A few days ago, I highlighted the news from Capitol Hill that the House of Representatives was considering a procedure, termed the "Slaughter Rule," that would allow the House to "deem-and-pass" the Senate version of the healthcare bill without actually voting on the Senate bill, but rather on a substitute bill. This "deem-and-pass" approach (which some are sardonically calling Demon Pass) seems on the surface unconstitutional.
Well, this just in. The House voted today on a resolution offered by Republicans to block the Slaughter Rule. Passage would essentially force the House to take the proper up-or-down vote required by the Constitution for the bill. The House defeated that resolution, 222-203.
That means, 222 members of Congress voted to approve a procedure that may very well violate the Constitution!
The final "vote" on healthcare is Sunday. If Congress wants to impose universal healthcare, then it should do so honestly. Process does matter.
A profile in courage, this is not.
March 18, 2010
March 16, 2010
Fading History
The erosion of historical and collective memory within a modern society is probably inevitable. Each successive generation in the modern era seems to pull further and further away from its heritage in favor of rewritten narratives, progressivism, and generational detachment. In a mobile society, the transfer of experiences across generational boundaries becomes more and more rare. Family histories, to include the connection and continuation of seminal events and experiences, simply are no longer commonplace. I myself feel at times I have only an inkling of knowledge that extends no further than my grandparents generation, a knowledge which is far too limited to claim any assurance of accuracy and/or possession.
This article in the Chicago Tribune illustrates this phenomenon, invoking the historical significance of the photograph below.
This iconic photograph has a personal and emotional significance to previous generations. As a Gen-Xer, I can easily identify the image and its origin, but confess that I don't have the emotional attachment to events before my time - at least, not in the way I do for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the World Trade Center. My children, as they come of age, will have even less attachment to these markers of our history.
It is remarkable, really. In the information age, we have access to millions of pages of facts, events and narratives of history - more than we can possibly absorb in a lifetime. Yet we are less and less aware of our own place in that history, more and more detached from our family heritages, and devoid of the experiential context that is necessary to connect ourselves to both our past and our present.
This erosion is unlikely to be reversed, and indeed, may even be a cyclical characteristic of human civilization. The most any of us can do is to be intentional about retaining this knowledge and passing down the generational stories and histories through whatever means are available: oral retelling, the written word, physical artifact, and even modern audio, visual and digital technologies. Perhaps even social networking communities can play a role. But I submit that there may be no greater way to ensure the retention of our historical memory than through the generational sharing of experiences and faith within the family unit. Such a connection is intimate and personal, and binds us to those who remember first hand WWII, Korea, JFK, Elvis, the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, the Beatles, the golden age of television, Apollo 11, the Iranian hostage crisis, Challenger, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Desert Storm, the internet boom, 9/11, the fall of Baghdad, Katrina, and the historical election of the first African American president. But these are merely the big events - how much richer would we be to know what it was like to come of age in eras that are at once familiar and alien to our modern sensibilities - to know who our parents and grandparents truly were and are, their joys and fears, their faith and experiences. And for those of us who are parents and grandparents, would our lives not be richer to know who our children are, and who they are coming to be in future history?
Would that it were so easy.
This article in the Chicago Tribune illustrates this phenomenon, invoking the historical significance of the photograph below.
Joe Rosenthal/Associated Press (1945)
This iconic photograph has a personal and emotional significance to previous generations. As a Gen-Xer, I can easily identify the image and its origin, but confess that I don't have the emotional attachment to events before my time - at least, not in the way I do for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the World Trade Center. My children, as they come of age, will have even less attachment to these markers of our history.
It is remarkable, really. In the information age, we have access to millions of pages of facts, events and narratives of history - more than we can possibly absorb in a lifetime. Yet we are less and less aware of our own place in that history, more and more detached from our family heritages, and devoid of the experiential context that is necessary to connect ourselves to both our past and our present.
This erosion is unlikely to be reversed, and indeed, may even be a cyclical characteristic of human civilization. The most any of us can do is to be intentional about retaining this knowledge and passing down the generational stories and histories through whatever means are available: oral retelling, the written word, physical artifact, and even modern audio, visual and digital technologies. Perhaps even social networking communities can play a role. But I submit that there may be no greater way to ensure the retention of our historical memory than through the generational sharing of experiences and faith within the family unit. Such a connection is intimate and personal, and binds us to those who remember first hand WWII, Korea, JFK, Elvis, the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, the Beatles, the golden age of television, Apollo 11, the Iranian hostage crisis, Challenger, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Desert Storm, the internet boom, 9/11, the fall of Baghdad, Katrina, and the historical election of the first African American president. But these are merely the big events - how much richer would we be to know what it was like to come of age in eras that are at once familiar and alien to our modern sensibilities - to know who our parents and grandparents truly were and are, their joys and fears, their faith and experiences. And for those of us who are parents and grandparents, would our lives not be richer to know who our children are, and who they are coming to be in future history?
Would that it were so easy.
March 15, 2010
Here we go ...
The House of Representatives is gearing up this week to push through yet another vote on healthcare reform. Despite numerous national polls showing general opposition to this particular bill, nevertheless, it is quite possible that by week's end, some sort of bill will get passed.
I've tried to be as objective and civil as I possibly can in my dealings on the subject. My position is simply this: Can and should improvements be made to our current system? Yes. Should the government be the decider and provider of healthcare for all Americans? No. That's where I stand.
According to various news reports, the shortest path toward a health care law is for the House to pass the exact bill the Senate approved last fall. However, many House members do not like that version, and prefer the one they passed last summer (which is surprising, since so many have admitted that they haven't even read the 2000+ page bills being considered). So they want to use a process known as reconciliation - intended only for strict budgetary matters, to force through changes without going through the traditional process.
The traditional approach is quite well articulated by that oldie-but-goodie "How a Bill Becomes a Law" from Schoolhouse Rock. So before we continue, let us reminisce:
In short, the House votes on a bill. If it passes, it goes to the Senate, which has the option of voting on the House bill, or crafting one of their own. In the event that the Senate passes a bill that does not match exactly with that of the House, a conference committee is established to iron out the differences. The final agreement then goes back to both the House and the Senate for another vote. If both assemblies pass the compromise bill, it then goes to the President for signature or veto.
But for whatever reason, the House and Senate leaders decided to "skip" the conference committee. I'm still not clear why they feel it is necessary to circumvent normal parliamentary procedures for getting bills passed. I'm even more unnerved, however, to read news accounts like this one from the Washington Examiner, in which it appears that the majority party will say they "passed the Senate bill" without actually voting on it. Here's the money quote from the Examiner (emphasis mine):
Here's the issue that bothers me: What is so urgent about this major reordering of 1/6 of the entire U.S. economy that it has to be rushed through Congress using tactics that go against two centuries of legislative tradition? The Constitution very clearly requires in Article I, Section 7 that every bill must have a vote, and the names of those who vote on record as to how they voted (emphasis mine):
The bottom line is this: if our elected officials are willing to circumvent traditional legislative process and decorum by using possibly unconstitutional methods to achieve particular aims, despite opposition from the public, then what is to prevent future Congresses and Presidents (of either party) from disregarding the Constitution and their constituents whenever it suits them? If our government breaks from the anchor of our founding documents, then it begins to lose its legitimacy. You could even go so far as to infer that our representative government now runs the risk of operating "without consent of the governed." Which itself is the subject for a forthcoming post.
Interesting times ahead, to be sure.
Update 3/16/10: Here's a new Washington Post story about the process.
I've tried to be as objective and civil as I possibly can in my dealings on the subject. My position is simply this: Can and should improvements be made to our current system? Yes. Should the government be the decider and provider of healthcare for all Americans? No. That's where I stand.
According to various news reports, the shortest path toward a health care law is for the House to pass the exact bill the Senate approved last fall. However, many House members do not like that version, and prefer the one they passed last summer (which is surprising, since so many have admitted that they haven't even read the 2000+ page bills being considered). So they want to use a process known as reconciliation - intended only for strict budgetary matters, to force through changes without going through the traditional process.
The traditional approach is quite well articulated by that oldie-but-goodie "How a Bill Becomes a Law" from Schoolhouse Rock. So before we continue, let us reminisce:
In short, the House votes on a bill. If it passes, it goes to the Senate, which has the option of voting on the House bill, or crafting one of their own. In the event that the Senate passes a bill that does not match exactly with that of the House, a conference committee is established to iron out the differences. The final agreement then goes back to both the House and the Senate for another vote. If both assemblies pass the compromise bill, it then goes to the President for signature or veto.
But for whatever reason, the House and Senate leaders decided to "skip" the conference committee. I'm still not clear why they feel it is necessary to circumvent normal parliamentary procedures for getting bills passed. I'm even more unnerved, however, to read news accounts like this one from the Washington Examiner, in which it appears that the majority party will say they "passed the Senate bill" without actually voting on it. Here's the money quote from the Examiner (emphasis mine):
Each bill that comes before the House for a vote on final passage must be given a rule that determines things like whether the minority would be able to offer amendments to it from the floor.The gist of all this fairly straightforward. Instead of having an actual up or down vote on the Senate bill itself, the House intends simply to say "It passed!" and vote instead on an additional "package" of changes that in turn the Senate would force through reconciliation (which only requires 51 votes, instead of the 60 required to end debate and move to a vote, otherwise known as cloture). Reconciliation wasn't necessary when the Democrat majority had 60 votes, but due to the recent Massachusetts special election, in which voters elected a Republican to the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, reconciliation is the only path that potential avoids a filibuster (to prevent cloture and subsequent vote).
In the Slaughter Solution, the rule would declare that the House "deems" the Senate version of Obamacare to have been passed by the House. House members would still have to vote on whether to accept the rule, but they would then be able to say they only voted for a rule, not for the bill itself.
Here's the issue that bothers me: What is so urgent about this major reordering of 1/6 of the entire U.S. economy that it has to be rushed through Congress using tactics that go against two centuries of legislative tradition? The Constitution very clearly requires in Article I, Section 7 that every bill must have a vote, and the names of those who vote on record as to how they voted (emphasis mine):
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.It seems arguable to me that the method of stating by presumption that the original Senate bill is "passed" without a separate, distinct vote for the public record is unconstitutional. But I confess, the complexities of the U.S. code and these parliamentary tricks that have become the norm within our big government system may water down that argument, especially if there is precedence.
The bottom line is this: if our elected officials are willing to circumvent traditional legislative process and decorum by using possibly unconstitutional methods to achieve particular aims, despite opposition from the public, then what is to prevent future Congresses and Presidents (of either party) from disregarding the Constitution and their constituents whenever it suits them? If our government breaks from the anchor of our founding documents, then it begins to lose its legitimacy. You could even go so far as to infer that our representative government now runs the risk of operating "without consent of the governed." Which itself is the subject for a forthcoming post.
Interesting times ahead, to be sure.
Update 3/16/10: Here's a new Washington Post story about the process.
March 08, 2010
Take Out Your #2 Pencils, Class
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) is a conservative leaning, non-profit, educational organization that, according to their website, seeks to further a "better understanding of the values and institutions that sustain a free and humane society." They go on to say:Founded in 1953, ISI works "to educate for liberty" — to identify the best and the brightest college students and to nurture in these future leaders the American ideal of ordered liberty. To accomplish this goal, ISI seeks to enhance the rising generation's knowledge of our nation's founding principles — limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, the rule of law, market economy, and moral norms.ISI recently completed their 2010 American Civic Literacy Report, in which they analyze the results of a fairly challenging quiz taken by Americans of all ages and professions - including politicians. According to the report, 71% of Americans failed this test, with an average score of just 49%. Even singling out college graduates, the average result was only 57%.
Here is the online quiz that was made available with the report, which are actually questions from the 2008 survey. Multiple choice test, and no Google-ing. And no pressure, of course. Learning is always preferable to the alternative. I will toot my own horn a bit, in the interest of full disclosure: I aced this test - but then again, I am a bit of a geek when it comes to this kind of stuff. This is one of the harder online history/civics quizzes I've taken, though. The multiple choice format helps!
Have fun! - Take the Quiz!
(h/t: PoliSilo)
March 07, 2010
An Incorrect Solution
Spring is in the air - and despite the fact that it was snowing only 5 days ago, this weekend has been absolutely beautiful. So of course, it makes perfect sense that I spent much of my time with my arm halfway down the bathtub drain, pulling out enough hair to make myself a new cat. Or a dead rat named Sammy.
Okay, so I'm embellishing a little bit. I did spend 3 hours clearing out the landscaping, trimming back old and dead growth, and dragging it all down to the back line of the property.
But back to the drain. The bathtub had been draining slowing for months, to the point that my children would often end up with a tub full of water by the time they finished their showers. I finally got myself motivated to deal with it once and for all, so I went to ehow.com to learn the cure. And their answer? Baking soda and vinegar. Honestly, aside from WD-40, is there a more universal solution to household problems than baking soda?
I followed the instructions to the letter - half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar. There was lots of bubbling as the base reacted with the acid, but I somehow ended up with a drain full of baking soda. So I poured in more and more vinegar (one and a half cups total), until the baking soda at last was all gone. And it didn't do one bit of good for the drain - the water still went out too slowly.
At last, I did what I should have done in the first place - I got a screwdriver, loosened the set screw on the drain cap, and with a flashlight took a look at what I was actually dealing with - cat hair - gobs of it. So with a pair of needle-nose pliers, I pulled out a ton of gunk, junk and hair. And voila! The tub drains perfectly now.
So why on earth am I blogging about this? Perhaps because there may very well be an object lesson here. I could have saved myself a considerable amount of time if I had bothered to correctly diagnose the problem before rushing to a solution (ha!) that didn't fit the situation. I simply assumed that this remedy would fix the problem, and that I wouldn't have to deal with the gross stuff. Sometimes, our lives get gunked up with gross stuff (sin) that we try to deal with at a distance, thinking we can mask it or otherwise make it go away with a one-size-fits-all solution. But until we get down on our knees to deal with the truth and clear the gunk, the flow of joy and peace in our lives will be limited.
Alas, this is the way my mind works. I can't clean a drain without turning it into a teachable moment. Well, a teachable moment for me anyway.
Okay, so I'm embellishing a little bit. I did spend 3 hours clearing out the landscaping, trimming back old and dead growth, and dragging it all down to the back line of the property.
But back to the drain. The bathtub had been draining slowing for months, to the point that my children would often end up with a tub full of water by the time they finished their showers. I finally got myself motivated to deal with it once and for all, so I went to ehow.com to learn the cure. And their answer? Baking soda and vinegar. Honestly, aside from WD-40, is there a more universal solution to household problems than baking soda?
I followed the instructions to the letter - half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar. There was lots of bubbling as the base reacted with the acid, but I somehow ended up with a drain full of baking soda. So I poured in more and more vinegar (one and a half cups total), until the baking soda at last was all gone. And it didn't do one bit of good for the drain - the water still went out too slowly.
At last, I did what I should have done in the first place - I got a screwdriver, loosened the set screw on the drain cap, and with a flashlight took a look at what I was actually dealing with - cat hair - gobs of it. So with a pair of needle-nose pliers, I pulled out a ton of gunk, junk and hair. And voila! The tub drains perfectly now.
So why on earth am I blogging about this? Perhaps because there may very well be an object lesson here. I could have saved myself a considerable amount of time if I had bothered to correctly diagnose the problem before rushing to a solution (ha!) that didn't fit the situation. I simply assumed that this remedy would fix the problem, and that I wouldn't have to deal with the gross stuff. Sometimes, our lives get gunked up with gross stuff (sin) that we try to deal with at a distance, thinking we can mask it or otherwise make it go away with a one-size-fits-all solution. But until we get down on our knees to deal with the truth and clear the gunk, the flow of joy and peace in our lives will be limited.
Alas, this is the way my mind works. I can't clean a drain without turning it into a teachable moment. Well, a teachable moment for me anyway.
March 03, 2010
Blue Marble
So, earlier today I'm perusing the headlines on Drudge, when I see a link he's headlined as "NASA reveals most-detailed images of Earth..." Sucker that I am for NASA imagery, I follow the link to the Daily Mail, a paper out of the UK. Within that article are a couple of stunning pictures of our planet. The key ones are actually composites formed out of several images taken over a period of months, as opposed to a single snapshot. Either way, they are stunning visuals, which I've downsized below.
Neat as the images are, however, I prefer generally to go to the source. This is in part because NASA maintains several versions of the same image at varying resolutions. So I'm searching through the NASA image galleries, and find myself having some trouble finding it - which seems odd, given that the Daily Mail article was just published yesterday. So I searched NASA using a keyword or two from the Daily Mail article - in this case, "blue marble", and discovered somewhat to my surprise that these images actually date back to 2002.
If you follow this link to the Visible Earth gallery at the NASA website, you'll find the exact same images as they were taken and composited by NASA's MODIS satelite (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).
So, despite feeling a bit let down by the fact that the Daily Mail is touting these images as "new" when in fact they are 8 years old, I still find myself taken in by the visuals. Simply stunning, aren't they? To really appreciate it, go here and here to see larger resolution images.
Neat as the images are, however, I prefer generally to go to the source. This is in part because NASA maintains several versions of the same image at varying resolutions. So I'm searching through the NASA image galleries, and find myself having some trouble finding it - which seems odd, given that the Daily Mail article was just published yesterday. So I searched NASA using a keyword or two from the Daily Mail article - in this case, "blue marble", and discovered somewhat to my surprise that these images actually date back to 2002.
If you follow this link to the Visible Earth gallery at the NASA website, you'll find the exact same images as they were taken and composited by NASA's MODIS satelite (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).
So, despite feeling a bit let down by the fact that the Daily Mail is touting these images as "new" when in fact they are 8 years old, I still find myself taken in by the visuals. Simply stunning, aren't they? To really appreciate it, go here and here to see larger resolution images.
February 28, 2010
Sunshine ...
While the previous post below may very well come across as kind of heavy, I promise it wasn't intended that way. Yesterday was a beautifully wonderful day outside, full of bright sunshine dancing on the waters of the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. I found my spirits lifted by the refreshing air, and caught myself singing silently this truly lovely melody by John Denver. In this case, the words are just as powerful to me as the melody. I'm telling you, someday I'm going to learn to play this. That guitar will not stay in my closet forever.
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always
Words by John Denver, Music by John Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor
On Our Shoulders
February is finally coming to a close today. While I do not yet know what March holds, I can only pray that with the arrival of spring (the snow forecasted for Tuesday notwithstanding) will come an inner refreshment that I desperately need. This past month has been a pressure-packed struggle in many ways, most of which is coming from work. While I was out hiking with a bunch of Webelos scouts yesterday, I stole a few moments of contemplative solitude outdoors, to try to come to grips with how I'm responding to this pressure.
"Rochette didn’t shoulder the hopes of a nation. Rather, she was pulled onto the shoulders of the Canadian people and the figure skating community. Not even the most forlorn blackheart could fail to have been moved by this tale of triumph."When I read that line, I found myself deeply, deeply moved. When you contrast Rochette with the skaters who placed above her, each of whom carried the intense pressure of expectation from their home countries, you get a remarkable view of the complex nature of the pressures we all face. One can easily conclude by their countenance that Kim Yu-Na and Mao Asada (skating for South Korea and Japan, respectively) felt tremendous pressure to carry the load and bring home the prize for their nations. While you'd like to think the best, you can't help but wonder about the reception Mao Asada will receive once she gets home with her Silver. Truly these two seemed to be shouldering the hopes of their nations. But Rochette, in her deepest grief, found herself inspired and carried by the spirit of a nation that somehow reached out to her to lift her up to the performance of a lifetime. After watching both her short and long programs, I found it nearly impossible to not be moved to tears by the moment. Tonight, Rochette will carry the Canadian flag for her team in the closing ceremonies.
None of us are immune to pressure. There are those who place tremendous pressure upon us to meet expectations. We put tremendous pressure upon ourselves to meet our own expectations. And when that pressure builds and builds and builds, it is easy for us to start transferring the pressure we feel to our other relationships, putting pressure on our spouses, our friends, the people who work for us, and even our children. No one places a greater pressure on me than I do myself. Often, I will either shoulder it, or I will start to crack and begin transferring it onto others, continuing a highly unhealthy cycle. But there is a better way.
When I read the line about being pulled onto the shoulders of others, I was reminded of a podcast my brother-in-law pointed me to, in which a marathon runner tried to describe the emotion of knowing that there were people who would go out of their way to cheer, support and otherwise encourage the athlete to continue reaching for the goal. And therein lies a remedy perhaps. We may knowingly or unknowingly apply pressure to others, perhaps because we ourselves are feeling the pressure from others or ourselves. Instead, perhaps we should take a different approach, becoming the kind of people who are willing to carry others on our shoulders to a degree, to come alongside and encourage - not to apply pressure, but to help lift others through the pressure. You can't make the pressure just go away, but you can assist in helping others to put it in a healthy context, and to help lift them through it. Furthermore, we also may need to become the kind of people who will allow others to carry us on their shoulders, to acknowledge and accept the help we may need but are afraid to acknowledge. By becoming people who allow ourselves to be carried, and willing to help carry others (sharing one another's burdens, etc), we may just find our own spirits lifted, and ourselves better able to deal with the pressures we face.
Because, to repeat, it is unlikely that we can make the pressure all go away. It is also risky to rely too much on others to carry us all the time - because people will sometimes let us down. But knowing that we have been carried during difficult times (think Footsteps in the Sand) can soften our hearts to better respond to the pressure we are facing, to not allow it to darken us to the point that we begin to lose faith and lash out.
Why am I saying all this? Because I need to hear it. This one story, of a young woman skating through the grief and pain in the loss of her mother, of a young athlete carried upon the shoulders of a nation in her hour of need, this one story demonstrates for me a powerful witness of our life's journey. As a believer, I reach for the prize for which God has called me heavenward, and in the company of fellow believers and the Spirit Himself, there is hope for the full realization of everlasting joy. I have been a poor witness. I have transferred the pressure I feel onto others, at times unfairly. I need to correct that, and become a person who once again finds ways to lift others up. I feel like I've forgotten how to do that, but I suspect it is not as hard as one might think.
Yes, all this from a simple walk in the woods. Simple. But real.
February 21, 2010
Let Us Not Forget
When the headlines are dominated by bad economic and unemployment news, the bickering and posturing of the political class, and tragedies everywhere you turn, it becomes easy to turn inward and forget those who have fought and labored for the cause of good and the cause of freedom.
Iraq, it seems, is very much yesterday's news. With the pending drawdown of combat forces, few seem to really be paying attention to what has been achieved there by our military men and women. The battle for Afghanistan continues and Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear nation, so clearly there is much to be concerned about relative to today's and tomorrow's wars. Nevertheless, something profound has been accomplished in Iraq - an opportunity that the Iraqis themselves will have to work to see realized. The cost has been high, and there is work we must do to ensure that it is not in vain. And that work begins by remembering and appreciating those who have made the sacrifices.
This point is made beautifully and powerfully by David Bellavia, in his article entitled "Our Mission is Finally Accomplished ... Anyone Care?" I highly recommend you read it all. A few excerpts:
(h/t: Powerline)
Iraq, it seems, is very much yesterday's news. With the pending drawdown of combat forces, few seem to really be paying attention to what has been achieved there by our military men and women. The battle for Afghanistan continues and Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear nation, so clearly there is much to be concerned about relative to today's and tomorrow's wars. Nevertheless, something profound has been accomplished in Iraq - an opportunity that the Iraqis themselves will have to work to see realized. The cost has been high, and there is work we must do to ensure that it is not in vain. And that work begins by remembering and appreciating those who have made the sacrifices.
This point is made beautifully and powerfully by David Bellavia, in his article entitled "Our Mission is Finally Accomplished ... Anyone Care?" I highly recommend you read it all. A few excerpts:
What we achieved in the face of an implacable enemy, overcoming many in our own government willfully ignorant of our struggle, is what I believe to be the defining moment of my generation. The veteran today is the embodiment of what it means to be an American. Even when our valor was used for political sport, we continued to serve quietly.Mr. Bellavia goes on to share a deeply personal story of one young woman who died while waiting to vote in Iraq's first election. He concludes:
I came home in search of that woman’s spirit in the hearts of my fellow Americans. I came home expecting to find the sacrifice of these brave patriots revered at every turn by those who overwhelmingly sent us to war from Washington.No, it is not too much to ask for. Let us not forget those who serve and sacrifice for freedom's cause, wherever the battle rages.
I’m still looking.
If you can’t bring yourself to give the living the sense of accomplishment for winning a war that many claimed was endless, at least humor the dead. Allow them to rest knowing that the war that took their lives was won because of their sacrifice.
Is that too much to ask for?
(h/t: Powerline)
February 20, 2010
Derby Day
Building pinewood derby cars has been a wonderful time of bonding with my boys, and something that I have come to look forward to every year. My philosophy is very simple - any car that is built should be built (as much as possible) by the boys themselves. Every year, we face up against dads who obviously do most, if not all, of the work - which bothers me to no end. By designing and souping up cars to "win," they rob their boys of the rewards of learning skills, managing trial and error, and just the simple pride of doing their own work. It creates an unfair advantage against those boys who are trying to develop their own craftsman skills. Eight, nine and ten-year olds should not have to compete against grown men for derby success.
Instead, my approach with my oldest - which I will repeat with my youngest - is to have them design their own cars on paper, and do as much of the labor as possible in shaping the nondescript block of wood into a car for competition. From cutting with the coping saw, to the hard work of sanding by hand, polishing the axles, to the final painting - the more the scout does himself, they more he will gain from the experience. I obviously offer tips, suggest ideas, and manage the power tools (drilling insets to hold weights, and using the Dremel to do finer points and carving) - but with each successive year, I try to do less and less and let them do more and more. This year, my oldest did almost everything on his car except the drilling. (If I owned a drill press, I would have let him do that part too, but that remains on the daddy wish list for the future). I also assisted him with a tough alignment problem. As for my youngest, this being his first car, he was only able to do the design, some of the cutting, some of the sanding, and all the painting. But he put in the effort, and he deserves to be proud regardless of the results later tonight. Besides, he has four more years after this one.
Still, for me, there is some anxiety. Any parent wants their children to be able to taste success and victory. Of course I want my boys to do well in tonight's race, and truly experience reward for their labor (which is why I get so frustrated when dad-built cars always seem to win the night). It is hard, too, especially when I know that there are things I could have done myself to improve the product my boys have built. But to follow through on that temptation would be to simply rob my boys of the pleasure (and possible disappointment) of their own efforts. I refuse to be like those other dads. But, I confess, I desperately want my oldest to experience a victory and get that 1st, 2nd or 3rd place trophy - but mostly because I know that he really, really wants to place in the top 3. My guess is that may not be likely tonight. But despite the outcome, he's built a good car, built it mostly by himself - and so whatever the result, he's earned the right to be proud of his work. And I am proud of him for it.
So, for now, we wait for the green flag. And when the final checkered flag falls, we will be content regardless of the result. And those results, along with pictures, will be posted here later.
Update 9:37pm: Well, the derby is over, and despite a good showing by both boys, neither car was quite fast enough to qualify for the district competition. My oldest came in 15th, with his younger brother coming in 17th out of a total of 45 racers. A solid performance to be sure, but just short of the hitting the top 10 (who all go to district). Below are a couple of photos of their cars:
I'm a proud dad, no doubt about it.
February 19, 2010
Legos, Robots, ... Rubik's!
February is turning out to be a monster in terms of schedule. I've had very little time for blogging as a result. But what you are about to see is worth taking the few minutes necessary to post.
Made out of Legos, this robot solves the penultimate puzzle of the '80s - the Rubik's Cube. I confess that I am skeptical that a truly random scramble can be solved in under 12 seconds, at least based on the apparent speed of the moves, but I could be wrong. When I was a kid, I of course bought the cheaters book on how to solve the Rubik's Cube, and managed to hit the 40-50 second mark. While I have no doubt that many could do it faster, no one can convince me that the 3x3x3 puzzle can be purely solved in 10 seconds or less without "help." Nevertheless, what can be more cool than legos, robots, and Rubik's (h/t: HotAir.com):
Made out of Legos, this robot solves the penultimate puzzle of the '80s - the Rubik's Cube. I confess that I am skeptical that a truly random scramble can be solved in under 12 seconds, at least based on the apparent speed of the moves, but I could be wrong. When I was a kid, I of course bought the cheaters book on how to solve the Rubik's Cube, and managed to hit the 40-50 second mark. While I have no doubt that many could do it faster, no one can convince me that the 3x3x3 puzzle can be purely solved in 10 seconds or less without "help." Nevertheless, what can be more cool than legos, robots, and Rubik's (h/t: HotAir.com):
February 14, 2010
Nothing Says Love ...
And a new Black & Decker Toaster Oven! (Yes, I gave my wife a toaster oven for Valentine's Day. And she didn't even hit me.)
What a beautiful morning.
Happy Valentines Day to all!
First Look:
"Yeaaargh!!!":
There she goes!
"Not Toward the Tree!"
And finally, the old man:
February 13, 2010
Making Sense of the Senseless
A former pastor of mine once advised against over-spiritualizing issues that may have simple, practical solutions. But he went on to say that in the absence of such practical solutions, don't discount the possibility of spiritual influence.
That may seem like a strange way to open a blog post, but it is a recollection that I have been dwelling on much of the past week. My adopted home community has suffered two devastating blows in the past 8 days, events that are most shocking because of where they occurred. Last Friday, a 9th grader gunned down a fellow 9th grader in the school hallway during a class break. And yesterday, in a tragedy that made national news, an assistant professor at University of Alabama - Huntsville opened fire on fellow faculty and university employees, killing three.
I have avoided most of the TV coverage, preferring to read news accounts as they come over the wire. People are searching (even screaming for answers), pointing fingers out of their fear and anxiety (although in some cases, just mean-spiritedness). But no answers are likely to be found that can possibly and satisfactorily explain the reasons these events occurred. I doubt "reason" had much to do with either case.
Rules and laws are only marginally capable of reducing the potential of violence. But they cannot prevent it, because the heart that is given over to such a hopeless and destructive state will find a way to achieve its aims. Only those closest to such lost individuals, through early intervention perhaps, have even the slightest chance of altering the life trajectory of those who believe they have "no way out."
Practically, all any of us can do is to be a friend and not be afraid to intervene when someone we know or care about starts down a path of self-destruction. Sometimes, we simply cannot "mind our own business." Help and counseling is available, and is often more effective earlier than later. And of course, we can pray.
Which brings me back to the observation at the top. Only Light can dispel Darkness. And when the darkness seems most oppressive, it is then that the light is needed most. We must pray for one another, we must pray for our community, and we must pray for light to dispel the darkness. In our actions, our words, and our service, we must bring light where today there is none, because in the light Truth will be revealed and the stranglehold of darkness can be broken.
That may seem like a strange way to open a blog post, but it is a recollection that I have been dwelling on much of the past week. My adopted home community has suffered two devastating blows in the past 8 days, events that are most shocking because of where they occurred. Last Friday, a 9th grader gunned down a fellow 9th grader in the school hallway during a class break. And yesterday, in a tragedy that made national news, an assistant professor at University of Alabama - Huntsville opened fire on fellow faculty and university employees, killing three.
I have avoided most of the TV coverage, preferring to read news accounts as they come over the wire. People are searching (even screaming for answers), pointing fingers out of their fear and anxiety (although in some cases, just mean-spiritedness). But no answers are likely to be found that can possibly and satisfactorily explain the reasons these events occurred. I doubt "reason" had much to do with either case.
Rules and laws are only marginally capable of reducing the potential of violence. But they cannot prevent it, because the heart that is given over to such a hopeless and destructive state will find a way to achieve its aims. Only those closest to such lost individuals, through early intervention perhaps, have even the slightest chance of altering the life trajectory of those who believe they have "no way out."
Practically, all any of us can do is to be a friend and not be afraid to intervene when someone we know or care about starts down a path of self-destruction. Sometimes, we simply cannot "mind our own business." Help and counseling is available, and is often more effective earlier than later. And of course, we can pray.
Which brings me back to the observation at the top. Only Light can dispel Darkness. And when the darkness seems most oppressive, it is then that the light is needed most. We must pray for one another, we must pray for our community, and we must pray for light to dispel the darkness. In our actions, our words, and our service, we must bring light where today there is none, because in the light Truth will be revealed and the stranglehold of darkness can be broken.
February 08, 2010
Wild Weird Winter Weather
What wild and weird weather we are witnessing this winter! It began with an early December snow, followed by an additional snow toward the end of December, followed again by bitter cold with a snow and ice event in the second weekend in January, an EF-2 tornado on January 21, followed again by minor snow/sleet event on January 29th resulting in early school closings.
Now today, with kids all in school and everyone at work, a surprise winter snowfall has taken on the Tennessee Valley. It was supposed to be almost 50 today, and no winter precipitation. Now, through the grape vine, I hear there is an inch and half in my neighborhood, and it is still accumulating.
My camera phone is not that great, but here's the look outside my office building:
I need a bumper sticker for today that simply says: "I'd rather be home sledding."
Update: Within 30 minutes of the original posting, the snow ends, the skies get brighter, and the snow starts melting. What I wouldn't give to be at home with a good 4-5 inches on the ground. Oh well.
Now today, with kids all in school and everyone at work, a surprise winter snowfall has taken on the Tennessee Valley. It was supposed to be almost 50 today, and no winter precipitation. Now, through the grape vine, I hear there is an inch and half in my neighborhood, and it is still accumulating.
My camera phone is not that great, but here's the look outside my office building:
I need a bumper sticker for today that simply says: "I'd rather be home sledding."
Update: Within 30 minutes of the original posting, the snow ends, the skies get brighter, and the snow starts melting. What I wouldn't give to be at home with a good 4-5 inches on the ground. Oh well.
February 05, 2010
Making History Cool?
Catching up on some blog reading today at Hot Air, I stumbled on the video below produced by an outfit called Soomo Publishing. Soomo appears to have a blog set up called PoliSilo, which originally posted the video. As I'm pushing 40, I confess to not having a clue who Timbaland is, but the song and the video take-off (this is not the original music video, so I am given to understand) is a fantastic and creative way of communicating history to a new generation.
First, enjoy:
I'm definitely going to have to poke around and see what else PoliSilo has to offer. A couple of reasons this type of thing excites me: 1) I love history, and I love seeing new and creative ways of teaching important concepts; 2) but the real reason is that this video flashes me back to my teenage years, when the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister was released (1984, I think). The music video for that song, of course, had nothing to do with the American Revolution - actually it was a little frightening. But I distinctly remember thinking that an American Revolution motif would have been great for that song.
It is indeed heartening to see outfits gearing up to keep history (and American principles) alive for a younger generation. At my age, I no longer know what "cool" is, I suppose, but in my view, this is cool.
First, enjoy:
I'm definitely going to have to poke around and see what else PoliSilo has to offer. A couple of reasons this type of thing excites me: 1) I love history, and I love seeing new and creative ways of teaching important concepts; 2) but the real reason is that this video flashes me back to my teenage years, when the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister was released (1984, I think). The music video for that song, of course, had nothing to do with the American Revolution - actually it was a little frightening. But I distinctly remember thinking that an American Revolution motif would have been great for that song.
It is indeed heartening to see outfits gearing up to keep history (and American principles) alive for a younger generation. At my age, I no longer know what "cool" is, I suppose, but in my view, this is cool.
February 03, 2010
Trip to the Aquarium
A few days ago, I accompanied my son's first-grade class on a field trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. Although a little tiring, the trip was pretty enjoyable. Getting first-graders to go slowly to admire and watch aquatic and marine life (not to mention frogs, turtles and snakes) is rather difficult, but a good time was had by all.
Working with an inexpensive camera with flash turned off generally results in pictures not-so-great, and true to form, most of the ones I took didn't come out too well. But a couple of them did:
The West Coast Sea Nettle (Jellyfish):
The Sandbar Shark:
Gentoo Penguins:
And a young American Alligator:
All in all, an enjoyable trip (not to mention an excuse to post to the blog).
Working with an inexpensive camera with flash turned off generally results in pictures not-so-great, and true to form, most of the ones I took didn't come out too well. But a couple of them did:
The West Coast Sea Nettle (Jellyfish):
The Sandbar Shark:
Gentoo Penguins:
And a young American Alligator:
All in all, an enjoyable trip (not to mention an excuse to post to the blog).
January 27, 2010
Space Headlines
In the last 24 hours, my random online reading habit produced a number of links hitting on space themes, a topic I haven't spent as much time researching lately as I would like. Schedules being what they are this week, I don't have a great deal to say about these headlines, but here's a short synopsis:
On This Day in History (that little widget down the left hand side of this page), today's featured event was the signing of the Outer Space Treaty (1967). Essentially, this agreement serves as the basis for "international space law," which basically means that space is for the use of all humanity, and therefore no single nation can claim sovereignty over any portion of the heavens, including the moon. Furthermore, it prohibits the weaponization of the region, for testing purposes or otherwise. But like any treaty, it can only be voluntarily self-enforced.
NASA ends effort to free rover from Martian sand
It appears that the folks at JPL-NASA are not going to be able to free the Mars Rover known as Spirit from the sand trap it has been in for months. They are in the process now of positioning it to maximize the solar angle for its panels with the approach of the Martian winter. According to their Twitter feed, Spirit will remain "alive," but their hopes of ever getting out of the sand trap are fading. Their efforts can be followed here.
Obama aims to ax moon mission
According to the Orlando Sentinel, it appears that the President is going to ask Congress to discard any planned return to the moon. It is unclear whether this will get through Congress, and there is definitely a local concern here in North Alabama, as key parts of the Constellation program are located at Marshall Space Flight Center. While I certainly agree that NASA needs a clear-cut vision that maximizes private sector commercialization, I find myself rather disillusioned at the idea that the President wants NASA to focus on researching climate change. Yeah, I'm sure that's every kid's childhood dream to grow up and study climate change, rather than setting foot on the moon or on Mars.
White House Decides to Outsource NASA Work
As I said above, at first glance, I do support the opening up of NASA ventures to private entrepreneurs and companies. This Wall Street Journal article discusses this at length.
Finally, while perusing Transterrestial Musings, a blog by Rand Simberg, I came across a link to an interesting article. In the article, called "Have We Forgotten What Exploration Means?", Paul Spudis provides a deep and thought-provoking look at the idea of Exploration, and the role science should and shouldn't have in influencing the choices and direction of the space program and of space exploration in general. The premise is that the model for space ventures today is dominated by scientific interests alone (or too heavily), without consideration to other interests that are certainly just as valid. A simple case in point is the mid-19th Century western expansion into the American frontier. A key passage (emphasis mine):
On This Day in History (that little widget down the left hand side of this page), today's featured event was the signing of the Outer Space Treaty (1967). Essentially, this agreement serves as the basis for "international space law," which basically means that space is for the use of all humanity, and therefore no single nation can claim sovereignty over any portion of the heavens, including the moon. Furthermore, it prohibits the weaponization of the region, for testing purposes or otherwise. But like any treaty, it can only be voluntarily self-enforced.
NASA ends effort to free rover from Martian sand
It appears that the folks at JPL-NASA are not going to be able to free the Mars Rover known as Spirit from the sand trap it has been in for months. They are in the process now of positioning it to maximize the solar angle for its panels with the approach of the Martian winter. According to their Twitter feed, Spirit will remain "alive," but their hopes of ever getting out of the sand trap are fading. Their efforts can be followed here.
Obama aims to ax moon mission
According to the Orlando Sentinel, it appears that the President is going to ask Congress to discard any planned return to the moon. It is unclear whether this will get through Congress, and there is definitely a local concern here in North Alabama, as key parts of the Constellation program are located at Marshall Space Flight Center. While I certainly agree that NASA needs a clear-cut vision that maximizes private sector commercialization, I find myself rather disillusioned at the idea that the President wants NASA to focus on researching climate change. Yeah, I'm sure that's every kid's childhood dream to grow up and study climate change, rather than setting foot on the moon or on Mars.
White House Decides to Outsource NASA Work
As I said above, at first glance, I do support the opening up of NASA ventures to private entrepreneurs and companies. This Wall Street Journal article discusses this at length.
Finally, while perusing Transterrestial Musings, a blog by Rand Simberg, I came across a link to an interesting article. In the article, called "Have We Forgotten What Exploration Means?", Paul Spudis provides a deep and thought-provoking look at the idea of Exploration, and the role science should and shouldn't have in influencing the choices and direction of the space program and of space exploration in general. The premise is that the model for space ventures today is dominated by scientific interests alone (or too heavily), without consideration to other interests that are certainly just as valid. A simple case in point is the mid-19th Century western expansion into the American frontier. A key passage (emphasis mine):
Science has been part of the space program from the beginning and has served as both an activity and a rationale. The more scientists got, the more they wanted. They realized that their access to space depended upon the appropriation of enormous amounts of public money and hence, supported the non-scientific aspects of the space program (although not without some resentment). Because science occurs on the cutting edge of human knowledge, its conflation with exploration is understandable. But originally, exploration was a much broader and richer term. Which brings us back to the analogy with the westward movement in American history and the changed meaning of the word “exploration.” A true frontier has explorers and scientists, but it also has miners, transportation builders, settlers and entrepreneurs.Read the whole thing, as it goes on to provide a thoughtful perspective of how we might best realize this final frontier and actually recover the fruits of decades worth of labor.
January 25, 2010
Got rights?
As pointed out in the article, the Constitution does not grant us the "right" to free speech, or any of the rights identified in the First Amendment. The author, Derek Hunter, writes (emphasis mine):
You’ve undoubtedly heard someone, maybe even yourself, say that you have a Constitutional right to free speech, right? While that seems to make sense, it’s not true, or at least wasn’t before the government got so big that it started intruding into areas of our lives in which it has no business; and it is part of a modern mentality that has the potential to harm our individual liberty.We can be forgiven if we view this argument as a matter of semantics, because in some ways the net effect is the same. However, there is danger if we view the Constitution as a government document that grants such natural rights to citizens. It is a danger because if the document grants certain rights, then those rights (through the amendment or litigious process) can be taken away. So said Thomas Paine (1731-1809) in Rights of Man (emphasis mine):
To understand what I’m talking about, the first thing you have to understand it that the Constitution does NOT grant you rights, it protects the rights you inherently have from government intrusion. The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights is this:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.Just look at the part that addresses speech, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” Nowhere does it say that you are granted the right of freedom of speech, it says you have it, were born with it, and the government cannot do anything about it. But that’s not how it’s viewed or even talked about by politicians these days.
It is a perversion of terms to say that a charter gives rights. It operates by a contrary effect — that of taking rights away. Rights are inherently in all the inhabitants; but charters, by annulling those rights, in the majority, leave the right, by exclusion, in the hands of a few. ... They...consequently are instruments of injustice.The issue here is the always controversial idea of "natural rights." Thomas Paine was a proponent of this type of philosophical thinking, as was John Locke (1632-1704). He postulated that humanity's natural rights - those rights which are inherent in every human being simply because he/she exists - include such familiar ideas as "life, liberty and property." These are separate from what are often called “civil rights,” which are rights specifically bestowed on the citizenry by legal statute (such as the right to vote). The Founders were greatly influenced by this philosophy, as is evident in the Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution. The Bill of Rights, and in particular the First Amendment, were specifically crafted to define the government's responsibility to protect those rights that we already have, to ensure individual liberty in an ordered society.
The fact therefore must be that the individuals themselves, each in his own personal and sovereign right, entered into a contract with each other to produce a government: and this is the only mode in which governments have a right to arise, and the only principle on which they have a right to exist.
It is common parlance today for people to declare their "rights" to whatever it is they want, such as the right to drive a car, the right to have healthcare, the right to own a house, the right to vote, and the right to demand that government give them what they want even if it takes rights away from someone else. Fundamentally, it comes down to how much control we wish to bequeath to the government. If individuals give the government the power to control the rights of each individual, then those rights can easily be taken away. It all comes down to the delicate relationship between the government and the governed in a free, albeit representative, society. I think that is what is happening in the current healthcare debate. We all want better healthcare in terms of access and affordability - and to a degree we're open to having the government help to improve the system. But what people don't appear to want is for the government to be the decision-maker on the healthcare they receive. They want improvements, but they don't want the government to "control" it in any way. Thus, the backlash against the current plan.
We have a free but imperfect society. But we have become an entitlement society. To reset a proper relationship, we the people need to have a firm handle on what our natural rights are, as distinguished from civil rights. We must not allow ourselves to be co-opted into giving up our natural rights to a government that - by definition - was set up to prevent just such an occurrence. We have the right to speak our mind in whatever expression that takes - a right given to us not by the government, but by a Creator. The Constitution demands that the government cannot and should not infringe upon that right. Do all expressions of speech have value in a civil society? Probably not, but the human beings that speak or otherwise express themselves - they do have value, a point worth remembering in today's supercharged political/social environment.
January 22, 2010
"Storm Chasers"
Earlier today, I posted about yesterday's little weather adventure featuring an unusual January tornado, which the National Weather Service has confirmed as an EF-2. I mentioned that it was the second time in less than a year that we've had such a close encounter.
Below is an entertaining narrative I put together and emailed to my family following another close call with an EF-2, back in May of 2009. Enjoy!
The Storm Chasers
Yesterday began much as they always do, with my efforts to wake my family from their nightly slumber in order to prepare for a glorious day of work and school. On most days, this involves the relentless whip-cracking of my children and allowing a mutant cat to attack my wife's foot. And although this morning was slightly unusual due to the fact that it was thunder, rather than my alarm, that first brought me to consciousness, routine quickly reasserted itself. Showers are taken, lunches are made, and the tenets of dental hygiene are dutifully followed. Soon, the boys and I are on the way to school, while my wife prepares herself for the nice, quiet, peaceful morning commute I never get to enjoy. It is critically important to deposit the boys on time, so that I can get to my next cup of coffee at the office as soon as possible.
As I sat down at my desk with mug in tow, I glanced over the news headlines while my email began its laborious effort to bury me alive in miscellanea. Within moments, however, the phone rang. My wife informs me that she has been stranded on the interstate, our faithful Chrysler van the unfortunate victim of a seized transmission. Mounting my noble Japanese import, I rode off with chivalrous daring-do to rescue my beloved maiden and to keep her company while waiting on a tow to carry the Chrysler to the dealer and to whatever taxpayer-supported warranty remains. Traffic was heavy, and the roar of vehicles kept me engaged as I looked through my side mirror for rescue - more than once feeling convinced that any moment some imbecile was going to ram into the back of my car at a high rate of speed. Clouds overhead started to get darker, and the rain began to fall.
During a lull in the traffic, a new sound tickled my ears. Sure enough, the tornado sirens were signing their tune. In a flash, my beloved maiden transformed before me into the technological superhero she is, quickly pulling out her smart phone, connecting to the Sling box attached to a Dishnet satellite receiver at her brother's house, and in no time was watching the local weather station on her phone, complete with radar, commentary, and storm paths. We quickly deduced that a rotation was approaching from due west, and that we lay directly in the projected path of the storm. Visually, there was nothing to see, but soon the car radio broke in with news of a sighted funnel cloud, and we knew that perhaps things were going to get a little dicey. For you see, the van was stranded just short of the on ramp to Research Park Blvd, to the north. To the west was the interstate. There were no other options. I continued to look in my rearview in vain for any sign of the tow. Still nothing. Damage reports of fallen power lines, snapped trees, and broken rooftops began to fill the airwaves. The car began to shake side to side as the wind gusts began to increase in strength and frequency. The storm path, according to my wife (Inspector Gadget has nothing on her - she'd kick his butt), had the rotation going just to our north. So I had to choose: stay put and hope for the best, barrel straight west down the interstate into the tail of the storm, or turn north right into the path of the tornado.
I selected option 2. I pulled out onto the interstate from a dead stop, and together we hurtled into the southern tail of the storm cell. Winds were very gusty, but fortunately the rain was only moderate. Janet looked to the north, but couldn't see anything except dark clouds and rain. I kept my eyes on the road. We flew down to the next exit not far from the airport and then turned back, figuring by the time we got back to the van the storm would be past. I confess to a certain thrill in knowing that for a moment we were driving right toward the storm, but common sense and safety did reassert itself at some point. We returned to the van, the tow soon arrived, and after dropping my wife off at her office, I returned to my desk with a new cup of coffee and a mountain of email which I proceeded to ignore.
Storm facts: The National Weather Service has declared the Madison tornado as an EF-2, with 115 mph winds. The path was about 10 miles long, 75 yards wide. The funnel cloud disappeared into the sky near Research Park Blvd, about 2.5 - 3.0 miles from our previous spot by the side of the road. Nobody was hurt, damage still being assessed as of Thursday. Nothing came too close to our home, and we are all perfectly okay.
Below is an entertaining narrative I put together and emailed to my family following another close call with an EF-2, back in May of 2009. Enjoy!
The Storm Chasers
Yesterday began much as they always do, with my efforts to wake my family from their nightly slumber in order to prepare for a glorious day of work and school. On most days, this involves the relentless whip-cracking of my children and allowing a mutant cat to attack my wife's foot. And although this morning was slightly unusual due to the fact that it was thunder, rather than my alarm, that first brought me to consciousness, routine quickly reasserted itself. Showers are taken, lunches are made, and the tenets of dental hygiene are dutifully followed. Soon, the boys and I are on the way to school, while my wife prepares herself for the nice, quiet, peaceful morning commute I never get to enjoy. It is critically important to deposit the boys on time, so that I can get to my next cup of coffee at the office as soon as possible.
As I sat down at my desk with mug in tow, I glanced over the news headlines while my email began its laborious effort to bury me alive in miscellanea. Within moments, however, the phone rang. My wife informs me that she has been stranded on the interstate, our faithful Chrysler van the unfortunate victim of a seized transmission. Mounting my noble Japanese import, I rode off with chivalrous daring-do to rescue my beloved maiden and to keep her company while waiting on a tow to carry the Chrysler to the dealer and to whatever taxpayer-supported warranty remains. Traffic was heavy, and the roar of vehicles kept me engaged as I looked through my side mirror for rescue - more than once feeling convinced that any moment some imbecile was going to ram into the back of my car at a high rate of speed. Clouds overhead started to get darker, and the rain began to fall.
During a lull in the traffic, a new sound tickled my ears. Sure enough, the tornado sirens were signing their tune. In a flash, my beloved maiden transformed before me into the technological superhero she is, quickly pulling out her smart phone, connecting to the Sling box attached to a Dishnet satellite receiver at her brother's house, and in no time was watching the local weather station on her phone, complete with radar, commentary, and storm paths. We quickly deduced that a rotation was approaching from due west, and that we lay directly in the projected path of the storm. Visually, there was nothing to see, but soon the car radio broke in with news of a sighted funnel cloud, and we knew that perhaps things were going to get a little dicey. For you see, the van was stranded just short of the on ramp to Research Park Blvd, to the north. To the west was the interstate. There were no other options. I continued to look in my rearview in vain for any sign of the tow. Still nothing. Damage reports of fallen power lines, snapped trees, and broken rooftops began to fill the airwaves. The car began to shake side to side as the wind gusts began to increase in strength and frequency. The storm path, according to my wife (Inspector Gadget has nothing on her - she'd kick his butt), had the rotation going just to our north. So I had to choose: stay put and hope for the best, barrel straight west down the interstate into the tail of the storm, or turn north right into the path of the tornado.
I selected option 2. I pulled out onto the interstate from a dead stop, and together we hurtled into the southern tail of the storm cell. Winds were very gusty, but fortunately the rain was only moderate. Janet looked to the north, but couldn't see anything except dark clouds and rain. I kept my eyes on the road. We flew down to the next exit not far from the airport and then turned back, figuring by the time we got back to the van the storm would be past. I confess to a certain thrill in knowing that for a moment we were driving right toward the storm, but common sense and safety did reassert itself at some point. We returned to the van, the tow soon arrived, and after dropping my wife off at her office, I returned to my desk with a new cup of coffee and a mountain of email which I proceeded to ignore.
Storm facts: The National Weather Service has declared the Madison tornado as an EF-2, with 115 mph winds. The path was about 10 miles long, 75 yards wide. The funnel cloud disappeared into the sky near Research Park Blvd, about 2.5 - 3.0 miles from our previous spot by the side of the road. Nobody was hurt, damage still being assessed as of Thursday. Nothing came too close to our home, and we are all perfectly okay.
Weather Adventure
For the second time in less than a year, my wife and I found ourselves in the middle of a tornado adventure. Yesterday afternoon, around 5:30, a tornado touched down here in Huntsville, Alabama. My wife and I were driving separately. She took the photo below with her Treo after she had pulled to the side of the road.
I, on the other hand, was roughly 1/4 to a 1/2 mile in front of the tornado's path. Amazing thing was, I never saw the funnel, although she insisted that it was right behind me. I was caught in rush hour traffic, with really nowhere to go anyway. Never rained or hailed on me. Obviously we were fortunate, as the storm caused some damage in various spots of the city. Below is a map that shows some of the damage spots, with an indicator of where we *think* I was at the time:
In any event, we are all safe. Janet's photo even got air time on a local news station during both the 6:00 and 10:00 newscasts. Pretty cool stuff. Here's the station's photo gallery.
Here are a couple of videos (a bit too long, some language NSF kids, but interesting):
Quite a day.
I, on the other hand, was roughly 1/4 to a 1/2 mile in front of the tornado's path. Amazing thing was, I never saw the funnel, although she insisted that it was right behind me. I was caught in rush hour traffic, with really nowhere to go anyway. Never rained or hailed on me. Obviously we were fortunate, as the storm caused some damage in various spots of the city. Below is a map that shows some of the damage spots, with an indicator of where we *think* I was at the time:
In any event, we are all safe. Janet's photo even got air time on a local news station during both the 6:00 and 10:00 newscasts. Pretty cool stuff. Here's the station's photo gallery.
Here are a couple of videos (a bit too long, some language NSF kids, but interesting):
Quite a day.
January 21, 2010
Headlines for Liberty
A quick scan of today's news headlines brings some good news for those who think "freedom is a pretty darn good thing."
Pelosi: House lacks votes to OK Senate health bill
In part a consequence of losing the all-important 60th vote in the Senate Tuesday night, it looks like the Democrats have decided at least to slow down on the massive government takeover of the world's best healthcare system. Are there problems with today's healthcare? Of course. But a takeover by the government bureaucracy is not the answer. Health care reform should be targeted where it can obviously and sensibly do the most good - put the full control of health care management (dollars and decisions) in the hands of the individual. I should be able to manage my healthcare as a budget item the same way I manage my mortgage, my savings, and my investments. Give me the liberty and responsibility to decide what's best for me and my family in the realm of healthcare. Wishful thinking, perhaps.
Supreme Court Drop-Kicks McCain-Feingold, Scores Victory for 1st Amendment
Money is a problem in politics. Always has been. But that does not mean the government should be able to restrict my freedom in how I choose to spend the money I earn. While I have never donated money to a political candidate (and I can't really see ever doing so), the government should not have the power to tell me how I spend my money. Financial support is an expression of free speech, and it is guaranteed by the First Amendment. McCain-Feingold is a restriction of the First Amendment. Should corporations and unions be allowed to spend money in the form of lobbying and support for political candidates? As private institutions, that should be up to the Board of Directions and the rank-and-file memberships of those organizations. But all donations received by politicians should be reported in the public domain - full transparency. In all other cases, the government should not have the power to handicap such freedom of expression.
UN abandons climate change deadline
Climate change is unsettled science, in the sense that the planetary climate is always changing, and scientists still don't really know why. The good news here is that in the wake of recent scandals involving allegations of fraud with respect to data climate models, the UN is having to back down on its efforts to impose upon the world arbitrary restrictions of man-made emissions. The UN is an unelected body, and has no legal jurisdiction to mandate that its member governments do anything. Submission to the UN is entirely voluntary, and to do so is often to subjugate and surrender rights. When it comes to the environment, I absolutely believe that as caretakers, we have a responsibility to care for and protect our environment in all its mysteries and wonders. But it should not infringe upon our liberty and rights as associated with property and progress. Climate change, energy policy, and environmental policy are topics that deserve a lot more reasoned evaluation and discussion. But for the UN to back down even a little from mandates based on the fallacy claiming that this is all "settled science" is a victory for rational, scientific logic. Let's identify solutions to real problems, with a goal of preserving our environment, without going geo-statist to control what and how developing countries improve their economies and way of life. And above all, allow the decisions that affect those living in the land of America stay within our own borders, as established by our representative government under the Constitution.
Because I believe, for us, for America and for the world: "Freedom is a pretty darn good thing."
To quote:
Pelosi: House lacks votes to OK Senate health bill
In part a consequence of losing the all-important 60th vote in the Senate Tuesday night, it looks like the Democrats have decided at least to slow down on the massive government takeover of the world's best healthcare system. Are there problems with today's healthcare? Of course. But a takeover by the government bureaucracy is not the answer. Health care reform should be targeted where it can obviously and sensibly do the most good - put the full control of health care management (dollars and decisions) in the hands of the individual. I should be able to manage my healthcare as a budget item the same way I manage my mortgage, my savings, and my investments. Give me the liberty and responsibility to decide what's best for me and my family in the realm of healthcare. Wishful thinking, perhaps.
Supreme Court Drop-Kicks McCain-Feingold, Scores Victory for 1st Amendment
Money is a problem in politics. Always has been. But that does not mean the government should be able to restrict my freedom in how I choose to spend the money I earn. While I have never donated money to a political candidate (and I can't really see ever doing so), the government should not have the power to tell me how I spend my money. Financial support is an expression of free speech, and it is guaranteed by the First Amendment. McCain-Feingold is a restriction of the First Amendment. Should corporations and unions be allowed to spend money in the form of lobbying and support for political candidates? As private institutions, that should be up to the Board of Directions and the rank-and-file memberships of those organizations. But all donations received by politicians should be reported in the public domain - full transparency. In all other cases, the government should not have the power to handicap such freedom of expression.
UN abandons climate change deadline
Climate change is unsettled science, in the sense that the planetary climate is always changing, and scientists still don't really know why. The good news here is that in the wake of recent scandals involving allegations of fraud with respect to data climate models, the UN is having to back down on its efforts to impose upon the world arbitrary restrictions of man-made emissions. The UN is an unelected body, and has no legal jurisdiction to mandate that its member governments do anything. Submission to the UN is entirely voluntary, and to do so is often to subjugate and surrender rights. When it comes to the environment, I absolutely believe that as caretakers, we have a responsibility to care for and protect our environment in all its mysteries and wonders. But it should not infringe upon our liberty and rights as associated with property and progress. Climate change, energy policy, and environmental policy are topics that deserve a lot more reasoned evaluation and discussion. But for the UN to back down even a little from mandates based on the fallacy claiming that this is all "settled science" is a victory for rational, scientific logic. Let's identify solutions to real problems, with a goal of preserving our environment, without going geo-statist to control what and how developing countries improve their economies and way of life. And above all, allow the decisions that affect those living in the land of America stay within our own borders, as established by our representative government under the Constitution.
Because I believe, for us, for America and for the world: "Freedom is a pretty darn good thing."
To quote:
Who wants to spit on the Constitution of the United States of America? Anybody?
All right. Now, who's for the Bill of Rights?
Who thinks freedom is a pretty darn good thing?
Come on! Let's see those hands! ...
January 20, 2010
Mass. Makeover
Frankly, I'm not sure the pundits or the political class are capable of answering the question. They'll talk, they'll spin, and we'll watch, listen or read what they say. But fundamentally, the choice made yesterday by the people of Massachusetts can only be understood by listening to the people themselves. Each individual has their reasons for casting the votes the way they do. The mistake the political and pundit classes too often make is to read a single election or vote as some sort of proxy for the mood of the entire electorate. One election, regardless of result, does not a movement make. Republicans are obviously delighted today, but they shouldn't be. Democrats are obviously deflated today, and yet they shouldn't be.
Voters are duly influenced by what the government does and the methods by which it does it. It is both a matter of policy and process. Perhaps the American electorate actually cares just as much about the WAY things are done in Washington as they do about the policies themselves. (Of course, now I'm falling into the trap of "what it all means.")
One thing does seem certain: the mood of the electorate is darkening, and the people are paying attention. The political class remains too busy "ruling" over the American public to truly stop and listen. Is the Massachusetts Makeover the proverbial "wake-up call"? It's way too soon to tell. Neither party is in good standing right now, and neither should pretend otherwise. As I read the "tea leaves," dissatisfaction with the elitism of the political class (and pundit class for that matter) is on the rise. The next few years should be fascinating.
On the matter of Senator-elect Brown. Below is an excerpt of his victory speech (h/t: The Corner). These are just words, of course. It remains to be seen whether he has the character to live up to them. They are populist in tone (which is not always a negative, by the way), but they do seem to resonate (emphasis mine):
I will work in the Senate to defend our nation’s interests and to keep our military second to none. As a lieutenant colonel and 30-year member of the Army National Guard, I will keep faith with all who serve, and get our veterans all the benefits they deserve.Representative government requires an informed citizenry and elected representatives that actually adhere to this idea that they serve not their party, but the people who put them in office. The role of government is an endless debate, but it must be a debate and not imposed by diktat. That is yet another fascinating and unique aspect of America: the relationship between the people and its government. It is a relationship that must be preserved for America to remain what the Founders envisioned it to be.
And let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation - they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.
Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I've heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better.
They thought you were on board with all of their ambitions. They thought they owned your vote. They thought they couldn’t lose. But tonight, you and you and you have set them straight.
...
Fellow citizens, what happened in this election can happen all over America. We are witnesses, you and I, to the truth that ideals, hard work, and strength of heart can overcome any political machine. We ran a campaign never to be forgotten, and led a cause that deserved and received all that we could give it.
And now, because of your independence, and your trust, I will hold for a time the seat once filled by patriots from John Quincy Adams to John F. Kennedy and his brother Ted. As I proudly take up the duty you have given me, I promise to do my best for Massachusetts and America every time the roll is called.
I go to Washington as the representative of no faction or interest, answering only to my conscience and to the people. I’ve got a lot to learn in the Senate, but I know who I am and I know who I serve.
I’m Scott Brown,
I'm from Wrentham,
I drive a truck, and I am nobody’s senator but yours.
January 18, 2010
Revisiting the Archives
Earlier today, in a post about ministry, I said the following about feeling stagnant in faith:
A Call to Deep
To be a disciple, the follower of Christ cannot stay along the shore line wading in the shallow beginnings of faith. Rather, the Lord calls us to a deeper life, a life that requires us to explore the depths of God. The deeper life is a life of trust, obedience, and maturity. It is a life that promises amazing growth and adventure for those who are willing to put their entire trust and dependence upon the Father. Can you hear the Spirit calling you to the deeper life, a deeper faith?
Take a moment, and really yourself, "Am I satisfied with where I am in my faith?" ... Our relationship with Jesus must continually grow if it is to survive. The only way to grow is to go deeper. So where can we start?
My understanding of this Christian faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. When I stop to consider my relationship with the Father, I also draw on what we'll call the three "P's" of the faith. The three P's of faith are PLACE, PLAN, and PURPOSE.
1. As children of God, we have a PLACE in God's Kingdom. We are each an important part of His Kingdom, and we belong to this Kingdom.
2. God has a PLAN for His kingdom (and each of us, individually). I believe that God has a plan for His Kingdom. He also had something specific in mind when He created each of us.
3. In this PLAN, we have a PURPOSE. God has a role for each of us to play in accomplishing His plans for His Kingdom.
If you believe in Jesus, you have a PLACE where you belong in God's Kingdom. God has a PLAN, and you have a unique PURPOSE in that PLAN. Your role is to bring God glory, that you might become the salt and light to a culture bent on destruction. If you understand this truth, then you can better understand what Jesus wants you to do. ...
Where are you in your faith journey? Do you know your destination? Are you looking for the prize, a deeper level of commitment, a deeper faith? What are you doing to get there? Are you asking, seeking and knocking? Are you praying like you should? Are you digging into God's Word? What are your expectations?
And it is not a good place to be. The sad thing is, I know better, yet here I am. The only way out is to once again focus on the Lord in prayer, and contemplate the place, plan and purpose on which my faith depends. It all comes back to that "vision" thing.Below, pulled from my archives, are excerpts of a devotion I wrote more than 10 years ago. Interesting how even now, it seems to have been written by someone else. Nevertheless, it still speaks, and I am listening.
A Call to Deep
To be a disciple, the follower of Christ cannot stay along the shore line wading in the shallow beginnings of faith. Rather, the Lord calls us to a deeper life, a life that requires us to explore the depths of God. The deeper life is a life of trust, obedience, and maturity. It is a life that promises amazing growth and adventure for those who are willing to put their entire trust and dependence upon the Father. Can you hear the Spirit calling you to the deeper life, a deeper faith?
Take a moment, and really yourself, "Am I satisfied with where I am in my faith?" ... Our relationship with Jesus must continually grow if it is to survive. The only way to grow is to go deeper. So where can we start?
My understanding of this Christian faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. When I stop to consider my relationship with the Father, I also draw on what we'll call the three "P's" of the faith. The three P's of faith are PLACE, PLAN, and PURPOSE.
1. As children of God, we have a PLACE in God's Kingdom. We are each an important part of His Kingdom, and we belong to this Kingdom.
2. God has a PLAN for His kingdom (and each of us, individually). I believe that God has a plan for His Kingdom. He also had something specific in mind when He created each of us.
3. In this PLAN, we have a PURPOSE. God has a role for each of us to play in accomplishing His plans for His Kingdom.
If you believe in Jesus, you have a PLACE where you belong in God's Kingdom. God has a PLAN, and you have a unique PURPOSE in that PLAN. Your role is to bring God glory, that you might become the salt and light to a culture bent on destruction. If you understand this truth, then you can better understand what Jesus wants you to do. ...
Where are you in your faith journey? Do you know your destination? Are you looking for the prize, a deeper level of commitment, a deeper faith? What are you doing to get there? Are you asking, seeking and knocking? Are you praying like you should? Are you digging into God's Word? What are your expectations?
"As the deer pants for streams of water
So my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV)
"Deep calls to deep at the sound of Thy waterfalls ..." (Psalm 42:7, NASB).
The M-Word: Part 3
In previous posts, I have spent a little time talking about a period of self-evaluation, with respect to ministry. The prologue introduced the four key questions: 1) What is your ministry?; 2) Where are you right now?; 3) Is it where you expected to be?; 4) Is it better/worse/different than before? Questions 1 and 2 were addressed here and here. Today, I will attempt to answer the third.
This question poses a particular challenge for me, as it implies a pre-existing goal or vision for my life and my ministry. I find myself concerned about this, because with a few exceptions, I'm not sure I can articulate any such thing. For most of my life, I have dealt with a tendency toward perfectionism in anything I do, never satisfied with a performance because at some level I remain certain that even the best result can be improved upon. I suppose that even now I still have a driven personality, but that "drive" has at times been quite unfocused, and lacking that motivating "dream" or goal. This, I believe, may be problematic.
When I graduated high school 20 years ago, I didn't really have any specific aspirations. I chose my college major primarily because it made sense: my aptitude was strong in math and science, engineers made money, therefore I studied engineering. I knew I wanted to be married and have a family, and am extremely fortunate and blessed to have that reality. Setting goals, or answering the stock "where do you want to be in 5 years" question, frankly is difficult for me, because for some reason I'm not sure it matters. Let me explain. The way I think, I tend to be accepting (or resigned to) whatever circumstances life brings. I fear that pursuit of some arbitrary goal, such as becoming a vice-president in the company or getting a second degree and changing careers, may be inherently selfish. Whatever ambition I have is usually tied back to my latent perfectionism - whatever I do, I want it to be done well and recognized as such. I have convinced myself that it doesn't really matter where I am 5 years from now, as long as I'm doing my best to live rightly and take care of my family's needs. Because I can serve God with my gifts anywhere, right?
Many of my closest friends from college chose the path of full-time Christian ministry. I lost count how many times I was told that I should go to seminary. I recall taking it rather personally after a while, because it came packaged with the idea that only somebody with a seminary degree has the proper credentials for interpreting and teaching Scripture. I was repulsed by that attitude, because it spoke of an elitism that I reject. All Scripture is God-breathed, and it is open to whomever the Spirit wishes to bequeath knowledge - not just to those who receive "proper training." I've seen too many who have gone into seminary on-fire for the faith, only to come out figuratively chained to the "box" that defines the institutional church.
So where did that leave me? For years, I taught Sunday School, managed an online devotional ministry, and served my local church in leadership. As I've mentioned, I've been on a bit of an extended sabbatical. Is it where I expected to be?
In the past, I have had a few "dreams" for ministry: the development and realization of a complete Bible-study curriculum, taught by myself and a few other teachers; authoring a book of some sort; and serving as a part-time teaching pastor. I'm no longer pursuing these, at least right now, because the timing and the environment are no longer conducive to the effort. They do remain possibilities, of course, but as for now they are no longer my focus. But I can say that there was a time when I thought I would be doing all of those things. But those dreams, if you will, are currently on hiatus.
So am I where I expected to be? Not really, but again, I'm not sure I had any major expectations. Hopes? Hard to say, really. When it comes to ministry, I want to be where God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to be doing. And frankly, right now I'm not certain where and what that is. I want to be content wherever I am, and pursue that prize that He defines for me, not necessarily one of my own choosing. I want to pursue that prize with the single-minded determination that a runner does for each race he races.
But what is that prize? Again, I'm left with a question mark. Because if you have no real expectation, you lose the potential joy of the anticipation that comes with hope and achievement. But if you set the wrong goals, or set goals with the wrong motivation, the result will not be satisfying. Which leaves me right where I am: stagnant. I did not expect to be stagnant in my ministry. But that is exactly where I am today.
And it is not a good place to be. The sad thing is, I know better, yet here I am. The only way out is to once again focus on the Lord in prayer, and contemplate the place, plan and purpose on which my faith depends. It all comes back to that "vision" thing.
To be continued, one step at a time.
This question poses a particular challenge for me, as it implies a pre-existing goal or vision for my life and my ministry. I find myself concerned about this, because with a few exceptions, I'm not sure I can articulate any such thing. For most of my life, I have dealt with a tendency toward perfectionism in anything I do, never satisfied with a performance because at some level I remain certain that even the best result can be improved upon. I suppose that even now I still have a driven personality, but that "drive" has at times been quite unfocused, and lacking that motivating "dream" or goal. This, I believe, may be problematic.
When I graduated high school 20 years ago, I didn't really have any specific aspirations. I chose my college major primarily because it made sense: my aptitude was strong in math and science, engineers made money, therefore I studied engineering. I knew I wanted to be married and have a family, and am extremely fortunate and blessed to have that reality. Setting goals, or answering the stock "where do you want to be in 5 years" question, frankly is difficult for me, because for some reason I'm not sure it matters. Let me explain. The way I think, I tend to be accepting (or resigned to) whatever circumstances life brings. I fear that pursuit of some arbitrary goal, such as becoming a vice-president in the company or getting a second degree and changing careers, may be inherently selfish. Whatever ambition I have is usually tied back to my latent perfectionism - whatever I do, I want it to be done well and recognized as such. I have convinced myself that it doesn't really matter where I am 5 years from now, as long as I'm doing my best to live rightly and take care of my family's needs. Because I can serve God with my gifts anywhere, right?
Many of my closest friends from college chose the path of full-time Christian ministry. I lost count how many times I was told that I should go to seminary. I recall taking it rather personally after a while, because it came packaged with the idea that only somebody with a seminary degree has the proper credentials for interpreting and teaching Scripture. I was repulsed by that attitude, because it spoke of an elitism that I reject. All Scripture is God-breathed, and it is open to whomever the Spirit wishes to bequeath knowledge - not just to those who receive "proper training." I've seen too many who have gone into seminary on-fire for the faith, only to come out figuratively chained to the "box" that defines the institutional church.
So where did that leave me? For years, I taught Sunday School, managed an online devotional ministry, and served my local church in leadership. As I've mentioned, I've been on a bit of an extended sabbatical. Is it where I expected to be?
In the past, I have had a few "dreams" for ministry: the development and realization of a complete Bible-study curriculum, taught by myself and a few other teachers; authoring a book of some sort; and serving as a part-time teaching pastor. I'm no longer pursuing these, at least right now, because the timing and the environment are no longer conducive to the effort. They do remain possibilities, of course, but as for now they are no longer my focus. But I can say that there was a time when I thought I would be doing all of those things. But those dreams, if you will, are currently on hiatus.
So am I where I expected to be? Not really, but again, I'm not sure I had any major expectations. Hopes? Hard to say, really. When it comes to ministry, I want to be where God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to be doing. And frankly, right now I'm not certain where and what that is. I want to be content wherever I am, and pursue that prize that He defines for me, not necessarily one of my own choosing. I want to pursue that prize with the single-minded determination that a runner does for each race he races.
But what is that prize? Again, I'm left with a question mark. Because if you have no real expectation, you lose the potential joy of the anticipation that comes with hope and achievement. But if you set the wrong goals, or set goals with the wrong motivation, the result will not be satisfying. Which leaves me right where I am: stagnant. I did not expect to be stagnant in my ministry. But that is exactly where I am today.
And it is not a good place to be. The sad thing is, I know better, yet here I am. The only way out is to once again focus on the Lord in prayer, and contemplate the place, plan and purpose on which my faith depends. It all comes back to that "vision" thing.
To be continued, one step at a time.
January 10, 2010
Icicle of Doom
North Alabama is experiencing quite the cold snap to start off the new year. In fact, it's the coldest start in 70 years. Temperatures have not been above freezing in almost a week, although that trend may finally come to an end on Monday.
This afternoon, I stepped out back to snap a photo of this 2.5-foot icicle. Timely, too, because an hour later it had plummetted to the ground. The temperature is still only 23 degrees, but I guess the weight plus being in the sun sent the icicle free from the gutter.
This afternoon, I stepped out back to snap a photo of this 2.5-foot icicle. Timely, too, because an hour later it had plummetted to the ground. The temperature is still only 23 degrees, but I guess the weight plus being in the sun sent the icicle free from the gutter.
January 09, 2010
Donald Duck!
Chip time was 3:26, culminating a months-long effort to position himself for this tremendous achievement. Check out his blog to get the whole story.
So while I'm now thinking about a nap here in my nice warm house (temp outside is 18 degrees at 11:00am!), suffice to say that this is a great day for my brother-in-law, for his wife and for the family (including my wife) down there in person to support him.
Congratulations, Byron! And you too, Melanie!
January 07, 2010
So I Lift My Eyes ...
With 2010 underway and the holidays now in the rear view mirror, I have been puzzling over how and what to post to kick off the new year. The "return to routine" has been anything but, it seems. Schedules are completely out of whack, and the demands of work are filled with unexpected uncertainty. To some degree, I'm almost childishly rebelling against this return to routine, and as such am having difficulty finding some equilibrium.
It so happens that while fighting this mood yesterday, I saw a brand new "photo" captured by WISE - the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer. Launched into orbit December 14th, the WISE is designed to:
However, it was the image below that captured my attention, the first released by NASA since activating WISE. Located in the constellation Carina, it shows the brilliance of Creation that lies just beyond the visible light spectrum. It reminds me that there is so much out there that we simply don't have eyes yet to see - but nevertheless a reality so real that if we are able to just glimpse its truth, we can find once again the hope and wonder of a new beginning in an ageless and everlasting eternity. Am I stretching the hyperbole here? Perhaps. But that does nothing to diminish the conviction I have that one day, I will see this with my own "eyes" - and things far more breathtaking.
So despite my lack of inner equilibrium, I will lift my eyes to the heavens ... and fix my mind on things I can't quite see, but know to be true.
It so happens that while fighting this mood yesterday, I saw a brand new "photo" captured by WISE - the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer. Launched into orbit December 14th, the WISE is designed to:
[S]can the entire sky in infrared light with a sensitivity hundreds of times greater than ever before, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images.Some additional information, plus a video of the launch can be found here.
The mission will uncover objects never seen before, including the coolest stars, the universe's most luminous galaxies and some of the darkest near-Earth asteroids and comets.
However, it was the image below that captured my attention, the first released by NASA since activating WISE. Located in the constellation Carina, it shows the brilliance of Creation that lies just beyond the visible light spectrum. It reminds me that there is so much out there that we simply don't have eyes yet to see - but nevertheless a reality so real that if we are able to just glimpse its truth, we can find once again the hope and wonder of a new beginning in an ageless and everlasting eternity. Am I stretching the hyperbole here? Perhaps. But that does nothing to diminish the conviction I have that one day, I will see this with my own "eyes" - and things far more breathtaking.
So despite my lack of inner equilibrium, I will lift my eyes to the heavens ... and fix my mind on things I can't quite see, but know to be true.
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