As Good As it Gets

My friends in Wisconsin and Ohio will get a giggle out of all this. We had a blizzard in S.C. last night. Less than 1/2 inch of snow fell. But . . . Anna and Abby had as much fun in less than 1/2 inch, as your kids have in a foot. I am not suggesting all things are relative. But maybe in some things, like snow, I am suggesting just that.

Heard three mission trip reports yesterday at Headquarters. Besides the great passion I felt from the leaders who went, I noticed that what makes someone happy in the jungles of Peru and in India is totally different than what makes people happy in West Columbia, S.C.

From the political front, Christians have a reputation for giving the glass is half empty spin on everything. Barack Obama is a win on two fronts. First, the involvement of the next generation in the political process is in a historic shift. Second, is the need to see people of different racial/ethnic backgrounds followed and trusted as leaders. The most under appreciated resource in grass roots America is Latino, Asian, and African background people. When they lead, we mistrust them, and seldom follow them like we would a white guy. We also pat ourselves on the back when we give them the smallest responsibilities. They know that, btw. MLK's dream is yet to be reality, but we are closer than ever.

My politics are different than Obama's. His politics scare me. Yet, so did John McCain's. Politics scare me. For the most part, with the exception of Mike Huckabee, they all were reading off of "get me elected" scripts.

Truth is local communities of people who profess to be Christ followers are responsible for becoming the change we wish to see. Not President Obama. Not Oprah. Not John McCain. No matter what your politics look like, President Barack Obama is as good as it gets. Let's pray for him and let him lead.

Exposed! My Motivation in Saturday's Vote

My daughter (Krista) and I had a great conversation Saturday. We normally do. We have a lot of the same interests. I told her I voted was voting for Mike Huckabee in the South Carolina Republican Primary. She asked, What is his position on the war in Iraq?

She was not challenging me. She was asking an honest question. Her husband, David, is in the Air Force reserves. My answer was consistent with my demographic (education, income), according to Mark Penn, in his book, Microtrends. I don't know, was my answer.

When I thought about the implications of not knowing his position, I scared myself. Which came first in American politics? Voters who vote for personalities, or personalities sound biting and interneting for votes?

I don't think I am changing sides here, although it is looking less like a Huckabee ticket every day. I did begin the process of learning Huckabee's positions http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ on Iraq. I have perfectly good reasons to vote for Mike Huckabee, so this is not necessarily a worldwide confession. However, I do not have an excuse for not knowing more about, at least, his stated positions on issues that could directly affect my son-in-law's life, and my daughter's . . . and grandson's.

World Headquarters yesterday. Meeting with people and passion. Who helps the leaders? When a leader hurts, where does he/she go? Big news yesterday . . . Tom Brady (Super Bowl QB) was spotted in New York wearing a walking cast. The whole world stopped. Tom Brady is important to the team. You will be around a bunch of Tom Brady's today who are limping. Be sure to stop and care for a few minutes.

On the Edge of Your Computer Yet? - Wizard vs. Lizard III

So I must confess I did something in the voter's booth on November 16, 1991 that I had never done before or since to my knowledge. I think it what right. I hope it was right. Technically, my vote did not make a difference. Edwards won by plenty (400,000), not just one vote.

Oh, I let it slip. I voted democrat. I voted for Edwin Edwards. Why? I guess I was in the no vote camp. Who David Duke is/was, and what he represents, is not only dangerous, but represents the worst in all of us. The camp that says, I have a perfectly good reason to be who I am and think what I think. Duke was too convincing. We knew who Edwin Edwards was. We did not know who Duke was. He did not know either and is yet to know.

Speaking of recovery, I am a supremacist in recovery. Not just because I am a WASP. My nature is to feel better than others. Smarter, faster, harder working, balder, more spiritual, you know what I mean. I guess I would not be so bold if not for the fact that most of you are that way too. I mean, surely it is not in the Bible just because of me. That would be kind of a waste, wouldn't it? A verse, all that paper and ink for 100s of years, just for little, old, balder than you are, me?

Here, try this on for size, from the Amplified Bible, Philippians 2:3: let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Even, David Duke is not all by himself. That was what scared me as I pulled the lever for the other guy, in 1991.

WH yesterday. Coaching and movement makers. Well worth it. Another good day today in Columbia. Heading to Bobcats vs. Pistons this weekend, along with a trip to Myrtle Beach. More deconstructing Monday.

Did I Vote for the Wizard or Lizard?

So what would I do? Would I vote for the Lizard (who currently is in a Lousiana prison at the ripe old age of 80)? Or the Wizard http://www.davidduke.com/ who continues to promote racial hatred in spite of running in '91 as someone who had moderated his extreme, Klu Klux Klan views?

Experts say Edwin Edwards won because he received what exit polls (47 % Edwards' voters) said was a David Duke no vote. I went into the booth on that day in 1991 not knowing what to do, but knowing that doing nothing was not an option.

I remember clearly, maybe for the first time, bowing my head and asking God to tell me who to vote for, in the booth. I am not sure that He did, but He probably appreciated me asking His opinion at least. In fact, God Himself, may have hesitated a nanosecond before He voted in the 1991 Louisiana Gubernatorial election. Check Wikipedia http://www.wikipedia.org/ for historical details of that election. More tomorrow.

Columbia Yesterday. Meetings. Meetings. Meetings. Conversations are much more interesting than usual at World Headquarters. I think that is a good thing. Great time with the man, Neal McGlohon yesterday. More time with movement makers today.

Any weight and health goals for 2008? Keep on. The journey is worth the destination. I am at the point where talking about it helps me. Be glad to talk with you. I am in recovery and will always be looking for a new edge. I will be for the rest of my life.

Lizard vs. Wizard

Don't think I'll blog a bunch about presidential politics this year. Most of us who read here are all are going to be think the same things, so what's the point? Most of us are scared of Hillary. After last night's upset win in New Hampshire she will be a force I never thought she could be. We are impressed with Obama's appeal and charisma, but, are equally afraid of him. Most of us really want Mike Huckabee to win the whole deal, but in our hearts question if he is electable.

Back in New Orleans in 1991 (Lizard vs. Wizard) I faced my greatest political dilemma. I felt a strong responsibility to vote. My choices for governor were only two: David Duke (Klu Klux Klan leader and Republican conservative who quoted scripture along the campaign trail) or Edwin Edwards (multiple indictments and public mocker of the resurrection of Christ). Where was my conservative Republican, moral, right wing vote going to be cast? I tell you more tomorrow.

Yesterday, all of World Headquarters moved to White Oak Conference Center in Winnsboro, S.C. to talk about change. I drank too many 20 oz diet soft drinks. I feel a bit bloated and hung over this morning. Anyways, good effort. We all received permission to think out loud for a day.

Where do we go from here? Time will tell. One thing is for certain, we are all good at deconstruction. Deconstruction is easy. Deconstruction makes us feel smart and in control. Construction and long-term implementation . . . I am not so good at that.