Away ... and a manger

"...See Tighe, that's just like Jesus' manger..."

Now I KNOW I've read the Christmas story to my kids. We've talked at length about the real meaning of Christmas (that's a phrase used so much it needs its own acronym, "trmoc").

So it shocked me when my friend Connie said something to my youngest about a manger and he said, "What's a manger?"

I felt devastated. I felt like I'd absolutely let my kids down. Like they had been given no Christian training by me at all. Like I was a heathen of a parent.

If you've followed my irregular posts, you know I've said how surprised I am at times at the shape of my life. There was always a picture in my mind of a sweet Christian family gathered around a table and praying. Learning. Drinking in Jesus.

I don't mean to demean that picture, it's a beautiful one. I wish it for my kids.

But God had work to do first. And it all kind of crystallized today, Sunday.

What a wonderful church God has blessed us with. During this advent service, our amazing worship team has been encouraged by our pastor to cut loose after the benediction with any appropriate Christmas song they want...

They've rocked us out to fellowship time to Rudolph. They've done the Eagles Please Be Home for Christmas. Today they left us with Jingle Bell Rock.

I grabbed a coffee and boogied back to Connie and Rand. Yes, I was... GASP... dancing! I passed the wife of one of our elders... I honestly don't know her well but her husband, Darryl Erickson, is from Montana I believe and has a background in the Evangelical (Swedish) Covenant Church as have I. Darryl is one of my favorite people, though I know him far too little as well.

As I passed Darryl's wife I said, "I suppose I shouldn't be dancing... I went to Seattle Pacific". She laughed and said, I want to dance to, and I went to Wheaton.

We stood there swapping stories of restrictions on activities... hers more extreme from being in the Christian College movement a few years before I was.

And tonight as our worship bands absolutely rocked the house it hit me... ALL of this I've gone through... Tighe not knowing the manger story well (though he DOES know Jesus), my kids not having been in church for years (there's a story behind that)... but all of that... has been a grace.

So much of the legalistic crud I had woven into the heart of my worship is gone... and none of it is in them. They come to Jesus free of the idea that their works will make them whole. They are moving joyously (finally) into a church relationship and a knowledge of the Bible free of the idea that some kinds of thinking about God might damn them... didn't we who grew up like that have to cross every theological "I" and get it right? I did! God forbid I should think an Arminian thought or a Charismatic one.

THANK GOD for the freedom we have in Christ. Thank God for the hard, painful path that has flushed this OUT of my family.

As the psalmist said in Psalm 16...

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:6

Praise you God, for although the road be rough, the destination is gold.

Dave

.... and now, an important announcement ...

To my vast reading audience (all 7 of you!) I have reserved Internet domain names for this blog. You can now get here with any of the following:


www.aslansmane.com
www.aslansmane.net
www.aslans-mane.com
www.aslans-mane.net

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Plea to Huckabee Supporters...

I hear many say that Huckabee is just in this for the VP spot. I don't think so. I think they still believe they have a shot. Maybe I'm naive.

Regardless, phone calls into Virginia are vitally important! If you have never phone-banked for a candidate, it's gotten SO much easier. It all happens right here on your computer, and on your cell or home phone.

The campaign will give you numbers right on a web page and you make the calls.

If you're not already a "Huckabee Ranger" then start here:

Phone calls for Huckabee sign-in

Good luck and have fun!

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Wow, what a weekend... and other ramblings...

Doncha just love this political year? It's almost like watching the Superbowl as a Pats fan... nothing is coming out as it's supposed to!

That tickles me for so many reasons. The biggest is, I see people becoming INVOLVED. I see us as a people CARING about the political process. HOPE replaces hopelessness when that happens.

HOPE might be the theme for this political season. And it almost looks like SOME of the candidates can keep that going even for those that vote against them... It almost seems as if there are SOME candidates who will open their arms (at least some) and pull in those who don't agree. Who will listen and not reject out of hand.

Wouldn't it be great if this continues through the general election?

But Washington, my Washington state... HOW in the world could the GOP there STOP counting ballots? Their defense is ... it doesn't matter. That they took essentially a "straw poll".

While that's not the way my memory has it, it might have changed. Even so, what a black eye to simply throw away a bunch of votes. It makes it look like the fix is in.

And does it tickle you like it does me to see this race reshape? Huckabee is finally getting props as a Conservative. Read his speech to the Conservative Political Action Convention in 2007 (CPAC) here (Haven't seen his Saturday speech post yet):

Gov. Huckabee's CPAC 2008 Speech

For those of us who LOVE politics, who follow it like many follow sports, this is like having a year long World Series!

The only way this could get better is if BOTH conventions are brokered.

YES!

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View from the trenches ...

How is it that Romney is so desperate to get Huckabee out of the race? He calls Huckabee a "Tax and Spend Liberal." Then says that Huckabee is robbing his rightful votes.

Hmmmmmmm. Let's think about that one for a minute.

Yup. It's muddy out here. The footing is slippery and folks are fallin all over the place, sayin' all sorts of silly things.

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Huckabee is THE Conservative ...

I am a Huck-a-Fan. I've made that clear. I'm still working for the campaign, making phone calls whenever I can.

Huckabee won me over with his fresh application of Conservatism. I've been reviled as a Liberal in my own town because I supported teacher salary increases. I've written in support of tax increases.

And I stand by my tax increase stands. OVERALL taxes need to decrease. But when roads are deteriorating, when schools are falling apart, it takes MONEY to fix those things. SOMETIMES CONSERVATIVES ARE MOST CONSERVATIVE WHEN THEY SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE.

After all, Conservatives are not anarchists. We believe in less intrusion and less government. But most Conservatives SUPPORT good roads and bridges as indispensable to the Free Market Economy. And MOST Conservatives believe ONLY government is in a position to do this kind of building.

I AM a Conservative. The guiding principles in my political world view are self-sufficiency and small government. But as in anything, the Conservatives of the past believe THEIR conservatism is the only way.

Like the Princess and the Pea, the only thing that underlying principle works its way out into real living. Being hidebound to the past, rigid and inflexible, loses elections, stifles economies, locks out good ideas, strips the political discourse of the value of the underlying principles.

This is why I support Huckabee even through the complaints that he is a Liberal in Sheep's Clothing. He isn't, I'm convinced of it, and here's an article from The Conservative Voicethat states it just the same way... Please take a look and see what you think:

Huckabee: The New Face of Conservatism?

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This one made me cry...

Followed a link and saw this video on CNN. It's from KOMO TV4... From my hometown, Seattle.

Lyman, WA where this takes place is on the North Cascades Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in America... I don't know if I've ever been through Lyman, I had to look it up on the map.

Homecomings are always sweet, but please, look at this one and remember how much is given by some.

A Homecoming

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