Dr. King’s Birthday

Unfortunately, when we establish a federal holiday, the underlying reason is often forgotten. Most Americans get very few vacation days during the year, so I suppose it is not surprising that we become more concerned with football games, sales at the malls, and getting to sleep in. I just wanted to take a little time today on this blog to remember Dr. King. There is much that could be said, but I simply want to share two quotes of his:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

The first quote is based on Jesus’s teachings. It means a lot to me and touches me deeply.

The second quote has perhaps more universal appeal. I like it because frankly every one of us lives in times of challenge and controversy. The concepts of “challenge” and “controversy” are relative. We may not all be threatened by the governmental authorities with guns, barking German shepherds and fire hoses. But we may have friends or bosses who want us to do things that go against our values. We may have customers or co-workers who commit demeaning or hostile acts against us. We may encounter crazy motorists who nearly run us off the road. Dr. King reminds us that it is in those times—not in the comfortable ones when we’re resting in a safe, cozy bed—that our truest selves are evident. It is a humbling thought, and one worth remembering as we go about our lives.

Happy birthday, Dr. King!

Luke 6:27-36

"But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you. If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt. Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back. Do to others what you would want them to do to you. If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them. If you do good only to those who do good to you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that! If you lend things to people, always hoping to get something back, what praise should you get? Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy.

Reaction to the Earthquake in Haiti

My brother in Christ, Pat Robertson, has made some comments about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The comments have caught the attention of the media.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/13/haiti.pat.robertson/index.html

These comments concern me for several reasons. I do not think they do anything to help the victims of this tragedy. They also do nothing to help the world understand and be encouraged by God's love. If quoted correctly, these views do not represent the beliefs of the vast majority of Christ followers. A contributor to Sojourners had a response to the comments, which is available at the link below.



http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/14/haiti-and-anti-evangelist-pat-robertsons-gospel-of-disgrace/

To be clear, I do not condemn Mr. Robertson. Clearly, the quoted comments do not reflect the love and compassion of our Lord. But each of us falls short of that on a daily basis. Every morning I pray that I would be "light" to those around me, but I am very aware that I frequently fail to do this. I would hate for my own many failings to be held up to ridicule on the 24/7 cable and internet newscycle.

Indeed, it is sad to me that the media would pounce on and publicize these comments, instead of showing the Christians who are working hard on the ground and in their home countries to help the people impacted by this tragedy.

http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/14/haiti-worshipping-while-trapped-in-the-rubble/

https://www.kintera.org/site/c.ihLNK3PFLmF/b.4428603/k.60B0/Emergency_Relief__Most_Urgent_Needs/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=ihLNK3PFLmF&b=4428603&en=ewKZJdPSLmLVJ6PXIlLSL6OZKqJ7JrP4IlK2JeOSIdLYJjM0JrJfF

This type of publicity again distorts the public's view of Christianity, and makes non-Christians more cynical about those who purport to be Christ followers. It also prompts many Christians--particularly those who are culturally conservative--to be suspicious of the secular media and a possible anti-Christian agenda within the press.

Nonetheless, I personally do not care to dwell much on these reported comments. I just don't think that is productive. The situation in Haiti is horrific. God's children are suffering. The scope of the disaster is mind-boggling. But it is encouraging to hear how many governments, aid groups and individuals are trying to respond to help.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/haiti_earthquake_aid

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34862811/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/

Mia Farrow wrote an eloquent, heartfelt commentary about the situation for CNN, highlighting the acute impact on the children of Haiti.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/14/farrow.haiti.children/index.html?hpt=C2

Even comedian David Letterman took time the other night from making fun of Jay Leno to ask for donations to help the earthquake victims.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCNFsNIxrNY

www.wfp.org/lateshow







John 9:1-4 (The Message)

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.

Earthquake in Haiti

Like many around the world, my heart absolutely breaks for those in Haiti who are dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake yesterday. The scope of the destruction and suffering is overwhelming. Haiti's history of man-made and natural disasters of course makes the situation even more overwhelming. I cannot imagine the pain and terror of those affected by this earthquake. The pain and terror of the children particularly break my heart.

The people of Haiti are in my family's prayers. We particularly prays for comfort and calm for the victims, and strength and wisdom for those coming to help. Obviously, many around the world are lifting up similar prays for the people of Haiti. And I think more prayers are needed still. Sojourner's daily devotional had a very eloquent prayer this morning:


Lord, our hearts cry out for the people of Haiti: for the millions affected, for lost loved ones, lost homes, and lost livelihoods. Lord, have mercy. Draw us together as your people to help in whatever ways we can, and we ask your grace on the emergency rescue and aid workers. Lord, have mercy. Bring relief, bring restoration, bring rescue. In Jesus' name, amen.


The facilities of the aid organization, Save the Children, were damaged in the earthquake, but the group is trying to respond to the needs of the people in Haiti. Below there is a link with more information.

http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2010/haiti-relief.html

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Janet Parshall’s America

Our family does not watch a lot of television, but our radios are turned on frequently. We tend to stick to the left side of the dial, alternating between NPR and Christian radio stations. Last month, I attended a CLE on the other side of town, and listened to a local Christian radio station during the long drive home. The CLE had ended at mid-day, and on weekdays that tends to be a busy time for me. Generally I’m not in the car then and don’t have time for the radio. As a result, I happened upon a program called “Janet Parshall’s America” for the very first time. I almost could not believe what I was hearing. When I tuned in, Ms. Parshall was extremely angry and was venting about President Obama’s anti-Christian bias. In that our president is a professed Christian who was baptized several decades ago, I found this frustration perplexing to say the least.

While I was in the car and listening to the program, Ms. Parshall talked about a luncheon of past White House social secretaries before Obama took office. They were meeting with Desiree Rogers (the in-coming social secretary) to welcome her and support her in her new role. According to Ms. Parshall, Ms. Rogers had shocked the group by indicating at the luncheon that the Obamas were considering not displaying a creche that had been displayed in a public room of the White House (not in the private family quarters) by many past presidents. Apparently, the Obamas had concerns about offending people of other faiths. Ms. Parshall indicated that the creche was eventually displayed in the Obama White House, but seemed to dismiss it as simply bowing to public pressure (by indignant Christians?).

Ms. Parshall also talked with great anger about the president’s preferences for Muslims, who were given priority in getting H1N1 vaccinations before leaving for the Hajj. She also mentioned President Obama had issued proclamations to Muslims during some religious holiday. Ms. Parshall equated these preferences and the hesitancy over the creche as evidence of anti-Christian hostility.

Frankly, I was not aware of the White House creche. I do not follow White House decorations and celebrations. I missed that Oprah special. It does not really matter to me one way or the other, but certainly I would appreciate concerns about offending non-Christian Americans with a creche in a public room of a building that is owned by our country’s taxpayers. If the United States one day has a Buddhist or Muslim majority, I don’t think I’d be thrilled by prominent displays of those religions in public buildings.

Moreover, it seems like a basic public health policy to give Americans traveling on the Hajj priority for a vaccine against a highly transmittable virus that they could bring back to our country. It also seems like very basic political common sense to issue proclamations to any sizeable demographic on days of importance to those groups. I’d be surprised if President George W. Bush and his predecessors did not issue similar celebratory proclamations to Muslims as well.

As a more general matter, I just don’t understand the apparently continuing furor against President Obama and the suspicion of his faith by some conservative Christians. Mr. Obama was baptized as a Christian in 1988, well before he entered politics. He was an active member of Trinity United Church of Christ for about twenty years. If that was all a facade to woo Christian voters, it was quite an elaborate hoax and it apparently did not work too well. Why would anyone would fail to accept someone’s profession of faith at their word? I have always accepted President Bush’s assertion that he is a Christian. Why wouldn’t others accept President Obama’s? I don’t understand what is going on.

I also don’t understand how the White House creche “issue” can be cited as evidence of hostility to Christianity and not just sensitivity to non-Christians in a pluralistic democracy. The American people elected Barack Obama to be our president, not our head pastor. He was elected to govern all of us, not just the Christians.

To me, the most concerning aspect of Ms. Parshall’s program that day last month was that it seemed to be a desperate, even silly attempt to come up with some reason to dislike and oppose President Obama. I’ve perused Ms. Parshall’s website, a link to which is provided below.

http://www.jpamerica.com/

The website is quite interesting. Ms. Parshall’s radio program is labeled a “ministry” but conservative politics are pervasive. In listening, her radio program was very reminiscent of Rush Limbaugh. She certainly had the angry tone down pat. Beyond gender, the main difference between Mr. Limbaugh and Ms. Parshall was Ms. Parshall’s quoting of Scripture and references to prayer. I have actually listened to Mr. Limbaugh on numerous occasions and don’t recall him ever quoting Scripture or talking about prayer. Maybe I just missed those broadcasts.

From her website, I take it that Ms. Parshall’s show is not always as political as it was the day I happened upon it. Looking at her past program topics, some do not appear to be political at all. Indeed, I caught a little of her program earlier this month, and she seemed much less angry as she spoke with former Redskins coach, Jim Gibbs.

It is interesting because when I was looking at Ms. Parshall’s website, the summary of the show on December 11, 2009 (the day I first caught her radio program) mentions nothing of President Obama’s anti-Christian hostility, the White House creche or the president’s Muslim bias. The show is apparently a three hour program, and I listened to about half an hour of it, all of which focused on such concerns. I’m not sure why the program summary does not mention that part of the program.

http://www.jpamerica.com/showsummary.aspx?show=12/11/2009

Ephesians 4:31 (New American Standard Bible)

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.



1Peter 2:13-15

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Amy Grant’s "Grown Up Christmas List" & "Mary’s Song"

The Christmas season does not technically end until Epiphany is over. (It is celebrated on January 6th.) So, I think there is still a little time to recommend some good Christmas music. Two of my favorite modern Christmas songs are by Amy Grant, for whom I've long had a lot of admiration. Others have recorded these songs, too, but Ms. Grant’s versions continue to be my favorites.

The songs are available at the links below. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmF2rsDHOZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdLwZCprtkI&feature=PlayList&p=17BF4792DAAC52C2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

Luke 1:38 (New International Version)

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”



John 14:27 (New American Standard Bible)

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

“Christmas with a Capital C”

The other day I was in my car listening to one of the local Christian radio stations that I have pre-programmed. I heard a song called “Christmas with a Capital C.” Typically, the music on that radio station is loving praise and worship style music. But this particular song was so ugly in tone that it really shocked me. I’m not sure why any Christian radio station would air it.

Inter-spliced with the music were excerpts from a stand-up comedian’s rant on the tendency of people (particularly in retail settings) to wish others “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas.” The comedian talks initially about how Christmas was a cultural phenomenon that we all used to participate in together regardless of our own specific religious beliefs because it was good for the country. There is then a sarcastic reference to “Mr. Lowenstein,” which to me seems to be a hostile anti-Semitic remark, but perhaps others might interpret the reference in a more benign way. The comedian later talks about Christmas being part of the religious heritage of our country.

It is offensive and hurtful to me when people try to dilute the Christian faith into a cultural phenomenon. The Super Bowl is a cultural phenomenon. The blood sport of American political discourse is a cultural phenomenon. The Disney mega-franchise is a cultural phenomenon. There is not anything wrong with cultural phenomena. But to me, Christianity is much more. As a result, I continue to be baffled as to why any Christ follower would want to dilute the religious significance to impose Christian holidays like Christmas on non-believers to make such holidays a part of the mainstream, secular culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

Ephesians 4:1-3

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

God Has a Dream by Desmond Tutu

When I was in high school and living just outside of Washington, D.C., South Africa’s brutal system of racial segregation and oppression—apartheid—was one of the leading social justice issues of the day. The outrageous unfairness and brutality of the situation in South Africa made it a no-brainer. Everyone I knew was against apartheid. Some of us also protested at the South African embassy, signed petitions and boycotted companies that did business in South Africa. During this period, a soft spoken man in a funny clerical outfit attracted attention for his efforts to fight apartheid with nonviolent means. His name was Desmond Tutu. In 1984, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. During this time, I was still a staunch atheist. I admired Desmond Tutu, but conveniently ignored the facts that he was a Christian and his activism was rooted in his faith. I suppose at the time, I thought of it as a freak coincidence.

Over the years, as I embraced and grew in my Christian faith, I’ve come to admire Archbishop Tutu even more. His book God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time is eloquent and beautiful. Each chapter begins with the words “Dear Child of God” and then relays in an intimate tone Archbishop Tutu’s thoughts on a specific religious theme. To illustrate these themes, he writes on personal, historic topics including his own role in helping to bring about the end of apartheid. But he also brings insights from less high-profile experiences such as being a family man and a local church leader. He gives practical advice on living God’s will in a variety of roles and situations, from being a spouse to being a parent to to being a driver stuck in a traffic jam. He does all this with pervasive references to Scripture, and a down-to-Earth sense of humility as well as a little humor. It is a concise, but beautiful book of passionate love and unwavering hope.

The book was published in 2004, at a time when the Christian voices most often heard in the media (and in most churches in the part of Texas where I was living) espoused very rigid interpretations of the Bible, as well as conservative positions on social and political issues. However, in the book, Archbishop Tutu bears witness to a more tolerant, more inclusive Christian viewpoint. He writes in unequivocal terms to denounce the mistake of marginalizing women in society and the church. He also writes with acceptance and love of homosexuals.

One of my favorite parts of the book is at the beginning. Archbishop Tutu writes:

“During the darkest days of apartheid I used to say to P.W. Botha, the president of South Africa, that we had already won, and I invited him and other white South Africans to join the winning side. All the ‘objective’ facts were against us—the pass laws, the imprisonments, the teargassing, the massacres, the murder of political activists—but my confidence was not in the present circumstances but in the laws of God’s universe. This is a moral universe, which means that, despite all the evidence that seems to be to the contrary, there is no way that evil and injustice and oppression and lies can have the last word. God is a God who cares about right and wrong. God cares about justice and injustice. God is in charge. That is what had upheld the morale of our people, to know that in the end good will prevail. It was these higher laws that convinced me that our peaceful struggle would topple the immoral laws of apartheid.

Of course, there were times when you had to whistle in the dark to keep your morale up, and you wanted to whisper in God’s ear: ‘God, we know You are in charge, but can’t You make it a little more obvious?’”

I agree with the archbishop and share is confidence. But of course, I’ve never had that confidence put to the same kind of test that he and other black South Africans endured. I am awed and encouraged by Archbishop Tutu’s faith. I pray that if I am ever put to such a test, mine will remain just as strong.

Deuteronomy 23:5 (Contemporary English Version)

But the LORD your God loves you, so he refused to listen to Balaam and turned Balaam's curse into a blessing.



Psalm 59:16 (Contemporary English Version)

But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble.