February 19, 2005
We Are the Red States
Originally published in chattanoogan.com Nov. 7th, 2004. I was honored to have Sean Hannity read it on his radio show(Nov. 11th, 2004) and display it on his web-site. Ditto Rick and Bubba and several bloggers.
This is not a critique of Blue- Staters, but simply a description of what kind of people the Red-Staters are. Remember that right after the election there were a lot of questions about who these people were.
One evening I was looking for a Bible to read a before dinner devotional. As I picked one up off the den end table, I said to my husband, "We are the Red States, a Bible in every room. That would make a good poem!"
We Are The Red States
by Cindy Tucker
posted November 7, 2004
We are the red states.
We listen to talk shows and Fox News.
We tear up when we hear the national anthem.
We drive SUVS and fly business class.
We go through drive-thrus, have mortgages, and shop at Wal-Mart.
We attend BBQs, football games, fire hall meetings, and places of faith.
We believe life is precious and marriage is sacred.
We believe there are some things worth dying for.
We have the utmost respect for those who lay their life on the line defending our freedom and protecting our streets.
We believe religion is not a philosophy but a way of life.
We raise our children as best we can.
We’ll help anyone who really needs it, and not blame others for our own bad choices.
We read our Holy Books.
We pray because we know wisdom comes from God, not man.
We go about our lives quietly as we care for our families.
We might not have time to demonstrate, but we make time to vote.
We expect the values we teach our children to be respected in our schools.
We expect people to say what they mean and mean what they say.
We expect to work hard and earn the just rewards of that labor.
We expect to be able to watch a football game with our kids and not have to worry about the content of the half-time show.
We expect terrorists and those who harm the innocent to be punished.
We are farms, ranches, small businesses, and town squares.
We are BBQs, baseball games, fishing holes, and civic clubs.
We are little league games, piano recitals, Bible studies, and car pools.
We are grandfathers in Iwo Jima, fathers in Vietnam, and sons and daughters in Iraq.
We are fly-over country.
We are the red states.
Posted by fraubleuler at 04:34 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Ann Coulter Flap- Denying Christ?
by Cindy Tucker
In the recent discussion of the the mayor's race for Chattanooga, I can not give an opinion on who to vote for, but I have some very serious concerns about one candidate and whether she should be elected.
According to recent news stories, a group called "Citizens Aganist An Atheist Mayor" circulated an e-mail in which Ann Coulter refused to speak at the YMCA because she was"not young, not a man, and not a Christian." She later stated that the comment was made tongue in cheek and was not to be taken seriously.
In all fairness to Ann, stating you are not a Christian does not make you an atheist-there are many religions and philosophies one can profess to and still believe in God. I have no issue with that comment. What I take issue with is that she later states that the comment was not to be taken seriously.
Well, you can joke about not being a young, and you can joke about not being a man, but claiming not to be a Christian is no joking manner. In fact, that's called denying Christ. Any committed Christian who claims Jesus Christ as their Lord hopes and prays that they never deny their Lord, especially publicly.
In a recent chattanoogan.com story(Feb. 14), Ron Littlefield states that a Washington D.C. research firm(hired by the Coulter camp) contacted local voters asking them if they would be less likely to vote for a candidate that did not attend church. He states that she later began attending Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church.
I do not claim to know Ann's heart. Perhaps she has had a conversion experience since she wrote the infamous YMCA e-mail. But that's not what she said. She said we were to discount what she said. What else should we discount?
Ann said, "If I can't stand up for my faith and what's right in my campaign, then how can you expect me to stand up for what's right as mayor?"
Good question.
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February 15, 2005
"Passion Thoughts" a Must
If you have not read Willa's Jan. 27 entry, you MUST. As we meditate on Christ's suffering this Lent season, read this eloquent poem. Her site is somejourney/chattablogs.com.
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Unused Treasures
By Cindy Tucker
January 2005
A few days ago my daughter asked me, “Mom, why do you have all those pretty pins hung up in your bedroom, but you never wear them?”
When my grandmother died, I inherited all of her jewelry. It is vintage costume jewelry. On two velvet ribbons hang a collection of pins going back 50+ years. Not only do I have that, I have my own jewelry that I have received and purchased during my life. Why don’t I wear these beautiful trinkets? How did I answer my daughter? “Well, I’m always in a hurry, I’m too busy to decide what piece of jewelry goes with what outfit. I’m just trying to survive, throw my clothes on, and go.” These treasures are sitting in my bedroom, always available but rarely used. What a shame to have all this beauty at my fingertips but not use it.
This got me to thinking about a much more valuable inheritance I have received- God’s inheritance. When I became a child of God, I received peace, joy, and the Holy Spirit’s continual healing. I received the power to resist temptation and overcome sin. God also gives the gifts of teaching, mercy, preaching, evangelizing, helping, wisdom, and discernment. Every talent I have comes from God. Do these gifts sit unused also?
God has many blessings and gifts that are the Christian’s to claim. The believer must not let them sit on a dresser and gather dust. At life’s end, it would be a shame to look back on a life of unused gifts and blessings.
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February 11, 2005
How to Have a Stress-Free, Meaningful Valentine's Day
First published in "Chattanooga Valley Preschat", Feb. 2004
by Cindy Tucker
As far as holidays go, we've had a pretty dry spell since New Year's. But I know Walmart has been thinking about Valentine's since about Jan. 2nd. That's when I saw the Christmas aisle cleaned up and filled with big red hearts, teddy bears, and those boxer shorts with the Cupids on them. I started thinking, how can I show my loved ones I really care? How do I top last year?
Then I start thinking: taxes are due, I'm still recouping from Christmas--Help! Loved ones say, " You don't have to get me anything," but you know how they'll feel if you ignore the holiday.
Relax. There are many inexpensive ways to show love without breaking your wallet. Here's some suggestions: For husbands and wives and sweethearts: Remember the first movie you saw together(for Tony and me it was "Ghandi. Ben Kingsley got an Oscar for it. Have you seen "The House of Sand and Fog"? But I digress.) Chances are, whatever it was, it is on video or DVD. Rent it, pop some popcorn, sit on the couch and see if it helps you relive some memories.
Have a picnic-I know February is cold, but you can fix some goodies or get KFC and spread a quilt on the living room floor and have an intimate indoor picnic. Write a love poem or essay or make a list of all the reasons you love your chosen one.
Make a coupon book. Have coupons your honey can redeem such as letting them pick the T.V. show, cooking their favorite meal, doing a chore for them, free baby sitting so they can have a night out, etc. Be creative and think in terms of what would meet your loved ones needs.
Coupons books are also great for parents to give children, and for children to give their parents. There can be coupons volunteering to do chores for each other and allowing special privileges.
There are many inexpensive gifts that can be extremely meaningful. A single flower, a paperback book, a candle, or a special snapshot framed. Instead of buying a $4 card, make a hand made card.
I think this is the real spirit of the holiday--to find some simple way in the midst of our complex lives to show those dear to us how much they really mean to us. May your families have a blessed, stress-free meaningful holiday.
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