Apparently Some People Are Hiring

Here is a little something that came across my desk this morning. Apparently, there are jobs available in certain fields if you are qualified. I'll be on the road the next couple of weeks in the Pacific Northwest visiting churches and drinking lots of coffee. So to all five of my regular readers, have a great May Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Mother's Day. See you soon.

Somebody to Love

We are down to the final five. Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert. I remember the first year of this show when we ended up Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini as finalists. I am not sure either of those two would even still be in the competition this season. This years five remaining singers are a joy to watch and listen to. That said, there are some real differences between performers. So, after listening to their performances tonight, allow me to put my two cents in before this weeks results are announced tomorrow evening. Going home this week is Allison. It is just going to be hard for a female rocker to win a competition in which the majority of voters are young teenage girls. Allison is a great singer and will have a long career, but this week is the end of the line. Next up is Kris Allen/Matt Giraud. These two are basically interchangeable. Nice voices, versatile, talented, and lamentably, almost the same person. They too will get their recording contracts, but this season, they are just the undercard for the main event. In the finals we will see Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert. Good vs. Evil. Yin and Yang. Sturm und Drang. Either of these two guys will be a fantastic choice, but America loves a good fairy tale and what is better story than awarding the title of American Idol to a young father whose wife died in surgery a few months before this competition began? So take it to the bank. Danny Gokey is this years American Idol over Adam Lambert. But don't feel too bad for Adam. He'll have a great career as he is incredibly talented and secure in his skin on stage. I just wish he would cut loose and give us a real treat by singing a little Freddy Mercury inspired Queen. Maybe "Somebody to Love" from the "A Day at the Races" LP. Enjoy!

Need To Get Away?

Remember those Southwest Airline commercials? You know, the ones that rescue you when you've made one of those unforgivable social errors? Well, a friend sent me this one. Enjoy and have a good weekend.

It's Official, Facebook Says We're Married!

I got married the other day. Yeah, I know, but hey, after almost thirty years, as someone pointed out, it was about time. Now before you all go crazy thinking you were at my wedding on that blazing hot June day in 1979, or have always known me to be married, let me explain. My wife recently joined Facebook. For those of you who have been living in a cave the last few years, Facebook is this kind of social network, or Satanic force depending on your point of view, that you can join and then spend countless hours looking for old friends from high school, the town where you grew up, and all of your past lives. Anyways, once you join, you have to answer a series of questions about yourself for your profile. Then some sort of organizer puts all of your information into a giant Jetson’s like Univac computer and tells the entire network of 532 million people your status. So as Chelle keyed in her info, it started to come online. I first found out that Chelle and I were now friends. How you become Facebook friends is another whole discussion, but it was good to know that after being together for 30 something years, we are now, officially, friends Then after a few minutes, it came up. Chelle and Dave are now married. After 30 years! What a relief that was. For a guy working in ministry, that was a close call.

Maestro, A Little Music Por Favor

I was on the road a couple of weeks back and I was doing some thinking. Yeah, I know for those of you who know me that may seem like a bit of stretch but hey, miracles do indeed happen. Anyways, my thoughts wandered to music. Probably because my little AM/FM cassette player was blaring a strictly Beatles broadcast. Three hours of only John, Paul, George, and Ringo. As the show neared completion, I realized that they had only scratched the surface of their musical catalog. Now I grew up on The Beatles. I watched them on Ed Sullivan, had a ton of their 45’s, and was heartbroken when they called it splits. For me, they are the big kahuna. El mero mero. The best of the best. But for others, who knows. So here is what I was wondering. Aside from The Beatles, what other band, or performer from the modern era, [post 1950, and yes, this eliminates Beethoven and his buddies for you classical music buffs] can carry an entire three hour broadcast, week in and week out. And keep the quality up. Here’s my top five. See what you think. The Beatles. Enough said. Hands down, the biggest act since 1960. Stevie Wonder. A huge catalog of music spanning five decades. Elvis. While I am not a huge fan, I can certainly acknowledge his importance. U2. In my opinion, the only current act that belongs. Frank Sinatra. Frank was the man. Cool, hip, and good-looking to boot. And his ability to interpret a song will never be matched. So there you have it. If I was pressed to add a couple of honorable mentions, I would probably add Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones. Now it’s your turn, let me know who I missed.

An Easter Thought

He has risen, Yes, He has risen indeed! Happy Easter

The Angels Curse

Being a lifelong fan of the California Angels Baseball Team [now known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim] has never been easy. For most of my childhood, the team was a struggling second division team. With the exception of 1967 when they somehow managed to win 84 games, seasons above the .500 mark were few and far between. And then in 2002, they managed to pull off the miracle. The Angels were crowned World Champions of the baseball world. It was as if they had finally buried a curse that seemed to plague their very existence, both on and off the field. Early on, players Minnie Rojas, Chico Ruiz, Bruce Heinbechner, and Mike Miley were all killed in tragic car accidents. In 1978, star outfielder Lyman Bostock was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity. In 1982, after winning the first two of a best of three series playoff series against Milwaukee, the Angels fold and lose three straight. In 1986 the Angels were one inning away from winning the American League Pennant and going to the World Series. Until the Boston Red Sox somehow managed to win that game, and the next two to advance. In 1989, the pitcher who gave up the crucial home run that cost the Angels the pennant in 1986, Donnie Moore, shoots his wife and commits suicide, unable to shake the demons from that game. And then came 2002, the World Series win against the Giants, and it appeared the curse had been broken. Until today. Early this morning after pitching 6 shutout innings against the Oakland Athletics, 22 year old Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident. The latest in a long line of tragedies that have struck this franchise since its inception in 1961. The prayers of the baseball world go out to his family and parents, Jim and Janet Adenhart. [Follow my sports postings at Bleacher Report]

26 and Counting

26 years ago today, I was blessed with a great son. Today is Joseph's birthday. In honor of your special day Joseph, I present you this video of an amazing goal from one of your favorite sports, soccer, or, as we say in Mexico, futbol! Goalllllllllllllllllllll! Goal! Happy Birthday J!

Realism and Pragmatism

In a fascinating interview broadcast yesterday, former Secretary of State, former Secretary of the Treasury, and former White House Chief of Staff James Baker [pictured above with President Reagan in 1988] believes realism and pragmatism are central to an effective foreign policy. They are also concepts Baker said he is happy to see the United States return to in President Barack Obama's foreign policy. This is in stark contrast to GOP leader Newt Gingrich's view that Obama has a Fantasy Foreign Policy. Catch the clip here at Conservatism with Heart. Let's see now. If I had to choose between Gingrich, who served as a congressman, and who never had to be responsible for negotiating with and dealing with foreign leaders, and James Baker, who served under both Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush, I think I would choose the expertise of Mr. Baker. Mr. Baker was very supportive of President Obama's approach to both Russia and the Middle East [including Iran and Iraq] in this interview. But maybe you are not the type that gets excited about foreign policy. Perhaps you would be interested in Mr. Baker's views on the economy. He mentioned that when he was on the job, the US hit a pretty rough patch and the government "threw liquidity at the problem," just like Geithner is doing. He mentioned that while our current Secretary has had some rough spots, he said "a lot of what has been done by the Fed and Treasury has been absolutely the right thing to do." He also said that we ought to support our Treasury Secretary and that he, in fact does and hopes he succeeds. Lest you think Baker is some kind of RINO [for those of you not versed in Republican party lingo, that means Republican in Name Only, as in John McCain], let's remember that it was Baker who organized the team that put GW Bush into the White House after the Florida mess. He also stated that he believes our country is much better off having had Bush, as opposed to Gore. My point here is that those on the right who are apoplectic about President Obama's monetary and foreign policy ought to step back and take a deep breath. There are principled Republicans out there who know what is going on in the world and who believe in President Barack Obama's policies. Maybe they know something we don't. Here's the entire interview.

Up the Down Escalator

I guess the stairs were broken. In any case, enjoy the laugh as one of the dimmer bulbs in Shaw's neck of the woods displays her intelligence. A shout out to the Extra Mustard section of Sports Illustrated for this one.

Faith & Politics, Pt. III

Wants and needs. This is a tough area for me. Like a lot of folks, I like stuff. Lots of stuff. Like my Mac and the cool new IPod I received the other day. Right now I am listening to George Benson's "Ode to a Kudo" off his "Weekend in LA" album. I also like good, expensive food, nice clothes, and playing golf. Throw in a comfortable three or four bedroom house, 800 thread count sheets, a 36” flat screen and I am just about set. The American dream right? But how does this square with Jesus’ Gospel, and Paul’s words that “God will provide all our needs”? Politically we hear from many in this country that we are a Christian nation. Founded on historic Judeo-Christian ideals. Presumably, that would include a biblical view of stuff. So here is my question. How much of the stuff we feel we need are really things we want? Let me give you an example. A woman in my office was sharing today about a recent trip to Asia. She stayed with some friends in Vietnam who live above a swamp in a small home. Since the roof is made of tin, bugs and anything else that wants can come in and frequently do. But her friends have a roof over their heads, food on their table, and clothes on their back. In short, their needs are met. Just as God promised. And yet for those of us in the US, that just would not be sufficient. We would need more. Or, more accurately, if we were to be completely honest, we would want more. If we really are a Christian nation, as some claim, how do we square this? I know we all like stuff, and many consider it our right to have it. I mean, we have gone to war to protect the “American” way of life. Maybe our founders weren’t so enamored of the Gospel after all. Or maybe, we have just lost our way. Either way, I struggle with all of this stuff! Update ~ No, I did not receive my IPod from the President and Mrs. Obama, like the Queen of England.