Compelled to Move Forward - Thoughts on US Policy

November 25, 2020July 12, 2021

TO WHAT SHALL I LIKEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Sometimes it seems helpful to codify what we really believe about God. While God’s Word provides us with numerous descriptions of His Kingdom, over the years I’ve found it helpful to define what I believe in the form of images that come to mind as I reflect on my experience, what I’ve truly taken to heart, and live within. So, for whatever its worth, for whatever you may glean from it, below is a set of five images or stories that answer: To what shall I liken the Kingdom of God? Who is this God? How do I relate to Him? What is the paradigm within which my life is couched?

November 10, 2020December 30, 2020

ADVANCING ADVERSARIES

While most of us have been preoccupied with the chaos unfolding here at home, given my protective instincts, I am compelled to warn of advancing adversaries around the globe. This may be the last thing people want to hear, but American foreign policy failures over the last thirty years, particularly America’s unilateral withdrawal from around the globe more recently, have provided adversaries with an opportunity to meaningfully strengthen their position. Under the mantle of “America First” we have weakened our alliances, self-inflicted a decline in our moral standing and economic potential, and allowed our security to ebb away from us at an accelerating rate. China’s economic strength, military capabilities, and expansionary posture have grown markedly. Russia, Iran, North Korea and strongmen around the globe have also significantly advanced their military capabilities and negotiating positions.

October 11, 2020October 11, 2020

TAKING A BROAD PROLIFE PERSPECTIVE WITH US TO THE POLLS

For those of us who want to significantly reduce abortions and find the conduct of many traditionally ProLife candidates antithetical to our Biblical values, let me suggest a way forward out of the voting conundrum we now face. As a conservative and a Republican for over 40 years, I submit that being ProLife means not only protecting unborn children but protecting and building up the lives of those already born. If we believe in this broader definition of being ProLife, our concern for protecting life should extend beyond reducing abortions, to enabling healthy and fruitful lives for all children. Valuing the life of innocent children should therefore include supporting policies that provide all children with healthcare, a quality education, protection from harmful pollutants, keeping them with their parents, reducing racial tensions, and keeping them out poverty.

September 27, 2020November 8, 2020

THE TRUMP ECONOMY

According to a recent poll, 46% of Americans approve of the way Trump has handled the economy. People seem to believe that since jobs grew, unemployment came down, and the stock market and their 401k accounts rose, Trump must have done a good job. As a conservative, a Republican and a student of economics for over 40 years, I submit that these economic outcomes often happened in spite of Trump’s policies and that he mismanaged the economy to such an extent that he has sown significant long-term risks into our economic outlook. The principle drivers of the economy during Trump’s tenure have been four factors: deficit spending, low interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve, a widening trade deficit and the pandemic.

August 23, 2020August 23, 2020

A PROLIFE VOTING ALTERNATIVE

For those of us who are ProLife and find some candidates who purport to be “ProLife” but behave in ways contrary to our Biblical values, let me suggest a way out of the voting conundrum we now face. As a conservative and a Republican for over 40 years, instead of voting for an incumbent whose conduct we find appalling, let me suggest we withhold supporting them and focus on living out our faith by providing additional support to programs that have been successful at reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020

FALSE CHOICES AND LABELING

One aspect of American culture that has often surprised me is our tendency to put people into camps. You either believe in creation or evolution. You believe in a women’s right to choose or the right to life. You believe wearing a mask is imperative or it doesn’t matter. You either support Trump or you’re a “Trump-hater”. You predominantly support black lives matter or blue lives matter. You believe we must focus on growing the economy or protecting the environment. You believe “taking a knee” is a fit means of protesting police brutality or it’s disrespectful of our flag and country. You’re either part of the radical left or the far-right. This tendency to label and place others in camps has clearly grown with the rise of social media, news programming and divisive political rhetoric. Let me suggest that if we genuinely want to make meaningful progress on issues of faith, race, income inequality, healthcare, abortion, our environment, and education, it is imperative that we become purposeful in turning away from false choices and all the labels flying about, and look in earnest for just, pragmatic and compassionate solutions.

June 7, 2020June 26, 2020

CONSUMPTION VS CONSTRUCTION

Considering the accelerating decline of our nation, particularly as a pandemic, severe economic downturn and social unrest grip our nation, it occurs to me that what differentiates today from the 1930s is that our government is leading us further and further into consumption as a solution to what ails us verses constructively addressing the challenges before us.

May 15, 2020October 28, 2021

A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY

Given that we are unable to gather in person to remember my brother John, it is hard to convey the wonderful person he was and all he did for me. Johnny was my big brother, who went before me and made a way for me. Johnny was also my best friend. And though he was mentally retarded from birth, more than anyone else, he was my best teacher.

April 28, 2020April 30, 2020

LESSONS FROM MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Amid these challenging times, it strikes me how lessons learned climbing mountains over 14,000 feet might be applicable to getting through this pandemic. Mountain climbing, like this pandemic, is a long, hard and often lonely slog, with much that is out of our control.

When I first began climbing mountains over 14,000 feet nearly 25 years ago, I quickly learned three things mountain climbers do frequently and almost by instinct.

March 23, 2020March 28, 2020

STRATEGIC INVESTING FOR A SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY

While our “leaders” in Washington and across much of corporate America have earned a torrent of disdain for what they have done and failed to do, given that such would produce little good, let me suggest as we wait to come out of this health crisis, we begin to look across the valley and set our sights on how to rebuild our economy. While politicians in Washington franticly enact one short term stimulus package after another, strategic investments should be funded to not only stimulate the economy in the short term but provide long term benefits for generations to come.