June 28 Surf

This morning I didn’t want to wake up. I willed myself out of bed knowing that the next time I could surf would be in a week. That is too long.

It was easy getting things together. Clothes for work, toiletries, some food. I have put together a pretty good system.

I got to the beach at 7:15 AM. The surf looked small and the tide far out. Only three surfers on the inside goofing around. Maybe there was no surf today. But I was there and needed to get wet.

One old guy on a long board was preparing to paddle out. I decided to go without a surf leash so took it off and hid it behind a big rock on the beach.

The waves were small but clean and the water was still on the chilly side. But the more I paddled out, the warmer the water grew. I few sets rolled in indicating surfable waves.

One thing I always prided myself on when a young guy was being able to paddle out without getting my hair wet. I almost accomplished this little feat today.

Just a few surfers, clean waves, and a glorious sunny morning. One of God’s gifts. A dolphin poked his head out of the water.

I caught a few waves and as it got closer to my “last wave” time a nice set came through. A couple of strokes and up on the wave. It rolled and I went with it cutting back then straightening out making sure to keep ahead of the energy of the wave. The wave reformed and I put a little weight on the nose and continued. Finally the wave turned to whitewater and I rode it till it could push me no more. I reached down and lay back on the board and let the white water take me in on my belly. I didn’t stop till my fins hit the sandy bottom.

A simple wave, a bright clear morning.

 

Relax, Gates and Buffett Save World

This morning I was greeted with the following headline on the front page of the SD Union Tribune “There is no reason we can’t cure the top 20 diseases.”  So says Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.  Don’t you feel better already?

My first reaction was to tick off the two biggest reasons you can’t cure the top 20 diseases: 1) sin and 2) no matter how much money you got, you are still not the Creator.  Most theologians agree that disease is a result of sin; it is the curse of rebelling against God’s perfect order.

If money was able to cure disease, HIV/AIDS would have been gone years ago.  After billions of dollars devoted to finding a cure, promoting prevention, and treating those infected, no cure has been found, prevalence continues to escalate (even among those populations with the greatest saturation of prevention information) and treatment programs are routinely cited for corruption and mismanagment of funds.

My second reaction was to ponder the influence an additional $3 billion a year in the non-proft economy.  As you may remember, Congress was roundly criticized shortly after President Bush succeeded in passing a $15 billion global AIDS program that pledged roughly $3 billiion a year for five years.  The first year’s funding was barely $2 billion and the HIV/AIDS community rolled its eyes and cast large amounts of shame at Congress for this weak first installment.

Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), the Chairman of the Forieng Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations, rationally stated that most third world countries and non-profit organizations could not handle a rush of $3 billion right out of the gate.  After spending some time with international ministries, non-profits and African nationals, I had to agree with him.  So how will things change with Gates’ and Buffett’s pledge of an additional $3 billion a year?

My last reaction after reading some of the articles is how focused the coverage is on the philanthropers instead of the cause.  Something in me just gets kind of bugged when rich people throw attention on themselves.  Maybe I’m just sensative.

 

Democrats To The Rescue

Many conservatives have been angry with moderates gaining their party’s nomination for general elections.  Take the Bibray campaign in San Diego as an example. There, conservatives felt betrayed by their party and refused to get out the vote for Bilbray, who went on to solidly defeat a weak Democratic candidate generously backed by the liberal left.

In addition, those on the Right are upset with their policy leaders in DC over ever- increasing government spending and what seems to be an inability to pass common sense immigration reform.  It’s been twelve years since the Republican Revolution and many feel that those they sent to shrink and clean up big government have “gone native.”

Two recent developments, however, demonstrate that a significant opportunity exists for conservatives and Republicans.  First, the House just announced field hearings to guage public response to the two competing immigration reform proposals produced by the House and Senate.  Most conservatives see this as a failure to get something done, but in reality this is a deft public relations ploy to illustrate the anger  outside-the-beltway Americans feel about illegal immigration, shame the Senate, and give Republicans a huge bump right before elections.

Second, Democrats continue to portray themselves as anti-American, out-of-touch, uber-liberals.  John Fund describes how the Democratic party cannot break its addiction to crazy spokespeople.  It started out with Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, then Cindy Sheehan and now John Murtha.  This line-up is a dream come true for Republican political consultants.  All Republican mailers should be required to have photos of the Democratic Gang of Four simply to scare America into the Republican party.

Conservatives need to realize that if they can’t get what they want, the next best thing is to take advantage of the mistakes of their opponents.  The worst thing they could do is continue to aim their guns at fellow Republicans when Democratic targets are SO HUGE!!!

 

New House In So CAL

Here are some photos of our new place in Carlsbad.  Only 3 miles to La Playa – that means the beach in Spanish.

  

 

 

 

Proposition 1: The Church is Politically Unsophisticated

In 1993 I was asked the following “gotcha” question by a member of the media: “Are you a member of the ‘Religious Right’?”

This is one of those questions that causes the tiny robot from Lost in Space that lives in my head to cry “Danger! Danger!”

My answer was “I am not sure. I have yet to receive a membership application.” While this seems like a flippant answer, the point I was trying to make was that I refuse to be pigeon-holed as extremist, unreasonable, a puppet, or any other pejorative the media associates with people of faith who are involved in the political.

In the thirteen years since that question, I find myself fighting that same battle but on two different fronts. On the one hand, I wish to break the preconceived notion that faith and reason are mutually exclusive. On the other hand, I hope to, frankly, blow up the dominant notion held by many church-goers. That view is that Christian involvement in social issues, government and politics simply amounts to shrill activism seeking to muscle its way against the moral outrage of the week.

Between convincing liberals that I have a brain and helping many Christians open theirs, the greater challenge has always been with the Christians. Often, the Believers view of politics, activism, and the last thirty years of pro-family activism is short-sighted and wholly ineffective. They may know the latest regarding abortion and the advancement of the homosexual agenda, and typically the name and reputation of their member of Congress (better than the average American), but after that, most Evangelicals are fairly unsophisticated and unaware of the realities of political and social action.

 

Why I Love My Church

Its casual, its right-on theologically and doctrinally, it has a visionary for a pastor, it is close to my house, and it always brings around new musical artists.  I have devopled a Sunday morning ritual that is working out so great for me.  I get up early and surf from 6:30 to 7:30, then take a quick truck-side shower, get dressed and head for church.

I surfed last night and the water was warm, around 64, but this AM, it felt like 54.  Holy chatterin' teeth!   

This morning at North Coast Calvary Chapel, Dance Floor Prophets were doing some very soulful worship folk.  You could see people all over the congregation just nodding their heads and loving the tunes – and this was at the 8:00 AM service.  Check 'em out, braddah!  

I made myself a promise that anytime a new band comes to North Coast, I buy a CD.  I have picked up This Holiday Life, Downhere, and Dance Floor Prophets.  Not a  bad score for church!   

 

I’m Mostly Good

At leat that is what the Gematriculator determined.  Whew, I am certainly relieved.  

 

 

Matisyahu

Have you heard of this Jewish rapper, Matisyahu?  Not like the Beasty Boys but a real Kosher Old Testament Bob Marley style spittin' rapper.  Totally fun and inspiring.  Check out the King w/o a Cown video.
There is something about hearing about God's power, strength and love for his Children O.T. style that is uplifting and good.  I say check out Matisyahu.  He's coming to SD in September and I'll try to check it out.

 

 

Newly Inspired

Hey In God's Country readers, (OK, there may only be a hand full of you)

I am writing again after so long. I think I have been overwhelmed what w/ living away from my family, searching for a house, having a new job, living with my alcoholic parents, um…anything else?…nah, that is plenty.

So my good buddy Randy at Everyday Thoughts Collected started this "longest comments ever" post and I started posting little short things and it was a lot of fun. So now I am going to post short things that are random and fun and hopefully thought provoking.

Keep reading and commenting and I will be more disciplined writing and posting.

Thanks.

 

House Update

Dear Friends w/ Read In God’s Country,
The home I asked you to pray about has fallen out of escrow. We had made an offer contingent on the sale of our home in VA. As a part of that escrow contract, the seller was required to give us 72 hours to come up w/ the cash if a non-contingent offer was made on the same home. Since we had not received an offer on our home in VA, we were unable to maintain the offer on the home in Carlsbad. Too bad.

We just dropped the price of our home in Virginia – a second time – and are very anxious about it selling. We are reconsidering some of the homes we originally looked at which are still on the market out here.

Please pray for God’s leading and provision.