Leave Bitterness Behind

I once read somewhere that you could tell a bitter person by their face.
They are angry and/or unhappy and it shows. How many times do you
see someone in traffic or on the street and they have a pinched or sour
expression? And whey they talk, their speech is usually rather biting.

Bitterness can ruin our lives, but more importantly, it can ruin the lives
of those around us. In Genesis 33 we read about Esau and his right to be
angry with his brother. However, with God's help, he was able to let the
bitterness go rather than let it consume him. Think about Job's plight;
and yet he remained faithful to God. I always liked the verse in Job,
Chapter 5 that said "happy is the man whom God correcteth." And
Helen Keller was able to say, "I thank God for my handicaps. For
through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." I've often
said that some of the hardships I suffered as a child made me who I
am and I wouldn't change a thing. It's what we are able to overcome
that makes us the parent we want to be, the wife or husband we want to
be, or the person we want to be. A life without suffering would keep
us from developing the skills we need to overcome and prosper as a
person.

I can remember when I first started working in downtown Marion.
It seemed everywhere I went, someone stopped me on the
street and said something about my smile. I never went to the
Methodist church that they all didn't say something about my smile.
What they didn't realize was that it was those very people that gave
me that smile. Sometimes it our struggles that cause us to develop
into who we want to be. Isn't that a great concept?

I got an e-mail yesterday that remarked about a picture they saw of
me and my smile. It took me back to those memories of people
that made me smile almost 35 years ago. It reminded me of all my
struggles before and since. It made me question why I let others
opinions rob me of my smile.

Yesterday I read something on Facebook that surprised me a little.
It was a posting by someone I think is a terrific person,parent, and
friend. It took me aback a little. It reminded me of an editorial I
read almost 5 years ago. I can remember being so shocked. The
writer was listing all the reasons we should vote for George Bush
for a second term. I was so stunned. In hindsight, I know why I
reacted like that. I was thinking about the former publisher and all
our talks and thinking how different this view was from his and
his family's long history in the publishing business. I found it hard to
comprehend how a husband and father could be supportive of a
president with such flaws and serious mistakes in his first four years.
I just couldn't understand how he could want this person to be
our leader and write history for his children's future. I happened
to run into the writer's wife and said something about how much
the editorial surprised me and she said, "why?" I was shocked.
Since then, I have realized that I am often shocked by other's
opinions and why. I try to analyze or figure out how and why they
could come to that conclusion and I take it personally. Needless
to say, that's not a good way to live your life. I'm making a conscious
effort to change. And in fairness, I know I'm influenced and molded
by my past and how it colored my viewpoint, just as they are.

Truthfully, God can help us get past, get through, or get OVER anything.
He can mend our hearts and help us experience healing. The Methodist
church provided me with the love I needed as a child, the answers I
needed in order to overcome, and the people that stood for real
answers on how to live an abundant life.

I had reason to remember a wonderful memory about R. C. and Louise
Hamilton this week. I have shared this memory with them on several
occasions. Several of my friends from the Methodist church know this
story, but it seemed so relevant this week. When I was about seven
years old, a neighbor had picked me up and taken me to the Methodist
church for Sunday school and church. As I was leaving, my mom said
she would be parked outside to pick me up after the services. When I
opened the car door and got in, my mom was crying. I asked her what
was wrong and she said nothing. She turned to me and said I was
watching R. C. and Louise Hamilton come out the side door and thinking
about their lives as parents and people. She said if I wanted to have
a successful life and be able to weather the storms of life, I should do like
them and stay involved and active in church. I've never forgotten
that. I can still see Louise's face the first time I told her this story and
R. C. and I discussed it when I was 20, 30 and even 3 years ago.

They had a storm this week, but they had the strength and anchor to
weather it.

We have a new family member - BB (Big Boy)

We have a new Frenchie !!

He is so adorable and sweet.

To No Longer Remember...

And, I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he
removed our sins from us. (Psalms 103:12)

To no longer remember......sometimes that's a trait that
we lament having, once we hit 50. I always had such a
good memory and it's very frustrating to not be able to
remember something. However, I've been considering
just the opposite the past week.

I can remember when my firstborn scribbled on the walls
with a crayon. I scrubbed and scrubbed, but it wasn't
long until he was doing it again. I can still remember it
and trying to reason with him. I guess that memory
stayed in the back of my mind. Just last summer, we
all had so much fun on the beach and the kids built
sand castles and left their hand prints. The tide soon
smoothed it all away, but the memory of those times still
remain.

I use that analogy to explain what I'm feeling about the
loss of my beloved pet. I think I figured out why the loss
is so hard on us. With a mother, father, sister, brother,
wife, husband, son, or daughter; we can love them more
than life, but we are all still human. We make mistakes.
We hurt feelings. We say or do something wrong. And
while we might forgive, it is hard to forget and those
memories stay in the recesses of our minds. With a dog,
there aren't any of those memories. Just pure, unconditional
love and devotion. My dog followed me EVERY step I took.
If I got up at 3am, he was right beside me. If I was cooking,
he was at my feet right by the hot stove. If I was sick, he
was right by me on the recliner and would occasionally turn
around and kiss me. I don't have anything but good memories.
I never dreamed that you could mourn like this for a dog.
My heart actually feels like it's broken.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be like God? He not only
forgives us, but develops amnesia about our sins. Amazingly,
He who numbers the hairs on our heads, forgets our sin forever.

I wish I could forget wrongs committed BY me and to me. That
would be a welcome ability and save us all so much hurt and
wasted energy. Something to think about..........................

In the April 20th edition of TIME, I read the following:
"With his credo that government was the problem, not
the answer, Ronald Reagan wrote the script for the collapse
we're facing." It goes on to say that MANY readers blamed
the financial crisis on rising deregulation and Reagan. This
was a theory I had longed argued with my brother. Nice to
see I'm not alone. Of course, Bush expounded on it and
bankrupted the country with his rush to a foolish war.

And finally...... Sam Flanary. Loved his letter to the editor in
our little weekly paper. So well written and expressing the
exact thoughts and feelings that I've been hearing around
town for months and months. BRAVO, Sam. Yours was a
welcome voice. God Bless You.

Stepping out in faith

Jesus saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen
had gone out of them and were washing their nets. (Luke 5:2 -NRSV)


I believe that Simon Peter was a skilled fisherman. But that day he and his
partners were unsuccessful; they had toiled all night and caught nothing.
They left their boats and were washing their nets, ready to go home as
failures. Then, Jesus got into a boat that belonged to Simon. Jesus asked
him to put out a little way from the land and began to preach to the crowds
from the boat.

Jesus knew that Simon's efforts to catch fish the previous night had been
unsuccessful. When Jesus had finished speaking, he asked Simon to go
farther out into deeper water and cast the net. Simon did not know that
a great catch of fish was in store for him and his partners. Soon their
boats were completely filled with fish! Both times!! Peter obeyed Jesus.

Wednesday night and Thursday morning were some of the most difficult
hours of my life. I can honestly say that only the prayers, calls, e-mails
and sweet encouraging words of my friends got me through all of the
pain. On Thursday morning, just a very few minutes before I lost Harley,
a friend felt compelled to send me a long detailed e-mail about her
family and son and their experience with losing a much loved pet.
She didn't have to listen to that still small voice that was telling her
to share all this; she didn't have to take her valuable time in writing
in such detail about their situation; she didn't have to show such care
and compassion.....but she did. We have known each other for years
and years. She has always been so kind and she even worked with
my son at one time. However, because of facebook, we have become
close friends and she has been a wonderful, supportive force in my
life. I feel like she stepped out a little like Jesus told Peter to do.
She cast her net out a little further and I can't adequately express
how much she has enriched my daily life.

How many times does God call us to step out a little further? How
many times do we misjudge or assume someone to be one way or
another in error. I believe that all of us carry scars and perhaps
traits from our past that need to be looked over in order to see
the real us inside.

We need to step out a little more and cast our nets a little deeper.
God Bless you during this Easter season.

Read Luke 5: 1-11

In Memory of Harley........

I Wish Someone Had Given Little Jesus A Dog

I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
as loyal and loving as mine;
to sleep by his manger and gaze in his eyes;
and adore him for being Divine.
As our Lord grew to manhood, his own special dog
would have followed him all through the day;
while he preached to the crowds, and made the sick well;
and knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away;
to face death alone and apart;
with no tender dog following close behind;
to comfort his Master’s heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
how happy he would have been;
as his dog kissed his hand and barked its delight
for the one who died for all men!
Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent him mine;
that old Frenchie so dear to me,
and I smile through my tears; on this first day alone,
knowing they’re in eternity.

Author Unknown

Thank you to the dear friend who shared this with me.

FYI: A Monday Review

If you want to smile, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMppUgSQNPU

If you want to be inspired, watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFjikyp7mQ (It is Well With My Soul)
love this line........
(It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private sufferings, that your noblest dreams
are born and God's greatest gifts are given..in compensation for what you've been through.)
and if you like that, also check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFjikyp7mQ (Amazing Grace w/history)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WafA-0hXor0 (You Will Never Walk Alone)

I also read an article in the April 13th, 2009 edition of TIME that
I found very compelling. Somehow, it wasn't surprising to learn
that the most aggressive and grievous acts took place
in Texas. One out of every TEN soldiers that are recruited come
from the state of Texas and an ugly investigation into why so
many recruiters had committed suicide produced this disturbing
practice. It wasn't until the Houston Chronicle provoked Republican
Senator John Cornyn of Texas to provide answers, that the suicides
were brought to light.
Please read this article: (The Dark Side of Recruiting)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1889152-1,00.html

And, for all those that missed my blog about Man's Best Friend,
here is the link to Jimmy Stewart on Johnny Carson
reading a Dog Named Beau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8

Finally, for my friend Debbie and in remembrance of
Bro. Robert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQD-rCJMYw (Green Pastures)

Looking at the wrong side.....

How many times have you felt like praying for vindication? How many times have
you been hurt or wounded by careless words or deeds? How many times have
you sent a message of true concern and never gotten a reply? How many times
have your words been twisted and been blamed for something that was not your
fault? And the real deal breaker.....how many times did someone hurt your child
with an unconscionable deed?

All of us can relate to these questions. The real test is how you react to these
situations. I can remember two of the most hurtful things that were ever said to
me. It's not what you would think. It was something that I had to pray and pray
to forgive because they were from someone I loved. However, even though I
forgave them, I will never forget it and it still hurts me to think about it. I say
that to say this.......... It is never advantageous to try and get revenge; to
repay a wrong with a wrong. It only heaps more despair and darkness
on your heart.

I remember my grandmother telling me when I was only 10 years old to never
try and get revenge. She said it was God's place to handle the wrongs in our
lives. She said, "The Lord is a Great Collector"..........(long pause) and then
she would always say.... "sometimes he's mighty slow." We would laugh and
let the truth in the statement register with us. I never forgot that. I'm not
saying I had sense enough to always follow it. But the times I did, the person
that had wronged me was taught a lesson far better than any I could have
even dreamed of.

God has a way of handling our mistakes. When we are in our 20's and 30's,
we think everything is black and white and that we know it all. It's only with
a little age and a LOT of lessons that we learn there are areas for improvement.

I like to cross stitch. I can remember someone picking up a stocking I was
cross-stitching and telling me it was a mess and whatever was it going to be?
I turned it right side out and they saw the beautiful image. They were seeing
it from the wrong side. That's what we do with our trials sometimes. Turn
them over and look at the right side-God's side. There's always a lesson and
a design that God is working out for your life. Sometimes we forget to look
at things from HIS point of view.

I was asked one time......don't you think we know this person better and
what they need and want? Well, God answered that for us. I knew the
answer, but sometimes God has to hit someone on the head for them to
learn a lesson. I ended up knowing this person's every care and thought.
I knew at the time what she had told me was bothering her, but others
thought they had all the answers. God ended up handling it all. It not
only was a lesson but the greatest blessing to be a part of.

In Esther, Chapter 8, we read about Esther begging for the King's favor in
over-turning a law against her people. We read that the King was forceful
in saying that NO decree will be changed and none had ever been reversed.
And then................ the former letters were reversed and there was
"light, gladness, and joy."

Sometimes, we have to learn to reverse our former beliefs or thoughts.
We don't become a scholar of his word over night. It takes much study,
prayer, and asking for conviction and leadership in what he wants us
to believe. I would hope that we all decide for ourselves what God is
leading us to believe. Not a Sunday School teacher, or husband, or
minister, or parent can tell us what God wants us to believe. Only
GOD can lead us in that direction and for that I'm thankful.

When I was a child, I attended a service at the Marion Methodist Church
and the pastor's message contained the scripture from Psalms 30:5.
"Tears may linger at nightfall, but JOY cometh in the morning." I claimed
those words and found them to always be the truth. God always brings
us through trials.

I think Corinthians 13 is one of the most recognizable passages, but I
wonder how often we dwell on the words. All the gifts in the world and
work we perform is worthless without love and charity. To really read
what God expects of us is daunting. You can sing all the songs and
praises, teach all the Sunday School classes, preach all the sermons,
direct and lead the children, feed the poor, and yet......without love
and charity, it is nothing - worthless.

Perhaps we should start with common courtesies.
I wronged you... I'm sorry.
I received your kind words.......thank you.

"He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for
our brothers."
1 John 3:16

And, I think that means ALL our brothers......

God Bless and keep encouraging me about my sweet Harley.

And.... Look at the right side...... God's side.

What is your legacy????

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive.... 2 Corinthians 2:10

The last week has been extremely hard on us in the Wallace
household. Our devoted pet has been extremely ill. During
this time, I have been reminded of just how important WHO
your friends are. I have been consoled and lifted up by the
many calls, e-mails, and conversations I have had with old
and new friends.

During this time, I talked with one of my old professors
from college. He wanted to know if the "commies" were coming
and had they arrived. It took me a minute to figure out what
he meant. Then, he reminded me of the "religious" column in
the local paper. He was encouraging me to write the paper and
restore some semblance of intelligence to the points she had
made. I also heard from some out-of-town friends. Somehow,
it didn't seem all that important to me, given what I was dealing
with. I used to make it just fine by completely ignoring her
column and pretending her voice of hate didn't exist. Then, some
of my friends and relatives were hurt by assertions she made in
the name of God. That got me to thinking.................................

And then, I got the sweetest e-mail from a friend I graduated with.
She told me how very much she had enjoyed my blog and knew
her Dad would have, too. Her dad was a very visible and loved
preacher in this county for over 50 years. You couldn't go to a
revival or a funeral that Bro. Robert wasn't there. I got to thinking
about all the sermons of love and acceptance that he preached and
I could close my eyes and see he and Ruby singing "Green Pastures."
I talked to my brother-in-law about the song and was trying to
remember all the lyrics. My brother-in-law is another one that
has had such an impact on different members of our family. He
made the decision to follow God and never waivered. I have watched
him for over 30 years be a good and faithful servant. We have often
talked about what a witness he was through the years and he didn't
have to say a word. I never heard him judge or admonish a soul and
like the rest of us, he had reasons to. Yet, he quietly loved and
accepted everyone and just tried to show them in a non-judgmental
way how to follow Christ.

I'm sure I wasn't the first choice for a wife for my mother-in-law's son.
I was divorced with a child and 5 years older. Yet, through the years,
she became the dearest friend I had. She spent the last 3 years of her
life going into detail about all the things she loved about me and how
much she needed me. She did that because she knew I needed love.
I talked with her sister this week and she began to tell me all the times
that Deanie bragged on me and said she didn't know what she would
have done without me. But, the truth is, it is me that got the blessing.
I have memories of every doctor visit, every late night call when she
needed me, every special meal I prepared for her, and all the games
of cards she so loved.

My brother-in-law captured the very essence of my mother-in-law
when he conducted her funeral. He touched all of us exactly in a
manner that comforted us and reminded us of her legacy.

She was a wonderful friend.......therefore, she had wonderful friends.
She was a wonderful mother....therefore, she raised wonderful
children that grew up to be wonderful parents.
She was just special..... a woman with a legacy hard to match.

Man's Best Friend

As all my family and friends know, I have a French Bulldog that has
become a very important member of our family. Growing up, I never
understood my mom's attachment to her dogs. I always said that I
would never have a dog in the house. And then along came Harley...

I received a phone call from a friend and she told me about a breeder
that wanted a good home for a 7 month old Frenchie. He was a little
too big to show and they wanted a good home with a boy that would
run and play with him. Much to the surprise of my friend, I said
sure - I wanted Harley!

Within a few days it was evident that Harley was a one person dog.
After we studied the information we could find on this breed, we
found that this was a common thing for a Frenchie.

For the last 11 years Harley has followed my every move. If I'm
in the shower, you can bet that he is resting on the rug right
outside the shower. If I leave the house, he curls up right next
to the back door and cries (in a loud howl) until I return.

Harley is very ill. I couldn't be more upset. Eleven years is a
long time for this breed, but I can't imagine my life or this house
without Harley.

I happened to think about the moving tribute that Jimmy Stewart
gave his dog on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson many years
ago. I never forgot that show and how moving Jimmy Stewart was
in reading his tribute. I searched the web for a written copy
and found the video on YouTube. If you're a dog lover, please
check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8

YouTube - Johnny Carson - Jimmy Stewart - Beau Poem

Congratulations, Chase

Yesterday I received a phone call from someone I hadn't heard from in several years, Coach Bill Chumbler. I always liked to watch a team that was coached by Chumbler. He has the great honor of taking teams from Illinois and Kentucky all the way to the state championship. His record speaks for his great knowledge and love of the game. He was always especially complimentary of Jordan when he was playing high school ball and that always endears a parent to a coach. Yesterday we spent a little time catching up. He and his wife live in Florida during the winters and he helps out at a preparatory school down there. In fact, one of the players he has been helping to coach was on the front page of Cats Pause recently. He mentioned that Coach Chumbler wanted him to consider U.K.

However, what I was most proud to discuss with Coach Chumbler was the great honor that his grandson had recently received. Chase Palisch, a senior at Centre College had recently been recognized for being a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. He was one of only 32 winners from among 769 applicants from 207 colleges and universities across the U.S. Palisch is Centre's eighth Rhodes Scholar. In the last 50 years, more than 70% of Rhodes Scholars from Kentucky schools have come from Centre. The value of the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the field of study. The total value averages about $50,000. per year. I have listed a link below if you want to read more about it. CONGRATULATIONS Chase and Coach Chumbler!

http://www.centre.edu/web/news/2008/rhodes08.html

Look in the margins.........

Do you ever stop and think about why you believe the way
you do? I watched a movie a couple of nights ago that I
had saved on TIVO. It made me think about a conversation
I overheard years ago. I have thought about this matter
hundreds of times since then. I listened to a mom explain
why she and her husband were encouraging her daughter
to quit a job. The daughter had only graduated a few
months earlier and had moved to a metropolitan area and
secured the exact type of job she had worked and prepared
for throughout college. I won't go into the other details, but
I remember my husband saying when we left that he wondered
if they thought heaven was going to be segregated. The parents
had a real problem because the person their daughter was
working for was gay. I can still see the mom putting her hand
to her mouth and whispering "homosexual."

The movie I watched was moving and thought-provoking. The
priest in it was explaining to a mom why she needed to examine,
read, study, and develop her OWN thoughts about what she
believed and why. She was brought up in a staunch catholic
home and was taught that her children were doomed to hell unless
they believed as she did. I'm simplifying it somewhat, but this
gives you the general idea.

The movie was based on a true story. The book that it was based
on was a best seller. However, the story has been played out over
and over in thousands of homes. Parents tell child that they have
to believe as they do or be ostracized from the family. The mom
kicked her son out and he eventually committed suicide. She went
on to study and research and decide that she had been wrong in
what she was led to believe and very wrong for not studying God's
word on her own.

I remember one particular day when teaching Sunday school class to a
high school class. A young man attended that had never been to our
church before. He was 14 or 15 years old and I wasn't 5 or 6 years
older than him. I had studied and studied my lesson and thought I
was overly prepared. Then, this new student told why they were
visiting our church that day and asked me a question that I hadn't
studied for. He and his parents had gone to the same church for
as long as he could remember. The Sunday before the minister
preached about a scripture and said that anyone in the congregation
that was divorced was going to hell. He asked me what I thought.
I've never forgotten that day. I took a breath and opened the Bible
to the 10 commandments and started praying under my breath. I
asked God to give me the right answer and to lead me to direct this
child with the right knowledge. I'll never forgot that day. The
scriptures and words came to me in a way that would be hard to
ever duplicate. In essence, I told him that everyone sinned and
I couldn't see why this sin would be harder to forgive than any other.
None of us could "work" our way into heaven - we all fell short and
had to be forgiven.

I opened my Bible the other night when watching this movie. I started
thumbing through some of the scriptures that were mentioned in the
movie. I listened as the priest explained that some scriptures that
were taken literally were written in a time when words didn't mean the
same thing. And, he quoted scripture where there was instruction to
bring a woman who had committed adultery to be stoned to death.
On and on......... Why is it that we take some scriptures so literally
and others we seem to ignore? Why is there only the one scripture
that preachers quote when preaching on sexual orientation and
thousands with instruction to NOT JUDGE and love one another?

I don't pretend to want or need anyone to believe like I do. But, I do
sometimes think back to times in my life when I felt like God was
leading me to change my mind about something.

As I thumbed through my Bible the other night, my eyes kept falling to
the margins. I have made a habit the last 35+ years of writing the
name of the sermon, person who preached it, date, and other info in
the margins next to the scripture used in the sermon. My eyes fell
to Romans 14 and a sermon I heard about differences of opinions. It
seems to me that the scripture is pretty plain about our personal
responsibility in showing grace and forbidding judgment.

I spent hours thinking about different questions I had through the years
and how an open mind with God's word and sincere prayerful requests
for conviction led me to the beliefs I hold dear.

When in doubt.........look to the margins.

Open Letter to the Republicans

Life-long republican and New York Times best-selling author
explains why the republicans are all wrong. And he should
know........

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/open-letter-to-the-republ_b_172822.html

Temperance

I always look forward to reading a column in our
little weekly newspaper entitled, "What would Mom
say." I enjoy it for a number of reasons, but
primarily I think it's because I have such fond
memories of the columnist's father. He would stop
in our insurance office every single day, either
on his way to the bank or on his way back. I always
enjoyed his stories about life and his family. Years
later, when his wife started writing a column, I kept
thinking.....where has she been all these years? Nancy
had a real gift with the written word. I had gone to
church with them for years, but I saw a side of her
through that column that I didn't know existed. She
could make you laugh and cry in the same column -
she certainly had a gift. The last two weeks, facebook
has been mentioned in the column. I couldn't help
but be amused. I understood exactly what Allison was
writing about. My son's girlfriend signed me up to
look at some pictures and I kept protesting;
thought I was too old. I probably am, but I am
really enjoying keeping in touch with people I hadn't
heard from in years. That leads me to my thoughts about
temperance today.

Last night I was looking at pictures of the most
beautiful baby I have ever seen in my life. He is
the new grandchild of someone who had just added
me as a "friend" on facebook yesterday. As I looked
at the pictures of this darling baby, it dawned on
me how I needed some restraint and temperance in
my political rants. The grandfather of this baby
is one of the nicest people in the world. He also
is probably the most dedicated Republican in Crittenden
County. I remember telling him one time when I was
in his office and looking at pictures on his walls,
that he was a democrat at heart. He laughed and
told me someone else in town said that exact same
thing to him.

I also attended a memorial service today. I sat
next to one of my sister-in-laws. She is such a
sweet person. I love her more than I could begin
to convey. I looked around the room and thought
about how lucky and blessed I was to have married into
this family. They have enriched my life so much.
And guess what... some of them are Republicans!!
That's when I had to do some soul-searching. It's
easy for me to be judgmental and questioning
when it's a Rush Limbaugh type character. However,
when it's my school teacher friend or daughter of a
friend or family member; I don't see them as
republicans or democrats. I need to remember this.
I might not understand our philosophical differences or
beliefs, but I certainly see them for all their beautiful
characteristics and deeds. Isn't this country great?
We are free to believe as we choose.

Now, if I only had the gift of writing a profound or funny
column like Nancy.....................

We can learn a lot from a nine year old............

(Reprinted from The American School Board Journal)
(The Leading Source... The ASB Journal's daily blog)
January 21, 2009
Inauguration provides teachable moment for young and old alike
My mother finally got her party last night.
Over the years, since the Bush administration came into office, she’s dealt with countless cases of berating and bullying from neighbors and friends, some of which was alcohol-induced, who live in a Tennessee retirement/resort community. Even the president of the local GOP nicknamed her “special ed.” (obviously he hasn’t studied his party’s positions on federal special education funding).
I often thought of these people when I was writing�”The Importance of Civics Education,” which appeared in ASBJ’s January issue. While I was writing (around the time of the election) we got an email from a counselor in Louisiana who reported that some of her African-American students were being bullied by McCain supporters, unfortunate incidents that probably went underreported. I also spoke with the group Teaching Tolerance, part of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which had anticipated some backlash and prepared a kit of classroom exercises to help ease the tensions, available on their website.
“One of the things teachers can do is recognize that this is not just a matter of policies, it’s really about young people and their emotional investment and their identity,” Senior Editor Tim Lockette says. “It’s a time to address issues of identity and get young people to think about, what is my role?’”
Last night, some of the few and proud Obama supporters in my mom’s neighborhood threw an extravagant party to celebrate not only Obama’s symbolism and the inauguration, but also the departure of an administration that appeared to dismiss non-conforming ideals and underhandedly encouraged bullying.������
Nevertheless, it wasn’t just celebrating with like-minded friends that my mom excitedly told me about this morning, it was a 9-year-old boy, Jackson, the son of one of her friends.Jackson attends a private Christian school and he and his classmates were very interested in the election. But Jackson was the only one supporting Obama.
“His classmates teased and made fun of him, even pushed and shoved him around, but he stood his ground,” my mom says. The teacher had to step in, and also told the class that she, too, was an Obama supporter.�
�”We were so impressed with this little guy standing up for his convictions!” my mom says. At the party last night, “we gave him a big round of applause and everyone took his picture.”
Regardless of political views, an inauguration provides a rich opportunity to not only teach students about the political process, but also the acts of tolerance for other views and civil discourse. One of the themes that I heard repeatedly in the news coverage of the events was how peaceful the day had been overall, and how former President Bush had graciously worked with the incoming Obama administration to facilitate the transition even though they clearly repudiated some of his ideals.
Hopefully some of those civics lessons reached Jackson’s classroom and others across the country-after all, politics is cyclical and there will be a day when a candidate that repudiates Obama’s vision is elected. Those lessons are probably too late for the 60- and 70-somethings in my mom’s neighborhood. But yesterday was, regardless of your political affiliation, a time to celebrate a historic moment and appreciate the opportunities this country provides.

Associate Editor, Joetta Sack-Min

*Jackson Hughes is my nine year old nephew and a very special young man.
Rene'

Political Serendipity

The serendipitous result of being raised by a republican father and
democratic mother led me to research and discover just what I
believed on my own.

Today's headlines are all about reinforcing my core beliefs. These
are strictly my beliefs, but I couldn't help but derive some perverse
pleasure in reading about things that should be evident to all.

"Porn in the USA: Conservatives Are Biggest Consumers"
"CIA Destroyed 92 Interrogation Tapes"
"Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh gets into a war of words with the head of the RNC"

How many of us know staunch church-going conservatives who seem to have
"behind closed doors" vices that are completely contradictory to what they
present to the outside world? Let me quote something from the ABC and CNN
article today about porn and conservatives.

However, there are some trends to be seen in the data. Those states that do
consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than
states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.
"Some of the people who are most outraged turn out to be
consumers of the very things they claimed to be outraged by," Edelman says.


I could write volumes and run out of room if I bring up Newt Gingrinch and his
zealot attack of Bill Clinton, all the while carrying on an extramarital affair that
included a "kept" mistress in a condo. What about William Bennett and his
gambling scandal, all the while peddling a book on virtues. Need we be reminded
of the airport bathroom stall scandal or Rush Limbaugh's voracious appetite for
pills, pills, and more pills? The conservatives backed John McCain, a man who
carried on an affair with a woman 25+ years his junior and left the wife and
children who patiently waited on him to return from his ordeal.

I just don't get the conservatives. I don't get the editorials that are written
every single day in national newspapers by men who are guilty of more than
what we have covered here, yet want us to support an agenda that even THEY
don't conform to.

I truly believe that there is a special place reserved for Rush Limbaugh
(and it's not in an upward direction). Again, he is fighting within his own
political party; the headlines today are all about his fight with Steele.
Wasn't he the one that wanted the country to be "patriotic and flag-waving" and
support the president in a rush to war with Iraq. Personally, I didn't understand
how anyone with an IQ over 80 could have supported that war. I wore a black
band for 8 years (to the chagrin of several family members) that said "I DID
NOT VOTE FOR BUSH"! Now, today's headlines scream about illegal
interrogations, falsifying of records and worse. Rove and Cheney walk free, even
though they broke hundreds of laws and almost destroyed our country.

The serendipity of listening to a republican, but seeing a different life
played out, was perhaps a blessing for me. In this day and age and
with technology being what it is........republicans and democrats alike
should be looking over their shoulders and watching what they have on their
computers. Big Brother is watching............... perhaps you're not what you purport to be.

Nobody asked me, but..........

Nobody asked me, but.... does anyone see the similarities
in the Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, and
our own Sister Lucy foaming-at-the-mouth fervor Evangelical
types who claim to be so high and mighty with all the answers
and yet have suffered such personal shortcomings in their own lives?

Nobody asked me, but.....do you see the hypocrisy in Ms. Tedrick
ranting about Obama and the "left" with their programs for health
care and free lunches for kids and yet she enjoys the EXACT same
tax free ride with her "Christian" school and church?


Nobody asked me, but.... do you sometimes wonder about the IQ
of some of these types who tell us how to interpret our Bibles,
who we should vote for, and how we should believe?

Nobody asked me, but...who scares you more? The Ted Haggards of
the world who while leading a 14,000 member church and supporting
the drive to put "Same-Sex Marriage Amendments" on several states
ballots, was having sex with male prostitutes, buying meth, and
improperly touching young male members of his OWN New Life church
- or the clergymen who preach to love one another and to show
compassion to one another?

Nobody asked me, but...are you as sick as I am of reading hate in
the "religious" column of our weekly paper? Do we really need or
want a fanatic zealot telling us how to believe? I alternate
between feeling disgust and pity for the columnist.

Finally, this blog post was precipitated by me reading an article
about Ted Haggard today. It seems Mr. Haggard is making the
rounds again and asking for forgiveness. Now, let's get this
straight. Is this the same Ted Haggard that spouted the evils
of allowing same sex marriages and yet was having dozens of
those exact same sex relations? You remember good old Ted.
He was responsible for having seven states put the Same
Sex Amendment on their ballots. (Including that forward-thinking
adjoining state, Tennessee, who chose to elect the "awe-shucks"
right-wing EXTREME conservative hillbilly, Bob Corker.) I hope all
who supported the hate legislation in Tennessee that Haggard
promoted are proud. And that the fervor that brought you to the
polls brought you the brightest star in the Senate -- Bob Corker.
Who needs Harold Ford Jr., currently the head of the Democratic
Leadership Council, former contender for Speaker of the House,
rising star on the National scene, and a sought-after MSNBC
analyst for his savvy insights into National affairs. We're better
off with the invisible, "awe-shucks" representation that Tennessee
right-wing evangelicals deserve. I remember seeing Harold Ford Jr.
on the cover of Time Magazine, touted as the next truly smart,
up-and-coming politician. Next thing you know, the good old
church-going Tennessee hillbillies were sending in their
contributions to Corker to run ads against Harold Ford Jr. that
were called some of the most vile and politically repulsive ads
ever to be broadcast during a political campaign and that's
saying a lot! Why vote for a highly intelligent Harold Ford Jr.
when you could have Bob Corker instead?

Nobody asked me, but.......no wonder our country is in the
shape it is in. We actually voted for and elected a bumbling
idiot like George Bush and let him completely bankrupt our
country!

A threat to the status quo

Want to see what change looks like? Real change?

Well, here it is. Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget—his blueprint for America—and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a "fundamentally new course."

President Obama called his budget "a threat to the status quo," and trust me, the status quo noticed. Oil companies, big banks and insurance companies are already mobilizing to stop it.
Unfortunately, most folks don't realize how far-reaching and progressive the plan is—that's where we all come in. Here are 10 really incredible things about Obama's plan. Check them out and then send them on to your friends and family so that millions of people will have the information they need to fight to make this vision a reality.
10 things you should know about Obama's plan (but probably don't)
The plan:

1)Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.

2)Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.

3)Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.

4)Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.

5)Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.

6)Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies.

7)Increases grants to help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.

8)Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.

9)Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police Wall Street.

10)Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.

This is the change we voted for. President Obama has done his part, now we need to do ours.