Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten journey. In recent years Ash Wednesday has become a particularly challenging, reflective, and yet empowering day for me in the life of the church. In reality the whole season of Lent has grown in meaning each year. Ash Wednesday is a reminder that our earthly lives are finite, that only by the grace of God are we able to carry on in this uncertain life. As I finished the meditation at d365 (a very good online devotional), I had a moment of reflection and tossed my thoughts down…
Through Dust and Ash
2.25.09, 2:58p
Ashes spread out
In a cross
Across, my forehead
From dust we came
To dust we return
The question in life -
"What have we learned?”
Trial and victory
Triumph and tragedy
I have seen it all
I’ve wept for loss
I’ve carried the cross
I’ve faltered and fallen
I’ve stood and repented
I’ve seen the light
Grace, carry me, now
Mercy, cleanse me, now
Let me be made anew
I see the light
From heaven falling down
I see the light
Mercy, cleanse
Steadfast love, renew
Through dust and ash
I see the light
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Gamecocks Beat Florida: ESPNews Highlight of the Night
GREAT finish for the Gamecocks against Florida last night! Since it was a 7pm Wednesday game I was at work, but hey, I'm proud of this team. They're playing hard and fighting till the end every night. A year ago we would've given up with three minutes to go and ended up suffering a 10 point loss. Same players, different team. Thank you, Coach Horn!
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3851026
Oh, and even better that it happened the same night Clemson dropped to 0-54 all-time at Chapel Hill. Gotta love it!
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3851026
Oh, and even better that it happened the same night Clemson dropped to 0-54 all-time at Chapel Hill. Gotta love it!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Rumination
I just got off the phone with my Dad, my best friend, a man I often crack jokes about but respect immensely. Dad was born in 1945. He grew up in a racially divided nation, in the South, in Augusta, Georgia.
While I’ve been a fervent supporter of Barack Obama for a long time, Dad’s gone back and forth, not because of race but because of conservative leanings. Trust me, we’ve debated and discussed Barack Obama for hours and hours over the past two and a half years. When Obama declared his run for Presidency, Dad called with excitement to see if I'd heard the news. He wavered toward Hillary, and he defended McCain. Truth be told, we both played devil’s advocate. Dad never spoke a negative word about Barack Obama.
Today Dad told me he’s proud to see “the guy I saw speak in Columbia” become our nation's 44th President. My Dad, a child of the racially divided segregation-era South, has hope in a black President.
When I reflect on my hope for Obama it takes me deep into my family's past and the development of my views on racial diversity, or better yet, harmony.
I began 'following' Obama, for lack of better wording, after his 2004 Democratic Convention speech, the speech that put him on the map. Still, the moment that made me a true supporter came on September 7, 2004 when Alan Keyes said Jesus Christ wouldn’t vote for Obama.
I read the headline and my jaw dropped. How could anyone dream to begin to presume who Christ might possibly vote for in 2004? It was a defining moment in my support for now President Barack Obama.
Reflecting on my past tonight, on my life, I told Dad that my openness was founded in the principles he and my Mom ingrained in me. For example, the two most important songs Mom sang to me as a child were 'Yellow Submarine' and 'Jesus Loves the Little Children'. The former has inspired me to love great music and delve into the Beatles untouchable catalog. The latter laid the foundation for my current theology of inclusion, reconciliation, and God's love for all.
“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
My Dad, reflecting on his Dad, told me several stories about Granddaddy reaching out to African-Americans in a violently divided South. The story I’d heard several times over was that of Grandaddy on the steps of the Richmond courthouse as a child, learning how to tapdance from the legendary Mr. Bojangles. I heard how Grandaddy and other kids, mostly black, would gather on the steps and watch Bill Robinson's timeless footwork.
The story I'd heard once or twice, but had long forgotten, came from the late 60’s. Granddaddy was working at the Sears and Roebuck store in Augusta as the paint department manager. With segregation in its waning days, the Augusta Sears hired its first black “floor” employee. Sure, Sears had black janitors and mechanics, but up to this point black employees weren’t allowed to interact with customers.
Every department manger but one refused to have Sears first black floor worker in their department. At a time when racial tension was high, James Stuart Peters welcomed a black man into the paint department. After Grandaddy passed away in 1993, that same worker told my dad that his father had made a profound difference in his life.
As Dad retold this story, I broke down in tears (Dad didn't know it).
This is a story that challenges me today, 40 years later. Who knows how Granddaddy would’ve felt about having a black President. Dad says he'd be proud.
Today, on the East side of a Capitol building built by slaves, Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States of America. As a supporter, as a reconciler, and as a dreamer, I'm proud to say, "yes we can.... and yes we did!"
While I’ve been a fervent supporter of Barack Obama for a long time, Dad’s gone back and forth, not because of race but because of conservative leanings. Trust me, we’ve debated and discussed Barack Obama for hours and hours over the past two and a half years. When Obama declared his run for Presidency, Dad called with excitement to see if I'd heard the news. He wavered toward Hillary, and he defended McCain. Truth be told, we both played devil’s advocate. Dad never spoke a negative word about Barack Obama.
Today Dad told me he’s proud to see “the guy I saw speak in Columbia” become our nation's 44th President. My Dad, a child of the racially divided segregation-era South, has hope in a black President.
When I reflect on my hope for Obama it takes me deep into my family's past and the development of my views on racial diversity, or better yet, harmony.
I began 'following' Obama, for lack of better wording, after his 2004 Democratic Convention speech, the speech that put him on the map. Still, the moment that made me a true supporter came on September 7, 2004 when Alan Keyes said Jesus Christ wouldn’t vote for Obama.
I read the headline and my jaw dropped. How could anyone dream to begin to presume who Christ might possibly vote for in 2004? It was a defining moment in my support for now President Barack Obama.
Reflecting on my past tonight, on my life, I told Dad that my openness was founded in the principles he and my Mom ingrained in me. For example, the two most important songs Mom sang to me as a child were 'Yellow Submarine' and 'Jesus Loves the Little Children'. The former has inspired me to love great music and delve into the Beatles untouchable catalog. The latter laid the foundation for my current theology of inclusion, reconciliation, and God's love for all.
“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
My Dad, reflecting on his Dad, told me several stories about Granddaddy reaching out to African-Americans in a violently divided South. The story I’d heard several times over was that of Grandaddy on the steps of the Richmond courthouse as a child, learning how to tapdance from the legendary Mr. Bojangles. I heard how Grandaddy and other kids, mostly black, would gather on the steps and watch Bill Robinson's timeless footwork.
The story I'd heard once or twice, but had long forgotten, came from the late 60’s. Granddaddy was working at the Sears and Roebuck store in Augusta as the paint department manager. With segregation in its waning days, the Augusta Sears hired its first black “floor” employee. Sure, Sears had black janitors and mechanics, but up to this point black employees weren’t allowed to interact with customers.
Every department manger but one refused to have Sears first black floor worker in their department. At a time when racial tension was high, James Stuart Peters welcomed a black man into the paint department. After Grandaddy passed away in 1993, that same worker told my dad that his father had made a profound difference in his life.
As Dad retold this story, I broke down in tears (Dad didn't know it).
This is a story that challenges me today, 40 years later. Who knows how Granddaddy would’ve felt about having a black President. Dad says he'd be proud.
Today, on the East side of a Capitol building built by slaves, Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States of America. As a supporter, as a reconciler, and as a dreamer, I'm proud to say, "yes we can.... and yes we did!"
Monday, January 05, 2009
Less Rain in Vegas
Less celebrities are making it rain in Las Vegas strip clubs. When Floyd "Money" Mayweather dries up the cash showers, you know we're in deep. Hurry up Congress, we've got to fix this economic crisis and quick!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Life Cycle
Saw this picture of a nameless guy in Gaza from the State. Pretty powerful; inspirational. Caused a few words to flow out of my head...
Life Cycle
- Chris Peters 1.3.09 11:18pm
Fire pours from the heavens
Rockets slam into my home
Sister, why aren’t you breathing?
Death has left me here alone
Staring out a windowless frame
Into the apocalypse below
Glass, rubble, broken bodies
The debris of all I know
Anger, violence, death, silence
My life cycle of bitter wars
If I claim God is on my side
How can you claim He’s on yours?
Life Cycle
- Chris Peters 1.3.09 11:18pm
Fire pours from the heavens
Rockets slam into my home
Sister, why aren’t you breathing?
Death has left me here alone
Staring out a windowless frame
Into the apocalypse below
Glass, rubble, broken bodies
The debris of all I know
Anger, violence, death, silence
My life cycle of bitter wars
If I claim God is on my side
How can you claim He’s on yours?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
SC Politician Christmas Gifts
The State's spreading holiday cheer today...
ha! Good call to stop short of calling Mark "Gov. Scrooge" outright, though.
Gov. Mark Sanford: An updated reading of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.”
“You want unemployment payments? Bah, humbug!
“Money for Detroit? To the poor house with you!”
ha! Good call to stop short of calling Mark "Gov. Scrooge" outright, though.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Politico: The Obama Revolution
Politico has a fascinating article today that looks ahead to the post-election/inauguration shift in Washington.
The last of their "five big things... that will be different once Obama takes office on Jan. 20, 2009," provides an interesting comment on the continuing postmodern cultural shift in our society. More importantly it gives a comment on how that shift is reflected in the postmodern view of the world. The italicized line is my own emphasis.
The last of their "five big things... that will be different once Obama takes office on Jan. 20, 2009," provides an interesting comment on the continuing postmodern cultural shift in our society. More importantly it gives a comment on how that shift is reflected in the postmodern view of the world. The italicized line is my own emphasis.
The 1960s are over — finally
For two generations, American politics has been dominated by issues and personalities that were shaped by the ideological and cultural conflicts of the Vietnam era.
The rest of the population may have been bored stiff, but the baby boomers continued their remorseless argument, as evidenced by Bush and Kerry partisans quarreling over Swift Boats and National Guard service in 2004.
Obama had not yet reached adolescence in the 1960s. He seems little interested in the cultural conflicts that preoccupy baby boomers. The fact that he admitted to using cocaine was hardly a factor in this election.
And this young president-elect exerted powerful appeal over even younger voters. They favored Obama by 34 percentage points, 66 percent to 32 percent — a trend with huge potential to echo for years to come.
Guns, God and gays will not disappear from our politics. But they are diminished as electoral weapons as the country confronts a new generation of disputes: global warming, mortgage meltdowns and the detention of terrorism suspects, to name a few.
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