** HEAVY TOPIC WARNING **

Today is Day two of the War. What a strange war we wage. Precision bombing, trying to minimize any collateral damage to the Iraqi people, and their natural resources. Highly focuses, and yet broadly covering the Iraq landscape. War is such a strange thing. I just saw an actor wearing a tea-shirt that had the statement “What Would Jesus Bomb?” emblazoned on the front. I suppose he was trying to communicate that Jesus is love, and peace, and wouldn’t bomb anyone, but there is a little problem with that. You see, I have been reading in Jeremiah lately, about the destruction that God brought on Babylon. Now, follow my logic here, If Jesus is God, and God caused Babylon to be destroyed, then Jesus caused babylon to be destroyed. Not a pretty thought perhaps, but true none the less. I sometimes wonder why people think Jesus is “only” love, and not any of his other attributes. I guess it must be wishful thinking, and I confess, I have done it myself. You see, Jesus is more than Love and Peace, He is also Justice. He has other names too, Defender, and Protector are two I especially like, and then there’s Encourager, Healer, Finisher, Provider, Holy One, Councilor, and many more. Of course there are also names that he does not have, like Evil one, and Deceiver. Those names are reserved for someone special, someone not entirely unlike you and I, at least sometimes. Those names are reserved for the one that has enough pride to think he can be like God. I thank Jesus that he forgives my pride, I only need to confess it to Him. Too bad the evil one can’t open his eyes and see the truth. The deceiver has become the most deceived of all.

Last month I wrote about stepping out of your “comfort zone” to get a different perspective on things. Well, as what usually happens when you give advice about something, God gives you opportunity to try it yourself. As some of you know, my bike has been in the shop for about 3 weeks now and I have had a few “opportunities” to be a passenger for a change. Now this isn’t out of my ‘comfort’ zone, but it is out of my ‘preferred’ zone. At first, I thought it would be good to just sit and relax, enjoying the scenery. Well, much of the scenery in front of me was obscured by “The Big Blue Helmet”. And sitting and relaxing soon turned into “how many different faces can I make in “Big Blue”? or what are some creative ways to make hand signals? But by the third ‘view from the back’, I was actually beginning to enjoy it. It is kinda nice to ride with my arms around Tom, although the bonking of our helmets is a little annoying. And it’s easier to communicate when we’re on the same bike. I have also learned that even though it is windy, I don’t have to yell into his ear. So I have gained an appreciation for all those who take the back seat. I think Lin sent an email once about the benefits of riding double. One of which is going down the road together as “one” instead of each being in charge of their own little domain. He might still have the article if you’re interested in reading it. If all goes right, I should be back on the road by next weekend, although still in the ‘break in’ period, I may have more opportunities to get a “view from the back”.
till next month,
Debbie