I have one of those clocks with two alarms. When the first rings, I usually shut it off, turn off the fan, turn on the radio, and climb back under the covers. Fifteen minutes later the second alarm goes off. I sometimes doze off during this intermission, but sometimes I pray. This morning I strolled into prayer for one of my kids. As I lay there thinking about the prayer I said to God, “I rarely ask you for anything, but I really am serious about this one.”

Sometimes I feel like He doesn’t hear me. Not because he is mad at me or I don’t deserve his attention, I just figure that me and my stuff are not high on his “to do” list. I don’t mean any disrespect in this comment. I believe that I am his child and he loves me just as he does all his kids. But I suppose there are times when I don’t feel particularly favored. (I hope you’re not hearing more than I mean to say here.) I honestly try to not to bother God with the mundane. Think of it this way; perhaps to be saved and to be his child ought to be enough, should I really be asking for more?

Yet, when I notice a heavy burden attached to my heart, I go to Him and tell Him what’s wearing on me. I looked at Jesus and wondered what he was thankful for in life. From what we can see, he always gave thanks for food and provision. It’s notable that he said this at the tomb when Lazarus was waiting for his wake up call, “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41).

It’s Thanksgiving Week and over the years, I’ve enjoyed a great number of blessings. I have a good close family and we love each other. We have enough of what we need and most things we want. We have friends and good health for the most part. We live in the greatest country in the world and even with its flaws and problems, its far better than whatever is in second place. Above all, we have Christ as our Savior and God as our Father and His Spirit as our Comforter. So in the big scheme of things I’m just saying that I think things are not bad and so “Thank you for hearing me.”

telemicus out

Are you as tired of seeing pro athletes beg for penalties as I am? In football and basketball, it’s as common as the high five. I was watching a flag football game a few weeks ago waiting for Caleb’s game to begin when the blue team threw a long pass down field. The receiver failed to make the catch, and instantly started making the recognized sign for “throw the flag.” Yes, even the little guys playing flag football have learned to call for a fix rather than accept the result of the play.

Sometimes calls are made that shouldn’t have been and at other times the officials miss the call. But shouldn’t we be teaching our kids to play their games straight up. When did you last see a player say, “I stepped out of bounds” or “It wasn’t a catch, it touched the ground.” We see grown men argue with officials about calls they think are wrong instead of accepting the call and playing the game better. I think the core of all this goes back to the mentality of entitlement and self-importance.

But last week a pro golfer proved to be noble in heart and character. J.P. Hayes accidentally played a prototype ball from Titleist in the second stage of Q School. He was sitting in his hotel room that evening and realized that the ball he used on one hole was not approved. So he picked up the phone and called an official and said, “I think I may have a problem.” He explained the mistake. The following day they confirmed it with Titleist and he was disqualified.

This admission surely cost Hayes opportunities to play and to earn on the tour. Had he simply ignored the mistake, no one would have ever known. But J.P. Hayes integrity would not allow that. Now he can sleep at night, look at himself in the mirror and teach his kids to be honest about everything – even when it cost them. This doesn’t make him a hero, but it does mean he has integrity.

I wrote a piece in December of 2005 about the movie Kingdom of Heaven (click here). Balian is the main character and his father knights him with an oath on his deathbed. It’s worth revisiting the line from the Knights Oath, Tell the truth always – even if it leads to your death. Our decisions in sports don’t bear this gravity, but in the world we live in, lies are costing our society every day. Being honest may cost you, but lies cost everyone and we can ill afford the luxury of entitlement.

telemicus out

I don’t know what it is like to be the most hated man in America. It has to be heartbreaking. I know what its like to make mistakes and for those mistakes to cost people money. I know what it is to make mistakes and have people disappointed in my actions. But I don’t know what it is like to be hated. Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you…” (Luke 6:26). This is a burden George W. Bush will never have to carry.

George W. Bush is certainly the most hated man in America. This is a tragedy. While I have my issues with certain things he has done in his two terms, while I have anger at the billions of dollars wasted because he wouldn’t say “No” to spending, while I hate the needless loss of life that all war produces, while I think he was far too passive in recent months, it is wrong to hate this good man.

I hear and read people who can scarcely hold their own brains inside their heads they are so filled with hate toward him. But think about this – since 9/11 2001 there have been over 12,222 acts of terrorism by Islamic radicals and not one has been on American soil. It’s not because they didn’t want to do them here.

I am one American who believes the cause of fighting the terrorist who want to destroy this country and our way of life is a just one. I may have used a different “strategery” in the conflicts we faced, but the terrorists have not given up. They live on an ideology of hate. Those Americans who fuel their daily lives by hating George W. Bush will be consumed by it. I heard once that Hate leads to the dark side.

I want to say, Thank you Mr. President for your efforts to fight terrorism. Thank you for your example of grace to people who said the most hateful things about you without swinging back. Thanks for keeping the country free and safe. Thank you for being noble in the face of hate. May you find the respect you deserve on the other side of January 20^th.

telemicus out

I guess I’m a small man – in terms of character. I’m gracious when I lose at sports. But when I, or my side, suffer loss in the arena if ideas, I am not so gracious. Ideas and philosophies regarding politics or any other area of life that lends itself to good and bad or right and wrong these are positions we hold on principle. In matters of opinion, everyone has a right of course. However, if we hold positions based on heart-felt beliefs and principles we should not blow them off simply because our side lost.

During his concession speech, I didn’t want to hear McCain talking about how wonderful The One is. I wanted to hear him say congratulations and that’s it. Then I wanted him to say to the over fifty-six million people who supported him, “I promised to fight for you and when I get back to Washington I plan to do everything in my power to promote and defend the ideas of conservatism and the constitution we believe in.” But he didn’t side with the people – he sided with The One and promised to work with him. That takes a bigger man than me.

Tell me – should we forget the vitriolic horrible things that the left said about the current President as if they didn’t mean it? They did mean it! Every time they called him stupid, they meant it. Every time they called him a liar, they meant it. Every time they accused him of being a traitor, they meant it. And even when they made plans to accuse him of war crimes, they meant that too. The One achieved a victory on Tuesday by beating the current president without mercy on the campaign trail. He made Bush the sole scapegoat for everything that happened in the last eight years. It is an empirical fact that the democrats are responsible for the mortgage collapse. Yet The One waltzed across the country and daily hung it around the Presidents neck while Bush, and the Republicans remained silent.

The President came out yesterday with all the class in the world and expressed nothing but graciousness to The One promising to extend every courtesy and help in the transition. It takes a bigger man than me. I would probably send him a note, leave the keys to White House at the security gate, and call it good.

Jesus sent the disciples out into the world with the message of the Kingdom saying, “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11).  Was he being a bad sport, a sore looser, a small man or was he standing on principles that are beyond compromise? You may say, “Well the principles of the Kingdom are more significant than political opinions.” This is true only to the degree that ones political beliefs are opinion based on preference rather than belief based on principle.

For many, the sacredness of the Constitution and the Sanctity of Human Life, just to name a couple, are issues of principle and not opinion. There are times when the cause is bigger than opinion polls and our own reputation with the opposition. But perhaps to understand the value appeasement and capitulation it simply takes a bigger man.

telemicus out