Three hours of sleep for both Saturday and Sunday did not put Richard in the greatest mood. God spoke pretty clearly that he wanted me at church, so I hauled my behind to church and was pretty glad I did.
I asked someone to mentor me a month ago. He told me that he was willing to, today. :)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Worship
"All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Ps 66:4
I feel like everytime I teach something, that it is actually for my benefit. The things that God reveals to me for the purpose of sharing in prayer meeting, in Bible study, or random sharing. God reminds me of these lessons a week or so later. I am a hypocrite, but God is gracious.
A week ago, I briefly talked about praying to God. How often we bring a laundry list of items to God expecting Him to fix the problems we see? Our worship of Him falls so short. It falls short, because we barely know Him. Our understanding of Him is so limited. Our understanding ABOUT Him is pretty good, but what and how we experience Him is so shallow.
God, I want to know you. In my prayers, speech, and life... allow me to pay proper respect to You. Let me live a life that is pleasing to You, for Your glory, for Your Kingdom.
I feel like everytime I teach something, that it is actually for my benefit. The things that God reveals to me for the purpose of sharing in prayer meeting, in Bible study, or random sharing. God reminds me of these lessons a week or so later. I am a hypocrite, but God is gracious.
A week ago, I briefly talked about praying to God. How often we bring a laundry list of items to God expecting Him to fix the problems we see? Our worship of Him falls so short. It falls short, because we barely know Him. Our understanding of Him is so limited. Our understanding ABOUT Him is pretty good, but what and how we experience Him is so shallow.
God, I want to know you. In my prayers, speech, and life... allow me to pay proper respect to You. Let me live a life that is pleasing to You, for Your glory, for Your Kingdom.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Moment
Had a Plato and Socrates moment with Marc this morning. It was pleasant. It gave me peace.
Also for you girls that weren't at prayer meeting, Ginny was there by herself. It was a major sausagefest. She felt awkward, and clearly people played up on that. I must have uttered "Awkward!" a dozen times. And this is a prayer meeting!
Also for you girls that weren't at prayer meeting, Ginny was there by herself. It was a major sausagefest. She felt awkward, and clearly people played up on that. I must have uttered "Awkward!" a dozen times. And this is a prayer meeting!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Hilarity ensues...
When your last surviving teammate gets flung off the roof by a Tank on the last stage of Left 4 Dead.
Back to the Word
WARNING: Mature Content.
"We need to go back to the Word."
This thought was originally brought up by a brief article I was reading on a person's blog. It began with a search about piety as a sin. The blogger talked about how new age ideas have infiltrated the church and that old school orthodoxy are no longer hip and relevant today. He lamented that people can embrace the world's lies so easily. And he was talking about the church!
"We live and breathe in a narcissistic evangelicalism where preaching has been exchanged for therapy, sacraments for personal experience, discipline for dubious notions of sincerity, regulated worshp [sic] for entertainment, and the fellowship of the saints for cell-group discussions and self-feeding, all the while scorning ordinary means as 'boring', 'lifeless', or the embodiment of 'dead orthodoxy.'"
How true.
The point was further re-emphasized on my search for a quote "anything that leads you away from God is a sin" (para-phrase, if anyone knows who said it... it was a woman, let me know. I forgot where I found it). The first search result in google was "can masterbating [sic] bring you away from god". I thought it was a Christian forum, so I entered. It was not. From what I can tell the poster was Christian (posted Feb 7th 2007).
A religious breakdown of the respondents: (12)
Not Mentioned: 6
^-- Probably Christian/Catholic: 3
Athiest: 2
Catholic: 1
Christian: 2
Wiccan: 1
I want to focus on the results of the Christians and (to a lesser extent) Catholics, because they should have some understanding of Scripture. (side note: The athiest argument was weak logically. Wiccan was crazy.) Out of the 12 respondants, there are 6 (probable) Christian/Catholics that have either outright stated that they are, or from their comment I have surmised that they are.
Of the six:
Three horrible comments:
One denied infallibilty of Scripture - the Bible was made to control the masses. What do you base your belief on?
One said to ask a bishop or pastor and avoid a priest, because you might get raped. How does this help?
One revealed the proper context of Onan (mentioned by a previous poster) to suggest that masturbation isn't wrong. (That verse shouldn't be used to condemn masturbation.) However, goes on to say that masturbation is okay... in fact, "it's a sin NOT to enjoy and WORSHIP the gift that He has given you". (emphasis mine) Again, how does this help? In fact, you lead the poor lad away from God.
One practical suggestion:
Stay occupied to avoid masturbation.
Two worthwhile ideas:
Be sorry for what you did, pray for forgiveness. He talked about God a lot.
Cling to God.
So out of all of this, I realize that I have incredibly high standards for an online forum.
So out of all of this, I have to come back to my church and the people around me, and myself. I think there is a flaw in our understanding of how to come closer to God. It is related to the idea of inreach, where Christians take time to care about one another and motivate each other to grow in Christ. There is nothing wrong with that. However, when the church fails to reach out to those that are lost...there is a problem. When the church fails to teach its members solid theology... there is a problem.
Personally, I feel that my church has been blessed with pastors that have emphasized our understanding of Scripture. That is a good thing. Unfortunately, we have not been so great at reaching out to those that are lost. All throughout my Christian walk, this has been the norm. Fellowships that are focused on the self, and deaf to the mission call. Even for myself, I bring these flaws into my leadership.
Our understanding of God is so shallow and we are satisfied. We study the Bible, for the sake of one uping our fellow Christians. We spread the gospel with a hard heart, claiming that if people don't react to the message; God hasn't called them to be saved. We are disciples of hate, self-centeredness, and feel goodness. We pray in a patronizing tone to someone we have kept at arm's length rather than an intimate lover.
God has called us to more than this. Seek God with all your heart. Study the Bible for it is profitable in many ways, even when teaching to others, the Word still teaches you more and more. Spread the gospel with a broken heart, show people that they are in deed lost without His saving grace. Are we really that determined...? Considering, failure leads to eternal death? Repent, and come back into His presence. Bask in it, knowing that He gives peace.
It is time we stopped kidding ourselves and desired God unashamedly, desperately... all the time and everywhere.
"We need to go back to the Word."
This thought was originally brought up by a brief article I was reading on a person's blog. It began with a search about piety as a sin. The blogger talked about how new age ideas have infiltrated the church and that old school orthodoxy are no longer hip and relevant today. He lamented that people can embrace the world's lies so easily. And he was talking about the church!
"We live and breathe in a narcissistic evangelicalism where preaching has been exchanged for therapy, sacraments for personal experience, discipline for dubious notions of sincerity, regulated worshp [sic] for entertainment, and the fellowship of the saints for cell-group discussions and self-feeding, all the while scorning ordinary means as 'boring', 'lifeless', or the embodiment of 'dead orthodoxy.'"
How true.
The point was further re-emphasized on my search for a quote "anything that leads you away from God is a sin" (para-phrase, if anyone knows who said it... it was a woman, let me know. I forgot where I found it). The first search result in google was "can masterbating [sic] bring you away from god". I thought it was a Christian forum, so I entered. It was not. From what I can tell the poster was Christian (posted Feb 7th 2007).
A religious breakdown of the respondents: (12)
Not Mentioned: 6
^-- Probably Christian/Catholic: 3
Athiest: 2
Catholic: 1
Christian: 2
Wiccan: 1
I want to focus on the results of the Christians and (to a lesser extent) Catholics, because they should have some understanding of Scripture. (side note: The athiest argument was weak logically. Wiccan was crazy.) Out of the 12 respondants, there are 6 (probable) Christian/Catholics that have either outright stated that they are, or from their comment I have surmised that they are.
Of the six:
Three horrible comments:
One denied infallibilty of Scripture - the Bible was made to control the masses. What do you base your belief on?
One said to ask a bishop or pastor and avoid a priest, because you might get raped. How does this help?
One revealed the proper context of Onan (mentioned by a previous poster) to suggest that masturbation isn't wrong. (That verse shouldn't be used to condemn masturbation.) However, goes on to say that masturbation is okay... in fact, "it's a sin NOT to enjoy and WORSHIP the gift that He has given you". (emphasis mine) Again, how does this help? In fact, you lead the poor lad away from God.
One practical suggestion:
Stay occupied to avoid masturbation.
Two worthwhile ideas:
Be sorry for what you did, pray for forgiveness. He talked about God a lot.
Cling to God.
So out of all of this, I have to come back to my church and the people around me, and myself. I think there is a flaw in our understanding of how to come closer to God. It is related to the idea of inreach, where Christians take time to care about one another and motivate each other to grow in Christ. There is nothing wrong with that. However, when the church fails to reach out to those that are lost...there is a problem. When the church fails to teach its members solid theology... there is a problem.
Personally, I feel that my church has been blessed with pastors that have emphasized our understanding of Scripture. That is a good thing. Unfortunately, we have not been so great at reaching out to those that are lost. All throughout my Christian walk, this has been the norm. Fellowships that are focused on the self, and deaf to the mission call. Even for myself, I bring these flaws into my leadership.
Our understanding of God is so shallow and we are satisfied. We study the Bible, for the sake of one uping our fellow Christians. We spread the gospel with a hard heart, claiming that if people don't react to the message; God hasn't called them to be saved. We are disciples of hate, self-centeredness, and feel goodness. We pray in a patronizing tone to someone we have kept at arm's length rather than an intimate lover.
God has called us to more than this. Seek God with all your heart. Study the Bible for it is profitable in many ways, even when teaching to others, the Word still teaches you more and more. Spread the gospel with a broken heart, show people that they are in deed lost without His saving grace. Are we really that determined...? Considering, failure leads to eternal death? Repent, and come back into His presence. Bask in it, knowing that He gives peace.
It is time we stopped kidding ourselves and desired God unashamedly, desperately... all the time and everywhere.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Questions
This is a placeholder for future questions that I want to tackle.
If you have any questions... here would be a good place to ask.
I swear I will get around to this.
If you have any questions... here would be a good place to ask.
I swear I will get around to this.
Blogs
Been thinking about what I want to post. In the meanwhile, check out some of the new blogs I read. A brief description of each follows:
Amir Larijani - American Christian who examines a variety of social matters.
Arminian Today - A person who claims to be Arminian; looks at both sides of the Calvinist and Arminian debate. (It's hard to find people who argue for the Arminian side, so he's a breath of fresh air.)
Biblical Manhood - Kind of obvious.
Chrisendom - A NT TA in London.
Endtimes Disciple - Emphasizes that the end is near.
Farmeruminations - He's a farmer.
Godfidence - Confidence in God.
Journal of a Battling Christian - Recovering Christian.
Political Correctness Watch - A good site to observe the prevailing liberal bias in media.
Pros Apologian - James White. Frequently delves in apologetics.
Puritan Calvinist - Theology student, Adam. Frequently counters poor arguments on boundless.
Real Clear Theology - Dr. Eric Svendsen, director of New Testament Research Ministries. A Pastor and Professor.
Scripturally Single - This guy fights for the gift of singleness.
True Discernment - A Christian who applies Scripture to the different social and economic happenings in the world.
Vox Popoli - Author of Irrational Athiest. Weighs in on economics, social concerns, and arguments for Athiesm.
NOTE: Although, I keep up to date with many of the things that these people write. I don't always agree with them 100%. (Clearly, Arminian Today and Pros Apologian would have differing thoughts in certain areas of theology). You should weigh what they say against Scripture, and decide if the words they speak are from God or not.
Amir Larijani - American Christian who examines a variety of social matters.
Arminian Today - A person who claims to be Arminian; looks at both sides of the Calvinist and Arminian debate. (It's hard to find people who argue for the Arminian side, so he's a breath of fresh air.)
Biblical Manhood - Kind of obvious.
Chrisendom - A NT TA in London.
Endtimes Disciple - Emphasizes that the end is near.
Farmeruminations - He's a farmer.
Godfidence - Confidence in God.
Journal of a Battling Christian - Recovering Christian.
Political Correctness Watch - A good site to observe the prevailing liberal bias in media.
Pros Apologian - James White. Frequently delves in apologetics.
Puritan Calvinist - Theology student, Adam. Frequently counters poor arguments on boundless.
Real Clear Theology - Dr. Eric Svendsen, director of New Testament Research Ministries. A Pastor and Professor.
Scripturally Single - This guy fights for the gift of singleness.
True Discernment - A Christian who applies Scripture to the different social and economic happenings in the world.
Vox Popoli - Author of Irrational Athiest. Weighs in on economics, social concerns, and arguments for Athiesm.
NOTE: Although, I keep up to date with many of the things that these people write. I don't always agree with them 100%. (Clearly, Arminian Today and Pros Apologian would have differing thoughts in certain areas of theology). You should weigh what they say against Scripture, and decide if the words they speak are from God or not.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Quote of the Day
"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
-- Jack Handey
That made me laugh.
-- Jack Handey
That made me laugh.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Responsibility?
Railroad attacked for ordering children off trains
Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:07am EST
By Josie Cox
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's national railway company has come under fire from passenger groups after inspectors ordered children off trains because they did not have the right tickets.
Deutsche Bahn has apologized for the embarrassing incidents that made headlines across the country.
In the fourth such expulsion in three weeks, a 12-year-old schoolgirl was made to leave a train an hour's ride from home because she could not pay a 40 euro ($50) fine.
"It is purely foolish to react in such a way," said Karl-Peter Naumann, director of the passenger organization Pro Bahn. "Banishing them from the train is inhumane and causes unnecessary problems."
German newspapers had already condemned Deutsche Bahn on Tuesday after a 14-year-old was told to leave a train because her ticket was only valid later in the day.
Earlier, a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old were also forced to leave trains. One child had to carry her cello 5 km (3 miles) home in the dark while the other was left on a platform with no money or mobile phone.
Wednesday, Deutsche Bahn said all ticket inspectors would have to sign an agreement promising not to banish children from trains if traveling alone.
"Everybody should know that it is unacceptable to throw children off the train," a spokesman told the TAZ daily.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
Source
----
Am I missing something here? The train company is there to make money. If you do not have a ticket... you're kind of hosed. Perhaps, the train company could have handled it better?
Finally, what is with the "right" ticket thing? Ride the train at the right time? Should they not have better customer relations to handle getting the right ticket for the right situation?
So what is the Christian perspective on this?
Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:07am EST
By Josie Cox
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's national railway company has come under fire from passenger groups after inspectors ordered children off trains because they did not have the right tickets.
Deutsche Bahn has apologized for the embarrassing incidents that made headlines across the country.
In the fourth such expulsion in three weeks, a 12-year-old schoolgirl was made to leave a train an hour's ride from home because she could not pay a 40 euro ($50) fine.
"It is purely foolish to react in such a way," said Karl-Peter Naumann, director of the passenger organization Pro Bahn. "Banishing them from the train is inhumane and causes unnecessary problems."
German newspapers had already condemned Deutsche Bahn on Tuesday after a 14-year-old was told to leave a train because her ticket was only valid later in the day.
Earlier, a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old were also forced to leave trains. One child had to carry her cello 5 km (3 miles) home in the dark while the other was left on a platform with no money or mobile phone.
Wednesday, Deutsche Bahn said all ticket inspectors would have to sign an agreement promising not to banish children from trains if traveling alone.
"Everybody should know that it is unacceptable to throw children off the train," a spokesman told the TAZ daily.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
Source
----
Am I missing something here? The train company is there to make money. If you do not have a ticket... you're kind of hosed. Perhaps, the train company could have handled it better?
Finally, what is with the "right" ticket thing? Ride the train at the right time? Should they not have better customer relations to handle getting the right ticket for the right situation?
So what is the Christian perspective on this?
Monday, November 17, 2008
Board Game Stats
CHEE-KENDescription: Do not be fooled by his goofy demeanor, beneath that care-free smile is a cunning strategist.
DEDUCTION:☺
EXECUTION:☺☺☺☺☺
MANIPULATION:☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
STRATEGY:☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
DEPICTION:☺☺☺
EXECUTION:☺☺☺☺☺
MANIPULATION:☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
STRATEGY:☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
DEPICTION:☺☺☺
*Legend: (all stats have max value of 10)
Deduction - Guessing.
Execution - Acting.
Manipulation - Negotiation.
Strategy - Foresight.
Depiction - Drawing.
Epic Sunday
This Sunday, there were several points of ownage, or of enlightenment. I will rate them out of /10 where 10 is I feel like God pwned me the hardest, and 0 being a moment of non-pwnage...which I guess wouldn't be a moment at all?
The Lee Beach Sermon [3/10]:
A good reminder on spreading the Good news. Also, he touched upon something that was highlighted last week. Would not the one thing you want most affect how you live your life?
Sunday School with Paul Wan [8/10]:
OMG, I don't know Romans. Every time we meet, my respect for this man increases: I slowly learn how huge of a gap there is between our levels.
Pizza Lunch with Cliff [6/10]:
Ever have one of those moments where you just need to hear someone else say the thing that you already know?
Charades with Zoe [1/10]:
I cannot act or guess for beans.
The Lee Beach Sermon [3/10]:
A good reminder on spreading the Good news. Also, he touched upon something that was highlighted last week. Would not the one thing you want most affect how you live your life?
Sunday School with Paul Wan [8/10]:
OMG, I don't know Romans. Every time we meet, my respect for this man increases: I slowly learn how huge of a gap there is between our levels.
Pizza Lunch with Cliff [6/10]:
Ever have one of those moments where you just need to hear someone else say the thing that you already know?
Charades with Zoe [1/10]:
I cannot act or guess for beans.
Radical Homosexuals Trample a Cross, Harass a Granny, Crash a Church, and Threaten Joe the Plumber's Life
Can you imagine what would happen if a gang of angry male Christian activists started shouting down and shoving around some nice old lesbian during a religious rally right after ripping her rainbow pride flag from her hands and waffle stomping it? How much television coverage do you think that spat of stupidity would spawn? What kind of outrage do you think the gays would gin up over such an inexcusable and pathetic act?
I'll tell you what would happen: We would see an irate Elton John hold a special Candle in the Wind concert on the old lesbian's behalf, Lance Bass would host a telethon, Ellen would weep, Brad and Angelina would adopt another baby and Rosie would shave the right side of her head again and again until justice was served and those chunks of corn were convicted and sent to prison. You and I both know we'd never hear the end of it, and you know what? We shouldn't because that kind stupid, out-of-whack bullying is bull.
What about this scenario? Say some dyed-in-the-wool, belligerent backwoods snake handlers sporting crosses, vicious anti-gay fliers and blarin' Dueling Banjos on a boom box infiltrated a gay soiree, disrupted the event, disbursed their literature into the crowd, performed some hetero sex acts and then threatened those in attendance? Do you think the gay bloggers would blog it and the MSM report on it and both sectors call for the rednecks' necks? Fo' shizzle my nizzle they would.
Indulge me one more scenario: Would it be cool if a conservative Christian talk show host called for the death of some gay dude named Joe who simply campaigned for a month for president elect Barack Obama? Would that be cool? You and I both know the answer to that question would be "H" to the no-it would not be cool. That guy would be Imus'ed so fast his head would spin. His days of talk radio would be over.
The above three supposed scenes would be publically condemned, the perps would be captured, convicted and imprisoned, their names would become proverbs for our populace, and the nation would be put on notice that if Christians take their disagreements with homosexuality to belligerent, disruptive and life-threatening levels that their butts will be imprisoned.
It seems as of late, however, that gays can do the above junk to Christians and get a pass from certain cops and the mainstream media. Yep, just this past week a 69-year-old woman carried a Styrofoam cross in support of traditional marriage into a pro-gay marriage march in Palm Springs and within seconds had the cross ripped from her hands and stomped on, and then the homosexuals began to shove her around and curse her out. You can watch it on YouTube here. If Christians would have done that to an old gay lady they would be currently in the Palm Springs pokey waiting to make bail. No arrests were made. Can you say, double standard? I knew you could.
From that crap we move to Lansing, Michigan and last Sunday's protest inside the Mount Hope Church by the rabid gay group Bash Back. These winners entered the church along with worshippers and surprised the congregation when they stood up during the service, threw fliers and condoms at the congregants, pulled the fire alarm, made out in front of the church by the pulpit and shouted slogans such as "Jesus was a homo." No arrests were made.
In light of this Mount Hope Church event I've spoken to several pastors across the nation who have wisely beefed up their security in case the protests/threats turn violent. Matter of fact, if I was a radical gay activist I would really think twice about barnstorming churches and threatening their members.
Then we come to one Charles Bouley, queer activist and talk show host on San Francisco's (where else) station KGO who on November 1st angrily said on the air that Joe the Plumber was a "G** D*** M-F'er" that he wanted dead! At least he got fired this past week. However, I'm sure he's inking a contract right now for a gig on a new station to keep hate alive. Again, if homosexuals got the above from Christians the media and the cops would be on them like a duck on a June bug.
My advice to the MSM is this: If I were you, I'd cover it and condemn what the gays are doing to Christians and their Churches or it's going to get worse-way worse. And lastly to the radical gay guys, do you really believe that this kind of belligerent behavior is going to make Americans capitulate to your cause? Who came up with this strategy? Was it the same guys who thought that Clear Pepsi would be a real winner?
Source
I'll tell you what would happen: We would see an irate Elton John hold a special Candle in the Wind concert on the old lesbian's behalf, Lance Bass would host a telethon, Ellen would weep, Brad and Angelina would adopt another baby and Rosie would shave the right side of her head again and again until justice was served and those chunks of corn were convicted and sent to prison. You and I both know we'd never hear the end of it, and you know what? We shouldn't because that kind stupid, out-of-whack bullying is bull.
What about this scenario? Say some dyed-in-the-wool, belligerent backwoods snake handlers sporting crosses, vicious anti-gay fliers and blarin' Dueling Banjos on a boom box infiltrated a gay soiree, disrupted the event, disbursed their literature into the crowd, performed some hetero sex acts and then threatened those in attendance? Do you think the gay bloggers would blog it and the MSM report on it and both sectors call for the rednecks' necks? Fo' shizzle my nizzle they would.
Indulge me one more scenario: Would it be cool if a conservative Christian talk show host called for the death of some gay dude named Joe who simply campaigned for a month for president elect Barack Obama? Would that be cool? You and I both know the answer to that question would be "H" to the no-it would not be cool. That guy would be Imus'ed so fast his head would spin. His days of talk radio would be over.
The above three supposed scenes would be publically condemned, the perps would be captured, convicted and imprisoned, their names would become proverbs for our populace, and the nation would be put on notice that if Christians take their disagreements with homosexuality to belligerent, disruptive and life-threatening levels that their butts will be imprisoned.
It seems as of late, however, that gays can do the above junk to Christians and get a pass from certain cops and the mainstream media. Yep, just this past week a 69-year-old woman carried a Styrofoam cross in support of traditional marriage into a pro-gay marriage march in Palm Springs and within seconds had the cross ripped from her hands and stomped on, and then the homosexuals began to shove her around and curse her out. You can watch it on YouTube here. If Christians would have done that to an old gay lady they would be currently in the Palm Springs pokey waiting to make bail. No arrests were made. Can you say, double standard? I knew you could.
From that crap we move to Lansing, Michigan and last Sunday's protest inside the Mount Hope Church by the rabid gay group Bash Back. These winners entered the church along with worshippers and surprised the congregation when they stood up during the service, threw fliers and condoms at the congregants, pulled the fire alarm, made out in front of the church by the pulpit and shouted slogans such as "Jesus was a homo." No arrests were made.
In light of this Mount Hope Church event I've spoken to several pastors across the nation who have wisely beefed up their security in case the protests/threats turn violent. Matter of fact, if I was a radical gay activist I would really think twice about barnstorming churches and threatening their members.
Then we come to one Charles Bouley, queer activist and talk show host on San Francisco's (where else) station KGO who on November 1st angrily said on the air that Joe the Plumber was a "G** D*** M-F'er" that he wanted dead! At least he got fired this past week. However, I'm sure he's inking a contract right now for a gig on a new station to keep hate alive. Again, if homosexuals got the above from Christians the media and the cops would be on them like a duck on a June bug.
My advice to the MSM is this: If I were you, I'd cover it and condemn what the gays are doing to Christians and their Churches or it's going to get worse-way worse. And lastly to the radical gay guys, do you really believe that this kind of belligerent behavior is going to make Americans capitulate to your cause? Who came up with this strategy? Was it the same guys who thought that Clear Pepsi would be a real winner?
Source
Friday, November 14, 2008
Geek.
For a tech guy, I don't own much tech. The only thing I can forsee changing in the short run is the cell phone. Below is a randomly created scoring system to indicate level of geekery.
I consider seven major staple categories of technology, followed by a bonus section for random gadgets. Scoring is only for more current pieces of technology, because everyone has the aging 486 in their basement. :)
STAPLES:
Console
Own a Next Gen (Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PS3) [+2 per console]
Own a Prev Gen (Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, PS2) [+1 per console]
Me: I own a Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64...as the closest thing. I could debate on the gamecube, my brother split one with his housemates.
PC
Current Gen (Dual-core/Quad-core) PC [+2]
Single-Core PC [+1]
OC for either [+1]
Multiple PCs (Not incl Laptop) [+1 per extra machine]
Me: My desktop is probably the only thing that affords me the techie name. OC'd AMD 3200+ and 7900GT volt mod.
Laptop
In addition to PC [+2]
Solo [+1]
Me: None. I have wanted one for a while, but I cannot justify the cost of the model I would like...the XPS M1330.
TV
Big Screen TV 50"+ [+2]
Plasma/LCD TV [+1]
Multiple TVs [+1 per TV of caliber mentioned above]
Me: No Hi-def at my house whatsoever. End of story.
Cell Phone
Have a cellphone [+1]
Multi-function (Mp3, Browsing, GPS) [+2]
Text Messaging regularly [+1]
Me: A very plain vanilla Nokia 6265i although I am looking to upgrade. Pure voice plan here.
MP3 Player
iPod [+2]
Generic [+1]
Each additional device [+1]
Me: I don't have an MP3 player.
Digital Camera/Recording Device
SLR [+2]
Camcorder [+1]
Camera [+1]
Each additional device [+1]
Me: I gave my Canon SD300 to my mom.
BONUS: [Pretty much list out every gadget you have and give yourself +1 each.]
Some examples, include: GPS devices, Sub-notebooks, PocketPCs, Palms, TabletPCs, eBook Readers, etc.
Me:
Nokia N770 [+1] The most useless piece of crap evers. It is the model right before the models that actually start being useful.
USB Stick [+1] I carry one on me all the time.
Nintendo DS [+1] I barely use it, as I am always driving on those long road trips. :P
So out of my geekery list, I score 9 out of a possible infinite number. When I put it like that, I don't sound that quite geek. How did you score?
EDIT: Can't believe I forgot cameras.
I consider seven major staple categories of technology, followed by a bonus section for random gadgets. Scoring is only for more current pieces of technology, because everyone has the aging 486 in their basement. :)
STAPLES:
Console
Own a Next Gen (Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PS3) [+2 per console]
Own a Prev Gen (Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, PS2) [+1 per console]
Me: I own a Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64...as the closest thing. I could debate on the gamecube, my brother split one with his housemates.
PC
Current Gen (Dual-core/Quad-core) PC [+2]
Single-Core PC [+1]
OC for either [+1]
Multiple PCs (Not incl Laptop) [+1 per extra machine]
Me: My desktop is probably the only thing that affords me the techie name. OC'd AMD 3200+ and 7900GT volt mod.
Laptop
In addition to PC [+2]
Solo [+1]
Me: None. I have wanted one for a while, but I cannot justify the cost of the model I would like...the XPS M1330.
TV
Big Screen TV 50"+ [+2]
Plasma/LCD TV [+1]
Multiple TVs [+1 per TV of caliber mentioned above]
Me: No Hi-def at my house whatsoever. End of story.
Cell Phone
Have a cellphone [+1]
Multi-function (Mp3, Browsing, GPS) [+2]
Text Messaging regularly [+1]
Me: A very plain vanilla Nokia 6265i although I am looking to upgrade. Pure voice plan here.
MP3 Player
iPod [+2]
Generic [+1]
Each additional device [+1]
Me: I don't have an MP3 player.
Digital Camera/Recording Device
SLR [+2]
Camcorder [+1]
Camera [+1]
Each additional device [+1]
Me: I gave my Canon SD300 to my mom.
BONUS: [Pretty much list out every gadget you have and give yourself +1 each.]
Some examples, include: GPS devices, Sub-notebooks, PocketPCs, Palms, TabletPCs, eBook Readers, etc.
Me:
Nokia N770 [+1] The most useless piece of crap evers. It is the model right before the models that actually start being useful.
USB Stick [+1] I carry one on me all the time.
Nintendo DS [+1] I barely use it, as I am always driving on those long road trips. :P
So out of my geekery list, I score 9 out of a possible infinite number. When I put it like that, I don't sound that quite geek. How did you score?
EDIT: Can't believe I forgot cameras.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Fear.
"It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief."
-- Oswald Chambers
-- Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Blessed
I sometimes forget, how blessed I am. My life is not perfect...neither can it be. God gives me everything I need. The items are too many list. And yes, you, dear reader are probably one of them. :)
One particular thing, that I forget often is to thank God for is our freedom. I often complain (and no doubt will complain in future) that it is something that is slowly being eroded by the Government. However, as today is Remembrance Day, let's put that aside.
Take some time today to remember the brave souls that fought for God and country. :)
One particular thing, that I forget often is to thank God for is our freedom. I often complain (and no doubt will complain in future) that it is something that is slowly being eroded by the Government. However, as today is Remembrance Day, let's put that aside.
Take some time today to remember the brave souls that fought for God and country. :)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Weird.
After prayer meeting, had a talk with a friend on the way home. Shared about how struggles is with home and my "heavy involvement" with church stuff (at least from the perspective of my mom).
Immediately upon entering the home, mom discusses the situation of another friend. This friend has felt God's call to enter seminary, despite having gone through undergrad already. My mom thinks that she should be more practical about her life and her faith, and get a real job. This would help out the family, too. I defended my friend, perhaps God has called her to seminary and has a purpose that lies outside of secular work? My mom strongly disagrees. This of course, opens up into a discussion about what I am doing with my life (perhaps, this was my mom's motive in the first place?)
One heated argument later, I am writing up this blog post... instead of praying. I will go pray more, especially for God to work on my mom.
Immediately upon entering the home, mom discusses the situation of another friend. This friend has felt God's call to enter seminary, despite having gone through undergrad already. My mom thinks that she should be more practical about her life and her faith, and get a real job. This would help out the family, too. I defended my friend, perhaps God has called her to seminary and has a purpose that lies outside of secular work? My mom strongly disagrees. This of course, opens up into a discussion about what I am doing with my life (perhaps, this was my mom's motive in the first place?)
One heated argument later, I am writing up this blog post... instead of praying. I will go pray more, especially for God to work on my mom.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Deterioration of Free Speech
A VERY SCARY LAUGH
August 25, 2006 12:00am
Remember, this article is two years old. What laws have been passed since? And, how long until stuff like this happens here...
August 25, 2006 12:00am
ANDREW Bolt writes: He quoted the Koran in a way that caused laughter and we all know how dangerous laughing Christians are, don't we?
Let a top lawyer -- Debbie Mortimer, SC -- demonstrate why you should laugh at the Bracks Government's vilification laws.Or, perhaps, why you should fear them instead.
Of course, Mortimer doesn't actually want you to laugh at these laws, or indeed to see them as an outrageous attack on your freedom to say what you think.
No, no, no. That wasn't her intention at all when she appeared before Victoria's Appeal Court on Monday.
Truth be told, she'd been hired by the Islamic Council of Victoria to justify these curbs on your free speech.
To be specific, she was there to ask the three appeal judges to dismiss an appeal by two Christian pastors, who were found guilty last year under these very laws of vilifying Muslims.
She wanted those judges to think it fine that pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah were ordered by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in December to place full-page advertisements in the papers admitting they had said allegedly bad things about Islam.
And she hoped they would approve VCAT's order that these two Pentecostal pastors not repeat what they truly thought about Islam or to even hint it -- to instead keep their mouths shut even in other states where people are still mercifully free to say what these pastors may not.
All this was Mortimer's brief and, whatever I may write here, the three independent-minded judges will no doubt decide for themselves on the evidence whether her case is strong.
But by now you must think these two pastors surely said something especially wicked to have been silenced so completely. Maybe Mortimer is on the side of justice.
All right, I won't hide from you the sordid truth.
VCAT's Justice Michael Higgins in December ruled that Scot in particular had broken the Government's vilification laws by quoting the Koran in a way that got "a response from the audience at various times in the form of laughter".
And we all know how dangerous laughing Christians are, don't we? No wonder a complaint was abruptly lodged by three Muslim converts who'd monitored the church seminar at the request of a Muslim ICV official then working for the Equal Opportunity Commission.
In his judgment, Higgins listed 13 examples of how Scot had "made fun of Muslim beliefs and conduct". And here is where this case gets surreal: at least eight of them involve Scot quoting the Koran -- and, I believe, quoting it accurately.
It's true, the Koran does indeed say men may "beat" their wives. It does indeed urge believers to "kill disbelievers where you find them". It really does call for thieves to have a hand chopped off.
Scot may have spoken too luridly for my taste and yours, but Higgins did not identify anything he said that was actually false, other than an immigration statistic. Oh, and Scot failed to quote a Koranic verse that said Allah actually was merciful, so there.
Instead, Higgins found Scot erred because he "failed to differentiate between Muslims throughout the world (and) preached a literal translation of the Koran and of Muslims' religious practices that was not mainstream".
And perhaps he's right. Perhaps he knows better than does Scot, who was born in Pakistan and has studied the Koran for years, what is mainstream Islamic teaching and what is not.
Indeed, the judge may understand Islam better than does even the Mufti of Australia himself, Sheik Taj Al-Din Al-Halali, who seems to feel it's a faith that entitles him to say September 11 attacks were "God's work against oppressors", suicide bombers are "heroes" and Muslims must "prove our manhood towards God" in a "war of infidels".
Will someone please inform the Mufti that his interpretation of Islam is contradicted by Justice Higgins, and he should take religious instruction from him? Or is it just possible that it's the judge's opinion of Islam that isn't so mainstream?
I guess the notion of what is authentic Muslim teaching is just a matter of opinion, after all, and it's just bad luck Scot's side of the argument has been ruled illegal, no matter how true it may be.
But perhaps you still find it hard to believe we really do now have laws that may lead a judge to stop a man from saying even what is true in a vital argument about faith.
You wouldn't be alone.
On Monday one of the appeal judges, Geoffrey Nettle, asked the ICV's counsel if Nalliah and Scot truly had been banned by the VCAT tribunal from repeating what they'd said -- even the bits that were true.
"Surely that (vilification law) can't justify restraining them from saying something that said by anyone else would be legal?" he asked.
"In the case of the (Catch the Fire) newsletter, for example, Pastor Nalliah says many churches have closed down. What's wrong with saying that?"
Replied Mortimer of the ICV: "The tribunal has found there is something wrong with saying it. Truth is not a defence, its irrelevant to contravention of the Act."
You read right. And the worst of it is that she's correct: under the Government's oppressive vilification laws, the truth of what you say is indeed irrelevant.
If you offend someone, even by speaking the plain truth about their faith, you may be in danger of being fined, jailed and silenced.
Scot and Nalliah, for instance, have suffered four years of litigation that has cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are now banned from telling us what they believe about Islam -- even those things that they know are true.
But if these men are victims of this unjust and divisive law then so are we all, because a country that bans truth gives licence to lies. And it is lies, not truth, that will harm us most.
SourceRemember, this article is two years old. What laws have been passed since? And, how long until stuff like this happens here...