Washington D.C. is lost. 

By this I mean that, in the broader scheme of things, our nation’s capitol is spiritually dead.  Thus whatever kernels of wisdom may still exist there, we can be sure that such rarities are utterly buried beneath a mountain of chaff…

…and it doesn’t appear that this vast pile will be blowing away anytime soon.   

Despite the better intentions of our nation’s founding fathers, America’s governmental structure has become a self-absorbed and self-perpetuating monster, and the politicians who direct this behemoth do so for the sake of their own wealth and empowerment.  It is for this reason that we see a growing tendency for lawmakers to legislate in a vacuum of consideration of our nation’s genuine needs, not to mention the needs of the future generations who will follow us.  What has been dizzying about the past year and a half is that the number of bad policies streaming out of capitol hill has been gushing at a rate which makes it impossible to filter and sort through it all.  But this is no accident.  Strategically speaking, Washington knows very well how impossible it is for the American public to drink from such a policy fire-hydrant; let alone from a gushing, unfiltered sewer pipe. 

The most recent policy fiasco comes to us via our nation’s characterization and treatment of Muslim jihadists.  Liberal educators, the media, as well as politicians have practically written, in blood, their own manifesto regarding what everyone must think and believe concerning Islam: that it is “a peaceful religion.”  Politically speaking, this motif has been created by both Democrats and Republicans (to one degree or another), and thus my criticism here is not partisan, nor is it about politics per se.  What I write here is a rebuke against what has become a bipartisan convergence of foolishness that is endangering our nation.  Those who prescribe the mandate for the presumption of Islamic innocence reveal a false dilemma that should be quite obvious to anyone who would care to observe it: if Islam is such a “peaceful religion” (as we are instructed to believe), then why do we see such a steady stream of bloodshed and violence committed in the name of Allah?  Rather than admit the obvious (that Islam is not an inherently peaceful religion), liberals are compelled to find another villain in order to sustain their precious narrative; after all, someone is to blame for all this violence.  

And who or what is this villain?  Well, depending on who you may ask, the answer usually lands in the realm of -anyone who may criticize and oppose Islamic ideology.  Thus, the Muhammad cartoons of yesteryear were thought to be a legitimate basis for Islamic retaliation and violence.  Our foreign policies toward Islamic states (which are mostly hated for their advancement of religious freedom) are thought to give Muslims a cause for slaying more infidels.  And after 8 years of the supposed “Bush-Hitler” era, we find that our military is a part of this equation of blame and justified violence.  The left’s diatribe against our nation’s war on terror became so vehement that they had no problem vilifying our military (thereby endangering them and our nation overall) all for the purpose of political power back home.  Therefore, the forced narrative of the liberal community became this: until we stop fighting Jihadists, we will only exacerbate and facilitate more Jihadist attacks against America.  Or to put it more succinctly:

the only way to achieve peace is by surrendering to our enemies. 

This form of thinking was fodder for the antiwar crowd leading up to Barack Obama’s election late last year.  Now that he is in office, President Obama is realizing that the real world is much more complex than the mythological one in which he, and the people who voted for him, hoped to live.  Even now, the political ramifications of a hasty withdrawal of troops would be damaging to the Democratic party – and so we now wait to hear about the President’s next chess move in what is a perpetual pursuit of a checkmate for political power. 

In this vein, I would like to play the Devil’s advocate for a moment, and offer advice on how this “Islam is a religion of peace” narrative can be advanced even further, especially in the wake of two unpopular wars, and as well, in the wake of two significant tribunals: the trials of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (KSM) and Maj. Nidal Hasan.  I would submit to the reader that in the trials of KSM and Maj. Hasan, we have a potential convergence of this “if a victim, then a justified aggressor” motif that will further enrapture the left into their imagined Nirvana.  Never mind reality, facts, or believability – I am addressing those who rest on unreasoned hope and change, thus, here is my Devil’s advocacy:

Their Victimhood:  The narrative of Islamic victimhood must be advanced at all costs – even if it endangers our nation in its wake.  This will be necessary for our Attorney General, Eric Holder, as he requires more public support in order to probe and prosecute those public officials who supported the Bush-torture-era.  These two trials should supply him with all the help that he needs.  Concerning our two pawns in question, Maj. Hasan is a victim in view of the fact that he was constantly tortured by those who failed to endure his open advocacy of Islam; and he was tortured by the personal testimonies of those who received psychiatric counsel from him.  Leniency should be granted to him because he is a Muslim, and was no doubt psychologically abused by the testimony of such violent military personnel.  As for KSM, he is a victim in view of the fact that he was never read his Miranda rights when captured.  As well, he was water-boarded such that he, no doubt, was coerced into making confessions against his will.  Such an argument is no small matter.  KSM has a strong precedent of self defense based upon the recent release of the Cole bombing suspect Adb al-Rahim al-Nashiri who was also waterboarded, as confirmed by CIA director General Michael Hayden on February 6th, 2008.  As a defense against his prosecutors, al-Nashidri’s claimed to be compelled, through such torture, to render false confessions.  On February 5, 2009, al-Nashiri’s charges were withdrawn without prejudice.  

Their Publicity:  Maj. Hasan and KSM will require a world stage upon which their victimhood can be seen by all.  America must be punished for its failure to appease the Muslim world, and the trials of these men will further this cause.  Maj. Hasan’s victimhood is already an established fact, especially as the media has been working overtime setting the stage for a proper narrative of victimhood – even disdaining the apparent ties between his Islamic convictions and his violence.    As for KSM, his trial has been advanced to the world stage in view of the fact that he will be judged in a civilian court.  Protected by a presumption of innocence, his accusers will be required to work from a legal ground zero in order to seek prosecution.  With the privacy that would have attended a military tribunal now eliminated, the media will have an unfettered stage in order to broadcast the story of a man who was tortured by the CIA and forced to make his confessions, just like al-Nashiri, whose story was muzzled because of his “enemy combatant” status.

Their Example:  The stories of these men, when dictated by the media to a listening world, will establish a paradigm of foreign policy for ages to come.  The anti-military narrative will enable us to further discussions concerning the need for American passivity, anti-nuclear proliferation, world cooperation, and ultimately, world peace.  Our ultimate goal will be the subjugation of all nations beneath a one world government, headed by the UN – which is the sine qua non institution for world peace.  These are only two trials of two different men, but the convergence of their victimhood narrative will, in time, serve much greater purposes beyond themselves.

I apologize for the disturbing nature of the above “Devil’s advocacy” – but I fear that it is all too real.  As the trial-circus proceeds, we should wonder: how many future “Maj. Hasans,” residing within the US, will be radicalized through the open testimonies of these two men?  These trials could last for years, and the liberal media will be running alongside them in order to broadcast the narratives of such victimized Muslims. 

On another note, it is strikingly odd is to hear our political leaders pontificate about KSM’s guilt, and how he will pay the ultimate cost for his crimes.  But here’s a much needed news flash: he’s now being tried in a new legal venue (civilian court) as one who is not an “enemy combatant,” and within this new paradigm, no one is in a position to presume his guilt in this case.  What is revealing in these contradictions is the fact that many of our nation’s “lawmakers” have very little regard for the law.  Apparently, they just make things up as they go along. 

Washington D.C. is lost.  The political monster which drives it is more interested in power and control than truth or justice.  The Lord said to the nation of Israel in Hosea’s day: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  History reveals that the signs and symptoms of national sin are very much the same, generation after generation. 

May God have mercy on America.

A Grouchy Disclaimer Regarding Facebook:  Some time ago I received an e-request to sign-up for the popular website called Facebook.  This was initiated by someone that I know personally, and the purpose for the request was so that I would be able to see pictures of this individual, along with his family.  Reluctantly, I signed up as one who is not much of a fan of such things.  In fact, let me admit right here and now that I am the official e-curmudgeon of all such personal e-sites – a veritable Grinch, green skin and all.  Yet despite my worst complaints and criticisms, I have found that it has afforded some helpful contact with various people.  As the website grows, more friends from the past will be able to connect and keep in touch in time. 

Yes, I’ll admit it – my appreciation for Facebook is growing a little.

But I do have some points of minor caution regarding this new e-tool.  One thing that still makes me uncomfortable is this concept of having “friends” of whom I have no personal knowledge.  Like any other biblical concept, friendship is a very important one, and let us remember that it doesn’t take much to diminish the meaning and significance of words – words like friend, or righteous, or even the word awesome.  For example, in our modern culture the terms righteous and awesome have become synonyms for something that is considered to be “cool.” 

Such is the plight of modern society.

Let me suggest to the reader that we who are Christians have a mandate from God to preserve the meaning of language, especially as it relates to God’s Word.  Particularly in this relativistic, post-modern culture of ours, we should be uniquely careful about this matter of upholding the meanings of such key words.  For example, concerning our word in question – friend, we are commanded not to be the friends [philos] of this world (James 4:4).  Jesus said: “you are my friends [philoi] if you do what I command you,” and as well, “greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends [philon]” (John 13:13).  Above any other friendship that we might claim, our friendship (loving affection) with the Lord is the sine qua non of the Christian experience, such that “If anyone does not love (philei) the Lord, he is to be accursed” (1 Cor 16:22). 

In the N.T., the Greek word philos is a word which speaks of the tender affection, love, devotion, and care that is attributable to the relationship between family members or even of close friends.  Unfortunately, most English translations of the Bible will also use the word “friend” for the Greek word hetairos which actually means an associate – which can connote a very close or remote idea, depending on the context.  Thus, when Judas came to betray Christ, Jesus said to him: “Friend (hetairos) do what you have come for” (Matt 26:49-50); and in the parable of the Marriage Feast (Matt 22:1-14) the man who attempted to enter the King’s presence without the prescribed wedding clothes was called hetaire (NASB – “friend”) before being bound hand and foot and being cast out “into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

Now that’s some friend.

If I could have my own way on this matter, based upon the language of Scripture alone, my Facebook account would have levels of “friends” to comport with the layers of thought presented within the words – philos and hetairos:

1.  Friends who are believers that I know personally and trust explicitly by observance of their life, words, and actions [philos].

2.  Friends who are believers that I have known personally in the past, who I still trust implicitly [philos]. 

3.  Friends who are e-acquaintances, whose testimonies of faith I trust implicitly [philos].

4.  Acquaintances of the most general kind who, for all I know, could be a James, John, or a Judas [hetairos].

The reality is that it is hard enough to know well the people with whom we have direct contact on a regular basis.  Christian accountability within the local church is difficult enough as it is, and I would submit that developing genuine friendship relationships is becoming increasingly difficult in time.  In reality, e-friendships belie the depth of genuine accountability that we really need, and the folks at Newsweek even understand this.  My only goal here is to avoid shallowness, rather than exalt it.  The world has enough such shallowness and we all need to work against such trends without developing a hard heart.  Thus, I submit this as my official Facebook disclaimer: should I ever fail to “accept” someone as a Facebook friend, this may be that I am just generally slow with such things.  In other cases, I may have reviewed the requestor’s information and found something uncertain or even questionable.  I might add that If you ever find something ambiguous or questionable about what I have listed about myself, then please feel free to query the matter; or if you ever visit my facebook account and find associates there who have questionable lives/testimonies – please let me know.  I want to be generous, not foolish.  I’m not a perfect man myself, nor do I claim to be, but neither do I want to exalt sin so that “grace might abound” – may it never be (Romans 6:1-2).

Today I have Hannah, Maria, and Micaiah with me for what is a very long day.  Their presence is giving me a bit of a break for now.

As I mentioned earlier – the kids are all here because they want to be – no small detail for any parent.  In fact, I had to insist that they stay home on Thursday and Friday in order to save their strength for today and tomorrow.  This morning, Lydia asked to come and help me – a hard request to resist (the day would be too hard for her).  We’re pacing ourselves more now, retrieving and saving DVDs when we suspect that we’re talking to Christians, but handing off a www.wheredoyoustand.us business card in its place when we can.  Approximately 6000 DVDs are now gone and thus we want to make sure that our distribution is as deliberate as possible.  Overall, we look to the Lord to plant these where they need to go, and we are continually petitioning Him to that end.

Most days here are simply fast and furious.  Don’t get me wrong, there are lulls and moments of quiet – but this is often disrupted quickly by an unexpected onslaught of people.  The only way to stay on top of this roller-coaster of traffic is to stand ready at the front of the booth – ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us, or at least to hand out a WDYS DVD, or an Amazing Grace Gospel CD.   Thus, there isn’t much time for anything else, and the daily blogging has been quite slow – but, of course, we’re not here to blog.  Dean was with me for the day once again.  When Dean is here, I end up eating more than usual.  For example, Dean arrived at our booth with a delivery of Yaki-Soba – one of my favorite Japanese dishes – a kind of late morning brunch.  This was later supplemented with an “Awsome Blossom” onion concoction (with lunch).  Dessert was maple cotton candy (compliments of Dean, despite the scandal below), topped off late in the evening with an ice cream concoction.  I’m pretty sure now that Dean is trying to kill me – slowly.  Actually, kidding aside, it is because of Dean that I’m actually taking the time to get a meal – something that I’m not very good at doing, especially when I’m in the midst of a busy schedule.

We had some fun throughout the day… 

Concerning the schedule, I have been here every day from the start – Fri (11 hrs), Sat (13 hrs), Sun (10 hrs), Mon (7hrs), Tues (7 hrs), Wed (11 hrs), Thurs (7hrs), Fri (11 hrs), Saturday – today (13 hrs), Sunday – tomorrow (10hrs).  After my first Saturday, I paused and reflected on the fact that I probably have never before stood for 13 hours and talked nearly non-stop; this, followed by preaching the following morning, only to return for 10 hours of more of the same.  The Lord is sustaining me wonderfully.  He has guarded me with good health and a voice that hasn’t suffered too much.  Yesterday was a blessing – seasoned with several conversations with people about the Gospel.  However, with many apologies, I failed to capture Dean’s “singing” of various songs throughout the day.  For reasons unknown to me, he didn’t want his performances recorded on video.

Perhaps it was the weather, but Wednesday presented the challenge of a full crowd.   It was a blessing to have Dean with me for the entire 11 hours – a long haul indeed.  Because of the pace of the day, I had no time to post on the The Armoury, nor did I have any time to take any pics either.  Overall, our day was dominated with DVD distribution, but the Lord did supply a few in-depth conversations throughout the day.   The most key witnessing opportunities revolve around the subjects of mere religion, paganism, and racism.  As well, the thematic question “Where do you stand?” has supplied a consistent means by which to engage people regarding their own convictions about life etc.  There is much that we are learning through this experience.  In many respects we are learning more about the culture in which we live. 

This post will be a bookmark for now – until the camera is recharged, we’ll have no pictures.  Scott Rogers opened for me once again – this has been a great help, since it gives me a chance to catch my breath from the previous day.  More to come later…

Update, 5:28 PM: As a review of yesterday – when the Beasley clan came by for a visit, Sandra left Lydia with me for a while (per Lydia’s request).  Without my asking her to do anything – she immediately went towards the front of the booth and proceeded to give DVDs away as if she’d been doing it for quite a while.  Very few refused her…

Hannah & Micaiah take a very well deserved lunch break…

This morning I prayed for a number of individuals with whom I spoke over the weekend.  Their willingness to hear the Word of God being presented was an encouragement to me and reminded me of the need to pray that the Lord might open their eyes to the truth – I can talk until I’m blue in the face, but until the Spirit convicts and leads men to the truth, nothing will happen.  Scott Rogers Opened the booth this morning which was a great help – many thanks Scott!  It blessed my soul to see him sharing, not just the DVDs, but the truth of Christ’s centrality in everything.  Not every encounter with people leads to lengthy conversations, but when we have the opportunity, we are glad to drive our discussions to the cross!

My family came in order to give me some sustenance, and Sandra and the kids handed out DVDs while I ate…

After a 13 hour day yesterday, Micaiah is at it again.  I thank the Lord for the joyful countenance of my children and their willingness to serve the Lord!  Without their help, this would become a nearly breakless endeavor for myself.  But after 5 hours of sleep, and preaching this morning – their help is indispensible.  Hannah will be with us today for this 3rd day at the DCF.  Each day is packed with a host of conversations and experiences, and I haven’t the time or ability to write about them all, but suffice it to say – there have been many opportunities to speak to people here – and I thank the Lord for it all.  We’ll have a few updates as the day progresses.

7:42 PM – Since this is a first-time experience for us, we have wondered what the pace would be like from day to day.  Saturday was busy, but today (Sunday) has been even busier!  Because of this we have had slightly fewer in-depth conversations with folks than in the past few days, however, things are still going very well.  Hannah & Micaiah provide stellar help, for which I am very thankful.  The biggest scandal of the day is that, despite the wonderful lunch that was packed for me, I opted for a little “Fiesta Role” from Ichiban. 

Blog-confession is good for the soul:

Note – the racism video/discussion has been a great aid for witnessing to people.  It has proved to be pivotal for several conversations today.

Update:  Alright (Hannah here) – I need to finish my dad’s confession. =) He did admit to getting food at Ichiban, but he failed to mention that he completed what we call the “Thruway Triangle.” Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and Ichiban are all in the same shopping center, so when we are on Stratford road we tend to complete the “triangle” – and that’s just what dad did today. =) (Of course, Micaiah and I did enjoy our pumpkin spice doughnuts…but I couldn’t resist an opportunity to tease Dad!)

12:10 PM: Micaiah is doing a great job!

1:15 PM: Scott & Amanda paid us a visit – it was a blessing to have a moment of fellowship with them!