Of Birthdays, Elections, and Hope

Six years ago our youngest son Nils was born. There was snow in the air for the first time that fall as we drove to the hospital early that morning. It was not an easy time in our lives. My position at the Bible camp I worked at had been cut two months earlier. Opportunities for work was slim. We were about to have a second child.

But we had hope. We were in a church community that was praying for us and taking care of us. God was providing for our needs. We knew a job would come along at some point. And we knew that our new-born son was coming into a family that would love him, no matter what.


This past week Americans voted for the president, national and local leaders, and various state laws and constitutional amendments. As with most elections in the past few decades, it was ugly. Mud was slung. Division was clearly more abundant than unity.

In Minnesota were were faced with a marriage amendment which pitted those who don't want the definition of marriage to be change against those who want gays and lesbians to have the same freedoms. We had a voter ID amendment that pitted those that wanted fair, un-fraudulent voting against those who were looking out for the rights of minorities and the elderly. Many felt very strongly about both sides of both amendments. And, I believe, both sides had valid points (the outcome wouldn't have been so close to 50-50 if not). Unfortunately, we didn't look for common ground. Unfortunately, both amendments caused a lot of hurt, as well as a lot of name-calling. As did the presidential election--and every other election on the ballot.

We had months of ugly political ads. And the the election was over. The disunity didn't end. I hated the election results as much as the ads leading up to them...it's either smugness, despair, or naming segments of voters as idiots. Democracy only works if we allow people to vote their conscience with respect that we can differ. It's not easy to acknowledge that if our vote "wins," another person's "lost" and to respect them without rubbing their nose in it. We have become a nation of poor losers and arrogant winners. It seems that for a while we are going to be politically divided, rather than trying to find middle ground where we can all move forward.

In the midst of the election results, I never heard anyone mention Peurto Rico's non-binding resolution to become the 51st state. Many of the islanders want change, and at least a fair number think that becoming more fully involved as a united state, rather than a territory, would be beneficial. I hope they're right.

Nils had his whole birthday party planned out. Crafts, games, activities. He had drawn out an elaborate obstacle course to make in the yard. Then he made a 3-D model of it. He knew what he wanted for his party, and he made it happen. He also knew his friends whom he had invited and made sure it would be fun for them as well.

His world is very different than the world I grew up in. As a white male, he is in the minority in our neighborhood. His teachers are from the Netherlands, Mexico, and Somalia. He is surrounded by the inner city instead of cornfields. The future he grows up in will be different, too. Clearly the political and moral tide will continue to change over time--for good and for bad.

My hope lies not in the election or the political decisions to come. My hope is in my children and their friends. I hope they can do better than we do sometimes. I hope they can work together to find a way to bring equality and justice, righteousness and peace--and to do so while staying true to who they are and to their moral standards. I hope that just as they are able to play together as children that they can work together as adults...male and female, black and white, Christian and non-Christian.

My greatest hope is that Nils will love his Creator and find his purpose in who he was made to be. I know he loves God...I pray that it grows more deeply in him as he grows older. That he may know the Christ who loved everyone, who challenged unjust systems, and who preached repentance as well as forgiveness. That he may live out that love in bold ways.

I love you, my six-year old Nils. And I pray that you may find hope as you grow up as well.

It Is A Wonderful Life

We had some good friends over tonight. Most of the family (I think all except the husband) had never seen "It's A Wonderful Life"--a wrong which I had to see righted. So we invited them over for our pizza and a movie night.

Watching the movie for the umpteenth time tonight, I noticed something that I hadn't seen before (a good movie always has something new to take away). When George Bailey, now grown up and married, is in his office at the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan, there is a sign below his father's picture. It says:

"All that you can take with you is that which you've given away."

Isn't that rich? Really, it's part of the theme of the movie. George Bailey learns that his life mattered because he had given so much to others. And when he's in need, they are there to give back to him.

When I get to the point in the movie when the angel Clarence is going to grant George's wish to see what things would be like if he had never been born, I get anxious. Not for George, but for me. I have this fear that if I had that opportunity to see how the world would be if I had never been born that I would find out the world would be a better place.

Right now my wife is listening to a podcast TED Talk on "The Power of Vulnerability." So, being vulnerable, I'll share that I have insecurities. I don't feel I'm good enough. I have a desire (as do all of us) to be affirmed, to be needed. At some point in my life, I developed some insecurity in feeling not wanted/needed/good enough. I feel I haven't done that much in my life--that if my life hadn't happened, that the world might possibly be better and instead of worse off.

Now, in my brain I know this isn't true. I know that I've done things that matter (heck, I've brought wonderful kids into this world for one). But (and this is a theme with a lot of my struggles in life), my head doesn't always communicate with my heart well. What I know to be true, isn't always lived out the best.

But at the end of the movie, when Mary has gathered all the people whose lives have been affected by George and they come to rescue him, my eyes are getting watery because I do know that each life matters--that my life matters.

And though some days may suck and be extremely difficult to get through, I do believe that it's a wonderful life (sometimes my heart just needs my brain to remind it of that). And my life will have mattered because of what I've given away: my time, my talents, my gifts and my love.

May you know the wonderfulness and meaningfulness of your life as well.

Let the Complaining Begin (and End)

Just about everyone I know is looking forward to today for the ceasing of the political commercials. And I don't blame them. Ads keep getting worse and worse, focusing on instilling fear and dividing us rather than trying to speak to actually representing us.

My peeve with the day after elections is that nothing has changed. And I'm not pointing fingers at the politicians. I'm talking about us. We cast our ballot (hopefully), but just get back to complaining. For that's what the majority of us do. We complain about anyone for whom we didn't vote that is in office (as if all our nation's problems would be solved if we got our way and had all of our candidates in office).

But complaining is what we do when we don't get our way or don't like how reality is. We let politics divide us rather than using it to work for the good of the people. Maybe, instead of griping, we need to spend more time praying. Then, only after an outflowing of our prayers, do some work ourselves in making this country (whether in our neighborhood, city or state) better.

Actually, I'm thinking that prayer is a good response whenever we find ourselves complaining (whether it's about politics, the weather, our neighbors or whatever). It's not the situation that necessarily needs to be changed (often the situation can't be changed), but our response to it. Prayer opens us up to a changed attitude. Try being thankful: "Gratitude evaporates frustration." Pray for political leaders (or your neighbors or co-workers)--not that they would change, but that you might love them better. Pray for their success (wow! what an impetus for humility). I for one need this reminder.

Liberals, Conservatives and Common Ground

Okay, so I admit I'm not up on the news that much. When it's on I'm either making supper, eating supper or getting ready for bed. I learn a lot about what's going on through facebook.

A current thread in several of my friends' posts center around Glenn Beck, Fox News commentator. I, personally, didn't even know who he was until today. Apparently, he said some things regarding "social justice" (it's an explosive phrase, I'm aware) and the church. One of the quotes I've come across in several places (not having heard him say it, I'm taking this quote as truth since I haven't come across anything that denies it) is this:

“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!”

Many people have already responded to this quite well (including Eugene Cho and Bread for the World). I mainly heard about it through my friends who are more into "social justice" issues in the first place. So I posted a comment on my wall asking for those who may have seen Mr. Beck say these things to respond. Needless to say, the dialogue that followed between my more conservative friends and my more liberal friends was passionate.

The thing is, they all pretty much agree. They all agree that the Bible calls us to help the "orphan and the widow (James 1:27)" and "the least of these (Matthew 25:40)." It's pretty hard to refute that (though I know many try). While we tend to agree on what we believe, we don't agree on how to live it out.

The problem is that politics is linked too closely to this issue. Some hear "socialism" when they hear social justice. Others cringe at the phrase because one side isn't doing enough or the other is doing too much. Faith is very difficult to separate from politics. What we believe spiritually often influences (at least I believe it should) how we want to see things acted out politically.

What if we could throw off our labels for a while and just love as Jesus loved? What if we could get past see each other as conservatives or liberals and see each other as followers of Christ, made in the image of God? I'm wondering if such things are even possible with our sin-tainted brains and eyes. Yet, wondering if it's possible or not doesn't mean I shouldn't try.

And maybe "try" is the key word in all of this. We shouldn't just talk about social justice, but we should be trying to live out what we believe. Maybe in doing so we would make debates over comments by people like Glenn Beck a moot point.

Emails to a Christian Nation

Every once in a while my wife and I will receive some of those forwarded emails. You know the ones. They come uninvited--usually because someone thinks they have a thought that everyone should believe in or something cute that's supposed to pick you up or something that's supposed to be inspirational (am I sounding too cynical?). They've become the technological equivalent of a chain letter. They may not promise you money for sending it to your friends, but sometimes they tug at your conscience, saying that if you believe in something then you must forwarded it to everyone you can.

We've seen a couple lately that are in the same vein but from different directions. The fist is the one that warns you about all Muslims, because the Islamic faith calls all followers to kill any infidels.

The second one urges all Christians to fight for America staying a Christian nation. It became especially popular after President Obama reportedly said in a speech in Turkey that "We are not a Christian nation."

Before I respond, can I point out that if we're supposed to do all we can to help America remain a Christian nation, how is that any different that Muslims fighting for Islam?

In order to believe that all Muslims are on a jihad against Christians, you have to live in such a way that you have not every met a Muslim and spent any meaninful time with them, getting to know them. And I know that there are places where you may never come in contact with a Muslim. There aren't any that I'm aware of in my neighborhood. So I don't permit myself to make generalizations of a people group that I have no contact with. My wife works with several Muslims and can attest that they're not all bent on killing Christians. In fact, none of the ones she's met are extremist in any way.

I also know that America can in no way--nor should--be labeled a "Christian nation." Yes, it's true that many of the founding fathers were believers, and they founded America with many guiding Christian principles. We may be a nation where historically the majority of its occupants have been Christians. But if we are a Christian nation, then Christianity has failed miserably. Poverty, homelessness and starvation are everywhere. Orphans are neglected, the unborn are being murdered and we're at war. America is very good at looking at for itself, but I see little of it loving its neighbors. The church has lost its influence and its prominence. And, as we have more and more people from different cultures and faiths in our country, the more we are a reflection of the whole world.

Christianity is not relegated to geo-political boundaries or systems. It is personal. It is communal. It is transformational. It is salvational. It is redemptive. It is about grace, righteousness and peace. Above all else it is about love. There is little in that list that is the job of a nation. Those come from being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Those emails will keep circulating, I know full well. One blog post is not going to change that--just as one email is not going to influence me to change my beliefs. But maybe it can spur some dialogue. Discussing these things with others is much more productive than filling up someone's inbox with propaganda. I've never encountered propaganda that comes with love; I believe, though, that we followers of Christ are to speak the truth in love. Let's give it a try.

President Address to Students

Next week President Obama is going to deliver an address to students across the country. I just found out about this on the news today. I'm slightly astonished, but not overly surprised, to hear that there is a bit of outrage about this. From what I've heard, it sounds like a speech that most students should be hearing from their parents and educators anyway.

“The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble,” spokesman Tommy Vietor told FOXNews.com yesterday. “This isn’t a policy speech. This is a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school.”

If the President sticks to those goals, then it seems to be a laudable speech to make to students at the beginning of the school year. The questions that teachers have been given for follow up are questions that students should be asking after reading any book or hearing any speech or given any facts for the most part. Questions like "What's being asked of me?" or "What does this mean?"

Those who are up in arms fear that the President is going to try to indoctrinate their kids with socialism, at least from what I've read and heard. My question is why do we have so much fear over views that may be different than ours? If we're afraid of what the President might say to them, then why do we let our children have exposure to anything out there--other people, the news, books, etc.? I mentioned this earlier when talking about Anders going to Kindergarten, but if we as parents are doing our job, what fear do we have? Do we not trust our children to listen and make their own good decisions? Do we not discuss with our children the things they are learning?

I don't agree with everything the President does--I don't agree with everything any politician does. We used to watch space shuttle launches on television when I was in school. I didn't grow up to be an astronaut or work for NASA. I think there's a little too much insecurity on the susceptibility of students to be influenced by anything that comes their way. Politics has become too much of an arena for us to be fear-mongers instead of an arena for discussion and learning from each other. I don't think it's healthy for children to be given the example that they should run from problems or things they disagree with, but rather given examples of healthy ways to discuss opposing views. Instead of running or hiding, let's start getting more involved as parents.

Healthcare, Politics and Jesus

One of the things I enjoy (there are a few other reasons, of course) about Pastor Efrem's sermons is that he isn't afraid to get political, but never gets partisan in doing so (which is what any pastor is supposed to do).

This Sunday he mentioned to touch on health care--which obviously is a hot topic right now. I lived a year under government health care. I had an appendectomy there. There are pros and cons of it, of course. It was wonderful to walk away from a hospital and not ever see a bill. I did have to share a room with three women though (one who was the mayor of the city). It wasn't always the most expedient. But everyone had access. I tend to be better at doing preventative check-ups and such when I don't have to worry about how I'm going to pay for it. So I'm not quick to totally nay-say government health care (much of the world is under it and has a better health record than we do), but I don't know if the current approach solves much either (not that I'm well-versed on the subject matter yet).

Efrem's point, however, was that health care shouldn't be a government issue. It should be a church issue. Part of the reason why the government has so many issues to deal with and troubles of it's own is that the church hasn't stepped up and done it's job of advancing the Kingdom (not that that would remove all government issues, of course). God's Kingdom, as we've been looking at in Jeremiah recently, is a Kingdom of truth, justice and righteousness. That means helping those who are overlooked (like the homeless woman who was standing at the corner on our way to church last Sunday). Churches should think about making space for a free clinic rather than upgrading to a multi-million dollar building (Pastor Efrem also targets pastors who drive a Lexus in that).

I've noticed a lot of political argument tends to say the government shouldn't be involved in some areas, but then never gives a solution for dealing with it (eg. abortion is murder, but people seldom talk about how to minister to the women who are seeking abortions outside of making them illegal, or about all of the children in orphanages). This is where the church needs to come into play (and should have been for years). We've got the solution (which is Jesus, of course; and Jesus method was to heal the sick, give worth to the outcast, lift up the low, take care of the widows, orphans, poor, etc.). We just haven't been good at sharing it with those who truly need it; we haven't done a great job of inviting the needy inside the doors of the church.

That's sounding a bit critical, I'm realizing. And I don't fully intend to be--though on some level I do. I just encountered a quote by Pastor Efrem in a magazine that was sitting next to me that helps shed light on where he's coming from (and I think I'm hitting on as well). "We should be involved in politics in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He never sold out to the Deomocrats or Republicans. He ticked them both off as he served as a prophetic voice" (Efrem Smith, Relevant Magazine, Jan-Feb 2007). So in addition to being a little critical, I'm more trying to be that prophetic voice, encouraging the church to bring the Kingdom of God to the people around it and not letting the government try and fix everything that's broken. I know I'm not modeling this well myself yet, but someday I may get there. I invite you on the journey as well.

Where's My Bailout Package?

(Rant alert)
I'm not much into economics or politics, so I admit I haven't paid attention to all the details of the economic crash and the subsequent bailout plans the government has been packaging up the last couple months. Personally, I think it's about time that we have some responsibility out there; sometimes we need to accept the consequences of our actions.

I don't understand completely how the economy works. It seems to be based on greed for the most part: it's doing well when people are spending a lot of money on things they don't need. Frugality doesn't cause a good economy.

Frankly, automobile manufacturers should have to deal with having made gas-guzzling vehicles that people don't want more of. I think it's ridiculous to take out of funds for helping produce more fuel-efficient/alternative fuel vehicles so that we can help out manufacturers who are failing because they haven't done that (I also think it's ridiculous that the average mpg of Ford vehicles is the same as their very first car almost a century ago--we can warm our seats, but we can't average better than 25 mpg?).

I know lots of jobs are effected by the bad economy. We're acutely aware of that. And I don't wish anyone to lose their job. People need grace; corporations don't.

I was reminded in church last Sunday that we say we live in the best country, with the best economy and the best military, etc. But we don't. The Kingdom of God has the most might. It's economy is better than anything else on Earth. It truly is the best place to have your citizenship. That may sound like pious sermonizing; I don't mean for it to be that way. Patriotism can easily become idolatry. Our duty is to transform this place, not conform to it.

And on this Christmas Eve, we must be mindful that God gave us the best bailout plan of all (I know--that sounds like some cheezy saying on a church marquis). Our greatest security is in Jesus. May he be the One who stimulates your life--not some check from the government.

Near the End of the Political Season

One of our fine state's politicians has been taking some heat after an interview on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews (which I happened to actually catch some of while we were up North a few weeks ago). I am very independent voter--I'm not tied to any party in any way--so I don't say this with political bias. Her problem was that she went on a rant about all liberals being anti-American.

I mention this because the candidate has run a commercial which has been on several times tonight and it bothers me every time. She's been trying to correct her image with the commercial which shows her being nice and homey and conversational with the viewer. At the end she says something along the lines of, "I may not always get my words right, but I know that my heart is right because my heart is for you."

Now to me it's one thing to say the wrong thing--to use a wrong word or something like that. But clearly making an argument for your point isn't the same as getting words wrong in my book. Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34 NIV). What we say is closely tied to what we think and believe.

Many politicians try to divorce themselves from their beliefs or their character. It can't be done, though. If you're going to make a bunch of promises to me to entice me to vote for you, then I need to know that I can trust you to follow through on those. Maybe that's just me, but that's how I vote.


On a lighter political note, Anders decided whom he hopes becomes president today: the younger of the two candidates. Age, apparently, is his main political platform.

It's Polictics as Usual

I'm watching the last debate between the presidential candidates from the two major parties. I dislike these elections. I'm thankful that we get to be a part of choosing who our leaders are, but I dislike that it feels that it comes down to what seems to be a lesser of two evils. I started out fairly hopeful with this election as both candidates met at Saddleback Church and were interviewed by Pastor Rick Warren. Along the way, however, both candidates seem to be stooping below the moral values they were claiming to live by. I wish we could see a candidate who kept their character and integrity at a high level throughout the campaigns without pointing fingers and with just take responsibility for themselves.

In the latest issue of The Covenant Companion there is an article by Steve Elde called "The Politics of Hope and Mercy." Elde advises, "When you are deciding whom it is you will vote for, ask yourself whether the candidate is appealing to your best or your worst instincts . . . When you appeal to people's worst instincts, you will find villains to blame and you will try to destroy your opposition (or, at the least, ridicule and discredit them) . . . If being a Christian in an election year means anything, it means not selling your soul to the politics of fear, loathing and self-interest. When you vote, vote for someone who appeals to your best instincts: your hopes, your core beliefs, your compassion, your sense of justice." Sometimes we must put our own ideologies aside for the sake of loving others.

As a Christian, it is my duty to vote for a candidate who will uphold life, who will seek justice, who take care of the homeless, who will remember the poor, who is a good steward of economics and the environment, and who will uphold the laws. No candidate meets all those criteria. And ultimately, I must remember that I can't shirk that off on the nation's leader; I must undertake those duties myself, as well.

Faith-based Politicians

This weekend we were in Wisconsin for my mother-in-law's birthday and a couple nephew's graduation celebrations. I stumbled across the Obama-McCain debate at Saddleback Church on C-SPAN on Saturday night, so we taped it and watched it later. I usually don't put much time into politics, but I was drawn in by a debate hosted by Rick Warren, looking at the candidates faith.

I appreciated how Pastor Warren started by saying that faith is a worldview that, just like any other worldview, people live their lives by--if it's real faith, it's not something that people can separate from their political life. I also appreciated that the candidates were willing to address their faith in a deeper manner.

Personally, I felt Obama answered the questions more personally and conversationally, while McCain tended to give short, unelaborated platform answers drawn out with POW stories. I heard Obama speak a bit more about humility, which is rare in a politician. Neither gave answers that I approved of fully, of course, but I appreciated hearing what both had to say. And I appreciated that they were willing to meet together as candidates for the first time with Rick Warren who was able to probe into their faith and how they live that out in their lives and in their political careers.

I also saw some hope of not just attacking all the symptoms of moral and political problems, but of addressing what the cause of some of those problems is.

Frustrations

1. It's frustrating when your government confiscates your house plants, along with their pots, and incinerates them. Especially when you've had some of them for more than a decade--and ones that have sentimental value (Beth's 21st birthday, the plant from my grandfather's funeral, etc.). It's even more frustrating when they've only been outside of the US for just over one year and they've never been more than 2.1 miles from the US border. But apparently they're a threat to America.

2. It's frustrating when in order to get your car titled & licensed you have to get documentation from US Customs since you've had it titled outside of the US for a year. Actually that's not the frustrating part. The frustrating part is that in order to get the documentation from US Customs, you have to get a letter from the car manufacturer stating that it meets US EPA and DOT standards. And that's going to cost around $90 to get that letter. From a car we bought in the US, that was manufactured in 2004 and has only been outside the US for one year and it got tested in Canada to make sure it met Canada's emission standards, which are more stringent than the US. So, in order to prove that our car is okay to get tilted in Minnesota, it'll cost us $90--to show that a car we bought in the US, have previously had titled in the US and have driven in the US for most of it's life.

That's bureaucracy in action.

International Relations

I just have to share this quote that I heard on the news: "Canada is tied to the US like maple syrup to pancakes." It was in reference to an economic report, but it made me laugh. Canada as maple syrup is an easy word picture, but I guess I've never thought of America as a pancake before.

Happy Caucusing, Iowa

Today is the day of the Iowa Caucuses (Beth actually got a semi-handwritten letter today from Pennsylvania forwarded from our old Iowa address asking her to vote for a particular candidate). And I mention it because it is quite national news when it comes about. For the couple of Canadians who read this and may not be familiar with it, click the title to go to the wikipedia link. Iowa is the first place in the country where candidates see if they've got a chance for the presidency. And honestly, I don't miss it.

I don't miss it because of the inundation of advertising that goes on for several months before the caucuses--and then for several more months before the election takes place. I don't miss the mudslinging that goes on. I don't miss the fakery that goes on. And I don't miss the millions of dollars that politicians put into campaigning to convince people that said candidate is going to help people, when those millions of dollars could go directly to helping the people who need it the most (when in reality, the millions of dollars comes from places that will most likely be "paid back" in some way through tax benefits or whatever).

With that said, I probably come off quite anti-American right now. I'm not. But I admit that I have a bad view of politics. I do think there is much reform that needs to be done--just as we need continual reformation in the church. And what politics needs most is prayer. After all, the Bible calls us to pray for all leaders (I Timothy 2:1-4). So may God's mighty hand be at work in raising up strong leadership to meet the needs of the American public (especially those who don't have a voice that can be heard).