No one ever gossips about another's secret virtues (Bertrand Russell)

An excerpt from David Brickner's Jews for Jesus Newsletter (click here to read the entire article):

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." How true! Words that roll off this two-ounce slab of muscle and mucous membrane have an inordinate capacity to affect lives. Consider for example, the speeches of Nazi miscreant Adolf Hitler, contrasted with those of statesman Winston Churchill, during the Second World War. Both were eloquent orators. Hitler, on one side of the Channel, used his words to lead a nation into devilish crimes against humanity. Winston Churchill, on the other side of the Channel, used his rhetorical skill to lead a nation to the highest and most noble sacrifice, to England's credit in her finest hour.

We need to be discerning about what we listen to and what we are quick to believe. The Talmud asks, "Why do human fingers resemble pegs?" and then answers, "So that if one hears something unseemly, one can plug one's fingers in one's ears" (Ketuvot 5b).

We need to be especially discerning when it comes to negative or critical remarks, because those are the ones that people love to repeat. Bertrand Russell once dryly observed that no one ever gossips about another's secret virtues.

They'll know we are Christians by our love

I got an email today. It was a smoke-screen, nasty attack on Barack Obama's family. It had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with prejudice. Isn't that a shame? Did you hear Barack's response to the news of Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy? He was a gentleman. The favor was not returned in regard to his own family history.

To my Christian friends who want to expound politically and enlighten me, please stick to good reasons like Obama's stance on abortion, anything not based on the color of his skin, his relatives' beliefs, his childhood, his mother's sins, and his name. To use his family pictures in a hateful way is an inexcusable thing for a Christian to do. It is possible, and more effective, to state your convictions without sharing dirt or taking cheap shots. If people will know we are Christians by our love, make no mistake, they'll know we are hypocrites by our lack thereof.

While campaigning against Jimmy Carter in 1980, Ronald Reagan asked, "Is our country better off than it was 4 years ago? Are you better off?" The answer for most Americans was apparently, "No." And he won the election handily. I'm using that question and changing 4 years to 8 years, and the answer is a resounding NO. (My previous voting revolved around the single issue, pro-life. There are no fewer abortions for having a pro-life leader all these years. We have to think of a better way to save babies than relying on the lip service of politicians.) So hey, it's a free country. I'm going to exercise my freedom and vote for a change in party leadership.

I'm still avoiding sharing my good reasons...for now let's just say I'm audacious enough to hope.

The Sun Will Come Up

Every day, and every day...the sun comes up, and all things look fresh and new. Tom gets up to see the sunrise frequently. Sometimes he walks to the top of Yankee Hill Road where it meets Henry Road and watches the sun come up. I'm in bed finishing the last minutes of a delicious 8 hour sleep...so he brings me pictures.

Isn't it amazing?

Someday I've just got to get out of bed and go see that for myself. Do you think Tom would like my company? Probably not, because, once in a great while he wakes up Grumpy. But most days he just lets me sleep.

Shocking, Isn't it?

Yes, I'm a Barak Obama fan. I have my reasons, and they are well thought out, prayed through, good reasons. I'll share them now and then on this sight. And if you're the kind of person who gets all red in the face because someone doesn't agree with your politics, shame on you. To all you McCain/Palin supporters, we can still be friends if you want. Unless of course you insult Barak or his wife or his kids (Or, heaven forbid, ME!). I'm only into polite political exchanges. Like Thumper's mom says, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Maybe it was Flower's mom, or Bambi's -- right story, not sure which character.

People Change...

but not much. I laugh every time I hear that quote by Will Rogers. Then, after my little chuckle, his words haunt me. People do change...some for the better, some for the worse. Heck, some people go from good to bad and vice versa. But maybe that's the point. When a good person goes bad because of circumstances or whatever, were they really good in the first place? And if a bad person rehabilitates, were they really that bad? So I guess you'd have to say they changed...but not much.

On the other hand II Corinthians 5:17 says that when you become a Christian you're a new creation, everything has changed, everything about you is new. God reconciles us to himself through Jesus AND makes us agents of reconciliation. So, how come we don't see huge, dramatic changes in ourselves and others who get saved? Yeah, yeah, I know there are absoultely stunning miraculous changes in some people upon conversion (Paul of Tarsus comes to mind), but that's not the norm. When minimally bad people like me (tongue in cheek) get saved, no one but God can see our hearts, so who would even know I am (we are) brand new? Really, a whole new creature. There's a verse in Romans that says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yep, all, as in everyone, which includes me. I know...that's hard to believe. Then again, I remember little ole me, years ago before meeting Jesus, next thing to goodie-two-shoes I was. Remembering. Remembering. Oh yeah, all of sinned!

Today I'm feeling particularly grateful for GRACE. The grace of God that overlooks and forgives my shortcomings (okay, sins). The grace of others who overlook and tolerate my peculiarities (okay, sins). The grace of family and close friends who encourage me and tell me I'm okay. Even though we both know sin isn't okay. Thank God, Jesus died for that. Thank God, I'm a new creation, good enough for Him, but not because of anything I did. No boasting here, you can be sure of that. By grace I have been saved, through faith. I changed...a lot...internally and eternally speaking.

Fond (Tearful) Farewell

Uncle Jim passed away on Tuesday. The funeral was Thursday. It's been a whirlwind couple of days. My sister Joan and Dad coordinated flights so I could pick them up at the airport and drive to Johnstown for the Wednesday night viewing and Thursday morning service. Another sister drove 4 1/2 hours to get there. Two brothers also came a distance as did my son Nathan. It was important to us to pay respects to the Uncle that kept our family gathering together every summer since as long as I can remember. I know my cousins, their kids, and our kids know each other too (at least the ones who attend often), and that's a privilege. We're so grateful for his efforts!

The service was wonderful. A good send off -- with lots of boating references. Uncle Jim was a Navy man back in world war II and loved taking his kids and then grandkids to a lake on his big boat. The grandchildren's boating stories added much needed comic relief as they tried to squeak out remembrances and tributes to their Pap. There was much weeping, tearful sobbing. Aunt Marion was the anchor to her dear grandkids. They all promised they'd look out for her now and be there for her. That while they were absolutely going to pieces and she getting up to hug and comfort them and help them back to their seats. She is amazing. My cousins too, Aunt Marion's kids did so well through all this. They've been comforting others even through their own loss. Let me share their daughter Marge's words to me in an email a day or two before Uncle Jim passed...

Mom is hanging in there like a rock, she very rarely leaves his side, during the day Jim, myself and the grandkids stay close by, but she refuses to have anyone stay with her at night. Through this whole experience I am thankful that he is not in any pain, and that we have the time to let him know how we feel. I am also thankful that there is no need to try to make up for lost time. My brother and I have had a lifetime of giving and receiving love from Dad We will be able to say good-by to him and have no regrets.

And that's how it was -- they spent the last month (and probably much more) enjoying every last day with their dad. I believe he was ready to sail away, cross to the other shore and be welcomed by Jesus into that everlasting kingdom which holds all the best (better than we can imagine) of this world and none of the trouble.

I'm going to go there someday too. You?

A Photo Blog

Three little munchkins.

It's starting to feel like summer's last hurrah. Here are some fond memories from our Cousin's Reunion. Many thanks to, who else?, some cousins...

No Pictures???

Oh man, I'm searching the camera card and not finding pictures of the cousins reunion. Six little kids, thirty adults, swimming and splashing, eating and playing games, tractor rides and catching up chats...none of it documented on my camera. I guess Tom and I were otherwise occupied. I'll bet one of the cousins will share. Meanwhile I've got pictures in my mind and memories in my heart -- good times.

Here's a photo (or two) from the day before. One little cousin with his mommy. Same little cousin slipping down the slide to daddy.

Oh Brother...

Rereading this blog I can't believe how melodramatic I can be. I just finished reading The Shack by William Young. That's my excuse or explanation for my melancholy (among other things). Whatever. I'm over it...sort of...and here's the only part of yesterday's blog that gets to remain...

I'm dying for a closeness with God -- we all are, just sometimes we don't know it. But my Heavenly Father doesn't want to see me pining for Him when He's right here. Rather he wants me to pant after Him, to delight in Him, to revel in the love and grace lavished on me. You too. He wants that for you and me. He says to us in His Word, "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

All the petty earthly petitions I bring before Him, those things aren't the desires of my heart they merely make up my wish list. My heart's desire is to see Him clearly, follow Him nearly, and love Him dearly...above all else.

Cousins Reunion Coming Up Real Soon!

Nothing motivates like company coming. We've accomplished lots. But, if I had my way one last thing would be done. All the shutters on our old white farmhouse would have been painted tiel green -- just a subtle change from the current shade of forest green. But alas, that's not going to happen. And I'm okay with it because...

To achieve that we'd have had to sacrifice moments like these...


And risked missing scenes like these...


Instead, we've taken time to smell the flowers...