Mike Huckabee calls For Obama To Affirm Christians

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee discusses President Obama's lack of support for Christians.

Carly Fiorina on Iran and Planned Parenthood

Thought this was excellent!  She has my vote.

How Does Homosexual Marriage Threaten Marriage Between A Man And A Woman?

Chris has been watching the HBO special “Newsroom” on Amazon.  This you tube clip above made me wonder how gay marriage threatens traditional marriage. Click on the arrow to watch this fictional interview of an aide to Rick Santorum during the 2011 presidential race.

 I had never thought of this but gay marriage does threaten marriage between a man and a woman.  First of all we need to realize that up to 1/2 of the people in the U.S. don’t think homosexual sex is a sin.  If you asked them about the other sins in Romans 1:29  they would probably agree that the other things are sin.  

Romans 1:26 "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another,men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error……29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

So back to my supposition.  Either homosexual sex is a sin as described in Romans 1:26 -27 as well as these other things described in Romans 1:29-32 or none of them are sin.  I think that most people would agree that these things are sin.

Now what does the sin of homosexual marriage do to a marriage between a man and a woman? How about this from "The Bible’s Teaching on Marriage and Family” By Andreas Kostenberger: "Gender role confusion is a sixth and final result of humanity's rebellion against the Creator. Where God's design for man and woman to be distinct yet complementary partners in procreation and stewardship of God's earth is diluted, people will inexorably be confused about what it means to be masculine or feminine, and the lines between the two sexes made by God will increasingly be blurred.”

The children will be taught that we aren’t boys and girls but we are all purple penguins.   See this article:http://www.nationalreview.com/article/389862/school-told-call-kids-purple-penguins-because-boys-and-girls-not-inclusive.  

All in all it is ultimate rebellion against God no matter how you look at it. Sin ruins families,  nations, and ultimately the world.  But we know from the end of the story in the  Bible—Jesus will come back and remove the curse.

A Little Taste Of Heaven

Festival Of Joy --Moms In Prayer International Conference

I miss my prayer partners.   We recently moved to another town and so I left behind, at our former church, my faithful prayer partners.  We used to meet once a week and pray about everything we could think of from cures for diseases to missionaries.

My other prayer partners were the moms in my Moms in Prayer group.  ( Check out the you tube video above.) We would meet as often as we could to pray for our children and grandchildren in one accord.  If one of us thought of a verse to pray we would pray that verse with her.  If somebody had something to add on the same subject she would add her prayer.

Also, I had a longtime friend who lived across the state from me.  I would call her with emergency prayers –prayers that needed lifting up to God right then.  But she passed away last year.

All these prayers were a comfort to me.  I knew that those of us praying together had each other’s backs.  God cares for us through the concern of other believers.

So I’m lonely for someone who will pray with me.  God made us for fellowship with Him and with other believers. Sometimes God will give us a time of just depending on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to lift up our praises, requests, and confessions to the Father. I love this verse that Joni Eareckson Tada quoted on her podcast yesterday,

Job 16:19 "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

 I know Jesus is praying for me so I don't NEED new prayer partners but I’m still WANT some.  God will provide in His time.

One reason I know that it is important to have many praying together is from what Paul said.

 II Corinthians 1:11  “as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 

If many are praying together then there will be many giving thanks when God answers.  What a thrill to rejoice together.  It’s a little taste of Heaven!

Somebody Better Do Something

In I Samuel 14:1-23 Jonathan, son of king Saul, decides that he is tired of the Philistines beating up on the Israelites, and that he is going to do something about it.  The story reveals how Jonathan’s armor bearer was right with him in support.  Subsequently, because the Lord was with them, they defeated the Philistines.

On Sunday, our pastor challenged us to do something that we are fearful of for the sake of Christ.  I prayed that God would show me if there is something that I need to do for Him.

So far the scariest thing I have done this week is to attempt to show my granddaughters my favorite movie, “Children On Their Birthdays.”  The movie is set in Alabama, in 1947, just after WW II. The reason I like this movie is because the protagonist decides that something must be done for the sake of Christ. 

Here is how it happens—a bully was stopping a young black girl from taking a book and a basket of berries back to her home.  The protagonist steps in and informs the boy that gentlemen are on earth to defend ladies.  The young girl runs off but our hero chases after her to at least give her the book back.  She defends the girl to her father telling him why she lost the berries.

Then later on she brings her new friend to sit with the white people in church when all the black people are sitting in the balcony.

Now to the next frightening thing—my 10-year-old granddaughter challenged me on one theme of the movie.  The protagonist informs the boys that they must do something nice for the person they hurt as restitution for their bad deeds.  This is a Catholic or Islamic teaching.  We can never do enough good to pay for the evil we have done.  That is why Jesus had to die-- to pay for our sins.   

I did find this verse – Proverbs 21:14  “A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.” 

So sometimes we should do something to smooth over an offense.

I cheer on those who will stand up for the oppressed or do a kind deed for someone.  I pray that I will do the same.

P.S.  Well, today I did something scary for me.  I sent an e-mail to my congressman.  Here is what I said:

The Bible is the Word of God.  It is good for instructing us in the way God wants us to go.  God has even written on our hearts what is right and wrong.  So we know in our hearts that God says anyone who has homosexual sex and anyone who approves of such a thing deserves death.    Support Christians who are trying to save the lost by telling the truth in love. We weep for those who will be condemned by God if they don't repent.

Good Enough

It may not look good but it still tastes good.

I’m not a perfectionist.  In my view O.K. is good enough.  My excuse for not cleaning house perfectly is that I want others to feel better about their house cleaning when they compare it to mine.  Would Jesus want you to iron the tablecloth or to read the Word? 

Here is my ammunition for my argument.  One of my favorite teachings in the Bible is Luke 10: 42 when Jesus said, “…but few things are needed or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”  To me this means-- don’t make a big fancy meal—just throw together a sandwich.  Spending time in the Word is better than fussing. But of course there may be some people who enjoy making things complex.

Now, there was my dad who wanted to have Christmas cookies baked.  My mom never got around to it, so he baked them himself.  Chris wanted our house decorated for Christmas in “Better Homes and Gardens” style.  I couldn’t physically do the work, and besides I wouldn’t enjoy doing it, so he hired my cousin’s daughter to help him.  They had a great time!

Although, sometimes my casual style gets me into trouble.  When our son, Jes, was learning to drive, I had him drive me to Eastern Washington to visit our daughter, his sister, in college.  We carelessly parked near the administration building on the campus.  When we came back to the car we had a parking ticket.  Times have changed and colleges try to make money any way they can. (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have checked the parking rules and parked a mile away if he had to.)

 We then decided to check out the stadium.  We found a free parking space and decided to hike up the hill to the stadium.  Unfortunately, the hill was all mud. Our shoes were caked by the time we got to the top.  (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have noticed the mud.)

When we packed to return home I had neglected to put my hair mousse in a plastic bag and it suddenly released all of it contents. (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have made sure it was in a plastic bag.)

Jes said, “We may get into more trouble with mom, but we have more fun.” Not stressing over things is more calming and makes for more enjoyment. Chalk it up to living and learning.  Next time we won't make the same mistakes.

Enter the computer—unfortunately the e-mail address has to be correct or the mail won’t go anywhere.  This is one thing that I have had to work on.  The computer isn’t smart enough yet to find the correct address for me.  But I am so happy that the computer is able to correct spelling and typos if it isn’t a real word.  My 23 words per minute with 23 mistakes is completely cleaned up by the computer!  Now, if I had a robot to go around with me and quietly help me I would be set.

So, there is a delicate balance between carelessness and perfectionism. Another favorite verse of mine is Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  It is more important to have peace in your life than to do everything perfectly. Trust God to help you as you grow and learn.

If we fail to do everything perfectly let it go. Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. We will learn from our mistakes and do better next time.  

“…but few things are needed or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her

Fifty Years And Counting

 50th wedding anniversary party at Martha Lake Covenant Church

Sometimes I wish I could have a "do over" of my life. My favorite movies are those in which the protagonist gets a “do over.”  “Groundhog's Day” was all about learning to look to the interests of other people.  In the movie the central character finally figures out what he must do, and then was able to move on with his life. 

Hallmark has produced several movies about do over’s including: 

• “I Do, I Do, I Do”  
• “Christmas Do Over” 

Time travel movies fascinate me because one could go back and change something that would improve the future.  Movies I have enjoyed include:

• “The Family Man” 
• “Click” 
• “Time Travelers Wife” 
• “The Lake House,” 
• “Back To The Future” 
• "Dimensions" 
• “Frequency”

Also there are TV shows depicting time travel such as:

•  “Continuum” 
• "Sliders”   
• “Quantum Leap”  

But of course we only get one chance at this life with nary a do over.  We can learn from the mistakes of others and from our own mistakes.  Hopefully we do not repeat them. 

Chris and I have been married for just over 50 years.  How we came to be married and continued to stay married has been due to a comedy of errors and by the grace of God.  Possibly, if I had done things differently between the ages of 18 and 21, I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes during our marriage.  So I like to imagine a “do over” for that time period.

When I was graduated from Groveton high school in Alexandria, VA. at 17, my plan was to go to college, and room with my cousin, Dorothy, who had graduated from her high school in Fairbanks, Alaska.  While I can’t remember all the conflicts we had when we roomed together I do remember the clothes-borrowing problem.

While living at home I had enjoyed helping myself to my sister, Evy’s clothes.  She took responsibility and went shopping and bought clothes, while I didn’t shop.  She was gracious and never complained when I borrowed her things. At one point she bought herself a bicycle.  I didn’t buy myself a bicycle.  I could always borrow hers, my mom’s, or my brother Jay’s. 

Such was the mentality that I had when I arrived at college.  I admired Dorothy’s clothes and asked her if I could borrow a skirt here and there. She agreed for a while but soon became annoyed.  One time I was wearing Dorothy’s skirt when I was going on a date with another girl and 2 boys who were traveling from a nearby college.  She found me in the other girl’s room and asked for her skirt back.  I took it off and gave it to her.  I then borrowed a skirt from the other girl.  If I had it to do over again I would have shopped for my own clothes and not borrowed Dorothy’s, (or anybody else’s).

Also, one time, during the summer before college, my Uncle Ernie told me that I must develop a passion to study something. So, I developed a passion for boys and studied them quite a bit.  If I had to do it over again I would have studied more dance. I would have worked toward the goal of teaching children to dance, and choreographing for plays and musical stage productions.  I loved “putting on shows” as a child.

I could continue on with story after story; but I think that it is sufficient to say that when Chris and I were married at 22, our wedding day, and our years of marriage, could have been a lot less stressful.  During our 50 years we have had times of tension.  When two flawed people marry, what else can be expected?  But through counseling, prayer, Bible study, and learning to forgive, we have stayed married.

Our recent anniversary party given to us by our children, and their spouses, was a special time. It was lovingly and beautifully executed.  We had a beloved brother and family, grandchildren, cousins and spouses, nieces, and friends travel to share in our celebration. God has blessed us in tremendous ways.  I give Him all the thanks and glory!