Challenging Fate

Some days we can, like Calvin, have a pretty fatalistic view of the future. The idea of "fate" can be a very dicey one. Many things have been said about it. Yesterday I came across this Diana Trilling quote that got me to thinking:

"There's much to be said for challenging fate instead of ducking behind it."

I love the idea that fate is something to be challenged and not a force to be acquiesced to.
I wrote a post in 2005 titled Faith and Fatalism. Here is a clip from it:

So what exactly is the difference between true faith in God's sovereignty and a fatalistic view. I think that we can find the answer in the outcome of each. In essence faith causes us to press in, seek, and overcome - fatalism causes us to give up. Faith inspires hope in tomorrow while fatalism offers only fear. Faith affirms God's love for us ... fatalism embraces the worst of our fears.

Fatalism is very subtle because it can mask itself in very religious ways. We can mistake a sort of spiritual paralysis as "waiting on the Lord". We can be immobilized by fear and think that we are living in dependence on God ... all the while not taking risks ... not stepping out in faith ... thinking that God will move when even when our hearts are dark with fatalism.

In my thinking fatalism has never done anything for me except get me depressed. In contrast faith has brought life to my life and has caused me to hope against all hope in the darkest of times. Can you relate to having a fatalist view?

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The Best Thing about the Royal Wedding

Father Charles loaned his 42-year-old Aston Martin DB6 Volante MkII to the newlyweds.
The car, the main show for guys on an otherwise chick day, had been previously converted to run on bioethanol made from "English wine wastage" - of which there is no shortage.
Note the "JU5T WED" license plate and crazy "L" (for Learner) on the grill.

Doomsday: Save the Date

Have you seen one of these billboards? Apparently Harold Camping, the 89-year-old president of the Family Radio Network, has set the date for Christ's return. He also predicted the event for September 6, 1994. You can read more about it his prediction here.

I do not expect Christ to return next month. But he may return today.

Unstoppable | ★★★★★★★

I love the subtitle of this flick: 1 million tons of steel;
     100,000 lives at stake; 100 minutes to impact.

Ann and I (well, me more than she) enjoyed this nonstop thrill ride that focuses (obviously) on a run-away train loaded with lethal chemicals. The script is based on a true story but I think that one needs to be able to bend reality a bit to take it all in. Even so, I loved the way that it portrayed very ordinary men who rose above the manipulations of bureaucratic executives and heroically risked all to save many.

If you enjoy intense adrenaline pumping disaster movies you will probably enjoy this one. I liked it and, on a scale of ten, I give it ★★★★★★★.

Rigorous Theology

In a piece titled Creed or Chaos David Brooks recently posted his afterthoughts about "The Book of Mormon", a new Broadway play that he recently attended. I was fascinated by this one section of his piece:

Rigorous theology provides believers with a map of reality. These maps may seem dry and schematic — most maps do compared with reality — but they contain the accumulated wisdom of thousands of co-believers who through the centuries have faced similar journeys and trials.

Rigorous theology allows believers to examine the world intellectually as well as emotionally. Many people want to understand the eternal logic of the universe, using reason and logic to wrestle with concrete assertions and teachings.

Rigorous theology helps people avoid mindless conformity. Without timeless rules, we all have a tendency to be swept up in the temper of the moment. But tough-minded theologies are countercultural. They insist on principles and practices that provide an antidote to mere fashion.

Rigorous theology delves into mysteries in ways that are beyond most of us. For example, in her essay, “Creed or Chaos,” Dorothy Sayers argues that Christianity’s advantage is that it gives value to evil and suffering. Christianity asserts that “perfection is attained through the active and positive effort to wrench real good out of a real evil.” This is a complicated thought most of us could not come up with (let alone unpack) outside of a rigorous theological tradition.

I found Brooks' thoughts to be interesting ones. But as I read them I got the impression (and I may be wrong) that he does not understand that the heart of rigorous theology is the heart. With the heart a person trusts the Lord. With a strong regenerated heart one is able to resist temptation. The heart, and not the head, is able to deal with suffering.

So for me, a theology that is filled with rules and logic is one that I think appeals to a narrow segment of people. I am more drawn to a theology that focuses more on love, mercy and forgiveness than one that prescribes religious rules for living.. although I do recognize that the two are not mutually exclusive of each other.

Political Teasers

Just read that Ron Paul (R-TX), the GOP congressman with libertarian leanings, is expected to announce today in Des Moines that he's forming a presidential exploratory committee. Also read yesterday that Haley Barbour, Mississippi's Republican governor, announced that he was not running. And of course, to no one's surprise, Mitt Romney, one time governor of Massachusetts, formed a presidential exploratory committee a few weeks ago. I am so tired of all of this teasing.

Of course the real problem is that no one is really excited about any of these "announcements". Most of us see through all of the drama and understand that it is all a part of this weird preoccupation that the media, and political junkies like me, have about the candidates. Yet I would like to see something emerge on the national scene that resembles our recent mayoral election here in Kansas City where the candidates were deliberate, respectful and admirable. The campaign focused on issues instead of personalities.

I long to see a primary process that focuses on the many issues facing our country and not the farcical drama foisted upon us by the likes of teaser-candidates like Trump, Palin and Bachmann. I want to see serious candidates with serious answers come forth. I have grown tired of the extremist ideologies of the far left and the far right. I think that America is a right-leaning centrist nation in need of leaders who can work across the aisle and deal with the many weighty issues of our time. We do not need political teasers. Here endeth the rant.

Is Your Back Out of Whack?

Over the years I have I battled back pain at different times. The last notable time was when I moved last summer. Back problems seem to be most debilitating because of their affect on our whole body. With that in mind I give you a few tips from an email I got over last week:

What causes back pain?

The most common causes of back pain are lifting, bending and overstretching. Many times the pain is acute, short lived, lasting a few days to a few weeks and usually caused by a muscle or ligament strain. However, if your pain lasts longer than three months, you should consult a doctor as you may have chronic back pain. Chronic pain or pain with unusual symptoms could be caused by a tumor, herniated disc, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or other serious diseases and should be diagnosed by your doctor.

What can you do for the pain?

• For the first couple of days after an injury or strain you should try to rest and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees is a good option just remember to get up and move around.
• Choosing whether to apply heat or ice? While there isnt any strong evidence for either treatment, applying heat or ice for 15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours may help reduce your back pain. You can also try alternating between heat and ice to see what works best for you.
• Try an over-the-counter pain medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen can all provide pain relief.
• Get back to your regular activities as soon as possible. Resting more than 12 days could make your pain worse by causing stiffness in your muscles. Your regular activities will help to keep your muscles strong.

What can you do to prevent it?

• Your mom was right when she told you to sit up straight. Many people sit for long periods of time which can cause lower back pain. Be sure you sit up straight with your back against your chair and both feet on the floor.
• Six packs are great when were talking about your abs! Doing exercises to strengthen your core body muscles provides protection for your back.
• How heavy is your bag? If your bag or purse is more than 10% of your body weight, the best way to carry it is to wear it across your body like a messenger bag.
• How are you sleeping? Keeping your spine in line with your head is one way to avoid back pain. Dont prop your pillows to a height that will cause your neck to be out of line with your spine.
  

Have you had back pains? Any advice for those who suffer with painful backs?

Easter Traditions

This cute Shoebox blog cartoon brings back great Easter memories. When I was young my mom always bought us new clothes to wear to church on Easter - surprisingly I enjoyed that. We would also dye eggs and my folks (and my older sister) would always hide our baskets on Sunday morning. It was great fun searching for them. Easter dinner was always a feast made by my dad. He was such a great chef!

When we had children I continued all of those traditions. The images of my kids searching for their baskets warms my heart. Not to mention how they loved to find hidden eggs in our backyard.

What kind of Easter traditions do you remember?

Good Friday Shrugged

Michael Gerson had an interested editorial in yesterday's Washington Post titled: Ayn Rand’s adult-onset adolescence. In it he opines about conservatives and their attraction to the recently released cinematized version of Ayn Rand's book "Atlas Shrugged".
Here is a clip from the editorial:

The appeal of Ayn Rand to conservatives is both considerable and inexplicable. Modern conservatism was largely defined by Ronald Reagan’s faith in the people instead of elites. Rand regarded the people as “looters” and “parasites.” She was a strenuous advocate for class warfare, except that she took the side of a mythical class of capitalist supermen. Rand, in fact, pronounced herself “profoundly opposed” to Reagan’s presidential candidacy, since he did not meet her exacting ideological standards.

Rand cherished a particular disdain for Christianity. The cross, she said, is “the symbol of the sacrifice of the ideal to the nonideal. . . . It is in the name of that symbol that men are asked to sacrifice themselves for their inferiors. That is precisely how the symbolism is used. That is torture.” Yet some conservatives marked Holy Week by attending and embracing “Atlas Shrugged.”

Reaction to Rand draws a line in political theory. Some believe with Rand that all government is coercion and theft — the tearing-down of the strong for the benefit of the undeserving. Others believe that government has a limited but noble role in helping the most vulnerable in society — not motivated by egalitarianism, which is destructive, but by compassion, which is human. And some root this duty in God’s particular concern for the vulnerable and undeserving, which eventually includes us all. This is the message of Easter, and it is inconsistent with the gospel of Rand.

It will be interesting to see how this movie is embraced by conservatives.. especially those on the religious right. I do not think that solutions to the problems that we face are all that easy though. Many conservatives emphatically believe that the government should get out of the welfare business and let religious institutions take over. Others think that the government originally got involved because those organizations dropped the ball.

Politics aside, I suggest that we all take a few minutes on this Good Friday to contemplate the sufferings of Christ on the cross and to remember the nobility with which he died. In doing so I pray that we will each be moved to do something compassionate towards another human being.. even if it goes against our political ideology.

Perspective

I relate to this thought provoking Shoebox Blog cartoon. What is interesting about it is that the white rabbit is the same in both frames. The only thing that changes is the other rabbit. His perspective is the same because it is all about his opinions about people who are different from him. His statements seem to represent a bit of insecurity. Most opinions do. Ever met someone like him?

Fair Game | ★★★★★★

Valerie Plame Wilson's story is a very compelling one. It definitely has an edge to it and some who are ardent followers of President Bush may not like it. In truth the story made me feel sad as governmental officials outed a CIA covert agent and caused pain for this brave American as they smeared her reputation.

Her story is remarkable.. I loved the way that Valerie came to her senses and joined her husband in fighting for their marriage, their family and for their dignity. These two stood tall as they stood for the truth. In contrast our governmental leaders sank low. President Bush's administration displayed a very dark demeanor as they acted vindictively towards them.
On a scale of ten I give this move ★★★★★★.

Letting Go

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My life began to change about eight years ago when I began to let go of my controlling ways. In the middle of a great personal crisis I started making small steps to simply flow with life and not fight against it.

I still struggle in this area but am learning more each day to be content with the life, the health and the things that I have. Letting go of control has been a very healthy exercise.

A few quotes from people that seem to know a bit about letting go.

The key to change... is to let go of fear. -Rosanne Cash

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. -Lao Tzu

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. -Raymond Lindquist

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. -Dalai Lama

Sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to. -Anonymous

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -Joseph Campbell

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The Sixteenth Amendment

Today is Tax Day in the United States.. that day when all tax forms must be postmarked before midnight and mailed to the Internal revenue Service. It is good to remember that there has not always been a federal or national tax in this country. Here is a brief history of federal taxation from Wikipedia:

• The first income tax suggested in the United States was during the War of 1812 but is was never imposed.
• The first Federal income tax was adopted as part of the Revenue Act of 1861. The tax lapsed after the American Civil War. Subsequently enacted income taxes were held to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court because they were not given to the states.
• In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified, permitting the Federal government to levy an income tax without giving all of it to the states. It states:
  

  The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

• Federal taxes were expanded greatly during World War I, after the Wall Street crash of 29 and throughout the rest of the twentieth century.
• Federal income tax rates have been modified frequently. Tax rates were changed in 34 of the 97 years between 1913 and 2010. 

Interesting to note that the tax rates in the first three years (1913-1915) ranged from 1-7%. Rates hit an all time high of roughly 20-90% in the fifties and early sixties. During the Reagan years rates were about 12-50%. The four years after Reagan rates dropped for upper earners to 15-28% and 15-31%. Currently rates are 10-35%.

Seems that there have always been severe reactions to taxes in this country. Many today do not want to see taxes raised on the wealthiest Americans. Some want to see the tax code greatly modified. Many want corporate taxes greatly lowered. Some advocate a tax on things purchased rather than a tax on income. It will be interesting to see if anything is done to our system of taxation.

What changes would you like to see in the way we are taxed?

Your King is Coming

When I was young I always enjoyed going to church on Palm Sunday. As I entered the church I was given a palm similar to one of those pictured here. There always seemed to be something joyful about that day. The story from the gospel of John:

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

  “Hosanna!
  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
  Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

  “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
  see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

At first his disciples did not understand all this.