My wife’s grandmother has long been a model for me. Actually, this lady had many qualities to admire, but there is one in particular that was a stand-out: the woman never complained. She liked everything.

Take her to any restaurant, serve her anything, and she’d like it. Take her to a play, a concert or a church service and she'd like it all. But more than just liking it, she really enjoyed it, whatever it was. She liked anything and everything. She was happy with whatever she had or experienced. It was amazing.

I remember taking her to the Praisefest sponsored by area churches held here annually in our community to benefit the local Food Pantry. There has always been a great deal of variety: loud songs and quiet songs; rock and southern gospel; pianos, drums and everything in between. She liked it all. I loved watching her smile and genuinely enjoy every person and every song.

Ever since I realized this about her, I’ve watched to see how she responds to things. I still to this day don’t know what she ever disliked. (I’m sure there had to be something but I could never figure out what it was.) Every chance I got, about anything and everything I’d ask, “How was it, Grandma?,” not because I didn’t know the answer, but because I loved hearing it. “Good,” she’d say every time with genuine smile. “I really liked it.”

There are plenty of complainers in the world, but not enough of us are like her. She seemed to me to be a happier person because she liked everything. I don’t know if she had to work at it, but it seemed to come naturally to her. I want to be like that. I want to be the sort of person that likes everything and everybody. The world doesn’t need any more grumps. (I hope I'm like her when I'm an old man. I want to be the happy old man everyone likes to be around, not the grumpy kind. And you all know exactly what I'm talking about.)

I think the key in finding good in everything is being content with whatever you are given. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Timothy 6:6).

“Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5) When we trust God we are better able to appreciate everything as a gift from him.

The dear lady I'm talking about went home to be with Jesus yesterday. I will miss her a lot.

The Bible says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Evelyn shone brightly. May we all follow her example.

I did not know that. I'm glad. Yaaaay! I love that guy. (Just saw that he had a bit part in "Did you hear about the Morgans?")

Who else is still alive that you ummmmm, might not expect to be?

Helmut Thielicke was one of the most influential pastor/preacher/theologians of his time. I know, you're thinking, "Who?" Thielicke was a German theologian and preacher extraordinairre.

My first introduction to him was through the little book "A little exercise for young theologians", which is not for kindergartners, like it might sound. It's for anyone who is on the threshold of studying, really studying, theology.

But Thielicke did so much more than that.

When he spoke out against the Third Reich, he lost his teaching post and went to the German countryside to be a pastor.

After WW2, the world discovered him. He wrote the three-volume systematic theology, "The Evangelical Faith." He continued to teach, and on the weekends preached to thousands. He wrote an important book on Charles Spurgeon. He is said to have said, "Sell all you have and buy Spurgeon."

Many of his sermons were translated into English and were published here in the States. Thousands used to flock to hear him preach. If you can find anything by him, buy him. You won't be disappointed.

I can't tell you how much he has had an impact on me personally. My church members probably get tired of hearing about him...

I have learned more from him about the importance of the balance between head and heart when being a pastor-teacher than anyone else who has ever lived. (Yes, even more than D.A. Carson and John Piper. His autobiography, "Notes from a Wayfarer" should be required reading. In fact, it is. From now on, you are required to read it, because I said so;-) The story of him going to a little church in the German countryside during the war, is a story of a theologian learning how to be a pastor. It's powerful stuff. When he eventually regains a teaching post, he never forgets the lessons he learned about the importance of connecting God and people. The dude was real and he's my hero.

By the way, if you're going to start reading him, you better know how to pronounce his name. tea-LICK-eee. Practice it, because I plan to start telling you more about him... :-)

Back in Billy Graham's hay-day, not everyone was thrilled about him. Theologians in particular were not so sure about his approach.

From this blog:

“The great Swiss theologian Karl Barth once stood in the rain to hear Graham preach in Basel. When he told Graham that the sermon from John 3:3 was good but should not have stressed the must in ‘you must be born again,’ Graham begged to differ (and was soon gratified to hear another great theologian, Emil Brunner, affirm his position). But then Graham closes this account concerning Barth with these words: ‘In spite of our theological differences, we remained good friends.’” (Mark Noll, American Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction, Blackwell 2001, p. 47)

Another important theologian, Helmut Thielicke, also attended a Billy Graham crusade, but with certain preconceived notions which put Thielicke in an ill disposition toward the popular preacher. However, after coming under the preaching of Graham, Thielicke experienced an awakening of sort...

In Thielicke’s autobiography, Notes from a Wayfarer, he recounts the situation:

My meeting with Billy Graham, who was at that time holding his huge evangelization crusades in Los Angeles stadium, was of great importance to me. I at first had reservations about accepting his invitation to sit next to him on the balustrade.

When I then did indeed do so on the insistence of my friends, I kept my eyes wide open critically. As the people came forward in their thousands to confess their faith, however, I was aware only of calm meditation on the part of his crew and detected no expressions of triumph. His message was good solid stuff. His warmhearted, unpretentious humanity made a great impression on me.

Afterwards I wrote him a thank you letter in which I confessed that whenever I had previously been asked for my opinion of him I had said that I felt that many essential elements were lacking in his proclamation of the Gospel; he advocated an individualistic doctrine of salvation, and even this took place only in relation to the initial stages of faith. Although I had now personally experienced his message, I did not feel compelled to revise the objective side of this criticism, but I had resolved to modify the question in which I raised my criticism; it now ran: “What is lacking in my and the conventional Christian proclamation of the Gospel that makes Billy Graham necessary?”

I found the answer he gave me extremely significant. I was, he said, completely right in my criticism. What he was doing was certainly the most dubious form of evangelization. But what other alternative did he have if the flocks that had no shepherds would not otherwise be served? This answer gave him credibility in my eyes and convinced me of his spiritual substance.

Graham would take Thielicke’s constructive criticism to heart, as exhibited in his later emphasis on continuing discipleship and the importance of the local church, the latter which caused him much criticism (from fundamentalists) as he worked with local mainline Protestant churches and Roman Catholics whenever his crusade would come to a town.

I don't know if Thielicke really deserves all the credit for Graham's later emphasis on continuing discipleship and follow-up, but I think we should give him some... :-)

Every generation has preachers that rise to the top. Their sermons are listened to (or read) by people far and wide. Other pastors listen too. Every pastor needs a pastor, and some of these influential preachers serve that function. There are many that I am personally so thankful for, both past and present. (I won't list them all here, maybe under comments...)

Now I know that not every influential preacher is good, and not every celebrity pastor even deserves a pulpit, (we all had the same name pop into our heads right there, so I don't need to say his name), but there are many that have been used by God to train, rebuke, encourage, teach and challenge us.

There are many who have helped you and I personally. Thank God for them.

Blog posts have been dedicated to criticizing these guys. (and gal, if you count Joyce Meyers) And some of them deserve it (and I definitely count Joyce Meyers)

But sometimes we forget to be grateful for the gifts God has given us. (Ephesians 4:11-13) I wonder if the John Piper's, Charles Spurgeon's, Rick Warren's, Helmut Thielicke's, Bonhoeffer's, Mark Driscoll's etc...are at least a partial fulfillment of that passage.

I don't know if you'd call them "apostle"-types or what, but in many ways they have become pastors to pastors, and God has blessed their faithfulness by spreading their influence.

Peter Mead says:

I just read an article from Preaching magazine -25 Most Influential Pastors of the Past 25 Years. ...What struck me was how many of these preachers have blessed me in recent years (and I don’t spend much time listing to famous preachers).

I would encourage you to read the article and give thanks for these and other well-known preachers who have faithfully sought to serve God through their ministries. It is easy to critique the famous, but actually it must be hard to be in their positions, perhaps facing some unique stresses that most of us don’t face.

Perhaps the list might suggest some names that you haven’t heard before, leading you to trawl the web for a sermon by E.K.Bailey, or W.A.Criswell, or Fred Craddock. Or someone who doesn’t fit in your theological or ecclesiological comfort zone . . . anyone from Adrian Rogers, to Bill Hybels, to William Willimon, to Stephen Olford, to Warren Wiersbe, to Rick Warren, to Jack Hayford, to Tim Keller, etc. Have you observed Andy Stanley preach?

Maybe this kind of list has a handful of preachers that you have really been blessed by over the years – stop and give thanks for them. I’m delighted to see Haddon Robinson on there, I know many who would give thanks for the influence of John Piper in their lives, I have friends who have been so blessed by John Stott, and other friends who have faithfully tuned in to Chuck Swindoll, and of course, there are numerous people I know who would count Billy Graham as the preacher God used to reach them with the gospel.

The Preaching Magazine List can be found after the jump.

Who would you add?

Read the rest of this entry . . .

It's time for someone else to bask in their 15 seconds of fame. (After all, if you are acknowledged here, you know you've arrived...or at least that we're trying to ride on your coattails.)

Our own Daniel Ross, Thinkling friend and commenter, got himself up on the video screen at a Bon Jovi Concert. In his words:

Yeah, I did it. I'm a tiny bit embarrassed but it's also really, really awesome. Starts at about 3:27 through the chorus. I'm in the lower-right-hand corner.

To explain: I tired to win tickets to the Bon Jovi Nashville show I was going to (I was trying to get better seats). They had this "make your own 'Livin' On A Prayer' video" contest going on so I entered. I didn't see it on the screen in Nashville so I assumed it had gone into the ether. Lo and behold, it shows up on the screens when Bon Jovi played the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey in front of 65,000 people.

Like I said, it's cheesy and embarrassing (that I'm making the faces and whatnot, not that I like the band — I like who I like) but it's also pretty cool. :-)

Yes, Daniel, we agree. It's pretty cool.

I really liked what they did there, showing fans singing along on their home video cameras. Neat stuff.

Well, OK, maybe not all Jeopardy! champions do, but at least one does.

Our very own "The Calvinator" who has been a regular Thinkling reader and faithful commenter for years now, just finished his run as champ on Jeopardy!

(OK, maybe he doesn't read us for research. If he had he would have nailed the Scalia answer.)

I watched you today dude. I'm sorry that I missed all the other appearances. My wife watched with me and we were cheering you on.

I do have some sad news for everyone. Calvinator got robbed today. He lost to some chick who does classical music for ice skaters or something. (I think someone must have sabotaged your buzzer.) Did you hear me yelling the answers at you through the TV? (I was yelling, "Kennedy! Kennedy! KENN-AAAH -DEEEE"! and "Appalooooooooosa!") Well, I know that TV doesn't work that way, and that it was taped, but still, I was trying to coach you dude. If only you could phone a friend....that should be a new feature on Jeopardy! I can see it now:

"Yes, Alex, I know I buzzed. But I don't actually know the question. But I'd like to use my "phone-a-blog" option. I'll be conference calling "The Thinklings". I owe those guys a lot for all of my success, and if anyone can help me, it'll be them."

Seriously though Calvinator, that's a big deal and we're proud of you. You know lots of stuff...and I can't imagine the pressure, plus timing the buzzer right... You were a worthy champ. Excellent job!

If you're game, I'd like to interview you for this blog and post it here. Will you let me know under comments if you are up for it?

Congratulations Calvinator!

(If any other Thinklings readers get on a game show, I want to know about it so we can brag on you!)

We remember, with deep gratitude.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

Sun has set, shadows come,
Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds
Always true to the promise that they made.

While the light fades from sight,
And the stars gleaming rays softly send,
To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend.

- Taps

I finally finished Harry Potter #7. (Post-forthcoming...) Rather sad to say goodbye to all those characters. (Though I think Rowling wrapped things up better than LOST did... ;-)

That's not the blasphemy. Keep reading.

Anyway, I just started listening to the unabridged "The Hobbit" as my follow-up to Harry Potter.

(Still not the blasphemy, but you're closer now.)

And as I listened to Gandalf banter with Bilbo I found myself wishing he was Dumbledore.

There it was.

I think that as I keep listening, I'll just think of the Hobbit and LOTR books as Dumbledore's wanderings under the pseudonymn "Gandalf" before he became headmaster at Hogwart's.

If my fellow thinklings decide to defenestrate me for this, this may be my last post. Or maybe I'll see you after the backlash...

“There is no such thing as a non-working mother” (Hester Mundis).

That Moms are special is self-evident. Every person with a mother knows this. Many of you are mothers, or are married to a mother, or are friends with one. Thank God for mothers and motherhood.

Mothers make society better. Mothers make families better. Mothers make individuals better. In human society is there any force more powerful than a mother’s love?

For most of us, if the rest of the world abandoned us, one of the people who would still be there would be Mom. How great it is for a child to know that whatever he does, his mother is still going to love him. Someone once said, “A mother holds her children’s hands for a while but their hearts forever.”

There's a reason for the cliche "a face only a mother could love." A mother's love is simultaneously legendary and assumed. Pardon the reference, but was anyone surprised that the last woman on earth who would still stand by Tiger Woods was his mom?!?!?! (I'm pretty sure Lex Luthor's mom still loves him too.)And as a much more positive example, is it surprising to any reader of any culture to see that the very, very small group that still remained at the foot of the cross included Jesus' mother?

I know that the Bible reveals God as Father, so don't accuse me of saying otherwise. But can you see a mother's love as a reflection of God the Father's love for us? ("He created man in his own image, male and female he created them.")

The Bible says that "Every good and perfect gift comes from above." Everything good we have is a sign pointing us back to our creator. For example, marriage is given to us as a picture of Christ's love for the church. I believe that mothers are given to us as perhaps the best earthly picture of unconditional love, the kind of love that God has. (Only his is much more so.) But could we even imagine unconditional love if God hadn't given mothers the gift to love as they do?

The Bible acknowledges the great worth of mothers. I have adapted the classic passage about a Godly woman in tribute to modern mothers. As you read it, thank God for the mothers in your life.

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best deals and clips coupons. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places like Sam’s and Wal-Mart and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks for the best deal on the internet, then, with money she's put aside, she buys things for her family.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the craft of home and business management.

She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.

Her husband is proud to call her his wife.

She always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: ‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!’ Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!” (Proverbs 31:10-31 -Adapted from “The Message” by Eugene Peterson).

“No man is poor who has had a godly Mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

For those of you who were wondering, or just flat out love the song, or maybe you just love Charlie, and so by extension you like anything associated with him...

Here's the story behind the song:

Bryan Burk: We knew that we were going to have to have that song that Charlie's character would sing 'that Driveshaft song'. And we had no idea what it was, and it was something that we thought we would write. We were talking to Dom about possibly coming up with a song.

Dominic Monaghan: J.J. and Damon actually said to me that if I wanted to write a song, they would consider it. So, myself and my friend Shocks in LA actually wrote a song which was called "Photos and Plans", which we played for them, and they liked. Didn't actually make it into the show.

Bryan Burk: Years ago, Matt Reeves, as one of our oldest friends, um had been watching an episode, which I believe was Phil Donahue, just so you understand how many years ago...

Damon Lindelof: ...Where this woman basically stood up in the audience and I can't remember exactly what she said, but she said, it was like, "You all everybody, is acting like the stupid people wearing expensive clothes."

Bryan Burk: We'd be sitting in what they'd call 'video village', where all the monitors are, and where we spend a good portion of our day, where we hang out in between everything being set up. Non-stop, we'd be saying "You all everybody, acting like it's the stupid people wearing the expensive clothes."

Damon Lindelof: ...And everybody would crack up. It's like, "What does that even mean? What is it?" Y'know, so it's like "You all everybody!" Like it just became sort of an inside joke, so one of the things we kept saying, like J.J., we've got to write, y'know, what Driveshaft's song is.

Bryan Burk: At one point in a delirious stupor, we realized that we had said it so many times, that that had to be the song. And on the spot, with Don, our script supervisor, we wrote down all the lyrics of "You All Everybody".

Damon Lindelof: Then on the day that we were shooting, we were shooting Charlie, Kate and Jack walking up, and Charlie first starts humming it to himself, and Kate's like, "Where do I know that song from?" Y'know, that was the day that the sort of melody was generated. J.J. like kind of hummed a tune to it. J.J. was just sort of sitting, goes [pitched singing], "You All Everybody. You All Everybody." He's like, "Just do that." Y'know. And that was it.

Dominic Monaghan: I based the voice in the Pilot on when Prince puts on his female voice, for when he sings like, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" on "Sign 'O' the Times". He kind of affects this female voice, and Beck does it as well. [Scene of Charlie singing to Kate in Pilot in high-pitched voice] So, I just thought, well, I have'a laugh, because I don't know what this song is going to be, so I might as well do the harmonies, which is why it became this, [Sings high-pitched] "You All Everybody", which actually isn't what it actually became in Episode 5 The Moth. [Scene from The Moth of on-stage singing] But we just took the exact lyrics from that talk show and turned it into a song. We gave it over to this songwriter called Jude[1].

[Jude's picture shown]

Bryan Burk: Jude is this amazing local LA singer-songwriter. Um, who I'd first heard of him because he had a song on the City of Angels soundtrack.

Dominic Monaghan: Him and his band just y'know, brought together this kind of, 'Oasis-esque', 'Ocean-Colour-Scene-y'[2], y'know, not great, but kind of not bad tune.

Bryan Burk: We needed a song, and we needed a specific kind of tone and rhythm, and [Snaps fingers] the next day, he came in with it, and it was great. It was like this perfect prop song. So, we knew if we wanted a catchy song, Jude was the guy to go to.

You All Everybody Lyrics

Rock and roll, man

I walk around my town
Watch the people come and go
I watch them up and down
And i see what they don't know
They have given up on me
I can see it in their eyes
Well, i have given up on you
And i think you should realise

You all, everybody
You all, everybody
I don't like you stupid people
Wearing expensive clothes
You all everybody
You all, everybody

You all everybody

I know you see what i have been
And compare with what i am
But i don't care now what you've seen
I'm just doing what i can
You say you've given up on me
And you say it like i should care
Well i have given up on you
And no, i don't want to “share”

Chorus
You all everybody

And will you get the message now?
When i cross my heart and shout it out damn loud?

Chorus
You all everybody
Yeah, you all everybody

And of course there was the "You All Every Butties" commercial that Driveshaft recorded... "Official Website"

At first Jesus looked like a failed hero. Many people believed that he was “The Chosen One”, the Christ, who would be Israel’s hero and savior. He rode into Jerusalem, and received not just a king’s welcome, but a welcome worthy only of Israel’s savior. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” the people cried. What they meant was, “Save us, Messiah that we have waited for!” They had been waiting for centuries for someone to come and rescue them from poverty, persecution and enslavement to a foreign pagan power. Could this really be the one who will lead them in victory over their enemies and restore Israel to its former glory?

Less than a week later, Jesus is crucified, just like the many failed messiah’s before him. Jesus wasn’t the first (or the last) to claim that he was the one that we’ve been waiting for. Try to imagine their sadness and disappointment when Jesus was executed as a common rebel.

But Jesus was not a failed hero. The cross was not an accident. It was not even a tragically beautiful ending to a man who came to teach peace and love, as many have portrayed him. It was exactly the end he planned on. Like many of us, people wanted to be rescued from excessive taxes, injustice and the immorality of government. But those aren't our real problems.

Think about it. Imagine the perfect politician and the perfect Government. Every law you think should be on the books is there exactly as you think it ought to be. Every Government agency is run properly. Every politician is honest. And your political ideology reigns in every policy, foreign and domestic. Every politician does what they are supposed to do...

In such a world, you still suffer the consequences of sin. People still get sick. People still commit crimes. People still sin. You still sin. And you still die. In fact, the reason the above political scenario is impossible is because of sin and its consequences.

Do you see the brilliance of what Jesus did? By dying and rising from the dead, Jesus took care of the real enemies first. The death of the only truly innocent man defeated sin. And the resurrection of that same man defeated death.

Sin and death are the biggest enemies. And because he did what he said he would do, we can believe him when he says he’ll take care of the smaller enemies too. It's like this, if I see a guy juggle six flaming swords, he doesn't need to prove that he can juggle three silk scarves. Jesus took care of the giants. Everything else is like squashing bugs.

There's another reason why what he did was so brilliant. What if Jesus had come and ruled and set up his kingship? Would the people have been satisfied? Probably. I think they would have been like some of the rabbits in Richard Adams' brilliant book "Watership Down." Our heroes, rabbits looking for a safe home, find a warren full of fat and happy rabbits. The place is paradise. Then it turns out that the reason food shows up every day, and there are no predators, is because the farmer feeds them and protects them, so that every few days, he can have fresh rabbit for dinner. The rabbits who live there don't talk about it. Because all their creature comforts are met, they choose to live with death.

Would we be the same way if we got everything we thought we wanted?

Jesus defeated your real enemies already. Because he did that, he'll take care of the rest like an elephant stomping on lego men.

"’Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son’” (Revelation 21:3-4, 6-7).

Tragic ends to young "stars". Funny we call them that, perhaps we should call them all "falling stars" - shining bright for a moment, before burning up and burning out.

Corey Haim died today.

Corey Haim, the former teen idol who rose to fame in 1980s classics 'The Lost Boys,' 'Lucas' and 'License to Drive,' died Wednesday morning of an apparent accidental drug overdose in Burbank, Calif., the LAPD has confirmed to several media outlets. He was 38. Local news station KTLA is reporting that Haim was found in an Oakwood apartment believed to belong to his mother, who was at home at the time and called emergency responders. TMZ is reporting that four prescription drug bottles were found nearby, and that he had been gripped by flu-like symptoms in recent days.

Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie told reporters that Haim died at 2:15 a.m. at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is pending.

So sad. I always liked Corey. (His performance in "Lucas" was genius. In my opinion, his career path should have gone the way of DiCaprio's or even Jason Patric or Kiefer Sutherland.) But all that doesn't matter now in the face of eternity.

Andrew Koenig died last month. Here's Kirk Cameron's response.

“At a time like this, we are all reminded of the briefness of life and the importance of being ready for our eternal destination,” Cameron said in a statement. “My prayers will continue to be with Andrew’s family.”

The 41-year-old Koenig — most famous for playing the role of “Boner,” Cameron’s best friend on the ’80s sitcom — had been missing since mid-February. After an extensive search, the actor’s body was discovered Feb. 24 in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. His father, Walter Koenig (who played the original Chekov in multiple Star Trek projects) said his son, who had a history of depression, committed suicide.

How many of these current and past "stars" are depressed, lost and hopeless, looking for solace in every empty thing the world has to offer?

What was will be again,
what happened will happen again.
There's nothing new on this earth.
Year after year it's the same old thing.
Does someone call out, "Hey, this is new"?
Don't get excited—it's the same old story.
Nobody remembers what happened yesterday.
And the things that will happen tomorrow?
Nobody'll remember them either.
Don't count on being remembered.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 (The Message)

Most people know today as the day (46 years ago) that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. But most people don't know that on the exact same day as Kennedy's untimely death -- November 22, 1963 -- across the pond in merry ol' England, an unassuming Oxford don passed on to his heavenly reward. His name was C.S. Lewis. (Philosopher Aldous Huxley also died the same day.)

I guess it's easy to overlook Lewis in this time. He wasn't a man who enjoyed the spotlight anyway, and he probably would think it just fine that the day of his passing be obscured by the Death of Camelot. But I say with complete confidence that the legacy Lewis left us is far greater than that of JFK.

Lewis was a poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic, professor, and "amateur" theologian-philosopher. His fiction manages to capture the mythic grandeur and eloquence he so loved as a child and the attention-grabbing wonder every lover of good stories covets. His non-fiction sparkled with an easy-going style. Lewis's illustrative method was remarkable. He was able to take difficult and complex concepts and somehow explain them in ways that made sense. He always favored simplicity even when discussing "big things." He never used a big word when a small one would have worked just as well.

C.S. Lewis's influence on modern Christianity is unmatched to this day. No other Christian has come close to rivaling his place at the summit of Christian literature. No other Christian has come close to influencing Christian thought in the 20th and 21st centuries more than he. That is why I believe Lewis has been the single most influential Christian of the 20th century. No one -- not even Billy Graham -- has left such a indelible mark on Christian culture. Graham may win the souls, but Lewis builds them up. You might not be able to get an atheist to read Graham's How to be Born Again, but I bet you could get him to read Lewis's The Abolition of Man. And he'd be better off for it.

It might be hyperbole, but the Thinklings may not have ever started were it not for Lewis. When high school Rod met high school Bird in high school gym class, we had little in common at first but our faith and an interest in Lewis. Most of my fondest early Thinkling moments involve Lewis. Before the Thinklings were the Thinklings, Bird and I used to go over to another friend's house to shoot hoops, shoot pool, and shoot the breeze. Theological debates were the order of the day. And many a theological debate or discussion was settled with "Well, what does Lewis say about it?"
I recall visiting Bird in college at Baylor one time. I remember it clear as day even though it was night, but Bird and I sat out by his apartment complex's pool, smoked stogies, and discussed C.S. Lewis. I remember a bunch of bats flying overhead. The romantic spirit of Inklings-esque camaraderie was in the air.

When I met Bill in the mid-90s on that fateful bus trip back from summer camp, we were both delighted to discover a mutual affection for Lewis.

I myself have a poor "reading memory." But for some reason, I seem to recall much of the C.S. Lewis I've read. His way with words sticks in my brain like no other writer. I have an odd ability to recall certain Lewis quotes and phrases, and he's really the only author for whom I can do this.
It was my father's dust-eaten copy of Mere Christianity that inspired my love of theological pursuit and passion for doctrine. It was the Chronicles of Narnia and the first book in the Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet) that inspired by particular approach to writing fiction.

Indeed, were Lewis writing his fiction today, he might not even make it on to the shelves of Christian bookstores. Not enough explicit Jesusness. Yet no Christian fiction has baptized childhood imaginations for future embrace of the Gospel more than Lewis's (except perhaps Tolkien's).

Lewis has been my influence and my inspiration. He's been my teacher.

Professor Lewis, if you can hear me, I am a better Christian because of you. When I get where you are, I'd love to shake your hand and share a pint.
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This is a slightly edited rerun of the Thinklings' annual Lewis Memoriam post.

God bless this courageous public servant:

On Thursday afternoon Ms Munley was doing her usual job of directing traffic on the sprawling base. By chance, she and her partner happened to walk past the Soldiers’ Readiness Processing Centre soon after Major Hasan — armed with two handguns — cornered his fellow soldiers. Soldiers who witnessed the rampage described the gunfire as continuous, methodical and well aimed.

Ms Munley succeeded in bringing him down by shooting him four times, even after being hit by a bullet that passed through both her legs, according to witnesses.

Her swift reaction and courage were being praised last night for preventing many more deaths.

“It was an amazing and aggressive performance by this police officer,” said Lieutenant-General Robert Cone, Fort Hood’s commanding officer. “The critical factor here was her quick response to the situation.”

In honor of Michael Jordan's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, ESPN features the Top 23 Michael Jordan Moments.

Love it.

Even though every few years we hear about the alleged "next Michael Jordan," there never will be another one like him. Not Lebron James, who is phenomenal. Not Kobe, who I admit is a great player.
Nobody else carries the weight of myth on the basketball court.
(And does anybody watch the NBA any more?)

I remember watching what's usually known as "the flu game" live. It might've been the most heroic athletic performance I've ever seen.

getting Aldrin'ed -- verb. Receiving a knuckle sandwich in response to inadvertently asking for one.

ie. Documentarian Bart Sibrel, who claims the moon landing was faked, calls Commander Buzz a coward and a liar and totally gets Aldrin'ed.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for this land you have given us. It truly is beautiful from sea to shining sea. This land is a witness to how wonderful you are. If this land, so vast and varied, causes us to sing songs like “America the Beautiful,” you the creator of all this are so much more.

Thank you for our founders. We acknowledge that such genius and courage in forming this nation must have come from you. Thank you for good leaders you have given us in the past and the present. We also thank you that they have been and are imperfect, for this reminds us that only you are worthy of our total trust. And thank you for the unprecedented freedom and prosperity you have given us.

Thank you for difficulty too. For when we look back at the times in our history when we endured the most hardship, those were also the times when more of us acknowledged our dependence on you. We thank you for the Bible which has taught us that because all human beings were created in your image, they each deserve life, dignity and freedom.

We thank you for those who championed the cause of religious liberty. Thank you that we are not forced to worship a president or any other human. We thank you that we can freely worship you and share our faith with others without being afraid of imprisonment, torture or death. Thank you for those in the military who have died (and are dying) for us. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder that what we have is not automatic, but is a gift.

We ask for forgiveness, Lord, for thinking that simply being American is enough to make us right with you. Forgive us for looking to politicians for salvation. Forgive us for being “Christian” in church attendance but not in our hearts or actions. The world looks at us as representing Christianity while our media sends quite the opposite message. We claim to defend the weak, but we have defined the killing of the unborn as a woman’s right.

Therefore, Lord, we ask: please help us to “hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts” (Amos 5:15). Because I believe that Jesus is the answer, I pray for the salvation of Americans. Our soldiers died for earthly and temporary freedom, but Jesus died for freedom from sin and death forever. Because Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world, we know that God’s relationship with people is far more important than geography and politics. Therefore, we also pray for Christians who are suffering and dying around the world for their faith today. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7) In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tomorrow, Americans across this great country will join together in remembering those American warriors—throughout our storied history—who gave their lives in defense of freedom. From the blood-soaked beaches of France to the bombed-out back-alleys of Fallujah, the American G.I. has fought—and died—opposing that which is evil and oppressive, and defending all things good and free.

Memorial Day is about one thing: remembering the fallen on the battlefield and passing their collective story to the next generation. These stories, and the men who bear them, are the backbone of this American experiment and must never be forgotten. As John Stuart Mill once said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.” The minute, excuse me—the second—we believe our freedoms "inevitable and/or immutable," we cease to live in history, and have soured the soldier's sacrifice. He died in the field, so we can enjoy this beautiful day (and weekend). Our freedoms—purchased on the battlefield—are indeed “worthy of war.”

And this day, with America still at war, it is also fitting that we remember the soldiers currently serving in harms way. Because, as any veteran can attest, just one moment, one explosion, or one bullet separates Veterans Day from Memorial Day. Soldiers currently in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting for our freedoms today, knowing it’s possible they may never see tomorrow. These troops—and their mission—deserve our support each day, and our prayers every night. May God watch over them—and their families; May He give them courage in the face of fear, and righteous-might in the face of evil.

- Pete Hegseth

My wife and I are now the proud owners of two mini-vans. (OK, go back and strike the word "proud.") We traded in my Mazda 626, and bought a second minivan.

OK, now to my point. The Mazda I traded in... was a standard transmission. Yep. You read that right. A stick shift. Every primary car I've ever driven was a stick shift. I learned to drive on a stick shift. I freaked out in driver's ed when I put the car in "drive" and it started moving on it's own because I had never driven an automatic before.(My left foot kept kicking the floor looking for a clutch.)

Anyway, when I traded in this car last week, the salesman told me that 99% of all cars made now are automatics. Whoa. That means I would have a hard time getting a standard if I tried. Nobody drives standard anymore.

It made me kind of sad. Nostalgic maybe. I was thinking, "Wow. I am now the possessor of a dying skill." My kids won't be able to learn standard because there won't be any. I was thinking how sad that was, but hey maybe it's OK, because they'll never need it.

I prefer driving standard. I prefer doing something as a part of driving. I prefer feeling like I'm driving. I like the power and control of deciding when to shift, and how many RPM's I want. I like riding the clutch. I like coasting in, with the clutch pushed in. I like the challenge of having to start going from a stop when I'm on an incline without rolling into the car behind me. I like the fact that I CAN!!!! (And I'm quite good at it by the way.)

And now, it's a skill not valued anymore. So I began to wonder. Maybe this was what it was like when drivers didn't have to get out and crank the handle on the front of model T's anymore. Maybe this is what it was like when women stopped having to teach their daughters how to wash laundry in the tub. Did those people mourn too? Did those people think that society was going to pot because their kids didn't need to learn or even care to learn the skills they had to have to survive?

Is it such a loss when technology changes? I mean, that's just progress right? So maybe I should just get over the fact that I will never drive a standard again, and that with few rare exceptions, no one will.

OK, maybe automatics aren't as fuel efficient as standards. And they break down more than standards, but aren't I forgetting the main thing? Progress! Technology! Ease of use. Driving an automatic is easy.

Maybe I'm just mad that I had to work so hard to learn how to drive. (It is hard learning to get going without stalling.) And now, no one else has to. Maybe I feel like if I had to do it, everybody should. But that's not fair, is it? That's like saying that just because I had to learn to type on an actual manual typewriter that everybody should. Or that just because my grandfather had to build houses without power tools that everybody should.

I guess we should just put standard transmissions in the scrap heap with manual typewriters, human-powered lawnmowers and rotary dial telephones.

What other "skills" are dying out? Tell me under comments.

Still makes me sad though. Farewell, standard transmission. We had some good times together. You will be missed.