Thanksgiving...

The harvest is nearly all in.

In my time zone, it will be Thanksgiving day in 2 minutes. These are times that challenge us all; but joy, real joy, can't be touched and isn't determined by circumstance...

"Lord empower us to drill down deep and discover joy in simplicity; a kind touch, a gentle word, a thoughtful deed, a smile, a poignant moment, a deep reflective breath. Use us as instruments that produce a concert of joy in every context we find ourselves this day, and every day. Amen."

Make this 2013 edition a happy ThanksGIVING.   bN

Roots...

A month of "thanks-giving"...November 15.

Laura and I invested 24 years in ministry.  Like most people who pursue that call, tenure in one place is the exception, not the norm.  

Prior to our arrival in Elkhart, 6 years was the "high water" mark for our service in one place.  Hard to put down roots and feel like you are part of a place when--you're not.

Thankful that as of July 4, 2013 we have called Elkhart home for 19 years and last April 13, 2013 we celebrated 12 years with State Farm.  Normal feels pretty good.

Color me thankful.

Help!

Listening to the Old Beatles tune this morning, "Help."

"When I was younger, so much younger than today 

I never needed anybody's help in any way

But now these days are gone, I'm not so self-assured

Now I find, I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors.

And now my life has changed in, oh, so many ways

My independence seems to vanish in the haze

But every now and then I feel so insecure 

I know that I just need you like I've never done before.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down 

And I do appreciate you being 'round

Help me get my feet back on the ground

Won't you, please, please help me?" 

As I was taken back to another (younger) time in my life, it occurred to me that the (young) Beatles had uncanny insight in writing about what happens to us as we move through the final third of our lives; a time filled with loss and tradeoffs.

While we can't "do it all" anymore (not that we ever could), the tenderness we experience as our spouses, kids, and friends "stand in the gaps" is profound.  We discover the rich, mysterious, blessing of interdependence.

Help is good. Life is "grand."

It's Enough.

Today's predicted high: 49.  "It's begining to feel alot like...WINTER." 

But that's just fine. Lawns are done for the season, the air is crisp and filled with the fragrance of fresh coffee; as the season changes and our pace slows down, a new perspective emerges. 

We glance back--and give Thanks.  We look up--and are humbled by "the Word made flesh."  We anticipate 2014--and feel energized by the prospect of a fresh start.

But life happens TODAY.  Today is where we live; that's all we have, that's all we need. 

It's enough.

Why?

Please, tell me...

Why is the express line, not very "express?"  Why is over-night delivery always 2nd day?  Why do yellow lights make people see red?  Why is urgent rarely important?

Why do we expect politicians to lie to us, and then get upset when they do?  Why do we complain about the quality and direction of government, then refuse to vote?  Why do we ask government to lower our taxes then complain when they reduce our services?  Why do so many parents think they can do a better job teaching than our teachers, but make so little effort at educating their children?

Why do we make vows we don't really intend to honor?  Why do we "honor" people we often don't respect?  Why are love and heartbreak two sides of the same coin?  Why do we swear on a book we don't revere?

Why are teachers accountable, but parents aren't?  Why do we need a license to marry, but not to parent? Why can a 15 year old get an abortion, but not a divers license?  Why do we mandate an education for "students" who won't try, don't care and refuse to cooperate?

Why do we feel sympathy for those with great need and outrage for those with great privilege?  Why is the Humane Society only about animals?  Why do we pretend everyone should be treated the same way, when we know that's not the way life really works?  Why do we act like everyone is born with the same set of genes, when we know that's just not true?  Why is "Affordable Health Care" so unaffordable?

Why does the right to privacy trump the right to life?  Why is profile a dirty concept when, if applied appropriately, it can save innocent life? Why does our Constitution work harder for criminals than for good citizens?  Why are some lives more valuable that others?

Why is justice such a fleeting ideal?

Tell me, please...

Eternity can wait...

A month of "thanks-giving"...November 2.

Dad died, July 1970, age 55. Mom died, December 1984, age 53. Never really expected to outlive them; THANKFUL to be on my way to my 6th decade...60 and counting.

God created us with eternity in our hearts; His preface and introduction for my "life" has exceeded my expectations.

God willing, eternity...can wait.

"...times that try men's souls."

"These are the times that try men's souls" wrote Thomas Paine in his pamphlet "The American Crisis" published Dec 23, 1776; the Colonies faced the almost certain prospect of defeat in their war for indpendence. Paine implored Americans "don't give up the fight."

As the curtain begins to drop on 2013: our economy continues to misfire, the world is a more dangerous place than ever, we face the prospect of a nuclear Iran--still, an ascendant China, troubling news about the future of Healthcare, poor leadership--on both sides of the aisle--from those we've elected to make good decisions; but the fact is that virtually every generation of Americans were forced to face down a crisis...and they survived, thrived and grew strong on the idea of the American Dream.

We must remember to "keep the main thing," the main thing. The "idea of America" has been the fuel driving our resolve to be "one nation, under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all;" an idea those who traveled this way before us thought to be worth sacrificing, fighting and dying for.  Indifference to this "big idea" is the real, the urgent threat to our liberty.

Resolve to do your part; work hard, make informed decisions, be a person of strong character, celebrate interdependence and respect people who disagree with you--but press them to think outside their "box" and you, think outside yours. Don't give in to tyranny, fear or indifference--be strong and of good courage. Let's leave a legacy that will inspire a new generation.

Forever Friends...

When I was a younger man, we enjoyed poking fun at M.W. Smith's song "Friends" because it just seemed so schmultzy..."friends are friends forever."

Here's what I've discovered the hard way: not all friends are created equal...but soul-friends are friends forever--nothing schmultzy about that. 

Today I'm thinking about Dave and Deb...soul-friends for 27 years and not counting.  Praying you through this latest passage of life.     

Dear Mr. President...

"WE the PEOPLE in order to form a more perfect union...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." 

Preamble to the Constitution

"...to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; and whenever any Form of Government becomes destrutive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government." 

Declaration of Independence

"...Citizens of the United States do not exist to support and serve the government. Quite the contrary; our Constitution makes it very plain that the government is a creation, and servant, of the People. They pay for it, and they maintain it. If need be, Mr. Obama, they also have the right to dismantle it and start over."

Michael Nellet   "A Basic Economic Lesson for Mr. Obama" 

Dear Mr. President...

I know you get it; what's troubling is your presumption that because you believe America needs to be fundamentally transformed--that, your opinion, gives you the right to exercise the power of the Presidency in ways that violate the trust given to you in 2008. You don't own the Presidency, the People lend our Presidents power and expect they will use, but not abuse it.

Last year you described a classic American experience, people helping each other up the ladder--part of what makes our culture exceptional. Then it became clear as you continued, that you don't get it at all. In your vision of our country, "behind every successful entrepreneur there stands a successful government (Rich Lowry)."  Nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is, Mr. President, that behind our government--the oldest most successful Republic on earth--stand exceptional citizens, who believe in a big idea birthed in the crucible of revolution, which make it great. It's this "citizen DNA" that makes democracy work. Our money builds those bridges, dams and roads, that "infrastructure;" our engineers vision and design them and our labor force contructs them; our hard earned tax dollars pay for them. Government has a role, but make no mistake: the People preceded the Government and it is this Nation's People that make her great, government possible and dreams come true.

Mr. President, the People did not anoint you to Federalize mentors, teamwork and pro bono benevolence. That's not a function of government, never has been, never will be; it's part of the character of our People and has marked every generation for 237 years. The genesis of this kind of generosity is the goodness of our People and our willingness to help each other; our passion for helping others improve their lot in life, realize a dream, move across socio-ecomic barriers and beat the odds. That's just what we do; we give back and we give generously without concern for what "our fair share" might be. That's why America is the most generous Nation on the planet; this is a place where in spite of evil, goodness does eventually prevail.

Please, Mr. President, reconsider your campaign to reinvent America in the image of collectivism. That sets the bar far to low and will surely relegate us to the backwaters of the 21st Century. The world will be a far less humane place if that becomes our destiny.

Mr. President, like many politicians, you often conclude your prepared remarks with a simple yet profound blessing; "God bless America." I pray that you will be energized by the possibilities contained in that simple phrase; that you will lift your eyes from the horizon, to the heavens and be gifted with a fresh vision much bigger than "a fair share." A vision rooted in grace, driven by faith and powered by obedience.

Mr. President, may God bless you.

Respectfully,
Ben Baier

Be "still..."

The word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent." 

Silence conducts the still, small, voice of God; 

it is a discipline that pays big dividends... 

Be still

and know

that I am God.

Psalm 46.10