Theatre of the Mind on Halloween

As parents there are some milestones in the experiences of our children that we choose to either lock-out or to lock-in: observances that you choose to ignore or embrace and that eventually become ingrained into the family tradition.

One item we chose to more or less "lock-out" was Halloween. When the kids were small, we opted out of the whole "trick or treat" thing.  It was a little more common among evangelicals at the time and we just decided that the fear and the extortion-like practice of hitting up the neighbors for candy set the wrong expectations.

Not judging; we just made that decision.

That's a decision I haven't regretted, although our kids might say something different.

We haven't let it dim the awesome magic that Autumn instills in us all; we haven't missed the annual viewing of  "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" very often; we'll even take in a "scary" movie at times... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", "Arsenic and Old Lace", or "Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy".

For Halloween night this year, we stepped back in time a little and enjoyed a page from the more innocent days when radio was king.

On the evening before Halloween in 1938, the most popular evening radio show was the "Chase and Sanborn Hour" with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.  On another station, a young Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre vied for some pittance of attention during the same time block.

As the first Great Depression loomed heavy over America, the nation often sought distraction from the desperation through the radio.  On that night, they got distraction alright- and the result for many was widespread panic!

Orson Welles presented an adaptation of H.G. Wells' book, "The War of the Worlds".  He chose to bring the tale into the 20th century by presenting the story as if it were being reported on the radio.  Apparently, it wasn't his aim to trick people - the play began with a very straightforward introduction; then it faded into a program of ballroom dance music.

By some accounts, many of the people listening to the "Chase and Sanborn Hour" tuned out when one guest - an operatic tenor - began to sing a number.  That was when they tuned into the "War of the Worlds" broadcast - just in time to hear a "reporter" interrupt the program with a special news bulletin.

People listened in rapt attention as the story of a martian  invasion unfolded. As the plot developed, many reportedly fell into a panic - assuming the news reports were real.

I first learned of this event as a young teenager, our school library had a set of those Time-Life Books in which each volume gives an account of a specific decade.   My favorites were the 1930's and the 1940's.  Having an interest in radio - the story  about the "War of the Worlds" broadcast captured my attention.

Last night for dinner we all gathered around the laptop, where I had found a site streaming a recording of the broadcast. I was rather surprised that AA and Ab mounted little protest and for quite awhile it retained their attention.  Eventually, AA had to move on so he quietly grabbed his Mom's Ipad to play some games.

For a few moments, Welles was able to reach through the decades and nab that boy's attention again; screams emitted through the speakers as the martians decimated a crowd en masse with their searing heat ray.  As I said, AA's attention was arrested but only briefly, from that point on his activity level just increased.

With about ten minutes left in the program, we lost Mom and AA. . . actually, it was pretty good that they stayed as long as they did.
Ab stayed with me though. She stuck it out to the end and - I think - was glad she did.

I think she has something of her father's love for nostalgia in her.

For me, it was a good night.  In recent days, it has seemed more and more difficult for our little family to get together in one place at the same time, all focused on the same thing.  I think it is probably the nature of things; maybe partly due to the fact that the kids are getting older. . . or we are.

But this "all hallows eve" provided the best treat of all - time with the folks we love.


Resources include: http://www.radiolab.org/2008/mar/24/

Switching Teams

I like God's sense of humor.
Sometimes I find humor in places in which it was not intended.

Our Bethel Bible Study is looking at the nation of Israel in its infancy; one reading came from Joshua 5.   Joshua, who was learning that he would be the new leader of the budding nation, encountered a "man" with a drawn sword.

The "man" was obviously not ordinary (my opinion is that this was a pre-incarnate encounter with Christ) and so Joshua wisely asked:  "are you for us or for our adversaries?".

This is where I like God's humor.

The "man" replied, "No."

I can just see Joshua looking all confused and askance - as if to say... "wait, that wasn't one of the choices".

I believe it was Tony Evans that I heard say once in a Promise keepers meeting that when God shows up, He doesn't come to pick sides . . . He comes to take over.

I like that.

The implication to Joshua was that the question was phrased incorrectly. As the "man" continued, He pointed out that He was come as the "Commander of the Lord's army"; so clearly Joshua should have asked - "whose side am I on?"

God is steadfast.  He doesn't switch teams.  So if there is any changing to be done - we have to be the one's to do it.

In Matthew 16, Simon Peter appears to have "switched teams" within about 8 verses.  In verse 16 he confessed that Jesus was "the Christ" and Jesus affirmed him and his statement, and called it "the Rock" on which He would build His kingdom and Peter's stock appeared to be on the rise.
However, about a paragraph down the page, at verse 23, we find Peter rebuking  Jesus - to which the Saviour replies "get behind me, Satan!".  

From "the Rock" to "Satan"; Peter, just whose side are you on?

That's me, more often than I would like to admit - like Joshua and Peter - I fail to see how I should quit trying to get Jesus to join my team.  Instead I should be figuring out how to be on His.

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Okay so this is just too rich to pass up. 

I was doing a little reading on the "Occupy Wall Street" crowd and how the cold weather is bringing them a very real lesson on capitalism and what it is really all about.

The AP article I was reading pointed out how people from the Boston OWS group have "raised about $35,000.00 which could help buy winter supplies".  American capitalism is simply about making products available that people need or want and earning a profit from that transaction. Hopefully, some clever entrepreneur will leap on this opportunity.

Anyway - here's the "rich" part ...ooooh ... probably shouldn't use that word in relating a story about the OWS crowd... Anyway, here is the extremely-humorous-and-wonderfully-fulfilling- on-behalf-of the-greed-driven-capitalists' - part; it is taken directly from the site - www.occupywallst.org and is heralding all the groups endorsing the  OWS movement (?).  The NAACP is among all the many labor unions in that group of endorsers ... note the statement from their president:

Earlier this week the NAACP put out a statement in support of the Occupy Wall Street / 99% movement:

“For over 102 years the NAACP has supported, and continues to support, policies which create, preserve and expand living wage jobs, increase economic opportunity and protect the desire of every American to build and retain wealth and equity,” said Ben Jealous, NAACP President and CEO. President Jealous went on to say that the largely peaceful protests are true to “the non-violent traditions and philosophies upon which the NAACP is based and has operated under for our entire existence.”

Not only is his statement about protecting the desire of every American to build and retain wealth ridiculously ironic when juxtaposed with the fact that this is exactly what OWS is moaning and crying about. 

But his name ... his NAME ... that's what is so rich - er funny ...Ben Jealous ... how well that name correlates to the entire thrust behind this class-envy movement. 
Have you, Ben Jealous, been jealous?

bahahahahaha

I am sure this is offensive to a number of people in so many ways, but really ... has this group (OWS) done anything that would prompt anyone to take them serious? 

When they protest Wall Street but fail to make the very obvious link between Wall Street and White House policies... should they be taken serious?

When they do strange things like the off-shoot group from "Occupy Atlanta" that formed a circle around a building and chanted in an attempt to levitate the building?!?  (I kid you not) ... should they be taken seriously? 

When they decry having to pay back student loans that they - in good faith - asked for... should they be taken serious?

When they give those hilarious speeches in 3 syllable chunks, repeated by the crowd so that "every voice can be heard" ...should they be taken seriously?... "should - they - be ...."        "...tak - en  -  serious  -   ly ...?"

When they moan about government bail-outs for "Wall Street" types but then ask for one for themselves... is there any room for serious reasoning with such a group?

Their message - if and when it is ever coherent - is very simply one of jealously and envy.  It is clearly meant, not to foster a national discussion, but rather to fuel the fires of discontent among the dupes that will listen to their jaded tales.

Clear thinking Americans must be careful to avoid accepting the original premise of the arguments espoused by this crowd (something the Republican leadership has failed to learn).  Capitalism is an amazing concept and it is good. However it is sometimes tough and for one to succeed there are at times, winners and losers.  Capitalism allows losers  the opportunity to get back up and try again. . . it doesn't feed their victim-hood.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Proverbs 26:4 NKJV

Awkward

I think that is the word that best describes my pre-adolescent and teen years:  awkward.

I write this post for my daughter who finds herself on the threshold of those years and has just commented to me on how awful her hair looks.

During those years, every misstep, every flaw, every blemish seems to play over and over on a huge mega tron screen in your head.  Everything has an exclamation point.  If it's good - it's TREMENDOUS!  If it's bad - it's horrendous.

There is very little room for middle ground in the middle school.

Recently, as I thought about her - I remembered me and I could still feel the sting of embarrassment from those days. 

Here's a little story from my past, for what it's worth.

In the eighth grade at LaFayette Junior High School everyone was Baptist.  They all seemed to go to the largest church in town - LaFayette First Baptist.  It was a good church and had a strong youth program.  When they had youth events the whole school seemed to buzz.  Most of my friends went there.

The "buzz" in late January - early February of 1975, was about a "Valentine's Day Dance" at First Baptist, and all the guys were planning to "get dates".

I didn't attend the First Baptist Church . . . that felt awkward.  Instead, I attended a small Pentecostal church with some strict teachings:  we didn't go to dances.  It was a kind of sad church for a young teenager, honestly they just didn't have much to offer.
But there was something like a buzz that was beginning to stir at our little church; the church had hired an assistant pastor who focused on getting something going for the young people.  Our youth group was a sparse one with an age range from maybe 8 or 9 years old to one guy who had a mustache and may have been 20.

We had begun to have some social events and were planning a "Valentine's Day Banquet" at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.  If all the guys at school were getting dates for the dance - maybe I would just get a date for that banquet.

Betsy was by no means a ravishing beauty, but she had that "girl next door" quality about her.  Chestnut hair and just the right amount of freckles. We sat near each other in class and I set my sights on her.

I had already caught wind that a friend of mine was thinking about asking her to the dance - so that fear of missing out, provided the right motivation for me to move quickly.  I usually remember details pretty vividly (whether or not they actually happened) but I can't for the life of me remember how I asked her.  What matters is that somehow I asked - and somehow she accepted!  Betsy would be going with me to the banquet.

To understand my glee, you have to know, as far as I was concerned:  Betsy was not only out of my league - we weren't even playing the same sport.

In 1975 nostalgia was big.  With movies like Paper Moon, and the popularity of television shows like The Waltons: folks were dressing like the 1930's.  In preparation for the big date, I had gone shopping and purchased hounds tooth pants, a blazer and a polka-dot bow tie ... all stacked on the closest thing to 3-inch heels I could find.

The night of the big date arrived and we all loaded onto the church bus and made the drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee and the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.  The grand station had been converted into a fancy restaurant.  I remember that we had some sort of glazed chicken and rice dish.  With my sweaty palms I had tried to hold my silverware properly and slice up that chicken, but he put up a good fight.  When we left there was a ring of rice that surrounded my plate. I tried to cover some of it with my napkin. 

We rode a trolley and walked around a bit, but I couldn't tell you a thing we talked about - or if we talked at all.

Finally, we made the trip back home.  When we arrived at church, we all went to the preacher's house next to the church and gathered in the living room to call our parents to come take us home. 

That was when the big AWKWARD really hit. 

I had no ambition -oddly enough - for a good night kiss.  Didn't even expect to shake her hand. In fact, I had given very little thought to how the night would end.

So when my parents arrived first - I darted out the door, bidding everyone a goodnight.

It was not until I sat safely in the back seat of Dad's Oldsmobile - that I realized that I had left that poor little girl there among complete strangers - just left her there to fend for herself.  It was my parents that pointed out the flaw in my actions and bade me return to wait with her until her parents arrived.  I argued the point - feeling much more inclined to crawl under the seat and hide for a couple of months.  Finally, I submitted and returned. 

By now, at the ripe old age of fifty, I have had enough "egg on my face" to start a McMuffin Franchise - but then, at that tender ... awkward age - it was a hard thing to go back and face Betsy and all those people.

Lest anyone mistook my actions for anything closely resembling chivalry or honor - I quickly explained to those in the living room - and Betsy - that "my parents" thought I should return and wait with her.

At almost that very moment, Betsy's mother arrived and we waived a friendly good-bye in the front yard.

I remember that the rest of that weekend, I was smarting from the hangover of that awkward night - almost to tears a few times. To this day, that event still carries the twinge of embarrassment for me.

Betsy and I remained friends but never "dated" again.  In fact, my dating career -which I envisioned as having a glorious launch - would go on sabbatical for another five years. 

The bumps and bruises my heart suffered during those pre-teen and teen years may have been "just a part of growing up"; but they were bumps and bruises just the same.  They are very real; but very few people make to adulthood without them.

"Stonewall Jackson's Verse": a 9/11 Perspective

I have liked the Confederate General, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson since watching the movie, "Gods and Generals".  I admire his piety and the respect it garnered from his men.

Recently, I  was encouraged by a well-read Jackson-aficionado, to read "Stonewall Jackson's Verse" by southern author, H. Rondel Ramburg, D.Min. as a means of beginning a study on Jackson's life.

Jackson's life-verse was Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

The book is a simple relation of that verse and how Jackson's life is displayed its details through the statements of friends, family and colleagues, and through history' own account.

Jackson - when barely in his prime - had already lost his father and his mother, saw the dissolution of his family as the children were distributed among relatives, and had lost his young wife.  In every instance of loss, he returned to this reassuring verse.

Jackson did not use the verse as an assurance that if one would just "hang on - things would get better".  Instead he recognized that God's definition of "good" and his own definition of "good" were sometimes on seperate ends of the spectrum and the purpose to which God called him was that he would be changed - not God - nor His plan.

This mind-set resulted in a resolute calmness on the battlefield for Jackson (which helped him earn the "Stonewall" nickname); he was assured that God had already "fixed" the day of his death and until that day came, he was as safe when the bullets were flying on the battlefield, as he was in "his bed".

Romans 8:28  has long been a favorite of mind, but often because of its positive appeal.  Now I see it a little differently - now it says to me -God works things according to His purpose; and we know His purpose is good.

The events that occured on September 11, 2001, were not "good".
However within His economy, God could take the tragedy of that despicable act and "work" it toward the good of His purpose.

If we learned the lessons that this event taught us - we could line up our definition of "good" with His own definition of "good". 

There were "good" acts that day and the days that followed.
There were "good" people, doing good from a heart of compassion.
There was even a "good" sort of grief that drew us all together around our shared sorrow.

But ultimately, one decade later, can we say that we have changed?
Have our thoughts, as a nation, become less fearful?
Are we more mindful of our neighbors?

Perhaps these are questions we should ponder on this day.

Staying Creative

One of my favorite blogs is Jon Acuff's Stuff Christians Like, Jon started his blog a little over month before I started mine. That is pretty much where the similarity ends. 

Jon joined Dave Ramsey's organization last year and has recently released his third book ("Quitter"). The SCL blog is not only still the home of classic sarcasm, but now it is an excellent resource bringing together talents from across the web.

I visited the site yesterday - first time in awhile - and discovered this video Jon posted from TO-FU ... I hope it inspires you as it did me.


http://www.to-fu.tv/

Conquering 'Surprise Hill'

Some of you may remember a post about "Surprise Hill" a long while back; the hill stands as a seemingly insurmountable obstacle on the Silver Comet Trail between Rockmart and Cedartown.

An early evening bike ride ended badly there for AA.

That was Then.

This summer was extremely busy for Ab - what with The Great Escape in Colorado and a plethora of other camps to attend - it left me feeling that AA needed some adventure.

He and I have been semi-plotting and weighing the options of an Homeric quest to travel the Silver Comet Trail from Rockmart, Georgia to Oxford, Alabama.  This trip would probably require an overnight camp along the trail and the arrangement for some transportation back home.

As a first step toward this monumental task, we decided to take a late Sunday afternoon ride from Rockmart to Cedartown just to test our mettle.

We stocked up on some supplies - sunflower seeds, apples, water and the like; arranged with R. for a pick up in Cedartown, and headed for the trail.

Face Your Fears.

That is a lesson I have hoped to demonstrate - and eventually teach - our children.  AA and I both knew that there were some tremendous climbs ahead of us. And we knew that on the other side of one of those climbs was a pretty steep downgrade.  He still bore some scars from the last encounter with that downgrade.

I could sense a little angst in my son, but to his credit he stayed the course.

Too Much Time to Think.

Like a timeout called by the opposing team to give the rookie field-goal kicker time to think:  we hit a delay.

We waited out a small summer thunderstorm in a tunnel. 

The thunder and lightning passed and (we thought) the rain as well.

So we headed back on the trail only to be drenched by a deluge.

We decided that it wasn't so cold once you got completely wet, so we embraced our struggle and pressed on through the rain.

We counted rabbits, turkeys and deer and the numbers climbed as the trail edges away from the main roads at a community called "Fish Creek".

We had never traveled some of this stretch so it was an interesting ride.  The rain finally subsided and we soon found ourselves in the throes of an ascent to about 1,000 feet above sea level. . .  "Surprise Hill".

We had been there before, we knew what to expect only this time, AA was determined to pedal up the hill without pausing to walk his bike as he had done the other time we traveled this path.

We approached every hair-pin curve with caution - not knowing if it would be the one that would suddenly "surprise" us.

Finally, we made it to the pinnacle.  I was in the lead and turned back to call to AA to brake and proceed with caution.  My call was met with a responding yell, "Dad! Stop! STOP!".

I complied and waited for him to catch up.

"let me go first" he said.

I bowed to his courage.  I knew just why; he needed to defeat that hill without my clearing the path and showing him it was safe.

He made it.

And eventually we completed the approximately 14 mile ride in Cedartown.

We celebrated with some sunflower seeds and basked in the glory of having proven something to ourselves.

It was one of the most enjoyable events of the summer for me.