How close is the election???

If the election were today, the electoral college projections are: Obama wins by: 12 votes!

Obama: 238
McCain: 227

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/whos-ahead/key-states/map.html

The Revealing Stage of Politics

In response to a recent article about how Sara Palin, republican running mate of John McCain drew over 6000 people in a recent political event in Florida - my response is...
Good for Palin! I’m sure this feels like a wild ride, and one she never expected. On one hand, it’s great to see so many citizens get energized and being involved. So many people seem to resonate with her hometown values and outdoors activities – I just hope she uses the stage carefully. I hope she illustrates those values with a dialogue that is bold, but also humble and uplifting to America – not divisive. I agree with her on faith, life, stewardship of resources, and other issues – but I’m also looking to see if that faith perspective translates into moving people together or just typical – "We’re republicans and democrats are stupid" talk. Some of the ads have been a bit slimy recently and that is not the direction we need to go. Case in point… at the convention – Palin as well as the 3 guys who spoke before her were making the point that Obama’s resume is short and all made a point to mock Obama for community service in the poorest section of Chicago. Here was a chance to play much smarter politics, while also maintaining Christian virtue. They could/should have said… We applaud Obama’s story because it represents an unlikely story that can only happen in America! We applaud Obama’s choices in life as a young man – because community service represents the best of American generosity and we encourage the youth of America to follow that example… However, community service does not qualify a person to be President of the US! Do you see what I mean?

If McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden are confident in their character, message, their record, and their vision – they should run on that. If they want to promote their Christian faith in God – then it should not come out in mockery. So, I hope this is the largest turn out ever – and people stop allowing government to be something they just passively pay taxes to – and try to ignore. Someone once said that every bill out of DC is a moral document… it reflects who we are and what we believe to be important. It can also be said of every political commercial, speech, and debate. I think the next few weeks will show either strength of character and Christian virtues – or lack thereof. Certainly, the issues before us (with the unbelievable financial bailouts and extremist terrorism) call for a careful choice here. So, while it’s great to see so many people excited (about Palin on one side and Obama on the other), I care less about the excitement factor – and more about how that leader is using that stage of opportunity – to play off our existing divides and cynicism OR to remind us of a higher calling and that which unites us around these all important issues.

Not very funny

If you don't at least occasionally discuss what goes on in your head with a therapist, I'd recommend it. I was talking with mine recently, and I recalled how, as a child, my father would often position himself at the top of the stairs and keep yelling "Who do you think I am?", "I am your FATHER!" and other booming shock and awe type declarations to intimidated his children and demand respect. I remember laughing a little inside, thinking what a poor memory he must have to have to keep asking us such an obvious question. But this was my father's way of demanding his form of police-state control. He was a former cop, and I think it never left him. To this day, I am unnerved when I think a police car may be about to pull me over. I never think of cops as public "servants" - I control my nervousness and remember to only say "yes sir". My childhood was an unsafe playground. It was promoted as a Disney movie to the outside world, but all too often playing out like a Hitchcock gotcha! or Steven King horror. Like most kids, we rode bikes and built snow forts, and ate ice cream. We were also locked outside the house many Saturdays, missed out on the love of a father, witnessed the abuse of our mother, and felt deeply afraid. I hated the pain my family lived in, so I learned to find humor in life. I learned to make humor in life and became the family comedian and peace maker. I lightened the mood and pulled tricks out of my hat all in hopes to distract us from our reality and pass the time till we could escape. I specifically remembered one time when dad stood at the top of the stairs after he was in a rage. He yelled at me "You think everything is a big joke! Everything is NOT a big joke!" Those words stung this little boy. He created the pain that demanded a way to cope. He forced me to cling to humor - and now he mocked me for clinging to all I had. Once he realize that hurt me, he said it many times again. Now, as an adult, I still cling to humor as a way to dilute the pain and disappointments of life. I wonder if growing more healthy means being less funny? At this point, I just see things differently - and naturally see the humor. But I may need to sit in some of these moments and let the humor pass by - and just say that I am hurt when I am hurt. And Dad, if you are listening... You were right, and now I am not smiling. I am not joking. I am hurt. I see myself standing at the top of the stairs and I see you, a little boy still wanting someone to tell you who you are - but I can't fix that for you. All I can do is suggest that you too find a good shrink.

Are we really in a healthcare crisis?

These are people I have met - who are uninsured, and thankfully, the Dispensary of Hope played a small part in helping them. You won't believe the stories...

A 70 year old man qualifies for Medicare but has to work as the grounds keeper at the town cemetery to make ends meet and still cannot afford Part D Rx coverage. With no hope for retirement, he works full time yet has no employer coverage… and cares for his bed-ridden aging wife, who suffers from several diseases and daily debilitating migraine headaches. Without any other hope or other options, he goes to the Shelbyville Community Clinic who gives him a weekly supply of medicine for his wife– sourced from the Dispensary of Hope. I saw a hard-working man with dirty rough hands; hallow eyes, but a heart made of gold. Most likely he will never travel the world or enjoy afternoon golf as so many seniors do… meanwhile, his wife’s headaches probably stem from a larger issue but they can’t afford the cost of finding out. Harsh realities have robbed them both of their “golden years” - but he did not complain and was so grateful that somebody cared, and someone could help ease the pain.


A 40 year old single mom with 3 kids works full time but has no health insurance – and tries to make ends meet with income below poverty level. Already strained, stressed, and without hope for a happy ending to her financial or healthcare situation, she broke her leg in multiple places last week. In terrible pain, she drove herself to the local ER – but the hospital was in the process of moving locations and the wait time would be up to 8 hours. Despite the agony, she was the only guardian of her children and needed to go home. On the way, she stopped at the local community clinic – which provided pain medicine provided by the Dispensary of Hope. The clinic also called in a favor to a nearby surgery center who reluctantly agreed to schedule the patient for the next morning. After enduring the pain and discomfort of a broken leg all night long, she drove herself to the surgery center only to meet an office manager who acknowledged her appointment time but insisted of a $15 co-pay… on the spot. Embarrassed and undone… the patient did not have $15 – but promised to pay it over a few weeks… but the policy won out over compassion – and this woman was turned away for three five dollar bills. If only the clinic had known how poor the family was, they would have given her the money from their own pockets. Think about it… she was turned away for 3 five dollar bills.


One more…
A 50+ year old homeless man people call “Harley” lives downtown and rides his tattered 10-speed bike to work most mornings. He stands in line in hopes that there is construction work and earns $6 hour with no health care benefits. He gets colds and the flu like everybody does, but six months ago, he broke his right collar bone on a job site. With no workers compensation coverage or healthcare benefits, he hoped the local ER would have mercy on him. He waited for hours with the rest of the paying and non-paying patients in this Metro hospital – all waiting their turn based on triage nurse assessment. 5 hours later, they gave him shots for the pain, but turned him away after he did not have $60 payment to arrange surgery. I have since called the hospital directly and confirmed that they enact this policy. Harley seems like a tough guy, but I can’t imagine the pain of getting back on his 10-speed and riding back to the bridge he slept under at that time. In the following days, Harley approached the local clinics and got more medicine to ease the pain… but he needed surgery. I met Harley 6 months after this incident on a mobile loaves and fish sack lunch delivery and was shocked and appalled when he pulled down his t-shirt to reveal his clavicle (collar bone) was never operated on, still broken, and sticking up about 4 inches from his shoulder. Harley had gone back to different hospitals but was turned away each time and eventually gave up – accepting the idea that he would live the rest of his life with a broken collar bone. He said the pain is only unbearable in the winter – when the temperature gets really cold…

There Is No Medicine Like Hope

Nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured – with 16 million struggling to manage serious chronic diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure – just like the rest of us who are fortunate enough to currently have insurance. Most work at least part time, but as fewer companies offer health insurance, and healthcare costs continue to rise, over 105 million Americans have incomes less than 200% of the poverty level and cannot afford essential medicines. While many communities are trying to provide a primary care “safety net”, nearly 25% of the uninsured admit they have not visited a health professional in the past year, and many just wait till they are sick enough to go to the Emergency Department. One study found that over 30% of Emergency Department visits were non-emergent or avoidable with earlier care – while the system tries to absorb the $40 billion in uncompensated care each year. For those who accessed care, nearly 60% could not afford to obtain the medicine prescribed to treat their condition– and go without. But there is HOPE. To see waht I am working on these days.... go to http://www.dispensaryofhope.org/

The Unspoken Dare of New Orleans

So, this is what a 4-star hotel looks like, feels like. The ATM is encased in wood trim and the elevator interior is plush with raised ornate cloth. In my room, there is a 47inch flat screen TV and rich burgundy, green, and gold colors. The bathroom offers thick towels and a terrycloth robe – which I didn’t wear but was tempted to steal – like I’ve heard about on TV or the movies. The toilet paper was folded to a point and sealed with a gold foil. The king size bed was welcoming with its array of down pillows covered by a royal emblem prominently displayed. The tall window sheers opened into a garden and pool… but the energy lived not inward but outward where the hotel sits, on the corner of Conti and the famous Bourbon Street.

Leaving the clean and pristine environment of the hotel, I walked by the stone fountain and bell men dressed like English royalty and into… the damp, swampy environment of the French Quarter. At first, it smells damp and dark. Then, in come aromas of pastries and kitchen creations including everything from one dollar pizza by the slice to the high end Brennan high dining experiences – and finally the blended mysterious musty aroma that mixes it all together to present an atmosphere unique to New Orleans. Block after block, your ears are filled with competing rhythms of blaring live music – shifting from jazz trumpets to washed up 80’s rock bands and back to blues and dueling pianos. This is where Louis Armstrong’s cheeks puffed on his trumpet and Harry Connick Jr. played as a kid at the Red Door bar. On the corner, 20 young black men pull out their tubas, trombones, trumpets and drums and give the crowd a show – with streaming brass section melodies and harmonies and then pass buckets for donations – like its church.

This is a deeply spiritual place on the surface – but it also feels dark in the deep places. It is a city of above ground cemeteries and voodoo magic. The streets are lined with tarot card readers, posing pirates, and us curious people who come for the color, the rivers of beer, and a wild world without rules or memory. “What are you waiting for?,” the slender doorway girl asks. “No Cover”, the bouncer persuades, lulling us into his affordable trap. Above me, people lean over the second floor iron railed balconies to offer tourists beads if they comply with their unspoken dare. Later, a parade emerges from the crowd complete with floats and bead throwing riders. A group of old women follow behind to declare their freedom from cancer – and clothes - walking topless to display the remnant of their body that cancer failed to take from them. People dance here; they break rules. They declare independence and celebrate everything – fueled by the 4th or 5th or 6th round of drinks – the crowd grows rowdy – and the police grow in numbers to ensure this party does not end up in the morning news. People seem lonely; and I join them in this kindred hollowness. Walking these streets alerts the senses to your essence, your character, and your weaknesses. There is this odd sense of fullness but also emptiness. Everyone seems to be having fun, but each empty plastic cup begs for more, and every neon sign offers false promises. Everybody comes curious, and leaves aroused but even emptier. To me, it says less about this place, and more about us – this wanting congregation. Knowing the outcome, we entertain another drink though we’ve had too much. A 6am wake up call looms, but we walk the strip just one more time. Wedding bands imply fidelity, but one-time invitations in the shadows offer the lie that it’s a calculated risk. If you come here, just understand that you can have great clean fun… but it will also tease your character and sense of self. Know that you will be part of the unspoken dare to take off your mask (or put one on), to indulge, and to join the crowd. At random intervals, you judge the crowd, but then you get honest and you want to slide, you want to sin.

I decided on dinner at Red Fish Grille for some alligator gumbo, a glass of ruby red wine, and the sorbet of the day. The waiter suggested I watch my wallet and camera less they be stolen in a distracted moment. The gumbo is always good here – and the loaf of bread is amazing! One more walk down Bourbon Street and its back to my hotel for an attempt at an early night’s sleep – but not tonight. Despite two sleeping pills and a comfortable bed, I toss and turn for hours, sinking with each alarm clock hour that passes before my eyes. I know that 4:30am is coming soon, so when it’s 2:30 – you start to despair. You start to get angry and shout at the dark so sleeping is impossible. How will I navigate a taxi, the airport, and a day at the office on no sleep? But I got what I came for – and my brain needs time to process all these sights, and smells, and unnerving attractions. Exhausted, I’m falling awake on the inside – trying to make some sense of this… and maybe take home a lasting souvenir. They say that a man’s character is defined by what he does when all alone… but let me suggest that a better test of character may be a late night 2 hour stroll down Bourbon Street, when all your senses are made alive and all your inhibitions are lulled to sleep – you and a 1000 others just like you. The morning after prompts a prayer of gratitude that I survived the test this time – unless, of course the test was to stay away from the inevitable. So, maybe next time I should not tempt fate or trust myself so much – and next time just stay at the Holiday Inn by the airport. They may not qualify for 4-star ratings but it comes with free breakfast and they guarantee a good night’s sleep.

Pre-Election Considerations on A Christian response to Terrorism

In the past six months, I have had the distinct opportunity to meet both Senator Obama and Senator McCain – one of whom will likely be our next President. I was invited to a small gathering of 30-40 people with Senator Obama – and had the opportunity to talk with him one on one about his book and health care policy. I was impressed by his intellect, his authenticity, and the fact that he did not pander to the mostly democratic audience as he spoke freely even when his stance countered the expected answer. He was not overly charismatic, and I did not agree with everything he said; however, he projected a vision and ability to help Americans realize the common ground that unites us and can propel us to solve our biggest problems. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw John McCain speak to thousands, and then pushed my way to the front to shake his hand. Again, I did not agree with everything he said, but I was impressed by how motivational he is in person, his candor, his heroic past, and his promise to bring civility and discipline to Washington. And now, as we all watch the primaries and rediscover (from our high school civics classes) what a “super-delegate” is and how primaries differ from caucuses, I am enjoying the democratic process… but I am also reminded that we have serious problems that need to be addressed promptly… and that electing a new President, is not electing a savior. Our opportunity to cast our vote for a leader we can trust cannot be confused with our ultimate trust in God. Our allegiance to the kingdom of God cannot be diminished by our allegiance to our country.

Since September 11th, 2001, these conflicting themes have come into full view both in Washington and in our hearts. We have been living with a new level of fear – and God-fearing people across America and around the world are in disagreement about the right course of action. The rest of the world has known this fear, and on 9-11 American joined them. We realized that we can be attacked. We experience a level of vulnerability and unity like never before. Certainly this called for prudent strategic action, but also deep reflection – and a fresh review of what God has told us about our fears and how to handle them.

As I look at our nation’s response, I recall feeling and witnessing the following progression:
Shock & Mourning
Paranoia
Turn to God for peace in out-of-control situation
Reassurance from President Bush and government leaders
Realization of how vulnerable our borders and security are
Support for swift changes to create new Dept of Homeland Security
Support for responsive War/Military Action against Taliban in Afghanistan
Support, and building confidence for declaration of war against terrorism
Support for sanctions and US and UN pressure against Iraq
Turn to God for insight regarding “Just War”
Tentative support for preventative War/Military Action against Iraq
Relief that secondary target Saddam Hussein captured
Disappointment and concern that primary target Bin Laden still not captured
Dismay with failing military approach in Iraq, Optimism with “surge” approach
Frustration with media for not reporting progress in Iraq
Skepticism with Bush Administration regarding full motives for Iraq war and foreign policy approach
Comfort in President’s bravado of “You’re either with us or against us” mixed with concern about impact of international perspectives on our nation
Intrigue with presidential debates over foreign policy – What is the right approach?
Turn to God for insight for Christian response to fear and terrorism

As I look back over the events since 2001, I wonder if fear is winning or we are on the right course? If we all agree that we are not called to live in fear, what is the opposite of fear? Is it strength? Is it control? Is it love? Is it peace? And what are the weapons God has given us to use to defeat fear? Have we been good stewards of the events of 9-11, leveraging our fears alert us up to realities we have been ignoring… or, have we allowed our fears to push us into rationalizing decisions that violate our own Christian values?

While government leaders need to be help accountable for their decisions, I try to resist playing Monday morning quarterback as I am not privy to all the intelligence they are, nor can I fully appreciate the weight of the decisions they have been burdened with. Short of clear evidence of intentional wrongdoing, I turn my attention towards God, asking what a Christian response to terrorism should be. This is a harder question, because it is more complicated than our quick republican or democrat party-line answers, and also bigger than conservative or liberal labels. It is bigger than church denominations, and requires that we leave behind the extreme camps of anti-Bush conspiracy theories… as well as mindless flag-waving nationalism. We are called to look through the lens of God’s kingdom and his intentions for how we should live for his glory in a sinful, and un-safe world. If you read the words of Jesus, they will deeply challenge your domestic and foreign policy.

So, I admit I do not know the answers yet… but I invite you to struggle with the questions I have been asking. What does Scripture say about fear? What is the application of “perfect love casts out fear”? What is the interplay between trusting God and defending ourselves? Luke 21 says “You will hear of wars, insurrections, but do not be terrified… and vs. 13 “this will give you opportunity to testify” – so how does that fit into our foreign policy? How do we apply “Blessed are the Peacemakers” from Matthew 5? What does loving our enemies look like in this scenario? What does it mean to “turn the other cheek” in this scenario?

I recently revisited an excerpt from a volume entitle “God’s Politics” that outlined the following post 9-11 recommended lessons:
1. Treat the threat of terrorism as very real – and move to prevent further attacks.
2. This is not a time for “peace-loving”, but rather for “peace-making” – Jesus clearly instructed us to take this active path in the world. It is much harder than just passively being anti-way and peace-loving. It requires
2. Avoid bad theology – it is overly simplistic and unbiblical to present this as a struggle between “good and evil”, we are “good” and they are “evil” While the actions of the 9-11 attackers were certainly evil, we are not good – and also need to take the beam out of our own eye.
3. Attack not only the symptoms, but also the root causes of terrorism – Poverty is not the cause of terrorism, but impoverished and hopeless people groups are the best recruiting grounds for terrorism. Justice is the best path to peace , and in the modern world, there is no security but common security.
4. Move beyond debate over “just war” vs. “pacifism” – focus on preventative measures and conflict resolution.
5. Unilateral Approach won’t defeat terrorism – this is a global problem that will require international judicial, political, and financial collaboration.