Al Franken in Minnesota

If you go to NEWSMAX.COM and sign up your e-mail for their Newsmax Insider report there is a funny little blurb on Al and has bid for the Senate seat now occupied by Norm Coleman. We don't hear much about this in Minnesota and considering that most of the people I know in MN are registered DFL voters I am very interested in seeing what they decide here in a few weeks. Wonder if my local CBS, NBC, ABC affiliate will cover it?

Pastors and Politics

Here's a link that is very enlightening. If you're a pastor read it...if you know a pastor, print it out and give it to him.

http://www.newsmax.com/falwell/church_politics/2008/01/18/65600.html

Furthermore, look over to the left of this page and take the poll on whether or not it's important to you that 'your church' has a tax-exempt status? Just a quirk of mine.

Ooops...I filtered it too

Found this on the web recently. Thought it was worth a link.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/prayingfields/2007/12/tebow_talks_god_and_media_igno.html

I'm not sure exactly what to think about this. So as I consider how this applies to loving God with my whole mind. I know that I can tell you how I feel. Which would be loving God with my whole heart.

First I am glad that Tebow claimed that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. It seems to me that when a professional athlete experiences their fifteen seconds of fame they should witness of their saving faith. I can also extend grace to Tebow. He didn't claim the forgiveness of his sins by the completed work of the Cross but I guess that is wrapped up in his "title" for Jesus...his Lord and Savior.

The problem the "saved" face today is that most people who aren't "saved" don't have the foggiest idea nor most likely do they really care to be "saved." "Saved from what?" In all fairness to Tebow didn't have time to enter into a conversation about salvation with the news media so should he have kept his faith quiet...no he shouldn't have but the idea that the authors of the article were putting forward was their personal dismay at the media ignoring Tebow's comment.

Second I feel pity for the columnists. Is this news to you? Whining about not being invited to the prom by the Main Stream Media is a colossal waste of time. Maybe the authors of the article could have helped Tebow out and presented the rest of the Gospel. They commit the same error that they claim the media made the day after Tebow won the Heisman. They filtered his message.

Mixed Emotions

Yesterday and today during the morning news shows we watched Hilary Clinton get a bit choked up when she was asked, "How do you keep so upbeat and positive?" with refernce to the defeat in Iowa and all the nasty campaign adds being run against her in NH. She responded by saying how passionately she believes in how effective she could be to bring about change and how that with her it was personal.

Now compare that to her appearance on the ABC debate Saturday night. During a response by John Edwards which followed an emotionally charged response by Barack Obama wherein both claimed to be personally motivated to see real change happen in Washington Hilary proceeded to throw up her hand at the two men and proclaim, "Let's get real." Personal passion wasn't enough on Saturday night according to the Senator from NY...experience mattered. Her experience. She was seen as strong and forceful by the media on Sunday but I suspect that the NH voters, as well as many other Americans, weren't so impressed with her show of strength and thus the "change" of heart on Monday.

Yes, I am making a political point but I would like to press the point of "heart" even further. I am beginning to consider the fact that because of such a huge media glut, from the mainstream media, to cable outlets, to the blogosphere, to mobile news and yes even print media the average American interested in such things is less likely to be duped by the run of the mill flip-flop. Further, the lack of integrity and authenticity is seen immediately for what it is and it is no longer tolerated. Yes people can change and yes people can "grow" but when it smacks of expediency...well, "That dog won't hunt."

This is something that we have been experiencing within the body of Christ for a long time. From the Fall to the Flood to the Prophets to the Gospels and beyond the individuals that claim the label lovers of God (i.e. Christ follower) those who are not authentic and that lack integrity are seen for what they truely are...white washed tombs full of dead men's bones. We who love God can't fake it, nor should we try. That doesn't mean we are perfect. It means we shouldn't pretend to be. Loving God with our whole hearts isn't political expediency...well it isn't about expediency at all.

Returning

Well it has been many months since I have even thought about blogging. Most, if not all the people who linked to this blog have deleted it. And that's ok. There have a been a few personal circumstances recently that have brought me back. You are free to read the archives although those posts are culturally dated.

My intention in returning should become clear over the next few posts. If you want to comment feel free. I have the moderator engaged so that spamming will be blocked. I will review any and all comments, positive or negative, and permit them to be read. If they need editing I reserve the right to do so.

Thanks for stopping by and come again soon. You can e-mail any post to a friend and have them stop by as well.