GOD PROTECTS HIS GLORY

 

By Martin Smith

I was recently asked to speak at a church breakfast on the value of community for men. Speaking to a small group has always been easy for me, but large crowd events bring a certain pressure and uneasiness. Greater preparation and scripting are needed to produce something worthwhile of people’s time.

After devoting a significant amount of time to prayer, research and draft writing over several weeks, I felt good about the talk. 

The day finally arrived, and I was excited. There is great relief when these events are finally ‘in the can.’ I got to the church very early as I normally do, and immediately a young first-timer came up to me to talk. He was looking for one of the pastors but decided to share his situation with me. He was burdened by several things, and we had a great discussion. I prayed with him and invited him to join my small group. It was one of those God arranged interactions, and I thought it was so great for the morning to start out that way. God was on the move as He always is.

I made my way to a table near the platform, and shortly thereafter the event leader and a few of my small group members showed up to sit down as well. Soon 204 men filled the room, a large crowd for a typical summer. The event leader also brought a Catholic friend of his and we began to get acquainted.

He soon brought out a book that he was reading and shared how much he was enjoying it. As I looked at the cover there was a description noting that the writer, Patrick Morley, was also the author of The Man in the Mirror. I was a bit shocked in the moment, because through my research I planned to use a quote from that book, but credited a different person. As this man shared just minutes before my talk, I scrambled to do a search with my smartphone on another possible book with a similar title. But no, my source was from an article written by the head of an organization with the same name, founded by Morley following his publication.

I quickly committed Morley’s name to memory, and almost immediately was welcomed to the stage. More than the shock I felt, I was filled with thankfulness that God had directly arranged for me to avoid the embarrassment that would have come with this error. The author is well known, and certainly many in the audience would have recognized the mistake. It had been so many years since reading the book, I had forgotten the name of the author.

After my near disaster and still enormously amazed, I told the story to my wife when I got home. What an incredible God this is who would intervene on something relatively minor to save me from making a public error that could have diminished my credibility, and even the credibility of the church I was representing. Consumed with a massive sense of gratefulness, I sat down to take it all in. 

And then it hit me, or more likely the Holy Spirit hit me. I searched for Scripture to process my revelation and was drawn to Isaiah 48:9-11. John Piper describes this passage as the one text that “reveals the passion of God for his own glory.” When I am so easily self-centered in thinking about my circumstances and the world around me, God brings clarity to what life is really about. We find His words in Isaiah:

For my name’s sake!

For the sake of my praise!

For my own sake!

For my own sake!

How should my name be profaned!

My glory I will not give to another!

The most fervent heart for His own glory is God’s heart. God’s consuming focus is to preserve and display the glory of His name. And only He is worthy of all glory, praise and worship.  

I was certainly the beneficiary of His actions that day, and there is no doubt in my mind that He directly intervened to save me and the church from this error—but ultimately this was about the glory of the Most High King of the universe. And how awesome it was for a moment to be the one to peer into that glory!

The Believer's Dilemma--Part II

 by Marty Smith

It has been about five months since the 47th presidential election and it feels like we have been riding on a bullet train without brakes. I don't believe history will show any U.S. president that has accomplished more in such a short period of time as Donald Trump. It was also wrong of me to assume that liberalism had become so pervasive that we would be cursed with more of what we endured in the previous four years.

Instead, the prayers of many were answered. No savior had arrived, no eternal solutions were provided, and no peace and tranquility would be guaranteed—but an abatement of many evil policies would be secured, if only for a temporary period. It is almost as if the Lord acted as He did when stirring up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to support the Jewish state in 559 to 530 BC. In our case both the man and many voters came together to do something truly significant for the U.S. and arguably the world.

Ironically, contrary to its present-day regime, Iran (known as Persia prior to 1935) has a great history of showing good will toward the Jewish people. And it was Cyrus the Great who allowed the conquered peoples from the Babylonian invasion to return to their homelands and worship in their own way. His policy was revolutionary and, according to Scripture, was part of God’s plan to bring the Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem.

Though not a perfect comparison, one would have to admit that the election of President Trump and everything that has happened to this point is radical in its redirection and impact for Christ followers as well as others. God appears to have guarded the president from assassination and other potential obstacles to place him in office for the express purpose of changing the course of things.

Some of my Christian friends are seething at the thought. As I laid out in my previous article, there are certain believers who have nothing but disgust for the president. They could not fathom Donald Trump in office for a second term even if to execute a portion of God’s purpose. And now, they write countless posts expressing their anger and liberal rants that even some pastors praise.

But God is moving as He always does, and regardless of anyone’s ideology or dislike for the president, there are many changes that every single believer should joyfully acclaim:

The list so far:

1. Protection of children from same sex and trans-sexual grooming in schools
2. Ensured parental rights against sex change secrecy and treatments without parental notification and involvement
3. Codification of God’s binary gender design
4. Outlawed treatments and the mutilation of children for sex transitions
5. Protection of women athletes from biological male participation
6. Dismantling of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and related indoctrination of children
7. Protection of children from same sex education, drag shows, etc. designed to influence children with unbiblical philosophies
8. Protection in the freedom of religion and elimination of law-fare against persons of faith
9. Protection against federal laws that provide for all abortions without restriction
10. Expansion of parental choice for charter and home schooling
11. Protection against antisemitism in addition to other race-based discriminations
12. Protection of free speech

My hope and prayer is that this trend will continue, and that most of all, children who are not yet able to reason wisely for themselves, will be protected from the evil that is being pushed upon them. Come, Lord Jesus.

The Believer’s Dilemma

 by Marty Smith

For decades I have avoided political discussions as a follower of Christ, believing they distract from the gospel and the mission God has for us. Historically, the differences between political parties seemed relatively minor from a biblical perspective, making this path fairly easy to follow. The one exception, of course, would be the issue of abortion after the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. But things took a drastic turn leading up to the 2020 election when many of the country’s leaders moved largely toward far-left policies. This shift made it impossible for me to avoid taking a stand against government positions that clearly contradict God’s Word. 

During this period, though, it was astonishing to me that several of my Christian friends ignored these obvious developments. Worse, they appeared to be swayed by dangerous leftist narratives that conflicted with Scripture. Their disdain for Donald Trump and his behavior seemed to give way to the support of left-leaning philosophy despite the clear contradiction with biblical teaching. 

As the 2020 election approached, I heard numerous charges against Trump including immorality, dishonesty, narcissism and divisiveness from several pastors and church leaders. It would be difficult to disagree. Later, there was a palpable sense of relief when Joe Biden was elected. Many adopted an ‘anyone but Trump’ perspective or believed Biden was a man of faith, high character and sound principles. But an honest review of Joe Biden’s history would show otherwise.¹ 

From a biblical perspective, both men seemed to be on a path of destruction as John Piper pointed out at the time.² Wayne Grudem, in his pre-election article³, argued that a Christian's choice should be based more on an individual's policies and their alignment with biblical principles rather than personal character. And if character was to be the singular measure, it would be an arduous challenge to judge one of these men as the clear winner.

Some Christians treated the election decision in a cavalier fashion, as if their vote didn’t really matter because God would control the outcome. God is certainly sovereign over all things including elections. But I don’t believe this absolves us of responsibility. Christians should recognize the weight of their votes that in turn influence policies and outcomes. It seems only reasonable that we would be accountable for the decisions we make and the leaders we support. 

Almost four years later, the initial celebration of Biden's election and Trump's departure by left-leaning Christians has presented an interesting dynamic. With a new election approaching and Biden not running for re-election, the policies of the past three and a half years are likely to persist and worsen without a change in direction and leadership. Will they double-down on their support? Or will they do what they said they will never do: vote for Donald Trump? 

I wonder if these Christians are proud of the leadership they supported. What honesty, transparency, and character would they celebrate? Which policies and actions would they defend as biblically aligned? What unifying leadership would they contend has helped reduce the division and polarization in our country? What influence and laws have they pursued to protect and benefit the population, particularly the millions of vulnerable children in this country? 

The moral decline often portrayed as progressive and compassionate by the world, is deeply troubling to mature followers of Christ. Under the guise of "awakening" to a supposed truth, many have been led astray from the gospel and biblical truth. Consequently, some churches have become more focused on social justice, sexism, economic philosophies, and LGBTQ acceptance, believing that these activities reflect love and compassion. But a close examination of left-leaning leaders and their platforms prior to the last election made it clear that love and compassion was never the objective. Satan is very clever in disguising his purposes. 

So, what have we actually experienced under the Biden administration that many professing believers so willingly supported? Let’s take stock of recently accelerated trends: 

• Destruction of the Family—The nuclear family has been under attack like never before. Organizations such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), scores of school districts and LGBTQ related groups have actively worked for the destruction of biblical definitions of male and female as well as the institution of marriage—all of which have been supported directly or indirectly by the radical left and our current government. One recent example is a bill signed into law by Governor Newsom in California that forbids school district teachers and leaders from notifying parents regarding children who want to identify as a different gender. 

• Destruction of Biblical Influence—The front line of the anti-God agenda in the West is being waged through a number of LGBTQ movements fully supported by the Biden administration. The movement to secularize society is being driven by overturning cultural and biblical norms concerning faith-based ideology, gender, sexuality and marriage. Christianity is increasingly being viewed as conflicting with healthy public policy. Same-sex recognition is being pushed by every corner of the government, military and public agencies. And the astounding part of this story is that many professing Christians are buying into the movement in certain ways. Some Christian leaders are now recognizing the identity of same-sex attracted individuals as if to say this sin pattern is immutable and part of a person’s identity. But our identity as Christians is in Christ alone along with the power to change, regardless of our sinful tendencies. 

• Binary Gender to Gender Fluidity—Traditional, biblically defined gender roles are being replaced with fluid concepts of gender. Options of all kinds are being recognized. Much worse is that leaders within the Biden administration, e.g. Dr. Rachel Levine, are pushing zero age limits for children to decide their gender, along with any surgical or other transitional treatments they may want to pursue. These children cannot drink alcohol, drive a car, vote or carry a weapon, but these leaders say they should be able to make irreversible decisions about their gender as a minor. 

• Redefinition of Marriage—God created one man and one woman for holy matrimony which is foundational to societal stability and moral order. However, same-sex marriages have now been codified as the law of the land in this country. More drifting into the abyss is coming. There is already pressure to normalize perversions such as adult-child sexual relationships along with a variety of newly identified genders. Almost any imaginable union will easily become law under a leftist government. Left unchecked pedophilia, for example, will not only become acceptable, but it will be celebrated as the newest form of love and marriage. Child porn will no longer be illegal. 

• Biblical Justice to Critical Race Theory (CRT) —The biblical structure of justice is being supplanted by CRT that pushes systemic oppression and racial categorization. Scripture teaches that our identity is found in Christ, not in our skin color or ethnicity. We are united under the gospel as one body in Christ, transcending all racial and ethnic divisions. But under CRT ideology, a person’s identity is viewed through the lens of skin color and victimization that in turn promotes division, resentment, and in reality—racism. Amazingly, some Christian leaders have voiced support for this largely Marxist based ideology. In truth, this belief system must be rejected to “uphold the biblical principle that we are all equal before God, striving for true justice and reconciliation through the Gospel’s transformative power.” (Dr. Joseph Mattera) 

• Killing the Unborn, Including Late Term Abortions—While liberals argue that this is untrue, data shows that 10,000 babies’ lives are lost every year through late term abortions. 66 million total unborn have been taken and counting. This has long been supported prior to the current administration, and it will continue to drive the liberal agenda despite the fact that God created and knows each and every little one within the womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) The Biden administration outwardly supports complete and full “freedom for a woman to choose.” How are we not complicit in this evil when voting for left-leaning leaders?

• Indoctrination of Children through Community Events and Education—The most egregious and Godless influences from the radical left led by this administration is the methodical indoctrination of children toward sinful beliefs and actions. Special emphasis has been placed on events that condition children to see transgenderism, same-sex attraction and underage sexual experiences as good and fulfilling. But instead, it is the path to spiritual destruction. Events and celebrations such as Pride Month, Transgender Day of Visibility, National Coming Out Day, LGBTQ History Month, Transgender Awareness Week, and drag queen story events are being propagated across the nation to help reshape young minds against the Word of God and toward sinful perversions. Many and most of these are supported and funded by Democratic leaders. CRT related themes are being taught in school districts and colleges across the country that work to destroy meritocracy and elevate victimocracy. 

Matthew 18:6 …but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Even sinful teachings such as racism and murderous terror have been defended as just and appropriate when it comes to certain people groups—in the most recent case, the Jewish community. All of it is supported by numerous leaders within the Democratic Party, and by default, Christians who vote for these individuals support this movement as well.

God’s Word teaches us to be alert to worldly philosophies masquerading as truth. We are called to expose them and the sin that follows. Paul says in Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” 

Satan is a master at making certain of these perspectives appear to be compassionate and just. As such, it is all the more vital that Christian leaders be willing to clearly and unapologetically call out sinfulness. Without bold, spiritual leadership, many more will be led into destruction. 

All said despite these truths, without God’s direct intervention it seems likely that these liberal candidates will amazingly win again in November. Even more amazing is that many professing Christians will vote to support them. Whatever the outcome, though, God’s purposes will play out exactly as He has planned. But as part of this heavenly process, my prayer is that every believer will avoid human reasoning or emotion and wholly submit to the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

Come Lord Jesus! 

¹Joe Biden’s Character Problem – WSJ – The Wall Street Journal ; Washington Post Fact-Checker Gives Up on Recording Biden’s Lies – Yahoo ; John MacArthur on Biden, Trump, Immorality and the Church, The Christian Post; Anti-Christian bias in the Biden White House 

²”I will not develop some calculus to determine which path of destruction I will support” John Piper on the 2020 presidential election

³Letter to an Anti-Trump Christian Friend – Townhall, by Wayne Grudem; A response to my friend John Piper about voting for Trump; Pastor John Piper and the 2020 elections: A respectful response; by Michael Brown, The Christian Post

The Church Divided: Questions for Progressive Christian Liberals

By Marty Smith

For as many years as I can remember, it was easy to separate and avoid politics from Christian ministry. The presence of politically driven issues has always been present to some degree, but they always seemed to be a distraction from the true mission of the church—making disciples who in turn make disciples. And any commingling of political and spiritual discussion easily could devolve into cultural disagreements not helpful to making disciples.

That all changed with the George Floyd murder, BLM, COVID and a host of changes in the political landscape that have never happened before in this country. Before anyone realized it was happening, many evangelical churches were drawn into the social justice arena like never before. Systemic racism was the evil, and the Church had been weak in its stand against injustices suffered by the African American community, or worse, a silent or even active participant in this racism. At the same time, an upcoming election was on the horizon that would be Donald Trump’s re-election bid. Christians began dividing between those who thought President Trump was almost messianic and those who thought he was an evil man on the path to destruction and had to be removed. He was a racist, an adulterer, a liar—and so on.

Many Christian leaders and churches became party to the belief that systemic racism was widespread. They didn’t really know much about the BLM organization, but they concurred with the phrase "black lives matter." Donald Trump was a supposed narcissist who struggled with the truth, and although they previously had avoided political discourse, they were now willing to criticize the president and push political solutions.

Then, the 2020 election happened. It is at this critical juncture that I came to a pivot point. It seemed to me that when it comes to spiritual things, both Trump and Biden were personally on a path to destruction, as John Piper wrote in his opinion prior to the election—but with very different convictions and policies. And while past differences between the Democratic and Republican Parties seemed relatively small, this made them seismic, and deserving of a much a closer look by the Church. 

The tension between many Christians grew enormously. For those considered mature in their faith, I thought it would be obvious that the policies of conservatives would be viewed as more aligned with biblical teaching. The personal beliefs and behaviors of the candidates should become a secondary consideration since the long-term effects after he or she is out of office must be considered, like possible Supreme Court Justice appointments.

Strangely, many believers I considered spiritually mature did not think this way. Many were supportive of the liberal candidate with little thought of the consequences of his policies. From my discussions with several of these folks, their decision had more to do with a disdain for the behavior and rhetoric of Donald Trump rather than support for Joe Biden. In truth, I completely understand some of these sentiments. President Trump’s comments and self-adulation were oftentimes over the top for me as well.  But what should guide me in my decision? Since both candidates were deeply flawed, who should I choose? From there it became clear to me that the policies and convictions of the individual and his Party platform in relation to Scripture was the appropriate determinant. Thus the answer quickly became obvious.

However, what seemed so clear to me was not clear to some of my spiritually mature friends. As a result, a fracture of sorts occurred. The Gospel is still primary in our beliefs, love and unity among the brethren still essential, but there is an uneasiness with those who have supported what I consider to be the most radical governance in history. It is understandable to me that young and immature believers might come from a background of leftist thinking, and may continue to hold those beliefs, but I cannot get my head wrapped around believers who know the truth and yet do not hold to biblical positions on things like the status of the unborn, gender design, parental responsibility, sexual purity, and racial inequality. How does anyone professing a devotion to Christ glaringly ignore parts of Scripture they just don’t like or want to follow?

So, rather than making a case for the policies on the right that are more biblically aligned that I could discuss ad nauseam, I thought it better to provide a list of questions for my left-leaning Christian brothers and sisters for the purpose of seeking to understand. Maybe it is I who needs to see things differently. That is perfectly ok—and is, by the way, my frequent prayer.

• What is your biblical support for teaching racism and the elimination of meritocracy to children in our schools through Critical Race Theory (CRT)?
• What is your biblical support for sexualizing children as young as three years old?
• What is your biblical support for leading children to believe they can be a different gender than the one God created them to be?
• What is your biblical support for allowing young children to have medical procedures to become a different gender without their parent’s knowledge or consent?
• What is your biblical support for teachers who believe that our children are theirs while in the classroom, and not their parents?
• What is your biblical support for the Equality Act that increases the rights of LGBTQ+ persons to the point that it reduces religious freedoms?
• What is your biblical support for endorsing the killing of over 60 million unborn children up to and even beyond the day of birth?
• What is your biblical support for same sex marriage?
• What is your biblical support for not following the laws of the nation when it comes to legal immigration?
• What beliefs or policies of conservatives do you think contradict biblical commands?

So, there it is—the sad divisions between Christians that feels like an abyss. Unfortunately, some believe that government is the solution to the problems of mankind, but this is a most destructive lie. Christ alone is the answer in every scenario of life and government. 

At the end of the day, though, I am still greatly encouraged because God alone is in control. All of the chaos and evil in this world will come to an end in His timing and for His glory. What a glorious thing it is to be in Christ, no matter what happens on earth.

Local Churches Make a Difference in Fremont, California

Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison, Resonate Church Pastor Ryan Kwon and Thornton Jr. High Students
Make a Difference Day 2014

Several local churches poured their hearts into Thornton Junior High on Make a Difference Day, October 25, 2014. Registration had to be closed because of the overwhelming interest in the project, as 450 volunteers signed up to do handyman chores, cleaning and landscaping. Despite pouring rain for most of the morning and a maxed out parking lot, people came in droves. The school, located at 4357 Thornton Avenue in Fremont, also heavily promoted the event, and many students were there to help.

Make a Difference Day in Fremont, California

The Junior High is well maintained, but needed some beautifying after years of normal wear and tear. Principal Stan Hicks asked for landscaping at the front of the school for curb appeal, something he'd always wanted but could never find room for in the budget. He was pleasantly surprised when he was asked for a longer To-Do list for the cadre of volunteers, and he provided his wish list.

Principal Stan Hicks, Vice Principal Harry Pabley, Pastor Scott Taylor and
Volunteers With a New Picnic Table

Hicks said, "I've been here eight years and this is the biggest community outpouring I've ever seen." The basketball court needed re-striping and new hoops and backboards, the stage and a boys' bathroom needed paint, classrooms needed cleaning and weeds had to be removed. Students have been eating their lunches sitting on the blacktop, so eight new picnic tables were purchased and installed outside. One extensive project was rebuilding the bleachers with new lumber.

Thornton Jr. High Students Thank Sponsors

Christine Szeto, Coordinator for the workday from Resonate Church, says that the only reason they were able to accomplish as much as they did was because students, parents, community members, and multiple churches came together for one cause-to make a difference at Thornton Jr High. Businesses and organizations also participated by donating food, supplies, and funds. Sponsors included Chipotle, Dale Hardware, Dino's, Francis Donuts, Friesen Painting, Prime Metropolis Properties, MM Landscape Services, Noah's Bagels, Peak Performance Physical Therapy, Starbucks, Sunstate Equipment Company, Thornton PTSA, Sayf-T-Bar and Kelly Moore Paints.

Repaired Basketball Hoops

Make a Difference Day is a yearly national event, and the City of Fremont always participates. 100 projects were in progress, and Resonate Church's effort was the largest. It attracted the attention of Mayor Bill Harrison, who came midday to see the volunteers in action. "I've seen so much energy here," he said. "Thanks for giving back; that's important." Superintendent Dr. Jim Morris and School Board Members Desiree Campbell and Larry Sweeney also came to express their appreciation.

Repairing the Bleachers

photos by Christine Szeto and Steve Davis

 

Resonate Church strives to be of benefit to the City of Fremont and the surrounding community. They meet on Sunday mornings at American High School, 36300 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, for services at 8:30, 10:30 and 12:30 a.m. Grace Church Fremont meets at 9:30 a.m. and Cedar Boulevard Neighborhood meets at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Saved By Jesus

photo by imagesbuddy.com

"Would you like to come to a revival service with us tonight?" my classmate asked. I was seventeen, searching for meaning and purpose, and overcome with shame and guilt over some things I'd done. My high school had a few students who curiously carried Bibles, and I wondered if they had any answers.

Salvation Testimony

Overcoming my pride and embarrassment, I ventured some questions. "How do you know God exists?" And then, "Would He really care about me?" I felt so insignificant in the cosmos. 

I agreed to go, but the service that night wasn't the Billy Graham experience I'd expected. It was in a small church attended by only a handful of people with a speaker from Tennessee. His dramatic sermon about Jesus' death on the cross hit me squarely, and I felt my spirit stirring. At the close, the congregation sang, "Just as I am without one plea, but that your blood was shed for me, and that you bid'st me come to you, O Lamb of God, I come, I come." An appeal was made to the audience: "If anyone wants to know how they can go to heaven someday, please come forward and there will be someone for you to talk to." 

I felt awkward but compelled to learn more, so I left my seat and walked down the aisle, where the preacher's wife took me aside to answer my questions. She showed me sentences in the Bible but had to decipher them because the ideas were so foreign. I wondered if God would truly accept me as I was or if He would require me to clean up my life first. I was resistant to change though I desperately needed it. "Do I have to quit drinking?" I asked.

That elegant woman, who I later learned had never touched a drop of liquor, assured me, "No, you come to Jesus as you are." Jesus has already done everything on the cross, so all I had to do was lay my sin at His feet and accept the salvation He freely offered. There was nothing I could do to make Him love me more, and nothing I could do to make Him love me less. I didn't know how to pray a non-repetitious prayer, so in my head I spoke my thoughts. "God, I want what this lady is talking about."

Immediately I felt as though someone had wiped my soul clean. The burdens I'd been carrying were lifted, and I could feel it in my heart. Then I remembered something a nun had taught me years earlier, that all the angels in heaven rejoiced when a baby was baptized.

It occurred to me that the kind, well-meaning sister probably had it wrong. It probably wasn't when a baby was baptized, but when someone was doing what I was doing right at that moment. Thus my first encounter with Jesus was followed with the realization that angels in heaven were rejoicing. Over me. Though in the universe I may have been smaller than an ant, the God of creation did notice me, and He did care for me.

My life has never been the same.

Read more: Remember The Cross

Touring the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Taking a tour of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) in San Francisco  is an educational, fascinating thing to do. The western branch of the United States' Central Bank is the largest one in the country, and a great resource for learning how American currency works.

Free Tours San Francisco

For tourists or locals sightseeing in one of the most expensive cities in America, the best thing about the tour is that it is no-cost. It begins in The Fed Center lobby at 101 Market Street, located above the Embarcadero Bart Train Station. The area itself is a tourist spot, near the Ferry Building, Embarcadero Center and Embarcadero Promenade, for those interested in more exploring afterwards.

First, every visitor must have a photo I.D. and go through security checks similar to airport security procedures. No cell phones are allowed inside, and the place is understandably guarded with bullet-proof glass, sensors and cameras to ensure complete safety. Once inside, a hallway lined with flags leads to a room with a map on the wall with the twelve Federal Reserve Bank locations and their branches. San Francisco's includes the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, plus the territories of the Pacific Islands. The FRB's purpose is to be an economic shock absorber, protecting the economy from its boom and bust cycles. The FRB's monetary policy is twofold: to help the economy maintain stable prices and to have maximum employment.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
101 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

Then visitors take an elevator to the shipping and receiving area in the basement. Money is the product the FRB processes, and massive amounts of it are taken in and out. Though bills as high as $100,000 were printed in the past, the highest denomination today is for $100. Workers operate under several checks and balances to make theft an impossibility, as millions of dollars daily pass through their hands.

Across the hall is a massive warehouse acting as a vault, and visitors can peer through its gated entry before moving on to the counting room, where dollar bills are examined and judged as fit, unfit or counterfeit. Bills in good condition sail through, but tattered ones totaling about $75,000,000 per day are shredded. The ones suspected to be counterfeit are set aside for the United States Secret Service to investigate, a duty they have in addition to protecting the President.

The tour progresses to the Currency Theater and Museum, where a short video is viewed before people peruse one of the rarest collections of currency in the world. Historic dollar bills line the room, starting with continental currency printed during colonial times. Engraved notes by Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere inspire awe, but each bill in the collection is priceless. After the American Revolution, private notes were used until the Civil War era, which spawned Union and Confederate notes, and interesting fractional dollar notes were circulated. The FRB came into being in 1913, which allowed a central currency, and a world currency that started during World War II. A $1,000 watermelon note similar to one in this collection recently sold at auction for 3.4 million, indicating how precious this collection is.

Visit the Federal Reserve Bank

The tour ends in a large exhibit area with interactive displays that teach facts about money and American finance. Also, each visitor receives a souvenir packet of genuine shredded U.S. dollars, which the FRB has such an abundance of, they recycle the paper into roof shingles, insulation and fireplace logs.

A limited number of people are allowed in each tour, which are scheduled two weeks ahead of time. For those interested in going, they will need to sign up on the FRB's website. The entire presentation takes ninety minutes. For those looking for something unique to do in San Francisco or are simply interested in how the Federal Reserve works, it is well worth the time spent.

Read more:

• The Walking Tour of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco
• Walking Tour of Embarcadero South in San Francisco
• Things To Do in San Francisco Bay

The Parent Coach



photo by Brian Sawyer

The Parent Coach

There goes a man

who loved a sport dearly

and tried to be great,

but others surpassed,

so he gave up the dream

and turned to his son.

“You will succeed,”

he said from on high.

“You will be great,

and all due to me.”

So he took on a team

and made his son star,

and told all his players

“I want only first place!”

He yelled at them all,

especially his boy,

and the son struggled hard

but it wasn’t his gift,

and in the end failed

and gave up the goal.

But the team knew the truth:

their feelings ignored,
their innocence crushed,

sport was now war,

and the casualties great.

The coach blamed his son

for his failure in life,

and the boy took the blame

because he was shamed

and never looked back

or loved it again,

for the memory stuck

of the coach who had trained him,

a man that he loved

who had sadly betrayed him.

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There goes another
who shoulders a burden
most parents won’t touch,

for he’ll teach without pay
and care at great cost.

A fan himself,
he knows his game well

and chooses some boys
to pass on his skill.

Expecting so much
of the players he’s chosen,

he drills them with skills,
cheers and corrects,

and they give it their all
to learn and to win

not only for self
or just for the team,
but they want to win

especially for him.

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond Book Review

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
by Essie Mae Washington-Williams

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond is an interesting read because of the scandal it would have created had the truth of Senator Strom Thurmond's illegitimate black daughter become public knowledge during his heyday. A racist politician in South Carolina who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1948, he most famously opposed the Civil Rights Act because it would cause the "mongrelization" of the South.

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond by Essie Mae Washington-Williams

In 1925, Thurmond was a wealthy twenty-three-year-old Southern man who took advantage of a black maid named Carrie. He frequented the garden and kitchen where she worked, and became interested in the beautiful young teenager. When a daughter results from their union, Essie Mae, she is squirreled away to live with an aunt, whom she calls 'mother' and doesn't meet Carrie until she is thirteen. Her surrogate mother conditions her to keep silent about race issues, and she meekly complies. 

Washington-Williams insists Thurmond loved her mother despite the uncrossable cultural gulf spanning between them, and cites evidence to support her belief. When Carrie takes her to meet her biological father, the girl carefully scrutinizes their behavior with one another. She picks up on some feeling between the pair and writes, "They were in love, clearly in love," a sad attempt to make sense of her birth. Thurmond also regularly supports Carrie with envelopes containing hundreds of dollars in cash, continues to see her throughout her life, doesn't marry until she dies, and most importantly, has a relationship with their daughter. He guides Essie Mae to a negro college in South Carolina and even visits her on occasion. He supports her with the same envelopes of cash her mother has received and always treats her with kindness.

Senator Strom Thurmond and His Black Daughter

However, Washington-Williams' natural craving for a sense of identity apparently leaves her with a romanticized version of events. She glaringly overlooks the clues indicating Thurmond's lack of love in its true definition. He keeps his liaison with Carrie a secret from almost everyone, especially his mother, a powerful figure in his family. The money he gives Carrie and later to Essie-Mae seems like a fortune to them, but it is in untraceable cash and is spare change when compared to his family's vast wealth. And when Carrie dies at thirty-eight, he not only doesn't attend the funeral, but he was unaware that she had even been sick. He never states that he has loved Carrie, and when Essie Mae finally asks him the question her readers have been waiting for, "How could you have loved my mother?" he doesn't answer. To his credit, he doesn't hurt Essie Mae by admitting an obvious but harsh truth, that lust is not love and physical intimacy doesn't guarantee commitment. 

Her moment of clarity comes after studying Southern history in the library when she says, "Southern racial orthodoxy... made me feel like the worst blot my proud, white family could conceivably have." By her own admission, Washington-Williams says "white men were entitled, by nearly divine right, to have the run of the hen house, or slave quarters." 

It is telling that Washington-Williams doesn't write her memoir until after Senator Thurmond's death. The man has kept Carrie and Essie Mae a carefully guarded secret, and they never demand the acknowledgement and full relationship a legal wife and child are entitled to. His daughter never upsets the apple cart of his well-ordered life and reputation, but she does eventually give in to her desire to declare her existence when she writes her memoir. It does contain photos, but there are no pictures of Carrie, which is disappointing. 

On rare occasions when Thurmond sees Essie Mae in public, he introduces her as a family friend. He never acknowledges his paternity. She is a skeleton in his closet, but she can't face this painful reality, claiming repeatedly that she knows he cares about her. Thurmond was obviously a conflicted man, and Washington-Williams is fortunate she didn't divulge the truth when it would have damaged her father's career. Who knows, her compliance may have even spared her life.

Source:

Washington-Williams, Essie Mae and Stadiem, William. Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 2005.

Read more book reviews:

• The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy
• Queen by Alex Haley
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

The Art of Racing in the Rain Book Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a heartwarming story written from a pet dog's viewpoint. Enzo's master Dennis, whom he adores, is a race car driver who demonstrates his mastery of the sport in his life off the track, too.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

"Your car goes where your eyes go," says Dennis in a conversation, with Enzo listening in. "No race has ever been won in the first corner," he adds, "but many have been lost there." Enzo observes that Dennis is emotionally intelligent and in control of himself despite the pressures of making decisions at high-speeds. When Dennis has victory within his grasp in an important race but loses because another driver has rammed into his wheels, he only blames himself.

"Getting angry at another driver for a driving incident is pointless," Dennis says. "You need to watch the drivers around you, understand their skill, confidence, and aggression levels, and drive with them accordingly." Dennis believes that any problems he encounters on the track are ultimately caused by himself because he is responsible for where he is and for what he is doing. Thus Dennis takes responsibility for his devastating loss because of his vulnerable position to a lesser experienced driver, and then he emotionally moves on.

Dennis faces obstacles of many kinds beyond the dangers of his career, like his wife's cancer, resentful in-laws and the custody battle over his daughter. He maintains his wits to survive and conquer based on the skills he's acquired from high-speed racing. Enzo is his faithful companion, frustrated because he can't speak human words to communicate his loyalty, love and friendship, but Dennis seems to know it anyway.

Anyone who has observed their beloved pets uncannily communicate feelings through body language and facial expressions will relate to this novel. Enzo is a loyal and beloved companion many can identify with, and the lessons he's gleaned from Dennis are artfully passed on to the reader. The Art of Racing in the Rain would be an excellent choice of a book for teenage boys to read.

Read more book reviews:

• The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy
• Queen by Alex Haley

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Peanut Butter Protein Balls
photo by Kitchen Goddess

Looking for a healthy snack recipe that is easy to make? Try Peanut Butter Protein Balls, and keep them on hand for a better alternative when sugar cravings strike.

Recipe for Peanut Butter Protein Balls

This concoction was devised by my health-conscious and very beautiful sister-in-law, who wanted a tasty snack at mid-afternoon or before bedime that wouldn't be too caloric. She loves peanut butter and honey, and when she combined it with protein powder and flax seed, found a real winner of a recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 mL) organic peanut butter (the natural kind where the oil separates and needs to be stirred)
• 1/4 cup (59 mL) honey
• 1/2 cup (118 mL) protein powder or whey powder, preferably vanilla-flavored (use one that is 80 calories for a 1 scoop/20 g serving)
• 2 heaping tablespoons (30 mL+) ground flax seed
• 1 heaping tablespoon (15 mL+) of nonfat powdered milk or the protein or whey powder (the reason for adding the powdered milk is because it is more economical and doesn't change the flavor, especially when making this recipe in bulk)
• 1/4 cup (59 mL) Rice Krispies cereal, uncrushed (optional)
• 1/4 cup (59 mL) finely chopped nuts (optional)
• 2 oz. (57 g) of dark chocolate (optional)
• 1/4 cup (59 mL) of unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)

The Missing Ingredient for Good Health

Directions:

1. Mix the peanut butter, honey, protein or whey powder, flax seed and nonfat powdered milk (all the ingredients except the optional ones) together slowly with an electric mixer; the consistency should be like Play-doh. Note: Raw almond butter has been substituted for the peanut butter, but the consistency of the balls were drier.
2. Add the Rice Krispies and then by hand, form the dough into 12 round balls. The Rice Krispies add a nice texture and also stretch the dough.
3. Place the balls on a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Melt the chocolate over low heat in a very small bowl.
5. Put the chopped nuts and the coconut in two other very small bowls.
6. One by one, dip the balls in the melted chocolate, nuts or coconut and return them to the plate. 
7. Refrigerate them for another 30 minutes before eating or transferring to another container. The balls should be stored in the refrigerator and last a couple of weeks. This recipe makes 12 balls, each about 100 calories with 9 grams of protein. 

Some of the protein, energy and meal replacement bars sold in stores offer only an illusion of nutrition because they contain too much sugar, sodium or chemicals. Why not make your own snacks at home without the unhealthy additives? Peanut Butter Protein Balls are easy to make, taste great and are sure to become a family favorite.

Read more: How to Make an Attractive Fruit Platter

What is Biblical Womanhood?

photo by Anastasia Lander

Common sense tells us that because of the unique way God created the first man and woman, there must be specific gender roles. God created Adam first, and after allowing him to feel acutely aware of his loneliness, caused a deep sleep to come over him and used one of his ribs to fashion Eve. Human beings are made in the image of God, male and female, and God saw that His creation was good.

Biblical Womanhood and Christian Femininity

Men and women are equal in value yet differ in role function, and this is a paradox we live with. The Apostle Paul likens this arrangement to the human physique, with a head and a body, and we can learn from his metaphor. Man is the head of the woman, but what is a head without a body or vice versa? The body works cohesively with the head leading and the body following. The two are connected and cannot exist apart from one another. Each cell of the body communicates through the nervous system to the brain, and in a healthy organism, the head makes decisions to take care of its body. If a person burns his hand, the nerves quickly send pain signals to the brain, and the brain communicates in a nanosecond the command to remove one's hand from the fire.


Some people reject the idea of female submission as expressed in the New Testament because it appears unfair and risks exposing women to mistreatment. This is a valid concern because all men are sinners, but women do have the responsibility to confront any sin through the authority they have in Jesus Christ. Their ultimate head is Jesus Christ, who is sinless and always takes care of His body. Yielding to a man's leadership based on the principle of Biblical submission may be a scary proposition to some women, but their doing so will help them to develop trust and overcome their fear. And of course, they should bathe all their decisions in prayer.


If a woman centers her life around Jesus Christ, she will be empowered to live out her gender role effectively. Her character will provide evidence of what is transpiring in her heart, and the proof of her faith will be in the tangible fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The Lord had a plan when he created the two genders, and when they operate in tandem, the result is very good.

“Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.”

--David O. McKay

Read more:

• Women Elders in the Church
• What is Marriage?

   

Queen by Alex Haley Book Review





Queen by Alex Haley

The biography Queen by Alex Haley offers an interesting window into American history, seen through several generations of the author's family. Queen was Haley's paternal grandmother, a biracial child of the plantation born before the Civil War, but she doesn't appear on the pages until the latter third of the book. The story begins in Ireland with the Jackson family in 1797, where son James is banished and must emigrate to the New World. He becomes a pioneer who helps tame the wild frontier, becoming very wealthy in the process, and erects a plantation estate in Alabama. His son Jass takes the story through the Civil War, fathering Queen through a pet slave named Easter.

Queen by Alex Haley

Southerners held some shocking beliefs, like all men were not created equal and that blacks were animals without souls. They also thought the white man had to take care of negroes because they were too ignorant to take care of themselves. Their pre-Civil War economy couldn't exist without cheap slave labor, and they fought to the death to maintain their way of life. The stark philosophical differences over slavery between the Northern and Southern States culminate in the bloody Civil War, which devastates Jackson's plantation. The lies undergirding the South have to be confronted and their will broken, but the bitterness Confederates feel after losing the Civil War is palpable.

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However, the problem of slavery has to be addressed. Sally Jackson thinks that "there never should have been a union" eighty years earlier, and that the country should have been divided into two nations at its inception, one with slaves and one without, but she also acknowledges that slavery would not have been an ideal to fight for the way liberty is. Her beliefs typify Southern hypocrisy, allowing the easy rape of black women, mixed race children denied paternity by their white fathers, and the dehumanization of people. Though negroes were thought of as livestock, the whites who slept with them never considered their behavior to be bestiality, a great sin in the Southern Bible belt. Miscegenation was taboo and an anathema, but still practiced by the white massas without retribution.

Tragic parts of the book include the Indians' Trail of Tears, the sale of Annie, Queen's betrayal by Mrs. Benson, the murder of Davis, the burning of a barn where newly freed blacks are hiding and Queen's rape by Digby. Despite the sad parts of the biography, redemptive acts abound. Cap'n Jack teaches Queen how to read and write, and her massa/father brings her children's books. Jass also has an epiphany when Easter dies because he realizes that she does have a soul. Most heartwarming is the unfailing love of Alec Haley toward his troubled wife Queen. The future for their progeny is bright, and only two generations later, a boy named after Alec becomes a celebrity writer to relate their story to the world.

The Jackson and Haley family history is set during the tumultuous early years of the United States, when the founding fathers' ideals were sorely put to the test. The country eventually does the right thing and conquers her hypocrisy over slavery, the growing pains she experiences on her way to becoming a great nation. Readers will find sad nuggets of truth in Queen, but it is good to be aware of America's mistakes to prevent their recurrence. The novel complements Roots and both books should be of great interest to any student of American history, particularly black history.

Source: Alex Haley, Queen, the Story of an American Family (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1993).

Read more book reviews:

• Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond by Essie Mae Washington-Williams
• Roots by Alex Haley
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Clara and Mr. Tiffany Book Review

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is an interesting novel, giving readers a glimpse into the behind the scenes world of the Tiffany Glass Company and the captive lives of women during the Victorian era. The decorative art pieces showcased in the company's Fifth Avenue store in New York belie their less glamorous happenings backstage.

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

Clara Driscoll apparently was the creative genius behind Mr. Tiffany's legendary leaded glass lampshades. She was the one who came up with the idea and then with her department of female artists, fashioned designs inspired by nature. Louis Tiffany admits, "I've always thought that women have greater sensitivity to nuances of color than men do," but he takes all the credit for the finished products, untouched by the sacrifices given by his employees. The Tiffany girls were expected to remain single, couldn't vote and weren't allowed to join unions. It was a man's world and Clara, true to the era, accepts their lot in life. She asks her employees to pledge their commitment to the work over love, and most comply. Clara Driscoll's contributions to stained glass art were unrecognized until 2005, when letters she'd written were discovered.

Clara is frustrated by the limitations of womens' roles and does play a part in the slow process for gender equality by her dedication to her job and her promotion of unionizing female workers, but she still acquiesces to the men in her life, especially Tiffany. He is wealthy beyond belief, selfish and flamboyant, and disregards the feelings of his wife, daughters and female employees in all his decisions. Despite his flaws, Driscoll feels closely bonded to him, but he rarely returns the sentiment. One day she cries in his office over the death of Wilhelmina and he offers her one of his monogrammed handkerchiefs, which becomes a keepsake to cherish, wrapped in tissue and stored in a drawer at home. Later her expensive lamps become an unsustainable enterprise for the company and have to be discontinued. She is deflated that Tiffany allows this defeat, lamenting that he let "commerce triumph over art."

Vreeland's exhaustive historical research is evident in the book with her references to the erection of the Flatiron Building in Manhattan, author O. Henry's appearance at a local restaurant, song and book titles, and the new subway. She mentions the brothels, mansions, lobster palaces and a stable on Broadway that Clara and her friends walk past on their way to Times Square the first New Year's Eve in 1907. They watch the giant ball lit with electric lightbulbs descend from a flagpole for the first time. The novel is written in the superb Vreeland style, and should be of interest to anyone who loves the Victorian era and especially, Tiffany glassware.

Sources:

Susan Vreeland, Clara and Mr. Tiffany (New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2011).

http://www.tiffany.com/

Read more book reviews:

• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy

Roots by Alex Haley Book Review

Roots by Alex Haley

The underreported history of African-Americans comes to life in the classic story Roots by Alex Haley, a Pulitzer Prize Winner in 1977. Haley wrote that "preponderantly the histories have been written by the winners," meaning white people, thus the dearth of information about slave history. Haley pieced his own genealogy together through family lore, maritime and linguistic research and a poignant visit to Africa. His ancestor, Kunta Kinte, was kidnapped from Juffure, a village in Africa near the Gambia River, and shipped to Maryland to be sold as a slave. It is the story of hope, familial bonds and survival over the cruelty of mankind.

Roots by Alex Haley

Man's inhumanity to his fellow man is an overarching theme contrasted with the amazing resilience of the human spirit in Roots. The chain of misery begins with a king in Africa who sold his own people to slave traders. The slaves are then dehumanized and treated like livestock, detached from their families so they lose their sense of identity. Kinte determines that his only daughter will know who she is and where her roots lie, hence the name of the book and reason for his descendants' success. The family remains intact through the generations.

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Kinte must have been incredibly strong physically to survive being kidnapped, shipped like a commodity, sold and beaten. He endures the eighty-seven day ocean voyage under horrific conditions that kill off forty-two others and later, the amputation of his foot after an attempted escape. Hope is demonstrated by Kinte when he escapes from his master four times, looking for liberty and the way home to Africa. His progeny also survive inhumane treatment, broken promises, lies and unjust laws. Kinte's daughter Kizzy survives being ripped away from her parents and repeatedly raped by her new master. Chicken George and his children survive by obeying their masters, learning trades and always looking out for each other. Chicken George also hopes for freedom and finally obtains it from his master after five years of bonded service in England. He returns and leads his emancipated family to a new home in Tennessee after the Civil War.

The hypocrisy of America's culture is glaring, with "niggers" treated unequally in the land where "all men are created equal." Laws are passed that mete out severe punishments to blacks and coloreds while whites committing the same crimes receive no consequences. Fiddler tells Kinte that he thinks the purpose of Virginia's House of Burgess is to "pass more laws 'gainst niggers." White Christians attend church but ignore the clear teachings of the New Testament regarding the worth of human beings. Owners regard their slaves as animals yet they mate with the females. A child like Chicken George, sired by his master, is still a slave and the kinship unacknowledged.

Despite the atrocities in the biography, Haley manages to include some humor. In Africa, the men of Juffure speak "the language of men," which is a secret code of altered Mandinkan words. They couldn't prevent their women from gossiping and interfering in their affairs, so they devised a way to speak around them. Also, when Kinte gets a good look at white women, particularly an ugly one with "straw hair," he understands why white men go for black women. Slaves in the New World were all ears to their masters' conversations, though they acted like they didn't listen in. They feigned stupidity when it was convenient and pretended to be afraid when the Northern army was coming to liberate them. The humor helps to balance the seriousness of Haley's subject.

The United States was a land of colonies before 1776, with good and evil people planting their stakes during its formative years, and it is tragic that slavery was allowed to take root. John Adams in particular wanted to outlaw slavery in the Constitution of the new republic, but he was outvoted, postponing an inevitable crisis for 100 years when the issue was settled through a bloody Civil War. Then it took another century for the Civil Rights Amendment. Roots is a 900-page tome about the dark side of American history, shown through seven generations of one black family, and can help people understand why some African Americans bear a grudge toward the white man, though the injustice was so long ago. The book was translated into thirty-seven languages and made into a cinematic mini-series, and its status as an American classic is well deserved.

Source:

Alex Haley, Roots (NY, NY: Vanguard Books, 2004).

Read more book reviews:

• Queen by Alex Haley
• Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond by Essie Mae Washington-Williams
• Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland
• The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy
• Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward