The election is coming! The election is coming! To hear some folks, the outcome of the upcoming election will determine whether the human race…and planet earth itself…will survive. Don't get me wrong. I'm concerned about the election, too. I look forward to fulfilling my patriotic responsibility and casting a vote. I'm researching the candidates, studying the issues. But my concern about this election is much bigger than which candidate wins the White House, or which party controls congress. My concern is that too many Christians view this election just like non-Christians: we put way too much hope in it. To…
When Evil is No Longer Evil
Halloween. Like it or not, the season is here. Christians can disagree over whether it's okay to dress up or go trick or treating. But I am not interested in that discussion at the moment. My focus is much more fundamental. I want to talk about evil itself. The evil that is increasingly celebrated at Halloween. The “Spirit” chain of Halloween stores has grown from 63 in 1999 to nearly a thousand this year! In our neighborhoods, many homes now put more effort into decorating for Halloween than they do Christmas. The other day I passed a car with a…
Our Slippery Slope
When did America begin to self-destruct spiritually? Do you ever wonder? I have. Ask ten people and you'll get ten answers. Some say it began in the 60s with the Beatles and permissive parenting. That lead to drugs, free sex and a general contempt for authority. Others say, “No, it began before that. It was the 50s—think Elvis and his wild hip gyrations.” Some point to the roaring 20s, with speakeasies and crime sprees and dime novels with questionable characters. But Harvard historian Dani Shapiro offers a disturbing piece of evidence that dates much earlier yet. It was the year…
Too Many Leaders
Leadership. It's quite a buzz lately in Christian circles. Have you noticed all the leadership chatter? Consider the enormous popularity of Christian publications like… Leadership Gold Leadership Journal magazine. Then there are all those Leadership conferences. But go ahead and Google Christian conferences on “Following Christ”…and you won't find much. Following lacks the flash and fun of being a leader. And, in my opinion, therein lies the danger. Now hear me carefully. I'm not saying we don't need leaders, or that there shouldn't be any new training for leadership. But I AM saying I think our current emphasis is probably…
How Did They Finish?
By now news from the London Olympics is so old, it's not even in the rear view mirror. We've moved on. There’s a presidential election just before us…the NFL season is in full swing—complete with the REAL refs… These are the headlines that now dominate our attention. But a misstep in marketing takes me across the pond nearly every day. Let me explain. At the train station that I walk there lingers a set of illuminated photos of Olympic hopefuls–the heart of a bank's advertising campaign. The campaign’s idea was to suggest that in choosing the bank on the sign…you’d…
Lesser Characters
Recently, my wife and I sat down with our three year old granddaughter to watch the 1973 Disney animated classic, “Robin Hood.” If you haven't seen the film—or it's been awhile—it's quite charming in every regard. As we sat there with Joslynn, giggling at all the onscreen antics, I was struck with an observation. Though the storyline is a classic, and Robin Hood, Maid Marion, and the whole cast are delightfully depicted, it was the lesser characters that grabbed my attention. They are so well developed, so carefully crafted that I found myself looking forward to their every appearance. For…
Capricious Judging
Capricious. When it comes to properly evaluating sin, that’s you and me. And it's not a good thing, either. The word, capricious, means whimsical. Fickle. Given to unaccountable changes of behavior. And like I say, that's many of us, when it comes to assessing our own sins. You see, the Bible calls all sin…sin. But you and me? Most of us have managed to downgrade a whole list of sins into…something less sinful than sin. For example… Anxiety. We brush it off as a fairly harmless habit. Like biting your fingernails: it'd be nice if we could quit—but no big…
Putting the Persecuted Church on Your Radar Screen
Time out for a pop quiz. Question one: Please name the country with the worst record of abuse toward Christian believers. Question two. Please list the names of any countries you've prayed for in the last week where believers are heavily persecuted. Now pass your papers forward, please. How'd you do? Did you get the answer to the first question? It's North Korea, the most restrictive nation in the world for Christ followers. I'm actually more interested in question number two—the number of countries you've prayed for in the last week. Places where Christians are treated with open hostility. If…
International Religious Freedom Act
According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights… solely because of their faith. If current trends continue, by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually. We hear numbers like these and feel disturbed…but powerless. Or at least I do. That's why a recent article caught my eye about a senate bill under consideration. The bill would appoint a religious freedom envoy that would operate in the Near East and South Central Asia. The purpose of the envoy would be to monitor and report on abuses…
Just Try Jesus
Forgive me for offending you. But to make my point, I'm afraid I must offend some. It is a well-established fact that I cannot stand the taste of creamed corn. The truth is, after one bite, I honestly begin gagging. I wish it were not so…but it is. (See—now I've gone and done it–offended all the creamed corn lovers out there. My apologies). At a recent Christmas party, I turned down someone's prized recipe for creamed corn and was entreated with a familiar line: “If you'd just try it…..I think you'd like it.” Trust me—ain't gonna happen. And it’s not…