The 2011 Major League Baseball World Series was one to remember. As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan watching them win the 11th championship in franchise history was a sweet, exhilarating experience. The Cardinals finished on top at the end of a season when no one, myself included, expected them to. Oh we of little faith!

While there is a lesson about never giving up in the Cardinals’ improbable run to the World Series, there is another one for our spiritual lives from the losing team.

Texas Rangers’ outfielder Josh Hamilton is known to be a committed Christian and credits God for turning around his life and career. He blasted a huge home run in the 10th inning of Game 6 to put his team ahead by two runs. But his home run heroics are only half the story.

After the game, Hamilton explained to the press that God told him he was going to hit a home run in the at bat. “He told me, ‘You haven’t hit one in awhile, and this is the time you’re going to,’” he said. And he did on the first pitch. For the briefest of moments it looked like the home run from God would win the game – and the Series – for his team in what would have been an inspiring cap to his comeback.

But it was not to be. David Freese, the Cardinals’ third baseman belted a home run of his own in the 11th inning to win Game 6 and force a Game 7 which the Cardinals would win the next night easily. It was a wonderful end for the Cards, not so wonderful for Hamilton and his Rangers. Imagine his heartbreak as the zenith of Major League Baseball sailed into the night on a long ball to straightaway center field.

What about his message from God? “There was a period at the end of [the sentence],” Hamilton said. “He didn’t say, ‘You’re going to hit it and you’re going to win.’” This is why the phrase “God moves in mysterious ways,” is a cliche. Did God set Hamilton up for disappointment?

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I was going to link this over at the Facebook fan page but was so excited I quickly realized I had more to say than Facebook could accommodate. So you get a blog post instead.

The Charlotte Observer had an amazing story today that I think all Christian, especially American Christians, should read about the religious revolution underway all over the globe. The article is about a speech given by Philip Jenkins to a small group of people in Charlotte, NC. He claims that the religious revolution is happening right now and is likely to keep on trucking.

The reason: The staggering growth in the number of Christians in Asia, Latin America and especially Africa – a phenomenon he called “a global religious revolution” and one that “reverses a trend that people had been used to for several hundred years.”

photo credit: C. G. P. Grey

I have a new project in mind and it led me to do a little poking around the internet to see if there is anything like it out there in the ether. That’s when I came across this thread about life lessons you wish you knew when you were younger apparently started by the amazing Emmylou Harris.

What strikes me is the number of people who say they wish they’d known not to worry about what other people think of them. A close second is following that “inner voice” instead of trying to be the person you are supposed to be. In other words, live up to your own expectations of yourself not those that others have for you.

Let me tell you, I can relate to that. Right now two events are converging that are teaching me these lessons. In my spiritual life I’m writing a “testament of my life” which involves thinking through my life. Hopefully the experience brings some clarity to certain events and tendencies. It turns out there are a lot of really great moments in my life. Sure, there are some things I wish I could change – or knew sooner – but overall, this is a pretty good life I am living.

Second, at work we are working on finding our strengths by using Strengths Finder 2.0. When I got the results of the survey  many things became clear to me. I have spent so much time trying to be a person I’m not. For instance, on this very blog I tried to be a political pundit when I’m clearly not. I’ve spent the last three months trying to write spiritual posts like I’m Max Lucado when that’s probably never going to happen. I’m not even going to elaborate on the many ways I felt compelled to try fit the mold in seminary. I will be better off as I begin to live and work out of my strengths and the gifts God gave me and leave behind all those crushing expectations.

The point is not to tear stain a digital page. Rather, I want to encourage you during the holidays – the holy days – to consider how you’re living. Are you thinking more about who people want you to be or who God wants you to be? Are your aspirations to please your parents or spouse or someone else greater than those to please your Heavenly Father? Do you need to finally let go of some things and be who you are?

There’s a certain danger here. Sin can enter the picture and I’m not advocating you revert to rudeness or allowing the pull of whatever sin entices you to sweep you away. There is a difference between finding your true character and letting sin run rampant. See passages like Romans 6-7 and Galatians 5 for the Bible’s take on the subject and by all means be careful. By the same token, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s a bit of advice that could show up a time or two in the above thread.

I’m only just learning how to live these truths and maybe you are too. Perhaps we can learn a bit of it together. What are your thoughts on this topic? What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger?

If this election cycle is anything, it’s strange. Incumbents on both sides of the aisle were either defeated in primary contests or facing general election battles like they have never seen before. Talk is getting serious of Republican victories for seats in long held, blue state strongholds like Wisconsin, Washington, and even California. As the mud starts to fly, I noticed an interesting trend. Social issues – you know those issues that define the Evangelical voting bloc – are nowhere to be seen.

Nowhere, that is, except in liberal ads aimed at smearing Republicans. In Colorado, Michael Bennet is running ads accusing  Republican nominee for Senate Ken Buck of being extreme because he is pro-life. Of course, he is but the people in the ad who are supposedly concerned about the potential for governmental overreach neglect to mention the ways Obamacare  – which Bennett voted for – will reach into their lives. The ads are having little effect and Buck has turned to a positive approach figuring people care more about jobs and the economy right now.

All of this begs the question, do social issues matter anymore? This election cycle promises to be the most lopsided in perhaps 100 years and social issues have nothing to do with it. Are the issues Evangelicals care most about dead?

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Call off the coroner. It would be premature to declare issues like abortion and same-sex marriage obsolete. This year is different for two reasons. First, people are reacting against the frightening policies passed by the Pelosi-Reid Congress and signed by President Obama. Democrats complained bitterly about the expenses and deficits of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but promptly spent trillions of borrowed dollars upon assuming the power of the pursestrings. Americans are rightly more concerned about the effect of policies like the failed stimulus and Obamacare than other issues. Ken Buck, at least on this, has a better pulse on the American people.

Second, cultural issues are now fought more in the courts than anywhere else and because the president appoints judges to the Supreme Court social issues are more prominent during presidential elections than midterms. For the time being, little can be done about Barack Obama’s court nominees. Of course, if the Senate changes hands along with the House, then Republicans will have more influence in the entire process. Then, I suspect, social issues will come raging back to the political landscape.

So, fear not, my fellow Evangelicals! Fight now for fiscal restraint and sanity and enjoy the spectacle of true conservatives winning elections across the country. The cultural civil war started with social issues and will not be finished until that battle is won.

What do you think? Are social issues important in 2010?

*****

Making headlines yesterday is the YouTube video of President Barack Obama answering a “spicy question” about why he is a Christian. (HT: Hugh Hewitt) His answer is very interesting. The question and answer are spread over two videos. Start this one at about 6:10.

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Let’s start with the positives:

• The President expressed faith in Christ to save him from his sins. Sure, it wasn’t the first thing out of his mouth as it would have been for an Evangelical but it was part of his response. We should not expect Obama to sound like an Evangelical because he is not one. He spoke of the need for God’s grace to “achieve salvation.” The language of achievement to describe salvation makes Evangelicals everywhere squirm but when connected to grace is acceptable. He highlighted the essential points of the Gospel. That’s good.
• He is familiar with at least some of Jesus’ teaching. The passages cited by Obama were those expected to resonate with someone of as liberal a mind as he. He cited “being my brother’s keeper,” and the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have done unto you.”) as ways he lives his life.
• We now know that the President prays daily. While we do not know the extent or nature of his prayer life – only that he prays everyday – this is a positive revelation and I’m glad to know it.
• The President thinks of his public service as an expression of his faith. We expect this kind of talk from Evangelical politicians (like George W. Bush) but not from Obama.

Now the negatives:

• The President seemed reluctant to discuss the matter of his Christian faith. He hemmed, hawed and paused awkwardly before answering the question giving the impression he was uncomfortable going there so publicly.
• His answer is very pluralistic. While he made a decision to be a Christian, he does not think it the right path for everyone. We should, Obama says, do our best to help others “find their grace.” This is followed by an admonition that the United States is a country “that welcomes people of many faiths and of no faith.” His faith is fine but others are cool too. “Their own path to grace is one we have to revere and respect as much as our own. That’s part of what makes this country what it is.” Earlier he called it a “bedrock principle.” Ignoring the obvious misunderstanding of our history, Obama can be given the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he thought it his duty to give a shout out to people of all faiths so they didn’t feel neglected. Which leads me to…
• Obama never mentioned truth. He didn’t sound like one who has come face to face with Jesus. I’m not questioning his profession of faith but it seems to me people who believe in Jesus do so because they believe his death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God is the Truth, capital T. He was quick to elevate other religions to the same status. That bothers me.
• Some have noted that this is not the first time Obama put his faith on display recently. I hadn’t noticed but he is apparently making an effort to appear Christian after a survey revealed a large percentage of Americans though him a Muslim. Once you notice a little fact like that it’s hard not to be a bit more cynical.

I was glad to hear the President express that he has a Christian faith even if it quite clearly is tainted with a liberal dye. What do you think? Are you satisfied with the President’s answer to a spicy question?

Yesterday’s ruling by U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker that Prop 8, the measure approved by California voters in November 2008 establishing Marriage as between men and women, escalates an already heightened culture war. August 4, 2010 was a day of cultural crossfire as conservatives celebrated a shot-over-the-bow victory in Missouri against Obamacare and then were hit with a heavy air-strike from the court.

How long can these legal battles continue before the fissures are too deep to heal and secession or revolution is the only choice? Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for either but the sheer volume of issues amplified by the Obama administration is enough to break anybody. Like when the CIA blasts heavy metal music at a terrorist, it is only a matter of time before we crack.

Evangelical Christians are in a particular pickle when it comes to the issues because being conservative is no longer enough. Take immigration, for instance. We believe in the rule of law and that governments are instituted by God for the administration of justice (see Romans 13), so we call on the government to do so by enforcing the current immigration law or to change it. And yet, the Bible is full of concern for the fair treatment of the aliens among us. The Church is rightly concerned about the devastating effects of deportation on Mexican families. The only way to make sense of it is to take a radical view of the separation of church and state such as the Church never has before in  America. It amounts to the Church saying to the Feds: “You worry about enforcing the law justly and blindly and we’ll worry about the human consequences.”

Of course, it is not so simple on all issues. Separation of church and state does not mean people are prohibited from publicly exercising their religious views. Two left turns last week proved the absurdity of trying to do so. First there was the ruling that a student at a public university could not hold her religious views and still graduate from the program. The court essentially institutionalized -read “established” and recall the First Amendment – a secularist worldview. The matter would be completely different were we discussing a private institution responsible for raising its own funds but this is a public center of learning. It runs on taxpayer dollars. How dare they rule that Christians, in essence, cannot come to their school? Does anyone seriously believe someone of another religious faith would be similarly targeted?

The second left turn is the discussion of the proposed mosque two blocks from Ground Zero. The very idea is revolting. Again, our values are being used against us, just as they were on the fateful day when 19 Islamic hijackers living freely in the U.S. used our airplanes as guided missiles. We know that advocating against the free exercise of religion anywhere potentially limits our own exercise of faith. That’s why Hugh Hewitt makes the case he does. There is no other way.

On the same-sex marriage issue thoughtful Christians feel a similar tension. The Bible rings a clear bell in both Testaments that sex is best kept within God’s design between a man and a woman united before him. Stories abound both in Scripture and those around us about the heartbreak and carnage that occurs when the opposite is true. On the other hand, how can we not be concerned about legitimate claims of inequality for homosexuals? Callously dismissing the issue fuels only the fires of hatred, not the flame of God’s love for the world. It is hard to call sin what it is in a culture that no longer believes in an offended God and still demonstrate Christ-like love. We must bless when we are cursed and give an answer full of love when asked spiteful questions. The Church has faced far worse in her history but never in the United States.

That’s why I wonder how much longer this can go on politically. Americans generally and Christian Americans in particular are already tolerating way more tyranny at the hands of liberals than the colonies ever did from King George. The screws are tightening around our freedom of religion. How much longer could that possibly be the case?

My sense is a lot of Americans are biding their time waiting for the fall elections. That’s our chance to win a decisive victory in American politics. Hell hath no fury like voters scorned. Election 2010 will not end the cultural fighting but it is a crucial flash point in the war for America’s future.

Related Articles:

• Lawsuit alleges university threatened student over religious views.
• Immigration Reform: Another Christian View

The parade was a great time for the kids. I got excited because we saw both Chet Culver, the current governor, and Terry Branstad, the once and future governor. It’s anecdotal but the men’s management style was completely different. Culver came through first and was weaving back and forth from side to side skipping people in the process. Branstad was much more methodical. He took one side and his Lt. governor candidate took the other. Very efficient. I shook Gov. Branstad’s hand as he walked by and gave a quick shout that we are supporting him. He is the only governor I remember when I still lived in Iowa. I hope he wins. He sure seemed to have a lot of support on the block we were on and has every reason to be confident. Sen. Grassley also walked by. I let him know we need him in congress.

Today is a good day not only to stuff our faces and enjoy the outdoors and shoot or watch fireworks but also to spend some time reflecting on the qualities that are at the foundation of this country. Naturally, these are best expressed by the greatness of Thomas Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence itself:

Like many Americans, I seldom take the time to actually read the founding documents. We have this general sense of what they they say. It’s all around us like air. Independence and that charming American pluck in the face of disaster is the air we breathe every day of our lives. But there are several points that bear special mention today:

1. Theology of equality – The Declaration makes a theological argument. People are equal because God made them equal. Yes, this is a truth that took too long to be fully realized-and we are still working on it-but God’s role is recognized. The rise of secularism in this country makes this a harder sell and helps explain the drift away from the founding principles.
2. Governmental role – The government is there for the people to secure their rights, not to grant them. This role is granted to the government by the people (“consent of the governed”) to exercise “just powers.” Is there a more important message for a government that seems to feel entitled to every dime and industry?
3. Right to Replace – The Declaration acknowledges the right of the governed to replace the government oppressing them. The Declaration itself laughs in the face of those who think repealing Obamacare is a pipe dream. Not only is it possible thanks to the tremendous government the founders gave us but it is our right.
4. Safety and Happiness – The government’s role is to secure not only rights but safety and happiness. The founders were convinced that England was no longer capable or willing to secure these two basic things. I’m starting to wonder about ours.

Those are the thoughts running through my head as I celebrate today. What are your reflections on God and country today? I’d love to hear how you celebrate Independence Day. And thank a veteran. We wouldn’t have our freedoms but for those who died to secure them.

Peter’s central point is to live more like Jesus in all the situations you find yourself in. So when he addresses people living under the central government in Rome he says, submit yourselves. To slaves, he says submit to your master. To wives he says submit to your husbands. To husbands he says to be considerate and to treat your wife with respect. What is in the middle of all of that is most instructive.

Sandwiched between four commands to submit to authorities in our lives are these words: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Doesn’t it always come back to Jesus somehow? Jesus, though he was completely innocent, accepted a death sentence from a corrupt government. He was silent as lies were said about him and held his tongue while wicked men insulted him. I don’t know about you but I could never do that. Eventually someone would say something and I would be all over the comeback. Not Jesus.

Jesus understood that he was under another authority and a greater one. It did not really matter if those who imagined themselves better than the Holy One of God insulted him with profanities. The cowardly judge who finally sent him to death because he had trouble controlling a crowd did not have the final say. “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

And now we have come to the real issue. If Jesus can trust himself to God all the way to a hill of death can’t you and I submit ourselves to the authorities over us knowing it is only for a little while? Somehow, that’s not as easy to do as it is to write.

How do you handle authority in your life? Is it a struggle? Share your story in the comments. I’d love to hear it.

Sunderland’s ambition recalls America’s adventurous spirit. I am afraid that spirit is nearly lost. What ever happened to the pluck that drove Americans westward? Have we forgotten that this country was started by people making the most dangerous journey of their lives coming from Europe to an uncertain and assuredly difficult future? What made them do it? Sure wasn’t a desire for safety and security.

Have we forgotten so soon the heroes of the twentieth century? Remember just one in Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic and just try to not be amazed. Remember this is when flight was still in its infancy and there were a great many risks. His story is still inspiring.

Read about the adventure here and here.

Some argue that that the biggest problem with Sunderland’s dangerous trip is her youth. To them I say, what business is it of yours to say what she can and cannot do and when? We ought to be grateful that American courage is not dead and inspired that it is manifest in one so young.

Americans are natural risk takers. It’s just in our national character and I believe reflects a bit of God’s image in us. I hope there are more Abby Sunderlands coming up in the next generation. We need them.

And yet, he did not decay. He was raised to life with power the Bible says made the guardians of his tomb fall down. In so doing, Jesus conquered death and sin in one divinely orchestrated event. He did it for you. He did it for me, that we might have peace with God, at long last.

If you do not know Jesus, seek him. He promised those who do will find. If you do know him, seek him all the more earnestly today. The power of his resurrection is in you.