Even the Corn

I had an odd craving today.  Isn’t it funny how the coldness of a day or the smell of something familiar can send you back in time and make you want something long since forgotten?  I spent the morning staffing an event for work.  Many people shuffled past our booth, sending cold bursts from the constantly opening door.  The noise of the room and the cold sent me back in time for a moment.  I had this memory of sitting near the door in the gymnasium/cafeteria at Willard Elementary School.  My craving…school pizza, corn, and tater tots… oh and chocolate milk.  I could just taste the pizza with lots of sausage, the tater tots with that tangy ketchup, and the chocolate milk as it poured over the fuzzy cardboard opening of the milk carton.  Man, I’d love to taste that meal again.  Yes, even the corn.

Eleven Years

Well today is a day of note for Rhonda Kaye and I… It was eleven years ago today, December 14, 1994, that we began our journey together. For those of you in Rio Linda that means “going steady”, “dating”, or “exclusive”.

It’s amazing how short and long of a time the eleven years seems. On the one hand I think “Man, eleven years, that’s a long time! Almost half my life!” Then I think of how it seems like just yesterday I was walking into Political Science class, Fall Semester ’94 and sitting in the seat in front of the lovely Rhonda Kaye.

What a great eleven years! It’s been full of trials, adventures, and cozy moments. We’ve had great trips to Disney, Seattle, LA, and DC. We’ve held each other’s hand at the times of death and illness. We’ve enjoyed long drives in the Bluegrass and too many trips on the Mountain Parkway to count. We had a wedding delayed by sewing and a honeymoon delayed by nothing. We’ve spent a great number of Saturdays bumming on the couch and few just going out. We’ve taped together the checkbook a few times and enjoyed moments of frivolous spending. We’ve had moments of peaceful quiet and others of loud discussion.

Folks, I’m married to a beautiful woman who loves Football and Basketball, believes and votes the right way, and cares deeply about my family and I. She is right almost all the time. She has a calm demeanor and is great in a crisis. She would be the proper, well dressed lady who pulls out a six shooter and saves the day in an old western. She has a way of putting things in perspective that gives direction and clarity. She has a giving soul that puts the needs of others above her own. She’s a Floridian at heart that is trapped in the cold clutches of Kentucky. She’s an artist with a creative soul and eye. She loves God, Disney, Good Food (especially mine) and our cat Alex.

Most importantly, she is my wife, my rock, my partner, and my friend. I thank the Good Lord that he steered our two hearts together. Happy Anniversary Rhonda Kaye…. I Love You.

No more Cold!

As recently as a couple of years ago I was a winter fanatic. I loved the cold, crisp days, the ground covered with snow and the chance that the wind chill would dip into the single digits.

Well I’m over it. I can honestly say that I can’t stand the cold. I hate it. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the magic of a snow covered Christmas morning with the almost holy quiet and calm that seems to permeate that day. I think one day is sufficient however!

I think my transformation has come about by spending a week or so the last few years in Florida during December. Rhonda and I make our usual trek to Florida and Disney for part of our Holiday celebration. When you leave Kentucky and the 30’s & 40’s and arrive in Orlando to 70”s and 80”s (and sometimes the 60’s) it makes you appreciate what winter could and should be…

Retribution vs. Reformation

As I was listening to talk radio today a point struck me….. The point occurred to me while a caller discussed with the host the old, tired point that Iraq has nothing to do with the War on Terrorism and 9/11.  My thought…This argument is a matter of perspective… retribution or reformation.

To the person whose perspective is retribution, the Battle of Iraq (now the Reconstruction of Iraq) does not fit in the schema of revenge and retaliation for the killing of 3,000+ Americans on September 11, 2001.  The person who argues from this perspective either comes from the thought that we should have only found the group of terrorists that planned and executed 9/11 or they are using that thought to promote a political agenda that focuses on destruction of the current power holders of our government.  

Those believing that the work in Iraq is part of a reformation understand the larger point.  Terrorism is the next global threat that must be confronted.  History teaches us that movements have existed throughout time that has threatened the peaceful existence of man.  Chief among these threats have been Imperialism (by both the ancient world and nations in the “modern ear”), communism, fascism, and socialism.  The events of 9/11 were a guerilla attack by a militia of the larger Global Terrorist Army.  This segment of humanoids has misguided beliefs as their fuel and acts of extreme violence as their method of reaching their goal.  They will not stop until the western world (not just the United States) retreats into itself and allows radical religion to rule the planet.  

I guess if we want to stop with the toppling of the Taliban we could… Just like we let Osama Bin Laden free from custody in the mid-90’s.  That worked well didn’t it!  I guess we could bomb some remote aspirin factory in response to attacks such as the on the U.S.S. Cole, that sure prevented future terrorist attacks.  I guess we can maintain a campaign of retribution for every attack we suffer from now until the Lord returns.  

But hey, here’s a thought… Why don’t we lead a movement of reformation in this world… Let’s spread freedom and democracy at a stronger, faster rate than the terrorists can spread hate, death, and misguided, radical ideals.  Maybe we can come out on the other side with a safer situation.. safer than constant retribution… Hey wait, I think someone stole my idea!

Christmas at Church?

Yesterday morning a major news headline in our community was the closing of the community’s largest church on Sunday, Christmas Morning. The reason given for this closure was to allow church workers to be at home with their families, instead of tending to the operation of the facility. You can imagine that the church is receiving criticism for this decision.

It has been on my mind for the past few weeks that church is the perfect place to be on Christmas Morning, especially if it’s on Sunday. I think we often confuse the meanings of our holidays. Christmas is not about family togetherness. It is not about Santa Claus or Christmas gifts. Christmas is the day Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of the greatest gift ever given. The celebration is an attempt by man to honor and glory our Heavenly Father.

Christmas has become a time where you decorate your house inside and out, sing Jingle Bells, and go to fifteen different relatives’ house. I need to be corrected if wrong, but the celebration of Christmas is not a biblical ordinance of our Christianity. However, it is, as I said, a way to pay homage to God for the gift of his son. I’m not sure which part of that includes a ham, presents, and mistletoe. It seems to me the place to hold this celebration is the sanctuary of your church.

I celebrate Christmas as a time of giving. I enjoy the time to be with family. There is a magic about December that I can’t get enough of… I am thankful that it is a time when the world turns its attention a little more to giving and hope. I love Christmas Trees and decorations. I’m also thankful for the food and presents! However, I hope I never forget the real reason December 25th is declared a Holiday.

As for the status of the church doors on Sunday, December 25th…. I hope to be in a pew singing praises to my Lord and Savior. That is what I’m convicted and feel lead to do…. It is up to you what decision is best for you.

I’m Offended!

Let me get this straight. We can’t put up Christmas Trees, Say “Merry Christmas”, display the Ten Commandments, display a Nativity scene, or send out Christmas cards to folks with Christmas or religious reference on them… This can’t be done in a public way…. Because it might offend someone…

WELL, I’M OFFENDED. I offended that I have to be careful to whom I say Merry Christmas. I’m offended that the word Christmas is becoming taboo. I’m offended that I cannot freely express my religion, beliefs, or traditions in public because it might offend someone else.

I’ve read the Constitution. In particular I’ve read the Bill of Rights. It might surprise some people to learn that the right to not be offended does not exist in the Constitution. It does say that Congress can’t pass laws to prohibit the freedom of speech. This means that a law cannot be passed that limits your ability to speak out and express yourself (unless you’re John McCain and its Campaign Finance Reform). You can most certainly express your disbelief in a Christmas Tree, tell a Christian he’s full of crap, and rant about the evils of the Ten Commandments.

What this does not do for you and I is guarantee that we will be heard. I have the right to stand in the middle of downtown and rattle on and on about the stupidity of the smoking ban or the insanity of the attempt to take over the water company. Does this mean someone has to listen to me? NO! What I can do is go before the city council during an open forum and express my discontent. The council must listen to me, but they do not have to act on my statement. Of course, if enough people express the same view it might be to their advantage to listen! I can walk in to a local business and state that their Christmas tree offends me… Do they have to take it down? NO! They might decide to take it down if the majority of their customers expressed their dislike of the tree and their intent to not come back while its up, but they don’t have to listen to anyone.

Contrary to what people believe the Constitution doesn’t spell out a restriction on religious expression. Quite the opposite! Amendment I of the Constitution expressly states…Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… For those of you left of center let me translate. This means that Congress cannot by law establish a national religion. This also means that laws cannot be passed that prohibits the expression of religion.

What does this mean for you and me? This means that we can freely express our religious faith anywhere we darn well please. The exception of course is the expression of faith in a private home, organization, or business where religious expression is forbidden or the expression of a particular view point is forbidden.

I know this interpretation may draw criticism, particularly the point of “What about cults, Satanists, and other weirdos? They have a right to express their religion?” Unfortunately they do… So to quote Jimmy Buffet “It’s the Buddhist in you, it’s the pagan in me It’s the Muslim in him, she’s Catholic ain’t she? It’s that born again look, it’s the wasp and the Jew….” This country was founded, in part, on religious freedom. Can you imagine William Bradford and the other Pilgrims expression if they were here today? They’d be boarding the Mayflower looking for a new Plymouth Rock!

So I’m offended. I’m offended that people do not realize the way liberty and freedom works in this country. I’m offended that people use their freedom of speech to bully others into subjecting their own freedoms of speech and religion. If you are in a public place and are offended by the presence of a Christmas Tree, ask someone in charge to display something from your religion. If you’re an Atheist ask to put up a poster that says “There is no God”. We are a country of religious expression, not oppression.

Also remember that you have the right to speak out about anything you wish. You must also be prepared for the consequences of speech. If you are in a private entity and the controlling authority does not appreciate your expression, they can kick you out! They can also ignore you. It means that you can tell a public authority that you are unhappy about something, but they don’t have to listen. If you are unhappy with the policies of a government, advocate for the opposition and defeat them in the next election.

I’m offended because people are infringing on my religious expression, but hey, no one has to read my complaints, I don’t have a right to be heard!