Monthly Archives: April 2009

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Satire blog:  "Barack Obama's Teleprompter's Blog"  (there is no POTUS without TOTUS)

Specifically, we just break out into giggling fits over some of the things the Administration folks have him saying. Like this morning, Big Guy was expected to record this with a straight-voice about legislation that required the federal government to pay for what it appropriated: "We need to adhere to the basic principle that new tax or entitlement policies should be paid for, so that government acts the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget."

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I restarted and closed my open tabs, so this may be it...

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A nice bike ride last Saturday and a couple of good walks since.  The weather has not been cooperating.

I've signed up for a Tour de Cure ride on June 20 - it's a 40  mile ride so I've got to get out and train.  I got as far as the trail head this morning, but high winds and  the sound of thunder got me back into the car.

I will go out and walk Meijer Garden this afternoon (where I can get indoors fairly quickly if it pours on me) unless it's pouring already.

I've got two "challenges" going on mapmyride.com  The first is 300 miles on the bike in 30 days, the other is walking a marathon (26 miles) in 30 days.  I most likely will do one or the other, but not both - or maybe both.  As the weather gets nice, our class walks more - that gives me the walking at work, with cycling after.

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On "The Two Kingdoms":

The first is the earthly kingdom (in which Calvin includes government, household management, all mechanical skills, and the liberal arts) exists and we exist in it.

The heavenly kingdom (the knowledge of God and of his will, and the rule by which we conform our lives to it) also exists and we exist in it.

It is the separation of these two kingdoms that allow me to be politically and socially active (and not constantly include "as a Christian"...or "as a Reformed Christian") and religiously active (and not constantly feel the need to inject politics into my faith).

I am active in both kingdoms and do not deny either.

When we look to politics for answers to our faith, we are running to the created world (this does not mean that Christians should not be politically active; this means that we should not look to the government to the solutions for our [general "our"; human beings] spiritual questions.

There are those who end up treating radical (or even not so radical) conservatism or liberalism as the "solution" to man's problems.  If we only had more money for this program, if abortions were available for any reason, for anybody at any time....and free, if the government would get out of the way, if liberals would get out of the education system, yada, yada...everything would be wonderful!

Man's problem is sin and the solution is Christ.

If a young single high school student gets pregnant, has the kid, lets the government pay for her home, post-high-school education, food stamps, medical care, etc...and then gets pregnant again...and again turns to the government...

the answer to her problem is not to get more government spending.  Her problem is her lifestyle and the answer is Christ.

These are the two kingdoms - earthly and heavenly.  As Christians, we believe that we are in the world, but not of the world.  As members of the earthly kingdom, we can (and should) work to make our physical environment a better place, but we strive for the heavenly kingdom.

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God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Eight years ago in May we were told that my husband's cancer had returned.  That Wednesday evening we were in church and we sang this song.  His hand clung to mine as we sang...

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Truly, He lives...He holds the future.

I still fall, I still fear.  But beyond all that, He lives!

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or not...

dad and me

I acquired this spinning wheel from a co-worker (out of her barn), in an unworking state.   There were a few minor things wrong with it and a couple of parts missing.

I thought of my dad and I wanted to work on this with him.  We took a little time this weekend (less than I thought it would take) and...
We have thread!WE HAVE STRING!

Not very pretty, not very even...but the wheel is (sort of) in working order.  You can see the slot where a piece is holds the spindle in place and there is a nut missing that will hold the holder in place.  Without that nut, the holder slides away from the whorl (where the outside piece of string is) and the string comes off of the big wheel, so the drive "string" comes off, which brings a halt to the spinning.

Here's the catch.  There are only 4 pieces of metal on this thing - it is put together with wood pegs and all of the nuts and screws are made of wood.  So the threads are carved.  What we need to do is find a slightly larger metal nut than we need and wrap the peg in some sort of fabric to protect the wood threads and use the metal (until if/when we can find somebody to carve a new wooden one).

I also need to find somebody with a lathe who can make a couple of new whorls and about 4 spindles.

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“These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”

These are the words of the newest president of the Episcopal Divinity School.  "The Rev. Dr. Katherine Ragsdale" is openly gay, obviously is supportive of women in church leadership and is pro-abortion.

Ms Ragsdale's words seem to be saying that anytime life gets in the way of convenience...life loses.

“When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.

“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight -- only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.

“These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”

For those of us who would choose life, our work is not done.