Every Bullet Has Your Name On It!

Today the airwaves were replete with fresh political gossip as South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford held a press conference to confess that his mysterious 5-day disappearance wasn't due to a trek along the Appalachian Trail to clear his head as had been reported, but rather the result of a desperate adulterous rendezvous with a secret lover in Argentina whom he has known for 8 years. His confession was predictable - complete with tears, words of remorse, an apology directed towards his wife and four sons and a verbal resolve to carry out his gubernatorial duties in spite of the incredible drama and chaos he has injected into his administration.

The political talk shows are awash with pundits analyzing the effects on Sanford's office and his family. Psychologists are also being called upon to try to discern what could cause an otherwise fine and upstanding man to commit such an act of disloyalty and stupidity. One psychologist attributes the moral slide to a mid-life crisis. Another blames narcissism. Ben Stein, political analyst, commentator and pitch man was simply stumped. On tonight's Larry King show, Stein just couldn't make sense of it. He said, "His wife is a knockout. I can't imagine what this woman in Argentina looks like!" A part of me understands the psychologists conclusions and Ben Stein's logic, but what I know of Scripture points to something more profound and disturbing. Jeremiah 17:9 puts it this way,

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

That sounds harsh. But after 25 years of ministry and interacting with diversity of people from a variety of backgrounds, not to mention knowing myself and my motives and inner struggles, the words ring absolutely true! People who seem to have it all together, sometimes commit the most heinous acts imaginable, and I can even find myself in an unguarded moment entertaining a thought that is simply outrageous. The danger in committing the stupid acts comes from convincing yourself that you are impervious to them.

We see this kind of bravado in all aspects of life, all the time. Mike Tyson's self- proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet" title sounds silly now, but prior to Buster Douglas seemed plausible. As a man after God's own heart, King David's character seemed incorruptible, but after his catastrophic affair with Bathsheba, his weaknesses seems all too obvious. For that reason, when it comes to sin and committing acts of disobedience, a very wise mentor of mine put my own vulnerabilities - and his - into these terms: "EVERY bullet has your name on it! Every opponent can knock you out! The second you think you're above falling into temptation is the second you've already lost the battle. You'll never be above falling for some stupid trap. Don't you dare think that there isn't a situation or person you might encounter that couldn't lead you to dishonor yourself, devastate your family and render your minstry impotent. If you remember that and remember that God can provide the escpe from your own sinful desires, you have a chance to make it."

The Bible offers several lines of defense to help us when we are highly pressured to give in to temptation. The first is to keep a reign on your affections. Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to this course of action:

Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

I can remember back in High School cultivating crushes I knew were not particularly beneficial because there was just something so sweet about being in love, regardless of whether or not it made any sense - especially if the person flirted with liking you back. When we play with those kinds of emotions later in life, the results can be disastrous. What begins as "innocent but deep sharing" can subtly evolve into a dependent relationship that given the right circumstances can evolve into an affair that neither party had anticipated, but that neither party wishes to give up because it just feels so good. A monster 70's hit explained, "It can't be wrong, when it feels so right!" Unfortunately it can be wrong and our hearts are more than able to trick us into thinking otherwise.

The second line of defense is to run. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When you see the onset of the possibility of temptation, leave! Take the long way home. Shop at another store. Choose a different time to go to the gym or better yet, go to a different gym. Whatever it takes to avoid the tempting situation, do it! The costs will be much less than the cost of trying to repair a broken marriage, torn up family or stained reputation.

Thirdly, remember the battle is not just physical but a spiritual one. Ephesians 6:10-13 gives this command in preparing us to fight against all sorts or evil:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Will power will not equip you to stand against the barrage of bullets and arrows the enemy is prepared to rain on you. Humble dependence upon the Lord and a relentless determination to draw close and cling to Him will protect you when all else seems to have failed. God is able to preserve you when the temptations and tests come raging in like a mighty sea. Isaiah 59:19 comforts us with this reminder:

When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

God can protect us when all hope seems lost.

As you hear more news on the unfortunate developments in Mr. Sanford's life and the inevitable other moral failures that will be exposed as the world turns, don't gloat and don't pontificate, but rather consider the situation with sober judgement, pray for all those involved, help guide and direct for healing and restoration when you're close enough to be directly involved and truly remember that but for God's mercy and grace you too might stumble in a similar way. As for me, I will not forget, "Every bullet has my name on it!" Thank God for His complete and effective armor! Until next time...


Sam.

Will that be chariots or horses?

Today I woke up with a profound sense of gratitude and thanks for a number of possessions and services with which I am blessed, but have all too often arrogantly used without a thought to the level of blessing to which these "things" have lifted me. What things? Well, things like air conditioning in the summer, heat in the winter, running water, virtually uninterrupted electrical power, in house refrigeration and freezing, medicine, 24/7 news access, books, audio recordings of my own favorites musicians and video recordings of my Hollywood favorites and so on ad infinitum! All of these wonderful blessings are possessions which have come to define a lifestyle for me - a lifestyle I keep taking for granted and in which I continue to place my trust for security, happiness and well-being. Am I knocking these possessions as wicked or evil in themselves? Of course not! I am, however, "knocking" an attitude to which I too easily surrender that fails to take into account the Who behind all of these "whats". It is important that I keep this attitude in check, because a failure to reign my perspective in can result in my looking to the wrong sources for my strength, joy and well-being.

I am particularly mindful of the placement of my confidence as President Obama is scheduled to hold a carefully orchestrated, nationally televised question and answer session outlining his plans for improving health care provision for the United States. Since I have not seen the presentation, I will not criticize it in this entry. Nevertheless, having observed the pre-broadcast reactions to this presentation from people of virtually every range of the political spectrum, I do have a few reflective thoughts on ultimate trust that I'd like to share.

Anyone who pays attention to Biblical history can't help but notice an astonishing characteristic of the human psyche - even when god provides everything we need, it's not enough! Think back to the book of Exodus. People were struggling with issues akin to those with which we struggle today - the suspension of human rights through slave labor, general abuses inflicted by an authoritarian Government, infanticide, extravagant lifestyles maintained at the expense of common laborers, etc. The Israeli people had developed some powerful questions in reaction to these heartbreaking conditions - Where is God? What is He doing to do about it? Fast forward through the book just a bit, and we see Moses in a face to face encounter with God. When one considers the essence of Moses' questions, they are similar to questions asked in our own time. To paraphrase and condense Moses' conversation, he makes two important observations: "Sir, how can truly call on You when we don't know you Name?" and "How can we follow You, when we can't even SEE You?" Pretty good questions! The amazing and wonderful reality is that the Lord answered both questions for Moses. First of all, He told Moses His Name - "I AM" - second, He manifested Himself in a form that Moses and the people of Israel could literally see and follow day or night. What makes this so remarkable is that each time you read of a rebellion amongst the people of Israel, the rebellions occurred WHILE they could see the presence of the Lord with them, knowing His Name and character, but totally ignoring the reality of God's provision in their lives at the same time! They grew tired of the food, tired of the protection, tired of the direct guidance, tired of the very presence of God!

This history should serve as a warning for us as we seek to live, move and have our being in the 21st century. I believe that the core of the warning is this: If God Himself couldn't satisfy the deepest needs of human beings having created them and known them from the beginning, inside and out, what makes any of us think a government or anyone else can satisfy us? There is something within that makes us given to complaint and ungratefulness, even when we are drowning in abundance. I am not arguing that good health is a luxury, but rather cautioning against thinking that even the provision of flawless health care would result in ultimate happiness. Actor George Hamilton, as suave and sophisticated as a debonair playboy can be, was asked that having achieved virtually everything, what he really wanted out of life. His answer was simple: "More!"

The pursuit of "More" or even the struggle our basic needs amounts to living a life in pursuit of rainbows. While the Lord has given us gifts, talents and abilities designed to give us the tools we need to live and to help others, we must not ever allow the pursuit of happiness or even better health care to replace the One Who provided the ability to pursue happiness and health care in the first place. Nothing can replace God. We were made to have deep and meaningful fellowship with Him. All of our struggles, hurts, pains and pursuits should lead us back to the place where we realize that we will never attain satisfaction without an acknowledgement of God and relationship with Him. Why talk to the inanimate toy, when you can have wonderful friendship with the Living "Toy Maker"?

As we continue to struggle on this "Terrestrial Ball" with issues like peace, the economy, the environment, education, poverty and health care, let us remember the ultimate Source of our confidence. Psalm 20:7 puts it this way:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

If you are a Christan, don't forget that leaders come and go as do their philosophies and administrations. Yet, our God reigns forever! He no longer needs to put the Pillar before you, because now He has placed the Pillar within you by abiding with You through the person of the Holy Spirit. So when you're tempted to look for "chariots, horses" or other worldly sources of security for your personal sense of well-being, remember that the Fire within is able to see you through whatever this life or the world might throw your way. Don't trust the chariot, don't depend on the horse, but "light the Fire" within your soul, knowing that God will not disappoint, but longs to satisfy you in ways that no Army, health care plan or World Leader ever could. Trust in the Lord! Until next time...

Sam

When Sammy Became Daddy!

During the early years of my childhood, I called my father by his first name. It wasn't out of disrespect. It was just that as an only child, I only heard my parents refer to each other by their first names and mimicked what I heard. "Good morning Sammy!" I would greet him each morning. "Sammy, can we play horsey?" I would ask. He was always ready with a quick smile and a "Yeah Man, let's play!" This really bothered Mommy, but my father was simply so delighted about the world of fatherhood that he insisted that as long as he could have a relationship with his son, he could care less what his son called him. So, the name stuck.

When I turned 3, "Sammy" had to go far away. He had been away many times before, but this was the first time that I would be old enough to remember. The far away place was on the news all the time, and there were lots of pictures and film footage of people dressed just like Sammy. They called the place Vietnam, and Mommy and Sammy said lots of prayers and shed lots of tears before he left. After he departed for Vietnam, Mommy and I prayed everyday for Sammy to be OK and for a lot of other things that I didn't quite understand. We saw the patch that I remembered being on his shoulder on the news all the time - Mommy said it meant Sammy was in something called the 173rd Airborne, and that they were doing very important work. We stayed with both sets of grandparents in Mississippi during that time, and we would make unedited reel to reel recordings of family conversations, including arguments, chaos and everything. Sammy wrote back and said that he and his friends in Vietnam loved those tapes and listened to them over and over again.

Everyone in Mississippi worked hard to make sure Mommy and I had a good time and didn't worry about Sammy too much. One project Mommy had was that every day she would show me Sammy's picture all throughout the day and say, "Daddy!" It seemed that at least 100 times a day, she would show me his picture and repeat, "Daddy!" No lectures, no speeches, just a constant repetition - "Daddy"! Mommy said Sammy was Daddy.

After about a year, Mommy and all my relatives got very excited. They said that we had to get everything ready, because Sammy was coming home! It looked like we were going to have a big party! There was so much food being cooked and people I had never seen before were saying that they knew me, Mommy and Sammy. They were always pinching my cheeks and saying how cute I was and how much I looked like Sammy. After a day or two of getting ready, Mommy said it was time to go to Jackson to pick up Sammy. I didn't quite understand where Jackson was - I thought it was our last name and was a little confused that now it was a place! Anyway, off to Jackson we went! There were so many people at the Airport, it was hard to see, but I wanted to help and looked as hard as I could to see if I could find Sammy. I searched and searched - as did everyone else - and still no sign of Sammy. Then, as I gave it one last try I saw that smile - I would know that smile anywhere! Then I saw his Khaki uniform and his spit-shined Jump Boots and there could be no doubt! I broke away from everybody and ran to him as fast as I could, "DADDY!" I blurted out! If I thought he had been smiling before, I thought his smile would light up the whole airport after he heard me shout for the very first time, "DADDY!" I was surprised by it myself, but somehow, it just felt right. We all hugged and laughed and cried and prayed and celebrated! Sammy was my Daddy and I was so happy and I was so proud!

In a little more than a year Daddy would once again leave for Vietnam and travel to many other places. The reunions were always sweet and his smile was always the first thing I saw. In short order, however, I began to understand that not everyone who went away was fortunate enough to come back alive. The losses our military community suffered always hit close to home. My teacher lost her son, our school librarian lost her fiance, and some friends lost their dads. I was amazed by the strength of character showed by these friends during times of crushing loss and the dignity and hope they displayed as they pressed on. It would be an understatement to say that their courage was inspiring.

Though I am no longer directly connected to the active military community by service or relations, I am nonetheless Army born and bred and by virtue of rearing and training inextricably bound to the ideals and values that continue to characterize a community that serves without reservation and at a cost not easily understood by our society as a whole. My personal understanding began when Sammy became Daddy. I am committed to honor and remember his many sacrifices and the sacrifices of dads and moms, daughters and sons and their families who have served and supported so that the rest of us can pursue the blessings of liberty with joy and abandon. As Father's Day approaches, take the time to remember the "Sammies" in your lives who are away from their loved ones and homes and to thank them for what they do to make our world a better place in which to live. You may not have experienced their world, but you can use my story as a beginning point of reference. They will be grateful and your expression of gratitude will make a difference for them and the ones they love. Until next time...

"Little" Sammy :-)
Sam.

Georgia On My Mind

The last time I saw my mother, in the summer of 1996, we were bidding her farewell at the end our vacation at my parent's home in North Carolina. I remember seeing her sobbing as we pulled away from the house and being strangely overcome with the foreboding thought that I would never see her alive again. My thoughts proved to be true, and I was only to have a few now precious conversations with her before receiving the news that she had passed into eternity only a few months later. The last thing I was ever to do directly for my mother was to officiate her funeral. It was a day of extreme emotion. I was profoundly sad at not being able to talk to her or be with her when she died. No last "I love you's", no last hugs, no last laughs - just the faint memory of our last conversation and a deep frustration that I didn't make more of a mental note as to the exact content of our discussion. I remember at the time of that last conversation thinking, "I'll be able to share more with her later." The "later" never came.

Though I was somewhat haunted by these regrets, I nevertheless had a true sense of peace and confidence on the difficult and heart-heavy day of her funeral. My peace and confidence came from the undeniable truth that I knew about my mother's life - She was not just a "nice" or "good" woman, she was a true woman of faith. Her love of God was strong and deep - rooted in the knowledge that Jesus had paid the price for her sin and that she would spend eternity with Him. She shared her love of Christ with anyone who would listen, and showed her love of the Lord by loving all she met without reservation. Though I couldn't remember the specific context of our last conversation, I received comfort from the fact that I knew our exchange included a simple admonition that she always delivered as we ended our phone conversations for the last years of her life. She would simply say, "Darrell, trust the Lord. Don't forget about the Lord. Don't stop giving your life to the Lord. If you do that, no matter what happens, you'll be alright. Trust the Lord! You hear me?" It was her nature to make sure that I had a grasp on the "Bottom Line" at all times.

This Mother's Day, Georgia Laverne Jackson and her bottom line exhortations are at the forefront of my mind. Her hugs, her kisses, her laughter and her words have never left my mind and her love and care continue to sustain me more than a dozen years after her passing. Of course, because she is no longer with me in this life, Mother's Day always brings very mixed emotions. My celebration is always bittersweet because I simply miss her so much. Nevertheless, the pleasant and loving memories of her love and service to our family and others bring me great joy and call me to a higher standard of faith, service and parenthood. I am also able to celebrate the strengths I saw in her through the strengths I see in my wife Luz and the legacy of Faith-filled womanhood she has passed on to our four daughters. It is that testimony of on-going faith and legacy of godly strength that still bring a smile to my face each Mother's Day in spite of my mother's absence from us and presence with the Lord. With that in mind, let me encourage those of you who are able to give your mom a call, hug her, kiss her, shower her with praise, don't hold back any outpouring of love you can give in honoring her on this dedicated opportunity established in her honor. For those of you whose mother's are on the other side of the veil, let me challenge you to use this day as an opportunity to be thankful for the woman who invested so much in making you the person that you are. That's what I am doing this weekend. Thanks to Ray Charles it's easy for me. It's just an Old Sweet Song that keeps Georgia on my mind. Until next time...

Sam.

If Asked, Don't Tell

Love them or hate them, beauty pageants are a staple of Americana. From the local festival queens to the High School parades of Homecoming Royalty and beyond, pageants have a way of grabbing our undivided attention if but for a moment and are usually quickly forgotten. This is even true for the Mothers of all U.S. Pageants, Miss America and Miss USA. For a brief and shining moment 50+ ambitious young women demonstrate their fitness, talents and wit to an audience of millions who gaze in wonder at the spectacle, only to forget it all ever happened by the next week - unless, that is, something out of the ordinary happens. It's hard to ignore headlines that uncover a sordid secret that undermines a beauty queen's seeming purity. "She did WHAT? And she seemed so nice. What a shame" We exclaim. As hard as it is to ignore scandalous photos of a beauty queen, it can be even harder to ignore some of the things they say. Remember this infamous exchange during the interview portion of the Miss Teen USA Pageant a short while ago?

Q: 'Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?'

A: 'I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future.'

Confusing to read and painful to watch, this exchange has certainly stuck to my memory and will remain there for years to come. Nevertheless, after a mortifyingly embarrassing moment captured for the entertainment of a worldwide audience, no one would deny this contestant the basic right of freedom of expression regardless of how unintelligible and difficult to absorb her remarks may have been. Perhaps this is the key to making acceptable public statements. As one axiom of public speaking teaches, "If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, BAFFLE 'em with 'baloney'!"

Perhaps this rule of thumb would have rescued a contestant at this year's Miss USA Pageant from an obscene post-pageant tirade from a famous judge that seems nothing less than outrageous in a nation that purports to defend the freedom of speech. All was well and totally predictable during this weekend;s contest as stunningly beautiful women, gracefully glided, smiled and posed, pursuing an opportunity for national recognition, scholarships and prizes that could later prove to be a launch pad for a career characterized by fame and fortune even for the losers. (Don't believe me? You may not remember Miss USA 1986 Christy Fichtner of Texas but you've undoubtedly heard of the first runner-up that year, Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry.) Nevertheless, the pageant can prove to be a tremendous opportunity that allows the contestants to showcase their public poise and the platform to freely express their thoughts whether coherent or not or whether anyone agrees with those thoughts or not - at least until now.

This weekend, The Donald Trump sponsored Miss USA Pageant was indistinguishable to any pageant that had preceded it until the final question. The question was issued by pageant judge and world renowned blogger/gossip columnist Perez Hilton and addressed to Carrie Prejean, Miss California. The exchange went like this:

The question(Hilton): “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”

Prejean’s response:“We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”

A straightforward question. A straightforward answer. In evaluating the response for judging purposes, one might say that Ms. Prejean didn't really address the first part of the question, but undeniably took on the second part sharing her opinion honestly and respectfully. This is particularly commendable when one considers who asked the question and the reputation the questioner has for trashing those who disagree with him. Surprise, surprise, after the pageant had been decided and the winner chosen, Mr. Hilton could not allow himself to respect Ms. Prejean's opinion, but inferred that her response was the reason for her loss and further denigrated her in obscene and verbally abusive terms. My question is this: If Mr. Hilton didn't want an honest, non-scripted answer, why did he ask the question? This is a free country, after all , with the freedom of expression at the pinnacle of our personal liberties, isn't it? If Mr. Hilton's reaction is an indicator, perhaps not!

The elevation of political correctness at the expense of the freedom of personal expression is a disturbing trend in our national ethos that demands our immediate attention. Throughout our nation's history, the ability to express one's thoughts has lifted us to be the best we can be by exposing us at the worst we can be. The freedom of ideas and the expression of those ideas presupposes that in a free society filled with rational people, ideas can be exchanged unhampered so that those same rational individuals can see the unredacted facts in their essence and decide for themselves how they desire to act upon those ideas. Even when a philosophy has prevailed over another by way of the ballot box, the opposing side continues to enjoy the freedom of expressing their opinion - a freedom that demands protection by the prevailing opinion in order that the blessings of liberty can continue unimpeded by tyranny. It is my love of liberty that calls me as an American to defend the freedom of expression for a Racial Supremacist who believes that interracial marriage is an abomination, though as a man who is inter racially married I oppose that opinion with all my being. I further believe that a knowledge of the facts and a opening of the mind and heart can enlighten someone who espouses what I consider an errant belief and perhaps lead them to change their way of thinking.

Mr. Hilton's on-going tirade and his attempt to shut down Ms. Prejean's ability to express her opinion is troubling and is yet another reminder of the sad veracity of an old Italian proverb - "A man once dared to tell the truth. They killed him." Establishing "group-think" in the pursuit of so-called social harmony promotes a singular value - If asked for the truth, don't tell it! In the wake of increasing pressure to remain silent in the expression of less than popular opinions, I challenge you to be bold, be brave and be persistent in lovingly, respectfully and unflinchingly sharing the truth as long as God gives you breath. In John chapter 8Jesus promised freedom for all those who follow Him in truth according to His Word:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I love freedom. Jesus says to truly be free I must seek to know truth. I want others to be free as well, so I will continue to share the truth as I am able to see it generously seasoned with God's grace and love with the goal of enabling as many people as possible to enjoy God's freedom for themselves. For this reason, in the name of freedom, let me warn you now; if you don't want me to tell you my opinion in truth...Don't ask.

Until next time...
Sam.

The Real Threat to Liberty

I was reading through facebook entries from friends this morning and came across an article in which the author confronted the increasing instances of bullying towards young men who don't fit the archetype of "The All-American Boy". These young men are often not especially athletic, and sometimes gravitate towards more artistic and expressive disciplines in their life pursuits. In contemporary teen society, these youths are often harassed, their sexuality questioned and they are many times the recipients of such harsh verbal abuse that they are driven to despair, even to the point of suicide. What amazed the author who offered the observations was that these occurrences are happening in an era where people are supposedly more tolerant of individual expression and where opportunities to participate and be all one can be according to one's dreams and aspirations abound more than at any other time in US history. As I read the observations of the author, certain glaring omissions could not be ignored - there was no call for an alignment with moral absolutes and no appeal to personal responsibility and restraint.

How can we expect teens to display civility and self-control in their public relationships when we don't call them to restraint and responsibility in their most precious and intimate ones? What makes us think that indoctrinating teens to equate responsibility and commitment to others with using condoms during intercourse is going to make them behave as responsible and considerate citizens in the hallways in a far less intimate situation? Why would someone refrain from violence against someone they don't even care for in school, when they are encouraged to use violence as a means of convenience to dispense with their very own posterity who has been produced by the most intimate human act possible?

When we fail to go beyond political correctness and refuse to teach basic morality or even mere courtesy based on our collective responsibility to God and to one another, we are inviting anarchy and chaos. The increasing lawlessness we see is a result of the increasing disdain we have for the One Who gave the law and the ones for whom the law was given - humankind. It is only after Moses' interaction with God and his reception of and commitment to the law that he was then able to announce the timeless charge displayed on one of the greatest symbols of American freedom, the U.S. Liberty Bell which states, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" Leviticus 25:10.

There is a great danger associated with this increase of lawlessness and our failure to teach respect for and adherance to it. That danger is a willingness to welcome the restoration of order by extreme means at the expense of liberty. Let's not be surprised if as time passes and we fail to make a course correction, we find ourselves inheriting more and more discord. If things get bad enough, we run the risk of begging for peace and order at any cost, even if it means sacrificing our own liberty to secure it. "Just give us peace" will be our motto, "even if we have to pay the devil to get it." An exaggeration? I hope so. My greater hope is that we will put our current freedom to work and get our hands and knees dirty by paying loving attention to our children. We must do the hard and unrelenting work of walking alongside them and sacrificing some of our own conveniences and self-centered pursuits through investng our time in them. We can make great strides towards this end by daily teaching our children to diffeentiate between right and wrong and by enabling them to understand what it means to be good citizens, who are morally guided, personally disciplined and socially responsible so that the freedoms we count as precious and say that we cherish will not perish from the earth. It's a big job that requires much time and effort - true - but it promises dividends much greater and substantial than a dwindling 401K. Until next time...


Sam.

The Truth In Love

Honest and loving discourse is an art form that is rare and virtually non-existent in political discussions. It is all too common to reduce political discussions to rants, tirades and gross misrepresentations that seek to relegate the promoter of an opposing view as not merely irrelevant, but almost as not truly human. This kind of poisonous posturing can be much more destructive than beneficial and can ultimately damage the mindset of our posterity who are the most precious carriers of the values we seek to promote and hold most sacred.

Early this morning, a close friend posted an interview that comedian and emerging political commentator D.L. Hughley held with Franky Schaeffer - a born-again Christian activist and the son of the Legendary Christian Thinker Francis Schaeffer. In the interview with Hughley, Franky Schaeffer skewers the "religious right" and levels undiluted criticism at the leadership of the movement as unthinking, self-absorbed and fundamentally unworthy of followership. He then explains that as a result his dissatisfaction with the "religious right movement" he has"changed sides" and though he continues to walk the walk of faith in Jesus Christ, he has given his political allegiance to what he considers a more worthy and righteous movement. It is at this point that I depart somewhat with my Christian Brother's perspective and ask him to reconsider if he has merely traded one non-critical and naive political/philosophical allegiance and perspective for another.

My behind the scenes observations have been that with woefully few exceptions, politicians may have different platforms, but regardless of political affiliation too many politicians are fueled by raw, unmitigated ambition. I have come to believe that neither "side' is more sincere or purer than the other at its core. There are exceptions, but I believe the one very powerful and painfully descriptive run that Schaeffer made about the faults of leadership on the right could equally apply to the faulty nature of leadership on the left.

Am I advocating a cessation of Christan participation in the American political process? Absolutely not! Nonetheless, it is my conviction that Christians should rather speak Biblical truth to all political perspectives with humble and prophetic intensity rather than putting their faith in human labels which may or may not be sanctified in their or gin or purpose. I believe that regardless of person's political label, and I am especially and particularly addressing Christians in this instance, speaking the "truth in love" to every identifiable political and philosophical perspective remains at the core of our Gospel message. Scripture directs us to "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). What is more loving at its core than truthfully engaging our world in the issues of our day with passion and compassion as we seek the greater glory of God? This kind of engagement calls us to more than "side switching" and mandates that we do the painstaking work of encountering people on a heart to heart level rather than lobbing assaults from afar based on lazy labels.

I believe I have seen an excellent example of this type of engagement in an unsuccessful Presidential Candidate named Mike Huckabee. Former Governor Huckabee has a TV talk show which is rather unique. He invites individuals he believes have made a difference in some element of culture or life, regardless of background or label to take part in a conversation and to discuss what they believe, why they believe it and how we can work together to accomplish great things. He then does something I have not ever seen on a talk show. He puts his guest in control and asks them to ask him any question they want - ANYTHING! The questions tend to gravitate towards the toughest issue possible, often a point of disagreement between Mr. Huckabee ad his guest. In a recent installment of the show, he endorses the book When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win by Carol Leifer. Ms. Leifer is an award winning writer whose writing credits and accolades could fill a book. Mr. Huckabee was touched by the tone and wisdom of her book and took great care in promoting its message and giving it a high thumbs up. The interview progressed flawlessly with easy laughter and good natured sharing abounding. Then, Mr. Huckabee did something that seemed strange. He put himself on the hot seat and Ms. Leifer in control of the thermostat. He told her she could ask him any 3 questions she desired. when she asked the questions, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. She asked in a straightforward and even-toned manner why Mr. Huckabee didn't feel she and her partner had the right to marry as lesbians and why he didn't feel it was right for them to adopt as parents? On any other show, this might have opened the gates for a tsunami of fire of Biblical proportions. What ensued what exactly the opposite. Mr. Huckabee showed the utmost respect for Ms. Leifer's opinions, while very gently, respectfully and carefully outlining why he held to a Biblical definition of marriage and family, never once personally attacking her or her position - just stating the merits of his case. . Her last question showed her own graciousness as she asked him to name his favorite Beatles song! Many eyes moistened at the tender sharing of Biblical truth and the honest exchange of viewpoints, including Ms. Leifer's. Mr. Huckabee ended the set with another ringing endorsement of Ms. Leifer's book and a serious jam session on his bass guitar!

The truth in love. A radical concept and a Biblical call that is extended to all Christians. This week, we celebrate the triumphant victory of the One Who not only told the truth, but Who claimed to BE the Truth and Who backed His claims up by dying for us though we are unworthy and raising Himself up to life that we might know Him as the Truth and be set free from our bondage to sin and death. I challenge you to make a commitment today to devote yourself not to a political party or philosophy, but to give your life to The Truth. Jesus does not disappoint or discriminate, but rather loves without reservation or discrimination. As you remember His death and celebrate His resurrection this week, dedicate yourself once again to sharing His Truth in His love and witness the tearing down of walls and the changing of lives. It's a much more fulfilling and effective enterprise than any political affiliation I know of. Until next time...

Sam.