I try to stay away from topics that might be politically charged because experience tells me those discussions usually go places I don’t want to go. There’s nothing wrong with a political blog…this just isn’t one of them nor do I want it to be. So, what I’m about to write is not politically driven. This isn’t a republican, democrat or libertarian point of view….

A couple of years ago I read a phenomenal book, Freakonomics: The Hidden Side of Everything. In this book the authors, both economists, look at the story behind various numbers and trends in our culture. One of the most controversial findings concerned the dramatic decrease in crime in the early 90’s in major US cities. Countless theories were given for the decrease but the authors suggest a chilling alternative answer to the question. The answer: Roe v. Wade. They suggest that the landmark case, which protected the right for women to have an abortion, had the ultimate impact of dramatically decreasing the population that would commit crimes: namely, minorities in low-income, single parent situations. You see, in the early 90’s these children would have been 18-20 years old, the time when most young men begin committing crimes. Since Roe had the effect of erasing millions of births among the poor, this had the ultimate effect of taking criminals off the street. Agree or disagree….this is the theory propagated by Freakonomics AND…

Just this week, Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bather-Gingsburg was quoted in the New York Times Magazine as saying: “Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.” She goes onto say that her theory may not be accurate. Interesting, though, that one of our Supreme Court Justices has this stream of thought.  AND….

On March, 20, 2009, President Obama recommended, and the Senate confirmed, John Holdren as the new Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, aka, our Science Czar. Holdren, a Harvard Professor, is known widely for his 1970’s book where he writes: “Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society… It would even be possible to require pregnant single women to marry or have abortions, perhaps as an alternative to placement for adoption, depending on the society.” He goes even to further extremes suggesting the possibility of adding a sterilant to things like food and water. I AM NOT SUGGESTING this is going to happen. I am, however, asking you to think and consider how those in positions of influence, incredible influence, think. AND, finally, speaking of influence:

In May 2009, a group of American billionaires, like Winfrey, Gates, Rockefeller and Buffet gathered in NYC to chat (you know, about billionaire stuff) and perhaps find a common cause that they all might get behind. The outcome, lead by Gates, was to focus on problem of over-population, noting that slowing down population growth is the quickest way to see improvements in health and education. There it is again: population control.

I’ll summarize this way: I have another solution we might consider. Perhaps instead of trying to be God (that is, deciding who lives and who doesn’t) maybe we should introduce people to God. For me, Jesus is the Answer to all of this. I believe the healthiest way to solve these issues is to help people find Christ because in Him, you find liberty, freedom, love and a burden to provide for your kids, a desire to feed a hungry person, the desire to work, the obligation to honor your government, a respect for elders and a compassion for children. I know there are practical needs (food, water, etc.) that still must be met and I know that Christians will fall short, but still, Jesus is the answer to all of these questions. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Believe it, live it and pass it along.

Every other Tuesday, I meet with a group of guys who challenge each other to live our lives at the highest level. No matter the topic, I always leave inspired to make each day count more than the last. This past Tuesday, that feeling was even more intense.

Our conversation centered on two passages of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Both passages are addressing those who were following Christ and both teach that our life on earth will be “reviewed” by God when we die. What struck me the most was this passage:

12 Anyone who builds on [the foundation of Christ] may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flame.

Did you catch that? We can build with whatever we like, but when judged, will what we built with stand up to the test? In other words, is what we are building on this earth of ETERNAL value? The question here does not concern salvation…it concerns living life for those things that last. Those things that matter most.

What are you building with?

Lots is being said these days about P90X…the latest and greatest get you cut-up and looking like a cover model in 12 weeks exercise/nutrition plan. I’ve seen the videos. I like them. Good workout. Lots of commitment and hard work. Hmmmm….seems like a recipe I’ve heard for getting in shape before: diet and exercise.

With all the attention on our physical fitness (and I’m first in line to support that) I wonder who might be ready for a little P90X for our spiritual lives? You know…a committed diet of God’s Word, a little daily prayer exercise, perhaps a spiritually cleansing fast here and there. Throw in a little “spiritual confusion” (p90x is built around the concept of muscle confusion) too…serve your spouse, give 10% or more to your local church, ask someone about their spiritual life, maybe tell someone about Jesus.

Okay, it’s time for me to get over to LA Fitness….

50 years. That was God’s gift to Michael Jackson. Fifty years to make a mark, to make a difference in this world. Millions of articles will be written in the coming weeks about the legendary life of Michael Jackson. No doubt his mark was enormous. Indelible. But, most of you reading this have the same question I do. And, that is as big as his life was… “will it leave an eternal mark?” I don’t know Michael Jackson personally (shocker) so I won’t begin to judge his life. I do know my life intimately and I’ve been asking myself questions like this a lot lately: “how am I honoring God with my life?” “what am I teaching my kids and my wife about the love of Christ?” “how might God use me to reach hundreds, thousands or millions for Him?”

Michael got 50. How many will we get?  We can’t answer that. So, why not this question:

“what are we doing with the time we are given?”

Back in the day when my dad coached my little league team one of his favorite mantras was: be the ball. If you’ve played lots of ball, you’ve probably heard it.  Translated: when you are batting be so focused on the ball that you almost become part of it and it becomes part of you.  Great hitting requires great vision and focus. You must lock onto the ball and make it a part of you. Reminds me of our walk with God.

On numerous occasions in the New Testament, believers were commanded to “imitate” Jesus. (1 Thes. 1:6; 1 Cor. 11:1, etc.) Imitate means to “make a copy of” or to “reproduce closely.” In other words, become just like the Lord. “Be the Lord.” Okay, before you choke on your Wheaties, I know we cannot actually become the Lord but our lives should mimic His. The focus is to become like Him in every way possible. To hit a baseball you need vision and focus…to live the life of a follower of Christ, the same is true. Come on…be the ball Lord.