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.