Back in 1969...

I'm not sure how many of you out there were even alive back on July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Did you watch it on your family's black and white TV? It seemed the whole world was marveling at this feat. However, something even more dramatic took place just three days later. As the Apollo 11 crew were making their way back to earth the angels were celebrating. Not due to the accomplishment of these astronauts. But it was on July 23, 1969 that I became a Christian. Of course, being only five, I can't say there were many dramatic changes in my lifestyle. But looking back over these past 39 years I can clearly see God's hand in guiding and protecting me through the circumstances of my life. Neil may have played an important role in the history of man's encounters of the heavens. But the kneel of most import is the one done at the foot of the cross in surrender to The Maker of heaven and earth.

Vacationer Returns

I know, I know. I haven’t been doing so well at posting anything lately. Mostly it’s due to taking a little vacation to Corpus Christi. Not just the being away, but also all the catching up at work after the trip. But I’ve back now and will hopefully get back into the blogging swing of things.

The trip went quite well. We, the “nuclear six” plus the mother-in-law (N6+MIL), left around 1:00 in the morning on a Tuesday. I finally stopped in Waco at an IHOP for breakfast. Mine was pretty good. The youngest two ordered chocolate chip pancakes from the kid’s menu that were huge and made with this chocolaty batter. They were even too sweet for me. That of course prompted us to stop the van a couple of times shortly after we left for … um… some spew stops. Let me just say, the interstates in Texas need to add more restrooms to their rest stops on the interstate. I think we only encountered two highway rest stops with facilities between Oklahoma and Corpus Christi.

Our tour bus stopped in San Antonio for a couple of hours and we visited the Alamo and roamed along the river walk. The stop was cut short by rain and we decided to grab a quick bite at, what else, Wendy’s before continuing to our destination. Our original plan was to motel it in Galveston and stop in Houston to visit a relative along the way. But another relative offered to house N6+MIL in Corpus Christi so of course we couldn’t turn them down. Besides, it was a lower rate than even Priceline could get us!

Tuesday evening we just ordered pizza and let the kids splash around in the pool. After my all-nighter I just went to bed after eating. Both Wednesday and Thursday we went to the beach at Padre Island National Seashore. The weather was great and the beach was almost deserted. Although I had forgotten how easily that fine sand gets everywhere. The kids had a blast jumping waves, playing in the sand and collecting shells. We also did a little souvenir shopping in Thursday. On Friday we went to the Texas State Aquarium. And of course every evening back at the house the kids had to swim until after dark.

We pulled out just before 11:00 on Friday night and arrived at our house around noon on Saturday. I pretty much slept all day Saturday. It was surprising that we never paid more than $3.95 for gas. And even if gas would have been $4.25 it would have only cost us about $20 more. Sure I don’t like the high gas prices. But on a vacation you’re easily going to blow at least $30 on something stupid anyway. Just think about it, be a little more careful about what you spend and you’ll realize higher gas prices shouldn’t really make you opt not to take you summer road trip. As a bonus we also got between 25 and 27 MPG the whole trip. Not too bad when you’re carting seven or eight people around. You SUVer may mock my minivan. But I’m laughing at you while you’re filling up your tank at the pump across from me.

Well, that’s the trip summary. I’d like to take just a “nuclear six” long weekend before school starts but I’m not sure that will happen. I’ve still got something like 11 vacation days to burn before the year ends. We’ve got a cousin’s wedding in KC coming up one of these weekends in August but that after the spouse has already gone back to work for all the pre-school-starting teacher junk they do every year. Anybody know of a neat little place to get away with the family for a couple of days that’s, say, within 300 miles of Wichita?

Road Trip Memories

Rumor has it that because of the high gas prices some people are not taking their summer vacations. I just think that’s an excuse. Of course because airfare for six is so expensive our family doesn’t fly, we road trip. So even at $4.00 a gallon we drive our family of six in the minivan from home to either coast and back for less than one or two airline tickets. And the way flying is these days with delays, security hassles and lost luggage, driving is a lot more relaxing, too, even when we leave at midnight.

Of course the whole “family road trip” thing is in my blood. As a kid I always looked forward to climbing aboard the family Oldsmobile and heading across the county for the summer adventure. We didn’t even let the gas crisis of the 70’s keep us off the roads. Thanks to my parents I’d been in all the lower 48 states and countless National Parks by the time I went to college. And it wasn’t because we were wealthy that we could afford our travels. My mom is a great budgeter and my dad is “Mr. Friendly” so we pitched a tent, stayed with long lost friends and relatives, or slept in the car. Once in a while if we had under spent we’d splurge on a roadside motel.

I’m trying to give my kids that same love for the road and our beautiful country that I inherited. Sure there are those moments of friction when you’ve been tapped in a vehicle for hours on end with your family. But they tend to be so few and are overshadowed by the fun and adventures we share along the way.

We’re building family closeness and memories. I’m sure my kids will look back on these trips with the same appreciation I have when I remember my childhood trips. Who could forget the time we stopped because my dad had to go to the bathroom so badly that he accidentally went into the women’s restroom. Or the time the “biker gang” unlocked the car when we locked the keys inside. What about the yucky motel in Utah we were in when Elvis died. Gosh, I’m already smiling as I wonder what stories my kids will have to tell to their children.

If you don’t already “road trip” with your family you really should give it a try. And don’t think you’ve got to see everything just because you are “so close.” You’ve got to leave a few things for you kids to explore with their kids one day. We did our big road trip over spring break so this summer we’re just going on a short 1,500 round trip to visit relatives for a few days at the beach. I’ll catch up with you after I get back. The minivan leaves at midnight!

Celebrate Today, Vote in November

I’ve always thought of myself as fairly patriotic. I love this country and her rich history. It’s hard fighting my urge to become a political junkie. It’s just that what happens in our government affects almost everything around us. Of course I realize my citizenship is in My Father’s Kingdom and we shouldn’t expect the laws made by men to bring about the kinds of spiritual change that can only occur when individuals are in relationship with God. However, without laws and law makers that reflect The Lawgiver’s principles or some basic morality, this Nation will never become the God honoring country our founders envisioned. And by continuing to elect those whose commitment to and understanding of our constitution is questionable, at best, we stray even further from being a beacon of liberty and freedom in this world.

In the November presidential election we will pick our next president. Our choices from the two big parties seem to be men of “politics as usual” and personal power rather than men of conviction and leadership. So I’ve decided I might vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party.

The conventional wisdom is that third party candidates can never win so you only hurt the major party candidate with whom you agree the most and hand the win to the other guy. That may be true in this case as well. But I’m just sick and tired of half-heartedly voting for somebody because they aren’t the other guy. Chuck Baldwin is a fine Christian man and I know he’s not just a political hack.

By the way, can you tell me what the Democrat or Republican parties stand for? I tried to find a nice, simple and neat list on the two major party sites. But the best they had were four year old platform documents of 43 and 92 pages. Sort of speaks for itself that they are clearly the parties of bureaucracy, doesn’t it? Here are seven principles of the Constitution Party:

1. Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death;
2. Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual;
3. Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted;
4. Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden;
5. Constitution: and Bill of Rights interpreted according to the actual intent of the Founding Fathers;
6. States' Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government is reserved for the state and local jurisdictions;
7. American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.


Life, liberty, less government, state’s rights and original intent. These all seem pretty basic and easy to understand. And for the most part they also seem to be poles apart from either of the other candidates’ actions.

Well, enough of the politics. Enjoy your celebration of The United States of America on her 232nd birthday. Remember those who fought to establish her, those who have died defending her and those who serve her today so we can enjoy the blessings of this country.

More Thoughts on Faith

I’m still pondering a couple things on faith theme again today. One item is just because a person believes something or has faith in something doesn’t mean that it is true. By the same token, just because you choose not to believe something doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Our faith or belief really has no bearing on truth. Truth is true regardless of how one feels or believes or perceives. To preface truth with words like “your” or “my” is meaningless. You may observe something from a different perspective or have a life experience on which you base a belief that is far different from my own. But that doesn’t change the truth. If truth was not something solid and unchanging how could we have a foundation for faith in anything?

Another thought is something James writes about. Faith alone is worthless. It requires action. I could easily say how much I believe parachuting is safe and would be fun. But am I willing to step through the door of an airplane as it soars above the ground? Or how about an example a little closer to home. I know and believe that spending time reading my Bible and praying daily is one of the most important things I can do. But do my actions reflect that? Who is king of my late nights, Leno, Letterman or The Lord of Lords?

I have faith that God will make sure my needs and those of my family are taken care of. But does my giving reflect that? As long as I’m on money here, is there somebody out there who can tell me where the line is between faithful stewardship and reckless irresponsibility? Sure I want to become more generous. I love giving. But I’m also in charge of making sure I am wise in how I provide for my family. We are a fairly frugal family. So it’s not like I’m feeling guilty about how we do use our money. But I read stories about people like the widow in 1 Kings 17 who just had enough for a last meal for her son and herself. Then Elijah asked her to bring him food first. She did and her oil and flour never ran out. Do I have that kind of faith? Could I give away my last meal? I’ve got enough for countless meals right now. Is that meaning my jar of oil is full because I've been faithful with what little I have, or is God providing me with opportunities to give the oil He's put in my jar away, or both?

Boy, this trying to live acting on what you believe sure can be complex.