Year-End Chuckle

Thankfully, 2009 is coming to a close. It has been an anxious year in many respects, and full of many newsworthy events - some of which can only leave you scratching your head wondering if the world has indeed gone stark, raving mad.

Nevertheless, we remain blessed, and I am thankful for family, for provision, and for the opportunity to once again look to the year ahead with - dare I say it - "hope."

This morning, I treated myself to Dave Barry's "Year in Review." Read the whole thing, but here are a couple of my favorite excerpts:

. . . [H]istory is made in Washington, D.C., where a crowd estimated by the Congressional Estimating Office at 217 billion people gathers to watch Barack Obama be inaugurated as the first American president ever to come after George W. Bush. There is a minor glitch in the ceremony when Chief Justice John Roberts, attempting to administer the oath of office, becomes confused and instead reads the side-effect warnings for his decongestant pills, causing the new president to swear that he will consult his physician if he experiences a sudden loss of sensation in his feet. President Obama then delivers an upbeat inaugural address, ushering in a new era of cooperation, civility and bipartisanship in a galaxy far, far away. Here on Earth everything stays much the same.

. . . Congress passes, without reading it, and without actually finishing writing it, a stimulus package totaling $787 billion. The money is immediately turned over to American taxpayers so they can use it to stimulate the economy.

No! What a crazy idea THAT would be! The money is to be doled out over the next decade or so by members of Congress on projects deemed vital by members of Congress, such as constructing buildings that will be named after members of Congress. This will stimulate the economy by creating millions of jobs, according to estimates provided by the Congressional Estimating Office's Magical Estimating 8-Ball.

The big health story in April is the rapid spread of swine flu, a dangerous new virus strain developed by the makers of Purell. Public anxiety over the flu increases when Vice President Joe Biden, demonstrating his gift for emitting statements, declares on the Today show that he would not recommend traveling by commercial airplane or subway. A short while later, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs assures reporters that he is ``not aware of any `Vice President Joe Biden.' ''

In another embarrassment for the White House, New York is temporarily thrown into a panic when Air Force One flies low over Manhattan for a publicity photo shoot. Responding to widespread criticism, Gibbs notes that President Obama inherited Air Force One from the Bush administration.

Also, as the year draws to a close, the Centers for Disease Control releases an urgent bulletin warning of a new, fast-spreading epidemic consisting of severe, and in some cases life-threatening, arm infections caused by ``people constantly sneezing into their elbow pits.''

But despite all the gloomy news, the holiday season brings at least temporary relief to a troubled nation – especially the children, millions of whom go to sleep on Christmas Eve with visions of Santa in his reindeer-powered sleigh flying high overhead, spreading joy around the world.

With a North Korean missile flying right behind.

So, albeit it a couple days early: Happy New Year - may 2010 be a whole lot better than 2009. But even if it is not, I will treasure closely the things that matter - because even a cynic like me knows that happiness is more about choice than it is about circumstances.

See you next year.

Dona nobis pacem

As is likely common for many people, the last couple of weeks have been a blur of activity: Christmas treats and meal cooking, school Christmas parties for the boys, Christmas gift buying, holiday travel planning, cold-weather gear purchasing, not to mention the political circus in Washington that tends to distract me … it just doesn’t seem to slow down. To think, a couple of weeks ago I was enjoying a peaceful moment of winter wonder. Now we stand at the threshold of Christmas, and I find myself struggling to get in the proper mindset. A quiet, peaceful, contemplative Christmas is just not in the cards.

When I was younger, my family and I would travel to the Chicago area for Christmas to visit with both sets of grandparents. We would attend an 11:00pm Christmas Eve service to ring in the Day of Christmas, sitting with the choir. If memory serves, one of the traditional songs the choir would perform was the canon version of Dona Nobis Pacem, typically sung in the round. Over the years, those Christmas Eve nights have become a precious memory.

I went looking for a good quality video to include with this post, but unfortunately did not find one that met the standards I was looking for. This one is probably the best of them, if you can tune out the noise in the background.

Instead, allow me to offer the following version, as arranged by Bach. It is very well done, and takes me back to my college years when I sang regularly in a choir ensemble called Perfect Peace:


I don’t really have the opportunity to sing like this anymore, given that I attend a church with a modern worship style. But performances like the above do take me back, and allow me to step outside the rush of reality, slowing down time to just “be” with the music. I miss it.

Below is a John Rutter arrangement of a common benediction and blessing. I sang this version in college, and the performance below is very well done. I lift it up as a prayer for us all – may we all find peace this Christmas, and may the blessings of the Father be upon us all.

Rocky Mountain High

Whenever I get into one of my trademark "contemplative" moods, I sometimes find a bit of solace dreaming of a place in the mountains with a lake, crystal clear sky, and just the sound of the air in the trees. I've never lived in such a place, although during my growing-up years we would periodically take week-long fishing trips to Northern Minnesota. No mountains, of course, but nevertheless I can still tap the well of serenity last experienced 25 years ago.

Certain kinds of music augment that solace, such as those composed by John Denver. My grandfather was a fan of his music, and that appreciation has passed down from my father to me. I don't listen to him often, because after a while it produces in me a spirit of melancholy. But the lyrics and his guitar do "call" to me, producing a longing for the simplicity that is so difficult to find in this life. Honestly, I'd give almost anything to have a voice like that. I have a guitar I've never learned to play, but if I ever do take lessons, my goal will be to play some of his music.

Our holiday travels this year are taking us to Colorado, to the land of mountains and snow and crystal blue skies. So while the visit will be packed with family and celebration, perhaps somewhere in there we'll find a piece of serenity to bring back with us.

Do we know what we think we know?

In the report study issued by the American Revolution Center, the authors note a disturbing trend in American education:

“Many high schools now forego teaching about the American Revolution in favor of global studies. The trade-off is that, for many of us, learning about the American Revolution ends after grade school.”

“Today, according to a survey by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), not one of the nation’s top 50-ranked universities and liberal arts colleges, as defined by U.S. News & World Report in 2002, requires a course in American history.”

To me, that trend is scary. Not that the study of other cultures is a bad thing, but without a establishing a foundation of knowledge based on our American heritage, we risk cutting ourselves off from that heritage.

Time for a Pop Quiz:

1. Is the Bill of Rights part of: a) U.S. Constitution; b) Declaration of Independence; c) Gettysburg Address; or d) Articles of Confederation?
2. The most important consequence of the Boston Tea Party was: a) Repeal of the tax on tea; b) Failure of the other colonies to support Boston’s action; c) Opening negotiations between Britain and Massachusetts; or d) Enactment by Parliament of the Coercive Acts?
3. Which document outlines the division of powers between the states and the federal government: a) Declaration of Independence; b) Marshall Plan; c) U.S. Constitution; or d) Homestead Act? 

Answers can be found at the end of this post. These questions are the first 3 offered in the survey by the ARC. Majorities correctly answer the first and third questions, but only 12% could answer the second. Generally speaking, the report found (emphasis mine):

Major Finding 1:
The vast majority of Americans thought that knowledge of the history and principles of the American Revolution is very important. Most also said that it is very important for schools to teach this subject.

Major Finding 2:
Most Americans gave themselves high marks on their knowledge of the American Revolution and our Founding documents.

Major Finding 3:
On a 27-question test, a national sample of American adults scored an average of only 44 percent correct. Nearly 83 percent received a failing grade, meaning that they could not answer more than 16 of the 27 questions correctly.

Major Finding 4:
Based on what they knew about the American Revolution and the Founding, most Americans said that freedom and liberty, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion were the most important values upon which America was founded.

Clearly, solid majorities are willing to say that knowledge of our American heritage is important. But unfortunately, that doesn’t translate into actual knowledge. We can look at an idea in the abstract and declare it good. We can say that knowledge is important, but when put to the test, with the spotlight on us, we can easily fall short. In this day and age, it is becoming more and more important to be able to articulate what we think, what we believe and what we know. Forgetting specific facts isn’t as big a deal as it is when we talk about specific principles on which America was founded. At least it appears that most still associate America's founding with the principles of freedom and liberty. That's a hopeful sign, but as the report also declares: “Without constant reinforcement, knowledge erodes.”

The common refrain of the bored student says, “Why do I have to learn this? How is it ever going to help me in the future?”

Considering the economic and domestic policies of today’s political class and the expansion of government in the last several decades, I’m thinking we’ve elected some of these formerly bored students to public office.

I think we all could stand a refresher course.

The answers: 1) A; 2) D; 3) C.

Bigger Gov't in the Dark of Night

With this morning’s news declaring that the Senate is now prepared to push through their version of healthcare reform, an effort that I tend to view as a major expansion of government control that limits the individual’s right to self-determination, I become more and more convinced that the political class is hopelessly adrift from the principles they claim to uphold, the mores of liberty and frankly, common sense. What else can explain an about-face from a politician who turns his back on his public stand against a bill because of its provisions for the federal funding of abortion, for what amounts to a special monetary exemption for his state – and only his state? I guess principle always has a price.

Like the leaf on the outmost branch of a large and spanning tree, connection to the roots is essential for continuing existence. Sometimes, we get so far away from those roots that we forget they exist. But once you cut yourself off, you cease to be a part of that being, and slowly but surely, it ends. Can the tide be stemmed?

With a midnight vote on a weekend when few are paying attention? Chances are fading by the minute. Bigger government is on the way.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

The M-Word: Part 2

While it may seem funny during the heart of the Christmas season, the thought of continuing this thread about ministry is near the bottom of my list of things I’d like to do. In previous posts, I talked a little about the retreat that I attended back in February which challenged me to a period of self evaluation, particularly as it relates to my calling in ministry. Back in September, I attempted to explore the question “What is my ministry?”. In this post, I appear to be tasked with addressing the subsequent query: “Where am I right now?”

Clearly, where I was in February when this question was first asked is not necessarily where I am today. Then, I was coming out of a long period of serving in leadership at my church (nearly 12 years), the latter 3 years at the center of an understandably difficult (and almost traumatic) period of transition. How I felt in February could best be described as a deep spiritual and emotional exhaustion. And although some of that has eased over the course of this year, I still sense some lingering internal ache that continues to color my attitude and my outlook.

I have spent the better part of this year detoxing from the near constant anxieties associated with church leadership. The Lord has given me both teaching and leadership gifts, but the experiences of the past few years have taxed me greatly. Even now, the thought of returning to a leadership role fills me with unease – not exactly the attitude one should have toward service. Yet the never-ending call of obligation and concern I have for the church still weighs upon my mind. Still, the lack of joy at the root of that thought feels like a warning, telling me that I may not yet be ready to resume a leadership role, especially since at some levels the underlying crisis continues.

In September, I wrote:

The institutional church, whether intentionally or not, has impressed upon its members that service to Christ really means service to the church. Do something for God by doing something for the church. Be a part of this church program or that, because what matters is that we serve.

It could be argued that the obligation demands service, that the call of duty does not concern itself with feelings, or attitude. For even if done grudgingly, the job gets done. But that just doesn’t seem right to me. For if the spirit in which I do a thing is toxic, I am “but a clanging cymbal.”

I cannot help but to feel that, for me, the most important thing I can do is to properly and humbly posture myself before the Lord, and seek to rediscover, revive and reignite the passion to be the vessel I am designed to be. The heart’s posture before the Lord is far more important than half-heartedly doing what others expect out of a misguided sense of obligation.

This is not a cop out to service. Quite the contrary. It is ensuring that I am putting Christ first, and aligning myself to the work He is calling me to do, as I prepare to one day re-enter this thing called Ministry. And today, that means focus on my walk of faith, and it means diving in once again to the passion I have for the written word. Yes, even this little blogging adventure is reawakening a certain creativity and understanding of the gifts the Lord has given me. While leadership is something I understand, it is not the only avenue of service.

John 15:16 says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” As it was the first day this verse came alive for me, so it is today. This is my ministry. Countless are the ways this can be fulfilled. It should fit my passion, my gifts, my heart, my abilities, my personality and my experiences. It should also fit the overarching plan of what God is blessing – or desires to bless.

So where am I right now in all of this? The only answer I can give with integrity: Not yet where I need to be. Yet able to finally acknowledge it.

An Informed Citizenry

A few days ago, I posted here about a newly released study by The American Revolution Center. I read through the report last weekend. I found it to be a fascinating survey - and wish there was an easy way to reproduce it to make it an online quiz you could take, but I certainly don't want to run afoul of any copyrights that may be involved. Still, with proper citing, I can reference some of it here. Discussion of specific survey questions will come in a later post.

I will confess to a bit of envy regarding the authors of this report. When I read something that resonates with me, I often search for words to better express why. In this case, I cannot improve on the turn of phrase or the idea expressed (and frankly, I wish I had written it). In speaking about the importance of passing the ideal of self-governance to subsequent generations, the authors wrote (emphasis mine):

"As careful students of history, our nation’s Founders knew that republics were fragile and that government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” would not endure without an informed citizenry. “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,” Thomas Jefferson warned, “it expects what never was and never will be.”

Today, perhaps more than ever, understanding the Founding values and principles born of the American Revolution is critical to defending our liberties and preserving our system of self-government. Our society, our very existence as a free people, rests on our success in ensuring that all Americans understand our history, rights, and responsibilities, and
pass this knowledge on to rising generations."

Unless we are deliberate in educating both today's generation and tomorrow's, this understanding will slip away. Consider yesterday, for example. Flags all over were hung at half-mast. How many people understood it to be in honor and memory of the events of December 7, 1941, when the Japanese Empire attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor? I suppose it is inevitable that specific events not experienced by a particular generation will slip from our collective consciousness. Inevitable maybe, but not necessarily right or good. Despite the new age push for our global enlightenment as a species, the world remains one giant game of Risk ®.

We all don't need to be experts in geopolitics. But we would do well not to be ignorant of the ideologies (left and right) which shape our world, our government and public policy. As the ARC stated: "Our society, our very existence as a free people, rests on ... ensuring that all Americans understand our history, rights and responsibilities."

Proponents of global enlightenment are pitching a freedom that is false, and it begins by undermining the knowledge and remembrance of things past. It is the historical equivalent of New Math - forcing the abstractions without proper context at the expense of a fundamental understanding of the mechanics of a progressive, industrious and innovative civil society. It begets ignorance, which leaves us vulnerable to having the wool pulled over our eyes, bequeathing control and freedom to those who excel in the manipulative arts.

Now, we don't have to obsess over these things. But neither should we be indifferent. Why? Because we have a responsibility to the upcoming generation - our own children - to ensure that they know and understand why we hold dear the values that we do. An informed citizenry can make all the difference.

Seeing is Believing

I was joking with co-workers yesterday about the weather, as forecasters were predicting up to a half-inch of snow for Northern Alabama. The common refrain, not surprisingly, was your typical "I'll believe it when I see it."

Well, seeing is believing:


In the 90's, we actually would have a decent snowfall / ice event at least once a year, enough to slow things down for a day or two. But this decade, we've generally only received a moderate dusting once during the winter, if any at all. Forecasters promise much, but for whatever reason, snow just doesn't materialize here - the air is often just too dry.

But today, with the Christmas tree lights on, and the opportunity to enjoy a fire in the fireplace, what a wonderful - if sadly short lived - winter delight.

Knowing History and Who We Are

I almost hesitate to use the above title for this post, as it draws heavily and blatantly from this post by Scott Johnson on Powerline. For that matter, I'm borrowing heavily and blatantly from his whole post. But the title is clearly apt, and it hits me in the sweet spot of interest and passion. Rarely a week goes by that I don't wish I had the latitude to pursue further education in the subject of History.

Powerline reports on a newly released study by a relatively new organization called The American Revolution Center. The ARC has a neat website complete with an interactive timeline that allows you to also view some of the artifacts within its collection. But of more interest to me is the nationwide survey they conducted to assess the knowledge people possess about the American Revolution and the founding of this country. I have downloaded the final report, and perhaps I'll post more on the topic as I study it. From what I've read of it so far, it is fair to say (using the contemporary colloquialism) that I'm "geeked" about it.

From Powerline (emphasis mine):

"The survey results show that a whopping 83 percent of Americans failed a basic test on knowledge of the American Revolution and its principles. But the results also revealed that 90 percent of Americans think that knowledge of the American Revolution and its principles is very important.

Among other things, the results also show that 89 percent of Americans expected to pass a test on basic knowledge of the American Revolution. We do not suffer for lack of self-esteem. But we do suffer for lack of knowledge."

I believe that much of the confusion, concern and attitudes afflicting American politics today are caused in great part by the apparent reality that much of the American populace lacks sufficient understanding and grounding in the principles that undergird the American Experiment. Powerline also quotes author David McCullough (emphasis mine):

"In the rotunda of the Capitol in Washington hangs John Trumbull's great painting, "The Declaration of Independence, Fourth of July, 1776." It's been seen by more people than any other American painting. It's our best known scene from our past. And almost nothing about it is accurate. The Declaration of Independence wasn't signed on July 4th. They didn't start to sign the Declaration until August 2nd, and only a part of the Congress was then present. They kept coming back in the months that followed from their distant states to take their turn signing the document. The chairs are wrong, the doors are in the wrong place, there were no heavy draperies at the windows, and the display of military flags and banners on the back wall is strictly a figment of Trumbull's imagination. But what is accurate about it are the faces. Every single one of the 47 men in that painting is an identifiable, and thus accountable, individual. We know what they look like. We know who they were. And that's what Trumbull wanted. He wanted us to know them and, by God, not to forget them. Because this momentous step wasn't a paper being handed down by a potentate or a king or a czar, it was the decision of a Congress acting freely."

As Scott Johnson further notes (emphasis mine):

"And yet, McCullough observes: "We are raising a generation of young Americans who are by-and-large historically illiterate." We do not know the names or faces of most of those 47 men."

Perhaps the greatest thing that every American can do for their country is to uphold the principles upon which it was founded. We must understand the value and function of freedom, and preserve it not only by a willingness to defend it (to which the sacrifice of our military men and women attest), but to be educated and knowledgable about our national heritage. I fear it is a sad indictment when our generation can more readily recite the discography of Michael Jackson than they can the essentials of the Bill of Rights. Still, the opportunity - and indeed, responsibility - to educate is there, and kudos to outfits like The American Revolution Center for working to do just that.

Back to a Reason

As the calendar turns to December, so begins the almost daily replay of my Trans-Siberian Orchestra album, The Lost Christmas Eve (2004). My kids love listening to it over and over, and so we do, constantly, on the drive into school each day. Truth be told, it is one of my favorite albums as well, although by January I'm usually ready to move on to something else. Nevertheless, this is a new Christmas season, and I am enjoying the experience of getting lost once again in the story.

The inside sleeve of the CD contains both lyrics and a story narration. This narration, not read on the CD, places each song in the context of the fable. The songs however transcend the story, and have the ability to trigger something within, awakening a deeper meaning than may have been originally intended. Indeed, that's how I often know when God is present, because He takes the creative combination of words and music to touch the soul. And He will often do so whether or not the composer is fully aware, though I'm certain at times they are.

Track 17, entitled "Back to a Reason, Part II," hits me more deeply than any other song on the album. I've linked the audio below. The lyrics, some of which I've reproduced here, are beautifully tragic yet redemptive. They speak to me of my own desperate need to find joy, to recapture whatever it is I may have lost, and to recover a childlike faith.

I'm looking for you
I'm looking for I don't know what
I can't see there anymore
And all my time's been taken

Is this what it seems?
The lure of a dream
And I'm afraid to walk back through that door
To find that I've awakened

The night seems to care
The dreams in the air
The snow's coming down
It beckons me dare

It whispers, it hopes
It holds and confides
And offers a bridge
Across these divides

The parts of my life
I've tried to forget
It's gathered each piece
And carefully kept

Somewhere in the dark
Beyond all the cold
There is a child
That's part of my soul

Got to get back to a reason
Got to get back to a reason I once knew
And this late in the seasons
One by one distractions fade from view
The only reason I have left is
You

The Christ child is a part of my soul, as even my own children are. But the child I seek, the one that most needs to be found, may very well be ... me.