what the hail?

hatching something new

We've been in the kitchen for a while, and we're ready to take First Born Son 3.0 out of the oven. But it might only be half-baked.

In other words, we've made some changes to the blog (and there are more to come).

A very special "hat tip" to the little brother for the pic of the eggs (from Singapore) and to Leslie Elizondo for re-designing our banner.

Stay tuned for more about the heart of the blog, a new U2 review, commentary on the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War, and a story about setting a happy place on fire.

first born daughter

On January 23, 2009 at 12:28 in the morning we welcomed our first child into the world. She weighed 7 lb. 15 oz. and was 20.5" long. Both mother and baby are doing wonderful.

We named her Sadie, which is a Hebrew name meaning "princess" (the Arab/Hebrew combinations continue :)

Before we were even married Jenn said we needed to have our first child before I turned 36. Well, my 36th birthday was on January 28... which means I made it with 5 days to spare. For those of you who know me well, I have always managed to wait until the last minute to get things done, and I guess this was no exception.

Sadie has had quite the first week: The worst ice storm in Arkansas history came through two days after she came home from the hospital. A quick drive around Fayetteville reveals a war zone left after an epic battle between ice and trees... with the trees suffering shock and awe. We lost power for a good while a couple of times, which meant candles and extra blankets during mid-night feedings. We had family staying both with us and at a hotel. But when the power went off for good at the hotel we shuffled sleeping arrangements and everyone moved into our house. So for almost 3 days we had:

newborn baby + ice storm + no power + 7 people under our roof = come Holy Spirit!!!

But all is well. We are quickly adjusting to the "new normal" which includes broken sleep, sudden high-pitched screams and endless diaper changes (all of which are SO worth it to enjoy the beauty of parenthood). But F.B.S. has not forgotten about some of the other big events last week, like a new President and the latest out of the Middle East. Stay tuned...

Can You See Me Now: Calling Sadie's uncle in Singapore minutes after she was born.

First Born Blanket: Leaving the hospital in the same blanket my mother knitted & brought me home in 36 years ago.

Ice, Ice Baby:  Covered in a 1/4" shell of ice, my truck tells the tale of the storm.

truth in advertising

I once came across an ad in the New Yorker for Israeli tourism. Above the image of a woman dancing freely on a peaceful Tel Aviv beach was the phrase:

"You'll love Israel from the first Shalom."

At the bottom right was the campaign tag line:

"ISRAEL. No one belongs here more than you."

Most good advertising paints a distorted, if not utopion, view of reality. But they are expected to have some element of truth. Shalom of course means "peace" but it also implies the idea of "complete" or "perfect." So compare this advert - with it's notion of shalom coupled with the idea of everyone being welcome - to this map of Palestinian loss of land from 1946 - 2000. The green represents land owned by Palestinians, the white Jewish.

Ethnic cleansing is defined as "the killing or mass expulsion of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group in a society."

Consider the following:

> Palestinians in the Gaza Strip may not stay in or establish residence in the West Bank (even if they have family there, which many do).

> Palestinians are not allowed to enter East Jerusalem (only Israeli Arab citizens).

> Palestinians are not allowed to travel in or out of the country from Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

> Palestinians who work in Israel must have a work permit (that their employer must apply for in person).

> Permits are required to go the hospital in East Jerusalem (the applicant must provide an invitation from the hospital and a complete medical history).

> Permits are also needed to farm land, travel to see family in other territories, transfer goods, etc.

Of course there are over 600 Israeli checkpoints which Palestinians must maneuver to get around in their own land (and the number keeps increasing despite promises to decrease).  And don't forget: Palestinians do not get a vote in the government that establishes these rules and regulations.  

During this most recent war between Israel and Gaza, one of the most ignored questions was: Why? Why is there so much animosity towards Israel from Occupied Palestine? To blame it on religion or culture is too simple and too ignorant. Yes, citizens of Israel have a right to live free from rocket fire. But can you imagine the United States tolerating any other place in the world where people are not allowed to vote, travel, work, or otherwise live as human beings because of their ethnicity?  

How tragic that a people who suffered one of history's worst ethnic cleansings have a government that engages in another form today. Sadly, too many American politicians do more than just allow for it... they almost encourage it. And what's more, the only one in the "media" who seemed to call it out during the war was the Jewish comedian.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Strip Maul

(Palestinian restrictions & permit info from Haaretz - Jan. 19, 2007)

on prophets & palestinians

The words of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. For those who have ears to hear...

Shout! A full-throated shout!

Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!

Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,

face my family Jacob with their sins!

They're busy, busy, busy at worship,

and love studying all about me.

To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people—

law-abiding, God-honoring.

They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?'

and love having me on their side.

But they also complain,

'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?

Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

Well, here's why:

The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

If you get rid of unfair practices,

quit blaming victims,

quit gossiping about other people's sins,

If you are generous with the hungry

and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,

Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,

your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.

I will always show you where to go.

I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—

firm muscles, strong bones.

You'll be like a well-watered garden,

a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,

rebuild the foundations from out of your past.

You'll be known as those who can fix anything,

restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,

make the community livable again.

Isaiah 58 (The Message)

first born broadcast

Last month I was given the opportunity to share at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I was given the final Sunday in a series on Abraham (which also happened to be World Communion Day).

I delivered my usual First Born Son "stump speech." Those of you who have been with F.B.S. for a while have heard this before (though there are a couple of re-mixes and additions).

If you want to give it a listen, you can find it here.

Also, I am a (sometimes) regular contributor to the Sojourners blog God's Politics.

You can read my pieces here.

Salaam. Shalom. Peace.