Profound and Sometimes Preposterous Ponderings of Pete

"If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!" - A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens Honestly,  I have been feeling a little Scroogey lately myself. We have been under extreme stress and I do not have much "Christmas Spirit."  I know I have posted, and I heartily stand by, that Jesus Christ is the reason etc.etc.   But my family, especially my younger ones (grandkids included)  need me to be jolly.  So I suck it up, sing some yuletide carols, spread a little cheer, and pray that God can change my attitude enough so that it does not show to them.  Not that God would or should change it.  He did so much by coming here in the first place and really I don't think His birthday is all that important to him.  So all those Christmas miracles that we hear about or legend has gen

My heart is truly breaking for those folks in Connecticut.  How horrible!!  My first thought was for all the families!  His too.  The idiotic press published his brother's name as the shooter nationally.  There needs to be an addendum t o freedom of the press that should state that the freedom is there in as much as they report responsibly.  Anyway, I know the questions are God why did this happen?  Why did you do this God?  How can you let this happen? God did not do this.  God gave man the free will and man chose to do this.  You can't have the freedom to choose or not choose God and then blame Him for not controlling you when you act evil.  God is a just and loving and merciful God.  He has given us this freedom but that freedom comes with choices and responsibilities whether we believe it or not. So what do we do when tragedy strikes? Because it does.  Those of us who believe fall to our knees.  We pray for the fallen and the families they have effected.  We pray for t

Ever find your self drowning in a sea of overwhelming stress?  That stress can come from grief, financial woes, pain, worry, anxiety etc.  Whatever trial you are facing is just way to big for you to handle. You pray.  You beg God.  You look everywhere, try everything ,work extremely hard, but still there is no end in sight, no solution.  You get to the point where you are so tired that you just start to feel maybe it is time to just let go and sink.  You're treading water but your arms are tired and your legs ache.  You are keeping your face above water but barely.  It is like when you see in the movies the hero or maybe the villain is trapped inside the cave, or ship, or some enclosed area and the water keeps rising.  The lights go out and only your eyes nose and mouth are above water but the ceiling is inches away and the water is still rising.  You know the scenes I am talking about.  Many of you know this feeling regardless of the source of the trial.  Suddenly you get a littl

I did something today that I have not been able to do since Rachael's accident.  I listened to the Cinderella song by Steven Curtis Chapman.  Yes the tears came.  I was able to listen all the way.  Do I still miss my little girl?  Terribly!  This is the 4th Christmas since her death.  It still hurts.  But I was able to listen to the words of the song.  I have danced with all my little girls. Unabashedly.  I will continue to dance with them and they will marry men who will dance with their little girls.  My sons will also dance with their little girls.  Someday, I will dance with Rachael again.  She just has a much better partner now. 

In church today there was a graphic on the big screen. It was a beautiful silvery cross that was elevated and slowly spinning.  It really got me thinking.  The original cross was an instrument of torture, punishment, and death reserved for the most heinous crimes.  There was nothing beautiful about it. But then God, the perfect father, creator, and judge decide to have mercy on us and took our places on that cross.  He took MY place on that cross.  His blood washed it clean.  Those awful pieces of wood became the symbol of freedom, redemption, eternal life, peace with God, grace, and mercy for millions of people.  For me. I wear a cross.  I keep it inside my shirt next to my heart.  It is a plain one.  Stainless steel with a simple rosewood inlay.  I wear it to remind me who I am and what has been done for me.  The reason why I wear it inside is because for years crosses became a fashionable "bling" statement and were worn as such.  I saw people wearing their overly gilded