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You Can't Have It Both Ways
"Why does God allow people to hurt each other? Why does God allow rape, murder, war, etc."
" I don't believe in a God that tells me what to do! I don't want a God with rules for how to live my life."
Monday, July 23, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
No rants today
There is so much that I hear on the news, or read in magazines, or glean from blogs that boils my blood and leads me to start ranting, but not today. I clicked the little link at the top of most of the blogs that says, "next blog" a few weeks back and after sorting through numerous blogs written in languages I sadly do not understand, I came across a very interesting one. The blog is 4thavenueblues,blogspot.com The writer, Andrew, struggles with mental issues, is a recovering alcoholic and has been homeless. The writer is also a brilliant writer, honest in his writing, and bares his soul for us to see. I have been fascinated by the lessons I learn reading of his daily struggles, his triumphs, his questions, and the people who love him. Today, my heart soared as I read about a friend of his getting a second chance with an estranged daughter and granddaughter, about a new neighbor who has quickly, seemlessly and as if ordained by God, become a source of comfort, encouragement and friendship, and about Andrew realizing that while the future he once might have had is no more, he still has a future ripe with wonderous possibilities.
My musing about Andrew's life got me contemplating my own, and deciding it is time to stop looking at all the mistakes, all the failures and the mountain I see when I contemplate becoming what I want and believe I should be, and start looking around me and remembering that life is good. Remebering also that God is good and with Him, all things are possible.
There is so much that I hear on the news, or read in magazines, or glean from blogs that boils my blood and leads me to start ranting, but not today. I clicked the little link at the top of most of the blogs that says, "next blog" a few weeks back and after sorting through numerous blogs written in languages I sadly do not understand, I came across a very interesting one. The blog is 4thavenueblues,blogspot.com The writer, Andrew, struggles with mental issues, is a recovering alcoholic and has been homeless. The writer is also a brilliant writer, honest in his writing, and bares his soul for us to see. I have been fascinated by the lessons I learn reading of his daily struggles, his triumphs, his questions, and the people who love him. Today, my heart soared as I read about a friend of his getting a second chance with an estranged daughter and granddaughter, about a new neighbor who has quickly, seemlessly and as if ordained by God, become a source of comfort, encouragement and friendship, and about Andrew realizing that while the future he once might have had is no more, he still has a future ripe with wonderous possibilities.
My musing about Andrew's life got me contemplating my own, and deciding it is time to stop looking at all the mistakes, all the failures and the mountain I see when I contemplate becoming what I want and believe I should be, and start looking around me and remembering that life is good. Remebering also that God is good and with Him, all things are possible.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Happy Independence Day
I went through this day with ease today. No regularly scheduled work, slept in late, ate some good food, watched one of my tenant families set off a small fireworks display, and thought little about the significance of this day. As I sit here on the commuter, it dawned on me that I really really didn't think about the fact that I am free, that I live in a country that is based on the freedom of the people. I was a bit ashamed. I, like so many of my fellow countrymen and women, enjoy the rewards of a free society, we live our everyday lives they way we do because of the fact that we live in a free nation, yet the fact we are free rarely comes to the forefront of our minds.
We hear much today about how we actually aren't free that our rights are being stripped from us. Funny side note, both sides of the political spectrum rail against the daily dwindling of our freedoms. DO I think that our God-given rights are being infringed upon, yes. DO I agree with some who shout in hysteria that we are no longer free, ABSOLUTELY NOT! The very fact that they can rail demonstrates that we are still free.
So I agree that some of our freedoms and rights are being infringed upon, now what. Get involved. VOTE, now there is a strange concept to many in this country. Leaders slowly chip away at freedoms because the people are not telling them to stop. But we need to do more than vote. Talk to those you elect, and talk to those who get elected in spite of your vote. The old saying, "The squeeky wheel gets grease." is true. When it comes to our leaders they will do what they want until they know that there is enough of the public actively involved to make them fear for their jobs.
One final thought about this wonderful country. I hear every day people pointing out the flaws of this country, past, present and perhaps future. It seems to have become an obsession to some. I, for one, am glad to hear the flaws. As a true student of history, I feel it is vital to the continued success of a nation for its citizens to continually examine the actions and history of the nation, warts and all. We will only right the wrongs, or avoid similar wrongs if we know what we have done wrong and what we have done right. One other thing, it seems that we are one of the few countries that does this constantly. Good for us.
America, happy birthday, may we see many more, and may we see our country stay true to what is right!
I went through this day with ease today. No regularly scheduled work, slept in late, ate some good food, watched one of my tenant families set off a small fireworks display, and thought little about the significance of this day. As I sit here on the commuter, it dawned on me that I really really didn't think about the fact that I am free, that I live in a country that is based on the freedom of the people. I was a bit ashamed. I, like so many of my fellow countrymen and women, enjoy the rewards of a free society, we live our everyday lives they way we do because of the fact that we live in a free nation, yet the fact we are free rarely comes to the forefront of our minds.
We hear much today about how we actually aren't free that our rights are being stripped from us. Funny side note, both sides of the political spectrum rail against the daily dwindling of our freedoms. DO I think that our God-given rights are being infringed upon, yes. DO I agree with some who shout in hysteria that we are no longer free, ABSOLUTELY NOT! The very fact that they can rail demonstrates that we are still free.
So I agree that some of our freedoms and rights are being infringed upon, now what. Get involved. VOTE, now there is a strange concept to many in this country. Leaders slowly chip away at freedoms because the people are not telling them to stop. But we need to do more than vote. Talk to those you elect, and talk to those who get elected in spite of your vote. The old saying, "The squeeky wheel gets grease." is true. When it comes to our leaders they will do what they want until they know that there is enough of the public actively involved to make them fear for their jobs.
One final thought about this wonderful country. I hear every day people pointing out the flaws of this country, past, present and perhaps future. It seems to have become an obsession to some. I, for one, am glad to hear the flaws. As a true student of history, I feel it is vital to the continued success of a nation for its citizens to continually examine the actions and history of the nation, warts and all. We will only right the wrongs, or avoid similar wrongs if we know what we have done wrong and what we have done right. One other thing, it seems that we are one of the few countries that does this constantly. Good for us.
America, happy birthday, may we see many more, and may we see our country stay true to what is right!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Names of Cities can be interesting.
A few days ago, a couple of friends and I were commenting on interesting city names. Pumpkintown, Moonville, and Possum Kingdom, all towns near here, were favorites. Apparently we also have some towns who's founding fathers were creatively challenged, content with such names as: Ninety-six, Nine Mile and Six Mile.
A few days ago, a couple of friends and I were commenting on interesting city names. Pumpkintown, Moonville, and Possum Kingdom, all towns near here, were favorites. Apparently we also have some towns who's founding fathers were creatively challenged, content with such names as: Ninety-six, Nine Mile and Six Mile.
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