Sunday, July 31, 2005

You Gotta Chase a Dream, One That's All Your Own


Whew! I don't know how the Leadership Camps Counselors do that all summer. After spending one week as a Group Leader at the 4th Session Kadesh, I am wiped out. Although it is that feeling that you have after you have been part of something that you know is holy and incredibly worthwhile, so maybe I do have some sort of understanding of what drives the counselors all summer.

I have been reading "God's Politics" by Jim Wallis since last weekend, and although the week at Kadesh severely cut into my reading time, I was able to sit down yesterday for a good while with the book. I really think Wallis has caught the vision of something that is sorely needed in America, which is some sort of alternative to the grid-locked two-party system that currently exists. He suggests that Christians can lead the way by providing a "fourth option." (This includes the Libertarian viewpoint in addition to the Conservative and Liberal camps.)

Wallis writes, "I believe there is a "fourth option" for American politics, which follows from the prophetic religious tradition we have described. It is traditional or conservative on issues of family values, sexual integrity, and personal responsibility, while being very progressive, populist, or even radical on issues like poverty and racial justice."

This speaks directly to my current situation regarding political affiliation. Portions of the platforms from both parties appeal to me, but other portions present significant roadblocks to my support. Wallis' vision of a new option excites me in a way that I never felt regarding possible political involvement for Christians who wish for their faith to inform all aspects of their political life.

Monday, July 25, 2005

Feel Complete, Stop Paying Dues

The week at Kadesh begins in earnest today, and I am very excited. I am working with students who are going to be College Freshmen in the fall. I can still remember the year that I came to Kadesh in the summer after my high school graduation. Some of the members of that group are people that I talk to on a daily basis here at ACU. The opportunity to work with students that are in a period of great transition is an incredible opportunity because this is usually a period of searching for the foundational aspects of one's independent life.

I would ask that everyone be in prayer for our group as we discover what it means to find hope in God and nothing else. Pray that God would lead us into a place where we discover more of him, and his presence is real in each of our lives this week.

After my short blurb on Saturday night about the experience that is miniature golf, I ran across this article in the NY Times about the wacky sub-culture of professional miniature golfers. Enjoy everyone.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac



Today represents the end of one of the most incredible stories in the history of sports. From the pit of a hospital bed to the podium of the Tour De France 7 times, Lance Armstrong has never ceased to amaze me. Each and every time that fans and critics have doubted that he could continue to dominate, he has risen to greater heights.

Perhaps the reason that he has captured such a strong place in the hearts and minds of people around the world is his sense of purpose and mission as an athlete. Most athletes are content to play their chosen sport and compete at a high level, but refuse to use the position that the American public puts them in, whether that position is justified or not. Lance has chosen to use his platform as the world's most recognizable cyclist to tell the story of strife and struggle that he experienced as a cancer survivor. Through Lance's voice, the voices of millions around the world have been heard in an attempt to further our knowledge of cancer treatment and prevention.

It appears that Lance's time as a cyclist is now done, and he will move on to being a full-time dad. I have no doubt though,that Lance will still be one of the leading figures in the cancer research and prevention field. His presence and sheer force of spirit is contagious to those of us who have had the gift of watching him climb mountains much greater than the Alps or the Pyrenees.

It has been a joy Lance. Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today


I'm pretty sure that in the Seventh Circle of Hell, Satan requires damned souls to attempt to hit putt-putt balls through spinning wheels, loop-de-loops, and miniature castles, but maybe that is just me.

Current Listening: "Keep It Together" by Guster.

All in all, it was a great day with the boys playing a little pool basketball in the afternoon and putt-putt in the evening. I'm looking forward to getting started with Kadesh tomorrow afternoon. This will be the last session for ACU Leadership Camps this summer, and I know that all of my friends on staff are getting worn down, but it will be a joy to see them minister in the lives of kids this week.

Friday, July 22, 2005

You'll Never Scream So Loud





For all of you out there who have fallen into that Black Hole of Productivity known as The Facebook, here is an article that you might enjoy. I realize that it is a bit dated, but entertaining nonetheless.

This picture has nothing to do with the article whatsoever.

We'll Fill In the Missing Colors In Each Other's Paint By Number Dreams


I am not sure how many of you would like a closer look at the past legal opinions of John G. Roberts, but if you would enjoy some kind of indication of how he might rule in the future, here is a great article from the NY Times providing analysis on his work on the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Current Listening: "The Next Voice You Hear" by Jackson Browne.

After a fantastic dinner at Harvest Moon, where I was almost demolished by a Dodge Ram driven by an incredibly oblivious woman as I walked to the restaraunt, we watched Mystic River over at the 'Burgh. I'm not going to give a Daniel Carlson caliber review here, but each and every time (3 as of last night) that I have seen the film, it has shocked and surprised me in equal parts. The twists and turns of the plot are down right Shakespearean, all the way down to the vow of vengeance that Jimmy Markham (Sean Penn) pronounces over his daughter's dead body.

I was actually very surprised that Sean Penn's victory in Best Actor and Tim Robbins' triumph in the Best Supporting Actor category were the only Oscars for Mystic River. I think "Return of the King" is a very enjoyable film, but the level of acting, storytelling, and pathos in Mystic River was unparalleled that year.

In case I have not told all of you yet, the University received a letter from President Bush communicating that he will not be able to attend the Opening Ceremony this year. I know that some of you are very disappointed by this news, while there are others who are not exactly the most ardent supporters of the President. No matter which side of the debate that you fall on, I think it would have been incredibly historic for the University to have a sitting President of the United States attend the Opening Ceremony for such an important year in the University's history.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Hello Darkness My Old Friend


I thought everyone might enjoy this picture that Patrick took during the ride of the Nine Horsemen last night around the Key City. Note the variety of bicycles represented in the picture. I also don't know if anyone is wearing sandals in the TDF this year, but we could quite possibly be on the front-end of a revolution in cycling attire.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Pull Me Under Your Weather Patterns


I have no idea what John Roberts is thinking today. It must be very intimidating and nerve-wracking to know that the entire nation is going to examine your opinions and viewpoints, but this is how it must be in our system. With a structure that allows for lifetime judicial appointments, there must sufficient scrutiny and examination of potential justices. It seems that Roberts is quite a Washington insider due to his service in the Reagan and Bush I Administrations, time as a partner in a prestigious D.C. law firm, and since 2003 his work as a member of the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals. President Bush's team probably saw this aspect of Roberts's personality as an advantage due to his prior confirmation by the Senate before he took his seat on the federal bench.

I see the largest potential roadblock to a potential appointment as the document that he signed in 1990 detailing the first Bush Administration's opposition to the Court's 1973 ruling in the landmark Roe v. Wade case. The memo stated that in their opinion Roe had been "wrongly decided and should be overruled." It is not clear whether this memo represents the explicit opinion of Roberts or whether he was simply projecting the opinion of the administration that he was representing. It is almost certain that such an explicit statement on a divisive issue like abortion will be one of the major points of contention in the Senate confirmation hearings.

Here is a link to a NY Times story detailing the reaction of Senators on both sides of the aisle to the new nomination.

Current Listening: "Leaving Through the Window" by Something Corporate.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

I Know You, You Will Still Cry and My Heart Will Break, Visions of You Will Fade Away, My Faith in You, It's You I'm Praying For


A very happy 21st birthday to Kristen Eastland, as well as Brad and Bryan Baker.

Last night a few of us were sitting around talking about the Jon Krakauer book that I am reading when someone brought up Aron Ralston. Garrett didn't actually say his name, but he mentioned "that guy who was trapped in the canyon and had to cut his arm off." I went into my room, grabbed my copy of "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" and Lance, Jordan, Garrett, and I had an interesting time looking at the photos and talking about what we would do if we were in that sort of situation.

I honestly have no idea what I would do until I was in that type of situation. I bet if you talked with Ralston before he went down into the canyon, he could not even fathom doing what he did only 6 days later. Until we are in situations that stretch us to our limits, we have no idea of the lengths that we will go to for survival. We also talked about the Uruguayan Rugby team that was stranded in the Andes Mountains after their plane crashed. Some of the team members ultimately were forced to eat the flesh of their dead teammates simply to have some sort of sustenance. Garrett wondered if we would be able to do that in that type of situation, but I could not answer him, because I will have no idea until I am there.

I know that I have an inclination towards self-preservation. That is obvious in each of our lives. It is easy to say that I would do all manner of things in order to survive, but until those incredibly tough decisions are staring me in the face, I cannot answer definitively that I would go one way or the other.

Monday, July 18, 2005

You Said You'll Give Me A Highway With No One On It


I have a confession to make. I have read some of the Harry Potter books. That is not the confession though. To my dismay and great shame, I have read books #1 and #4 in the series. Now, I know that the Potter aficianados out there will be aghast at this heinous breach of Wizarding etiquette, but if anyone wants to supply me with the other four books that I have not read, I will be glad to again work my way through the world of Hogwarts.

There has been a bevy of articles lately looking into the Potter phenomenon and how it has the potential to turn a generation of kids who have the most choices in terms of entertainment and learning into a generation of readers. I realize that all it takes is one great book to make a person a passionate reader, but there need to be more authors out there who capitalize on the inroads that J.K. Rowling has made in order to retain the vast audience that has turned its attention to literature once again.

Current Listening: "Rattle and Hum" by U2.

A bunch of us went to go see "Wedding Crashers" last night. All in all a very funny movie with a good combo performance by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn and a short cameo by a certain former SNL star that added to the joy. Everytime that I see Christopher Walken on the screen I keep expecting him to ask everyone for just a little more cowbell, but this time it was not to be from Bruce Dickenson.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Everybody's Gone, They Left the Television Screamin' that the Radio's On


Last week during vacation, I had the opportunity to watch a few stages of the Tour De France during the nights that we went into Winter Park for dinner. Since I got into cycling a few years ago, I became a pretty big Lance Armstrong fan because I have always admired long-distance and endurance athletes for their ability to drive and force their bodies to greater heights and feats simply by the force of their will.

In the past I have seen short clips and montages of Lance's TDF victories, but I have never been able to sit down and watch entire stages, especially those in the mountains. If you have never seen a mountain stage in the TDF, you are missing what Patrick Vincent likes to call "true sport." It is the most amazing, wacky, and exhilirating event that I have seen in awhile. While the riders are surging up impossibly steep mountain roads, fans and onlookers run beside them with flags and words of encouragement, or maybe derision, I'm not sure. Whatever it is, it is a lot of fun to watch.

The truly special part of it is of course the cyclists. During Stage 10, Lance was involved in a breakaway with three other riders up the last climb to Courchevel. As they jockeyed for position and traded turns drafting up the steep grades, Lance's countenance never wavered. Toward the end, when he stood up out of the saddle and took off as though he was propelled by some inhuman force, I almost jumped out of my chair for the sheer power and grace of the moment.

In a week Lance will probably have captured his 7th straight victory in the most grueling event in sports, but one day when I tell my grandchildren what it was like when Lance was working his magic, I will never picture him holding the trophies above his head, but I will tell them about the time that a man who was delivered from cancer would never succumb to mere mountains.

Saturday, July 16, 2005

I May Take a Holiday in Spain, Leaving My Wings Behind Me, Drink My Worries Down the Drain and Fly Away to Somewhere New


I arrived back in Abilene today after a very enjoyable trip to Colorado with the parents. Fishing was very enjoyable although what I did would probably fall into the realm of casting since the fish did not want to cooperate. I cannot complain though. At one point I looked up from the creek, saw my Dad standing downstream, glanced over at my Mom reading her book, gazed at the peaks rising above me, and I knew that even if I did not catch any fish the entire trip I would be filled with something beautiful.

I finished reading "A Problem from Hell: America in the Age of Genocide" by Samantha Power during the drive back today. It was very eye-opening for me to see a gathering of the U.S. response to genocides that have occurred around the world dating back to the Turks' terror against the Armenians during World War I. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in human rights or anyone that is concerned with the rolethat the United States plays as the de facto "world police officer" in the current era of a lone global superpower.

I began reading "Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith" by Jon Krakauer as we approached Abilene and I have already become engulfed in the story. Krakauer begins by examining the grisly murder of a woman and her daugther by Mormon Fundamentalist relatives who claimed that they were acting in accordance with a mandate from God. He uses this tragic event to examine the concepts of devotion, faith, and fanaticism and how they interact in our lives. I'll leave you with this review of the book from Newsweek:

"Scrupulously reported and written with Krakauer's usual exacting flair, Under the Banner of Heaven is both illuminating and thrilling. It is also the creepiest book anyone has written in a long time-and that's meant as the highest possible praise."

Friday, July 8, 2005

A Harbor in The Tempest



One of the greatest blessings that God can give us is a life filled with friends. My view of what constitutes a friend that is truly a blessing has been widened considerably during my time at college. I am finding that the greatest friends are those who make me uncomfortable at times, those that call me to a higher standard, and those who point me towards Jesus. These are not people that you can always just sit around and do nothing with. They are people who call me to action. They are people who call me to the way of Jesus with all of its challenges and sacrifices. For all of you who surround me on a daily basis with the words, actions, and love of Christ, I thank you. May God bless all of you, whether you are near or far.

Thursday, July 7, 2005

I Get Knocked Down, but I Get Up Again, You're Never Gonna Keep Me Down


A few years ago, President Bush took up mountain biking due to a knee injury that forced him stop running. I think that most of us would agree that the President is a particularly hard charging individual, for better or worse. On Wednesday, President Bush had an interesting run-in with a local bike policeman in Gleneagles, Scotland during his stay there for the G8 Summit. You can read about it here.

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

No Love, No Glory


Is there anything as close to an oligarchy in the United States today as the Supreme Court? Think about it for a second. These nine women and men have the power to shape the policies and legislation that governs our nation, but they also operate on a system of lifetime appointments, so that they may make decisions in an independent manner without fear of reprisal.

I was only 7 years old when the last truly contentious Supreme Court confirmation hearings (Clarence Thomas) took place so I guess I do not have any idea of the extent of the questioning that will, and should, be given to potential Justices. Due to the already heightened level of political polarization that already exists in our nation, it seems that almost anyone of President Bush's nominees will face significant opposition, and this is not only from the Democratic side of the aisle. The President is reportedly looking at approximately 12 potential nominees, some of whom are well known such as Al Gonzales, J. Michael Luttig, and J. Harvie Wilkinson, and others such as Edith Jones and Emilio Garza, who are only now coming into the national spotlight.

Current Listening: "O" by Damien Rice.

I am really looking forward to a vacation with my parents next week. I am particularly excited about my Dad teaching me to fly fish. I have always wanted to learn ever since I read "A River Runs Through It" earlier this year, and this was the first opportunity. I always enjoy finding something new that my Dad and I can do together. In high school, we found that we shared a mutual love for cycling, and that served as one venue where we could interact to a greater degree, and perhaps fly fishing will serve as another vehicle to bring us closer together. It will also be very nice to escape the heat of Abilene for a week in Colorado. I have never been to the Rocky Mountain National Park/Boulder area of the state and I am really looking forward to seeing sites such as Longs Peak and the Flatirons. Speaking of "A River Runs Through It", some people have said that my Dad looks a little bit like Tom Skerritt, who plays the Rev. McLean in the film. If that is true, then I must hold some resemblance to one of the sons in the film, most likely the one played by Brad Pitt.........

Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Every Chance that You Get is A Chance You Seize


Last night as I was standing on Crutcher Scott Field watching the fireworks go off, I could not help but think that Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful" should be our national anthem. Give it a listen and see what you think. If you don't know which song I am talking about, think about the part of "The Sandlot" where they are playing baseball by the light of the fireworks on the 4th of July.

I saw a statistic yesterday that Americans consume 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July. This is an impressive stat, but I know of one Japanese citizen who ate 49 yesterday in a 12-minute span. Yes, that's right, Kobayashi ruled once again in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. You can find the story here. The thing that I find truly amazing, or perhaps disgusting, is that the top two finishers in the contest weigh 144 and 105 lbs. respectively. It would take about four of Sandra Thomas, who finished second, to equal one Eric "Badlands" Booker whom she defeated. If anyone can explain how that happens, I would love to know.

Monday, July 4, 2005

All The Promises We've Made, From the Cradle to the Grave, When All I Want Is You


I don't know how many of you were able to watch the Live 8 Concerts from Saturday, but if you missed them, we may not see anything like that in a long time. Lance and I were discussing which venue had the best artists and we settled on London (U2, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, R.E.M., The Who, Pink Floyd, The Killers, Sting) over Philadelphia (Jay-Z, Linkin Park, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, and Kanye West). Looking back that decision does not seem that difficult to make, but if you saw footage of the combined set that Jay-Z and Linkin Park did, you would have a tough time deciding too, but if I were to walk away from those concerts without remembering what they were about in the first place, I would be making a huge mistake.

Music is one of the most powerful forces in our society. The way that it brings people together from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs is incredible. As part of the One Campaign to "Make Poverty History", the concerts were able to focus attention of many people who would most likely not care anything about the upcoming G8 summit in a very positive way. Despite the differences of many of the artists that performed on Saturday, and their diverse fanbases, people were brought together to tell the leaders of the world that we are watching.

Friday, July 1, 2005

It Was About Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis Big....


I've probably been guilty of slipping in a few "fish stories" in my time and getting carried away by a bit of hyperbole, but I don't think I can compete with this. Enjoy everyone!