Meadow Lake Wind Farm

 

The 500.85 MW Meadow Lake Wind Farm is a wind farm near Brookston and Chalmers, Indiana, spreading over portions of White, Jasper, and BentonCounties in Indiana, owned and operated by EDP Renewables North America.^[1] The wind farm currently has four operational phases, with 303 turbines. There are tentative plans to develop additional phases of the Meadow Lake Wind Farm.^[2] The farm can be seen by travelers prominently on both sides of Interstate 65, which runs through the area.

Wikipedia 2015

In our travels across the country we've seen our share of wind turbines. But tonight was a new site for us. We've never seen them at night with their big red lights flashing on top. At one point we were totally surrounded by them and it was a little bit eerie. Kind of ghost-like. 

And with the wonder of the Internet, I could look it up to find that we were in the middle of  Meadow Lake Wind Farm and its 330 windmills. 

 

And they are HUGE! We've seen trucks hauling one blade down the interstate and it's quite impressive how long they are. 

Wind Turbine Dimension:

The widely used GE 1.5-megawatt model, for example, consists of 116-ft blades atop a 212-ft tower for a total height of 328 feet.

I wish you could have heard the chatter in the car tonight as we came up on the wind farm and then just took it all in. Yep. This is what a family vacation is all about -- discovering new things, laughing, taking pictures....

What will tomorrow hold? Barring complications, I expect us to tour historic and contemporary Lambeau Field! I know at least three "little" boys on this trip who will be thrilled!

Democrats were Republicans and Republicans were Democrats

Democrats were Republicans and Republicans were Democrats.

And they were both Democratic-Republicans.

No, this is not a Dr. Seuss book!

Out of curiosity, I looked up a few things on the Internet regarding our two major political parties. I found it to be fascinating. Now I’m not a stickler for dates and such, but here’s a bit of a timeline for our two parties.

First came the Federalists who were pro-government.

In opposition were the Jefferson Republicans, later referred to as Democratic-Republicans who were against having a monarch.

The Federalists fell by the wayside.

When James Monroe was re-elected to the Presidency, he ran unopposed because the Democratic-Republicans were the only party in town.

Soon, though, there came to be a split and the Democrats and Republicans were born.

Democrats trace their roots back to 1792 and the Jefferson Republicans.

They were primarily based in the south and were, therefore, largely pro-slavery.

Interestingly, they were also advocates of small Federal government.

Republicans, on the other hand, trace their roots to the Abraham Lincoln era who was their first candidate to win a presidential election.

They were primarily in the north and were anti-slavery.

They were also, strange as it may be, fans of big government.

I’m so confused!

I feel like I’m stuck in an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” (For those of you who don’t know what the Twilight Zone is, Google it.)

How did we get to where we are today? 

      Democrats                         Republicans

      Liberal                               Conservative

      Big Government                 Small Government

      Left                                    Right

      Pro-Choice                        Pro-Life

      Pro Gun Control                Pro Right to Bear Arms

I have no idea. There was some sort of flip flop around the New Deal of the 1930’s. It’s bizarre.

And, yes, I know this is a very simplistic view of the two parties. I just think it’s interesting that they have basically switched places over the years. Who knew?!

      

Rejection: The Stone The Builders Rejected

My dear mother loved the Psalms. She taught many a Bible study on them. One of her favorite aspects of the Psalms had to do with their foreshadowing of Jesus. David's life, in many ways, pointed directly to Jesus. Since much of the two books of Samuel talk about David's life, it stands to reason that we might find references to Jesus there, as well. 

• “And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” I Samuel 8:7 NIV

God is saying, it is not you (Christians) they have rejected but me (God). 

And...

• “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;” Psalm 118:22

‭‭Jesus, being present when the Psalmist wrote this, knew to whom it was referring. He knew that HE was going to be rejected. 

When He was talking to His disciples, He knew what was coming -- incredible rejection. 

• “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Luke 17:25 NIV

But what about the idea that Jesus, the cornerstone, is also a stumbling block? I find that to be a little difficult to grasp. He is the foundation on which Christianity is built. Yet people will stumble and fall because of Him. Not because of us but because of Him. 

• “He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." Isaiah 8:14-15 NIV

‭Peter emphasized this in his letter.

• “For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.” I Peter 2:6-8

I'm accustomed to praying that I would not make someone else stumble in their Christian walk. But it's interesting to think that Christ in me might make the unbeliever stumble. 

And Christ had some resolve regarding rejection. He instructed his followers not to let it bother them when people refused to listen. 

• “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:14 NIV

So if Jesus knew He would be rejected and if He lives in our lives, then we can expect to be rejected as well. 

And if He was a stumbling block for unbelievers, then we can expect to be the same. 

But if He wasn't bothered by it, then we shouldn't be either. 

Lord, help us to be your light to this dark world. Help us build on your firm foundation. But help us not be devastated when rejection comes our way on your behalf. Help us to praise you for your peace in our lives. And to give you glory for your direction. 

Rejection: Empathy from Our Lord

Did Jesus experience rejection when he was on the earth?
Yes. He was rejected by his brothers. None of them is included as a disciple prior to his crucifixion.

For even his own brothers did not believe in him. John 7.5

I would consider that to be rejection -- if my own sisters shook their heads at what I was all about.

Did His parents understand who he was and therefore accept Him as God?
Maybe. You do have to consider the story of Jesus going to the temple and teaching from the Scriptures as a young man. His parents didn't quite get that although Mary reflected on it intently.

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Luke 2:49-50

If I had headed off to pharmacy school and felt like my parents didn't understand my drive to be a pharmacist, I'm not sure I would have finished. Their acceptance of my calling was that important to me. So I can't imagine how Jesus felt when he realized that his parents were puzzled by his actions.

What about his disciples -- they were his biggest fans. But they turned their backs on him. Judas turned him in to the authorities. Peter denied he even knew him. Only one was at the foot of the cross when He died.

And the very people Jesus came to save rejected Him, calling for his crucifixion. How devastating to know that your Father's chosen people were so vehemently against you.

Why do I bring up all these instances?

• To show you that what you are feeling, if rejection is on your mind, is not something foreign to our Lord. He can relate so strongly to the devastation that rejection brings.And if you have given your life to Him, He is with you walking through this difficulty with you.
• To help you remember that Jesus was rejected even though he had done absolutely nothing wrong. Sometimes we are rejected because we've done things that are right in God's eyes but the people around us just don't see it that way. That means we are in really good company.

How, then, are we to live in the midst of rejection or criticism?

Who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, or be disturbed, but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. I Peter 3:15

 Be faithful to follow Him and to obey His precepts. The sting of rejection may remain, but at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you've done your best for Him.

Rejection: What If I Can't Accept Myself

I've been thinking about what I wrote yesterday about rejection.
It seems so cut and dried to me to think that (1) God loves me, (2) He wiped away my guilt, (3) He accepts me.
For many people who have experienced utter rejection all of their lives, the concept that God, Himself, loves them is quite foreign. They, in fact, feel like no one could possibly be accepting of them for any reason. Especially God.
The reality is, though, that God isn't like all the other people in the world who have been critical and narrow-minded.
He knows us better than we know ourselves. He created us. He loves us just the way we are. In fact, he's crazy about us. He willingly accepts us into his family and makes us comfortable at His table.

• "For the Lord will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance."  Psalm 94:14
• "In the presence of my enemies he prepares a place for me at His table." Psalm 23:5

He is protective of us. So much so that he has commanded that all believers accept us and, I might add, that we accept ourselves.

• "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:37
• "Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit." I Thessalonians 4:8

So the next time you are feeling particularly pitiful about yourself -- that you don't deserve God's or anyone else's love or acceptance -- just remember this. Christ loved you so much that he died for you. If you have given your life to Him, He has redeemed you -- paid the price for your freedom. Sometimes that freedom is from yourself.

Rejection vs Acceptance

Before we look much further at rejection and the devastation it can cause in our lives, I want to ask a question or two. 

For whom do we live?

Whom are we trying to please?

Who loves us more than anyone?

Who paid the price so that God would accept our sinless souls?

Jesus. 

Jesus.

Jesus. 

Jesus. 

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So because we live for Jesus, we should strive to do the things that would please Him. We should be obedient to His commands. For instance, we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.... And love your neighbor as yourself...." Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can never be righteous or sinless on our own. But because of the free gift from Jesus, we can stand before God blemish-free. 

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It stands to reason, then, that because of the sacrifice Jesus paid for us, we should yearn for His acceptance. And, really, we HAVE His acceptance because he wiped away all our guilt. And this should spill over into our relationships with other people.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”  ‭Romans‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So there you have it. We need to live our lives so that we bring glory to the Lord. His acceptance is all that matters. And if we seek to please Him, other things will follow -- like our acceptance of others. 

So why do we feel so rejected? Is it because we feel unworthy to receive God's acceptance? If so, then that's our fault and not His. For He wiped away our sin when we gave our hearts to Him. He restores our soul. He loves us just the way we are. 

Take a deep breath. Rest assured that God loves you. Live your life for Him. Strive to please Him. And rejection will fade. 

Rejection -- What Is It

I want to spend a couple of days looking at rejection. But before you get all worried about me, I'm not going through any crisis in this regard. I've just been reading Scripture that has made me think about it. 

So what is rejection?

• to turn down or turn away
• to dismiss as inadequate, inappropriate, or not to one's taste.
• an immune response in which foreign tissue (as of a skin graft or transplanted organ) is attacked by immune system components of the recipient organism
• Opposite of acceptance

Why are we turned down or dismissed in society?

What did we do to be rejected in the first place?

What do we do about our own rejection?

How can we help someone else who is experiencing this?

Can rejection be prevented?

Do I really want to be accepted in this society?

What does Scripture say?

Stay tuned.