It’s Not Over

I am sad. Sad because of what I am seeing. Facebook and twitter are lit up. Blogs everywhere, and especially in Maine, are dripping with hate. Words are used. Attitudes are held. Fists are tightened. Lines are drawn.

I wish I knew which way Jesus would have voted on Tuesday. As I stood there at the Hollis fire barn with pen in hand, I prayed. I prayed that I would be true to my conscience which ultimately is the Holy Spirit. I prayed that God would give me one last measure of wisdom before I connected the arrow. I was literally shaking as I left the booth. Did I vote in honor of Jesus or not?

I know that most if not all of you are sure that there was only one way that honored God. And I have close friends who either would have, or did, vote both ways. Yes or no. No or Yes. There were a lot of issues that pressed on my decision. How the law in question was passed, how the Church is treated in that law, whether it mattered one way or the other…does this law change my role as a follower of Jesus Christ?

What I am seeing now is cause for concern. When facebook and twitter glow with praise that ‘our side won’ I immediately thought of the people dancing in the street on 9/11. I know it is much different, I am not trying make a connection other than that is where my mind went. “Down with those who do not believe as we do!” I’m having a hard time finding where it is our job to create a nation politically, in order to save people. I realize it is our job as Christians to vote…but in the words of Ron Sargent…”Change lives not laws.” And before the other guys get all excited…could you please give us a status or a blog without swearing or accusing of hate and bigotry? Is that all you have? The hate that spews/flows/gushes…can’t think of a strong enough word here…is astounding. I’m sure no one will remember this the next time it comes up for voting…which I am sure it will soon. Speaking of the next time. I wonder if the wording will be as kind to churches next time it is written and passed? Makes me wonder if it was as bad as people thought…will it be worse next time? No ‘clause’ protecting churches?

May the grace of Christ cover us all.

-Cheers

November Is Here

In case you hadn’t noticed the previous posts; November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. This month I hope you will take some time to do something extra in order to support the people whose lives have been changed by this disease as well as those who work to end it.

Here are 10 things that you can do to take action in November. Make sure you notice #3 as a simple way to help and make your voice known and heard.

I know sometimes it is hard to focus on anything other than the 54 shopping days until Christmas as of today. I know that Target for one had Christmas stuff/junk/decorations right next to the Halloween decorations. I can only assume that Thanksgiving will get less space than Halloween received. While it is hard, I would encourage us all to focus on what we have…or don’t have. We have an opportunity to do something this month that we normally wouldn’t have done.

This is the time I start writing a tear jerking paragraph about how we need to be thankful and thinking of others…blah blah blah. You have heard that before. You know what should be written. Instead of reading and feeling sappy and teary…let’s go do something. Use purple frosting and be ready when people ask you why you did it, buy a purple tie and wear it every week, give money…do something. I will be adding some specific ideas as the month goes on and I hope to reach all kinds of people with the ideas. Feel free to leave some for all of us in the comments section.

Dr. Oz

Here is a video with good information regarding pancreatic cancer.

ONE

A while ago I wrote about www.one.org and how I have decided that I would start doing something to help. Well, I have been doing as much as I can, considering how much money I don’t have coming in…but recently through the spotlight of stuff christians like I have found this organization. http://www.tradeasone.com/ While I have heard about Free Trade items in the past, I had also heard valid arguments that in certain situations Free Trade hurts more than it helps. Either way, this new way of looking at Free Trade products has me thinking and I hope to get the opportunity to share this with many people.

This is clearly a way that we can do something tangible right now to help people who need help. Period.

-Cheers

The Unborn

http://caseforlife.com/index.asp

This is a good summary to think about.

Article

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2009/10/the_best_case_for_god_a_response_to_karen_armstrong.html

Here is a great article written by Mark Driscoll as found in the Washington Post.

Mission

This past weekend at Lead09 was quite a trip. I kept oscillating between happiness and sadness as I saw both who was there, and who wasn’t. Knowing what the Gospel can do in the life of God’s church, I was saddened at the faces that I did not see there. Some are faces I would not expect to be there; but are saddened none the less. However, as I looked at the crowd of people who had gathered in Auburn, Maine to rededicate their lives to Gospel, Community, and Mission; I was given Joy from the Giver of Life to see people striving to live on mission for God. Both Tim Chester (blog) and Jonathan Dodson ( creation project – church planting novice), while under the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed Jesus’ name and called us to a life of worship through putting off the old and putting on the new.

Most if not all in attendance have many years of church experience, but not much Church experience. We were asked to put off church as an event and put on church as Gospel played out in community for God’s mission. These aren’t brand new themes, however, the point of the Gospel is easy to miss when we are not focused on Jesus.

Some favorite quotes from the weekend are as follows:

The burden of mission is laid on God, while the blessing of mission is given to us.

Christ did not die for ad hoc individuals

The church will never outperform the movies and t.v.

Pot luck dinners are an institutional answer to a communal question

The answer is always squirrel 

The key is beer and nametags

I look forward to Lead10 or whatever they call it next year. Maybe Lead 1 aught or Lead 1 nil or even Lead 1 love…either way I am looking forward to next year.

-Cheers

Insane

What an insane ride. Last week I found out that my father has cancer and this week I found out that it is stage 4. Ugh. 4.

It is hard for me to write knowing what stage 4 pancreatic cancer means. Do any google search and you see the results.

Here is a link to the blog we set up. It is also on my blogroll.

The New Face Of Atheism

Here is a post from Michael Spencer that seems to articulate the new face of atheism well. As great as watching William Lane Craig is, we need to turn around.

When Do We Become Out Of Touch?

It is inevitable. At some point we will not have any clue what is going on in the world. I don’t care how often you check the most popular tweets, you will eventually be out of the loop. We need to deal with it and move on.

Many of you I am sure have seen the recent Beloit College Mindset List and everything that is says about incoming college freshmen. In case you missed it, bottom line is this:

• The “green giant” brings up visions of Shrek not veggie picker.
• Salsa has always outsold ketchup.
• The KGB never officially existed.
• They have never used a card catalog to find a book.
• Gas stations never fixed flats but most serve cappuccino.

This is interesting to me, however not shocking since these studies have been going on since the 80s, but interesting none-the-less since I am in the place where I could go either way with some of them.  A specific example is the green giant. If you were to asks me who the green giant is…I would say the veggie picker. However, I do not remember hearing about a gas station fixing flats except for stories from my dad. Ah the beauty of being an Xer.

So you see, at some point we will be out of touch when we come to the place where we do not see the world as our kids do. It is going to happen at some point. So, are you ready for it? I don’t think I am…well, I am ready to use all those saying like “when I was your age” and “we used to have to …”

It will be great. I just wonder when it will happen.

-Cheers