I'm reading a book with my students called "Surviving Hitler" and with that, looking at other areas of the genocide, etc. We are watching the movie "Escape from Sobioborg" as I write. A few thoughts have been on my mind:

1) I don't think I could have survived one of these. I have read many accounts of the will it took to stay alive, I don't know if I have that fortitude. The labor, starvation, etc. would have been too much.

2) Elie Wiesel in "Night" says the eight hardest words for him to digest were "Women to the left, men to the right." That would have done me in right there. Being separated from my family, watching them die, I just love them too much to carry on with life after that.

3) I don't know, having survived something like this, how I could forgive the enemy. That is why forgiveness may be the highest level of humanity.

More to come...

This is pretty good, the Sports Guy and Chuck Klosterman are exchanging emails, and discussing generational differences and the new vs. old media. Check out what Klosterman writes, particularly the last sentence, this is the point I was trying to make in my earlier post:

New Media will never replace Old Media, because New Media couldn't exist without Old Media; they would have nothing to link to. But the net result is that all people are starting to assume that the media is inherently useless and that there is absolutely no difference between news and entertainment. This will make the coming generation even more cynical than the current one, which is mostly bad (but not necessarily tragic). I think this is why so many teenagers are obsessed with things like myspace.com: They have lost interest in the world at large, so they've decided to just build an interior culture where they are the sole focus. The can live without the world.

Check out the fascinating full article here:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/050928&num=0

Is it just me or do others wonder how, after listening to NO mayor Ray Nagin speak, how in the world he got elected to that post? The guy may be intelligent, but he seems lost.

We had a "church function" last night (I hate to call it that, it was just an open gathering for any who wanted to attend) and I can't recall a time in recent memory that I felt more out of place in a group of people. It's very frustrating, I'm excited to be in this fellowship but I just don't fit! It'll be interesting to see what the future holds, as I hope to be able to serve but, as I've found in the past that may not be possible.

Which brings me to another point, I sit and listen often to these young, post-modern, edgy kids (I'll say 18-25) talk about how no one accepts them for who they are, etc. And I'll agree they probably have been burnt in the past due to their non-conformity to the culture, which I'm totally with. But when the time comes, they also need to step up and accept those different from them. It's like with the diversity push and acceptance of different religions, we are pushed to accept everyone, which is right, but they don't accept us because maybe we are the prevailing majority or what the culture views as "normal." They need to follow their own rules if they are going to play that game.

Finally, I'm not going along with the push from Congress and the major sports to up the penalty for athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. It's not that I think they should be allowed, but right now the definition of "performance-enhancing drugs" is just too ambiguous to have this debate. And yes, I do believe that Congress has better things to do than be worrying about this at the present time. Okay, a teen somewhere committed suicide after using some sort of steroid, do you know that teen suicide is the number two cause of death among college students and number three cause of death among youth overall (http://www.1-teenage-suicide.com/). Yes, this is a problem, but one among many in our society. Define the problem, list the causing agents, have a clear plan, and then proceed. Right now its way too reactionary for me, I'm fearing too much of a knee-jerk reaction where the innocent will be harmed.

Check out the following link for a picture of the national debt under successive presidents. Why the sharp rise since the late 70's?
http://www.jordoncooper.com/uploaded_images/usdebt1-757865.gif

I'm on the eternal search for a nice pair of khaki/cargo's and can't find one for the life of me! I'm willing to pay whatever it takes! (It would help if I'd lost ten pounds, but until then I need something to wear!)

Another dismal fantasy week. I lost like 72-31. At least I got one win last week, I didn't get skunked! I've figured out my problem with fantasy sports, I pick my team, like the guys, but then stick with them all year. I have no idea who the sleepers are that went undrafted and no matter how much my guys suck throughout the year, I'll continue to throw them in there hoping for the big week. Unless they are out for the year, they stay on my team. In both of my previous baseball seasons, I set the standard for least amount of transactions. If you know of any sleepers out there, I'm more than willing to listen!

I'm taking this class called "Lection Divina - Reading the Classics" and having the hardest time getting into the reading. I don't dislike classical literature per se, yet am not finding much other than a few sound bites in the reading. The class starts next week and I've been plodding through the pre-reading, it's going to be a struggle!

It's been slow blogging lately as you can see, I just feel like I have nothing to say of late, and I hate writing trying to make stuff up when it's not from the heart.

I was flipping through channels the other night and came across an Amber Alert. It wasn't from my area so I was going to keep flipping, then I saw the faces of the two children, like 3 and 7, and my heart just broke for them. I wanted to do more, all I could do was pray, that was more than I could do.

They keep telling me that our generation will never be as wealthy as our parents. I just figured out why, we spend all of our money while they saved it. Jordon Cooper, a pastor from Canada, spoke at one of my grad classes and spoke how everything today is about experience, and our parents think we are crazy. But it was about experience for them too, saving for that land or the cadillac or RV was their experience, ours is coffee at Starbucks, humanitarian trips, day trips away from our kids, fancy clothes, etc.

This isn't anythingnew, and just something I believe without any hard proof, but I believe the Founding Fathers could not fathom how we think of government. For them government was by the people, not a ruling elite like we have today. Furthermore, to think how we rely on government for our existence, they should be rolling in their graves.

My vote for the best 0-3 team ever is the Oakland Raiders. They had to travel to the Super Bowl contending New England Patriots, host the Super Bowl contending Kansas City Chiefs, and travel to the Super Bowl contending Philadephia Eagles, and had a chance in each game. Their coaching really hurts them, its evident in those close games.

What happened to the vaunted Indy offense? They're 3-0 and relying on their defense. I never thought I would type those words.

I'll end by letting you know that I am blogging here from a Bed and Breakfast in Madison, beautiful area, celebrating our anniversary, great times and further proof why we'll never be as wealthy as our parents, they never did stuff like this!

I just sent the following email to Mark Green, US Congressman from my home district in WI:

Good Afternoon Congressman Green,

Greetings. I wanted to take a second and write to you on an issue I feel important and from an article in today's Post Crescent, you do as well.

I am referring to the discussion you and Bono will be having this weekend on the solution to world poverty, among other issues. As we all know, Bono is very opinionated on this topic and has been given a lot of influence in seeking to persuade world leaders to forgive debt and open up their checkbook to these debt ridden and poverty stricken countries.

However, I want to encourage you to stand firm on your stated goals that any assitance program for poverty or debt relief go right to the people, and not simply to the corrupt leaders of many of these countries. In addition, you say it is important to eliminate conditions that lead to poverty rather than simply handing out blank checks to governments that misuse the funds.
I know that you have spent time in Kenya, and for the past two summers I have gone there as well to work with the people for some grass roots organizations. In the Daily Nation on August 3rd of this summer, an editorial was written titled "How AIDS Money is Eaten" and went on to say that AIDS has turned into an industry for some people, profiting from the money sent to countries like Kenya, ending up in the pockets of consultants who run conferences to "educate" the people about AIDS, but very little gets to the people for treatment or prevention. There are endless articles such as this, I'm sure you have read many of them yourself, and this side of the story needs get out into the mainstream as well.

Finally, I know you are a busy man, but on October 16th, in Appleton, WI at the Copper Rock Cafe, Dr. Stanley Mutunga, a native of Kenya and professor at Hope International University in Fullerton, CA, will be presenting the work he is doing in reaching out to AIDS orphans in the Machakos district, specifically the Masii area. In my mind, this is one part of the solution to the problems faced in Kenya and other African nations. If you have time and would like to attend and enjoy some Kenyan fellowship and cuisine, you and your family are more than welcome. You may also check the web site at tumainiinternational.org

To close, I want to again thank you for your stance on this issue and encourage you not to sway to the right or to the left. A lot of work needs to be done in Kenya and other African countries, but blank checks are not the answer. The answer is proceeding cautiously and as you say, provide assistance to those who are willing to help themselves and not simply rely on our charity.

Thanks for yoru time, God's Blessings, and have a great day!

America's Poor?

(First, I know Tuesday has passed and I didn't give a book review. My computer is in the shop and I don't have time at work to put a post together, so I'll get one up as soon as I get it back.)

WOW! I've never seen an article like this before. It appeared on the Evangelical Outpost yesterday, click on the title for the link to the article. I don't totally agree with the article, but I give the author major props for even bringing it up.

There is a particular group of Americans, many of them Christians, who don’t give much thought to their material wealth. Forty-six percent of them not only own their own homes but have more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. Nearly three-quarters of them live in households which own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent of their households have a color television and over half own two or more. Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player while 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception. Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.*

Some of them vote Republican. Others would identify with the “Religious Right.” More than a few of them are evangelicals. This group of citizens are among the richest humans in the world yet give almost nothing in order to relieve the suffering of their less fortunate neighbors on the planet.

Who are these people? In America we call them “the poor.”

Predictions

A few predictions on the upcoming NFL season based on yesterday's games:

1) I hate to say it, but I have to go with the Sports Guy and say the Packers will have a terrible year, he said 4 wins, I'm going with 5. Favre will retire after this year and the Pack will have to start over after a solid 12-15 year run (not overly spectacular apart from the two Super Bowl appearances, but fairly consistent and enjoyable).

2) My fantasy team will suck! I had 23 points after Thursday night's game and now stand at 31 with only Akers playing this evening. I'm hoping for a few wins and to elude last place.

3) The Cowboys will be better than people think, I had them for 9 wins but they may hit double digits after that impressive road win in SD.

4) Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson are going to drive fantasy owners crazy, but be a double-headed monster for opposing D's.

5) Once again, to my liking, Seattle will either miss the playoffs or be a first round casualty, further tarnishing Holmgren's status as offensive guru.

6) The Saints looked good yesterday, but will not win 6 games with all the travel and chaos of their year.

7) The Raiders may not be more than a .500 team, but Moss and Collins will play catch often and be fun to watch, I'm glad they're on my fantasy team.

8) Nick Saban will bring many great years to the Dolphins, but they're still a year away, no more than 6 wins.

9) Same with the 49'ers, I hate to see a proud franchise struggle, but I think they top out at 4 wins.

10) Finally, parity will once again rule the league, all bets are off (except New England coasting to another ring, I hate the Pats!)!

The following is a post about Brian McLaren on Jordon Cooper's blog:

He was called to enter various cultures - Jewish cultures, Gentile cultures - and invite people to be reconciled to God and to one another. Of course, nobody can be everything to everybody at the same time, but you can, Paul implied, cross the bridge on the right side and enter a person’s world without judgment, and then go to the left side of the bridge and enter that person’s world without judgment as well.

The spirit of what McLaren is saying is true. The problem I see here is that both sides aren't playing by the same rules. I've written many times over the nearly two years of this blog that we cannot mandate biblical principles on the world, on those who don't identify with Christianity. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit does any of this make any sense. Therefore, how can we expect to enter the political arena, where most politicians are there for the power that comes with the office and don't humble themselves for what is right, and expect change to happen? We can enter this world as McLaren encourages, but we must enter it with the hope and purpose of spreading God's love and grace on those we come in contact with, and only then can we expect them to play by our rules. I see this post and example as another way the left is trying to duplicate the Religious Right, and I don't like it.

My girl is back at it. Alicia Keys just released her new video for "Unbreakable" on mtv.com and will be performing an unplugged version of old hits and new releases on September 23. Guess where I'll be? (In front of the TV!) Check out the video and other hits at the following link:
http://www.mtv.com/music/video/premiere/keys_alicia/index.jhtml#

I'm hoping for another spring or summer tour!

At Least They're Honest

The History Channel is profiling the 9-11 terrorists. One of them moved from Yemen in 1992 to Germany and was granted asylum status to study at Hamburg U. But it was noted that he moved because of Germay's liberal welfare system and received a monthly stipend while he went to school and honed his terrorist skills which he would later use to fly airplanes into the WTC. Nice!

Maiya has been asking many questions of late, mostly about God and how He makes things. Tonight we read Genesis 1 together and I tried to explain to her how God created the world ex nihilo - out of nothing. I don't think she can grasp that yet.

We were also reading about God creating animals, humans, etc. and she questioned where Jesus was. I said that Jesus was creating the world and that He and God were the same person. But she corrected me in saying that they were the same but just wore different clothes. All I could do was agree.

Vox posts the following recovery plan from David Brooks of the NYT:

If we just put up new buildings and allow the same people to move back into their old neighborhoods, then urban New Orleans will become just as rundown and dysfunctional as before.That's why the second rule of rebuilding should be: Culturally Integrate. Culturally Integrate. Culturally Integrate. The only chance we have to break the cycle of poverty is to integrate people who lack middle-class skills into neighborhoods with people who possess these skills and who insist on certain standards of behavior.

He then blasts the plan in this response:

Can anyone spot the flaw in this argument? (Hint: it's the same flaw that caused busing to fail.) You see, functioning middle-class families don't like being used as the tools to fix the struggling lower-classes, to say nothing of the completely dysfunctional middle class.White people don't move out of a neighborhood because they fear the nice, middle-class black couple who just moved in or because they are unregenerate racists who don't want to set eyes on a darkie from their front lawn, they move out because they know that less desirable elements are likely to begin knocking around the neighborhood in a relatively short period of time.If the government imposes Mr. Brooks' cultural integration solution, the first thing you'll see is a rash of For Sale signs as the white middle class and the black middle class will race each other to escape the meltdown.

I have to disagree with Vox here on one premise. I agree that this plan cannot be mandated by the government or any other entity. However, lately I have become a fan of John Perkins and what he calls the Christian Community Development Plan, which has begun in many areas around our nation and several countries. Basically, he describes that when the white flight happened in the late 60's and throughout the 70's, not only did the people leave, but when they left “real estate values plummeted and properties quickly deteriorated…the quality of education declined…as the spiritual and moral leadership withdrew, the churches soon followed…thriving business districts eventually boarded up as merchants pursued new opportunities in the ‘edge cities’” There is nothing left to build the community around, thus the inner cities have deteriorated into a place of severe depravity. His solution (and one shared by other experts on the city including Ray Bakke, probably the foremost expert on creating a theology for the city in Christian arenas) is what he would call relocation, asking families from the suburbs whom the Lord has called to move back into the city and provide a foundation for that area (Bakke actually calls for a tithe of people to move back in, one in ten from suburban churches). And it seems to be working, as he cites several examples of areas where this has worked, including Northwest Pasadena. Yes it is dangerous, and yes it takes the urging of the Holy Spirit to make any sense at all. Likewise as I've stated, one cannot mandate this, it must be voluntary. But I agree with Perkins and Brooks in the example above that it may be the only way to bring stability back to these areas and provide a foundation for redevelopment.

I've had two fairly major revelations in my life in the past few days.

First, I realized that for me, God has become a concept to be known (in an academic sort of knowledge) and studied rather than a being to be worshipped. My heart desires to know Him more in an intimate way. I know that He desires relationship with me and really cares less about what I do for Him and more for how I give myself to Him. I know in my mind that ministry can be nothing but an overflow of our relationship with God, but in my life I try to do the opposite, make my relationship with God contingent on what I do for Him. I know that I need to get into the Word more and have more serious times of prayer. I'm reading a book right now for a class called "Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton and one comment strikes me. A monk once asked St. Macarius how to pray and the response was epic, "It is not necessary to use many words. Only stretch out your arms and say: Lord, have pity on me as you desire and as you well know how! And if the enemy presses you hard say: Lord, come to my aid!" I guess the point here is not the length and wording of the prayer, it's the attitude of the heart that I need to work on and the desire to have intimate times with the Lord.

Second, I am finding more and more that I am trying to live this life in two worlds. Part of me desires to live in the Kingdom of God, the other part is pretty comfortable right here in the Western culture of the twenty-first century thank you very much! More than anything, I know and desire how fruitful and peaceful it is to live in God's Kingdom, to live by the principles Jesus set out in Matthew 5-7. But I am a worrywart, I worry about money, about security, about health and the things of this world. In my mind I know that my only security is in Christ, but when it plays out I put my hope in the things on earth. It's quite a journey I am on, I don't know where it will end, or even if this struggle will ever end. But I guess at least I do know that Jesus is Lord, that God is good, He is True, He is Just, and He is my Savior! The other things will fall into place if I remember this and to Love God and Love Others!

My professor included the following statement in his latest online weekly periodically "In Hope." Of course, the topic was the aftermath of Katrina. What I appreciate here is the need for us as Christians not to put our hope and security in this world, but the next. I wrote a week or so ago how I believe I would react different from those I see on the news, acting as if this were Armageddon. I can't say this for sure, but my hope is that I would set my sights on heaven and not on the depravity of this world.
If any of life's storms displaced us tomorrow - geographically, socially, and emotionally - how would we fare? Paul wrote, "We do not lose heart, for though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor 4.16)
Is that true for you?

I sure hope so!

It's always nice to find articles backing up your thinking. The following link takes you to yet another article on why debt forgiveness and massive foreign aid is not necessarily the savior of third world countries.
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/73/Thoughts_On_Foreign_Aid.html

I've realized from some of my previous posts that I could be considered one who lacks compassion for the people of the world. However, I think that is the furthest from the truth. After some thought, I've concluded that I have a great deal of compassion for those who need it, and none for those who abuse it. For the young lady who has no food in the house since her father drinks all the money away, I have endless compassion. The same for the single parent raising her children on limited income, loving her children more than anything in the world. The elderly and sick who couldn't flee Katrina have my prayers and support, as do those who live under brutal regimes and are persecuted at every turn. That is just the tip of the iceberg of those who my heart goes out to. On the other hand, those who use and abuse the system, the lazy and sluggards who rely on the government at every turn for their survival, those who persecute and terrorize the weak, the arrogant and the overpowering, those are not in my favor and I have little compassion for them. So I am not necessarily a man who lacks total compassion, I just don't have compassion for those who really don't need it.

Book Review: What's So Amazing About Grace

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another book review.

I've chosen Philip Yancey's "What So Amazing About Grace" for this weeks review/suggestion. If you've followed this blog you know that I reread this book in the end of the July since I needed to get balanced again on this subject. Yancey quotes David Seamands who makes the epic statement, "We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But that's not the way we live." Yancey adds, "Jesus' wondrous message of grace gets diluted in the vessel of the church." Jesus came with a message of grace and the Kingdom of God, Paul said it is "by grace we are saved, through faith...not by works that no man should boast..." yet as Christians live and judge by by the law. Jesus said to judge by the heart, but we are programmed to look at the outside of a person. How does God view us? Is He really good and does He reallylove us, or is that just when we act in a way that is pleasing to Him? Lewis Smedes is quoted, "What I needed more than a pardon was a sense that God accepted me, affirmed me, and would never let go of me even if he was not too much impressed with what he had on his hands." In a style unique to Yancey, through stories and timeless quotes, he centers us on the grace of God and shows us how far we have strayed from the ministry and message of Christ. It may be one of the most life-changing books I have ever read!

Unfortunately, this picture is all too visible around the world:

"In the chaos that was... this group of refugees stood out: a 6-year-old boy walking down the road, holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers who followed him around as if he were their leader. They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2 years old, and one was wearing only diapers. A 3-year-old girl, who wore colorful barrettes on the ends of her braids, had her 14-month-old brother in tow. The 6-year-old spoke for all of them, and he told rescuers his name was...."

I've taken out the names, can you guess where this comes from?

Interesting and timely comment from Vox:

The problems of New Orleans are not of the federal government's creation - except perhaps for the levees, but I don't know who was ultimately responsible for them - and the tendency to blame the president is indicative of the socialist sickness that infects this country. But the disaster still serves as a powerful reminder that even the most powerful government has its limits, that not all things are possible through it and that a nation's responsibility to its own citizens must supersede any desire to do something for those who are not citizens.

People around the world are taking note that America is not as poweful and immune from disasters as they once thought. I love this nation and the freedom it gives and the democratic ways it eminates worldwide, but if you look at the events of the past five years we begin to see the armor losing its luster.

This may have been one of the worst weekends of my life. I caught a cold/allergy that I can't get rid of. I thought it was gone this morning but as the day rolls on it's coming back. I'm taking everything I can to kill it, but no such luck.

It's been an interesting week of teaching. For one, my kids have been pretty good. Two, there are three kids in one of my groups that just arrived in the US from Thailand last week. They have relatively no English skills although have made huge strides in the first few days. It's pretty cool to be involved in something like that.

I was lying awake last night (not able to sleep due to the allergies) and kind of sulking on certain things that aren't going the way I want (kind of just feeling sorry for myself). The house is a disaster, school is good to be back at but in other ways kind of a drag, Lisa and I really don't have any friends and in some ways I feel I don't fit with a lot of co-workers at school (for some reason I feel very removed from the rest of the staff, I don't know if it's me or them), just an all out case of the blues. But then I began to put things in perspective: in Thailand a 12 year-old girl had just gotten done having sex with her twelfth person of the day, children were sleeping in Kenya with no blankets in chilly weather with malaria-carrying mosquitos buzzing around, those in LA and MS had nothing, a church in China was meeting under the threat of death if caught, etc. It was good to have a dose of perspective. I need that often!

My final thought of the day revolved around the question of whether non-believers should be invited to church. I'm torn on this issue, for one I know that there are times when believers need to be and worship together without worrying about who they are offending, watching their language, etc. On the other hand, Paul knew that there would be unbelievers present when thec church in Corinth met, that's why he scolded them on their misuse of the gifts, and I do believe that when people are allowed a glimpse of Kingdom living and have a chance to ask some questions rather than "Say this prayer or rot in hell!" they'll be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit on their lives and seek the things of God. For now, I'm leaning toward the latter in my approach to fellowship, gathering, and "church."

I hate to say it, but I'm in agreement with this:

Hastert wasn't the only one questioning the rebuilding of New Orleans. The Waterbury, Conn., Republican-American newspaper wrote an editorial Wednesday entitled, "Is New Orleans worth reclaiming?""Americans' hearts go out to the people in Katrina's path," it said. "But if the people of New Orleans and other low-lying areas insist on living in harm's way, they ought to accept responsibility for what happens to them and their property."

And I promise after this, no more blogs on Katrina.

I'm sorry, but people need to start learning priorities in life:

Pets were not allowed on the bus, and when a police officer confiscated a little boy's dog, the child cried until he vomited. "Snowball, snowball," he cried.

Never mind that this is a life or death situation and someone is worried about their pets.

Like I said yesterday, I've got to watch myself but I'm getting a little frustrated with the attitude of the people down in LA and MS. Stop the crying! Donations are being made, the federal government will bail you out, things like this just don't happen overnight. I can't help believe how much better the situation is here than the aftermath of the tsunamai. I heard complaints last night that the people were FINALLY getting air conditioning, cold water, and sewer systems. Well Praise the Lord! I would bet money that three-quarters of the world has never known cold water or AC, and a sewer system has escaped half the world. Furthermore, the FEMA director put out a statement that "help is on the way, but unfortunately the people who need the help the most were those who chose not to heed the advice of authorities and flee the city." And I don't buy the "we couldn't get out" argument, you knew a week in advance, start walking! I'm sure there were ways out, one just had to have a little wisdom.

My prayers and thoughts and wishes to those suffering, but please stop whining, help is on the way and now we get a little feel of what the rest of the world lives in. (And yes, I do hope I keep this attitude when something like this happens to my home.)

Watching the aftermath of Katrina puts me in a very surreal position. I find it so hard to believe the devastation and need that exists there, it seems like a movie rather than reality. Yet it is real, millions of people may never return to their homes, a year for sure, and here I sit living my normal life worrying about gas prices. Like Maiya just told me, CRAZY!

Speaking of gas, I have not ever seen such a disparity in prices as today. The gas station by my school said $3.09, just a mile down the road it was $2.94. I have mixed feelings on this, part of me thinks it will continue to grow, yet part also thinks it will level off and drop down to around $2.50 or a little highter.

School started today, pretty cool to be back. I have high hopes for this year, I have my own room for the first time, love the people I work with, and hope to get involved and be a leader for the students. I have a good group to work with and hope I can do justice to their desires of growth.