Simple Lives?

I have a friend who doesn't own a cellphone. I've only met one other person who does not have one. No, my friend is not technologically or gadget illiterate. In fact, he often shows me more about the information highway on his Mac than I know. And while I'm no computer guru, I do alright in the tech world. I know, you're thinking he must be employed in a profession that doesn't need or promote the use of cell phones. Actually, he's an investment or wealth manager and I'm betting he's the only one in his profession that doesn't have one! It doesn't seem to have affected his business either. His clients are loyal and are quite comfortable referring his services to others. I've tried so many times to talk him into buying a cell phone. Not for chatting, or business, but in the case of an emergency while traveling. I've even suggested he just buy a pre-paid cell phone and put it in his glove box to use when the need arises. Nope, nothing doing, he won't budge.

Recently I made the decision to quit using my cell phone while driving without a hands-free headset or Bluetooth. I just got to thinking that boasting about multi-tasking while driving makes about as much sense as bragging about your ability to woof down 20 hot dogs in one of those ridiculous food eating contests. It's just not smart. Who among us hasn't come up on a car in the middle lane of the Interstate going below the speed limit, holding up traffic, with someone behind the wheel chatting on their cell phone and completely oblivious to traffic behind them? "I don't do that," I smugly think to myself with the arrogance of an uptight Pharisee. My smug bubble was punctured last night. A local television reporter was promoting his upcoming story about the dangers of texting while driving. And I was so comfortable when it was the sin of someone else. Ouch! Guilty!

What's so important that it can't wait until I arrive at my destination, or pull over to return a text message? Nothing! I'm not with NASA and on call for falling satellites. I'm not a heart surgeon, although I have slept in a Holdiay Inn Express before. There is nothing I receive from my text buddies that warrants an immediate response. Even the serious family and life issues I deal with as a pastor can wait until I'm not driving. So, as of today, no more texting while driving. It's flat out dangerous and it presumes an arrogance, or false confidence about my own driving skills, therefore, putting others at great risk!

So where's this leading? What has become of us to make us think we're so important we put others in danger? What's so important that it demands a "within the minute" response from us? Nothing! I'm all for technology but it has become so intrusive and even rude. Consider the person at the adjacent table in a restaurant who answers their cell with the obnoxious ring tone then proceeds to have a conversation while there his fellow dining companions put conversation on hold because of him. I don't know of one pastor or company meeting that hasn't been interrupted by a ringing cell phone at some point. And I've written before about the number of people talking on their cell phone's in public restrooms before so I won't go there. And I haven't even mentioned the amount of time we've added to the workday with email. Or the amount of work that is left for another day, or uncompleted because reading and responding to email ate up our time. And so much of our email is really unimportant.

Our tech savvy, need to be "in the know" world is crowding out any chance we have to introduce or maintain the discipline of simplicity. Years ago, Richard Swenson, M.D., wrote a best-seller entitled, "Margin" (it was updated and re-released in 2004 by NavPress) which challenged the "busy" American lifestyle. Swenson, a futurist was way ahead of his time in seeing the need for us to increase the "margin" in our lives. His point, margin is a good thing and most of us are so busy filling up the margins of our lives that we don't see it until we have completely filled the page with non-stop activity. Our obsession and compulsion with high-tech gadgety has only created an insatiable appetite for minds, mouths and fingers that never stop talking, typing and thinking. We can't turn it off! We won't turn it off! To do so would somehow suggest we are weak, out of touch and disconnected. God forbid that any of us would unplug!

We would do well to listen to the mystics and heed the calls of Richard Foster, Thomas Merton, Mother Teresa, Dallas Willard, Kierkegaard and others who stress the value of simplicity. Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian wrote of the significant connection in seeking the Kingdom of God between our doing and ceasing: Then in a certain sense it is nothing I shall do. Yes, certainly, in a certain sense it is nothing, becoming nothing before God, learn to keep silent; in this silence is the beginning, which is, first to seek God's Kingdom.

Not long ago I unintentionally left my cell phone at home for the entire day. I have to admit. At first I felt like you do when you forget your wallet, or purse. But throughout the day I began to have a great sense of peace almost as one who had been freed from chains. It was very liberating. I was able to focus on people and really give them my undivided attention. I enjoyed great moments of silence. Emptying my mind of busyness and non-stop buzzing, and filling it with meditations about God and absolute stillness. I thought I learned from that experience, but technology and the "go-go" lifestyle sucked me back in within a few weeks. Not anymore. I am going to fast from my cell phone and computer at least one day a week. Silence and simplicity, quite a paradox for 21st Century travelers. "Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

A Tragedy On Earth, A Song for Heaven

Life is precious and short! When you're a child or teen it seems as though it will never end, but for the rest of us it's flying at an incredible pace. And as it flies we can lose track of precious people on the journey. Throughout our life journey God graces us with relationships and very special people. Even though time, geography and our respective journey's take different roads these relationships and people can leave indelible marks on our lives.

Leslye Mason Robertson was one of those people. Leslye was killed last week near Frankfort, Kentucky where she lived. She was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-trailer. The driver has since been charged with DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Leslye was only 41-years old. She leaves a husband and teenage daughter. Her funeral is today in Kentucky.

Many years ago we served with her and her parents, Bob and Judy during our first church staff position while in seminary. Her mother was on the search committee that took a chance on a young seminarian to lead their youth ministry. Leslye was always eager and willing to help with our youth ministry. She was a real trooper, someone you could count on as a leader. Her sense of humor, age and hands-on experience made her an ideal youth leader. During those years, people her age were either making the party scene, or trying to find a future mate. However, Leslye was more likely to be found helping on a youth retreat, mission trip, directing a children's musical, or serving the church in some capacity. We knew her before she married, but her passion for music and worship had only increased over the years. As I understand it, she was driving home from church choir practice when she was killed.

Her life mattered. She will be missed, especially by her husband, daughter, parents, family and community. The tragic circumstances surrounding her death were senseless. We mourn with those who mourn. We pray Paul's words of comfort in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 for the family and all who mourn Leslye's death. We must trust the Father and lean on the hope we have in Him declared by the prophet in a very dark time long ago (Lamentations 3:21-23). And we trust God's Word that describes His view of such tragic events to those who love and claim Him as Lord: "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)

If I know Leslye she is busy praising God and working with the children's choir in heaven. Rest sister in Christ, your earthly labors are over, rejoice in your rewards in the presence of the Father!

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah

Is it just me, or do some Christian blogs (even this one at times) seem like infinite verbal diarrhea? I regularly surf blogs written by theologians, Christian leaders, pastors, etc., and often come away asking myself: And we wonder why people are confused, or checked out? Given some of the stuff church leaders are writing about and discussing it's no wonder that research continues to reveal that most of the "non" and "formerly" churched don't want anything to do with "organized" religion or church in general. A recent sampling of some of these blogs gives the impression that churches and leaders are more caught up, or concerned with the following: the recently resurrected Calvinism-Arminian debate; the inerrancy of Scripture; the role of women in ministry; abortion and politics; worship styles; elder leadership v.s. congregational forms of governance; and the ongoing critiques of Joel Osteen's ministry and whether or not they (those who seem to believe God has appointed them as chief watchdog and critic) deem it as heresy. Many times there appears to be a Pharisaical arrogance about it all. Each person seems to be trying to prove he/she is right and the other person is wrong. And believe me much of it is done with very little grace. I'm not kidding. Quite often the blog hosts have to tell respondents to cool it and stop making personal attacks in their responses to what someone has written. And these are supposed to be the people who are modeling and teaching the love of Christ?

Hold on before you send those emails justifying the relevance or importance of such blogs and dialogue. I didn't say this stuff wasn't important. But as one who stands week after week before people who are interested or trying to walk like Jesus in the middle of serious life garbage these supposed "weighty" issues of theology and faith (usually translated-pastoral debates) has little to no impact on their lives. When I say garbage, I'm talking about divorce, homosexuality, addictions, marital struggles, AWOL children, abuse issues, parenting, financial struggles, health issues, aging parents, etc. The majority of them could care less about most of this stuff because in light what they are experiencing it really has no bearing on their attempts to follow and practice the teachings of Jesus in the garbage pile.

Many in these studies say they admire the teachings of Jesus, consider themselves as spiritual or interested in spiritual matters, but continue to see most churches engaged in irrelevance. Whether the perception is real or not it should make church leaders sit up and take notice. We need to ask ourselves some tough questions in regard to our intentional efforts to engage the culture, and those practices (perceived or real) that seem to be turning off the very people we're supposed to be trying to reach.

Don't take my word. Recent research by the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. speaks to this. From Southern Baptist's LifeWay Research:

NASHVILLE—A majority of unchurched Americans are turned off by the institutional church and don’t have a biblical understanding about God and Jesus, yet they believe Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life and would enjoy an honest discussion with a friend about spiritual matters.

Highly regarded evangelical researcher Ed Stetzer directed the study which polled 1,402 adults who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue or mosque in the previous six months. Stetzer noted, "A full 72 percent of the people interviewed said they think the church ‘is full of hypocrites,’" Stetzer said. "At the same time, however, 71 percent of the respondents said they believe Jesus ‘makes a positive difference in a person’s life’ and 78 percent said they would ‘be willing to listen’ to someone who wanted to share what they believed about Christianity."

Relevance does matter. And contrary to the cerebral crowd it doesn't water down everything and cause us to sacrifice timeless biblical truths, solid theology and shared beliefs in an effort to reach the culture. Jesus was relevant, a master theologian, but someone who spent more time engaging the hurting, broken and wounded than he did the theologues. Stetzer's comments prove once again that the most effective way for the church to be taken seriously is to simply engage people through intentional relationships that meets them where they are instead of viewing them as our personal "evangelism project" who needs to acquire our level of theological knowledge and debate. And love must be the central motivating force, or anything else will be viewed as suspect.

Granted, it's far easier to write/debate about these theological notions than it is to roll up your sleeves and hold the hands of a couple who struggle financially, have just lost a baby, are watching a parent battle cancer and need help battling an addiction. These precious people need Jesus. And its going to take people who spend more time with Jesus, than people who spend more time talking about Jesus and all they know about Him. I don't know about you, but that's a life area I always have room for improvement. And people wonder why Walmart, Barnes and Noble and coffee houses are full on Sundays!

Martin Luther King

Nuff Said! Watch, Remember, Reflect, Honor, Pray and Act!

Isn't That the Burger You Ate Last Week?

I'm not a scientist and I do not play one on T.V. However, I am interested in bioethics. Yesterday the FDA declared food and milk from cloned animals to be safe for human consumption. The FDA and USDA have been mulling this decision for nearly 7 years. However, the agencies are asking the food industry and breeders to maintain a voluntary moratorium on introducing cloned products for public sale and consumption until they get their marketing pitch together for the public. Okay so they said it's to allow food producers to "come up with labeling and public education initiatives." Translation-give us time to market this for the public.

According to the AP, "The number of cloned cattle, pigs and goats in the U.S. is less than 600, about 570 of which are cattle." Based on this number the USDA doesn't believe cloned products will be hitting the grocery shelves anytime soon. The AP story says "Scientists describe cloning as genetic twins born at different times. Cloning companies say it's just another reproductive technology, like artificial insemination."

Now that's an interesting definition. Playing with creation (determining or generating life) is a slippery slope. While I am a strong proponent of using God's gift of science and technology, wisdom, insight and ingenuity to improve the global quality of life, I have serious reservations about eating a cloned Norman. For those who don't remember, Norman was the name of the cow Billy Crystal's character rescued in the movie, "City Slickers". He rescued Norman from the wild and ultimately the meat market.

If we think the marketing of "organic" or, "green" (environment friendly) products has gotten out of hand, wait until they start the clone marketing strategy. Can't you just see it? "Borden Milk: Is It From Elsie or Elsie's Twin? Only Borden knows for sure!"

Sure, the scientist are going to say that if we believe God provided the resources for the technology then it's blessed. That's like saying God provided the resources that produced the first handgun, so he ultimately blesses murders when handguns are used in a crime. Just because it's available or plausible doesn't mean we have to act on it. Those of us who believe in the exclusive creative design and presence of God also believe in the reality of evil. I certainly have the freedom and ability to drive my car through my neighbor's lawn, but I choose not to do that because it's not only illegal, but it's just a bad decision. You may have the accounting acumen to beat the IRS in the tax game, but the choice to act on it is ours to make. I have made and will continue to make poor choices that are contradictory to God's will. I'm human and flawed. But I am responsible for those choices. Hopefully, I recognize when my decisions are contrary to God's will, confess them before Him, seek forgiveness and attempt not to repeat them. God entrusted us with the earth. And according to Genesis 1:28-29, He already provided and designed the food sources we need. We're to be stewards of His creation and He expects us to be responsible. I'm just not sure how responsible cloning is even if we have the science and ability to do it.

Remember Dolly the first cloned mammal? She was cloned in 1997, but had to be put down in 2003, because of a progressive lung disease and crippling arthritis. Interesting! I attended a conference in 1998 where futurist, theologian and historian, Dr. Leonard Sweet spoke. I remember the intellectual and level-headed Sweet asking in a message that used cloning as an illustration for another point, "If they have cloned a sheep and are telling us about it, what has been cloned that we don't know about?"

So enjoy your Wendy's or McDonald's burger. Can't you see the sign on the burger joint now: "Come back next week for your burger's sister!"

Go see the "Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It is vintage Nicholson. Yeah, I know some of the reviews came back less than stellar, but anyone 40+will be moved by this journey toward death that begins among total strangers. More than once during this movie I found myself wiping big crocodile tears from my eyes. Maybe it's my age and the fact that this side of 40 you begin thinking more about what you have or haven't done as the years get closer than you think about ALL the time you have ahead of you at 40 and under. Be prepared for a surprise ending that will make you cry, smile and think!

And no, I don't endorse every word, idea, or thought in the movie! Please spare me if you're going to take the road of the movie morality police about scenes or words in a movie that doesn't avoid the dark times and tough places we all face at some point in life. Be encouraged about the subtle introduction of a conversation the two characters have about a life based on faith while cruising the globe at 40,000 feet between last wishes. The movie asks the question: What do you want to do, experience or accomplish before you die (kick the bucket)? If you are reasonably healthy, a more appropriate post-viewing question for reflection might be, what are you going to do with the incredible amount of time you have left on earth for living? Jesus said He came to give His followers an abundant or full life. Lord, fill me with a life of meaning, purpose, and laughter. Give me the confidence to really live in Your idea of fullness, and the courage to let go of those things that fulfill calendars, but not Your will!

Religion+Politics=A Confused Electorate

Presidential elections have never been immune to "God-talk". Long is the list of politicians who've used the "language of Zion" (Judeo-Christianeese) to reach a particular group of voters. Stranger yet is the way a lot of religious institutions, denominations and organizations cozy up to certain candidates who promote their often, seemingly single-issue agendas (e.g., abortion, gay marriage, war, stem cell research, public prayer, etc.) while totally ignoring the candidate's questionable views in other areas that relate to matters of faith. The current presidential election is no stranger to candidates touting their beliefs, quoting Scripture, or using religious language and locations to promote their cause. From Obama and Hilary speaking in local churches to Mike Huckabee's Christmas ads reminding us He's a Christian, to Mitt Romney's defense that his faith is not an election issue, it's hard to decipher which candidate is God's choice for the highest office in the land.

If we truly believe the God of Scripture transcends nations, governments, elections, race, denominations and our favorite college teams then we need to remind the candidates (and some of their loyal followers) that no one has exclusive rights to God. In other words, quit trying to package God as a plank in your candidate's or party's platform. Perhaps those of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ, need to be reminded that our leader was born a dark-skinned, Palestinian Jew long before the land of North America was even known, let alone before Washington D.C., existed as a hub of power. Remember, the power hub during Jesus' earthly days was Rome. And He never came promoting a candidate, party or type of government. In fact, He admonished His followers to submit to their elected officials and give God what is God's. The point: God transcends mere national or local governments. His agenda is eternal, not temporary like Rome, or the U.S., as hard as that may be to fathom. Yes, His agenda is a global one. He has a heart for the nations, but make no mistake, this world is not the final, "end-all" home for His people. He reigns over heaven and earth.

Hold on, I'm as patriotic as the next gal or guy. I love my country, fly the flag, vote and cry every July 4th when the Boston Pops plays while fireworks explode. But I do not believe our nation can lay exclusive claim to Christ through our churches, let alone our government and whoever resides in the White House. I believe every Christ-follower should do their homework, fervently pray and ask God to guide their voting decisions. But when we encourage, tolerate and allow our politicians to use the Almighty like an election puppet we need to draw the line. If not, we probably ought to seek citizenship in a country that promotes a government led by the religion and faith of our choice, because that is not the United States according to our founding and guiding documents.

Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center recently addressed the religious issue of our current election when he recently wrote in the Greenville News:

So religion-saturated is this election cycle that Beliefnet.com created a "God-o-meter" to track the shameless, mostly fatuous, invocation of religion by candidates seeking to appear holier-than-thou.

2007 was the year Democrats got religion -- and now they're competing mightily for the Almighty vote. The God-o-meter reports that Bill Richardson got so carried away in front of an Iowa crowd last week that he told them the state needed to preserve its first-caucus status "for constitutional reasons, for reasons related to the Lord."

Meanwhile, some Republicans appear to be running for Christian-in-Chief. Mike Huckabee advertises himself as a "Christian Leader," Mitt Romney scrambles to prove he's a true Christian and John McCain tells a reporter he thinks the Constitution establishes a "Christian nation."

Enough already. The U.S. Constitution establishes a secular republic, mandates "no religious test" for public office and guarantees full religious liberty for every citizen.

Politicians, like any American, are free to talk about their faith. But when they use religious language to signal preference for one group over others -- or suggest that one group should somehow be privileged by government -- they violate the spirit of the First Amendment and undermine religious freedom.

Personally, I think Roger Williams got it right in the 17th century: A truly Christian nation cannot be a Christian nation in any official or legal sense of the term. As Williams read the Gospel, God requires that liberty of conscience be protected for all people. That means no government entanglement with any religion in a society where everyone has the right to choose freely in matters of faith.

If you are a Christ-follower please search the New Testament and the Constitution on the matters of religious liberty and pray before you rant, rave, get mad and fire off an angry email touting a particular candidate or party. God may just change your mind. I know He has mine many times when I've sought His will regarding my voting choices. Is it Thanksgiving 2008 yet? Looking forward to some post-election television without all those political ads!

Observations From A Five-State Holiday Junket

Twice in one week and two different states, I saw preschoolers loose in moving vehicles without any restraints or child safety seats! Hard to believe this is the case when so many agencies and organizations provide free or highly discounted safety seats for parents. The first was an infant in a blanket riding in the mom's lap in a two-seat, small domestic truck with no rear seat or extended cab! The second was a little boy about three years old who was rolling around in the deck area of a moving car under the rear window! There's absolutely no excuse for this. Parents are supposed to make decisions that in the best interest of a child's safety, health and welfare. Obviously, these two are making poor decisions. And if I were a betting man, I'd say the odds are very good in our litigious society that if either car was in a wreck they would attempt to sue the pants off whoever they could.

Then there's a popular coffee chain store off I-75 north (immediately north of Knoxville), that shut down one restroom and opened the other to both sexes, but did not refill the empty soap dispenser. Yes, I took note of the overflowing trash, and messy cream/sugar station. As we entered the store I couldn't help but notice there was a line waiting to get into the single restroom. An employee was coming out of that door as we entered and headed to the bar to serve coffee! Oh but I'm sure he/she (can't remember) washed their hands once behind the counter! And yes there were plenty of employees to handle the customer load. We stopped at a different one, on the way back. :)

Apologies to the hot-headed driver on I-74 west bound (between Cincy and Indy) Christmas Day morning. I thought a merge lane meant you knew traffic was merging into the right lane and that you would move into the other lane since there was absolutely NO traffic around us and I had my left turn signal on. Thanks for getting close enough to read the expiration sticker on my license plate and accelerating to go around me as you gestured that I'm number one. I seem to get that a lot. What was the emotional attachment to that lane? I sure hope your Christmas Day turned out better.

And my sincerest apologies to the lady in Knoxville who barked at me with some French words while waiting to turn onto a busy road to get back on the interstate. I was wrong and shouldn't have said what I said regardless of how you acted. I'm supposed to be in charge of my actions and I am not responsible for yours. Of course my family reminded me later, that two wrongs don't make a right and I was out of line. Yes, Father this is the incident we've already discussed.

Serious questions to any SC legislator who is considering the idea of instituting a toll on parts of I's 95, 26 and 20 per an article in a Low Country newspaper I read after Christmas. I'm not making this one up! It begs the question, what are you doing with our gasoline tax dollars and the portion of our state income tax that is earmarked for DOT? And isn't that double taxation? How do you charge for something that's already paid for and paid for with federal dollars as well as state funds?

Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee sure have a lot of bumper stickers below Tennessee, but the farther north you go the more Hilary and Obama stickers you see. That by the way is a very non-scientific poll and purely subjective. Tim Russert, CNN and the Gallup organizations surely have better facts.

Having made purchases in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana in six days, I can honestly say that we Americans shop too much and we could probably do without most of the shiny treasures we haul out of Target, Walmart, Penny's, Best Buy, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lowes and beyond.

A church in Georgetown, Kentucky had one of the most creative Christmas Eve programs I've ever seen. I should've known because they have renovated an old Walmart. Yes, way cool. And yes, they unapologetically called it a "Christmas program". No doubt the worship police will weigh in, but they meant it to be an entertaining and thought-provoking evening. It sure was. Man those guys can play some wicked guitars. The "Soup" was great. And the fact that they intentionally did not receive an offering, but did solicit volunteer contributions for a local food pantry in the lobby as you left was really neat. Their gift of their lights, heat, utilities, and talent for the two services on Christmas Eve did not go unnoticed by this visiting pastor.

I miss my faith community when I'm gone. I love times of renewal and getting away, but there's no place like our faith community made up of flawed, imperfect people who truly know how to love others!

A friend told me about a local church tragedy in our area that took place today. Fire destroyed most of the Abner Creek Baptist Church facilities near Greer, South Carolina this morning. According to news reports a construction crew was working in the building and smelled smoke. The workers called 911 after a fire burned in the attic. Several members of the 175 year-old church watched as the building was engulfed in flames. The gymnasium was the only building to escape. According to one story:

Church member Heather Smith, who has attended the church for more than a decade, stood in a graveyard across the street with her family and watched the blaze in shock.

“You know it’s just a building,” Smith said as tears gathered in her eyes. “We, the people, are the church, and we can rebuild.”

I don't know the pastor or anyone at Abner Creek Baptist Church, but I know Ms. Smith got it right. The people are the church and what burned today was only a building. We invest in people and use buildings.

Perhaps you or your church would like to help these brothers and sisters in Christ out. It's certainly a very appropriate act of missions and service to begin the new year. If you are able to help you can contact them at:

www.abnercreekbaptist.com

2461 Abner Creek Rd
Greer, SC 29651
(864) 877-6604