Naked or Nekid?

I believe it was Jeff Foxworthy who taught us all the difference between the word "naked" and the redneck word "nekid." Naked means you have no clothes on. Nekid means you have no clothes on and you're up to something.

In a world where we are constantly bombarded by pictures of nekid women on the cover of magazines, the current issue of Elle Magazine features a picture of a naked (and very pregnant) Jessica Simpson. Now as a man, I know that ANYTHING I write on this subject will be biased and perverted. I have an X and a Y chromosome, and according to most women today, that is all I'm capable of rising to (don't go there) when discussing the subject of female nudity.

So instead of allowing my testosterone to get me in trouble, I instead direct you to the current post on the Christianity Today blog for women...Her-meneutics... titled The Best Naked Pregnant Woman on a Magazine Cover.

(http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2012/03/the_best_naked_pregnant_woman_1.html )

Whether you agree with the article or not, take the time to read the comments section. Flame after flame, written by good Christian women (hey, that would be a good name for a television show) who obviously disagree with Caryn Rivadeneira's praise of the cover. Women far more concerned about the marital status of Ms. Simpson. Where is her shame? How can Christianity Today justify the glorification of adultery and sin? The naked (not nekid) female form should never be put on display.

I'll let the article, and the comments, speak for themselves. But I would like to ask a fundamental question. Since God created man and woman naked...and looked upon His creation and declared it to be good...how would nudity be looked at if Eve hadn't succumbed to the lies of Satan in the form of a serpent?

Having traveled to countries where public nudity is a non-issue, and the pregnant female form is almost worshiped, I have to wonder if many of those commenting on the Her-meneutics blog are aware that they are regurgitating some of the same lies that Satan has been foisting off on mankind since the fall in the Garden? That the naked female form...and by extension (once again, don't go there)...the naked male form are things to be hidden. That we simply cannot control our urges and lust, so the only other option is a burka.

Don't you find it curious that in all the admonitions to sexual purity in the writings of the Apostle Paul, he never comments on the fact that public nudity was common and accepted throughout most of the Greco-Roman culture. Even among the more modest Jews, baptism took place in the nude. Jesus does not tell his followers to never look at a woman (a teaching of the Pharisees) but rather, to never look at a woman with lustful intent.

The tree that Adam and Eve ate from was the tree of the knowledge of good AND evil. Up to that point, they had only known good. It is interesting that it is only after they come to know evil that they become ashamed of their bodies. And if you continue reading, it is God himself who makes them clothing. God is the original fashion designer. But you have to wonder if God's heart wept as he watched man and woman cover up His creation.

Yes, we live in a fallen, broken world. And yes, the lust of man (and woman) have grown strong. But is that God's fault, or Satan's ? In parts of the world that have not been corrupted by the Victorian Ethic...which told us that ANYTHING related to the body or bodily functions is evil...the sight of a man or woman bathing in a stream or lying on the beach has little effect. In our culture, a man walking by a bowl with two grapefruit suddenly feels the need for a cold shower. Is that God's fault or Satan's.

We must always be reminded that it is BECAUSE we live in a world influenced by Satan that we must be careful in what we look at...or allow on the magazine covers in the supermarket. It is because we have totally sexualized the human body that we now have to be careful in how we allow our children to dress or act. It is expressly because Satan has influenced culture to define the perfect male and female form that we have to pay psychologist to help us with self-image and self-esteem issues.

Once upon a time the Creator of the universe looked upon the naked bodies of a man and a woman...and He said "It is good." I wonder if one day in the future, that same Creator will look upon the glorified bodies of those in His Kingdom and utter the same words. Some use bad exegesis to argue that there will not be male or female in the Kingdom. But I personally believe that a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever will stick with a good thing.

So when I finally see a copy of Elle magazine on a newsstand (the local market was pressured by complaints and have covered the display), I think I'll ignore the obvious airbrushing of stretch marks, and the lack of a wedding ring on Ms. Simpson's hand. Instead, I believe I'll offer up this simple prayer; "Way to go God...sorry we allowed Satan to screw it all up."

I Think I Might Be Wee-weed Up

I’m sitting in the Salt Lake City Airport, surrounded by Mormon assault troops in white shirts and ties, and I’m about to do something I never thought I would do (no, I’m not converting...one wife is enough). I’m about to agree with and quote Sarah Palin. From FOX News no less.

Her brilliant and insightful comments were in response to attacks on Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, after the Drudge Report published a message he gave in a church during the 2008 presidential campaign. Here is an excerpt from that message:

"This is a spiritual war. And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country - the United States of America. If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age?"


"Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition. He attacks all of us and he attacks all of our institutions."

Now if you are one of the Christians that make up roughly 82% of the U.S. population, you probably have little trouble with that statement. Even if you are just one of those folk who believe in Satan, even if you don’t believe in God (I know that doesn’t make much sense, but they are out there), then you probably have blamed Satan for the economy, terrorism and reality television.

But if you are in the mainstream media, Santorum’s statement…in a church, no less…make him a wild-eyed radical threat to all that make our nation great. And in the blogosphere, comments like the following abound:

From cqtestk4xs...Ooooh, do you believe in the great big bad Satan. He has his sights set on America. Does this sound a bit like some wild eyed fanatical religious jihadist Moslem to anyone besides me? The only thing is, it's some wild eyed religious Christian zealots who would like to be president. Scary, isn't it?

So why am I suddenly in agreement with Palin? No, this is not an endorsement for Santorum, Palin or FOX News. That said, I have to agree with Palin’s comments, even if I find her use of the English language a bit disturbing. So here we go...

"They will attack any conservatives who boldly proclaims their faith and talks about there is good in the world and there's evil in the world and that's what Rick Santorum was talking about," explained Palin. "And this was a speech that he gave back in 2008, where he named evil as Satan. And for these lame-stream media characters to get all wee-weed up about that, first you have to ask yourself, 'Have they ever attended a Sunday school class even? Have they never heard of this terminology before?" And that's why they got so, you know, just whacked out about the speech."

So there you have it...lame-stream media strikes again, and I’m wee-weed up. But I see a restroom sign just down the concourse, so I think I’m ok.

Then They Came For The Jews

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.


Then they came for the Jews, and I did
not speak out — Because I was not a Jew.


Then they came for me — and there was
no one left to speak for me.


- German pastor Martin Niemoeller, reflecting on the Nazi terror


In a conversation the other day with a fellow pastor, the talk turned to the Obama Administration's refusal to grant religious organizations an exemption from purchasing health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, surgical sterilization, and contraception. My companion's comment put this egregious and dangerous violation of religious liberty totally into perspective.

"Good for the Catholics! It's about time they get what they deserve for supporting such a liberal administration."

Since I've never discovered a polite way of telling someone they are dumber than a sack of turnips, I excused myself and went to the restroom. When I returned my friend was on his cell phone, and my urge to strangle him had passed.

Are we, who profess the evangelical Christian faith really so naive (the polite word for "dumber than a sack of turnips) as to believe that the president's recent decision only infringes on the Catholic Church's freedom of religion, and we are all somehow still safe? Is our Catholic bias so strong...and with it our apparent ignorance of our reformational origins...that it is somehow OK when discrimination happens to "them?"

At a time when New York City schools have given Christian churches until this weekend to find another place to meet, because while "religious services" are still permitted on school property, Christian "worship services" are now prohibited. (And yes, the Supreme Court has already refused to overturn this decision.)

At a time when the United States Air Force has removed the word "God" from their Rapid Capabilities logo. The previous moto read "Opus Dei Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing God's Work with Other People's Money). It's now changed to "Miraculi Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing Miracles with Other People's Money).

At a time when the Supreme Court has ruled that the will of the people of California regarding Proposition 8 (a ban against same-sex marriage) is unconstitutional...

At times like this, can we really ignore ANY shot fired at ANY portion of the Christian community? Why am I hearing talking heads on major Christian television networks making statements like "Well, we'll just have to see how the Catholic Church fares under these new rulings."

We evangelicals must follow the lead of men like Chuck Colson and stand unequivocally with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. Because when the government violates the religious liberty of one group, it threatens the religious liberty of all. We should be writing and calling our representatives and senators. Our voices should be heard along with those of Catholic bishops and university presidents.

Because if this bone-headed ruling is allowed to stand, what (or who) comes next? Tax exemptions? Clergy housing allowances? Requirements for ALL clergy to perform same-sex marriages or face fines (if you don't think that can happen, talk to some of our brothers and sisters in Canada).

Then they came for the Catholics, and I did
not speak out — Because I was not a Catholic.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. or G.T.F.O.

When I was in the second grade my teacher, Mrs. Fauzy (Mrs Fuzzy behind her back) called my parents into a meeting to complain about how I was treating her. She told my father that I was to immediately cease from saying "Yes Ma'am" or "No Ma'am," as it made her feel "old." For what it's worth, she was old, but that is not the point. My father explained...very emphatically...to Mrs Fauzy that I had been taught to show respect by saying "Yes Ma'am" and "Yes Sir" and that I would continue to do so, regardless of what a teacher might expect. A letter to the school principal backed that statement up, and I really didn't care much for second grade after that.


I'm in my fifties now (I know...it's hard to believe), but that sense of respect still remains. I'm not so offended by the biting satire in some to the political posts that show up daily on Facebook. After all, find a candidate who DOESN'T have something to take a shot at. Our previous president made some of the most inane statements ever recorded in the White House. If I ever slaughter the English language that badly, my wife will have the comment printed on a T-shirt.

It's not the satire that bothers me. It's not even the mean-spirited attacks where an attack may be due. It's the total lack of respect for the office that is demonstrated by those who post, and those who respond. Not only is it destructive in this country, but it just adds fuel to the anti-American fire that burns around the world.

And let's face it...that fire doesn't really need any more fuel. We may be one of the greatest nations on the planet, but we still collectively do things that make us look dumber than the fans at a monster truck rally. We would love to be known for our humanitarian aid and constitutional freedom. Instead we are known for The Jersey Shore, TSA and soldiers urinating on dead Taliban fighters.

An old photo is circulating around Facebook of President Obama standing with his hands folded in the "fig leaf" position while everyone else on stage has their hand over their heart during the singing of the National Anthem. I'm not going to defend the President's actions. Granted, few people still do the hand-over-heart thing while singing (Google any sporting event and watch the crowd). And there are dozens of photos of the President WITH hand over heart. But President Obama is a politician, and as such, should know better. You always sample whatever the local cuisine throws at you...you always kiss the baby, no matter how ugly...and you always look patriotic, even if Rosanne Barr is singing. (I did watch the actual video, and to be honest, the way that singer was screeching out the words, I too would have been tempted to cover my crotch or my ears BEFORE covering my heart).

No, the President's actions deserve comment and criticism. But he is still the President of the United states, and those comments need to reflect that. Use the titles of President or Mr. Lose the cute slang pronunciations of the President's name. Stop showing your complete ignorance by using racial slurs. I get that you didn't vote for him, and you won't vote for him again. We all know that YOUR GUY would have already fixed the economy, saved the environment, created so many jobs we would have to import workers (thereby solving the immigration problems), and we would be drilling for oil in all the national parks. But until the next election, Barack Obama is still the President.

So if you post some political tirade to Facebook, fine. I'll look at it, and I may even hit the "like" button. But show the office the RESPECT deserved, regardless of the man. If not, don't be surprised to get a response from me tell in you to...as they would say in King James English...Get Thy Facebook in Order (What did you think the title of this blog meant?)

This Year Let's Boycott STUPID

Really bored? Google the words "Boycott" and "Target" and you will quickly come to the conclusion that the only group NOT currently boycotting the Target department store is...well, I'm not sure I can find a group totally in support of Target.

The Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Transgendered group is boycotting them for a campaign contribution last year to a Minnesota Republican group. Flag-wavers are boycotting them for not donating to local veterans groups. And Christians are up-in-arms because Target does not allow the Salvation Army to stand outside their stores and ring bells. Environmental groups...animal rights groups...family advocate groups...heck, Pop singer and LGBT advocate Lady Gaga is boycotting Target by revoking an exclusive deluxe release of her second studio album Born This Way. My God, when Lady Gaga is offended by you, you must be scum.

And in the midst of all this controversy, Target Corporation continues to donate a tremendous amount of money to charitable causes every year, averaging roughly $3 million weekly. And, as in previous years, they continue to top Forbes magazine's list of "America's Most Philanthropic Companies." And yes, while the Salvation Army's Kettle Campaign does raise up to 70 percent of the Salvation Army's total annual income, Target also donates well over a million dollars to the Salvation Army annually.

People just like to boycott stuff, and it doesn't really matter that their reasoning is usually based on something they read on the internet. Just the other day I came across someone shouting that Target is foreign-owned (less than 2% of their shareholders are foreign), anti-American, anti-Christian, etc.. It is always wonderful to come across such enlightened individuals (and by "enlightened" I mean dumber than a sack of rocks).

Now I have to hear about it from my own back yard. A gentleman in Springfield, Oregon is being threatened by St. Vincent DePaul with eviction from his low-rent apartment (owned by St. Vincent DePaul) for violating an rental agreement he signed (with St. Vincent DePaul) that prohibits the hanging of any banners or flags on the outside of the apartment units. But wait...he's flying an American Flag....and (it gets worse)...he's a veteran.

So yesterday, in my email, I get (wait for it.....) an appeal to boycott St. Vincent DePaul stores. After all, these people who help thousands of needy people each year by recycling and reselling your used stuff to people who could not otherwise afford it, while providing jobs to hundreds of otherwise unemployed, and offering low-income housing to hundreds of people...many of whom are disabled or retired veterans. Damn these communist!

So you can imagine the words I might have used when I found out today that Saint Vincent DePaul has caved in and is allowing the gentleman to fly his flag...thereby opening the door for rebel flags, Nazi flags, political banners, and the LGBT rainbow flag (making Lady Gaga happy).

There are reasons why certain rules and policies exists that have nothing to do with the American flag, or Christian bell-ringers. Start a boycott to get what you want from a business, and all too often you end getting what you didn't want as well. And doing so without looking at the long-term consequences and the real heart of the business or corporation is just...well...stupid.

So this year I'm calling for a total boycott of stupid. And if you don't forward this to at least ten people...

Jesus Doesn't Hide on Halloween

For most of my childhood and early teens I hated Halloween. I hated it, not because of some connection with ancient pagan celebrations, or a fear that the dead could somehow cross over to the land of the living on that one mystical night...no, I hated Halloween because in my house, that was the night to turn off the lights and hide.


Growing up in an extreme fundamentalist home (note, there is no "fun" in fundamental, but there is a LOT of "mental"), my parents avoided anything that had a pagan origin. Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day (St. Patrick was Catholic, and therefore somehow pagan), birthdays, throwing rice at a wedding...you name it, if it was fun for a kid, it must be pagan. There are occasions where I wish someone would have told them circumcision was practiced by the pagans long before God told Abraham to take a sharp stone and...well, you know the story.

So once a year my father would lock the doors, turn off the lights, and we would sit quietly in the living room while children knocked on the door. "Don't make a sound...they might hear." As a small child I would sit and tremble...terrified of I knew not what...perhaps feeling like children did in the 16th and 17th century, when they believed that the knock at the door could actually be a long dead ancestor.

Now don't get me wrong. I completely respect Christians who opt-out of the celebrations, but please don’t think Jesus is hiding under his throne while Batman and the Little Mermaid knock at the front door. The reality of his Kingdom answers the deepest questions raised by this holiday. As his people, we must be ready to speak that truth instead of complaining about jack-o-lanterns. This is an awesome opportunity to share about God’s love. Just like Paul used pagan idols to teach about the Creator, we must use every opportunity to speak God’s truth into the confusion of our culture.

I don’t think Halloween is completely harmless, but most of what happens is playful. We’re not talking about devil worship, most families are just dressing up the kids like superheroes and getting some candy from grandma. What seems most dangerous is keeping silent when people need answers. And yet, in the midst of pagan-influenced culture, Halloween is the one night were many Christians rise up in judgmental wrath...often without seeing the incredible hypocrisy in their indignation.

Easter is celebrated during the same time as the spring solstice and selected for that reason because a pre-existent holiday. Many people see it as a time for eggs and chocolate bunnies. Christmas is celebrated when it is to coincide with winter solstice events because those celebrations were already in existence. Advent is almost identical down to the advent wreath and the candles to druidic festivals of light. The Christmas tree is a druidic tradition. Now many people see Christmas as a day for presents and fat men in red suits. Halloween is a night that many people associate with being scared and getting candy. Personally, I don’t see the problem with the third holiday as much as the first two. How can we put a Christian spin on Halloween when we can’t even keep the spin on our two most sacred holidays (speaking from a protestant Christian perspective)?

But what drives me even wonkier is the doctrine of substitution (theology geeks will laugh) that Christians apply to Halloween. Just change the name, and it's OK. Perhaps someone should tell them the early Church already did that. Halloween is a Christian name. Churches celebrate " Trunk or Treat Fall Festivals," " Hallelujah Night," and my personal favorite..."Harvest Party," where the only thing "harvested" are pumpkins, kids dress up in costumes, and are given lots of candy. Certainly no comparison to Halloween in that.

This is one invitation posted for a local church: "Our church is once again hosting its annual Hallelujah Night with games and singing and puppets and LOTS of candy. The kids are encouraged to dress as “something from the Bible”. They get very creative – burning bushes, pillar of fire by night, pillar of cloud by day, the Red Sea (big red “C” ), and of course a variety of Bible characters. It is a great time, the kids look forward to it all year long."  I think we'll take my granddaughter and attend. I'll go as Pontius Pilot, my wife will dress as the Witch of Endor, and my granddaughter can come as Rahab the Harlot.

Before you respond, check out Hebrews 2:14-15 carefully: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Did you catch all that? Satan has death & fear as his tools to enslave people, but Jesus overcame them both. He has broken the powers of evil and now lives as our champion. Bottom line, Jesus is not afraid of Halloween.

Worshiping with Style

Pastors love to talk about their congregations. We usually lie through our teeth, but we still love it when you ask us a question that opens the door for us to tell you all about the wonderful things we are up to. But I seriously threw off a fellow pastor the other day when he asked me a very common question. "What style of worship does your church use?"

Now I know exactly what he was asking. The normal answers are "traditional," "contemporary" or "blended." And how one answers the question determines if their congregation is made up of old farts (traditional), emergent 20/30-somethings (contemporary) or a congregation of old farts trying desperately to attract emergent 20/30-somethings (blended).

I understood the question, but my answer was not what my fellow man-of-the-cloth was looking for. Without missing a beat, I answered "We have two styles of worship...we worship in both spirit AND in truth."

Now my new-found friend understood the reference. Jesus tells a Samaritan woman "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24). But what he really wanted to know was...do we use drums and guitar, or just piano and organ?

But the problem I have is that if one more person tells me that the only way to attract young worshipers is to mirror the contemporary styles of music, they will run the risk of me sending them to worship Jesus face to face. For while I totally agree that contemporary styles of music are the inevitable outcome of a worship lifestyle that is Spirit lead and truthful, it is almost NEVER the other way around.

Music and lyrics can go a long way as a teaching tool for believers...perhaps even a better tool than the sermon. And music that is familiar and enjoyable is far more likely to attract a new believer than a Gregorian Chant. But if the "church experience" isn't firmly rooted in the teaching of the inclusive, unconditional love of God, and the need to live that love out loud in community, then the music is nothing more than that...music.

And as for the notion that young adults will only worship if the music sounds like a U-2 concert (I wish), all one need do is look at the thousands of teens and young adults that are drawn to worship settings like Imago Dei, or Taize in France. Settings where the worship occurs in ancient hymns, chants and long periods of total silence. Young, emergent, post-modern worshipers who are attracted to the opportunity to become those worshipers Jesus told the Samaritan woman the Father seeks.

The truth be told (did I mention pastors often lie), the musical style used for worship in my congregations is mostly contemporary, with an occasional old hymn thrown in as a peace offering to the senior members of the community. Do we worship in Spirit and in Truth? Yes...no...sometimes...maybe...not often enough. As a pastor and a musician, am I happy with our weekly worship experience? See previous answer.

But I am confident that the worship wars are long over, and we are slowly coming to see that worship is not a musical style, but a lifestyle. And the more the Spirit leads us to the Truth that can only be found in relationship with Jesus (to a Christian, ANYTHING else would be a lie)...the less we will care about how awesome the music was, and the more we will care about how awesome God is. And as the words of an OLD hymn put it..."How can I keep from singing." Drums are optional.

R E S P E C T

MSNBC: President Barack Obama placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery

FOX News: Suspected Muslim places suspicious device on government property.


This comparison may be a bit extreme, but considering some of the recent emails I've received, or worse, some of the comments I've read on major news sites, there is a large segment of society that would relate to the fictitious FOX News heading. The over-the-top hatred for the current president is only slightly greater than the hatred and contempt for the previous president.

Now let's get a couple of things straight. First, I don't care who you voted for or what political party you belong to. Someone voted for the current president, and if it wasn't you...GET OVER IT. Nobody is telling you to agree with him. But I am reminding you that that no matter how many rants you forward on the internet, he is still going to be the president tomorrow.

Second, let's weed a couple of folk out of this discussion who aren't going to understand it anyway.

If you are still a birther...you are too stupid to vote or contribute to intelligent conversation. Go away!

If you still believe the current president is a Muslim...ditto.

There...with all that said (and hopefully the wackos have left the site in a huff), let's talk about the utter lack of respect that permeates the internet when the name of Barack Obama is mentioned. The level of juvenile, crass, and otherwise mindless comments that Christians post on blogs, emails and facebook, shocks and offends even a cranky old curmudgeon like myself. My father's words regarding the president still ring in my ears years after I made an inappropriate comment regarding a former president. "You don't have to like the man, but you damn well better respect the office!"

I believe that, as a Christian, I need to do more than just "respect" the highest office in the land. I have a responsibility to the man himself. The Apostle Paul sets the tone when he writes in Romans 13:1-2 "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

Paul later will write to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:1-3) "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior..."

So, with Paul's words in mind, let me ask this question. If you are praying, making intercession for, and giving thanks for the president of the United States (as Paul commands)...how likely are you to forward me a picture of a monkey with Barrack Obama's face photoshopped in? Or the photo of him wearing devil horns? Or a Nazi uniform? Bottom line...how easy is it to hate someone you are routinely praying for?

And BTW, if you are NOT routinely praying and giving thanks for Barrack Obama, what part of "This is good, and pleases God our Savior..." did you not understand?

"Slut" is a Good Thing?

For years I had a cartoon on my wall depicting two naked women (tastefully drawn) walking down a city street, past a busy construction site. As the men whistled and cheered, the one woman says to the other "Men are such animals!"


Let's pause for a moment while all the men reading this think "Yea....and?"

In case you missed it, thousands of women in several countries have gathered over the past couple of weeks to participate in "Slut Walks." All in response to controversial comments made by a police constable earlier this year. In January, Toronto Police Const. Michael Sanguinetti told a personal security class at York University that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized."

Another brief pause while all the men reading this think "Yea....and?"

Now, before anyone reading this blows a gasket, we all agree that NOTHING, including dressing like a slut, gives a man a right to victimize a woman. A women walking down a dark street half naked is not "inviting" sexual assault, any more that a well-dressed white guy walking the streets of Compton, CA is "inviting" a carload of gang members to repeatedly shoot him. One should never lead to the other.

Unfortunately, one DOES sometimes lead to the other.

If I were to suggest that a white male...exposing himself to the pent up rage of an impoverished ethnic community...was acting irresponsibly, few would be quick to disagree. But make the same suggestion that a woman should take some degree of responsibility for her actions, and a group of angry women in fishnets and leather pushup corsets are protesting on my front lawn. I wouldn't mind that much, but my wife might take exception and it would frustrate the dog.

Which brings us back to the notion that all men are animals. (Yea....and?) Whether we like it or not, men were designed to respond to visual stimuli. Don't blame me, blame God. In his infinite wisdom, God designed the male brain with such a strong visual turn on, that walking by two grapefruit in a bowl will cause a man to forget why he came into the room. Perhaps God thought women might one day need a little help dragging their husbands from in front of the TV during March Madness.

Whatever the reason, dressing like a slut (think hooker, tramp, bimbo, hootchi, etc.) is not going to solve the age-old problem of men acting in totally inappropriate ways. Men need to be taught, from childhood, that what a woman wears (or doesn't) NEVER gives him the right to touch. On the other hand, women need to be taught, from childhood, that even good, decent, Christian men are still men. One study says that adolescent males have some form of sexual thought every 29 seconds, to which most men reply "That long?"

At our church camp we ask the young ladies to give the guys a break. One-piece swimsuits don't solve all the problems, but at least it's a start. But when so much of the clothing available to young women these days is designed to sexualize them, it's often a losing battle. How do you explain to the thirteen-year-old that while you are grateful that she purchased a new swimsuit just for camp, it would have been nice if the swimsuit designer had not chosen to accent the color of the suit by placing a color burst radiating a few inches from the crotch. Watching boys and grown men walk into utility poles (either from looking, or trying to not look) is only amusing for a few moments. And don't get me started about sweatpants designers who insist on putting their name on the backside of young girls.

So if women in Canada and the U.S. want to wear their Victoria Secret purchases in public, who am I to stop them. I get the point...the little black dress is not an open invitation to grope. But I must admit that I'm half tempted to begin carrying one dollar bills in my wallet. Because if you are going to dress like a stripper, then the only polite thing for me to do is come up to you and tip.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a strange craving for grapefruit.

Lord's Supper and Car Wash

There is a story in the Gospel account of John where Jesus does something so bizarre…so astounding…that it leaves some of his followers confused and speechless. Their Rabbi…their teacher…their Lord…gets down on his knees and washes their feet. Then he tells them they will be blessed if they do the same for each other.


Now there is not a single written account of any of the early followers of Jesus washing each other’s feet. The other Gospel writers don’t even bother to mention the event. And there is a good possibility that what Jesus was demonstrating was not proper foot hygiene, but rather, the need to serve each other.

Nevertheless, for most of my life, I participated in an annual “footwashing” ceremony, where I would find myself on my knees pouring water over the foot of some other member of my congregation—usually selected at random. Then (even worse) I would have to let them wash my feet. While I may have learned a degree of humility from this practice, the “creepy” factor usually won out.

This year I gave the leadership team of my church the opportunity to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on a footwashing ceremony during our annual Lord’s Supper celebration. The response was mixed, and there was some amount of debate. But in the middle of it all, one member made an awesome suggestion.

She pointed out the fact that what made Jesus’ act so relevant to his disciples was that their feet were their main form of transportation. Sure, they rode the occasional donkey. But their feet were what carried then through the dusty countryside of Palestine.

Her suggestion was a simple one. If we were to follow Jesus’ example…and make the event relevant to our time and culture…we should wash each other’s car, not their feet. Brilliant! An act of service that actually MEANS something. Few of us wear open sandals and walk on dirt (and other “stuff”). But we all drive cars, and they get dirty.

We couldn’t pull it off this year. Not enough time. But if I have anything to say about it next year, we are seriously going to look into planning our first annual Lord’s Supper and Car Wash. Bread, wine, the Good News story, and buckets of soapy water.

In the meantime, perhaps you might want to follow Jesus’ example yourself. Wash a car. Mow a lawn. Find some way to lay down your life in service to a brother or sister. By this shall they know that you are a follower of Christ…

And I’m sure the promise of blessing if you do this still applies.

Human Life as a Bottom Line Item

(The following is a requested reprint of a newletter article I wrote a couple of weeks ago. Their idea was that by including the article here, another eight or nine people could read it.)

 Most of us believe that a personal budget is a good idea. Few of us actually have one. In spite of all the advice from financial gurus like Dave Ramsey, Larry Burkett and Ron Blue, the closest we come is "the money comes in...and we spend it." And our personal debt grows in the process.

So when I got sucked into a discussion the other day regarding our nations budget, and our need to reduce our national debt, I once again found myself standing in the middle of the road as an obstacle to the bandwagon on which everyone else in the conversation was happy to ride. The Republicans are cutting the deficit by millions. That's a good thing, right? Not if those "not in my backyard" cuts cost the lives of thousands in third world countries.

And the proposed cut of $363 million to the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the 40% cut to the Global Fund will do just that. If the Republican controlled congress signs off on these cuts, they will, without question, become the very death panel they were so worried about.

These two programs, created by a Republican President in 2002, have treated more than 3.2 million AIDS patients worldwide though local hospitals and nongovernmental organizations. The program has changed the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in seven short years, increasing the number of patients receiving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) from 50,000 before the program began to more than 3.2 million since. Drugs to pregnant mothers have prevented the transmission of the virus to 140,000 babies.

PEPFAR officers estimate that 400,000 HIV/AIDS patients who were supposed to begin treatment will not be able to under the proposed cuts. And 100,000 fewer mothers will receive services to prevent transmission to their babies--which PEPFAR estimates means 20,000 more babies will be born with HIV.

Ambassador Eric Goosby, head of PEPFAR and the U.S. Global AIDS coordinator, laid out the stark result of the proposed cuts in an interview: "They're going to Kill a lot of people, flat out." The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services put it this way: "Cuts at the level being considered will result in the loss of innocent lives". And Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote this: "The proposed cuts in the House spending package would have devastating implications for these policies and for our humanitarian agenda as a whole. Simply put, these cuts will cost lives."

The Bush administration designated the foreign aid budget, including PEPFAR, as nation security spending, which could protect it from the congressional axe. House Republicans, however, have found a way around this protection. Why? House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., explained it this way: "I just don't think global health, as important as that may be...belongs in this national security budget."

A balanced budget is a wonderful goal. And I understand the pressure Republicans are under from their constituents to do "something." But imagine this for a moment. What if Dave Ramsey tells you... in addition to cutting up your credit cards and avoiding all high interest loans... the best way to balance your family budget is to stop feeding one of your children.

Think of the savings! Your financial bottom line will look so much better. But at what cost?

Consider me old fashioned, but I can't help believing that the Christian response to our own national financial woes has to look beyond just making a group of angry, under-educated voters happy. Cut funding to NPR if you must. Cut funding to State's Educational and Cultural Exchange programs (a $350 million dollar savings just over the next several months). Make the hard cuts, if necessary.

But ANY yes vote on the currently proposed budget cuts is, in my opinion, an act of murder. The children who will certainly die may not live in Oregon, or Wisconsin. But as members of the greater global community, they are our children, non-the-less.

Disney Princess Terrorists

I knew better. You fly enough, you should know the rules. When you go through the full-body scanner you must remove everything from your pockets. I forgot my wallet.
So here I am, watching a highly-trained TSA agent take my wallet apart (as if I might have a pound or two of ammonium nitrate explosive hidden between my family photo and my pastors' discount card for the Tree of Life bookstore) while another security "expert" is fondling my crotch and ass.

It's been a long trip. I'm not feeling all that well. My tolerance for morons in uniform is at a dangerous low. There is another flight out in a couple of hours if...for some reason...I should be "delayed." Everything is in perfect order for me to cause someone to regret their employment choice. All that is left is to decide on the appropriate volume for the coming tirade.

But before I can utter the brilliant (yet cutting) comment to the troll still amusing himself with my wallet, the calm of the security screening area is shattered by a loud male voice shouting "Are you f___ing KIDDING me?" A small child begins to wail, and the voice continues "This has got to be some kind of f___ing joke!"

Wow, I think. That is far better than the snarky comment I was going to make. As Charleston Hesston said in the Ten Commandments, when seeing the burning bush from a distance, "I must go and see this thing." So as I put on my shoes, belt, watch, cell phone, glasses (and what was left of my dignity), I moved to see what the commotion was about.

The short version of the story was this. Mom, Dad and (I'm guessing) four-year-old daughter are coming back from a trip to Disneyland. Daughter's souvenir from the trip was a Disney Princess snow globe. Disney princess snow globes are on the official TSA no-fly list, so a dutiful and ever-vigilant agent has taken the snow globe from the child's Little Mermaid backpack and has thrown it into the bin of other extremely dangerous confiscated liquids (mostly oversized bottles of mouthwash). Child is wailing, and Dad has crossed the line from annoyed to full-blown anger. Others in line are joining in verbal abuse of the TSA agent.

The scene resembled recent news reports from Egypt. Security agents were arriving from other screening stations. And I swear people in line were scanning the floor for rocks to throw. My participation was neither needed or called for, so I went on to catch my flight.

I shared the story will a fellow passenger. She looked at me smugly and declared "I feel for the little girl, but personally, I'm willing to do anything to make sure flying is safe."

Really? Anything? I can't wait to hear her response when someone inevitably smuggles an explosive device "inside" their body, where the scanners don't penetrate. Let's see if she feels safer after the rubber gloves are removed.

So we traumatize four-year-olds. We publicly embarrass a woman in the Portland airport, as a TSA agent makes her explain (in front of dozens of other passengers) that the bulk the agent is feeling during the pat-down is an adult Depends diaper. Or the elderly black man in Orlando that had to show the agent (and everyone else in line) his colostomy bag. Or the veteran forced at LAX to remove his prosthetic leg to go through the screening. Or the additional screening and the interview I had to endure because I made a last minute change to my flight schedule when I found out my Mom had passed away.

Do I feel safer now when I fly? I'll feel safer when we abandon the idiotic screening methods we use in this country (methods that have been proven over and over to not work). I'll feel safer when we adopt methods that do work. I'll feel safer when we stop groping little old ladies, and instead, take a hard look at every traveler who even appears to be of middle eastern decent. And if my darker skin and beard mean that I get groped more often, I'll live.

But I must admit...I would really like to see the Homeland Security briefing on Disney Princess terrorist. I'll bet anything that Princess Jasmine is the ringleader.

Kill All the Heretics

Rob Bell is at it again. The likes of John Piper and Mark Driscoll are sharpening the executioner's axe. And if the volume of references (over 20,000 at last Google count) to an article by Justin Taylor are any indication, the orthodox religious types are gathering in the village square to witness a good old fashion beheading.

So what did Bell do this time to justify such fervent cry of "Off with his head?" We don't really know, because the book that has neo-Calvinists like Piper and Driscoll up in arms hasn't actually been released yet. About all we have is a short promo video and the following description from the publisher.

“Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners – with a downloadable podcast reaching 50,000 more. An electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls ‘a singular rock star in the church world’, Rob Bell is the most vibrant, central religious leader of the millennial generation. Now, in Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith – the afterlife – arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly optimistic – eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.”

Based on this, Piper tweets to his loyal following "@JohnPiper “Farwell Rob Bell. http://dsr.gd/fZqmd8”. And the link at the end of the tweet is a link to an article by Justin Taylor, who states, “It is unspeakably sad when those called to be ministers of the Word distort the gospel and deceive the people of God with false doctrine.” Taylor goes on to quote 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.)

So there you have it. We have no other choice but to kill the heretics before they can do any damage to the movement. And I use the word "movement" intentionally, because killing anyone who might disagree with the early followers of Luther and Calvin seemed to be standard operating procedure. Consider the two following quotes.

“Whoever shall now contend that it is unjust to put heretics and blasphemers to death will knowingly and willingly incur their very guilt.”

And this one:

“Anyone who can be proved to be a seditious person is an outlaw before God and the emperor; and whoever is the first to put him to death does right and well. For if a man is in open rebellion, everyone is both his judge and the executioner; just as when a fire starts, the first man who can put it out is the best man to do the job.”

The first is from John Calvin (after the execution of Servetus for preaching a non-Trinitarian understanding of God). The second is from Martin Luther encouraging the slaughter of peasants (often Anabaptist Christians).” And while John Piper has yet to call for the slaughter of liberal theologians, his "death before debate" approach to the writings of those like Rob Bell and Brian McLaren shows that little has changed over the centuries.

Is Bell a Universalist, as Piper and Taylor claim? I don't think so, but unlike them, I'll need to wait to read the book before I pass judgment. And even then, I think calling Bell a servant of Satan is a little over the top. Even without reading Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived I'm fairly certain that Rob Bell's Hell has a lot fewer inhabitants than Piper's. But then, I don't need Bell to tell me that. All I have to do is actually read scripture. That approach would work for Piper and Driscoll if they could ever take their John Calvin glasses off for a moment.

The End of the World As We Know It

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Fire and Ice - Robert Frost

OK, everyone...mark your calendar. Jesus is returning on May 21st of this year. I know because I heard Harold Camping tell me so on Family Christian Radio last night. Of course Mr. Camping also predicted Christ's return in 1994, but every prophet is entitled to one missed prediction, right? (If anyone is interested, we are planning an "end of the world" party for May 20th. You're all invited)

Harold is certainly not the first to predict the date for the end of the world. Joachim of Fiore announced to Richard the Lionhearted in 1191 that the Antichrist had been born, and the end would shortly follow. The Taborites waited for Christ's return in February of 1420. Melchior Hofmann predicted the end of the world as we know it in 1533. If you want to irritate a Seventh Day Adventist, mention the Millerites ("I am fully convinced that somewhere between March 21st, 1843 and March 21st, 1844, according to the Jewish mode of computation, Christ will come"). When that didn't pan out, William Miller changed the date to October 22, 1844. And I know a number of groups that get a little hot if you point out that televangelist Herbert Armstrong blew a couple of end of the age predictions.

But it must be the end of the world, right? There is unrest in the Middle East (like that has never happened before). Birds are falling from the sky (forget the fact that there have been an average of 165 bird die-offs reported every year). The economy is in the toilet (it's almost as bad as it was in the 80's). And Justin Beiber has a new movie in the theaters (OK, now I'm worried a little).

So why? Why do I, at least once every couple of weeks, have to listen to someone telling me all the reasons the end is near?

There are a lot of reasons I can think of. Fear. Frustration. Ignorance. Glenn Beck (wait, I already listed him in a previous reason). But I really believe the driving force behind prediction addiction is a burning desire to be let off the hook. If Jesus is coming back tomorrow, then I don't have to do anything today.

I don't have to worry about the conditions in my community...Jesus will fix it all when He gets here.

There really isn't enough time to share the good news the Jesus desires a relationship with my neighbor...my neighbor will have to figure that out when the trumpet sounds, and by then I hope to be out of here.

Global warming and the environment...it's all going to be toast shortly.

There is a story of a young monk who confronted St. Francis as he worked in his garden. "Brother Francis, if you knew our Lord was returning tomorrow, what would you do today" he enquired. St. Francis simple replied "I would finish weeding my garden."

If Jesus returns in May...awesome! If He comes back before April 15th, even better. But until then (whenever "then" may be) I have some weeding to do.

God Rest Me Merry

I will always remember the first time I noticed the comma in the old Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. For years I had pondered the question "who were these gentlemen, and why were they so merry?" Perhaps what they needed rest from was all that merriment.


Then, a few years ago, someone burst my bubble of ignorance, and pointed out that this was a blessing...very much like "God be with you." I don't know about you, but this time of year I could use some rest. Especially the kind of rest that only comes from God.

Ruth Bell Graham captured this desire beautifully in a short poem she penned many years ago. This poem has become my prayer for the season (and the rest of the year as well), and I think you might find yourself offering up the same prayer. She wrote;

God rest you merry, gentlemen...
and in these pressured days
I, too, would seek to be so blessed
by Him, who still conveys
His merriment, along with rest.
So I would beg, on tired knees,
God rest me merry, please...


May you have a merry, and restful Christmas.

The Hope of Elizabeth Edwards

Over the last few days I have found myself strangely drawn to the life of Elizabeth Edwards. News of her death from breast cancer this past week at first became buried in the madness of the season. But a quote from Edwards' Facebook page caught my attention. Just days before her death, she wrote "The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."


Knowing her story well enough to know the many challenges Elizabeth Edwards faced, I started reading the various articles and watching the video clips on her life. I guess what I was searching for was a definition of that "hope" that she spoke about so often. In fact, just after the announcement that her cancer treatment was no longer effective, and her liver was now fully involved, Edwards wrote again of that sustaining hope. "You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces -- my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope."

And yet, in all that I read concerning a rather impressive life, that hope that carried Edwards through cancer, the death of her son, a presidential campaign and a brutal public divorce...that hope is never defined as anything more than an almost desperate belief that things are going to get better. And I'm afraid I want more than that in my own life.

The apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15 to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." My prayer is that, in an exhaustive review of my life after my passing, the source of the hope that has carried me through trial and crisis will be evident. I don't want people to see a hope that is somehow contingent on my ability to muddle through, but rather, to have them see the "living hope" that Peter wrote of in 1 Peter 1:3.

Elizabeth Edwards led an exemplary life, and I am better for having taken the time to examine that life in more detail than just a Register Guard article on her passing. "In her life, Elizabeth Edwards knew tragedy and pain," President Barack Obama said in a statement. "Many others would have turned inward; many others in the face of such adversity would have given up. But through all that she endured, Elizabeth revealed a kind of fortitude and grace that will long remain a source of inspiration."

Don't Feed the Trolls at FOX News

In the wonderful world of the internet, a Troll is someone who intentionally interrupts an online conversation with a post so controversial that others feel compelled to respond. The atheist comment posted to a Christian blog. The inappropriate racist photo posted on a chan site. The political comment posted just about anywhere. Online hell breaks out, and the Troll sits back and enjoys the mayhem he or she has initiated.


The current flap over President Obama's inclusion of Sitting Bull in his new book proves once again that FOX News is a Troll in the world of journalism. Make the on-air statement that is so absurd that people have to take the bait, and sit back and enjoy the ratings.

"Of Thee I Sing, A Letter to My Daughters" is the title in question. President Obama praises a number of famous Americans, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Georgia O'Keeffe, Billie Holiday and Albert Einstein. But when he includes Lakota Chief Sitting Bull, FOX headlines read "Obama Praises Indian Chief Who Killed U.S. General." And in hot response, the salivating Obama-haters come out from under their respective rocks to accuse the President of delivering his "newest attack on America."

First, this statement overlooks the facts that not only was Sitting Bull too old to participate in the battle at the Little Big Horn (Crazy Horse lead the warriors), had Custer survived, he most certainly would have been court marshaled for disobeying a direct order not to engage the tribes camped in the Greasy Grass Valley.

Second, it implies that Sitting Bull was not an American. That is like saying the Robert E. Lee was not an American because he fought against General Grant.

And finally, if we are looking for faults in this list of famous Americans, we don't have to look far. Billie Holiday was a heroin addict who died as a result of her addiction. And why do so many of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings look like female genitalia?

So the Trolls at FOX strike again. And we (this writer included) take the bait. And the Trolls feed and grow. Yes, the extreme viewpoints must be called out and debated. Otherwise too many gullible people will believe nonsense. But there are times when we should just call it for what it really is. A Troll looking to use the bait of the absurd to lure unsuspecting victims into an unnecessary dialogue.

The Trolls are fat enough already. Let's just walk away.

When All Else Fails, Try Persecution

I own dozens of books that claim the secret to growing the Church in America. Looking up at my bookshelf and reading the first seven titles my eyes fall on, all we need for growth is to become the emergent, transformational, contagious, purpose-driven, upside down, simple, comeback church (I'm not making this up...those were part of the titles of seven books, in order). Its working great so far, isn't it?


Perhaps our brothers and sisters in Christ living in the Sudan have found a church-growth scheme that actually works. It's called "persecution."

The civil war that raged throughout the Sudan from 1983 to 2005 left over two million dead, entire villages destroyed, hundreds of thousands of refugees, and established a brutal Shar'ia-based government. Tens of thousands were executed or sold into slavery simply because of their Christian faith. And yet, despite the fact that Western missionaries were expelled from the Sudan in 1964, the country has emerged to boast a church twice the size of the Episcopal Church in the United States. (and that doesn't include the millions of Catholics living in the Sudan).

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama announced that the United States would renew economic sanctions against Sudan for another year. Our decision, in part, is the result of Sudan's continued support for Islamist terrorists. It may also reflect the genocide in Darfur. The conflict between the Muslim north and the Christian south will certainly continue. And the Sudanese government will still ignore its own slave trade.

But the growth of the Christian community in the Sudan rivals anything we see in the world today. Just as persecution of the early Church fanned the flames of growth and expansion, so have the incredible hardships and dangers imposed upon all who profess Jesus as Lord in the Sudan. On January 9, 2011 the country will vote on a referendum that could grant freedom to Southern Sudan.

As we pray this weekend for the persecuted Church, we should all lift up the upcoming election in Sudan. Let us pray for the freedom of those who have endured so much for their faith. The words of a Sudanese praise chorus go like this:

     For I'm building a people of power
     and I'm making a people of praise,
     That will move through Sudan by my Spirit,
     and will glorify my precious name.

While our own recent election was little more than clueless people voicing a rage that they are not able to define, the January election in Sudan could profoundly change the lives of millions of believers. If only we could be so blessed.

Not My God!

The Supreme Court began listening today to testimony in the case between Albert Snyder and the fun-loving folk as Westboro Baptist Church. The case itself could make one vomit, but what outrages me even more than the trial is the fact that only 2 people (out of the seven I've spoken to) have ever heard of the Westboro Baptist Church. And while I'll be the first to admit that ignorance is often bliss, it is also often dangerous.


If you are asking the question "Westboro who?" I'll assume you still have a rotary phone, no cable or internet, and you avoid reading newspapers. Westboro Baptist Church is lead by the Rev. Fred Phlelps, and consists mostly of his extended (and thoroughly brainwashed) family. The good Rev. Fred routinely straps "God Hates Fags" signs on his eight and nine-year-old grand children and places them on street corners. Even worse, he and his merry band of misfit in-laws routinely show up at soldier's funerals with signs that say things like "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", "God Hates the United States", "Thank God for IEDs", and "Fags Killed Your Son."

After disrupting the funeral of Albert Snyder's son, who died in battle, Mr. Snyder filed a ten million dollar lawsuit, which was reduced by a judge to five million, and later overturned by a district court. The matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court. The question is, does the freedom of speech cover harassment at funerals? It's a good question. Did Albert Snyder's son die defending the right for hate-mongers like Rev. Fred and his brood to spew their venom at his funeral?

What bothers me, however, is not seeing the Westboro gang standing on a street corner with signs telling us all the people God hates and is killing. What bothers me is the fact that there are never other Christians standing on the same corner telling the world just how far Fred's head is up his own backside. Where are the Christians shouting "This is not my God!"? Why haven't the American Baptist and the Southern Baptist Conference risen up and declared that this micro-cult does not represent ANY Baptist denomination other than their own.

In a perfect world you would not be able to even see Westboro's wretched signs, because for every one of them there would be fifty Christians with signs declaring the love of God. John tells us that God is, by very definition, the personification of Love (1 John chapter 4), and in the Gospel of John (3:16) we are told that God loved the world (which includes soldiers and fags) so much that He gave His only Son to die for the world.

This is the God I know. It is NOT the god Westboro puts on their signs. And I do believe they are listening to a god, but it is not the God of the Bible. So if the Westboro clan ever find reason to show in the Northwest, I'm going to do what I believe every other Christian should do. I'm going to tell people about the God of mercy, grace and love. I'll be the one with the "God Loves Fags" sign.

The Appearance of Evil?

OK, so Calvin College cancels a concert by a group called The New Pornographers, solely on the merits of the group's name. Christian college..."pornographers"...what's the question here? We're not talking music, we're talking appearance. It shouldn't matter that The New Pornographers perform fluffy indie rock. It shouldn't matter that their name came from a cheesy Japanese film. The name "appears" to support something that Calvin College does not, and should not support.


So why are 90% of the comments on the internet trashing Calvin College for being a bunch of narrow-minded, judgmental bigots?

1 Thessalonians 5:22 warns us to "abstain from all appearance of evil." That doesn't seem like bad advice for a Christian college. I may have "Zoot Suit" by The Cherry Poppin' Daddies on my mp3 player, but I'm far more likely to book the Brian Setzer Orchestra for a Christian event than I would be the Daddies. Am I judging their music? No. I'm judging their choice of names.

Perhaps Calvin College should book the Nazi Kitten Killers. I hear their music is great. And after all, who cares about appearance?