Piety

I don’t know whether it’s American culture or simply human nature, but most of us truly despise that lone teacher’s pet in our midst. He is something we’re not. She receives the favors we don’t. He’s fake. She simply does it to receive those authoritarian favors. We beat up the teacher’s pet!

Now that you and I have repented of our baser nature, consider with me why piety is not well embraced even in our churchy worlds. Is it possible that our inner playground children are still running amok, looking for teachers’ pets everywhere … to give them knuckle-sandwiches? Is it possible we view the pious among us as suck-ups to the Great Teacher in that pearly-gated classroom? Or … we might regard the pious as simply robed with Joseph’s coat-of-many-colors-of-luck.

We typically hold the wild alcoholic who came to Jesus late in life in high regard, for her “good testimony.” We give faint, lip service to the man who plugged it out day after day, year after year, for Jesus, faithfully. Or we may even hold these soft-spoken saints in the highest regard, sending them cards, holding dinners in their honor. But we hold them at arm’s length.

This is truly unfortunate, as it perhaps reveals an underlying attitude of disbelief. The so-called pious are either sucking-up to God, or they are too holy to even be around. Nonetheless, piety is for them. As for me, I’m just hoping to make heaven. The disbelief comes in refusing to accept, perhaps even subconsciously, that piety is for me … is for you.

Instead of thinking of piety in terms of Stephen King’s version of the holy (possessing special powers to ward off evil beasts), it is better to conceive of piety as simply the practice of consistent deliberateness regarding God and my fellow man.

In other words, instead of viewing that gray-haired-and-bent-over Sunday School teacher has possessing lucky-rabbit’s foot powers, think of her as simply practicing … rather faithfully … to deliberately study and prepare for her lesson.

Besides, if the rabbit’s foot is so lucky, why did it not prevent the rabbit from losing his foot?

Seriously, though, we tend to think of those who succeed in our culture as having done so on the basis of special treatment or on the basis of luck stalking and seducing talent. Perhaps we should remember that talent without deliberate hard work only renders an interesting person to dialogue with in the unemployment line. Perhaps we should also remember that special favors don’t necessarily produce success. Without character training and development, special favors milked from Daddy Warbucks only produces spilt milk. 

In the same vein, the pious are not the lucky-of-God; nor are they God’s suck-ups. The fire of his pet-act of refining character will not allow suck-ups to hang around his desk too long. The truly pious among us are simply the ones who take their faith serious enough to act with certain deliberateness and consistency in their everyday lives. And those everyday lives are deliberately and consistently lived for the love of God and of neighbor … not for the love of self-image (as in the archetype of the teacher’s pet) … and certainly not lived as the love-child of luck and talent. The pious are simply deliberate and consistent in the active practice of their faith.

Thus, the question is not “why them?” The question is isn’t even ”why not me?” The question is “why should I not?” which alludes to my willingness or unwillingness to practice consistency and deliberateness in all areas of my faith. Such is a lifestyle of worship to which God has called every believer.

Character and Emotional Intelligence in “Appaloosa”

As dust blows up and down the streets of Appaloosa, so also do feelings rage in the hearts of the characters. The problem is that “feelings will get you killed.” At least that’s what Virgil Cole lectures to his trusted friend and side kick, Everett Hitch, in the recent movie, “Appaloosa.” The movie is a western, taking place close to the turn of the end of the 19th Century in New Mexico territory. Tough times call for tough men, and that means you’re supposed to stuff your feelings.

The town has been taken over … so-to-speak … by the mobster-like rancher, Randall Bragg. Cole and Hitch come into town and are hired to put things back into order, as “The Law.” This is not much of a problem … until Allison French finds her way into town. She successfully attracts Cole, the stalwart mountain of a marshall, into falling for her, which means that a lonely and vulnerable … and unemployed … female has finacial and emotional security. 

She has security until she realizes that Cole could be killed and/or there are other … seemingly bigger … fish to fry … to fill her emotional appetite for the lead stallion in the available herd. In one rather humorous scene, Cole … a man’s man … comes down to find his best friend and confidant, Hitch. Cole is in a bind, as he is forced to help pick the color of the curtains of his and Allie’s new home.

He sends Hitch back down to the house to say hello to Allie and inform her that Cole is not up to this arduous task. She quickly puts the moves on Hitch, who pushes her away. Hitch tells this groping damsel in horney distress, “Allie, you’re with Virgil, and so am I.”

Despite this undercurrent of “As the Appaloosa World Turns,” Cole and Hitch get their break, when one of the Bragg boys defects and agrees to testify against Bragg in a possible capital murder trial. They bring Bragg into custody. Two weeks and some emotionally-trying moments later, Bragg is put on trial and found guilty. Bragg is ordered to be taken by train to his execution site.

During a delay in the train ride, several of Bragg’s mercenaries parade Allie out as their ransom for Bragg’s release. Cole has to make a choice … and goes with his feelings. He releases Bragg for Allie; only to find that they have been duped. The mercenary team did not keep their word … suprise, surprise. Cole and Hitch track the crew until they run up on them … with Allie and Bragg frollicking in the nude in a stream.

Later on after Cole and Hitch get shot-up (not mortally wounded) for sticking to the line of duty in chasing down Bragg and attempting to bring him to justice … Bragg gets a presidential pardon. He moves into Appaloosa and buys the hotel where Allie is employed to play the piano. Allie and Cole have reconciled, though Hitch has tried to explain that Allie is lonely for men in authority. Even still Cole is accepting of Allie where she’s at, and attempts to work with her.

Cole refuses to enter the building now owned by Bragg. Bragg, attempting to smooth things over with ”The Law” explains to Hitch that he is now a “reformed” man … and that if Cole did not come around to working him (Bragg), he might find himself out of a job … hint, hint. Over the next few scenes there is the not-so-subtle hint that Bragg and Allie still have something going on, which Hitch of course notices.

Hitch, who is normally able to navigate these tumultuous waters and bring about harmony with integrity, is not able to reconcile all of these potential pawns in a perfect storm in Appalousa. He attempts to talk Cole into leaving, but to no avail … because of his (blindness) devotion to Allie.

Thus Hitch takes it upon himself to resign his position as deputy and challenge Bragg to a duel, which Hitch wins handidly. He leaves town under his own voice of narration, saying that at least his friend will have no competition for Allie … for the time being.

It seems to me that the one who was most in tune to his emotional undercurrent was the most aware of what was going on around him. Hitch’s emotions … rather than getting him or his people killed … kept them all alive and out of quicksand. He was at least being aware of his emotional undercurrent and successfully navigated it. On the other hand, Cole’s inability to deal with his emotions or navigate them, got him into trouble … and would get him into trouble in the future. He was blinded.

I think this movie has something very powerfully to say to us men, especially us Christian men. I’m not suggesting that we turn ourselves into women. However, I am suggesting rather emphatically that we need to develop good emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize what is going on in our hearts and channel it for good. The fear in men (largely because of the brain’s wiring) is tapping the realm of the fealings will make us vulnerable … or at least make us look sissified. The movie’s message is in line with Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence, that not learning how to channel the currents of our hearts, by default, makes us vulnerable … vulnerable to being swept away by our emotions. The inability to recognize them means they will clip us from behind, and the inability to channel or discipline them means they will get us fired … or killed.

No, there is no substitue for character development … and for Christians godly character development. Both Cole and Hitch had good character. Can anyone name the last Hollywood movie that glorified loyal friendship … loyal to the point of turning down an easy sexual score, as Hitch had done out of loyalty to Cole? However, the movie’s contention, which I agree with, is that even the best of character in men can be derailed by the freight train of emotional un-intelligence. Stuffing the emotions instead of taming them will cause your heart to be swallowed up, much like an appaloosa catfish swallows everything in its path.

Future Veterans

Today is November 11th, the day we celebrate our veterans. They have given us so much by their lifestyle of personal sacrifice for their fellow soldiers, sailors, and marines … and their Country. The “free” in freedom “ain’t” free. It cost someone, somewhere, dearly. You veterans have successfully sacrificed to give us, your children and grandchildren safety and security.

 The culture has shifted. Right or wrong, fair or unfair. Unfortunately, a segment in our society has grown and continues to grow that teaches freedom is a right. My generation, with all of our many strong points, is under the delusion that we are entitled to a basic lifestyle that my grandfather’s generation viewed as the work of a good novelist. Many in my generation are leaving home under the delusion they are entitled to begin their journeys into adulthood at the same place their parents currently are.

Please do not misread me. I am not speaking against wealth. Without wealth jobs would not be created, nor would research be funded to fight disease. I am not against providing well for our children and our children’s children. Yes, let us provide for them. Let us make sure they are better off than we are.

However, if we don’t train them to handle stress, to handle responsibility, to love learning, to love the acquisition of wisdom … if we don’t train them to truly follow Jesus in discipleship … then they will only squander what we leave behind to them. What many in my generation consider to be cruel in parenting, was considered necessary for good character development in my grandparent’s generation.

My grandparent’s generation is considered the ”Greatest Generation.” They survived the politicians’ screwing over of the government and economy during the “Great Depression,” and they fought two world wars. Our grandfathers didn’t look for handouts; they looked for jobs. Our grandmothers didn’t find escape and solace in their “stories” which are broad-casted on the the big three everyday from 1 to 4. They sought to navigate chaos and dissolution into peace and harmony. This generation not only survived but thrived.

My generation is on the verge of similar political and economic shenanigans, and the rumors of war will abound until the Second Advent of Jesus. What will my poor generation do with no one to hold their hands while they go to the potty of life?

On this Veterans’ Day, let us make a commitment to fight one more war. This is a plea especially to those of the “Greatest Generation.” That war is with the secular progressive culture that is prostituting our children and grandchildren in the bedroom of Entitlement. I know my generation is very intimidating for the “Greatest Generation.” But you are the generation that fought and won two world wars and the Great Depression. Let us reclaim our children & grandchildren from the whore of secular progressivism.

Yes, we pray and depend upon the Holy Spirit & his work. But at the end of the day, the tools the Spirit uses are often his people. Most of the time simply being willing to consistently engage with our children and grandchildren is the choicest of weapons.

You are veterans. Join with us in being willing to yield to the Spirit, and prepare them to be “Future Veterans.”

Happy Birthday

Ooh Rah, Devil Dogs!!! Happy Birthday! Keep making our country proud!!!

What Now?

I sat watching the 11:00 pm poll closings, as California escorted Obama to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Leading up to that dreaded 7:00 first poll closings, I just knew McCain was going to pull this thing out. Throughout the night I was proven wrong, as I’ve been proven wrong watching other contests … such as my Georgia pound puppies get chomped by some rejuvenated and hungry Florida Gators.

A guy could get a complex! Hey if you’re having your buds over to watch the big game and you want their team to lose … invite me over to cheer for their team!

Fear, anger, and despair are creating landslides within the heart of my religio-political camp. As I was perusing the various news sites this morning (@ 5:00 am!) grief, like that of having to say goodbye to a church camp girlfriend, washed over me as I realized Sarah Palin would be flying back to Alaska and away from the national scene … at least for the time being.

How in the world did someone with less experience than the good Governor and with so many questionable alliances and with such an economically leftist political agenda (during a looming recession!) get elected? Is it true that God voted for Obama? According to a certain theological persuasion, this might have been the case. Does that mean that we, center-right evangelicals, missed God? Or did God simply tell us to “put out or get out” and we’re now standing on the side of some dirt road in the middle of nowhere?

I don’t know if God destined Obama for the Presidency or not, but I do know that the American people used their free will to vote him in. What now? Here are some suggestions, which I will be following.

1. Work through the grieving process. It’s okay to be responsibly angry … even with God. You’ll be giving the Holy Spirit more material with which to work. You’ll be able to get your feet under you a bit quicker.
2. Pray for President-elect Obama. Regardless of how deep apprehensions about him about him might be, he will be our President. Praying for him will allow us to more quickly get our feet under us. Praying for him will help to keep us respectful of the Office. Praying for him will of course help to encourage a movement of the Holy Spirit in his life. Praying for him will encourage a movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Peace will come to our hearts, but we may need to wrestle all night and be willing to have our hips knocked out of socket.
3. Consider that the night as a whole might in the end be a good thing for the country in the long run. Living in opposition forces you to refocus and and regroup. Living in opposition sharpens you. I believe that when the country turned the reigns of power over to the GOP, they were expected to govern as Republicans … as Conservatives. Yet, as time marched on their spending marched upward, leaving us in doubt as to whether they were really Liberal Democrats in red garb. We are much in need of a heart-to-heart with ourselves. Who are we? This will give us time to refocus and regroup. After all the extremely young voters will get to see … experience … first hand what American Liberalism really is. There is a reason why you’re a Democrat while in college but morph into a Republican 10 years later … after having to living in the real world. We will have the opportunity to ready ourselves when the hang over hits them.
4. In a similar vein to #3 this will give us, as religious Conservatives, a wonderful opportunity to be humbled. We need to be on our faces before God with our noses in his Word, so that we can refocus and sharpen our primary identity as Christ-followers. If we’re honest with ourselves, our spiritual acumen dulls when things go “our way” for too long. We may not like what happened, but our responsibility to live lives of passionate worship and service does not cease. If anything it is now intensified.
5. Whether you like Obama or not, we can certainly celebrate that we live in a country that seems to be moving into a post-racial era and seems to be serious about making responsible corrections to past injustices. To be sure many people voted for Obama, simply because he is black, but many more voted for him … because of him. We have truly grown as a people. If we as his dissidents will now loyally support him as our President, a world that is now wrestling between fascism and democratic-republicanism will see our country as that political shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan envisioned.

In the past we have come to similar points of crisis. Retreating from the public sphere has been the option for many. The coming days may be painful for us and the country, but crucibles are rarely pain-free. May we not retreat but embrace our crucible with faith.