Art Among Us

This morning a friend of mine and I went for a walk along the Augusta Canal. We walked from the pavillian to the water works and back. Along the way we saw lots of birds, enjoyed a nice walk through the woods, and watched the sun shine on another day. At the water works park was a CSX rail bridge. Below are some photos from it.

The War has Begun!

The war on Christmas has begun! The AFA has released their Naught or Nice list, a list of companies who either embrace Christmas in their advertising or not. Not, contrary to what one would think, the AFA lists a 'naughty' company as one that does not include Christmas in their advertising. It seems that they prefer to see the commercialization of Christmas that has taken place.

I have written about this in the past, so we will combine a few posts on why I do not think we should embrace Christmas in the retail world.

While listening to the radio one morning, a DJ in Kerrville was reading an essay about the "war on Christmas." In the essay, the DJ chastised retail shops for not using the word Christmas in their advertising campaigns. He encouraged everyone to say merry Christmas and not happy holidays. This is just a sample of the numerous claims of an attack on Christmas, usually dealing with retail stores.

The American Family Association, AFA, annually calls for boycotts of stores that do not include the word Christmas in their advertising. This year, they are calling for the boycott of Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. You can read about the fight here. Gap is guilty of having 172 references of "holiday" in their stores and websites but onyl 3 references of "Christmas."

Has Christmas really become so materialistic that Christian organizations are upset that it is losing its materialism? Is the AFA really complaining because the word Christmas is not used in the secular sense? Stores are not using Christmas to spread the message of Jesus, but instead to make money! Is this what God really wants out of his holiday? A fight over if we can get a Wii or not? A fight over if the sign at Walmart says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Is that why Jesus was born 2000 years ago?

Many people are quite upset about retail stores not saying Merry Christmas or using Christmas in there advertisements. I am not one of those. I usually do not say Merry Christmas at the retail store. Here's why.

First, the goal of the retail store is to make money. This is not bad, I have no problem with them wanting to make money. This however is not the reason for Christmas. The reason for Christmas is to remember to coming of our Savior. I am not reminded of it when I am given a new shirt wrapped in pretty paper.

Second, I love Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. I hear it in just about every store. However, it does not remind me of the coming of Jesus. It reminds me of what an awesome piece of music it is, or perhaps how someday I too would like to go for a sleigh ride. I do not like the song Santa Baby. I find it weird. It also doesn't remind me of the coming of Christ. Songs like Joy to the World, or Hark! the Herald Angels Sing do remind me of Christmas. But I rarely hear those songs in the store.

Third, I am not really that big on the presents. Maybe I am just a scrooge about it. I enjoy giving presents, but not so much the receiving. I do it because I care for the people, but find that giving to charities or the needy to be a much better endeavor.

Many people say Merry Christmas at the retail stores. That's great! I will say "thank you" when you give me my receipt instead. I am not trying to keep Christ out of Christmas, just the opposite, I am trying to keep him in it.

2000 years ago a child was given to us. A child that was prophesied about for hundreds of years. Isaiah wrote

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Luke tells us that during the reign of Caesar Augustus, Joseph took his virgin bride-to-be (who was with child) to Bethlehem to be registered. During the time, Mary gave birth to a child who was called Jesus, which means He will save. And he did save! This child grew up to be the most perfect man to ever live. This man, whose biological father was God himself, came to save us from our sins and allow us to have ever lasting life. 33 years after his birth in a stable, he was hung on a cross. His death was the atonement for our sins, allowing us to be reconciled to God, from whom our sins separated us. His resurrection 3 days later conquered death and gave us eternal life, all who believe in him and take him as their savior. For without Easter, there would be no Christmas. King Jesus now reigns in heaven and in our hearts, having overcome the prince of this world, Satan.

What are people really fighting for? Are we fighting so that God's name will be known throughout the world or that we can feel powerful. Are we fighting for God's glory or our own? To fight for the word Christmas to be placed in store advertising is to fight for your own glory. To fight through prayer and devotion to prepare for the coming of the Christ child is to fight for God's glory.

What are you fighting for?

Now let's go get ready for Thanksgiving.

It is good!

This week, Bishop Woodie White has an article in the United Methodist Reporter titled REFLECTIONS: Focus on good news! In it, Bishop White urges us to remember that there is not only bad in the world, but also good. He recalls as a child a news commentator who would begin with “There’s good news tonight!” Should we not remember this mantra today?

He comments that to some, bad news is the only desirable news there is. Any good news must be twisted into a way that reflects poorly on someone or something. Some do this for political reasons. Listen to any political commentator and you will hear this. A politician from the opposite side of the aisle could come up with a cure for cancer, end world hunger, and bring world peace and the political commentator will find someway to change it into bad news. Others do this for money. Listen to an advertisement for gold and you will think that the total destruction of any form of government was imminent. Still others do it just because they have a negative attitude about life.

We needn't ignore the bad in the world. Bishop White tells us "To be sure, it is important to be informed of the events that reveal flaws of leaders, nations and individuals. These must be addressed forcefully and effectively. Our desired end is the common good, freedom, justice and fairness for all. We must correct all that would dehumanize or seek to destroy our common humanity and desire for community." We have much work to do. God gives us this as our challenge. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help the imprisoned, give water to the thirsty, cure the sick, fight for justice, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. But we must not ignore the good that God is doing. "But it is the good in people and the good of people that makes the world a better place. To overlook or minimize this good, as evidenced in deeds or works, is to forget who we are as a people and the children of a God. Not a bad God, but a good God!" Indeed, the very message of salvation, the Gospel, is Good News.

What good is going on in your life?

The Wall was Torn Down

20 years ago the Berlin Wall fell. I remember seeing it on the news, probably one of my earliest recollections of an international event.

It marked the end of the Cold War, and ushered in what was thought to be a new era of peace. One that was soon interrupted by activity in the Middle East when Saddam Hussein rolled his tanks into Kuwait. And in the Middle East our attention has been since.

What better way to remember the end of the Cold War that a German anti-Cold War song, Nena's 99 Luftballons!

History Repeats

Recently, I have had several posts that have been repeats of previous posts. Today is no different. Yesterday I was riding in my truck with a friend listening to Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static.



He asked about the song and I told him my interpretation of it being an anti-Iraq war song. While discussing the song, I mentioned that I felt it was a much better anti-war song than John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change. I wrote about that song almost a year ago. You can read my thoughts here.

Coincidentally, these repeats have all been about a year after the original post. This has not been because I looked up what was happening a year ago, but because history repeats itself. I now have a way of looking into my past. Now if only I make the correct choice this time around.

Come Fly With Me

My friend Jamie loves to fly.



I have rarely talked to her without her talking about flying. If you ask her what she loves to do, her response is "to get high." Today, she took me to get high.



Jamie flies a Cessna 150 Commuter. After introducing me to her plane, we went over a pre-flight check. She showed me the various parts of the plane and how to inspect it before flight. After she was made ready for flight, we taxied to the runway.




We took off on runway 36. Runways are numbers based on the first two numbers of their magnetic heading. So runway 36 has a magnetic heading of 360 or 000. Another thing Jamie taught me about aviation.



We took off and spent about an hour in the air, flying between 500' and 3500', soaring over lakes and swamps, bays and shorelines, watching children and dolphins play, bouncing on the wind, getting high.



She loves to share her enthusiasm of flying with everyone. That extended to letting me get my hands on the controls and flying the plane.



What a thrill! No wonder Jamie talks about it all the time.

She took back the controls and demonstrated what the plane is capable of, doing steep turns and a power-off stall.



After over an hour of flight, it was time for us to come down from our high. We returned to the airport, landing on runway 36.



Jamie loves getting high. Can you blame her?

The Pensacola Lighthouse

The Pensacola Lighthouse sits on the grounds of NAS Pensacola, shining its light as a beacon to mariners entering the Pensacola Bay.



I have seen the lighthouse everyday while in Pensacola, but had not visited it. Yesterday I made the 177 step climb to the top of the tower. It is well worth it.

Tours of the lighthouse occur every Saturday, from 12 - 4, May through October.



The current lighthouse was lit in 1859. It stayed manned until 1965 when it was automated. The Keepers' Quarters were next door and housed the Keeper and family, as well as the Assistant Keeper and family.



Supposedly at some point in its past, someone was murdered in the southeast bedroom. The floor is said to be stained with blood that never came out. Do you see it?



Through out the night, the Keeper would climb 177 steps to the top of the lighthouse to keep the light going. We followed in his footsteps.



As you climb the steps, you pass various windows, each offering a new perspective in elevation and bearing.






177 steps, wrapped around the center pole, climbing 191 feet above the water.



Upon reaching the last step, you come to the light, the purpose of the lighthouse, shining 27 miles into the night.



But for us today, the purpose of the lighthouse is two fold. To walk in the footsteps of the lighthouse keeper who kept the light to protect ships and their crew, and to enjoy the views offered by the lighthouse.

Finally Friday

Another week has come and gone. Much has been accomplished, but I have also left much undone. But time continues to march on. To celebrate the end of another week, we'll listen to another one of my favorite songs. This week, a Ziggy Marley cover of his dad's Africa Unite, promoting Pan-African solidarity. One of the things that I accomplished yet left undone was reading. I did some reading, but not nearly all I want to do. One of the books I have been working with is a book by Martin Meredith,“The State of Africa – A History of Fifty Years of Independence," which includes discussion of the Pan-African movement.

How I met the one I love

I love music. I almost always have music playing. I enjoy playing my guitar, though poorly. I have dreams of someday writing songs that I actually like.
Growing up, I have always enjoyed music. I have listened to a variety of music, from classic country to rock, americana to reggae, classic to top 40. In high school, I tended to listen to classic country and complained bitterly about the new music coming out of Nashville. I desired more than pop country. One early morning while tuning the dial on the radio, I found 98.7 FM, KTXN, the Texas Mix out of Victoria. My musical desire had been quench yet set on fire. The music that played out of the speakers in my truck was amazing. I heard all sorts of new artists that I had never known before. I heard lyrics that were poetic lines from heaven, guitar riffs that were fashioned in hell. Then the sun would rise and the melodious music would be replaced by static until that evening. I spent a year staying up late at night to listen to this music. I then went to college and enjoyed the 2 hours I spent driving through the heart of the broadcast area, taking in this music. The station is gone, but the music is still alive.

One of the artists that I learned of from KTXN was Bonnie Raitt. My favorite song of her's is Something to Talk About.

Returning to KFC

I ate lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken today. Now I love fried chicken, but do not like the flavor of KFC, so I do not go there. Today, I decided to go and try out the Kentucky Grilled Chicken. Now, the grilled chicken has one major advantage over the fried, price. You can get the 2 piece grilled chicken platter for cheaper than the 1 piece fried chicken platter. I went with the breast & wing combo with mashed potatoes, green beans and a biscuit. I ate the chicken first, being the most important part of the meal. This was some good chicken! I liked the flavor of it, much better than KFC's fried chicken. Next I went on to the green beans. Pretty good beans. Then the mashed potatoes and gravy. Surprising, it was actually the least great tasting part of the meal and I normally love mashed potatoes. I finished the meal with a biscuit smothered in honey. Now the best part of all this was as I was sitting down, a woman in the store let out a loud sigh and loudly stated "I'm stuffed."

Change

Change is inevitable. The seasons inevitably change. The warmth of summer will turn to the cool of fall and the cold of winter. The land inevitably changes. Mountains grow where the land was once flat. Rivers dry up where they once ran wild. The Man in the Mountain crumbled. Kilauea continues to erupt, increasing the size of the island of Hawaii. People inevitably change. Babies are born. Peoples' bodies show the wear of age. Children who were once small are now large adults. Death continues to reign over all who live. The weather inevitably changes. The rain of one day turns to the sunshine of another. The heat of one day is replaced by the coolness of the next. Relationships inevitably change. I meet new people. I discover things about people and dissolve the relationship. I discover things about people and strengthen the relationship. I lose touch with people I know as time and distance separate us.

But do I have to change? Just because a relationship changes, do I have to change in response to that? Will I some day have to make a decision to change from where I am today?

Everything changes, but does that have to include me?

My Land

I love the beach


This week PBS has had a special on the National Park System called THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA, by Ken Burns. It was a great series which I faithfully watched every night, except I missed the first hour of the last episode. :(




The series focused on a part of the Park Service that I didn't know much about, the politics behind the formation of the service, the formation of the various parks, and some individual stories of people impacted by the parks such as park rangers, CCC workers, tourists, land owners, local residents, and John Muir. They mentioned something that I always felt about public lands. They are owned by the People of the USA and that makes me the largest land owner in the world.



I love traveling to see my land. I have traveled all over the country visiting various parks, forests, monuments, mountains, battlegounds, ships, museums, and seashores that I own. One of my favorite lands to visit is the beaches that I own.





Two of the beaches I have visited most are Padre Island and Perdido Key. I love going to the beach. Watching the sun break the horizon or crash into it. Watching the waves as that roll onto the seashore. Watching the birds and deer and they search for food. Feeling the sun, wind, sand, and water on my skin. Smelling the salty air. Finding shells and other oddities that the tides have brought in. I love the beach. Now it is known that I do not like swimming, but I love the beach. This is some of the best land that I own.

Standing at the station

Earlier today I was talking to a friend about having to go through changes and trains. It was certainly an interesting combination, but one that has been discussed before.

Almost 1 year ago, I wrote about being in a new place. My life had gone through some changes. Some by trains I chose to get off, trains I chose to get on, trains that threw me off, and some trains that passed me by. In reflecting on those changes, I was impressed that I some how ended up where I was.

It is now a year later and I continue to be impressed by where I am, considering my path. Some of those trains I have tried to run down and failed. New trains have come my way, so that I missed, some that I took. But I am in a new place because of the path I have taken. Here's to that path, as odd as it has been.

In the original post in October of 2008, I posted a song by Walt Wilkins and the Mytiqueros called Trains I Missed. I posted a copy of the song from youtube, however that video was shortly taken down. I found a new copy that seems to not be violating any copyrights. I think it is a great song.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Missing the Train

Walt Wilkins and the Mytiqueros have a song called Trains I Missed. Part of the song is:

It's a big old world but I've found my way
And the hell and the hurt lead me straight to it
Here's to the trains I missed

Here's to this place I've found
The love I've known
The earth and the sky
That I call home
Here's to the things I need
Bigger than me
And the moments I find myself right where I'm suppose to be

(You can click here to see the entire lyrics.)

The point of the song is that our lives our guided by our past. We have ended up where we are today because of the path of yesterday. Sometimes we see things in our lives that we desire or think is good for us, but in the end, we do not capture them. We miss them. In looking in our past, we see that missing those things was exactly what we needed and we ended up just where we were suppose to be.

Here's to the trains I've missed. The relationships that didn't work out. The opportunities that didn't occur. The times I didn't take a chance. The times I trusted my gut instead of my desire. The times things went completely wrong.

Here's to the place I've found. The relationships that did work out. The opportunities that did occur. The times I did take a chance. The times my mind was right. The times things went completely right.

I do not understand why somethings in my life do not work out. Perhaps in the future I will toast this moment. Perhaps I will not! One thing is for certain, the train is past and I am on another track.

It is a good thing we have eternity to get this right

Today in church, the message was on Mark 9:38-50. The pastor started out with talking about favorite verses in the Bible. He asked us to think of ours and mentioned a few of his. One of those was John 11:35. In 4th grade when he was assigned to memorize his favorite bible for Sunday school. Being a smart man, he quickly decided that John 11:35 was his favorite. He wrapped it up by saying that no one's favorite verse is Mark 9:44. I quickly glanced at my Bible to see what verse 44 was. Well, that is when I found that there was no verse 44, it goes straight from 43 to 45 to 47. The pastor then said that no one he has met has said that they liked the verse saying to cut off your hand if it causes you to sin. Turns out that that is verse 43, not 44. The footnotes of my Bible say that verse 44 and 46, which are the same as 48, are included in some ancient manuscripts, but not in modern translations. I tried explaining to the pastor after the service that verse 44 wasn't in the Bible, but he was just expecting a hand shake and a good morning and was confused by my comments.

So the pastor was right, no one's favorite verse is Mark 9:44, but not because it talks about cutting off your hand, but because it isn't in the Bible.

I'll add this to my favorite bloopers in church that I have witnessed, most of which were caused by me.

Other great bloopers include:
#1) Forgiving Jesus of his sins

In church, the congregational prayer was printed in the bulletin. The pastor was leading it and as a congregation, we said "Jesus, your sins are forgiven." I mentioned it to my grandma who didn't notice who mentioned it to the pastor who also hadn't noticed.

#2) I read the wrong scripture in church

In my church growing up, one Sunday a month, the youth read the scripture. Since I was the only youth who went to the early service, I was the one who read it once a month on behalf of the youth. Sometimes someone told me I was reading, usually I just showed up at church and saw my name in the bulletin. One Sunday I arrived at church, saw my name in the bulletin, and looked up the scripture. I do not remember what the Sunday was, but it was a specific Sunday that would have used specific scripture. I noticed that the scripture listed was not for the Sunday and was probably a chapter off. I told my grandma that I was going to ask the pastor if it was the next chapter that was too be read. She said that the pastor knew what he was preaching on and choose the specific verses for a reason. Very well, don't argue with grandma. I get up, read the scripture, then sit down. The pastor begins saying "Thanks for reading, however we had a typo in the bulletin and it should be the next chapter."

#3) I edit the morning Scripture

Another morning, I arrived, saw my name, grabbed the Bible, and headed up to read. Standing in front of the microphone, I begin, "He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and," I looked at the next word. Joses. I mutter to myself "whoa that's a weird word," jerking my head back as I remembered there was a microphone in front of me. I glance at the pastor sitting next to me. Should I asked them for pronunciation help? I look back to the audience. Does it rhyme with Moses? Is the J silent in Hebrew? Lots of questions! I decided to just skip over that word and move on to an easy name, Simon. Luckily my hesitation was quick enough that no one noticed.

#4) False start on the Lord's Supper

One Sunday I was at a church I had been attending for a while. By chance, I hadn't taken communion before in the church. While I was walking in, I was asked if I would help distribute the elements. Sure, this can't be hard. When it came time, I succeeded in passing out the elements and placed the plate back on the cart at the back of the sanctuary, grabbed my bread and wine. Partook, then sat down. The pastor then said "As we join together in the bread, are we not united in Christ? Let us now take the bread together." Opps! My bad...

#5) Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

When I first went to college, I decided that I should expand my vocabulary. To show off my collegiate vocabulary, I would use big words, even if they didn't fit into the situation. One night at Bible study, we were studying the Holy Spirit and I said "Jesus said he was going to send us the adversary." I got in my big word! Yes! The Bible study leader said "what?" I repeated eruditely, "Jesus said he was going to send us the adversary." "I think you might want to look that one up." Turns out the appropriate word was advocate, not adversary. Isn't blasphemy of the Holy Spirit the unpardonable sin? Ekk!

It is a good thing we have eternity to get this right!

Day at the Museum

Today I went to downtown Pensacola. One of the places I went to was the TT Wentworth Museum.



Museums are extremely important. They teach us things that our teachers refused to teach us in school. Take today, I learned about the curious case of Charlotte May Pierstorff. Pierstorff holds the distinction of being the only person to have been mailed via the US Postal Service.

In 1914, she wanted to visit her grandparents who lived 75 miles away on the otherside of some mountains in Idaho. Her parents couldn't afford a train ticket, so they instead bought some postage stamps. She was under the weight limit for parcel post, so the USPS mailed her. She rode the baggage car on the train to her grandparents' town. Upon arriving to the town, the mailman delivered her. Shortly after, the Postmaster General banned the mailing of humans.

Why did my teachers deprive me of such essential knowledge???

How do you make a teacher?

Yesterday a guy in a class I am in said I looked like a teacher. Well, there is a good reason for that, I am a teacher. I have a teaching license and have experience in teaching. I know the struggles and joys of being a teacher, because I have been there. I know the theories and models of teaching and various situations in which they are appropriate because I have studied them and used them in a practical setting. When I am sitting in classes, I often wonder on how to make them better by changing the presentation or the curriculum. How the assessments designed or gauging the level of teacher-student interaction. What does it take the make a teacher?

A teacher must know their subject. You cannot teach if you do not know. But they must be more than just a subject matter expert. It is not enough for the teacher to just know the material for their job is not to know but to teach.

The teacher must also understand the student. They must know their life desires. What motivates them. What their life is like and how their situation affects their learning. What expectations they have. What they already know. What they have learned. You must know the student to teach him.

A teacher must understand how to teach. They have the information that the student needs, but they must find how to deliver the material to the student in a practical and successful manner. They must know when to push the student and when to pull the student. When to teach the student and when to let the student learn. When to encourage the student and when to walk away from the student.

The teacher must care about the student. They must have a desires to see the student succeed. They must want the student to learn. They are to be an example, a role model for the student. Someone to be respected and someone who respects. Someone who will defend the integrity of the student.

A teacher cannot be a book. A teacher is alive and interacts with the student. A teacher is more than just someone with a inflection in their voice. It is the most noblest of professions and must be approached as such.

I do my part, you do the rest

The other day in bible study, we were talking about sharing the gospel with others. Some people felt that the best they could do was to invite others to church and let the pastor do the rest. Sometimes this is a viable option, just bringing someone to church can be enough to get them started on the path to Christ or connected to a new church. However, we cannot expect the pastor to do all the work! Jesus said for us to go to the ends of the world and make disciples of Him, not to go and get other people to do the work. We do work together and there is certainly nothing wrong with bringing people to church, but are you prepared to do more if necessary? Peter tells us "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you for a reason regarding the hope that is in you, yet answer with gentleness and reverence." Are you ready to do more than just bring them to someone else?

All Just to get to You

I enjoy the music of Joe Ely. One of my favorite Joe Ely songs is All Just to get to You. I would do all this song says.