Refined Like Silver

2012-01-24T00:43:00.001-06:00

http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/08/21/on-light-fixtures-that-look-like-breasts/

From the Urban Dictionary:
1. boob light

A dome light mounted on a ceiling that resembles a female breast with a decorative erect nipple. They are often found in pairs in 1980 style homes.

My dad's living room is illuminated with 2 sets of boob lights.

OMQ We're Moving To Graceland

2012-01-24T00:42:00.001-06:00

Refined Like Silver: iPhone 4S - Why I miss my Android Phone and Why I'll Never Go Back

2012-01-18T00:23:00.000-06:00

Refined Like Silver: iPhone 4S - Why I miss my Android Phone and Why I'll Never Go Back

iPhone 4S - Why I miss my Android Phone and Why I'll Never Go Back

2012-01-18T00:22:00.002-06:00

iPhone 4S - Why I miss my Android Phone and Why I'll Never Go Back.

by Debby Howell-Moroney on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:32pm

It took me awhile to consent to the smart-phone. First of all, I hadn't really even wanted a darn cell phone in the first place. I rarely needed it, I have a phone-phobia so I never call people (except my husband) on it. It was a convenience at best and a nuisance to keep track of. Having a phone with a texting and data plan seemed ridiculously overpriced and completely unnecessary. I already had a cell phone, a Garmin, and an MP3 player, plus a laptop for travel.
I got my first Android phone with "Unlimited Everything" from Sprint in August of 2010. Truthfully it was (and still is) an expensive toy. Yes, they are cool and convenient, but a toy nonetheless. I loved my phone. In December 2011, I was eligible for an upgrade and there was a newer, presumably faster, Android phone that would be free, so my husband talked me into going to the Sprint store to get it. As I was looking around the store at some newer phones I saw it - the newly available iPhone 4s - in all its glory. Recalling the voice of my petulant son, who delights in telling me how cheap I am and how my phone stinks, I began to consider purchasing the iPhone. My husband said, "go for it," so I bit.
I am not a Mac. I have never been a Mac. I am not sure I am ever going to be a Mac. I have worked on, supported and owned PCs. I have supported Mac's when I worked as a consultant, but was never a fan. My Android phone was very like a PC in that it was slow, had annoying resource constraints, and I would regularly have to force-close apps on it. I would have to remove apps to make room for others. My external SD card was full. Sprint also add all kinds of crap that can't be removed from the phone.
My new phone, the iPhone 4S, is FAST. I have added dozens of apps, Kindle books, and music. I've taken oodles of photos and videos. It isn't even beginning to tap the 16 GB capacity. My favorite thing about it is - it just works. It just works! It turns on. I tap a button and the app just opens. No freezing. No hanging. No forced closure. The phone just works. Its like an electronic miracle. The stupid phone does what it is supposed to do.
Why do I miss my Android phone then, you may wonder? First of all, I hate iTunes. I have always hated iTunes. Three years ago I bought 4 Microsoft Zune 8 GB MP3 players for my family for Christmas. Before Christmas, I installed the Zune software, bought Zune points, so the kids could buy music and/or video to put on them. I added our entire CD library to my computer hard-drive and put music on each of the devices. That same Christmas I also bought an iPod Nano for my MIL. I installed iTunes on her computer and put her entire CD library on her computer as well. After working with both products and their respective interfaces, I concluded that the Zune, and its software, was (and still is) vastly superior. I discovered quickly that iTunes was just as frustrating as I remembered it. I quickly realized that I would no longer be able to make ring-tones from my music library with iTunes - something that can be done easily on my Android phone itself. I sent a message to Apple support and this was quickly confirmed. the current release of iTunes had taken away that ability. Ok - that sucks, but fine. I found one of the two ring-tones I wanted and spent the 99 cents. The next day, it could no longer be found on my phone and created an error when I tried syncing back to my phone. I will say this, Apple customer support allowed it to download from iTunes again and it was restored with no problem. OK, so no custom ring-tones, but that's cool (I guess).
iPhone has a native map and GPS navigation system - powered by Google - just like the Android phone. Great. No wait. Not great. It doesn't have voice navigation. IT DOESN"T HAVE VOICE NAVIGATION! WHAT! What? No more Clair, our name for all GPS navigation voices, to gently tell us to ,"take the next exit" or kindly say, "recalculating" when we've missed the exit. WTQ Siri?? Where is she now??? Ok, fine. I downloaded MapQuest from the iTunes Store. It sucks though because iPhone never asked me if I want addresses to open into MapQuest. Android would have asked. Now when I click on an address link in an email or on the web it opens into the crappy "Maps" app and I have to copy and paste it into MapQuest. Plus, at Christmas, MapQuest incorrectly guided me into a very exclusive Southlake, TX neighborhood and I got pulled over by a motorcycle cop and almost got a ticket for having an Obama bumper sticker and a cracked windshield. Stupid app.
The iPhone Angry Birds demo has fewer levels.
There are a few other things that you can do with Android that you can't do, or do as easily, with iPhone. I still hate iTunes. But....I guess I may be an iPhone, even if I'll never be a Mac. The sole reason: the iPhone just works. It just works. Thank you iPhone.

Footnote to the Whole Breasted Light Fixture Conspiracy

2011-07-08T01:09:00.003-05:00

I have and will continue to investigate the clear and present conspiracy to perpetrate perversion in the form of subversive light fixture designs.
Exhibit 1:
This is the instruction manual for a new fixture we installed to replaced the now infamous wagon wheel (see http://refinedlikesilver.blogspot.com/2008/09/freudian-chandeliers-and-light-fixtures.html )

It is a lovely design that is neither breasted nor candelaBRA. However you may notice something else:

COME ON!!!!! REALLY!?!? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!
Look what I found on our next trip to Home Despot.
Exhibit 2:

What does it all mean? Does the world revolve around women's breasts? It is too ponderous. These plumbing items were beside others with "male" and "female" connectors. They are also in the electrical aisle, male and female plugs. Where will it all end? Is this what sells home improvement products? *Sigh*

I'm No Superstar: Wandering Back Into the Light

2010-11-13T17:31:00.000-06:00

I'm No Superstar: Wandering Back Into the Light: "Debby Howell-Moroney, her husband Michael and their, at that time, small children Maddy and Ian, were part of our Delaware church while Mi..."

There Once Was A Gator Named Izod........

2010-07-22T01:10:00.000-05:00

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/alligator_discovered_in_front.html
I must say, I love taking the newspaper. Birmingham is extremely lucky to have a daily newspaper of the quality of the Birmingham News. Most of the time I transfer the folded paper from my driveway to my recycling basket without taking it out of its plastic sleeve, simply because I rarely have the luxury of sitting down long enough to enjoy it - particularly during the summer. However I am never disappointed by what I find in its pages when I do take time out to actually read the thing. For example, I learned in the religion section last year, that Kirk Franklin was scheduled to play a concert in Birmingham. I was so excited, I sprang for tickets for the whole family. I was a little disappointed when the concert got rescheduled, but hey - it happens, no problem. I was a little less thrilled when the show was cancelled without an explanation - but at least I got a full refund. Ok, maybe I would have been better off had I not opened the paper that day, but it was exciting news for awhile.
Tuesday July 20, 2010. The front page story was entitled, "See you later, Alligator," and included a picture of a nine foot alligator being removed from the yard of a Jefferson County resident. It was a little bit unusual I suppose, but we live in the south and maybe it was just a slow news day. Then I discovered the very best part of the story, buried all the way back on page5A.
(Read the following out loud, using your best southern accent:)
"It didn't take long for a crowd to gather, most taking snapshots and videos with their cell phones. Laurence Breeland, who lives nearby, showed up to see if it was the same gator that used to live in his pond and was hand-fed fish and chicken. He hasn't seen that gator in 12 years. "His name was Izod," Breeland said. "You could holler his name or whistle and he'd come out of the water."
I am so glad I read the paper on Tuesday. Doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I don't know where to even begin deconstructing that particular item. I will say this - the next time you see a gator - make sure there is a fence between you before you even try to utter the name, "Izod".
Just reporting the news.....

Curse You, Hyphen!

2010-06-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

Today I was informed by the blue-haired dragon lady at my polling location that ,"you have to admit that your last name is weird."

No ma'am, I do not. All I have to do is show you my I.D.

Genesis Said It Best, "It's No Fun!"

2010-05-19T16:01:00.000-05:00

Let's talk about the human spirit while I speak in broad generalities.

Certain folks from the continent of Africa got a raw deal. Their own countrymen sold them into slavery. Slave traders removed them from their homes and sold them all over the world as though they weren't human. When we hear stories from our own history about slavery we are shocked and can hardly imagine what that era must have been like or how people could be so self-deceived that they justified such things. The heroes in this story are the brave men and women who fled the nightmare of slavery and those who helped them along the way, people like those who created the underground railway.

Similarly, children who are born into the abject poverty of America's urban inner cities. The cycles of poverty, lack of educational attainment, and the influence of drugs and gangs create a situation that seems hopeless and without solution. Yet when a person manages to escape and become successful, we say, "See, America is the land of opportunity." and admire the courage and strength of someone who pulls themselves up "by their own bootstraps". Powerful stuff, right?

Let's talk about Mexico, or more specifically, about Mexican immigrants who are in this country illegally because that is really who is the target of Arizona's new immigration law. That is who we blame for taking American jobs away. It is the growing number of brown faces in our communities that we associate with the "immigration" problem. Think about it though, what have they done after all? By and large, their most prominent crime - the thing that we use to put us on the moral high ground - is that they have broken the law. Yes - Yes - for the last time - I admit it - they have broken the law.

Would we tell anyone trapped in slavery that they should just obey the law? Of course not. Our nation fought over the issue of slavery (tangentially, anyway) and eventually abolished it.

Do we let drug dealers run urban neighborhoods and not provide assistance for people trying to escape?

Maybe it would help to think about illegal immigrants from Mexico in a different way. Let's call them what they are: refugees. Refugees from a broken political and economic system. Refugees from unimaginable, soul-crushing poverty and anarchy created by drug lords run amok. * Who would choose to raise a family in the midst of that if there was a viable alternative? Not me. I admire the courage and human spirit of those who make that very dangerous and controversial decision.

Yes. they broke the law. We get it but, here are three things to ponder:

1. Can I really cast stones?
2. Am I better, simply by virtue of being born in the US and by proxy, is someone less of a person by the misfortune of being born into slavery or poverty or Mexico?
3. Is there a better way to approach this issue besides tougher enforcement?

For me the answers are simple: No, No, Yes.

* See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html

Alabama Rides Again....Campaign Style

2010-05-19T11:35:00.001-05:00

By John Archibald -- The Birmingham News

May 19, 2010, 5:25AM

Dale who?
The internet buzzed this week with more political ads from Alabama. Dale Peterson -- a candidate for commissioner of agriculture and industries, as it turns out -- created what some called the best political ad ever!

I don't know about that, but it was memorable. Sort of like David Allan Coe's "perfect country & western song," though it didn't say anything at all about Mama, or trucks, or trains, or prison, or gettin' drunk.

It did have a hat and a horse, a rifle, and a rant by "Pistol" Peterson (see video below) that took on thugs, criminals, illegal immigrants, and the rat finks who stole his political signs.

"We're Republicans," Peterson warns, pulling a rifle from nowhere. "We should be better than that."

He concludes by shouldering the gun.

"I'm Dale Peterson. I'll name names and take no prisoners."

It's awesome. And terrifying, for sign-stealing thugs.

But does it work?

You tell me. Before this week, had you heard of Dale Peterson?

Which is why Alabama's politicos have tried to out-gun each other for years.

A gun-toting Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom ran a beauty in 2006 to beat Mountain Brook's Luther Strange.

"I have two great kids, three dogs and four shotguns," Folsom said, presumably in order of importance. "I never have played tennis at the Mountain Brook club. I'd rather be hunting."

Classic.

Would-be governor Bradley Byrne fired the first salvo this campaign when he armed himself and his sons for a pleasant stroll through the woods. The kids (blam!) asked regular father/son stuff. You know: What's it like, dad, to fight corruption in (blam!) Montgomery?

The gun is so ubiquitous in Alabama politics it should be listed in the minimum qualifications. To be ag commissioner, for instance, you must be 25, a resident for five years, and a gun owner for seven.

Which makes you feel for John McMillan. He's running for that office, but doesn't have cash for TV ads to prove his gun mettle. He relies on a website photo of himself in camo, carrying a shotgun with a scope. Somehow, he still misses.

And remember Matt Chancey? He ran for Public Service Commission in 2008. In one ad, he showed a kid how to shoot as he warned that environmentalists prefer owls and tree frogs to people.

I don't know if he was shooting owls or environmentalists.

Who cares, I guess. Just lock and load.

So you have to hand it to James Anderson, seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general. His ad shows him brainstorming with ad execs as they try to sell him the perfect spot. It lampoons all the old tricks -- and puts him in front of a NASCAR car with shotgun in hand. It's the down home double whammy.

"But guys," he protests. "I'm a real attorney."

Like that matters.

This is Alabama, after all, where you can keep your snooty qualifications, as long as you're packing heat.

Yeah. You can take the guns from our political ads. But only when you pry them from our cold, dead campaign committees.

John Archibald's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Write him at
jmailto:jrchibald@bhamnews.com.

Archibald: It's how the South was won (with video)

Open-mindedness

2010-05-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

illusion of superiority

2010-05-17T14:36:00.000-05:00

To Pledge or Not to Pledge? That is the Question.

2010-05-15T23:58:00.003-05:00

The "Pledge of Allegience" Thoughts? Feelings?

Obama to Tea Partiers: You're Welcome - The Daily Beast

2010-04-16T08:42:00.001-05:00

Obama to Tea Partiers: You're Welcome - The Daily Beast

Posted using ShareThis

Scary Quote of the Day

2010-04-15T13:44:00.000-05:00

Favorite Quote today - scary as heck, too:

I want to tell ’em, ‘Nah, we’ll keep clinging to our Constitution and our guns and religion—and you can keep the change ... Yeah, let’s drill, baby, drill; not stall, baby, stall—you betcha.

http://www.daylife.com/quote/0eo4buabob3OF?q=Sarah+Palin

"This Here Is What It Is" Or "Musings of a Pinko Commie Leftycrat"

2010-03-25T00:52:00.001-05:00

First of all, I am not a Socialist. Not in the Marxist sense of the word (not that there's anything wrong with that). Actually, in my heart of hearts, I am an Ayn Randian flavored Libertarian (you don't have to ROTFLMAO!). Unfortunately, both Socialism and Objectivism are fiction. Both rest on the assumption that man is rational and operates according to his better nature. If only it were true.

Socialism is the ideal result of the dialectical process described by Marx. The idea is that our economic system is on a evolutionary path. (No, not that kind of evolution...sheesh!) The rise being from an agrarian economy to industrialization to capitalism to communism to socialism. (a VAST oversimplification of the dialectic, but bear with me). Not even the Soviet Union could be considered a communist economy, since they bypassed industrialization and capitalism all together. To say, "socialized" medicine, or whatever, bears little if any resemblance to socialism itself. It simply means providing for the common good of all citizens, something the US does regularly. We maintain a public education system, a common national defense, health-care for children, veterans, the disabled and the elderly. Does this make us Socialists? Seriously!

Let's talk about symbolism in politics and pendulum theory. In my opinion, this is what has happened in the United States. These could very well account for the election of President Obama. I think that a rising majority of Americans were fed up with what they saw happening in America. I think it had less to do with Obama, race, or the downward spiral of our morality and more to do with a rejection of corporate welfare, a growing American underclass, and the disenfranchisement of young voters (among other things). America finally said, "ENOUGH!" Voters didn't necessarily embrace Obama, so much as reject Bush (resurrected as John McCain). I think this happened symbolically again when President Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize. The whole world was saying, "Thank you for coming to your senses America!" Most recently (and just as controversial) we saw the passage of the Health Care Reform Act. The majority of legislators, who have been bullied and manipulated by special interests and lobbies, finally said, "Enough!" as well. Enough of catering to big business and large insurance companies. Enough of capitalism run amok. Free market capitalism is a fiction. Stop drinking the kool-aid.

Here's my thing. The system is broken. It was broken when we got here. It was broken when Bush was in office and it is still broken. The few prosper at the expense of the many. The rich get richer - not by working hard and adding value to our society, but by siphoning off our wealth into offshore bank accounts and foreign factories. If we have to embrace a broken system, why can't the system benefit those who really need a leg up, even if it is just once in awhile?

Here is a great example of what is wrong with the status quo. My friend's husband was laid off recently. He was then rehired by the same company as a temp, with no benefits and less pay, to do the same job. WTQ?

Is the Health Care Reform Act perfect? Who's drinking the kool-aid now? Of course, its not. But did you know that in as little as a few weeks children who were denied coverage on their parents insurance because of a preexisting condition will now be covered? Would we be a better society if they weren't, because that is the world we lived in before the bill passed. The uninsured are one catastrophic illness away from complete financial ruin.

The hardest thing for me to accept is that most conservative Christians voted against Obama. Most supported our intervention in Iraq. Most were passionately opposed to health care reform. Most are afraid when the right wing media shouts, "Socialism".

Here is what the Bible says of the early church,
Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)
44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Does the church in Acts 2 sound like capitalism to you? Does this sound like the U.S.? Does this sound like the church in America? I am not asserting that the Bible condemns capitalism, but hasn't God called us to be set apart from the world? Haven't we been called to a higher standard and a higher law? Are we standing up for the disenfranchised and the poor? Let's not forget the real reason why Sodom was destroyed.* From scripture we know that the Lord commanded that every third year the tithe should be given to the poor. Caring for those in need should be the task of the church. When there is a vacuum, the government sometimes steps in (and thank God for it).

We have had some shining moments in the last few years. I think back to a post-Katrina New Orleans when the church flooded the city with workers, resources and money. We rose to the call in Haiti. When we give up our own comforts and rights to benefit those in need, shining the love and the light of Christ, then we are truly the church. Let's throw off our selfish natures and rise to the calling of our better nature - not in our own wisdom and strength, which is what Socialism falsely claimed, but in the strength and power of Jesus.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the Amish and the Mennonites. They stand as a stunning contrast to the world. The are a literal representation of what it means to be set apart as a people of God. Recently, when a gunman opened fire in an Amish school, the community responded with forgiveness. These people are pacifist, honest, and humble. They are a positive reflection of the church. Wouldn't it be nice if that's how all of the church represented the Kingdom of God?

I don't want you to agree with me. I am just saying this: if you are yoked to Christ, test every political ideology with scripture. Heck, test everything with prayer and scripture. Don't just accept what the conservative media and neocon politicians serve up as gospel without checking it out in the real Gospels. Don't let insignificant political differences divide us. Remain united by the Truth, by those things that are "main and plain". Let love be what motivates you. Let your personal activities guide your larger ideologies. Remain philosophically consistent in action as well as belief. Don't give the world a reason to call us hypocrites. Love is the only voice they will hear. ~

Warm Regards,
Debby

* Ezekiel 16:49 (NIV) 49“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

~ Loose papraphrase of Jason Morant - Thanks!

Thoughts on Passover, Grace, and Head Lice

2010-03-18T02:30:00.007-05:00

Passover is, by far, my favorite holiday.
First, God commanded that it be celebrated:
Exodus 12:17 (NIV) 17“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
Exodus 13:9 (NIV) 9This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
Second, Jesus revealed the mystery of Passover and His fulfillment of it:
Luke 22:19 (NIV) 19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Finally, Paul suggests that we continue its celebration in remembrance and in honor of Christ:
1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) 7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

1997 - 2001
Honestly, even as a believer, I had never heard of Passover. While Michael and I were in graduate school a friend of ours, Andres, invited us, along with a number of other friends, over to his house for Passover. Andres had cobbled together a Haggadah and assigned us roles. It was fun and pretty cool. The sweet Kosher wine was pleasant. I think that was in 1997.

With a nod of thanks to my archived Outlook calendar, I can confidently say that we began celebrating Passover as a family in 2002. During Passover of 2001, I sent out this mass email:
"Consider painting a red stripe or putting a red ribbon over your door to commemorate the Passover and as an outward mark of being a home of faith and prayer. Passover begins Saturday April 7 - 15."
I sent it to everyone in my address book at the time. Why? Because the Holy Spirit told me to. I know, I know - first of all, "What??" Second of all, those of you who know me, also know that I would NEVER forward a flaky email or send a mass email, but I really felt compelled to do it. Stranger still is what happened next. In obeying what I felt was the voice of God, I was filled with the Holy Spirit. Many church traditions call it different things, baptism in the spirit or being filled with power. *

I didn't speak in tongues, but I had a very real experience of the power of God. After that time, my whole life as a Christian changed from simply going to church and calling myself a believer to walking in the fullness of joy and peace. I also developed a previously unknown love for people and a deep desire to serve God, which continues to this day. Before this happened, I lived what I would term a "compartmentalized" faith. Afterward I began to see and hear from God in my everyday life.

Why?
Passover, or the feast of unleavened bread, is unique in that it is a tradition that was begun by the children of Israel when they were delivered out of slavery in Egypt. As a Jew, Jesus celebrated it and then its celebration was continued by the early church. It is not a syncretism of paganism and Christianity. Passover hasn't been corrupted by our materialist culture in the same way that Christmas and Easter have. It can be celebrated in "sincerity and truth." I feel strongly that God gave it as a gift to our family, both as a way of celebrating what He did for me in 2001, but most importantly, a way to celebrate the gift of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, that is truly meaningful. It is hard to imagine that Jesus could be central to an ancient Jewish festival, but that's what Passover is about.

Head Lice and Grace ...... What???
From our family Haggadah:
"Leader: And though we celebrate our liberation, our happiness is not complete as long as others remain bound to slavery and death. (Leader raises cup, and continues.) A full cup is a symbol of complete joy. Let us, therefore, diminish our cups as we recall the plagues which befell the Egyptians.

All: (Each participant empties a drop from his cup for each one of the ten plagues.) Blood. Frogs. Lice. Flies. Cattle disease. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. Slaying of the first-born."

I am always grateful when God reveals a new truth to me. I might not always appreciate the way in which He chooses to reveal it. Thus, the head lice incident.

One of the most touching parts of the Seder is the remembrance of the plagues which befell the Egyptians prior to the exodus. In doing so, we learn that we are not to rejoice over suffering - even the suffering of our enemies. The Cup of Sanctification is diminished by ten drops of wine because of this suffering. It is a demonstration of God's great love and grace. At first God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" When a direct request failed, God turned the water to blood. Plague #1. Hey folks.....God is speaking here......maybe you should consider what He has to say....?

What in the world does this have to do with head lice?

The other day I received a call that no parent ever wants to receive. It was the school nurse, who informed me that my child was being sent home from school with head lice. I spent the better part of 7 hours that day washing, combing and picking through hair. I spent the next week laundering bedding, coats, and clothing and cleaning the house. Between pesticide shampoos, vinegar, tea tree oil and shower caps, I probably spent close to $200. At one point I lay down on the floor and cried. I felt like our home had been violated. That was when I remembered that lice was one of the plagues in Egypt. Multiply my experience by all of the households in Egypt during the time of Moses. What a personal and public disaster.

Grace.
God, who is slow to anger and quick to forgive, could have zapped Pharaoh and Egypt, but instead he gave them multiple opportunities to repent and obey. God moved mightily to demonstrate his power and authority, yet his patience and mercy were also manifest.

Grace.
What if a foster child came to our home with lice? Would I have had grace toward them? Probably not. I learned some very valuable lessons about treating and preventing lice through my own child, toward whom I feel love and sympathy. Maybe God is preparing us, finally, for a foster child.

The sweetest news came last week when my child returned from school and announced that the nurse had checked heads again and all was well. I repeated the shampoo treatment and inspected again today. More good news. I feel like we have finally beaten this plague. I feel so grateful for this victory. This is one thing I hope I never take for granted again.
Grace.

Passover 2010
As we prepare for this year's celebration I marvel on how God has broadened my perspective, again, on the Passover story. I'd prefer to not have any new plague narratives next year. I could live without water turning to blood or a swarm of locusts. I am so very thankful, however, for the reminder that He is not content for us to remain either in bondage or in disobedience. He will do whatever it takes to get our attention and that He will move heaven and earth to rescue His children. God gave a blueprint when he freed the children of Israel from slavery, so we would recognize the Redeemer when He came.
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_with_the_Holy_Spirit

Happy Holidays....Thoughts On "Fisting"

2009-12-09T15:05:00.003-06:00

It's holiday time and as usual I am surly, bristly and fighting the urge to shout "Bah Humbug!" Following the sage advice, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all," I have held my tongue. Finally though, I was asked one too many times what I thought of the whole Kevin Jennings appointment and the 2001 distribution of "fisting" kits. Well, here it is:

From my Facebook post:

Quite clearly the advocacy of "fisting" among youth is inappropriate and objectionable. Clearly these folks do not hold a Judeo-Christian worldview or ethic. It makes sense then that they wouldn't feel the same way that we do about homosexuality or sex education in general. That being said here are some things to remember:

1. This happened in 2000 and 2001. If there was evidence that this practice continued beyond 2001, you can bet that the source would have found out about it - which tells me that it was widely regarded as inappropriate and was discontinued (albeit, probably still persists, but not in as broad a forum).

2. An article today mentions that 53 members of congress are actively attempting to get Kevin Jennings removed from his post.

3. Kevin Jennings is the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, essentially an undersecretary of nothing and nobody. He is one of thousands of appointees without direct power over curriculum or the direction of public education in the U.S.

4. Community Standards prevail. States, then in turn school districts, and finally individual schools and teachers determine curriculum and policies related to health education. It would be a mistake to draw the conclusion that Alabama schools are going to begin disseminating "fisting kits" to our children, but this is clearly the conclusion that these fear-mongerers intended people to draw.

5. The president makes thousands of political appointments when he comes into office. This is a task that is usually not handled directly by the president, beyond selecting his own staff and major appointed positions like the presidential cabinet. Ultimately the purpose of these groups is to somehow tie the actions of Jennings back to Obama and make the case that he was fully aware of Jennings' activities and that he somehow approved and supported the practices of GLSEN - even that Obama is a card-carrying member of said group. This is absurd. More likely is that Obama has never even heard of Jennings and had no idea anything like this had happened. See #1

6. I begin to wonder about the activities of all governmental appointees. If we begin pointing the finger at homosexual advocates, why stop there? Shouldn't we want to know who cheated on their taxes, who cheated on their spouses, who dropped LSD in college, who's hit their kid, who's divorced, who's on the Playboy subscriber list?

Anyway, I say all that to say this:

I know that this particular issue feeds home-school advocacy and becomes confirming evidence for all the fear of public school teaching aberrant beliefs. I am really surprised to see Obama supporters promoting this witch-hunt. It is obviously yet another attempt by the NeoCons to discredit him. As Christians we need to get back to promoting the cause of Christ, not demonizing the lost.

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

2009-12-03T11:45:00.000-06:00

http://www.mongoosemom.com/?p=27

Rant to the Left, Rant to the Right. Turn Around, Turn Around, Fight, Fight, Fight

2009-09-17T15:02:00.003-05:00

Former President Carter raises an interesting point. The irony is, the key elements of opposition to Obama completely overlook the abuses of the previous administration. Abortion: It is a cheap political strategy, especially in the South, to say that you are "pro-life". It doesn't obligate anyone to actually try to reduce or eliminate abortion, it just makes everyone feel a little better about their vote. You should ask yourself, "what I am doing personally to reduce or eliminate abortion?" If the answer is, "Nothing". Then you might call your own pro-life position in to question. Would you really let people die than give them access to health-care? Are you really pro-life at all? Instead, we overlook the abuses and excesses of corporate executives, and call it capitalism. Meanwhile, the current administration is left holding bag. Instead of "business as usual" Obama has recruited the top minds of our nation, in all arenas, and asked them to re-craft government. This isn't socialism. To make bureaucracy effective. To eliminate abuses of authority and hold government and industry accountable for its actions. If you remember, we actually had a budget surplus when Bill Clinton left office. If we have to throw out the baby and the bathwater to get back on track, then lets get on with it. Is there still deep-seated racism at work in our nation? I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it. There is no doubt in my mind that there is hate-mongering, so why couldn't racism be at the root? You might not be racist, but take a closer look at where the misinformation and misguided slogans are coming from.

An attempt to Blog (But Lost Interest and Train of Thought). Alabama IS the Most Conservative State in the U.S.

2009-08-20T16:08:00.006-05:00

A Gallup poll revealed that Alabama is the most conservative state in the U.S. Having lived in Alabama for the past 7 years, I can testify to this result. Although it is delightfully tempting to bash political conservatism, I will restrain myself and instead make some observations about the polarization of political views in the "dirty south".
First, let me address the designation of "conservative" itself, as I have experienced it in the evangelical church culture. Most evangelical Christians would term themselves religiously conservative. Politically, however, I think southern evangelicals may align themselves with other conservatives solely based on the issue of abortion and possibly taxation and pro-Bush interventionism in Iraq (I hesitate to say, anti-terror policy, considering the oxymoronic nature of such a statement). After the 2008 presidential election, pundits naively assumed that the southern states had overwhelmingly voted for McCain as confirmation of deep-seeded racism, but I think they fail to take into account the strength of support for pro-life candidates. The word "liberal" is tantamount to "demonic".
Growing up in southwest Kansas, I was raised in a politically conservative family. However, there is a strong populism alive in the heartland of the U.S. that creates a larger base for Democrats, than in the south. People are generally more fiscally conservative and self-reliant. I never experienced the extreme political polarization between parties or politicians that exists in Alabama.

A month later and i have completely lost this train of thought.

Breastmilk Ravings.

2009-03-24T13:24:00.004-05:00

I found myself ranting in my own head this morning while I was showering. Usually God gives me meditations, but today I was pondering breastfeeding. After breastfeeding my own three infants and counseling numerous women I have come to several conclusions. First, however, let me present some of the contentions of the World Health Organization, regarding infant feeding:

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding p. 10 states,
"18. The vast majority of mothers can and should breastfeed, just as the
vast majority of infants can and should be breastfed. Only under
exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable
for her infant. For those few health situations where infants
cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best
alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother,
breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a
breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than
a feeding bottle and teat – depends on individual circumstances.
19. For infants who do not receive breast milk, feeding with a suitable
breast-milk substitute – for example an infant formula prepared in
accordance with applicable Codex Alimentarius standards, or a
home-prepared formula with micronutrient supplements – should
be demonstrated only by health workers, or other community workers
if necessary, and only to the mothers and other family members
who need to use it; and the information given should include adequate
instructions for appropriate preparation and the health hazards
of inappropriate preparation and use. Infants who are not
breastfed, for whatever reason, should receive special attention from
the health and social welfare system since they constitute a risk
group."

Here are their recommendations, in order:
1. infants should be breastfed by their own mother
2. if #1 is not possible, then expressed milk from the infant's own mother
3. breast milk from a wet-nurse
4. breast milk from a milk bank
5. breast milk substitute fed with a cup

All of these methods are considered preferred to infant formula fed from a bottle with an artificial nipple.

Guess what? The World Health Organization isn't funded by formula makers. Conversely, American women are sent home from the hospital with their newborn babies AND a diaper bag, supplied by a formula manufacturer, a breast pump, also supplied by the formula manufacturer, and a supply of infant formula, from who else, but the manufacturer. Oh, sure, all of their printed materials pay lip service to breastfeeding as best for babies, but give me a break!! Those bottles psych mothers out. They become the great temptation when we need a few more minutes sleep or when we are unsure about our own milk production. Next comes the pump. If it is a manual pump, a woman may only produce an ounce or two - maybe more with an electric pump. This leads to more supplementation and pretty soon you aren't producing an adequate supply of milk and you give up. Those formula manufacturers are pretty tricky, but effective.

Here is the conclusion I have come to. First, assess your desire to breastfeed. Is it very important to you? If not, then don't condemn yourself - lots of infants are raised on formula and turn out just fine. Consider, however, the WHO guidelines and think about trying it for at least a few months. WHO recommends at least 6 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends up to 12 months. If you are committed to breastfeeding, you can do it!

My suggestion is to put away the formula that you brought home with you - or better yet, throw it away so it isn't a temptation. Next, pack the breast pump away, for at least the first two - three weeks. Pumping is not a reliable indicator of milk supply, as babies are much more efficient at extracting milk from the breast. Give yourself 2 - 3 solid weeks of exclusive breastfeeding, putting your baby to the breast as often and for as long as the baby demands. Remember, you are both learning a new skill and just need some time to master it, without confusing the issue with bottle or pumps. Later, once your supply has been established and your baby is confidently feeding, you can try introducing a bottle now and then, preferably with expressed milk. Keep in mind that most babies have growth spurts at 2 - 3 weeks, so don't give up nursing, just because your baby wants to nurse more frequently during that time.

Of course, you may have issues with weight gain, plugged ducts, sore nipples, etc, but those issues are much easier to sort out and resolve if your nursing relationship is uncomplicated by bottles or pumps.

Wow - I feel so much better - I just needed to vent I guess. Talking to myself is so therapeutic! Ranting inside my head is so tedious and boring. Thank you Blogspot for allowing me to add a little more wasted space to the WWW and to suck up a little more bandwidth.

Long Time No Post and A Happy New Year To You!

2009-01-07T00:49:00.006-06:00

It's not that I haven't had anything to blog about, it's just that the ideas flee my brain before I can sit down at the keyboard and type them out. I may have to start blogging on the back of my hand..... I do have something to say about Zunes, iPods, Wii and technological alienation, but I am so alienated I can't sit at my computer long enough to produce a coherent discourse. I am also very discouraged and fed up with repetitive and thankless tasks like laundry and washing dishes. I am hoping that there will be no more laundering or dirty dishes in Heaven. One more thing, why did I not know, until now, that there are four ringed planets in our solar system? That seems like an important enough fact to be part of the common vernacular, doesn't it? Maybe you already knew there were four ringed planets and I am just out-of-it. There. I am spent. I can't think of another ponderable thing to offer. Let me just wish you a blessed and happy new year. Next are Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine's day, Mardi Gras, Passover, and then Easter. Pretty light merchandising months coming up. Enjoy them while they last!

Bah Humbug! I love Christmas, but I HATE "A Christmas Carol"

2008-12-08T16:31:00.014-06:00

Query "Christmas carol" at Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) and you will see something like 56 movie versions. They range from Rich Little's classic to the latest Barbie DVD. Add in all of the variations on the Christmas Carol story line, like Veggie Tales "An Easter Carol" and "The Gospel According to Scrooge" and it seems like there are an astronomical number of retellings of Charles Dickens' story. I AM SICK OF THEM ALL!
Don't ask me why because I don't really know. That story just grates on me like chalk on a blackboard. It replays over and over and over during the holiday season and it drives me mad.
I also hate any movie or television show theme that is driven by deception or confusion cause by purposeful or accidental miscommunication. I don't know what that has to do with A Christmas Carol, but I thought I'd throw it out there. That pretty much means that I don't watch old reruns of "Three's Company" or particularly enjoy "Romeo and Juliet".
I do get a bit depressed during the holidays. My parents are both gone, so I feel slightly resentful of friends with large extended families, especially those with family members nearby. As a Christian with a global worldview, I try to minimize my children's materialistic tendencies while maintaining a sense of joy and excitement. We have never perpetuated the Santa myth - a fact that my two older kids seem to appreciate.
I love Christmas. The way it is celebrated in the U.S. stirs so much turmoil in my spirit. I love the story of Jesus coming as a baby, born to Mary in a stable. I never get tired of God's redemptive love and his plan for reconciling the world. Retell it a million ways and it still brings tears to my eyes.
The world doesn't need another "A Christmas Carol". The world doesn't need redemption through humanism or some altruistic capitalist spirit. It is not the true story of Christmas, no matter how many different ways it is portrayed.

The Responsibility of Christians in A Post-Election America

2008-11-04T13:56:00.015-06:00

From Obama's victory speech:

"This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other."

This is more true now than ever. It has never been up to the government, or even the church for that matter, to fix the world for us. It has always been up to each of us, individually, empowered by God, collectively, to bring about positive change. We can no longer be content to live in a world where we elevate ourselves above our neighbor. We must redevelop a sense of civic responsibility and a dedication to the common good. This is not socialism. This is Christ's call to us.

I am more proud of America now than I have ever been. As Christians we must look beyond what is good for the US alone and keep our focus on the Kingdom that is to come, God's Kingdom on Earth. May God "grant us the privilege of His worldview" (Toby Mac)

Where do we go from here? The first step is to be in prayer. We must pray for our leaders. We must pray that the church will stand up for the poor, the oppressed, and the needy. Pray that the evil forces of racism will not prevail. Pray for our new president's safety and the safety of his family. Pray that he will earnestly seek God's will as he goes forward. Pray that the nation our children inherit will be one where the oppression of people based on the color of their skin is unimaginable. Pray that the economic forces of oppression would also be eradicated. Pray that America's promise, the promise of liberty and justice for all, would be fully realized. Pray for the unborn. Pray that the Democrat's pro-life voice would be heard. If we all begin to pray it will be impossible for God to ignore us. Remember the hope that we have is in Christ, not in the institutions of this world and not in politicians.

We must also move beyond prayer and ask God what our part will be in this new era. How can we effect and influence the world around us for God's glory. How can we make a positive impact toward protecting the rights of the unborn. Our government hasn't done it for us. Our new president won't do it for us. If these are the issues that most concern us, what will our life's testimony be when we stand before the Almighty and give an account for ourselves. I don't think that, "I voted Republican" will cut it.

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Let this be the testimony of your life.

THE BIG LIE About the Democratic Party.

2008-10-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

The overwhelming reason why Christians say they vote for Republican candidates is that they are pro-life. It is the biggest decision rule cited by Evangelical Christians. Most feel that it is unconscionable to vote for a democrat or to be politically liberal. To vote Republican means overlooking a whole host of un-Christ-like policies and attitudes concerning economic, social, and foreign policy. Voting for a Democrat is tantamount to voting for baby-killers, in their minds. This attitude is just wrong.
First of all, despite platitudes about being pro-life, the Republican party has not, on a national or state level, made any significant progress toward either reducing the number of abortions in the United States or toward reversing Roe v. Wade. A growing majority of national leaders in the Republican party are actually pro-choice. http://www.gopchoice.org/
Conversely, Barack Obama has said that he is committed to reducing the number of abortions in the United Sates. In large part, this new direction for the Democrats comes from a growing number of voices inside the party itself that are pro-life. http://www.democratsforlife.org/
They include people like Tony Campollo , who now sits on the Democrat's abortion platform committee.
It is possible to be a pro-life voice and be a Democrat.

And You May Quote Me...These are a Few of My Favorite Quotes.....Part 1

2008-10-14T21:15:00.004-05:00

In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me.

-Jimmy Stewart in Harvey 1950

Revelations From Holy Hip Hop Vol. 5

2008-10-06T11:02:00.006-05:00

God regularly gives me meditations. One of my favorite things to ponder is what Richard J. Foster terms, "the book of nature". The bible says,

"The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.-- Psalm 19:1-3"

It's so true. One of my favorite illustrations is how water teaches about the Holy Trinity.

So, yesterday I was getting ready for church and listening to "Holy Hip Hop Vol. 5: Taking the Gospel to the Streets" and I heard the line, "only God can make a diamond out of coal." How profound! If you think about it - coal is only good for one thing - for burning. With God's tools- time and pressure - coal becomes diamond. Able to endure anything - the strongest substance on earth. A very good lesson to remember - God can take anyone - no matter how "dirty" - and make a priceless treasure.

I thank God for the meditations he gives me. A miracle indeed that a white suburban housewife can be ministered to through young urban music. Further proof that God's spirit anoints any music dedicated to his glory.

Freudian Chandeliers and Light Fixtures - Is It Just Me Or Is This A Little Creepy?

2008-09-28T22:27:00.015-05:00

Call me crazy (it wouldn't be the first time), but something is just not right with these pictures. Not just the pictures, but this style of chandelier, in general. More than 125 years after the invention of the electric light, we are still installing chandeliers with candles. Candles? On an electric light fixture? That seems absolutely ridiculous. Even more ridiculous is the fact that I have two of these hideous things in my house. As soon as I can afford it (or don't have something more pressing to spend money on) I am going to replace them. Would we build a suspension bridge out of wood? Do we design cars with a set of reins? Why on earth, in the 21st century are we putting fake candles on electric light fixtures.

Speaking of replacing light fixtures........
I had a fixture in my kitchen that was even more gruesome than the fake candle conundrum. It hung just low enough over my kitchen table that anyone who stood 5'6" or taller bumped their head on it or damaged their vision after staring into it too long. It looked a lot like this:

I know! It's a wagon wheel! The only explanation I can think of is that they took some really scary drugs back in the seventies when this house was built.

I thought - simple, no problem, I will just go down to the home improvement box mart and buy a fixture to replace it. No candles, just something simple. Imagine my horror when, at Home Despot I saw row after row, aisle after aisle of these:

Are you starting to see the problem? Here's a hint, the third fixture is from the "Melon Collection".......... Still not clicking?? They're BREASTS!! Don't you see it?? Breasts!!! Hanging from the ceiling!!! I am trapped in a nightmare of inappropriate lighting options. This is the world I live in. It's is right there in front of us all the time. This is what happens when synapses start firing late at night. I, too, would be oblivious if it weren't for these momentary flashes of reason. What does it all mean? Is it a Freudian nightmare? Is it all phallic candles and breast-like pendulum fixtures? Is it a sign of the end times? I will let you know, as soon as I have it all figured out!

Flesh Eating Bacteria?? I Should Probably Get More Sleep.

2008-09-09T12:09:00.005-05:00

Do you ever think about flesh eating bacteria?

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/necrotizing-fasciitis-flesh-eating-bacteria-topic-overview

It is certainly nothing to joke about. I think about it a lot and wonder if doctors actually try every possible remedy at their disposal before they either start chopping off large pieces of flesh or before a person dies from it. What about hydrogen peroxide? Raw honey? Bleach? Not really sure what that last one would do to a person, even if it managed to wipe out the bacteria, but if there was no other alternative?

Wow - it's like they read my mind. This one tried bleach:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article_1366174.php/Flesh-eating_Superbug_leaves_Florida_mom_fighting_for_her_life

Testimony for raw honey:
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2006/10/71925

Google Defines Radical

2008-09-08T22:51:00.002-05:00

A Netizen in Atlanta wrote:
"One of the wonders of Google is that you can wind up looking at someone’s bio and wonder how you got there. After looking at your blogger web site I noticed something that appeared to be unusual. You say that you are a radical (mother of three) and content with life. So what is so radical about you? "

Definitions of radical on the Web:
group: (chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule
free radical: an atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule; "in the body free radicals are high-energy particles that ricochet wildly ...
extremist: (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm; "extremist political views"; "radical opinions on education"; "an ultra conservative"
revolutionary: markedly new or introducing radical change; "a revolutionary discovery"; "radical political views"
a person who has radical ideas or opinions
arising from or going to the root or source; "a radical flaw in the plan"
(mathematics) a quantity expressed as the root of another quantity
a character conveying the lexical meaning of a logogram
of or relating to or constituting a linguistic root; "a radical verb form"
root: (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem; "basal placentation"; "radical leaves" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

or my personal interpretation:
Radical: a person who likes to enter data into little boxes; especially blog text fields.

smile.... smile for the FBI

2008-09-08T21:53:00.011-05:00

U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
August 13, 2008

The fingerprints printed on the attached fingerprint cards are not adequate for accurate identification purposes. The reason for return are set forth below:
CODE L0008 The quality of characteristics is too low to be used. (Determined by the FBI's Automated Fingerprint Identification System)
It is requested that the individual be reprinted and fully rolled and clearly recorded fingerprint cards be resubmitted to the FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

ARG!!!

This is the second time my fingerprints have been rejected. We completed our Alabama Foster Care certification classes in March, had our home visits, filled out all of our paperwork, only to be roadblocked by the federal government. Again. (See my post)

http://www.adoptioninformation.com/Foster_care states:
"Today in the United States, there are over 500,000 children in foster care. They are cared for in foster homes, group homes, or facilities offering specialized levels of care, depending on their needs, and depending on space available. There is a critical shortage of foster parents in the U.S., and foster children are often housed inappropriately because of it."

I thought the FBI could lift a print off of a dead, decaying corpse - but it can't read four independent sets of them (8 counting the two prints of each finger on each card X the four cards that they have received) on an official fingerprint card. I know, I know - they scan them in to their computer cataloging system, but still.......! I can't help feeling rejected and unappreciated in my efforts. Doesn't the FBI have a heart for the those of us who want to serve the "least of these"?? Maybe they found out that I am voting for Obama?? Maybe they knew I was planning to vote for Hilary if she got the nomination?? Maybe they are getting me back for that one time in the 11th grade my friend Renee and I tried to hide out in the lobby of the FBI Building to get warm?? Maybe they are reading this blog right now???!!!

Of course, I don't really blame the FBI. I could blame the guy who fingerprinted me incorrectly (both times). Actually, I don't think anyone is to blame. Often we try to outguess God's plan for us. Usually I try to do what seems like the "smart" thing without really asking God what he wants. I am certain that this will all work out to be a part of God's timing. So I will go, a third time, and have my prints redone. And I will wait and see how it all plays out. And then I will blog about it.

A Refugee in a Morning Person World...Up At the Crack of Noon

2008-08-26T17:03:00.007-05:00

I heard a great statistic awhile back: only 30% of people are morning people, the other 70% are night owls. I tried to track down the source of that stat, but haven't found it yet. I did find another stat - that it's actually 50/50. I don't believe it! It is the GUILT. 20% of the late-nighters gave in to peer pressure and LIED, LIED, LIED! The ranks of the majority need to band together and change the way the world works.......it's just not fair. It is time for the tyranny to end!

I truly believe I am meant to live somewhere else in the world - perhaps a Polynesian Island or maybe South America. Maybe I was born without an adrenal gland (or maybe some Hunter S. Thompson fanatic stole it). I just do not get enough sleep. I am forced out of bed every Monday through Friday during the school year, at 6:00 AM. My kids' bus stops in front of our house at 6:37. Yes, I do mean AM. We live two miles from the school and school doesn't start until 8:00. Last year I prayed to God, "Please God, let them change the bus route, so the kids don't have to get on the bus at 6:45 anymore." That's when we ended up with 6:37. God is definitely refining me like silver.

The only thing worse than living in a morning person world would be if my husband were a morning person. Thankfully he is like me, although he is slightly more energetic in the morning. Two of our three children are morning people - don't ask me how that happened. Our oldest daughter, Maddy, is exactly like I was as a child. She has terrible insomnia and wants to stay up and read. In the morning she is nearly impossible to get out of bed. She has gotten more skilled at getting ready for school and has learned to sleep on the bus. Someday, when it is no longer my job to drag her out of bed, she and I will be the best of friends.

So if you are reading this and you are a morning person, know that you are in the minority (now where is the site on that darn statistic). Raspberries to you and your whole culture of clock-watchers and the early-riser patriarchs who crafted our society on guilt and and sun-worship. I am not lazy and you will not make me feel guilty. Now be quiet, I am going back to sleep.

God Is So Good...Welcoming Julia into the Community of Faith

2008-08-17T23:23:00.005-05:00

Today I had the extreme pleasure of baptizing my youngest child. As a parent, I am so grateful that all three of my children have a living, active relationship with Jesus. Each of them asked Jesus into their heart at the age of three and asked to be baptized at age four. This was not my plan, but God's.

Age three seems so young for a child to have a genuine relationship with God. They have a keen desire to please, so they are certainly susceptible to doing something in order to make Mommy or Daddy happy. When a child turns three they have barely outgrown the toddler phase, really they are still babies in many ways. By the time they turn four - in the span of just one year - they are little kids, savvy and opinionated and testing every boundary (again and again and again) . Age three is also the time when they become aware of their own sin nature. A young three year-old may know the basics about Jesus and about God's redemptive plan, but without an awareness of sin, they have no need for a savior. My daughter, Maddy, at age three, in conversation about Jesus dying on the cross for the bad things that we do, said, "Oh mommy, I don't do bad things." Just a few days later, she came to me and said, "Mommy, I want to tell Jesus I am sorry for the bad things I do." Ian was with us while visiting my mother-in-law. He ran out from the room where he was supposed to be sleeping and exclaimed, "Mommy, I just asked Jesus into my heart!" I proceeded to question him about what he thought that meant - fully expecting him to deny his own wrong-doing, but instead he talked about Jesus dying for his sins and making him clean. Julia also had this same self-awareness. She had recently seen a passion play at the Miracle theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. She had been talking about the story of Jesus and Satan and how Jesus died on the cross and won over Satan. One day in the car on the way to the YMCA, she said from her car seat, "I'm sorry mommy, that Jesus had to die for my sins." I asked her if she wanted to pray and tell him she was sorry, so she said, "Yes." I asked her if she wanted to ask him into her heart, and again, she said, "Yes." So I led her in a short prayer. Already she has been sharing her testimony with anyone who will listen.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Mark 10:13-16 ......."Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

WHERE'S MY STIMULUS CHECK?????

2008-08-13T23:42:00.004-05:00

One more thing I have to get off my chest......

Where's My Stimulus Payment?
This table describes the status of your refund
Social Security Number: ***-**-**** Please select
this button to print your Rebate Results for your records.

-->Rebate Status Results
-->
There is a delay in processing your Stimulus payment.
If you have questions or need additional information, please have the following on hand when you call:
A copy of this page
The Social Security Number, Filing Status, and Total Exemptions claimed on your 2007 tax return
Please mention reference number 1647 to the IRS Customer Service Representative.
IRS Hours of Service:Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Call:1-800-829-0582, when asked for an extension, enter 726.From outside the US call 215-516-2000.TTY/TDD: 1-800-829-4059

AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE'S MY MONEY?????

We filed back in Feb or March, received the nice little letter (those cost the IRS $42 million, alone) saying we would be receiving our money on the first day of direct deposits and still haven't received one penny!!! The mistake we made was filing an amended return before we received our check. STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! We got a revised K1 in the mail, which amounted to us owing $40 to the IRS. Like good little citizens, we filed our amended return immediately - before April 15, in order to avoid paying penalties. What was our reward - A DELAY ON OUR STIMULUS PAYMENT! At first the FAQ website said allow 8-12 weeks after filing an amended return. Last week, it said allow 12 - 16 weeks. They cashed our check on April 6. That was 19 weeks ago!

Thanks Dr. Dobson - I Think I Will Vote For Obama After All!

2008-08-13T23:08:00.007-05:00

I just hate the neocon Christian email propaganda that gets forwarded to me. Thankfully, anymore, it is usually sent to me to verify, since most of my friends know by now that I HATE FORWARDED EMAIL. (I ESPECIALLY HATE unverified hoaxmail.) I received this email the other day:

Please forward this important update on Barack Obama’s views on Christianity and government to your friends.
Dear *****, On Tuesday, presidential candidate Barack Obama lashed out at Dr. Dobson and accused Dr. Dobson of “making stuff up” about Obama.Nothing could be further from the truth! Here is what happened. On Tuesday's Focus on the Family radio broadcast (paid for by Focus Action), Dr. Dobson and I dissected a 2006 speech in which Obama made some very disturbing statements about his understating of Christianity, the role of religion in government and specifically Dr. Dobson.
Please click here to watch Obama’s speech, listen to Dr. Dobson’s comments, and more.
Obama compares Dr. Dobson to Al Sharpton .In that 2006 speech, after stating that we are not a Christian nation, Obama directly compared Dr. Dobson to Al Sharpton. Obama then continued with an extremely convoluted discussion of the Bible – from Levitical law to the Sermon on the Mount – that caused Dr. Dobson to say Obama was “deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview.”While Obama’s statements about Dr. Dobson are offensive, Obama’s misunderstanding of the Bible is alarming -- especially considering the blind faith so many of our fellow Americans seem to have in him!
Again, I want you to hear and see for yourself what Obama said, as well as Dr. Dobson’s comments.
*****, these are extremely important issues that we must contend with. That is why Focus Action sponsored this radio broadcast – and it's why we will not stand by silently as any public figure drags biblical understanding through the gutter or undermines the role of people of faith in our society.Thank you so much for standing with Focus on the Family Action.Tom Minnery Sr. Vice President, Government and Public PolicyFocus on the Family Action

There are few things I can think of that I would like to do less than watch an entire political speech, but that message was screaming, "I double dare you to verify the accusations for yourself!!" But, I must say, thanks Dr. Dobson, after watching and listening to Obama's entire speech, I have just heard everything I needed to hear to feel good about voting for him. That speech had it all - Obama's personal testimony about receiving Christ, his personal view on abortion and the difficulty of attempting to influence the party's platform toward a pro-life stance. A direct reference to Tony Campolo's work. The same totally pro-life Tony Campolo who recently joined the Democratic party's abortion platform committee to try and influence them toward a pro-life stance. Furthermore, Obama never compares Dobson to Sharpton, on the contrary, he uses them as an example of contrasting Christian views.

Funny how the neocons have stayed well away from addressing John McCain's faith, with good reason. On this issue Dr. Dobson says:
"Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53743

I wonder who he will vote for? Ralph Nader?

I invite you to watch Obama's speech, which is linked above, and decide for yourself. Whatever your choice, be sure to vote for someone. Might I suggest Tony Campolo as your write-in candidate.

One More Bit About Bono.....Why It Matters

2008-08-08T17:52:00.007-05:00

James 2:18 (NIV) But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV)
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

There are three main points here:
1. Good works or belief in God do not qualify as faith
2. We can't please God without faith
3. We have to be careful that we are not deceived

Bono is doing something incredible through the ONE organization and DATA. He is uniting the political voice of the people to move policymakers in the US. He is uniting the world's wealthiest and most influential leaders - secular and Christian. He has also entered into partnerships with 161+ of the world's " leading non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations." * He is doing all this as a call to continue Christ's proclamation of jubilee, further charity, justice and to end "stupid poverty". Bono says, "A friend of mine, is a very wise man, somebody I’ve grown up with, he just says to me, He said ‘Stop asking God to bless what you are doing Bono, find out what God is doing because it’s already blessed.’” **

If God is not behind it and if Bono is falsely marching under the banner of doing God's will, then he is the most dangerous man on the planet.

If God is behind what ONE.org and DATA are trying to do, then it is the most important social movement of our time, perhaps all time. We as Christians should be compelled to promote and participate in it. If Bono is a follower of Jesus Christ, a true Christian, then we can safely join in with the email campaigns and promote ONE to everyone we know and beyond.

Food For Thought:

"Hybels told Christianity Today about his impression of the rock star: "After a two-hour private meeting in my office, I came away convinced that Bono's faith is genuine, his vision to relieve the tragic suffering in Africa is God-honoring, and his prophetic challenge to the U.S. church must be taken seriously." ***

"I'm a believer," Bono usually says when asked about his faith. "I don't set myself up as any kind of 'Christian,' " he said as his gleaming silver and chrome tour bus motored east from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Iowa City. "I can't live up to that. It's something I aspire to, but I don't feel comfortable with that badge."
It's no denial of Christ. And Bono is not trying to play hide-and-seek with his Christianity. He wants to avoid becoming an idealized poster-child for Christ when people should be looking to the Savior, not some rock star, for their example.
A few days later at Northeast Christian Church in suburban Louisville, Kentucky, he told reporters: "I'm not a very good advertisement for God. I generally don't wear that badge on my lapel. But it certainly is written on the inside, somewhere."
It's a self-deprecation, something he's fond of indulging in, whether the subject is his faith or his success as a musician." ***

* http://one.org/partners/
** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grBByc7t3Fs&feature=related
*** Bono's American Prayer "The world's biggest rock star tours the heartland, talking more openly about his faith as he recruits Christians in the fight against AIDS in Africa." Cathleen Falsani http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/march/2.38.html?start=2

For a list of the issues that ONE addresses click: http://one.org/issues/

Well....I Am Convinced.....Bono May Be A Christian

2008-08-07T00:58:00.001-05:00

http://home.alltel.net/twhite2112/u2/beliefs/quotes.html

I am still looking for the actual sources for these quotes and devouring video on YouTube so I can hear the words come out of his mouth, but I think I am convinced.

More on Bono.......

2008-08-05T15:11:00.002-05:00

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10892
World Magazine
THOUGHTS "Superheroes strike again" August 06, 2005
Salty dogma
Bono gives an explicit confession of being saved by Grace, not Karma Gene Edward Veith

"At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."
The interviewer asks, Like what? "That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."
Then the interviewer marvels, "The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that."
"The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death," replies Bono. "It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven."

Is Bono A Christian??? HELP!!!!

2008-08-05T12:59:00.005-05:00

I am a member of the ONE organization. I click "send your congressman an email" every time ONE sends me a request to petition our government to do the right thing. What I am not sure about is whether or not Bono is a Christian or if he might possibly the anti-christ who will usher in world peace and world gov. I know those are strong words, but I also believe lots of conspiracy theories, like the Bible when it says that the anti-christ can even appear as an angel of light. I found this blog today:

http://achristian.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/is-bono-a-christian/

He is very thorough. I still haven't read the Bill Hybels interview with Bono, so I can't add that insight into my opinion. I will get around to it eventually.

I posted this comment on the Blog:

5 Debby August 5, 2008
I want him to be a Christian, but it seems like he avoids and obfuscates the issue. Please - just say something remotely like, “I asked Jesus into my heart,” or “I have a personal relationship with Christ.” Even, “I am a Christian,” or “am a follower of Jesus” ” PLEASE BONO!! We want you to be a Christian so bad….help us out dude!

Can anybody out there find Bono confessing his faith in Jesus Christ? I am waiting to hear from you.........

Pregnancy Isn't A Disease - Alabama Needs A Birth Center

2008-08-05T00:23:00.004-05:00

I moved here in 2002 and at the time UAB was closing their birth center/midwifery practice. My understanding of it was that in Alabama, a doctor must supervise all deliveries. The existing birth center had gotten money to pay interns - MD's - but still training in OB. As long as they had an intern at the delivery, the midwife could deliver babies. Their funding source dried up and so did the birth center.
I found this info at: http://www.natcheztracematernitycenter.org/article.html
"Across the state line in Alabama, the rules are much different. There are no birth centers operated by midwives. "It's not the best state as far as being a midwife," said Vicki Brooks, a Montgomery nurse and state chairwoman of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Brooks said state law prohibits planned births outside of a hospital. Like their neighbors in Tennessee, Alabama midwives are regulated by the state Board of Nursing and must be registered nurses and graduate from an approved midwifery program. However, the similarities end there. Midwives in Alabama must work under a doctor's supervision and are usually hired by physicians rather than operating independently. "Any patient that we take care of is going to be admitted under our M.D. sponsor," Brooks said. She said the midwives do offer natural alternatives during childbirth, yet the births must occur in a hospital under the auspices of a doctor. There are about 54 certified nurse midwives in Alabama, although Brooks estimates the number of practicing midwives is much lower."

My rule of thumb is usually - if the insurance companies will allow it, it's probably pretty safe. That goes for roller coasters and birth centers. I had my second child, Ian, at a birth center in Delaware. I was under the care of a midwife for the entire nine months of my pregnancy as well as my follow-up GYN care and annual checkups. All paid for by Blue Cross of Pennsylvania. It cost the insurer less money for the birth center and the center was located across the street from a hospital, in case of an emergency.

Add that to the list while we wait for constitutional reform in Alabama.

Fear and Trembling in Birmingham, Alabama

2008-08-03T18:32:00.004-05:00

Philippians 2:12-14 (NIV)
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

What does it mean to be a Christian? Well, that depends. It has always troubled me when people claim to have a handle on what being a Christian means. I also really don't like those billboards that put words in God's mouth, as if God has a pithy little quote for all occasions - mostly humorous or terrifying. I doubt

"You think it's hot here?"

-GOD

is going to get many nonbelievers saved.

To me, working out your salvation with fear and trembling means daily growing deeper in your relationship with God. Through Christ we have freedom. There is no condemnation. The problem we all have (even me) is thinking that God is calling all people to all things. For example, many of my friends feel like God has called them to home school their children. I believe it. However, we have a tendency to feel what is good for us must be right for everyone else, which leads to condemnation. I feel like God has called me to put my kids in public school. This is probably because He has given our family the gift of evangelism. I try not to force what God has called me to do on others and claim that I have the only way.

Another variation of that is what I have heard called, "gift projection." Some who have been given the gift of healing and faith, for example, and have had great success praying for the sick are operating out of their gifting. If, however, they were to claim that every Christian should be able to pray for the sick and get the same result, they would be mistaken. Yes, we are called to pray for the sick - and God may even do miracles of healing through us, but not everyone is "gifted" to do it. What happens is that we are told that we are somehow defective. If we only had more faith we would be able to heal (or be healed!) Who hasn't heard of a person who went for prayer for healing and were told that they must not have enough faith or they would already be healed. We are all called to share our faith with unbelievers, but I would be wrong to condemn anyone who isn't out standing on a street corner preaching the Gospel.

The point is - I can not criticize or condemn - I have to keep reminding myself that we are all living out Philippians 2:12. If I am yielded to the Holy Spirit - He will fix whatever is broken in my theology and faith.

Don't even get me started on the prosperity Gospel...............

Disturbing Numbers and Class Reunions

2008-07-31T00:47:00.007-05:00

20 Years, 30 pounds, 14 years of marriage, 3 babies and 1 miscarriage have brought me to the Garden City High School Class of 1988 20 year reunion. Will I still be recognizable? Will I recognize anyone else? I am convinced that this weekend will provide fodder for years of nightmares. You know the kind I mean? Like the ones where you can't remember your locker combination. Worse still - showing up for a debate tournament and I have no evidence or showing up for a final in a class that I haven't attended all semester (OK, that one really happened). Pop-quiz hot shot: Who is the girl with the long brown hair that keeps smiling at me?

Things start out pretty good. I see a few faces I recognize - maybe this won't be as scary as I imagined. It is actually kind of nice. I am so relieved that I know a few names and that people are actually calling me by name that I am having trouble remembering which ones I hung out with, who were the "popular" kids and who belonged to "other cliques". It is a sweet grace that lasts for the night. Eventually, though the old walls close in on me and my capacity to keep milling through the crowd and chatting with newly familiar faces evaporates.

I am different in many ways, but it is almost more than I can deal with just orienting myself with the past. I have changed so much in the past 16 years. The seven years before that - three years of high school and four years of college - are like a dream. Back then I was living as a rational hedonist - and why not? If it felt good, why not do it? If there is no objective standard for human behavior, beyond the minimum standard of the laws of civil society, why not do what serves us and our own desires? Inside, I feel like I left a path of destruction on everyone and everything I was involved with. Hopefully the damage wasn't as bad as I imagine. All I have to say for myself is, "I am so sorry."

In 1992, I was confronted with the indisputable power of the Holy Spirit, and became a Christian. As an intellectual, I had to ask myself, "What have I gotten myself into??" As a debater, radical thinker, environmentalist, pacifist, antiestablishmentarian, chemical imbibing, independent Ayn Randian, I had to reconcile what I thought was true with what I now know is TRUTH. Big problem solved. Now I can live a philosophically consistent life. I just can never go home again.

So, here I am, a born-again Christian, stay-at-home mom. If America had a caste system, I would be an untouchable. It has taken me years to stop saying things like, "I used to be a...." or "When my kids are older I am going back to law school." I have even stopped coloring my hair - what's the point - it is just going to keep growing out grey. I am being "refined like silver" - it says so in the bible. God is starting with the top of my head. If it wasn't so hackneyed I would pierce my nose or get a tattoo or something. For now I will enjoy growing my kids and look forward to the day when I will be free to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. I can't change the 20 years, but maybe I will lose the extra 30 pounds. The 14 years of marriage, the pregnancies and miscarriage have marked me, but I wouldn't trade them for the world.

The Challenges of a Hyphenated Lifestyle

2008-07-30T10:20:00.002-05:00

Dear Compass Bank,

I just set up a checking account for paying my Compass Visa online. When I registered my account, it asked for my name as it appears on the account. My last name is hyphenated, but the field would not accept a hyphen. This is a bit distressing to me, as my husband and my legal names include a hyphen. Hyphenating a last name is an old practice and millions of people have a hyphen in their last name. My name appears with a hyphen on my credit card statement and on my credit card. Maybe it would be easy enough to pay a programmer to code this field to accept a hyphen, in addition to alphanumeric characters.

I know it is a minor issue, but those of us with hyphenated names will really appreciate this consideration.

Sincerely,
Debby Howell-Moroney

Here is their reply:
Thu 7/31/2008 12:53 AM

You should be able to get registered without the hyphen. If there is anything else we can assist you with do not hesitate to contact us again.

Thank You
Compass Card Financial Services
1-800-239-5175
1-205-297-6086 fax

I had something to say about the difference between American and European Cities, but I forgot what it was....

2008-07-30T00:37:00.007-05:00

Seriously....

Sometimes, when I am bored or can't get to sleep, I search the vast wasteland of the web for a community of like-minded thinkers and discover that I may just be the only freak out here that thinks like I do. For example, are there any other Christians who feel that saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag is idol-worship - or just plain weird? I mean - it's a piece of cloth - representing an earthly kingdom. Also, if I hear another person refer to the situation in Iraq as "the war on terror" I am going to spit. How about calling it what it really is - fueling continued terror for many generations to come. I have many soapboxes and I am going to stand on them, these are only a few:
Is Bono actually a Christian?
War in Iraq - WOMD? Right....
Should Christians pledge allegiance to the flag?
Should Tony Campolo run for president?
Can it be true....the National Forensic League's national tournament is going to be in Birmingham? How cool is that?
Could class reunions be any scarier?
How can we allow genocide in our own country?
Is it possible to be a republican AND a Christian?
Will the jubilee ever work as a system of economic redistribution?
Why do some Americans think it is ok to malign illegal immigrants?

I also want to blog about:
Why we celebrate the Passover;
Can three-year-olds really ask Jesus into their hearts?
Correcting Myopia with +strength lenses
The ills of Soy (estrogen)
Formula company conspiracies
Conspiracies in general

Ok, so you may be thinking, "What in the world is she talking about? She sounds like an idiotic, anti-America, thiry-something who is just babbling on and on and on and on and on........

Well.....I am just getting started...............