I’m back, rested, tan, and ready to blog.
We had better get our rapture emails ready because this machine could mean that the apocalypse is upon us. I am not sure what an atom smasher does, but it sounds like Jack Van Impe will soon be calling it the beast. Magnets 17 miles in circumference? An underground machine that crosses international borders? This thing is crazy, you really need to read that article.
My best friend Todd should be back from Iraq by this time next week. He has been working in the green zone in Baghdad for about 7 months. I am excited, but reminded of how many troops are still over there. Let’s make a point to be praying for an end to this war. Fresh off of the 4th of July let’s reinvigorate our prayer lives for a plan and leadership courageous enough to end this conflict. Get home safe Todd.
I am not a tennis fan anymore, but yesterday’s Wimbledon Final may have been the greatest tennis match ever played. Check out the highlights of the match, Federer and Nadal absolutely provided greatness yesterday. It is hard to believe they could maintain such a high level of play after 7 hours of drama.
Another hard to describe Christian leader died last week with the passing of former Senator Jesse Helms. Helms represented a Southern, Baptist, American, form of Christianity that still defines many in our country. He was passionate and zealous for his faith, but also blinded to the fullness of the Gospel and how his cultural and political beliefs corrupted his understanding of Jesus. For me Jesse Helms serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to constantly check the priorities of our beliefs. Do we first define ourselves by our country, our culture, or our own leanings, and then add in Christ, or do we start with the revolutionary message of the Kingdom of God and then deconstruct all of those other influences in our lives. Rest in peace Jesse, and may we learn from your life all the lessons there are to be learned.
There is a documentary coming out about the death of Len Bias. After two decades that one still gets me really emotional. Len had it all. Len would have been a Hall of Famer. It would not have taken the Celtics over two decades to win another championship. Wish we could have known how great he could have been.
Do you prefer worship with a lawn chair, your dog, and some sun, don’t worry our church launched a great new service yesterday. Big shout out to Maggie for all her work. Check it out.
July 7, 2008 at 5:05 pm
(for some reason your blog won’t let me comment under my account…sometimes)
I feel compelled to comment on the Jesse Helms/Southern Baptist thing. I think Helms represented what Southern Baptist became (much like he represents what Conservative Republicanism/Old school Southern Democrat evolved into). Southern Baptist doctrine (or my understanding of it) by nature goes against what the Convention has become and I just don’t see how a religious group with “priesthood of the believer” as a major tenet could possibly undertake political leanings like it has. i.e. How can a convention put forth to affect how it’s individuals vote?
With all that in mind, I guess what I’m saying is…Helms has helped change Southern Baptists into what they are today, so I suppose he was not as much a representative of them as he was a change agent for them. Does any of that make sense?
July 7, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Todd,
My blog must fear the power of your comments…
I agree that Helms represented what the SBC became for some, not was it was founded to be. Many of the attitudes and beliefs of Jesse Helms were certainly un-Biblical, at least as I understand the gospel and his beliefs. That is not to criticize the SBC which is regularly held up as what is wrong with Christianity by many of our opponents, only to recognize some of the struggles a man like Senator Helms represents.
July 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Sen. Helms had his positives and his negatives. I think what has been interesting is to read some of the comments people on both sides of the political spectrum have said about him in the recent days. The majority have been overwhelmingly positive about his demeanor and his respect to others, including former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
One thing that has been interesting to read is about how he worked with Bono and Albright on relief for AIDS victims in Africa.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/04/obit.helms/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail
You can also look at what Helms did in 1976 for helping Ronald Reagan win North Carolina. Reagan doesn’t win North Carolina in 1976 and there is no Regan Revolution in 1980.
Of course with all of that are his outlandish comments that would make even Rosie O’Donnell blush.
He had his admirers and his detractors. I would be somewhere in the middle, which is where I think most people who consider themselves conservatives find themselves.
July 7, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I hope I didn’t come off as defensive about the SBC because, in their current state, I feel that they deserve criticism for the ways they have strayed from their origins.
As far as Helms is concerned, I will agree that he had his positives, you knew where he stood on an issue and there was no pandering to public opinion and that is often good as long as the stance is principled. He did not yield to special interests (that I know of).
I’m very sure Helms was respectful to others…as long as their skin color matched his. Sure, his stance on AIDS softened over time, but his support for Apartheid and Segregation (or whatever euphemism he used for it) in my mind, more than offsets that good.
As far as the positives of the Reagan revolution…I guess that’s all in the eye of beholder.
Helms is a bit touchy to me because for a time, he came to be the face of North Carolinian politics and others viewed us North Carolinians as little Helmses (?) sharing his political and social views which is not the case.
Am I always on your case Shannon?
July 7, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Todd,
I share the same struggles about the Helms legacy because of his inability to see the damage his beliefs in regards to race and AIDS caused. He did change a bit over time (as with Bono and AIDS) but his legacy was pretty well cemented by then.
My struggle is always like yours, not because I am a native North Carolinian, but because I am a Christian. I don’t want his heritage to be ours.
July 8, 2008 at 12:39 am
Todd and Greg,
I don’t think anyone really ties Helms to Christianity. I really don’t. I think if anything people tie him to the Republican Party and the conservative movement. Like I said, he had his high moments and his negative moments.
But Helms is not the only person, politically, you can look at with the same disdain for some of his more unfriendly moments to his character. Take for instance West Virginia’s Democrat Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a man who has – rightly or wrongly – brought billions to the state (mostly with the line item that he is to be the named on the building) but also has a history in the KKK. Byrd refused to support Civil Rights legislation in the 1960s primarily because of his racial history.
All that to say that no politician, neither great or small, is without their skeletons or things in their closets that can crowd their viewpoints and their historical perspective.
Yes, Todd you’re always on my case, politically, but it’s OK … we are proof that two people with differing political viewpoints can get along quite well.
July 8, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I hope my previous comment wasn’t too ribald.
Shannon- I agree with you on the christianity thing…I think Helms did more to advance conservatism and later the new conservatives embraced religion as a means of support which melded the political right with Christianity (at least in the eyes of others/outsiders).
Byrd represents an interesting case and my knowledge is very limited. But he seems to be of the old south Democrat/Dixiecrat stock which Helms helped to migrate to the Republican party after the civil rights movements of the 60′s. But Byrd stayed with the Dems. I saw where he was voted as the most NAACP-friendly Senator in ’03 or ’04. Byrd is an interesting case as he tries to shed his KKK ties and his regrets even seem to contradict themselves. It’s always a tough case with politician’s and their intentions. Do they have a change of heart for true reasons or for political ones?
Greg- I have such strong feelings with associations. We all make them about others, but are loathe to be associated ourselves. Having grown up in the SBC and then seeing it willingly “hijacked” gets me a bit perturbed. Likewise growing up in the South and being associated with Helms and his views is frustrating to me. The association of Christianity with the political right though…well it makes me want to sit down just talk with people. That’s not something that should be reacted too angrily and it is much too in-depth to dismiss or even debate with buzzwords or phrases.