Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

A potpourri of wisdom and wit offered without editorial comment…

“Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of the government. The history of government is a history of resistance. The history of liberty is the history of the limitation of government, not the increase of it.” —Woodrow Wilson

“Most of the labels people use to talk about judges, and the way judges decide [cases] aren’t too descriptive… Judges should be judges. They shouldn’t be legislators, they shouldn’t be administrators… The Supreme Court is an institution that I have long held in reverence. During my 29 years as a public servant, I’ve had the opportunity to view the Supreme Court from a variety of perspectives—as an attorney in the Solicitor General’s Office, arguing and briefing cases before the Supreme Court, as a federal prosecutor, and most recently for the last 15 years as a judge of the Court of Appeals.” —Judge Samuel Alito, upon being nominated to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

“There have been men before now who got so interested in proving the existence of God that they came to care nothing for God Himself…as if the good Lord had nothing to do but exist! There have been some who were so occupied in spreading Christianity
that they never gave a thought to Christ.” —C. S. Lewis

“First, the good news: American teenagers are more religious than many adults seem to think. And now the bad news: American teenagers are less religious than many adults seem to think… Instead of learning the basic tenets of their religion, teens are simply absorbing a belief that if you try to be good all the time, you’ll be happy—and being happy is what life’s all about…Teenagers aren’t getting this vague, consumer-based version of religion out of nowhere…[A]dults preach at teenagers about defying authority, spending too much money, watching too much TV, being sexually irresponsible, and more—and yet adults engage in these practices to a far greater extent than teens do… Teens who compartmentalize their faith, or just don’t take time to understand it, are a natural result of adults who do the
same things… [T]he kids we’re so concerned about are in many ways simply reflections of us.” —Chuck Colson

“[N]o big deal. By definition, that’s what a ‘major social norm’ is: no big deal. But in fact it is a big deal—whether the grown-ups in their lives are prepared to say so or not—when kids too young to lawfully buy a pack of cigarettes are routinely engaging in sexual activity that most of them don’t yet have the maturity or understanding to handle. In its potential to inflict internal damage or cause lasting pain, sex far surpasses tobacco. But while kids are warned repeatedly and stridently about the dangers of smoking, school-age sex is widely regarded as
inevitable. The same people who enforce ‘zero-tolerance’ strictures when it comes to guns and knives push a very different message when it comes to sex: Keep it ’safe’ and legal, and you’ll hear no complaints from us… Shouldn’t those charged with the education of eenagers be pushing back against the relentless sexualization of
the culture instead of knuckling under to it? With sex bombarding hem everywhere they turn, don’t kids need more than ever to be taught that sex is for grown-ups?… There is something awfully sad and strange about a culture in which teenage sex is condoned so long as it is ’safe,’ while teenage smoking is denounced as categorically wrong. Sex has become a mere issue of health and the law, while morality is reserved for tobacco.” —Jeff Jacoby

“Americans…are getting increasingly angry with out-of-control government spending, waste, fraud, and abuse… It is the sense of increasing disgust about blatant overspending and our ability to make the tough choices people on budgets have to make each and every day… In the State of Washington alone there are 17,590
homeless people, and we are going to take money from Housing and Urban Development and we are going to build a sculpture park. I think that is not the right priority. It may be a good idea, but the priority is certainly out of line with what the fiscal
needs are, and certainly out of line with the expectations of the American people on how we are spending their money… I also remind our fellow Members [of Congress] that if you read the Constitution, there are great difficulties—regardless of what
our history has been—justifying, looking at the Constitution and saying this is a role for the Federal Government… It is probably a great project, but not now, not at this time, and not with Federal money.” —Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)

With thanks from the Patriot Update from the Federalist Society.

It’s encouraging to know that Mr. Bush’s suspected case of “tin ear” has been cured. Extricated from his illogical choice of Harriet Miers, the President has taken the opportunity to show that he listens, that he cares about his base of support and that he’s willing to deliver when he’s held accountable by those who put him back in office last year.

Monday’s announcement that the President has nominated Samuel Alito, Jr. to replace out-going justice Sandra O’Conner is being met with cheers from Constructionist Conservatives and jeers from radical libs. Alito is a blue-ribbon conservative. An impressive intellectual, a proven constructionist, a esteemed judge and the kind of nominee that makes the likes of Kennedy and Schumer melt down into quivering masses of hyperbolic extremism, Alito is just what conservatives have been wanting.

And make no mistake, it’s going to be a big-time, no-holds-barred, bare-fisted political brawl.

PAW, move-on.com, NARAL, Barry Lynn, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer and all their leftist buddies are already apoplectic and he hasn’t even made his courtesy calls on Capitol Hill het. Keep in mind, that Judge Alito has been confirmed unanimously in the past and even received kind words from none other than big Teddy Kennedy.

Of course, we all know this, Washington’s atmosphere over judicial appointments is absolutely toxic right now and this is what makes this pending fight so fascination and important. From Bork to Thomas to multiple other controversial appointments, politicians have demonstrated an historic interest in court nominees as activist judges and justices have continued to overstep their authority by legislating from the bench. For nearly a half-century now, major federal courts have been hacking away at rights, privileges and customs that are BEST left to cities, states and plebiscites.

This is not the final battle conservatives will wage to regain control of a court that too often has tried to write law from the marble halls of courtrooms rather than the meeting halls of citizen enclaves. Should a liberal justice step down in the next 3 years, it will be, to twist a phrase from Dictorial Activist Saddam Hussein, “the Mother of all Confirmation Battles.” But this will make a nice warm-up round.

The question remains as to whether or not the Conservatives are too spent on their outrage to the Miers nomination to rally sufficient support for Alito. You can bet your favorite toy that emails, mass mailings and press releases are flying out of offices of every liberal activist group in Washington and beyond as you read this.

With fifty-five Republican votes, you’d think this could be a fairly open-and-shut process. But don’t forget that the Senate has several RINO (Republican In Name Only) members like the sisters from Maine and the liberal from Rhode Island (Chaffee) and only the Lord knows what the “Gang of 14″ might do. I would not be surprised at a fillibuster attempt, though it would truly be an act of desperation and further indication of how extreme today’s Democratic Party has become.

But for those of us who enjoy political drama and the process of government in the great American Democratic experiment, the next few weeks will be a veritable smorgasboard of conflict, strategy and drama.

Bring it on! I’m making popcorn. This is going to be a great show!

Most of us are vaguely aware that are some upcoming elections in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg region, but as is the case with most “off-year” elections, we can become pretty complacent about participating which gives liberal activists an opportunity to seize control or upset people who are generally friendly to conservative and pro-family values.

In Charlotte, we have a fairly popular Mayor who is running for re-election against a candidate who likes to make noises like a conservative, but has alliance with extremes organizations within our community.

It’s important that you know that the Gay and Lesbian Political Action Committee (PAC) has strongly endorsed Democrat Craig Madans in his effort to unseat Republican Mayor Pat McCrory. In their official announcement they also issued the strongest condemnation toward McCrory’s candidacygiving a warning. This means that this PAC gave money to Craig Madans and is campaigning actively to support candidates who agree with their platform

While on WBT radio Madans has pretended to be a conservative, but he has stated in political forums and to the Gay and Lesbian PAC that he strongly supports taxpayer supported domestic partner benefits for same-sex partners of city employees. The election is next Tuesday, November 8, and many voters may be inclined to skip an election which is in on off-year cycle.

I also want to mention that there’s a bad news bond issue up for consideration which will mean higher taxes yet again for this over-taxed region. There are also crucial seats on the School Board and city council up for grabs as well. I’ll try to do my homework between now and next week and give you more thoughts a week from today.

Sunday evenings, I’m prone to a bit of melancholy randomness. Here are some examples…

So I read today, that Prince Charles intends to lecture President Bush about the virtues of Islam and that it is really a “religion of peace.” Speaking as an American whose ancestors fought a certain war to make sure we don’t have to pay any attention to the King (or future “King”) of England, I could not possibly care less what the equivalent of Britain’s national “pet” thinks. Maybe he should take his views to some of the families of the British citizens that were blown to kingdom come on London’s mass transportation system last July.

Considering the shellacking the Carolina Panthers gave the Minnesota Vikings this afternoon, does anyone else think that maybe the Vikings might want to lay off their boat trips and maybe concentrate on….say…..FOOTBALL for a change?

Senate MINORITY Leader Harry Reid thinks the President and the Vice-President should apologize to the nation because “Scooter” Libby got indicted. If I were the President, I’d offer an apology that goes something like this, “My fellow Americans, I’m sorry that apparently the Democrats have a fixation on apologies that makes them believe that every problem can be solved with a quiver of the lip, a tear in the eye and Clintonesque look into the camera while uttering “I AM SOOOOOOO Sorry. While it didn’t work for Jimmy Swaggart, maybe it will work for them.” I’m uncertain as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Libby. I am pretty sure, however, that Harry Reid is a full-blown political idiot.

Why is it that the day after daylight savings time ends I feel like I’m an hour late to EVERYTHING?

Well, I have more, but I think that’s probably more than enough for this evening.

For the last 6 weeks, we have offered over 30 home Bible studies across the Charlotte metropolitan area using a series I developed called “Living Beyond Reality.” As the first wave reaches completion, we are seeing a second wave of groups beginning as folks take the study and use them in new studies, other churches and on their own. We will be offering this course in our church in January as part of our “Powerwalk” ministry. We are pleased to be able to offer you this series now through the Cross Connections Online Bookstore.

This is the COMPLETE KIT for the Living Beyond Reality Group Studies. In this kit, you receive sample student manual, teacher’s manual, 6 DVD lessons all in a manual with instructions. You may email us for a downloadable copy of the Living Beyond Reality student manual to duplicate on your own and/or to make adjustments if you are using it in a local church setting. You can do the six lessons individually, as a home Bible study, small class study, group study or whatever format you find convenient. The six lessons cover six topics based on “Reality” TV Shows. The lessons are: The Apprentice - How to Keep Work from Controlling Your Life; The Surreal Life - Building a relationship with a God You Cannot See; Nanny 9-1-1 - Raising Your Kid without Killing them First; The Amazing Race - Staying Married for a Lifetime; Extreme Makeover – Rebuilding Your Life from the Inside Out and Big Brother – Living Like God is Watching. These six lessons are FILLED with practical applications, sound Bible teaching, humor, wit and wisdom. Intended for a 1 hour format which includes introductions and review, a 20 minute DVD lesson and 20 minutes of discussion and application. COMING SOON - For pastors — Six Sermons to go alongside of the Living Beyond Reality Series available on DVD or as Sermon Notes.

The series was primarily developed to introduce non-believers or the unchurched to an understanding of the depth of God’s Word and it’s impact on life, but many believers have given testimony of the impact these lessons have had on their lives as well.

The Living Beyond Reality Series may be purchased here.

If you’d like to take a look at the videos or the sermons, they are currently on our church website . Feel free to email me at dburrell@northsidebapt.org if you have any questions on how this video series might be used.

Unlike the Houston Astros, the President gets another inning and another time up to bat. The question remains as to whether he’s going to strike out, bunt or aim for the fence.

As I predicted on Monday, Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination today. Yes, there’s a little temptation on my part to gloat over my prophetic abilities, but that would be unseemly, particularly that if the truth be told, my conjecture was as much dumb luck as the reading of political tea-leaves. (Though my prediction was based on more than wishful thinking.)

I have no small sympathy for Miss Miers on a personal level. She’s been through a horrific and torturous experience that will, no doubt, take some time from which to heal. I hope that when she retires from Washington life, she’ll get a bunch of 7 figure job offer$ and spend the final years of her career making money and enjoying life.

Now the question remains if Mr. Bush is smart enough to make the most of this opportunity. Many of his harshest conservative critics (including me) are looking for an excuse to get back on his team. With that in mind, I offer these strategies for getting his Presidency back on the right track.

First, pick a fight-worthy new nominee. There’s nothing that draws a crowd and regains focus like a good old-fashioned political brawl. Nominate a Michael Luttig or a Janice Rogers Brown and watch the liberal dems burst into flames. The warm glow of their outrage will draw conservatives from every corner to feed and fan it. If the Republican leadership does their job and maintains party discipline and the nominee will make it. If the dems decide to fillibuster, all the better. It will be a perfect opportunity to put the spotlight on liberal extremism.

Next, get out the scissors and start cutting the spending from Congress. Go after fat, pork and excess on both sides of the aisle.

Then, let Michael Chertoff go after the illegal immigration in this country. Work out a decent guest worker program and start deporting illegals and patrolling and reinforcing our borders.

Another thing he should do is get out his veto stamp and USE IT. There’s no excuse for the fact that he’s rubber-stamped some awful spending bills and expansions of government programs. He has the right to stop this by using his veto and the fact that he’s the first President in nearly 180 to have not used it is not a proud accomplishment.

Draw up some accountability for Katrina money. Quit thinking that handing out money like a drunken sailor will make the liberals and dems like you. The government can print that much money. Louisiana in general and NO in particular are notoriously corrupt. Take a tough stand on limiting money, demanding accountability and using private investment as much as possible to rebuild that area.

Finally, bring some troops home from Iraq. Not all of them. Not the ones needed to provide stability. Even if its only 5,000 or so from an area that the Iraqi nationals can hold. Bringing some of the troops home will send a message that we won’t be there forever and it will give at least a little light for our tunnel.

If Bush were to show leadership in these areas, he would quickly regain his momentum and his poll numbers would rise. The worst thing he could do is to keep giving us more of the same. The grassroots have spoken and they are not going to be blindly loyal to a Presidency that has drifted off the conservative path. Even if they want to support the man they worked so hard to elect, they aren’t going to abandon their principles.

News came earlier this week that civil rights icon, Rosa Parks had passed into eternity. At 92 years of age, she embodied as few others could, the struggle African-Americans fought in order to be treated as respected citizens created in the image of God. As a relatively young woman in her early 40’s, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man as was the requirement in those days. Her refusal to be treated with such disrespect and inhumanity for the “sin” of having dark skin galvanized a movement and put a human face on those who suffered under an atrocious system that segregated people based on ethnicity.

As with any other revolution, some of the leaders of the Civil Rights for Blacks Movement have been (or are) demagogues and scoundrels at various levels. At the same time, those who have tried to justify their bigotry by twisting science, religion, culture and custom are even more worthy of condemnation and dismissal. Rosa Parks, however, was not a demagogue or a ruffian. She did not shy from the public limelight, nor did she exploit it to promote herself. She simply remained seated and she convicted a nation as she did so. While many desire to be known for “what they stand for” — Rosa Parks was know for what she “sat for.”

Growing up in a small-town environment in the Midwest where the vestiges of segregation and bigotry were at least tolerated if not embraced, I’ve personally observed discrimination practiced publicly and privately by people who considered themselves otherwise decent citizens. For years, it has been the practice of evangelical churches in the Midwest and South to permit a sort of “cultural racism” that implies, “We care about your soul, but not about you.” I’ve watched churches debate such issues such as whether or not blacks should be baptized in the church, how many should be allowed to attend on Sunday School buses and what do we do if (gasp) a mixed-race couple should want to become members or attend the church. Too often, churches have cowered before the prevailing culture rather than taking on the unBiblical attitudes which have made Sunday morning services the most segregated hour of the week in much of the country.

Indeed, I have written on this blog before of the latent stain of racism which still remains within many orthodox and evangelical congregations and how difficult it is to even have a conversation about the problem, let alone resolve it.

Many times, I’ve heard white Christians use the moral sins or political affiliations of Martin Luther King, Jr. to dismiss the wickedness of segregation and bigotry as if two wrongs would make a right. Surely, few people can raise the presence of latent racism than the likes of over-the-top charlatans like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and some will use that as justification for cruel and unChristian attitudes and remarks.

But let us be clear…There is no excuse for assigning worth based on the color of one’s skin. Churches should be open and affirming and welcoming places where people of every race and color can come and worship without sideways looks. People who feel a sense of inferiority or superiority due to their race need to cut it out and see every man and woman as a marvel of the creative touch of an all-knowing God.

Rosa Parks became the symbol for every person insulted, reviled and rejected for being the “wrong” color. She represented millions of anonymous and wonderful people who had shared the experience of being told “your kind isn’t welcome here”, of stares and glares cast their way when they entered the room, of conversations gone suddenly silent except for the occasional snicker or guffaw from some crude oaf in the back corner. She was the public face of little boys and girls who were called names and picked last and weren’t allowed to go to white schools. She WAS the tired black mother who sank wearily into a seat after a long day’s work only to be reminded with a stare and a nod that some strapping white male wanted her spot.

As she is remembered this week, it should be the challenge of those who would claim the identity of Christ to examine our hearts and ask the Lord to drive out any remaining vestiges of bigotry and racism.

And should we ever be on a bus in our seats and see a black lady of any age come walking down the aisle, may every white man jump to his feet and say, “Please….Take MY seat.”

A couple of years ago, Thom Rainer, president of Church Central Associates, released his Top Ten Predictions for the church by the year 2010. I always enjoy reading prognostications and I found many of Thoms prophecies interesting at the time. Perhaps the most interesting one to me was that fifty thousand churches will close in the next seven years. Fifty Thousand! Thats a lot.

At first, I was horrified at the thought. I have a passion for starting churches, not closing them. But as I thought through this statistic, I realized that this may not be all bad.

Its quite possible that sometimes, we hang on to things out of a sense of tradition or stubbornness that really need to be let go. On multiple occasions, Ive stumbled into a church where a tiny handful was going through the motions of being a church, but 99% of their efforts were being spent on keeping the doors open, not upon fulfilling the purposes of a church. It was quite honestly, a social club meeting in a church building and hanging on to its name. Nothing more. The significance of closing the doors to churches like that is minimal, if significant at all in my opinion.

Some churches are dying because they are more devoted to tradition than they are to a Biblical mission. They wont adjust their methods to keep people exposed to the message of the gospel. As a result, the congregation ages, shrinks and then dies off. Their children and grandchildren go to a different church that doesnt have their history, but which communicates the Scripture to them in ways that they can understand and which welcomes them with enthusiasm and appreciation.

Quite honestly, some churches are dying because todays culture is, for a while at least, chasing the illusion of spirituality that exists at religious shows in many of the faddish churches that emphasize style over substance. I think (hope) this trend is peaking, personally, and I look for there to be a renewed interest in expository preaching and teaching in churches that have maintained a strong commitment to keeping the Word of God central in what they do and teach. Many of those who were introduced to Christ in the seeker churches will grow up in Christ in a more orthodox ministry.

I remain frustrated with a mentality in many established churches that sees every effort at relevancy or even effective communication as some sort of subversion of the Gospel message. Many of these churches have fossilized and are so out of touch with the issues that exist in the “culture out there” that they have zero impact on the Kingdom as a result. They have become museums of what once was and poor ones at that.

Sadly, many of the churches that are closing are in the inner cities of some of the larger urban areas of our country. As whites and upper-income residents have fled for the suburbs, traditional congregations have struggled to stay alive in decaying neighborhoods rife with poverty and problems. Drive through the inner cities of Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, Atlanta and look at all the empty church buildings that once contained vibrant communities of believers.

So if Mr. Rainer is correct, what should church leaders be doing today? I think there are several things that should be done.

First, let those churches that deserve to die, go ahead and close. Churches that have ceased to preach the gospel, stand for truth and fulfill Christs purpose for the church should lock their doors. Theres no sense in breathing wasted breath into something that is already a corpse anyway.

Next, let vibrant growing churches repossess those abandoned facilities and birth new congregations. That means some c0ngregations should re-invade the inner city with churches that minister specifically to troubled neighborhoods. This may require some outside support and leadership from the larger, mother church, but the best hope of the inner city problems in this country is not another government program, but spiritual revival.

Finally, while some churches will certainly close, dont forget that many churches will expand. If each of these growing churches committed to starting one new congregation every five years, wed be experiencing a growth in the number of churches, not a decline and the new churches would be healthier and more vibrant.

Some people get discouraged when they hear of the battles facing churches today. Not me, Im encouraged. Whenever darkness seems to be settling in, there is a greater need for real Light. Those who know Christ as their Savior and who trust His Word have a gift that the rest of the world needs more than they know. Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to make a difference that will last for eternity if only well put our hands to the plow and our faith in our Father.

I’m not prone to make predictions due to the fact that I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet. However, I’m an tenuously going to don by Carnac hat and make a prediction today in “Whirled Views“.

I believe that within the next 10 days, Harriet Miers will withdraw her name (at the private request of the White House) from being a candidate for Justice on the Supreme Court.

No one…and I mean, no one…apart from an obviously wearily stubborn President Bush and a few of his closest lackeys (see Bob Byer’s outstanding assessment of Bush’s stubbornness read this.”) is making any real case for her confirmation. The arguments, since day one (as in “trust me” and “she’s an evangelical” and “you’re an elitist/sexist” and “she’s a woman” and “trust me again” and “if the Republican’s don’t get in line with the President on this his clout and legacy will be severely damaged”) have been pathetically unconvincing and trivial.

In the meat-grinder that is Washington politics, Mrs. Miers is already minced meat and how many of us out there really like a big ol’ helping of mincemeat pie?

There will be multiple winners and losers (and already are) due to this lapse of discernment that receives a perfect 10 rating on the “What Were You People Thinking” scale.

The winners — True-blue conservatives and grass root conservatives who roared from day 1 that this was a colossal mistake and betrayal. Liberals and Democrats who wisely have followed the political adage “when your enemy is in the process of defeating himself, stay out of the way.” Whomever gets nominated next.

The losers — James Dobson and the other religious right conservatives who, having become Washington “insiders” looked like political parrots (or worse — political whores) and demanded of their “troops” to trust me because I trust Bush. It didn’t work — their footmen have brains and they saw problems from Day 1. The entire White House machine — they’ve gone from the midas touch to the manure touch. These folks look like Mike Tyson 120 seconds into his last boxing match. Harriet Miers - sadly, I’m guessing she’s a really sweet Christian lady whose a hard worker and a loyal friend. Now she’s always be one of Bush’s biggest blunders. Ed Gillespie is definitely a loser. The RNC Chair offended every thinking Republican who had questions about Miers when he first tried the whole “elitism/sexism” defense. Finally, whomever gets nominated next. If the next nominee thinks it’s going to be a cakewalk, he/she has something else coming for them. These are high stakes and the battle’s just begun. The Dems have kept their powder dry and aren’t nearly as “spent” right now as the Republicans and the conservatives (not to be confused as one and the same.)

Bush will now have an important choice to make — Will he return to his conservative base and select a nominee worthy of the battle or will he try expediency once again and go with Gonzales? Right now, I’m giving Gonzales the odds and hoping I’m wrong on this one.

Of course, opinions are like noses — we’ve all got one. Feel free to argue.

Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of being part of something that, for me, renews and reminds me for the real work of the ministry. We held an ordination council and service for one of our young men, Justin Facenda. There are few things that I enjoy more than seeing young people in our church grow up and receive God’s call to take on spiritual ministry.

Justin was a high school upper classman when I moved to Charlotte nearly 6 years ago. Today, he is a graduate of Piedmont Baptist College, married to a beautiful young woman (Carrie), serving as the Youth Pastor for Northpoint Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. I was pleased to served as the council chair, along with members of our board of deacons, pastoral staff, Pastor Skip Furrow from Northpoint and his chairman of the board of deacons and a professor from Piedmont Baptist College.

For three hours, we grilled him on every facet of his life, doctrine, his conversion and call and a variety of practical ministry issues. Justin, whom I’ve never seen at an emotional extreme of any kind, swatted and connected at the best we could throw at him and never broke a sweat. He is humble and earnest and it was our privilege to lay hands on him and ordain him at a service last night.

You know, any pastor will tell you that the ministry is filled with insipidly mundane and vacuous tasks that really have nothing to do with Kingdom Building. But it’s for these moments — where you can see the hand of God on a young person’s life and realize you had a tiny part in it — that we live and work. It refocuses us, rejuvenates us and encourages us.

Congratulations, Justin. I look forward to watching my peer in the ministry pour himself into the next generation of young people.