Defeating "Straw Men"?

He's at it again!

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to defend his country against hostility from the U.S. after the totalitarian state said last week it will test a nuclear weapon.  In fact, there is no hostile activity from the U.S. toward North Korea. In fact that we have offered assistance for the frequent famine in his country, but Mr. Kim roars in defiance against a non-existent threat.  It is old-fashioned political theater!

In our country, A sheriff campaigned that he "would not allow Sharia law in my county!"  Another sheriff announced that he would oppose the President's unconstitutional mandates.  Later he admitted that he didn't know if there was any unconstitutional mandate actually issued.  Ferocious statements about bravely fighting threats that are only straw men;  that don't exist.

Bravely announcing that they are our champions against governmental tyranny, some politicians slay the straw men that don't exist.  Over and over.  Until some folks fearfully believe that they DO exist, and follow along.  

Waving the flag and declaring patriotism don't guarantee the truth of what the speaker says.  "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" is a piece of wisdom that goes  back to the founding fathers.  and Grandma's response is still appropriate:  "pretty is as pretty does".

And what should we do personally in this mix?  Ignore some of the rhetoric, and focus on taking care of local business.  Help someone close at hand.  Do something to make someone more cheerful.  Spend some time as a volunteer to make your neighborhood more responsive to people who need you.  Say less and do more.

And first of all, if the potential leader wants to lead by "fear" maybe it is a false fear that the speaker is stirring up.  Demagogues and dictators rule by raising fear.  And when the fear is a "straw man" that doesn't even exist, it is time to "tune out" that speaker, and make up your own mind.

Nothing builds a sense of freedom so securely as the moment of realizing what enthusiastic speaker to "tune out".

A Pre-Amendment Freedom: First for Me

With all the talk of freedoms of various kinds, here's a reflection:  here's one that is non-governmental, can't be restricted or defined except by myself.  I am free to listen and receive.  I am free to INTAKE, to receive, to read, to absorb from any and every source out there.  I am responsible only to myself.  

This morning, I enjoyed Wait-Wait-Don't-Tell-Me on NPR ( hilarious!).  Every chance I get, I enjoy CAR GUYS on NPR.  The other day, I asked a friend if he liked CAR GUYS, since he is a total "car guy".  His response: "I never listen to NPR.  It's all liberal, you know."

"So," I asked,"you NEVER listen?  How do you know it's all liberal?"

Ah, the answer came:  the Guru of the airwaves told him!  And he quit listening.  So, he never tested the "guru", just listened to what he was allowed to hear, limited by his own political beliefs.

Somehow, a freedom easily and voluntarily given away to a political spokesman is hardly a freedom worth dying to preserve!  I listen, and in listening to lots of viewpoints, it becomes pretty clear who is straight, who is running propaganda, and who I respect even in disagreement.

If a tyrannical government takes away someone else's freedom of speech, I am deprived of content that might show me the truth, and that is bad.  The Soviet Union did that on a massive scale, and it fell apart!  If I deprive myself, then that is, at best, kinda dumb!!!

Listen to those who show themselves honest, even if different in belief.  Separate out those who use propaganda techniques to deceive.  But never give up the freedom to grow, to learn more than what we knew yesterday, to become more knowledgeable than we were, and to become more able to serve God and  country than we once were.

Humor Helps!

These are "sqawks" concerning aircraft problems, and the mechanic's corrective action, supposedly culled from aircraft logs.

Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
Almost replaced left inside main tire.

Auto land system lands rough!
Autoland not installed on this aircraft.

Autopilot doesn't.
It does now.

Something loose behind lower left instrument panel.
Something tightened behind lower left instrument panel.

Evidence of hydraulic leak on main gear strut.
Evidence removed.

No. 3 engine missing.
No. 3 engine found on right wing after a short search.

DME volume unbelievably loud.
DME volume reduced to a more believable level.

Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
That's what they're there for.

Autopilot altitude hold produces 200 FPM descent.
Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

Dead bugs on windshield.
Live bugs on order.

And finally, the pilots win one!
No. 2 prop seeping fluid.
No. 2 prop seepage normal.
(New writeup)  Props. Nos. 1, 3, 4 lack normal seepage.

Life's often funny all over!

Better than a Resolution: Purpose and Focus

The Bishop, Mike Lowry, in the UMC Central Texas Conference, put the issue very well back in September, in an article titled "The Challenge of Focus....."

It's not so much what you announce that you plan to do, as what vision actually determines what you set out to do.  Bishop Lowry described a visit to Seattle (one of my favorite destinations!) and a Sunday morning choice.

He was invited by someone he didn't know to attend Mars Hill Church (see Acts 17), which is a multi-site (14), independent Bible church, at their downtown location. Full of young couples, friendly, welcoming, diverse economically and ethnically, with a gracious greeting and vibrant worship.

Part way through the service, a pastor told their history.  In 1908, the church at that location dedicated a marvelous sanctuary, and became one of the largest churches on the West Coast.  But gradually, the pastor said, that church got busy with other things and drifted away from offering Christ.  Amid many good things, they lost focus on Christ and slowly the congregation dwindled and eventually relocated.

The great sanctuary was acquired by the City of Seattle, renamed the Daniels Recital Hall.  Now, it was being re-purposed, "replanted" to its original purpose, by Mars Hill church, in order "to serve our city, love our neighbors, and be as active as possible so people see good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven".  "We hope to fill it with people who love Jesus and love Seattle".

The concept that the church "lost focus and drifted away from offering Christ as their mission" haunted the visiting bishop.  It can happen in churches, has happened in churches, and we must never forget the outcome of that failure and the very predictable response of God, who never gives up!

The name of the original church?  First United Methodist Church of Seattle.  The bishop did a search and found the current church of that name:  busy, vibrant, relocated, brought by God to rediscover its purpose!  God has plans for BOTH churches.

Meaning?  Don't lose focus!  Don't drift from the primary point!  Christians share Christ!  God intends that, and if one tool loses its sharpness and focus, God will continue to try to revive it, but pick up another tool-of-the-moment to do HIS primary work.

If you like this perspective, take a look at A Bishop's blog.  If you feel somewhat kin to this good Bishop, take a "read" through II Corinthians 5:14-15.  Not a new idea, just a fundamental one!

Blessings.

Who Had the Big Influence?

Who knew?    What would stand out as the most impact of one person, between my 15th and 70th year?  By now, it is an annual story, a sort of New Year's review of how I got where I am.

For understanding the place of influence, it would have to be Mrs. Hawes and the gift.

Mrs. Hawes lived in the South Liberty oil field, IN the field in a shack made of scrap wood, covered with tar-paper.  Her cooking and heat was from a pipe that ran directly from a well, just the throw-away gas, salvaged.  Water from a faucet somewhere, but she was the definition of poor.

She gathered pecans that year, all along the Trinity River bottoms, and took them up to the highway that ran to Houston, selling on the roadside.  But for the last week, she'd been home, her dentures broken.   She was getting money together to get them fixed.  My dad went to visit her on Monday, and came home to tell the story of her gift.

When he came into her house, she apologized for missing, specially because it was Mission Sunday, and she always gave a gift for missions.  She handed him $5:  "This is mine, so thanks for taking it and putting it with the others."

"But, Mrs. Hawes, you're getting money together to fix your teeth!"

"That will come along, but this was Mission Sunday.  I just don't miss that!"  Nothing would do but for Dad to take her gift.

He knew how poor she was.  He knew that was pecan money, planned for denture repair.

Plain, simple, unmistakeable, generous, focused, exactly the attitude Jesus told us to have every day.  But rarely seen.  We give out of our surplus, after the needs are met.  Mrs. Hawes didn't do it that way.

It's been 56 years since that moment, but every time there's an offering destined for mission work, that sweet lady's face comes to mind.  I've known missionary families, been a type of missionary, studied all the maps and charts and history.  But the persuasive moment that is always fresh is Mrs. Hawes.

I've known a life-time full of people who motivated me:  Professors, family members, musicians, work companions and peers, leaders in and out of churches.  But none of them have had the lasting single-moment influence of Mrs. Hawes.

All of us find our highest motivation for performance, accomplishment, academic achievement, whatever, from something just like that.  And if it  has a name and a face, we are blessed by it.

Thank God for His disciples who reflect His Word and will.  I do believe He speaks through them.

New Year Possibilities

The turning of the New Year is one of the oldest celebrations.  From the pyramids in Egypt to Stonehenge to the great cathedrals, there are countless festivals, all celebrating the period from winter solstice to whatever marks the New Year.  The restoring Sun, the renewing, enlivening, restart the year moment is fundamental.

Solstice is written into the design of ruined temples from the ancient Americans and Maya to the design of Egypt's pyramids.  Paying close attention to Solstice is basic to ancient religions.  The "dying" sun of late fall as days get shorter, and the "renewed" promise of the sun NOT dying is a central story, the hope for new life.

New life at New Year?  Only if we make it so!  (And making it so usually depends on some considerable level of grace from God, in Christ, so that we don't do the same dumb stuff all over again!)

For us, this year, it clearly becomes more than just personal.  There is an old half-truth to be left behind this year, if we are to make progress digging up out of the dysfunctional political situation:  "Compromise is an evil."  We need to substitute an understanding that compromise is unavoidable, always.  We need to use it well.  It will happen, we need to work to make it happen for good.

Human nature gathers us into groups.  A positive gathering says:  "We hold these beliefs, together, for the common good."  A self-destructive gathering says:  "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."  This is self-destructive because the compromises involved here have no common, agreed-upon future, only an enemy.  And when the enemy is removed from the formula, the gathering self-destructs.

For this year, let's make our part of whatever groups or discussions we're in a simple matter of positive promotion of the best common future we can imagine.  Let's make every group where we associate a group based on common hopes, rather than common angers.  Let's make 2013 a year where we, minority or not, decide to influence for good.  Let's make a higher intention than just "fitting in".

There is an ancient bargain involved here, the bargain embedded in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  God said to Abraham:  I bless you - go and be a blessing.   Make that your "test-phrase" and there will be a great newness to YOUR New Year.

Blessings!