Freedom, China, and the Olympics

As my family and I prepare to watch the beginning of the olympics next week, I am reminded over and over again that the freedoms we enjoy in this country are not shared by all the world. In my small day to day life I often forget that I live in an amazing country, where I can say and do what I want. I can read the books I want to read and most importantly, I can worship the way I want. Other countries are not so fortunate, China is a country where people do not enjoy the freedoms we do.

I read a book a few years back that touched me, with a picture on it that touched me even more. The book was Safely Home by Randy Alcorn, and the beautiful picture is by Ron DiCianni and it depicts a martyr being welcomed home to Heaven. It is stunning and every time I see it I cry. If you know nothing of the struggle of the Chinese people for freedom, please check it out. Their government would have us believe that all is well in China and that people there live much like we do, but that is simply not the case.  Here are a few websites with more information:

Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch

Amnesty International

This is a difficult issue, and it is hard to know what to do.  I have decided that I will start by praying for those whe are persecuted in China.  If you are interested in joining me, I encourage you to visit The Voice of the Martyrs site and learn about ways to do this and ways to remember.  As the whole world turns it attention to China, I encourage you to get involved, learn something new, and help those less fortunate than we are in America.

I LOVE Eating Out

I sure have had writers block lately. I haven’t known quite what to post on, and with new hobbies at home and new projects at work, there isn’t much time to develop anything that interesting. I have been working on something though that I hope to start tomorrow. . .but I better wait and see if I get my ducks in a row before I announce anything.

My DD and DS are out of town this week on their first mission trip with the church youth group. I had hoped to post some pictures here for my most loyal readers (hi Mom and Dad), but I can’t quite get the pictures off the youth group site like I had hoped. Anyway, kids are several states away and DH and I find ourselves with some VERY blessed alone time this week, which has lead to many nice motorcyle rides. The past couple of nights our rides have lead to dinner. Monday at Joe’s Crab Shack and last night to Rock Bottom Brewery, both establishments are fantastic places to enjoy with a loved one by the way. Beer and a bucket of crab legs. . .can the week possibly get any better than that?

Book Review – The Shack by William P. Young

My mom bought me a copy of this book and said I just had to read it.  As usual, Mom was right!  This book is amazing, and it is right up there with Randy Alcorn’s books on the same theme.  I was drawn to Randy Alcorn’s books after my first reading of Deadline.  Randy is a Christian author who takes what I have found to be a somewhat unique perspective on Heaven.  None of us knows for sure what Heaven will be like, but how many of us have really considered what it may be like?  Revelation reveals to us what the end of this Earth will be like, but does it really explain what Heaven will be like before the end times?  After the end times?   I can’t answer that, but I have learned from Randy that challenging preconceived ideas of Heaven can be a rewarding exercise that usually brings me to a deeper appreciation for the God of the universe.  Like Randy Alcorn did with Heaven, William P. Young has also encouraged me to go back to scripture to check out his assumptions, and mine, about who God is and what he expects.

So while I may not agree with every idea William P. Young puts forth in his book, I think that it is a very good book for adults to read.  I think that people who will read this book, and then go back to scripture and look for answers to questions that it will raise will really enjoy it and get a lot out of it.  I am even going to encourage my DD to read this book, as I think she has a deep enough theological basis to read it from.  But be warned, some of the ideas in this book are not traditional.  I believe that the main point of the book is very scripturally sound and is therefore good for instruction and has redemptive value. 

One more word of caution;  have plenty of tissue handy.

Aren’t Kids Funny?! Tales from VBS

So DD and I (and a couple of days DS too) spent last week volunteering as “Crew Guides” for the Vacation Bible School program at our church. For the most part it was a lot of singing, listening to Bible stories and doing cute crafts. We also had a community focus this year, and we got to see our Mayor and even got to meet one of our town’s firefighters, which was a huge hit with the kids.

It was during our Question and Answer time with our local firefighter that I was reminded of how hilarious kids can be. The Question and Answer went something like this:

Church Boy: What do you do when you get to a house and you break down the door and go in and see all the people with their shirts nailed to the ceiling?

Firefighter: Ahhhh, what do you mean? I have never seen that.

Church Boy: Well, you know, in a fire the best air is up high, so the family would be there.

Firefighter: NO, the best air is down near the floor, in a fire, crawl on the floor and do not stand up.

Church Boy: (long pause) Snakes are lucky.

Folks, you can’t pay for that kind of humor!   I don’t know if this story translates well via blog, but let me tell you that the retelling of this story has caused hours of laughter for DD, DS and I.  If you haven’t volunteered with kids lately, it may just do you some good.