Just Passing Through

Here's most of the Thurow clan (Kay's side minus 4) on vacation together in Colorado this past week.

We actually just returned to Illinois from Colorado this afternoon. Tomorrow morning we leave for Pennsylvania to visit Pierre's grandparents. Yes, it's a very quick turn-around. At least we'll have Samuel (Pierre's bro) as company on this next adventure.

Tolerance vs. Acceptance

Here are a couple of our thoughts made relevant by the conversations and experiences we seem to have everyday.

Tolerance seems to be the educationally pushed approach to people of difference - difference in origin, background, behavior, approach, mindset, belief, etc. The great thing about tolerance is that is promotes the idea that it is ok to be different, especially when it comes to race, religion, sexual preference, and such. However, tolerance seems to push the idea that there is no right or wrong and that we should just put up with each other. It actually comes across as an aversion to confrontation – avoidance. To us that seems void of something we believe strongly in – an actual love and care for the person we are labeling “different”. (How we determine who is “different” is baffling, but is it’s own conversation we won’t attempt today.)

Acceptance recognizes difference… and celebrates it. Acceptance loves people as they are, truly, making no need to “just put up with.” But, acceptance can also recognize healthy and unhealthy behavior and isn’t afraid to speak openly in love for the benefit of all parties. As well, acceptance always hopes that others will grow in knowledge, experience and (as a Christ follower) awareness of their need for a relationship with Jesus Christ. More importantly, acceptance uses the differences to make ONESELF recognize his or her own need for growth in knowledge, experience and a relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what a Christian is to us. That is why we don’t support tolerance. That is why we believe in acceptance! Acceptance = Love = Jesus Christ.

Backtracking

Tomorrow we turn around and head back to Colorado. We'll be taking a family vacation with almost all of Kay's immediate family - 11 of us (missing only 4 of the 15 of us).

We'll get a chance to see another uncle, and Pierre's sister again... and spend some wonderful time in the mountains at 9100 feet.

P.S. Pierre got a haircut (boo!)... but the gottee is going strong at 2 months (woohoo!).

Travel Update

We spent two days in Angora, Nebraska with Aunt Kristy & cousins Krik & Mical. Krik took us horseback riding and Mical took us hiking through the vast wasteland that is cattle ranch all around them. Mical actually ended up riding back to Illinois with us... where we've been for the past week.

God's government

This is a thought we've been chewing on since we went to church in Colorado Springs.

What is the "American Christian" perspective on democracy as a form of government? The impression we get is that it's viewed as: 1- the best, 2- the only "right" form of government, 3- obviously the one most supportive of the Bible and moral living, and 4- the one God himself endorses... just look at the success of this country and the ideals it was founded on.

Here are our concerns with ethnocentric perspectives on one's own government. First, democracy is never used in the Bible. God's own people were governed by patriarchal tribes, then judges, then monarchies, and then foreign control. Did any form of political structure stop God? Could God be limited by the governments in place in our world today?

I hear so much negative talk about Communism in China as this horrible evil preventing the Chinese from freedom to practice religion. And yet, the church is growing faster there than anywhere else in the world and the people are eager to hear about the Bible and Jesus Christ.

Here's personal bias: Communism in its ideal state is the governmental system that most appropriately fits what the Christian community should be. However, humanity is fallen and sinful and no system we create will ever be perfect and right. Thus, communism will never be what it claims. The same with democracy. I am unwilling, then, to say that democracy is the best, or "christian," form of government.

the Mountains of Death

Obviously now that we are in Colorado we have been doing a lot of hiking... almost everyday. This is us at the Maroon Bells' Pyramid Peaks, just outside of Aspen.

We spent 3 days with the Palpant parents, an Aunt Judy and Uncle Bill, and cousins Julie, Danny, & Lisa. Now we're in "the Springs" with sister Erin until July 5.

Oh... and apparently the Pyramid Peaks claim so many lives of hikers & climbers every year that they feel it necessary to post it everywhere as you approach them... hence the "mountains of death."