Politics, Anger at God and Children’s Boredom

This blog entry will cover topics such as being angry at God, trying to decide who to back for president and spending a few vacation days with my children.

The presidential political process gets my goat every four years as I observe it and then try to cast an informed vote.

When I try to bring God into it and guess who God wants me to vote for, it gets even murkier.

It takes the form of “gee God, which party’s platform follows your word most closely?”

I can argue Democrat for God’s compassion, but I can argue Republican for God’s focus on personal responsibility. I could argue Libertarian on the grounds God wants to take it to the next notch and let families and Christ’s followers take care of each other instead of asking government to step in.

But hey, I’m tired of arguing.

So I’m pretty interested to see what Mark Goodyear has to say when he publishes an interview mentioned at his blog.

The blog entry is called “Michael Hyatt, Stephen Mansfield, Tony Jones, and Me and You Talk Politics in Hell.”

It’s found here http://www.goodwordediting.com/index.php/2008/06/20/michael-hyatt-stephen-mansfield-tony-jones-and-me-and-you-talk-politics-in-hell/

Goodyear asks Tony Jones two interesting questions I can’t wait to read the answers to:
   Tony, what does it look like when politicians worship God through their work?
   Tony, what does it look like when voters worship God through their engagement of politics?

 So now, acknowledging that politics may incite some to anger at God, another motivator toward that end is when we think we have done quite enough good and hard work to earn God’s favor and so get angry when he doesn’t give us our heart’s desires.

This is a hypothetical situation that I, of course, would never yell at God over.

And I’ve never, ever lied, either.

“Why is life so hard?” someone in depths of despair asked me recently.

“God gave us free will. It kind of stems from that,” I answered.

“You’re no help” the person responded.

I agreed.

I can write out an answer or argument all day long but ask me a question point blank to my face and I’ll return a blank stare until the wheels slowly turn and I can respond, usually with a glib or pat answer.

Later, of course, I remembered the answer. We asked for it in the garden of Eden when we disobeyed God. He cursed us with work as part of the punishment. But God gave us a way back through Jesus’ death and power to overcome through the Holy Spirit.

We are also promised hard times in the New Testament, but again God promises to help us.

In this case, the person begging me for a comforting answer was really upset because the person wanted what they wanted when they wanted it and blamed God for not giving it to them right away.

Sort of like my children (nice transition, huh?)

They wanted me to entertain them or take them someplace to be entertained ($$$$$) the two days they were with me on my impromptu sudden summer vacation.

They have enough possessions, Nintendo DS games, television, movies, skateboards, scooters, bikes, basketballs and books - heck, even another computer - to entertain themselves.

When they visit me, there’s even my sister’s dog thrown in.

We do things together, don’t get me wrong - like walking my sister’s dog to the park to play. However, my children are learning that as much fun as I can be, dad isn’t the constant entertainer and playtoy. I think they’re catching on I have my own life.

Said dog, shown below with my daughter, will bite you if you attempt to wake the children by shaking them.

God’s peace and love.

 

Update to the last post on Romanian children

The children I wrote about in the last blog entry http://samwrites2.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/for-two-children-i-dont-know-and-yet-care-about/ (no - not my children, but two who are as dear to God) have had a reprieve as the court hearing written about has been delayed until July 16.

The prayer and praise e-mail sent out read:

“Delays are a very common in the Romanian court system, but (the orphanage director) believes that this delay will allow her extra time to prepare complete testimonies and paperwork.

“So, keep praying and I will keep everyone updated on any new problems,” wrote this member of the congregation I belong to. “Thanks for you service in sending out the prayer needs!!!”

Of course, anytime you think about it, pray for both the widows and orphans. And if God moves you to do anything else, by all means pursue it.

Anyone care to comment on what “true religion” is said to be in the scriptures?
(I would look it up but at the moment that’s difficult to do, I’m feeling lazy and I wanted to post this before I went home).

Regardless of all that, I’m encouraged by the above news.

For two children I don’t know and yet care about

I’m writing this because there are two children in Romania who will have their day in court today, June 16.

Normally I wouldn’t be aware.  

Someone - and God - made me care.

This is partly how:

A person who I worship God with spoke with an orphanage director in Romania.  

On our e-mailed prayer request list the news reads:

“There are two four-year-old girls who have been in foster care most of their lives and these foster parents want to adopt the children. However, the biological mother has decided she wants them back. The reintegration hearing when the girls will most likely be turned over to the biological mother takes place June 16. 

They live in a gypsy village and the grandmother is responsible for training two- to four-year-olds to fight like dogs. The social workers and staff at the orphanage are very discouraged.”

 ”Please remember to pray as this would not be the best choice for these children.”

No doubt.

But that’s just my opinion.

With permission I’ll put more information out here about the situation for orphans in Romania.

This is a summary of what I can put out now taken from a ministry’s website:

Romania bowed to European Union pressure and passed a new set of “child welfare” laws in June 2004.
International adoption has been banned, and domestic adoption has been severely restricted.
Children who could have been adopted - either internationally or within Romania - are now stuck in a legal “no man’s land,” abandoned in hospitals, doomed to a life of impermanence in foster care, or perhaps worst of all, heartlessly sent back to live with their neglectful birth families with almost no supervision by social workers.

Again, please pray for these two children and the plight of others in the same situation.

Sorry for such a sobering message on Father’s Day, when I witnessed my own two children having such fun together (below).

 

Testing Technorati

I’m testing technorati by inserting code here.

<a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/4shxr97j3a” rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

So let’s see if this works.

This is important because I’m trying to figure out how to get everyone on the internet to read the posts I’m writing at Associated Content and Blogcritics.org. Both sites have assured me I’ll make lots of money.

Currently, the stuff I’m writing fits better at Associated Content.

I’ve also earned my first cent there by writing a Top 10 List. I wrote about songs for the Fourth of July and tried to include one from every genre I could think of.

That post - with 10 reads that gave me the one penny I’ve earned - is here:

(Click here to read)

Around my bloghood with They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants puzzles my children, frequently keeps me entertained and sends e-mails to me.

I’ve worn out their album “Flood” and I’m on the band’s e-mailing list.

So I thought it was extra-special cool to find Marcus over at Good Word Editing featuring one of the band’s videos in his post on a devotional about entering God’s rest.

I’ll let you read and view it here: http://www.goodwordediting.com/index.php/2008/06/11/the-secret-to-a-better-attitude/ .

 Now, hum if you will “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” as we tour the rest of my bloghood.

Coffee with Drew has the plastic Lego church here http://coffeewithdrew.blogspot.com/2008/06/plastic-church.html.

John Shore had a visitor link to this site http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/ that has all sorts of neat pages.

I’ve started to post for pay at blogcritics.org and Associated Content under “Samuel Adams.”

L.L. Barkat has a “Bridge of Sighs” post over here http://seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com/2008/06/of-bridges-and-violins-and-words.html though I’m not sure she’s heard of Robin Trower.

At “Letters from Kamp Krusty” Brandt is enraptured with the rapture and tells of a unique service that will send e-mails to loved ones when “The Rapture” occurs. His post here http://branthansen.typepad.com/letters_from_kamp_krusty/2008/06/re-told-you-so.html .

Don’t be mistaken Ric’s got to be breakin’ here http://ricbooth.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/break-time/ .

Michelle’s playing Picasso here http://considerjesus.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/picassos-my-new-love/ .

Robert’s got some cat tales and communications going on here http://middlezonemusings.com/the-first-step-to-effective-communication/ and involved me in the latest “What I learned from…” entry. Mine will be posted on Associated Content, I hope, if they let me get away with it. It is about animal C.S.I., sort of.

That’s pretty much it except to mention the design change they snuck in on me at one of my favorite sites for inspiration, http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ .

Go check that out and tell me what you think.

Compelling testimony link

Just have to share this testimony read here http://johnshoreland.com/2008/06/09/one-womans-conversion-experience-while-driving/ at John Shore’s blog.

I certainly identify with this lady’s prayer.

The advice given her reminds me of the book “Practicing the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence.

Such a beautiful story of God’s amazing grace.

Train, Train, take me on out of this town…

That’s how it went - the song by Blackfoot in the late 1970s with the killer blues harp.

And I could play the intro.

So naturally it was one of the first concerts I remember attending.

Jim sparked this entry with his blog entry here http://lordibelievehelpmyunbelief.blogspot.com/2008/06/who-have-you-seen-live.html

Of course, a friend says “Sam, how could you forget seeing the Grand Ol’ Opry live at Ryman Auditorium?”

Well, seeing as how that was way back in the 1960s - I think about 1965 - I’d say pretty easy.

All I remember about that event - could it be included as a concert? - was how my dad thought some comic named “Stringbean” was hilarous.

But back to Blackfoot.

That was during the end of the era when all the young dudes carried the ‘ludes (Mott the Hoople reference there) and for that 1977 Blackfoot/Sammy Hagar/Ronnie Montrose and Gamma triple bill concert I think I might have too.

This is not bragging or celebrating misspent youth. I get pretty angry sometimes thinking about all the great Rock bands I’ve seen and now can’t remember because of stupid, hedonistic excess.

Boston in the late 1970s joined with Kansas in my memory. For a while I ran the two together as a double bill in my memory - but they never played a double bill in Fort Worth or Dallas.

I vaguely remember REO Speedwagon.

There was once where a friend and I went up on top of the Hinckley Cold Storage warehouse in Dallas to view the Texas Jam. We could see the lasers and hear Blue Oyster Cult quite well.

Then there was Lonnie Brooks, a blues player who let me interview him after a concert at East Texas State University. We also shared a few beers and played pool. To this date he remains my ideal of a working blues artist.

During 1982 at technical school, Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS, I went out to a Van Halen concert featuring the original lineup. I had a seat close to the stage. Dave Lee Roth wore a loincloth and would occasionally flip it up to moon us. Other than that - an excellent concert.

Then when stationed at Bergstrom AFB, I went to see Petra at one of their stops captured on their live album.

Then there was Jethro Tull in 1989. Ian Anderson came out in a wheelchair as a joke.

Somewhere in there I saw 2nd Chapter of Acts in Dallas. I also saw Steve Camp and Degarmo & Key at Six Flags over Texas where they prayed for me backstage after an interview and photos.

The Biggest Party in History, Labor Day, 1989, featured me tagging along behind Randy Quaid who refused to say a word to anybody for some reason - maybe it was in his contract. That night I was close enough to The Who to see Pete Townsend reading lyrics off a monitor as they performed. My press pass had gotten me up front with the photographers.

And I saw the Pogues.

Was supposed to interview Alan Jackson in the early 1990s in Waco but he got upset over something and his manager apologized that he wouldn’t be giving an interview.

I shook Willie Nelson’s hand and got his autograph at a benefit in Hill County, Texas, after the courthouse there burned down.

Then I saw a friend of mine for the last time at a B-52s / Ziggy Marley double bill in Dallas in 1993.

The last concert event viewed live was Brooks & Dunn at Pleasure Island, Texas.

Those are the concerts that immediately sprang to mind. I’m sure I’ve forgotten others.

Thanks Jim.

Grace Car Care Q & A

Today’s blog entry focuses on a question asked by Jim from http://lordibelievehelpmyunbelief.blogspot.com/ not long ago about car care help offered through the body of believers I worship with.

Jim wanted details about the help and how it might work in his locality.

John responded…

“Hi Sam,
Just getting to your email, hope it’s not too late to use in your blog.  Did you track down a manifold for the jeep?”

Then John went to the Q&A:

Q:  How is carcare doing?

A:  Carecare tries to meet physical and spiritual needs in the community we are located.  So, sometimes we are doing better at one over the the other.

Physical needs, (usually starts with car repairs - but not necessarily), are rather easy to meet. There is a huge need in our community for help with gas, car parts, car repairs and help with finding a ‘good’ used vehicle. Spiritual needs are the reason we do the ‘physical’ services.  They are not as common or frequent since we are waiting on the Lord’s timing to move in peoples’ hearts. While we learn to be patient, we do our best to build friendships with the people that cross our path.

Q: Some success stories?

A1:  Lots of physical success stories to list.  1st year - close to 50 cars serviced.  2nd year - over 100 cars serviced.  3rd year - started turning donated cars around to families in need.  4th year - not so many cars serviced, (approx 10 and 3 cars donated), but spending more time building long term friendships and inviting families to attend a church.

A2:  Also some spiritual success stories - this is why we keep doing this
work.

• Took care of a (client friend) two kids for two months while going thru an alcoholic recovery program.  
• Provided bail bond services for a (client friend) in jail.  
• Pickup and drive a (client friend) to church every week who does not have a license.  
• Provide a vehicle for a (client friend) to get groceries and drive to church on Sundays.
• Seen a (client friend) Christian brother grow and mature in his faith.

Q:  How could this service work in a different county or state?

A:  VERY easily.  

First of all - anyone who feels called to do this type of ministry will be able to sense the pleasure of the Lord while building Christian friendships in your community.  This is what will get you under a car in January while it’s snowing outside!  

Some advice if you concerned about finding people who are deserving since no one wants to be taken advantage of.  Introduce yourself to a local shelter leader and tell them about your car service.  They will put you to work in a heartbeat.  Anyone who is living in a shelter needs help. You don’t have to ask financial questions - trust me - they are deserving of help.

The Grace Car Car site is at http://www.gracecarcare.org/ .

Many who help with it are found here http://www.grace-bible-church.org/ .

Story for my superhero children

Super Tiger Kung-Fu Girl and Amazing Reality Boy cornered Gargantuan Greedy Guy in the tree-house.

Despite the weight of their combined adjectives, the floor threatened to hold up.

Tiger Kung-Fu Girl dropped the “Super” from her name and then yelled “Tiger Claw!” at the villain while executing the martial arts move, rearranging the villain’s face.

Reality Boy reminded the villain of the horrors inflationary pressures can cause - including eating into the villain’s hoard of greenbacks.

“Oh, if only I’d stockpiled gold” Greedy Guy gasped as he and his treasure shrank.

The heroes quickly took the defeated villain away, depositing him in front of the nearest office of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

The End.

Okay - now that I’ve satisfied my promise to write a story featuring my two children as the heroes my daughter imagines them to be I’ll reveal Reality Boy’s true identity with a post of his photo.

Reality Boy doesn’t always have a grim outlook on life.

But he does get tormented by his dad’s sick sense of humor occasionally.

 My son once asked “Dad, why does it rain?”

I didn’t miss a beat, having seen Jack Handey’s “Deep Thoughts” on Saturday Night Live.

I did warn him what follows is a joke:

“That’s God crying,” I said.

“Why is God crying?” he asked.

“Probably because of something you did,” I answered.

He didn’t think it was funny.

And he didn’t think I had the ability to  tell him what God was thinking.

Favorite Bible book = John’s Gospel

Jim tagged me for “Favorite book of the Bible” meme (note how I cut a preposition) and gave me something to ponder at the same time here http://lordibelievehelpmyunbelief.blogspot.com/2008/05/meme-and-dilemma.html .

The meme started here http://www.subversiveinfluence.com/wordpress/?p=1610 .

Hope I’m doing that right and can now go on to defend my choice.

I have to mention runner-up is Revelations just for the imagery.

But John took the prize because everything needed to reveal and then start a relationship with the Holy Trinity - salvation through Jesus Christ, a walking relationship with God the Father and empowerment through the “helper,” the Holy Spirit - is laid out.

The metaphors are fantastic - Jesus the Shepherd, the vine, living water. Teaching stories abound.

As Jim said, Jesus appears personable and powerful. Witness his sadness at his friend Lazarus’ death even as he knows God will use the event to reveal Jesus as God’s son.

Don’t have much more to add than that other than the love shown through the gospel.

I tag:

Michelle http://considerjesus.wordpress.com/

Ric http://ricbooth.wordpress.com/

Marcus http://www.goodwordediting.com/index.php/2008/05/23/looking-for-intimacy-with-god/

Robert http://middlezonemusings.com/be-very-afraid/ 

and I would tag my son but his blog isn’t at the address he said it was. Soon as I find it, I might post it. Still thinking that one over.