The Times They Are a-Changin'

There is a restlessness in our country right now. It seems to be composed of equal parts disappointment with our government and fear of the future. I look for a radical phase transition. Is it due to the ageing of the baby boomers? Are they afraid their assumptions about the need for change were wrong? Do they doubt their ideas and their received wisdom? What will happen by mid-October? Will we get any signs? Or wonders?

Imprimis

I love Mark Steyn. This essay, entitled, Live Free or Die, first appeared in Imprimis, the Hillsdale College newsletter. It is just one of many examples of truly wonderful writing and reporting by one of the best in the business. Mark is a hero of mine. With wit and style he makes his points and entertains at the same time. He and Regardies magazine were "banned" in Canada by a PC commission for dangerous ideas. He dared to be politically incorrect. I love him for it. 

Goodness

Dennis Prager has recently blogged about "goodness" (see below). In doing so, he makes a few observations about how much more popular badness is in print than goodness. He surmises that our generation would rather think people are good and that badness is  an abberation than the other way around. Since the abberation needs "fixing", it gets lots of books and articles. Yet, in classical biblical Christianity and Judaism, this is backwards. We should expect people to be self-absorbed and needy in their lives, and aloof and detached from the suffering of others, for example. That is their nature, without God. But with Him as observant believers, we are told in no uncertain terms, our life is first about God, then others, then ourselves.  

If Prager does a series on this, follow it. He's a conservative Jew, quite complimentary about Christian evangelicals. He's smart and writes well. Enjoy. 

http://townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2009/03/31/new_broadway_play_about_hero_who_is_…_religious!

Rescued, not Arrested.

On the last Kairos reunion at Sterling Prison, the inmate leader of the reunion had organized the session around the theme, "Thank God for prison!" The session was well-attended with many regulars and newbies. In one small group discussion of the subject, two of the inmates in my group expressed the same sentiment. As they put it, their arrest was a blessing. Without it, they might have been dead, pursuing a horrible set of choices, seemingly powerless to change their behaviors or their companions. Prison gave them an out, which they are now thankful for. In most cases, the men I see in prison are trying desparately to change their lives for the better. Some are serving very long sentences, and instead of surrendering to depression and anger, are accepting the fact that God, thru their choices, has put them in prison. This means, to them, that they are there as part of God's plan and that they must turn to him this time.

Feeling trapped by repeated bad behavior is part of everyone's life, isn't it? Fighting the same battles over and over. I'll just succumb to this behavior once, ooops I'm addicted. I'll express my anger loudly this one time, ooops, I've hurt someone I love again. I deserve this "luxury" now, oops I'm back in debt over my head. Pride, lust, greed, anger, gluttony, sloth, envy. Over and over and over. Due to God's grace, we are just fighting character flaws in small battles, not the huge gaping temptations that lead to deep sin, despair and death like these guys.

New Atheism is Old Hat. 

I recently started an Anthony Flew fan club on Facebook. Anthony's paper on Atheism is the most cited philosophical paper in academia. Flew, notably, changed his mind and has become a Deist, and if I'm not mistaken, is considering the claims of Christianity closely under the tutelage of Bishop of Durham N. T. Wright. There is a wonderful Appendix in Flew's book, There is a God. Your public library has it. The weakness of the New Atheists is that their arguments are not informed by the history of philosophy and the latest science. Hitchens most recent appearance, in Boulder, was just rhetorical shots and stylish interruptions of D'Souza, not substantial argument. Dinesh has called him on this. He has charged, and to his credit, Hitchens has admitted, that his stance is not so much atheist as it is anti-theist. But the reason for his anti-theism is not philosophical, it is personal devotion to his "right" to sin without condemnation. I see Hitchens intends to debate John Lennox at www.fixed-point.org. Lennox, a mathemetician and Oxford colleague of Dawkins, wiped the floor with Dawkins in their debate. Interesting times.   

Reformation Redux

I called Gino Gerace today as I drove down the Boulder Turnpike home from work. I wanted to ask him about the Reformation in the 16th Century, the Great Schism in the 11th Century and the present clash among the Anglicans which seems to be leading to another split. The lack of a point of accountability has caused a lot of separation in church history. The Holy Catholic church is dismembered. Pieces lie everywhere. Gino, pressed for time, was short with me. He interrupted with several guesses about why I had called. I really just wanted to think out loud about my readings in the new Catechism of the Catholic Church and the cloudiness in Anglicanism. I don't know where I should be to help heal the rifts, or even if they should be healed. I want the leading of the spirit, but the spirit seems silent just now. Where should I be?

I "teamed" on a two-day Kairos weekend at Sterling Correctional Institution, the men's prison in northeastern Colorado. The format was short talks followed by small group discussion and prayer over two days. The talks were on the beatitudes. I was assigned "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." I thought about it and prayed about it all day Saturday and Sunday morning. It came out a summary session with a call to action to accept the sonship offered to you and "make your Daddy proud." I think the 26 inmates in the room with our 8 team members liked the gist of it. Most probably know their fathers little if at all. I knew mine little if at all, so I know how they feel. When Dad is distant and angry and drunk, you don't get a good model for our heavenly father. The word father is puzzling to you.

The men of Sterling are certain that Jesus is returning soon. Several believe that prison was the best thing that has happened to them in their lives. Kairos avoids denominational differences. Team members are encouraged to follow the outlines given and listen,listen, love, love. The intent is to show these inmates the love of Christ, not give them a theology primer.

Christ seems to be continually reforming His church. How can I help? Where should I be?

I’ve seen this on several other blogs and I’ve been thinking about it all day…especially those who encouraged my faith along the way…
Let’s play tag-if you have a blog, TAG you’re it! Copy and Paste your answers to these questions onto your blog!
Four Things about Me
A) FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: Church, the library, King Soopers, work in Boulder.
B) FOUR PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGED MY FAITH ALONG THE WAY: My grandparents, Sister Mary Joseph, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Pope John Paul II
C) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: Wheaties, hot dogs with onions, kraft dinner, milk.
D) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: Louisville, KY, Lawrence, KS, Outer Banks, my house
E) FOUR MOVIES I WOULD WATCH OVER AND OVER: Braveheart, Lethal Weapon, Gladiator, To Kill a Mockingbird
F)FOUR THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE CHURCH: Music, liturgy, community, eucharist.
G) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE HOBBIES: reading, writing, walking, smoking cigars