Looking Back Through the Key Hole: Be Afraid, Be VERY Afraid!


One of my favorite TV shows of the last ten years was West Wing. I loved the topics, the writing and the acting on it. I also loved that in a nation that seemed to be getting increasingly conservative, it had the moral courage to stand up and provide a platform for those people, like my wife and I, who didn’t subscribe to the “belief” system being perpetrated on the nation. As the Clinton administration continued to crumble, partly due to the unwarranted crusade of Ken Starr, partly due to Clinton’s own personal failings as a man, the show actually set a standard that regardless of ideology served as a power of example for how all administrations should conduct themselves.

In one particular episode, Josh Lyman – the Deputy Chief of Staff for those of you not familiar with the show or its cast – is having a conversation with a Republican congressman. “It’s interesting,” Josh says, “how you people want to reduce the size of government just small enough so it can fit through a keyhole.” Josh had a habit of leaving his bedside manner home when it came to talking about such topics.

The scene got me thinking, though, about how different the Republican Party is from what it used to be. I’m not that old but I remember a time when learned men like William F. Buckley would vehemently argue for conservative capitalism and rage against oppressive government control and regulation. I remember watching him on his show, Firing Line, in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. While I agreed with some of his points, and strongly disagreed with the rest, I remember thinking how the argument was always about the role of government in the economy. Social conservatives, it was thought, were irrelevant. They were tolerated, only in as far as they could be counted on to get out the vote in certain strategic places in the South.

That was then, this is now. As some would say, this ain’t your daddy’s Republican party anymore. The party that espoused laissez-fair (which literally means let them do or hands off) economics has now been kidnapped by a gang of men whose goal is anything other than hands off. As Josh would say they want to peek through your keyhole to see if you’ve been naughty or nice.

Some of these men are very familiar within the conservative Right. The key players are Pat Robertson, James Dobson and Tony Perkins. I was going to mention Jerry Falwell, but alas nature took care of that.

Pat Robertson, born March 22, 1930, is the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and hosts the controversial program The 700 Club where he expresses his opinions on a regular basis. Some of the more notable have been as follows:

On January 14, 1991, on The 700 Club, Pat Robertson attacked a number of Protestant denominations when he declared: "You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist."[20] He has never recanted this statement, though he has supported the election of certain Episcopalians. [1]

On the June 8, 1998 edition of his show, Robertson denounced Orlando, Florida and Disney World for allowing a privately sponsored "Gay Days" weekend. Robertson stated that the acceptance of homosexuality could result in hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorist bombings and "possibly a meteor."[25] The resulting outcry prompted Robertson to return to the topic on June 24, where he quoted the Book of Revelation to support his claims.[2]

While discussing the Mark Foley scandal on the October 5, 2006 broadcast of the show, Robertson condemned Foley saying he "does what gay people do".[26][3]

On his November 10, 2005 broadcast of The 700 Club, Robertson told citizens of Dover, Pennsylvania that they had rejected God by voting out of office all seven members of the school board who support intelligent design.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city", Robertson said on his broadcast. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because He might not be there."[39] [4]

The lead story on the January 5, 2006, edition of The 700 Club was Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's hospitalization for a severe stroke. After the story, Robertson said that Sharon's illness was possibly retribution from God for his recent drive to give more land to the Palestinians. He also claimed former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's 1995 assassination may have occurred for the same reason.[41] [5]

But the crowning achievement of his theology came on the August 22, 2005 broadcast of The 700 Club, when Robertson said of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez: “I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don’t think any oil shipments will stop.” [6]

I could go on and on. On the March 21, 2006 broadcast of The 700 Club, while reviewing The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America by David Horowitz, the subject of which is radical academics in American universities, Robertson went on to say that the 101 professors named in the book are only but a few of "thirty to forty thousand" left-wing professors in the United States, all of whom he accused of being "racists, murderers, sexual deviants and supporters of Al-Qaeda", further labeling them as "termites that have worked into the woodwork of our academic society".

Later in the broadcast, he went on to say, "these guys are out and out communists, they are radicals, they are, you know, some of them killers, and they are propagandists of the first order... you don’t want your child to be brainwashed by these radicals, you just don’t want it to happen. Not only brainwashed but also beat up, they beat these people up, cower them into submission."[66] [7]

And last but not least, in May 2006, Robertson declared that storms and possibly a tsunami would hit America's coastline sometime in 2006. Robertson supposedly received this revelation from God during an annual personal prayer retreat in January. The claim was repeated four times on The 700 Club.

On May 8, 2006 Robertson said, "If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms." On May 17, 2006 he elaborated, "There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest."[67] While this claim didn't garner the same level of controversy as some of his other statements, it was generally received with mild amusement by the Pacific Northwest media. It should also be noted that the History Channel's initial airing of its new series, Mega Disasters: West Coast Tsunami, was broadcast the first week of May. [8]

And these are only the highlights, imagine the low lights!

Tony Perkins, born March 20, 1963, has been the president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think-tank and public policy foundation, a political offshoot of James Dobson's Focus on the Family since September 2003.

Perkins was one of the organizers and hosts of the 2005 Justice Sunday event organized by the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, along with James Dobson and R. Albert Mohler, Jr. The event was organized to mobilize the evangelical Christian base in putting pressure on Democrats to end the use of the filibuster to block the confirmation of nominees to the federal judiciary by President George W. Bush. [9]

Perkins has come under fire from various organizations for having appeared in 2002 as a speaker at the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a group sometimes considered white supremacist in orientation. [3]

The Nation claims that in 1996 Perkins paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,000 for use of his mailing list. At the time, Perkins was campaign manager for Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana. The Federal Election Commission fined the Jenkins campaign $3,000 for attempting to hide the money paid to Duke."[2] [10] While both Perkins and The Family Research Council call the article’s claims false, stating that the Duke “connection was not known until 1999,” it is hard to believe that no one in the campaign knew of David Duke or his views.

Like many conservative evangelicals, Perkins is not a fan of the environmentalist movement. He was quoted as saying that global warming was “part of a leftist agenda that threatened evangelical unity. We're not going to allow third parties to divide evangelicals, and I think that is what is happening in part with the global warming issue." [11] Perkins was also one of the many conservative evangelicals who signed a letter in January of 2006 demanding that Richard Cizik, the Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), be restrained from putting forth his views on global warming. The following year, James Dobson – more on him later – called for Cizik to resign.

Perkins attended Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University and when Falwell died earlier this month, said of him in his blog, “As a spiritual giant in the political world, Dr. Falwell stood for family, faith, and freedom—even when the stands he took were unpopular.” One of those “unpopular” stands occurred after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when Falwell said on The 700 Club, "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" [12]

And now for the granddaddy of them all.

James Dobson, born April 21, 1936, is the chairman of the board of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization he founded in 1977. In this function, he produces the daily radio program Focus on the Family, which is broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries.[1] [2] Focus on the Family is also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily.[1] [13]

Dobson's Family Research Council is identified as an dominionist organization by TheocracyWatch[20][21], which says that the Congressional scorecard of the Family Research Council illustrates its success and the strength of dominionists in Congress.[22] Dominionism describes a movement among socially conservative Christians to gain influence or control over secular civil government through political action — seeking either a nation dominated by Christians or a nation dominated by a Christian understanding of biblical law. The use and application of this terminology is matter of controversy.[1][2][3][4][5] [14] Chris Hedges described Dobson as "perhaps the most powerful figure in the Dominionist movement" and "a crucial player in getting out the Christian vote for George W. Bush." [15]

Although Dobson initially remained somewhat distant from Washington politics, in 1981 he founded the Family Research Council as a political arm through which Biblical values could achieve greater political influence.

In late 2004, Dobson led a campaign with social conservatives to block the appointment of Arlen Specter to head of the judiciary committee because of Specter's stance on abortion. Responding to a question by Alan Colmes, of Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes, on whether he wanted the Republican Party to be known as a "big-tent party," he replied, "I don't want to be in the big tent... I think the party ought to stand for something."[3] In 2006, Family Research Council spent more than a half million dollars to promote a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in its home state of Colorado.[4]

On January 1, 2005, The Washington Times reported that Dobson promised six Democratic senators "a battle of enormous proportions" if they filibustered conservative appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court. "He singled out six Democrats up for re-election in 2006: Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Bill Nelson of Florida." According to a 2005 Washington Times article, in 2004 Dobson played an important role in the defeat of then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.[5] Five of the six senators went on to win reelection and the sixth, Dayton, was succeeded in office by another Democrat.

In November 2004, Dobson was described by the online magazine Slate.com as "America's most influential evangelical leader."[28] The article explained, "Forget Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who in their dotage have marginalized themselves with gaffes... Dobson is now America's most influential evangelical leader, with a following reportedly greater than that of either Falwell or Robertson at his peak... Dobson may have delivered Bush his victories in Ohio and Florida.[28] Further, "He's already leveraging his new power. When a thank-you call came from the White House, Dobson issued the staffer a blunt warning that Bush 'needs to be more aggressive' about pressing the religious right's pro-life, anti-gay rights agenda, or it would 'pay a price in four years.' [16]

Dobson has sometimes complained that the Republican party may take the votes of social conservatives for granted, and has suggested that evangelicals may withhold support from the GOP if the party does not more strongly support conservative family issues: "Does the Republican Party want our votes, no string attached--to court us every two years, and then to say, 'Don't call me, I'll call you'--and not to care about the moral law of the universe? ... Is that what they want? Is that the way the system works? Is this the way it's going to be? If it is, I'm gone, and if I go, I will do everything I can to take as many people with me as possible."[2]

However, in 2006, Dobson said that, while "there is disillusionment out there with Republicans" and "that worries me greatly," he nonetheless suggested voters turn out and vote Republican in 2006. "My first inclination was to sit this one out," but according to The New York Times, Dobson then added that "he had changed his mind when he looked at who would become the leaders of Congressional committees if the Democrats took over."[29]

The Council for National Policy, of which Dobson is a member, emerged from a February 2007 meeting dissatisfied with the current crop of candidates for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.[30] On May 17, 2007 Dobson announced that if Rudy Giuliani were to receive the Republican party nomination, he would not vote for him. "I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision." [31] [17]

Besides his myopic views on politics and the environment, Dobson has some rather interesting things to say about women, education, and tolerance.

Women: While women are not inferior to men because both are created in God’s image, the wife must submit to her husband’s authority. He overtly advocates male leadership with regard to the Christian family and he functions in exactly the same way with regard to Focus on the Family's office, as if he believes there is a divine order in which men are ordained to lead corporations."[8] [18]

Education: Dobson is a staunch supporter of private school vouchers and tax credits for religious schools. His organization has consistently called for the removal of any mention of evolution from the public education system and has called for the teaching of intelligent design as a science, as well as school prayer. Curiously, Dobson favors student-led prayer in public school but doesn’t support teacher-led prayer for fear that a teacher would encourage students “to pray to Allah, Buddha, or the goddess Sophia against the wishes of the parents and/or students.”[2] [19] Apparently, it has never occurred to Dobson that there might be Muslim or Buddhist students in the school system who might actually enjoy praying to their God, and whose parents might actually WISH for that!

Tolerance: Dobson has been steadfast in his contention that tolerance and diversity are nothing more than buzzwords for the homosexual agenda. He recently went after the We Are Family Foundation founded by R&B artist Nile Rodgers on the grounds that because it promotes tolerance, diversity, respect, and multiculturalism among individuals of all ages, it has encouraged the very doctrines that have led to the decline of western civilization. Despite having no proof, Dobson has said of the Foundation that “childhood symbols are apparently being hijacked to promote an agenda that involves teaching homosexual propaganda to children." [20] In actuality, The We Are Family Foundation celebrates the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate people about mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity. [21]

So there you have it, the three unwise men. Like I said I was going to include Falwell in this and refer to them as the Fabless Four, but timing is everything. Still, you get the picture. These are the key role players in the power struggle within our country. Their obsession with homosexuality, evolution, abortion and anything that smacks of pluralism has blinded them to the true goals of Christ. They are more concerned with whether Rosie O’Donnell is a fit mother than whether a single mother can support her child. They care more about whether a child prays in school than whether he or she has enough food to eat; they care more about the interests of corporate America rather than worrying about how corporate America continues to destroy the very planet we are entrusted with protecting.

They have kidnapped the Republican party, put on stain on our faith, and severely divided and weakened a country that has been bitterly polarized for almost a decade. They are watching you and me and their agenda is obvious. They want to turn the United States into a theocracy. They have little or no regard for a constitutional form of government, since such a form of government would rest power in the hands of the people and their elected officials. In their narrow-minded view, only a Christian-based form of government is fit to rule over us, and any one who disagrees is threatened and intimidated. In their society, they would be the perfect arbiters of acceptable behavior.

A look at the latest round of political debates between the various candidates in both parties was most illuminating. The Democrats seemed to engage the issues and had some real ideas about how to lead; the Republicans seemed overly concerned that their answers appeal to their base. Guess which side was quaking in its boots?

It is not too late to stop these ideologues. People of good conscious, be they Christian or not, can and must stand up to them. The last two years have given hope to those of us who still believe in democracy. As the Bush administration continues to plunder its political capital and bring about its own mini division among prominent Republicans, the Democrats must seize the opportunity. They cannot run away from God like it’s a dirty word, and hence be thought of as the party that opposes God; rather they must embrace their own form of spirituality and remind the nation that the Religious Right does not have a monopoly on faith or, for that matter, even speaks on behalf of the millions of God-fearing people, both Christian and non. The choice in ’08 cannot and must not be between James Dobson’s world-view and atheism. I fear that if that is the choice than we may have lost the war after all, and I’m not talking about Iraq.

In the meantime, look back through the keyhole. Be afraid, but be resolute. Pray to God. Write your congressman, senator, governor, whomever you can. Remind them that not all Christians believe or behave as these modern-day Pharisees do. Also remind them that your vote counts as much as any one’s and that you’re looking for real leadership. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel; sometimes it’s not even a train!

____________________________________________________

[1] From Pat Robertson, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
[4] ibid.
[5] ibid.
[6] ibid.
[7] ibid.
[8] ibid.
[9] From Tony Perkins, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Perkins_(evangelical_Christian_figure)
[10] ibid.
[11] Global Warming Gap Among Evangelicals Widens, CNN reports, see link http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/14/evangelical.rift/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
[12] From Jerry Falwell, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Falwell.
[13] From James Dobson, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dobson.
[14] From Dominionism, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism
[15] From James Dobson, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[16] Ibid.
[17] ibid.
[18] ibid.
[19] ibid.
[20] ibid.
[21] We Are Family Foundation, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, see link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_Family_Foundation

I’M BACK. . .

For those of you who know me, and for the benefit of those who don't but who would occasionally tune in from time to time, I have struggled mightily with this blog.

I have been torn between what I would like it to be, and what I think God would have it be. Often the two would clash, and rather than do either a disservice, I decided to shut it down.

I am not, by trait, one of those people who comments on how wonderful the day is, or how deep and blue the sky looks, and how wonderful life must be now that we’re all in the Kingdom. I’m not knocking such individuals, God knows when I need a pick me up, I can always count on either calling one of you, or just reading one of your blogs. Like OJ in the morning, it just gets me off to a good start.

But, for me - yes it is all about me isn’t it – I felt and still feel that my biggest contributions lie in calling out the hypocrisy that exists not so much within the world, but within the Kingdom itself. I have never been able to shake this feeling, and believe strongly that it is from God.

But how to proceed? That is the question that plagued me. Clearly some things need to be said, and still do, that are likely to cause waves and ruffle feathers. How does one “call out” such things in a Godly way? How do you cure the disease without killing the patient?

One of the things I have always admired most about Paul was how he was always able to cut right to the chase. If he saw something that needed rebuking he would come right out and say it, regardless of how it might be received. In 2 Corinthians 7:8-13, Paul writes, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it, I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while, yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged.”

Now before you all start blogging in, let me just head you off at the pass and come right out and say it, I am certainly no Paul! The last I checked I was not chained to a dungeon wall, did not have death threats against my life, nor even had anywhere near the obstacles with which he had to overcome. Though, the way my career is going, one could say if I don’t get it together soon, well let’s just say I will have a lot of time on my hands to blog!

But, though I am no Paul, I do have several things in common with him. I know what it is like to persecute people I don’t even know, to prejudge them, to sin against them. Like Paul and, in deed, so many of the main characters in the Bible, I am a chip off the old block. I find it strangely encouraging that God seems to seek out such scoundrels as me to do His bidding. With the exception of Jesus, there isn’t anybody in the whole Bible who was righteous enough to get into heaven; and even Jesus needed to draw on His Heavenly Father for strength.

So with that in mind, now what? What do I do about this blog and how do I proceed?

The topics are easy and, sadly, plentiful. But the real trick will be how to expose the truth in a way that as I mentioned earlier cures the disease without killing the patient. I will have to rely on God to show me the way.

Over the next few weeks some of the topics I will tackle will be as follows:

Dividing and Conquering: How the Conservative Right Squashes Real Debate Within the Evangelical Community, Thus Preventing The True Works Of Jesus To Flourish.

How Green Was My Valley, How Big Is My Church: Christianity As Big Business. This one is going to hit close to home.

All In The Godly Family: The Pluralistic Argument That Won’t Go Away.

Monkey See Monkey Do: What The Unchurched See Going On Within Our Ranks, and Why It Matters.

Genesis and Revelation: The Two Books That Never Seem To Go Away, and Why Certain Pastors Can’t Resist Quoting From Them.

Science and Religion – Oil and Vinegar or Hand and Glove?

The Way We Never Were: How and Why The Right Insists On Rewriting The Past.

One Nation Under God: State-Sponsored Religion and What The Founding Fathers Really Had To Say About It.

Of course I’m sure I’ll come up with other topics in due time. In the meantime, I would appreciate all the prayer any of you might be willing to throw my way. God knows I’ll need it.

Until next time…

REINVENTING THE WHEEL OF RECOVERY: Knowing When To Leave Well Enough Alone.

No doubt most, if not all, of you are familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous. In deed many of you either attend, or know of a friend or family member who attends, that fellowship. Well lately a movement has arisen among Christians to “better define” the term Higher Power that Alcoholics in this program often site. The movement is called Celebrate Recovery, a “Christ-centered” 12-step ministry founded in 1991 by John Baker, an associate pastor of Saddleback Church. To quote Baker, its purpose “is to fellowship and celebrate God's healing power in our lives through the "8 Recovery Principles." This experience allows us to "be changed." By working and applying these Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from our addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others. As we progress through the program we discover our personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power - Jesus Christ, the one and only true Higher Power.”

The 8 Recovery Principles are as follows:

Principle 1 -
Realize I'm not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.

"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor"

Principle 2 -
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to him, and that he has the power to help me recover.

"Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"

Principle 3 -
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.

"Happy are the meek"

Principle 4 -
Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to someone I trust.

"Happy are the pure in heart"

Principle 5 -
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

"Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires"

Principle 6 -
Evaluate all my relationships; Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others except when to do so would harm them or others.

"Happy are the merciful" "Happy are the peacemakers"

Principle 7 -
Reserve a daily time with God for self examination, Bible readings and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.

Principle 8 -
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.

"Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires"

In the forward to Celebrate Recovery, Rick Warren, head pastor of Saddleback, writes, “Most people are familiar with the classic 12 step program of A.A. and other groups. While undoubtedly many lives have been helped through the twelve steps, I've always been uncomfortable with that program's vagueness about the nature of God, the saving power of Jesus Christ, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. So I began an intense study of the Scriptures to discover what God had to say about "recovery." To my amazement, I found the principles of recovery, and even their logical order, given by Christ in his most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount.”

Warren is not alone in his belief about the “vagueness” concerning the nature of God in A.A. and other 12-step programs. There is a prevailing and pervading sentiment among certain groups, particularly Christian groups, that the 12-step process is not only vague on God, but that it is not even spiritual. Such sentiments have sadly taken root because of two key factors, neither of which has ever represented A.A. or any other 12-step group: The first is sheer ignorance; the second is misapplication. A look at both is in order.

Most of the critics of A.A. fall into two categories: those who have never been a part of it, and hence have no idea what goes on at an actual meeting; and those who have gone, but who have refused to apply the basic “spiritual” principles of the program. While neither speaks on behalf of the program – in deed A.A. has no official spokesperson – both end up defining for the world what A.A. is. I suppose the rest are too busy staying sober!

I won’t dwell on the latter – those who simply refuse to “work” the program. I’ll leave such souls to the torment of their disease. Instead, I wish to concentrate on the group that seems obsessed with branding A.A. as a non-spiritual (i.e. non-Christian) program. This obsession has its roots in a belief that if only the 12 steps of A.A. simply defined God from a Christian perspective then the power of Christ would be unleashed in the lives of millions of people, thus permanently freeing them from their “addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors,” as Baker put it. Such a 12-step group would be truly unique in its approach, a successor to the venerable, if worn out, ambiguity of A.A.

If only Baker and Warren actually knew the true origins of Alcoholics Anonymous, actually knew something about what they were talking about, their demeanor, and that of countless others, might be different. For those who care, and for those who already know, it is time to pull back the curtain and get at the truth of the matter.

For those who believe that until 1991, there had never been a Christ-centered recovery program, I present to you the Oxford Group. The group was a self-styled first-century Christian movement founded by Frank Buchman, a Protestant evangelist, in about 1919. It advocated finding God through surrender to Him, a moral inventory, a confession of defects, elimination of sin, restitution, reliance upon God, and helping others. It appeared from the successes of several alcoholics in the Oxford Group that a conversion experience (which they chose to call a spiritual experience, and later a "change") would relieve alcoholics of the mental obsession that kept sending them back to alcoholism after periods of sobriety.

One of its members, Ebby Thacher, visited an old school friend of his, Bill Wilson, in November of 1934. Wilson had been hospitalized several times over the years for alcohol poisoning and had been warned that he would wind up either dead or in an asylum if he did not stop. Still, though he knew the state of his malady, he found he didn’t have the will to keep from drinking. Ebby announced, “I’ve got religion.” Then he proceeded to tell Bill of his story. In Bill’s own words, "My friend sat before me, and he made the point-blank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself."

Bill was deeply impressed by Ebby's words, but was even more affected by Ebby's example of action. Here was someone who drank like Bill drank - and yet Ebby was sober, due to a simple religious idea and a practical program of action.

Sadly, Bill would need to make one more trip to the hospital due to his drinking. While there, he finally had what many have called a conversion. The Conference approved biography, Pass It On, quotes Bill as describing this experience: "What happened next was electric. Suddenly, my room blazed with an indescribably white light. I was seized with an ecstasy beyond description. Every joy I had known was pale by comparison. The light, the ecstasy - I was conscious of nothing else for a time.

”Then, seen in the mind's eye, there was a mountain. I stood upon its summit, where a great wind blew. A wind, not of air, but of spirit. In great, clean strength, it blew right through me. Then came the blazing thought, "You are a free man." I know not at all how long I remained in this state, but finally the light and the ecstasy subsided. I again saw the wall of my room. As I became more quiet, a great peace stole over me, and this was accompanied by a sensation difficult to describe. I became acutely conscious of a Presence, which seemed like a veritable sea of living spirit. I lay on the shores of a new world."

Bill questioned whether he had a genuine conversion or was on the verge of madness. Dr. Silkworth advised him that "hopeless alcoholics" sometimes report conversion experiences before being "turned around" toward recovery. Ebby brought Bill a copy of William James' Varieties of Religious Experience. Silkworth had also read this book, which contained many conversion accounts. Bill spent the better part of the day poring through its contents and concluded that his experience was like those reported by James. Silkworth advised Bill that he had undergone a genuine conversion. In AA Comes of Age, Bill states that Dr. Silkworth "reminded me of Professor William James's observation that truly transforming spiritual experiences are nearly always founded on calamity and collapse."

Bill found that his own sobriety seemed to grow stronger when he shared his personal alcoholic experience with other alcoholics. He was on the verge of a relapse while on a business trip to Akron, Ohio. Desperate, he decided to phone local ministers from the lobby of his hotel and ask if they knew of alcoholics he could talk to. Eventually, he found his way to Dr. Bob Smith, another hopeless alcoholic. The two talked for hours about their respective problems. Dr. Bob would eventually go out on one more spree before finally putting down alcohol for good. That date was June 10, 1935, the official birth of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Unfortunately, Ebby, the man who brought the message of hope to Bill, would end up getting drunk, and for the remaining years of his life would continue to battle alcoholism. He eventually died in 1966. He was never able to come to grips with his disease, and often resented the fact that Bill was thought of as the founder of A.A.

As for the Oxford Group, prior to World War II it changed its name to Moral Re-Armament, in a belief that divine guidance would prevent war from breaking out. While Bill and Dr. Bob were inspired by the Oxford Group, they eventually split with the group because of one – and only one – underlying reason. While it was true that many alcoholics found hope in the spiritual principles espoused by the group, its primary mission statement (or primary purpose, if you will) was not to help alcoholics recover from alcoholism; it was to encourage non-believers to convert to Christianity. Like Ebby, it put the cart before the horse. While A.A. would grow into the program we know today, spawning more than a dozen off-chutes, the Oxford Group became a footnote in the annals of recovery.

Christianity has been responsible for bringing the message of Christ to millions of people, and in the process, has brought light and salvation to the world. But it was not until A.A. was formed that a program of true recovery, where the alcoholic can finally find freedom from his or her affliction, was made available to the world.

For those who still insist that its spirituality is vague, I give you these parting words from Dr. Bob. “If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails, if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when you were getting another drink. Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”

People who worship the coffee pot at a meeting are no measure of the true success of any 12-step program, let alone the grand daddy of them all. If it bothers you that the word Christ does not appear in the Third Step, well then get over it. There are countless Jewish and Muslim people who got sober through A.A. Some of them might even have gotten saved later on in their journey. All deserved the same chance at recovery that you and I got. In deed, my own journey led me first to A.A., then to Christ. Imagine if when I first walked into an A.A. meeting and was told I had to accept Jesus first before I could get sober, what my response would’ve been. I dare say I would not be around to witness to God, much less write a blog about it.

If we truly believe in a God that pre-ordained everything from the beginning of time, then he must’ve willed that there would be an A.A. where the struggling alcoholic could be relieved from his malady, walk free under His direction, and spread the light of freedom to others who still struggled. If that isn’t spiritual, I don’t know what is. Why would anyone in their right mind want to mess with something like that? Would that the rest of the world be so uncomplicated. If you feel that you need more than A.A. in your walk, fine, but for God’s sake, let’s stop trying to reinvent a wheel that never needed to be reinvented in the first place.

Let’s, as they say in the rooms, Keep It Simple!

DUMB AND DUMBER: How Corporate America takes out its garbage.

“What did you do on your vacation, Peter?”

“I went to sunny and warm Florida and got a chance to relax. How about you?

“I got a chance to see a radio icon commit suicide.”

“That’s the last time I take a vacation during sweeps!”

Yes, as hard as it may be to believe, legendary, hall of fame radio personality Don Imus threw himself on his sword as it were, quite possibly ending an otherwise prestigious, if tumultuous, 36 year career over his remarks towards the Rutgers’ women’s basketball team. The now infamous phrase “nappy-headed hos” will join ranks with other illustrious comments, like, “I did not have sex with that woman” and “I’m not a crook.”

What strikes me most about this spectacle is not the outlandishness of the remark; anyone paying attention over the last four decades probably had the “pleasure” of hearing worse language from him. Nor is it even the clamor from outraged minority groups, lead particularly by Al Sharpton whom Newsday’s Shawn Powell correctly referred to as a racial ambulance chaser. No, the remark was repugnant and the outrage justified. One could say that Imus finally got what he deserved. In an ironic twist of fate, after years of playing Russian roulette, critics argued he finally caught the bullet.

But did he deserve the bullet, and why, after all those tumultuous years of deriding and, in many cases, defaming people, did this political and emotional tidal wave finally take him out? Race is the ultimate four-letter word in American society; after three centuries, it is still a hot button for the body politic. While it is true that African Americans are treated far better now than they were, say, forty years ago – lynchings and cross burnings are virtually a thing of the past – critics say that America still has a considerable way to go to mend the damage of that legacy. So when anyone, especially someone in the position of Imus, cracks a remark that touches a nerve among such an historically discriminated group, there are consequences that must be doled out.

But did the consequences fit the crime? Certainly no one with half a brain could argue that Imus should get off scott free for his remarks, but shouldn’t the actions that both NBC and CBS took over the last two weeks bare an equal and complicit review? As Warner Wolf would say, “Let’s go to the video tape.”

Wednesday, April 4, Imus is in the middle of a comedy bit with Bernard McGuirk when he utters his now infamous comment. Both laugh heartily, not realizing the under-water sea quake that they just started.

Thursday, April 5, Imus tells listeners to get over it; that it was just street language. The tsunami begins headed for the shore.

Friday, April 6, with protests coming into both WFAN and MSNBC officials, Imus issues an apology for the remarks. The tsunami picks up momentum and speed.

Monday, April 9, five days after the original remarks, NBC and CBS, within hours of each other, as if trying to out do each other, finally issue statements condemning the remarks as “deplorable.” A giant “duh” is heard emanating from the African American community. Both networks agree to suspend him for two weeks, the suspension to begin the following week. The wave is within striking distance of the shoreline. Later that day Imus goes on Al Sharpton’s radio show and with already one foot squarely in his mouth, he inserts the other foot by referring to both Sharpton and a black congresswoman as “you people.” Turn over steak and apply seasoning!

Wednesday, April 11, one full week after the initial insulting remarks, MSNBC decides to drop the Imus in the Morning show from its simulcast, effective immediately. Water recedes from the shoreline as on lookers see a massive wave off in the distance headed straight for them.

Thursday, April 12, late in the afternoon, CBS radio follows MSNBC’s lead and fires Don Imus. A statement issued by CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves, said, "From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and repulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship with such class, energy and talent." The tidal wave finally sweeps ashore, taking out the man most thought to be impenetrable and indestructible.

While Moonves’ statement was accurate, if superficial, in its theme, why did it take over a week to issue? Was Don Imus any less insulting or repulsive last Wednesday when he made his comments? Of course not, but last Wednesday all he was was a loud-mouth shock jock who uttered another in a series of questionable remarks. No one at either network could have anticipated the groundswell of public outrage and furor that was to come. What is the most repulsive thing about this entire episode is not the fact that an aging white man uttered a phrase more commonly heard on a hip-hop album, but rather the conduct of both NBC and CBS. By waiting as long as they did to take action – five days! - they exacerbated an already tense situation, until, finally with sponsors bailing on them left and right, they had no choice but to remove Imus, just to stop the hemorrhaging. All the high-brow, altruistic comments made by both companies were nothing more than a feeble attempt to placate an outraged community who kept insisting on blood and the corporate sponsors, who were themselves concerned about their own image. Imus became the poster boy for all that was wrong with American race relations. Somebody please pass me the barf bag.

Ironically, the TRUE victims in this messy affair, the Rutgers’ Women’s Basketball Team, have proven themselves the only decent and courageous party. If anyone had a right to get on their high horse and scream for vengeance, it was those 10 young women and their coach. But instead of calling for Imus’ head, all of them wanted to meet the man who slandered them, and get to know him and hopefully give him a chance to know them. Their class and dignity, in an otherwise vulgar scenario, should have set an example for the country and laid the foundation for a true dialogue into the problems in our country. Instead the focus has been on Imus and his storied career.

In the end what got Imus canned was not so much his mouth, though it certainly played a role, but the underlying fear within corporate America that whatever rocks the boat and threatens the bottom line must be dealt with in the harshest of terms. In deed Imus’ greatest crime might have been that he bit the hand that fed him. The very same networks that financially benefited from his off-color humor and abrasive personality, when they saw their profits threatened, turned on him like a tiger eating its young. And like the tsunami that swept onto shore to devour the invincible, when it was finally done receded back into the ocean leaving in its wake the aftermath of its destruction.

Imus will be back, perhaps sooner than most expect. The backlash against his firing is already gaining its own sort of tsunami, though not nearly as big as the one that lead to his dismissal. And the reason he will be back is very basic and simple: he makes his employers money. You may call them shallow and transparent, but company executives know a cash cow when they see one. But when, and in what manner will he return? Will it be on terrestrial radio, or on satellite? Already there are rumors that Sirius may sign him. Sirius president Scott Greenstein was Imus’ old boss when the two worked at WNBC in the 1980s. It was Greenstein who signed Howard Stern to his multi-million dollar contract two years ago. Satellite might well become the perfect venue for Imus to reconstitute his damaged reputation, and given what will likely be a very rigid and carefully-watched landscape in radio and television, could prove to be the only outlet that will have him.

It has been said that politics make strange bedfellows. They got nothing on corporate America!

THE NEW SERMON ON THE MOUNT!

1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them saying:
3 "Blessed are the richest of contributors to their congregations, for theirs is the recognition of their peers.
4 Blessed are those who rebuke the sins of others, for their sins are not nearly as severe.
5 Blessed are those who boast of their works in the Lord, for those works shall earn them a greater place in heaven.
6 Blessed are those who call out the unrighteousness of others, for they are acting on behalf of the Lord.
7 Blessed are those who show no mercy, for showing mercy would only encourage the sinful to continue sinning.
8 Blessed are those whose heart is cold and full of judgment, for the wicked must be judged.
9 Blessed are those who dare go to war in the name of the Lord, because the weak and the timid will be swallowed up by the Infidels.
10 Blessed are those who persecute others in my name, for they will be victorious in the end."

Just in case you were curious, there is no such passage in the Bible, so you needn't keep looking. I didn't find this in any "LOST" Gospel or in the DaVinci code. It's a play on words, and if this angered you, it should. It was suppose to.

As shocking as my playing with the words of Jesus was, it's even more shocking and outrageous to learn that many evangelicals act as though the above words were alive in their hearts. In deed the very actions of some religious leaders today suggest a piousness that would have made the actions of the Pharisees of their day seem tame by comparison.

Religious conservatism is by no means a new phenomenon. It has existed in some form or another for thousands of years. The Crusades represented a low point in Christendom, which helped flame the fuel of contempt and hatred that has existed between Islam and the West for over a thousand years!

But the recent wave of religious conservatism that passes for evangelical Christianity in this country is becoming alarmingly adept at revisionist history; in deed it threatens the very fabric of the Republic it purports to love and support. It seeks to divide rather than unite, judge rather than show mercy, direct rather than invite, hate rather than love, and condemn rather than accept. This wave is gaining momentum within the United States and it is rearing its ugly head just about everywhere imaginable, including small groups within churches that, until quite recently, seemed above the fray.

Movies, television, video games, the internet, all have become fair game for the proselytizers, who sit in judgment and cry out for vengeance against the immoral, as though self appointed by God Himself to inflict His wrath! My wife and I witnessed just such a charade of stupidity and from people whom I thought were above this. The topic, I believe, was about relationships and how obstacles can get in the way of meaningful ones. Some how we gravitated toward how difficult it is being a parent these days, and before long the room was on a crusade of its own, blasting everything and everyone imaginable. The TV show Will and Grace was particularly hit hard. Maria and I did our best to offer what we thought were sobering opinions, but to no avail. It soon became obvious that nothing was going to change the minds of certain inividuals. The conclusion, which seemed inescapable to these people, was that life would be so much better if we could somehow return to a time when everyone left it to Beaver and Father truly knew best. I felt bad for those in the room who must've considered themselves prisoners; it must have been frustrating watching the evening unravel like that. Sadly, I find that a lot of Christians share this world view, and seem hell bent on twisting the ears of any and everyone who call themselves followers of Jesus. They will not rest until they either convert or drive away the unchurched.

Christianity, these days, seems other focused. It is preoccupied with the actions of others as a prerequisite for peace on earth. Like the proverbial cart before the horse, Christians are convincing themselves that the problems of the world lie in the decadence of society, and that all we have to do is rid ourselves of this decadence and we will have paradise again. Homosexuality, marital infidelity, and violence have existed since the beginning of time. Yet, to the maniacally inclined, it is as recent as an Elvis song.

Curious isn't it how Jesus managed to avoid such trappings. Had He wanted to, I'm sure He could've told a few tales about the Roman Empire. Certainly decadence held no bounds within its massive grips. But Christ had another agenda. Instead of focusing on the evil in the world, Christ sought to reveal the evil within us. The key was our heart, not the worlds. Matthew 7:3 says it all. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Jesus was, if anything, notorious for revealing the hypocrisy that dwells in all of us, and He held His greatest contempt, not for the secular world leaders of His time, but for the religious leaders: the Pharisees.

We need just that type of zealousness and commitment. If it is Christ who we really seek, than we need to start reading his words and putting them into action. The world is full of Pharisees; it is time for true Christians to take back their faith from those who have kidnapped it. The world is not our enemy, Satan is. With God's help we can truly know peace on Earth and goodwill towards all men.

P.S. the correct version of the Beatitudes is as follows:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

And finally this encouraging word.

"God bless us, everyone."

- Tiny Tim

I thought I'd throw that in for good measure!

A TRULY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yesterday, March 2, was my birthday. When I was a young boy I looked forward to getting a LOT of presents. Funny, as kids we measure expressions of love in the number of toys we get. Even as a man of 45 I still sometime fall victim to that way of thinking.

However, this birthday I got a sober reminder of just what is truly important in life, and what a true birthday gift really is. Both my father and my cat were seriuosly ill. My father had been hospitalized for several days before they diagnosed him as having a bad gallbladder, which they removed Monday morning. My cat was listless and throwing up over the weekend. I took him down to the vet and after extensive and (EXPENSIVE) tests it was determinded he had pancreatitus, which is potentially fatal in cats if not treated properly.

Long story short, both patients are doing fine. Our cat Puffin is back home and eating with no trace of sickness, and my father continues to recouperate in the hospital in Tampa. With any luck at all he might get discharged on Saturday or Monday. Last night I thanked the good Lord that he had given me the best present ever.

Crazy isn't it. It's the simple things in life that end up grounding us in reality. It took two illnesses to remind me of what truly is most important in life. God's love is truly awesome.

Thank you, Jesus.

Love, Peter

MISSIONARY FIELDS: The Price of Intolerance!

Have you been a verbal testimony this week to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ?

If, like me, you are currently attending a Christian accountability group then you probably have been asked that question at least once a week; perhaps you were the one asking it. On most occasions, the answer I give is usually no. Regrettably, more often than not, I have not been a verbal testimony to Christ's supremacy. It bothers me that my answer isn't yes. But lately I have been more bothered by the methodology of just what is involved in testifying about Christ.

This evening, Maria and I were watching The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. There was a segment on the U.S. Air Force Academy's latest attempt to combat perceptions of religious intolerance on campus. It seems that charges have been filed by non-Christians claiming that evangelicals have been proselytizing that those who do not believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior are going to "burn in the eternal fires of hell!"

The academy in reaction to these charges has instituted a new program called, RSVP: RESPECTING THE SPIRITUAL VALUES OF ALL PEOPLE. It is intended to help cadets understand the values and principals of those who are not Christian and to, hopefully, promote a sense of tolerance and respect for different faiths. But certain evangelical groups are fighting this program and are accusing the government of interfering with their right of religious expression. They see the military as some sort of mission field in which they are duty bound to spread their message to any and all who can hear it, no matter who objects to it.

It is times like these when I wonder what Jesus would do. Maybe one of the reasons I have resisted in being a verbal testimony to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ is that I don't want to come off sounding like one of these people. It is hard enough to live one's life in a Christ-like manner in this world without having to apologize for and explain the behavior of certain individuals who act more like the Pharisees than Christ. When I think of Jesus I think of a man who was inviting, not preachy; a servant, not holier than thou; and most of all someone who was immensely popular. No matter where he went, hordes of people just flocked around him. He was a people person. Far different from the conservative evangelicals who claim to represent him.

It has been VERY difficult these days being a Christian. At Ann's kinship the other day, a young woman (a senior in high school) was sharing about how she is treated by her classmates when they find out she is a Christian. It's as though she's a Martian or something. They see her and they immediately think of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell, someone who's trying to take away their rights or twist their minds. Sad how we are all lumped in together with the radical right.

I believe the United States is paying the price for what these individuals are doing in God's name. The actions of a good many righteous people are being undermined by the tactics of the ideologs. And, while Rome burns, Satan is laughing. I believe the challenge for all of us is not to twist the arm of those who aren't believers, but to love them and accept them right where they are. Shaming someone into accepting Christ is not only futile; it's not even biblical. As someone who is in a 12-step program I can testify that no one ever stayed sober because of intimidation. In deed, the 12 steps are a spiritual program that is based on attraction rather than promotion. It has worked flawlessly for over six decades. Perhaps if the Church adopted the attitudes and "suggestions" of 12-stepers, there would be a lot more people turning to Christ, and less bitterness and resentment over religious intolerance.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY!

It's been a while since I've blogged in. It's good to be back. I had decided to take off the last seven weeks because I felt that this blog was not proceeding in a direction that was God-inspiring. Instead, most of the last few blogs, while certainly entertaining and passionate, were nonetheless deteriorating into spewing; hardly the stuff of a concerned Christian.

So if nothing else I promise to give special care that any and all future blogs be as close to what God's desire is. I still feel strongly about my political views - don't expect that to change - but it's my heart that needs to get in line with my head. Conviction is good, but without love it is nothing more than condemnation, and the Lord knows there is plenty of that going around these days. Compassion is another one of the things I have found sorely lacking from Washington. It is essential I embody that characteristic in my writing. I cannot ask something of somebody I am not willing to embrace myself. Otherwise the only hypocrite is ME!

So there you have it. A pledge, call it a late new year's resolution if you will, to start over. One of the benefits of being a Christian is I get to confess and start anew. May tomorrow bring new truth to all of us.

Peter

A CHRISTMAS POEM:

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.


I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.


I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.


NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE ROOM HOME.


THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.


WAS THIS THE HERO

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?


I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.


THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.


THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;


I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."


THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL


I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."


ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine. Sometimes we forget that in the political struggles that are going on here in this country over whether it was right to invade Iraq, and now whether we should just pull out altogether, there are tens of thousands of troups over there who will spend Christmas away from their homes and families.

Let's keep each and every one of them in our prayers.
Lord, look after these brave souls and return them safely to the busom of their loved ones.

Amen!

MERRY BLEEPING CHRISTMAS!

As most of you know I'm in sales - have been for ten years. With few exceptions I have spent most of those years dreading the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas (which I unceremoniously refer to as D-day - that is Done day). I work six days a week, an average of nine hours a day, and come home exhausted. Christmas morning more often than not is spent not rejoicing in the birth of my savior, but rather exhaling. Finally, I can relax, knowing the madness is over, at least until next Thanksgiving.

But the joy of the season, quite frankly, is missing. Just once I'd like to be able to enjoy the season; and no I don't mean necessarily the obvious things like getting gifts or shopping for others or decorating the house, though certainly having more time to do those things would ease the stress level I feel. What I'm talking about is feeling the real joy of Christmas; being able to appreciate what this time of year truly means to those of us who have been touched by His love. Instead of rushing through it and wishing for it to be over, wouldn't it be nice, I wonder, if I could just stay present in His presence, to breath it in like oxygen. I do believe I'd never let go of that feeling.

While at the Christmas party at the Church I had a difficult time enjoying myself; my mind seemed troubled and distracted by work-related issues. Not until the comedy sketches did I finally manage to let a little joy in. I'm glad I went, but I regretted not allowing myself to soak it in.

Maybe next year, I wonder. Maybe. There always seems to be another next year. Just once I'd like for next year to be this year!

A letter sent to U.S. Congressman Peter T. King of New York's 3rd District.

If you agree, please do your part to try and end this insanity. Contact your local representative or Senator. DO SOMETHING! I'm tired of seeing our troops come home in body bags and listening to lies being spun off like some lousy soap opera. Polls show that Americans are tired of this war. Well it's time we all said so in black and white!

To the Honorable Peter T. King:

I have read the statement by Jack Murtha (see below) and I couldn't agree more. Whether or not you supported the initial reason for going to war in Iraq, it is obvious that this has turned into a fiasco.

Our continued presence there can only serve to further incite the insurgency, bringing more attacks and death, which will only be a setback to Iraqi autonomy.

It is time to bring our troops home; time to cut our losses and rebuild our economy. Arguments by the Administration that we are fighting some kind of war on terrorism, when there has been no proof that there ever was a link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks are absurd.

Two and half years, 2,000 plus military deaths, and billions in debt are enough. Common sense must prevail. Let's bring them home, NOW!

Sincerely,

Peter Fegan

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2005

The Honorable John P. Murtha
War in Iraq

(Washington D.C.)- The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We can not continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.

General Casey said in a September 2005 Hearing, “the perception of occupation in Iraq is a major driving force behind the insurgency.” General Abizaid said on the same date, “Reducing the size and visibility of the coalition forces in Iraq is a part of our counterinsurgency strategy.”

For 2 ½ years I have been concerned about the U.S. policy and the plan in Iraq. I have addressed my concerns with the Administration and the Pentagon and have spoken out in public about my concerns. The main reason for going to war has been discredited. A few days before the start of the war I was in Kuwait – the military drew a red line around Baghdad and said when U.S. forces cross that line they will be attacked by the Iraqis with Weapons of Mass Destruction – but the US forces said they were prepared. They had well trained forces with the appropriate protective gear.

We spend more money on Intelligence than all the countries in the world together, and more on Intelligence than most countries GDP. But the intelligence concerning Iraq was wrong. It is not a world intelligence failure. It is a U.S. intelligence failure and the way that intelligence was misused.

I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War. And what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support.

The threat posed by terrorism is real, but we have other threats that cannot be ignored. We must be prepared to face all threats. The future of our military is at risk. Our military and their families are stretched thin. Many say that the Army is broken. Some of our troops are on their third deployment. Recruitment is down, even as our military has lowered its standards. Defense budgets are being cut. Personnel costs are skyrocketing, particularly in health care. Choices will have to be made. We can not allow promises we have made to our military families in terms of service benefits, in terms of their health care, to be negotiated away. Procurement programs that ensure our military dominance cannot be negotiated away. We must be prepared. The war in Iraq has caused huge shortfalls at our bases in the U.S.
Much of our ground equipment is worn out and in need of either serious overhaul or replacement. George Washington said, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” We must rebuild our Army. Our deficit is growing out of control. The Director of the Congressional Budget Office recently admitted to being “terrified” about the budget deficit in the coming decades. This is the first prolonged war we have fought with three years of tax cuts, without full mobilization of American industry and without a draft. The burden of this war has not been shared equally; the military and their families are shouldering this burden.

Our military has been fighting a war in Iraq for over two and a half years. Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty. Our military captured Saddam Hussein, and captured or killed his closest associates. But the war continues to intensify. Deaths and injuries are growing, with over 2,079 confirmed American deaths. Over 15,500 have been seriously injured and it is estimated that over 50,000 will suffer from battle fatigue. There have been reports of at least 30,000 Iraqi civilian deaths.

I just recently visited Anbar Province Iraq in order to assess the conditions on the ground. Last May 2005, as part of the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill, the House included the Moran Amendment, which was accepted in Conference, and which required the Secretary of Defense to submit quarterly reports to Congress in order to more accurately measure stability and security in Iraq. We have now received two reports. I am disturbed by the findings in key indicator areas. Oil production and energy production are below pre-war levels. Our reconstruction efforts have been crippled by the security situation. Only $9 billion of the $18 billion appropriated for reconstruction has been spent. Unemployment remains at about 60 percent. Clean water is scarce. Only $500 million of the $2.2 billion appropriated for water projects has been spent. And most importantly, insurgent incidents have increased from about 150 per week to over 700 in the last year. Instead of attacks going down over time and with the addition of more troops, attacks have grown dramatically. Since the revelations at Abu Ghraib, American casualties have doubled. An annual State Department report in 2004 indicated a sharp increase in global terrorism.

I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agrees, Iraq can not be won “militarily.” I said two years ago, the key to progress in Iraq is to Iraqitize, Internationalize and Energize. I believe the same today. But I have concluded that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is impeding this progress.

Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency. They are united against U.S. forces and we have become a catalyst for violence. U.S. troops are the common enemy of the Sunnis, Saddamists and foreign jihadists. I believe with a U.S. troop redeployment, the Iraqi security forces will be incentivized to take control. A poll recently conducted shows that over 80% of Iraqis are strongly opposed to the presence of coalition troops, and about 45% of the Iraqi population believe attacks against American troops are justified. I believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis.

I believe before the Iraqi elections, scheduled for mid December, the Iraqi people and the emerging government must be put on notice that the United States will immediately redeploy. All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free. Free from United States occupation. I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the political process for the good of a “free” Iraq.

My plan calls:

To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces.
To create a quick reaction force in the region.
To create an over- the- horizon presence of Marines.
To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq

This war needs to be personalized. As I said before I have visited with the severely wounded of this war. They are suffering.

Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our OBLIGATION to speak out for them. That’s why I am speaking out.

Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. can not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. IT IS TIME TO BRING THEM HOME.

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WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!

"It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln

How ironic that a Republican President should coin a phrase that so completely and undeniably defines an administration that for five years has been running the same old sorry tale up the patriotic flag pole, hoping enough people will salute it. But 2005 was the year that saw the veil of deceit that has plagued this White House come unraveled.

Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Harriet Miers, Scooter Libby, have all contributed to the demise of President Bush's approval rating, which now stands at an all-time low of 37%. Worse for this president, the job-approval rating for Congress has fallen to 29%. Polls show that 68% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country; the most negative assessment in nearly a decade. If the recent elections, in which Democrat Tim Kaine beat Republican Jerry Kilgore in heavily Republican Virginia and Democrats seized power in Suffolk County for the first time since native Americans were the dominant culture, are any indication of a sign of the times than 2006 may well become this president's Waterloo.

As someone once said, "It couldn't happen to a nicer or more deserving fellow." And still, this President persists in using his political shovel to cover up his own inadequacies. At a Veterans Day speech in front of veterans, Bush lashed out at his critics accusing them of trying to rewrite history and charged that they’re undercutting America’s forces on the front lines.

Sad how a president who has done nothing but rewrite history for his own intentions should accuse others of doing so, but finally, at last, his words appear to be falling on deaf ears. Even Republicans who supported him in years past are questioning his judgment. Senator Chuck Hagel (Rep-Nebraska) has, along with leading Democrats, been pressing the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to move forward with an investigation into whether the administration manipulated intelligence. Others within his own party appear to be distancing themselves from Bush, worried about their own necks when they run for reelection in '06.

The nomination of Judge Sam Alito to the Supreme Court - an obvious choice to mollify the extreme right flank of his party - will no doubt be the subject of much heated debate when Congress reconvenes in January. That Bush did not get the nomination hearings in November, as he originally wanted, was a setback. In deed this president may be in for quite a few setbacks in the remaining years of his term. And all of them his own doing.

Of all the sayings I have come to learn there is one, which in this case couldn't be better indicative of George Bush, "Pride goeth before a fall." The arrogance of this president and his persistence in his own infallibility may well spell the political epitaph of an administration that, to quote a local sports caster, "stole defeat from the jaws of victory."

15 YEARS AND COUNTING!

Tonight I will be celebrating 15 years of sobriety from alcohol.

15 YEARS!

I've been sober longer than I was drinking.

Of all the blessings that I have, I thank God my wife has never seen me drunk.
With God's grace I will have another 15 years, one day at a time.

GUN LOBBY SHIELDED FROM LAWSUITS!

The House of Representatives passed a bill 283-144 protecting the firearms industry from damages from massive lawsuits brought by crime victims. The White House announced that President Bush will sign it into law.

Astonishing isn't it that this "pro-life" President and his "pro-life" party will stop at nothing to outlaw abortion, but so far has done nothing to prevent the large loss of life brought about by hand guns in this country. It wasn't enough that last year they (the Republicans) let the ban on assault rifles expire, now they have gone after the only recourse that victims of violent crimes had, namely damages.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't grieve over what this President has done not only to the country, but to the Office of President. Is it any wonder that our allies distance themselves from us.

CAMPING OUT WITH BROTHER HAROLD

I confess that while I have many strengths, thorough knowledge of scripture is not one of them. While I have certainly made strides in this area of my life, there are still many passages of scripture that have eluded me. However even I can spot a flimflam artist a mile away. You know the old joke, "How can you tell when a salesman is lying? His lips are moving!"

Harold Camping is that kind of salesman: self-serving and full of himself. The president of Oakland-based Family Radio has made a career pronouncing that the age of the church is over, and that we are in the "great tribulation." Twice he has predicted the end of the world: once in 1994 "somewhere between September 5th and 27th;" and now, in a new book titled appropriately enough, Time Has An End, 2011. The main reason for Camping coming up with 2011 as the year Jesus returns is brilliant in its design. 1. It is 7000 years from the great flood, which he claims to have occurred in 4990 B.C.; 2. It is 23 years from the beginning of the great tribulation (Camping's great tribulation I might add) and 23 is the magic number of judgment. According to Camping, churches are not only irrelevant but "altogether apostate" because they soft-pedal the gospel. God has instead turned to radio - more to the point Family Radio - to preach the good news. You see, brilliant!

Camping isn't the first bible thumper to throw his hat in the ring and predict the end of the world. But what makes his brand of theology so fascinating and, at the same time, dangerous, is that millions of people tune into his family radio network every day. In one way or another most of the people I know have listened to a program or two on 94.7 on their FM dial. Most of the programs are not without some merit, and some actually do some good. That is the danger. Camping isn't some Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell copycat. He hides behind a pulpit that brings at least a semblance of hope to a good many people. While learned men and women in the Word are hip to Camping's charade, the ignorant remain helpless victims.

I have said it before, I will say it again, the Church's refusal to step out and call its false prophets on the carpet, like Paul did in his letters, is the biggest problem besetting Christianity today. Where is the public outcry from the responsible clergy when Pat Robertson openly condoned the assassination of Hugo Chavez? Where is the righteous anger that Christ had when he overturned the tables of the money changers and drove them from His father's temple when self-serving, false prophets attack the Church?

We have a habit of blaming Satan, referring to this world as a fallen world, and the people in it imperfect, as though that somehow gets us off the hook. Bull. Paul, in Romans chapter six, knew exactly where the blame was to be put. ^15"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

The gullible need a light at the end of the tunnel to steer them toward the truth. How can we hold Islamic leaders responsible for their unwillingness to condemn terrorist attacks when our own leaders stand by and permit blasphemy within our own ranks. Remember the words of Jesus, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5.

EATING THEIR YOUNG

The nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court by President Bush has drawn the ire of many senators and congressional leaders in Washington. The critics have called into question Ms. Miers' qualifications for such a high post as the Supreme Court and have wondered outloud whether this nomination is an example of a President surrounding himself with people who are loyal to him, and yet overmatched for the duties to which they have been appointed or assigned to.

The irony of this criticism is that it is coming not from the Democratic party but from the Republican party, more to the point the right flank of the Republican party - if there is such a thing as a right flank for this party these days.

The radical Right has blasted the nomination as being a betrayal of the conservative values for which they purport to stand for and for which they have assumed this President agrees with.

Now what is so hysterical about this attack is that it has nothing to do with whether Miers is actually qualified to assume the responsibilities of associate judge to the Supreme Court. She clearly is NOT! In deed this is yet another example of this President appointing an underqualified individual for a post out of loyalty. The victims of Hurricane Katrina had to endure the ineptitude of FEMA head Michael Brown as he bungled the relief effort and made an ass of himself on national TV. If Michael Brown deserved to be the head of FEMA, I'm the Pope!

No, what is so hysterical here is watching the radical Right devour each other. It's like feeding time at the cannibal zoo. I couldn't be more delighted. Senator Chuck Schumer was beside himself with glee, stating, "We haven't had the time to criticize this nomination, the Republicans are doing such a good job of it for us!"

But at some point, when clearer heads prevail, a critique of this nomination must go forward. The senate must question her qualifications, as well as her ideology. It will not be enough for the President to say that because she has never been a judge, she has no track record to critique, only her character. BULL! I've never been a judge either, yet I can tell you exactly where I stand on any issue you ask me about. It is high time this administration and this Congress presented the people of the United States - ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES - with a Supreme Court nomination worthy of the post being vacated.

Harriet Miers must state unequivocally where she stands on issues that the Court will most assuredly have a say in in the months, years, and, yes, decades to come. To do anything else would be cowardly. It has been suggested that no citizen should have to explain their beliefs to others. Quite so, except when those beliefs would affect how the rest of us would live out our lives.

We are talking about the balance of the Supreme Court for the next twenty or so years. This is a time for true Christians to pray for boldness from our leaders. We need leadership, not partisan politics and cronyism.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

October 8th (Saturday) Maria and I will be celebrating 11 years of marriage. For those of you looking to tell your friends about the miracles that God performs you can pass this along.

Before I met Maria, I thought a relationship was a second date!

The miracle in my life is I get to grow old with the woman I love. Everything else is a distant second.

Happy anniversary, honey!

Peter

CRACKED POT

Vic and Robin emailed this to me and I just couldn't resist.

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to theHouse, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life. Blessings to all my cracked pot friends.

"Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter 3:15b-16

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Peter 3:15b-16