When someone recommends a book, I usually say thanks, but unless it is a topic that really excites me, I move on. When two or three people endorse a book it gets my attention. Such is the case with Joe Manchin’s new book, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense.

When someone recommends a book, I usually say thanks, but unless it is a topic that really excites me, I move on.  When two or three people endorse a book, it gets my attention.  Such is the case with Joe Manchin’s new book, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense.  To be honest, I have avoided most books written by politicians, but my friends insured me that this book was different. 

I admit that going in I knew very little about Senator Manchin.  I knew he was a democrat who had a reputation of being fiercely independent.  What impressed me early on in the book is how grounded and highly principled Joe Manchin is.  Raised in the Catholic tradition, he is also anchored in Christian principles.  I also valued the insights he provided on how we as a country can begin to heal from the current polarized environment.

At the close of the introduction, Joe Manchin shares his rules of the road that continue to guide his life.  One in particular caught my attention because I believe it holds the key to how our country might find its way again: “Listen with an open mind, embrace different perspectives and lead by bringing everyone to the table.”

During his time in Washington D.C., Joe Manchin made his home on a 65’ houseboat moored in a marina in the Potomac River.  He was known for hosting other members of congress from both parties.  Often over pizza and beer they would swap stories and share insights.  Joe Manchin wanted to hear all sides and never considered those from the other party to be the enemy.

Many years ago, on a visit to Williamsburg, Virginia I had the opportunity to have a meal at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern.  Early in the day, a tour guide had told us that it was George Washington favorite evening gathering spot.  Indeed, after all days debating foes in the Capital, Washington would hold court at night discussing the issues of the day informally with those who opposed him. 

It seems to me there is a powerful lesson here.  Our country just celebrated our 250^th Birthday, but to be honest my personal celebration was a bit subdued.  From my perspective, we are a divided nation.  We have established camps and find our greatest pleasure in hanging out with those who are like us.  The truth is we are a diverse country, but at the same time know very little about each other. 

We owe it to the next generation to learn from Joe Manchin and listen with an open mind, embrace different perspectives and making sure everyone has a place at the table.”  We need to find a way to be the United States again. 

 

 

Snoopy: A Hero for our Time

 

I was a freshman college student when I was invited to go on my first youth retreat as an adult leader.  The assistant pastor of my home church was the leader, and he based the program on the book The Gospel According to Peanuts by Robert Short.  It is not surprising that Peanuts is still a staple in the comic section of the newspaper.  Afterall, Dennis the Menace, B.C. and Family Circus are still around, but in my opinion Snoopy is different.  He is not the main character, yet he has become a cultural icon.  It is snoopy, not Charlie Brown, who appears every year in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  What is even more astounding is that Snoopy has become somewhat of a cult hero among Gen Z’s.

Ypulse, a marketing firm that traces trends among teens and young adults, recently identified Snoopy as one of the nostalgic kids’ characters that Gen Z’s and Millennials identify with. They point to the fact that the single hashtag #Snoopy has 2.4B views on TikTok. Experts explain Snoopy’s popularity among the younger generation in part due to his youthful character and the nostalgic feeling that it conveys.

It is not just Peanuts and Snoopy.  YPulse also reports that 75% of 13-39-year-olds have bought merchandise based on or inspired by a kid’s TV show, movie, or book. 

What is it about Snoopy, in particular, that young adults identify with?  I believe Snoopy embodies many of the positive qualities such as imagination, resilience, and loyalty, that resonate with Gen Z's values. His playful nature and ability to find joy in simple pleasures align with the desire for authenticity and mindfulness among younger audiences.  

Perhaps there is another reason behind the appeal of Snoopy. Snoopy is creative and he has an imagination that allows him to take on a couple of different personas, Joe Cool, and the lawyer/businessman for example. However, I believe the character that most resonates with young people is the W.W. I flying ace who takes on the Red Barron.  In that role Snoopy takes on an enemy who is both fearless and threatening.  In many ways that is like the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing all of us today.

 

The Southern Border: Crisis or Ministry Opportunity?

 

We are only days removed from the primary election here in Texas.  Personally, I am grateful for the break before the general election in November.  I was weary from hearing all the commercial and having my mailbox full of campaign brochures. The “Crisis at the Border” was the most common theme.  I heard candidates warn about the country being threatened by drug dealers and human smugglers.  Candidates were promising to “close the border, and “finish the wall.” 

Do not get me wrong, there is a problem at our southern border, but I view it more as a humanitarian crisis than a security issue.  We do not need a border wall.  What we need is a better system to process those who want to come into our country.  We also must be able to identify those who are involved in criminal activity, so we keep them out. 

I recently had a conversation with a neighbor who owns a small business in southern Dallas. My neighbor, who is Hispanic, reported that most of his employees are immigrants from Honduras.  He states they are all hard workers, and great family people.  They also are all here legally. 

That reinforces what I see on news reports from the border.  Most of those pouring into our country are families who are looking for a better life.  They just want an opportunity to go through the legal immigration process, get a job and settle in.  Our country was built on welcoming individual like this, and while our unemployment rate is low, I still see signs in many businesses announcing the need workers.

A new report from Pew Research provided me some insight into how this is also a polarizing issue.  There really is a generational divide. While eight in ten (77%) Americans over the age of 65 and seven in ten (71%) of those 50-65 responded dealing with immigration should be a high priority, only three in ten (28%) of those ages 18-29 shared that opinion.  Only one half (49%) of those ages 30-49.  Quite basically, those over fifty want to stop the flow of immigrants, while those under fifty are asking, “what’s the big deal?”

I believe one of the main reasons Millennials and Gen Z’s see immigration as a lower priority is they have grown up in an environment where diversity is a reality.  Most have gone to school with people who share both a different cultural or religious background. Many have friends who come from different backgrounds as well.

I also believe the Bible provides us with some insight on how God desires us to respond to aliens and sojourners.  In Exodus 22:21, God states, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”  When separating the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25:35, Jesus states, “For I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”  The writer of Hebrews (Heb 13:1-2) encourages us to “Show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.

As Christians, I believe we have a duty to welcome those who desire to come in our community seeking safety and a place to settle.  It is our opportunity to be the hands of Jesus.  We need to be mindful of what Matthew said about Jesus; “When he saw the crowd, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

 

 

For Such a Time as This

 

For many years I was posting weekly on Blogspot.  Unlike my weekly Passing the Torch Newsletter in which I try to unbiasedly report cultural trends and possible implications for the church, my blog provided an opportunity for me to comment and give my opinion on issues of the day.  Over the last couple of weeks God has put on my heart the need to resurrect my regular use of Blogspot.  I sense we are living in unsettling times.  This election year has the potential to be especially contentious.  Like many Americans, I am troubled by this.  While I am not fearful for the future of our country, God is still in charge, I am concerned about the long-term impact of this election year.  I am concerned over the kind of world my grandchildren will grow up in. 

I have always considered myself to be a conservative, but tend to vote more based on character than political party.  One of the disturbing things that I have observed over the last decade is louder rhetoric and a higher degree of contention. In the process, lines have been drawn in the sand and there is little room for compromise. Quite simply, we have lost our ability to listen to each other and to respect those who hold alternative opinions.  As a result, we have people on different sides of an issue standing on opposite sides of the street, holding signs, and shouting at each other.  The only ones standing in the middle are police officers who are there to keep the two sides apart.

One pet peeve of mine has always been that while we have classes on public speaking, we never offer instruction on public listening.  We teach students how to communicate their opinion on a topic, but never instruct them how to listen and discern what someone on the other side is saying.  More importantly, why they hold that opinion.   There can be no discussion and compromise unless we seek to understand each other.

I recently read David Brooks’ new book, How to Know a Person; The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.  The author addresses this issue in the chapter The Epidemic of Blindness.  He states,

“We live in an environment in which political animosities, technical dehumanization, and social breakdown undermine connection, strain friendships, erase intimacy and foster distrust.  We are living in the middle of some sort of vast emotional, relational and spiritual crisis.  It is as if people across society have lost the ability to see and understand one another, thus producing a culture that can be brutalizing and isolating.”

(How to Know a Person, page 97)

 

The unfortunate reality, from my perspective, is that Christians have become part of the problem, rather than contributing to the solution.  In the process, we have become known more for what we are against, than for what we should be stand for.  Our strong rhetoric on the issues, has drowned out the message of grace, love, and mercy we are called to represent.  This has deeply harmed our ability to reach younger generations.

My prayer is that we might turn down our voices and learn to listen to each other.  We need less emphasis on what we think and more on what others are thinking and feeling and why they hold such strong opinions.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”

Matthew 5:9

Being More Like Daniel

It is probably a sad commentary on the state of things when I can say nothing really surprises me anymore.  The world I grew up in, it was pretty simple: there were girls and there were boys.   When it comes to sexual identities now, I hear all kinds of options, some lists contain more than fifty definitions of sexual identity.  Our present culture allows individuals to establish their sexual identity based on how that person feels.  The current environment can be particularly confusing and stressful for teens who as we know from experience struggle with their identity. 

Now a new proposal from the American Medical Association (AMA) seems to muddy the waters even further.  The recommendation is that going forward “sex should be removed as a legal designation on the public part of birth certificates.” A person's sex designation at birth would still be submitted to the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth for medical, public health, and statistical use only.  The actual birth certificate a person carries with them for life will contain no reference to their sex at birth.  In the words of the AMA, “Requiring it can lead to discrimination and unnecessary burden on individuals whose current gender identity does not align with their designation at birth, namely when they register for school or sports, adopt, get married, or request personal records.”

We should not be surprised by the AMA’s statement.  The medical field has been moving in this direction for decades.  In 2007 there was one pediatric gender clinic in America.  Today there are hundreds.  Today’s teens, without parental permission, can walk into any of these clinics and find testosterone therapy available.  We also need to be mindful that gender dysphoria has long been recognized as a condition that can afflict children. While historically the focus has been on gender dysphoria among young males, contemporary girls can face the same issue. 

Being a “good Lutheran,” I find myself asking the question “What does this mean?”  In the context of my personal relationship with God, it changes nothing.  I am still a “man of God” who has been called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I am still to be a person of grace, compassion and mercy.  The context into which I am called is vastly different than even ten years ago.  In many ways I am like Daniel, who was forced to live in pagan Babylon.  Daniel did not allow that toxic culture to change him.  He worshiped God and practiced his faith as he always had.  Yes, he paid a price for that, but in the end those around him saw his testimony and came to respect him and, in some cases, even worshiped his God.

Let us be people of grace, compassion and mercy, being slow to speak and quick to listen.  All the time, our actions and demeanor should reflect the Savior who gave his life for all people, even those who are searching for their sexual identity.

 

 

 

Who is Tommy Dorfman and Why we Need to Care About Her?

 I was drawn to an article in the most recent Time Magazine.  Okay, I will admit I drawn to the picture of what I thought was an alluring female.  After delving into the article, I was surprised to find out that it was Tommy Dorfman.   Tommy Dorfman is an actor who rose to fame playing a young man named Ryan Shaver on a Netflix show.  In her most recent roles Tommy Dorfman is being cast as a female.  You see, Tommy Dorfman has transitioned from a male to a female.  In the process, he/she has become a role model for LGTBQ youth in the United States.

While I find Tommy Dorfman’s transition troubling on multiple levels, I can reflect back on my own youth and my struggles with identity.  While I do not recall ever having questioned my identity as a male, I also realize I grew up in a different time when such ideas were not only tabu, but also not even on the cultural radar.  It is indeed a more challenging and difficult time to be a young person.  In many ways, the “you can be anything you want to be” dream has taken on a whole new meaning.

During my years in ministry, I had contact with countless teens and young adults who were struggling with their identity.  One of the great joys during my years as a school counselor was to watch students who were totally lost as middle schoolers, find their niche by the time they became seniors.  I found even greater pleasure when those students would return as successful alumni. 

I also counseled young people who were struggling with their identity as a person.  Yes, I did spend time discussing sexual identity with more than one student.  That was often a difficult conversation because as a faith-based school, the Gay/Lesbian issue was not supposed to be on the agenda. Of course, that was fourteen years ago and I suspect it is much different today. 

I know from Scripture that we are all, through the power of the Holy Spirit, being transformed into the people God wants us to be.  I know from personal experience, that God calls us to come along side those who are struggling with their identity.  This becomes a challenge for me today on multiple levels.  I know from experience that when I get involved with other people, it can get messy.  I might be drawn into situations or hear opinions that make me uncomfortable.  I also might encounter people who are heading down a path I see as running contrary to God’s desires for His people.

It is a challenge, but I sincerely believe it is one we must encounter. For too long the church, and church people, have become known more for “what we are against” than “what we are for.”  We have become quick to judge and slow to listen.  I truly believe we need to listen to people who like Tommy Dorfman are struggling with their sexual identity.  His behavior might be offensive to God, but then so is mine sometimes… and God loves me, just as He loves Tommy Dorfman just the same.

 

Frazzled Families

 You are in the middle of two years of your life you will not remember.”  There are certain comments that you not only remember, but where you can actually recall the exact location and circumstance.  In this case the words came from our good friend, Jean Heyse, as we stood in the driveway of the house, she shared with her husband Bob.  They were more than just friends.  Being a ministry family that was separated from the usually generational support system, we relied on church friends to come along side us and provide childcare, so we got a little break.  During our time in Dundee, Illinois Bob and Jean Heyse were our kids “surrogate grandparents.”

We were a somewhat unique family in that there is nine years difference between our oldest, Peter, and the next in line.  That meant at that point in time we had two children under the age of three and another who was on the verge of being a teenager.  Bob and Jean had stepped up to watch the youngest two while Barb and I enjoyed some time with Peter.  Now it was back to reality and Jean was offering both words of encouragement and truth.  Barb and I were both working full-time, she as a pre-school teacher and church musician and I as a DCE.  It was a “crazy time.” 

I thought of those hectic times in the last week as I read about the struggles that parents have been going through in the last year.  The pandemic has greatly impacted the members of the Millennial generation who are now parents.  They have had to pivot, from life as they knew it prior to COVID-19 to being sheltered at home.  No school or daycare for the kids.  The commute to the office has become the journey from kitchen to the dining room table where they try to get work done on their laptop, while also overseeing their kids.  They are balancing careers, while also overseeing their children’s education. 

New research from The Barna Group is even greater proof of not only how frazzled young parent are, but also their level of concern.  Nine out of ten parents report that they are concerned about their child’s academic and social growth.  In addition, anxiety and depression are at an all-time high among children and teens.  The same study also indicates that Christian parents have the same concern about the spiritual development of their children. 

I guess it is my “glass half-full” perspective that has caused me to see this as a rare opportunity for the church.  Those who minister to children and their parents have never had a more open opportunity.  Parents are hurting and they are begging for someone to listen to their cry and come along side them.  The challenge for the church is that the current circumstance calls for a different approach to ministry.  The big, flashy, “Sunday Morning Experience” approach no longer works.  This is a time when we need to take our ministry to them via social media and one-on-one contacts where they live. 

Millennial parents do not want “canned program” or lots of activities to entertain their kids.  They are crying for people who will listen to them, and them come along side them to help them navigate this difficult world.  The window of opportunity is quickly closing.  While we want to celebrate the re-opening of worship centers and enjoy fellowship with those we have missed, the real ministry is waiting for us in our neighborhoods.