Of Kings and Kingdoms, 1

Did you notice La Granmarcha? Last week the Hispanic/Latino/Mexicano/Anahuaca population of southern California marched, 500,000 strong, through the streets of Los Angeles to protest immigration reform. The streets leading to the government buildings were impassable (even more so than they usually are; have you ever tried to drive in downtown LA?).

The big question is, Why? Why would half a million people get out and protest about a situation, against proposed laws, against secure borders? And the correct answer is NOT "Because Spanish-language radio and TV encouraged them to."

You're closer if you say, "Because they see the border and the government of the US as illegitimate." The U.S. doesn't have the right to keep Mexicans and Central Americans out. Whatever the conditions of their arrival, those who are here have a right to be here. Their parents, children, and cousins have a right to be here, too, because the US has no legitimate reason for excluding them.

If the jobs, benefits, and lifestyle are better here, they should be allowed.

What's more, those who oppose the open border are racists. It's impossible for a person to want resticted immigration because they believe in the rule of law, in the danger of full access, in the economic disadvantages of such a system. No, it can only be because that person hates Hispanic/ Latino/ Mexicano/ Anahuacas. ("Anahuacas", by the way, is a name for indiginous Californians. And I don't mean the Missus, who was born in San Francisco.) That's all there is to it - you are a racist.

The beautiful thing about calling someone a racist is that it immediately takes the argument out of the rational realm and into the emotional. There are few labels that can do it as effectively (only "child abuser", "fundamentalist Christian", and "Republican" spring to mind) and it doesn't matter whether the label is accurate or not. Those who receive the label are now (by definition) ignorant, self-centered abusive, greedy, oppressors, whose opinions on any subject are to be disregarded. Conversely, the one who does the labeling is now, by extension, an intelligent, altruistic, caring, selfless, rights-respecter, whose opinions on every subject are to be accepted without question.

I can understand why someone would want to come here. If I was from most other countries, I'd want to come here, too! But "want" is not sufficient. And if we're going to discuss immigration effectively, we have to drop the word "racist" (because that says there can only be one legitimate point of view, that of the labeler). My conversation must include law, culture, and faith (since I am a citizen of a Kingdom higher than either the United States of America or the Estados Unitos de Mexico). And I hope that as I think about these things I can expess something worth expressing.

Hit the comment button and let me know what you think. And in the meantime, here's a link you can follow for another perspective:
http://www.mexica-movement.org/granmarcha.htm

The End of the Spear

The other day, the Missus, a friend, and I went to see the movie "The End of the Spear". It's the story of a tragic and wonderful encounter, told from both sides, and is better than I thought it was going to be.

Have you ever noticed that Christians, the heirs of JS Bach and Michelangelo, often churn out pretty lousy "art"? Not long ago I heard today's Christian music described as "the best sounds of the 80s", which prompted someone else to comment "Christian Radio - 100 bands, 4 songs."

Now, it's not all bad. There are some exciting Christian musicians, people who do very special things and write songs aimed at the heart more than the pocketbook. There are some artists who are painting beautiful, intriguing, thought-provoking, pieces at very high levels. (Just for the record, I'm not one of them). If you want to know some great poets or painters expressing a Christian wordview, let me know and I'll be happy to clue you in.

But there's a lot of dreck that gets by just because someone uses the name "Jesus" 27 times per verse.

It's the same with movies made "for the Christian audience". Most of it's lifeless, with mediocre acting and soap-opera worthy writing. And that's a real shame because we of all people should be the most alive, most expressive, most poetic. Hey, we KNOW the Life, the Word, don't we? Why, yes we do. :-)

So whenever I see a movie aimed at Christians I cringe a little, hoping that it will be better than an afterschool special.

"End of the Spear" is. Oh, there are a few "clinks" in it, but that's true of most movies. But there's a beauty and grace about it you don't often see. It has life.

The story revolves around a missionary family trying to reach a remote, Central American tribe who have never heard the Good News: though we are sinners, there is forgiveness and a new life for all who will trust Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord. The husband, a pilot, does make contact but tragedy ensues, brutally and in shocking detail. The rest of the movie deals with the ripples that extend from that moment.

There are two or three moments of genuine, almost infinite, sadness as well done as anything I've seen onscreen. And some truly funny things as well (don't leave when the credits start rolling). I say, Go see it, and see if you don't agree. I think you will.

But see it quickly. Them thar Christian movies never seem to stick around for long.

2-3-4-11?

Ahhhhhhhhh! A week of basketball frenzy, seven days of nailbiters, 64 teams, 60 games, and all the joy, passion, suspense, and heartbreak of a full season of General Hospital (except everyone kept his clothes on).

And it all comes down to 2, 3, 4, and... 11?

Duke? Nope. Kansas or North Carolina? Nope? THE MIGHTY ARIZONA WILDCATS? Nope, not this year (sigh). And after this afternoon, UConn and Villanova are nope and nope, too.

2, 3, 4, and... 11?

The PAC-10 Conference started with four teams, lost one in the first round, one in the second, one in the fourth, and one is still playing. The Unknowns frequently beat up on the Knowns. Buzzer-beating 3-point shots were common enough that they turned from astonishing to merely grin-inducing.

2, 3, 4, and... 11?

In its region UCLA was seeded #2, and they're in after beating #1 Memphis 50-45. (50-45? In a major-college regional championship? Are these guys in their 20s or their 50s? I saw the Boise State Broncos and the U of Louisville score more points that that in a FOOTBALL game a couple of years ago!) But I digress... Florida (seeded 3) took down Villanova and Louisiana State defeated Washington after a controversial non-call of goaltending. And those are all great teams, and we all tip our hats to each of them. Way to go, guys!

2, 3, 4, and... 11? Oh yes, the guys seeded #11. The green and gold team from George Mason University (who???) looked at the favorite, regular-season ranked #1 University of Connecticut, and gunned 'em down like David going after Goliath. The Patriots took the Huskies into overtime and then sent them to the doghouse. Wow :-)

2, 3, 4, and a very deserving 11. Incredible stuff.

So which of the Final Four will I cheer for next week?

UCLA, from the Pac-10?
Florida, my Dad's school?
George Mason, the upstart team on a quest?
LSU, the Terrible Tigers of the South?

Stay tuned! It's going to be fun!

For the Chief Baker

Here's something my Sunday School class came up with last Sunday. This month our church has been thinking about The Art of Worship , and we were discussing music and poetry.

The class assignment? Write some.
The reward? Cupcakes.
The result?


Our Father...
faithful like a cupcake

Always sweet to my taste
Brings a smile to my face
Beautiful to my eyes
I am hungry for You

You nourish my yearnings
Your mercy sweetens my life
Your grace provides substance
Your love is sprinkled on top

Amen.



(2006, Crane Creek Baptist Church of Boise, ID, no rights reserved. All parts of this psalm may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopy, translation, transliteration, transcription, transcontinental, transfat, transubstantial, transamerica, transylvania, transpiration, transfiguration, transfusion, translucence, transhumance, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the authors, as long as it's in good taste - like a cupcake)

Passing a Blessing Along

I got these two feeds from a good friend, who wanted to give me a blessing. I've seen God do things like this before, so I'm not really surprised, just thrilled :-) Anyway, the Smalltown Christian feels like he needs to pass them along as well, soooooo... be blessed!

http://actsofobedience.blogspot.com/2005/10/taco-bell-eagle-and-orange-feet_22.html

THEN

http://actsofobedience.blogspot.com/2006/03/taco-bell-eagle-orange-feet-sequel.html

1 Down, 5 to Go

So I'm pretty busy right now, got a lot to do to get ready for the weekend, but some things can be rescheduled and some can't. That's why I got out of my office at 10:15 to meet my brother down at Busters for food and - more importantly - Arizona Wildcats basketball.

That's right. This is Holy Fortnight. The NCAA Basketball tournament. The greatest 2 weeks of sports in America (what Olympics?), 64 games culminating in the crowning of one National Champion. It's hoops time, Baby! And there's nothing like it.

The beauty of the tourney is that Big Time Schools like Duke, UCLA, Connecticut, and Oklahoma get in, but so do the little guys like Wichita State, Iona, Oral Roberts, and Winthrop (more about them later). All it takes is beating your competition in the regular season. You may know Wisconsin's fight song ("On, Wisconsin"), but how about Bradley U's? I'll give you $2 if you do. Sure, you may know Southern Cal's "Trojan March"... but they didn't make it in. So sorry - not invited this year.

And for two weeks, anything can happen. OK, no number 16-seed has ever beaten a #1. But some 15s have beaten #2s. That's pretty close to anything. (Several years ago, the University of Santa Clara beat Arizona. Sure, they had a genuine future NBA Allstar leading them, but that's not the point; the little guy beat the big guy and that's what it's about. Of course, Santa Clara isn't in this year, and the 'Cats are for the 21st straight time, so there!)

It started yesterday morning (I wore my blue AZCats cap to the office, just out of respect). Since then 12th-seeded Montana broke 5th-seeded Nevada, and #13 University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee knocked down #6 Oklahoma. #15 Winthrop (Winthrop?) took a hot Tennessee team right to the wire before the Volunteers hit the winning bucket with less than a second to go. And today Northwestern State University of Lousiana stomped on Iowa's heart with their own last-second 3-pointer, sending the Hawkeyes home crying while the Purple Demons are laughing all the way to Round 2. That's #14 over #3, and it counts. A lot.

So I sat there with my brother Craig, wearing my bright red Arizona Basketball t-shirt, eating nachos (and hot wings, and spinach dip) and drinking cokes, and cheering for the greatest spectacle in sports - unlimited hope, any team can get in, every band gets to play, every cheerleader gets to smile and shake, no one's too short if he can shoot, you play for all the marbles - everytime - and you get paid nothing: it's for pride and that's all. So when Iowa lost, the guy in the black and yellow sweatshirt at the table next to us got up and left without saying a word, too brokenhearted to even wave goodbye...while we watched the MIGHTY ARIZONA WILDCATS smash the Wisconsin Badgers and celebrated like something great had just happened. Which it had.

One game won, five to go. Bear Down, Arizona.

Been in Mexico

I've been in Mexico
with los hermanos y hermanas
a week's trip to Sinaloa
eating chiles and plantanas
Just to do a little preaching
and to sing a bunch of songs
with the hermanos y hermanas
chasing all their little ones.

I've spent some time in Mexico
took my guitar with me
to meet Pastor Daniel',
and Nathanael and Filip
I had my Bible in my hand
kept it open to San Juan
for the hermanos y hermanas
and for all their little ones

I heard the Word in Mexico
I listened to it clear
I spoke it out the same way
and it hung, then disappeared
into the tanned and dusky faces
and I saw the hearts respond
in the hermanos and hermanas
and all their little ones

I enjoyed my time in Mexico
both the darkness and the sun
Maria made me salsa
for when the praising time was done
She said, "Gracias hermano!
com' esta usted?"
I replied "I'm bendecito"
as I headed off to bed
after all the words and music
after all the preaching done
and the hermanos and hermanas
with all their little ones

Sorry I've been absent from the blogspot. My musings were suspended because I was part of some evangelistic meetings in the Hispanic community. The last night of the revival had an interesting sermon (interesting to me, anyway). "3 Reasons You Shouldn't Follow Jesus" is not the title you normally expect from a Christian evangelist, but you can find them in John 1:
Don't follow Jesus just because someone else tells you to;
Don't follow Jesus if you have something better to do;
Don't follow Jesus if you're better than He is.

BUT... if your heart knows you should, and there's really nothing better to do, and you know you're not better than He is... you ought to follow Him. Like a kid who resists taking a bath, on the other side of the experience you'll find yourself both cleaner and happier than you expected. Something to think about.

It's nice to be back.

Spring Cleaning I

So, a few things going on in life (that would be MY life)... so it's time for housecleaning:

* Someone pointed out today that Brokeback Mountain struck out at the Oscars... which means Heath Ledger and Jake Gylenhall MADE OUT WITH EACH OTHER FOR NOTHING;

* Speaking of the Oscars, I heard none of the five movies nominated for Best Picture broke the top 75 in earnings last year. They were all (media-described as) serious, political, weighty, and "important", and nobody saw them. When George Clooney said he didn't mind being out of step with America, America was yawning back at him;

* My brother, sister-in-law , mother, and niece all got safely home from their various travels. Does that prove that prayer works? Nope. But it does mean they slept in their own beds last night;

* I've got an appointment to have my taxes done tomorrow. I've got a good CPA. But I think it would take just about the same amount of time to do them myself as it did to dig up all our receipts. The Missus said (as she headed to bed) "Why are you doing that NOW??" Well...because I didn't do it before!

* Much as I don't like paying taxes, I believe we should honestly pay what's required (and not a penny more). The Lord said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's." In other words, respect the government, obey their rules, pay your share, and remember Who's really in charge. Much as we worry and complain about the government, He wasn't that concerned: it has its place, and it's much less significant than the King and His Kingdom.

* I hope your day is full of significant things. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and everything else you need will be given to you along with them. Hey! That's a pretty good promise! :-)

Wow, what a busy week I've had! Busy at work, busy at play. Busy with family, friends, colleagues and church members. Busy at a variety of altitudes and weather conditions. Very busy.

I had extra family in town, which always makes things even busier. And in our conversation tonight, as we said our goodbyes (they're leaving tomorrow), I was reminded of a classic tune from the inimitable Julius Marx:

Hello, I must be going.
I cannot stay, I came to say I must be going.
I'm glad I came, but just the same
I must be going.

I'll stay a week or two.
I'll stay the summer through.
But I am telling you
that I must be going.

I'll do anything you say.
In fact, I'll even stay!
But I must be going.

Humor and Blessings!

Travelin' Ladies

When my brother's daughter was born, he asked me what he should name her. I said, "Deniece". When his son was born he asked me what the boy should be called. I said, "Danephew". But I digress...

Today my Mom and my 2nd Niece are in Jerusalem. Mom's been there before (met her husband there, I think), but the Niece hasn't. I'm sure they're having an awesome time. I'm jealous.

I've been asked more than once, "Aren't you worried with all the terrorism over there?" Pretty much not.

1) It's not a big place, but there really isn't that much terrorist activity. Even one bomb a month somewhere in the country would probably miss them, don't you think?

2) Since they won't be going dancing or riding on school buses, Hamas will probably overlook them. Terrorists seem to prefer victimizing celebrants and children.

3) Even if terrorists are planning a hit, God is big enough to watch over my loved ones. There's a verse in the Bible "no weapon formed against you will prosper", and that's my hope for them. We're also told "His arm is not too short nor His ear too dull that He cannot save." When you rely on God, He tends to come through for you.

Of course, He doesn't always. Good Christians get cancer, or have car accidents or - yes, it's true - are bombed by terrorists. Last spring a group of SBC missionaries were killed as they drove to deliver humanitarian supplies in Baghdad. From time to time His servants, like Stephen in the Bible, pay the ultimate price.

And when that happens, we who love them remember that He is not only our Savior, He is also our Sovereign. And He is not only sovereign, He is wise. And He is not only wise, He is loving. If He chooses to let bad happen, He has the right to make that choice. He's the King. But IF He makes that choice, we know by experience and faith that He is indeed wise enough to know what's going on, and loving enough to not allow anything that is ultimately harmful.

Death not harmful? Nope. Sometimes it's the path to eternal joy. That's a fair trade.

All the same, I'll be glad when Mom and Niece get home - I want to see the pictures!