Toy Story 3 - Be Brilliantly Surprised

I will not often blog to endorse a movie. I do however love movies. Before my son came to live with us, my wife and I would go to the late show of some recent film every Friday night. It has been a while since I was surprised by a movie. We took our almost five-year-old son to see “Toy Story 3” yesterday and if you haven’t seen this film, finish reading my blog and then get up and go. It is a jewel for all ages.
Now I promise no spoilers in this entry. But I will tell you that if you have even the slightest pulse, take a box of tissue or 2 to 3 hankies. Your heart will be grabbed in such a way that will move you for hours if not days after the credits roll. (By-the-way, stay for the credits, as always with Pixar.) The new characters are wonderful and compliment beautifully the familiar characters that have become a part of our lives. The script is surprising and just when you have predicted what will happen; the writers throw you a curve ball. There is great humor, edge-of-the-seat drama and, as previously mentioned, thought-provoking heart-wrenching emotion.
Be prepared that some of our old standby characters are mentioned, but do not appear in the film. This, as with all three films, speaks to the truth, the reality, of kids and toys and growing up.
Be sure that there is also another craftily and elaborately devised plan by Woody. That is one brilliant and yet deeply caring cow puncher. If you haven’t guessed he is my favorite. I love all of the characters, they are an orchestra of complimentary personalities, but Woody is the epitome of friendship, loyalty, humanity, frailty, strength, humor and imperfection, and yet he teaches us so many life lessons; the most important being that we cannot make it on our own. We need family, friends and in the case of all sinners we need Jesus Christ.

Abraham Lincoln - The Paradox

For me Abraham Lincoln and his role in the "War Between the States" has become a bit of a problem. Do not get me wrong, I think that he was a good man and in fact I have come to believe that he was the right man at the right time, placed in power providentially as all leaders are. I agree wholeheartedly that the abolition of slavery was paramount. I can find no one with which to disagree on this point.
But the “Civil War” was not initially or primarily about slavery, it was about state’s rights. So where I run into a problem is in the question, “was President Lincoln acting within his power and within the reach of the Constitution?” And whether he was or not, “did he do the right thing by fighting to keep the Union together?” Many southern colonies were worried about the issue of state’s rights when the Constitution was waiting to be ratified. They were worried that the Constitution threatened their way-of-life. The northern states that had already ratified the document enticed the south by saying that if they ratified the Constitution and it was not working for them, the southern colonies could then secede from the Union.
I believe with all of my heart that the southern colonies had the right to secede. But I praise the Lord that a man like Lincoln had the courage to fight to hold this great nation together. I shudder to think how things might have turned out had the hand of the Almighty not reached down and saved this great nation.
Do I fear that a precedent was set, that the commander-in-chief can supersede the Constitution at will? No, we have not seen that in this way since. Have we seen presidents who have tried to get around the Constitution, yes, we have one now, but the voters, the people, will rise up and our system of checks and balances will succeed. God bless the United States of America.