"let your words be thoughtful, few, and true"

I just finished reading The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs. I'm not sure what fascinated me more about the plot: the solidarity felt when hearing of another man's facial hair neglect (at the time I had a sizable beard of my own), or the peculiar and seemingly impossible quest he undertook. Either way I instantly knew it was a must read.

During that year he made an attempt to visit a variety of different Christian traditions, one of which was the Amish. He shared of his visit with Amos Miller, a man who was quiet, yet incredibly wise.

Amos talks slowly and carefully, like he only has a few dozen sentences allotted for the weekend, and he doesn;t want to waste them at the start. I read later in the Amish book Rules of a Godly Life that you should "let your works be thoughtful, few and true." By adopting minimalism, Amos has mastered those sheech laws I'm stuggling with.

My trip across the United States was one of much reflection and inspiration. Whereas I was expecting it to lead to an oasis of ideas regarding what I want to do with my life, I found God was rather teaching me what kind of man he wants me to be. The people I respect the most in life are those whose words are few yet thoughtprovoking. Often I find myself fidgety and nervous when their is a lull in conversation, and being the responisible guy I am, I feel I have to fill it. Most of the time I say something foolish or without substance. That is the price I pay for making my words cheap. I am coming to find that there is a beauty in silence. It is the thoughtful words of a person who is quiet admist a noisey conversation who stops everyone in their track. It is the one who silently embraces you who meets you at your point of need. It is the quiet words of a servant that preach the loudest sermon.

Rethinking Poiltical Issues In Light of Our Christian Identity

Yesterday I received an chain email that was intended to warn the Church of the possible devastation that Obama would bring on our country. This letter supposedly originated with a member of the Billy Graham team. I don't know if it is authentic but I do know it is intended to scare Christians away from support Obama's political platform. Fair enough, this is a political election, all things are fair game, but at closer look it began to worry me when I realized that this letter intended for Christians to rally against several policies that are rooted in the Bible teachings (i.e. care for the alien, widow, orphan and needy; peacemaking and love for one's enemies; opposition to inhumane treatment of our enemies, etc.)

My first reaction was to hit "reply all" and post a message of concern, which I almost did, but then I thought better of it before I sent it. I fear that my rebuttal could be taken as a slap in the face of the one who sent it. The good that would be done in addressing the fallacies in the email would likely be undone by the pubilc humiliation experienced by the one who forwarded this email to all their friends. For that reason I chose instead to post the original email and share my response of concern on here. Plus it has been a while since I blogged and I need to get this thing up and going again.

Obama: By Bill Brown of the Billy Graham Team

Bill Brown, is a highly respected retired member of the Billy Graham team so, I take his assessment of Obama very seriously and for that reason accept his challenge to pass this on. I share his concern about the 'rock star' image Obama has and watch with growing concern at the celebrity status the media has foisted upon him. Here is hope this email informs you in a wise way.
________________________________

The Obama Tidal Wave

We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama of rare magnitude.

His speeches have inspired millions and yet most of his followers have no idea of what he stands for except platitudes of 'Change' or that he says he will be a 'Uniter'.

The power of speech from a charismatic person truly can be a powerful thing. Certainly Billy Graham had charisma. Both his manner of speech and particularly the content changed millions.

On the extreme other hand, the charisma of Adolph Hitler, too, inspired millions and the results were catastrophic..

Barack Obama certainly is no Hitler or a Billy Graham, but for many Americans riding on the Obama Tidal Wave it is just like a surfer who might be ecstatic and euphoric while riding a tidal wave, but the reality of the ride is what happens when it hits shore.

Just Some of What Defines Barack Obama:

A.. He voted for partial birth abortion.
A. He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
A. Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government (quotas)..
A. In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing as being too severe.
A. Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as minimum wage affair.
A. Admitted his use of marijuana and cocaine in high school and in college.
A. His religious convictions are very murky.
A. He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
A. Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim Nations
A. Opposed the Patriot Act.
A. First bill he signed that was ever passed was campaign finance reform.
A. Voted to allow law suits against gun manufacturers.
A. Supports universal health-care.
A. Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
A. Supports granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
A. Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
A. Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
A. Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
A. Wants to make the minimum wage a 'living wage'.
A. Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes. (241 votes Demo, 10 votes Republican)
A. Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
A. Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid into Soc. Sec. Tax Increase.
A. He voted No on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax which now hits middle income brackets.
A. He voted No on repealing the 'Death' Tax. Tax Increase.
A. He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax. Tax Increase.
A. Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded...which is not true.
A. He is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the Senate today and that takes some doing.

If your political choices are consistent with Barack Obama's and you think that his positions will bring America together or make it a better place, then you will probably enjoy the ride and not forward this Email. If you are like most Americans that after examining what he stands for, are truly not in line with his record, it would be prudent to get off the wave or better yet, never get on, before it comes on shore and undermines the very foundations of this great Country. We have limited time to save America or the Supreme Court as we know it.

Inaction is action.
If you agree this is important, pass it on. The mainstream media will not do it for you!

Bill Brown ( Billy Graham Team, Retired)

Although I understand the concern that many Christians have concerning Obama's policies, I want to remind us to give each of these issues the thought and consideration they deserve.

We as Christians must take off our "political glasses" and see the issues in light of what Bible teaches us. That is not to say that all these issues are biblical (i.e. support of partial birth abortion) but some address issues that have been forgotten by the typical Evangelical voter. I do not so much care that Christians vote for or against Obama, but I do cringe when I see many of these issues ignored because they are "liberal" or a Democrat's issue.

As Christians we especially need to take the issue of immigration seriously. We also need to make sure that those on the fringes of our economic system are not forgotten. The Bible is full of teachings promoting economic justice. Here are just a few:

Lev 19:33,34
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:9-11
Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Deut 27:19
Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.

Deut 24:14
You shall not withhold the wages of the poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens [illegal immigrants] who reside in your land in one of your towns.

Then we have the practice of Jubilee. If that is not a radical policy, I don't know what is. As Christians we often find ourselves fighting to protect an economic system that is literally fueled by greed. Somewhere along the line we bought into the idea that a pragmatic capitalism trumps the economic justice that God calls us to practice. How did we ever allow this to happen? It is frustrating!

The next part is what really upset me:

- He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim Nations

The fact that many Christians believe these policies are a detriment to his electability as a president really saddens me. On a global level there is a major rift between the US and many Muslim nations, most of whom are considered our enemies. If we are like we say we are, "little Christs," how can we be opposed to dialog with our enemies? Is that not the very nature of peacemaking?

This week I heard of a meeting between Ahmadinejad and several religious organizations. Unfortunately the news came to me via Christians who were repulsed that the Mennonite Church was a part of this dialogue. It never ceases to amaze me how out of touch we have become with the teachings of Jesus.

Matt 5:44,45
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 5:30-32
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Sadly much of the Christian church was quiet when the U.S. ignored advice from a large portion of the world and invaded Iraq. There were respectable people who had devised several possible plans for avoiding a war while at the same time addressing the severity of Saddam's evil regime, but they were ignored because our the powers that be believed a war to be the best solution to the problem. We as Christ followers are compelled to be salt and light in the world and therefore must promote an environment condusive for peacemaking. That is why it is essential we provide a setting in which we can have open dialogue with your "enemies." I commend the religious organizations who are courageous enough to do what is socially unpopular and pursue peace.

This election I encourage you not to look at the issues not as a Republican or Democrat, but rather as a Christian. It is unlikely that we will ever have a canidate or platform that is 100% biblical, so we must be careful not to adopt all the policies of one party and reject all the policies of another.

Personally I believe that both candidates for the 2008 Presidential Election are equally qualified for the job. You can rest assure that whichever candidate becomes President, he will do many great things and he will make many mistakes. That is the nature of being a human. Let us be the salt of the earth by embracing the good policies and rejecting the bad.

Long Way Across

Next week it all begins. Portland, Maine to Portland Oregon by pedal power.


Keep up with our progress and leave us a message on our travel blog.

Bike Trip '08

On June 2nd, Shawn, Evie and myself start a 3 month bike trip from Bar Harbor, ME, to Portland, OR. The plan is to camp our way across the US with an occasional overnight at friends or families. To date, this is the general overview of our trip but we are open to suggestions that may make the route more enjoyable and accommodating. If you know of any points of interest along the route, or any friends and relatives along this route who would be willing to offer a place to pitch a tent or maybe even a warm shower, that would be greatly appreciated. So far we have friends and family in: Oil City, PA; Dover, OH; Rosedale, OH; Indianapolis, IN; Arthur, IL; and Kalona, IA. Take a look at the map and offer suggestions.

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R&R Zambia

Last week I went to Livingstone, Zambia, to do the whole tourist thing at Victoria Falls and it was great! I had been considering this trip for a while but only recently did it work out. Thierry, a logistician who works for MSF, decided to make the trip and it just so worked out that 4 of us were able to match R&R dates. The others were Mai Anh and Katy, a doctor and nurse from MSF.

On Sunday Thierry and I flew down to Lusaka and immediately took a 7 hour bus ride to Livingstone to meet Katy who preceded us by a couple days. I was once again reminded of how nice proper civilization can be. How can two bordering countries be so different? The roads are amazing, the people are friendly, everybody speaks English, and everything is much less complicated.

We stayed at a backpacker’s hostile called Jollyboy’s. It was great! I have done very little backpacking in my life, but according to everyone I met, this is one of the best in the world. We met tons of people who were touring the world and Victoria Falls was just one stop along the way. What a life. It must be a European thing because I ran into very few Americans. But the one American group I did run into was a brother and sister duo from Wilmington, DE! They had just graduated from college and their mother financed a trip around the world for them. They had been traveling for 8 months and they had another two months to go. They had been everywhere!

Monday morning was dedicated to touring the falls. Who would have thought that water could be so wet? I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet in all my life. Because the area is nearing the end of rainy season, the river is at it’s peak and falls are incredibly large. Although I was right next to them, I could see very little of the actual falls because there was so much mist. Did I mention that is was wet? I was completely and utterly soaked! Next time I visit the falls, I want to visit in dry season because they say you can see much more of the actual falls.

We also ventured down to the bottom of the falls to a place that is called the “Boiling Point.” That is at the base of the falls and provides and excellent view of gorge and Zambia-Zimbabwe bridge, and also provides a scenic hike down to the base.

That evening we signed up for sunset cruise (better known as the “Booze Cruise”) on the upper Zambezi. We set out a couple hours before dark on a boat that was more of a floating bar. It was great because we got to see African wildlife on the river, eat a great meal, socialize with people from all over the world, and watch an incredible sunset over the Zambezi.

Tuesday we spent the day canoeing the upper Zambezi – 27 km prior to the falls. We had originally intended to go rafting on the lower Zambezi but were unable to because the water was too high. Just too dangerous. Instead we settled for the canoe trip. Not much to speak about on the trip except for a croc attack. The canoe that Thierry and I were in was attacked by a rather large crocodile. I felt water splash up into the boat and something hit my paddle. At first I thought it was Thierry fooling around but then I saw a gigantic crocodile head make a swipe at my paddle. We both realized it was a croc and got quite excited. When we tried to tell the others they thought we were just joking. The guide had even told us that it was rare for a croc to attack a boat. A few seconds later we felt a thump on the underside of our boat and realized that we were really under attack. Needless to say, we both picked up the pace…a lot! The others really didn’t believe us until later on another boat came by looking for a paddle that had been lost to the same crocodile. Their guide had got a good look at it and figured it to be 3-4 meters in length. I guess the incident wasn’t all that dangerous, but it felt quite serious in a tiny little inflatable canoe, with my hands just inches above the water. Crazy stuff!

Wednesday we took the day off to relax and chill at Jollyboys. Even then we had good fun. I got to beat Thierry in a couple 3 hour games of chess.

Thursday we went on a walking Safari where we found the only white rhino in Zambia. Our guide was incredible. He tracked that rhino for about 45 minutes until we eventually found it. He used everything from footprints, to scattered grass, to dung and urine. I was impressed.

Friday was the big day – zip-line, gorge swing, and bungee jump. The funny thing is that I was not scared in the least, that is until I was standing on a bridge that was better than 370 feet high. I still can’t believe I was able to force myself off that bridge. You see, we are supposed to do the zip-line across the gorge first to build yourself up for the jumps, but Thierry was bound and determined to begin with the jumps. He the bungee, and me the gorge swing. The problem with the gorge swing is that because I was the first one, I hadn’t got the chance to watch how it was done. I was standing what felt like miles above the water and they wanted me to jump off a bridge holding onto only a rope that went straight down! Lucky for me it was attacked to a cable in the middle of the gorge, but that didn’t make any less scary. As you can see from the pic, I was a little less than confident about my decision to jump. It was actually scarier than it looks. I actually think the gorge swing was the scarier of the two. The bungee at least made sense, but the gorge swing scared the tar out of me with the slack rope. I just always thought that swings were supposed to have tension. In the end, I survived and had a good time. The jury is still out as to whether I would ever do it again…

So that is the story of the week. There are lots of other thing that I left out, but that is the gist of it. Check out the picture linked on the right hand side of this blog.