The Hardest Questions

It's politics . . . it's ugly . . . and sometimes it just makes you want to throw-up.

A very savvy politician told me that recently. At the time I did not understand completely -- but now I do, and I do want to throw-up. (if you are confused, look at the post that was published right before this one).

For the last few weeks, I have been going through my house, room-by-room, cleaning out junk and clutter to get ready for our move in a few months. When I was going through the drawer in my bedside table, I discovered something dated September 24, 2001. At that time I had just finished re-reading for the third time, Corrie Ten Boon's (can't remember how to spell her last name) book, The Hiding Place. (For those of you unfamiliar with Corrie, she hid Jews during WWII and ended up in a concentration camp). At the back of that particular edition of the book was a section entitled, "Six ways to put this book to work into your life". The first way was to:

Discover for yourself that God governs all things, even those that appear senseless and cruel. As an experiment, list your 'hardest questions'-- vexing personal questions: an illness, an automobile accident, a business failure. Then one by one transfer these loads from your own care to God's. Pray, 'Lord, because I do not have the answers to these things I do not therefore conclude that there are no answers. You know why, Lord, and when I am strong enough -- wise enough, loving enough -- You will show me too.'"

Back in 2001, I had listed 8 vexing personal questions. When I found these papers after almost 7 years, I was amazed because 7 of the questions (which in all honesty, I highly doubted I would ever know the answer to (this side of heaven), had been answered. I think when I read through that list, and saw that I knew the "why" of 7 of those very hard questions, my jaw actually dropped. What a blessing and a faith-building experience.

I have been creating a new list of questions, and tonight, as I recall the roller coaster of the last three days, I realized that I need to transfer this jail issue back over to God. I am sad. I am angry. I want to throw-up. This is all so wrong -- why does God allow it? I don't know, but He does.

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, my ways,' declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Oops! Did I say "no"? I meant "yes" . . .

Item 8 on the agenda for next Monday's city council meeting:

Discuss and take action to reconsider the decision of the City Council on August 18, 2008 to deny the Washington County Correctional Facility Trust Authority’s appeal of the decision of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) to deny a rezoning request of a 5.4 acre tract of land located at the southeast corner of Adams Boulevard and Oak Avenue for the location of a new jail facility (Case No. PC-08-09-RZ/PUD/SDP), and possible adoption of ordinance granting rezoning and PUD Outline Development Plan approval. Presented by Vic Holcomb, Councilmember.

Miracles Do Happen!

If you have not heard, the County's rezoning effort failed last night: 3-2! A.maz.ing!

We need to pray for the city leaders and about this situation however because the County's plan will be to take this to district court.

Thanks to all of you who showed up to support the neighbors -- we know for some of you that it was a total inconvenience and we appreciate it very much!

The Golden Rule in Real Life

Friends in Bartlesville --
Many of you know that the county is in desperate need of a new jail. No one can deny that it is a legitimate need. However, the current plan to put the jail in a residential area is an illegitimate way to fill that need.

The City Council and the County regularly must make choices -- one thing versus another, where there is not necessarily a right or a wrong, just two different choices. The current jail plan however is nothing but WRONG, a tangible example of injustice. You may ask how I can be so certain and so "black and white" on this issue. When God's word is used as a plumb line, it is easy!

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Matthew 22:40
Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. Matthew 7:12

I can say with 100% certainty, that there is NOT ONE city council member who would vote to put a jail in his/her own neighborhood. I can say with 100% certainty that there is NOT ONE county commissioner who would vote to put a jail in his/her own neighborhood. If they obey God's command to love their (west side) neighbors as themselves, then they should NOT vote to put it in this west side neighborhood either.

However, the County obviously expects the City Council to vote in favor of re-zoning because they proceeded to purchase the land even though the Metropolitan Area Planning Committee voted AGAINST rezoning. If the rezoning measure passes in the City Council, then the future of the jail will eventually be in the hands of Bartlesville residents. We will have the opportunity to vote yes or no.

One hundred years from now, what will historians say about the leaders of Bartlesville and the residents of Bartlesville if we all voted in favor of this plan? One hundred years from now, will it be a blantant example of exploitation of the poor? Of mistreatment of African-Americans? Of the powerful taking advantage of the weak? Of a double standard?

So, what about you? Would you want a jail in your neighborhood? I am pretty sure I know your answer and if you treat your west side neighbors the same way you would want to be treated regarding this issue, then ACTION is required. At the very least, vote NO when this issue comes up and let our leaders know WHY you voted against the jail.

If you want to be more involved, here is an email that my husband sent out:

This public hearing at city council (7pm Mon 08/18/2008) is the last chance to meaningfully contribute to the process of giving a voice to the neighbors (overwhelming majority oppose the jail). Please consider showing up in person to the meeting as a show of support for the neighbors. You can sign up to speak if you prefer, but the mere presence of large numbers of individuals in the room will convey a strong message:

These people are important (no less important than any other neighbors in our city)...their concerns are valid....and they will not be ignored.

We need you Monday night!

P.S. A disclaimer, in case anyone was wondering . . . before we purchased our property on Hickory, we knew that it would be within 300 feet of the possible future jail site. However, we strongly believed that this was the right place for us and that there was real hope for revitalization in this area, so we went forward with our plans. And, incidentally, although I am obviously passionately against the jail being there, God has already used this issue for good because it has enabled us to get to know all of our future neighbors and to join them in a shared cause.

Please Pray

Six weeks ago my sister-in-law, Ruth, was put on bed rest when she was only 19 weeks along in her pregnancy. She ended up delivering her baby girl, Olivia Kate, yesterday, at only 25 weeks, 2 days old (gestational age). Here is the email that Eric sent out.
6:03 pm Thursday (August 14th). 1 pound 15 ounces.

She caught everyone by surprise when she came. No doctor was present - she came too quickly... Just 1 resident and 5-7 nurses were present. Ruth was in agony - she came too quickly for Ruth to receive a shot of pain medicine, and they were unable to remove the stitches before she delivered. Ruth though seems to be doing relatively well now... She's resting finally.

Olivia also seems to be doing well considering she was only at 25 weeks when born. They say her color is good and her breathing has been good as well to the point they don't even have her hooked up to the full ventilator. Of course at this stage that's about all they know - they will know a lot more about everything else in 10-14 days.

The "stitches" that Eric is referring to were sewn into Ruth's cervix at 19 weeks to keep it shut (called a cerclage -- not sure I spelled that correctly) so you can imagine the pain that Ruth was in. Please pray for Ruth and Eric, little Olivia, and little Caleb.

this is home

This weekend David and I noticed how we have very quickly changed our label for the property we bought on Hickory. At first, we would tell the kids, "Time to go to 'the lot'". Then it became, "Time to go to 'the construction site'". Just in the last few days, it has changed to, "Time to go to 'the house'".

On our way over to 'the house' tonight, I could barely hold back tears when a song from the Prince Caspian soundtrack came on the radio. It is called, "This is Home". The lyrics are very relevant to me and our situation.

I've got my memories
They're always
Inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe now
I've seen too much
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
Created for a place
I've never known

Chorus:
This is home
Now I'm finally
Where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching
For a place of my own
Now I've found it
Maybe this is home
Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back
Back to how it was
And I got my heart
Set on
What happens next
I got my eyes wide
It's not over yet
We are miracles
And we're not alone

(Chorus)

And now after all
My searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I got a brand new mindset
I can finally see
The sunset
I'm gonna call it home

(Chorus)

Now I know
Yeah, this is home

I've come too far
Now I won't go back
This is home

In consecutive order, this is "The Lot" (May 19, 2008), and "The Construction Site" (July 11, 2008), and "The House" (August 12, 2008). Stay tuned for a photo with the caption "This is Home"!

Roof completed, masonry begun

No time to really blog now, but here are the latest images of Hickory!

July 23, 2008


August 3, 2008



August 6, 2008



August 7, 2008