[Journal Date: Feb. 7, 2021]

Tom Coburn’s book “Smashing the D.C. Monopoly” is many things. In light of his passing in March of 2020 it is his final letter to America. It is a tremendous and well told history lesson of the internal struggle of strong individual states vs. strong central government. It is a lesson on our U.S. Constitution and specifically the amendment process found in Article V. It is an in depth look at several attempts to remedy our nation’s problems. But most meaningful to me, it is a clear outline of what is wrong in our nation, what these problems spell for our country, and what should be done about it, told by the man I most respect in American politics on the eve of his passing.

I summarized this outline and emailed it to Tom. The outline is not spelled out in the book, I simply had reached this conclusion from reading it. The outline is as follows:

Our nation will fail financially if a profound change does not come soon.

The problem is not a matter of Republican vs. Democratic leadership. The problem is human greed. (Note, this makes it a moral (Bible-based) problem not a political (partisan-based) problem).

Congress members are in fact corrupt when they engage in what has become a routine process of pandering to their own constituents in order to get re-elected at the expense of the common good of our nation. Their oath is to the Constitution (the common good) and says nothing about serving their state or district.

The problems have become so large and so widespread that they will never be solved by trying to elect the “right” people. The only way to solve the problem is by “the people” taking back control to re-establish a government “for the people, by the people, and of the people.”

Our U.S. Constitution is a wonderful and perhaps divinely inspired document that gives the people the power to remedy these problems, if we just will.

These concepts laid out in such detail and clarity in his book, were profound and life changing for me. Many of us worry about what might come of our country. We discuss sometimes at length the dangers of our debt and dysfunction. But to have Tom Coburn say plain and clear that left unchecked, these problems would COLLAPSE our country. Well, that was life-changing for me.

It was truth. It was hard facts thoroughly spelled out. Truth demands action. Truth demands courage. I decided this was our time. I never served my country in uniform. I have merely benefited from the courage, conviction, and sacrifice of others who have gone before me. Indeed, I continue to benefit from the courage, conviction, and sacrifice of others today. Now those sacrificing for me are not just loved ones long past or heroes recorded in history, but rather they are living young people who in some cases, I know. It really goes deeper than that. Liz and I have two of our three sons currently serving in the military. Surely this is a call to action. A call to stop saying “Why doesn’t someone else do something?” and rather to look inward and say, “What can I do?”

I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew it would be something and not nothing!

In a race . . . Hebrews 12:1-3

[Journal Date: February 14, 2021]

Newspapers are in my life, something like the Bible itself. Alike in many ways. Growing up they both seemed for sure outdated, perhaps overhyped, and somewhat irrelevant. My perception of each of these traits has changed completely as I have aged. Imagine that, lol. Newspaper reading has altered and impacted my life beyond my wildest dreams. The same is true for the Bible. Its influence in my life continues to grow daily.

Newspapers are dull, unnecessary and for old people, that is what I thought. Somehow, some way, I came to believe the opposite. Newspapers are the way thoughtful people consume their news. Newspapers allow the reader to take time to consume the news. Newspapers allow the reader to remove much of the bias and emotion that TV news personalities seek to inject. Biases are an unseen and insidious byproduct of being a TV news viewer. Reading the newspaper in contrast to television viewing actually helps to grow one’s intellect and make oneself a better person as a result. Newspapers invite the consumer to become a contributor to the ongoing story of our community, state, and nation. You have to change a few words, but essentially the same is true of the Bible.

Newspapers were critical in the founding of our nation and equally critical in the ongoing story of our nation. Yes, I thought newspapers were overhyped. Growing up it seemed as if someone was always saying “I saw it in the paper.” or asking, “Did you see such and such in the paper?” Well, as a self-absorbed, non-informed, young person, it seemed to me, much to-do over something not very important. As an adult today, I would say to all fellow citizens “Wake up, pay attention to the current condition and the ongoing transformation of our nation which is being revealed and recorded each day in the newspaper.” Furthermore, the outcome is tenious and fragile. We all need to be informed, make a conscious decision about the outcome we desire for our community, state, and nation. We all need to play an active part in ensuring that the forces serving the common and noble good, overcome the greed and self-interest that are always at work. Reading the newspaper is a step in the right direction in furthering the common good. Again alter the words slightly and the same is true of the Bible.

Yes, newspapers seemed irrelevant to me. I would suggest that this comes from being self-absorbed and only interested in pursuing thoughts and actions that furthered one’s wealth, image and pursuit of pleasure. This is a common characteristic of young people and sadly it is a mindset many never grow out of. If this is your mindset, I would say it is likely you still see newspapers as irrelevant. If perhaps though with age, you become more interested in the world around you, more interested in the accomplishments of others, more interested in the common good, then newspapers take on a vastly different and important role in your life. Today, I would say newspapers are the opposite of irrelevant. Newspapers are the thinking, purpose-driven persons’ window into what is going on, what issues are important and insight into the minds of people smarter than oneself. Again, go back through the paragraph and insert Bible for newspapers, it still works.

How did I become such an advocate for newspapers? How did newspapers lead me to a relationship with Tom Coburn? How did newspapers guide my decision to get involved? How did newspapers provide focus to my desire to make a difference? How do newspapers provide the fuel and leverage to be able to bring change from a small town in Oklahoma into a force to drive national change? All of these questions have answers worth addressing. Again, the Bible still fits.

In a word, I became an advocate for newspapers – slowly. A man of great influence in my life taught me that every good habit one acquires in this life must be acquired slowly and deliberately, over time. This well describes how I become a dedicated newspaper reader. It takes time, effort and work. It is a very different process than the process that leads to becoming an addicted viewer of cable TV news. Much of what drives me is the difficulty. I am a big believer in the concept that the difficult path is the desired path. I am pretty sure, the Bible speaks of the virtue of the small gate and narrow path versus the wide gate and broad path. I would suggest that choosing to read not view the daily news is just such an example. Yes, I am advocating regular reading of the Bible also.

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.”

– Thomas Jefferson

My being led to a relationship with Senator Tom Coburn is in my mind, an example of God leading and directing my life. While I cannot specifically recall how it all happened, I have to believe it started with an article in The Oklahoman. I do not recall the article, but I just cannot think of any other way it could have happened. My feeling is that “The Oklahoman” must have run some sort of story on Senator Tom Coburn’s involvement in an effort called “Convention of the States” and that led to me doing an internet search and ultimately that led to Senator Coburn replying to my request for information, which set off a whole chain of events.

After my meeting with Senator Coburn, as I described earlier, learning of his efforts and then reading his book, I knew I wanted to help him in some way. My thoughts centered around how can I help make more people aware that Senator Coburn was still actively continuing his work even though he had taken the very unusual step of vacating his Senate seat.

My first conviction was how can I get Tom’s book in front of and read by more people. I decided each month I would give a copy of his book to three people I admire. I guess my hope was that these people would also read the book and together we would become a small group dedicated to bring about real change. Well, it failed and it succeeded both. It failed miserably in that 90% of the people I gave the book to never bothered to read it. The beautiful thing is though by taking action rather than only talking, I believe by God’s grace, the intended outcome eventually became exactly what I had hoped for. Coincidence or divine intervention – I choose the latter.

I continued the monthly book giving for approximately six months but decided this was never going to produce the desired result. I needed to do something bigger, something bolder. Then it came to me. I needed to use “The Oklahoman” as an agent of change. “The Oklahoman” needed to do an article on Tom and his book. Perhaps, then the great awakening I hoped for could and would begin in earnest.

It became my focus to convince “The Oklahoman” to interview Senator Coburn regarding his book and print a story on the same. I began actively pursuing “The Oklahoman” in July of 2017 for just such an interview. It was not easy. I thought the staff writers would jump at the chance for such an interview, but it took time. They finally agreed to the interview and on October 5, 2017 Senator Coburn, myself, and staff writer Justin Wingerter with “The Oklahoman”, sat down in the conference room of The Oklahoman’s new office in downtown Oklahoma City. The interview lasted approximately 60 minutes with Senator Coburn speaking approximately 50 of those 60 minutes. Much of the time Senator Coburn spoke loudly and passionately from his heart. After the interview began, at maybe the ten-minute mark I decided the de facto speech he was giving was too good to not record. I pulled out my cellphone and hit record on the voice memo app. Wow, am I ever glad I did! Recordings of Senator Coburn are not hard to find on YouTube or other sources, but I would say the recording I made that day would stand up against any of them for conveying the passion he had for our nation in broad, general strokes, uninhibited by speaking to any specific issue. Much of what is recorded regarding Senator Coburn comes from his time in office and speaks to a specific issue which has now long since passed. This recording has a timelessness to it because it speaks to the heart and soul of America rather than to a transient issue. With his life now passed, I wonder also if it is perhaps among the very most profound recordings made of him in his waning years of life. Anyway, by God’s grace, I have it and I still listen to it on occasion. Hearing his voice and passion never fails to uplift and inspire me to continue the fight. His message in the recording always makes me think of Hebrews 12:1-3 “In a race.”

This Bible passage is something I always keep in mind when working on this cause.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

– Hebrews 12: 1-3

Verse of the Day

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

— Jeremiah 29:13

Thoughts on Today’s Verse

God wants us to seek him. In fact, he made us to seek him! Unfortunately, however, we often seek God along with the other things that draw our eye for a moment or two. We must never let anything detract from God having first command of our heart. Only God is worthy of our full devotion.

My Prayer

Righteous God and Holy Father, please bless me with an undivided heart, one that seeks you as the first and ordering priority of my life. Forgive me, dear Lord, for letting other things distract my focus from you and interfere with my service to your Kingdom. Fill me with a holy passion for Kingdom matters above all other concerns and interests. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today’s Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.