DoxA

Heaven, I'm In Heaven

When you think of heaven; what comes to mind? What will it look like? What will you do? I'm curious. Do you think about it? How often? Please take a moment and answer these questions and add any further comment as to what heaven means to you.

Caption Please

How Long? Not Long!

Today marks the day when Martin Luther King Jr. was born. This day has come and gone year after year when whites acknowledge and blacks celebrate. Not until President Bush #1 declared it a national holiday did we collectively do anything to place this most important figure in American history to prominence.

So far removed from the civil rights marches of the south and the stank of legislative prejudice it would be easy to forget Bloody Sunday and Governor George Wallace but this year they can not be ignored! Next week we will, with the overwhelming support of a country mostly white, swear in our first black president! Which brings to mind... Most know of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, considered to be one of the greatest speeches delivered throughout American history but today another speech stands out seemingly profound as we stand at the threshold of significant change...

At the end of the third march from Selma to Montgomery, on March 25, 1965, Dr. King stood on the steps of the state capitol with the eight thousand who began the journey and delivered a speech to nearly 30,000 for those timid and harassed to "march toward the ballot boxes" for the sake of a better day in which he emphasized,

Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding. We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day of man as man.

Entitled in his own notes as "Our God is Marching On" it later became known as How Long? Not Long... Here is the conclusion of this powerful speech.

I know you are asking today, "How long will it take?" Somebody’s asking, "How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive bright-eyed wisdom from her sacred throne?" Somebody’s asking, "When will wounded justice, lying prostrate on the streets of Selma and Birmingham and communities all over the South, be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men?" Somebody’s asking, "When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified, and truth bear it?" 

I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because "truth crushed to earth will rise again." 

How long? Not long, because "no lie can live forever." 

How long? Not long,  because "you shall reap what you sow." 

How long? Not long: 

Truth forever on the scaffold, 

Wrong forever on the throne, 

Yet that scaffold sways the future, 

And, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow,

Keeping watch above his own.

How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. 

How long? Not long, because:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on. 

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat. 

O, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant my feet!

Our God is marching on.

Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah!

Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on. 

Perhaps Tuesday is the day!

Hallow Weenies

Scary, spooky, icky, creepy... It Halloween tonight and the neighborhood will be a buzz. We live in a little part of San Jose that takes this night seriously! And we do not. Well, that's not true. We do for the fun of it but we don't get caught up in the Christian debate of "It's a night for Satan but what about the kids?" Don't get me wrong. We pray for safety and protection especially on this night and recognize there are a lot of things done especially for this night that the evil one would enjoy but these homeys don't play that. The enemy of our soul essentially gets every night; we would do well to remember this and pray each day for every night that the prince of the power of darkness be bound and Christ's followers kept safe. So, with that said, we don't go to a Harvest festival, Trunk or Treat or any other reason for the faithful to gather together and ignore their neighbors. Ouch! Did I just write that? S'ppose so... I haven't deleted it. No, These homeys stay home.

Over the years my wife and I have made a tradition of making chili, and having a houseful of friends and loud conversation while handing out candy... And not just any candy. We give out full size Hershey Bars to the bigger kids! We don't pass out tracts... we want people to come back to our house. We share our best wine with our adult neighbors, we talk, ask where they live, what they do. Many we've gotten to know starting in November. Been invited over to their house for dinner. Offer to take their garbage cans in while they're on vacation and keep an eye on things.

...yeah, it's Halloween. We'll be home tonight and we don't think it's scary, spooky, icky or creepy to get to know your neighbors on a night when it's so easy to meet them.

To Walk the Talk

Several months ago I was talking with this guy who is the lead pastor of Westgate Church here in San Jose. We were talking about the church, in general, and why we are struggling in this community... His favorite reference to the church here in Silicon Valley is, "We're sick but at least we know it." He wasn't referring to all people of the church just a few of us who are trying to understand why the media paints such a negative image of Christ followers and why our neighbors want nothing to do with our churches. We shared similar passions for educating the faithful to what it means to become Christ like. We talked about what practical steps the church could take to turn the tide of public opinion. Unfortunately, most in the church not just here but abroad don't care what the world thinks of us. We insist that separation from the world means seclusion. We develop our own Yellow Pages, create our own media, listen to our own music and associate only with those in the holy huddle. No wonder those who say they like Jesus but not his followers choose to avoid us like the plague. Our very avoidance of them reveals "they" are the plague. While Jesus says, "Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened..." we Christians are saying, "But before you do, here are several hoops you must jump through." Don't believe it? What do you think is the motivation behind Bill Maher's scathing documentary style film, "Religulous?" I believe he honestly is trying to set us religious-types straight! But what needs to be corrected should come from what WE do not what they say. 

Jesus, responding to Pharisaical assumptions refers twice to Hosea 6:6... Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. "Text edition"--Spine. (2nd ed.) (Mt 9:10-13). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

My colleague's church has done a lot to reach out to the community here in Silicon Valley. It started with a discussion that asked, "If our church burned down tomorrow would anyone in this community care?" Since then they have worked hard to develop healthy, respectful relationships with different community organizations. Under the direction of this guy their church has established a broad ministry based on the notion of "Emptying Churches, Filling Needs." One of those needs was befriending and caring for HIV/AIDS patients at the Living Center. As my friend describes it, "It is the closest thing today to what leprosy was in the days of Jesus." And as he further points out, when the religious community was turning and hiding, Jesus ministered personally to the leper.

I am so moved by this. I want those who walk by me to know, as a Christian, as one of Jesus' followers, I don't hate you. In fact let me walk with you and prove it! So to put action to our faith I asked our elders if we could move our church SERVICE (I love that word all of a sudden) into the streets on the morning of October 19th and join with three other churches, Calvary Church Los Gatos, The River and of course, Westgate Church to walk in the 19th annual Silicon Valley AIDS Walk, they agreed. So that is what we are doing. We're going to Walk... the talk. Some are upset and don't understand why we would do such a thing. Others are amazed we would take such a risk.

No risk... no reward. More on this later.

Prayer - Who Needs It

Henri Nouwen wrote in this great book...

Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched. Why would you really want to do that? Perhaps you would let the other cross your inner threshold to see something or to touch something, but to allow the other into that place where your most intimate life is shaped—that is dangerous and calls for defense.

In a recent discussion forum thread I read this comment, "Pray for me because if there is a God, I'm screwed!" This same person was making silly and nonsensical comments throughout the discussion on whether prayer could be scientifically proven effective and he wasn't the only one. While many used studies such as this one to articulately lay a scientific foundation for prayer being nothing more than a mental exercise of futility there were many who aimlessly chided those of faith with nothing more than personal opinion and the caustic "throw it in your face" unanswered prayer. What's missing in this entire debate is where prayer finds it's center. In other words; who does prayer benefit? On a human level it self centered but on a spiritual level it should be God centered but rarely finds its way there.

If we always perceive prayer as a switch to flip or a box to open then it's most likely the room will remain dark and the box empty. God is not a genie in a bottle. Throughout scripture when prayers were given and God answered, there was usually a general purpose for God's will to be accomplished and the result was greater glory to the One answering the prayer. Today, we treat prayer as some personal "Let's Make a Deal." When the very thing we ask for isn't behind door number 3 we turn on our heals, stomping away letting everyone know the "game" is a hoax. Then there are those, such as these, who are still looking for some benefit without belief that prayer is some inexpensive, self-actualized exercise toward mental health and personal esteem. This still puts prayer on a human level and if I were God (good thing for both of us that's not the case!) I wouldn't want to get involved in helping someone develop a greater dependence on themselves either! God is looking for us to put our faith in Him not ourselves.

Even in the church and among well intentioned people of faith prayer is misused and misunderstood. There are the accounts such as reported in the study mentioned above, where people disregard proper medical treatment waiting for God to do what man can do. Don't you see the illogic in that? We should be praying for God to do what only God can do and let man do what he can. And then there are those who are still rubbing the genie's bottle with, "Wherever two or more are gathered..." and "Ask ANYTHING..." and "Whatever you bind in heaven..." these passages are so misquoted and taken out of context that when God doesn't come to the rescue they lower their heads in disappointment and wonder why God could be so cruel to them.

This does not mean we should only see prayer as an acknowledgment of Who He is and what He wants. We need to intercede for others and do so according to God's will.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Tim. 2:1

Yes, pray... regardless of your outcome. Pray in solitude and magnitude. Pray when asked and when you see a need. Pray when there is nothing else you can do. Yet keep the focus on Who gave us prayer, Who answers prayer and what results from prayer.

What Should I Address?

I just finished reading through about 100 blog posts on my reader. Yeaahhhh... I was behind. And reading that many blogs and different posts made me think; we, like that old analogy states, have opinions like belly buttons... Everyone has one!

So, not to give one more opinion about something I think is important... Let me ask you. What should I address, or what do you think is important? Please leave a comment and let me know. Let me say that again... PLEASE leave a COMMENT and please don't email me! I'm still amazed how many emails I get regarding blog posts. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate them, I do, but it's better to have those thoughts in the body of the main thought. It's part of the conversation.

Have a great Whatever Friday!

Sarah vs. Barak is That the Ticket?

I like the rest of the country, well, with the exception of the four and a half dozen people who live in Alaska, was one who didn't know who Sarah Palin was prior to John McCain's selection of the Alaskan governor for Veep. I wasn't too surprised about the difficult questions surrounding her family and the press reaction. I don't buy into a concerted effort of the "Media Elite" to trash republicans and favor democrats. I think this issue was made a big deal because traditionally the republicans proclaim "family values" and abstinence thus making a 17 year old pregnant girl from a republican family a story. This wasn't much different with Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant underage and out of the confines of marriage. Now before you barrage me with examples of bashing and favoritism... I will agree it happens in the media and it happens to both parties for the same reasons... we are a reactive, in a nuclear fashion, group of people. I don't believe in social/intellectual classism; I no more believe democrats are more intelligent and caring as republicans are rich and selfish. I know dumb and rich democrats and poor, by choice, republicans because they serve social issues! So let's stop the stereotyping shall we! Which gets me back to my point...

Is Sarah Palin running against Barak Obama or is John McCain? By the sounds of things in the (total, unbiased) media, come November 4th were gonna be standing in the voter booth, looking at the choices for president and think, "Who's John McCain?.. oh yeah, the old guy running with the hot babe!"

Look here's my point: Do personalities win elections or do the issues? Is having people who are charismatic on the ticket serve the country? Both Palin and Obama are being touted for their personal appeal... but I want substance. I want a person to serve the "entire" best interest of this country whether they're hot or not, black or white... Records matter! Let the past accomplishments of the candidates reflect what can be done to change Washington to change our future.

Yes... her speech was good the other night; many great sound bites. But let's hope, what was for me the best line of the night (no, not the difference between pit-bulls and PTO moms) that if, "Some people like to use change to promote their careers, while others use their careers to promote change," that our attitudes toward the candidates can change from celebrity to integrity and from reaction to action.

Will the real presidential nominee, please stand up... and will the real media please take note!

Thank You, No Really... Thanks

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all you wonderful people who email me and tell me personally how much you enjoy my blog. It really makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to read and hear such glowing remarks.

But will you please stop it! ... emailing and telling me personally that is.

Just below each post is an underlined word in blue which indicates it is a link to another place in cyberspace called "Comments." This is where bloggers not only like to hear the nice and glowing praise of their readers it is also a place, believe it or not, I like to read your disagreement or additional thoughts.

A friend of mine, who will remain nameless (but his initials are eff pillman) tells me he wants to comment but thinks what he has to say is more prone to a personal conversation... while another friend told me several posts had stirred thoughts within her but felt her opinions weren't that important because they were based in her personal experience and not known fact. Most recently I received a great email from a friend down in So. Cal who just started reading my blog and shared with me how much he enjoys it and noted, through the "Linkin Blogs" posts, how he discovered other bloggers who he now follows and downloaded one of their albums from iTunes... now that's the beauty of the blogosphere!

By the way... before I forget. I want to thank those who are regular comment contributors because you add wit, intelligence, and deeper insights into what can be nothing more than a speech in cyberspace so really... Thanks!

But for the rest of you... don't be shy. This is not a solicitation for gratuitous praise. Uh uh, disagree, rant... tell me I'm too skinny or old... call me a straw man, I won't care (actually that last one will hurt) but just click the little word below and leave several words of your own. I care about what you think and the world does too.

Have a great Friday!

In The Next Several Days I'll...

Like today, I will pay all the mid-month bills, finish up my nutrition plan, completely clean and tune my bike, clear all the undone affairs off my desk, get an international driver's license, alert my credit card companies (sorry Dave Ramsey... but we're talking American Express here) of international travel, pull my desired apparel from the closet and set aside, get maps of Provence, swim 4000, run 45min, take (I love that word in this context) two meetings and, AND finish up my Powerpoint for the weekend message.

I've already read six blogs and before bed will get in another six or eight. I'm amped up on 53/11 Coffee (Big Chain Ring), yes there is such a thing; check these guys out they're roasting some good coffee! My wife just walked in with our first tomatoes off the vine for this summer... oh the randomness of setting a day aside for just doing "pickup."

Beyond all this I still need to chat with my coach, Brian, have lunch, take a shower, email/phone responses and stay off Twitter (if you haven't noticed I've been doing less Twitter lately because you Tweets distract me... in a good way).

Tomorrow will be last chance workout to get everything dialed in... packing for the trip, including my Felt B2 Carbon TT bike into it's travel case, preparing final thoughts and instructions for the weekend service at Twin Oaks and thoroughly cleaning our house... we hate coming home to anything out of place. Sunday will be church, lunch, SFO, Heathrow and/end Nice... but it'll be Monday by then.

We'll pick up the car then Mel and Linda; somewhere. Then settle into the little sea coast village of Theoule Sur Mer.

One thing I hoped to do in the next several days was learn a little more of the French language... yeah, right. I'll settle for a little more sense of humor. Another thing I most likely won't get to is calling all those people who said, "Let me know before you go how to get in touch with you while you're there"... best answer then and still today. Uh, the blog. I'll be looking for wifi while there and update regularly. Photos, thoughts, food, people, travel experiences; it'll all be there.

Auvoire