Pop Culture Reflection ...

So I saw this somewhat funny/satirical article posted and read it and was annoyed.  But couldn't put a finger on why.  Then my annoyance went to insulted and offended, but still couldn't put it into words.  It took me a little bit, but I finally figured it out:

Who’s to say that God didn’t intervene in the tornado, or other things that were listed.  We don’t know how God chose to act in each situation – maybe a single baby was saved; someone stayed late at work to finish something up and didn’t get in the tornado’s path; a family had just enough time to get to shelter; etc. 

Look at Job.  Job couldn’t hear the conversations that God and Satan were having.  He just knew that his family was gone, he was sick, his possessions were gone, etc.  But God was there the entire time.  God was protecting Job by talking with Satan first.  By giving Satan boundaries. 

Tebow is praising God and thanking God and recognizing that his athletic ability isn’t his own.  And while God may not have a part in a win or a touchdown, God did give Tebow the talent and he’s giving credit where credit is due.  Tebow is one man doing what God commanded His people to do, to go forth and multiply, baptizing nations.  To spread the word.  To not be ashamed of the gospel.  Tebow has done nothing wrong in his outspoken faith, and I'm constantly offended at the display the media has made of him.  

Hats off to you, Tim Tebow, for being more graceful and gracious and forgiving than I could be in your shoes.  Thank you for being the example of praising God for your gifts and turning the other cheek.

Warning: Rant Ahead

There are a couple phrases that really irritate me beyond believe. Two of them are, "In all do respect," and "No offense...."

They seem like excuses for the speaker to say whatever he or she wants to say without getting in trouble because the statement was prefaced with "no offense....."

If you are concerned that what you are saying is going to offend me, and you don't want to have a dialog with me if I am offended, then don't say it.

Those are NOT magic words that take away any hurt feelings or pointed fingers. They do NOT soften the blow. In fact, they often make things worse. They make it so that I'm prepared to be offended or disrespected.

Very, very rarely can someone start at statement out with either of those two phrases and I am not upset, hurt, distraught, offended, etc.

No offense, but I think your hair is ugly today.
No offense, but your breath stinks.
No offense, but you're wrong in what you think and how you raise your child.

The third one is the gist of the statement I got today.
Basically I was told that I am overprotective, silly, my doctor is wrong, and I don't need to listen to him. And I'm supposed to be OK with being told all this because it was all prefaced with, "In all due respect."

Ummm ... telling me that I'm overprotective in raising my daughter is disrespectful. Telling me that my doctor is wrong without knowing my doctor is disrespectful.

GRRRRRR..........

Monday..........

It's Monday. Did you know that????

Audrey was fussier than usual early this morning, so I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night. I overslept and didn't get up until almost 6:00. Not that big of a deal since I'm working from home today. I fed her (and she was extra hungry) and got ready to go running. Haven't run like I should recently, so I had a hard time running. Had to walk more than I have in the past.

Got home and found myself locked out of the house. Both kids had gone to school already and either started or didn't have a phone. So I had to find an open window and take out the screen to get in. (I usually take a spare key with me, but it was removed from the jogging stroller when we had house guests.) I finally got in and scrambled to get ready to start my day.

I finally got working. Audrey was asleep. Now where are my glasses??? Still haven't found them.

Took my break at 10 to feed Little Miss. Just as I'm finishing up and ready to get working again she blows out her diaper. So I had to give her a quick bath. Now I have to do laundry.

sigh.....
Monday's exist even when not in the office.

I'm at a loss.........

I'm going to reflect briefly on politics and our government. I try to stay away from this subject in my blog because, well, I just don't know enough.

But ... I just can't help but believe there are better things to spend our money on right now than this.

I mean, really???? We're in a recession; home prices are at a 5+ year low; unemployment is at a 40 year high; the state of California doesn't have a budget and is taking extreme measures to cut costs like mandatory days off and delays in sending tax refunds; the state of California is out of unemployment benefits and is now borrowing from some other source for it; there's a salmonella outbreak in peanut butter and people are in the hospital because of it. So yeah ... let's spend the little money that we have on a GRAND JURY for someone who did something unethical, but not necessarily illegal, hurt nobody, is already disliked by most of America, and is retired from his career. That's really what I want my tax dollars paying for. Forget new text books for my step-children or fixing the housing crunch or giving out unemployment for the millions of unemployed.