How Did I Get Here, Part One
April 19th, 2006 | by Scott |I want to begin to chronicle, for posterity, the seismic shift that has been taking place in my heart and life over the last couple of years. All of this is a work in progress. I do not know where all of this is going or how it will all work out, but I am not the same person that I once was.
If any of my statements in this series seems incomplete to you, understand this: I am incomplete. God is still refining me into His image.
If any of this runs counter to your beliefs, I ask you one favor: see this through with me to the end. Give me your feedback and comments but understand that this is a work in progress.
Back in the early 90’s I was chairman of the Wilson Country (TN) Young Republicans. I remember in the aftermath of the Clinton election receiving phone calls from members of the GOP in the area, asking if I had considered running for any local office.
I had subscriptions to National Review, The Conservative Chronicle, The American Spectator and The Limbaugh Letter.
I had Rush Limbaugh’s TV show programmed on my VCR and the EIB tuned in each afternoon.
I had my bumper sticker that read “I did not vote for the dope from Hope.”
I had an understanding of who our enemies were: those who might try to restore communism, Middle-Eastern Nations, Democrats, Tree-Huggers, Feminazis and Ivy-league educated liberal snobs.
I had an intense desire to protect our “rights” as Christians lest we find our faith outlawed.
I had stringent views on immigration and affirmative action to ward against middle-class white men becoming the true minority in this country.
I had condescension toward “tree-hugger’s” and “environmentalist wacko’s” who valued the earth too much.
I had a healthy dose of indignation toward homosexuals, criminals, and other members of the detritus of life.
I had moral outrage in the capacity of this nation to elect a morally-bankrupt president.
I had an understanding that America was God’s means of achieving His purposes in a lost and dying world. Our military dominance was imperative to maintaining the cause of Christ.
Yes, I had all of this.
I had it all figured out.
But I had not love.
Little did I fully realize how central love was to becoming like Christ.
(Coming up: How a White House Sex Scandal provoked an unexpected response)
21 Responses to “How Did I Get Here, Part One”
By matt elliott on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
As you may have noticed, I have only recently discovered your blog. And I’ve already been asking myself, “Man, where did this guy come from??” So thanks for beginning an answer even before I could ask it! I’m greatly intrigued by your story and anxious to hear more.
And a Pat Conroy and Rosanne Cash fan to boot, huh?
By Tracy3906 on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Wow, this is gonna be good!
By Terri on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
But, you still love Rush, right. I mean all of us have our faults…
By Scott on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Matt, I’m glad you found my blog. I was a YM for years around the same time you were. I worked in Lebanon TN for a while. I’m good friends with Johnny Markham and know Jon Shoulders.
Have you read Lords of Discipline? Classic.
Terri, uh, no. Not much of a Rush fan.
By JAW on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Scott,
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and I think we have a lot in common. One of the first posts I ever made on my blog (back in the Blogger days) was very similar to this:
http://malibulibrarian.blogspot.com/2004/07/ill-take-my-stand.html
I look forward to reading more!
God bless,
JAW
By Scott on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
JAW,
Wow, great post–thanks for the link.
By Beverly Choate Dowdy on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
I enjoyed reading your blog. I’m a blogging friend of Matt Elliott and James Wiser.
I’m from a”blue” world and have lived among “red’ Christians for the past 20 years. I appreciate your reflection. Here’s a little piece I wrote re: Rush
http://bevchoatedowdy.blogspot.com/2005/12/rush-limbaugh-and-silent-saints-after.html#comments
By Scott on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Bev,
Welcome and thanks. Great article.
Saw on your profile you are from Detroit. I spent 3 years preaching in Port Huron.
By Greg on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Will be watching with interest…
By Terri on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
I confess. I haven’t seen or heard from Rush at all but when I sold radio advertising a lifetime ago, his abrasive personality sure filled our comment line!
By R-Liz (Ruthie) on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
I really look forward to reading more.
My thanks to JAW and Beverly for some good food for thought.
By Donna on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
Your journey sounds familiar. Funny how we were all so sure we had all the RIGHT answers.
By Darren K. on Apr 19, 2006 | Reply
I’m amazed how many people have made this journey (myself included). I, too, was a “dittohead”. I shudder to think at how annoying I was. I was in highschool in the early 90’s. I was homeschooled and would listen to Rush all afternoon. My parents (even though they are conservative) figured out this wasn’t healthy and forced me into to drama. When my future wife met me (in our very first class at college), I was, as she tells it, a “homeschooled Church of Christ Bible major.” She was pretty sure she would never like me. Thankfully God surprised me and I surprised her.
By Phil Wilson on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Very much looking forward to this.
By Doug Freeman on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Scott, I think we all, as we age look back at the past and see that many of the negative feelings we held on to was not being Christ like. What matters now is the direction we follow to heal a lot of the misguided feelings that once we held and make things right in the sight of God. I still rassle with feelings that i have held on to for more years than i like to remember. I must admit, you have made me stop and think more about my feelings the past couple of years more than anyone. Thanks, for sharing these things and i ask you be patient with me and even if i am nearing 80, Gods still working on me.
By Doug Freeman on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Scott, I failed to mention that i am still a Republican and hold on to the ideals this Nation was founded on.
By Scott on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Dad, thank you so much for that comment. That means the world to me.
And don’t worry, I know you are still a Republican.
By Pat on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Politics bore me. And it depresses me because I don’t see that either party is really out for the good of the common man. I’m very cynical about the whole thing, and because of that I don’t pay much attention. That’s probably not good. When I do find out things, I usually become very angry, and don’t know how to channel that anger into something positive.
I want to take my cues from Jesus and how he dealt with the political machine of his day. I don’t want to see myself as a person with their head in the sand, but neither do I want to become embroiled in futility.
I hope we’re all on a journey like this…I know I am. Things I previously thought were nailed down, have become loosened. Doctrines and attitudes are being reexamined. We’re stumbling as we’re going, but at least we’re going.
I look forward to “the rest of the story”.
By Kevin Bussey on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Wow! Can I relate. I use to have a Rush Is Right sticker on my truck. No more. I wrote about it here. http://studentguru.blogspot.com/2005/11/why-rush-is-wrong.html#comments
By John on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
Boy this is sounding somewhat familar. Now I can’t believe just how much I paid attention/devotion to what Rush said back in that era. Now the rare times I do get to hear is show it almost seems to a parody. Looking forward to reading the rest of this.
By MamaQ on Apr 20, 2006 | Reply
*grinning from ear to ear, but in a happy and proud way, not a smug one*