I Thought I was a Dad

This is not exactly how I envisioned my first blog entry of 2011, but the U.S. State Department has a new policy that I just can't ignore. For the last 23 years, I was known as Dad, the father of my first child, followed in the next couple of years as being Dad to my two sons. I like the idea of being Dad. But according to the State Department application for a passport, I am no longer know as this. I am simply "Parent #1" or "Parent #2" depending on how I might feel when filling out the application. In the latest example of trying to redefine the family, and wanting to be overly sensitive to situations where a child has two members of the same sex for his adoptive parents, the terms "mother" and "father" are now removed. I am simply either Thing 1 or Thing 2, no, wait a minute, that is Parent 1 or Parent 2.
How pathetic are we getting as a nation? Here is what Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has to say about this change: "Only in the topsy-turvy world of left-wing political correctness could it be considered an ‘improvement’ for a birth-related document to provide less information about the circumstances of that birth,” Family Research Council president Tony Perkins wrote in a statement to Fox News Radio. “This is clearly designed to advance the causes of same-sex ‘marriage’ and homosexual parenting without statutory authority, and violates the spirit if not the letter of the Defense of Marriage Act.”
So much for being a Dad.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

New Year Blessings

I know lots of happy people, and I know lots of unhappy people. Regardless of which one you may be, I think for many of us, 2010 is a year that can't end quick enough. Much of this is due to an economy that is still in a tail spin. In my relatively brief 49 years, I can't remember a time when more people that I know personally, and in the course of my ministry, are unemployed. Of course, there are the normal hurts, disappointments, frustrations, and failures found in everyone's life. Maybe you are depressed due to unemployment and financial pressure, grieving the loss of a loved one or some other loss, weighed down by concerns for one or more family members, or any number of reasons why you are glad 2010 is about to end.
I want to share a word from God that I hope will encourage you as we begin 2011. It was written during a very dark, depressing, and difficult time in the lives of God's people. It comes from one of the saddest books of the Bible, Lamentations (even the name communicates great despair!). Yet as bad as things were when it was written, it is a book that conveys a message of hope. Not a blind, put your head in the sand kind of hope. It is a gritty, "don't ignore how bad things are" hope. The word from God I want you to ponder is found in chapter 3, verses 22-25:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
You may have a hard time believing this right now, that's ok, so did many of the people who saw nothing but suffering when these words were first given. Know that there is hope, and this hope is found in God. If you are a follower of Christ, then the Lord is your portion. You are an object of his love and mercy, and they are new every morning. Tomorrow morning is the beginning of a new year, wait for him and he will deliver.
New Year Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Please Forgive Me, I Said "Christmas"

National Public Radio legal correspondant Nina Totenberg was recently part of a round table discussion about the federal budget. She then mentions in passing that attended an event at the Department of Justice, and sought to apologize for it and what it was called. So what kind of party was this? What Totenberg into the headlines was her comment that “I was at – forgive the expression – a ‘Christmas party’ at the Department of Justice, and people were really worried about this.” She then continued with the comments she was making. She didn’t make air quotes around “Christmas party,” but it sounds like she was tempted.
My, my, how shameful that she would allow the word Christmas to be uttered by her politically correct, diversity celebrating, liberal mouth. It never ceases to amaze me that the same liberals who talk about diversity never allow for the traditional, Christian point of view. It is ok to be part of any other religious or non-religious point of view, but not the Christian view. You can mention Happy Chanukkah, Happy Kwanza, have a happy Ramadan, but not Christmas.
The other point here is that she seems to be dismissive of people who might actually enjoy going to a Christmas party. I mean how awlful to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, to celebrate a season about giving and caring. Well Nina Totenberg, I want to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS without reservation or apology!
Christmas Blessings,
Dr. Paul

A Tale of Two Seasons

Christmas is a wonderful season of the year. Family, friends, carols, gifts, decorations, they all bring joy and blessings. But for some people, this is a tough time of year. If you are alone, or estranged from one or more family members, when you see all of the emphasis on family and togetherness, it is harder to keep yourself distracted from the reality of your situation. You don't even have to turn on the Hallmark Channel to be faced with sappy Christmas stories highlighting love, family, and togetherness. I remember meeting with someone a few years ago who would always go into a dark depression starting with Thanksgiving and not ending until the New Year. His marriage was struggling, he was estranged from most of his children, so for him, the contrast between what others had and what he didn't have was very stark.
Many of us have lost a loved one during this time of year. If this is the case for you, then Thanksgiving and Christmas remind you of that loss. And because of what this season represents, it makes the loss of your loved one at this time of year even tougher to deal with.
Am I writing this to be a Christmas kill joy? No, I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my family. But I am also going to be praying harder for those who find this a tougher time of year. I want to reach out to them as well. Do you know someone who is hurting? Invite them over, or do something to let them know that you care. It may just be the very best gift you give this Christmas.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Tis The Season

Tis the season for disparaging God and people of faith. At a time of year when the majority of Americans, even non-Christians, recognize Christmas, once again we have religious Grinches working hard to insult people of faith. Let me share three examples, in case you think I am simply a minister overstating the case.
Our first example comes from my home town, the City of Philadelphia. For the last three years the city has allowed a company to set up a Christmas Village similar to those found in Germany to sell items. Various vendors set up their shops and there is a festive atmosphere to the event. This year, the city managing director ordered the removal of the word “Christmas” from the large sign welcoming people, so now there is a blank space and just the word “Village.” When asked why, he said that he did not want to offend people of other religions, and there were vendors of other religious faiths present. When Channel 6 news interviewed people of various faiths, and even non-Christian vendors, no one had a problem with the sign. With all of the problems faced by City of Brotherly Love, is the word Christmas really all that important to remove? Is there no brotherly love for people of faith?
Now let’s turn to the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Recently you would find an exhibit which depicts Jesus being eaten by a swarm of ants. This, of course, in the name of art. When people started to express outrage at such an offensive depiction of Jesus, the Smithsonian said no public funds were used to pay for the display. No public funds? Are you kidding me? How about my taxes which pay for the heat, the electricity, the personnel, etc. Thankfully, the display has now been removed.
Lest you think this just an East coast phenomena, let's go to Tacoma, Washington where a high school football playoff game was held on Monday between East Valley and Tumwater. A player was flagged in the endzone for doing something millions of Americans do every day, he offered a brief prayer of thanks to God. Like he's done so many times this season, Tumwater star running back Ronnie Hastie powered his way into the end zone then dropped to a knee and pointed to the sky."It's just something I do every time I get in the end zone to honor my Lord cause I play for him, I give him the glory cause he's the one that gives me the strength," said Hastie.Except this time, the referee flagged Hastie for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15 yard penalty. When you see some of the rediculous displays of NFL players when they score a touchdown, is a boy dropping to one knee and thanking God really unsportsmanlike. Seems pretty humble to me.
So there you have it, tis the season for hostility toward God and people of faith, well, actually, toward Jesus and people of faith who are Christians. Think I am eggagerating? Imagine if any of these examples involved Judaism, or Islam, or Buddhism, or any other faith. The left and the media would be screaming intollerance, bigotry, and a failure to appreciate diversity. Something to think about.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Want to be Happier? Part 2

In my last blog I mentioned a secular study which demonstrates that people are happier in church than in the mall. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about why this is so. The other week I was reading the book of Isaiah and came upon this passage in chapter 55: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not break, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.
God is making an incredible statement to us. We can receive from Him food and drink that will truly satisfy us. How? By meeting the deepest needs of our lives, the need of our soul. I can't tell you how many depressed people I meet in the course of my day, not just in counseling, but in my travels to the Wawa, the gas station, among my neighbors. People just gritting their teeth to get though the work week, living for the weekend, or the next buzz to drown their sorrows. God is offering us something much more satisfying and profound, delight at the deepest level of our being, our soul.
How do I know material things are not where it is at when it comes to ultimate satisfaction? Because we are never satisfied. You get a Lexus, and then you see a BMW, so you get that car. And then comes a Ferrari, and you decide you just have to get that instead. And so it goes. Plus, stuff breaks, falls apart, needs to be maintained. And even if you keep it in good condition, someone comes and steals it. Many products do come with a warranty. I even bought something the other day with a "life time warranty." That's great, but I can show you something even better, an eternal guarantee. Look at the next thing God says in Isaiah 55:
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant. Everlasting, that means forever! No wonder people are happier in church compared to the mall!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Want to Be Happier? Skip the Mall and Go to Church!

We all know that money can't buy happiness, just talk to some of the wealthy people who come to me for counseling. A new study out of Ben-Gurion University in Israel has found that, especially among women, spending money makes us much less happy than going to church. The study looked at shopping habits compared to participation in religious activities over the last 30 years.
The study used data collected by the Univesity of Chicago's National Opinion Research Council which conducts a "General Social Survey" annually or biannually. They collect information from a sample of adults on their level of happiness. Looking at adults who lived in states where "blue laws" (laws that prohibit commercial activities on Sundays) had been repealed between 1973 and 1988, they looked at the happiness levels of adults who reported regular church attendance. Women especially experienced a sharp decline in church attendance and their happiness levels over the course of the 25 year post-blue law period. The data shoed that blue law repeals decreased the level of happiness by at least 17%, but for people who remained active in church, their happiness level stayed the same. The researchers ruled out the possibility that the declines in happiness were related to other issues like family issues or having to work on Sundays.
What can we take from this study? I have a couple of suggestions. First, God instituted a day of rest for very good reasons. We all need a break from the rat race of life and time to reconnect with the people who are closest to us. Second, God instituted a day of rest for us to honor our Creator. We all need the benefit of corporate worship to reconnect with God and each other. The study actually found that for each point increase in church attendance, self-reported happiness increased by 10.7%! Third, do your best to avoid shopping, going to the mall, etc. on Sundays. This can be tough when you work full time and the weekend is the only chance for running errands and shopping. The study's authors suggest that people institute their own "blue laws" to designate one day of the week as a no shopping day (and let's include on-line shopping as well).
Going to church may not give you the immediate gratification you can get from shopping, but in the long run, you will be happier, and you won't have to worry about credit card debt!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul