I Wanna Be a Shot

On the way to summer school, I was having my usual morning conversation with my little ones. This particular day we were discussing dental hygiene, specifically cavities. My precious daughter started asking questions about the process of fixing cavities. I told her that the doctor will numb your gums with a shot first and then drill into the tooth. She asked me if the shot would hurt. I told her it would hurt, but it was necessary to keep you from feeling the drill. She then said to me, "Mommy, I wanna be a shot cuz a shot hurts everything, but nothing hurts it." That struck me.

My daughter is terrified of shots. Her last well-child check-up was plagued with tears caused by anticipating a shot. The fact that she would want to be one tells me that she is starting to get a taste of what life can do to you. To her, a shot is invincible. Impenetrable. It was a hard statement for me to take as a mom.

She's been dealing with an older child with anger problems who doesn't keep her hands to herself. To date the child has punched her and slapped her in the face. I'm sure you can all imagine the self-control I've needed to use just to look at that girl each day without glowering. I admit that I haven't been that successful. My daughter is dealing with looking different. Having different hair.

I guess sometimes Jesus is our shot. Sometimes He numbs the pain. Other times He simply takes the edge off and helps us get through the process. Like earthly parents, our heavenly Father cares about our hurts. At times He must sit back and allow us to learn a lesson. Other times He intervenes. But always He is there to hold us in the end.

Republicans are Christians

When George W. Bush was elected to a second term, I remember hearing a popular slogan in churches and throughout the Christian media outlets: "Vote the Bible." Hmmm. Hold that thought.

In this most recent election, I heard Christians saying that they had to vote according to their convictions. Hmmm.

So recently, I've been thinking. According to Politico.com, Senator John Ensign of Nevada recently resigned from his post after news of his extramarital affair surfaced and scandals swirled around it. This same article references Sen. Larry Craig's involvement in a sex sting 2 years ago. And still again Sen. David Vitter was caught up in a prostitution ring! Most recently South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was caught in a lie as news of his adulterous affair with a woman from Argentina surfaced.

Besides for being men without self-control or respect for their wives, what else do these men have in common? Give up? They are all Republicans. Why does this matter? Here's why. For years, Christians have associated Republicans with morality. Based upon abortion views and gay marriage primarily. My problem is that Christians actually believe one party is more moral than the other. Since when do politics and Christianity go together?

The danger with placing ourselves on a moral pedestal is just this. Each of these Republican leaders is guilty of sexual sins. Are these sexual sins equal to or better than homosexual sex? Is it better to be in a heterosexual marriage and cheat or to be in a gay relationship and be faithful? Christians have placed themselves in a position to be ridiculed by the masses. People do not take us seriously. By saying things like "Vote the Bible", we imply that "our" candidate is like a representative of Christ. Dangerous.

To be Republican officials, these men are required to say that they agree with the staples that make up their party's platform. While I do not advocate abortion or gay marriage, I do believe abortion will be legal until the end of time, regardless of the party in office. I also believe gay marriage will become legal. I'm not sure if voting for a candidate for what they say they believe is enough. Who cares, if they don't change anything?

For those of you who are angry with me, let me make a couple of statements. I do not think Democrats are Christians either. An individual may be a Christian, but not the party. Pretending to be a believer is very lucrative because Christians are often gullible. I do not believe presidents are representative of the Bible in any way. I do not believe we have a Christian country either. I'm not sure where that idea comes from. I am also NOT implying that these men are anything but human. Christians commit these same sins. My point is that, in my opinion, the church should not be affiliated with a party. I'm sure you all have something to say, and I am actually looking forward to hearing it.

Cheap Thrills

We've all heard the phrase, you get what you pay for. I've been hearing it a lot from my husband, lately. We've been arguing over the cheapness of the headphones I buy. Just because I bought $3 earphones that required a $5 check to be sent in with the warranty disbursement... Anyway. So I realize that certain things are worth paying more for. In most instances, the less expensive items are of a lesser quality. With one exception...

Many years ago, someone offered me a "gift" for free. I always want to know what the catch is when something is free. You can't get something for nothing, right? The gifts that seem too good to be true usually are. This one promised to meet all of my needs. To comfort me and never leave me. And as if this wasn't enough, it offered forgiveness of sins and eternal life! In a kingdom with golden streets! Seriously? Yep. Too good to be true? Absolutely. But it really is free. Since you can't earn it or pay for it, I guess you don't get what you pay for. Thankfully. Just accept it. It's a steal.

Follow Me

For y'all who have been hanging in there with me through this pregnancy, thank you. I mean it. I love you all. I know my writing has been more sporadic. Trust me, my intentions are good. I will still write, but since it's not as regular right now, I would ask each of you to follow this blog on the link provided. Then when I write, you''ll be notified, and you won't be frustrated as much, hopefully.

I look forward to chatting with you more. I enjoy sharing with you and having you allow me into tiny corners of your world. I appreciate the privilege you've given me. Please share with others if you are enjoying my musings. If not, please share with me. Tell me what you'd like to talk about. Express your dislikes and concerns, too. May God bless each of you abundantly according to His riches.

Present Uterus

As you all know, we're expecting another baby. So we're thrilled and feeling so blessed. Well, lately I've been feeling more pregnant lately. My ears have been plugged, my sciatic nerve has been wreaking havoc on me! At times it's tempting to ignore the rhythmic wiggling in my womb and focus on the pain that sometimes encompasses me.

Today at work, I received a reality check. I noticed a pediatric patient with the diagnosis: ABSENT UTERUS. Whoa. How many times do you take your uterus for granted? How many of us complain about that time of the month? Another young patient had amenorrhea, the absence of a cycle. How often do we just assume that we will get pregnant exactly when we want to? We test time and believe the eggs will produce when called upon. If that doesn't work, just buy eggs or get a surrogate. But I digress.

My point is that a uterus is a blessing. So is the dreaded monthly cycle. Without them, we cannot become mothers. For me, motherhood is filled with highs and lows, joys and pains. So today, I'm so thankful for my uterus. Our uterus also provides another blessing! Use your imagination. Sorry male readers, but if you have little ones, you are thankful for a uterus, too!

Watermelon Poisoning

At the time it seemed like a good idea. I ate a very filling dinner. Satisfying. Hard to come by during pregnancy. My mom insisted the watermelon was like nectar from heaven. So I gave in. I got a piece and plopped down on the couch. Now I feel like I've been to a taxidermist. I'm stuffed like a Christmas goose. Who knew fruit could make you feel like this? I know this is random, but I had to share. Now I must go and figure out why my "sleeping" children are having such a loud conversation!

Dental Farce

Hurry! Brush your teeth! Brush them again! Yes, you do need to floss. Use mouthwash too. Let me see. Ok, looks good.

You know what day it is. It's time for us to get our 6 month cleaning. Can't have the dentist seeing plaque and tartar build-up. I became a drill sergeant while getting them ready for the dentist. I even made myself brush a little longer while being sure to floss in spite of my pregnancy induced super sensitive teeth and gums.

The dental check-ups went well, but I started thinking. I felt like I dodged a bullet since I had no cavities. I started wondering why I don't take the extra time required during pregnancy to avoid problems. Why do I expect positive results without the effort?

The parallels between oral hygiene and the rest of my life were striking. So I'm making an effort to live every day like I'm going to the dentist. Why put on a show just because someone will see what I've been doing? Since God is the Master dentist, he knows how I act each day. He knows my heart and all of my habits. He helps me weed out the cavity causing behavior. I can't fool Him with by brushing more. Why try?

Picture Perfect

On Saturday I spent a glorious day at the NC Zoo with my family. My mom and my brother's family also joined us. I waited with eager anticipation as the day grew closer. With days in the 90s, I was a little concerned about the heat. Then we experienced torrential downpours, so I fretted about being drenched.

When it comes to zoos, I'm kind of obsessive. I'm as bad as a little child! As the big day grew closer, I kept an eye on the forecast. The weather was expected to be 83 degrees, partly cloudy. Perfect! I was thrilled and so thankful.

Saturday morning, we slept a little later than I wanted to. Ooops. Once we got outside, the weather was actually a little cool. Our drive was uneventful. We arrived at Africa and began our adventure. With video/digital camera in hand, I was ready to go.

At the end of the day, I was left with sore feet
and back, tired children, a happy husband and
enough memories to last a lifetime. I have some
amazing pictures of God's creations. I only wish I
had trusted Him enough to answer
my prayers for perfect weather.
He always answers.

Instant Christian?

When we celebrated our daughter's birthday, the party, naturally, spilled over to our house. While relaxing on the couch, my sister-in-law picked up one of my mags. Today's Christian Woman has been one of my faves for several years. When she looked at the cover, she said, "Why is she on the cover of a Christian magazine?"

She is Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus 8. So this got me thinking. Why the shock about this cover model? Then I thought back to when I first received the issue - I had the same question. I never knew that she professed Christianity. I did read the feature, and she said all of the right Christian things, so she checks out, I guess. Maybe not.

According to Matthew 7:15-20, the way we tell a true believer is by the fruit they bear. With this in mind, no person should be surprised to learn that a person is a Christ follower. Celebrity is not an excuse to hide our beliefs. Neither is a job. While we must follow rules about solicitation and proselytizing, we can still boldly represent Christ through our lives.

The question for me is why Christians are so desperate to sell magazines or gain publicity that they are willing to put any random person who says the word Jesus on the cover of a magazine? This is not written in judgment of Mrs. Gosselin. I don't know what she believes. Kate Gosselin is not being singled-out. There have been others on the cover that have made me wonder how or why they were chosen.

However, I would rather see an unknown woman who has constantly shown her love for Christ and others everyday, than an overhyped celebrity who accidentally spoke Christ's name and was catapulted to instant Christian. It is a privilege to be called a follower of Christ, therefore we should use caution when bestowing that title.

This pic is from her blog.

Yours is Bigger Than Mine

Cursing. Lying. Cheating on a test. Bootlegging movies. Making personal copies at work. Tax evasion. Cheating on a spouse. Child abuse. Incest. Rape. Murder.

Christians were placed here on earth to judge everyone. We have so many causes. Condemn those who abort. Treat the poor like dirt. Abolish same-sex unions. The list is endless. There's a tiny problem with this plan though. We are not without blame. Therefore, we cannot blame. Hmmm.

Says who? The Son of God. John 8:7 gives us a glimpse into the mind of the religious teachers and Pharisees. There was a woman who was caught in an adulterous act. Since Moses' law required her to be stoned, they decided to ask Jesus what they should do. The scripture says they were trying to trap Him so they'd have an offense against Him. He simply told them that the one without sin should throw the first stone.

There really isn't any gray area here. Since we are not without sin, we are to cast NO stones. If we look carefully, we will see that He does not refute the law, He simply showed them how ill-equipped they were to judge her. She was no more or less of a sinner than they.

The same is true for us today. We are actually sinning by condemning others. This does not mean that we overlook sins. However, we should examine ourselves and our motives before casting stones at another. Sins do not have levels or degrees. But for God's grace, we would all be lost. Condemned to hell forever.

My challenge for myself is to judge ME whenever I get thew urge to judge another. Doesn't it feel good to say, "Well I did this, but at least I didn't do that." We are always comparing in a feeble attempt to make ourselves feel better. May God help me to turn that energy inward and examine my own heart and life instead. I think I'll start with negative thoughts... Or maybe complaining... Or maybe complacency... This could take a while!

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

I "witnessed" the Cavaliers disgraceful defeat by the Magic on Saturday night with a house-full of family. At the end, I sighed with relief. It's not that I wanted them to lose, especially being a native Ohioan, but I was tired of the hype. I've been a part of the inconsistent thrill-ride with Cleveland sports for so long. They just have a way of disappointing. I'm just not die hard enough, I guess.

What caught my attention was the lack of post-game interview by the star Lebron James. Donned King James by some person unknown to me, he's been in front of the camera throughout his career. After this defeat, he performed a magic trick and disappeared from sight. It was very noticeable. SportsCenter seemed to notice, too. Questions were asked.

So I asked a couple of my own. Why did he skip the interview? My first thoughts are that he was embarrassed and angry. I believe that to be true. Then I wondered if that was the right thing to do. When you are paid millions of dollars to do a job, do you get the blow off the fans and refuse an interview?

Personally, I'm not a fan of many athletes or celebrities. It's not "hating", as my brother would say, but I simply feel they act like spoiled brats. They have more money and possessions than any of us could ever dream of, but they whine like tired infants. I believe that they have certain responsibilities based upon their blessings. Because, whether or not they acknowledge the source of their wealth, God allowed it. Because of this, they should act with class. To whom much is given, much is required. Luke 12:48

Are we asking a lot for them to submit to inquiries and pictures? After all, without the interest of fans, they would be broke like the rest of us. I personally don't feel sorry for them. The lifestyle is a chosen one. None of them would be willing to give it up to live like every man, so suck it up. So there.

God of the Rain

Here in sunny NC, we've experienced more than a week of somewhat flooding rains. Recently the rains subsided and allowed our cherished sun to grace our skies again. I'm not a girl who loves the rain unless I'm in the house, looking out while curled on the couch with a book. Since I can't remember doing that since I was 14, you can say the rain was a slight inconvenience.

Preparing for an outdoor party was also a challenge. I looked at the forecast ahead and realized the rain was expected to cease in time for the festivities. So while bemoaning the rains, I began to reminisce about the previous summer. The rains refused to fall. Washing our car was a luxury. Brown grass was "all the rage". The colorful flowers needed so much watering that I felt sorry for them having to be outside!

So with those memories, I realized that God is not only the God of the sunshine. He is the God of the rain. His hand is evident whether the sun shines or the rain falls. We just need to look for it. As people, especially Americans, we're used to focusing on how things inconvenience us and on what we want. I watched on the news as strawberry farmers lost valuable crops because of the torrential downpours. I lost nothing. I actually gained green grass! All seven blades of it!

For my life lesson, the sun represents happiness for me. The times when life is great, and all is going well. The rain reminds me of trouble. Maybe sadness or devastation. But that's wrong. For God is the God of both. During storms, I learn so much. While it often hurts, I come out better, looking more like the Father. Matthew 5:45 tells us that God "sends rain on the just and unjust alike." Rain is not a symbol for hard times, neither is sun proof that all will go well. Remember, you cannot see a rainbow until after the rain.