Sunday, May 31, 2009

ME FIRST


Back in the 90's our country had a president who illustrated the complexity of human nature. Everyone loved his charming ways, but no one would leave a teenage niece in his care.  It seemed the man's life was segmented like an egg carton...and none of the cups touched.  He had a section named "outside women" which hardly meshed with the cup named "wife".  Plus he had a cup called "whoppers" (no connection to Burger King) and a lucrative cup called "money talks". 
 
I guess you could say our former President just put himself first.  But before we can pick up the first stone, remember that the folks who accepted his naughty behavior in order for them to prosper financially have similar egg cartons.  It's as though people have coasted through consequence-free living until they no longer factor in any accountability.  We say that the president's personal life was his business and had no relationship to our lives.  Au, contraire'.  We are down the road now from the 90's and already we see how a generation of teens has been corrupted by making oral sex commonplace.  He stained marriage.  And he "put us in bed" with the Saudis and Chinese and whoever bought him to gain favor in government.  That all sounds pretty unsavory.  

But what is really scarey is that the 90's may just be a pre-shadowing of today's big act.  Do you sense that now we have a president who again is putting himself first?  But this time, the moral weakness has a different face.  Our current president seems to put himself first for power.  The little boy that life tossed around, left helpless and without control or acceptance, has found a fountain of power.  Even America's stage may not be large enough for him.  

So we ask again...how does that affect us?  Well, I read in Mark Driscoll's blog that Mr. Driscoll sees people having two great needs.  First, people know they have spent beyond their means, and they want help getting out.  Secondly, they want to know they are safe from terrorists.  So bottom line, they need an economic savior and a protector.  I couldn't see how Driscoll's second point about keeping us safe fit the present administration until just recently. Candidate Obama didn't meet MY security needs.  But now I see.  President Obama is 180 degrees from Candidate Obama.  Now he is sending troops into Afghanistan and changing his stance on Gitmo.  He's becoming a protector.

And the first point about economic salvation?  That's easy.  If he BREAKS us economically (how hard is that to believe?) and then FIXES us, can you just see people fawning over him? What does your 401k look like?  Remember President Clinton got a pass by providing people financial security.  What a savior Mr. Obama could be!  

So if President Clinton's egg carton separated the areas of his life, what word comes to mind describing a person's egg cups that mesh?  INTEGRITY!  Does President Obama have integrity?

Well, he appears to be a happy family man.  That's good.  So what moral corruption of Mr. Obama's could outrun the former president's corruption?  Abortion.  When our president was in the Illinois Senate, he voted to not come to the aid of a child born when an abortion went south.  That is inexplicable.  A nurse in the Chicago area who helplessly held a baby until it died (as a result of that legislation) has become an outspoken pro-life advocate.  President Obama also voted as a U.S. Senator against parental notification for abortions and for the awful Partial Birth Abortion. But what haunts me are the evil changes our president made on day two of his administration to allow taxpayer money to be spent on abortions around the world.  Am I a taxpayer?  Does that make me complicit?

God save us from ourselves.

"Woe to those who call good evil, and evil good."  Isaiah 5:20



 

       

Saturday, May 30, 2009

HOME SWEET HOME



The Cruses will officially give up their homeless status when we close on this house next Monday.  In July, please send all letters to us at 5662 Double Tree Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72704.

Double Tree is the subdivision that we fell in love with and bought a lot last year.  It is in the country and we love the space and the birds and big trees.  Double Tree is just 3 miles from I540 and a little more than a mile from the kids.  We ended up deciding against building on the lot because it would take nine months and two moves.  This place will be "ours" when we paint, lay hardwoods, put new carpet, granite, change windows/doors, new appliances, light fixture and doorknobs.  Yes, she's a fixer-upper and all our new best friends are our subs.

When the dust settles, you can help us by calling to reserve your room for a ballgame or just a weekend visit.  We have two BR's down; the two BR's up have their own private bath.  I couldn't resist sending a "before" picture of the guest room (above).  Benjamin Moore called that shade "Pink Eraser", but Mike called it something else.  

By the way, my husband is committed to our move...but his personality is also strongly loyal and sentimental.  These days the flux makes him feel like he's had a "roots" canal.  I catch him playing Melancholy Delight and that's just because he's missing friends that we haven't even left yet.  So please come see us!  

When you turn onto I540 down at Alma, it's just 45 miles up to Exit 65 (Porter Street exit) in Fayetteville.  Come west out Mount Comfort Road 2.9 miles to the subdivision Double Tree on the left.  We are the second house on the right.

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust."  Psalm 91:2





Sunday, May 17, 2009

AWWW...THANKS, YALL!!!


















Mike and I have said many times that we have NEVER lived in such an intentionally relational neighborhood.  The people on Wellington Colony Drive look out for one another and show their love easily.  We were the beneficiaries of that affection this afternoon as the Costolos opened their home for folks to drop in and wish us well before we move.  Apparently if you agree to leave, they will throw a party and give you gifts. Kidding aside, we felt very loved on.  Where will we find another neighborhood like this?

Here are some of the special people that we will miss a lot.  Our hope is that they will take us up on our offer of our B/B in Fayetteville (just as soon as we FIND it).   

Hosts Mark and Raebeth Costolo are in the first picture...the first/second person (L to R).

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you."  Philippians 1:3