free flying soul

Yes...I Am Still Alive

2011-08-31T10:13:00.002-04:00

It has a been a while...and a few things have changed.

I am no longer in school. I just could not handle a full-time job, family responsibilities, church responsibilities and a band at the same time. Robin is almost finished with her degree so I will wait until she is working before I decide what my next move will be.

As of now...I think I may go to nursing school. More on that later. I just wanted to take a moment and actually update this thing.

I Live...

2010-11-10T09:34:00.002-05:00

Yes...I am still alive. Things have been rather busy for me lately so I have refrained from popping in just to re-post some video or blog that I saw somewhere else.

I am deep into my first semester of seminary. I take classes online in 8 week sections. I finished the first section with a 97 in my class. I am taking two classes this section and am finding it much more challenging. I knew I would...but it is always an eye-opener to actually experience your deepest fears come to life.

My band (Denied 3 Times or D3X) is doing well. We're playing 2-3 times a month and have a show this Saturday. The four of us have a musical chemistry that is often hard to find. We also like each other...a lot. Our band also serves as our spiritual small group and our therapy. It is good to have that kind of support system.

I am still struggling with total surrender to God's will...but I think we all probably are. I look forward to next summer when (hopefully) I will finish this degree and I wonder what I should pursue? Do I look for a position in an already established ministry...or do I seriously look at planting a new congregation here? I do not know yet. I guess I will just have to wait and see. That is something that I am definitely not good at.

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

2010-08-31T10:19:00.000-04:00

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

What Stops My Prayers From Getting Through?

2010-08-19T14:44:00.002-04:00

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV)

God managed to create the world without my help. I think it is safe to assume that He can handle anything that I may encounter in my brief time here on Earth. However...I have somehow forgotten that little bit of information. Whenever things don't go quite the way I want them to I get upset and wonder where God has gotten off to. How could He leave me in some of the messes that I have found myself in?

The prophet Isaiah gives us a pretty good idea. Sometimes we offend God and He turns His face away from us. Sometimes our sinful lifestyles cause such a separation between us and our Creator that He must turn a deaf ear.

Sin keeps our prayers from being answered. I don't think there's any other way to put it. That sure is a lot to think about...especially when it feels like my prayers are getting nowhere.

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...

2010-08-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...: "Indigenous Jesus What A Third Place Looks Like What would a truly indigenous community look like? It would be a 'third place.' A third pl..."

The Ground Zero Debate: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat

2010-08-17T14:45:00.000-04:00

The Ground Zero Debate: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat

Very interesting (and reasonable) take on the latest hot button issue to come across the wire.

Starbucks "Glen" Survivor Commercial

2010-08-15T18:55:00.000-04:00

WikiLeaks releases suppressed video from Iraq

2010-08-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

WikiLeaks releases suppressed video from Iraq

April 2010 Meteor

2010-08-12T15:57:00.001-04:00

Three Western Women Followed Their Hearts to Afghanistan, and Died There

2010-08-12T11:55:00.000-04:00

Three Western Women Followed Their Hearts to Afghanistan, and Died There

[I Am Sam OST] Aimee Mann & Michael Penn - Two Of Us

2010-08-06T11:24:00.000-04:00

64 arrested in Arizona crime, immigration sweep

2010-07-31T11:49:00.000-04:00

Let the debating and protesting begin.

64 arrested in Arizona crime, immigration sweep

These shoes fit fine - North Carolina - NewsObserver.com

2010-07-30T13:07:00.000-04:00

The Cleveland Tar Heels...I mean...Cavaliers.

These shoes fit fine - North Carolina - NewsObserver.com

What 15,000 Pairs of Shoes Looks Like

2010-07-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

What 15,000 Pairs of Shoes Looks Like

Why Are French Women Killing Their Babies?

2010-07-29T13:31:00.000-04:00

This is just insane.

Why Are French Women Killing Their Babies?

Toyota recall: Recalls of Avalon, Lexus SUVs - latimes.com

2010-07-29T13:29:00.000-04:00

I used to want a Toyota.

Toyota recall: Recalls of Avalon, Lexus SUVs - latimes.com

Character actor James Gammon dies - KansasCity.com

2010-07-19T14:31:00.000-04:00

Character actor James Gammon dies - KansasCity.com

Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of all time

2010-07-17T09:21:00.000-04:00

Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of all time

Ahoy at the World Trade Center! Ship discovered. - CSMonitor.com

2010-07-15T19:32:00.000-04:00

Ahoy at the World Trade Center! Ship discovered. - CSMonitor.com

DailyTech - In June, 52 Percent of Smartphone Buyers Wanted iPhones

2010-07-15T09:34:00.000-04:00

This whole iPhone thing is starting to become amusing. I guess that is because I am an unhappy owner of a first generation iPhone.

DailyTech - In June, 52 Percent of Smartphone Buyers Wanted iPhones

God Is Not A Man

2010-07-14T10:33:00.001-04:00

Microsoft patches critical bugs in Windows, Office

2010-07-13T17:19:00.000-04:00

Microsoft patches critical bugs in Windows, Office

NTP sues Apple, Google, Microsoft, over patents - MarketWatch

2010-07-09T10:10:00.000-04:00

This could be either really interesting or really boring. We will have to wait and see.

NTP sues Apple, Google, Microsoft, over patents - MarketWatch

The Friends Theme and Sugar Ray

2010-07-08T14:45:00.000-04:00

LeBron James' TV spectacle fitting end to wild free-agent process - Jack McCallum - SI.com

2010-07-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one who just does not give a crap about where LeBron ends up? Surely there are more people out there who could care less.

LeBron James' TV spectacle fitting end to wild free-agent process - Jack McCallum - SI.com

Apple: 400 iTunes Accounts Hacked

2010-07-07T10:44:00.000-04:00

Apple: 400 iTunes Accounts Hacked

It is always interesting to see things like this play out.

"Messing with my Head" Tinted Windows

2010-07-04T17:12:00.000-04:00

Five Ways iPhone Users Get Ripped Off

2010-07-03T13:05:00.001-04:00

As an iPhone owner I thought this was interesting. FYI...I don't even have phone service on mine anymore because AT&T sucks.

iPhone

Thomas Jefferson a closet royalist? Hardly. - CSMonitor.com

2010-07-03T13:04:00.000-04:00

Thomas Jefferson a closet royalist? Hardly. - CSMonitor.com

Canon In D

2010-07-02T11:31:00.000-04:00

This is pretty funny.

New Crowded House

2010-06-30T15:04:00.002-04:00

I love Crowded House. I was pleasantly surprised to discover they have a new album. Here is the first single from it.

A Good Start

2010-06-29T15:28:00.001-04:00

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-32 (ESV)

Today marks the 19th anniversary of my marriage. Honestly…it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I don’t feel like I’m old enough to be married that long. I got married when I was 21 so that means I have been married for nearly half of my life. I started dating my wife in 1989 so that means I have been with her for 21 years. That IS over half of my life. I have heard people make jokes about marriage and if the truth be told…I am sure have made my fair share of them as well. But here’s the deal…I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything because I have been with the same woman for half of my life. I wish I could honestly say that she is the only one that I have been with. That isn’t the punchline to a joke…it’s something to be admired. It’s something to be held up and celebrated. It seems like staying with someone is the exception these days…instead of the norm. 19 years have gone by way too quickly. I feel like my wife and I have just started to figure this whole thing out. Sometimes I feel like we're newlyweds and that we have a whole lifetime ahead of us. I truly hope that we live to be 80 or 90 and can look back on 60 + years of being together. I can honestly say that I am married to my best friend. We’ve gotten off to a pretty good start and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

Protect Your Chicken From Dokken

2010-06-28T20:34:00.001-04:00

This may be one of the funniest commercials I have seen in years.

Protect your chicken people.

Metal Church...Literally

2010-06-27T23:54:00.000-04:00

This would be awesome.

Black & Milds...Deadly Addiction?

2010-06-26T12:26:00.002-04:00

I love watching homemade documentaries. This is a good one I ran across recently.

Covered In Bees!!!!

2010-06-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it is good just to be silly.

Happy Birthday Jamie...Tennis...Wow!

2010-06-24T12:19:00.003-04:00

First of all...happy birthday to my little girl. She turns five today. Boy how time flies.

Secondly...the longest tennis match ever has just ended. John Isner (from my home state of North Carolina) defeated Nicolas Mahut from France. The match began on Tuesday afternoon and had to be stopped twice as night fell on Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening. They played for eleven hours over the course of three days...including Wednesday's seven hour marathon.

Even though I am not a fan of tennis...I enjoyed the drama. It made for good television.

This Is Interesting

2010-06-22T15:11:00.002-04:00

I like a good conspiracy theory. In fact...one of my hobbies is reading about them. Today was the first time I heard this one.

Koreans Bombed Gulf Oil Rig

Christopher Walken...Poker Face. 'Nuff Said.

2010-06-20T14:33:00.001-04:00

I Could Learn from… Donald Miller

2010-06-18T16:34:00.000-04:00

I Could Learn from… Donald Miller

I Will Vote For Him If He Is On The Ballot

2010-06-18T13:48:00.001-04:00

A Tale of Two Magicians

2010-06-17T11:42:00.001-04:00

I have been watching the America's Got Talent auditions and these two guys were on last night. I am glad that they both got through.

Conspiracy?

2010-06-16T16:32:00.001-04:00

THIS guy seems to be suggesting that BP and the U.S. government planned the oil spill in the Gulf.

Starbucks Wi-Fi Signals End of Reliance on 3G - PCWorld Business Center

2010-06-15T14:08:00.001-04:00

I think it is really interesting that McDonald's coffee rates higher than Starbucks. That should tell people something.

Starbucks Wi-Fi Signals End of Reliance on 3G - PCWorld Business Center

BP Coffee Spill

2010-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

I have seen this one two or three times now and still laugh.

This Is Why I Am A Fan

2010-06-11T13:20:00.004-04:00

Here are a few selected moments that I use to remind myself why I am still a UNC fan after all of these years. No matter how disappointing a season ends (and we have had our fair share) these clips remind me that it is worth it to pull for the boys in baby blue. The last two are out of sheer spite.

Rudy Can't Fail & Other Summer Songs

2010-06-10T16:15:00.001-04:00

I love these songs. I really do. They make me want to hit the beach.

I And Love And You

2010-06-08T16:08:00.003-04:00

I really like this song. They are from North Carolina and used to play in this area quite a bit. That is not the only reason I like them...in fact...I had never heard of them until the night they played this song on Letterman. Now I wish I had been around when they used to play at Chico's over by City Lake.

I especially love the following lyric:

When at first I learned to speak
I used all my words to fight
With him and her and you and me
But it's just a waste of time
It's such a waste of time

Kicking It Seriously Old School

2010-06-06T16:16:00.002-04:00

A lot of people would be surprised to discover that I absolutely love old Southern Gospel Music. Even though my preference is guitar-driven hard rock...I have a very fond place in my heart reserved for groups like The Inspirations. I guess that I heard enough of this music as a young child that it made some sort of lasting impression on me. For that...I am truly thankful.

Caffeine: Yes or No?

2010-06-05T10:56:00.003-04:00

I find the article linked in the title very interesting. I have recently removed all soft drinks from my life in an effort to start a journey of healthier living. I know that will only be the first small step of many steps...but it is one that I have failed many times before. I know that I am a caffeine addict. The headaches I experienced after two days without the drug in my system pretty much proved it.

The article mentions a study that suggests that caffeine addicts build up a tolerance to it and that the positive affects (if any) eventually go away. The supposed alertness that comes with caffeine decreases and users must ingest it just to reach a level of normalcy. So...what that means is that your morning cup of coffee is not really helping you...you are just getting your fix so that your body does not rebel.

Do you know what that means? All of you ritual coffee drinkers out there are a bunch of addicts. And I am too.

Ron Paul: U.S. Shouldn't Support Israel's Gaza Blockade

2010-06-04T14:33:00.000-04:00

I Post This Cautiously...

2010-06-04T14:29:00.002-04:00

This is not so much an indictment against President Obama as it is an endorsement of Ron Paul. I was not able to vote for him in the last election because the media destroyed any chance of him being on the ballot. I have pretty much stayed out of politics for years because I do not trust any of them. However...I think it may be time for people like me to stand up and let our voices be heard. The Democrats and the Republicans are both corrupt and I cannot support either one. Here is hoping that Dr. Paul decides to enter the race in 2012.

The Day After

2010-06-03T15:29:00.001-04:00

Well...I've had some time to process things and I have come to the following conclusion...turning 40 isn't that big of a deal. It's not like I really expected it to be some life-changing experience anyway. I didn't believe that I was going to wake up and finally "get it" or that life was going to finally make sense. If anything...it has only reinforced my belief that I've got to live every day to the fullest and do my best to be the man God wants me to be. I need to be a good husband and a good father. If I manage to do those two things...then I think I will be okay.

My new life verse is Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV)

34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

On a slightly different note...I've been thinking...do you think we ignore/quench/silence the Holy Spirit out of fear? Are we afraid to really give in and let Him take control of our lives?

I think that may be part of my problem. I am afraid of what He might inspire me to do. What sacrifices and changes would have to take place if I truly surrendered to His will?

To me...that is a frightening question.

By the way...happy birthday Mom. Thanks for having me forty years ago yesterday.
__________________

Turning Thirty (Although I Am Turning Forty)

2010-06-02T15:14:00.003-04:00

This is the great Randy Stonehill...doing Turning Thirty. I think the lyrics are still relevant at forty.

WELL, NOW THIRTY AIN'T LIKE FIFTEEN
AND IT'S NOT LIKE TWENTY-FIVE
MY BACK'S A LITTLE STIFF
AND THERE'RE SOME LINES AROUND MY EYES
BUT I'VE STILL GOT MY ENERGY
AND I'VE GOT MOST OF MY HAIR
AND I'M NOT TOO OLD TO ROCK 'N ROLL
AND I'M NOT REALLY SCARED
OF TURNING THIRTY
I WROTE THIS SONG EIGHT YEARS AGO
MY, HOW TIME FLIES AND SO DO I

New Rush Single

2010-06-01T10:29:00.003-04:00

Rush have been one of my favorite bands for years. A good friend gave me a copy of Hold Your Fire for Christmas when I was a senior in high school and they have been at/near the top of my list ever since.

I admit that they occasionally put out a song or two that I do not really care for...but for the most part...they consistently release interesting music. They have had a minor resurgence in their career over the past four or five years. For long-time fans like me...it has been nice. I knew that they were working on new material and touring but I did not realize that today was the official release of their new single Caravan. It is up on iTunes with a second song called BU2B.

It made a nice early birthday present.

Greatest Television Finale Ever

2010-05-30T13:55:00.004-04:00

There has been a lot of talk the past week concerning the finale of LOST and Simon Cowell's last episode of American Idol...and that got me thinking. Which show do I think had the greatest finale of all time? So many times...a great show fails to end on a great note. Cheers was an excellent show and the writers tried to end it with a bang...but they did not quite get it. Some shows...like Seinfeld...ended horribly. I have heard many LOST fans already complain about the end so I had to ask...who did get it right? M*A*S*H* immediately came to mind and it was a good one...but after much consideration I am going to have to go with this one. In my opinion...it was one of the best written endings to a television show...ever.

R.I.P. Dennis Hopper

2010-05-29T14:20:00.001-04:00

It seems like they come in spurts. The story is linked in the title.

R.I.P. Gary Coleman

2010-05-28T15:35:00.002-04:00

It seems that celebrities die in groups. First Dio, then one of the Slipknot guys, then Ark Linkletter...and now Gary Coleman.

Coleman was 42...two years older than me. I remember watching him on Diff'rent Strokes when I was a kid. He was two years older than me and playing a kid two years younger. Apparently...he had a tough time as an adult. I remember seeing him crack up on one of those VH-1 "reality" shows a few years ago. Perhaps he is at peace now.

Sammy Hagar

2010-05-27T13:35:00.001-04:00

I remember reading an interview with Eddie Van Halen back in 1997 where he said Sammy Hagar "parted ways" with Van Halen due to his (Sammy) lack of a work ethic. Apparently...Sammy didn't want to record and tour the way that Van Halen was supposed to.

Ain't it funny that since 1996, Sammy has released six studio albums AND recorded an album with Chickenfoot. He tours constantly (including one brief "reunion" with Van Halen in 2004). He also has a couple of live albums/DVDs floating around out there and has done guest spots on lots of people's albums.

Van Halen has put out one full album (VH III with Gary Cherone) and recorded five new tracks for two separate "best of" albums. Two of those were with David Lee Roth and three were with Sammy.

My question is...who has the best work ethic?

Memory Lane.

2010-05-26T15:55:00.002-04:00

I have been listening to a lot of the music that came out in the early 1990s. I married my wonderful wife in 1991 and the music from 1989-1994 reminds me of those days. This particular song especially brings back memories of driving around with her and talking. That is slightly amusing because the album came out in 1996, the year our first son was born. I do not know why...but it feels like that song belongs in 1990 and 1991. Weird...I know.

The Innocence Project

2010-05-25T13:42:00.003-04:00

I watched a documentary on this organization this past weekend. I must say that they have my support. I have always been open to the suggestion that our justice system was flawed but seeing some of the real people involved in these false prosecutions got to me. I guess it has been growing inside of me ever since I was falsely ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt a few years ago. I realize that does not compare the stories of people jailed for rape and murder...but it made me realize that if the system decides you are guilty...you are guilty no matter what evidence that have. I sat there (with my seatbelt on) while the officer smiled and said, "You didn't have it on when I saw you." The county D.A. smiled and told me, "Well, you've probably driven without one before...so now you're even." I realize that it was a relatively minor thing...but it was the principle. I was guilty (even though I was not) simply because they said so.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

2010-05-23T10:04:00.003-04:00

I am sitting here in the fellowship hall skipping Sunday School. I do not typically do this but to be honest...I was uncomfortable (not because of the lesson) and needed to get up and get some air. I did not want to interrupt the class after it had begun so I just stayed here.

I am not the only one doing this. There are several people who sit here and do the same thing every week. I often wonder why they bother showing up at the building so early if they are just going to cut class. Perhaps they are showing up late and do not want to interrupt...I can definitely relate.

I made a comment on Facebook earlier this morning. I suggested that our Sunday morning "thing" does not really look like the church I see in the Bible. It does not look like the "movement" that Jesus started. I am not complaining...just observing. I am not offering any solutions either...I do not know that I have any.

I do know that I have been feeling more and more disconnected from the whole Sunday morning Christian thing that I have been doing my entire life. You can dress it down in jeans and rock the music up...but it still seems like the same tired thing. I have even been playing bass in our "contemporary" praise band...but it still feels...um...I do not know the word I am searching for. Dead...maybe.

I do not like it. I am trying to figure out where that leaves me.

My New Project

2010-05-22T09:57:00.003-04:00

I do not recall mentioning that I am a frustrated guitar player. I do not use the term guitarist because I believe that it would make people think that I can actually play. I know enough to play in church and to satisfy my personal musical desires...so that is good enough for me.

I do own a very nice acoustic/electric that was given to me by some college students from Indiana University. I was in Mississippi working as a church planter and they discovered that my Fender acoustic/electric has been destroyed. They went home and bought me a Taylor 414 that is much nicer than I deserve. I love playing it. It is/was my dream acoustic guitar.

I have a couple of cheap ($200) electric guitars at home. One is a Squier Telecaster that splits time between my son and I. The other is an Epiphone Coronet that looks great but will not stay in tune. I have never owned a high dollar electric guitar. The closest I came was an Epiphone Les Paul Custom but it was still well under $1000. The point is that I do not mind cheap guitars. With the exception of my Taylor...that is all I have ever owned. I have always wanted to pick up a cheap guitar as a project and fix it.

Well...yesterday I got my chance. A buddy of mine sold me a Korean made Mako Strat copy. He only wanted $20 for it so I literally could not pass it up. It is in pretty good shape so I am going to clean it up real good and change out the pick-up. The neck plays real well so I think it can be a good church guitar once I shower it with some TLC.

Forgive the photo...it was taken with my laptop's webcam.

Sitting Here...Listening To Rush

2010-05-21T14:16:00.002-04:00

No link today...sorry. Traffic here in the store has been streaky today. We were really busy for the first hour and then things sort of died. Then there was about a two hour period where we were absolutely dead. Now it is slightly busy. There are a lot of people in the store but they are not buying anything.

I may be doing another wedding later this year. A buddy of mine is getting married in September and he has hinted at the idea of having me do the service. That could be interesting.

As for the title of this...it is just a statement of fact. I am sitting here at the counter with Snakes & Arrows playing. Life could be much worse.

Kepa Is One Of My Heroes

2010-05-20T16:18:00.003-04:00

I have known Kepa for several years through another internet site that we both post on. He is a funny guy. He is a very talented guy. And as the video will show...He is one of my personal heroes. The coolest thing about his journey is that he did it the hard (right) way. He ate healthy and exercised. You really should check out his blog and read his entire story. The link is listed at the end of the video.

Breaking The Law

2010-05-19T15:42:00.001-04:00

It seems like one trend amongst metal/hard rock bands is to do albums of cover tunes. Tesla, Poison and Def Leppard have done them in recent years. Metallica has done covers their entire career. Van Halen had cover songs throughout their career as well. Now Stryper...my favorite hair band...doing it. Here they are doing the classic Priest tune.

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio

2010-05-18T10:04:00.002-04:00

Dio was unquestionably one of the most recognized voices in heavy metal. He did stints in Rainbow and Black Sabbath before forming his own band. A lot of people are unaware that he had been making music since he was a teenager. I thought I would post something a little less known in memory of one of the greatest voices in rock and roll.

All Things Are Better In Koine

2010-05-16T14:25:00.002-04:00

Let me preface this by saying that I have NEVER taken a class in biblical Greek. I have piddled around with it on my own but barely made it past the alphabet. I am not sharing this video to make us all feel guilty for not knowing Greek. I am not even suggesting that we should all go out and start studying it...although that would not be a bad idea. I share this simply because I find it refreshing that there are some creative Christians out there putting out original ideas.

Mississippi

2010-05-15T11:06:00.004-04:00

I lived in Hancock County, Mississippi for nearly eight months while I helped start a new church. The little town I lived in is called Pearlington. You will see some of Pearlington in these videos. I did not take them but I appreciate the fact that someone recognized that Hurricane Katrina affected more than just New Orleans. I have friends down there. They are still struggling to move forward...even now. The second video was made by a church working with I.D.E.S. It was made about a year before my family and I moved down there. Ron Loomis is mentioned in it...he is the reason I moved down there. He is the real deal. You also see Adolph "Oogie" Harris and Claude Bello. They are good friends of mine. Here is a list of some things to look for in the second video.

1:44 - Base Camp (this is where we lived and held services)
2:04 - Ron Loomis
3:06 - Oogie's house being built
5:37 - Clara and Cookie (Claude's wife)
6:11 - Oogie telling his story
7:03 - Oogie and Claude

Sunday's Coming

2010-05-14T10:18:00.003-04:00

Someone sent me this video and I just wanted to share it. It is a tongue-in-cheek look at the modern "relevant" church movement. It should be noted that the church that produced this video is probably what most would consider a "relevant" church so it is not a case of one group making fun of another. I actually think it is a very humorous reminder that no matter what "style" of church we are...we need to stay focused on Christ.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

An Apology

2010-05-12T09:48:00.002-04:00

I must humbly submit an apology for skipping the last two days. I guess that the only one I am really apologizing to is myself...but that is okay.

I do not have internet at home so I was not able to post anything on Monday. Monday was my first real day off in over two weeks so I took full advantage of it. I did nothing.

Yesterday was a busy today. We had three truckloads of donations to sort and put out on the floor. We got about half-way through it. I then had praise team practice until 8:00.

Today is going to be busy as well...but I did have a moment to sit and write something. I really am trying to avoid multiple absences here. I have found that once I miss two or three days in a row...it suddenly becomes a month or a year. My biggest reason for doing this blog is to teach myself discipline. Right now I am more concerned with quantity over quality. Hopefully...that will change.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T11:58:00.001-04:00

This will be short...I am leaving church and going to spend time with my grandmother, my mother and my wife...who is also a wonderful mother.

You all go love on those special ladies...I will see you tomorrow.

Mother's Day

2010-05-08T11:15:00.002-04:00

The link in the title takes you to the Wikipedia page for Mother's Day. I did not know that the U.S. holiday has its roots in the Civil War. In 1868 a woman named Ann Jarvis organized a committee to establish a "Mother's Friendship Day" so that families torn apart by the Civil War could peacefully come together and begin to heal their wounds. She died before it grew to national recognition...but her daughter Anna succeeded. The first "official" Mother's Day was in 1908. It became a state holiday in West Virginia in 1910. Congress made it a national holiday in 1914. Carnations have been the flower of choice ever since Anna Jarvis delivered 500 of them at that first celebration.

If you do a little more research you will discover that within nine years of that first Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis had become so infuriated with the growing commercialization of the celebration that she publicly spoke out against it. She was arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace after protesting the holiday. She was supposedly quoted as saying that she "wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control ...".

It is interesting to note that in the U.S. Mother's Day is one of the most commercially lucrative holidays. It is estimated that Americans spend over $70 billion every year on flowers, cards and gifts. Mother's Day is also the most popular day to dine out at a restaurant. It is also estimated that nearly 8% of the jewelry industry's revenue comes from Mother's Day sales.

So...what do you do for Mother's Day?

Man Beats Co-worker Over Body Scan Comments

2010-05-07T15:25:00.002-04:00

Perhaps you have heard about this story. If you have not...it is worth the time to click the link and read it.

The accused (Rolando Negrin) apparently confronted and beat a co-worker after months of taunting and ridicule. Negrin's co-workers repeatedly teased him for having a small penis after employees of Transportation Security Administration in Miami had to go through testing of the outfit's full body scan machines. Negrin confessed that "he could not take the jokes anymore and lost his mind." He beat the man with a police baton and forced him to drop on his knees and beg for his life.

I understand that Negrin has committed a crime...but do you think he might actually get off? It seems to me that his co-workers are guilty of sexual harassment and verbal abuse. If I were on the jury I would have to consider the actions of Mr. Negrin's co-workers. I think he should be responsible for his actions but I do believe he was provoked.

If anyone is actually out there reading this...feel free to share your thoughts.

Students Kicked Off Campus For Wearing American Flag Shirts

2010-05-06T14:48:00.002-04:00

Okay...let me go ahead and say this...I usually stay out of these political hot button topics. I do not have the time nor the energy to engage in a negative conversation that will ultimately end up in a rhetorical nightmare. I watch my conservative and liberal friends enough to know that many (if not most) of these "friendly" debates end up in name-calling.

That being said...the linked story is probably the silliest thing I have ever heard. I am sitting here wondering what is being left out of this story. My rational (sometimes) mind cannot comprehend any situation in America where an American flag t-shirt could be deemed offensive. Were these students saying offensive things? Were they disrupting class? My mind tells me that there MUST be more to this story.

BUT...what if this story is exactly what is being reported? Have we really come to a point in American history where an American citizen cannot wear an American flag shirt without being "criminalized" for it? It seems to be that there are some Constitutional rights being trampled all over. Unlike most of the stories that get e-mailed to me...I will be watching this one.

Dust In The Wind

2010-05-05T14:25:00.002-04:00

I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone.

The older I get...the more I can relate to this song. I have been watching some of my college acquaintances on Facebook this week. Many of them have been talking about how glad they are that final exams and papers are over. Most of them have been talking about how excited they are for graduation...which takes place this weekend.

It has now been two years since I graduated. I am not working in the field that I went to school for...in fact...I have spent over half of the past two years unemployed. Granted...I am much older than most of the people I went to school with. I was thirty-six when I went back. I do not have the years ahead of me that they do. By the time they reach my age...most of them will have over ten years of experience. Me? Well I have absolutely squat. I have not been able to get anyone to seriously consider hiring me. The one position I have held was not where I needed to be.

So...here I am. I am trying to be useful here. I am thankful for the job that I do have. God has blessed us so far.

I do not want to lie though...it kind of ticks me off that I spent the last five years really trying to go where God wanted me to go and I have ended up right back where I started. Perhaps I should have sought better counsel.

Classic Petra Reunion

2010-05-04T10:09:00.003-04:00

Okay...I am totally stoked about this one. I am curious to see what songs they re-record and if they make any artistic changes to them. The last time they re-recorded classic songs was on the mostly horrendous Double Take album. I wonder what prompted this?

I really do hope the promised new songs are good. I really do hope that they come close enough to North Carolina that I can make the trip.

Wow...I really have nothing else to say. This is a shock to me. I never expected to see this in my lifetime. Seeing a reunited Stryper playing new music was one thing...seeing a reunited Petra (with Greg X. Volz) is something totally different. This falls into the historic reunion category...just like the first KISS reunion.

Man...Petra...REAL Petra.

A Brief Note

2010-05-02T18:23:00.002-04:00

Sundays are almost always busy for me. I play on the church praise team every week and I occasionally teach or preach when someone is gone.

We (my family) went out to eat after church in celebration of Geoffry's birthday tomorrow. Allan (Geo's best friend) was with us and (interestingly enough) tomorrow is his birthday as well. We went to the Olive Garden in Rocky Mount. I think we had a nice time.

After lunch we drove back over to Wilson and hung out at the church. I actually took a short nap (which was wonderful) and then got up at 5:00 for Bible study.

Now it is time to head home. I do not know if I will get the chance to get online and post something tomorrow and I did not want to go two days in a row without posting. So...this short entry will have to suffice.

I guess I am writing just for the sake of writing. I am trying to make this a habit. For someone as undisciplined as I am...it is very difficult. I am trying and I hope that it will eventually pay off in my output here.

Getting Older

2010-05-01T11:32:00.003-04:00

I really have a tough time every year when Geoffry's birthday rolls around. Geo (that is what I call him) is my oldest son and is similar to me in many ways. He likes a lot of the music I listened to at his age (I guess that is not too surprising), he likes having his hair long and he likes to wear band t-shirts. All of those things are a reflection of me. I love the kid. I am proud of him. He is not the source of the difficulties I have on his birthday. The problem is that he is going to turn fourteen on Monday. I have a hard time with that because I remember being fourteen. I am not upset that I am getting older...in fact...I think it is kind of cool that I hit the big FORTY this year. The thing that blows my mind is the amount of time that has passed since I was that age. How do twenty-six years go by so quickly?

My kid is going to start high school in August. That blows my mind. It seems like my high school days were just yesterday. My first car, my first girlfriend...basically...my first everything. Now I am watching my kid experience those things and it is...well...it is weird. I wonder if my parents thought the same things I am thinking now. I would imagine that a lot of my thoughts are typical...but I hope that I am empathetic to what Geo is going through. In my opinion...and this has no basis in anything but my mind...the generational gap is not as wide now as it was when I was that age.

Does that make sense? I feel as if I am more similar to my kids than I am to my parents or grandparents. I do not think this is a bad thing. Perhaps my generation is stuck in perpetual adolescence...we are still big kids ourselves...we should be able to relate to our kids. Now...I will readily confess that I understand my parents much better now than I did at fourteen. I can relate to their fears and concerns because I now have those same fears and concerns for my kids. I appreciate my parents much more now. I am thankful for them...even if there are things I would go back and change. That does not mean that there are not some issues (especially with my father) but I think I do have a better grasp of what they were thinking.

What does all of this mean? I do not know. I guess it means that I am going to have to get used to these weird feelings. Jamie will start kindergarten this year. Chris is going to be ten. I have always had a difficult time remembering my own childhood...until my kids started hitting these milestones. They have been a window into my own past. That has been pretty cool...weird...but cool.

Kickin' It Old School

2010-04-30T15:27:00.002-04:00

For some reason...many people are surprised to discover that I have a rather decent understanding of rap music...especially stuff that was released between 1980 and 1995. Two of the volunteers here were highly amused by the fact that I was listening to De La Soul and Public Enemy this afternoon. That gave me the opportunity to explain just how a white kid in 1988 made the transition from hair metal to hard-core rap. It really was not much of a leap. Teenagers (most of them) have a history of gravitating towards the things that terrified (or scared) their parents. Rap was no different.

Once the middle class folks realized that Motley Crue and Twisted Sister were nothing more than cartoon characters, the kids needed something scarier. Can you imagine what it was like for white parents the first time they heard Public Enemy or N.W.A. blasting out of little Johnny's room? I realize that I am generalizing and using rather broad strokes...but I think I am pretty close.

Like I said earlier...it was not a huge leap either. Groups like Run-DMC and Beastie Boys were already blending hard rock and rap so those young headbangers had no problem tracking along. By the time Public Enemy and Anthrax teamed up...rap was already starting to become a part of every day life...well...it was in my world.

I still like to listen to a lot of the old stuff...I like the beats...I like they way they rhyme. I can still spit off most of the lyrics from Run-DMC's Raising Hell album. I never really considered the fact that some people would be surprised by that. Rap has been around for most of my life. It is a part of my generation. I do not like all of it...but...I do not like all of the bands that play hard rock or metal either. I just took for granted that everybody likes at least some rap. My mother even liked the Fat Boys...although I do not believe that earned her any street cred.

What Am I Doing Here?

2010-04-29T13:49:00.002-04:00

I think that is a legitimate question. What am I doing here while I have this limited amount of time here on Earth? Can I justify all of the time I waste doing trivial things...like playing with this blog? Can I justify the time I spend watching television or listening to music? What kind of steward am I with my time?

Honestly? Truthfully?

I suck. I do get up and go to work five days a week and I do spend time being involved in various church related activities...but does that excuse all of the time that I totally waste? I am being perfectly honest. I waste it. I blow it. I kill it.

How much time could I spend in the Word if I would cut out the silly stuff? How much closer could my family be if we spent all that time together...instead of entertaining ourselves?

I personally do not believe it is wrong to seek entertainment...but when it becomes the biggest part of our lives...I think there is a problem.

I know that I need to take a good look at what I am doing.

My Brain Is Not Responding.

2010-04-28T16:44:00.002-04:00

This will be the shortest post I have made in a while. Honestly...I really do not have anything on my mind. There was a school shooting up in Portsmouth, Virginia (no injuries) and one of my buddies is a youth minister at the church across the street. I have spent a good portion of this afternoon watching the updates to see if anyone was shot.

I guess I am emotionally spent from following the story...but I am thankful that no one was hit by the shot. Perhaps I will have something worth saying tomorrow.

You Ever Seem To Have One Of Those Days?

2010-04-27T12:51:00.003-04:00

I am in a weird mood...although I do not know if "mood" is the best word to describe it. I feel like something is going on in the spiritual realm and it is bleeding over into the material world.

*cue Twilight Zone music*

I get these feelings from time to time. I never really know how to react. I usually brace myself for something interesting.

Here is one for you:

We have just been informed that I now make too much money to qualify for Medicare. Apparently...a family of five should be able to pay rent, buy groceries, pay utilities, pay taxes AND pay for insurance on $16,000 a year. Medicaid will still cover the kids but my wife and I are now on our own.

This brings up all kinds of questions. I do not have the answers to those questions. In my heart...I do not believe that the government owes my coverage...I really do not. However...being the parent of three children who will not have any coverage without government programs tends to make me question the system.

Random Monday Afternoon Thoughts

2010-04-26T15:15:00.002-04:00

Normally I would have today off...but...I took Saturday off to do the wedding. Eric asked me if I wanted to work at the job site with the volunteer team that is here this week and I jumped at the chance. It was on a trip just like this one that I got the idea to move down to Mississippi. That did not turn out exactly the way I envisioned it but I do remember how much I enjoyed that initial trip.

I had a blast working with these kids that are down from Vermont. I "supervised" some of them as they sanded walls and then slung mud on sheetrock. It brought back memories of my time down in the Gulf. It made me realize just how much I miss the people in Pearlington and Slidell. It also made me a bit sad that I have so quickly lost touch with all of them. They really mean a lot to me and I think about them all of the time. I really do want to go back down there and visit...but I do not know when/if that will happen. I guess I will have to leave it in God's hands.

It is really cool being on the other side of these trips. It is refreshing to see a bunch of high school kids fired up about helping out people so far away from their home. It helps restore my hope in mankind. I know that may sound a bit melodramatic but it is true. Sometimes I think that most people are just sorry. I see so many of them treating one another like crap...and many of them are in the church. It is good to know that there are people out there who are trying to help.

That is definitely a benefit to this job.

A Brief Pause To Relax

2010-04-25T13:30:00.002-04:00

I made it through the last three days unscathed. Of course...I really was not worried that I would be scathed in the process. It is good to get to the end of a planned event and realize that it went off without a hitch.

The wedding was beautiful. The service was nice and everyone behaved. There was a lot of drama leading up to the wedding...including a damaged wedding dress and a dog who decided to eat part of the wedding cake. There was a cheese ball that magically disappeared and then magically reappeared half-eaten...just in time for the reception. The musician for the wedding did not show up until about fifteen minutes before the service started. There were short tempers and family disagreements...but...fortunately...it all ended up on a very nice note. I was honored to be a part of it.

I preached today and I think it went well. I borrowed the basic idea from a sermon I had read elsewhere...but I think I made it my own. People seemed to enjoy it. I will be honest...I never know how to respond to those comments people make as they are leaving. Do they really think the sermon was good...or are they just saying what they think they should be saying? Are the people slipping by without speaking just in a hurry...or do they think the sermon sucked and do not want to have to tell me?

I do not know. In the grand scheme of things...I guess it does not really matter.

It's A Nice Day For A...White Wedding

2010-04-24T11:00:00.003-04:00

I am sitting here at the church relaxing before this afternoon's wedding. This experience (especially the last 24 hours or so) has gotten me to thinking. Imagine that.

When June 29 rolls around this year my wife and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary. I struggle with growing older...especially as I watch my kids hit those childhood milestones that I vividly remember. I will turn 40 in June and I really do not have a problem with it...however...I am still amazed at how fast time zooms by.

I met my lovely wife 22 years ago. I kissed her for the first time 22 years ago. We began "going together" 21 years ago. We got engaged 20 years ago. Those numbers baffle me. I have been involved in a relationship with my wife for over half of my life. I can still remember how I felt the first time I saw her...walking through the kitchen at Pizza Inn. I remember all of the times we used to hang around together after work. I remember our first unofficial date (with the aforementioned kiss) like it was yesterday. I also remember our first "REAL" date almost a year later. I remember proposing to her while we sat in the car eating lunch.

There are so many things that come to mind as I sit here and reflect on the past 20 or so years. I remember how quickly the two days passed when we got married. I remember being nervous and then everything being over. Fortunately...we have two really good video recordings of the service. If not...I probably would not remember much of it at all.

I have kept this in mind as I worked with this couple getting married today. I have tried to guide them and help them as they make this a day to remember. I have also told them that there is no need to stress out over all of the little stuff...they will never remember it. I hope and pray that they have a wonderful wedding today. I hope that I do what I need to do and make things go smoothly.

I hope that in 19 or 20 years they will be able to sit down and think about today. I hope that when they do...they will only have good thoughts come to mind.

LORD...bless us and keep us. Be with this family as it begins today. Watch over them and protect them. Let Your Spirit constantly point them back towards You.

Amen.

A Real Entry? Nope...Just Me Thinking Again

2010-04-23T07:57:00.003-04:00

I am officiating a wedding tomorrow. The couple does not attend our congregation and I only know them from the handful of meetings I have had with them. Early in the process they told me that they did not want a "religious" wedding ceremony. After discussing the issue I told them that I would be happy to officiate a civil (is that the right word?) ceremony if that is what they really wanted...they did.

Fast forward to last week. I get a call from one of the elders telling me that they (the elders) do not want the wedding to take place in the church building. They want me to call the couple and explain to them why. Needless to say...I was a bit stressed. I had made it relatively clear to the minister of our congregation that the ceremony was going to be a civil ceremony and not a religious one. We had agreed that it was odd but that there really was not a problem...until...someone who had heard about what was going on complained and insisted that we not allow a "non-Christian" wedding to take place in THE church.

Fortunately...our minister stepped up and explained that this was an opportunity to minister to people and that the congregation was probably legally bound due to the contract and deposit collected from the couple. Long story short...the wedding is still taking place tomorrow and the couple is happy. I imagine we will still have some members of the congregation who are not pleased...and that got me to thinking.

*insert winking smiley icon here*

Which is worse: officiating a civil ceremony for a couple who is not interested in a "religious" ceremony...or...forcing a couple to deliberately lie during a "religious" ceremony just so they can use the building?

Just for the record...after more discussion with the couple...they have decided to use some Scripture (portions of 1 Corinthians 13) and to have two prayers in the service. Are they doing that just to say that it is a "religious" service and have no more issues? I do not know. I do not think it really matters.

I initially met this couple to determine if there were any reasons why I should not perform the ceremony. They passed my personal litmus test so I moved forward. I have no problem officiating this wedding. I understand that there are some people who think that I am probably sinning (or worse) by being involved in this. I do not know what to say to them. I will be honest...marriage as we know it is a government thing. I believe 100% that the spiritual side far outweighs the legal side of it but the fact remains that many people only consider the legal side of it. Our churches are already entangled in that mess because we function as non-profit, tax exempt organizations. I think that opens us up to all sorts of things.

I understand why a devout Christian may have a problem with a "non-Christian" wedding taking place in the building...but...someone should have thought about that before they signed a contract and took money from the people. If it is that big of an issue then there should be some very clear rules as to what is and is not acceptable and those rules should be explained BEFORE letting anyone use the building. It is like our minister explained...the couple could probably sue us (and win) if we backed out one week before the wedding. That would not be the greatest PR move in my personal opinion.

I know I have rambled a bit and this is somewhat disjointed...I am just thinking out loud. Real bloggers sit down and draft their thoughts out before launching them into cyberspace. I just sit down and start banging away at my keyboard. I guess I have learned one thing during all of this. I have narrowed down my pre-marital counseling to just one question. Why don't you guys elope?

Maybe It Is Just Me

2010-04-22T10:34:00.002-04:00

You know what? I mess things up a lot. Becoming a follower of Christ and going to Bible college did not change that. Being ordained as a minister did not change that. The truth is...no matter what I do or how hard I try...I keep screwing things up.

I used to believe that was why I had such a tough time finding a church to minister to. In my mind I told myself that I had to have it all together in order to be used by God. I falsely looked at guys (some much younger than myself) and thought that they had to have things completely straight with God. They would not be working in churches if they were as screwed up as I was.

Boy...was I wrong. I have since learned that many (maybe MOST) preachers, elders and teachers fight the same things I do. We all are sinners covered by the grace of God and we ALL have areas that still need to be completely surrendered to God. Show me a preacher who claims that he has it all together and I will show you a liar.

That is why GRACE is so awesome. God uses us IN SPITE of ourselves. Even when we fall down on our faces, He picks us up and continues to use us. I may never serve as the minister of a congregation...honestly...I am starting to wonder if I even want to anymore...but that is not the point. The point is that God is going to use me right where I am no matter how screwed up I get. Grace...man...it's a beautiful thing. My goal is to live in that grace and extend it to everyone I come in contact with.

That is what Jesus told us to do...right?

Once again...I'm thinking about it.

Does This Mean That I Am Over It?

2010-04-21T11:56:00.002-04:00

I just read that a church here in Eastern North Carolina is looking for a preacher. I have preached at this church on numerous occasions and got along with them splendidly. They just hired their last preacher in 2008...I know this because I filled their pulpit while they waited for him to move from Ohio.

Two months ago I would have already sent my resume and a CD of a sermon. I would be telling everyone to be praying that a door might be opened for me. I would be desperately hoping that they would be interested in talking to me again.

You know what my response was? I laughed and left the website. I called my wife and we had a good laugh about it together. You know what? I do not believe that I want to be a preacher anymore. As much as I enjoy doing it...the church has pretty much killed any desire I have to serve in that capacity.

What does that mean? I do not know...but I am thinking about it.

Jump Start My Blog

2010-04-20T14:10:00.002-04:00

I. Am. Lazy. There...I said it. I want to be one of those prolific bloggers with captive audiences but the truth is...I am too lazy to write and market myself. I may have three or four people who check this thing when I update it and that is nobody's fault but mine. If I were serious about this whole blogging thing then I would take the time to construct thought-provoking entries that would entice people to respond. I would invest myself in this thing and try to get it out there for people to read. I do not know how to motivate myself to do that. I am thinking about it. That is something I am REAL good at. Thinking about it. I have lived my whole life thinking about it.

I am performing a wedding this weekend. I am ready for it to be over. I do not like the stress and pressure of being the minister in a wedding for a group of people who I really do not know. What if I mess it up?

I am also preaching at my home church this weekend. I am more relaxed about that. I enjoy preaching. I actually thought I was going to be a preacher but God (or someone) had a different idea. People are still telling me to be patient, that God will work in His own time. These are not ideas that I disagree with...but I have given up on the whole idea of being "called" to preach or minister at a local congregation. I think that is the biggest line I was fed at Bible College. It is not the only one...but I think it is one of the worst. I pretty much believe that the way we run our churches is a disgrace. Church is not a democracy. Church is not a business. Why do we continue to shove those faulty models into the body of Christ?

I don't know. If I were one of those prolific guys I would write a whole series of entries about this. But...I have already told you. I am lazy.

An Update

2010-03-05T19:04:00.002-05:00

I am finishing up my second week as the store manager for the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I am really enjoying it and I like the organization a lot. I like working with the public because it gives me a chance to meet people and find out about them. People have stories and they will talk if you give them the chance. I also get to work with a guy I have known for years. We used to play in a band together back when were just wee-little lads. That is a bonus.

I have been so hell-bent on finding a "ministry" position that I forgot that my every day life can be a hard-core ministry if I am open to the Holy Spirit. I see hurting people come into the store every single day. They may be coming in for building supplies or knick-knacks...but they all have one thing in common. They all need the love of Jesus in their lives. That is my ministry. I have a chance to be Jesus to them. What an awesome responsibility.

Matthew 13:44-46

2010-02-11T12:25:00.001-05:00

Here are two more:

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV)

I personally believe that these two short parables are not terribly difficult to understand. It would seem that both are comparing the kingdom of heaven with riches that far outweigh our worldly possessions. In both cases we have a man who has discovered something that he values. He values it so much that he is willing to sell everything he owns in order to obtain it.

I have come across at least one commentator who suggested that the parables could possibly be a description of Jesus and the love He has for each one of us. He was willing to give up everything in order to make us His own. I admit that I don't immediately see a problem with that interpretation.

Matthew 13:31-32

2010-02-07T09:52:00.002-05:00

He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV)

This is another good one. I think it (like the parable of the leaven) is more self-explanatory than some people want to make it. I have seen some people try to take the birds in verse 32 and make them mean all sorts of things. My favorite explanation is that the birds represent the evil that lurks within the church when it grows too quickly. Seriously? Come on guys.

I think it is much more simple than that. Verse 32 seems to be a reference back to Ezekiel 17:23.

On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

In that passage God promises to send someone who will provide shelter for all who come to Him. Jesus echoes that sentiment and reveals that the promised shelter is found in His kingdom. I do not believe that there is a need to interpret the birds as anything other than just that.

I do confess that I am not a scholar (in the true sense of the word) and that I depend upon the scholarship of those much smarter than myself. If there is some nuance that I am missing due to my lack of expertise in the original languages, I will concede to those who are more learned than myself. I do believe that The Holy Spirit does allow us to study (and understand) the Bible when we allow Him to. That is all I am attempting to do here.

If anyone out there reads something here and feels to compelled to share his/her opinion or correct the author when he is wrong, please do so. I welcome it.

Matthew 13:33

2010-02-06T11:25:00.002-05:00

33He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Matthew 13:33 (ESV)

Our Wednesday night small group has been going through the parables of Jesus. We got to this one this past week. It was interesting to hear how different people read and interpret this one. A couple of the people in our group think that this one was a warning from Jesus about negative influence in the church. I came across at least one commentator (Warren Wiersbe) who took the same view. Given the various other passages in the Bible which use leaven in a similar negative manner, I guess I can understand the reasoning for reading it that way.

However, given the immediate context in which this parable is recorded (the parable of the mustard seed), I would have to agree with most of the commentaries I have read and say that it is describing either the permeating work of the Gospel in the world or the permeating work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. If backed into a corner, I would probably choose the first of those. Even though leaven is often used in a derogatory manner, even in Jesus’ teachings, there seems to be no reason why it must always be used in such a way.

I used to work in a pizza joint. One of my tasks was to come in early in the morning and make dough. I am fully aware of both the positive and negative characteristics of yeast. This passage seems to be describing a woman using yeast in its proper sense. She is making bread and the yeast is a necessity. Without it’s influence, the bread would not rise and would be ruined. It does not take much of it to properly prepare the dough either. The Gospel may seem insignificant to many, but when it is administered, it has the power to transform the world.

That, to me, seems the most obvious message that Jesus was trying to convey.

Theistic Evolution's Effect On Salvation

2009-09-02T20:33:00.002-04:00

I have been following a "friendly" debate on whether or not theistic evolution can coexist peacefully with the creation narrative found in Genesis 1. So far there have been people (all of them professing Christians) debating on both sides. I have deliberately refrained from jumping in because I do not have the time, the energy or the book knowledge to hang with some of these folks. I have privately shared my opinion with a few of them and suggested that a non-literal view of creation negatively affects the entire Bible, especially when it comes down to salvation.

If there was not an original man called Adam and he did not bring sin and death into the world, there is no need for a savior. Removing Adam from the story adversely affects the entire story and negates the need for Christ.

The book of Romans explicitly states that Jesus came to undo the mess that Adam created. If Adam did not exist then Jesus did not have to come and die.

I realize that this is far from a scientific (or even deep theological) answer, but I believe it raises a point that many do not consider. Any one out there care to comment?

Sometime

2009-08-19T19:18:00.002-04:00

Sometime I want to give
Sometime I want to take
Sometime I want to run
Sometime I want to stay

Sometime I want to love
Sometime I want to hate
Sometime I want to build
Sometime I want to break

Sometime I want to live
Sometime I want to die
Sometime I want to believe
Sometime I want to get high and fly

- King's X

I really do relate to these lyrics...with the possible exception to the get high part...but I guess I might want to drink a bit sometime. It's funny how we let our feelings dictate the way we act and respond to life. Even Christians let their feelings get the best of them.

I have really odd mood swings these days and it's all I can do to just let go and give it to God. Surrender is so hard when you can just give in to whatever feeling happens to be in control at the time. I am trying but it seems so hard. It's not easy for me to let the Spirit lead me. I want to kick and scream and give in.

To paraphrase King's X - Oh LORD...the bruises and the breaks. I just don't get it. Sometimes I feel like I've lost my faith.

I need some revival. I need the breath of God to blow my way. I need to sit still and be quiet and just wait.

It's so hard sometime.

Chasing Pleiades

2009-06-16T09:22:00.002-04:00

Here is a new poem I've written. It's a bit different from the stuff I normally write. I don't know that I am 100% satisfied with it right now.

Chasing Pleiades

Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising through the mellow shade,
Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies tangled in a silver braid.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Daughters of Babylon descend
and cruise through this sleepy town.
Heads turn and eyes stare
as your movements awaken
the passion that lies slumbering
within the adolescent gods,
who nip and bark at your heels.

There they go, the ones whose hair is glowing
They dance their round dance, as time marches on.

Is there no one to halt their pursuit,
to defend your honour
in your father's absence?
The women moan and wail,
black veils pulled down tightly,
as they sing a song at Samhain
and weep as you ride by.

There they go, the ones whose hair is glowing
They dance their round dance, as time marches on.

The weight of the world is gone
but you know who carries it for you.
You frolic with the immortals
and try to forget the one
who died to make this possible.
You offer yourselves willingly
to appease the wrath of man.

There they go, the ones whose hair is glowing
They dance their round dance, as time marches on.

One by one by one, you surrender,
offering your bodies to the night,
until only young Merope remains.
She fades away as you are whisked
off and placed upon pedestals,
trophy wives who shine on command,
for the two-bit gods of Suburbia.

There they go, the ones whose hair is glowing
They dance their round dance, as time marches on.

What A Week

2009-05-30T16:38:00.004-04:00

A little over a week ago I noticed a little place on my right calf that looked like an insect bite. The skin around it was red and swollen and my entire calf was sore. I assumed that I had been bitten by a spider while goofing around in the garage on Thursday. I took Benadryl and Naproxen and thought nothing of it.

Last Saturday it got worse. The redness spread down towards my ankle and the swelling extended around my leg. The "bite" expanded to the size of my pinkie nail and started to fester.

By Sunday morning the redness and infection had taken over my whole leg. The "bite" was now the size of a dime. I promptly got up and went to the Emergency Room. They cut it open and mashed it and did all sorts of things that made me feel just great. They gave me an antibiotic and some Tylenol with Codeine and told me to come back for a follow up on Monday.

The doctor came in Monday morning and immediately admitted me to the hospital. I had contracted a lovely little condition known as MRSA . They put an IV in my arm and dosed me up with some serious antibiotics. The ones they had given me on Sunday were basically useless...I might as well have eaten some PEZ.

During the course of the day it was also discovered that: 1) my blood sugar was high, 2) my blood pressure was high and 3) my good cholesterol count was out of whack. So...I hit the health care trifecta. I spent three days in the hospital and now have to take about 1400 pills every morning.

Yesterday afternoon I made the mistake of taking my meds on an empty stomach. If you are ever considering this...hear me out.

DON'T !!!!

I was about as sick as I have been since we all contracted salmonella in Elizabeth City...but that is another story and an altogether different (more evil) kind of sick. The bad thing was that I hadn't eaten so there was no food in my stomach. Think about it for a minute. Throwing up food is bad enough...but throwing up and yielding nothing but bile and stomach acid is on another level...a very bad level. Then there were the cramps that came along with being curled up on the bathroom floor in the fetal position. A very humbling end to an interesting week.

So...one week later...how do I feel?

My leg is still sore. We have to redress and repack (yes, repack) the wound every day. These medicines are seriously making me nauseous...but I've been told that goes away once you get used to them. I'm still sore from the puking and from the bedridden state I was in for the early part of the week. I have ended my life-long stance of protecting spiders though. I used to vehemently defend them and tell people about all of their contributions to society. Now...I just squash them.

The Return of Oldmangrady

2009-05-07T22:29:00.001-04:00

I used to be in a Christian rock band called Oldmangrady. We played at a bunch of local churches and recorded two really cheap demo CDs before breaking up. Well...I have decided to pull the name back out for the new music I am working on. There are two new tracks and a couple of those old cheap ones on my SoundClick page. Check it out if you want.

Wednesday Afternoon Fall From Grace

2009-05-06T15:48:00.000-04:00

Here I am...almost one year after graduation and I am no better off than I was then. I have only two leads and I'm not sure how good either of them are. Every day that passes without communication...I feel like my chances are decreasing. Part of that is me being impatient and part of it is me being gunshy. I really want the position in Washington but I am so afraid that something is going to come along and derail things. I have no viable options here and to be honest...I don't think I want to be here in Rocky Mount.

We have until the end of June to find a real job and a place to live. We will be homeless if we don't. We can't afford the rent on this house...especially without decent jobs. I am honestly trying to be patient and trust that things are going to work out but damn...it's getting tough. I watch Jamie dealing with her skin problems and her allergies and I'm helpless. We're sitting here waiting to see when Medicaid will kick in so she can get back to see a real doctor. Meanwhile...she suffers and there isn't a damn thing I can do. I realize that there are people in this world (in this country) that have it much worse than we do...but that doesn't make this any easier to deal with.

I have a lot of good, well-meaning people smile and nod and tell me that everything is going to work out...but this doesn't affect them. They go home and don't have to deal with it...I do. I guess I'm not using this situation the way I should be. I should be taking this experience and letting it grow my faith. I feel like the opposite is happening. I want to shake my fists at the sky and ask, "What the hell is up with this?" Then I feel guilty for even entertaining the thought.

People who don't really know me look at the last four years of my life and pat me on the back. They tell me that they're proud of me and that it's awesome to see me walking in faith. They tell me that they KNOW God is going to use me in mighty ways. Why don't I feel that way? Why am I sitting here in a dark room brooding and whining on a message board? Maybe I am losing my faith...I don't know. It's not God that I have a problem with...it's all these people here using His name. I just want to find a group of people that prove me wrong. I want to believe that the church is the way God is reaching out to people and I want to be a part of it. I'm just having a tough time buying it right now.