What the Western World Can Learn From Mongol Families

It’s been heart-breaking for me to watch the disintegration of the family in the West over the past six decades. The family is the bedrock of any society, and in our culture, it is on life support.

Recently a political convention in the United States highlighted that disintegration, and a trip to the nation of Mongolia showed me a better way.

What can the Western World learn from Mongol families?

First, let’s take a look at the satanic strategy in the Western World to annihilate the family unit.

Gary Randall of the Faith & Freedom Network alerted us recently to an LGBT Global Summit that was held within the Democrat Convention in late July. You can read his article here.

One of the leaders, activist Kevin Jennings, formerly with the Obama Administration’s Education Department, said at the gathering, “The future of the LGBT movement hinges largely on the out come of this election.” Another leader, the director of GLAD, told the global gathering, “Let’s dream bigger for a second and let’s think about all students–all students, not just LGBT students.”

That means aiming at all families. 

They left their summit with four goals for 2017—all of them aimed at children and the American family.

  • Passing the Equality Act (adding LBGT fully to the anti-discrimination laws).
  • Defeating state and local laws designed to protect the religious freedom of believing families.
  • Going to court relentlessly to mainstream immorality.
  • Partnering with other groups such as Black Lives Matter to de-stabilize the United States. 

I was stunned when I heard that a major political party–the Democrats–would host such a gathering during their political convention. Both the political parties used to be pro-family and pro-kids.

Now, the Democratic party wants all American children and families to be indoctrinated in sexual atheism. Similar movements are happening all across Europe and the West.

It’s important to re-emphasize that “the Alphabet Community” (they just keep adding letters) is nothing less than a diabolical scheme to confuse and destroy families and children.

This demonic delusion has different aspects to it, including 1) Making fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia and bestiality “normal” and basic “sexual rights,” 2) Destroying the identity of God’s creation of male and female via feminism, masculine impotence and transgenderism (did you know that New York State now has 31 offerings for a person’s gender–not just male and female), and 3) Destroying male and female roles, and with it, the family structure.

This movement to destroy the family began in the 1950s, picked up speed in the 70s when abortion began killing millions of babies, and now has exploded in the Obama years with his relentless pursuit of destroying biblical morality in every form.

Immorality hurts families and kids the most.

A few weeks ago, I was in the nation of Mongolia. It is a land-locked country between Russia and China with a population of about 3 million (another six million Mongols live in northern China and one million in Russia–a consequence of the spoils of World War II).

By Western standards, Mongolia is a poor nation where half the people live as nomads tending their animals and moving their gers (tents). The other half are being urbanized and brought into the modern world. The capital city of Ulaanbaatar now houses half of the nation’s population, some living in apartments and modern dwellings while others reside in ger slums with a hope of upward mobility.

Mongolia is historically a Buddhist nation that saw communism forced down its throat during the Bolshevik Revolution. Today it is a free nation with a small-but-growing Christian population.

During my visit to the land of the Khans (Ghengis Khan is their ancestral hero who created the world’s largest land empire in history during the Middle Ages), I enjoyed three days of Mongol family gatherings during their independence celebration–called Nadaam. During Nadaam, all Mongol families gather with their extended families–much like American do on the 4th of July–to eat and celebrate.

I enjoyed two such gatherings on a mountainside on the outskirts of UB (Ulaanbaatar) and another closer to the Russia border in the countryside. The second gathering was a wild five hour drive across the Mongolia steppe that reminded me of a 300 minute Indiana Jones ride! Much of Mongolia has no roads–just paths across the prairie, around mountains and through streams. There are no street signs or lights–just trails that go in every direction.

On the way home from the remote family gathering, my host showed me an amazing intersection of old and new. I couldn’t figure how he was navigating from the middle of nowhere back to the capital city of UB. He whipped out his phone and said he was just “following my GPS.” The robotic voice kept telling him, “Turn left at this mountain.” “Angle right here.” “Cross the stream there and go straight.”

What an incredible blend of old and new!

Even, more incredible: the beauty and orderliness of the Mongolian family.

When we arrived at the first family “barbeque” on a mountainside near UB, I noticed that the thirty-odd family members, most of whom were children and teenagers, all knew what to do without anyone giving directions. They understood their roles:

  • The younger children began gathering sticks and branches for the fire.
  • The older teenagers and men began making the fire and set up the camp.
  • The younger girls and women began unloading the vehicles and preparing the food.
  • The older women arranged and prepared the meat (which would be boiled in a large pot among hot rocks, potatoes, and carrots)–kind of a large, outdoor pressure cooker.

After the basic food preparations, the children played games and adults sat on blankets and talked among themselves (I was the only person there who spoke English as a first language–and few spoke it at all). Teenagers constantly helped the younger kids, and all the children wanted to hold the babies and take them everywhere.

It was a beautiful display of the love of family and children.

At one point the entire clan gathered around a one-year old boy (who had never had a haircut), and the men in the family took turns cutting a lock of hair (Mongol tradition–non-religious), blessing the child and giving him money. Once the child saw that each hair trim was bringing him some dough, he gladly went around to all the men and held out his head and his basket!

After this wonderful celebration of the first haircut, they asked me to pray a blessing over the young boy. All thirty participated with enthusiasm.

After the meal was cooked, I was amazed at how everyone knew their roles in serving and eating the meal. The younger girls served the food, the boys the drinks, the older women prepared the metal plates, the oldest in the group (including me) were honored with canvas chairs to sit on–and everyone enjoyed each other’s presence for hours–passing the babies and younger kids from lap to lap.

The Mongol families not only seemed to love each other deeply–they knew their roles in the family structure. It was a magnificent relational symphony to watch.

After three days of enjoying this interaction, twice near Ulaanbaatar and once in the northern countryside, I was smitten with the beauty of Mongol families living up to their God-given design:

1.  The men did the hard, dirty work and protected and cherished the women.

2.  The women used their grace and skill in cooking and providing for the their families with an amazing flair for hospitality and encouragement.

3.  Teenagers respected the adults and served in their appropriate roles–the boys knowing their jobs and the girls flourishing in theirs.

4.  All of them loved and doted over the little ones. Children were their greatest gift.

5. Nobody needed to be told what to do. For generations, first from a Buddhist background and now growing into a Bible-centered one, they clearly understood the difference between male and female, older and younger, the importance of teamwork, and the gift of new life.

It brings great sadness to my heart when I ponder that the Western World once knew these same basics of family and is foolishly throwing it away:

  • We’ve changed the 5000 definition of marriage and are lost in gender confusion.
  • We kill a million babies a year, and prefer pets to newborn lives.
  • Our teenagers prefer machines to younger brothers and sisters.
  • We don’t understand God-given roles and responsibilities and instead just demand rights.

We may be the most powerful civilization in history, but right now we’re also the most foolish.

The loss of family cohesion has happened in our lifetime. We’re listening to the satanic voice, following its lead and losing the power and beauty of family.

Let’s learn from the Mongols.

And let’s work hard for a revival of healthy families in every corner of God’s world.

 

What the Presidential Tickets Tell Us About America

Tonight, the first woman in American history to represent her party for president of the United States–Hillary Rodham Clinton–will make her acceptance speech before the Democratic National Convention. 

Last week, the Republicans nominated the first non-politician/non military person–businessman Donald Trump–to head a presidential ticket. Trump chose Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate and Hillary Clinton selected Virginia senator (and former governor) Tim Kaine as her VP.

The presidential tickets are now set and in fourteen weeks, we with choose our 45th chief executive.

What do this year’s choices tell us about America?

We need to be constantly reminded that we live in a brief corridor of history where people pick their leaders. Abraham Lincoln called it “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

In other words, we are the government. We vote for our leaders, they represent us in enacting and enforcing our laws, and those laws are meant to benefit the people. That formula–“people power”–is what made America (among other things) a very exceptional nation.

It was not always so.

On a recent trip to Asia, I read a book called The Story of the World, Part I by Susan Wise Bauer. It gives a fascinating portrayal of the broad strokes of history–from the beginning of time to the end of the Roman Empire (Part II covers the Middle Ages to the present).

If any one thing characterized life during the past seven thousand years, it was this:

Despots. Tyrants. All powerful kings.

The Bible mentions Nimrod and Babel. Then came Sargon in Sumeria, the Pharoahs in Egypt, and numerous Babylonian and Assyrian dictators.  For a brief time, Greece and Rome returned some power to the people in their early city-states, but eventually they fell to the likes of Alexander the Great and numerous Caesars.

In other parts of the world it was the same story. Whether India, China, or the ancient New World, warrior chiefs or strong men rose to the top of their tribes and ruled their societies. As I read chapter after chapter of The Story of the World, it struck me that most people in history lived in daily fear of being wiped out by the nearest tribe, chieftain, emperor or strong man and lived their lives doing what the dictator told them to do.

Elections and freedom didn’t exist.

Until America.

Of course, hundreds of years of the development of Christian civilization in Europe paved the way. As European people came to Christ and began reading and applying the Bible to everyday life, human rights rose in people’s hearts and rulers began to be replaced by laws.

For 6500 years it was Rex rex–the King is king (you do what he says). But, over the past five hundred years, humankind took a giant leap.

Lex rex. The Law is king (Do what the people want).

America was the world’s first biblically-oriented society that put that truth into governmental form.

This Sunday night, I encourage you to watch Bill O’Reilly’s Legends and Lies docu-drama on the Fox News Network. For the past two months it’s been the most watched weekend program in the nation. It chronicles the truths and myths behind the American Revolution. This week it will focus on America’s first president, General George Washington.

For those of us who’ve enjoyed free elections for the past 230 years, it’s hard to believe that many early American colonists wanted to make George Washington the first king of the colonies. Why?  Because kings were all they’d ever known (throughout history).  And kings were often tyrants–just like King George of England.

Human beings had always been dominated by strong men.

America exceptionally led the world into freedom by rejecting power at the top and giving it to a “moral and religious people” (John Adam’s words) who would govern themselves through laws made and enforced by their representatives.

“Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

That was the essence of the American Revolution. It was an idea that changed the world.

In the 6500 years of “dictator” history, kings did not always reflect their subjects. Good societies could be led by evil tyrants or vice versa. Occasionally in history God used good leaders to bring renewal to the people (David, Hezekiah and Josiah et al). Other times, bad rulers were a sign of judgment to a back-slidden nation (e.g. Manasseh, Nebuchanezzar).

In modern free societies who elect their leaders, there’s a clearer correlation between magistrates and people. Good people (moral and religious) generally vote for righteous leaders. Bad societies (immoral and selfish) usually vote for narcissists like themselves.

Thus, leaders of free voting nations are “mirrors of the people.”

So, what do the two presidential tickets tell us about the American people in 2016?

1.  A majority of Americans (or an influential minority of those who vote) are atheists or secularists. This is the first election in post-Christian America. Neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton (despite what they say) are anchored to biblical truth. Trump is a populist bully and Clinton is a corrupt, career politician. One’s a bellicose outsider and the other is a sleazy insider. The majorities of both parties voted for these man-centered politicians–telling you much about themselves.

2.  A good portion of the American electorate is angry–not a great virtue. Trump supporters want strength and less government. Their strongest moral value is work ethic = I can do it myself. This is Trump’s message and that of his impressive children. It’s not “I can do all things through Christ” (Ephesians 4:13) but rather “I can get it done if I work hard enough.”

Clinton supporters are just as self-oriented, but from the opposite tack. They want America to be weak in the world and receive as many entitlements as they can get (free health care, college tuition, etc.–hey, why don’t we throw in free cars and mortgages?). Bernie Sander’s audiences epitomized this nanny state consumerism. Their message is: “You do it for ME!”

Each of these candidates represent flip sides of the same coin of self. It’s either protect me or give me. Both ideas will erode the power of liberty in the American nation.

3.  Mike Pence and Tim Kaine represent America’s Christian past–now a minority view in the country. That’s why they’re in the second slot, not the first chair. On the Republican side, many biblically-grounded candidates were voted down in favor of the strong man, Trump. Pence is a sound evangelical who would have made a fine president. He’s “Christian, conservative and Republican” in that order. Time Kaine is a former Catholic missionary who’s personally pro-life–kind of a 21st century JFK.

Both were chosen because Trump and Clinton recognize their need for the “God-vote” in the country to put them over the top. In truth, I’d love to see both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton step down and let Pence and Kaine run for the highest office in the land. Their match-up would be worthy of our heritage. Unfortunately, in 2016, they are just a faint echo of a once Judeo-Christian, freedom-loving society.

4.  Hillary Clinton probably has the edge because those who want free stuff are more united than those who want to be protected. Even with the splinter of the Sander’s insurgency, Democrats tend to coalesce around their standard bearer (90%).  This year, due to Trump’s obvious faults, Republicans are in the 70% support range. That probably means a third Obama term and accelerating American decline.

Look in the mirror, America! These four faces are staring back at you:

  • God-loving and fearing conservatives. (Pence)
  • Religious moderates (Kaine).
  • Angry pragmatists – Trump-eteers, and
  • Angry narcissists – Clintonites 

But anger is at the top of the ticket with godly values along for the ride. How foolish we are. I wish it were Pence versus Kaine. But that train has left the station in 2016.

Keep praying for God’s break-out among our “leaders”–we, the people.

 

 

 

 

One More Reason to Vote for Trump

I’ve just returned from a trip to Asia which I’ll share about in future posts. But center stage this week is the Republican National Convention which demands some attention.

Why is choosing our government leaders so important? Because the Church and the State cast the greatest influence on culture and civilizations.

The Church is meant to be the salvific and prophetic voice in the world. When we lead people to Christ and teach people His ways, then nations experience the blessings of justice and freedom. When we “turn out the lights,” evil takes its place.

Governments are designed to protect God-given rights and punish evil. Good governments bring peace and stability to society. Bad governments make the people “mourn” (Proverbs 29:2).

This week I’ll share some thoughts on the Republican Convention and next week, the Democrats.

I now have one more reason to vote for Donald Trump.

I’ve made it clear in the past that of my list of potential presidents of the United States–three primary candidates in the Democrat Party and seventeen on the Republican side–Donald Trump was low. In fact of the seventeen original Republican aspirants, I would place Mr. Trump in the bottom third.

This is because I highly value biblical faith (Trump’s faith is, at the best, weak)–good character (he can be quite childish and bullying)–competence (he does have great business experience)–and good policies (the jury is out as Mr Trump was a lifetime moderate/liberal who’s now running as a conservative).

I look forward to his acceptance speech tonight and seeing if he follows through with his conservative plans to Make America Great Again (which can only be done through God’s truth and blessing). 

I’ve also said that there was one primary reason I will vote for Donald Trump: the future of the United States Supreme Court. If Hillary Clinton becomes our next president, then possibly one-to-four liberal justices will be appointed to the Court in the next few years which would curse this nation for a generation. Their decisions would lead to the persecution of Christians, overturning the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms), and many pernicious policies which would hurt many Americans.

Though Mr. Trump is not my first choice for POTUS, he has made it clear that he would appoint strict constitutionalists to the Supreme Court and lower courts. Those choices would be a blessing to America for the next generation–possibly undoing the evil of abortion, and protecting many God-given rights of the populace.

The courts shouldn’t be this powerful, but they are. To vote for Hillary Clinton is to vote for SCOTUS tyranny and mischief.  To vote for Donald Trump will at least plug the hole in the dike for a period of time.

Of course, national renewal in Christ is our only real hope of lasting change–courts or no courts.

Before I share the other reason for voting for Donald Trump, let me first  make some other observations about the convention in Cleveland.

The Trump Kids

Though Donald Trump had two failed marriages, three wives, and numerous adulterous liaisons, it’s incredible how poised and articulate are his four older children–Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany. All four of them spoke at the convention and pretty much brought down the house.

I don’t know of their personal faith though a couple of them used the phrase “God bless you” after their speeches (which their father rarely does). Don Jr. gave a powerful address, letting everyone know that he is be an up-and-coming star either in business or politics. Eric and Ivanka shined also. They all seem to cherish family, hard work, honest, integrity and many other great qualities.

Of course, they were born with a silver spoon into a multi-millionaire’s house who become a billionaire, but often pampered kids of the wealthy don’t turn out well. Instead, all three of them, from Trump’s first wife Ivana,  got good grades in school, worked extremely hard and serve in the family business.

As one speaker quipped last night, “You can’t fake good kids.”

Recent college graduate Tiffany, born to second wife, Marla Maples, also gave a warm speech that spoke of the good fatherly qualities of the Donald. In fact, all of them talked about his honesty, humor, warmth, candor, and the great relationships he shared with them and their friends.

That inside look at Donald Trump was very encouraging. Interestingly enough, a man weak at being faithful in marriage has done a pretty good job of fathering and keeping his family together. In fact, have you ever seen a more impressive spread of children, in-laws and grandchildren than those of Donald J. Trump?

Oh yes–I just remembered Mitt and Ann Romney. What a clan!–and missed opportunity.

Ted Cruz

I have followed the writings of the #NeverTrump folks for months and agree with many of their positions about the compromise the R’s have made by allowing Trump to become the nominee. I understand where the naysayers are coming from and I am sympathetic with some of their concerns. They are the “fightin’ fundies” of the Republican Party.

Many of them were rooting for Ted Cruz–even to prevail against all odds in Cleveland.

Ted Cruz was my first choice for president of the United States due to his faith, character, policy positions, youthfulness, and vast grassroots organization. In fact, I even attended a meeting in my home county to go door-to-door for him in our state. Unfortunately, a week later he was beaten by Mr. Trump in Indiana and the race was over.

I didn’t get to knock on any doors.

Last night, Ted Cruz disappointed by not being gracious to Donald Trump. He had been fairly beaten in the the primary process, and there were some deep personal wounds. But Trump had generously given him a prime time spot at the convention, and it should have been the moment for Cruz to leave behind the sour grapes and at least tepidly endorse the Republican nominee. There is a time for “team” and “loyalty.” If you can never cooperate when majorities go against you, then there’s too much self in your heart.

It pained me to see Ted Cruz booed off the stage last night. His message was enlightening and inspiring–a major speech on the power of freedom. But in the end, he failed to be Reagan-like by endorsing the victor (as Ronald Reagan had in 1976 when he lost to Gerald Ford).

Trump came across as the bigger man. He let Cruz speak without limitations. Ted Cruz did not return the favor by least telling the crowd that Trump was a better choice than Hillary Clinton. 

I believe that will hurt him in the future. I applaud his commitment to principles. But two of those principles are humility and teamwork.

Vice Presidential Nominee Mike Pence

Which brings me to the second big reason I will vote for Donald Trump:  Indiana Governor Mike Pence. He was the main speaker last evening, accepting his party’s nomination for vice president of the United States. He did not disappoint. If you didn’t see it, you can watch his speech here.

It is often said that the first big decision that defines a presidential nominee is the choice they make for a running mate. If they show bad judgment there, they will likely make the same mistake in office. If that’s true, then Donald Trump, in my book, hit a home run by choosing Mike Pence.

Here’s why.

I’ve known of Mike Pence for years. He served in Congress rather quietly for a decade before becoming the governor of Indiana. He was always known as a man of faith, good character, conservative principles, a gracious spirit, and a sound leader. He’s one of the best that we’ve had in Washington, D.C. during the past decade.

Then he became governor of Indiana and turned that state around. Indiana currently has the highest credit rating of all fifty states.

In his speech last night, Governor Pence said two things that resonated:

  • “First I am a Christian, then a conservative, then a Republican.”  That shows proper priorities.
  • “My parents taught me to build three important things: a family, a business and a good name.” His down-to-earth humility was so apparent in all that he said.

Mike Pence is the kind of person you want by Donald Trump’s side. In this era, VP’s have a lot of clout.

For Trump to pick him says something–regardless of the motivations. And if something should happen to Donald Trump, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana would make a humble, godly, intelligent, principled, gracious and courageous president of the United States.

That’s one more reason to vote for Trump.

And continue to pray for revival in America.