Lisa's Musings

Huckabee Surge

I'm watching the Republican response to Huckabee's surge with much interest.  Seems the "powers that be" are uncomfortable with him- most of the stuff coming from the GOP- and Limbaugh and Hannity too- seems to indicate that he's "not towing the party line."  I'm going to have to watch and gauge this stuff- but to be honest with you, I'm about as fed up with the Republican party as I am the Democrats, and I think many others are as well.  We have a lot of problems inherant in our present political system and I think we're past due for a shakeup.  So I'm frankly not that interested in a "yes man" candidate that tows a particular party line, but one who lives and acts on their convictions, someone who would rather be himself and offer that to the public, and if they want something else doesn't pretend to be other than that to fit a mold, and has great integrity.  It's what I see in Huckabee up to this point- and while no one candidate is going to agree with me on EVERYTHING- I trust Huckabee now more than I trust any of the other candidates.

Stuff for Today

May I first send out a word to all my friends who are praying for my mother and family right now.  I'm so grateful for your thoughts and prayers- keep them up!  We're all still reeling from the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, but are thankful for a safe, successful surgery and what appears to be a good recovery from that.  We should have the pathology results soon and  will have a firmer grasp on what we are dealing with at that point.  Chemo is ahead for her- so please don't stop the prayers.

There is great news today on the Huckabee campaign!  I'm not a huge poll believer, but consider the sources- 2 polls, a CBS/NY Times poll and a CNN poll have Mike Huckabee statistically tied for 1st place with Rudy Giuliani.  This also means that the negative ads are beginning, though.  Romney has already released a negative ad in response to the Huckabee surge- that may backfire on him because one of the things about Huckabee that appeals to voters is his positive personality- he seems able to cast off criticism like a jacket on a warm day.  I love the fact that he is promising a positive campaign and pray that he sticks to his guns.   Most of the attacks seem to be on his immigration record, but we learned today that Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist has endorsed Huckabee.  That should help deflect criticism there.  Some important endorsements that have come Huckabees way in Florida today should also help him have greater success in that swing state.

There are 2 new ads on Huckabee's website that are now broadcsting in SC, NH, and IA.  You can see the ads by following this link: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=869

Thanks again for the prayers for my mom.  I'm thankful that she is in God's hands and that He is bigger than any of us, and that He will somehow work all of this for our good.  I can give Him my fears, my tears, and most importantly, my mother's health and know that they are precious and important to Him.

I've given this verse to my son as his life verse, because it's so important to me- and it's my verse for this time as well- Psalm 31:24 says, "Be courageous, and He shall strengthen your heart, all of you who hope in the Lord."

Windshields 4 Huckabee

Great news!  A poll released today puts Huckabee in 2nd place in the Republican standings, behind Guiliani and tied with McCain.  Word is starting to get out about Huckabee!

A grassroots activity for Huckabee is "National Windshields 4 Huckabee Day"- on Saturday, Dec. 15.  It is crucial to drive voters to Huckabee's website right now.  Use a chalk ink glass window marker and write the following on your vehicles rear window:

Faith-Freedom-Family

Mike Huckabee.com

President 2008

If you are a Huckabee supporter- help get the word out in your community by doing this.  I hope to see lots of "Huckamobiles" on Dec. 15!

Huckabee for President

Yes, I've finally found someone to support for President!  Check out the links of the widget I've attached to my blog and find out why.

Check out the video on the GOP YouTube debate-you'll love it!

Happy Trails to a Friend

I always hate goodbyes and some are especially hard.  My boss of 6 1/2 years is leaving our church to begin a new phase of his ministry.  So Phil, this one's for you.

It's been an adventure!  I have lots of fun memories- many of them relate to your resemblance to Adrian Monk!  Remember when it took 2 hours and a tape measure to get the posters in the choir room just right?  Lining up your jelly beans according to color and size?  And a confession here:  I "helped" Zack decorate your office that time.  The sofa cushions turned backwards and the books and photos turned upside down?  That was my idea. 

I want to thank you for being a friend as well as a boss.  You've always been an encouragement to me, and simply observing your steadfast walk with Jesus encourages everyone around you.  I've encountered few people who have your consistent faith, peace and joy.  You've been a blessing.

So to you and your precious family- I pray God's blessings on you as you embark on a new phase of your life and ministry.  Thanks for everything you taught me- and don't forget to send me links to your funny videos!

Deep Thoughts

I'm feeling a bit whimsical at the moment, and I took my title from the old SNL sketch.   Some quotes from Steven Wright-

Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.

I have an existential map.  It has "You are here" written all over it.

What's another word for Thesaurus?

If toast always land butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it?

If you shoot at mimes, should you use a silencer?

I bought some batteries, but they weren't included.

My theory of evolution is that Darwin was adopted.

The Golden Compass

I'm glad the word is starting to get out in Christian circles about the upcoming movie, "The Golden Compass".  The movie is based on a novel by Philip Pullman by the same title.  The book is the first of his series "His Dark Materials"- which he wrote as an "anti-Narnia" series.  Pullman is an atheist and has always despised the Narnia books for their obvious Christian parallels.  (He dislikes the Harry Potter books for the same reason, interestingly enough.)  Whereas the Narnia books theme is to strive for Aslan and his kingdom (Aslan is a Christ figure), in the Dark Materials series, the illustratory aim of the "heroes" is to DESTROY God and his kingdom. 

One minor disturbance in this is that the movie stars Nicole Kidman, who says she is a devout Roman Catholic.  However, she also says that she finds in this movie no contradiction to her faith.  (!?!)  I understand that the movie has "watered down" the anti-Christian message, which may lead some to say, "Well, then what's the problem?"  The problem is that when kids like the movie, they will be drawn to the book.  Each book of the 3 book series grows increasingly anti-Christian, anti-church, anti-God- and ends with a dramatic cliffhanger to draw you into the next book.  And in the 3rd book- our "heroes" succeed in "killing God"- the whole point of Pullmans writing.

So here is a reasoned plea from one Christian parent to others- the emails you are getting about this movie DO have a basis in fact.  You'll be seeing a lot of Pullman in the days ahead, I'm sure.  He comes across as a kindly, gentle grandfather type- but the doctrine he presents in his books is a dangerous one.  If your kids are old enough to understand, tell them about the authors purpose in having written the stories- it's a good way to make them understand that we have to stand up for our faith.

To learn more about Pullman and His Dark Materials, follow this link:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

The Birth of Wonder

Have you started your Christmas preparations yet?  I have.  I'm thinking about gift, decoration, food and party budgeting-how much Christmas can I pack into my meager dollars?  Can I get days off when my brother and sister-in-law will be in town?  Planning the "perfect" Christmas can be exhausting.  I want to enjoy the process, not constantly think about how much better it would be if I a) were not a single parent and my son didn't have to "split his time"  b) if I had more time and money, or c) if there weren't so much to do!

Sigh.  It's already time to step back and refocus on the over-used phrase "the reason for the season".

You'll never guess who felt the same way I do.  Madeleine L'Engle, from "Wintersong"

The Birth of Wonder

As I grow older

I get surer

Man’s heart is colder,

His life no purer

As I grow steadily

More austere

I come less readily

To Christmas each year.

I can’t keep taking

Without a thought

Forced merrymaking

And presents bought

In crowds and jostling.

Alas, there’s naught

In empty wassailing

Where oblivion’s sought.

Oh, I’d be waiting

With quiet fasting

Anticipating

A joy more lasting.

And so I rhyme

With no apology

During this time

Of eschatology:

Judgment and warning

Come like thunder.

But now is the hour

When I remember

An infant’s power

On a cold December.

Midnight is dawning

And the birth of wonder.

On Rowling

I titled this "on Rowling" instead of "on Dumbledore" because this is really about her, not her character.  The fact that she's deemed him gay is unfortunate- what should be a peripheral plot complication (because there was nothing to really suggest the situation in the books themselves, other than a couple of "close friendship" passages that, frankly, were so vague that I have difficulty believing that anyone but the most ardent gay activist would have picked up on) is now the subject of gossip all over the world- the pontification of the gay rights movement over this revelation far exceeds the significance of it.  It's a bad thing to be sure, but Book 7 revealed to us already that Dumbledore was a flawed man- and Dumbledore himself told Harry that he, Harry, was the better man because of his pure heart. 

Christians need to be careful.  I think this will all die down in a few days- but let's guard our conversation and our hearts.  Stand up for the truth of God's word- He doesn't tolerate sin and neither should we.  But no stone casting.  The books aren't evil because of this.  Remember that Rowling herself, no matter what her thinking was, chose NOT to make this issue a part of the books.  Despite the media reports, she didn't make this announcement to a group of children.  She was with an adult group and responded to a question by a 19 year old woman who the media reported as a "young girl".  It may be peripheral to the story, but it's not in any way a major plot point.  Indeed, the more I think of it, the less surprised I am, because of it's context in the story.  Dumbledore came to regret the relationship, that IS in the books.  And the books are about living nobly in a sinful world and doing the right thing no matter how hard it is.  Dumbledore had to kill Grindelwald.  Not exactly an endorsement for the gay lifestyle.

So why did she say it?  I really don't know.  It may be interesting to examine her motives but I don't know if it's a valuable use of our time.  There are bigger battles in the world of literature than this one.  I'm saddened, but not terribly disturbed about anything but the peripheral fallout.  I'll continue to cherish the books.  They did give me a glimpse of God.  But now I long even more for the day when I won't have to look through the glass darkly- and I'll see Him as He is.

Thoughts on L'Engle's Passing

I just learned today that one of my favorite writers is now in the presence of her Savior.  Madeleine L'Engle died on September 6th of this year- but I know as surely as I'm sitting here that right now she is joyfully worshipping at the feet of Jesus.  Her writing is full of vivid descriptions of creation joining together in one cosmic song of praise to the Creator for me to ever imagine otherwise. 

These descriptions are why I love L'Engle so dearly.  I wanted to quote from what she wrote at the end of "Walking on Water"

"Last spring I was giving a series of talks at the Cathedral of St. Peter, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was staying with parishioners who had a house right by the water.  I was unusually tired; into an already overcrowded schedule I'd had to interject trips to England and to Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem I'd fallen and bashed in my ribs ("You're wrinkled your ribs," the doctor reading the x-rays told me), and I was strapped up and in considerable pain.  One afternoon I had a couple of hours to myself, and so I limped to the sea wall and stretched out and closed my eyes and tried to let go all my aches and pains and tiredness, to let go and simply be.  And while I was lying there, eased by the cool breezes, the warm sun, bursts of bird song, I heard feet coming to me across the water.  It was a sound I recognized, a familiar sound:  the feet of Jesus coming towards me.

And then another noise broke in, and I was back in an aching body.  But I had heard.  For a moment in that hearing I was freed form the dirty devices of this world.  I was more than I am.  I was healed.

It is one of those impossibilities I believe in; and in believing, my own feet touch the surface of the lake, and I go to meet him, like Peter, walking on water.

But only if I die first, only if I am willing to die.  I am mortal, flawed, trapped in my own skin, my own barely used brain, I do not understand this death, but I am learning to trust it.  Only through this death can come the glory of resurrection; only through this death can come birth.

And I cannot do it myself.  It is not easy to think of any kind of death as a gift, but it is prefigured for us in the mighty acts of Creation and Incarnation; in Crucifixion and Resurrection.

You are my helper and redeemer; make no long tarrying, O my God."

-Madeleine L'Engle, June 1980