Perspective

There are a handful of places that I never take my kids. (Not because I frequent establishments that aren't appropraite for kinder but because my patience fails.) The post office is one of those places. The other happens to be the library. I know. I know. Kids need to visit the library. They learn to love reading by roaming the aisles and discovering a gem of a book. (Not to mention that I love to read and write...and scour the library!)

I started refusing to suffer through a library trip out of concern for my sanity. I decided some experiences are not as valuable as a mother’s mental stability. Constantly shushing three young boys, six small hands pulling things off shelves, and the disapproving glances of librarians challenged my patience. (I know not all librarians are stern and stuffy, but we seem to find the few that are.) The result was me saying “no more library!”

A couple years passed since I boycotted the library trips. (Don’t worry. We’ve still been reading. My wonderful husband picks up the books from the library for us.) Then, I offered my boys a deal. If they promised to whisper and skip the behavior that previously drove me to distraction, I would take them to the library.

We went. We read. We brought home a stack of books. We had fun!

The point of this post? Well, it’s meant as a bit of encouragement to moms. First, don’t be afraid to skip out on the places or things that encourage your little people to run like pack animals. I’m not saying withdraw from society. Just recognize the places or activities that are difficult for your child to sit though and avoid them. Second, keep in mind that this is only a passing phase. Before you know it, you’ll be taking your slightly older kiddos to the very places you’ve had to avoid.

The best part is…you’ll be sane enough to enjoy it.

Our library happens to be near a building with a glass elevator.

The reward for nice library behavior:

a ride in the elevator.

"The Final Summit" by Andy Andrews

What I’m Not Reading

Ever start a book and just did not finish it? Maybe you stalled out somewhere in the middle? “The Final Summit” by Andy Andrews is that kind of book. The reader will keep hoping the book will pick up steam but it does not. Although the majority of the book occurs in Heaven, the story falls short of divine.

There are some highlights. For example, Eric Erickson joins the group and tells his story of infiltrating the Nazis to stop Hitler. This appearance is outweighed by the inclusion of characters like Mark Twain and others. When writing a book set in Heaven, the reader expects those in attendance to have clearly stated their faith in Christ. (Unlike Mark Twain who claimed, “[The Bible is] a mass of fables and traditions, mere mythology.”

This book does not feature a strong plot, neither does it stand up as an inspirational or theologically-sound read. Instead, it feels watered down and uneventful. Rather than quitting in the middle of this book, readers will wish they’d skipped it altogether.

Israeli Borders

To All it Does Concern:

The conflict between Israel and Palestine extends past 1967. Not because Israel bullies its Palestinian neighbors, but because Israel has been standing up to the bully. Israel learned that in order to survive she must fight.

Remember that Israel can trace her roots to at least 1200 B.C and occupied her land until being driven out by Rome in 64 B.C. During World War II, the Jewish people were hunted by Hitler and when the war ended in 1945 most Jews were refugees without home and country. Three years later, only three years, Israel was declared a state and a people displaced for far too finally returned home, some of whom still bore the tattooed numbers that had replaced their names in the death camps. Their battle for freedom, however, had only just started.

Israel now faces an enemy equal to, or perhaps even more virulent, than in World War II. Consider the charter by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic political party governing the Gaza strip. Article Thirteen regarding peaceful solutions to disagreements between Israel and Palestine states: “[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion.” Article 15 explains that the only solution is Jihad: “When our enemies usurp some Islamic lands, Jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad.”

Palestinians claim that all of Israel belongs to them. The charter goes so far as to urge teachers, youth, and elderly to propagate the message of stealing Israeli land through Jihad. It is no wonder that Israel refuses to attempt to soothe their “neighbors” by surrendering anything. Modern Israel has lived her entire life under the shadow of such insanity.

President Obama desires to accomplish “peace” by placating a beast. One that is hungry to gorge on innocent blood, a beast that scorns the President’s very involvement. Obama’s call to revert to Israel’s 1967 borders is tantamount to silver-plattering historical and holy sites for those who align themselves with Hamas’ hate-mongering . The remaining wall of Solomon’s Temple, also called the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount, the Via Dolorosa, Golgotha (the hill where Jesus was crucified), and others would fall from safety into the clutches of those who despise the significance of these places. This in spite of Obama’s claim, soon after accepting the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, that Israel must remain undivided.

When a bully has, for over a century, backed you into a corner, slandered your mama, and feasted on the flesh of your innocents, what do you do? Ball up both fists and come out swinging. Israel has no other choice.

Sincerely,
One Who Pulls for the Underdog

Don’t believe me? Research it for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWrvPvo8yXc
http://middleeast.about.com/od/palestinepalestinians/a/me080106b_4.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel#Armistice
http://womenofgrace.com/breaking_news/?p=8097

Intolerance

I like words. I suppose that's not a surpise. Words like wrought and indicative and melee just really float my boat. Here's a word I don't loathe: intolerant. Why? Because it can't mean anything.

Here are the specifics of my least favorite word:

in·tol·er·ant 
[in-tol-er-uhnt]

–adjective
1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one's own, as in political or religious matters; bigoted.

Intolerant labels people when their views don't line up with popular ideals. (As a Christian, intolerant frequently labels me when my beliefs don't line up with others'.) You'll notice intolerant is a "nicer" way of calling someone a bigot.

Here's where my problem presents itself. When someone accuses another person of being intolerant, the former is actually being intolerant. (Ever gone through a revolving door? Me neither. Hm... oh, I know. Ever seen a hamster on a wheel?) The sickness of going around and around and around in circles is the feeling intolerant evokes.

If you call me intolerant then you are being intolerant because you aren't tolerating my opinions.

Let me try to simplify that. If I'm a bigot then you're a bigot for saying that I am one. That's not just my opinion. That's by definition of the word.

I think I'll get off this hamster wheel, now. I'm feeling queasy from going around in circles.

Royal Wedding

Who doesn’t love the idea of a normal girl meeting Prince Charming (or Prince William)? If we aren’t watching royal weddings, we’re attending the weddings of friends and family or dreaming of our own. It’s just in our DNA.

Ever wondered why?

Isaiah 54:5a: “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name!”

Hosea 2:19: “I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.”

2 Corinthians 11:2: “I am jealous over you with God's own jealousy. For I have betrothed you to Christ to present you to Him like a faithful bride to her one husband.”

Ezekiel 16:8: “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness (sin). I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you,’ declares the Sovereign LORD,’ and you became mine.”

We were created to be the Bride of Christ! Woven into the fabric of our being is the desire to be loved and to be claimed.

It is fun to imagine the process Kate underwent in order to be ready for her big day. Dress fittings, rehearsal, hair, make-up, manicure, and on and on…! How does one prepare herself to become a princess?

Similarly, we have a big responsibility! How should we prepare to become Christ’s bride? First, of course, we must have our sins covered with His “garment”—the blood of Jesus. (Not even Princess Kate’s dress can compete with that!) Still, what other things should we do to get ready? Romans 12:2 challenges us to step away from the pattern of this world—we are preparing to be royalty after all—and be transformed by washing our mind with God’s Word.

Why? So that we can rejoice and be glad and give Him glory. (Revelation 19:7a)

“For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”
(Revelation 19:7b)

The Inheritance of Beauty

The Inheritance of Beauty by Nicole Seitz is a little like walking in ankle deep water at the beach. You can find interesting seashells and enjoy splashing around, but you may find yourself longing for deeper water. Similarly, The Inheritance of Beauty offers enough surprises to keep the reader hanging on and splashes around in the shallow end of Christianity, but barely toys with the idea of diving into matters of faith.

Francine Rivers giveaway! Visit this link to see more. http://http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042