I can’t help but snicker at how during the W administration it was an act of innocent free speech for all kinds of Americans to call W a Nazi or Hitler. Yet when Obama rolls out a series of policies that are historically in line with those of the National Socialist Party – you know, what the Nazi Party started out as – and historically knowledgeable citizens call him and his minions on it, these people are somehow un-American.
This is why I do not put my faith in a country, a political power, an office, or a flag. I have no allegiance to these things. A soldier, a country, a political agenda, a social program cannot offer Living Water. Only Jesus can – he said it himself: He’s the only way to God. By saying that he not only called out all other religions, but all other paths to false fulfillment. Someone who says that kind of thing is worth engaging to see what he is talking about.
It’s been a great week for music! Finally downloaded my first August Burns Red album, their latest. And then a good friend directed me to Cloudkicker. As a lifelong metal fan, both finds are welcome additions to my eclectic collection.
A friend posted a verse about “whitewashed tombs,” and it gave me pause for reflection on how that is precisely what I want to avoid becoming. It’s so freaking easy, too.
Sometimes there are simple meetings with people that change your life, and I had one yesterday. I met with a client that I’m doing a web site for, and he worked with me on a few things for his site. He thought I was doing him all sorts of benefits for the various improvements to his site, but he was actually the one helping me. I’ve had an idea brewing for a new company for a while, and this meeting put it all together in my head for me. Now I have to figure out if this new concept will really be a new company or a side-service for my existing company. I’m thinking the former because I really think business owners and managers like to work with specialists. More – much more – on this later.
My mind is so scattered lately – lots of things flying around in this brain of mine. Wish I had a small cottage in the countryside of northern IL where I could go retreat for a few days alone, and have my fam join me later in the week. I long for an even simpler life than the one I have, which is really simple.
Finally – last evening my wife, son and I visited the wake of my wife’s great-uncle whom was somewhat of a childhood grandfather figure to her. Since my grandpa was also that figure to her, it’s tough for her to have lost both in a month. But while we were there we had the obligatory stop and chat with her brother and his fiance. Right now my wife and those two people are not on good terms. Family drama. But it doesn’t involve me or my son. I had Garrett wave “Hi” to the fiance, and upon seeing it she turned her head to look away, scowling. When she later rose to walk away I told Garrett, “Say hi to your future Aunt _____,” and again she strained her head to look away, with the now familiar scowl.
Today it is taking a lot of self-control to not call my wife’s brother and ask what that was all about – how Garrett, a 21 month old toddler, has anything to do with their drama. I don’t get it. What really sucks is that my family live 6 hours away, and I have a brother who actually wants to be part of his nephew’s life, unlike the 30 year old self-absorbed child living near by. I have extended family up there, too, that want to be in the picture. Not so here. If we didn’t have such strong connections with our house church family, I’d be bringing the pressure to move to IL.
But that last part is the cool thing – we DO have strong home church family here, and I am “filthy rich” in meaningful relationships right now. Praise God.
