Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Government Gridlock II

I was watching the news today where a prominent Democrat was lamenting that Congress couldn't get anything done because of Republicans. He said the "people of America expect more from the government. The American people want this government to get things done."

Uh, no we don't. We elected people who we thought were going to shrink the size of government and its intrusion in our lives. We elected people who promised to stand up against terrorism and protect us from harm. We elected people who would argue until they are blue in the face for the rights of the unborn, states rights and fairness. If they are fighting for these things, they are doing what we elected them to do.

Not everyone is for the US becoming Socialist country where the government replaces God to give us all we need at the cost of freedom. There are still honest and good folks who liked it the way it was in the 50's, 60's and 70's and 80's. And we vote our morals and dreams for this country.

Filibuster. Fight. Argue. Hold fast until the elections of 2010. Be obstructionists. That is why we elected you (and there are more on the way this fall).

Monday, February 15, 2010

Gridlocked Government

I see the snow in Washington DC and I smile. The government cannot meet and that is fine with me. The less the House and Senate does, the better for the people. At least if they are doing nothing, they're not screwing with the country. I am for filibustering. I am for Democrats and Republicans getting nothing done....that is much preferable to them getting something done. At least I can keep more of my money if they do nothing, if they can't pass laws that are going to hurt my ability to keep more of what I earn.

What do you think?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Snow in Dallas







Here some pictures of the snow we are getting. Woohoo. Snow day tomorrow!




Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Morally Superior, Spiritually Dead

Is it evil to be a moral person? No. Is it bad to have a set of standards to adhere to? Absolutely not. Is it wrong to make others follow your set of moral standards? Depends.

The Pharisees were good people. They had following rules down to a science (Lawology). In fact, when God was not specific enough, they so clarified the rules so one could know which side of the Law they were standing on. For example, if you were not to cook a baby goat in its mother's milk, they interpreted this to mean that you should have two kitchens, one for dairy and one for meat. That way, the two ingredients would not find themselves hanging out together, thus avoiding EVER cooking them together.

Even though they were morally stringent, Jesus found them spiritually dead. They kept the rules to a "T" but never "got it" that God wanted a relationship with them. God wanted love and all He got was fear. God wanted closeness but the Pharisees wanted adherence to Laws.

Rules without relationship lead to rebellion. It is relationship that attaches us to God and the rules set the limits...the outer limits. Inside that relationship, God wants us to have the freedom of expression, freedom to give and receive, freedom to act upon the impulses that He places there. Rules can't do that.

Muslims want to impose their set of rules on everyone. Christians, Communists, Mormons, Socialists, and politicians do the same thing. One denomination condemns another even though they both are acting within the freedom God has given them. We want to major in the minors and be quick to see others faults (while ignoring the proverbial log in our own eye). We think we have to elevate our own ideologies and prove others wrong as a way of winning their hearts..???...that doesn't make sense to me.

I must work on my relationship with God and get that right first. I can not live a moral life without Him. If I try, I end up frustrated because I don't have the strength of will to do that. Only God can help me and I must have (or really want) a relationship with Him to ask Him for help. I want to stay within the limits God has set out (Don't murder, covet, steal, lust, or lie) but then I want to dance freely in the wide open spaces where freedom allows me. Don't impose traditions like they were handed down from God or make me have to believe in God the way you do.

I want relationship with God, family, friends and community. I want the openness, vulnerability and honesty (and fear it brings) so I can be close...real close...so I can know love. How about you?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Be Thankful in All Circumstances

Here is the devotional message I gave last week in church:

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5.16


There once was a little boy who was always optimistic and thankful. His father was the opposite, a cynical, negative man who found something wrong with everything (of course, the father labeled himself a "realist"). So, to teach his son "a dose of reality" the father gave the son a roomful of horse manure for his birthday.

The son's eye widened in delight when he saw the manure and squealed as he began digging in it with both hands. The father asked what was so great about it.

The boy replied, "There's got to be a pony here somewhere!!!"

I hope you find the pony this week, in whatever circumstances life gives you.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Helping the Homeless

The DFW area has many homeless people who hang out at stoplights and intersections with homemade signs from torn cardboard boxes that beg for money. I feel a great compassion for these folks but I don't feel good about giving them money which might be used to further an addiction that got them there in the first place. I also don't feel good about driving past them, the thought "There but for the grace of God go I" at least sparks a tingle of guilt if I don't help.

So what I did was go to Jack in the Box and buy 20 gift cards valued at six bucks each, enough for a hamburger and a drink. It is my way of helping someone, giving them a warm meal. If I were in their place, it is a small gift that I could see I would need, a gift that communicates that some stranger cares...A gift that says Jesus cares about them.

Just this past week, I have handed out three of them. And each time, I feel more blessed than the person I gave it to. Try it....It is helping the helpless and feeding the hungry, a very scriptural thing to do.