Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime

Conviction in the Midst of Confrontation

"Although I may be a gifted speaker and can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere, and yet I don’t love others, I am only making noise without substance. And though I seem to have an answer for everything and people come to me for my opinions, and I am a dynamo of spiritual power with many spiritual victories, and yet I have no love, I am a zero. And though my generosity is well known, and I have sacrificed all for God with wounds and scars to prove it, yet I have no love, God hasn’t profited from me at all.

“So, how can you tell whether or not you have real love? See for yourself how love behaves by the following list:

“Love smiles through the pain of being hurt, criticized, misunderstood and ignored without constantly complaining. Love never confronts anyone unless it is with a kind, well-considered word without blasting them out of the room. Love doesn’t judge or want what others have—-clothes, car, job, wife, husband, money, personality or even spiritual gifts. It doesn’t go around talking about God being unfair or people being uncaring when the real problem is envy and jealousy. It shuns the limelight and recognition. It doesn’t have “I” problems.

“Love declines to make a scene about everything and won’t make mountains out of molehills. It will not choose inappropriate and disruptive ways to make a point. It doesn’t have to be right all the time and it is slow to get stirred up about every tale spread through the ever-active grapevine. Love doesn’t wear its feelings on its sleeves, and it doesn’t assume that others are thinking, doing and intending the worst. It gives people the benefit of the doubt.

“Love suffers when someone fails or when tragedy strikes. It takes no pleasure in sin or wrongdoing of any kind. It is most interested in the truth winning out, even when the truth hurts. Love lends its shoulder to bear the burdens of others and never breaks their confidence. It believes the best in people and tries hard to trust them. Even when love feels someone is wrong, lying, or making a huge mistake, it still hopes for the best possible outcome. And when love is disappointed and crushed by bearing, believing and hoping, it endures the hurt and embarrassment with cheer and restraint, always continuing to be itself—-love.

“Three great forces motivate the church: faith, hope and love. These powerful attributes are the basis for everything the church is doing in the world today. But even when you narrow it all down to these three, at the top of the list you’ll find love.”

-J. Mark Jordan, Thought Sculpting

I found this paraphrase of I Corinthians 13 online and it is as convicting as it is beautiful. So powerful, don't you think?

Ny Times Interviews Supreme Court Justince Ginsburg

Q: Are you talking about the distances women have to travel because in parts of the country, abortion is essentially unavailable, because there are so few doctors and clinics that do the procedure? And also, the lack of Medicaid for abortions for poor women?

JUSTICE GINSBURG: Yes, the ruling about that surprised me. [Harris v. McRae — in 1980 the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of Medicaid for abortions.] Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn’t really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong.

Do I hear a littel Eugenics in the mix here?

Hmmm...

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY."

--Goering at the Nuremberg Trials

Wedding Bells and Flower Girl Bloopers

We just got back from a whirlwind trip to Loo*e*z*anna to see Brian's youngest brother get married. Lauren was the flower girl and she was so cute. Shortly after we arrived we went to the wedding rehearsal where Lauren got to practice slowly walking up and down the aisle several times. Well, I didn't explain to her in fine detail that she would have a basket with flower petals in it and that she would have to throw the petals on the aisle while she walked down it. So....right before it was her turn to come down the aisle the lady that cues her told her to throw the petals as she walked, but she paused because she didn't understand. Then she proceeded and did what she thought she should and stopped every couple of feet, bent down and placed the petals on the floor all the way down the entire aisle. Well! That took a while and I'm so glad that everyone thought that was so cute. I was a little embarrassed because I didn't explain all that to her better. What was so funny is that the ring bearer came down the aisle arm in arm with her and he was so confused as to what she was doing. Very cute. I wish I had video of that one. Anyway, it was a nice wedding and I wish Justin and Stephanie all the best. :)

Fourth of July Fun