VIOLET You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and belive strongly in your personal morals. Find out your color at Quiz Me!

Thanksgiving

I was blessed with a great Thanksgiving weekend. Mae was here for a week, and it was most wonderful. I love her very much. She is a great person. We were going to leave Chicago on Wednesday night, but alas, this happened...much nastier, though. So, we got up bright and EARLY Thursday monring...4:30 am early. We drove to Springfield and celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. 'Twas marvelous. All but 2 cousins and their families were there. It was the first time we all have been in the same place at the same time in ages.

We returned to Chicago on Saturday, and boy was it windy. Mae headed back to St. Paul yesterday afternoon. She took our friend Laura back to school on the way. It took a while, but she got there safely...huzzah!

We also officiall opened The Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler last night. That, too, was wonderful. The little group seems to be growing. A few weeks ago we were 5-6. Last night we were about 20. 'Tis a blessing.

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

The Countdown Has Begun

Mae (forgive her for not updating recently, but this happened to her computer) and I had our first premarital counseling sesion last night. It went extremely well, and yes, we are still going to get married! We chatted with Pastor Doug, and told him our story. All in all it went very well.

On another note, after 3+ years of saying we want to sing a song at North Shore, our band is going to sing this:

40
by U2
by way of The Psalmist

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...

News

I have just discoverd The Lark News...It is hysterical. Kind of The Onion for us evangelical types.

Holdin' Me Accountable

"There is such an enormous gap between our words and deeds! Everyone talks about freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, and peace; but at the same time, everyone, more or less, consciously or unconsciously, serves those values and ideals only to the extent necessary to defend and serve his own interests, and those of his group or his state. Who should break this vicious circle? Responsibility cannot be preached: it can only be borne, and the only possible place to begin is with oneself."

- Vaclav Havel

Sorry to Do This

But this pisses me off. Some of our Red State Moralists are suggesting we KILL Kevin Sites for breaking the video of the soldier killing an unarmed Iraqi.

Please know I hold no judgement against the soldier, what with the possibility that the body may have been booby trapped and such. This is not a post about that situation. It is being investigated via the process.

This is a post about some of the right out hatred espoused by some of the "moral" red staters. They claim moral superority, but say things like:

Turn Sites over to the terrorist.
or
No need for anything overt. Unfortunate things happen in combat zones, and if the reporter fails to hear someone yell "Sniper!!", well, c'est la guerre.
or
It better charge Sites, that treasonous bastard!
or
He should be charged as a traitor -- the government should make an example of him

Also, these are the same people who said this about Elizabeth Edwards cancer diagnosis (many were gracious, but there was plenty of scat spued):

If I were a doctor, I'd be frightened to treat the wife of a guy who sues doctors for a living.
or
any doctor here who treats her should have his head examined.
or
I wonder if she will be able to find a doctor with enough malpractice insurance in case hubby decides to sue over something

I know there is plenty of hypocrasy on both sides (I call things out on sites I frequent when I see hypocrasy), but for crying out loud, wishing death on people because they do not hold you views...damn! That is moral in my book.

War Is Hell

This is a link to some VERY graphic images from Fallaujah.

I do not post this link for the sensational nature, but rather to show the face of war.

Brothers and Sisters, this can not be the will of our Lord.

Men and women from here dead.
The Brother and Sister
The Father and Mother
The Son and Daughter

The childern of Fallaujah
Tears
No parents orphans

Images that give life to those taken

The Altar

The Altar
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Last night was Jesus Christ, Reconciler's first night at the Chase Cafe. It was a grand time. A Capella singing of old time hymns, organic praise and worship, some great prechifyin by Brother Tripp.

Even a few guests! Dan brought Bill. Sister Jane brought her kids Carolyn and Kyle. And Kurt was there with his son Emmitt.

The picture is our our altar (Thanks Jane!). Brother Larry painted the icons.

What the Crap

Why didn't Wes Clark get the nomination for the Dems?

I voted for him. He was just on Hardball and made more sense that eithr Kerry of Bush. And he was honest...cripes.

In Memorium

To all the vetrans, Thank you.

May peace come.

Movin' on Up

The Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler is moving into our new digs at the Chase Cafe. Sunday, Nov. 14 will be the first night there. 5:30...Bible Study/Gathering Time. 6:00...Worship. All in the P.M.

Chase Cafe is located 7301 N. Sherridan in Chicago.

Feel free to stop by...all are welcome!

Peace

A Non-partisan Political Post

All of us politicofiles should be proud of this letter to the editor in today's Suntimes:

Giving 100%

I was privileged to be a poll watcher at the 49th ward's 21st precint on Election Day...Most of the precint is composed of Loyola University students and staff. There is a prevailing opinion that the youth of today just don't care, but you would not have thought that if you had seen this precint.

The line formed early and never let up. By noon, 50% of the voters in the precint had cast their ballots. By 3 p.m. more than 75% had been accounted for, and still the line formed across the room. The poor judges never got a moment's break!

By five o'clock I was joking with one judge that at this rate they would run out of registered voters. And guess what? There are 486 registered voters in the 21st precint. When the last absentee ballot went through the machine the counter read 486: a 100% turnout! I've never seen anything like it.

Loyola is to be commended for helping develop such an aware and involved student body. It makes me proud!

-- AMS (Rogers Park)

Cliff...you lernt them kids good. Congrats!

And Now ... Something Completely Different

Last night Brother Tripp was ordained into the ministry of the Church. It was an amazingly beautiful service. There was music, preachifyin, cryin, and huggin. Trevor preached a very nice sermon. Brother Larry has some musings about it. I have to admit from the choir loft where I was sitting it was a bit difficult to hear some parts of it. But what I want to talk about is the what moved me most of all.

One thing I have noticed during my spiritual journey is a lack of acknowledgemet of one third of the Holy Trinity. All to often Hymns are cut short before the verse about this part, or prayers neglect acknowledgement of this part. I am speaking of the Holy Spirit. The guide for the Church.

Last nigh may have made up for that. Last night I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit more than I have in my entire life. There was a peace in the sanctuary that is all too oftern missing. I think some of that was the due to the fact that the Church Universal was represented by the presence of so many. American Baptist, United Church of Christ, Evangelical Covenant, Roman Catholic, Episcopal Churches USA, and I am sure I am missing some. The Church Universal was guided by the Holy Spirit to bring Brother Tripp into the minisry of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit moved aside lingering dissagreements, brought us together. Moved at least my soul.

It is my prayer that The Holy Sprit thought the Grace of the Father and Blood and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ lead Tripp in his journey and the Church Universal in her continued reconcilliation.

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS
Come Holy Sprit

Quote

If we are to insert "faith" into the public dialogue more directly and assertively, let's not be selective. Let's go all the way. Let's not just define "faith" in terms of the law and judgment; let's define it also in terms of love, caring, forgiveness. Compassionate conservatives can believe social ills should be addressed by charity and the private sector; liberals can believe that the government has a role to play in correcting social injustice. But both can agree that human need, poverty, homelessness, illiteracy and sickness must be addressed. Liberals are not against religion. They are against hypocrisy, exclusion and judgmentalism. They resist the notion that one side or the other possesses "the truth" to the exclusion of others. There is a great difference between Cotton Mather and John Wesley.

--Gary Hart NYT Op-Ed

I think that states my feelings nicely.

(revised: this section..here...right here...where you are now reading, said I was done posting political blogs....no I'm not. We all love each other, right? I hope?)

The Most Accurate Map Yet

purple_america_2004b_small
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Screw the Red State Blue State BS.

We are are purple country and need to start working with that.

The map is from here:

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/

POV

The Priestly Goth has written a very nice reflection on the past election. He looks at this issues of "moral values" from an objective p.o.v., and it is a good thing.

Thanks Larry.

It Is a'Comin

Whether you want to believe it or not, the draft will be here sooner than you think.

Here is a story about the backdoor draft going on now. This gentleman had finished ALL of his post-active duty service.

David M. Miyasato enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1987, served three years of active duty during the first Gulf War and received an honorable discharge in 1991. He remained on inactive status for five more years, until 1996. Since then, the Kaua'i resident has married, started an auto window tinting business and this year, he and his wife had their first child.

But in September, Miyasato received a letter from the Army recalling him to active duty and directing him to report to a military facility in South Carolina on Tuesday.

"I was shocked," Miyasato said yesterday. "I never expected to see something like that after being out of the service for 13 years."

Miyasato is now suing the Secretary of the Army, asking a court to prevent the Army from ordering him to active duty. He is also asking for a court judgment declaring that he fulfilled all his obligations to the military.

Thanks to Kos for the story.

Get ready people.

Mis-Shapes
by Pulp

Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits.
Raised on a diet of broken biscuits, oh we don't look the same as you
We don't do the things you do, but we live around here too.
Oh really.
Mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits, we'd like to go to town but we can't risk it
Oh 'cause they just want to keep us out.
You could end up with a smash in the mouth just for standing out.
Oh really. Brothers, sisters, can't you see?
The future's owned by you and me.
There won't be fighting in the street.
They think they've got us beat, but revenge is going to be so sweet.
We're making a move, we're making it now, we're coming out of the side-lines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid yeah:
We want your homes, we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns, we won't use bombs
We'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds.
Check your lucky numbers, that much money could drag you under, oh.
What's the point of being rich if you can't think what to do with it?
'Cause you're so very thick.
Oh we weren't supposed to be, we learnt too much at school now
we can't help but see.
That the future that you've got mapped out is nothing much to shout about.
We're making a move, we're making it now,
We're coming out of the side-lines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid.
We want your homes, we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns, we won't use bombs
We'll use the one thing we've got more of - that's our minds.
Brothers, sisters, can't you see?
The future's owned by you and me.
There won't be fighting in the street.
They think they've got us beat but revenge is going to be so sweet.
We're making a move. We're making it now.
We're coming out of the sidelines.
Just put your hands up - it's a raid.
We want your homes, we want your lives,
we want the things you won't allow us.
We won't use guns, we won't use bombs
We'll use the one thing we've got more of - that'sour minds.
And that's our minds. Yeah.

Mom, Don't Mad!

Honest Man
Originally uploaded by CelticWander.

Here is an honest man. The dude in the window is the one I am talking about.

Values

I know I was not clear below, but my point was...what is the defenition of values?

I have heard until my ears bled, and read until my eyes have crossed that this election was based on "moral values." I think that is part of the problem right there. Morals and values...what are they? Who defines them? Should they be legislated? What standard should be used?

I know some of my fellow religious readers will answer one way. But I know some of my fellow religious readers will answer a different way.

I don't want to get into a discussion here about it. A very interesting one has already been disescted here and here.

I think if we want to start to heal as a country, we should begin by looking at where we differ on this "values" and work form there.

One question

I have been reading blogs over the day and one thing I saw that was a quick glance was interresting.

First my question:

What is a Massachusetts Liberal?

The resason I ask is this, Mass. has the lowest divorce rate in the USA. In fact, the blue states seem to top the lists I looked at.

These are the same liberals who want to ban the Bible and allow those pesky gays to marry.

Sorry for the rant.

More:

I just read this Trippi's Take. It is encouraging.

One of the things I read this morning asked where they young vote was. It was supposed to make sure Kerry won the White House. Well, it turns out the 18-30 vote was there yesterday, and voted almost exclusively for Kerry. Infact, we are the ones who kept Kerry alive. Our numbers increased 1.7 million from the 2000 election.

Please read the above link. Trippi gets into the numbers and it is really amazing.

But the reason it sticks out even more is because of this:

"The organized Republican Party did exactly what it said it was going to do and pulled off a victory with an unorthodox strategy that they stuck to with discipline.

The unofficial, unorganized Democratic Party gave John Kerry 1.7 million votes yesterday over what they delivered to Al Gore in 2000, and fueled his campaign and the organized Democratic Party with the money and energy that kept it competitive with the Republicans.

No if we really want to find out what went wrong yesterday, it is time once for all for the organized Democratic Party to stare into a mirror and point at itself."

It turns out I am not alone in this fustration...excellent. Not only do I agree with most of the people I read but we have someone who matters on our side. (The quote is done, but I have no idea why the bold italics keep going...i did close them)

Update:

Last night what I wrote was in the heat of the moment. I still believe those things, but I have come to realize that I am a democrat, and proud of it. The party needs to change. The party needs to fight. They party needs to grow. I am not mad at Sen. Kerry. I am proud. I am listening to his concession speech now, and I am proud. I am mad a the leadership of the party and am calling for change. I am proud of the blogs, ACT, Democracy for America, WesPAC, True Majority, and the many many other grassroots organizatons. These are the groups who made this campaign what it was. The party leadership failed.

I have cried, felt nauseous, been angry, but now I am fired up. We have a job to do. It is time to fight.

The Revolution Starts Now

No matter who wins. The networks are calling Ohio, but the AP has not. I will wait.

No matter what, the revolution is beginning here, now.

I have thought for a while about how best to go about my political life. What works and what does not. Below is a mini maifesto/platform for the new Progressive Democrat party.

1. We will make sure everyone who need help will get it. No matter their situation they will get what they need. Too many people struggle with too little help. Healthcare will be provided for those who can not afford it. Job training will be provided for those who need it. We will look at The New Deal as an example.

2. War is not just. War will be used only if all options have failed. The Bush Doctine will be abolished. Diplomacy will be the norm. Minds are always more powerful than bombs. Look at the end of communism in the Eastern Bloc.

3. Responsible spending will be the norm. Citizens are penelized when they overspend on their credit, government should face the same repercussions. We will spend what we can with what we have. The deficit should not grow.

4. Pro-Life, but not Anti-Choice. Roe v. Wade should stand. No attempt will be made to reverse it. Abortions will happen. It is better that they be safe and regulated as opposed not.

5. Marriage is an issue betweent 2 people and thier god. All unions will be recognized as civil unions.

These are a couple issues. More to come

VOTE
DANG IT