10 years Running Blind

cartoon: love you too much

2010-09-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Inviting Mark Driscoll to a conversation at the event Stories From The S...

2010-09-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

My brothers post on FB about the Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-08-17T17:08:00.000-07:00

My little brother did a great post about the Mosque being built around groud zero. I liked it so much I wanted to share it on my blog, so...here it is.

My Thoughts on the "Mosque" at Ground Zero.

I do understand people's sensitivity to the idea of a Mosque being built ON Ground Zero - however, this is a building in a neighborhood several blocks from "Ground Zero." It is an 11 story "Islamic Center" which the community in which is located overwhelmingly supports. At this stage, the plan is is for the prayer space "Mosque" to occupy only one floor of a 13-story building. The rest would house a swimming pool, a concert auditorium, a gymnasium, a child-care facility, a library, a culinary school and a restaurant. According the article below from the Chicago Tribune, it will bear a strong resemblance to Manhattan's 92nd Street Y.

All that said, I still understand folks' gut reaction - especially when the truth is twisted and the FOX headlines trumpet "Mosque to be built on Ground Zero." But even without all the hype from the right (I know who got in planes and flew them into the twin towers, it was radical Islamic terrorists), heck, the TRUTH of the situation doesn't sit completely well with me. . . I'll admit that. But, to create a groundswell of support to have construction stopped - even if the neighborhood wants it, and many outside, because of an intolerance for Muslims and Islam, band together to have it forbidden, it is a slippery slope we are facilitating. . . Let me give some examples of what MIGHT be:

What if one more "Christian" kills another abortion provider, and then "Christianity" becomes pegged as something that needs to be truly corralled?
Why do we allow Catholic churches to exist when Timothy McVeigh was Catholic (OK, that's a bit of a stretch, because McVeigh never claimed he was "doing it" for Jesus. . . but he was Catholic)?
How about this one - do you remember that pharmacist, Robert Courtney - he owned a pharmacy out at Research Medical Center, and diluted chemotherapy for cancer patients - people DIED - and he did it to make extra money. He was a Christian, very active in his church. One of the reasons he did it was to support a building program at his large evangelical church to which he had committed big dollars. So, should all Christians have their incomes scrutinized, especially those that give to their church?
Ever hear of the Crusades? There are plenty of examples in modern and historical times. . .

There are lots of HORRIBLE things that have been done by zealots for their faith. . . including fringe elements claiming to represent the Christian faith. When people decide to allow the fringes of organizations, religious or otherwise to represent the baseline, fear, stereotyping, racism and other isms begin to take over. That is not the solution here. We need to target TERRORISTS. Not Muslims.

So, to summarize my primary concerns around this issue: my first is how those opposed to this are "spinning" the truth of what and where the facility actually IS to fan the flames of fear and hatred. My second is, if this is not about the consititution (as has been stated by many I have read). . .then what is? The First Amendment is either true and applicable, or it's not. . . To somehow say it's suspended here is the same line of thinking that led to Japanese internment camps in WWII. . .

I don't love the idea, but I love the idea of my religious freedom - to worship the God of the Universe and believe that He provided salvation and a way to live through Christ. I am a Christian. Proud to say it. Will never deny it. And to continue to have the right to do so, I think repressing other people - simply because of their religion (even though I think it is false and don't believe it myself) is not the best way to maintain that freedom.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman/2010/07/the-truth-about-the-ground-zero-mosque.html

Peace!

Driscoll

2010-07-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

http://burnsidewriters.com/2010/07/28/enough-about-men-what-do-you-think-about-men/

Friends are a dime a dozen

2010-06-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

I've been going through a trial so to speak. A lot of people have friends. I have friends too. There are some friends that you can spill your guts to and they will always be there for you. I am lucky to have quite a few of those. And it is to those friends I say thank you. I thank you for your support, your encouragement and even your admonishment.

You all already know who you are. You're the best.

Peace!

The Nitty Gritty

2010-06-16T17:09:00.001-07:00

You find out real quick who your real friends and family are when it gets down to the nitty gritty. Some want to do the easy stuff but won't jump in when it gets dirty. Sure they can give advice and go out for a drink or dinner. But what about the trenches? Will you pick up the shovel? Didn't think so.

Where were you?

2010-05-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

Where were you when she needed someone to watch her dog? nowhere
Where were you when she needed a place to stay? nowhere
Where were you when she needed help moving her stuff? nowhere

But you can offer her advice.
Doesn't quite cut it in the long run. You can do the easy stuff but when it gets tough, where are you? nowhere

Nuff said!

Peace!

I need to vent

2010-05-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

My daughter moved out of the house and into an apartment with her boyfriend a few months ago. Things were okay for awhile. But then they started fighting. I mean fighting, as in physically fighting. She should have left the first time. She had also purchased a pit-bull puppy.

Last night things came to a head and the police were called to her apartment. So just before midnight she came over to our house with the puppy and some overnight stuff. She needed a safe place to stay. We gave her that. I told her she can stay as long as she needs to, but the dog cannot. We already have two dogs and our place is much too small for another one.

She found a married couple that just moved into a nice house with a huge backyard that were looking for a pit-bull puppy. They came and picked up the dog today. So that worked out fine and with a happy ending.

Shannon went to the courthouse this morning to file for a restraining order because the cops told her to do that first thing in the morning.

Jeff, a good friend of mine, and myself will be going to the apartment this evening to remove Shannon's things. I am hoping things go smoothly, but you never know when domestic issues are involved because emotions run high.

Bottom line is, my daughter will have a safe place to stay. She may face some financial trouble due to the lease her and her boyfriend signed, but she will be safe. Tough life lesson.

She has a good job, is smart and she'll recover from this I am sure.

Keep your head up Shannon, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Peace!

formspring me

2010-05-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

This seems to be the latest rage so go ahead...ask me anything.................................

http://www.formspring.me/keithkincaid

I'm tired

2010-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'm tired of all of the drama. I'm tired of all of the turmoil. It's time to just let it go and let it fall into the Hands of the One who cares. I can't do anything about it. So why stress about it anymore and why write about it. It's His. Please take it and make everything work itself out. Thanks!

Peace!

Terms of Unity

2010-03-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

Major announcement

2010-03-05T19:21:00.000-08:00

It's official. I am now an official member of the "empty nest club"!

2010-02-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

more drivel from mark driscoll

2010-02-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

Karma

2010-02-16T18:43:00.001-08:00

So what do you think of Karma? I think it's good in some cases, and I think it's about to bite someone in the ass. I just hope it doesn't bite too hard.

2010-02-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

2010-02-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

Lonnie Frisbee, the Church, and Being Gay

Jesus Wept...and He still Does

2010-01-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am reading this book...When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett the second time around. This excerpt from his book is from Chapter 9 and it should hit every judgemental, fundamentalist Christian right between the eyes. For those that know me, I don't even like to be called "Christian" because of the negative things associated with Christianity. I prefer to be called a Follower of Jesus. Anyhow...here is the excerpt from Chapter 9 pages 115-118.

The Anti-Defamation League lists nearly 5,000 hate sites on the Internet. According to their research about 300 of those use Bible verses or church language to promote their cause. -Southern Legal Research Institute

If you have read this far, you have no doubt surmised I was a smart-aleck kid. When my Sunday-school teachers used to give candy for memorizing a Bible verse, I would roll in on Sunday morning (at least the first time) and brightly proclaim: "John 11:35. 'Jesus wept.'"

The shortest verse in the Bible. Look it up. Interestingly, that verse still comes to mind every time I am saddened by tragic news. And I can't help but think that verse applied when Jesus witnessed the appalling reaction by some who claimed to be His followers to one particularly tragic and senseless death in 1998.

I will never forget the pain that pierced my heart when I turned on the evening news. A young gay man named Matthew Shepard had been cruelly beaten to death in Wyoming by two cowardly thugs. Then my pain turned to revulsion. At his funeral in Wyoming, a man waved a sign bearing Matthew's face and the words, "Matt is in hell." I grieved for Matthew's family and friends. I prayed that somehow God would help them to realize that the sign did not represent how Christ or His sincere followers felt about the young man's death. I agonized for the group of hate-filled people who had so entirely missed Jesus that they could invoke His name so outrageously. And I felt additionally sick that the faith that sustains me had been misrepresented and broadly displayed in this way.

Fred Phelps, the so-called pastor from Kansas who promotes his "God Hates Fags" web site, somehow managed to become the media-appointed spokesperson on Matthew's death for conservative Christianity. I tried to go to Phelps's web site to see what he had to say in a context broader than a sound bite. One must question how much glory a ministry gives to God's kingdom when Christian software filters censor its Web site for hateful rhetoric. I imagine Phelps would just chalk up the censorship to the prevalent failure among Christians to see "truth" as he does. Thank God that few do. I was going to cite some examples from his Web page, but his position is too disgusting to repeat.

When such despicable behavior becomes the public perception of Christian response, even the most thoughtful and caring protests against the gay lifestyle become labeled "hateful" and "bigoted." If the average gay or lesbian thinks I break bread with Fred Phelps, I can understand that fear and loathing. (By the way, my omission of the title Reverend from Phelps's name is deliberate. My dictionary defines reverend as being "worthy of reverence or entitled to respect." In my opinion Phelps is 0 for 2.)

Some groups blame conservative Christians for Matthew Shepard's death. They link fundamentalist's to "homophobic" attitudes that created and environment conducive to the killing. I would be the first to admit that the church (yes, that includes me) has done a miserable job overall of understanding and ministering to those who embrace a gay lifestyle. But when we are accused of creating a scenario in which faith is liable for a cowardly act of hate, I have to dissent. Evil is evil. These killers were evil. They acted out of hate.

It's been noted that the Bible states six admonishments to homosexuals. There are well over three hundred directed toward heterosexuals. Let's be honest: we straight believers have a vast, toxic superfund cleanup in our own backyards as well.

Some Christian groups will call me a gay sympathizer. They will call me a lover of people of color. Actually, they will call me much worse, but you get the point. They will call me a Jew supporter. They will be right on every charge. I have no choice. For when God created man in His image, He made no mention of color, race, education, income, or any other qualifier. You can rest assured that I want to be standing firmly in the corner of God's chosen people.

When the Bible proclaims that whosoever believes shall have eternal life, that means everyone. God's grace is not exclusively for the rich, pretty, smart, or talented. God's grace is available to everyone. God's plan of salvation is in fact the great leveler of the human playing field. Donald Trump comes to his eternal destiny with the same assets or lack thereof as you or I will. I like the thought that Mr. Trump will need to wait his turn just like everyone else.

We discussed earlier how all of those who use the name Christian are often lumped together by non-Christians. While it is tough enough to get blamed for your own mistakes, it is really frustrating to be indicted for those who share your title but not your convictions. Those claiming the name of Christ have tolerated and even initiated hateful messages (and I'm not sure which is worse), and this troubles me greatly. I have always been sympathetic to police departments whenever an incident implicates an officer in illegal or unethical behavior. I am sure that an overwhelming percentage of policemen and women are professional and caring. But when one rogue cop dominates the headlines, the entire profession is judged to be guilty by association. It is a sad twist of our human nature that a rogue element of less than 1 percent can ruin the public perception of the remaining 99. Likewise, the church has had (and still does have) rogue representatives of Christ.

Book Burning

2010-01-21T09:47:00.001-08:00

2010-01-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

Robertson is right about one thing

2010-01-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

2010-01-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

press statement from mark driscoll

Crazy Shit

2010-01-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

I had a very nice time of reflection the last couple of days. I went up to Payson to be by myself and to think about a lot of crazy shit that is going on in my head right now. The bottom line...I can't change other people. I can only change my attitude towards them. Sometimes life is shitty. We need to deal with it and move on. I don't know why it's that way, but it is.

When I was sitting in church Sunday morning, Pastor Jack's topic was about weathering the storm. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has storms in their lives. This is inevitable. But it is how we deal with these storms that matters.

I am done being angry. I am done feeling sorry for myself. It's time to accept what life deals me and move on.

I can say this...2010 is going to be a lot better than 2009 was. I can sense it. I just have a peace about things now that I didn't have before.

Be well, and be blessed. May your 2010 bring you peace and happiness.

Peace!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of my family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

Peace!
Keith

2009-12-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

"What Dr. King was saying was: Don't respond to caricatures---the Left, the Right, the Progressives, the Reactionary. Don't take people on rumor. Find the light in them."

-Bono

Broken Relationships and Reconciliation

2009-12-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

I went to lunch with a good friend the other day and we were talking about this specific topic. When I read Wayne Jacobsen's blog this morning, it was what the post was about.

Broken Relationships and Reconciliation

Peace!
Keith

His Love Never Fails

2009-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

I know pastors who spend six hours a day reading and studying their Bibles. The pages look like they've been through battle. And they have. Everything is underlined and highlighted. There are notes scribbled in all the margins, and key words are circled on every line. They spend hours every day in their prayer closets crying out to God. But when it comes to people, they're indifferent. They could take them or leave them. These men think they know God's heart because they've read and studied His Book and spent hours in prayer, but what they don't know is that they're being grossly deceived. They don't know Him from Adam!

I also know people who read their Bibles about five minutes a week and pray even less. They secretly kick themselves for it, and they're afraid to approach God because their religion has made them so aware of their sin. However, they happen to love people with all their hearts. These folks have an intimacy with God that's irreplaceable. They know Him fully because they know His children.

There is no question in my mind that in the end there will be millions who thought they knew Him, but didn't, and trillions who were convinced they didn't know Him, but really did.

Pgs 202-203 of The Misunderstood God - The lies religion tells us about God by Darin Hufford

Blackballed by your Christian brethren

2009-11-21T11:51:00.001-08:00

Many of us can't fathom God as having an open heart because of the many times we have been blackballed by fellow Christians in the past for something we did or did not do. The moment we step out of line, we find that "godly" people who were once our friends suddenly refuse to have anything to do with us. It's difficult not to make assumptions about the heart of God from the actions of His children. And we all are ultimately conformed to the image of who we believe our Father in heaven is. Christians close their heart doors to people who anger them because that's who they believe their Father is.

pg 167 from Darin Hufford's book
The Misunderstood God - The lies religion tells us about God

2009-11-06T09:51:00.001-08:00

In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. - Benjamin Franklin

Balance

2009-11-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

St. Benedict tells me to run to Christ. If I stop for a moment and consider what is being asked of me here, and what is involved in the act of running, I think of how when I run I place first one foot and then the other on the ground, that I let go of my balance for a second and then immediately recover it again. It is risky, this matter of running. By daring to lose my balance I keep it.

- Esther de Waal, from her book Living with Contradiction: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality

Halloween or Harvest?

2009-10-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

It is really interesting to me how some churches and religious folk take offense to Halloween. My church has what they call a Harvest Festival...which by the way I think is okay. My church doesn't tend to be all that against Halloween really. They just offer an alternative place for the kids to go have fun and get candy. It is not extreme by any means. Yes, they will learn about the Gospel and Jesus. But they can come dressed up in their costumes and it is a fun time. Jesus isn't crammed down their throats.

This brings me to last night, while I was watching the local evening news. There is a church in Chandler AZ called The Door. What they offered was a haunted house that had scenes of abortion and meth addicts and hell, yada yada yada...(insert your extreme right wing evangelical stuff here). Not only did they offer this, but they charged $15 a head to see this stuff, and then they had a fire and brimstone pastor telling them to accept Jesus or be damned to an eternity in hell! I was LIVID when I saw this. There were mothers who took their little kids through this and the reporter was interviewing them about what they experienced. Sadly, these people will probably never step into a church again. They did not expect what they got until they went through the place and saw graphic scenes of abortion and the like.

That's my rant. I'm pissed because of Christians like this. Like I said though, I am NOT against an alternative to Halloween. My church does a wonderful thing for the kids...and THEY DON"T CHARGE FOR IT!

What say you?

End of rant!

Peace!

2009-10-17T09:45:00.001-07:00

'The risk-taking disciple, who dares to listen to his feelings rather than to the pontifications of authority or the clamor of the majority, may quickly find that his inner convictions do not resonate with popular opinion. He finds the situation unnerving to himself and disturbing to the palace guard.' Brennon Manning

SAMM - We Are All The Same (HQ)

2009-10-10T10:53:00.001-07:00

Song "We Are All the Same" by Samm from the movie Lord Save Us From Your Followers. Enjoy your weekend everyone and be kind to EVERYONE! We're all different, yet we're all the same.

Snippets from the AWESOME book Bo's Cafe - Will Grace Finally Win?

2009-10-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

“Grace is a gift only the nonreligious can accept. They’re the only ones who can get it. Religious folks see grace as soft. So they keep trying to manage their junk with their own willpower and tenacity. Nothing defines religion quite as well as a bunch of people trying to do impossible tasks with limited power while bluffing to themselves that it’s working.” (p.89).

“You know what shame does? It takes a particular violation or several violations from your past, something that really got to you, and convinces you felt like in that violation is who you’ll always be, for the rest of your life. Sad,huh? — We don’t want others to see us for the person the lie has told us we are. We almost unconsciously create a lie to protect us from the lie. Bad combination.” (pp.146-147).

My thoughts... Don't let church and religious folks bog you down with shame, guilt, obligation and rules. Accept God's Grace right where you are. If you've been wounded by church folk...move on and live in the Freedom that is God's Grace.

Peace!

Superior Religious Folks

2009-10-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

Andy continues. "It's a myth about needing superior religious folks to impart truth to the rest of us. Such people do not exist. Only those who think they are. Each of us, Steven, walks with a profound limp. Some have just learned to hide their limps better. Don't ever trust anyone who makes you feel intimidated by their presence because of some aura of religious superiority. People like that are almost always hiding something - incredible arrogance or a secret depravity that would shock you."

Pg 93-94 Bo's Cafe - Will grace finally win?

Dear God

2009-09-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

Dear God,

Why do you take someone form us at such a tender young age? I don't even try to comprehend this at all. I am still in total shock. On one hand, it makes my problems seem miniscule. But on the other, I have no idea how this could even happen.

Godspeed and prayers to the Murillo family. 27 years of age is much too young to be taken from this earth. RIP Cela. You will be missed. I can see God now with His open arms welcoming you into His Kingdom.

Peace!

2009-09-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

If you have had a drinking problem in the past, God can't change you. I've been told once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. But if you're a homosexual, God can change you. I'm gonna go have a beer. ;-)

Why We Need Government-Run Universal Socialized Health Insurance

2009-09-18T18:31:00.001-07:00

Some rambling thoughts

2009-09-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life sucks. Suck it up and do the right thing.

My life has been somewhat chaotic lately. Do I like it? Hell no! But I do know this...that whatever happens, I'll be okay.

I really like my new boss so far. He seems to be a good fit. Right now there are a lot of personality conflicts in our office. Some people need to put their differences aside...at least in the work environment.

I haven't been to church in quite awhile. Not because I haven't wanted to go. It seems that this entire Summer I have been working on weekends, and when I do get a Sunday off, I have other stuff to do. But to tell you the truth, I don't really miss it. I have done "church" without going to church. I actually enjoy that more. So I consider this Summer somewhat of a sabbatical from going "to" church. After September, my schedule should become a bit more stable.

My parents have been in New Mexico most of the Summer. They are coming back to AZ tomorrow. I am planning a quick trip to see them on the 15th and coming back the 16th. They celebrate their 50th anniversary on Sept 10th 2010, just a year from now. I will be discussing with my mom what they want to do and who they want to invite so that we can get the planning going.

I have really been enjoying my gym time. It is a time for me to get healthy and to let loose all of the "stuff" from the day. I lift weights and run. I feel great. A buddy of mine is planning on doing the PF Changs Rock & Roll Half Marathon in January. I'm contemplating doing it too. But I have to make my mind up by October so that I can start a running specific training program for it.

I've seen some damn good concerts recently. More to come in the future too.

My daughter has a job now and steady income. I really think she was depressed when she was unemployed. Now that she is working, I have seen our relationship improve.

We still go to the orphanage. Patty and I love those kids man. I really wish they were in the U.S. instead of Mexico. But they're not. We still serve them anyway. We're heading down there again on Sept 19th-20th.

My favorite author is coming to town on Sept 29th. Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz. I am looking forward to seeing him and hearing him speak.

My wife and I have been struggling recently in our relationship. But know this, we are working on it. She was there for me during a very hard time and I aim to be there for her too. Beside the fact that I love her dearly.

So there's a quick update for blogland. I'm usually on Facebook these days, but some of you don't do the Facebook thing.

Peace!
Keith

Book Notes | Donald Miller Interview, Part 3

2009-09-01T10:07:00.003-07:00

Book Notes | Donald Miller Interview, Part 2

2009-09-01T10:07:00.001-07:00

Book Notes | Donald Miller Interview, Part 1

2009-09-01T10:06:00.001-07:00

I am looking forward to reading his new book and I will be seeing him here in AZ on Sept 29th. I can't wait to hear him speak, because he is my favorite author.

2009-09-01T08:08:00.001-07:00

2009-08-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

more love, more power, more poetry

2009-08-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

What if my pastor doesn't see it that way?

Donald Miller coming to town

2009-08-15T16:44:00.001-07:00

Donald Miller is coming to town on the 29th of September. I believe he will also be in Tucson the next day. I'm bringing my Blue Like Jazz book with me and getting him to sign it. He is my favorite author and I look forward to hearing him speak. Susan Isaacs, author of another great book, Angry Conversations with God, will also be speaking.

APA and Ex-gay Ministries

2009-08-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

read it here

In Search of the Ideal Community

2009-08-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

Wayne Jacobsen posted this today on his blog. It really hit home with me. A lot of communities use you to get what they want out of you. They call you a friend and you get involved. If you don't tow the party line, then the friendship is over. I want no part of a community like that.

Here's what Wayne posted today...

I get in a lot of discussions with people about the practicality of finding real community among flawed brothers and sisters. Certainly we are all in a journey of transformation, but community need not demand perfection, just the resolve to live inside relationships. Everyone wants community but mostly for the benefits, and that can’t happen where people are not also willing to pay the cost.

The cost is this: one must put the priority of friendship above any other consideration, including how right I think I am. This is what Philippians 2:1-4 and other passages encourage us to do. The problem is, so few people I’ve met in this life can either live that or sustain it for any length of time. The moment community is about something other than friendship (finding our ministry, promoting our own happiness, or satisfying our coping mechanisms), it will always break down into a competition as to who has the most power to get their way.

The problem with any structure we would seek to use to guarantee this kind of life eventually fails. Subtly the structure replaces relationship, as people think the structure (the fact we belong to the same group) guarantees a relationship. But it won’t be long before most people will exploit the structure for their own self-interest or preferences. And most of those will mask their selfishness by claiming God led them to pursue they things they also happen to prefer the most. The biggest disappointments of my life have come when people get involved in a friendship only for as long as it met their needs and desires. Then they easily tossed aside the friendship like a piece of junk mail. They wanted the benefits of friendship, but had neither the responsibility nor integrity to contribute to the friendship beyond their own gain.

Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)

Philippians 2

He Took on the Status of a Slave

1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Peace!

2009-08-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Jay Bakker on Marriage and Ted Haggard

2009-07-31T13:47:00.001-07:00

The Unlikely Disciple

2009-07-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

I just bought a book that I cannot wait to start reading. It is titled The Unlikely Disciple - A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University. The author is Kevin Roose and here is a description of the book in a nutshell that I copied from the inside front and back flaps.

No drinking.
No Smoking.
No cursing.
No dancing.
No R-rated movies.

Kevin Roose wasn't used to rules like these. As a sophomore at Brown University, he spent his days drinking fair-trade coffee, singing in an a cappella group, and generally fitting right in with Brown's free-spirited, ultra-liberal student body. But when Roose leaves his Ivy League confines to spend a semester at Liberty University, a conservative Baptist school in Lynchburg, Virginia, obedience is no longer optional.

Liberty is tha late Reverend Jerry Falwell's "Bible Boot Camp" for young evangelicals, his training ground for the next generation of America's Religious Right. Liberty's ten thousand undergraduates take courses like Introduction to Youth Ministry and Evangelism 101, hear from guest speakers like Sean Hannity and Karl Rove, and follow a forty-six-page code of conduct - called "The Liberty Way" - that regulates every aspect of their social lives. Hoping to connect with his evangelical peers, Roose decides to enroll at Liberty as a new transfer student, leaping across the God Divide and chronicling his adventures in this daring report from the front lines of America's culture war.

Roose's journey takes him to an evangelical hip-hop concert, a Friday night Bible study group, and choir practice at Rev. Falwell's legendary Thomas Road Baptist Church. He experiments with prayer, participates in a spring break mission trip to Daytona Beach (where he learns to preach the gospel to partying coeds), and pays a visit to Every Man's Battle, an on-campus support group for chronic masturbators. He meets pastors' kids, closet doubters, and Christian rebels, and in a twist of fate, he conducts what would turn out to be the last print interview of Rev. Falwell's life.

Hilarious and heartwarming, respectful and thought-provoking, THE UNLIKELY DISCIPLE will inspire and entertain believers and nonbelievers alike.

Jerked around no more

2009-07-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a post from Kent that I read this morning because it made me happy that I am no longer manipulated by fear. Thanks for this post Kent.

When it becomes impossible to manipulate an individual through the exploitation of fear due to the reality that this individual is no longer afraid.....life changes for such an individual...radically changes.

When Christians do 'Fascinating Things'

2009-07-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

I found this in Ministry Today. I love the movement that is going on in Portland right now. This is what the church should be doing. I would move to Portland in a second should the opportunity ever come up.

QUOTE: "Given the demographics, dominant status is not a 'problem' that's going to afflict Portland's evangelicals anytime soon. That's hardly stopping them from doing what has always served Christianity best. Shane Claiborne, a Christian activist based in Philadelphia, described it this way when he came to speak in Portland earlier this year. The best way for Christians to make people know about Jesus, Claiborne declared, is by 'doing fascinating things.' That's clearly what's happening here in 'Jesus' favorite city.' And more and more of the nonevangelical rest of us are becoming fascinated. —Portland, Ore.-based writer and USA Today columnist Tom Krattenmaker, on the noticeable shift in how Christians in his city are perceived. Through such initiatives as the "Season of Service," which brought together more than 500 area churches to serve the community through various means, Portland's believers are becoming known for their "show, don't tell" approach to sharing Christ and their partnerships with unlikely camps (including Portland's gay, liberal mayor, Sam Adams). " Although Portland is hardly the only place where evangelical Christianity is evolving (and making new friends in the process), there is little doubt that evangelicals here are on the front end of a deep-change trend that is taking Christianity into its new future," Krattenmaker writes. "What's especially interesting is the 'why?'—the strong likelihood that Christianity's best face is showing up here in the unchurched mecca not in spite of the city's secularism and skepticism, but because of them." [usatoday.com, 7/20/09]

In reference to my previous post

2009-07-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

I remember talking to a pastor of a church I used to go to. He was "advising" me about my finances. Telling me that my wife and I should have a joint account and not separate ones and then telling me that I should tell my wife to "tithe".

I ran like hell and haven't turned back.

Jimmy Carter leaves Southern baptist Church

2009-07-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Personally, I commend Jimmy Carter for this move. I am not anti-baptist and I happen to agree with a lot of their theology. A lot of churches (and I don't care what denomination it is) get into legalistic and church politic issues that would make Jesus cringe.

Jimmy Carter leaves church over treatment of women

Peace!

Come away with Me

2009-07-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Come away with Me for a while. The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold. Most people put Me on hold, rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on Me. But the longer people push Me into the background of their lives, the harder it is for them to find Me.

You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives. Even those who know Me as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world. They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: more meetings, more programs, more activity.

I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you. Moreover, as you walk close to Me, I can bless others through you.

July 17th reading from Sarah Young's devotional Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence

2009-07-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.
- Henri Nouwen

different

2009-07-16T19:38:00.001-07:00

Quittin' Time

2009-07-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Across the boundary lines

2009-07-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

God has made of one blood all nations under heaven. No man can suddenly become my enemy just because he happened to have been born on the other side of a river or a boundary line, and his government has issued an ultimatum against mine. Is it not time that we refused to fight?
- Muriel Lester, social reformer and pacifist (1883-1968)

2009-07-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Illusion of Religious Systems (Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman)

2009-07-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

"We are so quickly captured by a work-driven religious culture that it devours the very love it seeks to sustain."

"That's the problem with institutions isn't it? The institution provides something more important than simply loving each other in the same way we've been loved. Once you build an institution together you have to protect it and its assets to be good stewards. It confuses everything. Even love gets redefined as that which protects the institution and unloving as that which does not. It will turn some of the nicest people in the world into raging maniacs and they never stop to think that all the name-calling and accusations are the opposite of love."

"...If you do what we want, we reward you. If not we punish you. It doesn't turn out to be about love at all. We give our affection only to those who serve our interests and withhold it from those who do not."

"The problem with church as you know it, is that it has become nothing more than mutual accommodation of self-need. Some need to lead. Some need to be led. Some want to teach, others are happy to be the audience. Rather than become an authentic demonstration of God's life and love in the world, it ends up being a group of people who have to protect their turf. What you're seeing is less of God's life than people's insecurities that cling to those things they think will best serve their needs...

"Religion survives by telling us we need to fall in line or some horrible fate will befall us."

"Institutionalism breeds task-based friendships. As long as you're on the same task together, you can be friends. When you're not, people have to treat you like damaged goods."

"Any human system will eventually dehumanize the very people it seeks to serve and those it dehumanizes the most are those who think they lead it. But not everyone in a system is given over to the priorities of that system. Many walk inside it without being given over to it. They live in Father's life and graciously help others as he gives them opportunity."

"The groupthink that results from believers who act together out of their fears rather than their trust in Father, will lead to even more disastrous results. They'll mistake their own agenda for God's wisdom. Because they draw their affirmation from others they'll never stop to question it, even when the hurtful consequences of their actions become obvious."

"I want to expose the system of religious obligation in whatever ways it holds people captive, but that's not the same as being against the institution. Don't let the system threaten you. As long as you react to it, it still controls you."

"Jesus didn't leave us with a system he left us with his Spirit - a guide instead of a map. Principles alone will not satisfy your hunger. That's why systems always promise a future revival that never comes. They cannot produce community because they are designed to keep people apart."

"I'm convinced that most Christian meetings give people enough of God's things to inoculate them against the reality of his presence."

"Religion is a shame-management system, often with the best of intentions and always with the worst of results."

"Who would choose to be raised in an orphanage? Our hearts hunger for family. That's where children learn who they are and how they fit into the world. Institutions are like orphanages revolving around the convenience of the staff. You survive best in it by following its rules, but that's not how Jesus connects you with his Father. For that you need a family and brothers and sisters who can respond to you in the moment, not wait for a meeting or to schedule a seminar."

"Not all structure is wrong. Simple structures that facilitate sharing his life together can be incredibly positive. The problem comes when structures take on a life of their own and provide a substitute for our dependence upon Jesus. When Jesus ceases to be the object of our pursuit, our touch with his body will fade into emptiness."

Living For the Approval of Others (Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman)

2009-07-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

"You're so busy seeking everyone's approval around you, that you don't realize you already have his."
"He'll make the choice clear to you if you don't complicate it with any attempts to protect yourself - not to keep your job, not to be liked by others, not ev
"As long as you need other people to approve of what you're doing, you are owned by anyone willing to lie about you."
"It's a lot easier for you to get out of the system than it is to get the system out of you. You can play the game from inside or outside. The approval you felt then came from the same source as the shame you feel now. That's why it hurts so much when you hear the rumors or watch old friends turn away embarrassed. They're not bad people just brothers and sisters lost in something that is not as godly as they think it is."
"You can't love what you're competing against and if you're keeping score you can be sure you're competing."

A great article...Marriage for the Masses

2009-07-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Marriage for the Masses

2009-06-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Saw this on FB today and I think there's a lot of truth to it...

GREAT QUOTE from Bruce G: "Christianity (as practiced in the the US) should be judged harshly because it sets itself up as the moral and ethical standard and judges EVERYONE (Christian or not) Remember with what judgment you judge you will be judged. The Church has become a self-righteous social club that only allows members who toe the line.

Friend

2009-06-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

When you do not fellowship with another and you blog using the name friend, you are wrong. Legalism is not the answer, but listening to Papa and not rules brings freedom. You are loved regardless of your rejection.

Peace!

Interesting stuff from the SBC

2009-06-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm not the only one that doesn't care for Mark Driscoll ;-)

Those delegates also heard eight motions that directly or indirectly related to Mark Driscoll, the controversial pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, even though he has no affiliation with the denomination. Although five of the eight motions were ruled out of order (among those dismissed was a proposal to have all SBC organizations "refrain from inviting speakers who are known to be unregenerate and curse, speak vulgarly and support alcohol"), the three remaining included a request for SBC entities to monitor and potentially cease any financial involvement with Driscoll or his Acts 29 Network for church planting.

In an offsite panel discussion that merged younger, Calvinist-leaning pastors with a loose network of Baptist leaders, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler told pastors and students, “Don’t look for too much out of the Southern Baptist Convention. Don’t find your identity here.” After admonishing those present to find their identity in Christ, Mohler said that despite the good done by the SBC in the past, growing up in SBC churches, attending SBC schools and seminaries and moving on to lead SBC churches and entities “produced a tribal identity rather than a gospel-centered identity.”

[Baptist Press, 6/23-25/09; Baptist Standard, 6/24/09]

2009-06-26T11:48:00.001-07:00

Charity is commendable; everyone should be charitable. But justice aims to create a social order in which, if individuals choose not to be charitable, people still don’t go hungry, unschooled, or sick without care.

- Bill Moyers, television journalist and social commentator

A gut feeling...but was it right?

2009-06-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

I need to share something that happened to me yesterday on my way home from work. So here it goes.......

I cut through an office complex to get out to Washington Street and hop on the 202 for the ride home. I was waiting at the stoplight and the Light Rail was going through the intersection in both directions. While I was at the light, a hispanic gentleman was sort of jogging towards the intersection while I was at the red light waiting for it to turn green. He was acting very nervous and looking around a lot and his demeanor was just very strange. He was sweating profusely, but it was 105 degrees at the time.

He was approaching my car from the passenger side as I was witing to turn left. Obviously, since it was 105 degrees outside, I had the windows rolled up and the AC on full blast. Well he got to the passenger side and tapped on the window while he was trying to open the car door which was locked. I waved him over to the drivers side and rolled the window down a little bit. I was sort of nervous now due to his erratic actions. How many people try to open up your car door while you're in it?

He came over to my window and starts asking me if I can give him a ride to the Light Rail stop because his girlfriend was on it and he didn't want to lose her. Again, I need to mention the fact that he was acting very strange and by now I was starting to get nervous. I kept watching his hands to make sure he wasn't reaching for anything. I told him that the Light Rail stop was right over there less than a block away and he could get on it there. But he kept insisting that I give him a ride. The light turned green and I told him I was sorry but "no" and I took off. He tried to stop the car behind me too but they didn't even stop.

Those who know me know that I would help anyone in need. But there was something in my gut during this situation that told me something was not right. Sure, I may be wrong and the guy was telling the truth. But my gut was telling me that this guy was attempting a carjacking.

I guess I will never know. I am just wondering what others would have done.

Peace!

A prayer for Peace

2009-06-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

I still harbor some bad feelings about a church I left and Keith Giles had posted this prayer yesterday on his blog. I echo his prayer because it applies to me too. It is sad when you try to visit with another "Christian" but they will not meet with you because they, for whatever reason, think that it is the "right" thing to do...

For those of you who have been shunned by those who once embraced you because you no longer attend the Sunday Morning Service, I pray that the Father would wrap His arms around you and hold you close.

For those of you who have been ignored in the grocery store by a brother or sister in Christ because you no longer believe in the man-made hierarchy of Corporate Church, I pray that God would grant you grace.

For those of you who have lost friends, the respect of family members, and have been invited not to come back to churches that once celebrated your arrival, I pray that Jesus would heal the pain in your heart.

I pray that God would comfort you and remind you that you are not alone. You are not forgotten. Your pain does not go unnoticed.

I pray that you would not return evil for evil, but that you would, in obedience to Christ, pray for those who persecute you. I pray that you would have the grace to forgive those who have treated you so horribly and that you would forgive them and set them free and ask God to remove all condemnation from their hearts.

I pray this for you, my friends, because this is what I need for myself today.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

2009-06-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Peace!

Conflict

2009-06-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

A quote from a blog post I just read that really made me think hard...

I don't think God is vengeful or does anything out of spite (frankly, He's got a lot of better things to do than poot around with our emotions), but I do believe that He allows "conflict" to help strengthen us and focus our goals and desires and intentions and ambitions on Him.

2009-06-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Tough times

2009-06-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

I'm going through a very difficult time right now. So the blogging will cease for a bit. Sometimes you have to go through darkness to see the dawn. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that I'm going to be okay.

I have my faith in Papa, and I have some great friends.

Peace!

2009-05-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is a quote from the book The Shack...

"I suppose since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing."

This is an excerpt from Kent, a blogger friend of mine. This is where I am at at this point and I need to work through this...

We just can't avoid the reality that we were created to relate to one another. Nor should we want to avoid it. Relationships are what life is about...healthy relationships are what we long for but often instead find ourselves caught up in conflicts that leave them in shambles. Too often the pattern seems to be to just go separate ways.

Peace!

Love

2009-05-21T20:03:00.001-07:00

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.
-Momma T

Joy

2009-05-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

I have committed myself to joy. I have come to realize that those who make space for joy, those who prefer nothing to joy, those who desire the utter reality, will most assuredly have it. We must not be afraid to announce it to refugees, slum dwellers, saddened prisoners, angry prophets. Now and then we must even announce it to ourselves. In this prison of now, in this cynical and sophisticated age, someone must believe in joy.
- Richard Rohr, OFM

Pollution Control

2009-05-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sadly, this is how some pastor's treat attendees!

2009-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

When life throws you a fastball, swing for the F'ing fence!

Peace

2009-05-14T13:51:00.001-07:00

To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one's partner.
- Nelson Mandela

Some updates

2009-05-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged lately about my personal life. Let me just state that we are going through some trials right now. If you're a parent, then you know all too well that sometimes it just isn't easy. It's even harder when the son or daughter is an adult. We're working through it and there is no doubt in my mind that we will get through it. It's just not fun, and to be honest, it sucks the life out of you. It can also be very stressful on the relationship with your spouse. So the bottom line is...things could be better, but we're doing okay.

Just got back from a day trip to the orphanage. Patty and I drove down Saturday morning and brought a bunch of canned fruits and vegetables for the pantry down there. They are really improving the property and I was quite impressed with all of the improvements that we saw. We also brought some clothes and bathroom stuff for the boy we sponsor and Leslie and Paul also gave us some stuff to bring down for the kids they sponsor. We went down loaded up and came back empty. Just wish we could bring the kids back here, but that would be illegal. It was very hot on Saturday but we enjoyed the kids and were blessed by being able to see them again. We came back Saturday evening and had a nice diiner after we got back to town. It was nice just to have some alone time with Patty even though a lot of it was spent in the car.

Sunday morning we went to the early service at church and then had lunch and went grocery shopping. I called my mom and told her Happy Mother's Day. I will be driving down to Tucson on the 25th and taking my mom out for a lunch date on the 26th. It has been something I have done for the last 4 or 5 years around Mother's Day that my mom and I look forward to every year.

I will be heading out to California tomorrow morning to install a new site. It is a remote site and I'll do the prep work tomorrow afternoon. Then finish up on Wednesday and head back home on Thursday. It's going to be around 105 degrees so I'll have lots of water and will be taking a lot of breaks. The heat can really get you fast if you're not careful. Even though it will be hot, I look forward to being out of the office.

Speaking of the office, my boss retires on June 3rd. They already have the job announcement out for his replacement. I know two people that are putting in for it, and I would be happy with either of them. The staff is a little nervous. You never know who you're going to get. Tony has been my boss for the past 16 years and longer for those that have been there longer than I have. I think Tony got here in 1988 or 89. Anyhow, he has been a GREAT boss and it will be sad to see him go. Let's hope the new guy or gal in town can fill his shoes.

I've been blessed by being back at Vineyard Community Church in Gilbert. You know you are in a REAL community when people rally around you when you're going through trials. They don't preach at you, chastise you or condemn you. They pick you back up when you fall. It's the way it should be. I think that's why a lot of people are leaving the church these days, because they like Jesus, but not the church. I am blessed to be a part of a community that is loving and caring.

That's all from here for now.

Another reason my blogging has slowed down is that I am really enjoying using Facebook. It seems all the rage these days and the majority of my friends and blog friends are using it. But I'm not retiring the blog. I'll still be around.

Until next time...be nice, play nice, and above all else, encourage someone at least once a day. If you see someone that is down, a kind word or a good deed can do wonders!

Peace!

Cheney says he prefers Limbaugh

2009-05-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

Cheney Prefers Limbaugh Over Powell

I was not a fan of Cheney to begin with, this is just icing on the cake!

The Furious Longing of God

2009-05-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

From Brennan Manning's - The Furious Longing of God

Reflecting love:

“I’ve decided that if I had my life to live over again,…I would devote not one more minute to monitoring my spiritual growth.”

“What would I actually do if I had it to do all over again? Heeding John’s counsel, I would simply do the next thing in love.”

Loving others:

“To affirm a person is to see the good in them that they cannot see in themselves and to repeat it in spite of appearances to the contrary.”

“This is not some Pollyanna optimism that is blind to the reality of evil, but rather like a fine radar system that is tuned in to the true, the good, and the beautiful.”

The Seen and the Unseen

2009-05-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

From the May 6th entry of the devotional written by Sarah Young - Jesus Calling (Enjoying Peace in His Presence

Do not search for security in the world you inhabit. You tend to make mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life. If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace. But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list. The harder you try, the more frustrated you become.

There is a better way to find security in this life. Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you. This continued contact with Me will keep you in My Peace. Moreover, I will help you sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not. Fix your eyes on not what is seen (your circumstances0, but on what is unseen (My Presence).

2 Corinthians 4:18 (The Message)
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

Lighten the Load

2009-05-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Matthew 11:28-29 (The Message)
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

The Whipping Boy

2009-05-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wow did this one hit home for me. Another great one from the naked pastor. Here he explains the cartoon well. I have gone through exactly what he is talking about.

Peace!

2009-04-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Greatest of All Sins

2009-04-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am about 3/4 through Frank Viola's book - From Eternity To Here. I loved this excerpt on pages 85-87

A careful survey of the Gospels will reveal this one penetrating truth: Jesus Christ was the friend and defender of sinners. It was the tax collectors, the thieves, the prostitutes, and the adulterers that He welcomed into His kingdom. And it was to the highly religious, the self-righteous, and the morally upright (and uptight) that He leveled His severest criticisms. For such had disqualified themselves from the kingdom of God.

Your Lord was a specialist at inducing the fury of the self-righteous, religious elite. Presumably, this is the reason why the stories in the Gospels (let alone the Old Testament) are not peopled with the morally upright. We're quite hard-pressed to find moral heroes in most of them.

Now let's put a modern Christian in that room with Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Pharisees. A self-righteous Christian, mind you.

"Um [cough] ... Lord Jesus, did she ask You to forgive her? I didn't hear her say she was sorry for living as a prostitute. How do we know if she has really repented, Lord? Do You mind if I interrogate her for a bit, please?"

Such is the spirit of a Pharisee. And we have not so learned Jesus Christ.

Repeat: The greatest sins above all else are self-righteousness and judgmentalism. These will bar one from entrance into the kingdom.

In this connection, there is only one person in the universe who has the right to be self-righteous. It is Jesus Christ. And there is no such spirit within Him. Thank God that our Lord is not self-righteous. For if He were, none of us would have any hope.

I am deeply impressed that the Lord demanded nothing of Mary. Instead, He received her shameless act as proof of her love for Him. Mary loved Jesus at great cost. She loved Him in the presence of judgmental Pharisees, in their home, uninvited.

She "pressed into the kingdom of God violently" and loved her Lord unabashedly and without shame (Matt. 11:12; Luke 16:16). But what I find even more jolting is that Mary was completely confident that Jesus would receive her act of adoration. She had no fear of Him, only love. This observation alone is quite telling.

Luke closes the curtains on this scene with the Lord saying to Mary, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Throughout the many years that I have been a Christian, I have made the following observation: You'll never know if self-righteousness is in your heart until something tragic happens to a fellow Christian that you know. When somebody you know (or know of) falls short, makes a mistake, or is the subject of an ugly rumor, it is at that moment that a self-righteous spirit - if it exists - will rear its head.

To be self-righteous and judgmental is to disqualify yourself from the kingdom of God. It is to deny the fact that you are a sinner who is hanging by a cobweb of grace, just like the rest of us. If you get in touch with your humanity, you will make an important discovery: You are just as fallen as everyone else and just as undeserving of God's mercy as everyone else. Such a revelation should remove any judgmental bone in your body.

I find this story so very encouraging on many levels. But the point that I am most impressed with is in who Mary Magdalene was. To my mind, she embodies the very depths of the fall. She was a harlot, sold into sin, possessed by seven devils. Yet despite all of that, she was chosen to be part of the spotless bride of Christ.

Even more startling, despite her tragic condition, she believed that she was worthy to love the Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow, Mary touched His grace. Somehow, she saw in His eyes the love He had for her. And with an unbridled audacity, she accepted His forgiveness and she loved Him with a blind passion.

Mary's love for her Lord was but a reflection of His unconditional love for her.

The story ends with the Lord telling her to "go in peace." And in peace she went. In fact, she followed the incarnation of peace for the rest of her life (Eph. 2:14). For she became one of the Lord's most faithful disciples (Luke 8:1-3).

Peace!

2009-04-24T12:24:00.001-07:00

“I go to Bible study on Wednesday mornings - I even teach sometimes - but I’ll still get up on stage and be much scarier than Marilyn Manson. It doesn’t mean that, as a Christian, you can’t be a rocker or an entertainer. It’s your lifestyle. I never use bad language. That’s not gentlemanly. Alice might slit your throat but he’d never use the F word.”
— Alice Cooper

Upcoming shows and other things

2009-04-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm going to help at the Gilbert Drop-In. Tomorrow night is the teacher appreciation dinner held at my church and I'll be going to that and enjoying some good food and even better fellowship.

I work days straight through the weekend so won't be at church on Sunday. My weekend will be Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday night I'm going to see Sevendust and Black Label Society at The Marquee in Tempe. I'll be hitting that show with Jon and Shelly from Amadeo.

On Saturday is the Ufest show out at The Farm on 99th and McDowell on the westside. Starts at noon and goes to whenever. The mainstage has headliners Chevelle performing. One of my favorite bands. Others on the main stage will be Drowning Pool, Static X, All That Remains, Nonpoint, Skindred and Steel Panther.

I guess I won't be able to hear for a week or two after this but I'll tell you what, I'm REALLY looking forward to these shows.

Peace!

2009-04-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

The tongue can be sharper than a sword. Think twice before speaking, because sometimes it will come back to haunt you. Your words can hurt someone without you even knowing it.

2009-04-21T07:38:00.001-07:00

As long as people use tactics to oppress or restrict other people from being free, there is work to be done.
- Rosa Parks

Excerpt From Donald Miller's upcoming book

2009-04-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Donald Miller is my favorite author. I subscribe to his blog and today he posted an excerpt from his new book that I have already pre-ordered. It doesn't come out until September. Anyhow, I love what I read. It really was ironic too because I am at that EXACT same place right now that he shared from his book. How cool is that?

excerpt from a million miles in a thousand years

Peace!

I guess He's training me

2009-04-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am training you in steadiness. Too many things interrupt your awareness of Me. I know that you live in a world of sight and sound, but you must not be a slave to those stimuli. Awareness of Me can continue in all circumstances, no matter what happens. This is the steadiness I desire for you.

Don't let unexpected events throw you off course. Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you. As soon as something graps your attention, talk with Me about it. Thus I share your joys and your problems; I help you to cope with whatever is before you. This is how I live in you and work through you. This is the way of Peace.

from Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence

Isaiah 41:10 (The Message)
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Peace!

Joe Satriani - Summer Song (Live 2006)

2009-04-15T14:58:00.001-07:00

Does this guy SUCK at playing guitar or what? IMHO...Satriani is by far the best guitarist in the world and I have had the priviledge to see him 3 times. Once right in the second row at The Celebrity Theater in Phoenix a few years ago. There will be a 4th time I am sure.

A scientist speaks at Church

2009-04-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

I was so moved by this article that I had to post it. This is what it is all about. We should be sharing with each other and not debating who's right and who's wrong.

I had a pastor send me something once that told me I was a fool. So this part I found interesting...

(As though this is the proper use of the Bible: finding a way to use it to call a person a fool. Jesus could use the Bible every moment of every day to call each one of us, “Fool!” but he doesn’t. Maybe we shouldn’t.)

So please read this article and let me know what you think.

Scientist speaks at Sunday morning church service

I not only am supportive of what Ken Wilson did by inviting Carl to speak, but am even more proud that it was a Vineyard Church, because I attend a Vineyard Church here in Arizona.

Peace!

"Take courage, it is I"

2009-04-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

My brothers mother-in-law is battling cancer once again. Please take time to say a prayer for her. Her name is Donnie. Below is a journal entry written by one of her daughters that I would like to share with you.........

Just read this morning about Jesus walking out on the lake in the middle of the night, scaring His disciples to death. They thought He was a ghost. His words to them were, "Take courage, it is I."

So many times we are scared by circumstances...by the unknown future....looks like a ghost to us. Yet when we remember that the Lord is the One who orders our steps...and we realize that He is the One who holds us in His righteous right hand, we realize that we have nothing to fear.
"Take courage, it is I."

Lord, please infuse courage into my family and me as we face this scary situation. Remind us that You are holding us in Your hands.

Friends, thank you so much for your prayers for us. Please pray that the antibiotics will do their job and get rid of the lung infection so that Mama can get on with the treatment to kick the cancer once again.

We appreciate you so very much....

Jeanne

2009-04-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

QUOTE: "We've decided that being Christian is punk rock because it's so anti-establishment." -30-year-old Vancouver, Canada, resident Lindsay Sutton, offering one of the reasons she was drawn to get involved with a church. Despite friends questioning her involvement, Sutton says part of the attraction for her was the "countercultural" element of Christianity-something she believes is becoming more appealing to a younger audience as Canada's secularization increases. [Christians] take social action seriously. Unlike many in this secular culture, they're go out and doing something." [vancouversun.com, 4/9/09]

jeff beck and jimmy page performing at rock and roll hall of fame

2009-04-13T20:42:00.001-07:00

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Metallica, and Jeff Beck

2009-04-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

So Sunday night when I was so damn tired after not sleeping hardly at all the night before, and then having to get up at 5 am for work, I found a rerun of the inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was aired on Fuse, a music channel my cable TV provider carries that is much better than MTV. I had heard that Metallica and Jeff Beck were being inducted this year so I was happy that I fell upon the re-broadcast of this show. Jeff Beck was inducted earlier, but not as an individual. He was inducted as a member of The Yardbirds. So it was about time that he was inducted as an individual for his sweet guitar work as a guitarist.

Metallica was long overdue for their induction and it was cool that they included Jason Newstead, who no longer is a member of Metallica. Robert Trujillo replaced him a few years ago. The ceremony was awesome, and I'll touch briefly on the highlights.

Jeff Beck was inducted by the legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. After the induction, both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page did an awesome live jam session playing Kashmir, an old Zeppelin tune. It was an extended jam that Jimmy kind of stood back and played rhythm guitar while letting inductee Jeff Beck take the lead guitar duties and the spotlight. Wow! That's all I can say. If you like guitar, you missed out if you did not see this.

The night ended with Metallica's induction. They were inducted by the bass player Flea, from The Red Hot Chili Peppers. After the induction of Metallica there was an all-star rendition of Train Kept a Rollin'. This all-star band included of course the members of Metallica, James Hetfield on vocals and guitar, Kirk Hammet on guitar, Robert Trujillo and Jason Newstead on bass, and Lars Ulrich on drums. Others in the jam session included Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin on guitar, Jeff Beck on guitar, and Joe Perry from Aerosmith on guitar.

A great night for Rock & Roll and I was very glad that I watched it.

Peace!