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Why We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

May 4th, 2012

Did you know that the first Cinco de Mayo celebration was not in Mexico, but in California in 1863? To this day, the date is still more celebrated in the US than in Mexico. While that probably has more to do with tequila and beer corporations marketing the holiday, there is a good reason for (North) Americans to remember Cinco de Mayo. Contrary to popular belief, May 5th is not Mexico’s Independence Day. It actually commemorates one of the most important battles in the US Civil War and played a part in Lincoln being able to preserve the Union.

After a series of exhausting and expensive wars from 1846 to 1860 (including the Mexican-American War), Mexico was bankrupt. Mexican President Juarez issued a memorandum that all debt payments would have to be suspended for two years. That was enough for the English, Spanish and the French to load their respective armies on their ships to come looking for payment. While the English and Spanish worked out an agreement with Mexico and turned back, Napoleon III (Napoleon I’s nephew) saw an opportunity to make a land grab and establish “The Second Mexican Empire.” Read the rest of this entry »

You Say You Want A Christian in the White House

April 29th, 2012

I should confess right off that I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 because, in part, he was a man of faith. He called himself a “compassionate conservative,” which was how I liked to think of myself. After a couple of years, I realized the man I had voted for wasn’t very compassionate or conservative, at least not fiscally. By the end of his second term, I was ready for someone totally different. Yet, even though my politics had shifted, I still wanted to vote for someone that shared my values.

In 2007, I heard a rumor that Barack Obama was going to visit the Bethel AME Church in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He was here to campaign with Harold Ford, who was running for the US Senate. While then-Senator Obama wasn’t yet running for President, he was obviously considering it. Like a lot of people, I’d heard Senator Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention and was intrigued enough that I drove across town to see him in person. Read the rest of this entry »

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

April 13th, 2012

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). That was the question a defensive sounding Cain asked God after he’d killed Abel. Christians know the answer is, “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper,” and most are willing to lend a helping hand to their fellow man. Whether it’s building a Habitat for Humanity house, volunteering at Room at the Inn, or serving meals at the mission, they are actively working through their churches to assist those in their own communities, as well as remote villages thousands of miles away.

And yet, at the same time, many of these same Christians are opposed to the government doing the very same kind of work. It’s as if tax dollars are in a separate category and should never be used for social programs that offer a life preserver to a person struggling to keep his or her head above the poverty line. At the mention of government assistance, many conservative Christians suddenly become suspicious of free-loaders and disdainful of any sort of bureaucratic waste. Read the rest of this entry »

2012: The End of the World

March 31st, 2012

According to the Mayan calendar, the world is coming to an end on December 21st of 2012. Actually, many Mayan scholars believe the completion of the long-form calendar does not mean that the Mayans thought the world would end. It could mean it’s the end of a major cycle, or maybe they simply ran out of room on their big stone wheel. But don’t tell that to the present-day doomsayers who have been busy spinning scenarios for the destruction of the planet involving asteroids, black holes, solar flares, and the earth reversing polarity.

While it’s easy to ridicule the notion that an ancient Indian culture would be able to pinpoint the end of the world, it might be worthwhile to ask the question, ‘What if….?’ What if the Mayans had special insight and/or were in contact with a supra-intelligence? And what if December 21st is really it; how would that change the way we live the last few months we have left? More specifically, what would I want to do to prepare for the end of the world? Read the rest of this entry »

Beware ‘The Ides of March’ in Tennessee Politics

March 24th, 2012

What would happen if the winner of the Super Bowl got to make the rules for next season? Instead of getting the last pick in the draft, the champs got to take the first pick? What if they could decide which division they played in and could pick an easier schedule? As a result, they would virtually ensure consecutive championships for the foreseeable future. If that sounds unsporting, unethical, and even absurd, that’s about what the Republicans are doing to Tennessee’s political system.

To press their already huge advantage, the GOP majority has been busy “redistricting” or redrawing the map so they are likely to win more seats in the future. By splicing up Shelby County, they have reduced the Senate seats from five to four and whittled down five African American incumbents to three seats. Of course, the only legitimate reason to redistrict is when there are population changes in a specific area. Splitting counties and forcing Democrat incumbents to run against each other has nothing to do with re-balancing the districts and everything to do with a power grab. Read the rest of this entry »

“Real Christian Values” Video

March 12th, 2012

We hear a lot about “Christian Values” these days. My short (3 minute) video, “Real Christian Values” takes a closer look at the issues Jesus valued in his day. You can view it on YouTube or just play it below. Thanks!

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A Laundry List for Lent

February 27th, 2012

It’s that time of year, when we’re supposed to give up something for Lent. Not being Catholic, there’s a lot I don’t know about this sacred spiritual exercise. Although it sounds a lot like the wooly stuff that accumulates in dryers and belly buttons, I’ve been assured there is absolutely no connection with “lint.” Never-the-less, whether you are religious or not, “Lent,” can be an opportunity to remove the fluffy, extra stuff that accumulates and distracts you from God, nature, family, or your even own life. If you’re wondering what to give up, I’ve included a few suggestions to get you started: Read the rest of this entry »

Pundit’s ‘Documentary’ Bends Facts to Serve Politics (Phil Valentine)

February 17th, 2012

If you live here in Nashville (or over a hundred other syndicated cities), you’ve probably heard the voice of conservative radio talk show host Phil Valentine giving his opinion on a wide variety of subjects. Valentine isn’t just a radio host; he is also a public speaker, author, entertainer, and community organizer. In 2000, it was Phil (and another talk show host) who led the horn honking tax revolt at the Tennessee state capital. Now Phil can add filmmaker to his list of accomplishments.

“An Inconsistent Truth” is a Michael Moore style documentary that pokes fun at Al Gore and global warming. Audiences packed into Nashville theaters to jeer at this vast left wing conspiracy. That many in attendance were wearing short-sleeved shirts in February was irrelevant. Even if the earth is warming, the documentary claims it couldn’t have anything to do with the billions of tons of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere every year. Out of the thousands of scientists who do believe that human activity is causing climate change, Valentine found three who don’t. Read the rest of this entry »

How to Become a Modern Day Prophet

February 11th, 2012

Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times. No previous experience required. Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented. Commanding voice and facial hair a plus. Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom.

Sounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it? The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen. There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.

George Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’ People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in. The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet: Read the rest of this entry »

Stephen Colbert: America’s Satirist

February 7th, 2012

Stephen Colbert is not what he seems. Sure, he plays the part of an over-the-top conservative pundit, but his deception goes well beyond that. While he cracks crude jokes and stages silly stunts, he is simultaneously duping his viewers. You see, we are all unsuspecting rubes in his master plan to educate and enlighten us about our own political system. Night after night, he dissects complex issues while parodying the absurdities of our times. And in the process, Stephen Colbert has become this country’s greatest political satirist.

To be fair, I can’t fully appreciate what Lenny Bruce and George Carlton did in their day; much less gauge the importance of Will Rogers or Mark Twain. That being said, I don’t know of another comedian who has so completely embraced a single character, or so thoroughly mastered the art of sarcasm. It’s almost hard to imagine Stephen Colbert not being the megalomaniac who feeds on applause, trust his guts over his brains, and never backs away from a challenge. That willingness to push the boundaries of his one man show has won him legions of loyal fans, otherwise known as Colbert Nation. Read the rest of this entry »

The Bully Pulpit

January 26th, 2012

On Friday, January 20th, a gay fourteen year old young man named Phillip Parker hung himself in Gordonsville, Tennessee. Phillip’s parents said they reported the bullying to the high school, but their son’s persecution only continued to the point he felt he could no longer go on. This tragedy comes less than two months after another Middle Tennessee high school student, Jacob Rogers, was taunted by classmates about his sexuality until he also took his own life.

A backdrop to these heartbreaking stories is the Tennessee House of Representatives preoccupation with trying to legislate the state straight. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill (HB229) limits all sexually related instruction to “natural human reproductive science” through the eighth grade. The intent of this bill is not to allow any mention of “gay” in schools, which would presumably include speaking out against bullying gay teens such as Phillip. It is as if we don’t talk about homosexuality, it won’t occur to young people to become gay. (This bill is currently being discussed in subcommittee). Read the rest of this entry »

My Problem with Tim Tebow

January 14th, 2012

When I first saw the National Championship winning quarterback who wore Bible verses under his eyes, I didn’t like him. When he began starting for the Broncos, I confess, I looked forward to watching him fail. And when he started winning and “tebowing” on the sidelines, I disliked him even more. As I write this, he is playing the Steelers (my mortal enemies) who are led by Ben Roethlisberger, a poster boy for bad behavior. Yet, once again, I find myself pulling against Tebow.

Born to Baptist missionaries, Tim Tebow is clearly sincere about his faith. By all accounts he is a hard-working, respectful young man who is trying to honor God. Unlike so many other sports superstars, he sets a good example for kids. He’s a competitor who truly cares about the game instead of just collecting a paycheck. All he’s really doing that annoys me is expressing his faith; the same faith I supposedly share with him. So what’s my problem with the guy? Read the rest of this entry »

2050: Life in the Bubble

January 7th, 2012

9/12/2050: My name is Jon Dalton and I am twelve years old. For my homework assignment, I’m supposed to keep a journal about my life. Then they are going to bury it in a time capsule and in a hundred years, they’ll dig it up and know what life was like in 2050…and I’ll be famous!

I was lucky to be born in one of the few big biospheres around the country. There are only a limited number of people who can be inside the biosphere or “bubble” as we like to call it. Most people had to pay a lot of money to get inside. (My parents were chosen because they are really smart engineers). Sometimes it’s kind of boring and I wish I could go outside, but as my dad always says, “the bubble beats the alternative.” Read the rest of this entry »

Saving the Corporate Soul

December 27th, 2011

No longer content to be cryptic stock symbols resigned to the back of the business section of the newspaper, corporations are coming out, and they’re loud and proud. When the Supreme Court removed all financial limits on their right of free speech in Citizens United, we knew we would be hearing more from our corporate brethren. Even Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, recently stood up for these misunderstood bastions of capitalism by boldly declaring “Corporations are people!”

Some may be uncomfortable with the notion of multi-conglomerates as their next door neighbors, or fearful of the kind of influence these behemoths could wield. However, this could be a terrific boon for churches, which have been suffering from declining memberships and contributions. If corporations are considered people, this opens up a whole new mission field of souls that need to be saved – and these souls come wrapped in expensive suits with big budgets and disposable incomes. Read the rest of this entry »

Adventually

December 18th, 2011

I am fairly new to the tradition of lighting candles for advent and have had a few confusing moments. Do you light the “joy” candle before the “love” candle – and where does “peace” figure in? For that matter, flaming candles in a wreath of laurel seems like a recipe for disaster. Despite my advent naiveté, I like that the simple exercise is about as opposite as you can get from stringing LED lights from your Christmas tree, into your yard, and across your roof.

“Advent” comes from the Latin word “coming,” and is a celebration of the first coming of Jesus. For me, simply staring at a flame is like looking into the past. It’s almost impossible to imagine life before electricity; a time when I didn’t have light and heat at the flick of a switch. I find it a little spooky to be way out in the country, removed from all “artificial” light. Couple that kind of darkness with shorter winter days and the nights can feel like they’re going to swallow you up. In such a setting, there’s something comforting about a campfire, a lantern, or even a match. Read the rest of this entry »

What Churches Can Learn From Occupy Wall Street

December 9th, 2011

Occupy Wall Street has quickly grown from a single protest at Zuccotti Park in New York to over 900 cities around the world. There are several reasons why the Occupy Movement has experienced such exponential growth in only three months, but the primary one is that they boldly seized a cause that was crying out for a champion. There was, and still is, a groundswell of people who desperately want to restore balance to a fundamentally unjust economic system.

While more Americans than ever slipped below the poverty line in 2011 (46.2 million), the wealthiest 1% now controls 40% of the nation’s wealth. That kind of disparity is wrong by any standards, and is an injustice that falls squarely within the church’s domain. Some pastors have been fighting the good fight for years; however, many are strangely silent when it comes to getting actively involved in shaping policies that help the sick, hungry, and poor (aka “the least of these.”) Not wanting to create a riff in their congregations or upset contributors, they tend to shy away from the “controversial” issues. Read the rest of this entry »