Book Review: God Is Not Great . . . Is Not Great

I saw a Newsweek review recently on the book God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. I was interested in seeing what a reasoned argument against Christianity and religion in general would have to say so I went to Border's and perused the book. I'm still looking for such an argument. The book is dripping with such arrogance that it is exhausting to try to trudge through, and his arguments have holes in them you could drive a truck through. In Hitchens' black-and-white perspective, secularists can do no evil and religious people can do nothing right. If you want to argue that religious people have done some pretty awful things, I would agree and you have some credibility, but you are also going to need to admit your own mistakes and he showed no willingness to do so. I didn't end up buying the book, not because I was afraid it might convince me but because it was so poorly written it wasn't worth the money. Maybe I'll get it from the library. The Washington Post review by Stephen Prothero listed on the amazon.com site sums it up pretty well.

"Hitchens describes the religious mind as "literal and limited" and the atheistic mind as "ironic and inquiring." Readers with any sense of irony -- and here I do not exclude believers -- will be surprised to see how little inquiring Hitchens has done and how limited and literal is his own ill-prepared reduction of religion. Christopher Hitchens is a brilliant man, and there is no living journalist I more enjoy reading. But I have never encountered a book whose author is so fundamentally unacquainted with its subject."

Not Exactly Warm Fuzzies

This morning's reading from The Imitation of Christ:

And yet, what great matter is it, if you, who are but dust and nothing, subject yourself to a man for God's sake, when I, the Almighty and the Most Highest, who created all things out of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for your sake? I became of all men the most humble and the most abject, that you might overcome your pride with my humility. O dust! learn to be obedient. Learn to humble yourself, you earth and clay, and to bow yourself down under the feet of all men . . . What do you have, O vain man, to complain of? What can you answer, foul sinner, to them that upbraid you, you who has so often offended God so many times and deserved hell? But Mine eye spared you, because your soul was precious in My sight; that you might know My love, and ever be thankful for My benefits; also that you might continually give yourself to true subjection and humility, and endure patiently the contempt which belongs to you.

Make Poverty History

I was flipping through the CD jacket of my Switchfoot CD and noticed the reference for one.org There's some good information and resources available there.

Something Positive In Iraq

Here is a story of something positive that is happening in Iraq right now.

Walking With Wilberforce

The recent discovery of forced labor in a Chinese brick kiln is unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg. The most recent US State Dept Trafficking in Person Report cited statistics from the International Labor Organization that "estimates there are 12.3 million people in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, and sexual servitude."


One organization that seems to be taking an effective approach in addressing the issue is Shared Hope International. I ordered a DVD and maybe can have some people over to investigate more when that arrives. There's got to be something we can do.

Storm

Hmmm. Formatting issues there. My other favorite song is:

Storm

How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
Water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost in your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright

I know you didn't bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I'm so used to living underneath the surface

If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright

Again, the lyrics alone do not capture the fulness of the songs. They are beautiful.

As Good As Advertised

I ran to Wal-Mart on my way to work this morning and picked up the new Lifehouse album, Who We Are. I was not disappointed. It's a very solid disc. If I had to compare it to their previous work, I would say it is something of a cross between their first and third albums. My early favorites are

Broken

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on,
I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on,
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hangin' on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be ok

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

Disapproval of Congress

Remember when I said on November 11, 2006, "As a Republican I have to admit that there is some strategic value to losing the House and possibly Senate to the Democrats. Unlike the Republican Revolution in '94, the incoming class of Democrats do not have an overarching strategic or tactical plan akin to the Contract With America. Many candidates seem to have run on a platform of "at least I'm not George Bush", and it worked to disenchanted voters who had become contemptful of the power grubbing establishment. The thing is, I don't hear how any of them have any meaningful, credible plans to actually fix any problems. I suspect that the sunset provisions on Bush's tax cuts might now be allowed to expire without renewal. Few things give Democrats more ecstasy than raising taxes. So, in a couple years voters will be faced with no greater international leadership, a social security and medicare system that's just as broke, a continued healthcare crisis, conflict and debate over illegal immigration and even more deadlock between the two parties with the only change being higher taxes on the horizon."

I may have been right.

Of The Wonderful Effect Of Divine Love

Okay, so my last few posts have been pretty light and fluffy. But tonight my mind is racing with a thousand worries and concerns, and I am losing the fight to fall asleep. So, I thought it better to get up and revisit something I read yesterday. This is again from Thomas A Kempis' classic, The Imitation of Christ. It is rather long but so rich it deserves the time and attention:

Because I am as yet weak in love, and imperfect in virtue, I have need to be strengthened and comforted by You; visit me often therefore, and instruct me with all holy discipline. Set me free from evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being inwardly healed and thoroughly cleansed, I may be ready to love, strong to suffer, steady to persevere.

Love is a great thing, yes, altogether a great good; by itself it makes light every thing that is heavy, and it bears evenly all that is uneven. For it carries a burden which is no burden, and makes every thing that is bitter, sweet and tasteful. The noble love of Jesus drives a man to do great things, and stirs him up to be always longing for what is more perfect. Love wills to be on high, and not to be kept back by anything low and mean. Love wills to be free, and estranged from all worldly affection, so that its inward sight may not be hindered; that it may not be entangled by any temporal prosperity, or by any adversity subdued.

Nothing is sweeter than Love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in Heaven and earth; because Love is born of God and cannot rest but in God, above all created things. A lover flies, runs and rejoices; he is free, and is not holden. He gives all for all, and has all in all because he rests in One Highest above all things, from whom all that is good flows and proceeds. He respects not the gifts but turns himself above all goods unto the Giver.

Love often knows no measure, but is fervent beyond measure. Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of labors, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility; for it thinks all things possible for itself and all things lawful. It is therefore strong for all things, and it completes many things and brings them to effect, where he who does not love faints and lies down. Love is watchful, and sleeping slumbers not. Though wearied it is not tired; though pressed, it is not straitened; though alarmed, it is not confounded; but as a lively flame and burning torch, it forces its way upwards and securely passes through all. If any man love, he knows what is the cry of this voice. For it is a loud cry in the ears of God, that ardent affection of the soul when it says, 'My God, my Love, You are all mine, and I am all Yours.'

Enlarge me in Love, that the inward palate of my heart may learn to taste how sweet it is to love, and in Love to be dissolved and to bathe myself. Let me be holden by Love, mounting above my self, through excessive fervor and wonder. Let me sing the song of Love, let me follow You, my Beloved, on high; let my soul spend itself in Your Praise, rejoicing through Love. Let me love You more than myself, nor love myself but for You; and in You all that truly love You, as the law of Love commands, shining out from Yourself.

Love is swift, sincere, kindly-affectioned, pleasant and delightful; brave, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly, and never seeking itself. For where a person seeks himself, there he falls from Love.

Love is circumspect, humble and upright; not yielding to softness, or to lightness, nor attending to vain things; it is sober, chaste, firm, quiet and guarded in all the senses.

Love is subject and obedient to its superiors, to itself mean and despised, unto God devout and thankful, trusting and hoping always in Him, even when God is not sweet unto it: for without sorrow none live in love. He that is not prepared to suffer all things, and to stand to the will of his Beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover. A lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and bitter, for the sake of his Beloved; nor for things that fall out against one to turn away from Him.

Counting Down the Days

The new Lifehouse CD comes out on Tuesday. I've been looking forward to this for a awhile. I really like their new single, First Time. (I'm not sure what their actual video looks like.)

More Dashboard

I'm really digging the new Dashboard Confessionals song, Stolen. They've got a great sound.

I'm not into superheroes or comic book movies but I saw this on Jeff's blog

You are Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor 51% Riddler 40% Kingpin 39% The Joker 36% Dr. Doom 36% Magneto 34% Apocalypse 34% Venom 33% Juggernaut 32% Dark Phoenix 32% Green Goblin 32% Mystique 24% Catwoman 23% Poison Ivy 18% Two-Face 16% Mr. Freeze 14%

A brilliant businessman on a quest for world domination and the self-proclaimed greatest criminal mind of our time!

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Squirrel Goes On Rampage

This story brings back memories. I bet it was looking for Little Debbie fudge brownies and a Pepsi.

Bumper Sticker of the Day

Last night I saw a sticker that read:

"My dog is smarter than your honor roll student."

Cleveland Sports Futility

Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the San Antonia Spurs in the NBA Finals last night. If you're keeping score at home, it is now 59 years since a sports franchise from Cleveland has won a championship. Let's recap:

Cleveland Cavaliers: 0 NBA Championships
Cleveland Browns: 0 Super Bowl victories. (Heck, we've never even made it to the Super Bowl)
Cleveland Indians: 2 World Series victories but none since 1948. (Stinkin' Jose Mesa)

So all you Philadelphia fans who whine about not winning a championship since the early '80's can just zip it.

Comedy

It's hard to find good stand up comics. Recently, I have been amused by Christopher Titus. Also see his apology.

Unpredictable Promises?

Since the Kairos retreat I have been thinking about the nature of God's promises. I have to admit this is an area of struggle for me. I think the reason for my struggle is because that which at the surface seems rather simple and straightforward in actuality becomes rather unpredictable, at least in the short term. Sometimes I wrestle with trying to figure out just what exactly can I reasonably expect from God? ("Reasonably expect" are not the best words but they'll have to do for now.)

For instance, I very much believe the promise in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose", but I also have to reconcile that with the fact that in the short term I might very well get my head lopped off (Matt 14:10, Acts 12:2). Or, consider the beautiful promise of restoration demonstrated in Jeremiah's purchase of the field (Jer 32:14-15), and yet Jeremiah likely died in relative obscurity in Egypt while his countrymen were in exile in Babylon.

This sort of thing can really draw out the skeptical contrarian in me. As Everclear once sang, "Promises mean everything when you're little and the world's so big." Well, sometimes it seems like these promises set you up to be let down. The really strange thing is that it's not just a few isolated instances where this occurs. In the famous passage of Hebrews 11 it comments, "All these died in faith without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Heb 11:13)" I think this verse underscores that much of correctly understanding God's promises has to do with the time frame involved. At the risk of being sacrilegious, counting on God's promises seems a bit like investing in the stock market. In the short term there can be a lot of volatility and the risks taken aren't quickly rewarded and the corrections are painful to endure. But in the long run it's proven to be the best place to be for your investment.

There's one other sidebar I want to throw there out on the unpredictability of these promises. I think it's actually part of what makes life exciting. I have never liked movies where all of the good guys live and all of the bad guys die. I mean, come on, nothing's ever that easy and it's got to cost you something. To borrow a bit from Elderidge, this is so deeply embedded in our stories. In Braveheart William Wallace dies but ultimately his companions ride to victory. In the Matrix, several of the crew members die but ultimately Neo saves the day. In Tombstone, Virgil Earp is wounded and Morgan Earp is killed but Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday ride out victoriously. And in Scripture, James is beheaded in prison while an angel rescues Peter but ultimately they will both be rewarded. "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made pefect. (Heb 11:39,40)"

Further Reflections On A Sad World

On the way to small group tonight I was listening to a Switchfoot CD, and the following song came on which made me reflect some more on my post from a couple days ago:

Easier Than Love

Sex is currency
She sells cars, she sells magazines
Addictive, bittersweet, clap your hands
with the hopeless nicotines
Everyone's a lost romantic, since our love became a kissing show
Everyone's a Casanova, come and pass me the mistletoe
Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone
She is easier than love, is easier than life. It's easier to fake and smile and bribe
It's easier to leave. It's easier to lie.
It's harder to face ourselves at night, feeling alone
What have we done, what is the monster we've become
Where is my soul
(Numb)
Sex is industry, the CEO of corporate policy
Skin deep ministry, suburban youth, hail your so called liberty
Every advertising antic our banner waves with a neon glow
War and love become pedantic, we wage love with a mistletoe
Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone
Sex is easier than love.


I often go back to a statement that Allistair Begg made in a message at Cedarville College: "My generation sang with the Beatles, 'You've got to admit it's getting better, a little better all the time.' But it didn't, did it? The 60's dream has become the 90's nightmare, and what we dreamt about, you now endure."

Dolphin Chat

Dolphins are awesome. Now that they've setup a chatline, I wonder if they'll teach her to text message. ;-)

Blog Link Etiquette

So Becky and I had a brief discussion along the lines of blog link etiquette today. When do you add a friend's blog to your list of links? Do you ask for permission first? When do you remove their link? My general thought on adding one is that if it is a blog you check frequently then it is appropriate to add it. I haven't given much thought to the removal process, but I am considering removing links to people who have not updated their blog within the last six months. You know who you are.

Comment Moderation

A couple days ago a random visitor to my blog submitted a completely inappropriate comment in response to one of my postings. In response to this, I have decided to begin to utilize the "moderate comments" feature to protect the integrity of the blog. I apologize for the inconvenience of failing to see an immediate post.

There's News And Then There Are Nuisances

Why are all of the major news organizations (CNN, NBC, etc.) covering all of the details of the Paris Hilton saga? Look, if I really want to know what is happening in the lives of irrelevant celebrities (and I don't), I'll read a People, or US or National Enquirer or whatever. Of all of the meaningful events that could be reported on, why are they devoting time to this? Obviously there is some sort of sick national interest in this, but the major news networks are not the appropriate medium to communicate this information and feed this interest. The news editors and journalists need to wake up to this and let the celebrity rags cover what is in their territory to do.

Running Mates?

I wonder, if Clinton were to win the Democratic primary, what are the chances she would choose Obama as her running mate? Granted, it's really too early to think about running mates when it's too early to even be worrying about the elections at all, but it would seem to have strong advantages to each of them. She would gain the charm and charisma, a strong Midwest representation, the early and firm stance against Iraq, and the overall sense of freshness and optimism that he offers while he would gain the experience he is lacking by serving as a VP.

Patience Test

Wow, so I was able to enjoy the Phillies game with BC tonight. Note to the local viewing audience: do NOT take I-95 South from Philadelphia during construction. The game finished at 9:45, and I didn't get home until 12:20. Seriously, another 20 minutes, and I would have spent more time on the drive home than actually watching the game. And I didn't even get to see Thome play. I feel for the poor family sitting in the car next to me who had a cargo truck carelessly drift back into them and smash up the front of the car and the young lady who had to figure out how to get back on I-95 North because apparently she was new to the area and was going the wrong way.

Brian, next time let's just order a pizza and watch from your house.

Baseball Note

You can start printing World Series tickets now. The Phillies just signed Jose Mesa.

Charity Navigator

I was reminded of this website again today. I highly recommend it when you are considering contributing to a new organization or perhaps to review one you already sponsor.

Shout Out

There's a new blogger out there. Greetings to Quebecca.

Sad World

I can't help but feel both revulsion and sadness at an article like this. Even the editor doesn't quite seem able to get a firm handle on the situation and its personal and societal implications. It is sad when people are so deceived that they run to wrap themselves in the chains they think will free them.

Lewis, as is so often the case, pegged this situation some 40-50 years ago:

Everyone knows that the sexual appetite, like our other appetites, grows by indulgence. Starving men may think much about food, but so do gluttons . . . perversions of the food appetite are rare. But perversions of the sex instinct are numerous, hard to cure, and frightful. I am sorry to have to go into all these details, but I must. The reason why I must is that you and I, for the last twenty years, have been fed all day long on good solid lies about sex. We have been told, until one is sick of hearing it, that sexual desire is in the same state as any of our other natural desires and that if only we abandon the silly old Victorian idea of hushing it up, everything in the garden will be lovely. It is not true. The moment you look at the facts, and away from the propaganda, you see that it is not. They tell you sex has become a mess because it was hushed up. But for the last twenty years it has not been hushed up. It has been chattered about all day long. Yet it is still a mess. If hushing it up had been the cause of the trouble, ventilation would have set it right. But it has not. I think it is the other way round. I think the human race originally hushed it up because it had become such a mess. Modern people are always saying 'Sex is nothing to be ashamed of.' They may mean two things. They may mean 'There is nothing to be ashamed of in the fact that the human race reproduces itself in a certain way, nor in the fact that it gives pleasure.' If they mean that, they are quite right. Christianity says the same . . . but of course, when people say, 'Sex is nothing to be ashamed of,' they may mean 'the state that into which the sexual instinct has now got is nothing to be ashamed of.' If they mean that, I think they are wrong. I think it is everything to be ashamed of. There is nothing to be ashamed of in enjoying your food: there would be everything to be ashamed of if half the world made food the main interest of their lives and spent their time looking at pictures of food and dribbling and smacking their lips. . . There are people who want to keep our sex instinct inflamed in order to make money out of us. Because, of course, a man with an obsession is a man who has very little sales resistance . . . Poster after poster, film after film, novel after novel, associate the idea of sexual indulgence with the ideas of health, normality, youth, frankness and good humor. Now this association is a lie. Like all powerful lies, it is based on a truth - that sex in itself (apart from the excess and obsessions that have grown round it) is 'normal' and 'healthy' and all the rest. The lie consists in the suggestion that any sexual act to which you are tempted at the moment is also healthy and normal. Now this, on any conceivable view, and quite apart from Christianity, must be nonsense. Surrender to all our desires obviously leads to impotence, disease, jealousies, lies, concealment, and everything that is the reverse of health, good humor, and frankness. For any happiness, even in this world, quite a lot of restraint is going to be necessary. - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Men and the Church

A few weeks ago I was flipping through books at Barnes and Noble and came across a book that discussed why there are fewer men in the church and why the church is not appealing to men. I am generally somewhat skeptical of books like this for a few reasons. First, I think a lot of Christian men just need to suck it up and stop looking for excuses, and if they want the church to change then they need to get in there and change it instead of complaining from a distance. For instance, I have seen it stated that one reason men do not like going to church is because women are leading so many of the ministries. Well, gee, do you think maybe one reason they are leading so many of the ministries is because there weren't enough men who were willing to step up and do it when they were asked? That's a pretty self-defeating argument. Secondly, I think a lot of non-Christan men are fully engrossed in the world's view of men and have no intention of leaving their self-absorbed ways and will look for any excuse they can find for avoiding the church and Christ whether it's legitimate or not. And third, I think some people want to bring their own caricature of a man into the church and hold that up as a new ideal.

In briefly flipping through this book though it seemed reasonable and sensible in its approach. I can't recall the exact title but I thought it was by Stephen Arterburn, author of Every Man's Battle. I can't seem to find anything like that under his name though so perhaps it was another book I saw. At any rate, this issue also came up in conversation during the retreat but was unfortunately abbreviated because of scheduled activities. It's something that I am wondering about and feel like I don't have many answers. I hope this will generate some helpful discussion.

There is one area though that I think might deter some men, and that is the way we do musical worship. For instance, consider the lyrics of one of the songs we sang this weekend, Hillsong's Draw Me Close to You:

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You
You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

Now, there is nothing necessarily wrong with this song (except perhaps that it never actually mentions God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, sin, grace, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, love, etc.), but especially given its airy, sentimental sound, who do you think it's generally going to appeal to more, men or women? And how many songs are very similar to this? Think about it next Sunday. And, it's not even just the lyrics or the music. Have you ever noticed the pictures displayed on the screens? What do they usually display? Flowers and rainbows? A woman with her eyes closed and arms raised with a serene expression on her face? Children playing? Even in the song that displayed a picture of the cross, it was displayed in the middle of a big, red heart. Again, there is nothing necessarily wrong with these things, but who are they going to appeal to more, even at a subconscious level?

I just leafed through a few pages of Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow online. It wasn't enough to get a full impression of the book yet, but he said one thing that I was both shocked and relieved by: most men don't like to sing. I know I don't. I mean I like some worship music, and singing at small group is okay, but I have to admit there are a lot of times I wish I could come in just for the sermon at church and skip all the music. I mean think about it, outside of church, where do you see men casually singing?

If there is anything this world needs it, is more strong men of faith to take a stand. We're in the midst of a spiritual battle, but we're not inviting men into a battle camp. We're inviting them to sing songs about cuddly embraces with pictures of pretty flowers and then we wonder why they're not excited. To use a quote from G.K. Chesterton (admittedly in a different context), "It is constantly assured that when the lion lies down the lamb, the lion becomes lamb-like. But that is brutal annexation and imperialism on the part of the lamb. That is simply the lamb absorbing the lion instead of the lion eating the lamb. The real problem is - can the lion lie down with the lamb and still retain its royal ferocity? That is the problem the Church attempted; that is the miracle she achieved."

More Nuggets From Thomas

My most excellent small group gave me a book that included The Imitation of Christ for my birthday. I first read it some seven years ago and am really enjoying going through it again. Here are a few nuggets that really jumped out to me so far:

"If you know the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would all that profit you without the love of God, and without his grace?"

"Vanity it is, to wish to live long, and to be careless to live well."

"Who has a harder struggle than he that labors to conquer himself?"

"Be not proud of good works; for the judgments of God are different from the judgments of men and that often offends him which pleases men. If there be any good in you, believe better of others, that so you may preserve humility."

"It is no small matter to dwell in religious communities or in a congregation, to converse therein without complaint, and to persevere therein faithfully unto death. Blessed is he that has there lived well, and ended happily."

"No man safely speaks but he that willingly holds his peace. No man safely rules but he that is willingly in subjection. No man safely commands, but he that has learned well to obey. No man safely rejoices unless he has within himself the witness of a good conscience."

Thought for the Day

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue each one has. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show of what sort he is." - Thomas A. Kempis, The Imitation of Christ.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" James 1:2-4, 12

Baseball Note

With Memorial Day now past, the Yankees (and their $199 million payroll) are in last place and the Indians (and their $57 million payroll) are in first place. It's a beautiful thing.

Theme Music

In the epic baseball movie Major League, when Charlie Sheen's character comes out of the bullpen the song "Wild Thing" blares over the loudspeakers and the crowd goes wild. In real life this has caught on as "Hell's Bells" plays for Trevor Hoffman when he enters the game and "Enter Sandman" plays for Billy Wagner. Even Paul Byrd came out to the Newsboys' "Shine" when he was the opening day starter for the Phillies. Which got me thinking, what would my song be? Granted, I'll never pitch for a major league team, but wouldn't be cool if your own theme song played over the loudspeaker when you stepped into the office at work? In my opinion, the best theme songs are typically those with great intro guitar riffs. My working list of candidates include:

• Open by Chevelle
• Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
• Machinehead by Bush
• Show Me How to Live by Audioslave
• Original Fire by Audioslave
• Stars by Switchfoot
• Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones
• Remedy by Seether
• Precious Declaration by Collective Soul
• Today by the Smashing Pumpkins

What would your song be?

Another Angle On Gasoline

So, every major news outlet is headlining that gas prices are now at an all-time high when adjusted for inflation. Do you know what that says to me? Gasoline has been really freakin' cheap for the last 25 years. Think about it. Gasoline is just now reaching a level it last reached back in 1981 when adjusted for inflation. That's amazing. Can you imagine if the price of a house was just now reaching the price it once was in 1981? Or the price of a car? What if the stock market was just now reaching a high set it had set back in 1981? (In case you're wondering, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 971.72 on May 22, 1981. It closed today at 13,542.88.)

The point is, the wealth of our nation has increased dramatically over the last 25 years. The fact that fuel prices are just now reaching an all-time high is incredibly impressive to me. Or, think about it another way: Everyone is an outrage at spending $3.20/gallon for gasoline yet many of these people will not think twice or bat an eyelash when they go into Starbucks and drop $4.75 on a cup of coffee. Why don't you fill your tank with that stuff if you really want to be in for sticker shock?

Sermons and Songs

Yesterday I was able to enjoy some time hanging with David. We went to the Saturday evening church service he attends, and the speaker gave an excellent talk on God's design for marriage and the way it is to be a picture of our relationship to God/the Church's relationship to Christ. It hadn't quite clicked in the same way before about how Christ had left his Father and took on flesh to be one with his bride, the church. (Eph 5:31-32 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.) I loved the themes we covered at BVBC in Revelation of the groom and bride being reunited. Talk about the all-time long distance relationship. I felt something of Christ's longing to gather up his beauty and bring her home.

The speaker started in Ephesians, went back to Genesis and then over to Hosea. He pointed out that God's intention in this most unusual prophecy was that everytime the people saw Gomer sleeping around and cheating on poor Hosea, they would remember that is how they are treating him. What an amazing object lesson, especially when Hosea has to go and buy Gomer from the slavery she should herself into. He pointed out that by buying back a slave, she was more or less his to do whatever he wanted to with her, but what he did was show a profound and generous reclaiming love. It reminded me of a song that Joe had introduced to me back in my old small group and has always resonated with me.

The Song of the Harlot
~ The Violet Burning

In the night, the harlot moves across the floor
She turns the handle on the door
A hundred eyes seem to look right through her
Why she's there they're not sure
Behind her love, she falls down to her knees
Without a word, she begins to weep
And her tears, they fall down upon his feet
She smothers them with kisses
And she dries them with her hair

In my life, sorrow has kissed my lonely heart
Fear of man tears me apart
And I try, but many times I've loved the world
So many times I've been the whore
And I cried a million tears, or maybe more
So many times I have been the whore
I will fall down on my knees
And I will sing "I love you"

I will sing "I love you, my love"
And my tears, they fall down upon your feet
Let me smother them with kisses
Let me dry them with my hair
Cos if I could be anyone at all
Well, if I could be anyone at all
Let me be the whore at your feet
The whore at your feet

In Praise of $4 Gas And Construction Delays

It seems that Delaware motorists will have plenty to complain about in the months ahead. Some pundits claim that gasoline will soon cost $4 a gallon and construction will ultimately begin to add a fifth lane to Interstate 95 causing increased traffic delays and gridlock. May I offer a word of advice to everyone, including myself? Stop whining.

Why is that everyone feels it is their God given right to have incredibly cheap energy that grants them endless personal freedom in their transportation? Why do we blame the big oil companies and then whine at the economic forces at work that will ultimately lead to the increased use of alternative fuels? Why is it that we constantly bemoan the traffic on I-95 and then complain even louder when the DOT attempts to enhance and improve the roadway system and correct it? Why do we want wide, well paved roads and then complain when roads are currently disabled to be widened and paved?

We need to stop and examine ourselves. We are being incredibly short sighted and self indulgent. Do you know why gas is $4 a gallon? A primary reason is the fact that there has not been a new refinery built in the United States in over 20 years but the number of automobiles, including the large number of trucks and SUV's, has increased dramatically. Let me breakdown a little a little economics. It's called supply-demand theory. When supply goes down (or remains the same) and demand increases, the price of an item goes up. So, when supply goes down because a refinery is shut down for either routine or emergency repairs, oil production in Nigeria is at risk because of political upheaval and riots, a hurricane knocks out platforms in the Gulf of Mexco or any other number of reasons, the price of gasoline will go up. Add to this all of the increasing demand whether it be from seasonal driving or from less fuel efficient vehicles or perhaps more importantly from the increasing international consumption of fuel and one can understand why gasoline is more expensive. There is also another element to supply-demand theory that I should add. It's called elastic and inelastic demand. If the price of an item goes up one "unit", and demand for that item decreases by more than one "unit" then you have elastic demand. However, if the price of an item goes up one "unit", and demand for that decreases by less than one "unit" then you have inelastic demand. Gasoline is an inelastic item. At what point would you actually change your driving behavior and buy less gasoline? Did you buy less gasoline when it went to $2/gallon? $2.50? $3.50? Most people didn't and aren't but ultimately we will reach a tipping point.

A lot of people think the large oil companies are just out there to fleece Americans. While I do not harbor any illusions of benevolence on the part of large oil companies, if they could have just pushed a button and charged $4 a gallon for gasoline 10 years ago, don't you think they would have? Are they suddenly becoming more malevolent in their character? I doubt that. And if they charged $6 a gallon right now, don't you think you would still pay it? Are they just being generous then? I doubt that too. It all goes back to economics.

But here is the good news. Americans, being the indulgent and entitlement-focused people that we are, are not going to switch to renewable energy out of the sheer force of our magnanimous will. We're going to switch when it becomes more convenient for us, namely more economically convenient, to do so. And as the price of petroleum based fuels increases, alternative fuels have an opportunity to become more and more competitive. The laws of supply and demand will ultimately steer us away from our collective dependence on gasoline, and we have to suck it up in the short term while this process unfolds.

Now to the roads. I remember commenting to a friend a few years ago that I kind of liked to see road construction because it is one of the few places where I can tangibly see my tax dollars at work. We are very fortunate to have the vast road and interstate system that we enjoy in America. It is in need of even more reinforcement and improvement than it is receiving, but we already complain loudly at the improvements that are being made. Are we not willing to make this short term sacrifice for the larger future gains? We are being hypocrites when we curse roads that need repaired and expanded and then curse the repair and expansion of those same roads. I don't want to hear it. Be thankful that the project is being undertaken at all, that the the project is likely being completed as efficiently as possible, and that at some point in the relatively near future you'll be cruising by and cutting off people in a whole new lane.

Al Gore

So, there still seems to be a movement out there that wants Al Gore to run for President. The last time I saw a poll that included him, he ranked behind Clinton and Obama but ahead of Edwards among Democrat voters. This is an interesting article because the author seems to have a sort messianic complex in his perception and reporting of Mr. Gore.

I'll leave you to form your own opinions on the article and on Gore himself, but one idea I do agree with (and I think I posted on before) is that I would not be surprised if someone other than the current roster of candidates emerges into the national spotlight.

Also, as I have thought about things more, I do not know if I would vote for Mr. Gingrich if he were to run. Although I agree with many of his ideas and think he runs away from the field in that regard, the whole three marriages thing may disqualify him in my mind from the premier role of a civil servant. I don't say that to be moralizing or sound self-righteous, but if he could not keep his promise to his wife(s), how can I trust him to keep his promises on a national level? This may send me back to the bin of hopeless third party candidates that I tried to sift through in '04 because I am rather unimpressed with my other elephant-dressed options.

Conspiracy No. 5

On Sunday I spoke with a friend who had just discovered Third Day. Their album, Conspiracy No. 5, is my favorite although it is probably their least popular work. I hadn't listened to it in some time until this conversation, but I put it in on the way to work on Monday and rememberd just how much I love it. My favorite songs are the edgy, dark and somewhat haunting "I Deserve?" and the gripping "Gomer's Theme". The lyrics alone do not capture the depth of the songs because the music is very mood evocative.

Gomer's Theme

"In this place, saw her face
He was more than happier
Made for Him, It's a sin
That she was not faithful

She couldn't be
Foolishly more unfaithful if she tried
He did not care, wanted her
Despite lies and wandering eyes
He deserves the very best
But he loves her none the less

She's forgotten her first love (Maybe one day she'll return)
He's forgotten that she ever went away and broke his heart

Lavished on silver, gold, and anything she needed
Wasted thoughts, broken hearts
Love was not acknowledged

God only knows
That He has shown her
More love than she deserves
There will come a time
When she will find
That he's not there
To give her love
And He'll be gone away
From her forever"

On the eve of my birthday

Tomorrow I turn 29 years old. I haven't had as much time to reflect on this yet as I would like, but I have had a few musings. First, I tried to recall any goals I had set for my 20's that I might need to frantically try to reach, but nothing pressing came to mind. I suppose that's a good thing (or else I just set the bar really low). One question that came to mind is, if my life were to end tomorrow, what would my legacy be? How would my obituary read or what would be said at my memorial service? How would I be remembered? Have I made any meaningful, lasting contributions in my life?

I think I have changed quite a bit in my 20's. As Winter Banquet pictures would attest, I'm not quite the same scrawny, awkward, depressed kid I once was, but there's still ample room for growth. I have to thank all of my friends who are reading this now for the impact they have made on my life. You have been essential in God's hands for my sanctification.

God has given me some really amazing opportunities. Not every country bumpkin born in the little podunk town of Pennsboro, WV has been so blessed. I have to thank my parents for their all around awesomeness and the sacrifices they made so that I could be where I am today. I have been so fortunate to go to Cedarville, then UD, for my start at PFPC and now my work at Chatham. I have gone on missions trips to Jamaica and Indonesia. How many people at age 29 have a job they love, an amazing church home, a supportive family and friends that mean the world to me? I've just been so blessed.

Letter From My State Representative

The other day I received the following letter from my state representative, Gerald Brady:

Dear Steve:

In receipt of your letter regarding Senate Bill 5 and other legislation authorizing the destruction of human embros, I can assure you I do not support such actions. I will be voting No on Senate Bill (SB) 5.

I am opposed to Senate Bill 5, which calls for the legalization of embryonic stem cell research. Furthermore, I am a cosponsor on a bill, HB76, which will prohibit embryonic cloning.

I appreciate your thoughtful roses and urge you to feel free to contact me anytime you wish to expressss a concern onthis or any other legislative matter.

My warmest regards,

Gerald L. Brady
House of Representatives
4th District

Thank you Mr. Brady

Take A Hike

Good times yesterday at the Kairos hiking trip. Here are some pics:

On the way up

At the summit

Sitting for a photo op

Shall we gather at the river?

Spurning TLC's advice, we went chasing waterfalls

An intrepid explorer

Some strange creatures in the woods

Recommended Reading

I was running early to small group on Tuesday so I stopped by the library to find some new reading selections, and I picked up Chuck Colson's Loving God. Wow. I had never read anything from Colson before though I have heard Pastor Karl refer to him favorably. Ages ago when we were studying Micah he referred to Colson as a prophet for our time. Reading this book from 20 years ago it was a fair compliment to Colson. I finished reading it Thursday night.

The theme of the book centered on obedience and holiness. Curiously, the opening pages hit on some issues we had just talked about in small group.

I highly recommend this book. It was a good charge both to me personally and to the modern American church including that familiar part of the body we know as BVBC. In the chapter, The Church on the Front Lines, Colson writes:

" . . . the description once given the church by the Archbishop of Canterbury and commentator, William Temple: 'the only cooperative society that exists for the benefits of its non-members.' Too often, though, the church's strategy for reaching those who 'don't belong' is exactly backward. Priority goes to constructing an attractive edifice in a location near a growing suburb and as far from crime-infested downtown as possible. Next come the committees organizing concerts, covered-dish suppers, Bible studies, slide shows, and the like. Then with fresh welcome mat at the door, the members enthusiastically wait for the lost and needy souls to come join them. Of course they never do. What the church attracts are the neighbors who are bored with their old church anyway, or those looking for a group with a bit more 'status'. The folks 'out there' have no interest in the handsome sanctuary and the progressive programs and wouldn't feel comfortable inside no matter what wonderful attractions were offered. (And probably the church members wouldn't feel comfortable if they did come.) The cultural barriers in our American society are imposing. Millions live in conditions unimaginable to the typical white middle-class American congregation. The family in the ghetto, for example, lives a day at a time, often one welfare check away from disaster; and odds are it's a one-parent family with one or more of its members victims of one of the plagues epidemic in America's inner cities - child abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution. But when the church fails to break the barrier, both sides lose. Those who need the gospel message of hope and the reality of love, don't get it; and the isolated church keeps evangelizing the same people over and over until its only mission finally is to entertain itself. "


Oh, and David, I am currently reading The Fourth Horseman.

Apologetic Response

I heard last night from a Hokie about an organization that is planning a protest around the funeral services of the students who were killed this week at Virginia Tech. If I am understanding this correctly, this organization has existed for several years and operates under the premise that many tragic events are a direct judgement from God and that the people who were killed are wicked and should not be mourned but that their loss should be accepted because God has extricated evil from among us. By this reference, this organization protests at the funerals of fallen soldiers from Iraq. Eventually, a biker group caught wind of this and wasn't going to have any of that and now stand shoulder to shoulder in peaceful opposition to this group so that they do not interfere with the families who are grieving.

I was thinking this morning about the beliefs of this group. It seems to me to be a very over simplistic, black and white view of the world where God rewards good people and punishes bad people. But Scripture and history both show us that this is not a universal, unconditional truth. In God's providence of this fallen world sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. There is a negative and positive condition at work here. The negative is that we are all bound under the pains of the fall and the birth bangs of redemption and there is suffering inherent in that. The positive is that God is so full of love that his mercies extend even to those who have rebelled against him. I believe this is what theologians call "common grace" and is said perhaps most eloquently by Jesus when he instructs in the Sermon on the Mount, "I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5:44-45)". In fact, Jesus refuted this very notion that in tragic events the especially wicked are being punished: "Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1-5)"

I have not researched this, but I wonder if this group (which has a Christian Baptist name) is constructing their theology out of one OT passage. Ezekiel 24 tells the story of God pronouncing judgement on Jerusalem and in a heartbreaking illustration of what is to come, Ezekiel's wife will die but Ezekiel is not permitted to mourn for her. "And the word of the LORD came to me saying, Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow; but you shall not mourn, and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead (v.15-17)."

The problem with heresies is that there is usually some small kernel of truth entangled in a web of lies and false assumptions. Clearly, God did use nationally tragic events to judge Israel and other nations in the Old Testament. And I say this with great patriotic love in my heart, but it is not as though America is completely undeserving of judgement. But, as Pastor Bo wisely instructed us just last week, typically God's judgement comes to us not in the form of overwhelming acts of power, force and violence, but in the form of withdrawing his hand when we consistently refuse to acknowledge him or embrace his righteousness and leaving us to our own devices.

Please pray for those who will be mourning the loss of loved ones in the days ahead and for this group ,that they would see the truth and that they would not be disruptive or disrespectful to those who grieving.

Health Tracker

I heard about this website on CNBC today. It looks pretty interesting. Chatham is starting its second annual Fitness Challnge in a week and a half so this is good timing.

Refelctions on the Week

I have debated all week on whether or not it is appropriate to comment on the events at Virgina Tech. There is a time when we all need to stop shouting our opinions and the most appropriate thing is to just be silent and listen and lend a shoulder and an open ear to those who have suffered and are grieving. As with everyone, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Hokie family. I know several Hokie alumni and they are an unusually close knit group and these events have touched them very deeply.

I have to admit that I have stopped watching the news related to the events at Virginia Tech this week. I quickly reached a point of oversaturation. I know the murderer made a video of himself for all the world to see, but I couldn't stomach to hear it and perhaps didn't want his attempt at self fame to be successful.

From what I have heard, I have great respect for the way school and local officials have handled the situation and for the way the broader community has sought to support and comfort those impacted by the tragedy.

At the risk of being hypocritical to what I have just shared, I think the media coverage, on the other hand, has been at times despicable. For instance, the day of the shooting, they interviewed a Tech student to get his response. When the student responded that he felt angry, the interviewer immediately injected, "You mean with the school for not keeping you safe?" The stunned student replied, "Uh, no. With the person who did this." It really represented to me how much the media loves to quickly assign blame, especially to any traditional institutions. Then again, what should we expect from anything so heavily influenced and controlled by the baby boomer generation? Don't get me wrong, there is a time to explore if mistakes were made so that they could be corrected for the future, but this knee-jerk reaction revealed only a fundamental assumption held by the media and made me wary of how they were presenting things to the public.

The media has now moved to its second favorite thing which is to spin everything into as many different angles as possible. Gun control was of course the first issue they turned to, but I also recently saw a poll that said, "Will the events this week at Virginia Tech impact your decision in the 2008 election?" I don't know about you, but there has been nothing further from my mind this week than the 2008 election. I suspect the next angle will be a comparison to the Iraq war. In the meantime, a lot of families are hurting. This is not an abstract issue for them and these tragic events should not be used as immediate fodder or ammunition for political arguments. Will you please just let these people and the nation stop to grieve?

Unoffocial State Mottos

I was going through old e-mails and noticed this one from a friend:

Alabama
Hell Yes, We Have Electricity

Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong

Arizona
But It's A Dry Heat

Arkansas
Literacy Ain't Everything

California
By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda

Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother

Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy's Don't Own It Yet

Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water

Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids, And Our Voting Skills

Georgia
We Put The Fun In Fundamentalist Extremism

Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
(Death To Mainland Scum, Leave Your Money)

Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes, Well, Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good

Illinois
Please, Don't Pronounce the "S"

Indiana
2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn

Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States

Kentucky
Five Million People, Fifteen Last Names

Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign

Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's And Our Senators Are More Corrupt

Michigan
First Line Of Defense - From The Canadians

Minnesota
10,000 Lakes...And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes

Mississippi
Come And Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work

Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies, and Honest Elections

Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest

Nevada
Hookers and Poker

New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone

New Jersey
You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here

New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets

New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An Attorney, And No Right To Self Defense

North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable

North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States

Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan

Oklahoma
Like The Play, But No Singing

Oregon
Spotted Owl...It's What's For Dinner

Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal

Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina
Remember The Civil War? Well, We Didn't Actually Surrender Yet

South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee
Home of the Al Gore Invention Museum

Texas
Don't Mess with Texas

Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont
Ay, Yep

Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix

Washington
Our Governor can out-fraud your Governor

West Virginia
One Big Happy Family...Really

Wisconsin
Come Cut Cheese

Wyoming
Where Men Are Men... And The Sheep Are Scared

Ticketmaster Rant

I loathe Ticketmaster. I would probably get a better deal if I went through the Russian mafia than through them. Whenever I am forced to use their services (which sadly is almost anytime I want to attend a concert or sporting event because they are a monopoly) I walk away with that dirty, violated feeling. Ticketmaster is the pimp of the entertainment industry. I am hard pressed to think of a company that charges more for a less value-added service than Ticketmaster. Maybe before the internet age they served a purpose to humanity, but I really can't think of one anymore.

I recently purchased tickets to go see the Indians play the Orioles on my birthday. Total cost of the actual tickets = $50. Total fees related to purchasing on the Orioles website which is co-opted by Ticketmaster = $13. That's a 26% increase in the total purchase price. Can you imagine if the rest of the world operated that way? You'd pay $100 in groceries but then have to give the cashier a $26 tip to put them in the bag. How hard is it to create a website to offer tickets and accept payments, especially if that is your entire business? Why don't the Baltimore Orioles just jack up their prices 10% and do the business in-house? That would still be a huge bargain for their paying customers.

Is there anyway around these guys?

Invasion of the Opinionated

I have noticed a new feature on some of the websites I frequently visit, such as CNN and ESPN. After the main article, there is now room for feedback and opinions from readers. Often the space provided for everyone's opinion is greater than the article itself. This is an interesting phenomenon. On one hand it is the democratization of the media enabled by technology. On the other hand, it's just a bunch of opinionated loud mouths spouting out previously held convictions and emotions. I suspect few people thoughtfully read and consider the claims of the original writer; they are much too eager to express their own opinions and counter-arguments, and we end up with duelling monologues rather than a helpful conversation. Granted, we have always had Letters to the Editor in newspapers, but this is different because it provides more of a real time and side by side expression and more space is devoted to it. I tend to find this somewhat annoying. Look, if you want to spout off your opinion, get a blog. What is it that gives a person's opinion credibility in this postmodern world?

Skepticism

In preparing for small group, I came across this quote from Dallas Willard that jumped out to me. He reminds me of a modern G.K. Chesterton:

We live in a culture that has, for centuries now, cultivated the idea that the skeptical person is always smarter than the one who believes. You can be almost as stupid as cabbage, as long as you doubt. The fashion of the age has identified mental sharpness with a pose, not with genuine intellectual method and character. Only a very hardy individualist or social rebel -or one desperate for another life - therefore stands any chance of discovering the substantiality of the spiritual life today. Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as wildly individualistic and unbearably bright.

Quote of the Day

Well, at least he stil has a sense of humor.

Sermon Reflections

I was deeply moved by this Sunday's sermon. I was hoping to podcast it, but don't see it available. Hopefully there will be some CD's available.

Anyway, the sermon was on 1 Samuel 14:1-13 entitled "Under a Pomegranate." The guest missionary pastor recounted the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer single handedly throwing down on a regiment of Philistines and how "Jonathan was part of something that only God could have pulled off." He challenged us that we are sitting under a pomegranate tree eating its fruit and completely indulging ourselves and neglecting the desperate needs of those around us. He challenged us that we are in a war with an unconventional enemy. He pointed out the 5 forces of the enemy:

1. Poverty - 2 billion people live on less than $1/day. There are 2,000 versus about the poor in Scripture.
2. Disease - There are 20 million AIDS orphans in Africa.
3. Ignorance (lack of education)
4. Violence
5. Spiritual darkness (which is the root of all the others)

He pointed out that the horrific genocide in Rwanda occurred in a country that was predominantly Christian because "the gospel has not gone beyond the veneer of religosity." He pointed out a quote from Bono, "If the church does not confront the plagues confronting Africa, no one else will."

However, all is not lost. God is raising up a band of warriors. He cited several examples of extreme sacrifice and intense ministry. I jotted in my notes, "Live your life as a dead man."

He talked about the movie Amazing Grace and the story of William Wilberforce. How he and has band of followers, over a long period of time, did something that no one would have ever considered possible. Today we look at the problems facing the world, see them as hopeless and maybe hope God will call another William Wilberforce and neglect that he's calling each one of us.

Again he came back to the challenge: are you ready to get our from under the tree? He talked about two different ethos: institutional vs. missional. We come to our stained glass promegranate tree and evaluate the fruit. We complain that it's not ripe or over ripe but we never share the fruit with a starving world. He also challenged us, if our church was considering to leave the neighborhood, would anyone try to stop us? Would the mayor come and tell us not to leave because the impact we are having on the community was so great?

I wanted to stand up and cheer when the sermon ended except I couldn't because I was fighting back tears.

Now it's on us, on me. What am I/we going to do with this? Are we going to say, "wow, that was a nice sermon" and then keep all the same habits and come back the same way next week to evaluate the next serving of fruit? We need to be deeply infected with this calling. It's going to take some time to process this and figure out exactly where to go from here. I've been concerned about a lot of the issues he talked about and give money in these causes and have tried to encourage others to do the same on my blog. But is that going to be it?

I think there are two easy steps we can all take on this. Some "low hanging fruit" we can pick as it were. The first is to better educate ourselves on these issues and the second is to give more. Maybe one Sunday a month or even a quarter we don't go to lunch after Kairos and pool our money to give to one of these causes. I couldn't help but think of my own hypocrisy when I left that sermon and then went to Chili's for lunch and dropped almost $10 on my next lunch. That's over a week's living expenses for 2 billion people, right? Can we connect this to our day to day choices? Maybe we clean our our houses and have giant community yardsale and donate the proceeds. How many of our homes have a TV in every room? Is that necessary? I have read that there is a museum I believe of the Queen Mary (or is it Queen Elizabeth?) that was converted from a luxury cruise ship to a troop ship for World War 2. They have rooms that are split down the middle, one side showing what it look like when it was catering to wealthy patrons and another showing what it looked like when it housed soldiers. Which side of the ship are we going to live on? In my NT survey reading, I just came across 2 Timothy 2:3,4 "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." There isn't a draft. No one is going to force us to do this. In the background at Chili's as we ate lunch, Switchfoot played. "This is your life. Are you who want to be?"

In Need of Renovation

One of the most challenging and influential books I have ever read is Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart. I was skimming through it again and came across a segment entitled "Standing For The Right Without Egotism" that really convicted me. I apologize for where I have fallen short in this in my previous blog postings:

One of the real sources of difficulty here is confusion of our desire for what is good and right to prevail with our desire to have our own way. One often sees the effects of this confusion in families, in churches or between religious and political groups.

In such cases, very important values are often at stake, and people are passionately committed to one side or another. This is as it should be. But more often than not, the contempt and anger for others that emerges in the conflict is nothing but a manifestation of the will to have my way.

Families, churches, communities, and sovereign nations become embroiled in deadly conflicts that would immediately disappear or be resolvable but or the relentless will to have my/our way. Very likely, the First World War - with horrific worldwide consequences that reverberate to this day - was entirely due to this human tendency. A significant part of the business of police, courts, and hospitals is the result of the drive of mere self-will and has no genuine bearing on the good of individuals and groups, much less on the glory of God.

'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,' Jesus said, 'it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life [soul] loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal' (John 12:24-25).

This is a law of human life, partly visible at the level of purely human understanding (remember Erich Fromm) and fully demonstrated in the life of Jesus and that of his people throughout the ages, for all to see. It is the controlling principle of the renovated heart and the restored soul. Its radical goodness progressively subverts and replaces the radical evil in the fallen human heart, mind, body, and social and other environment.

Christian Protest

A good reminder to pray for our enemies and pray for peace.

Here are some other resources with practical ways we can express a voice of hope, compassion and peace this weekend:

Operation Iraqi Children
UNICEF
American Institute of Philanthropy

Pet Food Recall

Heads-up to my pet-owning friends, Menu Foods is recalling some of its products. I've never heard of that brand before, but just in case any of you have used it.

Universal Healthcare

There are few words that incite greater passionate reactions on both sides of the political spectrum than "universal healthcare." I was initially reluctant to post anything on the matter because I was concerned about what kind of firestorm of comments I might unwittingly arouse. Through the course of a few conversations with different people and trying to gather some more information on the matter, I was surprised at my own level of misunderstanding, and I wonder if some of my misconceptions are shared by others.

I think my first "a-ha" moment was when I realized there is a difference between universal healthcare and universal healthcare coverage. The words "universal healthcare" have a very negative connotation in my mind. My initial reaction is to imagine a very socialized, almost Soviet style central planning and state ownership and management of healthcare services. I think heavy administrative bureaucracy, escalating costs and decreasing care would likely result from that type of system. Perhaps in its initial form this is what some people were proposing, but I don't think it has many supporters today. What I am learning is that more emphasis is being placed on universal healthcare coverage.

Universal healthcare coverage still relies on private industry. It seeks to make sure that everyone has access to health insurance to pay for medical treatment provided by private industry; it does not expect these services to be provided by the government. Again, that was a vitally important distinction for me to begin to understand.

There is disagreement on how access to this health insurance is to be gained. Some people want to require all employers to offer healthcare coverage to their employees. I would be concerned that the administrative and financial burden would be very detrimental to small businesses and the overall economy. (I know with my dad's experience, his business would probably have immediately gone under if he had that additional cost.) At this point, I think having state administered group plans that are available to everyone appears to be a better alternative. There are currently plans in place in each state called SCHIPS which expand medical coverage to those who make enough to not be eligbile for medicaid but can not afford private insurance.

I think there could be a lot of progress made in assisting the millions of Americans who do not have healthcare insurance and coverage (and therefore little access to appropriate levels of care) through a combination of strong SCHIP programs coupled with Health Savings Accounts. I have not seen anyone linking the two together yet, but I think it is an important step to take. I think deductibles, doctor co-pays and first dollar payments are an important check on the system that prevent over-use and abuse. The financial burden of these personal payments can be eased by the use of HSA's.

The issue of universal healtcare coverage and poverty are obviously interlinked. This is also why I would support an increase in the minimum wage. I am not sure where that stands right now in Congress. I think it would be far better to raise the minimum wage and provide additional income for lower income individuals and families to purchase healthcare through a state program than to require each small business to create and administer its own plan. It is also possible for states to subsidize these programs and further make health insurance affordable.

There still needs to be major reform within the healthcare industry itself, with greater emphasis paid on preventative and holistic care and greater use of information technology to reduce both burdensome administrative paperwork and the risk of malpractice. But that is probably another story for another time.

Some articles and resources I found interesting and helpful:
How to Heal Health Care
The Reformer and the Gadfly Agree on Health Care
http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/health/
http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/health-care/
http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=3485
http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=1897

Beware of Unintended Consequences

I am very supportive of the push for alternative fuels and more integrated use of renewable resources. However, I find myself rather alarmed by the frenzied, almost blind rush towards grain based ethanol. If not managed carefully, the rush towards this new alternative fuel could have dramatic conquences, not only economically but also to the natural environment.

First of all, has everyone forgotten that food is not exactly in abundant supply in many parts of the world, and that we are beginning to divert substantial amounts of crops that would be used for food into fuel? Or that a significant portion of our foreign aid is delivered in the form of corn, wheat and other natural grains? Also, according to one report I heard recently, inflationary pressures caused be increases in food prices have a much greater impact on most families' finances than increases in fuel prices. And if it is a greater burden for Americans to pay more for food than for fuel, imagine what it's like in many parts of the world where food can barely be afforded. Further, in places like Brazil where ethanol is the primary fuel, there is increasingly rampant deforestation to make room for sugar crops to produce the ethanol. So, we end up destroying the environment that we are trying to protect by switching from petroleum to ethanol based products in the first place.

Again, I support the exploration and implementation of alternative sources of energy, but we need to think very carefully about this now before we create a larger mess for ourselves in the future. I wish there was a stronger push for waste-product based biofuel production (i.e. switchgrass) than grain based production.

WWJ(W)D?

This morning I went out to my car and was shuffling a few things around as I was getting ready to leave for work. When I looked up, there was a police officer standing next to my car. I rolled down my window, and he asked if I knew the lady who lived in the apartment building next to me. I responded that I didn't, and he went on to explain that about an hour earlier she had been beaten unconscious and carjacked. Apparently she had resisted, and they (?) had beaten her profusely. He asked if I had heard anything, but I hadn't. He thanked me for my time, I thanked him, and then he walked away.

This is deeply disturbing. It got me wondering what the appropriate response would be in an incident like that. If I had walked outside an hour earlier and seen this event transpiring, what would I have done? As I was beginning to process this incident, my first reaction was a feeling of guilt. I wish I had heard something so that I could have called 911 and then walked outside with my Louisville Slugger. I know that's probably not the technically correct response, and that you should stay safe and let the police handle it. But in my gut I kept thinking, maybe it's about time some good men start taking some risks. If we never stand up, evil men will never back down. To repeat one of my favorite quotes, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." I then wondered, what if I did walk outside with my baseball bat and one of them had a gun? If nothing else, this gave me a new appreciation for many of Jeff's posts on carrying arms.

This all brought back to mind an article Angela had sent to me shortly after 9/11. Incidentally, I watched my first John Wayne movie about two weeks ago. I was bored on a Saturday night, and I realized I had never actually seen a John Wayne movie so it seemed like a good idea. Maybe it was the novelty of it, but I actually liked it. Obviously, there is a suspension of certain realities and Wayne's character is idealized, but there was still something very appealing about it, about being the kind, generous, strong, respectful, man of integrity who shows up to save the day. It got me phrasing this morning's incident in the form of a different question: What Would John Wayne Do? Yes, I know he is not the model of behavior for us that Jesus is, but in this particular incident I have a feeling their reaction might have been fairly similar.

For now I guess there's not much I can do. And the way the news reported the episode was different from the perception I got from speaking with the officer so I'm rather confused by what transpired. I might drop off a little card to my neighbor expressing my concern. What else should I do?

March Madness

There are few things I am more indifferent to than March Madness. I guess this is because I didn't go to a large college, and even though our basketball team was really good within its league or conference I only went to one game and didn't enjoy it. I know some people enjoy the "purity" of college basketball, but it seems to me like an outdated nostalgia, like enjoying the "purity" of giving gifts at Christmas. Oh well. Enjoy, everyone. Wake me when it's over.

March

March has such brutally variable weather patterns. After enjoying a beautiful 72 degree, sunny day yesterday, I awake to a forecast indicating up to 4 inches of snow tomorrow. I always try to leave the possibility of snow open in my mind until Easter. I just enjoy the warm weather so much more. But, on the bright side, it looks like I'll have a few more opportunities to wear my new winter coat.

It's Pod-castic!

So I had my first i-Pod inspired workout this week, and it really did help. I was tired and ready to quit when "Today" by the Smashing Pumpkins came on, and immediately I'm like, "Okay, a few more laps". Then the next song came on, and I decided I had a few more minutes for an ab workout. I mean, really, how can you hear, "I'm going to fight them all, A seven nation army couldn't hold me back." and not be pumped for some more crunches?

Most Overrated

At lunch we were discussing some of our most favorite and most hated songs and artists. I would like to introduce another category: most over-rated. These are artists which, in my opinion, may have a good song or two here and there but are simply not as great as everyone says they are. My apologies ahead of time to all the loyal fans of these bands that I will be offending. I'm glad you enjoy them; they just don't do anything for me.

• The Rolling Stones
• The Beatles
• The Eagles
• Dave Matthews
• Billy Joel
• Elton John
• Lynrd Skynrd

In a musically related event, I have another pet peeve. Okay, so I admit I listen to some country music occasionally. But this may stop because the Philadelphia country music station (92.5 - XTU) will occasionally over-write songs with local references. For instance, on Teri Clark's "I Want To Do It All" they turn the line "see the Yankees play ball" into "see the Eagles play ball". Um, excuse me, I don't like the Yankees but at least they are a storied, epic franchise in a historic stadium. You have your annoying "E-A-G-L-E-S" chant; you don't need to be editing songs to make them about yourself. There is another song "Tim McGraw" by Talyor Sift and the line is edited from "you turn the radio on" to "you turn XTU on". And most recently, they changed the line to another new song which I do not know the name or artist to to "when the Phillies lose." What is up with that? Look, no one is going to write a song about the Eagles, the Phillies or the Philadelphia country music station. Leave these poor songs alone. Is this copyright infringement or are the artists openly pandering to what they hope will be a naive local audience?

Civility

I get really irritated when people use inflammatory, derogatory terms towards one another. Recently, political commentator/humorist Ann Coulter referred to Presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot." That is so wrong. First, it's not true. [It is worth nothing that he seems to have demonstrated stronger personal traditional family values than some of his opponents (i.e. Gingrich, Guiliani)]. Secondly, it is an inappropriate term to be used in today's culture. Thirdly, it adds nothing of value to the important discussions we need to have on the actual issues and problems the country faces. This is not a partisan liability. If I had a dime for every derogatory comment made against President Bush I wouldn't have needed to post my previous lament on Social Security because I would be independently wealthy. Here's my point: focus on the real issues and don't just call people names. If you think that President Bush is a stubborn, ineffective leader with poor diplomatic skills, then say it. But don't call him "the devil" or a "bastard." They fail the three tests I outlined earlier (true, appropriate, valuable). In the same way, if you want to express a negative sentiment about John Edwards, you can point out the fact that a candidate who wants to raise taxes to help the poor was 4 months late on paying taxes on his $3.8 million mansion rather than calling him a "faggot."

While I think everyone is at fault who fails to demonstrate a certain civility and kindness to their political adversaries, as Christians we have a special responsibility. "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire." Matthew 5:21,22

Social Insecurity

So I received my Social Security statement in the mail today. At least they're honest: "Unless action is taken soon to strengthen Social Security, in just 10 years we will begin paying more in benefits that we collect in taxes. Without changes, by 2040 the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted." So, do politicians not read their mail? How is this difficult to understand? We are like a patient with an infected wound who refuses to go see a doctor. We can either suck it up, go in for the treatment now and find a cure while there's still time, or we can wait it out until we're so sick the only option left will be to amputate. I hope you're all investing in your IRA's and 401(k)'s. You're definitely going to need it. It may be all you'll have.