I’m not out of the blog business. I have eleven long blogs in the queue ready to assault the world. The atmosphere has been filled with Jenner, SCOTUS, Confederate Flag. While the media has been refighting the Civil War, another war in the Middle East is going on unnoticed. While the battle over a historical battle flag consumes attention, the black flag has advanced in the distraction.

There is a feeling of death in the air. Feelings of hopelessness, betrayal, treason, permeate. It feels to me as if the Constitution has been trashed and betrayed by those who are given responsible to maintain it. Since I have no new ideas, solutions or strategies I decided not to post. In the meantime, I’ve been weaving a large hand basket–it sure feels like the USA, Western culture and the world I see is going to hell and will need one.

A couple in our town tried to steal a 2002 Toyota Camry. One would question the wisdom of risking years in prison for a 2002 Toyota. Any story that follows the words “bungled theft” is not going to end well. Let me quote directly:

“While trying to steal the vehicle, the couple caused extensive damage to it while trying to start it without a key, using a sledge hammer and screw driver.”

I’m not an expert on hotwiring a car, but I’m quite sure that a sledge hammer for sure and maybe a screwdriver, would not be the tool of choice.

Our society and culture is a mess. Perhaps you saw the news report of the naked bicycle ride in California. That is wrong on so many levels. A pack of people riding bicycles naked. Hot. Leather, banana seats, in public. And these people vote!

I’ve given all of this a lot of thought, some screaming at the TV and passionate discussion. Insanity is in vogue, legalized and celebrated as the next evolutionary step. One thing is absolute: we can’t solve the problems facing the faith community or the nation with a sledge hammer and/or a screwdriver.

What tools? Sarcasm comes easy. So does cynicism, but they are not tools God will use. I had a dream the other night that woke me. I was hearing God call me to start a church for LGBT or whatever the initials are today. I knew the dream was not from God or if so, He would have to do some work in my heart. I do not love them and without that element nothing works in God’s Kingdom. Let me clarify that:

1. I love individuals who are attracted to the same sex. I don’t know enough of the whole tribe to say I love “them” like some of my friends “love” the Ethiopians or single people.
2. I do have a friend who is married to a person of the same sex. That friend says they have known from an early age about being “different.” I do not relate to that feeling or attraction. Authenticity is a requirement for pastoring. The crowd would know I was phoning it in from my world and not their world.
3. I don’t know how this is going to play out. I know God loves the rainbow-oriented people and is “not willing that any should perish.” Ten years ago, I was standing in my daughter’s kitchen watching one of the best produced church-type programs I had ever seen. The singing was strongly evangelical and well done. The preaching was strongly biblical and direct to the heart. The event is dated in my mind because it was a Gay church with a distinct market. I don’t know how this is going to work, but God will not leave Himself without a witness. If Jonah learned that lesson, perhaps I should listen.

Did you read the article about the discovery that Neanderthals and humans were busy mating as recently as 40,000 years ago? The scientific community concluded that Neanderthals did not become extinct, they blended in. They blended in! How will we recognize one? (It is truly possible that Genesis speaks of this mating.) Back to my question—how will we recognize a Neanderthal?

I do not want to be derisively identified as Neanderthal because I am attached to a sledge hammer and cold heart and rigid mind. I haven’t gotten this figured out—I don’t know how God is going to work in this historical period. I think I’ll pray for a spiritual awakening. SCOTUS tried, but was working beyond their paygrade. They cannot solve the basic elements we hunger for and need. Jesus can. My task is to fit into the spiritual awakening that may be birthing.

©2015 D. Dean Benton—writer, wonderer, confused, searching