tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21788402177298577342024-02-19T08:45:00.865-08:00Truth Be ToldThe journey of discovering the Truth that guides our lives...Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-18873436207324563552012-11-07T07:47:00.002-08:002012-11-07T07:47:56.796-08:00Destination: Slippery Slope Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Election 2012 is over and in the books. I am pretty passionate person when it comes to politics (cf my FB and Twitter posts during the national debates). Last night I sat with some of my CCU students and family as the results came in. The news folks announced a "call" for Ohio going to President Obama and the air went out of the room. <br />
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My reaction? Disappointed? Yes. Forlorn? No. There are two foundations upon which I believe that make last night less "doomsday" as some are commenting this morning. First, as a believer in Jesus Christ and His reality in my life, there is something far more eternal than an election. Second, as someone who has studied and played the "election game" for years, I see this as a loss, and much like a sports team, you reflect on the loss, learn from it and move onto the next part of the game - namely mid-term elections in two years and an even bigger presidential election in four years.<br />
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My bigger concern had to do with my "worldview" perspective on what I saw happening last night. I think some of the comments I am hearing from conservatives correctly point to what the consequences of the election can be. Clearly there are challenges ahead for those of us who oppose "Obama-care" and its infringements on religious liberties. There are challenges to the potential selection of Supreme Court Justices who will legislate from the bench for the next 25 or so years. There are challenges to those of us to who believe that fundamentally it is people who should guide their own lives and not the federal government. There are challenges to the ideas of which ideas we want to impact the US conversation and action in the rest of the world. <br />
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Much larger than those challenges are the challenges at an ideological level. Decisions were made last night that elected a President who believes government knows better; marriage is no longer between just a man and a woman; that pot should be legal and enjoyed by all; and that government money should be spent on things like abortion. <br />
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Now follow me here because in each of those cases the deeper ideas are the ones that begin to lead down a path that is not "slouching" (to use Bork book title) toward cultural demise but taking a flying leap. Let's look at these pathologies through the argument used to make these decisions. <br />
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President: One of the comments made in jest immediately after the announcement that President Obama had won was "Great President Obama is going to buy me a cell-phone!" Whether this is true or not, I believe the greatest single ideology that fed this election was the remnants of post-modern thought - which is namely that the world revolves around "self" (my own interpretation of reality, and the shift from the ideas of the "other' to "me"). This is where the roots of entitlement come from. President Obama won re-election because his community activist background taught him well that you deliver the message that people want to hear. In this case it was the idea that he will do what is best for me - not the whole or others, but me. <br />
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Marriage: 32 times marriage initiatives have have been introduced and last night two states passed laws that protect same sex marriage on par with traditional marriage. One might argue that it just took that long to overcome the bias against same sex marriages. Perhaps but I believe the larger issue is that of "utra-tolerance" in world where to be against something is looked down upon, especially when it involves other people. I have no problems with same sex couples having the same rights in health care, etc. but change those laws not the re-definition of marriage. For over 50 years academic research has shown that in communities where traditional marriage is the norm, the community benefits in over a dozen ways. We don't have comparable data that says if same-sex marriage is the norm that we end up with disadvantages, but we just don't garner the advantages. Why is that true? Maybe, just maybe, it is because God designed it that way those are the natural consequences of going against the natural order (note I said natural order, not tradition). We take a further step (small in some people's eyes but a step) toward opening up public policy rights to all and we will cross a line at some point. The problem with Slippery Slope Land is that the line gets moved so subtly that we don't realize it most times.<br />
<br />
Legal Marijuana: Two states also passed laws to legalize recreational use of pot. Not a shock that one of those states was my home of Colorado. Here is the rationale that threw me for a loop and is so very typical of the road to Slippery Slope Land; since drug enforcement hasn't worked then we should make it legal. Together with that is the positive spin put on it that it will increase tax revenue and save our schools. Even some very well known conservative Republicans in the state advocated for it and voted in favor. I disagree with both Mike Rosen (Denver based radio host) and Tom Tancredo (former Colorado legislative leader) vehemently. If their rationale is valid, then anything we have difficulty enforcing should be legalized. And anything that is additionally a potential for increased revenue is valid. With that thinking would it be too much of a reach to legalize prostitution? It could make it safer and raise vast revenue. If marijuana can do this why not legalize cocaine? Then there was the overuse of the "prohibition of alcohol" analogy that was invoked. Fallacious logic at best. Analogies should be truly comparable and the cultural context of both is vastly different. That is primarily because of where we are on this trip down the road to Slippery Slope Land.<br />
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Don't be concerned that our guy didn't win the election. Do be concerned that some of the ideas we stand for are threatened and in this great country guess what we have the freedom to do? Stand up, pull up our boot-straps and get to work. Tomorrow is here and its time to get to work making our worldview a way of life.Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-64617362846057908282012-05-01T20:56:00.001-07:002012-05-01T20:56:29.425-07:00What a difference a year makes!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN58SlT-Jupj26XqwO737JUZ5wdneW6xhXyvU3xwcNOYVK8CHeH2LjYPGbpRbGFo04ySYdbglIYhEXuUJvqe0TpXoazfuS3wYiXfZmE11x9hbmHKF3idra0qy0ZpWtaMcY6DBaTU8ACcG/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-01+at+9.50.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtN58SlT-Jupj26XqwO737JUZ5wdneW6xhXyvU3xwcNOYVK8CHeH2LjYPGbpRbGFo04ySYdbglIYhEXuUJvqe0TpXoazfuS3wYiXfZmE11x9hbmHKF3idra0qy0ZpWtaMcY6DBaTU8ACcG/s320/Screen+shot+2012-05-01+at+9.50.00+PM.png" width="320" /></a>In addition to learning that I just plain suck at blogging
(I think of so many things to say but don’t’ spend the time stopping to write
them down), I’ve learned a great deal about God’s providence and provision.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A year ago yesterday I walked into the office of my boss and
was told that the place that I had poured myself into for ten years was headed
in a different direction and I would no longer be a part of it. I can feel the pit in my stomach today as I
type those words. No warning, no set up,
no hype, just those words. Within a
month or so I had landed a job with Colorado Christian University as a
professor of communication, director of debate and doing special projects for
the President. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today I was honored with an award voted on by the student
body; Faculty of the Year. Honestly I
think the vote might have been fixed.
The runner-up should investigate.
Someone afterward said that I looked surprised. I was surprised. After one year? That just doesn’t happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So one year ago, I felt like my world had been ripped apart.
I asked some tough questions of God and He asked some of me. One of them was to revisit words I had said
to students for years; “What are you doing when you feel the most alive? Or the
most fulfilled by God?” My answer is
teaching. I love the classroom and I
love the engagement of learning that goes on when students, a teacher, a good
text and some powerful ideas collide.
There is magic that can happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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During the last couple months there have been a number of
challenges that have come up in my role as Chair of The Classical Academy
board. In the days when I have felt beat
up by my leadership role, I found myself the next day standing in the classroom
at CCU and just filling my soul (and the students were not even aware – they
thought they were there for them…) <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been able to find that “one thing” (Curly talks to
Billy Crystal in “City Slickers” about it – watch it sometime) and connect with
it. Additionally I have found myself amongst
a wonderful faculty, some stellar students, and being able to follow a leader
like Bill Armstrong (former U.S. Senator from Colorado and now President of
CCU) has been a huge blessing. Yeah the
drive from the Springs to Denver a few times a week can be a drag (or a real
challenge on some snow days). But the
calling that is fulfilled is amazing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You also don’t travel that road alone. I have gained a new appreciation for Team
Leland and their support in a year of transition. When I was out of work my wife, Becca cried with me and then being
the “challenger” she is, went to work on a plan on how this would all
work. My boys reacted to the news a year ago differently but
positively; from writing a worship song about the experience to plans
articulated by my youngest that we needed to open a deli. Not my sweet spot, but worth considering down
the road perhaps. <o:p></o:p></div>
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God provided perfectly for this season of my life. I don’t state that in a matter-of-fact
way. I truly believe it. He is Jehovah Shalom – my peace. He is Jehovah Jireh – my provider. He is all of those things for me… and
YOU! Don’t forget it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-77370835801030672682011-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:10:49.602-08:00A 2011 Leland Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gf_eKKuppIANPjqBeI0y6J-rIzYXx2wwDLO5yh08yPAXCt8QJXe86x2_0Ajjyu6xtoZRxxIqDNITgAXnGUMEcHJYgf73mE2sq2SuK5dg9X96odtGrf6wemjnrQ4bsku48c2q4dYmcjI7/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-12-24+at+8.07.54+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gf_eKKuppIANPjqBeI0y6J-rIzYXx2wwDLO5yh08yPAXCt8QJXe86x2_0Ajjyu6xtoZRxxIqDNITgAXnGUMEcHJYgf73mE2sq2SuK5dg9X96odtGrf6wemjnrQ4bsku48c2q4dYmcjI7/s200/Screen+shot+2011-12-24+at+8.07.54+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691598822887252370" /></a><br /> <!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light'; ">Not many Christmas letters begin with words from Lamentations, but </span><b style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light'; ">Team Leland’s</b><span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light'; "> does…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">“I remember my affliction and my wandering; the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within in me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:19-23)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">2011 for Team Leland has been a time of change and in the midst of it, we have remembered how great God’s faithfulness to us has always been, even when it is sometimes easy to reflect upon the negative “we call this to mind…”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Some things change a lot…<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Stephen</span></b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""> headed off to college and life around the house in Colorado Springs changed. As the picture shows, we celebrated his graduation in style, And lifting him up, his brothers will tell you, was made all the more difficult because of the number of “honor cords” he wore. We were very proud of his accomplishments including being named Titan Exemplar of the Year for his balanced excellence in academics, athletics and service to the community. He has just completed his first semester at Baylor University (Sic’em Bears!) making the Dean’s list as well as becoming very active in his Army ROTC unit, including competing in the Ranger Challenge for Baylor. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Change hit in May when <b>Chris</b> left Focus on the Family and the Focus Leadership Institute after ten years and joined the faculty of Colorado Christian University (in Denver). Even with a longer commute the Lord’s blessing has been all over it . It has meant returning to the Communication classroom, starting a new speech/debate program for the University, and doing some special projects for the President of the University. It is an exciting time to be involved with CCU!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Change came as <b>Nicolas</b> hit his 16<sup>th</sup> year with a new drivers license in hand and a cool new (used) Subaru Outback for taking his brothers to school and himself to baseball practice, and to lead worship at The Way (an interdenominational youth gathering each week). He also drives himself to school so he can crank out his great work on his grades as he heads into the second semester of his Junior year at The Classical Academy toward the top of his class.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Some things change a little…<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Becca </span></b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">continues to enter her “crazy” season this time of year as her work at Glazier Football Clinics ramps up and adds to her busy-ness of running our household and the lives of Team Leland. Baseball Mom, Domestic Engineer, Taxi Driver, and Accounting Professor are all things that could be listed on her business card. She did find time this year to make a couple of trips to spend time with friends (a cruise with Colorado Springs girlfriends; and a trip to Indiana to spend time with Huntington girlfriends). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Other than the major change of shooting up just under six inches this year, <b>Christopher </b>continues his athletic ways. All-Star Little League baseball, club/traveling team baseball, League Champion Jr. High football, Lineman of the Year (played both center and nose-guard); and now at 13 he has decided to take up basketball. His first year of Junior High at TCA is a success both academically and socially.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Matthew </span></b><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">is quite good at being 10 (in everyway possible). His change came when he transferred elementary schools within the TCA community. The change of venue has changed very little in terms of his striving for excellence in the classroom. His life continues to be full of baseball (spring, summer, and fall), and basketball (fall, winter, and spring). He makes us laugh even on our worst days! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Some things NEVER change…<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">God’s provision and faithfulness for Team Leland has been extraordinary. As Lamentations suggests we could all be tempted to reflect upon the past year and dwell on the things that challenged us, but we are to be reminded of His great faithfulness. That part of God never changes. Neither does the fact that in that faithfulness He sent His son to become a part of humanity to save us; an infinite God becoming finite by being tied to a lowly Jewish girl. Could anything be more puzzling or profound? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">May you and yours reflect upon the past year and this season with His faithfulness in mind! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Team Leland<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">(Chris, Becca, Stephen, Nicolas, Christopher Jr. and Matthew)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light"">Feel free to follow us/friend us on Facebook; Doc Leland; Becca Leland; Stephen<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Footlight MT Light""> Leland; Nicolas Leland; Christopher Leland – (we’d love to keep in touch)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-77767845960037747062011-07-29T09:54:00.000-07:002011-07-29T10:29:31.316-07:00New Definitions of "Hip"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKzTmkyEpEh35J6Q-wPUQpQclIY3xBQncu12t2Sv2yfdv9Jb0DOApKXy3HS2y-ew3wLEt9m9z2i-cfwMlIpYFKmjU1bPDeGNZIUVJQXTE6lEAGXN7Z3GTldno8UMK4K0HYBsrlcnK8v5R/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-29+at+11.28.09+AM.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKzTmkyEpEh35J6Q-wPUQpQclIY3xBQncu12t2Sv2yfdv9Jb0DOApKXy3HS2y-ew3wLEt9m9z2i-cfwMlIpYFKmjU1bPDeGNZIUVJQXTE6lEAGXN7Z3GTldno8UMK4K0HYBsrlcnK8v5R/s200/Screen+shot+2011-07-29+at+11.28.09+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634827560691163010" border="0" /></a><br />I now have a commute (a fairly easy hour up Interstate 25 from Colorado Springs to Denver) to my new job with Colorado Christian University. I, of course, like to fill my time on the road productively so I played around with downloading some podcasts the other day. Yesterday I listened to a couple; one in particular really left me questioning where we are going as a culture.<br /><br />The podcast was from NPR dealing with educational issues. Part of it was an interview done by Michele Martin of Lincoln Chaffee, currently Independent Governor of Rhode Island and former Republican Senator from that same state. Amongst several issues, the following interaction took place:<br /> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style> <p>MARTIN: And, finally, one other national issue that's obviously being visited and addressed in Rhode Island is the whole question of same-sex unions. Earlier this month, you signed a law authorizing same-sex civil unions. Now, obviously, you know, issues like this obviously around the country, really, around the world, have generated a tremendous amount of intense feeling on all sides now. </p> <p>Some people say that the law doesn't go far enough. Some people on the other side say that, you know, marriage should be between a man and a woman, one man, one woman. That they feel that this really undermines kind of core value. How did you come to a decision on this? </p> <p>CHAFEE: Well, I'm embarrassed to say that Rhode Island does not have full marriage equality. And we're the state founded by Roger Williams. And the greatest liberties ever granted to any colony in the world back in 1663, I now - we're trailing on other New England states. New Hampshire legislature passed it. Vermont, of course, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York recently, and Rhode Island, just not giving full marriage equality. </p> <p>But when you factor in the demographics of Rhode Island, we're a very high elderly state. And so change comes a little more slowly and we are the highest in the country, a Roman Catholic state. And so those two demographics certainly came to play in just getting that half (unintelligible) civil unions. </p> <p>MARTIN: So you would've preferred full marriage equality. You just felt, what, the votes weren't there? </p> <p>CHAFEE: Yes. I was pushing for it. I believe it could've gotten through the House of Representatives and maybe not through the Senate. But I would've liked to seen the roll called and see whether these members of our legislature want to be on the right side or the wrong side of history. And I think it's a - Rhode Island, we want the state to be a hip, happening place. And certainly marriage equality is part of that. </p> The Governor is "embarrassed" that his state is behind other northeastern states... and that makes his argument right (everyone else is doing it)? Roger Williams would have approved of same sex marriages? Not if I read history correctly, he would fight hard for the rights of all individuals to be fair and balanced and not dictated by the church. However there is a dangerous assumption that religious people are the only ones who want traditional marriages. Not true.<br /><br />Oh this gets better. He faults old people and Catholics as retarding progress and keeping Rhode Island from being "hip" and on the "wrong side of history." Insert Rhode Island joke here.<br /><br />I am heartily offended that Governor Chaffee governs from this type of supposedly enlightened ivory tower. It is a brilliant rhetorical trick; marginalize everyone who happens to disagree with you and make them seem like they are to be ashamed of having a particular view. Regardless of what you think about the issue of same sex marriage, this type of marginalization is NOT what guys like Roger Williams had in mind.<br /><br />My big issue is that striving for "marriage equality" is an assumed legislative move to redefine marriages as civil unions and assumes that the only way individual and relational rights can be protected is by overhauling the entire institution of marriage. Secular research has held for over 60 years that in society's that are built on the traditional model of marriage (one man and one woman) then those communities gain multiple benefits. There is no research that says if you happen to approve of non-traditional models then there are a host of detriments, but we do see over and over that there are benefits to this traditional set of roles. (See Maggie Gallagher's work as well as others).<br /><br />Finally, the Governor hits on the key ideological issue; we want to be on the "right" side of history and we want to be "hip and happening". The danger is that those that are defining that world are not always very good at seeing beyond "new and improved" when it is neither.<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-46431145600227387912011-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:002011-06-27T09:22:12.908-07:00Leadership 222<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0P3KR-_5dbHWcpuZmcIBVefH0rVOzWfgDzS33v6wT3Us2_NtnFGd0nrMfYXE6iiwdhviFRQtdr56nKnFmRc3x1igH1HD6aWwV6MzBNq92v0Ep6WyDLMkVp8npYe5HwrZhzGnq6fSMXP_/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-06-27+at+10.21.12+AM.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0P3KR-_5dbHWcpuZmcIBVefH0rVOzWfgDzS33v6wT3Us2_NtnFGd0nrMfYXE6iiwdhviFRQtdr56nKnFmRc3x1igH1HD6aWwV6MzBNq92v0Ep6WyDLMkVp8npYe5HwrZhzGnq6fSMXP_/s200/Screen+shot+2011-06-27+at+10.21.12+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622935609484299202" border="0" /></a><br />I just read a stat that over 1800 pastors in one denomination in this country left the ministry last year. They didn't just change churches or go to work for other ministries, but they LEFT the ministry to seek something in the private sector. That's a bunch of folks. If we dig a bit deeper it seems to stem from burnout, but why? What is happening that keeps allowing ministry leaders to burnout? We have a great many resources (books, web, conferences, retreats, training, etc.) that are supposed to accomplish three things for them; refresh, re-energize, and retool. Unfortunately there is one aspect that is not being addressed; the paradigm of the church is broken.<br /><br />There have been a vast number of books written lately that address this broken paradigm. <span style="font-style: italic;">Radical, Crazy Love, Hole in our Gospel, UnChristian,</span> etc. have all addressed the idea that we are stuck in a mind-set that allows me to sit in the pews (or whatever your seating set up is), write a check, and let the staff do the work of the church. In our consumeristic culture that paradigm makes total sense. It is based on the postmodern idea that it is all about MY experience that matters. Jean Twenge in a book called, Generation Me, even addresses how the ideas have shifted in our call to missions. She points out that church messages used to be, "go on a mission trip and bless others." Then it shifted to, "go on a mission trip, bless others and you will be blessed." Finally it became, "go on a mission trip, be blessed and by the way others will be blessed." That demonstrates a radical shift in thinking. Seems so subtle doesn't it?<br /><br />So how does this impact ministry leaders? What we appear to be doing, is lifting them out of their mild burnout, patching them up, and sending them back into the same old paradigm that continues to burn them out. Scriptures don't point to that model in any way, shape or form. 2 Timothy 2:2 reflects upon the fact that it is essential to equip leaders to be facilitators of those in the church to DO the work of the church. "...and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (vs. 2).<br /><br />Rest and recovery is an important aspect of leadership, no doubt. But in the work of the church, I contend that we must find a better way to equip the leaders to lead us, not do the work for us. Leads must find ways to be trained in how to help the church change that paradigm. We need to find those that are doing it well and let them coach the rest of us.<br /><br />Changing paradigms is tough work. Let us encourage those that lead us, by allowing them to change our paradigms. Jesus didn't do the work of the church. He did His part (to be read, uniquely qualified to do those things alone) but then sent others to lead, facilitate and equip others. Leadership 222 - the next course we all should sign up for!<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-72902510956179961652011-06-09T08:35:00.000-07:002011-06-09T10:05:51.571-07:00Finding balance in the tension<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUInJCd9-YBPU4nAzOpQOzy_v6PBVTFqSOYNYIu0fdJEMprhtcBHg9nBp3PHbSBN_OMH41zhdF8nPwZTCLcYfCZtgB4JFOv3tUXwXkfZbwnYlnfRGo5wQIWb2JnOWAn3MWfFnIQl5VqgG/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-06-09+at+11.04.13+AM.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUInJCd9-YBPU4nAzOpQOzy_v6PBVTFqSOYNYIu0fdJEMprhtcBHg9nBp3PHbSBN_OMH41zhdF8nPwZTCLcYfCZtgB4JFOv3tUXwXkfZbwnYlnfRGo5wQIWb2JnOWAn3MWfFnIQl5VqgG/s200/Screen+shot+2011-06-09+at+11.04.13+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616267349367041298" border="0" /></a><br />I have not posted for some time (you can see that clearly from the last date posted on the side over there) and mainly because there has been so little time. I was busy leading up a a college Institute and trying to keep its head above water during the last two years (and it has). I was busy trying to be a dad to my four boys (one of which turns 18 today - and I'm having some issues with that...) :) I was busy speaking to churches, college campuses and audiences who would listen about the importance of maintaining a civil Christian worldview in a culture that is hostile to some of our ways of thinking. I have more time on my hands now, but more on that later...<br /><br />Until recently I was working as Vice President for College Student Ministries with the Focus Leadership Institute (a division of Focus on the Family) and while there had to opportunity to watch the transition from our found Dr. James Dobson to the new CEO Jim Daly. I have been a huge supporter of both men for very different reasons. I respect a great deal the standards by which Dr. Dobson set up the ministry and helped found the Institute. When Jim Daly came on, I used to introduce him to the students of the Institute as the right guy for the right time. I meant it. Still do. I have appreciated his willingness to reach out into the culture and talk with those that most in the conservative Christian culture have never reached out to. As human beings we DO share a great deal of the same conclusions about how to treat others.<br /><br />However, Jim is walking a very thin line that creates a tension from time to time. In this morning's Colorado Springs Independent (http://www.csindy.com/colorado/change-of-focus/Content?oid=2244124) there was one of those lines that worries me a bit. The article is about (if you haven't clicked over and read it already) how those in all circles agree that foster kids should find homes with loving families. In the middle of the article, there is a line where Daly says, (on the question of gay adoption) "So in the context of same-sex marriage, or adoption by same-sex couples, the culture will go in the direction its going to go.We [the church] can't control that. But for the Christian in the Christian community, we want to do our job..."<br /><br />But isn't that the point of the Gospel is that it is for everyone? As a "worldview guy" I worry that in the midst of this tension we perhaps make rhetorical statements that seem as if we are throwing our hands up about where the culture is headed and essentially say, we can only influence our own house. I don't think that is Jim's heart, but again we have to be careful with that line of tension. There is a design for marriage and family that isn't just for the church or Christians it is for all people, at all times, across cultures. That is the nature of God's Truth and Design for things. Follow the path of research on the strength of communities as it relates to the strength of traditional families (defined as a husband/wife and children). Over years and across cultures the message has been (and not just for the Church) that when you have cultures built on that model, they have any number of advantages (educationally, socially, economically, etc). When you have cultures based on non-traditional families, there isn't evidence that horrible things occur but that you don't have those advantages. Where do you want to live? Which type of culture? That transcendent truth about God's design isn't because some organization said it was so or some political approach claimed it was good, but because He designed it that way.<br /><br />Be careful when walking the line. Sometimes the tension pulls too far away from the Truth.<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-1044937440807040322011-01-24T11:23:00.000-08:002011-01-24T13:27:05.042-08:00Jobs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezuY839hgcpunS1pIPjzFlMkoIZv8A3MgGl1v1RglG1EToORG93aJ65atQwKj1TEh-xvUN7NuH8rhEXJ2p-EoxzSJCbV3yF4AM3WCet9ynFxKqPIEC-sM9TLGpThgDHGod4Kbxq-OF7F4/s1600/Picture+2.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezuY839hgcpunS1pIPjzFlMkoIZv8A3MgGl1v1RglG1EToORG93aJ65atQwKj1TEh-xvUN7NuH8rhEXJ2p-EoxzSJCbV3yF4AM3WCet9ynFxKqPIEC-sM9TLGpThgDHGod4Kbxq-OF7F4/s200/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565866864991647122" border="0" /></a><br />My hats off to Lindy Keffer who is our FLI Internship Coordinator for sparking the ideas below... she spent some time with the students today explaining what her past jobs were and what she learned from them - in hopes that they would use the internship as a truly educational experience. That got me thinking about my past jobs...<br /><br />Cook/Busboy - Sirloin Stockade Steakhouse<br /><br />What did I learn? That people can be picky and rude and to live out "the customer is always right" was really hard some days. Also I learned that there are jobs that are dirty, disgusting, have to be done and have to be done every day. I used to not entirely understand why I had to clean the grill every night when it was going to be fired back up in less than six hours for the breakfast shift. I ultimately learned an appreciation for people in the food service industry and how hard the work is.<br /><br />Retail Sales - Montgomery Ward (are they still around?); Dillards<br /><br />What did learn? Same principle of the customer always being right was reiterated. Additionally I learned that there are times you don't say what is on your mind - even if it makes total sense in your head. When Wards would switch over its garden center to toys for Christmas, I usually got extended hours helping folks pick out toys for their little ones. One of the little guys took off around the entire store in one of the Big Wheels that had a clicker on the wheel. He was screaming as he went. The grandmother pondered what to get a five year old for Christmas? My response, "That five year old? Get him a cage!" I had a pretty severe talking to by the store manager after that, even though he agreed with the sentiment, it just wasn't what one said. I also learned about being a customer and hopefully don't treat the people on the other side of the register the way I see some people treating sales people. <br /><br />Secretary - University of Arkansas<br /><br />I spent a short stint working in the Student Services department and supporting a couple friends of mine in their work with Student Government. What did I learn? I learned that detail matters. When typing up minutes from meetings it was always good to get it right and to just report the facts, not people's opinions about the work they were doing. I also learned not to accept calls from those running for political office that you happen to volunteering for. Local reporters eat that stuff up. I also learned a life long appreciation for the folks that do this work for me now. It shouldn't be one day a year we appreciate them either -<br /><br />Radio - Disc Jockey<br /><br />When they had disc jockey positions still... What did I learn? I learned the value of working your way up the ladder. Very seldom does someone in media start with the prime slots. I went from being a part time fill in on the weekends, to regular part time, to overnights, to day shifts. I also learned the politics of organizations when I got fired by a program director who needed a job for his buddy coming back from the Navy. It was cool that I got hired by one of the competition within a day! I also learned that you can have a lot of fun with a job. Playing the music you like (and some that you don't like) talking with listeners, etc. - just fun. Pay is nothing, but it was fun.<br /><br />Teacher - Univ. of Arkansas; Univ. of Oklahoma; Wichita State Univ.; Huntington College; Focus Leadership Institute and various shorter stints with churches, colleges and international ministries...<br /><br />What did I learn (or am I learning)? I have learned that it is important to find the thing that makes you come alive and do it. When I stand in front of the classroom, I am so energized. The venue becomes unimportant as long as I am teaching. My encouragement for you; think long and hard about what you are doing when you feel the most alive and figure out a way to do it. You may need credentials. You may need guidance from others. You may need opportunities. Move toward it, whatever it is.<br /><br />Happy Day!<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-5161095668241377592010-12-25T11:26:00.000-08:002010-12-25T11:34:53.645-08:00Team Leland Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqW7FG8RDa11RDXckRmTYB_RJVvltlyKBWQQIG4J1v_6kvpKOwYJVvWvAKV_oDdsxTBIx-Piz9H02sjol7F4bocW9-DqS5kFakhsOoGWr2Vi9pI1at_OeATCubRJKsQkIwD5nkxHyhln7/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqW7FG8RDa11RDXckRmTYB_RJVvltlyKBWQQIG4J1v_6kvpKOwYJVvWvAKV_oDdsxTBIx-Piz9H02sjol7F4bocW9-DqS5kFakhsOoGWr2Vi9pI1at_OeATCubRJKsQkIwD5nkxHyhln7/s200/IMG_2456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554704994848439954" border="0" /></a><br />Below is an electronic version of the Team Leland "Christmas Letter."<br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>718</o:Words> <o:characters>4096</o:Characters> <o:company>Focus on the Family</o:Company> <o:lines>34</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5030</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; 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mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -9pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style=""> </span><b style=""><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -9pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><b style="">Christmas 2010<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Greetings from Colorado!</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style=""> </span>As this year comes to a close I realize that we never sent out any greeting last year (insert look of shame here).<span style=""> </span>We hope and pray that your 2010 has been joyous, whatever the circumstances, and that 2011 will be filled with hope and blessings!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Team Leland continues to live lives that are very “full.”<span style=""> </span>A quick update:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Matthew</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"> (age 9) is a 4<sup>th</sup> grader at The Classical Academy.<span style=""> </span>Loves reading, math, sports (especially basketball and baseball), plays piano and his highlight this year was going to Florida’s <i style="">Disney World</i> in October (six days, four parks, and some tired feet!) where he loved the “magic” of the rides, shows, food, and made great memories. Favorite memory:<span style=""> </span>conquering the roller coasters – especially <i style="">Rock and Roll Roller Coaster</i> at <i style="">Hollywood Studies</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Christopher</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"> (age 12) is a 6<sup>th</sup> grader at TCA.<span style=""> </span>He loves reading, sports, math, sports, playing piano, sports … was a Little League All-Star and made it to the State Championships, was voted as “lineman of the year” for his football team (for some reason he LOVES to play center – and has gotten pretty good!), and his highlight of the year was also going to Disney World.<span style=""> </span>Other than the triple chocolate and caramel apple he savored, his favorite memory was conquering the <i style="">Hollywood Tower of Terror</i> at <i style="">Disney’s Hollywood Studies</i>.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Nicolas</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"> (age 15) is a sophomore at TCA.<span style=""> </span>If he isn’t studying (anatomy, Latin, or AP European History) or playing baseball (both high school and club teams) he is found playing guitar or watching reruns of Prison Break.<span style=""> </span>His baseball interests took him to many different states, and played well over 100 games – which is tough on a catcher/pitcher.<span style=""> </span>Getting his picture taken with his favorite “princess” – <i style="">Sleeping Beauty</i>, topped off his family trip to <i style="">Disney</i>.<span style=""> </span>The pictures are priceless!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Stephen </span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;">(age 17) is a senior at TCA who getting ready to head off to college this next year.<span style=""> </span>Though we don’t have final decisions made yet, there is a strong possibility he’ll end up at one of his five top choices studying International Relations, possibly playing baseball, and participating in ROTC.<span style=""> </span>He spends his time playing baseball (again high school and club) but most of his time studying (what senior takes four AP classes?) and working at his new job at Glazier Football Clinics.<span style=""> </span>Stephen has a memorable moment from <i style="">Disney </i>(not necessarily a favorite though); that would be the ride “Dinosaur” at <i style="">Animal Kingdom</i> – when confronted with a T-Rex coming out of the wall at us, promptly ducked and covered his head.<span style=""> </span>It was just as the ride camera takes your group photo.<span style=""> </span>Only one we bought since the two oldest boys are legitimately terrified, as the younger two look remarkably calm!<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Becca</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"> continues to balance life for all of us as she plays taxi driver, baseball mom, teaches classes for Webster University, works part time at Glazier Football Clinics, volunteers with the boy’s school, leads a small group of college women for the Focus Institute, and keeps us on track.<span style=""> </span>When she can relax she loves to read, catch up on Lost, and enjoy time with family friends.<span style=""> </span>The entire trip to <i style="">Disney</i> was a great memory for her, but a highlight had to be the fireworks over the castle at <i style="">Magic Kingdom</i> on the final night of our trip.<span style=""> </span>It topped off a wonderful week that we will never forget.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:10pt;">Chris</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;"> (and no I didn’t “forget” the ages on the last two…) </span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;" ><span style="">J</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;"> continues to head up the Focus Leadership Institute at Focus on the Family.<span style=""> </span>The college students who come through this program are the blessing, yet the situation with the economy as well as some other issues have made 2010 a challenging year for FLI.<span style=""> </span>We know that God is not done with the ministry of the Institute, yet it may look very different in the next couple years.<span style=""> </span>His time is also spent heading up the local Little League (even got to coach Christopher this year in All-Stars), working with the boy’s school, traveling and speaking around the country to colleges, churches, and companies.<span style=""> </span>His highlight at <i style="">Disney </i>was getting his picture taken with one of his favorite childhood heroes – <i style="">Winnie the Pooh</i>!<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;">We have been blessed to have family and friends visiting the Rockies from time to time and love to share in the memories!<span style=""> </span>Most of all we have been blessed by the gift of an infinite God becoming finite and coming to us as a baby.<span style=""> </span>The miracle of the incarnation can never be lost on us!<span style=""> </span>Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Team Leland<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br />P.S. For your records our home phone (719) 282-3727 will no longer exist after January 1.<span style=""> </span>Please feel free to contact us at (719) 310-4967 (Chris); (719) 440-1547 (Becca). <span style=""> </span>Also we’d love to “friend” you on Facebook – Doc Leland, Becca Bailey Leland, Stephen Leland, and Nicolas Leland.<span style=""> </span>Our family email is <a href="mailto:teamleland@comcast.net">teamleland@comcast.net</a>.<span style=""> </span>It IS indeed the digital age!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-17303488098758543892010-11-15T09:09:00.000-08:002010-11-15T09:31:43.280-08:00Joy that lasts...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_n53OGiHnd_O7n7W6tWACkSxR1QrGstFOCBTo5uAb2ikO3cEyt9PDY-ziRka1zFBKHASgiLw_PenFoP8q0fdL-mixNeuxxoDjfc_YhgwMAGvpvOU_p4_K3F9rnIouWpiTcV8CudbP5Uw/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_n53OGiHnd_O7n7W6tWACkSxR1QrGstFOCBTo5uAb2ikO3cEyt9PDY-ziRka1zFBKHASgiLw_PenFoP8q0fdL-mixNeuxxoDjfc_YhgwMAGvpvOU_p4_K3F9rnIouWpiTcV8CudbP5Uw/s200/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539830246673459346" /></a><br />This weekend I was prompted to think about this concept of 'joy.' Let me be honest, in the past couple weeks, between challenges at work, at home, and battling pneumonia, my body and spirit were just wiped out. I sat at a stoplight on Friday and just let God know that I felt totally defeated. I don't usually "hear" from the Lord, but as I sat there that still voice inside me popped up almost immediately and said, "I know you FEEL that way, but you are NOT defeated." That started a weekend of some reflection and looking around my life.<br /><br />The final result was one haunting question that I now share with you (please ask it honestly of yourself): Are you happy? Sounds simple, but it is not. Are you happy? And if you answer no, then what is standing in your way? Are you blaming others for your unhappiness? Are you blaming your circumstances? What became immediately visible to me as I looked around at friends and family was that if we weren't acting happy, or actually happy, it was reflected in how we saw everything and everyone. It is almost as if our subconscious says, "Hey if I'm not happy then I am going to make everyone else miserable too." How unfair. <br /><br />Now as a Christian for many years I have always been around this idea of joy. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit; it is constantly referred to in Scripture as something that seems too good to be true, etc. But what does it really mean to by happy or joyful?<br /><br />First, I have come to consider that Joy is a Choice. Psalm 51:12 says, "Restore to me the JOY or your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Some of the words in there make me believe that I can choose to turn my back on it, ask for God to restore it and it requires a willing spirit on my part to hold on to it. I can choose today whether I will live in JOY or not. Every day, every moment... What do I choose?<br /><br />Second, I have come to consider that only God can Strengthen my joy. The Psalmist once again writes, "Sing for JOY to God our strength..." (81:1). I may want JOY and somehow I believe that I can make my own JOY, or that others are responsible for my JOY, or that my circumstances dictate my JOY. Once I choose it, I need to rely on God's strength to provide it and sustain it.<br /><br />Finally, IT TAKES WORK! When Paul is writing to the Colossian church, he says, "We pray that you'll have the strength to stick to it over the long haul...It is strength that endures the unedurable and spills over into JOY..." (1:11). I sat at the stoplight pondering my circumstances, my health, my weakness, and my failures and effectively threw my hands in the air and was ready to give up. I was ready to give up on being happy or joyful. <br /><br />Are you happy? And if you are not, then what is standing in your way? If you are honest, I think you'll find that answer most days is "me." I am standing in the way of God's plan for me to be happy. Not without trial, and not without challenges, but to live in the shadow of His Joy. It is a Joy that lasts!<br /><br />Don't worry, be happy! :)<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-75241712411349308802010-10-07T08:42:00.000-07:002010-10-07T09:07:04.965-07:00Is free speech really free?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGsyiFqEwMIm6BjGm2pu_939pJmni8KnNg4pLFsU81tRSsB_04Uxpz1NWYUNEkbh_MX7LUKI5_wUhu7pDcmmrkEPJ848G2aczFMbeKTNpSEfu2_VJhYEVQj9K4YbtIatBZCJV6hzgDoz6/s1600/bill-of-rights.jpg.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGsyiFqEwMIm6BjGm2pu_939pJmni8KnNg4pLFsU81tRSsB_04Uxpz1NWYUNEkbh_MX7LUKI5_wUhu7pDcmmrkEPJ848G2aczFMbeKTNpSEfu2_VJhYEVQj9K4YbtIatBZCJV6hzgDoz6/s200/bill-of-rights.jpg.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525336076698025938" /></a><br />This has been one of those years where I honestly wonder where the time has gone. Every week I would think of new things to blog about and then life would happen and the next week was upon me... I have recommitted to making this blog thing work. Hopefully it is not only useful to others but to me as well. <br /><br />It has taken "big" things to get me motivated enough to write/blog about, and yesterday one of them happened. I turned up the volume as Fox News began to cover the scene outside the Supreme Court building where a distraught father of a deceased military son was in court against Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas. If you are unfamiliar with them, you have been living under a rock. They have protested us here at Focus. They have shown up a any number of times here in the Springs to protest at military funerals. They seem to show up all over the country ranting and raving about how God hates us, hates gays, hates our country and that we are all headed to hell. <br /><br />Off the top may I say that I am immensely embarrassed that they call themselves Christians and that somehow lumps them in with me. They do not act or sound like the Christ I follow. I would like to remind them of the section of Mark where Jesus comes upon the woman caught in adultery who is about to be stoned. Quick aside question: Anyone else wondering where the guy is? Regardless she's about to be stoned because she did something wrong. Jesus steps in, comforts here, confronts the legalistic Pharisees and then writes something in the dirt that causes those same folks holding stones to scatter. My thought: he might have been writing the names of the women that each of them had been in adulterous relationships with... speculation I know and highly doubtful but it would make for great drama! He then turns to her and says the exact thing they wanted to; namely 'what you did was wrong - don't do it anymore'. Same conclusion but VERY different approach. I wish the Phelps family and the mindless people who follow them would pay a bit more attention to that than there picketing.<br /><br />Now, all of that said this case in the Supreme Court will be decided on the basis of our First Amendment. Interestingly enough our Founders were bright enough to protect the Phelps and others like them by granting free speech rights. However free speech has never been (and was never intended to be) absolute and line that determines where it stops is where it begins to harm others. There are responsibilities that go with rights and Westboro has forgotten that. I believe the Court will decide in the church's favor - not because they are "right" but because it would mean a massive re-write of both free speech law but privacy law (the other issue at odds here).<br /><br />Culture has been a wonderful arbiter of when that line is crossed. The single greatest way to get Westboro to stop doing what they are doing is to totally marginalize them. If the law helps do that then wonderful. News stations stop covering their protests even though it makes for compelling "art" for the evening news. Newspapers - stop printing anything from them. We had a ranting editorial from the Phelp's daughter in our local paper and I don't why they printed it - it is called editorial discretion. Even bloggers should stop using any bandwidth to even mention their names. I know I know, I have just violated that one but in an effort to start the momentum. <br /><br />What is even more egregious in these cases is that they are protesting military funerals of those who are fighting and dying to preserve the very rights they are pushing the limits of. Free speech is theirs because of the long line of young men and women who have sacrificed to allow them to live free. I beg and plead with them to not only responsibly handle that right but to be a much more compelling vision of Christ to a culture that needs it. <br /><br />Back in the saddle...<br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-6385774172722139532010-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:002010-01-28T09:37:29.283-08:00The LedgeThe story goes...<br /><br />Once upon a time, there was a businessman visiting the mountains. On his last day of his business trip he decided he wanted to climb one of the mountains. Mid-morning he found a young man who was willing to guide him up the mountain for a day-climb. What he failed to realize and what the guide failed to share with him, is that starting a climb this late in the day was a problem since weather systems tended to come in over the mountain rapidly in the early afternoon. Regardless they started up the trail. As early afternoon approached the clouds moved in and temperature began to drop quickly from the relative warmth of the late morning hours. Neither climber was prepared for the weather change. Both were in hiking shorts, t-shirts, hiking boots and light jackets. They had small backpacks with water and snacks but no weather gear. They continued to climb and slowly the sky darkened and snow began to fall. The snow fell lightly at first and then more swiftly. The wind picked up. Both climbers slowed their pace and the businessman found himself staring intently at the footprints in front of him in the snow that his guide was making. He bundled up the best he could. The guide’s steps became slower and slower. They had lost the trail in the snow. They were above tree-line and the could see barely six feet in front or behind them. Finally the guide’s pace slowed to a full stop. <br /><br />The businessman asked, “Why have we stopped?” “I don’t know exactly where we are on the side of the mountain,” he yelled back through the wind and snow. “What is the problem,” the businessman inquired. Then the guide announced, “There is a 200 foot crevasse that goes along the side of this trail. I fear we are too close to it and I’m afraid that if we keep going I’ll walk us off the side of it.” The businessman recognized the dilemma they found themselves in. Bad weather; unprepared climbers; lost on the trail; and in danger of falling off a cliff. The predicament was clear. But the solution was simple he thought… “we’ll just go back down the trail.” “We can’t,” replied the guide. “The snow has covered the trail and the crevasse winds along the path, so to go back might also mean walking off the side of the cliff.” The two men stood in silence as the reality of their situation fell upon them as quickly as the snow fell around them. <br /><br />Suddenly out of the snow to their right came a voice. “You guys are in trouble aren’t you?” the voice obviously questioned. “I’ve been watching you for some while from above you. You are right, the crevasse is about eight or so feet to your right. If you would have kept going you would have walked off the side. I’m on the other side of it.” “But what do we do now?” the businessman yelled into the whiteness. “Well, you can’t go back, because as your guide said, you would also risk walking into the crevasse. I’ll walk down the mountain and send help up in the morning.” After a long pause he yelled back, “I think your only chance for survival is to move to the edge of the crevasse, ease yourself over the edge and drop onto a ledge that is about eight feet down the side of the cliff.” The questions began to spin in the two men’s heads. What ledge? How does he know there is a ledge? Why should I trust him? Who is he anyway? What if there is no ledge? <br />The men began a deluge of questions for the voice in the storm. How did he know about the ledge? He’d lived on the mountain his whole life. Had he ever been on the ledge? Yes, several times. How big was the ledge? It was big enough to hold them. What was his name again? His name was Carl. The guide recognized the name and knew his reputation as a well known mountaineer from the area. The questions went on and on and then ended with, “Why should we trust you?” The answer, “Because if you choose not to trust me, you will surely die from exposure on the side of this mountain.” <br /><br />With that Carl’s voice trailed off and he headed down the mountain for help. The two men were left alone to decide what they would do. Knowing that deep in their hearts they needed to trust the voice in the snow, they slowly made their way to the edge of the crevasse. They looked intently over the side when they reached the edge. They didn’t know if they could even make out the shadow of the ledge as the light faded and the snow blew around them. The guide went first. He lowered himself over the side and hung down by his knuckles. Slowly each finger released until he dropped out of sight and landed with a thud on the ledge. Then the businessman, shaking from the cold and nerves, lowered himself slowly over the edge. He too gripped the edge of the cliff with all of his strength until the weight of his body pulled him downward. He also landed on the firm footing of the ledge. There they spent the night out of the wind and snow, huddled together until help came to rescue them in the sunrise of the next morning. And indeed they lived happily ever after. <br /><br />Too often the world would love to point the finger at Christians and describe our faith as blind and ignorant. In the world’s eyes believers hear about the ledge, then run to the edge and jump off just hoping that a ledge exists. I’ve searched God’s Word quite a bit and I never read that faith is that unknowing. I believe that God wants us to test him and ask tough questions and get to know him in a way that builds an incredible trust so that when He does tell us about the ledge that we willingly follow his lead to the edge. Does it still take faith? You bet! When those fingers actually let go of the edge of the cliff we are exercising a full measure of the faith God wants from us – but we do it knowing the voice in the storm so well that we can trust His word and direction. <br /><br />What kind of faith do you have?Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-39333962923049319962010-01-18T07:25:00.000-08:002010-01-18T07:48:53.739-08:00I signed it and I think he would too...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyXYux5QiSGWkcfNHLmfoa5I6SYFg_92VgbRvoeRfBC2B07gWC75Fz7LJqiwGjkVmMH8juKRacFCLSLboV6mpvmt-agMk3EpphxtvrS_wVscDIKCjIMSKPUU-Zwh8YEmvQGkyd6-Iifil/s1600-h/Martin-Luther-King.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyXYux5QiSGWkcfNHLmfoa5I6SYFg_92VgbRvoeRfBC2B07gWC75Fz7LJqiwGjkVmMH8juKRacFCLSLboV6mpvmt-agMk3EpphxtvrS_wVscDIKCjIMSKPUU-Zwh8YEmvQGkyd6-Iifil/s320/Martin-Luther-King.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428107324624782626" border="0" /></a><br />This morning I woke up with two ideas twirling through my head. First it was Martin Luther King Jr. day and that meant the kids didn't have school. Additionally, I always spend time on this day reflecting on the impact that man had on all of our lives here in the U.S. especially. Second, I had a couple emails last night about my signing the Manhattan Declaration last month. Some of my less than conservative friends were really offended that I had added my name to a document that stood for the sanctity of life (it is clearly pro-life), sanctity of marriage (between one man and one woman) and religious liberty.<br /><br />The twirling thoughts led to starting my day more convinced than ever that I would sign it tomorrow and the next day and the next. Here's why...<br /><br />The Issues: When one strips away the policy, the opinion and the emotion from the issue of abortion one is left with one of two value presuppostions - if I am pro-life then the value of physical life is paramount. If I am pro-choice then individual liberty is the paramount value. Side-note - this is precisely why the two sides will never even have a debate no less a resolution. The MD (Manhattan Declaration) makes it clear that when the two sides come into conflict one cannot have both at the same time - one must be foundational for the other. In my own thinking I cannot see how a culture established on the premise that individual liberty is more important than life can survive. Without the value of life, there is no value of liberty. One does not have the chance to even choose liberty if one is not alive. It also seems abundantly self absorbed to make those value decisions for others who are not given the right to make the decision themselves. Now, before someone points the finger at my ideology - may I point out that I have been apart of an abortion decision - so I do indeed know what is involved and how it feels. That is not absent from my thinking for one moment.<br /><br />The second issue is that of marriage. Marriage is one of the building blocks on which culture is founded. It is not a man-made institution that one may willy-nilly (I've always wanted to use that phrase while blogging) re-define. The Prop 8 court debate that is happening as we speak is a testament to the high value our culture puts on fallacious logic and evidence. If those challenging the constitutionality of the voter's decision can come up with one more expert to say that same sex marriage is somehow not detrimental it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Does it strike anyone else as odd that the arguments (for the prosecution mind you) are all about defending that which has been outside the "norm" in our society, not providing evidence that it is somehow indeed positive to our culture. The research done in the secular world for over 50 years points out that when communities have the traditional model of marriage that a number of benefits occur for the individuals, the families and the community at large. The same research does NOT say that if we allow same-sex marrige we have a bunch of horrific things happen - but it DOES say that we are absent the benefits. Do we actually think that has anything to do with us (man) or might it be an institution that comes from a higher power?<br /><br />Last issue is religious liberty. I can't tell you the number of people I meet who find out where I work and immediately assume I am against liberties when it comes to thought and to freedoms. What an absurd thought! We live under a set of founding documents that allow for and flourish on those freedoms. Nothing could be further from the truth. I want to allow people of all worlds of thought to have the opporutunity to share, believe, and fight for their beliefs. If we miss that one, we have just taken a step back in ideological history, and not a positive step. What shocks my students occassionally - is that I am very much a free market idea guy. Let all the ideas into the marketplace - the best ones will find their way to the top because they are true. Now, I happen to believe (both historically and practically) that ideas that derived their foundations from God are the best ideas. But I want to hear them all - I want to engage in them all and I want to see our culture honor all, but follow the best.<br /><br />That is why I signed the Manhattan Declaration and as we remember a great civil rights leader today, may we see that based on his own beliefs he probably would have signed it too...<br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-23451502531090858712010-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:002010-01-13T09:02:33.825-08:00Resolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5nF807-FvGCgbUT3nuyFAiAZLqINykpPqvO5q4aM2UCNjdLD1CrLVrOWhTYiQb652Vicn005h4B04u4dMoa8TI0e6Iz3VYldQ9_9EvMqcdRdsSvR5FefdRwvNq3haYjUR_6Tu7Zbi9D0/s1600-h/Janus.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5nF807-FvGCgbUT3nuyFAiAZLqINykpPqvO5q4aM2UCNjdLD1CrLVrOWhTYiQb652Vicn005h4B04u4dMoa8TI0e6Iz3VYldQ9_9EvMqcdRdsSvR5FefdRwvNq3haYjUR_6Tu7Zbi9D0/s320/Janus.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426270816336326290" /></a><br />I can't even make a resolution on time, much less blog about such events. Here it is two weeks into the new year and I have yet to address this issue. It might be because of being busy. It might be because of being lazy. It might come from being tired. It might come from the thousands of ideas swirling in my head on which to write. So my resolution for the new year is to not be as busy, lazy, tired or non-focused. There... that should keep me going for an hour or so and then it will fall the way of most resolutions. <div><br /></div><div>And come to think of it. I have really wondered where the background for making resolutions at the beginning of the new year came from. Yes, there is a freshness to the new calendar. There are "do-over" attitudes that abound. But to call it a resolution? </div><div><br /></div><div>The tradition as it turns out has both ancient and modern roots. In ancient times (we're talking 2000 b.c. or so) the Babylonians began a "new year" celebration in what we would call March today (makes sense since that is the new birth of creation in spring time, etc.). They celebrated for 11 days - which would mean that ball in Times Square would fall REALLY slowly. If you read some of the history - you'll see that today's celebration is a far cry from the "party" that went on then. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rome finally did away with that tradition when they redid the calendar - somewhere around 150 b.c. and when they named the first month - January, it was representative of the god Janus.</div><div>The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new.</div><div><br /></div><div>So where did the concept of the resolution come from? Both the ancient and Roman cultures used this date (regardless of what actual day it was) to look back on the time past and ask forgiveness and count blessings. They made a commitment not to repeat their poor behaviors and to do better in the future. For some it was really big stuff like forgiveness of enemies of the state or large financial obligations. Clearly that went by the way-side as we reached more contemporary times. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder how committed those Romans were compared to today. Most stats indicate that just under 50% of the adult population make some sort of resolution (most popular - weight loss, stop smoking, better financial planning). What is interesting is that about half keep them up for a week, that number splits in half by week two, then in half again by week three and then levels off until six months when it drops again. Hard to imagine the Roman Empire forgiving a state enemy on January 1 and then a few weeks later invading their territory. Fickle Romans! :) </div><div>I don't know what your resolutions where/are but my encouragement is to make some resolutions that make a difference not only in your life, but the lives of others. What am I doing to serve those around me? In this morning's paper alone - Haiti gets pounded by an earthquake, a teacher is accused of abusing her students, the homeless in our area are freezing to death, and more people spent time in front of American Idol last night than gave time, talents or treasure to serve the widow and orphan. </div><div><br /></div><div>I DON'T want to be lazy. I DON'T want to be too busy for others. I DON'T want to be preoccupied with myself. Most of us don't, but we fall into patterns in our cadence of life that are incredibly self serving. </div><div><br /></div><div>So in the end I resolve not to have any resolutions - but to look back on last year, count my blessings and look forward to this year in terms of the joy of serving others. Yeah, yeah, I hope the gym rats and I will once again become acquainted and I might visit the fresh produce aisle more... but that needs to be secondary in my heart and mind. May I be the hands and feet of a heart committed to the Greatest Commandment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy New Year!</div><div><br /></div><div>Doc</div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-13920569125229764422009-10-07T20:30:00.000-07:002009-10-08T11:52:05.985-07:00Poppy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTFjHhgbCuaipDlL-DBhzUgnAngcbF_UmW0NdyAQIgalGonlb8C66y3bjc_CpE6l5hdqfu0eSG4ONDJP599_nlKIm8TadzLUmc3kgE52JlrzaO1GAJ49ho0xDjY2x7-kFLAVf104WPYqg/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTFjHhgbCuaipDlL-DBhzUgnAngcbF_UmW0NdyAQIgalGonlb8C66y3bjc_CpE6l5hdqfu0eSG4ONDJP599_nlKIm8TadzLUmc3kgE52JlrzaO1GAJ49ho0xDjY2x7-kFLAVf104WPYqg/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390303809945051842" /></a><br />The word eulogy literally means "good words." So when I was given a couple hours notice that I was going to eulogize my recently deceased father-in-law, I was really stumped for just a few good words. As I thought about how to capture his life, I turned to a familiar saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." So my mind searched for some "photos" of his life. Three actual pictures came to mind.<br /><br />Picture #1 - A photo of Poppy and Nanny (in much younger days) with some dear friends of their's (the Cottons) dressed in Razorback attire (including some wild looking cowboy to hats!!) ready to go to a game. I noticed looking more closely at the picture, all four are smiling broadly; all four look happy and excited and I really hope the Hogs won whatever game it was... but Poppy was standing just behind the other three. In my mind this represented well how he supported many of his friends. He was right there but also willing to step in just behind you to be there when needed. He was that kind of friend. Never captivating the attention of a room full of people, and usually overlooked in that same room, but always there when needed.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Picture #2 - A picture of his support of family. In this case, he is "actually" supporting Stephen (now 16 but 2 or 3 in the photo) on his shoulders. He was always there for his family. During the time that this picture was taken there were some tough things going for our young family and in the midst of the storm, there was Poppy. And that smile on Stephen's face exemplifies how much he enjoyed and loved his grandfather. In a providential twist of events, in Randall's last days in the hospital, it was Stephen staying the night with him. One night as Poppy began to hallucinate and rip his IV's and tubes out, it was Stephen stepping over to him and holding him until the nurse could come. What a great legacy to leave - one of support for the family. I have to be honest, during the days of the funeral our family was pretty tense with one another. I know I snapped at the boys and their emotions were running high as well. The thought of this picture made me stop and think about what that lesson of support means to me now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Picture #3 - A picture of Randall with some of his Democratic political buddies (Susan MacDougal, a former professor of mine at the U of A - Steve Smith, and a few others). There he is proudly wearing this donkey tie too. Now, Randall and I never saw eye to eye on politics but we had a mutual admiration for the other's commitment to the cause. He cared about this country and he wanted to see a difference made. He was adamant about many issues of policy, personal ethics, and faith. On these things he did not waiver. In this day and age of riding fences, that is a great lesson to challenge each of us. What do we really care about? </div><div><br /></div><div>There was one other picture that came to my mind's eye; after a tough day at work, Poppy would sit down in the recliner and promptly fall asleep. He'd open up one eye when a noise caught his attention, and if you suggested he just go to bed, he'd say, "Nope I'm wide awake..." and off he'd nod. He'd wake up just in time for the late news, get the latest sports and off to bed. That was a picture of how tired life had made him and how he needed rest. I think in the last couple weeks Poppy realized that life had made him tired and he needed rest. 80 years on this planet and a life full of family, friends, faith, and unwavering commitments can make one really tired. He is getting a much deserved rest now in the waiting arms of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>Randall Eugene Bailey - born October 18, 1928 - died September 29, 2009. Someone once pointed out that those dates weren't that important, but what your life represented in the "dash" between the dates. Poppy filled that space with a lot of things - mainly a love he shared in a quiet and soft spoken way. You will be missed. May you truly rest in peace...</div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-13234276080194732992009-09-21T14:44:00.000-07:002009-09-21T15:23:49.065-07:00The folks in the next seat...I just returned from a wonderful trip to Lebanon to help teach/establish the middle eastern version of the Focus Leadership Institute here in Colorado. It is a six week course of study that attracted some 30 students from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. We met in an old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">monestary</span> in the hill country above the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bakaa</span> Valley. The challenges for Christians in that region of the world are not anything we face here in the west. Students, for example, who were totally disowned by their families for attending. Not just an upset dad or mom, but they were not longer acknowledged as their son or daughter. Tough stuff. <div><br /></div><div>However the teaching and students were not the best part of the trip. The best part was the six people that I sat next to on the six legs of the trip (3 out there and 3 back). They are a testament to the fact that there is a lot of hurt in the world that just needs an ear to listen to, not a condemning voice of a Christian professor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 29E from Colorado Springs to Atlanta: Phillip</div><div><br /></div><div>Phillip was a native of West Palm Beach, Florida who had come out to Colorado to make some money in a construction project which had come to an end (out of funds, not the project was complete). The first words out of his mouth when I asked why he was traveling to Atlanta was that he couldn't wait to get out of the s***hole of a state like Colorado. That peaked my interest since I believe Colorado to be one of the most incredible places to live. After a bit of prying his anger was not at the mountains or beauty but of people he'd encountered. He had been exposed to the Christian community (which is vast) here in Colorado Springs and he found it to fulfill all of his expectations of loud and rude; second, he had been working on a commercial construction project that ran out of money and he was bitter toward the owner; and finally (and most importantly) he was a sailor by trade and he was stuck in the mountains. Well, that makes sense - Phillip was wired to be on the water and because of circumstance he was miserable. I asked if I could have his email and I would check in with him 3 months to see if he still felt the same way after being back on the water for a time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 39F - Atlanta to Paris: Robert</div><div><br /></div><div>Robert was a business man from Birmingham, Alabama who was on his way to Istanbul to meet his wife and travel down to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mediterranean</span> to sail a boat around for three months. As we talked he shared his major disappointment in his two sons who had not taken over his business and had gone down paths he didn't think were successful. One had turned to the pastorate and Robert viewed that as weak and with no future. I think he loved them down deep but his lenses that the business world had given him were very clouded with a worldly version of success. I encouraged him to take a picture with his iPhone of he and his wife on day one of their adventure and send it to them with a note of encouragement. I told him how much I knew that meant to me... it was just a thought. I hope he did it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 29B - Paris to Beirut: Hans</div><div><br /></div><div>This guy was the most jovial German I'd ever met - he had an infectious laugh and a bubbling personality. He was a doctor in Vermont but was returning to Germany after a short holiday in Lebanon. It was a weird story and hard to follow but I did catch that he moved to Vermont because he wanted to practice medicine in his own way. Not sure what that meant, but the more we talked the more I found out his expertise - women's reproductive health - namely he performed abortions. When we got into that area, and he knew what my background was - his soft and enjoyable personality closed up. Everything changed about him. He expected (and told me so at the end of our flight) that I was going to judge and condemn him for what he had done. We had a number of crying kids on our flight which he quickly pronounced as "spoiled". He was bitter toward children and I could follow why when I heard what he did for a living. I tried very hard to express some concern for life, while all the while affirming him... this was a really tough one. I think I probably walked the line too cautiously and I regret it. Hans and I shook hands when we parted at the baggage claim area and I said I'd be praying for his future practice - he only nodded. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Return:</div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 18C - Beirut to London - Helena</div><div><br /></div><div>This young Arab lady was on her way to study in the UK. She was looking very forward to the freedoms she could express when she got to the west. She had purchased western clothing to blend in and had clearly practiced her English language skills and she even sported a NY Yankees hoody. Other than the fact she was misguided in good taste in teams, :) (I'm a Red Sox fan) she was ready to immerse herself in the freedoms of the new life. On this five hour flight we even got around to my asking if she had a boyfriend, and she responded that no - her family had tried to arrange some but she rebelled. She was looking forward to having lots of boyfriends at school. I don't know if that just didn't come through in translation (my rough Arabic and her English) and she was looking forward to building relationships or whether she was just loose (?). She looked sweet enough, so I pray it was the first not the latter. My only piece of advice to her was that she seemed like a nice young lady and she should never be ashamed of her heritage and not work so hard to be someone else, but to be herself. She thought long and hard about this as we walked together in mostly silence to customs and flight transfers. I hope she does okay. (and by the way we had 10 screaming babies this whole flight - and it made we think of Hans - he'd have loved it!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 26D and 26E: London to Minneapolis</div><div><br /></div><div>The very attractive young lady in 26E was British and on her way to America for a national tour. The lady in 26E was the stereotypical British grandmotherly type. She was probably 75, and given the chance I think she would have tidied up a bit if the flight attendants would have let her. She drank tea (very particularly I might mention). This wasn't so much my discussion but overhearing the beginning of their's. As it turns out, the young lady was an "exotic dancer" (i.e. stripper) and her national tour was to strip clubs throughout the U.S. I wish you could have seen the grandmother's face when she figured this out. The word "deary" was used in quite a few comments after that as she attempted to figure out how on earth someone could do that - not that she was judging her (she made that comment almost as much as deary). It made the young lady a bit uncomfortable - because I really don't know if anyone had confronted her in this loving but firm way. You could see a blend of irritation and conviction come over her. I wanted to get into a deeper discussion with her because the conversation was not about vocation as much as it was about motivation for getting up in the morning - a worldview type issue. I didn't get a chance as her attentions were balanced between the grandmother and the growing amount of attention that was coming from the male passengers. I pray that "grandma" gave her some things to think about... </div><div><br /></div><div>Seat 9A: Minneapolis to Colorado Springs; Ron</div><div><br /></div><div>Ron was a typical businessman returning home after a week of business meetings. He was wearing a Live Strong bracelet and I asked about it. Tears came to his eyes and I really thought I had overstepped my boundaries. It turns out that he had lost his father about a month before. It was obvious that they had not had a good relationship. Right before we both drifted off to sleep, I tried to encourage him not to live in regret. That is what I prayed for him as we landed. We also exchanged email addresses and I want to see where he is a short while.</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe God provides us with opportunities to touch the lives of others - it may be in things like these plane conversations we can hear people's stories if we bother to listen. I'm glad I heard each of them and I pray that I will be a better listener in the future. Glad to be home though!</div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-16778247429741577632009-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:002009-08-31T13:00:02.161-07:00A New Dawn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEa-mpLWE3cDk1dQah4hMOdvvNV0OaRhlhB1aD8G_9RARrt-HI0C04JkOhKLLPKIiuB3CNHIdKdzw4dyNRxFH6Pai3hyp6O2RBBeFOE3Veo_M986jsgBPHovcLPfdSoDH9iY62hiZNjLO/s1600-h/SunriseSeal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEa-mpLWE3cDk1dQah4hMOdvvNV0OaRhlhB1aD8G_9RARrt-HI0C04JkOhKLLPKIiuB3CNHIdKdzw4dyNRxFH6Pai3hyp6O2RBBeFOE3Veo_M986jsgBPHovcLPfdSoDH9iY62hiZNjLO/s320/SunriseSeal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376219965389200450" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I took my Focus Leadership Institute staff for a two day off-site retreat. We drove out of the Springs to a semi-remote location - Christhaven Lodge. The goals of the retreat were to (1) build a deeper understanding of each other; (2) build a deeper understanding of the transition we were undertaking; and (3) to get pumped up about the next set of students coming in. By this time of the academic year (i.e. August) our staff is just plain pooped. We sort of live our lives along with the academic year, thus the Fall is the "kickoff". We had changed some staff, added a couple, changed our name, adapted our curriculum and implementing a new marketing approach. There is a lot to be excited about, but also a lot of hours and hard work have gone into this (and still is) so they are tired.<br /><br />So....what was my plan? First we spent the afternoon doing some activities related to Myers-Briggs - (figuring out we have a bunch of extroverts - which explains a lot about the overwhelmed introverts who show up at the Institute); Strengthsfinder (and learning that we've got just the right folks in our two key areas - "learner" and "empathy" - which define our academic and community aspects of the program); and Spiritual Gifts (and confirming I need to surround myself with folk with "mercy" since that is WAY down my list). After dinner we had some "forced fun" and ended up in an incredibly competitive and creative game of charades and pictionary. Sometime before I run for public office I will have to burn the pictures of me acting out the TV show Lassie. :) Right before turning in, I introduced the theme for our year; the dawn. Then I asked a great deal of them... I want you gathered at 6am to watch the sun rise.<br /><br />Man, they were great troopers and even though a few saw the sun rise through sleepy eyes, we shared that moment. We also talked about what Scripture has to say about the dawn, sunrise, the morning star, etc. My question to them was, "what happens when the sun comes up?"<br /><br />We figured out that even though we were struggling with some of the transition, it was always darkest before the dawn. Also we found that the dawn brought a feeling of new life. We saw that God promises the same thing in our own lives when we commit what we are doing to Him. He reveals paths and direction when the sun comes up. We see things for what they really are when the sun comes up. It may reveal some absolute beauty but also the dirt of our lives. The sun rise is about rebirth and renewal. That is our hope and prayer for this year - we would be renewed in our passion to see college-aged student's hearts touched, minds engaged, and lives transformed to live it out in this world. One of our big challenges this year comes from a motto of a church down in Atlanta; "Love God, Love your Neighbors, Prove it."<br /><br />May this season be a dawn for each of you too...<br /><br />P.S. Thanks to Jeff Abel who took this wonderful shot of the sunrise at the Grand Canyon last year...Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-14061865951664384622009-08-24T10:49:00.000-07:002009-08-24T10:51:28.518-07:00Finding the "Jesus" balance<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">On the way to drop the boys off at school the other morning we were listening to WAY-FM and the topic of discussion was one of their staff member’s dealing with their young daughter’s unexpected pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The topic surrounded the issue of how the Christian community is unfeeling and sometimes insensitive to people going through stuff like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the one hand I’m impressed that they were willing to address these tough issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the other hand the discussion went into the tougher area of the mix between taking a stand and doing so with love and compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What concerns me when the latter topic comes up is that Christian’s have found themselves in the “extremes” of the possible responses; from the extreme of taking a stand with little or no compassion (and the “world” loves it when we do that because it totally fits the stereotype they have come to expect and delight in) to the other of extreme of ultimate compassion that leads to an acceptance of pretty much anything (and we then are prey to fall into the relativism of the world as well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve always wondered what it took for us to get to that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My contention, after probably incomplete thought and due diligence, is that part of the issue is external – i.e. the cultural pluralism, postmodernism, and issue of tolerance becoming the “ultra-value” for our culture.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I believe that part of it is internal – i.e. we have lived out the modernistic view that there is shame in sin and we ultimately hide it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In fact we’ve gotten really good at playing the part of “everything is fine” even when it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whatever re-building that authentic community looks like (and Francis Schaeffer has a great article about a few aspects of it called, The Mark of a Christian – www?) much it comes down to the problems the WAY-FM on-air staff was somewhat addressing;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how we communicate our standards and compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is the extremely challenging view of how one communicates Truth in Love.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A former colleague of mine once told the story of a graduate student from east Texas who said, “It appears to me that love without truth is sappy romanticism, and truth without love is a mighty bloody sword.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Simple but profound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So that leads me to ask, what are some ways in which we can better address this tough balance when we are dealing with real people with real issues?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One perspective has to do with knowing who are audience is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jesus did this not only intuitively but also through recognizing where people were at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We need to do more of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Before we lay down the law have we realized where the person hearing that message is coming from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the case of most of us, when a particular sin is mentioned and we have had that issue in our lives, then we are in one of three places; (1) we’re being tempted by it, (2) we are in the midst of it, or (3) or we have felt the redemptive power of being delivered from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The way we address the Truth related to “it” depends somewhat on understanding that our hearers are coming from different perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next perspective to understand the power of the words we use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In Matthew, as Jesus tells about the fruit and tree (i.e. a tree is known by its fruit, remember)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he makes the comment, that we will be judged for every careless word we have spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Compassion is partially about understanding the words we use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My wife contends that sometimes I have “gumball’ communication – i.e. I let a thought come out of my brain, onto my tongue and out of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my mouth like a gumball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This type of communication allows for some of the careless talk to get us in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the WAY-FM discussion they talked about Christian artists, preachers, speakers, etc. who publicly take a stand on an issue and put their foot down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People cheer the fact that they are taking a stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I disagree with a comment that was made, however, that taking a stand is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nope – more Christians need to take a stand – but to learn how to do it with words that understand the reality of some people’s circumstance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The acceptance or use of language can be key to finding that balance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s suppose I am a young, good looking, spiritually filled Christian rock star – work with me here! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I stand up in my concert and I have been convicted to really stand up against abortion and to speak out on sanctity of life issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In my audience, research tells us, that probably over half of the teens in that audience are sexually active and because of that probably about ten percent (or more) are dealing with or have dealt with the abortion issue personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I need to be able to say that God is a God of life and abortion is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That is a true statement but I need to also be able to acknowledge those that are dealing or have dealt with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The audience needs to hear the message of life, but also of redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can foresee the strong stance on life being followed immediately by a softer tone delivering the words of redemption from the hurt and reality of experiencing abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It removes the shame (since they more than likely already feel plenty of this) but demonstrates a community of love and support – not necessarily condoning the actions that led to the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The final perspective is that of reading other people’s feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In a concert that is tough to do… in an email or post on a social networking site, a bit easier… in person, so much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That leads me to better understand that our best demonstration of love and truth comes in personal relationship and interpersonal conversation with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So if I am the Christian speaker or musician, I need to try to move the members of the audience to find a time, place and person to talk more deeply about this;<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>if I am the writer of a completely awesome blog, then I also encourage you to either write to me, comment to me or others or sit down over a cup of coffee with someone to talk through the issues; or if I am already in conversation with them to practice good listening habits, kind responses, and the ability to speak truthful but understanding things into their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is so much more we can take from this simple yet challenging discussion… maybe more posts, discussion or books need to be written… ?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Doc Leland</p> <!--EndFragment-->Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-27635224519240373352009-08-17T15:34:00.000-07:002009-08-17T15:57:58.297-07:00A French ParadoxI've been to France a couple of times. I've worked with a French co-author on a project some years ago about political matters. I've fallen in love with the Tour de France each July. I've even come to appreciate most French foods. However, what I get the biggest kick out of is the absolute paradox that the French live with each day. <div><br /></div><div>Let me give you some background on my take... I am reading a book called, God is Back (excellent read) and in chapter 1 the authors (two Oxford educated editors of The Economist magazine) make the point that Europeans - namely led by the French are responsible for most of the anti religion sentiment that we've experienced in the world since about 0h... the 1500's. Most of it, they claim, comes from an intellectual snobbery that looks down its nose at anything that is not entirely pragmatic and empirical. Now... that led to the birth of the intellectual atheistic movement we've got today including guys like Dawkins and Hichens and the rest. Follow me if you will... if they take God out of the picture they are left with a purely humanistic way of determining morals and ethics. That leads inevitably to the following of the philosophy of "if it feels good do it." The French began to lead the world in morally questionable cultural things like the Moulon Rouge and there came a sexual freedom that came with the times. Even in age of high collared dresses and floor length hemlines, nudity and the celebration of the human body became a norm for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward several years (okay 1985 when I was studying in Europe) and after arriving in Nice, in the south of France on a very late train - my buddy and I headed to the beach and plopped our heads down on our backpacks and slept. I was awakened the next morning with my traveling companion saying, "Look but don't look too noticeably when you open your eyes." What? I popped up and looked around... we had decided to crash on a nude beach and were were VERY clothed at the time. It was one of those moments of western awkwardness versus the idea of absolute freedom that came from the birth of postmodern thought in that country. That is, I am free to be me and do what I please. For them, it was sans clothing!</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward again to a vacation I was on with my wife in Cancun, when on a sunny, warm and lazy afternoon I fell dead asleep in my lounger next to the pool. My wife is to my right, and some friends of ours are to her right. They watched me with anticipation as I woke up only to realize that the lady on my left was sunbathing topless. You guessed it - she was French as it turned out. Again, awkward. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the last couple of trips, that same resort has put up signs to prohibit topless sunbathing. A sign of the times? Prudish American morals? I'm not sure... but based on something I just read, it may not be out of line to propose that a new social ethic is cropping up in of all places, France. Time magazine did a story on how less and less young French (and other European) ladies are even desiring to sunbath topless. </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, stay with me a bit longer. In the place where the postmodern thought that allows for a culture to accept one thing as a freedom, individuals choose to return to, what would be considered by some, a more modest approach to outdoor living. One might say this is just the postmodern deciding that something else is appropriate. I would contend that all around us, there are examples of where people are choosing to return to, in this case, modesty. The decision to go away from modesty to nudity was based on some sort of thought process. What brought us back? What prompted the return that Time magazine is reporting? Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a Truth - a moral foundation on which our lives are supposed to be based and when we wander away from it, believer or not, eventually we return to or at least desire to return to it. Maybe we are wired to seek that foundation even when we think we are finding freedom and happiness in doing "our own thing." </div><div><br /></div><div>Remember - it is never just a French beach! :)</div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-51665496713048748102009-08-11T12:25:00.000-07:002009-08-11T12:50:51.383-07:00The Great OutdoorsLast week Team Leland went to Steamboat Springs for Nicolas to play in a baseball tournament and to have some family time camping. There were so many things that crossed my mind while either sitting on the warm metal bleachers or sitting comfortably in a camping chair by the fire looking beyond the sparks to the stars...<br /><br />One thought was a worry that as a parent/dad I've not done enough for the boys. There are moments when they demonstrate such good traits and then there are other moments when they are at each other and you wonder what went wrong. With my oldest, Stephen, heading into his junior year in high school in a week, you realize how fleeting the time has been and will be in the next two years. I don't know if a parent ever feels totally at ease with the job they've done and whether they have prepared their kids enough for the world that awaits them. <br /><br />Another thought that came to me was the sad state of some families where the parent lives vicariously through their kids. This was apparent at the tournament we were at this past week. I watched parents (mainly dads mind you) who lost their cool so easily and began tirades either from the stands or if they were coaching, on the field. In one case, an entire game was stopped while the umpires had a conference to figure out how to deal with the unruly parents. In one conversation with a long time umpire (who was an active duty military officer as well) shared that the umpires had a meeting before the tournament began to warn them of the extra difficulty they were going to see that week. It was a national tournament, he explained, and as such the grown ups thought there was an extra layer of anonymity that protected them and allowed them the freedom to speak out more than they normally would. I guess if you are in your hometown, you might hold your tongue. At this tournament, he also explained, they hear louder voices than normal, more criticism than normal and the use of language that was more shocking than normal. I honestly wonder how many of those kids puff up with pride when "dad" gets thrown out of game. <br /><br />One other thought that came to me, was the importance of family time in this chaotic world. This summer our family did too much. We had four boys playing on six different teams. Though everything on the schedule was valuable, it squeezed out the simple "do nothing" or "do little" times when you just hang-out. Dr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dobson</span> would claim that the biggest problem facing families today is over-commitment. I learned a lesson, when the two things that my kids wanted to do while out camping was to (1) find some cheap inner tubes and just float down the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Yampa</span> River (which they did a couple different times); and (2) play a simple card game like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Uno</span> or Phase Ten or even go-fish (and it was an extreme game of go-fish). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Smores</span> were of course in order, as was riding bikes. There was no ultra organized hike to the top of a mountain but simple activity of being a kid and being a family. <br /><br />One final thought was the incredible blessing of living in Colorado and having the splendor of His creation at our backdoor. The cool mountain air on a summer's evening; the crisp water of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mountain</span> stream or river; and the beauty of a mountain range called The Rockies. His majesty spoke volumes each morning with the sunrise and each evening with the expanse of stars above. <br /><br />Thanks for letting me ramble... some may have a photo album, others have a journal, I have the randomness of thought... :)Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-23050004657529017882009-07-30T14:27:00.000-07:002009-07-30T14:44:39.823-07:00Back in the saddle....Folks... I've been gone too long. Between travel, family, and responding to daily confusion about how a Christian worldview applies to current events... I've let this go. My apologies...<div><br /></div><div>Today though I feel compelled to address a topic that comes up every semester with students here at the Focus Leadership Institute (new name!) as well as it seems to be hidden loosely behind articles in Christianity Today, ads I see for Christian conferences, and in the defense of where I work. The issue is the apparent divide in the Christian community between those that feel that Christians belong in the public square and those that believe that the Christian's place is in relational evangelism. </div><div><br /></div><div>First of all - the question is begged - Why are those two things considered independent of one another? Why do we believe that one cannot engage in politics and be faithful to the Great Commission? Somewhere along the way, those on the public policy side of things fell prey to the cultural argument that we live in a Christian nation and it is under attack and we must do all to save it. Somewhere along the way, those on the personal evangelism side looked disdainfully at the policy guys and felt like they had cooties. </div><div><br /></div><div>I believe the chasm began as a result of the move from modernism into postmodernism and then to whatever is next. The church of the early 20th century was politically active in small ways, individual ways, and it resided in people elected to office with Christian character. Later in the 20th century when postmodernism began to morph into political issues (abortion, etc.) the lines were drawn. The public square was an ugly place that got messy and confusing. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the postmodern myth entered the church our theology began to adapt. The nature of the story became increasingly important along with the idea that your faith was about your individual experiences. This heightened view of self expression and our individual relationship with God began to overshadow the larger story of Christians in the culture. The move to relational evangelism began in earnest. We have seen this exhibited in a slight move back to the social sphere with an increased concern for social justice issues amongst young people. Behind that concern is an odd mix of loving God, loving our neighbor and caring about issues. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the movie Amazing Grace - Wilberforce is sitting at a dinner with some of the early anti-slavery proponents. One says, "we understand you are troubled with whether to serve God or practice politics." The lady next to him then adds, "may we suggest that you can do both." Just like that was a shocking idea for Wilberforce, it seems to be just as shocking today.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess I encourage all to think more deeply about the fact that God created all of the spheres of influence in this world - public, private, etc. The state is His creation. The Body is His creation. We exist in both and must figure out how to both love and care for others on the smaller scale and be involved at an appropriate level in the matters of the State, especially those that impact how we are to live our lives as Christians in this culture. </div><div><br /></div><div>Glad to be back...</div><div><br /></div><div>Doc</div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-77580148462636506652009-02-25T08:23:00.000-08:002009-02-25T08:35:51.290-08:00The Wisdom of an 8th Grader!Two posts in a week - what a record. Perhaps I am getting the hang of this. <br /><br />Last night our new President addressed Congress, D.C. leadership and the nation to lay out his economic and legislative plan to rescue the U.S. from our economic woes. Picture this... I am sitting with my 1o year old at the kitchen table, preparing a school project (a time capsule of sorts on the life of Hank <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aaaron</span> - I told you we were really into baseball!), my wife is chatting with two former <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">FFI</span> students in the living room, my youngest son is taking a bath, my oldest son is sitting in the family room watching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Obama's</span> speech, and I didn't have a clue were Nicolas was... Until mid way through speech he came down the stairs, planted his feet firmly at the base of the stairs and asked, "Where does he think all this money is going to come from?" He had been watching on a TV upstairs. The kid who has a pretty good mind and beyond his years in this thought process was watching, thinking, and really was stumped by this lack of logic and clarity. <br /><br />My wife has an Masters in Business and I have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ph</span>.D. (granted not in macro economics) - and we are surrounded by some pretty bright people, who I also asked this question of and low and behold even a friend who IS a macro economic scholar couldn't answer the theoretical (yet very important question). I am trying very hard to raise some objective thinking kids, but an incident like this just demonstrates how hard that is in a place and time where those in charge don't make sense. This morning no one in the media is asking/answering this question, they are merely talking in terms of how good people felt after the speech. OF COURSE THEY DID! He said what they wanted to hear and did not use a critical ion in their bodies/minds to ask the simple question that even an 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> grader could ask. If we spend more we will save more... What? One can apply all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mumbo</span> jumbo of speech writing (which I used to do) and economic jargon but it does not change the fact that a statement like that is highly illogical and just bad politics.<br /><br />I am watching today to see if by chance those that actually invest in our economy have something to say - right now they are saying they don't buy it and the Stock Market is down over 125 points. Every time Obama has spoken about the economy the market takes a hit. We'll see. Thanks Nicolas for stating the obvious.Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-52432601579992879262009-02-23T12:58:00.000-08:002009-02-23T13:16:06.381-08:00A Spring of TruthMy finger is still healing bit typing is a bit better. <br /><br />In Florida and Arizona some young men ( and a few old ones) gathered this past week to begin the right of passage known as "Spring Training" for Major League Baseball. My family, being the baseball fanatics that we are will be headed down there late in March (Nicolas plays a tournament down there and we get to work out with the Rockies). <br /><br />I am very intrigued, as is most of the world, with the unfolding story of Alex Rodriquez and steriod use. The one person pretty pleased with the timing is Barry Bonds who a week before the A-Rod exposure, was confirmed to have taken steriods. In A-Rod's case I find it interesting that the concept of the truth is so fluid. A couple year's ago, he was interviewed by Katie Couric and was asked point blank whether he had ever taken any type of steriod or human growth hormone. His answer, "No." She even followed up and asked if he had ever been tempted by it... Again the answer was, "No." In the last couple weeks the court of public opinion has been hard on this guy for coming forward a few years later and admitting he was indeed taking them in the two seasons before he was offered the largest contract in MLB history. He sits on camera and ESPN baseball guru Peter Gammons asks several lead in questions then gets to the big one recalling what he had said to Couric. DId he lie? His answer is elusive and the great PR guy that has worked with him helps craft an answer that is a non-denial apology (i.e. I did it but am sorry and let's move on) and cycles the conversation back to "looking to the future." As a result of the new alegations other players are seen to be in trouble for lying to Congress. One might get off because he doesn't speak English and might not have truly understood the question (except for the fact that the same Congressman asked it five different times - and this guy had a UN translator). <br /><br />In the end A-Rod lied and he cheated. As sorry as he is, should it be that easy to move on and basically ignore his actions? I love baseball and there is a tradition to the game that must transcend these very highly paid athletes. It was challenging to sit and watch ESPN and the news reports and try to explain to my boys, who are deeply engrained in the game... that the truth still matters; that integrity still matters; and even with personal grace comes a public judgment that must protect the game and the Truth. <br /><br />Unfortunately, as with most celebrity truth issues, A-Rod will play; the Yankees will pay his huge salary and fans will eventually forget. As I go stand in front of our Little League opening day ceremonies I pray I can speak to them of the honor and integrity of the game and not feel too much guilt as a grown up... Play ball!Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-72005009192484986862009-02-04T08:50:00.000-08:002009-02-04T09:02:21.176-08:00LameThat title could refer to my ability to keep up with blogging...however it refers to my inability to type based on a recent accident that put 14 stitches in my right index finger. I had no idea how much I use that hand in every day to day things. Typing this post for example is taking the better part of the morning. I was going to plan to use only words created with the left hand but that looked really stupid! :) <br /><br />I wish I had some great bear or chainsaw story but the accident happened as a result of helping my sweet wife prepare to host some of our FFI students. She dashed out to take one of our son's to a guitar lesson and as I was lighting candles I realized that one of the larger one's had burned down to the bottom of its glass container. It is one of those but hurricane type glass holders. As I tried to get the candle out, the glass shattered and shaved off a good portion of my right index finger at the middle knuckle. (TMI I know...) After an adventurous couple hours I was home among our great students doing praise and worship. A gift indeed... Could have been a lot worse. <br /><br />I think you learn a great deal about family when emergancies like this happen. The boys sprang into action; Stephen drove me to the emergancy room then returned home to host the students; Nicolas came to the hospital after his lesson and as a "doctor to be" watched intently as I was stitched up, asked endless questions and took pics on his phone (no they will not appear here); Christopher offered assistance in the form of his favorite stuffed animal; and Matthew told us he could put himself to bed - he insisted he was a big boy!<br /><br />In a week I should be back to full hand use... until then go see Seven Pounds as the ultimate worldview commentary of the month. <br /><br />DocDoc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-10059594175280745352009-01-20T09:42:00.000-08:002009-01-20T09:58:11.833-08:0044The inaugural speech and ceremony just finished. Regardless of your perspective on this incoming President, the peaceful passing of power in this land is indeed unique and special in the world. It was intriguing to see the looks of "knowing" and "understanding" that all the former presidents and first ladies had with the incoming President and new first lady. Obama's face looked as if he was beginning to feel the reality of the pressure of being the leader of the free world. There is a weight that none of us can truly understand. Each of those former presidents also looked so much older than when we saw them stand where he did today. One of the political/editorial cartoonists this morning showed the Chief Justice administering the oath of office and President Obama with a huge globe on his back. Welcome to the Oval Office and all that goes with it.<div><br /></div><div>This was indeed historic and my honest prayer is that God sees fit to look down and surround this president with wise people and discerning guidance. The challenges ahead are even more daunting than in previous years and he is going to need that wisdom. </div><div><br /></div><div>From a worldview perspective I find it interesting that in a post-modern era - defined by the need for individuals to express themselves and do what they like - that we have just re-entered an era of more involved government. So many of those that live by those same post-modern standards elected a government that believes whole-heartedly that government can and should help solve the problems of this country. Time will indeed tell if this group of the electorate someday will think less about today in glowing terms, but like a new Kenny Chesney song - "I went home at 2 with a 10 and woke up at 10 with a 2"... </div>Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178840217729857734.post-51143011649321171622009-01-09T09:49:00.001-08:002009-01-09T10:03:06.345-08:00Sad NewsI saw the email come a little while ago from our Alumni Coordinator here at the Institute and I was fearing what it said when I opened it. A young lady who had attended <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FFI</span> last Spring was in a motorcycle accident over last weekend and has been in a coma every since. The last word I had was that she was taken off of life support last night. I knew in my gut it would be a number of hours before I got this email. Lindy reported what she said she didn't want to, but that Angie had died.<br /><br />There are so many things that go through your head and heart whenever things like this happen. Part of me says, "in my head I understand death - especially for a believer - but in my heart I grieve." Another part of me tends to begin to question all that know to be true, because it runs counter to how I feel at the moment.<br /><br />Angie was a young lady full of life and even though life had not given her the best circumstances in the past, she faced every day with joy, or at least she tried to. I remember conversations in my office where she would start by talking about someone else and we would move a little closer to her own journey and she would try to direct the conversation away from her. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">occasionally</span> would get her to open up and got to know a woman who was scarred but seeking; was thoughtful and compassionate; and most of all she would break out with a loud laugh whenever the mood hit her. Once in class she found herself in one of those moments we all hate, but when you laugh out loud and no one else really does... But where you and I would be bothered, she just kept on laughing - and eventually the infection hit the whole class. What I said - not that funny - her reaction - priceless.<br /><br />I know that death is part of life - but usually the only things that come to mind in moments like these sound so trite and empty. I also know that Angie is having quite a party right now... She walked out of our lives and into the Father's arms. Not a bad place to find yourself at all... We'll miss her though!Doc Lelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448128075493246817noreply@blogger.com1