My oldest son. And you know? He’s a cutie pie even looking like a dork. lol
Here’s a picture of my husband, wearing the same pair of goggles.
Fiction under 250 words.
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“Casie! Sharon! It’s time for Bible study, get in here!”
Lauren leaned over to place the children’s bibles at their respective places at the dining room table. Her husband entered the room and playfully slapped her on the rear-end.
“Hey!” She laughed and twisted around to receive his kiss. “Stop that. Somehow, it feels wrong to be swatted on the butt right before we honor God.”
Her husband chuckled, gave her a playful wink and took his seat at the head of the table.
The two girls scampered into the room giggling. They gave each other a playful shove before settling into their seats; they squirmed with pent-up energy.
“Okay girls, settle down. Sharon, you’ve got food on your mouth, wipe it off, please.”
The seven-year old girl lifted a pudgy hand up to her mouth and neatly wiped it across her mouth. She then ran the back of her hand down the side of her jeans to clean off her hand.
Lauren sighed. “I actually meant for you to use a napkin, but since I wasn’t specific,” she rolled her eyes at her husband. “I suppose I asked for that one.”
Casie chuckled in appreciation of her sister’s actions.
“So,” Lauren’s eyes locked onto Casie as she took her seat. “Did you read the Ten Commandants like I asked you to?”
“Yep.”
“And did you note the part about honoring your mother and father?”
Casie snorted. “You said to learn it. You didn’t say I had to do it!”
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Want to play? All you have to do is write 250 words (no MORE) about any scene you heard, witnessed or imagined. You can either post your own flash fiction on your blog, or post it in the comment section!
Either way – do it now. Don’t wait. Don’t make excuses.
Here are a few things that caught my attention this past weekend.
(WARNING: These topics are controversial and a bit *ahem* top heavy, but these are the sorts of things I think about – a lot. Thanks for stopping by).
Remember all the hoopla over the Pro-Life commercial that was scheduled to air during the Super Bowl? Have you seen it??
I KNOW! Are you shocked?! Can you believe they would promote family?!? What is wrong with these people.
Pfft.
Isn’t it crazy what people get so bent out of shape over? I thought this commercial was sweet and touching and only reinforced the need for women to make a wise and informed decision about something as precious as a life.
But hold on – I’m pro-choice. And by that I mean pro-choice. I believe women have the right to say what happens to their body. I believe that as soon as that right, or any similar right that affects an individual, is taken away, then we have serious problems.
Can you imagine being a victim of incest or rape and then having someone tell you that you MUST have the baby anyway? That you don’t have a choice. Yes, it was a terrible and bad thing that happened to you but TOUGH. That decision is no longer yours to make.
BUT …. BUT … before you go off and start lecturing me about the importance of life let me just say …
I agree with you. Please understand, I think a woman should retain her right to choose what is done to her body, I just pray that she chooses life over death.
It sickens, and disgusts me, how callous society has become when it comes to children. Both in the womb and out. Abortion should never, ever, EVER be used as a form of birth control and I think too often, it is. I think society, as a whole, does not value life in general and is alarmingly flippant and blasé about it. It’s life. It’s precious. And I believe that if a woman finds herself pregnant, she should CHOOSE to either keep it or give it up for adoption. Abortion should only, and I stress ONLY, be the last resort.
I think too often, pro-choice people are actually pro-abortion. Because if they were truly pro-choice, wouldn’t they be grateful that the women who contemplated abortion chose life instead? I see too many people get bent out of shape when other alternatives are offered to women in that situation and I just don’t understand WHY pro-choice people would have a problem with that. Don’t you find it ironic that to be truly pro-choice other options should be given and yet when they’re given, and taken, people get upset? Why would anyone get upset over a woman’s CHOICE to give birth to the baby and then give it up for adoption? Or CHOOSE to keep the baby and raise it herself? That’s what this commercial is all about. It’s about the choice this woman made to keep her baby, even though she was having a difficult pregnancy and even though the experts were telling her the baby might die.
And yet, people have a problem with it. Why? Because it promotes life? Because it highlights this woman’s decision to have her baby despite the danger? Because it promotes strong family values? Because it was scheduled to air during a time slot reserved for inane, asinine, fluffy commercials about casual Fridays? I truly don’t understand the opposition.
In the meantime, you can read more about the story behind this commercial here. (Please watch it – it’s inspiring and brought tears to my eyes). If you want to comment, go ahead. But I reserve the right to delete anything that is less than respectful or inflammatory in any way.
Speaking of Super Bowl commercials, here’s another one that irked me:
Danica Patrick. *SIGH* I just can’t like her because of these stupid, sexist Go-Daddy commercials.
I mean, here’s a woman, making headway in a predominately male sport, who has the opportunity to be great, to do something substantial, to make history and inspire future generations of women and yet, she succumbs to the ole stand-by of “let’s flash some boob to get attention” stint.
I mean, COME ON, Ms. Patrick, have some freaking pride, why don’t you? I understand the whole sponsor thing, I get that it’s really hard, if not impossible, to get anyone to go out on a limb and fork over millions of dollars for a racing team in this economy, but couldn’t you have put your foot down and said something like “NO! I won’t allow you to market me into yet another lame, sexist attempt to broaden your audience.”
Here’s a thought, what ever happened to showing what a kick-ass driver you are? Instead, we’re once again focused on your looks and the fact that *GASP* you have breasts.
Big whoop.
I’m excited about more women getting into NASCAR, but geez louise, can we have a little respect for our gender, and for the other female drivers in the meantime? Which are just as pretty and probably just as talented as Ms. Patrick, only we don’t know about because the media is so focused on Patrick’s lame attempts to market herself and tease the public with boob shots.
Gah.
Here is an interesting local story I thought I would comment on:
Religious symbol on jewelry puts woman crossways with employer
In essence, this woman works (worked?) for FedEx and refused to take off her cross necklace citing religious reasons. Only, the company specifically has a policy about anyone wearing any sort of jewelery with their uniform – they can’t even wear any sort of pins. This is a company policy and I’m assuming this woman signed a form stating that she agreed to those terms.
I think it was wise on FedEx’s part to make this policy specific and known because in order to allow one individual to wear a symbol of Christianity, then to be fair, they then would also be forced to allow others to wear their religious symbols and quite honestly? It’s hard enough not to offend anyone in business, let alone when a company is willing to open the door to symbols that will surely offend someone at some point; eliminating all sorts of jewelry and garment paraphernalia nips a potential problem in the bud.
Now granted, I can appreciate this woman’s willingness to stand up for her religion, a religion that I happen to also believe in, but this is a company policy, that she was made aware of multiple times and is a condition of her working there. Not to sound cold-hearted, but if she wants to wear her cross, she will need to look for a job that will allow her the luxury of wearing said jewelry.
However, given these last few sentences in the story:
“Her administrative leave is attributed to being out of uniform for multiple months. There are personal insignia limitations in the dress code but religious exceptions are given when requested and validated.”
Graves says she didn’t know and wasn’t told she could apply for a religious exemption. She says she would have done so if given the opportunity.
It sounds to me like the company will give in to her “religious exemption.” Which isn’t right, though again, I can appreciate this woman’s refusal to conform and compromise her beliefs, because if the company gives in to her, then they have to give in to the next person and the next and where exactly do they draw the line?
Why even have a policy to begin with if they’re going to eventually waffle and cite “religious exemption” for the people who refuse to follow company rules?
Did you hear?! Sarah Palin wrote on her hand!! Oh my gosh!! The gall of the woman! Has she never heard of a teleprompter??
And can you believe this was actually news? And the left was trying to somehow spin this into something about cheating?!
Unbelievable. Yes, the woman wrote down some key points she wanted to cover in the speech she gave at the annual Tea Party convention in Nashville over the weekend. And I daresay she wrote those key points down because she didn’t have teleprompters to guide her when she spoke – from her heart.
Unlike another prominent public SERVANT in the White House.
Let’s not forget that our Commander in Chief can’t even address children without his trusty teleprompter, people.
I mean seriously. How pathetic.
THAT pretty much trumps any notes that Palin scribbled on her hand, don’t you think?
And lastly, because this post is steeped in negativity, let’s end on a positive, and funny, note.
Betty White’s appearance in this Snickers commercial:
She’s a class act, isn’t she? 
Who doesn’t love the E-Trade babies, right?
Check out the outtakes.
So. I hear there’s a Super Bowl on today.
Who’s playing again?
Cause I’m one of those few Americans who don’t care about football.
Or any sport, for that matter.
Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.
If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.
Let’s get started:
[The following article was taken from The Contender, a bimonthly magazine that was published by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International.]
Hello there, dear contender in the human race. May the blessings of God be upon you as you continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. What a walk this is, huh? Lately, as I have struggled to suppress the “self-full-ness” (I just made up that word) wedged within me, so that I can love with the pure love of Christ, I have found myself having more empathy with others engaged in the same challenge. I have seen how self-oriented my “love” too often is, and it absolutely disgusts me. So I thought I’d discuss this subject in my column in this issue of The Contender, and I hope that you can relate to what I share and also benefit from it.
“What is love?” That’s a question that has no doubt been asked countless times, and no doubt been answered in countless ways, such as: “A many-splendored thing”; “Five feet of heaven in a ponytail”; “Giving”; “Rosie” (or whatever woman’s name may be tattooed on your arm). But, of course, since God is love, we should allow Him to define this term for us, and He certainly does so in His Word.
The Greek word agape, unknown to writers outside the New Testament, is a familiar one to most Bible readers, and I like E.W. Bullinger’s lexical definition of it:
“Agape denotes the love that springs from admiration and veneration, and which chooses its object with decision of will and devotes a self-denying and compassionate devotion to it.”
Gosh, I want to love that way. Keys to doing so? Keep putting on the mind of Christ, so that I see each person as he does. Keep reaching out to others. Keep adjusting my heart and actions when I see that others are not getting the love I think I’m giving. No self pity! No whining!
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 has been quoted, carved, decoupaged, needlepointed and calligraphied. What I really want to do is live it. Here it is from The Message:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.Would to God that the above will one day be a description of me, but boy, the sin nature within me is subtle. My love for another and my great desire to do for her (let’s use a female pronoun, since that’s hip these days) can cross the line into becoming about me rather than about her. It can become about my pride in doing, and I can usually tell when this is by how I feel when she doesn’t show as much appreciation as I think she should. This is about control, not selfless giving, and it stifles true love.
Recently I was talking with my daughter, Christine, who usually dispenses at least several pearls of wisdom in each of our conversations. She had just completed a four week Outward Bound course as the lead counselor for seven “troubled yutes” (boys ages 13 to 17), and her observations were poignant. She spoke about her tendency to be a control freak (that couldn’t be genetic) and how she was learning to overcome this, especially in the context of leading people who have free will.
Naturally, in a phone conversation taking place soon after the NBA playoffs, we as serious hardwood fans talked a little about the final series between the Lakers and the Pacers. In the context of her recent experience in the wilderness with the boys, she mentioned Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s hybrid religious philosophy, a kind of “Zen Christianity.” A main point in Zen thinking is detachment from the outcome in a situation. Christine said that she had to come to grips with the fact that nothing she did for those boys would guarantee a change in their lives. Therefore, if she were to be in balance, it could not be about winning or losing, as far as her impact upon them, but rather about becoming content with just being with them in their struggle.
Think about how all this relates to the Lord Jesus. He lived his life and went to the Cross knowing that not all people would believe in him and take advantage of the monumental sacrifice he was making for them. In fact, some would curse him, spit on him and do everything they could to stop other people from knowing him and loving him. Yet, he still made the long trek to Golgotha, and I don’t think he was muttering angrily under his breath all the way. But I have muttered my way through too many “selfless” acts of “love” that took far less sacrifice than the Cross. How sickening is that?!
God is love. What a truth! One of the greatest ways that God showed His love was by giving mankind genuine freedom of will, and really allowing us to make our own choices in life. True love never coerces or manipulates in any way. Rather, God sets before each of us choices, telling us the resulting benefits and consequences. He does not then “badger” us about the choices we make. His message is, “When you turn to me, I am right there for you, and when you turn away from me, I am still there waiting for you to turn back.”
God is the model lover, and we can see His heart personified in Jesus Christ. In My Utmost For His Highest (July 19), Oswald Chambers writes:
“Our Lord never insists on having authority; He never says, “Thou shalt.” He leaves us perfectly free–so free that we can spit in his face, as men did; so free that we can put him to death, as men did; and He will never say a word. But when His life has been created in me by His redemption, I instantly recognize His right to absolute authority over me…If our Lord insisted upon obedience, He would become a taskmaster, and He would cease to have any authority. He never insists upon obedience, but when we do see Him we obey Him instantly, He is easily Lord, and we live in adoration of Him from morning till night. The revelation of my growth in grace is the way in which I look upon obedience.”
How hard it seems to be for me to follow suit, even with someone who I love deeply. Why? Because I often think that I know what is best, and I want to control the outcome. Even if I am right, that is still not the way God loves me, and the other would be well served if I love her like God loves me. I am currently reading a book titled The Art of Intimacy, by T.P. and P.T. Malone, and I think that some excerpts from an essay on “Love” that one of the authors had written earlier and included in the book are most pertinent in the context of this column:
“The experience of loving is unilateral. It asks no response, nor does it demand the other to be deserving…The loving rewards, not the being loved…The feeling of love arises out of your person, unreasonably and wonderfully thrusting itself on, and contagiously evoking response in, the other. When felt unreservedly without hesitance, shame or fear, the loved has no choice but to love. The slightest hesitance or most meager reservation in loving can undo. If the love feeling in you does not wake a love response, do not chastise the other, but look into your own heart to find wherein your loving lacks fullness or is crippled by your hesitance…
“I love you”…means that I surround you with the feeling that allows you—perhaps even requires you—to be everything you really are as a human being at that moment. When my love is fullest, you are most fully you…And so I experience you in all your beauty and in all your ugliness…Because being loved allows the other to be what he or she really is, it is much easier to know when you are loved than when you are loving. The affirmation of your love is in the other person’s being; the confirmation of being loved lies in your experience of being yourself…Since it is easier to know when you are loved than when you are being loving, the most serious personal distortions of human experience lie in the loving, not the loved, experience. Most psychiatric problems arise out of confusion of loving; mistakes about being loved are rare, if they occur at all…
But to love is to be alone, at least initially and momentarily, since it is unilateral and not dependent on response from the loved one. And since the fear of being separated makes us concerned with the response of the other, and so keeps us from loving, the very fear of aloneness and separation oddly enough results in our awful aloneness and deadly separation.”
A husband has no absolute guarantee that even if he loves his wife like Christ loved the Church, she will respond with a godly love for him. A parent has no absolute guarantee that his godly parenting will result in his children becoming dynamic Christians. Yet God’s Word states that this kind of godly love is the only way to go in any human relationship, and is what gives the other the best opportunity to respond as God would have him respond. Once again, Jesus Christ is the epitome of this kind of love.
In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, the words “reconcile” or “reconciliation” appear five times. The basic meaning of the noun is “a change on the part of one party only, induced by some action on the part of another.” God so loved that He gave His only Son. Jesus so loved that he gave his only life. Now it is my turn, your turn, and we can so love that we give up ourselves for the sake of another, to show her as much as possible of the heart of God, unfiltered by our humanity.
Ephesians 4:25-32 gives us a clear picture of how it will look, behaviorally, if I love someone like Jesus would. Then come verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 5 – a commandment of God that must contain both a provision and a promise. That is, we can do it!
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
It looks to me as though a key to reaching this lofty goal is to know that I am “dearly loved” by the Creator, who is also my dad, and by the Lord Jesus, who is my big brother. The more I understand their passionate, unwavering, unconditional love for me, the more free I am to fearlessly love others, knowing that my “self” is in good hands and that I don’t have to take care of it at the expense of another. Such a deal.
Well, I gotta go and practice all this, so until I see you in the October Contender, have fun in the Son. And stay on the edge of your comfort zone, stretching your faith day by day.
You can read the original article here.
If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about God’s wonderful message, please visit the Truth or Tradition website. You can also keep track of the ministry through their Facebook page, their YouTube Channel, or follow them on Twitter.
Thanks for reading.
(Comments have been turned off. The information is here to inform and bless you. God granted you the gift of free will – take it or leave it).
More from Write From Karen
7:32 p.m.
Jazz is at a sleepover. Kevin left to go play at a gig tonight and that just leaves me and Dude. We took advantage of this time alone and went driving. We first went to Bed, Bath and Beyond so I could buy a new dish brush and a Yankee candle – cause mama LOVES Yankee candles. Then he drove us to Steak-N-Shake for dinner and I’m now, right this very minute, sucking on a vanilla shake.
My intestines will object later, I’m sure. But … meh. Such is life.
We had a really nice time. He got to practice driving in the dark and it was nice to just be me and him, without the distraction of crazy little brother and without the pressure of having to impress dad – it was just me – boring old mom.
We actually went in to eat at Steak-N-Shake. It wasn’t very crowded when we got there, but of course, the place filled up shortly after we ordered. That always happens – we go someplace, hardly any customers and then *POW* – we’re surrounded. It’s so strange and we all laugh about it now. It’s like, “Oh LOOK! There’s the blank family! They’re so cool! We have to stop and eat/shop there because we too want to be cool!”
Seriously.
Our conversation was a bit awkward at first. But I kept asking him questions and he soon relaxed a bit. I asked him if he was embarrassed to out in public with “MOM”, but he surprised me and said no. Of course, he was probably lying, but it still made me feel good. We talked a little about our upcoming New York trip in July. His eyes lit up and I think he’s really looking forward to going. I hinted that we were going to go someplace fun, someplace that he and Jazz would absolutely love and my very smart son said, “Nintendo World?”
*sigh* I can’t get anything by this boy.
Kevin called while we were eating, he had forgotten his song list and wanted us to drop back by the house and get it for him. So, Dude drove back to our house, I ran in and grabbed it. We then drove up to The New Key Largo to deliver the song list. Kevin was excited to see us and wanted us to see the place where he would be playing. Well, I’ve already seen it, of course, he wanted Dude to see it. So, Dude shut off his car and we went in.
I could tell by Kevin’s face that he was pretty proud to show Dude where they were going to play. And Dude made me proud when he shook hands with the other guys in the band, like the budding man he is.
Now. He’s back online, talking to his “friends.” Though I suppose I shouldn’t put that in quotation marks since he’s actually been talking to this same group of guys for a few years now.
And I’m sitting here, typing to you all because I’m lonely and I miss my guys.
Times like these? I crave a girlfriend.
