A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND

I'm pretty sure daycare workers put in a full day...and chicken pluckers, too.  But I'll say one thing, my husband is the hardest worker that I've ever known.  And this week I have the privilege to say that I've been sharing Mike's name for forty years.

Work ethic certainly was not what attracted me to him at first.  Who thinks about work ethic when a guy has dark hair and blue eyes like Sean Connery?  All I knew was the bottom of my stomach fell out when I was around Mike.  Now THERE'S a measuring stick for determining your life mate.

Even from our earliest days, I have been a bit intimidated by my husband's intelligence.  He's smart AND he can fix things.  That was new to me because my Daddy was funny, but not so handy.  Still, Mike didn't seem to understand interpersonal relationships like I thought I did and that made me feel needed.

Phase Two began all too soon as we discovered our differences.  Surprise!  We began to push and pull on each other to be more like the other.  Why IS that when we used to be attracted to the differences?  When Phase Two ended, we had put out the fire.  Guilt was thick like smoke in the air.  Our fussing was frustrating because Mike was a peacemaker and had to be picked on to fight.  Then, even with all his intelligence, he didn't really know what the fight was about and so he could hardly spar effectively.  We went to our corners and pretty much were resigned to a perpetual sulk.

In the fall of 1979 the Cruses had been married nine years and had two kiddos.  My hopelessness caused me to finally say "yes" to a friend who year after year had asked me to go to a Bible study.  The fact that she even asked me...insulted me.  Why did she think I needed a Bible study when I was very involved at my church?  But I swallowed my pride and went and for the first time, cracked open a Bible.  It wasn't long before I met the Savior.  I know it's strange to be in church all of your life and never know how to come to Christ, but that's what happened.

Now Christmas was coming and Mike and I typically saved our biggest fuss fights for the holidays.  After that Christmas, Mike was miserable enough to agree to go to the men's class of this non-denominational study (BSF).  By that spring, he had prayed to receive Christ.  Now we came to realize that we actually had a LOT in common.  We are both high-control and willful.  We are both the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son...wanting to "do the right thing" but not "be the right thing".  Our self-righteousness was such a stink in God's nostrils.  
The Lord wants a love relationship, not a duty one. 

When Mike and I look back at our early years, we are amazed that we got through our yucky stuff without legal proceedings.  The funny thing was that even in our darkest misery, neither of us wanted that.  We were just glum and didn't know how to spell relief.

My husband is a dear man.  Over the next years, he figured out his gifting and realized his chosen profession was pretty much of an irritant to his peacemakers heart.  Lawyers and conflict seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly.  After retiring from that 30 year career and from the Air Guard, Mike began his third career as he went to work for our church.  The next ten years gave my husband work he never dreamed could be so fulfilling.  Only the God who made Mike with certain talents... could then make the work that perfectly utilized the same talents.

Our church was always building or remodeling and Mike was the liaison between the church and the construction company.  He operated with a checklist and a hardhat.  He had never done that kind of work, and so each morning before his feet hit the floor, he was asking for help.  God waits for that!   The year before we moved to Fayetteville, Fellowship Bible Church bought land and relocated.  Mike was on his knees a lot that year because it was a 51 million dollar project with a small time-window.  But what a perfect caboose for his work life!

Caboose?  True persister/achievers don't retire.  We bought a house in Fayetteville and Mike was on the job again (7a.m. to 7p.m.), coordinating workmen to take it down to the drywall and back up again.  In two months.  Now Mike's going to bed at night and waking up with our new church on his mind...

This October Mike went to his 50th high school reunion in Jonesboro.  He was co-salutatorian of his class and editor of the yearbook, but I'm attracted to something else about him.  I love how he gives of his time and money to God things.  He has an adventurous side that takes him to a mountain top in British Columbia to shoot a bighorn sheep, yet I trust his responsible side that is conscientious and reliable.  He is a weight-bearing wall in our relationship.  He loves and serves his family; he gets teary when he talks about what God has done in his life.

I have a friend who speaks about her husband as Jesus with skin on.  That is not intended to be irreverent.  Literally, God provides for us through earthly relationships and Mike is my LOCAL protector/provider.  God gave me a godly mate, but we sure didn't start out our relationship that way.

When I think of how we hurt one another in the days before Christ, I am so grateful for the power the Lord gives us to forgive one another...and for His power described in Romans 4.17b.  It says He calls into being that which does not exist.  For Mike and I, that meant He put love back into our hearts.

Happy Fortieth, Mike Cruse.  You are Numero Uno on my speed dial.

SAD, SOLEMN, AND NOT-SO-SORRY

DAY ONE AFTER THE ELECTION
At the President's post-election presser, his countenance was somber and his mouth said the words "shellacking" and "sadness".  Did the President mean what he said?  Asked directly THREE TIMES whether his policies had anything to do with his shellacking...he said no.  But he LOOKED reflective.  He couldn't have been as sad as the politicians who went down on his ship the day before.  There were a sackful of them who took one for the Gipper.

How can we know whether Barack Obama is contrite or not?  We don't go by what our eyes tell us.
Since this man has a track record of creative verbiage, concentrate carefully
on what was actually said.  http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=552798

Then wait.  True colors have a way of bubbling to the top.

DAY TWO AFTER THE ELECTION
Listen to the spin.  Liberal sources are practically yawning as they couch the story:
"The GOP took the House and 6 Senate seats"

Well, yeah.  That was concise.  The election doesn't seem like a big deal put that way.  Certainly it doesn't sound like what was described in other sources as a tidal wave...or the largest party turnover since 1948.  Just look at the red map.  We are a center-right country.

Do the words "taking 60 seats" sound larger than the words "taking the House"?  The underreporting must have been tricky to accomplish.  It certainly was not all the story.  They could have added the governorships.  Republicans won in PA, OH, MI, WI TN, AL, NE, TX, KS, GA, SC, NM, NV, WY, SD, OK, AZ, UT, ID, AK, MN, IA, and FL.  Plus the state legislatures.

Whether acknowledged or not, this election can change the political landscape for years.  Or so it would seem, but we can't be so sure.  Wasn't it James Carville who, after the 08 election only two years ago, said that the Republicans would be set back for "fohty yeahs" (40 years)? 

DAY THREE AFTER THE ELECTION
Nancy Pelosi says she is not quitting and she's sorry for those friends who wouldn't be returning,
but she is proud of their accomplishments.  Are these people in Wonderland?

Now the Wheel of Fortune puzzle pieces are coming together.  Only an ideologue would ignore what the country is saying.  Did we really think they were going to reach across the aisle?  The first phone call in two years from the President to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell came AFTER the election.  What kind of president does not talk to a Minority Leader even one time in two years?  President Obama must have meant what he said to John Boehner and others back after the 08 election:  "elections have consequences and I won".

Look for the President to come back from his royal tour of the Orient and try again to explain to the unwashed (and in my case, an unwashed hillbilly) about how brilliant his plan really is.  It must be the ultimate irony that in the year since healthcare passed, the Great Communicator pitched it over and over, but can't make us understand.  Perhaps his teleprompter could be slowed...

THE MIDTERM MORNING AFTER

Well, we certainly don't have to wait as long for election returns these days.
If political signs are still out on the corner the morning after, it's aggravating.
So we've lived through another election, and I'm thinking of that old saying
"Americans have uncommon good sense when they go to vote".
Wouldn't have said that in 2008, but now the pendulum swings back.

I'm grateful for the big new freshman class up on the Hill.  These newbies may not know "how things are done".  Hope not.  But the election gave us some surprises about who will be back.  Reid.  Nevada, what were you thinking, Honey?  I read this a.m. that the Senator was  interested in compromise.  Methinks his tail is singed.

My new fav freshman is Col. Allen West from down in Florida.  His tag line is that he is the first black Republican elected since 1870.  I'm so glad that is not the only thing in the Colonel's resume.  Allen West has both a record of service to his country and conservative, no-nonsense thinking.  He says that he is going to Washington to do his assignment and then he's COMING HOME.  Good.  Those positions have a way of changing office-holders.

Let's back up and take a look at the election as a whole.  What drove the voters and what political forces drove the election?  Voters turned out in a midterm because of the economy and their repudiation of big government.  And the political forces?

1.  THE TEA PARTY.  Apparently the people didn't buy the slime of "racist and extremist" because the Tea Party proved to be a major force in American politics this season.  Their Senatorial candidates who won were Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Marco Rubio, John Boozman, Mike Crapo, Jerry Moran, John Hoeven, Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, John Thune, and Ron Johnson.  Additionally, they wait to see about two tight races in Washington and Colorado (Ken Buck and Dino Rossi). 

The Tea Party had eight candidates for Governor.  Three men (Keet/AR, Paladino/NY, Tancredo/CO) went down, three women (Haley/SC, Fallin/OK, Martinez/NM) won, and there are two cliff-hangers (Rick Scott in Florida and Tom Emmer in Minnesota).  The Tea Party also supported Paul LePage who won in Maine.   

2.  SARAH PALIN.  Sorry, Cher.  Sarah is a mover/shaker and the star of the Republican party.  Her Mama Grizzlies did not all win, but she touched a spot in women across the nation with her characterization of women looking out for the next generation.  Watch how that encourages other women to step up next time.  Kudos to Sarah Palin for enduring viciousness.


Mama Grizzlies Christine and Carly and Sharron went down...but look at these Republican women who roared last night:


Nikki Haley (Indian-American Governor/South Carolina)
Vicky Hartzler (Congresswoman/MO)
Kristi Noem (Congresswoman/South Dakota)
Susana Martinez (first Latina Governor/New Mexico)
Kelly Ayotte (Senator/New Hampshire)
Mary Fallin (first female Governor, OK)
Michele Bachmann (re-elected Congresswoman/MN)


3.  REPUBLICAN MINORITIES.  Nikki Haley (Indian-American), Marco Rubio (Cuban-American), Susana Martinez (Hispanic), and Allen West and Tim Scott (conservative African-Americans) dispel the notion that Republicans are all white guys.  Finally.


4.  PELOSI stimulated Republican voters.


5.  NEGATIVE COAT TAILS.  The Dems ran from Obama's record and his healthcare like lemmings.  The Democratic governor who won in West Virginia, Joe Manchin, won because he not only set himself apart from his party with an elbow-locked distance...he actually publically disowned their philosophy.


So now what?  If you thought the elections were tough, now consider what lies ahead for our divided nation.  Where is there room for compromise?  Is it likely that the President will suddenly decide his "hope and change" can be diminished?  Is it likely that the newbies (fresh from a mandate wave) will fall in line with the Democratic majority in the Senate?


If it ever was obvious that we cannot rest our full weight on the "here and now"...we know it is now.  These people we elected will do their best.  America is watching and will have NONE of the old "say one thing/do another" doublespeak.  But what can be done to ease the division?

Let's PRAY.  America needs to be on her knees now more than ever to give these men and women who have stepped forward to be our leaders the ability to lead.  Pray for wisdom to know the way forward.  Pray that God would give a way through gridlock.  If they lock heads, it will be two more years until we can vote again.  We need jobs TODAY.  And a strong defense.  And leadership who knows why Israel is our friend.


Let's pray to that end.  But let's pray knowing our security is not in what man may or may not do.  My hope is not a campaign slogan attached to the word "change".  My hope is in the mighty and omnipotent hand of the living God.  He alone controls the future.  And at His signal, a new kingdom will begin whose government will have no end.


But in the meantime, let's work with what we have through prayer.

	"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 2Chronicles 7.14 NLT

HALLOWED EVE

Teaching children has been so good for me.  With dwindling brain cells, my attempts to translate big concepts into little people's words causes new insights.   

Halloween has long frustrated me; I hate it that Halloween has developed into such a huge "holiday".  I really hate it that little ones cannot even go to WalMart without getting scarey dreams from the motion-activated, life-sized Freddie Krueger on the end caps. 

But on the other hand, who likes to dress up more than moi?

This year in working up a couple of lessons for Kingdom Kids (kindergarten/early elementary age children) we talked about the dark holiday.  I asked "what is the day before Christmas called?"  They knew that one.  Christmas Eve!   "Well, for a long time November first was a day for celebrating GOOD.  The good people were called 'hallowed'.  The day before Hallowed Day would be 'Hallowed Eve'.  The people celebrated GOOD on November first, but on the day before (on Hallowed Eve)...BAD was celebrated."

Then we talked about how we don't celebrate being bad.  We talked about the creepy things associated with Halloween like spiders and bats.  We talked about the things we see at Halloween such as ghosts, vampires, skeletons and zombies.  I asked them what all those things were?  "Dead things!" one little boy said.  Children are so wonderfully direct.  We talked of how the dead things seemed to be coming back and roaming around.  Then I asked them who came back from the dead.  They got that one right away...Jesus!  Jesus and the good people (the saints) are raised.  We talked about how all these other things are POSERS that pretend to come back.  Our God is the only One with power to raise from the dead.  The others mock God.

The week before Halloween, each child in Kingdom Kids was given five little booklets (see below) and were asked to pray and ask Jesus for five names of friends or neighbors who might want to know more about Him.  Then during that week, they were to turn the tables and 'give' instead of 'take'.  They were to dress up and either make treats or take candy to those people as they gave away their little booklet.  And I figured if you gave an assignment, you should have to carry it out.  So here's Miss Susan on a neighbor's porch.  Wanna wind up my nose?  My eyebrows and mustache wiggle.

                                                                                                                                                 

Without all the darkness, there is a lot of fun to be had in dressing up.  Here are some pictures of great examples of creativity in costuming...

This family lives in Florida and so it is perfectly natural that they would be an "under the sea" family.  Ariel and her brother (an amazing jellyfish who lights up) even have their little sea turtle on a leash.

Here is a Louisville family endorsing their local hero.  
It's the Colonel and the box of chicken who is his wife...with their little peep.

Gotta love these chefs and that little lobster!

These girls get high marks for creativity in a low-cost budget.

These youthful two on the left are frozen in a nostalgic time zone.
The wannabe Queen Esther may have swerved into more of a gypsy.

This mother is dressed as a flapper, but doesn't her face look like Snow White?
Can you guess who her real-life daughter is?  Barbie!

What a sweet family with all their costumes from the Mouse's House.
We have Jasmine, Mulan, Minnie...and the precious Mickey.

 The church cannot ignore Halloween.
These days, it is second only to Christmas in money spent and hoopla.
We do our children a disservice if we do not explain the "holiday" to them.
But then let's use it for good with costume creativity.

Jesus is the Light in the darkness.
Our costumes can be, too!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY

When Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg huffed off the stage of their own program, it made news.  It was the flounce heard round the TV world.  Their guest, Bill O'Reilly, had just made a statement with which they vehemently disagreed.  Some thought their hissy fit was contrived drama.  Nah.  I think they both hate O'Reilly enough to do it for real.  So what did the man say?

O'Reilly was explaining a point he made about why the President was declining in the polls....and in the process, he used the words "...and when the Muslims attacked us on 9/11...".  That was when the fur flew.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp891YJw_VY 

The women of political correctness thought he should have been more explicit.  "It was Muslim extremists, not Muslims!" they cried.  Things escalated.  O'Reilly said if anyone had misunderstood what he said, he was sorry.  But they felt he made the remark on purpose.  Whoopi later went on to say "was he talking about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?  He's a Muslim.  O'Reilly should have been more specific."

Do you know anyone who is afraid of a basketball player?  "Me eever" (as Nate would say).  But a case COULD be made for fear of other Muslims.  Were the ladies saying that we should step carefully because Muslims might be the recipient of backlash?  Perhaps, but it would seem logical that such a backlash would have happened right after 9/11.  I think most Americans understand who to fear.

If Muslims were just a religious choice, they might be less pervasive.  But they are a system reaching all of society. Government and laws and education and the church and all the ways Muslims live their lives flow from the same polluted head waters.  The Muslims who came to America have tasted freedom and might have a different take on their law.  

But in Joy and Whoopi's world, our freedom is called on to parse words in order to avoid calling a problem...a problem.  Their politically correct world has a lot to ignore to hold to that tenant.  They ignore the fact that the Muslim nation of Iran is close to having a nuclear bomb for our harm, and also funds terrorist training and arms to be used against us.  Saudi Arabia, also a Muslim nation, sponsors terror and sent us the 9/11 terrorists.  Pakistan, a Muslim nation, pretends friendship while probably harboring Bin Laden and also supporting terrorism.  These are just three nations that are Muslim nations (not just Muslim extremists) who actively seek our demise.  What worldview misses this?

I guess the ladies of the View could go over to Europe and ask Angela Merkel whether she has trouble with Muslims in Germany.   http://www.news.com.au/world/german-chancellor-angela-merkels-christian-democrat-unions-websites-hacked/story-fn6sb9br-1225940962294

Or they could go to France or Great Britain and see what the French/Brits would say...

Joy and Whoopi defend the rights of Muslims as though such defense is a righteous act.  Don't miss the wild irony of such a position.  If they were Muslim women in a strict Muslim nation, they would be burka-clad (no more high heels, Joy...or outlandish outfits, Whoopi).  They would be married as a pre-teen and not allowed out of the house alone and CERTAINLY not be listened to.  If this were not so sad for women around the world, it would be hilarious.

All around the globe, there are problems with terrorism and the word "Muslim" is closely associated.  So let's not take our eye off the ball.  It is problematic to think that America has redefined the war on terrorism with a vanilla term "overseas contingency operation".  And it is problematic that in an exaggerated effort to appear righteous, some would put our country in more danger than she's in.

Juan Williams felt the sting of that "correctness" this week.  I like Juan because he is reasonable and fair-minded.  I don't agree with his positions, but I sure wouldn't FIRE him!

NPR kicked him to the curb because of remarks Juan made about Muslims.  I heard him say the remarks.  He spoke honestly and totally without mean-spiritedness.  That man doesn't have a mean-spirited bone in his body.

We have been given a wonderful gift of freedom in our country.  Speech is protected and sometimes that protection comes back to bite us.  We have weathered many bedbugs

that would hide under that freedom-of-speech blanket.  Pornography, that Westboro church-that's-not-a-church, and race hustlers come immediately to mind.  But those speech abusers feed off the old-fashioned twins, greed and power.  

This is different.  One Muslim, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, believes it is his God-given mission in life to destroy Judeo-Christian civilization.  And that destruction begins with intimidation and the diminishing of our freedom of speech.  We just need to discern who is on his side... 

THE REST OF THE STORY

During WW2, a man named Paul Harvey began adding human interest stories to his newscast. ABC later picked up his radio program "The Rest of the Story". What a wonderful man! I loved this storyteller who liked to carry his audience to a surprise ending. I was one of his listeners who enjoyed being carried along.

In this 2002 picture, Mr. Harvey is presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Here is a link to a few of his choice comments:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/paul_harvey.html

Mr. Harvey worked until the week before he died (in 2009 at the age of 90), but I can still hear the sound of his voice and feel comfortable as I wait for those predictable words..."and now you know the REST of the story"!

Children must have felt a similar level of soothing when Fred Rogers zipped his cardigan and sang about his neighborhood. Each of Mr. Rogers' episodes was predictable, starting the very same way. The children could relax during Mr. Rogers' program. I can still hear this Presbyterian minister singing about how beautiful it was in his neighborhood.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/28/arts/mister-rogers-tv-s-friend-for-children-is-dead-at-74.html?ref=fred_rogers&pagewanted=1

Fred McFeely Rogers was presented a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 for his wonderful way he led children to learn. "It is impossible to count the number of lives you have touched," President Bush told Rogers, "but you've made a huge impact on thousands and thousands of children. And there are thousands and thousands of parents and Americans who are grateful for your service to the country."

Doesn't it seem these days that we really could use a Paul Harvey or a Fred Rogers in the media? We are hungry for personalities of integrity that we can trust for truth. We need to know we are getting ALL of the story because sometimes we only hear page one of a three page story...

Congress took a vote last summer on funding for extending unemployment benefits. Democrats pushed benefits while those mean ole Republicans were the "agin'-ers". Or that was what the media reported. That was page one, but here is page two. The Republicans had voted in favor of extending the benefits when it was voted on the first time. But their stipulation was to fund with money cut elsewhere in the budget. The President agreed and it was done. But the second time the vote came up, funding was again the sticking point. The President wanted to spend negative dollars. Because the Republicans wouldn't agree, they are the adults in this issue. It was a deficit-spending issue, not a heartless issue. At some point, the deficit swamps everything else and no one will be funded.

Similarly, the funding for the 9/11 First Responders has been in the news. The Dems have been kicking that can down the road for 3.5 years. They ARE the majority and they've HAD the numbers to pass whatever they wanted. But nothing happened until all of a sudden back in February, Rep. Anthony Weiner staged a toddler meltdown on the House floor. He hollered about the awful Republicans who don't want to support our heroes. Is that right? That's what you would have thought. But something stinks if fellow Dems would not go down on paper for the proposition. That's curious...wonder why? The rest of the story involves the pork they tacked onto the hero-funding. How cheesy is that?

Today it is 21 days until the midterms. Most are battening down the hatches because the election barrage has already gotten ugly. Tell me who would want to run for office these days? Who needs that aggravation?

No wonder people are pulling out their hair. No one trusts politicians OR the media for good reason. We are desperate for honesty and integrity. We want someone who will tell us THE REST OF THE STORY.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

The good Lord has given me another year...and I get to spend it. That's what I got from Him for my 63rd. I also got reminders of His love as a bunch of people called or sent cards/wishes on Facebook. I'm grateful for the kindness and thoughtfulness of friends.

Tim and Penny sent a hilarious talking card that was so them. It makes me laugh every time I hear it (and Nate wore it out). There also were sweet cards that I love to reread. Brad and Laura's card is always a stitch. But this birthday card above won the prize for capturing "me". For some unknown reason, I have a hard time hitting my mouth when I eat. My husband says it's because I'm in a hurry. I do need to wear stripes.

Mike and the kids made a birthday fuss. Each of my offspring gave me a meal cuz they know I like to go out to eat. Brad and Laura's meal came in the mail in the form of a plastic card for a pizza place that gets good marks in NW Arkansas. Brad is good about researching online for the best places and then making a call; he has New York survival skills. Matt and Beth and Nate gave me a meal at Pesto Cafe and the eggplant parmesan was a treat.

I guess sometimes birthdays give pause for reflection. This year I was needing some assurance that my course did not need correction regarding one way I spend my time. So I asked the Lord (not out loud) to confirm it in a specific way. The day went by and I had not heard a word. Nothing by bedtime. I was disappointed because I had asked in good faith and I thought because it involved His work, it was a prayer that He would surely answer. I checked the computer once more, got into bed, strapped on the CPAP machine, and took a deep breath.

On the nightstand, Precious (the iPhone) dinked. I picked it up and there...less than an hour before the next day would have begun...was my email answer! It came right on time (He's always right on time) and at a perfect time when I was quiet and more contemplative. I LOVE hearing from the Lord. It doesn't often happen that directly, but when it does...SHAZZAM!

Then, first thing the next morning another confirmation came. No one else knew what I had asked but Him. He and I understood and I waited for Him. What a wonderful birthday blessing!

Now there was ONE more birthday thingy that happened and we are all scratching our heads about this. We decided at the last minute to go to the Pesto Cafe, and we didn't know a soul in there. We ate and then the waitress appeared with two mounded plates of chocolate cake/ice cream. Nate was overjoyed! We hadn't mentioned a birthday, so we knew it wasn't from the restaurant. The waitress said "someone wanted you to have this"...but she wouldn't say who. Beth thought Mike did it. Mike thought Beth did it. Then when we really began to explore...neither of them did it. Until this moment, it remains a mystery why a stranger would send cake to our table.

Well, our lives are a journey through uncharted waters. And for a control freak (in remission, but constantly recurring) like myself, I take great comfort in knowing an omniscent and omnipotent Father who is personally involved in His children's lives.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." 1Peter 5.7 NLT