Chia Obama?

Let me get this right. For some reason the makers of the chia pets (and other chia products) find it necessary to now introduce Chia Obama? Welcome, Mr. President, to the ranks of those immortalized forever as chia characters including Shrek, Scooby Doo, and Homer Simpson. There has only been one other time an actual person, not a cartoon character, has been made into a chia head. According to this Wikipedia article, that honor goes to Mr. T.

I'm disturbed by the statement from the commercial, "Your Chia Obama is a symbol of liberty, opportunity, prosperity, and hope. Chia Obama makes the statement, 'I'm proud to be an American.'" Explain how this planter in the shape of someone's head symbolizes those things.

The statement it makes to me? "Some Americans will do anything to earn a buck; others will purchase anything given the right marketing."

Should we be offended by this?

A Slip of the Tongue

We've all made them. We've all said things we've had to apologize for. I'm fortunate that I've never made one on a late night television show. I'd like to extend some grace for President Obama regarding his "Special Olympics", but I'm having a hard time with it. It's personal for me. That's my son that is being mocked. I've heard the apology, but the sting is still there. It's all over our society, the disabled are still a minority that it's okay to mock. How many times have you heard a joke about riding the short bus? The short bus is a reality for me. Every day I walk down my driveway and get Peanut off of a short bus. He absolutely loves riding the bus. He gets the most precious, excited look on his face when you ask him about the bus. He even made up his own sign for the bus, he waves his little hand in the air in an arc. But then I think about a few years from now when he hears his first "short bus" joke and the thing that brings him such joy now, will make him the butt of a joke.

Instant Celebrity

I'm watching the Letterman interview with the pilot and co-pilot of the flight that landed in the Hudson a few years ago. It strikes me while watching these guys how weird it must be to be an instant celebrity. The co-pilot was quoted as saying, "I want my old life back."

Joe the Plumber. There's an instant celebrity that has managed to somewhat capitalize on his fame and seemed to enjoy the spotlight. His celebrity hasn't made a difference in my life, but more power to you if you can make a buck off your fifteen minutes of fame.

Did you watch the Obama town hall in Fort Meyers, Florida today? We have a new instant celebrity, folks. Let me introduce you to Julio Osegueda. If you didn't see it, here is a video for your viewing pleasure (it is pretty funny):



I am looking forward to see where Julio takes his new found fame. McDonalds commercial? Guest journalist for CNN?

Inauguration Day

Regardless of who you voted for, you have to admit that today is a historic day. Our nation's first African-American president is taking the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States. I think it is fitting that the inauguration bumped up against Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

If you are anything like me, you've watched many of the festivities on the television, so I will not be recapping those for you. Instead, I am going to make some random observations and thoughts.

1. Michelle Obama is much taller than Laura Bush. I think she's got her by a foot!
   
2. There sure are a lot of celebrities at the inauguration. How on earth did they all get tickets?
3. President Washington was supposed to be buried in the capitol building. That's a piece of trivia that is news to me!
4. If you add the net worth of all the dignitaries and celebrities at the inauguration, I bet it totals more than the GNP of some small countries.
5. Wasn't it cute how former President Bush and Barbara Bush had matching purple scarves on?
   
6. I did not really need that mental image of Barak Obama's underwear. Thanks Katie Couric.
7. I cannot imagine the immense pressure on the Obama girls. But how thrilling, too!
   
8. Whoever that lady is who dropped her purse, I can't believe she kept walking even though it was obvious that she knew she dropped it. The man in uniform saved the day by handing it to her!
9. I wouldn't want my mother-in-law living in my house (or my mother for that matter). It is a good thing the White House is so big!
10. The overhead camera shots of the crowds are really impressive.
11. Michelle Obama's outfit for the inauguration is much better than her choice for the victory speech.
12. I find it interesting that Obama compares himself to Lincoln. Wasn't Lincoln a republican?
    
13. Interesting that the vice presidential oath is longer than the presidential oath!
14. I feel bad for Dick Cheney that he is having to spend the day in the wheelchair due to the strained muscles from moving.
    
15. I hope the seats that Biden and Obama were sitting in where heated! Brr!
16. Only Arethra Franklin can pull off a hat like that and make it look good.
    
17. Biden is the first Catholic Vice President.
    
18. Yo-Yo Ma is so great. He looked happy the entire time he performed with his group. Isn't it just like John Williams to write music for a historical event as this?!
    
19. Bush's term ended at noon. Since Biden was sworn in before noon and Obama wasn't sworn in until 12:05, Biden was president for a brief time there. I think he did a GREAT job! I mean, he didn't get any policies passed, or do much of anything, but he didn't mess up anything either!
    
20. I think the Obama family got a kick out of the stools for the girls to stand on during the presidential oath.
21. I wonder if Obama had a hard time repeating during his marital vows? Of course, this is a much bigger stage, and I would be nervous and not able to pull it off seamlessly myself.
    
22. Obama's scripture quote, "It is time to put away childish things" is from I Corinthians 13.
23. I'm curious as to why there are no cameras on the military men and women overseas watching the inauguration. There are cameras on them during the Superbowl.
    
24. I think 150 million is a bit excessive to spend on this ceremony (and all the festivities surrounding it), but that's just me. Don't get me started on the national debt!
25. Did anyone else hear the whispering during the poem reading and again during the prayer?!
26. I echo some of my friends' facebook statuses: the benediction was more poetic than the poet.
27. I really liked how the out-going president got to hear Hail to the Chief for the last time while arriving and the new president got to hear it for the first time after being sworn in.
    

So, those observations were not all reverent, but they were the thoughts that went through my head!

Esther and Obama

I am in the Beth Moore study of Esther. So far, we have only completed the first lesson which is an introduction to the book of Esther. If you have a moment, check out what my friend Christy has to say about the Esther study. (Oh, and the "dear friend" she refers to is my Mom!) I was surprised to learn, despite having a minor in Bible from Moody Bible Institute, that the book of Esther has no mention of God's name in it at all. *jaw dropping to the floor* Despite that, we can still learn a lot about the character of God through this story. For example, isn't it just like God to choose someone weak through which He can show His strength?

Obviously, Esther was a woman. Back in Old Testament times, that didn't afford her the same opportunities that women get today (like voting and equal pay for starters). People of that time saw women as powerless. Secondly, she was Jewish. In the kingdom of Persia, the Jewish people were outsiders, aliens in the country. She was a foreigner. Although she was probably acclimated to the customs and language of the land, she still was seen as being a non-Persian, a second class citizen. Yet, God used this woman to change the course of history. God can control the outcome of any situation. He holds the hearts of kings in His hand and can turn them wherever he wishes.

We are on the verge of a new ruler here in America. Regardless of how you personally feel about our president and our president-elect and regardless of how you cast your vote, you can rest assured that God is in control of the office of the Presidency and nothing that our new President Obama plans to do or will do will surprise God or thwart His plans. Whenever he wishes, God can go and stir the President's heart to turn this way or that.

Isn't it comforting to know that God is in control of human affairs?