Thursday, December 27, 2007

An Inconvenient Truth: The Christian Edition

The Guts to Be a Christian
 
It's not easy being a Christian. 
 
Did anyone ever say it was?  Some of us today think that being a Christian is as simple as reciting a "Sinner's Prayer" and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  I don't recall that formula in the Bible.  As a matter of fact, I seem to recall a lot more.  Denying yourself. Carrying your cross.  Leaving family behind.  Dropping all your possessions.  Becoming the "last", so that we may become "first".
 
It's not easy being a Christian.
 
To call yourself a Christian means that you don't check your faith at the door.  This is called being a "Convenient Christian".  There are politicians who espouse this as a virtue.  There are even those among us - in our own community - who preach Christianity (for their monetary benefit) when it suits their business plan.  Today I am calling for a boycott.
 
It's not easy being a Christian.
 
KFIS, FM 104.1 (The Fish), call themselves a Christian music station.  Recently, on their popular morning show, Pete and Brenda, the couple had a segment called "The Mystery Morning Voice", where a very short clip of a celebrity's voice is played, and the listener attempts to identify who it is for a prize.  On one morning, the voice was that of Daniel Craig - currently appearing in the anti-Christian film, "The Golden Compass".  Pete and Brenda made an off-the-cuff comment about the movie and that it looked fun.  The very next day, "The Mystery Morning Voice" was Nicole Kidman - also appearing in the same film.  And again they made a comment about the film.
 
It's not easy being a Christian.
 
On a recent Sunday morning, The Oregonian asked locals what they were going to do with their state kicker check.  Sho Dozono, owner of Azumano Travel, stated that he was going to distribute his among various charities.  One of these charities was Planned Parenthood.  Azumano Travel has been a big advertiser on The Fish for quite some time.  Sho Dozono's wife, Loen Dozono, is even a member of the Planned Parenthood Board of Directors.
 
When I confronted the staff of KFIS (specifically Dave Arthur) they denied the on-air comments, stating that I should listen to the program and not to what others say.  I again told him that not only did I hear both comments, but that I have been a listener since the station went on the air over five years ago.  He also denied that Azumano Travel is still an advertiser.  I ask you to go the following web page and tell me what you see.  http://www.1041thefish.com/fishadvertisers.aspx
 
It's not easy being a Christian.

KFIS, and their parent company Salem Communications, have chosen to be Christians when it is convenient to them.  So far as their advertising dollars do not suffer, they are willing to mention Christ.  We cannot allow this sort of pick-and-choose Christianity to prevail.
 
I am asking you, on the day of the birth of our Lord and Savior, to boycott any and all services of Salem Communications, including the following Portland area radio stations: KTRO-AM 910, KPDQ-FM 93.9, KFIS-FM 104.1, KPDQ-AM 800, and KRYP-FM 93.1.  I also ask that you go to the above referenced advertisers' page and cease doing business with all those companies listed.  If you have a FISH bumper sticker on your car - take it off.  Take the station pre-set off your stereo.
 
Lastly, please contact Salem Communications' Denise Davis (Director of Communications at: DeniseD@salem.cc, or KFIS' Music Director, Dave Arthur, at: dave@1041thefish.com.
 
It is not easy, convenient, or comfortable to be a Christian. but it is what God calls us to be.  Will you please join me in making a stand for our faith? 
 
Thank you.

Friday, December 14, 2007

2008-The Year of Real Catholic Men?

A blessed Advent to you all! As 2007 draws to a close, I am looking forward to a new year and new challenges.

2008 is going to start off with a BANG for Real Catholic Men. On the weekend of January 18-20, I will be in Gold Hill, Oregon, hosting their 26th Annual Men's Retreat. This is my first foray into this arena, and I'll be giving 3-4 talks over the three days. I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but I know the Holy Spirit will be with me every step of the way.

On January 22nd, I will be joined by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers and Jesse Romero on local Catholic radio, KBVM (www.KBVM.fm), to discuss the RCM ministry, the June conference and men's spirituality in general. The interview with KBVM's Dina Marie Hale will air at 8:10 a.m. that morning. If you are not in the Portland area, you can listen in on the Internet.

Then, On January 26th, I will be attending the Life Is Sacred conference at the Portland Expo Center. This will be RCM's first big "public appearance." I will have a table set up with literature, conference registration forms, t-shirts, bumper stickers and a great big "Real Catholic Men" banner! It is going to be a great event. Please make your plans to attend.

See, this is just the first month of the year. Who knows what God's has in store for the other eleven months? I don't, but I'm sure excited to find out!

May God bless you all, and may you have a Christ-filled 2008.