Taxes and Debt Ceilings

I've got to get this off my chest because I believe many partisans are revising or forgetting some things, and whether it's on purpose or not, it's driving me nuts.  I don't claim to know all the answers and I would happily receive any corrections to the following statements about Taxes and Debt Ceilings.

Virtually everyone's taxes went up this month

The Payroll Tax Holiday expired and essentially everyone who works is getting less net pay this year, (unless you change your allowances so less money is withheld).  The major reason they went up has nothing to do with the Bush Administration.  In 2010, President Obama proposed a 2% Tax Holiday.  Your pay went up that year because this measure was passed and then extended the following year.  That's right, President Obama temporarily cut your taxes. OK, here's a question: What political party "went to the mat" to ensure we had this holiday extension for 2013? Well, my taxes went up, and I didn't hear much news about either party fighting for the extension, so we can thank them all for raising our taxes.

Oh, and if by chance you are in one of the households dealing with additional increased taxes due to income levels exceeding $400K, I'm sorry.  If it bothers you, I can understand why you might make some partisan statements.  I personally don't have this problem.

The Debt Ceiling

More Briefly...

Obama says not raising the Debt Ceiling would be absurd and irresponsible while Boehner and McConnell are showing a great deal of resistance in doing so.

During the Bush Administration, Representative Boehner and Senator McConnell voted 5 times to raise the debt ceiling while then Senator Obama said that doing this indicated a lack of leadership.

I have seen both sides exposing the hypocrisy of the other regarding this.  I believe as an act of bipartisanship, we should all come together and simply state that there are self-interested hypocrites on both sides of the aisle.

There, I feel better now.

Citizens Unite!

Okay, the election is over, (can I get an "amen"?), and it's time to move on and begin working to find common ground on both sides of the aisle.  (Wow, that sounds good.  Maybe I need to run for office).  Well, I have an item in which we can all come together on.  Tonight, I'm sending this to the recent candidates  where applicable:

Dear Candidate,

As you know, (or maybe you don't) the election ended on the night of November 6th and citizens around the area are breathing a sigh of relief. We appreciate your desire to serve our community/municipality/state/nation regardless of the outcome.

You are receiving this email because your political signs have been seen around the Greater Charlotte area despite the fact that the election is over.  We understand you might be busy reveling/wallowing in your recent victory/loss, and everybody likes seeing their name in print, but as I think I might have mentioned, voting ended on 11/6 and the election is done!  Your signs are no longer needed. We would rather look at the beautiful grass, asphalt, litter and roadkill than your name in print on the side of the road. No offense, of course, especially if you won your election.  But please, now that IT'S OVER, the only running you need to do is to the side of the road where you will find your slightly weathered name hanging there annoying the rest of us.  Kindly remove it from the ground and take it home. If you're wondering what to do with all of those signs, you are welcome to wallpaper your house, if you'd like, but please don't invite me over if you do. I'd recommend recycling.  

Thank you again for your desire to serve us.  As a courtesy to you, this email will be sent daily until all known signs are removed.

Sincerely,

Rus

PS. The location of the signs identified have been omitted from this email because like all good children, you need to learn to pick up after yourself and put things away when you're done with them. Your failure to do so is either an indicator to you as to why you weren't elected in the first place or an indicator to us why you shouldn't be re-elected at the end of your term.

Can we unite on this?  You're welcome to copy and paste this and send it to those in your area too.  Heck, you can even use my name if you want.

2012 Election Thoughts

So the results are in and many of those I'm connected to on social media are praising or lamenting what happened.  This morning it occurred to me that we as a nation are inclined to look at the presidency more like a monarchy than the executive of the nation.  We expect more from it than it has the power to do and therefore are often disappointed (or relieved).  I believe President Obama will not save our country, and he will not destroy it.  The only way that can happen is with the help of the rest of Washington.  Destroying our nation would take an act of congress....literally.

While those who own the parties lunge toward the left and the right, somewhere in the middle there is Reason and a whole bunch of people seeking the return of sanity to the whole system.  As it is, I will pray for our leaders and for the revival of Respect, Cooperation and Compromise in our society.

This seems to fit with Election Season

From this morning's reading...

"The impotence of 'systems' is a main reason why Jesus did not send his students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. they were, instead, to establish beachheads of His person, word, and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with Him."

- Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

Pair ‘o Dime Props: Maria DeHaas

About four weeks ago, while I was taking Chris and Andrew to school, I said, "Hey guys, guess what? On October 6^th, Chris and I are going to run in a 5K Run, celebrating the life and memory of Maria DeHaas…and Andrew and mom are going to do the 1 mile Fun Run."

Chris remarked with, "Cool!" since we had just begun running together as part of his training for the Cross Country team.

Andrew then asked the following: "Wow, was Maria like a celebrity or something?"

"What do you mean?" I said."Well first there's her bench and now this. Was she famous?"

I think I had a quick chuckle and then I mentally salivated at the teachable moment in front of me. "No, she wasn't famous, but people like to remember her."

He then asked why and I was able to go ahead and do my best with the moment: "Andrew, in my opinion, here is why. Actually there are two reasons, and the first one is the lesser of the two. When mom met Maria, she wasn't a runner at that time. But then she took up running, and devoted herself to it. She became so healthy and fit she inspired others to do the same. As a matter of fact, she is one of the people that made me want to run. She had become an amazing runner.""However, I think there's a much bigger reason than that. Maria was extremely kind. She loved her family and she was such a faithful friend. There were numerous times when mom and I needed someone to watch you guys while we took care of some emergency. Maria never failed to come over and help when we asked her, and she did it with a smile on her face, and never wanting anything in return. She seemed to find joy in providing that help to us. And we weren't the only ones. She served on her Home Owners Association trying to improve her community, and was active teaching Sunday School at her church. Her job at Cannon was also one where she was helping and loving people. She seemed really good at caring for others and really, being the hands and feet of Christ in many situations. It was her helpful and loving nature that impacted so many people, and makes us want to remember her. And really, isn't that a great legacy to leave behind?"

The last time I remember seeing Maria was in a very unlikely place. Well, not really. I was loosening up for a run in my neighborhood and she ran right by 
me, a good 3+ miles from her house. It took me a second to see her through the headband and sweat and it surprised me to see her there, but I laughed and said hi and she smiled. Oddly, that was the first time that happened, and sadly, it didn't happen again. She inspired me to get in shape and take up running, and tomorrow I will run my first 5K event with my son. I can't think of a better place to start.

My boys seemed to get it the reason why we remember her….and by saying it out loud, I think I did too. Maria is a great example of how a lasting impact can be made in how we invest positively in those around us, and how life is much less about the things and situations we pursue and more about the people we live around and the joy we capture with them.

Morning Dedication

From the Valley of Vision

Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to thy ways. Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay. May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise. Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clad in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings.  Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands. May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth. Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable. May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

It's Good Friday, and it's raining

For years, I have noticed that it often rains on Good Friday.  Perhaps it's because April Showers are typical.  Or perhaps, God is helping me to remember.  Maybe both.  Regardless, I try to remember.  Remember something I did not see with my own eyes.  Something I need to see with my mind's eye more often that I do.

It's all been paid.  This Gift is authentic.  There's no replacement, and nothing I can do, to make it better.

May the rain that falls today be the tears I do not shed.
Blurring my sight of all things temporal.  Allowing a sharp eternal focus.
May it symbolize the tears shed by the Father, and the Son.
And remind me that my sin is washed away.

What About Us?

From Chapter 1 of Radical, by David Platt:

What if I were a potential disciple being told to drop my nets?  What if you were the man whom Jesus told to not even say goodbye to his family? What if we were told to hate our families and give up everything we had in order to follow Jesus?

This is where we come face to face with a dangerous reality. We do have to give up everything we have to follow Jesus. We do have to love Him in a way that makes our closest relationships in this world look like hate. And it is entirely possible that He will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor.

But we don’t want to believe it. We’re afraid of what it might mean for our lives. So we rationalize these passages away. “Jesus wouldn't really tell us not to bury our father or say goodbye to our family. Jesus didn't literally mean to sell all we have and give it to the poor. What Jesus really meant was ...”

And this is where we need to pause. Because we’re starting to redefine Christianity. We’re taking the Jesus of the Bible and molding Him into our image—a nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who’d never call us to give away all we have. A Jesus who wouldn't expect us to forsake our closest relationships so that He receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that doesn't infringe on our comforts, because, after all, He loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream.

But do you realize what we are doing at this point?  We are molding Jesus into our image.  He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with.  And the danger now is that when we gather in out church buildings to sing and lift up out hands in worship, we may not actually be worshiping the Jesus of the Bible.  Instead we may be worshiping ourselves.

A true sign of age is the speed of time

There's nothing new in saying, "Time goes faster as you  get older."

So when you say to yourself, "I just listened to that CD in my car the other day," and the memory of you listening to it has you in a car you had "2 cars ago" driving to a house you had "2 houses ago," then chances are time has sped up just a bit and you're a little older than you realize.  Especially when you sold the house you were driving to 7 years ago.

Snow Day Activities (Test)

Test Publish of Pictures

Personent Hodie

This one most have not heard.  As a matter of fact, a few years ago, my son's choir teacher was givwn credit for writing it!  Anyhow, it sticks with me and has become the one I want to hear during this time.

On this day earth shall ring
With a song children sing
To the Lord, Christ our king,
Born on earth to save us,
Him the Father gave us,
Ideo, gloria, in excelsis deo.

His the doom, ours the mirth
When he came down to earth
Bethlehem saw his birth,
Ox and ass beside him
From the cold would hide him.
Ideo, gloria, in excelsis deo.

Sing aloud on this day,
Children all raise the lay
Cheerfully we and they
Hasten to adore thee.
Sent from highest glory.
For us born on this morn
Of the Virgin Mary.

Magi three traveling,
Their gifts offering,
A star following
In the east was shining
Their pathways guiding
Frankincense, gold, and myrrh
Were the gifts they offered.

And since today is a celebration, here's another version:

How Great Our Joy

While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright!

Refrain:

How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!

There shall be born, so He did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today!

Refrain

There shall the Child lie in a stall,
This Child who shall redeem us all!

Refrain

This gift of God we'll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill!

Refrain

Christmas: Now and Then

A quick study in contrast... Advent Now, while commercialism invades every aspect of Christmas, we attend parties, sing carols, wish people well, and make/eat a lot of rich food. Then, Mary was in hiding, public shame was likely on both her and her husband, and nothing else in society had changed but this Roman requirement to go to your ancestor's home town for a census. Christmas Eve Now, we celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas. We go to church, eat more rich food and begin opening gifts. Then, Mary and Joseph were traveling 80+ miles to Bethlehem, or sitting in a smelly cave while contractions were beginning. Christmas Day Now, for most a frenzy of activity of opening and receiving gifts, more rich food, (more acid reducers), lots of garbage and clutter in the house, and seem very exhausted people. Then, well there are some similarities here. A frenzy of activity, the pain came first, but then the smiles came. There was plenty of garbage and clutter, I'm sure. Shepherds were also freaking out and some folks from the east arere blown away at the sight of a new start in the west. They probably begin to look at manuscripts and begin wondering if they should follow the star somewhere. After Christmas Day Now, the celebration, sadly, is over. Everything begins to return to normal, except for perhaps some frenzied shoppers and returners in the stores. Virtually all Christmas music stops. And parents begin to put things back in their normal spots in the house. Then, I suspect more activity in the stall. Joseph is actively looking for a decent place for his family, and perhaps he's planning a circumcision ceremony as well. Magi are learning what the star means, packing up some gifts and getting a caravan ready for a very long trip. Shepherds are probably trying to convince others about what had happened the day before. Back then, what celebration there was probably just beginning.

Away in a Manger (in 4)

I like this version mainly because it's not the way we always hear it.  (The same reason I like "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name in 3)

Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there