8/16/09 Church, Pastor M talks insurance issues !

It's the first time in weeks that I have been to Church.  I like going in the building and hearing the music welcoming me.  Luke goes to park the car.  We're a little late but not too much.  The 11 a.m.  service is crowded.  What?  Did I miss something?  Is it Easter?  Or Christmas?  No!  It's Pastor Millard's sermon on the the war between the health care issue opponents.  Ooooh.  I don't want to hear about it.  Not yet anyway.  People are making stuff up and throwing insults with no basis.  It's ugly.  I'd rather watch the food channel.  And you know folks,  there are a lot of people out there who don't have health insurance--people with kids and seniors.  Sarah Palin get a grip.  

As always Pastor hits it out of the park.  He doesn't get into the ugly chat at all.  Instead he talks about the model Jesus gives us for working with people that we disagree with.  1)Start with the facts and the truth.  What really happened? 2) Respect the person that you disagree with.  They are also children of God.  3) Love and pray for your enemy.  4) Listen to the other person.  Search for a common ground.  5) Surrender.  

Matthew 5:31-32 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

O.K. I'm not thinking about the political issues that fueled this sermon--actually Pastor didn't mention the health care issues directly--at all.  He glaced off them with a story about a woman who was out of work and asked Pastor for prayer that she and her family would stay healthy until she got another job.  That was it.

What I thought about was my situation with Ricky and Tim.  The badly laid carpet and the fact that after all Ricky's promises and swears and all the months that have gone by--Luke's bathroom is still not complete.  It's more complicated but the rules apply.  

After Church I went right to N.M.  MKate tells me that there has been a rise in crime in our strip mall and Matt shouldn't be alone.  It makes sense.  I brought a sandwhich and graham crackers.  Matt and I were glad to see each other and share the weeks that we spent appart.  Along the way,  we had a great day $$$$ wise and a lot of people got help.  

We went to dinner at Em and Bobby's place.  Brian and Emily were there with Noah and the new baby,  Simon.  I just love Noah.  Still a baby but now a big brother as well.  Emily's mom was still there.  She's been here for a month helping her daughter.  Now she'll go back home.  I'm glad I had a chance to meet her before she left.  What a lovely family.  I love them all--especially Noah who is sweetness in a human form.  He's getting used to Luke and I and his parents encourage him to love us.  He gave me the sweetest hug.  

Bobby was at his grilling best.  I wish that Bobby Flay was still doing throw downs,  but he isn't.  Our Bobby grilled the salmon on a cedar plank.  It was beyond delicious.  Crispy outside and moist inside--full of flavor. 

The grandkids were there.  Jennifer looks so grown up and beautiful,  and Evan is tall.  Where are the little kids I used to know.  OMG they have grown so fast.  She came up and hugged us as soon as we came in the room.  What a precious.  Soon she'll start dancing at another school.  She has outgrown her old dancing school.  It will be fun to see how she progresses this year.  

After dinner we got to share the last of Em's amazing chocolate muffin with a chocolate mint inside.  Yummmmm.  Usually we go home after dinner.  Tonight we watched two Larry David shows with the kids.  Funny.