A Chronicle

Despair and the Virginia Tech Massacre

2007-04-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

I'll admit up front, I have no earth shaking, insightful commentary on the massacre that took place yesterday on the campus of Virginia Tech. How can my small words provide any consolation or comfort to those who lost loved ones? How can the life of Liviu Lebrescu be replaced? This is a man who previously survived the Holocaust now giving his life so others may live. (Read here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266506,00.html)

All I am left thinking is that our world has so much despair that human tragedies like this will inevitably make the headlines and prompt us to ask 'why?' Now, I can say it's Satan making another statement, attempting to hang on as God prepares for a world without evil. But I don't think it's that. I think it is people giving up. It is people having no hope. It is people simply coming to the conclusion that life is meaningless. Without a hope for the future, what is the point? With no hope, with only despair, why would life be valued? If we're just a cosmic, evolutionary accident, we're also simply food for worms. We live, we die, we fertilize.

If you happen upon this post, and if you are despairing, there is hope. There is hope in the salvation offered us all through Jesus Christ. If you are at a place of despair, please let someone know. There is hope.

Maundy Thursday

2007-04-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

(I can't believe it's been 3 months since I wrote - a testament to my chaotic schedule...)

The trend in Christianity is to grow churches through "seeker friendly" services. Casual dress, popular music, and feel-good messages prevail with the goal it seems to grow congregations. Sadly, while this does grow the congregation, it doesn't necessarily bring people into a proper relationship with Christ.

I mention this because I like many Christians need to be convicted more for my sins, and for my true nature. And nothing does this better for me than attending service on Maundy Thursday. Sitting in service two days ago was a heart-wrenching experience. Hearing again how we all betrayed Jesus, from Peter to Judas, brought tears to my eyes. Knowing I am responsible for his suffering and crucifixion humbles and hurts me. Knowing that Jesus hung on a cross above his mother and friends ... how do you deal with that?

You deal with that by knowing Jesus willfully chose this path, knowing full well he would be beaten, tortured and crucified so that we would not have to be. Jesus did this for me. Jesus did it for you.

And Easter is tomorrow. My redeemer lives...

Political and religious glee - us versus them

2007-01-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

Over the last couple of days, there was a lot of news coverage on the changing political leadership in our country. There has been an incredible amount of celebration (if you are a Democrat), I would even say glee on the part of the victors. According to dictionary.com, that word means "open delight or pleasure." When I looked the word up, just to make sure there wasn't a better one to choose, I also found this alternative definition - "malicious satisfaction." Yes, I think the word glee sums up quite well the feeling of many.

As I was thinking about this, my mind wandered to Christianity. Yes, going from politics to Christianity is a stretch - most of what I see in politics has nothing to do with being a Christian. But I started thinking about "being a Christian,", versus not being one. I began to contemplate, "Don't we Christians often approach our lives from an us versus them mindset?" You're either on our side, or you're not. The right side or the wrong side. Democrats versus Republicans, Christians versus non-Christians. And I think sometimes, Christians look toward non-Christians with a type of glee, using either definition from above.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our country were filled with Americans, not Democrats or Republicans? When one party won an election, the other side would reach out their hand and offer genuine congratulations, and offer to walk side-by-side with them to do what was best for our country (not for their own personal, political advancement)?

And wouldn't it be more wonderful if Christians didn't view non-Christians with the same contempt with which Democrats view Republicans (and vice-versa)? Yes, it is wonderful to be a follower of Christ (a Christian), but aren't we all God's children? Shouldn't we be extending our hand to Christians and non-Christians alike, sharing God's love with everyone, offering to walk side-by-side with them on this incredible journey?

It shouldn't be an us-versus-them thing. Jesus died for all of us, not just Christians. He died to save the world, not just me.

Stop trying to figure God out

2007-01-05T06:38:00.000-06:00

In my morning devotional time, I just read a great quote from A.W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit. He said of the Spirit, "Knowledge by acquaintance is always better than mere knowledge by description, and the first does not presuppose the second nor require it." Following along the theme from my last post, too many intellectual Christians seem to be trying to figure God out. They contemplate, 'Why did He do this? What does it mean that this happened? What can we learn from this event?' I'd say we'd all be better off pursuing the relationship than the understanding.

How often do we desire to know more about who God is when we would benefit more from simply knowing Him?

Why did God inspire the Bible?

2006-12-27T21:01:00.000-06:00

I'm reading an interesting book by Brian McLaren called, "A New Kind of Christian." I can understand after reading the first half of the book why McLaren has become such a lightning rod for criticism, in particular from Conservative Christians. His views on a variety of topics, presented from the perspective of a character named Neo, who seems to be a thinly veiled McLaren, are edgy, pushing the reader to think, contemplate, and to a degree become a bit uncomfortable. Which is fine by me. As a newer Christian, I don't want my views surrounded in concrete, but want them to be nurtured, to grow, dare I say to evolve...

One of the least controversial topics in the book was about the Bible, about how the Bible should be "reading us" as much as we are reading it. There was one quote in particular that resonated with me. Neo says to Dan, a pastor working his way through a mid-life crisis of sorts, "...maybe we need to read it less like scholars and more like humble seekers trying to learn whatever we can from it, in the context of our sincere desire to live for God and do what he wants."

I love that! How often do we completely miss that point? I attend a Bible study once a week, and very often I find myself sitting and listening to the "experts" and think, "Why do they think they know what God was communicating?" This isn't an all-the-time thing, but it is a regular occurrence. Too often it seems as though someone just wants to be right.

And this seems to be pervasive in the evangelical wing of Christianity. A great example is the debate between Greg Boyd and John Piper, going back about 5-6 years ago. I think both of these guys are brilliant. They know more about theology than I'll ever dream about. I learn from each of them and their followers truly admire them (as evidenced by the thousands that attend their weekly services.) But these two evangelical giants faced off on the topic of pre-destination and God's foreknowledge. Piper is a true Calvinist, while Boyd leans more toward Armenianism. The debate got downright personal. In reading the various documents that went back and forth between these two men, I was left thinking, "How do you know what was meant? You are reading the Bible and extracting theology and meaning from very confusing and some times conflicting information. What makes you think you know God's thoughts?" It seemed to me the men were more interested in making a point, not necessarily understanding.

But the "point" isn't to know God's thoughts. After all, isn't that what got Eve in trouble? She desired the fruit not for the fruit, but for the knowledge she would gain, knowledge that would put her on par with God. Isn't it also how the Babylonians earned God's wrath, by building a tower so they could somehow be as important as God? (Genesis 11) I sometimes think we're doing the same thing.

McLaren suggests that what we should be doing is living for God. I love his phrase, to read "as humble seekers." Too often I see nothing resembling humility when that trait would do wonders for so many. And this includes the scholar. Shouldn't even scholars approach the Bible from a humble perspective, letting the Bible do the talking, not try and fit the Bible into some sort of box the scholar has built and designed. It minimizes God.

I'm not ready to digest all that McLaren offers in this book, but I have ordered the two sequels and will eagerly read them to continue my personal faith journey. In the mean time, my advice to my evangelical friends is to cozy up to the Bible. Approach it as a friend, not some sort of science project.

Freedom from the law

2006-12-06T12:01:00.000-06:00

I just read a disturbing article. Evidently, a sheik in town in Somalia is threatening to behead residents if they do not pray five times daily.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234817,00.html

My initial reaction was one of being horrified. How can this happen today? And, how can this religion be followed? Why don't the people see that murdering and torturing people because they fail to abide by legalistic rules of behavior can't possibly be a faith that makes any sense?

And then it dawned on me. Sadly, this reminds me of the Pharisees and other religious leaders during the time of our savior Jesus. Those that weren't following the law were crucified, stoned, beaten, tortured. The same fate met many of the Apostles of Christ. Fortunately for us, the atoning death of Jesus has freed us from legalistic stipulations. We are still asked to follow the Law, but our law is summarized by Jesus in Luke 10:26-27:

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

See: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=10&version=31&context=chapter

We're shocked when we read about religions doing this today, and rightfully so, because we think we are more civilized. Brutally attacking another is certainly not loving your neighbor. But this is disturbing evidence that should shock us. We live in a brutal world, fighting against Satan on a daily basis. It is evidence of how distorted faith can lead to inexplicable atrocities.

This is also a call to be missional in our lives. Introduce the Gospels at every opportunity. Explain the freedom that comes from a life in Christ. Give a reason for the hope you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Black Friday

2006-11-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

Why would anyone want to shop in a retail store anymore, in particular on the day after Thanksgiving? Let me offer this experience.

My daughter wanted to be dropped off to go shopping with her grandmother (the queen of day-after sales) this morning, so I did so about 7:30. After dropping her off, I went to Circuit City store to buy a gift for one of my kids. (The details are intentionally omitted because one of them may read this.)

The first thing I saw was a line of at least 50 people just trying to check out with their deals. I'm not sure how long they had already been in line, but you could sense a bit of tension as you walked by people with credit cards ready, holding the latest gaming system/DVD player/camera/stereo/etc. When I went to the department to buy the particular item I wanted, the retail associate simply nodded his head as if to say, "Dude, it's 7:30 - we've been open since 5AM. Did you really think you'd get one of the two we had on hand..." I left, not really discouraged, but wondering.

When I got to my office, I logged into the Circuit City site to see if the item I wanted was available on line. And, to my surprise, it was. Not only that, it was at the same price as the retail ad. And it was in stock. And, to put a cherry on top, there would be no shipping charges on the transaction.

In about 2 minutes, I bought the exact item I wanted, without having to worry about lines, jammed parking lots, angry customers, etc.

So help me understand - why do we have retail stores anymore? What a waste of real estate. Not only that, but if the retailers didn't have to pay associates, pay inflated lease rates, high utility bills, etc., imagine how much lower they could push the pricing. And imagine how their profits would be enhanced.

And as a side benefit - no large heat-radiating asphalt parking lots, no fuel guzzling cars to drive, no pollution, emissions, etc.

It's just a matter of time before big-box retailers selling easily researched products go the way of 8-track tapes. They just don't make sense anymore.

For me, one gift down, a few to go...and it's all going to be done on-line!

Why the outrage about O.J.?

2006-11-17T13:37:00.000-06:00

Within the next week or so, Fox Television is going to air an interview with O.J. Simpson. The reason for the interview is to promote a book "he wrote" which describes how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend if he were "actually" going to do it.

My initial impression of Fox TV agreeing to do this was disgust, followed very shortly with, "Well, if any company would agree to air this, it would be Fox." Has any station done more to completely lower the bar on taste in television than Fox? They are the network of the human trainwreck. And how does Fox Television really co-exist with FoxNews?

Then I thought of O.J.'s obsession to remain in the limelight. This guy is really a psychological mess. He goes from killing two people (please don't tell me you believe he didn't do it), claiming he had nothing to do with it, claiming love for Nicole and their children, to now writing a book on how he would do it? I'll say this - if I were one of his Floridian neighbors, I'd be listing my house and taking whatever offers come my way. He is a whack job.

But what has gotten my attention is all the "outrage" being expressed on television and radio. Every show has segments on how outrageous this interview is, how ridiculous O.J. is for doing this, how money-hungry Judith Reagan is for publishing this book, etc. Invariably the conversation turns to money and how ashamed they are that these people would do what they are doing simply for money.

These radio and television personalities are so full of hypocrisy I can't stand it! If they are so outraged, why are they talking about it? Some say "well, it's news, and I can't choose the news, but I am obligated to talk about it." That is such a load of manure. They are talking about it for the same reason Simpson authored the book, Reagan published the book, Fox agreed to air the program - for MONEY!!! If they talk about it, people listen to their shows. Why else is O'Reilly on the air? Why else was Katie lured to CBS? To lure listeners and viewers because those ears and eyes mean money. And since this is sweeps time in the media, these folks are doing exactly what they are accusing Simpson, Reagan and Fox of doing.

And then there are the callers to the programs. They too are expressing outrage. I find this equally humorous. They are watching another car chase, train wreck, tragedy play out in front of them. Why do news programs go live on car chases? Because people watch, hoping there will be some sort of violent, tragic end. We have become a nation of bored people, so we eagerly tune in to the next conflict that hits the airwaves. Do you really think people are watching American Idol to see who can sing? Of course not - it's about Simon and how he will tear into the talent-less singers in front of him. Are millions watching NASCAR for four hours to watch cars drive in circles? No, it's to see a 10-car pile-up on the Talladega SuperSpeedway.

If we're so outraged, why are we talking about it? If we're so offended, why are we watching? Sadly, the ratings for this interview will be sky-high. And as a result, the next time there is a tragic murder (let's see - the Menendez brothers, Scott and Lacy Peterson, Chandra Levy, etc.), the news and talk shows will go 24/7 once again. Because people tune in. Because it makes money.

We're really no different than those from Roman times, going to the gladiator shows. We crave violence and destruction. We go to see the lion maul the man. We watch to witness the gladiator destroy a prisoner. The more, the merrier. Why else would there be a Saw III?

If you are really outraged, then quit calling, quit watching, quit listening. It's really not that hard to do.

The next election cycle

2006-11-11T19:47:00.000-06:00

I am assuming you are thrilled the recent election cycle has concluded. Regardless of political affiliation, you have to love the silence - from politicians and ads.

In two years, I have a solution for all of this - Rock, Paper, Scissors! Don't laugh. It's fair - strength doesn't benefit anyone. You can't advertise to win votes. Women, men, black, Hispanic, white - all have an equal opportunity.

A Rock, Paper, Scissors World Championship! Winner earns $10,000 (OK, that's Canadian, so it's only about $1.27): http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/other_news/&articleid=289666

Or, like the cartoon, we could have the politicians play Scissors, Scissors, Scissors - that way, none of these people would get elected. How sweet would that be?

2008 Campaign...you know this could work.

Darfur - we can NOT just watch and do nothing

2006-11-10T13:56:00.000-06:00

What is happening in Sudan is becoming one of the greatest human tragedies - ever. So far, about 400,000 people have been killed and still no significant political effort is being put forth to stop the genocide in Darfur.

It seems that on a daily basis one of our politicians will shout about what is happening in Iraq. In the 3 1/2 years the US has been there, there have been about 3000 Americans killed. Sadly this number pales by comparison to the Darfur genocide. Multiply the number of Americans killed by 100, and you'd still have fewer deaths.

But what do we hear about it? Hardly a word. Will it take a full million dead before this becomes news? Do we have to once again witness an Auschwitz before we take action? Are we simply numb to death in Africa - due to starvation, AIDS and now murder - that it's no longer news? To use an old cliche', the silence is deafening.

Some folks are attempting to increase awareness. Jars of Clay, The Fray, Ziggy Marley, among others - all participated in an event on October 21 of this year. Rock For Darfur events helped increase awareness and money, as many artists donated proceeds from their various concerts to Oxfam. (click this link for more information on this event: www.myspace.com/RockForDarfur)

But what is eating at me is that, while these events help increase awareness, the significant effort required is not taking place. That effort - a global political and military exercise to impose peace on this region - is being quashed by certain entities in the United Nations that refuse to mobilize. I don't care that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir opposes any external military presence - it's really not his choice anymore. Even though he denies it, his government is providing support for the murderous Janjaweed militia, and that puts the blood of these people on his hands.

What should we do? How can we mobilize? It's not simply getting President Bush to move forward, it requires British PM Blair, Japanese PM Koizumi, Australian PM Howard, and leaders from Sweden, Mexico, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Canada, etc. It requires every leader of every free country. Heck, it's even leaders of countries that are not free - China, Russia, and the like. The United Nations simply condemns the actions of the Sudanese military, but so what? That symbolic slap on the wrist is embarrassing.

I read an interesting passage in Scripture that resonated with me as I meditate on this tragedy.

Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those
staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew
nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart
perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Aren't these words being spoken to each of us right now, from men, women and children in Darfur?

Here is my call to action. Every day, spend 5-10 minutes - more if you can - calling or writing everyone you know to let them know what is happening. Friends, neighbors, family, politicians, actors, musicians, writers, etc. Tell them that 400,000 have been slaughtered. Ask them, beg with them, plea for them to reach to their network. Multiply. Ask your church to get involved. Call your pastor, priest, rabbi - ask them to invite their people to become involved, to pray, to mobilize.

Visit different websites to educate yourself on what is happening:
http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/selectstory.asp?Cr=sudan
http://www.oxfam.org/en/programs/emergencies/sudan/index.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6135960.stm

Call your local news organization. Provide them with statistics, and ask them why they are not talking about this.

A movement is required. We are called to action. The passage above from Proverbs tells us to "rescue those who are being led away to death."

Jesus said 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:45) We will be judged, whether by our actions or inactions, but we will be judged.

Please get involved.

What are we afraid of?

2006-11-06T13:55:00.000-06:00

I attended a high school retreat this past weekend. I was one of 5 adults leading about 35 students in prayer and worship, as well as simply enjoying life away from the hustle and bustle of our daily, busy lives. The weather was spectacular, considering we were in Northern Minnesota and the temperature was in the mid-50s.

The teaching was done by Aaron Markson, the worship leader at a new church in Hudson, Wisconsin called Sanctuary.
http://sanctuaryhudson.com/site/start.html

Aaron presented an interesting perspective on John 5:1-11, which is the story of a paralyzed man at a healing pool. I've often looked at this story from the angle of Jesus' healing, or of the criticism directed toward Jesus because he chose to heal on the Sabbath. Aaron took this on a different path, and I wanted to share it with you.

If you look at the passage, Jesus asks the man "if he wants to be healed." What was interesting is that the man didn't say yes. Instead he made an excuse about not being able to get to the pool while it was stirred (which is when it had more restorative powers). Jesus didn't ask him what was preventing him from entering the pool, nor did he ask if he wanted a hand to get to the pool. He asked the man if he wanted to be healed.

Why wouldn't the man simply say yes? In this case, the man had been paralyzed for 38 years, and though Scripture doesn't say his age, we can safely assume this was most or all of his life. He had grown accustomed to his life as an invalid, which included begging for food and shelter, and anything he may have needed. It seemed to me that he would want a life that was easier, having the ability to make a living, earn money so he could provide for himself, maybe even help others. But the man didn't say yes...why?

Aaron suggested that this new freedom also presented a dilemma for the man. If he was now able to walk, it would be less acceptable to be a beggar. He would now be expected to earn his own money, buy his own food - basically become self-sufficient. Maybe this man wasn't ready for that change. Maybe he had grown so comfortable with his current lifestyle that a dramatic change like that provided more questions than answers, and he just wasn't ready for that...

Jesus then told the man to "get up and walk" and the man did so. In effect, Jesus forced his hand.

But I had to ask myself - what am I afraid of? What is holding me back from a life with God? Am I afraid God is going to ask me to change my life - and is that a good thing or not?

I've definitely grown comfortable with my life, though I never seem to have enough money or stuff to satisfy my wants. As such, I'm afraid to leave this life, afraid to give it away so I can have a life completely dedicated to Christ.

And there are other considerations as well. If He asks me to change my life, how does that impact my family? Will they (willingly) follow me? Is it right to even ask them? There are opportunities to serve, in fact one that was presented literally 10 minutes ago. While that it still voluntary and not a change in career, it's another sign to me God is calling and testing me, trying to determine if I am ready, willing and able.

I know the answer to most of this. I know that comfort causes people to take fewer risks. I know that by not taking risks, I can no longer grow. And I also know if I no longer grow, that atrophy will set in. And of course, once atrophy sets in, death soon follows. I know all that.

But I don't act. I wait. Like the man at the pool, when asked why I don't simply do "it" - whatever "it" is - I come up with some lame response about salary, benefits, kids, etc. The reality is, that like the man at the pool, I'm afraid.

Why? God didn't promise me a life without risk. I need look no further than the lives of Jesus, Paul and many others written about in God's word. They lived a full life, a life without regret, even though their lives included great risk.

So, here's my plea to you - take the risk that you know you should. And then, let me know the outcome. You can be my support group as I move closer to the edge, preparing to step in to the pool of uncertainty and risk.

With Madonna, Christians have fallen to Satan once again

2006-10-22T07:57:00.000-05:00

You're probably wondering where I'll go with that one. Actually, so am I!

Let us begin with the latest ruckus Madonna has caused. She is currently on her "Confessions" tour, and evidently the tour is going quite well. She also has a television performance coming up on NBC, where clips from her tour will be broadcast on a two-hour special airing in mid-November. And this is where it gets interesting.

It turns out that part of her stage performance includes Madonna being lowered while appearing to be hanging on a cross. She's actually standing on a small platform, but you get the visual. Well as a result of her using this stage prop, a number of Christian groups are up in arms, angry at Madonna for such a sacrilegious display, and angry at NBC for agreeing to show this blatant mocking of the cross and what it represents. Here's the story:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10202006/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

This is where I think Satan has once again gained a small victory. Seemingly intelligent Christians are falling into a trap here. We claim to follow God, to place no idols before Him, and what do we do - express outrage that a middle-aged pop-artist is using a cross in a theatrical presentation. Here's the picture - take a look for yourself. It's a silly mirrored cross - it reminds me in no way of what Jesus endured for me.

My problem isn't that we're even paying attention to Madonna and her antics. She has to attempt to be controversial in order to stay in the spotlight. It's all part of a carefully crafted image. You know the adage - "good news or bad news, just so long as I'm in the news." Kind of like her adoption fiasco of the Malawian child. But that's another story.

My problem is that Christians are spending any time on this. Aren't there bigger problems? Shouldn't we be concerned about starvation in Africa? Shouldn't we be concerned with the genocide and war in Darfur? Shouldn't we be concerned that AIDS is still out of control, killing millions every single year? And shouldn't this concern for these true tragedies be displayed by action? This is what James said in 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=66&chapter=2&version=31
He doesn't say works get you to Heaven, but he does say that if you have faith, truly have faith, you will act on that faith as a by product. But I'm not sure sending a million emails to NBC about this particular topic is what he meant.

I recall a passage in The Screwtape Letters, written by C.S. Lewis. In this classic, Screwtape is one of Satan's field personnel, and is sharing his thoughts in a number of letters to Wormwood, his nephew and apprentice. He is sharing how Wormwood can be more effective in bringing people to Satan, away from God. In one particular letter to young Wormwood, he discusses with the young devil how man will fall into the trap of praying to and worshiping an object. He says, "Whatever the nature of the composite object, you must keep him praying to it - to the thing that he has made, not to the Person who has made him. You may even encourage him to attach great importance to the correction and improvement of his composite object, and to keeping it steadily before his imagination during the whole prayer. For if he comes to make the distinction, if he ever consciously directs his prayers 'Not to what I think thou art but to what thou knowest thyself to be', our situation is, for the moment, desperate." He is telling his apprentice that if you want man to fail in his prayers, get him to direct his attention toward an object, away from the God.

Haven't we fallen into Satan's trap by diverting our attention to a cross used by this has-been entertainer? Shouldn't we be worried about saving lives, and saving souls? Shouldn't our attention be on Jesus and not on an object? Things like this distract from what Jesus has called us to do, to love Him, with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Is that love best represented when we protest a silly thing like this, or when we care for God's children? If we continue to wage silly fights like this, Satan does win, just as C.S. Lewis described.

Rodney King - where are you now?

2006-10-09T22:04:00.000-05:00

I was living in Southern California when the LA Riots occurred in 1992. Actually, I was on a business trip in Denver the night they began, causing my wife some concern as she was in an unfamiliar state (we had recently moved there), and 7 months pregnant at the time. It was a surreal time, seeing the repeated beatings of Rodney King on the television, as well as the rage that exploded when the accused LA police officers were acquitted. To this day I can not believe Reginald Denny survived the impact of the concrete block being slammed into his head.

Rodney King was at the center of this event. A year prior, he resisted arrest and was beaten by LA police who were trying to control him. To my untrained eyes, it certainly seemed as though excess force was applied. In fact, I remember watching the grainy video, almost gasping as another billy-club struck him...on the arms, on his back, on his head.

For years after that, Rodney King was mocked as a variety of entertainers replayed his plea to citizens of Southern California. As the riots raged, King said to television cameras, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"

I was thinking about him recently as I watch and listen to the hate that exists in American politics. Democrats hate Republicans, Conservatives hate Liberals, voters hate incumbents, and the media hates anyone who criticizes them. You can not turn on the radio or television without hearing vitriolic words from so-called leaders. And I'm sure you share my sentiment of being truly sick of hearing it.

So, to steal from Rodney King, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"

Can't we just grow up?

Can't we raise the level of discourse in this country?

If we've been wronged, can't we turn the other cheek?

Do we really have to yell louder than the other person?

Can't we be forgiving when someone falls?

Can't we be the first to say good job...to our opponents?

Can't a leader say...I was wrong...and I'm sorry?

Can't we treat others as we'd want them to treat us, not necessarily how they have treated us?

Is winning really the only thing?

Can we all get along?

Sadly, Rodney King has struggled since his days in the limelight. While being awarded millions in a civil action, he's pretty much broke today. He has always struggled with alcohol, and the pressure of being an icon from that terrible time in our country's history have been a burden - a burden he probably didn't want to bear.

I pray for Rodney King. I'm sorry this country has so much hate. I wish we could all get along...

The discipline of fasting

2006-10-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

I learned a bit about Yom Kippur recently, the annual Jewish day for repenting of sins. As a Christian, I am guilty for not paying attention to what the various Jewish holidays stood for, or taking the time to educate myself on their meaning. And I have to say, I think this day holds a great lesson for non-Jews. Dedicating oneself to confessional prayer, and making an effort to reconcile with those wronged by your sins makes so much sense. Christians and other non-Jews could learn from this practice.

Just recently I've begun a regular routine of fasting. On a weekly basis, I fast from Sunday evening until Tuesday morning, a period of about 36 hours. When I first began this practice, it was a challenge. The focus of my mind was on my hunger, my desire for food...and on the growling of my stomach! It wasn't so much that I was starving, obviously, but it was the psychological impact of going without food, snacks, munchies, etc. It was as if food was my security.

As my experience has continued, I have begun to focus on God during times of hunger. I pray to God, grateful that I actually have a choice to fast, where so many in the world experience hunger through no fault - or choice - of their own. I realize that hunger is simply a distraction, something that takes my attention from God. As a result, I speak to Him more during my fasting days than I do on other days. When I sense that craving begin, I immediately shift my focus to God, knowing I can lean on Him to carry me through.

For Christians, the discipline of fasting is all too often ignored. I suppose some of this is the result of the times in which we live, where stick-thin models are more often taken to task for their dietary habits than they are admired. However, scripture calls us to fast, and I encourage you to begin a regular habit of fasting, whether weekly, monthly or annually.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of fasting. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs his disciples in how to fast.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:16-18;&version=31;
He says it's important to not bring attention to yourself, but to fast with a positive demeanor. Doing so honors God, as opposed to earning some sort of religious points in the game of salvation. As my brief experience has taught me, it brings focus to your relationship with God.

There is a subtle message contained in the passage. Notice Jesus says "When you fast,", not if. Jesus is assuming all of his followers will fast, and knows there is benefit in doing so. How many of us miss that point? Later in Acts (13:2-3), God communicates with the apostles. He calls for Saul (Paul) and Barnabas to be set apart.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2013;&version=31;

Did you notice he did so while the apostles were worshiping and fasting? I can't help but believe that the Holy Spirit was better able to communicate with the apostles as a result of their commitment to the discipline of fasting.

If you have ever considered fasting as part of your spiritual discipline, but have never done so, I would encourage you to do so. Start with an 18-hour fast (lunch to breakfast), then a 24-hour fast (breakfast to breakfast), and maybe even to a 36-hour fast like I engage in (dinner to breakfast). You'll begin to learn more about yourself, and more about your relationship with God. I think this is one reason Jews fast - it brings focus to their relationship with God, in addition to the wonderful benefit of reconciliation with those they've wronged in the previous year.

What is with Hugo Chavez?

2006-09-21T16:36:00.000-05:00

This isn't a political rant - I'm really trying to stay away from politics. But Hugo Chavez is such a hypocrite.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214973,00.html

Here's my comment. Chavez is saying he will donate, or greatly discount the price on, heating oil for families in Alaska and the Northeast. A fine gesture...until you consider the other side of the coin.

According to one list I looked at, Venezuela ranked 76th in per capita GDP - behind Mexico, Poland and Libya. In fact, they were in the lower half of world countries that were measured. According to another measurement, Venezuela was ranked 68th in a poverty index. And even worse, Venezuela ranked 100 in a global corruption index - behind such countries as Iran, Cuba, China, Russia...
http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/dec/19rank.htm

My question is this: Does Chavez really care about Americans, or is this simply deft politics? Why is he so concerned about people in the wealthiest country in the world, when millions in his country live below the level of poverty?

Mr. Chavez should spend his time and money on his own people, folks that are living in tin-shacks and exposed to dirty water and disease. Only then will his generosity be viewed as sincere, from his heart.

Throwback jersey, murder and idolatry

2006-09-08T13:49:00.000-05:00

Once again, I'm shocked by current events here in Minnesota. This past week, a high school student was murdered. That isn't news anymore which is tragic, in and of itself. What's particularly troubling about this particular story is the reason for the murder.

It seems the victim, a 15-year old boy, was killed because some thugs wanted his throwback jersey.
http://www.startribune.com/467/story/657151.html

He was wearing a basketball jersey representing Morgan State University. Evidently, these throwback jerseys are popular and expensive, some costing as much as $400. They are coveted. In this case, when the thugs decided they wanted it, they shot the young man. From early news reports, a witness heard one of the perpetrators say to another "you weren't supposed to kill him, you were just supposed to scare him." A crime that started as a misdemeanor quickly tumbled out of control, resulting in another senseless death.

Dictionary.com defines "idolatry" as "excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc."
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=idolatry
Whether throwback jerseys, $200 shoes worn by LeBron James or Michael Jordan, or obsession over the latest photos of Tom and Katie's baby, our nation has become a culture of idolaters. We want the latest jeans, the coolest t-shirt, autographs of stars, etc. To me it seems this obsession to have what others have, to be like them, to hold people and things in "reverence" is simply an example of false worship,

Deuteronomy 31:20 says, "When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant."
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=5&chapter=31&verse=20&version=31&context=verse

Doesn't that seem to parallel what is happening in this country? We have so much wealth that we have turned to other gods and idols, whether actors, athletes or things. And when some can't afford the things others worship, they turn to desperate, senseless acts of violence. In this case, a 15-year old boy, an entire life in front of him, was shot...dead. All because someone wanted a "thing", a stupid jersey.

The jersey may have cost $200-400. The real cost was one life lost, and a few other lives spent behind bars for the next 10-20 years. All because of the desire to have a jersey.

Women Can't Teach Men

2006-08-22T21:08:00.000-05:00

Wow, a title like that is sure to cause some reaction. But that's exactly what a church in Watertown, NY says:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/21/menonly.sundayschool.ap/index.html

After 54 years of teaching in her church, Mary Lambert has been dismissed from her role. The pastor, Reverend Timothy LaBouf, says that his church is adopting a more literal interpretation of the bible. He said that the second letter of Paul to Timothy is quite clear on this point. 2Timothy 2:12 says "I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; she must be silent."

Where to go with this? Of course the obvious first question is: Why the change after 54 years? I'm not sure if Rev. LaBouf is new to this church, or if the elders had some sort of revelation telling them to "turn from their evil ways." But after 54 years, it seems to me like either someone suddenly awoke from a slumber on par with that enjoyed by Rip van Winkle, or had a bad reaction to uncooked chicken.

But the bigger question relates to biblical interpretation. Some view the bible as being written to a specific people who were dealing with specific issues. In this letter to Timothy, some believe that Paul was concerned specifically about women in Ephesus, not women in general. Evidently these women were dominant in nature, and Paul believed they should be more subservient. I'm not sure.

Others believe that the bible as written is applicable to our lives today. (But ignore all that Old Testament stuff about cleanliness, sacrifices, etc.) I know some men in my bible study share this sentiment. Last year I spoke of a dance we held for high school students in a church meeting room - you'd have thought I burned a crucifix. I was ridiculed for promoting such scandalous behavior.

Many denominations now have female clergy. Are those denominations, based on this fact alone, acting in a non-biblical manner? Who decides what from the bible is applicable today, and what is simply "tradition?" And in the case of Mary Lambert, a faithful servant for over a half-century, do we simply cast her aside?

Tough questions, and no real answers. But I certainly think her treatment was not appropriate.

"Why" shouldn't matter

2006-07-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

I recently read an editorial on Relevant Magazine's web site, and it stimulated in me a reaction. (To read part one of the article, click here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life_article.php?id=7233)

I am hoping the writer provides answers to some of the questions he poses in his follow up next week, but let me offer my perspective. There was one passage at the end of the article I'd like to explore further. Curt Lamm is the author, and he offered this as reaction to suffering in the world in which we live.

But honestly, is that ever the first reaction when a small child is raped and murdered? “Well, we live in a fallen and sinful world that has ramifications going back to the dawn of man’s disobedience.” If that is ever my first thought, then please put me out of my misery, because that is what I will have become … miserable.

It's an interesting perspective, but depressing as well. Asking to be put out of one's misery simply because you don't like the answer...? I don't know. One may not like the answer, but I'm not sure there is much to argue about, unless you simply don't like how simplistic and scripted the answer is.

But how else do you explain suffering except in the context of the sinful world in which we live? Before man sinned, this world was perfect. The land produced fruit and vegetation - and God saw that it was good. He created birds and fish and animals - and again saw it was good. And then he created man to rule over the animals and to enjoy the fruits of God's creation - and once again, God saw it was good.

Man had it all - except one thing. He was man, and not God. But, Satan said that by eating the forbidden fruit, man would have knowledge and "be like God." (Genesis 3:5) And so man fell to temptation and a life of sin - and things changed. The ground was cursed - man would now painfully toil to earn the food he would enjoy. Woman was cursed with tremendous pain during child bearing. God was rightfully livid.

And so, here we are. Sin is still pervasive, and man still is toiling to overcome it's grasp. And one result is unexplainable suffering. Children are born with various afflictions, innocent families are killed in the depths of war, and untold millions die as a result of starvation and thirst. It's not pretty, it's not nice, it's not good. But we had "good" and we messed it up.

See, Jesus came to bring forgiveness for our sins, but he didn't come to remove sin. It's still here, and we lose to sin every single day.

What I find ironic is that Mr. Lamm's struggle seems to be that he has no answers. The initial cause of man's sin, the desire to have the same knowledge as God, is still rooted deep in each of us. It drives us crazy that we don't know why people have to suffer, especially seemingly innocent people. We want to know why, and we want to know right now damn it.

But it's not our place to know. We may have questions, but we certainly shouldn't think we deserve any answers.

We are to be obedient. We are to ask forgiveness when we sin. We are to model our behavior after Jesus, knowing He is the only way we can enter God's house. At that point, God willing, maybe we'll learn why. But until that time, it really doesn't or shouldn't matter.

I'm not trying to take Mr. Lamm to task. Quite frankly, I think it's a great article, and I look forward to reading his follow up post. I agree with him that too often, we go through the motions of our daily lives, forgetting or ignoring that we are to live like Jesus. We turn away from those in need, don't extend a hand to those suffering.

And maybe that's why there is suffering - because God sees our indifference. We need to move beyond "why is their suffering" and toward "what can I do to ease the suffering?" It is my responsibility to do something, to help "the least of those" as Jesus has instructed us. And I think Mr. Lamm and I share that sentiment.

Needing Grace in the Mideast

2006-07-23T19:52:00.000-05:00

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."
1 Titus 2:11

After decades of conflict in the Middle East, most have come to the conclusion that there will never be peace. Pride, arrogance, hate and revenge fuel murder and destruction. And the cycle goes on...and on...and on.

In my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made was The Godfather. Setting aside the great acting, wonderful direction, etc., the general theme in the movie was simply - 'if you hit me, I'll hit you back harder'. You try to kill my father, I'll kill you. You kill my new wife, I'll destroy you and everyone associated with you.

And so it goes in Israel and the Middle East. The latest flare-up was sparked when Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. According to Hezbollah, this was done in retaliation for the thousands imprisoned in Israel, including a murderer named Samir Kuntar, who Hezbollah is asking for in a prisoner swap. In 1979, Kuntar held a family hostage in Israel, ultimately killing a father and his four-year-old daughter. I'm not sure of Kuntar's motives, but my guess in reading about the history of this conflict is that he'd say he was doing this to get even with Israel for one of their aggressive military maneuvers. And Israelis would say their actions, for example the Six Day War in 1967, when Israel took pre-emptive actions against Egypt and others, was to ensure their survival. And the cycle goes on...and on...and on.

What can stop this insane cycle of violence? Really there are two options, and only two. The first is that one side in this conflict completely destroys the other, leaving no remnants alive to exact revenge at some later date. Without a total destruction of their enemy, the victor lives in fear, knowing full well they could strike back at any time. When Solozzo failed to kill Vito Corleone, it was simply a matter of time before revenge would be enacted. The previously innocent Michael finished Solozzo off with a bullet to the head.

The other option is that both sides extend grace and forgiveness to the other. Their history is filled with violence, murder, destruction - both sides have lost incredibly. Neither can ever make the other whole. Yet, by unconditionally forgiving each other, and removing the need for yet another payback, there may be the glimmer of hope for peace in the Middle East. Naive? Maybe. But what are the options? The first option would ensure a global war, resulting in millions of deaths, untold physical destruction, and still no resolution. The second option?

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he speaks of death living in us as a result of Adam's original sin. It is only through God's grace, undeserved and unearned grace, that we have life. God's grace was given in the form of Jesus. In the Middle East, it is only grace that can bring peace. Neither side deserves it, but this may be the only chance for survival. The question is whether anyone is courageous enough to extend it to the other.

The Breath of God

2006-07-19T20:27:00.000-05:00

After God created the heavens and the earth, water and sky, oceans, rivers, various plants and animals, He created man. He took some dust from the ground and formed man. And then, he breathed life into him. (Genesis 2:7) He took Play-Doh and gave it life. The earliest form of claymation. (What is not to love about Play-Doh? It has to be one of the coolest things ever invented - http://www.hasbro.com/playdoh.

Or, check out the famous Mr. Bill! - http://www.mrbill.com)

His breath gave us life. Just pause and let that sink in for a moment. After creating everything - even light - he breathed life into matter. We'd be nothing but dust, a lump of clay, without his breath.

It seems like I'm beating this to death, but I really want to emphasize the awesome nature of what this means. He is in us. It's more than the Spirit of God, it's God himself, His breath in our lungs.

So, if He is in us, can't we pretty much do anything?

I'm not talking about a 47-foot high jump, or running the mile in 32 seconds. But I am talking about some pretty awesome, seemingly impossible things. For example, why can't we provide clean water for everyone - EVERYONE - worldwide? Seems like a big task, but why not? God created the lakes, rivers, streams (later polluted by man) - why can't we, with Him inside of us, solve this problem? What is holding us back? Trust me, this is as much self-talk as it is a prompting to those who read this, but why not?

The only thing holding us back is us, the self-imposed limitations we place upon ourselves. And I think the reason is because we view ourselves as so insignificant. We're only one of six-billion people - what difference can we make? Well, Jesus and his twelve disciples changed the world. But they didn't do it on their own. God was with them. Just as God is with us.

Or, I guess I should say, just as God is IN us.

Middle East Conflict, part....

2006-07-18T19:21:00.000-05:00

Just when we think all is calm in the world (ignoring Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq) we are faced with a crises that could escalate to unfathomable heights. Is the fight between Israel and Hezbollah simply a short-term "correction", analogous to a over-heated stock market? Or, could these events become a long-term regional, or potentially world conflict, more analogous to the depression that was felt the world over in the 1930s? I watch the conflict in Lebanon closely, praying that calm minds and big hearts prevail, and events of today begin to calm.

Right now, that seems to be such a naive hope. From the beginning of time, we've had conflict, often resulting in death (Genesis 4:8). Fueled by jealousy, lust, ego, hate, and covetous desires, men and women display their worst behavior, reflecting man's depravity...and people die. The conflict between Israel and it's neighbors includes many of the behavioral traits I highlight above. Certainly, the actions of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, and his irrational, hateful comments, are representative of more than one of these traits. But, the world is littered with people that are broken and sinful, and our actions are often beyond words. (Heck, if you don't believe me, click this link: http://www.startribune.com/462/story/557309.html)

So, what can we do about all this? Pray. At all times. To God, the Father of our savior, Jesus Christ. Only He can intervene. Only he can place his hands on these many tragedies and conflicts and say enough. Keep in mind, he may choose not to - that's His call, based on His plans. Looking at our behavior, it wouldn't surprise me to see him turn away for a while, let men kill men, destroy homes and buildings, and in general wreak havoc throughout His creation.

Who knows? We may begin to realize how much we need him at that point. And maybe we'll take to heart Jesus' words in John 5:14 - "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

22 Years After Conviction - Innocence

2006-07-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

What an incredible story:
http://www.innocenceproject.org/press/Newton.php

What you don't see in this story is the man's incredibly positive outlook on life, and his resistance to giving in to anger, resentment, revenge, hate.

Alan Newton is a role model for so many of us. In an interview, he was told that the lady that originally accused him of rape, assault and robbery had died. He was asked what he thought about her. In a calm voice, he replied that he felt bad for her too. He said that she too, did not have justice served, since the person who committed the crime was never prosecuted or convicted of it.

How many of us would view this experience through rose colored glasses? He's looking forward to going to school, getting a job. He knows that he has spent over half his life in prison, for a crime he didn't commit, yet he's looking forward, not backward.

What an incredibly humble person.

Safety Kills

2006-07-03T19:51:00.000-05:00

Isn't it time to quit being so safe? Everywhere we go, everything we read, we're being told we're not safe. We're a nation obsessed with becoming more and more safe. Seat belts weren't enough, so we added airbags. Then passenger air bags. Then side impact airbags. Before you know it, we'll all be driving bumper cars simply because it will be the only way to approach the new standard by which we live = "one life lost is one life too many." The problem with that thinking is that it's all about us. It doesn't extend to those who really need help.

This quest for life of safety is causing people to no longer take any risks. I'm not talking about extreme athletes - those guys amaze me. The people I'm speaking about are those that simply sit on the sidelines and never engage any of the critical issues of our time. The people who won't get involved in any of the many worthwhile causes to help eradicate AIDS in Africa. Or the people who will not get involved in the inner-city because it's dangerous.

Or many Christians. It seems that many (most?) Christians are what I'll call "by the book Christians" - they know the Scriptures but don't necessarily live them. Why is that? I think in part it's a fear they have, being afraid that someone may judge them, or their efforts may fail. The necessity to be safe paralyzes the people that are most needed to impact and change this world.

The Apostle Paul was certainly not safe. He took many risks, often resulting in personal pain and suffering. But what he accomplished as a result of his sacrifice changed the world. Of course his model was Jesus. Did Jesus play it safe? Hardly. He took on the establishment, calling into question the religious leaders of his day. He too paid a price. But here's the thing. The price Jesus paid allows us to take more risks than ever. Our future is guaranteed. We can step out into the fire, knowing Jesus will rescue us. We can share our faith because we're called to do so. We can work to help heal those suffering in Africa, because those suffering are our brothers. We can minister in the inner city, because their pain is our pain.

And we can do this knowing that whether successful or not, regardless of how our efforts might be judged by others, that Jesus is with us, having already paid the ransom that allows us to risk all to gain even more.

You see, the thing is, the more we play it safe, the more people die. To AIDS, to hunger and thirst, to inner-city violence, etc. When we play it safe, we become accomplices in the death of millions. Playing it safe is making a choice - a choice to not save the lives of God's children. And, don't forget, this choice will be judged - Matthew 25:45-46 - "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment..."

It's time to take some risks and kill the safety-first mindset. Once we've done that, we can get on with Jesus' mission for our lives.

Dangerous Catholic actions

2006-06-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

I recently read this in the LA Times, June 22, 2006 edition: (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-fingerprint22jun22,1,2162976.story?coll=la-editions-orange):
Not wanting to lose illegal immigrant volunteers, the Los Angeles and Orange Roman Catholic dioceses have quietly backed away from a pledge to root out pedophiles by running fingerprint background checks on anyone who works with children.

Are you kidding me?! This could be one of the most closed-minded, self-serving decisions in recent memory. In effect the Catholic leadership is placing the safety of children BELOW the risk of alienating potentially illegal immigrants. I don't understand this at all.

A few years ago, the Roman Catholic Church was rocked by scandal. Priests were not only engaging in sex with minors, there was a tremendous coverup as well. As a result, the Church promised unprecedented transparency in its operations.

One by-product of the scandal was the continuing erosion of attendance at Catholic masses in the United States. And obviously, a shrinking congregation means shrinking donations. But one demographic that has not been shrinking is the Hispanic population. So, at least to me, this decision smells of money, and the leaders ought to be ashamed.

I have a tremendous internal conflict over this entire immigrant issue. On one hand, I can completely empathize with those crossing our borders. The vast majority are doing so in pursuit of a better life, and most are not criminals. On the other hand, we are a nation of laws, and rewarding people who are here as a result of breaking one of our laws...that doesn't make sense to me either.

But setting that aside, I can not get over the myopic thinking of the LA/OC diocese. Do they realize they are potentially placing children at risk? Do they not realize how this looks on top of their recent child-sex scandal?

What is their reason for doing this? It seems to be a matter of not alienating the fastest growing segment of their congregation, which directly impacts the money they raise. A dollars and cents decision? Sadly, it seems as though the dollar has become the object of their affection... (see Luke 16:13)

Gossip and Conspiracy Theory

2006-05-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

I heard the other day that there was a big fight between Denise and Heather over Richie. One of them called the other and... I also heard that Jessica and Nick were getting back together. And that Jessica's sister had a nose job! And that...

BTW, did you hear that the reason gas prices are so high is that George Bush and Dick Cheney are in a secret society and Saudi royalty is in this group. And that Bush will make millions off oil prices when he leaves office. And...

Today it seems that anything but news is news. Gossip reigns. Conspiracy rules. All we need is a tease, and we'll hold captive the audience that tunes in. Which is important, because that is what pays the bills. Without an audience, Viagra adds wouldn't pay our bills. Without that much sought after 20-40 year old demographic, no adds, and no multi-million dollar contract for Katie Couric.

And if we make it up, or only share part of the story, well an apology later will suffice. Time is of the essence. Truth? When convenient.

National Geographic's presentation of the Gospel of Judas is an example of this. So is The DaVinci Code. Both offer salacious tidbits of tantalizing conjecture. Jesus was married? He had children? Of course, which explains why the Catholic Church has been so secretive over these many centuries. Jesus and Judas had a secret pact? Yep, and to seal the deal, Judas only needed to hang himself. It doesn't matter that there is no evidence, we want a story, we want controversy. Gossip and conspiracy - we'll keep watching day after day.

Until the next story takes us away. For example, I heard Brad and Angelina are having twins...conjoined...and that she's a virgin...and he's Jesus' great, great, great, great, etc......great....grandson. I mean he's got blonde hair and blue eyes just like Jesus does......

Stay tuned...

DaVinci Code - Who Cares?

2006-05-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

I read The DaVinci Code very shortly after it was published. Even while reading it, I thought it would be a great movie. For any book to take hold of you as it did, suspense building on every turn of the page, was destined for the big screen.

Well, about 60 million copies of the book have been sold, and the movie is soon to be released. It will be huge. Ignoring the cry of far-right Christians to boycott the movie, just the fact that 60 million people bought the book - passing it along to unknown millions more - ensures the movie will be a smash. And while I will not be going to see the movie, I think that's OK.

As a Christian, I'm not so much upset by the book - as a work of fiction. I'm more upset with organizations like NBC News, who interviews everyone directly or indirectly associated with the film, - director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, author Michael Baigent (of Holy Blood, Holy Grail fame) - but does so with softball questions, fawning appreciation for the movie, and doesn't really investigate the accuracy of the book or movie. Or the National Geographic Society, a humanist organization that presents a television production (The Gospel of Judas) under the guise of a new discovery, when in reality it was simply a.)a grab for money (timed to coincide with the upcoming release of the movie), and b.)an attempt to discredit Christianity.

But, more than that, I'm upset with my fellow Christians. Most that are threatening to boycott the movie don't even know where the book is fictional, what the uproar is about, where the sources quoted come from and when they were written, etc. They hear the word "gospel" and think that anything called a gospel must be true. After all, they trust the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - why wouldn't the gospels of Mary, Judas, Thomas and others be equally valid? They've spent no time investigating the historicity of those documents, don't realize that they were written hundreds of years after the credited authors were dead, etc.

At the core, they're upset that their beliefs are being questioned, which is silly. There was an article on the FoxNews website that touched on just this. Father Jonathan Morris said, "Dan Brown is capable of passing fiction for fact because Christians don't know their faith what and why they believe. That's not Mr. Brown's fault." ( http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194665,00.html )

I couldn't agree more. I'm relatively new to my faith. As such, I am often asked to address another person's question, or defend my beliefs. Often, I'm at a loss for an answer. To me, this is no big deal. I simply spend some time investigating and researching the issue, and formulate an answer based on the evidence. The process helps me strengthen my beliefs. It helps me better prepare the reason I have faith - that Jesus willingly died so that my many transgressions would be forgiven and I'd be able to live with him eternally (see 1 Peter 3:15 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20peter%203&version=31 )

Dan Brown has done a great service for Christianity, if Christians simply pause, get past their emotional reactions and prepare to share their reason for the faith they have.

Curious to know your thoughts...

Jesus and diversity

2006-04-21T08:58:00.000-05:00

Mark tells the story of Jesus making a visit to Gerasa, which was South of the Sea of Galilee. Upon his arrival, Jesus was approached by a demon-possessed man. The man was a lunatic, to the degree that all of the people in the village he lived were afraid of him. They wanted nothing to do with him. They had even tried to restrain him with chains, yet the man simply broke free.

When Jesus arrived, the demons inside the man immediately recognized him, and were afraid. They begged Jesus for mercy, asking him not to torture them. Instead of the punishment they anticipated from him, the demons pleaded with Jesus to allow them to go into the herd of pigs that was grazing nearby. Jesus allowed this to occur, so the evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The pigs then rushed into a nearby lake and drowned.

This story is pretty amazing, resulting in a couple of observations. First, let's consider the man and the demons. The man was possessed by thousands of demons, yet they couldn't keep him from approaching Jesus. Remember, the demons were afraid of Jesus. They thought Jesus was going to torture them. As such, they would have done whatever they could to avoid being in his presence. Yet, they couldn't keep this lonely man away from him. What does it say about the man? It tells me that he had a tremendous amount of faith. His faith allowed him to overcome the grasp and strength of these demons and approach Jesus. The demons were strong - they had previously helped the man break free from chains and irons on his feet - but as strong as they may have been, they were weak when compared with the strength of the man's faith.

The story also speaks to the power of Jesus, at least when we place our faith in him. If we trust Jesus and place our faith in him to heal us, to protect us, does Satan have any chance to succeed? The demons were afraid of Jesus, so much so that they would rather be cast into pigs and drown than face the power of God's only Son.

But here's my primary observation, often lost in this dramatic event. Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee to pay a visit to Gerasa. The Gerasenes were Gentiles. We know this because they were herding pigs, something Jews would not be doing. But Jesus was a Jew. Jews and Gentiles didn't typically hang out together. Most Jews looked down on the Gentiles. But as in so many examples from his life, Jesus took a different path, had his own approach. Jesus was out "in the world" healing, spreading the good news. He didn't stay within his small village and simply teach to those he knew, he ventured out, speaking to and hanging out with people who were different. He went to Tyre and Sidon. He spoke with Samaritans and Canaanites. He reached out to all sinners, not just those in his own home town. He didn't wait for the people to come to him, but he went out to the people. In this story, he crossed the Sea of Galilee and met with Gentiles - on their turf.

What can we learn from this about our mission? Jesus instructs us to "...go and make disciples of ALL nations..." (Mt. 28:19) He doesn't say to teach only your neighbors and friends, as if his message were meant for a select few. He doesn't imply in any way we should stay close to home, within our comfort zone. He doesn't say go to your local church and wait for the sick to come to be healed. He says go, venture out, make disciples of people in all cities and lands. He knew that doing so would mean we would be interacting with people that were different from us. They'd have funny accents, dress differently than we do, and in all likelihood look different. Go and make disciples of all nations...

Why did Jesus instruct us to share the Gospel with everyone? Quite simply because he intended the message of salvation to be heard by everyone. God loves all of us, and wants all of us saved, not just a select few. He doesn't believe that only those attending a mega-church are worthy of salvation. He wants ALL of us, every single one of us unworthy, sinful people, to join him in paradise.

Healing the demon-possessed man is a pretty cool story. The visual of 2,000 pigs rushing off a cliff into a lake - it sure puts a different perspective on the phrase "when pigs fly." But to heal this man, Jesus first had to leave his home, leave his local community, and get out to other neighborhoods, to other cities.

Jesus is teaching a diversity message, whether we get it or not. And as with much of his teaching, he first provided an example in how he lived. The question to ask yourself is...are you out in the world? Are we living as Jesus taught us?

Which cross do you choose?

2006-04-14T06:55:00.000-05:00

Today is Good Friday, the day Christians remember the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. In our hustle and bustle worlds, we try to appreciate the meaning of what he did, and absorb the weight of the suffering he endured.

The suffering was intense, unbearable. Lashes with leather entwined with sharp bones. Piercing thorns pressed into the skull. Punches in the face. Being struck with a staff. Bearing the weight of the cross on his bloody back while walking through town, up a hill. Thick, iron nails pounded into hands and feet. The impact of the heavy cross being dropped into a hole. The intense suffering just trying to breathe.

And the immense weight of our sins - past, present and future - being placed upon him by God...

You've certainly heard the phrase "the best laid plans..." As the plan to crucify Jesus was being formulated, it was not only important for Jesus to suffer, but to be ridiculed. His ministry had to be discredited. So, instead of simply hanging Jesus by himself, on each side of him would hang a common criminal. Jesus the blasphemer surrounded by thieves. An apt ending to his life.

But plans don't always turn out as intended. For, within this scene is a different perspective. Jesus is hanging on the cross bearing our sins. Suffering incredibly, thirsting, barely able to breathe, unable to hold his head up.

On one side, a criminal mocks him. "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself..." You can almost hear the glee in his voice.

On the other side was the other thief, but he was different. He chided the other saying, "Don't you fear God?" He told him they were getting what they deserved, but "this man has done nothing wrong." And then, realizing he too bore responsibility for Jesus hanging there, along with the priests, Pilate, and everybody else, he made a final request. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

I see a picture different than what was intended. I see Jesus not between two common thieves, but between two choices, a choice each of us HAS to make. On one side is arrogance, mocking, pride, unbelief. On the other is repentance, guilt, humility, belief. On one side is death. On the other life. Jesus paid no attention to the first thief. He didn't acknowledge him in any way. To the other, Jesus turned and said "today you will be with me in paradise." Even repentance while on the cross was good enough for Jesus. With Jesus it's never too late.

It's your choice, and it's a choice you have to make. (BTW, indecision is still a choice.) You can be prideful and arrogant, and hang with the first thief. Dead.

Or, you can choose to be humble, repentant and filled with the love of Jesus, accepting the sacrifice he made on your behalf...and live....in paradise...for eternity.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness..."

2006-04-06T16:07:00.000-05:00

As we approach the Easter holiday, we should all reflect on what Jesus' death and resurrection means to us. As Christians, we often express gratefulness that Jesus took our sins upon himself. Without his sacrificial death, we'd be doomed to hell.

As I was reflecting on this, I re-read the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Twice Jesus refers to righteousness. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says that those that "hunger and thirst for righteousness" are blessed. This makes so much sense, especially in light of the word "righteousness." The dictionary defines righteous as being "morally upright; without guilt or sin". Jesus seems to recognize the difficulty of attaining righteousness, but says that those of us that pursue righteousness will be blessed. Of course, he's not talking about a casual pursuit. We must "hunger and thirst" for righteousness. I reflect back to Matthew 4, where Jesus has been in the desert for 40 days, and is facing temptation from the devil. For 40 days, he's had no food. When I think of hungering and thirsting for righteousness, this is the picture that I have in my mind. It is to this degree that Jesus is asking us to pursue righteous behavior.

But there is more. We are not only called by Jesus to pursue righteousness, but also to be willing to suffer as a result. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus says "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness..." The implication is that we should expect and welcome persecution as a result of our righteousness.

There are a couple of questions that result. First, where did our righteousness come from? We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness, but living "without sin" - that's impossible. Or it was. My take is that the righteousness Jesus refers to is the result of his atoning death. If Jesus did not take our sins upon himself, we would not be righteous. We would still be burdened with sin, destined to eternal death.

The other question is - are we being persecuted as a result of our righteousness? If not, why not? Christians in many parts of the world are indeed being persecuted. They suffer, to the point of torture and death, to live a life Jesus called them to. But what about Christians here in America? There are certainly areas in our lives which cause us concern, even make us mad. But how many of us are being persecuted, meaning that we are oppressed or harassed, as a result of our beliefs? I would say not many, and I would think Jesus would be disappointed by that. It means we are not discussing our faith with enough people, not living in a way that brings Jesus' love and grace to enough people, whether here in America or elsewhere. We are not fighting for those less fortunate, not taking unpopular stands.

As Easter dawns, I ask God to empower me, to give me the courage to pursue righteousness, and to welcome any persecution that results from me doing His work here on earth.

March Snowstorms

2006-03-13T19:49:00.000-06:00

I love snow storms in the month of March and November. Those in November announce the arrival of winter, which here in Minnesota does not have the teeth it once did. That first snow brings excitement, especially for kids. When it snows in November, you know Christmas is just around the corner, and the anticipation of the celebration of Jesus' birth builds to a mightily crescendo.

I enjoy the storms in March for a different reason. Rarely are they accompanied by brutally cold weather or skin-piercing winds. It's just snow, and will disappear into the soggy soil within a week or two. Winter is saying, "I'm not quite done yet, I can still hang on for another few weeks..." And it can suddenly bring a halt to everything, which is what happened this morning.

Our much anticipated storm actually materialized, after many false alarms this winter. A good 8-10 inches of beautifully white, wet, heavy snow fell, causing traffic snarlups, school closures (the kids really liked that!), and airport delays. My folks were delayed in Mexico for about 4 hours - and no, I don't feel sorry for them.

Storms like this bring out the best and worst in people. Not having to travel to an office, I didn't see first hand the frustration and anger that was present on the local highways and byways during the morning commute. I'm envisioning some sort of road-rage warning system, similar to our terror alert. This morning it was probably upgraded to Level Orange, announcing imminent expletive-laced screams from petite women, and life-threatening, venomous tirades from grown men.

I however really enjoyed the day. The snow clung to the trees and shrubs, coating them with a thick blanket of white. My dogs played, ran, wrestled and jumped in the stuff. When the snows subsided, I brought my snowblower out to clean off the driveway. Then brought it next door and cleaned their driveway. And then I went down the street to clean another. The weather was wonderful, and doing this small thing for my neighbors made me feel great. Nothing expected in return, just the satisfaction of having helped another person, who didn't have to throw out their back lifting this heavy stuff. I can just see them, much as I'd feel, seeing they didn't have to shovel when they got home from work, thinking "ALL RIGHT!". That by itself is enough for me.

Listening to God's Story

2006-03-08T20:43:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite writers said that life isn’t a story about us, but that it is being told to us. Trust me, if I had read that when I was in my teens, I wouldn’t have gotten it. But today, that makes so much sense. God is telling all of us this wonderful, magnificent story. It began with his creation of this incredible world we live in. He knew it was good, but who could appreciate it? So he formed man from dust, and woman from man. And I think one reason he did so was to share his story with us. A majestic story as reflected in the stars, mountains and oceans. A tragic story played out as Jesus was tortured. And a story of redemption as Jesus, God’s son, was sacrificed so that we could have eternal life.

This gift of an eternal life (Romans 6:23) is ours today. We’re living it right now. And that’s the unique thing about this story. While it’s not about us, we are part of it. We’re part of it because from the beginning God wanted a relationship with us. So as we turn the pages of God’s story, we often see ourselves. For example, we may feel anxiety as we move on to a new adventure, maybe in college or starting a new job. But Jesus says we shouldn’t “worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34). We may struggle with various challenges, but the Bible says if we persevere, we'll be blessed. (James 1:12)

As God shares more of this story – His story – we’ll be amazed. He’ll guide us through times of trouble and despair. He’ll celebrate with us in times of joy and success. In these coming months and years, even more of the story will be shared with us. Our eyes will open with wonder as we see more of God’s amazing creation. Our heart will ache as we experience some of the pain God feels.

Enjoy this story he’s invited you into. Wrap your arms around it. Live it, feel it, smell it, taste it, breathe it. Don’t cheat by turning to the last page to see how it all turns out. Experience every single page, every single word.

No one tells a story quite like God.

Kirby Puckett - we'll miss you

2006-03-06T19:20:00.000-06:00

I live in Minnesota, and in this state Kirby Puckett was it. He was as big as they came - bigger than Hubert Humphrey, bigger than Paul Bunyan. As news broke yesterday about the stroke he suffered, and this evening when he passed away, the news programs and talk shows were filled wall to wall with Kirby. He was such a hero that many named their kids (I think Bob Costas has a child named Kirby) and dogs (as in Kirby Puppy) after him. As big as Kevin Garnett is today, Kirby was even bigger just a short decade ago.

The joy he demonstrated while playing the game of baseball endeared him to all. His atypical body made us all think he was one of us. And he was, in so many ways. Including making mistakes in life.

Over the last few years, Kirby drifted away from Minnesotans, many of whom were quick to judge him when he faced marital and legal difficulties a few years back. We had placed him on such a high pedestal, that when he fell, he fell hard. When he struggled, our love was shown to be false, superficial. We called him a typical athlete, spoiled by sport's riches. We said that he felt he was above the law, above proper morals. The vitriolic attitudes and words hurt him. So he moved down to Arizona.

What we failed to do was forgive him. Not condone his actions, but let him know that, "Hey Kirby, we're going to get through this together. You're our brother and we're here for you. You brought us so much joy, the least we can do is stand by your side." And now, it's too late.

We'll all remember 1991, when his Game 6 homerun in against the Atlanta Braves forced a historic Game 7 and an unparalleled pitching performance by Jack Morris. He told his teammates to "get on my back", because he was going to carry them to victory. We'll remember his 6-for-6 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. We'll remember his many leaps to snag homeruns away from the other team. We'll remember that fateful pitch from Dennis Martinez that hit him above the eye, an at bat that turned out to be his last. We'll remember his smile, and his "Hey man" replies.

I'll remember what he shared with the Metrodome crowd when he retired, an apt description for how he lived: "Live, love, laugh, enjoy life." And, in his Hall of Fame induction speech, referring to the glaucoma that prematurely ended his career, Puck said, "I've said it before and I'll say it again: It may be cloudy in my right eye, but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye." The eternal optimist.

But I'll also remember that we didn't forgive him.

I miss him already.

Doubting Thomas

2006-03-05T16:22:00.000-06:00

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29 (NIV)

I'm quite sure my parents didn't choose my name because of any premonition that I might share a skeptical nature with Jesus' disciple Thomas. But, throughout much of my life, I have indeed been the cynic, skeptic...a doubting Thomas. I wasn't an atheist. I was sure there was a God, not not sure of much else. Why was there a God? If He was the creator, why did he create this world or man? So my skepticism was more along the lines of relationship. Fine, so God created this universe, but he certainly doesn't know me, doesn't care about me or my life, doesn't care about suffering. He may be omnipotent, but is he personal?

My doubts were hard to explain too. I believed in the immaculate conception, that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. I even believed Jesus died and was resurrected. What I didn't believe is that he did so for me. For all the crap in my life, including a lengthy trail of trashed relationships, certainly there were others more worthy. And today, that's where my struggles remain. But, I don't think I'm alone in that regard.

I think for most of us, it's easier to believe Jesus died for others. He died for those that died tragically, the innocent victim of an automobile accident, the mother who died after a battle with breast cancer, the soldier who died defending our country. Jesus certainly died for them. But for the rest of us? For those of us who yell at our children for no reason. Or those who drink too much. Did he really die for us? Did he really die so that our many sins were forgiven?

Yes. Regardless my skepticism and doubts, Jesus died for me. All I need to do is accept that gift, graciously, with eternal thanks. I thank him most every day for giving his life for me. And some day, I'll thank him in person. I'm sure he laugh about my doubts...and forgive me for that as well!