Come, Read the Bible with Me!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

The Morning After

Planned Parenthood says that the over the counter sales of the "Morning After Pill" "would sharply reduce the nearly one million abortions performed each year in the United States." (The Herald Times 8/25/06 A9)

(Here was supposed to appear a picture of a package of morning after pills, but I couldn't get it to work.)

They say that if teens could also get it without a prescription, then there would not be an increase in adolescent sexual activity, there would not be an increase in unprotected adolescent sexual activity; just a decrease in ABORTIONS.

Let's try to follow their logic...

You're a teen, and you like this girl. Your parents are preoccupied with life in the fast lane, or just timid about talking to you because you're so abrasive. They don't know that you like this girl or what you did last Friday night, or what your plans are tonight. (strike one)

They talked about it at school, like a million years ago, and it was totally random and boring, and hey, who do they think they are anyways? Besides, you got the idea, "(Do what you want, but) don't get...anything!" OK, so you inserted that first part, but they never said otherwise, at least you don't remember that part. (strike two)

So you go to the drug store, you know, just in case because you really, really like her. But those things are a little more than you're got in your pocket, and besides there's this really cute girl behind the counter, and you don't want to give her the wrong impression... Hey! There's that stuff you read about! That Morning After stuff. If you strike out, you're not out anything; and if it does happen, she can just stop by the 24 hour pharmacy on the way home, broh. (strike three)

Planned Parenthood, I just don't follow you.

(this senario, of course is all that is wrong, and doesn't talk about all that could be...)

Monday, August 28, 2006

A Barnyard Tale

Once upon a time, three little sheep wondered into a barnyard. There were other sheep in the barnyard, as well as some goats and chickens and such. Many of the sheep gathered around these strangers. Strangers are interesing and fun. New friends are fun. "The more, the merrier," some of the sheep uttered, and welcomed the new sheep into the flock. Each time they saw them, they would say, "Co-ome with u-u-us! We lo-o-o-ove youuuu!"

One of the new sheep thought this was wonderful! "At last," she thought, "these others are like me, and they love me." With that, she kicked up her heels and bounced off into the flock and dissappeared.

The second sheep thought this group of sheep was peculiar. For weeks, while settling into the barnyard, and finding comfort in the new surroundings, and developing trust for the farmer, the old sheep would say, "Come eat with us!" While she appreciated the offer, she wasn't quite comfortable yet, and she said, "Not today, I have other plans." The very next week, the old sheep would say, "Come eat with us!" Although she wanted to, she still wasn't quite ready, and she said with a kind smile, "Not today, I have other obligations." After several weeks, the old sheep went back to inviting one another to eat. They were friendly to the new sheep, but they stopped asking her to eat. This little sheep, having become comfortable in the barnyard, having come to trust the farmer, and having become quite fond of the other sheep was determined to become one with them, and reminded them to ask her again.

The third sheep had never met such peculiar sheep. She had met some goats that pretended to be sheep, and even met a wolf once who looked and acted like a sheep. But she thought that she was a smart sheep, and she bleeted seldom, and offered little encouragement to their advances. She was afraid, maybe that they would not like her after the novelty wore off. She may have been worried that they were not the sheep they pretended to be, so she stood back and waited for the truth to be revealed. She was not mean, she just wanted to get comfortable in this new barnyard and test their motives to see if they were good, and safe. They would say, "Come eat with us!" She just was not sure what they were eating; if they were wolves under those curly locks, it might just be her! Why else would they want to eat with her? So she would smile politely and say, "Not today, I have to run to that yonder tree and pick a flower for my mother." The next time they saw her, they would say, "Come eat with us!" Still not sure whether it was safe, she would say, "Not today, I have to go to the stream and wash my shoes."

They would sometimes ask her to run with them in the meadow, but she was always busy. Soon she began to become more comfortable in the barnyard. She knew where everything was, and she was used to the farmer, and his words. She knew all the sheep by name and they all knew her. She had become quietly fond of some of the other sheep.

But they had stopped asking. When her mother made her go to the meadow, they didn't talk to her. When they gathered in the barnyard and the farmer talked to them, they pretended she wasn't there.

They always knew she was a little different after all. They have been in this barnyard since birth. They rode on the farmer's shoulder when they were young and couldn't find their way back from the meadow. This little sheep was different. If she were like them, she would bleet joyfully like them. If she were like them, she would want to eat with them. If she were like them, she would kick up her heels like them. If she were like them, she would want to run in the meadow like them. If she were like them, she would remember when they rode on the farmers shoulder when they were young and couldn't find their way back from the meadow. She is obviously not like them.

Sappy

Well, I promised to get sappy, and then I neglected to do it.

I packed a couple of boxes of tissues for Holly when we took her to Purdue, because I thought I would cry, a lot. I didn't cry at all. I have a great deal of peace about this.

When we got there early, the students who were moving Freshmen in were fresh and ready to go. We checked in and then went to the dock. Within 3 minutes, the van was empty, Holly was accompanying her stuff to her room, and we were on our way to find a parking place. By the time we parked, Holly was coming to meet us. We took her bike to the bike registration station and then locked it up and went to check out her room.

The loft was delivered, but short of the "installation" we had expected. Thank God for Dads! Bathroom break! Well, when they made this a women's hall, it just seems like they would have exchanged those urinals for toilets! blah blah, we purchased her ethernet connection, and found that the connection was on the other side of the room. Thank goodness for that huge roll of duct tape that Glen bought Holly for a going away present! Blah blah blah, we met her roommate and her family. blah blah blah, then we went to WalMart to get some more power strips and extra plugs and stuff. Tried to get her settled in as much as possible, but left some for her do as she had time.

It was a very busy day, and I did not feel sufficient for the task. It has been a long process coming to this point of separation. It has been a task for which I have not been sufficient. There are many ways that I have failed, spiritually, physically and emotionally as a mother and wife, and servant of God. I trust that in my weakness, His strength is manifested perfectly. I trust that seeds sown in faith may find fertile ground according to His good pleasure, and to His glory.

I entrust my daughter to His loving care, knowing that He teaches sinners in His way (Psalm 25) just like He does me.

From the creation of the earth, she was in His plan. From the day she was born, her soul was in His hands, and although He let me hold her, I was powerless in shaping her destiny.

Who knows where the Lord will take her? Only He who sees the beginning from the end; only He who looks on the heart; only He who works all things together for good for the one who loves the Lord, for the one who is called according to His purpose.

Do I worry about my "little girl?" Yeah, a little. I know her too well not to worry some. I also know her too well to worry too much. She has her head on straight, and I am thankful for that. It's a great big world out there, and she's been itching to get out in it; but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

I'm not scared for her. I am excited for her, because I know in Whose hands she is.

Friday, August 18, 2006

A Good Wife

Do you ever get those emails that have been forwarded, and that make you go, "Hmm?"

Got this one:



(This was as large as I could make it. Click on the image if you can't read it to make it larger)

The subject line for most of the forwards was: "FW: Ah, Nostalgia, yeah right!!!" Some of the comments were, "Times have changed!" (from my son-in-law, Jeff), "Seriously." (from someone unknown to me) and the subject line was changed when my step-daughter, Jill sent it to me, "this is so funny."

Yes, this is a very strange idea in the year 2006 after how many years of "women's lib"? I can completely understand the disdain of today's men and women. I would like over a period of time to take apart some of the points. Some are debatable.

This should be a good discussion starter. Please don't clam up. I have been on both sides on this.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Want to reach more people?

The Hook:







The message:

Brief Prayer Meeting:

When: Thursday mornings @ 9:00 am and @ 10:00 am (watch for added times)

Where: Planned Parenthood @ 421 South College Ave. (Church of the Good Shepherd College Ave. location)

Why: Commit our words, our ways, and those whose paths we cross to the Lord. To seek His face and His will.

Please come and worship and pray with us. Stay briefly to join us in prayer, or stay for worship and evangelism.

At the BMV for License Plates

Monday, I was off work and our license plates expired on Tuesday, so, being ahead of the game I stopped off at the BMV.

They were closed.

Tuesday, I went to the BMV on my break to get my license plates. I went to the one in E'ville, since everyone says it is quick and easy. Well it looks like everyone had the same idea and I took #81 when they were serving #40. I bought a Sunday paper from the machine down the sidewalk, since we were out of town on Sunday and let our neighbor have ours.

I called work to let them know what was going on, and I gave them my cell phone number in case I was needed. Someone at the BMV told me that the wait was expected to be one and a half hours.

I called Glen and left a message letting him know where I was as well.

I sat down to read the paper, and noticed that a columnist had submitted a piece expressing the need for the BMV offices to be privatised.

Glen returned my call about 35 minutes later, just after #44 had been called. He told me I was crazy and that there was a machine in the lobby of the BMV on Liberty Drive and that no one ever uses it and there would be no wait. I gave my number to someone else waiting in line, and went to Liberty Drive.

After reading the instructions on this machine, including the expletively discourtious amendment, I looked at the screen for a "start" button to push. Instead I found a "temporarily out of service" button. A BMV employee happened along with some brochures, and I asked him about it. He said it is out of service, and that the online service was also not working. He said that it was hard to say how long the wait was inside. "Hours, days....weeks," I prompted. He smiled. "No, if you're in the door, you'll be served before we go home."

I walked out the door and called Glen. He told me not to worry, he knew of a machine in Indi that he could use on his way to work; so I came back to work and he picked up our paperwork on his way out of town.

As it turned out, the whole system is out and he was unable to renew our license plates at all. Now we are late.

Wednesday did not look any better. I called the office in E'ville, and the wait was in excess of two hours. The Liberty Drive office never got past the busy signal. I told him not to worry, I would just camp out at the front door of the BMV on Thursday morning and get it done before I came to work. Surely if there are not 40 angry people ahead of me, I would be able to get in and out quickly.

I told my office manager about my plan and she, being in the same boat, told me to keep her informed.

I dropped Lydia off at school, and got some gas, and was in the BMV parking lot at 7:30...all alone.

I haven't read Pride and Predjudice in probably 35 years, and since I saw the new movie production of it recently, decided to dig it out and read it again. I was enjoying reading this book when people began to show up at about 7:45. The BMV opened at 8:30, and since I was enjoying the book, and the cement steps looked cold and uncomfortable, I just kept reading. At about 8:00 a woman came and sat down on the steps. Annoyed with the interuption, but just selfish enough to be cordial, I went and sat with her. Several people still sat in their cars. She had a similar story about the BMV, but her plates were good until the 31st.

We went and stood by the door when others arrived on the sidewalk; every new arrival had a similar DMV adventure to tell. Shortly thereafter the employees started showing up. I was surprized that they didn't have a back entrance. They made no eye contact until they were greeted cheerily. We were all really quite jovial. We either were joyous because we beat all the other suckers who would arrive later or because misery loves company.

When the door opened, the first three of US took seats at the counter and the other seven took numbers. Number 40 was to be the first number to be served today. I was out of there within 15 minutes.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Tuesdays and Thursdays at Planned Parenthood

I have been thinking much about Planned Parenthood on Tuesdays. It seems to me that that is the time to be there with a message of hope, love, compassion. Why do they give them a waiting period before killing their child? The waiting period is supposed to be so that they can change their minds and consider their options. However, it seems to me that that period of time is when the heart becomes hardened. How can any seed grow from Tuesday to Thursday unless it is planted.

Tuesday is the time when Planned Parenthood plants the seed of deception, that this is not a child, and it is beneficial to YOU to end this thing. Then comes the hardening time.

Tuesday is furrowing and sowing time. I will be there from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Won't you join me?

rachel

Holly is going to Purdue

We are taking the ...

I was going to just write a little note saying that we are going to take Holly to college tomorrow, and that I will come home and be all sappy and philosophical then. But then my eyes welled up and I thought about the little baby girl that God gave us, even before we loved Him...

I just don't have time to be sappy right now, so I won't. I will write and cry when we get back.

I will be Joyful in God my Saviour

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Hababkkuk 3:17-19

Won't you join me in extolling God's mighty acts. Won't you praise Him all day long with me! Come, let us worship the Lord.