I’ve been reading with great interest the account of a supporter of the University of Connecticut’s football program. It seems he has generously donated 8 million dollars for the improvement and building of athletic facilities – certainly a wonderful gesture. It’s nice to have someone like that love your institution, isn’t it? But he is now demanding that 3 million dollars be returned to him – because he does not feel he was consulted the way he felt he should have been when the university hired their new football coach. So he sent a harsh, demeaning letter to the Athletic Director attacking and condemning him and the university in a very personal way (Yes, I have read excerpts of the letter.) And he has asked for the 3 million back stating that he wants to give it to a school that will adhere to his philosophy. The University Administration, meanwhile, has made a public response in full support of their Athletic Director.
A lot of things went through my mind as I read this over the last couple of days. I raise just one here. it appears to me that this is a clear example of what true generosity is – and is not. The Bible consistently reminds us that gratefulness leads to generosity and gratefulness flows out of love. I cannot help but wonder why the donor gave? Was it out of love and gratitude for the University or out of a desire to be a major player – to be a BMOC (Big Man On Campus)? It’s not up to me to judge; but it has reminded me to check my motives for giving whatever I give – of my money, time, and talents. Is it for my selfish desires, or out of  gratitude and love? It’s worth pondering.

I had to read it twice to be sure I read it correctly. Unfortunately I read it correctly. From tonight’s news I learned that there is a law before our state legislature that would require anyone under 18 years of age to get parental permission to use the services of a tanning salon – because of the risks and dangers encountered in the tanning process. Additionally, every customer, regardless of age, would need to sign a paper stating they were aware of such risks and dangers. Hmm… I couldn’t help but think of how hard it is to pass legislation requiring parents to be notified when a teen wants or gets an abortion, or requiring doctors performing abortions to first show the patient accurate, truthful pictures and information. Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?

I recently read the book “God and the Oval Office” – subtitled “The Religious Faith of Our 43 Presidents.” It was an easy and fascinating read. I learned a lot and was surprised a lot. Some of the surprises were things I read about President Harry S. Truman. More on that another time. For today I just want to share one of his statements. It grabbed me again yesterday as Michigan had their primary elections. After observing the candidates and their particular emphases while campaigning here, I thought of it again. In reference to public opinion, Truman said, “I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he’d taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if he’d taken a poll in Israel? Where would the Reformation had gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn’t polls or public opinion at the moment that counts. It is right and wrong and leadership – men with fortitude, honesty, and a belief in the right that makes epochs in the history of the world.” Amen.

So now, on some campuses, college room/dormitory options include “gender neutral” . What this means is a student can say that have no gender preference in the selection of a roommate – or they can select someone of the opposite sex. And these campuses accommodate them. Now don’t get me started on this one! What is most disturbing to me is that a couple of the colleges that reportedly allow such arrangements are, historically, church related. Don’t get me started on that either! Sure, some say that mature students can handle it (who’s to determine the ‘mature’ ones?), but I say – with Biblical support – that boys will be boys and girls will be girls. (OK – stop searching – you won’t find those words in the Bible per se – but its passages about human nature and sin make it pretty clear: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing.” (Rom. 7:19) And whatever happened to obedience to the verse “Abstain from all appearance of evil?” ( 1 Thess. 5:22 KJV) But I said I wasn’t going to get started! When I read the news report, I was dismayed – but not surprised. Ever since our society has decided that morality is an individual choice, we’ve been headed down a slippery slope. Perhaps we need to read again the times of the Kings and Judges in the Old Testament – it is there we see the cycle of history: that when everyone does what is right in his own eyes, there is chaos. I can’t say it any better.

I seldom comment on the really hot political issues in my blog. But I am making an exception. I admit that the capital punishment issue is complex - and I am not here claiming to be for or against it. But Gary Bauer, in his 'End of the Day' email, wrote something with which I resonate. With all due credit to him, here is a portion of it:

"The U.S. Supreme Court indicated this week that it is deeply divided over a challenge to the way most states execute prisoners by lethal injection.  It seems some of the justices are distressed by the procedure in which three drugs are administered in succession to knock out, paralyze and kill prisoners sentenced to death.  “I’m terribly troubled by the fact that the second drug seems to cause all risk of excruciating pain,” said Justice John Paul Stevens, who thinks this method of execution may violate the 
Constitution’s 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.  
I couldn’t help notice the rich irony here.  Why is it that those judges most concerned with whether or not prisoners convicted of horrible crimes like murder and serial rape feel pain during an execution always tend to be 
the same judges who most adamantly defend the perceived right for abortionists to perform their ghastly deed?  Science has established that babies inside the womb feel excruciating pain during an abortion after 24 weeks of gestation. That pain, moreover, can be even more intense than if it were performed on a child outside the womb, because pain inhibitory mechanisms (fibers which dampen and modulate the experience of pain) do not 
begin to develop until 32-34 weeks of gestation.  All this would be comical if it weren’t so serious." I can't say it any better.

It was in the news last week. A 7 year old girl won free tickets to a Hanna Montana concert. She had written an ‘essay’ about her dad being killed in Iraq. Then it was discovered she had lied so the tickets were awarded to someone else. I find it hard to blame her. First, how could the handlers of the contest expect someone as young as 7 to ‘write an essay’? Give me a break! Second, let’s not let parents of young girls get off either. When Hanna was recently in Grand Rapids – about an hour from where I live – parents paid sums in the 4 figure range because “they didn’t want their daughters deprived of such an opportunity.’ (Note to my sons – sorry you were deprived of so many important things in your young lives!) Give me a break! But let’s also point to the adults in this young girls life – surely they knew what was going on – perhaps even to the point of helping her write the lie? I can’t say for sure but…well you think about it. Who’s kidding who? The desire for entertainment – and a resulting hero worship – hold strong power in America. And what’s so bad about that? More than I can write here – but let’s not forget the entertainment hunger was one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. That should be warning enough.

I thought I’d heard it all! Silly me! From Mascoutah, Illinois comes a news report that a 13-year old middle-schooler had to serve two days of detention. Why? Did she swear? Start a fight? Skip school? Talk back to a teacher? No – she put her arm around the shoulder of two friends and slightly squeezed them. In other words, she gave them a little hug to ‘say goodbye for the weekend.” For that she got detention. Mom and Dad didn’t like it but the only alternative was suspension – that’s right, suspension! According to the school student handbook, “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.” So a friendly little hug is now a PDA? Hmm…And PDA’s (public displays of affection) are a bad thing. Hmm…
So let me get this right. In some schools kids can get birth control without parental consent, in some states children can get an abortion without parental consent, and that’s all OK. But to hug a friend discredits the school. I wonder – what if the school, or a student in the school, suffered a tragedy, such as death in the family. Just how will they show comfort without a little PDA? And what if, as the basketball player trots off the court after a scintillating performance the coach pats him or her on the butt and says, “Great job!” Will coach be in detention the next day? He/she better be – that is after all a PDA, is it not? And what about the girls volleyball team – after each point they hug and high-five. I guess they’re in detention too.
I guess I’m just old fashioned, but give me a break! Recall the school board and let’s get real! And if the recall is successful…better not hug the board members as they leave their last meeting! Of course, if you did, you could write a new student handbook during your time in detention!

Kathy Griffin received an Emmy award – she may even have been deserving of it. I am not in a position to evaluate that. But in accepting the award, on national television, she said, “…a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.” She then went on to hold up her Emmy, make an off color remark about Christ and proclaim, “This award is my god now!”

Hmm…Two comments. First, if she had said equally derogatory remarks about Allah or against Islam, it would have been world headlines – and the network might even have censored it out. But since it was Jesus Christ, the God of Christianity, she was defaming, it was permissible and not newsworthy. It’s just one more case where all religion is not treated equally in the United States.

But secondly, if I could get a message to Kathy, I would send the following: “So, your award is your god! A man named Isaiah once said:
“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame…Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save…When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man (woman) who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and
possess my holy mountain.”

Kathy, I just thought you’d like to know. Think about it. Or ask your idol Emmy and see what advice she gives you.”

I drink a daily dose of OJ. I like OJ. I like what it does for my body and health. I like OJ in my glass – but not in my face. I mean, here we go again – a daily ‘in your face’ report of OJ Simpson. Enough is enough. I just find him so far out of touch with reality – like justifying what he did by claiming he was just taking back what was his. As if that’s how we all ought to live. It would be a rather chaotic world, don’t you think?
I have no idea what the court verdict will be for OJ this time around. But I do know this – at some point he will get what’s his: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Heb. 9:27)