Twist of my Kalediscope

While Chad was gone to Mexico, I took extra time in my day to read a book he had just finished, The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. Shane shares authentically what it means to follow Christ with wholehearted devotion. He is a passionate writer, who is well-read, but also takes that head knowledge to an applicational level. He truly lives out what he believes. To me, this book has twisted my kalediscope view of Christianity. Not in a jaded sort of way, but in a way that really challenges the statis-quo, culture Christian view that I grew up with while living in the Bible belt. He takes the whole "love your neighbor" to the political realm of war, to the children living and working in sweat-shops, the people we pass by daily because of some prejudgement or another.

I have finished the book with more questions than when I started it, but I am better for it. These are just a few of my questions:

• If I truly love like Christ, should I shop at stores where sweat-shops are used?
• And what about the food I eat, did a child harvest it during a 12 hour day?
• Who AM I going to vote for in November?
• Does this mean I need to live in a community where all our money is pooled or I have community healthcare?
• Am I to feel guilty for what we have as a family?- no I don't think guilt is where we are suppose to live if we are truly living in freedom-
• Is debt a form of materialism?

I do believe life does "twist" after you have learned new truths, but my tendency is to go 100%, but then I am worshipping someone else's ideals. That's idolatry, I can't go there.

If you look at my nightstand on a given day, you would see at least 3 different books/and genres on it. I share that because while I was reading this "new" book I was also reading, Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E Prentiss. She wrote this book in 1869. It is a collection of journal entries from a girl until she was a older woman. Beautifully candid emotions. Here is a quote from the book that really brought me back "home" after reading Shane's book:

" You rush from one extreme to another. The only true way to live in this world, constitued just as we are, is to make all our employments subserve the one great end and aim of existence, namely, to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. But in order to do this we must be wise taskmasters and not require of ourselves what we cannot possibly perform. Recreation we must have. Otherwise, the strings of our soul, wound up to an unnatural tension, will break."

So to those of you who took the time to read my musing, I don't know if I'll have a resolution to my questions, but having read both books has given me a greater understand of God's love is for me and all of you.

"Welcome Home to Strep X's 4"

Can't say that it is the most welcoming banner to hang for a daddy whose been gone for over a week, but definately truthful. Yes, Chad came home from Mexico with 20 students only to find that his family ALL had strep. Craziness, I know!! I was the only one of the 4 that had the "closing of the throat, can't swallow it hurts" symptoms which actually didn't kick in till Sunday night, but all the boys had a variation of symptoms since Thursday. FOr all you moms out there that haven't experienced strep like me....here are some pointers/symptoms in children:

• throwing up - Owen once Thursday
• runny nose - Tate on Friday
• loss of appetite
• fatigued
• tummy ache
• temperature - Griffin on Sunday afternoon (unfortunately after going to church)
• raspy/smoker's voice - Griffin and Mommy on Monday morning

Unfortunately, those symptoms don't just scream "Strep Throat" so have fun with your own diagnosis. j/k So, as of yesterday, we all received shots, and we 100% better today. Praise God! Seriously, not eating or drinking since Sunday afternoon was making me a little edgy.

So, back to Father's Day.....Chad's love, devotion, sacrifice, servitude, and help with a lack of sleep on the day he returned pretty much shows you the kind of Daddy he is to us all. I mean, if you know Chad at all, you know he loves his sleep. And he didn't get any since he was the one to take Griffin and Tate back to the doctor to get checked. Once we found out they were sick, I drove Owen there, and once again Chad was available. Not in a way he would choose, but he had to hold Owen down for his shot. Not fun....for anyone. All of you who get upset over 2 month shots, just wait till they can really fight back. With all that to say, we had a fabulous day today playing in the yard as a family and then Chad and I were able to have our date night...icing on the cake!

Please pray...

This past Thursady, Ramey Caroline Newman was born to dear friends, Ross and Mandy Newman. She had a safe delivery, but is in th NICU because her lungs are considered "wet." She was delivered by a section 6 weeks earlier, so we are just praising God that she is here and a healthy weight. Please pray for Ramey to thrive and gradually get off the oxygen at a safe time.
Another tremendous prayer is for Mandy the new momma. After the surgery and because of internal stuff, she lost about 1/2 her body's blood supply. This was very dangerous and almost needed to use the crash cart. Praise God that her body responded to the medicine and blood given to her. Please pray for complete healing, no permenant damage of any kind, and just some precious moments with her new little girl. This family loves the Lord and is dependent our Their Father, but I am asking you to pray for them right now! oh, you can see the little beauty on my side bar. "mandy" thanks:-)

A Father with a Passion

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:
" Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers!
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA --
I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"