Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Today
I really wanted to avoid posting anything more about "The Passion of the Christ." The market saturation is overwhelming. But I am afraid that I would be remiss in letting the day pass without at least acknowledging that today is special.
I do not believe that I am overstating the case (biting the scenery, as we say in theatre) when I posit that today marks one of the most spiritually significant events in our nation's history. Not once in any of our lifetimes has there been so much focus placed upon Jesus Christ. All other church demogogary and religious piety take a backseat today to the passion (re: suffering and pain) that Christ endured in those 12 hours where he became the propitiation for our sins.
See, here's what scares me... no longer can our society plead ignorance to the work of Christ on the cross.
This movie is condemning.
Today we experience a religious awakening in our country... or at least, a spiritual reckoning. There is enough truth in this movie to condemn those who ignore its message. Those who marginalize Christ and his suffering work on the cross (which was by far worse than even this gruesome representation) will have no recourse on judgment day.
Today is an exciting day for those of us who are 'God-followers', it is the best opportunity we've ever encountered to openly discuss our faith in Christ. But it is also an overwhelmingly sad day...
Multiplied millions will turn their backs on Christ today, choosing instead to live a life where Christ's message is marginalized and ultimately reaping for themselves the eternal damnation that His life and death (and life again) could have helped them avoid.
posted by Kevin at 2/25/2004 12:46:32 AM
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Thursday, February 19, 2004
Hope in God
. . . for I will yet praise Him.
Sometimes all it takes to brighten ones day is a call from an old friend. No matter how many new friends one makes, it is always the long-term ones that seem to have all of the wisdom. I spoke to the closest one today. I spoke of my trials and turmoils, struggles and failings. There was no pressure to sugarcoat or find resolution. I did not have to qualify my statements or help him understand where I was coming from. There was no need to catch him up on my life or try to make him understand the person I now am. None of that was necessary.
I am struck by how important these people are in our lives... and I can't imagine doing ministry without them. I like to think that I am blessed to have more close friends than most people, or maybe God gave me so many because he knew I would need so many! But at the top of the heap is this man; this man whom I am least afraid of seeing my 'bad side'. He is the person who has seen me at my worst, and he's been at the receiving end of my fiercest venom. It is because of him that I am as well-balanced and easy-going as I am today.
I've actually thought about this fact a lot over the past few months. Several years ago the rigors of ministry would have made me automatically revert into the worst of my ISTJ tendencies. The struggles would have brought out the worst in me: It would have pushed me further into thinking I could not be wrong. It would have pushed me into fighting many win/lose battles. It would have kept me from being in-tune with what others are feeling. It would have caused me to create a bunch of rigid rules and regulations. And it would have caused me to not give enough praise and affirmation around the church.
It is because of him that I can face trials with calmness, a level head, and right spirit. He taught me that its during the tough times when we find out the kind of person (re: Christian) that we really are.
If I am able to keep from becoming the type of minister that I loathe, it will be because of the sharpening of character that happened in the company of my friend. He is not a pastor, but he has given me a seminary course in self-realization (and then overcoming it).
posted by Kevin at 2/19/2004 10:44:46 PM
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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Jerusalem and Athens
Cedarville College graduates universally understand the relationship--er, dichotomy--between Jerusalem and Athens. Even Spot and Puff could figure it out, according to the 'Monroe doctrine' taught in Social Science.
"What has Jerusalem to do with Athens?"
Tertullian was asking this question centuries ago, and smart Christians are still asking it today. It is one of the most epistemologically important questions to ever have been considered. By asking the question he was tacitly implying that faith ought to have nothing to do with reason and philosophy. Tertullian was wrong. Our faith has EVERYTING to do with reason and philosophy, and for that matter every other area of our life. A faith without shoe leather is dead ... it is a faith not unlike our deistic founding fathers held to--one that was heady, but never really affected how one lived his life.
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Let me first assure you of this one thing: I am not a right wing nut when it comes to the relationship between politics and religion. Those who know me well will attest to as much. I cringe every time I see bunting in a sanctuary and I shudder every time I hear a stump speech from a pulpit. But for a Christian... it is difficult (if not unBiblical) to separate them. Let me explain:
Here is my thesis: "Politics should never determine our religious conviction, but our religion should always determine our political conviction."
In his Farewell Address to the Nation, George Washington warned to "not let anyone claim the tribute of American patriotism if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics." And Plato offered that "the penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves." Though I disagree with much of Thomas Jefferson's core beliefs, this statement made during his presidency (January 1, 1802) to the Danbury Baptists is astounding: "The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government."
Christians MUST be involved in the political process! Anything less is to spit in the face of the Constitution, not to mention the Word of God. If you disbelieve me then take a spin in the book of Proverbs, the last portion of Romans, or the balance of the Old Testament.
The Bible continually reminds us that a good government is a godly government. Righteousness in government is for the good of the governed. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace. The purpose of government is to uphold righteousness ... and God requires rulers to be righteous. When those who govern are righteous, their administration will be successful and stable. And let's be clear, good government is reliant upon divine enablement. Government deals with matters which are humanly impossible to produce. Righteousness, justice and equity are all God-given. A government which would promote righteousness must seek divine enablement. While there may be wisdom in separating certain religious functions from political office, there is no way that we can separate righteousness from political office. If the purpose of government is to promote righteousness and to punish evil, how can we avoid defining righteousness and defending it as a part of our political obligation before God?
Proverbs shows a definite relationship between godliness and government, yet many American evangelicals have tended to equate politics and the American political process with something unclean. How wrong they are! I know of godly men and women who have said, "I vote on my knees." That sounds good, and I do not doubt the sincerity of those who hold the view that the Christian is to stand aloof from government. I do, however, question the biblical basis for such a position. In the Old Testament it was the ideal that godly men should lead in government, men like David and Solomon..... and the New Testament does not back down from what the OT began.
In America we who are citizens have the responsibility to take part in the process of electing men and women who will make and enforce the laws of our land. By our very laws Americans are the government. By God's laws, we are responsible before God to govern in a godly way.
Government is an obligation Christians dare not shirk.
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I do not apologize for my political convictions any more than I do my religious ones. My faith permeates every facet of my life. Politics are an inseparable part of my spiritual journey.
posted by Kevin at 2/11/2004 11:27:14 PM
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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
President's Day looms near
Mark Twain once said, "Get you facts straight first, then distort them as you please."
Would you flaming liberal secular humanists people PLEASE at least get your facts straight first? :)
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Reagan's ability to communicate with the public, hold to his conservative ideals, deal with subordinates, delegate authority and change history are only part of what makes his legacy a force to be reckoned with.
The 'facts' speak for themselves.
Reagan brought an end to the Cold War. He employed a deliberate strategy to undermine the Soviet economy - something that represented a CHANGE in U.S. policy toward the U.S.S.R., and it went down in utter defeat. "Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall!". If you still are not convinced, take some time to read Peter Robinson's first-hand experience in his journal entry on Stanford's website
Reaganomics, as they have been called, is probably the topic stirring the most heated debate over his presidency. Fortunately, we are enough removed from his presidency to be able to judge his policies on their results, not just theory. When he enacted his economic program, he set in place the conditions that have led to 19 years of almost uninterrupted economic growth.
The worst that can be said against Reagan is that he allowed federal deficits to pile up. Although often repeated, the allegation is silly. Democrats controlled the House of Representatives during all eight years of the Reagan administration, making it impossible for Reagan to cut domestic spending as much as he wanted. Yet, while Reagan's economic program added $1.4 trillion to the federal debt, it added $17 trillion to American asset values: the market value of land, stocks, houses, patents, and all other assets in the United States rose from $16 trillion in 1981 to $33 trillion in 1989 - providing a return of 12 to 1.
Eventually the federal budget was no longer in deficit but in surplus. Why? The economy continued to boom in the 90's - thanks to Ronald Reagan. Bill Clinton may take all the bows he wishes, but his principal contribution to the surplus was to stay out of the way as the budgetary implications of Reagan's policies worked themselves out. But while he made a good decision there, on the flip side of the issue, Clinton only reached surplus by deeply wounding defense spending. Hindsight being 20/20, I think most Americans would rather have had a deficit, maintained proper defense spending, and possibly avoided 9/11 by ensuring America's protection force (defense) was properly funded.
For those of you who still think Reagan ruined the economy, let's not forget 2 more words that define Reagan's economic legacy: Alan Greenspan.
Ronald Reagan once said, "The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that we think every day is the Fourth of July, they think every day is April 15th."
Moving along....
Let's also not forget 5 other important words: Antonin Scalia and William Rehnquist. And remember, until Arnold came along, Reagan was the only person to ever give California politicians a good name.
Peggy Noonan's book about Reagan, "When Character Was King" really summarizes well his greatest legacy... and reason for being the greatest President of the last century. They ALL had flaws, even him. They ALL made mistakes, even him. They ALL sinned while in office, even him. But NONE of them had the character he had. I challenge you to disprove that statement.
President Reagan encouraged us to be proud to be Americans, to stand up for what is right, and not to be afraid to pray. He inspired us rather than embarrassing us.
When he spoke of his beliefs' in God, in the goodness of the nation, in the wisdom of the people - he changed the very spirit and temper of the country, replacing the bitterness of Vietnam and Watergate with a buoyant, self-confident patriotism.
In his newly released book "God and Ronald Reagan: A Spiritual Life", Paul Kengor delves deeply into this issue. If you wish to read the book, you may borrow the copy from my desk.
And let's step back a moment from 'facts' ... Let's let the people who voted during his Presidency speak for themselves. For the first time in multiple decades (and not once since), the political party remained the same from one elected president to the next. There was no change in party when there was a change in office.
And if you still are not convinced.... read George Will's article written shortly after Reagan left office.
posted by Kevin at 2/10/2004 07:45:55 AM
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Friday, February 06, 2004
Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan!
. . . best wishes to the greatest President the last century saw, on this his 93rd Birthday!!!
Being a product of the late 70's, I have few memories of the early years of Reagan's presidency. In fact, the earliest memories I have of President Reagan were the terrible interruptions of Mickey Mouse and other cartoons when he would give special announcements from the Oval Office. (At the time, I hated him!)
As I grew older though, I began to understand the concept of government, democracy, and the American way. I began to see President Reagan as a model of honesty, courage, and strength. I grew up knowing no other standard by which to judge the Presidency... he was The President. By the time that Reagan had completed his time in office, my view of politics, government, America, and the presidency had been forever shaped. I saw Reagan as a man of honesty, integrity, and true love for his country and its people. I saw a man that I could look up to.
During the years since the end of Ronald Reagan's presidency I have caught up on all the Reagan information that I missed as a young child... and I am still amazed by this man that God used to bring peace and prosperity to the 80's.
I take you back to January, 1980 . . . . . .
President Ronald Reagan was elected and America had a chance. Soon many things were to change about ourselves and our country. For starters, Iran suddenly released our hostages. Oil prices were dropping and all of a sudden countries around the world began to understand that this man in the White House meant what he said and wasn't going to be pushed around like our former president was letting happen. Americans began to feel pride in themselves again and most importantly in the USA. Why did all this happen? Because of the character of Ronald Reagan. He meant what he said. He did what he said he was going to do. And he was honest and truthful! In short he was the type of man that made us better people because of the examples he set for us by the way he lived. He knew true love and showed us it with Nancy. He had honor and strength, hence his work brought the fall of the Russian empire without a shot fired! Americans made more money in the 80's because of his policies. Ronald Reagan taught me how to be a American and to be proud of my country.
If only Americans who never knew him would be able to really read and learn what he was all about! I, thank God, had the honor of living through "THE REAGAN YEARS" and seeing them through the unbiased eyes of childhood. I only wish today's youth could have the pride and safety he gave us then.
posted by Kevin at 2/06/2004 12:58:51 AM
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Monday, February 02, 2004
Groundhog Day... again
Today is Groundhog Day and I am wondering how this day crept up on me without my realizing it was here!?!
If you are tired of winter, then Punxsutawney Phil had a message for you this morning-- get used to it.
The prediction, made from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, brought boos from thousands gathered in 17-degree weather to witness the 118th annual weather prediction. Can you believe that? People have been listening to this marmot for 118 YEARS!
So now, thanks to Phil and his merry band of men at Gobbler's Knob, winter will last at least another 6 weeks and spring will not arrive early this year.
I for one am glad that this is simply a sick and twisted mix of tradition and superstition. But It's not localized to our friends in Pennsylvania though. More than a dozen states celebrate the day with their own critters, including Dixie Dan in Mississippi, Buckeye Chuck in Ohio and Gen. Beauregard Lee in Georgia.
Has the whole country gone mad?!?
These things notwithstanding, this day still holds a special place in my heart because it is the basis for one of the greatest movies ever produced: Groundhog Day.
Starring Bill Murray, an egotistical weather man who is forced to live the same day (Groundhog Day) over and over again, the movie attempts to show that no matter how life is lived, when it is lived for self it is ultimately empty and futile.
The self-centered life is meaningless... that is the point of the movie.
So while the rest of the country is starry-eyed over some cousin-of-a-beaver in PA... I am always reminded every February 2nd that life is better lived for God than self, no matter the cost.
posted by Kevin at 2/02/2004 10:45:37 PM
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