Heart Breaks #2

I love this quote.  

"Great minds discuss ideas.  Average minds discuss events.  Small minds discuss people."  

Eleanor Roosevelt

A Conservative Christian's changing perspectives on Republicanism...

I had an odd upbringing.  One foot planted so firmly in 'the world' that my favorite movie in first grade was Pretty Woman, and we had dirty magazines on the coffee table, and one foot so deep in the Evangelical church that we ate the Malt-O-Meal brand of Lucky Charms because it didn't have the word 'lucky' in the name and we couldn't say the word careful "The Bible says 'take no care!'"  It was confusing to say the least.  I often didn't know where we stood on issues.

But EVERYONE knew where the church stood on two issues.  You could ask a random heroin addict under a bridge and they could tell you.  Abortion and homosexuality.  Those are the big ones.  THE REALLY REALLY BAD ONES.  Not okay, EVER.  You are vocal against both.  And you do whatever you can to stop either one.  And you never ask questions.  They're just wrong.  And they're why 'we' vote Republican, by the way.

Of course, along the way, we are taught many other reasons why Republicanism is the way to go.  We need our guns!  We don't want our children taught about condoms and birth control!  They need to learn abstinence only!  We don't need to be shouldering the burden of the poor!  They should work for what they want!  We don't need immigrants coming to OUR COUNTRY and taking OUR RESOURCES!

But...isn't that what Christianity is all about?  Taking care of the needy and welcoming those who reach out?

When did our nationalism become more important than our Christianity?

Would Jesus carry a gun?  Would He think His right to a gun was worth all the lives lost to gun violence?

How is abstinence only education working out?  Not well.  We don't want abortions and we don't want to support welfare programs like food stamps, WIC, etc.  And we aren't going out in droves as Christians offering unwed mothers free babysitting, diapers or parenting classes.  So we are saying:

               we don't want to teach you how to avoid pregnancy
               we just want you to do things our way
               regardless of your personal beliefs
               and use more self control than we as adults tend to use
               even though your brains aren't fully developed
               but if you mess up, we won't help you
               because welfare is wrong
               and we're selfish and self absorbed
               but we think we're loving

So basically, if you're a Christian who opposes abortion and welfare, you'd better be on the front lines, volunteering with unwed mothers and supporting solid sex education.  Otherwise you're a hypocrite.

Anyhow, I've been thinking about this next election.  I've always voted straight Republican, my thought being that I can't imagine voting for a party that supports abortion.  That was really important to me.

And then I thought...how do Republican policies treat the poor, minorities, homosexuals and immigrants?  These are people already living, and they are marginalized and given few rights.  Do I feel okay voting singularly for the issue of abortion without considering all the people I might be voting against?

I do believe abortion hurts.  But so do many, many other issues we face every day.  I don't think I can vote, in good conscience, with one issue in mind anymore.  I'm not saying I won't vote Republican.  I'm saying that I can't assume that will be my vote based on one issue anymore.  I have to really think about what I believe the Bible really teaches me to do and how to treat people and how my vote can best accomplish that.  If my goal is lavish love, my vote has to reflect that.

Another thing I want all Christian Republicans to remember is that we are meant to be salt and light everywhere we go.  What impression are we making?  I see this stuff all.the.time.

And there were some so foul I wouldn't repost them.  I can't even believe anyone would put that on their car.  Or that anyone would print it.

Heart Breaks #1

Sometimes I don't have a wealth of knowledge to share with you, my many many readers.  (Shocking, I know).  I just have a little tidbit.  I thought I'd call these Heart Breaks.  Little breaks for the heart.  I KNOW, IT'S SAPPY.  But here's number one anyway.

Sometimes it's hard to know what to pray.  But I do it anyway, and I leave with peace even after the simplest prayer.  God's listening ear isn't dependent on our eloquence.

American Girl 2015 GOTY Sneak Peek!

She won't be available for another week but I've got a sneak peek of Grace, the 2015 Girl of the Year from American Girl!  And her amaaaaazing accessories!!!  I love her Paris story line and everything about her.  I can't wait until she's part of Gracie's collection!

Differences between me and John #3

The other evening while Philip was at a school dance (!!!!!!!) John, Gracie and I went to get milkshakes at Jack in the Box.  As usual, John was taking FOREVER to decide what he wanted, so I browsed the menu and noticed that for fifty cents you can get two pieces of bacon.  John finally decided he wanted a smoothie.  When I ordered the two milkshakes and one smoothie, I said "I see on your menu that you offer bacon as an addition to my order; can you please add one order of bacon to the smoothie?"

By this point we were all laugh crying and I was in danger of peeing my pants.  I thought all was fine until John's seat suddenly went WOOSH.  He was laying down.  He said "I don't want to be seen, I'm so embarrassed!"

Meanwhile, I was giddy.  I couldn't wait to get to the window to see if they really had done it.

(They didn't.  We received our bacon separately.  Apparently we had to 'add it ourselves'.  Ripoff.)