tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124419272024-03-12T21:27:43.666-07:00Vaguely UnfamiliarSocial, religious and political commentary aimed at overcoming emotion with logic. Yeah- right.....maybe a little whimsy and nostalgia thrown in for good measure.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-28018550958591227782010-03-21T09:12:00.000-07:002015-11-21T09:48:07.523-08:00What Are You Chasing After?It seems to be one of the popular theological themes these days for preachers to guarantee "Success In Life". Quoting from Scripture, they advance the premise that, by listening to their advice, you can reach your fullest potential-- be all you can be! Not only that, but if you will only "seed" a thousand dollars or so, God will bless you materially ten times over. Well, I think these preachers have missed the boat.<br />
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Now, there is nothing wrong in itself with aspiring to reach your own personal peak, or in having a desire to improve your situation in life., but the danger lies in orientation. What is the reason we are striving to reach this "higher ground"? Some would have us believe that it is so we can have material things- comfort, money, designer clothes, a big house in a nice neighborhood, etc. After all, we deserve it because WE ARE BELIEVERS! From my reading of Scripture, this is the first fallacy. Thank God we don't get what we deserve. One of the questions before us is: "Are we believers that we might be blessed, or blessed because we believe- regardless of circumstance?".<br />
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What would Jesus say? Let's look at the Gospel of John to see if we can find an answer.<br />
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In the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> chapter we are going to listen to Jesus as he replies to a group of zealots who have followed him across the Sea of Galilee to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Capernaum</span>. These zealots had just seen Him feed the multitude, and having seen this miracle, sought Him to be their king. When they couldn't find Him right away, they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">commandeered</span> some passing boats to catch up with Jesus.<br />
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When they finally caught up with Jesus, He threw bucket of cold water on their agenda.<br />
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"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you; for on Him has God the Father set His seal.'" (John 6:26-27) RSV.<br />
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Why do you follow Jesus of Nazareth? This passage is a hard measuring stick for us to evaluate our faith against.<br />
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How we petition God to provide for our extraordinary comfort! Has God been transformed into some kind of ATM from which we expect free, unlimited withdrawals? This is NOT the "good news" that Jesus came to deliver. Unfortunately, there are people in the Church today that aren't much different than this band of zealots chasing after Jesus. Here we see a band of "believers" who saw Jesus , not as a messenger from God, but a tool to be used to help rally support in Israel to kick out the Romans. They weren't interested in what Jesus could do for their spiritual condition, but only in how He could improve their physical/political/personal condition. How many "messengers" convey this idea today? How many capitalize on the desires of a secular generation for "things" instead of trying to educate and redirect their focus?<br />
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The message that should be ringing loud and clear from pulpits across the land is "DO NOT LABOR FOR THE FOOD WHICH PERISHES...".<br />
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We know from the Gospel of Matthew that God has already made provision for our necessities- what to wear, what to eat and drink. He did this in order to free us from the yoke of worrying about survival of the body so that we could concentrate on survival of the soul. We mock the Word if we make these things the major focus of our existence.<br />
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So, what is this labor for soul survival? The answer isn't complex or esoteric. The answer is "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him and the One He has sent." (John 6:29) RSV.<br />
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(Remember, the word "believe" implies acting based on what is known. It is not just acknowledging a fact.)<br />
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Practically, how do we do this? We can start with an inventory of what skills God has gifted us with. Next we can look at how those skills can be applied such that God is glorified in the application of those skills. Now, sometimes, application of those skills can result in accumulation of wealth, but notice that wealth is not the motivation for the labor! In fact, in the Kingdom, I think you'll see a lot more cases where the "payment" for using a gift results in spiritual dividends alone. Reaching out with a kind word for someone who is down, giving your time to aid someone less fortunate, giving freely to someone who can never repay - all examples of labor to glorify God with no expectation of worldly gain but with the blessing of peace to the soul.<br />
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When we turn the equation upside-down, our lives start becoming right-side up.<br />
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Think about this in your prayer life as well. This might be even harder than our outward actions! Let us think about what we ask for and our motivation for asking. Are our petitions based on what is most comfortable and beneficial for us, or are they put on the altar asking that the result bring glory to God? I am still profoundly humbled by the prayer of a good friend who was dying of cancer. As he lay in the hospital, he asked that we pray before I left. His prayer was simple and it left me with nothing to say but "Amen.".<br />
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"Lord, my life is not my own. It is your gift to me. I must believe that this situation is as ordained by You as has been my entire life- my family, my possessions and my success. I would love to be healed, but that is Your decision. My prayer is that you will show me the way to reflect the joy of knowing You at this moment and that You will allow all those who care for me to understand that You will provide, just as You always have."<br />
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This was a man who did not labor after the food which perishes, my friends.<br />
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The message is timeless. The medicine in its prescription is powerful. In our world, can you imagine the transformation as the shell of selfishness is cracked apart by realization that our lives are not our own- that they are the possessions of a wonderful, mighty God who desires eternal fellowship with us?aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-39685244698493104762010-01-10T08:04:00.000-08:002010-01-10T08:07:45.839-08:00Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!<br /><br />Psalm 119 is a fascinating piece of work! It was probably composed after the Jews' return from exile by a very godly man who obviously sought after his Lord with great diligence. The longest of the Psalms, its main focus is on the word and promises of God. It seems to have been written with the intent of being used for instruction of the faithful Jews. If you remember, the post-exilic Jews did not have a strong tradition to fall back on. They had been in a strange land with no temple and no priests to lead them. They needed to be reminded and re-taught about the things of God.<br /><br />Within the body of this psalm, the author makes 12 distinct references to the "heart". It seems like he sees the heart as the "engine" that drives his desire for and relationship with God.<br /><br />In verse 11 of this psalm, we find this profession by the psalmist, "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." What a powerful and instructive verse!<br /><br />One of my first thoughts as I meditated on this verse was the fact that it is so in tune with the rest of scripture. It made me wonder if Jesus had this verse in mind as he was teaching in Matthew 6:21 "....for where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." Do you consider His word as your treasure?<br /><br />When you ponder it, it makes sense to fill up your heart with that which reminds you of the one you love! Just think! What power there is in having the word of God standing guard at your heart's door! At the same time it's guarding your heart, it's energizing your heart to conform to His ways.<br /><br />If you get a chance, look at Psalm 119 this week and consider putting yourself under the discipline of its advice!aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-41077136171367473002009-12-31T14:25:00.000-08:002009-12-31T14:50:53.029-08:00Stuff 'n Things (in honor of a friend)Wow- 2009 is almost in the bag...<br /><br />Another nice cold, rainy day. One of the coldest December's on record is about to go in the books for the North Texas area. I keep rooting for global warming to give me more good golfing days, but it's not cooperating. I was thinking about writing a nasty letter to Al Gore, but then realized that, unless it had money attached, he was probably not going to read it.<br /><br />We (the wife and I) were feeling adventurous today and went and invested in a Wii. I can hardly wait for the indoor tennis matches to begin. The things we do to convince ourselves we need to get up and move about! I just try to remain positive about expenditures like this. The smile on the face of the cashier made me feel I was doing a good thing by keeping her job secure.<br /><br />My oldest daughter, along with granddaughter and hubby, are spending New Year's Eve with us. I anticipate a wonderful time having Maddie snuggled in the crook of Poppi's arm watching "Chronicles of Narnia" this evening. Perhaps a bowling match or two with the son-in-law on the Wii.<br /><br />My wish for folks out there in the blogosphere is that 2010 works out better- maybe a little less vitriol in the political debate, a little more effort to get involved with your local community (be it food kitchen, homeless shelter, school tutoring, or visiting shut-ins). I honestly think this is one of the keys to recovering our society. We're becoming so disconnected and isolated. It's an eye-opener for a lot of people to venture outside their own circle of friends to see what's going on in the larger world.<br /><br />Whatever you do, may it bless you and those around you. Happy New Year!aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-2293159218107732102009-12-26T16:17:00.000-08:002010-01-10T08:12:29.447-08:00Out Of The WildernessEvidently, blogging is not for the faint of heart, nor for the procrastinator. Lots of things happen in 2 years, though it feels only like a few weeks ago that I sat down at the keyboard. We have a new president, new problems and life changes galore - the last daughter married, the prospect of having the mother-in-law coming to spend her last years with us.<br /><br />The spectre of mortality has cast its shadow across our lives as well. The conviction of invincibility and control over our destiny has yielded to the realization that the job market isn't necessarily friendly to 60 year olds, regardless of accumulated wisdom. It's funny, but when we cease to be able to dictate our own destiny, we remember who is supposed to be in charge of steering the course! It's been a sojourn in the wilderness that appears now to have at least an oasis ahead for refreshing.<br /><br />I feel a little like Maverick in "Top Gun". I've come out of a flat spin and I'm finally ready to re-engage.<br /><br />Here's what I've been thinking about. I hope it strikes a chord with someone else.<br /><br />"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to Him, "Feed My lambs." John 21:15 (NKJV)<br /><br />Sometimes faith can be a real struggle. In my own walk, I've been only too aware of the fact that the fire has not burned with the same intensity as in other times that I can recall. Especially recently, with all the demands of the workplace, I've struggled with how to revive that spirit-- that sense of "first love" -- that keeps one close to the heart of God.<br /><br />In my devotional reading recently, I came across John's account of the restoration of Peter. Before, I had always read it from a perspective of Jesus putting Peter in his place -- you know, Peter's 3 denials matched by the Lord's 3-fold question of Peter's devotion to him. Coupled with that, naturally, was Jesus' call for Peter to put into action what he professed. I assumed that the love was already there. I assumed Jesus was simply being consistent, since earlier in John's gospel, we read that Jesus said "If you love Me, keep my commandments." John 14:15 (NKJV)<br /><br />This most recent reading caught me like a right hook and brought a totally different perspective to me. Peter's restoration to a love relationship (and ours as well) would come not out of profession, but from action. My cry had been, "Lord, help me love you as I once did". His reply, "Feed my lambs!"<br /><br />I wanted the feeling without the footwork, the sweetness of fellowship without the sweat, love without labor. I'm not bashful about admitting that I thought, somehow, joy could be reappropriated at will, simply because I was a child of the Father. I thought that if I prayed a little harder, or spent a little more time in the Word, that everything would be OK again. After all, I'm so busy at the job the Lord put me in, that certainly He understands I need a quick fix!<br /><br />Foolish me! The Lord led me to some introspection and examination of exactly when I felt the happiest in Him. Know what I found? Looking back, the times I felt the closest to the Lord were the times I was doing something for Him. The actions may not have been of great importance, and my work, family or physical circumstances may not have been all calm and serene, but the fact that I intentionally visited a shut-in, or gave a word of encouragement to someone who was struggling, or sang a "special" at church-- those built and bolstered that love relationship!<br /><br />I remember a sermon from a while back where the preacher emphasized that, in the dictionary, the word "love" was an active verb! I agree! The Teacher's gentle prescription to Peter (and to you and me) is to find love in the doing, and (I believe) conversely to find the power to do because of the love. In the "doing" we shift our focus away from ourselves and our circumstances to the needs of others. It's a paradox to the modern world, but the Lord has proven over and over that we gain by giving away!<br /><br />My guess is that the teaching works with our human relationships as well. Any "love batteries" running low in your personal relationships? Don't wait for the other person to "act like they used to act" or treat you differently. Love them by doing for them! Feed them-- emotionally, spiritually, with no strings attached. You'll be amazed at how love will be rekindled.<br /><br />My prayer this week is that the Lord will present you with opportunities for service in His name, even if it's something as simple as breaking bread with another believer. I trust God to take that act of service on our part and use it to build a closer bond with Him and with our fellow servants in Christ.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />Gordonaardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-59018263756128738982007-10-10T18:06:00.000-07:002007-10-10T19:36:25.584-07:00Contextually CluelessI've watched the events of the past months in amazement. Attack after attack emanating from the "loony left" smearing everyone from Gen. David Petraeus, the military in general to Rush Limbaugh and Clarence Thomas. The common thread of these exercises in demonization and marginalization has been to totally disregard historical and situational context and either adhere to either a literalism that would put Pharisees to shame or to drag out their crystal ball and proclaim what someone "really meant" or "really was thinking" when they made a statement.<br /><br />It's not bad enough that those we already know to be products of defective educational establishments (i.e. the MSM) engage in this behavior, but it has now spread to the hallowed halls of Congress. People we elect, whom we would assume know better, not only follow the madding crowd, but are its chief cheerleaders.<br /><br />In what universe do these people live? What version of history have they read? General Petraeus is guilty of nothing more than finally putting together a cohesive strategy in Iraq that is yielding tangible results, but he is insulted by senators and representatives who all but call him a liar to his face. Democrat pretender to the throne Hillary Clinton, who at last check had not graduated from a service academy or served in the military, impugned the reputation and truthfulness of the General by stating bluntly that his progress report required "a willing suspension of disbelief." What person in their right mind wants to take a position of responsibility in our military now just so they can be called a liar by Congress?<br /><br />Recently, "Pinky" Reid took the floor of the Senate to make himself look foolish as he attempted to portray Rush Limbaugh as impugning soldiers who, while serving their country, expressed anti-war sentiments. It took a leap of illogic wider than the Grand Canyon, provided by an alleged media watchdog organization that is actually a mouthpiece founded by Clintonistas, to come to this absurd allegation. Mr. Limbaugh has been one of the most pro-military commentators in the US, with a history of actions that back his rhetoric. He has lent his name, money and time to efforts supporting our troops. In a tacky quip more worthy of a drunk auditioning at a backwater comedy club than a member of the Senate, Tom Harkin wondered aloud if Rush was "high on drugs again". Of course, this is the same paragon of truthfulness who sought to embellish his image by claiming to have flown missions in Viet Nam when he did not. Perhaps he was thinking that Rush's commentary was aimed at at him.<br /><br />The latest outrage, to my mind at any rate, is the article written by Frank Rich for the NYT in which he paints Clarence Thomas as a "whiner" for having the temerity to actually write about his experience with character assassination (Congressional style) during his Senate confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court. Poor Frank couldn't get it right if you spoon-fed him facts. It might help also if he actually read the book instead of depending on his "impressions" from a "60 Minutes" interview. Ann Althouse does a tremendous job of laying bare Frank's "facts" with actual quotes from Thomas's book. It's worth a read - <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/orin-kerr-devastates-frank-rich.html">http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/orin-kerr-devastates-frank-rich.html</a><br /><br />Before I leave the subject of Clarence Thomas, I can't resist recalling the comments of "seasoned Constitutional scholar" Harry Reid again. If one remembers, in late 2004, Senator Reid opined that Justice Thomas was an "embarrassment to the Supreme Court" and that his opinions were "poorly written"- especially in contrast to the brilliant Justice Scalia. Knowing that he'd be asked to cite specifics, he probably had a flunky try to pull up an example that he could quote so he could look scholarly. Unfortunately, "Pinky" made a major boo-boo. On the December 26th edition of "Inside Politics" on CNN, Reid brought up the "infamous" Hillside Dairy v. Lyons. This earthshaking decision dealt with California milk regulation. Justice Thomas dissented with one part of the Court's decision, and the language in his dissent was routine legalese, citing a previous Thomas dissent if one wanted to go into more specifics. The hilarious point to this narrative is that there is no comparison available to Scalia in this instance, since Scalia did not write a dissent.<br />For a further expose, I recommend to you the WSJ Opinion journal piece - <a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110006106">http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110006106</a><br /><br />Folks, is it just me, or are we truly witnessing the dumbing down of America?aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-66449858069721367542007-03-30T13:11:00.000-07:002007-03-30T13:24:59.083-07:00Looking Over My ShoulderWith a 40th HS reunion staring me in the face, I've spent some time corresponding with friends and looking over my shoulder at what the years have brought.<br /><br />One perception that has been knocked by the wayside is that, by now, I would be in the twilight of a professional career where 40 hour weeks would be the norm- with plenty of time to pursue other interests. I find I'm working harder and longer now than when I was 30! The unsettling thing about this observation is that I don't see it changing in the near future. It almost looks like, instead of a leisurely lope, it will be a mad dash to the finish line of retirement.<br /><br />I don't find that I've lost my desire to work hard and produce quality results, but I do find that I am starting to care immensely more about where that effort is directed. Who knows but that this could lead towards looking for a way to go into business for myself?<br /><br />On the public affairs front- a couple of issues: Alberto Gonzales and the British hostages.<br /><br />Poor, Alberto. A classic American success story. An immigrant made good. Submarined because he was too naive about the political process. Firing US attorneys is not a crime. It's done to political appointees all the time. It really has little effect upon investigations or prosecutions in progress, because those are usually done by the staff attorneys. In some respects, the US attorney position is simply a stepping stone to higher political office. Why Gonzales wasn't forthcoming about his role in determining who was to be let go is puzzling to me, but what is more puzzling is how the Dems were able to gin up so much outrage over a "non-issue".<br /><br />Now, on the subject of the British hostages- I'm livid. I'm angry that I've heard so many leftists say that Iran was in the right- that they couldn't "trust" the word of the UK on this issue. Let's see, whose word do I take.......the word of a civilized country or the word of a country that hosts a "Holocaust Denial" symposium in its capital? Tough call.....NOT.<br /><br />I guess this will have to suffice. Call it a "scattershooting" column if you must. Maybe an entry back into posting more often than quarterly :)<br /><br />God's blessings be with you all.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-85345963046627476132006-11-22T20:58:00.000-08:002006-11-22T21:02:38.836-08:00Dealing with ChangeA little excerpt from my time as chaplain in the East Coast Hockey League. Hope you enjoy.<br /><br />Greetings!<br /><br />Someone much wiser than I once said that the only constant in life was change. Recent events in the US and around the world seem to indicate that fellow knew what he was talking about. Change is inevitable. Sometimes it is for the better. Sometimes change can be devastating. How do you face change?<br /><br />Jesus knew all about change. He went from obscurity to becoming a wandering preacher, to becoming a candidate to rescue the nation of Israel from the hands of Roman oppressors, to becoming scorned, outcast and sacrificed so that the political boat wouldn’t be rocked. He went from “nobody” to “somebody” to “nobody” (in the eyes of his countrymen) in the course of three short years. If you have ever read the Gospels, you marvel that Jesus moved through all of these events with a sense of calm that overwhelms our ability to comprehend.<br /><br />He gave us one insight as to how he did it in a parable he told. That parable can be found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 7:21-28). He talked about 2 men who undertook a building project. One man, he described as wise. That man chose to build on a foundation of rock. The other man was called foolish, for he chose to build on a foundation of sand. When a furious storm came, with wind, rain and floods, guess whose building was left standing? That part is pretty obvious.<br /><br />What’s not so obvious is why those two men chose the different foundations to build on. Jesus said that the wise man chose the right foundation because he not only heard what Jesus was teaching, but tried to live out those teachings. In fact, God was the foundation! The other man chose to do things his own way. His foundation was based on his own wisdom and supposed strength. He chose not to pay attention to all that ‘religious’ stuff.<br /><br />At the core of the story is something very interesting. Jesus seems to say that relationship and motive are essential ingredients to handling what life throws at you. I’ve been around the block a few times myself. I’ve been abandoned by a dad and forced to look after 3 younger brothers. I’ve been all the way to the top of the corporate ladder and knocked back down again. I’ve had it worse than a lot, but much, much better than some. You know what? The ‘Boss’ that I work for has provided such a solid foundation for me that, although the storms in my life haven’t been a lot of fun, they haven’t washed me away! He promised a secure foundation if I kept myself in right relationship with Him and did the things I was called to do at work and at home with the right motive.<br /><br />How’s your foundation? Need a little shoring up? If so, I know a ‘Builder’ I can put you in touch with that does an excellent job! Something to think about!aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1161555766386792332006-10-22T13:18:00.000-07:002008-05-13T10:17:09.591-07:00When liberals hijack Scripture......logic and fact take a holiday.<br /><br />I've recently been lambasted by emotional people who claim that no one can be a true Christian if they support war- especially the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is simultaneously amusing and saddening about their tirades is that they do the very thing I'm accused of; namely, taking snippets of Scripture to buttress a personal opinion rather than allowing their viewpoint to be formed by a wider understanding of the Bible.<br /><br />Let's get some things straight at the outset. War isn't, by definition, a good thing. God's word says that He takes no delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). God is certainly opposed to wars of conquest where one side seeks to subjugate another to its will for gain of wealth or power. However, I don't think a thorough, consistent reading of the entireity of the Bible can lead one to the conclusion that God is against all war. War is not what sane men desire, but avoidance of conflict when the envitable course leads to even more deaths is insane.<br /><br />God used war for several reasons in the Old Testament. First, it was allowed to remove competing cultures that were intent on wiping out the fledgling nation of Israel. These cultures were steeped in pagan practices that included child sacrifice and ritual prostitution, and they were intensely hostile to the Jews. Strangely, another reason God allowed war was for the chastisement of the nation of Israel! When God could not get his chosen people to listen any other way, He allowed a pagan nation to wage war and defeat Israel. With these examples, it would be hard for a person to say honestly that God never made provision for war, or that the only view of war acceptable to God was when His name was used to fight against others.<br /><br />The liberal's favorite tactic is to take the familiar sayings of Jesus concerning how His followers were to handle the personal abuse that was to be expected from the Jewish hierarchy and the Romans, and turn them into universal mandates with no allowance for contextual meaning.<br /><br />The first quote they usually use is from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." If one does read this section of scripture in context, one might find that these were personal instructions on how to deal with persecution because of belief. Obviously, the best way to defuse a situation is not to let it escalate. A slap on the right cheek was considered a grievous insult; however, it surely was not in the the life-threatening category. In fact, a careful reading of the last part of the 5th chapter doesn't list any case in which a person's life is at stake- only their pride. It would seem that Jesus' injunction was against reaction based on a desire for personal revenge.<br /><br />There's a vast difference between telling a person that they should not lash back because of a personal insult, and telling someone they should not defend themselves against an attack that is meant to injure or kill.<br /><br />Truly, we do have an impact on others by the way we respond to personal attack. I will confess that I'm not always as contrite and forgiving of personal affronts as I should be.<br /><br />Now, what I cannot fathom, and can find no Scriptural support for, is the contention that God disapproves of (or prohibits) the intervention of the able on behalf of the helpless. Nor can I find anything that prohibits a war whose aim is to force a cessation of continued violence from the other side. Neither of these scenarios could be remotely construed as revenge. To argue otherwise would put a unbearable moral weight on those who contend that the Allied response to Germany and Japan was wrong.<br /><br />Just to ensure I don't give liberals room for misinterpretation, war in all circumstances, even justifiable ones, is cause for sadness. It indicates the abandonment of reason and reconciliation by one or both sides. The death or injury of innocents (e.g. those who aren't armed participants) is an inevitable byproduct of war and is cause for sorrow, as is the death or injury of soldiers themselves. I would remind those who are too quick to jump on the pacifist bandwagon that they should look to history and count the cost in human lives of the occasions when people stood by and did nothing. I might even refer them to Jesus' answer to the lawyer who asked Jesus "... and who is my neighbor?".<br /><br />Principled differences can be respected. Disingenuity, cloaked in the guise of "Christian concern", deserves little more than scorn. Is the war in Iraq just? I believe it is. Has the war gone as those who planned it envisioned? Obviously not. I would love nothing more than to see all our troops home tomorrow. I had friends from my HS ROTC class that I never saw again after their deployment to 'Nam. I know there is a tremendous personal cost being paid. But I am as certain as one can be that the death toll of the very innocents that the liberals are wringing their hands over right now would be immeasurably higher should we leave before there is a stable government in Iraq able to police itself and protect its borders.<br /><br />Count the cost for everyone- not just ourselves.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1153622845780960462006-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:002006-08-08T14:50:21.586-07:00Proportionality? Preposterous!Over the last two weeks, as Israel has responded aggressively to the murder and kidnapping of its soldiers, some world leaders have wrung their hands and whined loudly about proportionality. Obviously, these world leaders never saw military service or, if they did, they were never trained for combat.<br /><br />Proportionality belongs in the realm of art and "touchy-feely" encounter groups. In the real world, if I am threatened, or my family is threatened, I don't believe that I will worry about whether my response is viewed as proportional to the threat. Israel should not either.<br /><br />In the real world, a war is prosecuted to a successful conclusion only by utterly removing the will of the enemy to fight by inflicting as much pain as necessary to make continued aggression undesirable. This is the tack that I hope Israel takes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.<br /><br />For those liberals who are suddenly concerned with the plight of Lebanese civilians, the question du jour is "why then weren't you proactive in demanding that Syria and Iran stop supplying Hezbollah with weapons that could be used to attack Israel?". Last I checked, Hezbollah had not been given the authority by the Lebanese government to defend its borders.<br /><br />Let's get a reality check here. As a good acquaintance has put it, if the Palestinians lay down their arms, they get peace. If Israel lays down its arms, it gets annihilated.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1132547734522287832005-11-20T20:19:00.000-08:002006-01-17T20:16:24.990-08:00Random Thoughts on Religion, Evil and the arrogance of manTime flies when you're caring for a new grandbaby. Time spent rocking such a small bundle of innocence gives time for pondering what kind of world she will grow up in.<br /><br />My first thought was to pray to God she will grow up in a time when civility in discourse has a renaissance in this country. My second thought was to again pray, this time that God would awaken us to the problem of evil.<br /><br />There is a distinct problem with many in America concerning a confrontation with evil. I think much of the problem may stem from a seismic shift from traditional moral values to the current prevailing view of moral relativism. We're hesitant to posit as "truth" anything outside of what is true for us. We feel uncomfortable invading someone else's space by telling them that what they are doing is wrong. We're victims of feelings-- so much so that we fail to see that feelings are of much less importance than the survival of a culture.<br /><br />I wonder if this shift has something to do with people ignoring the call traditional morality places on their own lives. Perhaps they embrace moral relativism as a way of excusing their own behavior, or of insulating themselves against criticism from others. Aldous Huxley, at least, was honest about the reasons for his abandonment of morality and his attack on religion. He said, "We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom. ...There was one admirably simple method of confuting these people and at the same time justifying ourselves in our political and sexual revolt: We could deny that the world had any meaning whatsoever."<br /><br />What arrogance! Why do I say that? I think it's extremely arrogant to assume a position that has proven in the past to lead to the downfall of a culture-- to believe that somehow a claim to sophistication will create a different result from the same behavior.<br /><br />Something to think about.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1128911313866549182005-10-09T19:28:00.000-07:002005-10-11T16:48:29.966-07:00A Walk on the "Jesus" side<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">I've put a little of my political perspectives on display. I thought it time to reveal a little of the theological side. I wrote and preached this sermon several years ago, but I believe it can give a glimpse into my understanding of this "Jesus" whom I seek to serve. I hope you find it at least readable. I left my original textual emphases intact.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b>“Only a Heartbeat Away From Love”<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b>A Sermon based on Mark 10:17-30<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">Mark 10:17-27<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">17<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">18<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-- except God alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">19<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">20<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">21<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">22<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">23<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">24<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">25<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">26<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">27<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;">(NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Picture this!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Jesus was just leaving the local house that was his base of operations.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He had been having a wonderful time with the local children and their parents.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The disciples were probably still a little grumpy because they had been trying to shield their Teacher from stream of visitors and had been taken to task for their over-protectiveness.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I bring this up because we move from a point where Jesus realigns the disciples’ perspective by taking those whom we regard as distractions and putting them right smack dab in the middle in a effort to make us pay attention!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We jump from a graphic picture of Jesus painting the kingdom as only being able to be received by those who are very small, very needy.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>No room for independent, autonomous, self-made, self-sufficient folks here in this kingdom.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">We jump from this scene to something at the exact opposite end of the spectrum!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>There’s someone knocking at the door, seeking to be put at the center!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Let’s look!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><u>The Entrance</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">All of a sudden, there’s the screech of tires at the curb.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Out from behind the reigns of the BMW chariot jumps this man in a custom-cut Brooks Brothers robe and Reebok top-of-the-line sandals.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He sprints down the block and catches up with Jesus and his entourage.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And then he does something <i>really</i> bizarre!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He literally throws himself down on his knees in front of Jesus!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>What in the world?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>(And I can just hear the disciples in the background.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“Oh no, not <i>another</i> one!”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And you know there were at least a few eyeballs rolling heavenward!)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><i>WHO IS THIS GUY??<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">We’ll find out more as the story progresses, but we know this much to start with.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Mark identifies him as someone who has great wealth, Luke calls him a ‘ruler’—possibly a member of an official council or court, and Matthew calls him ‘young’.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He’s obviously not your average Judean.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We would probably not be far off base in deducing that this man was a man of stature, and of some learning, and MOST of all-- RICH.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The question that intrigues me is why would an obviously educated man, self-sufficient, well-respected in the community—a person with everything we think of as necessary for living the ‘good life’—fling himself head-long into the dust at the feet of a penniless carpenter from Nazareth?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>My hunch is that God is preparing to show everyone involved once again that, within every human created by the hand of the Father, there is one, special place that sits empty—one special room within the deepest chamber of the heart, reserved to be occupied by the Creator, and Him alone.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>My guess is that there had to be <i>something</i> missing from this rich, young man’s life.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Something that was at the core of his being.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Something that caused him to overflow with emotion and forget protocol and image.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Something that demanded an answer.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“<b>Good teacher,” he asked, “What must I <u>DO</u> to inherit eternal life?”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></b>Eternal life is just another way of saying “kingdom of God” in Mark’s Gospel.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>As Will Willimon notes, this young man had been very successful at getting to the top of the worldly kingdom.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Now he was wondering what it would take to ‘make it’ in God’s kingdom.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Hey, Jesus, what are the things I have to DO to get membership in this place?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Let us read on and see what God had in store for this young man (and for you and for me).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><u>JESUS’ RESPONSE</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I’m not sure Jesus would have been familiar with the phrase—“Whoa, jump back, Jack!”, but that could almost be a paraphrase of Jesus’ reaction to this unexpected visitor and the situation they found themselves in.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>His initial reply is almost curt.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“<b>Why do you call me good?”, Jesus answered.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“No one is good—except God alone.” </b>William Barclay suggests that Jesus wanted the man to respond from calm logic and not from the emotional state he was in.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I believe also that Jesus wanted the man to consider WHO he was asking.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus wanted him to be able to objectively count the cost, not consumed in a sentimental passion for Jesus the teacher, but to able to see the call of God clearly through Him.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">With his next statement, Jesus really sets up the young ruler.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“You <i>know</i> the commandments…”.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And dutifully, he replied, “Why Teacher, all these I have kept since I became of age!” (13, when a Jewish boy assumed personal responsibility for obeying the Law).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Of all the commandments, one, ONLY ONE, was a positive injunction, and that only within the family circle.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>What did the young man reply?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“I have managed to keep ALL the DON’TS!!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’m RESPECTABLE!!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’ve not HARMED anyone!!”.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>By his answer, he exposes his theology—my worth is measured by what I haven’t done…..thank God I’m not like other sinners!!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I find it extremely interesting that, in this opening dialog, neither Jesus or the young man touch upon the part of the LAW that Jesus himself identifies as being most important, loving God with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Perhaps Jesus didn’t mention it on purpose!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Perhaps it was to gauge the young man’s spiritual temperature.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>To find out whether his life revolved around the Lord or the Law.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Mark now gives us the up close and personal—the zoom lens.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“<b>Jesus looked at him and loved him.”</b><span style="font-size:0;"> </span>They faced each other, eye to eye.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>One searching.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>One so wanting to give.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Can’t you just see it in your mind’s eye?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Can’t you just feel the electricity in the air?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Jesus took dead aim at his heart and said, “<b>GO / SELL / GIVE / COME /<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>FOLLOW!”</b><span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We know that He actually said, “<b>One thing you still lack.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Go, sell all you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Then come, follow me.”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span></b>But I have the feeling that, as these words came from the lips of Jesus, the only ones that penetrated were, <b>GO / SELL / GIVE / COME / FOLLOW.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">There was silence.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I just know there was—and the heartbeat of a man who had come face to face with God and was now called on to decide whether he would conform his life to God’s call, or continue to struggle under the burden of making God’s will conform to his ideas about how his life should run, and who would be in control.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Can’t you see the high drama of the moment?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>This, folks, was a personal turning point.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>A fork in the road.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And Jesus left no doubt about where the diverging paths led.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>What price was the young man willing to pay to let God be God?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>To have the peace and assurance and rest that had driven him to his knees in the dust?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">You see, this was a shock!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus was saying that this man’s wealth was NOT a sign of divine favor, but it was a big problem!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Get rid of the custom wardrobe, ditch the wheels, liquidate the portfolio.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You want to be in the kingdom?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You need to invest all of yourself in it!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The man stares back at Jesus.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Silence—but he can hear his heart pounding away inside of him.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Yet in the end<b>, </b>he ignores his heart.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He doesn’t want to hear it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I can almost picture the words boiling up within, wanting to explode from his lips.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“JESUS!!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Isn’t there some other way??<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Can’t you use me where I am?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>After all, I’m a respectable man!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>WHY DO YOU DEMAND SUCH A SACRIFICE FROM ME??”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But the words don’t come, for he knows the answer.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>His head rules, and the weight of his decision causes his face to fall.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The camera pans back, and we see him rise, brush himself off and slowly walk back to that custom-built chariot, destined to return to his split-level condo, his calendar of social events, even his place in the synagogue.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He was only a heartbeat away from love…and he faltered.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Mark simply records that <b>“He went away sad, for he had great wealth.”</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><u>THE REST OF THE STORY</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">As the dust settles as the chariot roars off, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Wow, do you guys realize how hard it is to get these rich guys into the Kingdom?”<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He may have said it to the disciples, but the words leap off the page and hit us, the church, right where we live.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And just like Ed McMahon setting up Johnny Carson, their reply was predictable.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“Just how hard is it?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We need an explanation here.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We don’t understand!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Notice how Jesus addressed his disciples—Children!!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Hello??<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Anybody listening??</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">That hard?? Who then can be saved??<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I mean if all these people that have it made really don’t have it made, what hope is there for the rest of us??</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Again, I want to borrow from Will Willimon, who had such an insightful vision into this story.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>“Just in case you watched the previous episode with Jesus sweeping the little children into his arms and thought that was a nice, sweet, easy thing to come to Jesus, Mark records this.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We can only come to Jesus as a small, needy child.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But there is nothing easy or sweet about it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is hard.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Not only is it hard, Jesus says, on our own, it’s flat impossible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It’s impossible without giving up whatever devices we’ve built, acquired, inherited, saved up for, planned for, or invested in that wind up being our wall of defense, our assurance of our well-being, our private well-spring – our god.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>ANYTHING we look to for security before the Father.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">You see, this is a “call” story.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Plain and simple.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And there’s no escaping it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Jesus is in the calling business, that is his job.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And trust me, God is in the habit of doing the impossible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And that’s good news!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Or is it? —you make the call.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Now all things are possible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>All things are possible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It is even possible to get a large camel through the eye of a needle.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>That’s possible.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span><i>But it will be extremely hard on the camel.</i>”<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1125611482058797542005-09-01T12:51:00.000-07:002005-09-01T17:13:07.750-07:00Katrina Leaves Lessons, QuestionsHow cocky we are. We have million dollar mansions, jets, yachts, beachfront property- the good life. We're in control- that is we're in control until something greater than we are comes and turns the whole world upside down. Take away electricity, air conditioning, fresh water, transportation and shelter and, suddenly, man is stripped of his thin veneer of civilization and the real person is revealed. For those who "trust in riches", losing everything can certainly be disconcerting. Christians, if they are grounded in the teachings of Jesus, understand that we own nothing- we are only stewards. What God gives can be taken away, but what we have or don't have isn't central to the relationship.<br /><br />Perhaps we need these natural disasters from time to time to knock the secular humanists off their high horse. Man isn't getting better. Man never will on his own. Most of the outpouring of support for the victims of this disaster won't be from your friendly home-town free thinkers societies, but rather from a variety of Christian organizations- most notably, the Salvation Army. There will be a stream of donations and volunteer work crews coming from churches of every denomination in the coming days and weeks. Before some of you who read this fly into an outrage, let me explain that I don't believe charity is the sole province of the Christian or "religious" person. All I am pointing out is that Christianity calls followers to give to those less fortunate, and to do so not out of a sense of guilt or obligation, but because to do so is an extension of the love of God.<br /><br />Off spirituality and on to politics, what I find appalling in the reporting surrounding the disaster is an underlying assumption that somehow humans are responsible for the scale of the disaster. I've heard outrageous claims that Bush or Haley Barbour is to blame for the hurricane because they "caused" global warming. I wonder who (or what) they blame Camille on? What about the great flood of 1927? What about Andrew? I could go on and on. One has to wonder about whether the intent of the journalists is to present news surrounding the event, or simply use the event as a springboard for more partisan politicking. I think one of the current "screams" is that "Bush voted to decrease funding for New Orleans flood control in the 2006 budget". How interesting- how irrelevant. I guess these folks don't believe that the Republican Congress won't allocate additional funding to deal with the disaster.<br /><br />Another screaming point is that the government isn't moving fast enough. Stop for a moment and think. How fast do you think you could organize the logistics to move thousands of troops with the necessary equipment to a disaster area with limited access? Right now, officials believe they will have 24,000 troops in the New Orleans area by Monday. That's a massive response to organize and implement within a week. How fast, realistically, can you deal with the problems of a city of 480,000? How quickly can you arrange to deal with a total evacuation of that many people? How do you plan "on the fly" to deal with unanticipated breaches of major levees surrounding the city?<br /><br />Although it's probably valid to say that there are things that could have been done better, most people would do well to remember that this isn't a board game or a computer simulation. The best laid plans can fall apart when a disaster doesn't unfold according to the scenarios you rehearsed.<br /><br />I know this may be a foreign concept to some, but how about giving some encouragement to those staying up around the clock to organize disaster relief? Screaming won't do much but distract them from their primary task.aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12441927.post-1125112792821927932005-08-26T19:12:00.000-07:002005-08-26T21:14:11.206-07:00First Pass - 8/26/05<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Firstly, I know it's presumptuous to believe anyone would care about reading this, but I got over that feeling quickly. I've earned the right to my opinions, and, based on life experiences, feel at least as qualified to offer commentary on the passing scene as, say, Michael Moore. I'm a veteran, a husband, a father, and grandfather. I pay taxes and gripe about them like any red-blooded American. I worry about the legacy I will leave my progeny and want to try and influence others to "do good and resist evil".<br /><br />I'm a bona fide conservative, but I defy anyone to categorize me as heartless. My definition of a conservative is someone who loves and respects the best of what has been handed down to us by people who, themselves, learned the hard way. While honoring our heritage, I have studied enough history to realize that our forefathers fall very short of perfection. I'm wary of moralizing and pontificating by people who have never had the worry of wondering where the next house payment was coming from or where to cut back so you could get your kids in braces.<br /><br />I believe in community. I mourn the passing of the days where there were no 6-foot privacy fences and rear-entry garages that keep people from sayin' howdy to each other as they go to or from work. I think it's a safe but sad bet that the average family in the average suburb only knows 2 or 3 other families on that block. I think we're worse off for living in a time when parents sue teachers for raising their voices to a child (which is about the only tool left in their disciplinary arsenal) instead of allowing the teacher to apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge.<br /><br />I believe in the value of hard work. I don't believe that any work, when performed to the best of one's ability, is to be looked down on or considered as inferior. I believe we should take care of those who truly cannot earn a living, but I believe that almost everyone has something they can contribute back to the community. Even for those who need our support, we should seek out a way that they can feel they have something to give in return.<br /><br />I believe in God. Funny, but 30 years ago, that declaration would not be controversial. I weary to the point of anger with the smug (and ignorant) generation that glibly talks about all the "abuses" heaped on mankind by "religion", while at the same time ignoring the great positive contributions. Man has been, is, and always will be a depraved creature. We possess the potential to do the greatest good or the cruelist evil. As Malcolm Muggeridge observed, "Human depravity is at once the most empirically verifiable reality but also the most philosophically resistant." Man's instinct is to blame whatever evil comes from humanity on "religion" and take personal credit for any good that might occur. A simple refutation of this perspective can be formed from basic principles in logic and philosophy. Has mankind abused the power that comes from claiming to speak for God? Most certainly! The real issue, however, is whether the proclamations of someone who claims to speak for God tie back to the highest teachings of what they claim their moral authority springs from. In short, judge the follower by the handbook, not the handbook by the actions of the follower.<br /><br />I believe in patriotism. I believe in it especially because I have seen what a lack of it can do to a country. Patriotism is the glue that holds the melting-pot together. Patriotism seeks to build a country up, not tear it down. It doesn't ignore when its government does wrong, but it also doesn't become myopic to the point that it can see no good at all.<br /><br />I don't fear immigration, but I fear the attitude that sees an agenda of assimilation as an affront to the immigrant's native culture. I fear standards so low that Balkanization is a more likely result than cultural integration. In short, I rue the rise of hyphenated Americans.<br /><br />I welcome debate, I detest diatribe. My invitation (plagiarizing the Bible) is "come, let us reason together".<br /><br />Gordon (aardvarkusrex)<br /><br /><br /></span></div>aardvarkusrexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314303994304464135noreply@blogger.com0