I’ve been wrong from the beginnin’.
I’ve been wrong from the beginnin’.
If you’ve been losin’ while I’ve been winnin’,
then I’ve been wrong from the beginnin’.

I sit by the river; I got my feet in the water.
I feel about a dollar like I feel about a daughter.
If I’ve been laughin’ while you’ve been cryin’,
then I’ve been wrong from the beginnin’.

I got a house on the border, I got shoes made o’ leather.
I got a robe made o’ velvet, I got a bed made o’ feather.
If you’ve been freezin’ while I’ve been sleepin’,
then I’ve been wrong and for that I’m weepin’.
If you’ve been freezin’ while I’ve been sleepin’,
then I’ve been wrong and for that I’m changin’.

–I’ve Been Wrong by the The Elms

Charles Dickens’, in A Christmas Carol, made an astute observation when he said that at this time of the year (ie. Christmas) generosity is most keenly exhibited and want is most keenly felt (I’m paraphrasing). It is my belief that so many government programs and welfare have arisen on account of the church withholding its aid to outcasts and the down-and-out. I am not talking about foolishly throwing away funds on those who do want hand-outs instead of help. I am talking about those unfortunates at whom life has thrown a curve ball from which they can not seem to recover. I am talking about the ones elsewhere in the world who have nothing on account of corrupt governments who neither fear God nor acknowledge that “all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” The church is to be the shining city on a hill. We are to be the shining city on a hill. Indeed I am to be a shining city on a hill.

“Come unto Me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” In all my gaining of theological knowledge and understanding throughout the year, the basic child-like truth is muddled or becomes unclear: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If I were downcast, needy, and I could not seem to get my head above water, I know how I would want to be “done unto”. I know I would welcome someone who could come alongside and help me bear the burden so that I could recover, overcome and then help others do the same. When did charity, care for the needy, and social consciousness become the hallmark of liberals? It was the domain of the church first. So this Christmas, as you are remembering how good you have it, do not forget those who do not and let’s be the church.

Josh H.

In celebration of my birthday today, here is a list of facts, major events and general trivia about 1978, my birth year.

• US Senate approves neutrality treaty (March 16); votes treaty to turn canal over to by year 2000 (April 18).
• Former Italian Premier Aldo Moro kidnapped by left wing , who kill five bodyguards (March 16); he is found slain (May 9).
• Jim Jones’s followers commit mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana (Nov. 18).

More History…

U.S. Statistics

President: James Earl Carter, Jr.
Vice President: Walter F. Mondale
Population: 222,584,545
Life expectancy: 73.5 years
Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 51.4
Property Crime Rate (per 1,000): 46.4

US GDP (1998 dollars): $2,291.40 billion
Federal spending: $458.75 billion
Federal debt: $776.6 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars): $15,064
Consumer Price Index: 65.2
Unemployment: 6.1%
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.13 ($0.15 as of 5/29/78)

Sports

World Series

NY Yankees d. LA Dodgers (4-2)

Super Bowl

Dallas d. Denver (27-10)

NBA Championship

Washington Bullets d. Seattle (4-3)

Stanley Cup

Montreal d. Boston (4-2)

Wimbledon

Women: Martina Navratilova d. C. Evert (2-6 6-4 7-5)
Men: Bjorn Borg d. J. Connors (6-2 6-2 6-3)

Kentucky Derby Champion

Affirmed

NCAA Basketball Championship

Kentucky d. Duke (94-88)

NCAA Football Champions

Alabama (AP, FW, NFF) (11-1-0) & USC (UPI) (12-1-0)

World Cup

Argentina d. Holland (3-1)

Entertainment

Entertainment Awards

Pulitzer Prizes
Fiction: Elbow Room, James Alan McPherson
Music: Déjà Vu for Percussion Quartet and Orchestra, Michael Colgrass
Drama: The Gin Game, Donald L. Coburn

Oscars awarded in 1978
Academy Award, Best Picture: Annie Hall, Charles H. Joffe, producer (United Artists)

Nobel Prize for Literature: Isaac Bashevis Singer (US)

Grammys awarded in 1978
Record of the Year: “Hotel California,” Eagles
Album of the Year: Rumours, Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)
Song of the Year: “Love Theme From A Star Is Born” (Evergreen), Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams, songwriters

Miss America: Susan Perkins (OH)

Events

• Sony introduces the Walkman, the first portable stereo.

Movies

• The Deer Hunter, Midnight Express, Heaven Can Wait, Coming Home

Books

• Maya Angelou, And Still I Rise
• John Cheever, The Stories of John Cheever
• Barry Hannah, Airships
• John Irving, The World According to Garp
• Peter Mathiessen, The Snow Leopard
• Richard Nixon, The Memoirs of Richard Nixon
• Adrienne Rich, The Dream of a Common Language
• Herman Wouk, War and Remembrance

Deaths

• Hubert Humphrey
• Anastus Mikoyan
• Norman Rockwell
• Pope Paul VI

Josh H.

A year or so ago some friends of ours were over and we began discussing short stories that we have loved. It made for a great conversation and we even took some time to download and print some of our favorites from the internet. We read a couple of them aloud that night and had a great time doing so. Well I had forgotten about that until today when I read (or rather, heard read) possibly the most wonderful short story I have ever come across. No doubt most of you, my educated readers, have already been introduced to this work, but to me it was entirely new. It was The Last Leaf by O. Henry (the pen name of William Sydney Porter). The story of two ladies, artists, who are the best of friends and share a loft. Their names are Sue and Joanna (or “Johnsy” for short). Johnsy comes down with pneumonia and does nothing but lay on her bed staring out the window at a vine who’s leaves are falling one by one and she is convinced that she will die at the very moment the last leaf falls. Her friend and roomate Sue, is trying desperately to keep up Johnsy’s failing spirits but nothing helps. Johnsy believes her demise will come with the shedding of the vine’s final leaf.

I was absolutely surprised and blindsided by the ending. I was also very moved. Do yourself a favor, take a few moments to read O. Henry’s The Last Leaf. After reading it, leave a comment and let me know what you think. But in your commenting do not give away the ending for the sake of those who have not yet read it.

Josh H.