Gas price racket

OK, they've got me. I just read the article posted here http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/energy/article/0,2777,DRMN_23914_5506977,00.html about yet another gas price increase. The article says gas stations in Denver are running out of gas because of refinery problems in Texas and Oklahoma. It says gas prices are supposed to top $3 a gallon within a few days. And by this summer, they could be $4 a gallon.

Three years ago, shortly before my husband and I got married, gas was like $1.80 a gallon. What in the world is going on?

My dad is one of those who insists there's not a gas price racket. "It's just the way it is," he told me about a month ago while we discussed the topic on the way to go skiing. That's not a good enough reason for me. I think it's a racket.

Sure enough, this evening I went out to fill up my tank (it was about 3/4 empty), and I pulled into a gas station that HAD NO GAS LEFT. The last time that happened was the days following Hurricane Katrina. I pulled into another gas station nearby, and it was like Grand Central Station. Everyone else must have read the same article I did and ran out to fill up before prices increase again -- for about the fifth time this month.

The crazy thing is we all complain about the prices, but we really can't do anything about them. The rising prices haven't kept me -- even once -- from filling up my tank. My husband and I recently added about $20 to our gas budget each month anticipating higher prices this summer. We added to that budget right on time.

Think about it: The prices of other things go up, and you think twice about buying them. Strawberries at the grocery store are on sale this time of year because it's strawberry season. You can get them for 2 packages for $3 or $4. But if they go up to $4 apiece, you ask yourself if you really need them, right? How about your favorite cereal? On sale one week and you buy. Back to regular price the next week and you refrain.

But gas? It's not the same. We HAVE to have it. Most American cities don't have public transportation systems that make driving unncessesary. That trip to the grocery store we make to buy the strawberries and cereal on sale? Gotta drive. I suppose we could walk or ride a bike, but we classify that kind of transportation as recreation, as exercise, not necessity. Plus, in the 'burbs, most of us live a half an hour walk or more away from places we need to go. Our neighborhoods and cities are designed in such a way that we REQUIRE cars. (I'd love it if we could live more like the Europeans, who walk way more than we do -- and hence weigh less -- because their homes are close to the centers of their cities. Even in the suburbs of major cities, walking is the way to go. I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "And their gas prices are way more outrageous than ours . . . ")

That's why I think gas prices are a racket. As soon as the producers found out we'll pay whatever price is listed outside the gas station, they just give the reason of the week for the price increases, and we accept it -- and keep filling up like always.

A follow-up to a previous posting

This is a follow-up to a previous posting about humility vs. pride. This is from a commentary on The Peacemaker by Ken Sande.

Anything grounded is safer…

God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble. -- James 4:6

When you need to show others their faults, do not talk down to them as though you are faultless and they are inferior to you. Instead, talk with them as though you are standing side by side at the foot of the cross. Acknowledge your present, ongoing need for the Savior. Admit ways that you have wrestled with the same or other sins or weaknesses, and give hope by describing how God has forgiven you and is currently working in you to help you change…When people see this kind of humility and common bond, they will be less inclined to react to correction with pride and defensiveness.
-- Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) pp. 172.

Food for Thought

Circle the words you and your in the passage above. How many did you circle? Nine? If there had been one or two uses of the words you and your, it probably wouldn't have drawn any attention. But nine? That's enough where we need to stop, look, and listen. Ken is wisely sharing a beneficial approach to use when we need to show others their faults: talk about your own. From our peers in the office to aging parents to the children at play in the backyard, nobody likes to be talked down to--nobody! Talking down usually invites a defensiveness that's hard to overcome. Side by side talking, however, lays a common ground that you and the other person can stand on. Interestingly enough, the root word for humility is humus, from which we get our word for ground. Being grounded, or humble, in our approach to these situations provides protection from the lightning bolts of pride and defensiveness.

A sense of loss again

Today I'm sad. I think most people across the nation feel this way after yesterday's shootings at Virginia Tech. We've had too many of these terrible events for me to count: Columbine in 1999 followed by all the copycat incidents, the shootings at the school in Bailey, Colo. last September and the Amish school shootings in Pennsylvania last fall, to name only a few. I skimmed through the coverage of yesterday's events in today's Rocky Mountain News, and tears came to my eyes.

After 9/11, I became more observant in my everyday life. I take light rail to my classes each week at Metropolitan State College of Denver, and I find myself noticing people more than I did a few years ago. There are a lot of characters who ride light rail, so I have to be careful about jumping to conclusions about my fellow riders. But still, I try to pay attention to what's going on around me. I think that's a good thing because I don't think most people don't pay that close attention. They're immersed in their books, their newspapers, their iPods and cell phones. It's easy to disengage and then be caught by surprise when something terrible does happen.

I feel extra vigilant after yesterday's events because I teach at a university. It's an urban campus with more than 20,000 students in the heart of downtown Denver. In the two years I've taught there, I've never heard anything about what emergency plans the university has in place in case of an event just like yesterday's. Several weeks ago I heard some shouting outside my classroom in the middle of my class. It sounded like distressed shouting -- like an argument, someone not happy about something. At that moment my heart squeezed in my chest and I thought, "If something happens in this building, I have no idea what to do." I immediately shut the classroom door and went on with my class. The shouting outside died down, but the fear in me was real. Something could happen anywhere, even my classroom.

This morning, Metro State sent out safety tips to all its students and faculty in case something like yesterday's shootings should happen where we are. The tips go beyond just being aware of your surroundings and reporting any suspicious activity. How about this one: "Believe what you see. As events unfold in front of you, trust your eyes and your ears as you see people running or hear the gunfire and people screaming. Many people report that they thought the event wasn't real. They think it is a movie or a joke. Stay aware of what is happening around you, and trust your instincts that something is wrong -- believe the warning!" Or this one: "Find cover. Get behind something that will stop bullets, not just conceal you. High-powered bullets can penetrate a large amount of materials. Look for brick walls, planters, mailboxes, cars or thick trees."

This list of tips is proof that our schools and college campuses become war zones when these events unfold. The bottom line is none of us -- students, teachers, staff -- are trained to operate in a war zone. That gives the advantage to the yahoos with guns who decide to take a few dozen people with them while they take out their anger on the world.

Yesterday on a radio show about the shootings at Virginia Tech, a caller brought up the highly debated issue of teachers carrying concealed weapons. It's an idea often poo-pooed by the public and by teachers themselves. The argument against it is that teachers or administrators -- even more security guards on school campuses -- with guns just compound the problem. Educators are supposed to be advocates of nonviolence, so what good does it do to have them carry guns? Plus, who's to say the teachers with weapons won't become the perpetrators? Newspaper editors and politicians in other countries blame yesterday's shootings on our American gun culture. They say we hold so tightly onto the Second Amendment right to bear arms, we've failed to protect our own citizens from the likes of Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris and now Cho
Seung-Hui.

In the emotion of yesterday's events, I gave it some serious consideration. I wondered if I could carry a weapon so I could defend myself and my classroom in case some idiot walked in and started shooting. In reality I might not do much good. These shootings happen so fast, and the professors yesterday were among the first people shot when the gunman walked into the classrooms.

Call it a reaction to fear or just getting caught up in the emotion of what happened, but now I'm thinking carrying a concealed weapon might not be such a bad idea.

Dwelling with the humble

"Heaven may be in a sordid slum or a palace, and I can make My Home in the humblest heart. I can only dwell with the humble. Pride stands sentinel at the door of the heart to shut out the lowly, humble Christ." --- From "God Calling," edited by A.J. Russell

The 'I' in the above statement is God. I read this excerpt from the devotional "God Calling" last night and wanted to share it here. Pride vs. humility seems to be a theme in my life lately. Not just with me, but in situations I see others going through as well. A theme Bible verse for me during the past few weeks has been 1 Peter 5:5-7: "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

The apostle Peter, the author here, is quoting Proverbs 3:34 with the phrase, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Interesting what God does with the proud -- He doesn't just ignore them, put up with them or otherwise appease them. He opposes them. Have you ever felt opposed by God? He doesn't ignore the humble either. He doesn't think them spineless. He gives grace to them. Grace is unmerited favor. So God favors the humble.

Christ Himself is the very picture of humility: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

Think about that: Christ in his very nature is God, yet He didn't insist on being treated as if He were God. "He made himself nothing . . . . And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself . . . ." A humble God? It's almost too hard for me to grasp.

The fact that God Himself is humble explains why He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humility and pride are like oil and water. They don't mix. They can't survive together.

Humility is hard. Our culture tells us humility is becoming a doormat. It's letting people run over you. I've been learning humility is more complex. It's holding your tongue when you could speak up, when you think you have a right to speak up. It's also the opposite -- speaking up when you're afraid of how people will receive what you have to say. Humility is not always having to prove you're right. It's being OK with yourself when you realize you're wrong -- and a willingness to admit when you are. It's knowing you don't know everything, and realizing no one expects you to.

Humility is not having to be the center of everything, not insisting you get the credit for everything you contribute. It's giving other people the benefit of the doubt, not letting your "imagination balloons" about what others are thinking and feeling, get the best of you. The hard part for me is mixing humility with proper boundaries. It's easy to go to the extreme and adopt the doormat definition of humility.

"I can only dwell with the humble." Is pride standing sentinel at the door to my heart? The thing I've been learning about pride is that it's like the elephant in the room few want to talk about. It's obvious to the humble but invisible to the prideful.

Isn't he cute?

I just read the story on Yahoo! News -- "Move over Britney and Paris, Knut the polar bear is becoming an Internet sensation." Well, thank God something is overshadowing people's obsession with the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. (No matter how long I ponder it, I will never understand why so many people in the world are obsessed with celebrities who have nothing to do but make a mess of their lives.)

So I was intrigued by this Yahoo! story, and I browsed through the 75 -- yes 75 -- photos of Knut, the white fluffy bear who's causing quite a media circus in Germany and elsewhere. Evidently the little guy was rejected by his mother and had to be hand-fed by zookeepers. In a few short weeks -- he was only introduced to his "public" in March -- he has become an international celebrity. He's the topic of talk shows, songs, marketing campaigns, etc. Hundreds of Germans line up at the Berlin Zoo every day to get a glimpse of him. (It's good to know Americans aren't the only ones who go ga-ga over things like baby polar bears.) It doesn't surprise me. People are enthralled with stories about animals. They're more protective of animals than their own kids. I remember a story I reported several years ago about a dog that was shot after trying to attack an animal control officer. The photo that ran with my story showed the dog lying on the ground, a pool of blood next to it. The newspaper I worked for got more angry phone calls about that photo -- how dare we run such a graphic image of a poor animal -- than we did about more graphic photographs we'd run in the past of people involved in car crashes, etc. Hurt a person -- oh, well. Hurt an animal -- someone is going to pay.

Forgive me, I digress . . . I have to admit Knut is awfully cute. He looks like the polar bear stuffed animals I've seen at the Denver Zoo gift shop. Just think, kids -- a life-size version of the stuffed animal you have on your bed! Then I saw the photos of the adult-size polar bears (one of which is the newest member of the Denver Zoo family). One of these big guys is the largest carnivore in the world, according to the story I read. Ouch. You mean little Knut is going to grow into that?

Somehow I don't think the world's newest celebrity is going to last very long. You can tell he's growing -- and growing fast -- in the pictures taken just in the past few weeks. Oh, I know he'll be baby-sized for a while yet, but people won't be lining up to see him at the zoo forever. It's kind of sad, really. I'm not sad for Knut. Maybe he's hamming it up a little bit for his public -- just look at him wave and swim and roll around in his photo albums on the Web -- but he doesn't really know what a stir he's created. He won't profit from any endorsement deals or interviews on late-night talk shows. He'll see his own image on the T-shirt of one of his adoring fans, and the only question running through his mind will be, "When do I get some more food?"

No, I'm sad for the rest of us looking for something to entertain ourselves. We'll be back to Britney and Paris in no time.

He is risen! He is risen indeed.

I wanted to share the following song lyrics. They are from "The Easter Song," written by Anne Herring. I popped in one of Keith Green's CDs the other day and was delighted that this song, one of my favorites of his, was on it.

There are so many Christmas songs, many of which I learned as a child and still remember all the verses. I wonder, though, why we don't have more Easter songs. I guess you could argue a lot of hymns, praise songs, worship songs, etc. are at their essence Easter songs. I love the use of one of the most famous lines in a Christmas song -- Joy to the World -- in this song about Easter. And remember the bells of Christmas Day? How about the bells of Easter?

Still, Easter doesn't get nearly enough attention, even among Christians. The birth of the baby overshadows the resurrection of the God-man. My faith -- my whole existence -- hinges on Easter. Not just the death of Christ on the cross, not just His sacrifice, but also the resurrection -- the actual, historical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. His resurrection was not figurative, not merely a symbol, not just a nice thing to think about. Without the resurrection, following Jesus means nothing. He's just another nice guy, another well-intentioned prophet, who died for a cause but has no real power. Christianity is not Christianity without both Jesus' death and resurrection. They go together like springtime and flowers, like popcorn and movies, like hotdogs and ketchup.

He is risen from the dead! He is God and has power over death -- he defeated it. That is totally mind-boggling. Forget the cultural symbols of Easter -- pastel eggs, chocolate bunnies, green grass and daffodils. Wrap your mind around an empty tomb this weekend.

He is risen! He is risen indeed.

The Easter Song
Here the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be born again
Here the bells ringing
They're singing Christ is risen from the dead
The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world,
He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing,
They're singing Christ, He will reveal it now
The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus' power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour

Joy to the world,
He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

The angel up on the tombstone
Said he has risen, just as he said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world,
He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah