Seven minutes of pure inspiration

When Susan Boyle performed “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables before Simon Cowell on the UK version of American Idol – Brittain’s Got Talent, she brought down the house.  Take a break… watch it.

More on Susan Boyle

The Neo-Reformed Theologians

What a surprise to open up this week’s Time Magazine only to find the top ten mega-trends listed for consideration in this brave new post-collapse-of-the-global-economic-system world.  And what made it to #3?  Right behind “job as your best asset” and “recycling the suburbs”?  Check it out - 

The New Calvinism.

For some time now (actually for the last eighteen months) I’ve been trying to sort out the meaning of the revival of reformed theology in the evangelical movement across America popularized by the likes of John Piper and friends.  Turns out my alma-mater (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL) has been dominated by these reformed thinkers for a quarter century.   Along with the Southern Baptist Convention.  Christianity Today has noted this development within the movement.  Former TEDS theology professor and now at North Park College, Dr. Scot McKnight, calls this phenomena the emergence of Neo-Fundamentalists.  Predestination has made a big come-back: filling a void left wide open with the mass marketing of seeker-friendly Christianity.  While many but not all of these invaders smoke pipes and cigars and drink beer as a sign of their liberation from dispensationalism, they are hardly progressives.  Some of them are the new heresy hunters – the self-appointed guardians of orthodoxy.  And you’d better not cross them.

TIME’s David Van Biema considers their return to a Puritan-like version of Calvinism; calling up a vision of God rooted as much in Jonathan Edwards as biblical theology, to be a major force in this Brave New World following the onset of our current economic crisis.

A curious development.  Curious indeed.

For a balanced conversation on the subject, see Eugene Cho’s blog for a good discussion.

Barbara and Jenna Bush to Sasha and Melia Obama

The TODAY SHOW caught wind that the Bush daughters, Barbara and Jenna wrote an open letter to the Obama girls, Sasha and Melia, offering them some advice on their move into the White House.  The Bush twins were about the same age when their White House life began.  Today convinced the girls to read the letter – then they added a slide show.  It’s a powerful piece.  Every Dad needs to see this.  Enjoy!

WATCH VIDEO

Thanks for the birthday greetings!

It’s been a remarkable serendipity to have received so many kind words and best wishes on this yet another birthday.  (FACEBOOK got the word out!)  I must say that among my favorites was to hear three of our seven grandchildren (two more coming) sing their own rendition, one at a time, of the traditional “Happy Birthday” song.

The years pass more quickly now.  Each year brings its own surprise.  Twists and turns continue.  But our faithful God continues to lavish his grace and loving-kindess… with purpose, direction and friends.

Gran Torino

I was thinking about the movie during my workout this morning. I identified five discussion points in the story…. Around the themes of family, work, friendship, love, home.

1. Walt Kowalski’s family models the splintered American family: a veneer of cordiality, but contentious, distant, disconnected, annoyed. The Hmong family next door is a cultural contrast where children are welcomed and the elderly respected.
2. Walt’s work ethic is reflected in his collection of well organized tools, the condition of his Gran Torino and the essence of the message he passes down to his adopted son, Thao.
3. Walt’s two friends are his barber and a local building contractor; and then Sue Lor, the Hmong girl from next door who reaches out to him.
4. Walt’s loss (the death of his wife) is something he bears alone. He sees the gang-bangers as an affront to everything he cares about, but he passes along the high value of a love between a man and a woman to Thao.
5. He keeps his home and garden in good repair – and teaches Thao to do the same. It catches on in the neighborhood.

Religion is another element – both the traditions of Catholicism (sermonizing, memorial service, confession, etc) and the religion of the Hmong people play a role (baby dedication, “reading” by an elderly holy man).

But perhaps the most compelling element is the sacrificial death… More meaning to explore.

Letter Reading on M.L.K. Day

Thanks to a friend who forwarded me a link, I’ve just completed what I expect will become my way of remembering Martin Luther King on this annual national holiday established in his honor.

I read his “Letter from a Birminham Jail.”  (from April 1963)

It’s been a long time (sometime in the 1970s) since I explored the ten-page letter.  I think it impacted me then, but how much more so now.   From a prison cell in Alabama, King responded to a group of “moderate” clergy who released a letter of their own (A Call for Unity).

King’s command of language; his reference to biblical passages and characters, as well as theologians and philosophers, both contemporary and from the pages of history is compelling.  His passion for justice, his clarion vision of freedom and the cost of it and his determination to follow the dictates of his conscience engage the reader powerfully.  It is no wonder that King’s Southern Leadership Christian Conference sparked a movement that would bring segregation to the forefront of American life back in the sixties.  Civil Rights legislation was inevitable.

I’ll look on this document as evidence that the written word has enormous power to affect change.  His discussion of civil disobedience, his critique of a “disappointing” church, his challenge to clergy and his defense of an oppressed people stirs the heart, informs the mind and challenges the reader toward the courage of his/her convictions.

It’s inspirational reading.  Click on the link.  Find a quiet spot for a half hour or so.  See if you feel the same.

And now, on these eve of Inauguration Day, Dr. King must know.  The dream certainly is not fully realized, but my my my, what a step, a giant step, in that direction.

Dueling Santas

While working out early this morning, I listened to an edition of This American Life that was hilarious.  These guys are master story-tellers.  Apparently, a national association of Santas came together for mutual support and encouragement – but as it grew, the Clauses got embroiled in turmoil over control, power and turf wars.  As I listened, I could not help but draw significant parallels between what happened to the gathering of Santas and what has happened in way too many churches.  If you are a veteran of church wars, as I am, you’ll recognize the cast of characters.  The only difference is, really, these guys all wear red suits, white beards and black boots… and red caps with white trim.

It gives real insight into how denominationalism in America came to be.

It’s well worth a listen.  You can listen free on line, or download the podcast for $.99 via iTunes when it becomes available.   Here’s a link to the free on-line broadcast.

Act 3 starts about 22 minutes into the show.

Here’s their summary of the piece -

Act Three. Santa Fight Club.

A tale of two Santas. There’s Tim Conaghan, a full-time professional Santa with a big belly and a real flowing white beard. And there’s Santa Nick-he too has a belly and real white beard. But the story of Santa Tim and Santa Nick is not like most uplifting Christmas parables. Instead, it’s about two men, very much alike, who came to lead rival factions in a bitter Santa civil war, and came themselves to be arch enemies. Josh Bearman reports on the political schism that’s overtaken the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas. (27 minutes)

Barrett in IRAQ

Barrett’s team got a visit from FOX NEWS.  They spent the better part of a week with the newsman who was expressive in his amazement over the progress our troops have made in Fallujah, which had been an Al Quaidah stronghold.  The report was aired yesterday, Thanksgiving day.  Sadly, it was cut somewhat short because of the terrorist attack in India.  You can see the video report, but you’ll have to endure the short commercial first.  Here are two links:

FOX NEWS VIDEO | ROGER’S BLOG ENTRY

Friends Church on NBC News

Michael Oku, a high profile NBC correspondent, was in Yorba Linda looking at the damage from the fires last week.  He found the home of some members of the Friends Church in Yorba Linda.  He spent several hours with them.  This report made it on Saturday evening, on the national news feed.  Pastor Phil Hotsenpiller leads a group of the Chene’s friends in prayer.

WATCH the NBC NEWS FEATURE STORY.

Yorba Linda Fires

We were not planning to be on Fire Watch here in Orange County today… but as the morning passed to afternoon, the smoke thickened.  We realized that the fires raged, threatening the homes of a number of friends including…

• Janet and Larry Woessner – who live in Brea just off Carbon Canyon Road (on the north side).  Fires came through the canyon, close to their house.  As of 2pm, they were still in their house, ready to evacuate.
• Steve and Kristin Mayberry – also in Brea.  They live in Country Hills.  The flames came all the way to Lambert Road near Valencia.  They had not evacuated, but were concerned for Katie and Phil, who live in the path of the fire that passed Brea Olinda High School and crossed the 57 Freeway heading west.
• Rick and Laura Alvord were evacuated.  The flames threatened the house.  There was no evacuation order up on the hill, but all the neighbors packed and got off the hill post haste.  Their neighborhood has been the focus of arial shots live on KNBC television.  A map will show the houses burning at the time of this posting… click on this link.  Thankfully, the Alvord’s house was not one of them.

Here’s the LA Fire Map.  You’ll see the Alvord’s street in the burn area.

We’ll stay tuned.