Risk Aversion

This country was built on risk. The Discoverers risked sailing into the unknown, even against the superstitions of the day. The first settlers came to the new world without any guarantees of survival. The Founders risked their lives, their fortunes and honor to break away from England.
The pioneers pushed west, again without any guarantees of success or survival. The early industrialists built enormous companies and enormous wealth, mostly by risking everything to achieve their goal. America was built on risk. What happened? Playing it safe or pushing the risk off on others seems to be the name of the game. Hard earned rights are given up for "security."
We let injustice run rampant and refuse to act. We are afraid to speak out because "they" might get us. Heads of major companies push risk off on everyone else...the shareholders and the employees. Success or failure entails no risk for them.
Similiarly, the Church of Jesus Christ was built totally on risk. Jesus had no guarantee that he'd be resurrected. (let's not get theologically embroiled here). He risked it all. Was God's word true or not? The history of the church is full of examples of risk taking...following Him Who is the author and pioneer of our faith. But lately, it seems that His church, especially here in the West as become adverse to risk, sitting in it's buildings, cherishing its particular theology, enjoying rights and privileges of "membership" and not risking too much. Perhaps it is time for we in the church have "risk aversion" aversion therapy. Should we not, like our Savior, risk it all for the inbreaking Kingdom? After all, God is the ruler of creation for ever and ever.

We want change!! Do we, really?

During the last presidential campaign there was a lot of talk about how the American people want change and how a sizeable percentage of voters believed that the US was on the wrong path. OK, that's fine as far as it goes. But, it begs the question, "Change what?" Government, culture, self? What really is in need of change?
It seems to me that many folks look to President Obama as THE agent of change. But, as one foreign commentator said, 'America elected a President, not a magician.' Do we want change with all the pain and sacrifice that real change requires, or do we want 'no muss, no fuss' change where only the externals change?
If we want that kind of change, we can all just sit back and let the government impose "change" on the rest of us. But, if we want real, honest to god change, we, the people, must change first.
Are we up to the challenge? For real change to happen, we, the people have to put up or shut up.