Things I Think
1. I’m not qualified to comment on the actual verdict of the George Zimmerman trial, but the post trial reactions do show us some things. We’re still a deeply divided country racially despite years of innumerable cultural and governmental attempts to be otherwise. Our cultural profession is still different than our personal hearts…what we profess to be is different from that which we really are. The cognitive dissonance between what we speak with our mouths and believe with our hearts is growing.
2. The racial divide is only one of many cracks that appear to be widening…how long do we have before the duct tape that holds our culture together gives way?
3. What the gay community has achieved is a veneer of acceptance…my guess is that the underlying disapproval of the life style is still the majority opinion and lurks just underneath that thin covering. Deeply held beliefs, especially those grounded in faith, are not easily overcome with propaganda and legislation. They simply remain unspoken in the common culture.
4. The “ministry of reconciliation” was either nowhere to be found or drowned out in the cacophony of division in social media once again. I guess we talk about what we care about…
5. I’m guilty of racial profiling at times…but I live in Southern Oregon, so most of the profiles are white.
6. I sometimes laugh at inappropriate things and repent afterwards…
7. Pastor…if your media budget is bigger than your ‘benevolence” budget, you need to get saved.
8. Giving into the kingdom is a risk free investment;
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6–11 ESV)
9. The more involved I get in hands on work in the kingdom the more intolerant I become of rapture posts and prophecy updates on my Facebook timeline.
10. The more partisan and opinionated a person is the fewer people that person can reach with the Gospel. Somehow we’ve replaced the Great Commission with singing to the choir…
I won’t comment in this thread on the Zimm case, except for the aftermath. I find it very encouraging to see the number of whites involved in the demonstrations. Although I don’t think it applies in the current case, it is clear that blacks are not treated equally in our criminal justice system. As much as I can as an old white guy, I understand the frustration.
I really wish the federal govt would stop declaring wars on everything. They, and we, lose every declared war.
The overseas war on terror creates more terror. Domestically, we traded privacy for “safety”.
The war on drugs creates criminals. History tells us that prohibition failed.
The war on poverty created a multi-generational culture of dependence.
I’m about to go profiling at the apple store, looking for someone who appears to work there. I’ll also be looking for signs of intelligence.
I saw two people whom I have learned to respect on this blog get very upset and emotional over the verdict of the Z~ trial. All I can say is that the death of a young man at the hands of another man is a tragedy. We live in a fallen world where every man is a sinner yet we choose to make it a color thing. Shame on us for being so ignorant.
Michael, great Things to think about today, thank you.
2. The United States is built on an idea and that idea is “freedom and the pursuit of happiness.” It’s not built on the idea of self-sacrifice for one’s countryman, although that does happen. It’s built on “gimme” not “let me give.” Of course, not everyone personally follows the “gimme” philosophy but plenty do and when this number reaches a critical mass there will be chaos and possibly revolution.
3. I wish you were right, that homosexual acceptance is a veneer. I think that was true for a while but among the younger generation, there seems to 100 percent embrace the homosexual agenda. The tipping point has come and gone.
I don’t know what to think of the Zimmerman case. There’s plenty of blame to go around. No heroes in this story.
[9 & 10] reminded me of a lecture I saw a few years back. The lecturer is a historian who studies the history of Evangelical missionary work. During question time he was asked “what happened to this explosion of missionary effort during the 18th and 19th centuries that you are describing to us?” “That’s an easy question,” he replies,” it was killed by the rise of pre-millenial dispensationalism and prophetic speculation.”
Michael,
swinging for the fences today!
I don’t know I’ve ever heartily agreed with all 10, but you got me today!
Especially:
“The more involved I get in hands on work in the kingdom the more intolerant I become of rapture posts and prophecy updates on my Facebook timeline.”
I just read a post saying “soon it will be very difficult to live as a Christian” (after the rapture)–I thought, “it already IS in lots of places across the world, and HAS BEEN for 2,000 years”
Such spoiled babies we can be
my son is bi-racial, his birth-father being black, and he has experienced many instances of profiling by local police, racist comments by teachers, fellow students, and others who should “know better,” and other instances of unequal treatment. What happened in Sanford could just as easily happen here in Southern Oregon with similar outcomes.
I believe that Satan is working overtime to encourage racial hatred in this nation. And the media is his biggest weapon.
And as bad as bias might be, for any media outlet to deliberately edit tape or censor information to push a racial agenda ought to result in civil liability towards their target and a nice hefty fine from the FCC.
My corner of the world is dark today. Two of my lifelong friends were out drinking all night this weekend and flipped a car. Passenger is dead. Driver is charged with felony death by vehicle.
As I kissed my little girl goodnight, I couldn’t shake the thought of twin girls spending the first night without their father, and another teenage girl whose dad will be in jail for a long time.
Oh Josh. So sorry, brother.
I agree with number 7 and 8. Sad, but true. Regarding #9, I’m so sorry to hear. Multiple tragedies for all involved and while we’re blaming the devil for much of this behavior, there is a reason it’s called the “Devil’s Brew.”
So many ways that humankind suffers from the fall.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I meant comments 7 and 8 and 9. I also agree with Michael’s thoughts.
Josh, so very sorry. Praying for these families.
I couldn’t agree more with number 10. I have been grappling a lot over the last year with the things that we must keep in tension when it comes to the Christian life, but when it comes to politics or equally divisive things we don’t have a balance we have to strike because the Kingdom of God always wins. Don’t sacrifice the gospel to your party politics, place all of your worldly allegiances on the alter of the Kingdom.
Also Josh, I don’t think I have posted here before, so this is coming from a stranger, but that is a truly tragic event… prayer for the families.
Lord, have mercy
My wife is Mexican and I’ve heard a lot of trash through the years because folks thinks she’s white due to her skin tone. As a result I hear comments about Mexicans so I immediately say my wife is Mexican.
As far as Zimmerman and the death of Martin I don’t know if reasonable discussion is even possible as things are so polarized. If I was to state I learned such and such about the case on Fox news I would be scorned and ridiculed out of hand by many. If others state they learned such and such about the case on CNN or CNBC they would immediately be dismissed out of hand.
Racism isn’t going anywhere as it’s entrenched in societies throughout the world. That’s tragic but because the only things that result from racist mindsets are bad and innocent people pay with their lives daily.
With wall to wall news coverage of this tragedy for the last 17 months people become invested in the story and when a conclusion is reached people will be unhappy.
Sadly we are losing our youth to violent deaths on a daily basis and their stories are overlooked. Look at Chicago and here in Los Angeles and then read your daily paper anywhere else in the country. We live in a country of violence and no sense of value of human life.
A young teen is gone forever and the defendant will never know what it is to live a normal life from this point forward. And their friends and families will struggle to move forward.
Josh,
That’s a ton of sorrows…Lord have mercy, indeed.
Josh, praying about that whole situation.
Josh, I’m sorry for all involved. What a life shattering event. Praying.
Josh,
Thank you for letting us know and for sharing your grief. When one part of the body hurts, the rest of the body hurts as well. I will be praying for you and those who are close to those involved in this tragedy.
At the same time, I would like to add, it is good that you shared how this affected your own thoughts about your girls not having a father if he should be laid to rest or placed in custody due to similar circumstances. It is good that we all consider what drinking (or drugging-prescribe or otherwise) and driving can result, thinking we have things under control. We need to have all our faculties about us when on the road, if nothing else to be a defensive driver when so many on the road are under the influence.
Michael,
Good post today—lots to think about and to ponder.
When people put feet to their faith, then that which God wants to speaks through you, goes out in a much more clearly understood message. If it is just the Word, without action—then what is that? For even the Pharisees and Sadducees did not lack in speaking volumes on this, but bared little fruit—at least fruit that bared a witness to love, grace, mercy, and yes, even justice to those who hearts yearned to see just a glimmer of hope in the morass of confusion, insecurity, and impoverishment that they lived.
Off topic for a moment: Why is it when people cry out for justice, what they are really saying is that they want the courts to confirm what they have already decided when the accused has yet been tried. Then when they are found not guilty, they claim that “justice’ was not done? Could it be like the priest did to Jesus. That is, they want him killed, but in order to do this, for they could not do this themselves, they took it to Caeser to rubber stamp their need to have Him crucified to satisy their own agenda, threatening a riot if he refused their demands?
#7, darn right, Mark Driscoll.
I admit, I am tired of the whole Trayvon Martin argument, both sides.
It was a tragic incident on both sides.
It also shows that God knew what he was doing when he had Israel set up cities of refuge.
God knows that sometimes people kill people with no bad intent.
We need to pray for both sides.
For comfort and solace for the Martin family.
And for protection from people who feel the need to exact what they think is justice on Zimmerman.
Lot more that needs to be prayed for in this, let the Spirit guide you in that.
Josh, I’m so sorry. Adding my prayers as well. I don’t even have the words to express how precious my twin girls are to me. I just can’t imagine…
Welcome dswoager!
Josh, just read your post. I’m so very sorry.
Josh,
I’m so very sorry to hear about this tragedy involving your friends.
My first time to actually see what the story was did not occur until the verdict. Since OJ days I discovered that the media gets obsessed with a story and turns it into something that it is not. Whatever the truth is about Zimmerman, it has been obscured by the coverage.
The media whore doesn’t even wash.
Josh…praying for your friends and their families…
“Pastor…if your media budget is bigger than your ‘benevolence” budget, you need to get saved.”
Does this include radio, TV and Internet?
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers for my friends.
Guys like Zimmerman who have this vigilante cowboy mentality are part of the problem
My Family is racially mixed. White, black, and Vietnamese. My wife’s best friend is from Venezuela, and she is married to a Mexican man. My children have no concept of racial prejudice. And this is a small town in the confederacy.
RE: Josh the Baptist @ # 33,
My children have no concept of racial prejudice. And this is a small town in the confederacy.
In my opinion, this embodies the Good News of Jesus Christ in the here and now in a very real and practical sense. The old ways which have divided us as humans no longer have to be.
Andrew,
I’m not a big fan of spending on TV and radio or expensive websites.
I know of a church that spent close to seven figures on proper lighting for HD broadcasting from the sanctuary…
***Guys like Zimmerman who have this vigilante cowboy mentality are part of the problem***
Statements like that are also part of the problem. All you know about Zimmerman and what happened that night you’ve learned 3rd and 4th and 5th hand through the news, and yet you think you understand his mindset and his motivation. Yet I could look at what has been reported and competently argue that he was not a vigilante in any way. I don’t think we as far off observers are able to accurately judge whether or not he was a vigilante, and painting him as one when one it is not at all clear does not further any sort of reasonable discussion about race, justice, neighborhood crime, or whatever.
No, statements like that are not part of the problem because it is just an opinion and I’m not out there breaking anyones car windows or approaching black teenagers that walk thru my neighborhood
Also, you step up to someone prepare for a physical confrontation, it’s that simple and then you wanna be a coward and pull a gun when you instigated it.
I loathe violence of any kind but you don’t put yourself in that position because your a Neighborhood watch guy
you werent there either so your opinion is no better than anyone elses, get off your soap box!
My point is the anger people have over this and the subsequent rioting because of that anger is not grounded in any sort of fact. It’s grounded in their perceptions based on the “information” presented to them by a very biased media. It seems harmful to any sort of productive dialogue to castigate a man for instigating a physical confrontation when there is no evidence that Zimmerman physically confronted Martin and, in fact, claimed consistently from the very beginning that Martin confronted him.
Here is the most germane quote I’ve read about the senseless reaction to the Zimmerman verdict. It’s from Ann Coulter. “Black liberals keep bemoaning the danger to their own teenage sons after the “not guilty” verdict in George Zimmerman’s murder trial. To avoid what happened to Trayvon Martin, their boys need only follow this advice: Don’t walk up to a stranger and punch him, ground-and-pound him, MMA-style, and repeatedly smash his head against the pavement.”
You can read the whole article on Drudge.
You quoted Ann Coulter!!! You better duck, Gary!! 🙂
I ain’t afeared.
” … how long do we have before the duct tape that holds our culture together gives way?”
Awesome.
I give it less than 2 years, PP Vet. 2015 The ‘harmonic’ convergence of our culture, business, politics, finances, religion and nature will render us -I used to say this as a joke 40 years ago- the untied states of Anemia. Useless. Powerless. Wasted. Over. “Cognitive dissonance” is exactly right. The god of this age is using wicked men to chisel the foundation of our culture. The church is bits of metal and clay. Little bits of light escape now and then but not enough to make an impact. We try to hold Christian leaders accountable. The evil one whispers that we’re all worthless. The house is swept clean and it’s seven times worse than it ever was.
The abolitionists were guilty of racial profiling. Every minority neighborhood is guilty of racial profiling. Minority business owners are guilty of racial profiling. I see it every day in my work.
John Adams said “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
What to do. What to do?
Hello.
I wrote a wonderful piece, a fabulous discourse. It summed up the history of the world and put everything in proper perspective. Since I don’t see it here it must’ve vanished in the ether. Maybe the Lord is saving me from major embarrassment. lol
Well, G, some lady threw Picasso and Matisse masterpieces into the furnace, we hear.
Some masterpieces are lost: Tragic, but true.
The masterpiece of a moral democracy may be lost. Is that what you mean?