PART 1 - Root Problem Or Fruit Problem?

WARNING: This one may rock the boat a little, but lately, I've been thinking some personally-challenging thoughts with regard to my evangelical efforts. Some of you may even call these thoughts "heretical", but I'm just asking questions. I'm just seeking understanding. I'm not saying that I am right; I'm not saying I am wrong. I am simply writing what has been going around in my brain for a few weeks now... and I welcome thoughts from anyone and everyone. With that said, let's explore:


I fear that as Christians, too often, we focus our missional energies on the "fruit" of our cultural problems rather than the "root" of our cultural problems. We want to see laws changed to favor righteousness. (Fine.) We want to have "righteous-rule" in our land. (Sounds great.) 


However, I think that we have become political Christians. We have blurred the lines between spiritual freedom in Christ with the civil liberties afforded by the Constitution. We have sought social reform before spiritual reform. In essence, we have looked at the failures in our land and said, "if we can just get more Christians in political offices", or "if we can just get them to outlaw abortion", or "if we can just get them to keep the Ten Commandments up at the courthouse"... "then, and only then, will we have God's favor on our nation." . . . get ready because this is where the boat-rocking starts.


My challenge is this: it does not matter who rules the land. It does not matter what laws are on the books. It does not matter who is in political office. Those issues are all fruit problems. (As a matter of fact, the greatest growth of the Body of Christ on the earth, historically, seems to always come when their is unrighteous and oppressive rule in the land... hmmm...???)


Back to the point: it is a tragic thing when an apple tree doesn't yield fruit, but to focus purely on the no fruit/bad fruit/weak fruit/etc. is fruitless. First, we must examine the root system of that apple tree.


The laws of our land are nothing more than a reflection of the morality of the people of our land. If there is lawless, godless edicts being proclaimed, that is merely because our nation has become lawless and godless. However, simply putting "righteous" rule from the TOP DOWN is nothing more than Theocratic Tyranny. (yes, I just said that.)


We must first focus on the roots: the people of this nation. They need the Church, the Body of Christ, to rise up and reach out. These may seem like a broad generalization...BUT... Christians, more commonly termed by the Media as "the Religious Right", are nothing more than a social institution looking to get the best political deal they can to further their social worldview. (and please, don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful worldview). 


All I am saying is: we are focused on the wrong thing IF we think that the laws on the books will change people's hearts. Rather, we should focus on changing people's hearts first. Then, we will see the laws reflect the morality of the people. That is not to say that we neglect our civil duties as citizens of these United States. That is merely to say that we need to be focused on eternal souls rather than short-term policies. People need salvation, not democracies.


Two final quotes to leave with you: 
1) John Adams wrote: "Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people; it is wholly inadequate for any other."
2) Scripture does not say, "If my people, who are called by my name, will vote in the right politicians and decree the right laws, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." I believe it actually tells us "if we will humble ourselves and pray." 


Theocratic Tyranny comes from the top-down, but Jesus Christ ministered to people by making himself the lowest. He reached out to the broken, to the wounded, the lame, blind, deaf, captives, etc. He was a citizen of a different kingdom who did not confuse his civil duties to Israel and Rome with his eternal duties of showing those who were lost the way back to their heavenly Father.


Like I said, I welcome your thoughts, comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc...

Video: THE AUDACITY TO GOLF

A friend shared this quick, little video with me.
I thought it was funny.
So, I'm sharing it with you. Enjoy!


For more fun, satire videos from this cartoonist, check out their youtube page at: http://www.youtube.com/user/politizoid

Home Is Where The Heart Is

We just returned from our Christmas trip to St. Louis. This year, I noticed a funny thing in my words: before we left SoCal, we were preparing to fly to StL for the week, and I kept saying to Meg, "I'm really looking forward to going home."

Then, at the end of the Christmas week, when we were in StL preparing to fly back to SoCal, I also said to Meg, "I'm really looking forward to going home."

Home truly is where the heart is. My heart is in both places. I have family and friends in both places. The Los Angeles area. The St. Louis area. Both are home to me. I am not torn between them because my heart is at home in both places.

What an amazing blessing from the Lord! I am both amazed and humbled that the Lord would be so gracious as to give me two homes, both of which I love and adore. I feel as though I am the most blessed man in the world. Lord, you overwhelm me with your outpouring of grace upon my life.

To all my loved ones: parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and all of my dear friends that are so close to my heart --- you are all my home.

Thank you, ALL, for allowing me to come home to you.

"UNTITLED"

I was passing this sculpture in Burbank the other day. The sculpture consisted of a series of multi-colored beams that resembled a rainbow. It was beautiful. It was elegant. It was inspired...
...it was "untitled."

Now, I'm not saying this beautiful sculpture piece didn't have a title.
No, no, no... the title was, "UNTITLED."

What is that?!?

There was obviously great care taken in the sculpture as well as the wonderfully engraved plague that proudly displayed the artist's name right below the inane title "UNTITLED."

This is one I have never understood: why would any artist, be it a sculptor, painter, musician, poet, etc., ever create an amazingly inspired piece of work (which, let's be honest, was inspired by something) and then not give the work a name...???

It's kind of pretentious; don't you think?

I feel like the artist is saying to me, "I'm too inspired by this incredible piece of art to even finish the mundane task of giving such brilliance a name, so I will simply call it, 'Untitled'." Come on! You took a mundane moment to give it a nameless name!

Take, for instance, this rainbow-looking sculpture I saw in Burbank. How about "Rainbow", Mr. Artist? Or "Promise"? Even "After The Rain" would do. How about "Reflections Of Oz"? Anything other than "Untitled"...

To me, Mr. Artist, do you know what your saying? You are saying that your piece of work is not worth my time.

That's right! I looked up "untitled" at www.thesaurus.com to see a few of the synonyms for "untitled." Do you know what they are, Mr Artist?

"Unacknowledged. Uncelebrated. Undistinguished. Unfamed. Unsung. A Whatchamacallit."

There you have it, Mr. Artist. If you can't even take a moment to come up with a simple name for your art, then your art will be forgettable.

Come on! Give it a title. Or leave it non-titled. Don't call it "untitled." I need a title. I feel I'm entitled!

Well-Worn Paths

My wife and I hike at this canyon nearby. We love to get up there, explore nature's majesty and breathe the fresh air (FYI - Angelenos have approx. 15% diminished lung capacity from the air quality).

We have an amazing time together.

We love to enjoy the beautiful weather while hiking, walking, jogging, laughing, praying and dreaming on our little journeys.

At this one particular canyon we hike regularly, the majority of hikers, Meg and myself included, stay on the main path - a huge, 10-foot wide, dirt path that is large enough for emergency and service vehicles.

Occasionally, however, I like to explore these little side trails. Not many people journey on these. They are off the well-worn paths - the road not taken, if you will ... or, in this case, the road less taken.

Now, by way of biographical information, I should tell you: I'm not much of an "adventurer" in the traditional Indiana-Jones-sense of the word. I don't like "nature" per se. I'm not a fan of bugs, spiders, creepy-crawlers, etc. I fight allergies. I don't even like it when my hands feel like they have that layer of dirt on them for an extended period of time. And you know the layer I'm talking about: that invisible, I-can't-see-it-but-I-know-it's-there-because-I've-been-working-outside-picking-up-dirty-stuff-and-it's-been-too-long-since-I've-washed-my-hands-so-I-can't-even-think-about-picking-up-a-piece-of-food-until-I-get-some-hand-soap! kind of layer of dirt. (yes, I may be a little OCD, thank you very much)

Yet, occasionally, I listen to that inner adventurer and trek to the road less taken. Just recently, I even went off the road less taken and forged a completely new path. As far as I could tell, I was on soil untouched by another human. There was something unique, something wild, something passionate in what I was doing. I prayed, I worshiped God. I stood in awe of His creation, the works of His hands... and I wondered to myself, "is this the life we were created to live?"

The life of an adventurer, an explorer, a discoverer.

How often do we go where so many others have gone before (I can almost hear Captain Kirk's voice), following the well-worn paths, instead of forging new ones? In every aspect of our lives (work, home, family, church, etc.), I think we should push ourselves beyond the limitations of what we have always done and what others before us have always done, and seek out the adventure of life waiting to be explored!

I don't know - these are just thougths... perhaps you and I need to re-awaken the adventurer within us...

And the amazing thing about this adventure is: with God, our quest can start at any age. We're never too old, never too far, never too tired for the Spirit to quicken and make alive our mortal bodies for the adventure that awaits - the journey of exploring God's divine destiny!

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

VIDEO - The Tradition Lives On

For over 60 years, the Lybarger and Amsden family have had a tradition of decorating Christmas Cookies. Well, this year, the tradition continued as Meg and I expanded the cookie decorating to Los Angeles.

Here's a brief highlight video of the continuing tradition!

Lessons In Thankfulness From Robinson Crusoe

On this day of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you an amazing excerpt from the literary classic, Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe in 1719.

This particular portion of the text has had a profound impact upon my life.

It can be so easy to forget that God has done extraordinary things for us within the context of this ordinary life. Day in and day out, countless miracles escape our attention amidst the mundane... yet, we must find a way to be grateful. To be thankful. To be filled with joy. To live a lifesong of praise.

James MacDonald of WALK IN THE WORD ministries always says, "gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living."

In the midst of blessing, we can easily Give Thanks! However, thankfulness is much harder to come out of our mouths amidst pain and suffering. Maybe that is why Scripture encourages us to bring "the sacrifice of praise."

Anyway, let this excerpt from Chapter 7 of Robinson Crusoe be an encouragement for you. After having been shipwrecked on an island, this is how Crusoe faces his situation with praise and a thankful heart.

"I now began to consider seriously my Condition, and the Circumstance I was reduc'd to, and I drew up the State of my Affairs in Writing, not so much to leave them to any that were to come after me, for I was like to have but few Heirs, as to deliver my Thoughts from daily poring upon them, and afflicting my Mind; and as my Reason began now to master my Despondency, I began to comfort my self as well as I could, and to set the good against the Evil, that I might have something to distinguish my Case from worse, and I stated it very impartially, like Debtor and Creditor, the Comforts I enjoy'd, against the Miseries I suffer'd, Thus,"


 

EVIL	GOOD
I am cast upon a horrible desolate Island, void of all hope of Recovery.	But I am alive, and not drown'd as all my Ship's Company was.
I am singl'd out and separated, as it were, from all the World to be miserable.	But I am singl'd out too from all the Ship's Crew to be spar'd from Death; and He that miraculously sav'd me from Death, can deliver me from this Condition.
I am divided from Mankind, a Solitaire, one banish'd from humane Society.	But I am not starv'd and parishing on a barren Place, affording no Sustenance.
I have not Clothes to cover me.	But I am in a hot Climate, where if I had Clothes I could hardly wear them.
I am without any Defence or Means to resist any Violence of Man or Beast.	But I am cast on an Island, where I see no wild Beasts to hurt me, as I saw on the Coast of Africa: And what if I had been Shipwreck'd there?
I have no Soul to speak to, or relieve me.	But God wonderfully sent the Ship in near enough to the Shore, that I have gotten out so many necessary things as will either supply my Wants, or enable me to supply my self even as long as I live.

If we sat down to count our blessings, we would be astounded at God's continued hand of Providence in our lives.

Today, may the Lord make all Grace abound to you!

My Greatest Legacy

In recent weeks, I've been coming to a realization with regard to the legacy I will leave on this earth.

Meg and I are naming our son Alexander Joseph.

There was no reason for the name choice other than, frankly, we loved the name Alexander. It wasn't until weeks after the name decision was made that my Aunt had reminded my mother that my great grandfather was Charles Alexander Lybarger and that my great-great-grandfather was Alexander Lybarger.

We had no idea that Alexander was a family name... Why? Well, simply put, time had passed, and we just did not remember our family legacy.

So, maybe it is impending fatherhood, maybe it is the realization how quickly my life is moving (does anyone else think 2009 is passing like the blink of an eye?), maybe it is simply a melancholy personality that leans toward the D.D.P. (Deep, Dark Place - more posts on that soon to come - HaHa!).

Regardless of the cause, I have been really thinking about my legacy.

My life is like grass, quickly fading. Anything that I could build on this life will, most likely, not be remembered by history within a century or two (and 2 centuries is giving myself A LOT of credit).

Most of humanity's accomplishments fade with time. Just look at the Egyptian Empire. Just for biographical information, I am a bit of a fan of history. My wife laughs because nearly every time she turns on the TV, the channel is set to the History Channel. I love to watch documentaries on Egypt. I love to see archeologists piece together a story from bits of info that may still exist. Though it was a great and thriving civilization that lasted for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, there is very little that we know today about the Egyptian Empire. What knowledge we do have is a piecemeal of facts and fiction by the leading scholars on the subject.

And hardly anyone can tell me the names of leaders from the Hittite Empire, which lasted for hundreds of years.

The point is: no great human civilization, no leader, no one person can so greatly influence the course of human history that all mankind will remember his/her legacy beyond a few years, or even measly centuries.

That is, of course, for the Legacy of Jesus Christ!

For over 2,000 years, humanity continues to learn more and more about Jesus: his life, his walk, his miracles, his death, his resurrection, his saving grace, his amazing feats, his matchless impact!

My legacy, my impact, my life pales in comparison to Jesus... as well it should!

I know that there is nothing on Earth that I could build to leave a legacy for myself. I am so unimportant in the scheme of things. Yet, I can have a tremendous impact. That impact is the legacy that I build into, the legacy of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!

This may seem to you like "Christianity 101"... you may be saying, "Yeah Dallas, I've been in that place for years. I can't believe that you're just now catching up to what I've known for a long time."

Well, I would like to challenge you: have you really known that the CAUSE OF CHRIST is the greatest legacy you can leave on this Earth?

If so, what are you doing about it?

Are you simply working your job? Are you simply living day-in and day-out? Eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage? Are you just living your life? Going to church? Doing your religious duty? Voting? Doing your civic duty? Etc? Etc?

...OR...

Are you preaching the Gospel? Are you reaching out to the poor, the hungry, the needy? Are you living your life with the purpose of continually pointing others toward Christ?

Are you more concerned about the Legacy of Christ than you are concerned about Your Legacy?

Maybe that is what Paul meant when he wrote in Philippians 1 that "to live is Christ, to die is gain."

Our time on this Earth is so short. We should spend our energies impacting the world for Jesus and his lasting legacy rather than spending it in vain pursuits of our legacies, our wasting pleasures and our temporary comforts.

Anyway...sorry to get "preachy"... I just wanted to share with you where the Lord is taking me. I realize that, though it is Biblical and wise to leave my son, Alexander, a natural inheritance, chances are that Alexander's great grandchildren may not even know my name... but they can AND WILL know the name of Jesus Christ!

God, grant me the Grace to build your lasting kingdom and not my own temporary sand castle.

"I Know The Plans I Have For You"

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As my wife and I prepare for the arrival of our son, Alexander Joseph, this coming March, this particular Scripture becomes more and more alive in me!

On a purely natural level, Meg and I are preparing a nursery. We're getting our home "baby-ready". We're setting up a registry of necessities that we're going to need (mostly with the help of seasoned parenting pros who know we don't need everything that BABIES-R-US offers to poor, unsuspecting rookie-parents...LOL!).

Baby Lex is just in his womb, developing, yet completely unaware of the preparations being made for him. He has yet to comprehend all that Mom and Dad are doing to get ready for him. (notice how I put "Mom" first... Ladies, trust me, I already know who the kids cling to more, and I am fully prepared to accept my secondary role... HaHa!)

Lex doesn't even know how our lives are already being rearranged to make way for his arrival. He doesn't have the slightest idea of the sacrifices being made to give him a future in this World...

...But, we know...

Meg and I know how the road is being paved. We see the bigger picture that Lex cannot possibly comprehend. We want the best for our son. We want to give him a hope, a future. We have plans: not to harm our baby boy, but to prosper him in every way imaginable: physically, emotionally, naturally and, most importantly, spiritually.

Our God is the same way with us! How unimaginable to us our His incredible plans. His ways are so much higher than our ways, His thoughts so much higher than our thoughts. He is incomprehensible in His vast goodness and His marvellous grace.

In this life on this Earth, (or as I like to call it, our "Womb of Eternity"), the Lord is continually developing us, molding us, aligning our spiritual genetic code, fashioning the DNA of our faith. He is planning the ultimate destiny for us. Through every struggle, every tough stage of development, every heartache, every spiritual growth spurt, we are being formed and fashioned into the vessels of His glory.

Wow! What an amazing thing to think, just as I am hoping the best for our son, God is hoping the best for us!

Lex, your mom and I know the plans we have for you...
...And Lord, thank you for giving us a hope and a future.

The Error Of Self-Preservation

So, in my post entitled "The Prejean Debacle", I wrote something that has really stuck with me the last couple of days. I said, "Human nature is all about self-preservation... but, I wonder when will we accept the eternal nature of self-sacrifice."

I know; you're thinking, "wow, that guy is such a philosopher." It's okay; it's okay. Take a moment, breathe in. HaHa!

Honestly, though, it seems that I continually see how we humans are always fighting for self-preservation. We want to secure our portion, our monies, our future, etc. We are always looking to "save face", as they say.

Sure, it can be argued that self-preservation is merely our human nature. It's our survival mechanism. It's our way of prolonging the species (thank you, Mr. Darwin).

However, the Law of Self-Preservation is completely at odds with the Biblical Law of Self-Sacrifice. Jesus continually tells us that we must lose our lives to gain eternal life. The writers of the New Testament forewarn us time and again how we must be hated, cursed, abused, beaten, and maybe even martryred for the will of Heaven and the furtherance of the Gospel.

The Bible instructs us that, in order to follow Christ, we must go against everything that "human nature" and the Law of Self-Preservation stands for. We must be willing to die... (and that may be an actual physical death, but it could just be a proverbial death as well).

Look at Stephen, the first martyr. I'm sure that Stephen wanted to protect himself, but he didn't. He endured the stones unto death because he found the error in self-preservation and lived, instead, by the higher law - the Law of Self-Sacrifice. Paul too. Peter also. Countless martyrs of the Faith lived AND DIED by the Law of Self-Sacrifice.

Maybe, though, it's easier to die in self-sacrifice than to live in it. Maybe, we could stand for something if our lives were truly on the line, but perhaps the Law of Self-Sacrifice doesn't apply to our reputations, our egos, our way of life... 

- What if we lived as "walking martyrs" before the World?
- What if we were the first to say we're wrong, the first to live transparently, the first to admit our mistakes?
- What if we lived not for the Law of Self-Preservation but for the Law of Self-Sacrifice?

Wouldn't it be incredible if we could deny our human nature and embrace our eternal nature?

God, grant me the grace to humbly deny myself, take up my cross and follow you so that I too may say, "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain."