Unbelievable! Obama Claims To Be Nation's Fourth Best President

That's certainly not what the polls say, nor the jobless, no those who have had to foreclose ontheir homes, nor those on medicare struggling because of Obama's changes, etc...

Photos From The Mission Trip

Here are a couple of photos from my latest mission trip to Panama. Our mission team was divided into two groups and most of the photos are from my group that worked primarily in a community named Don Bosco. Some of the locations shown here are Ancon Hill, Balboa and Don Bosco.

Memos From The Mission Field - Part I "Arriving In First Class"

To me, the longest and most tedious part of a mission trip is the actual travel time to and from the destination. This certainly wasn't aided by the fact that our mission team had to fly from OKC to Atlanta, Georgia to Orlando, Florida and then to our final destination of Panama City, Panama. However, we did receive a small blessing when we arrived in Orlando.

After getting our luggage from Delta and then waiting in a forever slow line at Copa to recheck our bags we were informed that they had overbooked the flight and six of the members of our mission team did not have seats. So what did they do? They bumped them all to first class!

While we certainly aren't here on a pleasure seeking expedition arriving to Panama first class went a long way towards adding special memories to Caleb's mission trip experience.

More to come later

2011 MLB World Series - Tobacco Bans And Underdogs

Major League Baseball's fall classic starts tonight when the Texas Rangers travel to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the 2011 World Series. Of course with our current big government we can't just sit back and enjoy the grand stage of America's favorite pass time. We've got to decide if players using smokeless tobacco during the game is appropriate or not.

“When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example,” the senators wrote to union head Michael Weiner. The letter was signed by Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, and fellow Democrats Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Senate Health Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Of course they endanger their own health by chewing their cud and spitting on home plate. Its proven that smokeless tobacco causes oral, esophageal and pancreatic cancer. However, to be quite honest I feel that the teenager texting on the cell phone while driving next to me on the interstate endangers my children more than some multimillionaire slugging the ball out of the park with a wad of chum in his mouth.

“Unfortunately, as these young fans root for their favorite team and players, they also will watch their on-field heroes use smokeless tobacco products,” the democratic senators wrote.

What really saddens me about this is not the fact that our government seems bent on controlling every single little aspect of our lives but that they also put no stock in the role of parents. How about instead of shaking down Major League Baseball they start a campaign on equipping parents on how to properly educate their children on the dangers of tobacco products? It really shouldn't be this difficult should it?

My son: Dad, what is that they're spitting out of their mouths?

Me: Its chewing tobacco.

Son: It looks gross, what does it do?

Me: Its kinda like smoking but not really. People chew on it instead of smoking it. It really isn't good for you and causes cancer.

Son: Why do they do it then?

Me: Because some people make really bad decisions and don't really think of the consequences.

Son: I wouldn't want to do anything that could cause me to get cancer!

Me: Because you are a smart kid!

Son: Thanks dad!

See! That was quick and painless. It was also a conversation that never would have occurred had he not seen tobacco use during a Major League Baseball game. Thanks but no thanks, government. I prefer you do a little more work on the economy then focus on the World Series.

So who's going to win baseball's biggest prize? As a long-suffering Seattle Mariners fan I've grown accustomed to cheering for the underdog. That my friends is the St. Louis Cardinals. This is a team that just a little over a month ago was dead in the water and has now found themselves in the World Series. Just about everyone is picking the Rangers which makes the Cards the underdog and my team of choice in the World Series.

However, a little known fact is that since 1985 the home team in the World Series has a 20-5 record. That kinda rains on the St. Louis underdog parade a little bit seeing as how they have the home field advantage.

Should Religion Play A Part In Presidential Elections?

As 2012 approaches GOP presidential candidates are looking to gain strong footing among voters who are eager to see changes in our government. With several economic and healthcare reform plans to delve through there's really no room for distracting side stories among the candidates. Of course that doesn't mean we won't have any though.

Earlier this month Mitt Romney's religion came back to the forefront of the election when his Mormon beliefs were compared to that of a cult at the Values Voter Summit. The question is, with today's unemployment rate hovering around 9% and the economic rebound still somewhere over the horizon is that something we want to waste time debating?

Let's not forget that although our country was established on Christian principles it was also established under the guise of religious freedom and not just Christian freedoms. As a Christian evangelical I must admit that I have significant issues with the Mormon doctrine because it completely contradicts the Bible and is intentionally misleading. However, I also support Romney's religious freedom to practice Mormonism even though I strongly disagree with the doctrine.

I won't vote for Romney not because he's a Mormon but because I think he flip-flops a bit too much. I'm also not a fan of his economic plan nor his stance on healthcare. Those are the things that matter in a presidential election along with a person's moral agenda and stance on human life. I'm all for morality and protecting unborn children and will honor a candidate who supports those regardless of their religious affiliation.

As for the differences between Mormonism and Christianity...those are matters best suited to be discussed in a private manner instead of a public forum. Its time for Christians to stop being judgmental towards people of other religious practices. How about instead we take the approach that Jesus would by befriending them, loving them, praying for them and showing them the truth of the Word of God.

The Christ

This post will be updated on Sunday evening 9-18-11

Make Your Proclamation

In the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus asks a simple question which carries an extremely difficult answer. The reason why is because the answer isn't necessarily revealed in what we say but more so in how we live. In verses 13-18 Jesus poses a question about who the people in the culture around say that he is and then getting directly to the point he asked, "Who do you say that I am?" to his disciples.

We'll focus on Peter's answer later on but for now I just want to stay with the question. Jesus was very familiar what the people around him were saying about him. He had heard their talk, their theories and their failure to acknowledge him as the Son of God. He also knew their hearts and their need to something greater than tradition and ritual. That's why multitudes of people flocked to him to listen to him speak. That's why people stood in amazement when he taught. That's why they came to him for miracles. They didn't necessarily want to credit him as being the Messiah but they sure appreciated what he brought to the table.

Jesus wasn't really concerned with who the "other" people said that he was. He wanted to know what the men with whom he had trusted to change the world were saying that he was. Their answer would be much more than today's traditional lip service. It would be their "proclamation" as to how they would live their lives. Their belief that Jesus was, in fact, "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" would change them forever. It would ultimately turn them from cowards to men of boldness that would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in professing Jesus as Lord. They staked their lives, relationships and reputations on this proclamation.

What about you? Who do you say that Jesus is? Before you answer keep in mind that the real answer is found not in what you say but how you live. Understanding that, how about we make our Proclamation today to truly live for Jesus no matter what the cost.