Relating Through the Security Chain

George was just your average, ordinary, everyday kind of guy. He lived in his house alone and
he kinda liked it that way. One day, he was sitting on his couch watching the game when he heard a
knock at the door. He opened the door as far as his shiny security chain allowed and was greeted by the kind face of a stranger.

“Can I help you?” George inquired of the kind looking stranger.

 “Actually,” the stranger replied with a smile.  “I am hoping to help you. I would very much like
to become a part of your life. I want to help you as you live by giving you a positive outlook with an
eternal context. Our relationship won't necessarily make life easy, but I guarantee that the joy I bring
into your home will make the troubles of life easier to cope with. I also offer you eternal holdings in
my Father's estate.”

George was taken aback and stood for a moment without offering any response at all.
“What exactly will this relationship cost me?” He inquired of the stranger with a voice thick with suspision.

“I merely need your invitation,” the stranger responded. “The cost of this relationship rests
primarily on my shoulders.”

“Oh,” George responded with some relief. “Then, by all means, consider yourself invited.”

George, happy with his decision, left the stranger at the door and returned to his place on the
couch.  He sat down and reached for the remote, pleased to be able to return to his afternoon activities
with no more delay. There was just one thing he failed to do. George never disengaged the security
chain. A few minutes went by before the stranger addressed George through the three inch gap between the door and the doorjamb allowed by the short, silver chain.

“George,” the stranger ventured.  “Aren't you going to let me in?”

“No,” George replied after some consideration.  “We can have a relationship just how things
are. I could let you in, but you might wanna rearrange the furniture or cook dinner. I kinda like my
furniture where it's at and I really enjoy hamburger helper. I'm a little worried about how my friends
will react to you anyway. For now, I just wanna leave things the way they are. If I want more, I can
always adjust later."

And that's exactly what happened. Every once in awhile when George had a problem he was
struggling with he would go to the door and speak to the stranger through the crack in the doorway.
Sometimes the stranger would answer sometimes he wouldn't. Either way George didn't really allow
that to affect the way he lived. George would often have people over. He always let them in the back
door so they wouldn't have to experience the awkward stranger on the front step. They would have a
good time but occasionally the stranger would ask to be introduced. George always declined.

When George's best friend passed away in a car accident, he walked over to the door and sat on
the floor. The stranger was able to reach through the crack in the door to comfort him. The stranger
offered to come in and take some of the load off by helping out around the house and giving him more emotional support. George said no thanks. And this was how life when on.

Occasionally, the stranger would offer advice but more often than not George would ignore him.
Sometimes, George asked for help or money. Every once in a while, the stranger would give it to him.
The strange relationship sometimes confused George and it always frustrated the stranger. However,
George was more or less comfortable with the arrangement and was hesitant to change it.

Eventually George got up in years to the point where he was no longer able to take care of
himself. George's friends and family came to move all his furniture and personal items out and he was eventually moved to a nursing home.

He was not pleased with the surroundings. He was frustrated with the wall color and the carpet.
He was frustrated with his neighbors and the caregivers. No matter what the situation offered, he was
always disappointed in it. But the one constant in his life was the stranger at the doorway. Only since
his door was unable to lock, the stranger merely kept his distance. George was pleased that at least he
maintained the status quo.

One day, George was shuffling down the hallway and came upon another resident. They passed
each other, but George stopped as he heard the other resident humming a cheerful tune. George turned towards the resident and shook his head.

  “What are you so happy about?” he inquired with more than a hint of frustration in his voice.

“Well,” the resident responded thoughtfully. “I guess I'm happy because I don't have a good
reason not to be.” She paused for a moment. “My name is Joyce, by the way.”

“Well I can think of a good reason,” George responded, his voice rising slightly in pitch and
intensity. “ How about being here? Aren't you mad about getting your freedom taken away and ending up in this dreary place? I mean, come on. Doesn't your room kinda bug you?”

“First off, my freedom wasn't taken from me,” Joyce began. “I gave up control of my life a long
time ago because I knew I couldn't handle it on my own. Second, I like it here. I don't think it's dreary
at all. In fact, I think it's rather pleasant. And my room is lovely.”

“Wow,” George sighed. “Have you ever heard of rose-colored glasses?”

“Yes,” Joyce responded through a smile. “But my positive outlook has much more to do with
the influences in my life than the color of my spectacles.”

There was a pause as George stood there expectantly and Joyce simply smiled. George rolled
his eyes and finally pressed for more of an explanation.

“Do you wanna expand on that a little bit?”

“I thought you'd never ask,” Joyce responded with a coy smile. ?It's been quite a few years ago
by now, but one day, this fella knocked on my door. I say door but that isn't really accurate. I was living in a refrigerator box at the time. He said, 'Hi Joyce, I want you to know that I care very deeply for you. I want to help you and fill your life with joy. All I need is an invitation.' I didn't know what to say so I just nodded and pointed to a space beside me. He gave me a big smile and shook his head. He gave me his hand and pulled me up out of the box. I didn't really have anything to lose. I gave him complete control and followed him wherever he led me.”

“Where did you go?” George pressed as she paused to catch her breath.

“First we went to a diner for lunch and coffee,” she replied. “Then he wanted me to introduce
him to all my friends. Eventually, he helped me land a job and find a studio apartment. I never had
much, but it was always enough and the joy he promised me was always there.”

“Where is he now?” George inquired as he glanced down the hallway.

“Oh, he's here with me,” Joyce responded excitedly. “Let me introduce you to him.”

Joyce gestured down the hall at an approaching man. He looked somewhat familiar to George,but he couldn't quite place him. The man walked up to George and stuck out his hand.

“Hi George,” the stranger addressed him with a knowing smile.

George just stood there holding the hand of the stranger in an awkwardly prolonged handshake.

“Wait,” Joyce interjected, confusion thick in her voice. “You two know each other?”

“Yes we do,” the stranger responded through a sad smile.  “Although George might not
recognize me since he's never actually seen more than three inches of me at a time. We had a
relationship for years, but it never reached its full potential because of the limitations caused by the
security chain.”

“What security chain?” Joyce inquired with unmasked confusion written across her face.

“You know,” George replied as he realized how he knew the stranger. “The chain on the front
door that you use if you only want the door to open a little bit.”

Joyce looked at George with even more confusion and asked, “Why didn't you take the chain
off the door?”

“I didn't want my life to change too much.” George responded somewhat awkwardly. “It was
nice to have him around, but I didn't want him taking over.”

“With him, there's no such thing as too much change.” Joyce explained as she shook her head
slightly.  “Only exactly the right amount of change.”

Joyce glanced at the clock on the hallway wall. A growling in her stomach confirmed her
suspicions and she turned to address the stranger.

“Look, it seems that you two have some things to discuss. Dinner is ready, so I'm going to head
that direction. I'll save you a seat.”

The stranger nodded and turned back to George.

“You were right about one thing, George,” he began. “I did want to change your life. I wanted to
rearrange your furniture. I wanted to take your couch and turn it away from the TV and towards that
picture window in your living room. I wanted you to see the beauty of the creation I made for you. I
wanted to cook for you. I wanted to take away those bland boxed meals you always insisted on eating
and replace them with the flavor of my provision. I know how to put a meal together. I wanted you to
introduce me to your friends so that we could all enjoy the kind of community that my Father desires
for his heirs. I wanted to enrich the friendships you already had. But you declined. I wanted to change
your life completely by bringing you the joys and blessings of a full relationship with me, but you said 'No thanks' because you didn't trust me.”

George hung his head slightly in disappointment. That disappointment didn't last long, however. It soonturned into accusation.

 “Well,” He snapped at the stranger. “I think we both know that the chain could have been
broken if you had tried hard enough. Maybe that relationship you talk about isn't as important as you'd like me to believe.”

“George,” the stranger responded with a voice thick with sadness but completely devoid of
anger or frustration. “I have never in my entire existence forced myself into anyone’s life. Everyone hasto trust me enough to let me all the way into their lives. If you missed out on the blessings of a full
relationship, that's completely on you. I was available all those years for when you were finally ready to let me in. You made the decision to leave me on the front step. You missed out on a lot of blessings in this life, but it's not over just yet. You still have some time to enjoy our relationship. You know where I am. Just call my name when you're ready.”

George nodded as the stranger turned to walk down the hall.

“Wait!” George exclaimed. The stranger stopped and turned back towards George. George
continued with no small amount f shame evident in the tone of his voice. “I don't remember what your name is.”

“My name is Jesus,” the Stranger responded with a sad smile.

I wish I could tell you that George opened his door completely to his faithful friend, but the
story hasn't ended yet. George left that conversation that day and still struggles for control over his life. He still has an inheritance waiting for him from the Stranger's family estate, but to this day, he is still missing out on the joy of the relationship because he never took the security chain off the door.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Ten Years later

The year was 2006 and my mom had cancer. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two weeks before I started my freshman year at Bob Jones University. I was brought home for a week to visit when her condition had gotten particularly bad. I was home for a week when it was decided that it was time to make arrangements for what appeared to be the inevitable.

My older brother, my younger sister, and I went with our dad to the funeral home to make the arrangements. The somber task seemed so premature, but absolutely necessary. After that distasteful task was done, the four of us returned home to be with the rest of the family. After a while, it became apparent that a few members of the family were in need of a few clothing items. Once again, in spite of the apparent crassness of the situation, the four of us loaded into the family van and headed for town.

We milled about the clothing departments, halfheartedly sorting through dress shirts and ties, blouses and skirts. Everyone managed to find what they were looking for, but would have rather not needed. We checked out and made our way to our parking spot. Dad got a phone call on his cell phone just as he put the van in drive. I don't remember what he said, but the message was clear. I looked at my sister who was sitting next to me on the gray bench seat. Her lower lip quivered slightly as her eyes filled with tears. I reached over and rested my arm across her shoulders in a gesture that felt forced and awkward, but I didn't know what else to do. My dad and brother were silent in the front bucket seats.

The ride back to the family farm was a grueling forty-five minutes long. We drove up the long gravel driveway to the farmhouse and parked the van. We walked up the sidewalk towards the house. My youngest brother and sister were standing in the grass in front of the porch. I paused and took in the scene as my dad and older brother walked around me. The sun was bright in the western sky, casting long shadows across the lawn. The shadows across the faces of my family eclipsed all the rest. Looks of confusion, fear, and vulnerability were plastered across the faces of my younger siblings while my older brother and I fought against the expressions of pain and realization that threatened to emerge.

I walked into the house and looked into the room where my mother had been resting. The reality that I had already accepted was confirmed. I turned on my heel and took off towards the north eastern corner of the farm. 

I didn't have a destination or a plan. I just knew that my life, the lives of my siblings and my dad, and the lives of so many others had been changed forever. What were we going to do? How were we every going to be okay? I was nineteen years old and had three siblings that were even younger. How were we supposed to grow up without our mom? There was so much more that we needed from her, but she was gone. The eventual reality that we all knew to expect form an extensive family history of cancer had finally come to fruition and I was at a loss for how to survive this loss.

Eventually, a concerned family friend caught up to me and walked me back to the house. The services were a couple days later and after a week, I was off to college to continue my education.

That was exactly ten years ago. A lot has happened since the untimely passing of Christa Henning. The world is definitely a dimmer place without her. I miss her every day. My family has experienced other losses, but none have stung in quite the same manner. However, when I look at my brothers and sisters, I see two kind and strong men who could take an the world if the need arose and two beautiful and compassionate women who radiate Mom's kindness and compassion. Three of us are married and have children, and the other two are working good jobs and settling into adulthood. Our relationships with our father are stronger than they've ever been and we are better people because of his example.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see Mom's touch in my life or the lives of those around us. We are better people for having known her.

In short... Ten years later, I can honestly say... I Guess We're Doing Okay.

It's Hard To Be the Clay

In the Christian community we use the illustration of the potter and the clay as a way to discuss the process of going from the lost and imperfect human beings we all were before God saved us to the people that God is working to make us. This illustration has obvious merit. It comes directly from the Bible. There are several passages relating to this illustration that can be found in Jeremiah eighteen, Isaiah sixty-four and Romans nine just to name a few. We as Christians often listen to sermons and songs based on these passages and respond something like this. “Isn't this a great illustration of how God can take my ugly humanity and turn it into something beautiful and useful for his kingdom.” And that's about as far as our thought process goes. 

Here's the thing. There isn't anything inherently wrong with that statement. But, much like most other art forms, there is a process involved in pottery that is extensive and messy. This is the part of the illustration we often gloss over.

The very first thing that a potter does with his clay is to cut it of the communal mass. He chooses a section and removes it from its comfort zone. Once we decide to follow Christ, we can expect to feel separated from our community. The reason for this is that we are separated from our community. There is a certain amount of discomfort that can be expected in response to this disconnection.

The next thing that the potter does is this. He takes his chosen chunk of clay and slams it down on the potters wheel with a substantial amount of force. He has taken the chunk of clay from its comfort zone and has placed it, not gently, in an environment that will make it possible to affect it in the way that he desires.

The next step is to center the clay. The potter spins the wheel and leans into the clay using his hands and his weight to push it into the center of the wheel. The potter will not stop this until the clay stops pushing back. Only when the clay is centered in the potters wheel can he continue his work.

Next, the potter has to knead the clay. This process involves working the clay on the wheel. He'll push his finger into the center of the clay and pull out a ring and then push it all back together. To the casual observer, and probably the clay, this seems pointless, like the potter is just messing with the clay. However, there is a point to this process. The goal is to find and remove impurities that can be detrimental to the process later on. All foreign matter and air bubbles must be removed. This will continue until the potter is convinced that he is working with a 'clean' chunk of clay.

Finally, after all this, the potter can begin to shape the clay. He'll find the center and plunge his finger deep into the clay. Then he'll pull out to the width he desires and begin pulling up the walls. This process can take a while. Clay can be difficult to work with. Sometimes, the potter will push it all down and start over. After a while, the clay will take on the shape that the potter desires but that's not the end.

The finished piece will sit on the shelf for a day or two and will return to the wheel. The potter will center it, attach it, and begin cutting. There's only so much that can be done with wet clay. Once the clay gets to the 'leather hard' stage, more can be done. The potter will use a variety of knives to refine the shape and style of the vessel and engrave various types of designs. This means that not all the parts of the vessel will make it to the final product. The clay has to be willing to let some parts of itself go.

Finally, the vessel goes to the kiln. For the first time. This is why the kneading stage is so important. During the bisque firing, the kiln temperature can range anywhere from 1300 degrees Fahrenheit to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the low levels of moisture in any stones left in the clay will cause the stones to explode. This will shatter the vessel. It's important not to rush through the purifying process because impurities won't make it through the firing.

After all this, the final vessel is dipped in a glaze and fired again. This firing goes up to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally it is removed from the kiln, the beautiful vessel the potter envisioned when he started.

By now, you're probably wondering why I've dragged you through this whole process. I wanted to make a point. It's not easy being the clay. The clay gets cut from its comfort zone and slammed down, worked, kneaded, pulled, stretched, cut, carved, fired, dipped and fired again. It takes a lot for the clay to go from ugly to beautiful. There's a reason that God chose this illustration to describe the process of achieving His vision for us. Why are we so surprised when life is hard? Why do we look at God like He's a brute when we feel life pushing and pulling us. Why do we think He's abandoned us when we feel like we're going through the fire? It's hard to be the clay, but here are some points to help us get trough the process. Let God center you in his will. Let Him work you until the impurities are gone. Let Him shape you into the vessel He has envisioned. Let Him cut away the parts of you that aren't useful to Him. And always remember that the clay doesn't get to decide whether it's going to be a cup, a mug, a plate, or a bowl. That is always up to the Potter. He is the perfect craftsman. We are so fortunate that He has placed us on his wheel.

Why Would We Ever Go Back?

We are born into the world with a sin nature. We are plucked from this worldly setting by the grace of God alone. We are offered an eternity of blissful communion with our Lord and Savior and a helping hand though the wilderness of this life. We are to walk away from the perks of the world as we are offered so much more in comparison. However, we so often we want to return to the worldly wasteland from which we were rescued. How can we not see that there is nothing worthwhile to which to return?

By way of example, let us consider the Israelites. God miraculously plucked them from the chains of the Egyptians with show of force that has never been rivaled. However, every time the Israelites felt things were a little tough, they wanted to go back to Egypt.

Let's consider that option for a moment. Before they left Egypt, there were a number of significant events that not only pushed Pharaoh to practically throw them out, but also undoubtedly left lasting scars an their land of captivity. I'm referring, of course, to the plagues.

The water of the Nile turned into blood. I'm fairly certain that there aren't a whole lot of freshwater, aquatic life forms that can survive when their environment is switched out for blood. Exodus 7:21 says that the fish of the Nile all died and the river began to stink. I'm not a scientist, but I am fairly certain that it would have taken some time for the fish to replenish after the Nile was returned to it's natural state. The river Nile was more or less the life source of the Egyptian culture. It's yearly floods irrigated the farmland and it was also a source of freshwater fish. Even a temporary removal of this natural resource would have had a devastating effect on the Egyptian economy.

Next came the frogs. Frogs swarmed all of Egypt until Pharaoh begged Moses to make them go away. The Lord ended the plague of the frogs, but he didn't really make them go away. They all died. They were piled up all over the countryside in sticky, stinky, rotting heaps. Eww.

Then came the gnats, followed closely by the flies. I bet Pharaoh was wishing he hadn't begged those frogs away. The list goes on. The Egyptian livestock died. The Egyptians got boils. Then came the hail. Hail, as we know, can be devastating. This hail was so bad it killed people in addition to destroying the crops. (I wonder if this plague might be the reason that the sphinx is missing it's nose?)

The eighth plague was locust. We're not talking about a couple of insects here. Exodus 10:14 describes the swarm as one having never been seen before and one never to be seen again. And these bugs brought their appetites. Verse fifteen says that not a green thing was left in the land of Egypt. (This may be the first recorded incident of what eventually became 'Russian scorched earth warfare.')

This plague was followed by darkness throughout the land. I imagine this left many an Egyptian child with a special brand of night terrors. Total darkness would be extremely unnerving for both children and adults. And Thomas Edison wouldn't make his appearance for some thousands of years later.

The final blow was the death of the firstborns. This was the gigantic straw that finally broke Pharaoh camel's back. Exodus 12:39 says the Israelites were thrust from the land of Egypt, and for good reason. I would have chased them out to, had I lost my firstborn because of the God of Israel. (Of course we know that the plagues were a direct result of Pharaoh’s stubbornness.)

Israel left is such haste that they didn't even let their dough rise. But on the way out, they plundered the Egyptians, but not by force. Exodus 12:36 says that the Lord gave them favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they gave the people of Israel pretty much anything they asked for.

It didn't take long for Pharaoh to have second thoughts, however. He woke up a some time later with some serious regrets. He gathered his army of men, chariots, and horses and chased after God's chosen people. This is where we first hear the Israelites claim that they would have been better off as slaves in a foreign land. In Exodus 14:11-12 the people of Israel ask “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Of course, with the death of the firstborns, the grave situation may have been an actual issue.) Then, God parted the Dead Sea, allowing His people to cross through on dry land. Then, he closed the sea on the Egyptians and destroyed a huge portion of the Egyptian army.

The reason that I have told you this whole story is to make a point. They left a country whose economy was crippled by an interruption of their main resource, the death of their cattle, and the destruction of their crops (every green thing, remember?). They left a people group who had been troubled by boils, prolonged darkness, and intense grief at the simultaneous loss of every firstborn child in the nation and the subsequent loss of the chief bread winners of thousands of families. And there were piles of rotting frogs everywhere, to boot. First of all, why would they ever want to go back to that? Second, why would they ever think for a moment that the Egyptians would let them back in?

Once we leave the world, we don't belong in it anymore. We belong in the Promised Land. We may have to spend a lot of time traveling through the wilderness to get there, but going back to Egypt is not an option. There is nothing worthwhile for us there.

Excellence in Mediocrity

Playboy magazine has just recently announced that they will no longer be placing nude photos of women in their periodicals. It seems that the porn industry in America has gotten so pervasive and explicit that the veritable founder of common consumption pornography, has decided that is no longer profitable to produce magazines that include fully nude women. The American public has apparently become bored with the simple nude. Pornography, which used to be offered only on the fringes of society, has become an integral part of our communities. I submit that this is due largely to one issue. The lack of being held to a higher standard. Women seem to be under the impression that men need pornography as a outlet for their sexual energy and that if that outlet is taken away, their boyfriends and husbands will cheat on them. This idea is inherently false. Men are capable of practicing self control to the degree that they can maintain a monogamous relationship without external visual stimuli. This misconception is likely due to one factor. Society is no longer holding its members to a high moral standard of living and men no longer feel pressured to maintain integrity in their entertainment. Mediocrity has become the norm to the point at which we accept previously unacceptable behavior as new societal norms. The members of society, both men and women, should be offended by this. Men should be offended that they are not believed to be capable of practicing self control in the areas of their lives that are most important. Those areas that I’m referring to are their deep, interpersonal relationships with the opposite gender. Women should be offended that they are not holding themselves to the level of importance that they deserve in their relationships. They are allowing the men in their lives to diminish their value in the relationship by looking elsewhere for gratification. And shame on the men of society for taking advantage of this situation. The family unit is breaking down because we have allowed mediocrity to permeate our relationships. This is not a man or a woman problem. This is a societal problem. It's about time that our society holds men and women accountable for their actions and demands a higher standard in family and relationship situations. Strong and well adjusted adults most often come from strong families.

The United States is finding it increasingly hard to compete in a global market on our manufacturing and marketing fronts . Part of this problem is due to the fact that employers are finding it extremely difficult to find employees who will pass the mandatory drug test. The recreational use of controlled substances has become commonplace in America. Controlled substances are controlled for a reason. They are dangerous and cause irreversible damage to the human body. They alter the state of mind of the user and drastically affect the users decision-making paradigm. This causes an unsafe work environment for both the user and his coworkers. Society has allowed this to happen by not holding it's workforce to high standards of moral accountability. This is affecting both our economic situation and our country's physical health.

The weakening of the family unit and the national drug epidemic is creating problems within the workforce. Employees show up late and call off at the last minute. they under perform and expect their coworkers to pick up the slack. When they do complete their tasks, the quality is less than expected which decreases the consumer confidence in domestic products. Employers accept this because that is the nature of the employment pool available to them. When employers demand excellence they are criticized for promoting a hostile work environment and berated as corporate giants with no feelings. To give you an idea of the workplace situation of our country please consider this. GM is moving the production of its Buick line of vehicles to China because their quality of work is just as high in their vehicle production as their American counterparts and their workforce is more reliable. In the interest of full disclosure, I also want to point out that another factor in there decision is that the Buick customer base in China far exceeds its customer base in the States. However, I know that at least a part of that can be attributed to the decrease of consumer confidence in our country.
The leaders of this country are in many ways an accurate representation of their constituents. We have law makers who are unable or unwilling to put forth the effort to pass bills and amendments on the merits of the bills and amendments. As a result, they often try to fold these issues into larger, more important bills that actually have to pass. This has resulted in government shut downs in the past and may very well result in another shut down in the not-to-distant future. We have a rampant inability of our lawmakers to work across party lines to address issues for the common good of the country. We as Citizens are responsible for this situation because we have refused to stand against mediocrity in our society.

The alarming thing is that this training in mediocrity starts at a very early age. Teachers are told not to give out awards unless there is one for every student. They don't want any of the students to teel less valuable than other students. I understand this, but the problem is that in this system, true excellence is not actually rewarded. Why should a student work really hard to achieve a reward if the laziest kid in class gets one too? This trend began when I was in grade school. I distinctly remember being the repeated recipient of the “most improved” award. Even as a young person I knew that this was a consolation prize. If we don't start encouraging our young people to strive for excellence, how can we expect them to become great leaders in our country? We are doing our young people of great disservice by encouraging mediocrity. The only way for a person to achieve his full potential is to be held to a standard of excellence. We should be ashamed of what we are doing to these children by showing them that mediocrity is good enough.

Teenagers are no longer being taught that sexual abstinent is a good thing. We don't feel that our youth is capable of practicing that level of self control that is required to maintain virginity until marriage. Instead we try to teach them to be safe when they engage in intercourse. We tell them to use protection and try to keep the number of partners to a minimum. We use catchy phrases like "If the car is going ninety miles an hour all the time, it may not matter whether or not you're wearing a seat belt." Well, one thing we've learned is that teens tend to push boundaries. Why do we make the boundaries so wide? Don't teach them to be safe when they play in the street. Teach them not to play in the street. Maybe then, if they venture into the road, they'll do so with extreme caution.

We have allowed society to throw off the high standards of moral accountability that this country was founded in. This is the reason that our country is in the state of decay that we see today.

Now I want to take a moment to speak to the church in America. Before you take the opportunity to shake your finger at society and say “See? Look at what you have done to this once great nation under God,” I would like to bring up the point that the Church in America is right on par with society in their divorce rate, their consumption of pornography, their consumption of controlled substances, and their declining work ethic. In some cases we exceed the level failure in secular society when it comes to moral issues. This is truly a travesty considering that we are to hold ourselves to the greatest standard of moral excellence that exists. God's standard. We as the Army of God need to address the problems within our ranks. How are we to fight this spiritual battle when we are aiding and abetting the enemy? And make no mistake. Our failures as the church are contributing directly to the Devils arsenal. Pastors need to hold there congregations accountable to the standard of God's Word. Not to their opinions. Not to societal standards. And churches need to remove pastors and church leaders who are not holding them accountable. Only when we stop accepting mediocrity and start demanding excellence can we truly make America great again.

My Arguments Against the Legalization of Marijuana

In a few weeks, those of us who live in Ohio will be voting on a constitutional amendment that will legalize recreational and medicinal marijuana. A yes vote will legalize it and a no vote will leave the laws as they stand. I expect that most Ohioans know where they stand on the issue by now. I don't really expect to change anyone’s mind. My sole goal in this post is to encourage those in my small circle of influence to put some considerable thought into their decision on the issue. It seems to me that there is a tend in our country to make snap judgments based on our first, and often, our only impression. My hope for this post is that it will spur on some discussion in my community so that we can rest assured that we gave it some solid consideration before showing our opinions with our votes.

The laws prohibiting the sale and subsequent use of marijuana are far to difficult to enforce. Far too many people are using it for law enforcement to enforce such a sweeping law.

This is one of the arguments I’ve heard for the passing of this amendment. I find it to be a little weak for my tastes. It sounds a lot like “Everyone else is doing it!” I can practically hear my mother saying “What if everyone else was jumping off a cliff? Would you follow them then?” I would think that we could find a few laws that were just a little harder to enforce than this one. How about speed limits? I am fairly certain that there is a much higher percentage of the population that breaks that law. Why aren't we thinking about abolishing speed limits? Why stop at marijuana? How about all the laws against the sale and use of other illegal substances? Because these laws are all in place for the safety of the general public. Besides, since when do we remove laws because people break them?

It's impossible to overdose on marijuana. Why should it be illegal if it can't hurt you?

First of all, it can hurt you. The long-term use of this 'harmless plant' will cause a serious reduction of the users mental capacity. It will also cause a reduction of the immune systems ability to protect ones body from disease. There are a number of other negative side effects, but I'm not going to go into all those. It is impossible to overdose on this drug when it's being smoked. The theory is that eventually, the smoker will pass out at which point he will no longer be able to inhale the harmful smoke. However, pot for smoking will only constitute a portion of the products that will be available on the projected market. Many of the products that will include marijuana will be edible. Products such as cookies and candies will be available for the general public's unwise consumption. Let me spin a little yarn for you. He's eleven years old. His twenty-two year old brother is home for the hilidays. While the older of the two is out doing some last minute Christmas shopping, the younger is wandering into the older's room. He makes his way around the room until he comes to a drwaer in the night stand. He pulls it open to find a bag of candies each adorned with the likeness of a leaf. He knos what they are and pops one in his mouth, swallowing it whole. He doesn't feel any different so he swallows two more. Not realizing that it would take a while for the drug to be absorbed into his system this way, he consumes several more... I'm sure you can see where this is going. If we legalize marijuana, sooner or later we will know what an overdose of this drug will look like. And it'll be our children who show us. Is that a risk we are willing to take?

That's an obscure example. There will be regulations in place to prevent people under the age of twenty-one from obtaining marijuana.

We have regulations just like that in place for alcohol. As it turns out, those regulations are only so effective. According to this page, http://www.udetc.org/factsheets/OH.pdf, somewhere in the ballpark of 353,000 underage individuals managed to get alcohol every year. That's only in Ohio, by the way. Also, forty-one people died because of traffic accidents caused by underage drinking. That's in addition to the 2,476 injuries caused by that same type of accident. Please feel free to check out the other statistics found on the cited page. That is how effective we've been at keeping alcohol out of the hands of our youth. Are we so arrogant as to think we'll do any better with drugs?

Well, that's why we're only going to allow ten dedicated sites to grow it and why residents will only be allowed to have four plants for personal use. It'll be easier to regulate it this way.

This point is exactly the reason that there is another amendment up for vote preventing the forming of monopolies in the future. If the government is unable to regulate the growing and distribution of marijuana as an illegal substance, why would making it legal make it any easier for them to regulate? It's counter intuitive. By granting ten sites exclusive rights to produce marijuana, we will be presenting the opportunity for them to corner the market and drive prices up. This creates the perfect environment for a black market to pop up. Then we're right back to the uncontrollable production and distribution of a controlled substance by persons not subject to government regulations. Also, can you imagine the manpower it would tale to enforce the four plant per person rule? You'll end up the same illegal growers as before except they'll keep four plants in their living room and the rest in their basement growing room. We're basically giving them a legal smokescreen

One more point I'd like to make. What kind of precedent will this amendment make? How many other illegal substances will make there way into polite society? As my pastor said, it's a Pandora's Box. Lets just hope we can close the lid before hoplessness gets out.

These arguments for the legalization of marijuana are the main ones that I've heard this fall. This post basically explains the reasons why I intend to vote no on this issue. I leave you to make you own decisions. Please remember that the outcome of this vote will affect our state's future forever. I don't usually ask people to share my posts, but if you agree with some of my arguments and are invested in Ohio's future, then spread the word.

Testimonial Responsibility

Normally, I avoid writing about issues as politically charged as the Kim Davis situation. The reason for this is that such issues are usually so polarizing and divisive that I rarely find the resulting discussions useful. And the comment wars literally make me sick to my stomach. Let me just say that comment wars should be reserved for teens arguing over the Jacob verses Edward issue... if that's actually still a thing. Anyways, against my better judgment, here we go...

For anyone who is unaware of the situation at hand, let me summarize. Kim Davis is a county clerk in Kentucky who identifies as an apostolic Christian. The position of county clerk is an elected position with duties that range from registering voters to issuing marriage licenses. As most of you are aware, the Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples are guaranteed the same marital rights as straight couple based on their interpretation of the constitutional amendment which made marriage licenses a thing. Kim Davis ceased the issuing of any marriage licenses following the judges ruling based on her moral opposition to homosexuality. It should be noted that she ceased the issuing of all marriage licenses, both traditional and same-sex, in order to avoid any accusations of discrimination. Mrs. Davis has taken this stand based on her belief that Gods law supercedes that of the governing body under which she serves. She also claims protection under her states religious freedom protection laws. She was recently jailed after being held in contempt of the courts for disregarding the courts ruling against her position. She was subsequently released after her subordinates resumed the issuing of all marriage licenses in her absence.

I'm not going to go into the legal aspects of this case too deeply as they don't actually relate to my position on the subject.

First, let me say that I do in fact believe that a Christian's religious convictions should govern his or her life over the laws and customs of the country in which he or she lives. We are indeed held to a higher standard by a much higher power in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I certainly hope, should I find myself in a position in which I have to choose between standing behind my religious convictions and bowing to the pressures of my society, that I have the strength of character to stand my ground. That being said, I hope that I have the discernment to choose my battles wisely and set my courses of action in a way that truly glorifies God and subsequently brings people to Him.

We answer to a higher power. We can also claim a higher calling. We are called to be “little Christs.” It is our calling to show people the love and grace of our Savior and do our best to bring them to a saving knowledge of Him through our testimony as well as a clear presentation of the gospel. As I view the Davis situation through the window of secular media outlets, I must come to the conclusion that Mrs. Davis' actions have failed to accomplish this calling in any capacity whatsoever.

Every decision we make should be made only after viewing the situation in question through the lens of testimonial responsibility. In other words, we must ask ourselves which action will bring God the most glory. Which course of action will most effectively show the world God's love? What can we do that will show the world the joys of being in God's family?

Sometimes, we as Christians have to choose whether to defend our government-given rights or to further our God-given cause. On occasion, we have the opportunity to do both, but often we sacrifice our testimony on the alter of self-martyrdom. After-all, is it really our job to change the world or is it simply our job to show the world that change is a possibility through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior?

I'm not going to tell you how you should feel about the situation. All I ask is that you put some thought into your position on the subject before you place yourself one side of the argument or the other. The fact of the matter is this: there are not simply two sides to the issue.