Can You Really Shoot Satan?

Ok, so it’s not news now.  Farrah Fawcette and Michael Jackson died yesterday.  Two days earlier,  Ed McMahon died.  David Carradine died 23 days ago.  I can easily point to each one of them and say “I remember watching that!”  My prayers go out to their families, especially the children of Michael Jackson,  Michael Jr. AKA,”Prince”, 12, Paris, 11 and Prince Michael, AKA “Blanket”, 7.  These little children have lost the only parent they ever knew.

Now, on to something a little more disturbing.  I just read an article in the New York Times about the pastor of an Assemblies of God church in Kentucky.  He is passionate about gun rights.  So much so that he has invited his congregation to bring their guns to church.  There will be a “fair-like” feel to the day, including tips on gun safety and a picnic.

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE New York Times

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church here, is passionate about gun rights. He shoots regularly at the local firing range, and his sermon two weeks ago was on “God, Guns, Gospel and Geometry.” And on Saturday night, he is inviting his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to “celebrate our rights as Americans!” as a promotional flier for the “open carry celebration” puts it.

The article goes on to state that the church’s insurance company, who was un-named, has canceled the policy for that day, and will cancel the policy in it’s entirety at the end of the year.  The issue being that if the church cannot secure insurance for that day, then the event will not be able to go on as planned.

The pastor is quoted as saying that not all christian denominations are pacifists.  And while that may be true, is he really leading his flock into the right battle?  Our current series at church is titled “Boot Camp”.  We’ve been learning about all the ways that we need to prepare ourselves as soldiers of Christ, and how to equip ourselves for the battles we face daily.  I’m disturbed at the thought of an entire congregation bringing their guns to church as a sign of solidarity;  a movement for less government involvement with regard to hand guns in America.

I have an opinion on the matter of gun control.  But this is not the forum for that discussion.  But I’m wondering about a pastor who feels so strongly about an issue such as gun control that he would invite his whole congregation to come together with guns.  What is the real point of that?  What does it proove?  And how does that action further the Kingdom of heaven?  How does it teach children and families about the real enemy of all Christians?  How does it equip this congregation to fight that enemy?  Can you shoot Satan?

Father’s Day

When I look at this picture, I see so many things.  I see a daddy who loves his daughter.  I see a little girl who loves her daddy.  I see the love of God for all of us.

This is an adoption story.  This is the story of a child who needed a father, one who would love her, protect her, encourage her, teach her, treat her with respect and admiration.  This is the story of a a man who needed a child, one who would love him back, respect him, trust him, depend on him.  He didn’t know he needed her.  He didn’t know the love his heart was capable of.  And he didn’t know how easily that heart could be broken, over and over again!

I thank God every day for this man, the man I call husband and the man she calls Daddy.  Happy Father’s Day, hun.  I love you!

Dance!

Mini dress rehearsal for a recital in 2 weeks. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves!

Say Cheez!

So, I went to a prayer meeting tonight…a gathering of people and pastors from several local churches brought together to pray for each other. My priest gets up to speak. He calls up all the clergy to pray for the pastor of the church we were at. Everyone is quiet and in prayer. Someone (who will remain nameless) tapped me and asked if I had a camera…this is really an important event in the workings of God here…and I said I only had my cell phone. He didn’t care…so I took out the camera, pointed it at the praying (still quiet, mind you) clergy all gathered together, pressed the button and the phone replies with “Say Cheez!” followed by the “shutter sound”. Every one heard it. E V E R Y O N E!!

Technology.

Oh for the love of…

Flipping around the channels this morning and fell on TLC’s “A Baby Story”. So I decide to watch. The couple in the show were a month away from their wedding when she became pregnant the first time. A few days before the wedding, there were complications with the pregnancy, and she ended up having “surgery”. No more pregnancy. She became pregnant again, a few months later. Due to their ages, the doctors suggest an amnio. That revealed a under developing heart, the potential for many surgeries and a “lower quality of life”. So they terminated that pregnancy. A few months later, pregnant again. This time, the couple won’t “relax until the baby is born and healthy”.

I don’t get it. Can someone explain this to me? I guess I sort of understand the first one. The second one…makes no sense to me at all. The last statement tells me that this couple was so insistent on a healthy baby that it didn’t matter what they had to do to get that.

These types of “terminations”, along side the ones done for the purpose of birth control, infuriate me. God doesn’t make mistakes. A baby born with a heart defect is never better off never born…no one deserves that distinction.

I’m a little more than upset at the producers of TLC for this episode. In my opinion, it exploits abortion as a means of producing the perfect baby.

I changed the channel. Am I wrong?

Honeymoon? Over??

We have been noticing some changes in our daughter’s behavior in the last couple of months. It’s not bad stuff, most of it’s normal, but it’s different for us and for her. We suspect that the honeymoon is over, and that she is starting to test the boundaries with us to see just how far she can push. It’s ok. I love that she is secure enough with us that she will do that now. Honestly, I’ve been waiting for it! That’s not to say I like it…’cuz I don’t, not one bit! But I knew this day would come, and I know it means that she is secure in her mind about her relationship with us.

What happens when the honeymoon is over for a Christian? I mean, have you ever met someone who is so elated after accepting Jesus and then later it seems like all the wind has been taken out of their sails? Something that so many people fall prey to is the thought, or hope, that Jesus is going to “fix” everything. They think, “Wow! I’ve got God on my side now, I’m bullet-proof!” But…we’re not. And when that reality sets in, and the monotony of day to day life returns, the excitement gives way to sadness. That’s an open door for the enemy.

It’s all about relationship. When you live a life in a relationship with Jesus, things change–you change. But if you let that relationship go, it’s easy to slip back to the way you were before you had Christ in your life. That’s not to say that He is no longer there. He is, and always will be. But now instead of being “with” you, He is waiting for you to return to your relationship with Him.

I think this happens a lot with youth. They get on fire for a while, and then instead of fanning the fire and feeding it, they bask in the warm glow until it’s just embers flickering as the last bit of oxygen is sucked out. And as the embers die, they loose heart.

The relationship isn’t over just because the honeymoon has ended. As we are learning with Mary, it just means that it’s time to buckle in and work on growing it to a new level. With God, it means growing in Him, and becoming more like Him. True love isn’t easy. It takes work. But man is it worth it!

An Eye for an Eye

There is sad news today out of Wichita.  Dr. George Tiller was shot and killed at his church this morning while attending services.  I’m sickened.

Don’t know Dr. Tiller?  Read on from CNN.com:

“Tiller was one of the few U.S. physicians who still performed late-term abortions. In 1993, he was shot and wounded through both arms outside his Wichita clinic. Shelley Shannon, an ardent foe of abortion, was convicted of attempted murder in the shooting and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison.”

“”He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career — his clinic was burned down, he was shot by a health center protester, and he was recently targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago,” Planned Parenthood Federation President Cecile Richards said in a written statement.”

“In March, Tiller was acquitted of 19 counts of performing procedures unlawfully at his clinic. In 2008, a probe initiated by abortion opponents who petitioned state authorities to convene a grand jury ended without charges.”

I qualify myself as pro-life.  My own life experiences have shown me the value of human life to such a degree that I cannot and will not    support abortion for any reason.  But to kill the abortionist?  I don’t understand that.

So many pro-life advocates will claim that the bible says “An eye for an eye”.  Yup.  It does.  In the old testament.  Under the old law.  As a Christian, I believe that when Jesus died on the cross the veil was torn, the old law was torn with it and the new covenant was firmly in place.

I’m sorry for the loss of this man.  He, too, was made in God’s image and as such, is and was worthy of the love of Christ from all who count themselves among believers.  I don’t know where he will spend eternity.  God have mercy.

Something that came to me today

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

You give us life to live abundantly,
You give us strength to fight the enemy.
You give us grace to love immeasurably,
You give us hope of life eternally.

It is only through You,
Who called us to You
By Your glory and goodness.
It is only though You
That old life is made new,
and all the hopes of man can be fulfilled.

You give us peace to trust completely,
You give us joy to see things clearly.
You give us faith to follow you wholly,
You give us eyes to see your mercy.

It is only through You
Who called us to You
By Your glory and goodness.
It is only though You
That old life is made new,
and all the hopes of man can be fulfilled.

Where is Middle Ground?

I’ve been noticing a trend with our new president.  He likes the term ‘middle ground’ and he likes the concept of it.  Apparently for everything.

He would like to find middle ground as it relates to abortion.  At his recent Notre Dame commencement speech:

“…I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it — indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory — … But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature.”

He would like to find middle ground as it relates to Guantanamo prisoners.  In a Wall Street Journal report:

“…to whom Mr. Obama offered assurances that he is searching for a sensible middle ground that will keep terror suspects out of circulation while also honoring American values.”

And again, back in January, he was hunting for middle ground as it related to the country’s economic crisis:

In a Wall Street Journal opinion blog headline:  “Obama Seeks Middle Ground With Republicans on Economic Package”

Now, I’m not a politician, and I don’t claim to be one of those arm chair political analysts.  But I’m thinking we need some more pointed, level headed, clearly planned and thought out leadership.  I want a leader with a clear moral compass…

In the mean time, I just wish the leader that we had would just make a decision already on some of these issues.  Maybe it’s too much to ask, but pleasing everyone all the time is just not possible.  I don’t know what the answers are to the many questions he faces, but I can pray that some how he will become the decisive president we need and not continue to be the wishy-washy on the moral issues that are tearing us apart.

Ok.  Off my soap box.

Journey to Family part 8

So a few moments later I snatched an opportunity and asked her, “You know what that means?”  She looked up at me again and asked “what?” and then went back to playing Cats in the Cradle.  I said, “It means forever” with a big smile on my face.  She abruptly looked up at me and with a very surprised look on her face she said “No, Mom.  Remember you said my mom and dad can’t take care of me for now.”

I took her hands in mine, and said, “Sweety, your birth mom and birth dad can’t take care of you, now or ever.  They don’t know how.  They love you very much, but they just don’t know how to take care of a little girl.  They agreed that the best thing was for you to come and be our daughter, forever.”  Her big blue eyes started to fill with tears, just a little.  “Will I ever get to see them at least?”  I wanted so much in that moment for her to reject them, but at the same time, I knew that was an impossibility.  “Of course you will!  We have agreed that you will get to see them sometimes and even talk to them on the phone.”  She looked bravely at me and asked, “Can I have a sleepover with them?”  My stomach turned at the thought of it.  “No, that you can’t do.”  “How come?” she wanted to know.  I explained to her that they didn’t live in a place that would be appropriate for her to have a sleepover.  Those were words she understood.  I didn’t need to elaborate, it was as if she knew exactly what I meant.  How could she not?  She’d lived with them before, she knew the turmoil and the inability…now that she had had an experience of a normal home and family it was clear to her what was wrong with the past.

October 10, 2008 is a day I won’t ever forget.  I imagine it’s the same as when a mother gives birth; you just don’t forget the details of such an important day.  We rented a mini van so that 6 of us could travel together to the court house for the event.  We rode together with Mary’s maternal grandmother who had traveled from Florida, and my in-laws, (who had been surrogate grandparents all along.)  We were to meet our priest and his wife at the courthouse as well.

As we entered the court house, Mary started to show some signs of nervousness.  I’m sure she had no idea what to expect, and neither did we.  Court houses are scary places when you’re little.  There are lots of people milling around, and a few explatives here and there as well.  As you look around a courthouse, you can see all kinds of emotion from fear, to anger, sadness, and  joy.  We soon met up with our priest and his wife, made the necessary introductions and started the waiting process.  Eventually we were joined by our attorney and the adoption case worker. (Ironically, this would be her last case as she was set to retire in just 2 weeks time!)

Finally the time came to enter into the courtroom.  We were directed where to sit, while our friends and family were ushered to appropriate seats.  The court officer approached and sat across from Mary, leaned back in his chair and turned to one direction, and placed one arm on the table.

“Hi” he said in a comforting tone.  “What’s your name?”  Mary looked at me shyly and I nodded for her to answer.  “Mary” she said, quite sheepishly.  “Do you know what’s going to happen here today?” he asked.  “I’m going to be adopted?” she replied, unsure if this was the right response.  “That’s right!” he said.  “I have a few questions for you.  Are you ready?”  She shook her head in response.  He proceeded to ask her full name, what school she attended, who her teacher was, what town she lived in, what her favorite color is.  She answered each one confidently.  The he told her that in a few minutes the judge would be coming into the room and was going to ask her a few questions.  “Do you know what she will ask you?” he inquired.  “No” said Mary.  “What’s your name?”  Mary looked at me, grinned, and turned back to him, “Mary.”  He continued, “What school do you go to?”  She responded with a giggle.  “Who is your teacher?”  Mary continued to answer the questions with a huge smile on her face, indicating that she figured out what he was doing.  He ended by telling her she was going to do just fine, and that she had nothing to worry about.

Shortly after he left, he entered the room again and the formal court process was started.  The judge entered and came over to the table where we were sitting and assumed the chair that the officer had used.  The judge greeted Mary with a handshake, and proceeded with her few questions.  She asked Mary her name, her age and where she lived.  She asked if Mary liked her school.  Then she gently explained to Mary that today was the day that her adoption would be finalized.  She took out of her folder a very colorful document that read, “Certificate of Adoption   To:  Mary [her middle and our last name] of [our town and state] In accordance with G.L c 210 and s6A, I certify that [our names] of [our town and state] were adopted by you on October 10, 2008 by decree of this court, and the parents’ name following the adoption will be MOM and DAD.  Signed this 10th day of October, 2008 “  There was a line for Mary to sign, and a line for the judge to sign. Mary got to use a special light up pen for the occasion that was later presented to her by the judge.

The rest of the business was taken care of in short order, with a document for my husband and I to sign.  Mary was then presented with a teddy bear, and a lollipop to finish it off!  We took several pictures with the judge behind the bench, and headed out for a brunch.  We were now offically a family.  It was done.