Faith, The Only Certainty

Why New Orleans?

2005-09-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a great conversation to help understand the Christian perspective on the flood. 9/3/05.

Jefferson and Madison Separation

2005-08-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Reading a book on their views. About half way through and it is clear that they have faith in God but probably not the mainstream view of the Christian God. It is interesting that even though they advocate separation. They clearly seek to have and expect people to uphold the values and ideals that are best represented in the Christian faith.

No Hope?

2005-03-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

The Boston Globe and Brian MacQuarrie wrote the following regarding the "Christian" Wilkerson family that they observed or discovered in Mason, Ohio. Hugh Hewitt asks: "So why the story?" Here is my guess:

The Globe is just pointing out the ridiculous point in trying to reach out to us dense Christians. The Globe implies: "Is there really any sense in even trying to reach out to the Wilkerson's?" The article begins with the premise below, but the lack of any summary or conclusion addressing it, emphasizes the Globe's resignation to the fact that Christians are likely unreachable, given their beliefs. When I read it, there is a sense the Globe is saying in a mocking tone: "Would we (the Democrats) really want the Wilkerson's? I mean, c'mon, can you believe that they actually believe that Bible stuff and are using it for a guide to live by, you've got to be kidding me."

The Globe repeatedly states the Wilkerson's belief in Jesus as the only way to heaven. This seems to be an attempt to put down the Wilkerson's as extremely close minded and intolerant. There appears to be little or no understanding of what conviction to your faith and living it out really means.

The Globe intended to make a case for how to reach the Wilkerson's and people like them, but in the end simply gave up. They ran it to show how hopeless (from their liberal view) and pointless it would be to even bother to embrace all those Christian Bush backers.

Even the title reflects the Globe's inability to comprehend that it is beliefs in action, not their religion at the base of the Wilkerson's politics. The distinction is crucial. The depth of their conviction and personal faith and relationship with God drives their life including their politics. The requirement to surrender ones self to God and establish a personal relationship seems beyond the pale for the Globe, lacking the personal experience, the only way the Globe can describe it is the term religion.

The Globe expresses a sense of contempt for the Wilkerson's and in their amazement, even failed to write a coherent article. Maybe God had a hand in it and is using it to spread his message through a rather unlikely medium.

Here is the presumed premise of the story:

To them, the president is ''a godly man" and Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts is not.
Such thinking is prompting many Democrats to rethink the party's message on religion and abortion, and how to reach out to voters for whom religion plays a critical, determining role. But in the Wilkersons' four-bedroom home, nestled between a creek and a cul-de-sac, a political conversion seems unlikely at best.
The Wilkersons oppose abortion and stem-cell research, consider homosexuality a sin, and regard same-sex marriage as the work of activist judges who cater to a
dangerous fringe group. The future holds either heaven or hell, and the only way
to paradise is to accept Jesus Christ.

Good Friday

2005-03-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

Jesus, an innocent victim being killed, prays: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 The Word of Forgiveness!
This week we were impacted by the dreadful news from Red Lake. I read of a cell phone conversation, between a child and parent. It was simply a plea for help and safety. "Mom, Come and get me". Jesus words are a plea too, but they are in stark contrast to the words the student, or you, or I, would likely utter.
Rather than a plea for help, Jesus pleads with his Father to be forgiving, and excuse his persecutors actions, due to their ignorance.
Looking closer, we see that Jesus is simply demonstrating the Love he spoke of during his ministry. In Matthew 5:44 (slightly paraphrased), he commanded: "Love your enemies, do good for those who hurt you, and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus prayer from the cross, fulfills perfectly his own command. Jesus forgives his persecutors.
He is fully aware of their blindness to the fact that they are actually Killing God's Son. It is difficult to imagine the anger the Father felt. We know of the Love a parent feels for a child. As any parent will attest, we have a strong desire to prevent our children from being hurt, as expressed so painfully in Florida this week. While Jesus wasn't a parent, he was rather perceptive about the anger his heavenly Father felt. And the need to pray for the Father to be forgiving.
The words of Jesus from the cross, are very much in character for the Savior we know and Love. We want to hear Jesus speak those words of forgiveness on our behalf. Our need to hear those words, is based on our knowledge, that our sin is the reason he allowed himself to be crucified. He died on the cross to forgive us. It is worth noting that even though they are not repenting, Jesus prays on their behalf to the Father. This is a real comfort to realize that even when we haven't yet asked or realized our need for forgiveness Jesus forgives us and prays for us.
Jesus prayer on the cross isn't only about Him forgiving those who actually put him to death. Jesus words to His Father, are also a guide for us to follow at times when we find ourselves angry about an injustice or disappointed by someone. He says, "Forgive them" Expressing our anger or disappointment is natural, but we are also, like Jesus, a child of God. We should follow his example and even in those most difficult times, be forgiving and pray for our Father's forgiveness for those hurting us.
Let us pray
Father, thank you for hearing the prayer of Jesus and for forgiving us through him.
Jesus, thank you for dying for our forgiveness.
Spirit, help us to follow Jesus example to forgive and pray for those who hurt us.
Amen

GODS

2005-03-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

Giving
Our
Daily
Share

For a very good stewardship sermon: "The Best Stewardship Sermon Ever" March 6, 2005

I came up with this alternative:

God
Offers
Daily
Sustenance

MINE

2005-03-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

More
Is
Never
Enough

From a sermon by Pastor Paul on Sunday. We always want more, but are never satisfied.

Why'd you do it?

2005-02-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

From our Ash Wednesday sermon by Pastor Chris Smith based on Matthew 6:1-6,16-21.
The Gospel begins:
Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven."
I see a slight inconsistency, between this verse and the idea of just living your faith and being a witness as you do your daily tasks. I believe the distinction is the motivation behind your actions. Going to church or asking someone not to swear in your presence, when it is being done just because you are living and expressing your faith. Is not what this passage is talking about.

Contrast this with the verses later in the Gospel that clearly speak of the motivation as the essential problem: "so that they may be praised by others", "so that they may be seen by others" or "so as to show others that they are fasting."

It is not a minor distinction. Outwardly, your actions might be the same in either case, but what is in your heart and mind that is motivating you is what distinguishes the two. You and your God, know your motivation.

Iraq Election

2005-01-31T23:32:00.000-08:00

The most despicable article I have read mentioned that 44 people were killed in attacks by suicide bombers. The author went on to note that this count included the bombers themselves. Bias, what bias?

I am reading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", the allies had and missed many opportunities during the rise, to thwart and prevent the evils that ultimately resulted. The pre-emptive attacks executed in Afghanistan and Iraq are just that type of prevention. They have saved countless nameless faces from suffering at the hands of evil rulers.

The cost born by our American sons and daughters is painful to bare. But seeing the smiling faces of the Iraqi citizens after voting is clear evidence that the costs are not in vain. May God bring special comfort to those who have suffered losses for others to live free.

From Needs to Wants

2005-01-31T23:15:00.000-08:00

In a conversation today with a friend we discussed the transition from needs to wants. We know that people have basic needs and after that move up to wants and desires. So the needs get met and then the incongruent behaviors appear. Those foundational influences only reach so high up the want chain.

In the Bill Moyers piece, you see one who believes that we are despoiling our nation and wasting resources, and those nasty Christians are to blame. But the result of consuming resources is more efficient use of the resources as their costs increase. While he is correct that some resources truly have limits. Do we want to constrain our current potential when it might be that potential that opens opportunities we never imagined. Life is not a fixed sum game. As people become more productive, they gain more wealth. With more wealth, they consume more goods creating more demand and likely competition to produce those goods more efficiently. The consumption of goods can actually end up resulting in more efficient use of those limited resources. Artificial controls contraining the consumption are naive and not the answer. We are where we are because those before us produced and consumed resources. Their productivity consumed entire forests and prairies, but we now have farmers producing goods to feed our nation and beyond. The market works as a strong guide to not be wastefully using our resources.

Is it a need or want for Bill's vision of a better future for his grandchildren? The vision is a need we all share. How we want to realize it is where we don't yet see eye to eye.

Christian Opposition?

2005-01-30T22:03:00.000-08:00

Christains share the basic confession that Jesus died for their sins. But that sole foundation of belief, when mixed with the many other aspects of the person and their experiences, is expressed in dramatically opposing views. Some views can be attributed to a simple emphasis of Justice or Mercy, but more often, there are many other subtle aspects that play into the persons expression of their faith.

To understand these incongruent outcomes is something I enjoy pondering. The quote by Abraham Lincoln fits well on this issue: "I don't like that person, I need to get to know them better." The power of uniting the people and understanding the reasons for their varing views may help us to establish, ultimately, more peace.

At church, I have friends who are more liberal than I am conservative. I feel that as a result, we are somehow less effective at achieving the goals we share as Christians. Striving to find the common ground and putting our focus there would be more effective than casting votes that end up cancelling each other out.

What principles or additional beliefs drive us, many, but for example:

Government - a source of solutions or cause of problems?
Should taxes be higher to provide more services or lower to allow individuals to share according to their choosing?

Seek first to understand, then be understood.

Cognitive Dissonance

2005-01-30T21:46:00.000-08:00

Contrasting Captain Ed's Note to Democrats with the comment by MarineLiberal1775 is startling. Both love America, but the Captain points out failings in the Democratic leadership through their failure to recognize the power of elections in Iraq. 1775 sees the bashing of the leaders and attacks back. On his site he paints Republicans with Cognitive Dissonance. My suspicion is that the Captain would say the same of the Democratic leadership. What is the source of this deep felt contrast in views, to the point that it gets difficult to see the good in the other side. Fundamental principles guide each of them, some like love of America are likely identical, but when they finally percolate to the surface of the person, they are incongruent.

Sure Hope

2005-01-24T22:10:00.000-08:00

A blog to strive for congruency in an incongruent world.