Is the President a Christian?

Apparently it has been a slow news week, but attention has been paid to a Pew Research poll that found 18% of the American people generally, including 31% of Republicans, believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim.
The discussion surrounding the poll is much more interesting to me than the actual topic of the poll, but let's start with that subject.
Is the President of the United States a Muslim? I'm of two minds here.
First, who cares? When the time came to consider our Constitution over 200 years ago, there was a general outcry that the document would never be approved without an enumeration of certain rights that could not be denied to (given the ignorance of the time) white, male citizens. Over time, our forebears discovered the wisdom to extend these freedoms to all people. The first of those amendments made six sacred declarations: that the government would never be in the business of establishing a church or churches; that the government would never interfere in the rights of individuals to practice their religion; that people would be free to speak their minds; that the press would enjoy that same freedom; that people would be free to associate with whom they choose; and that the people could come to the government seeking justice when wronged. Each of these points is simple and clear. Read them sometime. The significance of the First Amendment for this discussion: It's none of your business or mine whether or not Obama has a religion, and if he does, what it is. That must necessarily be the response of any American citizen who takes our Constitution seriously. Anything less is, by definition, Unconstitutional, and therefore by definition, Un-American.
The second part of what chews on me about this is the arrogance of Obama's political opponents. The exemplary statesman, Sen. Mitch McConnell, was on Meet the Press this morning. Mediator David Gregory asked McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, about the Pew Poll, wondering how such a misperception could arise. McConnell answered, "I have no idea." Really, Senator? I would have thought by this point that someone would have introduced a fine conservative such as yourself to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and all of the other people who have committed their lives to convincing Amercans that Obama is lurking in their closets or under their beds, just waiting to get them like those childhood monsters that disappeard when the light was turned on. Disingenuous at best, Senator. A bald-faced lie, more likely.
McConnell went on to say, about his own opinion of Obama's faith, "I take the President at his word [that he is a Christian]." How noble. I'll tell you what, Senator, since you've been so generous with the President, then I'll take you at your word that you're a Christian, too. And I'll take Rush's word for it, too, although he's from Missouri, and just up the road from his hometown of Cape Girardeau, a Muslim father carried out an "honor killing" of his daughter for shaming the family. And, come to think of it, Rush just got married for the fourth time. Kind of violates that whole sanctity of Christian marriage being between one man and one woman (at a time?). (Whoever heard of a nearing-60 multi-millionaire suddenly feeling the need to marry a stunning blonde in her early 30's anyway?)
But I'll take your word, and Rush's, because that's all any of us can do. We take one another's word for it. You don't know what's in my heart, and I don't know what's in yours. But here's what I do know: You and/or I deny a brother or sister in Christ at our own peril.
Whether or not any person is a Christian or not is, ultimately, between that person and God. Again, meddle in that at your own peril. Deny a brother or sister in Christ at your own peril. You might Google "Bible, Jesus, Millstone" and see what you come up with. Read it carefully. And then share with 31% of the Republicans what you find.

For a Reason?

"Everything happens for a reason."
This mindless statement has become extraordinarly fashionable as a catch-all for those moments when most of us have absolutely no idea what to say. It is usually attached to some equally mindless palaver about "God's Plan" or some such idiocy. Most of the time, thinking people are gracious enough to allow the stupidity to go unchallenged, although there are times when it is utterly painful to let it pass.
Here's a newsflash, boys and girls: there is, indeed, a reason for everything. It is not, however, the same reason for everything. Let's consider a couple of examples.
A child is born, mother and child both emerge healthy, the child is loved, provided for in every way, and grows to adulthood well in the care of a church family? Indeed, the grace of God is at work, and God's intention has been fulfilled. A child is born, only to die, suffocated by his mother? How about two children, for good measure? (If you've been in a cave, this happened, in our country, earlier this week) Yeah, there's a reason for this. A human being, operating under whatever set of circumstances that will be presented in court as a defense, did an evil, evil thing. Don't blame this on God. The God I know was disregarded totally on this one.
A person makes mistakes in life. Becomes substance-dependent. "Comes to himself" as Jesus said in the Prodigal's story. Asks for help, finds it, and proceeds to live a redeemed life? Again, God's grace on display, available to all. Another person, substance-dependent, comes to himself and asks for help. But he's unemployed, has no insurance, and cannot get a placement for care, and that, after appeals for help to both of the prominent church-named hospitals in the community? Not God's fault! God was not considered in this; a throw-away person was, simply, thrown away. This is not God's Plan, God's intention, or in any way an expression of God's presence in the world.
These are both very small examples, nothing on the scale of the Holocaust, the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge, Stalin's purges or the Rwandan genocide of the last decade. Or, for that matter, any of the evil that you and I encounter and wrestle with on a daily basis, inflicted by petty, evil people who are determined to abuse and destroy and abandon? I would never, ever, consider working for a God who would include such circumstances in his/her "Plan" and neither would you.
So, how about a little more honesty and integrity? The next time we feel "There's a reason for everything" or "It's part of God's Plan" or any such horse excrement, about to escape our lips, decide, instead, to tell the truth: "I don't know what to say, but I love you, I believe God does, and God and I are here." Because that's actually God's plan for us to care for one another.

Excuses or Explanations, the Truth is the Truth

After the games of Sunday, August 15, the Boston Red Sox are 67-52, the fifth best record in the American League. They are third in the AL East, trailing the first place MFYs by six games (seven in the loss column), and the Wild Card leading Tampa Bay Rays by five games (six in the loss column).

Here's a quick trip around the diamond.

Catchers: Victor Martinez, 4 time AL All-Star
Jason Varitek, 3 time AL All-Star

First Base: Kevin Youkilis, 2 time AL All-Star, 2008 Hank Aaron Award, best AL hitter
Mike Lowell, 4 time All-Star, 2007 World Series Most Valuable Player

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, 3 time AL All-Star, 2007 AL ROY, 2008 AL MVP

Short Stop: Marco Scutaro

OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Franchise single season stolen base record holder
Mike Cameron, 1 time All-Star, 3 time Gold Glove winner

Pitchers: Hideki Okajima, 1 time All-Star, 8th inning set-up specialist
Josh Beckett, 2 time All-Star, 2007 ALCS MVP

These players have all spent significant time this season on the Disabled List, with Youkilis and Cameron being lost for the season. Only 3b Adrian Beltre, DH David Ortiz, and (ironically) RF JD Drew among the everyday players have avoided the DL this season, and Papi forgot how to hit in April.

The fact that the Sox are still in contention is a miracle, and points to only one thing: Terry Francona is the Manager of the Year in the American League.