Monday, March 31, 2008

Tired of politics? Unhappy with our choices for President? Visit votervoter.com http://www.votervoter.com/wot-tvad/ and find out how you can make a political ad and have it broadcast on the web.

I think it's always a great idea when people are given a voice.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I don't know about you but I've about reached my limit when it comes to Obama and Hillary--and it's only March! The issue of Obama's "Pastor Disaster" speaks once again to doctrine and to integrity. This man stood in a pulpit week after week and taught Black Liberation theology--a theology that would end any white pastor's ministry.

Black Liberation Theology - Born in Latin America, it flourished in the 1960s at the height of the struggle for racial equality. At the heart of it is "black power"; a fierce, fighting spirit that will not allow whites to rest until they admit that blacks are human beings. It portrays Jesus as the ultimate liberator from all things evil but denounces Christianity as a tool of the white man used to foment oppression. James H. Cone, the 1960s pioneer of Black Liberation theology wrote:

"Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man 'the devil.' The white structure of this American society, personified in every racist, must be at least part of what the New Testament meant by the demonic forces...this is the bondage of racism. Racism is that bondage in which whites are free to beat, rape, or kill blacks. About thirty years ago it was acceptable to lynch a black man by hanging him from a tree; but today whites destroy him by crowding him into the ghetto and letting filth and despair put the final touches on death." [1]

And . . .

"If there is any contemporary meaning of the Antichrist, the white church seems to be a manifestation of it." [2]

Racism is abhorrent to God and we should hate it and fight against it, but rhetoric like this is inflammatory and will only lead to more bitterness and sadly, to even more racism. And Barack Obama listened to this for almost 20 years. Obama knew what Rev. Wright believed and taught, and he condoned it by simply remaining silent. This is a man who is a follower, not a leader.

I don't think we've heard the last of Rev. Wright, and personally, I don't think Obama will be able to escape the tainted shadow of a man who spouted racially charged rhetoric from a church pulpit for decades.

If I were Senator Obama, I would start working on another speech or two. He's going to need them.

.



[1] Cone, James H. Black Theology and Black Power. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1997, 40-41.
[2] Ibid, 73.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Believe it or not, PBS is up to its old tricks again--this time promoting Buddhism (not that this is anything new). On Friday, March 14, they aired an episode of the children's show Wishbone (the adventures of a cute little dog) where Wishbone has amazing super powers. The interesting thing is that Wishbone decides to use his powers to fly up into heaven . . . and who should he see in heaven but the Buddha?

Yes, a giant, golden Buddha sits among the clouds and cute little Wishbone flys right into the palm of his hand. Their conversation goes something like this:

Buddha: Little Wishbone, what are you doing up here in heaven?

Wishbone: I have come to beat you Buddha--you will not be able to stop me from doing anything I want to do.

Buddha: You believe you are greater than those who took a thousand lifetimes to perfect themselves? Oh no, little Wishbone, you are not--but you are free to try.

Wishbone: Ha ha! I will fly away from you and reach the four heavenly pillars (of stone).

Wishbone flys away from Buddha's hand and lands on top of four stone pillars in the clouds. He then flys back to see the Buddha and lands on the palm of his hand once again.

Wishbone: Aha! I have won! I made it to the top of the four pillars.

Buddha: Little Wishbone, you have not won anything for you see, you never left my hand.

Four fingers on the golden hand of Buddha change to the four stone pillars. Wishbone is in awe of the Buddha.

Wishbone: (Bowing down to Buddha) Oh great Buddha, I bow before your awesome wisdom.


The all-powerful Buddha, wisest of all and omnipotent in the heavens . . . this is what we have come to in America: PBS teaching the religion of Buddhism in a children's show.

What do you think would happen if the Wishbone writers showed Jesus in the clouds? How much of a protest would there be if Wishbone had landed in the hand of Jesus? PBS is using the money of donors from different religious faiths to teach the religion of Buddhism to children.

Rerun or no rerun, we need to stand up and say, "You crossed the line."

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/aboutsite/aboutsite_emailform.html

Twin Cities PBS: viewerservices@tpt.org

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Hello my friends--I hope all of you had a wonderful Sunday. Mine was even better than usual, since I got the chance to talk to our youth group this morning. It was one of the best Sunday mornings--I love seeing all the faces and learning all the names--I love being with these kids and telling them how much God loves them. What an honor and a joy . . . .

If you stop and think about it, we're on this earth for so short a time--I want to make every moment count. And what better way to do that than to teach? What better way to live than to follow the example Jesus set and share the Word of God . . . His heart . . . with others.

I wrote a song years ago, and tonight, as I thought about this life and the things that really count, I remembered it:

I long to know you Lord,
the way I should,
the way I know I could
if I tried, really tried.

I long to love you Lord,
as much as you love me.
To laugh and cry with you,
to share in all I do,
the joy I found
loving you.

My Father, my friend,
how sad I feel inside.
I know
how many times I've hurt you,
how many tears you've cried.
And deep inside, I'm crying too . . .
Sometimes, who'd ever know, I love you?

I long to know you Lord,
just to glimpse your heart,
and step apart
from my own--
To risk being shown
your pain . . .
To never be the same
I ask in Jesus' precious name.



Have a great week!

Sunday, March 02, 2008

I just finished the copyedit on Kingdom of the Occult--thank God. It was a long haul but I'm so glad to see it completed. God is good. So far things are on schedule for the release this Fall, but please pray that everything continues to go well.

I was reading through some files tonight and ran across an article I wrote in 2006. It was a comforting reminder to me of what this life is all about:


WHERE IS YOUR HEART?

We lose what on ourselves we spend;

We have as treasure without end
Whatever, Lord, to You we lend,
Who givest all. --Wordsworth


Money changes people. Fame changes people. I knew someone a long time ago who seemed to be a committed Christian. He seemed earnest and sincere, kind and considerate . . . and then money and fame entered the picture. His focus became the world and all it could give today—not eternity and all it promised tomorrow. His house became bigger; his car became flashier; his name became a phone number; his ministry became a bank. There was a time when he led my little sister to Christ, and listened intently to every word my father spoke. But the things of this world are powerful, and they change people.

I once knew a young couple so full of love and enthusiasm for the Lord. They were in love and recently married, and both possessed great intelligence. They loved my father and worked hard at the tasks he gave them. They were kind and loving; good friends and great spiritual warriors. We trusted them implicitly. And then something happened . . . somewhere their perspective changed, and they turned their backs on my father. They sacrificed loyalty and love, honesty and even basic kindness, for the security of money and influence.

Money and power change people.

When my Dad was alive, he wanted to own a Cadillac in the worst way. He loved cars, but he could never bring himself to buy what he wanted . . . he knew that as a minister of the gospel he could not be seen driving around town in a shiny new Cadillac. He didn't want to set a poor example, and he didn't want to disappoint God.

He started out poor, but then God blessed him, and there came a day when not only could he afford the shiny new Cadillac, but he could afford a big mansion up on a hill. It was tempting, but in the end, he just couldn't do it. You see, it was all about perspective. His eternal perspective—born of love for the Lord Jesus—just wouldn't allow him to buy these things. When he was in his late 50’s, just a little while before he died, he finally bought that Cadillac . . . it was 15 years old . . . but it was a Cadillac and he loved it. He never bought a mansion—just a nice house near the bottom of the hill.

Every day I fight to keep my heart where it should be. We live in an old neighborhood in a little town . . . but some of our neighbors’ houses are beautiful. Some days I think, "It would be wonderful to have a beautiful house," and then I remember the families in Mexico in their little houses made of garbage—so proud to own a home—and I thank God for all the blessings I have.

You see, it really is all about perspective.

Where is your heart? Do you need a brand new car and a brand new house? Do you have to have that diamond ring or Armani suit? Do you need the attention fame can bring? Then your heart's perspective is not an eternal one. In the scheme of eternity, everything this world offers is worthless. Jesus was homeless. Peter and Paul were homeless. I am so blessed to have a home.

If we truly view our lives through God's eternal perspective, our perspective changes and suddenly that extra $100 can buy toys and blankets for the little ones in Mexico. If we see things God's way, that brand new car is a foolish waste of money better spent on widows and orphans; the designer sunglasses are worse than silly pieces of plastic designed to cause envy in others—they're offensive to God. It's all about perspective.

Whenever my perspective starts to blur, and I find myself longing for the things others have, I think of how it will be when I finally stand before the Lord. Will I be delighted because He is delighted in me? Or will I be ashamed—and relieved—to be standing there and not somewhere else? Will He be proud of me or disappointed in me? I couldn't bear either one of the second choices—I want the first. I fiercely want the first, and I will not settle for anything less.

The eternal perspective—born of love—will make all the difference in life, and all the difference in eternity.

A Hollywood celebrity was once asked how he remained so level-headed when other celebrities turned to alcohol and drugs. He answered, "I never believe my own press." Christian leaders need to stop believing their own press. They need to stop spending the Lord's money on lavish salaries, big houses, gorgeous cars, luxury vacations and everything else the world offers. They have lost their way, and in the end, they will be destitute.

Money and fame change people.

In the scheme of eternity, the things we buy for ourselves—the fame we gain for ourselves—all are ashes in the wind. A loving heart, and the joy that love brings to others, these are priceless.