It isn't too late to VOTE

As I put on my Facebook status (borrowing and adapting from John McCain):

Stand up! Stand up and vote! Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. Vote!” (Oh, and Run Johnny Run!)about an hour ago clear

Don't give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight.

Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what's right for America. Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington.

Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children's future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Now, let's go win this election and get this country moving again.

And before you go to quick, no, I did not vote straight ticket.

For President and Vice President: John McCain and Sarah Palin (R )

For Governor: Kenny Hulshof (R )
For Lt. Governor: Peter Kinder (R )
For U.S. Congress: Todd Akin (R )
For Secretary of State: Mitch Hubbard (R )
For Attorney General: Mike Gibbons (R )

For State Senate: Tom Dempsey (R )
For State Representative: Mark Parkinson (R )
For Circuit Judge: Ted House (D )

Amendment 1, English as the Language of Business: YES
Amendment 4, Adjustments to storm-water control bond: NO
Proposition A, Removal of Casino Loss Limit: NO
Proposition B, Medicaid Provided Home Healthcare: NO
St. Charles Prop. B, Francis Howell $78.5 Bond Issue: NO
Proposition C, Mandatory Renewable Energy Use for Electric Companies: NO

Why I Will Vote for John McCain

Can you believe it has been two years? For two years we have listened to candidates build platforms, argue their cases and tear down their opponents. Now we look at the final two candidates and the question that should be on everyone’s mind is this: who offers the best solutions for this country? My answer is John McCain.

Note: Also check out OFB's editorial endorsement on John McCain, here.

Too Many Things at Once

Tomorrow is going to be crazy, as will be at least part of Tuesday. Going into it, I am already tired and I have much more I need to get done. But, at least then we will be at Tuesday night and I can hunker down for an exciting night of election coverage.

Remember: Vote John McCain on Tuesday, November 4!

Obama Gets Carved onto Mt. Rushmore

The man who should have been the next president of the United States, Gov. Mike Huckabee, aired this amusing video during his program on Fox News tonight as part of his opening (humorous) monologue:

Enjoy!

Happy Reformation Day

I hope all of you had a happy Reformation day. I forgot to wear red today, but I did find myself thinking of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” throughout the day. It's always a good day to look up the 95 Theses as well, and use that as an opportunity to contemplate our own failings as the modern church. How often do we inadvertently suggest that if only you would help with this expansion project or that dinner that it will somehow help salvation? Sure we don't do it directly, but I suggest that as Christians today we do this all the same.

Four hundred and ninety one years ago today, the Reformation began.

Sen. McCain at New Town

Well, here's the story. I first heard Sen. McCain was coming to town last Friday. When I discovered he was coming on Monday morning at a rally starting at 9:00 a.m., however, I was disappointed. I have a class at 11:30; I never skip class, but even had I wanted to, I couldn't, since there was a quiz.

That aside, I wondered if maybe just maybe there would be enough time to squeeze in the rally. I've been to rallies in 2000 and 2004, and I really hated to miss the opportunity to cheer on “my candidate” this year. There is something about the atmosphere of a rally which is worth experiencing, and just seeing the living, breathing candidate (and his entourage) is an amazing experience. It makes the race seem all the more personal.

Doors opened at 7:00 a.m., at which point the New Town amphitheater was rather empty, but by 9:00 a.m. it was relatively crowded for an early morning, weekday rally. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (running for governor) started the series of speeches at 8:45 a.m. or so. Amidst live country music from a local band, Mike Gibbons (running for attorney general of Missouri) and my district's U.S. congressman, Todd Akin (a Covenant Seminary alumnus), spoke as well. Finally right before 10:00 a.m., retired Sen. Jack Danforth (R-MO), now heading up McCain's effort to stop voter fraud, and Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) spoke.

Then, nearly perfectly on queue, the motorcade pulled up — you could see it, since this was an outdoor event — and out came Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ). It struck me as interesting that I was seeing two members of the Gang of 14 at once.

After Graham's introduction, McCain started speaking and a few things were striking. He seemed much younger, more passionate, more, well, John McCain-y, then he has seemed in a long time. Sen. McCain's voice boomed as he gestured wildly, defending Joe the Plumber, explained his plans, countered Sen. Obama's “spread the wealth” remarks, and worked his way to the crescendo of “Fight with me […] Stand Up! Stand up and Fight! Fight with me […] Now let's go win this election.”

It ended roughly like his nomination speech, but in person it was even more powerful. It works not just because the words are eloquent, but because the idea of Sen. McCain arguing for Americans to stand up and join him in a fight, fits his personality and his story. “We never hide from history. We make history.” McCain is a fighter, and a genuine American hero, for his service. That makes his call for so effective. While politically I have often had differences with him, I have been and remain confident he is the best man for the job. I supported him in the 2000 primary, and though I did not vote for him this primary season, I'm glad to have him as the nominee. It was an honor to see him in person.

Be sure to check out the photos I posted yesterday. I missed a few of my favorites, which I will post in the near future.

O'Reilly and McCain

I've had an amazingly fun last two days. In short, with more detail later:

• Yesterday, I discovered a signed copy of Bill O'Reilly's new book, A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, was at my door in a DHL envelope. It seems I won Parade Magazine's Bold Fresh Contest that I entered a few weeks ago. What a wonderful surprise!
• I saw Sen. John McCain today at New Town. I've posted some photos. The story will come tomorrow, hopefully. This makes for 3 presidential rallies I've attended, one in each of the last three presidential election cycles. Everyone should attend one.

Late Night Haiku XXVIII

LXXVIII. Oh strange breeze
That blew past me four years ago,
Let thy wind return.

LXXIX. A flea fled to me,
And then I was Donne away,
How much past has past.

LXXX. Familiar autumn,
Lean thy kind embrace on me.
Hint again of then.

Viva la Vida

Coldplay's single from their new album, which continues to get significant air time, fascinates me. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it, but there are some definite, useful themes on can draw out of it. I'm planning to use it as a discussion point in my Sunday School class either this week or next.

What does it make you think of?

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Calvary choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Calvary choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Wednesday Weirdness

From Wednesday Weirdness. Feel free to put your answers in the comments.

1.) Do you think you're approachable?

I think so. I hope so. I don't know, what do y'all think?

2.) Out of the two, would you rather be able to predict things before they happened or be able to read minds whenever you wanted to? Why?

I think I'd go with “predict things before they happened,” that would be really helpful. My suspicion is that reading minds could be relatively unpleasant. Although, I could think of a few times that it would have been useful and still would be. The two would work in tandem nicely.

3.) Have you ever kissed, fooled around or slept with an ex significant other AFTER you were already broken up?

No. Two wouldn't be appropriate even before a breakup unless we're talking marriage here, so certainly not after.

4.) Do you believe dreams are your imagination running wild as you sleep, your subconscious showing you what's really on your mind or something else entirely?

A little of each. I think it certainly is a chance for my imagination to run wild, but it also sometimes seems like dreams will remind me of things that may have been under the surface bothering me but I had not (recently) thought directly about. Freud did get some things right.

Dreams can sometimes be quite painful in that respect.

5.) How often do you use cuss words? Does your use of cuss words vary on your moods or situations?

I don't. I gained somewhat of an amusing reputation in the English program at LU because I would “adjust” certain words if I were reading a part in a play. It was a running joke, of sorts, of which my cohorts in the program would kid me about.

I made a clear distinction though concerning appropriate uses of words. For example, I had no problem with saying the word “damn” when used, say, in Doctor Faustus where the context of damnation. This drew some inquiries during those readings, since the fact that I proceeded with those uses stood out more than that which I omitted. That remains my policy, much as it was C.S. Lewis's, as he notes in a footnote in Mere Christianity (he had received complaints over his usage of the term). Some words, I really don't see any appropriate context for and I simply feel it best not to promote.

I'm really sounding puritanical tonight, aren't I? To be clear, I don't have a burden to suggest what language other people should use. Though I find most people ratchet down their use of expletives when the other does not reciprocate, I won't complain if a person chooses not to around me.

6.) Do you ever purposely lead people on so you can get what you want?

No, only to pull their legs. I enjoy giving people a hard time.

7.) When was the last time you did something you told yourself you wouldn't do? What was it?

I told myself I wasn't going to watch On the Record tonight, but when Greta said she had an interview with Gov. Sarah Palin, I couldn't pass it up. I'm a total political news junkie on election years…

I even read the white papers released along side polling data. Yes, I'm a sad case.

8.) If you could​ meet one musician who is no longe​r alive​,​ who would​ it be?

Obviously not Elvis since Elvis lives, right? Right now, I'm thinking Mozart. That's a tough question, though.