As we all know, if you run up a balance on your credit card and then decide not to pay the bill, there’s a huge price to pay. Your interest rate goes up, your credit score goes down and that triggers all sorts of costly dominoes to start falling. To not raise the debt ceiling is akin to refusing to pay your credit card bill.

Unfortunately Ms. Orman is sadly mistaken in this analogy. A better comparison would be saying that raising the national debt ceiling is like taking out another credit card so you can pay your electric bill.

You see, the entitlement programs we have developed were meant to help people out. Unfortunately we’ve been funding those programs on credit. This means we really couldn’t afford those programs to begin with. Now, our society has moved to a point where in order to continue funding all the programs we have in place it’s becoming an exponential curve (meaning the rate of growth over time is increasing…it costs more every year to continue funding these programs).

I have parents and in-laws nearing retirement age, and I’m watching as they’re trying to figure out what to do if programs like Medicare and Social Security go away. The culture we developed of “if I work until I’m 62, I’ll have money to live on” just isn’t sustainable. So what’s the solution?

Employers don’t want to keep on employees as they age due to increasing cost of healthcare and risk of lost work. We also have more younger workers in the workforce that are thought to be more productive, so just continuing to work indefinitely is not so much an option.

We need people to get creative with how to help out those who are struggling without putting it on the shoulders of the government. Those who have should help, but only with strings attached. A “free lunch” doesn’t help people get back on their feet. Rather, educating them and holding people accountable to be wiser with their finances is what people need. If people aren’t being responsible, you stop enabling…much like refusing to enable a drug addict.

I know this sounds harsh, but with a national debt 100% of GDP, we are headed very quickly for a larger crash than what we experienced several years ago. Let’s get our heads screwed on straight and start taking individual responsibility for our financial stability rather than giving it to our government.

In the news as of late is the planned Koran burning at the Dove World Outreach in Gainesville, Florida. Let’s get this out the way first…this is not about Islam.

I know that seems a bit of an odd statement. The church who is doing this is not really doing this because of what they believe about Islam, but because they’re trying to get a reaction, which they’re doing a pretty good job at.

Burning Korans is not the way to draw people to Christ

I agree that Islam is a dangerous religion, and one that is leading many people away from the one true God. I agree with the statement the church made that I hope all come to a saving knowledge of Christ. However, burning the Koran is not a good way to do that.

I think back to the time I spent at the University of Michigan. There were people who came to campus and stood at the center of campus (called the Diag) and started shouting “You’re all going to hell!” While this got an interesting response from students, the impact on someone’s eternal destination was minimal at best, and hindered at worst.

As Christians, we are told that we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). As an ambassador, our job is not to make war with the people to whom we are representing Christ. Rather, it’s to draw people to Him. If we’re wearing things that sport hateful sayings, or engage in hateful activities, then how are we representing Christ? Christ didn’t do this while He was here. The only people he came close to this was the Pharisees, who were supposed to be the folks pointing people to God, and they were pointing them away from Him instead.

Even Paul didn’t do this. When he went to Greece, instead of going to the center of town and burning all they held precious, Paul looked at what they worshiped, and found a way to use that to point people back to God…through the altar to the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:23).

Why, then, do we as modern day Christians think we’re going to draw people to Christ when we’re offensive and confrontational? This church in Gainesville is symptomatic of a more global problem in the way we think…just demonstrated in a way most of us wouldn’t.

So what are we to do? I recommend two things: 1) build in your relationship with Christ and 2) build relationships with others. When we’re growing in our relationship with Christ, we become more like Him, which includes a greater heart for others. When we build relationships with others, we allow them to see Christ in our lives in a way that’s hard with shallow relationships.

Last night I got to sit down with my bride and watch Letters to God. First, if you are at all empathic, or if you have kids, you’re going to need Kleenex.  My wife was crying within 10 minutes of the movie starting…I lasted 20 I think.

Normally I don’t go for movies that make me cry. I’d rather seen stuff get blown up, or guys battling to see who can pee the furthest, that sort of thing. But this movie was actually decent. Not so much from an entertainment perspective, but making you appreciate what you have.

If you haven’t heard of this movie, I have included a trailer at the end of this point.

So what was it about this movie? First, it really makes you thankful for what you have. If you have a family, especially us parents; if you are relatively healthy; or if you are relatively comfortable. This movie helps bring home those things and thankfulness welled up inside me.

Second, it made me really question my faith…not in a bad way. This kid with terminal cancer has some phenomenal faith. A kid who had bullied him in school along with his best friend came to visit him in the hospital. Instead of just being good playing or talking about how much the medicine stinks, he leads them to Christ. Do you really believe what we believe fully enough to worship God in all circumstances?

Finally, it made me question how I interact with hurting people. Do I just mindlessly quote scripture and hope it will do the trick? I think as Christians we are sometimes caught in a defensive “quote and run”. If we can quote some scripture, we can get the heck out of the way before we start hurting too. Instead of a defensive Scripture quote, hurting people sometimes need us to just stop, and experience the pain with them. Are you willing to?

So, this was a good movie. I held back half a point because the story line itself was a little farfetched. I don’t know any mail person who intimately knows the people on their route. But, I also don’t know anyone who does foot routes.

Enjoy the movie. Let me know what you think of it!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was….” Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
~Numbers 27:12, 13, 15-17

This really stuck out to me. Here was a guy who had not wanted to go back to Egypt because it was going to make him uncomfortable. Now, a few years later, God has said, “It’s time to wrap it up buddy”, and there were no gripes. Moses wasn’t afraid, he wasn’t begging for his life, or for more life. Rather, God had developed such a heart in him for His people that his only prayer was for the people he lead.

This is a great lesson for all of us in leadership. Are we so selfless in our leadership we are praying for those whom we are leading when the end is near, rather than trying to find a way to prolong the inevitable? I pray we all take a step closer to the leader we saw in Moses…humble, and yet such a passion for his people.

One thing has struck me odd, even in my own life.  How quickly we forget those miraculous things.  I have been reading through the book of Exodus the last couple days, and it really hit me when reading through chapter 32.  This is when the Israelites decide to stop waiting for Moses to come down from the Mountain of God (or Mt. Sinai).  They have Aaron make a golden calf to worship.

We’ve all seen this in the 10 Commandments, with Charlton Heston.  In this depiction, and every time I’ve read it in the past, I’ve missed on crucial point.  Exodus 24:17 (TNIV) says, “To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on tip of the mountain.”

The mountain was covered with dense smoke, and what looked like fire.  When I read this part, it sounded like pictures I’ve seen from erupting volcanoes.  No where does it say the glory of God departed from the mountain.  From the beginning of Exodus 25- Exodus 32, Moses is on the Mountain…40 days and 40 nights.  In that short time, the smoke and the fire became commonplace to the Israelites…and they were at the foot of the mountain!

How often do we find this happening in our lives?  We cry out to God to do something on our behalf or for someone we know, and we quickly forget after He’s answered us.  What “golden calves” have you gone running after?  Come back, remind yourself frequently of the mighty things God does in your life so they don’t become “common”.

When I was in college, I took a course that looked at the entire bible in 14 weeks (98 days), so I know it’s possible.  However, when I took that course, I discovered the context of the course had me looking at the Bible as merely another piece of literature, picking it apart, dissecting it, but not looking at it as the living, breathing Word of God.

So when I saw this reading plan, it really caught my eye.  I’ve been pondering it for a couple week, and I’ve decided to give it a try.  Why?

There is a concern that digesting this amount of scripture daily makes it difficult for it to actually transform a life.  I disagree entirely.  Think about it.  If you’re reading through the entire content of the Bible every 90 days (not just once then walking away), that means you’re reading through the entire Bible 4 times a year.  Making it through scripture that often you’re going to remember more of it than if you try to do “a little here and a little there.”  As David said, I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you (Psalm 119:11 NIV).

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Tom Harmon speak a couple times in the last few years.  What impressed me about him was his ability to just look in his mind and see the scripture he’d read…he had read it that much.  That is my hope for reading through, cover to cover, in 90 days.

Anyone want to take the plunge with me?  You can get the schedule from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/4260125/The-Bible-in-90-Days—Reading-Schedule.  Let me know if you’re going to do it to, and we can encourage each other.

Take, for instance, our current political state in the United States.  Liberal Democrats are in power.  Ok, I’m alright with that because it was “the people” who put them in power.  However, there are a growing number of us, some might say a majority…through I’m not convinced of that…who are tired of the way liberal politicians are doing things.

Just because we I don’t agree with what our President has done so far (ramming through healthcare reform, promoting an insane national deficit), this does not mean I am a racist, unintelligent, or a hillbilly (as I have heard many people referring to conservatives).  It simply means I do not agree with our President or the liberals in control of our Congress.

I used to think the citizens of our great country prided themselves on our ability to coexist, to have a difference of opinions and yet live in peace.  There was a tea party rally near where I live last weekend.  During the week leading up to it, the liberals I am around could do nothing but talk about “those tea party nutters”, and that they should “go stir up some trouble.”  Why?  Is it that I cannot have a difference of opinion with you?

Conservatives are not just “George Bush lovers”.  So get off that kick!  Rather, here is what I stand for as a conservative:

• Sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman
• The protection of the unborn child
• The right of the states to have more power than the Federal Government
• The place of the government to help govern the people, not prevent them from making stupid mistakes

So, dear liberal friend, if you truly believe in tolerance and equality, stop decrying my opinion.  I am as entitled to it as you are.  If we disagree, so be it.  It does not justify to threats of violence, trying to stop me from having my opinion, or making intellectual, racial, ethnic, or any other form of slur.  I do not try to make trouble for you as you express your opinion, I do not vocalize how misguided I think your thought processes are.  Why?  Because I believe you do have the right to your opinion, and will protect your right as much as my own.

Stop trying to silence me, but engage me on our differences.  Unless, of course, you are ready to carry your liberal philosophy to its natural end, and instate true socialism in the United States, and loose any form of freedom of speech we now enjoy.

You choose.

As I was outside laboring away at this task, it dawned on me that snow is very much like our spiritual walks.  We all want a relationship with God (even if you don’t believe in God).  But what we all desire is the benefits of feeling God close, but not having to put in any work.  It’s a lot like marriage.  A lot of us want the family, the companionship, but not the headache that oftentimes accompanies sharing life with another broken individual.

Back to snow…snow is a very beautiful thing when it falls on the ground.  But when the snow stops falling, and life must continue, it’s time to get out and start the work.  Sometimes the snow, when it gets really heavy, can actually be dangerous due to weight.

This is like our relationship with God.  It’s a beautiful thing, and we can enjoy it.  But when we have a relationship with God, we start getting attacked by our adversary, the Devil.  This is when having a relationship with God with feels like a dangerous thing.  It’s not just the easy, beautiful thing it looks like from the outside.  It requires real work, and real commitment.  It will require us to stretch, grow, and sometimes hurt.

As we go through the rest of the winter, every time you see snow, think about your relationship with God, and ask yourself if you’re putting in the work it really requires to have a deep relationship with Him.

Now, I’m facing it again.  This weekend we had a guest speaker at church, and we saw some great things happen.  I had the opportunity to really minister to some folks, and today has been one for the record.  Work has been less than motivating, and confrontation seems to be right around every corner.  Put mildly, I’m feeling defeated.

So how do we make it through these times, when the battle seems so fierce?  Is it by sheer strength of character and knowing I don’t have a choice?  I don’t think so.  Our speaker yesterday encouraged us to “continue in prayer” about everything, and today has been an exercise in opportunities to do so.

I notice it is this type of day that makes it so easy to shift our focus from Christ to ourselves.  We start feeling sorry for ourselves, and we start looking at how bad others are to us.  Call it what you want, but for those who are Christ Followers, this is a specific attack against our selfish nature.  So how do we combat this?

1. Pray Continually. I think this sums it up.  When we start feeling ‘beat up’, the first response should not be to “put up the dukes”, but to fall on our knees.  If we can remember to keep focused on Christ, and truly understand we cannot do anything apart from Him (John 15:5), then the battle seems a little less intense.
2. Remember, we’re on the same team. A lot of times these attacks come from “within the ranks”…from our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  If we can remember we’re on the same team, and that we’re really not trying to shoot each other in the back, foot, or eyeball, it increases the amount of grace and mercy we can extend to each other.  Remember how much grace and mercy Christ extended to you, and be sure to extend it to others as well.
3. Look with hope to the end. The truth is, the battle is just heating up.  For most of us, it’s only going to get tougher.  Are we going to tuck tail and run, or stand firm on Christ alone (Phil 4:13)?  Remember, this world is not our home.  Everything that happens here is just preparing and refining us for our future with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  You can make it through the battle.

When you’re going through the low times, the times that seem like you’ve dug into the fox hole and can’t see your comrades around, remember they are there.  Also remember your General is still in command (Jesus Christ), and he’s already won the war.  We’re just waiting for the victory call to make it to the front lines.