the 'african' bush

ran across this very interesting article about president bush. it's written by bob geldof, the lead singer of the 80's band called the boomtown rats (big hit was 'up all night....oooooh stayin' up all night'), organizer of live aid, the series of global concerts in the late 80's to help w/ famine in africa, and a chief cheerleader for the make poverty history campaign.

he's been accompanying president bush on his week-long trip to africa, and wrote the following article about his experience doing so, and what he was surprised to discover about the president:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1717934-1,00.html

vision in the valley

"...tho i walk through the valley..." (psalm 23:4)

times are tough right now for lots of folks. the economy in the central valley is in the tank right now. anyone with income tied to real estate is really feeling the pinch right now...contractors, carpenters, loan officers, landscapers...the list of those in the ripple effect is rather large. many folks truly have no idea where the next mortgage / rent check is coming from.

and...financial straits can cause us to wonder / question / doubt the promise of God's provision. even seasoned saints, tested warriors go through days of doubt, wondering and questioning. will He really meet all my needs according to His riches?

recently i was considering again the story of king david before he was king david...shepherd boy turned into national hero (for killing that big hairy giant dude) turned into anointed king. with that anointing from samuel, david knew he was the future king, that God had promised him a position, a provision, a portion.

the problem is (or so we would see it if in his position), david didn't really see that promised fulfilled for at least ten full years! surely that would have been a decade of doubt, discouragement, and despair! it was a decade of living in caves, raising a family under the open sky, scrounging and scraping just to get by, running for his life - even of defecting to the dreaded philistines! "God, you promised! how long, o Lord?!?" must have been a frequent prayer / cry.
putting myself in his sandals, i can't imagine how difficult that must have been. talk about feeling the pinch!!!

here's what caught my attention...it was during those years when david was very much in the valley - even of the shadow of death - that he either penned or gained the life experience to pen some of the most beautiful psalms (songs) even composed. some are full of hope, some are full of doubt; some are full of joy, some are full of grit and anger; some sound the trumpet of victory, some bleat of defeat. whatever the valley we've found ourselves in, i guarantee that all of us at some point has found comfort, encouragement, hope, or at least some relatability in the psalms of david.

i love how God is able to do multiple things all at the same time. God was not only preparing a place for david, but the desert helped prepare david for his eventual place as king (shepherd) of israel. but God was doing more than just using the desert to prepare david. he was sowing the seeds of hope and faith in the midst of the valley that would blossom into the fruit that He uses to comfort us in our walk through the valley. i would venture to say that had david not gone through that decade in the desert, we would not have the rich tapestry of psalms to comfort and encourage our souls.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring...(Psalm 84:6)

as david passed through the valley he made springs in the desert. springs that we who follow him will most surely be nourished & refreshed by. what david couldn't see, God did, and we who follow him are blessed and built up by watching his faith go through the sometimes messy process of growth.

i am so blessed to know that we have the same exact hope in midst of our valleys. not only is God doing something in us as we walk through the valley...call it a work of preparation. but He is also doing a work through us, knowing that there will be future travelers coming after us who will need to know that other pilgrims (pioneers :) have passed this way before & found God faithful to His promises & full of goodness.

perhaps you are in a very dark valley right now. know this: God is preparing you for something that you can't even fathom yet. but He is also building something into you that will be able refresh and nourish others on their way through the valley.

may we, like david,

...go from strength to strength...(psalm 84:7)!

frontier theology

I first heard this from Gayle Erwin. He made the following condensed version from a book by Wes Seeliger. Enjoy & let know what you think!

There are two views of life and two kinds of people. Some see life as a possession to be carefully guarded. They are SETTLERS. Others see life as a fantastic, wild, explosive gift. They are PIONEERS. The visible church is an outfit with an abundance of settlers and a few pioneers. The invisible church is the fellowship of pioneers. To no one's surprise there are two kinds of theology. Settler theology and pioneer theology. Settler theology is an attempt to answer all the questions, define and housebreak some sort of "Supreme Being," establish the status quo on Golden Tablets in cinemascope. Pioneer Theology is an attempt to talk about what it means to receive the strange gift of life and live! The pioneer sees theology as a wild adventure, complete with indians, saloon girls, and the haunting call of what is yet to be.

The Wild West offers a stage for picturing these two types of theology. Settlers and Pioneers use the same words but that is where it stops. To see what I mean--read on.

THE CHURCH

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--the church is the courthouse. It is the center of town life. The old stone structure dominates the town square. Its windows are small. This makes the thing easy to defend, but quite dark inside. Its doors are solid oak. No one lives there except pigeons and they, of course, are most unwelcome.

Within the thick, courthouse walls, records are kept, taxes collected, trials held for bad guys. The courthouse runs the town. It is the settler's symbol of law, order, stability, and most important--security, The mayor's office is on the top floor. His eagle eye scopes out the smallest details of town life.

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--the church is the covered wagon. It is a house on wheels--always on the move. No place is its home. The covered wagon is where the pioneers eat, sleep, fight, love, and die. It bears the marks of life and movement--it creaks, is scarred with arrows, bandaged with bailing wire. The covered wagon is always where the action is. It moves in on the future and doesn't bother to glorify its own ruts. The old wagon isn't comfortable, but the pioneers could care less. There is a new world to explore.

GOD

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--God is the mayor. The honorable Alpha O. Mega, chief executive of Settler City. He is a sight to behold--dressed like a dude from back East, lounging in an over-stuffed chair in his courthouse office. He keeps the blinds drawn. No one sees or knows him directly, but since there is order in the town who can deny he is there? The mayor is predictable and always on schedule.

The settlers fear the mayor but look to him to clear the payroll and keep things going. The mayor controls the courthouse which in turn runs the town. To maintain peace and quiet the mayor sends the sheriff to check on pioneers who ride into town.

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--God is the trail boss. He is rough and rugged-full of life. The trail boss lives, eats, sleeps, fights with his men. Their well being is his concern. Without him the wagon wouldn't move--the pioneers would become fat and lazy. Living as a free man would be impossible. The trail boss often gets down in the mud with the pioneers to help push the wagon which frequently gets stuck. He slugs the pioneers when they get soft and want to turn back. His fist is an expression of his concern.

JESUS

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--Jesus is the sheriff. He is the guy who is sent by the mayor to enforce the rules. He wears a white hat--drinks milk--outdraws the bad guys. He saves the settlers by offering security. The sheriff decides who is thrown in jail. There is a saying in town that goes like this--those who believe the mayor sent the sheriff and follow the rules won't stay in Boot Hill when it comes their time.

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--Jesus is the scout. He rides out ahead to find out which way the pioneers should go. He lives all the dangers of the trail. The scout suffers every hardship, is attacked by the Indians, feared by the settlers. Through his actions and words he shows the true spirit, intent, and concern of the trail boss. By looking at the scout, those on the trail learn what it really means to be a pioneer.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--the Holy Spirit is a saloon girl. Her job is to comfort the settlers. They come to her when they feel lonely or when life gets dull or dangerous. She tickles them under the chin and makes everything O.K. again. The saloon girl squeals to the sheriff when someone starts disturbing the peace. (Note to settlers: the whiskey served in Settler City Saloon is the non-spiritous kind.)

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--the Holy Spirit is the buffalo hunter. He rides along with the wagon train and furnishes fresh, raw meat for the pioneers. The buffalo hunter is a strange character--sort of a wild man. The pioneers never can tell what he will do next. He scares the hell out of the settlers. Every Sunday morning, when the settlers have their little ice cream party in the courthouse, the buffalo hunter sneaks up to one of the courthouse windows with his big black gun and fires a tremendous blast. Men jump, women scream, dogs bark. Chuckling to himself, the buffalo hunter rides back to the wagon train.

THE CHRISTIAN

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--the Christian is the settler. He fears the open, unknown frontier. He stays in good with the mayor and keeps out of the sheriff's way. He tends a small garden. "Safety First" is his motto. To him the courthouse is a symbol of security, peace, order, and happiness. He keeps his money in the bank. The banker is his best friend. He plays checkers in the restful shade of the oak trees lining the courthouse lawn. He never misses an ice cream party.

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--the Christian is the pioneer. He is a man of risk and daring--hungry for adventure, new life, the challenge of being on the trail. He is tough, rides hard, knows how to use a gun when necessary. The pioneer feels sorry for the town folks and tries to tell them about the joy and fulfillment of a life following the trail. He dies with his boots on.

THE CLERGYMAN

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--the clergyman is the bank teller. Within his vaults are locked the values of the town. He is suspicious of strangers. And why not? Look what he has to protect! The bank teller is a highly respected man in town. He has a gun but keeps it hidden behind his desk. He feels he and the sheriff have a lot in common. After all, they both protect the bank.

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--the clergyman is the cook. He doesn't furnish the meat--he just dishes up what the buffalo hunter provides. This is how he supports the movement of the wagon. He never confuses his job with that of the trail boss, scout or buffalo hunter. He sees himself as just another pioneer who has learned to cook. The cook's job is to help the pioneers pioneer.

THE BISHOP

IN SETTLER THEOLOGY--the bishop is the bank president. He rules the bank with an iron hand. He makes all the decisions, tells the tellers what to do, and upholds the image of the bank. The settlers must constantly be reassured of the safety of their values. The bank president watches the books like a hawk. Each day he examines all deposits and withdrawals. The bank president is responsible for receiving all new accounts. This is called "the laying on of hands."

IN PIONEER THEOLOGY--the bishop is the dishwasher. He does the chores so the cook can do his job. He supports the cook in every way possible. Together the cook and dishwasher plan the meals and cook the food provided by the buffalo hunter. They work as an interdependent team in all matters related to cooking. Humming while he works, the dishwasher keeps the coffeepot going for the pioneers. Though the dishwasher has an humble task he is not resentful. All pioneers realize that each man's job is equally important. In fact, in the strange ways of the pioneer community, he is greatest who serves most. (A bishop is the servant of the servants of God. If the servants of God are cooks, what else would a bishop be?)

The complete book from which this was condensed is available from the author for $6.95. Wes Seeliger, 4027 Lanark, Houston, TX 77025

face off!

“And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron… And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face…”(Numbers 16: 3,4).

Let’s face it: we all just hate to be wrong! It’s even worse when others think we’re wrong when we know we’re right. But like Moses found out, it’s inevitable that people will gather against us. Sometimes the accusation is on target and valid; other times, it’s not.

But what is our response to opposition? How do we face it? Besides the usual wound to our pride, where do we go from there?

Moses models something here that is so contrary to our nature. Instead of falling on those who were wrongfully opposing him, he fell on his face before the Lord. We want to strike back, even the score, give them a piece of our mind. But honestly, where does that usually get us? Usually nowhere! We face off, square off, and bomb out.

Perhaps Moses’ approach might yield better results. Having some “face time” with the Lord will undoubtedly prove more productive than “facing off” with our opposition. But what does it mean for us to fall on our faces before Him? Here are a few thoughts for your consideration.

First, falling on our face before the Lord can express humility. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” It’s so much wiser to let the Lord defend and justify us rather than trying to do it ourselves. He’s much better at it, and His timing is always perfect!

Second, falling our face before God can express inquiry. In Psalm 139:23,24 David asks the Lord, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Jonathan Edwards, a preacher during the early years of our nation, made a habit out of seriously weighing and praying about any criticism of him no matter how baseless he thought it was. Ask the Lord if there’s an element of truth in the opposition, even if it’s not delivered in an easy-to-stomach package.

Third, face time with the Lord will eventually bring about God’s glory. When we allow God to work in our lives through whatever opposition we’re facing, He has this way of doing something glorious with it. Jesus Himself found this to be true. When He was facing the greatest opposition of His life, Mt. 26:39 tells us He fell on His face and prayed that the will of the Father would be done. As a result, He won our forgiveness on the cross, the most glorious act the world has ever known.

Facing some opposition this week? Perhaps it's at work, in the classroom, or within your family. Instead of falling upon your opposition, fall on your face before the Lord. Humble yourself before Him, seek His wisdom and His will. Like Moses, get on your face & make some room for the Lord to work - He’s sure to make something glorious out of it! Face it - He's the only one who can!

society dumbing down...or up?

ran across the following article in the New Yorker.

give it a good read, as it questions (w/ some research, not just opinion) many popularly held notions: that our society is getting less intelligent; that video games aren't as good for teens as books are; that homework is essential for learning.

buckle up and enjoy!

go see u2 3d movie now

if you haven't seen the new U2 movie, you owe it to your soul to go see it asap.

more on why later - it's leaving local theaters on 2/13. imax in dublin is the only one showing it right now.

tix

go - you'll thank me.

did radar malfunction at pearl harbor?

my wife and i took our 11-yr-old son to oahu, hawaii at the end of january.

one of our visits was to the USS Arizona memorial

at pearl harbor. aside from being moved to tears during the movie presentation they show just before boarding the US Navy boat that takes you to the actual memorial across the harbor, i took note of one of the displays in the museum.

in the midst of displays of highlighting sporting events on board the Arizona, maps of the Japanese fleet’s route, models of the ship before and after it was hit in its ammunition hold (and sank 9 minutes later), i took note of a display that detailed perhaps the one device that could have prevented the entire tragedy.

there was actually a functioning radar array on oahu. and…it actually worked! (isn't this where oliver stone signs on?) two operators, joe lockard and george elliott, had seen the Japanese planes approaching as early as 7 am. (bombs started falling at about 8 am).

according to http://crm.cr.nps.gov/archive/15-8/15-8-2.pdf :

“Elliot and Lockard reported their findings to the temporary information center at Fort Shafter. Since this report came in after the designated watch time (4-7 a.m.), the information center staff had already gone. On duty that morning was Lt. Kermit Tyler, a pilot with the 78th Pursuit Squadron, stationed at Wheeler Field, HI, and a telephone operator. Lt. Tyler had been on duty since 4 a.m. and this was only his

second time at the Information Center. After receiving Lockard’s report, Tyler reasoned that the radar blip was a flight of Army B-17 bombers due in that morning [from California]. Tyler instructed the Opana Radar operations to disregard the information and ‘not to worry about it.’

For most observers, the most immediate lesson of this history is the story of the first operational use of radar by the United States in wartime.

The failure to warn the Army command in Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941, was not a failure of the technology as much as it was a failure of organization. The use of radar was not fully incorporated into an integrated air defense system. While the technology of radar functioned, as intended, and detected the incoming planes, there was no way to accurately assess the information and communicate this knowledge to those in command. The Army aircraft remained on the ground and Army high command did not learn about the Opana radar sightings until after the attack.”

in addition to being fascinating history (especially military history), it’s compelling in a personal-application-kind-of-way. more on that to follow…watching election returns (oh, boy!)

ok, so super tuesday is over now (by a week, i know, i know).

i guess one of the most obvious things is this: we have a very real enemy that not only has a real desire to destroy us, but he has a very real plan to do so. peter calls him a lion, Jesus names him

a thief, john the apostle calls him the destroyer. i used to think his biggest goal was to make my life miserable by causing all kinds of problems to crop up in my life - problems like finances, health, leaky toilets (actually, pretty much leaky anything!). the sufferings of job come to mind.

however, the longer i walk with the Lord, the more i think his plan is not just to cause problems & misery, but to distance me & alienate me from the Heavenly Father. truly it rains on the just and the unjust; and Jesus promised us trouble in this life. pain and suffering are pretty much inevitable, but distance from God is optional - and the option is all ours! satan's plan is to whisper doubt, anger, bitterness in the midst of life's problems - an attempt to keep us from drawing near & depending on the Lord. wasn't that the essence of job's temptation as well? "forget [curse] God & die." perhaps that's the essence of distance! so, don't be surprised by life bumps & bruises. the destroyer wants to use them to increase distance between us and the Lord; but the Lord want to use them to draw us to Himself. how cool is that!?

i also note that the primary failure was not with the radar apparatus that december 7. it was with the interpretation of the data that the radar provided. it was so new - very few people knew what to do with it or what to make of it. but with time & training, our armed forces now rely very heavily on radar & what it tells us.

perhaps the time and continued training we need in this area is in how our heart (the radar) is to work in conjuction w/ the Holy Spirit (interpretation of data). paul says to let the peace of Christ rule (kind of like an umpire) in our hearts (col. 3:15). rom. 12:1,2 indicates that it's by continually renewing our minds (& not letting the world dictate its brand of truth to us) that we'll know what His good, perfect & pleasing will is. isaiah says we'll hear a voice telling us to go to the right or to the left (isa. 30:21). the key is having the courage to act on what our radar is picking up - calling or writing someone that may be hurting, sharing with someone we might see everyday, helping someone with a project, etc. obedience to the Spirit's still small voice begets having a growing understanding of what He's leading us to do. the more we say yes to His leading the more clearly we'll hear His voice.

one last thought on pearl harbor, at least for now...;) one of the biggest mistakes of the japanese & therefore one our biggest blessings is that they missed the opportunity to bomb the fuel reserves (billions of gallons!). according to eyewitness to history.com

Although stunned by the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers, submarines and, most importantly, its fuel oil storage facilities emerged unscathed. These assets formed the foundation for the American response that led to victory at the Battle of Midway the following June and ultimately to the total destruction of the Japanese Empire four years later.

had they bombed just one of the many "sitting duck" fuel tanks the entire fuel reserves for the pacific fleet would have gone up in smoke and would have taken years & years to replenish. clearly, the outcome of the war would have looked vastly different. we were victorious as quickly as we were because we had fuel to strike back.

our fuel as believers is just as essential and critical. what is the fuel that will keep us functioning even in the face of a full-on assault? paul knew a thing or two about this and said in 2 cor 5:12-14:

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ^ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

paul says it's the love of Christ that is the fuel that continues to compel us even when we should be losing our minds! but isn't our love of Christ somewhat vulnerable? (it shouldn't be but it is). it's vulnerable to our moods, our circumstances, our fatigue, our present comfort, etc.

but wait, paul is indicating that it's not our love of Christ, but it's His love for us that compels! and you know, that a storage facility that is unassailable!!!! His love is eternal! His love is unconditional! His love never fails! i am so glad that the fuel that can keep me & you going, compelling us on in life is His love for us, not our love for Him!

you are so loved! and it's the cross that shows that love. "One died for all." you and i are part of that "all." Jesus died in your place - grab a hold of that love, receive it, embrace it, jump up and down because of it - for that's the fuel that will keep you going - no matter what you're going through today!

crumbs...how big are crumbs??

how big are crumbs??…now that depends on the size of the parties involved…a mouse in the house of a giant would no doubt be dumbfounded at the size and quality of the crumbs involved.

the reverse might also true, that thinking oneself a giant would present nothing but disappointment, frustration, and anger in what’s found under the table of of a mouse.

could it be that we’re prone to (even bound to) a bit of a role reversal? in the analogy, God’s clearly the giant (a kind, benevolent, & gracious one at that) - we be the mice. God, and the gifts of God, are so much huger than we even know (isa. 40:12), yet, we often complain, gripe, & murmur that life isn’t going as well as it should - that’s God’s not being as good as He should…that the crumbs aren’t big enough. we make ourselves the giant - disappointed, frustrated, angry and bitter with the paucity we find under the table of life.

i’ve started this here little blog as a way to help myself continue to spy out & discover those crumbs, savor the crumbs, and share the crumbs (2 kings 7). truly God is good (ps. 73)...the crumbs from His table are a feast indeed.