Happy Birthday, Meg! Today you turn 25, a quarter of a century. I have started the POI at TBS and thus you will spend most of the day today in our new home in Fredericksburg without me. I'm sure you will receive many Facebook posts and calls today from loved ones and friends, and I'm sure the dogs will have some kisses for you as well! We will celebrate together tonight with cake, but I want to share something I found in our emails from 2018. As you will remember well, two days after returning from our honeymoon I left to spend the summer in Oman. That period of time was very challenging for both of us, as we didn't get the chance to establish our marriage the way we would have hoped. We learned a valuable lesson during that time - that we would never intentionally choose to be away from each other, or the family we would start. That regardless of how short a duty was, we would always move everything so I could come home to you at night. If family truly is a priority we were going to live that way. We have grown so much since that summer, but I wanted to share a little metaphor I sent to you through email, and as cheesy as it sounds, remind you that you are still the bees to my world! I love you and happy twenty-fifth Birthday!
"this may be dumb but i wanted to share it with you because i had it as a thought today. if i am like a world, with thousands of plants acting as the parts of me that give me life, that grow and that nourish. the parts of me that produce fruits, all that is good about me comes from the parts of me that are alive, and their deep roots. from my begginning i have always had roots, but in order for me to grow, and to thrive. in order for my life to spread, the plants in my world to reproduce and for me to become a man I needed something. YOu are like millions of bees coming into my world. you take the best of the plants I have, the best most important aspects that most others dont even see, and you come into every part of my life, the good the bad the secrets the fears and you polinate them, you make me grow, you allow me to produce fruit and to become a world that is green and vibrant. I know that was dumb but i just thought today about how much you have pushed me to be a better man meghan, and how blessed i am to have that. thank you so much for challenging me and caring about even my worst aspects enough to give them life. "
During this period of lockdown and the overblown response to COVID-19, one thing we all find ourselves in abundant possession of is time - The coveted aspect of our lives that we never seem to have enough of in order to pursue our priorities. A man can appear saintly when speaking of his priorities, but speech alone does not validate, only time can do that. By looking at a man's schedule, how each minute of his day is spent, especially those minutes in which external demands are absent, true priorities shine through. God and Family are on the top of this list for many, but how often are their days filled with the pursuit of worldly success, or sheer laziness. Fight against the evil of laziness, as this period presents an opportunity to truly transform the priorities professed by your mouth into those proven by your time.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man."
Proverbs 6: 6-11
Poverty does not only exist in checking accounts but also in relationships both with God and Man.
I want to share two things I've recently learned about the implications of the way our society has embraced abortion and the planned parenthood clinics that propagate the action.
1.) Margaret Sanger - principal exponent of modern feminist movement, known for her leadership in the abortion movement and establishment of planned parenthood as we know it today.
Previously unbeknownst to me, Sanger was a believer in eugenics, "improvement of the human species by encouraging or permitting reproduction of only those individuals with genetic characteristics judged desirable." Surely this Eugenics could not have anything to do with the profoundly socially upright institution of planned parenthood - It does emphatically.
"To this day, the majority of planned parenthood's abortion facilities are located in minority neighborhoods. The dream of the eugenicist is being realized as black and Hispanic women, for example, who make up less than 25 percent of the population, account for nearly half of the abortions in America. If there was ever an argument to be made for latent institutional racism, the abortion movement is the place to start." - Voddie Baucham
2.) The abortion of the Father - When the mother was given full autonomy to make the decision on if her and his child lives or dies, we put a gun to the father's head as well as the mother's stomach. The role of the father has been diminished to the point where not only is he demeaned for being a provider and protector of his family, but he doesn't even have the right to be part of the discussion before his child's life is taken away.
What cultural waters do you swim in, and are you aware there is another world waiting outside its boundaries? This is a powerful yet simple question that strikes at the heart of illuminating the impact of one's worldview. Worldview can change perspective; however, it will never be able to change truth.
Regardless if the fish knows he is wet or not, he is in fact wet.
"Grunt: A United States Army or Marine footsoldier; one who does routine unglamorous work"
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The most powerful, effective weapon in modern war is a well-trained, well-armed, and well-led infantry soldier. It is quite easy to get caught up in the malevolent power of technologies deadly birthlings: nuclear bombs, biological weapons, nuclear powered and armed submarines, laser-guided smart bombs, unmanned combat aircraft, not to mention the plethora of land weapons. Each of these presents a tantalizing one-click simplicity to fighting and winning wars. The side with the most sophisticated weaponry and technology should automatically win.
From the invasion beaches of Guam in 1944 to the patrols in twenty-first century Iraqi heat, the guy with boots on the ground and a weapon in his hand almost always takes the lead in carrying out the war aims of Washington policymakers, not to mention their success or failure.
"A war is not over until the Infantry is done with it.... finished moving on foot more than the other, finished killing more than the other. And when it is all done, and the Infantryman is taken home again, some of him will remain in that place forever." - An anonymous WWII soldier.
There is no greater evangelical weapon aside from Christ than a well-trained, well-armed, and well-led Christian. The ministry capability that exists today due to technology is incredible. The songs, the movies, the large buildings, the podcasts, the youtube channels, the apps - all for lost if not for the Christain well-trained in scripture, well-armed with the Word, and well-led by Christ.
Which is more highly valued? Sympathy or Empathy? The average person today I would wager would answer "Empathy" at least that answer is indicative of societal and cultural trends and norms.
I believe we have all been hoodwinked into viewing Empathy as the more inclusive and loving of the two.
Doug Wilson presented a helpful visual tool when contrasting the two. He says something along the lines of the following: Imagine your friend is downing in a river. Sympathy would be you standing on the shore grabbing on to a nearby limb, maybe placing one leg in the river, but ultimately reaching out to him in order to save him. In order to pull him out. Empathy, however, is jumping into the river and drowning with him.
Empathy calls for the deepest sense of feeling in that it necessitates your agreement with the victim. Sympathy can invoke the same sense of understanding however with the actual intention to really help the victim. Therefore sympathy exemplifies a true loving nature as it is based on the premise that there is dry land, there is a shore to stand on from which to pull a victim back to, whereas empathy is based on subjective realism, that the shore no longer exists, there is no principal, no foundation and that we must all drown together.
A problem with Empathy at least in our current time is that only the group with the loudest cry is allowed to deem victimhood and therefore channel other's empathy. This could be for better or for worse, but a sympathetic outlook solves for this problem as it is based on objective truth, and does not call questioning or the search for truth blasphemy.
To Love someone is to Help them. If I were drowning in a river I would much prefer a hand to pull me back to shore than a friend to accompany me under the current. In order to Love we must know truth, and we must be able to pull people back to it.
Statement: "Jesus would advocate for open borders"
Reason: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"
When presented with this statement I found it to be very interesting. Aside from the application to the policy, I think many view this command in Isolation and in keeping with modernity and have come to lose sight of its meaning.
As a friend of mine Todd keenly pointed out, "Love" is defined by God alone, not by us, and definitely not by our neighbors. The importance of this clarification is striking but should be natural to comprehend. If my neighbor defines what Love is, and his/her definition differs from my neighbor on the other side of the street, in a short time a conflict of interest will present itself (Imagine the contradiction of the Love of my wife and the love of Peggy Sue next door). Surely defining the love of one's neighbor needs to have an objective root and not be subjective to the neighbor.
We clearly know that to discipline children is to love children. But if a child were to define what love is, he/she would most likely spend the year eating jelly beans, watching television, and not allowing you to leave the house to go to work - In which case the television would be of no use when the power is cut off, the Jelly bean supply would dry up, and ultimately the roof over the childs head would be lost. Love does not necessitate handouts, appeasement, or even tolerance, often it necessitates discipleship, teaching, assistance, and yes discipline.
Look to scripture for the definition of Love, not to the heart nor to impulses.
Jesus explains what lies in wait to those who embrace natural impulse.
Matthew 15:18-20
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.."
Our first addition to Team Blansett will be Aspen Laurelai, due to join us in this life on June 22, 2020. Hopefully, her generation will not be called the "Coronials"!
I would like to say that it was very difficult picking out a name for our first daughter, that we spent hours mulling over ideas, searching for a title to encapsulate all that she will be - but your name came naturally and first and foremost because of its beauty.
Ralf Nosic and his wife Beth, who we originally met at Crossfit Como took us on a trip to Colorado. Meghan and I were in awe of the beauty of the Aspen trees we saw as we hiked, we felt their smooth white stands of bark, and leaned our weight against their strength. I believe it was at that moment Meghan asked, "what do you think of Aspen as a name?"
ASPEN
One aspen tree is actually only a small part of a much larger organism, for it is sustained by its extensive underground root system, connecting all individual trees into a single structure.
Meghan and I both come from broken families, our root systems have been immensely damaged if you will. But Aspen you have the opportunity to carry on a new Legacy in the Blansett family, one not plagued by brokenness, but one sustained by an extensive root system (a connected family) planted firmly in the teaching of our Lord and Savior.
Colossians 2:7
"Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful."
Even if the trees of a stand of Aspens are decimated, it is very difficult to permanently extinguish an Aspen's root system due to the rapid rate in which it reproduces.
Psalm 127:3-5
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."
Of the many variables for a healthy cluster of Aspen trees, the one that cannot waver is the need for abundant sunshine.
Aspen may you always seek wisdom from the words of God and know that true life begins in Him.
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."'
LAURELAI
Your middle name, to be quite frank, does not "mean" anything at all. Not at least in the sense that it derives from another word, or directly represents one. We chose the name Laurelai because that name has become synonymous with characteristics embodied by Laurelai Rush Van Voorst, the daughter of Todd and Paige, one of nine members of Team VanVoorst - Whom you will meet one day. Laurelai Rush will be six years older than you but she will be delighted to tell you about how she prayed every night for you, and how her faith was unwavering that you would join Team Blansett. In this sense, Laurelai as a middle name means, "like Laurelai", who at an incredibly young age is already a beautiful young lady, servant-minded and Christ-loving.
Aspen Laurelai Blansett - Thank you. You will always be a treasure to me, for you have given me the gift and the opportunity to be a Father, and I will always be grateful to you for that. It has been one of my deepest desires.
