God Is Bigger

The song floating between the ears today doesn't come from the list of timeless classics, but from our friendly vegetables. As in Veggie Tales.

"God is bigger than the boogeyman. He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on tv. Oh, God is bigger than the boogeyman and He's watching out for you and me." In case you'd like to look it up, it's "Where Is God When I'm S-cared."

Seems like when we're grown-ups the boogeyman takes many shapes beyond the shadows in the closet - cancer, grown-up worries, grown-up problems. Seems like today's inbox has overflowed with friends forced to deal with their current version of the boogeyman. Who knew vegetables could transcend the fears of children to the worries of adults?

In the past few weeks, news of divorces, new cancer, old cancer, not-going-anywhere-with-a-small-chance-of-survival cancer, money trouble, parental worries, career worries, and more have flown at those I love.

So I worry. I pray. I give the worries to God. Then I grab them back to worry over them again. Then I remember to pray and give them back to God. It's shocking what a slow learner I am.

Today, when word arrived of yet another 35 year-old friend who had been diagnosed with cancer, the song started in my head. It may seem trite. It might seem disrespectful to sing a tune that bounces when sorrow and worry crumble around your feet. At the same time, isn't this what God has asked us to do? Does he not ask us to trust Him? To know He's bigger?

Doesn't He say in Romans 5:3 that we should rejoice in our suffering? Granted, rejoicing while suffering doesn't seem like fun, nor is it easy. But what if rejoicing doesn't mean having a party, but rather holding the knowledge that He has it - that because He is who He is, we're okay? What if singing a little song lifts our hearts enough to find some joy?

So, if skipping around in my head to a Veggie Tales tune brings me joy, then it is what it is.

Sing on!

And thank you Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki for bringing Bob and Larry to "life." God worked a message through you.

Watching the "News"

A couple of questions:

If the majority of Americans turn to FOX news, not ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, or CNN for their news, why are the latter referred to as the "mainstream media?"

How disappointing is it that the aforementioned "mainstream media" networks lean so far to the Left that when a news organization (FOX) sits in the middle, they appear to be on the Right?

Troubled

Today I am troubled. I am troubled by the nastiness I see in the papers, in the news, and in the world around me. The constant insistence of the Left that anyone who doesn't agree completely with Obama is a racist wears thin. It seems to me that calling someone a racist is losing it's meaning. It's crying wolf. "Racist!" or "racism" used to stop people from continuing with their arguments. Now it's merely the first step in the debate. It's become the first response from the liberals.

"Racist!" Whew. Finally. Hope you got that out of your system. Maybe now we have have a discussion about policies.

There was an op-ed in the local paper today that torqued my jaw. The writer concerned himself with pointing out the instances of racism he'd seen and the bigotry he'd witnessed. Nevermind he called Tea Party Patriots that foul, lewd name Anderson Cooper coined for them. So while this writer is professing his moral superiority, he's calling the Right names. Classy. Really, this just confirms my hypothesis that those who are engaged in the business of calling dissenters "racists" are actually the ones with the prejudice problem.

This afternoon I sat down with my Bible. Prayer bubbled from my lips and my heart begged God to open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to him so that we might see each other through him. God is the only one who can unite us. Whether we choose to allow him to work through us is another thing all together.

You Want to Talk About Nazis? So Be It.

There's something that's really been bothering me lately. It's this notion from the Left that everyone on the Right is crazy and "fear-mongering." There was an op-ed by Leonard Pitts about the use of the word "Nazi." His overriding point was that Nazis were terrible and killed people in horrific ways and when we call our politicians "Nazis" we are disrespecting those the Nazis tortured and killed.

What I think the Left (and Pitts) miss in this current climate is that we, as a people - and if you look at the polls, it's not just crazy right-wingers - have had enough. Many of us on the Right weren't too thrilled with everything Bush did. This isn't about disliking Obama just because he's a Democrat and Republicans lost. This is about disliking what our elected officials are doing. The bailout, the stimulus, cap and trade, cash for clunkers, Freddie and Fannie, the list just goes on and on. When Americans send letters and emails and protest and overwhelmingly (according to polls) don't like what's happening, we feel justifiable anger at how our elected officials are failing to represent us. This isn't just about healthcare. Healthcare is merely the brutal punch that finally awakened the sleeping giant.

So when average Americans call their elected representatives "Nazis," they are saying their elected representatives aren't representing them. If the Left would check their history, they'd realize Nazis didn't start out killing babies and torturing and annihilating those they disliked. First they won elected seats. Then they forced their agenda. Then they changed the laws to make their agenda legal. By the time most Germans woke up and realized there was a problem and that they were losing their freedoms, their freedoms were gone. It was too late and they were under Nazi control. When we call our politicians "Nazis," we aren't disrespecting those who died at the Nazis' hands. We're saying we learned from them. We see how quickly and easily freedom can be lost. That's not disrespect. That's honor.

As for this speech, given the climate of the country, given that we have so many things to address, given that most Americans (see the polls) don't like what the President is doing, why on earth would he spend students' educational time on a 30-minute speech? Please tell me what early elementary student can follow a 30-minute speech? A speech is one thing, but to condescend to offer lesson plans is offensive and appears suspicious. He and his advisers should know this. They should realize that the climate is not conducive to this address. With American's dislike and distrust of his leadership, the appearance isn't one of the President showing an interest in the education of our children, but rather an opportunity for propaganda.

I have two kids in school. I'm torn on how to approach the speech. My son has already been taught that the water that we use in our house gets emptied into our creeks and streams and goes into the oceans. What nonsense. Clearly, no one at the school has heard of water-treatment plants. At any rate, I'm not pleased. I would really like to believe the speech will merely be about working hard in school to be a productive member of society. But that message won't fill 30 minutes. To fill 30 minutes, you need ... filler. And the filler has me concerned.

Spare Me the Label

Why is it that when conservatives and the average American decide to stand up against Democrats, it's a contrived, organized mob that can only be "astroturf?" But when liberals and Democrats bus people to functions, pay people to protests, and even make signs for them to wave, it's just Americans exercising their right to free speech? Spare me.

I've had enough.

We stayed in a hotel recently. When we went downstairs for the continental breakfast, we noticed every single table was occupied. In fact, the room was packed. What made it even more extraordinary was that everyone was silent. No one was talking. They all had their eyes glued to the tv. What was on? What could possibly have captured their attention so fully? It was the Arlen Specter Town Hall on healthcare.

If a hotel lobby full of hungry travelers could be captivated by healthcare and discussion of it, please spare me the label "astroturf."

Time to Breathe

What a long hiatus. Seems the past month has brought all kinds of interesting growth opportunities, courtesy of our Lord. He showed me patience, kindness, gentleness, and peace. Each week was exactly what I needed.

The amazing thing is that when I needed patience or peace or kindness or patience, God filled me with it. All I had to do was pause. Pause long enough to let the Spirit guide me.

Of course, this makes me seem like a fabulous disciple. I'm not. I'm a mess. I yell at my kids. I yell at my husband. I'm selfish. I'm petty.

Part of the last month has been a couple of weeks without that dear man I yell at because he was on a business trip. The kids passed around pink eye. One morning I woke up with a crick in my neck that took 5 days to go away. Then I had a cold that has turned into a mean sinus infection.

Apologies for the absence. While God's teaching my heart, my head and skills are in survival mode. It's been post and chat with faceless followers or use every ounce of energy to care of my family. And me. Certainly you understand.

Pie Time

Yesterday, my son asked for a pie. I'm not a fan of store-bought crust. It took awhile, but I've perfected a recipe that's no-fail. Here's the recipe, some pics, and freezer tips.

Perfect Pie Crust

Refrigerator time: 30 min
Cooking time: 60 min
Resting time: 60 min
Total time: 2 hr 50 min

What You Need:
2 C flour
1 tsp salt
6 3/4 Tbsp butter (ice cold)
6 3/4 Tbsp shortening (ice cold)
1/2 C water (ice cold)


What You Use:
measuring Cups and Spoons
mixing bowl
pastry blender
large cutting board
rolling pin
9" pie plate
plastic wrap
aluminum foil or Glad Press n' Seal

What You Do:
1. In a medium bowl, place flour and salt. (Sometimes I substitute 1 C of white flour for 1 C of whole wheat flour, just to squeeze in nutrition.)

2. Cut ice cold squares of butter and shortening into salt and flour until looks like small pearls. Using butter and shortening gives you both a tender and a flaky crust. The butter and shortening melt at different rates in the oven, which gives you the optimal texture.

3. Add water sparingly until it's moist enough to shape into a ball. I stir with a dinner knife. When the dough comes together, turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Quickly and gently, shape dough into a flat disk.

4. Place disk of dough in plastic wrap. Immediately place in fridge. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before making your pie.

5. To roll: Roll out quickly on a lightly floured surface. The key is to move 
 quickly so the dough stays cold. If starts to warm, place back in the fridge.

6. For a crisper crust, place pie in the fridge until just before baking.

This is how mix should look just before adding water.

Disk of dough in the fridge.

See the yellow and white flecks?
Those are bits of butter and shortening.

This is how your rolled dough should look.
(This dough has brown flecks because
I used some whole wheat flour.)

Tasty pie straight from the oven.

Tasty, flaky piece of pie.

Strawberry Pie:

I cheated. I used a can of strawberry pie filling. Then I added some brown sugar and a couple tablespoons of butter. Covered it. Docked the top to allow steam to escape. It baked for 60 min in a 400 degree oven. It sat for 2 hours before we cut into it. With a spritz of whipped cream... YUM!


Freezer Tips:

I tend to double, triple, and quadruple recipes so I can put some in the freezer. Pie crust is very freezer friendly. Roll out the dough, gently cover the pie pan with it, fold the top crust in plastic wrap and place in the center of the pie crust-covered pie plate. Wrap it all with plastic wrap, covered with a layer of foil, label, and freeze. It'll be ready whenever you want a homemade dessert or dinner pie.

Pie dough, rolled and packaged.

Freezer ready.