I heard a snatch of this on the news a while back, then a colleague sent me this link about the Hutaree. A so-called "Christian" militia group in the midwest. They are arming for a battle that they claim is predicted in scripture. According to the article linked above, the Hutaree

planned to "levy war" against the U.S. government. To incite such a war, the group planned to murder law enforcement officials and then follow up their initial attacks with a separate attack on the fallen officers' funeral(s), where a large number of law enforcement personnel would no doubt be gathered.

When I looked at the Hutaree website I didn't see that plan, but I can't say.

These folk appear to be serious. The story about a member fleeing from the FBI--crawling through a creek and then traveling by car, checking in on the internet at WIFI spots--reminded me of some friends from my youth who were caught up in a similar cultic organization. The sad thing is the communist takeover that my friends felt was sure to come and that caused them to run and hide, never did come. Sadly, their life has decimated by other problems. Could these real problems have been avoided or dealt with had my friends not used up so much time and effort fighting--or preparing to fight--a menace that never materialized?

It's STTA.

Vote, Don't Throw Rocks!

A politician not far from my home voted on the recent health care reform bill in a way that raised the ire of many constituents.
Some high powered political forces have joined with local activists in vowing to defeat this representative in the next election. That is an honorable way of dealing with the issue. A case can be made that we need more citizen activism. If you are making the case, I'm saying "AMEN!"
Some citizens, however, have chosen acts of vandalism, as the way to make their point. One act involving a gas-line--which could have had disastrous results. Other folk sent threatening and/or vulgar notes addressed not only to the candidate but to family members.
I've been reading the book of Judges in my devotions. Trust me. We don't want to live there.
It is understandable when people get very upset about decisions that affect them, their families, and people yet unborn (in both senses of the words), but it is utterly unacceptable to register our protest, or vent our spleen in ways illegal, dangerous, or dishonorable.
It's STTA.

What Is Solid?

A friend recently had an experience with which I'm familiar. She was driving on the interstate, I was on a country road, but both of us actually saw a large tree fall and block the road. Neither of us were driving during a storm or an earthquake. I remember the day the big pine blocked my route there was some wind, but nothing that tree hadn't withstood thousands of times. Likewise for the day my friend saw the lumber fall.

Both crashes were the result not of some catastrophic event, but long, slow, gradual processes. Saturated ground, the pull of gravity, changes in the balance of the crown of the tree, combined with a fairly gentle wind caused something that looked immovable to instantly stop somethng else that should be moving.

I'm old enough to see in my life, and observe in others, the accumulation of small forces. I've seen lives crash with great disaster, because those influences were allowed to continue unabated.

What is undermining your life?

lt's STTA.

A Donkey, A Congressman, And Me:

Will Rogers is reported to have begun one of his routines something like this: "Now suppose you take a donkey [actually, I'm euphemizing his reference to a small, male, beast of burden] and suppose I take a congressman . . . Oh, I'm sorry. I've repeated myself."
A lot of folk would find that bit of shtick particularly relevant right now.
The horse-trading, threatening, pressuring, and corresponding knuckling under have been impressive, and depressing. I am, however, trying to not merely gripe about my representatives in Washington. I figure that the kind of integrity that appears to be lacking in our nation's capital has to begin somewhere, and I figure the somewhere is right here.
Here is a start:
Jesus said, "let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." (Matthew 5:37) James gives his commentary on the statement, ". . . your yes is to be yes, and your no, no." (James 5:12) In Jesus and James day there were folk who had learned to, so to speak, cross their fingers when they crossed their heart, thus making their oath nonbinding. No, the Bible teaches; say what you mean and mean what you say.
I can gripe about how little of that kind of talk I've heard out of Washington, but it would be more profitable if the sad lack of ethics from the tip become an encouragement for truth beginning here at the bottom.

It's STTA.

(I don't think the cowboy sage intended his mention of a donkey to single out one political party. I know I don't. The elephants seem to have forgotten what is important, as well.)

If I did pray, Who would I be talking to?

I remember going out to lunch with a fellow preacher I met because our kids were involved in the same activity. We sat across the table with our salads in front of us. I thought I was being polite, when I asked my new friend if he would like to lead us in prayer, giving thanks for our food. He looked at me with a panic-stricken look. "Out loud? How about if each of us just pray silently?" I just figured that my friend was shy, but further conversation, over the course of a couple months, revealed to me that this was a preacher who regularly purported to speak from the Bible who didn't believe it.

Al Mohler, in a recent article speaks of a sizeable group of such pastors. Some like the work, others are doing it for the money--a particular damning concept in light of 1 Timothy 6:5-10, others maintain their position as pastor because they believe, in spite of their unbelief, the position gives them an opportunity to help.

In a couple of months my church will be involved in ordaining a man to the Gospel Ministry. Bottom-line: Does he believe what he preaches? Unfortunately, not everyone does.

It's STTA.

"I Need To See Your License, Please . . .

"This is my worst night-mare." I joked.

It took me a while to recognize Nic. I'm told that Virginia Trooper-Cadets have a class on how to wear their broad-rimmed hats. Between his sunglasses--just like in countless movie scenes--and the hat tilted down at just the right angle, I didn't see that it was Nic until I got right next to him. There he was in all his uniformed splendor and authority.

As is common in my area the troopers had set up a traffic stop to check for driver's licenses. I rolled down the window and gave my night-mare line. I've known Nic since birth, watched him in the nursery, called him down in Sunday school, and, hopefully, taught him some values that remain behind those dark glasses.

"It could get worse," Trooper Nic said. "Do you have your Driver's License?"

Thankfully I did.

"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1) I wasn't dealing just with Nic. He stood there as the representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He represents my state well. I hope I live out a lesson I have tried to teach Nic--a message that our culture needs more of.--respect for authority..

When I see him without the hat though . . .

It's STTA.

Making sure the God in Whom we trust is the true God, worthy of that faith:

Sometimes I wonder why I don't just turn this more-or-less-daily email into a "Link a day" service. There are so many brilliant people out there like, like Al Mohler, and Churck Colson, who comment on our culture and how various issues interface with scripture. I could just do a little research and post a link.

I guess one problem is that I like to write, and sometimes the insights of these guys show me something significant further down the food-chain that I think you might be interested in, as well. Here is one:

In one of his recent posts Al Mohler commented on the recent ruling of a Federal Appeals Court that says it is OK for us to continue to have "In God we trust," on our money, and to recite, "Under God," in the pledge of allegiance. It sounds like a victory--and indeed it is, but not completely. part of the court's rationale for its ruling is, that these words that have become part of our American tradition have "no theological or ritualistic impact." In other words, the court says it is OK for Treasury Department to continue to print these words on our money and for school children to continue to recite them because they don't really mean anything anyhow. You can read the rest of Mohler's report here.

That is the problem with what has been called "Civic Religion." In trying to be acceptable and applicable to everyone, it retains power for no one.

There is value in maintaining a culture where God is recognized in the public realm, but let's make sure we understand, that the "God" in Whom we trust on a dollar bill, or Whom we claim to be "under" when we pledge allegiance to the flag is not capable of making a difference in our lives. (I know an argument can be made that our forefathers (and mothers) knew who that God was, and is, but that awareness has long since eroded from much of our culture.) Far more important than fighting to keep "God" on our money and in our pledge, is the proclamation that Jesus commanded, that "repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations." (Luke 24:47) Rather than using up all our energy to preserve the meaningless mention of a "God" who is neutered and impotent, we need to be more zealous in proclaiming the message of the God to Whom we are all accountable, and Who "so loved this world that He gave His only Son."

It's STTA.