Complicated?

This may be one of my most unprofessional posts yet. But that fits rather well with my post...

It has always been a storm for me that the shallow, glitzy, glamorous is so...well, Glamorous! Maybe it's inferiority, or worldliness, or jealousy, or---ouch, let's stop now...

It is so easy to base one's own value on our opinion of our self; which, by the way, is all too often defined by others opinion, or a comparison we've made by others.

Why is it so complicated to turn on my heel?
To leave it all behind?
To lift my face to the only One who's opinion MATTERS?

Why is it so hard to live in such a way that Heaven will be glad,
Knowing that my efforts are not wasted?
They will last longer than any name, remembrance, talent or reputation
If only I dedicate them to the One who's opinion really Matters!

Why is it so tempting to ignore what the Almighty says I am?
His princess, His bride, the one He delights in?
Formerly forbidden, now restored to His presence by the Blood He shed!

And so... why is it important whether or not I live who I am--rather, who He made me to be?
Because, (as I tell the kids) if you can be awesome being you, doing it like nobody else can,
Why be second-rate at acting like someone else?

My worth is not in what you think.
It's not in what I think.

It's in what He thinks.

Perfect Democracy?

Breaking news reads:

Supporters of the main election challenger to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad clashed with police and set up barricades of burning tires Saturday as authorities claimed the hard-line president was re-elected in a landslide. The rival candidate said the vote was tainted by widespread fraud and his followers responded with the most serious unrest in the capital in a decade.

So what's the big deal? Why can't these people pull off an election without childish
"You cheated!"
"DID NOT! YOU DID!"
"UH-UH! YOU DID!"

Actually, why can't the US pull that off anymore?

Two reasons:
1. Some people aren't strong enough to lose, but mainly
2. No one trusts anyone, because few are trust-worthy.

Mainstream media tries to guide us to believe that
democracy is perfection,
democracy is our goal,
and perfect democracy will solve our problems.

Meanwhile, when the people are blind enough to think they are in control, they take more power under the guise of provision.
BUT this is not (or was not intended to be, anyways) a post on the role of government.

FIRST, we were not founded as a democracy.
We are a democratic republic.
Which basically means
-among other things-
that there is a check on the people as well as on the other branches.

Second, if the people have "power," they will do as they see fit.
They will make laws as they see fit.
They will prosecute as they see fit.

How will they do this? Will they do it well?

The answer is fairly cut and dry.

Blackstone's Commentary on the Laws of England make mention of two types of law.
I'm paraphrasing, but here they are:
Man's law: usually written. You know, 45 mph or "No spitting on the sidewalks!"

Moral (GOD'S) Law: Don't murder, commit adultery,
or slip wages under the table to avoid taxes.
ETHICS.

ALL of mankind is under the former law, no matter what governmental system he is under.
If the government is godly, it's laws will match up.
If it's not...
people have bonfires with tires, buildings, (God forbid) human bodies.

Which begs the question: How do bad governments come about?

The people are bad. Rocket science, isn't it?

God instituted government from the beginning. He gives power to every authority.
So...
If the people are unlawful, they will require heavier-handed government
(where America is headed, by the way...ever heard of socialism?)
Yes, if the people are unlawful, they also have unlawful government.
WAIT! Would God give power to an evil government?

Remember the Israelites? God would hand them over to their ungodly enemies for a while. They would get tired of their wickedness, repent of their ways,
and God would restore Himself as their DIRECT government.
(Of course, He governed through prophets, judges, and kings--some Godly, some not.)

Good relations require trust, which requires morality.

Godly people who persevere in affecting their countrymen and government will have a less-involved, less-restrictive ruling body.

Bad people
(or Christians who bury their heads in the proverbial sand, not doing more than voting
--if that at all--
and never voicing opposition to unethical behavior in their workplace)
will have over-involved, Marxist, and probably corrupt tyrants to deal with.

Bottom Line:

Morality is VITAL to Freedom.

Weed Eater, Anyone?

I had full intentions of finding that special place. True, I missed it the first time I passed, but only because I failed to watch for it. I was more careful the second time--but the path eluded me again.

I knew that place very well...once. Once, I frequented the cool but welcoming shadows, the quiet stream, the incredible serenity. Yes, it existed.

But now it is lost to me! Has it left? Or have I simply lost the path?

I suppose it was a subtle thing, this hiding of my path. (Plants rarely explode into a forest overnight!) But sly nature has a way of filling deserted places with her own visitors.

Deserted? Why, I never deserted the place! I held it near to my heart! Of course, the other distractions may have kept me away for, oh, 2 or 3 months--but it was not intentional, my friends!

Now, if I am to find my way again, I must crash through the underbrush and dodge branches. Hm, sounds violent...maybe painful. I may get scratched. I wonder--is it worth it?

It's been so long. SO long. The memory is nearly hazy...was it a dream? Did it happen?

Does it exist?

"Where is your faith?"

The quiet place of prayer grows sweeter with visitation.
You can fool yourself with hypocrisy...you may call yourself a Christian,
But if your path is getting weedy, you are in grave danger.

Your attitude will show it.
Your priorities will show it.
Your life will be empty, though you stuff the gaping cavern with all you can get your hands on:
Excuses, anger, materialism, hate, and always--Selfishness.

How can we?
We've know the sweetness of intimacy with the Power of the Universe!

But, when distractions are closer to our hearts than that quiet place,
our path will become overgrown.

How do Christians become Atheists?

The path "disappeared."
It takes too much energy, too much effort, to crash back through.
They forgot how important it is, and now it's not worth it.

Keep your hedge trimmer handy.

PAR-TAY!...in continuation

No doubt you thought my graduation celebration posts were through. "Nay Nay," I say, "Nay Nay!" LOL

My charming family came to visit me this last weekend to celebrate my graduation. We ate, played games, took ridiculous amounts of pictures, ate, went to the pops, ate, watched a movie, and ate. Other than for my being sick, we had a lovely time.

The whole group

moi?

Myra

(...ok, when can the eating begin?)

Bro. Brown

some of that wonderful food...

Joy and Jeffrey
(She took the pic, so they can't kill me for putting it on...XD )

Sis. Betty Brown helping out.

The wonderful Mommy doing my cake.

The bro and me.

So, that's all for now! Much Grass!

Storytime:

Once upon a time--a very long time ago...Marjorie made that last post. Wow, it's been a while! I guess that means I have some catching up to do!

dum-dah-dah-DUM!

I'M GRADUATING!
HOORAY!

We also had our last day at the home school co-op...we got really cool T-shirts. (I may get pics on of them later.) We also had a neat little celebration.
Also graduating were Philip and Deborah (she wasn't there).

We got pinned, hatted, and (me, anyways) embarrassed.
For those of you that don't know who he is, this is Phil, and he would rock your socks off!

Mrs. Kristen, my teacher and Phil's mom.
She is the total awesomeness!

Hunter

Meagan and Lindzy

There was also a trip to Lake Winnie,
a.k.a. the most fun place to get crisped to a lovely shade of red...

Andrea and I hung out a lot...
btw, you can see our school shirts in this one!
fun, fun, fun,
the burn has just begun...

behold the craziness...

Andrea's brothers--she was supposed to be in the picture, but...
Meagan and Lily
Camera War!

I also went on a very fun trip to P.A. for Campus Days at PVBI. Martha and I braved the highways...and more highways...and lots of Virginia highways...and anno---nice Virginia cops...in unmarked cars. Cheese.
We did see this neat truck.

You can tell I didn't take a lot of pics, huh?
Ryan!

We had some cute little robins in our yard!

Ummm...cute?gross!

and flowers...

As well as a friendly little squirrely outside my window!

My family and I also had an extrememly unique, memorable, and fun experience recently. We went to a Brazilian restaurant in Indianapolis.
FOGO DE CHAO
Our host was David Wilson...he's pictured with us later.
After we ate from a salad bar with many unusual things on it (yummy cheese), we turned over our little cards. As long as you wanted more meat on your plate, you put your card on the green side.
Gentlemen (in traditional outfits) came around with different types of meat on their silver spears. If you wanted what they had, they would ask you how done you wanted it. (After several times of telling them how you like it on different meats, they remembered on their own--which is amazing because they are serving tons of tables at the same time!)
When you had enough on your plate, you turned your card over till you wanted more.
We ate.
and ate.
and ate.
oh boy...


A looong time ago, Leah had her B-day party, and it's time I got those pics up too!

She and her brother William.

The bunch of us.

Andrea and I
(someone always has to be in the picture with her--she hates cameras--and since I'm always taking pictures--thus, the ones of us.)

We had a photo shoot!
(Angie was leaving for the mission field.)

We went to a neat Greek restaurant...I had caviar. mmmmmm...


Well, gtg now!

PINK MUDRAKERS

They're cute. "Funny" in the vocab of you male creatures.
You don't think anything of it--well, not really. Their conversation seems stimulating enough...
but later. Later you begin to uncover those little pebbles they've surreptitiously slipped in your subconscious. Oh, my friend, it may take weeks-years, even. But they are there.
Pebbles seem innocent enough. Small. True, they're hard, but "Hey! They're shiny, right?"
Maybe you recognize them as negative...but they're so little! What harm could something so small bring?
Remember that neat little tale by...oh what's his name? Aesop?
It was dreadful. The raven was oh, so thirsty. Tantalizing, shimmering water...at the bottom of a deep vase. He gathered one little pebble. Splash! Two, three, four...The water rose. And rose.
My friend, if a bunch of little pebbles can raise the water, a bunch of little pebbles can sink your thoughts.

But I digress.

Those friends. The ones that always have something to laugh at--or should I say someone to laugh at?
Humor is their weapon to pierce others...but always in the back.
Humor is also their mask...to hide their scorn.
Ah, here's the fatal flaw. Scorn, contempt---just not liking someone (but they won't say why).
This gives them away!
It seems at first that they tower above the petty stupidity, the mistakes, the unfortunate personality traits. Yes! they tower above with their perfect pink plumage and sharp orange bill, daintily picking through the muck below with ever-pointing claws.
Till it suddenly occurs to you:

"Hmmm...if they are so far above the smelly, tinted mudbath...
Why? Why do they continually dwell in it?
Couldn't they leave? Why don't they leave?
Or at least try to fix it?
But they don't.
Why?
It couldn't possibly be...
No...But yet...
Could it be that--that they like it?
Does it build their morale to pick on others, yet knowing they are no better themselves?
Or do they know they are no better than others,
and try to fool the world by pointing out the errors of the others,
rather than doing the hard thing, and changing themselves!

Beware the Pink Mudrakers. They look pretty. They're funny. They're even fun to be around. (Trust me, I know)
But their claws are sharp...their pebbles are heavy.

Swish, swish, clunk-swish!

Are you familiar with the sound of a dishwasher?
The splashing rhythm, the occasional clink of a dish?
You might not be hearing the same thing someone else is!

The Sanguine
You may find her humming and dozing to the sound, sweetly oblivious to anything--
even the tune lulling her...
OR you may find her reeling about the kitchen with her partner, the broom. She bellows out anything with any rhythm that might (or should) keep tempo with our friend, the dishwasher.
She is oblivious to anything except the feelings produced by the appliance.

The Phlegmatic
He sits...
(but that's not unusual)
He may consider the dishwasher...then again, he might not.
Let us imagine that he hears it and does consider it:
He may regard it with a distance--after all, if there were not any dishwashers,
what should become of the dirty dishes?
To some, this may have produced some discomfort. But not to our Phleg!
No!
What would become of them? Why, nothing at all!
If they got washed, someone else would do it!
NO BIG DEAL!


The Choleric

Clink! Clink!
She sits up.
What in heaven's name is that noise?
Someone really ought to fix it.
OH! It's the dishwasher...I see.
I Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Hmmm...Let me think. Now that the washing is being taken care of, that means someone is going to have to take care of those dishes...
Well, it must be done!
WHO could I get to take care of those dishes?

And who am I?
Why, the Melancholy, of course!

Who else would take the sound of a dishwasher and mull over it forever, wasting her time?
Then deciding that instead of letting it waste her time, use it to make a post!
Who else would finish her post by asking others to comment and let me know which personality they are!

If you are interested in personalities and understanding why those weird people do what they do, you might check out
"Personality Plus"
by Florence Littauer!
Smart Sanguine that she is...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr....

"Whew!" Wesley collapsed into a chair. "It's done. Over. Through..."
Wesley (above), along with his mother and his brothers' new in-laws, just finished celebrating Andrew and Marybeth's wedding.
Marion, OH, Saturday, February 21st saw Andrew Cressman and Marybeth Brown get married....AND SOME VERY COLD WEATHER!
I'm sure Wesley feels much better after getting all that stress taken care of!

My cousin and I at the wedding
(notice the background--another of their masterpieces!)

My beautiful city, Cincinnati

At Andrew's house.
Marybeth never has to feel alone when he's gone.

Food at the wedding

She had a gorgeous train!!!!

My brother playing babysitter during rehearsal.

Michaela

Jeffrey and Joy came to visit for a day. Jeffrey took Daddy and me shooting.
I think my favorite gun was the one in the first picture.
It didn't kick quite as much as the 40 (second pic)

That Day

Snap! Snap! Ah, I remember that day well! The wind was perfect! There is absolutely nothing quite like a brisk wind in my folds before that delicious "Snap!"
As a flag, my two main diversions include snapping and observing--I no longer consider pole-sitting a "diversion." That's just life now. Also, the weather conditions are not always conducive to snapping; therefore it was quite an excitement to have an entire crowd to observe and a perfect snapping wind come up!
I see many men in uniform here on the Fort Campbell base. So many, in fact, that civilians are a refreshing sight! Rather, I should say a refreshing "sound," for I heard them first. Sounds that soldiers never make swelled and waned within the plane hanger. Children's screams, raucous giggles, robust greetings, and announcements from the loud speaker occasionally surged above the hub.
Oh the smells! One solitary human could never experience scents the way a flag does. Contrary to common belief, flags are very sensitive to smells, for we smell like what we are around! (The same could be said for humans and their company!) When one has enough time--and concern--to condense every scent floating around into one potent aroma, he becomes very sensitive to all smells! These scents did not waft. Not at all! The scent of every perfume, cologne, diaper, and bag of popcorn muscled and jostled out of the hanger, engulfing me in that scent. I still smell like that day.

Nothing unusual seemed to be occurring out of doors, yet suddenly civilians began to spurt from a portal in the hanger wall! They did not trickle; they rushed! This was an urgent crowd! Something was happening! Brilliant colors blurred as the crowd frantically shoved themselves to the hard iron gates, flinging their arms high. Were they prisoners?
What was that? A distant roar--Ah, yes, I knew that sound well! The great metal bird was returning! I had never known this bird to be dangerous, yet the closer he flew, the more violent their eruptions of shrieks and waving became!

After the bird decided to let out his passengers out onto the white field, my attention quickly shifted to my favorite beings in the world. My soldiers. As a flag, I'm fortunate to be stationed on a military base. I am respected as all American flags should be. Men leave their homes and families so I can fly high and free. Therefore, I pay thorough attention to each one of these soldiers as he files by.
These were not the starched and restless men that marched into the great metal bird so long ago. They were darkened by sun and experience. Their bodies were hard, but tired. Yet some things had not changed. The pride that lifted their boots a little higher, their shoulders a little straighter, their grins a little wider was still there. Each yard closer to that metal gate scintillated a spark in their weary eyes. The civilians strained to reach the coming parade, each calling a different name; but the soldiers just kept marching. Marching.

This is a partly-true account of the homecoming of a soldier.

Monday night's!
I got some pics of the folks at our English classes, teen class, and Niños Para Cristo (Kids for Christ)

America, an English student who recently had a great answer to prayer for her and her family.
She really does smile alot, but she thinks she comes out better with a serious expression
(something I can relate to!)

Natalia

The guys section of our group
(don't let those cute smiles deceive you!)

Michelle is very proud that some of her teeth are missing/coming in.
She is going to be in the hospital tomorrow having a dental procedure done. If you remember and would care to please pray for her!

I think Miracle Goop has something to do with this...

Ociel

Carlos

Saúl

Sylvia

Junior