Interactive Sermon

3 Chords in Milford TONIGHT!

As you're out and about Christmas shopping tonight, plan to stop into Chapanga's Griddle & Grill in Milford where 3 Chords will be playing some of your rock-n-roll favorites with a handful of Christmas tunes mixed in. We're playing tonight from 9PM to 1AM - hope you're up for having a good time!

 

What Do You Make Of It?

Convicted cop-killer Troy Davis was executed in Georgia yesterday. Protests abounded. You'd have to have been sleeping yesterday to have missed it--there were comments in major publications, splashed across major blogs and websites, and blowing up social media. The stars came out in opposition to Davis' execution. From Mia Farrow to rap artist Big Boi--why Alec Baldwin even chimed in that it was "right-wing trash" conspiring to take Davis' life. (Did Alec note that famous right-winger President Obama was among those who refused to stay the execution?) Twitter and Facebook were overrun with posts and comments condemning capital punishment as related to the Davis case. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the prison in Georgia where Davis died wearing t-shirts that read "I am Troy Davis."

Here's my question: Did anyone see a "I am Lawrence Russell Brewer" t-shirt in the crowd? Brewer was executed yesterday, too. No fanfare. No rap-artists. No accusations of right-wing abuse from Hollywood's nut list.

Seems to me that death-penalty opposition picks and chooses.

Davis was a palatable cause--young black man convicted on shaky testimony of shooting a white cop. Many could agree that the Davis case seems a prime candidate for a fresh look, if witnesses were truly recanting and changing their stories. But if you're truly protesting against the practice of capital punishment, where were the Brewer t-shirts? Where was the Brewer vigil? Alec--was it a right-wing lynching in Texas?

Brewer wasn't a palatable cause. I'd bet most Americans--maybe even Alec Baldwin and Big Boi--would have rather seen Texas drag Brewer behind a pick-up truck than put him to sleep gently with a needle in his arm. My point is, death penalty opposition falls down when it isn't evenly applied. When Alec Baldwin shows up in "I am Lawrence Russell Brewer" shirt, well that will be saying something.

Your thoughts?

Casey Anthony

I'm saddened in the aftermath of the Casey Anthony verdict, but not for the reasons you might imagine. My sadness isn't about Casey or even Caylee--though their story certainly is tragic. My sadness results from the light that this case has shed on our society. 

This case has illuminated an ugly truth about our society: We have an insatiable appetite for the tragedy of others. Millions tuned in, fixated on details like it was a soap-opera; as if Casey Anthony's lies were akin to Erica Kane's; as if it were a whodunit like 'Who shot J.R.?' Riveting television! 

This case exposed 'news' outlets for what they've become--sensational entertainment. Reporters no longer report the news, now they share their opinions as if THAT is news. They've become narrators, putting themselves within the story or even before and above the story. Nancy Grace? Are you kidding me? If she considers herself (or her network) news media, she (they) should be tried for malpractice. 

This case has given us a glimpse of how easily and quickly we can be moved from 'innocent until proven guilty' to 'proven guilty by the media'. There is a judicial process we are all due in this country. That's a very good thing! How quickly we turn lynch-mob via media.

This case also illuminates how shallow we are as a society. Let's be honest: If Casey Anthony wasn't a beautiful young woman, and if the media hadn't discovered the sexy pictures and sensual lifestyle--we would never have heard of this case. If Casey Anthony was a 300 pound mom from small town Arkansas you wouldn't know her name. Children die tragically every day in America. They don't get this kind of coverage. Were Casey not able to be branded "Tot Mom" and draw an audience, Nancy Grace wouldn't have cared.

Don't get me wrong. I grieve the loss of this little girl--a precious life taken horribly. But I also grieve the loss of many, many hours by people drunken in the storyline. I read a Facebook boast just today, "I watched every minute of the trial." Really? Forty-five days worth? Over Saturdays and Sundays and the July 4th weekend? I am saddened for the sake of your family. Think of what those hours, days and weeks might have meant had you shared them with your daughter! I grieve that you thought THAT the best use of your time these last six weeks!

Last but not least, I'm deeply saddened by all the comments I've read on the internet, heard on television and seen via social media about the jurors. I've read things I cannot (and will not) post here. The 'kinder' words I've read call them idiots or imbeciles. Shame on you! These people didn't choose to be jurors. They gave up forty-five days of their lives to serve. They were forced to serve within the boundaries of the law as the judge and the court instructed. They heard the case and made the best decision they could based on what was before them. You'd call them idiots? Why? Because they didn't watch Nancy Grace around the clock and agree with her narrated version of events? Because their conscience wouldn't allow them to send someone to execution based on nothing more than circumstantial evidence? 

I'm sad about what our behavior around this trial says about us as a people. And I think you should be too.

The Death of Osama bin Laden

Since the news broke last Sunday night...

"Facebook blew up," my daughter observed. She noted, as did I, that social media went wild with comments and conversations about the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed by American forces in Pakistan.

People took to the streets in celebration. At the White House, at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, at West Point, at Major League Baseball games, on college campuses across our country--euphoric celebration, and chants of "U-S-A!"

The topic has dominated the airwaves, television and radio, blogs and websites, and even conversation on the street. Everywhere I've gone this week across our community I've heard people talking about this. Last night Shari and I celebrated our anniversary in a local restaurant, and were subjected to a rather outspoken fellow diner's postulating about the "@$$ whooping our boys put on Al Qaeda."

Then there is the Christian debate. Folks posting on social networks or peppering conversation with quotes--"Do not gloat when your enemy falls..." (Prov. 24:17) and "I will take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live" (Ezek. 33:11) among the most often shared. Why, I even posted a verse myself--"When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evil doers." (Proverbs 21:15) 

Honestly, it's been hard for me to know how to respond to this news. I learned when my daughter texted me from college. I turned on the television, heard the initial reports. The first word I audibly spoke (and shortly thereafter posted) was "Gotcha!"  

Perhaps Mark Twain said it well when he said, "I've never wished a man dead, but I've read a few obituaries with great pleasure."

I'm sort of torn between not wanting to gloat and celebrate the death of an enemy but wanting to rejoice that justice has been served and be relieved at his demise. Not sure how to punctuate this matter.

But let me tell you what I am sure of:

1) I'm proud of our President. Let me be clear--I didn't vote for him and I'm most determined to vote against him in the next election. That said, I want to give credit where credit is due. It took guts to give the order. There were so many lesser aggressive options he could have chosen, with lesser risks. I think he made the right choice, and the choice that took the most courage and fortitude. I'm proud of him. And I thought his speech to the world last Sunday was well spoken. I agreed with him, and am proud to stand with him on those words. I also thought it good of him to invite former President Bush to join him this week in New York. It was classy of President Obama to offer the invite. Politics aside, I think President Bush took the right steps in a post-911 world. I think President Obama's action here was a huge step in that direction, as well.

2) I'm very proud of the brave men who carried out this mission. I can't imagine the courage this would take. I'm in awe of the precision with which they acted. I'd love to buy them all a beer and hear the story first hand (let me add I'm completely disgusted with the reporters and talking heads trying to tell the story, and having it change with every iteration). But I also know it can't be easy to take a life--any life--and that these men served their country at great risk and sacrifice. I'm thankful.

3) I want to be clear not to equate terrorism with the Muslim faith. So much of the dialogue I've heard in the last week has revealed sheer ignorance (like the aforementioned Japanese Steakhouse loud mouth). Here's something I read in a recent issue of Christianity Today: "Osama bin Laden was to Islam what the Ku Klux Klan is to Christianity."  Thought provoking, isn't it? I could actually take that a step further: ...what Adolf Hitler was to Christianity--realizing that Hitler viewed his ethnic cleansing as his doing God's work. I want to love my fellow man, no matter his faith or ethnicity. I want to protect and further his freedoms as I do my own.

So we move forward. May the world heal. And may you and I reflect, more clearly and compassionately, the light and the love of our Lord.

Christ's Spokesperson?

Time and again I cringe at the way the supposed 'voice of Christianity' is portrayed on CNN or Fox or HLN or wherever. They always seem to get someone less than articulate and then paint them into a corner--winds up making Christians look like idiots or worse.

Case in point: Victoria Jackson.

Yes, of SNL fame, a quarter-century ago. Her other notable accomplishment in life--she attended Florida Bible College (my college alma-mater). 

Apparently she sounded off this week on a blog about a gay kiss scene on the popular television show Glee. Producers with an agenda must have been battling to get her on camera. She wound up on CNN... and it wasn't pretty. There's our Christian voice. If you want, here's the clip. I had a tough time watching it. Low moments abound. Holding up a Gideon's Bible? Really? She comes off looking like she's not all there. 

It's not quite as bad as, say, Charlie Sheen. But at least he'd have been entertaining.

How do people who don't believe in Christ hear this? I'm sure there are probably believers out there thinking, "Good job Victoria!" I'm not one of them. 

As for Glee and the gay kiss... are you surprised? Does Victoria Jackson make producers of shows like this rethink their story lines? Would 100 Victoria Jacksons (or 10,000) bring about change? I'd love for the Victorias (and Darins) of this world to spend energy communicating the gospel and not the law to a needy world. This comes off like a SNL skit. A bad one. Just like all the others she did twenty-five years ago. Just my thinking this day. No apologies.

Rob Bell: No Hell?

Unless you've been Rip van Winkled, you've heard of the controversy Rob Bell (of Mars Hill, Velvet Elvis and Nooma fame). There is literally so much out there on the internet, I don't know where to send you to catch up from your slumber--try here and here, I guess.

Of course, this video sparks concern:

What do you make of it all? Bell a heretic? I'll provide some thoughts on the topics of hell and universalism in the coming days. For now, let me remind you of a couple things: (1) Rob Bell's new book isn't out yet. Let that sink in for a moment. Do you think Mr. Bell, or more importantly, his publisher HarperOne mind the controversy one bit? Anything that generates passion surrounding your upcoming book, good or bad, is a plus in the marketplace. (2) People who know nothing of the theological arguments will be interested in this book because of the controversy. They may never have bought a Rob Bell book--but now they may, and they'll be drawn into considering all the debate. May not be a bad thing in the end, either.

While we're on the topic of Rob Bell... turtle neck and the thick rim glasses, dude?

Really?

The world we live in...

Word this week that FOX rejected a Super Bowl Ad entitled "Jesus Hates Obama" because it may offend viewers.  I wonder if it is offensive because of its mention of Jesus or the President or the word 'hate'.  Here's the ad.  Pretty stupid if you ask me. 

Now here's my question: How does a company who sells "Jesus Hates Obama" shirts, hats and coffee mugs ever earn enough money to PAY FOR A SUPER BOWL AD?  Somebody is acutually buying this junk?  Now that worries me! 

Thank You Mr. President

There are a number of things over which I'd disagree with President Obama.  But last night I was very proud of our President as he delivered his message at the Arizona Memorial Service.  Like Presidents before him--Reagan with the Challenger disaster, Clinton with the Oklahoma City bombing and Bush with 9/11--this is a part of the job that we don't often think about, shepherding a grieving nation.  Well done Mr. President!

I'm sure the political posturing has begun.  I won't be tuning in the Limbaughs and Becks of the world today.  I don't want to hear their critiques.  I want to agree with our President--it would be good for our dialogue to heal and not tear down.  I do hope the President applies that to his own dialogue with those who disagree, too.  I'm inspired to try.

If you missed President Obama's words last night, you should google them up.  His manner in comforting the nation rated right up there with those who've gone before him.  I believe Mr. Reagan is smiling down!

Let's Make A Record

A few summers ago Shari and I stumbled upon an Asheville based artist named Aaron 'Woody' Wood. We've made sure to see him each of the last couple of vacations to the Asheville area and even taken friends and family to see him.  This guy is a tremendous talent.

 
Aaron 'Woody' Wood is working on a new recording project through Kick-starter--a great way for artists to gather funding for projects.  I don't have a lot to give, but I've decided to make a pledge to help the project and I urge you to consider helping.  You can give as little as a buck, or sign up for a little more and realize some of the great offers for partnering on the project.  Give this link a look.  Watch the video.  Help a great artist--one of my favorites, actually--create a great work.

Praying For Ava

Ava Hunter is the six year old daughter of Josh and Lisa, granddaughter of our friends Joel and Becky Hunter.  This past weekend, Ava had surgery to remove a brain tumor.  This morning doctors consulted with her parents--the news is not what they had hoped to hear.  You can read about it here.

Please join me in praying for Ava.  Please join me in praying for Josh and Lisa and the entire Hunter family.

As I've been reading and praying about this, this morning, I came across the blog of Ava's uncle Isaac, the pastor of Summit Church in Orlando, FL.  In the middle of a post about Ava, Isaac penned this:

"Worlds fall apart. Anyone who isn’t aware of that hasn’t lived very long or paid much attention. I don’t understand this… but if my faith were contingent only on the breadth of my comprehension I would have little faith (if any) and none to speak of… Either the Jesus of our faith is bigger than our understanding, or He’s not Jesus."

I couldn't agree more.  Will you pray with me?