Scott's Blog -11/30/06

A Suggestion For Survival

Does mankind have a future? 

If you've been listening to the experts this week, you'd have to conclude our chances are somewhere between slim and none.

Consider this assessment by famed physicist Stephen Hawking.

Mankind must colonize other planets to survive, says Hawking

"The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet," he told Today.

"Sooner or later, disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear war could wipe us all out. But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe.

"There isn't anywhere like the Earth in the solar system, so we would have to go to another star.

"If we used chemical fuel rockets like the Apollo mission to the moon, the journey to the nearest star would take 50,000 years. This is obviously far too long to be practical, so science fiction has developed the idea of warp drive, which takes you instantly to your destination. Unfortunately, this would violate the scientific law which says that nothing can travel faster than light.

"However, we can still within the law, by using matter/antimatter annihilation, at least reach just below the speed of light. With that, it would be possible to reach the next star in about six years, though it wouldn't seem so long for those on board."

The science fiction series Star Trek has used matter/antimatter annihilation as an explanation for the warp drive which powers spaceships like the Enterprise through vast distances in short periods of time.

But in reality, some scientists believe that the radiation produced when matter and antimatter are brought together and destroy one another could in fact one day be used to accelerate craft to close to the speed of light.

I hate to be a spoil sport, but if this is the best hope science can provide for our survival, we are in deep trouble.

Although it's fun to be a visionary, last time I checked we were having some serious problems constructing a space craft that can reliably transport eight people 100 miles above our own planet and back without exploding on re-entry. Add to this the debilitating effects of even 100 days in a zero gravity environment, radiation exposure,  the occasional impact of space dirt clods and our wonderful flight to Alpha Centuri becomes a bit problematic. We haven't even raised the question of  where we will pack a picnic lunch big enough to last for six years. That air stuff has to come from somewhere too. 

But let's concede the invention of a space craft that can overcome such obstacles. Even if we had such a vehicle, where do we send it? The more we explore our own solar system, the more it becomes apparent that a planet like Earth that can support life is a rare, even miraculous thing. The two most earth-like planets we have actually observed are Venus and Mars. Venus is surrounded by a dense acidic atmosphere that generates surface temperatures nearly hot enough to melt lead. Mars is nearly the opposite, with a thin atmosphere made up of unbreatheable carbon dioxide and temperatures that can dip to minus 200 degrees. What if our seven year journey leads to a star with planets only as hospitable as Mars, or Venus? What if there are no planets at all? 

Looks like we are stuck with the planet we've got.

So what do we do with it?

Have you ever stopped to consider that what we need as a species is not a change of scenery, but a change of heart?

This is the mission we have been given by the One who created the universe.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

The solution to human suffering, even the key to our survival isn't crossing the distance between us and the nearest star. It is crossing the distance between our fallen hearts and the God Who loves us and gave His Son to make us new and different people from the inside out.

Scott's Blog -11/29/06

The Tyranny of the Easily Offended

We've all seen it before.

The public setting. 

The self conscious parents. 

The two year old who has figured out that Mom and Dad would rather die than make a scene. The little tyke gets a look on his face usually reserved for South American dictators. The message has been sent, "Cross me once, deny me anything I want and I will scream and carry on and ruin not only the experience of everyone within 50 yards, but your reputation as well."

Parents used to comfort themselves with the notion that with a little discipline and time, little Junior or Juniette will outgrow this L'il Dictator phase.

Unfortunately, it appears that there is a whole generation that has not only failed to outgrow the two year old-ism, but has augmented it with a law degree. "Offend my delicate sensibilities once, deny me anything I want and I  will scream that I am a victim, and I will ruin your life with frivolous law suits, and hopefully destroy your reputation as well."

Don't believe it? Consider this.

This ain't your father's Christkindlmarket!

The sad fact is that the bending over backwards to avoid being seen as (horrors!) insensitive, seems to take aim only at things Christian. Could you imagine the uproar if the Moslem Star and Crescent was banned because it might offend someone? It wouldn't happen.

But bring Jesus into the discussion....

Actually, this kind of politically correct insanity is a predictable phenomenon. The Bible gives us this spiritual head's up.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (II Timothy 3:1-5)

There is only one ray of hope in this debacle. More people will probably go to see a respectful retelling of the Nativity in theaters now than if the PC police had kept their sensitivity meters sheathed.

Want to protest? Two suggestions. First go see the movie. Second, make it your business this Christmas season to share the true meaning of the season with at least one nonbeliever.

Don't be overcome by silly politics and pressure groups waiting for a reason to be offended. Overcome evil with good!

Scott's Blog -11/28/06

Prophecy and Pessimism?

Do the words "End Times" bring a smile to your face?

The reaction we have when the subject of the return of Jesus comes up is a revealing one. For some, the notion that we may be living in the last days conjures up a picture of gloom and doom, of hopelessness and despair, of a resignation that the world is heading over the cliff and there is nothing any of us can do to stop it.

This is a popular perspective on the subject of Biblical prophecy. Consider this exchange recently aired on the Rush Limbaugh radio program.

CALLER: Hey, Rush, thanks for taking my call. RUSH: You bet. CALLER: I just want to tell you thank you for teaching me every day. I learn from you and then I teach my kids, and they are also learning from you, and they're home today so they're getting to listen to you. I'm glad they're going to get to hear the Thanksgiving story -- RUSH: Thank you very much. I appreciate that. CALLER: -- and I feel like I'm just talking to a friend because I listen to you so much. I'm a 24/7 member and so I get your Limbaugh Letter, and I was so excited to see that article this month with Joel Rosenberg that you did, and I'm reading his books. I do happen to agree with most of his theories. I think he's very accurate, even though they are fiction, I think a lot of what he bases it on is very accurate, and I do sometimes feel like that affects my optimism about our country although I love this country, and I think it's the greatest country in the world, how do you juggle that sometimes? RUSH: Here's, I think, what's affecting you about what Joel said in the interview when he writes. His books are based on biblical scripture, and he takes situations occurring in the Middle East and applies them to biblical scripture and says that there's prophecy. In fact, one of his books is entitled , and so you're being affected, and I don't blame you, you're free to read and draw what conclusion you want. But any time anybody starts thinking about the apocalypse, that we're in the last days, and I assure you that every generation of human beings since the beginning of time has thought that, and the last days are not upon us yet. The thing that you have to do out there, Susie is not think about that, because if it's true, there's nothing you're going to be able to do to stop it anyway. All you can do is prepare yourself for your immortality and your eternity in the event it happens, which is I'm sure something you do in the course of the day to day living of your life, correct?

There is a key question illustrated by this exchange - What kind of attitudes does God desire to see accompany a biblically centered expectation that Jesus could come at any moment?

The person who truly understands the Second Coming lives a life of personal integrity.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (II Peter 3:10-13)

Some look at life in the last days and believe they had better indulge their fallen natures while they have the chance. But the wise person realizes that living for this world and the things of this world is a losing proposition. If righteousness lies ahead in our future, we might as well get started on that path today!

The person who truly understands the Second Coming lives a life of practical investment.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30)

The bottom line of this parable is hard to miss. God gives to each of us gifts, talents, and abilities. One day we will be called before our creator to give an account of what we did with them. It has been said that there are only two things that we will encounter on this earth that will last forever - the Word of God and people. If we seize each day as an opportunity to invest ourselves in these ultimately and eternally precious commodities, we will be getting the most out of this life we have been given. One day, when we see the Lord we will hear the words, "Well done.."

The person who truly understands the Second Coming lives a life of personal involvement.

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:8-14)

Show me a person who loves the Lord's appearing, and I will show you a person who also loves the people the Lord will appear to. The hope of Jesus' return motivates us not to check out of relationships, but to check in to the lives of those we have the opportunity to encourage.

When we put all this together, we as believers should be the most realistic and optimistic people on the planet. Realistically, we know that there are tough times ahead. But optimistically we know the world will not end with a bang, or a whimper, but with the glorious return of Jesus to set right a creation gone wrong. 

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

Scott's Blog -11/27/06

 Spam of the Soul

If you've ever doubted that we live in a fallen world, consider this undeniable progression.

First came the car. Then came the traffic jam.

First came the telephone. Then came the telemarketing phone call at dinner time.

First came the internet. Then came spam.

If you have an e-mail address you know what it's like to open your mail box to find three important messages, buried by 30 of the "You have already been approved..", "You have already won..", or the ever popular, "Send me your bank account and social security number and $5 million in non negotiable Chinese railway bonds will be transferred to your account from your distant relative in Latvia.." variety.

Like weeds in a garden, spam is threatening to become the dominant feature of the internet.

EU Says More Than Half E-Mails Are Spam

Unsolicited e-mails continue to plague Europeans and account for between 50 and 80 percent of all messages sent to mail inboxes, the European Commission said Monday.

EU Media Commissioner Viviane Reding called on EU governments to step up their fight against spam, spyware and other illegal online activities and implement EU rules to improve Internet safety.

An EU report found that only two EU nations _ the Netherlands and Finland _ were making inroads in enforcing the 2002 law to crack down on spam.

"Spam is still ... making up to between 50 and 80 percent of the mails that we are receiving in Europe and two-thirds of that is coming from outside the European Union," said EU spokesman Martin Selmayr.

Selmayr said Dutch authorities were able to reduce spam by 85 percent by using fines to get businesses to fall in line with the EU rule.

The Dutch telecommunications watchdog OPTA slapped euro60,000 ($78,500) in fines on three companies late last year for sending spam, and the Commission wants other governments to act as well, Reding said.

"I'd like to see other countries achieving similar results through more efficient enforcement," she said in a statement.

EU officials have said they will put forward new legislation next year to make it easier to prosecute spammers.

Monday's EU report said spam cost euro39 billion ($51.1 billion) worldwide last year, according to San Francisco-based Ferris Research Institute.

Selmayr said the biggest culprit of spam remains the United States, which accounts for 21.6 percent of spam coming into the 25-nation EU. China is the second-biggest producer with 13.4 percent, while EU member France is third with 6.3 percent.

Obnoxious. Time consuming. Financially draining. Spam is creating a traffic jam on the information superhighway. 

But have you ever stopped to consider that there may be another kind of unsolicited, time wasting message traffic that might be having an impact on our lives a lot closer to home than on our computer screens? 

I call it Spam of the Soul. 

In our media saturated culture we are continually bombarded with messages. From the TV, radio, the internet, movies, books, classes, even the conversations we have with others, come messages that enter our hearts through the gates of our senses. Once there, these messages have a funny way of playing over and over again in our consciousness, influencing our mood, our conversations, even our actions.

If we aren't careful we can easily become molded and shaped into the image and likeness of this kind of mental Muzak.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (Proverbs 23:7a)

I am amazed at how much worthless information is stored away in my brain. I can quote from memory the complete lyrics to "Last Train to Clarksville" by the Monkees. I have a much harder time remembering the words to Psalm 139! 

The danger of being "spiritually spammed" is that the essential and important things of life are too often crowded out of our minds by the trivial. What can we do to avoid becoming victims of the constant flow of junk information that flows about us every day? To use another image from the world of the internet, we need to install in our hearts a spiritual spam blocker. 

The first step is to be aware of the danger of uncritically consuming every thought, image and philosophy that comes down the road. 

  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

In a positive sense, we need to fill our minds with those things that get us where we need to go. Spending time committing Scripture to memory, or listening to music that has a solid Biblical message can go a long way toward transforming the way we think, feel and act.

The second step is to construct a filter that can keep worthless or even destructive images and  thoughts out of our hearts and minds.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

This list can serve as a guide - a spiritual menu for the care and feeding of the inner man. Notice that this is a very positive list. It tells us the things we should pursue and seek after. It also is a vivid description of the character of Jesus. If He occupies our thoughts, who has time for "Last Train to Clarksville"?

It can also serve as a grid. If I find myself  wondering, "Should I be watching, listening, reading or thinking about this?" I now have a good frame of reference to answer the question.

I am becoming increasingly convinced that life is too short for small talk and small ideas. How different and refreshing life will be when we cut off the clutter, and shut out the spam!

Scott's Blog -11/22/06

Insight Into Impact

Who would you consider the single most influential figure in American history? The results are in:

Abraham Lincoln most influential American: survey

Tue Nov 21, 8:16 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. president who won the Civil War and ended slavery, topped a list of the 100 most influential American figures in shaping U.S. history, a survey released on Tuesday said.

The Atlantic Monthly magazine asked 10 notable historians to rank the Americans they felt had the greatest impact on U.S. history.

Other figures who made the top 10 included U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Also included were Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and inventor Thomas Edison.

More than 30 writers including Mark Twain and poet Walt Whitman were in the top 100. More contemporary figures included musician Bob Dylan, golfer Tiger Woods and consumer activist Ralph Nader.

Editor James Bennet said in a statement the list was designed to stimulate debate about who had affected the country and how it happened.

For example, he asked, "How can Bill Gates be ahead of Elvis Presley, or Presley ahead of Lewis and Clark," referring to the early 19th century overland expedition to the Pacific Coast by explorers Capt. Meriwether Lewis and 2nd Lt. William Clark.

Those who compiled the list included Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who said she looked for people "who made it possible for people to lead expanded lives -- materially, psychologically, culturally and spiritually."

Kind of hard to argue against that conclusion, isn't it? 

Freeing the slaves and guiding our nation through the civil war are pretty impressive resume items.

But the thing that made Lincoln so powerful was not just his perseverance under crushing personal and political circumstances, but his ability to impact lives.

In their early years, Edwin M. Stanton was a passionate adversary of Lincoln. In a swipe at his appearance, he once referred to Honest Abe as "The original gorilla". Yet Lincoln not only forgave that political cheap shot, but actually appointed Stanton to the critical post of Secretary of War in his administration. When political pressure began to build against Stanton, many argued for his dismissal. Lincoln stood firm behind Stanton saying, "If you will find another secretary of war like him, I will gladly appoint him."

The impact was telling. As Lincoln died, Stanton was quoted as saying, "There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen. Now he belongs to the ages."

It's a funny thing, isn't it? No matter how much a person accomplishes in the world of commerce, or politics, or their profession, the value of a life is always measured by how it impacted people.

The big question is how can we make the most of our chances to make a positive impact on those around us?

A great place to start is to consider this definition of true spiritual leadership we find in I Peter.

 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (I Peter 5:1-4)

It has been said that there are only two things we can encounter in this life that will last forever - the Word of God and people. When we embrace God's Word personally, demonstrate it practically, and share it lovingly we will find ourselves on the pathway to a life of maximum impact!

Scott's Blog -11/21/06

A Thanksgiving Starter Kit

The most unfortunate side effects of living in a consumer driven culture are the twin beasties of an entitlement mentality and a profound sense of lack. 

We have created a mentality that whispers in one ear, "You deserve more than you've got!" and "You are somehow defective because you haven't got it!" in the other!

When we buy into these messages is it any wonder that most of us work nearly one third of the year for our new slave owners Mr. MasterCard and Mr. Visa?

According to CardWeb.com, Americans owed $696.7 billion on credit card loans in 2004, compared to $285.5 billion a decade earlier. In the same span, the average household credit card debt has grown to $9,312 from $4,301. The Federal Reserve reports that last year, consumers overspent their income and, for the first time since the early Great Depression, had a negative personal savings rate: minus 0.5 percent. - Christianity Today

There are a number of practical and tangible steps we can take to deal with debt in a Biblical way. Check out Crown Financial Ministries for more information.

But may I suggest that we will never fully deal with the debt trap until we deal with the spiritual defect that often drives it - Thanklessness.

Have you ever known a person with a thankful spirit? They tend to be the people that seem relaxed, even optimistic about their lives. Why? They have taken the time to consider all the ways God has been good to them in the past. They can tell you story after story about how the Lord has shown Himself miraculously faithful to His promises, not because they are somehow on a list of the Lord's special favorites. They simply have paid attention to the tangible demonstrations of God's goodness that He has given to them.

People tend to gravitate to people with a thankful spirit because they walk away from the conversation feeling blessed and not burdened.

Wouldn't we all want to be like that? 

How can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude?

May I suggest as a first step, committing to memory one of the most beautiful laundry lists of mind blowing blessings recorded in the Word?

1Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
    2Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget none of His benefits;
    3Who pardons all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases;
    4Who redeems your life from the pit,
         Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;
    5Who satisfies your years with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. (Psalm 103:1-5)

When I am feeling low or discouraged, I go back to these beautiful words. By the time I remember "my youth is renewed like the eagle" I find myself seeing my life in a different way. 

If you find yourself falling for the siren song that tells you, "Nothing good ever happens to me!", simply go through these unconditional blessings God delights in pouring out on His people. If you find yourself saying, "What do I have to be thankful for?", here are five blessings you can take to the bank. Take a moment and ask the Lord to remind you of the times in life he has winked at you by blessing you in these wonderful ways. 

When we realize how rich God has made us spiritually, we might find ourselves not so inclined to try to fill a sense of emptiness materially.

It all starts by simply learning to pray a two word prayer - "Thank You!"

Scott's Blog -11/20/06

A Change of Heart

I'll let you in on a little trade secret - Pastors love a good illustration. One well known Christian speaker called a good story the "the raisins in the oatmeal of a sermon." So we pastoral types buy books and computer programs promising 10,000 great illustrations, only to discover maybe two or three that are useful. We listen to other pastors preach, not so much to be edified, but to see if there is a nugget or two we can hide away for a couple of months and then proudly present as our own. 

After all, the only difference between plagiarism and good research is a footnote! 

But every now and again, we discover that life is really God's illustration book. The truths we find in God's Word are being painted on the canvass of day to day life. We can find these pearls of wisdom in some pretty unlikely places. Consider this case in point.

O.J. Simpson book, TV special canceled

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer Mon Nov 20, 5:50 PM ET

NEW YORK - After a firestorm of criticism, News. Corp. said Monday that it has canceled the O.J. Simpson book and TV special "If I Did It."

"I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," said Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. chairman. "We are sorry for any pain that this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson."

A dozen Fox affiliates had already said they would not air the two-part sweeps month special, planned for next week before the Nov. 30 publication of the book by ReganBooks. The publishing house is a HarperCollins imprint owned — like the Fox network — by News Corp.

In both the book and show, Simpson speaks in hypothetical terms about how he would have committed the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Goldman.

Relatives of the victims have lashed out at the now scuttled publication and broadcast plans.

"He destroyed my son and took from my family Ron's future and life. And for that I'll hate him always and find him despicable," Fred Goldman told ABC last week.

The industry trade publication Broadcasting & Cable editorialized against the show Monday, saying "Fox should cancel this evil sweeps stunt."

One of the nation's largest superstore chains, Borders Group Inc., said last week it would donate any profits on the book to charity.

Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder in a case that became its own TV drama. The former football star and announcer was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Goldman family.

Judith Regan, publisher of "If I Did It," said she considered the book to be Simpson's confession.

The television special was to air on two of the final three nights of the November sweeps, when ratings are watched closely to set local advertising rates. It has been a particularly tough fall for Fox, which has seen none of its new shows catch on and is waiting for the January bows of "American Idol" and "24."

The closest precedent for such an about-face came when CBS yanked a miniseries about Ronald Reagan from its schedule in 2003 when complaints were raised about its accuracy. The Reagan series was seen on its sister premium-cable channel, Showtime, instead.

One station manager who had said he wasn't airing the special said he was concerned that whether or not Simpson was guilty, he'd still be profiting from murders.

"I have my own moral compass and this was easy," said Bill Lamb, general manager of WDRB in Louisville.

For the publishing industry, the cancellation of "If I Did It" was an astonishing end to a story like no other. Numerous books have been withdrawn over the years because of possible plagiarism, most recently Kaavya Viswanathan's "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life," but a book's removal simply for objectionable content is virtually unheard of.

File this story under "Repentance Illustrated".

The Bible tells us that repentance is a change of heart that results in a change of life, observable in our actions. This spiritual chain reaction is beautifully illustrated in the ministry of John the Baptist.

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." (Luke 3:2-14)

It is important to see that a change of life isn't synonymous with repentance. But it will always flow out of a genuine change of mind and heart towards God. 

In this case, it appears that Rupert Murdoch and News Corp got the message. When your own employees such as Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera are leading a boycott, not only of the program, but of every company that would sponsor it, a clear message has been sent.

A180 degree turn took place. No book. No ratings grabbing special. No doubt some executive that gave the green light to the project will be shopping their resume as well. Murdoch and News Corp not only said they were sorry, but showed it. A change of heart resulted in a change of programming and product.

News Corp got it.

Sadly, there are two main players in this drama that could use a lesson in the basics of repentance. 

OJ Simpson doesn't "get it". Even if you are convinced of your own innocence, to participate in a project entitled "If I Did It", that is to reopen the wounds of the Brown and Goldman families is reprehensible. 

And revealing. 

Simpson has dodged a prison cell. But he will never be able to escape the fact that he has made his life into a "Don't let this happen to you" story at best, and a pathetic joke at the worst. No man can live without a sense of respect. Simpson has none, and doesn't deserve any. Until he comes clean, admits his wrongs, and commits himself to doing whatever is necessary to help make these families whole he will be a prisoner of his own device.

Tragically, Fred Goldman doesn't get it either. I cannot pretend to understand the grief of a father who has lost his son, and has seen the murderer treat the entire event as an opportunity for self promotion.

But as long as Fred Goldman is consumed by hate, Simpson is essentially in control of his life. In this case, getting healthy would be the best revenge. Mr. Goldman needs to realize that O.J Simpson condemns himself with every scheme, scam and dog and pony show he participates in. 

If he takes the high road of unconditional forgiveness, he will not only free himself from the corrosive effects of bitterness, but also provide a stunning contrast of admirable integrity and generosity of spirit in a situation that has seen precious little of either.

If an entire corporate giant can do a 180 degree turn, perhaps it is possible for the same to happen in the hearts, minds, even lives of those closest to this tragic set of circumstances.

And wouldn't that be an illustration worth sharing?

Scott's Blog -11/17/06

Do You Buy This Confession?

By now, you've probably heard all about it. Just when you thought "reality" based television couldn't sink any lower - he's back. Fresh off of scouring the golf courses of America for "the real killers", Orenthal James Simpson will be the star of a book and two part television program called "If I Did It". According to reports he will describe "hypothetically" how he could have committed the double murder he was acquitted of in a criminal trial, but held responsible for in a later civil action.

The question that runs through the mind is simple - Who in their right mind, with a shred of moral decency, and an ounce of respect for the surviving family members of the victims would participate in this bald face play for money?

O.J. Simpson Publisher Judith Regan: Why I Did It

Friday, November 17, 2006

 AP

Judith Regan, publisher of O.J. Simpson's book "If I Did It," says she did not pay him for the rights to publish his book, in which the one-time football superstar tells how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend if, in fact, he had done it.

"What I do know is I didn't pay him," Regan says in an eight-page statement titled "Why I Did It" and published exclusively Thursday night on The Drudge Report. "I contracted through a third party who owns the rights, and I was told the money would go to his children. That much I could live with."

• Raw Data: Judith Regan Statement: 'Why I Did It'

Regan also says in the statement that she wanted Simpson's "confession" because she herself was once a victim of abuse.

"I made the decision to publish this book, and to sit face to face with the killer, because I wanted him, and the men who broke my heart and your hearts, to tell the truth, to confess their sins, to do penance and to amend their lives."

Although Regan has acknowledged that Simpson does not directly say that he killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, she said she considers the book to be his confession.

It is hard to miss the spiritual overtones of Judith Regan's statement. So let's explore for a moment what the Bible says about the true nature of confession of sin.

Confession is key to receiving God's forgiveness

There is no doubt in the Scriptures that admitting our wrong doing is the first step toward a healing of our hearts.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
         Whose sin is covered.
  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
         And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
         
 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
         Through my groaning all the day long.
  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
         My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.  
  I acknowledged my sin to You,
         And my iniquity I have not hidden.
         I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
         And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:1-5)

True confession requires uncompromising honesty.

"If we say we have no sin, we lie and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:8-9)

The word "confess" is a vivid one in the original language. It means "to say the same thing about" our sins that God does. True confession is to see our sins as He sees them, to recognize that the price paid to purchase their forgiveness was both the physical and spiritual horror of Jesus own sufferings on the cross. 

It is not merely mumbling through a preset ritual, with the goal of easing a sense of guilt. It is openly and honestly coming to God with a sense of genuine brokenness over what we have done. 

This attitude is absolutely essential if confession is to be anything more than another opportunity to display our spiritual pride.

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14)

Confession can't be expressed in lawyerly terms like, "I'm sorry you are upset." - or - "If I have ever done anything wrong to anyone, I apologize." Confession can't be made in an arm's length fashion. It can't become so generic it applies to everyone on earth at the moment. As the old saying goes, "An apology to everyone is really an apology to no one."

As the San Jose Mercury News editorial on this dog and pony show sums it up:

If it was a real confession, Simpson could beg for forgiveness but the smarmy ``if'' gets in the way. You can't atone for a hypothetical.

Disgusted Americans should boycott Simpson's book and the Fox interviews. All the good bits will be replayed on news shows and reprinted in newspapers, anyhow.

Don't play his sleazy game.

Scott's Blog -11/16/06

The Triumph of the Talking Jesus Doll

There's nothing like the feeling of betting on the wrong horse! 

Here I take all the time and thought necessary to say that the Marines were probably not that far off in deciding to decline a donation of one foot tall talking Jesus dolls for their Toys For Tots Campaign.

Then I'm greeted with this!

Toys for Tots agrees to take Jesus doll

Thu Nov 16, 4:07 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - The Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program has decided to accept a donation of Bible-quoting Jesus dolls, reversing course after saying earlier this week that it couldn't take them.

"The talking Jesus doll issue has been resolved," the organization announced on its Web site Wednesday. "Toys for Tots has found appropriate places for these items. We have notified the donor of our willingness to handle this transaction."

The short note on the Web site did not explain what it would do with the dolls.

Earlier this week, the program declined a suburban Los Angeles company's offer to donate 4,000 of the foot-tall talking dolls. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several Bible-based dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co.

In explaining the initial decision, Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., had said the program didn't want to take the risk of offending a Jewish or Muslim family if they received a Jesus doll.

Toys for Tots distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children based on financial need in 2005.

 

In a real way, I'm glad this non issue was resolved so quickly. If there is one tried and true tactic the powers of darkness devote their energies to around this time of year it is distraction - make anything but Jesus the issue of the day. If we spend our time debating the merits and First Amendment implications of  one foot high talking dolls that bear a striking resemblance to actor Val Kilmer, we will miss out on a lot of opportunities to share God's truth this holiday season.

You may be thinking, "OK. But what about yesterday's discussion (Scott's Blog 11/15) about graven images? Should we be for one foot high talking dolls that bear a striking resemblance to actor Val Kilmer, or agin' 'em?"

Personally, I think there is a third alternative. When the apostle Paul found himself in prison for preaching the Gospel, there were those who decided to rub a little salt in his wounds by trying to replace him. Apparently, they thought that by making Jesus the issue in the public square, Paul would feel depressed because he was unable to join in this effort. Paul had a remarkably different perspective.

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,  so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:  The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)

I think this same "bigger picture perspective" can serve us well here. Personally, I'm not too excited about the concept of one foot high talking dolls that bear a striking resemblance to actor Val Kilmer. But who is to say that hearing the Scripture "You must be born again" (John 3:7), might not cause a child to ask his or her parents, "What does that mean?" And if the parents don't know, maybe they will visit a church, or call a talk show to get an answer. And maybe an entire family will come to know the Lord because God always honors His Word. Even if it is repeated by an audio-animatronic doll. 

“ For as the rain comes  down, and the snow from heaven,
      And do not return there,
      But water the earth,
      And make it bring forth and bud,
      That it may give seed to the sower
      And bread to the eater,
      So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
      It shall not return to Me void,
      But it shall accomplish what I please,
      And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Scott's Blog - 11/15/06

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...Controversy

One of the surest signs of becoming an old fuddy-duddy is beginning any story with the words, "When I was a boy.."

No, I'm not going to regale you with stories about walking 5 miles to school, uphill both ways.

But seriously, when I was a boy, I don't remember people getting so bent out of shape about Christmas. The biggest worry on our minds was more about where we stand on that list of naughty and nice.

Simpler times.

Now days, people seem to be looking for some reason to be an "Offended American". And let's face it, in a culture that seems bent on scrubbing every mention of the God of the Bible from the public square, a holiday that begins with the word "Christ" is certainly going to draw its share of fire.

The first volley in the annual "Christmas Controversy Competition" comes to us courtesy of the US Marine Corp.

Toys for Tots Rejects Jesus Doll

 

 

A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots program.

A suburban Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the foot- tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season. The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia- based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on Biblical figures.

But the charity balked because of the dolls' religious nature.

Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and "we don't know anything about their background, their religious affiliations," said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va.

As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."

Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies, said the charity's decision left him "surprised and disappointed."

"The idea was for them to be three-dimensional teaching tools for kids," La Roe said. "I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible."

According to the company's Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus, dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals, recites Scripture such as "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." It has a $20 retail value.

Grein also questioned whether children would welcome a gift designed for religious instruction. "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun," he said.

The program distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children in 2005.

I guess I can see the Marine's point in this. I certainly wouldn't enjoy having my children receive a toy that flew in the face of our family values. ("Merry Christmas kids! Here's your Charles Darwin action figure!") 

But what about the whole idea of a doll made in the image and likeness of Jesus in the first place?

No doubt the toy company involved seems to have it's heart in the right place. And I would have no problem with an audio-animatronic version of say, Peter, Daniel or Paul.

But Jesus?

Have you noticed that in spite of the fact we have four eyewitness biographies of Jesus in the New Testament, there is not even a hint of a physical description of Jesus?

I believe there are two compelling reasons why.

First, the New Testament is not subtle about a mind blowing truth. Jesus was more than a man. He was (and is) God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4,14)

Those who followed and recorded the life of Jesus were Jewish. There was no commandment of the Old Testament nearer and dearer to their hearts than this familiar instruction from the Ten Commandments.

‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
        ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.
        ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. (Deuteronomy 5:6-9)

The disciples had 2000 years of Jewish history to teach them one inescapable conclusion - People love graven images. Mark Twain once put it this way, "In the beginning God created man in His own likeness and image - and ever since we've been trying to return the favor."

Could it be that there is no physical description of Jesus in the New Testament to guard believers from making the same mistake?

The second possible reason we see no physical description of Jesus, is that it really is beside the point. What was it that made Jesus so compelling? His appearance, or His character? His looks, or His Word? His height and weight and hair color? Or the fact that he rose from the dead?

In his classic book Jesus Christ: The Witness of History, Sir Norman Anderson comments on what really catches our attention about Jesus.

"One of the most remarkable things about him was the perfect balance of character He displayed..He was a man, not a woman, yet women as much as men find their perfect example in Him. He was a Jew, not a European, African or Indian; yet men and women of every race find in Him all they would most wish to be."

That is something you simply can't simulate with plastic and computer chips.

This Christmas season, don't forget about Jesus.

Scott's Blog - 11/14/06

The Rocket Man and Religion

There is no doubt that we live in a culture devoted to celebrity worship. But what happens when celebrities use their status to offer their opinions on worship? You guessed it - a firestorm of controversy ignites.

Elton John: Religion Promotes 'Hatred and Spite' Against Gays

Saturday, November 11, 2006

 AP Singer Elton John.

 

LONDON —  Organized religion fuels anti-gay discrimination and other forms of bias, pop star Elton John said in an interview published Saturday.

"I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people," John said in the Observer newspaper's Music Monthly Magazine. "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays."

"But there are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion," he said. "From my point of view, I would ban religion completely. Organized religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate."

Religious leaders have also failed to do anything about tensions and conflicts around the world, he said.

"Why aren't they having a conclave? Why aren't they coming together?" he asked.

John said those in his own field have been similarly lax.

"It's like the peace movement in the '60s. Musicians got through to people by getting out there and doing peace concerts, but we don't seem to do them any more," he said. "If John Lennon were alive today, he'd be leading it with a vengeance."

Elton John's comments immediately raise a number of questions in my mind.

First, why is it that those who decry intolerance, immediately become as intolerant as the intolerable point of view they decry? Is the real answer to hatred and spite against those who practice homosexuality to "ban religion completely"? How would Elton John propose this ban be enacted? How would it be enforced? If we want to see a system that really did turn people into "hateful, uncompassionate lemmings", let's revisit the notable work of banning religion done by Joseph Stalin and Chairman Mao in the last century. http://www.persecution.com/

Second, if  "Organized religion doesn't seem to work", what possible good would come out of the "conclave" Elton John suggests? In my experience, the surest sign of the death of a movement is when any new challenge is greeted with the soul deadening call, "Let's have another meeting!" 

One might also ask, does "organized entertainment" seem to work? Sadly, he concedes that rock music as a force for positive and lasting social change seems to be a relic of a decade seen thirty years in the rear view mirror. 

But the most challenging question prompted by Elton John's remarks is a simple one - Does he have a point?

The Bible tells us there is a stunning difference between religion and a relationship with God. Religion tells us that if we follow certain commands, perform certain rituals or achieve certain states of consciousness we can build our own stairway to heaven. It is man's way of trying to bridge the distance between ourselves and the Almighty.

A relationship with God tells us the opposite is true. We can't be good enough to reach God. Our good works can't make up for our faults, failures and the damage our own selfish ways have done to others. The sad verdict is in: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) That word "all" includes you, me and Elton John in the same lost condition.

But in spite of what we have done, God continues to love us. He did the unthinkable - even sending His Son to pay the price for our wrongs when Jesus died for us on the cross. Because of this act of justice and mercy, we can experience something that religion can never create - a new relationship with our Creator as His dearly loved sons and daughters. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (II Corinthians 5:17-19)

This relationship with God completely changes the way a believer in Jesus deals with people - even those who are in a state of rebellion against the God who loves them. A classic example of this kind of shocking compassion is found in a remarkable incident in the ministry of Jesus.

Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,  they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:2-11)

Here we see that a relationship with God leads us to compassion for those whose lives have been written off by the religious and the self righteous. But as we also see, Jesus also dealt honestly and directly with the very point of rebellion against God that had caused this woman so much personal pain. A person with a real relationship with God loves His Word enough to stand for His ways, even in a sensitive and personal area like our sexuality. But a person with a genuine relationship with God also loves those who decide to continue in their rebellion. A real Christian loves enough to say something when they see someone walking away from the goodness of God. 

There is no doubt that there are those who have used religion as a cover for their own hate. But it is also true that the things we hate most in others, are often the things we fear most in ourselves. When I read remarks like those made by Elton John, I see someone (perhaps unknowingly) falling into the trap of believing that the way to overcome religious bigotry is to paint the religious with one large brush. In the process, people are dehumanized, labeled, and dismissed.

 In his hit song "Tiny Dancer", Elton John used the term "Jesus Freak" to describe a Christian he encountered. I had a friend back in the Jesus Movement days who used to say, "Jesus doesn't make people into freaks. He makes freaks into people." Let's pray that the Lord will give us the love and the power to show the world around us that the true and living God is in the business of freeing people from religion. He wants us to know a life changing relationship with Himself!

Scott's Blog - 11/13/06

Talk About An Understatement!

If you checked in on Scott's Blog last Friday, you know the entry ended with the observation, "Prophetically significant events seem to be accelerating." 

Better replace the words "seem to be", with a simple "are".

A glance at the developments in the Middle East over the weekend brings to mind a haunting prophecy from Jeremiah.

    "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
         Saying, 'Peace, peace,'
         But there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14)

Iraq allies urge Bush to turn to Iran, Syria

By Claudia Parsons Mon Nov 13, 10:30 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -

President Bush was under pressure from some of his closest allies on Monday to turn to arch enemies Iran and Syria for help in stabilizing Iraq amid Iraqi government paralysis and fears of all-out civil war.

Bush has said he is looking for "fresh perspectives" on Iraq after his Republican Party received a drubbing in last week's mid-term elections, losing control of both houses of Congress.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will call on Monday for Syria and Iran to be engaged in efforts to stem violence in Iraq and to secure a broader Middle East peace settlement.

Blair will argue the need for a Middle East strategy that includes making clear to Damascus and Tehran how they can help in the region while warning them of the consequences of hindering peace, a spokeswoman said.

His comments, to be made in an annual foreign policy speech, will show his willingness to work with Syria and Iran on Iraq -- an idea so far spurned by Bush, who is fiercely critical of both countries and has accused them of fomenting violence in Iraq.

Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, another of Bush's loyal backers in Iraq, also said on Monday talks should be held with Syria and Iran on ending the violence in Iraq.

Quite how far Tehran or Damascus are motivated to step into the turmoil of Iraq to aid Washington is unclear.

Some, including the blue ribbon commission on US policy in Iraq, call engaging the Iranians and Syrians in a stabilization process in the region "realism".

Perhaps they need a refresher course on the reality of the people they are considering as "partners for peace".

How is Israel reacting to all this? Best selling author and prophetic trends expert Joel Rosenberg offers this assessment.

Monday, November 13, 2006

IS ISRAEL PREPARING TO ATTACK IRAN?

 

(JERUSALEM, ISRAEL) -- The buzz here in the last few days is that Israel is seriously considering a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets today with President Bush. Iran is Topic A, and Olmert is publicly warning Iran to watch out. "I don't believe that Iran will accept [a diplomatic] compromise unless they have good reason to fear the consequences of not reaching a compromise," Olmert said over the weekend. "In other words, Iran must start to fear."

Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh has been telling reporters in recent days that Israel may, in fact, be forced to attack Iran if no one else is willing to stop Ahmadinejad from going nuclear. "I am not advocating an Israeli preemptive military action against Iran," Sneh said Friday. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort."

That said, I am not convinced Israel has the capacity -- or the will -- at the moment to neutralize the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat. After her less than spectacular war with Hezbollah this summer, Israelis inside and outside of the government have told me, "If we can't convincingly defeat Nasrallah in Lebanon, are we really about to take on Ahmadinejad by ourselves?"

From an American perspective, I don't believe it is wise for the U.S. to outsource our national security. If President Bush believes Iran needs to be neutralized (and I believe he does), and he is convinced that military action is the only way (I don't believe he is there right now), then the U.S. should take the lead. Only we have military forces on three sides of Iran -- in Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkey. Only we have several aircraft carrier groups in the region. Only we have the force projection to get the job done. It will not be easy be any means. The cost of war with Iran will be very high, and we should not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise. If there is another way to get the job done besides military force, we should vigorously pursue those options by all means.

But Olmert's message to Bush no doubt will be: we're running out of time. And he's right. If anyone is going to stop Iran from threatening the world with nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, it has to be soon, perhaps no later than the end of 2007. After all, 2008 is an American election year. 2009 will be the start of a new administration. By then it may be too late. The thermonuclear genie may be out of the bottle.

That said, Olmert should not hold his breath with anticipation that the U.S. is going to move militarily against Iran if Israel doesn't. The emergence of Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Reid means President Bush has almost no political capital left in the bank, and precious few allies in Washington (much less in Europe or the Middle East) for embarking on yet another preemptive war.

So where do things stand? A new Hitler is rising in Iran. Ahmadinejad and his radical Shiite eschatology threatens the peace of the world. Tehran poses a clear and present danger to the U.S., Israel and our allies in the region. But no one seems willing or able to stop Iran before it's too late. No wonder the Psalmist urges us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

The bottom line? The pressure is building. The stakes have never been higher. Could the inability of the West to make a stand against the rising tide of Islamofascism set the stage for a last days world dictator who will bring in a short lived era of prosperity and peace?

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (I Thessalonians 5:1-3)

Scott's Blog - 11/10/06

More Pieces of the Puzzle in Place?

It seems that the elections here in the United States are having a rippling effect across the world. Some of these ripples are stirring up situations that may very well be significant in a prophetic sense. A few items to keep a Scriptural eye on:

Islamofascism is Emboldened

The media here is feverishly trying to sort through the blizzard of opinion and draw conclusions from last Tuesday's election results. Half a world away, the conclusions have already been drawn - and they are not encouraging.

Al-Qaida in Iraq Claims It's Winning War

Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a new audio tape Friday to be winning the war faster than expected in Iraq and said it had mobilized 12,000 fighters who had "vowed to die for God's sake."

The U.S. military, meanwhile, reported that three U.S. soldiers and a Marine were killed Thursday in Iraq, the U.S. military said, bringing the number of Americans who have died in the country so far this month to 25. At least 105 U.S. forces died in October, the fourth highest monthly toll of the war.

On the audio tape made available on militant Web sites, the al-Qaida in Iraq leader also welcomed the Republican electoral defeat that led to the departure of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. He added that the group's fighters would not rest until they had blown up the White House.

"The al-Qaida army has 12,000 fighters in Iraq, and they have vowed to die for God's sake," a man who identified himself as Abu Hamza al- Muhajir said.

Al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also urged the U.S. to stay in Iraq so his group would have more opportunities to kill American troops. "We haven't had enough of your blood yet," he told the U.S.

"We will not rest from our Jihad until we are under the olive trees of Rumieh and we have blown up the filthiest house _ which is called the White House," al-Muhajir said.

Some have wondered about the seeming absence of mention of the United States in End Times prophecy. (See Scott's Blog 9/13/06) How could the largest and most powerful military and economic force on the planet not play a role in the last days? The answer may be simpler than many thought. Military and economic might only matter if a nation has the will to use them. Letting someone else lead in the world (i.e. Revived Rome and the Anti-Christ) seems far more possible now than it did even six months ago. I still believe that the number of believers who will vanish at the rapture (I Thessalonians 4:16-18) will render America a sideline player at best when the Beast (Revelation 13) seizes power. But the lack of resolve in the War on Islamofascism hasn't caused Al Qaida to go away and play nice. The results of last week's election has only re-enforced their dream of destroying the White House.

Russian Armies In Lebanon

A key prophetic event of the Last Days will be a Russian lead invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). (See Scott's Blog 7/12/06) A jaw dropping step in the set up of such a move was recently noted in the Jerusalem Post.

Oct. 27, 2006 14:31 | Updated Oct. 28, 2006 10:02
Russia sends independent force to Lebanon
By JPOST.COM STAFF

Russia is sending a peacekeeping force to Lebanon, which will operate independently of the UNIFIL force currently stationed in the region, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Friday.

Ivanov said that the Russian force would be sent in coordination with the Lebanese government.

Russia's Defense Minister claimed that the UNIFIL troops did not have the ability to disarm Hizbullah as was demanded by UN Security Council resolution 1701.

Ivanov added that more than 300 Engineering Corp troops, who are currently working in Lebanon to rebuild bridges destroyed in IAF airstrikes, would return to Russia within six weeks.

Israel Radio reported that Indonesia rejected for the fourth time sending 1,000 troops to join the UNIFIL force, citing logistical reasons.

Notice that this "peace keeping force" is not in Lebanon under any UN mandate. They are not there to join the UNIFIL effort to inhibit Hezbollah from restocking south Lebanon with troops and missiles. The Russian force will be there for it's own purposes, and will be under the control of Vladimir Putin. So far, not a word from the State Department on this unprecedented power grab by Russia.

Israel Sees the Handwriting On the Wall

Al Qaida isn't the only player in the Middle East that seems to be taking note of our lack of resolve.

JPost.com » Israel » Article Nov. 10, 2006 0:58 | Updated Nov. 10, 2006 21:11 Sneh to 'Post': 'IDF must stop Iran' By GIL HOFFMAN Sanctions against Iran are unlikely to work, so Israel must be prepared to thwart Teheran's drive for a nuclear capability "at all costs," the newly installed Deputy Minister of Defense Ephraim Sneh has told The Jerusalem Post.   'I prefer fewer declarations and more deeds' "I am not advocating an Israeli preemptive military action against Iran, and I am aware of all of its possible repercussions," Sneh stressed. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort." THE IRANIAN THREAT JPost.com special: news, opinion, blogs and more In the most dramatic comments to date by a senior government member on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear program, the former IDF brigadier-general described an untenable scenario of Israel "living under a dark cloud of fear from a leader committed to its destruction." He said he was afraid that, under such a threat, "most Israelis would prefer not to live here; most Jews would prefer not to come here with their families; and Israelis who can live abroad will. People are not enthusiastic about being scorched." Thus the danger, Sneh elaborated, was that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would "be able to kill the Zionist dream without pushing a button. That's why we must prevent this regime from obtaining nuclear capability at all costs." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Thursday night that Iran posed a serious threat that needed to be addressed with a cool head. "There is no issue that I deal with more intensively than the Iranian problem," he told a Kadima meeting in Petah Tikva. But he cautioned against creating panic among the public. "We have to handle the issue with coolheadedness and wisdom," he said. "Even the Russians don't want a nuclear Iran. We have to talk to everyone and remind them of the danger of a Muslim extremist nation using a nuclear weapon to harm another nation. The big countries have to lead and we have to push them." Sneh said he still hoped the international community would institute effective sanctions against Iran, but that "the chances are not high... My working assumption is that they won't succeed." Interviewed in his Knesset office, Sneh said his priority was to define Israel's national goals, including "preparing the IDF for victory in the next round with Iran and its proxies." High on the list was the need to improve the country's defense systems, he said. "We developed and produced the Arrow, the only system that can intercept nuclear missiles. Depending on the altitude, when intercepted, the warheads do not detonate. But Israel needs to substantially improve its indigenous long-range capacities." Sheera Claire Frenkel contributed to this report. The full interview with Sneh appears in Features. Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh (Labor).

The bottom line is that prophetically significant events seem to be accelerating again. The absence of the United States, the prominence of Russia, and Israel acknowledging it may soon be in another fight for her very existence are all coming into sharper focus. Is your understanding of the signs of the return of Jesus in need of some clarity? A great resource to bring you up to speed on these events from a Biblical point of view is Pastor Chuck Smith's book The Final Curtain. It is available through The Word For Today.

You may want to check out the Prophecy Update we have available on mp3 format on our welcome page as well.

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28)

Scott's Blog - 11/09/06

A Night To Remember

 It happened 68 years ago today. The unthinkable became the unavoidable. But will it become the repeatable?

On the night of November 9, 1938 Storm Troopers leading wild mobs across Germany and later Austria struck at Jewish targets with unrivaled savagery. The windows of Jewish-owned stores were shattered and every one of the 7,500 Jewish businesses and shops that had escaped earlier “Aryanization” (confiscation) were ransacked. Jewish homes were assaulted and the residents brutally attacked. Cemeteries and schools were vandalized and 2,000 synagogues were put to the torch. Killing and maiming was rampant and over 30,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps where many were murdered; all were tortured.

It took over half a year to replace the glass that had been smashed, hence the name Kristallnacht - the night of broken glass. The Jewish community was fined one billion Reichsmarks for the bedlam; insurance payments of 25 million Reichsmarks that rightfully should have gone to their Jewish policy owners went to the state while Jewish store owners were compelled to repair the shops that had been expropriated.

View at the new synagogue in downtown Munich, southern Germany, on Thursday Nov. 9, 2006. On Thursday, the 68th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, Torah scrolls were marched with fanfare through the winding, cobblestone streets of downtown Munich to a newly built synagogue in the heart of the city. (AP Photo/Ralf Succo,Pool)

The accurate translation of Kristallnacht is “Crystal Night,” and Field Marshal Hermann Goering, who had just been charged with implementing the Reich’s Jewish policy, intended to use this connotation to ridicule the victims. Like so many other Nazi perversions of language (Sonderbehandlung, “special treatment” referring to gassing victims; Euthanasie, for mass murder of retarded and physically handicapped patients) this term was meant to be a cynical appellation that would free the victims of any sympathy and reinterpret murder, arson, robbery and plunder into a glistening event marked by sparkle and gleam.

History books refer to Kristallnacht as the beginning of the Holocaust. This is akin to saying that the burning of the Reichstag is what was responsible for Hitler becoming Germany's unchallenged Fuhrer. Such oversimplification conveys an ignorance of history and aborts the chance for the proper lesson to be learned.

Nearly seven decades is adequate time to soberly reflect, and set the record straight. Auschwitz did not evolve from the Wannsee Conference, which did not evolve from The Nuremberg Laws, which did not evolve from Versailles humiliation.

The eventuality of the Holocaust was inescapable regardless of Kristallnacht. Once the dynamics of hatred were engaged, annihilation was inevitable. The Nazis sought a “Final Solution” to the “Jewish problem” and they had the might, the determination and the requisite ruthlessness for its execution.

The Nazis attempted to portray Kristallnacht as a spontaneous eruption of German hatred for the Jews. Alas, nothing happens overnight; hatred festers, it doesn’t metastasize.

The Nazis assiduously educated their populace (drawing upon a copious history and tradition) regarding the supposed danger posed by the Jews. The outcome of this education was the greatest and most appalling genocide in history.

Over half-a-century later this is precisely what is so terrifying about the instruction conducted in the Palestinian Authority and the Hizbolla educational network. Hatred of the Jews is taught in schools and preached in the mosques. Cartoons and articles in newspapers routinely portray Jews in blatantly anti-Semitic terms, mirroring Der Sturmer.

All of the Arab media are harnessed toward this goal as if Dr. Joeseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, were orchestrating the campaign. Palestinian and Hizbolla Television broadcasts hatred and incitement daily, such as this weekly feature: “Mohammed said in his Hadith: The Day of Resurrection will not arrive until you fight the Jews, until a Jew will hide behind a tree and the plant will say, ‘Oh Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!’”

The message is that the murder of Jews is a religious obligation. Moslem clerics repeat this theme in their Friday sermons praising Shahada (suicide bombers cum martyrs). The continued glorification of Shahada is yet another cynical perversion of semantics to free the victims of any sympathy and reinterpret murder as admirable, heroic and the fulfillment of Islamic faith. This past summer Hizbolla demonstrated what it could do when it had the might, the determination and the requisite ruthlessness.

Hence the methodology employed by Palestinian and Hizbolla indoctrinators does not resonate with historical familiarity; it shouts from the housetops.

When Germany was losing on two fronts it removed troops from battle to assist in the murder of Jews. In July of 1944 Germany needed every rail car to begin its evacuation of Greece and send reinforcements to southern Russia. Yet not a single train was diverted from the extermination camp deportations. Unemployment is widespread in the Palestinian Authority and hunger is prevalent. Resources that could be used to alleviate the situation are diverted to the purchase of rockets that are fired upon innocent Israeli citizens.

Kristallnacht did not serve as a wake-up call 68 years ago to a world that was tolerant and uncomprehending of hatred; perhaps it will today. The message is crystal clear.

The philosopher Santyana once said, "Those who fail to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it." There is no doubt that there are distinct parellels between the world of 1938 and 2006. There is a growing political/spiritual movement whose coalescing principle is blaming and hating the Jews for all the world's ills. But there is one significant difference. The Nazi's plan to exterminate the Jewish people would take years. The plan of the modern standard bearers of anti-Semitism (like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad) is to wipe out Israel in six minutes with the use of nuclear weapons.

The Bible makes it clear that such plans will not succeed. But God also makes it clear that hard times lie ahead for Israel, but with an amazing spiritual victory in the end.

“ Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
      Against the Man who is My Companion,”
      Says the LORD of hosts.

      “ Strike the Shepherd,
      And the sheep will be scattered;
      Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
        And it shall come to pass in all the land,”
      Says the LORD,

      “ That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
      But one-third shall be left in it:
        I will bring the one-third through the fire,
      Will refine them as silver is refined,
      And test them as gold is tested.
      They will call on My name,
      And I will answer them.
      I will say, ‘This is My people’;
      And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’" (Zechariah 13:7-9)

Scott's Blog - 11/08/06

Now What?

As everyone who has been within earshot of a television the last 24 hours knows, an election that may very well foretell a sea change in the policies of the United States, both foreign and domestic, has come to an end. 

The causes and consequences of this event on a secular level are being sifted and analyzed by both political insiders and outsiders, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

But what are the spiritual implications of this last election?

Eight states approved amendments to ban gay marriage.

Arizona voted down a constitutional change that would define marriage as a one man-one woman institution and would have curbed government benefits for civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Missouri narrowly approved the Michael J. Fox promoted embryonic stem cell research proposition.

Michigan voters decided race and gender should not be factors in university admissions and hiring for government jobs.

Nevada and Colorado voters rejected initiatives legalizing possession of small quantities of marijuana.

In Arizona, illegal immigrants were denied the right to sue for damages, or take advantage of a growing list of government benefits.

From a "traditional values" point of view, we certainly have a mixed bag of results.

But the question I am most asked these days is an intriguing one - are there prophetic implications to this election?

The simple answer? Maybe so. Maybe not.

On the "maybe so" side of the agenda, consider this:

Dems' Wins in U.S. Races Concern Israel Nov 08 1:54 PM US/Eastern
By STEVEN STANEK Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM

 

Israelis are worried the Democratic power swing in Washington curbing President Bush's power will lead to less decisive action on Iran's nuclear ambitions, which they consider an imminent threat.

Still, Israelis interviewed Wednesday said they don't think the U.S. election results _ giving Democrats control of the House and erasing the Republicans' Senate majority _ will diminish American support for Israel.

Bush is popular among Israelis for aggressive policies toward Islamic extremism and his steadfast support for Israel, even as much of the world criticizes the Jewish state for its policies toward the Palestinians.

Most Israelis also see Bush as a strong ally against Iran's hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said repeatedly that Israel should be destroyed. Israel sees itself as the primary target of a nuclear-armed Iran.

"Most Israelis understand that the Israeli interests, at this point, rest on future decisive statesmanship and decisive action in relation to the nuclear threat of Iran," said Menahem Blondheim of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

"Without the political support at home and in his party and among the American public, a decisive military or diplomatic move (by Bush) against Iran seems less and less likely," he said.

Blondheim said the Democrats may open the door wider for European nations, which many Israelis see as pro-Arab, to engage in Middle East diplomacy.

"Some Israelis are worried about the notion that the Democrats tend to be oriented toward multilateral diplomacy. For many Israelis, having European powers and other countries join the Middle Eastern conflict is bad news," he said.

Jacob Kay, a Web designer in Jerusalem, said he expected a Democratic majority to be less attuned to Israeli interests.

"If the House has gone Democrat, obviously that's worse for Israel because the supporters of Israel and freedom in the Middle East tend to be Republicans," said Kay, who said he was worried about any relaxation in America's policy toward Iran.

Still, many Israelis were not overly concerned.

"I think support for Israel is quite entrenched, and Israelis should not fear any deterioration in Israeli-American relations," said Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University. "We have a long history. We shouldn't panic."

Rami Bengur, 58, who owns a video store in Jerusalem, agreed.

"I believe in the Democratic Party or the Republican Party _ they're both from a democracy," he said. "This country is very important for them. From my point of view, they will do anything to protect Israel, no matter which party."

Others said it was too early to judge the elections' ramifications for Israel.

Political Analyst Yossi Alpher said he thinks there will be changes in the president's agenda, but that does not necessarily translate to a dramatic swing in policy over Iran. The first issue on the table, he said, will be the war in Iraq.

"I'm not sure that it will change the U.S. policy, it depends on the Cabinet," said Menashe Dan, a 32-year-old baker. "I think there will be a change of the foreign affairs, but I'm not sure what it's going to be _ only time will tell."

The critical question for those watching the signs of the times is this - Will the changes in the Senate and House cause a change in United States support for Israel?

Change certainly is in the air, as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has resigned. His replacement, Ex CIA chief Robert Gates, holds a decidedly different perspective on the Middle East.

A New Perspective on Iran?

Gates

Whatever else he may bring to his new job at the Pentagon, Robert Gates apparently holds a view on the highly sensitive subject of relations with Iran that hasn’t been embraced by all his new colleagues in the Bush administration.

At a White House news conference, President Bush made the stunning announcement that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is departing, to be replaced by Gates. That announcement will immediately focus attention on the views held by Gates, a longtime Washington national security hand who was a leading adviser to President Bush’s father during the first war with Iraq.

On at least one Persian Gulf issue, Gates has been associated with a different approach than the one now being pursued. In the summer of 2004, Gates and former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski co-chaired a task force sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations that argued for opening a dialogue with Iran. The task force’s report contended that the lack of American engagement with Iran had harmed American interests, and advocated direct talks with the Iranians. “Just as the United States has a constructive relationship with China (and earlier did so with the Soviet Union) while strongly opposing certain aspects of its internal and international policies, Washington should approach Iran with a readiness to explore areas of common interests while continuing to contest objectionable policy,” said the report, entitled “Iran: Time for a New Approach.” (Read the task force’s report and Read excerpts of Gates’s writings on Iraq, Iran, terrorism, intelligence.)

Bush’s announcement of the change at the Pentagon seemed to be a direct contradiction to his contention last week that Rumsfeld would be saying on the job. But the president’s description of how the change took place made clear that the decision to replace Rumsfeld was already in the works as he made those comments. The president described the change not by saying that defense secretary had decided to leave, but by saying that “after a series of thoughtful conversations, Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed” it was time for a change. –Gerald F. Seib

Whether this signals a change of support for Israel remains to be seen. What does not change is God's timeless promise concerning the sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:

I will make you a great nation;
      I will bless you
      And make your name great;
      And you shall be a blessing.

  I will bless those who bless you,
      And I will curse him who curses you;
      And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

Will the new configuration of power in Washington stand with Israel, or include in a "peace at any price" philosophy casting aside not just the only Western style democracy in the region, but also the epicenter of God's work in this world?

Stay tuned!

Scott's Blog - 11/07/06

The Separation of Church and Mind

Every time an election cycle rolls around, I have a flash back to the '80's.

Not to a campaign during the Reagan years, but to the first time I heard an album by a cutting edge Christian artist named Steve Taylor. In his now classic album On The Fritz, Taylor included a cautionary tale about placing too much trust in politicians who are adept at saying what people want to hear.

It's A Personal Thing

The press conference
It's a personal thing, and I find it odd
you would question my believing in a personal God
I'm devout, I'm sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it
I'm religious, but I'd rather not get radical about it
the old-time believers had timidity and grace
but this new generation doesn't know its place
you're entitled to believe, but the latest Gallup Poll
says you mustn't interfere--that's the government's role

The nomination speech
It's a personal thing, and I boldly state
that my views on morality will have to wait
'til my personal life's out of the public eye
and the limitations statue can protect my alibi
I'm devout, I'm sincere, and I'm proud to say
that it's had exactly no effect on who I am today
I believe for the benefit for all mankind
in the total separation of church and mind

The victory night
It's a personal thing, and I plainly speak
(from the same code of ethics that I held last week)
as I promised if elected this election day
with the help of God almighty...I'll do it my way

I have come to believe that during an election we need to remember two things. Real change in our culture will happen through conversion, not legislation. If people's hearts are changed by a true relationship with God, the way they look at even the most secular sounding issues will change as well. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)

You may have heard it said, "You can't legislate morality." Actually, at the end of the day, every law on the books is an attempt to give guidelines for behavior in our society. Every law is legislated morality. 

But it is true that you can't legislate spirituality. This is where the Good News of Jesus comes in. This is our job as believers, to change this world one heart at a time by introducing people to the love and truth of Christ.

So should we care about elections? Absolutely.

Christians are called not to isolate from our culture but to influence it. 

 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-14)

The reason I voted today wasn't because I was convinced everyone on the ballot was a paragon of godliness. But I voted because in our unique situation as believers in a representative democracy, I have the chance in a small way to be like a Nehemiah, or an Esther. On the first Tuesday in November, I have the ear of the king. If I fail to use that privilege in a way that accords with godly principles, I have missed the chance to honor the Lord in a significant area of life.

As Steve Taylor warned back in the '80's, there will be politicians who will honor God with their lips, even as their hearts are far from Him. Someday they will give their own account to God. 

We as Christians need to realize that political action is no substitute for personal evangelism in changing this world. But we also need to realize that by participating in the political process, we can use this unique opportunity to be salt and light in a rapidly decaying and darkening world.

The reports in the tragic fall of Ted Haggard went from bad to worse, as speculation and accusation were replaced with confirmation.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — In the hush of a Sunday morning, believers grieved, struggled and forgave as their pastor, the Rev. Ted Haggard, confessed his sins.

"I am a deceiver and a liar," Haggard told 9,000 of his followers in a letter read from the pulpit of New Life Church by one of his spiritual mentors. "There's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life."

Could you imagine how you would react if the man you entrusted as a spiritual leader, 

as a spokesman for God and His Word, 

as a man whose example you followed from the time the church met in a basement - to the glory days of a booming mega-church,

as a man whose ministry had a nation wide impact,

made those words his farewell message to you and your fellow members of New Hope Church?

Where is the "hope" in that?

Believe it or not - the aftermath of this scandal is literally loaded with hope. Even at this early stage, the signs of the gracious, healing hand of God are everywhere.

First for Ted Haggard. I believe that there was only one fate worse for this man than the one he has endured - Continuing to live out a lie.

“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
      Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
        For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
      And scourges every son whom He receives.”

 If^[ you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11)

The fact that Ted Haggard's double life was so thoroughly exposed tells us that God simply wouldn't let him get away with it. He loves the man too much to let him continue in such soul destroying behavior. 

And if God has taken Ted Haggard to the proverbial wood shed, it is certain He won't simply leave him there. Depending on how he continues to respond to God's discipline, it is entirely possible that the end product will be "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" for him and his family.

The initial response to having his dirty laundry exposed seemed to be at first defensive and evasive. But the second sign of God's hand at work is revealed in the amazingly blunt nature of  the confession,  "I am a liar and a deceiver". 

When I think back on the disaster of the TV Evangelist Scandals of the '80's, the thing that did the real damage wasn't just the fact that the sins of some high profile spiritual celebrities were exposed. It was the utter unwillingness to deal with the fall humbly and honestly that fueled the ridicule. Law suits were threatened. Steps toward restoration were accepted, then dismissed, because the people involved believed themselves too important to spend time on the sidelines. Soon the major players were playing the "Yes, but.." game. 

In contrast, Haggard's unconditional resignation, and uncompromising assessment of his own behavior may place him in the best possible place for personal healing.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

Finally, this debacle may set the stage for an incredibly powerful ministry to thrive and grow. 

At the sad service on Sunday, family pastor Larry Stockstill read a brief but powerful letter from arguably the most devastated innocent by stander in the whole process - Gayle Haggard.

She said her heart was broken, but she promised to stand by her husband.

"For those of you who have been concerned that my marriage was so perfect I could not possibly relate to the women who are facing great difficulties, know that this will never again be the case," she wrote, evoking a ripple of laughter. "My test has begun; watch me. I will try to prove myself faithful."

The congregation also seems to be on a remarkably solid footing. 

The congregation rose as one. For a long minute, they stood, applauding, sniffling. Interim senior pastor Ross Parsley bounded to the podium. "Listen," he said, "we all feel worse than we did a week ago. But we were worse off a week ago. Today, we all are more obedient, more repentant, more transparent than we've been in a long time."

Here and there in the vast sanctuary, members of Haggard's congregation called out: "Amen."

Afterward, in the lobby, many worshipers echoed Parsley's words. Some were angry at Ted Haggard; many were bewildered. But all said that their faith was not shaken; it was renewed. They would hold fast to all Haggard had taught them over the years, including his preaching that homosexual behavior is an affront to God.

"He believes that what he taught us is true," said Carol Groesbeck, 61.

"I don't think there's anything that needs to be reevaluated," said her husband, Jim, 61, an elder at New Life Church. "We know what we believe, but it's difficult to live that out. That's not just Ted's struggle. It's our struggle."

Michelle Gatson, 37, said she felt reinvigorated by the service after a week that left her so spent, all she wanted to do was "be lying on the floor at home, crying." A member of the choir, she said she found healing in the songs of praise — praise not for any man, but for God. "I love my pastor," she said. "But I'm glad I didn't put my faith in him. He's human."

God is at work in this disaster. It is a reminder of a familiar but timeless truth.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Scott's Blog - 11/03/06

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

There is something about national election time that tends to bring out the worst in people. 

And sometimes I'm not sure which is worse - the hypocritical behavior that gets plastered all over the headlines and lead stories, or the cunning manipulators who time such disclosures with the hope of influencing the vote.

Case in point?

Evangelical America hit by gay sex scandal

By Ed Stoddard Fri Nov 3, 11:56 AM ET

DALLAS (Reuters) - America's evangelical movement grappled on Friday with a high-profile gay sex scandal that evoked torrid affairs of the past and embarrassed the politically active cause days before nationwide elections.

The movement supports ballot initiatives in several states on Tuesday which aim to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Ted Haggard, a vocal opponent of gay marriage, resigned his post as president of the National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort.

"This is a blow as the National Association of Evangelicals is a significant organization for us. We would always want to lift up a high standard of conduct for church leaders," said Gary Ledbetter, the director of communications for the Dallas-based Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Haggard, who has publicly denied the accusation, also temporarily stepped down as senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

But the acting senior pastor at New Life Church, Ross Parsley, told Colorado Springs-based KKTV late on Thursday that Haggard had admitted to some of the allegations.

"There has been some admission of indiscretion, not admission to all of the material that has been discussed, but there is an admission of some guilt," Parsley said.

With his chiseled features and wide smile Haggard was a poster boy for the evangelical movement and social conservative causes. Harper's Magazine reported he had regularly advised the White House.

Conservative Christians are a support base for the Republican Party and

President George W. Bush. Evangelical leaders have been urging the faithful to vote on Tuesday with polls showing Republicans set to lose control of one and perhaps both houses of Congress.

They also have encouraged conservative voters in eight states including Colorado to support proposed amendments to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The furor has revived the memories of the financial and sex scandals that brought down two of the most prominent televangelists of the 1980s, Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart

So what are we as believers to make of all this?

First, we need to avoid a rush to judgment. These allegations may be true. They may not be. A late breaking story throws this twist into the proceedings.

Haggard's accuser fails lie detector

By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer

Ted Haggard's accuser failed a polygraph test early this morning about the truthfulness of his accusations that he had had a three-year homosexual affair with the influential Colorado Springs minister.

The test was given to Michael Jones, 49, an admitted male prostitute, who made the allegations on the Peter Boyles Show on radio station KHOW Thursday morning.

The shocking allegations were denied by Haggard, who told KUSA-9News he never took part in a homosexual affair and had always been faithful to his wife, with whom he has 5 children.

So Boyles invited Jones to take a polygraph test at 5 a.m. this morning.

The test administrator, John Kresnik, said Jones' score indicated "deceptions" in his answers. However, Kresnik said he doubted the accuracy of the test he administered because of the recent stress on Jones and his inability to eat or sleep, according to KHOW producer Greg Hollenback.

Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week after he was rested.

The single most practical piece of Scriptural guidance for situations like these is found In Galatians 6:1.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

The bottom line? Treat others who are in a compromised position the same way you would want to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot. Remember, we are dealing with actual human beings in a situation like this, including a wife, five children and over 10,000 people who are part of the fellowship at the epicenter of this spiritual earth quake. It is better to be found praying for God's compassion and justice to prevail, than to be found making haughty pronouncements about our own opinions in the matter.

Second, we need to remain faithful to our convictions.

As I mentioned at the outset, the timing of this "revelation" really is interesting. With a number of states voting on ballot initiatives designed to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman, what better way to discourage "values voters" than a scandal? But the Biblical conviction behind these initiatives hasn't changed, and neither should our commitment to stand for what is right in God's eyes. 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58)

Third, we need to seize opportunities to share our faith

When a scandal of this magnitude breaks, it is easy to want to maintain a low profile as a Christian. Who really wants to face the inevitable "Hey! What do you think about this?" questions the nonbeliever and the skeptic will ask? 

Believe it or not, we should be glad to encounter those questions.

During the TV Evangelist scandals of the '80's I was spending a lot of time doing ministry on college campuses. When people would ask "Why should I follow Jesus when the worst hypocrites are in the church?", I learned to respond in a direct, but simple way.

"Yes, you are right. That is why I don't call you to follow a church, or a pastor, or a television evangelist. I call you to follow Jesus. You will find He is no hypocrite!"

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,  whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:1-6)

The more we go on in this life we are going to discover that people are people. No matter what level of prominence they may have, all human beings are just as flawed and fallible as we know we are deep down inside. Let's do our best not to live lives that discredit the message of Christ. But let's also remember there is only One Person Who will never let us down. Whatever is going on in the news, let's make Jesus our lead story!

Scott's Blog - 11/02/06

Gone, But Not Forgotten

One of the most read stories on the Yahoo! web site captured my attention this morning.

Letters to God end up in ocean, unread

By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer Thu Nov 2, 2:07 PM ET

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Some of the letters are comical (a man asking God to let him win the lottery, twice), others are heartbreaking (a distraught teen asking forgiveness for an abortion, an unwed mother pleading with God to make the baby's father marry her).

The letters about 300 in all, sent to a New Jersey minister ended up dumped in the ocean, most of them unopened.

The minister died two years ago at 79. How the letters, some dating to 1973, wound up bobbing in the surf is a mystery.

"There are hundreds of lives here, a lot of struggle, washed up on the beach," said Bill Lacovara, a Ventnor insurance adjuster who was fishing last month with his son when he spotted a flowered plastic shopping bag and waded out to retrieve it. "This is just a hint of what really happens. How many letters like this all over the world aren't being opened or answered?"

Many of the letters were addressed to the Rev. Grady Cooper, though many more simply said "Altar." According to the text of several of them, they were intended to be placed on a church's altar and prayed over by the minister, the congregation or both.

Some were neatly written in script on white-lined paper, others in a feverish scrawl on tattered scraps of parchment or note cards. Many were crinkled from being in the water and then dried out after Lacovara fished them out of the sea.

A dog-eared business card inside one of the letters identified Cooper as associate pastor of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Jersey City. A woman who answered the phone at the church office confirmed Cooper once was a minister there, and had died nearly two years ago. The current pastor did not return several calls from The Associated Press over the past few days.

Other documents in the bag, including bank statements and canceled checks, also listed Cooper's name and an address for him in Jersey City. A death certificate issued in 2004 for a Grady Cooper lists the same address as those on the bank documents and some of the letters.

His wife, Frances, whose name also showed up on some of the letters at the same address, died in 2000, according to Hudson County records.

No one answered the door last week at the address where Cooper once lived, and a neighbor said he did not recall anyone by that name. Attempts to locate Cooper's relatives were unsuccessful.

Lacovara speculated that someone cleaning out Cooper's home found the letters and threw them on the beach in Atlantic City, about 100 miles from Jersey City.

"I guess rather than just throw them in the garbage, maybe they thought they'd set them out to sea to bless these people," he said. "So they made a trip to Atlantic City, maybe went to a casino, and put the letters in the water."

The letters, wrapped in several smaller brown paper bags inside the larger plastic bag, did not appear to have been in the water too long, Lacovara said, though about half were too badly damaged to be legible.

He opened a few with his son, Rocky, on the beach. The first few were humorous.

"I'm still praying to hit the lottery twice: first the $50,000," one man wrote. "Than after some changes have taken place let me hit the millionaire."

Another asked God to make a certain someone "leave me alone and stay off my back," while still another asks God to calm a woman who "call the Internal Revenue on me."

One woman complained that her husband always talks about sex, and another writer anonymously dropped a dime to God on someone cheating on his wife, complete with dates, times and locations.

But those, Lacovara soon found, were the exception.

Many more were written by anguished spouses, children or widows, pouring out their hearts to God, asking for help with relatives who were using drugs, gambling or cheating on them. One man wrote from prison, saying he was innocent and wanted to be back home with his family. A woman wrote that her boyfriend was now closing the door to her daughter's bedroom each night when it used to stay open, and wondered why.

A teenager poured out her heart on yellow-lined paper in the curlicue pencil handwriting of a schoolgirl, begging God to forgive her and asking for a second chance.

"Lord, I know that I have had an abortion and I killed one of your angels," she wrote. "There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about the mistake I made."

One unwed mother wrote that her baby was due in four weeks, and asked God to make the father fall in love with her and marry her so the child would have a father.

This is heart rending stuff. The idea of these cries of the heart - ignored, dismissed, disposed of in a green plastic bag is tragic.

But were these prayers ignored?

 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
         To all who call upon Him in truth.
  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
         He also will hear their cry and save them. (Psalm 145:18-19)

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
         And delivered me from all my fears.
  They looked to Him and were radiant,
         And their faces were not ashamed.
  This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
         And saved him out of all his troubles.
 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
         And delivers them.
         
  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
         Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
  Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
         There is no want to those who fear Him.
  The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
         But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:4-10)

 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:7-8)

Will God ever ignore a cry of the heart? The paper these prayers were written on ended up in the Atlantic Ocean off the Jersey Shore. But we can be sure that the needs represented in each of these requests did not escape the notice of God Himself. They might not have made it to an earthly "prayer altar" in a church, but they did end up before God's throne of grace.

Remember, when you pray, God is listening!

Scott's Blog - 11/01/06

The Power of Words

In political circles it is traditionally called an "October Surprise"- A last minute turn of events that seems custom designed to rapidly change public opinion right before an election.

It appears that a professed "botched joke" by Senator John Kerry has provided a controversy whose impact is already being felt, and final results remain to be seen. 

At issue is Kerry's comment, to a group of California students on Monday, that people unable to succeed in the U.S. educational system would likely "get stuck in Iraq." Kerry says he merely botched a speech line written to be critical of Bush, while Republicans seized on it as evidence of troop-bashing by the Democratic party's 2004 presidential nominee.

Although Senator Kerry's office claimed the intended target of the jibe was President George W. Bush, another message came through loud and clear to the troops stationed in Iraq (see above).

After first claiming he would apologize to no one, Kerry has now issued the following statement.

"I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform and I personally apologize to any service member, family member or American who was offended," Kerry said in a statement.

Now the apology will be parsed and dissected and debated for its level of sincerity. It is once again clear that while things done can be undone, things said can never be unsaid.

For us as Christians, Senator Kerry's trials and tribulations can underscore two Biblical points.

First - The World is Watching

Some have looked at this controversy and said that it is unfair that every word a person speaks can be taken so seriously. 

I disagree.

With the privileges of being called a member of the United States Senate also come great responsibilities. What you say, even in jest, can make the news, and even influence the outcome of an election.

In the same way, with the privileges of being called a member of the Body of Christ also come great responsibilities. What we say, even in jest, can influence the spiritual well being of others, even their eternal destinies.

Believe me, I know.

Early in my ministry career I was asked to do announcements at a morning service. We had just had a great time in the youth ministry and I was riding an emotional high. One of the announcements that morning was the birth of a baby to a family in the church. I began by saying, "Congratulations to the (name omitted) family on the birth of a beautiful baby girl." 

I paused. 

I shouldn't have paused.

I should have just got off the stage.

But I didn't.

I said, "Well, I don't know about beautiful. All babies kind of look like Winston Churchill when they are born."

To make a long story short, at the end of the service, the proud father brought the baby up on stage. He said, "I wanted you all to see that she really is beautiful."

I had no need to open the door to leave the auditorium. At that point I felt so low I could have walked under the transom.

Ever heard the old carpenter's advice - "Measure twice, cut once"? How much unintended damage could we avoid if we made a commitment to "Think twice, speak once."

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Second, the World is Listening

How can we tell what is really going on in the hearts of people? Jesus said there is one fool proof method.

" The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke 6:45)

When I worked as an editor, I would be given raw transcripts of spoken sermons and would convert them into a more readable format. It is funny to see the words we speak laid out in black and white. It always made me wonder what a transcript of our daily speech patterns would look like if we saw it down on paper. I think we would be more careful with the things we talked about, especially concerning the people we talked about. What we say ends up revealing who we are deep down inside.

So what can we learn from this "October Surprise"? Maybe King Solomon said it best.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

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