Is Barack Obama a hero?

I have heard numerous people recently suggest that tomorrow when President elect Barack Obama is inaugurated he will become a hero and our country would have accomplished something great. Tomorrow will certainly be a historic day, but how much have we really accomplished? Is Barack a hero?

It is true that Barack has accomplished something great by being elected President of the United States. We demand more from our president than simple being elected. We demand leadership, wisdom, and strength. I expect a list of more specific things, what those things are is less important than the reaction many people in the united states are having towards Barack Obama.

Perhaps we should be careful in suggesting that President Elect Obama is a hero before he has done anything and perhaps we should be careful in suggesting that our country has accomplished anything. The progress we have made from the days of slavery is significant, and on Martin Luther King Day this is something we should celebrate and remember. We have not, however, come far enough. For historical reasons we should acknowledge the color of President Elect Obama's skin, but before we crown him the greatest president in US history perhaps we should at least let him move into the White House.

Perhaps we should consider again the words of Martin Luther King Jr. when he dreamt of a day when a man would not be judged by the color of his skin, but the content of his character. I hope our new president makes decisions that will be good and Godly. I hope he makes decisions that will benefit the American people. But I will refrain from judging him until he makes some decisions and I would suggest everyone else do the same thing.

A New Year with New Challenges

While I don't really think Christmas itself is stupid, I do grow tired of it by Thanksgiving every year. It seems the holidays are not as peaceful as the Christmas Carol would suggest. The new year in many ways brings peace. Life becomes normal again at least to some degree. A new year brings many things most of them I am looking forward to.

New challenges. I like most challenges. This year I am looking forward to getting my broken 35 year old body in better shape. I am looking forward to skiing some deep powder, the kind I haven't had the opportunity to ski in about six years (that was when I hurt my knee), I am looking forward to Elk Hunting in 10 months (for the first time). Challenges are not always pleasant, but they usually bring growth. New solutions bring additional wisdom and additional wisdom brings success.

I am also looking forward to my kids continuing to grow up and learn through there own challenges, developing some momentum in our ministry, new friends, and all of those things. I am looking forward to another year with my beautiful wife!!

A new year brings new life in some ways, but only Jesus brings THE new life. I look forward to growing in Him.

Christmas is Stupid

This has become somewhat of a tradition. Here it is for the third year in a row (with some minor edits):


Call me scrooge, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, or your favorite Christmas villain of all time. I don't care. Christmas just gets in the way most of the time anyway. I have things to do, messages to preach, and money I would rather spend on myself (at least I would get what I wanted that way). bah humbug!!!

What is it with Christmas? Why did I see Christmas lights up before Halloween this year? I can't even have thanksgiving (a truly great holiday) without it being ruined by Christmas music and images of Santa in lights. Going to Target or Walmart only makes things worse with their mass marketing of a holiday that doesn't even resemble the real Christmas story.

I am no longer safe!! I must hibernate until New Years!!

Maybe this seems a little over the top, but why do we have to sing the same songs every year. Isn't there any new Christmas songs we can do? Thank God and some musicians I have finally found some. If someone sings Joy to the World one more time I might fall into a great big depression (so much for Joy)

Let's be real, Christmas isn't about Jesus anymore, it is about companies mass marketing to kids so they can bug there parents about the latest and greatest toy until mommy and daddy spend the kids college fund in order to get it for them (that makes a lot of sense, "my kid isn't very educated, but she had great toys growing up!!"). If Christmas were about Jesus there wouldn't be all this pressure to buy, buy, buy!!!!!! Buying a gift for someone you love is one thing, but being told you are going to a party and you "need" to bring a gift is a little much. What if I can't afford it?

I have had enough, I am boycotting Christmas this year(when my wife and kids aren't around). I am not decorating (until my 9 year old tells me to). I am definitely not going to watch any Christmas movies (really, I won't do that, they can watch without me. Ok, maybe one of the Tim Allen movies because they are sort of funny). I guess that means I am going to have to stay away from every store on the face of the planet and stop listening to the radio, but I think I can do that (thank BP for pay at the pump).

OK, I need to go drink some coffee before I loose it (I am not putting candy canes or some kind of Christmas spice in it either!!!!!!!!)

(For those of you who are upset I love the Christ of Christmas, it's everything else that gets me)

Three Year Old Christian

I know it sounds crazy, I have a three year old. He is well, he is three. Last night he threw the most severe tantrum I have seen his throw. Today he asked mommy why she was doing devotions and after some explaining and trying not to put words in his mouth he decided that he needed to ask Jesus to come into his heart.

Does he understand? I don't know, but as a daddy I want one thing more than anything. I want my family to be a family that follows Jesus. So I am excited about his decision, and I am going to continue over the years to help him understand the decision he made. If he didn't get it (which is very possible, maybe even likely) I pray he will some day soon and the decision then will be the same.

Is Obama the Anti-Christ?

It seems like every presidential election I get asked whether a particular candidate is THE anti-christ. Let me start by saying I do not believe Obama is that guy (or gal to be fair). Jesus talked about there being many "anti-christs" not just one. Some people believe there will be one that will bring a false peace to the world, I am not so sure. In the end Obama is just another guy!! He has no special powers except for the ability to stutter through a speech and convince people that he is a great orator in spite of his odd pauses. Great orator or not I am fearful.
He will bring change in many areas, my fear is that they are all the wrong ones. Unborn babies will continue to die, and perhaps even those who are born alive (survivors of abortion) may be in danger. This is truly sad, and even tragic! As I sit here and write this on November 4th 2008 I have a hard time writing any more. Of all the issues the issue of abortion is by far the most significant. I don't want to use inflammatory language, but abortion is in my opinion murder except for the case where the mothers life is in danger.
Foreign policy is one thing, even the socialistic ideas can be debated, but abortion, abortion is what it is. We are destroying what is human and we are doing intentionally with premeditation. Take my guns, take my money, force me to have whatever health care you want, but please do not kill the babies of America.
I hope I am wrong, but I can see a day coming where we will be forbidden to preach certain parts of the Bible because they are offensive. Our free speech will be taken away, and perhaps we will become an America the founding fathers would not even recognize. In the end I am a citizen of heaven before I am a citizen of the United States of America. This life I live here will end, but my eternal life will be in heaven with Jesus and I believe with all of those aborted babies.
Whatever happens I am committed to living for Jesus and raising a family that lives for Jesus. I am proud of my daughter for the her performance at the talent show. I am proud of her desire to tell her friends about Jesus and I hope my son will follow in his big sisters footsteps. I will encourage them to speak the truth even if it becomes illegal to do so, and the day I am forbidden to preach any passage of scripture is the day I begin my plans to do that very thing. I don't want my kids to rebel against God, but if they need to rebel against the laws of man in order to follow God, then so be it.
Ok, now I need to put things in perspective for my sake and yours. There have been terrible men in power throughout history. It is my opinion that Obama will be bad for our country, but he is no Hitler, Nero, or even a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is just wrong on some very important issues.
Though I do not understand their motivations, I know several godly people who voted for this man. I wish the outcome was different. It is not. I will worship Jesus and live in America.

What's Offensive?

Yesterday my wife was told that Catrina would not be able to sing "Jesus Loves Me" with her ventriloquist doll for the talent show. She had worked on a whole bit that included this song. I should tell you that originally she basically wanted to get up and simply share the gospel. My wife helped her figure out a little better way to tell people how much Jesus means to her. For the record neither my wife nor I suggested that she do this. We simply helped her prepare knowing that this might happen.

The final word is no in yet, as we have not heard from the principal. Still I am anticipating the phone call sometime today or maybe Monday. Evidently singing "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so" is offensive. I wonder if the same assertion would be made if it was sung, "Fred loves me so this I know for MySpace tells me so"? I know there are all kinds of assumptions because Jesus is a religious figure. Catrina is not asking them to ask Jesus into their heart or anything like that, she just wants to tell people how important Jesus is to her.

My guess is this will not be a huge issue and this will be settled quickly. I also am pretty sure that she will be allowed to do her bit. Never the less, this is one of those moments where daddy's earn all those hugs and kisses they get from their daughters.

Politics and faith

Does it matter? It seems Christians have a tendency to go from one extreme to the other when it comes to politics. Some think it doesn't matter. What difference is one vote going to make? Still others would die on a hill for their particular issue or candidate.
Politics is important. Whether we like it or not they make decisions regarding the life of unborn children, how much of our own money we can keep, decisions about war and so on. What should scare you is that these are often the same politicians who will sometimes flat out lie to us. That makes the decisions even more difficult.
No matter who is in power Jesus is still our savior and peoples souls are more important than the condition of our country. I will go to the poles and I will vote for what is apparently the lesser of two evils. I will trust God and hope for the best.