Previously I have utilized this as a tool just for my musings, often political, sometimes about faith, but I am changing directions! There is enough stuff out in the world that separates peoples and divides people. We are partisan in almost every aspect of our lives and the reality is that no one wins in the end. This site, as you may have noticed with the name up top is changing gears and now I will utilize it with my other two blogger blogs to speak about a vision of ministry that God really placed on my heart and it has become a great burden to me! This vision I will call for this time 1 TIM 4.12 Ministries. The other blogs you can go to are my ByarsinChrist blog and UCBONESICANARMY blog. ByarsinChrist will be a devo blog that I will try and update daily, but my access is limited because of my current transient situation, which I will go into further later, and the UCBONESICANARMY will be the prayer site and the site in which I hope to raise up great prayer warriors to change the world in prayer, powerful prayer! I hope that those who read this enjoy and feel free to comment! Blessings this day and every day!
Your brother in Christ!
Chris
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
A return of Bible study in Public School
Time magazine's recent article on the Bible needing to be taught in school is an interesting article and comes counter to the Penn & Teller's wrong understanding of the constitution as being "freedom from religion" (if you would like to know what I am referring to you, you can watch their asinine forum on Showtime entitled "Bulls**t" you can find episodes on any of the video sites I'm sure). It is the pseudo-intellectualism with programs such as theirs and the media that are destroying and distorting the understanding of the foundation of our country and our history. I thought this was a good article and was quite surprised of its source. The Koran is already taught in schools, so why not the Bible?
 clipped from www.time.com
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Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Libby indictment
Libby's indictment comes for obstruction, obstruction of what? Revealing an agent that was no longer in the field and had revealed herself already? So, do you think that President Bush will give Libby a quick pardon or will he be more like Slick Willy and try and do it quietly before he leaves office?
clipped from news.findlaw.com
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Monday, March 05, 2007
Ann Coulter
Now I agree that the term "faggot" can be used and normally is not a positive term, but I believe that what she was making fun on is not homosexuals, but more about the fact about our reactionary society that makes someone enter into treatment to help them with their "homophobia." I find it to be ingeniune for the media to be making such a big deal about Ann Coulter when they allow for much greater things to be said by people like Bill Maher and the like...
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Universal Health Care
One of the many discussions going on in the political world today that struck me today again was the strong resurgence of the left to introduce universal health care. I understand that this is a so-called "progressive" thing to do, but it is unimaginative and has been done and has been shown to be ineffective and fails to create an improved health care system for the poor. One thought that entered my brain is when I was talking with my aunt, who is now without health care because of losing her job. She has had some medical issues that has made it difficult for her to return to work and being a woman in her early 60s it is hard for her to find work. Now with this we could scream ageism and other "isms" I am sure, but my other thought is where would this get us in the discussion? Thinking about this it would be great to have some health network to help her and most when thinking of this would jump to universal health care (because that is such an original and effective solution).
When thinking on this I started to try and think of alternatives. I like what Mitt Romney has done in Massachusetts, which some are labeling universal health care (which I believe is a misnomer because it still doesn't provide automatic coverage which would be implied in "universal") because I do believe that there needs to be some personal responsibility, but offer some support for those that truly are struggling. But what other options could be done? The idea of President Bush to give a tax refund at the end of the year to more than cover health insurance is a good one, but automatically it is criticized because it comes from President Bush. I see the issue with that option is that it could create a system in which insurance companies may increase premiums to meet the tax refund which could create another issue of the government trying to help and in the end creating an economic crutch for health insurers and health care providers. I mean some of the stuff is ridiculous which most of us would agree ($10 for an aspirin, $15 for a box of Kleenex, etc.).
With that what could we do?
Well, early in our great country's history the Church was given the mantle to carry on education and health care. Since that has changed our education has become less and less competitive and our health care system is in a struggle fighting the rising cost of care for illegals (which is a whole other issue which I may discuss sometime from a perspective of one who has been a legal immigrant in another country and the bureaucracy that I faced) and those that have become reliant on social welfare it is a difficult for those hospitals that try to do the right thing to survive without some of those ridiculous charges. What can we do as churches to help? Some would say that it may be to far gone to do anything, but I don't believe that. One thing economics tells us that if something is not working well if someone were to come up with an alternative that works better or improves something it should succeed, but that means trying something that might be a risk. What I am saying is that we shouldn't rehash something that is failing in other countries, i.e. universal health care, and look at new concepts to try. What's the worst that can happen? We fail...so what? No one has made money without taking some risk, it is just how much of a risk is worth it?
Lower prescription costs...we could stop corporate welfare of pharmaceutical companies by giving an option - if you utilize public universities to help in research than as a business it is only right to offer those medicines a fair market price to the country which has helped to support your research or fully fund research without the help of the government and let the market determine the price and don't negotiate deals with other countries that are lower than what you are willing to charge in the United States, what that means is a "fair market price" should be what the market can bear in the world market place. That is a free market economy and if I can find the same product elsewhere cheaper I should be able to purchase it from that market without penalty because that is the market price. If we hold the pharmaceutical companies to the same standard that most businesses are held than pricing would be easier to control because if they can afford to sell the same product for $10 to one market they can afford it in all or they shouldn't enter into the deal. Some would say that this would make it impossible for some great medicines to make it into poorer markets, well to answer that question they can donate medicines to third world countries, they can partner with philanthropic organizations in raising funding to offset the cost to themselves to help get it to the market, or some other solution. Churches can be a voice in this movement also.
It is time that we, as churches, begin to work with businesses centered in our communities and negotiate deals to help the "least of these" that are in our world without demonizing business for making a profit, but be willing to be a conscious voice and a conscience for business leaders to support the same country that has supported them and to be of service to God in the world since the majority of business leaders in the United States say they believe in a god and of those the majority I would argue call themselves Christian.
When thinking on this I started to try and think of alternatives. I like what Mitt Romney has done in Massachusetts, which some are labeling universal health care (which I believe is a misnomer because it still doesn't provide automatic coverage which would be implied in "universal") because I do believe that there needs to be some personal responsibility, but offer some support for those that truly are struggling. But what other options could be done? The idea of President Bush to give a tax refund at the end of the year to more than cover health insurance is a good one, but automatically it is criticized because it comes from President Bush. I see the issue with that option is that it could create a system in which insurance companies may increase premiums to meet the tax refund which could create another issue of the government trying to help and in the end creating an economic crutch for health insurers and health care providers. I mean some of the stuff is ridiculous which most of us would agree ($10 for an aspirin, $15 for a box of Kleenex, etc.).
With that what could we do?
Well, early in our great country's history the Church was given the mantle to carry on education and health care. Since that has changed our education has become less and less competitive and our health care system is in a struggle fighting the rising cost of care for illegals (which is a whole other issue which I may discuss sometime from a perspective of one who has been a legal immigrant in another country and the bureaucracy that I faced) and those that have become reliant on social welfare it is a difficult for those hospitals that try to do the right thing to survive without some of those ridiculous charges. What can we do as churches to help? Some would say that it may be to far gone to do anything, but I don't believe that. One thing economics tells us that if something is not working well if someone were to come up with an alternative that works better or improves something it should succeed, but that means trying something that might be a risk. What I am saying is that we shouldn't rehash something that is failing in other countries, i.e. universal health care, and look at new concepts to try. What's the worst that can happen? We fail...so what? No one has made money without taking some risk, it is just how much of a risk is worth it?
Lower prescription costs...we could stop corporate welfare of pharmaceutical companies by giving an option - if you utilize public universities to help in research than as a business it is only right to offer those medicines a fair market price to the country which has helped to support your research or fully fund research without the help of the government and let the market determine the price and don't negotiate deals with other countries that are lower than what you are willing to charge in the United States, what that means is a "fair market price" should be what the market can bear in the world market place. That is a free market economy and if I can find the same product elsewhere cheaper I should be able to purchase it from that market without penalty because that is the market price. If we hold the pharmaceutical companies to the same standard that most businesses are held than pricing would be easier to control because if they can afford to sell the same product for $10 to one market they can afford it in all or they shouldn't enter into the deal. Some would say that this would make it impossible for some great medicines to make it into poorer markets, well to answer that question they can donate medicines to third world countries, they can partner with philanthropic organizations in raising funding to offset the cost to themselves to help get it to the market, or some other solution. Churches can be a voice in this movement also.
It is time that we, as churches, begin to work with businesses centered in our communities and negotiate deals to help the "least of these" that are in our world without demonizing business for making a profit, but be willing to be a conscious voice and a conscience for business leaders to support the same country that has supported them and to be of service to God in the world since the majority of business leaders in the United States say they believe in a god and of those the majority I would argue call themselves Christian.
A return to blogging...
Well, it has been a long while since I last blogged, but I thought I would return, I know that any readership I had is probably gone, but that may change. In this blog, because I have others, I have decided that I would return to some of the focus that I had originally and talk about issues that really strike me....so, I hope you like my musings and feel free to comment, but please no profanity in comments because even if what you say is good I will delete it if there is profanity, this is not censorship, just a return to proper conversation. I like to discuss with those that don't agree with me, but are respectful. Unlike the norm of "tolerant" people today that are tolerant of those people that agree with them I am tolerant of various views though I may not agree. I feel that more tends to be gained in a good discussion between two that do not agree, so with that said I will post my first real blog to return to the blogging world.
Monday, November 07, 2005
The Christian Faith
There are three chief symbols that define orthodox Christian faith outside of the Bible and are what the Lutheran Church adhere to along with the church catholic (denote the small “c” connotes that it is not the Roman Catholic Church of which we speak, but the Church under Jesus Christ. These are the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. These symbols arose to define the Christian faith against heretical views that were being debated by other theologians wanting to undermine Christ’s full divinity and full humanity.
I. The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God, the Father almighty, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
II. The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man: who for us, too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, sufffered, and was buried: the third day he rose according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father: he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son: who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified: who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy, Christian, and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.
III. The Athanasian Creed
1 Whoever wished to be saved must, above all else, hold the true Christian faith. 2 Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish for eternity.
3 This is the true Christian faith, that we worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God
4 without confusing the persons or dividing the divine substance.
5 For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is still another,
6 but there is one Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, equal in glory and coequal in majesty.
7 What the Father is, that is the Son and that is the Holy Spirit:
8 the Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated;
9 the Father is unlimited, the Son is unlimited, the Holy Spirit is unlimited;
10 the Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal;
11 and yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal,
12 just as there are not three who are uncreated and who are unlimited, but there is one who is uncreated and unlimited.
13 Likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty,
14 and yet there are not three who are almighty but there is one who is almighty.
15 So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God
16 and yet ther are not three Gods but one God.
17 So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord,
18 and yet there are not three Lords but one Lord.
19 For just as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge each person by himself to be God and Lord
so we are forbidden by the Christian religion to say that there are three Gods or three Lords.
20 The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten by anybody.
21 The Son was not made or created, but was begotten by the Father.
22 The Holy Spirit was not made or created or begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son.
23 Accordingly there is one Father and not three Fathers, one Son and not three Sons, one Holy Spirit and not three Holy Spirits.
24 And among these three persons none is before or after another, none is greater or less than another,
25 but all three persons are coequal and coeternal, and accrodingly, as has been stated above, three persons are to be worshiped in one Godhead and one God is to be worshiped in three persons.
26 Whoever wished to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
27 It is also necessary for eternal salvation that one faithfully believe that or Lord Jesus Christ became man,
28 for this is the right faith, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at once God and man:
29 he is God, begotten before the ages of the substance of the Father, and he is man, born in the world of the substance of his mother,
30 perfect God and perfect man, with reasonable soul and human flesh,
31 equal to the Father with respect to his Godhead and inferior to the Father with respect to his manhood.
32 Although he is God and man, he is not two Christs but one Christ:
33 one, that is to say, not by changing the Godhead into flesh but by taking on the humanity into God,
34 one, indeed, not by confusion of substance but by unity in one person.
35 For just as the reasonable soul and the flesh are one man, so God and man are one Christ,
36 who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose from the dead,
37 ascended into heaven, is seated on the right hand of the Father, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
38 At his coming all men shall rise with their bodies and give an account of their own deeds.
39 Those who have done good will enter eternal life, and those who have done evil will go into everlsating fire.
40 This is the true Christian faith. Unless a man believes this firmly and faithfully, he cannot be saved.
I. The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God, the Father almighty, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
II. The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man: who for us, too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, sufffered, and was buried: the third day he rose according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father: he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son: who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified: who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy, Christian, and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.
III. The Athanasian Creed
1 Whoever wished to be saved must, above all else, hold the true Christian faith. 2 Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish for eternity.
3 This is the true Christian faith, that we worship one God in three persons and three persons in one God
4 without confusing the persons or dividing the divine substance.
5 For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is still another,
6 but there is one Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, equal in glory and coequal in majesty.
7 What the Father is, that is the Son and that is the Holy Spirit:
8 the Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated;
9 the Father is unlimited, the Son is unlimited, the Holy Spirit is unlimited;
10 the Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal;
11 and yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal,
12 just as there are not three who are uncreated and who are unlimited, but there is one who is uncreated and unlimited.
13 Likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty,
14 and yet there are not three who are almighty but there is one who is almighty.
15 So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God
16 and yet ther are not three Gods but one God.
17 So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord,
18 and yet there are not three Lords but one Lord.
19 For just as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge each person by himself to be God and Lord
so we are forbidden by the Christian religion to say that there are three Gods or three Lords.
20 The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten by anybody.
21 The Son was not made or created, but was begotten by the Father.
22 The Holy Spirit was not made or created or begotten, but proceeds from the Father and the Son.
23 Accordingly there is one Father and not three Fathers, one Son and not three Sons, one Holy Spirit and not three Holy Spirits.
24 And among these three persons none is before or after another, none is greater or less than another,
25 but all three persons are coequal and coeternal, and accrodingly, as has been stated above, three persons are to be worshiped in one Godhead and one God is to be worshiped in three persons.
26 Whoever wished to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
27 It is also necessary for eternal salvation that one faithfully believe that or Lord Jesus Christ became man,
28 for this is the right faith, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at once God and man:
29 he is God, begotten before the ages of the substance of the Father, and he is man, born in the world of the substance of his mother,
30 perfect God and perfect man, with reasonable soul and human flesh,
31 equal to the Father with respect to his Godhead and inferior to the Father with respect to his manhood.
32 Although he is God and man, he is not two Christs but one Christ:
33 one, that is to say, not by changing the Godhead into flesh but by taking on the humanity into God,
34 one, indeed, not by confusion of substance but by unity in one person.
35 For just as the reasonable soul and the flesh are one man, so God and man are one Christ,
36 who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose from the dead,
37 ascended into heaven, is seated on the right hand of the Father, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
38 At his coming all men shall rise with their bodies and give an account of their own deeds.
39 Those who have done good will enter eternal life, and those who have done evil will go into everlsating fire.
40 This is the true Christian faith. Unless a man believes this firmly and faithfully, he cannot be saved.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Don't worry, be happy!
“This storm will slow and when it hits it will be no more than a category 1 hurricane, but probably just a tropical storm.” This is what the news was telling the people in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Boca Raton area about Hurricane Wilma as it was traveling across the peninsula toward them. The area was hit with 110 mph winds by the right or ‘dirty’ side of the hurricane and is said to be the most powerful hurricane to hit Ft. Lauderdale in 50 years. When I ponder this I think to myself that this is a lot like our world and many churches as they preach the Word of God. “Don’t worry about the dangers of sin or bringing any change in your life, but God wants to save ‘everyone’ and that is the purpose of Jesus Christ. Let us welcome everyone with open arms and never speak a message that may offend or confront them in their sin!” It troubles me because we are not preaching the truth, but only half truths. What must be has been done for us in Jesus Christ and that is the main truth that in our faith in Jesus Christ we are redeemed, but the question is this ‘Do you truly believe?’ Do you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord in your life? When you believe this profound changes occur in your life it is inevitable. It may not be all at once, but things will be different. The message of love needs to be given, but within the Gospel the Law is always present. Why would we need Christ unless we were sinful and falling short of the glory of God? That is the Law within the Gospel. We are saved in Jesus Christ, but our hearts must belong to Him and not to the other idols we build up! So may the Lord strengthen all in their faith and may they turn to Christ for all salvation!
Monday, October 24, 2005
Lord light a fire
A generation full of fire for the Lord is something that I dream of! We are living in an age constantly confronted with the question of truth. The most common secular response is, “Truth is relative.” We live in a time full of two extremes in the Christian world, either we have the “in your face” Christians screaming out and damning everyone that may have a differing view to Hell or you have the Christian that goes to church, but in their day to day life they don’t really show much in the matter of faith. I know that this is largely a generalization, but I don’t believe that it is that far fetched. I remember living in Oklahoma. Living in the Tulsa area which is home to Oral Roberts University and the Oral Roberts Ministry beginnings and Rhema Bible School and Kenneth Haggin Ministries so when I moved there and wasn’t Christian I was confronted by that everyday. What I found was a witness that continually condemning and a “haves” and “have nots” theology – I have been saved, you have not! This is not the servant mindedness to which Christ calls us to. The greatest witness that I had was given to me in the love of my future wife and her mother. We are not called by God to point our fingers, but to use our fingers in the service of others! To give the Truth and show that it is not relative, but living it in our lives and showing the difference of Christ over and above all others because no other faith has such a Gospel of hope! All other faiths are contingent upon what you do to please God, but Christianity is a faith of what has been done for us by God because of the love that He holds for us, a love that burns so deep that He gave His one and only Son and entered into creation, imagine the creator becoming one with His creation. What an awesome miracle! We need to reflect that in our lives with a sense of happiness, love, and courtesy. We live in a society that centers on self, but as Christians we are to center ourselves on Jesus and in that we find our focus is placed on helping the other to the glory of Jesus. Lord light a fire in our hearts!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Lord, I am Yours
Lord set the world on fire in a passionate love for you. Let those hungry souls come to you knowing that they will be fed! The church is being bombarded with great difficulties. We are being sidetracked by issues that continually distract us from focusing on you. Lord strengthen us in our service to you that we may spread your glorious name around the world – Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, our Redeemer. Your love is so great that it spreads across all of us even though we are flawed and filled with sin! We need to prayer and fill this world with prayer that all the corners of the earth can do nothing less than cry out to you Lord. Let the cries of your name fill the voids within all hearts. For those that are looking for something greater, let them find you, in the midst of their emptiness let them see you. The conversation continues on within your saints. You are the savior, the great I AM that was spoken of in scripture. You are the Alpha and the Omega, you transcend all knowing!
When it comes to the things of this world nothing else matters, but you! The world is so hungry and we see suffering and destruction in all corners of your creation. Children suffer and are forgotten by those that you left to care for them. The selfish desires of our world are the ultimate sign of the great sickness of sin that encompasses our world. Renew us Lord in our spirits and our minds that we no longer look to our own selfish desires, but desire to fulfill your will! Save us all Lord from ourselves. Help me to be an instrument of your will in the world, use me Lord as you see fit. I know that I am imperfect and flawed, but I also know that you love me and that in you I may be perfected. Lord, Yahweh, my savior Jesus Christ, fill me with your spirit. Utilize me and this prayer I will continue to lift up to you, use me Lord! Use me Lord! Use me Lord! You are Holy! You are Holy!
I will not stop until I hear the great AMEN ring from your lips and I look forward to the day that I may hear the words, “Well done!” flow from your lips!
When it comes to the things of this world nothing else matters, but you! The world is so hungry and we see suffering and destruction in all corners of your creation. Children suffer and are forgotten by those that you left to care for them. The selfish desires of our world are the ultimate sign of the great sickness of sin that encompasses our world. Renew us Lord in our spirits and our minds that we no longer look to our own selfish desires, but desire to fulfill your will! Save us all Lord from ourselves. Help me to be an instrument of your will in the world, use me Lord as you see fit. I know that I am imperfect and flawed, but I also know that you love me and that in you I may be perfected. Lord, Yahweh, my savior Jesus Christ, fill me with your spirit. Utilize me and this prayer I will continue to lift up to you, use me Lord! Use me Lord! Use me Lord! You are Holy! You are Holy!
I will not stop until I hear the great AMEN ring from your lips and I look forward to the day that I may hear the words, “Well done!” flow from your lips!
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Refocus
I’m in a thought and feeling that I should return to the intent that I had when I started this blog to discuss my own theological journey in faith. The reality is that all these rants and feelings of political issues just anger me and distract me from the true reality that is the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I guess that is just the major issue within the world today is we are so easily sidetracked; the Devil is a tricky one. Thinking on this it is no wonder that those that are outside of Christ look at Christians and think that it’s just another crazy religion. We become sidetracked on issues and lose focus on the one true thing. We lose sight of the one thing that should be driving us and that is Jesus Christ!
I have three other blogs that I am involved with – my devotional blog, the discussion with my atheist acquaintance the 502 which has been fun thusfar, and another that is more geared for the church I am serving at currently – ucbones icanarmy blog. I have been distracted in my true intent of Northern Born Southerner. The reality is that I have been on a protracted journey in Christ. I have lived fully in the brokenness that is outside of Christ and did not want anything to do with this Jesus Christ. I’ve lived in the reality of a broken home, associated with the dregs the spat upon and looked down upon and loved them for their honest loyalty to friends.
I recall when I was 18 and 19 a friend of mine in Grand Forks. She was called ‘little Sis’, but she was not little, but she was like everyone’s sister in the group that I hung with. I loved her because she was real and she was real loyal. She was my friend and I was hers. She didn’t like herself all that much and thought of herself as a bitch and even tattooed that on her hand. Now she was tough and I would admit she wasn’t someone that any would want to be on her wrong side, but to me she was a wonderful young woman. I remember the last time I saw her we wept together because her cousin had just been killed in a wreck or something. Honestly it’s been over ten years since I thought of her, but recently she’s been on my mind. I don’t know that I will ever be able to find her now; I don’t even know her real name because that wasn’t important at the time for me. I only pray that God is working in her heart and she knows Jesus Christ in her life. As I look at my journey my heart is lead to look at those that are the unwanted in most segments of society and truly show them that the have value to me, but most importantly to Jesus Christ. It’s sad to think that many of the friends that I once associated with may no longer be with us. The fragility of life, hmm…
I have three other blogs that I am involved with – my devotional blog, the discussion with my atheist acquaintance the 502 which has been fun thusfar, and another that is more geared for the church I am serving at currently – ucbones icanarmy blog. I have been distracted in my true intent of Northern Born Southerner. The reality is that I have been on a protracted journey in Christ. I have lived fully in the brokenness that is outside of Christ and did not want anything to do with this Jesus Christ. I’ve lived in the reality of a broken home, associated with the dregs the spat upon and looked down upon and loved them for their honest loyalty to friends.
I recall when I was 18 and 19 a friend of mine in Grand Forks. She was called ‘little Sis’, but she was not little, but she was like everyone’s sister in the group that I hung with. I loved her because she was real and she was real loyal. She was my friend and I was hers. She didn’t like herself all that much and thought of herself as a bitch and even tattooed that on her hand. Now she was tough and I would admit she wasn’t someone that any would want to be on her wrong side, but to me she was a wonderful young woman. I remember the last time I saw her we wept together because her cousin had just been killed in a wreck or something. Honestly it’s been over ten years since I thought of her, but recently she’s been on my mind. I don’t know that I will ever be able to find her now; I don’t even know her real name because that wasn’t important at the time for me. I only pray that God is working in her heart and she knows Jesus Christ in her life. As I look at my journey my heart is lead to look at those that are the unwanted in most segments of society and truly show them that the have value to me, but most importantly to Jesus Christ. It’s sad to think that many of the friends that I once associated with may no longer be with us. The fragility of life, hmm…
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Sojourners Magazine - Liberal Bias
I receive regular emails from Sojourners and even considered getting a subscription to try and gain perspective of what some others may be saying in the evangelical Christian faith. You see I’m a member and studying to become a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and though conservative to many at seminary in the whole spectrum of things I see myself as quite a moderate. I am not a fundamentalist, although I don’t thing that fundamentalists are all that bad, I just don’t agree with everything that they believe. I guess, for the most part, I find that my theology is pretty Lutheran, but I am first and foremost a Christian.
Well, what prompted me is the article in the most recent emailing by David Batstone entitled “Frist, Rove, DeLay: Who's looking the other way?” The article is so politically laced to show the true agenda of this group is to be another political voice that aligns itself with the liberal left and is not truly unbiased as it would appear when it compares a man in the midst of an adulterous affair with men such as Frist, Rove, and Delay who could arguably be victims of a witch hunt by the same people who lauded an agenda of “Anybody But Bush” instead of trying to raise up a viable candidate. Our country is so divided with one side vehemently against anything conservative that when they speak of conservative ideals they make it equivalent to evil. It saddens me how our country is so divided. I get angry at some of the things pushed by the left also and am guilty of making broad judgments, but I have never and will never call someone evil for espousing an opinion I don’t agree with and most certainly don’t believe in a policy of “Anyone, but So and So”.
I still recall the last presidential election being given the bird by anti-Bush people because I was supporting President Bush. I still support our president. I didn’t agree with President Clinton, but still held respect for the office in which he held. Jim Wallis and the Sojourners Magazine continues to prove to me how completely unaware they are of their bias.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
UND FIGHTING SIOUX
To heck with the NCAA and there idiotic sense of being politically correct! The big issue with team names that are Native American is nonsense. I am a UND FIGHTING SIOUX fan and I don’t care! I’m proud of it. The logo was drawn by a Sioux and the proceeds from the products go to support the Indian (Native American) Programs on the campus. UND has one of the largest Native American Studies programs in the US. Do these people not understand that this is partially why they do? UND doesn’t do like the Florida State Seminoles do and have a student representing Osceola ride out on a horse and throw a spear in the field, in fact at every event a special message is given to show respect for the Sioux tribes. If schools like UND lose the Sioux name the school would suffer greater than just the name, they would lose a beautiful facility built by Ralph Engelstad that he gave access to as long as the Sioux name was kept otherwise all rights of use are lost (he knew what was going on and didn’t want some whining white liberal panty waste to decide to change the name out of fear). So, all I say is if this gets pushed further I would say bye-bye to all the specially funded Native American studies programs and then we should go after changing every name of every school that has some connotation of any people…i.e. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Syracuse Orangemen, and the like. That is my rant…whew…I feel better.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Why not God?
Why not God?
What is the threat?
What is the danger?
We live in a world that is hungry, hungry for meaning, hungry for purpose, but society wants to take away the idea of God as something plausible to look at for answers to the questions of life and existence. Any expression in the public forum is trying to be removed – the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the like. Prayer or any Christian faith expression is being prevented from schools and it seems to me that the goal is to remove these expressions from all public forums. Imagine a place that it is dangerous to pray openly to God, where it could mean your life. Oh, well, 3 billion Chinese know this everyday. The dangers of secularism is that, though it doesn’t expressly state that religion needs to be removed from society, but when the push is to limit the freedom of expression and define acceptable and unacceptable where does it stop? God and Jesus Christ are becoming an offense and if we are not careful they may become equivalent to hate speech because they confront each and everyone with this horrible word, sin!
What is the threat?
What is the danger?
We live in a world that is hungry, hungry for meaning, hungry for purpose, but society wants to take away the idea of God as something plausible to look at for answers to the questions of life and existence. Any expression in the public forum is trying to be removed – the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the like. Prayer or any Christian faith expression is being prevented from schools and it seems to me that the goal is to remove these expressions from all public forums. Imagine a place that it is dangerous to pray openly to God, where it could mean your life. Oh, well, 3 billion Chinese know this everyday. The dangers of secularism is that, though it doesn’t expressly state that religion needs to be removed from society, but when the push is to limit the freedom of expression and define acceptable and unacceptable where does it stop? God and Jesus Christ are becoming an offense and if we are not careful they may become equivalent to hate speech because they confront each and everyone with this horrible word, sin!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Wisdom from the side of a coffee cup
Everywhere, unthinking mobs of
“independent thinkers” wield
tired clichés like cudgels,
pummeling those who dare
question “enlightened” dogma.
If “violence never solved anything,”
Cops wouldn’t have guns and
Slaves may never have been freed.
If it’s better that “10 guilty men
go free to spare one innocent,”
why not free 100 or 1,000,000?
Clichés begin arguments,
they don’t settle them.
“independent thinkers” wield
tired clichés like cudgels,
pummeling those who dare
question “enlightened” dogma.
If “violence never solved anything,”
Cops wouldn’t have guns and
Slaves may never have been freed.
If it’s better that “10 guilty men
go free to spare one innocent,”
why not free 100 or 1,000,000?
Clichés begin arguments,
they don’t settle them.
-- Jonah Goldberg
-- Editor at large of National Review online
-- Editor at large of National Review online
Friday, September 23, 2005
Important Recall Notice
IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE!!
The Maker of all human beings, is recalling all units manufactured,
regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary
and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in
the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in
the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!
Thank you for your immediate attention.
ALL MY LOVE ~ GOD
Monday, September 19, 2005
Is Christ in You?
Is Christ in You?
An issue that always bothers me in our world is the misuse of Christ in context to the world. For some the idea of a Christian is an annoying person who feels superior to everyone else, someone who is judgmental and narrow minded. I know this because of some of the experiences that I have had before coming to Christ and from some of the reactions that have been given to me by others. The fact that I and many others like me are conservative tends to be icing on the cake for many because then they just lump me in with the likes of Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Buchanan. These are all roadblocks to evangelization because these don’t represent the majority like me.
My heart is in trying to introduce many to the great salvation that can be found in Jesus Christ, the great relief and rest that one can find is astounding. I can remember when I was pretty much anti-Christian, I was still a conservative, but I looked at most of these Christians as being people that felt they were superior and they more often than not justified my feelings by their actions. If you have long hair, a goatee, and are a partier and a smoker, well, you just can’t fit – at least as I knew them in college. I was rejected because I didn’t wear the uniform and didn’t act the ‘right’ way. Well, here I am now an ex-smoker with short hair and no goatee a Christian in seminary to become a pastor, but still remembering the way that I was treated and wanting to insure that others will not go through the same things that I did and having convictions that have been burned into me since coming to Christ and I am having to break through and hurdle over the mistreatment given by others before me.
The idea of faith is being looked at as illogical and to some extent I would agree because it isn’t something completely tangible, but then knowing that the alternative is just as illogical because it places a ‘faith’ in man made constructions and when illogical things occur those who adhere to a concept of science and reason write it off as an anomaly. Then there are those who I understand their beliefs such as Wicca and other pagan movements who are so hardened by the judgment of others that it becomes almost impossible to even begin a dialogue.
So, here we are with two choices to do nothing or to reach out to a broken world. God is calling up an army to change the world, the question is: “Are you hearing it?” The choice of doing nothing is one that has been the choice of many for a long time and is why we find a world that is trying to marginalize Christianity as just another idea and eventually, if allowed, these churches will cease to exist. This leaves truly only one long-term option – to heed the call – to join God’s army – an army not of guns, swords, or any other weapons, but an army that is on its knees in prayer and serving the world fully dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The question isn’t whether it will succeed, the question is will you be a part of it and is Christ in you?
An issue that always bothers me in our world is the misuse of Christ in context to the world. For some the idea of a Christian is an annoying person who feels superior to everyone else, someone who is judgmental and narrow minded. I know this because of some of the experiences that I have had before coming to Christ and from some of the reactions that have been given to me by others. The fact that I and many others like me are conservative tends to be icing on the cake for many because then they just lump me in with the likes of Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Buchanan. These are all roadblocks to evangelization because these don’t represent the majority like me.
My heart is in trying to introduce many to the great salvation that can be found in Jesus Christ, the great relief and rest that one can find is astounding. I can remember when I was pretty much anti-Christian, I was still a conservative, but I looked at most of these Christians as being people that felt they were superior and they more often than not justified my feelings by their actions. If you have long hair, a goatee, and are a partier and a smoker, well, you just can’t fit – at least as I knew them in college. I was rejected because I didn’t wear the uniform and didn’t act the ‘right’ way. Well, here I am now an ex-smoker with short hair and no goatee a Christian in seminary to become a pastor, but still remembering the way that I was treated and wanting to insure that others will not go through the same things that I did and having convictions that have been burned into me since coming to Christ and I am having to break through and hurdle over the mistreatment given by others before me.
The idea of faith is being looked at as illogical and to some extent I would agree because it isn’t something completely tangible, but then knowing that the alternative is just as illogical because it places a ‘faith’ in man made constructions and when illogical things occur those who adhere to a concept of science and reason write it off as an anomaly. Then there are those who I understand their beliefs such as Wicca and other pagan movements who are so hardened by the judgment of others that it becomes almost impossible to even begin a dialogue.
So, here we are with two choices to do nothing or to reach out to a broken world. God is calling up an army to change the world, the question is: “Are you hearing it?” The choice of doing nothing is one that has been the choice of many for a long time and is why we find a world that is trying to marginalize Christianity as just another idea and eventually, if allowed, these churches will cease to exist. This leaves truly only one long-term option – to heed the call – to join God’s army – an army not of guns, swords, or any other weapons, but an army that is on its knees in prayer and serving the world fully dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The question isn’t whether it will succeed, the question is will you be a part of it and is Christ in you?
Friday, September 16, 2005
Katrina National Day of Prayer
Katrina – National Day of Prayer
Let us remember to pray for those victims of Hurricane Katrina today and the rebuilding of that devastated area along the Gulf Coast.
Let us remember to pray for those victims of Hurricane Katrina today and the rebuilding of that devastated area along the Gulf Coast.
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