Christcast 6

why do so many young Christians drop out of faith life by their 20's?
According to studies in America, 80-90%!! "Sex, booze, drugs, well, ya
there is that...but is it something more?

I interview a 20 year old friend, Nick, who shares his take on the
issues.

6-6-06

6-6-06 I knew it was coming. It was only a matter of when. I passed an all black billboard today with this written in white.

6-6-06

The signs are all around you

I don’t know whose ad it is or for what, but it finally has arrived. Public acknowledgment that June 6, 2006, or 6-6-06 for short, has arrived. Biblical prophecy scholars, heavy metal fans, and horror movie buffs all know the number.

Revelation 13:18

18Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.

“Mark of the beast, dude! 666! All right!” (in my best Spinal Tap accent)

Not that June 6th is not famous already. June 6, 1944. The invasion of Normandy. D-Day. We are not speaking German now, (not that there is anything wrong with the language/ aber es ist gut Hitler ist nichts unserer Fϋhrer), in some measure because of that day.

Yet 6-6-06 will be analyzed for other reasons. The mark of the beast, the anti-Christ, my birthday. Oops! It slipped out. Just don’t get too worked up. As of today, I have no tattoos…

gospel according to LA

what does it mean to be in mission in Los Angeles?
-Easter message

trials of teenage faith

trials and tribulations of trying to be a disciple as a teenager, including my kissing game story- from my Easter Vigil message

another Easter

Easter is a highlight day for Christians. We are all excited to celebrate the risen Jesus and it is a day that has faith written all over it. Unlike Christmas, our other big day, no one has figured how to take advantage of Easter from a commerce standpoint. I suppose a lot of ham is sold, and of course this is prime easter lily season, but other than that, what? Plastic eggs to be filled with candy? All right, I’ll give you that, too.

Yet, Easter remains, well, Easter. Even the media and magazines didn’t put a damper on Easter. Every year they put out something that is supposed to get us thinking that maybe the Bible isn’t accurate after all, though it was all written within 20-70 years after the time of Jesus, and there are, oh, 24,633 manuscripts of various length, from sections to the whole New Testament, all compiled within 300 years of Jesus. This is compared to number two in ancient writings, The Iliad by Homer, all 634 manuscripts. The single copy of the Gospel of Judas from 300 A.D. was proclaimed, “One of the most significant biblical finds in the past century.” First it is not a biblical find. The Dead Sea scrolls would have something to say about significant, as well. And it is such an important find, that the leading authority on such a manuscript, James Robinson, is not a key scholar consulted. Must be quite a find.

Well, actually the quote is from an ad from the National Geographic Channel, about TV show that has been shown repeatedly. I caught part of it being shown still again, yesterday. It’s been kind of like a small car crash. “All right move on, there is nothing to see here.”

This Gospel of Judas is a single manuscript probably written 130-140 years after the time of Jesus by another group of Gnostics, talking about secret stuff that only a few get to know. Body evil/ spirit good, Jewish stuff no good, seems I have heard this tune before. Yes, there are about 280 of these pseudopigrapha books around already. In my pod cast, which can be played or downloaded from www.Christcast.net, I speak with my friend Matt in a little more detail about this.

Oh well, at least they didn’t try to get me to believe Jesus didn’t really walk on water this Easter season. Wait a minute. Yes, they did!

what is Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is a relay race where we hand over faith to the next generations. A message for young people celebrating their first
communion.

Good Friday

Today roughly 2/3’s of the people of the world will go about their business and not pay a moment’s notice to something going on. War? Global warming? Avian flu? No, something much more devastating and catastrophic then these.

About 2/3’s of the world’s population does not identify as “Christian,” and today they will not give thanks to their Savior for what he has done for them.

On this Good Friday, in spite of his love, in spite of his hope, in spite of the evidence that he lived, died, and was resurrected from the dead, in spite of the fact that the Holy Spirit is drawing all people to God through Jesus, in spite of all of that, billions will go about their daily lives without giving it a second thought.

What Jesus offers freely will not be accepted. This has nothing to do on Jesus’ part. It is not his way to force anyone to listen. It doesn’t matter if you live a “good” life. It doesn’t make a difference if you are a “good” person. There is not a person living who could not do better.

This has everything to do with saying, “Thank you,” to someone who has just saved your life.

Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.

travel lightly

When I think of being a disciple of Jesus in this world I think of the phrase “travel lightly.” When Jesus sent his disciples out on a training run, he takes this literally.

9"Don't take any money with you. 10Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 11Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town.”

When you study the model of Jesus and his disciples, I don’t think we are called to be them, but rather like them. The same model of character, integrity, commitment, passion, and urgency. Not necessarily you are to go out preaching from town to town living on other people’s hospitality. Now, this may be your call, but it is not a general call for all disciples. We aren’t all called to be fishermen, either. Though trying it out can be fun.

Traveling lightly in life is a model we can follow, however. Not getting too caught up in any human cause or interest that can take away from our primary focus on Jesus and living in his Kingdom now. When you look at the big picture, you see traveling lightly is the best view of reality.

This is why prayer is so powerful. Prayer connects us to the creator and sustainer of the universe and all that exists and it connects us to the needs of the world. We wash the world with our prayers and we go about living the Kingdom life and we become an irresistible influence in a world crying out in despair. We answer with ourselves and the hope Jesus brings through us.

astounding tolerance?

The museum of tolerance had exhibits that unwittingly showed how astoundingly tolerant Americans prove to be. When you enter the museum there is a huge picture of several current events that showed murder out of hatred for an individual or group. Two I would mention are the murder of an abortion clinic doctor and the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi.

Since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1972, how many abortion clinic murders have there been, either at the clinic or staff murdered off campus? 1000? 500? 100? How about 7. Total.

An interesting side note is the murderers were not all self-professed “Christians” either. Bombing abortion clinics is often used as evidence that there are radically violent “Christian” terrorists, of which I have no doubt there may be people who call themselves “Christian” who commit terrorism. It’s just they need better PR because we are not hearing about it.

After the September 11th attack, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner, was killed in Mesa, Arizona. He was a Sikh, which is not Islam, but a blend of Muslim/ Hindu/ other faith. His picture is in the exhibit as a hate crime murder against a Muslim who wasn’t Muslim. Well, how many more hate crime murders have there been against Muslims since 9-11, besides this?

100? 50? How about 0? Yes, none. Two more murders after 9/11 are in dispute as to reason for the crime, and the FBI did not classify them as hate crimes. One was a man killing a Muslim man dating his ex-girlfriend. According to FBI hate crime statistics for 2001-2004 (the latest report) all hate crimes against Muslims in America look like this.

Incidents of hate crime

Year/incidents/murders and manslaughters/assaults
2001/ 554/ 0/ 95
2002/ 170/ 0/ 34
2003/ 155/ 0/ 33
2004/ 193/ 0/ 26

Besides the murders and assaults, the rest of the incidents are verbal assault or intimidation.

Do you see what I mean by astounding tolerance? Some people because of philosophical or religious belief consider abortion, murder, and yet, how few actually lash out violently against people they would consider accessories to murder.

When it comes to bigotry against Muslims, the American response has been amazingly calm. By any figment of the imagination, an attack of the magnitude of 9/11, followed by war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and yet bigots in America have lashed out so rarely.

I spoke to the docent of the museum about these observations and wasn’t it interesting that two of the major exhibits really were an unbelievable exception of the general trend of what is overwhelmingly tolerant about our nation’s people. She said they are teaching zero- tolerance.

It is commendable to teach zero-tolerance. I just thought it would be encouraging to let students going to the museum know, wherever they are getting their tolerance, at least in terms of not striking out with violent behavior goes, keep it up.

Christcast 5

The Gospel of Judas & wiping out 90% of the world's population using eco-terrorism!

acts 15- everyone

weighed down by rules and regulations?
confused by moral relativism?
-meet King Jesus

scapegoating

When touring the Museum of Tolerance Holocaust exhibit, you see the various ways the Nazi’s tried to dehumanize the Jews and others. Blaming the Jews for Germany’s woes after World War I was a long process. It didn’t just happen overnight. The amazing thing is we are talking about less than 1% of the population. That’s how many Jews were in Germany. It doesn’t take a large group of people to become a scapegoat for everything.

After the Holocaust, small groups of people would necessarily be wary of how any society would look at them. Perhaps they would go out of their way to try to make sure they are treated with respect and dignity by the dominate culture in as many ways as possible.

I think this is some of the thinking behind the “gay rights” movement today. According to recent studies, adults who identify exclusively as homosexual are about 1 to 1.5% of the population of America. Yet, there are times when you hear some extreme things being said about them. As if the ills of American culture are in some part due to the homosexual behavior of some of her citizens.

Whether you think homosexual behavior is unhealthy and a sin or not, you can understand why those who identify as homosexual would be very sensitive to any rhetoric they sense is dehumanizing in any way. I don’t agree with many of the tactics and methodology of “gay rights” advocacy groups, but I understand their passion and urgency. It wasn’t long ago, those who were identified with a pink triangle patch were put on those trains and sent to the camps in Europe only later to be murdered.

True tolerance is respect and courtesy toward another, though you disagree with them. Those who are on all sides of this topic would do well to remember this.

museum of tolerance

I went to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on Friday. We saw how genocide and mass murder continues today in places like the Sudan. However, the thing that was most striking about the Holocaust was the efficiency and planning. 6 million Jews, along with 9 million Gypsies, Communists, homosexuals, and other targeted groups were systematically murdered in only a few years! You look at the blueprints of the “Final Solution,” the intricate details, and you forget that these were scientists, mathematicians, military and political leaders, sitting down and strategizing for the sole purpose of calculating how to murder the most people, quickly and cheaply.

The Holocaust was not a side issue for Nazi Germany. It was the dominate factor. They were using trains to ship the victims to the camps that could have been used to ship troops for the war effort. Military failure on the Nazi’s part was at least partially due to their obsession to murder as many Jews, and others they considered unworthy, as possible. It really took away a lot of energy, focus, and resources from the military campaign.

Just recently, plans have been revealed that showed the Nazis were ready to go in to Palestine and work with Arab collaborators and kill off the Jews who lived there. Only defeat of Rommel’s Army stopped those plans from moving forward.

As I am writing this I am realizing this was only a little over 60 years ago! These evil events are still fresh events in the overall minutes and hours of history. This was not some ancient primitive culture going on a warpath. This was a sophisticated, brilliant, death machine made up of human parts.

Stop and think about all of this today.

other faiths

This morning I was speaking to a Jewish friend about the Passover Seder we experienced at our church Wednesday night. I asked him if he is celebrating Passover and he said, “No.” Then he proceeded to tell me he doesn’t go to temple or observe any days, not even a weekly Shabbat. He made sure I knew he is a believer, though.

I told my friend I was going to bug him every so often to at least observe Shabbat each week. I invited him to think of it as acknowledging God and keeping his heritage going another generation. He thanked me, and said he would think about it.

This is a good approach for Christians to take in your relationship with people of other faiths. Encourage them to be involved with their faith practices. That usually is a surprise to them. If a Christian is interested in talking to them about faith at all, they may have a preconceived notion that you are trying to show them why your way is better and they should follow your path. Now, I do want all people to trust in Jesus, and one of the ways Jesus works is to keep people who continue to seek God, looking, from within other faiths. If they are not practicing any faith, there may or may not be an end to their seeking.

There is a school of thought that says it is easier to share the Gospel with an atheist then with someone of another faith. I don’t always find this to be the case. When someone opens themselves to a God outside of themselves, it is a general opportunity for the Spirit to draw them to consider Christ. It isn’t always a closed door. Also, this is evidence you respect their faith and are courteous of their worldview.

Of course if there is child sacrifice or something than it we need to talk…

friends

We had a Passover dinner last night led by a Jewish Christian pastor from Chosen People Ministries. He led us through the Seder and showed the symbolic connections of Jesus’ Last Supper and the Passover Meal. The clarity of the Christian faith coming out of Judaism was fascinating.

This morning I met with two new friends who are Muslim who introduced me to their organization, Global Cultural Connections. They work to foster dialogue and understanding between Muslims, Christians, and people of other faith. We spoke of what we hold in common, and their warm and gracious invitation to be in relationship with their community was very encouraging.

I know these unrelated events that occurred in a 24 hour period are not indicative of anything more than people getting together. It did however say something about where we live. In a strange but wonderful way, the lay of the landscape that is America has something to do with it.

Shalom
Salaam
Peace out

reaction to the "no better than bacteria" story

Well, the story I blogged on yesterday still didn’t make it to the national news. Other than a story responding to the negative reaction to Eric Pianka’s position. It did make the Drudge Report however, and now the “nation” knows. I went to Panda’s Thumb, kind of an anti-intelligent design website that I read on occasion, and it was interesting to see their response. They tried to characterize Forrest Mimms III, the original critic of the speech, as a “disgruntled creationist” though I could find no evidence of his “creationism” in any of his web materials, and he is called a “crazy kook,” on the website, as well. Panda’s Thumb is actually a pretty good website to see the weaknesses in the intelligent design argument, as well as see the weaknesses of Darwinist’s pointing out the weaknesses of the intelligent design arguments!!

Following this story is kind of fun, because Eric Pianka denies making such claims, but because of the internet, you can go to class evaluations of his courses at University of Texas, and, sure enough, you see one student responding in this way:

"Though I agree that convervation [sic] biology is of utmost importance to the world, I do not think that preaching that 90% of the human population should die of ebola [sic] is the most effective means of encouraging conservation awareness."

Today, you can’t find this evaluation, because it is no longer there!

This is an extreme view taken by an extreme evolutionary biologist and should in no way be conclusive that Darwinian evolutionists want humanity destroyed. In fact, I agree there is good evidence for many tenants of Darwinian theory (the processes of adaptation and natural selection, for example), and so I wouldn't characterize the average evolutionist as extreme, and I am certainly not saying they are advocating the destruction of humanity or such.

However, this is a good example, of the clear use of morality and value judgments in the science classroom which are metaphysical topics by nature, and according to Darwinian advocates, this supposedly is not to be allowed in the science classroom!

acts 14- human

As Paul and Barnabas continue to be used by God with healings and signs and wonders, some Jews try to stop them, Gentiles try to worship them, Paul may have been murdered…All in a days work.

no better than bacteria

The agenda of many Darwinian evolutionary biologists has been assumed to be political and not pure science for quite some time now. This is why some of them continue to bring school systems to court to try to stop schools from allowing teachers to talk about the weaknesses and challenges to Darwinian evolution. I am so used to the misinformation that is being spread through mainstream news that nothing really shocks me anymore when it comes to the agenda of some Darwinists. Except this. Which happens to be a true story. I still haven’t seen it in mainstream media. Yet…


Eric Pianka, University of Texas biologist, just received the distinguished Texas Scientist award from the Texas Academy of Science last month. He had the videotape of the award’s ceremony shut off before he gave his speech. There were tape recorders in the room, though, so one gets to hear what went on anyway. Hence, you understand the turning off of the videotape.

Dr. Pianka advocated that it would be a good thing if some group of people would spread the Ebola virus so that 90% of the world’s population would die. In this way, the planet earth would better survive the rages of humanity. Dr. Pianka said this about humans.

“We’re no better than bacteria!”

This is not a joke. Witnesses and the taped evidence confirm it. The most unbelievable news of all, is this. After this speech, Dr. Pianka was given a standing ovation from the members of the Texas Academy of Science!!

So, if you are a Darwinian evolutionist and you think those of us who question that Darwinian mechanisms are the sole explanation for all things scientific, and we say you are holding on to some teaching that is not science, but philosophy, and we say we are concerned by some of the strong political aggressiveness you exhibit to prevent simply following the evidence wherever it leads or questioning any of the teachings of Darwinian evolution using science to critique. This is some of the non-science stuff coming from your "camp" that is frightening.

If you are in this camp and agree with Dr. Pianka, I’ll continue to debate the science, if you will actually sit down at the table and talk about it. But when it comes to philosophy, I think I have a superior view of reality and it is time you consider what I have to say before you start killing my fellow humans, whom I love and respect.

In the meantime, I need to hear the condemnation of this viewpoint by other Darwinian scientists. I will be watching the net for responses. I would argue this is a make or break time for open and honest Darwinian evolutionists to speak up.

fascist?

Fascism- A term that originated with the political movement led by Benito Mussolini from 1922 to 1943 in Italy. More loosely defined, fascism has no characteristic benchmarks that clearly point to any specific government system.

In general, a fascist government would have strong total control over all aspects of life in a given country. Originally, Fascism was seen as an opposition movement to Communism, and yet it appears to be remarkably similar in outlook.

Today, “fascism” is almost always used incorrectly. In modern terms, it means,

“something that someone I disagree with is.”

Like calling someone a “Nazi,” calling someone a “fascist” is a lazy way out of having to actually articulate a position and defending it intellectually. Whenever I hear the term “fascism” or “fascist” used, I know the person either isn’t confident of the reasonability of their position or they have no idea what they are talking about and use “fascist” as a way to attempt to gain influence without having to think.

Christcast 4

Dana and Kristina have a dad/daughter talk about teachers going off on
politicals in the classroom, and taking the dreaded SAT's.

jobs Americans won't do?

Back to immigration matters. As I mentioned, I am only focusing specifically on sound bites and phrases. Clarification, not opinion one way of the other. For example, responding to some of you who responded to me, yes indeed, the amount of money that is going out for medical, education, etc. is higher than the taxes going in by undocumented workers. For my wider views on this topic, my friend Matt and I talk about it in Christcast #3, which can be accessed from the blog site or downloaded from the sidebar.

Next sound bite.

The illegal immigrants are just taking jobs Americans won’t do.

Yes and no.

Yes- In agriculture, for example, farm conglomerates find they will not be able to harvest perishable crops relying on American workers. Even when offering higher wages, from harvesting Washington apples to Wisconsin cranberries, the reports are the same. When advertising for citizen workers (a requirement in many states), there are not enough Americans who respond to do the work.

No- In other employment opportunities, it may not be so much American workers are not willing to do the jobs, as if they are too menial or difficult, rather they don’t pay enough and they don’t include normal benefits. For the same reason businesses use foreign plants, lower cost/ lower wages, they hire undocumented workers for less. Do you know how you test this out theory anecdotally?

Look at areas of the country that do not have undocumented workers in any numbers. Northern Minnesota, North Dakota, etc. All sorts of jobs get done by American citizens, no matter the job. Every possible employment opportunity, including, believe it or not (I can just hear the Midwest accent, “What the heck do you need a gardener or a cleaning lady for?”)…maids and gardeners.

SF youth rally followup

I have a picture of worshippers at the San Francisco youth ministry event. Unlike the comment of Mark Leno, Assemblyman, San Francisco (D), "they're loud, they're obnoxious, they're disgusting and they should get out of San Francisco," these kids appear to be what everyone talks about but nobody actually sees. Multicultural teens and 20’s coming together to improve their lives and make a difference by serving others.

Next time you want to say something illogical, do your homework. The bands and speakers of this event are about as moderate an evangelical as you are going to get. To call them “fundamentalist” simply means you have no idea what that term really means.

For publicity purposes, it is not lost on me that the organizers of the event staged a rally on the city hall steps of San Francisco which had advocated same sex marriages at an earlier date. While they were there, their message wasn’t about homosexuality, same sex marriage, or the like. Looking at their website, and hearing reports from their events, this is not even an emphasized agenda item.

I have to say, Battle Cry did this on purpose. I think they are right in getting their word out. I think they are wrong in knowingly providing opportunities for those who disagree with them to look foolish. Again, I go back to one of my favorite sayings, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be helpful?”

I think of Martin Luther’s explanation of the Eighth commandment.

We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

You knew you were going to get a rise out of some fringe groups (no one could have predicted the Board of Supervisors off the wall response), so why did they do it? Saying this I realize these are teenagers and young adults and they have an edge to their methodology along with their strong, but gracious message.

A footnote: Mark Leno did recant a bit on his rhetoric.

On Monday, however, Leno struck a more reasoned tone, acknowledging that his rally cry was "not one of my prouder moments." He said the youth group was "welcome in San Francisco," even though he does worry that its religious rhetoric could "under a cloak of love" feed a "fearful world's appetite for hate."

I will address that last phrase tomorrow, but it is good to see Assemblyman Leno is being a little more careful.

acts 13- sent

God reveals himself through the Bible, nature, and signs of wonder. Here we see God working behind the scenes developing the African church and expanding the mission elsewhere.

Christcast 3

Dana and buddy Matt talk about immigration policy, the biblical picture of how to treat the "undocumented worker in your midst," and Christian views of politics in general.

not in San Francisco?

I have to pause from talking about sound bites. You may have missed this because of all the news about immigration, but, yes, it happened.

There is a Christian youth rally meeting this week in San Francisco called, “Battle Cry for a Generation.” 25,000 kids and youth pastors arriving in San Francisco for worship, prayer, and workshops. Jack Hayford, from our own local Church on the Way is one of the keynote speakers. Christian rockers including one of my all time favorites, Delirious, are performing. In other words, normal moderate evangelicals.

Well, before the event even started, the San Francisco supervisors passed a resolution warning that a Christian youth gathering could "negatively influence the politics of America's most tolerant and progressive city."

Again, before the youth even arrived, listen to what this politician had to say.
Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, told counterprotesters at City Hall on Friday that while such fundamentalists may be small in number, "they're loud, they're obnoxious, they're disgusting, and they should get out of San Francisco."

Here is a post from the website of a protesting group.

ALERT!!! Right wing Christian fundamentalist bigots are coming to San Francisco this Friday and Saturday to hold a fascist mega-pep rally called "BATTLECRY FOR A GENERATION." They are recruiting youth and their rallying cry is "Reclaim the values that made this nation great."

Kudos to the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board (not mistaken for a right wing newspaper) who posted this response. Speaking of the organization, they write:

Its goal is to spread Christianity and to help young people recognize and resist the cultural influences of a "stealthy enemy" that includes "corporations, media conglomerates and purveyors of popular culture." Its Web site (www.battlecry.com) speaks of "casualties of war" that include drinking, drug use, teen sex, pornography, abortion, suicide and violence.
We may disagree with certain aspects of the Battle Cry agenda -- on issues such as abortion rights, religion in schools or acceptance of an individual's sexual orientation -- but the attempt by counterprotesters and some of the city's elected officials to call them "fascist" and "hateful" was totally at odds with the tone of the ballpark event and the approach of the Web site.
The gathering was not an "act of provocation," as the supervisors claimed. It was a get-together of young evangelicals whose lifestyles and religious views just happen to be in the minority here -- apparently making them open season for politicians to chastise.
The young people who came to San Francisco to affirm their faith and enjoy a day of rock music deserved better. They deserved to be welcomed by a city that was as tolerant and progressive as its sanctimonious supervisors like to profess.

One final word from one of the youth attending.

Christian Gallion, a 15-year-old in town with his Assembly of God youth group from Humboldt County, shrugged off being called "fascists" by counterdemonstrators.

"It doesn't bother me," Gallion said. "It's a beautiful city, and we don't have anything against the protesters."

Ahh, maturity.

do undocumented immigrants pay taxes?

Hot topics are always around us. When I listen to people debating various issues and using sound bites here and there, I always want to pause and figure why someone is saying what they are saying in the way they are saying it. I am going to check out sound bites of various issues and then give an observation.

Disclaimer: I am not trying to defend or critique any of these positions. I just want to make the process clearer.

Sound bite:

Illegal immigrants don’t pay taxes.

First, obviously taxes are paid with every purchase made in places that have sales tax. Taxes are paid on any gasoline, cigarettes, or liquor, etc.

Second, because the government requires employers to withdraw taxes from employees checks, undocumented workers have social security taken out in these cases. They use fictitious tax ID numbers. This is currently bringing in approximately 7 billion dollars a year into Social Security. The irony, of course, is the worker will not see a dime of this when he/she retires.

Third, there is an IRS tax number program where undocumented workers can pay taxes. I could only find the latest study on the net concerning this program from 2001. That year in this program there were 366,000 tax returns on 7 billion dollars of wages, and 305 million dollars in taxes paid.

Now there are arguments about the ethics of using fictitious numbers, the amount of government money that goes out to undocumented immigrants and the rest. I am only addressing the specific claim made above.

more on sex ed

Yesterday, what I quoted from a public school sex ed curriculum is just a sample. I will give you one more and then that’s all.

From Focus on Kids, teachers guide, University of Maryland Department of Pediatrics:

State that there are other ways to be close to a person and show you care without having sexual intercourse. Ask youth to brainstorm ways to be close. The list may include holding hands, body massage, bathing together, masturbation, sensuous feeding, fantasizing, watching erotic movies, reading erotic books and magazines…

As a parent, I have spoken to my children about sexuality frequently. I teach others, as well, including a sex ed curriculum with 5th grade boys and their fathers each year. Every one gets all psyched for “The Talk!” But…

Somehow, we never got to that list above. Though we do talk about responsibility, character, appropriate intimacy and such. We talk about how God designed our sexuality. How we are the same. How we are different. Frankly, we talked about anything we wanted to!

Presently, you can’t do that in a public school. Parent involvement is pretty much limited to a form you have to fill out at the beginning of the year that states you don’t want the school giving your kid condoms. If you don’t fill out the form, students receive the condoms as requested. Obviously, you are never notified of this either.

There is an article in the Washington Post today with critics of the abstinence education for sex ed. Why are we spending so much money on that program?

Actually we spend 12 times as much on contraceptive based sex ed programs in schools than on abstinence programs. Also, I mention again the 40% drop in out of wedlock births with students who have made pledges in an abstinence type program.

All right, so what to all of this?

If parents and church promote healthy sexual discussion and inform children in age appropriate ways the nuances of who we are as men and women and the gift of sexuality, including the sacred intimacy of husband and wife, then you will have the best of all worlds. Without parental support, or no church affiliation, then school is next in the line of discussion and information in our society.

Abstinence education, coupled with information about STD’s and birth control done with decorum and set in the ideal for sake of discussion might be the best chance we have in a public school. By “set in the ideal,” I mean when you are talking about birth control, for example, use language like, “Some married couples choose to prevent pregnancy by using a condom. Here is what they look like, etc…” How we teach has a great impact along with what we teach. The sexual activity of teenagers is way lower than what the media portrays and so a good place to start is simply making clear that “everyone isn’t doing it.”

what about sex education?

What about sex education? Like any emotional, physical, and spiritual health issue, the primary mentors of sexual matters is best left to parents. Having a school teacher be a child’s primary source for such an important and intimate arena of life is not beneficial from a philosophical or biblical standpoint. Saying this, if parents are not involved, for public interest, sex education is instituted in schools to mixed results.

The good news is virginity pledge education like “True Love Waits,” lowers the out of wedlock birthrate by 40%, according to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, known as "Add Health." This abstinence-only type education is criticized though, because anal sex or oral sex and the corresponding sexually transmitted diseases are increased as these sexual practices are considered “virginal” by some of the kids. Also, when some abstinence- only educated kids break their pledge and have sexual intercourse, they are less likely to use condoms.

So, what is the answer? Not yet, even worse news is the present comprehensive sex ed curriculums, that say a little about abstinence but a lot about everything else. If you are a parent reading this, you are going to be shocked. If you are a teenager, you are going to see what you are missing if you are going to Christian high school! Here is an excerpt from one such “comprehensive” curriculum, Be Proud! Be Responsible!:

Invite [students] to brainstorm ways to increase spontaneity and the likelihood that they’ll use condoms…. Examples: …Store condoms under mattress; Eroticize condom use with partner…Use condoms as a method of foreplay.… Think up a sexual fantasy using condoms….Act sexy/sensual when putting condoms on…. Hide them on your body and ask your partner to find it. Wrap them as a present and give to your partner before a romantic dinner. Tease each other manually while putting on the condom.

I don’t want to appear prudish, but come on….!

root causes?

Political analysts like to refer to “root causes,” when they are dealing with issues. Now, taking into consideration what I wrote about yesterday, what is a key “root cause” to child poverty?

Not being married when you have children.

There is a 70% drop in the poverty rate if mothers are married when they have a baby. From 55% poverty for children in a single mother household to 17% poverty rate for married couples. But what if the man or woman do not want to get married? As I reported yesterday, 75% of the mothers and fathers-to-be are linked romantically at the time of birth.

There is no way around it, root causes will warrant a moral conclusion here. Is having a baby without being married values neutral? Major religious teachings say it is wrong. For the sake of argument, let’s just say there are sexual connotations to religious pressure to prevent unwed births. Is it wrong for any other reason?

An atheist would have to conclude it is not in the best interest of the average child to have unmarried parents. A logical atheist would have to conclude it is in the states best interest that children are born into families where the parents are married.

How do you teach this? Can the state teach in a values neutral approach that it is wrong to have babies if you aren’t married?

Another alternative, of course, for prevention of poverty purposes, is to encourage abortion. Let’s see how that would fly in teaching. Remember yesterday’s statistics for children born out of wedlock?

Asian 15%
Anglo (white) 35%
Latino 45%
African-American 70%

Logically, the atheist might conclude that a great challenge to child poverty in America is the majority of African-American children born out of wedlock. Then does state education include classes that encourage African-Americans to abort their babies? That would be racist to the extreme.

Think on this some more.

"fatherless" child

God has compassion on all people, and at the same time he focuses on specific people at times. “Widows and orphans” are one such category. They are mentioned 26 times in the Bible as a group worthy of God’s aid. Actually, in the King James Version the term for “orphan” is “fatherless” and for anecdotal reasons, this might be one time where the more inclusive translation may not be as helpful.

Take America, for instance. What is the most vulnerable people group in terms of poverty? Children raised with no married father in the home. According to the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, developed jointly by Princeton University’s Center for Research on Child Well-Being and Columbia University’s Social Indicators Survey Center, if women and men are married or marry when they have a child, the rate of poverty drops 70%. It is not as if the guys are just fly-by-night lovers either. 75% of the mothers are in stable romantic relationships with the father-to-be at the time of birth, and are quite marriageable.

The latest Health and Human Services Department study shows non-marital childbearing in America is at 35% of all births. To break it down even more is:

Asian 15%
Anglo (white) 35%
Latino 45%
African-American 70%

Think on all of this and I will make some observations tomorrow.

the concept of consciousness

It is always what you don’t hear rather than what you do hear that is of interest to me. Here is a perfect example. Nobel prize winner (2000), neurobiologist Eric Kandel is interviewed in the latest Discover magazine (April 2006) about psychoanalysis. He is an expert on memory and doing research on the neurobiological approach to fear and happiness.

What interested me was the end of the interview when he was asked,

“What are the big unanswered questions in neuroscience?”

“I think we need to understand how sensory information is translated into action. We need to understand how unconscious mental processes develop. Where do they occur? What are the processing steps? What is the nature of decision making? Of free will? Can we get a vantage point on consciousness?”

How close are we to understanding consciousness?

“I think we have not made much empirical progress. But I think we have made a fair amount of conceptual progress.”

What do you think researchers will find consciousness to be?

“Oh, my gosh. I have no guesses. I think this is a very deep problem, and I don’t really have any original ideas about that.”

What is missing here. Any clue of the physical or empirical basis for consciousness. Hence, any work in consciousness must be currently conceptual. That means metaphysical, or outside of the physical. All we are doing is considering the evidence of competing stories. That means exactly what extremely Darwinist Discovery Magazine would say is out of bounds for scientists to talk about. Conceptual evidence? You mean potential information? You mean design? Indeed.

Well, I know scientists and philosophers like Dallas Willard have much to say about consciousness. I wonder if Discover will set up that interview, soon? Don’t hold your breath.

acts 12- freedom

Why do governments persecute, imprison, or even kill Christians? Why do governments forbid the reading of the Bible or Christian teaching? If it is a false religion, then what are they afraid of?

Peter escapes from prison and Herod Agrippa gets eaten by worms. Nice

Christcast 2

an interview with my daughter about school, grades, sharing your faith with your friends, attending public school after Christian school, having an insane father

St. Patrick

St. Patrick’s Day is almost over and here I am thinking about what it means for someone to be kidnapped, made a slave, escape, and then go back to the same people who kidnapped you and show them God’s love for the rest of your life? What does it mean for this wealthy Roman in England to give up an affluent life and voluntarily live under hardship for the sake of his enemies?

This is Patrick’s story.

What kind of force is at work to bring this good out of all these challenges?

St. Patrick’s Day is a little more than green beer and corn beef and cabbage. It is about being sold out for Jesus and giving your life for the sake of others.

scooping CBS

Well, CBS news is finally catching up to Think Again blog. Here is an article today. Now go back to February 24. Interesting. Not that I scooped CBS. Obviously I got my news from someone else. What is interesting is the access to information for the public as a result of so much media being available. I don’t have to take anyone’s word anymore about what is going on in the world.

If I want to find out what is going on in any place, I can simply sift through the information, process the a priori bias (some are more blatant than others), as there generally is one, and come to some conclusions. Normal mainstream news is designed to make everything look like a crisis. “If it bleeds it leads,” in other words. Yet, unlike the past, I can go directly to the sources to see what actually is happening, most of the time.

This is helpful in all areas of life.

“Seek the truth at all possible cost.”

One cost is I need to read and examine information that is not in agreement with my worldview. Try it and you will find many fascinating perspectives.

Like when people get real angry and mean-spirited and start lots of name-calling, then you know whatever the opposite point of view is must have a pretty powerful logical argument based on evidence, or else reason would question reason. For example, screaming against something and using extremely aggressive tactics must mean you aren’t that confident in the reasonability of your viewpoint.

Take a deep breath….

acts 11- open

Peter reports to the "mother Church" and is given a green light to
speak for Jesus to the world. What is the Church? Is it denominations,
individual congregations- what?

not amazing

The people of the world are supposed to be genetically predisposed for self-preservation, or as some Darwinists call it, they live by their “selfish gene,” yet so many reach out to help their neighbor in need. This happens way more than a Darwinist is willing to acknowledge, and philosophically, I would argue it is the result of people responding to their God-designed conscience. Most world religions also recognize this, and have “care for those in need” as an important part of their faith practice.

But, apparently not rock stars or multibillionaires.

Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy group for justice and poverty issues had this to say recently.

Help in reducing poverty and hunger worldwide has come from an unlikely source -- celebrities such as Bono, the Irish rock star from the group U-2, and Bill and Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation, Beckmann said. "God has sent us a prophet that wears sunglasses," he said of Bono, adding that the singer's high-profile appearances on behalf of the impoverished and people living with hunger have been a "powerful help." "Bono and the Gates' are making a difference in the world about hunger and poverty. Who would have guessed that God would have sent rock stars and the megarich on these issues? These are gifts from God," Beckmann said.

Why is this so amazing? I guess entertainment industry people and the super wealthy have no idea what is going on in the world and if they do they are selfish as can be, but Bono and the Gates are exceptions. More power to them. Hopefully the rest of their peers and colleagues will see the light, as well.

In the meantime I will continue to work with a vast number of people who continue to make progress in giving their lives for the sake of others. They aren’t rock stars or multibillionaires. They are just normal disciples of Jesus. Their self-giving love isn’t amazing; it is expected.

that's not very Christian

A non-Christian friend of mine works for a Christian boss and other Christians in the office. He overhears some of the people saying, “That isn’t very Christian of so and so.” He asked me what they mean by that. He asked don’t Christians interpret things in different ways? He is right.

I explained it this way. In this context, “Christian” is not an adjective. "That is not very ethical/ just/ courteous/ respectful (choose one)" would be more accurate. If they were specifically referring to information that questions the good news of Jesus as Messiah and Lord, then to say, “That is not very Christian,” could be an adjective. For general behavior, though, it is not as helpful.

God gives all humans a conscience that basically evaluates behavior that seems inappropriate regardless of the cultural or religious setting. As C.S. Lewis has said, there are certain moral principles in various religions which are similar. Here is a sample list:

1. Don’t harm another
2. Honor your father and mother
3. Be kind to brothers, sisters, children and the elderly
4. no sex with another person’s spouse
5. Be honest in all your dealings
6. Do not lie
7. Care for those weaker or less fortunate
8. Dying to yourself is the path to life

Now, as you can imagine, these are not followed at every time and in every place, but they are prevalent enough throughout history up to the present to point to some underlying wisdom that is innately shared by humanity.

Interesting.

an incredible chick flick

When it comes to movies, if it has a sword in it, I am pretty much right there. Famous movies like Gladiator and Braveheart, not so famous like Ghost Dog or Kung Fu Hustle.

What I am not usually, is a “chick flick” guy. Except on rare occasions. Of course, I have liked everything Audrey Hepburn ever did, and I bought glasses just like the ones Robert Redford wore in Three Days of the Condor. Now, I just finished watching my new favorite of all time.

An incredible film called Elizabethtown. Like my friend Rich always says,

“It made me laugh; it made me cry; it made me think.”

Buy it. Rent it. See it.

acts 10- God is for everyone

Peter breaks his Jewish religious taboos and discovers God is for the whole world.



direct link to download podcast

Christcast 1

Danish cartoons, Islam, "ugly" Americans, Vice President Chaney's hunting experience. Live from Corpus Christi, I interview my in-laws on these topics as they share from their decades experience living overseas and doing business for Ford Motors, including several years
in Turkey.


direct link to download this podcast

champions

Back in California to cold and rain, that doesn’t seem right does it? Flew in this afternoon, just in time for our Championship basketball game for our local church school league at 4:30 p.m. My swan song coaching my twin boys and their friends-- to a 7 point victory! Yeaa!!

The team played great and my own sons were excellent, if you don’t mind my saying. I shook hands with my all players after, and my son David said,

“Give me a hug, dad. You taught me everything.”

Well, not everything, but I did teach him to appreciate his dad. I appreciate mine, and I guess it rubs off. What do you think?

last blog from Texas

Last blog from Texas as I will be home tomorrow. It is really quite peaceful down here on Padre Island. South Padre will see all the spring breakers starting tomorrow, so basically I missed all of that excitement by one day. Thousands of college-aged women all around. O ya, I guess guys, too. It is just as well. What do I want to be around all of that… old-enough-to-be-their-father-with-my-hat-pulled-down-low-over-my-bald-head-and-my-cool-shades-on…sucking-in-my-gut…it is so sad.

Instead I am returning to my wonderful and lovely wife of almost 20 years, three teenagers (you old geez, quit looking at my daughter!!), and two labs who just can’t wait to jump on me.

My in-laws are the best and this has been so much fun. I learned how to filet a fish (finally caught a keeper the last day), hung out and talked about life, and I introduced my in-laws to the secret of their neighbor. They live on a canal connected to the intercoastal waterway and so right across the water about 80 yards away is their cross-the-water neighbor, X. To know me, you eventually have to know I am a life long Packer fan. What you may not know is my second favorite team growing up was the Dallas Cowboys. X played for them.

If you go on the web you will see people asking where X is today. E-bay has requests for pictures, autographs, etc. and no one seems to know where he is. Except me. I just saw him putzing around in his yard a while back.

“Hey _____! I’m your neighbor! Can I get a picture? An autograph? Do you know who you are?”

Well e-bay fans, you will just have to keep looking. My in-laws are acquainted with X and won’t let me tell you who he is.

what do you want?

I went to a noon Lenten healing service today. It was a very meaningful time and I enjoyed the company of “senior saints” who were present. They all went up to the altar as I did, and knelt before the pastor who laid hands on them, pronounced the power of Jesus and anointed each with oil.

I missed one thing. The pastor’s words were the same for each. A beautiful prayer of declaring the “healing power of Christ’s love.” Amen to that, but I wanted him to ask me what I needed healing for and pray specifically for that. I wanted to hear the healing power of Jesus specifically addressing that need. Now, he probably knows the most obvious of his flock’s pains and illnesses, but you never know…and he didn’t know mine.

I like this approach from Jesus. When a guy named Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, here is what happened.


51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.
"Teacher," the blind man said, "I want to see!"
52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has healed you." And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road.

go figure

I am on Padre Island looking out over the water. When you drive around, you realize how flat it is. It would take a hurricane along with a big surge to cover this place with water. Which has happened. In Corpus Christi. I saw pictures from the “big one” in 1919. Hotels and homes. Now you see them; now you don’t.

I haven’t asked my father-in-law what kind of homeowners insurance he has. I wonder if you can even get it for hurricane. Does everyone just wait for the government to step in? If you think this one through logically, basically someone in Iowa is working harder to pay more taxes to get ready to pay for a hurricane that damages Padre Island homes that are built right where hurricanes go. Kind of like paying for my house in LA built right where we have had two major earthquakes in the last 35 years. Is this a great country or what?

Thank you Iowa person, whoever you are.

podcast

eyes of Texas

I am visiting my in-laws in Corpus Christi, Texas. I haven't really spent significant one-on-one time with them in 20 years of marriage. Always have family time when we are with them or they are visiting us. I thought it would be a good idea to spend some quality bonding time with the couple who raised such an awesome daughter. I'll let you know how it's going. Took the red eye from LA last night and have had about 3 hours sleep in the last day and a half.

Just waiting for the Monster to kick in. Stay tuned...

the podcast world

If you haven’t already discovered it, a podcast is a “radio show” that you broadcast over the internet. You can subscribe to it and have it automatically download into your computer and to your attached I pod, or other mp3 device. You can manually download the file to your hard drive, or listen directly by clicking on a player.

I will be podcasting soon. I am going to post a weekly “radio show” relating to Christian worldview and discipleship. There will be teaching, interviews, and /or musings over current events. I will also have a podcast of my Sunday message if I am preaching that week.

Below is a sample audio blog that my friend Rob helped me post last night. It is my message on the experience of working in the prison that I blogged on last week. Stay tuned!

podcast test dude!

Acts 9
Paul's life transformed in three days. Does this happen now? Let's go to prison and found out.

change?

I heard John Ortberg speak last Saturday. He was making the point of how, in the church, Christians aren’t bothered if people aren’t changing as a result of being influenced by Jesus. He used the example of a sour-pussed man in one of his congregations who was a generous giver, active in ministry, faithful at worship and in adult education. Ortberg asked him,

“Hank are you happy?”

“Yes, of course I am, pastor.”

Then Ortberg responded, “Well, why don’t you tell your face.”

That is a question for today is,

“Was Jesus’ actual plan that we don’t change?”

ash wednesday

When Christians come together for worship, it is always a celebration. Jesus is alive and we worship the King. Today, Christians all over the world are coming together to worship. “Celebration” is what we are doing but not in the way we usually think of the word. Ash Wednesday is a celebration of humility! That seems strange. Like a friend of mine likes to say, “I’m proud of my humility!”

Ash Wednesday reminds us that God is in charge and we are not. When we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” we are not thinking of all the wonderful plans we are making to conquer the universe. Instead, we remember that every moment of our life on earth is a gift, and we ignore this basic fact at our own peril. As has been said, “When we are in control of our lives; our lives are out of control.”

Jesus came to earth to let us know how we are to spend those precious moments of our time on earth. To will the good of others (love) and serve them. Love and service? That’s the key to a healthy, God-honoring life? Now, you see why humility is necessary.

continuing to pour

I blogged last week about the California Youth Authority prison weekend. I just heard from one of the chaplains and the weekend “continues” and is pouring out over the camp. Record attendance at the Sunday services. More wards desiring to be baptized. Seeking forgiveness. Taking responsibility. The Holy Spirit continues. Razor wire and fences are no match.

When you have nothing to hold on to and you humbly open yourself up to the Lord, watch what happens. Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to go to prison to realize this?

How much do I have that is getting in the way of God getting his way with me?

a litany

…clump of cells

At the same time, the pro-abortion-rights interest groups are just beginning to grapple with an uncomfortable truth: that many of the million-odd women who have abortions every year are deeply troubled, if not guilt-ridden. "Our patients are not coming to, quote, 'exercise their constitutional rights'," says Claire Keyes, who runs a Pittsburgh abortion clinic. "They want to talk about prayer and forgiveness."

…like trimming your finger nails or cutting your hair

The pro-life movement has done an effective job of showing that a fetus is not just a "blob of tissue," says Peg Johnston, who runs an abortion clinic in New York state. Her patients now talk about " 'babies' " and " 'killing'," she says. "At first I thought they were picking up the language from [anti-abortion protesters] outside. But then I started really tuning in to my patients, and I realized, 'She really feels that way'."

…right to choose

A growing number of clinics are coming up with coping strategies. At her Pittsburgh clinic, Claire Keyes encourages patients to write their feelings on a paper heart that she later tacks to the waiting-room wall. "I love you even though I know in my heart I can't keep you," reads one of about a thousand hearts, which have now overflowed into binders. Keyes gives each patient a polished semiprecious stone to imbue with whatever meaning she wants. The two clinics that permit late-term abortions let their patients hold the fetus in a blanket.



(excerpts from Newsweek article, ‘Reality Check for Roe’)

is anyone listening?

You are almost never going to move someone quickly, if at all, from their worldview to yours (I said “almost never,” for there are exceptions), however influence is possible. The best way to get someone to see where you are coming from is to be as clear and non-threatening as possible. Anything that challenges people’s worldviews will evoke an emotional response. I heard a radio host talk of a study of this in brain research (though I cannot find it anywhere on the net).

People were chosen who strongly supported Senator Kerry or President Bush from the last election. Their brains were wired for response from the emotional response center, the pleasure center, and the judgment center. The subjects were then given factual accounts that called their candidate into question about certain issues. Instantly the emotional center was firing, but nothing in judgment. Only later did another area fire, and that was the pleasure center. The subject was rewarded for being passionate about an issue but not really thinking about it!!

You can see how difficult it is to get someone else to authentically listen to your point of view if it disagrees with theirs. This is why invitation and listening are more important than commanding a response and debating. A popular phrase for this is “bringing light rather than heat.”

The challenge is with so much narcissism out there (and in ourselves, perhaps?), few people are self-differentiated enough to actually listen to what someone else has to say. Usually we are thinking in our own minds why what the other person is saying is wrong and how we are going to refute them. Or we don’t listen at all.

a point of reference

Everybody has a viewpoint. Everybody has a reference from which they look at the world. This “worldview” is absolutely necessary to live in society. If you arbitrarily used different filters for your thinking each time you were trying to make a decision it would be mental chaos. Seeking the truth, it is never a matter of values neutral thinking. It is always a matter of whose thinking best reflects reality.

Attempts to say there is no reality or there is no truth are only statements coming from a specific viewpoint. Perhaps nihilism (nothing really matters), perhaps relativism (reality is what you make it). Neither, however, neutral worldviews.

I am not as interested in what people say their worldview is as much as I am to see how they act. It is a valuable lesson to see what kind of behavior results from adherence to a viewpoint. This isn’t always an indication of the strengths and weaknesses of the worldview compared to reality, however it is an interesting point of reference.

because of him

Well if you guessed “Jesus” in response to yesterday’s question, you are correct. There is hope in Jesus when all else seems hopeless. You take a group of men from some unbelievable situations who make unbelievably bad choices that cause an unbelievable amount of harm and then you let them know you believe in them under the power of Jesus who believes in them, watch what happens.

Transformation right in front of your eyes. The guards say they are very pleased when an Epiphany team comes into the prison. It changes the whole atmosphere. Well, that’s Jesus. They let Christians in to spread his love.

Now they don’t send teams of strict Darwinian biologists into prison to tell the wards that they have been genetically and biologically pre-wired to commit awful crimes and then dialogue about that for awhile. This is just who you are and we lock you up to protect society from you and protect you from yourself.

I am not aware of any atheist teams that come in and say just stop the cycle of violence, robbery, burglary, rape, drug and alcohol abuse, because it is not good for you. Make better choices, why don’t you?

When people authentically work for Jesus, Jesus works. Always has; always will. When you honestly examine where Jesus has worked through his followers, you see new life. I have much hope for my friends from CYA. Not because of whom they are, though they are pretty remarkable young men, but because of whom He is.

hope

I knew this would happen. I worked an Epiphany weekend this past three days. It is a spiritual retreat in prison. California Youth Authority, or incarcerated young men, ages 18-25. I knew after the weekend I would come out with some insight as to what makes for hope for these guys. If you have worked with young people in gangs you already know what I am talking about. That is if you don’t have a political agenda.

All the talk is just talk. Educators, politicians, college professors, community activists have no idea. All you hear is empty politicized sound bites. Ex-gang members know. Or ask the CO’s. The guards. The only thing that seems to work to bring these young men from despair to hope is something that would drive separation of church/state organizations crazy. Where is there hope?

Gee, guess where?

what shocks you?

What is there that shocks you? The whole world seems to be upside down. I saw a statistic that brings this to focus.

Bono was speaking at a national prayer breakfast, and he talked of 150,000 lives being lost due to the 2004 Tsunami. There is a tremendous amount of support for recovery from this disaster. Then he said there are 150,000 who die every month in Africa in a “completely avoidable catastrophe.” Bono is referring to AIDS, poor water conditions, limited medical care, hunger, etc.

So what to do? It is not overwhelming. It is a matter of determination and a sense of love of “neighbor.” It is overcoming systems of government corruption that would make anything we do here look like child’s play. Some of us may decide to go to Africa to serve first hand. All of us can do something else.

1. Pray
2. Be informed
3. Support African causes through your local church or denomination
4. Support government efforts to make a difference

Difficult and challenging, but not overwhelming.

graffiti

We talked on “evil” last night at our local church junior high ministry. I used the example of “evil” being “live” spelled backward. Something that is evil is something that sucks the life and joy right out of you. Then I mentioned something too familiar with us in LA. Graffiti and tagging.

I asked kids what they thought of when they see graffiti.

“Sad”
“Depressed”
“Ugly”

I am not talking about a public mural. I am talking about the scribbles and chicken scratching that proclaim why you are the best or why someone else isn’t. Graffiti is ugly and it sucks out life a tiny bit at a time of those who view it.

Is graffiti evil? I don’t think it is meant to be by those who graffiti. I don’t think they do it to cause you to lose a little bit of your joy. I don’t think they care about you at all. So, in a way, it might not be intended as evil, but it may end up being murder.

If you graffiti in an urban area and thousands of people drive by it every day and it acts as a vampire, sucking out even a bit of a person’s soul where art and love and joy find a hold, well then, you have just killed a little bit of soul of everyone who has seen it. Add it up and you could be charged with multiple soul murder.

Knowing God is a God of beauty I would be absolutely terrified to be an unrepentant serial tagger.

real forgiveness

I wrote yesterday about seeking forgiveness for something someone else did. Empathy, sympathy, and compassion are all possible responses when someone is wronged by someone else, just not forgiveness.

The same goes for an apology. I cannot apologize for what people did in the name of Jesus back in the Crusades or whatever. I can dialogue about the situation, delve into the evidence of what happened, say how unfortunate it is when people misuse God’s name for injustice when injustice occurs, but I can’t apologize.

A similar situation is hurting someone’s feelings. If I have purposely offended someone then I need to seek their forgiveness. If someone took offense at something I said or did that brought about hurt that I did not bring about but was a result of their perception, I can say, “I am sorry that they felt that way.”

Feelings are a strange phenomena. It is logically impossible to hurt someone’s feelings if they don’t allow their feelings to be hurt. You can become the kind of person that doesn’t take offense, even if the offense is purposeful. In the meantime, a disciple graciously and freely seeks to reconcile with someone whom they have wronged unintentionally. It is no big deal to say “I am sorry this happened in our relationship.”

Seeking forgiveness for something that was not sinful is a contradiction in category. One seeks to be as clear as possible in interactions with others. It cheapens forgiveness to ask for it from someone who has not been sinned against. At the same time, it is important to search deep into your own will to see if there is any intention to wrong lurking in some dark corner there.

what I can do

A young friend of mine saw a video in school concerning the horrible treatment of African Americans in the South, in particular prior to the Civil Rights Movement. I don’t know what documentary or which events she viewed but her spontaneous comment was interesting.

“I can’t believe what we did to people.”

I asked her if she meant “What humans could do to each other.” No, she was referring more to what Anglos did to African Americans. It doesn’t work that way. We had a good talk on taking responsibility.

I can serve God by being an influence for the good of others. I can express regret that someone else is treated unjustly, I can work for justice in the present and the future, but I cannot make amends for someone else’s past. I have no personal connection to the event or events of racism my friend was viewing. Even if my family were from the South at that time and were involved in racist behavior, which they are not and were not, I can’t seek forgiveness for someone else, personally. I can seek forgiveness along with you for the mistreatment of people of all times and in all places, as a human being. I can seek forgiveness for what I have not done to bring blessing to others and for what I have done that was sinful toward others.

flags

American flags are being burned. Whoopee… I am offended but complacent.

Danish flags are being burned. Being a Dane by ancestry, I am batting 2 for 2. The same Denmark that provides so much money for humanitarian support in Kosovo, Afghanistan, the Palestinian Authority, Somolia, Sudan…

O well, I am offended (the protestors are burning crosses, by the way, nice religious sensitivity, since it is prominent on the Danish flag, not “Old Glory,” but Dannebrog, the oldest national flag in existence) but complacent.

If I see one protestor burning another flag, though, all bets are off!

cartoons again

Again I have to comment on the furor over the political cartoons of Muhammad. There is so much misinformation that must be clarified before one can make an informed statement in dialogue.

Who? The people rioting are using something that occurred in the fall of 2005 as a pretense to riot. There was no mass reaction to the cartoons until now, I would argue because political organizations that were looking to cause a reaction added two forged cartoons that were much more insulting, and then paid demonstrators to react. There is an ongoing investigation to see if there is any connection to the Syrian and/or Iranian government providing some support for the violent protests.

What? Again, this is not primarily a reaction that is supported in Islam. There is no absolute prohibition to depict the prophet Muhammad in the Q’uran. This is a later interpretation by some denominations of Islam to not allow the depiction of any prophet artistically. I witnessed first-hand that there is no absolute prohibition as I spent a month touring museums of Istanbul and saw Muhammad portrayed in paintings, tapestry, and illuminated manuscripts.

The reason why you know very quickly there is something else going on here than anything having to do with Islam is that the denominations that interpret no portrayals of prophets certainly haven’t been in an uproar over Islam’s second most important prophet, Jesus. For example, there were no riots or violent responses I am aware of by people of the Muslim faith back in 1987 when Andres Serrano published photos portraying Jesus on the cross submerged in a glass of Serrano’s urine. I also mentioned before the depictions of Jesus in TV shows such as The Simpson’s, Family Guy, and South Park, while sarcastic and offensive to many Christians, must be so to Muslims, as well, and yet where are the protests?

This is not about Islam, it is about using some interpretations of the teachings of some branches of Islam, distorting them, and waiting for the resulting political consequences. Even to say it is a Muslim extremist reaction isn’t helpful. There is nothing specific in the Q’uran that warrants violently reacting to an issue of this nature.

Valentine thought

Valentines Day is coming up and the world will talk about “love.” What is the best way to love? I think the biblical view of a certain type of love is the most honest and most desirable. It is agape.

Agape love is desiring that someone is blessed by God and acting upon that. Working toward the good of another. Notice there is no Valentine’s Day sentimentality to this kind of love. I want what God wants for you and I will try to do what I can to be an influence for that.

This doesn’t forbid me for being attracted and emotionally involved in that kind of love for Nancy (my sweetheart and wife), but agape goes way beyond emotion and attraction. I can give agape to a complete stranger. When Jesus says, “Love your enemies,” I can desire my enemies, whoever that may be, to be blessed by God in a way that more and more influences them to be who God wants them to be.

When someone says, “It’s hard to love that person,” I think what is really being said is, “It’s hard to feel good about that person.” That’s not agape. You don’t have to feel anything at all or you may have a burden against certain people, but as you work to treat him/her as precious in God’s sight, it’s interesting how God can work on your own heart. You work to bless someone in spite of who they are, not because of who they are.

Share agape with someone today!

cartoons part 3

There was an excellent article on the Wall Street Journal website. In it a Muslim scholar explains what is going on with the cartoons. He made an analogy that was helpful to me and I pass it on to you. Here is an excerpt.

"The Muslim Fury," one newspaper headline screamed. "The Rage of Islam Sweeps Europe," said another. "The clash of civilizations is coming," warned one commentator. All this refers to the row provoked by the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper four months ago. Since then a number of demonstrations have been held, mostly--though not exclusively--in the West, and Scandinavian embassies and consulates have been besieged.
But how representative of Islam are all those demonstrators? The "rage machine" was set in motion when the Muslim Brotherhood--a political, not a religious, organization--called on sympathizers in the Middle East and Europe to take the field. A fatwa was issued by Yussuf al-Qaradawi, a Brotherhood sheikh with his own program on al-Jazeera. Not to be left behind, the Brotherhood's rivals, Hizb al-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Liberation Party) and the Movement of the Exiles (Ghuraba), joined the fray. Believing that there might be something in it for themselves, the Syrian Baathist leaders abandoned their party's 60-year-old secular pretensions and organized attacks on the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus and Beirut.

The analogy that is helpful is to remember that these extremist groups are at their core political not faith-based communities. What I mean by this is they are trying to gain power through use of violence and fear, not trying to practice a religion. So, often we hear the question asked, “Why don’t we hear Muslim leaders cry out against these types of violent events done in the “name of Allah?” I can think of two logical reasons.

One, if a leader lives in a country that is sympathetic toward these extremist political organizations then there is one’s own safety to consider. Two, the Arabic-speaking media is in the sensationalist business like most other media outlets throughout the world and, of course, will report on the most provocative and sensational news possible. Islamic leaders who are not extreme are not often heard, no matter what they say.

cartoon part 2

In this whole uproar concerning cartoons of Muhammad, some of you may be wondering why there is no Christian uproar about the tons more satire and offensive behavior against Jesus and the Christian faith. Every day some political figure or group in Washington D.C. is complaining about Christians. Christian this. Christian right that. Hollywood has a field day with stereotyping Christians in an offensive way. For instance, in Family Guy (I only watch it on occasion for cultural anthropological purposes), Jesus and God are regularly satirized. An example would be when Jesus phones God and catches him in bed with a young woman and God tells Jesus to call back later, he’s busy. Here is another. Also, we all have seen it is open season on the Catholic Church throughout the world.

So where is the protest? First of all, it could never be violent. The model of Jesus and the overall message of the Bible forbids violent protest of any kind. Why not even impassioned protest? O, there are some Christian organizations who may complain, but we also have the model of Jesus and scripture that says this:

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

When you ridicule Jesus, I will have a firm word for you about tolerance (respect and courtesy over someone you disagree with), but as a Christian, I am always required to behave as the most mature person in the room. There is a sense of competition in the Christian faith. I can try to outdo you in honoring you, but there is no trash talk. I can’t try to tear you down if you insult Jesus. I may gently but graciously correct you, or I may just walk away. Either way builds up true character.

cartoons of Muhammad

It is a bad thing to purposely try to offend other people. The newspapers of Europe should not have published the cartoons of Muhammad. Again we see a small group of people who react violently in the name of Islam when there are other ways to express “outrage” which are available in the Islamic worldview.

That said, you can see how absolutely wrong the protesters are in the means of their expression of outrage. They are directly saying, “Whatever we say is right. You have to think like we do, or we will strike out at you violently.” You have arbitrarily set yourself up for an inability to live with other people if you violently respond to someone who disagrees with you. It doesn’t matter what the issue, you cannot function in human culture if you take this route. You cannot live in a society where you are not allowed to disagree peacefully. You cannot live in a society where you are not allowed to be offensive because offense is always in the mind of another. Ultimately, when someone takes offense it is beyond your control.

Calls for the Danish, Norwegian, German, etc. governments to apologize is a logical absurdity, A government cannot apologize for something a private newspaper publishes. An apology would be a valid issue when it is an official government publication like the extreme anti-Jewish literature and cartoons of governments like the Palestinian Authority, Iran, and Egypt, however.

I don’t know what the answer is other than to continue to be clear on how inappropriate violence is as a means of expression of viewpoint.

P.S. Good football game yesterday. I was hoping Pittsburgh would have kicked a field goal on that last drive and then Seattle have a quick strike touchdown which would have made the score, 24-17 as I predicted, except that they would have gone for two and so it would have been 24-18, or 24-16, so I’ll just quit talking sports now. At least until NCAA final four basketball.

Super Bowl prediction

Pittsburgh’s defense is just too tough. Seattle lost to Green Bay their last regular season game and they played their starters for much of it. Holmgren is a better coach, but with the hitting that is going on, I wonder if quarterback Matt Hasselback is going to have time to actually follow his game plan. We have already seen Tampa Bay and Baltimore in recent Super Bowl wins, when you have a defense that is this physical, you don’t need a super offense. Yet, Pittsburgh’s offense is better than Baltimore or Tampa Bay in their day, so it’s Pittsburgh, 24-17.

Disclaimer: I could be totally wrong. I really have no idea what I am talking about in this venue.

Enjoy your weekend and I will blog you Monday. About the Bible, in fact.

Jerome Bettis

There doesn’t seem to be much hype about the Super Bowl this year. The main story appears to be the swan song of Jerome Bettis. If any of you are not football savy, he is the running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers who will retire after the game. He has been waiting forever to win a Super Bowl (lost in one and didn’t reach a bunch because good Steelers’ teams didn’t make it out of the playoffs). Bettis is from Detroit and so there is the “homecoming” angle as he is returning there for the game.

What’s cool about Bettis is the leadership he gives to the team and the respect he has from the players. On the trip from Pittsburgh to Detroit, the whole team wore Bettis’ jersey from when he played at Notre Dame. It is just refreshing to see an athlete admired by his teammates because of the quality of his character rather than his skills.

If you are part of the Lutheran tribe of Christian, Bettis attended Lutheran elementary and middle school. Maybe that is why he is so grounded. I like Mike Holmgren and so I am torn on who to root for. Probably neutral until I see who I start yelling for during the game. I will also make my prediction tomorrow.

intensity

Tiger Woods took off for several weeks from competitive golf, and then he promptly won the first tournament he entered, the Buick Invitational, this last Sunday. Tiger is so focused on winning that no one is shocked by his domination of the golf world.

Roger Federer continues to dominate the tennis world. After winning the Australian Open last week, he has a shot at winning more Grand Slam tournaments than Pete Sampras, whose many records were thought untouchable. Federer is already (7 wins) halfway there to Sampras (14), and he is only 24 years old.

While these two guys are playing two different sports they have two things in common. Intense focus and intense workouts. Woods and Federer have a mental intensity not shared by their peers and they work as hard as anyone on their games. What about us?

Winning golf or tennis tournaments is one thing. What about doing God’s work in expanding his Kingdom and giving yourself to be a blessing and influence on others? What about becoming a world class self-giving disciple? Who is going to have more eternal impact, Tiger, Roger, or you?

Learn from them. Intense focus is giving your life to learn more and more from Jesus in any way you can and applying it now. It takes the hard work of study, prayer, being accountable to other Christians, giving generously of your time and possessions to do the mission you are called to do.

When you give your life to Jesus do you give your life to Jesus?

What would the influence of God’s people for the good of the world look like if we served with the intensity and work ethic of Woods and Federer?

Do you have any interest in finding out?