To be continued...?

On hiatus!

Be back soon....maybe.

POD

http://sacredsandwich.com/archives/5819

I know, I'm bad.

Sacrifice - QOD

"Are you willing to sacrifice 'play-time' for the Kingdom?"

---

It is with sadness that I see this as a question most of us would be ashamed to answer.

Direction and Image

I have been thinking and praying about the direction of this blog. At least for now, I will continue. Although, I'm sure the issues will come up again.

In government, we often find politicians saying one thing and doing another. It is all about representing yourself in the best possible light, as well as getting what you want. There are many nifty tricks and methods of persuasion, one can employ. But, in the end...it's about getting what you (and your party) want(s).

In the workplace, it is the same. As workers, one must protect him or herself. Our words are nothing. One can say one thing and do another... so long as you leave a paper (or e-mail) trail behind to justify your behaviour. I can promise you the moon, but it don't mean jack unless it's on paper.

As Christians, we are children of God (Gal 3:26). We are no longer subject to the principles of the world (Eph 2:2-3), but rather our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). Yes, we obey the rules of the land (Rom 14), but we have a greater law given by God. (Matt 10:28; 2 Cor 5:10) And God must be first and foremost in our life! (Matt 22:36-37) Not a straw God, built up by man (Rom 1:22-23), but the one true living God whom we worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23).

As Christians, our word is bond. (Col 3:9) Our praise comes from God, so who cares about pride and reputation? (Gal 1:10) Again, we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (2 Cor 5:10) How can we look our Saviour in the eyes and say.... "Look at the e-mail trail, I did good, yes?"

God knows the motives of our hearts! (Prov 16:2; 1 Cor 4:5) You are a fool to think that you can hoodwink God!! What is a little embarrassment now compared to eternal fire? If you sin, confess it and confront it with Christ! (1 John 1:9)

We worry so much about looking bad. We juggle the lies and deceit used to prop up the image we have built of ourselves.

Why?

Who cares?

This has no place in our lives as Christians. And, it has no place in the body of believers and the church. Stop playing the mind games of appearing as the "good" Christian. If you have to spend every waking minute trying to portray yourself as a Christan. Maybe you aren't one.

My Prayer
I pray I put to death this idea of image and reputation. Instead of trying to look good and reputable, Lord, may you change me so that I am good and reputable. Not by the world's standard, but by your perfect standard. God, stamp out the evil desires in my heart so that only your perfect pleasing will remain. Amen.

QOD

Pharaoh: We both worship the same God, so what’s the big deal?

Moses: Oh, good point. Never mind about that Exodus thingy.

----

I laughed.

on Politics

I recently asked my friends' little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do? " She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people." Her parents beamed.

'Wow...what a worthy goal." I told her. "But you don't have to wait until you're President to do that.. You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds, and rake my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house. "

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?"

I said, "Welcome to the Libertarian Party."

Her parents still aren't speaking to me.

Source

Break.

It is time to take a break from the board games and such.

QOD

"Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once." -- Evan Esar

Wayne

Today, I paused from my daily walk to work to talk to a brother in Christ.

I sat with him for half an hour while people walked by.

He seeks to dwell in His presence the entire day, immersing himself in His word.

He is richer than many who walked by.

Blind

How do you witness to people who are intent on....

- appealing to their experience (that works in their favour)

- appealing to authority (that works in their favour)

- drowning you out with cusses and swears

- arguing for something by the extreme (one should not take showers, because my friend's daughter's co-worker slipped on a bar of soap and died.)

- playing victim

- attacking your worldview and refusing discussion on statements made

- providing broad assertions (against your worldview) which when challenged on leads to the above?

QOD

No one prepares for a battle he isn’t aware of.
No one wins a battle he doesn’t prepare for.

QOD

Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.

on Sin

Sometimes I feel like the kid who is held back in Grade 5...yet again.

on Homeschooling

New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement

Ian Slatter
Director of Media Relations

August 10, 2009

Each year, the homeschool movement graduates at least 100,000 students. Due to the fact that both the United States government and homeschool advocates agree that homeschooling has been growing at around 7% per annum for the past decade, it is not surprising that homeschooling is gaining increased attention. Consequently, many people have been asking questions about homeschooling, usually with a focus on either the academic or social abilities of homeschool graduates.

As an organization advocating on behalf of homeschoolers, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) long ago committed itself to demonstrating that homeschooling should be viewed as a mainstream educational alternative.

We strongly believe that homeschooling is a thriving education movement capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who will have a tremendously positive effect on society.

Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler.

The last piece of major research looking at homeschool academic achievement was completed in 1998 by Dr. Lawrence Rudner. Rudner, a professor at the ERIC Clearinghouse, which is part of the University of Maryland, surveyed over 20,000 homeschooled students. His study, titled Home Schooling Works, discovered that homeschoolers (on average) scored about 30 percentile points higher than the national average on standardized achievement tests.

This research and several other studies supporting the claims of homeschoolers have helped the homeschool cause tremendously. Today, you would be hard pressed to find an opponent of homeschooling who says that homeschoolers, on average, are poor academic achievers.

There is one problem, however. Rudner’s research was conducted over a decade ago. Without another look at the level of academic achievement among homeschooled students, critics could begin to say that research on homeschool achievement is outdated and no longer relevant.

Recognizing this problem, HSLDA commissioned Dr. Brian Ray, an internationally recognized scholar and president of the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), to collect data for the 2007–08 academic year for a new study which would build upon 25 years of homeschool academic scholarship conducted by Ray himself, Rudner, and many others.

Drawing from 15 independent testing services, the Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics included 11,739 homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known tests—California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and Stanford Achievement Test for the 2007–08 academic year. The Progress Report is the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed.

The Results

Overall the study showed significant advances in homeschool academic achievement as well as revealing that issues such as student gender, parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the results of homeschooled students.

National Average Percentile Scores
Subtest	Homeschool	Public School
Reading	89	50
Language	84	50
Math	84	50
Science	86	50
Social Studies	84	50
Corea	88	50
Compositeb	86	50
a. Core is a combination of Reading, Language, and Math. b. Composite is a combination of all subtests that the student took on the test.

There was little difference between the results of homeschooled boys and girls on core scores.

Boys—87th percentile
Girls—88th percentile

Household income had little impact on the results of homeschooled students.

$34,999 or less—85th percentile
$35,000–$49,999—86th percentile
$50,000–$69,999—86th percentile
$70,000 or more—89th percentile

The education level of the parents made a noticeable difference, but the homeschooled children of non-college educated parents still scored in the 83rd percentile, which is well above the national average.

Neither parent has a college degree—83rd percentile
One parent has a college degree—86th percentile
Both parents have a college degree—90th percentile

Whether either parent was a certified teacher did not matter.

Certified (i.e., either parent ever certified)—87th percentile
Not certified (i.e., neither parent ever certified)—88th percentile

Parental spending on home education made little difference.

Spent $600 or more on the student—89th percentile
Spent under $600 on the student—86th percentile

The extent of government regulation on homeschoolers did not affect the results.

Low state regulation—87th percentile
Medium state regulation—88th percentile
High state regulation—87th percentile

HSLDA defines the extent of government regulation this way:

States with low regulation: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact or State requires parental notification only.

States with moderate regulation: State requires parents to send notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress.

State with high regulation: State requires parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by state officials).

The question HSLDA regularly puts before state legislatures is, “If government regulation does not improve the results of homeschoolers why is it necessary?”

In short, the results found in the new study are consistent with 25 years of research, which show that as a group homeschoolers consistently perform above average academically. The Progress Reportalso shows that, even as the numbers and diversity of homeschoolers have grown tremendously over the past 10 years, homeschoolers have actually increased the already sizeable gap in academic achievement between themselves and their public school counterparts-moving from about 30 percentile points higher in the Rudner study (1998) to 37 percentile points higher in the Progress Report(2009).

As mentioned earlier, the achievement gaps that are well-documented in public school between boys and girls, parents with lower incomes, and parents with lower levels of education are not found among homeschoolers. While it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion, it does appear from all the existing research that homeschooling equalizes every student upwards. Homeschoolers are actually achieving every day what the public schools claim are their goals—to narrow achievement gaps and to educate each child to a high level.

Of course, an education movement which consistently shows that children can be educated to a standard significantly above the average public school student at a fraction of the cost—the average spent by participants in the Progress Report was about $500 per child per year as opposed to the public school average of nearly $10,000 per child per year—will inevitably draw attention from the K-12 public education industry.

Answering the Critics

This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It attempts to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism of the Rudner study was that it only drew students from one large testing service. Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers participating with that service were automatically non-representative of the broader homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by using 15 independent testing services for this new study. There can be no doubt that homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in theProgress Report.

While it is true that not every homeschooler in America was part of this study, it is also true that the Progress Report provides clear evidence of the success of homeschool programs.

The reason is that all social science studies are based on samples. The goal is to make the sample as representative as possible because then more confident conclusions can be drawn about the larger population. Those conclusions are then validated when other studies find the same or similar results.

Critics tend to focus on this narrow point and maintain that they will not be satisfied until every homeschooler is submitted to a test. This is not a reasonable request because not all homeschoolers take standardized achievement tests. In fact, while the majority of homeschool parents do indeed test their children simply to track their progress and also to provide them with the experience of test-taking, it is far from a comprehensive and universal practice among homeschoolers.

The best researchers can do is provide a sample of homeschooling families and compare the results of their children to those of public school students, in order to give the most accurate picture of how homeschoolers in general are faring academically.

The concern that the only families who chose to participate are the most successful homeschoolers can be alleviated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of parents did not know their children's test results before agreeing to participate in the study.

HSLDA believes that this study along with the several that have been done in the past are clear evidence that homeschoolers are succeeding academically.

Final Thought

Homeschooling is making great strides and hundreds of thousands of parents across America are showing every day what can be achieved when parents exercise their right to homeschool and make tremendous sacrifices to provide their children with the best education available.

Source

on Procrastination

Dear Future Richard,

Please! Stop leaving things to the last minute. I hope you have learned this lesson.*

Thanks,
Richard

*Side note:
So.... I left a couple things for you to take care of! Thanks bud!

Budgetting

How do you all budget your monies?

Stewardship is a pretty important, I spent a lot in July....and am off to a GREAT start in August. (read: spending a lot).

Reading

Update on the Scripture Reading, it was pretty awesome. Flawless. I would have to chalk it up to divine providence, as the immediate day after... it was epic fail.

Monday was supposed to be a relaxing day of reading, and sleeping in.

Instead, I slept in til 9am... attended a meeting, went to lunch with Bros, went home to retrieve my tuxedo, dropped off tuxedo, went to play volleyball, and ended with Zoe meeting.

During the Zoe meeting, I couldn't read for the life of me. My eyes had trouble focusing on the words, and the muscles in my throat and mouth seemed locked. After stumbling through a passage, Scott gave me mercy and let me skip out on most readings. Finally, I gave it another shot....

What escaped my lips could only be described as an immigrant text-to-speech translation. Words flew in Iambic meter, frequently interrupted by the girls' laughter. Multiple times the reading grounded to a halt, as everyone could not contain their laughter. Finally, with great effort on my part, I finished reading the four paragraphs assigned.

I still do not know what it was... hopefully, something that is a random occurrence. We shall see in future.

Rehearsal

In a church far far away,

Pastor: And this is where you all stand. Make room! Lots of room for the couple!

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen shuffle about.

Pastor: The couple will stand here. This is the part where you have the Scripture Reader come up.

Harry: Oh, Richard, I forgot to ask. Can you be the Scripture Reader?

Me: CAN I!?!

QOD

"Speak when you are angry--and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret."

--Laurence J. Peter

Gender Analyzer

Fun with online tools.

Blog owner is most likely male or female...

Boys:

Alan - 100% male, 0% female

Richard - 99.6% male, 0.4% female

Vince - 96.6% male, 3.4% female

JC - 71.6% male, 28.4% female

Sam - 70.2% male, 29.8% female

Kevin - 51% male, 49% female

Girls:

Vinci - 72.3% female, 27.7% male

Eleasa - 55.5% male, 44.5% female

Joi - 70.9% male, 29.1% female

Bonnie - 96.9% male, 3.1% female

Kelly Girl - 97.6% male, 2.4% female

Elaine - 98.3% male, 1.7% female

Vicki - 99% male, 1% female

Pris - 99.6% male, 0.4% female

Interesting notes:

- The girls are very masculine in their way of writing. (lol, okay lies. I assume that the analyzer looks for certain words that indicate gender. (My post on marriage put me at 96% female.))

- Priscilla is the manliest girl.

- Kevin is the girliest man.

- Vinci is the only girl out of this group.

- Alan is all man.

- Yes, it was a boring lunch hour.

- Some people are even MORE bored than I.. ie. the devleoper of the tool ;)

The Lost

Not a lot of quality posts these days. I apologize.

I have been thinking a lot about two things: how we live as Christians and how to save the lost. The two have much overlap, although many will not see it right away.

As Christians, we are saved by His grace. As a product of His grace, we are to perform good works. It demonstrates the desposit of the Holy Spirit within us. We produce fruit to show that He is indeed working within us.

One would often go to the Fruit of the Spirit. Do we possess all of those character traits? Do we attempt to be holy for He is holy? Is our firstmost attitude towards others, a love that stems from God's love? We will come back to this.

Let us define the lost. When we think of lost, our thoughts are shifted towards the suffering souls in China, Iran, or the Congo. Yes, some are lost there. Or we think of that homeless person we walk by on the way to school each day. Yes, he is probably lost too. Or we think of people of different faiths: Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, etc.

Our view typically stops there. BUT!!! The lost is anyone who has not been saved by Christ and by Christ alone. That includes your athiest best-friend from high school, your catholic mother, and your agnostic brother. The people in your immediate vicinity are lost! Those closest to you could be lost, as well! Their destination has been determined just as yours has (that is if they are to continue on the same path).

In some ways we are very foolish in our understanding of the lost. For the homeless man knows that he has a need for being saved. The persecuted church is the church that grows, as Tertullian stated, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church". For all the missionaries we send into China, do we even consider the statistics? Christianity is growing in China and waning in Canada. An estimated 60-80 million Christians in China... 2x the ENTIRE population of Canada.

North America / Europe will be the next big mission fields. The people here are complacent. And when I say "the people", I am talking about Christians. For our lackluster approach to personal holiness betrays our supposed loyalty to our Lord and Saviour.

The non-Christians know it and observe it, too. They watch how we treat our brothers, non-Christians, and the homeless. They judge us, saying Christians cannot worship the true God or their lives would be radically different. And are they not right at least in this regard? They think wrongly that if we Christians who act so poorly are saved than they who are at least as good as us, must be saved.

For how many of us do offer ourselves as living sacrifices? Who among us takes up his cross daily? The very marks that are to distinguish us as sons and daughters of God are remarkably absent.

We need not fear for God is faithful and just. I see the beginnings of persecution in Canada. All you have to do is know what to read, observe what laws has changed, or feel out the opinion of the general public. Either this nation will turn back to Him and there will be revival or the Christians here will be persecuted and a stronger generation of Christians will take their place. God always triumphs.

So what about you?

Repent, and come back to the Lord. Is it so important to see the latest blockbuster movie, or go play golf, or play whatever video game? There are times for rest, but we have rested so much, our spiritual muscles are atrophied. Let Jesus reign in EVERY part of your life, that you may be a holy and blameless witness in everything that you do.

As for me, I fear these words. I know what good I want to do, but my flesh cries out to sin. I fear you, Lord, above all things. May my actions reflect these words.

:/

I miss our visitors from Paris, B.C., etc.

QOD

"Why do you want to hear God outside of His Word when you have not even started to obey what He has already revealed in His Word?"

Anonymous

QOD

"You are either a missionary or a mission field."

Rev. J. Wilson Kaan @ JMC '09

Spiritual Hunger

^"1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.." 2nd Cor 5:1-2

I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice. In the past, I have forced myself to give up things. Spiritual discipline or so it would seem. I was earnest in my desire to be stronger, to seek Him greatly. Looking back, I did improve.

However, my small victories in holiness are dwarfed in comparison to the amount of sin in my life. I guess as one learns to understand God more, you realize how small, insignificant, and SINFUL you really are. So I try again, to reduce the sin in my life.... live my life as He would want me to.

It doesn't feel like enough. It is like I am running on 70% capacity. Where is the desire? Where is the HUNGER for you, Lord?

The Second Time I got Married.

Elaine, her fiance Dennis, JC, Sam, Ginny, and I decided it would be great to take our friends (Tsing, Gilles, Laurent) from Paris to authentic Korean BBQ.

So off we went. Hilarity ensues, our Paris friends are quite jovial. We spent a lot of time practicing how to speak butchered French. Time was also spent trying to guess one another's ages.

Elaine prods Tsing to ask THE question. Tsing passes to Gilles who stares me in the face and asks point-blank....

"How long have you and Ginny been married?"

I stared back at him.
Ginny and I looked at one another.
The table erupts into laughter.

Their evidence for our "marriage" was less than compelling...but, they have only been here for several days... so I can understand. I mean who wouldn't want to marry me?

And that was the second time I got married.

What is the first? That is a story for another day.

Pink

Thanks to dear friend Kelly, I always get a pink straw at Bubble Republic.

Apparently, Gmail has it in for me too... Every long thread with multiple participants... I end up getting the pink name.

o_O

QOD

"Psychiatry enables us to correct our faults by confessing our parents' shortcomings."

-- Laurence J. Peter

Are YOU Serious?!

Society's New Rock-Bottom

North Carolina Program Pays Girls a Dollar a Day Not to Get Pregnant

A dollar a day keeps the babies away.

That's the incentive behind College Bound Sisters, a program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro that aims to keep 12- to 18-year-old girls in school and baby-free.

Girls in the program attend 90-minute meetings every week at which they receive lessons in abstinence and the use of contraceptives — and they receive $7 every week they do not get pregnant. The money is deposited into a fund that's collectible when they enroll in college.

But not everyone thinks paying kids to stay childless is the right way to lower the teen pregnancy rate. They say the program sends mixed messages, specifically to parents, that incentivizing good behavior is the way to go.

"It makes me a bit uneasy," said Bill Albert, chief program officer at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "I do have mixed feelings. It's hard to pay people to do something that we think they should be doing regardless. It would be like if you didn't want young people to experiment with marijuana, you'd pay them not to do

More here.

Joyful?

I was having a discussion with a friend regarding random stuff that need not be mentioned anymore.... and I asked her if she saw me as a happy or joyful person.

She said no. Her assessment is most likely true.

I come off as the sarcastic, joke filled, sometimes insightful, sometimes mean person who is more likely to destroy momentum than create it.

But, God can change me.

I have experienced pure joy in different circumstances. It seems that those times are fewer and fewer. I would usually read something and get excited for Jesus. But, time for reading has been scarce. Or I would hear a wicked sermon, and feel that holy discontent.

So the question is... have I caved into the pressures of the world and succumbed to her temptation? Or maybe I am living in disobediance to what He has commanded me to do? [I can think of at least one thing I have been putting off].

Or is this what life has to offer? There must be more. I know it.

Patience

Definitely, need to work on that.

Work

I am really tired.

It is a 2.5 km walk to work each day. (one way - which wouldn't feel so difficult if I made better use of that gym pass. :P)

My next three days, I will be in back to back to back meetings (breaking for lunch only)....probably not understanding anything.

The number of times I have been left completely dumbfounded: 7 times (since starting work).

And this is technology, something I thought I knew.

I am like the big fish that moved into a bigger pond, only to find that it is actually a sea and I am dying cuz of salt-water.

People are nice though. I will stand to learn a lot if I try hard.

Insightful

It is amazing how insightful one's mom can be.

... and how often the same problems repeat...

Work Day

"Every workday should be undertaken as if it were your last workday..."

Possible Endings:
...completing the race diligently.
...doing absolute no work whatsoever.
...people realizing your worth, and asking you a bunch of questions about the work you do as they now bear responsibility for it.

QOD

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."

-- Henry David Thoreau

Free Lunch

Yes, it was worth it to get business cards.

I won a free lunch from East Side Mario's!

The end.

Now to convince people to eat at East Side Mario's for lunch. o_O

UPDATE:

Extra win! On my last day, there is a free BBQ! The burgers were huge last year...huge!

QOD

"I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises."

Buzz Aldrin

I wish I read this quote BEFORE signing up for the gym!

Teach

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:1

I think one of the reasons why I have been so quiet lately... is that I fear I teach something improper, and lead you all to stumble. Because, when I think about it...how little do we know of His Word!

For instance, when we say... "God loves you". How many verses can you think of that qualify that statement?

But, Richard...Even though I cannot state a verse. I KNOW it..because..

My personal experience...

I do not mean to disqualify personal experience, but anyone can think of any number of reasons why God loves me because of X and Y. Also to counter, I can go on and say "God hates me" because of A and B.

Because X told me...

What about appeals to authority? Pastor Scott said this... Elder Chan said this... ...whatever Paul's title is...said this. They are human, they make mistakes (as do I). Furthermore, if they can offer this opinion...surely, they can substantiate their claim with reference to Scripture? And if they cannot... what good is their opinion (mine included)?

Hence... my inability to speak as of late. I know not Scripture to answer your question, so I prefer to be cautious... and not say anything at all.

lol, but Richard...your post is on teaching.

And rightly so! I do not know if this new cautious stance will be that helpful. We all make mistakes, and to be super cautious and not do anything for fear of screwing up cannot possibly be from God. It shows a lack of trust in Him, as well as a desire not to glorify God, but to avoid screwing up.

But on the flip side, how often do people examine the faith to see if they are in it? (2 Cor 13:5)

Especially our teachers at MCAC. Do you approach the post with fear and trembling, measuring each word to ensure that you teach proper Scripture? Or are we lackadaisical in our teaching, thanking God that we have gotten through another pointless Sunday School lesson?

Underdog

I am not as logical as I appear (shocking, I know). I realize I have this innate tendency to side with the underdog. Their arguments seem clearer, their cause more noble, and I subject them to less scrutiny. Although, it is perceived as "noble" to have a heart for those facing insurmountable odds... it is not good, nor Christ-like.

As Christians, our values do not shift. Whether we are with the majority, the minority, or are alone... we adhere to what is written in Scripture. The truth of the gospel can never be diluted by compromise or political correctness.

E3 Review

Preamble: this post will probably be boring for girls.

All from Gizmodo:

Sony:
- zomg motion sensor technology
- Hannah Montana PSP!!!!!!! ....... o_O
- The Guardian
- FF XIV. exclusive.. nuff said.
- NO PS3 PRICE DROP! :D (I got mine for $350... and I am keeping it.)

Nintendo:
WiiMotionPlus! not as good as Ps3 ver.
Photos on DSi to facebook.
Wii Vitality Sensor...?
New Metroid!

Microsoft:
Beatles Rockband version!
COD: Modern Warfare 2!
L4D 2!
Splinter Cell: Conviction.
Social Community thingy
MOTION SENSOR + VOICE RECOGNITION. (clear winner)

Why couldn't Microsoft have Bluray in their Xbox 360?

Home Improvement

Ever remember that show with Tim Allen?

Well...that has nothing to do with this post.

If you're looking to redecorate your home soon and need something to map out how it'd look...check these out (both free):

Google Sketchup [download required]

Dragonfly Autodesk [online and flash!]

It's like the Sims! Without...the sims.

Update

Update for this. Okay, for everyone that is worried. Apologies, I did not post the conclusion.

Even after talking with Pastor Scott, I felt incredibly burdened. It was indescribable...(and not the indescribable, unchangeable, you put the stars in the skies and you know them by name... indescribable).

Now, I realize that I have been sorely lacking in Bible reading, and prayer time. I spend all time with what I can only describe as "fake" prayer and full of worry.

I opened my bible to Psalm 67. That gave a lot of comfort.

On Zoe, I opened my bible to... Gal 6:9 (God is funny.)

So things are well. I am slowly coming back to things, and tackling the sources that have led me astray...despite them being "noble" things. So thank you all of my friends for your concern. God is gracious in dealing with me.

Things Richard learned at the Gym

• Good Life South Common has movies
• How to bench press properly
• How to encourage people more
• That one can exercise and build relationships
• Good Life South Common is bigger than Sq1
• Richard needs to buy a water bottle
• Sore muscles feel good
  

Argh...

C*: Hi, Richard. I was just calling to confirm numbers for your camp reservation next weekend.
Richard: Oooh.... about that... I was meaning to e-mail you earlier...

[ one incredibly awkward conversation later ]

C*: Well, if you want to move the booking later or want any more information, you know how to reach me.
Richard: Again, I apologize.... (incoherent mumbling)

*to protect the innocent

Prayers for whether camp will happen this Summer. Bookings need to be done a couple of months in advance, so even for August... we need to book...within 2 weeks or so.

Anxious?

Allow me to alleviate the anxiety of my affectionate allies by analyzing the accounts for my accruing apprehension. I assure you that I am abiding (or attempting to abide) in our awesome Almighty.

The things that worry me most:

My Family - Immediate / Extended

It saddens me to know that my immediate family will spiritually die. I am frustrated in the stupidity of the reasoning for my mother's lack of faith. My brother and father are different stories. I don't see God moving here.

My cousins are mostly non-Christian. There are a couple here and there that are Christians. God is moving here.

My Church - Zoe / SS / Youth

I know that God is working in the fellowship. I feel I have dropped the ball recently, though. I cannot get my act together spiritually, and thus everyone suffers. I have too many questions, and no answers. Too much work, and no rest. The stupid thing is, I do this to myself. In all seriousness, our fellowship is good. There are areas to improve, but we have solid Christians seeking out His will. Now, if I could lead to where I feel God has called us to go...that would be awesome.

SS and Youth are a whole new ballgame. I worry that the reason why MCAC has so many people leaving the church when they "grow up" is due to our lack of a solid Biblical foundation. We don't train our children, so what hope do they have when they encounter "real life". We are weak on Christ and "great" on promoting family values (on how to handle money, and who not to date.) and fun times.

My Future - Career / Rest/Fun Things

My mom gets mad at me when I take my career so lightly. In some weird way, I wish I was free to go do whatever. Sadly, people need money to live. (And with my outlook on the economy, it is not prudent to just take time off and play around). Thus, I need to plan out stuff.

I feel very guilty when I rest or do fun things. I do not think this is of God. Everything I buy, I second guess...I need approval. Every minute I spend on games, I worry what others think. This cannot be sustained. I have to answer to God and God alone. Is the route that He has paved for me, lined with endless theology books to digest and absorb? Or can a man be afforded some of the luxuries provided by a next-gen console?

There is probably more... but, this inescapable burden has been on my heart. More to come...as this captures only part of the story.

Order

Anyone up for a christianbook.com order in 2 weeks or so?

CAN will be on par with US by then.

Maybe I'll take the risk and buy that sennheiser hd555 from DakMart I was eyein' :P

Free Book

Revolution in World Missions

Adopted Responsibility

Something that happens all too often in my life:

Person A suggests event X.
Richard is invited to event X.
Richard ends up planning event X.

What kind of person am I? In all honesty, a sucker. I do not want to continue reinforcing this suckerhood. So when some stuff is about to go down, and you want to invite me. Sure, I'll come. I'll even encourage you, ask you if you need help, and THANK you for all the effort you put into planning. But, it's your event.

I suspect that my schedule will free up considerably.

Apples of Gold

¹¹ A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

Lord, may the words I speak be short and succinct. May it give grace to those who hear, and be like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Soft

The contemporary moral climate does not favor a faith as tough and fibrous as that taught by our Lord and His apostles. The delicate, brittle saints being produced in our religious hothouses today are hardly to be compared with the committed, expendable believers who once gave their witness among men. And the fault lies with our leaders. They are too timid to tell the people all the truth. They are now asking men to give to God that which costs them nothing.

Our churches these days are filled (or one-quarter filled) with a soft breed of Christian that must be fed on a diet of harmless fun to keep them interested. About theology they know little. Scarcely any of them have read even one of the great Christian classics, but most of them are familiar with religious fiction and spinetingling films. No wonder their moral and spiritual constitution is so frail. Such can only be called weak adherents of a faith they never really understood. (That Incredible Christian, 76).

A.W. Tozer

Respect other Religions?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Should Christians 'Respect' Other Religions?
by Albert Mohler

excerpt:

While evangelical Christians face a different context to this question, the urgency is the same. We are not playing a diplomatic role as head of state, but we are called to be ambassadors for Christ and his Gospel.

In this light, any belief system that pulls persons away from the Gospel of Christ, denies and subverts Christian truth, and blinds sinners from seeing Christ as the only hope of salvation is, by biblical definition, a way that leads to destruction. Islam, like every other rival to the Christian gospel, takes persons captive and is devoid of genuine hope for salvation.

Thus, evangelical Christians may respect the sincerity with which Muslims hold their beliefs, but we cannot respect the beliefs themselves. We can respect Muslim people for their contributions to human welfare, scholarship, and culture. We can respect the brilliance of Muslim scholarship in the medieval era and the wonders of Islamic art and architecture. But we cannot respect a belief system that denies the truth of the gospel, insists that Jesus was not God's Son, and takes millions of souls captive.

read here.

Coming Soon

This June...

There will be Mayhem! Mayhem! Mayhem!

All of Toronto will be bracing for the ultimate event of the summer...

Coming soon to a downtown office near you,

Richard ________ ______.

Queen's Park will never be the same.

Don't miss it.

....Well, I'll be there for a year. Let's do lunch.

Cd

Thank God for cdex.

I thought I was going to be stuck listening to cds for the rest of my life.

Good 'ol mp3 goodness. :)

Random Thoughts

These are some random thoughts that I don't want to develop into full discourse. Each of these could be developed into a full blog post, but I'm too lazy right now.

People listen to me _

I realize that I have a lot of influence on people. I can attract attention via jokes and stuff. I am big...I take up space...so people have to look at me. What do I do with this influence? Tell jokes. :/

I don't want to be typecasted as the spiritual guy who has to always shape and push for things. What of responsibility? If God gives you a talent or ability to work with, are we not to fully devote its use to God. I pray that I will be diligent in seeking opportunities to not only speak of the Word, but act on it.

Ministry _

Note to self: Learn to stop trying to appease others or my Christian image. Appease God and Him only.

Condemnation _

Which kind of stems from the above ministry and stuff. I have trouble dealing with being loved unconditionally. It is weird to say that eh? I know what I read, that God loves us despite our inability to do anything.

It was easier for me to do things for God, when I was working out my salvation in fear and trembling. But, obedience is a result of justification... not a working towards. How does one stay motivated to do works for God when the prize is already won?

Sigh, I know nothing.

All Talk, No Walk _

Again... need to do more for the Kingdom, rooted in God's love, not in vain conceit or selfish ambition...but God's perfect love.

Guilty in Rest _

I have an irrational fear of resting. Why rest, do more for the kingdom! Rest is needed and important. I fear condemnation from others when I rest, why not do more?! Note to self: ignore people.

Buffalo/Woodbury Trip Recap

So... I haven't written anything about my trip. I was waiting for pictures from my friends to materialize on facebook. There are some, but nothing that would really enhance the story.

The following takes place from May 5th - 8th.

Dun dun.

Tuesday, May 5th:

richard's house _

mother: You're endangering the family!
richard: I'll have to take the risk. I'm the... driver.
mother: You're a loose cannon. Look at what you are bringing. All candy! So unhealthy! You'll die of sweets if not swine flu!
richard: ...
mother: It's dangerous to go alone. Take these. (flu masks) [gamer reference]
richard: um thanks.

Wednesday, May 6th:

the border guard _

guard: Hello, and where are we off to today?
richard: Buffalo, going to do some shopping... and then woodbury.
guard: How long will we be staying?
richard: 2 days.
Jacky: 3 days, 2 nights.
richard: 3 days, 2 nights.
guard: ...Cheektowaga?
richard: what?
guard: can you open your trunk, please?
richard: ...okay.
* guard searchs trunk *
guard: who do you work for?
richard: I work for the government. The rest here are students.
guard: ...
richard: Do you want my business card?
guard: no.
richard: ...
guard: You can go on through.

shopping @ fashions outlet and walden galleria _

I saw this cool yellow hoodie for $40, I did not buy it. I regret it. The end.

the motel _

Good chat with girls and Jacky. Some follow up possibly.
"What is the greatest hindrance in your spiritual life? And what are you doing to address it?"

Thursday, May 7th:

Woodbury _

The trek to Woodbury. What was supposed to be a 4-5 hour drive, turned out to be 8 hours. I don't know how that happened. We had good road talks, though. Arrived at 5pm. The mall there is pretty epicly huge. I found a bunch of good deals.

After the mall, we ate at Applebees! Followed by looking for our next hotel.

Then, we saw Star Trek. Yes, that's right. It was pretty spectacular. Although, I have several trekkie complaints. On a completely different note. Our lead car had difficulty finding the theatre. The instructions were followed perfectly, yet... for some reason... a U-turn was requested. My car took the lead soon after.

Friday, May 8th:

The long ride home. Friend got a speeding ticket. :(

Other random stuff _

- One of our group members decided his number #2 was of greater importance than the five people waiting to do number #1. We were not amused.
- We spent $10 on $1 tolls, because we kept making wrong turns and having to make detours.
- One of the key phrases chimed by our beloved GPS, maggie: "When possible, make a legal U-turn"
- Radios are a God-send when going on roadtrips with multiple cars.
- $1 McChickens, $1 McDoubles, $1 Sundaes, $1 2x Apple Pies - ZOMG, crazy.

the haul _

1 pair of pants from Banana Republic
1 pair of boxers from Banana Republic
1 sweater from Nautica
1 sweater from Banana Republic
1 sweater from DKNY
1 Activewear Longsleeve from Ralph Lauren
1 shirt from Kenneth Cole
1 zCover from Apple Store
2 Worship CDs from FYE

the conclusion _

Fun vacation. Stressful, I did a lot of driving. Would I do it again? Definitely. Next time, a vacation where I don't drive as much. :P

Also, there was the opportunity to talk to a lot of people there. I really hope and pray that they stay strong in the faith. Transitions in life tend to wreak havoc on people's spiritual lives.

QOD

“People tell me judge not lest ye be judged. I always tell them, twist not scripture lest ye be like satan.”

“How could we have such a low view of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have to manipulate men psychologically to get them to come down and pray a prayer? …How many times have I heard evangelists say, ‘It’ll only take five minutes.’? No, my dear friend, it will take your life–all of it!”

“We’re just trying to attract people and then we’ll gradually bring them in further and further. That is what the cults do, that’s not what Jesus did. Notice that in the gospels every time a great crowd is following Jesus, he turns around and says something so radical to them that most of them walk away. Of course Jesus probably would not get invited to teach evangelism in most churches today.”

-- Paul Washer

Time to start watching Paul Washer videos on youtube.

The Ultimate Rejection

"Mr. Watts, I only wish I could admire the casket (jewelry box) as much as I admire the jewel."

-Elizabeth Singer to Isaac Watts in response to his request of her hand in marriage.

Ouch.

Waiting

As I sit here, waiting for my PC to back up its contents. I am reminded again that if you strive to own material possessions, they will eventually own you.

Holiness

"The best way for any one to know how much he ought to aspire after holiness, is to consider, not how much will make his present life easy, but to ask himself, how much he thinks will make him easy at the hour of death."

From "Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" by William Law

On Opinion

"God's opinion is my opinion." -- John MacArthur

The Garbage Generation

"The application to the problem addressed in the present book is this: If mother-headed homes generate most of our crime, delinquency, illegitimacy, educational failure, drug addiction, infantilism, gang violence, sexual confusion and demoralization--as they demonstrably do--why should not our society adopt policies which make fathers heads of families?"

Warning: LONG.

The Garbage Generation

Although it is a social paper hosted on a Catholic website, this paper outlines many problems with the female-headed household. Another vote for Biblical headship. :)

Fatty

On a fun note,

The number of times I have/will be eating out this week:

Tuesday Lunch -> Sushi Buffet
Wednesday Dinner -> East Side Mario's
Thursday Dinner -> Sushi Buffet
Friday Lunch -> Indian Buffet
Friday Dinner -> CCF Banquet
Saturday Lunch -> Somewhere special with Zoe

That's right. Three buffets in a week. Ironically, May is the beginning of my gym membership at Good Life. I guess I am packing on the fat right before I start. :)

Purge Pt. 2

Zomg, things are so expensive.

For anime, $20 or so per 5 episodes? It's ridiculous!
$144 for the entire season of Evangelion? That series is at least 10 years old.
Still looking for a decent mp3 service.

Not too mention, I can't find Battlestar Galactica.

The lack of Christian music in Mississauga is appalling.

The end.

QOD

"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."

- Russell H. Ewing

Lullaby

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Edward Mote, c.1834

Swine Flu

One quote of many:

I'm a specialist doctor in respiratory diseases and intensive care at the Mexican National Institute of Health. There is a severe emergency over the swine flu here. More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff (doctors, nurses, specialists, etc) patients continue to inevitably die. The truth is that anti-viral treatments and vaccines are not expected to have any effect, even at high doses. It is a great fear among the staff. The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff.

There is a sense of chaos in the other hospitals and we do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays. The truth is that mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities, at least in the hospital where I work it. It is killing three to four patients daily, and it has been going on for more than three weeks. It is a shame and there is great fear here. Increasingly younger patients aged 20 to 30 years are dying before our helpless eyes and there is great sadness among health professionals here.
Antonio Chavez, Mexico City

Source

QOD

"An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject."

— Robert Heinlein

(1907-1988) U.S. author - science fiction writer; worked as announcer for Apollo luner landing in 1969; best-known for Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) and Starship Troopers (1959), both Hugo Award winners.

Speech

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Eph 4:29

Sometimes, we have to put aside the childish things and resist the urge to crack jokes. When a person is willing to open themselves up to you, we must seize that moment. The temptation to joke shall not wrench it from our grasp.

Value

I was having a talk with my cousin last night, and a good portion of our time was spent on our perceived value. It was kind of funny, actually. Talking to him, I learned of what my family (all the aunts and uncles) care about. To put this into context, he is non-Christian. My family are predominantly non-Christian, as well. To date, I count 1 Christian among the "adults", and 3 Christians among the "kids". I have a large extended family, so this amounts to probably less than 10%.

Anyways, we were talking about value. From the unbeliever's perspective, value can be defined by the individual. Although, most people let society tell them if they are valuable or not. My success as a person is related to how society perceives me. From this, I derive my value. What does society value? Money, Power, Looks, Fame, etc. People that are rich, or have power, or are attractive are held up as people to emulate and become.

Now, people will follow this perspective at varying degrees. Some, actually try to be an individual and shun the things that society values. Some (I still speak of the unbeliever) do seek different ways of living their lives. For instance, they could perform acts of charity. This is all fruitless. Their value is based off of something human. They idolize those that are perceived as awesome, and strive to make themselves idols to be worshiped. Again, and again...they will fail.

Money? You could go broke.
Power? Someone else is always bigger.
Looks? They fade.
Fame? Enjoy your 15 minutes.
Charity? For what purpose?

If we are to base our lives on meaningless human endeavours, we become slaves to it. Our happiness, our contentedness, our satisfaction with who we are will be subject to the ebbs and flow of that thing we attach ourselves to.

But, do not lose HOPE!

For those that believe in Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16, Acts 4:12, 1 Cor 15:3-4), we become his adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:16, Gal 3:27). We are to live for God (Rom 12:1-2, 1 Cor 10:31), One who does not change (Heb 13:8, Jas 1:17). We are loved (Rom 8:35-39). And if we have any problems we are comforted (2 Cor 1:3-4), and we have Jesus who has gone through all things and advocates for us at the right hand of God (Heb 4:14-16). Our value is based off of God's grace, which does not have to be won or earned (Eph 2:8,9) lest we cheapen it. And as a product of that grace, a Christian responds in good works (Eph 2:10, John 15, Jas 2:26). I pray that for you believers out there, that you not take value in earthly things, but keep your mind on heavenly things (Col 3:1).

[And if any of us feel that need to boast.. I have a better job, have a hotter girlfriend, am ridiculously good looking... do as Paul said, boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal 6:14)]

As for my family, I know they value things like marriage and a stable income. They do not see the futility of it all. I pray that if it is in His will, that he will draw them to him (Jn 6:44).

Purge

And so it begins...

Addendum:

Where do you guys and girls buy your mp3's?

QOD

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.'"

-- Sam Levenson

I laughed.

QOD

"I have now reigned about 50 years in victory and peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honours, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: They amount to 14."

- Abd-ar-Rahman III, The Caliph of Cordoba, who presided over the 10th-century golden age of al-Andalus, the Moorish kingdom in southern Spain

Your Kung Fu is Weak

and other adventures... I'm working backwards in time, here.

Tonight, I went to hang out with family. Times have been pretty rough, you know if you know, if you don't...you don't want to. :) We had some fun times... we played this game called "Kung Fu Fighting"...similar to BANG! (but, easier)

cousin: I play a FAST, MAGNIFICENT, INVINCIBLE, FLYING, SPINNING, JUMPING KICK!!! against richard!
rich: Boo... I die. :( But, before I die! I do a COUNTER ATTACK! ...I punch you for 2 damage! :(

Today, friends got baptized. It was a good day. I pray that you keep them in your protection.

I have lost the will to blog... at least for this entry. Bye!

Much prayers needed... summer is coming up. Life is... interesting.

Pray!

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (Acts 6:3)

Let us watch that we do not slide imperceptibly to a state where the women do the praying and the men run the churches. Men who do not pray have no right to direct church affairs. We believe in the leadership of men within the spiritual community of the saints, but that leadership should be won by spiritual worth.

Leadership requires vision, and whence will vision come except from hours spent in the presence of God in humble and fervent prayer? All things else being equal, a praying woman will know the will of God for the church far better than a prayerless man.

We do not here advocate the turning of the churches over to the women, but we do advocate a recognition of proper spiritual qualifications for leadership among the men if they are to continue to decide the direction the churches shall take. The accident of being a man is not enough. Spiritual manhood alone qualifies. We Travel an Appointed Way, 16.

“Lord, don’t ever let me have leadership that I don’t deserve. Don’t ever let me become careless in prayer. Don’t ever let me rely on the women to pray while I lead. Amen.” (A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership, April 9)

Source

Satire

Listen to the embedded mp3 sermon at the source.

Jewish and Christian Apologists have always used satire in the defense of the faith and the ridicule of unbelief. The satire of Elijah on Mt. Carmel was as brilliant as it was brutal (1 Kings 18:27). Jesus and Paul did not lack in the use of satire (Gal. 5:12). John Bunyan and many great Christian writers and preachers used satire as a sword to cut to the heart of unbelief. Did they offend people and hurt their feelings? You bet they did! Did they care? NO! In Matt. 15:12-14 we read,

Then the disciples came and said to Him,
“Do You know that the Pharisees were offended
when they heard this statement?”
But He answered and said,
“Every plant that My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up”.
“Ignore them.”
“They are blind guides of the blind.”
“And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Jesus had just ridiculed them and called them “hypocrites” for robbing their parents in the name of God (vs. 1-18). Did the Pharisees “feel hurt” when Jesus publicly called them names and described them as thieves? Yes. Did Jesus run over to them, get down on his knees, and beg their forgiveness for hurting their feelings? No. But that is what modern evanjellyfish Christianity would tell him to do.

Just before Walter Martin died, he had been scheduled to speak at a conference on apologetics in Rockford, Illinois. The conference organizers asked me to take his place and give a main lecture on “The Cost of Discernment.” Here is the recording.

In that message, I demonstrated from Scripture that “being sensitive” and doing your best to avoid “hurting people’s feelings” are vices, not virtues. If getting people mad, making them cry, and hurting their feelings were sins, then hell is the greatest sin God commits! God does not give a rip about your feelings. He wants you to be holy, not happy.

Walter had been condemned as mean, rude, and offensive by the lampooned cultists and occultists. He was my friend for 27 years and, believe me, he used satire a lot. It was part of his appeal to those who had not bowed the knee before the idol of sensitivity training. Those of you who love apologetics now understand why you are accused of “poor taste,” “meanness,” etc. Spineless evanjellyfish are everywhere condemning us left and right for following the example of the prophets, the apostles and Jesus Himself.

I spoke at Biola University on Islam and young girl came up all upset because I said that Muhammad was stupid as well as evil. I used the comic book, Muhammad’s Believe it or Else, as a satire of a nut case who got an army to do his bidding. She had tears in her eyes and demanded to know if the feelings of any Muslims were hurt when I called their prophet stupid. I asked her to email me, as there was no time at the lecture to open the Bible with her. We began to correspond and, in the end, she agreed that the prophets, the apostles, Jesus, and God the Father ridiculed and mocked people and called them names such as “stupid” (ex. Jer. 10:8-21). She replied: “BUT WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE BUT BE NICE!” Such ignorance! Such stupidity is only rebellion covered up in the name of being nice.

You will never be effective as an apologist until you learn not to be man-pleasers but God-pleasers. Fear the frown of God more than the frown of man. The smile of God should mean more to you than the smile of man.

“Wickedpeedia,” the highly unreliable and liberal-biased online encyclopedia, usually doesn’t get things right. But because anyone can submit an entry, and because they can’t censor everyone, sometimes a good article appears that is right on the money. The entry on satire is an example of a good article.

Source

But Can One Truly Be A Fisherman, If He Never Goes Fishing And Catches Fish?

Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry. Year after year these who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing.

Continually they searched for new and better definitions of fishing. They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing. These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called “Fishing Headquarters.” The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish.

One thing they didn’t do, however; they didn’t fish. They organized a board to send out fishermen to where there were many fish. The board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in far-away streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived.

Also the board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish. Expensive training centers were built to teach fishermen how to fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only TAUGHT fishing.

Year after year, graduates were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters filled with fish. Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. A speaker’s bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing. Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded, and were sent to fish. But like the fishermen back home, they never fished.

Some also said they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment. They didn’t feel called to actually DO the fishing. Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen. After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity for Fishing,” a young fellow left the meeting and went fishing.

The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen’s General Board as a person having considerable experience.

Now it’s true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen yet never fished.

They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)? Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who didn’t go out fishing, seldom caught a fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be.

Yet… it did sound correct. However, is a person truly a fisherman if year after year he never fishes, never catches a fish?

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’.” (Matthew 9:36-38)

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14)

“… As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:15)

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’.” (Romans 1:16-17)

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19,22,23)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Source

Car

Vroom. Always do research.

Confessions of a Car Salesman

Added to random articles. A long read, but worth it for those of us getting to that car purchasing age.

QOD

You are a friend best taken in small infrequent doses.

--Anonymous

Conflicting signs

A weird day...

Rom 8:37-39 text message. Thanks, Aban.
The cousin of the kid I am sponsoring in Zimbabwe mailed me.
Family stuff happened again.
I called my mom, anti-Christian to her face. I said that there were differences between Catholics and Christians.
Prayer meeting went pretty well. Good prayer. At one moment, I felt like crying, I don't know why. Needs more prayer.
I got the closest thing my mom has ever given in terms of an apology.

QOD

"The Glory of God is man fully alive!"

-- John Calvin

Frustrated

I feel like my mind is going to explode. So in no random order, stuff on my mind.

Sunday School:
Probably one of the near most frustrating moments of my life. Why force people to come to Sunday School that have no desire to learn? What's worse is I felt I was prepared and the Spirit with me...and no result? What are you trying to teach me, God?

Love Deficit:
I feel that a lot of people around me lack love. I do not know what my approach to this will be yet. Gotta pray more. As this is something that strikes to the heart of my fellowship and family.

Get Better:
I feel this constant urge to go read more and pray more. I question whether or not this is truly from God. I pray that I get better, and it seems the path that I must take involves a heavy amount of invested time in Bible Reading, Christian book reading, etc. It leaves time for nothing else. What ends up happening is that I binge on "Christian stuff" for a week, so we are talking 3-4 hours of reading Christian stuff and praying... then I spend a couple days binging on TV. This cannot be good.

The craziest part is whether or not it is from God. I truly believe that the greatest threat upon Christianity (at least in North America) is attack on discernment and Scriptural truth. Satan could easily spur me on to the point where I get fed up and give up, (a risky move, but plausible). It is weird that I have guilt associated with rest, despite rest being perfectly cool with God.

Good Talks:
At Ryerson CCF, having no official responsibility, I was free to pray and basically talk to people at my leisure. I enjoyed this the most, counseling 1 on 1. I had a good number of talks this weekend, including a girl from grade 9 in Xara. I admire the girl (Crystal) for having such a heart for God at such a young age. (I secretly wish she was in my Sunday School Class).

The Praise of Men:
I wish I would stop caring what other people think.

The expert effect

"The brain 'offloads' its normal calculations if faced with an authoritative figure because claims of expertise were found to suppress activity in the neural circuit linked to decision-making," Caroline Gammell reports in The Daily Telegraph. "It means that people who make decisions after speaking to a financial adviser or a bank manager may be helpless to avoid following their lead. The research, published in the Public Library of Science One, studied the brains of 24 volunteers who were asked to make several financial choices. ... When the volunteers were advised to follow a certain course of action, they tended to follow that advice, even if it was not the best solution. Brain activity was notably different on the occasions a person received an 'expert opinion' and when they made a decision on their own. Author of the study Gregory Berns, a professor of neuroeconomics and psychiatry at Emory University in Atlanta, said: 'This study indicates that the brain relinquishes responsibility when a trusted authority provides expertise.' "

Source: GlobeandMail Social Studies March 26th 2009

QOD

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."

-- Robert A. Heinlein

QOD

O soul, consider this deeply: it is the life of a Christian that carries more conviction and persuasion than his words. Even if you, like an angel, talk of Christ, of the gospel, of the doctrines of grace, and of heaven, yet if you indulge devilish tempers, and live under the power of any sinful lusts and passions, you will hereby harden others against the things of God and prevent their setting out in the ways of God. Study and pray to be a consistent walker in the ways of holiness; otherwise, all is but windy profession and airy talk. O, how much harm is done to Christ’s cause by the unholy walk of many professors!

-- John Bunyan

QOD

"The greatest mistake is trying to be more agreeable than you can be."

-- Walter Bagehot

The higher allegiance (Ivan Moiseyev)

The son of Protestant peasant farmers, Ivan “Vanya” Moiseyev entered the army at eighteen to perform two years of required military training and service. Because he spoke openly of God, which was forbidden in the atheistic regime, Vanya was persecuted by his military supervisors.

Many times, he was challenged by his barracks to prove that God exists. The test was that God obtain leave for a certain sergeant. Leaves were hard to get. After asking God if he should accept the challenge, Vanya agreed. All night, he sat up with the sergeant explaining the things that he would need to know when he became a Christian. The next day, an authority from another town called and ordered the leave. The sergeant became a Christian and so did other men.

Once, after a discussion about God, Vanya was made to stand in the street throughout the whole night wearing their summer uniform.. The temperature at that time was thirteen degrees below zero. He obeyed the order and stood at the street the whole night, remaining faithful to God. Miraculously, he could see his officers and move his body despite the terrible cold. All throughout the ordeal, Vanya only prayed for his persecutors. For the next twelve nights, Ivan continued to stand in the street outside his barracks. Miraculously, he did not freeze, nor did he beg for mercy. Ivan continued to speak about his faith to his comrades and officers.

Soldiers around him were converted, impressed by his ardent faith. His commanders continued to interrogate him, trying to get him to deny Jesus. They put him in refrigerated cells. They clothed him in a special rubber suit, into which they pumped air until his chest was so compressed he scarcely could breath.

In his interrogation, Vanya testified, “I have one higher allegiance, and that is to Jesus Christ. He has given me certain orders, and these I cannot disobey.”

At the age of 20, Ivan knew that the communists would kill him. On July 11, 1972, he wrote his parents, “You will not see me anymore.” He then described a vision of angels and heaven which God had sent to strengthen him for the last trial. A few days later, a coffin arrived at his parents' home, welded shut. Vanya's mother insisted it be opened. A brother, who belonged to the Communist party resisted, but the rest of the family prevailed. Vanya was barely recognizable. Witnesses, Christian and non-Christian alike, signed a statement which declared that his chest had been burned. His face and body were lumped and bruised. Heel marks marred his body. His heart was punctured in six places. Vanya had been beaten and stabbed six times on the chest, and then drowned.

His family did not know about all the things which happened to Vanya, but his letters and the testimonies of the other witnesses completed the puzzle and made the story of Vanya known.
Colonel Malsin, his commander, said, “Moiseyev died with difficulty. He fought with death, but he died as a Christian.”

Source

For a more detailed account:
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VOD

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12

Motivation

Note to self: Your motivation...is still wrong.

Greatest Fear Redux

I went out with some of the CCF folk this past weekend. I haven't seen them since the retreat, so it was great to see all of them again. I was suprised to see so many out, and was very happy to talk to them and generally joke around with them.

We went for bubble tea after going bowling, and towards the end of the night... I gave one of the girls the option to ask me a question, which I would answer truthfully. I also told her, regardless of what she asked me, I would answer truthfully.. (lol, you could make it really awkward.) :P

She asked, "What my greatest fear is?". I thought for a moment. I told her my greatest fear is that no one would believe what I say. She said that it was a silly fear. One would always be subject to the

In retrospect, yeah it is pretty stupid. So I am going to work on not caring what other people think. And for those that ask, what of Godly counsel? There is a difference between seeking counsel...and approval.

Random Memories of the Night:
- Playing Mafia with a Left 4 Dead theme
- Playing Mafia with a How I Met Your Mother theme (I was Barney)
- Brian Tse's bowling ball that took 5 minutes to get down the gutter....and rolled back towards us
- Ordering way too much sushi
- Seeing the CCF people I miss so

QOD

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly,
Day by day.

St. Richard of Chichester

The Coming Evangelical Collapse

R: Be good and read the whole thing.

An anti-Christian chapter in Western history is about to begin. But out of the ruins, a new vitality and integrity will rise.

Oneida, Ky. - We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.

Within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants. (Between 25 and 35 percent of Americans today are Evangelicals.) In the "Protestant" 20th century, Evangelicals flourished. But they will soon be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century.

This collapse will herald the arrival of an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian West. Intolerance of Christianity will rise to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes, and public policy will become hostile toward evangelical Christianity, seeing it as the opponent of the common good.

Millions of Evangelicals will quit. Thousands of ministries will end. Christian media will be reduced, if not eliminated. Many Christian schools will go into rapid decline. I'm convinced the grace and mission of God will reach to the ends of the earth. But the end of evangelicalism as we know it is close.

Why is this going to happen?

1. Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism. This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society.

The evangelical investment in moral, social, and political issues has depleted our resources and exposed our weaknesses. Being against gay marriage and being rhetorically pro-life will not make up for the fact that massive majorities of Evangelicals can't articulate the Gospel with any coherence. We fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith.

2. We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.

3. There are three kinds of evangelical churches today: consumer-driven megachurches, dying churches, and new churches whose future is fragile. Denominations will shrink, even vanish, while fewer and fewer evangelical churches will survive and thrive.

4. Despite some very successful developments in the past 25 years, Christian education has not produced a product that can withstand the rising tide of secularism. Evangelicalism has used its educational system primarily to staff its own needs and talk to itself.

5. The confrontation between cultural secularism and the faith at the core of evangelical efforts to "do good" is rapidly approaching. We will soon see that the good Evangelicals want to do will be viewed as bad by so many, and much of that work will not be done. Look for ministries to take on a less and less distinctively Christian face in order to survive.

6. Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith.

7. The money will dry up.

What will be left?

•Expect evangelicalism to look more like the pragmatic, therapeutic, church-growth oriented megachurches that have defined success. Emphasis will shift from doctrine to relevance, motivation, and personal success – resulting in churches further compromised and weakened in their ability to pass on the faith.

•Two of the beneficiaries will be the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions. Evangelicals have been entering these churches in recent decades and that trend will continue, with more efforts aimed at the "conversion" of Evangelicals to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.

•A small band will work hard to rescue the movement from its demise through theological renewal. This is an attractive, innovative, and tireless community with outstanding media, publishing, and leadership development. Nonetheless, I believe the coming evangelical collapse will not result in a second reformation, though it may result in benefits for many churches and the beginnings of new churches.

•The emerging church will largely vanish from the evangelical landscape, becoming part of the small segment of progressive mainline Protestants that remain true to the liberal vision.

•Aggressively evangelistic fundamentalist churches will begin to disappear.

•Charismatic-Pentecostal Christianity will become the majority report in evangelicalism. Can this community withstand heresy, relativism, and confusion? To do so, it must make a priority of biblical authority, responsible leadership, and a reemergence of orthodoxy.

•Evangelicalism needs a "rescue mission" from the world Christian community. It is time for missionaries to come to America from Asia and Africa. Will they come? Will they be able to bring to our culture a more vital form of Christianity?

•Expect a fragmented response to the culture war. Some Evangelicals will work to create their own countercultures, rather than try to change the culture at large. Some will continue to see conservatism and Christianity through one lens and will engage the culture war much as before – a status quo the media will be all too happy to perpetuate. A significant number, however, may give up political engagement for a discipleship of deeper impact.

Is all of this a bad thing?

Evangelicalism doesn't need a bailout. Much of it needs a funeral. But what about what remains?

Is it a good thing that denominations are going to become largely irrelevant? Only if the networks that replace them are able to marshal resources, training, and vision to the mission field and into the planting and equipping of churches.

Is it a good thing that many marginal believers will depart? Possibly, if churches begin and continue the work of renewing serious church membership. We must change the conversation from the maintenance of traditional churches to developing new and culturally appropriate ones.

The ascendency of Charismatic-Pentecostal-influenced worship around the world can be a major positive for the evangelical movement if reformation can reach those churches and if it is joined with the calling, training, and mentoring of leaders. If American churches come under more of the influence of the movement of the Holy Spirit in Africa and Asia, this will be a good thing.

Will the evangelicalizing of Catholic and Orthodox communions be a good development? One can hope for greater unity and appreciation, but the history of these developments seems to be much more about a renewed vigor to "evangelize" Protestantism in the name of unity.

Will the coming collapse get Evangelicals past the pragmatism and shallowness that has brought about the loss of substance and power? Probably not. The purveyors of the evangelical circus will be in fine form, selling their wares as the promised solution to every church's problems. I expect the landscape of megachurch vacuity to be around for a very long time.

Will it shake lose the prosperity Gospel from its parasitical place on the evangelical body of Christ? Evidence from similar periods is not encouraging. American Christians seldom seem to be able to separate their theology from an overall idea of personal affluence and success.

The loss of their political clout may impel many Evangelicals to reconsider the wisdom of trying to create a "godly society." That doesn't mean they'll focus solely on saving souls, but the increasing concern will be how to keep secularism out of church, not stop it altogether. The integrity of the church as a countercultural movement with a message of "empire subversion" will increasingly replace a message of cultural and political entitlement.

Despite all of these challenges, it is impossible not to be hopeful. As one commenter has already said, "Christianity loves a crumbling empire."

We can rejoice that in the ruins, new forms of Christian vitality and ministry will be born. I expect to see a vital and growing house church movement. This cannot help but be good for an evangelicalism that has made buildings, numbers, and paid staff its drugs for half a century.

We need new evangelicalism that learns from the past and listens more carefully to what God says about being His people in the midst of a powerful, idolatrous culture.

I'm not a prophet. My view of evangelicalism is not authoritative or infallible. I am certainly wrong in some of these predictions. But is there anyone who is observing evangelicalism in these times who does not sense that the future of our movement holds many dangers and much potential?

• Michael Spencer is a writer and communicator living and working in a Christian community in Kentucky. He describes himself as "a postevangelical reformation Christian in search of a Jesus-shaped spirituality." This essay is adapted from a series on his blog, InternetMonk.com .

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