What a God! What Grace!

The troubling events of the last few days have brought two important ideas to my mind: fairness and grace.  I am amazed at the grace of God!  We Christians regularly intone that gift and claim it as the free gift of God to all men.  Living in a Christian society (at least that is what many Americans believe, despite the increasing number of ), I cannot help but be disappointed at the vitriol I often hear on the street, at church, on the radio, on television and on some print media, toward people of other religions, especially after incidents like the Boston Marathon bombings this week.

First, fairness.  I was also alarmed at the position some politicians took regarding the way the captured suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, should be treated. In spite of the fact that the suspect is a US citizen, several Republican lawmakers are calling for him to be tried as an enemy combatant.  A statement released by the lawmakers said, “It is clear the events we have seen over the past few days in Boston were an attempt to kill American citizens and terrorize a major American city.”  Replace the inference of a Muslim, foreign-born, American citizen with Timothy McVeigh, a white, American born, supposedly Christian, army veteran; would the Senators be making a similar statement or drawing the same conclusions?  Was Timothy McVeigh a "common criminal" which they claim Dzhokhar is not?  Does anyone see a selectivity of outrage here? Without a doubt, I believe the actions of the bombers was a cold, calculated, evil, violent dastardly act of cowardice against innocent civilians. But that does not justify the double standard that Senator Graham and his colleagues now demand.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/lindsey-graham-enemy-combatant-90365.html#ixzz2R3rQNKdj

What about grace?  Many Christians wish the perpetrators would "rot in hell" (or "burn forever" as some believe is the fate of sinners).  But is that what Christ thinks? Did he die for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his murderous brother?  I am going to take the liberty of sharing a post from Jason Hines because he shares my views on this important idea about God's forgiveness for us and his yearning to save the worst of sinners. You can read this and many of his other insights on his blog HineSight. (Full disclosure:  Jason is my son-in-law.)  Mr. Tsarnaev deserves his day in court and punishment to the fullest extent of the law if found guilty.  He must also answer to God for his crimes.  But like each one of us he is a sinner deserving of grace.  I seem to remember that about two thousand years ago a violent perpetrator of crimes was freed while an innocent man was nailed to a cross.  While on the cross, that God-man offered forgiveness to a criminal hanging beside him.  So are we guilty of any sins? Do we deserve God's forgiveness?  As difficult as it is to believe, or to accept, in God's eyes you and I are probably no better than Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  What grace!

The Happiest Places in Americahttp://lenedge.blogspot.com/

I stumbled upon an article in the AARP magazine entitled, 5 happiest cities in America.  There were some surprises: Boulder, CO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Madison, WI: and Honolulu, HI. The result was based on a Gallup Survey of the cities’ residents. So, it reveals the perception of the residents that were surveyed.  Certainly, if you perceive or believe that you are happy, then you are. The article stated that the

Gallup survey suggests that, with a few exceptions, the happiest residents dwell in midsize cities — that is, big enough to avoid boredom, yet small enough to feel like a real community (and actually find parking when you need it). Here's a sampling of the happiest cities in America, where overall well-being is the overriding vibe.

In trying to understand the results, I researched several characteristics of the cities – their geographic location, weather patterns, and other physical characteristics – that may contribute to the likability of a particular location. Madison is a northern US city with very cold, and sometimes, long winters.  The average monthly temperatures range from 10oF during the winter to a high of 83oF during the summer.

Honolulu is on a tropical island paradise with average monthly temperatures ranging from 65oF to 88oF. Pleasant year-round temperatures, with tropical beaches, flora and fauna provide a relaxing lifestyle for its residents, and one envied by many mainlanders.  Boulder, Colorado is slightly cooler than Wisconsin in the summers as well as having slightly warmer winter temperatures.  Interestingly, Boulder is 5,344 feet above sea level which makes for thinner air, and surrounding mountain ridges and canyons that facilitate lots of winter sports as a result of its heavy snowfall.  In addition, residents of Boulder and the neighboring environs of Denver are actively engaged in outdoor activities like road biking and jogging.  Although Seattle is located further north than Madison, it is generally warmer with far less snow during the winters but experiences cooler summer temperatures.  Seattle is known for its rainy climate, between 3 and 6 inches during the winter months, but with temperatures warmer than Wisconsin but chillier than Honolulu.  Although the average temperatures between Seattle and Boulder are not very different, the altitudes are remarkably dissimilar.  The city of Seattle is primarily at low altitude ranging from sea level to 520 feet.

So what about San Jose?  The average monthly temperatures range from 42oF to 82oF and experiences rainfall measurements of 2 to 3 inches during the Fall and Winter and less than 1 inch from May to October.  These statistics seem to eliminate rainfall, temperature, altitude, latitude, or longitude as contributing factors to happiness.  Weather appears not to be an overriding factor that influences happiness. 

So what are the factors that contribute to happiness?  Maybe a better question would be, “What are the factors or experiences that do not appear to contribute to happiness?”  I was struck by the fact that none of the top five were located in the South, usually characterized as the Bible belt. These states are often characterized as conservative, and part of America’s heartland; regions that pride themselves on their strong moral values, love of country, independence, love of liberty, and so-called "second amendment rights."

A 2009 Gallup tracking poll revealed that the ten states with the highest church attendance in America are southern states, except Utah which was ranked at No. 5. Mississippi was No. 1. These southern states also exhibit the lowest women’s health outcomes. Lowest ranked were Mississippi, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Other studies suggest that these states are generally among the poorest, the fattest and politically conservative.  Residents of the happiest cities are often regarded as liberal, educated, amoral and atheistic.  But is it surprising that the unhappiest people live in regions of America where there appears to be in a perpetual fight against the President, the government, immigration, taxes, their congress, and virtually everything about modern day American society and perpetually engaged in what they call a culture war?

 I consider myself fairly conservative in my lifestyle choices.  My religious beliefs have been a major factor in my outlook on life and I consider myself to be very happy and content with life – all as a result of my religious outlook.  (I am reminded of a song I learnt as a child: “I have a joy in my heart to stay.”) I believe in a Christianity that expresses thankfulness, generosity, and peace of mind; a Christianity that seeks for the happiness of all.  True religion should embody a love of the citizen and the alien, the weak and strong.  Christianity or religion that is meaningful should seek to protect the vulnerable among us; seek to serve the poor and dispossessed and actively demonstrate external serenity.  A religion that simply seeks self-preservation and hoarding of resources is a sad religion and makes for an unhappy people.  So, I end his blog with a question to ponder. Does it mean that religion, or at least the claims of religion, does not play a significant role in happiness among Americans?  Maybe, just maybe, it is the way religion is practiced that generates those unhappy people in those unhappy states and cities. 

The Meaning of Birthdays

Birthdays are important days.[1]  At least that’s what most people think.  As a child, my birthday was rewarded with a special meal from my mother – maybe my favorite, and sometimes a special homemade birthday cake.  Mama, my grandmother, would often prepare something special as well, and invite me over.  There were no parties, cards, special gifts or toys.  That would be for Christmas.  But even then, the best thing about birthdays was that the food was especially good.  Growing up in a poor family on the Caribbean island of Tobago, life was centered on hard work, diligence in our studies at school, and faith in God.  But at birthday time, we received the reinforcement that we were special, we were loved and God loved us.

As I grew older, birthdays became ho hum. I carried on with the busy events of making a living, raising a family, and accepted the ubiquitous “Happy birthday, Len!” greetings unemotionally.  There were more gifts and cards, but I accepted birthdays as just another sign of growing older – another notch on the chronological pole.   But something happened in 2007.  I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer – a bolt out of the blue.  For a person who enjoyed remarkably good health, I often regarded the gift of life as a just reward for my religious moorings, living a fairly healthy lifestyle, and staying out of trouble.  I was the one who exercised relatively, had good eating habits and regular exercise, and one who never drank alcohol or smoked, I was a statistical outlier.  But illnesses don’t always follow the statistical lines.  That isn’t to say that healthy habits are to be avoided.  However, after a very difficult experience through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I have returned to good health. Despite the ill effects of radiation and chemo, I am back to normal health doing most of the things I enjoy.

So how has life changed?  Birthdays are celebrations of life and living.  Gifts and parties don’t really matter as much, and I don’t really care if anyone forgets (or remembers) my birthday.  But most of the people I know remember and celebrate with me.  Living through the difficult days of treatment and recovery has created a special shrine of hope that is worthy of a celebration of smiles, high fives and reminiscences.  It was a journey I took with my wife and children, my parents and siblings, and some special friends who walked the dark way with me.  So birthdays are special in a way no other day is special.  It reminds me that life is a gift. It is a gift meant to be shared with those I love and everyone else.  It is an opportunity to treasure the many blessings of life that I previously took for granted.  Since my return to health I have devoted my hobby of road biking to raising money for the American Diabetes Association’s fight for a cure of diabetes, a devastating metabolic disease that affects increasingly millions of people.  The 100 mile ride on March 17, 2013 will be my third Tour de Cure.  Over the last three years, my friends have supported my efforts by donating over $10,000 towards this cause, but nothing gives me greater pleasure than my heart’s smile as I pedal along knowing that the lease of life I now enjoy is a privilege far beyond words.  Life is to be enjoyed to the fullest and time to be spent sharing with others, enjoying the grand children, smelling the cut grass, watching the clouds drift by, or marveling at the limitless blue sky.  Every year, March 1 reminds me that life is special gift.

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[1] This post is dedicated to my wife, Nichole, the love of my life; my two children, Lilly and Nicholas and their spouses; my two grandsons, Chris and Caleb; and my loving parents, Henry and Millicent Archer, 95 and 91 respectively, who taught me what true living is all about.

 

Are We a Christian nation?

I have often heard this statement from many Americans, and about America: “We are a Christian nation.”  I have always been troubled by this assertion and have wondered what it means.  Recently, a facebook friend posted the following statement on his facebook page:

“Denmark and Sweden are among the least religious nations in the world, Yet they enjoy the highest standard of living in the world and a main reason for that is because the people are concerned about each other and look out for each other, so even though taxes are a little high, the people don't mind because they are concerned that every one (rich/middle class/poor) has a right to hassle free health care (Note I did not say free, nothing is free). One cannot say the same for this country where most proclaim to be Christians. Most of the people in Denmark and Sweden are non religious or Atheists, Yet they seem demonstrate more Christian values than us who pride ourselves as Christians......go figure!!!”

Reading that statement set me to thinking about that statement again, “We (America) are a Christian nation.” Of course Christianity cannot be measured simply by the number of people who have access to healthcare but it does say something about the moral values of a people and a nation who seemingly care little about millions of their fellow citizens who have very limited or no access to healthcare while they stridently make claims to corporate Christianity. 

Here are some other troubling statistics.  In a report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime based on data collected between 1995 and 2011, there were 14,748 intentional homicides[1] in America, at a rate[2] of 4.8.  As a comparison, Sweden had 91 homicides at a rate of 1.0; Norway, 29 at a rate of 0.6; United Kingdom, 722 at a rate of 1.2; Canada, 554 at a rate of 1.6.  The United States ranks far worse among all European or Western countries, except a few countries of the former Soviet Union – Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, and Lithuania. (I have excluded Africa and Central America from the comparisons as the statistics in those regions are heavily influenced by civil wars, failed states and drug wars.)[3]  Americans, though vocally expressive about their Christian faith live in society that is extremely violent and awash with guns (over 300 million) which are the primary tools of violence and murder.  But America’s claim of Christianity, democracy and freedom is supported by a powerful Christian community which it proposes our political and financial model as the only viable avenue to social stability.  To the non-Christian onlookers, our culture reeks of violence, immorality, hatred, and a disdain for the poor, the immigrant and the dispossessed. The Originator of Christianity himself stood for the widow, the imprisoned, the sick, the orphans and all the underclass.  (I will exclude the current gun debate from my discussion). 

 What does it say about our “Christian” society that we are so much more violent and seemingly uncaring than our self-professed agnostic European neighbors?  What does it say about our Christian values that our cities are inundated with thousands of homeless and mentally unstable citizens all destitute and lacking basic medical care while our politicians support a system that maintain laws and policies designed to support an upper class awash in wealth, immorality and hedonism.  How are we a Christian nation, the richest on earth, while many of our citizens involuntarily live in want and need?

As the battle over taxes and guns, healthcare and immigration, deficits and budgets takes over Washington, our Christianity is expressed individually, not corporately. So, are we a Christian nation? What impact do I make on the society in which I live?  How can I make it safer and thus lighten the burden for all?  Is it relevant that supposedly God-less European societies live more peacefully and seem to support laws that facilitate more lawful and pleasant societies than we do?  So are we a Christian nation?  No!  We are not a Christian nation. To support that viewpoint is to ignore the millions of citizens – Muslim, Hindu, Atheist, Agnostic, Jew, and others – who make a notable contribution to our society and make it work, and to ignore the many Christians whose un-Christian behavior contribute to our society’s demise.  We are a nation of pluralism, of numerous peoples of ethnic and religious diversity living together with the goal of helping and supporting each other in this democratic republic.  The question is best answered by our individual behavior.  Christians must rethink this claim by many in our country and start living individually as Christians, behaving like the God-man whose name we claim; who instructed us to be the light to the world and the salt, the flavor, of the earth? 

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[1] Intentional homicide in this case is defined as unlawful death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person

[2] The rate is a measure of the number of intentional homicides per year per 100,000 inhabitants

[3] For more information http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/Homicide/Globa_study_on_homicide_2011_web.pdf retrieved February 8, 2013

 

Why Lance Armstrong Cheated

First of all, full disclosure is required. I am an avid bike rider and cancer survivor.

The recent news story of interest has been the confession of Lance Armstrong to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his seven Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005. Erythropoietin (EPO), testosterone, blood doping, and human growth hormone (hGH) were routinely used by Lance and his teams, as they prepared for and dominated European professional cycle races over much of the last decade. As I listened to the post-confession commentaries on radio and television, analysts were unanimous in their description and characterization of Mr. Armstrong as a liar, cheater, bully, and more. In his article, It’s all about the Lies, Rick Reilly stated, “I've been fooled (for 14 years) and I have been fooled before…I guess I should forgive him… But I'm not quite ready… Give me 14 years, maybe.” The scathing condemnation is appropriate for a man who broke the rules and over many years denied his involvement in cheating and drug use, while attempting to destroy the character, reputations, and financial livelihood of anyone who attempted to reveal the truth about his activities by lawsuits and verbal intimidation. In Lance’s attempt at contrition, “I deserve it and I cannot blame people who cannot forgive me for my actions. I alone am responsible.”


Cycling is a popular European sport. But in America the media cared little about it unless an American was winning races, as was Lance. Before him, there was a blip of publicity when Greg LeMond, the American from California, won three titles in 1986, 1989, and 1990 and the first American and non-European to win. Those of us who follow cycling (at least, European professional cycling) have believed for many years – that Lance Armstrong and his teammates were doping. In fact, most of the podium winners of the Grand Tours over the last 20 years or so have almost all tested positive and been suspended or admitted to drug use. His admission is simply confirmation of what many of us suspected or was whispered for many years. Only the naïve would believe otherwise. If there ever was a place where “everybody does it” appears to be a reasonable application, it was in cycling. So, the seeming surprise about the revelations of cheating appears to be either due to ignorance or naiveté by the news media about this sport noted for its corruption.

But there is another point to this post! The surprise is also noteworthy because I know why he doped. Here’s why! We are embedded in a culture of lying and cheating to get ahead. This is by no means an excuse for Lance’s behavior. (Don’t forget his bullying and Mafia-Don-like attack on his detractors.) The political season just ended revealed candidates – Presidential, Senatorial, and others, who blatantly lied day after day in speeches, ads, through their surrogates, and in character assassinations that would make the most audacious one blush. Anyone remembers the campaign manager who refused to allow “fact checkers” to control his candidate’s message? Anyone remembers the etch-a-sketch quote? Any one aware of the insider trading scandals and profiteering at all cost mentality that has brought our economy to its knees in recent years? Is anyone aware of the inundation of success-by-any-means-possible and academic dishonesty that pervade our nation’s colleges and universities? Is anyone following the apparent increase in the manipulation of scientific research simply to obtain more grant money and pad the resume? Is anyone following the shortcut and/or falsifying of biomedical research by multi-billion dollar biomedical corporations to produce drugs for profit while leaving the health and welfare of the infirmed at risk? Now, there have always been cheaters, and always will be. However, we live in an age where the goal to reach the top is regarded as the ultimate goal regardless of the many trampled at the bottom. American sports have been inundated with drug cheats – baseball, football, track and field. But when our so-called moral leaders – pastors, politicians and congressional hopefuls show little penchant for honesty, why do we expect any different from Lance?

So, why the apparent sudden surprise and vitriol about Lance? Am I making an excuse for Lance Armstrong’s behavior? No I am not! Not even his demonnstrably heroic efforts on behalf of cancer victims and establishing Livestrong get him off the hook. Let’s bring to light all the cheaters and liars. Let’s clean up our sports. Let’s not stand aside and accept politicians who play fast and loose with the truth in order to win a seat or manipulate public opinion whether they are on your side of the politcal spectrum or not. There is a difference between differences of opinion and bald face lying. And like Lance, there are a lot of confessions needed. But no sin is unforgivable and I am drawing attention to the axiom, “He that is without sin, cast the first stone…but go and sin no more.”

Did God Really Do That To Me?

I recently saw a video posted on Facebook entitled “The Night You Were Chosen". Beside the fact that it may have been a morning, midday or afternoon, the video raised a lot of questions that Christians struggle with and that I have considered for a while. First, I hope that you look at the video (linked above) before forming any conclusions either about the message of the video or the opinions I present for your consideration.

The video posits that God not only knew when you were conceived but played a critical role in the miracle of the single unique sperm which fertilized the single unique egg that became you. It accurately suggests that 500 million (yes, half a billion) sperm were deposited in your mother’s reproductive system and only one beat the treacherous odds of competition, a hostile environment and directional targeting to find the egg and donate it’s DNA to form the unique You. Dare I say that every live normal birth is the culmination of a miraculous sequence of events – fertilization, gestation and parturition that produces You. As the video states, “God chose you the night you were conceived…and promises to journey with us all the days we live…”

As a Christian this is quite a remarkable promise and is an awe-inspiring thought to understand that there is a powerful God who has chosen to walk with us. It is a statement filled with hope for those of us (and I suspect all of us) who struggle with the difficulties we encounter on this journey of life. But here I pause to reconsider the foundation of the conception argument. Beside the slightly misleading suggestion that all sperm compete equally (a significant number of sperm are non-functional or deficient), there are legitimate questions that arise from this theory of God’s role in human reproduction.

Did God choose us the night we were conceived?
Did He select and direct that 1 in 500 million sperm that united with the preselected egg?
Does God know the genetic content of every egg and sperm?
So, does God knowingly select genetically defective sperm or egg which will then form a malformed or defective You?
Is the process of fertilization a strictly random process?

As an example, two parents who are both heterozygous for the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (that is, each parent possesses a matching pair of chromosomes, one chromosome of which carries a gene for the disease and the corresponding chromosome is normal) have a 25% chance of producing a child with cystic fibrosis at every conception. This result is clearly observed in the numbers of people that express the disease. Medical science has discovered numerous diseases that are the direct result of the fusion of sperm and eggs that contain chromosomes with genetic defects and result in babies born with numerous neurological, physiological, or functional disabilities. Many of the products of genetic diseases may spontaneously abort during gestation, die shortly after birth, or may live for a few years enduring intense pain and suffering. It is a disconcerting conclusion to attribute these dysfunctions to a God who knowingly selects these sperm and eggs, directs them to unite, and mandates them to create individuals who would experience immense suffering for the rest of their lives. This theory seems incompatible with a God of love. It belies the idea of a God of love to suggest that He willingly fosters such debilitating pain and suffering on the objects of His love.

Psalm 22:9,10, Psalm 139:13 and other biblical passages illustrate the ancients understanding of God’s role in gestation and parturition. The Bible however, does not seem to suggest that God plays an active role in fertilization.

So, did God really select you before you were conceived or is the fertilization process a random event which God allows? Can we accept that the process of fertilization is just an event in reproduction that sometimes results in unfortunate circumstances? Are we comfortable with attributing such painful circumstances to a sinful, evil environment? Can we be at peace with a God who does not manipulate every event of life but intervenes in our darkest moments to guide us, sustain us, and nurture us through difficult times? I believe that God, in spite of the results of conception, chooses to intervene in the events of our lives as he walks with the broken, the hurting, and the diseased, throughout the difficulties that life brings. God is a defender of the fatherless, the widows, the sick and diseased, but he does not create them. He cares for, and can use anyone, and seeks to save everyone. Even in cases where births are predicted, for example Isaac, Samson, Samuel, or Jesus, it appears that He may be projecting His omniscience – the all-knowing characteristic of God - rather than manipulating the circumstances.

But the notion that God intervened in my conception is fraught with difficulty and a crunch to the hearts of the genetically disabled who would have a valid question, “God, why did you do this to me?”