Ethics? We don't need no stinkin' ethics...

So my very own congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) have introduced a bill to replace the congressional ethics committee with an “Independent Ethics Commission” made up of 11 former Members of the House.

While I think this is a good idea, it doesn't really do anything about the root cause of the problem: legal bribery. While the "culture of corruption" so clearly on display of late in the Abramoff and Cunningham scandals highlight how easily a person can cross the line from legal to illegal bribery, the real problem is the pay-to-play system entrenched in our legislature. The "K Street Project" is the full realization of this system which took lobbying to a new level.

The point is that if you want legislation passed or an earmark inserted, all it takes is cash. You can donate to to the party, a committee, PAC or the politician in question and you've got a pretty good shot at it. It gets worse, though, because the system is self reinforcing. The legal part of the scam is that politicians use the money they get to fund their campaigns. The better funded the campaign, the more likely the victory - doubly so for aincumbentnt.

The cycle feeds itself and at some point the representatives are representing not their own local constituents, but the interests which pay the lobbyists. While I recognize the idealism in getting money out of politics, I really wish it would happen. A big part of the current mess that is the federal government is due to pay-for-play politics. Everything from the tax code to the budget to acts designed to specifically help a major industry (at the expense of the people) are the logical outcome of our current way of doing politics. Public financing of elections may have its problems, but I for one think it's a start. Of course, politicians COULD just refuse to play the game as it is currently constructed but their reelection fears cut off the blood flow to their ethics gland. I would like to remind them of what the prophet Isaiah said:

Isaiah 1: 23

Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow's case does not come before them.

Isaiah 33:14-16

14 The sinners in Zion are terrified;
trembling grips the godless:
"Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?"

15 He who walks righteously
and speaks what is right,
who rejects gain from extortion
and keeps his hand from accepting bribes,
who stops his ears against plots of murder
and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-

16 this is the man who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
His bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail him.

Isaiah 10:1-2

1Woe to those who make unjust laws,

to those who issue oppressive decrees,

2 to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.

Not Exactly Escher

But pretty cool nonetheless. Check out this sidewalk chalk artist's great work on busy city streets (URL at bottom of post)

Amazing work with perspective creates wonderful illusions and even allows for some street theater. It's really quite stunning what an impact using our creative talents can have. I know that if I came across something like this while walking down the street, I'd be marveling at it all day. As it is, the pictures have stuck with me for a couple.

It's my belief that we were given our gifts and talents to not only benefit ourselves but to edify others and glorify God. Whether he knows it or not, those drawings are an act of worship. The world is a better place for such an expression. Now...what's my contribution going to be?

http://www.compfused.com/directlink/1272/

Bike Church - Yeah!

Years ago, my brother participated in this thing called "skate church." It was a youth group that met once a week and the gym had half-pipes and raucous music. This church in New Zealand takes the concept much further and they consider cycling an act of worship. I couldn't agree more. If I ever make to NZ I'll be sure to stop in for a ride!

Check it out http://www.cyclingchurch.org.nz/index.htm

Wednesday's Big Idea: Blessing Redux

Well, it's been a pretty long time since I've gotten a WBI in, but it's back - at least today. It's not that there's been a dearth of big ideas (quite the contrary!) so much as I've been pretty poor at writing lately. So I'm back with another post about blessing.

The thing about blessing is that it's horizontal. That is, it is human speaking in a prophetic voice over a person, place or thing. I can bless other people or a place, I can even bless God, but in doing so, I am speaking directly to them. I am not asking God to do it or praying for them (all of which are very good things) but instead speaking directly to them. Sometimes we do this at a distance and take it on faith that it is received, but ideally we bless directly so that the receiver can hear it from our own lips.

Blessing seems to always have what my pastor calls the 3 "R's" of blessing: Relationship, Resource and Revelation. This is most clearly seen in Christ's blessing at his baptism: "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." The words simultaneously establish relationship and revelation which is followed by resource - the Holy Spirit descending as a dove.

I can't claim to be very good at blessing - especially the face to face kind. I've been practicing, but have fallen short where it counts the most in my family. So as the first step on my road to recovery I offer these blessings to my family:

Elizabeth, my wife, you are a shining jewel to me. A sapphire that is radiant and that radiance shines even more when you turn your face towards God (Psalm 34) You are an exquisite teacher of many children and a brilliant mother. May you be filled with strength and joy as you care for children, may you find rest and peace when you need it and be filled with supernatural patience (especially when dealing with 2 year olds!)

Avinoam, your father's delight, may you continue to be the creative creator. You are beloved and I am well pleased with you. May you find peace and patience when frustration comes and joy and contentment in your success.

Ephraim, Jacob, the younger brother unborn and unnamed, may you be called blessed in our family. You, too are beloved. In you will be strength and wisdom. We welcome your coming and your name.

Isaiah on Tuesday - It's the End of the World as We Know it

Isaiah 24 is the first chapter after the "oracles" against various nations and peoples and it's not good news. The NIV titles it "The LORD's devastation of the Earth." It's pretty bleak stuff and it's one of those chapters where I'm left scratching my head a little bit. Mixed in with the doom and destruction are snippets of glory and worship. While I will be the first to say the Isaiah is a master of mixing judgment and promise, the context of these verses leaves me wondering what exactly he was going for.

My high level summary is - God is going to lay waste to the Earth because its people have totally rebelled. The few that remain will see God's glory which is so magnificent that the sun and the moon pale in comparison.

I have to admit that my first thoughts upon reading this chapter were about the environmental damage that we humans are currently doing to the earth. Verse one says "

See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants-"

to which I might add "unless we do it first." I don't really think this is intended as an indictment towards over exploitation of resources, spewing of pollution or wasteful consumption, but I do see a parallel in that those things inevitably lead to the same fate as the one Isaiah speaks of:

3 The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The LORD has spoken this word.

The cause of the devastation is given in verse 5:

5 The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.

I suppose one could say that the environmental destruction we are currently visiting upon the planet is just a consequence of violating the laws and statutes of God - greed, lack of concern for others, failure to consider "the earth the Lord's and everything in it." I can't help but think that Isaiah glimpsed a future when the deforested planet was a desert wasteland, the skies burned with a chemical stink and neither king nor subject could escape - there was nowhere left to go.

I think the scariest part of this chapter, though, are 3 verses in the middle which at first seem to be a glimmer of hope, but turn out to be the greatest despair:

14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty.

15 Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
in the islands of the sea.

16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
"Glory to the Righteous One."
But I said, "I waste away, I waste away!
Woe to me!
The treacherous betray!
With treachery the treacherous betray!"

The voices of those proclaiming God's majesty and shouting for joy appear to be the betrayers. An open enemy doesn't betray, he attacks openly and defiantly. It is from the one who claims to be an ally that treachery and betrayal come. From the context of the chapter it appears that those who sing "Glory to the Righteous One" speak truth with their lips, but their actions betray them. That is why this is the most disturbing part of Isaiah's vision. It is a warning that those of us who claim to worship God, must do so in word AND deed.

We must bend our heart, mind, soul and strength to this endeavor, lest we stray even one degree off course. And that's the rub - one degree is far worse that 180. When we get totally turned around, it's much easier to tell - we usually know it right away. A single degree isn't immediately obvious and so we often don't detect it until we have traveled quite a distance. Compounding the problem is that we may not be alone. There may be a fleet of us sailing off course. A dangerous armada, indeed. We can be humbly thankful that God is gracious to forgive, merciful and kind and gives course correction to those willing to accept it.

Isaiah keeps his eyes focused on the prize in similar fashion. He closes this chapter with the following:

23 The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed;
for the LORD Almighty will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders, gloriously.

Though a great devastation is wrought upon the earth, it is overwhelmed with glory. Even the sun and moon fade in comparison. I suspect those elders in Jerusalem will be overwhelmed by the contrast between the ugliness of the temporal and the beauty of the eternal and that glory will shine even more prominently.