Steeped in Catholicism from an early age . . . he was an altar boy and took vows of obedience, poverty and chastity.  He describes his young self as a “soldier in God’s army” . . . he attended (the Catholic) Niagara University and earned a theology degree from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland . . . Who Am I?

In the spirit of the great American game show To Tell The Truth, in which the contestants included Bill Press and Tim Tebow, the members of the panel charged with guessing the person to whom the above statement belonged might be excused for attributing it to Tebow as opposed to Press, especially given the latter’s comments on his radio show this morning.

For those who don’t follow Press, whose program airs daily between 6 and 9 AM EST, I am of course talking about the controversial host’s admonishment that Tebow should “S-T-F-U” about Jesus.

So how is it that a self-proclaimed “soldier in God’s army” can, with inexplicable hostility, come to criticize a fellow Christian’s open testimony of personal faith?  Surprisingly, the answer is easy because it is in this same spirit that a teacher can send two boys home from school for wearing Santa hats and wishing fellow students Merry Christmas or, where a school district can propose legislation to disqualify both Christmas and Easter as official school holidays.  How about an elected government bantering about the idea of removing any reference to God in the country’s national anthem.

Sadly, and while we seem to show such magnanimous tolerance for other’s rights and freedoms, when it comes to our own values and beliefs we are very quick to dismiss them in a form of self-directed intolerance.  The question is why . . . why are we so readily willing to compromise ourselves while laying down our proverbial coat over the mud puddle for others?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that we do an about face and seek to either assimilate or eradicate those whose beliefs differ from ours.  However, and referencing the Abraham Lincoln speech in which he said that a house divided against itself cannot stand (which by the way has its origins in the bible – see Matthew 12:25), it is becoming abundantly clear that America is perhaps morally speaking, more divided today than at any other time in its history with the exception of perhaps the Civil War.

While the clear answers as to the reasons why there is this great divide are varied and complex as highlighted in my March 30th, 2011 post Has America Lost A Sense of it’s Own Greatness or, Why Do Americans Hate Each Other? one thing is certain, we can likely expect to see an ever increasing level of antagonism as the country struggles to find its footing in the 21st Century.

Going back to Press’ comments regarding Tebow giving thanks to Jesus, I cannot help but wonder why the host is so upset.  In my opinion Tebow is genuinely thankful for the opportunity to be where he is and to be given the chance to be part of what is fast becoming the inspirational story of the year.  A story I might add that unlike the global economic crisis and mean spirited campaigning of a pending election is both uplifting and unifying.

Or to put it another way, while Tebow and his Bronco teammates are building bridges, the Press’ of the world are intent upon stoking the flames of discontent and division.  I do not know about you, but I have had my fill of the latter and am ready for a lot more of the former.

30

Commentary regarding James 1:13

In explaining the differences between being tempted – which does not come from God as God does not tempt, and being placed in an adverse situation which God does use to build and shape a godly character within each of us, an epiphany of sorts hit me regarding my own situation.

Without going into great detail, 2011 has been a trying year that for the most part has not been of my own doing as circumstances seemed to spiral out of control while placing me in a position to make decisions that I would have never thought I would be making.

Do not get me wrong, this is not a poor nobody likes me, everybody hates me lament that has me wallowing is self pity.  It is just the rapid nature in which life can change and in the process catching you off guard and leaving you wondering what happened, and of course why it happened to which I am referring.

But you know amidst the turmoil God is always reaching out and talking to us, and if we continually and faithfully seek Him through daily prayer and the reading of His word, there are answers and insights that clears the at times obfuscating haze of discontent and upset that leads to a clarity of understanding.

For me the book of James was this gateway to needed insight and peace in that it served to remind me that all things on earth including money, possessions, fame etc. will eventually pass away and as such whatever earthly circumstances one finds themselves in is in reality temporary.

As such, the only real security and certainty in life is indeed with and through God, and as such when you view difficult times through this powerful lens of eternal values you open yourself up to the possibility that difficult times happen for a purpose with only your greater good being the sole objective.

It is amazing what happens when you consider life’s problems within this context as you then begin to yield to trying situations versus fighting against them.  I am of course not suggesting that yielding and giving up are one in the same as giving up means a hopeless surrender without a belief as to the good reasons for and an expected positive outcome of a particular trial, while yielding means that you open yourself up to learning the greater lessons and like the potter’s clay, allow God to shape your Christian character through the adversity you are experiencing.

Let’s put it to you this way, if you are familiar with the story of Joseph you will see that throughout his ascension to becoming one of if not the most powerful persons in Egypt, his journey was fraught with life altering trials.  From his being thrown into a pit by his brothers, then rescued from certain death only to be sold into bondage and then ultimately thrown into jail for a crime he did not commit, considering the chain of events through present day eyes one might easily see only discouragement and a “why me” hopelessness.

But Joseph persevered and whatever character shaping lessons and insights he gained through the uneven events of his life experiences, God ultimately equipped Joseph with the tools he would need to excel at his appointed station.

This is of course the point relative to my journey as well as yours . . . that God does indeed work all things to good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The only question that remains is simply this . . . towards what ascending realization of your potential is God working towards?  With certainty it is even greater and more rewarding than the difficult times you might be experiencing today.  So yield to God’s will and do not surrender to temporary circumstances.

30

This was just one of the more controversial and thought-provoking revelatory warnings delivered in much the same way that Scotty in the 1951 SciFi classic The Thing, encouraged the world to be vigilant to alien invasion by admonishing all those listening to his broadcast to keep watching the skies.

Now I am not trying to trivialize the potential threat, as there are elements of undeniable and disconcerting truths that an invasion of sorts is taking place, especially when the discussion ventures into the realms of the growing power and influence of the Islamic Sahri’ah Finance Platform. For those wanting to gain a better understanding of what exactly the financial angle entails, here are the links to two PI Window blog posts from earlier this year titled If you believe that money is power, then history tells us that the Islamic threat is real . . . but are we to blame? and,Why is Bloomberg the fall guy for Ground Zero Mosque protestors . . . isn’t GE facilitating its construction?.

What I am saying however is that the validity and mainstream acceptance of any concerns regarding Islamic Fundamentalist expansion and assimilation on a global basis, will be influenced by the manner in which the warnings are delivered by those who envision themselves as being the bellwether messengers of a pending threat.

Make no mistake, this is indeed a fine line of delivery in that there are inherent risks that such claims will be perceived as unwarranted fear mongering, reminiscent of the McCarthy era Red Scare which inadvertently detracted from the very real threat that communism posed to our North American way of life.

Similar to this Second Red Scare that dominated the American psyche between 1947 and 1957 (the first occurred in the U.S. from 1919 to 1920), which was focused on fears that national and foreign communists were influencing society or infiltrating the federal government, or both, Islamic Fundamentalism according to our guest panel is even more insidious in its penetration into key areas of our society.

Putting aside the politeness for which we Canadians are known, there was an undeniably harsher edge to the responses delivered by representatives from both the Canadian Hindu Advocacy and the Christian Heritage Party pertaining to the school prayer controvers­y in Toronto, than those expressed by 911 Hard Hat Pledge Founder Andy Sullivan, during my interview with him regarding his organization’s issues with the proposed building of the Ground Zero Mosque in New York City.

Remember, you can listen to the on-demand version of the live 60 minute broadcast at your convenience through the following link; Is Valley Park Middle School Canada’s Ground Zero Mosque?.

These as well as the many other points that were raised in a respectful but lively where there is smoke there is fire discussion, including the assertion that two-thirds of the Qurʾan is focused on political ideology and only one-third actually deals with issues of religious faith, ultimately created more questions and with it awareness of an impending threat from within to our way of life.

While we may be somewhat reluctant to contemplate both the nature and degree of said threat as we, as one panelist put it, are more focused on managing the personal demands of everyday life, the truth of the matter is that there are very real dangers on the near horizon that warrant our keeping our eyes on the skies.

30

Yet despite these newer developments the long standing debate over prayer in school has again resurfaced in of all places a secondary school in Toronto, Canada.

In Tuesday’s segment of the PI Window, which will air live across the Blog Talk Radio Network at 9:00 PM EST, I will be welcoming to the show a guest panel that includes representatives from the Jewish Defence League of Canada and the Canadian Hindu Advocacy, to talk about both their individual and collective response to the district’s decision to allow 300 Muslim students to worship in the Valley Park Middle School’s cafeteria during school hours.

One of the questions I will be asking is if the fear of Muslim encroachment is at heart of the Valley Park controversy, or more of a reflection of the collective apathy of the followers of other faiths who have in the past perhaps failed to rigorously challenge the abolishment of praying in our schools?

Certainly, and as discussed in previous PI Window segments and posts, individuals such as 911 Hard Hat Pledge Founder Andy Sullivan, who is now running for Congress, have expressed concerns that activities such as the proposed building of the Ground Zero Mosque is a clear indication of an overall Islamic plan to overtake America.

While there is little doubt that this is a growing concern – after all the fact that Sullivan is seeking political office in the first place speaks to the breadth or influential reach of sentiments such as his, I have only heard the expression of concern as it relates to Muslim activities. Interestingly enough, and prior to the Valley Park Middle School controversy, there has been little if any direct involvement on the part of representatives from other denominations in terms of carving out a place within our schools to freely worship.

Unlike the Mosque in New York, perhaps the motivation behind the collective intervention in Valley Park by the Jewish Defence League, Canadian Hindu Advocacy and Christian Heritage Foundation is that school prayer is an issue that while seemingly out of the public eye, remains a point of contention that has simmered uncontested beneath the surface for several decades.

Now that prayer regardless of denomination, has been re-introduced into the school system, how does one get Pandora back into the proverbial box re do you shut down the Muslim Friday worship service or alternatively establish multi-denominational venues throughout the school? What is the ideal outcome for all parties concerned?

Once again, join me on Tuesday, July 26th at 9:00 PM EST on the PI Window on Blog Talk Radio.

30

from the July 18th, 2011 Canadian Press article Groups plan protest over Muslim prayers being allowed in Toronto school

As you know, I have expended a great deal of electronic ink covering the continuing controversy surrounding the Muslim movement as some have called it, regarding flashpoint crisises ranging from the building of the Ground Zero Mosque to fearful warnings of a global assimilation.

Conversely, I have lamented the seeming intolerance we have had towards our own religious convictions from the standpoint of Christianity in posts such as the aptly titled First prayer, then standing up to a bully and now . . . a kindergartner suspended for crying?! What is wrong with our schools!, and the 49th Parallel Forum broadcast 49th Parallel- Bah Humbug! What’s up with Happy Holidays?.

Regardless of which side of the freedom of religion debate that seems to be raging in society – especially here in North America, I have been critical of the intolerance demonstrated by those who seek to limit an individual’s right to worship according to their personal faith convictions. In essence I have tried to provide a lens of informed understanding regarding the diversity within our increasingly globalized community, in the hope that somehow the silos of prejudice and ignorance would somehow dissolve into a mutual if not amiable co-existence.

The problem with taking this balanced approach to such a complex issue is that the equalizing tensions that seems to provide a moderating influence can itself quickly dissipate into an inflammatory wave of acrimony in which it appears that one side has somehow gained the upper hand in an emotionally charged situation. The reference to The Canadian Press story is such an example.

According to reports, the Valley Park Middle School in Toronto, Canada have for the past three years provided a venue by way of the school’s cafeteria to accommodate a Muslim prayer service each Friday for approximately 300 students. The school district’s logic is that the Muslim students were missing classes in order to attend prayers at a nearby Mosque, and that by providing this access during school hours, they are now able to attend said classes.

Talk about poking the proverbial alligators!

While there are many different avenues of discourse one can pursue with this revelation, including why it took three years for someone to finally take issue with the weekly prayer services in the first place, whether intended or not, the school district’s well intentioned overture is prejudicial.

Think about it for a moment, school prayer was abolished in the U.S. over a period of years starting in the 1960s (a move that was supported by the ACLU), based on the assertion that allowing prayer within the hallowed halls of our educational system violates the principle of separating church and state. In Canada, it should be noted that the first crucial case in the debate surrounding school prayer took place in Ontario in 1988 with the Zylberberg v. Sudbury Board of Education (Director) decision.

What is interesting to note is that as imperceptibly has the Muslim prayer services over the past three years took hold in the Valley Park Middle School, the abolishment of Christian-centric prayer in our schools also occurred over an equally ponderous period of time.

Looking at the U.S. once again, there are what is often referred to as three defining court cases that ultimately led to the the present day separation of church and state . . . at least in terms of our indigenous Christian faith. These seminal cases which include; The Regent School Prayer (Engel v. Vitale, 1962), School Prayer (Murray v. Curlett, 1963), and School Prayer and Bible Reading (Abington Township School District v. Schempp, 1963), became the slippery slope that is reflective of our religious indifference. Indifference in that not a single Christian organization filed a brief in support of school prayer when the Supreme Court in an 8 to 1 ruling in 1971, established what became known as the Lemon Test.

U.S. Supreme Court

Based on the Lemon v. Kurtzman case the Lemon Test specifies that any practice sponsored within state run schools (or other public, state sponsored activities) must:

1. Have a secular purpose;
2. Must neither advance nor inhibit religion; and
3. Must not result in an excessive entanglement between government and religion.

The questions that these decisions along with the apparent apathy of Christian organizations to defend our right to having our own religious freedom raise, is whether what is happening in Toronto today is part of an overt movement by Muslim interests to assimilate our nations into their faith or, a reflection of our own declining Christian values in our day-to-day lives. Or to put it another way, if we has Christians were not interested in carving out our place in society including our schools to freely worship according to our individual beliefs, why should we take exception if another faith chooses to do so?

30

The above line is from the 1994 picture Blue Sky in which Tommy Lee Jones’ character tries to explain to his children why he loves their mother despite the fact that her instability and irrational behavior wreaks havoc for him both personally and professionally.

Since Jennifer’s admittance to hospital last week in what may turn out to be a long stay, she has sounded happier than I have ever known her to be. In fact, she said that she feels like she is back in high school and that she is making friends, talking with the other patients about different nurses (the ones they like and the ones they don’t like), talking about their Bipolar experiences as well as going outside for a group smoke.

I guess that her acceptance of her illness meant that she could stop struggling with trying to live in the real world and finally be herself. In this regard I feel a peace that she has found her comfort zone.

After all, the world can be a cruel and particularly harsh place for those who have through a collision of circumstances – most of which is beyond their control as the seeds of disconnected realities are often planted during the innocence of early childhood, find themselves ill prepared and ill equipped to deal with the demands of everyday life.

Like the water analogy in the movie even though Jennifer’s condition (re properties) have changed, and with it the course of our relationship as I have now become as much of a caregiver as a partner, she is now and will always be my . . . Pooh Bear. Water and ice, in the end it is still the same H2O.

30

It’s funny, but the rapid evolution of events since the day of truth shook the foundations of everything I had believed about my partner Jennifer, and our relationship spanning 10 years seems, at least upon reflection, to be progressing with a confident peace that is centered on the belief that this was perhaps the way it should be . . . was meant to be.

I am not talking about a victimized mindset which can far too easily fan the hot burning embers of anger, hurt, and feelings of betrayal. What I am talking about is the the eternal view beyond the acute agony of discovering the unbelievable. A recognition that prevents you from being stuck in the moment where time and space seem to be at the helm of a runaway freight train heading towards the edge of a cliff. I never felt that, although I can now understand how someone might succumb to such feelings. Yet there is none of that desperation so much as there is a recognition that for Jennifer her battle with the internal demons of a troubled childhood is no longer confined to her thoughts alone. In essence, by stripping away the veneer of normalcy and calling out to the world beyond her own distorted mind and perceptions, she has perhaps crossed her Jordan.

Let’s think about this for a moment . . . for the first time ever, Jennifer stepped out from behind her thoughtfully created, painfully maintained chameleon-like facade, and introduced herself to an unknown world believing that she would be scorned, abandoned and ultimately discarded for her transgressions both real and imagined. In fact anyone who has any experience with someone who suffers from Bipolar Disorder – regardless of origins, will tell you that abandonment is one of the main fears that paralyze and drive these individuals based on the belief that they are of little if any true value to everyday society.

This again does not excuse their behavior, because at the end of the day those with Bipolar Disorder do have the freedom to make choices. It is not the devil made me do it situation. Perhaps it would be easier if it was, as Bipolar sufferers in many instances have a keen sense of right from wrong, its just that their brain chemistry coupled with self-medicating addictions and poorly developed social skills make the distance between knowing and doing a desert of lonely isolation where it is easy to get lost.

Theirs is not an easy life, so when an individual finally has the courage to say to the world this is who I really am versus what you think you see and know, there is at least for a short time a feeling of freedom and perhaps even a fleeting euphoric reaction along the lines of the Israelites when they crossed the Jordan River over to the promised land.

That being said, any feelings of a long-awaited respite quickly dissolve at the prospects of the next looming battle associated with the daunting challenge of coming face-to-face with the demons whose obfuscating presence limited their existence to a conceptual awareness versus a tangible knowing. Like the denizens huddled behind the seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho, these internal voices of intimidating persistence will do anything and everything to hide behind the faulty wiring of even the most magnificent of minds, while picking at the debilitating scars of an abusive childhood in the hope that the mere suggestion of exposing a deliberately forgotten life will keep the sufferer from opening up to the possibility of a better, more joyful and productive future. This is perhaps the great stalemate of mental health.

It is this reality that, as one doctor put it, will see me be her guard and protector for life . . . her touchstone if you will. It is also the reason that I understand why Jennifer needs to be in the safe and controlled environment of a hospital for at least the next two-weeks. Do not get me wrong, and perhaps this is her greatest curse, when you meet her she can and has in the past shone like a bright star whose way with people is reminiscent of Stephen in the Sonya Green article on the website that shares the same name as her book; www.reinentingmyself.com. She is charismatic in a vulnerable and innocent way, while putting out an contagious energy that gets anyone with whom she comes in contact believing that they can do anything. So seeing her in a locked down ward, which doesn’t have electrical outlets and requires that all bags being bought to the patient by visitors be searched, is a disquieting disconnect from that person that I believed I knew so well.

This collision between a carefully crafted outer persona and the hidden forces of a mental illness is also a potential stumbling block in the recovery process in that I am certain that not even Jennifer herself knows what she will be facing when she ventures into her mind’s darkest places. If anyone remembers the closing scene of the 1968 movie The Boston Strangler, when Albert DeSalvo comes face-to-face with his own demons, you will understand why this is something that has in the past week, crossed my mind on more than one occasion.

At times it is as if Jennifer believes that she is a healthy person playing the role of a troubled soul, without fully recognizing the fact that it is not a role and that her reality of normalcy is in truth the act she has worked so hard to craft as a means of survival. She once said to me that she doesn’t really know who she is and what she believes. I think that I finally understand what she meant and that she is for all intents and purposes facing her Jericho in this regard after crossing the equivalent of the Jordan River by way of her acceptance that something is wrong.

How she ultimately deals with this epiphanic truth will determine the course of the rest of her life. Considering the gravity of this contextually significant crossroad, the issue of what has happened in the past and the damage it has wreaked while still relevant, warrants a reasonable consequential abeyance, and a great deal of prayer.

30

We lived our lives in manacles, the main cause of our stay

And exiled here from other worlds, my sentence comes too soon

Why should I be made to pay on the bad side of the moon.

Lyrics from the April Wine song Bad Side of The Moon

An acute and searing white pain reverberated throughout my being as I contemplated what had been only a few minutes earlier that which I never thought I would ever have to consider. Right off the bat, and because there are so many convergent points of consideration, I will not go into the specifics of the source of this gut wrenching revelation. Besides, anyone who has lived and loved someone who suffers from Bipolar likely understands all too well, the crystallizing realities that shake the very foundations of what you thought you knew, and the fact that everything you thought you knew about the other person no longer applies. In other words all bets are off and, as any expert will tell you, let nothing from this point on surprise you. Anything and everything is now a possibility.

The primary purpose of this post is to share the experiences and feelings that can cascade either sequentially or in a simultaneous roar of thundering progression when the unthinkable happens, and what you need to do in terms of taking a eternal versus an acute view of the events that are rapidly unfolding so as to avoid making the situation worse. Or as another expert so wisely put it . . . you are now the only adult in the family capable of sound decision-making. Take this responsibility seriously and be prudent in all that you do.

Make no mistake there is a bad side of the Bipolar Moon, where the illness takes a myopically and irresistibly compelling control of the sufferer that drives their actions into the realms of shocking and destructive behavior. This of course provides an influencing explanation for said behavior but, it does not limit or excuse them from it. Unfortunately, and as you will discover in even greater depth, the manipulative characteristics of the illness will go into high gear as the Bipolar sufferer will do and say almost anything to avoid facing up to the consequences of their actions. After all, for them the battle has raged inside the limiting confines of their heads for such a long period of time that few have ever ventured out to gauge their behavior in the context of the every day world. This in and of itself can be aggravating, in that they will try and create an illusion of normalcy or conversely pursue a ego satiating high road facade in which outsiders who are unaware of the true gravity of the situation will rush to support their courageousness in admitting there is a problem without actually disclosing the extent to which said problem has impacted those around them.

Besides pausing to accept and then properly deal with the initial rush of cacophonous emotions upon the initial discovery of what has been going on behind one’s back and out of the range of one’s contemplation, this is perhaps the most critical juncture in an evolving and fluid situation.

To start, be prepared to experience the Bipolar sufferer’s wrath when you do make responsible decisions and inform your support network of what has happened. To the sufferer of this illness anything that cracks the illusion of their deception is perceived as a threat, and there is no greater threat than facing reality beyond their own distorted sensibilities and the feeling that they have been found out. This is why it is imperative that you recognize that you will have feelings of anger and resentment (along with shock and hurt) and that in your sharing with others, you make certain that you are dealing from a position of practical necessity with a longer-term view versus simply reacting to an albeit understandable upset. In short, it is still important to remember that the illness does play a role in what has happened and that when the wall between the Bipolar sufferer’s perception and reality comes down there is significant exposure and a corresponding risk associated with the self-condemnation they will inevitably feel.

For me, I have no illusions that I will for the next few days and perhaps even weeks, experience the emotional aftershocks of a devastating situation in which I find myself an unexpected but necessary participant charged with navigating the challenging waters of a life and family turned upside down as a result of mental illness. This being said I do truly believe that through prayer, patience and constructive reflection, as well as the recognition that there will be periods of anger and dismay, there is another side to this dark tunnel. In fact I think I can see the first rays of hope shining through.

It is for this reason it is important to understand that the acknowledgement, understanding and proper venting of one’s emotions – and yes you will need to vent, is essential to maintaining an important foundation of equilibrium that will provide the initial building blocks of recovery and ultimately victory.

30

In the opening paragraph from the corresponding post in the sister blog to Light of Love I wrote that The above is an excerpt from an e-mail I received last week and I must admit that whenever I read notes such as these they remind me of one of the main reasons why I love to write.  After all, the true passion of any writer beyond the subject matter upon which his or her text is based, is that somewhere out there in the world the words will resonate with meaning and in the process provide a valuable service by informing and empowering the reader.

Of course, the empowerment to which I am referring can take many forms, especially within the context of a question that was posed in a Christian social network group on LinkedIn which asked “Do I gain or loose by identifying my company as a christian business?“  Writing for 10 blogs, producing or co-producing/hosting 2 Internet Radio Shows, and launching a new Internet TV Channel means that I am in the social media business in a big way.  This creates an opportunity to reach a good many people each week, at which time my thoughts are always centered around Psalm 19:14; Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  In fact before each broadcast I say a prayer based on this point of scripture expressing my desire to both please and serve God through every show.

What’s interesting is that you do not have to put up a flashing neon sign proclaiming your faith in God, and the wonders that He performs in our daily lives.  You merely have to be well versed in scripture and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, who’s vision and understanding of the Master’s overall plan is complete.  In other words, God knows where He wants us to be, and provides us with the tools to give witness to His Love and His Glory in His way and according to His timetable.

In relation to my book regarding Internet Radio, the title in and of itself does not bear a Christian banner.  However, and in the open preface I write the following:

One final note, and even though the profession of one’s faith is sometimes frowned upon in the realms of the business world, my faith is as much a part of me as my receding hair line and expanding waist line – all by the way, the rewards of turning “50″ this year.

While the story itself may very well have the makings for another book, my faith experience has seen me through the tumultuous journey from millionaire to pauper, and from abundant means to abundant need to a restoration based on hope and the confidence that the Good Lord has a plan for my life.

As I look back on a journey that began with an ominous knock on the door one Friday morning in May 2008, when the sheriff served me the papers from an indirect business associate informing me that I had seven days to vacate our sizable family home, I cannot help but feel unencumbered gratitude as it opened a door to what has now become the greatest adventure and experience of my life.

I then close the preface with the words; It is my sincerest hope that this book will in some small way help you to walk through your door of what will ultimately become your greatest adventure . . . Your Show WILL go live in 5 seconds . . .

Based on the response from the college broadcasting student, it would appear that with the profession of one’s faith, one’s actions (and words) truly do speak volumes.  I am just thankful that God has blessed me with the gifts He deemed would be best suited to my being able to serve Him, and that within His wonderful light I have found a peace that truly does transcend all understanding.

My only advice to anyone who asks, is to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and He will guide you to where God wants YOU to be.

30

Commentary: Second, the wise community, eager to proclaim the gospel, engages the lost in conversation [that is] full of grace, seasoned with salt. This last phrase, so graphic and memorable, captures the wisdom of ancient rhetoric: ideological substance without personal style fails to convince people. If a believer, who has a wonderful story of conversion to tell, cannot tell it in a “salty,” interesting way, the story will not be heard. Of course, lively stories, like “fine-sounding arguments,” are sometimes used in the service of lifeless substance.

Colossians 4:6 (New International Version)

As a talk radio host it is often times an interesting journey of learning and insight, emotion and factual accounting with a dash of reckoning, where your focus is upon engaging, sometimes enraging, but always entertaining an audience within the framework of thorough research versus baseless pontification.  In fact a key tenet of being a good host, at least for me, is to show both the guest and the listening audience the respect they are due for their taking the time to share the virtual airwaves during a broadcast.  The only way you can do this is to have a passion for the subject matter that is being discussed and, taking the time to thoroughly understand the key elements of the topic.  In essence, doing your homework and asking questions from a unique standpoint that opens up previously uncharted avenues of perspective.

I recently thought about this value system for hosting following a contentious show in which the questions that were posed stirred up a great deal of controversy surrounding the building of the Ground Zero Mosque.  What was most interesting as well as challenging, was the recognition that people relate on so many different levels both emotionally and intellectually.  In other words, one can feel completely justified in their beliefs even if a factual foundation is absent from the equation.

As someone who is interested in everything and will therefore spend significant amounts of time in research mode to gain a collective understanding of the seemingly disparate and at times contradictory elements of a particular story, it is challenging to simply turn off the intellectual aspects of a debate and cede to the emotional irrationalizing that sometimes fuels certain viewpoints.  Now do not get me wrong here, I am not suggesting that emotions have no place in a discussion, nor am I suggesting a detached intellectualism that is tantamount to academic condescension.  What I am talking about is having the ability to support a position that blends a strength of conviction with a factual foundation while still maintaining a generous civility – even in disagreement.

It is within this context of a generous civility that Colossians 4:6 spoke to me.

In this light of revelation, I realized that a generous civility does not preclude one from asking the tough questions – nor for that matter answering them.  Nor does it mean that you have to surrender a position of belief when faced with heavy opposition to a particular viewpoint.  In and of itself, controversy and spirited discussion are indeed the salt of a conversation that makes it worthwhile for one to be a part whether as a host, guest or listener.  What is important is the aforementioned civility that manifests itself in a respectful dialogue in which there is an absence of malice or ill intent.  In short, maintaining both a graciousness and gracefulness of spirit when debating a subject will lead, if not to an accord, at least to a better understanding of another person’s position.

I think this is what I had found so troubling with two recent broadcasts including the aforementioned segment on the Ground Zero Mosque, as well as an earlier discussion regarding The Tender Years Doctrine.  In both instances, when confronted by questions that were logically researched and civilly presented, advocates for a particular point of view became increasingly hostile and threatening, hurling insults that in some instances were beyond comprehension simply because they were being challenged to clarify the basis for for their said beliefs.  In essence bullying versus substantiating, threatening and insulting versus engaging in a meaningful and productive manner.

In fact, in one instance a member of our guest panel expressed concern that they were reluctant to openly state their opinion for fear that they would be hounded or stalked by either the individual or the group to which the person belonged, for no other reason than verbalizing their disagreement with the listener’s position.  Apparently, the panelist had encountered this group before.

More recently, a host from another show indicated that they were uncomfortable with discussing contentious issues on air as they were caught somewhat off-guard by the flurry of negative epithets that were hurled at them by a small but vociferous group who used terms such as waiting in the bushes and setting your house on fire as intimidating analogies for supporting their beliefs.

Suffice to say, and in either instance I understand both the uneasiness and apprehension of continuing down a path that might ignite a rhetorical storm of threats and insults in which there is a fear that one’s brand might be harmed if not directly then indirectly by the distracting harassment of extremist elements.  This is perhaps what is so disconcerting about the Westboro bunch, whose conduct is anything but civil.

But here’s the thing, and bearing in mind that this is a personal decision in which there is no shame in walking away should one be moved to do so, I truly believe in the John Philpot Curran saying (although some have attributed it to Edmund Burke), that All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.

As a host, this does not mean that you have to be randomly combative.  Nor does it mean that when confronted with a contentious soul you have to resort to strong arm tactics centered on derision or a pursuing ridicule.  What it means is that after you do your homework, giving guest, audience and subject matter their due respect, you can passionately yet graciously take a stand whether it be in the form of a tough line of questioning or choosing what may not necessarily be the most popular course of discussion for some.

This to me is the epitome of Colossians 4:6 . . . a gracious salt if you will in which you find that balance between controversy and respectful conduct, passion and civility, knowledge and understanding.

This of course is the ideal guideline for creating and maintaining the needed checks and balance in any discussion, debate or disagreement for all involved parties, myself included.