As the pastor of a large church, many things come across my desk asking for my support/backing/endorsement.  It is rare for me to participate in such things.  With that said, The Manhattan Declaration strikes at the very heart of those things that Southern Baptist hold so dear.  I can tell you that I signed this document without hesitation.

More than 150 Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic leaders signed the statement, which was released to the media last Friday. You can click here to read the nearly 5,000-word declaration in its entirety, but basically it defends three core issues—the sanctity of human life, biblical marriage and uncompromising religious liberty. All three are issues that, unfortunately, are in grave danger in our great country today. I am providing just a few words here on what the declaration states:

Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.

God’s people cannot afford to be complacent as government and secularist attempt to force the Lord’s people and the Lord’s church to participate in those things that press against our most foundational beliefs and convictions. I want to encourage you to read the document.  Pass this link on to others.  Stand firm by your convictions and pray that the Lord will protect and preserve this great country as we yield ourselves to the principles and precepts of His Word.  Soli Deo Gloria—to God alone be the Glory!

Billy Joe Daugherty

It is only about 30 minutes until the memorial service for Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty, who passed away last week of cancer, begins in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  It is times like this when everything you believe and preach gets put to the test, and I don’t think God Almighty is threatened by our human frailty when we come with questions like “Oh God, why?”.   Thankfully in these moments I am reminded by the presence of the Holy Spirit that the eternal purpose of restoring His Kingdom in the earth will continue to be God’s focus and objective.  Billy Joe Daugherty without question was a part of that eternal purpose.

Most of the congregation of Parkway Christian Center does not realize the impact that Billy Joe Daugherty had on me, our church and more important coming to understand the vision for reaching our city.   It all began with an invitation by Bill Wilson (Metro Ministries, Brooklyn, NY) to attend the Fire Conference hosted by Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, OK.   I knew what God had put in my heart but up until that time I had never seen it modeled anywhere; that is until I walked through the doors of Victory Christian Center and witnessed the ministry of Pastors Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty.  There were three attributes to the vision that God had given me , and I saw them at Victory through the leadership of Pastor Billy Joe: 

1. I saw a true pentecostal church that was 13,000 members strong (I was never willing to relinquish my beliefs in order to build a larger church)
2.  I saw a church that was diverse. ( Multi-ethnic and multi-generational groups worshipping together)
3. I saw a church that was willing to take a risk to impact an entire city through various outreach ministries.

It was during that Fire Conference at the pastors breakout session that Billy Joe Daugherty made his way off the stage and came and laid his hands on me and began to prophesy “that the things God had put in my heart would come to pass”.  I will never forget that moment, and as an estimated twelve-thousand are gathered at the Mabee Center paying tribute to a man whom God used in a mighty way.  I am deeply thankful for the influence that Billy Joe Daugherty had on my life.

The opportunity never presented itself to share with Pastor Billy Joe that the prophetic word that was spoken over me is coming to pass. Parkway Christian Center is a pentecostal church, diverse, and is now sharing the gospel with over 1000 individuals on a weekly basis through Upward, MOPS, Celebrate Recovery, and other various small groups.

My prayers and thoughts go out to Pastor Sharon Daugherty, their family, and the congregation of Victory Christian Center Tulsa. 

On September 10th, 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev publishes a seminal article outlining his vision of a modernized Russia, one that has shed the stigma of backwardness, corruption and base exploitation of its natural resources, and instead has embraced progressivism, innovation and human rights. This is how he completes his call to Russian citizens:

“I would invite all those who share my convictions to get involved. I would also invite those who do not agree with my ideas but sincerely desire change for the better to be involved as well. People will attempt to interfere with our work. Influential groups of corrupt officials and do-nothing ‘entrepreneurs’ are well ensconced. They have everything and are satisfied. They’re going to squeeze the profits from the remnants of Soviet industry and squander the natural resources that belong to all of us until the end. They are not creating anything new, do not want development, and fear it. But the future does not belong to them – it belongs to us. And we are an absolute majority. We will act patiently, pragmatically, consistently and in a balanced manner. And act now: act today and tomorrow. We will overcome the crisis, backwardness and corruption. We will create a new Russia. Go Russia!”

The feedback is instant and bountiful on the President’s website and blog. Those who are inspired eclipse the jaded and the disappointed. Innovators, inventors, visionaries, groups and individuals begin to come out of the woodwork offering to save Russia, and to do so using peaceful technology. 

On November 30th, 2009 a blog titled “Future Visions of the Russian Century” is launched in response to the President’s call. It is charged with two missions:

1. To envision the not so distant future where nascent Russian technologies gain commercial and practical use transforming the country into a productive, healthy and enlightened society of men and women. A society that has built on all that is positive in Russian tradition and has moved past the past negative trends in culture and history. To begin the construction of a fictional narrative that is based on scientific work, one that tells the story of individuals, towns, regions that have adapted to Russia’s new global role and are thriving.
2. To highlight the scientific and technological work that is currently coming out of Russia. The country’s efforts to modernize, to upgrade its infrastructure, health and education systems, financial markets, political, justice and defense organizations along with its population’s habits and attitudes. 

You are invited to follow this blog and join the exciting journey, one that will transform countless Russian lives and God willing the whole world for the better! Россия, вперёд!

A group of Orthodoxy, Catholics, and Evangelicals have signed a declaration called “The Manhattan Declaration” that calls for Christians everywhere to stand up make a difference in the corrupt culture we live in. As you read this, the number of supporters and signers continues to grow, which sheds light on a possible coming cultural revolution. However, I find it troubling that this document has even become necessary. Where has the Church been the past several decades?

By and large, Christians have missed the mark. As the culture continues to fall in moral decay and secular humanistic philosophy floods the federal government and the rest of society, Christians have, for the most part, put their primary focus on personal issues of faith and how to treat people nicely. I am in no way saying that these things are bad: personal devotion time and treating people with Christ-like kindness is an essential part of being a Christian.

But, maybe there’s a problem with churches today? Maybe we’ve spent too much time studying scriptures for personal application and “warm fuzzy feelings” that we’ve missed the mark on creating and maintaining a culture of life, liberty, and justice? Is it possible in this time of cultural crisis for the Church to set its main focus on Apologetics, defending the Faith, and taking our society back?

Below is the link to the Manhattan Declaration:

http://manhattandeclaration.org/

This is my content…

Say whatever you want to say here…

I need to put picture here

Sabar and Pak Agung at Bedugul, Bali

http://www.rumahtulisan.com/25/05/2009/kliping/revolusi-hijau-menjerat-petani-dengan-racun.html

On ne révèle rien en disant que c’était l’ambiance des grands jours à la Chambre. Beaucoup de monde dès 16h00 dans les tribunes, beaucoup de journalistes, beaucoup de bruit pour revoir Yves Leterme enfiler son nouveau costume.

Déjà une gaffe?

Et pourtant, que pouvait-on attendre de la déclaration gouvernementale de Leterme II, revenu du Palais après avoir prêté serment dans les mains d’Albert (II aussi)? Pas grand-chose, Leterme se bornant à reprendre dans les grandes lignes la déclaration de politique gouvernementale lue il y cinq semaines à peine par son prédécesseur devant les mêmes députés.

L’évènement de ce jour, c’était plutôt la diffusion sur les sites internet des quotidiens de la déclaration de politique gouvernementale bien avant sa lecture devant le Parlement. Un fait inédit, selon le Président de la Chambre, Patrick Dewael (VLD) qui a vertement rabroué le nouveau chef du Gouvernement en début de séance plénière.  Qui a fuité? Je parie qu’on peut s’attendre à ce que beaucoup d’encre coule encore sur le sujet dans les prochains jours.

Donc tout a mal commencé pour Leterme II qui doit déjà répondre de manquements de son Gouvernement, alors qu’il n’a pas encore reçu la confiance du Parlement.

En parlant de confiance, plusieurs collègues du MR que je côtoie dans l’hémicycle se sont abstenus d’applaudir la prestation du nouveau premier ministre. C’était pas la franche rigolade non  plus sur les bancs du PS. A croire que tous ceux-là n’ont pas obtenu ce qu’ils voulaient, comme par exemple des postes ministériels en plus. Les Affaires étrangères n’iront pas à un francophone, mais bien à Steven Vanackere qui reste vice-premier ministre. Je crois que c’était lui qui rayonnait le plus dans l’hémicycle aujourd’hui. Inge Vervotte qui réintègre l’équipe gouvernementale semblait bien plus effacée.

“Il faut une vision positive de la vie” Herman Van Rompuy

Bref, pas grand’monde ne semble croire à la réussite de ce nouvel attelage. En constatant le pessimisme ambiant cette après-midi et le manque d’ambition de la déclaration de Leterme, lue avec des tonalités dignes des années 80-90 à l’époque du CVP triomphant, je me souviens des paroles prononcées la veille par Herman Van Rompuy à Frasnes-les-Anvaing sur l’importance du regard qu’on porte sur les choses. Extraits ici, mais vous pouvez regarder toute la conférence sur le site de No Télé :

Il nous faut absolument cette vision positive de la vie. Car si on ne l’ a pas, on ne fait pas d’effort, on  ne travaille pas, on ne s’associe pas, on prend moins de risque. C’est parce qu’on a une vision positive de la vie qu’on augmente le bonheur d’une société.

Application immédiate de ce beau principe : “tout va bien, Leterme sera sur les rails dès vendredi soutenu par une équipe soudée, BHV sera vite réglé, on va s’occuper de la crise économique, du chômage et de la planète. C’est un très bon gouvernement qui ira à son terme en juin 2011.” Ben voilà, c’est pas plus difficile que ça. Courage Yves !

The Declaration of Independence

This Document should be sacred to all citizens of America. For in this document is the heart, soul and strength of our freedom.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

This portion is very simple. To secure our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we established our government. Our government derives its power from the people. whenever any form of government becomes destructive of our lives, liberty or pursuit of happiness (capitalism and free market etc) it is our right and our responsibility to institute a new government.

Do not take these words lightly. President Obama is contemplating signing a treaty with the UN in Copenhagen that will remove our liberty and freedom, that will take precedent over our constitution, that will give the rule of law to the United Nations over Americans. The UN is not a country, it is a club.

Think about the following paragraph very hard, and think about what is going on in our government this very day:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

We severed ourselves from England because of the taxation, because of the dictatorial ruling power, because the ruling power spoke for itself and not for the people. We are faced with it again. President Obama is “pursuing invariably the same object”, a one world government. The President and congress are reducing us under absolute despotism, apologizing to the world for our actions, spitting in the face of Americans and all we stand for by bowing to kings and rulers of other countries, abdicating that we must give our wealth to the rest of the world.

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

You can easily substitute our congress and president for King of Britain here. You can also add socialism and marxism to tyranny.

Please read the rest of this document (it’s not that long) in entirety. I think you will be shocked at the similarities to today’s present governing authority.

We have solutions, we can take back America by force, or we can do it through the Continental Congress. There are many more.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Our freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness is at stake.

SE-UNSA: “Un développement de l’actuel” Pas de révision à l’horizon, mais une modification de l’existant en y introduisant une certaine souplesse dans l’organisation des études, trouvé du syndicat des enseignants. «Si elles sont modestes, ces propositions sont en ligne pour mieux prendre en compte les besoins des écoles à prendre (…). Un accompagnement généralisé à tous les avis étudiants (…), la volonté d’apporter une orientation sur les processus continu, une étape positive. “Mais il a été averti,« L’éducation est une spécialité de la réforme, sans ressources, sans orientation.

UMP très satisfait “de la porte-parole adjoint de l’UMP Dominique Paillé a salué” la méthode “comme” contenu “de la réforme de l’école. Il fournit des réponses concrètes aux préoccupations des élèves et leurs parents».

Parti socialiste: “Deception” Nicolas Sarkozy est “une longue lignée de beaucoup de platitudes», a déploré Bruno Julliard, le secrétaire national du Parti socialiste pour l’éducation. Ainsi, le chef de l’Etat “appelle à une réévaluation de la langue, tout en réduisant le nombre annuel de recrutement des enseignants en langues étrangères», et «il veut un meilleur foyer pour les élèves handicapés, tandis que l’école est responsable de la précarité de soignants leur soutien. “Nicolas Sarkozy” a choisi de répondre aux cosmétiques, en passant le long des principales questions “, a déclaré le PS.

Vert: Une réforme “” Que l’école des réformes de l’embarras », a déploré les Verts dans un communiqué.” Nicolas Sarkozy cherche une main qui est plié sur la destruction de l’autre reconstruit “, en font.” Comment renforcer le leadership et l’apprentissage, où 13.500 emplois ont été perdus dans l’éducation, à l’automne 2009. “

In History class today, we were required to write a two-hundred word essay. We were to type this essay in an online program called, “Utah Write.” Wherein the system will grade your paper for the teacher, so they will only have to see the scores.

The topic was “The Declaration of Independence.” Here it is;

What does the declaration of independence mean to you? To me, it means that a scary dinosaur will most likely destroy a city within two days. Meaning, you should buy a pet Llama.

And that is what the declaration of independence means to me. It is a heartwarming document wherein the authors were truly looking out for their country. I believe that the writers of this document should have a nice, large statue made out of them, if one has not yet been made. It probably has, of course, so I would like to give the sculpture artist a high-five.
But really, what does the declaration of independence mean? It means too many things, what with the pursuit of happiness and and principles of life written on it. It gives the colonists (America) an independence from Britan; the people who have given them trouble for the past uncountable years. This document gave hope to thousands, and has given me an home in which I can live and learn to be just like every other person that has ever crossed this earth.

Going more into depth with these things, What is the pursuit of happiness? Is it really what it says, and gives people freedom enough to pursue what makes them happy? The plain out, blunt answer is, “Yes.” The answer that strays away from the question in confusion and doubt is, “I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.” With the answer that has nothing to do with anything in particular about the question; “HOLY COW, LOOK AT THAT THING BEHIND YOU!” Wherein the person answering will then run away, only to avoid you for the rest of your life, making you feel left out of everything, and you turning into a psychopathic sociopath.

“What about these principles of life?” Some may ask. Afterward, I have one answer only. This answer is the final of the three answers, meaning that I know nothing about these principles of life, and that I will most likely turn you into a future sociopath. This means nothing to me, though. I think that I will be better off without you than with. “We the people” has nothing to do with my topic, on the other hand. So I will avoid it as much as I can.

In conclusion, I would like to state my dislike for bad Ramen. It has no particular flavor, and I would rather get it from some cheap Ramen shop in Japan, wherein it will only cost two-hundred Yen. Converting over to approximately two American dollars. Remember, Llamas should never stand in bathtubs, and you still need to give me a good score on this essay, because of my creativity in avoiding the subject completely. Plus this is much more than the required length of two-hundred words. This is also what you get for trying to cheat out of grading papers yourself, and using a computer to do a human’s job.

I received a better score than any of my classmates. I sure hope she doesn’t read these.

On Saturday 21 Nov, Bali declared itself to be an Organic Island, a commitment by the provincial government, NGOs and local businesses.

Farmers praying at Pura Ulun Danu Bulian before declaration

This declaration is initiated by Ibu Dr Kartini of Bali Organic Association (BOA). Ibu Kartini is known in the organic circle as “Dr Cacin” (Dr Earthworm) and she warns us of the condition of agricultural resources in this island such as land fertility and water availability has been “very alarming”. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has caused severe drought in the dry season and reduced soil’s natural ability to hold organic matters and micro-organisms which is essentially the life material of the soil.

Ibu Kartini addressing farmers and attendees

Once the soil looses all its organic matters, then it also looses its ability to support life and grow plants.

This destructive cycle can be broken if farmers can stop using chemicals and to switch to using organic composts.

Proud organic farmers showcasing their produce

Fruits & vegitables grown by organic farmers in Bali

Organically grown rice is available too

Good news is that in Bali there are growing number of organic farmers who uses traditional Balinese method of farming and does not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

BOA helps organic farmers with Internal Control System (ICS) to ensure their methods are following organic guidelines and market them in fair-value to ensure their livelihood.

U.N. Declaration of Human Rights

or: I’ll trade you civil liberties circa 1980, for the right to beat your wife circa 1920

or: If Glenn Beck were a decade, which one would he be?

For almost a year now, and even further back possibly, I have been fascinated with politics and punditry. I have become a self-proclaimed politico and I follow politics and media pretty closely, as closely as my tenuous hold on sanity will allow. In following politics my liberal mind has always been perplexed by the conservative party line of ‘returning to traditional American values’ and trying to recapture the ‘lost spirit of what it is to be an American’. In recent months it as been the loud ram’s horn call of Glenn Beck, and his ever growing audacity matched only by his ever growing audience, that has caused me to pontificate further on this subject. For the past few weeks this idea of lost values and traditional American fundamentals has led me to research where we might have gone wrong. Is there a specific time and place, a particular era that the GOP and other right-leaning hard-liners would want us to return to? If I can put my finger on the ethos that these guiding principles existed in, can we get back there? I delve in to this quagmire of American history to try and find “Glenn’s America”, so that he and others can stop preaching in general broad strokes and say, “we need to get back to what we believed in 19XX (or 18XX as it may be).”

When examining the general party ideas of what I understand to be the GOP’s fundamental idealogical structure I take my understanding from some 25 years on this planet, though you can’t count the first 16. I think that until you turn 17 and start trying to find yourself and begin to shape your views and identity in preparation for voting and contributing to society you are more of a blank slate in terms of personal free thought; up until this point you do not question a source but only try to fit in to the general parameters of ‘normal’ life as to not rock the boat and interfere with the indoctrination that American public schools instill in our youth. My true views have been shaped in my most recent years and as such I have adopted a view of the world quite different from my parents’, a direct result of informing myself for the first time in my life. In my home growing up as a small boy liberal leaders and democratic ideals warranted venom and crass, lewd criticism. The views I set forth will be of my own creation, independent of those I was raised on, either despite or in spite of them, I cannot tell. A crazy person isn’t crazy if he knows he’s crazy. Indeed.

The GOP seems to feel that gays should not marry, and are sinful. This makes no sense to me as sinful is a religious idea, not a political one; though it seems one position is quite often the result of the other. Gun rights should be protected at all costs to personal safety and public responsibility. Abortion is a no-no, ‘nuff said. They want smaller government, tax cuts, reform to let states decide things, though not gay marriage rights or any of the other items I just mentioned. They are for fiscal responsibility. GOP feels that a free market should regulate itself, again smaller government. They claim to fight for the middle class but public programs and universal anything is bad, that’s more government. They hate the environment as far as I can tell. Campaign finance reform (yeah right), education in America (no child left behind has gone so well after all). Prayer in school is ok, capital punishment and the death penalty are pretty much thumbs up, and the Ten Commandments should be at the steps of a courthouse flying the confederate flag. I am pretty close on this, right? So, basically it is a small government that has an abridged copy of the constitution, a cliff’s notes of the Bill of Rights, and a bible as it’s guiding principles. Hmmm, ok.

So, in American history, where can we find this utopia we strive for every day? This shangri-la we lost so long ago would obviously be the one saving grace for this country of godless sodomites. If we could only return to this point in time then everything would be fine. As far as I can tell it is the GOP that can save us if you believe the rhetoric. The liberals and the liberal media have scattered us across the nation and we are divided along partisan lines and are all doomed unless we jump on the Republican band wagon like some lifeboat after the Titanic sank. This is what self proclaimed “libertarian” Glenn Beck would like you to believe. I will give him credit for criticizing the government as a whole, even in the Bush days, though not in such inflammatory terms, but in reality he is like a Liber-publican. So, let’s take a step, Glenn, in to the way back machine and start a search for the time in American history you would like us to return to, as well as all of the Republican nay-sayers.

I want to start by saying that I am skipping the nineties completely being that he wasn’t happy with Clinton either, and it is far too close to the 21st century and the liberal progress this country has made; there is no way anyone wants to get back to how we were in the nineties, not even me and I loved my teen years in the nineties. And I am going to come back to the eighties later, they were too soon as well, but I will look at them briefly. We are sending our way back machine to a time when I think this country went bat-shit crazy and we were in maybe the most turmoil as a nation than anyone today can recall. I want to start out in the era that good old Glenn was born in, and that many of our current figure heads today, that make our decisions, can remember very ‘fondly’…the sixties.

Well I start here, in this decade of utter unrest by trying to illustrate that this can’t possibly be the America Glenn wants back. This cannot be the period in American history we want to recapture. This was a time that the late Strom Thurman must have hated with more zeal than any other period in history. It is hard to decide where to start. The sixties started out innocent enough, Kennedy beat Nixon and became the President, what followed was the Bay of Pigs incident, rumors about Marilyn, the meager beginning of Vietnam, the cuban missile crisis, then the man is assassinated. Further Vietnam BS, Malcolm X is killed, the Compton Cafeteria Riots in San Fran, then Nixon and all his Vietnam BS and his ‘secret plan to end the war’, the massive inflation crisis, MLK Jr. is killed, Bobby Kennedy is killed, the Stonewall riots of ’69, oh and a little thing who was named Manson did some killing. Great decade.

The sixties were a time of massive riots in the black and gay communities. Civil rights on all fronts tore the fabric of this country apart from women liberation, blacks, gays, even the Chicano revolution in this country. Outside of that was the acid wave of the sixties, a complete change in television, film, art, and especially music. The counterculture as it came to be known galvanized this country after the death of JFK, I think. The nice, homely manners of the 50’s were gone in a big way and now came very free thinkers, revolutionaries, protests exploded, demonstrations, inflation choked the middle class as they tried to compete with the changes in the landscape. The sixties were an ugly, hate-filled time, the emerging civil rights movement after the death of JFK was really the catalyst for it all. There is no way we want to return to the sixties as a country. America was in a violent turmoil and unsure of it’s identity and where the road we were on was going to lead us and people were strung out or scared for their lives, or both. I don’t think Glenn wants that back, so let’s move on.

How about we take a step forward and find Glenn in the seventies as a small boy, maybe these are the innocent and moral times he wants back…but I doubt it. Well in the seventies music really got good including the first ‘rap’ song, movies got weird, TV got lewd, and the country just got fucked up worse. This country started watching shows like All In The Family and the Brady bunch, dealing with some of the issues of the day. Vietnam choked the first few years while a little thing called Watergate slipped by the news press during Nixon’s re-election campaign and then killed him by ’74. It was the most embarrassing and shocking scandal in American political history, which in my opinion was the death of politics. I think that Nixon and his escalation of the doomed Vietnam war and his scandal killed the American political system. Outside of the US revolution was abundant across the world. Woodstock was a shining beacon of what drugs and music and mud can do for young people, a complete change from how we started the decade on the campus of Kent State where the National Guard gunned down peaceful protestors of the war on a college campus; unthinkable today, one would hope. The draft was the height of outrage, an unbelievable moment when Ali fought the draft and Elvis went in. Protest and anti-war sentiment was as widespread in this country as pant legs were flared. The Cold War ramped up a bit and this country got really scared, really fast. Our involvement in a few revolutions and military coupes as well as an assassination or two was a continuation of poor foreign affairs decisions. The middle east started down the road to where we are today with Israel, Egypt, Syria, the Soviet Union, and Afghanistan, all starting to kick each others asses.

The seventies brought women’s rights to the forefront as the sixties had civil rights for minorities eclipsing women’s rights to some extent. Vietnam ended finally, well our involvement, leaving the North to just wait for us to leave and drop Saigon to it’s knees and claim the country unified again. A sad end to a war we should have not been in and an end that was mostly our fault. Oh and lest I forget the massive recession we were in mixed with oil crises a couple of times resulting in rationing and further middle class stresses that included a very high unemployment rate. Then of course there was Jonestown, about 900 dead there. Idi Amin started his tyrannical, violent rule of Uganda as well. Is this the era we should return to? Hatred, war, violence, and tragedy pock marked this era. The seventies hold within their years scandal, racism, and fear-mongering, of the most epic scale one can imagine. There is no way we want to return to the moral or political views of this era. The seventies were the time for change for sure, but it came at great expense on the heels of a decade of radical change and upheaval. The 70’s continued the massive crime rate spikes that the sixties brought and the country still sat on the edge of it’s seat every day as nothing seemed to get better. Surely we don’t want the seventies back.

Ok, the eighties might be better, the days of Reagan and Bush, this might be the most likely time we want to return to. The eighties would be the most formidable years of Beck’s life; the decade of excess. The eighties brought the yuppie, and with it, all the coke, parties, and BMW’s we could handle. We saw great multinational growth and wall street was glamorous, they were kings then, still total scum, but they had better PR people then. Of course Reagan declared a War on Drugs, the Cold War raged to a massive scale. Sure, communism fell apart as did the Berlin Wall, but we saw the further mishandling of the middle east that is the source of our problems and involvement there today, can’t argue with that. Reagan put a major black eye on his presidency with the discovery of the Iran-Contra debacle that Oliver North was the mastermind behind. This country saw massive economic growth against the backdrop of very complicated and protracted battles all over the world including Asia, the middle east, central and south america, and ever Ireland with ‘the troubles’ brewing. (Only badass Irish would call a modern, religious civil war ‘the troubles’, an understatement to say the least)

The eighties, I think were a time of thinking that we could not be beaten, being the short attention span of Americans forgetting the seventies. We were coked out of our minds, living beyond our means, and we were kicking Commie ass. But the eighties, world wide, were complicated, painful growth, some democratic, but on the whole we saw massive famine and destruction abroad as the industrialized countries were making head way. The middle class of nations was being evaporated as the gap between rich and poor nations grew drastically. Domestic issues were tough though, as it seemed we were trying to use our power for good as a people with things like LiveAid and becoming more aware of issues in Africa and other countries, the eighties saw the rise of the religious right. They really got fired up on the gay issue and the discovery of AIDS, ‘the gay plague’. This country grew in many way, a decent decade I guess, I don’t really remember much of it but it seemed like a lot of people were having a lot of fun, safer fun.

Glenn probably liked the eighties, he used to be a liberal and an alcoholic, he draws a fine parallel between the two in a Katie Couric interview you should look up on YouTube, and this might have been his favorite time. Old enough to enjoy and understand it, he probably had a great time. Conservatives in power, strides made internationally, excess and money everywhere. The eighties were a wild party time, a decade that seemed to be a release of the past twenty years of hard work, growing pains, and controversial conflict. The 60’s and 70’s were going to lead inevitably to a time when we finally just cut loose and took a deep breath after so much bloodshed, upheaval, and serious talk. It was the decade we all remembered fondly on VH1. Music was weird, movies were great, TV was filled with classics we all watched, and standup comedians were making it big; the country was having a good laugh, a bump, and some beer. Not too bad.

I discount the nineties entirely so let’s jump back to a more general era I don’t think we can reasonably go back to, the 50’s to the 30’s. This was another era of massive wars, depression, civil rights injustice, bigotry, no women’s liberation, industrialization, organized crime, et al. These were times when blacks were openly hung from gallows, women were expected to be barefoot and pregnant in front of the stove, except when they were making tanks for the troops overseas for next to nothing wages. A time where minorities were rightfully scared at night of police or white boys out for a joyride. The prohibition, crime in the streets, Bonnie and Clyde, the Tommy gun, the B.A.R., saloons, speakeasy’s, and rampant bank robberies and crooked cops on the beat. This was a different time for this country and I don’t think we can agree with many of the ideals that were held to in this time and apply it today, the role of women alone is too much inequality to bare, let alone the rest.

OK, let’s take a big jump to my favorite era, the old west. You know the times, I’m talking post manifest destiny, pre-FBI. A time of no gun laws, showdowns in the streets, legal prostitutes, and riding in to town on a horse. Tombstone, San Francisco, Indian and cowboys. A time where gold was rushing and crazy white drunks ran amok and contracted TB and polio. Yes, when there were still a few Indians around, you had ranchers with thousands of acres, cattle drives, train robberies, and the men of storied legend lived and died by Winchester, Colt, and Smith&Wesson. I like to think I lived in the times with a town sheriff, shitty beer, floozies, and general martial law over most of the country. A time where you could shoot a man in the street in broad daylight in front of 50 people, and they might actually clap and then go about their day. The good times.

I think this might not be far enough back though. When I hear Glenn speak, he talks about the founding father’s principles. The true foundation of the country as he sees it with the men who earned America through blood, sweat, and tears. Jefferson’s America. OK, well let’s first examine the fact that we are talking late 1700’s and early 1800’s. These are pre-electric, pre-phone times. We are talking Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere, plantations, etc. If this is the time Glenn thinks we need to get back to I want to highlight a couple of things. First off, slavery was alive and well…need I say more? Secondly, this country treated women like shit, there were no civil rights, and it was unindustrialized. This country was populated and run by rich, white land owners, and then there was everybody else. I don’t want anyone to romanticize this era. This country was created, founded, and declared on the bodies of millions of natives and the death and suffering of minority races of people removed from their homes and treated worse than dogs in the time period.

America has never been truly righteous. We revolted for selfish reasons, nothing simpler than that. We turned against the imperialism of the Queen and her rule and declared our independence; the worst “dear John” letter ever. Up to that point we had slaughtered, tricked, infected, raped, and pillaged our way to the Mississippi and thought very highly of white skin and could kill a black man for any reason at any time, or sell them, whatever struck our fancy. What I am about to say is going to piss off the right, but if I could meet George Washington I think I would take the opportunity to shake his hand and then slap the wooden teeth out of his head. These were racist white bigots with an knack for the written word and hard on for ‘freedom’ by their definition as it applied to them as an emerging nation of first class citizens at the top of the shit pile. All due respect, but their ideas and principles were fundamentally offensive and their beliefs of equality were for themselves and those they agreed with. How many minorities or women were running around enjoying their freedom of speech or right to bare arms…or even read? I rest my case.

So maybe Glenn does have a time in mind. Maybe he wants the scandalous, violent 70’s, or the civil unrest and inequality of the 60’s. The old west certainly had smaller/non-existent national government, and the 40’s sure were good times to be a gangster, Nixon would have done well, that’s for sure. The eighties surely had the best coke, and some unprecedented growth, outside of post-industrialized America (without all of these pesky labor laws we got). Maybe he wants the great depression era, maybe to live amongst the greatest generation, or rub elbows with white men who raped their slaves on their plantation as a matter of principle and patriotism. The history of America is short, embarrassing, and seemingly without a lesson learned throughout. Glenn, I dare you and your constituents to point out that shining beacon in American history that is so much better than now, ‘cause I must have missed it. All those moments have led up to now, and I’ll be damned if where we are isn’t a hell of a lot better than where we were; you can pry this progress from my cold dead hands, pal.

Tweet for Human Rights

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On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the full text of which appears below.

What are human rights?

“Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination.”

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Preamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16

1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

This is my declaration of dependence
This is my declaration of my need
This is my declaration of dependence
On the one who gave His life to me

The lyrics you’ve just read have been playing in my car & echoing in my head every day on my daily commute to PJ and reminds me of my need to be dependent on God. I don’t know why, but I’ve been hooked on reacquainting myself with the brilliant lyrics and song-writing of Steven Curtis Chapman in recent weeks. If you have not listened to any of his stuff before; you should.

Steven Curtis Chapman is an inspiration to me. Why? Well, the amazing thing about Mr. Chapman is his faith and continued perseverance in following God. His music & life inspires me to keep pressing on even though things aren’t hunky dory all the time. The tragic death of his youngest daughter Maria Sue last year struck a chord in my heart and in Mr. Chapman I see someone who continues to hold on to God despite the circumstances. He’s even started an charity organisation called “Show Hope” that mobilises individuals and communities to care for orphans internationally. He and his wife Mary Beth have also adopted kids into their family which is an awesome thing indeed. I won’t go too much into SCC but if you’re interested to find out more about him there’s always Wikipedia and his official site at www.stevencurtischapman.com. On to the main thing about my post – scroll on down please.

Mr. Chapman, you're an inspiration to many.

SCC’s music has been a big part of my life and a big part of my walk with God in my adult years. The  lyrics of his songs speak volumes to me and I love the layers & textures that come alive in his music. “Speechless” is a 10-year old album and it still remains fresh & relevant today as it did 10 years ago. Really good stuff.

I only have 3 of his albums and they are:

• Speechless
• Declaration
• All About Love (an album dedicated to his wife Marie Beth)

As I write this I looked up Mr. Chapman’s discography online and gosh I can’t believe I’ve missed out on quite a few of his albums in the past 6 years or so… something that I intend to rectify starting with “Beauty Will Rise”; an album dedicated to the memory of Maria Sue that was just released this year. If you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to any of his stuff, you really should cos’ SCC’s songs are life-changing. I think that Mr. Chapman’s songs are brilliant and the great thing about his music is that everything he writes points back to God and is a reminder that music is such a God-given thing. Music does so much more and means so much more when it’s written in honour of our Creator. I really would urge any serious music fan, songwriter or musician to take a listen to SCC cos’ I can’t even begin to describe the impact that you’ll have as you delve into the lyrics and the rich tapestry of sound that make up his music.

Mr. Chapman, if you ever read this post I just wanna thank you for your music. I wanna thank you for your example and the difference you make in the world through charity but more importantly through the sharing of your life in your lyrics & melodies. Today’s post goes out to you Mr. Chapman. Thank you.

I close today’s post with the lyrics of another of his songs that I’ve been listening to over & over again in the past few weeks. Enjoy.

Speechless

Words fall like drops of rain
My lips are like clouds
I say so many things
Trying to figure You out
But as mercy opens my eyes
My words are stolen away
With this breathtaking view of Your grace

And I am speechless I’m astonished and amazed
I am silenced by Your wondrous grace
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave
And I am speechless in Your presence now
I’m astounded as I consider how
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless

So what kind of love could this be
That would trade heaven’s throne for a cross
And to think You still celebrate
Over finding just one who was lost
And to know You rejoice over us
The God of this whole universe
It’s a story that’s too great for words

Oh how great is the love
The Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called
The sons and the daughters of God

We are speechless so amazed
We stand in awe of Your grace
We stand in awe of Your mercy
You have saved us
We stand in awe of Your love
From the grave
We are speechless

We are speechless in Your presence now
We stand in awe of Your cross
We’re astounded as we consider how
We stand in awe of Your power
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless
We are speechless

I am speechless

November 20, 2009 marks the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) to celebrate children.  Our classroom will be celebrating this special day throughout the week with music, art, books, activities and presentations.  Parents are invited to participate.

The grade 3 social studies prescribed learning outcomes we are currently covering are:

• C1 describe how an understanding of personal roles, rights, and responsibilities can affect the well-being of the school and community
• C2 summarize the roles and responsibilities of local governments

Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states the purpose of education is the “preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.”

Shirley Hughes and Ken Wilson-Max are among eight renowned artists who illustrate children’s rights in a simplified version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  IIlustrations are included from the publication For Every Child, as well as photographs showing the lives of children around the world:

http://www.unicef.org.uk/tz/resources/assets/pdf/every_child_colour_leaflet.pdf

A list of our class theme songs: (** Please note: Parental guidance/supervision is required when viewing YouTube videos)

• We Are The World-by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springstein…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzw6GiqZyD0&feature=related
• What a wonderful World-by Louis Armstrong
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=fvw
• Wavin’ Flag-K’naan
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC8V8S_REhk
• Heal the World-by Michael Jackson
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beFTORlM6TU
• That’s what friends are for-from the Disney Classic movie, “The Fox and the Hound.”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTcHT4zpAGs&feature=fvw
• Imagine-John Lennon
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw

A list of books to read with your child at home:

• Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree. 1964. New York: Harper and Row Publishers.
• Jane Cowen-Fletcher, It Takes A Village. 1994. New York: Scholastic Inc.
• Lois Ehlert, Planting a Rainbow. 1988. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers
• Nancy Carlson, I Like Me. 1990. New York: Penguin books, Inc
• Tony Johnston, & Tomie dePaola, The Quilt Story. 1985. New York: Scholastic Inc
• All the colors We Are. 1994. St. Paul, Minnesota: Redleaf Press.
• Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners, We are Alike, We Are Different. 1991. New York: Scholastic.
• Nina Pelleginin, Families Are Different. 1991. New York: Holiday House.
• Ellen Levine, I Hate English. 1989. New York: Scholastic, Inc
• Arthur Dorros, This is my House. 1992. New York: Scholastic Inc.
• Mary Ann Hoberman, A House is a House For Me. 1978. New York: Scholastic, Inc
• Marc Brown, Arthur’s Eyes. 1979. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company
• Robert McClosky, Make Way For Ducklings. 1969. New York: Penguin Books
• Aliki, Feelings. 1984. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
• Barbara Josse, Momma Do You Love Me? 1991. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
• Eric Carle, My Apron.

Link for United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child:
http://www.hrea.org/erc/Library/hrdocs/un/child/declaration-en.html

Laws introduced last week in state parliament will, from January 1st, introduce a mandatory Sustainability Delclaration for the sale of properties in Queensland. The 56-point questionaire will detail the property’s environmental credentials for buyers. It will include energy effeciency, water effeciency, any solar power devices, water saving showerheads, hot water systems, and cooktops.

Stirling Hinchliffe, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, said that the form would help reflect the true value of sustainable features and should be an important consideration when purchasing a property. There has been some opposition with David Gibson stating that the form was hard to read and only available in english.

For more information, and to download the form:
Sustainability declaration – DIP, Qld Government