History is far more than facts and figures. Far too often our students are geared to just nail down answers on tests they receive. Real history is about people who are just like us. My college minor is in history. A great deal of my study also included politics and government. You will find historial works lining my shelves if you look around the office. In recent days the movie as well as the book, "Charlie Wilson's War" made headlines in both areas. I could remember seeing news footage on this years ago but I was honestly a bit hazy on all the details. One of my goals over the holidays was to read the 550 page book about how one man coordinated the demise of the great Soviet army. Two weeks into the effort of completing the unbelievable account of a low ranking Congressman from Texas. After finishing the book I made my way to the movie theatre last night to compare the two works. What discoveries can be made and what on earth are they doing on a blog like this?

To say Wilson was a scoundrel would be a large understatement. Probably most of what is called the "Religious Right" wouldn't vote for him today. Yet, he took it on himself to network throughout Congress and the CIA to organize a fantastic plan to send the might Soviet army home out of Afghanistan in the 1980s. The cast of characters who come together to put the mechanics into motion are profane yet highly motivated patriots of years gone by. The one man least likely to amount to anything becomes a integral if overlooked note in United States history.

This is not to say everyone should read the book or see the movie. It is not for the faint hearted. It is filled with language normally reserved for gatherings outside the normal Baptist church. These people do not often see themselves as divine change agents to redeem the world. Most simply wanted to inflict as much damage to the Russians of the 80s as possible. Like other books that I read that can offend a few you may wonder why read it then? My question is not why read about them but why don't we read much about us?

We have our turf wars over who is right and wrong. If you don't agree with my view then do I not have the right to put a label on you or say you are not as good a Christian as me? When we do not get our way can we not simply take our toys and go home to an easier place to live? Doing the real work of the Kingdom does not come cheap or easy. It does not happen by organizing rallies so we can brag about crowds. It won't happen by arranging the situations always in our favor. We cannot blame others for our failures in the attempt to keep our image holy. The courage displayed in this "ungodly" historical account hurts my heart compared to the childish games we may be tempted to play at church. We cannot be active changing others much less changing nations by living to the level of when our feelings get hurt. We will not be true disciples as long as we reserve the right to decide who is right or wrong. Doing the eternal is never easy. There will be blood, sweat and tears invovled.

One man played a huge part in setting to motion the largest political change of the 20th century. How are we doing in just changing us day by day?

Bro. Trey