on our Mal, and it worked wonders. Schooled him right up. We'll see about Vlad.
The last thing I'll write about is my new-found interest in old houses. New-found, that is, since I first walked into this house, and wanted it right away. It just felt like my house the moment I walked in. It's a 1920's - era Craftsman style house. I love all the cool touches put in by whoever built it. Aside from the woodwork every where, which is what drew me to it, there are neat little extra's everywhere. In the closets, for instance, are brass coat hooks. If you look closely you can see flowers have been carved (molded?) into them. This is something that no one but family will ever see, but the care this little touch speaks of makes the house feel like a home.
Since we moved in, I've almost stopped reading the other things I used to read. Now I read things like This Old House magazine, The Old Home Journal magazine, and browse the web for old home websites. I worry about whether or not our lighting is period-appropriate, and whether or not my dishes look right with the cool new period-appropriate dining room table we seriously splurged on. It's sort of an obsession.
Oh, well, just an adult form of geek-dom I guess! Have a great day!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Fun Meme
Nods to Jenny B's blog ( Here: http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/craft_room/index.html )for this too fun meme:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),Frisky Dodge
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Chocolate Butter Cookie
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),V-Ham
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Red Puppies
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Ann Evansville
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Ham-Va
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Blue Iced Tea
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers), Henry Julius
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Heavenly Chocolate
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),Louise Melvin
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),I don't remember, Indianapolis
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).Autumn Rose
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Strawberry Pajamay
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Bagel Oak
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),The Quilting Rainstorm Tour
My fav is the last!
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),Frisky Dodge
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Chocolate Butter Cookie
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),V-Ham
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Red Puppies
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),Ann Evansville
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),Ham-Va
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),The Blue Iced Tea
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers), Henry Julius
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Heavenly Chocolate
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),Louise Melvin
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),I don't remember, Indianapolis
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).Autumn Rose
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Strawberry Pajamay
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Bagel Oak
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),The Quilting Rainstorm Tour
My fav is the last!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Grace and Peace, part two
Grace and Peace? I'm been feeling pretty far away from those two things recently. I've been told, at various moments in my life, that I'm a "fantastic" day care provider, a "great" mom, a "wonderful" wife, a "very resourceful" homemaker.
The truth is, if anyone hasn't already figured this out yet, that I'm merely an o.k. day care provider, a so-so mom, a lazy homemaker, a just plain lucky wife, a terrible financial advisor for my family. Add to that list a rotten driver and a shameful Christian. I also have a hair-trigger temper, the mouth of a sailor, and a pretty sorry physique. I cook o.k., but it ain't nouvel cuisine, it's down-home sweet tea and baking powder biscuits sort of cooking. In fact, I can't even imagine what anyone sees in me. I'm an absolutely rotten friend-they could all be dead, and I wouldn't know for weeks in most cases, months in others.
But something happened a couple of weeks ago, while I was busy feeling sorry for myself and everyone who had the misfortune of having me in their lives, that reminded me what I'm supposed to be looking at. We adopted a puppy. Now, I did most definately not want another puppy in the household. Dogs are like babies that never grow up, and I am done with them, thank you. But I was over-ruled, and we searched until we found one that we all agreed on. A little black lab, about 3 months old. We had him for exactly 18 hours before he started throwing up and sleeping alot. That was on a saturday. By Monday, he wouldn't even move-he just layed there, sleeping. I took him to the vet and got antibiotics. But he didn't get better, he got worse. We took him back to the vet, who admitted him, and hooked him up to an I.V. He's better now, but that's not the point. On the way to the vet, I was driving, and my dear husband was holding our sick puppy. The puppy who wouldn't even move or whine or go outside to the bathroom. In the dark and quiet of the car, our fears for the puppy surrounding us, my husband suddenly whispered,"Look!" I turned to see what he wanted, and there in his arms was our at-death's-door-puppy, straining his weak little head as far as he could, just to reach me. I reached over to pet him, and he sighed and rested his head on my hand.
Why? I didn't even want him. But he trusted me, and knew I was already in puppy love with him and would take care of him.
I guess the things in our life are like that alot-you don't feel ready for them, sometimes you don't want them, sometimes they don't fit into what you think your life should be at the moment. But God always knows best, and if you're paying attention, sometimes you can catch a glimpse of the need the thing has for you, straining to reach you, if only you'll pay attention. Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The truth is, if anyone hasn't already figured this out yet, that I'm merely an o.k. day care provider, a so-so mom, a lazy homemaker, a just plain lucky wife, a terrible financial advisor for my family. Add to that list a rotten driver and a shameful Christian. I also have a hair-trigger temper, the mouth of a sailor, and a pretty sorry physique. I cook o.k., but it ain't nouvel cuisine, it's down-home sweet tea and baking powder biscuits sort of cooking. In fact, I can't even imagine what anyone sees in me. I'm an absolutely rotten friend-they could all be dead, and I wouldn't know for weeks in most cases, months in others.
But something happened a couple of weeks ago, while I was busy feeling sorry for myself and everyone who had the misfortune of having me in their lives, that reminded me what I'm supposed to be looking at. We adopted a puppy. Now, I did most definately not want another puppy in the household. Dogs are like babies that never grow up, and I am done with them, thank you. But I was over-ruled, and we searched until we found one that we all agreed on. A little black lab, about 3 months old. We had him for exactly 18 hours before he started throwing up and sleeping alot. That was on a saturday. By Monday, he wouldn't even move-he just layed there, sleeping. I took him to the vet and got antibiotics. But he didn't get better, he got worse. We took him back to the vet, who admitted him, and hooked him up to an I.V. He's better now, but that's not the point. On the way to the vet, I was driving, and my dear husband was holding our sick puppy. The puppy who wouldn't even move or whine or go outside to the bathroom. In the dark and quiet of the car, our fears for the puppy surrounding us, my husband suddenly whispered,"Look!" I turned to see what he wanted, and there in his arms was our at-death's-door-puppy, straining his weak little head as far as he could, just to reach me. I reached over to pet him, and he sighed and rested his head on my hand.
Why? I didn't even want him. But he trusted me, and knew I was already in puppy love with him and would take care of him.
I guess the things in our life are like that alot-you don't feel ready for them, sometimes you don't want them, sometimes they don't fit into what you think your life should be at the moment. But God always knows best, and if you're paying attention, sometimes you can catch a glimpse of the need the thing has for you, straining to reach you, if only you'll pay attention. Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Election Season Rant
Like most people who use the internet, I have certain websites I like to check in on regularly. One of these is a blog, written by a Christian woman, who does a great job of dedicating every single thing she does, big or small, to the Lord. It inspires me to keep trying.
I agree with her on a lot of the issues she writes about, but on a few things we disagree. Like politics. On a recent post, she wrote that "Liberals are deceived" about a certain issue. It just so happens that I consider myself a Liberal. I also consider myself a Christian and, unlike many Conservatives who happen to be Christian, I don't think they're mutually exclusive. In fact, on many political issues, I think that most Conservative Christians are very deceived themselves.
A few issues that come immediately to mind are the recent fight about the Ten Commandments in the courthouse, and the "Under God" in the pledge of Allegience, or voting for a man who claims to be a Christian, but who has proven himself to be a liar who only cares about money.
I still believe we should follow the Ten Commandments, and I still believe that our Nation is a Nation Under God. I also believe that we should vote for the person who seems to follow Gods laws, and the laws of our country, first, before we vote for someone who follows the law of the almighty dollar.
Do we really feel that leaving a copy of the Ten Commandments posted on a courthouse wall will win any one to God, when the judge sitting under them is upholding the laws of a corrupt government? Will making a Muslim or an Atheist pledge his allegience under God make it so? Will voting for a man who claims out loud, in words, to be a Christian really show the world who we are?
Or should we show the world who we are by our actions instead? Shouldn't we just live the Ten Commandments? ("Thou shalt not kill" pops to mind.) Shouldn't we live as a nation under God, as we used to do? ( "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." from The Declaration of Independence) Shouldn't we just vote for the person who acts the most like a Christian, if that is our point of view? (If all of the candidates were stricken dumb, and we had to vote based on the candidates life and political record, who would we vote for? I suspect that almost none of the people now in office would remain there for long, if this were the case!)
I, for one, am heartily sick of all of the political claptrap,spouted by people who I am in fear for, that they are living their lives deceived by the devil into thinking they are doing "the right thing". I beg of all of you who consider yourselves Christian, to put aside all the advice received from well-meaning leaders and friends, and vote for the person who lives what they profess to believe. ("They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him..." Titus 1:16, New American Standard Bible)
If you do that, if you vote for the person who lives what they claim to believe, then it won't matter at all what you call yourself-conservative, liberal, whatever. (And on a side note, if you are a Christian, and you haven't been praying for our government lately, you might want to start. Start by praying for wisdom for our leaders. They could all use a hefty dose of it, I think.)
I agree with her on a lot of the issues she writes about, but on a few things we disagree. Like politics. On a recent post, she wrote that "Liberals are deceived" about a certain issue. It just so happens that I consider myself a Liberal. I also consider myself a Christian and, unlike many Conservatives who happen to be Christian, I don't think they're mutually exclusive. In fact, on many political issues, I think that most Conservative Christians are very deceived themselves.
A few issues that come immediately to mind are the recent fight about the Ten Commandments in the courthouse, and the "Under God" in the pledge of Allegience, or voting for a man who claims to be a Christian, but who has proven himself to be a liar who only cares about money.
I still believe we should follow the Ten Commandments, and I still believe that our Nation is a Nation Under God. I also believe that we should vote for the person who seems to follow Gods laws, and the laws of our country, first, before we vote for someone who follows the law of the almighty dollar.
Do we really feel that leaving a copy of the Ten Commandments posted on a courthouse wall will win any one to God, when the judge sitting under them is upholding the laws of a corrupt government? Will making a Muslim or an Atheist pledge his allegience under God make it so? Will voting for a man who claims out loud, in words, to be a Christian really show the world who we are?
Or should we show the world who we are by our actions instead? Shouldn't we just live the Ten Commandments? ("Thou shalt not kill" pops to mind.) Shouldn't we live as a nation under God, as we used to do? ( "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." from The Declaration of Independence) Shouldn't we just vote for the person who acts the most like a Christian, if that is our point of view? (If all of the candidates were stricken dumb, and we had to vote based on the candidates life and political record, who would we vote for? I suspect that almost none of the people now in office would remain there for long, if this were the case!)
I, for one, am heartily sick of all of the political claptrap,spouted by people who I am in fear for, that they are living their lives deceived by the devil into thinking they are doing "the right thing". I beg of all of you who consider yourselves Christian, to put aside all the advice received from well-meaning leaders and friends, and vote for the person who lives what they profess to believe. ("They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him..." Titus 1:16, New American Standard Bible)
If you do that, if you vote for the person who lives what they claim to believe, then it won't matter at all what you call yourself-conservative, liberal, whatever. (And on a side note, if you are a Christian, and you haven't been praying for our government lately, you might want to start. Start by praying for wisdom for our leaders. They could all use a hefty dose of it, I think.)
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