The Stress is Rising

Well, I haven't blogged in almost a month. I have been in Costa Rica working out our mission for the month and today I am heading home with my family to the U.S. The work here has been challenging, tiring, hard, and rewarding. I have had the opportunity of knowing that dozens of people have become Christians, including people from the U.S. teams who came to serve.

Many people have seen true love, the love of Christ, on this journey. I have met new friends and have improved relationships with old. There have been reconciliations, laughter and even tears but mostly tears of joy.

But not once have I felt the chest tightening stress that I often feel in the U.S. I am not sure why but today I feel it for the first time in over a month. There is something about the way we live at home that causes great stress.

For the first time in almost a month I have thought of the most horrendous presidential race in recent times. Having little contact with home and very little internet access I have no idea what is going on.

I'm frightened for our countries future as we get ready to elect the most liberal president in U.S. history. We are not sure if he is a Muslim or a Christian. We have no idea what he really stands for except that he is for partial birth abortion, befriends terrorists, wants a $1.3 trillion dollar tax increase that will cripple our economy, proposes double tax on capital gains, has a wife who hates her country, he sat in a US hating church for 20 years, he is for appeasement of brutal dictators around the world and God only knows what other evil lurks in his mind.

I am frightened for the future of my children and all children in the US.

Fundraiser

So, I go into the Chic-fil-a today and I see a flyer for a fundraiser for a mega church in our town. No reason. Just a fundraiser. 10% of the proceeds for a few hours coming up on a convenient night.

Interesting. This place boasts 15k in attendance. Are they really hurting for money? Come on.

2 Words This Morning

Hulk Smash!

My Dad is a Jerk, a Loser, etc.

It's been two days since Father's Day (it's also the first day of legalized gay marriage in California) and this post is for anyone who identifies with the title of this post. This post is for all those growing up in a fatherless culture. This post is for all those who are living broken lives because their father dropped the ball.

What is a Father anyway? If I had to write a definition for father from my own personal experience it would go something like this: Father n. - a person who lies, cheats, steals, mocks, extorts, hits, yells, abuses his wife (and his second wife and his third wife) and children physically, verbally and emotionally; a person who leaves his seed and abandons all responsibilities and duties for personal gain and desire; a person who fails to teach; a person who only cares about himself; a person who has no idea how to manage his household for the betterment of his family and community; a person who fails to protect and who leaves the faith and life of his children and wife in the hands of the devil; a coward; less than a man.

Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts because it's the truth.

I believe that sin and evil are passed down from generation to generation (it's Biblical and it's our common experience). I also believe that this vicious cycle can be stopped. We can make a choice as men (some aspiring to be so). We don't have to be like our earthly fathers.

I am not sure how old I was but it was somewhere between 7 and 12 years old when I discovered a different Father. I learned that God is ultimately my Father and that he is a good Father and that He loved me infinitely and without condition (please read Matthew 6). I didn't have to throw the ball perfect or sit perfectly at the table all the time or be mistake free. It was in that moment that I decided that I would fight with everything in me to never be like my biological father. It was a big vow for a frightened little boy. But somehow I knew that if there was a Father who was perfect and just and kind and who loved me enough to sacrifice his own son for me then I could be different.

I could actually love my wife and be faithful to her. I could actually love and teach my children all I know and that includes my faith. There will be nothing left up to chance in my household. I will love my wife and my children with the reckless abandon that my Heavenly Father loves me with and my kids won't have to guess at what God is like and what a healthy marriage is and what it means to be a man or a woman or how to be treated and to treat others. They will learn it because they will experience it. And then, one day, they will make up their mind whom they will serve.

But as for me, and my household we will serve the Lord.

You too have that choice. There is a Heavenly Father who loves you regardless of what your earthly father has done. He is a good Father. He gives good gifts. He is a Father to fatherless.

Dear Steven (Spielberg) & George (Lucas),

Please, please, please don't make any more movies. I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and it was one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. The special effects weren't even good. I am begging you guys. When is the last time you made a good movie, with a decent plot that had just a little bit of realistic action. Let's face it, it took Lucas 3 tries in the new Star Wars Trilogy to make one good one.

Come on, a lead refrigerator in a nuclear blast and aliens taught the Mayans how to build a civilization. You have insulted the public for too long with your nonsensical movies. You guys are too old and too rich and have lost touch with the general population.

I used to be a fan but I am starting a boycott on any new stuff from you cats.

Here's some advice - give your money away to young, inspired and gifted film makers and spare us from your patronizing attempts to line your pockets even more.

I would ask for my $10 back but it is my fault for hoping that you could actually still make good movies. Please, please, please don't make anymore movies.

Sincerely,

Albert

I'm Not Sure What to Think About this Blog

I know a lot of people have blogs (a lot don't - the smart people) but have you ever gone back and read your posts? I actually did that one day and I couldn't believe some of the stuff I wrote. I mean, come on. What is up with this stuff? - a guy with b.o. at the gym, dog doo in my neighborhood, a picture of Obama frolicking with his shirt off, a poisoned dog (the name sake of this blog). How dumb is that?

No wonder only 2 people (me and the evolution guy) read this blog.

Don't ask me why I posted a picture of a scary cat. I guess it fits right in with this blog.

Some Rules are Bad Rules

My son and I were going to the movies on Sunday afternoon to see Prince Caspian (amazing by the way). I said, "Let's pop some popcorn (since they charge an arm and a leg and require you to mortgage your house, car and give up your first born for a popcorn and soda) and grab a couple bottles of water and put them in your backpack with your sweatshirt." My son (8) asked, "Dad, isn't that against the rules?" My wife quickly exited the room and left me hanging.

Then it slipped out, "Some rules are bad rules." This started a whole conversation, of course, about obeying the rules. I guess the safe thing to do would have been to admit that my son was right and to stay in the black and white. But life is gray sometimes and I know popcorn isn't that important but the conversation was bound to happen at some point, especially since I can be a bit rebellious.

But, isn't it true? Aren't some rules bad rules?

What if everyone in Germany would have followed all the rules in the 1940's? What if they would have had high tea instead of a big "party" in Boston on December 16, 1773? What if everyone would have followed all the rules in the 1860's and the 1960's? What if the first disciples would have followed the rules? What if Jesus would have followed the rules?