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I had to upgrade my comments from Haloscan, and it's going to take some getting used to. It seems like a hassle to sign up to comment now, but I don't know how it looks on your end. If you would be so kind, could some of you give it a try and let me know what you think? Thanks!

Quote of the Day

From the Anchoress:

I suspect that what Obama wanted was to be the King, not the President. The King’s role is largely ceremonial. In time of national tragedy the King goes before the camera and says, “this is very sad.” If he can assign blame on a perceived enemy he does so, and then he steps aside and retires to his amusements while those actually in charge clean up the mess and determine how to prevent future messes. Everyone loves the King, defers to the King, rushes to do for the King, but the King -who tends to get bored and distracted by the dry business of actually governing- is responsible for very little, and most are just as glad of it.

If a King is on vacation and his country encounters an critical issue, he knows there is no need to come jetting back to the palace, because the Prime Minister is taking care of reality. All the King needs to do is -in a day or three- show up at a microphone in casual dress and do the PR work of expressing concern over the issue and confidence in the government. The King can command instant coverage, even if there is only time for audio.

A King does not worry, so much, about representative governance, since it is irrelevent to his standing.

Sadly, though, America is not in need of his Kingship.

Worldview Matters

As the Christmas Day bomb attempt has renewed talk of terrorism and prompted yet another round of defensive measures, I find myself growing weary all over again of all the speculation on why they hate us so much. And I'm amazed that anyone is surprised that we're still under the threat of attack from people who have NEVER stopped threatening to attack us. Osama bin Laden, KSM, and other radical Islamists have never been coy about their motivation or their plans. Why is it so hard for "experts" to actually take them at their word? As I was pondering this today, it occurs to me that it's because in our day, faith is so compartmentalized that it can't possible affect one's choices or actions. We see this in our politicians daily: Roman Catholics like Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and the Kennedys put aside their church's teachings and live out of a worldview entirely uninformed by Scripture. We see this in our media when they're astounded that professing evangelicals like Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee actually hold beliefs that carry over into the political sphere.

Worldview matters, my friends. We make all of our decisions and choices out of our most deeply held beliefs, for better or for worse, for good or for evil. The Western church has become quite practiced at pulling out one set of beliefs on Sunday, packing it away after church, and operating out of another set Monday through Saturday. What we haven't noticed is that the radical Islamic fundamentalists live out their thoroughly evil worldview each and every day of the week. It's past time for us to pay attention and take them at their word.

The Gift of Gifts

From the Valley of Vision:

O Source of all good,
What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,
thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
his self-emptying incomprehensible,
his infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.
Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
was born like me that I might become like him.
Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to himself.
Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
he united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreate and the created.
Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me.
O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and
enlarge my mind;
let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;
place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my redeemer's face,
and in him account myself delivered from sin;
let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart,
embrace him with undying faith,
exulting that he is mine and I am his.
In him thou has given me so much that heaven can give no more.

Amen.

Some Very Unmerry Thoughts

As our little town prepares for President Obama's arrival tomorrow, I find myself discouraged and cynical about our nation and its future. Yes, I know Romans 13 and I understand God's sovereignty. I understand that my hope is not in this world and government, even a democracy, is not our savior. Still, it is truly sad and sobering to see such a good thing begin to come to an end. Just as it was frustrating to see all of this coming even before last year's election (and now to listen to people who've just figured out this president begin to complain -- how maddening!), it's hard to see things coming and be so helpless to stop it.

This impending government takeover of healthcare, complete with bribes, threats, and pay-offs, is a disaster in the making. Many of us -- most of us, if the polls are to be believed -- see the disaster coming. Some still believe that government is the solution to any problem. As a commenter on one of my Facebook posts put it, "So glad someone is finally trying to do something about it." Yeah, well, many of us believe the cure will be worse than the disease. Something isn't always a good thing. And how hard will it be not to say "I told you so" when folks finally catch on to how bad it will be? Really hard.

I am trying not to despair. But it's tough to see corruption, hypocrisy, ineptitude, and narcissism destroy something that our founding fathers sacrificed to give us. No, I'm not depressed, and I'm actually quite happy in my home and with my family. But still, I guess I'm mourning a little. And I'm dreading all the hoopla of President Obama being in town over the holidays. It's all way too close to home.

You'd Better Watch Out...

Reese's Cup Cheesecake

I got a couple of requests on Facebook for my recipe for this, so I thought I would post it here as well. It's a big hit with my family, and I'll be making one for us to have on Christmas Day. I love to make cheesecakes because they're easy, they always turn out well, and most everyone loves them:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 T. unsalted butter, melted (It really needs to be unsalted)
4 (8-oz) blocks of cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 T. flour
½ c. sour cream
1 t. vanilla
15 Reese’s cups – chopped (I put them in the freezer first so they’re easier to chop)
more Reese’s cups for garnish
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Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together and press onto bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add flour, sour cream, and vanilla. Pour half of batter into crust-lined pan. Sprinkle chopped Reese’s on top. Pour remaining batter over the top.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 225 and bake for one hour. Let cool completely on baking rack. Immediately after removing from oven, I run a knife around the edge to loosen the cake from the pan. This keeps it from cracking as it cools. After it cools, chill overnight. Remove from pan, garnish, and serve.

I've got one in the fridge now to take to school and share with my fellow teachers. If I can remember, I'll take a picture after I garnish it and post it here.

Quote of the Day

From Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations, as quoted in Ben House's Punic Wars & Culture Wars:

In every civilized society, in every society where the distinction of ranks has once been completely established, there have been always two different schemes or systems of morality current at the same time, of which the one may be called the strict or austere; the other the liberal, or if you will, the loose system. The former is generally admired and revered by the common people; the latter is commonly more esteemed and adopted by what are called people of fashion.

Sneaky

When you have to sneak around to do something, it's usually a sure sign that it's the wrong thing to do. Case in point: The Akaka Bill. Hawaii's senators are planning to sneak the bill into a federal appropriations bill. And they'll probably get away with it.

"Once upon a time, men wore the pants..."

I love the new ad campaign for Dockers. Check out the Man-ifesto.

20

20 years ago today, on a cold, icy morning in a tiny chapel in Callaway Gardens, Georgia, PalmPilot and I were married. That's also the day I became a Navy wife, and out of those twenty years, we've only lived together for about fifteen. Still, I'd do it all again. He's my best friend, favorite person, and there's no one else with whom I'd rather walk through this life.

Life has surprised me these past twenty years. I never could have predicted all the places we've lived and adventures we've had, and God has been good to us far beyond what we could have asked or imagined, especially with our two children.

Happy 20th Anniversary, PalmPilot. I love you, and I'd do it all again.