the Mulligan...

We don't get many "do overs" in life, but thank God, every 24 hours we get a chance to start over.

2 Camps...BIG problem.

The confessing church has aligned itself into two camps.  This division has created a wall that impacts Christ's church in a profoundly negative way.  The challenge Believers face is to embrace both the social justice and eschatological mandates of the Gospel; it isn't either/or, it's both/and.

The irony is that the same end, passion for people who have become as Jesus described “sheep without a shepherd”, drives both “camps;” yet we (all of us) "preach" a different gospel when we fail to apply the whole counsel of God to our praxis.  It has stripped the church of its relevance on one hand, and spiritual power on the other--leaving only a shell for those "asking, seeking, and knocking" to behold.

The good news is that God isn't marginalized by our failure to embrace the whole Gospel. His love continues to find a way. If only we who have confessed Christ and embraced effective faith could come together, face the harsh reality that WE are the problem, and seek God's face, healing would come; that's the promise of 2 Chronicles 7.14...

"...If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." 

May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Generations...

Each Sunday, almost without exception, our Kids--Erin, Joseph, Matthew and Miranda along with of course our grandsons Braden and Kellen, gather with Laura and me for lunch.

In days-gone-by we might have gathered at the house with a "Sunday Dinner" menu.  But that's all changed--not better, not worse--just different.  So we gather at places named Culver's, Panera, La Esperanza, Wendy's, Arby's...where the meal isn't the focus; rather, we focus on each other.

The table-talk is substantive, stimulating, challenging and intelligent.  It's the fruit of all those meals, taken together, evening after evening--lovingly prepared by Laura--when our kids were at home and life was making up its mind...and we talked to each other about school, politics, history, culture and anything else they had on their minds; we offered what wisdom we could, and periodically, prayed together.

We don't agree on everything and that's part of what makes it so stimulating.  Our Kids have grown up well; they're confident, articulate and courageous...and each Sunday I leave the place feeling loved and affirmed. They are doing their part as a new generation of people shaping the world they've inherited; making us proud.

It's been another good day.  

Vexed. NOT beaten...

This past week I made my first sojourn to New York City.  Impressive.  Lot's of very tall buildings.  Human kind is certainly, resourceful.

Over the years I've always attempted to find "dynamic equivalents" in the culture around me to help people understand a deeper principle from the Scriptures. The Tower of course was the ultimate expression of hubris; our effort to shake a collective fist at God and say "See, you aren't so transcendent after all."  Foolish pride led to an inflated opinion of who we were; God breathed, language changed and chaos ensued. We discovered we were no match for the transcendent God.

Fast forward to modern culture: God, in his grace, has allowed humankind to apply intellect and ingenuity, these also graciously granted by God, to "discover" thousands of things that insulate us from the ill-effects of the fall: drugs, asphalt, steel, plastic, roads, air conditioning, engines, automation--the list is endless. We in turn, tainted by sin and swelled with pride, believing ourselves to be wise "shake our fists" at God and say, "You see, the Scriptures are myth; there was a big-bang and then there was mankind and look at how we have evolved...we have the power to give and take life. We don't need myths to prop us up anymore. We are God."

In reality, everything we touch we corrupt. Look at what we call our "system of Justice." We condition the air at the same time we poison it with hydro-carbons. We pollute the planet, poison our bodies, can't beat cancer or aids and when/if we do, something else always emerges. Regardless of how effective we are at blunting the effect of sin on life and the planet, sin always trumps our best efforts...and God allows it, to point us to our need for a Savior and His gracious provision for our redemption.

The farther evolved civilization becomes the further it devolves into moral and spiritual chaos--abortion, failed economies, addiction, violence, corrupt governments, greed, broken relationships, idolotry, shaminism, social injustice. Think about it, in 1965 LBJ gave us the Great Society. These unfunded mandates have done nothing to enlighten culture and end poverty--but they have driven us to edge of bankruptcy and destroyed families while perpetrating genocide on the poorest of the poor. The smarter we get, the dumber we are. We can run from God, but we can't hide.

So then, civilization as we have fashioned it, has become humankind's most recent Tower of Babel; the work of "our hands" which demonstrates our independence, our ability to "get it done without God."  We set out to be like God, and in a final irony, we create the very modality that could be the end of life as we know it. We can destroy it, but we can't fix it..."and all the kings men, couldn't put humpty-dumpty together again." 

The lie that deceived Eve, and broke Adam continues to vex us. But we aren't beaten, there is hope..."When we were utterly helpless...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5.6a,8

Hallelujah...what a savior.

Good timing...

God is seldom early, and never late.   
Don't lose hope.
God is able.

The NOT post-racial presidency...

So much for "the first post-racial President in our history;" sounded hopeful...sort of like "hope and change" and "change we can believe in."  This Presidency certainly will not be described as post-racial by any perspective of history.  Not because it couldn't have been.

You see, the "we think it's cool" crowd doomed that possibility almost from that night in Chicago, when a sea of well-wishers gathered to celebrate this President's election.  That certainly was a moment in history.  But it didn't produce a post-racial result.  You see, from that "moment" almost anyone who dared question this President's intelligence, fitness for office, ability to lead or wisdom in approaching the challenges facing the nation--has been tarred as a racist puppet of the Aryan Nation.

As I reflect back, all the (white) Presidents during my lifetime have been the subject of a national pastime geared toward laughing at their quirks, questioning their intelligence, reviling their politics and counting the days till the next election cycle.  In this modern era, virtually nothing has been out of bounds.  (Now, let me state for the record, I don't believe what we subject our Presidents to is good for the nation; that said, it's become the norm, not the exception.  It's mean, but it's not racist.)

So, when this President stepped up to become the focus of the electorates ire, it's decried as racism.  That is non-sense.  Are there racists in America?  Certainly.  Is some the what we hear about this President racist?  Certainly; just like some of what we heard about George Bush was hate speech.

This is America.  We need to be able to speak our minds, thoughtful or otherwise, because that's a treasured right here.  It's part of what makes us, us.  My concern as we move into the the next Presidential election cycle, is that we'll forget who we are and what makes this nation great.  I pray for a civil discourse.  But I also expect it to be a spirited and opinionated discourse--as it should be.  "Ideas" do that to people.  People must feel safe stating what they think about this President and believe to be the best course for the nation...regardless of their agenda.  

We make judgments about the ideas placed before us by politicians and the people that support them.  This election cycle should be no different than those that came before it...but some would seek to prevent this process from playing out that way.

It's here that we see a tragic irony.  The very people who anointed this administration as "post-racial" are the ones who continually play the race card to intimidate citizens; attempting to prevent them from engaging in a critical examination of the record this administration has produced.  That is their end-game.   If one cannot win on the facts, then win any way one can. 

I am concerned that the election to determine the next President will be characterized by class warfare, race-baiting, vitriol and a "take no prisoners" commitment to win at any cost.  Now is the time to brace for just such an election.  Prepare now to be driven to a decision by the facts and your conviction about what you believe is the best course for our nation going forward.  How can one do that?

1. Critically consider your values and then ask, which set of ideas best represent those values. 
2. Become thoroughly familiar with who the candidates really are...not who they, or their handlers, simply say they are.
3. Go deeper than the talking points.  Think through policy and how it effects the nation going forward.
4. Engage big ideas.  Read, study, pray and reflect on the politics of the 21st century, then measure the ideas of those asking for your vote against your own understanding and perspective, born from that "due diligence."
5. Refuse to be an ideologue.
6. Measure twice and cut once.
7. Seek guidance from God; Seek His agenda.  Be willing to embrace it.
8. Exercise your right, privilege and responsibility to vote.

We missed an opportunity to get it right under the leadership of this administration, one has to wonder, what could have been?  The good news is, while we don't always get it right the first time, Americans keep working at it until we do.  No, this isn't the first post-racial Presidency, but it's taken us one step closer to that vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...Sweet dream(s).

Keep it real, get it right.

Here we sit in the middle of another very hotly contested, and somewhat distressing, Presidential primary season. The last affair had Democracts in the "eye of the storm" on their way to the the "eve of destruction."

Americans are an interesting people. If the polls are to be believed, we hate what our political process has devolved too. Yet the very things we hate about the process, we allow to shape the way we think and, too often, vote.

Let's take a step (or four) back; four years ago a young upstart, albiet rising star, named Barack "Barry" Obama was challenging every pundit's pick for "first in history" female President, Hillary Clinton. They battled each other well into June before Clinton conceded the nomination to now President Obama. The media beat the drum of devastation if Barack pulled off the upset; he was just too liberal to be elected by the more right-of-center American electorate. Rush Limbaugh even got into it, urging Texan Republicans and Independents to register in the Demo primary, then vote for Obama because he didn't stand a chance of being elected President. Well, how'd that work out for you Rush?

What can we learn from that last epic battle?

First, resist the onslaught of information from two very powerful groups of people seeking to shape our opinion, our outlook and our vote. The frist: the people who REDACT the news; these are not the people who make the news. The media shapes the context of the news they deliver into whatever it is THEY happen to believe or WANT the consumers of news (that's us) to believe. The second: the speical interest groups (Corporations, mega-wealthy individuals and lest we forget Unions!) and campaign professionals who have become masters of distortion, fog, and 60 second sound bites. Don't be taken in by these spinmasters!

Second, take personal responsibility to get informed about what candidates believe, what they stand for. Look at what they do, or have done, not simply what they or the surrogates say. In this information age we live in, there just is no excuse for depending on others to shape the matrix of factors you may use to make up your mind. All the candidates have websites, visit them, study their position statements, get informed.

Next, don't allow others to "suppress" your enthusiasm about your party or your candidates.  Pundits from both parties work hard in an attempt to persuade us to embrace their reality and discourage us from fully engaging in the process and supporting/campaigning for our candidates.  

Finally, remember...there is plenty of time and this election will be a wild affair with twists and turns that will leave us all breathless with anticipation and racked by anxiety over revelations we did not anticipate.

Bottom line...keep the main thing, the main thing.  We're electing a President, Vice President, Senators and Representatives who will shape the nation...our children and grand children will inherit.  Let's keep it real and get it right.

Where's the party of ideas?

The more we hear conservative pundits whine about "the hate speech on the left" the more ground is lost in the battle for the hearts and minds of Americans.   I don't understand why conservatives can't keep their "eye on the ball."

It's not too late to turn this election cycle around...but we can see that "point of no return" from here.  It's time they started acting like this election matters...or it won't. Quit whining and give America a compelling vision to guide the nation for the next eight years.

Win the battle, or win the War...suffer the consequences or reap the rewards.

We can do better...

In the wake of the Rush affair we're hearing a lot of conservative say, "Yes, but what about..." And it's true. Some on the margins of the Progressive movement have said some terrible things. But I submit that it just does't matter and frankly isn't relevant to the Rush affair. I want to be a part of a conservative movement that is smart, tough, assertive and relentless; all in a context of civility, innovation and integrity. I believe that will resonate with people from every demographic; just sayin...'

We can do better, yes, we can.

The emperor has no cloths...

The drama that many analysts call "political theatre" has claimed the credibility of star of the show.  Rush Limbaugh's credential as a political-pundit was dead on arrival at the EIB network.

Rush built his chops being a "main-stream" conservative analyst. He has been an incisive and persuasive, if not acerbic, pundit who built a formidable reputation and following since his quiet ascendance in 1988.  However, over the last 7 to 10 years he has operated with an increasingly shrill persona that has marginalized him. One can't have it both ways, main-stream and lunatic fringe.

Rush's self-indulgent rant at the now "darling of liberalism"--Ms. Fluke from Georgetown Law--has made a caricature of him; the "Bill Maher" of the wacked-out right. Unfortunately, it's at the cost of his credibility. Most of the country could care less about what Maher...and now Limbaugh...thinks.  Yes, it's true; Limbaugh could care less about what the country thinks. 

Herein lies the bitter irony; the conservative movement needs that EARLY version of Rush now as never before. That's why progressives are dancing with delight today--Rush had chops and now...not so much.  He's the rock-star that routinely filled stadiums...but now plays the 4H Fair.

This was no Fluke; the emperor has no cloths.