Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism

Here is an interesting article regarding a book to be released next week. It is based on research that shows Conservatives on average give more to charities/nonprofits than Liberals.

Check it out.

Philanthropy Expert: Conservatives Are More Generous

Thank you Tanya for sharing.

New Website

Okay, after today I promise I'll start writing again!

But in the meantime, I've signed up with bravehost to start a website. Not much there yet, but I wanted to start a reading room and have some ideas for other things as well.

If you have some suggestions for the website, please let me know.

Currently I'm using one of their templates. I'll be changing things along the way and would love for you to check it out every once in awhile and let me know what you think.

I've added the links to the main page (not much there yet) and the Reading Room (more to come on this one) on the sidebar of my blog.

Email Notification of Changes

Are you tired of checking back to my blog to see if I've been up and writing lately? I've now added Feed Blitz to my blog. What is that you may ask? It allows you to subscribe to my blog so an email is sent to you each day of any changes I've made to the blog. It will notify you if I've made any changes!

For example, if you were already subscribed, you would get an email at the end of the day saying I made this post!!

Give it a try!

Either click on this link

Subscribe to Ang4him

or look in the side bar to the right and enter your email in the subscription form located at the top of the second section (just above the labels & archive sections)

Today's Meditation

I was doing some reading today for a bible study I'm currently going through and came across these two verses. I feel the Lord telling me, I need to meditate on these today so I'm going to share them with you as well.

Colossians 3:8,12

3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.

3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Sunday Scribblings - "I don't want to be a passenger in my own life."

Written for Sunday Scribblings.

This week's prompt is to write about this quote:

"I don't want to be a passenger in my own life." (Diane Ackerman)

I've thought about this statement for quite a bit now and the more I do, the more I don't agree with it. You see, the problem is I've been trying to be the driver in my life for too long. I keep making wrong turns and getting lost. I try to turn on the navigation system and that helps a bit, but I still get lost. It is a little easier to find my way back out, but those maps are still error prone when my judgment is involved. Basically, I'm ready to finally surrender the driver's seat to someone else who knows the way and can get me there safely. Then I can sit back and enjoy the view.

Now you may be thinking, "She's lost it, totally gone bonkers on us. What is she talking about?"

Here it is. I'm a control freak and a bit of a perfectionist. Maybe that is why I went into Accounting and am successful in this profession. However, the problem is no matter how hard I try, I'm not perfect and I don't know the way. God does though. One of my favorite verses talks about God guiding us down the correct path if we turn away from it.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left , your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21)

You see, I've tried driving myself in my life and it does not work. The navigation system is my use of God's Word and His Church to try to find my way. The problem is I'm still depending on myself and my knowledge to interpret the directions AND I'm still the one behind the wheel.

Unlike me when my poor husband is driving, God won't be a backseat driver. He'll let us go where we want and waits for us to look to Him for direction. But He would like it even more if we were to completely let go and surrender to Him. At that time He will lead our lives in His Will and we will see His Power and Glory working in us. That is what I want for my life.

I'm not guaranteed that the road will be smooth all the time with God driving, but I am guaranteed to get to my final destination safely! And what a ride on the way!

Ted & Gayle Haggard's Letters

"Forgiven", painting by Thomas Blackshear II

Between Two Worlds has published the letters Ted & Gayle Haggard wrote and had read to their former congregation. I pray those reading these will see the amazing grace and mercy of God. As I said yesterday, Ted has a lot to repent of, however he seems to be very sincere and I can already see God's power and grace in his and his wife's life. He will still have to suffer the consequences of his actions but God has used this scandal to eventually strengthen Ted & Gayle's relationship with Him. I truely believe this. I think it will also touch many others as well.

We've seen many times in the Bible where God has turned bad things/sinful actions to his advantage and I believe this will prove to be another instance.

This man and his family will continue to be in my prayers for healing and I pray others will see the grace and love of God through them.

Ted & Gayle's letters

Ted Haggard

There has been a lot in the news lately regarding Ted Haggard. Personally, I have mixed feelings regarding this. Obviously he was portraying one image to the world and was a leader in the Body which according to the Bible sets him to a higher standard. One the other hand he is human and not perfect. Any of us could fall into sin if we continue to harbor sinful thoughts. Thoughts lead to action and we continously need to be on guard and asking the Lord to help us put these aside. I'll be the first to admit I'm not always successful at this. He is definitely a hypocrite, but I can't say that I'm not at times. He just happens to be in the spotlight more than I am.

I do think he should be held to a higher standard as a leader (as I mentioned above, the Bible states this too!) however if he is truely repentent I believe as a church body we need to help him. He is going to be going through some really rough times in his life right now and his family will be as well. I'm by no means making excuses for his behavoir, it is horrid. However, we have to strike a balance as God does between our hatred for the man's sin and the mercy and love of our heavenly Father.

Here are some articles/blogs that I've been reading which have some good points to think about regarding this scandal.

Mike's Noise - Weekend Reading: Ted Haggard Roundup

First Things - On the Square - Observations & Contentions

Reformation 21 - Just like Ted Haggard?

Think Christian - We Never Just Fall

Love Song

We've all seen the movies and read the books. Ladies, you know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that fill us with dreams of what true love should be like. The ones that build up our expectations with ideas of romance that no man could ever live up to. Then we get involved in a relationship and get married and are disappointed when he can not live up to these expectations. No matter how wonderful our man is, he will never be able to live up to the hype of these movies and books. And it is not fair for us to expect him to, after all, he's human just like us. He has no special powers to read our minds and fulfill our every desire before we even think it. In fact, he probably would not want to read our minds even if he could!

However, we don't have to give up these dreams completely because there is someone who can and does love us this much. He not only can read our minds, he knows the deepeset desires of our heart even better than we do! And the best part is that if we put him first and rely on him to meet our needs instead of putting all that pressure on our spouses, our marriage will actually improve. Because to be honest we are not our husband's dream wife, anymore than he is our perfect spouse. However, if we look to our heavenly husband, Jesus Christ to fulfill our needs, our husbands will be free to make us happy without feeling as if they will always fall short. And we will appreciate their efforts that much more.

I've been thinking about this alot lately since hearing a song by Third Day. It is on their Offerings CD and is called Love Song. I read these words and listened to the song and was overcome with the realization that the fairytale love I always wanted is possible. I've just been looking in the wrong place and putting unnecessary and unfair pressure on my wonderful earthly husband.

This realization has drawn me closer to God and to my husband because I can now love and serve my husband without worrying about my own selfish needs. The Lord will take care of them!

This is a love song to each of us from our heavenly husband and one that is not just talk. He means every word and has already proven that He loves us this much.

LOVE SONG - Third Day

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Chorus:
Just to be with you,
I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you,
I'd give anything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
How may times has he broken that promise
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

Repeat Chorus (Bridge)

I know that you don't understand
The fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
How much that I gave you
But I promise, I would do it all again.
Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you,
I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

We are like Lot

I read something today which made me look at the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in a new light. In Genesis 18, Abraham is visited by the Lord. During this visit Abraham is warned that the Lord is planning to destroy the cities because of their grievous sins.

Now, Abraham's nephew Lot and his family live in the cities. Abraham loves his nephew and therefore asks the Lord if he is able to find 50 righteous men, would He spare the cities? The Lord says yes. Abraham goes on to ask would he spare the cities if He could find only 45? 40? 30? 20? 10? Each time the Lord answers in the affirmative.

However, the Lord is not able to find even 10 who are righteous, however due to Abraham's intervention the Lord decides to spare Lot's family.

Isn't it amazing that although Abraham already had the Lord's favor, he choose to intervene on behalf of Lot and his family? He even went so far as to make himself downright annoying (he basically asked the same question six time! Reminds me of my children!) in order to plead for Lot.

The amazing thing is that we have someone who loves us even more and intercedes for us at the throne of God everyday. This man is Jesus! He loved us so much he died for us as intercession for us although there was not even one righteous! And now he is constantly interceding for us because of his great love for us. That is an amazing love!

Time Flies

Boy, it's been awhile since I've posted. Time sure flies by and I've been learning lots of things that I want to share with everyone. That is if you are still out there and have not given up on me yet!

I'll be trying to post this week (even with month end upon us!) however, for now I'll leave you with pictures of my little ones!

First, Tyler's school had a field trip to the local pumpkin farm last week and these are the pumpkins we picked out for her and Austin.


The next picture is my new favorite Superheros! Tyler loves Batman right now. Her birthday party was even a Batman theme this year. So, of course, for Halloween she chose Batgirl. From there it was an obvious choice to have Austin be Batman. He doesn't really have much of an opinion yet so I can dress him as pretty much anything I want right now. We even had him trying to hum the batman theme! (the one from the old t.v. show)