Considering Extreme Measures

“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

The man responsible for those words is Sir Winston Churchill, a man for his times.  Notice he says “those who would do us harm,” not those who did us harm.  Many think we need a man like Sir Winston Churchill who understands our times and acts in light of that reality.

We have an interesting political battle going on as we have released our interrogation methods, yet refuse to put them into the context of the information received or circumstances in which they are used.  This unfairly politicizes the issue- trying to make things black and white when they are a little less so.

This quote from Sir Winston is at the beginning of Vince Flynn’s latest Mitch Rapp novel, Extreme Measures.   It is a novel for these times, trying to explain why it is important to have such rough men ready, for there are despicable men who hide behind religion to exploit others and protect themselves as they wage a war of terror on civilians.

Yes, Vince has found a formula that works (though he deviates from it at the very end of this novel), but I enjoy his books.  I do want that man out there protecting my family from those who would harm them simply because they live in America.

As Christians we can often confuse the issues, misapply Scripture and really be muddle headed about these issues.  Emotions can cloud the issue on both sides.

First, there is a difference in Scripture between the response of an individual to unjustice, and the response of a government.  We see that clearly in Romans 12 – 13.  The individual is not to seek revenge, but entrust such justice to God.  The government, on the other hand, bears the sword to punish evildoers.

Turning the other cheek is about insult, and again is the individual forsaking retribution.  This would not rule out self-defense should one want to physically hurt you.  Context is key.

We see something of a wartime ethic in Scripture.  Both the midwives and Rahab were blessed for deceiving those who sought to perpetrate evil.  Truth is not a black and white issue- sometimes we have to consider what will be done with the truth.  Will they use the truth to rob, steal or kill?  The context of “speaking the truth in love” is the covenant community moving toward maturity.  You can lovingly speak the truth to an evil person by calling their actions what they are, while refusing to divulge the information they want.

But we have some positive encouragements about the righteous man:

4

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.  Proverbs 28(NIV)

The righteous man/person resists the wicked.  He does not stick his head in the sand and let them commit great sins against others.  This is because God is seen as the One who defends the defenseless.  As those being renewed in God’s image, we are to act like Him.  We are to defend the defenseless, protect the poor, care for the widows and orphans.

Read Full Post »

Considering Fans

I was biting my nails, metaphorically, during the final minutes of last night’s Celtics-Magic game 4 as it came down to the wire.  CavWife tried to tell me something, but I reminded her- last minute of an important playoff game.  Considering that we didn’t watch most of the game, I thought I wasn’t asking too much.

I was surprised that Paul Pierce didn’t force the last shot, choosing instead to pass off to Big Baby Davis, who was the only Celtic to hit a FG in the last 6 minutes of game time.  He drained it, and in his exuberance raced down the sideline, bumping into a ref, and then into a young courtside fan who was close to the action.

I hope I am never this kind of parent:

Orlando Magic fan Ernest Provetti, whose son, 12-year-old Nicholas, was nearly run over by Glen Davis after his buzzer-beating, game-winning shot last night, is demanding an apology from the Celtics forward.

According to a report at Orlando Sentinel.com, Provetti sent an e-mail to the NBA League office this morning, saying that Davis crossed the line and embarrassed his son. Provetti said his son had to dive into his courtside seat to get out of the way, though that does not appear to be the case in the video.

In the e-mail, Provetti said Davis conducted himself like a “raging animal with no regard for fans’ personal safety.”

In a telephone interview with the Sentinel, Provetti said, “How do you like to be a 12-year-old and see a raging lunatic coming at you?”

He said noted that Davis should never have been so close to the fans in the front row.

Apparently this man has never seen an NBA.  It’s the NBA: Stuff Happens, including players diving for balls, and celebrating significant last-second victories.

But, this man’s son is embarrassed.  CavWife notes that is a common emotion for 12 year-olds.  This adult is trying to teach his son the wrong lesson.  The world will not bend to our embarrassment, it does not revolve around us.  Yet, this guy is trying to make it all about his son.  E-mails to the NBA office?  Demands????

Nor is an excited, happy, delighted man who accomplishes something he has yet to do qualify as a “raving lunatic.”  I suspect he has the wrong “raving lunatic”.  This parent is the one acting irrationally.  Davis was not angry, violent or dangerous.  No harm was intended to his son- even embarrassment.

When you sit courtside, the action may get a bit too close for comfort.  If you can’t handle that- don’t sit there and put your son “at risk”.  But a good parent will teach his son to enjoy the game, remember that the unexpected can happen, and that you’re on national TV so don’t sweat it.  Teach him to have fun rather than be self-conscious.  Teach him to calcuate risk and act accordingly.  In short- teach him about being a man.

Oh, and may the media should pursue such silly stories….

Read Full Post »

Considering Piracy

I have not been able to surf much lately.  So I found this interesting tidbit on Dr. Mohler’s blog.  He quotes from Stephen Prothero, a Professor of Religion at Boston University (NCAA Hockey champs, my friends).

The late spate of piracy off the coast of Somalia has been analyzed so far almost entirely in political and economic terms: Somalia is lawless and impoverished, so Somali men are taking world trade for a ride. Religion comes up in this analysis only in terms of fears about potential ties between Somali pirates and Islamist groups such as al Qaeda and al Shabab.

But according to Boston University’s World Religion Database, the Somali population is 99% Muslim, and the last time the U.S. was menaced by piracy, in the late 18th century, the so-called Barbary pirates of north Africa also operated out of Muslim havens. For those who know something about Muhammad and the origins of Islam, more than coincidence is at work: Religion, it turns out, should be factored into the piracy problem.

Mohler argues that the pirates are just doing what Islam has done from the beginning as it spread from Arabia.  They are just doing it on water instead of land.  Could it be that the media is neglecting this fact, lest we see that the problem is a particular religion (people like blaming religion in general- but this particular seems central to many of the international problems)?  President Obama, like President Clinton, sees all this in terms of crime- not terror.  But the seeds of piracy may be the same as those for militant Islam, just manifested in a slightly different way.  Instead of destroying the West, they seek to plunder the West.  But their religion provides the basis for both sets of actions.  They believe they have a divine right, even obligation, to do so.  There is just no reasoning with people with such a mindset.  Or, it seems, with politicians who think their own nation is the problem.

Read Full Post »

Considering Churches and Sex

This story from the Odd News is certainly odd.  A Florida church is in trouble for a 3-week series about “great sex.”  No, the problem is not the denomination, or some stuffy members upset about such a scandalous thing.

The problem in this case is the “risk management” department of the local school board.  The controversy revolves around the 25,000 mailers sent to homes in the target area of the church.

Mark Langdorf, the director of risk management, says the mailers generated complaints, were not appropriate for elementary school children and shouldn’t be used to advertise the sermon in the school.

This implies a few things, which really aren’t true.

First, that the mailers were geared for, and sent to, children.  Elementary school children to be precise.  I seriously doubt they were sent to elementary school children.

Second, that elementary school children don’t hear about sex from … the school.  Yes, there could be some hypocrisy at work here.  It is okay for the kids to hear about sex, including certain deviations from normalcy portrayed as normal.  But not okay for a church to instruct adults about God’s good plan for sex within the confines and freedom of marriage.

Churches should be teaching people about sex- not just the when not to part.  A certain famous pastor has been attacking another certain famous pastor for doing just that using the Song of Solomon which last I checked was in the Bible, and about …. sex (among other things).  Most churches don’t have elementary age school children in the service for the sermon however.  So, I’m not sure how this would ‘damage’ the children who attend the school (which is the risk the risk management board should be assessing, though they might need to look at their own curriculum).  Nor should it damage the children who attend the church.

This is an off-hours, voluntary event that is not contiguous with normal school hours or any other school event.  So what is the problem here?  I just don’t understand how this could even be an issue.  But I guess it shows that the world is even more inconsistent when it comes to sex than the church is.

Read Full Post »

Considering Satan

On Nightline, there was a Face Off regarding the reality of Satan.  Mark Driscoll was one of the participants.  Mark did a great job integrating the reality of the Evil One with a presentation of the gospel.  He offered hope in the midst of our personal and societal struggles.

And then there was Deepok Chopra gave a bunch of ying & yang psycho-babble (quoting Freud, but in line with Jung’s work) about how “healthy people don’t need the devil.”   Bishop Pearson forsakes his calling based on a false stereo-type.  Nice.  Another “bishop” denying the teaching of Scripture.  I guess we solve the problem of evil by just not thinking about it.

Both of argue against the belief in the devil on the basis of wars- religious wars.  just because some nuts believe you can drop the bomb on the devil to destroy him does not make this a reason to deny personal evil.  It is a Straw Man argument, fallacious to the core.  The devil is not material, can’t be bombed, shot or drugged out of existence.  Only Jesus destroys the work of the devil (Hebrews 2, I think), which Pearson forgot to mention when saying Jesus would not be pleased by all that bomb dropping.  I’m pretty sure Jesus isn’t pleased with those who think dropping bombs (or flying planes into sky scrappers) is the way to defeat The Great Satan.  Now, legitimate governments bearing the sword against those who pose a threat against those they are charged to protect (Romans 13) is another story.  But the ultimate solution is only Christ and Him crucified to destroy, among other things, the hate in our hearts and the evils that flow from that.

Read Full Post »

Considering MLB Team Salaries

While fixing the kids’ lunch today, I was watching the Sports Reporters.  They were talking about the economy’s effect on salaries, and just about every team but the NY Yankees.  The salary cap was mentioned, and one of the reporters repeated an oft mentioned error.  I can’t stand it when supposed experts (like this guy and Colin Cowherd) don’t know the facts.  I think Cowherd also passed on this bit of incorrect information.

2008 MLB Salaries

1. NY Yankees  $209 million
2. Detroit Tigers  $138.6 million
3. NY Mets  $138.2 million
4. Boston Red Sox $133.4 million

It will be interesting to see how it all stacks up come the beginning of this season.  Both the Red Sox and Tigers have dumped salary.  Lots of teams have.  The Red Sox spent more the first few years of John Henry’s tenure as owner.  But these knee-jerk reactionaries refuse to face facts.  The Red Sox have been implementing their plan of player development in order to reduce their salary (they spent more than $143 million in 2007).  They don’t want to depend on high priced free agents.  To compete until they could develop guys like Lester, Pedroia and Papelbon, they spent money.  But to think they ever actually competed with the Yankees salary-wise is silly.  John Henry knew that the Red Sox could not sustain a system where they spent ever-increasing amounts on free agents (as the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes showed, they picked targets and set limits- just as with the A-Fraud trade which the MLBPA, not Bug Selig squashed [sorry Colin]). 

Henry doesn’t want the Yankees to be in a completely different stratosphere when it comes to salary (they may near the $100 million gap this season).  But they also don’t want those team who receive revenue sharing to just pocket the cash.  They want them to spend money on players’ salaries so ALL teams are better increasing the competition and the MLB product.  As a result, I don’t find the talk of a salary zone by John Henry to be disingenuous.  Whether or not it is good for the game is up for debate.  But to take the comments out of context, including historical context, is unfair, and not solid journalism.

Read Full Post »

Considering Indulgences

Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times

Way back in 1517, Luther attacked the use of indulgences by the Church of Rome.  They were used to provide a false hope, and a steady flow of cash for Papal building projects.  The Reformation was born.

Many, Cavman included, think we need a new (or renewed) Reformation since the doctrine of justification by faith alone as fallen on hard times in evangelical circles.  People have once again put sanctification prior to justification, just in a different form than Rome did.

But the Church of Rome has made a change that was not expected by many people.  Indulgences are back.  Yes, like the Terminator they have returned, and that is not a good thing either.

“Why are we bringing it back?” asked Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn, who has embraced the move. “Because there is sin in the world.”

Like the Latin Mass and meatless Fridays, the indulgence was one of the traditions decoupled from mainstream Catholic practice in the 1960s by the Second Vatican Council, the gathering of bishops that set a new tone of simplicity and informality for the church.

Read Full Post »

Considering Churches and the Financial Crunch

With the shrinkage of the for-profit sector, the not-for-profit sector will see a similar contraction.  Churches are one of the not-for-proft organizations that will be hit hard.  The government should take a lesson from other not-for-profits and cut back rather than trying to raise taxes and spend even more.  These cycles come, but governments seem to lack the discipline necessary to save in times of prosperity for times of decline.  Governments abhor a surplus and must spend it, much to our disadvantage.

Churches will be hit hard for a number of factors.

1. Unemployed members.
2. Under-employed members
3. Lost retirement savings

All of these will reduce the offerings a church needs.  If a church is small, or comprised of a largely retired population, that crunch will be most severe.  I know of a few churches that are at risk for these very reasons.  Things were already tight financially, and now these churches are on the brink and in grave danger.

Other churches will merely contract- reducing staff and/or programming. 

On the surface, this looks to be a bad thing.  As someone who is under-employed and watching the number of churches in which I could serve shrinking, I can see it that way at times.  But overall I think it presents some great opportunities for the church at large.

• Opportunity for mercy ministry.  There will be opportunities to take care of our own, displaying the love of God in a tangible way.  We are to take care of one another, carrying one another’s burdens.  There will also be plenty of opportunities to take care of the poor outside of the church- opening the door to sharing the hope we have in Christ.
• Opportunity to repent of our greed, materialism and consumerism.  Many people are having to cut back on their spending and realizing much of it was superfluous and luxury rather than necessity.  Many Americans live beyond their means- as evidenced by the average consumer debt.  It is time for that to change.  Our priorites can be reshaped, refocused by the gospel in times like these.  Good financial management programs can be utilized to instruct those in and outside of the church.
• Opportunities to reveal the greater hope we have in Christ.  Yes, this can be a time of effective evangelism as people realize they have built their house on sand instead of rock. 

So while times like these are hard, they are also opportunities for ministry.  Churches driven by the gospel will recognize this, and go for it.  Churches driven by other agendas will … be overcome and possibly close their doors.  It is in times like these when we need to trust Him who holds the present and the future, and remember that He tends to work most profoundly when it seems darkest.

Read Full Post »

Considering Gov. Crist

I voted for Charlie Crist reluctantly.  He opponent was even more liberal that this so-called Republican.  For some reason, he has the affections of the RNC (though perhaps this has changed with Michael Steele’s ascendency as GOP chairman today).  But Florida has suffered under his leadership.

Take this case in point-  like a good neighbor, State Farm was there.  Now they are hoping to pull out of Florida’s property insurance market after their rate hike increase was declined.  Gov. Crist’s response- “Good riddence.”

Gov. Crist must not have done his homework before making that ridiculous comment.  He is not thinking of the citizens under his  leadership.  In a tough recession, it makes no sense to kiss good jobs good-bye due to spite.

In my county alone, 1,700 people (many of them my neighbors) work at the regional office down the street from my home.  Many others are insurance agents.  People I knew are already thinking of leaving State Farm completely since they can’t bundle insurance anymore.  Agents will have to switch companies, if possible, or risk losing all their customers- and their jobs.

With job losses, their will be even more homes sitting on the market.  This will hurt those trying to sell and relocate.  Gov. Crist fails to see the ramifications of this decision.  Rather than working with State Farm to find a reasonable compromise and keep important jobs in the state, he dismisses an important part of Florida’s economy.

What Gov. Crist fails to recognize is there is also a property insurance crisis (as well as a health insurance crisis) in our state.  State Farm is not the first to find Florida a difficult place to insure homeowners.  The hurricanes earlier in the decade crippled many insurance companies.  The loser will be the homeowners who have often seen their rates double despite not making a claim.  Others have been cancelled and had to spend far more to become insured.  No big deal if you don’t have a mortgage.  Just invest the money you would have spent on insurance.  Oh, that isn’t working out well these days too.  But if you have a mortgage you must have insurance.

Rather than address any of these problems- Gov. Crist resorts to quips and spite.  Sadly, we have at least 2 more years of this ineptitude.

Read Full Post »

Considering A Proverbs Driven Life Part 3

You might be asking, “what happened to part 2?”  Part 1 was mistakenly saved as a draft instead of published, so Considering Proverbs and Work is actually part 2 of my review of A Proverbs Driven Life by Anthony Selvaggio.  Did you catch that?  Do you care?

The third part of the book addresses wealth.  His little summary statement is : A Proverbs-Driven life understands the place and purpose of material wealth.  This is much needed in our day and place.  American Christians’ perspective on material wealth is only slightly less skewed than the average non-Christians’. 

Selvaggio starts by addressing the heart.  This is where all our problems with money and wealth come from- our bent toward selfishness.

“… money is not the basic problem at all, but rather our love for it. … The moral issues regarding wealth arise entirely from how we acquire it, relate to it, and use it.  In other words, the problem is us.”

Read Full Post »

Considering John Crowder

I hesitate to put this up.  I’m torn for 2 reasons.

1. This is very funny.

2. This is intensely sad.

In isolation, it is funny.  But since this seriously misrepresents Christianity, it is intensely sad.  Here’s some of the chicanery going on in the name of Jesus (maybe, might just be money).  This is proof positive of the power of indwelling sin- that people would so easily fall for such a deception.  It is well-neigh blasphemous to speak of God and the Spirit in some of these ways.

He does have one intense beard going for him.

Read Full Post »

Considering David Wayne

David Wayne, aka the Jolly Blogger,  is my friend.  We spent some time together at RTS Orlando.  But we got to know each other much better when we both served different churches in Winter Haven.  I was often a beneficiary of he and Lynnette’s hospitality.  They even put up with my dog, except for when he peed on their Christmas gift.  Actually, they handled that in their typically gracious manner.  I was very disappointed to learn they would be moving to MD.

Their move to Baltimore paid off when I was stranded in Baltimore one Christmas Day when the Albany airport was closed due to snow.  David came to the hotel to bring me home to enjoy fellowship and a hot meal (and I had not had anything to eat all day).  Again, graciousness and hospitality.

David was the one who encouraged me to blog.  He understood how isolated you can feel in Winter Haven.  He may regret that encouragment.  I did tell him to let me know if I said anything really stupid or crossed any lines.

Ever the good guy with a hearty laugh, David recommended me for a position recently. 

Why am I going on about the JollyBlogger?  My friend learned he has colon cancer.  He’s going to spend Christmas Eve on the operating table.  Not quite what he and the family were thinking Christmas would be like last week.  So, I’m asking those of you who share our faith in Jesus as our Prophet, Priest and King, to pray for David, Lynette and their 3 kids.  Ask for mercy and grace.  He’s no superstar pastor, but he’s the kind of guy you’d want for a pastor- a heart open to Jesus and His people.  (here is more after the video)

I love that movie.  And that scene…. how can you not be moved.

Update: The surgery went well, and David is recovering.  But, they found 2 large tumors on his liver (which is NOT good), nodules in his lungs and his lymph nodes  have been infected.  Bekah is making updates on his blog.  Please continue to pray.

Read Full Post »

Considering My Flight Home

I was off to the airport a bit early this morning thanks to the 5 inches (and counting) of snow that fell overnight and into the morning.  I had a 12:30 flight home.  The snow made slow going, which was not helped by the driver’s incessent need to look around and see damage from last week’s ice storm.  He slowed down even more.  A few times we were caught behind snow plows or caught in an accident slowdown.  So, the time before my flight decreased as my anxiety increased.

Shortly after 11 we pulled into the Albany airport.  There was no curbside check-in so I had to endure the line inside.  Anxiety level (sinfully) rising.  After checking my bag, I went up the escalator to security.  I still needed to go to the bathroom (I had a cup of tea earlier) and grab some lunch before hopping on the plane.  Predictably (?) the usually quiet Albany airport had a fairly lengthy line that was moving sslloowwllyy.  Finally 2 more TSA employees showed up to get it moving faster.  Yes!  The x-ray machine broke.  No!!  But I still got through with plenty of time to take care of my ‘errands’  before heading to the gate.

Read Full Post »

Considering Advent Conspiracy

consider….

Read Full Post »

Considering Mas

Sounds like the forces of agnosticism and atheism are growing here in America (and elsewhere) to make Christmas a non-Christian event.

What would happen if you took the Christ out of Christmas?  You’d have Mas, which in Spanish means “more”, which is exactly what Roberto Duran didn’t want when he uttered “no mas”.

This would be exactly what Christmas has become- an exercise in consumption and greed.  Mas would just be about keeping the economy going by increasing spending, giving gifts to our kids, loved ones and friends.  Drop the tree, if you want, and sing songs about Santa or the holidays, and you’ve pretty much got the idea.  Mas is about more, more, more.  The inoffensive excuse to spend money.  Who could argue with that?

[okay, aside from the obvious- Jesus and those who love Him, which means they are turning their backs on greed among other things.]

Read Full Post »

Considering Absurd Things

When you spend too much time on rollercoasters, you start thinking in strange ways.  I ran across these things this morning- pondering the absurdity and irony.

Three prosperity churches are filing for bankruptcy and/or selling their facilities.

• Church Without Walls International in Tampa is facing foreclosure.  Since the White’s divorce things have gone south of the border financially.
• Bishop Thomas Weeks II was removed from the Global Destiny Ministries property, owing more than $500k in back rent.  How do you owe half a million dollars in rent???  This transpired in the midst of a service.  Priceless.  He also divorced his popular “preacher wife” Juanita Bynum.
• Cathedral at Chapel Hill, founded by the oft accused of adultery Bishop Earl Paulk, has put its unique gothic building up for sale.  With the numerous sex scandals, and his son’s further departure from orthodox Christianity (3 cheers for universalism) have emptied the congregation.  They have fallen into debt, and the building into disrepair.

Christian online dating service, eHarmony, is being forced to launch a site for homosexuals.  The New Jersey Civil Rights division brought action against them based on a complaint.  I’m not sure what I’d do if I were Neil Clark Warren.  I might just say – too bad, how sad- and close up shop since it isn’t worth the headache, or the guilt of facilitating sin.

In the “it doesn’t fit, but hey” catagory- A 13 year-old boy was arrested for persistently passing gas in school in Stuart, FL.  Was that a 911 call?  Will we be hearing that absurd call on the TV?  Actually, he also turned off other students’ computers.  The “school resource officer” arrested the scofflaw.

Read Full Post »

Considering Islands of Adventure

A friend provided 2 comp tix for Universal Studies.  I had never been to Islands of Adventure, and really wanted to spend a day on the rollercoasters.  So my friend Danny and I headed north today to enjoy said rollercoasters.  It was a perfect day- 60’s and sunny with little to no wind.  There were not many people either.  We usually waited for less than 15 minutes, at times not waiting at all.

We started on the Incredible Hulk Coaster.  I was not sure what to expect, so when the car shot to about 40 MPH in 2 seconds while ascending the hill I was surprised enough to shout an explicative.  Hulk was a blast, with top speeds of 67 MPH and 7 inversions.  The 2nd time we were in the first row.  As we shot up that hill and I saw the quick inversion I had to close my eyes.  Too much for me.  We hit Hulk 4 times.

Dueling Dragons was a blast was well.  We started on Ice, and sat in the front row.  That was intense!  We immediately went on Fire.  We decided we liked Ice a little better since you approach the castle wall.  The Dragons go as high as 125 feet and 55 MPH.  There are several inversions, and a number of rolls as the dragons pass withing 18 inches of each other 3 times.  We rode Dueling Dragons 4 times.  So, we figure we were probably spun upside down about 40 times today.  And our voices were hoarse from screaming.  We routinely stopped to see the pictures.  Danny’s arms were routinely in the air and his mouth wide open in mid-yell.  My hands were routinely gripping the harness tightly and I was smiling.

In addition, we rode Spider-Man twice.  The second time was because 1) we rode Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and got utterly soaked and 2) the temperature had quickly dropped.  We wanted to dry off & warm up from the flames during Spider-Man.  As a result, we rode in the front.  The 3-D effects were cool.  Despite our best efforts to dry off, our pants were still largely wet when we arrived home.  A hot shower was in order.

We also got wet, though far less wet, and earlier in the day when it was warmer on the Jurassic Park River Adventure and Ripsaw Falls.

We rode the Storm Force Accelatron for a change of pace.  It was the crazy tea cups on steroids.  Solid but unspectacular ride.  Doctor Doom’s FearFall was anti-climatic.  I thought it would be like Tower of Terror except you can see how high up you were.  I don’t like free fall and went reluctantly.  I really wanted off before we went up.  Instead of slowly lifting us to the top and dropping us repeatedly (I was thinking I wouldn’t look), we shot up and bounced like on a bungee.  I was initially scared, but then said ‘That was it?!”  Sort of disappointing.

The only real disappointments were the Sinbad’s Voyage stunt show (Not so funny, and I’m really glad the kids weren’t there since they lit the witch on fire and she ran around for half a lifetime before diving into the pool.  Not kid fare.), and Poseidon’s Fury.

A great day, and some GREAT rollercoasters.  More than worth the free tix.  I’d pay to go back, as long as it was an off day so we could ride them as often as we did today.

Read Full Post »

Considering the President-Elect’s Faith

Cathleen Falsani has released her complete, unedited interview with Barak Obama on his personal faith from back in 2004 (all quotes are from that article).  Nothing he says should preclude him from being President, in any way, shape or form.  But much of what he says should preclude him from being a member of any evangelical church I know.  I’ll summarize it, but my goal is not to skewer him or correct him (ok, once or twice).

He denies the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ.

So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people. That there are values that transcend race or culture, that move us forward, and there’s an obligation for all of us individually as well as collectively to take responsibility to make those values lived. …

I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell.

I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity.

That’s just not part of my religious makeup.

Faith for him is more about living values than trusting a person (Jesus) and believing certain truths about him.  These are values that many religions have in common, rather than reflecting the character of God.

I’m a big believer in tolerance. I think that religion at it’s best comes with a big dose of doubt. I’m suspicious of too much certainty in the pursuit of understanding just because I think people are limited in their understanding.

I think that, particularly as somebody who’s now in the public realm and is a student of what brings people together and what drives them apart, there’s an enormous amount of damage done around the world in the name of religion and certainty.

He’s pretty vague on Jesus beyond the fact that Jesus really existed.

Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.

And he’s also a wonderful teacher. I think it’s important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.

The guys who keep him straight probably need to be straightened out.

Well, my pastor [Jeremiah Wright] is certainly someone who I have an enormous amount of respect for.

I have a number of friends who are ministers. Reverend Meeks is a close friend and colleague of mine in the state Senate. Father Michael Pfleger is a dear friend, and somebody I interact with closely.

For a constitutional law professor he doesn’t understand the Constitution.  1st, the Non-establishment Clause means no Church of America, or state church.  2nd, the Free Exercise of Religion which guarantees both Obama and I can freely exercise our faith here in America.

Alongside my own deep personal faith, I am a follower, as well, of our civic religion. I am a big believer in the separation of church and state. I am a big believer in our constitutional structure. I mean, I’m a law professor at the University of Chicago teaching constitutional law. I am a great admirer of our founding charter, and its resolve to prevent theocracies from forming, and its resolve to prevent disruptive strains of fundamentalism from taking root ion this country.

Fox News and talk radio confuse well-meaning Americans.  They apparently invented the pro-life movement.

Like the right to choose.

I haven’t been challenged in those direct ways. And to that extent, I give the public a lot of credit. I’m always stuck by how much common sense the American people have. They get confused sometimes, watch FoxNews or listen to talk radio. That’s dangerous sometimes.

He doesn’t seem to get grace.

What I believe in is that if I live my life as well as I can, that I will be rewarded. I don’t presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. But I feel very strongly that whether the reward is in the here and now or in the hereafter, the aligning myself to my faith and my values is a good thing.

Sin is …

Being out of alignment with my values.

Read Full Post »

Considering My Semi-Big Day

It wasn’t a big day, but important anyway.  Today I attended the SW FL Presbytery (PCA) to be examined for licensure.  It went mostly well.  I paused for a moment before articulating my position on women deacons, lest I really mess it up.  You don’t want to have any blood in the water or the sharks will circle you looking for something tasty.

I was approved for licensure, and approved as stated supply for Cypress Ridge.  So a good day.  I am not a man with 2 Presbyteries.  My membership, and ordination, remain in the Florida Presbytery (ARP).  But I’m like a member of SW FL Presbytery, being officially licensed to preach the gospel there for the next 4 years.

This should set search committees’ minds at ease should I be considered for a position in the PCA.  My exam in SW FL was more strenuous than for transfer.  So, in the words of Carl the groundskeeper, “I’ve got that going for me.”

Some encouraging moments from Presbytery:

• The repentance of a pastor who had been under discipline.  Encouraging to hear.  He is being restored to ministry at the same church so reconcile can take place.
• A church plant reported that most of their growth has been utterly non-churched people.
• Another church plant who had a teen interested in a teen Bible Study, but she was the only teen.  Well, she brought a bunch of her non-churched friends, essentially creating a youth group.

Since we stopped at Total Wine, I splurged on an Arthuro Fuente cigar and a bottle of Rogue’s American Amber Ale.  Don’t tell CavWife- I want it to be a surprise.

Read Full Post »

Considering the Aftermath

Here is one guy’s take on the election and its meaning.  The presentation is fun.

On a different note- at the end of Wednesday evening’s Law and Orderseason premiere we overheard the following: “Mr. McCoy, any truth to the rumor that you’ve been invited to join the Obama administration?”  Wonder if they had 2 different voice overs, or actually think Obama will have conservatives in his administration.  Just to make us go “hmmmm”.

Read Full Post »