My annual quest to save Thanksgiving has begun in earnest in my humble abode.
My kids feigned disgust when they saw all the Christmas decorations going up at the local Walmart, just after Halloween. Yet now Ab has already uprooted a defenseless little cedar tree from our woods and planted it in a pot of sawdust in her room. It has been decorated with an aluminum foil covered star and a construction paper chain.
Mind you - this is right down my alley (some of you will remember my caper with a Rustic Christmas Tree last year)- I like old fashion remnants of Christmas . . . but NOT until the proper time. I argue that to begin the Christmas celebration too early is to invite Christmas fatigue and besides, doing so negates one of our most important holidays - Thanksgiving Day.
I mean what better way to enter the Yuletide season, than to inaugurate it with a season of thankfulness.
It doesn't help that our local "positive" music station (used to be code for "Christian", but can now mean any music that doesn't entail cussing and - up until recently - anything sung by Miley Cyrus) is now wall to wall Christmas music ... now in the middle of November!
It reminds me of one year that every television station known to man was playing "It's a Wonderful Life" (possibly the best Christmas movie ever made and in my top five all time favorite movies). I think the movie rights must have expired that year or gone into public domain - anyway it was overkill and "familiarity bred contempt".
So our rides together now often turn into a battle of the radio knob. Ab diving to the radio to fill the vehicle with the sounds of the Brenda Lee "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - while I try to manage the wheel and fend her off at the same time. All this as I lay out my systematic defense of keeping things in their proper timing and place.
I am persuaded that anticipation is one of the true joys of the Christmas Season - and perhaps understatement is one of the true characteristics of that preceding season...
Here's to a happy thanksgiving day...
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
1776
The book was quite impressive. It is a detailed description of George Washington and his "rabble" as they spent the first year of the War of Independence. I found the book to be very eye opening as it pointed out the dramatic weaknesses of the Americans. In fact most of the "victories" this ragtag militia enjoyed during those early days were not victories at all.
They felt triumphant because they had made a valiant stand against the greatest military force on earth, or because they had successfully retreated from just under the noses of the British.
The book paints a picture of the illustrious George Washington that is, I think, accurate but not flattering. Washington believed that he should lead by example and so acted often in ways that would today seem pretentious or hypocritical. Washington apparently failed miserably over and over again during that first year in terms of strategy.
After he waited and waited during the siege of Boston, he lacked the powder to mount an attack. Finally, he gained the high ground after Henry Knox led a daring expedition to obtain the Guns of Ticonderoga and transport them to Boston.
The British fled but the tables were turned when they met again in New York. Washington's troops retreated from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Fort Washington, and near the end of the year, found themselves scampering to try and evacuate and then defend the capital at Philadelphia.
McCullough pulls no punches when he points out how inept the Americans were.
Yet they stood. They fought - often valiantly.
While McCullough stops short of giving credit to God for the admittedly miraculous events that surrounded this army, he does at least acknowledge that some of the patriots were quick to credit the Almighty with any success they found.
Things like General Washington sitting tall (and quite peaceably) in the saddle all along the front lines as musket balls zinged back and forth around him - he was there to encourage the troops and he dared not show any fear.
There were countless examples of amazing retreats. In one instance, a night time evacuation took place without the notice of the British troops. As dawn approached and the evacuation wasn't nearly complete, an uncanny fog settled into the area and provided cover until the operation was complete.
I was overwhelmingly impressed with the evidence of God's sovereign overseeing of the birth of this nation.
As I neared the end of the book, I was reminded of an American Trait that I had not thought of in quite awhile: The tendency of Americans to stand strong when the odds are against them.
We haven't seen much of that since the apparent establishment of our world dominance after WWII. There has been a trend among liberals since that time for us to fawn over other nations just to prove that we are not the "ugly Americans" they think we are.
But there exists in the hearts of freedom-loving people, a strong constitution to stand even though the cards are stacked against us - event though it seems apparent that we are beaten.
It is a trait that was displayed prominently over the recent mid-term elections by members of the Tea Party. Those who won and those who lost. Those who found little support among the party they were running with and those who ran in the face of petty and ugly personal attack, all stood - they fought the good fight and some won ... others will live to fight another day.
And fight they will, because like those early Americans who realized that 1776 was not the end - it was only the beginning, many Americans are awakening to the same realization.
Washington closed out that year with a tremendous Christmas season victory at both Trenton and Princeton. Yet there were many more battles to face ahead. So they continued resolutely into the next year and the others that followed.
Just as we must do today . . . . it is the American way.
Farewell Farmer Bill
Well I have hung up my bib overalls (figuratively speaking) and have thus retired my "farmer Bill" persona.
History may reveal this brief chapter in my life as being just a symptom of a brewing mid-life crisis - nevertheless yesterday, we said goodbye to the kids...
...not the children....
...but our two goats that have been a part of our family - albeit a distant part - for the past few months.
Thunder and Floyd bleated their baaaah- baaah's ("bye-bye's") from the back of a pickup truck around dusk last night as they pulled out of our driveway en route to their new home.
The duo added a taste of adventure to our family over the summer and early fall. Alas, now R. can give her eyeballs a rest from their continual rolling at the latest news of all their shenanigans.
Only yesterday -before their fate had been sealed for certain - they had been tied out in separate locations near the back yard. They seemed to be enjoying the last remaining morsels of liriopa and the munching of newly fallen acorns. As AA and I were stacking some firewood, along with my brother-in-law and nephew, the two came bounding around the house - prancing gaily in their pride of having obtained liberty on their own.
Floyd had finally broken the dog lead that was once used occasionally for Tanner, our chocolate Lab; Thunder had somehow untied the Cub Scout inspired knots I had used for his tether.
I will say that they are very entertaining animals and - I believe- quite valuable. They completed -fairly successfully - their mission: clearing portions of our woods of undergrowth.
Lately as the days have grown cooler - and shorter, it has interfered with their grazing ability. Typically, I had been able to let them out for a couple hours each evening to graze. However, of late they had turned to our landscaping for nutrition. Darkness and the fullness of our after-school schedules often conspired together to eliminate that grazing opportunity.
I will say that they are very relaxing animals. I don't know if it is their constant munching or the tender way they softly bleat to one another while grazing, but it serves to set one's mind at ease.
I think most appealing is their single-mindedness.
These animals seem to live for nothing else but to eat. They are eating machines. They are quickly drawn to anything that sounds like grain or that is green - and they plunge toward said items with reckless abandon.
Maybe there is a lesson I can learn from my time with the goats (don't laugh - everyone seemed to take Jane Goodall serious). There is something very positive and right about having only a few, well-defined priorities and going after those with all that is within us.
The Apostle Paul said "This ONE thing I do" and for him that ONE thing was to press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus.
Even though I am now a "goatless wonder", perhaps that lesson will stay with me awhile. . .
.... at least for as long as the smell lasts.
History may reveal this brief chapter in my life as being just a symptom of a brewing mid-life crisis - nevertheless yesterday, we said goodbye to the kids...
...not the children....
...but our two goats that have been a part of our family - albeit a distant part - for the past few months.
Thunder and Floyd bleated their baaaah- baaah's ("bye-bye's") from the back of a pickup truck around dusk last night as they pulled out of our driveway en route to their new home.
The duo added a taste of adventure to our family over the summer and early fall. Alas, now R. can give her eyeballs a rest from their continual rolling at the latest news of all their shenanigans.
Only yesterday -before their fate had been sealed for certain - they had been tied out in separate locations near the back yard. They seemed to be enjoying the last remaining morsels of liriopa and the munching of newly fallen acorns. As AA and I were stacking some firewood, along with my brother-in-law and nephew, the two came bounding around the house - prancing gaily in their pride of having obtained liberty on their own.
Floyd had finally broken the dog lead that was once used occasionally for Tanner, our chocolate Lab; Thunder had somehow untied the Cub Scout inspired knots I had used for his tether.
I will say that they are very entertaining animals and - I believe- quite valuable. They completed -fairly successfully - their mission: clearing portions of our woods of undergrowth.
Lately as the days have grown cooler - and shorter, it has interfered with their grazing ability. Typically, I had been able to let them out for a couple hours each evening to graze. However, of late they had turned to our landscaping for nutrition. Darkness and the fullness of our after-school schedules often conspired together to eliminate that grazing opportunity.
I will say that they are very relaxing animals. I don't know if it is their constant munching or the tender way they softly bleat to one another while grazing, but it serves to set one's mind at ease.
I think most appealing is their single-mindedness.
These animals seem to live for nothing else but to eat. They are eating machines. They are quickly drawn to anything that sounds like grain or that is green - and they plunge toward said items with reckless abandon.
Maybe there is a lesson I can learn from my time with the goats (don't laugh - everyone seemed to take Jane Goodall serious). There is something very positive and right about having only a few, well-defined priorities and going after those with all that is within us.
The Apostle Paul said "This ONE thing I do" and for him that ONE thing was to press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus.
.... at least for as long as the smell lasts.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Relevance and Truth
For a time it seemed that the trend in new churches was to achieve "relevance".
It may still be the trend.
Relevance means "we are hip to what's happening today .... man".
In the seventies, Christians adopted terms from the drug culture and invited sinners to get "hooked on Jesus"...
In the eighties, I distinctly remember lobbying for our church to get with it and bring in Pac Man and other video games.
All in the name of relevance.
Even then, it seemed a little hollow.
Today, churches are struggling to discover where the culture is going and adapt, adjust - become relevant.
I have no problem with churches serving their congregants better and I like fresh perspectives; but sometimes I am afraid that we focus too closely on being relevant. We adjust so much that we forget who we are and lose sight of who God has called us to be.
We who make up the universal church are called to be "lights".
The compelling thing about light is that it stands out. It provides a stark contrast to the darkness.
I have been thinking a lot about truth lately. There is a standard that says that All Truth is God's Truth, and I buy into that whole heartedly. In fact Jesus said " I am the Way, the Truth, . . . ".
And because God is Truth, we can trust that Truth will always triumph in the end.
Have you ever thought about how constantly relevant the Truth is?
Truths never change, and though cultures change, fashions change, people change - the Truth is always relevant - it is always "hip to the jive".
Quickly rattle off some truths that you know:
You always reap what you sow
if you play with fire you'll get burned
Give and it shall be given unto you
the idle mind is the Devil's workshop
many hands make light work
They are always relevant; they always work. Now rattle off some relevant catch phrases:
The earth is flat
Love means never having to say you're sorry
Drop out, turn on, tune in
Never trust anyone over thirty
.... phrases that were quite relevant in their day but today they are trite.
These thoughts have given me some solace over the past couple of years as I watched our political landscape. . . the truth is always relevant - the truth always wins in the end.
When our founding fathers decided to put down their reasoning for seeking independence from Britain, they did so with a written document. One that could easily be used against them, but one they could also use as a standard, a benchmark in case they grew weak.
It is fitting I think that they began that document with a reference to the Truth. . . .
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...."
...Truth that is still relevant today.
Keep standing, America.
It may still be the trend.
Relevance means "we are hip to what's happening today .... man".
In the seventies, Christians adopted terms from the drug culture and invited sinners to get "hooked on Jesus"...
In the eighties, I distinctly remember lobbying for our church to get with it and bring in Pac Man and other video games.
All in the name of relevance.
Even then, it seemed a little hollow.
Today, churches are struggling to discover where the culture is going and adapt, adjust - become relevant.
I have no problem with churches serving their congregants better and I like fresh perspectives; but sometimes I am afraid that we focus too closely on being relevant. We adjust so much that we forget who we are and lose sight of who God has called us to be.
We who make up the universal church are called to be "lights".
The compelling thing about light is that it stands out. It provides a stark contrast to the darkness.
I have been thinking a lot about truth lately. There is a standard that says that All Truth is God's Truth, and I buy into that whole heartedly. In fact Jesus said " I am the Way, the Truth, . . . ".
And because God is Truth, we can trust that Truth will always triumph in the end.
Have you ever thought about how constantly relevant the Truth is?
Truths never change, and though cultures change, fashions change, people change - the Truth is always relevant - it is always "hip to the jive".
Quickly rattle off some truths that you know:
You always reap what you sow
if you play with fire you'll get burned
Give and it shall be given unto you
the idle mind is the Devil's workshop
many hands make light work
They are always relevant; they always work. Now rattle off some relevant catch phrases:
The earth is flat
Love means never having to say you're sorry
Drop out, turn on, tune in
Never trust anyone over thirty
.... phrases that were quite relevant in their day but today they are trite.
These thoughts have given me some solace over the past couple of years as I watched our political landscape. . . the truth is always relevant - the truth always wins in the end.
When our founding fathers decided to put down their reasoning for seeking independence from Britain, they did so with a written document. One that could easily be used against them, but one they could also use as a standard, a benchmark in case they grew weak.
It is fitting I think that they began that document with a reference to the Truth. . . .
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...."
...Truth that is still relevant today.
Keep standing, America.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Year of the Angry Woman?
Since my turns at the computer are fewer these days and seldom seem to correspond with my energy and inspiration level, I am going to indulge myself in a little political analysis.
I live in Georgia, and our gubernatorial (not "goobernatorial") race pits a former congressman against a former governor. It has not garnered a lot of interest - due in part to the fact that national politics have been on the forefront. Besides, Georgia governors tend to be uninspiring.
Don't get me wrong, I have liked some of them - liked them a lot. I even liked the governor that is now leaving office (the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction).
Anyway, being that I am something of a conservative policital junkie, I am surprised that I have apparently missed something this year.
It appears - judging from the ads put out by former governor Roy Barnes, Democrat, - that I was completely oblivious to a hotly trending constituency.
One year some time back, it was the "Year of the Soccer-Mom", remember that? Another time it was the "Reagan Democrats" or the perpetually illusive (and fickle) "Independents" that seemed to be the groups to market toward.
Roy Barnes, Democrat, -adroit political avante-guard that he is -has apparently jumped on a burgeoning NEW trend!
He is marketing his ads to "angry, bitter, women".
I must confess that I have not seen any television ads (except portions of a questionable TV ad that included some doctored video) - all of my experience with Roy Barnes, Democrat, ads have been on the radio.
In one a frustrated woman talks about some bill that Nathan Deal had voted against that was supposed to protect rape victims. She ends by declaring that she can "never forgive him" for that.
Another ad features yet another woman - a STRONG woman - that is barking orders to mousy men in her office, she decries Nathan Deal's business acumen in very demanding tones. For a moment, I felt I needed to apologized for something ... being a man, I guess... then I teetered between the idea of sending flowers or getting her a cup of coffee.
In another ad two women whisper about their votes and then how one will manipulate her unsuspecting husband into voting for Roy Barnes, Democrat.
At best, these ads have left me ...uninspired. At worst, they prompt me to become uninvolved, to stay home with my vote.
As I was going over these thoughts, I heard an ad from a campaign in Florida, our neighbors to the south.
Refreshingly, it said, and did - what ads should do.
It inspired me. It almost made me want to move to Florida - just so I could vote.
See what you think.
Vote.
I live in Georgia, and our gubernatorial (not "goobernatorial") race pits a former congressman against a former governor. It has not garnered a lot of interest - due in part to the fact that national politics have been on the forefront. Besides, Georgia governors tend to be uninspiring.
Don't get me wrong, I have liked some of them - liked them a lot. I even liked the governor that is now leaving office (the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction).
Anyway, being that I am something of a conservative policital junkie, I am surprised that I have apparently missed something this year.
It appears - judging from the ads put out by former governor Roy Barnes, Democrat, - that I was completely oblivious to a hotly trending constituency.
One year some time back, it was the "Year of the Soccer-Mom", remember that? Another time it was the "Reagan Democrats" or the perpetually illusive (and fickle) "Independents" that seemed to be the groups to market toward.
Roy Barnes, Democrat, -adroit political avante-guard that he is -has apparently jumped on a burgeoning NEW trend!
He is marketing his ads to "angry, bitter, women".
I must confess that I have not seen any television ads (except portions of a questionable TV ad that included some doctored video) - all of my experience with Roy Barnes, Democrat, ads have been on the radio.
In one a frustrated woman talks about some bill that Nathan Deal had voted against that was supposed to protect rape victims. She ends by declaring that she can "never forgive him" for that.
Another ad features yet another woman - a STRONG woman - that is barking orders to mousy men in her office, she decries Nathan Deal's business acumen in very demanding tones. For a moment, I felt I needed to apologized for something ... being a man, I guess... then I teetered between the idea of sending flowers or getting her a cup of coffee.
In another ad two women whisper about their votes and then how one will manipulate her unsuspecting husband into voting for Roy Barnes, Democrat.
At best, these ads have left me ...uninspired. At worst, they prompt me to become uninvolved, to stay home with my vote.
As I was going over these thoughts, I heard an ad from a campaign in Florida, our neighbors to the south.
Refreshingly, it said, and did - what ads should do.
It inspired me. It almost made me want to move to Florida - just so I could vote.
See what you think.
Vote.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Please Buy My Kid's Popcorn
It's that time of year again.
Not unlike the Girl Scouts and their ubiquitous cookies - the Cub Scouts are putting on their annual fundraiser - Popcorn!
Since I believe the Judeo-Christian work ethic is one thing that makes this country great, I like the fact that the boys are required to do the lion's share of the work with this fundraising effort.
AA has jumped whole-heartedly into the sales effort; he has boldly gone door to door in a couple of neighborhoods as I stood just behind him. Further, he has displayed a sales savvy that would make my Dad quite proud (as it does me).
In spite of all this effort and a pretty strong sells record, he is still short of his goal of winning a cool crossbow that shoots marshmallows ( no young lad should be without).
So I am responding in typical American capitalist parent fashion -by asking you to consider buying some popcorn from the boy.
A large percentage of the sales go into local scouting and a portion to his particular Pack.
If you'd like, go to AA's link and look around.
If, for no other reason, consider the great annoyance he could wreak on our household with that marshmallow pelting crossbow!
Not unlike the Girl Scouts and their ubiquitous cookies - the Cub Scouts are putting on their annual fundraiser - Popcorn!
Since I believe the Judeo-Christian work ethic is one thing that makes this country great, I like the fact that the boys are required to do the lion's share of the work with this fundraising effort.
AA has jumped whole-heartedly into the sales effort; he has boldly gone door to door in a couple of neighborhoods as I stood just behind him. Further, he has displayed a sales savvy that would make my Dad quite proud (as it does me).
So I am responding in typical American capitalist parent fashion -by asking you to consider buying some popcorn from the boy.
A large percentage of the sales go into local scouting and a portion to his particular Pack.
If you'd like, go to AA's link and look around.
If, for no other reason, consider the great annoyance he could wreak on our household with that marshmallow pelting crossbow!
Friday, October 8, 2010
On Multi-Tasking
I don't multi-task.
Ask anyone. Ask the myriad of women that I work around (multi-tasking seems to be a trait of particular interest to women for some reason). Ask my wife. Even ask my middle school teachers ... they would have told you - like they told my parents during the parent-teacher conference - "he doesn't budget his time well".
Since I already know that doing multiple things at one time is, for me, a hopeless endeavor - I have decided to embrace my single-mindedness.
In recent months I have even seen some endorsements of the low-productivity, low effeciency lifestyle.
At one point I attended a work-life balance type of class at work. It was aimed specifically at multi-tasking.
That's where I learned that I am right and the other 98.3% of the population are wrong: the instructor demonstrated how that "multi-tasking" is actually "Switch-tasking". He said that we actually have to stop thinking about one duty in order to start the other.
Most people to whom I have attempted to explain this - remain in their state of frenzied unbelief.
I'm not surprised that I do not produce many converts. I guess the same skills that go into making one a successful multi-tasker, would also be required to make one a successful evangelist.
Ironically, I am learning that my children have great confidence in my ability to do many things at once (probably got this from hanging around their mother). They have an amazing ability to find me the moment I sit down for a quiet moment of activity that requires my total concentration - and throw in new tasks for me to complete.
It is as if they feel sorry for me for having nothing particularly active to do.
Like right now for instance, as I have stolen away for a quick visit to blogland - I have heard numerous requests and comments and instructions.
I would go into detail about what they said ...
...unfortunately I don't multi-task.
Ask anyone. Ask the myriad of women that I work around (multi-tasking seems to be a trait of particular interest to women for some reason). Ask my wife. Even ask my middle school teachers ... they would have told you - like they told my parents during the parent-teacher conference - "he doesn't budget his time well".
Since I already know that doing multiple things at one time is, for me, a hopeless endeavor - I have decided to embrace my single-mindedness.
In recent months I have even seen some endorsements of the low-productivity, low effeciency lifestyle.
At one point I attended a work-life balance type of class at work. It was aimed specifically at multi-tasking.
That's where I learned that I am right and the other 98.3% of the population are wrong: the instructor demonstrated how that "multi-tasking" is actually "Switch-tasking". He said that we actually have to stop thinking about one duty in order to start the other.
Most people to whom I have attempted to explain this - remain in their state of frenzied unbelief.
I'm not surprised that I do not produce many converts. I guess the same skills that go into making one a successful multi-tasker, would also be required to make one a successful evangelist.
Ironically, I am learning that my children have great confidence in my ability to do many things at once (probably got this from hanging around their mother). They have an amazing ability to find me the moment I sit down for a quiet moment of activity that requires my total concentration - and throw in new tasks for me to complete.
It is as if they feel sorry for me for having nothing particularly active to do.
Like right now for instance, as I have stolen away for a quick visit to blogland - I have heard numerous requests and comments and instructions.
I would go into detail about what they said ...
...unfortunately I don't multi-task.
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