Dan Staifer

Oh to be Neither Poor or Rich

2012-02-02T08:47:00.002-05:00

I don't know why I forget about you oh blog. I have lessons I need to teach myself and you are a good way of teaching me. To remind myself of (with one being learning how to write better). But after reading something in the Book of Proverbs last night, I need to write something down to remember it.

7 “Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
   do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
   give me neither poverty nor riches,
   but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
   and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
   and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9 NIV 1984)

The second half is eye-opening in light of our current political fight. The poor are blessed! The rich are blessed! This text is asking us to prayer for neither. Both poor and rich bring temptation that I may not be able to handle. May that be what I strive for.

Superhero Christology

2011-08-19T20:52:00.000-04:00

[I supplied this for a guest post on my friend's Sammy A's blog]

The first half of that sentence is pretty clear.

Super-hero: muscle-bound, spandex-wearing do-gooders that either by some weird accident have super powers on this earth.

The second word just means the study of Christ. Like geology is the study of the earth and biology is the study of life, Christology is the study of who Christ is and what he has done.

Whether you believe it or not, you have some form of Christology.

Because Jesus is so great and powerful, it is natural for us to associate him with someone or something great to give us some reference.

Super heroes are easiest because they are larger than life, approachable and save lives through their sacrifices (kind of like Jesus).

The problem is Jesus isn't LIKE them at all. They may act alike but they aren't alike at all.

Let's take a look at three of the big ones and how they can't measure up to Jesus.

1. Batman –
He doesn't have any supernatural abilities. He just works really hard and has a lot of money.
This loner can get hurt and is only out to avenge the death of his parents.

Many atheists and Mormons see Jesus like this to some degree. The power is yours and everyone has ability to reach these heights. Jesus is really good guy that did some cool stuff but so can you if you work really hard.

The problem with this view is if he is so much like us that why should we listen to him?

2. Spiderman –
This normal dweeb got lucky and got bit by a radioactive spider. He's human but got lucky. Just like us but not like us. He is a created being that got a special blessing.

The Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, and Coptic Christians all believe a form of this.

The problem with this view is, if Jesus is not God in substance, can his death really be more than just him?

What if his power runs out? How do we know Jesus is anything in relationship to God?

3. Superman –
This alien from Krypton came to earth but he isn't really a human. His alien nature gave him super strength. Ignoring the kryptonite weakness for a second, dude is indestructible and can do things that humans cannot.

Jesus then is only pretending to be like us. He is fooling us with the glasses.
Christian Scientists and many in the New Age movement believe this.

The problem with this view is, how can he know us if he is different from us?

Now although these views have had different names throughout history, it is our tendency to downplay the different nature of Christ, the Divinity of Christ or the humanity of Christ.

If we hold to one, we are robbing ourselves of the fullness of Christ. If we try to overemphasize one, we have a God of our own creation.

The Bible said God BECOME flesh, emptied himself of all but love and was still God (see John 1, Colossians 1, Philippians 2 and the whole Book of Hebrews).

Leo the Great said it best: Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man.

Which do you struggle with: Believing Jesus is different enough to be respected, Being God enough to actually forgive us or being Man enough to relate to us? Why?

Feel free to extend the analogy but know that at some point the analogy will break down.

Blessed BEFORE Obedience

2011-07-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

This morning I was knocked on the floor by reading the following story from 1 Kings 3.

1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. 3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

Question: why would God approach Solomon after he married an Egyptian woman and went to Gibeon to offer a sacrifice on a pagan altar? He was not being obedient but yet God blessed him. That isn't how it is suppose to work, is it?

Well, in Christ, it is. It was while we were yet sinner Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He blessed us before we could/would obey. That blows my mind. That's grace in the Old Testament . That is the God we serve that still blesses us even when we don't deserve it. Doesn't that make you want to obey more?

You hunger after what you feed on

2011-06-09T13:48:00.000-04:00

In light my friend's Sam blog post today, I'm compelled to write something I have been stewing on for a while. It falls into the vein of things but something I have noticed in my soul. That if I feed something, it gets hungry.

I am a food addict. There is not a food I don't like (other than ketchup). Over that last few months, I have tried to give up drinking pop (or soda). After a few days of resisting, I didn't thirst for it. However, when I finally said I was strong enough to have one, I would then thirst for them more.

The same goes with sweets. Before I got married, I cut all sweets out of my diet. I found that I didn't want them. But then I married a woman with a sweet tooth. She started buying more things with sugar and then I started to crave it. Fried Food is the same. Chips too. Lori doesn't struggle with eating these things so she buys it without a problem. If I buy it (or get around), I engorge myself into a food coma.

While things I liked I stopped craving, things I didn't like before I now wanted. For a long time, I hated olives, green peppers, asparagus and other "good for you items". But when I stopped eating the bad stuff, I had to eat something so I experimented. and I found many things that didn't stink. I actually wanted to eat that stuff. Amazingly, my appetite changed.

Jesus said blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. I find when I don't feed on God's word or on his goodness, I am no longer hunger for him. When I feed on the garbage around me, I start to want garbage. Sometimes, I have to force myself to eat right and acknowledge what I actually hunger after. I need to trust that my appetite is not always right but needs to be controlled. I praise God that I have a new heart that gives me new desires. Lord, help me to feed on what is good for me and my soul.

"I Want A New Life!"

2011-04-15T12:50:00.001-04:00

Have you ever looked at your life and said, "I'm sick of my life; I
want a new one." Bills are adding up as there is more month than
money. Your family looks like more like the Bundy's than the Cosby's.
You are hanging out more at hospitals and funeral homes than
restaurants and movie theaters. Whatever you are experiencing, it is
hard to resist this temptation to desire something more out of our
daily lives.

A simple look at what is popular shows that many of us want new lives.
Take reality TV for example. By turning on the Real Housewives, 16 and
Pregnant or The Jersey Shore, you can escape into some one else's
(messed up) life to make me feel better about your own. Or you can
turn on Survivor, The Deadliest Catch or Top Chef to live vicariously
through someone else's adventure. Even if that is not enough, you can
live in virtual farm or do "business" with a virtual mafia on
Facebook. Only people dissatisfied with their current situation would
gravitate to these places in an attempt to make this life more
tolerable.

If this is you, would you believe that the Easter story is the perfect
answer to your longing? If you are dissatisfied with your current life
or have ever wished for a new life, come to Payne Church of Christ
(220 W. Merrin St, Payne OH) on Sunday, April 24 at 9:00am to see how
the Easter Story can give us all a new life. If you arrive at 8:30am,
you can enjoy a free continental breakfast. If you have any questions,
contact Minister Dan Staifer at 419-263-2092.

Going to A Church better than going to NO Church

2011-03-25T11:26:00.001-04:00

I hear a lot of reasons from people on why they do not go to church.
The big ones are that the Bible never talks about Christians are
required to go to Church and there are no good churches around me.
Very often, this is where things are left. No answers. No hope. Just
reasons (or often times excuses) for why on a Sunday morning (and
throughout the week) going to church to gather with God's people is
just not in the cards.

At church I serve at, I've been going through the Book of Revelation.
It is a letter written to seven churches in Asia minor facing
persecution. All churches had instructions from Jesus. Some good, some
bad and some just downright ugly. Some he encourages and some he
rebukes but he gives all of them a chance to repent as a church.

One church caught my eye. The church of Sardis by all accounts look
like a normal church with life and power on the inside. See what Jesus
says to them:

Revelation 3:1-6 - 1These are the words of him who holds the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a
reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen
what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds
complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have
received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I
will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come
to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled
their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are
worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I
will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will
acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (NIV1984)

I'm shocked that Jesus doesn't say to the faithful in this church,
"This church is full of dead of people so go find another one," or
"The church is not meeting your needs you who have not soiled your
clothes so find others that are clean," or the popular option today,
"Don't worry about gathering with these dead people; just worship on
your own time and in your own way so you can stay alive."

Why not? For starters, in that day, the church at Sardis was the only
church in Sardis. Second, they face persecution so there was safety in
numbers. Third, this letter is meant to serve as a warning for the
church to repent. "If you don't overcome, you will not see me coming
and you will die. Repent!" The faithful are there to serve as an
example to the rest that Jesus is enough to make you white as snow.
They walk with me. Paul says elsewhere imitate me as I imitate Christ.
He also says those that are strong in the faith lay down your rights,
your preferences to reach the weak among you. Finally, Jesus is
example here shows us he speaks to the church for the good of the
church, not individuals for the good of the individual. See 1
Corinthians 14 and the emphasis Paul puts on the use of tongues in the
corporate setting versus the private. See what takes precedent in
those text, the individual or the church?

Maybe the reason there are no "good" churches is because all of the
"good" Christians are happy staying hidden, forgetting that Christian
maturity means loving the Church/The Bride of Christ more than our own
needs. If that means going to a church that is not perfect, so be it.
It that means settling on a community of believers that are imperfect
sinners then praise be the God that He has given us an opportunity
influence people who want to love Jesus but maybe ignorant of what
that looks like.

As a minister, I may yearn for a church that is problem free and
perfect. That just means that I get the joy to influence those that
may be "weak" (though often times I am the weak one). Is it difficult?
Yes. Is it stressful? Oh yeah. But is it rewarding to see people take
steps towards maturity in Jesus? You bet. However big or small though,
these steps are easy to miss in our results oriented, altar call
focused, consumeristic church. I am grateful for the people around me
rebuking and spurring one another on to Jesus. While they may not look
"alive", they are far from dead and have a chance to change, just like
me.

In light of the persecution this Church probably faced, where options
were slim for community, these people encourage me to always be a part
of a church somewhere for the same reasons, even it is not ideal.
After all, there is one perfect church: the one we find in Revelation
19-22 AFTER Jesus comes back. We eagerly wait for that day by meeting
with others no matter what.

Hard Hearted

2011-03-19T13:48:00.001-04:00

When the Bible says, it is not good for man to be alone and the wife is
suppose to complete what is lack, in my case, it is because I am the Tin
Man from the Wizard of Oz. Without God using my amazingly gorgeous wife
to teach me how to feel, I would be lost. I am so cerebral and so
analytical, I can come off really cold and unloving.

My wife though, is the complete opposite. For the longest time, I
thought I was put here with her to help her think more about life. I
thought I was God gift (not the Holy Spirit) to rebuke and correct her
"lack of thought".

It isn't until recently that I realize it was my thinking that was off
and that it was I who needed help. While it has been (extremely)
difficult for her at time, I'm so thankful that God has place her with
me. Without her loving support and correction, I would know a lot but
not compassion. I would be able to talk a good game but no way to feel
my way out of anything.

To my wife, I'm sorry for being a hard hearted lug nut. Your patience
is a testament to the work of God in your life. Thanks for teaching me
what a heart is and how it can be just as important as a mind. You are
my oil can that has lead me to the real "Wizard of Oz", Jesus Christ.

"Just Relax. It'll happen one day."

2011-02-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

If anyone has received this advice, he or she knows exactly what I'm talking about.If you don't know, this is boiler plate standard response of anyone upon hearing a couple is having trouble getting pregnant. It is advice my wife and I have heard a countless number of times over the last 3 years. Let me go on the record and tell everyone, it is not helpful.

I know why people say this. When confronted with something that is not often talked about openly, it easy to resort to the cliche we have heard time and time again. We don't know what to say, feel like we need to say some thing, so we say this phrase. It is an easy tack on to let people know we care and are listening during a person's rough patch. It is like saying "Let me know if there is anything I can do" when someone dies or "It is what it is" when someone complains.

The normal response here is "Stop being sensitive." So don't take this as a rant against people's insensitivity during a couple's infertility. In fact, I would agree that often times infertile couples are very sensitive and respond poorly. There is good reason to be overly sensitive. This issue is constantly being brought up so it can't be escaped. In this sense, it is a lot like a single person's journey towards marriage. For DINKs (Double Income No Kids), this is the first question that is asked in a new social situation. Also, the time between "I do" and "Wah Wah, I need Mommy" is expected to be short. So, it is always the elephant in the room. In the USA, it is more than the dream of many to get married and start a family. It is the expectation for every red blooded American. Our society revolves around families.

While it is in no way easy, marriage is something we have some control over. All that is needed to two people that are willing. For procreation, there needs to be two that are willing AND able. Unfortunately, you don't know if your able until you are (or have gotten someone) pregnant. Couple that with the pride factor of "I'm not a REAL (wo)man until I become a parent with my genetic material," this condition often takes us totally by surprise. It is something we take for granted until we can't do it.

At this point, the blame game begins and the relationship gets stressed. Who's "fault" is it? Which one is the "deformed" one causing this problem? Is it just something not being done right(other than the obvious things)? So the couple gets tested. The problem is found out sometimes. Each person then needs to fight the guilt, or in some cases anger, over not being able to provide their spouse a child.

With the problem determined, a plan is now in place. The couples act. With their hope renewed, every month provides a great opportunity for joy and disappointment. Will it work or not? Higher highs and lower lows. Often times, these plans put women on drugs that mess with hormones which make mole hills turn into mountains pretty fast in the marriage. This costs time and money that they may not have thus increasing the stress that much more. At some point, the couple has to consider different procedures and the ethics behind them. That will determine how far they will go in this journey. In other words, when do they give up?

Other plans might emerge but still the longing to be a parent is still there. Adoption starts to become an option but it is a totally unknown world. Domestic or international? Which agency? Is become a foster parent an option? How much? A question comes to the surface, "Will I be able to love this child that does not look like me?" Would it just be easier just to continue to be a DINK and pour ourselves into raising nephews, nieces, cousins and the children of friends?

There aren't just pressures within but pressures without as well that point to the injustice of two willing and able people failing to conceive. After all of this, the couple then sees alcoholic teenagers look at other and get pregnant. They ask themselves "Why do they deserve it?" They see people complain and abuse their children. They ask themselves, "why do they take their children for granted?" Maybe that one (or 30th) time where the pregnancy test flashed positive only to miscarry, they ask themselves "why the tease?" All this complicates a tense situation where telling a couple to relax is like telling some one on fire to just cool off.

So what can you say to someone during this time that will help? More than anything we need to be affirmed that this is not our identity or incomplete because we are not parents. We need to know that while we were created to be fruitful and multiply, sin entered this world. It is unfair for all of the reasons you think. The world is broken. God understands. He gave his son to adopt you as his child. The "biological" child died for the "adopted" one(s). He rose from the grave with the promise that all that is broken will be made right. All that you need is found in man who was single and childless. He understands your longings but in Christ you are a new creation, new mind, new dreams, new goals. You are not justified through procreation. I am enough and you can trust me.

Paul words in 1 Corinthians 7 have been of great comfort. After a discussion of marriage, he writes [17] Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. [20] Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. [21] Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) [22] For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. [24] So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ESV).

I will live as a DINK for the glory of God. In the meantime, I will pursue holiness and my new identity. I will seek your kingdom first, my wife second and becoming a parent third. I will rejoice when you bless others with pregnancy, whether i think they deserve it or not. In reality, non of us deserve it since we will all probably turn it into an idol that steals glory from you. I will weep with those that are hurting in this as well. This is what is best for me in spite of the fact if I understand it. I trust you because you have proven faithful in all areas before. All of the voices I hear are lies. I know you want us to be parents. I'll let you fill in the details how that will look (even if it is a no). I'm blessed with a wonderful wife and a wonderful life. I will rejoice in this moment and in this season as long as you will have me here.

The Substitute

2011-02-21T11:57:00.004-05:00

It has been a while but I've been pretty busy. I've up dated my blog design. I had to stop blogging because I realized it was an escape. It was a substitute to ministry. If I wrote it, they will come. Putting things out on the Internet would be the same as me going out there myself. I failed to understand my context. I'm was a fool.

I'm realizing there is no substituting human contact. Since January 3rd, I've been substitute teaching at Vantage Career Center as a High School Science Teacher. Not only could we use the extra money but it was a good way to connect with people. I've learned a lot about this community through the conversations I've had with students. More information than I could have gotten from Internet research.

But I found something else out too. When I do Internet research, it is easy to get mad, enraged or frustrated with the area. I also got very discouraged because I was seeing God do amazing things elsewhere. I was subconsciously hoping to substitute my context with another in hopes to get the same "awesome" events.

While subbing though, my heart has changed. Hearing stories, seeing things first hand and being challenged with the sins of people have melted my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh. Is it easy? No. Do I feel drained most days? Yes. I now feel again. Those stats are now faces with stories.

God made us for flesh and blood interaction. The Internet is not a substitute for community. Jesus became flesh and blood to be our high priest to interact with us. He could have just researched us from heaven but no. He came down to "tabernacle" among us. Why can't I do the same?

I can now record Sermons.. .

2010-08-30T17:48:00.003-04:00

As a pastor, you're not "cool" until you can record sermons and podcast them. Well, I can at least record Sermons. I recorded my first yesterday. If you are a friend of mine and would like it hear it, go here to download. Tell me what you think and what you got out of it. Any feedback would be helpful. But just know, all glory goes to God and he is why I want to improve.

My 95 thesis for the Watchtower Tract and Bible Society.

2010-05-27T14:13:00.002-04:00

I was visited by a women the other day whom I talked with back in September regarding the doctrines of the Jehovah's Witnesses. We had a nice conversation and she gave me a letter detailing why in her words “couldn't believe in a triune God or one that sends people to eternal hellfire” and trying to make sure she didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth.

If those are her questions, I have more for the Watchtower. Like Martin Luther nailed 95 points of discussion he wanted to have with the Roman Catholic Church, I am wanting a person from the Watchtower to actually answer these questions. All of these are valid objections to the claims of the Watchtower Tract and Bible Soceity based upon their own words. For the record, all scripture will be quoting the New World Translation (NWT). Since there are nothing wrong with questions, here are many. I ask these with a humble heart and not trying to be confrontational but seeking honest answers while thinking things through assuming the Watchtower position is correct.

In no particular order:
1.If Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Scientologists, Baha'i, Atheists, Wiccans, Humanists, Deists, Scientists, Polytheists, Janists, Agnostics and any other world religion claim that Jesus is not God so what makes the Watchtower correct over all of them?
2.If most of the pagan world is against an eternal Hellfire as well, how do we know that this pagan thought has not influenced your reading of the Bible?
3.Why does Daniel 10 say that Michael was one of the chief princes but the Watchtower says that he was Jesus, the one of the kind son of God?
4.Does the Bible teach about the Watchtower Tract and Bible Society since it does not mention anything about in the New Testament? How is that not a pagan corruption of the Bible?
5.Why make such a big deal about Jesus if he was just an angel when no other angel is talked about with such detail?
6.If at other times angels become human (i.e. Sodom in Genesis 18) and interact with men, why did Jesus have to be virgin born?
7.If none have seen God, why does it say in Genesis 32 say that Jacob wrestled a man and that he saw God face to face?
8.What do I do with the special mention of man and women created in the image of God? Why is there no special mention of Angel's creation?
9.If the OT says only God creates, how is it better to say in Colossians 1 that Jesus creates other things (when “other” does not appear in the Greek)?
10.If Jesus is the “only-begotten Son.” (John 3:16) means that Jesus is the only one directly created by God, does that mean we really should worship Jesus since he technically created me and everything in the OT, not Jehovah?
11.What is the goal of faith in Jehovah? Heaven/Paradise? Happiness?
12.If the NWT translates Immanuel as With us is God, why would Jews who know Hebrew say God with us since Hebrew is read right to left instead of left to right? Why translate passively instead of active? Why not With us is a God?
13.How do you reconcile 1 Cor. 3:3 that we will judge the angels with 2 Tim 4:1 where Jesus will judge the living and the dead?
14.Why does Paul ask for Jesus and the Father to give him things like “undeserved kindness, mercy, peace “ and not just Jehovah himself?
15.Why did was Jesus able to forgive sins (Matt 9) when only Jehovah forgives sins in the OT?
16.In Daniel 7, who is the Ancient of Days who have rulership and dignity and kingdom that will not pass away? It cannot be Jehovah since we cannot see him but only Jehovah's kingdom is without end.
17.Why is Spirit better than flesh? Isn't that the pagan thinking of the Greeks?
18.If we should not have pagan influence in our worship, why does Paul quote pagans in Acts 17 and Titus 1?
19.How can Jehovah be a rock (Hab 1:12) and a Father?
20.If nothing is like Jehovah, why is it easy to explain him and understand him?
21.Why did Saul want to pursue “The Way” if they were only holding up a dead good teacher?
22.How is Jesus and the passover lamb different?
23.Why would baptism and the Lord's evening meal replace circumcision and the passover meal so easy if Jehovah directly spoke the latter into existence where Jesus spoke the former in existence?
24.Why did Pliny the younger (110 AD) say, when investigating Christians, “They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god”?
25.Why is 1 Cor 10:4 translated that rock-mass meant the Christ instead of that rock-mass was Christ since the imperfect form of eivmi,?
26.Where does the Bible say specifically angels are sons of God other than Job 38? How does that reconcile with Genesis 6 actual son of Gods having relations with daughters of men if they were simply spirit beings?
27.Why does Stephen ask Lord Jesus to receive his spirit in Acts 7 instead of Jehovah?
28.Why doesn't the NWT translate God as Jehovah or Father as Jehovah? Are those cheapening his name?
29.How can the congregation be a body, a temple, a nation, and a household all at the same time (see Ephesians 2)?
30.Why is Jesus called The Lord repeatedly (in Eph 6:5ff for example) as the object of service when the OT says Jehovah is our only Lord to be served?Why are we called slaves of Christ when the OT says we should only be slave of Jehovah?
31.Why is Jesus called the husband of the congregation in the NT when in Hosea, Jehovah is called Israel's husband/bridegroom?
32.Why does Psalm 27:1 call Jehovah my light and John 1 and 1Corinthians 15 talking about Christ being the light?
33.Why does Psalm 23 say Jehovah is my shepherd and Jesus called the great shepherd in Hebrews 13:20?
34.Why does the NWT talk about Jesus getting glory when the OT talks only about Jehovah getting Glory?
35.If Acts 4:12 says that Jesus is the only name by which we are saved and the movement is call Christians or the Way at points in the Bible, why call yourselves Jehovah Witness when that is not in the Bible?
36.If the Watchtower all about the true name of God, why does commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, the son and the holy spirit? Why not just the name of Jehovah?
37.If Jehovah's only son is not really like him in nature, would this be like calling a fish my son?
38.Why does the NWT translate the Greek word evn “in union with” only with “e/n Cri,stoj” and not just simply “in” as in other places? Why not a literal translation?
39.Why does the NWT translate Ephesians 3:19 “that YOU may be filled with all the fullness that God gives” when the Greek does not include the word “give” in this passage?
40.Why does Ephesians 2:20 talk about a place for God to dwell if He will never live there?
41.Why can't I do a simple word search of the NWT on the internet to verify what the Watchtower says and compare many passages at once? Why can I only search articles from the Watchtower and the scriptures themselves?
42.Why do you quote proof verses without considering the context/genre it came from in your discussion of doctrine?
43.Are all of the [insert word] in the NWT adding to the Word of God?
44.Jehovah is otherly different different from us because he is without beginning or end. All other life has a creation point. How can it be a new life (Romans 6, 2 Corinthians 5) if we are simply trading one created from of life with another?
45.Ephesians 1 says we are adopted as sons and John 1 we become children of God and yet higher than angels so why are they always called sons when we are not?
46.Why does the Watchtower material only quote fringe Catholic sources like strawmen to set up only to be knocked down? Why don't you quote the best arguments from the best current scholars? Is this approach violating 1 Thessalonians 5:21?
47.How is Jehovah love (1 John 4:8) when love requires more than one persons? How can He be Love if He is couldn't actually love until he created someone/something?
48.Why don't you publish the names of those who work on the NWT? The NT authors name themselves. Luke says he tracked down the eyewitnesses of Jesus that you can ask to verify the truth if you want. Chronicles names people. How do we know they are above reproach?
49.If Jehovah is God the Father and doesn't believe in everlasting punishment, why does he believe in everlasting life? Can we trust him to provide one and not the other?
50.What blasphemy was Jesus killed for?
51.Since woman are in subjection to men (Ephesians 5), does that mean they are inferior to men like Jesus is inferior to Jehovah? Are children inferior to parents and slaves to owners?
52.Why would dogmatic monotheists think it is it better call Jesus “a god” (John 1:1) than God? Isn't both blasphemous?
53.If calling Jesus God is a later development, why in AD 107 does Ignatius of Antioch (a disciple of John the Apostle) call “Jesus Christ our God”, He speaks of Christ’s blood as “God's blood”, He calls Jesus “God incarnate” In Jesus “God was revealing himself as a man”?
54.Why in the Targum (authoritative interpretive renderings of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures, a precursor to what the Watchtower does) Neofiti in 200 B.C., the Jews in the Palestine taught the following about Genesis before the birth of Jesus? “ In speaking of the relationship of God to the world, reverence for the God of Israel led the Targumist to employ surrogates for the Deity, such as "Word" (Memra), "Glory" (Yeqara, ’Iqar), or "Presence" (Shekinah, Aramaic Shekinta). Thus in Genesis 1:16-17 Targum Neofiti reads, "The Word of the Lord created the two large luminaries ... and the Glory of the Lord set them in the firmament," and in Genesis 2:2-3 it reads, "On the seventh day the Word of the Lord completed the work which he had created ... and the Glory of the Lord blessed the seventh day." Could that have influenced the words John used to describe Jesus?
55.Why don't the Watchtower pay more attention to the writings of the Christians in the Second Century and those who knew Koine Greek as their everyday language?
56.How can you play false to an active force (Acts 5:4)?
57.How can you grieve an active force (Eph 4:30)?
58.If Romans 13 says we are to be in subjection to the superior authorities , was Jesus inferior when he subjected himself to Pilate and the authorities that killed him?
59.How is a married couple one flesh when they are two different people?
60.What are the mysteries of the faith that are talked about in Ephesians 3?
61.What does Daniel 12:2 mean “And there will be many of those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up, these to indefinitely lasting life and those to reproaches [and] to indefinitely lasting abhorrence.”? How is this not an everlasting heaven and hell?
62.Why should I care about Jehovah if I am not one of the 144,000 in Heaven?
63.Isn't Paradise still a punishment since I was not worthy of a spot in the 144,000? Wouldn't that be like telling me all my brother and sisters are going to the beach with my father but I will go to Cedar Point with the babysitter?
64.If the resurrection's main purpose is to unite us with our love ones remove us from war, is that idolizing loved ones over Jehovah? Are we just using him to get what we really want like the elder brother in Luke 15?
65.What did it cost Jehovah to love us if he didn't give anything up for us? Wouldn't God sending Jesus be like me sending my lego robot to stand before the bank to cover my failed mortgage?
66.If world is so bad, why use cars, electricity and printing tools since all come from pagan origins? Is this being selective on what things we let influence us? Since all of our languages originated from pagan cultures so should we create a new language?
67.You say origins matter in regards to holidays but all of us have been born into sin. How can Jehovah redeem sinful/dirty us, use us and not do the same with pagan holidays if it is for Jehovah's name now?
68.Why doesn't Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10:18ff allow more freedom in the days we celebrate?
69.If Jesus could be born as a perfect human, why couldn't Jehovah do the same for all of us?
70.Why does NT talk more about a relationship with Jehovah (God the Father) more than relationship with all others but the Watchtower publications talk more about peace and family?
71.Jesus says no one is good but God and that John was the greatest ever born of a woman so how can his ransom be enough for everyone?
72.What exactly was Jesus teaching the two men going to Emanus in Luke 24 if we wasn't saying the whole OT was about him?
73.Why don't you celebrate the Jewish holidays if Jehovah put those into practice?
74.If Jehovah is the king of this world, why go before earthly courts to protect our rights? Why not submit to persecution like Jesus towards Pilate and give up our rights to serve others?
75.What is the point of the parable Luke 16:19ff if it isn't needing to tell people about everlasting judgment?
76.How can we tell what things in the parables are not made up like the Watchtower claims is the case in Luke 16:19ff?
77.Why in Revelation is clear about the 144,000 are out of the twelve tribes of Israel?
78.Why should we want to be in relationship with any one if Jehovah was alright by himself for a time before creation?
79.How does the Watchtower view of Resurrection differ from the recent historical work done by NT Wright claiming that In other words, “resurrection” was a way of “speaking of a new life after ‘life after death’ in the popular sense, a fresh living embodiment following a period of death-as-a-state.” According to Wright, the meaning of resurrection as “life after ‘life after death’” cannot be overemphasized. This is due in large part because much modern writing continues to use “resurrection” as a synonym for “life after death.” Belief in “resurrection” meant belief in what Wright calls a “two-step story.” Resurrection itself is preceded by an interim period of death-as-a-state. “Where we find a single-step story—death-as-event being followed at once by a final state, for instance of disembodied bliss—the texts are not talking about resurrection. Resurrection involves a definite content (some sort of re-embodiment) and a definite narrative shape (a two-step story, not a single-step one). Is the Watchtower view a one step resurrection?
80.When women come to my door to teach me the scriptures, should I ignore them since 1 Tim 2 says that women are not permitted to teach?
81.What is the point of the Jehovah's first created son if throughout Genesis, the first created son actually doesn't receive honor (see Ishmael, Esau, Reuben, Kilion -Judah's first born, David)?
82.Why did God use Daniel though he was a trained member of Pagan Babylon government?
83.In Mark 1:2-3, who is preparing the way of Jehovah, John or Jesus? If it is John, why would Mark quote Isaiah in connection with Jesus?
84.Why does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 11:1 imitate me as I imitate Christ and in Ephesians 5:1 become imitator of God? How can I imitate something I have not seen?
85.If Jesus only paid my ransom from when I tried to be righteous on my own before I repented, how does that help me be righteous? If I couldn't do it before, what hope do I have of doing it now on my own?
86.1 Peter 1:16 says I must be holy as Jehovah is holy. If am I only able to act holy, how can I actually be holy like Jehovah (different from the world in essence)?
87.How should I view 1914 and how was it established? Was that way of interpretation influenced by Christian Dispensational thinking which is believes in the pagan trinity?
88.How should I view the historical evidence like the Alexamenos Graffito from the first century? The inscription is accepted by the vast majority of scholars to be a mocking depiction of a Christians which says Alexamenos worshiping God. It is the portrayal of Jesus as having an ass's head and the depiction of him being crucified on a T shaped cross for the purpose of insulting Christians by contemporary Roman society.
89.Why does Paul call out Peter in Galatians 2 as “not walking straight according to the truth of the good news,” when he was being racist rather than saying you are sinning against Jehovah?
90.Why does Jehovah tell the exiles in Jeremiah 29 to “‘Build houses and inhabit [them], and plant gardens and eat their fruitage. 6 Take wives and become father to sons and to daughters; and take wives for YOUR own sons and give YOUR own daughters to husbands, that they may give birth to sons and to daughters; and become many there, and do not become few. 7 Also, seek the peace of the city to which I have caused YOU to go into exile, and pray in its behalf to Jehovah, for in its peace there will prove to be peace for YOU yourselves” but yet the Watchtower claims to be maintain strict neutrality in regards to government?
91.How does the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament published in Third Century BC) influence the Greek Translation of the New Testament?
92.Why don't Jehovah Witnesses care enough about people to hang out with them like Jesus did with the Tax collectors and the “sinners”? In other words, why did he do more than preach to random to convert people? Same with Paul in Acts 17?
93.Why do you choose the door to door method of Evangelism when that idea originated with the pagan company of Avon in 1886?
94.What should I do with the epistle of Barnabas (written around 100 AD) that says “You have [the initials of the, name of] Jesus. And because the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter Τ,”?
95.Why does it seem that the Watchtower doesn't know how to do or how to answer modern scholarship? Why does it fear questions from people inside the organization?

For the doctrine of the Watchtower to be considered by any current Christian, these questions must be addressed. For the triune God of historic, orthodox Christianity has issues as well but I'm aware of both the argument for and against it while the Watchtower does not. If the Watchtower possess the true faith, than it should be able to answer these in accord with the Scriptures and with more than a simple “God said so”. In my opinion, upon analyzing the Watchtower and the NWT, there are too many inconsistency between what they say Jehovah is like, what the Bible says Jehovah is like and how that is put into practice in the Watchtower Tract and Bible Society? (since this is a letter I'm sending, I don't have the references for everything but will provide them upon request).

Hey, I still have a blog. . .

2010-01-04T15:07:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I kinda forgot about this thing. I don't know why I've ignored it. Oh yeah, there were more important things for me to do (like get out from behind a computer). I might blog again sometime. But for now, I don't know.

In the meantime, here is a good song

This week at Payne Church

2009-09-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

In a small town, it is all about your family. If they do something really bad, then it is hard to regain your reputation. In the case of Jesus, that would be a real problem since his earthy family tree is filled with more unrighteousness than you would expect possible.

This Sunday: Noah: The Drunkard.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30a in Payne OH to hear how Jesus can free you from your past.

So True - Four Chords, 36 Songs

2009-09-15T16:01:00.002-04:00

Since I play Guitar, I find this funny. It is so true. Enjoy. (Caution: profanity around 4 minutes if that this is an issue).

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

(HT to Jeremy Cotton from Facebook)

This week at Payne Church

2009-09-09T13:33:00.004-04:00

In a small town, it is all about your family. If they do something really bad, then it is hard to regain your reputation. In the case of Jesus, that would be a real problem since his earthy family tree is filled with more unrighteousness than you would expect possible.

This Sunday: Adam: The Pacifist

Join us this Sunday at 9:30a in Payne OH to hear how Jesus can free you from your pass.

This week at Payne Church

2009-09-03T12:51:00.000-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what the Bible says about Communion. Why is there some much arguing over this issue and why do we do it at all?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

This week at Payne Church

2009-08-27T05:11:00.000-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what the Bible says about Baptism. Why is there some much arguing over this issue and why do we do it all?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

This week at Payne Church

2009-08-20T13:08:00.000-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what Jesus says about the Lord's Day. Why do we meed every Sunday?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

The "evolution" of God

2009-08-19T12:18:00.003-04:00

Last night on the Colbert Report, a guy by the name of Robert Wright. He is probably smarter than me but on Jesus and the Bible he is missing something. He grew up Southern Baptist, probably in a Fundamentalist church in OK. So, I'm sure he is responding to some what he heard growing up but some of the stuff he quotes is way off of true historical facts. I haven't read the book but I can respond to what he says in the interview. The interview below.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Robert Wright

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Protests

He says two things, one about Jesus and one about the NT. I recommend Jesus and the eyewitnesses to talk about the reliability of the NT as a written Oral History. Here is a good review of it by Andreas Köstenberger. Also, did Jesus call himself God, see the Michael Bird Book Are You the One Who Is to Come?: The Historical Jesus and the Messianic Question. See a good review of it here. If you are going to criticize someone, at least criticize the best of the argument (not a lesser person).

This week at Payne Church

2009-08-13T13:22:00.002-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what the Bible says about the tradition of Singing. Is more than old songs versus new songs and why do we do it every Sunday?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

Luke and Sara's Story

2009-08-09T19:57:00.002-04:00

Luke and Sara Shortridge are two people God used in a huge way to show me his grace. Ten years ago, Luke invited me to go to a Christian concert while his buddy Brent and future wife Sara showed me Jesus at a lunch table everyday. They are great people and have been of great encouragement from a distant and up close over the years.

Currently, Luke and Sara are going through a real tough time for their newborn Jackson has been in the hospital for seven straight weeks. This last weekend at their church (Cedarcreek.tv), they showed two videos showing how Luke and Sara have been dealing with things. Enjoy (as much as you can watching a child and his parents suffer through a tough time)!

Part 1

Part 2

This week at Payne Church

2009-08-06T12:15:00.001-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what Jesus says about the tradition of the Word. Is it an out dated book with helpful tips for a moral life or something more?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

Cheap Hotels?

2009-08-03T16:54:00.002-04:00

Okay. I've never done this but it seems sound. At the very least it is worth a try. Financial Guy Joseph Sangl showed this off in his blog today. Here what he said:

I have two friends that have followed these directions and have obtained amazing deals - one is staying at a four or five star resort for $40/night.You can check out the video HERE.

If you try it, let me know.

Bible Alone?

2009-07-31T11:31:00.003-04:00

I hear a lot that all I need is my Bible and I can figure things out myself. While I do believe the Bible's main themes are plain for all to see (like Jesus is the Messiah), we are often ignorant of something things the Bible assumes we know. The big one is that the Bible was never meant to be explored solely in a single person's experience. It is to be explored in a community. Why?

Justin Taylor wrote a great article (found here) talking about this very thing.

He writes:

And yet the irony is that if we use only this book, we may in fact be in disobedience to it. We should count good teaching about the Bible — whether through commentaries, books, sermons, study Bibles, and so on — to be a gift from God for the good of His church (see Eph. 4:11; James 1:17). So what may look pious on the outside (“Just me and my Bible!”) can actually mask pride on the inside.

We cannot have a arrogance to believe that we are all alone. NO one (including me) is above community. Carl Truman basically said the same thing in his warning to Ph.D. students in a recent article. Every heretic starts out doing the same thing: studying the Bible alone.

This week at Payne Church

2009-07-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

Traditions are the things we either hold to or run from, especially in the Church. This week we look at what Jesus says about traditions. Are they straight jackets to restrain our freedom or as Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof, the practices that give us balance?

Join us at 9:30am on Sunday at Payne Church of Christ located at 220 W. Merrin St in Payne OH.

Political Importance doesn't mean Theologically correct

2009-07-23T11:26:00.005-04:00

Jimmy Carter was at one point the most powerful man in the world. He is also credited for helping the Christian Right get the idea that religion and politics should mix together in 1976 (The Year of the Evangelical). For a long time, he has taught a Sunday school class in Georgia at a Southern Baptist Church. In 2000, he said he no longer wanted his name linked with the Southern Baptist convention. No big deal. You don't have to be a Southern Baptist to be saved (they will even tell you that), just a Christ Follower (See 1 John).

On Al Mohler's Blog today, he talked about an interview Jimmy Carter had with a London Paper. Carter says (quoting from Mohler's blog)

Instead, his reference to the Southern Baptist Convention introduced his argument that any religious teaching that denies what he construes as full equality for women "is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God."

Mohler rightly points out that

[Carter] opens and closes his article by citing as his main authority the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. This text, we might note, also declares "freedom of thought, conscience, and religion" as basic human rights. The more important question is this: Does President Carter really believe that he will convince Christians -- Southern Baptist or otherwise -- to see any human statement as holding a higher authority than the Bible? That question, more than anything else, points to the real reason that President Carter and the Southern Baptist Convention have parted ways. The point of division remains the ultimate authority and total truthfulness of the Bible as the Word of God.

I think Jimmy Carter is a good guy and has done a lot of good for this world. Much of this came out of his Christian worldview. I am not questioning, his salvation (because that is only something I believe God has a right to do). So, this is not meant to vilify him

I bring this up because this points to a problem I've seen a lot through history. People of power will become consumed with their position and thinks that gives them the authority to speak on anything and everything. If that person is a Christian, that is especially true. Christian politicians can and should speak authoritatively on politics and religions.

Ever since Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal in the Roman Empire in roughly 323 AD, Emperors could influence how the Church was governed without a accurate understanding of the Bible/theological truths. He meant well but many of successors probably didn't. They would make decisions that made political sense but not theological (since they were not trained scholars or in many cases confessing Christ Followers).

A good example is an early one. The council of Nicaea was called because Constantine wanted unity in his Empire and could not have it until the Christians stop fighting. He did turn to a theological adviser to understand the issue at the center of the fight (the doctrine of Christ's divinity) but I'm not sure if he actually understand the magnitude of the issue. He just knew he needed peace. Because his own religious adviser, Hossius, over saw the preceding and he was bank rolling everything, it probably brought a "quick" end to discussion for fear of being against the government (they knew which side Constantine was on). They also knew Constantine wanted unity and a creed fast. I'm not saying that they didn't decide correctly but I am saying that for centuries, these issues lingered on in large part because the desire for political unity trumped the desire for doctrinal understanding. Pragmatism ruled the day.

Eventually, the east would adopt Ceasaropapism (Emperor is Pope) and when Constantinople was over taken by the Ottomans Turks in 1453, a Muslim was the head of the Christian Church. Obviously, a Muslim would not do what is best for a Christian Church. The same though could be said for the west. While the West would adopt the supremacy of the Roman Bishop (the Pope), Charlemagne, Frederick II of HRE, Charles V and even Louis XIV would all influence how the Church operated for political reasons. They w not understanding the theological ramifications of decisions (and probably many Popes for that matter).

In America, Thomas Jefferson has the foresight to know that a wall to protect the Church from the State had to be erected. Church would remain separate from State (for the most part every one said they were Christian) until the 1900's. Politicians would not meddle in Church affairs (though the Church would in civil affairs) The deathblow to the Fundamentalist resurgence was the Scopes Monkey Trial when politician William Jenkins Bryan (a Sunday School Teacher, not a Theologian like BB Warfield,Charles Hodge or even Machen) was schooled by Atheist Clarence Darrow on the witness stand. Here, an arrogant politician made a public statement in an area of ignorance that hurt the Church. He could only speak on his limited experience and not on behalf of Historic Biblical Christianity (though he though he could).

Many feel that the Christian Right being "in bed" with Evangelical America could be a reason for a decline in the veracity of the Church. Because we have been pigeonholed as abortion hating, gay bashing, death penalty loving republicans by Christians Politicians by making political statements coming off as theological statements, we have a lot of work to do to show why some believe these things are not just politically based but Biblical base. In many cases, I feel the republican "tail" have been "wagging" the Christians "dog" to do its bidding. The politicians probably only have themselves in mind and not the effect it will have on the Bride of Christ.

We have a hard time contending for the faith when any one believes that they are not ignorant of some things. A Christian speaking on theological issues with a right life can be just as damaging. That's why 1 Timothy 4 says

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

As a christian, I know every time I open my mouth I am saying what I believe about God. Every time I act, I showing what I believe about God. So I wrestle with the texts and wrestle with those who in both different eras and different culture have wrestled with the text first. I want to make sure I am not leading people astray and saying something that is not what the Bible is saying. Because of my education, I know how easy it is to say something is Biblical when it is not. I see this throughout the history of the Church when many well meaning people are caught up in saying something contrary to God's word.

I have found the things that I am the most sure of are not only things that make the most sense to me but are the things believed by those that are not bound by my time and my space. I'm sure of all of my opinions (who isn't) but that is why I don't trust my opinions alone. I always submit what I believe to Scripture, to watch both my life and doctrine as I read the Word. My authority to speak comes not from my knowledge but from the great cloud of witnesses before me that believed what I believe now.

I am always afraid of being too proud. I am arrogant by nature and most false teachers I've experienced (including me at one point) say something like this: "I'm sure this is right and I'm not going to budge on the issue." This reminds me of 2 Peter 2:

10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

I, like these politicians, can be blinded by power and not understand fully what we say. When we aren't willing to let people question our faith/life, we will probably end up preaching/living a false Gospel.

If I only point to my experience or your experience for truth, I can't be "judged" because it is a experience; it cannot be measured by another. However, if I point to my experience with a Transcendent Truth along side of others crossing multiple times and multiple experiences, I can rest upon a standard that can judge me and I know that is true. Much like I can throw a ball up and know it will come down because it has been believed by a Assyrian, a Roman, an Aztec and an American, I know it is true and important. If I throw it and it doesn't come down, I must question my experience.

I can speak with confidence because I teach the Word of God, not just a word about God. I have interacted with many other experience in a scientific method sort a way to fish out the Truth. I don't have to trust my experience alone and believe every voice I hear because I have history, cross cultural emissaries, the Church, and others who watch my life to tell me if I'm branching into false teaching/living/ mishearing the Spirit of God. I am constantly seeking and learning because my position does not mean that I am experiencing truth. I just want to stand by the Truth and with the Truth, Jesus, who has given us all of these witnesses and evidences to me so I can know him more and not have to question.

So Politicians (and other who want to use their position in this time and space to speak about truth that transcend this time and space) please lets humble ourselves and see the picture is far bigger than what we can often see. Let us admit when we are ignorant in doctrine or in life. Until we can point to more than our experience, let us only speak of what we know :

1 Cor 15: 1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Prayer: what is it good for?

2009-07-22T15:28:00.003-04:00

So who finds prayer hard? What to pray? How do I get out of the praying for myself only trap? How can I pursue God and experience his goodness and joy as mentioned in in Psalm 63

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

I saw a good post by Steven Furtick talking about some "tricks". He says

Preemptive praise lays a foundation for present tense blessing.
Retroactive gratitude counteracts apathy.

Together, these two habits form a powerful tag team to defeat depression and despondency. They draw our attention away from our hurts and needs, focusing our affection on the character of our faithful God.

I must say I'm mostly retroactive praise and preemptive gratitude. God I am grateful now but may not be if you take something away. God, thanks for given me this thing. Go to his blog to read more about what he is taking about. I can see how this approach will not only change my heart but help me see where the Spirit of God is working (that and I see this all throughout he Psalms).

This week at Payne Church

2009-07-15T16:47:00.001-04:00

This week- Redefine: Life.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define life and how the Jesus defines life.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to Payne Church of Christ at 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

Kissing "Kissed Dating Goodbye" Goodbye

2009-07-15T09:23:00.003-04:00

If any one has ever been in a college ministry or youth group during the late 90's and early 2000s, you've probably seen the book by Joshua Harris "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" in some form or another. It was THE dating book for the longest time. Well, you may be interested to know that a bunch of my college friends in 2002 were bored on a Mid Summer Thursday night. So we decided that burning Kissed Dating Goodbye was a good idea. I think it came after a friend was having girl issues and we were sick of the legalistic treatment of the book . So we torched the two copies we could find (see picture above). I can't remember why; I just remember it is was fun.

Maybe others have done this before but I must confess our immaturity now. Especially so after reading Joshua Harris's Blog (the author) where he talks about the Pros and Cons of the book. Very interesting read. I also heard him interviewed by Mark Dever and talked very candidly his life and upbringing and that provided more context for the book.

Two things come to life through all of this. 1) I pledge never to vilify a person based on a book but only to deal with the argument presented in that book. I will try to understand context of the person. 2) I find it funny today the extent we would go to find a scapegoat for our relationship woes. Like burning a book of an author would make us all of the sudden married. It is easier to blame some one (or an author) than actually look to the Sovereign God of the Universe to see where we need to grow ourselves. Pointing fingers is easier than admitting our own problems. The Blame Game is much easier than admitting failure. As I single person, I should have learned that then. As a husband now, I see marriage is all about taking responsibility and actively pursuing Jesus to show me my sin.

Secret Sins

2009-07-14T11:41:00.002-04:00

Ed Stetzer delivered a great message on secret sins and their influence on the people around us. Really good message for everyone to hear. You can see his outline here.

Big Idea:
The lie: Secret sin in your life and in the church will not hinder the mission of God.
The answer: Live a gospel-centered, repentance-filled life.

"Secret Sin and Spiritual Power" from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

Burqa or no Burqa?

2009-07-13T17:43:00.003-04:00

Over at Jezebel, I saw that a Muslim Woman was killed in a German Courtroom. Couple that with the French Prime Minister wants to ban all women from wearing Burqas in the country.

I'm left wondering if this is where the US is moving towards? Europe is suppose to be more "enlightened" and "tolerant" but they are preventing Muslims from practicing their faith. Some will say that these "Christian" nations are doing this but no one will say that Europe today is christian. Europe is a secular area acting trying to ban religious expression.

I only mention this because it is nice to see many progressives see the stupidity in banning Burqa because they don't think that government should be telling any woman what she can or cannot wear. Not because it is religiously oppressive but womanly oppressive to tell a woman what to wear. John Stewart's team at the Daily show poked fun at this by encouraging Governments to ban high heels and bulimia as well.

Reading the comments on these stories echoes the thought the current major objection is that freedom of a woman's expression is greater than their ability to worship freely. Many of the comments pretty much downplay the "enlightenment" of women wanting to do this for God/Allah/Yahweh but applaud the right for them wear what they want.

In this instance, both sides have come to the same conclusion though for different cultural obligations. This reminds me of what Josh Patterson wrote on The Village Church Blog today. Quoting from the book "Bobos in Paradise", He additionally writes

[The author David Brooks]says this about American spirituality: “[We] are trying to build a house of obligation on a foundation of choice.” This sentence is provocative. As an American I am inundated with the notion of freedom, democracy and capitalization. These are all great things. One of the consequences of this environment is that I can begin to think that my freedom is paramount. It is not. The “house of obligation” that Brooks’ refers to in his book is the fact that as a believer I am enslaved to Christ. Ht Village Blog

This Burqa flap is a good illustration of this and I do believe this will be the battle for the United States in the future. We are trying to fight between what we are obligated to do and what we are free to do. The problem is we have different obligations and based upon we believe our obligations are, we will choose what we have freedom to choice. Because I have an obligation to my wife, I am I limited in how I choose to interact with other women. Because I am a Pastor, I am limited in what I can do on Sundays.

Today, we are going to fight over our obligations. What is Government's obligation to the poor? Morality? Marriage? What is my obligation to God? Until we can agree on our obligations. We are probably always going to disagree.

This week at Payne Church

2009-07-09T21:31:00.000-04:00

This week- Redefine: Mature.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define mature and how the Jesus defines mature.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

E-Conflict

2009-07-08T20:01:00.005-04:00

I've been taking a blog break recently because I've been finding myself getting into a lot of e-fights. I was a little surprised but then started to realize that I have been pretty negative as of late. Being a critic more than being a cheerleader. I've been especially convicted of this after reading Vince Antonucci's post on Negativity. He writes:

The ironic thing is that I think we'd all say, "I prefer to be around positive people?" but we have to ask ourselves the question, "Am I a positive person?" Are you? Are you positive you're positive?

Well, I'm asking it and I really don't think I am. I am really good at looking at why something is wrong but not as good at saying something is good. I'm not as good at giving people the benefit of the doubt and looking for Graces in their life.

No where have I seen this more is in reaction to blogs or Facebook comments. For some reason, something wells up in me and I get VERY anger. Why? Also, I've had many of bad experiences trying to hammer out conflicts over e-mail. Facebook. Why? Is it my negativity that is the common thread? Or is something else?

I've been reading Shane Hipps book Flickering Pixels dealing "how technology shapes your faith." One chapter called "Our Nomadic Lives" dealt with this issue. He writes

The problem is that email and other test-based e-communication are designed for efficiency and, therefore, severely truncated. Intonation, body language, context, the rules of civil discourse, and the opportunity for midstream clarification are all stripped away, despite our best efforts to create a never-ending stream of emoticons. Given the limitations of email, the chances of miscommunication are near certain. (Pg. 118)

I intuitively know this but I don't know why I constantly try settle argument online. It is impossible. I know I'm negative and I do believe a good majority of are too. So if I say something, I should automatically someone might see it in a negative.

That's why I'm going to spend more time considering my words and asking am I positive that I am writing to be positive/constructing an idea versus being negative/deconstructing society. I repent. If I have given you the impression that I am a negative, angry guy, I repent that I have given people a false view of Jesus. I hope to make amends in the future and keep it simple and view things through the lens of grace.

This week at Payne Church

2009-07-01T21:30:00.001-04:00

This week- Redefine: Afterlife.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define afterlife and how the Jesus defines afterlife.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

This week at Payne Church

2009-06-25T17:24:00.000-04:00

This week- Redefine: Giving.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define giving and how the Jesus defines giving.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

Are all Religions the same?

2009-06-23T11:31:00.003-04:00

One common claim I hear a lot is that All Religions are the Same. But one thing they are differ on is who Jesus is? Jesus is typically show by all as a Good teacher. Well that Good Teacher taught that he was God but people go to lengths to discredit him. Here are two views of Jesus. One from the Jehovah Witnesses and the other by the Mormons. Both Videos are quite entertaining.

Mormons:

Jehovah Witnesses

If you want to read about Scientology, The St. Pete Times did an excellent piece this crazy faith.

Here is a video of recent history:

Gay Animal Kingdom

2009-06-19T15:32:00.003-04:00

One thing I am often surprised by is rational, evolution minded, scientists make a case for homosexuality when from an evolutionary worldview, it doesn't make sense biologically. Typically, one of the arguments used to defend their position is that we see it in the animal kingdom. I've always thought some animals mate by showing their butts to one another and/or eat their partner after sex so does that mean we should do those things as well?

Well, today I read a time article from secular source ask the same exact thing in regards to homosexuality in the animal kingdom. John Clouds writes:

What all these theories [regarding the occurrences in animals] have in common is that same-sex sexual activity is either an accident or a quirky genetic method of helping males impregnate females. Which raises the evolutionary question of why men and women who are exclusive gay and lesbian exist. One answer is that exclusive gays and lesbians are a relatively new creation: the concept of exclusive homosexuality barely existed before modernity; even a century ago, most same-sex-attracted men and women got married and had kids.

So does this mean that there should be no such thing as Gay Marriage then? If nature shows you are only going through a phase, why scientifically should we fight for this right? The author then goes on to offer this question out of another evolutionary psych book which I think is valid and could be correct:

Will "the liberation of homosexuals, which allows them to come out of the closet and not pretend to be straight" actually turn out to "contribute to the end of homosexuality?"

Just because we are born a certain way, does that mean it is correct? Could the idea of gay marriage exist in a purely scientific community without the psychological advantage of a world saturated with a Christian message of love and tolerance (since this is also absent from the animal world)? Is the relative newness because People have stopped "dancing to their evolutionary drive" in favor of something different? Would true science condone birth control because it is impeding the evolutionary process of natural selection among offspring? If natural selection has worked so well to this date, why should care about changing our biology? I've heard Richard Dawkins say that we as Humans can rise above our evolutionary desires but I wonder what right do we have to mess with natural selection?

If you cannot tell, I am fascinated by the lack of a true evolutionary worldview among those that claim that Christian worldview is false. While at the same time, these same people seem to hold to a Christian worldview tighter than some that call themselves Christians. My aim is to only point out that those that think all of this have to consider how they believe what they believe and see if they are being consistent. Could they actually be believing there is no God but living like there is? I know I tend believe there is a God but live like there is not. The difference is in the Christian worldview that is expected to happen while in the other, it is not.

This week at Payne Church

2009-06-18T14:14:00.001-04:00

This week- Redefine: Sin.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define sin and how the Jesus defines sin.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

Ricky Gervais on becoming an Atheist

2009-06-15T18:44:00.003-04:00

Interesting Interview. At least he is honest. How would you respond to this?

My thoughts is that there is more under the surface than what he is letting on.

I do think it is curious that animal cruelty is up there with religious zealots. the questions is what in nature would lead us to believe that nature is that kind to one another that we should be kind to one another? How does he know that his Brother was not lying to him?

If atheist would apply the same standard of proof that they require for the Christian faith, would they still look at Atheism so tightly? I find a lot of the non Christians (and Christians for that matter) will only quote/read people that support their opinion. If they quote the other side, it is usually a German poet on history or a dentist on earth science (meaning someone affirming their few from a semi-scholar) and call their opinion facts.

Both sides will rarely engage with the BEST representative each side has to offer. I've been recently listening a lot of debates recently between Richard Dawkins (atheist) and John Lennox (Christian Physics Prof at Oxford Univ). You can google the debates but you can find John Lennox talking about this issue at http://johnlennox.org/index.php/en/talks/.

Enjoy!

This week at Payne Church

2009-06-11T17:06:00.001-04:00

This week- Redefine: Christian.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define Christian and how the Jesus defines Christian.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

Hats off to Stephen Colbert

2009-06-09T10:19:00.002-04:00

Say what you will about Obama, Colbert and the US Military but You have to agree this is a classy way of people with possibly different political view coming together for a common cause. Reminding us all that we have it easy here and the men and women in the Persian Gulf deserve a little more press than say Jon and Kate. Watch this clip:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Obama Orders Stephen's Haircut - Ray Odierno

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Keyboard Cat

Who knew Guinea Pigs were so popular?

2009-06-07T22:34:00.001-04:00

First South Park. Now Disney.

This week at Payne Church

2009-06-03T15:13:00.002-04:00

This week- Redefine: Jesus.

When you hear words, you give them a definition. Are you right? This week we look at how we define Jesus and how the Bible defines Jesus.

Come Sunday at 9:30 AM to 220 W. Merrin in Payne, OH to find out more.

Jon minus 9 and Gender roles

2009-06-02T11:50:00.003-04:00

Since I don't have cable, I have not seen this show very much. In case you don't know, Jon meets Kate. Kate has PCOS. Jon and Kate gets fertility treatment. Jon and Kate have a set of twins and a set of six. (Go to Stuff Christians Like for a good funny recap EDIT: and the Soup for the new show title - HT to my Twin).

The first time I saw it, I didn't like it. I thought Jon was bullied by Kate, Jon was passive and it was just about Jon and Kate get this thing or that thing. Also, when I found out they were Christians, I got even more upset because it hit too close to home (meaning it is a good look at how Christians families are run today- too focused on the kids). Being a multiple from a divorced family, I can understand the stress being parents of multiples can cause on a marriage.

What I find curious is that Christians didn't start questioning the show until the questions of cheating arose. Christianity Today points out: "We evangelicals tend to be easily impressed. We cheered on Jon and Kate's decision to carry all six babies to term but rarely considered the prior question: Was it right for them to undergo risky fertility treatments in the first place?" (see CT for whole article). We don't like looking at things critically through the lens of the Bible as it is (especially when we slap the word s christian on it. Matt Johnson offered a good guide today at the Resurgence).

My first thoughts was that the reasons for much of the problems in the home today are Men just aren't leading their homes. We have been seduced by the myth of egalitarianism that says that men and women are 100% equal and should share in the decision making process.

In every organization, someone practically rises to the top to make decision and be the major influencer (see any leadership book). Usually, it is the more charismatic or the one that has the asset that is most demanded. Charisma could be found in either sex, so there is no "natural" advantage but does one have a resource advantage by nature (if we assume men aren't head by birth)?

When money and sex are concern, is there really equality? We are sinful and like to rule our own roost. That CAN'T be denied by anyone.

In most homes today, it is joked about that the woman is really in charge. Why? They'll jokingly say in most homes that she will "turn off the faucet" as I've heard it put. In the past, men been able to counter balance it because they were the "bread-winners" but now that is not the case. Women are working and don't need men to bring home the bacon. Men don't want to either because we have simple needs. All we want is sex and something to excel in (like video games, sports, business, etc.). We have then have no need to be at home for fulfillment. Because 99% of sex will beat money, women by nature (as in past) can and will always have an advantage in the home if A) Men aren't using their brute force to intimidate (historic way) or B) if it is a same sex couple. Plus, the children are always closers to Mom (since she birth them) so there is another check on the power side for the XXs. It is a nice though but in reality egalitarian though is a just fancy way of saying that the wife rules the home practically.

Why do I say all of this in relation to Jon and Kate? I think Luke MacDonald says it best:

The show became more about the parents and the kids having these great adventures than about pure survival. It didn’t take a pop-culture genius to see the problems in the Gosslein’s marriage slowly seeping in. It was obvious that John didn’t like having to take a backseat and let his wife be (in essence) the sole provider. I could write in-depth about a myriad of different problems that were predictors of future problems. It is interesting to note that as tensions rose in the home, the public pushing of the family as Christian role models increased. (Ht to Harvest)

But the problem arises when two parties are fighting over this role because they can't agree who has the final word. So unless both agree (or some outside force like the Bible) appoints one, it will be at best unhealthy and at worst a failure (see current marriage stats). The Bible appoints men simply because it does even the playing field more and it reflects Christ's love for his Church.

I have argued before that "egalitarian" relationship/marriage are more like joint ventures then a covenantal relationship Ephesians 5 talks about. Seth Godin today describes why they fail. He writes "Because there isn’t one boss, one deliverable, one person pushing the project relentlessly, [the venture] stalls" (HT to Seth). Not only are they not clear on success (what the venture hopes to obtain - which is another reason why marriage fail/unclear goals) but they have not one to drive the relation towards that goal.

While talking about businesses, he says the answer is "One side buys the right to use an asset that belongs to the other." The two remain separate but the venture "belongs to one party" for the use they determine. The man agrees to a venture involving low commitment and sex and the woman allows the man his freedom to whatever he wants. He then works "hard" to make sure that this venture is a success. When time to upgrade, he will then move on to find another asset to meet his business model. Woman will do this with the idea of having kids. Enter into a relationship with guy in order to get a father and then when kids come, forget about him. Oversimplification? Maybe.

When two people who aren't married live together (especially for financial reason), aren't they just doing the same thing? Isn't that the scenario that just play out above and in most homes today. Man wants sex so man gives money to an apartment/home for use of woman (asset). He will let woman do whatever she wants if he A) still gets sex and B) has success outlet. Take away one, partnership dissolves and the woman is hurt. However, if man is told he is responsible for the marriage and the home, watch him laid down his life and watch it succeed.

Objectors will say, "marriage isn't a business and shouldn't be run like one." But who says marriage is a democracy? Obviously, we can see how good some democracies work. My response, if it is good enough for a healthy business how much more should it be in a marriage/family which is FAR more important. This may sound cold and harsh but when people talk about the marriage/dating decisions in terms of money/sex/children/job alone, aren't they ignoring the spiritual/relational/social consequences of these decisions? When people reduce marriage to simply sex (of which I was guilty as a single man) or something else and call it love, we are ignoring the ramifications of any poor decision could have on other aspects of a relationship or life. At that point, we are simply using others for our "business" needs rather than using the Gospel example to transform relationships.

I don't want to vilify Jon and Kate. My heart breaks for them. I wish they would stop the show, travel to CCEF in Philly and get help. I wish Jon would man up and fall on the sword and stop bar hopping. I think they forgot what is true success.

As a whole, regarding all of this, I would rather see two people be honest about their decisions then try to vale it in "Christianize" or politeness to downplay the other possible effects it could have. While living together before you get married might lead to higher divorce rates, could the reason for that be because bad habits are being set up where money and sex dominate decision making rather than Christ's glory in the home? While women working outside of the home is good, could it be a problem because man/woman still see each other as man + woman rather than one unit? Finally, while equality is good, could the reason for pushing a certain theology be due to our desire to take an easier road than what the Bible has called for?

The Bible says that one man gave up his life, took the responsibility for his bride (the church) so that the two could be joined as one forever. Why don't our families look like this.

(Sorry if this seems unorganized: i had to get a lot off my chest).

In honor of my Birthday and Conan returning tonight

2009-06-01T12:54:00.001-04:00

My favorite Conan bit of all time.

Too bad I didn't see Mr. Redlegs.

This week at Payne Church of Christ

2009-05-28T12:57:00.002-04:00

This week: After seeing God doing something huge, what do you do? This week we look at Jonah's Anger.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church of Christ.

I'm glad I bought a Slanket. . .

2009-05-21T17:29:00.003-04:00

Everyone loves the Snuggie commercials. But how good is it?

ht to Consumerist)

How does the slanket measure up? Go here to see the comparisons.

This week at Payne Church

2009-05-21T15:00:00.000-04:00

This week: When the God's finally gotten your attention, what do you do? This week we look at Jonah Obeys.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church of Christ.

This week at Payne Church

2009-05-13T10:50:00.001-04:00

This week: When the chips are down, what do you do? This week we look at Jonah Prays.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church of Christ.

Chuck Norris Security System

2009-05-08T11:45:00.002-04:00

You can't make this stuff up . . .

A POSH bakery in Split, Croatia, has been broken into almost every week.

But not since the shop owners posted a life-sized photo of the toughest man in Hollywood Chuck Norris in the window.

The sign says: “This shop is under the protection of Chuck Norris.”

See rest of story here. (HT to Relevant)

This week at Payne Church

2009-05-06T14:22:00.003-04:00

This week: Why do we run from what we know is right? This week we look at Jonah Runs.

Join us this Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church of Christ.

A few changes

2009-05-05T22:24:00.003-04:00

First, I updated my blog roll. Removed some of the YM stuff and replaced it with

Second, I'm really enjoying stuff from Sovereign Grace and Nine Marks. Really challenging how I view scripture and the church in a good way. Plus, they have a lot of free stuff I can listen too.

Thirdly, I have added an amazon wish list to my blog. It is simply a list of books I want to get. Hopefully, I can get and read most of them (since my birthday is coming up). It has been a while since I have read a good book.

Lastly, I have really realized that I have been mourning sin more recently. Both in my life and in the lives of others. I pray that this continues to motivate me to see people in light of God's grace.

This week at Payne Church (5-3)

2009-05-01T08:42:00.002-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Humbly. We are usually the humblest people we know. What does the bible have to say about humility this weekend. Come Sunday at 9:30 to find out.

I wonder why this doesn't happen more. . .

2009-04-27T18:11:00.002-04:00

It wouldn't have mattered since I watch Top Model with Lori. I always hate it when shows are preempted for news conference that are covered on CNN or FOX News

The Fox network announced today that it will not air President Barack Obama's primetime news conference this Wendesday at 8pm (ET), and will air the regularly scheduled drama Lie to Me instead. It is the first time a major broadcast network has declined Obama's request to break into the primetime broadcasting schedule. Lie to Me viewers will see an on-screen graphic informing them that sister cable networks Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network will air Obama's press conference in its entirety. (HT to EW.com)

This week at Payne Church (4-19)

2009-04-24T08:55:00.001-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Wisely. Churches are strange places. Who are responsible? Come Sunday at 9:30 to find out.

(Note: I need to do this earlier in the week).

The Guinea Witch Project

2009-04-22T10:08:00.001-04:00

So we have a guinea pig. He is a fast little bugger. My wife recorded this video the other day. I wanted to put menacing music under it but she wouldn't let me.

I know all of you are going to sleep with one eye opened tonight. Be afraid!

Quiet Time of Guilt?

2009-04-21T09:29:00.003-04:00

As a Christian, one of things that most struggle with is having a "quiet time" with God in the Morning (or evening) in order to make sure that we are hearing from him. Usually, takes the form of duty or obligation (or simply a check mark to click off).

Tim Challies wrote a great post on this idea. I would encourage you to check it out here.

Best Quote:

Whether you are having a good day or a bad day, the basis of your relationship with is not your performance, for even your best efforts are but filthy rags. Instead, your relationship is based on grace. Grace does not just save you and then leave you alone. No, grace saves you and then sustains you and equips you and motivates you. You are saved by grace and you then live by grace. Whether in the midst of a good day or bad, God does not base His relationship with you on performance, but on whether or not you are trusting in His Son.

Enjoy

This week at Payne Church (4-19)

2009-04-17T09:30:00.002-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Justly. We are all about fairness in the U.S. How does this feeling play into our relationship with God? Come Sunday at 9:30 to find out.

(Note: I need to do this earlier in the week).

We love Technology (but not as much as you, you see)

2009-04-15T10:16:00.003-04:00

Last night my wife and I finally saw Wall-E and we LOVED it. It was really interesting watching the humans in the movie so tuned into technology that they forgot how to interact with each other.

Reality isn't too far away from reality. Twitter is the last straw. I heard Shane Hipps say that the more we use technology, the more our souls become divorced from our bodies. Maybe one day we will be floating batteries living in a dream land (see The Matrix).

Craig Groeshel posted some good guidelines for for keeping this from happening over at his blog today. Here is what he said:

No tech interruptions during family time.
Take consistent blogging or twittering vacations. (Guest blogs work great.)
Fast from email on vacations.
No surfing the net in the evenings.

Thoughts?

I guess I was quoted in the Toledo Blade Yesterday

2009-04-13T12:25:00.002-04:00

Found in an article on Twins:

Older twins have tips too.
Consider Dan Staifer. He says that until the age of 5, it can be cute to dress twins alike from tip to toe. Matching shoes and socks. Matching pants and shirts. After that?
"Knock it off," Mr. Staifer said. A decade after graduating from Clay High School, he keenly recalls the ribbing when, groan, he and his twin, Derek, dressed in haste and showed up in class with matching shirts.
Dressing twins alike fosters the "one-identity twinness," said Mr. Staifer, a minister in Payne, Ohio. Parents should encourage twins to be individuals with individual identities, he said.

See the whole article here.

Wii Mowing?

2009-04-09T20:00:00.002-04:00

I guess I can use a Wiimote to mow my yard now?

(HT to Relevant Mag)

2 Liter Light Bulb?!?!?!

2009-04-04T19:11:00.002-04:00

I'm amazed sometimes by the ingenuity of humans. When there are limited resources, it amazes me to see people rise to the challenge. Here is a case in point:

ht to Lifehacker

This week at Payne Church (4-5)

2009-04-03T08:15:00.002-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Selflessly. Who hasn't been accused of being selfish before? I'm sure everyone has at some point in the last week. It is a natural part of the human soul. But should it be so? Find out Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church.

This week at Payne Church (3-29)

2009-03-26T17:20:00.002-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Peacefully. Edwin Starr once sang "War. . . what is it good for? Absolutely nothing." Often times though, all we experience is conflict and war. This is especially true among followers of Jesus, the very person that said "Blessed are the Peacemakers". What gives? Find out Sunday at 9:30 at Payne Church.

Another Reason to Consider a Cash Only Life

2009-03-25T09:20:00.004-04:00

From the Consumerist:

First we need to clarify something: just because you select "credit" and sign with your debit card, you're not really making a credit card purchase. The money is still drafted from your account directly, it just takes a little longer. This method of using your debit card is called a signature debit, and it's cleared via a different network than when you pay by punching in your PIN (which, logically, is called a pin debit).

Merchants have to pay more money for signature debit transactions than for pin debit ones. It's in the card issuer's interest to get you to use the debit card in the way that will generate the highest fees. If you're going to pay with debit anyway, it's cheaper on the merchant if you go the pin route.

Remember, though, that paying with a real credit card conveys certain benefits. It may give you more protection in terms of disputes or extended warranties, and in cases where the merchant places a hold—hotels and car rentals, for example—a real credit card will prevent your checking funds from being frozen indefinitely. Your bank may in fact extend those benefits to any signature debit transactions on your debit card, but you'll have to contact your bank to find out.

I've always wondered why there is a choice (other than the option for cash back) between debit and cash. Either way, the retailer befits more from cash transactions.

This week at Payne Church (3-22)

2009-03-18T13:33:00.003-04:00

Our current series:

Topic: Suffer Lovingly. Statistically, most everyone will be married in their life. Unfortunately, tough times can put a stress on marriages. Peter will address how suffering can influence one of the most important relationship in our lives.

Guest Blogger: The Other Dave Ramsey

2009-03-13T09:09:00.004-04:00

The first Dave Ramsey I ever was the best man at my wedding. Great Guy, Great Friend and one heck of a funny guy. He posted this on his facebook page. It is too funny not to share it with cyberspace. Here is what he said:

Our shop is such a mess that we occasionally find weird, random items with no idea as to how they arrived. Today while cleaning, we found a 1947 issue of "Child Evangelism News" with bonus flannel-graph images. I have fond memories of flannel-graph-illustrated stories in Sunday School during my youth, but I don't recall any like these.

The rather un-PC figures depict a Native American chief becoming penitent, along with his family (and apparently, his horse), thanks to the proselytizing of a well-dressed, benevolent white man. Not that the message isn't a good one, but we thought it was rather funny. Actually, the white guy looked amazingly similar to the picture of the editor of "Child Evangelism News." I wonder if you can still find these in any Christian book stores.

Some of the Comments from our friends:

"This made me laugh phenomenally.

I especially love the way their clothing is so completely from two different time periods. Ha ha ha ha ha.

Either that or the preacher randomly went to a Native American Tribal Fest or reenactment and converted the actors. But I doubt it."

"HE CONVERTED THE HORSE TOO?!"

"At first I couldn't figure out why they were all genuflecting to that preacher. Then I realized: They were just trying to get a better look at what must be the world's largest pair of feet.

Also, I'm amazed that this family saw the need to put a riding blanket on the back of their dog-sized horse. Any one of them would kill the poor little beast if they tried to ride it."

Thoughts?

Dave Ramsey and Craig Groeschel

2009-03-12T17:15:00.003-04:00

Two guys that I deeply respect are Dave Ramsey (the finance guy) and Craig Groeschel (from Lifechurch.tv - a church that has greatly impacted me). Apparently, they are going to share a stage. Here is a good interview Craig did with Dave:

Ht to Swerve

This week at Payne Church

2009-03-11T09:27:00.002-04:00

Our current series

Topic: Suffer Willingly. Who likes to submit to authority (especially those that are unfair and down right mean)? This week look at how submitting to authority helps during times of suffering.

New Church Website!

2009-03-04T13:52:00.005-05:00

Payne Church of Christ now has a website! As time goes on, hopefully it will expand from a simple information portal.

Paynechurch.com

It is early but thanks to David at Sugar Maple Interactive for helping me put it up! While I did a lot of the designing work (i.e. finding a good template), it wouldn't be a reality without them. If you need a site, see them. They are good people.

Feel free to let me know what you think.

As an aside, Our current series

Change of place, change of pace

2009-03-03T22:01:00.002-05:00

Well, it has been a week now moving from Raleigh (Big City) to Payne (Little Village). There have been some things I have been trying to get use to.

First and foremost, it is weird being an obvious outsider. Everyone is nice but I get the sense that they are skeptical about me. I'm also trying to figure the ins and outs of the town.

Secondly, I'm learning to live without FOX. Since the local FOX station is not broadcasting at full power, we can't pick it up (yet). I'm hoping that changes come football season. Also, that's why my wife is forcing me to watch the Bachelor finale as oppose to forcing me to watch American Idol. I would rather watch a baby seal get clubbed than watch this sorry excuse for a show manipulate the word love.

Thirdly, I'm also trying to figure our if we need to be a one car family. My regal is acting up. I hope everything is alright but I've found that I enjoy walking places. I'm also looking forward to trying to bike places that I need to go if Lori has the car. We are still praying about this.

Fourth, now that I am in a house, I realized how much I took for granted living in an apartment. There is definitely more to do (like take out the trash) and deal with landscaping.

Finally, I am 94% sure that after six years of having a cell phone that I will no longer have one. Verizon does not have good reception (though the actual land line is run by Verizon).

So yeah, that is what is going on for all you who were wondering. . .

The Crisis of Credit

2009-02-27T10:04:00.002-05:00

This is a really good explanation of the Credit Crisis. Enjoy

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.
(HT to Consumerist)

My Adventure on a Greyhound Bus Part 4

2009-02-26T08:25:00.003-05:00

I was pretty excited when we rolled into Emporia, Va. I had over heard that my new "friend" crowding me out was getting off at this stop. This would be my last stop before Raleigh which also made me happy. We pulled up to the "stop" (a bunch of cones in a parking lot of a truck stop). Everyone though this was a break so there was a bum rush towards the door to have a Cigarette break. The Bus driver pull the kibosh down on that and the throngs of the nicotine addicts were ready to riot.

It got me thinking: is there anything in my life that would cause me to get this upset if a mean old bus driver wouldn't let me do it? If the answer is yes to any of thing, I have to pause to see if this is a addiction or something that is a master over me. For these people, it was a cigarette. You should have seen the look on these people's faces. It was like we were clubbing sea kittens or something.

I think the whole bus experience helped remind me how cluttered life can be. The Bus help eliminate distractions of media and internet and showed me it was all going to be okay. The world will go on if I don't follow it for a day. I have a problem with info lusting. I am a thinker and learner. That drives me in most days. The bus help detox me. Because this is a self-imposed trip without luxury, it enabled to quiet down my soul and listen a lot. To people. To God. To my brain.

When I finally pulled into Raleigh a half hour late (thanks to construction), I was happy to see my wife, tired from the trip and willing to do it again. I found it a cheap way to travel and to crowd out some of the noise in my life. It forced me to quiet down and look at my urges and how I see the world. It was a unique experience that I hope I have prepared all of you for since I'm sure you don't know anyone who has ever rode the bus.

My Adventure on a Greyhound Bus Part 3

2009-02-25T10:35:00.002-05:00

Sorry it has taken me a little longer than I expected to conclude this series. The north side of D.C. is a very different place. As a man that grew up in the suburbs of a rust belt community, I have never seen anything like this. A lot of housing really close together that looked really small. I never knew D.C. was that big. I know I wouldn't want to live. Not because of the social structure but because I would not know where to go to get things done. There is no state Government. There is no (official) U.S. Government Representation.

This is probably why I was so shocked at the state of D.C. It reminded me a little of Guadalajara in look and feel (minus the Spanish signs). It seemed like an area that had no pride in itself. With the amount of people moving in and out of the community, I can understand why. When we constantly move, how can we love the area we live in? Maybe I'm naturally looking at this because I'm in the middle of moving and how I hate it so much.

But as we pulled into the bus station at around noon, I was hungry and had to go to the bathroom. BUT, I couldn't go do either. Not because there wasn't any facilities. Not because I didn't have time. I had forty minutes. I couldn't go because I had to stand in line in order to make sure I caught my transfer bus. Even though I had a ticket, everything was first come, first serve. If I did any of those things, I was not guaranteed a spot on the bus. As it was, the line was already reaching halfway around the station. If I left my spot, I would be in trouble. Not very convenient. When we loaded the bus, almost every seat was filled. So I could have did those things and got a seat but I could not have been sure.

Thus, I had to wait until Richmond, Va to obtain any of these "luxuries" I craved. I was surprised that Richmond had reasonable food prices though the wait was long. Also, while I was waiting, I think I saw a demon possessed woman. She was sitting in the food cafe, yelling at some other people saying something like "Jesus has a thumb up his butt." I couldn't help but look around and people didn't know how to respond. I didn't know how to respond. I was scared. A manager went over and tried to console her but she came back and continued to yell. I wish I knew what to do. I was at a loss. How did people see this? I don't know but it was an experience.

As we traveled on, I got to sit next to an interesting person who crowded me into a corner. He also kept answering to me whenever my wife called me. It was actually quite funny.

I guess this is long enough. One more post tomorrow for all you found this interesting.

My Adventure on a Greyhound Bus Part 2

2009-02-18T11:01:00.003-05:00

I arrived in Cleveland and my new friend had to catch a transfer so I was on my own again. For some reason, we had to sit in the Cleveland bus station for an hour (probably for driver switch and gas up). It was an interesting Bus station. Very Art Deco in feel. I looked at getting some food but there was no way I was going to pay 10 dollars for a cheeseburger from a shady cafe.

Lesson #2: The Greyhound has a captive audience and don't care about it. They will charge what they want. I should have brought food but I did not. Good thing I have strong stomach.

We then loaded the same bus for our next leg to Pittsburgh. I don't remember much of that drive because I tried to sleep. The bus was pretty thin so I could spread out. That didn't last long because we then stopped at the Pittsburgh station (which was by far the nicest one of the trip). But again, we had to stop and wait for another hour. Sigh. I just wished they would travel. Lesson #3: Sleep on a bus is awfully hard to come by.

Once I got back on the bus, I tried to sleep until we reach the end of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. As a aside, I'm glad most of my trip was on a Turnpike because that minimized the stops made. Maybe that was why the one hour stops were made too to give the driver a break. I don't know but it was a very confusing part of my travel. Eventually, we stopped at a non greyhound stop on the Penn Turnpike where they had a Starbucks and a Cinnabon. If I was going to pay high prices on anything, it was going to be on something good. I was expecting to get something of a breakfast meal but that didn't happen. I did stock up on some Sun Chips, peanuts and beef jerky at the Shell station there so I could hope to avoid paying the high prices of food in the Greyhound stations.

As we continued on, we stopped at the Hagerstown, MD stop. This was on of the worst stops of the trip since the Greyhound station was a basically a shed with a McDonald's across the parking lot that I didn't have time to go to. Oh the tease! The Frederick station looked nice though I didn't get off.

By this time, I notice a trend among the people that traveled on Greyhound. They are predominantly lower income and mostly nonwhite single people using the bus. I did see a few families try traveling but I can see why more do not do it. I couldn't tell for what reasons people were traveling but it was a different class of people then what I'm use to. I'd try to make conversation but many of them quickly poo pooed the conversation.

One of the benefits of the trip was it got me out of my comfort zone. I would recommend any one who feels superior to any one else, take a trip on a Greyhound. It would expand your view of the world. Most of the time, Greyhound stations are in downtown portion of towns. Often times, you drive into areas you wouldn't go through normally. The trip from Silver Springs, MD to D.C. was especially enlightening. I got to see a side of D.C. that I would never see on a tour bus. Very eye opening.

But more on my D.C. exchange tomorrow.

My Adventure on a Greyhound Bus Part 1

2009-02-17T10:13:00.005-05:00

Sorry about the lack of post for all 3 of you who care but I wanted to write about my adventure on a greyhound bus. Why was I traveling on a greyhound bus you ask? Aren't there plane, trains and automobiles? Well, last weekend I drove my 91 Buick Regal north to our new home, Payne, OH along with some stuff. I was going to leave my car there so needed some way back. Since planes were expensive and trains did not run very well from Toledo to Raleigh, so I decided to try my hand at riding the bus. Mind you, I have never ridden in a Greyhound before. I have rode charter buses for band trips and group trips so I'm a aware of how buses travel. I have also traveled on intercity buses in Mexico (which were REALLY nice). But never the two together here in the US.

I decided the price was right ($65) and I am always up for new adventures so why not go for it. At the very least it would give me plenty to talk about for a while. Here is the details of my trip and my thoughts on using Greyhound as a manner of travel here in the United States.

My bus was suppose to leave at 10:20p Sunday night from Toledo. I didn't know I needed a confirmation number so I had to call my wife. The lady there was busy watching a DVD and waiting for her lunch break so she didn't seem to willing to help. There were a few people sitting there watching FOX news (of all things) while waiting for the bus to arrive. Since the bus is first come first serve, a ticket doesn't really mean much. If the bus show up and there are no seats, you are out of luck. Usually people try have two seats so they can spread out. So I didn't willing want to ask for someone to move over. I was hoping to find an empty seat.

The bus arrived pretty full. I found a seat by itself and sat down. There was a late comer that sat down next to me (since I sat in the window seat and not the aisle seat as was the trick everyone else was using). So the guy sat with me. This is guy was a conductor on Amtrak. Really interesting guy. Very nice. I won't go into everything but this guy was nice enough to give me some tips in traveling on the Bus. Without it, I would have been totally confused.

The first thing I noticed that it is a very insider focused industry. Things were not communicated clearly and you had to learn things on the fly. People aren't willing to help very much. (though I thought the bus driver were really nice). As time rolled on, I started to become sucked into the insider culture and didn't really want to help people. Kind of sad on my part.

More to come tomorrow.

Living in Payne

2009-01-19T18:00:00.003-05:00

Since September 2007, I've have been trying to figure out God's call on my life. I've been asking questions like "Where do you want me?" "Who do you want me to reach?" "What role do you want me to play?" "What role am I ready to play?" At times, it has been difficult to figure out and difficult to wait on God.

As time went on, a couple things began clearing up for me. For starters, my heart was in the Midwest, especially, Ohio. I also still had a heart for the Older Brother (see Prodigal Son Story). The hardest part was determining my role. I did not know whether I was still suppose to be a Youth Minister. My heart was not completely in it if it meant doing "traditional" Youth Ministry. Plus, the few opportunities that came up, just did not feel right for one reason or another. I began looking for Minister positions. I wanted more options and wanted to see if that is where God wants me go.

Around Thanksgiving, one Church contacted me in a small rural town in Ohio named Payne. It is in Paulding County and about a half hour from Fort Wayne.

View Larger Map

The man I talked to was recently elected County Commissioner and we really seemed to connect. He said that they were looking for someone to help turn around a dying church in a hurting community. They wanted to fly us up for a more in depth interview. Lori and I, with nothing better to do, agreed to go up there. It was a fun visit. We really liked the people. We were impressed with the leadership's willingness to open. We were also pretty open because we had nothing to lose.

As we left, Lori and I knew the position would be a challenge but really did not notice any red flags. The people were nice, but the community seems to be lacking hope. Life there would be a lot simpler, something we would both like. Paulding County is one of the poorest counties in Ohio. It is also huge agricultural and bedroom county. Wind Farms are going to be the hot new industry in the area. So it seems to be the antithesis of Raleigh. There also were not a lot of churches in the town. Keeping all of this in mind, we could not help but feel a tug in our heart for the community. So, we simply left it in God's hands.

As the year turned from 08 to 09, we did not hear anything from them. We simply kept looking for options, trying to be patient and not desperate. That was until about a week ago. The church contacted us and offered us the role of Minister of this small church. Lori and I were honored by the request and began seeking God as to whether this was the right next step. After seeking counsel from many people, talking a lot and listening to God, Lori and I have agreed that God was calling us to serve in Payne, OH.

We are both scared and excited by the possibility. I don't know if I truly am ready to lead but maybe this is the exact type of person God wants to use in this role. I know it is going to be tough but we know that with God's help we are up to it. I will be turning this blog into a journal chronicling of our adventure in Payne. The successes. The failures. The highs. The lows. We are going to be moving over the last two weeks of February.

Watch Out Ohio, here we come!

Sea Kittens?

2009-01-16T12:22:00.002-05:00

No this is not a joke. For crying out loud! This is why I HATE Peta! To quote Stephen Colbert: "Does that me we can start eating Land Fish (AKA Kittens)?" See the clip here. Plus, the jab at the Mets' new stadium patch and Monkeys join Scientology. Enjoy!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Tip/Wag - Monkey on the Lam

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

DTV Transition

2009-01-14T12:37:00.001-05:00

I may have been a little hard on people last week regarding the Digital TV Transition. This PSA showed me the light. Enjoy!

(HT to The Consumerist)

Oh Billy Mays. . .

2009-01-09T12:57:00.002-05:00

Any Billy Mays joke is a good joke!

A couple thing that have been bothering me.

2009-01-08T15:35:00.003-05:00

First, I saw this article today that says that Obama wants to delay the switch from Analog to Digital because "the government is not doing enough to help consumers — particularly poor, rural and elderly Americans — prepare for and navigate the transition." I'm sorry. If people don't want to find out the information themselves then what can government do. We have had a Digital converter since the Spring of 2007. There has been THOUSANDS of commercials telling us about the change. If people wanted to wait to the last minute, fine. Let them deal with the consequences of not being proactive. This is one area where I feel the government has done enough; people have not.

Second, I just read an interesting book by Rodney Stark called the Victory of Reason. While there are some style items and analysis I disagree with, it was overall a very thought provoking book. I'll probably put a quote or two up from the book shortly. Based on the book though, I am bothered by this thought: Does capitalism need Christianity?

Last, I am really confused by the character Balaam in the Bible. Numbers depicts him as a good guy but the rest of the Bible says otherwise. What I am I missing

Wrigley Field=Hockey Arena?

2008-12-29T17:55:00.001-05:00

I never would have thought to see this happen. Go Wings!

My view for 6 hours on December 23

2008-12-24T11:43:00.001-05:00

View Larger Map

It looked just like this except dark, rainy and miles and miles of cars. . .

View Larger Map

See here for what happened. 16 hours in a car by yourself is loads of fun. . .

New Thundercats Movie. . .

2008-12-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

(HT to EW.com)

Totally fake, but it would be totally AWESOME!

Shameless plug

2008-12-20T22:05:00.003-05:00

So, one of the blogs I read is a Christian Personal Finance blog. It is actually where I got the idea for my gift to for my wife. Well, the folks are giving away some cool things. I don't agree with every thing (mostly the posts on Gold) but it is a good resource for looking at finances through biblical lens.

I hope you enjoy it (and maybe benefit from winning an Ipod). . .

Florence Y'all

2008-12-18T21:32:00.000-05:00

I can't believe a week from today I'll be able to see that stupid Florence KY water tower and actually like seeing it. I wish I could also see the I-75 Touchdown Jesus but alas, I don't think I will have the time to drive up there.

I can't wait to get back to Cincy for at least a few days. Too bad I have to drive 9 hours by myself to get there.

Things are starting to look up. . .

2008-12-15T16:54:00.002-05:00

All I got to say is there is nothing better on this side of heaven knowing that I have advanced to my Fantasy Football Finals. . .

I love Andre Johnson, Chris Johnson, Tampa Bay Defense, Steve Slaton and Phillip Rivers.

Much Fantasy Love. . .

Confessions of selfish compassionless Jerk

2008-12-10T12:50:00.003-05:00

Jerk- n.- Slang. a contemptibly naive, fatuous, foolish, or inconsequential person.

It is one thing to admit something. It is another to be burdened by it. I was called out today be some one close for being a compassionless jerk. It is 100% true. I'm dead to rights. I can't deny it. The truth is I have a hard time entering the worlds of other and feeling what they feel. I can enter their world and think what they think, thus making me an emotionless idiot. When people want to celebrate, I want to bring them back down to Earth. When people are low, I want to fix them to make them better. I don't think about it.

If I have been this to you, please tell me. I'm too stupid to see it sometimes. If you hate that about me, please tell me so I don't hurt you again. I am remorseful that I let people I love down more than I did something wrong. As the book of Proverbs says "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."

So if you love me, wound me. I know I am sinful and have issues. I give full permission for you to tell me. My only surprise won't be that I did it but that I didn't hurt you more.

Deepest regrets from a recovering Jerk.

You don't know what you got, 'til its gone. . .

2008-12-05T15:46:00.002-05:00

Recently, we lost internet at our apartment. Because we don't have the money, we cannot get it back. It isn't all bad though. I have found myself wasting less time on the computer and more time with my wife. We've been talking more and it is nice. Today, I also picked up Alice (my guitar) for the first time in a LONG time and forgot how much I loving singing and playing to God. Keeping in mind, I'm not that good but I enjoy doing and I think playing Rock Band has made me better.

Because I don't have internet, I have to purposefully choose to go somewhere to check the wikipedia and see the latest internet meme. I'm on the internet much less. I'm more focused and watching less t.v and hence spending more time meditating on God and his work.

I know it makes life easier but I find a simple life more enjoyable and more God centered. What about you?

I think the punishment fits the crime. . .

2008-11-25T11:35:00.002-05:00

. . . or would this violate the Bill of Rights for cruel and unusual punishment? :-)

Perhaps this is why I have felt so blue lately

2008-11-22T10:45:00.005-05:00

So if you know me, you know that I'm currently in a state of transition. Right now, I'm in the midst of a hunt for where God wants me to serve him next. That means I have a lot of free time on my hands since a person can only do so much resume sending and job board looking. I have picked up a part time job driving a fork lift around UPS in the VERY early mornings and I have been volunteering to days a week at a local church help them do some admin work in their offices.

That still leaves me with more free then if I had a full time job. I do read a lot online (like news, church blogs and money saving tips) but I still find myself gravitating to one thing that I have always had a hard time saying no to. Watching T.V.

It is interesting that watching T.V. is the one thing that unhappy people do more than happy people. According to a Study done by the University of Maryland:

We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more — visiting others, going to church, all those things — were more happy,” Dr. [John] Robinson said. “TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and happy people did it less. (HT to Lifehacker)

Growing up, I lived off watching T.V. You named it, I watched it. The Simpsons, Herman's Head, Married with Children, Eerie Indiana, You can't do that on Television, Friends, Seinfeld, MNF Football, Salute Your Shorts, ER, In Living Color, Batman Cartoons, Power Rangers, Home Improvement, News Radio, Sportcenter, Behind the Music Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Saved by the Bell and many reruns of older shows. I think you get the point. T.V is one of those things I have always gravitated to is that glowing Box in the corner. It was something I worshiped. One time when I couldn't watch something I wanted to watch, I chuck a remote control at my sister's head. She still bears the scars of that interchange.

When I became a Christ Follower in 1999, I still struggled but no with other things I was watching. That lead me to go without a Television for two in years college. I then moved in with other Christian and started watching T.V. more. When I went to Seminary, I did without a T.V. for my first two years. When I got married, we got a T.V. I can honestly say from experience, that I am more happy when I stay away from the T.V. If that is the case though, why do I keep coming back to watch?

We don't have cable but through the magic of the Internet, I can watch full episodes of 18 shows that I enjoy. This is the first time I've counted. Wow, that is a lot! I am realizing for the first time that I have been addicted to T.V. Maybe that's why over the last couple weeks, I have been pretty down. I blog three weeks ago about my enjoyment of disconnecting. I was riding high and that's where the T.V. crept right back into my life. Over the last few weeks, I have notice myself being really down. I can see why Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes "If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks."

Instead of turning to God, I've been escaping to T.V. That is hard to admit. I should have it under control but for some reason, I can't control it. You might say, "It could be worse like an addiction to drugs, pornography, gambling or something worst." As Paul writes "'Everything is permissible for me'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me'—but I will not be mastered by anything."

I guess this is tolerance. . .

2008-11-18T09:06:00.003-05:00

I wonder if these protesters are being "tolerant" to this 74 year old.

(HT to Lasting Divergence)

I didn't vote in California but if I did I would have voted for prop 8. Why? Because while somethings are unpopular, some things would hurt our county more than help it. While Christians should focus more on making our own marriages healthier, we need to hold the line some where. We need some moral margin some where. The line needs to be drawn some where regarding family and normal sexual behavior.

If you believe that homosexuality is a choice, then accepting the consequences are easy since people are choosing the life they are living. However, if people are born that way, the argument is a little more harry. From a biblical perspective, it is easy to argue from. But how do you argue this from with someone that doesn't believe in the Bible? I've wrestled with this question a lot since I know some homosexual couples even with foster children. How would I stand on my position with using the Bible? It would be difficult because that take all truth is taken away and we have to rely on feeling to tell us what is right.

What scientific support can people give to support same sex marriage as something we should encourage? Scientifically, two people from the same sex cannot have a baby or procreate. Scientifically, via the theory of evolution, they then would cease to exist after this generation because natural selection and chance dooms them for death. How would this be any different than a person born with blindness, deafness, cancer, lame, retarded or the like (other than the fact these people can procreate). I'm sure these people would gladly trade the ability to procreate to live or see if they had to. Some people I guess scientifically are unlucky and can't do certain things.

Legally then, laws are enacted to protect people from being hurt by people who can't and shouldn't these things. Laws keep people who can't see from driving but they can procreate. Laws prevent the physically unable from being in the military but they can procreate. Laws prevent retarded (or the unintelligent) from being Doctors, teachers, and lawyers because they all require certifications to practice such but they can procreate. Homosexual person may be born without the desire to be with the desire to be sexually with the opposite sex thus they cannot procreate. They can do everything else but that one thing.

So why marriage laws then? Marriage laws are in place to ensure that procreation can take place in a safe, productive way so the species can survive (as well as property rights) They protect people so that people aren't taken advantage of. Keep marriage laws one man and one woman draws an easy line to protection that people know. It puts the fight elsewhere. During a war, the fight always takes place on the boarders until the boarders are clear.

Murder is illegal and it is a clear line that people try to stay far away from. The fight is over intent usually not if it happen. When alcohol was illegal, alcoholism went down. With alcohol legal, the new line is when is too much too much and what you can or cannot do with alcohol thus resulting in more With marriage laws right now, we fighting over what is marriage. Once this fight is over and it is clear, then the fight with move on to something else. By making marriage clearly between a man and woman, it makes the boundary clear for everyone and what it is for.

Is it discrimination? Maybe. What about those other things? Will anyone call these things discrimination? Probably not. Seemingly. From a scientific point of view, it is not. Just luck. Heck, Homosexuals/Liberals will use science to disprove God why can't natural selection be used in this case? Are people trying to use it to validate their current state.

Are there holes in my argument? Probably. I'm trying here. At least with Christianity, it offers the promise of giving the blind sight and the deaf hearing. We live in a fallen world so of course babies do not come out of the womb 100% healthy. News flash: nature is not tolerant. Jesus is the only one who truly is. He tolerant enough to not come back until all have a chance to know him. The fact that he puts up with us is unreal. Jesus said some will be born enunchs. Why can't God give these people a chance to be made whole? This may be a bit of a ramble but it was the first time I tried to put this to paper.

I have a theory. . .

2008-11-06T15:19:00.003-05:00

Being a Christian is simple. Follow Jesus. That's it. What we do is simply do what Jesus did. Pray, Read the Bible. Give resources. Reach out to others.

Making money is easy. Save more than you spend.

Being married is easy. Lay down your life for your wife and your marriage.

To quote Homer Simpson: "In Theory communism works. In Theory Marge. In Theory."

Then why are all of these so hard to do? A lot of things look easy on paper with humans. and in theory. But what separates us from animals is our mind. Theories are great for the perfect world but we live in a fallen world. We have a human will that wants to focus solely on ourselves and wishes everyone would serve us. When Jesus came to show us the way, he came to give us hope and truly inspire us (through the Holy Spirit) to live beyond ourselves.

That's why there is something inside of us that yearns for something more than theory to motivate us to change. On paper, the tax policy either John McCain or Barack Obama could be better than the other and help us out of this economic problem. But would that really help? I like what Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Maverick and rich dude) said about why he voted Barack Obama (even though he disagrees with Obama's economic policy). He writes:

I have said it before, the power of the American Spirit is what separates our country from every other. We have been able to overcome the stupidity that politicians do every year, and will do for ever more. The election of Barack Obama is a shot of adrenaline for those who felt they could never participate in the American Dream.
How do you stimulate and turn around the economy in this day and age ? Motivate those who in the past couldn’t , wouldn’t or didn’t, into those who can and do. Motivate those who can and do, to continue to innovate and increase productivity.

I couldn't agree more. We need more people motivated. In long run, only the church can bring true change in the lives of people. Policy alone will not cause any one to change (see legalistic churches).

The benefits from unplugging

2008-11-03T16:00:00.001-05:00

One of the biggest problems I see today (in my life especially) is being able to unplug from electronic life to actually enjoy life. By constantly taking in T.V., movies and other media, we forget how much what we take in affects us. Last week, Lori and I had a guest over last week that greatly influenced we did all week, mostly me. Since I have a pretty fluid schedule right now, our guest impacted me the most. I'm use to coming home and doing a lot of blog reading, movie watching, Internet time wasting and napping. Fun times!

But with a guest, that changed. Mostly that meant that a lot less T.V. and Internet. A lot more reading time, walking time and quality time with my wife (& God). It was fun playing games and hanging out with less T.V. and less Internet. I was able to reconnect with Church History. I had time to surprise my wife. I was able to have conversations with random people at Starbucks about God. I didn't have the stress of trying to figure out what Person A was doing on Facebook or what I name McCain was calling Obama. I was peaceful. It was nice.

I heard Craig Groeschel say recently in order to change you have to be willing to do something big. It reminded me of college when I got rid of my T.V. to help me focus more on God. It reminded me of the time I got rid of Internet in order to stop sinning. It reminded me that I needed a drastic change in my daily routine and I got it with the guest in town. While I am still looking to God for where my next step is, it doesn't mean that I am waiting to follow God again. I can do it now! It isn't to say that I haven't been following him but I will say I have been distracted. That is why I've been AWOL on Facebook and blogging. That's why I trimmed back my podcasts and blogs substantially. I'm trying to hear from God and I had put way too much noise around me to listen.

Thanks be to God. Creator of All and lover of my soul.

As an aside, I saw this article on CNN.com that shows why it is important to disconnect from T.V. and at the very least, think about what we watch. The highlights:

Experts: Parents should discuss sexual content on TV with kids
Previous study showed sex on TV linked to initiation of sexual intercourse in teens
TV shows rarely portray negative consequences of sex

There are Dumb Husbands and then there is this guy. . .

2008-10-29T11:50:00.003-04:00

This guy has to be the dumbest husband ever. You don't mess with Momma and you don't mess with Momma's Baby (even for an election).

I suggest the Soft Taco Fresco Style. . .

2008-10-23T11:52:00.003-04:00

OCTOBER 28 baby. FREE TACO!

One thing Title IX can't do anything about.

2008-10-21T14:24:00.003-04:00

I found an interesting thought on ESPN.

Gregg Easterbrook writes:

Lately there has been attention to the uneasy fact that high school girls are more likely to sustain sports injuries than high school boys,
especially torn knees. The female body structure can't take as much knee stress
as the male, and it is harder for girls than for boys to build muscle mass --
increasing the muscle around a joint takes pressure off the joint. High school
girls' soccer and basketball may carry a higher risk of knee injury than prep
football. It's not clear if there is a solution to this problem, though this new
study led by medical researcher Julie Gilchrist of the Centers for Disease
Control suggests girls and women can reduce knee injuries from athletics by
using flexibility exercises.

I just had to think that I guess men and women at equal in everything. That doesn't mean they are inferior, just different. I would rather see woman's gymnatics than men's. There is just something about the flexbility and the grace that the men's just don't have.

Three surprises

2008-10-20T13:09:00.002-04:00

First, American League Champion - Tampa Bay Rays! I never thought I would see the day. Maybe there is hope for my Detroit Lions (who can't beat anyone - even if the former QB "gave" the ins and outs of the offense to them).

Second, since the fist economic stimulus package worked SO well, let's try another one! When are we going to learn that keep fixes don't work.

Third, what can brown do for you? That's right, I'm working part time for UPS right now as a dock worker by RDU in order to make a couple bucks while waiting to see what God has for us next.. I hope I don't end up like this!

Two of the best years of my life

2008-10-14T10:07:00.004-04:00

Two Years Ago Today - Lori Michelle made me a very happy man.

Today - A lucky man whose wife took him to see the Red Wings cream the Hurricanes 3-1 at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!

T-O-L-E-D-O!

2008-10-11T15:23:00.002-04:00

13-10 Toledo over Michigan at the Big House. Where are you at now Michigan. . .