Can I just say that lately I feel like I've been catapulted into the past... in a good way. At the start of the summer ** oh, disclaimer... this is a totally shallow and meaningless post, so if you're looking for inspiration today... you won't find it from me. But you might get a good laugh or at least reflect on a fond memory** Ok, where was I? Oh yes, at the start of this summer my all time- yes, ALL TIME- favorite band, New Kids on the Block announced their reunion. I was stoked beyond belief... I watched with bated breath their 'secondary' debut on GMA, and screamed with the rest of the almost-30-something year-old women in the audience. I debated in my head over who had aged better, and who I liked the best now... Danny? Donnie? Joe? John? or Jordan? Tough decision, yet to be determined. *sigh*

I was reading some blogs tonite on the so-called "Saddleback Showdown" forum between Obama & McCain. I loved the format, was impressed with Rick Warren's questions (we need more preachers like him) and his ability to weave scripture into the conversation.

One blog commentor said that watching Obama was, to him, both sad and scary. I thought that was a fairly accurate description of my feelings about the man. He skirted the major questions, such as "What is your greatest moral failure?" I appreciated McCain's honesty when, in answer to that question, he talked about the dissolution of his first marriage. At least he was real. I appreciated McCain's quick answer to the question "At what point does life begin?" He shot back immediately with "At the moment of conception." Now, whether or not you and I agree with him on this, at least he is a man who has sought a personal answer to one of the greatest moral questions of all times. And for Obama to say that "Speculating on the beginnings of life is way above my pay grade" is just assanine, ignorant, and personally weak. Has he truly never wrestled with this issue? Has the matter really never even crossed his mind enough to formulate an opinion for himself? For someone who could potentially be changing a lot of laws and regulations concerning the matter of abortion and the beginnings of life, I would hope that the man making those decision would have at least postulated in his own mind some kind of solid basis for that decision. But to simply say "that's above my paygrade" is idiotic. Even the bum on the street can tell you when he thinks life begins.

Now, on the contrary, I did like what Obama said about the fact that we need to work to lessen the number of abortions in this country. I agree with him there. Of course, I wholeheartedly disagree with his methods of doing so, but oh, well.

I'm just not getting all starry-eyed about this so-called 'golden boy' who is touted to be the "saviour of our sinking nation." First of all, if you really think America is that bad off, perhaps its time for an overseas experience. And secondly, this whole election campaign has shown how easily people can be swayed by a snazzy slogan and spiffy, "wearable" logo. (C'mon.. how many of you have an Obama'08 shirt? Ok, how many of you want one?) There's much more at stake here than a cool looking bumper sticker or a fashionable political expression. Now, do I think that McCain is the answer? Of course not! All I'm saying is, its time to take the rose colored glasses off, and start looking at issues that matter and proposed solutions each candidate offers.

Sean and I decided to get out of this awful valley heat for a few hours this weekend, and we went up to Kings Canyon National Park in the mountains. We left early this (Saturday) morning and were back shortly after noon. It was great! We are blessed to live so close to so much beauty! The trees were huge, the air was cool, and it smelled like a fresh cedar campfire through out the park! It was great.... so here's some pics......

I came across this hillariously schizophrenic website tonight.... and was completely inspired by this "Periodic Table of Awesoments".... I don't think you can read it all here... so you need to visit the site. Comeon, just a little clicky.... it won't hurt.... unless you laugh realy hard. But its more just really cool than really funny. So I think you'll be ok. Ok. I'm inspired to make my own. Maybe I'll have time this weekend...

I've been wrestling a lot lately with the idea of Romans 8, that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. How can something that comes from pride or selfishness or some other sin really come out to work for the good of His children? And if something good does come from a sinful situation, would that mean that the sin/sinner is vindicated in a way? Does the end result make his/her sin right? (Of course I know the answer to this, but it was still something I was wrestling with!)

I was talking with my husband about this last night, and he reminded me of the story of Joseph. Joseph was doing everything right... he was a man after God's heart with the purest of pure intentions, and was even faithful to his earthly master, Potiphar. Genesis 39:2 says that the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. When Potiphar wrongly accused Joseph of trying to sleep with his wife, Joseph was thrown in prison. But again, in verse 23 of Genesis 39 it says that the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered in everything he did. Joseph was in a place he did not belong and yet he was still serving the Lord. The Lord was still with him. God was not punishing Joseph for anything by 'allowing' him to be thrown into prison at the hands of Potiphar. Instead, God was using an unjust decision by a mere man to lay the ground works for something even greater in the future.

We all know the rest of the story... Joseph meets some of Pharoah's men in prison and interprets their dreams. These men had fallen out of favor with Pharoah, and were put in Joseph's care while in prison. Eventually, one was hanged, but one was restored to his position as a 'butler' for Pharoah. The butler forgot all about Joseph for two years. Two whole years! I imagine that in those years Joseph spent in the prison he may have had some moments when he wondered what in the world God had planned thru all this. Maybe he didn't wonder that at all... but I know I would have. In the end, the butler remembered Joseph and brought him before Pharoah to interpret on of Pharoah's dreams. He interpreted that a famine would come across the land, and suggested that Egypt begin to prepare for this. Joseph became second only to Pharoah himself and when the famine did come, "the whole world came to Egypt to buy corn from Joseph." What's even more is that in the end, Joseph was restored to his family.

All of that came out of the wrong/unjust decision of a man who wrongly accused Joseph of something he did not do. But Joseph didn't wallow in the fact that he had been wronged by a mere man, though I'm sure he was hurt by Potiphar's decision. Afterall, Joseph served Potiphar faithfully. I imagine that he poured his life into his work for Potiphar, and yet what thanks did he get? But you see, Joseph had it right... he knew the One whom he ultimately served. He knew the meaning of doing all things for the glory of God, not the glory of men.

As I was thinking about this, I looked up the term "in all things." WOW! I have some more studying to do on the verses that came up, but I think I am going to learn a lot. In all things really means just that.... all things. We don't get to be selective about the situations in which we are thankful to God. And likewise, God is not selective in the situations in which he works things out for HIS good... the Bible promises us that in ALL things, he will work it for the good of those who love him. How refreshing it is to know that even in circumstances that start because of an ungodly decision or act, God is the ultimate redeemer.

SO back to my initial question... can something that starts with sin really come out to glorify God? Of course, it can! But it takes a godly man or woman, who remains focused on the ultimate "in all things" and is faithful to the call to glorify Christ. Joseph was faitful when he was in prison and when he was next to Pharoah. And in the end, did it mean that because good came out of bad that Potiphar was 'right' about throwing Joseph in prison? Of course not! The fact that God can work the good out of evil is simply an illustration of HIS grace and HIS goodness. In the end, its not about me. Its not about 'man' in general. It is about God, and furthering His kingdom.

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

Here's just a few of the other in all things verses I'm going to study further....
Romans 8:28
2 Corinthians 9:8
Ephesians 4:15
1 Peter 4:11

I love how God works. I love the simple, surprising ways that he reminds me throughout the day that no matter what happens, I am still His.



Years ago, when I was in the midst of what I call my "desert journey" (both literally and figuratively) I was isolated from all my friend, family and everything familiar. My dad sent me this verse and I've clung to it ever since:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

At the time, that verse was a source of strength for me. But in recent weeks, I've clung to that verse with new fervor. At MOVE this year, a great deal of the focus was on the Holy Spirit. And without getting to much into it (cuz it would take a book!), my eyes were opened, nearly for the first time, to what it means to live in the Spirit and to have the Holy Spirit living inside of me. We learned a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit, which is exactly what this verse talks about. And let me tell you... the Holy Spirit's power is... well, for lack of better term powerful!



Today, as I was running a few errands for work, a song came on the radio that I'd heard before, but never really focused on the words. It's called "Hope Now" by Addison Road.* Here's the words... emphases are mine:

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m Yours

Refrain:
I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life

Chorus:
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Refrain 2:
I’m not my own
I’ve been carried by You
All my life

Chorus 2:
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
You’ve become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

This evening, I was reading a friends blog, and she had written this verse:

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock
and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:5-6

Yet another reminder from our constant Lord that he is all I need. God is so good, and he's always faithful. And I love the way God gently nudges me with those reminders. Ok, and sometimes he hits me in the face with the reminders. :-) But its good.





*(Sidenote: My new favorite song is also by Addison Road, called "What Do I Know of Holy"... look it up or download it or whatever. Its really good. You can hear both of those songs at their website.)

**Edit** I wrote a really long entry a few hours ago about stuff going on in our life, but it just didn't come out right. Then I came across this blog and her words spoke exactly what I wanted to.... so just go read this blog. Its really good and sums up the past few weeks of our lives here.

I decided to leave my ending in though:

Ok, that was really long... so for something fun really quick... Sean and I watched (in awe!) the opening ceremonies of the olympics last night. We snapped this picture of our silly cat actually watching TV, too... he's never done this before! He seriously sat there watching the TV! It was funny, so I thought I'd share!

I can't believe its been 3 weeks since my last post... and I was doing so well!! We have been very busy and have had a lot of stuff going on lately.

Sean's grandpa (maternal) died, so we took a really quick trip back to Cincinnati for his funeral. He was in his 90's and had lived a very full life, yet in the end, I can't really say where he stood in light of eternity. The funeral was a stunning tribute to his life, however. He served in World War II, so there were a couple of army guys who played TAPS on the trumpet and retired the flag on his casket. He was also a firefighter in Cincinnati and later an arson investigator for 40 years, so two of the current fire chiefs stood by his casket the entire ceremony. At the end, a bagpipe player (bagpipe-ist??) played Amazing Grace to end the service. It was really nice.

All Sean's family was there from his mom's side... one of his cousins is having a baby soon-- so exciting! It was just so nice to be back in familiarity again. I love his family, and cannot wait to go back for Christmas. It was also about 25 degrees cooler in Cincinnati than it was at the time in Fresno, so that was a great break. :-)

Several more changes have been taking place in our life, but I have to go pick up the Indian food we just ordered for dinner, so that will have to wait.... hopefully the next update will come sooner... :-)