Frustrated

I have been in prayer over the issue of, what should I now be doing with my life?  Yeah, I know at my age the possibility of finding meaningful employment is about zero.  And that zero is compounded by the severe allergy I have to toner fumes from printers and copiers, which are everywhere these days.

And, I wonder if frustration is one possible way in which God is answering that prayer.

I am so frustrated with one of "my girls" whom recently left her husband to find romance, I have screamed more than one.  We are talking about someone who knows their Bible better than I and yet has no problem in condoning her own sin.  Much less, being empowered by a close friend into her new adulterous lifestyle.  Yeah I am frustrated.

But, this occurrence is not all for this young year!  one of "my girls", from thirty years ago, has decided to follow suit!  Yeah, she left her husband and moved in with a more romantic guy also.  What the heck?!?!?!?!  The compounding problem here is they were working as missionaries with an organization which puts on marriage seminars for Christian couples!  Eighteen years of marriage and .....  Oh yeah, I am frustrated!

Now double this to four couples doing this, this year, and you can get a glimpse of the importance this matter has with me.  Of the eight people in these marriages, all were solid Christians, all were from solid families, all were workers in the church - and the women of the marriages have all willingly abandoned their husbands and often children as well.

What in womanhood is going wrong here?  I do not get it.

But, I understand my Timothy enough to know that I am NOT going to go into a counseling relationship with women, that is for a female to take on.  As for the guys.....I have no idea what I could/should/would do for them before or after being abandoned.  I have long felt that most males (and I am not just talking American or even Western males) really need a good smack down!  Men have grown so self centered and indulgent across the last several decades that the concept of living a life, in support of another, is completely anathema for them!

And yet, this is how we as Christians are supposed to live - completely (as possible) in support of one another in Christ!  So yes, everyone of those husbands I just described above and they do need to be dealt with.  But, holy cow!, the women left because they all told me they were bored/need romance, etc.  The guys never saw it coming.  Pathetic men, pathetic women.

What to do, what to do............?

Never Say To A Toddler

This tale is sort of like the couple whom owned a parrot but could not go on vacation because the only one available to babysit their parrot was the pastor.  Yeah, that bird had a potty mouth.

In the same vein, it was probably a bad idea for me to say to my grand-daughter, "Bite me!".  That is now her major response to everyone and I get 'The Look' from Oldest Daughter, every time that rascal opens her mouth.  Sigh.

In the same vein again, her father managed to say something was, "Stupid" and of course if it is inconvenient for grand-daughter then it is also stupid!  So, last week when we were at the hospital it was, "Stupid hospital this...", "Stupid doctor that...."  And when I attempted to explain to her that it was not a stupid hospital or doctor, she said, "Bite me!"

Yeah lots of startled looks from others in the ER waiting room.  Sigh.

Sinuses Ugh!

Yeah, have to have my sinuses CT scanned. Great way to spend half a day, waiting in line for a 40 second procedure....

Using Your Talents

Gaelic Girl suddenly appeared in Seattle for a meeting, and remember I am still stuck here! So, we all piled in her vehicle and headed off to pick up son from his job. It was sort of late and I figured we would pick him up, then take youngest daughter and GG to Pete’s BBQ on the way home, which I had seen that morning.

So, I was sharing with GG and YD about oldest daughter’s accident and upon testing her finger was broken – taking her to the hospital. YD was impressed that I could diagnose a fracture (well, like I have had a few of them in my life!).

“Well, I spent decades in search and rescue on snow, ice, mountain faces and underwater. So, I had to know all about broken bones and a host of other problems you might need to address before you can move a victim out of their circumstance.”

Now GG on top of being a scientist also holds medical degrees comparable to something similar to a paramedic in this country. She muttered under her breath about how she had gained all of this training and NEVER had a chance to use it. YD agreed.

“Well, you never know that you will not use that knowledge tomorrow or next year. But, every piece of knowledge and training you give yourself is one more way in which God can and will use you!”

“Think of it this way, suddenly you come upon and accident scene and you have the chance to save someone. But, you never learned how – so you are about as worthless as……”

“As what?” asked YD.

“Well, I was going to try and think of something but all that came to mind was a screen door on a submarine!”

Silence…..

YD comments finally, “Well who would put a screen door on a submarine? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard…..”

Continued silence as the miles roll by.

YD explodes with laughter, “I get it! I get it!” “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”

Blondes, Lord help us.

ER Questions

As oldest daughter was in X-Ray, the admitting nurse is hanging around asking questions -

N: So do you have any medical history?
OD: I had my tonsils out once, but I think they grew back.

N: No.... Uhm, does your family have any kind of medical history?
OD: My mother died of cervical cancer....

N: No, no, no!

N: Sighes, Do you feel safe in your home?
OD: Of course I am safe in my home!

So I almost fall out my restaurant booth as Oldest Daughter is telling me this! Talk about cross-cultural communication! I thought I was going to die! I am still not sure if OD understands what was so funny about this exchange.

Though, I really do feel for the girl and her steel encased fingers.....

Stuck For Cause

Been a very frustrating week of working on auto, injuries and just wanting to get back home!  But, it seems God has had other purposes in mind.......

Take yesterday for instance.  Youngest daughter had to go into school early and son had to go in late.  So son would have had a real problem since he does not drive yet (no savings = no car, no savings = no insurance which = no car again!).  So, I took him to work and here is where our story begins.

On the way home I heard there was a major mess at Southcenter due to a tractor/trailer turning over.  With nothing better to do, I headed over to check out the mess.  Yup, nice mess!  Three hours of watch tweedle-dee and tweedle-dummer working to flip the rig back up onto its wheels, I headed to north Seattle to visit lumber stores.

Heading back to my dead car, to work on it, I suddenly felt as though I had to get there as quickly as possible.  Generally, these little "intuitive" thoughts are God - so, need to react!  Ha!  the first street bridge was up and I knew I did not have 30 minutes to sit there while the bridge cycled.  I headed back to I-5 and burned rubber south.

I got home and there was nothing unusual at all!  Yeah, nothing out of place, nothing wrong that I could find.  Then came the rapping at the door.  It was oldest daughter.  No I had not invited her over, was not planning lunch with her, what was up I wondered.....

She came in sobbing and I quickly was able to rule out son-in-law being dead, leaving her, or beating her.  Turned out she had taken a fall and her hand was hurting something awful and she wanted her daddy.  Ahhhhhh.

But, it took all of 5 seconds to spot that she had broken joints and finger bones.  Yeah, I am the king of those too.  So I whisked her off to the hospital, which is a great deal worst than you can imagine.

First, the admitting nurse instantly recognized me from last week.  Probably my still being bent over like Groucho Marx might have been a clue, however, she did recognize me and thought I was up to it again.  She even had my paperwork all called up on her machine by the time I reached her desk.  But, seeing daughters face, quickly whisked her off to x-ray.

Now I sat for three hours with a terrible two's grand-daughter and squirrelly nine month old.  Those suckers plum wore me out!

It was with relief daughter returned, fingers steel incased, and children could be allowed to sob on her for a change.....

Sexism Is Not Dead

So, I was working on the car, so that I can go home eventually, and yeah damaged myself.  Sometimes it just is not worth getting out of bed at times.  Sigh.....

Sitting in emergency, waiting for my name to be called so I can get something for the pain, I occupied myself with watching others.  Of course, there were the usual attendees there - people whom had a head cold, people whom were klutzs like me only with nails sticking out of various body parts (friends doing a roofing job when a nail gun went full auto!), etc.  Yeah, I might not be the real king of klutz!

Then there was this little girl whom found a coloring book and some crayons.  She was working on a picture of some construction equipment when her mother walked up.  "Oh no!  That is for boys!  Girls do not have anything to do with trucks!  Here is a book of kitchen pictures, lets color this instead.''

Of course, little girl had no interest in coloring pictures of a table with flowers or a pile of dirty dishes.  So, end of coloring session and perhaps death of another budding artist.

I was a might unhappy over the stifling of the of the artist within the girl, but as I sat and thought about this, I really got bothered because this little girl was being programmed by her mother to be a domestic and only a domestic along gender roles!

Personally, I am glad there are two sexes, both with their strengths and weaknesses, but programming a child to play gender based roles is about as bad as what Nazi Germany did in the 1930's - programming children to understand it is the State right or wrong.  I see no difference between telling a child they are not able to be anything other than a homemaker and it is your duty to die for the State. 

Do your programming early on and that child will never know that they did have the ability to make choices in their lives.  No wonder people get to be such mental cases.....

Once On The Net.....

Do people actually think?  I mean really, think about this!  Once you put something out on the internet the likelihood of it ever going away or getting lost is pretty small.  This week, as young as it is, has really driven home this point to me.....

One lady in my church posted on Sunday how nice it was to wake up with boyfriend in bed with her.  Then on Monday having a major rant because people asking if they were engaged or not.  Uhm, like being engaged somehow removed the stain of adultery?  Let's be honest here!

Also from this same church were postings concerning gossip in the church.  The whiner being the one gossiped about, and she just had to throw all of the tantalizing bits into her rant.  Really, is shame something that is unknown anymore?  Then she went on to gossip about the suspected gossiper, to which many replies posted even more gossip.  So, gossiping about gossip, isn't gossip?  Hello....

I particularly was angered over a site where some of the young and not so young men where sharing their fantasies concerning some women in the public spotlight.  Ok, I take that back, it was just their bodies - it had nothing to do with them being women.  Bleech!  Will American males ever discover that females are more than just a pair of breasts!  Good Lord!  What is the problem in this country over the concept of breasts?

There is a real need for Christians to wake up and discover that sin, no matter how you may rationalize it, is still sin!  And surely is not to be bragged about....especially on the internet!

1 Peter 2:9 - 11
⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
    ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
    ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
   

Writer's Block

Children's Theology

I was delighted to stumble upon a small archive of blog postings, long lost. This was the one for this day.

Now I do not remember what the text was I had originally posted with these photos but I am sure it went something like this:

My cousin sent me these hilarious illustration from a children's book on theology. I just limited my copying these to four, so as to not jug up your load ability and still give you the full flavor what is apparently being taught to American 'christian' children. Sigh.....

Comments and Thoughts

So far only two of my daughters have responded.  Youngest commented that the last video was "Disturbing" and oldest commented that "This can't be for real - can it?"  Middle daughter sent a note saying that she must be insane, not sure what that means in context of the video, unless she liked it.  And, son, red neck that he has become, made a choking sound followed by something that never came out of my mouth!  Yeah, not sure where his world view came from.

But, as I lay in the heat last night I thought on this problem.  Could the group have been looking for re-igniting their dead careers by something like this?  Peter Burns commented that he made these changes because he had the money to do it and was bored - so why not?  Indeed, why not.  After all, if the mind can conceive it, it must be right.  Right?

It reminds me so much of Jude 1:10 - 
Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals--these are the very things that destroy them. (NIV)

Of course it is an argument you would never win, because they can not understand nor accept the underlying premise - that there is something they can not understand.  After all, why would a just God even care if you chose to cross dress, after all it is your choice and right, not His.....


Right?

So, I Am A Prude?

FYI - this is a bit of a disturbing post and deals with REALITY.  So, if you are not an adult - do not read beyond this point.  If you are a young Christian, do not read beyond this point.  If your Christianity has been sold out to the world's values - keep right on reading and find out what I am warning you about.....   Yeah, this post is going to cause me pain in Blog-landia!

-----

Let's face it, from the world's viewpoint on values, I am a prude. However, the gentleman attempting to make this point in a public forum was attempting to show how all Americans are prudes when compared to the far more sophisticated Europeans. I almost did not have the heart to tell him I am European and by and large Europeans do not like the changes which have overcome Europe in the past several decades.  But, then my generation, even in Europe is growing smaller in numbers, so our voice is no longer heard.

How did this come up? Well, it all started with one of those questions. You know the kind, how does one address a situation such as this recent example of Christianity gone awry.......

There is a pastor, whom is nearing retirement, has pastored several congregations through the years in many locations world-wide. His current church is a bit upset with him. It seems he appeared completely in drag one Sunday morning and told his congregation that he was no longer going to be living a lie, but be what "god" had created him to be. .......

Of course, his family is in an uproar, as is his church. And someone asked me what I would do?

Easy! Kick his butt right out of the pulpit and have one heck of a real prayer meeting on the spot for the church and his family!!!!! But, of course, that is insensitive and judgmental. Oh, yeah, I forgot about his feelings and how his "god" has created him!

Here is the problem, we as Christians have an enemy whom is crafty beyond belief, and has nothing to do with you if you are a Christian. Why? Because you are already lost to him, and the world system is powerful enough to mess you and your witness up without any of his assistance.  Sorry, you do not have a personal Satan to blame your troubles on. Unless, that is, you are in a position of public view, and that is where he loves to strike.

For an normal man, if he stumbles and hoses up his testimony, it will impact his family, maybe a few co-workers and perhaps a few of his friends. If a teacher or leader stumbles, now we add a greater impact because of how his testimony has now been compromised to all of those he taught or lead. A pastor, now there is a person ripe for hammering because now you can add whole congregations, compromising a witness across a town and even impacting denominations/synods! Raise the pastor to the national level through radio, television or gross stupidity, and now you can give black eyes to Christians everywhere!

So, it is not surprising to find a situation like this occurring, it is heartbreaking and a great matter of prayer to all Christians. I have no knowledge as to what happened to that man early in his life to have set him on a secretive cross-dressing lifestyle, but he is now where he is - ripe for national ridicule and giving further black eyes to all Christians whom struggle to stay the course.

Apparently this is also not unique, we have a whole subculture I was not even aware of! I was surprised last night, in my quest to capture 1980's music videos, that one of male voices I like, Peter Burns, has had similar challenges. The first video is the original from the 1980's, the second is not for the faint of heart! It is a complete re-recording and new video to accompany - and certainly was not what I was expecting!  Again, I warn you that the second video is disturbing and make no mistake, we are not talking just humanism gone wrong here!!!!!






Again, not recommended viewing, but what they became:  (unfortunately, the USA has now blocked this video.....)

Missing The Mark

The current state within the youth culture shows that we as a Christian Body have missed the mark!

I work with youth, have done so since 1974. I have been fascinated with the gradual decline in the character I have seen in the youth coming through the Sunday Schools and youth programs I have been associated with. This is especially true over the last decade.

I have had youth groups of 165 and some as low as 5 regular attendees. I have had groups where there was no knowledge concerning the Church to one where the kids may have known more than me! But, I have never seen youth so challenged as I see today. Just a casual glance through our youth body and I have to really worry for the salvation of these kids.

Pornography is a real problem amongst the young men, many think nothing of their sexual activity and acknowledge no consideration for the shame they bring on young women. The young women are not much better. Many have already lost their virginity by twelve or thirteen and many whom have not – well it is not for lack of trying (even at church!). Barely a year goes by that some “hot” moment does not have to be broken up! How sad it is when instead of teaching, adults must search every nook and cranny for kids – at church – and let us not forget the parking lot!

Gossip is rampant. Every opportunity is used to destroy other people and their reputations. I can not even get this drilled into my own kids’ brains how destructive this is! And how poorly God views this. Unfortunately, they are only accepting the model shown by their own parents, grandparents and elders in the Church! Do we have to issue members strips of duct tape to get the point across to them? If you have to talk about someone and their failings – do it in prayer to God – not over coffee with friends or even people you do not know! Grrrrr!

Lying is a way of life any more. Trying to get a truthful answer is almost impossible with youth today. They will tell anyone anything they think they want to hear. But, they really hate it when they are lied to! Wonder why… Duh!

Lack of acceptance – gees! What is there to say here, other than if you want to visit a church to see what their youth group is like – expect to be ignored!

Although not explicitly listed as a sin, drugs are a problem in the Church as well. Not so much the kids at this point but definitely amongst many of the parents. So, children are having modeled for them that drugs are ok, even if you have to break the law to do so. With the youth now understanding that the law is only important when you get caught – what can we expect to be seeing in the future? I really worry about this one!

As Christians, we are called to be the exact opposite for each of these situations! We are to strive to be sexually pure. We are not to gossip. We are to tell the truth. We are to be law biding so that no one can accuse us falsely! We are to welcome one another and strangers into our midst. We are to be loving. Love is what sets the Christian apart from the world. Love is the greatest witness we are supposed to have! Love is what has been modeled for us across the millennia since Jesus.

And yet, love is exactly what these kids do not have for anyone other than themselves!

The youth of today are the Church of tomorrow. Will that Church be able to stand as a witness for Jesus or will it just become another social club? Well, actually, most any ungodly social club would be better than what the Church has become…

Programming To Fail

I have often commented on how today's youth are getting harder and harder to work with.  Not just because I am getting older and curmudgeonie but because youth no longer bear the hallmarks of what they used to be.  Attention spans almost no longer exist, respect for anyone other than themselves, lacking in even basic self-control!  You can blame the educational system, the lack of recognition of God in this country, television, whatever!  But, the net result is a sickness amongst our youth.

Take the movie "Kick Ass" as a basis for this thought line.  Here is a movie in which we have one foul mouthed little girl, certainly I have heard worse language from the youth here and once I heard far worse from a teacher in her classroom as I walked down the hall of a local school.  Yeah, verbal insults and vulgarity are almost a norm.  If I visit the MySpace pages for any of the kids from my latest Sunday School class,  they are almost entirely composed of vulgarity as they communicate with one another!  Seems butter would not melt in anyone's mouth these days.....

The story to the movie surrounds the antics of a teenage boy, well here it gets hard to explain him, as I am only coming up with some vulgarities myself to describe him.....  Inappropriate would seem the best description of this creation.  He embraces all that is vulgar and presented as "just normal life".  Utter stupidity would also be a good description.  Have I known teenagers he is reflective of?  Heck, yes!  And many of them ended up in jail or in rehab sections of hospitals.  You can not be that stupid, that God-less and manage to actually succeed in life.

But as I thought on what the film was showing - it is communicating a message of what is a norm for youth: lack of respect for elders, lack of respect for anyone other than yourself, that sex equals love, if you can imagine it - it is attainable, that using others for your own end is acceptable, etc, etc, etc!

We are talking the ultimate attainment in secular humanism here.  If it feels good, hey it must be good, right?  Where sexual identity and freedom are just whims with no consequences. Where actions bear consequences from which can not be learned from.  Where theft, murder, property destruction is perfectly okay - as long as you are able to justify it to yourself.  And of course, let us not forget, that murder is easy and makes you feel better in the long run.

Want to know why the Western Culture of youth is so challenged?  Watch this movie and see why.

Oh yeah, it is rated R, so no one under 17 is supposed to be there, right?  It is only a guess based on sizes but there were quite a few in there from 8 to 13 years old.  But, from 13 to 19 would have been the general population of the theater that night.

And honestly, this 55 year old did not have to have seen it either.  I should have walked out 5 minutes into the movie and demanded my money back for misrepresentation of the film.....

I Need A Printer