Rush to Judgment

I remember, in Argentina, our church normally held a "business" meeting the last Sunday of the month. Usually, we planned to have it at a member’s house.

One month, I wasn't sure who was to host our monthly meeting. The Sunday before we were to meet, we were in a worship service. At the end of the service, I was making the announcements.

I reminded people that we were to meet the following Sunday. I asked if we had decided where we were to meet. (I knew we needed to decide.)

A teammate of mine raised his hand and said that we would decide next Sunday. I thought that sounded strange. Perhaps he didn't understand, so I said, "But we're holding our meeting next Sunday."

He replied, "I know, and we'll decide next Sunday."

Now, I was irritated. His attitude put me off. All afternoon, I thought about calling him and saying, "Look buster, just who do you think you are. Do you want to run things?"

Fortunately, before I called him, he called me to explain what happened. He said, "I was concerned you might have thought what happened this morning sounded weird, so I wanted to explain."

Come to find out, it had been agreed upon the previous month that we would meet in the house of a poorer couple, because the wife had offered their home. The husband had been so embarrassed—since they did not have enough chairs to seat everyone--he didn't want to host the meeting.

My teammate was simply trying to stall for time so we could solve the problem behind the scenes without embarrassing the couple. His explanation made perfect sense.

It was a noble thing my teammate did. I had thought he was being so “horsy”, but he was simply trying to protect someone else.

Things aren't always what they seem. That's why we need to be careful to rush to judgment.

This is one application of what Jesus said in Matt. 7:1-2:

1 "Don't judge others, or you will be judged. 2 You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you….”

Herding Books

How did I spend my vacation? Well, among other things, doing what Larry McMurtry calls herding books.

Our son, Timothy, was quarantined for a couple of days due to strep. I recently purchased the software for organizing one’s possessions called DELICIOUS LIBRARY. Don’t let the name fool you. It organizes CDs, DVDs, closets—and books.

Anyway, my OC kicked in. Rather than totally relaxing, I spent a lot of time reorganizing my library and cataloguing books. 

I know I am Obsessive/ Compulsive because my adrenaline was running so fast, I woke up some mornings at 4:30 or 5. One night, I even dreamed of ways of categorizing the books in my library. I’m not kidding.

That dream did help me overcome a software quirk of DELICIOUS LIBRARY. You cannot force your books to go in the order you want, if it is contrary to the built in guidelines. I wanted my presidential books shelved in the order of their place in history: Washington, first, then John Adams… It wasn’t going to happen with DL. Because of my dream, I figured out that I could list each president in NUMERICAL order, followed by the name. For example: 1. Washington, 2. Adams...

Voila! Problem solved.

I hope this solution makes the Google Alerts feature, a bunch of DL people read it, and DL pays me a consultation fee.

Wait, that’s my next dream.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. I wrote the following at 5:30 PM, yesterday, during the Cowboy-Eagles game, “There is still a lot of talk that there may be an NFL players stoppage in 2011. Funny, I think the Cowboys got a year’s head start. Their players stopped playing a long time ago.”

Boy, was I funny.

I’ve got to take back my words. Sure, the Eagles were playing with more reserves than the Cowboys. Still, I saw the highlights. Winning in the last minute in Philly shows guts. The Cowboys have played hard under Jason Garrett. They may not be as talented as other teams, but I look for Garrett to return next year (if there is a next year!) and for the Cowboys to make the playoffs.

2. The latest KIPLINGER LETTER is on Generation Y. A lot of good data there; maybe the two most interesting items are these:

            (1) Only 24% read the newspapers.

            (2) 25% send more than 50 text messages a day.

3. I wanted to see TRUE GRIT during my vacation. That did not work out. I hear it is good, though.

4. My family and I did see TUCK EVERLASTING. Profound movie. The story takes your imagination and helps you contemplate whether or not life would be good—lived forever on this earth. Hmmm. Maybe God knows what he is doing.

5. I loved watching TCU defeat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. My understanding is the ratings were through the roof. And what good press TCU got! Between baseball and football, TCU is hot.

Hate Crimes

Likely, you have heard about the recent suicide of the Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi. Apparently, Clementi’s roommate, Dharun Ravi, and Ravi’s friend, Molly Wei, used their technological skills to broadcast to the world on the Internet, Clementi engaging in sex with another man.

Obviously, Ravi and Wei should face the greatest possible punishment by the Law. One does not have to agree with Clementi’s sexual activity to be repulsed by Ravi and Wei’s cruel act. Their work fails to pass any biblical, theological, or religious test.

Because of this case, the past few days, I have been hearing a renewed effort for hate crime prosecution and even stronger hate crime legislation. 

I have a concern about that. How do you determine motive? In Christianity, churches are often visited by people who desire to become a part. When the guest is a complete stranger, the question is sometimes raised–is this person truly a Christian?

Perhaps, one of the reasons the Bible offers as one of the blessings of baptism, entrance into the Church, is because baptism offers an external indication–given by God–that this person is truly committed to serving Jesus Christ as a disciple. After all, in baptism, in front of witnesses, the individual is confessing Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Yet, no one knows for sure what is in the person's heart. Only God truly knows. All we, in churches, have to go on is the external act.

To me, “hate crime” legislation smacks of “playing God.” It is rooted in the fundamental belief that humans are capable of seeing inside another person's heart.

What if people were punished (or rehabilitated) based upon their actions and not upon their motives? I remember years ago, a public official being castigated for not supporting hate crime legislation. As I recall, the case was brought up, in which three Caucasian men cruelly mistreated an African American man—and he died in the midst the brutal acts. And so one question was asked--would not this case be an excellent example of the need for hate crime legislation?

The official answered by saying that the state had prosecuted the three white men for murder. The men were convicted and received the full force of the law. How do you improve upon the justice of a murder conviction?

If everyone is made in the image of God, can we honestly say one crime is more evil than another simply because of the victim’s gender, sexual preference, nation of origin, or race? Is there a hierarchy of intents, each higher rung a motive more evil?

Pondering these things, I could not help but think about what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

 23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you (Matt. 5:21-23)  NLT.

One could make the argument that Jesus establishes what is in one's heart before any crime—anger, hostility, and contempt. (Of course, Jesus is addressing the heart problems of all humans—something called sin.) This reduces another human being to an object. There can be no greater fundamental wrong.

Perhaps, by the standards of Jesus, every crime is a hate crime.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. I was surprised to see the third volume of Larry McMurtry’s autobiography on my public library’s shelf last week. It’s called HOLLYWOOD: A THIRD MEMOIR. It is a short book. A person can read it quickly, probably in an afternoon.             

             McMurtry recounts anecdotes about any interaction he had with Hollywood over the past fifty years. In some cases, he opened the curtain and offered me information I had not known. For example, he goes into detail about the numerous scripts he worked that have been filed away by producers—probably to never be made into films. No matter how you cut it, that adds up to a lot of failure. Without being intentional, McMurtry reminds us that even successful writers fail—probably much more often than unsuccessful writers. (Possibly because unsuccessful writers quit too soon and move into something else.)

            I often found eager to hear his behind the scenes story about a famous movie he worked on—only to be disappointed. I probably should not be. He early on bluntly writes, he had limited involvement in most movies he participated in. Furthermore, he rarely went to the set.

            Still, considering the investment of time, it is a worthy read.

2. I wrote off the Texas Longhorns, when Mack Brown announced last spring, UT was abandoning the spread for a more traditional running game. However, I completely agree with his decision.

            Mack is looking at the big picture. In today’s college world, rare is the time that can carry two big-time quarterbacks, who can run the spread. As we saw in January, qb’s sometimes get hurt.

            Alabama shows a team can win a national championship with an incredible defense, great special teams, an incredible offense line committed to running the ball, and a good, but not great, quarterback.

            Garrett Gilbert will be an excellent quarterback. Next year, should he get hurt, the Horns will be fine with his back up. Right now, Texas is in transition.

3. Want to see the Rangers beat the Rays? Watch this. Tampa Bay wins in four games. You’re welcome.

4. Every year I appreciate Columbus Day more. I stay home with the kids, and it provides a nice break.

5. We’re about to try the NETFLIX trial run, thanks to Patrick Leech. With what we pay each month in delayed REDBOX returns, I’m sure we would more than make up the difference going full-time with NETFLIX. 

Prepare for the Good Times

It's Friday but Sunday's coming

Sunday morning, I plan on acknowledging to my church the fact that some of them are facing adversity right now. Some have been facing adversity for over a year.

As a preacher, I feel called to urge them to grow close to God, and plan now how they will live for God should he bless them. They cannot be caught off guard. It will not be spiritual. Chances are, in this country, they will someday find the time of blessing again—a time of triumph and success.

Rare is the person in the U. S. that lives and dies and knows only poverty. I know they are out there, and I know they congregate together and form a sad community. We serve them. But this is a small portion of society. And chances are extremely good no one in my audience will be one of them.

My dad’s parents were sharecroppers from 1919 until the 1950s. Then through opportunity, and help from their children, who by then had become adults, built themselves a three bedroom house. For many, it was not comparable by today's standards. They did not have air conditioning and they had no central heating, just space heaters. But, the house was what they wanted and they were happy with it. They started a little factory where they manufactured mattresses. It burned down, so they faced adversity. Then they went into the cattle business. They had some good years and bad years. But, even the bad years were better than the 1930s and 1940s were for them.

Sunday morning, I’m telling my folks that chances are, they are going to have some really good times. When those times come, what will they do with God? What I have seen too many times is a guy makes it professionally—
and then leaves his wife. A wife becomes successful, and she has an affair. A couple sacrifices for years to raise their kids and they succeed---only to leave each other when the nest becomes empty.

Our nation is having severe problems, not because of poverty and depression; it is because of years and years and years of prosperity. As a nation, we have taken God's blessing and created appetites that demand even more.

In II Samuel 5-8, we see David experience triumph. He has walked with God for twenty years of unrelenting crisis, and he has grown stronger with God. Yet, even more incredibly, in these chapters, as David reaches his peak professionally and attains glory, he grows closer to God. I’ve preached many a time on the passages of scripture that warn us to prepare for pain and suffering. Here is a story with a warning applied for us to prepare for—the good times.


Books, Books, Books

Last Saturday, I experienced one of those serendipities that I occasionally enjoy at the public library. They had a bunch of new books available for checkout, so I did—about 10 of them. Saturday night, I mainly skimmed each to see if I want to purchase any in the future.

As for the science books, the one I liked the most was THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE: DNA AND THE REVOLUTION IN PERSONALIZED MEDICINE. It is written by Francis Collins, a geneticists and evangelical Christian, who helped cracked the gene code back in the late 1990s. He writes well for a popular audience. He stretches my thinking—he believes evolution is a gift of God that expresses God’s beauty. He is also a highly respected scientist. This book deals with much of current medical, political, and cultural life.

Jack Valenti completed a robust autobiography shortly before his death entitled THIS TIME, THIS PLACE: MY LIFE IN WAR, THE WHITE HOUSE AND HOLLYWOOD. The White House years fascinated me because of his relationship with Lyndon Johnson. (Valenti was a member of Johnson’s staff.) The Hollywood years are interesting because Valenti facilitated the development of the ratings system: G, PG, M (remember M? Mature audiences only), R and X. This is a quick and easy read.

Ditto that for LITERARY LIFE by Larry McMurtry. I enjoyed, greatly, his first volume of memoirs WALTER BENJAMIN AT THE DAIRY QUEEN--REFLECTIONS AT 60 AND BEYOND. LITERARY LIFE is a shorter book. McMurtry focuses on his books and experiences writing. It is 175 pages long but reads shorter—I finished it in less than a week. I look forward to volume three covering his relationship with Hollywood.

GARFIELD: A BIOGRAPHY, is an update of Allan Peskin’s earlier work on President James Garfield. Garfield was the only preacher elected president. He was assassinated six months into office, a treacherous act, which I hope was not inspired by Garfield’s being a preacher. Little is said about Garfield’s preaching and religion, which is why I wish Jerry Rushford would publish his dissertation on Garfield.

Finally, COUNTEFEIT GODS: THE EMPTY PROMISES OF MONEY, SEX, AND POWER, AND THE ONLY HOPE THAT MATTERS is the newest book by Timothy Keller. I was interested in this book because he is a preacher in New York City and his books sell well. I was surprised at how biblical he is; I figured this would have destroyed his sales. Yet, he has made a connection between scripture and the secular Northeast. I don’t agree with everything, but I would enjoy a more methodical read of the book.

Happy Reading!


Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. Welcome to this world, Cora Elise Smith. I know your parents, missionaries to Peru, Kyle and Larissa, are proud of you.

2. Good grief, I discovered I know a national celebrity. I stumbled upon a story on our own Morgan Ashbreck in the well-respected magazine GUIDEPOSTS. Her story in volleyball, which I have related her last fall, was cited as one of “The Most Inspiring Sports Stories of 2009”. I must emphasize it was not MY version that was picked up by the magazine, but that’s okay. Here is a link: http://www.guideposts.com/story/most-inspiring-sports-stories-2009?page=0%2C7

3. I saw that Apple introduced its new iPad this week. One of the talking heads said something that made me realize: my laptop is now my desktop and my iPhone is now my laptop. Could it be that someday, the iPad will replace my laptop?

4. I predict Brett Favre returns next year to play. The last three seasons, the last pass he threw was intercepted. If he continues to try, someday, his last pass will be completed, or at least fall incomplete.

5. I want to see the documentary JOHNNY CASH’S AMERICA. Sounds fascinating.


Have a great weekend!