Random Ramblings #33: The News Is Actually Encouraging Today

Every Friday we’ll take a break from topical posts and will post some random personal thoughts. 

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A Cuppa Joe – Random Ramblings from a Fellow Struggler

Scanning a newspaper and feeling encouraged don’t general go together, but this morning I find they do, for three reasons.

First there’s Kylie Bisutti, a name you’re no doubt hearing repeatedly. She was the Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel of 2009 who, as a Christian, found it harder and harder to justify earning her income through modeling sexy lingerie. Recently married, she announced she’s retiring, at least from modeling scanties, and feels only her husband should have intimate visual knowledge of her. 

We could quibble, asking why this didn’t occur to her earlier, and whether or not any of her Christian friends had previously challenged her on the obvious contradiction between the Victoria’s Secret runway and the narrow road. We could, but why not rejoice instead that a renowned Christian woman takes a stand, unapologetically and clearly? When millions of young women emulate celebrities who advocate every creative form of lasciviousness, here’s a stunning beauty who’s decided to steward her gift in a God honoring way. I say awesome, and hallelujah.

Then there’s a hopeful note to a story many of us have been disturbed over. Softening his stance somewhat, President Obama announced that today he’ll offer an accommodation to his recent call for religious organizations to add contraceptive coverage to their insurance plans, regardless of their convictions on birth control and abortion. What the accommodation will be remains to be seen, but clearly the outcry over government dictation to people of faith was sufficient to get a White House response. Whatever the accommodation will be is better, if not ideal.

Finally, there’s an eye-popping story of heroism from a 12 year old boy who literally saved his grandmother from foreclosure. Evidently Janice Sparhawk, a 72 year old Wisconsin resident, fell behind on her mortgage payments after eye surgery and other complications made it difficult for her to make payments. When her house was slated for auction February 15, her grandson Noah, who already was hosting a website for charitable causes, announced Sparhawk’s predicament, asked for donations, and got the desired result when generous folks sent in enough for him to write Grandmother a check for $10,500.00, enabling her to stay put.

Frank Capra used to make movies about this sort of thing.

Personally I’m also encouraged for reasons closer to home. First, I’ll have the pleasure of teaching The Game Plan seminar this weekend in Fresno.

If you’re in the area I hope you can make it! It’s always a joy being with men who are getting serious about their integrity and purity.

Second, my mother is improving beyond expectations, gaining strength and clarity daily. Your prayers are so deeply appreciated, and effective. Very effective.

Finally, as of this AM, I’ve knocked off 29 pounds over the past 5 weeks. More to go, but it’s progress, and I’m chortling over the task of pulling out old clothes from centuries gone by to replace the now-baggy pants I need to ecstatically give away. John the Baptist, who no doubt also knocked off a few inches on his unusual diet, said it well: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being here.

Love,

Joe