Selma is a good movie (I know I'm late)

The struggle for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is as old as life itself. Since the fall of man in the garden, man has fought to stay alive, yearned to follow the desires of his heart, and fought to improve his lot in life. This desire fueled the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity, built the Roman empire, led the insurrections that ultimately brought down the Roman empire, and fueled the Renaissance and Reformation.

The desire for liberty and self-actualization sparked both the American and French revolutions, the Mexican Revolution, the Texas Revolution, and even the Civil War.

The desire to live safely, as one believes fit, and to advance one's station in life, is universal in every human being to walk the planet. A man born into slavery, a man born into absolute poverty, and a man born to privilege all share this same desire. No man is born without this desire, and this desire is foreign to no man.

The struggle for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the demand for equal protection under the law, and the extension of dignity from society to African Americans were well articulated in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech to the Jobs and Freedom March in Washington DC in 1963. That speech was Dr. King's manifesto, his creed, and the foundation of his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. While Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech articulated the vision to bring equality and dignity to the African American people, his activism demonstrated those values.

Such came to a full head of steam in Selma, Ala., March 7-25, 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, went to Selma to protest the immoral, if not illegal, denial of African Americans the right to vote. As demonstrated in the movie, Selma, if African Americans could not vote, they had no say in government, could not determine their own destinies, and could not qualify to sit on a jury. In a free country, African Americans living in the Deep South were little more than serfs living on a manor controlled by lords who hated them. (I know that's a strong statement, but it's true. I was born in the South, raised in the South, and there are a lot of things I love about the South, but I'm ashamed of it's Jim Crow history.)

In order to free African Americans from their serfdom, Dr. King knew they had to secure the right to vote. So, to raise awareness, to pressure Alabama officials to give them the right to vote, and to pressure Lyndon B. Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act, Dr. King led a march from Selma to Montgomery. Efforts to launch this march took weeks, and the march was attempted in his absence to devastating results.

Selma captures this. In addition to the historical accuracy of the film, Selma puts a human face on the history of the Civil Rights Movement. No one is bestowed sainthood, no one (outside of Gov. Wallace, the local sheriff, and the state police), is demonized. The movie even gave prominence to white people who went to Selma to march with Dr. King, chronicled their persecution, and noted how white participation in the movement, and recognition of the Civil Rights Movement was important.

The film also showed the human side of the Civil Rights Movement. While LBJ gets credit for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, the movie chronicles Johnson's reluctance to take up voting rights, his desire to control the Civil Rights Movement, and his surveillance of Dr. King's activities. While no one can dispute the wholesale changes Dr. King influenced in America, the movie also addresses his personal weaknesses, his moral failures, and the tension between he and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

The movie showed the Civil Rights Movement for what it was, and moreover, it showed us who we are, imperfect sinners struggling, vying for a better way, a better world, and a better life. It showed the struggle that man wages in an effort to better himself.

And for that honest depiction of who we were, who we are, and for what we strive, I say the movie Selma deserved more accolades than it received.

The Saga of Lee Harvey Oswald

He was a madman, a nut job, or a patsy. Those are the three most popular explanations on why Lee Harvey Oswald shot (or attempted to shoot according to conspiracy theorists) President John F. Kennedy. Indeed, Oswald's behavior indicated some degree of mental instability, but why? What was it that drove him to attempt to assassinate General Walker, and then to assassinate John F. Kennedy?

And, just to clarify my position, I believe Oswald acted alone, more on that some other time.

Lee Harvey Oswald's issues likely began in early childhood as he was being raised by a single mother who was devastated after the death of his father. (Oswald's father died before he was born.) In an interview with PBS, Oswald's brother, Robert Oswald, said that their mother felt that she had been dealt a bad hand, and that the world owed her a living. He said some of this attitude was passed down to Lee. Robert went on to say that Oswald had a vivid imagination, and believed he could do anything he wanted. He was also a loner. Robert said Lee "planned by himself, executed by himself, and failed by himself." He also dreamed of being a writer, and writing about his experiences of serving in the Marine Corp., defecting to Russia, and then returning to America.

In a New York Times column, Paul Gregory (to whom Marina Oswald taught Russian,) said that Lee felt under-estimated by the world, and longed for a celebrity status, which he sort of enjoyed while living in Russia.

That side of Oswald was depicted in two episodes of the TV show "Quantum Leap" and in Stephen King's 11.22.63. Oswald was depicted as a frustrated individual, who wanted to make a huge impact in the world. He wanted to be a celebrity, a leader, a revolutionary, a philosopher, or a champion. He felt he was awesome, and couldn't understand why the rest of the world didn't see it. Given my recent research, I believe those depictions were accurate.

What you have in Lee Harvey Oswald is the tragedy of self-worship. He felt he was God's gift to anyone with whom he came into contact. He thought he was helping the Russians by defecting, and was shocked when they denied him university admission, relegating him to a common-man's job. He was surprised that he got no media attention when he returned home. He was dejected after a failed attempt to defect to Cuba. He looked for, and failed to find, any way to be significant. Even his failed assassination attempt on General Edwin Walker went virtually unnoticed. This self-worship and lack of self-actualization consumed Oswald, until it culminated in the tragic events of November 22, 1963. When things built to a head, and then blew, the whole world felt it.

It's easy to think "conspiracy theory." It's easy to dismiss Oswald as a patsy. It's easy to imagine that the real gunman was a sophisticated marksman who fired from any one of the other 100 prime locations to pull off the shot that killed Kennedy. Imagining a CIA plot, or a Russian plot, or a mob hit, is easier to deal with psychologically than to come to grips that one man's demons can create such devastation. The truth is, pride and self worship are just that destructive.

Throughout the history of the world, 99 percent of man's problems have been caused by pride and self-worship. It was pride and self-worship that led Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden. They believed they could throw off God's authority and be gods to themselves by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The result has been a sin curse on man from that time forward.

You see pride and self-worship in all the kings and emperors who went on world conquests. Those qualities were present with the Roman Caesars (who actually regarded themselves as sons of the gods), Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler. Pride and self-worship has killed millions, and destroyed nations. But that's all ancient history, so it's not to be worried about, Right? Wrong!

Pride and self-worship are seeds planted in one's heart, that, if allowed to grow, can develop such destructive behavior that any individual is capable of imploding. Oswald's pride cost him his life. If that pride and self-worship can grow to that level of destruction in him, how far can it grow in us? That is a frightening question. That's why we'd rather believe that Kennedy's death was the result of a vast, sophisticated conspiracy rather than the result of one man's personal implosion. We don't want to think that we could ever find ourselves in a sixth-floor window. And, in 99.9 percent of cases, we won't. However, that does not mean that pride doesn't cause destruction.

The Bible says "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)" Pride and self-worship will destroy you, whether it makes the news or not. So, don't be destroyed. The Bible also says "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10)."

The best way to avoid the pride and self-worship that destroys is to keep your focus on the Lord, and worship directed toward God. This means to spend time in God's word, in prayer, and to seek God's will in your life. It means to put yourself second, to put God first, and to be aware of the plight of others as well as yourself. If you live a God-focused life, you will not live a self-centered life. That recipe will prevent a self-inflicted implosion that will destroy your life.

Trust the Lord, and obey Him. The answer is really that simple. May God bless you as you follow Him.

Lessons Learned from the Japan Earthquake

A fire rages at the Cosmo Oil refinery
in Japan following the earthquake.

As the nation of Japan comes to grip with the destruction caused by the unprecedented 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, and as heroic engineers work tirelessly to prevent a core meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, much discussion has ensued about emergency preparedness and safety.

Over the past few days, I have heard claims that this quake was nature's way of telling us that she's in control, and the ridiculous claim that the earthquake was Mother Earth's way of telling us that "nuclear power is wrong."

All kinds of ideas and agenda's are being extrapolated from this tragedy, from a push to stop nuclear plant construction, to plans to upgrade emergency preparedness. With all of these things on the table, it is interesting that few people are discussing the glaring lessons that should be obvious to the evangelical Christian.

1. God is STILL in control - Over the past several decades, technology has propelled man to new heights. From the large amounts of power generated from nuclear power, to the internet, to on-demand publishing, to high-powered personal computers, to a global communications network which links every one together via the voice and data capabilities of their smart-phones. We have learned to tap renewable energy sources, have made transportation more fuel efficient, and have globalized our market place. Our buildings have safer construction, our highways are more efficient, and commercial airliners can virtually fly themselves. These advances, along with medical advances, political advances and educational advances have moved mankind beyond his imagination.

However, we should be reminded that in spite of all of our advances, our destinies still lie in the hands of the almighty God. There is no technology that he can't put down. There are no medical advances that will keep Him from calling His saints home. There is no predicting His movements upon the earth, or when the next big event will take place. Therefore, we need to place our faith in Him, not our technology.

2. Get Right with God - It's amazing to me how many people flooded the church buildings of America on the Sunday following September 11, 2001. The brazen attack on American soil was bound to spark an American war in the Middle East, and many feared the end was near. No doubt, people wanted to know if the end was here and wanted to be in the right place if it was.

The truth is the end is always near. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." We never know when it is our turn to go. Thousands of people were going about their lives in Japan when the quake struck, and the tsunami followed seconds later. Many had approximately a minute to react to the coming flood waters. Many were unable to escape. The fallacy in the thinking of many people is that life goes on as normal, and we can see death coming. The truth is that death can hit you in an instant, with no warning. So repent of your sins now, and trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Don't wait for a major event, or a sign that you might be dying.

3. Don't be selfish - One of the remarkable things about watching events unfold in Japan is how the people are all handling the tragedy. They are banding together, conducting themselves in an orderly fashion. Looting and rioting are non-existent. Contrast that from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. What's the difference? Culture.

Japanese culture is one of being polite, and one of doing your part. American culture is one of pursuing your own dreams and ambitions and only pitching in if you can get something in return. Granted, not everyone in America thinks this way, but by and large we have a greedy culture. That sort of self-centeredness is not a Godly virtue. How many times does scripture warn against covetousness.

I wonder what would happen in American companies if workers did their jobs as if they owned the place, as if their performance directly impacted the business health of the company. I wonder what would happen in American churches if the members came seeking how they could serve the Lord, and not what they could get out of services. I wonder what would happen in American communities if people actually cared about their communities instead of expecting someone else to make the difference. We have case studies in each of those scenarios where everyone brought something to the table, and the entire group was better as a result.

In conclusion, I would like to offer my prayers to the people of Japan, and I would like them to know that I am pulling for them to be able to make a speedy recovery from this disaster. Also, I would like to set everyone's mind at ease. The Fukushima plant will not destroy the world... we have many more prophecies to see fulfilled before that takes place.

As if life couldn't get any sillier

Country Music Star Reba McEntire believes she has been reincarnated... noting that in a previous life she believes she was a man. She reconciles her belief in reincarnation with her Christian faith by saying, "I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe."

Now there's intelligence for you. To add to this sillyness, Reba says she fears criticism from Christian fans. You can read the article here.

I'm not going to be critical of Reba, but reincarnation is not compatible with the Christian faith, period. Why do intelligent people think they can have it both ways? It probably has something to do with the new self-actualization, self-seeking and diluted messages being preached in pulpits today. Such efforts are aimed at building mega-churches, nothing more.

All this being said, I still like listening to Reba's music on country radio.