Endorsing gay marriage is one of those hot ‘evangelical’ issues that can get the base frustrated. There are a few topics that Evangelicals care deeply about, and gay marriage is right up there behind issues surrounding abortion. While I disagree with the president’s position and his worldview (and reading of Scripture/theology), is this enough to dismiss his candidacy for a second term?

For many Evangelicals, the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ Of course, for the vast majority of these Evangelicals, the president never really had their support anyway, so his position is a moot point. So how does one pick a president if gay marriage is not enough to convince you one way or another for a particular candidate?

Here are some of my assumptions:

• The president does not have as much power as we might think he or she has: I love our American system of governance that was an intentional reaction to the English (and European) system that entrusted much power to the authority of its ruler. Our system of checks and balances is such to frustrate anyone who thinks he or she can amass absolute power. Even with his recent gay marriage declaration, the President acknowledged it was purely symbolic and that he still thinks the states should decide whether gay marriage should be legal.
• The president is a politician: I am not all that bothered by the flip-flopping of candidates and elected officials because I recognize that elected leaders are not necessarily people of conviction, but people who want to please their electorate. And in doing so, they reflect the will of the voter. As demographics change, so will the convictions of the politician to reflect his or her constituencies. The president is also a politician who must please as many voters as he or she can for the sake of being elected.
• The president is a politician: I just said that, but it’s worth making this point again. Because of a variety of factors, elected officials are in the context of having to negotiate their leadership and convictions. You give and take to pass laws that maximize benefits to your constituency, even if you don’t get it all.
• The president wears a lot of hats: So the question is, which of the hats that he/she wears is the most important hat to me? He/she appoints judges. He/she is our chief foreign diplomat. He/she is a public relations spokesman for a variety of causes. He/she is the commander-in-chief. He/she is usually the head of their political party. He/she appoints members of the cabinet. Of course, some of these decisions are checked by the consent of congress, but if you boil it down, that’s what a president does. A president therefore is not the head of a church or CEO of our country.

So having said all this, here’s how I’d pick a president–

• I want someone who represents us well in our world. The president is the commander-in-chief of the military and does a lot of influencing and networking with foreign dignitaries. In our growing connected world, I will be looking for a president who commands international relations well, and who can lead our military with wisdom and courage.

And that’s really it… There are many doomsday predictions about the person we elect. And I’m sure a few people have moved to Canada because of a particular election result, but my Biblical convictions is not to pick a president who matches my theology, but to pray for whoever is elected.

Does it matter that a president has convictions about abortion or gay marriage? Absolutely, but history shows us time and again that the convictions and decisions of a president have more of an affect on our international relations than on domestic ones.

I’m fully convinced that a president’s decision to go to war or to build alliances will have a more dramatic impact on my life and the life of my children than whether gay people marry. I’m fully convinced that a President has more power and ability to negotiate the power of terror in our world than whether abortions can be minimized or eliminated. Finally, I’m fully convinced that a President has more power to enhance our economic security and prosperity by paying attention to international influences, than by merely playing around with tax cuts.

Abortion and gay marriage are important issues that reflect the soul and convictions of a nation. It is unfortunate that the Evangelicals’ demand for renewal in our country and our call for Biblical convictions rests on how we vote for our president. If those issues are important to us Evangelicals, then let us address them in sectors other than around the office of the presidency.

Beirut is not cheap. Most meals here are either comparable or more expensive than what I’d be paying for in the US. Our produce and groceries in general matched what I would pay back home. The food is better and the atmosphere that much more lively (can you be an introvert in the Beirut?) and prices are just as comparable to what I would expect in the US.

One of the key difference on the cost of things here versus cost of things back in the US, is the emphasis on community. Things may be expensive, but rarely have I seen someone dine by themselves, or grab a cup of coffee by themselves. We drove and walked past several Starbucks coffee shops, and what stood out was that there was no one who was alone.

Taking Starbucks as an example, this is a company that values itself as building a third place for people–where community takes place. Yet my experience of Starbucks is less of that and more of it being an office away from the office. A place where I have my own personal time to do my own personal things.

In Lebanon, that’s hardly the value. The higher value is to build and enjoy community and friendships. Relationships are critical for everything here. So $16 may be expensive for a couple cups of coffee, but what we paid for was actually not the coffee nor the rent in prime location–we paid for the space and place to enjoy one another’s company.

See larger image Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian (Hardcover) By (author) John Piper List Price: $22.99 USD New From: $11.58 In Stock Used from: $11.58 In Stock

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, John Piper made his latest book, Bloodlines, available as a free pdf download. This work explores his journey in understanding race, ethnicity, and racism within the Kingdom. Piper grew up in the south in the 1950s and 1960s where he witnessed first hand the effects of segregation.

For Piper, there were few heroes in his youth who led with an eye toward reconciliation. His mother had made some bold public decisions to embrace racial reconciliation, but his childhood was void of mentors who spoke for the civil rights movement and against segregation. In this void, Piper developed his prejudices, language, and outlook on Black/White relations.

Because of his influence in the White American Evangelical Church, Piper might very well be the right person to begin conversation about the effects and importance of racial reconciliation. The people who are going to be reading this book may have thought very little about the value for racial reconciliation and have picked up this book simply because it was written by one of their mentors/leaders.

Though the book is marketed as a memoir and reflections on his journey, what it really majors on is his defense for a certain theological paradigm to value racial reconciliation. Piper is unapologetic about being reformed, and what he has done in this book is communicate what reform theology is and why it is the best kind of theology to lead us into racial reconciliation. His thesis is summed up on page 131:

From the standpoint of Reformed faith, every aspect of the way God views and saves sinners is designed to undermine racism and lead to a new reconciled and redeemed humanity from every people group in the world.

That’s a pretty bold statement to make, and Piper has really written the book to make that point. I won’t spend space to agree or disagree with Piper on whether Reformed faith is the road to racial reconciliation. What did disappoint me is that I wanted to hear more about Piper’s journey as a racist (as he called himself) and his movement toward reconciliation. And though he outright said that he is not the model of the person building the multi-ethnic church, he gave almost no picture or example of how reformed theology can prophetically stand against racism in all its forms–even more specifially how that has been true for him.

He has written this book to make a case that racial reconciliation is important and only truly achievable through his theological paradigm. While right thinking is important (and Piper majors on that in his book), so is taking risks in building lifelong relationships across cultural lines. For it’s in relationships that our values and theology is tested. And unfortunately Bloodlines offers no help to that end.

War had severely limited how we spent our time, who and where we visited, and how we made decisions in general. In the last two days, we had seen more of Lebanon than I had ever seen as a child.

The country is rich in its history and beautiful. I started my morning eating breakfast facing the Mediterranean Sea, and by mid-morning, we were driving through picturesque snow covered hills. From the ancient Roman ruins we visited to the old villages we drove through, this is a country that had lost much of its reputation because of war and politics.

War and politics continue to dominate the psyche of people. It’s a complicated mess of a country and trying to get the political landscape straight is not an easy task. Yet apart from politics, the people are incredible hosts who value hospitality more than anything else.

In about half a day, I visited all the major landmarks from my childhood–where I lived, where I went to school, where my father worked, and where we socialized. I felt nostalgia at each of those locations and felt at home in each of those contexts. My major takeaway, though, is how small everything looks. Yet those were my world. And in this trip, my world didn’t just feel small, but it also got expanded, by touring villages and sights that are beautiful.

The other takeaway is the power of hospitality. I have a high value for hospitality. I think it’s one of those non-negotiable Biblical values. So I teach and model hospitality in my ministry. But no matter how much of it I model and live out, it pales in comparison to the hospitality that is embedded in the culture here. To be blunt and potentially offend my American friends, the hospitality here is like Level 301. It’s just natural and not intentional for people to extend hospitality. (I recently defined hospitality as serving and prioritizing others. I like that definition)

In my ministry, I aim for something like hospitality 201–trying to model the Biblical call of welcoming people into my life. And part of the 201 stuff is trying to inspire people who come from no value for hospitality, and having them not just do the 101 stuff (i.e. learning to be kind), but to do the 201 stuff of being radical.

What we see here is 301–it puts the radical hospitality to shame. And now I have that much of a stronger picture of the kind of hospitality Jesus challenged in his ministry (i.e. in his parable and teachings in Luke 14).

People who are not necessarily committed followers of Jesus have expressed the Kingdom in ways they don’t even know! They have served and prioritized well.

But for reasons we learn later, the disciples were unable to help this man. I can imagine his disappointment and further anxieties because of this incident with the disciples. And I don’t know whether the man had lost faith because the disciples failed to heal his son, but he certainly had little faith that his son could experience any freedom from his ailments.

The father was desperate for more. Desperation in of itself is not a popular posture. To be desperate for anything reveals weakness, a gap in assets/resources, and may often have people make rash decisions (desperate times call for desperate measures?). I don’t usually think of desperation as a good thing. If I come to a place of desperation, I think of myself of having failed at a particular task or challenge.

But in the case of a relationship with God, desperation can actually lead us to a more fulfilling experience of God. If desperation does reveal weaknesses and gaps, then it is appropriate to go to God as desperate people. My desperation may be my honest outlook on my soul–I have tried everything and I don’t have it in me to move on anymore. Lord, do something! And though prayers of desperation may be the last resort, I don’t think that’s a bad thing in of itself. I often hear teachings convicting us to choose to go to God as a last instead of a first resort, but I don’t think God is keeping track of when in our process we go to him, as long as we go to him.

God desires us to be desperate, and often we need a few rounds of trying something before we come to terms with our own desperation. The father’s prayer was simple, “I believe, help my unbelief.” He recognized his need for God and his soul’s struggles with believing that after all that he had done, Jesus could be better.

There are far too many Christians who are eager for simple answers and spiritualized reflections on life. I wish more of us were desperate people who understand our infallibility and who turn to Jesus to make things right.

Performing weddings are not a part of my job description nor a part of my ministry. Campus ministry allows me to walk with people in their faith and their convictions, which inevitably includes their posture toward romance. But to marry a couple is rarely a gift or privilege I’m given.

What is sweet about marrying a couple I know and for whom I care deeply is that the whole process is merely a continuation of our discipleship. Essentially all relationships come under the Lordship of Jesus, including marriage. I tell couples I counsel that if they want a solid marriage, they can begin now by learning to submit to others and serve one another. Servanthood and submission are essential to discipleship and Christian community.

Because of that, I think that Christian community is the best practice to being married. If we can honor others in our community, reconcile conflict with them, serve them, prioritize them, and love them the way God would intend for us, we will have built up our character in such a way to enjoy success in our marriage.

The process of performing both weddings challenged me to have integrity in my own marriage–to make sure that the words I preach and the invitation I present to married living are true for me as well. What performing these weddings also did for me is that they gave me another picture of leadership. The pastor may be marrying a couple, but what he or she is also doing is shepherding an entire community to experience God and glorify God as we celebrate this young couple.

Ministering from upfront is a privilege not only because of the role I play for this couple, but also because I am giving a vision of marriage for everyone present–and I realize that my words can be inspiring for some, convicting for some and perhaps even offensive to others.

I also realize that weddings are beautiful not just aesthetically or emotionally, but also because it’s one of the few places in our lives where there is reverence for the sacred. It is a deeply celebratory experience for all who are involved.

My father and I grabbed dinner in downtown Beirut, across the street from Starbucks. Neither downtown Beirut nor Starbucks existed 25 years ago. Where we walked and dined was the area of the green zone that seperated West Beirut from East Beirut–the place where warring factions faced off from each other during the civil war.

Dinner of hummus and kebab was delicious. It’s not as if I can’t get such amazing food in the United States, but there’s something about enjoying the food in the country that makes everything taste that much better.

During my first full day, I visited the various places that were core parts of my childhood–the flat (apartment) where I lived and grew up, the district we called home, the school I attended, and my father’s factory.

Some initial impressions of Lebanon and the Lebanese:

• When parking our car in the parking garage, security scanned the vehicle for any explosives (particularly the ones that can be detonated remotely)
• Parts of Beirut rival the extravagance you can find on Rodeo drive
• As is true in the non-American world, lines/queues don’t exist–whether it’s for paying, waiting or driving.
• Relationships are the greatest asset and commodity. You value nurturing relationships. My father and I visited two of his friends already. Very much like the kingdom of God

Expecting nothing less, my first night in Beirut also includes some jet lag–the unfortunate cost and tax of overseas travel.

Even the ones closest to Jesus don’t seem to understand him. The disciples are confused about what he’s doing and his teaching. Though they saw him feed 5000 people, they seem confused that Jesus can do anything for the large crowd (4000) who are gathered around him. Peter who confesses the Jesus is indeed the Messiah or Christ, is confused what that means and he has the audacity to rebuke Jesus (publicly no less) because Jesus was talking about suffering and death.

It does not seem to matter whether people are close or far from Jesus because all can misunderstand his purpose and his teachings. And relationally, it may not matter how much time one spends with Jesus because time logged does not necessarily equal to blessings received.

What we can bank on is that Jesus will constantly surprise. Those who know Jesus are eager for the adventure of being surprised by him. For those who want something of the expected Jesus will find themselves farther and farther from him. It’s disappointing because Jesus takes us on an adventure and journey. If we like the Jesus we first met, we may find ourselves in relationship with that image of Jesus and not Jesus himself.

It’s like every other relationship for that matter. I would hate for people to only know of me what they knew 10 years ago. There may be enough of me today that relating to the 25 year old Eddy may allow people to get by, but so much has changed (for the better I hope) that people will miss out if they treat me as if I were still in my mid-20s.

Our relationship with Jesus ought to be dynamic and we should not be too concerned if we don’t understand Jesus, as long as we are on the trajectory of knowing him and trusting him wherever he leads us.

I remember playing board games in bomb shelters or marbles at school. I remember the day my younger brother was born and the sound of gunshots that was part of the soundtrack of the city (not unlike the role car alarms play in Los Angeles). I remember some friendships and my dad’s workplace. But most of what I remember is the role that war played in my life and in the life of my family.

The Beirut I remember

War is evil and influences how we live our lives.

But for those who have spent any significant time living in a war zone that last more than just a few weeks, will tell you that life still goes on. People adapt and learn to make do even in the midst of war. Some of that may have to do with the hope that one day, things will change. Some of that may have to do that we learn to accept the reality of the conflict and choose to still make life work. And I think some of that has to do with the love for the country and culture. The risk to stay outweighing the desire to leave.

I will be going back with my father for short 10 day visit. The country that I find will not be the country I left. I’ve changed and so has the country. English is now my most dominant language and culturally, I accept that I’m more American than Lebanese. What I imagine and hope for this pilgrimage is to fall in love with a place that has invested in my foundations. I hope to to see things and remember and appreciate who I’ve become because of these foundations. I also hope to have fun and embrace 10 days of good relationships, good food and good sights.

In fact, I generally never understand how people can know so little about their finances and that they are surprised when their credit cards are maxed or their ATM cards don’t spew out cash. How can people not really know how much money they have?

But that’s exactly what happened to us. After a little investigation, I realized that the email was legit. Our balance was surprisingly and unexpectedly low. Some of the transfers and deposits that I usually make around this time of the month I hadn’t done yet, and some of the expenses that I should have recorded in my financial software, I hadn’t done so yet.

My money and my finances surprised me. As I reflected on this recent incident, one of the things that stood out to me was that I had gotten off-rhythm in paying attention to our finances. With many (if not all) of my bills on auto-payment, I actually don’t have too many reasons to be looking at my checking account or making sure I pay bills. What that has done is allow me to be lax in having regular times of paying bills and reconciling accounts. And what that laziness has done is caught me off guard with the dreaded notice from my bank.

When finances surprise us, we embrace unnecessary anxiety, it can cost us more in the long run (for example if my checking account goes below $0, my credit card kicks in with criminal interest rates), and it will (and should) alter how we intended to use our money. For us, when the balance hit so low, I was intending to purchase groceries that day for dinner that evening. But instead I decided to see what we had around and cook that for dinner. A minor inconvenience.

Practically, a regular time of reconciling our finances (maybe weekly) is a great way to not let money surprise us. This discipline can help us vision and plan our money well.