Robert Frost was probably the closest thing to a poet laureate that America has been blessed to have. He wrote and read this poem, "The Gift Outright," for the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961. In light of the historical contest, I think it is safe to say that this was a cry to return to the patriotism exemplified by our forefathers. In light of much of the apathy toward our freedom seen in America today, I think it remains very relevant.
The Gift Outright
The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia,
But we were England's, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
War of the Worlds
Music is all about the current mood for me. I'll range from the Zac Brown Band to Chris Tomlin. Occasionally I'll mix in some Handel and then go and bump Lecrae. During the basketball season I usually rock Dropkick Murphys or Demon Hunter.
Despite my musical fickleness, I never thought that I would actually spend a Tuesday evening at a metalcore concert. A full-out metalcore concert. Six bands. Madness.
Two Christian bands- In the Midst of Lions and For Today (who was headlining)- were playing in the show. Ben asked me to come with him, and I was happy to hang with my brother. However, the four other bands were about as satanic as anything I have ever run into. Our group was rather shocked not only at the appearance of addiction and the copious cussing but for their obvious hate for their Creator.
At about 8:30 last night I determined that metalcore concerts are the perfect illustration of the spiritual war going on around us. My heart broke for particularly Motionless in White who felt the need to bash the Lord and attempt to undermine everything In the Midst of Lions had said and For Today would proclaim. The guys in Motionless in White obviously have a powerful influence over their fans, and the way they are used to lead others astray was just heartrending. The music of these satanic bands is so violent and filled with wickedness that I was surprised kids weren't shirking people and giving rein to their angry inclinations. I stayed close to Ben the whole evening.
So often I forget that there is a spiritual dimension to life and that the enemy prowls about like a lion seeking whom he may destroy. However, may I never forget that I serve the victorious side. Christ defeated death and the grave by His resurrection. The best Satan can do now is throw up smoke (and last night illustrated this in the most literal sense of the word) screens.
God is a powerful God, and the last two bands (before For Today) ran into technical difficulties that limited their playing time. Heh, heh. For Today preached truth and love and the need for the gospel straight up, and it was beautiful. This is only the second night of this tour, so those guys have a door for ministry opened as wide as the Red Sea. Furthermore, the lead screamer from Motionless in White, the one warring against the God who died for him, was in the back corner of the stage while For Today was playing singing every single word. For Today has passages of their songs that are pure Scripture.
Pray for the guys especially from Motionless in White. They are lost souls and are being used to lead more astray. Pray for For Today and In the Midst of Lions. They truly are in the midst of lions, and they need the Lord's strength to endure, stand for Truth, and show love to those who may have never been shown real love.
Paul nailed this in II Corinthians 10:3-5:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and ever lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
I could not be happier that I went to this concert. I'm just about the nicest sister ever. ;)
Despite my musical fickleness, I never thought that I would actually spend a Tuesday evening at a metalcore concert. A full-out metalcore concert. Six bands. Madness.
Two Christian bands- In the Midst of Lions and For Today (who was headlining)- were playing in the show. Ben asked me to come with him, and I was happy to hang with my brother. However, the four other bands were about as satanic as anything I have ever run into. Our group was rather shocked not only at the appearance of addiction and the copious cussing but for their obvious hate for their Creator.
At about 8:30 last night I determined that metalcore concerts are the perfect illustration of the spiritual war going on around us. My heart broke for particularly Motionless in White who felt the need to bash the Lord and attempt to undermine everything In the Midst of Lions had said and For Today would proclaim. The guys in Motionless in White obviously have a powerful influence over their fans, and the way they are used to lead others astray was just heartrending. The music of these satanic bands is so violent and filled with wickedness that I was surprised kids weren't shirking people and giving rein to their angry inclinations. I stayed close to Ben the whole evening.
So often I forget that there is a spiritual dimension to life and that the enemy prowls about like a lion seeking whom he may destroy. However, may I never forget that I serve the victorious side. Christ defeated death and the grave by His resurrection. The best Satan can do now is throw up smoke (and last night illustrated this in the most literal sense of the word) screens.
God is a powerful God, and the last two bands (before For Today) ran into technical difficulties that limited their playing time. Heh, heh. For Today preached truth and love and the need for the gospel straight up, and it was beautiful. This is only the second night of this tour, so those guys have a door for ministry opened as wide as the Red Sea. Furthermore, the lead screamer from Motionless in White, the one warring against the God who died for him, was in the back corner of the stage while For Today was playing singing every single word. For Today has passages of their songs that are pure Scripture.
Pray for the guys especially from Motionless in White. They are lost souls and are being used to lead more astray. Pray for For Today and In the Midst of Lions. They truly are in the midst of lions, and they need the Lord's strength to endure, stand for Truth, and show love to those who may have never been shown real love.
Paul nailed this in II Corinthians 10:3-5:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and ever lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
I could not be happier that I went to this concert. I'm just about the nicest sister ever. ;)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Folly and the Fed
Things that frustrate me:
1. Lack of political integrity.
The government should exercise self-restraint and pass fiscal budgets. Furthermore, a budget should not have to be wheeled in on a dolly. Statist-minded politicians forget that they are public servants and almost pushed our government to a shutdown this weekend that would have victimized the men and women now fighting for foreign commanders under the heading of NATO in Libya. Apparently keeping taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood (among other matters) was worth jeopardizing the entire functionality of the federal government. As could be expected, the statists secured Planned Parenthood’s funds but made a last-minute reach across the aisle to compromise. Construction of their political pedestals thereby began with the completion date set for 11-06-12. Ludicrous.
2. Lack of standards.
Finances are heavy on my mind. The U.S. dollar means next to nothing. It is a number in a system at best; riches are a figment of the imagination at worst. Inflation is ballooning almost as quickly as the debt deepens. We are dependent upon China to buy our debt every Tuesday. When they make the decision to not do this some week based on the premise that our money has no value, America will wake up to a charming Black Wednesday. This is all the progeny of the failure of the government to mandate that money should carry an honest value and no more is spent than what is in hand. The citizens are not exonerated: a corrupt Republican government is produced by the voters.
“O, righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” Psalm 7:9
1. Lack of political integrity.
The government should exercise self-restraint and pass fiscal budgets. Furthermore, a budget should not have to be wheeled in on a dolly. Statist-minded politicians forget that they are public servants and almost pushed our government to a shutdown this weekend that would have victimized the men and women now fighting for foreign commanders under the heading of NATO in Libya. Apparently keeping taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood (among other matters) was worth jeopardizing the entire functionality of the federal government. As could be expected, the statists secured Planned Parenthood’s funds but made a last-minute reach across the aisle to compromise. Construction of their political pedestals thereby began with the completion date set for 11-06-12. Ludicrous.
2. Lack of standards.
Finances are heavy on my mind. The U.S. dollar means next to nothing. It is a number in a system at best; riches are a figment of the imagination at worst. Inflation is ballooning almost as quickly as the debt deepens. We are dependent upon China to buy our debt every Tuesday. When they make the decision to not do this some week based on the premise that our money has no value, America will wake up to a charming Black Wednesday. This is all the progeny of the failure of the government to mandate that money should carry an honest value and no more is spent than what is in hand. The citizens are not exonerated: a corrupt Republican government is produced by the voters.
“O, righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” Psalm 7:9
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Thank You
I bought a CD in October from this band called 33 Miles- a truly talented group who are part of my effort to end my devotion to country music. It's edifying music, and a particular song just asks the question (and I paraphrase), what if I thanked the Lord for everything?
Two of my oldest-best friends and six of my newer-best friends in the entire world threw two birthday celebrations at me in the past 48 hours (one being an utter surprise), and it was two of the most memorable days of this year!
Tonight, I simply want to list things I am thankful for:
-Friends who insist on taking the bill.
-Bran-new power shoes.
-French toast and coffee.
-Inside jokes.
-A "limit" on four applesauces.
-Green chile.
-Encouraging, Biblical conversation.
-Friends who can mimic each other's habits.
-The future ahead.
-New power shoes.
-Being forced to wear a jacket when I am stubborn.
-Getting more coffee with Vi.
-Hilarious faces.
-Watching the Lord move those where they'll be empowered to do radical things for Him.
-Enchiladas with french bread.
-The superfluous but exciting railrunner.
-Guys and girls who will stick closer than a brother.
I Thessalonians 5:6-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
Amen. :)
Two of my oldest-best friends and six of my newer-best friends in the entire world threw two birthday celebrations at me in the past 48 hours (one being an utter surprise), and it was two of the most memorable days of this year!
Tonight, I simply want to list things I am thankful for:
-Friends who insist on taking the bill.
-Bran-new power shoes.
-French toast and coffee.
-Inside jokes.
-A "limit" on four applesauces.
-Green chile.
-Encouraging, Biblical conversation.
-Friends who can mimic each other's habits.
-The future ahead.
-New power shoes.
-Being forced to wear a jacket when I am stubborn.
-Getting more coffee with Vi.
-Hilarious faces.
-Watching the Lord move those where they'll be empowered to do radical things for Him.
-Enchiladas with french bread.
-The superfluous but exciting railrunner.
-Guys and girls who will stick closer than a brother.
I Thessalonians 5:6-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
Amen. :)
Friday, April 8, 2011
Big-Hearted
One of my favorite things on earth is to see people who totally deserve to be praised look incredibly uncomfortable when that accolade comes. I am cruel.
My dear friend Sara was crowned m88 Prom Queen by what was apparently a landslide vote. Hooray! She nervously and sheepishly went up to get her tiara, and I could not have been happier.
Life has been rather wild the past couple of weeks from attempting to pull things back together after traveling the midwest for various competitive endeavors. I'll return to the complaint list to deal with one of the things that was directly produced by third-quarter doldrums.
10. I have to send out graduation announcements. That means schools need to have their plans together.
A long time ago my mentor listened to me rant and rave about my frustration at people (specifically my mom and sister) not operating the way I wanted them to. It took a long time for her to make me understand that I can't expect anything of people. I can't expect them to act in a certain way, and I can't even expect from them what seem like "common sense" and "necessary" things.
A complaint like this one exposes a gross amount of self-absorption. I am not good at showing grace to people. The large-of-heartness that grace in comes naturally to no human, but I certainly did not receive even a hint of it.
My prayer right now is to become completely amazed by and enamored with the grace that my Lord shows to be on a daily basis. I want my life to be an outpouring of Him, because that's really all that I am purposed to do.
Ephesians 1:7-8
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
My dear friend Sara was crowned m88 Prom Queen by what was apparently a landslide vote. Hooray! She nervously and sheepishly went up to get her tiara, and I could not have been happier.
Life has been rather wild the past couple of weeks from attempting to pull things back together after traveling the midwest for various competitive endeavors. I'll return to the complaint list to deal with one of the things that was directly produced by third-quarter doldrums.
10. I have to send out graduation announcements. That means schools need to have their plans together.
A long time ago my mentor listened to me rant and rave about my frustration at people (specifically my mom and sister) not operating the way I wanted them to. It took a long time for her to make me understand that I can't expect anything of people. I can't expect them to act in a certain way, and I can't even expect from them what seem like "common sense" and "necessary" things.
A complaint like this one exposes a gross amount of self-absorption. I am not good at showing grace to people. The large-of-heartness that grace in comes naturally to no human, but I certainly did not receive even a hint of it.
My prayer right now is to become completely amazed by and enamored with the grace that my Lord shows to be on a daily basis. I want my life to be an outpouring of Him, because that's really all that I am purposed to do.
Ephesians 1:7-8
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
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