Sunday, August 31, 2008

To All Those Politically Inclined To Speak Their Mind...

... I need some guidance. As I have kept a reluctant eye on our nation's politics over the last several months, I can't help but let my disdain for politics prevent me from analyzing and critiquing my decision-making before November 4th.

I hate politics, mainly because I hate the two-party system, and how it resembles the separation between denominations within the Church body. I despise how money and lobbyists have influenced politicians to waver in their beliefs and promises, only to find most of them corrupt in their own right through their many vices. 

I used to be a blind Republican, thinking that a party who supports anti-abortion was good enough, when there's more to politics than I'd like to shake a stick at. Now I don't trust either party, because I believe the GOP has betrayed me trying to pocket Evangelical Christianity as a meal ticket, while too many times I've seen the Democratic party waver too much in their beliefs and bend at will to popular demand.

I need opinions and insights from both sides of the political line. I do not know enough about, nor trust, either candidate for Presidency. I fear that Obama, though he would be a fresh face, an outsider bringing "Change," does not have enough experience, especially in foreign policy, and I think McCain's old enough to have a dinosaur as a pet, is not in tune with the "common man" in this country, and will croak three months into office if elected.

Please respond and tell me what you think, because I'm a big "undecided."

Meanwhile, I agree with much of what one of my favorite authors finds important before his benediction at the DNC in Denver this past week:



Friday, August 22, 2008

Breaking

Right now, I'm sitting in one of the best coffee shops in the world (Chapters, if you're sheltered and uninformed) reading blogs by dear friends and news stories from around the world. As my body once again asks "why aren't you getting registered for classes?", I think about the time I have spent since I finished my 17th year of education (about 6 of those years actually counted). 

Since January this year I've had my regular schedule of working my three jobs: part-time youth pastor, part-time YMCAer, and part-time sweat shop worker at a sign shop, my bread and butter. If it weren't for my jobs, I would not be living here in Newberg or being involved in the ministry at my church that sometimes feels like it's growing. I would not have seen the small, yet significant transformations among the people in my congregation who went and experienced San Francisco and realize there's a world outside of certain sheltered areas of Oregon. I would not know the good people who have become family to me, and I would not trade the last two and a half years for anything. 

Yet... in a community such as Sherwood, where people seem to have "everything together" in the 19th best place to live in the States, a desire for change as Ghandi would say is not exactly on the forefront of this community's mind. I have the advantage of working at the Teen Center here, and I get to see the vulnerable states of the apples which have fallen off their trees. The word "potential" doesn't even describe how much people in this community are capable of. 

Yes, I have been frustrated many times doing the work of vocational ministry here. Combining my experiences of mega-church Crossroads and pint-size Willowbrook have given me such a broad amount of perspectives within the Church itself. The work is never done. Constantly I have to remind myself of the many servants of God who were faithful to their work yet never saw result until they were long gone. Abraham never saw his people outnumber the stars, Moses never saw the Promise Land, David never saw the Temple, Elijah thought he was alone, Stephen never saw the Early Church grow, and Isaiah thought God's people were nuts! There have been times I felt like the work I've done has been a waste of time!! I feel like I should be taking advantage of my singleness, go globetrotting, find the places in need of God's love and grace, searching for those who are lost! Why am I rotting here when I see my close friends become God's hand on His outstretched arms across the world like in Thailand, Uganda, Japan, China, Holland, Romania, Mexico, San Francisco, Namibia, Madagascar, Louisiana, and Malawi?!

Yet... I remember that it's not my work doing anything here. Not in my 23 years of existence has my "work" with either Crossroads, Willowbrook, or even Northside in my random visits there, had anything to do with those churches' vitality and ministry! I have NOTHING to do with Willowbrook's existence. No one can claim that. This church would still be where God wants it to be whether I was introduced to Pastor Dean or not.

For those of you out there working in some type of ministry, locally or internationally, I take to heart that each of you has struck a chord in my life that resinates as a reminder that you are where you are because God wants you there. I know that somewhere within my arrogance and pride that God has wanted me here since I was born, and I will remain here until further notice. God constantly reminded Isaiah to keep going... to keep pressing God's message to His people, no matter how they respond. I pray that I may be reminded of that constantly. 

Monday, August 18, 2008

... as I watch...

I'm starting to understand why we love the Olympics so much. 

Little do we know that most of the sports we watch with such intensity every four years do actually occur more often between each Games. There are world championships, national championships, and other events all over the world that involve each of these sports. We just don't bother watching until those five rings appear across the screen with Bob Costas starting to follow in Dick Clark's never-ending footsteps.

The Olympic dream is something I could never quite figure out. I have played my fair share of sports, and I have dreamt of biting that shiny medal around my neck as a child. I've watched the Olympics since the original Dream Team in Barcelona in '92, the Kerrigan-Harding saga in '94, Michael Johnson blinging his gold chain and matching shoes into the record books in the 200 and 400 meter dashes in Atlanta '96, Jonny Moseley making skiing cool again in '98, former Tarheel Vince Carter "poster-izing" a 7'2" player in Sydney '00, the Canadian pairs Sele' and Pelletier skaters getting ripped off by a bad French judge in Salt Lake City '02, Shaun "The Flying Tomato" White taking gold in a halfpipe in Turino '06, and Michael Phelps getting 14 gold medals in Athens '04 and Beijing '08. I don't think I'll ever stop watching the Games.

That's when I realized why I watch it. The other night, when Phelps was going for history in the 4 x 100 meter Medley Relay, after Jason Lezak held on to a half body length lead in the anchor to give Phelps his 8th straight gold medal in these Games, the broadcast showed a replay of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the stands. Did you watch them? Most famous athletes or Hollywood stars who've graced other sporting events don't cheer like these two did (namely, David Beckham in the Staples Center, or any famous person hiding out at an NHL game). They were kids.... just kids, screaming, cheering and almost leaping out of the stands in ecstasy from the achievement the world just witnessed in Phelps. I mean, did you see the hat LeBron was sporting? It reminded me of Scotty Smalls' enormous duck billed fishing hat from "The Sandlot." On top of that, Kobe asked for a picture with Phelps! When was the last time Kobe asked someone, or anyone, for a picture during his illustrious career?!

Ahh, the pureness of sport. I know money is involved in these Games after the Closing Ceremonies, and I'm sure Phelps will probably hit pay dirt enough to retire twice. However, in that moment, with two of the greatest players in the NBA, willed on a bunch of relatively unknown swimmers (save Phelps), who only get recognition every four years, to reach gold. They were proud that someone else accomplished something amazing. The Redeem Team itself is reforming its image and accomplishing pure basketball during these Games, taking out the "me first" image we have had pounded into our minds for so long. I was proud of watching three American women I've never heard of sweep the women's individual sabre in the first days of competition. I tuned in to watch two Americanized Chinese women compete in ping pong doubles late at night. Patriotism runs through everyone's veins. Everyone likes common ideals.

As I've grown up watching these Games, I also watched my close friends grow up. Why am I mentioning this? I feel like groups of friends have common goals, just like the United States is hoping to achieve gold. Some of my closest friends are pursuing an ultimate goal: to spread God's kingdom. I find myself cheering for them, just as much as LeBron and Kobe cheered on Phelps. One of my best friends will be heading to Holland for about 5 years in a few weeks, along with his wife and newborn son. As much as I love being around him, feeding off of his wisdom, and sharpening each other, I know in my heart that I will be his #1 fan during his tenure in Holland. I will cheer him and his family on as they plant a youth ministry in Amsterdam, and pray for him when they reach out to the lost.
I find that as Christians too often we look into ourselves, say "me first & gimme gimme," and say we love, cherish, and grow our faith when in reality we don't. We're like those seeds among the thorns. We're growing, but we're letting too many things hinder us from producing any fruit. The fruit that those athletes reap is the honor and respect they deserve for their hard work, their dedication to their sport, and the MANY sacrifices they've made to get there. I'm positive that Phelps sacrificed most of his teenage social life, and maybe some of his young adult life, to become the greatest in his sport. That's his fruit, and he deserves it.
As for those cheering on Phelps, they get the satisfaction that they supported, saw, and shared this experience with him and the world. They set aside everything they wanted, and for brief moments watched someone sacrifice everything to achieve this goal.

What would the world be like if we started setting aside our wants and desires? What if Christians in this country set aside the desires of the "American Dream," and started desiring Christ's desire to save those who are lost? As nations set aside their differences every four years (well, two years), they cheer on for the sake of sport. When will we set down our pride and lust for absolute dominance as "Christians" and just cheer on for the sake of God's kingdom ?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Olympical moment

Just so everyone knows, I got in an accident last week. Nothing bad. Fender bender. My insurance took care of it, though it was my fault. For now I'm driving a Chrysler Sebring '08, WAAAY above my pay grade.
When I dropped my Honda off at the repair shop Monday afternoon, I was making small talk with an elderly-ish secretary in the waiting room while I passed the time for Enterprise to pick me up. I casually asked her if she's watched any of the Olympics this past weekend. Me being a big sports fan, I understood in my head that most non-sports fans usually watch the Olympics because, well, they're the Olympics.
"No, not at all actually."
"Really?" to my surprise. 
"Growing up, my parents made us kids watch the Olympics whenever they were on. We had one TV with only a few channels, and it was either that or play outside."
"Oh. I see."

On a normal day, I would've passed right over that statement: "My parents made us kids watch the Olympics...." Seriously, I don't think I would ever hear that statement ever again if I tried. Maybe that was the problem. I had such an expectation that any average American would "show patriotism" and watch our teams hopefully succeed, that I didn't consider not watching to be an option. 
Does this same concept apply with our entire lives? Does "assuming" really make an @$$ out of you and me? Do we assume that homeless people are homeless because they don't work hard enough, or the rich yuppy down the street who we think has it together? Why do we assume? Is it human nature to assume, to make judgments, to cast doubt on people for how they act or what they look like first glance?
How about the millions of teenagers in this country who are assumed to be irresponsible and not have hopes and dreams and ideas?
How about giving our nation's leaders the benefit of the doubt that they might actually know more than we think we do?
I could continue, but I don't want you assuming anything.