Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
June 1, 2009
I mostly enjoy Mondays. Traditionally, I spend the morning at a coffee shop reading my Bible, doing some journaling, reflecting on the week that past, and planning for the week that is. At least one Monday a month I work with Ignite Church Planting, Chicagoland and that always gets me excited.
Except for today. Today I’ve got the Melancholy-Monday Syndrome.
Maybe it’s because its dark and dreary outside. Maybe it’s because I slept terribly and had crazy dreams last night; or maybe it’s because I haven’t slept well at all since the Exponential Conference in April. Maybe it’s because there’s an emotional letdown after a very busy Sunday. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked all day, every day, for 8 of the past 9 days (I’m not complaining, I prefer it that way). Maybe it’s because my oldest son still has a week-and-half of school left before Summer vacation (unbelievable!). Maybe it’s because of the 220+ people who died this morning on an Air France flight. Maybe it’s because the notorious late-term abortion doctor, George Tiller, was slain in a church yesterday (I’m not shedding any tears for Tiller but neither am I rejoicing; in fact I’m rather conflicted spiritually about this).
For whatever reason, or maybe for all these reasons, I’m experiencing a very melancholy Monday. But Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the Day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I’m going to rejoice in this day, but I may need a little inspiration.
Posted in Family, Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Starbucks, Exponential Conference, George Tiller, Air France Crash, Ignite Church Planting, melancholy monday | Leave a Comment »
May 20, 2009
Brennan Manning records the following quote in his book “The Furious Longing of God”:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who lack a spirit of cleverness.
Woe to the rich, and woe to the doubly rich in spirit!
Although nothing is impossible with God, it is difficult for the Spirit to move their fat hearts.
The poor are willing and easy to direct.
Like little puppies they do not take their eyes from their master’s hand to see if perhaps he may throw them a little morsel from his plate.
So carefully do the poor follow my promptings that they listen to the wind (which blows where it pleases), even when it changes.
From the sky they can read the weather and interpret the signs of the times.
My grace is unpretentious, but the poor are satisfied with little gifts.
–Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Posted in Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Blessed are the Poor, Brennan Manning, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, The Furious Longing of God | 4 Comments »
May 13, 2009
In Genesis 15 and 16 we discover an epic dilemma in the life of Abraham and Sarah. The dilemma is that Sarah is barren and cannot produced an heir, and that she is now well beyond her child-bearing years. Therefore, in Genesis 15 Abraham decides to choose his highest-ranking servant Eliezer as his heir. But when Abraham prays about this decision, God intervenes and says “no.”
Then in Genesis 16 Sarah suggests that Abraham should take her servant Hagar as a surrogate wife and conceive with her, producing an heir vicariously. Apparently, Abraham likes this idea and (rather than praying for direction) sleeps with Hagar, who conceives. This creates all sorts of struggles within the family—prompting feelings of inadequacy and bitterness for Sarah, and rivalry for Hagar.
The bigger problem is that Abraham and Sarah, rather than waiting on God’s plan and promise to be fulfilled, decide to take matters into their own hands. This creates all sorts of trouble for them and even for us today (if you know your history).
For us, it means that we must wait on God’s will to become evident in our lives–we cannot run ahead of His will. Things must take place in His time. We need to be diligent and proactive, but everything we do should be (1) bathed in prayer; (2) approved by the Word; and (3) affirmed by godly Consults; because the consequences of going ahead of God can be disastrous.
Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”
Posted in Family, Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Abraham, Abraham and Hagar, Abraham and Sarah, Abram, Genesis 15, Genesis 16, God's will, going ahead of god's will, Ishmael, knowing God's will, Sarah, Sarai, Source of Islam, waiting on God | 2 Comments »
April 29, 2009
There’s a lot of hype and hysteria about the swine flu. The next few weeks will tell how serious or not serious this thing might be. But for now there’s not a lot that we can do but pray for health, hope for the best, wash our hands, and keep our eyes open.
When I heard that a Chicagoland school had closed I must confess that I had second thoughts about sending my sons to school—but at this point it seems best just to be vigilant.
I talked to my wife (who is an RN) and my neighbor (who is also an RN) and was reminded that tens of thousands of people die every year in the US with influenza, without hype or hysteria. We have to remember that bad news sells newspapers and, honestly, the modern media can’t be trusted anyway.
Our trust has to be in God. He is sovereign over everything that happens and nothing takes place outside of His will—good or bad. We have to believe that He has our best interests in mind and that He does not promise to deliver us from all the troubles of this life, but to help us to navigate them successfully and with a servant’s heart. Whatever we face will simply be an opportunity to grow in our faith and to serve those in need.
Besides, I’m not about to live my life in fear—not even for one moment! In Matthew 6 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…, who of you by worring can add a singly hour to his life…!“
Posted in Family, Politics, church, culture, religion | 7 Comments »
April 13, 2009
Currently the staff of our church is reading a book by Oswald Sanders called Spiritual Leadership. It’s probably the fourth time i’ve read it and it is the single best work on Leadership I’ve ever read—that’s why I keep returning to the “Well.” As a church leader (and defacto community leader) the principle topic is of great interest. I’m always trying to learn something about Leadership.
In my reading, as well as in my experience, I’ve discovered that real leadership means accepting responsibility rather than laying blame. Placing blame does have it’s merits, but it’s more the work of analysts than of leaders.
For instance, I lead a church that was born from the ashes of one that died. The original church had a season of growth and development, a season of health and stability, and a season of decline and death. There are a plethora of reasons (and opinions) as to why the original church entered into a season of decline and ultimately death. Certainly it’s important to understand some of those reasons (as they say: “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”), but it’s more important to lead the new church into the future than to ruminate on the past.
That being said, I tire of all the “leaders” in our world who continue to place blame rather than to accept responsibility. I’m weary of all the politicians, private citizens, and public voices who blame previous administrations (and/or current administrations) for our present problems but fail to take adequate measures to improve the present and future.
Every ounce of energy (and time) spent dwelling on the past, robs the present and the future of helpful solutions. I’m looking for real, world-class leaders offering helpful solutions. And frankly I’m having a hard time finding any.
Posted in Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Accepting Responsibility, J. Oswald Sanders, Obama v. Bush, Placing Blame, solutions, Spiritual Leadership, True Leadership | 2 Comments »
April 8, 2009
I just read an excellent article on the Newsweek website by Jon Meacham. It’s long but it is worth your time. You can check it out at http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583/page/1 . There’s not a lot I disagree with in this article. I hope you’ll read it, consider it, and post some comments on my Blog. It should create some good dialogue. Blessings.
Posted in Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged American Religious Identification Survey, Jon Meacham, Newsweek, The End of Christian America | 1 Comment »
March 31, 2009
I just read Hebrews 11 in the New Testament for the umpteenth time. It is all about people who live by faith and talks about the radical, committed lives that many of the great biblical heroes lived. The chapter “Who Really Lives That Way?” in Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love reminds me of Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:37-38 says, “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy…,” speaking of those who live(d) radical lives in God’s honor.
And so here I am in the comfort of Starbucks, drinking a $3 Venti Caffe Americano, wearing a warm wool blazer on a cold, spring day, wondering if I’m trying to be too much like “the world.” Wondering if me and “the world” deserve each other, knowing the destiny of “the world”—and that does not strike me in a positive way.
I want God to look at me and say “The world was not worthy of him,” but I think that will only happen when I stop (really stop) serving myself and start serving God by helping people—especially the spiritually lost and the economically challenged. Ultimately and unfortunately, I don’t know what that should look like but I’m convinced that God will show me (and likely change me).
What do you think?
Posted in Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Francis Chan, Crazy Love, Hebrews 11, Not Worthy | 2 Comments »
March 13, 2009
This week I talked to a gentleman named Gustavo who asked me if I thought that America had seen its greater days come and go. He believes the present economic collapse crisis is indicative of the coming collapse of American Culture/Capitalism/Democracy/Freedom.
Today I was listening to talk radio and commentator Michael Medved was interviewing an author who argued just the opposite. He believes that the past 100 years has just been a precursor to the greater influence America will wield in the 21st century (A.D.).
And the “A.D.” strikes me because we are, in fact, living “in the year(s) of our Lord.” And to be honest, I don’t know what the future holds for our culture but I do know that “the grass whithers and the flowers fall but the Word of the Lord stands forever.” Whether American influence and supremacy rises or falls, the supremacy of Jesus Christ will still be a perpetual Light in our dark world.
My prayer is simply to teach my children and my church to put their hope in God alone while shining the light of Christ. Meanwhile I want to help them learn to faithfully navigate whatever culture we live in. And in the process I myself don’t want to be disqualified for the prize.
Posted in Family, Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged American collapse, American Culture, American Decline, American Progress, decline, Michael Medved, moral decline, progress | 1 Comment »
December 18, 2008
I just want to give a quick nod to Barak Obama for choosing Rick Warren to pray at his inaugural ceremonies. I’ve always said that I struggle with Obama’s politics, but my great hope for him is that he can bring some semblance of unity to our very divided country. I think choosing Warren is a good start.
Fox News did a story on the outrage by the very intolerant/extreme homosexual response to the selection. You can check it out at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/18/obamas-rick-warren-inauguration-pick-sparks-gay-fury/.
Posted in Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Barak Obama, Inauguration, Rick Warren | 2 Comments »
December 16, 2008
I received the following Christmas Greeting via e-mail today and thought I would share it with you all.
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
My thoughts? Whatever happened to “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?”
Posted in Family, Politics, church, culture, religion | Tagged Christmas Greetings, Diverse Christmas, Happy Holidays, Liberal Christmas, War on Christmas | 3 Comments »
