I drove into Ohio yesterday about noon--May 31, 2011; Memorial Day; the day a good man resigned under a cloud of scandal. Jim Tressel resigned as head football coach of The Ohio State University.

It is a sad day. A decent man and a man of principle resigned looking like every other cheat and slick-talking major college football and basketball coach. He had to resign; he deserved to resign. He violated NCAA rules in covering up rules violations by his players. The national media have made him out to be a fraud, a hypocritical pretender of righteousness in a tie and sweater vest. Fans of other programs will believe the national media.

The reality is much closer to a much less cynical reality. A good man believed too much in his ability to steer marginal-character young athletes in the right direction and was tripped up by his own over-confidence. Then he covered up some of their rules violations. Over-confidence in one's own goodness is another way of describing a subtle form of pride. The Bible says pride goes before a fall.

No excuses from this fan and admirer. Only sadness. It is a shame.

So--God, please bless and restore Jim Tressel. And, Go Bucks!

The United States has come to a critical crossroads.

Throughout our history our nation has been the best ally/friend the Jewish people have ever had. We have welcomed Jews from all nations and in all expressions of Judaism--from ultra-orthodox to secular Jews. We were one of the first nations to recognize the state of Israel in 1948 when President Truman took the morally courageous step to do so.

Genesis 12:3 promises that those who bless Abraham's descendants will be blessed. This is a foundational promise of God in his initiation of redemption to all the world through Abraham's faith. This is a promise that is still in effect and one that God still watches over.

Currently there is a global propaganda campaign to de-legitimize the Jewish state of Israel by historical falsehoods and by accusations of apartheid against the Palestinian people. Our current President has sought to reverse US policy by calling for a return the the borders of Israel in 1967, before they were attacked without provocation by three Arab nations on three fronts. Israel won that Six Days War and consequently held land won in a war of aggression they did not start. This land, the West Bank and Gaza, gave Israel defensible borders in a very hostile environment of nations pledged to push the Jews of Israel into the sea.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of our Congress and detailed the special relationship the United States has had with Israel since its inception. In a written press release to accompany the speech Mr. Netanyahu also recounts how the Jewish state came into existence from the early days of Zionistic hope until the present day. It is a release you can read in full here by clicking this link:

http://wellspring.net/sites/default/files/Netanyahu_speech_20110523.pdf

I am very concerned that the United States not reverse its friendship and support with Israel at this critical hour of turmoil in the Middle East. I believe that the blessing of God upon this land has been linked, in part, to our historical friendship to the Jewish people. To desert them in this critical hour would be disastrous.

I have travelled in Israel twice now in the past 18 months. I certainly am no expert on the Middle East. But I do know that the Palestinian Arabs living inside of Israel proper have more freedoms and opportunities and more economic viability than Arabs anywhere in the Middle East. I know that Arabs living inside of Israel have citizenship, civil rights, can vote, can serve in the Knesset. I know that Arab villages in Israel proper are much more prosperous and safe than those villages and cities in the West Bank that is now under the Palestinian Authority. I know that Gaza, recently given over to the PA, has becoming a refugee camp and a massive munitions site for weapons that pour in from the Arab world to attack Israel.

I also know that the Israeli state and government is not perfect by a long shot. I know that there is considerable fear and resentments in both Jewish and Palestinian populations. I know that the current state of Israel is mostly secular and not the godly, renewed Israel we pray for and long to see. But I also know that every time Israel trades land for peace they get more aggression and insecurity.

And I know the God of all the earth promises to bless those who bless Abraham and his descendants.

Pastor Rick