After setting up, setting off, and videoing our Rube Goldberg machine ("Ruby") 120+ times, we the FBCS Physics Class of 2014 have come to several conclusions.
1. Gravity is inconsistent.
2. Momentum cannot be counted on.
3. Friction is a fickle little buzzard.
4. "Good" luck does not exist/ only "bad" luck...and luck is pagan altogether
On a more serious note, we soundly conclude that creation by time and chance is an absurd figment of a poor imagination. Even with 12 intelligent designers we struggled to bring any order to the chaos that we ourselves created. We have scratched all the hair from our hoary heads and have gnawed our fingernails down to bloody stubs...yes...the marring of our anatomy stands as a testament to our complete effort. We conclude that the order found in our universe screams of an incredibly Intelligent Designer/Creator...there is no other way. If you still find yourself doubting, simply watch our out-takes video...
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Love More
No, it is not easy to grasp that the only way to suffer less is to love more, especially in politics. At the risk of seeming weaker. Yes, at the risk of seeming weaker I shall not build an atomic bomb, I shall not give my enemy a whack in the eye to show that I am stronger, I shall not make war, I shall not squash my tomatoes and apples with a tractor to keep the price up, I shall not destroy forests to build factories, I shall not poison the sea. If love is the rule of my politics and the thrust of my action, yes, I really shall suffer less and I shall cause less suffering in others.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Where's Waldo?
Looking for Christ in the American Easter season can be a lot like pouring over a "Where's Waldo" book. I searched "Easter" on google images this morning...the first full screen of images had ONE tiny reference to Christ. See if you can find it...
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Why WWJD?
I've recently been doing some research on the origins and popularity of the "What would Jesus do" phrase. While it has become hip and cheap today, it gained real popularity in the early 1900's after the publication of "In His Steps."
According to Wikipedia..."Chicago Advance, the original publisher, failed to register the copyright in the proper form. Other publishers took advantage of this, publishing the book without paying the author royalties. Thus lower prices and multiple publishers led to larger sales."
According to Wikipedia..."Chicago Advance, the original publisher, failed to register the copyright in the proper form. Other publishers took advantage of this, publishing the book without paying the author royalties. Thus lower prices and multiple publishers led to larger sales."
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Snow Roller Update and Photophilosphy
School was called off yesterday due to extremely cold windchill temperatures. I was literally having trouble with my nose holes freezing over when I was outside last night. Those of you that live above the Arctic Circle are accustomed to this and I'm sure you've already developed the habit of breathing through your mouth....
Since school was called off I decided to go snow roller hunting in the afternoon. After cruising around in my car for a while I finally found a field with some "ten-ton hussies."
For the sake of my photographer friends, who already know my photo-philosophy, I need to drop my little dig again. Photos are for people that are unable* to have a real experience and people that need help remembering a real experience. Outside of this, photos are a poor excuse for real life. Of course I understand and can appreciate photography as an art form, but as a purist, digital art has never been very impressive to me. Now, my photography friends have already told me that I'm full of mud, but in the mean time I'll be out walking among the Snow Rollers while you look at "freeze dried" versions of them:)
I say all this as a disclaimer to any of the photos I post on this blog. They are artless and embarrassingly poor representations of God's creativity. Enjoy them for what they are...
* Due to time/space, health, or old age, etc....
Since school was called off I decided to go snow roller hunting in the afternoon. After cruising around in my car for a while I finally found a field with some "ten-ton hussies."
For the sake of my photographer friends, who already know my photo-philosophy, I need to drop my little dig again. Photos are for people that are unable* to have a real experience and people that need help remembering a real experience. Outside of this, photos are a poor excuse for real life. Of course I understand and can appreciate photography as an art form, but as a purist, digital art has never been very impressive to me. Now, my photography friends have already told me that I'm full of mud, but in the mean time I'll be out walking among the Snow Rollers while you look at "freeze dried" versions of them:)
I say all this as a disclaimer to any of the photos I post on this blog. They are artless and embarrassingly poor representations of God's creativity. Enjoy them for what they are...
 |
| snow roller 1 |
 |
| snow roller 2 |
 |
| snow roller 3 |
* Due to time/space, health, or old age, etc....
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Snow Rollers: Ewok Armies Inexplicably Retreat to the Forest Moon of Endor
While Ewok armies rarely foray as far as the Blue Planet they have at times drifted down from the northern regions of the galaxy. These dwarfs of Endor are most known for their hit and run tactics, but an unusual phenomenon occurred all over North Western Pennsylvania yesterday.
Evidence indicates that a large Ewok army touched down during the night of January 27 in the Northwestern province of Pennsylvania; however, great mystery is found in their hasty retreat. Something seemed to cause a hasty retreat back to the forests of Endor. In fact the retreat was so hasty the dwarfs seem to have left all their sleeping bags....rolled em up and left without em they did.
I snapped a few pictures of the phenomenon....
In reality this is a rare natural occurrence that you can read about here. It makes me wonder what other natural beauty or sensations God has embedded in the fabric of this universe that we know nothing about...I had never heard of "snow rollers" before yesterday. I love it when God reveals His creativity to us!
Evidence indicates that a large Ewok army touched down during the night of January 27 in the Northwestern province of Pennsylvania; however, great mystery is found in their hasty retreat. Something seemed to cause a hasty retreat back to the forests of Endor. In fact the retreat was so hasty the dwarfs seem to have left all their sleeping bags....rolled em up and left without em they did.
I snapped a few pictures of the phenomenon....
In reality this is a rare natural occurrence that you can read about here. It makes me wonder what other natural beauty or sensations God has embedded in the fabric of this universe that we know nothing about...I had never heard of "snow rollers" before yesterday. I love it when God reveals His creativity to us!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
2014: Less Stuff, More Happiness
So in spite of the fact that the weather in my part of the country finds us pining for for electric underwear, hand warmers, and even a single ray of sunshine...yes...in spite of these facts, we try to turn our frozen sluggish minds out of hibernation and focus on more positive things like a New Year.
Just to make you New Year's Resolutioners have turquoise fuzzy feelings about me, I'm going to get some reflection and projection out of the way.
Reflection:
Another year is gone by and I just had another birthday. I'm stubbornly trying to convince myself that I'm not getting old, but my birthday cards haven't been very consoling. I found this tucked away in one of my cards...it hasn't seemed to help my self esteem.
Projection:
I show this short video clip in my speech class every year. Though I've seen it many times I was impressed in a new way when I showed it to my class several days ago. I'm most impressed with the idea of surrounding yourself with just a few of your most favorite things. Why pick through 20 shirts each day when you'd be most happy simply wearing your 5 favorite ones? I'm committed to getting rid of the extra clutter in my life that I don't need. I'm going to focus on quality rather than quantity. (This is NOT a "New Year's Resolution"...just an inspiration)
Just to make you New Year's Resolutioners have turquoise fuzzy feelings about me, I'm going to get some reflection and projection out of the way.
Reflection:
Another year is gone by and I just had another birthday. I'm stubbornly trying to convince myself that I'm not getting old, but my birthday cards haven't been very consoling. I found this tucked away in one of my cards...it hasn't seemed to help my self esteem.
Projection:
I show this short video clip in my speech class every year. Though I've seen it many times I was impressed in a new way when I showed it to my class several days ago. I'm most impressed with the idea of surrounding yourself with just a few of your most favorite things. Why pick through 20 shirts each day when you'd be most happy simply wearing your 5 favorite ones? I'm committed to getting rid of the extra clutter in my life that I don't need. I'm going to focus on quality rather than quantity. (This is NOT a "New Year's Resolution"...just an inspiration)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
When Students Become Their Teacher's Heroes
I'm feeling a lot of peace and good will this Christmas season, especially since my cell phone provider sent me a little happy birthday note today...never mind the fact that its not my birthday.
"Dear NSA agent spying on my blog, Please tell Straight Talk that their birthday greeting was a neat little PR ploy that failed. I'm not going to feel loved until one of their customer service agents from India gets on the phone and sings Happy Birthday to me IN ENGLISH!"
In all reality I've been thinking about heroes. The stories of the real heroes among us simply don't get told enough. I hear more stories about who won the last volleyball tournament, shot the biggest buck, or has the nicest car than anything else. When was the last time you walked up to a group of young people after church in time to hear them saying, "...sheesh...DUDE...did you see the way _(enter name)_ was freaking loving people last week...man...that was INSANE the way he...."
I hate to break it to you boys, but anybody can become an amazing volleyball player. Give me six months and I could be playing with the best of you, but I know that it will take a whole blasted lifetime AND the help of Jesus to weed the selfishness out of my heart. In that light I would like to tell you a story of incredible disregard for self.
I once had a student that really enjoyed photography. As a young girl she longed for a good SLR camera. After saving her hard earned pennies for some time, she was finally able to purchase the quality camera she always wanted. If I understand things correctly she is now employed in some type of photography work (at least part time). I know how important her camera is to her.
In spite of how much her camera means to her, she recently gifted it, lock stock and barrel, to a place of need. I know she could have sold this camera for several hundred dollars, but throwing "great stewardship," good business values, and profit motive to the wind, she got nothing in return. I am not the recipient of the gift, but I know the recipient and the giver. I understand the giver felt God asking her to give her camera away...so she did. That's Kingdom values and Kingdom economics at work folks.
As a teacher, there is nothing that makes me more proud than hearing stories of students doing "Full Bore Kingdom Living" (FBKL). I'm both convicted and inspired...inspired to live by the same set of values that cause people to give when it makes no worldly sense and to love a category of people that the world tells us we should ultimately hate/kill.
Sometimes students become their teacher's heroes!
"Dear NSA agent spying on my blog, Please tell Straight Talk that their birthday greeting was a neat little PR ploy that failed. I'm not going to feel loved until one of their customer service agents from India gets on the phone and sings Happy Birthday to me IN ENGLISH!"
In all reality I've been thinking about heroes. The stories of the real heroes among us simply don't get told enough. I hear more stories about who won the last volleyball tournament, shot the biggest buck, or has the nicest car than anything else. When was the last time you walked up to a group of young people after church in time to hear them saying, "...sheesh...DUDE...did you see the way _(enter name)_ was freaking loving people last week...man...that was INSANE the way he...."
I hate to break it to you boys, but anybody can become an amazing volleyball player. Give me six months and I could be playing with the best of you, but I know that it will take a whole blasted lifetime AND the help of Jesus to weed the selfishness out of my heart. In that light I would like to tell you a story of incredible disregard for self.
I once had a student that really enjoyed photography. As a young girl she longed for a good SLR camera. After saving her hard earned pennies for some time, she was finally able to purchase the quality camera she always wanted. If I understand things correctly she is now employed in some type of photography work (at least part time). I know how important her camera is to her.
In spite of how much her camera means to her, she recently gifted it, lock stock and barrel, to a place of need. I know she could have sold this camera for several hundred dollars, but throwing "great stewardship," good business values, and profit motive to the wind, she got nothing in return. I am not the recipient of the gift, but I know the recipient and the giver. I understand the giver felt God asking her to give her camera away...so she did. That's Kingdom values and Kingdom economics at work folks.
As a teacher, there is nothing that makes me more proud than hearing stories of students doing "Full Bore Kingdom Living" (FBKL). I'm both convicted and inspired...inspired to live by the same set of values that cause people to give when it makes no worldly sense and to love a category of people that the world tells us we should ultimately hate/kill.
Sometimes students become their teacher's heroes!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Gettysburg Address: A Civil Spirituality
One hundred fifty years ago today...Abraham Lincoln shuffled with head bowed on to the wooden platform at Gettysburg. Turning is tired eyes toward a war torn audience, he delivered what has probably become the most famous two minute speech. (I'm not sure if there was really shuffling, head bowing, and tired eyes, but...there probably was)
Since that time Christians, conservative and liberal alike, have claimed the speaker and his speech for God Himself.
With all due respect to Abraham Lincoln, who I believe was one of our greatest presidents, I'd like to remind Christiandom of a few things.
While Lincoln grew up in a very religious family, according to our knowledge, he was never a confessing believer. In fact he was quite skeptical as a young man and never joined the church. In spite of this, Lincoln was very familiar with the Bible and eloquent in religious language as a result of his upbringing and endless reading. As he grew older he attended church with his wife and certainly seemed to believe in the existence of an all powerful God.
Incredible power is embodied in a potent civil spirituality. The historians among us know what I'm talking about. A huge portion of Lincoln's lasting presence as a leader is sourced in his incredibly potent civil spirituality. This potent civil spirituality is woven into the fabric of his most famous speech..."that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."
Quoting another blogger... "For the Christian, the new birth speaks of forgiveness, conversion, and eternal salvation through Christ alone. Lincoln’s new birth served the purposes of nation, civil spirituality, and war, however noble that war’s aims. Lincoln was probably the most skillful proponent of that kind of civil spirituality in American history. But what is lost when the new birth becomes tied to a nation’s history, rather than a redeemer’s saving work?"
Since that time Christians, conservative and liberal alike, have claimed the speaker and his speech for God Himself.
With all due respect to Abraham Lincoln, who I believe was one of our greatest presidents, I'd like to remind Christiandom of a few things.
While Lincoln grew up in a very religious family, according to our knowledge, he was never a confessing believer. In fact he was quite skeptical as a young man and never joined the church. In spite of this, Lincoln was very familiar with the Bible and eloquent in religious language as a result of his upbringing and endless reading. As he grew older he attended church with his wife and certainly seemed to believe in the existence of an all powerful God.
Incredible power is embodied in a potent civil spirituality. The historians among us know what I'm talking about. A huge portion of Lincoln's lasting presence as a leader is sourced in his incredibly potent civil spirituality. This potent civil spirituality is woven into the fabric of his most famous speech..."that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."
Quoting another blogger... "For the Christian, the new birth speaks of forgiveness, conversion, and eternal salvation through Christ alone. Lincoln’s new birth served the purposes of nation, civil spirituality, and war, however noble that war’s aims. Lincoln was probably the most skillful proponent of that kind of civil spirituality in American history. But what is lost when the new birth becomes tied to a nation’s history, rather than a redeemer’s saving work?"
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Asking the right questions: Who is Truth? (cont.)
Almost two months ago I posted some of my thoughts on Truth as the person of Christ. I suggested that we should primarily ask "Who is Truth" rather than "What is truth." "What is Truth" then becomes a secondary question. If you haven't read that post you can read it here.
I've been wanting to respond to some feedback for a while, but blogging has taken a bit of a back burner for me of late. Several shared an extremely valid question that I would like to respond to.
(Summarized by me)"The argument for changing our primary question makes sense and is fine and dandy in theory. But...does it really change anything that matters? Is it really going to make a difference in the way we follow Jesus, or is it just high minded thinking and rhetoric?"
They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'm going to respond with two pictures.
This is the Christian that primarily askes "What is truth."
This is the Christian that primarily asks "Who is Truth."
I've been wanting to respond to some feedback for a while, but blogging has taken a bit of a back burner for me of late. Several shared an extremely valid question that I would like to respond to.
(Summarized by me)"The argument for changing our primary question makes sense and is fine and dandy in theory. But...does it really change anything that matters? Is it really going to make a difference in the way we follow Jesus, or is it just high minded thinking and rhetoric?"
They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'm going to respond with two pictures.
This is the Christian that primarily askes "What is truth."
This is the Christian that primarily asks "Who is Truth."
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
War is a Business.
Today is 9-11...tragedy and war come to mind.
It is easy to forget that for a few powerful elite war is a business, and human lives are a commodity...much like the auction blocks of the African slave trade.
Christian rhetoric can bother the conscience at times, and I can feel the mold growing on my upper ganglia when I hear Christian language that subconsciously endorses war...
I have no desire to play the stock market, but I do receive daily updates on which stocks are going to be "hot." I subscribed to these updates simply because I teach economics and it gives me some great fodder for discussion.
I received this lead several days before anyone envisioned peace with Syria outside the use of force:
"It`s your turn to make money on war! It`s the very time to do it!!!
As soon as the military attack Syria, oil prices will rise as well as MONARCHY RESOURCES, INC (M-ONK) share price. Start making dollars on Mon, Sep 9, 2013, get M-ONK shares."
Down right appalling, ridiculous, and contrary to the Kingdom of God!
I was reminded of something I read recently:
It is easy to forget that for a few powerful elite war is a business, and human lives are a commodity...much like the auction blocks of the African slave trade.
Christian rhetoric can bother the conscience at times, and I can feel the mold growing on my upper ganglia when I hear Christian language that subconsciously endorses war...
I have no desire to play the stock market, but I do receive daily updates on which stocks are going to be "hot." I subscribed to these updates simply because I teach economics and it gives me some great fodder for discussion.
I received this lead several days before anyone envisioned peace with Syria outside the use of force:
"It`s your turn to make money on war! It`s the very time to do it!!!
As soon as the military attack Syria, oil prices will rise as well as MONARCHY RESOURCES, INC (M-ONK) share price. Start making dollars on Mon, Sep 9, 2013, get M-ONK shares."
Down right appalling, ridiculous, and contrary to the Kingdom of God!
I was reminded of something I read recently:
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Chemistry Compilation
This post needs to begin with an apology to my 2012/2013 Chemistry class. I wanted to end the year on a fun and interesting note, so after our final test I assigned a final project. I divided the class into pairs...each pair was asked to prepare a basic Chemistry demonstration of some kind to present to an audience. With the busy schedule at the end of the year, I was never able to arrange a suitable audience, so we agreed that I would video the presentations and post them to my blog instead.
I promised to upload the compilation by early summer. No excuses....my head is now firmly in the sand, so no...I can't see the leaves changing color on the maple trees.
I'm not much for video editing, so what you see is pretty much exactly as it went down. However...the preparation week has been omitted for a number of good reasons.
For example: Note the volume of smoke created by Justin and Jordan in one of the final demonstrations on the video. Then imagine that demonstration occurring in a confined space known in the settled regions of Appalachia as a classroom....of course this is only in your imagination:)
After that week I noticed that I was super sensitive to anybody working beyond the perimeter of my peripheral vision (Not really). We all learned a lot along the way. I have some ideas for making the project even more effective next time and the students learned that teaching Chemistry might actually be harder than learning Chemistry....
They all did an excellent job...enjoy the video!
I promised to upload the compilation by early summer. No excuses....my head is now firmly in the sand, so no...I can't see the leaves changing color on the maple trees.
I'm not much for video editing, so what you see is pretty much exactly as it went down. However...the preparation week has been omitted for a number of good reasons.
For example: Note the volume of smoke created by Justin and Jordan in one of the final demonstrations on the video. Then imagine that demonstration occurring in a confined space known in the settled regions of Appalachia as a classroom....of course this is only in your imagination:)
After that week I noticed that I was super sensitive to anybody working beyond the perimeter of my peripheral vision (Not really). We all learned a lot along the way. I have some ideas for making the project even more effective next time and the students learned that teaching Chemistry might actually be harder than learning Chemistry....
They all did an excellent job...enjoy the video!
Friday, August 9, 2013
No Time to Tarry Here???
I pulled in my lane this evening hoping to finally catch up on some sleep...instead I found out that a dear sister from my church took her life today. Sandy is a single lady that has been attending my church for the last number of years...wrestling through this journey...
Now a song from one of my favorite children's choirs is playing through my head over and over....I thought I would share it. Life is a big matter of perspective....when one sees his life held up against eternity, he really has little time to be shoddy here....
Now a song from one of my favorite children's choirs is playing through my head over and over....I thought I would share it. Life is a big matter of perspective....when one sees his life held up against eternity, he really has little time to be shoddy here....
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Asking the right question: Who is Truth?
I've often thought that finding one's way through life is about asking the right questions as much as its about finding sexy answers. Those who don't ask the right questions rarely find good answers.
A recent email flurry with some friends found us hashing teachers. The best teachers seem to be people that understand that Truth is a person (Jesus). These teachers understand that Truth is not something you google, youtube, look up in an encyclopedia, or learn from the Hardy Boys. These teachers understand that they need to know Jesus and help their students know Jesus. Intelligence, extreme knowlege, or quick wit does not necessarily promote truth...in fact, it just may inherently lead students to ask the wrong question.
So, what is the wrong question? We may need to go back to one of the biggest literal perversions of Truth. When Jesus stood on trial before Pilate (a so called intelligent and learned man), He told Pilate that the reason He came into the world was to show us Truth, and anyone that is interested in Truth should simply tune in to to His voice (John 18:37)
Pilate promptly demonstrates his lack of understanding by asking an irrelevant question (but a question that is considered highly intellectual and intelligent today)...a question that the human race has been hammering into the bedrock over and over ever since. Of course who knows what part of the conversation the story may omit, but according to the account, Jesus does not even respond to Pilate's age old, "What is truth?"
If Pilate would have understood Jesus, he would have said something like, "you mean to tell me that YOU think YOU are Truth?" Instead PIlate arrogantly/stubornly saw himself as an intelligent guardian of truth....like he could just flip the right stone and find a worm...like he could put it in a box and send it to his neice for christmas....like he could command Jesus to go google it for him....like he could demand his children to go do it...like he could put it on his oatmeal in the morning like little raisins...like Jesus could tell him what it was with one sentence. If Pilate really wanted to know Truth he was going to have to take some splinters in the kneck...throw that cross on his should and walk with Jesus up that hill. (nobody is interested in cross bearing anymore it seems)
Like Pilate, we still think truth is a "thing," and we're still asking, "What is truth?" What would happen if we started asking "Who is truth?" If we started asking "Who is truth," is it possible that our young people would begin to see Aropostale, Nike, the media, Lebron James, Starbucks, McDonalds, Ford, The Mall and Walmart for who they really are?
A recent email flurry with some friends found us hashing teachers. The best teachers seem to be people that understand that Truth is a person (Jesus). These teachers understand that Truth is not something you google, youtube, look up in an encyclopedia, or learn from the Hardy Boys. These teachers understand that they need to know Jesus and help their students know Jesus. Intelligence, extreme knowlege, or quick wit does not necessarily promote truth...in fact, it just may inherently lead students to ask the wrong question.
So, what is the wrong question? We may need to go back to one of the biggest literal perversions of Truth. When Jesus stood on trial before Pilate (a so called intelligent and learned man), He told Pilate that the reason He came into the world was to show us Truth, and anyone that is interested in Truth should simply tune in to to His voice (John 18:37)
Pilate promptly demonstrates his lack of understanding by asking an irrelevant question (but a question that is considered highly intellectual and intelligent today)...a question that the human race has been hammering into the bedrock over and over ever since. Of course who knows what part of the conversation the story may omit, but according to the account, Jesus does not even respond to Pilate's age old, "What is truth?"
If Pilate would have understood Jesus, he would have said something like, "you mean to tell me that YOU think YOU are Truth?" Instead PIlate arrogantly/stubornly saw himself as an intelligent guardian of truth....like he could just flip the right stone and find a worm...like he could put it in a box and send it to his neice for christmas....like he could command Jesus to go google it for him....like he could demand his children to go do it...like he could put it on his oatmeal in the morning like little raisins...like Jesus could tell him what it was with one sentence. If Pilate really wanted to know Truth he was going to have to take some splinters in the kneck...throw that cross on his should and walk with Jesus up that hill. (nobody is interested in cross bearing anymore it seems)
Like Pilate, we still think truth is a "thing," and we're still asking, "What is truth?" What would happen if we started asking "Who is truth?" If we started asking "Who is truth," is it possible that our young people would begin to see Aropostale, Nike, the media, Lebron James, Starbucks, McDonalds, Ford, The Mall and Walmart for who they really are?
Monday, July 1, 2013
Horse Riding Goat
My mom has pygmy goats and they recently multiplied by the motherload. I don't know how many baby goats we had running around, but there sure was a crowd of them.
One of them unexplainably started riding our miniature horse. My dad simply noticed the goat riding the horse one day....its not really an unusual sight anymore.
One of them unexplainably started riding our miniature horse. My dad simply noticed the goat riding the horse one day....its not really an unusual sight anymore.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Chain Letters, Telepathy, and Haggai 1:5-6
After receiving this chain letter for the 4th time this year I've decided it deserves comment.
I think there are probably a lot of people out there like me that don't know what to do with these things when they get them....so....
I think there are probably a lot of people out there like me that don't know what to do with these things when they get them....so....
"We're
starting a collective, constructive, and hopefully uplifting Bible verse
exchange. It's a one-time thing and we hope you will participate. We have picked
those we think would be faithful, and make it fun. Please send an encouraging
Bible verse to the person whose name is in position 1 below (even if you don't
know him or her). It should be a favorite verse that has lifted you when you
were experiencing challenging times.
Don't
agonize over it--it is one you reach for when you need it: or the one that you
always turn to.
Position 1. kickinguphisheelsforJesus@gmail.com
Position
2. dancingtherumbawithhimthatisrisenfromthedead@yahoo.com
After you've sent the verse to the person in position 1, and only that person, copy this letter into a new email, move my name to position 1 and put your name in position 2. Only my name and your name should show when you email. Send to 20 friends BCC (blind copy).
If
you cannot do this in five days, let us know so it will be fair to those
participating. It's fun to see where they come from. Seldom does anyone drop out
because we all need new ideas and inspiration. The turnaround is fast, as there
are only two names on the list, and you only have to do it once.
May
God bless you as you share God's Word in Christ."
First of all....what I like about these things:
1. We continually fall into the trap of under-estimating the power of scripture...even a single encouraging verse. We really should share scripture with each other more.
2. I often discover that I DON'T actually have a favorite bible verse on the tip of my tongue:(
3. There may be some elitism in us that doesn't want to identify with the crowd that loves these things. I find myself thinking that I serve God more "intelligently" which somehow begins to equal "deeper" in my prideful little mind. It is good for me to be called away from such foolish and sloppy thinking.
Now...what I don't like:
1. Seriously why does this thing start with "We're....?" When you forward this thing to your friends It makes it sound like YOU were on the committee that cooked the goose.
2. Its a bit underhanded in that it doesn't explicitly tell you that your inbox could potentially be flooded with bible verses. Some life on life, friend to friend, encouragement is great...but swamping someone's inbox is another thing. Why not just copy and paste the whole Bible into an email and forward THAT to them?
3. So, do I need to write thankyou notes each time someone sends me their favorite scripture...especially if I have no idea who they are?
4. We tend to really get the whole thing of "means to an end" all screwed up. This little chain letter is a bit like the Conquistador's treatment of the Native Americans. The idea that all the pagans should be Christianized was a good idea...their means needed some reworking to say the least. The best way to Christianize a pagan country is simply not by killing and displacing all the pagans.
Likewise, sharing scripture is good idea. HOW you go about doing this actually DOES matter though. I'm not convinced that this little chain letter is the best means to the great end that it has in mind.
5. This is not "a one time thing." I've gotten this chain letter four times in the past 365 days.
6. Whoever gave birth to this little chain letter had a good, creative idea. The problem is that they have nothing in place to allow it to run its course, be a blessing, and then end when the time is right...how will this thing ever end unless breakthroughs in telepathy put email out of commission?
And now....I will share a bit of scripture with you that I like to keep in front of me. This verse helps me keep my focus when I begin to press* .
Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in
First of all....what I like about these things:
1. We continually fall into the trap of under-estimating the power of scripture...even a single encouraging verse. We really should share scripture with each other more.
2. I often discover that I DON'T actually have a favorite bible verse on the tip of my tongue:(
3. There may be some elitism in us that doesn't want to identify with the crowd that loves these things. I find myself thinking that I serve God more "intelligently" which somehow begins to equal "deeper" in my prideful little mind. It is good for me to be called away from such foolish and sloppy thinking.
Now...what I don't like:
1. Seriously why does this thing start with "We're....?" When you forward this thing to your friends It makes it sound like YOU were on the committee that cooked the goose.
2. Its a bit underhanded in that it doesn't explicitly tell you that your inbox could potentially be flooded with bible verses. Some life on life, friend to friend, encouragement is great...but swamping someone's inbox is another thing. Why not just copy and paste the whole Bible into an email and forward THAT to them?
3. So, do I need to write thankyou notes each time someone sends me their favorite scripture...especially if I have no idea who they are?
4. We tend to really get the whole thing of "means to an end" all screwed up. This little chain letter is a bit like the Conquistador's treatment of the Native Americans. The idea that all the pagans should be Christianized was a good idea...their means needed some reworking to say the least. The best way to Christianize a pagan country is simply not by killing and displacing all the pagans.
Likewise, sharing scripture is good idea. HOW you go about doing this actually DOES matter though. I'm not convinced that this little chain letter is the best means to the great end that it has in mind.
5. This is not "a one time thing." I've gotten this chain letter four times in the past 365 days.
6. Whoever gave birth to this little chain letter had a good, creative idea. The problem is that they have nothing in place to allow it to run its course, be a blessing, and then end when the time is right...how will this thing ever end unless breakthroughs in telepathy put email out of commission?
And now....I will share a bit of scripture with you that I like to keep in front of me. This verse helps me keep my focus when I begin to press* .
Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in
it.”
* - a sports term used to describe the funk that teams get in when losing gets in their head and they can't get it out
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Russian Orthodox Music and Other Bieberish
Leaders that saw their people as an endlessly self replacing commodity....
Wars won by fighting more like ants or locusts than human beings...
Thousands of nameless people like you and I that simply "disappeared" under the Bolsheviks...then Stalin....
Starvation...
Orthodox Russian music bleeds all of this...it makes western pop music seem kind of childish, naive, ignorant, and inexperienced...like a bunch of "bieberish" you might say.
This has been a long time favorite of my family after attending a Russian concert years ago. Its called "The Little Bell." We have ironically turned the little bell into tolling wedding bells. We call it "Peace Prayer" and sing it as a blessing of Love at weddings. No disrespect to those who have sung the solos from Peace Prayer...I myself have been one of those soloists that have committed musical rape here...but the sound of Kremlin Capella is forever more in my head....
And who says high school choirs can't sing? Finally someone sings "Set Down Servant" authentically slow enough...
Wars won by fighting more like ants or locusts than human beings...
Thousands of nameless people like you and I that simply "disappeared" under the Bolsheviks...then Stalin....
Starvation...
Orthodox Russian music bleeds all of this...it makes western pop music seem kind of childish, naive, ignorant, and inexperienced...like a bunch of "bieberish" you might say.
This has been a long time favorite of my family after attending a Russian concert years ago. Its called "The Little Bell." We have ironically turned the little bell into tolling wedding bells. We call it "Peace Prayer" and sing it as a blessing of Love at weddings. No disrespect to those who have sung the solos from Peace Prayer...I myself have been one of those soloists that have committed musical rape here...but the sound of Kremlin Capella is forever more in my head....
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"Monotonously the little bell is sounding,
and the dust on the way is stirred up a bit, and sadly over the plain field flows the song of my coachman. There was so much feeling in this song, so much feeling in the familiar tune, that in my cool breast my heart inflamed. And I recalled other nights, and the fields, and the woods of my home, and into my eyes which had been dry so long a tear rose like a spark. Monotonously the little bell is sounding, slightly echoing from afar, and my coachman fell silent, but the way in front of me is still so long, so long." |
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And who says high school choirs can't sing? Finally someone sings "Set Down Servant" authentically slow enough...
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?
Even if every stalk on earth was a quill, there is no book that could possibly contain all the thoughts that went through my mind when I came across this book.
On a more serious note, I did pause and consider all the things that “church” has given me. If you stop for a moment and get off yourself, you might be surprised what church has given you. In the “OLD DAYS” church wasn’t just about pie in the sky spirituality….no sireee brothers and sisters. Allow me to share 5 things that church gave me:
1.When I was young, church first taught me to “hold things.” There had better be yellow tears oozing out of your eyes if you had any chance of using the bathroom. To this day, I can chug coffee and speed past rest stops on the interstate for hours without even flinching.
2.Church also taught me, there is a time to sit really, really still and say nothing. My brother Shannon and I learned at an early age that my dad’s hand was pretty much a human vice-grip. He could reach over and clamp you on the leg just above knee…and the heads would stop bobbing.
3.I learned at a young age that it is possible to go from the shower to the church pew in one lightening quick fluid motion. I can still see my farmer friends sliding into the pew in front of me at break neck speed. Their hair would be slicked down and you could still see a big drop of water hanging from the bottom of each ear lobe...but they were on time by gum...our hair spray didn't make us late for church in those days!
4.Strange Sunday school classes were my nemesis for a number of years. My family visited other churches quite a bit when I was young...OH how I dreaded going to Sunday School. This is absolutely no joke...I would sometimes start crying Saturday night. Those motherly preschool teachers didn't help the situation. When I would start crying in Sunday school, they would come over and get all touchy and huggy...THATS WHAT I REALLY HATED! I eventually learned that God's people loved me and wouldn't hurt me...you know churches are some of the safest places.
5.Do you know who the cool people were in my church? In my mind those song leaders were real studs...always wanted to be one (a song leader that is). Church taught me to love singing...
Monday, April 1, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Why I Love Celebrities
At the core of Christ's example, is loving the unlovely. Do you want to know why I love celebrities? Its because they are unlovely.
The first thing I do most mornings when I get to school is to check my email to see if there are any important bits of information that I need in order to live my day the way it ought to be lived. Unfortunately I have to open my homepage before I check my email, sooo....
More often than not, I'm greeted with these kinds of headlines. Jenifer Lopez (in her 40's) dates young co-star (low 20's)...Brad Pitt wants a tattoo on his left ham-hock...Lady Gaga wears an outfit made out of meat...Check out which celebrities are getting a divorce for the 6th time...Labron James has a black-n-blue mark on his knee (boo-hoo)....Britney Spears is getting fat so she decides to pierce her belly button...this dingleberry is doing this, and that dingleberry is doing that! *
Every morning when I see these headlines over my cup of coffee....I'm encouraged and inspired anew to keep making a difference...to go out and be RETARDED for Jesus!(read sarcasm)
Look...if some 40 year old wants to date a 20 year old or tattoo his hind-end, I sure as Sam Hill (trying not to swear here) don't want to hear about it... AND...for God's sake don't put that childishness out there where the young people that I love and care about can see it. Its like force feeding your toddler pasted lima-beans drizzled in battery acid.
Don't get me wrong...I have no ill will toward these people or the media (in fact I love them) and they're not all like that, but the percentages sure aren't good. Thank the good Lord for the few celebrities that have matured into adults and know how to carry themselves and their money humbly...intending to make the world a better place.
When I see herds of mindless people screaming for autographs, I'm not sure who to feel bad for. I feel really bad for the celebrities, who's lives aren't even remotely what people crack them up to be (it has to be really disappointing to wake up some morning and discover this...its probably why there is so much drug abuse among the celebrity population). I also feel bad for the mindless herd that has nothing better to live for than a tacky old autograph.
Jesus wasn't joking when He said it is more blessed to give than to receive. The problem is that every morning the headlines tell me that its more blessed to be selfish, get lots of attention, get a lot of money, find a better partner, and ultimately receive more. The thing that gets my goat is how tempted I am to believe those headlines. You know...if nobody read that crap...they would quit putting it out there.
I DO love celebrities...I love them because they really do have pretty crappy lives and are pretty needy people. Its just so hard to love the unlovely...
Tip of the week: Before you open your homepage every morning, Read Acts 20:35 to remind yourself of what is really true.
* none of these examples are fact
** I've discovered all homepages are not created equal.
The first thing I do most mornings when I get to school is to check my email to see if there are any important bits of information that I need in order to live my day the way it ought to be lived. Unfortunately I have to open my homepage before I check my email, sooo....
More often than not, I'm greeted with these kinds of headlines. Jenifer Lopez (in her 40's) dates young co-star (low 20's)...Brad Pitt wants a tattoo on his left ham-hock...Lady Gaga wears an outfit made out of meat...Check out which celebrities are getting a divorce for the 6th time...Labron James has a black-n-blue mark on his knee (boo-hoo)....Britney Spears is getting fat so she decides to pierce her belly button...this dingleberry is doing this, and that dingleberry is doing that! *
Every morning when I see these headlines over my cup of coffee....I'm encouraged and inspired anew to keep making a difference...to go out and be RETARDED for Jesus!(read sarcasm)
Look...if some 40 year old wants to date a 20 year old or tattoo his hind-end, I sure as Sam Hill (trying not to swear here) don't want to hear about it... AND...for God's sake don't put that childishness out there where the young people that I love and care about can see it. Its like force feeding your toddler pasted lima-beans drizzled in battery acid.
Don't get me wrong...I have no ill will toward these people or the media (in fact I love them) and they're not all like that, but the percentages sure aren't good. Thank the good Lord for the few celebrities that have matured into adults and know how to carry themselves and their money humbly...intending to make the world a better place.
When I see herds of mindless people screaming for autographs, I'm not sure who to feel bad for. I feel really bad for the celebrities, who's lives aren't even remotely what people crack them up to be (it has to be really disappointing to wake up some morning and discover this...its probably why there is so much drug abuse among the celebrity population). I also feel bad for the mindless herd that has nothing better to live for than a tacky old autograph.
Jesus wasn't joking when He said it is more blessed to give than to receive. The problem is that every morning the headlines tell me that its more blessed to be selfish, get lots of attention, get a lot of money, find a better partner, and ultimately receive more. The thing that gets my goat is how tempted I am to believe those headlines. You know...if nobody read that crap...they would quit putting it out there.
I DO love celebrities...I love them because they really do have pretty crappy lives and are pretty needy people. Its just so hard to love the unlovely...
Tip of the week: Before you open your homepage every morning, Read Acts 20:35 to remind yourself of what is really true.
* none of these examples are fact
** I've discovered all homepages are not created equal.
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