klink

I have not written in this blog for a long time. I know however that I should. Since I've written the country has taken an extremely left turn. We've got a neo-communist at the wheel and capitalism is being kicked to the curb. Okay enough with the metaphors. I'm just concerned that the principles of limited government, the competition of the free market, and moral accountability are no longer the goals of our society. We've re-prioritized and allowed a loud and aggressive minority to guide us, nay pull us onto a precipice. The hope is that perhaps people will wake up long enough to suspend the winds of strife just a little longer. Just a little longer.

I am so proud of my Aunt Elizabeth for the creation of her new website . I really think that it will provide a way for the American people to exercise their collective voices and possible hold their senator and representatives accountable for their decisions and performance. I do realize that we are a Republic but it we should follow the mantra "Government for the people and by the people."

Sometimes my absence from this forum causes me to wonder if I am intentional enough about expressing my thoughts. In any case I've wandered back into this blog so I think I will record a few of my thoughts and update the public on my whereabouts. My family and I have now been in Texas for more than nine months. I have had a roller coaster ride with possible changes to my job and Liz has had a hard time with her nursing boards: twice. Our children have also had their ups and downs. Matthew started out his fourth grade year feeling ostracized from his class and excluded from hanging out with the two other boys in his class. However one of those boys has now made a concerted effort to include Matthew if not befriend him instead of his previous playmate. Alexander has continued to be a terror at night. However the doctor feels his problems are probably not a behavioral and rather stem from acid reflux. I hope so. Life has been difficult but I know that the Lord has some plan for us. Wh...

There have been and continue to be so many changes in my life and the lives of my family members. My wife while continuing to care for our baby son Alexander is now studying for her NCLEX for the second time. She is using an online preparation course we purchased from Kaplan. So far she has found it to be quite helpful. We also just got a puppy. The puppy is a nine week old German Shepherd and Siberian Husky mix that we have named Odin. I have spent the better part of a week over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend trying to crate/house train the Odin. So far it's working, but I am very tired. We also have some changes that will involve a redistricting of churches and new responsibilities on my part. All in all it makes for some pretty hectic times. Hopefully the dust will settle soon. I need to see where I am going. Oh and getting some sleep would be nice too.

You know it really has been a roller coaster ride for my family and I as of late. Financially there have been ups and downs and emotionally it has been taxing for numerous reasons. Liz lost her mom Karen, our Prius was in an accident that put the car in the shop for almost a month and Alexander has not slept well at night. This last issue has been the most difficult. I think I can say that much of what we have been dealing with would have been blunted if we had enough rest. It is so hard right now to be consistent with my ministry and to do much more than what I have to do. We're about to go to Alabama for Christmas. We will leave early Sunday morning. With the onset of this trip we all seem to be getting sick. Matthew has been coughing. Alexander has congestion and Liz and I are on the verge of a cold. We're really under the weather, which is an apt description because we are unaccustomed to the fifty degree drop in temperature that happened a few days ago. The vast difference...

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and this year seems to be flying by. In so many ways I am blessed and I know that I need to continue to focus on that. I love my family and I think and feel that God is leading in my professional life. Liz's mom has been here since last Friday. She is staying a week to be with us over Thanksgiving. We've played a lot of Wii already and I know that Liz feels a little closer to home having her here. Water continues to flow under the bridge of life and I hope that I'm drinking as much of it in as I can.

For most of my life I have asked questions. I think it is important to ask questions. Without inquiry there really is never any understanding. However whereas most people ask questions that start with what, when, where, who and how I have often tried to ask why. I have endeavored to understand why I or anybody else would do what they are doing. I have tried to understand why God does what he does and this is where I think my problem lies. When it comes to asking questions we must ask what God wants us to do and then try and figure out how to do it. However I think that sometimes the why is beyond our reach. I think of the discussion between Job and God where God tries to illustrate that his thoughts are beyond are thoughts and his ways are different than our ways. Truly who can know the mind of God. Sometimes asking the why only leads us to doubt what was done for us and is being done through God's continual involvement in our lives. It isn't that God doesn't want us to ask...