The Dream Factory

Devotions from Luke for February 26 and On

Here is an offering for this week.

I am posting Monday's and you can download the rest:

Monday – World Context

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,  - Luke 3:1

In the arena of God’s activity, there are always multiple events transpiring at the same time. Everything happens in context.

Christian awareness has a true north focus on the activity of God in the world, but it cannot ignore the world around it. To do so would be to deny that God uses world events to establish a context for His message.

God is aware of our world. He knows its culture, politics and trends. When His Word comes to us, it is in context. The Christian who shuts his or her eyes to the world is going to miss part of what God is addressing in time and space. Not to acknowledge context is to make God’s Word simply an esoteric nicety with no punch.

Download devotionals_feb_26_march_5_short.doc

Good, Clean Innards

Not that I was worried, but the test went well and my colon was very clean and beautiful. In fact, I was very pleased with my intestines. Have you ever seen them? They are really quite lovely, elegant, and efficient. More later.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

When you hit 50, you start holding your breath. It might be a month; it may be over a year, but at some point you are going to have a conversation with your doctor. He is going to casually say, almost under his breath, "Well, don't you think it is time for a sigmoidoscopy?"

I'm 51. You might say that I got a year's reprieve. That was nice, but the conversation did come up and, after one postponement, today is the day.

I am not sick. I've felt better when I was sick. I am not having surgery. I am having a procedure - routine at that. There is no sympathy available. I drive myself in and drive myself home.

But it monopolizes the whole day. It's not the event; it's the preaparation. Do I drink another glass of water?

I just thought I'd hare that with whoever is reading this. I may come up with a profound application of deep truth at some point, but not at the moment.

Enjoy your day and I will try to enjoy mine.

Trust Me

I heard our President ask us to trust him again today. It caused me some concern - especially for a guy who does not like to polarize himself or others politically. I think most of the distinctions we draw are unnecessarily divisive and intrinsically false.

But he said, "Trust me," and it  struck me as troubling. It was nothing new. He asks that of us a lot. But he really is asking a lot and needs to know that.

This time it was about foreign control over East Coast ports. President Carter agrees that we should trust him and the process. Most governors and congressional representatives of both major parties seem to disagree.

So the appeal has gone out to the American people to step up to the plate again and trust their government. After all, the government always has our best interests at heart and the government is always honest - even with itself - and never mistaken, not to mention all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful.

It seems that "trust me" is the one thing Americans should not be asked to do by a democratically elected government. The founders assumed that we would elect good leaders who had a strong moral compass. Yet, they understood the ambiguity of power and the need for checks and balances. So they built them into the system.

I like the President and respect him as a man of integrity and good intentions. I tend to admire presidents and always hold them in high esteem for the sake of their office, responsibility, and sacrifice. The President is a good man. I agree with him on quite a few issues including his stand against abortion and for faith based initiatives. I think less government is better ... wait a minute ... Is that one of his positions?

It seems that he is gravitating away from the traditional conservatism of less government toward more government as long as it is in the interest of "national defense."

He is not a state's rights advocate as he federalizes more and more crimes that ought to be handled locally or as he sets national standards for everything from education to drug policy. State's rights used to be a conservative position.

He is advocating less government oversight and more presidential power to be trusted to take care of everything.

The problem is with precedent. You can never get the horse back in the barn very well. Faces change; leaders come and go. Give your government an inch and it will take a mile of trust. Connecting patriotism with this blind trust is disturbing, but even now, as I question the politically correct assumptions of the day, I fear being labeled unpatriotic,

Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death."

The current trend is toward, "Liberty is worthless if we are dead."

I thought those who were willing to lay down their lives for liberty were the people we called patriots. Is the Patriot Act really the Anti-Patriot Act? I would not want to apply that label or any label to those who disagree with me.

Conservatives of yesteryear touted, "Better dead than Red." Where did that go?

"Trust me," he says with all sincerity and the best of intentions. And he has done a lot to help us and there are many conveniences and "freedoms" that we should be willing to voluntarily and temporarily relinquish - but to trash the Constitution and Bill of Rights for safety? Is that what America is all about?

I don't think the President really understands what he is asking. If I thought he did, I'd have to reevaluate my high opinion of his morality and ethics. But I really think he is caught up in the responsibility of the moment to protect us - so caught up that he cannot and will not rein himself in. It is the checks and balance system that must do so. His job at the moment is to push the envelope as much as possible.

If we just sit back and trust our government, we are relinquishing our authority and responsibility as citizens. We are the line drawers and the line holders. We are the conscience of the nation. We are buck stoppers and fire starters. We are the citizens and we need to be able to look over the shoulders of our government.

Apparently, the President does not trust the judges on his own secret courts because he refuses to follow procedure that enables him to get a warrant after the fact. I can't imagine any other reason for not complying with an already accommodating set of rules in the war on terrorism.

If he cannot trust the government (Yes there are three branches), why should he ask us to do it.

Again, I stress that this man is a hard-working, morally sound, ethically driven, good natured, kind leader who is my brother in Christ. I doubt none of that. I would trust him with my wallet ,or my wife, but I cannot give him the rope to hang himself with unrestrained absolute power. It is not right and it is not American. It is certainly not patriotic in my understanding of the term.

I am praying for the President of the United States and our troops. May the heroes return safely to their families and may freedom ring throughout the earth. God bless America.

Just my opinion.

Back in Fresno/Clovis

It was quite a tour of a big chunk of California, but we are now back. The wedding Saturday was beautiful. Home sweet home really is sweet.

In the memorial service Friday, I did an exposition of the 23rd Psalm with pauses for memories and stories of a rather extraordinary and troubled young man who touched many lives with his unique perspective on life. Randy was a cool kid with a grin that said, "I know something you don't know, and I'm not telling - figure it out for yourself."

Most of the Shepherd Psalm is embedded in our minds and hearts and taken for granted. There are, however, several portions that have taken on new significance for me.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."

We all have enemies. For Randy it was the bi-polar "disorder" that followed him around and haunted him. For others it is cancer, or a persistent temptation, or feelings of inferiority, or some vendetta that the devil seems to have for us (all of us - He is not our friend) or even real human enemies like David had.

We are in a valley with a break from the battle. They are surrounding us in the rocks along the hills, looking down and sneering, gnashing their teeth, hissing and spitting.

Here comes God with a table, all of His best china and silverware, and a feast. He spreads it all out with the enemies looking on. Then He calls you over and says, "Sit." You go for an inconspicuous seat, but He calls you to the head of the table.

"Sit here. you are my guest of honor."

"Thou preparest a table FOR ME."

And you start to get it. And the enemies are looking on as the God of Heaven serves you --- and they eat their hearts out.

And then God brings over the oil - "Thou anointest my head with oil ..."

What is this oil? Is it the oil of healing? Yes and more.

It is the oil with which David's head was anointed as king. It is the oil of purpose and significance. It is the oil of appointment whereby God says,"You are here for a reason and I am leading you in the right path, the path of righteousness for my own Name's sake. I have a vested interest in you and in your reason for occupying space on this planet. I made you with purpose and I anoint you with significance."

Randy, like every other human being, had a reason for being here and it is not over. Those who gathered in that school multi-purpose room Friday night have been changed by having known him. Part of it was the contribution he made to their lives by giving them memories and love. Part of it was the extra love and energy he drew out of them that they may not have discovered otherwise.

But everyone's cup ran over. None can be measured with mere chronology. Nor can they be evaluated by human standards. Only God can measure the extent to which His purposes have been accomplished in us and through us.

We can celebrate the reality that, with or without our awareness, we have had our needs provided, have been led to green pastures and still waters, have been kept from evil by His presence with us in valleys of dark shadows, and have been followed, all of our lives by goodness and mercy. Then, we can rejoice in the hope of dwelling in His house forever.

Every life counts.

Day's Inn

Day's Inn, Westley, CA - on the road to L.A. - Memorial serive of 18 year old Randy Johnson last night - bittersweet. Wedding this afternoon. Lots of driving. No time to write - much time to reflect.

A New Approach to Terrorism

Over the Newswire

TBS News Service - Dateline,   Washington  D.C.   2-15-06  - © 2006,  Thomas B. Sims

 The White House announced this afternoon that it is taking a new approach to the war on terrorism. Instead of fighting all-out war, the President has decided to take a “friendlier approach.” Following his father’s lead to create a “kinder, gentler America, ” the President has decided to try and make friends with some of the known terrorists including Osama Ben Laden if he is willing. In fact, the President said today, as a sign of good faith, Vice President Cheney has invited some of the key leaders of Al Qaeda to join him on a weekend hunting trip.  --- Sorry. I couldn’t resist.

On a serious note, we are praying for Mr. Whittington's full recovery.

Why I Believe in Supplements

I have been discussing supplements with some of my Religion Forum friends.

The discussion arose after revelation of a recent study in San Francisco of Saw Palmetto indicating it may not be as efficacious a once thought in the prevention of prostate problems in men.

It was suggested that what separates the pharmaceutical industry from the health and wellness supplement industry is double blind studies. The implication is that drugs are better because they have been tested on humans for a few years in some sort of isolation and that the results from te tests are unbiased.

Don't get me wrong, I want drugs tested in double-blind studies.

However, double blind studies cannot anticipate the most serious issues with drugs: interactions.

They are appropriate for new products. Most supplements, if they are of quality grade and not faddish, are nothing new. They are based on decades of experience and previously examined scientific and nurtitional knowledge. They are not artificial for the most part and are also for the most part, not dangerous and seldom addictive.

In other words, nutraceuticals are products put together as naturally as possible from "products" that are taken from the earth and placed on earth by God for our food and health.

Granted, there are poorly made supplements, and kooky products with kooky claims. There are extracts being offered when whole foods are available. And there are vitamin products that are mostly filler. Beyond that, there are products that are synthetically produced with poor results.

We do know some things from research - at least I think we do.This is a layman's view, but I am my own primary care giver and these I assume.

As my own primary care giver, I am committed to educating myself. Here are some sources:

* Dr, Ray Strand - What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You.

What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You
By Ray D. Strand, M.D. / Thomas Nelson / W

After seeing tremendous results in patients receiving nutritional therapy, Dr. Strand started researching this controversial branch of medicine. His documented findings are dramatic. Discover what the evidence indicates about the real root cause of cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. Understand your body's silent enemy---oxidative stress---and learn to turbo-charge your natural healing power! 256 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

* Better Life Institute

1. The body needs nutrients to function properly.

2. Certain nutrients have certain effects. Some of the chemical compounds have been identified; some haven't. Some plants and herbs contain these nutrients and we have known that all along. Others exist in nature and we are not aware of them yet. As long as we can keep from destroying every habitat we do not feel is useful to our economy on this planet, we will keep finding them.

3. Not all of those nutrients are found in processed foods at the levels they used to be found because processing and time deplete the nutrient levels in food and failure to practice responsible agriculture has depleted soils of important minerals. In the healthiest of all possible worlds, we would all have our own gardens and practice crop rotation and natural farming without perticides.

4. It is possible to freeze dry plant products from organic farms within 45 minutes of harvest and capture the nutrients that are in danger of being depleted.

5. Those freeze dried plant products can be compressed under pharmaceutical grade conditions into the size of what we call "supplements."

6. We can swallow the product and get nutrients that promote optimal health by engaging the body's natural ability to heal itself. When we do this, we are eating food. It should not be a substitute for other kinds of food.

7. We have to beware that we trust the producer because what is says on the bottle may not be in the bottle. There are some farms and factories that are open for tours and scrutiny and submit themselves to thrid party evaluation of the quality of their products.

There will be quacks. But not everyone is a quack. Of course we should be careful, but we also need to be careful about drugs. Seldom is one practioner on top of all a patient's medications who actually understands the interactions of the chemicals. No one understands them all.

The national epidemic of diabtes among young people is related to eating habits and lack of activity. I don't want to see all of the kids on insulin and other medications for the rest of their lives. No one can predict the long term effects over decades of these drugs on their kidney and liver functions. And I don't want someone who is in immediate danger and needs medications not to have them.

We need to make ourselves aware and take charge of our own health issues. We may not have all the tools, but ultimately, we do have to make all the decisions.

My basic assumptuion is that God is smarter than us about these things and has provided most of what we need for good health in nature.

>>Or, he may linger, neither getting better nor getting worse.  In which case the remedy's enthusiast explain that as in the previous case. Either didn't take enough, or didn't begin soon enough.<<

I know - we all have blinders - but I think I am talking mainly of prevention and wellness and my friend was talking about big-time disease cures in a short period of time. Prevention is where it is Happening. Maximum health - no matter where we are in our current state of health.

I' may have to confess that I had a cheese sandwich for lunch and fried eggs with my coffee for breakfast if you confess to taking a multi-vitamin with your tomato juice <s>.

Health and Wellness Books

Devotions 2/12-2/19

Here is an offering for the week - or any week.

May God bless you on your journey.

Download devotionals_212192006.doc

Sunday Morning - Early Spring

It is Sunday morning, 7:47 - sounds like a jet plane and I'm not leaving on one.

The daily discipline of blogging is not "tweaked." I missed a couple of days, but I am moving forard. I'll do two today by posting my week's devotionals next.

In blogging, the first is often last and the last first, just like the call of discipleship.

You may not care what I've been doing, but this is my discipline.

Yesterday I had a men's breakfast, took my son to a job, drove to Sanger to evaluate three sermons as part of a preaching class' midterm exam - enjoying all three, called the tail-end/business end of a baby shower for Kaibian, my outstanding grandson (that is the part where Dad and Grandpa are invited in for leftovers), walked through the home and backyard show, made a visit, did some office work, came home to work on CompuServe and last minute Sunday preparation, worked on music with Andrea, more computer stuff, and went to bed.

I saw a motorhome I liked - it costs less than a new car and more than my first house. Go figure.

Things are hopping in the Fellowship Forum and the Religion Forum. I am about to announce a prize winner for postings in Fellowship - tough choice.

I am praying and preparing for the memorial service this Friday night for Randy Johnson who I've known since his birth. 18 years ago, I conducted his twin brother's service - now Randy. Pray for the only parents he has ever really had - Hal and Shelda Green.

That is in Fremont - then I drive to L.A. Saturday for a wedding.

And I'll be showing Xango, Mangosteen juice at the Tulare Farm show this week.

That and two sermons, three Bible studies, and the normal duties - I think I can manage to stay business.

There you have it.

One more thing - great link:

What an Afternoon with Shane Clairborne

I was able to hear Shane Claiborne right here in Fresno at Fresno Pacific Univesrity today thanks to a joint meeting of the At Risk Ministries Network and City Builders. Thanks to 1by1 Leadership for bringing out this dynamic young man to challenge us about living in community and finding a 21st expression of what it means to be Christian. His passion, humor, humility, and grace allowed him to say some hard things to us and have them received enthusiastically.

Shane is known for the community that he is vitally associate with, The Simple Way in Philadelphia and is author of the recently released book, The Irresistible Revolution : Living as an Ordinary Radical.

A sample chapter can be found at this link.

I was profoundly moved by the story of Shane's journey and his call to a radical expression of Christian discipleship. St, Francis, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, Rich Mullins, and John Perkins all seem to form a lens through which Shane is able to read the language that expresses that calling of Jesus Christ.

The commitment of those who come into long term community at The SImple Way is to love God, love, people, and follow Jesus.

Perhaps Dorothy Day was right in suggesting that the world is yet to see a compelling and authentic Christian witness lived out visibly on every street corner (my very loose paraphrase and expansion).

When I hear guys like this who are really living it, I don't know whether to be challenged, shamed, or inspired - maybe some of all. I just know that what we've been doing by rote isn't "it." There is something to be grasped and lived that is so real that it will leave no ambiguity as to who our Lord is and what His message to the world is - love, peace, servanthood.

Shane said that while we have been right to teach orthodoxy, we have been sadly lacking in orthopraxis. I am going to read the book and encourage you to do so as well. Hopefully we can arrange to have Shane as a guest on our forums.

You can discuss his ideas in the Christian Fellowship Forum or the Religion Forum on Netscape/CompuServe.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical By Shane Claiborne / Zondervan Corp. Spiritual revolution begins within---and then extends the love of Christ to the world in radical and arresting ways! From dressing the wounds of lepers to visiting families amidst the bombs of Iraq, Claiborne confronts the culture of "comfortable" Christianity---inviting you to join his vision of faith for real change, inside and out! 368 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Faith Inventories

There are some fun quizes at Beliefnet.com related to various expressions of faith.  The most popular is Belief-O-Matic.  Recently, we have been running some discussions in the Religion Forum on the tests, especially: What Is Your Spiritual Type? My favorite is the How Spiritually Intelligent Are You? inventory.

In a quiz on churches - namely, how hip yours is, I discovered that the Fellowship of Joy is really over the edge - a happening church.

In our spiritual type discussion on the forum, I noted that I had learned the following about myself:

It is a good quiz, but a bit flawed in the bias of the questions. I found myself at times hoping for another alternative or wanting to explain. However, that is the nature of assessments and this one was better than the last for our purposes here. I like it.

Here's what else I learned. I am ...

Peter -  PETER. You're a regular guy. Family oriented, steady job, yet willing to grow and change. If anything, you talk before you think, but you're willing to own up to your mistakes and move on.

Air - Air: You're smart, witty, and process-oriented--but may be a little abstract and spacy at times. You're drawn to ideas and love to learn. Just make sure to leave room for feelings and sensations.

Free of Cynicism -  Risk-free. Your Cynicism level is very low

And 28 on the Optimism scale -  Sunshine with patchy fog: Everything's coming up roses--most of the time. Your outlook is optimistic, but you tend to think more positively in the short term rather than in the long run. You see the good side of the present moment but don't necessarily incorporate that into your overall attitude.

And apparently unconcerned about disclosing all these details about my persona <s>.

As a long time admirer of Clarence Jordon, Koinonia Farms, the Cotton Patch Gospels, The Fullers, and Habitat for Humanity, I was thrilled to see Briars in the Cotton Patch on PBS the other night. Check your listings and their web site. This is an eye opening documentary, narrated by Andrew Young, and tracing the history of a Christian movement for social justice and equality that was firmly rooted in scripture and the convictions of an often ostracized Southern Baptist preacher. I have loved Jordon since I first heard of him. Did anyone see it?

You can discuss it in the Fellowship or Religion Fora on CompuServe/Netscape.

You can actually read the Cotton Patch Gospels online at the RockHay website. You can read a biography there of Jordon or at the Koinonia Partners site.

As a convenience, you can purchase books by and about Clarence Jordon by downloading the link below. You can also get the DVD there of "Briars in the Cotton Patch" and Harry Chapin's wonderful musical, "The Cotton patch Gospel."

Download cotton_patch.html

You may also purchase most of these materials directly from Koinonia to help support their work.

Transformation is one of the underlying themes of the documentary. Namely. the community which once rejected Clarence and Koinonia now relishes its reputation as the home of Habitat of Humanity. It is truly a story of deep Christian commitment, perserverance, and the power of the gospel to change the hearts of human beings and communities.

Mrs. King

I extracted the following quote from Sojourner's. It sums up what this great lady stood for so well:

"I believe that there is a plan and a purpose for each person's life and that there are forces working in the universe to bring about good and to create a community of love and brotherhood. Those who can attune themselves to these forces - to God's purpose - can become special instruments of his will."

 

- Coretta Scott King, in her 1969 autobiography My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. She died in her sleep Monday night at age 78.

 

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

State of the Union Speech for Sale

President Bussh apparently had some good things to say in his speech last night. I was a bit distracted by trying to keep score of who was applaudng and who was sitting with folded hands on which points. I did not realize that the nation's father's envisioned the the State of the Union report as a score card.

So, it looks like the President put out some good ideas - especially about ending oil dependence and increasing the number of educated scientists.

Otherwise it was pretty much a series of short statement and answer polls, punctuated with opportunities for applause or silence. There was nothing really new. At least that is what I thought in my distracted state. It turns out that I missed a few points. Listening to the replays can be helpful in a sporting event.

He did seem to learn to pronounce "nuclear" which would have made it worthwhile. However, some friends have informed me that they heard it differently.

It was a good speech - well written, well delivered, something for everyone to agree with, something for many to dispute. I could nod at many of his points.

I was thinking of posting my party's response. What is my party? How about the Party of One?

Then, I wondered how I might do my state of the union if I were the Prez. Wondering led to cogitating and gogitating led to typing and I decided that the best contribution I could make would be a generic introduction that any President can use from any party at any time. It will be here on the Internet in case future administrations wish to purchase it from me. It is, of course copyrighted, but I might be able to work out a patriotic discount for the leader  of the free world.

This would be a strange opening, but it is the one I propose:

"Folks, I am going to ask you to hold your applause until the end because I want to challenge your thinking. The problems we face are not superficial and they are not partisan. There are no easy answers. We need to give them a great deal of thought and I want you to think very seriously about what I have to say. Don't rush to any conclusions. Give it a fair hearing. It is going to take all of us working together and contributing our ideas to keep this country great. "

"We are all Americans and we all have different perspectives. I offer you mine and I want you to know how I will be leading you over the next year. In many ways, we might all be partially right and all partially wrong, but that doesn't matter. If we all pull in the same direction, we can make midcourse corrections because we all want what is best for America. There is no limit to what we can accomplish if we don't care who gets the credit. We can fix any miscalculations if we are unconcerned about passing the blame around."

"I realize that this platform is often used for theater and that the really great ideas are those we discuss in less public settings.  I know that we all see this as a time to polarize and posture with the next election in mind. Let us set aside that pattern for tonight. For once, let us wrap our minds together around solutions to the problems we face together as Americans. All of this acrimony is  just silly. We can respect each others' differences and agree to disagree without being disagreeable."

"Let us utterly reject such vile and divisive designations as "red states" and "blue states." Perhaps we should even suspend the overuse of such relative and meaningless terms as "liberal" and "conservative" excpet when they are used correctly and relatively. Let us be careful with our words. Let us respect one another."

" I refuse to villify my opponents and I ask for the same courtesy. I do not question the motives or patriotism of those of you who do not see eye-to-eye with me. I know that you love this country. Of course I believe that I am right in my views. If I did not, I would not set them forth. In these hallowed halls, great issues are debated by men and women of good will in the common quest for truth."

"With these things in mind, I ask you to listen carefully as I set forth my vision for our nation and for the state of our great unon. Join me as we attempt some great things this year. Here is what I propose ..."

This speech will never be given - especially the "hold your applause" part. However, imagine how much could really be said if Presidents didn't have to limit entire thoughts to one sentence summaries that skim over the issues.

On the outside chance I am wrong, remember that is TOM SIMS. In fact it is (c) 2006, Thomas B. Sims, All rights reserved, but I would gladly relinquish some of them over this speech for the good of my country. As I said, it is for sale.