Election 2016

First time I was able to vote in my life of 48 years. Outcome is quite shocking. Didn't see it coming in many respects. Ended up voting independent but was sure the American people would not vote for Trump. But that is what they did. Cried some in the morning but was surprised about the resiliency of my child who spent so much time on this election process. He was ready to go forward and try again. If not this year than in 2020 when he can run himself. Great confidence and much faith in this country that he loves.
Got immediate offers from the German relatives to move back, but know I am truly an American citizen now. See enough good people here, and empathize with the marginalized who were treated so badly through words by the new president elect. And have some fear about the seeming impulsivity and lack of wisdom of the new president: what if he decides to drop some nuclear bombs during his 4 years in office? Maybe I am catastrophizing, but I don't think I ever worried about that before.
God has placed many awful rulers on the throne before. It's part of Old Testament history and world history. But coming from Germany makes me really weary about saying it will be ok because it was God's plan.
I hope all will still be well in 4 years.

Why we belong to a CSA

Three years ago was our first summer of receiving vegetable from "Farmer John".  I think, originally, I just wanted a way to get more vegetables in the bellies of my three always hungry kids, and I was beginning to really become convicted about organic being the way to go, but not having the budget to shop at Whole Foods.  Buying a share from a local farmer seemed like a great solution to my problem.
Since then, our belonging to "our farm" has become so much more: we attend farm open houses/field days where we get to go on hey rides, see the fields where our vegetables grow, meet the farmer and other share-holders, play with the chicken and goats, and pick beans and flowers from the "you pick" garden.  My kids look forward to eating garlic scape pesto, broccoli, cabbage, poc choi, kale, chard, you name it.  It really does taste so much better than anything I ever bought at a store!
What makes our CSA even more special is the fact that our farmer is also gifted in the arts.  He made a film, depicting the history and struggles of what it means to be a farmer.  My son has watched this movie over and over and has really embraced this history of rural America.  It has opened his eyes about the sacrifices that others make for him and he appreciates his daily bread in a real way.
Farmer John also provides a news letter with every weekly delivery of vegetables.  Joseph and I read this letter faithfully and gain great insight from these very well thought out and written notes from our farmer.  One of the most recent versions of the news letter talked about the Brexit and how it relates to a general trend in society to be out for oneself only without regard to the common good.  I appreciate Farmer John's perspective on this topic and feel for him and all the other hard-working people who get so under-appreciated and slighted by our selfishness.
Farmer John has struck me as a man of integrity and great intelligence.  He has helped me become aware of issues that I never considered before, and his farm has transformed our family.  Thank you, Farmer John and Angelic Organics

The Near future because of Brexit

BREXIT

As most of you might know the British people have declared "independence from the EU". This is causing catastrophic economic affects. I have predicted the full result of this event:

-UK now has less trading partners, and so more money will be stuck in the UK

-Eventually all their money will be used up and their economy will plummet

-Soon companies will lose business partners and file for bankruptcy

-Workers will be laid off and they will lose their money

-Laid off workers will gather to protest for laws propping up businesses

-Buisnesses will reform and unemployment will go down

-Buisnesses will stretch across the world

-Economies will start to go up

-The UK will break apart and new nations will form

-These nations will join the EU and the world will end up the same way it was except the UK will be 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland(Northern Ireland will have joined Ireland).

Father's Day

Getting up at 4 am on Father's Day, trying to find words of wisdom in the Bible on what we are celebrating today in America.  Father's Day can be tricky since many have had less than ideal fathers, or no fathers present, or lost fathers. And then there are the tributes to all the great fathers on Facebook already...

What speaks to me this morning is this passage in Hosea: "when Israel was a child I loved him as a son and brought him out of Egypt. ...I trained him from infancy, I taught him to walk, I held him in my arms. But he doesn't know or even care that it was I who raised him. ...oh how can I give you up, my Ephraim? How can I let you go? How can I forsake you...? My heart cries out within me; how I long to help you! No, I will not punish you as much as my fierce anger tells me to. .. For I am God and not man; I am the Holy One living among you, and I did not come to destroy."

God is both so much like an earthly father and so much different. It comforts me to know that God loves me like a father loves his child here on earth, but so much more. He holds me in his arms, and does not give up on me! He is distressed when we go astray, and longs to help us! He does not judge us based on his anger! I love this: "for I am God and not man". Hallelujah! Good to know, to remember, that we have a mighty father who can control his anger and wants to help us out of the mess that we got ourselves into.

Thank you!

The Work of God

For the past few days I've been attending Springhill day camp, which is a camp where children going into Kindergarten through 6th grade can learn about the word of God while doing fun activities. I was especially excited for this year because the theme is the Olympics. Another cool thing about this year is that we get to have water races on a slip and slide. I've won twice and my sister Kaitlyn has won once. And it was at Springhill my soul was telling me that me and my mom were using this blogger to spread the word of God and other cool stuff like Star Wars and Feste. Also I have realized that there is a whole community of pop music lovers, but also because Christian music has taken a step out of hymns, so there is now a community of Christian music lovers, which I consider myself to be a part of. Thank you blogger viewers and God. Without you this blogger wouldn't be what it is.

By, Joseph

Orlando

Joseph's commentary after watching the 7 o'clock news this morning!