C-SPAN Calls Out the President and the Congress

I love C-SPAN! I have for years. I am one of those eggheads that love to watch interviews and listen to political round tables.

And now C-SPAN's chief executive, Brian Lamb has written a letter to the leaders of Congress asking that the deliberations over health care reform be televised. During the presidential campaign, then Senator Obama promised greater transparency in government as a club to beat the Bush Administration over the head with saying, among other things, that health care deliberations would be televised. Lamb has called upon the Democrats to make good on their promises. He writes,

"President Obama, Senate, and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system. Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the Chambers we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every American."

C-SPAN's request, of course, will not be granted. The last thing that Congress wants before the American people is the detailed revelation of corrupt compromise and special interest catering that is the current health care bill. The one lesson to be learned from Capitol Hill's health care reform back room dealings is that the Senators who held out the longest got the best deals for their states. My one Democratic Senator who supported health care reform early on, didn't bring home any bacon for my state.

Candidate Obama promised greater transparency in government. He was not the first candidate to make that promise and he is not the first president to break it. Nancy Pelosi promised that her Democratic Congress would be the most ethical and transparent in history, never mind all the closed door meetings and all those in Congress who are ethically compromised. Why let facts get in the way of campaign promises?

There seem to be two eternal truths in the history of politics in a democracy-- first, politicians make all kinds of campaign promises on which they never deliver, and second, in every election there are voters who actually believe them.

The first truth is never a surprise. The second truth continues to reveal how gullible many voters are, either because of blind partisanship, or sheer naivete.

The voter must always remember that the primary purpose of most campaign promises is to get elected-- nothing less-- and certainly nothing more.

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Cross-Posted at RedBlueChristian

Opinion Central Poll 2009.55: Final Results

What do you think will be the condition of the economy in 2010?

John the Baptist Is Not a Nice Person

Luke 3:1-20

How many congregations would tolerate John the Baptist as their pastor? Before we even get into the substance of his preaching, can you imagine how the folks in the pews would react to a guy who dressed as shabbily as he did? Moreover, who would invite him over for dinner being such a picky eater. Some individuals are meat and potatoes kind of persons, while John was into the locust and wild honey diet. What congregation wants such a strange pastor.

But even if people could get past his attire and eating habits, what would be the response to his preaching? Is it possible to imagine starting a sermon by calling your listeners a "nest of snakes?" There is little comfort in John's words, little to calm the human spirit. "Get your act together!" says John. "Bear the kind of fruit in life that shows you are indeed as repentant as you say you are. Judgment is coming," John warns. "The axe is being swung with mighty force at the trunk of the tree. If the tree is not bearing good fruit, it will cut down and thrown into the fire!"

Moreover, John is not content to speak in vague generalities of what repentance actually means. When asked for specifics by the people, he responds with specifics. "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." The scoundrel tax collectors are not let off the hook either-- "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." And John insisted to soldiers charged with the duties of keeping order in daily life, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." (John is indeed a brave man.)

What nerve this desert wild man has to stick his nose into everybody's personal business! Why doesn't he limit his preaching to the big and important things we all need to hear like how much God loves us and how his grace is without limit and how forgiveness is always available. No one wants to hear about judgment and to be told what they should do with their money. John even has the gall to get political by telling Herod that his sex life is immoral! Doesn't he know that what Herod does in his bedroom is his own business! He is, after all, a consenting adult. No wonder Herod threw him in jail. That's what you get when you start meddling. If John thinks he is going to have any kind of following, he going to have to tone it down a bit and speak nicely; after all, you attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

Oh, wait... John did have quite a following among the common folk, even though he didn't always say nice things. It was the powerful and status quo who opposed him. So, if John were here today and could preach in our churches, how would we respond to the preaching of this not so nice person?

Galileo and the Scientific Revolution #1: Introduction

The most important shift in Western thought came into its own with the Enlightenment, beginning in the 17th century. It is this context that the modern social sciences were born. It was not the case that human beings began asking questions about themselves for the first time. Women and men have always done so. The shift came when the place of God in the asking of the questions changed. Previously, most thinkers would not have considered answering anthropological questions without some basic theological assumptions. The thinkers of the Enlightenment began pushing the theological assumptions further and further into the background until, for many, the need for God to answer the human questions all but disappeared.

Before the Enlightenment there was a common view of the world based upon assumptions that had been held for centuries. That this view is different from the view of the world today is displayed in the difficulty modern people have in, not only accepting their view of the world, but understanding how they could have believed it themselves. Of course, we should not forget that 400 years from now people may think the same thing about us.

This common view finds its foundations in the cosmology of the time, which was a mixture of biblical thought, Aristotelianism, and Ptolemaic thought. In this cosmology, the earth was believed to be the center of the cosmos and it was also believed that the earth was not only the center of the universe, but it was at the center of a series of concentric spheres. These spheres, which numbered at least 53, were believed to carry the stars and the planets and accounted for their motion. This theory was the result of the conviction that there could be no empty space in connection with the prevailing views of motion.

The understanding of motion that under girded Aristotle's cosmology held that motion would continue as long as the cause of the motion was in contact with the object it was moving. With this assumption in place, the logical question would be how the planets moved in the sky without falling to earth. This was accounted for by positing, not that they were free moving bodies, but that they were contained within the spheres. It was also believed that the heavenly bodies were made of a special "higher" element. They were better, therefore, in the hierarchy of being. This accounts for why pre-Enlightenment astronomers believed the planets traveled in circular paths and that the spheres were round. The circle and sphere were believed to be perfect movements. They were perfect creations of a perfect God; and all movements were directly from the divine. It is not difficult in this cosmology to understand that God is needed to explain it.

The ancient astronomers were not unaware of the difficulties with this interpretation. For example, many had observed that the planets did not travel in perfect circular orbits. In response, many offered modifications of the Aristotelian cosmology. Claudius Ptolemy has the distinction of solving the problem. He proposed that the change in speed and direction of planets was the result of cycles and epicycles. While it was true, said Ptolemy, that the planets and stars moved around the earth in circular paths, they were not simple circular paths. A planet moved around the earth in circular motion, but is was also moving through a series of smaller circular orbits. It was this continual series of orbits that moved on the larger circular path around the earth. In this theory, the perfection of the cosmos as demonstrated in circles and spheres was maintained.

Theologically, it was believed that the earth, particularly human beings upon it, was the center of God's creation, and that God's creation was perfect on account of its geometric design. While the Bible did not specifically teach that the earth was the center of creation or that circles and spheres were perfect, it seemed correct that such would be the case. Genesis seemed to indicate that the creation drama was brought about by God for the salvation of humanity. Why would anyone assume that the earth was not the center of creation?

The main point to be gleaned is that the accepted cosmology before the Enlightenment was based on long held and cherished assumptions. To change those assumptions would cause a cultural explosion. Galileo Galilei was the one who struck the match.

A Prayer for Epiphany Sunday

O God, who on this day through the guidance of a star, did manifest your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; mercifully grant that we who know you now by faith, may one day be brought to the contemplation of the beauty of your majesty; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benedictine Monastic Diurnal

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup 2010.1.212

Submit your post to umweeklyroundup@yahoo.com by noon EST on Saturday to guarantee that your post is included.

The week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

"O God Our Help in Ages Past"-- Dave Nichols on time.

Bishop Robert Schnase reflects on the One who made us came to us.

Bishop William Willimon writes on being awake in Advent.

Should you eat more vegetables? Read Michael Ledbetter.

It's time for Ken Hagler to trade in the multi-tool.

Dave Camphouse is doing a re-read of Genesis.

Christmas went so well for Rick Mang that he forgot about the new year.

Michael Daniel is waiting for a miracle.

David Hallam wonders if we need church planting.

Brian Vinson is wondering what to say.

Looking back on the innkeeper who looks back-- a post from Sally Coleman.

Shepherds leave their fields for Mansfield... huh?... Read Mark Winter.

Dave Faulkner preaches on the Gospel Women, Mary and Elizabeth.

Brian Russell offers his challenges to reading Scripture and wants to know your challenges as well.

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Dave Perry cogitates on prospecting for God in 2010.

Reflections on preaching the familiar from Jim Parsons.

The day before the day before according to Andy Bryan.

Olive Morgan offers Christmas greetings from Caversham.

Andrew Stoddard shares his thoughts on the year's end. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Tony Mitchell writes on a dialogue of science and faith.

Kim Matthews reminds us that even in a foreign land God is with us.

Greg Hazelrig posts his thought for the day on Hebrews 12:2-3.

Is it time to bury Cokesbury? Steve Heyduck asks the question.

Richard Heyduck offers additional thoughts on generosity.

Questing Parson is sharing the dental anxiety.

Methonerd John Meunier ponders on whether doctrine in the UMC is more than a club. Best of the Methoblogosphere!

Lorna Koskela writes on submission.

Thoughts on being fully committed from Joseph Yoo.

Is Intelligent Design religious? Read Henry Neufeld.

Angela Shier-Jones comments on the new life in Christ.

Dan Dick posts on being number dumber.

"This Time"-- a sermon by Beth Quick.

Tiffany Steinwert is imagining Mary.

Why do we go home? Kurt Boemler ponders the question.

Daniel McLain Hixon writes on the ordination of women and church unity.

In this new year Matt Kelley is looking back and looking forward.

Ken Carter reflects on reading the signs.

Deb Spaulding is offering a biscuit with honey.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps posts on the new China underground.

Ponderments on renewing the covenant from Andrew Thompson.

Gavin Richardson lists what he wants back and what he would leave behind.

Joseph Slife wants to know why UM leaders aren't supporting the Manhattan Declaration.

Opinion Central Poll 2009.54: Final Results

Should Tiger Woods give up golf permanently if it will save his marriage?

May You Have a Blessed 2010!

I Really Know How to Party on New Year's Eve!

C-Span has been doing a series on the Supreme Court of the United States. Last night I watched interviews with Stephen Breyer and Clarence Thomas. Tonight, I will watch interviews with Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Do I know how to live it up on New Year's Eve or what!!!

My Top Ten Blog Posts of 2009

Based on numbers of hits and comments, and listed in order of date posted:

The Nonsense Continues

Wouldn't it Be Great if They Accused Us of Being Drunk!

What Does God Know and When Does God Know It?

On Insulation and Confirmation in Politics

Look at All the Wonderful Things We Get to Believe!

Bible Translation Fundamentalism

On Why the Church in America Cannot Speak Truth to Power

I Humbly Repent of My Wayward Ways

The Myth of the Good Old Days

Thou Shalt Not Steal... Unless You Need to

Those We Lost in 2009

Here are several links:

The New York Times

AOL News

ABC News

MSNBC

FOX News

CNN

Brief and Random Thoughts at the End of 2009

Small town journalism is among the best reporting in the country, unlike the national media which continues to be a disgrace. Most journalists in the mainstream media think the square root of pi is coconut cream.

Local politicians are usually better behaved than national ones, probably because they are more accountable to their constituencies (there are, of course, exceptions to this).

Nowhere is the lack of serious and deep thinking more present than in Washington DC.

I do not understand why liberals say they are progressive. There is nothing progressive about wanting more government control over individual lives. There is nothing progressive about believing that government is the answer to most things. FDR believed that and enacted the era of big government. Today's liberals are not forward-looking, but rather nostalgic for earlier times. If 1935 ever returns the Democratic Party is ready.

By the same token, what is so conservative about Republicans? They are big spenders and have become foreign policy activists. There is nothing conservative in that philosophy. And it also appears that they have run out of ideas with no one standing out to lead the party. So much of late that comes out of Republican mouths is embarrassing. When 2012 arrives, the Republican Party will not be ready.

There were those in 2009 talking about the coming evangelical collapse. I disagree. Evangelicalism will not collapse, but it is in the process of being reformed. That is a good thing.

Theological liberalism is in large part repetitive and uninteresting.

Theological fundamentalism is in large part repetitive and uninteresting.

Fundamentalism and liberalism are simply two sides of the same coin.

Some people are opposed to full body scanners in airports because they believe it invades one's privacy. In light of the recent terrorist attempting to bring down an airliner with plastic explosives in his underwear, I would much rather go through a full body scanner than have someone at the airport grabbing my crotch to make sure I am not carrying a bomb in my Fruit-of-the-Looms. Now that would be an invasion of my privacy.

I agree with some of President Obama's current policies and I disagree with others. Regardless of whether one is a supporter of the president or not, all Christians need to pray for him. He has much on his plate.

We need to pray for everyone in Congress as well-- Democrats and Republicans.

Now that I have said a prayer for those on Capitol Hill, it is time to get back to the sarcasm-- We have had "Cash for Clunkers," "Cash for Caulkers," and now a Florida man is proposing that we have "Cash for Congress." He says that if we vote the big spenders out of office, that will save us all some serious cash. I personally like the idea, although I fear it is too late. The damage has already been done.

How do you think our children and grandchildren will feel about the current generations in charge, when it comes time for them to pay the huge bills we have run up with our support of reckless government spending? If they end up hating us, who will blame them?

I tell my children to start now putting 10% of their paychecks in savings for retirement. With the loss of company pensions and government mismanagement of Social Security, they cannot count on anyone else for help in their later years. It is sad, but true.

I fear that many Christians have more faith in the transforming power of government and business, than in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to turn the church into a community where witness is its primary political practice.

Along with that previous thought, I also think that most Christians on the left and on the right in practice treat America as their church, albeit in different ways.

Boring preachers shouldn't preach.

Jesus is Lord; Caesar is not. Therefore, the church and not the state is where the action is.

You ever notice when people talk about sectarianism they never use it to refer to themselves? The sectarian is always the other person or the other group. But where do those persons stand that they get to label someone else as sectarian?

For Reinhold Niebuhr's realism to make sense, the cross and resurrection of Jesus must be marginalized. Thus, as a Christian I cannot embrace such supposed "realism." (I will devote a post to this in January.)

One of Reinhold Niebuhr's best books was his Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic. If you have never read it, you must.

One of the great Christian thinkers of the twentieth century was John Howard Yoder, which is why it is so tragic that political liberals have appropriated and, therefore, misappropriated him. Yoder's account of nonviolence cannot be sustained apart from the church, something that the liberal hijackers of Yoder have misunderstood.

Theological conservatives have undermined the authority of Scripture by insisting that the text itself is authoritative. What makes Scripture authoritative is that it is given by God. God must be at the center of our understanding of biblical authority.

Political conservatives and political liberals only care about the Constitution of the United States when they want to use it to accuse the other side of being unconstitutional. Other than that, neither Democrats nor Republicans really care if the policies they support pass Constitutional muster. How else does one explain conservative support for the Patriot Act and liberal support for forcing people to buy health care insurance?

I received an email from someone recently asking me why I am so critical on my blog of both Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals. I responded that when it comes to politics, I am an equal opportunity annoyer.

Every Christian who is able-bodied should take a short-term mission trip overseas at least once in her or his life.

The last command Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended to heaven was to make disciples of all nations. Why then, does the church in the West put that command last on their list of things to do?

One of the most exciting things I experience as a pastor is opening up the world of Scripture to a person for the first time in Bible study, and watching them get excited and transformed as they enter that new world. I have been a pastor for over 25 years and I never tire of watching people become biblically literate and more faithful disciples.

I believe in healing. I have witnessed it.

I do not consider myself to be charismatic, but I love worshiping with charismatics. There is something inspirational about worshiping with folks who find their faith and their worship to be exciting.

I reject the view from Christians and non-Christians alike that faith and reason are diametrically opposed to each other. Nonsense! Without reason, faith is intellectual suicide; without faith, reason can find no ultimate answers.

I love the church! It is not perfect, but like Noah's Ark, it is the best thing afloat in our world today!

Jesus is Lord in 2009 and he remains Lord in 2010! Therefore, rejoice and hope in the future... and continue to make disciples of all nations!

Time's Top Ten Political Gaffes of 2009

1. Joe Biden's Swine Flu Hysteria

2. Barack Obama's Bowling Blooper

3. Joe Wilson's Unwanted Outburst

4. Hillary Clinton Gets Lost in Translation

5. Michael Steele's Abortion Aberration

6. Larry Summers' White House Sleepover

7. Barack Obama Opens the Floodgates

8. Joe Biden's Stimulus Stumble

9. Sarah Palin's Coin Conspiracy

10. Michelle Obama's Buckingham Brush with Etiquette

Time's Top Ten Religion Stories of 2009

1. Secularism or Bust

2. What Reformation?

3. Keeping the Faith-Based

4. Faith Healing Turns Fatal

5. Going to the Chapel

6. Dr. Dobson Has Left the Building

7. Obama's Notre Dame Touchdown

8. Americans Go Church Shopping

9. Banning the Baha'i

10. Religious Runaway

Opinion Central Poll 2009.53: Final Results

Will you stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve?

Newsweek's Top Odd Headlines of 2009

Man who stabbed ex's fish gets probation

Bride's bouquet brings down plane

Ted Williams' frozen head was mistreated

Police: Would-be ninja impaled by metal fence

Pink-Clad Pooch Stolen from Gay Bar by Man With Britney Tattoo

Man Called Zombie While Ordering Food, Punched Twice

Stoned wallabies make crop circles

Courtroom feces-thrower gets 31 years in prison

Pants-less puppeteer charged with indecent exposure

Dead deer in clown suit left on Iowa porch

Granny fights off bear with pillow

Japan's next first lady says she rode spaceship

Strip club owner snubbed by Gingrich names pit bull shelter after him

Girl gorillas go ape for French pinup hunk

Kansas couple’s trash bin tryst takes wrong turn

Man accused of crawling in outhouse pit, again

Pregnant Woman Fined for Failing to Scoop Poop

Honolulu considers fine on stinky bus riders

Hitler's Mein Kampf Seen As Self-Help Guide For India's Business Students

Half-naked Santas run for charity in Hungary

A Prayer for Christmas Sunday

O God, whose mighty Son was born in Bethlehem those days long ago, lead us to that same poor place, where Mary laid her tiny Child. And as we look on in wonder and praise, make us welcome him in all new life, see him in the poor, and care for his handiwork the earth, the sky and the sea. O God, bless us again in your great love. We pray for this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Brief History of Boxing Day

Today is Boxing Day for most Christians in the British Commonwealth. Click here for a brief history.

Have a Merry Christmas!

For Your Enjoyment on Christmas Eve