The BBC is even now carrying live the funeral of Senator Kennedy from a large cathedral in Boston. Yo Yo Ma is playing the cello and Placido Domingo is singing "Panis Angelicus." The local priest/pastor of the family finished telling us what a fine man Sen. Kennedy was and soon the President will tell us even more about how famous and great the Senator was to history.
As already written, the masses will pour into Vienna in late September to euologize Michael Jackson at a gigantic tribute show behind of the city's palaces.
Meanwhile in a small town in central Nebraska, another man lays dying, perhaps even this day being his last day of drawing breath upon this planet. In stark contrast to the show atmostphere surrounding the deaths and funerals of Senator Kennedy and Michael Jackson, Fox News and CNN will not be there the moment this man dies. No networks will cut into regular programming with the breaking news that our friend has died. Yo Yo Ma and Placido Domingo will not show up to play and sing at his funeral; President Obama will not interrupt his vacation to fly off to Nebraska and make an elequent speech about this man's life; the BBC will not cover the funeral live. But may I say, and try to say respectively, that our friends funeral will be of far greater meaning and significance than anything we might have observed on television or yet to come here in Vienna.
You see, our friend, Pastor Cooper, was just a simple country preacher who loved our Lord and Savoiur with all of his heart, soul, and mind. No one will have to pray and ask God to forgive Pastor's sins after he dies, as they did for Senator Kennedy. Pastor Cooper knew his Saviour, Jesus Christ, and knew Him well. Pastor and Mrs. Cooper loved people no matter what and in their own ways and words, showed the love and life of Jesus to many, many hundreds of people throughout their long life as Pastor and Pastor's wife.
Pastor Cooper will need no television audience to try and make him look good. Though he never served in politics, never rocked and rolled across the stages of the world, never sought after the fame and fortune of televangelism, Pastor Cooper made a far greater impact upon our nation and world than any politician or rock star ever did, could, or will. Pastor Cooper was in the work of changing hearts: living the Gospel; preaching the Gospel; helping the poor, the widowed, the orphan,; raising children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; all with the goal of making sure that each one knew who Jesus was, what Jesus had done for each one of them, and what it meant to have a sure and eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Hearts, lives, families, and marriages were saved as people understood Pastor's life and words and became followers of the Jesus Pastor and Mrs. Cooper so wonderfully lived.
So yes, family members of Senator Kennedy and Michael Jackson are mourning death, but Pastor Cooper's family will do more than mourn; they will know will all of their hearts that their husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather is in heaven and being told by the Saviour of humankind, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Irony IV
The BBC today reported that a group of several hundred protesters are sneaking about London trying to set up some type of "Green Camp" outside of the eyes of the local authorities. The purpose of the sneaking about and the so-called camp are to call attention to global warming. How interesting. Meanwhile...
Vienna is preparing for a gigantic open air memorial concert for Michael Jackson to be held later in September behind one of the palaces in the city. His mother was happy about this because Michael liked palaces. The concert will, no doubt, be televised around the world using millions of watts of electricity and causing much CO2 to explode upon our atmosphere. The private jets flying in from around the world will probably cause quite the spectical at Vienna's Schwechat airport. The limos hauling all of these apparently important people from the airport to their luxury hotels, the concert site, back to their hotels, and back to the airport will, I am sure be very exciting. And let us not forget the TV cameras and journalists and their entourages. Then all of the paper and plastic that will be strewn around the palace grounds after the masses leave. I sincerely hope some sincere politician from the EU and Washington DC and Hollywood elites will manage to stop and give their opinion about global warming and CO2 just before they get back into their limo or jet. Hey, maybe Al Gore will show up!
And then, this weekend, Boston and Washington DC are preparing for the funeral of Edward Kennedy. No doubt the rich and famous from both coasts will be in attendance as will the President. Imagine the private jets flying in and out of Boston; imagine the convoy of vehicles carrying Mr. Kennedy's coffin to the church, from the church, to an airplane, to Arlington cemetary in DC; imagine all of the TV cameras and reporters driving to the events in their gas guzzling vans and cars and jets and helicopters. Imagine all of the CO2 that will blow into the atmosphere this weekend along the east coast (OK, probably not much more than a typical day of harping when Congress is in session and the President is in town).
Where are the protesters calling attention to global warming when you need them? Go figure...
Vienna is preparing for a gigantic open air memorial concert for Michael Jackson to be held later in September behind one of the palaces in the city. His mother was happy about this because Michael liked palaces. The concert will, no doubt, be televised around the world using millions of watts of electricity and causing much CO2 to explode upon our atmosphere. The private jets flying in from around the world will probably cause quite the spectical at Vienna's Schwechat airport. The limos hauling all of these apparently important people from the airport to their luxury hotels, the concert site, back to their hotels, and back to the airport will, I am sure be very exciting. And let us not forget the TV cameras and journalists and their entourages. Then all of the paper and plastic that will be strewn around the palace grounds after the masses leave. I sincerely hope some sincere politician from the EU and Washington DC and Hollywood elites will manage to stop and give their opinion about global warming and CO2 just before they get back into their limo or jet. Hey, maybe Al Gore will show up!
And then, this weekend, Boston and Washington DC are preparing for the funeral of Edward Kennedy. No doubt the rich and famous from both coasts will be in attendance as will the President. Imagine the private jets flying in and out of Boston; imagine the convoy of vehicles carrying Mr. Kennedy's coffin to the church, from the church, to an airplane, to Arlington cemetary in DC; imagine all of the TV cameras and reporters driving to the events in their gas guzzling vans and cars and jets and helicopters. Imagine all of the CO2 that will blow into the atmosphere this weekend along the east coast (OK, probably not much more than a typical day of harping when Congress is in session and the President is in town).
Where are the protesters calling attention to global warming when you need them? Go figure...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Socialism: Coming Soon to a Town Near You!
Unless we as citizens of the greatest nation in the world continue to take a stand and work against the radical wishes of east and west coast politicians, we have the following to look forward too (sooner rather than later [real stories from various parts of the continent upon which we as a family live. Hint: it is not North America]):
1. "Your daughter has some kind of growth in her brain. We are unable to see it well on a CT scan. She needs an MRI but, in order for your state health insurance to pay for it, you must wait 6-8 months before the MRI can be done. And oh, by the way, don't worry!" A doctor addressing some of our close friends in another country.
2. "You will be able to have the chemotherapy you need for your cancer because you are not paying enough for your state health insurance plan. You may pay with cash out of your own pocket, if you wish, but we will not give you the medicines you need; or you may pay a higher premium for your state plan and then we might be able to help you." A doctor to a cancer patient denying the necessary chemo because the state (think federal in this case) has levels of coverage and well, they didn't pay the right premium.
3. A daughter was born to a family two months premature. The hospital in which she was born did not have a neo-natal intensive care unit, so the baby was taken from the mother and sent by ambulance across the city to another hospital. Admittedly the total hospital bill was much cheaper than what would have been required in the U.S., but the care was frightening to say the least. The parents were denied any contact with the doctor in charge; questions were forbidden; and the sense was that the sooner the preemies died, the better off for everyone else. The mother of the baby was a nurse which at least allowed the parents a bit of news surreptitously as she would sneak glances at the baby's chart when possible to see what progress their baby was making.
4. Many parking areas in a city are made of cobblestone. One year ago, a group of workers, mostly immigrants, showed up and removed the cobblestones, cleaned off the dirt, and put them back in the same place. They did this up and down both sides of the street. Why? Don't know. What did it do to make the street nicer? Nothing. But it was certainly "make work" that kept the unemployment numbers low and allowed the citizens extremely high taxes to go even higher to pay for this kind of "government stimulus program."
5. As one walks the sidewalks of some cities, one cannot help but notice how uneven they are and full of lines and holes due to constant digging up. When sidewalks are dug up for new telephone lines, for example, the cable company will not also do their work at the same time, nor will the gas company, the electric company, the sewer company, and whatever other utility has lines and pipes under the sidewalk. So the telephone people will do their work, fill in the ditches and asphalt over them leaving yet another uneven spot of construction scarring. In one or two years, another utility will come along and dig up the same spot to do their work. But again, it keeps the unemployment numbers low. Government stimilus again!
6. Sales at shops must be approved by the government. Competition is not encouraged; in fact it is discouraged. Commodity prices are the same all over (no gas wars here!) so one hopes to be able to travel to another country where sugar might be cheaper; or flour; or oil, etc. Automobiles have a 32% sales tax placed upon them. In one country a discount grocery chain, also operating in the U.S., was publicly chastized by the government because they were making so money and the more expensive chains were losing big Euros. "Not fair," opined the government. "You cannot make more money than other grocery stores. You must raise your prices so that things are fair." No word as to whether the grocery chain obeyed. (Perhaps they went to a Town Hall meeting and protested to their government representative loudly, and then were accused of being right-wing terroristic fear and hate mongerers!)
7. If you must go to the doctor and can pay in cash, they are very happy. The state pays them almost nothing through the state insurance program, thus the care is oftentimes slipshod and suspect. If you need an operation or test and things look grim for you, good luck. It is better to plan your funeral service than try to wait for the needed test or surgery.
8. The elderly in one country fear having to go to a nursing home or geriatric home. They would rather commit suicide rather than have to go to one of these places. They know that if they are sent to a home they will soon be dead anyway, but it will be a longer and more painful process than if they killed themselves at home. They know the plan is to simply dispose of them, and the sooner the better.
9. Discplining one's children is against the law. So the streets are filled with characters that despise their parents, teachers, and any other kinds of authority. The state doesn't know what to do when their young people are killed while drinking and driving. Or they simply look the other way, smile sheeplishly, and assume the badness will soon be outgrown. Schools are simply places for drugs, cigarettes, and sex; especially the frequent school trips taken by middle and high school students. Teachers are angry, disinterested, and really don't care if a student makes it or not. There is no authority and no respect. Children throw fits and are smiled upon by the parents who secretly would love to put the hand of education upon the rear seats of the one throwing the fit. But the government knows best, so no seat of education.
So, if you don't like responsibility, decision making, having to choose which food shop to buy at, just wait. The government will soon be doing all of that for you/us and won't life be so much the better. Hey, "we" already own car plants, banks, and who knows what else. Whats wrong with the hospitals, doctors, grocery stores, shopping malls, Dillards, and your local McDonalds? And 55% in taxes to boot! What a deal. I for one can hardly wait!
1. "Your daughter has some kind of growth in her brain. We are unable to see it well on a CT scan. She needs an MRI but, in order for your state health insurance to pay for it, you must wait 6-8 months before the MRI can be done. And oh, by the way, don't worry!" A doctor addressing some of our close friends in another country.
2. "You will be able to have the chemotherapy you need for your cancer because you are not paying enough for your state health insurance plan. You may pay with cash out of your own pocket, if you wish, but we will not give you the medicines you need; or you may pay a higher premium for your state plan and then we might be able to help you." A doctor to a cancer patient denying the necessary chemo because the state (think federal in this case) has levels of coverage and well, they didn't pay the right premium.
3. A daughter was born to a family two months premature. The hospital in which she was born did not have a neo-natal intensive care unit, so the baby was taken from the mother and sent by ambulance across the city to another hospital. Admittedly the total hospital bill was much cheaper than what would have been required in the U.S., but the care was frightening to say the least. The parents were denied any contact with the doctor in charge; questions were forbidden; and the sense was that the sooner the preemies died, the better off for everyone else. The mother of the baby was a nurse which at least allowed the parents a bit of news surreptitously as she would sneak glances at the baby's chart when possible to see what progress their baby was making.
4. Many parking areas in a city are made of cobblestone. One year ago, a group of workers, mostly immigrants, showed up and removed the cobblestones, cleaned off the dirt, and put them back in the same place. They did this up and down both sides of the street. Why? Don't know. What did it do to make the street nicer? Nothing. But it was certainly "make work" that kept the unemployment numbers low and allowed the citizens extremely high taxes to go even higher to pay for this kind of "government stimulus program."
5. As one walks the sidewalks of some cities, one cannot help but notice how uneven they are and full of lines and holes due to constant digging up. When sidewalks are dug up for new telephone lines, for example, the cable company will not also do their work at the same time, nor will the gas company, the electric company, the sewer company, and whatever other utility has lines and pipes under the sidewalk. So the telephone people will do their work, fill in the ditches and asphalt over them leaving yet another uneven spot of construction scarring. In one or two years, another utility will come along and dig up the same spot to do their work. But again, it keeps the unemployment numbers low. Government stimilus again!
6. Sales at shops must be approved by the government. Competition is not encouraged; in fact it is discouraged. Commodity prices are the same all over (no gas wars here!) so one hopes to be able to travel to another country where sugar might be cheaper; or flour; or oil, etc. Automobiles have a 32% sales tax placed upon them. In one country a discount grocery chain, also operating in the U.S., was publicly chastized by the government because they were making so money and the more expensive chains were losing big Euros. "Not fair," opined the government. "You cannot make more money than other grocery stores. You must raise your prices so that things are fair." No word as to whether the grocery chain obeyed. (Perhaps they went to a Town Hall meeting and protested to their government representative loudly, and then were accused of being right-wing terroristic fear and hate mongerers!)
7. If you must go to the doctor and can pay in cash, they are very happy. The state pays them almost nothing through the state insurance program, thus the care is oftentimes slipshod and suspect. If you need an operation or test and things look grim for you, good luck. It is better to plan your funeral service than try to wait for the needed test or surgery.
8. The elderly in one country fear having to go to a nursing home or geriatric home. They would rather commit suicide rather than have to go to one of these places. They know that if they are sent to a home they will soon be dead anyway, but it will be a longer and more painful process than if they killed themselves at home. They know the plan is to simply dispose of them, and the sooner the better.
9. Discplining one's children is against the law. So the streets are filled with characters that despise their parents, teachers, and any other kinds of authority. The state doesn't know what to do when their young people are killed while drinking and driving. Or they simply look the other way, smile sheeplishly, and assume the badness will soon be outgrown. Schools are simply places for drugs, cigarettes, and sex; especially the frequent school trips taken by middle and high school students. Teachers are angry, disinterested, and really don't care if a student makes it or not. There is no authority and no respect. Children throw fits and are smiled upon by the parents who secretly would love to put the hand of education upon the rear seats of the one throwing the fit. But the government knows best, so no seat of education.
So, if you don't like responsibility, decision making, having to choose which food shop to buy at, just wait. The government will soon be doing all of that for you/us and won't life be so much the better. Hey, "we" already own car plants, banks, and who knows what else. Whats wrong with the hospitals, doctors, grocery stores, shopping malls, Dillards, and your local McDonalds? And 55% in taxes to boot! What a deal. I for one can hardly wait!
Irony III
Early this summer a notorious abortionist from Wichita, Kansas, was murdered in his own church on a Sunday morning. The outrage and condemnation was swift from those against abortion and those for it. However, there is great irony in the fact that those in favor of murdering innocent little babies have never once raised even a smidgeon of outrage over the murder of any of the babies Dr. Tiller killed, even if that baby was brutally killed one hour or one day before she/he was to be born.
Dr. Tiller had no conscience when it came to the murder of babies. He and other "doctors" of death are responsible for tens of thousands of killings each year and yet the silence over these indefensible murders is more than deafening. Killing Dr. Tiller was not and is not the way to put a stop to the infanticide that is the practice du jour in so-called civilized societies. But what will it take for these murderers of the innocent to finally realize what their scalpels, scrapers, and vaccum machines are really doing?
Generations and generations of skilled workers, loving parents, farmers, teachers, doctors, researchers, journalists; tax payers, social security tax payers; etc. have been wiped out, cut to pieces simply because they were seen as a burden; simply because it just wasn't convienent; and yes, simply because the church is not always ready to stand with and support the girl/woman who finds herself pregnant, alone, afraid, homeless, and penniless.
Even as we attempt to raise the lonely voice of protest against baby murder, let us also renew ourselves to being on the front lines of helping those who need help; praying for those who do the murdering; and helping the murderers escape their life of despair.
Dr. Tiller had no conscience when it came to the murder of babies. He and other "doctors" of death are responsible for tens of thousands of killings each year and yet the silence over these indefensible murders is more than deafening. Killing Dr. Tiller was not and is not the way to put a stop to the infanticide that is the practice du jour in so-called civilized societies. But what will it take for these murderers of the innocent to finally realize what their scalpels, scrapers, and vaccum machines are really doing?
Generations and generations of skilled workers, loving parents, farmers, teachers, doctors, researchers, journalists; tax payers, social security tax payers; etc. have been wiped out, cut to pieces simply because they were seen as a burden; simply because it just wasn't convienent; and yes, simply because the church is not always ready to stand with and support the girl/woman who finds herself pregnant, alone, afraid, homeless, and penniless.
Even as we attempt to raise the lonely voice of protest against baby murder, let us also renew ourselves to being on the front lines of helping those who need help; praying for those who do the murdering; and helping the murderers escape their life of despair.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wedding joy
It was an honor and privilege to be a part of Johanna and Seth's wedding in June. God was honored and they are off to a good start as husband/wife and figuring out what it means to be married. Enjoy the pictures!
Irony II
A large window display/kiosk in Vienna had highlighted the following message:
"STOP AIDS," the same weekend the annual homosexual ball began in the city.
"STOP AIDS," the same weekend the annual homosexual ball began in the city.
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