Sunday, June 29, 2008

Ocular Fusion

Today, continuing on our sojourn after the CSC, we had the great pleasure of meeting in person, in his very home, with his very family, Mike the Eyeguy. Yes, that Mike the Eyeguy, and Eyegal and sons No. 1 and No. 3. We even got to watch a little soccer together, including Spain's winning goal in Euro 2008.

The EyeFam welcomed us graciously with coffee and sweets, and EyeGal even broke out their sons' old toys to entertain our little girls, although K and B most were mesmerized by their 13-year-old, living gold fish.

Thanks for the hospitality, Dr. Eyeguy. We hope we get to see more of y'all.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Three Days in the The Life of the Mind and the Public Square

My wife and I just returned from the Christian Scholars’ Conference at Lipscomb. My parents were graceful enough to watch the girls for the duration, and J is such a nerd that she thought it was actually a cool date to spend three days at an academic conference. She transformed from ultra-mom back into academic-professional, and I think she enjoyed it for a little while.

On the first day, we celebrated baby K’s 2d birthday in the morning, with ice cream and cake at 9:00 AM. Then we headed to the New Jerusalem and made a bee-line for the most beautiful campus in the land, with apologies to a certain sea-side resort. J and I even took some time to go running together throughout Vandy, then checked into our hotel in the loveliest office park in Dixie, all sweaty and stinky. We’re hardcore. We then registered at Lipscomb and basked in a thoughtful, thorough review of the life and times of Bill Frist by the Senator/Doctor himself, complete with photos of his Capitol office. After that, we took in a movie, “Hearts Divided,” with the filmmaker, Steven Martin. We got to spend a meal with Rev. Martin talking and criticizing his piece, and I hope that we all will watch his career and ministry as a documentarian.

On the second day, I enjoyed the privilege of presenting two papers in the sessions on poverty, sustainability and service learning. This young law prof was in high cotton with some serious minds and teaching ministers, and I learned much across the disciplines. We attended other sessions along the way before enjoying a meal with more interesting folks and then drinking in some gospel from one of my favorite preachers. Wallis raised the roof, and I leave with renewed energy and devotion to the good work God has given me to do as a peculiar sort of public interest lawyer, writer and teacher.

Tonight we’re back home with the girls after a good roadtrip with another friendly blogger and his academic wife. The Wisers were a pleasure, and the time with them was worth the price of admission.

Here are some parting conclusions:

1. We have a crush on Lipscomb. The school is leading the thoughts, the vision, the facilities and the work of colleges in the Church of Christ tradition. At this point, we all should look to Nashville for exciting innovation and ministry.

2. Despite our idiosyncrasies, our tradition indeed turns out some brilliant minds and generous scholars. In dialog across disciplines and among diverse schools (68 in fact), we knew we were participating in a worthy, useful, fruitful enterprise.

3. Next year, the conference again is at Lipscomb, and the theme is “The Power of Narrative,” and I’m already working on a thesis. I hope this can be a standing gig.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

TWO!



Happy Birthday, Scout!

I love you.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Fair, Balanced and Classy

Fox News, unhampered by decency, free from the travails of civility.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

History

The states ratified the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery, in 1865.

Plessy v. Ferguson established the constitutional principal of "separate but equal" in 1896, which remained the law of the land until 1954.

The next year, Montgomery experienced a bus boycott.

President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

He signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the same year a great host marched from Selma.

May we bear proper and right witness to a moment resonating in our history this very night, a moment that may take its place among all of these mighty lurches toward justice.

Yes, we can.