Election Reflection

It's hard to believe that it has been just one week since Election Day. Although I must say, I have rather enjoyed the sudden departure of all the political ads and signs.  As the ripples from last Tuesday's events radiate across the country and the world, I have done a fair amount of contemplation.  As a voter that the media would classify as one of the "evangelical right", I have been somewhat discouraged at the knee-jerk reactions I sense from those in my circles.  Please don't misunderstand.  I voted for John McCain.  I am conservative--both in my theology and my politics.  The majority of those individuals who won last Tuesday are not people with whom I find myself in agreement at a number of different points.  And yet...I am not overly discouraged.  Maybe I am just naive.  Maybe I have my head in the sand.  I guess my response (or the lack thereof) to the election is more the result of my confidence in God's sovereignty and my confidence (though far less than the former) in our system of government, specifically the design of checks and balances.  I could be wrong.  Maybe things will get as bad as some of my fellow Evangelicals think they will.  But maybe they won't.  Either way, there is very little we can do right now except pray, stay faithful, and stay informed (Of which I need to do a much better job, I will admit.)  I am trying to remember that God is neither Democrat nor Republican, Conservative nor Liberal, Blue nor Red.  God is holy, righteous, loving, and infinitely above our little world of American politics.

Bearing all that in mind, I do have some thoughts about our president-elect that I would like to share.  I have decided that the best way to do that is to share them directly with the one to whom these thoughts pertain.  And so (with the realization that there is very little chance of him ever actually reading this), I hesitantly present...

An Open Letter to President-Elect Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,

Let me begin by saying "Congratulations!" on your recent election.  Although I did not vote for you, I understand that you ran a vigorous campaign that will most likely change the way future presidential campaigns are run.  I also understand the significance of your election in terms of the ongoing struggle against prejudice and bigotry in the human race.  I admire anyone who endures the year-long meat-grinder we Americans call a presidential election, and I can only imagine what it must be like to work so hard for something you want so badly, and then to reach your goal.

Now, I will be honest with you.  If you and I were to sit down for a cup of coffee (which I don't even drink) and a conversation about politics, I fear there would be very few things on which we would agree.  In some areas (such as the plight of the unborn), I believe you to be absolutely wrong in your position.  That notwithstanding, I want to ask you to do a couple of things for me as you begin your presidency.  I know your time is limited so I will try be brief.

1) Please remember that you are now (or rather will be as of January 20th) my President.  I have always had a patriotic streak in me, and I have always had a sense of wonder and amazement at the office of President.  I love the White House.  I love Air Force One.  I love all the decorum and protocol that goes with the position.  Please don't do anything to lessen my respect for this office.  I have two young children, and I intend to raise them with the same patriotic spirit.  I realized tonight that what I want more than anything else from you (more than a better economy or improved healthcare) is that you be an honorable, reliable, trustworthy, decent leader--both on and off the camera.  I may not appreciate many of your policies, but please don't ever give me reason not to appreciate your position.  If you will treat the office with respect, I promise to do the same for you.

2) Please don't ever underestimate the potential of those around the world who seek to harm us and our way of life.  Please don't forget how you felt on a Tuesday morning several years back.  I, like so many others, think that peace is a much better option than conflict.  But please don't purchase peace at any price.  Please be wise in how you utilize our armed services.  But remember, they have made the commitment to defend our nation at any cost.  If some of these courageous men and women have to pay that ultimate cost in order to prevent our enemies from prevailing over us, please accept this as a difficult, tragic, but necessary part of living in a free land.

3) Please give your two precious little girls the guidance and leadership that they need.  I know the demands on you will be great and that your time will be limited--maybe more so than any other father in the country--but your girls will need you.  Your wife will too.  Leading a family is not an easy task by any means (I have failed mine more times than I care to recall), but it is a necessary task.

4) I don't know exactly what your beliefs are concerning the Bible, but I ask lastly that you seek God's wisdom in all that you do.  I believe that God can and will use you to accomplish whatever He wills for our nation.  Please align yourself with His plan in every way possible.  If that means you have to do things differently than you were originally planning, please do things His way.  We will all be a lot better off, but you will be the one to benefit the most, I promise.

I don't know how you will take these suggestions, but I can promise you this from me and my family.  We will pray for you and your family, we will honor and respect you, and we will do our best to live honorable lives as citizens of this country and as justified children of God.

Oh, and one more thing--have fun.  You are gonna be the PRESIDENT!

Your fellow American,

Andrew D. Doan

Cake or Pie?

As the holiday season approaches, I have been considering the importance of this question.  For your information, I am decidedly pro-pie.  The reason is simple.  In a pie, the vast majority of the dessert is good stuff--the filling.  The crust takes up very little of the overall whole.  In a cake, however, the good stuff--the icing--comprises a very small percentage of the complete dessert.  Let's be honest.  Very few people really like the cake itself.  It's all about the frosting!  The cake simply provides a convenient platform upon which to place the frosting.  I think I would be more open to the cake persuasion if someone were to invent a cake that was like a pie.  The inside would be all frosting with a thin layer of cake on the outside!  Now that would be something about which to get excited!  Anyway, you can weigh in on this important subject by submitting your vote in the poll to the right.  The holidays are quickly approaching, so you had better make up your mind soon!

Oh How Fast They Grow!

Here's a few of our latest pictures. Both Eldan and Evie are growing fast...much too fast! We're just trying to enjoy every day along the way! Trust that you are as well.

DFV is Back!!!

To date, it has been almost 9 months since the last episode of Doan Family Videos.  The reason for the delay had nothing to do with the writer's strike or anything like that.  The truth is...I just didn't do any.  It's not that I didn't want to--it's just that...I didn't (do any).  I have been busy with school, moving, babies, and other paraphernalia for the last nine months, but that's not really an excuse.  I guess maybe I just needed a sabbatical.  Anyway, the videos are back and better than ever!  The look is new, but the heart and soul of DFV remains steadfast--to capture the moments of the unfolding drama that is the story of our family!  Below, you will find the first installment from the exciting third season!  (Approximately 10 minutes long) Thanks for taking time to look at it, and be sure to check back soon to see what happens next!

A Family of Four

It's official...we are a family of four!  Eldan is very sweet and loving towards Evie, and he loves the Thomas the Tank Engine toy that she "bought" for him.  We arrived home from the hospital just before lunch on Tuesday.  The only difficulty we had was the cell phone charger that we left in the room at the hospital.   All in all, we are tired but happy.  Enjoy some images of the last few days...

Keep it Short

I have already posted a number of times today, so I really want to keep this one short.

Thank you to everyone who has posted comments on the blog, written on Danielle's wall on Facebook, or dropped us an email.  Danielle has enjoyed hearing your congratulations as I read them to her from across the room!

Secondly, I would like to clarify the correct pronunciation of our daughter's name.  If you want to say it correctly, just remember the title of this post--keep it short--the "E" in her name that is.  It is pronounced EH-vu-lyn not EE-vu-lyn, EH-vee not EE-vee.

And so, having mentioned these two items and endeavoring to keep it short, I will now retire...

Labor Day

I know that most Americans celebrated Labor Day last Monday.  Never ones to be slaves to tradition, however, Danielle and I decided to wait a week before celebrating ours.  To be more accurate, Evelyn decided that we would wait a week.  Oh, where's my brain?  You don't know Evelyn yet, do you?  Well, let me introduce you to Evelyn Donna Doan...

She was born at 11:09 in the morning. (A rather speedy arrival in comparison to Eldan's experience.)  She weighs 8 lbs. 11 oz. and is 21 inches long.  Both mother and baby are doing well.  We have noticed that little Evie (as we will be calling her) seems to be a little spitfire.  She has no qualms about expressing her displeasure over certain activities that she feels are unnecessary.  She is beautiful.  Her dad is a little shell-shocked at the thought of raising a girl, but hey--it will make life interesting, right?

More pictures and videos will be posted as they become available.  Thank you to all for your prayers and support!

Andrew and Danielle chose to use the middle name of Donna in loving memory of Danielle's grandmother--Donna Woodward.

The Game's Afoot

It is 10:10 Eastern Standard Time on Sunday morning, September 7, 2008.

The game, as they say, is afoot...

Check back soon--don't miss a moment of the unfolding drama!

I Know Why You Are Here

I know why you are here right now.  I know why you have come to this little corner of the internet.  I know what you seek.

But, alas...

I am unable at this time to give you the information that you desire.  I am unable to provide the images that you long for.

All I can say is this--

In due time, my friend, in due time.

Until such a time arrives, I bid you a fond farewell...

Familiar Territory

Well, here we are again.

Been here...done this.  (But only once.)

Our baby (the gender of which remains unknown at this point, although I can see from the poll to the right that the girl-lovers are winning) is due to be born one week from today.  Whatever.  How can they really know the exact date?  The truth is they can't.

So...it dawned on me toward the end of last week that this birth could happen at any time--it is imminent.  That is what put me into familiar territory.

I find myself looking at Danielle and thinking, "Is she gonna go today?"  When I am in bed at night, I think, "Is tonight the night?"  Every time I get a text message I think it will contain the code words that Danielle and I agreed upon--"Bring the dollar!"  I am getting a little bit anticipatory (a little too anticipatory according to some).  Feel very much like I did in the days preceding Eldan's arrival.

Well, he finally showed up (with a little help from the doctors) and it has been awesome ever since, so...

I guess I can handle a few more days of waiting.

Then again...maybe tonight is the night?  "Bring the dollar!"

I'll let you know when everything comes out okay...

Powerful

In November of 1996, my family moved to Denver, Colorado and began attending South Sheridan Baptist Church.  For the next 2 years, I was under a youth pastor named Jason Janz.  Pastor Jay was one of 3 or 4 individuals who has had the greatest impact on my life.  Anyway, throughout our time at SSBC, I would hear occasionally about Pastor Jay's brother--Jeremy.  As I recall, Jeremy had graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College in 1994.  That summer, Jeremy was struck by a truck while riding his bicycle in Utah.  For the next 14 years, Jeremy lived in a persistent vegetative state.  A week ago Sunday, Jeremy died.  

I never met nor knew Jeremy, but I did feel a sharp sadness when I heard the news because of my friendship with Pastor Jay and others in his family.  I receive occasional email updates from Pastor Jay who is planting a church in downtown Denver.  In the most recent update, Pastor Jay included an article about the passing of his brother and a link to a tribute video that was played at the memorial service.  After watching the video on YouTube, I decided to post it here on my blog. (I don't think Pastor Jay would mind.)  I want you to watch it carefully.  The juxtaposition of word and image is compelling and convicting.  Sometimes God's ways stand in sharp contrast to the happy, healthy, hip Christianity that is being marketed these days.  Sometimes the problem doesn't go away.  God is still good.  God is still sovereign.

I post this video in hopes that it will expose Jeremy Janz's story and the message it proclaims to many who would not have otherwise known about it.

The Latest

Here's a little tour...

(BTW, for those of you who are wondering--the immensely popular series "Doan Family Videos" has not been cancelled.  New episodes from Season 3 will be appearing on this blog in the not too distant future!  Keep dropping by!)

A Touch of Summer

Here are some summer pictures from as far back as our June vacation up to yesterday.  (The headless pictures were taking by our aspiring photographer--Eldan Doan.)

It's No Secret

I ordered some books from a Christian book distributor the other day.  (Oddly enough, the name of the company is Christian Book Distributors!)  I was browsing through their catalog and I was kind of discouraged by what I saw.  Of course there was plenty of Christian fiction for people like my wife who can breeze through a book in a day and a half.  The usual children's videos and CD's were easily found.  Several pages contained the variety of Bibles available for purchase.  I had no difficulty with any of those things.

What bothered me was the "Christian Living" type of books.  You know, those books that aren't necessarily a formal study of a specific portion of Scripture, but the kind that use (emphasis on the word use) the Bible to explain a particular topic of interest for a Christian?  I was amazed at what is available for Christian consumption these days.  Do you know how many times I saw the word "secrets" or "steps" or "guide"?  Too many, I assure you.  A Christian can buy books on everything from "Using Faith to Flatten Your Belly" to "What Would Jesus Eat?" (A Christian Cookbook)  A plethora of volumes promise to reveal the "secrets" (there's that word again) of success in your marriage, your career, or even your landscaping! (Okay, maybe that last one wasn't actually in the catalog, but you see my point.)

What bothers me is the underlying assumption that the Bible is this magical book that contains all of the right recipes for a healthy, happy, fulfilled life here on earth.  One well-known author would even have us believe that, if we will just read his book, we can have our "Best Life Now."  Just plug in the steps revealed in any one of these books and...PRESTO!  

Now, make no mistake, the Bible is a book.  The Bible is magical--if by magical you mean that it was supernaturally inspired and preserved, and that it deals with many things beyond the realm of human perception.  We must not forget, however, that the Bible is a book.  Like any well-written book it has an underlying theme (or thesis) that drives it forward--from Genesis to Revelation.  Every portion of scripture that was included in the Bible was included because the Author felt that portion would allow Him to move closer toward His thesis for the book.  The Bible is not a hodgepodge collection of "secrets" or "steps."  It is the divine revelation of history--His story.  The story of God's dealings with mankind--where we came from, where we are, and where we are going.  The truths of scripture can and do impact a variety of areas in our lives, but I have reservations about the mentality that looks to use the Bible for this and that.  The Bible is not to be used.  The Bible is to be learned, studied, and mediated upon in its fullness.

A glance through the typical Christian book catalog reveals that we (as in Christianity as a whole) have got a problem--narcissism.  We have turned the Bible from His story to our story.  We are so consumed with having our "Best Life Now" that we have forgotten what both Paul and C.S. Lewis understood perfectly.  This life is just the beginning.  It's the overture.  The real performance comes later.  We are living in the "Shadowlands," but the best is yet to come.  The Bible is not about secret steps or hidden principles.  It's our only reliable source for truly understanding what life is all about--and I can assure you, it's not about us!

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" - the Apostle Paul

Second Guessing

Have you ever heard the expression "Monday morning quarterbacking"? The phrase refers to football fans talking about Sunday's game at work on Monday morning. If their team lost the previous afternoon, everyone seems to have an opinion about what could have or should have been done during the key points in the game in order to produce a different outcome. I wonder if real NFL quarterbacks ever find themselves "Monday morning quarterbacking"? My guess is that they do--often. When things don't go well, there is always a tendency to look back and wonder if the outcome would have been different if you had made different choices. It's second guessing, and all of us have done it, I'm sure.

I am not a very decisive person by nature. I hate making decisions, and I often sit on "Monday mornings" and question whether I have done the right thing. Over the last 5 days, I have done a lot of second guessing. I have also learned something that I would like to share with my readers.

We arrived in Merrimack, NH late Wednesday night. It was an emotional time as we said "See you later" to our friends the Walshes who helped us with the driving from Ohio. On Thursday morning, July 3rd, we began the task of unloading and unpacking our things. Shortly after 11 in the morning, I walked from our house to the church building across the street to pick up a packet of information. As I was walking back in the 80 degree temperature, I saw that Danielle's grandparents had pulled up in their car. They were bringing us lunch. (Grandpa loves to cook!) Danielle's Nana got out of the car and walked toward the front door with Grandpa just a few steps behind. About 30 seconds later, I walked throughout the same door and saw that Nana had collapsed onto the floor. I've replayed the next 10 minutes in my mind dozens of times since it happened. Without going into all of the details, let me just tell you that I tried to use several of the things I had been previously taught in CPR/First Aid class. When the paramedics arrived, they took over the situation and eventually rushed Nana to St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua, NH. No one knows exactly what happened inside Nana's body, but shortly after midnight on Friday, July 4th, she passed away.

After the initial rush of adrenaline wore off that morning, I became very distressed. I was frustrated because I felt like I had wasted too much time right after Nana collapsed. I knew she needed help, but I couldn't do anything until I moved her. I didn't know if I should do that or not. All throughout the afternoon on Thursday, I struggled with the question, "What if I had acted more quickly? Would the outcome have been different?" Although I would never have chosen the position for myself, I was the quarterback and it was "Monday morning."

At the risk of making this too long of a post, let me tell you that I have talked with several people (including some with professional medical training) and have become more settled in my mind and emotions about what happened. Part of me still wishes I had acted more quickly, but I know I have to let it go.

The reason I have shared all of this is to mention what I have learned from this tragedy--second guessing is very rarely a good idea. That is not to say that we should be proud and arrogant. That is not to say that we should refuse to admit mistakes or learn from them. That is not to say that we shouldn't look back in life and reflect on both the positive and the negative experiences. The point is this. In life, you only get one run-through. There are no mulligans. That is why it is so important to take your time and to seek the wisdom of God when making major life decisions. (I am hoping that some of my students from LCCA are reading this.) Life, however, does not always afford us the luxury of time when making decisions. Sometimes, we don't get a chance to fast and pray and seek counsel. Sometimes...we just have to act. Second guessing yourself doesn't accomplish a whole lot other than making you upset and unsure of yourself. "What if I make the wrong decision in crunch time?" you might ask. Well, if you are walking in the Spirit daily, all you can do is trust God to help you make the right decision. If you do make a mistake, the best thing I can figure to do is admit it, learn from it, and move on. God is gracious, great, and good. We are fallen, frail, and finite. He has the amazing ability to work all things (including our poor decisions) together for good according to His purposes. There is no room for obsessive perfectionism in the life of a Christian--it is paralyzing and lacking in faith. Let us purpose to serve God with all of our heart. If things don't always run as smoothly as we might have hoped, don't look back for too long. The road ahead is where our eyes should be.

"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
- the Apostle Paul

Movin' On

As I type this, it is 7:22am on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008...

Gotta go load a moving truck and drive it to New Hampshire...

To those of you in Ohio--we will miss you. Keep in touch if you feel so inclined...

To those of you in New Hampshire--see you soon...

To those of you in Delaware...um...well...hmmm...what can I say? You're in Delaware!

Everybody Enjoy Life!

On the Road

Of the 592 hours that have transpired in the month of June thus far, I have spent approximately 60 of them driving around the country in our minivan. (That is 10.1%) When we are on these road trips, there are only three activities in which I can engage without getting car sick: 1)Driving, 2) Listening to music or podcasts or audiobooks, and 3) Thinking. Of course, all three of these activities can be engaged in concurrently. I tend to think alot as the scenery along the interstate blazes past us at 65 or 70 or 75 miles per hour. Here is a collection of some of the more coherent of my thoughts from the road.



Part One - "The Blame Game"
We ate at a Cracker Barrel on Monday night. Our waitress had only one star on her apron. I'm assuming that means she is either new on the job or not very good on the job. Actually, I think it was a combination of both. I ordered my steak medium--it was well-done. My mom didn't want gravy on her potatoes--there was gravy on her potatoes. The camel back-breaking straw was when my wife ordered country-fried steak and was given country-fried chicken instead. When Danielle mentioned this to our waitress she said this, "Oh, did they do chicken?" Her intended implication here was, of course, that it was not her fault but rather the fault of the cooks in the kitchen who prepared the food. That really irritated me. As if the cooks would just spontaneously decide to prepare something totally different than what was on the order form. "Hey guys! It's says steak, but let's do chicken instead!" Or maybe they just got the raw steak and the raw chicken mixed up because they look so much alike! What we have here is a classic case of blame-shifting. The girl didn't want to admit that she wasn't listening very carefully when we ordered our meals. I hate blame-shifting! I especially hate it when I do it! Would that we all we would learn how to admit when we are wrong!


Part Two will be forthcoming...

Our New Location

For those of you who have been wondering about our upcoming move, here is some geographic information...

Uncut Updates

Sometimes, in my effort to put together videos for this website, I tend to get a little too picky about the final product. It often takes me several hours to get a 5 or 6 minute video together. (What can I say? Greatness has its downsides!) I decided today that I would do something totally out of character for me--put a video on the site completely uncut and unedited! That's right, I will film only one take and slap that puppy on the blog without another thought. No music, no graphic, no touch-ups for the audience. Just me, my family, and the camera--the way home videos ought to be. My main reason for doing this is to provide quick updates on the goings-on in our lives. So here is the first installment in what I am calling, "Uncut Updates." (But you won't see that title on the video anywhere.) Hope this week finds all of you doing well!

Eldan's Two Year Pictures

These were taken by our friend Amber Walsh at a local park called Dawes Arboretum. Thanks Amber!