Faith & Frivolity

Thank You Power

2012-01-26T17:14:00.004-05:00

A few years ago, I saw a copy of Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work For You in a clearance book bin. What intrigued me about the book was who its author was, Deborah Norville.

In 1987, University of Georgia suma cum laude graduate Norville was selected to replace Jane Pauley on NBC's The Today Show. Cries of ageism immediately sprang forth as people protested what they saw as the usurpation of the popular Pauley. Struggling to defend her credibility when Jane Pauley left the morning broadcast, the pressure became unbearable for Norville, who left the show during her maternity leave in 1991. For a while, to be replaced by a younger worker was even dubbed being "norville'd". Many people, including the Emmy-winning reporter herself, thought she would never return to television. A few years later, Ms. Norville would regroup and write a book about her experience, Back on Track: How to Straighten Out Your Life When It Throws You a Curve.

Thank You Power is a quick and simple refresher course on the importance of gratitude presented in the context of studies in "positive psychology" and its role in personal happiness and intrapersonal relationships. Norville discussed various studies done on this topic and what the researchers learned in an interview while promoting the book:

[Positive Psychology] is a fairly new field, this notion of counting your blessings and the quantifiable benefits of gratitude. But what gratitude does is it puts you in a positive affect. You feel good from counting your blessings, you're more optimistic, you're less pessimistic, you even exercise on average an hour and a half more per week...You feel good when you do all those things. If you feel good, your dopamine receptors are activated. You're a better thinker. You will do better on a test."

Ms. Norville made a profession of Christian faith at the age of 15 and this perspective permeates her writing. The last chapter covers Scripture's admonitions to give thanks in all things and hold fast to the promise of Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. She cites studies echoed in Arthur C. Brooks' Gross National Happiness.

Duke University's Center on Spirituality has done a great deal of research on [people of faith being happier]. Spiritual people and religious people live longer. Religious people are happier. There is even one study that encompasses many, many years called the Nun Study. It was published by researchers at the University of Kentucky...They took the writing of some sisters shortly after they took their vows and they looked at their explanatory style. They looked at their hopefulness. They evaluated the personality of these people based on their writings. Those who has a more hopeful explanatory style lived an average of ten years longer. So, simply being an optimistic person can add a full decade to your life. "

There's nothing new or profound in this little book. At times, the writing is cliched. However, I have enacted one of its recommendations. I now have a "Thank You" journal where every day I write down three things from the day for which I am thankful and who or what made these things possible. It is a wonderful way to be reminded to have an attitude of gratitude - regardless of whether it makes me live longer or not.

It's All Greek To Me! A Review of "The Classics: All You Need to Know from Zeus's Throne to the Fall of Rome"

2012-01-18T19:12:00.003-05:00

I know I should have resisted that title, but I honestly just couldn't! I blame the breezy, sassy style of Caroline Taggart's writing. This isn't the book for you if you are looking for a serious review of all the classical literature and mythology you have forgotten since college. Taggart's obvious love of all things Greek (and by extension Roman), doesn't stop her from pithy quips and irreverent commentary on the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. This is a fun refresher of the Greek and Roman names, places and phrases that have become part of our everyday lexicon.

Taggart defends the study of the Greeks right off the bat: "So the Greeks didn't invent art, architecture or culture, either. Why all the fuss? . . . They invented our art, architecture, culture and philosophy. In the 21st century Western world, there are classical influences all around us." If you doubt Ms. Taggart, take a walk around Washington, DC past the ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns on temples devoted to our dead heroes. Our language tips its hat towards these Greeks. Throw in a funny ad lib while working on an ad hoc committee and you might have a Herculean task to get back to work. "We are just statistics, born to consume resources." A quote from the latest environmental book? Nope. That's Homer writing in the 1st century.

Taggart reminds many who have taken the SAT or ACT why they thanked God for their high school Latin classes: Biology: bio (life) and logia (study); monogamy: monos (one) and gamos (union); telephone: tele (far) and phone (voice) are just a few examples of Greek words adopted in the English language.

Taggart gives her reader a crash course in mythology and provides plenty of witty remarks disguised as footnotes. She discusses historical (and maybe not so historical) figures, gives her readers Homer's background and generally fleshes out those problematic crossword puzzle Greek names and phrases.

A parting shot, or more correctly a Parthian shot, trivia abounds and some of it was really nifty. I now know if we raise a glass to nunc est bibendum ("now is the time for drinking"), we have Horace to thank. Arachne challenged Athena to a weaving contest and ended up being turned into a spider. (Yep, that's how it became arachnophobia.) Nebuchadnezzar built the hanging gardens of Babylon (Yep, same Nebuchadnezzar.) The running of the Olympic torch wasn't part of the ancient games. The man responsible for the 1936 Olympics came up with the idea and the PR guy ran with it. Did I mention it was the Berlin Olympics and the PR guy was Joseph Goebbels?

This, like Taggart's other books, is light reading. If you're looking for a fun way to pass the time (and discover how Hippocrates is associated with certain personality tests), pick up a copy.

Thoughts on Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl

2012-01-13T13:10:00.005-05:00

As I read the back cover of Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, I kept thinking of those TV chefs that reel off ingredients so quickly you can't remember them all, but you catch enough of them for your mouth to water in anticipation. Reading the book itself, my analogy shifts to that of being in a virtual ZORB and pushing it around our world as a way to see it from different perspectives.

The narrative is incredibly sensory. At times, I rolled my eyes at the abundance of metaphors, but then I realized this excess was purposeful. This book wasn't meant to be an intellectual exercise as much as a sensate experience. Being in the Reformed community, I'm used to using the ol' grey matter to analyze and discuss areas of Scripture and truths of God. However, the Lord also made us with a right side to our brain and if we are going to be fully developed, we must use it in these endeavors as well. He writes in the introduction, "A neutral observer would not find this world to be believable. Ergo, the cause of said unbelievable world must place similar stretch marks on the imagination.

Wilson begins by looking at the created world as art, especially the devalued artistry of snowflakes - each one unique and masterfully created and yet so plenteous as to be thrown around by shovels and plows! That says something about the God we serve. Without a microscope, we won't see all the intricacies of these snowflakes, but the Creator is an Artist who creates beauty for His own enjoyment. Wilson pushes us to see the wonder, the whimsy, and the magic in creation:

"What is the world? What is it for? It is art. It is the best of all possible art, a finite picture of the infinite. Assess it like prose, like poetry, like architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, delta blues, opera, tragedy, comedy, romance, epic. Assess it like you would a Faberge egg, like a gunfight, like a musical, like a snowflake, like a death, a triumph, a love story, a tornado, a smile, a heartbreak. . . This painting is by an infinite Artist. It is a reflection of Himself (could there be a better subject?), worked out in colors, lives, and constellations, in a universe that to us seems endless but is to Him a mere frame, a small space, a confining challenge for His artistry."

Wilson says instead of philosophers:

"Give me priests. Give me men with feathers in their hair or tall domed hats, female oracles in caves, servants of the python smoking weed and reading psalms. A gypsy fortune-teller with a foot peddle Ouija board and a gold fishbowl for a crystal ball knows more about the world than many of the great thinkers of the West. Mumbling priests swinging sink cans on their chains and even witch doctors conjuring up curses with a well-buried elephant tooth have a better sense of their places in the world. They know this universe is brimming with magic, with life and riddles and ironies. They know that the world might eat them, and no encyclopedia could stop it . . . Marx called religion an opiae, and all too often it is. But philosophy is an anesthetic, a shot to keep the wonder away."

If this world is God's art, His story, then what character are you? What role do you play? Would you like yourself if watching yourself portrayed on the silver screen? Do you respond the way you would want the character in the story to respond? More importantly, if we are characters in His story, then we have a story arc with all that implies - tragedy and comedy, good and evil, wins and losses.

Wilson address "The Problem with Kittens." Go into any Christian bookstore and you'll see cards or plaques with photos of adorable kittens in baskets with a comforting verse tacked on. The problem is: The same God who made kittens made the kittens grown up to be lions, cougars and tigers who kill Bambi and other adorable creatures to feed to their young. The same God who made bunnies made red-tailed hawks and eagles who rip the cottontails apart with their talons for food. We must have room for kittens and lions, bunnies and hawks in our concept of who God is. We struggle with evil in our lives, but we don't in our art. We understand the evil in a story moves the plot along. Wilson puts it this way:

"The Problem Part Two: The world is rate R, and no one is checking IDs. Do not try to make it Go by imagining the shadows away. Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous. Make them yeast, and when they've grown, they will pollute the shadows."

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl is rich in beauty and instruction. I loved the poetic look at our earth: "The ocean can never forget the Flood. It has tasted mountains. Waking and sleeping, it chews," and the four seasons as analogous to our lives: "My grandfather is like his house. Once strong and young, now his beams and timbers sag beneath the weight of long use, heavier even than the piles of snow on his roof and the fanged ice stretching down from the gutters . . . Let the Winter come. It is the only path to Spring. The house is battered with cold, but inside there is a warmth that cannot and will not die."

"Do you resent this world, this art? Do you hate Him for cancer, for car wrecks, and for the sudden shocking sleep of the young? . . . Go to Him or go to Hell. Those are the only two choices because Hell will be wherever He is not."

Our world is God's painting, sculpture and play. When the curtain is drawn on our role, we will walk off this stage and on to a greater stage - with Him or without Him.

Sun Studio Tour: Black, White & Blue Suede Shoes

2011-12-22T11:04:00.005-05:00

This summer, we were "walking in Memphis," strolling down Beale Street and listening to blues at the home of the "Beale Street Blues Boy" - B. B. King's Blues Bar. As an admitted Elvis fanatic, I had to go to the South's Mecca and so off to Graceland we went. It was a wonderful, albeit bittersweet, experience. However, it was an impromptu stop at Sun Studios and subsequent tour that would make the biggest impression on me from our time in Memphis.

Owner Sam Phillips had worked as a DJ for an Alabama radio station which had an "open format" that broadcasted music from both white and black musicians. Living in the 21st century, it's hard for us to get our minds around the significance of that; however, being allowed to play the music of both white and black musicians in the segregated South was of monumental significance in shaping Sam Phillips as a music producer and, in the larger context, rock-n-roll itself. In fact, the generally accepted first rock-n-roll record, "Rocket 88" was recorded by Phillips. The band was Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, a band led by 19-year-old Ike Turner, who also wrote the song.

Sun Studios recorded the "Prisonaires," an African-American blues group made up of prisoners in the Tennessee State Penitentiary. Phillips arranged for the group to be transported under armed guard to Memphis to record. A few weeks later, Just Walkin' in the Rain was released and quickly sold 50,000 copies. Their success was such they were allowed out on day passes to play around the state. The band became a favorite of then Gov. Clement and frequently played at his mansion. The group was reportedly the inspiration for a certain trio of jailbirds famously depicted in O Brother Where Art Thou.

Phillips' had a desire to record the music of the African-American community and did record B. B. King and numerous R & B pioneers. He discovered Johnny Cash, as well as a white boy with a black sound from right there in Memphis named Elvis Presley.

One of the best parts of the Sun Studio tour for me was the realization that Elvis' discovery wasn't by chance. Instead, Elvis fervently pursued a career in music. The story about recording a record for his Mom's birthday? Probably a PR mythology. The Presleys didn't own a record player and he could have recorded it cheaper at a local drug s tore. Elvis was trying to be discovered. Sam Phillips gets the credit, but it was his long-time assistant, Marion Keisker who championed the would-be singer. Elvis had recorded a ballad, My Happiness, but Phillips was looking for something new. Marion thought Elvis had something special and would bring his name up to Phillips at just the right time. She and Elvis had a famous exchange upon meeting: I said, "What kind of singer are you?" He said, "I sing all kinds." I said, "Who do you sound like?" He said, "I don't sound like nobody."

Unlike Graceland, where things are cordoned off and under glass, at Sun Studios you stand in the studio where rock-n-roll greats stood. On the same floor tiles. Under the same ceiling tiles. And you can hold the actual microphone Elvis used. It becomes to real to you.

When you hear That's Alright, Mamma juxtaposed with clips of music from that era, you realize just how revolutionary it was! Phillips gave a copy to a local DJ at WHBQ who had to play it 14 times in a row because of the overwhelming audience response. Elvis was persuaded to go to the radio station for an interview where the DJ made sure to include a question about which high school he attended as a way to let the audience know his race without directly asking the question.

It was providential that Phillips and Sun Studios were in Memphis, the home of the Civil Rights Museum, because they were part of that movement. As Michael Bertrand discusses in his book, Race, Rock, and Elvis, "An unprecedented access to African-American culture challenged Presley's generation to reassess age-old segregationist stereotypes." The recording of Elvis, a white boy with a black sound, the embrace of the music of Ray Charles by a white audience, and the merging of musical styles broke down the barriers of a segregated society. In that sense, in the '50s, there really was a whole lotta shakin' going on!

Christian = Reader (or Should At Least)

2011-11-15T11:11:00.003-05:00

Several years ago, my husband began a Pastor's Book Club at our church. We have just ordered our 50th book, Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl. The previous 49 books have enlightened, entertained, challenged and, most importantly, educated the book club members.

In our 1st book, A House For My Name, we read an overview of the Old Testament that looked at infallible Scripture as divinely-inspired literature replete with imagery, repeated themes and revealing composition styles. It made me excited to open the pages of the Old Testament.

Our 4th book, When People Are Big and God Is Small, made us examine for whom we were living. Is ours an "Audience of One" where our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever or do we bow to others through peer pressure, codependency and fear? Far from a baptized psychobabble book, the author shows we are created with certain needs and desires that others' approval or self-actualization will not satisfy -they are God-shaped and only He can fulfill them.

Along the way, we have dealt with tough issues people living in the real world face every day through such books as When Good Kids Make Bad Choices, Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity, How to Be Free From Bitterness, Depression: A Stubborn Darkness and Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave.

We've read fun books that defend snarky satire (Serrated Edge by Douglas Wilson), strolled through history (33 Questions About American History You're Not Supposed to Ask by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. and the Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties by Jonathan Leaf), and we now know that real men do read Jane Austen (Miniatures & Morals by Peter Leithart).

And there have been a few books that have stretched our minds and perspectives in wondrous ways - A Table in the Mist by Jeffrey Meyers and Saving Leonardo: A Call To Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals & Meaning by Nancy Pearcey just to name two.

If you are a Christian, you should be a reader! As Nancy Pearcey brilliantly shows in Saving Leonardo, we can only be salt and light to the world when we interact with that world! The Proverbs tell us, "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him." How do we examine a secular "ism" or belief system when we are ignorant of it? To transform our world, we must obey the words of Timothy to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." To help you get started, here are some suggestions:

A House for My Name - Peter Leithart

Thinking Straight in a Crooked World - Gary DeMar

Hospitality Commands - Alexander Strauch

When People Are Big and God Is Small - Ed Welch

Biblical Healing for Modern Man - Frank Payne

God at Work - Gene Edward Veith

Serrated Edge - Douglas Wilson

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - K. Scott Oliphint

Market-Driven Church - Udo Middleman

My Life for Yours - Douglas Wilson

Blame it on the Brain 0 Richard Winter

The Lord's Service - Jeffrey Meyers

Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment - Gene Edward Veith

Everyday Talk - John Younts

A Journey in Grace - Richard P. Belcher

humility: the forgotten virtue - Wayne & Joshua Mack

Trinity & Reality: An Introduction to the Christian Faith - Ralph Smith

When Good Kids Make Bad Choices - Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jim Newheiser

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense - N. T. Wright

Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity - Lauren Winner

Paedofaith - Rich Lusk

Angels in the Architecture - Doug Jones and Doug Wilson

A Table in the Mist - Jeffrey Meyers

For a Glory and a Covering - Douglas Wilson

How to be Free from Bitterness - Jim Wilson

Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming (& Environmentalism) - Christopher C. Horner

The Baptized Body - Peter Leithart

Why Baptize Babies? - Mark Horne

33 Questions About American History (You're Not Supposed to Ask) - Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

10 Books that Screwed Up the World - Benjamin Wiker

Gross National Happiness - Arthur C. Brooks

Faith, Reason & the War Against Jihadism - George Weigel

Meltdown: A Free Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed - Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest - Edward T. Welch

The Liturgy Trap - James Jordan

Whatever Happened to Justice - Richard Maybury

Depression: A Stubborn Darkness - Edward T. Welch

God vs Socialism - Joel McDurmon

How to Argue with a Liberal & Win - Joel McDurmon

Jane Austen (biography) - Peter Leithart

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen - Peter Leithart

Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

10 Books Every Conservative Must Read, Plus 4 Not to Miss & 1 Impostor - Benjamin Wiker

Five Cities that Rules the World - Doug Wilson

Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don't Have to Do - Phillip Cary

Rollback: Repealing Big Government Before the Coming Fiscal Collapse - Thomas E. Wood

Johann Sebastian Back - Rick Marschall

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties - Jonathan Leaf

Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals & Meaning - Nancy Pearcey

Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl - Nathan Wilson

Fiction Squared - Book Review: Heat Rises by Richard Castle

2011-10-09T22:45:00.006-05:00

ABC Television is trying the old tried and true "play within a play" formula to promote the dramedy series, Castle. They are doing it with a twist, however, by using a literary tie-in. Castle has as its title character hot-shot novelist Rick Castle, who uses his friendship with the mayor to gain permission to tag along on crime scenes with an NYPD homicide team led by Detective Kate Beckett. Although initially his presence is begrudgingly accepted, Castle's mystery writing sensibilities make him a helpful addition to the team. Before long, sparks begin to fly between the writer and the detective, sometimes not in a good way as, much to her chagrin, Castle writes a racy detective series based on Det. Beckett.

The marketing gurus at ABC started producing the books their

title character was supposedly writing on the show as a nifty little promotional tool. Rick Castle will be seen towards the end of the season with the mock-up of his latest book featuring a New York detective named "Nikki Heat" who is shadowed by a hot-shot journalist named Jamison Rook. (The marketing department is sending a wink to their readers: In chess, "castle" and "rook" are interchangeable names for the same piece.) The books have plots loosely based on the series season just ending: Heat Wave (season one, 2009); Naked Heat (season two, 2010); and Heat Rises (season three, 2011), which had its debut at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

While I love the show, I had zero interest in the books until I came across a rumor Stephen J. Cannell, a writer whose work I have enjoyed for decades, might be one of the ghostwriters. The books were small, so I decided to give one a try. And with that, I was hooked. When I read the books, I actually hear the actors in the television show speaking the lines. The novels are written in the same style as the show and are a really fun read. If you're a fan of the television show, give one of the novels a try.

[Disclaimer: Unlike the television series, in the books Nikki Heat and Rook are romantically involved. The books are slightly racier than the show, but the writers keep it pretty PG. However, you have been warned.]

Book Review: The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties

2011-09-26T10:55:00.007-05:00

Blame it on Memphis. I have been in a 50s and 60s state of mind since our brief vacation to the home of the blues in July. My husband found himself dwelling on that era as well and thus came this selection for his Pastor's Book Club of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties by Jonathan Leaf.

The P.I.G. series (as the Politically Incorrect Guides are affectionately known) give readers what Paul Harvey would have referred to as "the rest of the story" on topics ranging from American History, the Constitution and English and American Literature to Hunting and the South.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties is divided into three parts: The Social Sixties, The Cultural Sixties and The Political Sixties. Part One covers the student radicals, the sexual revolution and a chapter entitled, "Civil Rights to Uncivil Wrongs: From Freedom Rides to "Burn, Baby, Burn." Part Two of the book covers rock-n-roll, movies/TV, fashion and the space race. The final section explores the Warren Supreme Court, JFK's Camelot, LBJ's war on poverty, the Vietnam War and finally, "The Birth of the Counter-Counterculture."

This book is as entertaining as it is informative. No chapter is too long - just as you're ready to move on to another subject, so is the book. If you think you know all about the Sixties, Leaf's Guide may just prove you wrong.

And, as a member of the book club astutely noted, if you want to understand the underlying worldviews behind the radical sixties, our current selection should be on your To-Read List: Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals and Meaning.

Book Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

2011-09-19T07:05:00.005-05:00

Anne Fortier's debut novel, Juliet, takes her reader to Sienna, Italy in both the present day and as it was in the 14th century. A re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet with shades of The Da Vinci Code (without the gnostic gospels element).

Julie Jacobs is mourning the recent loss of her beloved Aunt Rose when more grief comes her way. Her Aunt has left her entire fortune to Julie's superficial and shrewish twin, Janice. The only things bequeathed to Julie are actually from her long-deceased mother - a key, a secret and a passport in Julie's real name - Giuletta Tolomei. She discovers she is a direct descendant of the 14th century Giuletta Tolomei who lived in Sienna, Italy and was half of the ill-fated pair of lovers immortalized in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

As Julie travels to Sienna in hopes of discovering what treasure is unlocked by her mother's key, she learns the "Curse upon both your houses," may be alive and well these 600 years later. She soon meets a wealthy woman from Sienna who is insistent on befriending her (and introducing her to the lady's handsome nephew). Armed with ancient diaries, relics, a fresco and a 14th century painting, she sets out to understand the past as a way to understand the present and perhaps her future.

The book moves along at a quick pace and I actually found it to be quite the page turner (until the end, but that critique comes later). The chapters alternate between events in the present and events in the 14th century which seem to correlate and pushes Julie further into danger. The whole re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet was very appealing and works to a large extent. There are lots of red herrings and false turns to keep the suspense going, but there are also abrupt changes and storylines that are simply abandoned that mar the story as well.

The ending is rather disappointing. While it ends the way the romantic in me says it should ultimately, it felt rushed with new characters introduced and familiar characters almost rewritten (to the point I wondered if a new heroine had been determined!). The transition from Julie and Janice's relationship at the beginning of the novel to the one at the end happened almost instantly and was not supported adequately in the narrative. The change was too abrupt and hurt believability.

Nevertheless, this is overall a fun read. It has enough history, romance, intrigue and mystery to keep the reader involved, but also enough holes, character underdevelopment and farfetched storytelling to make its reader long for what the novel could have been. Perhaps the movie in development will fill in these gaps.

CMA Awards 2011 Nominations & Predictions

2011-09-06T17:47:00.003-05:00

Attention fellow country music fans! The Country Music Association presented their nominees for the CMA awards to be given out on November 9^th. Here are the nominees followed by my predictions. Any thoughts?

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Evans

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST

The Band Perry

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Thompson Square

Chris Young

VOCAL GROUP

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

The Band Perry [upset pick]

Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO

The Civil Wars

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Thompson Square

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Artist & Producer]

“All About Tonight” – Blake Shelton

“My Kinda Party” – Jason Aldean

“Speak Now” – Taylor Swift

“This Is Country Music” – Brad Paisley

“You Get What You Give” – Zac Brown Band

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Artist & Producer]

“A Little Bit Stronger” – Sara Evans

“Colder Weather” – Zac Brown Band

“Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean w/ Kelly Clarkson

“Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton [Upset pick]

“If I Die Young” – The Band Perry

SONG OF THE YEAR [Songwriter]

“Colder Weather” – Zac Brown, et al

“Dirt Road Anthem”

“If I Die Young” – Kimberly Perry

“Mean” – Taylor Swift

“You and Tequila”

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

“As She’s Walking Away” – Zac Brown Band w/Alan Jackson

[This is my favorite, but think it will be upset]

“Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn/Sheryl Crow/Miranda Lambert

“Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson

“Old Alabama” – Brad Paisley w/Alabama

“You and Tequila” – Kenny Chesney w/Grace Potter

MUSIC VIDEO

“Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton

“If I Die Young” – The Band Perry

“Mean” – Taylor Swift

“Old Alabama” – Brad Paisley

“You and Tequila” – Kenny Chesney w/Grace Potter

Movie Reviews: The Fighter, True Grit, The Next Three Days and New In Town

2011-07-20T11:23:00.005-05:00

The Fighter
Christian Bale's performance in The Fighter is incredible. His Oscar is well deserved. This movie will make you uncomfortable. It will make you wince. It will make you angry. In the end, it will make you glad you watched it. Mark Wahlberg's "Irish" Mickey Ward is another in what is becoming his trademark underdog roles. Wahlberg really championed this script and was right to do so.

True Grit
When you remake a John Wayne classic, you've already got a strike against you in my book. You just don't mess with The Duke. The Coen Brothers and Jeff Bridges didn't get that memo and the cinematic world is the better for it. This version of True Grit is grittier than the original and, for me, more poignant. Bridges' performance is outstanding and homeschooled Hailee Steinfeld is incredible.

The Next Three Days
You just can't go wrong with a Russell Crowe movie (The Quick and the Dead being a possible exception). This is an excellent suspense movie. It occasionally stretches believability to the breaking point, but it was clever, well-acted and had me on the edge of my seat, which is what I look for in this genre.

New In Town
While I love Harry Connick, Jr., I'm kind of holding a grudge against Renee Zellweger for the unceremonious dumping of Kenny Chesney. Nevertheless, this is a really cute, sweet movie. I don't need to tell you it's predictable - it's a rom-com afterall, but I will tell you it is surprisingly affirming of Midwestern values.

Top Ten Things I Learned in Memphis

2011-07-16T11:46:00.002-05:00

10. Types of Elvis memorabilia could serve as a definition of ad infinitum.

9. The music of the 70s is the only thing about that era worthy of nostalgia.

8. The home of the Civil Rights Movement is a good example of how the South has put an ugly past behind her.

7. You don't listen to the music of blues musicians; you experience the music of blues musicians.

6. Young people need hard knocks in life to mature them.

5. Surrounding yourself with "yes" men is self-destructive. (see #6)

4. Barbecue is a noun, not a verb.

3. Barbecue is the genus; dry rub, sweet, spicy, etc. are species of that genus.

2. Memphis in the summer can serve as a staging area for transport to HELL!

1. Elvis is alive and well and living in Memphis, TN!

A Prayer For Those of Us Easily Annoyed

2011-06-13T19:23:00.002-05:00

I used to say (in an obnoxiously chipper voice), "I'm a people person. I no longer say this. The truth is - people annoy me. People behind the wheel of an automobile annoy me a lot. I wish I could find the humor in it and just shake my head and invent a Bill Engvall "Here's Your Sign" comedy routine. Instead, my temper flares and my blood pressure rises.

So, of course, a friend of mine had to post "A Prayer For Those of Us Easily Annoyed" to Facebook! I may need to repent...

Here's a Great Article For Parents

2011-06-07T14:23:00.004-05:00

While my hubby and I would have loved to have had children, I've written before about one of the advantages of not having them: we lack Parent Fog. It fascinates me to listen to parents talk about childrearing from my outside-looking-in position. A good friend linked to this article on Facebook and I think it is a wonderful word to parents. "The goal is to get them to love the standard. If you can’t get them to love the standard, lower the standard." Before you dismiss that as so much compromise, read the article.

Last Days Liars

2011-05-21T21:40:00.001-05:00

May 22, 2011. Add Harold Camping's name (again) to a long list of false prophets proclaiming the end of the world.

I grew up with this viewpoint. Jesus was coming soon. Mine was the "terminal generation"/"Revelation Generation" and on and on it went. I'm happy to report my eschatological views have changed and I'm no longer thrown into emotional turmoil with the latest sensational proclamation from these doomsday seers. It infuriates me that another generation of young people are being fed this stuff. I know better now, but there was a time...

I could have drawn out in great detail the "prophetic events of the last days" - the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, the Millennial Reign, the Last Judgment. I knew all the steps in this dance, however I now believe if Scripture is the tune then that dance is not in time with the music!

There's a book by Francis Gumerlock, "The Day and the Hour" that reviews 2000 years of conjecture on the last days disclosing the dreams and delusions of those who believed their sect was the 144,000 of Revelation 7; that the 1290 days of Daniel 12 had expired in their generation; that the "Man of Sin" of 2 Thessalonians was reigning in their time; that the Rapture of the saints, Great Tribulation, and Battle of Armageddon were just around the corner; or that a millennial kingdom was about to dawn.

This is a great antidote to the Harold Camping's of the world. And if The Last Days is something that causes you anxiety, get a copy of Gary DeMar's book, 'Why the End of the World Is Not In Your Future."

This fiction continues in the church through repetition and assertion. In most circles it's accepted as absolute truth and people never know the Church hasn't always believed this. As Christians we are to search the Scriptures to see if something is true.

Book Review: The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

2011-05-06T08:18:00.002-05:00

Ann Hood lost her daughter to viral strep and learned to knit following this tragedy. The Knitting Circle is her semi-autobiographical novel that follows Mary Baxter, and to a lesser extent her husband Dylan, in the weeks and months after the loss of their five-year-old daughter Stella. Mary's idyllic life is ripped apart with Stella's death and she finds going on overwhelming. Reluctantly following her mother's advice, Mary joins a knitting circle and as she gets to know the other members, all of whom have their own story of loss, the reader realizes what is being knitted is not just wool. With each knit or purl, the members are re-knitting their lives together.

I don't know how people without a strong faith survive loss. How do you process the unexpected death of a love one from violence, disease or tragedy? How do you make sense of it all? Strikingly, on several occasions one or more of the book's characters refer to each stitch as a prayer, almost as if they look at their project as a woven rosary. Faith imagery was applied to the knitting process throughout the book and I was struck by this given the lack of discussion of loss in reference to God. None of the characters are sure of heaven, but all want to believe it exists.

The book draws you in and it will make you weep, it will make you laugh, and it may make you uncomfortable at times as you encounter abortion, casual sex and four-letter words. The supporting characters weren't as well-developed as I would have liked and the ending is a little cliche'd, but overall I liked the book.

Copper River Grill - A Restaurant Review

2011-05-04T10:38:00.005-05:00

To get a nice meal in our area, we have to drive into Lexington so my husband and I were very enthusiastic about trying the newly opened Copper River Grill. Unfortunately after two trips to the restaurant, we are back to driving into Lexington.

We had our first meal on what was actually our third attempt as the first two times we were faced with a wait of over an hour. (No food is that good.) The hostess was friendly and our server appeared at our table quickly. We both decided on sirloin steaks, Caesar salads and I chose the loaded mashed potatoes while my hubby preferred fries.

The salads arrived accompanied by a wonderfully warm, light and delicious croissant topped with their signature "Glacier Glaze" (think O'Charley's rolls). The Caesar dressing was a real disappointment, completely bland. The steaks were great cuts of meat, cooked per our instructions, but without any flavor at all, again completely bland. The mashed potatoes were flavorful, albeit a little heavy on both the butter and sour cream (and I love both!). My spouse wasn't thrilled with his fries. Including a coke for me and a glass of wine for him, our meal was a little north of $40 before tip.

Everyone has an off day, so we decided to give Copper River another chance. We visited again Tuesday with my mother joining us. Different menu selections, but same overall impression. We were again taken to a table quickly and a server took our drink orders immediately, but while the restaurant was sparsely populated we waited a good while for our assigned server to take our meal selections. This time we tried the house salad with honey-mustard dressing. The salad itself was fresh and the dressing was good. Things went downhill from there. Our selections were a club sandwich with fries, chicken tenders with mashed potatoes and a grilled chicken sandwich with fries. A trio of disappointing offerings. The club sandwich had an abundance of meat, but lacked flavor. The chicken tenders had nice flavor, but were greasy. The grilled chicken sandwich was bland. The sides were a repeat of our first experience. Unlike our friendly and prompt server on our first visit, this time we felt like we were interrupting her day.

I wanted to like the place. The building is inviting and the dining room has a wonderful ambiance. The fact is, however, you don't go to a restaurant just for the ambiance. The food should be good as well and at Copper River Grill it really isn't. Don't take my word for it, read some other reviews here.

Movie Reviews: The Tourist, Forever Shrek, Tangled and Get Low

2011-04-09T09:02:00.017-05:00

Every once in a while a movie will surprise you - for me that movie was The Tourist. Angelina Jolie plays her trademark cool as ice mystery woman while co-star Johnny Depp surprises playing a tourist caught in a web of international intrigue who is vulnerable and at times seemingly overwhelmed by his circumstances. This Hitchcock-flavored movie offers twists, red herrings and a satisfying ending. The Tourist was nominated for three Golden Globe awards and deservedly so!

Our Netflix notices are sent to my husband's email account, but I'm the one who selects movies for our queue. My choices are generally well received, but recently I added a couple of cartoons to the list. As soon as the notification was received, I heard the disgruntled groan bellow from my hubby's office followed by, "A cartoon? A cartoon?!" Thankfully, the two I selected were entertaining animated feature films and even my doubting spouse admitted to enjoying them (well, at least a little).

Shrek Forever After is the concluding installment of the Shrek fairytale. What's so fun about

these movies to me is the deconstructed fairytale

becomes a traditional fairytale. As the movie opens, we get a glimpse into what "and they lived happily ever after..." looks like. The tedium of day-to-day living is taking its toll on Shrek and he finds himself pining for the good, o' days when he was an ogre of the decidedly unbeloved variety. Taking a cue from Capra, the film gives Shrek what he thinks he wants only for the ogre to quickly realizes his was a "wonderful life" just as it was. A fun, feel good movie.

The other cartoon I imposed upon my long suffering spouse was Tangled. The movie trailer had me giggling and my affection for Zachary Levi (star of the Chuck television series) put this film on my must-see list. It was thoroughly delightful. A sheltered princess who develops a spunky, take charge attitude and a hero who is a charming rogue with a heart of gold is right up this hopeless romantic's alley. (For an added bonus, they have thrown in a wonderfully animated duty-bound horse.)

The final film is a small, character-driven story starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Bill

Murray. Really that's all you need to know. These three actors give wonderful performances.

Duvall is my husband's favorite actor and this performance only reenforced that admiration. Bill Murray has evolved into a wonderful character actor and holds his own against the veteran Duvall. Loosely based on a real-life story, the film is more about the journey than the destination. The ending had a nice

resolution to the story, but was a little unsatisfying from a dramatic standpoint. See this film just for Duvall, Spacek and Murray's performances if nothing else - they're that good.

Read This Book! - "Good News For Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You DON'T Have To Do" by Phillip Cary

2011-03-12T08:51:00.003-05:00

My biggest complaint about Cary's book is that it wasn't available 30 years ago! How marvelous it would have been to have some of these evangelical traps exposed earlier in my Christian walk rather than having to wrestle with them for years.

The back cover gives this description as to content:

Like a succession of failed diet regimens, the much-touted techniques that are supposed to bring us closer to God "in our hearts" can instead make us feel anxious, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Phillip Cary explains that discipleship is a gradual, long-term process that comes through the Bible experienced in Christian community, not a to-do list designed to help us live the Christian life "right." He covers ten things we don't have to do to be close to God, skillfully unpacking the riches of traditional Christian spirituality to bring the real good news to Christians of all ages.

Christopher Hall, the chancellor of Eastern University wrote my thoughts in his endorsement of the book:

Evangelicals worry about lots of things, including the state of our spiritual health. Phil Cary is worried too: worried that evangelicals are suffering needlessly because they have imbibed a consumerist spirituality that offers much but provides little. Phil's prescription for spiritual indigestion? A turning away from the self to the One who continually speaks a healing, saving word to us, Christ himself. This is, quite frankly, one of the best books I've read on the spiritual life over the past twenty-five years. I heartily recommend it.

This is a quick, easy read and for the Christian struggling with a myriad of "how do you know" questions - it is a shelter from those spiritual storms. Below are a couple of excerpts.

On hearing God's voice:

"Nearly all of my students have been taught to listen for God's voice in their hearts, but most of them seem not to have been taught the basics of God's word. Many of them, for instance, could not tell you the Ten Commandments if their life depended on it. So with hearts largely unshaped and uninformed by God's word, they are nonetheless expected to find God in their hearts. This kind of teaching is a terrible thing to do to them. It makes them dependent on nothing more than the thoughts of their own hearts. This is not the Holy Spirit's way of teaching...the Holy Spirit's way of teaching is to teach the word of Christ...They [the fruit of the Spirit] come into our hearts by the hearing of the external word of the gospel, which the Spirit applies inwardly to our hearts, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, reshaping everything about us from the bottom up. According to this biblical account of the work of the Spirit in our hearts, we won't get a sanctified heart by listening for the Spirit, but by listening to God's word."

On giving God control of your life:

"Perhaps the most important replacement for Christian morality in today's churches is the idea that you're supposed to "give God control" of your life. An older way of saying pretty much the same thing was that you're supposed to "yield your heart to God." And then there's the motto, "Let go, let God," and all the various ways that people think they're supposed to "let" God work in their lives. What I want to look at is. . . how very different these concepts are from the concept of obeying God, which is at the core of Biblical morality. . .The crucial difference is who's doing the doing. Obedience means doing what God says. "Giving God control" means letting God do it for us. That's a fundamentally different notion from obedience and it undermines the very idea of a moral responsibility. You're not morally responsible for what's done if you're not the one doing it. . .The misunderstanding on which much of the new evangelical theology is based is the idea that when God is working in you, then you'renot working. It's as if His working replaces yours, so you're not doing anything - you're just letting God do it. But that doesn't really work, because then you have to make sure that you're really letting God do it - and so you get all anxious about whether you're really doing that . . .

The game doesn't really work, but let's look at how it goes: We're supposed to give control to God, which means we're the ones in control to start with. That means it's ultimately up to us - God has no control unless we give it to Him. It's often put this way: "God can't work in your life unless you'll let Him." This is an astonishing bit of fantasy. Where in the Bible or anywhere else in God's creation did people get the idea that God was so helpless? If God can't do anything unless we let him, then God is not really God, and indeed He is les real than any person we know. After all, you don't have to "let" real people work in your life. They have an affect on you whether you like it or not, precisely because they're real . . . so saying God can't work in your life unless you let Him is basically saying He is not real.

At the Movies: 11 Reviews

2011-02-22T09:13:00.003-05:00

My favorites are covered last, but let's start with the Romantic Comedies:

Knight & Day - Cute little rom-com that comes off at times as a spoof of romantic comedies rather than an actual rom-com. It was fun, but only as a Red Box rental.

My Life in Ruins - Nia Vardalos probably hoped that lightning would strike twice in her second film set in Greece, however while the scenery is incredible, the story is just so-so. Richard Dreyfuss does his best to up the quality in a nicely done supporting role.

When in Rome - This was a really cute movie, but seemed to have two endings (and should have stuck with the first). It's an engaging little story that stars Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel who have a nice chemistry between them. (Plus "Pedro" from Napoleon Dynamite makes an appearance.)

Killers - Katherine Heigl plays a lovelorn lady who falls for Ashton Krutcher's perfect man. Their idyllic married life is turned upside down when his past makes an appearance in his present life. It's a lightweight, fun movie with Tom Selleck in a fun role as Heigl's father.

Now for the Family Friendly Fare:

Around the World in 80 Days - This is a family-friendly take on a classic with Jackie Chan as is usual charming self. (Several star-studded cameos are fun bits)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - I resisted watching this. I expected sophomoric humor and pratfalls. There were indeed some juvenile jokes, but it also had a surprising sweetness to it. Fun movie.

The Princess and the Frog - Billed as Disney's "last princess movie," this fairytale set in New Orleans is full of good music and an engaging story. Based on its box office take, I'd be really surprised if Tiana really was the last princess we meet from the Mouse House.

Action/Suspense:

The Losers - Basically the "A-Team" with lesser known actors. Fun action movie, but not for youngsters.

Body of Lies - Russell Crowe and Leo DiCaprio are excellent in this story of middle east espionage. It does a nice job showing the often disconnect between the powers that be in offices back home running the war and the people on the ground actually fighting the war. Gripping, well-acted movie.

Robin Hood - This is one of my favorite stories, so I had high expectations. The reviews had been mixed, but I am rarely disappointed when director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up. I liked the way the Robin Hood mythology was handled and was surprised by how much I liked Cate Blanchett as Marion. [For another fun and lesser known Ridley/Crowe movie, try A Good Year.]

RED - This was such a fun movie! Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and an hilarious John Malkovich star as retired black ops operatives who find themselves on the wrong side of a hit list. The movie is action-packed as well as at times hilarious. I loved this movie!

Unstoppable - Fast paced, well-acted and suspenseful, this train movie will have you on the edge of your seat. Denzel Washington turns in his usual fine performance and Chris Pine holds his own with the veteran actor. (In fact, Washington is the one who recommended Pine for the role.) The more I see of Chris Pine, the more I like him. I think he will prove to be more than a handsome face and develop into a respected actor.

Now back to the Blu-Ray player. . .

Love or Lust? Considering Ammon & Tamar

2011-02-14T09:18:00.002-05:00

Sex. There! I've got your attention.

I recently taught a children's Sunday School class on a passage that was all about sex. I taught it very tentatively, choosing my words and analogies with care. The Bible, however, isn't a bit shy about discussing sex. Sometimes you don't realize the passage is about sex until the end. Take for instance the passage on Ammon & Tamar.

In II Samuel 13, Ammon is physically sick over his half-sister Tamar. He tells his friend Jonadab, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." At first glance, it would seem the story is about forbidden love, a biblical Romeo and Juliet. But the story is much darker than that. Jonadab comes up with a scheme to allow Ammon to be alone with his half-sister. Ammon's love turns out to be only lust as he rapes Tamar and then tosses her out like yesterday's newspaper. This event will not only destroy Tamar's life, but will ultimately cost Ammon his life and the life of Tamar's brother Absalom, as well as come close to costing their father, King David, his kingdom.

Such is the deceitful and destructive nature of lust. And such is the way we can distinguish between love and lust. A simple comparison of attributes is a quick guide for determining whether the "love" being professed is truly love or the impostor lust. Lust deceives. It manipulates. It destroys. It consumes. It is selfish.

Scripture lists love's attributes as longsuffering, kind, not envious, not proud, doesn't behave rudely, isn't self-seeking, is not easily angered, doesn't hold grudges, doesn't delight in evil but rejoices in truth. Ultimately, we're told love never fails.

Jesus told his disciples, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Love is self-sacrificing or as the Bible puts it, ". . . does not seek its own."

Good thing to remember on a day devoted to love.

Super Bowl Commercials - Winners & Losers

2011-02-07T11:41:00.002-05:00

While the Packers and Steelers gave us a great game (for a change), the day after the Super Bowl it's still the commercials that are discussed most. Here in no particular order are my submissions for Winners & Losers of the Commercial Super Bowl:

Winners:

Mini-Darth (Volkswagen Passat)

Lifesaver Beaver (Bridgestone)

Resuscitations (Doritos)

Racing Beetle (Volkswagen)

Border Guards (Coca-Cola)

Rich Prison (Audi)

TV show favs (NFL.com)

Ozzy & Bieber (Best Buy)

Losers:

Simon Cowell (X-Factor) - The Brit may have waited too long. Steven Tyler has me saying, "Simon who?"

Richard Lewis & Roseanne Barr (Snickers) - They haven't been relevant for 15-20 years. Betcha most under 30 didn't know who they were and didn't get the joke!

Pant-licking (Doritos) - Just ick.

Cowboys & Aliens trailer - Now I know why Robert Downey Jr bailed on this film.

Thor - Huh?

Tibetan food (GroupOn) - Let's talk about suffering and make it fun!

You can see most of the ads here.

38 Years of Shame

2011-01-23T17:48:00.003-05:00

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. It is the day set aside to commemorate Roe vs. Wade and the awful legacy that followed. It is a day in which Christians join together to pray for the end of our slaughter of innocents and to plead God's mercy on our nation for allowing this for now 38 years.

Our corporate prayer today in our worship service said:

"Let us pray for children being knit together in their mothers' wombs, for mothers and fathers, and for all organizations and agencies dedicated to valuing human life; let us also pray for women burdened by the guilt of having ended a child's life.

Wise and gracious Father, You are the Lord of life. We give You thanks for the gift of children. By Your grace, enable all people to embrace all human beings, especially the most vulnerable, as part of the human community, worthy of our protection and care. Empower parents to love their children and teach them of the Lord Jesus. Sustain all agencies dedicated to caring for the most vulnerable among us. By the power of the cross of Christ, enable all who carry a burden of guilt to repent, confess and experience the forgiveness of sins and renewal of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Every abortion has two victims - immediately the child and subsequently the mother who aborted that child. Assurance Care for Women and Girls offers help to women in crisis pregnancies as well as women dealing with the lasting trauma of abortion. Assurance also has started a ministry to the oft-forgotten person in this situation, the father. If you are dealing with a crisis pregnancy or the trauma of abortion, they will greet you with love and compassion and offer help.

An Epistle to the Curmudgeon

2011-01-15T14:47:00.004-05:00

[A friend of mine wrote this and I think it is incredibly insightful and well done. I reprint here with his permission.]

By William Smith

I, Marah, which in the English tongue is Bitterness, an apostle of Misery, to the disenfranchised, depressed, and generally ill-tempered, wish to write briefly to all those who follow me in all my ways and long to be like me in every respect. If you would be pleasing to our common lord, there are certain virtues that must be present and abound. One or two of these virtues is enough to accomplish much in the way of the miserable life. But you will be better served if you learn to incorporate all six of these into your life, adding one to another. There are, of course, many other virtues that could be mentioned, but these six should be sufficient to start you down the irredeemable path of Misery.

First, and primary to all other virtues, you must be discontent. Contentment, as one Christian Puritan wrote long ago, is a rare jewel. Discontentment, however, is like gravel: it’s everywhere. If you long to live a miserable life, never be satisfied with anything or anybody. Always be thinking about what you don’t have instead of what God has graciously given you. In other words, be ungrateful. Never see the good in anything anyone else does but always focus on how he or she fell short. Always ... and I mean always ... grumble and complain about everything. This increases and heightens the experience of discontentment, causing you to dip down to the lowest levels of this deep pit. The ecstasies of misery can only be realized if you verbalize them. Discontentment is sure to take you a long way to your goal of being miserable. If you are lucky and hang around some other people, you might even obtain some recruits. Misery does love company ... at least for a little while. Discontentment will make sure that your miserable cohorts will not measure up eventually and you will have to ditch them.

Along with your discontentment you must also be unforgiving. People offend and sin against one another. It is the way things are. Conscientious people know that sin and offenses cannot be justified by those who commit them, but they cannot be avoided either if you live in relationship with anyone but yourself. If you want to live a miserable life, never forgive. O, don’t say “I won’t forgive you.” By all means say the words, “I forgive you.” But whatever you do, hold on to that list of offenses so that the next time the other person slips up, you can drag all of that out again and use it to bludgeon the person to death. Let the other person’s offenses and sins control your life. Dwell on them day and night. Do let them go. Stay under their power believing that you deserve to be treated better and you will not rest until this other person doesn’t just ask for forgiveness, but crawls over broken glass to beg your clemency and then does everything that you demand of him until his debt is paid in your eyes (which can be never if you want to remain miserable). Unforgiveness is a MUST if you want to live a miserable life.

As you continue to cultivate misery in your life, you must also become proficient in blaming everyone else. Bad things have happened to you. People have sinned against you, sometimes in some evil ways. If you want to live a miserable life, let that define your existence for the rest of your days. If you don’t fulfill your responsibilities, it is because of that incident or those incidents. Instead of looking to the way God defines you (Misery forbid!), take the word of man spoken to you through their words or actions toward you. Whatever you do, you must NOT believe God. Also, when something goes wrong in your life because something you failed to do, look for someone else upon whom to lay the guilt. “He wasn’t there for me.” “They didn’t provide this for me.” Certainly other people have some responsibilities, but they need to know that they really have ALL the responsibilities for my life. Others are supposed to fulfill their responsibilities AND my responsibilities. When they don’t do both of these, well, I will blame them and excuse my inaction. Of course, no one can ever meet these high demands. They are impossible for any human. That is the beauty of it. That means I can always be miserable because this can NEVER be done. You will reach your goal of complete and utter misery if you always find someone to blame.

Increasing your misery must also include taking everything in the worst possible light. People say and do things that can be perceived in a number of different ways depending on the context. If you want to live a miserable life, you must always take everything in the worst possible light. Even compliments given to you must be understood as some type of leverage the person is trying to gain over you. He is being sarcastic or simply being “nice” to put on a good Christian face, but he really doesn’t mean it. The actions of others must be understood as being against you. (This whole epistle is probably about you! If you believe this, you are surely on the right track.) If something said is unclear, it is muddled for a purpose. This person is being deceitful. In order to be miserable, you must believe that everyone is against you. The very way they live their lives is an indictment of the way you live, relate to your spouse, rear your children, and eat ice cream. It doesn’t matter what they do, it is all against you because you think that everybody thinks like you; namely that YOU are the center of the universe and everyone is consumed with you like you are consumed with you. The fact that what they say and do might be harmless or even WORSE, trying to be kind, cannot be abided; not if you want to live in misery.

Another virtue of misery that must be developed is the ability to nit-pick everything everyone else does. Of course, no one can do everything right. Everyone understands this. But if you really want to be miserable, you must understand that no one can do ANYTHING right. Oh, they might get some stuff right, but there are always mistakes and even sins that pollute the whole action. In order to be miserable, you must nit-pick everything someone else does. If you do this in your own mind, then you get to enjoy the misery yourself. But if you actually give your “evaluation” to the other person, you can suck the life right out of him. And, if you do this to everyone around you, you can actually make everyone around you miserable (at least when they don’t run when they see you coming. You may only have one shot at this, so make it good.) Keep long lists of all the stuff people do wrong and mull over it day and night. Insist that people can only relate to you on your terms, which are quite meticulous and, on top of that, hidden from the other person. If he is ever actually informed about your likes and dislikes and tries to relate to you that way, some of your excuses for not liking him will be taken away. You must always demand exacting standards with little or no grace, and the other person must figure you out. If you act this way you will be sure to be miserable because you will have no friends. No one will want to be around you long, except those people who are just like you. And again, they won’t stay around for very long. This is a living hell, and in hell there are no friendships.

Finally, my miserable brothers, hang around people who do all of the above and try to “rescue” them when they don’t want to be rescued. You want to rescue the person who practices all of the above. You think, “No one really wants to live in misery.” How naive! Yet, like a good trooper, you are going into the battle and rescue the other soldier. But what you find is that this other soldier likes the mine field he is in and doesn’t want to come out. Nevertheless, you are going to try to drag him out. So, you hang around him trying to encourage him to come out of his misery. But misery is his joy. Misery is his life. Misery is his destiny. To come out of this miserable state would mean that he would have to take some personal responsibility and be forgiving and gracious to others. To do that would require something of him that he is not willing to give. It would mean that he would have to work and be busy about what he is supposed to be doing and wouldn’t have time to dwell on all of the mistakes of others, setting himself up as a false god. He likes this place of being an implacable, unmerciful god. Misery is his life. After a while his misery, like a virus, infects you. Your life isn’t as good as you deserve. Everybody else does mess up all the time and is probably out to get you. Just keep trying to rescue those who have no desire to be rescued and you too will find yourself in a miserable state as well.

So, make your depression and misery sure. Add to your discontentment, unforgiveness; to your unforgiveness, blame; to blame, suspicion; to suspicion, nit-picking; and to nit-picking, seeking to rescue the stubbornly miserable. If you do these things and such the like, you will pave the way for greater misery and depression. You will destroy your marriage, ruin friendships, disrupt and divide churches, and never realize joy. You will show yourself a true disciple of me, Marah, and our lord, Misery.

2011 Generation

2011-01-06T22:46:00.008-05:00

The Huffington Post recently ran an article on 20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade and a Yahoo writer picked up on it and added her own thoughts on Things Babies Born in 2011 Will Never Know. Here’s the list (with occasional commentary – “hers” and mine)

1. Videotape

2. Travel agents

3. Separation of work & home. The revolution we were promised with the Internet is beginning to come into being. An increasing number of careers are no longer geographically fixed.

4. Books, magazines and newspapers. I mourn one of the three – books. I love the feel of a book in my hand, even the smell of an old book when you open its pages. However, practicality rules here. With my hubby’s ever-increasing library, we are looking at having to add-on or buy a new house! With a Kindle (or other eReaders), you can carry 1500+ books in the palm of your hand. The Huffington Post article believes bookstores are also headed to extinction. I hope not. I love perusing the clearance aisles of a bookstore and finding that hidden gem I otherwise would never have read.

5. Movie rental stores. A Netflix executive recently stated the company expects the streaming side of the business to become their prominent product in the rather near future.

6. Watches. That’s just one of the services our cell phones provides.

7. Paper maps. Three letters – GPS

8. Wired phones (landlines).

9. Long distance. (For my generation – remember when calling out-of-town friends/family was a big deal because of the expense?)

10. Newspaper classifieds

11. Dial-up Internet

12. Encyclopedias. We just took our set to Goodwill last week.

13. Forgotten friends “Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!" The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook” or other social media.

14. Forgotten anything else. “Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse."

15. The evening news.

16. Music CDs. Bobby is constantly reminding me not to buy a CD, buy the MP3.

17. Film cameras. Digital cameras have completely changed how we document our life. Click away - if the shot is bad you can delete it. No development expense.

18. Yellow & white page. They’ll continue to exist – as apps on your Smartphone.

19. Catalogs – Will continue in online form.

20. Fax machines

21. One picture to a frame. We have a digital frame to my Mom as a Christmas present a few years ago. It really brought home how extensively the “digital age” is changing even basic paradigms.

22. Wires to anything.

23. Handwritten letters. I hope this projection is wrong. Digital communication is quick, but ink and paper communicates so much more deeply. I believe the act of shaping the words with a pen shapes what you write – the thought process is different.

24. Talking to one person at a time. Unfortunately this one will be accurate. Skype to one person, text another and email yet another – all simultaneously. In fact, the Huffington Post article asserts calling itself will become obsolete in favor of digital means of communication.

25. Retirement plans. “Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medical bills, too!”

26. Mail. “What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited, and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.”

27. Commercials on TV

28. Commercial music radio. Can you say Pandora?

29. Hiding. “Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are.”

Christmas Spirit

2010-12-07T21:01:00.002-05:00

Lots going on right now, so posting will continue to be infrequent. However, this video just made my day. Wish I had been there to experience it.

Secretariat

2010-10-16T13:42:00.003-05:00

Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison

Watching Secretariat win the Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years is one of my most treasured childhood memories. In the ‘70s, my church stood one block over from Churchill Downs, my family lived in South Louisville just a few blocks from the Twin Spires and horse racing was in the air we breathed.

Critics have cynically dismissed this as Seabiscuit, the Sequel. There are parallels in their stories to be sure. Like Seabiscuit, Secretariat came at a time when people needed a hero. Economic struggles were again upon us, the presidency was tainted with scandal and the fabric of our society was fraying. Yet, for two minutes on the first Saturday in May, Secretariat gave us all something to unite and cheer about.

Secretariat is directed by Randall Wallace, writer of Braveheart, and at one time a would-be pastor until his pastor told him to pursue his true calling (he'd been writing since age 7). Wallace’s film is as much about the horse’s owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy, as the great stallion itself. The photography is gorgeous, the film’s story is compelling, and the roles are well cast with actors who fit the characters quite nicely.

This is a wonderful, feel-good movie. For those of you who remember 1973 races, you’ll nonetheless find yourself holding your breath as “and down the stretch they come!”

Obama's Tin Ear (or Why Jammin' Takes Experience)

2010-10-14T17:24:00.004-05:00

Charlie Daniels has always had a way with words. The turn of phrase in his lyrics (Uneasy Rider or The Devil Went Down to Georgia just to name two) reveal a cleverness of thought that quickly dispels any notion that Mr. Daniels is just a redneck fiddlin’ fool.

On his band’s website, there is a section entitled “Soap Box” where Daniels holds forth on a variety of topics. I’ve enjoyed reading these from time to time over the years, but hadn’t checked out the site recently. In fact, I’d pretty much forgotten about Charlie’s essays until my friend Bill Smith posted one of Daniels’ blurbs from May where he uses his 50+ years as a musician to develop an analogy of why Obama is failing. I think Daniels has hit a high note. You can read it here.

I'll Miss You, Stephen J. Cannell

2010-10-02T15:24:00.009-05:00

The writer behind many of my favorite TV shows growing up, Stephen J. Cannell, died Thursday evening, September 30. I never met the man, but I am saddened by his passing.

His shows were always entertaining. Some were gritty and brilliant, such as Wiseguy. Some were iconic, such as The Rockford Files. And some were just mindless fun, such as one of my favorite, The A-Team.

Cannell found writing success beyond television scripts penning several mystery novels. He recently did several cameos as one of the title character's poker buddies on the series "Castle" which features a crime novelist working with a NY detective on murder cases. There are even novels tied to the show written by "Rick Castle" that many believe are actually the product of Mr. Cannell's prolific typewriter.

I will always remember him by the ending to his shows which showed him in his office typing away and then pulling the paper out of the typewriter and tossing the sheet in the air. You can see it here.

In reading the tributes in some of the Hollywood industry web sites, the comment section has been quite telling. Invariably when some Hollywood type dies, someone will talk about the deceased's character flaws and failings and why the passing is no big deal. With Mr. Cannell's passing, I have yet to read anything but praise and appreciation for a man who supported and encouraged other writers. He even has an online writing seminar (of sorts) on his web page.

Thanks for the hours of fun, Mr. Cannell.

At The Movies: Five Reviews

2010-09-25T21:31:00.001-05:00

State of Play – An excellent movie with a talented cast. Russell Crowe is outstanding as Cal McAffrey an old-school newsman who fights to maintain the old ways as he sees the world of news reporting evolving. Rachel McAdams brings a spark to Della Frye, a blogger who has McAffrey’s contempt and seeks his respect. Helen Mirren plays the tough-as-nails editor and Ben Affleck does his usual wooden performance (only this time it works for the character) as Rep. Collins, a long-time friend of McAffrey’s, who is embroiled in a scandal. The twists and turns of an intelligent script will keep you glued to the screen until the end. State of Play has the feel of All the President’s Men and the movie as a whole serves as an homage to the world of newsprint, the dinosaur media, as some pundits now refer to it.

Duplicity –Tony Gilroy, screenwriter of the above flick and the Bourne series, penned this twisting and turning spy caper with a script that is too impressed by its own cleverness by half. Clive Owens is charming, but I never saw even a hint of chemistry between him and costar Julia Roberts. Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson and the remaining supporting cast gave excellent performances that were in the end unable to buoy a convoluted plot and unsatisfying ending.

The Young Victoria – I absolutely loved this film! Pre-coronation Queen Victoria is young and full of life and about to be tossed somewhat ill-prepared into the life of a monarch. The young queen finds remarkably egalitarian friendship, wisdom and love with Albert and the rest, as they say, is history. This film will charm you and make you crave more information on this perfectly matched royal couple.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief – This is a fun, imaginative, purely escapist film that will entertain the kids as well as their parents. It will make you scratch your head trying to remember your Greek mythology class (“Now what was the name of the ferryman on the River Styx?”). No acting awards here (although some big-name actors appear in small-sized parts), but lots of inventive mythological references and adrenaline-fueled escapades. It has sequel written all over it.

The A-Team hasn’t been released to DVD yet, but when it does – give it a chance. This was one of my favorite shows in the 80s and all the fun things about that series find their way into this flick. This is just a pure, unapologetic action film with lots of comedic moments. It didn’t get the box office results necessary for a sequel (which the filmmakers were obviously planning on), but maybe the rental market will make that happen after all. I hope so, because this was pure fun!

Obama: Jimmy Carter's 2nd Term

2010-09-22T08:19:00.002-05:00

Even democrats are comparing the Obama administration to the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter. Read about it here. For the record, I said this very thing before his inauguration! Here's proof.

A Gag Reflex: Lady Gaga & the VMAs

2010-09-13T10:54:00.003-05:00

I turned off the VMAs after Chelsea Handler's intro. The jokes, the music, the debasement - how desensitized we have become to vulgarity in all its forms.

Lady Gaga was the big winner last night. She has some of the catchiest hooks in music today, but that wasn't enough to keep Camille Paglia, writing in the Sunday Times, from skewering Ms. Gaga. Here's the link.

[FYI - I've been doing a lot more reading than writing lately. Lots of book reviews on the way.]

Rom-Com Letdown: Movie Reviews

2010-07-29T08:58:00.004-05:00

As I’ve confessed before, I am a romantic comedy fan. I’m a sucker for the boy gets the girl/girl gets the boy stories. I don’t care how hackneyed the script, how obvious the plot, how cheesy the lines – I love ‘em. Usually. Out of the four movies reviewed here, two turned out to be exceptions which proved the rule.

I wonder what Jane Austen would think of the rom-com category she spawned when first Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy parried witty rejoinders? The two winners in our quartet both follow the formula of poor first impressions being corrected as the movie progresses. They also could very well represent a new category in the genre of “romantic comedy travelogues” as the scenery in both is a major character.

Coming to DVD on September 14, Letters to Juliet is a fun, albeit totally predictable rom-com set in Italy. The premise is rather completely summed up by the trailer. Neither the plot nor the characters are very well developed, but the ride is so much fun (and the scenery so beautiful) you really won’t mind. [Also, it has a line that rivals “No one puts Baby in a corner!” for cheesiest of all time.]

Our second winner is Leap Year. As soon as the two main characters meet, you know where this story is headed. Nevertheless, the charming Amy Adams and the gorgeous landscapes of Ireland make this movie delightful, even if entirely predictable.

As any rom-com fan knows, there always has to be the tension/breakup section where the love is tested. With the next two movies, it was definitely a case of love lost.

I want to like Gerard Butler. I really do. I loved him in Phantom of the Opera. He was utterly charming in P.S. I Love You. However, his last two rom-com choices have left me cold.

The Ugly Truth clearly wants to be an opposites attract movie reminiscent of the classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson films. It fails miserably. An Amazon reviewer sums it up: "...many people will be surprised (like I was) at the very high level of lewdness and vulgarity." We found it to be so coarse it wasn’t worth completing – back it went unfinished.

Less disheartening than The Ugly Truth, The Bounty Hunter nevertheless disappointed. [Disclaimer: I’m not a Jennifer Aniston fan.] One of the obvious problems with the movie is a complete lack of chemistry between the two lead actors. Add to that the very frequent use of the GD expletive and I’m ready to toss this DVD back in its container. We did, however, finish it. The language improved about two-thirds into the movie and at the end there was a sweetness (albeit too contrived in my opinion.) If you must rent this, make sure it’s from Red Box.

Professing Themselves Wise...

2010-07-19T12:19:00.003-05:00

On the way home from church yesterday, we passed a car that had a myriad of atheist bumper stickers - everything from the ridiculous fish with legs to "Darwin Loves You". I told Bobby anyone who has to proclaim their atheism that loudly makes me skeptical. That's rebellion, not disbelief. I'm convinced that guy deep down believes in God, he's just ticked off by Him.

Atheists can be frightening (when they affect judicial rulings), but they can also be hilarious as seen in this story of U.S. atheists using hairdryers to "debaptize" themselves. They could have saved themselves the trouble. They have already countermanded their baptism.

Paying the Fiddler

2010-07-14T11:52:00.003-05:00

The Washington Times ran a story today about both parties in Congress mulling over the possibility of raising the retirement age. The Social Security system is broken and eventually politicians will be forced to admit it. Raising the retirement age is, at best, at stop-gap measure. The real problem is Social Security was, is and always has been a Ponzi scheme at its core. Now, as the DVD mentioned in this article details, the demographic trends over the last few years and future projections will not allow the scheme to be perpetuated.

Bigger Than Bling

2010-06-25T08:44:00.002-05:00

I stopped caring about professional basketball when jerseys with the names of Jordan and Byrd disappeared from the hardwood. Professional sports figures seemed to make the news more for misdeeds than athletic achievements. Cynicism about these so-called heroes abounded.

Then...I read this article on Manute Bol. This Sudanese Christian man lived a heroic Christian life::

Bol reportedly gave most of his fortune, estimated at $6 million, to aid Sudanese refugees. As one twitter feed aptly put it: "Most NBA cats go broke on cars, jewelry & groupies. Manute Bol went broke building hospitals."

Ten Concert Truths

2010-06-15T11:10:00.002-05:00

I had a wonderful time this weekend at the Carrie Underwood concert. The music was great, the performance was at turns fun and moving, and the artist herself seemed to be just a genuinely nice young lady. I have cheered for her since her American Idol days, so it was good to see that authentic vibe was still there.

The concert also provided me with blog fodder, so below are listed Ten Concert Truths gained from my experience Sunday night:

Decibel level tolerance diminishes with age.

What looked good on you at 25 might quite possibly look ridiculous on you at 45.

Certain fashion styles have weight limits. I'm just sayin'.

A certain Alabama song was full of insight: "...too young to understand, why the young girls fall in love with the boys in the band."

$60 seems a lot to pay just for the opportunity to get drunk on overpriced beer.

Sheer volume does not make up for talent deficits.

Everyone likes a good bluegrass instrumental (even those who don't think they like bluegrass).

Inflation scale = $1 per year: Early 90s - concert T-shirt was $15-20, today $35.

Music really is better performed live.

Seeing their child happy makes the parent happier than the child.

Rand Paul and the Civil Rights Act

2010-06-04T16:55:00.004-05:00

Now that the usual suspects in the mainstream media have gotten their histrionics out of the way, it's time for an actual examination of Dr. Paul's position. Here's a snippet from an AOL story on the incident:

Rachel Maddow pressed Paul on the question during a lengthy interview on her MSNBC program Wednesday night. She tried to get a clear answer on whether he thought the lunch counter at the Woolworth's in Greensboro, N.C. -- a flash point in the struggle for racial integration -- should have been allowed to remain segregated.

Paul said he didn't believe "any private property should discriminate" and insisted he would never patronize such a place. But he asked Maddow, "Does the owner of the restaurant own his restaurant or does the government own his restaurant?"

Paul accused Maddow of bringing up "something that really is not an issue ... sort of a red herring." But he faced the same question a month ago in an interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal's editorial board. (Click here to watch the video. Skip ahead to the one-hour mark.)

"Under your philosophy it would be OK for Dr. King to not be served at the counter at Woolworth's?" Paul was asked. He replied that he would have boycotted the store and denounced it, but added, "This is the hard part about believing in freedom."

He continued, "In a free society we will tolerate boorish people who have abhorrent behavior. But if we're civilized people, we publicly criticize that and don't belong to those groups or associate with those people."

Dr. Paul is absolutely right on this. People have a right to be bigoted morons - just as I have the right not to patronize their businesses. The market can take care of bigots without the need for government intervention. Dr. Walter Williams, distinguished professor of economics at George Mason University and a nationally syndicated columnist, has written a wonderful defense of Paul's views here.

Oh No Canadian Healthcare!

2010-05-31T19:24:00.003-05:00

We were assured there would not be rationing of care. No "lifeboat" scenarios with medical services. We were told to look to Canada for an example of how wonderful government healthcare would be. We were told a fairytale and our politicians believed it.

Now Canada is looking to curtail cost because an aging population is putting pressure on their healthcare services. This is just the beginning. (Watch this DVD to see why.) Here's the article on the Canadian healthcare problem.

Parent Fog - Addendum

2010-05-28T07:13:00.003-05:00

My hubby sent me this article after my last blog post. It fits nicely into the discussion of what influences surround young people today. This one is from their music. Here's the article.

Parent Fog - Some Thoughts

2010-05-22T21:02:00.006-05:00

Bobby and I always wanted kids, however when it became clear this wasn't the Lord's will for us, we decided to invest in the kids of other people who were brought into our lives. This has provided us with some advantages in relating to young people.

One advantage is we lack "parent fog." This is the hazy mist that surrounds otherwise savvy, intelligent men and women rendering them deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to their children. It's the "my child would never..." syndrome or the "I know some kids his/her age do [fill in the blank], but my son/daughter would NEVER..." attitude, regardless of whether the topic is drugs, sex, rock-n-roll or cheating in class.

Parental love often expresses I Corinthians 13 in that it hopes, believes and expects the best. My hubby tells the story of a lady he worked with who came home early and heard her son cuss at his sister. When confronted, the son swore to his mom that that was the first time he had used that language and (of course) it would never happen again. When the mom related this story to Bobby and another coworker, she was met with laughter. "Let me understand this - the FIRST and only time your son cussed just happened to be within ear shot of his mom? C'mon!!!" The mom reflected on the scenario and Bobby's skepticism and realized she'd been played by her son. The son had been able to sell that improbable lie because he knew his mom would desperately want to believe the best about him.

So many Christian parents don't realize that today's young Johnny & Susie know so much more about sex, drugs, rock-n-roll and the world in general than our generation did at the same age. Mental innocence is a rare commodity and extremely difficult to hold on to in our 24/7 instant information age.

This may explain the Generation Gap more completely than the difference in ages. It is quite possibly a gap created by a lack of cultural awareness, a lack of remembrance of the thinking process and behavior tendencies of teenagers (processes and tendencies that don't change that much from generation to generation), and a lack of realistically assessing the world in which their children live as it is and not as they wish it to be or perhaps romantically remember it to be from their youth.

To be successful with today's young people, those in my peer group who came of age in the 80s must constantly remind themselves the world these kids are growing up in is far different from the world we experienced. You may not like it, but listen to their music, watch the TV shows of their generation and read the books they read - this will give you a context for those discussions on values and faith.

Rand Paul for U. S. Senate

2010-05-03T15:48:00.003-05:00

Rand Paul has been endorsed by Sarah Palin, Jim Bunning, Steve Forbes and now Dr. James Dobson. Dr. Dobson originally endorsed Paul's opponent, but soon discovered he had been misled by senior GOP officials and, thankfully, had the integrity to publicly call them out on the deception and change his endorsement to Dr. Paul.

I have been infuriated by the Grayson campaign. The deceptive, misleading attack ads against Rand Paul are based on the assumption that the Kentucky electorate is ill-informed on the issues. One ad in particular uses a snippet of Paul saying the Social Security age will have to be raised to 70 - and then presents this as an attack on imminent retirees. Sorry, Trey, Kentuckians do follow the news and we know Social Security is bankrupt. Raising the retirement age is just ONE of the steps that will be necessary to keep this Ponzi scheme afloat.

More infuriating is Grayson's, a former Democrat, assertion that Paul is not pro-life. Dr. Paul is adamantly, ardently Pro-Life. Grayson knows this and his approval of ads stating otherwise speaks to his willingness to do and say anything to get elected.

Kentuckians have had enough of politicians - we need statesmen. A vote for Grayson is a vote for a politician. A vote for Paul is a vote for a statesman. The choice couldn't be clearer.

How Hollywood Views Christians

2010-04-27T18:26:00.002-05:00

I've had a blog idea percolating for a long time on how Hollywood writers/producers, etc. view Christians. I may still get around to it, but for right now just take a look at this posting from Deadline Hollywood, specifically the comment section. Christianity is reviled unless it is a watered down, I'm okay-You're okay version. This is truly insightful.

Childhood Poetry

2010-04-22T08:35:00.002-05:00

Though it’s been perilously close to 40 years ago, a poem I had to memorize in 6th grade came dancing through my memory this morning. It is itself a sweet and almost melancholy memory that captured my heart as a child and, for some reason, still has it today:

In School Days

Still sits the schoolhouse by the road,
A ragged beggar sleeping;
Around it still the sumacs grow,
And blackberry-vines are creeping.
Within, the master's desk is seen,
Deep-scarred by raps official;
The warping floor, the battered seats,
The jackknife's carved initial;
The charcoal frescoes on its wall;
Its door's worn sill, betraying
The feet that, creeping slow to school,
Went storming out to playing!

Long years ago a winter sun
Shone over it at setting;
Lit up its western window-panes,
And low eaves' icy fretting.
It touched the tangled golden curls,
And brown eyes full of grieving,
Of one who still her steps delayed
When all the school were leaving.
For near it stood the little boy
Her childish favor singled;
His cap pulled low upon a face
Where pride and shame were mingled.

Pushing with restless feet the snow
To right and left, he lingered;---
As restlessly her tiny hands
The blue-checked apron fingered.
He saw her lift her eyes; he felt
The soft hand's light caressing,
And heard the tremble of her voice,
As if a fault confessing.
"I'm sorry that I spelt the word:
I hate to go above you,
Because,"---the brown eyes lower fell,---
"Because, you see, I love you!"

Still memory to a gray-haired man
That sweet child-face is showing.
Dear girl! the grasses on her grave
Have forty years been growing!
He lives to learn, in life's hard school,
How few who pass above him
Lament their triumph and his loss,
Like her, because they love him.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

A Favorite Cleaning Gadget

2010-04-13T06:48:00.003-05:00

I am a HUGE fan of the Mr. Clean Eraser blocks. They work like magic on a large variety of stains, spills and messes. In fact, here's a whole list. Here's another site praising this product. I'd add they are great at getting hair dye stains off sinks (not that I have personal experience in hair dying...) and wine splashes on walls or floors. I love it when a product actually lives up to its advertising!

Call the Tune, Pay the Fiddler?

2010-04-07T17:14:00.002-05:00

As government entitlement programs grow (universal healthcare being just the latest), the tax burden gets larger and larger. At least for some. This report states only 47% of households pay income tax. With only half the people paying all the bills, a day of reckoning approaches.

With the "wealthy" class being defined down (the qualifying income bracket is getting lower and lower) while the corresponding tax rate keeps going up, the incentive to be a productive member of society is rapidly diminishing. What happens when the remaining 53% decide to stop paying everyone else's bills?

The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle

2010-03-16T17:41:00.006-05:00

The World War II era has always intrigued me. I love everything about it – the music, the innocence, the patriotism. When Bobby and I married, he introduced me to what would become another area of interest from the 1940s – the emerging Air Force and those wonderful planes.

A precursor to my generation’s Top Gun F-14 Tomcats, the P-51 Mustangs were the fast, sexy fighters, but they weren’t my favorite plane. My heart was stolen by the B-17. The B-17 appeals to me because it’s basically a football team in the air. Every crew member is important. However unlike a lineman missing a tackle, if a crew member on the B-17 didn’t do his part the crew was in danger of losing not a game, but their very lives. This bomber would break the back of the Axis in Europe while her younger (and bigger) sisters, the B-25 and B29, would wreak havoc on Japan.

One of the most celebrated B-17s was the Memphis Belle. Famed director William Wyler even did a wartime documentary on the Belle. In the 1990s, Hollywood again put the Belle’s story on celluloid (although this time it was more fiction than fact).

A year or two after we married, Bobby and I attended an air show in Bowling Green where I had the pleasure of meeting Col. Robert Morgan, the pilot of the Memphis Belle. I was awestruck. (I actually cried afterwards.) So while browsing the clearance section at Joseph Beth Booksellers when I saw “The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle,” I quickly brought it and began devouring it.

In the early part of the air war, the Allied campaign was sacrificing 2 out of 3 flights. The first three months of the Allied offensive, the loss rate reached 80%! To counter this devastating statistic, an incentive was dangled in front of the airmen: The 1st crew to complete 25 missions would be sent home. The crew of the Memphis Belle was the first to accomplish this feat.

Trying to put this in context, Col. Morgan writes, “We were participants in a style of warfare that had been made technically feasible less than half a century before it took form in the skies over Europe and the Pacific Ocean. We, and our enemies, were still improvising rules and tactics every time we left the ground for a new day of confrontation above the clouds. The air war demanded skills that even its best surviving practitioners found hard to communicate to their families, friends, and historians – levels of competence, concentration, physical endurance, discipline, and teamwork bordering on brotherhood. Over it all was the constant grim prospect of a sudden helpless spiraling descent to violent death. . .”

Written in a Sam Spade, first person narrative style which fits its content to a “T”, this book recounts the story of a young man from the mountains of North Carolina who attended parties at The Biltmore, flew bombing runs over Germany and partied with Clark Gable and then went on to fly in the first B-29 bombing runs over Japan. Morgan doesn’t hesitate to state his aerial prowess, but he is even quicker to heap praise and credit on his crew members. He writes of a sense of equality among the men each with an important job to do. Morgan is equally generous in his praise of the Belle’s maintenance crew chief, Joe Giambrone, crediting him with keeping the Belle going through her 25 missions.

Like most real-life heroes, Col. Morgan’s hat was not pure white, but grey. His valor in the air was not matched by fidelity on the ground. His womanizing and even adultery would be at odds with his complete faith in God and His Providence – a disconnect that would cause him later in life to ask Billy Graham why God had spared him when his life was at odds with God’s commandments. Morgan’s Cromwell-esque “warts and all” self portrait is a great glimpse into society in the 1930s-40s, as well as the beginnings of our Air Force. It reminded me somewhat of Tom Wolfe’s novel on the early days of the space program. Morgan certainly lacks Wolfe’s prowess as a writer, but he has given us a wonderful history lesson nonetheless.

Choose You This Day: God vs Socialism (Book Review)

2010-02-19T08:10:00.008-05:00

Socialism is a buzz word today. Opponents of the President and the Democrat-controlled Congress are quick to shout, “Socialism” in opposition to many of the administration’s initiatives. Are they right? And if they are right, is socialism a bad thing?

Joel McDurmon has done a wonderful job in answering both those questions and many more you may not even realize needed to be asked in his book, God vs Socialism. The new Social Gospel is permeating our churches and it is vital that Christians know what it is and what the Bible has to say about it.

I write often on political matters and sometimes wonder if I should. McDurmon has been asked why he writes so much about “politics”. Here is his answer (which in the future will be mine):

“The answer goes far beyond the simple idea that we should apply God’s Word to every area of life. The answer must include the fact that if we don’t apply God’s Word to every area of life, the forces of darkness will push their word in the neglected areas. There is no neutrality. Either God reigns and His law is honored, or the enemy rules and humanists carry out their will in law, politics, and ethics. The reason for Christians in politics – and all other areas – begins with the answer to the question, “Who is King?”

Political decisions are ethical decisions. Scripture has much to say about just scales, contracts and monetary policy. Ownership is one of the main issues. McDurmon offers an abundance of scripture passages affirming private property. Socialism is the belief that individual private property and free-markets are bad ideas.

“Under this view, the individual has no protection from his neighbor if his neighbor is in the majority, or if the State somehow deems his neighbor is needful in some way, the State simply uses force to take that individual’s property and give it to someone else.” Thou shalt not steal doesn’t apply if a majority of representatives vote to do so in Congress. “Socialism is the belief that armed robbery is okay as long as you do it through the proxy of the government’s gun.”

Most Americans probably “wouldn’t walk over to their neighbor’s house and steal from him directly, but they have absolutely no problem with taking that money if a politician signs it their way...It is theft...”

Is it just hyperbolic language when conservatives warn of socialist or Marxist legislation? Not when you consider two tenets of the Communist Manifesto were (1) a heavy progressive or graduated income tax and (2) abolition of all right of inheritance. Sound familiar? The graduated income tax is envy based. Pure and simple. God commands all to give a tithe – 10%. He doesn’t command the rich to give more or the poor to give less. 10% across the board. To do otherwise is to favor or punish a segment of society which Scripture forbids. You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. – Leviticus 19:15.

The so-called Social Gospel of Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo and Ron Sider is much more socialism than it is Gospel. While each maintain a nonpartisan stance, their positions line up with liberal ideology time and again. Each is more interested in promoting political agendas than spreading the Gospel. Look no further than the issue of abortion. Rather than decrying it as immoral or, specifically, murder, Wallis urges Democrats to relax their language on abortion to accommodate pro-life views. In his book, God’s Politics, he says:

Such a respect of conscience on abortion and a less dismissive approach to conscientious dissenters to Democratic orthodoxy would allow many pro-life and progressive Christians the ‘permission’ they need to vote Democratic. Again, there are millions of votes at stake here.

Wallis isn’t concerned with the millions of unborn lives at stake – just the millions of votes. His message is not one of conviction but of political expediency.

Even atheist activist Edward Tabash understands the need for this “baptized” socialism. Speaking before the Atheist Alliance International conference in 2007, he said of liberal leaders going out of their way to speak in religious overtones:

We don’t care what they say in look to the rhetoric they need to pander to, remember what country they’re running in. I don’t care what kind order to get elected in this religious country. We care about what kind of judges they give us on the Supreme Court, because only the Supreme Court determines if we’ll have secular government…Don’t of verbal obeisance they pay to religion if that’s what it takes to get a person in the White House who will give us church-state separationists on the Supreme Court.

Naïve and unfortunately many times simple-minded, Christians are being duped into accepting an atheistic system presented in religious clothing. Quite appropriate when one considers the early American socialists, called Fabians, had as one of their symbols a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

McDurmon also interacts with liberal theologians, Tony Campolo and Ron Sider. Sometime between 1989 and 1991, the singles group at my home church went on an organized trip to hear Tony Campolo speak. Something about the man bothered me, but at the time I couldn’t put my finger on it. I now know what that something was – socialism wrapped in the language of the Gospel.

Over 20 years have passed, but instead of being exposed as a false teacher Mr. Campolo and his ilk, including Jim Wallis and Ron Sider, continue to promote so-called Christian socialism. [It must be noted that Jim Wallis is a “spiritual advisor” to President Obama who said Americans shouldn’t be concerned about Obama’s lack of a church as he provides the president with a devotion delivered to Obama’s Blackberry on a daily basis.]

Campolo’s recent book, Red Letter Christians, gives special importance to the “red letter” sections of Scripture, the words of Jesus, as the key to Christian social justice and political action. Curious how Campolo’s presentation always lines up point-by-point with the Democrat party platform. He stresses the Sermon on the Mount, but somehow neglects this section: Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Matthew 5:17-18. Seems Jesus put a premium on the black-letter words as well.

However, it’s in his reflection on Matthew 25 that Campolo’s political agenda is laid bare. He writes that on judgment day the Lord

“…will ask whether or not we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, received and cared for aliens, and brought deliverance to captive people…

Most important, when we reflect on all Jesus had to say about caring for the poor and oppressed, committing ourselves to His red-letter message just might drive us to see what we can do politically to help those he called, ‘the least of these’ (see Matthew 25:31-46).”

McDurmon asks, “Where in any of these passages about helping the poor or judgment day, or any other verse period, does it “drive us” to ask what we can do politically? Jesus’ message involves a commitment to help the poor, yes, but it has nothing to do with using government force to redistribute wealth from some people in order to help other people . . . The truth is Campolo couldn’t care less about the Evangel – that is, the Gospel – unless it advances his liberal agenda.”

This is quite evident in an interview Campolo did with Bill Moyers. Mr. Moyers questioned him about the issue of proselytizing (particularly of Jews) and Campolo essentially denied the uniqueness and power of the Gospel:

I am not about to pronounce who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. That is not within the realm of any of us. We are not here to declare who’s out and who’s in. All we’re here to do is to saw what is meaningful in our own lives, what has been significant in our own personal experiences with God. I have come to know God through Jesus Christ. He is the only way that I know God. And so I preach Jesus. I am not about to make judgments about my Jewish brothers, my Muslim brothers and sisters; I’m just not about to make those kinds of statements. I think that we ought to leave judgments up to God, and we ought to call people to obedient faith within their own traditions, even as we faithfully preach our own faith to others…I learn about Jesus from other religions. They speak to me about Christ as well.

Seems Mr. Campolo doesn’t put importance on this red-letter verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6).

Campolo, like Wallis and Sider, loves to point out how “there are more than 2,000 verses of Scripture that call us to express love and justice for those who are poor and oppressed…” But he immediately makes the unwarranted jump from the Bible’s mandate for personal compassion to socialistic government action. [Campolo writes] “we promote legislation that turns biblical imperatives into social policy.”

It is an abdication of personal responsibility. One that is not unexpected from a liberal. Arthur C. Brooks, author of Who Really Cares, discovered and proved statistically and undeniably what the Bible promotes – the solution to poverty is organized voluntary giving. This book documented what many of us instinctively knew – religious conservatives give far more to private charity than liberals, no matter how the stats are tallied or how you divide the pie charts. Catholic author Richard John Neuhaus noted, “This remarkable book documents the dramatic gap between those who talk about caring and those who actually do it.”

While McDurmon interacts with Ron Sider, author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, he really needn’t to have bothered. David Chilton devastated Sider’s class-envy driven book in his response, Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators. Sider has never acknowledged or interacted with Chilton’s book, but he has revised his book in response many, many times since its publication in 1977 as a result.

McDurmon sites one of the passages Sider uses in his argumentation, Jeremiah 22:13-19. Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim is condemned for building himself a luxurious palace without compensating his workers (as commanded in Leviticus 19:3). The prophet contrasts this oppression and injustice with the proper justice shown by King Josiah. “ ‘He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?’ Declares the Lord.” Sider says this passage proves governmental power should deliver the weak and guarantee the rights of the poor. True, if he means providing justice according to the law. If he means this to justify welfare and unemployment redistribution schemes, the passage says nothing about it. In fact, the real injustice here is the king breaking the law. The passage highlights a government that grew too powerful and began to oppress the people!

McDurmon sums up the purpose of his book thusly:

The Bible teaches about salvation. Yes, but what is salvation? Does salvation only concern the soul? To answer in this pietistic way is to ignore too much of Scripture. It ignores topics this book and many more deal with - very practical, down-to-earth matters of politics, property, money, reproduction, education, and inheritance that affect all of us. God vs Socialism has tried to show, Christians ignore these matters to their own peril, and to their children’s greater peril. As we neglect them, we destroy the foundations of a free society, and thus undermine the peace and prosperity of the nation our children will inherit…If the book of Judges teaches us anything, it teaches that the process of decline begins when Christians refuse to apply God’s laws to the very real and practical issues of social life. The negative results should ignite our souls to passionate action.

End of Global Warming Hysteria In Sight?

2010-02-15T19:04:00.003-05:00

Admissions are coming slowly but surely from the global warming "scientists" that their "science" wasn't all it was cracked up to be. For the truth of the climate-gate fiasco one must head to the papers of jolly ol' England. Here's the Daily Express' coverage of the admission. The London Times ran another. The Daily Mail wasn't to be outdone and carried the same story here. Now if only a U.S. paper would man-up and admit it's a hoax.

Canadian Official comes to the US for surgery!

2010-02-02T10:27:00.002-05:00

Newfoundland's Premier has headed south for his heart surgery. Makes you wonder what other Canadians would do if they could afford it! And we want to be like Canada?!?! Here's the story.

Build, Baby, Build

2010-01-29T17:50:00.002-05:00

I've been pretty vocal in my opposition to the majority of President Obama's agenda. However, there is a proposal he's made recently which has my support - increasing nuclear power in the U.S. Here's the story from Bloomberg.

Yet Another Reason To Be A Global Warming Skeptic...

2010-01-23T14:04:00.003-05:00

Backpedalling again from the UN report. It seems their "consensus" was an interview with a "single Indian glaciologist". That's ONE scientist. Oh, also, he admits there may very well be more errors in the report. This makes the second UN climate "expert" this month to cast doubt on the UN report.

The Blind Side

2010-01-21T19:18:00.002-05:00

This movie is full of life lessons. I don't have to write about it, however - my good friend Rosie Booth has already done it and done it well. Read her take here.

Copenhagen Climate Change Cost Not Cheap

2010-01-12T12:01:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you just have to laugh or you'll scream. At a time of outrageous budget deficits, double-digit unemployment, etc., here's an article about the cost of the Congressional delegation's trip to the Climate Change summit. (Mind you the facts were hard to come by as Speaker Pelosi was not forthcoming.) This isn't a partisan issue - Dems and Repubs were part of this group. This is particularly laughable considering a Hungarian physicist claims to have proven CO2 emissions are irrelevant to the earth's climate.

Global Cooling? Yep!

2010-01-10T23:18:00.002-05:00

I'm part of the increasingly loud segment of the population who thinks global warming is a hoax. While warming may have occurred, it was part of the normal cyclical order of things. Now even a UN scientist is admiting so-called global warming may be giving way to global cooling. From this map, the response across much of the nation is "Duh!".

Trying to review Twilight

2010-01-06T09:54:00.009-05:00

This past summer while being a chaperone on the TCA class of 2009’s Senior Trip, I spent an afternoon on our balcony listening to the ocean and absolutely devouring the first book in the Twilight series.

The writing is horrendous. I mean really amateur stuff here. BUT, Meyers did get me to care about the characters enough to want to know what happened next even as I wanted to shake Bella repeatedly and scream at Meyers for her obsessive love of adverbs.

I struggled with writing a review. I thought my friend Coral did a good job. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t quite nail down my feelings regarding the book. I knew my discomfort wasn’t in regard to the whole vampire thing (I’m a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan) and there are redeemable elements in the Twilight series (two lovers wait for marriage to consummate their relationship, Edward’s protection of Bella, the Cullen clan’s suppression of natural desire, i.e., drinking human blood, for greater good).

Rev. Doug Wilson is reading the book and doing a chapter by chapter review of it. I don’t think he is completely correct in his assessment of the book (aside from the lambasting of the writing!), but his reviews do provide food for thought. Here are the reviews for the first 8 chapters of Twilight. If interested, you can follow future reviews at Credenda Agenda:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

The Man Behind Rudolph

2009-12-10T08:38:00.009-05:00

For my generation, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is inextricably linked with my memories of Christmas. Sharing this is one of many things that make Rosie Booth a kindred spirit of the closest kind. In fact, we both blogged about it within days of each other back in 2006. Here’s her take and here’s mine.

I have Rose to thank for this entry. She recently blogged on her favorite Christmas movies. (I listed my top three here, here and here.) Being a writer at heart, Rosie’s blog made me curious – what group of writers do I have to thank for some of my favorite Christmas specials? The answer was singular – Romeo Muller.

If the show had real heart in it, chances are Mr. Muller wrote it. His credits read like a Who’s Who of favorite Christmas specials: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, The Stingiest Man In Town and several more Christmas specials. (Mr. Muller also penned a wonderful, although lesser known, holiday special for the Thanksgiving season called Mouse on the Mayflower.)

While writing for the legendary Jack Benny, Muller was discovered by CBS founder William Paley and tapped to write for the prestigious Studio One (he would go on to write one of the show’s most popular episodes). However, it was in 1963 that Muller’s true big break came when he met Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass and began a relationship that would produce iconic television specials.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is universally acknowledged as the most popular holiday special of all time. What isn’t as well known is most of the story was developed by Romeo Muller. Muller supplemented the well-known Johnny Marks song with his characters of Sam the Snowman, Hermey, Clarice, Yukon, the Abdominal Snow Monster, King Moonracer and the Misfit Toys, as well as the other Elves and reindeer.

A biography on RankinBass.com says of Muller: “Romeo was a simple man who enjoyed having dinner with friends and watching old movies. He would screen his old movie collection for friends and charitable organizations. He also collected old toy trains and whenever he could write a train into one of his screenplays, he did.”

Romeo Muller’s Christmas specials always seemed to reference the true meaning of Christmas. How appropriate for a man who in 1959 wrote an episode of one of the first religious television programs, Lamp Unto My Feet.

His last project was his favorite. It was a special called Noel about a Christmas Ornament named Noel that brought happiness to whatever household he joined. The oft-repeated line of the show was the cheerful ornament saying, “My name is Noel and I have happiness.” Noel, or Christmas, has as it’s Latin root natalis or birth. Once again Muller had reminded his viewers of the true meaning of Christmas as it is indeed a birth that brought happiness.

Muller treasured a Christmas card received from a fan with these words: “...Those specials were as much a tradition in my parents’ home as the Christmas tree itself, and have become a tradition with my own children. You must be very proud of the joy you have brought to children all over, even me, a simple girl from the Midwest. Without knowing it, your visit to our homes each Christmas through your specials, was just as important as a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. My son thinks you are the greatest thing since sliced bread and, in all honesty, his mom thinks so too. God bless you during this holiday season, and once again, ‘Thank you’ for everything you’ve given.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Muller was diagnosed with cancer shortly before he died of a heart attack in his sleep, ironically during the season for which he is most famous, Christmas.

Afghanistan Speech

2009-12-02T10:48:00.002-05:00

It's Christmas and I'm avoiding political diatribes, so I'm just going to link to Der Spiegel's summary of President Obama's speech. I have friends in Afghanistan. I take this personally.

Money, Money, Money, Money

2009-11-25T11:57:00.003-05:00

As most friends know, I have serious concerns about this administration's policies and practices especially regarding their economic effects. One economist I have great respect for is Peter Schiff. He's been right all along. Here's proof.

By the way, seems the Saturday Night Live writers may share some of my concerns. Seen this?

No kids for you - too much Carbon Footprint!

2009-11-17T17:05:00.002-05:00

Here's a link to my girl's blog on this hogwash.

Canine Welcoming

2009-11-11T18:08:00.001-05:00

For Veterans Day - Here are some great videos of soldiers being welcomed home by their dogs.

Callous Commander

2009-11-06T13:20:00.003-05:00

Insensitivity has been a hallmark of this administration, though rarely pointed out by anyone but conservatives. The President's handling of the Ft. Hood shooting is the latest example. When the mainstream media has reports critical of President Obama, you know things are bad. Here's one of the stories.

Change of Heart Toward Life

2009-11-03T17:51:00.003-05:00

The battle over abortion is the front line of the culture war. It is the front line in the fight to redirect our nation to a truly hopeful change and future. Sanctioning the murder of innocent unborn children has created a culture of death that has permeated our society and had a destructive impact on our citizens, most importantly our young people.

My husband teaches Ethics at a local Christian school. One topic discussed is abortion. He pulls no punches in educating the students on just what abortion is. It has been stunning to learn the word has become such a part of our society that some students really didn't know what all was involved in the procedure. Students are horrified as they learn the true gruesomeness of "choice."

It was with great joy I read the story of a former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic having a "change of heart" about her pro-choice stance after watching an ultrasound of an abortion being performed. The ultrasound technology has been a wonderful blessing in the Pro-Life fight as it gives us a 3-D view into the womb leaving little doubt that during pregnancy a human being is in residence there. You can see the interview here or read about her conversion here.

Of Grave Importance

2009-10-20T07:12:00.003-05:00

If your tastes tend to run toward the macabre in October, this entry is for you.

Still arguing about whether the guy who played Gilligan is alive or dead? The answer is Bob Denver died several years ago at the age of 70. There is a website wholly devoted to answering your celebrity mortality questions. You can find it here.

In the latest issue of Kentucky Living, there is an article about a cemetery preservation group. These "History Hunters" or "Cemetery Sleuths" have taken on the often arduous task of restoring and documenting neglected burial grounds in Kentucky. They repair, restore and occasionally raise funds to replace missing gravestones. The whole story can be found here, but below is an excerpt which provides a key to understanding symbols often found on gravestones from the work of Gaylord Cooper, author of "Stories Told In Stone: Cemetery Iconology":

Anchor/ships - Hope or seafaring profession
Angel - Rebirth/resurrection
Bird - Eternal life
Full-Blown Rose - Prime of life
Columns and Doors - Heavenly entrance
Corn - Ripe old age
Hands Clasped - Goodbyes said at death
Ivy - Friendship, immortality
Oak Leaves and Acorn - Maturity, ripe old age
Open Book/Bible - Teach, minister, etc.
Thistle - Scottish Descent
Tree - Life

Sometimes a visit to a cemetary is a research endeavor. A few years ago, I plunged into genealogical research on my family. I walked through my paternal side's family cemetery with notebook in hand writing down dates of bith, death and marriages. It was a revelation. My maiden name is Dean, but my ancestors' names were Dean, Deane, Deen and Dane. Seems literacy and uniform spelling wasn't as common in days of old as it is now (and when you add in a southern accent, it's easy to see how the variations came about).

I was fooled into thinking discovering your family tree would be simply by coming across both my maternal and paternal grandmothers' lineages on line going back to the 1500-1600s. I would soon learn the Denton and Parmley branches were the exception, not the rule and that genealogical research is rarely simple.

If you have an interest in genealogy, here's a good place to start. Here are message boards associated with Genealogy.com which are usually very helpful.

Kathy Griffin & I Agree. What???!!

2009-10-01T08:13:00.002-05:00

Never thought the day would come when the vulgar, D-listed supposed comedienne Kathy Griffin and I would agree on something, but it has happend. Ms. Griffin has actually defended the Tea Party movement as bipartisan. No, really, she has. Here's the proof. Of course, she couldn't do it without a shot at Sarah Palin, but did you really expect that she could?

Turning Our Back on Friends

2009-09-17T08:14:00.004-05:00

Predictable and expected though it may be, President Obama's abandonment of missile defense for two allies will only further what is perceived as weakness in the current administration's foreign policy approach. Putin 1, Obama 0.

Here's a British view of it. And another view. I wonder if announcing this on the 70th anniversary of the Soviets invading Poland was purposeful.

The Hobbitt is on its way!

2009-09-09T06:17:00.005-05:00

Finally the Tolkien family and moviemakers have settled their lawsuit! We can now look forward to a couple of film's based on Tolkien's, The Hobbit. The films are scheduled for release (tentatively) in 2011 and 2012.

Lord of the Rings trilogy director, Peter Jackson, will wear the hat of Executive Producer/Writer this time with Guillermo del Toro directing. While initially disappointed that Jackson would not be directing the two Hobbit films, I'm encouraged that Del Toro has gotten the job. His other films have Christian elements and I very much like his style. If you haven't seen the Hellboy films, give them a try - lots of Christian themes and allusions

Obama's Time Management Issues

2009-09-01T12:27:00.003-05:00

President Obama did not participate in the National Day of Prayer. Okay. I don't like it but would have been more understanding if he had failed to participate in other religious activities. However, he has found time to have a Ramadan dinner at the White House. Makes me think his father influenced him more than he lets on. Here's the video.

Don't think we have to fear our government? Read this.

2009-08-28T10:43:00.002-05:00

I believe Obama is a socialist. I believe he meant it when he said during the campaign that he wanted to revolutionize our nation. I truly believe the change he and his ilk want to bring to our nation will be the destruction of our republic. Think that's hyperbolic language? How about a desire to control the Internet. Wrapped in the terms of emergency security needs, this would give the president the power to disconnect private networks from the Internet. From the recent Iranian dissent to Chinese dissidents to others fighting for freedom behind totalitarian regimes, the Internet is essential for communication. This is one time conservatives and the ACLU are on the same side. Read about it here.

At the Movies: Last Chance Harvey, Bottle Shock, Transsiberian

2009-08-08T12:25:00.007-05:00

Mars Candy Company used to have a great jingle to promote two of their candy bars, Mounds and Almond Joy: "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't!" I thought about that jingle recently after watching a few small, independent films. Sometimes I want the blockbusters like Ironman, National Treasure, Transformers - pure mindless fun! On the other hand, there are times where I want a character study, a small, story-driven movie with interesting people. Here are three such movies for your consideration:

For those who love a good glass of wine and a David vs. Goliath story, try Bottle Shock. Based on the true story of Napa Valley's rise to respectability in the wine industry by besting French wines in a taste test by French judges held in France! This event became known as the Judgment of Paris. The movie, while taking a great deal of liberties in its portrayal of the actual people involved, is an entertaining look at Napa Valley when it was inhabited by romantics and hippies (before it became a billion dollar a year industry).

Told through the eyes of Parisian wine shop owner and very British Steve Spurrier and American winery owner and son Jim and Bo Barrett, Bottle Shock serves up family strive, comedic culture clashes, romantic triangles and lots of fun. The cinematography is gorgeous. The wine region is lovingly filmed. It stars the always wonderful Alan Rickman (Prof. Snape to the younger generation), Bill Pullman and Chris Pine (before he was James T. Kirk). Character actor Dennis Farina is a hoot as an American in Paris confidant to Rickman's Steve Spurrier.

Old enough to remember President Reagan's administration and Michael Jackson before he was weird? Then you are old enough to enjoy Last Chance Harvey. This is a grown-up romance starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Although hastily drawn, this character sketch gives us a surprisingly rounded look at Harvey and Kate. There are real cringe-inducing scenes in the film which you will relate to if you have ever felt like the guy wearing brown shoes with a black suit. A chance meeting of the pair results in an unlikely friendship and some self-revelations, including a hesitancy to hope as Kate says, "I'm more comfortable with being disappointed. I'm angry with you for trying to take that away". The movie's plot is predictable, but the accomplished actors make it a very enjoyable journey.

[Bonus: For another grown-up romantic comedy, try Shall We Dance.]

For a more serious movie, there's Transsiberian. This movie will leave you pondering long after the credits role. Remarkable in its positive portrayal of Christians and thought-provoking for the symbolism woven throughout, this movie explores themes which will intrigue the Christian audience. Things to consider: The monologue of the pastor at the beginning of the film, the setting on a mode of transportation, the snow, the lumber falling from a church, the faith of the husband and his rescuing of his bride. The film has a Hitchcock feel to it with great suspense and surprising twists. Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer are wonderful as the main leads.

City by the Bay

2009-08-06T17:26:00.014-05:00

I've been singing a particular Journey song a lot lately:

When the lights go down on the City

And the sun shines on the Bay

Oh I wanna be there in my City. . .

I didn't expect to, but the truth of the matter is - I love San Francisco! The city is so eclectic. It's pretty. It's busy. It's quirky. It's modern. It's old. It's impossible to be bored in. Unfortunately, our visit to Fog City wasn't as long as I would have liked, but we still managed to see a lot:

Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 with it's resident seals.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without venturing into Chinatown:

You also have to make the eight turns in a city block down the world's Crookest Street, Lombard Street.

San Francisco has the west's version of Central Park in their Golden Gate Park. One of Mom's favorite areas in the part is their famous Rose Garden. Past All-American Roses are on display in a sensory bit of ground covered in glorious roses and wonderful fragrances:

There's so much more - trolley cars, Alcatraz (as seen from Pier 39) and elaborately decorated houses referred to as Painted Ladies:

We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge at twilight time and watched the lights come on in the city. We even did a little walking on the iconic bridge:

Like A Mother To Me

2009-07-28T18:30:00.006-05:00

A year ago, I lost my mother-in-law. While the Lord’s timing in her death was a tender mercy, her loved ones still miss her. Here’s my eulogy for her:

Penny was the youngest of five children from her father’s second wife. She was the youngest of his 13 children total! At eight years old, Penny lost her Dad at time when losing the breadwinner was devastating. There was no welfare net and hard times came quickly. While still a child, she went to work. The hardships followed her but didn’t defeat her. She became people savvy and street smart.

Penny loved to dance and would go with girlfriends to the USO to dance with the sailors and soldier boys. Being a good dancer herself, she wasn’t too keen on dancing with a guy who couldn’t keep up. Thankfully for me, Robert Beatty, Sr. could dance! I loved to hear her tell stories of USO experiences or of being an actual “Rosie the Riveter” during war time.

What she lacked in formal education, she made up for with determination and genuineness. As Jesus would say of Nathanael, Penny was a woman in whom was no guile. You always knew where you stood with her and that honesty served her well. At one point, she was an award-winning salesperson for Stanley Products (I have a lovely silver punch bowl thanks to her salesmanship!) before going on to retire from General Electric.

Penny loved horse-racing, but had a selective memory about the experiences – She only remembered the horses on which she won! The last few years, Penny and I would go to Keeneland for the Spring and Fall meets. I had more fun watching Penny than I ever had watching the horses.

“... on her tongue is the law of kindness.” This is what I treasure most about Penny. When her son-in-law was stationed at Ft. Knox, the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners always had room for soldiers who couldn’t get home. I’ve written before about Penny’s Christmas practice of always having extra presents so no one left her home at Christmas empty handed. She also provided presents for her struggling family members’ children.

Penny was childlike in her enjoyment of things. We celebrated Christmas with the Beattys on Christmas Eve and Penny could not wait to open presents. I had made it a practice to give our parents stockings. As soon as she had emptied hers, Penny would toss the stocking back to me with a laughing demand to “Fill it up again.”

When you work fulltime outside the home, housework suffers. During the early years of our marriage, I was not only working fulltime but overtime and my house showed it. I can’t count the number of times I have come home to find my house cleaned and my ironing done by my sweet mother-in-law.

Mother-in-law stereotypes didn’t apply to Penny. If Bobby and I had an argument, Penny was sure I was right. (Quite an accomplishment since Bobby was the apple of his Mom’s eye.)

During the last few months, she didn’t really interact with her surroundings and only responded to specific questions. Until, that is, one afternoon when the Christian care center in which she lived started showing a Gaither Homecoming DVD. Penny began singing the old hymns and songs. These she remembered.

During her last days, Penny would often call out to the Lord. Penny went to be with the Lord in whom she had placed her trust on July 29, 2008, the day after her 80th birthday.

Modern, Postmodern, Emergent

2009-07-16T16:58:00.004-05:00

There are times I really don't recognize the world in which I live. It looks like the one I grew up in. There are still institutions and soundtracks that I recognize, but something is amiss. When I talk to some of my younger friends or read their books (Blue Like Jazz being just one example), I feel like we are using the same words but speaking a totally different language.

I know the world is different. The Cold War is over (we won, by the way) and new threats are present. Demographics are changing. Things are evolving. I recognize that.

However, I believe in a Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe in eternal truths. I believe in absolutes. I thought those were basic Christian beliefs.

I have met people who call themselves Christians and use the same "Christian" jargon I use, but our perspectives are worlds apart. This mystified me. The posters at this link helped me understand.

Eden May Be In Yosemite National Park

2009-07-01T21:13:00.020-05:00

Yosemite has been call the Crown Jewel of the national parks system. One visit will show you why that title is so deserved. The waterfalls, rock walls, vistas and sheer natural wonders are so exquisite you'll wonder if they are real or if you are dreaming. To the left is the entrance to Yosemite!

The "sights to see" are incredibly accessible in Yosemite. Even those visitors with physical limitations will enjoy the vast majority of focal points.

Bridal Veil Falls (below) is one of the most beautiful of the waterfalls in Yosemite. A wonderful view of this is available from the parking lot. Closer shots are wonderful (and will get you wet from the spray!).

One of the most famous sights is Tunnel View or sometimes called Inspiration Point. Even as I stood on the lookout, I couldn't believe I was actually seeing this:

Being there in late spring/early summer was a particular blessing because all of the waterfalls were roaring and beautiful. From Glacier Point, the view includes the Nevada and Vernal Falls:

On the trip back from Glacier Point, we happened upon what Yellowstone rangers call a "bear jam" . Fortunately, there were just a couple of cars stopped and when we got out of the car we too got a glimpse of a young bear cub. Bobby ventured down a little into the woods (staying in the woods and out of the meadow where the bear was!). It was then we saw the second bear! This one a full grown bear:

El Capitan, a majestic and imposing granite wall, is one of the most recognizable places in Yosemite:

No matter where you look in Yosemite, there is beauty:

New York Times Descent

2009-06-24T10:34:00.004-05:00

Known as "The Grey Lady", the New York Times of old was THE newspaper. All the news fit to print has given way to all the news the White House tells us to print. The liberal agenda has superceded all pretense of journalistic ethics and this once esteemed paper has become the Pravda of America. Here's just one example why their "news" is suspect.

Musical Balm

2009-06-19T11:48:00.012-05:00

Country music has always had wonderful storytellers and lyricists capable of encapsulating complex emotions in three verses and a chorus. Alan Jackson's new song "Sissy's Song," written on the death of a friend, has become a favorite of mine.

Here's the video and here are the lyrics:

Why did she have to go

So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time

Without reason without rhyme

Lovely, sweet young woman

Daughter, wife and mother

Makes no sense to me

I just have to believe

[chorus]

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels

By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees

And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting

And I know she's smiling saying

Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind

Just trying to survivee

And understand the why

Feeling so lost inside

Anger shot straight at God

Then asking for His love

Empty with disbelief

Just hoping that maybe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels

By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees

And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting

And I know she's smiling saying

Don't worry 'bout me

It's hard to say goodbye

Her picture in my mind

Will always be of times I'll cherish

And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels

By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees

And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting

And I know she's smiling saying

Don't worry 'bout me

Don`t worry 'bout me

Fighting Murder by Murder?

2009-06-01T08:42:00.004-05:00

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19

A Kansas doctor who performed late-term abortions, Dr. George Tiller, was shot to death in his church Sunday. Anti-abortion foes can expect to be painted as vigilantes and decried because of the actions of his murderer. Vigilante justice is not biblical. The power of the sword (execution for crimes) was not given to the church; the power of the keys (excommunication) was. The question that should be asked is: Why was Dr. Tiller, an abortionist, serving as an usher in church? He should have already been excommunicated! The sorry state of churches in this country today speaks volumes as to many of our societal ills.

As a result of this weekend's events, Paul Hill, who took justice into his own hands and killed an abortionist in 1994, will likely be back in the news. Paul Hill wrote to Dr. Gary North trying to justify his actions and Dr. North wrote an excellent reformed response condemning Mr. Hill. You may read North’s response here.

Sotomayor is SO Too Far To The Left

2009-05-27T08:15:00.003-05:00

President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor is representative of why I so vehemently opposed his election. Putting emphasis on empathy (read favoritism) with certain segments of society over others and over constitutional/legal expertise is outrageous. That she lacks the constitutional wherewithal to be a Supreme Court justice is easily proven – she has a 60% reversal rate! Here’s the article.

She has been on record as saying the court is “where policy is made.” Hmmm I thought the constitution gave Congress the responsibility of making laws and the courts the responsibility of interpreting the law. Wasn’t Obama a constitutional scholar? Maybe not. Here’s the link of Ms. Sotomayor’s speech.

Ms. Sotomayor is an activist liberal. The Washington Times’ editor agrees she’s too far to the left. Here’s the story.

Call your congressmen about this one!

Blessed Assurance

2009-04-21T07:41:00.004-05:00

The next time you’re at a college football game, take a look around at the crowd. A large portion, over 20,000, represents the number of young women and their families with crisis pregnancies Women for Life have helped since 1985.

Assurance Care for Women and Girls, a local pregnancy help center, is my church’s designated home mission agency. We proudly support their work in saving babies and their moms from the devastation of abortion. They also have a wonderful program called Renew that reaches out in love to post-abortion women.

This year at Assurance’s annual Share the Vision fundraising banquet, director Cindy McDaniel presented the agency’s annual report where the bottom line equals lives saved. In 2008, the clinic had:

1766 client visits
310 clients hear the gospel
111 women and their babies
saved from abortion
19 clients give their life to Christ

The 111 women and babies saved from abortion are just the ones the staff knows about. At the banquet, on each table were framed photos of cute babies – babies that were alive today because of the work of Assurance. There were women holding their babies, beaming with pride. Young fathers grinning from ear to ear. These were lives spared – infants and parents alike.

There were some other numbers which are very important:

$1,020 – the cost of the 1020 pregnancy tests given
$83,700 – the cost of the 558 ultrasounds performed - 60% of clients who saw the first beats of their babies hearts choose life

Assurance’s budget for 2008 was $359,099.20 or about $3,235 for each of the 111 choices for life. (Really, it is $1,617 per life saved as both mother and child were spared.)

If you are not involved with a pregnancy help center – get involved. This is the front line in the culture war. If you’re not comfortable with hands on work at the center, get comfortable writing a check. The Lord works through means. Your parents taught you, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” The pregnancy centers around our nation know that all too well and need our support. III John teaches that when we support genuine Christians workers we share in their ministry, by becoming “fellow workers for the truth.”

For more information on Assurance, go here. If you’re pregnant and feel abortion is your only option, please go here. You’ll be met with love, not judgment.

American Idol & A British Surprise

2009-04-14T20:21:00.001-05:00

Here’s a brief recap:

Allison – “Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing”. Taking on Steven Tyler, the 16-year- old did a great job. I know she has a deep, raspy speaking voice, but sometimes it sounds like she’s singing in a key that’s too low for her.

Anoop – “Everything I Do”. His best performance to date. Loved it.

Adam – “Born To Be Wild”. His performance was over the top and it worked. He really is all that and change - great voice, great performer.

Matt – “Really Love A Woman”. Nice job, but Matt has gone about as far as he’s gonna go.

Danny – “Endless Love.” This actually brought tears to my eyes. It was a wonderful, heartfelt performance.

Kris – “Falling Slowly.” I wasn’t familiar with this song and didn’t get all the words, but I love this kid.

Lil – “The Rose.” I loved the first part, but when she “changed it up”, she lost me, lost pitch, lost it.

Here’s how I would rate them:

Adam
Danny
Anoop
Kris
Allison
Matt
Lil

Should be going home? Lil. Might be going home? Matt.

Now, from Britain’s Got Talent, check out this reminder not to judge a book by its cover.

Travel Lessons and Easter

2009-04-08T12:26:00.002-05:00

In their book, Just Visiting, George and Karen Grant write of how travel used to be considered an essential part of a person’s education. Traveling to other places gives you a broader perspective on the world than can be developed by staying in your hometown.

Living in Kentucky, my American experience is substantially different than that of a woman growing up in Detroit or someone living in Cody, Wyoming. As you travel across the United States, you discover it’s more than geography that changes, it’s lifestyles. In Kentucky, life pauses for March Madness. (If a Kentucky team is playing, life screeches to a halt.) In New Mexico and other western states, it’s not basketball that causes disruption, but rodeo season. Those growing up in the north might say the same about hockey. The preferred sport and life in general is different from state to state.

Traveling has more to teach us than just lifestyle variances. I spent a week in Magdalena, New Mexico during my summer missionary stint. In 1986, Magdalena was a dying town. Vacant buildings and decay were visible everywhere. Unemployment and other social stressors were the norm. Yet, these vacant buildings once were occupied by thriving businesses. The abandoned motel that served as a skateboard park for local teenagers once had its rooms and parking lots filled with travelers. The same was true of my visit to New Haven, Connecticut in the early 90s. The home of Yale University was boarded-up and economically depressed where it had once been a thriving city.

Travel to Europe and the lesson is more vivid. Travelers visit ruins of once powerful city states. Vienna, now a beautiful tourist stop, was a powerful political force – once. The sun never set on the British Empire – once. Rome was more than a city in Italy; it ruled the known world – once.

There’s a new country music song, “Shutting Detroit Down”. While its lyrics decry the bailout and bonuses of Wall Street, the title struck me as prophetic. Just because Detroit is the Motor City now doesn’t mean it always shall be.

Life is not static. “Panta rhei,” or “Everything flows,” said Greek philosopher Heraclitus. The river you step into today is not the same river you will step into tomorrow. Things change. How reluctant we are to admit this. We want to believe tomorrow will be like today, only better. Our sense of entitlement to constancy is illusory.

The other component of Heraclitus’ thought, however, was that the Logos was the fundamental order of all. He was on to something. The Logos or the Word is indeed fundamental. When constancy in this world cannot be found and flux and upheaval raise anxiety levels, it’s good to remember with the Apostle John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overcome] it.”

That’s the power of Easter, the hope and security of putting our trust in the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Wishing we had a politician like this!

2009-03-27T16:44:00.002-05:00

Have you seen this clip? Where is a statesman on this side of the pond who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to this current administration and say this?

A Corrective

2009-03-23T12:02:00.001-05:00

Dear Readers:

I have been heavy on Frivolity and light on Faith as of late. I hereby promise more substantial entries will be posted soon. Blame it on Mitford - reading these books, it's hard not to be lighthearted.

Thanks,
Alisa

American Idol Recap

2009-03-18T01:28:00.003-05:00

Grand Ol' Opry was the theme tonight and I was disappointed. With the songs available, I expected great things and and except for Anoop, there were no standout performances.

The GOOD: Anoop!! I like this guy. He is a nice, intelligent young man who finally is showing that he also can sing. Yah for a breakout moment.

How can Allison just be 16? The girl has a great voice (but I thought she went flat a lot).

Kris put a new spin on an old song and I didn't recognize the Garth standard. Nice job.

I am not an Adam fan (too much of a flamer for me), but his eastern taken on Ring of Fire was weird enough to be good.

Danny gave another solid performance, but I expected more.

Megan was a pleasant surprise.

THE BLAH: Lil Rounds has the voice, but the song wasn't right for her.

Alexis chose the wrong song and again wasn't as good as she should have been.

Matt did a nice job, but I don't get the infatuation with him.

THE BAD:
Michael's attempt at Garth was bad. His voice couldn't keep up with the rapid fire lyrics and he seemed to be dragging at times.

Everyone of Scott's songs sound the same to me.

I really hope Dial Idol has the bottom three wrong this week.

Divine Engravings

2009-03-14T11:00:00.001-05:00

One of my dear friends has just written a post that encapsulates an aspect of God's love in a beautiful way. I heartily recommend it.

American Idol Redux

2009-03-11T00:52:00.003-05:00

Every year we hear “most talented group ever” from Ryan Seacrest and company. This year, it might just be the truth. I already have my favorites, but first a quick recap:

Lil Rounds - “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Vocals good, but song wasn’t challenging enough for her. Wasn’t as impressed as I expected to be.

Scott MacIntyre - “Keep the Faith” – Okay. Here goes: If this guy wasn’t blind, we wouldn’t be hearing him on American Idol. Period. Nice voice, but there are hundreds of “nice voices” out there.

Danny Gokey - “Pretty Young Thing” – Disclaimer: He is one of my favorites. I love his voice. I loved his performance. I hope he makes it to the end.

Michael Sarver - “You’re Not Alone” – Every year we have an Everyman in the competition. Someone with a nice voice, talented, and winsome. This year it’s Michael. He’ll stay for awhile based on his likeability.

Jasmine Murray - “I’ll Be There” – I was thrilled when she was brought back on the Wild Card show, but I didn’t like this at all. Sounded like a high school talent show entry.

Kris Allen - “Remember the Time.” – I’m betting Kris stays until the middle of the season. He’s cute and appealing. His song, in the immortal words of Randy Jackson, was just alright for me.

Allison Iraheta - “Give it to Me” – Wow! She’s got vocal chops! I like the rocker chick and hopes she stays around a while. Kinda agree with Simon, if she doesn’t lighten up she might become a one-trick pony.

Anoop Desai - “Beat It” - Anoop gets ragged on by the judges and deservedly so. He did a Michael Jackson impersonation – but I still voted for the guy. He’s just so likeable. Think he’s safe until mid-season.

Jorge Nunez - “Never Can Say Goodbye” – I like him better when I close my eyes and just listen to him sing. He’ll go out in the early rounds (8-9).

Megan Joy Corkrey - “Rockin’ Robin” – I don’t get the infatuation with Megan. Just. Don’t. Get. It. Hoping she’s one of the two gone, but Vote For The Worst has made her its beneficiary.

Adam Lambert - “Black and White” – Too much personal information about Adam was gained this week, but still – He Can Sing! He and Danny are the best of the lot, in my humble opinion.

Matt Giraud - “Human Nature” – Another one I don’t get. Nice job, I just don’t see what the judges see in him.

Alexis Grace - “Dirty Diana” – I agree with Simon. It wasn’t as good as she and the audience thought it was, but it did give the impression of being that good. Probably top 5.

I agree with the top four on Dial Idol, but I’m shocked by their bottom two.

Moving to Mitford

2009-03-06T12:39:00.004-05:00

I typically don’t like modern Christian fiction - my usual adjective for these is vapid. Reading Christian romance novels, I am convinced, is a form of torture! Whatever the latest fiction series creating buzz in the Christian bookstores, it will not get a moments’ notice from me.

My Mom, however, discovered Jan Karon’s Mitford Series and fell in love with the books. She devoured the nine installments and spoke wistfully of re-reading them. For Christmas, I came across several of the books at Half Price Books for $1 and had an epiphany. This would be one of Mom’s Christmas presents – the whole Mitford Series! She was delighted! The only problem – she just knew I would love them as much as she did and so I had to read them. My (unspoken) reaction? Ugh.

I love my Mom dearly and thought it would be nice to have something to discuss, so when she brought the first three books in the series to me, I dutifully began reading, albeit with a heavy sigh. After the first few chapters, I realized Mama truly does know best. I love Mitford.

I immediately fell for Father Tim, the bachelor Episcopal priest, who in his sixties discovers love with his new neighbor Cynthia. Tim is a loving man, but has people he has trouble tolerating, even in his own congregation! He is a diabetic who sneaks sugar. In other words, Father Tim is a real person and not some idealized priest.

The other characters are just as winsome. I want to sit on Miss Sadie’s porch and sip tea while she tells me stories or listen to Uncle Billy’s jokes while avoiding his wife Rose’s cooking. Mostly, I want to scratch Father Tim’s big black dog Barnabas on his head.

Karon has created a literary Mayberry. It’s a place of simple pleasures and nicely tied up stories. Life circumstances always have a happy ending in this little town. There will be no shocking twists; plotlines are telegraphed well in advance. This is a place where all is right with the world or will be in just a chapter or two.

With the stock market tanking and concerns over the direction in which our country is being led, like Rascal Flats, I miss Mayberry. This is precisely why now is the time to discover Mitford. It is a wonderful respite from a stressful life.

Religion of Peace?

2009-02-16T11:02:00.002-05:00

Over and over again politicians and TV commentators tell us that Islam is a religion of peace that has been hijacked by extremists. I reject this view and maintain it is, at its core, a violent and vicious religion. Here's a story ofa westernized Muslim who founded a TV station with the goal of protraying his religion in a more positive light. The only problem is he just beheaded his wife - in Buffalo, New York!

Still Defending Harry

2009-02-14T22:26:00.003-05:00

Although the furor over the books has died down, new readers are still discovering the wonderful world of Harry Potter. I’ve already posted my defense of the books and why I believe they are wonderfully edifying reads for Christians. Here now is Jerram Barr, Professor of Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture at Covenant Theological Seminary, and his much more indepth and eloquent endorsement of the Harry Potter series.

DoubleSpeak

2009-02-07T12:10:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine just posteda link to a blog with this mind-blowing quote from our Hypocrite-in-Chief at the National Prayer Breakfast:

(F)ar too often, we have seen faith wielded as a tool to divide us from one another - as an excuse for prejudice and intolerance. Wars have been waged. Innocents have been slaughtered ... all in the name of perceived righteousness...But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate. There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.

Obama actually said:

“There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being.

This much we know.”

If he feels that way, why did President Obama made it a prior to end U.S. restrictions on funding abortion? Good grief.

"...he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:8

Jurassic Park as NONfiction?

2009-02-01T10:26:00.004-05:00

I confessed in an earlier blog post that “Jurassic Park” is one of my favorite movies. When Sam Neill’s character, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant first sees the dinosaurs, the actor’s expression sells me on the movie. I’m right there with Dr. Grant experiencing the wonder of seeing long-extinct animals. Maybe one day “Jurassic Park” won’t just be a work of fiction according to this London Telegraph article.

The blood of innocents

2009-01-23T11:17:00.006-05:00

I had a lot of people tell me the abortion issue was a "nonissue" in the last presidential election because the occupant of the Oval Office really didn't have an impact on abortion.

Really? With a stroke of his pen and acting as our corporate head, President Obama is putting the blood of innocents again on our hands. Here's the story.

The first black president is now contributing to a black genocide - 4 out of 10 pregnancies among black women end in abortion.

That is change - an immoral one.

What You Meant For Evil . . .

2009-01-12T19:31:00.003-05:00

Not being a multimillionaire with loads of moolah in his investments, I have read about the Bernard Madoff scandal with minimal interest. Until today. Seems Mr. Madoff's scheming has hurt Planned Parenthood. Way to go, Bernie!

2001 Things To Do Before You Die

2009-01-06T15:25:00.012-05:00

If I were given to conspiracy theories, right about now I’d be swearing one was underfoot to make me do a New Year’s retrospective post. They are all around me. My good friend Rosie reviewed 2008 on her blog. Coral highlighted some of the 93 books she read this year. (Yes, you read that correctly, 93! She is a reading machine!)

Bobby and I recently saw The Bucket List which, of course, leaves the viewer reflective. And last but not least, while cruising through the Bargain Books section of Barnes & Noble, I came across a little book that intrigued me: 2001 Things To Do Before You Die by Dane Sherwood. Interest piqued, I bought the book, sharpened a No. 2 pencil and began checking off items on its list.

When I saw the first item, I began to giggle. “Be an extra in a movie.” Check. Thanks to Ben Rogers, a former student of Bobby’s and a current Asbury film student, that goal was accomplished in early December!

I was surprised by how many of these completely random items I could check off: Ride an elephant – check.

Learn to drive a stick shift – check.

Like a piece of art without knowing why – check.

Walk across a suspension bridge – check. [Royal Gorge, Colorado]

Savor moonshine – check (long story!).

Fall head over heels in love – Check.

There were also a lot that I will never check off: Wake up next to Brad Pitt. Shave your head. Be on “American Idol.” Retire young (too late!).

There are a few I would love to check off: Live in Wyoming or Montana. Learn to ride Western like the Marlboro Man. Pay respect at the beaches of Normandy. Ride a gondola in Venice.

Here’s a few I hope to check off in the next year or so: Wine-tasting in Sonoma County, California. Throw a coin in the Fontana di Trevi in Rome. Touch the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square. Shoot a crossbow (Wii counts, right?)

I have a personal Bucket List, but this little book has given me more ideas. I hope to put a lot more checks in its boxes during 2009.

Scrooge is alive and well and living in New York

2008-12-22T09:53:00.009-05:00

The New York Times ran an article reviewing It's a Wonderful Life (one of my top three Christmas movies). The reviewer cast his jaundiced eye at this American classic and painted everything black. You can read his pitiable perspective here. I read it and rolled my eyes. I'll take Bedford Falls over Pottersville any day of the week and twice on Sundays!

It happens every year - embittered people miss the meaning of Christmas. Is consumerism run amok? Absolutely. Does the hustle and bustle become hassle and bustle? Always. Does that have anything to do with Christmas? Nope.

Christmas is about recapturing the wonder of childhood when you look at the colorful evergreen with presents at its base. It's the way baking cookies takes you back to Christmases long ago.

Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. Remember Christmases past and the loved ones who now celebrate with the once newborn and now reigning King of Kings.

I give gifts to express my love to people and feel confident that the gifts I receive express the same sentiment to me. In this we image God who loved us and gave gifts to men, the ultimate being the gift of His Son. I bake goodies and hand them out to friends and family because I remember Christ was born in Bethlehem - the House of Bread. I put lights on my tree and outside on shrubs because I celebrate the arrival of the true Light of the World. I sing carols because the angels also sang at His birth. And above all, I know that the meaning of Christmas is best expressed, as Linus tells Charlie Brown in the Peanuts' Christmas classic, by:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2: 1-14

Penny's Plaque

2008-12-09T09:41:00.004-05:00

Several things made an impression on me the first Christmas I shared with Bobby and his parents. One was that Bobby’s Mom (Penny) had an abundance of Christmas decorations. I found this comforting knowing she had prepared him for my Christmas exuberance! Another was that Penny had extra presents available because she never wanted a guest to feel left out.

Penny always had a birthday cake as dessert after Christmas supper. Christmas was, after all, a birthday celebration. Along those lines, she also had a plaque that hung on her front door that said, “Happy Birthday, Jesus”. The first time I saw it, Bobby gave me that sideways look children give to friends when encountering what they deem as parental folly.

When we were cleaning out the house after her passing, there were few things I wanted more than that plaque. It now hangs on our front door.

Caroling, Caroling. . .

2008-12-05T22:51:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas carols is It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. When the hustle and bustle of the season is making you more Ebenezer Scrooge than Tiny Tim, sing the third verse. And if you want to know why I have hope for the future, sing the fourth!

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold.
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heav'n's all-gracious King':
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfold
And still their heav'nly music floats o'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hov'ring wing
and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
Look now! for gladness and golden hours come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hast'ning on, by prophets, bards foretold.
When with the ever-circling years, comes round the age of gold.
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.

Consequences of Expulsion

2008-11-29T10:55:00.007-05:00

Our church family recently got together to watch the movie, Expelled. This very well done documentary by Ben Stein explores the censorship and virulent hatred of academia towards the concept of Intelligent Design. Even on campuses which tout their policy of vigorous academic debate, there is an Orwellian view that some debate topics are more equal than others and Intelligent Design inquiries need not apply.

What is particularly alarming about the stifling of genuine academic pursuit in the realm of origins are the parallels between the mindset of evolutionists and the mindset of the Third Reich. If you haven’t seen the movie, that parallel may seem to be an exercise in hyperbole, but, unfortunately, it is not.

In his sermon last Sunday, my husband cited the work of anthropologic philosopher René Girard and his scapegoat hypothesis. To summarize (in a far too brief manner), tension in society creates unrest to the point that a person (or group) is singled out as the cause of the trouble and is expelled or killed by the society. This person (group) is the scapegoat. An obvious application is that of the Jews in Nazi Germany, but we see it in business settings, in social settings and even in church settings. People who otherwise may have little in common bind themselves together against a perceived enemy/problem.

There is a concern among some Christian thinkers, that Christianity could become a scapegoat. Already in Canada, tenets of the Christian doctrine (opposing homosexuality, etc) are deemed as “hate speech.” The hate speech legislation proposed in our own Congress has had these troubling elements. New hate speech legislation is already being proposed for the 2009 Congress.

Beliefs have consequences. Evolutionists have told generations of students man is simply a more evolved animal. Yet, society is still aghast when people act like animals as happened in a New York Wal-Mart on Black Friday.

If you have not seen Expelled, do so. Immediately. The words of English philosopher Edmund Burke are a call to action, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Educated Populace

2008-11-18T13:06:00.002-05:00

One of our Founding Fathers said democracy depended upon an educated populace. This Zogby poll explains a lot.

Now listen as Howard Stern interviews Harlem voters. He attributes John McCain's positions to Obama in the questions.

More and more we are seeing this election was symbolism over substance. People wanted to "feel good" about demonstrating racial prejudice was no more than they wanted to vote on the issues.

Good grief.

List of Fives

2008-11-17T17:48:00.005-05:00

A friend tagged me for this, so here are my lists of fives:

5 joys:
1. Helping my husband and going through life with him.
2. Being with my mom.
3. Being with the kids the Lord has put in our lives.
4. Traveling.
5. Being exposed to new insights and ideas.

5 fears:
1. Losing a loved one.
2. Tornadoes.
3. All multi-legged bugs.
4. Forgetting something really important.
5. Liberals in power.

5 obsessions:
1. Battling the bulge(s).
2. Internet.
3. Christmas!
4. Finding the right shade of red lipstick.
5. Finding a Denver-minted Kansas state quarter!

5 Surprising facts:
1. I’ve bungee jumped.
2. I can’t make an edible beef roast to save my life!
3. My gut instinct has never let me down (except when I’ve ignored it).
4. I saw Elvis Presley in concert twice.
5. Once told a friend hell would freeze over before I became a pastor’s wife. ; )

5 things for which you are thankful (from 2008):
1. My mom is cancer free.
2. The Lord’s tender mercies at my mom-in-law’s passing.
3. My church family.
4. My new cookware.
5. Olivia and Nick.

5 goals that you have for 2009:
1. Lose weight.
2. Read more.
3. Redo bedroom.
4. Clean garage so a car can actually go in it.
5. Have friends and family in our home more.

Now, I am officially tagging others: Guinever, Rosie, Coral - you're it!

Sayonara Stick Shift?

2008-11-12T08:44:00.003-05:00

I learned to drive on a manual transmission (and somehow my relationship with my Dad survived this!). I remember being 16 and out with my Dad when he made me stop on a hill with a big truck behind me and take off again.

These days stopping on hills and all the other stick-shift terrors don't phase me. I love the feeling of being Jimmy Johnson when I shift to pass. I love everything about a manual transmission. I love being able to get the jump on a much more powerful car at a red light and then grinning as the muscle car whizzes pass me in a huff. An automatic just doesn't feel like real driving to me.

Alas, my love affair may be ended by force. It seems we manual transmission lovers are few and far between. Here's the sad story.