Odds and Ends

I had an interesting talk with Anna last week while visiting at their place. Her closest friend had been told she could not play with her for a week as Anna had been so vocal about her faith with this little girl. I asked, Does that hurt your feelings, Anna?....Yes....People don't like to hear about God, Anna. He tells them about their sin and they don't want to believe they are sinners. It makes them angry....Well, if they are angry, then they are sinning....Out of the mouths of babes.

Randy Nabors, the pastor of New City, preached on legalism last week. In doing so, he touched briefly on the nature of the Sabbath and Sabbath Day observance. He feels the basic principle behind the Sabbath is "justice" - that God's primary purpose in instituting the day was to see that people were not worked beyond what is "just". I certainly can agree that it was God's merciful provision to protect people from both oppressors and even their own desires to work endlessly, but still feel it is, positively, to promote rest....The Lord's Day is the day to take time to contemplate the realities behind day to day existence. I have never appreciated that fact the way I do now, with our present way of life. It is a spiritual rest, restoring grandeur and dignity to ordinariness, as our minds are renewed.

Getting back to what Randy said, though, I do appreciate his perspective. He is not liberal, theologically, nor am I - obviously...But I can see why so many professing Christians who become involved with the poor do go in liberal direction politically (then can translate into theological liberalism, I guess)...It interested me greatly to read that Schaeffer, after one summer working in a factory, was tempted to become a labor organizer...And so on to David and Ellen. As you know, he was, entirely illegitimately, denied unemployment after paying into it for eight years. Simply would not give it to him, end of story. Then there was the problem of his identity theft - different illegals using his social security number, so he has paid taxes for several years for different people, eventually had his own wages garnished to begin to pay these back taxes. A year later,, after submitting all proper documents to the IRS, he has not received a cent back - for taxes paid for others, or for the wages unjustly taken from him. Last week, he received a letter from the state saying they would not allow his case to proceed unless he can provide them with proof of criminal conviction in his case, including names of the perpetrators...Sure...They have disappeared into the illegal immigrant netherworld; no one is interested in pursuing them. In other words, he will never see that money, either. Their own government is systematically destroying them.

Have been reading David McCullough's book on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge - liberated it from your order, Tim...He outlines there what he did, as well, in his book on Truman - that each city was - presumably still is - run by crime "bosses", who absolutely control policy in that area. Most important areas seem to be public projects - can control contracts, expenditures - always delaying progress, inflating costs to scoop off myriads of dollars. One Brooklyn building, City Hall I believe it was, began with a projected cost of one-quarter million - ended up being thirteen million...Democrats were worse than Republicans...Interesting that, even now, I don't think there is a major city run by Republicans...

On a personal note, continue to pray that I will sleep. I am one tired Mama!