I didn't want to say, "I told you so," but...

The recent Obama appointees don't reflect the so-called "change" Mr. Obama promised. As I wrote in a previous entry, change does not come to Washington; people go to Washington and are changed by the Washington culture. Our President-elect will be no exception to this.

Appointing Clintonistas is not change, statements by Lanny Davis notwithstanding. Davis claims that real change is in policy, not people. Nice try. That's like saying the Grim Reaper will reap no more.

Bringing in the same old retreads from the 90's will result in policies from the 90's. I don't see this as change. It's just reverting back to the 90's. Do we really expect people who worked for Clinton and Washington veteran insiders to enact policies that have never been seen before? Won't they just do what they did in the 90's? Doing something over again is not change. It's doing something over again.

Yes, I know-- the Clinton era was wonderful, despite the reproach Mr. Clinton brought to the office of President. The federal deficit was erased. There was a surplus of revenue. It really was about the stupid economy.

But that's not my point. The Obama Administration might be good for the country (which remains to be seen), but it is not change. Change is doing things altogether differently, not rehashing and replaying old policies.

This is why I never believe promises of change. It only turns out to be more of the same. Sorry to sound so cynical at a time when many folks are counting down the days to the inauguration with intense anticipation and celebratory spirit. Pardon me if I'm not dancing in the street. I just think we've put too many eggs in one basket.

I hope the Obama Administration proves me wrong and enacts creative and inclusive policies that doesn't cowtow to interest groups. I really, really do!!

C.F.W. Walther

The headline of the recent edition of Christian News poses a question that I would like to answer.

[What] if Walther was the president of the LCMS today?

My answer: If C.F.W. Walther was the president of the LCMS today, I would be a little bit more than surprised!

Things I've Learned in 15 Years of Ministry

This will just be a simple list of things I've observed about people and church from being a pastor for 15 years.

1) People are going to believe anything they want, no matter how much you preach, teach, cajole, counsel, summon, etc.
2) People don't accept you as you are; people accept you as they are. You do the same thing, don't you?
3) Money talks. Period.
4) People exaggerate. Things are either worse than they really are or better than they really are. Folks do this to give the appearance of being superior, smart or exciting.
5) Church is only one activity among many to choose from on a typical Sunday morning.
6) Most people do not read their church newsletter due to apathy.
7) Churches, like most other organizations, follow the 80/20 rule.
8) Church is the place for a person to wield power in areas where they are powerless in everyday life.
9) People who think God is angry at them are merely projecting their own anger.

Of course, I wouldn't want it any other way. I don't think things should be different. They're not, and it's unrealistic to expect them to be different. Things are what they are. Things change when they do, and not a moment sooner.

So, Where ARE the Virgins, Pure and Wise?

This past Sunday's Gospel lesson was the Parable of the Ten Virgins. I'm not going to retell the parable here, but the point of the parable was to keep watch "for you don't know the day or the hour" of the return of the Bridegroom. I have some very basic questions about this text.

1) Assuming that Jesus didn't tell this parable in a vacuum and was in fact speaking to a live audience, we can safely say that each individual in the original audience is now deceased. Since that's the case, are they still watching?

2) What are they watching? How are they watching?

Discuss, please.

Post-Election

A big congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden! I pray for their success and that the Lord will uphold them in their offices with wisdom and guidance. Also a big thank you to Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin for their hard work and determination in a well-fought campaign! I pray that the Lord of all consolation and strength will give them comfort and the determination to carry out the duties to which they have been elected by their respective constituencies.

I have no envy for President-elect Obama. He is inheriting a mess, and his work will be cut out for him. But he seems to be gifted with a calm and cool head and a marked thoughtfulness, which is the kind of president you'll want when the country is faced with a crisis. Biden was right when he said the world will test this man. Both Clinton and Bush faced attacks on the WTC early in their first terms. I'm not saying that there will be another terrorist attack on our shores. I'm merely pointing out how volatile our world is. The world, including those who would destroy us, watched this election very closely. I really hope the Obama administration will make wise decisions when it comes to our relations with other nations, especially those in the Middle East.

I'm glad that the Democrats did not win enough senate seats to override Republican filibusters. This will mean that there will still be healthy and meaningful debate in this country and that, although the Democrats hold the majority in both houses of Congress, any Democratic legislation will undergo intense scrutiny before being passed. It will also mean that our country will not be subject to one-party rule. Power that is afforded one party is always a bad thing because it causes the political pendulum to swing too far, too soon.

It seems to me that this election was a clear signal to Washington that the American people really desire that politicians learn to work together with less bickering and downplaying power plays. In a word, change. What remains to be seen is whether or not Washington follows in step. My gut tells me that they won't. The political system is too big and will resist any effort to substantial change mostly because Washington insiders have too much capital and emotion vested in the way things currently exist.

Here's what I think Obama should do very early in his administration. It might sound crazy, but from what I've studied about Middle Eastern culture I think it will have a big impact on world relations: invite all of the leaders and presidents of Middle Eastern nations to the White House, both friend and foe, and have a dinner in which they all recline around the table (which will be the dining room floor). Before the meal begins, Obama should then walk around with a basin of water and a towel and wash the feet of these leaders. This act alone will speak volumes! I can guarantee you there will be tears in the eyes of the guests because they will see that the one who is undoubtedly the most powerful man in the world consciously chooses to wield his power in a way they had never seen before-- with gentleness and humility.

If you think this sounds like something Jesus did, you would be right. I'm convinced that of all of the peace plans forged by humanity, Jesus gave us the only one that works.

Election Advice

I'm not exactly what you would call "qualified" to give advice on this election day. But hopefully the things that I write here you already know in the depths of your bones. If you have already voted, good for you! Voting is one of the hallmarks of this experiment in democracy.

Obama or McCain? Whomever you choose, please remember:
a) Your candidate of choice is not a superstar or a deity.
b) The other candidate is not the incarnation of Satan.

The two presidential candidates are human beings-- no different than you and me. They have highs and lows in their own lives. They have families that love and cherish them. They eat food and use toilets. They have weak spots and strong points.

They are also two gentlemen who have been hyped by the media. Remember that the media hypes and exaggerates everything. EVERYTHING!!! People are made to seem better than they really are or worse than they really are. It's nothing to be angry or upset about because that's the job of the media. Hype everything. They want to draw audiences. They're looking for viewership, and the way to do that is to engage in histrionics. Things get blown way out of proportion.

Also remember that the president-elect (whoever that might be) is not going to wave a magic wand and solve all of our societal ills. He will be entering a system of checks and balances, which assures that we will never be governed by a tyrannical dictator or monarch. There isn't much wiggle room for mavericks or change agents. Candidates can promise you the moon and yet hardly deliver. I, for one, don't hold candidates at their word because I know that there will be very little they can get away with.

And finally, remember that you are voting more for a party platform than you are voting for an individual. The very best way to make your choice is to read the platforms of the Republican and Democratic Parties because those principles are what the candidates are running on. If you vote for someone based on status and appearance, then you are treating the election as if it were the Academy Awards or a popularity contest. Never vote for someone simply because they make you feel good.

Happy Election 2008!!

P.S.-- No matter who wins this election, God is always the King of the Universe!