Haiti

Like most of our nation, my wife and I have been following the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti with interest and growing compassion and concern. Our prayers are with the Haitian people and for the efforts of those who have gone to assist in the relief efforts. The images of devastation in a land already devastated by poverty are often more than can be born without grief overcoming our hearts. Both of us wish we were in a position to do more than send what money we can and go ourselves to do what we may. Even Josh, our ten-year-old, has put himself to work to earn ten dollars to send to the efforts.

In the midst of our grief and compassion, other emotions are growing, anger and disgust. Although you must often read between the lines in the reporting and find news through other sources than CNN, it is not difficult to see a level of incompetence in the relief efforts not seen in decades. Reading reports of emergency crews left waiting on runways in the U.S. while workers on the ground are begging for supplies and help boil my blood. When a well-supplied top search and rescue team, which included doctors and engineers, that had been waiting to leave since the Thursday after the quake was told to stand down by the United Nations, I almost lost it. A couple of days later, the U.N. asked for more armed peacekeepers. I had to ask myself, what's the priority? But, after all, the U.N. is being allowed to take the lead so gross incompetence cannot be entirely ruled out.

I have heard doctors complaining about the level of military presence. That got me thinking. I've never heard that before in a disaster situation. Most are grateful for the efforts of our uniformed personnel. Other reports told the tale, although indirectly in some cases. A report that supplies are sitting on the ground in Haiti's sole airport lead me down a trail of digging that showed the problem is not the amount of military presence, but how it has been used. Under normal conditions with this type of disaster, the Navy's tough-as-nails construction unit, the SeaBees, would have gone in immediately and built airfields for relief planes. Military engineers and medical personnel would have been the first on the scene as they are the fastest to deploy and the best trained. Who better than the U.S. military to go to an emergency and set up field hospitals? Yet, they did not. Those roles fell to civilian agencies. Had this been done correctly, many lives would have been saved. But, we allowed the U.N. to take the lead and they set the agenda. Only Israel, who went in on their own, was fully operational in a matter of a couple of days with a fully functioning field hospital including MRI equipment. If they could do it, why can't we?

With the anger is disgust. Politicians fly in, survey the damage, say something appropriate and lofty sounding, and then leave. I have to ask if there were supplies on those planes? How about medical personnel? Did they do anything useful? Unfortunately, even if I hope for it, I do not expect better from politicians. Never before have I seen the level of political wrangling in a disaster. This even does the blame-game after Katrina, which ignored real incompetence and set the blame fully on parties where only a small portion actually belonged. I have never seen a call to donate the the government above taxes to help in relief as the administration is currently doing. Personally, I do not donate the the bloated bureaucracy of the government to help with relief efforts. I go to the Red Cross or other far more efficient organizations and ministries.

The media is covering up or explaining away the incompetence. With a few exceptions among the reporters on the ground, most commentators and reporters are explaining the delays away with statements that bemoan the bureaucracy yet excuse it at the same time. I knew that the press was no longer operating as the sentinels of liberty that is the role envisioned by the founders, but I hoped they would throw all their bias out in the face of real human suffering, slim though that hope was. I am glad that the journalists in the field have left the reservation and I hope that their colleagues back here will join them in sharing the truth.

With the U.N. stopping relief teams claiming insufficient security, more lives will be lost. The reports I've heard show no more violence in most parts of the island than in inner-city Detroit. The people on the scene find the U.N.'s stated concerns unfounded. If security is a concern, I'm sure there are private security companies that have people more than willing to donate their time to protect doctors and engineers. Let them pass and get those people the food and medical attention they need.

Heroes and Villains

I was visiting one of the blogs I read regularly this morning. They were having a discussion of the movie "Avatar," the new effects driven sci-fi "epic" that came out over the weekend. The reviews from my fellow nerds and geeks were something less than stellar. In fact, the consensus was that the movie was horrible.

I can't say that I was surprised. I have no intention of seeing this film any time in the near future. The following is an excerpt from my part of the discussion:

Hm, let’s see if I get this right. Noble native peoples in touch with nature? check. Evil, greedy corporation? check. Evil, brutal military? check. A “hero” that switches sides when he falls in love with a native and her people? check. Able to figure out the entire plot from watching the trailer? check and check.

Admittedly, there have always been cliches in movies. Some of them, I actually enjoy seeing from time to time, like the good guys always win. Remember when that was the case? How about when the people who are the good guys in real life (police, military, etc.) were the good guys on film? That time has passed for most of the tripe out of Hollywood with the exception of some of the better comic films out there.

Avatar is just another in a long list of interchangeable films that are nothing more than winy political clap trap that exchange a good story for “making a point.” I’m all for making a point, but I happen to believe that it is better made when the characters and story are better and the message is more subtle. People are not stupid and do not need the point to be made in such a blatant and shallow manner. OK, I get it, after who knows how many films in several genres, you don’t like the military, corporations, and capitalism and you like getting back to nature and the environment.

You may have guessed from my opinion that I do not enjoy films of this kind. I do enjoy thoughtful science fiction, but not this junk. I have to say that I prefer true heroes to those who are actually betrayers of their principles and people. I miss the days when honor and integrity were the makings of a hero. A time when a soldier was honored in film as the hero not as a psycho or villain.

I no longer expect much from Hollywood on this front. Long have the true heroes of our world been the villain in most popular entertainment. Today, I have finally seen the ultimate in heroic role reversal. In the new film "Legion," God Himself is the villain. Scheduled for release in January, this grand cinematic achievement tells the story of God deciding to destroy the earth when He no longer believes in mankind. Instead of a flood or other calamity, he sends armies of angels to destroy people. The look and act like demons committing acts of pure barbarism and bloodlust. They are evil in manner, appearance, and character. The hero, if you want to call him that, is a rebellious angel who takes it unto himself to save mankind. So, a rebel against God is the hero.

So here we are. God is bad, a rebellious angel (read demon) is the hero, and man owes its continued existence to this demon. I don't know what to say here except to remind you of the end of the first chapter of Romans, "calling evil good and giving hearty approval to those who do likewise." Can there be any greater example of the fulfillment of this Scripture?

This isn't the first time this type of garbage has been produced. I remember fiction from my youth that had similar themes or themes of an aloof god who doesn't care. However, they were never something that made it into the mainstream of film and literature. This film has the look of a good budget. I hope that it is a colossal flop.

I wish I could be surprised, but I cannot. In an entertainment culture in which vampires and other occult beings are portrayed as heroes, God as a villain is unfortunately to be expected. I leave it to you, gentle reader, to decide what you will do with this information. For me, God is still the ultimate hero exemplified in His Son. No demon of darkness or Hollywood nonsense will ever be able to change that.

The Curse of Competency

Several years ago, one of my former mentors taught me of a principle that I have tried to never forget. As we sat eating lunch, he put down his sandwich and got very serious. He told me that I had a lot of great skills and potential, which of course I thanked him for saying that. His next words changed the tone entirely. He said that it wasn't a compliment but a warning. One anyone, especially a pastor, has a wide set of skills to operate in, everyone will want you to use them. Using them is one thing, but they often will want you to do everything. They will put huge demands on your time. He warned that I would pulled in a million different directions at once as different people with different agendas would want my help and skills. He called this the "Curse of Competence."

Over the years since that conversation, I have never forgotten the principle. I don't consider myself anything extraordinary, but I have experienced these demands first hand as I have grown in ministry. Even now, I am wrestling with being in a position of excessive demand. I am praying for guidance on all of my involvements daily asking for wisdom. At the moment, I have violated the second half of the principle.

I have begun to move in a large circle of fellow pastors and ministers, each more deserving and competent than I could ever hope to be. As I have watched these dynamic men of God, I see this curse upon their shoulders. Over and over, I have heard the same statement from different mouths, "I'm too busy." Not only are they dealing with heavy demands from their various congregations, they also feel pressure from city wide ministries to get involved. Lots of people all over the area want them to be a part of what they're doing. All too often, these skilled and gifted men are stretched very thin.

Which brings about the second half of the principle. I learned in that conversation many years ago that the most powerful and necessary word in my vocabulary was and remains, "No." There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious, if we don't say no, then we risk getting overwhelmed by the work load and excessive schedule. We are no longer able to function well in any of them because our time and energy are not sufficient to give all of these things we do our full attention. Of course, our families suffer for our schedule and wind up without us in their lives at the level they need us.

The other reason for "no" is one of the essential reasons for ministry. Ministry is not about getting things done but about developing people. Our job is to equip the saints for service. If we are doing all the work, others never get a chance to grow. Rather than allowing ourselves to fall into the trap, it's better to act in a support role and allow others to develop and grow in their gifts and talents. The Kingdom benefits from this far more than from our efforts as individuals.

So, at the moment, if you ask me to do anything more than I already am, the answer is no.

Good Enough?

Yesterday when I was walking on to the ICC Campus, I heard a remark from a young student that set my teeth on edge. She was chiding a fellow student telling him that, "We can't all be overachievers and go to every class every day." Had I not been on my way to class, I'm not sure I wouldn't have said something.

My father's voice was echoing in my head as I continued on my way. He taught me that the pursuit of excellence was the best way to life. To quote him, "Good enough is never good enough." When that young student made her comment, I immediately thought, "Since when is the minimum requirement overachieving?"

This is something that has always bothered me. The comment I overheard is not unique. In fact, it is indicative of a much broader attitude that has been growing in our culture. Seeing the number of students that skip class or drop it once it begins to get a little hard disturbs me deeply. I understand that classes get difficult but if they weren't, you wouldn't be learning. Challenge is at the heart of education. Even with my schedule, I still work very hard to maintain the highest possible grade I can get. I was raised to always do the absolute best I could do and have a lot of difficulty understanding the attitude of someone who just gets by.

Nowhere does this bother more than in church. I remember the first time I heard the phrase "good enough for church." It was during a church work day several years ago. I was with a group of men who were doing repairs to the buildings. One of them was fixing a basement window and set back and uttered those words. I looked at the job and would not have been happy with it. I could see a couple of potential leaks in it that could have resulted in water coming into the basement classrooms. At the time, I was not in a position to say anything, being a mere Sunday School teacher, but I really wanted to. My blood was boiling.

Since that day, I have worked to eliminate that attitude from the people I serve with and as a pastor over. The Lord deserves excellence in all of our endeavors. When we tolerate and sometimes even celebrate mediocrity, we perpetuate the culture of "good enough." The Lord has every reason to expect our best no matter what it is. After all, the Scripture says that we are to do everything as a act of worship to God. That means everything.

When we consider all the areas of service in the church, whether on the grounds or not, we need to strive for the absolute best we can do and should expect it from others. We should, for example, expect musicians to practice and that includes outside of the official team practice. As a pastor, it is my responsibility to deliver not only the best sermons I can, but also to give the best leadership and counsel I can as well. Patch jobs and half done work are not acceptable in any capacity.

Good enough is never good enough.

The Bow

By now, we've all seen the picture of President Obama bowing low in front of the Japanese Emperor. Some people are outraged while others do not see the big deal. Some justify it by saying that's how the Japanese show respect and it's protocol for him to bow. From a perspective of understanding the culture and the meaning of bowing, the president sent a clear message to the Japanese people and their leaders that Western minds do not comprehend.

If you notice, the emperor bows as well, but only slightly. This is the appropriate bow to a fellow head of state. The president, on the other hand bows low, indicating subservience. It says that I am less than you and therefor am your servant. Doing so for most people meeting the emperor would be appropriate. As the head of state, the president sent the message that not only is he inferior, but so is the entire United States. Essentially, he is saying that the United States is inferior to Japan and is subservient to them. Unfortunately, current fiscal policy puts our nation in that position without the bow.

There is a concept here that perhaps the president does not understand. One can be a servant without being subservient. He could have given the appropriate head of state bow, as the emperor did, and still be a servant leader. For decades, the Japanese people have been not only allies of the United States, but true friends as well. Their attitude of repentance for the warlike expansionism of World War II has long held sway over most of the culture. Already, we help protect their borders and interests with our military as their constitution forbids a standing army more than a small defense force. Economically, we have been both competitors and partners in almost all major industries. Already, we as a nation serve as the largest market for Japanese goods and services. There was no need to bow so low.

The servant leader is a position of strength not weakness. Rather than saying I am less than you, it says that even though we are equals, I choose to honor and serve you. One is a formula for resentment on the part of the "servant", the other is a blessing bestowed out of good will and respect. This should be the position of the president. I hope he will stop apologizing for the country and offering us up to other nations and instead will lead from the position of authority he has been given. He has the burden of leading the most powerful nation on Earth with all the responsibility and privilege that comes with it. I pray he will stand and bear that burden well. He is our servant first and foremost as our elected leader. He serves at our pleasure, not the pleasure of any other nation. One day, I pray he remembers that.

Timing Is Everything

John Maxwell's exceptional book, The Twenty-One Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, describes the laws that govern good leadership and the principles used to apply them. It's one of my favorite books. I've read it several times over and it never fails to produce a new nugget of wisdom. A great read.

One of the laws of he outlines is the Law of Timing. Essential, the law states that the best way to operate is the right idea at the right time. The converse is that the right idea at the wrong time is the wrong idea. Have you ever wanted to start something or make changes only to be opposed or stymied at every turn even though you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was right? Timing was your enemy at that point.

When timing lines up, it's another story. To steal a phrase from my coffee cup, "Nothing is so empowering as an idea whose time has come." That is an absolute truth. When the idea comes about exactly when it is needed and the people are receptive, everything begins to fall into place. Not to say that it's always easy and resistance free, but everything goes much smoother. Conditions will never be perfect, but can be optimal.

The trick is understanding the timing. Sometimes an idea needs to simmer a little while on the back burner to mature. I recommend prayer (shock, shock) when making the decision about when to proceed. Lining up with God's plan for you, your life, and the idea is key to successful implementation. When we get an idea, often times we are excited and ready to go right away. We tell everybody and start to make plans to make it happen. Then we meet the brick walls stopping everything. I've made that mistake more times than I can count. (Recently, I might add.) However, letting the idea sit and asking the Lord when to start has set aside those barriers every time. There have been times I've had to put things on hold for ten years or more for the timing to be right. Operating in His timing is of the essence.

Got an idea? Great. Prayed about it? Hope so. Let God take control of it? When it's His will to make it happen, that works every time. Dream dreams, be passionate, and let the Lord grant you His time and energy to accomplish His work through you.

Did They Need to Die?

Yesterday's events at Fort Hood are deeply tragic. My heart and prayers are for the families of the now thirteen slain and thirty wounded. These brave men and women died at the hands of one who was to be their healer. Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a board certified psychologist, which means he is also a medical doctor who takes the same oath to first do not harm. He has also taken the oath to defend this nation with his life that every member of the military takes. He has broken all of his oaths and his slain his brothers.

The real tragedy is beyond the shooting but the reality that it could have and should have been prevented. Despite the media spin by outlets such as Newsweek to make it a story about a military on the brink in which any of our soldiers could snap just like the major, the real story is still out there. He did not kill his fellow soldiers because he didn't want to go to Iraq. He does not suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as he has never been into combat. He did not open fire because he was bullied by his fellow officers. Most of the news outlets are ignoring his views and history.

All of the evidence points a far darker picture of Hasan. He has posted on a number websites his radical Islamic views. He has praised suicide bombers and has even suggested that one needs to go off in Times Square. He frequently called for Muslims to rise up against the aggressor, namely us. He stated more than once that the killers of the young men outside the recruiting station in Little Rock didn't go far enough. He was a radical Islamist in our ranks who sided with those whom we are fighting. It was these views and the fact he was vocal about them that were at the root of his problems with his fellow officers not his Muslim faith. In any other time, his postings would have been considered giving aid and comfort to the enemy, also known as treason. The Army knew this and in the name of political correctness chose not to act. I am glad that American Muslims have come out and rightly condemned this act.

The other spin I've begun to hear is from the anti-gun lobby. If there can be a shooting on military base where there's lots of guns, how do guns stop violence? The truth is that 99.9% of the personnel on the base are not armed. Only designated individuals are allowed to carry weapons, such as security personnel. On most domestic bases, the security is handled by a civilian force, like the Sergeant that finally shot Hasan. It is no different from opening fire on college campus or in a shopping mall. Essentially, no one is armed. Having been in the military myself, I know this first hand. Other than during security drills on the sub and at the range, I never carried a firearm on base. I only carried a baton when on security duty at the base club. All the firearms are locked up in armories.

The other part of the story is the fact that one never expects a fellow soldier, much less an officer, to do what the major "allegedly" did. There is an automatic level of trust extended to other members of the armed forces just by virtue of the uniform. Had I come around the corner after hearing gunfire and saw an officer with weapons, I would not have assumed he was the shooter but rather that he was looking for the shooter. His uniform was his shield and how he disarmed his victims.

There are Muslims in the military who serve with distinction. That is not at issue here, but what is at issue is why someone with these views was allowed to continue wearing the uniform of this country? Reports all say he was trying to get out of the Army. I have to ask three questions: One, why did they promote him to major last spring knowing his views? Two, why didn't the Army act and remove him from service when it became obvious that he supported the views of the enemy? Finally, even lacking the political will to act, why didn't they just let him out when he asked? While Hasan takes the brunt of the blame for his actions, the military holds some as well for not acting in a timely fashion. If they had acted in a manner appropriate to the reality of the situation instead of from political correctness, there would be thirteen fewer graves.