Intentional Generosity

I just finished reading someone’s thoughts that challenged me, and I wanted to share the challenge with you.

Remember back to the Old Testament when Moses shared God’s vision for the people of Israel.  God asked the people to do certain things that go completely against our culture today.  Now, there were many things that would fit that category, but I’m referring to practices that allowed for the poor and seemingly forgotten to be cared for.

For instance, when they harvested their fields, they were to leave the corners so that the poor, the widows, the foreigner, could come and get the crops for food for themselves.  While harvesting, if they dropped any, they were to leave it so there would be something for the poor to get.

Now, in today’s world, we talk about efficiency and productivity so much that we have figured how to get as much as we can out of whatever we are doing.  We make our money go as far as we can so that nothing is wasted.

There is talk about not giving money to those who ask because we don’t know what they’re going to do with it.  We may see the same man in the same three spots asking for the same thing with the same sign, and because we see him so much we don’t take his request seriously.  There is talk about not giving money to certain people because they are lazy and don’t get off their butts to get a job for themselves.

I get it.  I understand those arguments.  I believe in the principles behind the arguments that keep us from giving to these people.  I am with you on that.

But what if God was asking the people to do these things because it keeps the people of Israel from feeling entitled to money or land or food or clothes or whatever?  What if God was asking the people to think about others because it is what God did for us—hearing us in our sin and coming to our rescue through Jesus?  What if God was asking the people to give unconditionally because it would set both groups of people free?

But I don’t really do this.

I mean, we sponsor a child through Gospel for Asia, but we switched to this agency because it was cheaper than Compassion.  (There’s more to that story as well, because we didn’t just stop sponsoring one kid to go with the cheaper one.)  But there’s still that truth to it.  And I don’t even remember that we sponsor her because it just come right out of our account.  I’m not really even involved in it.

As far as other ways of carrying out this principle, I’m having a hard time of even stretching things to come close to fitting it.  I haven’t done anything in a while to do this.  Yes, I feel stirred to act on behalf of others, but I don’t always actually do anything.  Yes, I get excited about standing up for those who can’t or those who need assistance, but I lose the excitement and do other things once the novelty wears off.

So here’s my challenge: God asked the people of Israel to build into their lifestyle a way to care for the poor and oppressed.  I believe that God is still asking people to live in such a way that we take care of our ‘neighbor’, whether we know who we’re doing it for or not.

I want to live intentionally.  I like to do things on purpose.  Sure, I like routine and whatnot too, but why not set up some routines that help others?

What about you?  Are you doing something, even a small thing, to help stand up for someone or provide for someone in such a way?  Please share.  If you have ideas, whether you’ve started doing them or not, please share.

It can be as small as always buying fair trade coffee to make sure those farmers who grow it are paid and treated fairly.  It can be as big as sponsoring 10 kids through Compassion and getting to see each one once a year and writing to them once a week and having an active role in their lives.

So whatever it is for you, tell us.

-mister-

Value System

[I found myself thinking about this yesterday, and I wanted to share some thoughts.]

Does everything belong to you?  What makes you the owner of the things in your house, in your life?  Why is it so important to consider yourself the owner?  Is it to make us feel better about having something that someone else does not?  Or even to have the same type of thing that someone else has?

Where does our value as a human being come from?  Is it from having things?  Is it from where you work?  How much money you make?  Is it the type of work you’re in?  Or is it something else?

Does your value as a human come from what you look like?  What about the type of clothes you wear?  How you talk?  How refined your lifestyle is?

What if your value wasn’t based on any of those things?  Would it be easier?  Would there be less guilt for what we do or wear or think or conduct ourselves?  Would we treat others differently?

What if your value as a human was based on the fact that you are alive?!

That’s it.  You are alive, therefore you have value.

It doesn’t matter what your name is, if you can even spell your name, what language you speak, or how many, where you live, what country you’re from, what religion you practice, how many are in your family, what your job is, what you wear, how many possessions you have, or any of that stuff.

Your value is important because it shapes how you see yourself and others.

Now, shouldn’t it be that way?  I feel as if humans, in my culture and much of the ‘civilized and developed world’ have misplaced how to value life.  We’ve placed it on those lists, instead of letting it be because of the breath in our lungs.

I feel as if I could contemplate all of that for a long time, and I would have many years of working it out as I struggle to replace that value system with the one that has been force-fed to me by my culture.

Yet I bring this up because I was thinking about the upcoming election, and I was recalling a conversation I had the other day.

Where I live, many Christians tend to vote Republican.  It’s almost an unwritten rule in my circles that you aren’t really a Christian if you don’t side with the Republicans.  There are some things that I agree with in the Republican party, but there are some things I don’t, as well.  Abortion—I tend to be against it, but I don’t think it should be mandated policy that no one, ever, should be allowed to have an abortion again.  Will Rachel and I choose to have one if a birth defect or something should be discovered with one of our future children?  I highly doubt we’d opt for an abortion.  But, I’m not going to say that I need to mandate that policy for everyone in our country.  Yes, I would suggest having the baby and allowing for adoption instead of abortion, but I don’t know.  There’s also the issue of the mother possibly losing her life if she tries to give birth or even carry the baby full term.  We have c-sections and lots of equipment to keep a premature baby alive, but it may be a serious question for a mother to face.  So I’m not going to say that abortion would never be an option for someone.  For it to be an option based on convenience for the mother or trying to hide a ‘one night stand mistake’ or something like that—yes, I think that would be wrong.  So I would, again, recommend adoption instead.

Another thing that I tend to agree with the Republicans is the general issue of hard work and earning your own money.  I think everyone should work if they are able, instead of living a life of dependence on a substance or system or taken-advantage-of-family-member.  But I don’t think that describes a certain ethnicity in our country!  Get out of your cozy life and meet some people if that’s what you think to be the case.

Yes, I agree with the principle ‘He who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat,’ to an extent.  Children don’t need to get a job, disabled people (not to be read only as mentally disabled; it includes someone losing a leg or arm, etc.) aren’t always able to find a job, elderly people aren’t always able to continue working as their bodies slow down and begin dying.  Yet I’m pretty sure most people would agree with those three examples too.  (I feel like I’m leaving this topic undeveloped, but my mind is working quickly as I get to the point of this whole post!)

Where I’m going with this post is this: many people don’t want the government to redistribute the money they earn to those who don’t work or can’t work.  I think this ties back in to the value issue.

It seems to me that the real issue is how we value people.

Here’s why: our value system is set up to give certain people more value if they have a certain job, or make a certain amount of money, or have a certain type of lifestyle that’s at least similar to ours.  We tend to give less value to those who make less than we do, or who live in a house that’s not kept up as nicely as ours, or who wear thinner, older, out-of-style-in-a-very-noticeable-way, dirty, not-the-correct-size, rattier type of clothes.  Why in the world do we do this?

Because it’s a pride issue.  We feel more important and better and worth more if we can compare ourselves with someone else and come out ahead, at least in our own head.

So why are so many people against this issue?  I think it’s because people value people improperly.  I’m guilty too, but I want to point this out so we can help each other with this.

What if we started being intentional about not being tied to stuff?  What if we gave away money to people who don’t deserve it?  What makes that money yours anyway?  What if we met and became friends with people who don’t make enough money to own a car?  What if we invited poor people into our lives, into our homes, and shared conversations and laughs and tears and food and things?  What if we started sharing now?

If the government wants to make it happen anyway, why not figure out a way to enjoy it.  It’s somewhat a subversive act, in that regards.  And if there’s part of you that still wants to be a rebel in some way, you can join me in figuring this out.  We can be rebels together.

Now, the practical step.  I am a dreamer.  I tend to think of something and imagine what it could look like.  I really enjoy it.  It's part of who I am.  I'm not so good at actually carrying it out.  Most of my dreams are still in my head, with very few steps taken in the real world.  So, this is where I need your help.  I am definitely pointing to my own lifestyle and choices and comfort as I think about this issue.  I don't like that I point stuff out in others that I still see in myself, but I'm reminded that I have a lot of work needed in my own life too.

So, share your thoughts.  How could we make this work?  What steps could we take?  I don't think I know very many people who vote differently or make less than I do or wear the clothes that don't match the standard in my foolish brain.  So what's something practical that I can do to take a step toward this?

(Now, in closing, I’m not trying to say which way you need to vote.  That has nothing to do with why I’m posting this.  I won’t be upset whichever way you vote, and I think I’ve decided which candidate I’m voting for.  So don’t try to tell me which way to vote either.  We can talk in person, but not online.  Also, please share your thoughts about the value issue.  That’s the point of the post.  Once you’ve shared on that, then feel free to add to the other issues or bring something else up.  But only after addressing the point of this post.  Thanks!)

-mister-

September

This post will be tying up some loose ends for me.  I have lots of pictures too!  And this will be long. 

So here we go.

We had Ainsley’s birthday party on September 1, which meant we were either going to have a beach theme party, or we were going to get the back patio finished.  Well, we didn’t pass out leis, so we’ve finally finished the project.  And it looks amazing, if I may say so myself.

Weedless landscaping, almost!

With our gazebo!

We finished the Thursday before, I pulled weeds (tons of them), I mowed, we put up some tents and tables, we busted out the lawn chairs, and we had ourselves a party.  It did rain just a little bit, but it was a great day.  Ainsley really enjoyed her cake too.  My mom made a cake for everyone, and then made a large cupcake for Ainsley, which we affectionately called her ‘Smash Cake.’  And that she did.  She probably ate half of it, and wore the other half.  It was shower time afterward, before opening presents. J  We had a blast though!  The photographer we had for her party was amazing too!  (ahem)  He only took pictures for about 20 minutes, and never got any besides Ainsley, her cake, and a tomato worm we found in the garden.  We'll see if he makes it to the next one!

You may not want to eat after her.

Precious Princess!  Love her lots!

On a different note, I did get my clothesline put in a while ago.  I’ve finally used it a few times as well.  I find it very relaxing as I hang up clothes to dry.  It’s a way to help me slow down and enjoy the little things.  It’s weird, but I think I will have a clothesline at our next house, if we ever move.  There’s just something about having to slow down to let your clothes dry.  It’s … I don’t know.  I may be in love with it!  Now, we’ve discovered that we won’t put everything out there to dry.  For instance, none of Rachel’s undergarments, no nice shirts, no pants, and I think that’s it.  So t-shirts, Ainsley’s clothes, socks, some of my underwear (as long as I’m cool with it), towels.  So, yes, we still use our dryer, but we use it less now, unless it’s raining when I do laundry.  And, no, I’m not planning on using it in the winter time.  It would be hard to put on a frozen tshirt.

No one's panties are hanging on it right now.

My brother Paul is leaving for his final deployment and final leg of being enlisted as a Marine.  So we’re getting excited for his move back home.  My parents drove out a couple weeks in advance to enjoy some western sites and to help Paul’s wife Kambria move some stuff back home to Ohio.  So since my parents have been gone, I’ve been blessed / cursed with a huge tomato harvest.  I don’t HAVE to get them, but I feel as if not using them would be a huge waste of a large tomato crop.  So we’ve been trying our hand at making our own sauce.

Our first attempt wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have much flavor, even though we added garlic and onions.  Our second attempt was better with flavor since we added some herbs, but weird in texture, because the tomatoes were larger and had longer strings / tissue than the previous batch.  So on our third attempt, we decided to ask for some recipes from others.  And we got lots of great advice.  I think our ingredient amounts were off because it came across somewhat bland.  So we'll keep experimenting until we get something that works great.

Slicing and Coring

Blanching

Blanched and about to be peeled

Stewing

We cored them, squished out the seeds, boiled them for about 10 minutes, doused them in cold water, peeled off the skins, and then added some herbs, onions, garlic, and anise extract.  Yes, that’s right, anise, the stuff that gives black licorice its flavor.  It actually smells really good when you’re cooking it, and it reminds me of Sambuca from Olive Garden, an Italian liqueur that you’re supposed to drink with 3 espresso beans for good luck.  I never tasted it, but it smelled pretty good.  Even though I’m not a huge fan of black licorice, I do like the smell of the extract.  We froze it in 3 cup amounts, perfect for spaghetti for 2!

Also, while we’re speaking about tomatoes, I tried some fried green tomatoes the other day.  I didn’t really like them, but I’ve never seen them cooked before.  So I could have done it wrong.  Rachel’s grandma says she eats them with sugar, or at least can tolerate them with sugar.  So I may give that a shot next time.  But I decided I’d try to see if I like them because I have slugs eating holes in my red ones if I don’t get them the day they turn red.  So I thought I’d try a green one and see if I could beat ‘em to the punch.  Nope.  At least not this year anyway.  Maybe I’ll force myself to like them next year.  I’m good at that.  Last year I didn’t even enjoy eating raw tomatoes.  This year, I eat them off the plant, and even got Ainsley to like them too!  Careful, world, I may decide to conquer you!

Slug-eaten Tomatoes

So our garden has produced an excessive amount of tomatoes, and it’s also done well with zucchini and spaghetti squash.  We grew tired of grilling and frying zucchini, so I made some zucchini bread.  OK, let's be honest.  I made A LOT of zucchini bread: 8 loaves to date.  It’s so good!  We made chocolate zucchini bread last time, but decided to skip the choc this time.  By no means does it mean it’s healthier.  There’s so much sugar in it, I was amazed.  But, again, it’s delicious, and I don’t really care that much.  Especially since I like to slather it with butter as well.  So stop on by and get some.  We have a few loaves in the freezer.  But they don't last long.

Zucchini Bread

Here’s the berries, growing like crazy.  I’m wishing I only got blackberry plants, because they’re growing so much better and look so much healthier.  But alas, I didn’t.  I’m feeling better about the raspberries as they get bigger though.

Raspberries.  The blackberries are seriously 4x times as big!

Here’s the garden.  I replanted some beans, peas, spinach, and lettuce.  I think it’s been too hot for the peas still, but we’ll see what happens.  I hope there are enough bees or butterflies to pollinate them for fruiting.  The first crop of beans were eaten alive by insects.  This time I put some Seven on them to keep them off.  Well, it rained one day.  I told myself I’d wait til after the next rain to put more on, but I was already behind.  But they haven’t gotten worse since I did that.  They need another dusting soon though, or else they’re gone-ers too!  The spinach and lettuce have barely come up, but it’s been hot lately, and I haven’t given them much water.  And since two and two is four, that explains our problem!

Peas.  I've eaten 4 so far this round.

Beans.  Doing a little better since the picture was taken.

I’m still amazed my spaghetti squash is still producing so well.  The one section got some mildew on the leaves, and it killed all the plants.  I thought the other section was already done, but it decided it wanted to go for another round.  So I still have 9 more squash coming!  I hope I can figure out how to eat it all, because I don’t think Rachel is going to want much of it.

The ONLY pepper to grow this year!

Ainsley eating an apple.  It is fall after all.

All right.  Loose ends all tied up.  Thanks for reading.  Go enjoy something today!

-mister-