Looking Forward ~ 2006

Every year people come out with their best of lists, worst of lists, and a bunch of hard to keep New Years resolutions.  This year I decided to do something a little different.  I thought I’d share  a few things I’d really like to see happen in 2006.  They are not listed in any special order, I’ve just put them here for you to consider and enjoy.  I’d love your comments on any of them, by post or e-mail! No rain on our parade. ~ I live in So Cal.  The Rose Parade is an annual tradition for millions of people here, both in person and on television.  It has never rained on the parade in my lifetime.  I’d like to see that streak continue. Civility in government. ~ Years ago government service was viewed as a noble cause.  No more.  If we returned to a belief that we are all in this together, that sometimes people of the other political party have worthwhile viewpoints, and that all of our elected leaders are really interested in moving America forward, we’d be a lot better off. The Angels win another baseball pennant. ~ I did not join the bandwagon when the Angels finally won in 2002.  I have followed this team since the Bill Rigney days.  Another championship would be wonderful. People investing in people, not institutions. ~ Sounds pretty simple yet many folks choose not to find the time necessary to do this.  Imagine what the world would look like if each one of us did so, with our time, lives, and money. My son graduate from college. ~ I’ll admit there is some financial incentive here for me, but think about it, I was really proud when he graduated from High School.  I can’t wait to see him in his cap and gown as he graduates from Auburn University. USC as National Champions. ~ Maybe I’ll get this one early. Affordable health care. ~ As a missionary with Adventures in Life, I am not a millionaire.  That pretty much rules out buying any health insurance for me and my family, and yet, I am not poor.  What do the really poor people do?

My Mexico

Last week in the Los Angeles Times, there was an article about what happens when people in rural villages in Mexico decide to join an Evangelical Protestant church. I can personally tell you that most of what the article said, is in fact true. However, the article did not have any pictures. I thought I would post a few for you. The organization I work with, Adventures in Life Ministry, has given me an incredible opportunity to work alongside the pastors and members of all of these churches. These churches are where some of my friends in Mexico worship. This is a church in Agua Santa. The Pastor is Daniel Hernandez. This is a church in San Miguel del Valle. It is pastored by Americo and Norma Santana. When it became evident that the people of this church had become Christians, they were forced to live and worship outside the city. This church is in San Antonio de la Cal. A young man named Tomas is now the Pastor. You can see some of us in the picture. We are doubling the size of the church to the poles surrounding the building. This is Adonai Baptist Church outside of Huajuapan de Leon, one of the largest cities in Oaxaca, Mexico. This church is in the city of Huajuapan. It is Pastored by Edwin Noriega Gamboa.

Today, on All Things Considered

There are days when I hate learning something about myself.  Particularly when it is a tough lesson.  The other day I was in the car with my wife Chelle and we were listening to National Public Radio (NPR) on the radio.  I love NPR’s All Things Considered.  I found it one day about a million years ago when I lived in Las Vegas and have been listening ever since.  Cokie Roberts, Noah Adams, Scott Simon in a way, are good friends of mine.  Anyways, we were driving along and in this one story I heard a person being interviewed.  I had missed the intro, so I had no name to put with the voice.  And yet I recognized him.  It was Senator Trent Lott from Mississippi.   He was talking about the devastation of the hurricane in his state and how tough it is going to be for the people to rebuild.  And that’s when it hit me.  I am a true political junkie!  Trent Lott?  I am from So Cal.  Sure I can recognize Arnold, our Gov., but Trent Lott?  So let me confess.  I love politics.  In fact if I was not in ministry, I’d try my hand in politics.  I read about it, follow it, and comment on it.  When there is an election, I actually read the ballot summaries and study the 50 initiatives that we always seem to be voting on in California.  I’ve even used a white board in a presentation just like NBC Newsman Tim Russert does on election nights.  But the voice of Trent Lott?  Hello group, my name is Dave, and I’m an addict!   It seems to flow in my blood.  One of the greatest nights of the year for me is Election Night.   I host an election party for my friends and we watch the results come in together.  I get the television ready, get the food, set up a computer with internet hookup and off we go.  To follow the results and plot the future of the free world.   But the reality of that is only starting to hit me as I am faced with some tough questions.  For all of my time, interest, and efforts, is the world a better place?  Does my interest in politics make much of an eternal difference in the lives of people around me?  Am I as tuned into the voice of God in my life as I am to politics?  When I am walking along the street and God is speaking, do I hear Him and recognize His voice?  Is it really possible that the voice of Trent Lott is sometimes more familiar to me than the voice of the Creator of all heaven and earth? I am a missionary.  I serve in Mexico and pastors come to me for advice.  They seek out my counsel, and yet sometimes the voice of Trent Lott is more familiar to me than the voice of God. I’ve got to work on that.

10 Thoughts, ideas and questions for you to consider

I really miss professional football here in Los Angeles.  With the USC Trojans off until January, we are forced into watching mostly minor league teams like the Chargers and Raiders, both darlings of our local television sportscasters. Who were those Heisman voters who left Reggie Bush off their ballots?  They must be related to the voters who did not think Willie Mays and Hank Aaron deserved to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Immigration is a problem not only here in So Cal, but the rest of the country as well.  If you want to fix it, try this.  For any employer who hires a person illegally, their company is subject to a $5,000,000.00 fine.  Additionally, the person who signs the approving I-9 paperwork for this person is personally liable for a fine of $250,000.00.  Maybe this will end the problem. Colin Powell was right.  It is like the Pottery Barn.  We broke Iraq, and now we own it.  I hope the elections are credible and lacking real violence so maybe we can get out of there soon. The church seems to have lost its voice in our communities.  We are only preaching to the choir.  There once was a day when the church built hospitals, universities, food banks, and other institutions that helped people in their daily lives.  No more. I saw “The Chronicles of Narnia” Sunday afternoon.  Take your kids.  But let them just enjoy the story.  If they see a deeper meaning in it, good.  If they see it as just as great story, that’s fine too.  Far too often adults feel the need to attach significance to stuff that kids just want to enjoy. Is it me or is there a problem when the US Gov’t maintains policies in the Middle East to ensure a steady stream of low cost oil so we can use it to light up our homes for Christmas and then burn more oil to drive around and look at those lights? If you live in Los Angeles you know what I am asking here.  Why are the freeways still clogged at 11:00am in the morning?  Aren’t all of those people late for work?  And where is everybody going at 10:30 at night?  This isn’t Vegas. We lost two important people in US history over the weekend.  Former Senator Eugene McCarthy, leader of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War, and Richard Pryor, legendary comedian who, like Lenny Bruce before, brought a new energy and focus to comedy.  Today’s comedians are forever in his debt. I went and toured a 1300 square foot condo the other day.  As part of a new 60 unit development, you can buy this choice piece of real estate for $599,000.00.  Plus monthly HOA fees of “only” $149.00 to sweep the walkways and maintain the pool.  It is behind a busy shopping center and across the street from a vacant lot that currently has about 12 tons of trash around it.  They only have 8 units left. Yeah I know but consider it a bonus.  It’s Christmas time.  Show someone you don’t know a little love this week.  It’ll make the world a better place!

Is it Christmas Time?

Many of you are no doubt aware of the growing controversy concerning Sunday church services this Christmas Season.  According to the New York Times, many of the larger “mega” churches in America are not having worship on Christmas Sunday so that people can be with their family.  I even heard of one church that will be having a comedy night on Christmas.  Now comes an article I found in a little local paper I occasionally read here in the Los Angeles area.  It deals with one church’s response to a trend among some of the more contemporary churches to not sing Christmas carols in their services.  I was intrigued by it so I thought I’d share it with you.  With all of this being in the news so much this year, I think you’d agree it is timely.  Feel free to pass it along. Dave Local Pastor Calls for Boycott By Bill Swift, North Valley Free Press Pastor John Nearing is fed up and doesn’t want to take it anymore.  Nearing is pastor of a small conservative church in the San Fernando Valley and he is wondering why many seemingly conservative churches are getting rid of Christmas music in their morning services.  Nearing believes the dearth of Christmas music at churches can be traced to the same over the top political correctness he sees in many businesses these days. Call many large retailers and you will likely hear a greeting on the other end wishing you Happy Holidays, not Merry Christmas.  Purchase a Christmas tree and many stores will now call it a holiday tree.  Even the city of Boston and the US Capital got in to the issue.  Nearing believes that the tendency to substitute the word holiday for Christmas is catering to a small minority of people at the expense of the masses, many of whom are Christian.  For that reason he has supported Donald Wildmon’s AFA call to boycott businesses like Target, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart over their Christmas policies. Nearing believes it is now time to boycott some churches.  “Where are the Christmas carols?” he asks.  Pastor Nearing and his congregation, Baker Avenue Community Church sing three or four Christmas carols each Sunday during December, but he is concerned about “seeker sensitive” and “emergent churches” eliminating such popular songs as “Silent Night” and “All Come All Ye Faithful.”  His church sees it as just another step towards watering down the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Jon Mercer, a deacon and leader in the church wants to know where it will all end. “First you can’t say Merry Christmas, then we lose Christmas trees and now many churches will not sing the songs about Jesus birth we all grew up with.  If we don’t step up now, pretty soon we will only be able to have a Book and not the Holy Bible!  All of our Christian traditions are being taken from us.” Pastor Nearing and his leaders are starting to recruit concerned churches for their boycott.  They are distributing flyers in and around their community advising people not to attend churches where Christmas carols are not being sung.  To date their Save Christmas Coalition has signed up twenty-three like-minded congregations in the North San Fernando Valley.  They are hoping and praying that their boycott will have the same impact that Wildmon’s boycott is having.  A return to the traditional Christian and Christmas values, which they believe this country was founded on. © 2005 All Rights Reserved, Bill Swift, North Valley Free Press, Los Angeles, CA   Used by permission. © 2005 David Miller

The Game

It was November 1967. That's the earliest I can remember choosing to be contrary with a group of people just to ensure a diversity of views. It's also when I fell in love with USC Trojan Football. I was eight years old. With the exception of one well to do graduate of SC, everyone else who lived in our neighborhood considered themselves "gutty little bruin" fans. That was the year both teams came into the game undefeated and ranked 1 & 2 in the country. USC was coached by John McKay and UCLA by Tommy Prothro. The big stars were Gary Beban for the Bruins and OJ Simpson for the Trojans. While Beban went on to win the Heisman Trophy that year, Simpson and the Trojans won the game, breaking the hearts of the Bruins, and everyone else in our neighborhood with a 67 yard touchdown run late in the second half. It was beautiful. Last Saturday I was reminded of that as I watched the annual renewing of what is known in Los Angeles as "The Game." For the uninitiated, if you are a Trojan fan, there are not a lot of things better in life than watching a USC tailback, (take your pick... mike garrett, oj simpson, clarence or anthony davis, charles white, ricky bell, marcus allen, lendale white, reggie bush) run through, over, and around the UCLA Bruins. As I watched Reggie Bush, I was amazed. You had the feeling he could go for a touchdown every time he touched the ball. The guy is an incredible college running back. Time will tell whether he has what it takes to make it in the pros. But like most other phenoms, Reggie could not do it alone. He needed help. And he had plenty. A Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback, great receivers, a strong defense, and an awesome offensive line. One of the truisms about great football running backs is that they need a great offensive line. That usually means big, fast...and unknown. For USC those are guys like Fred Matua, Ryan Kalil, and Taitusi Lutui (seen here). Guys that clear out the opposing defenses and open big holes to run through. These are the men in the trenches. I like guys in trenches. They have been the backbone of our country, steelworkers, miners, mechanics, millworkers, shipbuilders. Guys whose hands show the scars of life. They are the behind the scenes, unnoticed, I've got your back, get 'er done folks. Brown bag guys. People you turn to when you have a job that you need to finish and you know they will come through for you. Who are the guys in trenches for you? Think about it. dave Final Note ~ As a big fan of PAC-10 Football over the years, I am amazed that the league has no team playing this year in any major bowl game other than the Rose Bowl. When a team like Oregon can go 10-1 and not get a chance to play in one of those games, something is wrong. The commish of the league needs to get out there and get the league some better exposure. Maybe the Cotton Bowl is ready for a change.

Stuff

Isn’t that a great word?  Webster’s define stuff as “materials, supplies, equipment, personal property, and trash.”  As a missionary, I find myself thinking a lot about stuff.  Not always about a lot of stuff, but a lot about stuff.  How much we have, how much we need, and why it is so important to us. My travels keep me on the road for over six months each year.  Some of that time is here in the United States, but the majority is in Mexico.  In the course of one year I will spend more time in busses, taxis, planes, and even dump trucks than most people will in their entire life.  When you travel as much as I do, you learn to travel light.  Usually I have nothing more than one of those black wheelie suitcases that fit in an overhead airplane bin and my computer.  My entire collection of life stuff for six months is contained in two small bags. One of the things I have learned about stuff is that those of us living in the US have more stuff than most folks on the rest of the world.  Guess how I learned this.  By looking at trashcans.  Interesting isn’t it?  Do you know that an average family in rural Mexico can go almost two weeks and not fill up a standard 55-gallon size trashcan?  I don’t know about your family, but my wife and I can fill one of those up in about 2 days.  It is amazing how much trash we generate with all of our stuff. Recently I was visiting my young nephew.  The family was together to celebrate his second birthday.  I watched as we showered him with all of the gifts typical for a two year old.  Little people, stuffed animals, clothes, cars, and other assorted toys.  It was a pretty normal birthday party, much like the ones my own son Joseph had when he was young.   But I noticed something as we were opening all of the brightly wrapped presents.  He was having a blast.  Not with the gifts, but with the paper.  I was down on the floor teaching him how to tear the paper off his packages and throw it around the room, and he was loving it.  A couple of the toys did catch his attention, but not so much that he was willing to give up his fun with the paper. Later that week we all went out to dinner in a pretty fancy restaurant.  The kind where people look at you if you have a child who does not sit quietly.  Which sometimes describes my nephew.  To occupy him, his aunts and grandmother took turns walking with him outside and playing with him.  You know what he wanted to do?  Toss rocks into a pond.  He had such a good time he wanted to bring some rocks home with him so he could play with them later.  Rocks.  Small stones.  Pebbles! Little kids are a happy and content lot.  They just want to play and have a relationship with people, not stuff.  Sure they love the Model X900 Video Titanic Little People Cityscape from Mega Toy World, but what they really want, crave, and need is relationship.  Just like us big kids.  You see my nephew was having fun tossing rocks in the pond because his grandmother was spending time with him.  He liked tearing paper and throwing it around because he and his uncle were playing together.   As we enter the gift buying frenzy known as Christmas, are we missing something?  Could it be that all that stuff we are convinced we need is really just a substitute for a relationship?  What would it cost us to decide to give the gift of our time to someone this year?  No gift buying, no trash to fill the can, no stress waiting in line at Target.  Maybe we could just decide to toss pebbles with a close friend or rip up some paper together while sitting on the floor.  Because really isn’t relationship more valuable than any gift you could possibly buy?  And besides, do we really need more stuff? © 2005 David Miller