The Four Freshmen recorded a song in 1956 that was later covered by the Beach Boys. The song was called “Graduation Day” and the lyrics went something like this…actually they went exactly like this. Theres a time for joyA time for tearsA time we’ll treasure through the yearsWell remember alwaysGraduation day That song came to mind as I remembered a day with far more impact for me than graduation day. That day was March 20, 2006. Theres a time for joyA time for tearsA time when we felt numb with fearsWe’ll remember alwaysDiagnosis Day. Every cancer patient will remember always that dreaded diagnosis day. I will never forget that call from my wife telling me (between sobs) that her tests were positive for breast cancer. Now we are nearly eight months down the road. Joni completed her chemotherapy 10 days ago. We are in a blessed recess between treatments. Up next is a six week regimen of radiation. A lot has happened since Diagnosis
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Cynicism is not missing from the Bible texts. For example, Job’s response to his buddy Zophar smacks of cynicism.   “You people really know everything, don’t you?      And when you die, wisdom will die with you!  NLT  Job 12   Job throws down a “you people” to Zophar and his two compadres. I don’t think that Job really thought wisdom would die with the passing of his three friends. I would classify that as a cynical remark. What I struggle with is that cynicism is never listed (even in the apocryphal books) as a spiritual gift. My one chance to move to the head of the class! Denied. Recently I spotted a T-Shirt that conveys a sad truth.   I’m not cynical. I’m just experienced.   I receive a pretty steady stream of correspondence from “experienced” Christians who are fighting cynicism. This recent email is typical. I’m a cynic by nature. I recognize human failings (especially the stupidity in myself) and I am amazed by the concept of
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We go through the same routine every time something tragic happens. Yesterday New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle died in a plane crash and we all stop to give lip service to “what’s important” and “the things that matter”. And within hours or days we are right back screaming at bad drivers and fuming in long lines at the grocery. Most of us do not want to think about the only thing that is certain in our lives. Our mortality. I wrote about that topic in an earlier post. It seemed like a good time to be a good citizen and recycle . A simple new test is designed to calculate the odds for me still being alive in four years. That’s right. I can tally my score for the twelve predictive categories and decide if that investment in a five year bond is really a good idea. So I took the test and the results are in. According to this measuring stick
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Over the weekend I watched The McLaughlin Group. I had not seen the show in years but not much has changed. Moderator John McLaughlin fires out discussion points in staccato fashion to the panel. McLaughlin shouts out the topic and then the name of the person chosen to respond first. If we had our own version of the show this week (The BadChristian Group) I suspect the opening salvo might go like this… Topic Number One…FORGIVENESS…is it even possible? DAVE??? This is an important subject. One of the most read articles I have posted dealt with forgiveness and I am going to revisit some of that blog today. I have written a lot about the Amish response to the tragic shootings in Pennsylvania. Those gentle people have taught me a lot about the topic. Yes it is possible. But it is very difficult to forgive if you have never been forgiven. For Christians this is a central theme of our faith. We have been forgiven. So what
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I like Shawn from Ohio. Perhaps I am predisposed to like him because he is from by beloved Buckeye State. But I think the reason I like Shawn from Ohio is that he responds to difficult topics at this site with civility. Yesterday I asked three questions. One question was addressed to agnostics/atheists/skeptics. His answers were thoughtful. He made his points without attacking. Shawn thanked me for providing an opportunity for dialogue between those of faith and non-faith. I love communicating with people like Shawn. Will I change his mind? Unlikely. But at the end of the day I want to talk about Jesus to those who have seen only Christians. I wish that Shawn could look at any given Christian and see Jesus. But sadly that is not the case. Here is a bonus comment from Shawn that really hit me in the gut. About the Amish:  I wish more religions were like them. We, as a self-proclaimed Christian
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Today I would love your feedback on three questions that kept roiling my relaxation over the weekend. Of course I couldn’t think of asking three questions without a flashback to Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail. Fellow Bad Christians will remember this exchange. Arthur:     There’s the old man from Scene 24!Bedevere:  What is he doing here?Arthur:     He is the keeper of the Bridge of Death.  He asks each traveler five questions–Knight:     Three questions.Arthur:     Three questions.  He who answers the five questions–Knight:     Three questions.So here are my three, five, three questions. I await your wisdom. Question Number One. What is your favorite color? Sorry…still in Monty Python mode. The real question relates to a post I wrote last week called Plane Speaking. It was written about the lawsuit filed against Victoria Osteen. Regular readers of these ramblings know that I am a stickler for civil discourse. So I graciously received a gentle rebuke on my thoughts from this reader. As a head of a
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I rarely tear up when I read the newspaper. I probably should weep everytime I pick up that journal of human misery and evil. I suppose you become numb to the overwhelming scope of suffering. Two stories this week have generated wildly different responses. One story produced anger and disgust. The other story caused tears to well up in my eyes and humble self-examination. I have had several people write to me and ask me to address the group of people in Kansas that pickets the funerals of fallen soldiers. I have hesitated to respond for two reasons. One, I do not wish to give this group any more exposure. Two, I always try to be gentle in my admonishment when I disagree with the views or actions of others. I cannot do that in this case. The group reached a despicable new low this week when they threatened to picket the funerals of those precious children who were killed in Pennsylvania.
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