No time to write a full post today, but I really urge you to read the excellent column by David Brooks that I have linked above.   He does a great job talking about the value of real doctrine and structure as opposed to the low-cal religion that our culture often wants us to have.

"As a long time vine poster/blogger I can say without doubt the "believers" are the most hate-filled, intolerant, violent, un-educated hypocrites as a single demographic out there." -richard-795963

"If more of us were like these people the world would be a much better place." -Jane-3247326

"I really think that this is how we (america) used to be before party politics and talk radio divided us into little groups of people who dont like other little groups of people. I see lots of mennonites all of the time, at the mall, store, everywhere. Very quiet, conservatively dressed, just really nice people." -ksdemocrat

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. -Matthew 23:23

The comments quoted above come from two different articles on msnbc.com.  The first article had to do with a new poll done across a whole bunch of countries showed that around 51% of those polled believed in some kind of supreme being.  The second article talked about how Mennonites from Mennonite Disaster Services are quietly working down in New Orleans to this day to continue helping people recover from Hurricane Katrina.

I thought the contrast between the comments on the two articles striking.  Obviously the first comment I posted is not aimed strickly at Christians or "evangelicals" but it is the type of comment that I have heard directed towards "us" many times.  Why would that be?  Well, we're known for being against gay rights, against gambling, against Hollywood, against abortion, etc. etc.   Now I am not saying that we are not supposed to stand against sin, BUT, our world and our country is full of sin and the effect of sin.  Which sins do we choose to focus on and combat?  Micah 6:8 tells us that God has told us what is good and what is required.  To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.  Now which group seems to fit that description the best as far as public persona?  "The Right Wing" or the Mennonites?  These Mennonites working down in Orleans wouldn't even give their name to the reporter who reported on them because they didn't want to be prideful.  How many evangelical leaders have made names for themselves in opposing things?

I think we as an American gospel-centered church need to do  a reevaluation of what we choose to focus on, especially before the world.  In our fight against the sin that is in our society, is legislation and lobbying the weapons of our war?  Is media the battlefield?  Do we find ourselves wrestling against flesh and blood?    Can we find ways to serve the oppressed and help the poor and show great humility, holding to our values, but fighting sin with the good news of Jesus Christ instead of the law?    The Mennonites do a great job of standing apart from society.  They reject the sin they see in society much better than the "evangelical" church.  They dress more humbly and and modestly than many of our young women, they shun wordliness more than we do, and yet they are known more for the mercy and humility than what they are against.  Maybe we're doing it wrong by adopting a favorite sin of society and being known for being a crusader against that.  After all, what did Jesus do?

The article above is about a married couple who met while they were married and decided to leave their spouses for each other.  They wanted to be happy and felt that they would be happier together.  They said they had to do the "honorable" thing by leaving their spouses (and kids) for each other.

I am not suprised by this.  I have seen it happen before, and there are those that defend this sort of thing.  The problem is that it misses the point.  This couple had a choice of where to put the work of love and where to focus their affection.  They chose to focus it on each other rather than on their spouses.  It may have been the easier way, but that doesn't make it the better or right way.

We all have feelings and instincts that must be focused rather than indulged.  I am busy working on focusing my feelings for food off of soda and junk and onto water, juice, and fruits & veggies.  It is harder to refocus feelings and desires than to just give into them, but it is healthier to refocus much of the time.

This couple may think that they believe in love and marriage, but they blew up two marriages and destroyed a lot of love in the name of the same.  While the kids have a chance to move beyond this, they will be forever affected by what their parents did.  There will be some damage that while it may heal some, will never go away.  But at least these two are happy...for now.

This is hardly breaking news, but yet I have learned anew the importance of diet and exercise.  I have also discovered that the exercise part is not as hard as I thought.  Growing up as an asthmatic before the days of inhalers and controller meds, the philosphy was, 'don't do anything that will cause an attack.'  For me that meant anything physically strenuous.  As a result, I was not a particularly fit kid (although far from overweight.  I graduated highschool 5'9" 115lbs.).  While working at camp each summer gave me some exercise and helped keep my weight down, I still would not say that I was particularly fit, just not totally out of shape.   As the years have gone by, that shape has changed into more of an egg or oval shape.  My eating habits had never been particularly healthy and as I got older, ceased to be a camp counselor, and did more pastor work, my activity level decreased and my weight increased.  All through this, I never thought I could ever really be in "shape"; it was just too much work and who has the time?

Since my return from the DR this January, that all changed.  It began with encouragement from Nate who explained that he just took a few minutes each night to do some simple exercises.  Doing these has really helped him fight off the weight creep that comes with his age.  "OK," I thought, "I could do that.  It sounds simple enough."  So almost every night I do some simple and quick exercises and try to get on my stationary bike several times a week.  It hasn't been hard as long as I do just a little each day.  I have also worked to reduce how much I eat and eat more of good things when I do.  Between these two aspects, I am finally moving in the right direction and even though I don't have the energy I had at 22, I am probably in the best shape of my life.

It occured to me that there was a spiritual lesson here.  Too many Christians are good at getting fed.  They may read the Bible for themselves, they go to church and learn.  But how much do they exercise their faith?  Witnessing, practicing spiritual disciplines.  The simple, no frills, rule of weight loss and fitness is, burn the same or more calories than you consume.  So, how are you burning the spiritual calories you consume?  Are you spiritually overweight, taking in more than you are putting out?  Are you eating a lot of feel good, prepackaged spiritual junk food or are you eating healthy with indepth Bible study and prayer?

It isn't as hard as you think.  Just resolve to do a little each day.  Push yourself to make small changes and seek ways to live out your faith each day.  Pretty soon you will be in good shape!

I received great news today.  I had not known it before, but apparently I am a billionaire.  You might be too, you never know.  After all, I have a lot of offer, years of experience in various aspects of life, three wonderful children, and other intangible assets.  Isn't that enough?  It is if you are Donald Trump.  Check out this quote which I got from this article.

Trump: My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with the markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings, but I try.

Ceresney: Let me just understand that a little. You said your net worth goes up and down based upon your own feelings?

Trump: Yes, even my own feelings, as to where the world is, where the world is going, and that can change rapidly from day to day ...

Ceresney: When you publicly state a net worth number, what do you base that number on?

Trump: I would say it's my general attitude at the time that the question may be asked. And as I say, it varies.

So his net worth includes how he feels that day.  Gives new meaning to the phrase, "I feel like a million dollars."  Or in Trump's case, a billion dollars.

My intention is not to make fun of Donald Trump although that seems quite easy to do with statements like that.  I actually think the whole thing rather sad.  To have a life based on bluster and materialism.  There is so much more to life than that.  I have no doubt that Trump is truly rich in monentary terms, but all that can go away very fast.  Worth is based usually on what someone is willing to pay for whatever you are seeking to evaluate.  In my case, God was willing to pay the price of Himself to redeem me.  I guess I am valuable, but my value comes not from myself, but from the one who has chosen to give me great value out of His great value.  That's better than a billion!