“If we die, we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”

These words were spoken by Virgil Grissom shortly before the Apollo 1 mission that took the lives of himself and two other astronauts during a “plugs out” test in January of 1967. The fact that we have not heeded his words and have, for so many years, continued in the same monotony of low earth orbit and useless space stations should ruffle more feathers than it, seemingly, has. In an effort to spark some interest among those three people who read my blog, I have decided to begin a series (of undetermined length) about the American space program. From the simple ping of Sputnik to the splashdown of Apollo 17 I will seek to examine the brave men and the amazing missions that captivated the hearts and minds of Americans (and those around the world) for the tumultuous years of the 60′s and 70′s.

I realize that I am a total nerd and that this may not interest anyone but if you take the time to read I hope you will find, at least, something of interest in this age where men “waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’”

Lover
Words and Music By Derek Webb

like a man comes to an alter i came into this town
with the world upon my shoulders and promises passed down
and i went into the water and my father, he was pleased
i built it and i’ll tear it down so you will be set free

but i found thieves and salesmen living in my father’s house
i know how they got in here and i know how to get ‘em out
i’m turning this place over from floor to balcony
and then just like these doves and sheep you will be set free

i’ve always been a lover from before i drew a breath
some things i loved easy and some i loved to death
because love’s no politician, it listens carefully
of those who come i can’t lose one, so you will be set free

but go on and take my picture, go on and make me up
i’ll still be your defender, you’ll be my missing son
and i’ll send out an army just to bring you back to me
because regardless of your brother’s lies you will be set free

i am my beloveds and my beloved’s mine
so you bring all your history and i’ll bring the bread and wine
and we’ll have us a party where all the drinks are on me
then as surely as the rising sun you will be set free

One of my favorite singer/songwriters, Andrew Osenga just put out an Internet EP. Written and recorded in less than 20 days this release was inspired and supported by the folks that read  his blog.  Go check it out.

http://www.andrewosenga.com/blog/2007/06/11/letters-to-the-editor-vol-1/

Then [Pooh] began to think of all the things Christopher Robin would want to tell him when he came back from wherever he was going to, and how muddling it would be for a Bear of Very Little Brain to try and get them right in his mind. “So perhaps,” he said sadly to himself, “Christopher Robin won’t tell me any more,”and he wondered if being a Faithful Knight meant that you just went on being faithful without being told things. -A. A. Milne

How often do we as mankind have the attitude of Pooh. What injustice we feel at not being told something by God. How quick we can be to point the finger at God and accuse him of deception. But as God said to Job, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?” (job 40:7-9)

I had a discussion on a message board that i frequent about creation. A member hinted that if the earth was young and created with the appearance of age that it would be deceptive of God. He said, “My problem is that it would seem deceptive on God’s part to intentionally produce evidence that pointed to to false conclusion. What we know of God does not allow for that.” I see several issues with this statement

1 .) Who said God did what He did in order to “intentionally produce evidence that pointed to to false conclusion?” Maybe, instead, those who come to theses false assumptions are at fault for improperly assuming. Not to mention that they already start with a false presupposition.

2.)“it would seem deceptive on God’s part…” Here is another issue. Who are we to know the mind or intentions of God. Who are we to accuse God of deception. Perhaps the appearance of agehad more to do with having a worn in and working ecosystem than about deceiving scientist that are already deceived.

3.) “…pointed to a false conclusion…” Actually the evidence points to the right conclusion if one has the eyes and the presuppositions to see it.

I close with some words of Jehovah as He confronts Job.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action^[a] like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements–surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,

when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed”

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it?
It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
From the wicked their light is withheld,
and their uplifted arm is broken.

And the LORD said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

“Dress for action^[a] like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?

“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
and tread down the wicked where they stand.
Hide them all in the dust together;
bind their faces in the world below.
Then will I also acknowledge to you
that your own right hand can save you.

(Job 38:1-15; 40:1-2,7-14)

-Derek Webb

• Caedmon’s Call is now an INO recording artist. [Yes, some of you knew that, and we’ve hinted at it ourselves.]
• Caedmon’s Call’s next record, Overdressed, will drop in late August.
• The tour for that album won’t happen until Spring 2008, because there’s another project due this fall: Cliff and Danielle’s fourth child.
• Oh, yeah, and that Derek Webb guy wrote for and recorded Overdressed with the band.

So let’s answer some likely questions about this.

1. What does this do to Derek’s solo career? Nothing. Oh, sure, he’ll have to carve out time in his schedule to tour with Caedmon’s, but in case you haven’t noticed, they don’t exactly tour 100 dates a year anymore. [That sound that you just heard was Jeff Holland swearing at me for making that public. It’s not ready for prime time, folks. ] Anyhow, Derek will still have his own career and do all his Derek-y things. But yes, he’ll tour Overdressed with the band
2. Is Andy out of the band? Nope. [And why would he be?] In fact, we think it’ll be interesting having two rebellious guys who like to play the electric guitar on stage at once.
3. How are they going to make four vocalists work? We’re sure that they’ll figure it out. Remember, Andy promised us that this record was going to be far more vocals-heavy.
4. Is Bryan really joining the band? I don’t know. I think he might have to buy more of Cliff’s guitars to make that happen.