Daily Humility

When I back my car out of my driveway every morning and head to the office, my own level of personal humility for that day is not often on my mind. I must admit that I am thinking about "my ministries", work, finances et al.

But today's personal devotion hit me between the eyes. You guessed it-personal humility.

I must admit that while I have studied and reflected upon the issue of humility, its one that more often than not slips by me. Its not that I am an egostic or self-absorbed too much; I just don't think about it much.

But that's not how God would have it.

1 Peter 5:5 and following declares that we are to "cloth ourselves with humility." That seems to be pretty encompassing. I am to wrap myself in God's humility towards others. What kind of a world would it be if everyone acted this way? A lot different.

It just seems to me that there's a deep power and peace that comes with humility. Mother Teresa (who I have blogged about before) exemplified this notion of humility. She lived it. She poured it out on those around her. She was a powerful woman in a different way. She watered the dry ground around her with humility, service and grace.

Let's be spigots of humility today. The ground is really thirsty.

Your thoughts?

More People of Faith Are Coming...Soon

I have a good friend who has 11 kids!

Now, some may call it a plot while others would say that its a love of kids. My good friend and his wife are strong Christians too. And there is a very good chance that each of their kids will share their faith and transmit it onto their future families.

While its easy to be frustrated with ideas and beliefs which run counter to Christian values, their is hope in the future- more kids from Christian families.

Chuck Colson (one of my favorite authors and Christian thinkers)calls it the "fertility gap." You need to read his commentary here.

Your thoughts?

No Rush to Get Married in Colorado?

Young couples are avoiding marriage in Colorado, according to a Rocky Mountain News story in today's edition.

Based on US census data, young Colorado couples are fearful of marriage, not wanting to experience their boomer parents broken marriages. And whose to blame them?

If this trend is true and holds, the future for families and children is chilly.

There is a lot of work to be done to turn our state and region into a strong marriage and family culture..

Your thoughts?

Thank you Mother Teresa...

Thank you Mother Teresa. Even in your death, your life continues to teach us humility and service to the poorest of the poor. Your life also illuminated Christ's poignant teaching in Matthew 25, where Jesus instructed his disciples to care for the poor as though they were caring for him.

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of this diminutive yet peerless champion of the poor. In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, located a stone's throw away from the meanest streets in Calcutta.

When it is all said and done, one's legacy matters the most. Her work continues to shine through the hands of other disciples. Missionaries of Charity has expanded to more than 4800 sisters and 750 homes worldwide.

Thank you for reminding us what is really important.

The Curse of Immodesty

This one may get me in trouble with a whole lot of women, but I have had enough of it!

Let me preface my comments by saying that I am the father of one and nearly another one. But, today was the last straw.

As a colleague and I were having lunch in the local Chipotle, in walked examples "a, b and c." Let me give you the profile: 1- teenage girls; 2- age 14 to 16; 3-immodestly dressed (defined as painted on clothing with more private parts showing than not); and 4, clueless to their standing.

A generation ago, examples a, b and c would have been given a t-shirt by the restaurant owner and their parents would have been called. Today, this is the norm!

As a father of a teenage girl, I am appalled. I would no more allow my daughter to dress this way than I would become an astronaut! Where are our parents, and in particular the parents of these girls?

The answer- likely, either their moms don't care or they dress and act as they do.

Your thoughts?

Sex and Christian Teenagers

Are you feeling smug about your "Christian" teens sexuality? Read on...

Several weeks ago, WORLD magazine writer Gene Edward Vieth, hit a subject that should worry all of us who care about our kid's sexuality.

Its a great piece titled "Sex and the evangelical teen."It is a must read.

Vieth hits the nail on the head. "Churches used to teach and exempplify self-control, the necessity of keeping one's emotions in check, the discipline of self-denial and mortification of the flesh." He adds that today's church "cultivates letting go, emotionalism, self-fulfillment, and an odd religious sensuality."

Bingo. But I would add one other piece. Parents are charged to raise their kids and teach them purity and sexual wholeness. The fact that "Christian" teens may be more immoral than non-Christians is awful and it should serve as a wake up call to all of us parents of teenagers.

Your thoughts?

Good Bye Churchill

Finally, CU did something right.

With great "fear and trepidation" the CU Regents finally unloaded Professor Ward Churchill, firing him on Tuesday.

Don't be conned by Churchill or his disingenious attorney, David Lane. This whole episode is not about Churchhill's right to freedom of speech but about his lack of scholarly professionalism and overt plagarism. Here's the Rocky Mountain News take on it...

Your thoughts!

Teenagers Having Less Sex, Study Shows...

Okay, some good news sort of.

The National Center for Health Statistics has released a new report about teens and sex....

Teenagers are having less sex! Yahoo. Less sex, huh? How about no sex? I know that I am a prude from the twentieth century and little appreciation for today's enlightened postmodern teen culture. But hey, catching an STD today is a whole lot worse than the sex bugs from my teen years. And your chance of getting something is whole lot higher too today.

Here's the study.

Your thoughts....

A Good Name Is More Desirable Than Riches...

Proverbs 22:1 states that, a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

When you are young, you often do things that you regret later. Right about now, the new beauty queen of New Jersey might be regretting her actions from years gone by. Here is the story. Understandably, this young lady and her family are victims of an extortion scheme. But, a better choice in years past could have avoided this current embarassment.

I only make light of this story to make the point that Proverbs 22:1 does. When one's life is all said and done, our most valued treasures will be our name, reputation and the relationships we have.

Bad ways always has a way of showing up when it is least expected.

Colorado's Sinking Marriage Culture

Boy, I hate bad news. But, recent statistics from Colorado's Department of Public Health and the Environment paint a cloudy picture of our state's marriage culture. Colorado has a low marriage rate (and dropping) of 7.4 per thousand; a divorce rate of nearly 50 percent and a booming cohabitation trend.

You may ask why anyone should care (a common sentiment from our libertarian friends)? A fair enough question particularly if you are coming from the view that people's private conduct (and relationships) is no one's business. As we have all heard the worn out excuse which sounds something like this-"what one does in private has no bearing on their public demeanor."

Well, that comment is simply that- a poorly thought our excuse for poor behavior. Most baby boomers have rebelled against the notion of cause and effect. For example, it you light a match and put your finger in it, you will get burned. Or, if you nose-dive off a building you will hit the ground....

But what we do in private has much bearing on the greater culture which surrounds us. These marriage and divorce numbers paint a grim future not only for the adults involved but their children. And these trends also indoctrinate a new generation who will see marriage as only one of many equal adult relationships...

Your thoughts?

Thinking About 'Evan Almighty'

Touted by some media commentators as a great summer comedy, Evan Almighty is a dud.

I will spare you the pain of having to set through this movie to know the plot- here it is in a nutshell.

God (played by Morgan Freeman)tells anchorman-turned congressman Evan to leave everything behind a build an ark. This modern-day Noah's mission is to save all of the earth's animals. Sound vaguely familiar? Well, its at that point that this sequel-story line goes down hill with a major divergence from the original.

Most critics are giving this klunker 1 star and maybe, generously another half-star for sympathy.

I am not Siskel and Ebert, but I know a stinker when I see one. Spare your family and kids this one. Go rent a good movie like Facing the Giants....

Fathers Becoming Dads...

Its not hard to father a child. But its a lot tougher to be a dad to a child...

There is no quicker way to break down a community than to allow men to be fathers but then absolve them of any responsibility to be a dad.

Here's a great story about a new wave of fathers becoming dads...

I am cheering for all of us dads who believe that household labor is good for the male soul!

Having A Good Name

When you ask someone "what's most important to you?", you can expect a lot of different answers. Some will respond with wanting "things"-cars, houses or more money. Others wish for good health, long life or happiness...

But here's a thought- how about a good name? Can you imagine standing before all of your friends, business colleagues and family and asking all of them if there are any debts, grudges or issues any of them have with you? Wow, I shudder at what my group might say to me.

The Old Testament prophet Samuel gathered the entire nation of Israel together at the end of his life and asked them to bring forth any complaints they had towards him. Not a soul stood forth (1 Sam. 12:3-5)!

Here's my point. A good name is priceless. You can't buy it. It comes with a heart that is right before God.

Each of us have been given "land" by God. Its your sphere of influence. Do the people in your sphere see you as having a good name?

Thanks Dad

My dad died on July 5, 2003. I knew he was sick, but I really never thought he could or would die. He was a superman in my eyes. Of course, a 74 year old man with diabetes, nearly blind with heart fibrillation has little hope. But still, he was my dad. I remember him not as the frail old man but the 45 year old school teacher, naval officer who could still run me down if I dared challenge him...He took me to church too. And every summer, he and my mom would pack up our station wagon and our family would embark on three great weeks of camping somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Even though he was never eloquent about God or Christianity, he lived it. My dad was from that generation that never said much from their soul. They showed their love by working hard, being home most nights, loving my mom and paying for most of my college education. He was no sentimental fool. He loved USC football (unfortunately he missed the championships), collecting stamps and traveling all over the world.

The last time I saw him, he held my arm and wobbled into the care house he was staying at. I will never forget him.

Rest in peace.

Thanks Dad.

Colorado Right to Life Gets the National Boot

Colorado Right to Life is no more, at least from the viewpoint of the National Right to Life. Several weeks ago, Colorado Right to Life (CRTL) took out newspaper ads criticizing Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. Here's the story.

From our view, CRTL has always been strong on principle but unwise in their "public sense." Their latest capstone (and headstone) was their criticism of Dr. Dobson. Their recent salvo is nothing new. CRTL has historically burned many bridges with friends and potential allies in Colorado's fight for Life.

RMFC applauds the birth of a new principled pro-life group in Colorado headed by Pat Miller. Pat Miller will bring strong principles plus a winsome approach to the public square.

This is the right move for life in Colorado.

Fighting Through Fear

Here's something different. I think many of us can relate to it- fear. I battle fear every day. For most of us its a normal human emotion. But, it can severly cripple a Christian too.

Scripture tells us to fear God only (Deut. 6:13 et al). This "fear" can be synonimously described as respect, love or obedience. As Christians we are to only fear God but to use it as a catapault towards a loving heavenly father.

Unfortunately, Satan twists this godly. The Devil wants believers to not only lose their fear of God but to become fearful of life itself. His aim is to infect believers with fears of this life, changing their focus from God on to themselves. Fear of anything other than God leads one into selfishness.

The next time something comes through your life which causes fear, step back determine the source. Chances are that its not from God. Your human fears do not originate with our Heavenly Father but conduit their way into our lives by the Devil.

Ouch! Colorado Right to Life Jabs Friends...

You know this saying with a funny twist- "we have met the enemy and its us!" I guess that's the thinking these days with our "friends" at Colorado Right to Life (CRTL).

Earlier this week, the Colorado state chapter ran a full-page ad in the main Colorado Springs paper blasting most pro-family groups in our state. The issue-the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court banning partial birth abortions. CRTL's ire came because certain family groups hailed the decision as a breakthrough in the battle for life.

Oouch! I am not sure who cooked this one up but generally its considered bad form to air dirty laundry in public. Good friends should be able to disagree from time to time but no one wins when allies blast each other in the media. While I applaud CRTL ardor, passion and commitment to the cause, they are shooting at their friends!

Check out the repercussions here.

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll (Plus a little Bush-bashing too!)

Sex, drugs and rock and roll. Sprinkle in a little Bush-bashing and you have the makings of another great day of public education in Colorado a la Boulder style.

Sounds too good to be true right? Believe it or not it happened at Boulder High School last week.

When I went to high school ages ago, we studied boring subjects like math, english, civics, etc. Makes you wish you could go to high school now!

Check out the story and see if you want your son or daughter a part of such a good time!

PS- Your taxes funded this "fun day of enlightened thinking."

Colorado Teen Pregnancy Crisis

"I guess I thought it couldn't happen to me." Most mom's who don't expect to get pregnant say this after the fact.

For several years now, my wife and I have watched the struggles of a neighbor girl who got pregnant. To her and her family's credit, she had the child. But she is really struggling with all of it as a 17 year plus teenager whose a mom. Its not to say that being a 17 year old mom is wrong but its an uphill battle in today's culture to have a child at this young age.

Colorado is gripped by a growing unintended pregnancy crisis. Read the entire story here.
Here are some numbers for you from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
*40 percent of all births in Colorado are unintended!

*75 percent of teen births in Colorado were unintended!

*25 percent decline in teen pregnancies in the past decade. 14 percent of the decline attributable to teens having less sex.

Assumably, other factors contributed to the overall decline such as abstinence education. No matter how you slice it, our culture has little sense of cause and effect. Meaning this: if you have sex you may get pregnant.

I don't think that these trends should surprise us. Our young people live in a sex-whenever culture and many have the false impression that everyone is "doing it." If given a chance, most kids want to reserve their sexuality and not discard it cheaply. Anything other than abstinence poses high risks of disease or unintended pregnancies.

Real Christians of Genius Video Clip

This is how we sound and look at times to the world. The video clip says it all.