Reading reading reading

As you all have probably guessed, I've been subbing all week this week. And if I had wanted to, I could be working tomorrow, too. But I decided when I planned on working today that tomorrow would be my free day. So I turned down a job. Hopefully, I'll get more next week. For some reason, Bellevue has been very busy this month! I guess everyone has flu or some training classes. So when I have free periods or classes that are busy with tests or other individual work, I get to read. I finished From Hope to Higher Ground about Mike Huckabee. It was his plan for America, but not only for him, but ideas for us to make America a better place ourselves. Each chapter was an admonition to stop doing something. The end of the chapter had a list of practical things to do to stop doing the particular activity. He is very positive and upbeat throughout the whole book. Makes me realize that I could be more practical and positive every day. For example the first chapter is "Stop being cynical". Some of his suggestions at the end of the chapter are: Don't believe bad reports without documentation. Read the Bible more; blogs less. Read biographies.Do volunteer work with impoverished, disabled or ill. He also shares many of his accomplishments during his ten and a half years as governor.
Another book I'm reading is Boom! by Tom Brokaw. It is his memories as a reporter during the 60's. You know he began his career here in Omaha? I've gotten up to the Democratic Convention of 1968 and the Chicago riots. America was a pretty desperate place back then.
The other book is one I'm rereading since I first read it probably 8 years ago. It is Christianity, Education and the State by J. Gresham Machen. It is a compilation of several lectures that he gave in the 20's and 30's!!!!! In his lecture on the necessity of the Christian school (from 1934) he says:

It is this profound Christian permeation of every human activity, no matter how secular the world may regard it as being, which is brought about by the Christian school and the Christian school alone. I do not want to be guilty of exaggerations at this point. A Christian boy or girl can learn math, for example, from a teacher who is not a Christian; and truth is truth however learned. But while truth is truth however learned, the bearing of truth, the meaning of truth, the purpose of truth (even in the sphere of math) seem entirely different to the Chrstian from that which they seem to the non-Christian; and that is why a truly Christian education is possible only when Christian conviction underlies not a part, but all, of the curriculum of the school. True learning and true piety go hand in hand, and Christianity embraces the whole of life-those are great central convictions that underlie the Christian school.

You'd think he was living in the 21st century!

Psalm 40, a testimony

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

This morning Psalm 40 was the selection for my Bible reading. I use the One Year Bible for my morning devotions, and it is set up to go through the Psalms twice every year. In August of 2002 I was also at Psalm 40. At that point in my life I was very depressed because of our church situation. We had lived here for 3 years and really hadn't found a church that suited us. Either there was good teaching, but, what do I say, a little "fringe". Not really fitting what we believed. Or the teaching was so shallow we felt we weren't getting fed at all. Peanut butter and jelly I called it. We had moved here from Italy from a great group Christians with whom we had good, close community, and here we really hadn't found that community. So I was really bummed.

We decided that Sunday I read Psalm 40 to visit a church that had just gotten a new pastor. I remember before the service, when we went in, someone asked me what I was looking for in a church and I said "Meat and potatoes, not peanut butter and jelly." We were not disappointed. For several weeks we were crying at the end of the preaching because our souls at last were filled. We were hungry for good preaching/teaching, and praise the Lord, this man is a faithful teacher of the Word. Week after week we look forward to his teaching both in the worship service and in the Sunday School hour. He is truly a faithful shepherd teaching with grace, gentleness and firmness.

So every time I get to Psalm 40 in my Bible reading, I remember that Sunday and that God did indeed take my feet from the miry clay/bog and put them on a rock. He put a new song in my mouth. And those of you who know me, know I love to sing!

Buona domenica! (Have a great Sunday!)

Assurance of Resurrection

Another funeral. Another graveside service. Our teacher from our early days at Cono died on Saturday, Miss Dorothy Thompson. My sister most adequately described her; I can't add anything to what she said. Today I was able to attend her graveside service. She was buried here in Council Bluffs, so it was an easy drive. After days of subzero temperatures, today was clear and in the 30's. We could really enjoy the worship time there. I told our friend, Andrew, that it felt like a graveside service for Dad since that day was so cold and sleety. We sang two hymns, read Psalms and heard a short talk reminding us of the blessing of eternal life. It is good to be reminded that this isn't all there is, that death is ended, that we will go some place infinitely better when these tired bodies are laid in the grave. "Higher up and further in." as C.S.Lewis says in The Last Battle.

It was good to be reminded of all this after being immersed in the current political campaign. Life can be a burden, but the reminder of eternal life puts things back into perspective.

I'm reading about Huckabee now. From Hope to Higher Ground. It's been good. But I feel overwhelmed by America's problems and the need for change and HOPE. More in another blog!

Read biographies

I decided to learn about these presidential candidates during this election period by reading their books, their autobiographies or some kind of story about them. We gave Will Dreams From My Father for Christmas. Barack Obama wrote it before he decided to run for president and before the popular Audacity of Hope. It helps to see where he came from. (as well as refutes emails circulating the Internet). Another Christmas we gave him Faith of My Fathers about John McCain. (I guess we thought he'd like these political figures. You can tell what year it was by the books we gave!) So we'll have to get ahold of some about the other two candidates. If I can find books written before they started becoming political it seems there would be less spin. Is there a good book about Hillary?
I am reading the Obama book now. It has been really interesting. I'm only up to the part where he started working at organizing the African-American community in Chicago. He wrote in one part about this sermon that his pastor Rev. Wright preached called, "The Audacity of Hope". (I guess that where he pinched the book title!) It was inspired by a painting of a woman in rags playing a harp with only one string while famine and war raged around her. He describes the service, what the preacher said and how the people responded.

The desire to let go, the desire to escape, the desire to give oneself up to a God that could somehow put a floor on despair.
And in that single note-hope!- I heard something else; at the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh...stories of survival and freedom, and hope.
"Thank you Jesus..You brought me from a mighty long way" (the choir sang)
"'Oh, Jesus, ' I heard the woman beside me whisper softly. 'Thank you for carrying us this far.'"

The human heart cries out for hope. I think we as Christians need to open our eyes to a world in despair that is aching for hope. Hope to make it to the next payday. Hope to make it home from Iraq. Hope to get through college. Hope for a happy marriage. I think we need to be out there with the message of hope for a lost and hopeless, helpless world. Instead of mocking a message of hope, we need to give hope in Christ. You'll say Obama's hope in groundless, but people still hear him saying "hope" for jobs, for unity, for peace and we need to take up that cry and make it possible. Am I living in hope? The opposite is despair, and we see that all around. How can I offer hope to those around me?

Primaries and caucuses

This has been the year, hasn't it? Our family spends a lot of time talking about politics, for the good or bad. I think we've always been a talking family. So this lengthy primary season has kept the political talk most interesting and exciting. Barak Obama was here in Omaha last Thursday. What excitement! The queue started early and went for blocks. I though I'd go downtown just to get in on this historical occasion, but I hate crowds. Enthusiasm ran high. The mayor even "changed" the city's name to "Obamaha"! *smile* The excitement showed on Saturday when Obama fever swept the caucuses across the state. In our county he won 75%! I guess he didn't need us to switch parties to keep Hillary from getting it.

Seems like every Tuesday and nearly every weekend there's been some tight race. We've been glued to CNN and Fox, switching back and forth between channels to hear who is saying what. I think everyone loves a contest. It's keeping things interesting. Also, knowing that my children are so involved, I keep in touch for their sake.

But I just can't get excited about McCain. How did the Republicans end up with him? It's like Bob Dole all over again. Ho hum. He doesn't spark enthusiasm. He brings all those old dried up guys on stage like Warner of Virginia. "same old, same old" Every election year I guess some party has a boring candidate. Did the Democrats really get excited about Kerry? I don't think so.

It's assuring to know that it is God who raises up "kings" and brings them down. We would never have dreamed this scenario a year ago, that Hillary would be struggling, that Obama would be streaking for the finish; that McCain even would be in it or Huckabee winning states. I mean, it's all so remarkable. Who knows, only God knows what the end will be!

Today I read about the trial and Crucifixion of Christ. These crowds were so easily swayed. One guy probably started yelling one thing, and they all took up the cry. "His blood be on us and on our children." What a horrible thing to say! Did they realize what they were saying? Why bring it on their children, too? A few short years later, Jerusalem no longer existed. What's my point? God's hand was in that crowd, too, for Christ had to be crucified. It was part of the eternal plan. His sovereignty moved the crowd to cry "Crucify" and His sovereignty brought judgement.

I pray that God will give us wisdom to do His will in this season of our country's history.

What's going on?

My fan base is going to dwindle if I don't get on here and post some new blogs. I have been working a lot lately, as you can tell. The only thing about subbing for the local public school is that most of the time the calls don't come in until about 7am!!! Then it's a big scramble to get ready and rush out the door. I do appreciate the pay though. Last week I had two calls like that, both on the snowiest days of the week. This week, though, I got the second call just before 6am. I heard Andrew walk down the back steps to the garage and then the phone rang. It's early, but at least I can get a good quiet time in without rushing about. Today, at last, no phone calls. I woke up hoarse and coughing, so it's a nice break to sit and catch up on the news and write. I have a stack of books, too, but I think I'd better catch up on house work and laundry.

On Monday Andrew met with the friends from whom he wants to buy a house. Sounds like it may work out. He has to make a counter offer and look around for good loans. He has thought things out quite thoroughly. Den keeps saying how much he likes having Andrew around. Of course I like having him around, too. He sort of tempers my erratic personality! Yeah, our kids grow up and leave, and we miss them. That's life....

He Shaved!

Den thought he was beginning to look like an old homeless man, so thought he'd shave off the years! Do you think it worked? When we were first engaged/married, my sisters were still at home. When he would get a haircut, they'd tell him he looked like a little boy, so the moustache helped him to look grown up! Of course being in the military, he couldn't have the beard. Then last year he thought he'd try the goatee thing. He did look like a professor, but by this stage in the game, it was aging him in a way he didn't want!
However, after this experience, and Andrew's and my reaction (yes, reaction, not response!) he's growing it back. Of course it will take him twice as long as it would Will!!!