I can’t stand manipulative people. I am really having a hard time with showing God’s grace and mercy to a certain few people. The thing about manipulative people is that they think they are soooo smart. They think they are really getting away with something. They can’t even see the mercy and grace they’ve been given. They can’t see that people are doing the things they are doing only to have a Christ like attitude. I’m also seeing that selfishness and greed go hand and hand with manipultation. For example, we have a customer who Ron has bent over backwards for. This guy wants what he wants when he wants it. He acts as if he is the only customer on the face of this earth or that his ministry is the only ministry that counts. He’s been given free and deeply discounted rates on things because he is a ministry. He calls my house all hours of the night and demands what he wants done –NOW! He also waits months to pay his bills and then hangs them over Ron’s head that he can do this NOW or he just won’t pay. He’s, to my knowledge, never said thank you for any discounted rate or for generous donated time. If something takes too long to do, Ron either gives it to him free or discounts it some more. All this guy does is complain. He might as well spit in Ron’s face. I have a hard time even thinking he is a Christian. Instead I think he’s a spoiled rotten little boy. I’m sure he just thinks Ron is a doormat for him. He can’t even see Jesus for his arrogant attitude.

Yesterday was Marting Luther King, Jr. day and I am proud of the accomplishments he made. The concept that black people in this country could not eat in the same place I ate, lodge in the same place I lodged, etc. is so unbelievable to me. I can’t imagine anyone not welcoming my sweet Nanny or Annie Laura with open arms. Nanny (Cherry Porter) and Annie Laura were/are black women who raised me and taught me so much about being a respectable, loving person – black or white. I remember hearing the word “nigger” one day at school and not knowing what it meant. I came home and asked Nanny what it meant. She didn’t get mad, but put her arm around me and told me that the dictionary defined nigger as a very bad person. She then went on to say, “Honey, don’t you ever forget, there are black niggers and white niggers.” She was fairly old when I was litte. I’m sure she’d encountered her share of “white niggers.” She showed me as much character as anyone I’ve known. Martin Luter King, Jr., in his famous speech, said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” I think we have come a long way in two ways since then. One, black people are gaining much ground in not being judged for the color of their skin. There is still a long way to go, but not at far as 30 years ago. Second, now, not only do we not want to be judged by the color of our skin, but we don’t want anyone to judge us on the content of our character as well. We don’t want people to tell us we are wrong or sinful. We don’t want people to tell us that our lifestyles are dangerous. We’ve once again become an arrogant people.

Two Words: THE RAMS!

I am a solid Viking fan until the Rams play. And I love it when they beat Green Bay! I am so justice minded, that I almost feel avenged when Kurt Warner kicks Bret Farve’s boo-hiney! I hate to see evil win out over good even for a short time. So, when I see Green Bay’s quarterback out there cursing every other breath, throwing a fit, etc and then see Kurt Warner, a devoted Christian, play an almost flawless game, I almost feel avenged! Well, maybe I put too much into football, but Kurt Warner is da man!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40: 1-3

I’ve been battling some very old ghost this past month. Things I don’t want to speak of or even think about. Two songs have been ever on my lips. One by Steven Curtis Chapman: “As I look back on this road I’ve traveled, I see so many times He’s carried me through and if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life, my Redeemer is Faithful and True. My Reedemer is faithful and true. Everything He has said, He will do. And every morning His mercies are new. My Redemmer is faithful and true.” The second song is by Rich Mullins. “Sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all. The mountains look so big and my faith just seems so small. So, hold me, Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory, won’t You be my Prince of Peace? And I wake up in the night and peer in the dark. Its so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart. So, hold me, Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory. Won’t You be my Prince of Peace? Surrender don’t come natural to me. I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want than take what You give that I need. And I beat my head against so many walls and I’m falling down – I’m falling on my knees. And the Salvation Army Band is playing this hymn and Your grace rings out deep it makes my resistance so thin. So, hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory, won’t you be my Prince of Peace?”