[crabtree blog.]

As a kid I wasted hundreds of my mom’s dollars on toys. As an only child I had a good collection of Hot Wheels, Micro Machines, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and even a New Kids On the Block doll (don’t ask.) However, the toys that reigned supreme were real American heroes — G.I. Joe. I feel safe in saying that I owned every possible G.I. Joe. Not only did I dedicate a large majority of my time to playing with these military heroes who fought many battles on the island called ‘My Room’, but I spent hours in front of the television watching these heroes come alive in cartoon form. Every episode would end with a PSA aimed at teaching me morals and living the life of a real american hero. They told me to stay away from drugs, strangers with candy, and more. At the end of each PSA they would repeat this mantra, “Knowing is half the battle!”

As Americans Christians we have the biggest mouths but the least action. I hear people complain about Obama and McCain. I hear people complain about how a certain church is doing nothing to be ‘green.’ I hear people talk about how sad it is that there is a genocide happening in Sudan and 27 million slaves worldwide. I hear people complain about poverty and disease across the world. I hear more complaints than praise (unless that praise is “God, I praise you that I am not like them.”)

Yes, these things must be talked about. People must know about the injustice in the world. They must know about the billion living without clean water who live on less than $1 a day. Yes, the church must be called to be faithful stewards of the environment and finances. We have to tell people about the 27 million enslaved across the world today. However, “Knowing is half the battle!”

For most of the church we leave it at simply telling others about these injustices. We complain that little is being done. We harp about how our government is doing nothing to resolve problem X, Y, or Z. We complain about the lack of recycling in a certain church, however we rarely do anything about it. Our mouths are wide open but our butts are comfortable in our pews. We may be loud but we are stuck in neutral.

We cannot simply tell people about these problems, but we have to do something about them. The popular quote from Ghandi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” rings true. If we want change then we must do something about it. Instead of complaining about how Church A does not recycle, start going around the church and recycling. Stop complaining. Take action. Instead of complaining about genocide, slavery, poverty, and disease — do something about it. Raise money. Get your friends and family to write your senators and representatives and demand action. 

Words are powerful but they can only go so far. At some point action is demanded of us. Early in Matthew’s gospel Jesus lays out the ethics of the Kingdom of God. He then follows up by living them out. He did not come saying “Ok guys you need to live this way and I am going to leave it to you to figure this out. Good luck and peace out!” Jesus spoke powerful words but he followed them up with action. As his followers we must do the same. 

Our words must be coupled with action. Our faith must be paired with works. We must ‘be the change we wish to see in the world.’ Complaining is no longer an option for us as the church.

There has been the age old assumption that children without fathers are destined for a life of making meth in their trailer bathtub while having massive amounts of children out of wedlock. I remember leaving church one Sunday morning and being met by an elderly lady in the church, “Praise God that you have not turned to drugs since your father left you.” Did I miss a memo at some point during my childhood? Instead of college was I supposed to start snorting every white substance I could find? 

These assumptions make me laugh. I know that the large majority of people in prison come from broken homes and that most addictions can be traced back to a broken home, but for people to assume that these are the destined paths for children of broken homes seems ridiculous to me. 

Growing up without a father was not the easiest game in town. It often resulted in me creating these incredible stories of where my dad was and what his career was. It resulted in me being jealous of all my friends who had fathers to play catch with. But through it all I consider my situation a lucky one. I have never met my dad. I never had to experience having a father and then not having one. There simply was never one present. That is what I have known for 25 years. 

I shave but I still wonder if my technique is the correct one. Am I supposed to bleed every time? I have been fishing five times in my life and the last time I went I had no idea what I was doing. I have no idea how to change my oil or do basic repairs. I never had THE sex talk but I get the gist. These are the times I wish I had had someone to teach me. 

But a pity party is not what I am trying to draw from this. I bleed when I shave but I am blessed beyond what I can imagine. I have had, and continue to have, Godly older men in my life. I have a mother who has sacrificed beyond what I will ever know. I have friends who really do care. I get my fish from the store and not from a lake but I have a job that never feels like work. I get paid to do what I love with people I love. 

The phrase ‘Father to the fatherless’ was what intrigued me about Christianity. At 13, the one thing I wanted more than anything was to fill the void I had in my life. The phrase intrigued me and so I continued going to church. Over those next few weeks I learned more about this “Father.” It was then that I started my journey with Christ. Looking back it amazes me that the one thing that caused me pain and doubt for 13 years is the one thing that led me to a knowledge of Christ, sin, grace, mercy, and the cross.

I was driving through Bolivar tonight and I noticed something that literally caused my jaw to drop. I saw gas for $2.98! Now I am not one to complain about gas prices. I tend to roll with the punches and just accept it. It has just been years since I have seen a two at the beginning of the price of gas. Pair this fact with something I read earlier today and it makes you think.

When you think of great theologians some will think of Wayne Grudem, Billy Graham, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. Others will give this title to Rob Bell, Stanley Hauerwas, and Dallas Willard. However, today this title might need to be given to Jay Leno. Yeah, that is right: Jay Leno. Below is a posting from Leno’s blog. I am not that patriotic of a person. If you know me at all you will know that. Politics annoy me. American consumerism is out of control and much more. However, I am humbled by the fact that I get to live in a country like this. It has nothing to do with patriotism or WWII. It has every thing to do with the mercy of God. So as you read  below think about how merciful God has been with us.  Read Deuteronomy 8:11-20 and then take a look at what Leno has to say. 

As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are un happy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. 

In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?”

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time an d see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the env y of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approv al rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about i t.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ‘other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like OJ. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t k ill hi s wife, but if he did he would have done it this way……Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.’ ‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms t earing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ‘Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’
Jay Leno