Wars of the World....

War Protesters. You gotta love them on some level (any level actually). There was a small group of 3 protesters hanging out in the underground around lunchtime today who insisted on reading all 2000 names of those who have died in the War in Iraq. After 1134 names, pretty much everyone was groaning at the ressonance of the protestera's voice. A sorority girl finally stood and proclaimed with equal gusto, "ARE YOU DONE?! WOOHOOO!!" "Your still complacent." was the reply, and they left. War Protesters, people with a passion for passivism or neutrality that inspires them to avoid all actions that counter world peace.

In the movie Troy Hector tells his younger brother that there is nothing glorious about war. He was very right. War is horrible. Talk with someone who has been in a war, a vertern, or a smart person; war is not pretty. There is only one beauty in war that I can really think of, and that beauty is the nobility to die for something of value. There are times for war and times of peace, but you cannot have peace without war.

As for as Iraq goes, I have not been near the issue. I think it might be a different dilemma for me if I personally knew some soldiers over there or knew one of the 2000 that died. I am grateful for their sacrifice and service as they are a driving force that keeps this nation secure, and security is something that we all desire.

So to the war protesters, thank you for taking the time to read the 2000 names of our friends who have died, and yes, death is not a pretty thing. But war protesters, did they die for the right thing, or do you have a problem with their leader? We need war my friends to be safe.
War...

Did you ever think about how relationships are wars of sorts sometimes? Think about it. A good relationship is one that has the good kind of conflict/ friction that moves the relationship to a deeper level of security and love. A relationship without that periodic heated argument doesn't move the way it should. In a relationship, and the merging of two lives, there will be conflict. In the relationship between a pastor and his people, there will be conflict. In a relationship between a teen and their parent, there will be conflict. We have conflict within ourselves, so why shouldn't we have conflict with others? The question is though, is the conflict good, settling some hard issues and moving on, or is it bad, born out of selfishness or something else?

I have some friends who don't have conflict (at least of the good kind) in their relationship. It bothers me. It really shouldn't since it isn't my relationship, but I see the effects that it has in their relationship, and as a friend I am concerned. The occasional fights will and do come, our task is to work through them to reach a peacable conclusion.

I am not saying that relationships should thrive on conflict. I am not encouraging conflict. I think what I am saying is do not run from the conflict but rather work it out, patiently and lovingly. I am not saying that the world should thrive on war either. I am merely saying that if there needs to be a war, then fight well.

So maybe I am a fool, not knowing enough about war or relationships to drone on about these things, but I do know one thing. Jesus went to some serious lengths to have a relatioship with us. We are called to be like Jesus. Therefore, we need to go to some lengths to have relationships with others. This is natural on many levels, but sometimes it is easier to ingore the loud war protesters or the silent outcast. If God puts them in your path, think twice before shoving them out...

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I love the constellation Orion. There is something about the fellow that strikes a particular chord within me. There is incredible peace looking up at him in the fall/winter night sky, with the silence of the night hugging you close and the other stars looking back at you. There is something unique about standing in the cold (you can stand inside in the heat as well, but you lose the view a bit) and hanging out with the stars for awhile.

Sounds dreamy, eh?

I got home from work this evening and stood for several minutes just gazing at the stars. It is funny how I get trapped looking at them. I drive home from work in my own little work, shut off my car and get out, and Whammy! My body ceases to move at the sight of billions of stars above my head, as the Orion and Pleiades holding a center stage. Beautiful. Majestic. Gosh, I am really small.

Then I remembered Job. Job saw Orion and the Pleiades too. He mentions them in Job 9:9 and Job 38:31. Look it up, great verses. He mentions them though in context of God's power. In the first verse he rhetorically asks who made our celestial buddies, and in the second verse he questions who has the power over them. Answer = God.

So here we are, little people on this little earth not able to save ourselves from car accidents, as a majestic universe surrounds us and dominates what we see in the night sky. Curious...

Some thoughts to remember definately. Tiny people, and yet we act so big and think all about our pretty little selves. What a cute disgusting picture. I am guilty of this, getting so wrapped up in the moment, feeling, or week that I loose sight of what it really is about.

I love chili... That quick...

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