I'm not big into celebrity news, or celebrities at all really, but the reminder that it has been 25 years since Lennon was killed got me thinking. At the time he was shot, he meant almost nothing to me personally -- in fact, he was one of the poster boys for the anti-rock music crowd in the church. As a 16 year old, I was actually quite disturbed when I heard Imagine, because the thought of getting rid of religion scared me. I only came to love his music later in life. Even so, I am moved now to recall his death.

I have an increasing interest right now in reading more of the works of two other assasination victims: Martin Luther King jr., and Abraham Lincoln. I ran across a few short pieces of theirs recently and there is just a raw power there that I want to experience. So, a few weeks early, I think that may be my New Years resolution, and maybe that gives me a few things to put on my christmas wish list for the family.