Infidelity and War

Okay, South Carolina is in the news again and not in a good way.  I have to say, several emotions ran through me as I learned of Governor Sanford's confession.  Anger, disappointment, sympathy, disgust.  It is difficult to deal with emotions that are counteractive to one another.  How can I be angry and still feel sympathy?  I don't know.  These are questions I have been struggling with lately as I also watched Jon and Kate's family dissolve before my eyes.  Is there no one left who values commitment and willing to make difficult decisions even if it means putting your own feelings aside?  Is the prospect of hurting the ones that you claim to love not enough to prevent you from doing wrong, or is the overwhelming desire to satisfy one's own desires more important?  I realize my statement might sound a bit harsh.  I know that I could be in the very same situation and do the very same thing.  I understand that we all do things wrong; that's why Jesus died on the cross; to pay the penalty for our sins.  I am just as much a sinner as the next person.  I have accepted the Lord as my Savior and He helps me to do the right things.  But, until the Lord returns or I die, I remain a sinner saved by grace and still have the ability to make choices whether they are right or wrong.  It just discourages me to see leaders who somehow seem to succumb to fame, fortune, and power and are unable to remain strong under the pressure.  I have prayed for both of these precious families.  It is my heartfelt desire that they would somehow be able to put their mistakes behind them, move forward, and restore their families.

Also in the news is the imminent threats of war both from Iran and North Korea.  While the stories of infidelity appeal to our tendency to enjoy "juicy, gossip", the threats of war seem to be much more important in the bigger picture of life.  Unfortunately, we don't seem as interested in the fact that two countries who have nuclear capabilities could launch an attack at us at any time.  Doesn't the fact that human freedom is non existent in these countries appeal to our sense of right and wrong?  Doesn't the fact that people are being tortured and killed as they stand up to their oppressive governments appeal to our sense of doing something to help others who are in need?  We are so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we don't have time to worry about or think about what it means to not have freedom.  We are not in a country who suffers from this fate; yet.  It doesn't affect me.  If we are attacked it will affect you.  The issues will be forced to be addressed.  Isn't it better to do something about it before we are placed in a defensive position rather then an offensive position?

Summer

June marks the beginning of summer.  Time to relax, get some sun, enjoy good foods, and spend time with friends.  My summer is slow this year.  Not much to do so I am enjoying lots of Christian fiction books.  The one I am reading right now is part of a series and is called "Snitch" by Rene Gutteridge.  It's a funny story about an undercover task force trying to break up an illegal car body shop operation.  I am only half way through so don't know how it will turn out but it has been good so far.  I had been reading a series of books about a bed and breakfast run by 3 sisters.  There are many books in this series and I have been making my way through them this spring.  I discovered several of them at my church library.  In the fall and winter I had been helping to get our church library up and running.  It has been a fun experience and I have certainly enjoyed finding several new books to read.  I am still working on the cleaning project I started last year of cleaning out all our old stuff.  I have been selling some things on ebay which has been a lot of fun and am planning to take some more stuff to the flea market this summer.  Also sold a few things to a buy back books website and took some things to an auction.  It has been a fun experience finding all these new outlets to spread the junk!  Josh and Alli will be coming for a visit for two weeks in July.  We are looking forward to fun times with them.  Em is busy with her summer classes at MidTech.  Spanish and Biology, what a combination!  Mike is busy with Real Estate.  He always has changes happening so you never know what tomorrow might bring.  I haven't forgotten we need to post pictures of our flip house finished.  Hopefully that will be soon.