Category: Culture

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Theme Song?

I worked a little this morning on the last Elijah sermon (in three weeks) and a few other housekeeping things, but for the most part me and the rest of our church staff are taking today off as our Independence Day break. Therefore, I have the time to [FINALLY] write that blog which has been in my head for about a week.

With July 1, we crossed over the halfway point of the year 2020. It has been some humdinger of a year. We are all praying for a better second half — for COVID-19 to be tamed, the economy to turn around, peaceful elections in November, and for the Seattle Mariners to win the World Series. But . . . we aren’t yet to that happy ending. So, my question is, which song do you think best describes 2020 so far? Which is your theme song?

I have given you ten to choose from various genres.

Remember, you have to click the big VOTE button at the bottom for it to count.

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Happy 244th Birthday!

A couple of years ago I made this list of things I love about my nation — the United States of America — and it is all still true. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe celebration of Independence Day. Maybe make your own list. I’d love to see it.

  1. I love that we have three co-equal branches of government.
  2. I love that criticizing leadership, elected officials, and policies we disagree with is an act of patriotism. America was born in rebellion!
  3. I love Election Nights. I’ll take Super Tuesday results over a Super Bowl any day.
  4. I love the Bill of Rights and the fundamental freedoms–religion, speech, press, assembly, personal protection, and trial by jury.
  5. I love that we can amend our Constitution to correct wrongs, like slavery.
  6. I love all of those Lincoln/Kennedy comparisons.
  7. I love that spot in Michigan where I can look south and be looking at Canada.
  8. I love that the French helped us beat the Brits, and then we repaid the favor by kicking the Nazi’s out of France.
  9. I love the ideals of our Founding Fathers–equality, opportunity, fairness under the law, and liberty.
  10. I love that we chose English as our language, because English is so messed up and thus is more fun to play with.
  11. I love that Texas history is pretty much American history.
  12. I love the Southwest–desert, cactus, dry, and beautiful.
  13. I love Puget Sound.
  14. I love the sugar white beaches of Destin.
  15. I love the unique characteristic of each region of the nation, that New Yorkers and Idahoans share the same love of country and national destiny, but not the same culture.
  16. I love how we are an amalgamation of so many different peoples–Germans, French, Mexican, Irish, Iranian, Native American, Polynesian, and so many other rich heritages that add to this unique experience of being American.
  17. I love the classic movies of Hollywood–Casablanca, Red River, North by Northwest, Bullitt, and Mars Attacks.
  18. I love Hamburgers with mustard, onions, tomatoes and French fries doused in ketchup washed down with a cherry Coke.
  19. I love American cars and blue jeans.
  20. I love the American Flag. It has an intrinsic beauty beyond the sum of its parts.
  21. I love baseball at the diamond on a hot day.
  22. Speaking of baseball, I love that our national anthem is practically unsingable–because who wants an easy national anthem!
Featured

Its A Free Story — About Freedom!

Joseph Courtemanche started us off with the very first COVID Chronicle about a hundred years ago (actually, it was only three months ago, but it feels like a hundred years) with disease, death, and ABBA. CLICK HERE to read that inaugural story again, or, read it again for the first time? It is only appropriate that he finish us up with another great read. I am always impressed with how efficient Joseph is with getting the short story out there. He doesn’t need a lot of time or words because his prose is tight.

It has been a real honor to write with all my colleagues here. Paul Bennett makes me want to take a walk in the woods. Kathy Kexel inspires me to consider the sweetness in life. Derek Elkins brings a sense of fun and joy to the story. Rob Cely is a reflective thinker who takes us deep into our own soul. Joe Shaw is destined for celebrity because he speaks with mighty plots. and here we have Courtemanche, the wordsmith.

We’ve written these stories for your enjoyment. No fee, no charge, no paywall, no newsletter signup, no gimmicks. You can find the links all here by scrolling down my blog or at their own individual blog pages. Do visit them, and buy their books — Rob, Derek, Paul, Joe, Joseph, and I all have books for sale at Amazon and whether or not our children eat dinner next week depends on how many books you buy. So, there is that.

Click on the chainsaw to read What About The Window.

Click on the Husqvarna label. If you click the tree, you’ll wake up in Minnesota in January. Courtemanche tells me that is awful.

Featured

The Light Is Free, Even Though It Is Costly

Today in the penultimate COVID Chronicle Derek Elkins goes full on Derek Elkins with a great three-scene story about light in a dark world. His story reminds me of the famous MLK quote — “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Click on King’s picture to read “Light and Darkness”