Afghanistan

Tell me again, why are we in Afghanistan? September 11th, 2001, that’s right. Good reason. Good move. Needed to be done. But its December of 2009 now. We militarily engaged in Vietnam for only 9 years (1965-73). How long will we stay in Afghanistan? Like Vietnam and Korea the US isn’t really fighting the country in which the battle field is located. In Korea we fought China. In Vietnam we basically fought the Soviet Union. Now in Afghanistan and Iraq we are really fighting Iran. These kinds of displaced wars don’t accomplish much.

I was all for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. But I’m tired of seeing Americans come home dead. We went in and cleaned house. Our military is the best there has ever been in the world. We did the same thing in Iraq. Thank you veterans. But how long must we stay and why are we still there? The surge proved very successful in Iraq, but violence is coming back. That’s not a military problem and cannot be fixed with a military solution. Muslim extremism is a socio-religious problem. Solutions to that are harder to find.

The Afghani government is corrupt. They love American dollars pumping into their country. They want to keep the status quo. They put severe limitations on our forces in how they can conduct “war” that costs American lives. I don’t see the benefit of our remaining. Are we there because the government will collapse when we leave? Then why are we not in Somalia whose government did collapse? Are we there to prevent terror attacks in the US? Many attempts have been made in the last 8 years, few successful. Ft. Hood was terrorism plain and simple. Calling it a tragedy doesn’t change what it really was. Little Rock was terror when a Muslim extremist gunned down a military recruiter. But ten times that amount have been successfully prevented. Lets continue that kind of progress in the war on terror.

There was a time to fight this war in Afghanistan and Iraq, but now the war on terror needs to be fought through intelligence. Protect Americans through active intelligence gathering and pro-active efforts against would be terrorists. America looked on terror with passive eyes in the 90’s. That cost us in 2001. Let’s not make that mistake again, but neither let us keep sending our brave men and women to fight in a war with no end in sight.

Abortion

On June 2 Wiley Drake, a Southern Baptist Pastor in California and former SBC officer, told Alan Colmes on his Fox News radio program that he was glad late-term abortionist George Tiller was dead and that he had prayed for it to happen.  As if that weren't bad enough, he went on to tell Colmes that he was praying the same thing for President Obama.  As a pastor and a Southern Baptist, let me say without reservation that Wiley Drake is WAY out of line and has embarrassed our faith and Convention.   My Bible tells me to pray for my president and that he has been established by God (Rom. 13:1-2).  Did Jesus pray for the death of Caesar?  Did He pray for the death of the Pharisees for their murderous plot against him?  No he prayed 'Father forgive them, they know not what they do.’ 

In spite of Drake’s mindless comments, Tiller was no saint to be sure, as the dominant media would have us believe.  He is now a martyr for “choice.”  Was it right for him to be gunned down?  Absolutely not.  But he was no martyr, nor a man deserving of any respect in my opinion.  This was a man who killed babies that were perfectly able to live outside the womb.  He delivered them feet first all but the head and killed them before the head was delivered. His defenders proclaim he did nothing illegal.  To our nation’s shame this is true, but it wasn’t illegal to send Jews to concentration camps in fascist Germany either, would they have made the same argument then?  Just because its legal doesn’t make it right.  In America, abortion continues to be wrong, but legal.  According to a May Gallup poll, a majority of Americans now believe this very thing.

In his inaugural address President Obama predicted “defeat” for “those who seek to advance their aims by …slaughtering innocents.”   But his first executive order was to overturn a prohibition first implemented by Ronald Reagan preventing federal dollars from funding overseas abortion providers. Our tax dollars now fund countless innocent slaughters.  Ignoring abortion during a presidential campaign can have deep consequences.

National Day of Prayer

President Obama has offered numerous overtures and platitudes to Muslims during his first 100 days in office, but to Christians a slap in the face. At least that's how I feel with regard to his cold approach to the National Day of Prayer. There will be no public observance in the White House. Why? Obama has visited, greeted, bowed, interviewed and addressed those of the Muslim faith often as president. But for Christianity, all he can do is apologize. He declared America "not a Christian nation" to engender favor among Islamists while at the same time announcing his Muslim family ties. He asked to have a symbol of Christ's name covered from view during a speech at Georgetown University April 14th. Compare this to his campaign when his Muslim connections were belittled and his Christian faith was frequently referenced. Yet once elected, with the votes of Christians, he can't even offer a public prayer on this special day in the manner of praying presidents going back to Washington. It is an obvious continuation of his effort to distance himself from Christianity and it is offensive to me. Of course, that doesn't matter. We can't offend Muslims, atheists, agnostics or any minority religious view, but Christians are fair game. Offend at will. The question is, will Christians remember this affront when its time to vote again? That's one way we can stand up for our faith. Another way is by publicly observing the National Day of Prayer.

Father I pray for our country. Protect it. Guide it. Be Lord in it. Keep our soldiers safe as they risk their lives for our protection. Guide our leaders as they make decisions that govern us. And place your hand on our president. Keep him safe. Guide his decisions. Protect his family. Use him for your purposes. Be graceful. Show mercy for your Name's sake.

In Christ's name, Amen


Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (KJV)

God's Sovereignty

I'm reading a book on missionaries who changed the world. In it I found a quote about the authority of Christ that pierced me to the heart. It was spoken by John Piper in a sermon in 1983. It really puts a heavenly perspective on our half-hearted attempts at obedience.

"Here is our witness to the world: The risen Christ is your king and has absolute, unlimited authority over your life. If you do not bow and worship him and trust him and obey him, you commit high treason against Christ the king, who is God over all. The resurrection is God's open declaration that he lays claim on every person and tribe and tongue and nation... 'all authority on earth is mine.' Your sex life is his to rule; your business is his to rule; your career is his to rule; your home is his; your children are his, your vacation is his, your body is his; He is God! So if you resist his claim, feel no admiration for his infinite power and authority, and turn finally to seek satisfaction from thrills that allow you to be your own master, then you will be executed for treason in the last day. Your life of indifference to the risen Christ and of half-hearted attention now and then to a few of his commandments will appear on that day as supremely blameworthy and infinitely foolish, and you will... weep that you did not change." ("Worship the Risen Christ", 4-3-83)

Grace

For the past couple of weeks I have been often reminded of how blessed I am to be the recipient of Christ’s grace. Grace is one of the greatest spiritual blessings unique to the Christian era. It’s not as if God did not show his grace in the Old Testament, He did, just look at David’s sin and God’s response. But in the OT, God’s interaction with His followers usually focused on obedience, i.e. The Mosaic Covenant, Ten Commandments. In the Christian age comes an emphasis on Grace. John emphasizes this in Chapter 1 of his gospel. 16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. So many times in Jesus’ ministry we see Him pouring out this grace on the sinful and guilty of His time: the adulterous woman, the prostitute who washed His feet, Zaccheus the crooked tax collector, the Samaritan woman, the Gadarene demoniac. Jesus loved sinners. The kind of people you and I usually shun, ignore or castigate. He loved to show them grace, and that grace was not contingent upon a changed life, it was just grace. I’m so grateful He still loves sinners. He still pours grace upon sinful people like me. I’m so unworthy. Jesus no longer walks the streets of Jerusalem and Galilee. We can’t see him physically in New York, Dallas, Port Neches or in any place for that matter. He’s present, no doubt, but He needs us to be his hands and feet. He shows His grace through you and through me today. Jesus said, "freely you have received, freely give." How can you be a channel of God’s grace this week?

Human Trafficking

There are 27 million slaves in the world today. More than in the 250 years leading up to the Civil War. They are of all nations, backgrounds, gender and age. This tragedy happens right under our noses and we hardly know anything about it. It happens worldwide including and especially in the United States. A common trap happens like this: A group of Indians is promised transportation, a job, and the opportunity for citizenship in America. They sign up promising to work to pay off their debt for this service. They are brought to America, forced to work for far less than minimum wage, forced to live in sub-standard dormitories, and forced to pay for these ‘privileges’ out of their paltry wages. The example I’m referring to happened in Tulsa, OK and the workers worked for an Oklahoma based oil industry parts manufacturer. You can read this story and others like it at slaverymap.org.

Many times the slaves are used for labor, but usually they become sex slaves. Girls and sometimes boys, of all ages fall victim to this tragedy. But the victims are usually young girls, as young as 7 and 8. A good overview of the issue can be read at www.worldmag.com/articles/15011. However, if you really want a full exposure to this injustice then check out the movie: Call And Response (callandresponse.com). It’s a documentary, non-Christian, about human trafficking worldwide. Fair warning: its rated R for a reason, so be prepared to be offended by what you see and hear.

Most people, upon hearing about such a difficult issue, feel helpless to do anything about it other than give a few bucks here and there. No doubt money helps the organizations that fight trafficking, but here are a few other suggestions of action: Contact your representatives, state and federal, and tell them to support anti-human trafficking legislation. There’s some working its way through the Texas legislature right now. You can also log on to Shared Hope International (sharedhope.org) for great information and action opportunities. Another great website I highly recommend is chainstorereaction.com. This website lets you send an email to various companies and request a pledge from them to use slave-free labor worldwide. It’s amazingly easy. The email is written for you. You just pick the company, type your name and email and hit send.

Human trafficking is a worldwide tragedy. A modern-day abolitionist movement is growing to confront it. Its composed of secular as well as Christian activists. If non-Christians are motivated to fight this issue, why not Christians? Jesus loves these children. I hope you’ll join in.

Obama and Terror

President Obama had very little to say about terrorism in his speech to congress this week. Granted the issue most on people's minds is the economy and he spent his time addressing that, I still am disturbed terrorism didn't rank at all. It appears the reason for this is because Obama views the terror problem as being a law enforcement issue rather than a war. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke before the house Homeland Security Committee and also failed to mention the War on Terror, Al Qaida, or terrorism at all until asked. A glaring absence considering her position was CREATED because of a failure to prevent a terror attack. The Obama Administration has taken a different approach to terrorism, it is now a matter of justice and no longer a matter of war. It is now a matter to be won in courts, and is no longer expected to be won in battle. If such is truly the case in today's world, if the War on Terror no longer exists, then either it never existed or the country and the president owe a tremendous, public debt of gratitude to George W. Bush for eliminating it.

Christian Indeed

In John 1, as Jesus picks his first disciples, He peers in to the soul of some of the men who would become his apostles. In Andrew He saw a man of faith and action. He brought his brother Simon to Jesus. In Simon Jesus saw a man of strength and leadership. Jesus renamed him Peter which means rock. But it is Nathaniel that impresses me. When Jesus saw Nathaniel He said "Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit." (1:47b NKJ). The Greek word for 'indeed' means 'true' and 'genuine.' Nathaniel was a true, faithful Israelite, not deceitful and self-serving like the Pharisees and Sadducees. When He first saw Nathaniel, Jesus saw a man who was genuine, true to his faith, and Israelite indeed. The kind of man Christianity would need. It makes me wonder, what kind of man does Jesus see when he looks at me? What does he see in you? A Christian? Or a Christian indeed? A person who is whole-heartedly, genuinely, deeply faithful to their Christianity? Lets strive to be a 'Christian indeed!'

Intro to me

I don't know exactly why I'm starting a blog. Certainly to honor God, but also to dialogue with others, perhaps encourage some in their spiritual walk, and generally to just express myself. I have deep political opinions of which I am rarely shy about expressing. I feel a strong grief over Christians who are half-hearted and careless in their faith; weak believers to whom God is little more than a lucky charm on their bracelet. I feel heavy empathy for the hurting, grieving, and brokenhearted in this world. I hurt for those this relentless world has bruised and crushed. My desire is to be a source of hope and help to them. I love laughter. I have an extremely dry humor which I love to express. But most of all my passion is for God's Word. I love to delve into its pages and gather new insights and inspiration, many of which I hope to express in this blog. I try to be brief but meaningful; opinionated but fair; gentle yet pointed. Thanks for reading, may God's richest blessings be yours.