Under deconstruction...

I apologize in advance if this post seems a bit garbled.... I am feeling the same.

Where to begin? I heard a message recently on a Focus on the Family broadcast featuring a chapel address from Dennis Prager, a radio talkshow host I used to enjoy listening to in So. Cal on KABC. (He's not there anymore - now he's here). In the broadcast, Mr. Prager (an Orthodox Jew) spoke about the sanctity of marriage - being a union between a man and a woman) and what the current climate of change in this area means for our society. I strongly urge everyone to have a listen. It is well worth the 45 minutes or so of your time.
There is one statement that stuck out to me, and it really didn't have much to do with the topic, but I want to share it here because I believe it is important, and it is important for me on my personal journey. The statement was this - rather the question was this: What did God do on the second day of creation? Answer: He SEPARATED. (sea from dry land, etc...) The hebrew word in the passage is Kadosh - which is more frequently translated HOLY. Hence, separate, or set apart. This concept should be nothing new to many of us who have sat in church lo these many long years, but it struck me in such a way, that I got all teary-eyed. I believe God wanted to remind me of what my life, and our lives - what the life of the church is and should be all about.

• Holiness = being separated unto God, set aside for a specific purpose or use.

There is a distinction between things that are Holy vs. those which are for everyday or common use. In Biblical times (and today for that matter) the Sabbath day was Set Apart - "Remember the sabbath day to KEEP it Holy." (Ex. 20:8) Am I advocating legalism or a return to Sabbath law? NO! This is just to illustrate the point.

What does true Holiness look like? I dunno! I do however think the church has done a rotten job as an example to our society. We define ourselves too often by the things we "don't" do rather than who we are. When we do talk about holiness and separateness in the church today, there is almost a fear in our eyes that if we get too close to real sinners we might somehow get our hands dirty or something. What did Jesus have to say about this? Didn't he say it wasn't the healthy who needed a doctor, but the infirm? (Mt. 9:12) He was called a glutton and a drunkard - spent time talking with prostitutes and tax collectors and lepers.....

We fall FAR short of Jesus' example of being set apart for our true purpose:

• Today, the church is separated unto God - on Sundays.
• We have meetings, and we call it "serving God".
• We do things 'for God" that are By Us, For Us - and call it worship.
• If things didn't quite go right in our services, we get all bummed.
• If people are critical about certain aspects of our "services" we "correct" our mistakes and do our best to "get it right" the next time we meet.

I have been caught up in ALL of that! I am GUILTY as charged! What I am not - is Holy.

*like I said. This post may seem a little garbled.

More to come...

Just a quickie...

Check this out over at Kamp Krusty. I appreciate the tongue-in-cheek way that Brant is able to point out our flaws without being too offensive. (O.K. - sometimes it is too offensive but we need it!)

TTFN

Does anyone take this stuff seriously...?

I ran across this earlier today. It was on FoxNews.com of all places.

• "In the NPR poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies/Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, support for the candidates was split according to cultural habits — 42 percent of people who get their coffee at Starbucks favored Obama compared to 39 percent for McCain. However 58 percent of people who frequent Wal-Mart favored McCain while 33 percent picked Obama."

What about those who prefer Moose Tracks Ice Cream - do they support Palin by a margin of 2 to 1? Just sayin' - I think this stuff has gotten a little out of hand.

What does people's tendency to frequent Wal-Mart have to do with anything? I know some very well-to-do folks who LOVE to shop at thrift stores and never pass up a chance to go to a yard sale. I know that's anecdotal, but I believe that Wal-Mart patronage just might also be considered a slap in the face of the so-called "middle-class" from those who view them in a dim light - particularly in middle America.

This is of course in contrast to the young, hippish folks who slurp Starbuck's coffee while answering pollster's questions. They are of course very well educated, upscale and enlightened as compared to the Wal-Mart crowd.

I have a simple question though. What about those folks (like me) who walk around Wal-mart holding a Starbuck's Venti Mocha Latte while shopping for hunting gear, guns, knives, ammo, etc.... - nobody asked my opinion?!

I don't like what I'm hearing....

So, I just wanted to share a few thoughts about what I've heard lately.


In a recent interview on Good Morning America, Joe Biden is on the record saying:


"We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people,”... “It’s time to be patriotic … time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."


Again, let me just say for the record, this election has been a difficult one for me to stomach. I have had a really hard time not just sticking my head in the sand and praying the whole thing will be over with. I usually like to get behind someone - to believe in someone or something. I am glad to see our country getting past the race issue, and closing the gender gap. I think its' all wonderful stuff. That being said, what I am hearing lately is just the same old dirty tricks, mass manipulation and labeling that has gotten us where we are today.



As I mentioned a few days ago - it looks like the candidate for "change" is doing the same old stuff. I think that Obama is a likeable guy, I just can't support him. Aside from the Pro-choice issue - which for me is HUGE, he also seems to be playing the class-envy game. Their campaign doesnt' seem to be about change for the better so much as a call for "fairness" and a pandering to the "middle-class" in the form of wealth re-distribution. This would be a very bold step in the wrong direction in my opinion - a huge move toward overt socialism. Just listen to Biden's words - He said they will TAKE MONEY (from some) and GIVE IT to others.



I have a few questions. Could somebody please tell me, honestly -


1. Who pays most of the income tax now?


2. How will "giving" a tax cut that will amount to about $1000 per household boost our economy any more than the "stimulus" checks our government is so fond of handing out these days?

3. Won't raising taxes on corporations just encourage inflation - which affects the bottom line for the precious "middle-class" they soo long to champion? Will that effect jobs?

(BTW - I am definitely "middle-class" - our household income doesn't even come close to approaching 6 figures - and I have gotten full Tax refunds for the past 11 years and counting. They can't cut my taxes any more! I don't pay and I get money "back" I didn't pay in through the child tax credit - what more can they do??!!!!)

4. If this plan is such a great way to "fix" our economy, why is the Obama campaign now talking about holding off on their plan to raise taxes until things stabilize? Isn't that just admitting that it could actually have a negative effect instead?

5. If I happen to earn more than $250k per year - is it automatically assumed that I obtained this status by luck or at the expense of someone less fortunate? Would I not deserve it somehow? Is it ever justified to be successful? What if I put in 70 hrs. a week for 10 years to build my business and now it is just taking off and I am earning that kind of money after years of sacrifice? Is it now my patriotic duty to give more of it to the government so somebody who doesn't pay taxes now will get a bigger "refund" check? What if paying my new "patriotic" tax burden means laying somebody off? Will that somehow magically "fix" our economy?

6. Are corporate profits bad? Is it wrong for a company who is in business producing a tangible item that people want to buy, or providing a valuable service that people are willing to pay for - to actually make a profit by doing so?

7. Since there is a lot of talk about greedy corporate profits, who are the major shareholders in american corporations? Aren't most outstanding shares owned by mutual funds? (hint: Yes) Who owns most mutual fund shares? (hint: the middle class - through IRA's, in 401(k) plans, state teacher's retirement plans, union pensions, etc...).

8. Will raising taxes on evil corporations make the share prices go up or down? Won't this hurt the "wealthy" shareholders? The next time we hear some politician grandstanding about the greed on wall street, we should all keep in mind that he's talking about all of us too! One does not need to be "rich" to be an investor. On the contrary, most of us are in fact "invested" in stocks to one degree or another.

So, it would seem that TAKING money from some and giving it to others, may not be the best policy for change - in fact it just may make things worse.

Feeling like a schmuck, but that's not important...

So, while I was sharing about how I feel like a complete soccer-mom for driving out minivan to work..... Jason at Team Polycarp posted this..... (I am a member btw).

Do I feel sheepish..., but it doesn't really matter, especially in light of what others are going through around the world. (We get the Voice of the Martyrs' monthly newsletter.)

Sorta puts things in perspective.

Something I have come to realize, and accept...

Soo, due to circumstances somewhat beyond my control, I got to drive our "other" car yesterday and today. Don't get me wrong, I think it's nice. There's great visibility, fairly good accelleration and it get's in the low 20's mileage-wise. Also, the sliding doors on each side are rather convenient, and the sound system is pretty good for being stock.



It's just that I have become a total soccer-mom in the process. I have had a couple of conversations with other "soccer mom's" extolling the virtues of our Dodge Grand Caravan - with the sliding doors on each side, and what great cargo space! No joke! Ladies have said - "Great van isn't it?" Yep. It's great being a 39 year old dad.

Soggy bottom alert...

We had a wet weekend. It was raining outside most of Sunday morning, and raining IN church over where the worship team usually sits. It was fun! Our set went something like this: "...my chains are gone.....(drip,drip,drip) I've been set free.....(drip,drip)..." I guess it's better than crickets chirping, but a lot more expensive to fix.

We had a baptism - which was really awesome because it was a guy who had been very vocal about his "seeker/doubter" status, but who really loved being a part of the "community" of believers. He said he felt no pressure from anyone and even allowed himself to be interviewed one Sunday morning as part of the service. Wow! Needless to say, we all rejoiced at his decision to finally make a decision - and yesterday was his baptism. (It started out as a "sprinkling" because the roof was leaking over the baptism and dripping down.)

I am still really geeked about the whole thing - though I don't know him well yet. I just think its' cool when "seekers" are drawn in by the Holy Spirit. He was not pressured into anything, was allowed to doubt, participated in our services (which are not intentionally "seeker-sensitive") and God did the rest! He had questions and doubts, and was able to ask, debate and wrestle with God in a safe environment.

I am also really proud of our people for not cramming the 4 spiritual laws down his throat!

In other weather news, the Farmer's Almanac predicts that we'll be having a "Frigid, Wet, Wild & Snowy" winter in our part of the country. Sound like fun? Mmmmmm Hmmmmm! I can hardly wait. I have a lot of weatherizing to do...

The Candidate for CHANGE...

I have refrained (intentionally) from giving much political commentary lately - for good reason I think. I am quite sick of it all actually. However, I found this bit of info very interesting. In a recent article from the N.Y. Times, regarding the need for a "New" aggressive tone from the Obama campaign:

• "In the midst of all this, Mr. Obama had a private lunch on Thursday with someone he battled with for much of the year but who knows how to put the Republicans on the defensive: former President Bill Clinton. Discussion topics, aides said, included how Mr. Obama might handle Ms. Palin in the days ahead." (NY Times, Obama Plans a sharper tone as party frets, by By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENYSept. 11, 2008)

So, I ask you, is this change? Or is this politics as usual - taking cues from the Clintons on how to destroy one's political enemies. I ask this in the most non-political, objective, strictly non-partisan perspective of an outside observer, of course...

Tell me what do you think...

Thoughts on the dangers of having influence...

Soo, here we go again...

I did a little post two days ago and Jason (one of my two faithful readers, but one of the only ones who actually leave a comment) reminded me about my old Fender acoustic. This got me to thinking a bit -then my mind wandered completely. I hearkened back to my days as a young youth pastor, and then back to my days as a young yout' - not-so many years, but several pounds and hairstyles ago...
(Cue dreamy harp music)

What struck me, is how I am still in awe of, and profoundly influenced by my old youth ministers from that day (One died and 2 others are "out of the ministry" - one is a school principal I think). I learned a lot about leadership, leading worship, setting goals, dealing with conflict and even "dreaming big" from one guy in particular I lost touch with several years ago. (Scott - wherever you are - I miss you, man - you meant a lot to me.) The reality is, I look an aweful lot like the people who influenced me early on.
(Fade to black)

As I was thinking, I remembered an event that happened about 11 Summers ago.
(Fade in to a panning shot of cornfields on a hot sunny day)

I had the surprise of my life one day in July, 1996 while I was standing under a tent in McComb, Il (at the Cornerstone festival) and Jason (yes, my "buddy" who leaves me snyde comments on this here blog thingy) showed up out of the clear blue. We got to hang out that week at C-stone and he was one of a handful of people who actually caught our show. Since he was camping I brought him back to my motel room so he could shower and he let me fiddle around on his guitar. He then made a comment I'll never forget. He said that all the years he had been playing he didn't realize how much he sounded like me on the guitar. In a sense, he didn't realize that I had been a musical influence on him. This of course blew me away, shocked and humbled me and I hesitate to share it now except to say that it stands to reason - the more we hang out with somebody, the more alike we become. (Can anyone here say the word "DISCIPLESHIP" ??????) I think that is the whole point.
(Fast forward to present day)

Though it is something I have known all along, now more than ever, I am humbled and just a little bit scared that I can have a powerful influence on the people that I am around. I have heard it said that our strengths are passed on to those we mentor, but our weaknesses at times are MAGNIFIED..... that is a scary thought. This means that my cynical, critical attitude - my know-it-all, agrumentative, opinionated, judgementalism - could not only be passed on, but magnified (if this is true...) in those I lead and mentor - and especially in my own kids!

I hope people catch the good stuff. I wish that I could say, as Paul did: "Follow me as I follow Christ..." but I can't always say that. I am pretty messed up at times.

I have a friend and mentor named Dan. Dan was one of my college professors, a pastor/teacher-type guy who was very down to earth. He even spent a few years recently as the college President. He made a little plaque - one of those shiny brass thingy's you get at a trophy shop, engraved with a saying that has stuck with me through the years and has really influenced me in ministry and life in general. He attaches this plaque on his pulpit wherever he goes. It reads:

"What on earth are you doing to these people...?"

I think that just about sums it up.
(Fade out...roll credits...)

Just too funny not to pass on...

Jeff McQ is at it again. This is just too good. Leave him a comment.

More to come soon. I've got something cooking.

Just a Quickie...

I've started several posts in the last couple of weeks, but just haven't finished anything. They started out much more boringly than this one will prove to be if you can believe it!

For now, here's an update of what's going on - for my faithful 2 readers. (Hi, Jason, Hi hon.)

Soccer has started - and my boys have got some skills. I enjoyed 2 great games on Saturday. It was cool out, and there were some clouds - then it got sunny and hot and my nose burst into flames (not really - but it is now much redder than usual - which is generally pretty red, as I have a mild case of rosacea.....)

Youth Worship Team is now in full swing - This is pretty exciting, as I have now been given the awesome responsibility of corrupting or otherwise ruining the musical future of about 10 young people (two of which are my sons and one is my neice). They are all pretty awesome! Last night was their first time leading at a youth meeting - they did great!

Mom is now in her own place - As of last Tuesday night my mom has officially moved out. This is bitter-sweet. She found a cute little house and we spent last weekend moving ALL of her stuff from storage - whew! We are excited for her, but we kind of already miss seeing her all the time. I am sure she's enjoying the peace and quiet.

That's it for now. (yawn!)