Cracker Barrel's actions are what's wrong with this whole dang country

Cracker Barrel removes Duck Dynasty stuff from shelves so as not to offend.

Then, after offending people, they put them back up.

And that's what wrong with this whole dang country.  Here's why:

Instead of making a decision based on beliefs and character, Cracker Barrel stuck it's finger into the wind and said, "Which way is the cultural wind blowing?  Oh, it's going that way?  That's what we'll do!"

Then, a few moments later, they stuck their finger back up into the wind and said, "Okay, which way is it blowing now?  Okay, we'll go THAT way!"

This type of decision making is typical of America now.  Instead of making decisions based on character and belief, we decide what is right and wrong according to what is popular, what is convenient, and what we think will offend the least amount of people.

I wish that Cracker Barrel would have made a decision and stuck with it, owned it, and stood by it regardless of blowback or criticism.  I don't particularly care WHICH side they chose- I just wish that they would have demonstrated a little bit more backbone.

But, instead they showed themselves to be a wishy-washy company making decisions based on fear and what is popular, rather than on character and principle.  And like I said before, that's what is wrong with this whole dang country.

How many of us make decisions, and I mean BIG decisions, not based on our character or a principle, but on which is most convenient?  How many of us make big decisions about morals, beliefs, values, profession, etc not based on a deep-seated belief in right and wrong (one we are willing to sacrifice for and own even in the face of opposition) but based on which will generate the least controversy and will make us the most popular?

As the old country song goes, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything."  Cracker Barrel showed that this past week.  They showed that they were trying to move with the popular trends, trying to appease, trying to go with what was easy and convenient rather than make a decision based on a principle.  You can argue that they are a profit-motivated company, which they are, and that they were concerned about upsetting customers and all that.  I get that.  However, by doing that, they exposed themselves as wishy-washy fearful people who would rather be popular than right.

Like I said, I don't care what side they chose- stock the Duck Dynasty stuff or don't.  I don't care.  I really don't care much about Duck Dynasty merchandise.  I don't own any of it and am not planning on buying anything that is a passing fad, like this stuff is.  (I learned that lesson back in 1985 when I HAD to have a multi-zippered Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket.  My parents wouldn't let me.  I hated them for it.  Now, I'm glad I never got it, because a 39-year-old guy wearing a "Beat It" jacket would look quite silly, but I digress).  However, I wish they would have made a decision and stuck with it.  Owned it.  Stood in the face of criticism because of a belief.

Unfortunately, that is very rare nowadays.  It is very difficult to find anyone who stands for principle or belief and is willing to take heat and criticism and loss because of it.  Maybe the prevalence of social media amplifies the amount of criticism exponentially so that anyone standing for a belief is shouted down in degrees never before seen in human history. 

I was disappointed in Cracker Barrel, not because of whatever decision they made, but because of the lack of spine they showed in making them.  I like Cracker Barrel as a restaurant.  I don't like their lack of backbone.  I think it is very indicative of the culture we have become- a culture of people who stick their finger into the wind to find out which way the popular and non-controversial winds are blowing and take the path of least resistance. 

The worst thing is when the Church does this.  Instead of taking unpopular Biblical stands, the Church sticks its finger into the wind and rides the easy path of least resistance, all in the name of inclusiveness and "love."  The problem is- Jesus never did that.  Our founder- the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ- was killed because He refused to go with what was popular and easy.  They don't kill guys who want to make everyone happy, people.  If that is what happened to Jesus, that is what will happen to us as well.  We shouldn't expect popularity or worldwide acclaim for what we believe.

Don't choose your actions according to the cultural winds that blow.  Don't choose your actions based on what is easy and convenient and least controversial.  Base your decisions on what you believe to be right.  Then, stick with them no matter what the blowback, no matter what the criticism, no matter what the results.  Right and wrong aren't based on results.  Right and wrong are based on right and wrong, and our decisions should be made on unchanging principles and objective standards rather than changing cultural acceptances.  The fact that principles and standards are disappearing from our country is what is responsible for the whole mess our country is in right now. 

It starts with you and me.

Persecution should bring Christians and Gays together

"After years of solitary confinement, we were put together in huge cells, sometimes with 200 to 300 prisoners in each cell. . . .  Christian prisoners were beaten, then tied to crosses for four days and four nights without interruption.  The Communists then stood around them, jeering and mocking.  'Look at your Christ, how beautiful He is, what fragrances He brings from heaven.' Then they kicked the other prisoners, forcing them to kneel down and to adore and worship this besmeared living crucifix."  -Richard Wumbrand, pastor jailed under Communist Rule

Right now, in the former Soviet Union, there is a "crackdown" on gays, resulting in beatings and violence.  Uganda just passed laws that will result in jail for life for some homosexual acts. 

How ironic that Russia is treating homosexuals now the way they treated Christians a few years ago under Soviet rule.  How ironic that homosexuals and Christians are both being persecuted all over the world, receiving the same treatment at the hands of authorities and radicals.

And yet, here in America, they fight each other and persecute each other.

I am going to make a scandalous statement.  Persecution should bring Christians and gays together.

It is a well-known observation that shared experiences and shared sufferings bring people together.  Kids on the same street who don't particularly like each other will all of a sudden become good friends when they are bullied by the same older kid.  Countries that have little to do with each other will ally themselves together against a common aggressor.  When I see gay people with gashes in their heads and black eyes from violence in Russia, and I see dead bodies and people mangled in suicide bombings in a church in Pakistan, I see a different perspective on the issue here in America.

Christians and gays are probably the most persecuted groups in the world right now.  We would probably all agree that gays are, but some of you would disagree that Christians are persecuted as much as gays are.  That's probably because you've never been outside America.

Go talk with Christians in Libya, Eritrea, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and North Korea and then come back and tell me that Christians aren't the most persecuted people in the world.

The shared sufferings of both groups should provide ample common ground for American Christians and American gays to come together and talk about the horrors of persecution facing both groups.  As a pastor, I am around Christian people all the time, and not one of them, NOT ONE, Christian I know wants to see gay people jailed, beaten or killed because of who they are.  I would like to believe that gay people don't want to see Christians burned out of their homes, beaten, jailed, and killed for their faith either.

Why can't we sit down at the table and let the shared sufferings we endure be the common ground for understanding?

Yes, we have differences.  So do a lot of people.

But we are also the two most persecuted groups in the world.  I would like to sit at a table with adamantly gay people, hear their stories of persecution, and mourn with them.  I would like for them to listen to what Christians are facing around the world and have them mourn with me.  I would like to identify with the sufferings of gay people in Uganda who are facing a lifetime in prison for their sexual orientation.  I would like for gay activists in America to identify with my friends in Pakistan, India, and Nepal who face daily persecution and danger for their beliefs.

Persecution is the common ground between Christians and gays that we have all been looking for.  Please, both groups, realize that there are people in this world, authorities in this world, that want to stamp you both out.  You have plenty in common.  Yes, you have differences and those have been highlighted and stoked and fanned into flames by people on both sides with the media loving every second of it.  Quit being pawns of the radicals on each side and realize that you both have a common suffering and common persecution.

Let that common persecution bring you two together to empathize and hurt along with the other.  The Bible tells Christians to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn."  Well, I'm going to take the first step and mourn with the gay community over the crackdown in Russia where gays are being beaten.  I mourn with you.  I also mourn with the gays in Uganda who are facing jail time over their sexual orientation.  I mourn with you.  I don't want this for anyone. 

Now, gay community, mourn with us.  Mourn and bring to light stories of Christian persecution around the world.  If you are people of prayer, pray for Iraqi and Pakistani Christians who hide themselves on Christmas day instead of celebrating it, fearful of radical Muslims who would like nothing more than to bomb a Christmas gathering.  Thank you in advance. 

Dear America, I hope you learned your lesson yesterday

Dear America,

I hope you learned what opinions you should have and which ones you shouldn't have.

Phil Robertson was just the first victim. 

For forty years now, I've fed you a steady diet of consumerism, sexual perversion, and anti-traditional teaching.  You have consumed it gladly, making stars out of people who flaunt their sin and their shame on national tv.  I started in the 60s with the sexual revolution.  I led the charge.  When American decided to stick its middle finger in God's face, I encouraged it.  I am still encouraging it today.

I've dulled your senses into a Matrix-like existence, feeding you the information I want you to have, shaping your opinions and mindsets with ruthless efficiency.  You have swallowed it all.

I hope you realize what happens when someone has an opinion that differs from the one I've fed you all these years.  I will castigate you, ridicule you, fire you, call you names, insult you, and make an example out of you, you who dare to have an different opinion than me, the Mighty Media.

I, the Mighty Media, tell all you peons what to think.  Then, you peons become my enforcers- just like it was in junior high school, remember?

Remember when one brand was "cool" and another brand wasn't?  I, the Mighty Media, told you that Abercrombie and Fitch is what cool people wear, and then my mindless henchmen (also known as junior high students) enforced my demands on their peers, ridiculing anyone who was wearing anything else.  I set the standard, and you became the enforcer of that standard.

The same is true with beliefs.  I, the Mighty Media, have told you what to believe, and now the people around you are enforcing that belief.  I have told you that sexual perversion, gluttony, consumerism, selfishness, and anything that goes against traditional America is "good."  Anyone who speaks against my agenda will be crucified.  See Phil Robertson, and be warned.  You are next.

I hope you learned what opinions you should have and which ones you shouldn't have.

See, I am actually pushing the most intolerant agenda you've ever seen, and (I laugh at this) it's all in the name of tolerance.  I want to shut down any free thought, any dissenting opinion, anything that goes against what I have fed you for the last forty years.

I am a totalitarian.  I am absolute truth.  I am right.  I cannot and will not tolerate anyone, I repeat, ANYONE, who will undo what I have worked for the last forty years to create.  I have too much invested in my power scheme to quit now.

Just like in the Matrix, if someone were to find out my scheme, try to escape, and try to rescue others, I will send my Agent Smiths after him to shut him down, fire him, ridicule him, marginalize him, and make sure that the others who might share his desire for freedom are warned.

I hope you learned what opinions you should have and which ones you shouldn't have.

In my society, my opinion is the only one that is allowed.  Anyone who has a differing opinion will pay the consequences . . . .  dearly.  I have done more to silence free speech, free thought, and freedom of beliefs than anyone in history.  I see Chairman Mao and Josef Stalin standing in amazement of me- I have made them look like amateurs.

See, they controlled thought and beliefs, but they were seen as tyrants.

I control thoughts and beliefs, but I do it under the guise of moral superiority.

I can't believe the stupidity of the American people, but then again, if they weren't stupid, I wouldn't be able to shut them up so quickly and effectively.  I play on the American's fears of being labelled "racist, bigoted, or homophobic."  Any sign of resistance to my mind-controlling agenda and I throw out one of those terms, and the people shrink back in fear.

I hope you learned what opinions you should have and which ones you shouldn't have.

The happenings of yesterday, America, should tell you one thing.  You are allowed to have one opinion, and one opinion only.  That's the opinion I tell you to have.  If you have any different opinion, you are dead.  You are toast.  We will parade you on the front lines and tar and feather you.  We will be ruthless.  We will not back down.  Our entire system of totalitarianism is based on this society having one opinion, having homogenous thought, having one mode of thinking.  We cannot handle diversity of thought.  We cannot handle differing opinions.  We cannot handle anything of the sort.

Our goal is for mindless robots drinking in our agenda night after night after night.  We want sheep, not free people.

That's why Phil Robertson got fired.  We wanted to give you an example of what will happen to you if you resist our agenda.

I hope you learned your lesson yesterday.

I hope you learned what opinions you should have and which ones you shouldn't have.


Sincerely,
The Mighty Media

How to make a tough decision

We all face tough decisions.

For me, the toughest decision of my life took place on September 15, 2004.  I had to decide whether or not to keep my son on life support.  I had to choose whether my son continued to live, assisted by life support, or whether to let him go.

Yeah.  "Tough decision" might be an understatement.

The doctor had shown us the ultrasound of his heart.  "I have bad news," he said.  "His heart is dead."  I looked at the motionless screen, watching the flow of blood move the wrong direction through his heart, a condition called "backflow."

"We have several options," the doctor continued.  "One, we can put him on a heart transplant list . . . "

I didn't hear anything else he said.  Prior to our son's birth, we knew he would have heart problems.  He was diagnosed at 20 weeks in utero with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which means that his left ventricle didn't develop and never would.  We had researched the options, from surgery to a heart transplant.  We knew the near impossibility of a heart transplant- infant's hearts are very rarely available for transplant, and he would be on anti-rejection meds for the rest of his life even if the transplant was successful, which was doubtful in his case.

When faced with a decision of this magnitude, what would you do?

Now, most of us, God willing, will never have to decide whether our children live or die.  I would not wish that on my worst enemy.  However, we all face tough decisions in life.  Should I stay in this marriage?  Should I take this job?  Should I take responsibility for this mistake when I could probably get away with nobody knowing?

Should I call out my friend who is doing some pretty bad things?  Should I forgive my ex?  Should I take this risk and step out in faith?  The list goes on and on, but one thing is for sure- every one of us will someday face an extremely tough decision if we haven't already.  There is no avoiding it.

When faced with these tough decisions, I used to ask, "What should I do?"  I don't do that anymore.

When the doctor told us the terrible news and was talking about heart transplants, my wife and I looked at each other.  We knew we would have to decide then and there what we would do.  In one of those moments where the Holy Spirit speaks to you in a distinctive way, He said, "David, who are you?"

I didn't quite know what He meant.

I answered, "That doesn't matter.  I need to know what to do.  Do we put him on a transplant list, or do we turn off life support and let him die?"

Again, the Holy Spirit said, "David, who are you?"

I felt the need to fill the Holy Spirit in on what was going on.  I said, "That doesn't MATTER.  I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

A third time, the (very patient) Holy Spirit asked, "David, who are you?"

I realized what was going on.  The Holy Spirit wasn't going to tell me what to do.  That's because I was asking the wrong question.  The Holy Spirit was asking me who I was, because the answer to that question would determine what I would do.

I told the Holy Spirit, "My name is David Kibler. I am a Christian man, a minister of the gospel, husband of Rachel, father of Casey, Elsie, and Jacob, and an uncompromising believer in the promises of God."

The Holy Spirit said quietly, "You know who you are.  Now you know what you should do."

By reminding me of who I am and what I believe, the Holy Spirit showed me what to do.  I am a believer in all the promises of God, including John 14 where Jesus says, "In My Father's house are many rooms, and I go there to prepare a place for you."  I believe in heaven, I believe that life doesn't end when our hearts stop beating, and I believe in God's victory over death.

That's who I am.  That's what I believe.  And that, my friends, led me to know what to do.

I looked at my son.  I could barely see him under the mass of wires and tubes and monitors.  He had a huge gaping hole in his chest from the surgery, covered by a dressing.

"No," I said to the doctor.  "He's been through enough.  We're not going to put him on a transplant list."  I looked at my wife, who looked right back at me in agreement.  "We're going to let him go."

That was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life.

However, I don't regret it.

That's because I made that decision based on who I am.  I made that decision according to my identity as a Christian, according to my beliefs, according to the promises of God that I believe and would die for.  I am a Christian, and I believe that I am separated from my son for only a period of years, and I will be reunited in heaven with him the day I die.

There are other Christians who would have made a different decision.  That's okay.  Everyone has to make their own decisions when faced with tough circumstances.  However, the question is still the same:

WHO ARE YOU?

Once you know who you are, you will know what it is you should do.  Determine your identity, and make your decision based on what that identity is.  Are you a Christian?  Do what a Christian would do.  Are you a believer in God's Word?  Make your decision according to God's word.  Are you a believer in the promises of God?  Make your decision according to the promises of God.

Don't ever ask, "What should I do?"  Ask, "Who am I?"  Once you determine who you are, then you will know what it is you should do.

Dear Victim of "Affluenza"- I'm not mad at you

Dear Ethan Couch,

I read on the news that you and a bunch of buddies had stolen some beer from a Wal-Mart a few months ago.  Three hours later, you plowed into a car on the side of the road, killing four people and seriously injuring two of your friends.  Your blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

I don't know what it's like to be responsible for the deaths of four people, especially at age 16.  You may be thinking a lot about it, or you may not be thinking much about it at all.

Your attorney said you were the victim of "affluenza"- which basically means that you have been given anything and everything you want from the time you were knee-high to a grasshopper.  You've never known want, you've never worked for anything in your life, you've never had to care about anyone other than yourself, and you've never had to sacrifice for anything.

This, undoubtedly, led you to some major character defects.  You're probably arrogant beyond imagine, probably incredibly narcisstic, take lots of selfies, very busy on Instagram, and your life is probably one of constant entertainment- newest iPhone, newest iPad, three video game systems, surround-sound stereo, plasma-screen tv in your room, and just about anything else that you would possibly want.

I'm not mad at you.  The only difference between you and me is that when I drove drunk at age 16, I didn't kill anyone.  I could have, but for some reason, I didn't. 

I, too, grew up in affluence.  My dad is an orthopedic surgeon.  Our dads probably made similar amounts of money, and I would imagine that their social circles were very similar.  I, too, was a white suburban kid who grew up around other white suburban kids who had more opportunity and more wealth than most people would ever dream of having.  Our economic and social backgrounds are almost identical.

However, there was one major difference.  My mom and dad.

My mom and dad didn't spoil me.

My parents, while not embarrassed of the wealth that their hard work and toil achieved, never flaunted it.  They didn't think that people should have everything they wanted.  They especially didn't think that their children should have everything they wanted.

I heard the word "no" more than any other word during my eighteen years in their household.

My parents made it clear that I was going to succeed or fail based on my efforts and my efforts alone.  The day I got suspended for going out to McDonalds (and getting caught by the principal), my parents refused to go to the school to argue in my defense.  Their attitude was, "Well, I guess you shouldn't have skipped school.  I guess you'll be paying for it," and backed up their words by grounding me for two weeks AFTER getting suspended from school for three days.  Therefore, I learned there was no one on my side when I intentionally broke the rules.

My parents wouldn't go to the school to argue with a teacher if I got a bad grade.  Instead, they stood over me and watched me do my homework, making sure I did it fully and correctly.  They didn't allow me to get away with sloppy, half-hearted work, and therefore, I learned responsibility.

My parents spanked me when I lied.  Therefore I learned honesty.

My parents walked in integrity and honesty in front of me.  Therefore I learned to respect authority.

My parents never followed the crowd or gave in to the path of least resistance.  Therefore I learned autonomy and independence.

What I am saying, Ethan, is that you were set up to fail.  I don't blame you.  I blame the current crop of parents who would rather their kids be "happy" than be "good."

I blame the current societal trend of basing the entire household's agenda, schedule, and life around the kids, therefore training them to think they are the center of the universe.

I blame your negligent and child-abusing parents (yes, I said child-abusing, and I'll say it again) who didn't love you enough to build any character in you whatsoever.  They created you- a monster.  A narcissistic, self-centered, egomaniac who has gone through life never being accountable for anything. 

I am sorry for you. 

I am sorry that you are responsible for the deaths of four innocent people because of a stupid mistake you made. 

I am sorry that you didn't get jail time, because that's exactly what you need.  Note that I didn't say "deserve."  I said "need."  You need desperately to be held accountable for your actions, for once in your life.  You need to know that real people get hurt when you are self-centered and think you are above it all. 

I am sorry for your future spouse- I cannot imagine the hell you will put her through thinking that you are above every rule, never will be held accountable, and can always do everything you please.

I am sorry for your future children, who will have a self-centered father who could care less about anything other than getting what he wants.

Most of all, I am sorry for you.  Growing up without any character, being handed the world on a silver platter, is a terrible way to live.  You have never known the joy of struggle- struggling to overcome an obstacle and achieving a victory.  You've never known the empathy that develops within you when you have experienced incredible pain and hardship.  You've never known the joy that comes with generosity and sacrifice, nor have you ever known the satisfaction that exists when you put others' needs in front of your own.

So, I'm not mad at you.  I'm sorry for you.

This world- your parents, the school you attend, and the legal system have all conspired to create the monster that you are.  Let's hope that you are able to overcome the way they have set you up to fail in life.  Let's hope that you are able to gain some perspective and develop some true character so that you will no longer be the victim of "affluenza."

Sincerely,
David Kibler
Former potential victim of affluenza miraculously saved from it by his mean, heartless, strict parents

"Jesus is not repelled by us, no matter how messy we are."

One of the greatest influences on my early Christian years was a man named Mike Yaconelli.  Google him if you want to know more about him- a giant among midgets and one of the most authentic Christians I've ever met.  Well, actually, I only met him once.  I met him more through his books, writings, and love for youth ministers which I was at the time.

I believe my favorite quote of his, from his book Messy Spirituality is this:  "Jesus is not repelled by us, no matter how messy we are, regardless of how incomplete we are.  When we recognize that Jesus is not discouraged by our humanity, is not turned off by our messiness, and simply doggedly pursues us in the face of it all, what else can we do by give in to His outrageous, indiscriminate love?"  (Messy Spirituality, p 27)

In my early years as a Christian, I was haunted by legalism.  It wasn't a legalism I imposed on others; it was a legalism I imposed on myself.  I was never a person to do anything halfway- if I was going to party, I was going to party all the way.  If I was going to play soccer, I was going to play soccer all the way.  If I was going to be a Christian, I was going to be one all the way.

I threw 100% of myself into my faith, but unlike other pursuits, I came up woefully short of where I wanted to be.  For as long as I have been a Christian, I have wanted to be faithful.  I've wanted to trust God with everything, and I have wanted to avoid the sin that put Him on the cross.  For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to live a life of sacrifice, of service; I've wanted to care for the "least of these" as Jesus commands.  To my knowledge, I've never looked at something Jesus said and said, "That's awful, that's bad, that's not something I am ever going to do."

There have been several times I've considered giving up my faith- not because of a doubt of God's existence, or because I didn't want to be faithful, or even because I didn't think God loved me.  The times I have considered giving up my faith were the times when it just seemed like it was impossible to live the life.  I was so afraid of being called a "hypocrite," which is the word that hypocrites use to describe other hypocrites when the other hypocrites don't live out what they believe 100% of the time even though the first set of hypocrites, who like to call other hypocrites "hypocrites," aren't living out what they believe 100% of the time either.

Mike helped me understand that Jesus takes messy people like myself and not only loves us but allows us to accomplish His will . . . .  in spite of ourselves.  I began reading the Bible with new eyes.  The heroes of the faith- Noah, Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, John, all of the people whose faith I was taught to emulate, were incredibly messy people.

Noah's story is probably one of the most popular and well-known stories in the world.  Noah's great faithfulness and courage and righteousness have been chronicled and told and magnified for the last five thousand years.  He was the only one seen as righteous by God- by faith he built the ark, stayed true to God, and was forever remembered as the bastion of godliness we all know him to be.

Most of us don't know what happened next.  Sunday school teachers and preachers don't like to focus on the latter part of Noah's life because it tells a very different story.

Noah went out from the ark and saw the destruction.  Everything he knew was gone.  Everyone he knew- friends, neighbors- all dead and gone.  He was probably struck by the loneliness of it all.  The grief and anguish he felt must have been unbearable.  The Bible tells us that he planted a vineyard and got drunk.  Drunk?  Noah?

Yes.  Noah was human.  He was messy.  I guess dealing with all the pain and loss was too much for even this great man of faith.  I love the fact that the Bible allows us to see that even great men of faith struggle and mess up.  Sometimes they mess up big time.  Yet, the Bible doesn't edit their stories or write them out of God's story.

Here's the good news to all who impose legalism on themselves like I did:  you won't be written out of God's story because of your humanity either.  God is not repelled by the messiness of life.  He's not repelled by your humanity, by your struggles, by your weaknesses, or by what you would consider "bad."  On the contrary, could it be that our humanity is what God finds especially attractive?  Could it be that our failings are the things that He wants to forgive, mend, and demonstrate His glory and goodness through?

The greatness of God is on full display when He dives into the messiness of life and redeems it.  God is not finished with you yet, no matter what you are dealing with.  He is not repulsed by your addictions, by your repeated sins, by your attitude, by your temper, or by your mistakes.  There will never be a time that you will shock God- believe me, He's seen it all and He loves you anyway.

He is great enough and wise enough to know that only love can change people.  It is His love that calls us to Him, away from the things that destroy us, away from toxic lines of thinking, away from addictions that kill us and our relationships, away from sin that leads us to separation.  His love.  He is interested in the whole you- not the presentable you that you like to project when you walk out the door, or the fake you that you present to your "friends" on facebook, or the acceptable you that society says you must be.  He is interested in all of you- the real you, unedited, uncensored, messy, and raw.

As a matter of fact, that's the only you He really cares about.

And I thank God for that.  To some, the fact that God is not repulsed by our humanity is scandalous.  To me, it demonstrates His greatness.  To me, God becomes more precious, more wonderful, more amazing, more beautiful, more powerful, more worthy of worship, than ever before.  Realizing that I can truly be myself- not some brushed-up presentable version of myself that everyone else wants me to be- in God's presence is the most liberating, joyful thing I can imagine.

So, be encouraged today.  I don't know what you are dealing with today, but just know this:  Jesus is not repelled by us, no matter how messy we are."  God bless you, Mike Yaconelli.  Thanks for helping me understand Jesus a little bit better.

The Bible is like Fox News. Or MSNBC, if you prefer. . . .

Ask any liberal this question, "Do you like Fox News?"  "You mean Faux News?" will be the reply, mockery dripping from the words.  "That station is crap.  I get my news from a true source."

Ask any conservative this question, "Do you like MSNBC?"  "You mean BSNBC?" will be the reply, mockery dripping from the words.  "That station is crap.  I get my news from a true source."

The true source, of course, is the source referred to by the other as "crap."

Why does a liberal, who hasn't seen the upcoming news story on Fox News, decide in advance that what will be said there is untrue?  Why does a conservative, who hasn't seen the upcoming news story on MSNBC, decide in advance that what will be said THERE is untrue?

Answer:  we decide in advance where we will find the truth.

Now, this phenomenon is repulsive to "intellectuals" who fancy themselves as being completely open-minded, above pre-judgment, considering all angles and sides and viewpoints, and completely objective.  New flash- no one is objective.  No one.  Everyone comes to evidence or news or thought processes with pre-conceived notions about the truth, as seen by our friends' reactions to Fox News or MSNBC.

What does this have to do with the Bible?

We approach the Bible the same way.

Blasphemy, Dave.

No, it's not.

I was speaking at a youth conference one time, and afterwards they put me in a room to answer questions that the students had.  Naturally, the ones asking questions were for the most part a little on the hostile side to the topic of faith and Christianity.  One of the students, who was apparently fairly intelligent, said, "I don't get why you are into this Christianity stuff.  I mean, you seem like an intelligent person- why do you believe a bunch of stone-age writings and accept that as truth?"

After dealing with the "stone-age writings" and debunking that by taking him through Proverbs and showing him that nothing has really changed, that we all need God's wisdom, I said, "I'll answer your question.  Here it is- are you ready for it?"  You could cut the tension with a knife.

I said, "Because I decided to."

He looked at me blankly.

I said it again.  "I believe in God because I decided to.  Long ago, I decided that God was real and that the Bible was the authoritative, inspired, absolute Word of God, and ever since then, I have been constructing evidence to support that."

He said smugly, "I thought as much."

I said, "What about you?  You're an atheist because you decided to be one.  Long ago, you decided that God was a myth and ever since then you've been constructing arguments against Him.  Don't con me.  Don't give me this pseudo-intellectual mumbo-jumbo that you considered all the evidence, all the angles, all the thoughts, all the writings, all the everything else and that is still what you are doing today.  Somewhere back in time, you made a decision.  You decided to not believe."

"Well," I continued, "I decided the opposite.  I decided TO believe.  In the end, it comes down to faith.  You don't know there is no God.  No one does.  It can't be proved.  I don't know there IS a God.  If I did, there wouldn't be a word called "faith."  So, you and I both had to decide.  So don't give me this condescending nonsense that somehow your beliefs are more intelligent or more real or more thoroughly thought out than mine are.  In the end, you have to decide what you believe."

"The only time we will know we've made the right decision is five seconds after we die," I went on. "We won't and can't know until then.  I feel very confident in my decision to believe, and that's as far as I can go."

He was very quiet.  Then he nodded his head and sat down. 

The same is true of the Bible.  As unintelligent as it sounds, we have to decide beforehand whether we believe the Bible to be true.  It's really not as hard as it sounds- we do that with everything else in life anyway (see again the example of Fox News and MSNBC).  When I approach the Bible, I've already decided in my mind, through faith, that I am reading the very words of God Himself.  Approaching God's word with this attitude is essential to truly understanding the Christian life. 

Many people have legitimate concerns about the Bible.  I acknowledge that.  Others, however, approach the Bible like a conservative approaches MSNBC- antennae up for anything and everything.  It really doesn't matter if the MSNBC hosts tell the truth; they could say the sky is blue and the conservative would shake his head in disgust and call it a lie.  Well, maybe it's not that bad, but you get my point.  Every one of us approaches the Bible with pre-decisions, whether conscious or unconscious.

My challenge to you is to decide.  Decide one way or the other.  Is the Bible the Word of God?  You have to decide.  In faith, you have to decide.  There is plenty of evidence that it is, but in the end it comes down to faith.  If the Bible is God's Word, that has huge implications for our lives.  Recognize what pre-decisions you have brought to God's word, and realize how they are shaping your view of it.

I pray that each of you will decide, in faith, to believe the Bible is God's word.  Like I said, it doesn't sound very intelligent, but it's how we operate.  Decide now, and let your decision forever shape your life.