Stupidest Comment of 2008

The Constructive Curmudgeon Stupidest Comment Award of 2008 goes to:

Barack Hussein Obama, who said, when asked by Rick Warren when an unborn child obtains human rights,"....That's above my pay grade." If so, you should be neither a teacher nor a leader.

Roland Kirk, Circular Breathing, and Amazement

Roland Kirk plays, "I Want to Talk About You," a piece earlier done beautifully by John Coltrane. Kirk was blind since a young age and often played several reed instruments at once. He could be his own horn section. This is why he looks like he just got off the airplane--loaded down with equipment. On this piece, he sticks to the tenor. He plays most of the ballad without stopping to breathe. This is done by using a technique called circular breathing, and Kirk was the master of it. So, be initiated into the strange world of Roland Kirk (d. 1977).

Taken, Given, Lost

He lived his own life
--fortune, achievement,
luck, savvy, setback,
uplift, downturn--
Self-made man, standing tall.

until it all ended,
upended,
blown out, blown up. Over.

The end, ending, ended, End.

But then he knew what he had
suppressed, repressed:
it was not
his own life to live
at all, ever. But all had been given.

The taken had been the Given.

But now all was lost, and taken (what he thought had not been Given)

The ideal he modeled would allure many into the same

land of endless regret.

Atheist for African Evangelism

Mr. Parris of The Times of London believes that Christianity is essential to the liberation of Africa. The only problem? He is an atheist. Read his fascinating article.

Letter to Edith Schaeffer

[I sent the following letter on December 22, 2008, to Edith Schaeffer, widow of Francis Schaeffer. She is now in her mid-90s. A good friend of mine took care of Mrs. Schaeffer for a few weeks in Switzerland, which prompted me to write this letter of thanks and encouragement. Please pray for this elderly saint. I also encourage your to read her books, especially L'Abri.]

Dear Mrs. Schaeffer:

We have never met, but your ministry has had a marvelous effect on my Christian life. I converted in 1976 (at age 19) after having been interested in secularism and Eastern religions. Shortly after this, God led me to read The God Who is There, which was the most important and influential book I ever read. This helped set my course as a Christian teacher, preacher, and writer. (I am a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of books and articles on philosophy and apologetics.) I also read your books, L’Abri and The Tapestry and portions of your other books. These books, along with the rest of Dr. Schaeffer’s works, laid an invaluable foundation for me. I continue to reread these works and I have recently read two new books about Dr. Schaeffer with great interest. Surely, Christianity is true, rational, and pertinent to all of life. We must take it to the world! Moreover, we must depend on Christ and seek God through prayer at all times, come what may.

I want to thank you for being such a loyal, energetic, and creative woman of God. Thank you for being such a support to your husband and children, and for communicating the gospel to so many people over many decades. As Os Guinness has said, you were “the secret of L’Abri.” Without you, it would not have been possible. Although I was never able to visit L’Abri (I wish had), the stories from there live within me and inspire me.

A friend of mine helped take care of you recently and told me of your ongoing love of prayer and concern for Christians around the world. That spurred me to write you in order to give you my thanks. Of course, I ultimately thank our Heavenly Father for your wonderful and memorable life. During these difficult days of your earthly sojourn (Ecclesiastes 12), I will hold you up in prayer.

Sincerely in Christ,

Douglas Groothuis

Professor of Philosophy

Denver Seminary

Submit Yourselves to God

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed."

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. --James 4:1-10.

Notice that in the struggle to submit to God and resist Satan, one must repent, even be sorrowful over sin. Without this action, real repentance and resistance against Satan is impossible. This means that one must sometimes be miserable for God. The happy face is out of place. "Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter into mourning and your joy to gloom." This is required, oftentimes, for true humility to be brought forth. But then God lifts us up and we are free from the devil's schemes. You see, the devil often wants us stupefied with worldly happiness, which is not godly joy. Think on these things. I certainly need to. What false happiness is keeping you from godly repentance and real joy in the Lord?

Why We Should Avoid Celebrity Gossip

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.--2 Corinthians 12:20

While some godly people are very well known, and might be considered celebrities, most very well known people of today--I do not mean giants of history such as Winston Churchhill--possess almost nothing worth us knowing about. As Daniel Borstin said, "They are well-known for being well-known." Their biographies--or factoids--are vanity of vanities. Their makeovers, their cars, their idiosyncrasies are not worth knowing about.

Yes, they are made in God's image and need Jesus Christ's righteousness for eternal life. In that sense, they are valuable. But how much weight they have gained, whether or not they are pregnant, who they are sleeping with, is mere gossip. And gossip, the Bible tells us, is sin. Sin should be repented of, in order to please God and free us up to do God's will in his power.

Moreover, celebrity watching wastes time. Listen to Moses, from Psalm 90:

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span [a] is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Life is short, a vapor. Eternity is long, an infinity. Life should be lived under the audit of Eternity, not in terms of celebrity gossip or any worldly thing (1 John 2:15-17). As Pascal said, our passionate interest in the trivial and our lack of concern for the eternal, evidences a very strange disorder. Let us repent and live for what matters most.

Timeless Piece

From The Wall Street Journal

* REVIEW & OUTLOOK
* DECEMBER 24, 2008

In Hoc Anno Domini

When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.

Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.

But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression -- for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largess to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed. What was a man for but to serve Caesar?

There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?

Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.

And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth.

So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders.

But it came to pass for a while in divers places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light. The voice said, Haste ye. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.

Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter's star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.

And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

This editorial was written in 1949 by the late Vermont Royster and has been published annually since.

Obituary: Mitch Mitchell

(Notice the jazz grip on the left hand.)

I just learned today that Mitch Mitchell, drummer extraordinaire for The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967-70) died in November at age 61. For some reason, this hit me harder than anticipated and brought unexpected tears. So, indulge me for a moment (if you can bear it) while I reflect on the significance of Mitch Mitchell.

While I cannot endorse Jimi Hendrix's worldview (hedonism, occultism, Eastern mysticism) or irresponsible way of life (promiscuity, self-destruction, illegitimate children spread all over the planet), his band with Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding (d. 2003) was ground-breaking and virtuosic. I shall speak only of the recently departed Mitch Mitchell.

One of the first albums I ever owned (or wore out) was "Smash Hits" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which featured a song called "Fire." You cannot listen to this without being captivated by the drumming, which is loud, sharp, sassy, and utterly unforgettable. (I shamelessly stole what I could from Mitch in a drum solo I performed this summer, taken from the first drum break of "Fire"). Mitch was much influenced by jazz, and, in fact, by the incomparable Elvin Jones, who played with John Coltrane from 1960-65. Jimi once referred to Mitch as "my Elvin." Quite so. In fact, consider the instrumental section of "Third Stone From the Son," where Mitch swings ferociously; this is very rare for rock in that day or any day. Or consider the amazing, driving 3/4 grove of "Manic Depression." How many rock songs (let along hits) have ever been in 3/4? Oh my, Mr. Mitchell!

(When Hendrix recorded "Band of Gypies" with Buddy Miles (who also died this year) on drums, the comparison was rather painful. Buddy would use crash cymbols as ride cymbols (which gets boring quickly, unless you are Keith Moon) and was quite limited in his time keeping and in the originality of his fills--quite the opposite of Mitch. Buddy could play and sign at the sametime, though, which didn't help much.)

Why tears for Mitch? Another blade of grass withers and dies on the field of this parched earth (Isaiah 40:8; Ecclesiastes 12), a blade that made beautiful, explosive music for a short, bright, unrepeatable season. Tragically, we didn't hear much from the ultra-talented, Mitch Mitchell after Hendrix's early death in 1970. Mitch played briefly with a group called Ramatam (not to be confused with Ramadan), which featured a female lead guitarist. Then, essentially, that was it (that I know of). The New York Times says Mitch had just completed a tour called Experience Hendrix when he died unexpectedly in Portland, Oregon. I wonder if any of that tour was recorded or will be released.

Another frail human passes into eternity, and to which part of that limitless expanse, I do not know. But it is likely that this percussionist nonpareil gained his only reward on earth.

As a teenager, I tried to play like Mitch. I'm sure millions of young men like me did, too. When I now play drums (which is rare), I still try to play like Mitch (as much as I am able, which ain't much). There is one pattern in particular that lives with me. While playing a single stroke, thirty second note run on the snare, you hit an upper tom-tom once with your right hand, staying in the role. (That may or may not have made sense to you. I seldom try to explain drumming in words.) I'm not much of a drummer, but I cannot deny that "the beat goes on" in my mind, and Mitch is there.

So, perhaps, I lamented over part of my past that died with Mitch: the part that wanted to be a musician. (I view teaching as a kind of musical performance,which I tried to explain in a piece in The Philosophers Magazine called, "Swinging in the Classroom"--posted on this blog.) And I lament that a musician mostly silenced after the end of The Jimi Hendrix Experience is now silenced forever: ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Yet, I believe I will hear those jumping, driving, swinging, and laughing drums in the world to come, since great culture is never finally lost (see Richard Mouw, When The Kings Come Marching In.)

What the World Does not (Usually) Understand. Not inorder of significance

The sublime ecstasies of jazz

That television has done more to destroy the virtues of culture than any technology ever created

The profundities of The Book of Ecclesiastes

The depth, the wisdom, the beauty of the classically conservative political tradition. (I do not mean the Republican Party of today.)

The plight of the chronically ill and how to ameliorate their suffering (or at least not add to it)

That the classroom is a sacred space, an offering to God, a place that should not ape the sensibilities of popular culture.

Lament as a mode of being in the world

That no one should step into the pulpit without the fear of God and the love of learning and of oratory

That Africa must not be ignored

That manners matter

That literary memory is more important than cultural consumption

That silence--before, under, and with God--heals, disturbs, and is a tonic to much that ails us

That modesty is a virtue

That a market and a field of eternal souls are not the same thing

That architecture matters for worship

The loneliness that suffuses postmodern existence

That there is no Christ-ianity without the Cross of Christ.

That the Holy Spirit is not optional for ministry. (An observation of a Korean Christian after attending many religious services here: "It is amazing what they can do without the Holy Spirit.")

That Calvinism is not a cold, heartless, abstract system of doctrine devoid of biblical support, evangelistic zeal, and spiritual nurture.

-----------------------

(Of course, there are dozens or hundreds of consequential things I do not understand, as my family, friends, and students would tell you.)

Pascal Speaks from the Grave

Think has put on line (or someone has) my article "Pascal Speaks from the Grave," which is a defense of his famous wager argument for Christian belief. Think is a British philosophy journal subtitled, "philosophy for everyone." They cater to creative approaches. My approach was to craft a letter from Pascal (from heaven) concerning an article attacking his argument.

Label this Photo

1. Who are these two?

2. What is a good title for this photograph, assuming you can answer (1)?

2008 Constructive Curmudgeon Awards: Politics

On behalf of this estimable blog, here are the 2008 Constructive Curmudgeon Awards.

1. New Politician of the Year: Sarah Palin. She came out of nowhere and set the political establishment on its ear. It's too bad about her running mate, though.

2. Postmodernist Politician of the Year: Barack Obama. All image, all the time; surface over depth; pastiche over foundation; nausea, nausea.

3. Stooges of the year: The mainstream press's handling of the Postmodern Politician of the Year.

4. Surprise political event of the year (outside of Sarah Palin): Proposition #48 of Colorado received 27% of the vote. Yes, it lost, but this was the first proposition of its kind to make the ballot. That 1/4 of the voters would support a strong pro-life amendment to the Constitution is nothing to laugh at. (I collected signatures for it, put up signs in the neighborhood, and contributed. I will never give up on this issue.)

5. Old Politician of the Year: George W. Bush. His approval ratings scrape the floor; we conservatives did not like all the federal spending; the war in Iraq could have been handeld much better (an earlier surge). But consider this: The United States has not been hit by a terrorist attack in seven-and-a half years. Sleep walking (or running) Americans seem to have forgotten this amazing fact. It does not just happen of its own. Bush's policies, as unpopular as they have become--Gitmo, warrantless wire taps, the Patriot Act--are largely responsible. God have mercy on us under Obama.

Speaking Truth to Power

This brave young man who stared down the tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989 was very likely executed in a Chinese Communist prison, as were the other protesters. Many Chinese today have not even heard of this historic protest, since the Communist state censors everything.

This is a striking image of speaking truth to power, come what may. Christians need this kind of courage, the courage of a blood-stained (but now empty) Cross.

Stop, Ask, Listen

Stop and ask:

a painter about her
canvas

a poet about his
rhyme

a singer about his
voice

a philosopher about her
argument

a prophet about his
burden

Then: listen

Stop and ask

a mother about her
daughter

a father about his
son

a soul about her
friend

a lover about the
beloved

a teacher about his
pupils

a patient
about her pain

Then: listen.

Stop...stop, and ask

a Creator about the
creation

a Designer about the
plan

a Lover about his
beloved

a Sufferer about his
pain

Then: listen

New Blog

I have started a new blog called Chronic Illness and Christian Faith. It is an experiment. Please visit if you are interested.

Rick Warren and Barack Obama--Again

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. ⁶ On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. --Matthew 14:3-12.



In a brash attempt to further hoodwink evangelicals, Barack Obama has asked mega-church Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation as his inauguration. Homosexual rights activists are apparently bothered, since Warren opposes homosexual marriage.

But the real issue--the real scandal--is how an evangelical pastor can bless the most pro-abortion president in history, a man who opposes the ban on partial birth abortions, the man who would sign the Freedom of Choice Acts (which would eliminate all restrictions on abortion in all fifty states), a man who opposed a born-alive law in his home state that would have protected babies that survived botched abortions. One could go on. (Obama's supposedly open web page is routinely deleting posts that challenge his pro-abortion extremism.)

If Warren called Obama to repent, that would be on thing. But blessing this man and these policies is simply wrong. We need a prophet. What would John the Baptist say on this auspicious occasion? Of course, his type would never be invited. They would be in prison. But the spotlight is not always the place of honor.

Thanksgiving at Year's End

Some souls think The Constructive Curmudgeon is, well, too curmudgeonly and not constructive enough. For that reason, let me recite some features of my church, Wellspring Anglican Church, that I appreciate and give thanks for.

1. I look forward to attending. This could not always be said, especially when I was "between churches."

2. The messages delivered by either of our two pastors are always biblical, passionate, and courageous. They sometimes even include interaction between preacher and congregation.

3. The liturgical structure is biblical, participatory, and edifying. One need not count on one aspect of the service to carry everything else. You will always be called to worship, worship, hear Scripture read, confess your sins, be assured of pardon, say the Lord's prayer, pray as a group ("Prayers of the people"), hear a sermon, receive communion, and receive a benediction. There is order and enthusiasm for that order--no dry, rote recitations here. Moreover, various symbols illustrate theological truths (but no icons). Actions illustrate as well, such as making the sign of the Cross when the Trinity is mentioned. I now do this.

4. The church is open to all manner of people. While we have many well educated folks, we also have people who have served time in jail, have come off the street, or who are not middle class. "Red and yellow, black and white" are represented, as are most age groups. There is no niche marketing, but a desire to draw in the neighborhood and beyond.

5. We also have a close connection to Africa, particularly Rwanda, since we are under several bishops there. Given my concerns for Africa, this is refreshing.

Thank you, Wellspring Anglican Church.

"Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending"

Part of this was recently sung at a Canto Deo Christmas concert at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. It was glorious.

"Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending," Revised by Charles Wesley

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

Every island, sea, and mountain,
Heav’n and earth, shall flee away;
All who hate Him must, confounded,
Hear the trump proclaim the day:
Come to judgment! Come to judgment! Come to judgment!
Come to judgment! Come away!

Now redemption, long expected,
See in solemn pomp appear;
All His saints, by man rejected,
Now shall meet Him in the air:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
See the day of God appear!

Answer Thine own bride and Spirit,
Hasten, Lord, the general doom!
The new Heav’n and earth t’inherit,
Take Thy pining exiles home:
All creation, all creation, all creation,
Travails! groans! and bids Thee come!

The dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshippers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for Thine own;
O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!