Seriously: I think...well it goes beyond thinking. I'm pretty sure...that's not much more decisive now is it? I am positive that youth pastors take themselves too seriously. We act as if we are the only one's that can effectively minister to youth. It's quite sad really because I think either by our words, actions or telepathically we teach students that the rest of the church has nothing to teach them and that they are this "special cause" that requires special care.

But I ramble on...Give the students love, Be the conduit of Jesus Christ's love, Tell them about the salvation he offers...don't overcomplicate it.

Keep the main thing the main thing!

A youth pastor to his students:

It is with great love and favor I write to you now. I have been with you for three years now and some of you have proven yourselves faithful to not only me and the ministry but to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We may do all things for ourselves and gain nothing but anything we do in Jesus Christ is considered gain for our future. Not always a future of this world but of the world to come; that is eternal life.

I write you with love but I must also admit that I write to you with a heavy heart. I know that each of you has entrusted your life to Jesus Christ and have made him Lord of you life but my fear is and what you have proven by your actions is that you merely gave him lip service and did not or do not intend to act on this decision.

Serving Jesus Christ and asking him to be Lord of your life is no joking matter. But Jesus will not take by force what he rightfully could. Instead Christ is a gentleman, he stands at the door and knocks but does not barge the door down. The door of your heart is seldom open to him. I know that this inconsistency sometimes frustrates you and causes you to be downtrodden. But take heart and know that you are not alone. Never once have you heard from me that this journey in our salvation would be easy, I warned you of the trouble and turmoil that would come. But when that trouble and turmoil did come it came disguised as selfishness, greed, lust, laziness and division. It was not the massive frontal attack at the gates that conquered you, you stood up to those well and for that you are to be commended. Instead it was the sneak attack that brought you to the wretched place you are now.

I call it such a wretched place let me explain. Before you knew Christ and the power of his salvation and the joy of living in him you were slaves to sin. You were useless to Christ. Then you began a relationship with Him and you were restored and useful to Christ. But you took that knowledge and instead of letting it penetrate your heart you just stored it in your head where it became jaded and sour. So now once again because of your actions you are useless to Christ, not because you are not valuable to him but because you have taken yourself out of the race.

You have taken such a valuable and honored thing, salvation, and have deemed it worthless in your life. You can deny with your words but your actions prove what you deem valuable. It is not with reprimand that I write this letter to you but with pain and hurt. Not pain and hurt that you have bestowed on me but on the pain and hurt I see in your lives and yet you keep covering it up with more pain and hurt. Pain and hurt piled on pain and hurt never heals but keeps you searching for something…that will destroy you.

There are those that need to be encouraged. Be encouraged if you are still running the race in faithfulness to Christ. You are working out your salvation, offering yourself as a living sacrifice and changing the lives of other. Don’t be dismayed. It may seem that no one notices but your heavenly father notices you’re striving and he is pleased! He is saving a place for you in heaven and he looks forward to you seeing him.

So I encourage you students to examine yourself. Are you acting worthy of the salvation given to you by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus? Have you counted the cost that Jesus took for you? Are you willing to count the cost that Christ asks you for? Be hot, be cold, don’t be lukewarm!

With all the love of Christ Jesus, Nick

Two Quotes; one from a stranger another from a friend

Quoted by Roy Lessin:
He is not the God of the "half-empty" or "half-full" in our lives. He is the God of the "exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think." His will for us is not just "joy" but "great joy".... not just "peace" but the "peace that passes understanding" ... not just "love" but "fullness of love"...not just to be a "conqueror" but to be "more than a conqueror." When He fills our cup, it is overflowing; when He flows through us, it is as rivers of living water; when He meets a need, He does it out of the riches that are in Christ.

Friend: this is the gut level of where i'm at now spiritually. i don't read the word, pray, or give like i've been told i should. do you know what i do...i think, struggle, mourn, serve, and seek oportunities to help and love. my theology is not orthadox any more. but it isn't a product of a fad. it is what it is...mine.

Good vs. Evil: In the March/April 2005 YouthWorker Journal Brian McLaren writes and article that piqued my interest. There is a point that I would like to expound on and to be honest I'm not sure if this is what he meant or not but it is where my mind took me.

I often hear people say "God is not republican" or "God is not calvanist" or something to that matter. Generally people are correct in these statements. God is not defined by a word rather people, normally believers have constructed a viewpoint and set of beliefs and preferences that they say God stands for. These people are probably mostly right, or at least not wrong in their assumption of these beliefs. They have contructed a moral code to live by, which I know is not easy to contruct much less live by. I commend them and I don't have a problem with this.

What I do have a problem with is that this moral code becomes the conduit of salvation not the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Morals get you to heaven no faster than roller skates. So what's the problem?

Rather than present the salvation of Jesus Christ to our friends and aquaintances we present them a moral code and lifestyle. We are so used to deeming things right/wrong, black/white, godly/sin that we start to label people with this same. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying there is not such thing as right or wrong or that it's not important. I'm saying that we are not judged our worth in God's eyes by what we do right and wrong we instead are judged by only one thing FAITH in Jesus Christ. So rather than sweat the right and wrong politics of moral codes let's see people for what they are and for what we all need.

Steroids

Congress: Why again is there a congressional hearing on steroids and Major League Baseball? Why does congress care and if they should care why do they have a say in the matter?

Cynical

Doctor Sense: So how long should we refrain from taking the baby out in public? Well at least two months you don't want to take him anywhere there might be germs than lead to illness. You mean like the Doctor's office?

how bout this?

Random

Nathan: When do you know it's time for your baby's first bath? When you can't stand to hold him because he smells like rotten milk. Poor little guy!

Learning: I think I have figured out that I do not want to be lectured to but rather I want to be involved in interactive learning. I wonder if others are like this?

Stupid People

Loss of one: I just watched Timeline (the movie) again for the third time. I like the movie probably because I like the time period and I like the fact that my wife will watch it with me. It's not a great movie but it is a good movie, I guess good enough to watch three times. I have a problem with movies that do one thing. Generally the plot goes like this. One person is in need of rescue or help. They are in a perilious place and then need to be saved. One person or a group of heroes, several reluctant people, one fool, and a jokster all agree to the quest. Now keep in mind the make up of the group can vary but will remain mostly the same as I noted above. Now they go on the rescue thinking it will be quick and they will get back real fast. As fate would have it, or holywood depending on how romantic you're feeling on this day, most of the rescue party dies.

Now what kind of sense does this make. The person is in a near impossible place to be rescued and the party is formed and most people in the party die except one or two heroes and the person being rescued. Wouldn't it be smarter to just count the person needing rescued as a loss and save all those other lives. Normally the person needing rescued made a stupid decision to be there in the first place...don't they deserve to die and not the people with good intentions. Of course that doesn't make for good movies and sounds harsh. I know what you're thinking, don't get lost in the woods on Nick's camping trip he won't come rescue you. No, I'm better than that.

Wanna go camping?

Cerda's Theory of Self-limiting Success

Part two: I was talking to my Dad today and he was telling me about excellent men in history and their success. He was telling me about his dream of a certain society where all people are given the same opportunity and there is no crime. He was telling me about how he wanted to write a book on this and who his real life fiction characters would be.

I then told him about my theory of self limiting success. It seems that we have concluded that people that are successful, incredibly, somehow figure out how to shut down the self-limiting feature that seems to be ingrained in humans.

Words from a friend

"It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it." -Aristotle

God will hold you accountable to His word and the convictions he puts on your heart. you see many flaws and walls built by the church in the name of Christ that are not of Him. stand up and expose them like a prophet of old when the Lord grants you the opportunity. in between the opportunities figure out some way to love them and hate the ties that bind them at the same time while all the time being teachable and Spirit lead. Aristotle said, "it is a mark of an educated man that they are able to entertain dangerous ideas without embracing them." (paraphrase). What a strength the Lord gives us when He says, "to the pure all things are pure". that's what i'm working on.

Thanks Nate!

Almost there

Theory: I have a theory. To my knowledge this is my theory and mine alone, I am the first to think of it therefore it this gets public (not likely considering the 3.4 people who read my blog) then I want credit for it. Here it goes.

Ever watch a minor league or pro baseball game? Count the number of fly balls that make it to the last 15 feet of the field but fail to go over. Count the number of homeruns that stay within 15 feet of the outfield fence. Put a player on a field that is 300ft and they will hit the ball just as close to the fence as in a field that is 320ft.

Every watch college basketball? Regular season games it's not unlikely for two great teams to play each other and blow the other team out by 20 pts. It's also not unlikely for the underdog team to get romped on by the better team. Bring on the championship games and tournaments. Any team is in it! What's more? The score will almost always be close no matter how unevenly matched the teams are.

So here's my theory. Sure some will say that the underdog team is just playing better than normal and the better team is playing worse than ususal. I can buy that sometimes but this happens far to often for it to be explained away like that. I think with the homeruns and with college basketball there is something in the brain or perception that limits a person. It seems like those that are great or do great things have figured out how to put down that limiter in thier minds and excel. I guess when I get famous for this theory I want it to be called Cerda's Theory of Self-Limiting Success.

Rocky II

Rock: Rock desides he wants to stop fighting. One because his right eye has bad vision in it and as a southpaw he's very dependant on seeing the swings from right handed fighters with that eye. So in his love for his wife wants to provide for her and he wants a good desk job. Problem is he only finished the 9th grade in high school and "don't read so good". So noone will hire him at a desk job. Instead he gets a week to week job at a meat packing plant but despite his hard work he gets laid off cuz of cut backs.

Rock is stuck, his love is boxing but that's no good so he wants to do what he thinks he should do and that's get a job but no one is hiring. What he has a passion for he doesn't have the skills for, boxing!

I think sometimes we want to do our passion but we don't have the skills.

Teaching Schedule

It's Time: I've been struggling sometime now as far as what direction I want to go regarding teaching my students. We are a solid group of young believers with good direction and a pretty strong passion for growth in their relationships with Jesus Christ...sometimes. I love my students and expect great things from them and at the same time I want to give them expectations and have expectations of them that they can achieve. I know there will be times that I am disappointed in them but I want to always love them and I want them to know I am proud of them.

Normally I teach my students what God is teaching me. Lately God has been teaching me about my conception of church, being a believer, and what Jesus expects from me as his follower (as found in scripture). Frankly some of what goes through my head and what I am positive God is teaching me will not be smiled upon from my church. I don't think these thoughts are radical, but they are different...diametrically opposed in fact. If I teach this stuff, this truth, it's not going to go over well. It is going to cause tension, problems, and conflict.

So what's a guy going to do? Well I'll tell you what this guy is going to do. I'm going to go for it. I want to press on in what I am called to. I'm going to equip these young disciples the best I can and I am going to prepare them for the church I know will be here tomorrow not the one that is dying today.

God be with me?
God be with me!

simon says?

Big scary world

We brought Nathan home from the hospital today. He was there in his little carseat oblivious to the world and then it hit me that yeah this was my little son and I needed to care for him. Almost overwhelming but then again quite inspiring!

Sports

Nationals: I caught a little bit of the Nationals game while sitting in the hospital with Heather and Nathan. It was nice to see them play and even better to see a win! I have a problem with their uniforms. I bought the official cap that has a "W" on it. I like that. Their uniforms have a DC on it kind of intertwined. I like that. The only problem is no where is an N or Nationals. I'm sure regular season stuff will be different but I think they need something that has their name not just where they are from.

March Madness: One of my favorite sports events of the year. Filling out a bracket is always fun even though since I started following college basketball more (the past 5 years or so) my bracket skills have gotten worse. Go figure.

Nathan Douglas 

A year

March 3, 2004: Last year on March 3 I did the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. It was absolutely horrible but somewhere in that tragedy God gave me the eyes to see his grace and to see light in such an incredibly hard situation. I put hope in Jesus Christ and although I knew life would never be the same I knew it would go on and with the grace of God would even be good.

March 3, 2005: Exactly one year to the day of the above said event I experienced the most wonderful day of my life. Last night at 9:38pm my son, my first child Nathan Douglas was born. When I first saw him in the doctor's hands the only thing I could do was cry. Not only was he my son but he was the fulfillment of the promise God had given me a year before during such tragedy. As I touched Nathan, it was so surreal. I've tried twice now to find the words to describe the joy that I need to describe touching and holding my son, and I can't. All I know is that I cried more than he did. Simply the greatest day of my life!

Values

Actions: We do what we value not what we say we believe. That is perhaps the most life changing statement I have every heard. Another way to put is your actions show what you really think is important.

If we take a cross section of our average day I think it would be clear that I value relationships. But relationship for what? Am I doing anything with these relationships or really just using them to make me feel better about life and self worth?

I value watching tv, I sure do enough of it.
I value my wife and spending time with her.
I value...
I value...

We do what we value not what we say we believe.

Baby I got your money

Offering: It is not my desire to use this blog and my brief writings and rantings to take a subject I was in conversation with and then come here and ‘tell you want I really think’ I think that would be wrong and disrespectful to my friends and those I converse with.

Let me get you on my train of thought. I was talking to my best friend JB last night and he was telling me about his future and how he and his wife are expecting to go to Russia this fall. I was asking him about support and how I could help him out financially. Then a few days ago I think I was either talking to a family member or a friend and they were talking about giving to missions and other Christian charitable organizations. During that conversation they were telling me their frustrations with people taking out of their ‘tithe’ check monies for missions. Giving for missions, in their mind, should be above and beyond what they normally give to the church. At the time I heard these words I felt in my heart I disagree but either decided it wasn’t a battle I wanted to fight or didn’t quite know what I would say in rebuttal I just knew I didn’t agree.

So this morning I was writing my offering check. I designated about 2/3 of it straight to operating expenses of the church and the other 1/3 to foreign missions and home missions (church planting). I really believe in these two efforts. As I designated on the envelope I wondered what people would say if they knew I wasn’t giving my full 10% to the church. So it got my thinking why I give, what I give to certain places and am I OK to be doing it this way.

God has called me to give my time and efforts to expanding his kingdom. I must admit that the kingdom I am trying to expand often is more confusing than helping. Lately my heart has been broken for peoples in third world situations such as AIDS, tsunami and the Dalit’s of India (see below post). I believe that there is great potential in these people and I want to see them experience a relationship with Jesus Christ. Right now my best way to help is with my money.

Maybe I should answer this question first. Why am I not giving the full amount to my local church body? I think the short answer is…This church is about the discipleship and nurturing of current believers. I think that is a very valid and necessary ministry. I also believe it is about ½ of the spectrum of ministry we should be involved in. My heart and passions lie with the unchurched and those who don’t know Christ.

It was good to think through this and made me feel a little less like a bad man!

OH man!

Waiting: My wife is officially past her due date for our little boy. Geez the waiting is killing me. I'm told a baby is worth the wait so that makes waiting more tolerable.

Say it don't pray it

I posted this yesterday but blogger kept asking me to login so the post never made it.

Preachers: When I prepare a message, sermon or lesson for my students or the church I feel that what I am talking about is important and really want them to get what I'm talking about. I believe in what I talk about and I believe it can change their lives for the better.

But when I preach and when I hear others preach often they don't get the point across as strongly as they want to or sometimes they just fail miserably. Rather than just take the fall count their losses, pack their Bibles and leave the pulpit they do the miserable. They pray. Now I love prayer and I think it is such a wonderful gift that God has blessed us with. I believe in the power of prayer. But when a message is miserable preaching the message again in the prayer is not recommended. God already heard your message, he unlike the congregation was paying attention and heard every word. His life doesn't need to be changed, he's already perfect.

Bottom line: don't pray your messages, hold the value of prayer higher than that!

Today

I confessed to my friend Steve this morning that I was having a hard time not getting stressed out. I also told him that I was putting emotions about one item into the arena of another and that was not fair. I have been stressed lately and having a hard time trusting God. I say I trust him, I know he is trust worthy but my actions have not been matching my words.

This morning I spent a brief time in the word and just left feeling like I had fulfilled an obligation not connected with JEHOVAH. So I went to a book I have and the devotion was on trusting God with all things and being content in trusting him. As I read those very words the cd player says “I will give you all my worship”.

I had to say God I will give you all…as worship.

He’s worth it, He’s trust worthy!

Actions, Start acting right!

Bobble Head Jesus in all his...boredom!

Tonight's Message

Message: I'm talking about the Clay cups I mentioned at the beginning of the month tonight. I know it will be impacting to the students. Not because of my but because they have hearts of gold and want to serve and help others.

Below is the message:

The Story: India is the largest democracy in the world. This means that they boat of having a government where not only are all people created equal but they all get an equal say in elections. One would think this would be a wonderful place to live. All men are equal, no racism, no prejudices, just all people equal.

The truth of the matter is that long ago the priest of the religion of Hindu set up a caste system. If you don’t know what a caste system is think of it like a pecking order. Kind of like high school, seniors are the best and can do anything they want; juniors are still cool but just need to listen to the seniors. Sophomores really just need to keep quiet unless they are liked by the juniors and seniors. Freshman are just punks but still tolerable.

In India there are 4 classes of people or castes. There is nothing you can do to change castes or status you are merely born into a caste and you will die of that same caste. This isn’t such a bad thing if you are in one of the top castes but if you are of a lower you are stuck.

I said the Priests set up this caste system thousands of years ago. Which caste do you think is the highest caste? Brahmins or priest. Next comes the Kshatriyas: soldiers and administrators. Then the Vaisyas: the commercial class and then the last the Sudras: the farmers and peasants.

Being of the lowest caste is pretty rough life. People ignore you, think you are white trash; you are prejudiced against just for being born poor. I have a horrifying thing to tell you. There is a caste lower that the lowest class. These people aren’t even considered good enough to be of a caste. They are called Dalits. Dalits means “broken to pieces” “outcaste” and “untouchable”. Another meaning of the word is “mistake to be born”. The rest of the nation treats these people as if they are mistakes to society, they are as good as never born. These people rank in treatment lower than animals.

There was a law passed about 50 years ago in India stating that society could no longer treat these people as badly as they were doing. But the law has meant nothing. One prime example of how rejected these people are this: Dalits by law are allowed in restaurants and other places. But if a Dalit is given a beverage they are given the drink in a cheaply made clay cup. After the Dalit drinks of the water the cup will be broken and thrown away so no one else will be contaminated by their “dirtiness”. Dalits are not allowed to draw water from the community wells. Because of this Dalits are forced to sit by the well and beg someone of a higher caste for a drink. Normally no one will give them a drink, sometimes they will but they will give it to them in a clay cup. If the shadow of a Dalit crosses that of a high caste that person is considered dirty and must go through a cleansing process.

In the wake of the Tsunami we are all aware that part of India was hit. One of the communities that were struck was a Dalit community. Naturally when they lost everything they went to refuge camps. In these camps they were told to go away that there was no assistance for them. They were told that they would be given no help. They weren’t even given the tools to bury their dead just alcohol so they could get drunk to forget the stench.

Boys playing Cricket, a British form of baseball, at school get into a verbal argument. One side was Dalits the other was of a higher caste. Most of the Dalits were able to escape but 3 were caught by the higher caste. They were drug inside a house and forced to drink urine from a shoe at gunpoint. Then the police were called and they spend 8 days in jail.

I hope I have described to you in enough detail the horrendous treatment these people must endure. This doesn’t just happen to a few people but to the whole society. 25% of the population of India is Dalit, which is about 250 Million. Wow!

Well the song we just heard is from Caedmon’s Call and is called share the well. The band went on a world mission’s trip last year and go to know the Dalit’s story and their need. They wrote this song with authentic Dalit people playing the drums in the background and Dalit vocals. It is about the story of the clay cup and the oppression of the people. They wrote the song on two levels. On the physical level that the people are just oppressed, they need education, food, water, and a chance to succeed.

They also wrote it on a spiritual level. God created and I believe intended all humans to be treated as equals. I believe that the Bible teaches us that salvation is for all man. If we think of the water as Jesus Christ and the well just happens to be the place where it is kept. I think the water in that well is available to all man. God does not look at outside appearances or cares what caste you are part of. He loves you for who you are. It is only when a Dalit hears the gospel of Jesus do they know that they are loved by God the same. They are taught by Hinduism that they are sub-culture. Lower than dirt and outcastes. When they hear about Jesus they realize their worth and they receive salvation not only from their sins but from thinking they are worthless.

Listen to this song again. This time I have a clay cup for you. Inside this cup is the story of the Dalits. On the cup is a website that you can go to learn more about the Dalits and their story and you can do a google search for Dalits and read lots of their stories.

There is enough Jesus to go around: We do no have a monopoly on Jesus. He is for all people and his sacrifice covers a multitude of sins…whether we like it or not. Over time and I don’t blame you guys I think you’ve learned it from someone older than you and even older than your parents. We figured that if we can’t control the water (Jesus) then we can control the vessels (ourselves). We treat sinners like they are filthy, we give them only a little portion of Jesus and that’s the portion we want them to have. Then when we are done giving them charity we go back to our safe corners and break the cups so we don’t get dirty. Jesus wasn’t afraid to get dirty and I believe that he asked us to no be afraid also. He wants us to give to people freely his love. He asks us to be the vessels.

Do you view unbelievers as a lower Caste?
Are you willing to reach into the sin and see the believer?
Even if it means getting a little dirty?
Will you share the well?

Call to action: You may keep the cup free of charge. Please keep in mind that these cups cost me $.25 a piece and I don’t mind covering your cost. But please know that the average Dalit makes a quarter a day. For this next week I am asking every person to go without one thing that costs them money. When you go without take that money that you would spend and put it aside. Next Wednesday bring the money and we will give it to an organization that helps the Dalits.

Don't Do it

"Don't thank God," Rock said. "God's busy working on the tsunami, so leave him alone." Chris Rock commenting on acceptance speeches at the Oscars.

Legalism

It is Easier: I think people in evangelical circles today want to get away from Legalism. The problem is it is to scary on the other side. The unknown side of a life of grace. It's easier to know the list of do's and don't's and know how much God likes you on that grade scale than to...

More to come later I just wanted to get this thought down.

TIME

Parents: Heather and I just got back from Borders where we were reading up on magazines and just enjoying one of my favorite things BOOKS! I finally got to read the new TIME magazine and the article on parents involved in their childrens lives. The article admitted that increased parental involvement is a burden to educators. It noted that it's not the involvement that is the problem but rather the type of involvement. To sum it up the article stated that educators need advocates in parent's not adversaries. Parents: stop babying your kids, stop worrying about perfect grades and build some character in your children. Teach them to be responsible, take risks, do their work on their own, teach them to succeed (don't succeed for them), teach them to fail (and how to prevent it).

My favorite thought was: By the time your child is 18 they will have spent 13% of their lives in school, you focus on the other 87% and let educators take care of their 13%.

Padre

Quote of the Month

I was talking to my Dad today on the phone

Dad asks "how has your week been?"

I say "pretty good, I've been lazy all week and I feel like I wasted it"

He says "ahh it's ok, it's a long life you have to pace yourself!"

that's why it's always good to talk to Dad!

The Hat

Nationals: So I've decided to bail on the Baltimore Orioles and make myself a D.C. fan all the way...well not quite but the Redskins and the Nat'ls. So like every good fan I must sport the home ball cap. Too bad the one I want is out of stock. Grrrr.

People: I think I've figured out why I get so frustrated sometimes. I have literally given my whole life up to this point serving people. I do it because I am serving God and being obedient to him. But still the same my main business is people. I invest my time, money, passions, emotions and much more into people. I want to lead them to better things, to abundant life, to a relatonship with Christ. The pain and frustration comes in when you invest and that investment comes back void, or when you invest and then those people aren't willing to invest in your both. I love people I really do but sometimes I feel like it's all take and no give.

God gives the strength to carry on!

Appropriate Language

Swearing: I was watching the Westminster dog show the other night and the winning dog and her handler were in the winners circle and the judge was standing with them. The interviewer asked the judge, "out of all these spectatular dog why did this one stand out as the winner" The judge said "There was just something spectatular about his bitch"

Even though I'm 25 and my wife is 26 we just cracked up laughing. Not because we're potty mouths you just don't hear that word too often.

Dogs: When I was shopping for my dog about 4 years ago I noticed that's just what dog breeders call the females and the males are called sires or studs. It's not bad, it's not foul language, it's just what the word bitch means.

I hold myself in contempt!

2/16/05

Hockey: So Hockey might resolve their labor conflict today. If they don't do it today then the rest of the season is done with. I only have one question. Who cares? I seldom watched hockey but appreciated the fans, I always enjoyed going to games but who has $30 a ticket to sit in the nose bleeds? I think it was in 95' when Major League Baseball had their strike. I used to watch every game that came on tv and followed all the stats when the labor dispute came and they quit playing I quit watching. I gradually watch more and more but not as much as I once did. It's been 10 years. I wonder if hockey is prepared for a loss of fan base?

Nat'ls: Speaking of Baseball. I think I've decided to quit rooting for the Orioles and start rooting for the new team the Washington Nationals. I have been and O's fan since I was about 9. I have to be honest my reason for jumping ship is a bad one. The O's are in a division with both the Yankees and the Red Sox so their chance of every making it to another world series is pretty low. With a new team coming to D.C. now is the perfect time.

Light: Last night we were driving back from wal-mart, the sun was setting, almost gone from the sky but about 1/8 of the sky was still light. The rest of the sky was pitch black and you could see the darkness advancing on the small portion of lit sky. Something with that scene resonated with me and defined my life perfectly. I feel like I have a bit of light. I have dedicated my life to spreading that light and sometimes is just feels like the darkness keeps creeping in.It just reminded me we put our hope in an eternal future.

Gotta kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight - BNL

Buying Stuff

Buy ME! I'm a buyaholic, I don't really like to shop but I sure do like to buy stuff. Normally my wife and I get an allowance at the beginning of the month and that's what we use to buy haircuts, beauty stuff, shoes...really anything that's not a must have for survival which is most things we buy if we're honest. In an effort to save money for the baby coming I have forgone my allowance and just done without...well I get a haircut still but that's it. At first it was hard because I like to buy stuff but this morning I realized that I really don't miss it...It's for a good cause!

Finished

The Present Future: I finally got serious about this book and finished it. It was an exciting read and quite hands on for as philosophical it was. The question I keep asking myself in my mind is "is it really possible to do church this way." The relevant, caring, God ordained way of doing church...correction not doing church being church. Being a believer a follower of Jesus Christ that cares more about others and increasing the kindgom that about self and increasing his/her church.

We are called to introduce people to Jesus and a relationship with him not churchianity.

I'm fired up now...oh to remain unfrustrated!

Morning

6:45 am: It's funny cuz I'm not really a slacker I'm just a night owl. I condition my body to stay up late and then wake up about 8am so it's not that I get more sleep than regular working people I just get my hours at a time more preferred by me. 6:45 really isn't all that early but it feels bad when you go to bed at 2 am.

7:15 am: The best part about leaving the house for a youth trip this early is that I feel entitled to some starbucks coffee as a reward for my good deeds. So I am faced with the perilious question of Mocha of white chocolate mocha...

life's tough decisions

The Present Future

The Present Future: Reggie McNeal--I started to say that this book is a must read for all church going people but I don't believe that it really is. It is a must read for people who are tired of "doing church". If you are tired of being part of a religious club, if you are tired of your holy huddle, if you read the stories of Jesus and have asked yourself why can't I be just a little like him, if you are a rebel, a fire starter, a brave soul then read this book.

The world is depending on you.

Fur coats

PETA: The people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has found a way to recycle fur coats that they have collected. They were giving them to the homeless of Washington D.C. Good Idea PETA! That's the first constructive thing I've ever heard of PETA doing. Where I'm from they stand at the fishing piers and yell at you.

Fur Coats: One time my Uncle Lenny set up for me and my sister to work at the coat room of the local Elks Lodge. It was their annual Christmas dinner so the men and women were dressed to the hilt and of course they had their fur on. They would hand us their coats and we would hand them their tags. The women would reek of perfume and I would grab the coat and this horrendous smell of cheap perfume and nasty fur coat would envelope me. It was quite tramatic if I remember it 18 years later.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday: I went to the local Catholic church this morning. I just missed the Ash Wednesday morning mass but was able to see the people walking out. I always enjoy going to St. John’s and this morning was no different. I must admit one thing before people start thinking I’m some sort of…well I don’t know what. The reasons I go are two fold and two fold selfish. The first is that it’s easier to be quiet and solemn at such a sombering place. The second reason is that I like to get ideas for experiential worship.

I was just talking to a guy the other day that LOVES to try “new” things in his youth worship service. He was just talking about how he rips off the catholic ideas all the time. As I entered today what appeared to be an exiting from a funeral, I then sat down on a pew about half way back. There was a group of senior citizens that must not’ve got enough during the mass because they were holding their service on the opposite side of me. Nothing to terribly alarming about that.

As I was reading my Bible and looking at the crucifix at the front of the church I couldn’t help but hear the holy seniors prayers. One Lord’s prayer, some scripture reading, another Lord’s prayer and then…much praying to the “virgin” Mary. As they began those prayers, and I don’t mean to offend Catholics, I felt very uncomfortable. I pray to one God. I believe this is a Biblical truth and praying to anything else is idolatry. I tried to ignore it but as their prayers went on there was a check in my spirit and I had to leave. They were praying to a false god, putting their trust in a woman, who gave birth to the son of God, no small feet, but in the end was just a woman, not a god.

I know that experiential worship has led us to the things of the past and anyone who knows me knows I love experiential hands on worship but we must remember our separation from the Catholic church and why as we pilgrim ahead…err…back.

Amazing

Driving: Heather and I went for a drive today. There are some foothills near our house and we enjoy the seclusion of the woods and the ability to get away such a short distance from our house. Both of us had the day off and so we went for a drive. The drive was nice, uneventful and gave us sometime to just talk and enjoy one another. I enjoy those times.

George: I have a dog, he's about a 14 pound jack russell terrier and he's the best dog in the world. He obeys better than most 8 year olds and he's good for a laugh and unconditional love. George listens really well and is well trained...lately when I let him out back he doesn't come back in when I call him. He knows it's muddy outside and I don't want to get my feet muddy so he just ignored me when I call him. Today he was out back ignoring me as usual and I picked up his air filled and kind of soft green ball. I yelled "George if you don't get in here I'm going to hit you in the head with this ball". He turned and glanced over the forty some foot spanse and just laughed. I thought I hear him mutter "you don't have the arm woman" but you can never be sure. So not wanting to throw out empty threats I gripped the ball firmly and gave it a nice line drive throw.

:it was at this exact time that the stars aligned, gravity reversed and God smiled down on me: As the ball left my hand I felt the magic, I believed in the power of positive thinking and I knew the throw was going to strike home. Sure enough just as George looked up and muttered oh %$^# (he has a foul mouth for a dog), the ball struck him right in the skull. It was simply amazing. I called George again, this time he came back in the house.

It's not every day something like that happens I mean throwing a soft ball sized ball at a baseball sized head at 40' and hiting my target, the gods were with me. Reminds me of the time in youth group growing up we were watching Tremors in the yg room and I said I hate this movie I'm turning off the tv and from 15' away I threw a gummie bear and hit the off button and the tv turned off.

What will tomorrow bring?

Wanted:

ADHD: I thought that'd be a cool name for my youth group. If you have to have a name why not have one that describes one so well.

Seeking employment: Youth pastor looking for mediocre church. Church I am desiring has enough people to pay the bills but not enough to make anyone uncomfortable. I am looking to work a maximum of 35 hours a week and I offer limited creativity. I want a church that is dedicated and committed to the status quo and not too concerned with reaching the lost. I feel this environment is safe and does not offend anyone nor will it require to much of me. My talents are in maintaining and patting current believers on the back and telling them they're doing a good job. Sustaining is my middle name. Churches finding this description matches up with their values please call, I think we're a match. I can be reached via email...

No offers? I didn't think so.

Dress up day...

Suits: The first sunday of every month at my church is communion sunday, it is also the one week a month that I am required to wear a suit. Our church is an otherwise dress casual atmosphere and I enjoy that. But communion sundays...well I hate wearing a suit...to church. Don't get me wrong I like look dapper when going on special nights with my honey or other sophisticated occasions. I guess the reason is those night I'm trying to impress someone or feel important. At church I've already impressed the one I want to think me important and when it comes down to it HE is impressed with me not because of a thing I do but because of everything he has done.

In the end I just hate wearing a suit to church, no reason to overspiritualize it I just don't like it.

I'm going to go cry now!

Car woes

So the heat in the big green beast (96 Ford Explorer) hasn't been working on those really cold days. It's not all that bad really except you can't feel your fingers, talk on the phone, or breathe deeply...ok it's horrible. So today I bit the bullet and tried to figure out what it was. I suspected the thermostat so I bought one ($4) and installed it. It didn't take very long because I have done it before. As I was finishing up I looked over to my wife's car and noticed she had a flat tire. What the crap? I was so irritated. Not that Heather did anything to do it these things happen but the timing was just pretty bad.

I got it done, washed the dog, vacuumed the house, and layed on the couch. Perfect lineup for a saturday and it's still only 5:30.

Well I wanted to be a nerd. I was hoping but then I took the test...I'm not a nerd. What a sad realization! 

I'm going to smash your pinata!

Do it the way I normally do it...: When a sentence begins with those words and I am being asked to do something I kind of just chuckle. If you want me to do something but want to tell me how to do it and want me to do it like you do it...then why don't you just do it yourself. That's the beauty of other people doing stuff they're going to do it their way and it's going to be different.

Messy: Yesterday I had the opportunity to view and interact in a meeting as an outsider. It was a group of youth pastors for a nearby county. I had no investment nor would I gain anything from the planning to I listened and I observed. The intent of the meeting was to plan a session 2 hours a month where paid and unpaid youth staff could come and interact with other youth leaders and hear from a trained professional in some field about a topic that should benefit the youth leader. As the planning and brain sparking was going on I thought the ideas were flowing and the team was working well together. The structure of the event was being set in place but was not exceedingly rigid and seemed quite interactive and free flowing. This this dude says...but we're messy people. He didn't want any structure to the event. He just wanted...chaos? I'm all about messy and I know spiritually I'm not all put together nor do I think my end goal is to be all put together. I am a man on a quest, the quest has no end but is merely about the people on it with me...and my relationship with HIM. The way this fella was talking was as if structure was bad, organization was bad, and planning was even worse. I don't think that's what messy means but I can see some youth pastors in the future saying...I don't have to play ahead, have permission slips or do paperwork be cause I'm MESSY. How about LAZY!

Post-Modern: At the above mentioned meeting their started talk of doing a session on Post-modern thinking and the church. One of the guys spoke up and said some stuff he was doing with his group and instantly there was a buzz about how pomo this cat was. Now I'm no pomo specialist. I've been studying the emerging church and my emerging students. I have had to reconcile in my mind many things theologically and I have been on a major journey these past 7 months about the whole emergent church and I believe I am better for it. I see a strong need for the church to adapt to the culture because if we do not then the church will DIE. What I was hearing from these guys is that we can change the aesthetics of what is being done. We can generate some hands-on stuff twice a month or even every week; We light a few candles, throw some sand on the floor, draw a picture and we're post modern...hooray we have arrived! Post modernism and being emergent is doing interactive worship...bull! It's more than aesthetics and experiential worship it's a mindset that we must adopt, that our spiritual walk is not a destination but a journey that is often ugly, marred and not dictated by stages.

Some people call me space cowboy

Some call me gangsta of love, but most just call me Padre.

Biblical Virtues: I've been praying through this book mark I got for my unborn baby Nathan. 31 Biblical Virtues to pray for your kids by Bob Hostetler.

Buck Wild: I live in a city that has expanded by about 100k people in the past 14 years. The problem with that is the roads and traffic patterns have not been able to keep up and what's even worse is the people that lived here when it was a tiny farming community still live here and get spooked by all the traffic. I used to think they were the worst of traffic problems. I have since change my opinion.

I've noticed the past few days how confident people are in their cars. For little or no reason at all they will start yelling at you from their drivers seat, or one time it was the passenger seat. Do something they don't approve and you almost guaranteed to see their faces turn red and their mouths open with profanity. I think it's kind of funny but mostly sad. If their life is so fragile that driving makes them rage then they must have a pretty rough life. What's unusual is that I'm not a small man. I have never been sworn at in public to my face because frankly people are afraid and if not afraid have a healthy respect for my substantial girth. Basically people don't give me lip...put them in a nice safe confined car and they'll jump on you like stink on a buffalo fart.

Juggling: ESPN 2 has had on the World Juggling Federation Championships. Who know there was a such thing?

Groundhog's day

Big Cars: I understand that as you get into your senior citizen years you have a need to be comfortable. I'd like to think I respect the elderly very much. But why oh why must they drive the huge cars. They have a hard enough turning the wheel and seeing out the windshield without the car being roughly the size of a humvee. I wonder if we could start a national campaign to get seniors to drive toyota echo's or Chevy Cavaliers. I'm writing them a letter today.

Democracy: So Iraq had their elections...that's pretty cool. I think their might be a problem though. Saddam Hussein, you know their former dictator, was actually registered and eligible to cast a ballot. He did not vote from the confines of his prison but it leaves one question unanswered...who would he have voted for?

Cancer: They don't prepare you for this at Bible College. Got a call monday telling me that one of my key students (17 years old) has two spots on his thyroid and that they are cancer. He went in for a PET scan yesterday and the cancer HAS NOT spread to any other area. God is good. He is having surgery today to remove his thyroid. We are confident that God is going to remove this surgery and that David will never have to deal with cancer again.

Jesus Christ is LORD of all!

God gave me this verse in my time with him to show David
"Don't be afraid, for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!"

Clay Cup

I received a free box of youth pastor goodies from our local Christians bookstore. I have connections there so they are always sure to reserve me a box, great people! In that box was a single of Caedmon's Call new album Share the well with the song Share the Well. I heard the song and enjoy it's Indian flavor. In that same box was a clay cup, about 4" tall and quite crudely made. I laughed to myself and wondered if they had given me the Holy Grail by accident.

A while later in the day I revisited the box and was reading the devotional guide that go along with some of the CD's. On the very last page was a devotional about the song Share the Well and it told of a society in India called the Dalit's. Dalit translates "broken in pieces" or "ground". In the caste system of India they are the lowest class, even lower than animals. They are not allowed pots or buckets to get water from the community wells and are instead forced to beg the higher castes for water. Often they are overlooked and ignored. When they are given water they are given it in a crudely made clay cup. The reason for the clay cup is so that it can be broken when the Dalit is done drinking so as not to contaminate anyone else.

You can read more about the Dalit's and clay cups HERE

the devotional thoughts in this post are derived from Youth Pastor Perks and I believe written by Mike Wilson.

Handyman

My Dad basically taught me that there is nothing a man shouldn't be able to do. For instance I can cook dinner, wash dishes, do the laundry and in all reality know how to do anything that needs doing in the house. I'm glad he taught this to me I find I help my wife out so much more than I would normally be able to.

Dad also taught me how to fix stuff or how to do things...actually better than that he taught me how to figure out how to do things so in reality...well in my mind there is nothing I cannot do. I'm very glad he taught me all this stuff. I have only one question though.

Does it ever end? If I'm not doing maintaining stuff like shoveling the snow, mowing the grass or mulching the flower bed then I'm doing something else, like installing a floor, dishwasher, garbage disposal, fixing the heat in my truck (not fun when it's 14 degrees outside).

I have come to the conclusion that indeed it does not ever end and it's too late to pretend like I don't know how to do stuff like many men I know. In the words of Shintaro Kiwano "I'm pooched!"

Change

I have been place in a few positions of leadership for my denomination both with the youth ministry and with two committees on the District Level. Now I'm not making any hardcore decisions, except with the youth leadership, but rather just getting good experience at what goes on at the District level. It's quite an honor for me and I love learning.

As I read the reports and check the status of our churches I must admit I am startled at the lack of conversions and conversion growth. I know that numbers aren't everything I might be the pot calling the kettle black but...something much change.

Not change for the sake of change but change because the world has already change around us and we are changing merely to try to keep up but still steps behind. I don't think it is a methodological change either, I don't think changing the way we do things is going to connect people to a relationship with Christ. I also know that Christ will not change.

I guess I've come to the conclusion that it is a change in mindset. Those take time, seem pretty much impossible, and people will hate you for it.

I'm ready! Who's with me?

Please no!

This morning in conversation the question was asked "what verse have you chosen as your theme for the new year?" Let me explain my perspective on this. I am a youth pastor and I think it is lots of fun coming up with themes for messages and events, sometimes a theme can really make an event more appealing to the crowd. For instance for valentine's day rather than calling it "Valentine's Party" we're calling it "A dynamite valentine's party" and using Napoleon Dynamite as a theme. So I'm all about themes.

I also think it's good to have goals...

If you walked into a science room and the class was disecting something. The parts are all over the tables and there is no recognizable animal only animal parts. One of the students runs up to you holding a small organ...it's a liver. The kid exclaims...look it's a frog. You want to correct him but really don't know how. He goes on and on about how the "frog" is so cool and how it changed his life and that this frog is his best friend.

It sounds stupid but that's how I feel we treat the Bible sometimes. Look at this one little verse 12 words in a sea of millions yet this one verse explains all there is to know about 2005, the world, science, and God. Hogwash!

The Bible is not a rule book!
The Bible is not a list of guidelines!
The Bible is not a devotional book!

The Bible IS the living word of God of HIS interaction with his creation...and us!

Birthing Classes

My wife and I are about 4 and a half weeks away for our babies due date. We're pretty darn excited and are just waiting for his arrival. So far I've been to a breastfeeding class and one birthing class and I'm happy to report have not been traumatized...too much. Last night we watched two births...when it was all over I said to my wife...I was a little disappointed at how much they didn't show. I'm might be crazy.

All because of you: From the airwaves of rock stations everywhere U2's song all because of you is being transmitted. The truth of Jesus Christ and the power of the salvation he offers is being revealed to many...will they listen?

Devotional Thought

I put this in my parent's newsletter for winter 2005, thought I'd share it here.

I was scheduled to give a devotional at a recent youth event. I knew there would be a group of about 50 students and 20 adults and I wanted it to be impacting. I had prepared my message well ahead of time and was just reviewing in my mind in the hours before I was supposed to present.

As I was reading through my words and the scripture passage I was going to speak from I suddenly realized something quite tragic.
The very Bible that I speak so highly of, the one that I make my living explaining to people, and the book that I live my life by is the LIVING WORD OF GOD. In short it is God’s message to us.

I realized how callously I was handling such a precious gift. I encourage you in these months to realize the value of the most owned book in the world. It is not a text book, devotional book, or guide book for life. The Bible is the living word of God involving real people, a real God and a real story of a living savior that died for us.

American Jesus

Below is a part of an excerpt from a review I read on http://www.theooze.com The book sounds fascinating I can't wait to read it.

As the church continues to retreat into its own subculture, this book should be required reading to nudge it back to cultural engagement. Many of the false ideas presented in this book fall squarely back on the shoulders of the institutional church and its failure to proclaim Christ as reveled in the scriptures. The church as a whole and individual Christians should read this book to see the variations of Christ that have been proclaimed through history and continue daily in our culture. Perhaps then it will be forced to have to confront the errors with truth and the sad history of our savior in this nation will be a thing of the past. If the church refuses to leap head-first into the dialogue, then Jesus will continue to be fashioned into an idol and not the savior of mankind. It's a battle the church can not afford to ignore.


AMERICAN JESUS
Stephen Prothero
Farrar, Straus and Giboux, 2003.
364 pages, $14.00

Good morning starshine?

Who dat?

Haven't read anything good lately. Don't get me wrong books about taking care of a baby and being a father is good reading just not normally good stuff for a blog. I do think it is absolutely amazing that the human bodies work the way they do. Everything is perfectly set up to give the baby the best start in life it can possibly have. The amazing part is that women used to do it without hospitals and doctors.

My girl and I...Wowza!

Movies

Flight of the Phoenix: I label this a good movie. Not incredible plot line or special effects but a good family friendly movie. Which I'm considering more and more important these days. I enjoyed it and would consider this to be on the "to buy" list when it comes out.

Christmas with the Kranks: I used to get ingrowned toenails that were so bad the nail of my big toe would grow out of the side of my toe...this movie reminded me of extracting those ingrown toenails...by myself with only a pair of toenail clippers and some scissors.

Meet the Fockers: The same uncomfortable feeling was there when Gaylord and Pam's dad went at it during any converstaion...that's why this was such a good movie. Gay's parents: His mom a sex therapist of seniors and his dad a stay-at-home dad...hilarious but in appropriate for any teenager I think. I enjoyed the movie but was glad I was watching it with two other married couples and even they cringed at some parts. Overall very funny and even good story line with some inappropriate material for teens and children.

Ocean's Twelve: The heist wasn't as good as Ocean's Eleven and I got frustrated that so many talented theifs were scared of that manhoe but...It was a better movie overall and just enjoyable to watch. I don't think I'd own it but I'd watch it again.

Grace

God's been showing me a lot about grace for the past year or so. This may sound absurd but all of my life I have understood what Grace means but never comprehended the effects on my life. There is one thought that has baffled me for weeks now.

1. There is nothing I can do that will ever make God love me less.
How wonderful!
2. There is nothing I can do that will ever make God love me more.
We live in a world where there is something more to earn. Even in our marriages we learn how to love our spouse more and they do the same in turn. Not with God...that's what's amazing about grace.

Profound

To the new tribe;
you know who you are.
May your tribe increase!
There's a world counting on you
-Reggie McNeal

My girl and me!

Seasons Greetings

We Christians are so quick to cry foul when the secular world infringes on our "sacred" things. I think we first need to remember we are only visitors to this world and our stay here is temporary. I also think we need to research things and our traditions to see if we first "stole" the holiday from the secular world and not gripe when they claim back what is righfully theirs.

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real.html

Christmas Trees

I think it's funny that all over the nation there is the debate of Christmas trees and religious symbols. Last night I was standing in view of the White house (yes the one in Washington, D.C. that the president lives in) and I looked at over 65 Christmas trees representing each state, one of which being the nation tree must have been 30 feet high. In that representation of trees there was a large nativity scene. I think people need to get over it and realize people like Christmas trees and even nativity scenes.

Crack Problem

Crack: I have noticed the overwhelming amount of crack in America lately. It's on the streets, in the grocery stores and I even saw some in Target today. The problem is it's mostly women dealing the crack and it's hard for me to say anything to them...probably because I'm laughing so hard. No women is immune. Any generation is vulnerable. Young women, middle aged women, mothers, singles, they all are dealing with it. If I see one more butt crack I'm going to throw something in it or ask them to come fix my toilet.

Laci's Mom (left) weeps for her former son in law. I can't imagine the compassion in that woman to weep for the person that killed your child and grandchild. 

I have never lost a loved one to murder and I have never had to sit through a trial and look at my daughters murderer and hope he was found guilty. So I don't understand the feelings behind it all but it must be pretty intense to be able to smile about someone being put to death!
 

Gotta Kick at the Darkness till it Bleeds Daylight

Stages: I've noticed that my life goes in stages. Not stages like marriage, kids...etc. But stages of things that God is teaching me. I think that pretty normal and each stage is merely a building block for the next stage He will take me through. The funny thing about the stages is when they come about I know is not the final stage but it's like I'm just a tiny bit more enlightened than I was in the previous stage. I always learn a lot and I never have to look for the next stage but rather just grasp my current stage and the lessons I learn and the next stage ushers itself into my life in due time.

Music: I've really been enjoying U2's new album and some of the songs on it. I know people won't like this comment but some of their songs on spirituality are very worshipful for me. I was driving to work today listening and I remembered a time where I felt guilty that I didn't really like Christian music. I remember people making me feel so guilty that I didn't like "christian" music. Of course my views have changed and I don't feel so guilty anymore...just a little weird.

I'm more than just a pretty face

Worth Noting: Mia Hamm retired yesterday. She was born the same year that Title IX was put in place giving women the same athletic opportunities as men. She really seized the day on that one. I'll try to get these stats right. She scored goals against 32 teams in 15 different nations. She also scored goals in 26 states. She retires as the all time leading goal scorer in International Soccer. Not the all time leading women scorer but all time scorer over men and women. She did a real classy thing yesterday. She played the first half with the name everyone knows her as Hamm but she came out in the second half with her husbands last name on her shirt. I thought that was pretty cool.

I'm really lovely

Rage: I have noticed that people get upset a lot faster than they used to. I see it all the time, in line at a store, ordering food at a restaurant, it's like the faster you can snap and go off the handle the better service you'll get. I really think that's what has happened. If you go loco on someone then they want to put out your fire so people are more inclined to go loco to get better treatment.

I don't play those games!

I don't have too many people go crazy on me but when they do I just look at them. Not a mean stare but a compassionate look, because I really do feel bad for them. If their life is so bad that they get mad at someone backing out of their spot, delaying their wait in line or getting their order wrong then they must have a pretty horrible life. Normally what they want or seem to want is you to freak out back.

Dicky V: If you watch college basketball then you know who this guy is. He basically gets paid to say cool stuff and come up with new catch phrases and is well known for ending loud phrases in "BABY". I'm so jealous of this guy it's not funny. He just sits there with the play by play guy and comes up with crap to say. I love it. Last night during halftime he talked about cancer patients and how they need our help. It's called the Jimmy V Classic.

Underneath it all.

Pearl Harbor Day

I normally don't buy political bumper stickers or even put on the free ones but...for some time I've had my eye one one of those support our troops ribbons. But my car being green I didn't want to put a yellow or rainbow magnet ribbon on it. So on Saturday I paid #3.50 of my hard earned bucks to buy a camoflaged one. It looks pretty good and I'm happy to support our troops.

Thanks!

With all my talk of American Greed lately it was quite a relief to see that there are still dedicated college students willing to give up their Saturday...and their clothes to help kids with cancer. It might be sunny but it was about 45 degrees with a slight breeze. 

Would you?

Scott Peterson's family must be going through some very rough times. I don't mean to minimize what Laci's family has had to endure but my attention has been pulled to the Peterson's. First they had to accept that their loving son is a murderer, to accept that a family member is capable of murder has to be horrendous. Then they have to feel guilt for what he did to Laci's family. Then they have to realize that their own son may be put to death for what he did.

It got me thinking how much Scott must be loved for his parents and family and friends to plea for his life. They really value his life even though he did not value Laci or his baby's life.

Wearing under

Steriods: Oh big suprise that Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi have both testified to using steriods. The funny thing is from the sounds of it no one is going to come down on Barry Bonds for using. He has broken almost every homerun record....hooray...he's on the juice. So does it count? Not in my mind. The power of the asterick*. www.espn.com

College Basketball: I think that college basketball is my second favorite sport to watch. I used to loathe professional sports, I was enthralled as a kid watching them play on tv, but then as an adult I realized all the showboating and big money and the air was let out of my enthusiasm. But college sports, now that atheltics. Athletes compete for...well the victory. I realize some of the guys hope for big contracts, endorsements and stuff like that but for the short few years they play in college they are untouchable by the greed of America.

Underwear

I've been reading a ton of books lately. It's not incredibly unusual for me to be reading but the number of books has been quite alarming.


Searching for God knows what; Don Miller: it wasn't the life changing book that blue like jazz was but it was an excellent part two. I love anything that comes out by this guy and I can't wait till he puts something else out. My wife says that if he were the leader of a cult I'd join. I argue with her that not only would I join I'd be his head disciple. I value his honesty, his struggles and his willingness to admit he doesn't have it all figured out.

Messy Spirituality; Mike Yaconelli: Written by the late great Yaconelli. I hear this guy was incredible. I never had the chance to meet him but I know I would have liked him. Again a man willing to admit that the walk with Christ is not easy and full more of questions than answers. It was interesting because I heard God telling me to read this book before I preached last sunday. My text was from John 4 and the samaritan woman. I picked up this book and suddenly he's talking about John 4 and teh samaritan woman, God is good like that.

Making sense of church; Spencer Burke: Burke is the founder of theooze.com. I have to admit that when I found out theooze was church of christ I quit going to it. There was a time when I loved the website but when I found out his affiliation I bailed. What can I say...I was young and arrogant. After reading this book I wished I would have stuck around. Basically it's a hard look at the emergent church and how church must adapt to the culture. Using post from the forums on theooze he touches on topics like leadership, mission, worship, and several others. I like the story he gives at the end. The moral; either get on board with where church is going or get off the cart. There is no shame in getting off the cart but don't be responsible for holding church away from culture.

News from today

Two stories from Foxnews.com that caught my eye.

The first:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139968,00.html

Must take some real guts to be able to look your child's killer in the face and tell him how he's wrecked your life. I'm not sure I could do it, I think it's fair that she get's the chance to do so.

The second:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140053,00.html

Have we humans become such sick people? Not too many years ago I read the book called The Giver. The young boy lives in a perfect eutopia where noone is different and there is a place for everyone...everyone that is except the weak. The boy doesn't find this out till he begins to grow up and he realizes the horror that his father euthanizes the elderly and the terminally ill children. That book was fiction...this article is not. May God have mercy on us!

Consumerism

I was watching the news last night and it was reported that Americans spend 22 Billion dollars over this past weekend at retail and discount stores. 22 Billion dollars! I wondered to myself how many children 22 billion dollars could feed that are starving to death around the world. I wondered how many children that are orphaned by aids could be given homes and nourishment with 22 billion dollars...heck 11 million dollars(only asking America to give up half).

But I'm not one to throw stones my consumerism is little better than most Americans. But yeah, I'm disgusted with myself.

The question asks itself...Will I do something about it or just talk about it?

Parade

I was at a parade in Spartanburg, SC this morning. I was standing there with my wife, mom, sister, nephew (3), niece (1), and brother-in-law. There weren't a ton of people there but it was quite festive, a nice crowd, simple parade, and really the weather was the best part of it all. One thing about the hour long parade will stick out to me for some time. About the second or third float was a group of men in the Army. They were in their desert camo and simply walking and waving. Suddenly a group to my right of older gentlemen and their grandchildren started clapping for the service men. Quickly the entire group, both sides of the street joined in on the applause. I started clapping and suddenly realized how great it felt to let these three men know how much I appreciate them and their co-workers. The applause went on for some time and I could tell it let the soldiers know they were cared for and appreciated by many. One of the soldiers looked at me and I met his eyes for a moment and I said "Thank You". He gave me a nod as if to say "I'm just doing my job but thank you".

You're welcome, You're so very welcome!

I'm Thankful for:

It's tradition in my wife's family to go around the table oldest to youngest and share what you are thankful for. We won't be with my wife's family this year so I started my own list in the shower this morning.

1. 17 great years with my little brother
2. My wonderful loving wife, that is truly my best friend.
3. God's wonderful gift of a little baby boy- Nathan Douglas
4. Excellent "extended" family that cares for my family.

And finally I am thankful for God's provision in ALL situations.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful and HE will do it.

This is a mural made on a clear plexiglass background. Layers of post it notes give it a stained glass effect. 

Matthew

I share this from my personal journal. I was watching HGTV this morning (The Lord works in mysterious ways). The homeowner was showing some improvements he had done to his home and some plans he had for the future to the host of the show. Normally children aren't in these shows but there was Matthew. He liked to be called Matt. Matt was about 5 years old and showing the improvements to the yard just as much as his father was. He was very well spoken for a little boy of his age and a nice looking kid. In fact he was so normal I didn't notice his abnormality.

The host of the show asked Matthew if he would show them the porch. Matthew, not waiting for anyone, grabbed the wheels to his wheelchair and got moving towards the porch. Neither strong, adult male, one being his father, noticed the boys effort or offered to help. Matthew reached an incline in the side walk, paused for a moment, took a breath and started wheeling himself again. When Matthew reached his destination the men started talking about the porch. His Dad was there waiting for him but not going on without him. His Dad then said some gentle and encouraging words to Matthew, telling he was proud of him and how strong of a boy he was.

That's when I got it. Matt's father wasn't helping him because Matthew has to learn to be strong. A fathers job is not to do everything for our children but to encourage them to carry on even when it's tough. The love of the Father is evident to us. I think sometimes we are tempted to wonder why God won't help us out, but he's there. He's with us and he cares for us. He lets us struggle because well...life is struggle.

I was sent this by a family member. It was in a powerpoint presentation showing the U.S. Forces work in Fallujah. This brief chart shows that the warfare was rough. Regardless of how you feel about the war in Iraq I think we all want our soldiers to be safe and get home to their families as soon as possible. 

Some people get it right!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139316,00.html


With all this fiasco of brawls in sports, violence in sports and players and fans clashing it is nice to see some schools and institutions take a stand. This is a hard hit for the schools and is a big step, I know it doesn't mean much but I am proud of U of South Carolina and Clemson administration for not accepting any bowl bids as punishment for a fight that broke out during the game Saturday. Well done! Thanks for providing some sanity to the sports world.

Scott Peterson

I'm not sure there were too many people in America rooting for him during his trial. I think most people think he's guilty mainly becaused of his cold behavior through the whole process. So now that he's been found guilty and the sentencing phase has begun....

If you were a juror in his trial would you give him the death penalty?

Why or why not?

Read more about this part of the trial here.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139228,00.html

Justice?

Well the NBA suspensions were dealt out. Fair?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139169,00.html

Brawl

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139169,00.html

Story is here. Basically a man's game got out of control and turned into a playground brawl. I know I don't know the story and only watched the highlight...well lowlight really of these guys acting like street thugs.

I say this is the line...in the future if a professional athlete gets involved with the fans in any physical way the athlete is out of professional sports...forever. I know there are two sides to every story so the fans need to be punished. Make it rule or law or whatever if the player gets physically involved with an athlete whether it be by throwing something or spitting or anything like that a hefty fine. Add physical threats to that list as well. I'm thinking 5K-20k depending on the persons income. Really set them back for a few years, to be fair offer a payment plan. The money goes to the charity of the player's choice that was being assaulted.

Two reasons for this idea in my mind.
1. I am not allowed to beat up my co workers or even people I know that work at other churches. If we disagree we don't knock each other out.

2. People aren't allowed to stand beside me and yell at me and do physical things to me while I'm working. If they did I'd probably try to beat them up.

That's what the Padre thinks!

No rant today?

Yeah I guess I've got nothing to rant about today. In August I read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller if you've never read it I really recommend it. You can get it from cbd.com or Amazon. Read more about Donald Miller at www.bluelikejazz.com. I'm always talking about the book "Donald Miller said this..." "Donald Miller feels..." I guess I shouldn't speak for him so much. My wife makes fun of me saying that if Donald Miller started a cult I'd join. I told her I most certainly would, I would try to be his lead disciple.

He's the man! He just came out with a new book in October call Searching for God knows what. Blue like jazz changed my life...I know it sounds cheesy but it really did. Searching for God knows what just helped me take one more step to where God wants me to be.

Two must reads!

He gives and takes away!

Man Steals Fiancee's Engagement Ring
Thursday, November 18, 2004
ARCHIVE

MILFORD, Conn. — He might be able to star in a spin-off of "Desperate Housewives" — maybe something along the lines of "Desperate Husbands-to-Be."
A Milford, Conn., man staged a burglary to steal and hock the engagement ring he gave to the woman he planned to marry, The Associated Press reports.
Police said 43-year-old George Rich turned the home he shares with his fiancee upside down in order to make it look like a thief had broken in and taken jewelry, including her gold-and-diamond ring.
Court documents show Rich pawned the gems and jewelry for $5,000 at the Hock It To Me shop on Bridgeport Avenue.
On Sept. 21, he called police to report that burglars ransacked his home and stole a gold cocktail ring and the engagement ring, both valued at $2,500. He also said a gold chain was missing.
Detectives became suspicious when they noticed Rich's name in a weekly update on pawnshop activity. Records from Hock It To Me showed that Rich pledged a gold chain and two gold rings — including the engagement ring — at the business on Sept. 14.

Rich later admitted the scheme to detectives, police said.
He was charged Tuesday with falsely reporting an incident and providing a false statement, according to police. He was released on a written promise to appear in Superior Court on Dec. 7.
There was no word on whether the wedding is still on.

www.foxnews.com

Politics

I've been into politics lately. That's not really too bad of a thing except for the fact that I think I'm turning into a hippie.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139059,00.html

Maybe I'm missing the point but I think the reality is Iran is missing the point. We promise we won't make any weapons capable of killing millions after friday but we're going to hurry up and make as much as we can in the meantime. So you plan on using those?

I think it's funny when bigger nations get all up in arms (pun intended) when another country starts making nuclear weapons. Like we don't have places cranking out this stuff by the truckloads. I think we're just better at covering stuff up.

Saddam

http://www.holyobserver.com/detail.php?isu=v01i07&art=saddam


If it were only true!

Baby stuff

We went and registered for some baby stuff today. Overall it was fun and exciting. I loved it and believe it or not my favorite part was picking out clothes for my little boy. So it was a fun day and made it seem like the three and a half months we have to wait before he arrives will last and eternity. I have only one question well a statement really...maybe just a rant.

How in the world do they charge you so much for some of this stuff. Some of it makes sense it seems like they have a corner on the market so they can charge whatever they want. But some of the stuff like a baby towel 2 for $20, what? $10 for a towel, I promise you that my clothes are cheaper than a babies clothes and I am approximately 30 times bigger than any baby known to man.

Good grief. But I'm sure we'll buy it, why? Cuz we're suckers!

Too much power

I've been wondering would the message of Jesus Christ be more effective if Christians didn't have as much power. It seems that so many people feel attacked by Christians and this Jesus gospel. I think that for starters they misunderstand about what Jesus was really about. I think "christians" have misrepresented HIM for so long; the message is so muddled it hurts. But think about it if we don't like something that goes down in our country we can cause enough ruckous about it to at least be heard if not to get things changed.

We even have enough votes, depending on the articles you have read, to determine who the president will be and who will represent us in congress. But what if evangelical, gospel believing and acting Christians had no power in the United States. I think things would get ugly fast. I think we would be persecuted and would leave tough lives. But would it help the gospel, the TRUE gospel, the Jesus gospel? People would know we are genuine, they would know we believe not because we are on the "winning" team but because we really believe what Jesus taught. I think there'd be a lot less fakers or nominal christians. If you didn't believe it you wouldn't say you did.

Now I'm not saying I want to be persecuted I just think we feed our "christian" egos too much, expecially after this election. Our attitude says we can control the gov't...but controlling the gov't doesn't introduce people to relationship with Christ or save souls from eternal hell.

Jesus tells us in Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

republicans vs. democrats

I think it's funny now that the republicans have won the white house two elections in a row all of a sudden conservatives are stupid and dumb. I can tell you how many times I have heard that if you have any sense or half a brain then you vote democrat. This article http://www.urbanarchipelago.com/ is quite the rally call for democrats but takes it's fair share of cheap shots at conservatives.

Suddenly people with certain morals and convictions in America are stupid. I guess I would label myself as a conservative, and yes even a republican. But I have to be honest and say that this election I took a good hard look at the democratic party and the reason I could not consider to take my vote thier way is the lact of integrity and consistency NOT the fact that I didn't like their platform. I think the democratic party has a lot going for it that the church should be attracted to. Helping the poor and public school reform being the ones that stick out to me.

But then I read articles post election calling me stupid because I voted one way or the other it makes me want to hate monger right back. But I will be the bigger man...the funny thing is that democracy is a beautiful thing when it represents you but when the vote goes against you and your candidate doesn't win suddenly everyone else is stupid. The beautiful thing about American is that we like a good cry baby. They're nice to have around, makes for good news and good things to post on your blog!

I was preparing a ppt presentation for tomorrow and came across this picture. I sure do have a beautiful wife! Could I have gotten more luck? NO WAY! 

Coward

Even though I own Saving Private Ryan I normally don't watch it because everytime I do I dream I am storming the beach. It's not getting shot at or even getting shot in my dream that bothers me but the fact that I am killing others...people just like me.

Last night it was on TV unedited. I was flipping though and almost passed it up, then I thought if our veterans lived though this the least I can do it watch it and risk having a bad dream. There is a part at the end. The translator is carrying the ammo for his group. All of them men have run out of ammo and they can't find the translator. That's because the coward is hiding in a house so that he's not shot at. What's worse? The coward has a chance to save countless of his men, men I'd like to think were his friends or at least would try to save his life and instead he lets them die. Because he is a coward. So as I was thinking how much of a girly man this guy was...

How often do I pass up the chance to save someone's life...or at least offer them life saving truth and pass it up? Maybe I'm the coward because I know the truth about eternity and too often keep it to myself.

Slums

This information from Lord of the Slums by Scott Bessenecker:

Slums are marked by crowded conditions, makeshift housing, questionable sanitation, unbelievable unemployment rates, desperate poverty, and despair. Slums are typically built around trash heaps outside cites. 80% of the trash dumped in these is reused as materials to build with and food to eat. People are eating trash.

1 Billion People live in slums around the world. To put that in perspective the United States population is approximately 250 million, so 4 times our nations population live off of trash.

50 years ago slums did not exist. So all of our technology, industralization, and advancement has not helped those in poverty...dare we even claim it has put them there?

They are smart people to know how to live off of trash and they must be creative. They are just poor, not on their own voalition but because of other reasons.

Jesus tells us to help these. Why was Sodom destroyed...first because of their unwillingness to help the poor...then their immorality. Ezekiel 16:49-50

Random Thought of the Day

So I went into Wawa today (gas station/convenience store) and there was a young lady picking out a drink like I was doing. I didn't even glance twice at her not that she wasn't pretty but looking at ladies is a bad habit to get into. So she beat me to the register and as she walked by this other guy I just knew what he was going to do. I was right. He turned and checked out her backside after she walked by him. The funny thing was he didn't have the guts to make eye contact with her when she walked by him, he just kept looking down at something not important so as not to draw her attention. Then as soon as she walked past him he did a full turn to just stare. I found it funny! She poops just like you do!

The ultimate wedgie