The left wing political powers of this country have been pushing, shoving, cramming, jamming, forcing and pounding government run healthcare down our throats since early spring. When the people asked them to tap the breaks and be wise, they were met with annoyed resistance. Americans do not take well to be shushed by the politicians they vote into office… so on April 15^th they took to the streets in the form of “Tea Parties” and protested the belligerent actions of their over-reaching government.

The Left considered the ‘Tea Parties’ a cute and meaningless tantrum of the right wing conservatives and dismissed them as little more than a nuisance. But the more they were ignored by the Left, the more outraged the Right became and the strength of their resolve grew. The citizens of the tea parties became the citizens of the Town Hall Meetings in August. Once again, the left dismissed them and pressed on with their agenda. The plan was for the biggest take over of American business sector in history to take place in August without resistance. But the people prevailed.

Since taking office in January, the government has taken over the automobile industry, banks, student loan programs, more of the mortgage industry and it’s fighting with every moment of everyday to get its long cold claws on America’s health care. The people have done well in resisting the government’s takeover, and exposing the corruption they find in the current administration (i.e. Van Jones, the Czars and ACORN.)

However, the Left can no longer ignore the people, so they have shifted from just being on the offensive – they’ve gone to a no huddle tactic. The leader of the left is on television as much as possible. He’s made two nationally televised speeches, appeared on almost all T.V. news shows, he even tried talking to the school kids. There has never been a bigger push by an administration to push a piece of legislation through that people wanted less.

So while the Left is in ‘No-huddle Offense’ the Right seems to have decided to play ‘Prevent Defense’ – this is a mistake. Someone rightly said, “The only thing that the prevent defense is good for is preventing victory.” This is the time to Blitz! This is the time to put in fresh players with new energy and greater resolve to crush this thing for the last time – (until the next time.) If we simply function in prevent mode… we will lose.

The terror attacks broken up in Dallas, Springfield, Denver, New York and Philadelphia are a reminder that the role of government is to protect the nation from our enemies. It is NOT to provide our healthcare, housing, automobiles or cupcakes! The Left is so confident, so arrogant, and so audacious that they told us the play they are running and they are daring us to stop it. One of their leaders said, “Healthcare will be passed before the members go home for Thanksgiving.”

Will we take the fight to them, or will we play the prevent defense? Call everyone you know who loves this country and tell them to get in the game. Write Congressmen and Senators. Get informed and educate yourself on the issues. Don’t prevent victory by being passive. That whistle you just heard stopped the clock. This is the Two Minute Warning. No prevent defense… Victory!

telemicus out

In the movie, Leatherheads, there is a scene where the Duluth Bulldogs are playing a “Mud Bowl” type game against Chicago. It’s the end of the game and Duluth has to have a trick play to win. So Dodge Conner (George Clooney) uses one play to take out one of Chicago’s players, and trades places with him as they carry him off the field. Because mud covered every player on both teams, no one notices. This means that Dodge is covering his own man. The perfect distraction—Duluth wins!

Distractions can be good. We all need something to take our minds off the dragons that have us in turmoil or tangled in details. But, when there is a pressing matter that needs our attention, distractions can render us ineffective and waste our opportunities.

In Mark chapter 9, Jesus spent some time on a mountain with Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John were also at this meeting and as they returned to the town, they found the other nine Apostles engaged in an argument with the teachers of the Law. Jesus says, “What are you arguing about?” Out of the crowd a man speaks up and says, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by an evil spirit . . . I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not” (Mark 9:17-18).

There you have it. The father brings his son, tormented by an evil spirit and because the Apostles were not spiritually prepared to face this evil spirit, they could not cast it out. Instead of dealing with their own spiritual weakness, taking the boy to a private place to minister to him, taking him to Jesus so that He could cast it out, instead of any other course of action, they got into a shouting match with the teachers of the Law about the fact that they couldn’t cast out this evil spirit.

And the Enemy wins.

What frustrated Jesus here is not the evil spirit. You can see that by the way he dealt with it that is was not a giant battle for him. No, what frustrated Jesus was the unbelief and the lack of preparedness in his own followers. For while his disciples argued about their own efficacy and power, a boy still was being tortured.

We see this in politics, where those we elect go and fight with one another on Capitol Hill and the talk shows, while ignoring the real people who need help. They say their fighting for us, but it’s rarely about us. It happens in churches too. While people need to know the love and forgiveness of God, “leaders” argue about what they want or don’t want to happen. I wonder . . . if Jesus walked into our building or attended one of our meetings, would he say, “Keep up the good work?” or “What are you arguing about?”

telemicus out

I always enjoy a baseball game. We watch the sad Rangers once in a while at home and wonder why they’re so bad. We cheered for the Cards last fall of course. I believe the Yankees are the Philistines of baseball and to watch them lose is always a treat… however, they, like Philistines, never seem to go away.

When I was a boy growing up in Quincy, Illinois our church family would, on occasion, play softball after church potluck dinners in the field out behind our building. Terry Rush (see blog roll) was a member of that church and had an unfailing way of bringing joy and comedy to those games.  

For bases, we used some discarded cushions from my parent’s kitchen chairs. During one game, Terry was on first base and moved to second on a pop fly. The next batter came to the plate and hit a sharp grounder between first and second. Terry picked up second base, tucked it under his arm and took off for third laughing and shouting, “I’m stealing second!” I don’t know who won the game, but I know who won the day. I like that stealing is legal in baseball.  

I think God likes that you can steal in baseball too. He is gracious by nature. He provided the cities of refuge and the year of Jubilee! He forgives our sins and launches them into nothingness. He provided a way for us to live without the guilt that is rightfully ours. He designed a redemption that, like the moon when traveling at night, follows us wherever our failures occur. Paul wrote, ”In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)   

Everyone knows that stealing is wrong, but stealing second is always a joy. It’s exciting to watch the runner make a break for it. We love to see the young gun behind the plate fire his best shot to pick the runner off. I love it when anyone steals second, (except those Yankees!) I guess I just wanted to say that for each of us there comes a time to stand at the plate and face whatever is coming. Sometimes it’s low and outside – “but watch out for in your ear.” And when you’re safely on first, don’t be afraid to look down the line, tuck your guiltless joy up under your arm and take off laughing and shouting, “I’m stealing second!”

telemicus out

John Stossel does those, Give Me a Break programs on ABC. I like them because most of the time he is saying things the rest of us think but don’t have a platform to speak about. Like why when you buy a box of Pop Tarts – and the box is 30% empty. Like we’re to dumb to know they’re doing this to us. Give me a break. Well I think there comes a time for each of us when we’ve had enough and we simply need a break. I’m a news junkie. I listen to talk radio a lot. Love to watch FOX News. I enjoy railing on liberal media and their deceptions. I love sports, politics and religious talk. And I’m tired of all of it. I need a famine in regard to these things. It’s been a week since I watched, read or listened to the news, saw a little sports and only did bible study and worship, no religious talk. 

Famines can be dangerous though. In the Old Book, famine always represents God’s judgment on a people. And worse than a famine of food is the famine of hearing God’s word. God warns us through the Prophet Amos, “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land– not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” Amos 8:11   A self-imposed famine from the things that bog us down is a good thing. What’s in your life that you need to set aside for a while? Are there some people you need a break from? Have you been experiencing a famine from hearing God? Perhaps those other things are crowding him out.  

I don’t know how long I will stay clear of all that stuff, but I have a ways to go. So consider this free advice from a friend. Take a famine from the things that burden your heart and allow the things of God to fill in the gaps. The things you don’t hear will free you… the things you hear from God will amaze and inspire you. telemicus out