Crossed Wires

Funny, how...okay, not funny; sad.

American Evangelical Christians are proud to send their sons and daughters to Iraq and Afghanistan where they might well "die for their country". They [we] celebrate their serving, their sacrifice, and we parade them before friends, family and church.

Yet... I know very few who would be so proud, so excited, well, to send their sons and daughters to live sacrificial lives where, if sent to the Middle East, SW Asia, Africa, places in Asia, they might well die for the Kingdom.

By the way, this Kingdom is eternal and the King actually worthy to die for.

Lord, may we, your church, awaken from political religion, from national faith and theology and rediscover the radical, scandalous Messiah, who calls us to lives lived shrewd as wolves, gentle as lambs, and living sacrifices.

Help! My eyes rolled & now they're stuck!

Okay, I'm just flat done....
Enough of the hate, the vilanizing and the buying into the radical attacks of the "other side". When does it stop!

When do we stop attacking the "other side" as if they are worse than our worst enemy?

When do we simply see our own people with different opinions?

How can we not see that the retaliation against anyone who sees the solutions to our shared problems differently from us is exactly the opposite of democracy?

I received an email from an ardent "conservative". It was a "punny" little article that depicts the CEO (by the way, this friend is a millionaire and lives a NICE life and it's easy to say when you don't face the reality of being afraid of not being able to pay your bills this month, much less save for retirement or your kids' college years) being forced to make cuts because of President Obama's coming tax plans. So this CEO goes through the parking lot and fires anyone who had an Obama sticker... with the pun, "you want change, you got it".

DOES THIS SCARE ANYONE BESIDES ME? This is exactly what intolerant totalitarian governments do, how they start...silence and threaten, use your power to bully and intimidate others. YET they claim that their party is for freedom, for choice, etc, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah... freedom as long as it agrees with you?

WHAT EVER! It makes my eyes roll so far back into my head that I can't [insert your worst expletive here] stand it!

I'm just sick of it! HOW SIMPLETON, IGNORANT, SMALL MINDED, AND INTOLERANT CAN PEOPLE BE!? ARE WE REALLY THAT [insert your favorite expletive here] STUPID!?

What's worse, they then cloak themselves [both sides of the extreme argument] with spiritual platitudes and claim the high ground over the other! I'm just sick of it... I don't want anymore political crap sent to me! If you can't see above your mole hill, leave me out of your discussions.

There are intelligent discussions taking place - look up from the bottom of the ocean of which you swim - you'll see it, promise.

From New Zealand - pray for hope for America

My brother-in-law, Gavin Knight, www.gavinknight.com, wrote a blog on the election of President elect Obama. He too listened to every word of Senators McCain and Obama. Again, I am reminded the world listens and watches and now waits.

What yesterday says...

There are people who hope for the rainbow in this election and others dispondent. The latter tend to have drunk the cool-aid of hate filled politics. They forget that even when you disagree with the plan, this 44th president will work to do good, real good.

What Yanks fail to realize is that the world hoped in Obama, not because he is African, not because he is a democrat. The world hopes because he speaks of hope, of change, of leadership without hate, confrontation as normal routine and that he will listen. In every conflict, being heard, understood and listened to is paramount to any reconciliation. I'm not simple - I know the complexities, honeslty better than 99% of the people. I majored in it, was an Army officer, have been involved internationally for decades and read profusely.... I know it's complex. BUT finally some one who is pausing to consider if we might lead without always wanting to bully our way through everything.

More though, the greatest thing this election does is finally make our words mean something when we say we're past the hate of yesterday, past the sins of slavery and social oppression for which we are truly guilty. It shows the world we are who we say we are, and that not only European Americans can lead. It tells the world to emulate and follow our example, and reflects a desire of the people to remember those in the far flung forgotten places in the world, and forgotten places of empire right here.

With the close of WWII, we at first reluctantly took the global lead, but we got used to it and as it was passed to the next generations, it became our reality. We now presume, without asking or questioning, or wrestling, if possibly our actions look more like empire that servant, support, or friend.

I don't agree with all of Senator, President-elect Obama's policies or positions. I also know campaign is not the same as the real thing. I also don't agree with allof Senator McCain's policies. They are both good men, and now the die is cast. Time to unify and pray, and serve and put away our passports... time to be residents, Ambasadors, sent ones from the King first and foremost. God has blessed America, but it is not the Messianic answer to the world's issues - Jesus, the Christ, is. Not the American cultural version, but the radical Biblical one. Let's get the dust from his steps all over us, as we follow, imitate and serve Him, bringing the reality of the Kingdom to our normal daily lives.

Tonight I read a blog when I should have been doing mileage reports to get reimbursed! But I am glad I did. One blog I follow is Mark Sayers from Melbourne. He's insightful and often a keen thinker.

Today he commented on the election here.... I suggest you read it yourself! If you do, stay with it until the end of the article - his point is made in the last paragraph. Having lived in Europe and New Zealand, and having spent significant time in Australia, the UK, France, Germany (enough?) I would endorse and agree.

The surprising note that struck me, besides his accurate assessment is that Yanks fail to really appreciate, underestimate, just how much the entire world looks to the US -for better and worse, and how, in the midst of their criticisms, deserved and not deserved, there is a hope that brings them to look to the USA... Besides the clout the nation carries, the world watches and hopes and the reality of just how they watched the outcome last night is evidence how the entire world watched this election and now hopes! Let us NOT forget that.

If Mark were to read this, my one comment I would share and discuss in his assessment, which I do not necessarily disagree with, was that the enthusiasm, the hope, the fervor he witnessed was out of the ashes of disillusionment, cynicism and apathy that had spread across the country. Wha the world witnessed was a people longing for change, for hope, for unity again after decades of hate filled divisive politics and foolish leadership. What he saw was what he synthesized, but it is no longer the norm, but this, no this is history. Now, the Constitution, the aspirations of the Declaration and MLK's Dream speech have become reality.... and it occurred with people of every stripe. Even if you disagree with his policies... well, we can agree that he is a good man, a wise man, and one who sincerely wants what's best and is not afraid to lead.

Hope...one more time, dare to hope.

The Ultimate Compliment

Sunday we received the ultimate comment. As we had dinner all together with Christian, our last all together before he flew out, we discussed his time with us, his experiences, including evacuating for a hurricane, and his departure and return home.

He gave us the ultimate compliment, a sentiment expressed that is mutual, we all assure you! He told us, "I don't know if I am leaving home or going home." Thanks, Christian! That's a humbling honor and we take it with gratitude and mutual fondness and ache as you depart.

Christian departs to return to Australia. He was only coming for five months after all. He made such an impact, such contribution, such richness for us all. He's going to finish university and his nursing training. We'd love him to come back, but there are a couple of years to search that out.

During his time he left indelible impact upon the boys, their school and classroom, our neighborhood, the Neutral Ground Coffee House (a beatnik club house really), and us! He's cut and hammered, and hung, and raked and cleaned, and entertained, played, chatted and watched.

Mate, we'll, well ...yea. You get it. Seriously - love ya mate. You're missed already!

Community October 09

Here is our community...messy, complex, fun, work, family... Learning to live in community is a life long journey. Changing from individuals in a consumer society is a lot more work than most admit. But it's a lot of fun, tons more support and a collective way of life brings together wisdom, gifts, and teaches you so much about yourself, and following Christ.