LIfe's twists

I am a "myspacer" and a "blogger", too. I spent some time this morning just sitting at the computer doing those two things. I love to follow the "comment" trail. It is fun when I find people whom I had lost and read about their lives. Sometimes it is joyful - sometimes not so much. Anyway, I have observed something that I would like to discuss here. In my searching, I have found at least two young Christian men who have made dramatic lifestyle changes since I last saw them. They are of different generations and don't know each other. I would love to sit long and talk much with them. These young men were very actively involved with their local church as young people - sold out to Christ, if you will. As they grew up and had different experiences, they began searching for something more. In the world, both found what they felt they had always been looking for. They are both now, out of the closet and living in gay relationships. One is what I would call, almost a "militant" gay man and the other embracing his new found life in "extravagance". Both have left the traditional church setting yet neither has renounced his relationship with Christ. Not that it matters, but I do believe that each of them made a commitment to Christ and that it can not be ripped away because of the sin that they have allowed into their lives. I believe we are saved by grace and that actions can not change that. (I know some will disagree with me - but so be it) The thing that has astounded me the most is that both young men have a circle of Christian friends who apparently support them in their life decision. I am just trying to figure out if tolerance has crept into the world and sneaked into the hearts of Christians without our being aware. I am not suggesting that these young men should be ostracized or abandoned, I just wonder if any Christian friend has confronted, in love, what they are choosing as sin. It breaks my heart that on their blogs and myspace page they boldly portray their new found lives and loves and everyone is commenting with "good for you's" and "hope you're happy's" and "I love you, anyway's", but I don't see any comments of "I'm praying for you" or "let's talk". I hope there is more accountability than what I am seeing in these comments. Yes, love them - also, love them enough to pray for them and let them know you recognize their choices as sin and hold them accountable. I really don't think that blogging or myspace is the place for deep conversation. Hopefully, I am barking up the wrong tree and in the privacy of personal conversation that has been done.

Little Eliot

If you really like blog reading, I have one for you. Kelly and Aaron have friends, Matt and Ginny Mooney, who created a blog - mostly dedicated to the story of their son's life, Eliot. Eliot was born with a chromosome disorder called Edwards Syndrome. The prospect of him living very long outside the womb was slim. Eliot just went home to be with Jesus a couple of weeks ago and was 99 days old when he went. Anyway, his story is so moving and the way that his young parents have cared for him and trusted our God for every moment is precious and I recommend that you spend some time there. Ginny is a jewelry designer and she has designed a necklace that she calls "Eliot". You can read more about it on their blog. www.mattandginny.blogspot.com

November 6 - Answers

This morning my mother had surgery. We have been waiting about six weeks for the answers to our questions surrounding the procedure. We are praising our Father for his care and his awesome loving kindness to us. The doctors were able to remove a large cyst from her abdomen with few complications. It appears to be benign. I was so pleasantly surprised to watch her "scoot" from the gurney onto her hospital bed with very little help when they brought her to her room. I know she is not completely out of the woods, but she was sitting up and drinking when I went in to see her a while ago, tonight. She is eighty-one and I am so grateful for the good report so far.

Mickey is very close to officially having a job. The company who bought his former company is preparing a written job offer as we speak. Hallelujah! In a short few days he should be out and about combing the country again. For those of you who have wondered - at least we discovered that his real job didn't include selling drugs or being a hit man after all! (It is an old joke with the young people who have graced our house in the last few years!) Any way, we are grateful for this news, as well. Now it will be up to us to be faithful to continue following and obeying our Lord's directives. He definitely has our attention.