First, he tried to minimize the damage to his SUV and—more importantly—his reputation by noting on his Web site, "This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect."

Of course, the suspicious wording "situation," "embarassing," and "I'm not perfect" merely drove speculation that this was much more than just a traffic mishap.

Second, when tabloids took a swing at his marriage—outing at least three women he was allegedly cheating with—he wrote "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves."

Third, the escalating coverage caused me to dig through my newspaper column files for a piece I wrote back in 2002 on handling these rough situations. Here are some updated thoughts:

1. Don't hold back information

Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, John and Patsy Ramsey, Ted Haggard, etc. etc. got into even more trouble by withholding information from the public.

When TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart was exposed for his sexual antics with prostitutes, at least he got on his then-popular show and admitted "I have sinned."

Bill Clinton, however, became infamous for his denial that "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time—never. These allegations are false."

2. Cooperate with the authorities

John and Patsy Ramsey are still viewed with suspicion since they initially refused to be interviewed by police following the brutal murder of their daughter, Jon Bonet. (Pasty is now deceased.) Yes, in the US of A you are not required to talk to police in an investigation, but it certainly makes the public wonder what the accused person has to hide.

3. Admit it if you're wrong

Rather than admitting he was wrong, the impeached President Clinton initially tortured the English language with, "It depends on what the meaning of the word is is. If the...if he...if is means is and never has been, that is not—that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement."

On the other hand, Charles Colson, Richard Nixon's "hatchet man" admitted his wrongdoing in the Watergate scandal, served his time in Federal prison, and now has gained international stature as a best-selling author and advocate for prison reform and prisoner "restitution."

Tiger's twisted tale is going to handicap not only his golf game but his reputation. No public figure is going to come out a winner by not coming clean with the facts of the case.

And, most of all . . .

4. Know that you will get caught!

Text messages, emails, blogs, security cameras and all the other media documentation guarantee that "your sins will find you out!"

November 21, 2009



O no!

O no! Where will I get my New Age psycho-babble metaphysical health advice when Oprah ends her talk show September 2011?!

To get a quick read on "The Church of Oprah" and her overt anti-Christian message over the years, 5 million people have viewed a short video on YouTube. Here are some resources for further study:

The Church of Oprah Exposed [YouTube]

Oprah's Spirituality: Exploring a New Earth [Probe Ministries]

Oprah's Spirituality: It's No Secret [Craig Von Buseck at CBN]

Oprah and Eckhart Tolle's New Earth [SermonCentral.com]

Genuine Jesus or Counterfeit Christ?

The Ancient New Age



November 8, 2009





Medium contacts a "furious" Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is "furious" he's not buried next to Marilyn Monroe. At least that's the claim of medium Derek Acorah who allegedly contacted the dead singer/dancer in last night's Sky1 television special. While claiming to channel Jackson, Acorah claimed it was "paramount" that Jackson receive his fan's love. Jackson also spoke through Acorah saying, "I'm only now starting to adjust to my spiritual life."

A Twitter seance on Halloween also claimed to have contacted Jackson who died in June. Psychic Jayne Wallace claimed Jackson was singing "Heal the World" when he was contacted and that he was sorry he had let down fans by not carrying out his "This Is It" tour.

I'm not sure what makes me more furious: that people are trying to make fame and fortune for themselves off the dead or that people are trying to make fame and fortune for themselves off those grieving for the dead. Here are some thoughts on those claiming to be mediums and psychics.



October 29, 2009



Anti-abortion campaign anti-Christian

According to the Associated Press, "Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry is calling on people to burn effigies of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this Halloween, as part of a "Burn in Hell" video contest to protest the health care legislation in Congress." Terry told the AP, "If Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid force us to pay for child killing and they die unrepentant, they will burn in hell for this."

I'm as anti-abortion as anyone, but this strategy is anti-Christian!

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:43-45a).

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35).

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath
. . . (Romans 12:17-19).

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (12:21).

Let your conversation be always full of grace (Colossians 4:6).

This strange—and "strange" is being charitable—strategy only contributes to the negative stereotypes of anti-abortionists—and Christians.

Related post: Burn in hell, Matthew Shepherd



October 17, 2009





What succeeded, what sucked

I'm having one of those days when I sit down with my journal and write down everything that's going right and everything that's going wrong with my life. This week has sucked like a ShopVac! So I made a list for this century (just nine years old) of what succeeded and what sucked.

Succeeded

I came up with fifteen things I'd consider successful. Those included: four adorable grandchildren (I did contribute one-fourth of their DNA), wonderful speaking opportunities in Africa, India, and all across North America, a 30th anniversary trip to NYC, a column in each issue in Rev. magazine, and publication of a few books (Communicate to Change Lives, Squeezing Good Out of Bad, The Why Files three-book series, Writers on Writing and Writing with Banana Peels).

Sucked

I came up with fourteen things that truly sucked. Those included: cancer, losing two wonderful ministry positions (one where Lois and I served for 16 years), a couple of family crises, several business plans that crashed on take-off, and of course lots of rejected book proposals.

Putting it all down on paper helped me realize a few things:

You grow so much more through the times life has sucked than the times life has succeeded. More

You learn what's really valuable through loss—and restoration.

What God considers "success" (loving Him and others) is not what the world considers success. More

And if you get up one more time than you fall down (15-14), you've succeeded!

Thanks for listening. I feel better.

October 13, 2009



President caters to LGBTs at dinner

President Barack Obama certainly catered to lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, trans-sexuals at a recent dinner.

"We cannot and we will not put aside issues of basic equality. This fight continues now. And I'm here with a simple message: I'm here with you in that fight."

I agree that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect as God's creations, which is why I support civil unions.

But—and it's a big but—Obama went on to say he wants to look back over the years of his administration to "see a time in which we as a nation finally recognized relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."

That's where I would argue that same-sex marriages are not "admirable." (Click links for further thoughts on this issue.)

September 26, 2009





Government offers free health care for all!

According to Politico.com:

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."

Let me get this straight: Free housing, all utilities paid, three meals a day, clothing and laundry included—and health care provided! Jail sounds like a great deal!

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