In a previous post I said that Christians should be issues voters (abortion, marriage, poverty, etc) versus party voters.  This raised a good deal of questions about whether or not a conservative, Jesus loving, pro-life, traditional marriage believing person could reasonably vote for Barack Obama, a guy who supports a woman’s right to choose and is very friendly to the LGBT community.

My answer is “sure” - for a couple of reasons, and again, it comes back to being an issues voter over a party voter.  Neither party perfectly aligns with an orthodox Christian worldview on every issue.  For example, the Democrats tend to fare better in most minds on issues of peace, poverty, and social justice while Republicans get better scores on things like life and marriage issues.

A Christian could reasonably argue that while Barack Obama is out to lunch on some things he does great with others - other issues that matter a great deal to our God.  For instance, some Christians argue convincingly that Obama touts a humbler approach to foreign policy, an approach that could save many lives by avoiding conflict.  Some also posit that an Obama presidency would mobilize a government of greater compassion and care for the poor, hungry, and hurting in our nation and around the world.

And while many good, conservative Christians (rightly) focus on issues of abortion and gay marriage one can definitely aruge that gay marriage is an inevitable reality and that state-sponsored abortion will never be undone by elected officials.  The hope of turning those tides through government is done and it’s time to tackle them through other means.  Therefore, one might as well take those issues off the table in selecting a candidate and turn to other issues that our elected officials actually have a shot at effecting change in.  When you do that the field is wide open.

In the end, for the Christian the issue is less of “who” you vote for and a.) that you vote and b.) that you seek to do so according to honest, Biblical values.

Personally, I still think that in this particular election doing so should lead people in one direction.  But it won’t always.  And we should never, ever assume that someone is not our Christian brother or sister or that they do not take our God and his Word seriously simply because of who they vote for.  Your thoughts?

Not too long ago I saw a little girl walking around with a t-shirt that said, “HOT” across the front and I almost died of an aneurysm on the spot.  The only thing I could think was, “You’re 10 years old.  You’re not hot. You’re cold - ice cold.  You should be so cold that I can’t help but cover you in an oversized skiing jacket!”

But nonetheless our culture seems hell-bent on portraying our young girls as having a sense of sexuality.  Again, don’t believe me?  Just take a look at an image of the number one selling doll amongst elementary and preschool ages girls.  Click HERE.  By the way, the manufacturer’s recommended age for this doll is 4.

The reason that all of this comes to mind is because just the other day I saw THIS article about the dipping age of girls who are frequenting salons.  More specifically, the ages of girls going to salons to receive bikini waxes are getting younger and younger.  9 years old.  Sick.

Look, I may be a guy, and I recognize that there are always reasonable exceptions for crazy things from time to time, but I can’t help but think that for the most part this is yet another case of trying to treat our little girls like grown women.

The sad thing is that when you treat little kids like adults, very often they start to do adult things.  And then, as parents, we try to act surprised and brokenhearted.  Please.

This is precisely why the Bible tells us that we should first make sure that our little girls adorn themselves with things like faith in Jesus and good works towards others.  That way when it does come time to adorn themselves as a woman they’ll be well equipped to do it right - and hopefully not look like a whore.  I’m just saying.

Here’s why:  Parties change.  Their agendas shift, their focus alters, and their causes morph.  On the flip-side the basic values of an orthodox Christian worldview stay the same: Human rights for all stages of life, from conception to natural demise; marriage as a commitment between one man and one woman for one lifetime; mercy and assistance for the helpless and weak, just to name a few of the biggies.  These things and more stay the same.

Therefore, Christians should be values or issues voters rather than simple “party” voters.  Now, for a season it may seem that these values align more with one party than another and you might find yourself aligning quite often with one party over another.  But don’t be deceived things will shift, they will change…that is the very definition of politics.

We should be very cautious about hitching our wagons without reservation to one group or another.  Why?  Because we’ve already hitched our hearts to God the Father through Christ the Son, He should therefore be the driving factor in our decisions.

But then again, Jesus did ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.  Maybe he was trying to tell us something.  I’m just saying…

But beneath the usual political push there is another battle being waged between Barack Hussein and John Sidney.  It’s the battle for coolest pop-culture crap; you know, t-shirts, action figures, and key chains.

And when it comes to the battle for who can generate the most stuff to one day fill a cardboard box in your mom’s basement or eventually be sold in a bundle on Ebay the clear winner is Obama.  Forget the bland stuff sold on his official web-site, this guy has inspired some really great stuff being sold all over the internet.  Just check out this t-shirt.  And then, take a look at this action figure.  Forget the guy’s stance on taxes and human right’s issues (abortion) that figure is fully poseable!  I smell a collector’s item.   Seriously, I want one.

Contrast it to what pop-culture has created for John McCain (click here and here) and there is no contest.  The ironic thing is that McCain has all of the credentials for an incredible action figure.  If 5 and a half years as a prisoner of war doesn’t earn you your own G.I. Joe then nothing does.

On a serious note, I wonder why it is that Obama seems to generate so much more pop-culture energy.  Is it because he resonates more with a younger crowd?  Is it that he truly is an inspiriational figure?  Does he simply have a more attractive, marketable look?  I don’t know.

The biggest question of all however is whether a cool t-shirt can translate to actual votes in November.  We’ll see.

Why the move?  Well, let’s see: the economy is tanking, Brett Favre plays for Jets and Paris Hilton has now become a factor in the Presidential election.  Did you not read The Late, Great Planet Earth?  The end is near.  Pack your stuff, and c’mon!

Yeah, as you likely know Paris Hilton put out a video responding to John McCain’s campaign ad where he compared Barack Hussein to Paris and Britney.  To see for yourself, click HERE and then HERE.  It amazes me how pop-culture continues to make its way into everything these days.  I mean, what is the star of The Hottie and the Nottie doing getting time on Anderson Cooper 360 during their election coverage? 

Paris Hilton has a campaign commercial.  (Revelation 17:1-8)

What’s next?  John McCain releases a sex tape?  See you in Mongolia.

It’s been a couple of months since the tragedy and the family is starting to talk about the whole deal - what happened, their pain, their faith, their questions.  As an aside, I could write a freaking book about how incredible this family seems to be.  They are very shaken but their love for one another and for Jesus almost outshines their pain as they speak.

In their recounting of what happened something stuck with me and has been ringing in my ears since I heard it.  Having a 3-year-old of my own this story has really torn me up.

Apparently, as dad was racing out of the driveway to take his near lifeless little girl to the hospital he had the presence of mind to stop, roll down the window, and yell as loud as he could muster to his 17 year old son who was crumpled in the front lawn, fearing that he’d killed his sister.  With tears streaming down his eyes and a rattle in his voice Steven yelled, “Will Franklin, your father loves you very much!”

Commenting on it Steven said that all he could think was, “I will not lose two children today.”

For me, there is no better metaphor - picture - whatever, of the gospel than that moment.  As a child lays broken with guilt and overcome by the magnitude of his mistake, his dad sees him, calls out to him, and says, “Your father still loves you.”  Isn’t that what God has done for us?  Despite our mistakes, despite our outright disobedience He tells us that He loves us, that He forgives us, and that He’s determined not to lose us.  To prove it, to accomplish it, He gives us Jesus.

Yeah, I know a little on the Hallmark side but I had to share it.   Man, fatherhood has made me so emotional…..

The eye doctor is the only one of the doctors that makes you do all of the work.  Yeah, they have the giant gizmo that they scrunch up against your face and flip knobs and turn junk but the pressure - the “get it right or you’ll have a headache for a year because your insurance only pays for one shot” pressure - is all on you.

They throw row after row of ever-shrinking letters on the wall and it’s your job to tell them what looks the best.  Sure at first it’s a no-brainer, 1 is definitely better than 2, but before long you’re sweating over the tiny differences in clarity.

Your mind starts to race: “Was 2 better than 1 this time?!  I’m not sure.  Oh, crap go back!  Go back!  I can’t trust my eyes.  That’s why I’m here!  That’s why you went to eye school!  Why am I blinking so much?”

Hasn’t technology developed to the point that they can jsut scan our eyes figure this out and save me the worry?  That seems to be the clearest choice of all.

But earlier this year, Favre retired.  Like many guys who spend their careers putting wear and tear on the body as a welder, a roofer, or a mechanic, eventually your mind is in it but your bones just aint.  And using very similar words, Brett said, in no uncertain terms that he was “done.”

However there’s a big part of the blue collar work ethic that Favre seems to be missing: being a man of your word.  For some time now, word has been leaking out that Favre wants back in.  No, he hasn’t said anything but his relatives have, his friends and his agent have.  But him?  Not a peep.  That is, until a few days ago when he came out and said, “Yeah, I want to return;” making sure to also share his shock that people are frustrated and annoyed at his last second, about-face.

Forget the fact that there is a billion dollar organization, players who’d like to fill his spot, and crazy ‘cheeseheads’ who all thought the Favre-era was over.  Apparently, in the Favre world, “done” doesn’t mean “done.”
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Yesterday I discovered that she likes to use the word “delicious” to describe just about everything.  Apparently petting the cat is “dee-wish-us.”  Also, her new favorite phrase is, “I promise.”  Even though she clearly doesn’t grasp it’s appropriate context, which makes for good comedy.

Me:  Ava, how old are you?

Ava:  I promise!

Me:  Honey, that doesn’t make any sense.  You’re gonna be 3 in a few weeks, remember?

Ava:  Delicious.

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It’s tough to explain, but every time I take time off for a vaction the first day - and just the first day - is spent in a total funk.  It’s as if my mind needs 24 hours to completely detox from work in order to fully enjoy the time being spent with family.  Now, this is not to say that my job is some kind of toxic addiction.  No, those of you who know me know that I love what I do and that I am blessed to serve in a pretty balanced ministry.  But still, when the time comes to shut it down for a few days, those first few hours aren’t pretty.

If I had to figure out just “why” this happens, I’d spin it like this:  For each of us the demands and responsibilities of our vocations are what drive our daily existence.  They’re the motivators moving us from one moment to the next.  Dinner’s gotta happen, the meeting has to take place, the sermon must be done, the emails need to be written.  And it’s not a bad thing.  Actually, its a good thing because God is working through each of our callings to do stuff in His world and provide things for His world.

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