I don’t like it either, but….

A couple of days ago, a revolutionary piece of legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress into law...and I have some thoughts on this to share here in my little corner of the web.

Now let me state from the outset that I was not, and am not, a supporter of this bill in any way whatsoever. I feel that if this survives the remaining challenges to it and becomes the law of the land, it will not only adversely affect the U.S. economy, but it will have a deliterious effect on the cost of health care for all the people of the United States.

I'll spare you all an analysis of why that's so, because (1)that has been done elsewhere(and better)my MANY other observers, and (2)I feel I have a far more important point to make to the loyal readers here, and(at the risk of a bit of arrogance)a fresher one than many being made now, at that.

For at my radio station, a heritage news/talk outlet in an important California market, we understandably have been discussing the issue almost nonstop for the past two weeks. And invariably, our hosts are extremely critical of the bill, and our callers are almost likewise uniformly against it...to the point where their calls are almost indistinguishable from each other.

Now, even though I'm in general agreement with all of their sentiments, I must be honest and confess that, as a listener, I find this extremely tedious and difficult to listen to. How much of the exact same thing can you hear, after all, before you're compelled to (gasp)change the channel to something a bit more unique and interesting, such as....oh, the FM station right down the dial promising to play at least 45 minutes straight of your favorite(well, not exactly)hit songs.

In fairness, though, perhaps I shouldn't expect our decidedly secular station to try to look at this polarizing issue from the evangelical Christian perspective that I tend to look at things through, and I really don't.

But that doesn't trouble me nearly as much as those who purportedly share my perspective.

One of the finest local pastors here in Fresno has a weekend talk show on our station. He is one of the Godliest pastors I've ever had the privilege to know...yet rather than adopt a measured attitude toward the issue, he insists on repeating the very same talking points the main secular right-wing hosts use...and that is distressing to me.

Why? Well, hear me out on this...and maybe you'll understand my perspective.

Many of those who read this blog are gospel music fans(as am I). Now as such, we know scores of songs that declare a message of God's sovereignty, power, and control over this world, and all that happens within it. We are told that God is always there to provide for and protect us if we'll only trust Him. Those of us who spend a lot of our time in church and Bible studies are constantly reminded of those very same things, and profess to believe it. We're told not to put our trust in the world and the things of it, but in God and things of the Kingdom. Do we really believe everything we've been taught and hear about that?

Well, if we do, it absolutely mystifies me why so many of us are moaning over and pining about the results of Sunday's vote. Surely we know how the world works, and why are we having such a collective hissy fit about the fact that the vote didn't go the way we wanted it to? Did we really expect, in a fallen world, that the vote wouldn't go the way it did, given the determination of those who wanted that legislation passed so earnestly?

And since we claim to believe what is sung, preached, and told so often about the power of God and His ability to overcome adversity(which we've ALL seen in our own lives on a frequent basis), why can't we finally put the talking points to rest, and move on with the work of God in this world. It seems to me that such work will better be accomplished if we who claim to believe all this stuff show it in the way we act when things like this happen. Are you ready to join me in THAT particular "tea party"?

Yes, we're all concerned about what will happen as a result of what happened Sunday. But we need not fear, for "Perfect love casts out fear".(1 John 4:18).

I hope that we can stop repeating ourselves and complaining, and begin to show this messed-up world that what we hear in church and in our songs about God is true, and applies as much as ever today. It'll make for(IMHO)a much kinder, gentler, less strident world, and maybe even better talk radio.

A small reflection

Hi! Remember me?

Yeah, it's been a while...and after I told all of you I'd be here a lot more often, and give all of you loyal friends and readers more to read, and(I hope)enjoy!

I think all of us know how THAT can be sometimes, eh?:-)

Anyway, I felt led to post today because I wanted to share a thought I can't seem to shake from my mind any other way!

It's quite personal, so if you're looking for insightful commentary on a gospel music issue(or any other kind), you might want to either wait or check out some of the other items here in this little corner of the web.

Anyway, like many of you, I am a happy member of Facebook. The social utility has been quite a joy for me, for through it, I've been able to keep up with both old and new dear friends alike!

I'm a-l-m-o-s-t to 500 friends now, and they run the gamut from gospel music personalities that have become friends to fellow radio pros and work colleagues to old school friends I've not spoken to or heard from in decades.

But now, they're all a click away via Facebook! Plus, the true love of my life is there too, and that's also very nice.

Anyway, this morning, one of my relatively newer yet unquestionably dear friends achieved something there that I've been trying to do(with all I can muster)for nearly five years now, and I'm extremely happy for him and the other person involved! They're BOTH very deserving of blessings from God, and the finest fellowship that either of them can have.

But a part of me still feels a little sad...why? Why can't my joy just come forth, with no "catch" to it? After all, I truly want the best for both in my heart.

Why am I sad? Because like everyone of us, I want more than I have.

And THAT attitude is not of God...I should be content in all things, with whatever I have. If I want, I'm subconsciously telling God, "Yes, I'm blessed...but the degree to which you've blessed me isn't enough." How DARE I be so ungrateful to my Lord, who gave His very life on earth to assure my eternal destiny AND give me a life that I could not HOPE to have on my own.

Consider...

1. I am saved....if I die at any moment, I'm assured of an eternal existence in His presence. What's better than that? Two answers...and one doesn't count!:-)

2. I'm in good general health...sure, it could be better, but it could EASILY be a lot worse! I'm glad I'm still here to enjoy life!!

3. The Lord has seen fit to give me(finally)the girl of my dreams, and not only that, I've got the BEST possible collection of friends(in Facebook AND real-life)that anyone could have...I don't need anything more, nor is it possible to have anything better there than I have.

What more do I need? NOTHING!

Yet I'm disspirited(if that's even a word...I don't think so)because someone I value a great deal has something I want(even though I truly celebrate that!). What an ingrate I am!

Forgive me Lord, for my lack of trust...I really AM blessed beyond description...certainly beyond what I deserve!

And forgive all of us for being the very same way.

They own the podium

As promised, I will now elaborate on my prediction of two days ago that the Canadian men's hockey team would win the gold medal in the just-concluded 2010 Winter Olympics in the world's most beautiful city, Vancouver, British Columbia...which they did.

First of all, for those curious as to why Vancouver is my favorite place in the world, that stems back to a trip I made there in 1985...I wanted to check out Canada, never having been there before, and since I was in the Seattle area at the time, it seemed as good a time as any to go up and look. When I got to Vancouver, I was struck by the stunning beauty of this huge metropoils seemingly surrounded by clean, blue water and mountains as far as one could see. The weather was wonderful and mild, and I STILL have never seen a cleaner place in my life. I immediately envisioned myself possibly settling down there someday, if circumstances would ever present themselves in such a way.

And now, a part of my heart resides very close by, underlining my attachment to this gloriously beautiful part of the earth.

Too, I've always loved ice hockey, and I naturally have become a BIG fan of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks...so my love for my favorite place intensifies during the winter months...and given that this year's Winter Games were being held there, you can imagine what I've been doing with the tiny window of spare time that I have.

OK, now back to the game. The above backdrop will possibly explain why today's gold medal battle was significant to me...beyond what a regular hockey game would be. I was looking forward to seeing my native country(the U.S.)against another country I feel warmth toward(Canada). Besides, the tournament showed that they, not Canada and Russia(as many experts claimed at the outset)were the class of the world field.

The Canadians had probably the best possible available lineup of the world's top players, with NHL stars such as Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews, Jarome Iginla, Duncan Keith, captain Scott Niedermayer, and great young defensive talent such as Shea Weber and Drew Doughty, not to mention two of the world's top goaltenders in Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo, not to mention Marc-Andre Fleury of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The U.S. team was also stocked with solid NHL talent like Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Jamie Langenbrunner, Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, Jack Johnson, and Eric Johnson, plus goaltender Ryan Miller, quietly having a statistically excellent season for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

But honestly and objectively, if you put the Canadian and US lineups back-to-back and projected them to their best on the ice, I couldn't really see the U.S. beating the Canadians when it mattered most.

But the U.S. DID beat the Canadians when it din't matter much, in the preliminary seeding round...where the U.S. won despite being outshot nearly 2-to-1 and dominated on the ice by the more savvy Canadian team. The U.S. managed to win on the strength of extraordinary goaltending by Miller, and big plays at timely moments.

Unfortunately, the victory served mostly to wake up a Canadian team that was still a bit disorganized at that point in the tournament. It gave the team a focus and purpose that it may not have had previously, despite the immense pressure they were under in their own country to win a Gold Medal with all that superlative talent. Now they were driven not only by that pressure, but also by the desire to avenge their loss to the U.S. and win the Gold in the same game.

The U.S. continued to play excellently, seemingly improving with each game. The Canadians continued to roll on through the tougher bracket, focused on the Gold and playing their best.

It stood to reason then, that when it became apparent that the U.S. and Canada would indeed face off in a rematch for the Gold, that Canada would have the advantage in the matchup....for except for the Canadian game and a one-period, six-goal ouburst against the bronze medalist team Finland, the U.S. never did approach the dominating force on the ice the Canadians were, despite not having trailed in a game to that point in the tournament.

But in today's game, the U.S. team saved its' best for last...with the Canadians determined to win the game and the gold, and the U.S. determined to duplicate their gold medal hockey performance of 30 and 50 years ago, the result was one of the most intensely competitive hockey games the world has ever seen. The quality of play on both sides was nothing short of remarkable.

But the U.S. realized it wasn't playing Switzerland or Finland this time, and it was all they could do to stay with the determined Canadians on the ice...and the skill of the Canadians won out in the beginning, staking their team to a 2-0 lead by the 2nd period.

The U.S. would cut it to 2-1, and hang in there through much of the third period...but they could not sem to tie the score. Finally, with regulation time about to expire, the U.S. used an extra attacker to put a rebound past Luongo to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Overtime seemed appropriate for this game, since both teams played equally well and deserved to win on effort. But now it would come down to a sudden death overtime.

7 minutes in, Crosby took a pass from Iginla off a turnover and blasted the puck past the heroic-in-defeat Miller, and Canada was the deserving Gold Medal Olympic men's hockey champion.

If all the attention in goal were not squarely on Miller(which admittedly was understandable), perhaps observers might have paid more attention to the equally gifted Luongo, who as the Canucks' goalie had the majority of the fans on his side to go with his excellent career record in international competition and a similar 3-2 win over Miller in th builcing when the Canucks beat the Sabres there in late January.

Luongo was also especially determined to win, for he was battling an undeserved "choker" image, and only was playing when Brodeur, the original Canadian starter, was pulled after the first U.S. loss. A Gold Medal would help Luongo change his public image among some hockey fans.

Bottom line, every player on both the Canadian and U.S. teams earned my unending respect and admiration for the way they played and conducted themselves...the game will do a lot for the sport of hockey by showing the world what a great game of skill hockey is.

Perhaps only in a city as beautiful as Vancouver could such a beautiful display of athletic skill take place. Then again, perhaps not.

But it was still a great game...in a great city.

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