I ate an Eggroll

The holidays are here - ready or not. The past several weeks have just been an absolute whirlwind for me. We completed our 5th annual production of Handel's Messiah with a great crowd and very satisfying performance. Dr. Greg Church was our director this year along with Dr. Allen Reed as our organist. Once again I got to see a collection of regular people from churches all over our county come together and produce something extra-special. My hat (for what it is worth) is off to Dr. Church and Dr. Reed.

I went to the Texas State Volleyball championship to watch our Lady Lions compete for the first time ever at this event. This little journey snatched 8 hours out of my Saturday but was well worth seeing them play. They took home the "runner-up" trophy but wow - they have my respect and admiration.

At church we completed our 40 Days of Community with our Celebration service and then one last "re-cap" this past weekend. I don't know if I needed much encouragement to see the need for community in our lives but this certainly did reinforce my thoughts on the subject. To have people come together, grow, study and see the life of Christ in one another is so very healthy in our spiritual walk.

Today I got up early, did my morning rituals and proceeded to walk out the door. As I did it hit me - Thanksgiving is this week. Wow! Now, we have been preparing for this for several weeks. Getting the house repaired, buying food, thinking about menus, talking to all the family coming in from all over the country and then five days prior to the event it just all the sudden seems to be happening. So on the way to the office this morning - I had an egg roll.

Why are some people afraid of Dialogue?

I don't know if my ripe age of 45 is the cause of this current frustration or the simple truth that I know I know more now than I did 20 years ago and that is it seems I never know enough! I found this music video of the music group Chicago singing a song entitled "Dialogue." The song (or at least the music video) is not-so-hot but the concept of listening to each other, respecting and giving legitimacy to another differing viewpoint is important - if not essential to healthy communication.

There appears to me to be almost an overriding fear that giving any level of credence to divergent thoughts somehow diminishes what people believe to be true and just. Today - this is a real struggle for me. Really!! Can you tell?

Your thoughts - please share abundantly!!!

Here is the video I referenced along with a much better Chicago number. I love that group!

Post Vote - Racism?

Within the Christian arena - mostly Evangelical sector, this election was a pretty tough one. Now when I say that - many evangelical Christians will say to me "it wasn't tough on my part!" Here at the church I minister and pastor in I found our diversity amazing. We are a middle of Texas-Southern Baptist roots-mostly white family of faith and yet though the majority of those that call this their church family were obviously McCain-Palin supporters (I add Palin because she was/is loved by many) the number of those that would come up to me and express their appreciation of my defense of Obama's Christian Faith - was significant.

I never came out, publicly in support or against either of our candidates. I believe this to be a personal and private decision on my part and though ridiculed by several for this position I stand by it and say, "you just need to get past this."

Where I find myself now is in an analytical mode especially when it comes to the post election of Obama. Though I never and I mean never heard the "race" issue come up among friends those inside and outside our church, I am concerned about this now. There have been several articles written about the large gains within the young evangelical community supporting Obama and the appreciation they had for our new president and what attributes and perspectives he brings to the office. We tend to be allowing a bit of smugness and irritation to manifest itself in the way of racism. Not racism of the "burning cross" or segregated bathrooms, water fountains, etc...... But, racism of the jokes-lifestyles-choices. I hear people quoting conservative commentaries on President-elect Obama and how they are enraged to be challenged on a comment they made and its perceived racism.

I will not go into the scriptures that speak to the encouragement of human equality and the role that plays in the Christian's life. I'll let you head over to Crosswalk.com and do a little study. You can easily tell that I am not a "hot-button issue" guy that believes the defining attribute of a "true" Christian is their stance on abortion and homosexuality. There is a big picture to the life of Jesus Christ and what the Bible is communicating from God to us on this earth that needs to be discerned and observed. I would pray that our emotions and "upbringing" do not rule our spirit and desire to be a Christ-follower.

I still have a great deal to learn.