Still Making People Uncomfortable After All These Years

Yesterday was Christmas! It was a fabulous day and a good time to be with family, and recall the wonderful gifts that we've all been given. After opening presents yesterday morning, my family and I rested and watched the Today show on NBC.

They featured some entertaining recipes, and some discussion on Saint Nicolaus and Santa Claus and the history therein... and next came a discussion of faith. Faith... on Christmas Day. They had two guests... one a Rabbi, and the other a female Presbyterian minister from Bryn Mawr. Lovely, I thought. (But let's not discuss women in ministry today-- let's safe for that another one)

So... in the discussion of Faith and it's importance on Christmas Day... the day we celebrate His birth... that fantastic gift we've all been given, would you believe that not once. Not once was His name mentioned? Not even in passing.

How can one discuss faith on that day of all days and not mention Christ? Oh, they talked about gratitude and focusing on the positive, and how people of faith are happier and more at peace... but they never mentioned Christ -- the one who is the source of all those things that they talked about... even once. It was funny... and so sad.

At one point the interviewer asked, "So what are some things that people who feel they are lacking faith can do today that they aren't doing now" and instead of saying... pray, or seek Christ... rather they were told to note 5 things that are good about each day and start having faith that life is good. This from a pastor??? This from a Rabbi???

Can we take a faith based life and sanitize it anymore? I don't think so... but it would seem, even now, after all these years that He is still making people uncomfortable. He's a rebel, and a rabble-rouser, and His message is becoming ever more urgent... but there are fewer willing to speak it and never be asked back to be on the Today show ever again.

What a travesty! What a tragedy!

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me I pray
Bless all the dear children in they tender care
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

(Last stanza ... Away in the Manger)

New Jersey Needs It's Head Examined!

Does anyone remember Megan Kanka? The Megan of Megan's Law??? Megan's Law requires registration for sexual offenders. Each state since Megan's death at age 7 has enacted this law.

Megan was 7 playing outside her house when 2x convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas invited her over to come see his puppy. Megan, a trusting kid, did want to see his puppy. When she went there, she was brutally raped... and then strangled with Timmendequas belt.

He led police to her body a couple of days later... the parents and others pushed for the death penalty. It was assigned as Timmendequas sentence. Nothing left but the inevitable and (required) appeals process in order to insure that an innocent man wasn't going to die.

Got all that?? So this week, New Jersey abandons the death penalty. They aren't going to use it as a means of punishment, deterrence etc., anymore. That means that Timmendequas has gotten a get out of lethal injection free card. Timmendequas lives.

Why oh why would you put the Kanka family back through this nightmare? A judge and a jury concurr that someone merits death for killing your precious 7 yr old daughter and then the state legislature overrules them. There are times, friends and readers, that living in a red state has its advantages.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/17/death.penalty/index.html?eref=time_us

So... I know forgiveness is something to strive for in these circumstances, and I know that Jesus died for Timmendequas too. I still have a problem with this bait and switch played on the parents and loved ones of Megan Kanka. I also know that Jesus told us that someone who injures or leads little ones astray... for him it would be better to have a millstone around his neck and be thrown into a lake of fire... Honestly, this appears in all four gospels... All FOUR... think He meant it??

Vengeance is mine says the Lord... why don't we just hasten His opportunity for Him to seek His vengeance?

But... what do you think??

Planning CHRISTmas!

Decorating... it needs to happen. I've got all the stuff but life has been so busy here, I haven't had a chance to decorate yet. We'll be doing that this weekend. Doesn't it sound all festive and fun??

I have cedar garland for the outside stairs of my house, a gorgeous wreath to go around the antique-y light fixture above the front door, some holly garland (cheap-o I have to repaint the berries each year with red fingernail polish... but hey, it works) for on the mantel. And, of course, the tree.

I also will need to plan some baking. Not lots... just some. We need the peanut blossoms of happiness, the gingerbread men of hugeness, and of course dh's fave... the peanutbutter patties of Ritzness.

In the midst of all this hubbub, it's real easy to forget that I also need to be worried about decorating my heart... not just my halls. To that end, I've got the Beattitudes to put my spirit in the right place, the Nativity story, and nativity scene. I've also made plans to meet with the Lord every morning... after all He lives in me, and I need to make the effort to pretty myself up too...

SO... how are you decking your halls and heart this festive season?

Submitting Joyfully...

I've really been pondering, due to some questions on another site, why it is that Christian people would choose to get married if they are reluctant as it seems many are... to actually follow the biblical plan. I see a lot of... but that's abuse! Or, why should he care what I eat, wear, listen to, etc.? Isn't that controlling?

Let's see what God has to say about it... God tells us in Ephesians 5 to submit to our husbands. He tells us in Colossians to submit to our husbands. He tells us in 1 Peter 3 to submit to our husbands. He doesn't anywhere ever tell us that we can decide it is abusive or controlling.

However, He also tells our husbands some things. Namely, to love their wives as their own bodies, that whoever loves his wife also loves himself Ephesians 5. Now... why would a good Christian man then order his wife to eat something that made her sick? That would go against all the teachings, right??

I'm curious... at what point do you decide you don't really trust the person you are married to? At what point do you say... wow, I fell for an abusive jerk. That I think is the issue more than when does it become abuse...

The question is really... when or how do you establish enough trust in your spouse or in your God to use your spouse to truly direct your life? Honestly. I'll admit... the longer I'm married the easier it is to trust because I've seen God honor my submission. I know it's harder just setting out in a marriage.

So... is it abusive if he wants me to wear only navy blue? No. I would assume he thinks it's a good color for me to wear. If he wants me to try a food I'm afraid will make me sick, will I do it? Yes. I'll try it. If he doesn't want me to listen to certain radio programs, will I avoid them? Yes, again.

The thing is... submission is not about doing what *I* want. It is about doing what is right. It is about doing what is needed and doing so joyfully. I'm not perfect... but if I don't have that faith and trust on the little things...??? How can I ever have it on the big ones?

Just an Ordinary Day...

Well, ds is thrilled. He earned a ribbon in Original Oratory at the tournament yesterday afternoon. He has been working on it, but his true love is policy debate so he's been mainly focused on that.

I was very proud of him. He's doing quite well for a kid in his first year of speech/debate. I'm even more pleased because he's also doing good work in his classes. His Spanish teacher wants him to join the Spanish honor society next year...

Dd, well, she's also quite busy... this week she has confirmation today, dance practice on Thursday, a girls' night out cookie baking exchange on Friday, dress rehearsal on Saturday a.m., sleepover on Saturday night, and performance Sunday evening. Let me just say... I find this whole thing exhausting.

Both children have semester tests coming up and are anxious about them. I'm confident that they'll be fine... but fear can be a powerful motivator and studying never hurt anyone. Well, at least not more than a papercut.

Grace