posts

i watched a west wing episode last night that had a rather poignant moment. i promise this blog isn’t turning into something political, but i wanted to share it. the discussion is taking place concerning sending troops to prevent genocide in a small african country.

c.j.
Stand by while atrocities are taking place, and you’re an accomplice.

toby
I’m not indifferent to that, but knuckleheaded self-destruction is never going to burn itself out. You really want to send your kids across the street into the fire?

c.j.
Want to? No. Should I? Yes!

toby
Why? And don’t give me a lefty answer.

c.j.
A lefty answer is all I’ve got.

toby
Why are you sending your kids across the street?

c.j.
Because those are somebody’s kids too.

Africa makes a mockery of what we say, at least what I say, about equality and questions our pieties and our commitments because there’s no way to look at what’s happening over there and it’s effect on all of us and conclude that we actually consider Africans as our equals before God. There is no chance.

…

This is the straight truth, the righteous truth. It’s not a theory, it’s a fact. The fact is that this generation–yours, my generation–that can look at the poverty, we’re the first generation that can look at poverty and disease, look across the ocean to Africa and say with a straight face, we can be the first to end this sort of stupid extreme poverty, where in the world of plenty, a child can die for lack of food in it’s belly.

…

It’s a fact. So why aren’t we pumping our fists in the air and cheering about it? Well probably because when we admit we can do something about it, we’ve got to do something about it.

-Bono, May 17, 2004

at the university of texas at austin’s resurrection week this year, there were several large boards where people could write anything they wanted in response to a few questions on display for all to see. one of the boards had the question “Why do you hate Christians?” the answers were open, honest, and all too often true. here are a few i wrote down:

i hate when they think they have the right to judge.

they are very judgmental and unloving.

they go against what Jesus teaches.

they try to legislate morality.

they don’t want to show weakness.

they act perfect and self-righteous.

they lack the ability to be real.

they bomb abortion clinics

they are intolerant.

they control the politics of the country.

they would go to a gay man’s funeral and spew hate.

in a day and age where our Christian sub-culture seems to be more interested in sounding religious than being Godly, i am reminded of the words of God in hosea – “I want you to be merciful; i don’t want your sacrifices. i want you to know God; that’s more important than burnt offerings.”

may we be a merciful people.

from keese, over at the afc blog…

this morning i spent several hours driving to and from this resort trying to claim a prize i had “already won.” it was one of those get a letter in the mail, show up at the right time, listen to their advertising presentation, say no, get your prize things. i knew it was too good to be true and i totally expected to get cheated, but i at least hoped to make it a little further into the game before i lost out. you see, i didn’t meet the qualifications because i don’t earn enough annual income (i guess it takes money to buy lake-side condominiums these days) to be worth their time or something. of course, it clearly stated this is the fine print but unfortunately for me, i never received the letter containting these stipulations. disappointing, but at least lauren and i got to spend some time driving through the texas countryside together.

so all this got me thinking about salvation. odd how seeing God’s creation through a car window will do that. in God’s eyes we’re all “instant winners.” we who call Jesus our Lord and Savior already are gauranteed to receive the promised reward. and the best part is that there’s no fine print that will take it all away from us. sure, a walk with God isn’t always a pleasant stroll, in fact it seems like a marathon at times, but at least our guide has been up-front and honest with us. we won’t arrive at our destination and discover that we’ve been disqualified for the prize. Jesus has said that if we confess Him as both master and friend, He will confess us before His father at the end of our road. and i am very glad it’s all laid out for us all in some very true fine print.

a winner tries to judge his own acts by their consequences, and other people’s acts by their intentions.

a loser gives himself all the best of it by judging his own acts by his intentions, and the acts of others by their consequences.

-sydney j. harris