Shorter Lines in the Emergency Rooms

"Illegal is illegal," said Pearce, a driving force on the issue in Arizona. "We'll have less crime. We'll have lower taxes. We'll have safer neighborhoods. We'll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We'll have smaller classrooms."
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36735281/ns/politics/

I suppose when Rep. Pearce comes across the man left "half dead by the side of the road" (Luke 10:30-37), he's planning to check whether he's an illegal immigrant ("require anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to produce identification"), and call the cops instead of get him help. Regardless of where you stand on the immigration issue, don't call yourself a Christian and refuse emergency medical treatment over immigration matters.

Pregnant Women Can Now Use Reserved Parking Spaces Close to Stores

Pregnant Women in their third trimester are now legally permitted to use the disabled parking spaces. It appears that they need to get a specific permit from their doctor, though, and that it's up to the doctor to make the call.

See House Bill 2907 (the link doesn't show it's been passed and signed by the governor, but it has as of April 12).

Nuts

The mightiest oak was once a little nut that held its ground.

Source: unknown.

Love Is Kind

kind

to believe, attitude*, think, speak, and act in a manner that is born out of and moves the other closer to shalom. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Thoughts?

*: I am using attitude as a verb here.

Did you hear that, Oma?

Those who have passed away before us, and belong to the Family of God, as they are now with our Father in Heaven, are they able to know our thoughts? When I think back fondly to my Oma's garden as I work on ours, and even work in a few similarities, does she knwow that and "smile down on me?"

Exciting Times

If you thought that multitouch and the Wii are cool, you need to realize that we're just beginning to see some of the amazing ways to use technology in the future. Check out this video and think about what's possible in even just a few years (and yes, they'll get the little machine down to size. Remember that computers far less powerful than your cell phone once filled a room).

Association with Non-Christians; Judging Others

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler - not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Random thought: as I re-read this, I couldn't help remembering the case of Ms. Kessmann, until yesterday leader of Germany's protestants, who resigned in the wake of a drunk driving episode. Lots of people were declaring that she alone could make her decision, or that she should not resign. "The drunkard"... "remove the wicked man." Maybe God does think this is a bigger deal than some people would like to believe.

Nonetheless, my real reason for posting this were the themes of, "don't rip [sinners] for acting like [sinners]" (anybody ever read 1 John 3?), and "quit judging others - that's God's job."

Blessed

What do you have that you did not receive? 1 Corinthians 4:7

When pride or self-satisfaction come knocking, remember.

Lord, Save Us From the Knock-out Punches

How often have you received this e-mail?

Christian says...
Muslim says...
Christian says...
Muslim says...
Christian says...
Muslim says...
Christian delivers knock-out punch line...
Muslim has no response.

How I wish we could make these e-mails go away. First off, I doubt many of them ever happened. Maybe more importantly, things don't work that way. Do we really think that very many people will want to get to know the 'God who is love' when their experience with his followers is that of an intellectual argument - which in our e-mail, they lost?

And yet, we keep reading them and forwarding them with gusto. Trust me, if Jesus had e-mail, he'd hit 'delete.' He may click "unsubscribe," too.

W.W.J.D.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

I have to wonder how many of the fadistos ever thought about that they were committing themselves to suffering, or more specifically, to taking up their cross.

Oops! No Sidewalks!

If you were wondering why they're building ramps all along Council Road, but no sidewalks - city government has explained the riddle. It's - surprise - government bureaucracy at its best.

Optimism

"The optimists are usually wrong and the pessimists are usually right. Yet, all the great changes in history were done by optimists."

Thomas Friedmann, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner [quote is not verbatim]