The Year of our Lord, 2003

This was a year of war. The year began with U.S. troops mobilizing for a massive deployment to Iraq, Saddam Hussein publicly defiant, and the United Nations deeply divided. At 5:35 a.m. on March 20 the campaign of shock and awe began with deadly accuracy. Contrary to official Iraqi reports from Baghdad Bob, regime change came to Iraq. On April 8 a statue of Saddam was toppled, on May 1 President Bush declared the end of major combat, and on December 13 Saddam crawled out of a hole in the dirt. Meanwhile, insurgents continue to assault coalition forces, and their own men, women, and children.

On the national scene, America’s space program suffered a grim setback on Feb. 1 when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry, raining charred debris from California to Louisiana. All seven crew members, including Racine native Laurel Clark, were killed. After more than nine months, a bizarre kidnapping case reached an unexpectedly happy conclusion when 15-year old Elizabeth Smart was returned safely to her parents. In mid-August the biggest blackout in U.S. history plunged some 50 million people into darkness. In mid-September Hurricane Isabel swept ashore in North Carolina, causing widespread damage as far north as Baltimore. In late October one of California’s worst ever firestorms scorched nearly 750,000 acres from Los Angeles to San Diego, destroying some 3,600 homes and more than two dozen lives. Meanwhile the plains states endured one of the most intense tornado seasons on record.

This was the first year since 1999 that the stock market had a winning year, with the Dow Jones closing at 10,453 (up 25% for the year) and the Nasdaq closing at 2,003 (up 50% for the year). The recession, which began in the closing months of President Clinton’s watch, finally seemed to turn the corner.

An effort to recall California Gov. Gray Davis started out as almost a joke, but as the red ink spread the recall gained momentum. Emerging from a field of 135 candidates and charges of groping women, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected in a near landslide. Meanwhile, the ten Democratic presidential candidates struggled to get some media attention.

In Alabama a federal judge ordered the removal of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s Ten Commandment monument, and ultimately the removal of Justice Moore himself. The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that homosexuals can marry, sparking a national movement to amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. And in Washington President Bush signed into law a ban on partial-birth abortion, a ban that President Clinton had vetoed twice before.

The year began with homosexuals pushing their agenda on prime time TV and continued with a push in the church. The Episcopal Church confirmed the appointment of openly gay Rev. Gene Robinson as the bishop of New Hampshire. When the First Christian Reformed Church in Toronto announced that it would accept the nomination of gay and lesbian members for the offices of Elder and Deacon, they were strongly admonished by Classis Toronto and by the Synod of the CRC, and were called to repentance.

This was the year of the notable deaths of comedian Bob Hope, our favorite neighbor Fred Rogers, actress Katherine Hepburn, and Braves Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn.

This was the year the Billygoat hex on Wrigley Field seemed to be alive, with a Cubs meltdown following an 8^th inning fan interference with a foul ball in game six of the National League Championship Series. Closer to home, people talked about divine intervention for the Packers when Arizona Cardinal wide receiver, Nathan Poole, pulled down a last-second touchdown reception to eliminate the Vikings and clinch a Conference championship for the Packers. Others are suggesting that perhaps Farve is an alien.

As Sheboygan celebrated its 150^th birthday, the hype began for the PGA tournament at Whistling Straights in August 2004. The $54 million Blue Harbor Hotel and Resort was on target for completion by June. And Christian High won its second straight Division 3 State Soccer Championship.

At First Christian Reformed Church, this was the year we defeated a building addition proposal, purchased the Hengst House, and began to discuss expanding our ministry staff. During the course of the year we witnessed the baptism of twelve infants, the profession of faith of five young people, the marriage of five members, and the death of five members. This was the year of our Lord, 2003.