The Olsteen's

I read this morning that Joel Olsteen's wife is currently in a lawsuit for assaulting a flight a attendant. I read the whole article and at the end I thought this is just so crazy. First of all on the end of being disgusted with his wife for over reacting I am also disgusted with the flight attendant for suing for reasons like her faith was now weakened and she now needs counseling because of all of  this.  Both made me want to vomit in my mouth. 

Why is it that people look to other people for spiritual guidance?  You should never be willing to let a person  speak into  your life in a way that only God should be doing. It's one thing to learn from other followers of Christ, it's a whole other thing to depend on them for your spiritual growth and or lack there of.

ON the other hand there are very strong warnings for those that step into that position of teaching others about Christ. The minute you step into that role you are held, like it or not, to a higher standard. So if you don't want that job description or responsibility then step off.  Like in this case, if she, Joel's wife just wanted to be another bitchy passenger on a plane ride flying in first class and thinking that the whole world should stand up and take notice of the fact that something was spilled on her chair then she shouldn't be married to the man of faith and power who never frowns and gives all credit to Jesus for his shiny happy life.  I don't know , does that seem a bit harsh?

This article really made me think of the times in my life when I have been disappointed with those who say they follow Christ and then really blow it big time. Myself included in that category. Sometimes I think the reason the bible tells us to lead a quiet life is because God knew if we were out there publishing the fact that we follow Christ we would surely screw up His good name for Him.  Don't know about that theology being solid but I think in my own life that is where I am at. I just want to live my life, raise my kids, love my husband, and be a bit more quiet about my faith. 

These are just my thoughts for the day. Enjoy.

Last Friday Night

Last Friday the family and I , headed down to Cartoon City to Gramma Ellen's house for a birthday party for my Uncle Gene and brother Jeremy. We arrived at her house to be greeted by the smell of garlic bread, spaghetti and meatballs, and lots of laughter. So far so good. Gina and Iz were there , Uncle Gene and my Aunt Linda, Uncle Frank and Barbara, mom, dad, Jeremy, Jessie(a current resident at mom's who sleeps on the couch even though they have 8 bedrooms) and of course no party would be complete at my mom's house without some of her friendly neighborhood. So the house is packed and there are still more guests to come. We were all enjoying each others company when in walks my Aunt Joan with her step daughter Janet. No Uncle Mal with them but she said he was coming later. No funny business so far from her(ya never know with her what you are gonna get, isn't there always one in every family) Again we are relaxing and enjoying this time together when in comes Uncle Mal. Now, finally the party company is complete ....but wait .....what's this? Shortly after Mal arrived my mom was ready to begin the cake ceremonies and just as she is starting to make this announcement My Aunt Joan shouts, "Wait everyone Pastor S. is here!!". (I will from this point on protect the names of Pastor S. Son B. and the product MV.) True to form, from our old Catholic days my Aunt Joan starts making a very big deal that Pastor S. is here and that we should all take note. Kiss his ring, Stand up and salute or something, umm...no thanks.We are a gracious family and we welcomed Pastor S. and Son B. in and he came right up to Mo and myself, kinda almost manic like, and asked if we wanted to join him on his next trip to Africa, where he and my old Pastor Tom were recently held by gunpoint in the Conga and robbed for 400 bucks. Ummm...let me think about that Pastor S....... ummm...I'm gonna go with NO!!!
Anyhew, there quickly becomes whispers that we are now going to give Uncle Gene his b-day gifts. At this point I am wondering why Pastor S. and Son B. are there. Are they going to pray for Uncle Gene a b-day blessing ? Are they just getting friendly with parishiners and making house calls now? Still, no idea why they are there but ,okay bust out the presents... wait...what my Aunt Joan meant to say is that Pastor S. and Son B. are now going to give us an infomercial for the product MV. that they are selling and we will all have to sit for the next 30minutes of our lives and listen to this load of crock about MV being the best product on the planet mixed in with hyper spiritual crap about God and basically... at the end of it all my face must have shown the shock and awe of this inappropriate person who just totally ruined my Uncles 65th b-day party and my brothers 16 b-day party. I so wish that I would have taken a cue from hubbie and bro -in law Izzy and walked out because dag-nab it I want those minutes back from my life. The only saving grace for me was that I was sitting right next to my highly sarcastic Dad(God Bless Him) and he was cracking me right up. Needless to say the family drama between my mom and her sister continues to whole new level here people.

So yeah, this paints the picture of what was one of the most uncomfortable social situations I have ever encountered in MY LIFE. What did you do last Friday night?

My Very Catholic Cousins.

On Tuesday I had the great joy(sarcasm) of traveling once again out to Lake Lahontan with my mom to see some out of town cousins that are here from Kansas.
Now, before I tell this blog I must preface it with the fact that this part of my family is beyond Catholic. They are a part of "the few, the proud, the Roman Catholic one true Church." Before my family became Christian we too were Catholic but never the "true Catholics" because we were apart of what's called the novis-order branch of Catholic churches which doesn't really qualify I guess as being truly Catholic. Okay so, needless to say these are cousins that never really got me and my clan when we were "so called Catholic" let alone now that we are Christ - followers . Confused yet??
They come from a family of 7 kids and probably were the closest extended family to our own growing up in the Pellant home. There house was always filled with lots of noise, messes, and drinking. They lived in Silver Springs right across from my grandparents who built a Catholic Church right next to thier house, and I do mean right next to it.
Growing up they always thought me and my sister wore immodest clothes, too much make up and didn't really know how to be basically as good of a person as they were.
All that to say , we don't really relate to each other in alot of ways but I still love them and always will.
So, back to the lake. It was great to see them at the beach not in bathing suits but in skirts(the girls always have to wear skirts, always) They came out this way because one of my cousins Kathlene adopted a baby through a Catholic website. Pretty amazing story and I am very happy for her.
The conversation that I think was the highlight of the whole day though was between my Uncle Jimmy(hippie, lives in RV, still smokes some stuff, musical, amazing talent, big heart) and my cousin Charlie's 7 year old son Xaiver.
X- "Can I play that guitar"
J-"Sure, come here I will show you"
X-"Do you know any songs from our Lord?"
J-"Well, no but if you could sing them maybe I could try to play them"
X-"Do you know something, something requiem?"
J-"I don't think so do you?"
X-" Mmm, no butI could never be a rock and roll star cause I have to be a priest when I grow up"
Me-"You have to be or you want to be?"
X-"Oh no I have to be our Lord told me I have to be a priest when I grow up"
Me and Uncle Jimmy- smile look at each other and go, "Hmmmmmm"
Some things never change.