It’s the Return…

The Son of Liberty has taken on an entirely new context over the past several months since I’ve been absent. I hope to flesh that out in my future posts. I will also use this site to highlight my hilarious kids. That starts now…

Last night watching the always entertaining Holiday Bowl, the Oregon Duck–the mascot–got some 15 seconds of airtime before a commercial. Well my baby girl, Sydney, loves “the guy”. Any mascot is “the guy.” The duck had his arms crossed as any G Duck would and was nodding his head. Finally he pointed at the camera. Sydney’s immediate reaction was to say “me?”.

In Psychology this would be a good example of egocentrism. Young children have no concept that they are not the only minds in existence. To Sydney, there was no question the Duck was pointing only to her.

Now, I’m a man, I’m 30, but too often I still am plagued by that same notion that the world revolves around me. I hope that in 2009 I can look more to others needs and desires than to my own.

Good Holiday Reading.

While pondering the meaning of our independence from Great Britain has meant over the past few centuries and celebrating some senses of freedom over some cheeseburgers and sparklers here are a few things you should read.  One is from the potential leader of the free world and the second is from a leader in his own right, and maybe who I’ll write in come November. 

Enjoy your 4th.

dt

Declaration of Dependence. Part One.

I was fortunate to attend a conversation with Dr. Stanley Hauerwas at Renovatus in Charlotte this past Sunday. I have been reading through Matthew with the assistance of Stan the Man’s commentary on the gospel over the past several weeks.  I had also heard very many good things about the Dr. from several people that I trust to know good things.  It was quite insightful.  He talked briefly about the concepts of Matthew 18, and how the church is meant to be dependent on each other.  He suggested that the heading at the top of that particular passage should say “Warning, do not try this alone.”  The point being that in right relationship with the church and with Jesus that we are necessarily dependent on each other.  We should work towards being vulnerable with each other–despite the fragility and potential rejection and suffering that such vulnerability could and probably will bring.  Take up your cross.  

But it was his discourse about Christian pacifism that sparked the most post conversation debate.  While eating Mac’s Barbecue–and Shelbyians forgive me for blasphemy–which is better than Bridges, at a picnic at the park afterwards, my thoughtful and devoted mother in law asked me a couple of questions she had on her mind. She was working through the ramifications of pacifism.  The question is what do we do when we’re attacked?  Or more specifically how would we be the free country that we are if we did not fight and sacrifice blood and treasure to maintain that freedom?  A poignant question this time of year for sure.  

I certainly don’t know much about the doctrine of pacifism, especially as espoused by Hauerwas.  I have heard that he calls questions such as this “quandary ethics” and he doesn’t really deal with what ifs.  If that’s the case–and I hope it’s more complicated than that–then that seems pretty weak.  Abstract ideas are great, but we do live in the real world.  But I digress…

The way that I think I would answer the question now, is that maybe freedom isn’t what we think it is.  We often magnify the fact that the Pharisees et al, got it all wrong in the 1st century.  They were looking for a messiah who displayed political and military power.  We accept and pronounce the fact that they weren’t looking for the right kind of messiah.  We trumpet the sacrifice and humility of our Lord Jesus.  So maybe we are just as misguided as the masses were 2000 years ago. Maybe political power and military might… maybe freedom and liberty in political terms are not what we should long for.  This is easy for me to say given the fact that I am in this wonderful country, but perhaps we should not sacrifice the principles and Truth taught to us in the Sermon on the Mount and through the life of Jesus of Nazareth for comfort and ease.  

Churches in China and India and other places that are under severe persecution are growing at astounding and miraculous rates.  That is the story of the first churches as well.  How many times does Paul write about being in jail?  How many of the early church fathers were martyred for their faith?  I don’t pray for persecution… or I don’t want to pray for it anyway.  But Jesus says time and time again that if we follow him we will face persecution.  He says that we must bear our crosses.  

Much more to explore in part two…

dt

6/9/01…

My beautiful bride wrote this for me for our 7th year together.

 

Our Story, So Far

 

We met on philosophical terms 

Matchmaker of sorts – Dr. C.  Chaperone – Angela Toole

You threw marshmallows at me and I told you stories 

We danced at Homecoming (but only after you danced with Becca and Michelle, my eyes cut jealously in your direction)

I needed a sleeping bag and you were gracious enough to lend one

And then we started to swing and talk and throw bark and watch nonexistent meteors

and kiss

I heard about your friends, you about mine

I met your family, you met mine

You told me about your band, I told you about India

We talked about liking kids

We shared Truth and shared a longing to know God

And I suppose we found something of ourselves in each other

 

Summer meant time apart – absence that bred deeper fondness – and meant

watching the Cosby Show alone

 

Back at school meant time together

Gas station roses, surprises, you washing my feet at the river

And lots of butterflies and giddiness

(You tried to jump and run, but I was way too fast for you)

And somewhere along the way, we decided to do it ALL together

Out of all the people in the world, we knew that we would be our best selves together

Or maybe we couldn’t really see that far past our noses,

But our Creator and Sustainer helped us to find one another

so that we could help each other find Him

And after swinging and friends, chai and the hole, Cracker Barrel and a play and dancing

You asked me

And I said yes

 

We planned a wedding – one that fit us perfectly.  We promised to always work it out, hug and kiss, help each other know Jesus

 

Then we went out west, stayed in a beautiful yurt, ate well, and laid together happily.

 

We lived in Mooresboro in a very great house (with not so great neighbors)

and enjoyed time together, frozen pizza, Apollo and Elimidate, and our own beds

I played with my friends and finished school

you cleaned the house while listening to Rush

we had friends over and we worked at a church

 

Then we moved to Stateville because you graciously suggested

that we live with my Mom while Dad was in Afghanistan

So we worked at SCS and loved teaching and leading

We were in our element – loved what we were doing

Loved who we were teaching

 

Then I got pregnant with Sam and we went out West before telling anyone

And we had the best time

Bugs in Iowa, camping by the White River and leaving our stove in the Badlands

Seeing battlefields, driving from one side of Yellowstone to the other just to see a moose

Going to the Sun Road, putt putt with a view, buffalo burgers

Crazy people of Washington State, beautiful Hwy 1, too much steak at Harris’

Grand Canyon, driving in torrential rain (and going ever-so-slightly nuts)

Heading home to tell the fam

 

And Sam surprised us at the beach

So I stayed home and went (ever-so-slightly) nuts

But we loved him more than life

And decided to head back to BS for some more schooling and a change of scenery

 

Got a great house from good friends and started teaching and going to school

Lots of drives to Statesville (well worth it)

And lots of meals cooked by Pop and bat-and-ball in the yard with Nana

Jobs that always come at the right time for me

Just a good couple of years, wouldn’t you say?

L-i-v-i-n

 

And we decided that there’s nothing better we can do in life than have babies

And teach them about Jesus and make them kind

So we had Sydney who is beautiful and sweet and makes you smile when you look at her

 

And then some more plain ol’ livin

With a lot of concerts and brunches at the Snack Shop and husband and wife getaways and baseball games and trips to the river and times with friends and work and home

 

And I just don’t think life gets any better than this.

Although I suppose it must because it seems to get better for us every day.

And it’s only been seven years…

The Black Keys.

The Lion.

Ted Kennedy has been an establishment in the United States Senate for decades.  He has fought battle after battle in the chamber and behind the scenes.  One may disagree with the politics of Senator Kennedy, but one cannot deny the impact that this institution of liberal thought has had on his country. 

I am saddened to hear the story that he has been diagnosed with cancer.  It is a sad condition for any human, he just happens to be in the spotlight more than others.  I wonder how those on the “right” would handle this story.  They’ve done well to stay silent I suppose.  It’s just that the necessary logical end to Jeff Katz’–WBT’s latest 3-6pm Republican mouthpiece–and others who are similar, is that it would be best if Kennedy were gone.  That’s what’s so wrong with our political discourse in this era of constant news.  The other side gets labeled an enemy.  Barack Obama is seen as “dangerous” and “scary”…. And what do they advocate we do with our enemies?  Kill them.  

 

So when a man such as Kennedy gets cancer, do they back off?  Do they begin to calm down their rhetoric?  Do they admit that it is all a bunch of ratings driven, polarization aimed at keeping the American people stupid and pissed off at the other side?  

 

I hope so.  

 

Godspeed Mr. Kennedy. 

dt

Well Put.

I‘ve been on the Obama train ever since Ron Paul’s derailed.  The best way I can tell you why is by posting what one of my good friends posted on his myspace blog:  

 

 

Our government does not exist to serve you or me, or anyone we know.  We’ve surrendered power to a group of people with the understanding they will represent us.  But faced with a mound of money from special interests our elected officials choose to serve the interests of corporations and the upper class of this country. 

Meanwhile those same people having their voices heard in Washington D.C. are using their power and influence to devour the American people.  Banks are crashing because they lend money to people with zero credit and zero sense.  The government then spends billions of dollars to bail out those same wreckless lenders.  You and I get a paultry tax credit for being on time with our mortgage, nothing else.  Towns and cities across the country are now having to deal with foreclosed homes and displaced families, costing local taxpayers more and more money.  If you don’t think it’s affected Cleveland County, have you seen the most recent budget proposal from the Cleveland County Board of Education?  I’ll go on record to say there will be increased budget requests from the Department of Health and Social Services as well.    

Corporations exploit the government for millions upon millions of dollars in defense contracts in this “war.”  And while I’m glad that terrorists haven’t flown any more planes into buildings over here, I’m not too happy about our boys being blown up and shot at in a foreign country.  All the while the federal budget deficit has soared into the trillions of dollars.  Inflation is up and gas prices are outrageous.  Oil is $117 a barrel, but somehow in the face of rising costs of its most precious commodity ExxonMobile manages to make a profit of $40 billion in 2007.  This mark passed the previous record for profits in a single year set by ExxonMobile in 2006.   

Corporations peddle shit to our youth so that they are obsessed with buying stuff they cannot afford.  Corporations and the media are determined to make knowledge and learning so “uncool” that our kids would rather be ignorant than be educated and thought of as a geek.  These same people are shipping jobs overseas to people who will do the work for nothing all in the name of making a profit.  Meanwhile American families are out-of-work or underemployed, but don’t worry W is sending us an economic incentive check so we can spend it on more shit.  We peddle fast food and cigarettes to kids and we scream about our impending healthcare crisis.

Don’t talk to me about personal responsibility while at the same time you allow big business to destroy this country I love.  Corporations are the bane of modern day existence.  I’m afraid that all those chickens are coming home to roost.  Global inflation is up, the dollar is down, water supplies are jeopardized, there is an ongoing debate about the well-being of our planet, and people in countries around the world are rioting because they cannot afford food to eat.  This is happening NOW. 

At this point in time, I cannot support anyone who I feel will continue to prop up the real evil in this world.  Greed and the drive for a profit are killing us all in one way or another and the time to act is now.  Given that these are my convictions I must cast my vote in a manner that supports what I believe.  To date, Barack Obama has talked this language at a time when other candidates can only peddle the same old politics.  He has his flaws to be sure.  I do not believe he’s a Muslim and to insinuate this is absurd.  I’m not concerned about his faith or his minister, quite frankly I believe he’s a man of little faith.  I would say the same thing about all three candidates.  This is a vote of protest and principle.           

It’s time for Americans to love each other.  It’s time for us to take care of our sick, old, young, and underprivileged.  It’s time for those with a great deal to share with those with a raw deal.  Instead of pointing fingers and shifting blame we need to believe that things can be different.  We need to act to make things different, and this is my plan of action.  Obama ‘08

 

‘96 @ 30.

just as true as it always was.

dt

Forgive.

I have been resistant to the changes in philosophy/theology and thought that have been blowing my way recently.  Authors such as N.T. Wright and men such as Jonathan Martin and Matt Orth have consistently held the same instruction.  We are called to help the poor and oppressed.  We should take it upon ourselves to help change the structures of our world that cause injustice. 

I’ve had no problem understanding that in countries like India or other 3rd world places.  Those people are really poor.  They have very little.  Their children are often placed on the streets because they cost too much for the family to care for. 

I’ve had a more difficult time with the poor in America. 

People in America don’t have to be poor.  Ok, ok, so some people truly have the odds stacked against them, and it would be next to impossible for them to climb out of poverty.  Nobody has a problem with “helping those who can’t help themselves.”

But so many people in our country just don’t take advantage of the opportunities presented them.  We have free public education for all.  Education if taken seriously can open the doors to the future.  It doesn’t guarantee 6 figures, but it practically guarantees a job.  We have free or very reduced medical care, we have free pension plans, we have other forms of assistance, so there seems little reason why most folks should stay enmeshed in poverty. 

Which brings me to the point.  It is certain that there are cultural and societal issues that must be addressed by our nation’s poor.  Having children out of wedlock at clips of 50% and higher puts a huge burden on trying to maneuver out of poverty.  Spending more on rims and clothes than you do on your kids is not good economic practice.  Holding out for management positions when a high school degree is all you have is a matter of pride that many folks need to let go.  A focus on gang life and crime and an attitude that is formed out of the prisons of our country only lead further to the discrepancy in minority representation in prisons. 

So there you have it… pride, social and moral ills, poor economic education and practice, maybe even laziness and an outright disrespect for anything representing authority.  So why should I care for those people? 

Because the Lord commands us to.  I ask for forgiveness for not realizing this Truth earlier.  Who am I to not forgive people for their pride and greed and apathy?  I am simply thankful that the Father forgives me for those same flaws. 

The better question is not why should I help those people, but how can I help? 

dt

Sweaty Toothed Madman… or… My Thoughts on Matthew 6.

5 points to anyone who can name the movie reference in the somewhat odd title.

In my head the past few days the title of this post was going to be “Why Not Me?”  It has been accentuated by the shootings at NIU this past week.  But shootings and war time deaths and things like that don’t seem to phase me as much.  In some ways–and i’m sure this can be chalked up to male fantasy–I kinda long for death to come in a somewhat heroic vein.  i’m sure that the children of those folks who die in wars or whatever are still gravely effected, but it my mind i would rather go out like that.  car crashes would be terrible–airplanes not so good.  don’t ask me to explain my neuroticism.

but for me the fear that often runs and ironically probably shortens my life is disease.  cancer.  wow, what a powerful word.  a lot of times i feel like Bob in What About Bob.  why not me, though?  there are plenty of examples of men and women my age who have developed cancers.  plenty of folks my age and even younger who have died from this dreaded malady.  so why not me?  it could be.  what if it is?  and that’s kinda how my mind slips into anxiety.  heart disease doesn’t bother me all that much.  it gets my dad some.  but he’s older.  for me the dread comes in the reality that at some point, most likely, my body will turn on me.  the vessel that carries my soul–and i don’t mean to sound dualistic here–will turn on me and be my end.

now, let me rationalize a bit.  it’s not entirely a selfish terror that i experience.  my fear has been realized with the creation of our kids.  if i pass how will they know who i was.  how will they manage?  what will the impact of their tremendous sorrow and devastation be at losing their daddy?  again, i know there are many people that go through this on a daily basis.  there are many children out there who have lost a parent… even at very young ages.  i just can’t fathom why… and why not me?

it could be me.

and that’s what i have to deal with.  that’s what we all have to deal with i guess.  and yet my Lord tells me not to be anxious.  not to worry about tomorrow, but to focus on today.  S tells me that i need to focus more on the goodness of His promises.  that’s so difficult to do in a world full of disease, famine, warfare, murder…. it’s just so hard to do.

but i know it’s True.  I know that if I pass that I will enter into the glorious riches of God’s inheritance–whatever that may mean.  I know that as long as my kids look to follow the Lord Jesus that one day–or at some point outside of time (which probably doesn’t have points)–they will work and serve and glorify the King of Kings eternally.  I know that.  But it’s still so hard.

I want this anxiety, this doubt, this encompassing fear to pass from me.  I want to be able to know that my kids will know Jesus and be known by Him.  I want to serve him and help others who have already experienced this earthly mortality and grief.  I want my unbelief to turn into belief.

I grew up with Matthew 6 being my favorite chapter in the Bible.  In my youth it was idealistic and romantic.  In my prime it is a reminder that life is precious.  That this day, in fact, could be my last.  Because of that I want to live such that people will say and remember of me when i move on that I was a servant of the Lord.  Let me begin that journey now.

dt