by Cory Kemp

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

Just a few days ago President Obama held a press conference centered on the progress Congress is making on national health care reform policies. His hope is to translate these conversations into tangible reality by early this fall. For those of you living in countries in which basic health care is a given you can only imagine what many of us here in the United States are feeling at this crucial point in the health care dialogue. For those of you living in countries with far fewer resources you can also imagine our confusion over what it actually takes to translate wealth into positive, active forces for the greater good of humanity.

What brought some extra attention to this particular press conference were not its contents, but its context. President Obama deliberately planned its public airing for the American public so as not to conflict with a popular television program called America's Got Talent. President Obama was quite savvy in working around a potential block to getting the latest information out regarding health care in America. But there was also justifiable concern expressed in many circles. Have we become a democracy in which we no longer wish to participate? What does it take to draw our attention away from our evening amusements? How much does an issue have to directly affect us before we do more than complain about ineffective government and rising taxes? When did the majority of population stop caring about the direction of the country? These are tough questions that can no longer be ignored.

Churches across the nation face similar questions each day. As declining membership statistics loom in almost every major denomination many congregations are focused on how best to attract new members. Fearful that traditional worship, fellowship and service programs aren't appealing to the people of faith looking for church homes, marketing to this segment of the population has become a survival priority. Contemporary music redesigned fellowship gatherings and reshaped mission goals are attempts to keep the faithful faithful while welcoming new friends and family to the fold. In our ways we are working the Obama angels, doing our best to try to figure out how to get people's attention and keep it long enough to convey this important message we are compelled to share.

Religious leaders during Jesus' time knew these frustrations as well. While the Pharisees had the Law on their side, Jesus had the attention of the people focused directly

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