Do Political Views Make a Difference?

I’ve come to realize something over the past months as I’ve reconnected with some old friends and taken walks down memory lane. In my youth, I swam in a sea of liberals.

Politics didn’t seem to matter in those days. I think I still believed that the mainstream media was neutral. I didn’t quite understand political alignment. I thought people just looked at who was running every time and voted for who they thought was best. I didn’t understand the difference between Democrats and Republicans.

I led a liberal lifestyle in ways, but deep down my beliefs were more conservative. Wisconsin was still a red state in those days. I know the cities that I lived in had deeply conservative values vs. the bigger cities of Milwaukee and Madison. But yet, most of the folks I cared about and hung with today embrace a more liberal mindset.

Now my thought is, if I would have stayed, would I have, too?

My dear husband is a conservative to the CORE. In our initial conversations on the topic, I aligned pretty close to him, not understanding some things because I never really thought about them. I just accepted some things as the standard, the way thing were. I don’t know if Gil changed me, but he did get me to stop and look anyway.

In Virginia, I have found that the people I most identify with are more politically conservative and Christian. Even in my working days, I only had a few friends who were more liberal. And as the 2000 election approached (my pre-Christian days), I became less likely to hang with those folks. It also seemed to be the time that I lost touch with many of my Wisconsin friends. Was there a connection? Something I didn’t realize at the time?

After I embraced Christ, this distinction became much more apparent. The two together set my interests in things – movies, music, hobbies, values, perspectives. Today, all of my friends and most of my acquaintances (even online) seem to run in the more conservative vein. And I’m not picking and choosing, but that just seems to be how it works out.

The single exception seems to be my reconnection with some old friends. They’re more liberal. Does that turn me off? No, not really. In most of our conversations, we still have enough in common to be friends. But I do notice that there are more things that we could disagree about – and the base of it seems to be political values. Although faith could be a factor, as I grew up in a world of Catholics.

I guess in my little sheltered world of limited outside contact, some things are now jumping out at me and grabbing my attention. This is one of them.

I’m praying that God will just give me a heart for all people. That I won’t let all these little things get in the way. There are a number of old friendships that I feel compelled to renew. Are there other people who might venture into my life that could also fall into this category? Or will the natural differences just keep us apart?

I pray that I will have eyes to see and ears to hear and words of compassion and encouragement. But yet, my feet are cemented in Christ. And my political values are not far behind in their position. Let me not crumble or stumble as I embrace them in my every day.

 

Dancing with Peanuts

The other night, we dusted off the old Charlie Brown Christmas tape and popped it in the VCR. (Well, technically it wasn’t too dusty as we usually watch it all year round.) Bump was excited to watch it as this is really the first year he’s been aware of Christmas traditions and icons. We’ve had LOTS of discussions.

Eventually, they get to the scene where Pigpen strums the bass, Schroeder plays the piano and Snoopy jams on the guitar while everyone else dances. This is the part where I come running from where ever I am in the house, so I can dance like all of the kids do in the scene. It’s fun. I’ve been doing it for probably 30 years. Bump laughs and tells me to stop. Zach will join along someday soon. He’s my dancing boy. For the moment, his dazzling smile is all I get.

And then it’s over. (Until tonight when we’ll probably watch it again.)

Christmas traditions are so wonderful.

Over the years Christmas traditions have changed greatly for me. When I was young, my household was very immersed in the Santa culture. Mom made lots and lots of Christmas cookies. We had decorations everywhere. Christmas music filled our house from Turkey Day onward. On Christmas Eve we always got together with family. We would also open our presents from each other. Then on Christmas Day Santa would come. Later, he would still fill stockings and all the big time opening remained on the Eve.

After I went away to college, things changed. Usually it was only a few days before Christmas when I returned from exams. This meant I missed out on most of the prep – the baking, decorating, music and gift shaking. On my own, I was not so hot-to-trot with the traditions. Although, I still loved the ride back from college right before Christmas. I’d have the Christmas music going and had the chance to enjoy Christmas decorations for 180 miles of journey. Except in the National Forest that I drove through. There I would usually pull the car over for a few minutes, and turn the lights out. You never saw a place so black and dark and unpolluted by light, a real light show usually took place above.

As an adult, my life has changed so much over the years, that I’ve hardly been able to grasp onto traditions. First I was with roommates, then my fiance (later husband), then single again, moved out east, with Gil when his kids were little, with Gil and bigger kids, then we became Christians, now little kids again.

Gil is not a holiday guy for a number of reasons. But the mantel of Christmas rests almost solely on my shoulders. Which makes things even harder. It tough enough to get through the day-to-days without having to add in a giant blown-up holiday. So, I don’t. I cling to what is really special and what matters most – God and family.

Our celebration includes an Advent Calendar and Nativity Set, Christmas Songs and some Christmas cookies, a card to family and friends, light Christmas decorations including outdoor lights and a small tree, exchanging of gifts on Christmas Day, reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve, reading lots of Christmas books and watching a few favorite Christmas specials, a drive to look at Christmas lights, a meal with the big kids on Christmas Day.

It still sounds like a lot now that I write it all down, but believe me it is scaled way down, way back from even where we celebrated when the big kids were the little kids. I would like to get the kids involved in some giving activities when they are older – maybe serve a meal at a homeless shelter or food bank. I would like to give more to those in need – not just throw money in a bell ringers pot. That time will come.

Santa has not found his way into our celebrations. Bump knows who he is, but doesn’t quite get the relationship because all his Christmas Day gifts are from us or others. He’s never had it any other way. But you know, it’s still fun for him. I only say that, because so many people think that those of us who don’t celebrate Santa are depriving our children of something “fun”. That they are missing out. Even our big kids think that. But Bump and Zach know nothing else. They are surrounded with love all year long. They get other special things added in during December and that’s exciting. We’re trying to teach them to give and find joy in that. And as they grow older and are able to be more involved, our Christmas will reflect who we are as a family more than what the world teaches us traditions should be. Perhaps we are still a bit too worldly yet in our celebration – I may have gone a little wild with the Christmas shopping. But we’re trying to center our celebration on Jesus, and connecting the dots to all the traditions back to him.

I love Christmas time in the blogosphere. Why? Because in my real life, I find more people who are grossly opinionated about how we should celebrate Christmas, and less people who remember Jesus in their celebrations. In blogland, I find many more hearts along the same line as my own, but also people who may not celebrate the same way, but aren’t judgmental because of what we do.

Christmas is about love, not about being right. And even as I watch those around me who do things differently, I must remember that, too and cling to the things we have in common – which is love for our children and our family and sometimes even our Creator.

 

My Hope is in You

Passion is offering a free EP in light of what happened at Virginia Tech last week. It’s called Hope for the Hokies – Songs of Hope and Restoration and you can download a free copy here.

I love their scriptural reference:

Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Something we should remember every day!

HT: Craig – Not (Quite) Balanced

 

Do I Have to Do Another Easter Post?

Okay, every year we get to these holidays, and I feel like I have to talk about them because there were a number of people who are reading this year that didn’t read last year or the year before and really, I don’t want to do a linky because the post where I talk about it is also about other things…so here’s my Easter Post -

Bunny?
No – I can’t believe I ever believed that a rabbit could deliver candy and underwear and deodorant and toothpaste to my basket without alerting my beagle.

Baskets?
No

Candy?
Yes, but only on sale afterward.

Eggs?
Yes, afterward only because it just occurred to me that it might be fun to dye eggs and maybe my folks who are coming this week might like to do that with Bump.

Egg Hunts?
Yes. Two. One we already had at Moms Day Out. The other is a family thing.

Church?
Usually, but the service we like to go to on Jamestown Island isn’t happening this year because of the whole Jamestown 400 (have you heard Queen Elizabeth is coming), so since we don’t have a Church we will stay home and worship together for a time.

Family?
Yes, our nephew and wife host the family at their house. There will be 12 adults and 11 kids under 5 in attendance. The big kids will not be with us this year, but Allie will come up for a short visit starting tomorrow night.

Other?
We celebrate every day that Jesus died for us and rose on the third day to swing open the gates of heaven. It’s the truth that sets us free.

May you all have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

 

Listening to the Word of God

Instead of reading the Bible, I’ve started listening to it on my iPod. By the time I get a moment alone to read, I’m so worn out that I have a hard time focusing. I read and feel like I don’t remember a thing. Most of the time I fall asleep in the process.

But in the last week, I throw on the iPod after the kids are in bed, and have listened to many books – Revelation, 1 Peter, Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, John (we only have the NT downloaded so far.) I’m really enjoying it! When I first started listening to it, I thought about the OT Jews and early church – who probably never read for themselves the words, but learned them through oral traditions or listened to others who knew them. Listening is a very different mechanism from reading as well, so it’s been a little bit of a challenge to do this, but I’m finally really starting to get into it.

The Word of God is so awesome and listening to it has allowed me to extend my senses in a different way to experience it.

 

What’s More Important

While the Colts and Bears slugged it out on Sunday night, there was much discussion of the the significance of being the first black coach to win the Super Bowl – since both coaches shared the heritage. In case you missed it, Tony Dungy put it into perspective…..

Jim Nantz of CBS Sports: This is one of those moments, Tony, where there is also social significance in this victory, and to have your hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Tell me what this means to you right now.

Tony Dungy: I’ll tell you what. I’m proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I’ve said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win doing it the Lord’s way. And we’re more proud of that. (Emphasis mine.)

And he said this on the platform, with the Lombardi Trophy in hand – in front of the world. And today the media says not a word. Instead they dwell on the part that’s important to them, rather than the part that’s more important to Dungy.

 

I Believe

I promised I'd write more about my grudge with Santa Claus. 

Well, it's not really a grudge.  I always liked the idea of Santa.  I loved the whole romance of Christmas and Santa was the hero of it all.  Even last night as I watched the Polor Express on TV, I had little flashbacks of that "excitement" that the Santa season eminated.  And then the main character said the words that summed it up for me, that cut to my heart…"I Believe."

He said these words while seeing Santa and his mysteries come to life – watching the reindeer and picking up a little bell from the sidewalk, which he could only hear once he believed.

And suddenly I thought of Jesus.  And I too uttered those words, "I believe."

While the whole Santa thing does seem romantic and fun – playing on a child's heart to think that there is a man who will fulfill their toy dreams if they just are good all year long – what could be wrong with that?  The tale includes a long list of unbelievables – flying reindeer, elves, the north pole.  And everyone does it; our culture fully embraces this lie.  In fact, dare suggest that Santa doesn't visit your house and you've crossed into hate territory – even from your own family.  The fat man is sacred.

But I do know one thing.  No man could be Santa Claus.   Even if it were possible to travel the globe distributing toys in a night, no man could live that life year-after-year without temptation holding him somehow and making him something else.  We all have flaws and pitfalls in our character.  We all are sinners.  By implying that Santa Claus does not puts him in the same relm with the only perfect man that ever walked this earth.  It is a place he doesn't belong.

Christmas is about Jesus – the birth of our Savior. 

I want my children to be excited about the season because Jesus was born this day.  And I would like to help them eventually embrace the "giving" side of the holiday rather than the "getting" part.  I don't think that Santa mixes into that formula.  He is a Christmas legend, a character like Frosty the Snowman, Bob the Builder, Winnie the Pooh. (Shriek – Bob the Builder isn't real????)  That's where he belongs in my childrens' hearts – not standing on the floor of a stable besides our Lord and Savior. 

While others will teach there children to say, "I Believe" to something that is not real, and doesn't matter, I will teach mine to BELIEVE in the only thing that does matter, the only perfect person, and the one true gift that God gave to us this season.

Do you believe? 

 

Don’t They Know that Christmas is about Christ?

I've been in search of Christmas Music to share with my little ones.  I have a handful of Christmas CDs, but want some more traditional fun stuff.  And I want Christmas Music…not Santa Music.  Oh, I like Jingle Bells and White Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas, but I could do without the Santa Clause is Coming to Town, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa and Up on the Housetop.

There is no one CD out there that meets my Christmas requirements.  I've been pouring over iTunes for the last three days…and nada – unless I go classical, but I want sing along.  Yikes.

So then I hit Target the other day and pass through the Christmas DVDs.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a nice Christmas show that the boys could watch.  We have Charlie Brown Christmas and Veggie Tales Star of Christmas.  Is there anything else out there.  Nope.  Nothing.  I love the Christmas Story, but I think it's not Toddler material. 

So I've struck out twice this week.  Well, not completely.  I am downloading a Nat King Cole Christmas CD which is a good mixture of songs – and has 22 of them.  And some instrumental stuff for the mama. 

Oh yeah, and if you're reading my post and thinking I'm one of those anti-Santa wackos, you've come to the right place.  Actually, I'm not as hardcore as I once was.  Santa has his place in Christmas….as the legend of Saint Nicolas…in other words, he doesn't stop at my house.  But more on that later.

 

God is Bigger Than the Davinci Code

I try to stay away from the news, which is why I read hard news online, reserving my newspaper subscription for the 2x a week local “gossip” rag. (Hey, a girl has to find out where all the yard sales are.) Too many things anger me about the national media sources available – bias, overblown stories, the news making news. Oh I could go on and on. So usually, I do a quick headline read here and there and move on with it. Once in a while there are real news issues that are worth my attention for more than that. The Davinci Code book/movie/controversy is not one of those topics.

For the past few months, the Davinci Code has been all the media rage. There was a lawsuit, the book and now the movie premeirs. Christians are protesting and upset. Dan Brown pirated their Jesus and turned him into something he’s not. The Catholic Church has threatened lawsuits. This is bigtime stuff.

Don’t we Christians have anything better to do with our time? You know – feed the poor, preach the gospel, help our bretheran who are in trouble. We don’t need to be “defenders of the faith”. God can handle it. He doesn’t need us. Through the ages, Christians have historically defended their positions against “heresy” and always come up in the end looking rather foolish. Can anyone say “crusades” or “inquisition”? – probably two of the most well known and blunderous Christian acts of heresy control. (I could probably throw the whole emergent church thing in here, too. That would really get the ire of some Christians.)

What can we do that God cannot? There will always be someone out there who knows more about a topic and can run circles around our human arguments. Others will never change their minds no matter how well you lay the groundwork for what Jesus did for us. While Paul tells us in Corinthians that he planted, Apollos water and God gave the increase, he never says that anyone “weeded.” It’s by God’s grace we are saved, and while we are called to preach the gospel, God will still be the only one to give the increase in the harvest.

I actually think of a Veggie Tales Song in relation to this -

God is bigger than the Davinci Code
He’s bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV
Oh God is bigger than the boogie man
And he’s watching out for you and me

IMHO, the Davinci Code Controversy is just another Christian boogie man that does more harm than good to the spreading of the gospel (cough, cough – End of the Spear). Who’s to say that it’s not a part of God’s plan? God takes things that man means for harm and turns them into good thing that he uses for his purposes all the time. A lot of times, we just end up getting in the way.

There will always be heresy in the world around us. All we can do as Christians is live our lives as Jesus would and speak the truth in love where there are ears and hearts that are willing to listen.

Note #1: I don’t think it’s wrong for Christians to refute the information conveyed in this fiction story, however, there are a lot of groups wasting time, energy and money on things that God will no doubt handle.

Note#2: I haven’t read the DaVinci Code. There’s no specific reason why I haven’t. It just hasn’t come across my path. In fact, I really didn’t know what it was about until the controversy started kicking up. I’m not too much of a Best Seller reader at this juncture of my life. I don’t plan on reading it or seeing the movie, but you never know when I might be flipping the channels in 5 or 6 years and see it on and maybe watch it for 45 minutes before I get bored and move on to something else.

 

The Sorrows May Last for a Night

Our family remembers this day. Four years ago, in the wee hours of the morning, the matriarch of my husband’s family passed into the next life. She bravely battled ovarian cancer for nine years – beating the odds and stunning her doctors. But battling cancer was a different kind of fight than she was used to. She also raised seven children (six boys) on Long Island in the 1960s without a husband. My father-in-law died of a brain anerism 6 months before my husband entered the world as the baby of his family.

Her family stood by her side as Bea battled this last battle. We watched her transform from a spirited and opinionated plump lady, to a 60 lb. bag of bones who was grateful for every day. And finally, in her sleep, she slipped out of this world into the arms of the God she loved.

As the sun rose that morning, there would be more for this family.

Little Wendy, the first great grandchild of Bea, would make her appearance by c-section 12 hours later. While the sorrow still lingered in the hearts of many, it was shaken with this tiny new life that popped into this world.

Four years later, our family has healed from Bea’s loss. (There was a lot of healing to do.) Wendy is a spirited young girl, smart and energetic. She is the joy that comes in the morning. She is the next generation of our family beginning. And four years later, Bea has 8 more great-grandchildren, 1 more grandchild and 4 babies on the way.

Our family is truly blessed!