Just A Little Catch Up...

I’ve written a new article on short-term missions over at my other blog. In it I talk about dependance, one of the big issues to consider when a church thinks about short-term ministry. You can find it here. This week I went to church at Dios es Amor [God is Love Church] in Ensenada. In spring of 2008 we built them a new worship facility. In June of that year we installed the electrical system. It has taken this long for them to be ready to get into that building. One of the things I have learned over the years serving in Mexico is that things rarely happen on our time table. I would have loved for this congregation to have started using the building a long time ago. But they had to live through a few struggles getting it ready. They have battled all these months to get the government to connect the building to the power grid. Finally, exasperated, they gave up, and went around the system. However, in that struggle, they took ownership of that facility. It is now theirs, not mine, and it was full Sunday. A real blessing. I am troubled by the level of rancor over reforming the way we access health care in our country. I understand that people will always have political disagreements, but what happened to agreeing to disagree agreeably? A good friend of mine is a staunch Republican. He is not happy with the bill the Dems are pushing, but he is firm in this, Barack Obama is his President too! As George Bush was mine. April is coming and that means the start of baseball season. I will enter the month full of hope for the team of my youth, the Los Angeles, nee California Angels, and most likely, will again be disappointed by their performance. But let’s face it. A day at the ballpark is better than any day working, no matter how much you love your job. A friend sent me a list of odd stuff the other day. I really liked one of the questions on that list. Does anyone know how to fold a fitted sheet? I hate just stuffing the things into the closet. Here’s what I have been thinking about lately. We’ve all heard about who caused the financial meltdown in the United States. The bankers, politicians, greedy businessmen, etc. Has anyone ever thought that, as Pogo once said, it was us? What if we did not live with an almost pathological desire [need?] to have more things that are bigger and better than our friends and neighbors? Why blame the bankers, or anyone else, when they were just trying to figure out a way to give us what we want and make a buck or two. Maybe we just refuse to be content with what we have because our self esteem is all wrapped up in stuff. Just a thought. Have a great week. I am in Ensenada serving alongside a couple of my favorite ministries, the Asian American Christian Fellowship from U.C.L.A. and Iglesia Shalom, pastored by Martin and Marine Gomez Franco.

And Now, Starting At Defensive Tackle...

Growing up in Los Angeles, if you loved football, you followed the Rams. For me this meant the teams that had Roman Gabriel at quarterback. But those of us who faithfully listened to the action on radio, watched on television, or were lucky enough to see a game live always understood who the real stars were. In spite of an offense that included the afore mentioned Gabriel and others like Dick Bass, Bob Klein, Les Josephson, and Jack Snow, the defense carried the day for the old Los Angeles Rams. Starting with the Fearsome Foursome and leading one day to some of the best defenses to play the game, the Rams fortunes rose and fell on their ability to stuff the other teams offense. Today, one of the greats in Rams history died. Merlin Olsen passed away early this morning at age 69. Merlin was an original member of the Fearsome Foursome that terrorized opposing offenses for years. The Purple People Eaters of Minnesota? The Steel Curtain of Pittsburgh? The Killer Bees? Orange Crush? Every one of those great defenses owe a special debt of gratitude to Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy, Deacon Jones, and Rosey Grier. Those four guys, playing a brutal game with reckless abandon in the 1960’s gave rise to the idea that you could win games with a stifling defense. And be famous doing it Were it not for people like Merlin Olsen, there would be no Ray Lewis. no Reggie White, no LT. While Merlin went on to be a great broadcaster, and found some fame as an actor on shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Father Murphy,” he will always be known best to us Angelenos as number 74, starting at defensive tackle, 14 time Pro Bowl player, Merlin Olsen. You will be missed.

Glenn Beck, Jesus, and Social Justice...

Updated Below Yet More Beck Insanity As He Calls Social Justice A Perversion Of The Gospel! I love a good political debate. There is something about the argumentative process that gives me pleasure. The give and take is something I find exhilarating, whether I am able to convince someone to change sides or not. In this process, I work hard to try and be consistent in my worldviews and to make sure that I do not end up arguing against my own values, or more importantly, my faith. And sometimes that leaves me in the middle of some sort of irreconcilable difference. Let me give you an example. The early Christian church did not support military service. Many of the early Christian martyrs died in protest of this governmental requirement, because they were trying to live out a commandment that said, "Thou shalt not kill." This is not an opinion. It is a fact. A fact that says that the earliest Christians, those who walked alongside Jesus, the disciples, and Paul, believed it was better to die than be part of the Roman army, protecting the country. I struggle with stuff like this. How can I live a life worthy of Christ, and be a good citizen when the Christian call stands in direct opposition to the seemingly obvious needs of the state, or which I am part. Which leads me to Glenn Beck. Beck is the current darling of the political right in our country. If you were to take a quick tour of the blogosphere, you would see that many Christians love this guy. Again, this is not opinion, it is fact. But here is what Beck had to say on his radio program the other day. "I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!" He went on to say that the code words to which these churches are referring are communism and socialism. So let's sum this up. Glenn Beck is calling on people who attend, or are part of a church that teaches, preaches, or advocates for social justice or economic justice, to leave their churches, because those churches are calling for a communist, or socialist lifestyle. But what if the bible does advocate for this type of lifestyle? What if the bible does expect us to fight for social and economic justice? What if Jesus' message was one that included advocating for the poor and the social outcasts? Should we then leave our churches because we might not like the label? I wonder where Beck's Christian supporters stand on this issue? I am just askin... Read more... Glenn Beck Thinks Catholics Should Leave Their Church Glenn Beck, "Leave if the Church Teaches Social Justice" Glenn Beck to Jesus: Drop Dead A Pastor's Response to Glenn Beck's Call to Leave "Social Justice" Churches Jim Wallis of Sojourners has just posted on this very subject. I am interested to know what any Christian readers might think of his comments. They are pretty short and you can read them here!

Recharging the Batteries

Sometimes you just have to get away. After almost five weeks of great ministry in Central and Southern Mexico, my wife and some friends joined me for a week of relaxation in Huatulco, Mexico. These are a few of the pix. I hope they give you a good idea of what it was like. Now before you all go figuring I am some sort of ricochon with an ability to stay at places like this all the time, just know that when you have three or four couples willing to go in together, live a little give and take, and show some grace to each other, it can be pretty affordable. [the view from our pool during the day] [sunset in huatulco] [the waterfalls at finca la gloria, an organic oaxacan coffee plantation] We hung out, played cards, took a tour of a coffee plantation, spent a day on the water fishing, snorkeling and visiting empty beaches, and relaxed. I am so thankful that I can get a chance to take some time like this and enjoy it with my wife of over 30 years, Chelle. But now I am back at the daily grind. Reconnecting on Facebook, catching up on the almost 400 e-mails that were awaiting my return, getting ready for a ministry board meeting this weekend, and working on a sermon for Sunday. Now I understand what people mean when they say they need a vacation from the return from vacation!