Divided We Fall

It’s interesting how we always seem to divide ourselves up into various groups. Whether political, geographical, cultural, racial, religious or whatever, folks feel the need to take sides and that’s how we get into the various global pickles like we are in today … and always have been. Divisions are drawn, enforced and invariably benefit the class at the top of whatever system they have created. Not surprisingly, once a system is established, the bias spreads to every group involved. It would be easy for me to cite dark moments in history or spin the globe and point to almost any nation to discuss examples of how we have classified and misused our fellow man. However, today I’d just like to share the following poem and let you see what comes to mind. Certain races, nations and religions seem to have suffered more through the centuries, but we each have our own lens of experience and concern. What I ask is that you think it through, or pray it through if that’s your nature, because simply taking a step back and looking at the world from a different perspective can be half the battle. Where are the walls built in your own life? Where are the lines drawn? Did you inherit them or come up with them yourself? If we consider such questions honestly the world could be a better place … and we owe that to our children. I hope you enjoy the poem and find it thought provoking.

Divided We Fall
Brick upon brick, we build our walls
With blocks of resentment and pride
We raise up lofty barricades
Then, drawing lines, step to one side
Proclaiming we, the elite, shall stand
Over here, where no one else may
We demand that everyone take his place
Or there will be hell to pay
Through the ages we've added more bricks
And a host of new rules to the game
Clouding the issues and stirring the pot
But the outcome is always the same
It is always the group who draws the lines
And imposes them on the rest
Which seems to have the most to gain
And which seems to become obsessed
With making sure that only a few
May have the privileges they have known
For if all men were equal they'd have to share
The spoils they claim as their own
While the rest of humanity cowers outside
Degraded and left in the cold
By a system which robs them of their rights
Crushing even the wise and the bold
Yet, the greatest injustice about the system
Each man has been shackled within
Is the shallowness of the parameters
Which doom him before he can begin
Neither race, nor creed, nor country
Are the sum of any being
They are merely the cover of a book
Which may contain treasures unseen
Any system that judges a man
By his temporal exterior
Has done a disservice to all of mankind
By promoting dissension and fear
For only a system which looks each man
In the eye without judging him first
Is worthy of judging a man at all
Without predestining him to be cursed
So the next time you find a brick in your hand
And you're tempted to work on a wall
Find a bridge that needs repair
And do a service to us all
By Frank Carpenter ©

Long May it Wave

I saw the movie “World Trade Center” this past week and strongly recommend it. It’s a little slow in the middle, but that’s only because they are trying to tell the story of the agonizing time two NYPD officers spent trapped in the rubble between the towers. In this case, the attack on September 11 has been captured through their personal tragedy and the efforts of those who rescued them, which is an extremely relevant view point. Mercifully, Oliver Stone also gave us a movie unclouded by conspiracies or political commentary. I firmly believe that we, as Americans, need to see these movies and discuss them. What worries me the most however, is the underwhelming response to this movie at the box office. Just like “United Flight 93,” it will make a little money but folks aren’t flocking to see these important films. I find this troubling because it shows a lack of desire in our fellow citizens to relive the emotions of that important day in our history as a nation. September 11 is, if I may borrow a phrase from FDR, “a day that will live in infamy” forever. It has and will continue to define our domestic and international policy perhaps for decades to come. Yet, folks don’t want to think about it anymore. They want to watch reality shows, complain about air travel and talk about American Idol. After those fateful attacks we all hung out our flags, went to church together, sang patriotic songs and swore that we would never be the same again … that we would never forget. We rekindled a patriotism we had not known for decades and pledged allegiance like never before. Yet, folks have begun to forget and return to their original apathy. Our enemies have not. Those who sought to do us harm in 2001, and actually for twenty years prior to that, remain resolutely bent on the destruction of our way of life. We’ve made some significant inroads in the war on terrorism, but they are still out there and our resolve must not fail us.

I could fill volumes with partisan quotes, current events and the like. For now, however, suffice it to say that we must remain ever vigilant and our patriotism must not wane. This great nation could never be overthrown militarily by any country in the world, but we are highly susceptible to the slow poisons of apathy, adversity and partisanship. While we continue to be attacked from without, the real danger is that we shall fail to continue presenting a united front and lose the battle from within. We possess the most powerful and sophisticated arsenal of weaponry in the world and in history. We have the best trained and equipped military of any nation. However, our secret weapon, and our Achilles heal, is our national pride and patriotism. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto stated, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” I heard that quote repeated after 9/11, but we seem to be struggling to maintain our resolve. The question remains whether this giant can stay awake long enough to achieve victory in the current conflicts which face us. I hope and pray it may be so.

My literary offering today is a poem which I wrote during those emotional weeks following 9/11. I hope that my fellow citizens will take these words to heart and remember the way we felt back then. We swore we would never forget. Have you?

Long May It Wave
Everyone has their flags out lately
On cars and houses most everywhere
And the words of the God Bless America
Seem to be echoing through the air
Our response to the recent tragedy
Has been overwhelming, it’s true
With a nation rallying as one
Around the old red, white and blue
But once this current crisis is over
Once we have mourned our dead
Will our new found patriotism
Begin to fade in the months ahead
I hope and pray that it shall not
That our commitment will endure
That this is a new America
And not just the one du jour
For the way to honor our fallen
To prove our lofty words are true
Is to continue our patriotism
And stand by the red, white and blue
Let us cherish the land of the free
And remain the home of the brave
Taking pride in our mighty nation
And her flag, long may it wave
By Frank Carpenter ©

Some Additional Thoughts

In my previous entry I wrote of a friend’s recent heart attack and how that might help to put our daily lives into perspective. My thoughts, at the time, were more general in nature. However, upon reflection, I thought it might be appropriate to make some additional comments. Last time I glanced over the more difficult spiritual aspects of that subject, but today I wish to explore them a little further. This event serves as a reminder of just how frail our lives can be. We tend to think of life in terms of years, thinking statistically and actuarially. That’s fine for general purposes, but we must always remember that statistics are based upon averages, which by nature tend to mask the figures at each end of the scale that balance out in the averaging process. Some people live to 102 and others only live until 30. The averages we tend to rely upon emotionally help us to forget that life isn’t actually fair and offers no guarantees. That’s a lovely thought, but mark my words: life is not fair and there are no guarantees.

We tend to dwell on what we’ve got planned tonight, this weekend, next summer or during our retirement. Yet I am compelled to ask the burning question, “What are your plans for forever?” Ouch, that’s certainly politically incorrect, but it needs to be asked because it’s really the most important question of all. Perhaps it’s most important to anyone whom I may just have offended with that very question. Now before you hit the delete button and continue surfing I beg you to hear me out. It’s certainly easy to glance over the big religious questions. You wouldn’t dream of going away for the weekend or on a vacation, even camping, without making a reservation first. Most people purchase health insurance in case they get sick, auto insurance in case of an accident and they buy life insurance to protect their family in the event of an untimely death. Yet, they think very little about heaven and eternity. Yet in the event of an untimely death, spiritual life insurance might come mighty handy. After all forever, simply by definition, is really a long time. Ok, that’s my cute insurance metaphor, but please continue reading.

The fact is that this life doesn’t last forever and often times it turns out to be much shorter than we might have anticipated. It’s also filled with statistical anomalies so forever could technically begin at any time. We don’t like to think about the “bad stuff” but it happens. Let’s face it, as soon as you slip in the bath tub or choke on the odd chicken bone you basically skip all the second chances and advance straight to the end of the bible. I like to call it spontaneous revelation because the hereafter, whatever it holds, begins at that moment. I believe that there is a heaven and that the only way to get there is to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the son of God and accept His sacrificial death and resurrection as payment for our personal sins. He is the bridge to God and to a heavenly eternity with our Creator. I don’t believe that God grades on a curve or that “all good people go to heaven” because there is no clear delineation of where that good/bad line is to be drawn. The New Testament clearly and repeatedly makes the case that Jesus is the only path to salvation and He said so himself on multiple occasions. Old Testament prophecy also points directly towards both Him and His message. Jesus is the undeniable link between our temporary lives here on earth and the eternal promise of a better life beyond this one. And if I’m right then the alternative, the one without Jesus, starts to look really ugly.

I’ve shared my personal beliefs with you and I’m sure that there are other people in your own life who would tell you the same if you seek them out. The main point is that we need to deal with these questions now instead of sometime in a hazy future someday which may never come. If you wish to converse with me directly, my email can be found at the top of this site. Just be sure to include your own contact information so that I can get back to you. In the mean time I offer the following poem, which takes a more humorous approach to this serious subject. Perhaps it even offers a light hearted introduction for some of you to begin discussing this subject with others whom you care about. Have a blessed day, but take time to consider your plans for the future as well.

Brimstones & Chicken Bones
(The Doctrine of Spontaneous Revelation)
We all have business to do with God
but we’re young and in our prime
So we put Him off year after year
assuming there’s plenty of time
We know Jesus is coming back someday
but who knows when that will be
People keep saying end times are near
but no one’s sure about prophecy
In fact, it’s so darn confusing
we don’t like to think about it at all
Since folks have been worried for centuries
and have yet to hear the trumpet call
So we kind of make this deal with God
that we’ll be good or better than most
Then we set the spiritual cruise control
so we can just kick back and coast
Figuring we’ve got a lifetime ahead
to sacrifice, give and serve
And if the Lord comes back just bad folks
will get what they deserve
However, the flaw in our reasoning
which so many of us fail to see
Is that if we should die unexpectedly
we advance from here to eternity
We have merely to slip in the bathtub
or choke on the odd chicken bone
And suddenly, all the choices we’ve made
shall be etched in eternity’s stone
In that realm beyond second chances
where each man answers to God at last
For all that he did, and didn’t do
in the irrevocable past
Let’s call it spontaneous revelation
that day when you go to the head of the class
To discover that God doesn’t grade on a curve
it’s strictly fail or pass
When your backup chute fails to open
whether or not your doctrine is sound
You better have your affairs in order
long before you reach the ground
Because the next stop is forever
so your fire insurance better be paid
You won’t get to choose between smoking or non
unless a reservation was made
Your cholesterol count doesn’t matter
nor how much dough you have socked away
Once you step onto the railroad tracks
you’ll be meeting God straight away
Don’t be lulled into complacency
for no matter how safe you feel
You may have one foot on solid ground
but the other is on a banana peel
So never put off until tomorrow
what the Lord requires of you today
Lest spontaneous revelation
should steal your second chances away
By Frank Carpenter ©

As If It Were the Last

I was quite shaken to learn that a very dear friend had suffered a serious heart attack over the weekend. I thank God that he is fine and back home from the hospital now, but it was touch and go for a while. He didn’t just wander into the doctor’s office or hospital to have some tests run. No, he simply keeled over and stopped breathing. No warning. No cry for help. No final words of wisdom or blessing like in the movies. He is alive only because his golf buddies performed CPR, there was a doctor near at hand and a portable defibrillator was available. He was, in fact, spared because of a unique set of circumstances and, I daresay, divine intervention. Thank God my friend is alive, because it could easily have gone otherwise. His experience also brings back a host of related emotions from my own heart episode a few years ago. The point here is that life does not guarantee any warnings or second chances. In fact, this may be the only warning you get, which leads us to the rest of today’s message.

If you are anything like me, you probably keep putting some important things in your life off. We all have little (or large) health issues, relationships that need mending, wisdom we meant to impart to our children, issues we planned to resolve in the faith area of our lives. Oh, there’s plenty of time left, we’ll get around to those unresolved items “someday.” Ah, yes, someday. The proverbial procrastination until tomorrow. I’ll call and apologize tomorrow. I’ll start my diet tomorrow. I’ll pray or read the bible tomorrow. I’ll pay my taxes tomorrow. Feel free to insert your own tomorrow “to do list” into the equation. This is more than just a casual walk in the poetic park for me, it is the story of my ever-loving life. Defer, delay, deny ... until it screams or catches on fire. Let us, however, briefly consider that least considered of actuarial scenarios which each of us tries desperately to keep pushed beyond the fringe of our conscious thought. What if there was no tomorrow? What if I didn’t get a second chance in my marriage? What if today was the only legacy I’d have to leave my children? What if I was eternally stuck with the salvation and obedience choices I have previously made? Then, what if I had only one day to fix any or all of those things? What would you do? That is the subject of today’s poem. If you are anything like me, and I’m guessing you are, life is filled with potential regrets. So I take the liberty of asking the ultimate “what if” question. If this was the last day of your life, would you be spending it just the way you are right now? Me either. Consequently, I urge us all to reconsider the story of our lives and identify the parts of it which may need to be rewritten. Each of us is guaranteed only one second chance, and that is the one we grab hold of right now. Beyond this moment, this day, there is no sure thing. Perhaps we should live each day as if it were the last. Then, no matter what happens, we can be absolutely sure that we’ll have no regrets, nor will any be inherited by those we leave behind. Have a blessed day ... and make it count.

As If It Were the Last
What if you had only one day to live?
Just twenty-four hours to spend
To say or accomplish what matters most
Before your life reached an end
Who would you spend it with, where would you go
What would you do or see
What words of wisdom would you bestow
Knowing they were your legacy
How would you spend your money, your time
The last ounce of strength you possessed
Would you reach for the stars or wallow in pity
In light of an imminent eternal rest
Would you eat, drink and be merry
Or fall on your knees just to pray
To prepare for meeting your Maker
On that brink of your reckoning day
Whatever has raced through your mind just now
While these few simple stanzas you’ve read
About what you thought you needed to do
Before you were suddenly dead
I would urge you to make a list of them
And start living that way, even now
For we never know when our last day might come
There are no guaranties anyhow
We never know when the Master may call
When all of our second chances have passed
Then we are stuck with the life we have lived
So why not live each day as the last
Nobody gets advance notice like this
But the cement of your life isn’t set
There is still time to change it before your last day
So live a life you will never regret
By Frank Carpenter ©

The Cost of Success

We all define success in different terms. For many people, especially men, success often seems to be measured in terms of prosperity and influence. The world tells us to work hard, pay our dues, make sacrifices and the American dream of prosperity and financial security can be ours. True enough, there is ample opportunity in this country for most people to realize their American dream in those terms. However, far too often people sacrifice their families in the pursuit of that success. We rationalize that we’re doing it for them, but when our work focus nudges our loved ones aside it can become self-serving and, in the end, it preys on the very people we intended it to benefit. Some people can balance work and home, but there are always choices and trade offs to make in that balancing act. When we begin to trade our families for financial success we might need to take a step back to reexamine our priorities. We can argue that the money is all for them, but in the end real love is always spelled T.I.M.E. When men become the CEO or the Chairman of the Board, but lose their wives or estrange themselves from their children what have they really accomplished. Clearly none of us are perfect, but we all need to take a step back now and again to reconsider our priorities. Otherwise we may find ourselves so entangled in our lives outside the home that we can become strangers to it. As an example of this point I’m going to make it personal by sharing an excerpt from my own father’s unpublished memoirs:

“… in 1967, I began to realize that my business interests and activities, coupled with politics, had led me to increasingly give away more and more of my time and of myself to other people and other causes. Due to the fact that my children were perfect and my wife was a saint, it was so much easier to let other people influence me into these activities for the good of one cause or another, and the most important one of all to me, was to be sufficiently successful so that I could provide for them in an appropriate way. We had been moving up the ladder financially due to these efforts, but that began to look shallow to me compared to the lack of time I was able to spend with them … By early 1968 I was of a mind to sever our marital ties, simply on the grounds that she, being a few years younger than me, could find a husband she deserved a great deal more. It was not a desire to be noble, but I did recognize that I had involved myself in a web of commitments to so many people, in both business and politics, that it would not be easy to extricate myself. I finally convinced her that this was the appropriate thing to do, although she never really agreed to it. And I was acting substantially against the advice of my then closest friend, a prominent Newport Beach psychiatrist who convinced me I either had to give up everything else in order to do right by my family or turn aside to my dreams of being able to be more successful for their benefit. Rightly or wrongly, I chose to secure a divorce.”

So, you see, even in my own family the lure of success and outside commitments became stronger than the bond of commitments at home … even though the family was the initial reason for all of the hard work and outside commitments. In my case I see it as all having worked out for the best, but divorce affects each person differently and also creates a legacy we pass on to our children. They are the unwilling heirs of our success and failure on the home front. In order to illustrate a different perspective, I offer a poem which was written by my younger brother, Scott Carpenter. This poem captures eloquently a recurring dream he had when he was younger and offers valuable insight into a child’s perspective on the choices some people make in order to achieve their particular brand of success.

The Vat
When I was six I had a dream
that my dad took my mom and me
to the warehouse where men work.
It was all dark except for one door
in the side where you could walk out.
In the middle were some stairs that
led up to a giant vat of waste or acid
or something, and at the top of the stairs
partly in the dark stood the devil.
No one said anything but I knew that if
my dad jumped into the vat then the devil
would let my mom and me go free.
The last thing I remember was my dad
standing up on the stairs next to the devil
looking down into the giant vat, and I
remember my mom and I just stood there
silently, staring at their shadows and the vat.
My mom and I got away so he must have
jumped in. I guess he must be a hero.

That was when my dad left home for good.
He didn't really die. That was only a dream.
And He didn't really jump into the vat
of industrial waste. He just had work to do.
Now that I'm grown up I still have the dream
sometimes. When I wake I think about how
quiet and normal it seemed around the devil.
The warehouse isn't so scary or strange.
And now I have a little boy of my own.
He comes to visit me at the office sometimes.
I give him candy and let him play at my desk.
I still haven't told him about the vat.
By Scott Carpenter

When we look at it from that perspective, it reminds us of how our choices affect other people and how their perspectives thereon may be entirely different. We all have our lives to live and many of us are already living with the consequences of decisions which may or may not have brought about the results we desired. What I do know is that our spouses and children are the most precious commodities we possess and we must carefully consider anything which might trade away some part of them, or our relationships with them, for the promise of success … even if they are the intended beneficiaries thereof. In the end what our families desire more than all the stuff in the world is our hearts. We must not, therefore, allow our hearts to become divided.

In conclusion, I hope and pray that we all might weigh our priorities and make our decisions accordingly. I certainly have not done everything right, not by a long shot. However, I would not trade the love of my wife or the respect of my children for any material thing on this earth. We don’t have a lot of stuff, but in the true essentials of life I’m the richest man I know. Each of us must choose our own path, but let us always keep in mind the potentially high cost of success … and the immeasurable value of the loved ones who will share it with us.

A Grateful Nation

There was such a huge response to my July 4th entry I decided to expand briefly upon that theme, especially since I came up with another poem I wish to share. I began writing this poem on Memorial Day, but it never came to fruition. However, I became re-inspired on July 4th and it finally came together. I have had several military friends serving in the Middle East in recent years and have seen first hand the price they paid personally in order serve our country in that way. Regardless of how you may feel about the war, the politics or our national leadership, I charge each American to extend the respect and gratitude our men and women in arms deserve. They are doing their job and their duty, often at great personal cost and inconvenience to themselves and their loved ones. They do so just as our fathers and grandfathers did when they responded to duty’s call in the great wars of the past. And as before, they are fighting not so much to defend our current borders, but the ideals which those borders represent. It must be noted as well that our soldiers have fought and bled and died on foreign soil time and again, while we have never asked for any more new territory than that required to burry our dead.

On Memorial Day we remember those you have made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation. On July 4th we celebrate the birth of our nation and the founding principles which make it so great. On all the days in between, however, may we continue to remember those who guard our beloved freedom and champion the rights others who deserve those selfsame freedoms. May all those who proudly wear the uniforms of the United States military, who are our heroes, instruments and emissaries, receive the respect they deserve and ever feel the earnest appreciation of a grateful nation.

A Grateful Nation
How little do I understand
Here, so safe and far away
The sacrifices you have made
And the meaning of this day
Never have I risked my life
Or known the kind of loss
Real heroes or their families know
Who pay for freedom’s cost
So here I pause, as each should
To offer up my heartfelt thanks
For those who fought so bravely
And marched in freedom’s ranks
From Lexington and Concord
To Kabul and Baghdad too
You stood for truth and justice
To see your missions through
And the very least you should expect
That you most certainly deserve
Is the gratitude of your nation
And those you so bravely serve
By Frank Carpenter ©

The Forever Factor

I was recently reading Psalm 136, which repeatedly employs the phrase, “His love endures forever.” That got me thinking about the big picture that word forever implies. I’m not quite sure how a finite human mind can even begin to grasp the concept, but suffice it to say that it’s a long time … unimaginably long. With that in mind as a backdrop, I daresay most of us think very little about the future which lies somewhere out there beyond retirement. However, can any of us really afford to ignore that gaping void of eternity future which looms ahead. Let’s call it the “forever factor.” Today, I’d rather speak about this subject in more general terms rather than engage you in a long theological discussion. My observation is that life is relatively short, compared to the magnitude of eternity, so perhaps it behooves us to think and plan towards that inevitable end (or beginning). Our time here can be very distracting and often, before we know it, the years have slipped away and all that time we thought we had left has evaporated. Let us not forget, also, that we have no guarantees about that length of our earthly lives. Usually, I suppose I’m quick to draw conclusions and spout my particular brand of truth, but today I’ll just climb off my soap box and let the great eternal paradox speak for itself. So I l eave you today with food for thought and encouragement to spend some time digesting that food. Don’t take too long, though, because forever is a really long time and none of us can be sure exactly when it’s scheduled to begin.

If you have any questions or thoughts on this subject, I encourage your response. Also, Remember to include your own email address if you’d like me to respond to you. Have a great day … and may you be blessed with many more.

The Shortness of Time
We are so easily entangled
In the daily rituals of life
Wooed into marching with the others
When we hear the drum and fife
Until our time grows so congested
With commitments we have made
That they rule our private worlds
And things eternal seem to fade
We forget about our first love
The God we say we care about
We slowly nudge Him to the background
Until He's shut completely out
Wake up! What are we doing?
These things we've let monopolize
Are merely meaningless diversions
It's time we finally realize
That only the things eternal
Matter in the larger scheme
We must not let the world seduce us
With its promises and dreams
We must shake ourselves and understand
And train ourselves to see
The shortness of the time we have
And the magnitude of eternity
By Frank Carpenter ©

Independence Day and The Declaration of Independence

Well, here we are at another 4th of July. Mostly we shall celebrate this holiday with fireworks and the consumption of great quantities of hot dogs and potato salad. Indeed, with all of the activity, it would be easy to forget exactly what this day is really about. However, on that fateful day 230 years ago when members of the continental congress signed the original Declaration of Independence something amazing began. Those delegates of the original thirteen colonies who signed that document might well have been signing their own death warrants for treason against the British crown. Fortunately, they were victorious in their war for independence and their little experiment in democracy is still going strong today. Furthermore, it has become the example of freedom worldwide over these past two centuries. So let us not take too lightly the gift of our own freedom or the price that has been paid to purchase it for us. Enjoy your fireworks and family fun, but pause for a moment sometime during the holiday to remind your friends and loved ones why we are celebrating. There are still many regimes, even in this modern world, which deny basic freedoms to their people. We owe ours to a small group of courageous men who dreamed of a better life and began the revolution that won it for us. We should all thank God for their foresight and wisdom, as well as the precious and sacred blood which was spilled to purchase their vision for all of us. Along with my own poem on the subject, I have also included below the text of the Declaration of Independence and I encourage you to read it over and share it with others. We need to remember what we have and what they fought so valiantly for. We are the heirs of liberty and we have an obligation to preserve and protect it. Enjoy your 4th of July and may it also be a day of thanksgiving as well. God bless America … and let freedom ever ring in the hearts of men.

Song of Freedom
Still ringing are the battle cries
Of freedom from the past
Sung out by brave young men who spilled
Their blood and breathed their last
Still waving is the flag
They proudly served and held aloft
Yet, we must be ever wary
Lest our resolve grows dim and soft
Our children need to know the legacy
Of freedom which is theirs
As the gauntlet passes on to them
For they are freedom's heirs
Sons and daughters of a liberty
Which was born of trial and strife
Paid for dearly by the countless men
Who gave both limb and life
We must keep the fire burning
May we never let it die
So our children's children's children
Know the sound of freedom's cry
It's not enough to just be born here
We have to guard our liberty
And pass it on so generations
In the future will be free
By Frank Carpenter ©

And here is the text of the Declaration of Independence:

“IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refuted his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
… and that’s how it all began, 230 years ago. May we ever let freedom ring.

And, if you’ve bothered to read this far, you deserve a bonus poem, which is one of my personal favorites on this subject:

The Voice of Freedom
I am the voice of freedom
The words of Franklin and Jefferson
The cry of Patrick Henry
And the cheers of the minutemen
Mine was the pen of Francis Scott Key
In the battle of Baltimore
As he saw the stars and stripes flying
At dawn on that smoke shrouded shore
I was at Vicksburg and Shiloh
Harpers Ferry, Pea Ridge and Bull Run
Lincoln spoke of me at Gettysburg
After that bloody battle was done
I was sung by immigrants
As they passed the Statue of Liberty
I was heard in the trenches of France
And I returned at Normandy
Twice, I spread across Europe
As my oppressors fell and fled
Rising out of the hearts of men
Who thought I was left for dead
Even today, I linger
Upon the lips of those who are just
Who right the wrongs of evil men
By making the sacrifices they must
Whenever a people downtrodden
Dare to whisper a prayer of me
Wherever a tyrant is toppled
By the ideals of democracy
I will be there, upon their lips
In the step, in the heart, in the eyes
Of those who struggle against oppressors
For I am their battle cry
I resound throughout the nations
Overcoming both doubt and fear
I am the voice of freedom
The voice all men long to hear
By Frank Carpenter ©

Anchors Aweigh

I have had the great honor and pleasure of participating in the lives of many fine young men and it’s always interesting to observe as they choose their path through life and embark upon it. Those feelings are especially poignant today, as two young friends depart to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. They are heading off to pursue their higher education, but they have also chosen a lofty and more difficult path as well. Rather than just heading off to college, they will begin with an exhausting summer of boot camp and indoctrination. They will receive one of the finest educations available and then they will be obligated to five years of service as naval officers. It’s a great education, but it’s certainly not a free education. However, I deeply respect their commitment and patriotism. It’s no surprise that these fine young men were both Eagle Scouts and come from strong, religious, conservative and supportive families. I am sure that I will have more to write about them later, but today we just want to wish them good luck, best wishes and farewell! So to Jon and Brandon, I join your families and friends in offering a prayerful, respectful and hearty “Anchors Aweigh!”

Anchors Aweigh
Dear brave young man we have known you
As your family and your friends
Since the commencement of your childhood
Where each man’s story must begin
We have watched with satisfaction
As you grew in every way
To the very brink of manhood
At this, your own induction day
You’ve flourished as a scholar, as an athlete
A brother, friend and son
And as an ambassador for Jesus
Yet those years formative are done
We have known from the beginning
That you were wrought of sterner stuff
That the well-trod path so many choose
Might not prove challenging enough
Indeed, as long as we remember
You have strived for something more
As visions of a different calling
Beckoned from a distant shore
You set your sights upon that calling
The one so few men know or see
Forwarding your application
To the US Naval Academy
And that lofty institution
Which accepts so very few
Promptly returned the compliment
By their acceptance of you
So now we stand together
We who know and love you so
At this juncture on your path through life
As you prepare to go
Behind lie all things familiar
With eighteen years of memories
While the course ahead must surely lead
Through as yet uncharted seas
Yet we trust the firm foundation
You have laid in life thus far
Shall serve to keep you on an even keel
When life’s tempests test your spars
And remember, as you travel
From youth, family and your home
That wherever life may lead you
You shall never be alone
For our hopes and dreams and fervent prayers
Will ever go with you
As will the guiding hand of God
Regardless what you choose to do
So as you loose your mooring lines
And toss them on the quay
Unfurling your new set of sails
As on the sheet you heave away
Look back upon us fondly
For as such will be our gaze
Then turn to sail courageously
From these protected bays
You were born to face the challenges
Reserved for but the best
Still we know that you are up to task
And ready for the test
We honor the achievements
Of your past high school career
Yet they are just the launching point
Of where you’ll go from here
And we can scarce imagine
Where the coming years may lead
But there is little doubt that they
Shall be remarkable indeed
So give your life and service
Everything you have to give
Young man, we are all so proud of you!
May God bless each day you live!
By Frank Carpenter ©

Fathers Day

Well, here we are on Fathers Day. Like most holidays on the calendar, this one is set aside to honor a particular group of important people which I have the great honor and pleasure to count myself among. My own children are far away and, since it was a busy morning just getting out the door to church, I didn’t give much thought to the occasion until the Fathers Day service began. Once it got under way, however, the full spectrum of emotions began to descend upon me. First of all, I was suddenly missing my own grown children and feeling nostalgic about past Fathers Days with little kids around to add their special magic. Those thoughts were heightened by the fact that just yesterday we were cleaning out old boxes in the garage and I had stumbled upon old Fathers Day art they had created in Kindergarten and First Grade. It’s tough to top those kinds of memories. This day is also somewhat somber because it reminds me of my own father, who passed away at the end of 2003. I don’t think about him every day, but there are certain days like this one which can be quite difficult for me. This is especially true because we had a very rich and long standing Fathers Day tradition with another family at an amazing estate up in the hills. That tradition continued for the last few years, even after his passing, but it was discontinued this year. Even when I was young, my dad wasn’t always around that much and during his later years he often lived far away. However, he usually came into town for Fathers Day, which I believe was more important to him even than Christmas. Now I find that losing him, along with our recently discontinued celebration, leave an enormous hole in this day for me. All that being said, I have also been blessed with the most amazing step-dad in history. He came into my life at exactly the right moment and filled all the gaps in my own father’s shortcomings during the formative years of my youth. I’m clearly and unabashedly opposed to divorce and I know that it causes significant emotional damage to a great many children. Somehow, however, God brought me through all that unscathed and gave me the perfect second dad. My real father was the distant and stern disciplinarian, the classic mythical father of that generation, but he didn’t excel at passing on all of the day to day lessons of life. My step-father, on the other hand, turned out to be the expert in that area. He is the shining example of love and devotion who was at the dinner table every night and participated in every imaginable and inconvenient activity we could dream up to test him with. And in that sense, he is just as much my dad. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from him for my own parenting is that fathers are made of blood, but dads are made of love. While this day is poignant in its sorrow for me personally, because of my loss, there is also great consolation in the fact that I have been twice blessed with fathers. Most men cannot claim to have found such good fortune. Now I realize many folks may read this who come from homes with painful memories and may not even feel as though they were blessed with one good father. There is, however, ample opportunity to celebrate other relationships around us. We’ve all had mentors and other family members who have participated in fatherly roles. We can also honor wonderful fathers in our extended families and acquaintances, as well as being good fathers ourselves. Even if we didn’t receive an honorable legacy in this area, we do have the opportunity to pass one on to our own children. That is the choice all of us can make. In conclusion, I must simply wish a happy Fathers Day to all of you and encourage you to show appreciation to the men in your life who are so deserving of it. All the best to you! God bless and farewell for now.

Gentleness

Of all the virtues, perhaps the least considered is that of gentleness. Nor do you find it praised much in the news or popular media for these are venues reserved primarily for the loud and the proud. Indeed gentleness, by its very nature, does little to call attention to itself. It is usually focused upon others and, therefore, may often be overlooked entirely. However, I have known some amazing men and women who exuded the virtue of gentleness, usually wearing it with grace and dignity. For there is a strength in gentleness which the world often overlooks. It isn’t the thundering strength of war machines or the redundant prattling of a noisy media. Rather it is the kind of quiet strength which patiently shapes the world. Just as solid rocks are slowly broken by the wind and rain and the roots of tiny plants, so gentleness works its way in world … one heart at a time. The rash, the mighty, the selfish; these are the ones who seem to rule the world. However, even though they may conquer and control the world they can never truly win it over. For the world to be truly changed it must be won over, heart and mind. Herein lies the strength of gentleness for it makes the world want to change itself. That is true power, but it can only be wielded by the virtuous, the patient, the loving and the kind. For gentleness, like humility, must well up from within and, likewise, instantly evaporates once self-proclaimed. So take a step back. Calm your spirit and try the higher path of gentleness. You will be amazed at what it can accomplish … and the world might just end up a better place because of it.

Gentleness
There is a strength in gentleness
Not often understood
But the power of a gentle hand
Can do the greatest good
One should never underestimate
The kind and gentle man
Who can change with love and patience
What the cruel one never can
Many a bloody victory
Was won by the iron fist
But victory over the will means naught
If the heart and mind resist
It is only the kind and gentle man
Who wins the heart as well
In the end his love and patience prevail
Thus many a tyrant fell
Brute strength and anger drive away
The real person inside
But the gentle man is a confidant
In whom others seek to confide
His willingness to listen
Also gives him the right to speak
His words are not the words of pride
And are heeded because they are meek
Politics and history
Belong to the selfish and strong
Who love the limelight and the power
And the masses follow along
But down at the root of humanity
Are the real heroes of life
Who change the world one heart at a time
Bringing comfort through trial and strife
Who heal and help and sacrifice
On the front line every day
They make the world a better place
To live and work and play
For it is the kind and gentle man
Who accepts with arms flung wide
The ones who chance to cross his path
Without the prejudice of pride
His contribution might seem small
To those who don't understand
But he is the salt of a hurting world ...
And the instrument of God's hand
By Frank Carpenter ©

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. This is the day each year when we, as a nation, celebrate the mortal sacrifices of our service men and women who have lost their lives in defense of this great nation. The exact origin of this tradition remains a little unclear, but it certainly grew out of the Civil War and some type of official celebration began shortly thereafter. At first it was Decoration Day, when the graves of fallen soldiers were decorated to honor them. Then it seems to have grown from there. For those of you interested in such history, I have pasted below what seems to be the actual history of Memorial Day for your further reading. At this time, however, I only wish to encourage any who read these words to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we all enjoy. Remember, also, that brave American men and women are out their risking their lives at this very moment on our behalf. I will not here endeavor to engage anyone on the politics of our current conflicts overseas, except to state our countrymen have died there and continue to live in harm’s way so they, both the living and the dead, deserve all of our honor, respect and support. Today is the day to hang up your flag, to say a prayer, perhaps even make a phone call or write a letter to those who have lost loved ones … or live daily with the fear thereof. Please don’t let this day pass without some act or thought of patriotism and gratitude. To that end, I offer the following poem in honor of those who paid the ultimate price for this great nation and our personal liberties.

Song of Freedom
Still ringing are the battle cries
Of freedom from the past
Sung out by brave young men who spilled
Their blood and breathed their last
Still waving is the flag
They proudly served and held aloft
Yet, we must be ever wary
Lest our resolve grows dim and soft
Our children need to know the legacy
Of freedom which is theirs
As the gauntlet passes on to them
For they are freedom's heirs
Sons and daughters of a liberty
Which was born of trial and strife
Paid for dearly by the countless men
Who gave both limb and life
We must keep the fire burning
May we never let it die
So our children's children's children
Know the sound of freedom's cry
It's not enough to just be born here
We have to guard our liberty
And pass it on so generations
In the future will be free
By Frank Carpenter ©

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
Information from : http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Preliminary Thoughts on the Da Vinci Code

Well, this is the long-awaited opening day for “The Da Vinci Code” movie. It promises to be quite an adventure and I’m really looking forward to seeing it. However, there has been a great deal of discussion in both secular and religious circles about many of the refuted historical issues raised in the story. I will certainly wait until after the movie to debate all of the doctrines in question. Nonetheless, I wish to remind my readers, most emphatically, that this movie based upon a work of fiction. Dan Brown’s very popular novel is not a book of history, but a book of historical fiction. That mean’s that he purposely manipulated the facts of history in order to accommodate his plot and story. So when you watch the movie please feel free to enjoy the ride, but always keep in mind that it’s just a movie. The danger is that folks who don’t possess an intimate knowledge of history and/or religion will form doctrinal opinions based upon a thought provoking, though basically false, story. Beware of that pitfall.

That being said, I will endeavor to address some of the more ambiguous discussion points next week … after each of us have had a chance to see the movie. At that time, many of us will have formed some opinions and it may be interesting to see where we all stand. In the mean time, enjoy the movie and the related conversations around the water cooler. In the end, however, my fondest hope is that you shall never look for truth in the fiction isle at your local bookstore or at the movie theater. If you should have any specific questions regarding this subject, please feel free to contact me at the email link above.

A Child's Eyes

Just now I’m sitting on an airplane, somewhere over Arizona or Utah. I was about to pen some wordy commentary about politics. Before I could begin, however, my heart and attention were captured by three small children seated nearby. We smiled and waved and made monster faces at each other and, in the process, I was reminded how amazing the simple joy of a child can be. Suddenly, all my lofty words melted away and seemed utterly unimportant. For what could be more precious or inspirational than the simple laugh of a child. Indeed, right here next to me sat the embodiment of unfettered joy, unspoiled by the prejudice and cynicism which erode the purity of our souls with the passing of time. In a very real way, I was observing the seeds or our future. And it gave me hope.

However old or important you may be, I encourage you to pause along the path of life and interact with children wherever you find them. Treat them with respect. Look into their wondering eyes. Listen to their laughter and songs and let that sweet music penetrate deep into your weary heart. Never let yourself become too busy to care about the most important people in the world, even if they seem to be the smallest ones. For, when seen through their eyes, this tired, dusty, worrisome old world still looks like a magical place filled with unlimited possibilities.

A Child’s Eyes
May I never grow too wise
To see things through a child’s eye
May I always seek the truth
With the innocence of youth
May I learn to love each man
As freely as a child can
May I daily kneel and pray
And with a child’s heart … obey
By Frank Carpenter ©

Mothers Day

Let us not forget that Mothers Day is this Sunday, May 14th. This is a weekend to honor all of our mothers and their contributions to our lives and families. I have been blessed with a wonderful mother, and all the more blessed by being married to an outstanding mother as well. Come to think of it, I even lucked out in the mother-in-law category. I guess I could be said to have won the triple crown of maternal good fortune. In honor of these women who have been so instrumental in my own life and happiness, I offer the follow poem. Feel free to copy my words down if you’d like to use them to express your own feelings to one of the mothers in your life. All that I ask is that you leave my name at the bottom. That being said, some of you have perhaps not had a positive mothering experience- that certainly happens. If you fall into this category, I would still encourage you to offer something positive to your mother or step mother because they went to a great deal of trouble on your behalf and probably love you more than you know. If you can’t even bring yourself to do that, then transfer your best wishes and appreciation to another mother in your life, such as friend or an aunt, and honor their example or treatment of their own children. And what if your mother has passed away? Then I suggest that you honor her memory by sharing her story or love with your own children, nieces, nephews or someone else in your life. We can all do something for this holiday. If you’re one of those cynics who think that all holidays were invented to sell greeting cards and flowers, then don’t prove your point by being a cheapskate and short changing someone you love who’d rather have a card than join your personal protest. Make your own card, cook a big breakfast or do something else creative. The fact is that we should be appreciating mothers every day so don’t waste your opportunity to do so this weekend. In closing, I offer my biggest thanks and mushiest “I love you” to my own wife and the other mothers in my life. May your weekend be a blessed one.

Thank You
I thank you for a thousand little things
Which really aren't so small
And for the countless, thankless jobs
Which upon your shoulders fall
I thank you for the time you take
And for your energy
For the way you balance everything
And how you love the kids and me
I thank you for your gentle touch
And for your helping hand
For always being there for us
And how you seem to understand
There are times to work and cook and clean
And times to simply stop and play
Our kids know they have the funnest mom
Which you prove again each day
Somehow you find a way to do it all
Perhaps far more than you ought to
But we really do appreciate
All those extra things you do
All the things that show how very much
You love the kids and me
And I thank God most every day
For you, and our family
By Frank Carpenter ©

A Final Blessing

To my regular readers, a heartfelt apology for not having posted anything the last week or so. I’ve been a little distracted by family business, but the best kind of business of all. This past weekend our son was married in Missoula, Montana, where he is just graduating from the university. It’s difficult to write from where I am, being somewhere out on the open road between Montana and California, but for any who are interested I offer the poem which I read during the ceremony on Saturday. Usually, I edit out names and genders in my personal writings before posting them in order to broaden their appeal for my audience. However, today I offer this most personal poem just as I recited it during the beautiful outdoor wedding that meant so much to our family.

I’m sure that my family matters are of little interest to many readers. However, weddings play an important part in the life and legacy of any family and serve as valuable milestones for us. These are the times when we gather to celebrate together and renew our kinship with friends and relatives who often live far away. These moments also remind us of some of the most cherished truths in life: the value of relationships, of love and fidelity, and the spiritual aspects of our marriages. We participate as witnesses before God to mankind’s most fundamental institution and have the opportunity to rethink our own vows and what they mean to a lifelong relationship.

So today I close with a wish for all the best to Chris and Lacey as they start their new life together and a big thank you to our new in-laws, the Jacksons, for their wonderful daughter and how much she means to our family. For all the rest of us, let this be a reminder of our own vows and commitments. And wherever you find yourself on the road of life and relationships, always remember that it’s never too late to begin your own happily ever after.

A Final Blessing
All those endless months of planning
And preparing now have passed
And the moment you’ve been waiting for
Is finally here at last
The culmination of your hopes and dreams
The answer to your prayers and plans
Now, here we stand with all your friends
And family near at hand
Just one more kiss and he’ll pronounce
That you are man and wife
Then you’ll turn to walk together
Down the aisle of your life
But before you take that final walk
I feel that you should know
Just how proud we are of each of you
And how we love you so
Our blessing is upon you
Our fondest hopes, our fervent prayers
Wherever life may lead you
Our best wishes follow there
May God grant you love and patience
And a faith which casts off fears
May His Word and wisdom guide you
Through the swiftly flying years
May joy and happiness be yours
May your home a beacon be
Which shines the light of God’s love
And may He bless your family
Dearest Chris and Lacey
Beloved daughter, honored son
Today you leave together
Not as two, but finally one
May you never lose the wonder
Of that most profound mystery
Cherish one another always
And may God grant you unity
May His hand of blessing ever be
Upon the two of you
May every happiness be yours
To last a whole life through
By Frank Carpenter ©

Reflections on Easter Week

Well, if you’re into religious holidays, this is certainly a red letter week. We had Palm Sunday last weekend. Tonight marks the beginning of Passover. Holy Thursday is tomorrow, followed by Good Friday and Easter. Religious holidays, while good reminders of the truth, can often cloud it as well. We are so easily distracted by the food, the fun, the ritual and social aspects of any holiday that it’s easy to leave God out of such a day - even a religious event. All celebrating, church services, egg dying and palm waving aside, I would like to redirect our focus to the person of Jesus Christ, whom we truly celebrate this week. This is the week that dozens of prophetic scriptures were fulfilled through His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), his eating of the Passover, His betrayal, His mock trial, His death on the cross, and finally His resurrection. We must remember, amidst all the other hoopla, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He actually lived, actually died for our sins, and actually rose from the dead. If any of those facts are untrue, then everything else we celebrate this week is pointless and we might as well sing our hymns to the Easter Bunny. If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Messiah, then we are all April Fools and that would be the only relevant holiday. Let us come back to the person of Jesus Christ. A lot of dramatic and public things happened during this, the last week of His life. However, I am most deeply moved by that quiet moment after the Last Supper, and just prior to His betrayal, when He knelt in the garden of Gethsemane and prayed. In that scene of anguish and compassion I most clearly see the Son of God choosing to suffer and die for me personally. Easter is a time to celebrate God’s victory over death, but the foundation of that victory is His great mercy and the sacrifice of His only Son on behalf of an undeserving world. If you have further interest, I have pasted below a partial list of prophesies fulfilled by Jesus during the final week of His life. Have a happy Easter and don’t be an April Fool.

Gethsemane
Jesus knew his time was drawing near
On the eve of that final day
With the weight of the world upon his heart
He came to the garden to pray
He alone knew His Father’s will
And understood His redemption plan
And though He was truly God incarnate
Still, He was fully a man
He knew that pain and suffering
And betrayal were moments away
As He pleaded with God and wept He knew
There simply was no other way
There, in the garden, that fateful night
With the lights of the city in view
Jesus, the Son of God, considered
All that He must go through
The tears of His sorrow freely flowed
That night in Gethsemane
For He understood his path must lead
To the cross at Calvary
He was Christ, the Lord, the King of Kings
Yet, He knelt upon human knees
And willingly chose that night to die
Because of His love for you and me.
By Frank Carpenter ©

Partial list of Prophesies Fulfilled During the Final Week of Jesus’ Life:
Triumphal entry in Jerusalem on a donkey
Zechariah 9:9, Mark 11:7–8, John 12:13–15

Betrayed by a friend
Psalm 41:9, Mark 14:10, 43–45

Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 26:15

Betrayal money returned for a potter’s field
Zechariah 11:13, Matthew 27:3–10

Accused by false witnesses
Psalm 27:12, Matthew 26:60–61, Mark 14:57

Offers no defense
Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:62–63, Matthew 27:12–14

Struck and spat upon
Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, John 19:1–3

Hated without reason
Psalm 109:3–5, John 15:24–25

Soldiers divide His garments and gamble for His clothing
Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35

Pierced through hands and feet
Zechariah 12:10, Luke 23:33, John 20:27

Executed with malefactors
Isaiah 53:12, Mark 15:27–28

Agonized in thirst
Psalm 22:15, John 19:28

Given gall and vinegar
Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, 48, John 19:29

No bones broken
Psalm 34:20, John 19:32–36

His side pierced
Zechariah 12:10b, John 19:34

Buried with the rich
Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:57–60

Deserted by His followers
Zechariah 13:7, Mark 14:27,Matthew 26:56

Resurrection
Hosea 6:2, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Luke 24:6–7

Ascension to Heaven
Psalm 68:18, Luke 24:50–51, Acts 1:11, Ephesians 4:7–10

Counterfeit

As I survey the world we share it becomes quite evident that things are often not as they would seem. In fact, our modern world is full of counterfeits which give us false impressions of beauty and value and skew our thinking in many important areas of life. Perhaps the biggest culprit is our beloved media, which offers movies, television and music for entertainment and enjoyment. These mediums, however, all proffer false realities and downright fiction that affect every part of our world view. For instance, actors, enhanced by surgery, makeup and special effects give us the impression that everyone should look perfect. The result is a whole generation of people who can never live up to such artificial standards. Thus men and women alike live under the judgment this vicious fallacy. One glance at the tabloids or newspapers, however, confirms that no matter how attractive someone appears on screen they are no better on the inside … and often worse. Beauty really is only skin deep, after all. It is much the same with precious stones and metals. With the right lighting, they all look good to the untrained eye. And so it is with many of the things which surround us.

This principle holds true in the spiritual realm of our lives as well. God has provided us with a world of beauty and blessing, but we continue to trade in the real thing for cheap counterfeits which lack intrinsic and lasting value. As mentioned above, our society sacrifices priceless inner beauty and character for temporal external beauty. We stand in line for food that looks and tastes wonderful, yet is terrible for us. We become addicted to various levels of pornography which cheapen the beauty, function and relationship God meant for us to enjoy with one another. We publicly condone and encourage homosexuality which, in my humble opinion, completely deviates from our intended design. We choose earthly pleasure over eternal righteousness. We trust money for security and happiness. The list goes on and on and, and in every case it’s a compromise. In each instance we settle for something less than God intends for us to enjoy in this world. And when we do so, we’re buying a cheap knock off from he who is the evil opposite of God. In a very real sense, then, God intends us for heaven, but we slowly settle for little bits of hell … until we become utterly accustomed to them.

My hope and prayer for us today is that we shall learn not to settle for anything less than the real thing, as it was originally intended. We live in a world of counterfeits. Yet, wise is the one who has faith enough to trust that God only wants the best for each of us.

Counterfeit
Believers know God has a plan
Yet, there is another plan in play
For the evil one is a counterfeiter
Who leads the weak astray
By imitating the good things
That the Lord prepared for us
Perverting them ever so slightly
So that we misplace our trust
He offers lust instead of love
Twists food with gluttony
Makes our work a quest for wealth
Turns blessings to depravity
He strews our path with idols
Of most every shape and size
Which clamor for attention
From our unsuspecting eyes
Tantalizing all our senses
With countless sugar coated lies
The great deceiver draws us into
His fateful web of compromise
Until we can no longer
Distinguish counterfeit from real
Wooed by his empty promises
With all of their appeal
So those who would be faithful
Must guard their hearts and minds
Against the world’s counterfeits
Lest they awake one day to find
That they have bought the bill of goods
The master counterfeiter sold
And traded all God’s blessings
For idols of mere fool’s gold
By Frank Carpenter ©

Television

OK, time for a pop quiz. How many hours of television do you watch per day or week? Don’t be shy because you’re not alone. As a matter of fact, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., “the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.” Well, that certainly puts it into perspective. The fact is that most of us watch a great deal of television. Maybe you only watch half as much as the average. That would still put you spending 4 or 5 years of your life in front of the TV. When I think about it like that, I start thinking that something has gone terribly wrong. What could I do with five extra years? Yikes!

Seriously though, when I consider all that life has to offer, I’m amazed at the time we’re willing to spend staring at the old brain box. It makes for an interesting study of our priorities. Now my family doesn’t pay for cable so we only get the alphabet channels, and there was even a time when our kids were younger that we turned the TV completely off for two years. However, it keeps sneaking back into my life and currently plays a fairly prominent role. I’m not exactly saying it’s wrong. However, like other areas of our lives, we have so many good options that we often settle for what may not be the best. (or highest or most honorable) I don’t want to preach too much on this subject so I’ll just offer you my poem, which can be found below and speaks for itself. Below that, you will also find another whole page of national TV watching statistics I came across which I find to be quite disturbing. If you Google the subject and read some of the studies, it’s really rather disconcerting to consider some of the secondary health issue which seem to tie back to all those hours on the sofa. I’ll let you do your own homework if you are interested.

In the meantime, take a moment tonight to consider what all those hours are worth to you and your family. It certainly was a slap in the face when I recently paused to reflect upon my own life and priorities in this area. Television is neither bad nor inherently evil, but it can take over our lives if we’re not careful. Perhaps this is one of those issues where the delicate virtue of moderation is best and wisely applied. In closing, my wish for you today is that your precious hours may be filled with the best that life has to offer and that you may cherish interaction over mere entertainment.

Wasteland
In my living room, a monster lurks
that threatens you and me
And I haven't strength to turn it off
the monster is TV
It fills my precious hours with naught
and charms my senses so
I hardly even realize
where all the evenings go
It baby sits the children
when I need them occupied
While assuring me it educates
but in my heart I know it lied
When I have a moment to myself
to relax or think or pray
I seem to turn the TV on
and the time is washed away
By a flood of sound and color
and a world of fantasy
Which leaves me numb and empty
but still wanting more TV
I can sit and flip the channels
until the early morning hours
Even though I don't enjoy it
I am helpless in its powers
While in the next room stacks of books
are piled by my bed
I choose the mindless entertainer
and the classics go unread
I have a beautiful guitar
a pool, an exercising bike
A host of interests, friends and hobbies
that I cherish and I like
I have a home in need of maintenance
and a dusty Bible too
How can I squeeze in television
when there's so much I want to do
I complain until I'm breathless
how I'm busy, tired and stressed
Then I sink back on the couch again
a hypocrite, obsessed
What message do I send my children
as they learn to deal with life
Are my priorities in order
with my time, my God, my wife
Are Vanna, Bart and Gilligan
worthy of my precious hours
Or are they just the bait
for something larger which devours
Honor, goodness and compassion
leisure, patience, quality
Have I ever read a survey
recommending more TV
No, it certainly is otherwise
and let there be no mistake
That this medium's proponents
are paid endorsers, on the take
Who would have me think it harmless
to watch a million people die
To import crime and infidelity
on purpose, right before my eyes
To have my children taught by actors
how life is and ought to be
So in the end, they can't discern
real life from fantasy
The time has come not to cut back
an hour or two a day
The time has come to pull the plug
and put remote controls away
I hear the world is a better place
because of our technology
But I know my life is emptier
when I fill it with TV
By Frank Carpenter ©

Television Statistics
According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.

I. FAMILY LIFE
Percentage of households that possess at least one television: 99
Number of TV sets in the average U.S. household: 2.24
Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets: 66
Number of hours per day that TV is on in an average U.S. home: 6 hours, 47 minutes
Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66
Number of hours of TV watched annually by Americans: 250 billion
Value of that time assuming an average wage of S5/hour: S1.25 trillion
Percentage of Americans who pay for cable TV: 56
Number of videos rented daily in the U.S.: 6 million
Number of public library items checked out daily: 3 million
Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49

II CHILDREN
Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000
Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful
conversation with their children: 3.5
Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70
Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73
Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV
and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54
Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

III VIOLENCE
Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000
Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000
Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79

IV. COMMERCIALISM
Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000
Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million
Percentage of survey participants (1993) who said that TV commercials
aimed at children make them too materialistic: 92
Rank of food products/fast-food restaurants among TV advertisements to kids: 1
Total spending by 100 leading TV advertisers in 1993: $15 billion

V. GENERAL
Percentage of local TV news broadcast time devoted to advertising: 30
Percentage devoted to stories about crime, disaster and war: 53.8
Percentage devoted to public service announcements: 0.7
Percentage of Americans who can name The Three Stooges: 59
Percentage who can name at least three justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: 17
Compiled by TV-Free America
1322 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 887-4036
Information copied from:
http://www.csun.edu/~vceed002/health/docs/tv&health.html

A Wedding Toast

Love seems to be in the air … at least the air around me, so I thought I’d do something just a little different. Today is the 16th wedding anniversary of my little brother and his dear wife. Tomorrow, one of my employees is getting married and at the very same time our friends are throwing a wedding shower for my future daughter-in-law. And, low and behold, there is also an additional wedding reception for my 3rd cousin and his new bride. Not to mention the fact that I’m still deeply in love with my own dear wife of nearly 25 years. I guess it really is the first week of spring. To that end I offer as today’s poem the wedding toast I gave as the best man at my brother’s wedding all those years ago. So it’s happy anniversary to you, Scott and Gina, and a toast to the other blessed events of this weekend as well.

Now, most of us aren’t getting married or celebrating an anniversary this week. However, these words may also apply to you, for everyone desires love and health and happiness and everyone deserves honor and respect. Wherever you are in your own marriage or relationship, take a moment to read through this simple verse for I offer it to you as well. Maybe one or more of these attributes or attitudes is sorely missing or you need to make some extra effort this week to rebuild your momentum. I believe that God designed marriage and it should be a source of joy rather than a cross to bear. In fact, some folks may even be teetering on the brink of separation or divorce just now, but there is yet much hope for you. It starts with an earnest prayer, perhaps some counseling, and a lot of love. Don’t give up, though. It’s worth the trouble and God will honor your stalwart efforts towards preserving and improving your marriage. You can even whisper a little prayer right now and take the words of this poem home with you tonight to call them you own. Pick just one of the words to work on and start from there, or read through 1 Corinthians 13 and choose a word from that passage of strength wisdom. Sometimes it’s difficult to begin, but even the clumsiest word from an honest heart is better than an awkward silence. If you need assistance, feel free to email me through the link above and we can talk it over as well. The first step is always the most difficult, but it makes all the rest of them better.

Perhaps I have strayed from my original subject a bit, but marriage is really the journey which two people choose to share after the ceremony. For all the preparation and stress the wedding is actually the easy part. So here’s to a lifetime of love, not only for those I have mentioned above, but for all who read these words.

A Wedding Toast
May love and health and happiness
Be yours throughout the years
May friendship and fidelity
Bring strength to cast off fears
May honor and respect and trust
Be ever on your hearts
What, therefore, God had joined this day
May nothing cause to part
By Frank Carpenter ©

In Times of Trouble

Sometimes it seems as if life gives us more than we think we are able to bear. Just as there seasons of joy and happiness, we all experience seasons of trial and sorrow as well. When those waves of darkness break against our shores it’s easy to become overwhelmed, to lose hope. Yet, we know that God is a friend to the broken-hearted and He has promised that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Does that mean we can expect everything go swimmingly and we will be exempt from trials? Certainly not. It merely means that in the big picture, in the light of eternity, God will use our circumstances for His greater good. In the short run, in the here and now, the tempests of life will continue to blow, bringing with them pain and trouble and woe. Take heart, however, for even when it seems that things are out of control, we can rest assured that God is still in control. He just doesn’t work on our schedule or perform according to our feeble human timing. He is powerful, but He is also patient.

But what about today? I cannot possibly know what you are going through right now and it may seem trite for me to wave off your pain with a promise that somehow everything will be alright. The internet is a relatively impersonal place and anyone with a computer, like me, can pass themselves off as an expert and deliver their particular sermon with impunity from the safety of their own home or office. So here’s the deal: I believe what I have stated above is true and that God has indicated it to be so in the bible. But that might not be enough … so if you are struggling or suffering or even questioning, click the email link at the top of this page and I will be happy to engage you on these issues. If you need support or advice I will endeavor to offer it. If you would like someone to pray with or for you, I will be happy to oblige. You are not alone, and whatever you’re going through you need not do so alone. I’m going out on a limb, but I’m also inviting you to do the same. So if you need it, let’s talk. Now if that sounds interesting to you, remember to use the email link and not the “comment” link because comments are anonymous and I’ll have no way to respond to you.

In the mean time, I encourage you to take a step back from your troubles and consider how they might eventually work out for the best, either for you or others. Somehow, God’s going to work it out. I am certainly not wise enough to fully understand that concept, but I do have the simple faith to trust God for what He has promised. I hope this has been helpful and I look forward to hearing from some of you if you have any needs or questions. May God bless you and keep you as you as we travel though this life together.

For the Glory
I’ve asked myself why a thousand times
And I’ve asked God a thousand more
How could he allow us to suffer so?
What purpose could this be for?
But the Lord doesn’t always explain things
In a manner which makes sense to me
So I have learned to put my trust in Him
In His counsel and sovereignty
He has promised all things work for good
And that He shall be glorified
Yet, it’s hard to see the glory
Through all the tears that I have cried
However, I know that the glory
Is shining somewhere up ahead
Somewhere just beyond my troubles
And we can trust in what God has said
So each day I search for the glory
In the trials that come to me
And they don’t seem so difficult to bear
In the light of eternity
By Frank Carpenter ©

St. Patrick's Day

Well, as we all know, today is St Patrick’s Day. Now I’m not Irish, but if you are, or if you are interested, St Patrick is considered the patron saint of Ireland, meaning that he was essentially a missionary of the Christian faith to that land. For your enlightenment, I have pasted the whole story of St Patrick and the origins of this holiday at the bottom of today’s posting. My question today is this: If you are a believer, what are you the patron saint of? How are you changing your little corner of the world? I think we’re called to be the St Patrick of wherever we are. You can be the patron saint of your family, your school, your work, your neighborhood, an athletic team, a car pool, whatever. It’s unlikely you’ll get your own holiday here on earth, but in the gospel of Luke (chapter 14) he records that, “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” That sounds like enough of a holiday to me. Wear green clothes and drink green beer if you must, but let this day always remind you that you might very well be the patron saint of your own little sphere of influence. That is a lofty calling indeed, yet one altogether worth rising to the occasion of. My hope and prayer for you today is that you’ll be able to look back at your life next week, or next year, and see how you may have affected those around you for the better. For whether you like it or not, you are having an impact on the world around you every day. Make that impact count. And while you’re at it, have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Origins of St Patrick’s Day
Just like many other holidays in the United States, St Patrick's Day has its origins in ancient times. A young boy named Patrick lived in the British Isles, a land that had been invaded and conquered first by the Romans and then by Germanic tribes. Patrick was captured and taken as a slave from the British Isles to what is now Ireland. He lived there for several years herding sheep. He was a religious boy and he prayed that he would someday return to his homeland. Legend has it that one night while he was praying, a voice told him to escape from the farm, and find a ship that was waiting for him two hundred miles away. Patrick got to the ship, sailed to Europe, and disembarked in what is now probably France. He led several of the ship's crew through a dangerous forest, praying all the time. Neither Patrick nor any member of his crew was captured. When some of the men were about to die of starvation, wild animals appeared for them to eat. Events such as these appeared to be miracles and gave rise to later legends surrounding Patrick. At home, Patrick felt that he was called by God to perform an important mission. He believed it was his duty to go back to Ireland and convert the Celtic people to the Christian religion. Patrick arrived in Ireland and became a missionary, traveling from village to village and talking about his faith. Once, several members of a tribe approached Patrick and told him that they found it difficult to understand and believe in the Holy Trinity. Patrick thought a moment, then stooped down and picked one of the plentiful shamrocks growing wild around Ireland. "Here are three leaves," he said, "yet it is one plant. Imagine the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as each of these leaves. Here they are, yet they are one plant." The tribesmen understood, because Patrick had used a familiar object to explain. From that time on, the shamrock has been a revered symbol of Ireland. Stories of Saint Patrick, for by then he was a saint, reached far and wide. His most famous feat is forcing the snakes out of the entire country of Ireland. Even though there are many different stories about how he accomplished such a task, it is probably not true. St Patrick died on March 17 and the Irish people set aside the day to mourn. He became the patron saint of Ireland. Mourning turned to commemorating him and celebrating his life. Americans have inherited this custom. On St Patrick's Day in the United States, millions of people celebrate whether they are Irish or not!
From: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blstpatricksday2.htm

My Next Breath

Today my words do not flow quite so easily, for their inspiration strikes closer to home. Last night, after years of battling with diabetes, kidney failure, lymphoma, and heart and stroke problems our friend Bob passed away. Actually, he is the father of a dear friend, but I have taken to visiting him these past few years when he has been more or less house-bound and he has become family to us. Bob was the original tough guy. He was a college athlete (at USC, no less), served in the Navy, worked as a policeman, and also as an investigator for the Department of Justice. Nothing breaks your heart more than seeing a tough guy crippled by disease and recent years had taken a heavy toll on him. In the end, it proved to be a battle he simply could not win. Yet this story, which probably seems all together too familiar, has a happy ending. You see, Bob knew another tough guy named Jesus Christ, who also suffered and died. However, Jesus was the Son of God and with His death he paid the price for all of our sin and reconciled us back to God. Jesus rose from the dead and promised that anyone who believes in Him and accepts His sacrifice for their sins shall also be rescued from death as well, and spend all of eternity with Him in Heaven. That is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus, a well-founded hope for a better life in a better place. Long ago, Bob made a decision to trust his life to Jesus, which assures him a place in the hereafter. In the here and now, however, the past week has been an excruciatingly difficult one for Bob and his family, but last night something wonderful happened. It doesn’t yet feel wonderful to those of us who are left, who mourn his loss, for we’ll need some time to mend and come to terms with how our own lives have been affected. Yet, we know in our hearts that Bob is far better off today than he was yesterday. For once he took his last breath here on this earth his very next breath was in heaven, and we can scarcely imagine what that must be like. Now Bob knows. Farewell, old friend.

My Next Breath
At the end of the darkest tunnel
No matter how black it may be
No matter the pressures or pain I feel
There is someone who comforts me
He pierces the gloom of my sorrow
Understanding the fears I must face
My God is the hope of tomorrow
Where He waits in that glorious place
In the moments when I truly suffer
When I'm frightened and gasping for breath
Even then, I am strong and triumphant
For I have cheated the prince of death
No disease or disaster can rob me
Of God's promise of victory
For I have been chosen to meet Him
At His throne to spend eternity
So what matter if I draw my last breath
And this life is taken from me
My next breath will be in heaven
And oh, what a breath that will be
By Frank Carpenter ©