I am sure that Christians would never look to Buddists to think that they would be helpful to us but that just might be the case. While we may have very different religious views (Christains=salvation by grace, and Buddist=non-existance by works) currently the Buddists in Burma (Myanmar) are leading a cause that the Christians are unable to due to shear force.
Thousands of Monks are leading peaceful protests to speak out against the miulitary rule. If Christians were to do this they would be squashed before they reached the gate, but Buddists hold more political power. The Buddist Clerics are well respected.
It could lead to civil war which would not be good for anyone, but it sometimes has to get worse before it can get better. I just pray that a massacure doesn't happen and I also pray that democracy might take hold in Burma. That could lead to better things for my Christian brother Judah and the other churches.
Read more here Link
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
For You Deep Thinkers
"Is Christianity Good for the World?"
Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson debate.
posted 5/08/2007 09:17AM
Theologian Douglas Wilson and atheist Christopher Hitchens, authors whose books are already part of a larger debate on whether religion is pernicious, agreed to discuss their views on whether Christianity itself has benefited the world. Below is their exchange, one in a series that will appear on our website over the course of this month.
Here is a link
Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson debate.
posted 5/08/2007 09:17AM
Theologian Douglas Wilson and atheist Christopher Hitchens, authors whose books are already part of a larger debate on whether religion is pernicious, agreed to discuss their views on whether Christianity itself has benefited the world. Below is their exchange, one in a series that will appear on our website over the course of this month.
Here is a link
Monday, September 17, 2007
God Feels Our Pain
I believe that many things in life are microcosm of other and greater truths. One such microcosm is a parent child relationship. I believe how a parent is supposed to care for and guide their child is a microcosm of our relationship with God. -
Jonah had a bad week to say the least. He was in trouble at school, home, and acted a lot like a 7 year old boy rather than the 30 year old responsible adult I want him to be:) I spoke with him and laid down some benchmarks for him to aim for in order to turn his attitude around. One of those was for him to listen and do what was said.
-
On Friday night I told him to get his flag football stuff together so it would be ready in the morning. He didn't do it. Saturday morning I pointed to his stuff as it lay scattered on the floor and said get all of your gear for football together right now so that you don't forget anything.
-
We got to the Fields, it was game time, and Jonah did not have a mouth-guard. This means he couldn't play. His mother ran home to get it while I refereed the game. I watched Jonah sit upset, hurt, angry, and sad while he watched the game but couldn't play. I told him to borrow his sisters but he is all about fashion and hers is pink so he wasn't having that. His mom was delayed and I told him that she was probably having a hard time finding it and if she couldn't then he wasn't going to be able to play.
-
At this point he began to tear up a little. My heart began to sink, but I held firm. While I was desperately hurting for my son I also understood that he needed to learn a lesson. He played the second half but I am worried for him this week. If he misses the benchmarks that we talked about he knows that the punishment is no football. Even worse, he has to watch but cannot play. If it comes to that, Saturday is not going to be any fun for the both of us.
A Good Day
When we go to work we all know the risks that come with it, it could be a good day or a bad day. I am speaking of course to those who enjoy their work and look forward to it. Even though you enjoy and look forward to your work there are those days when you are not so excited. Maybe you are anticipating some trouble or difficult encounter you have been trying to avoid for weeks or months and you know it is about to happen. Maybe you are not anticipating anything at all and excited about the day but something unexpected happens to let out all your air.
*
It is not much different for a preacher. Some days I am not so excited about going to the office or going to church to preach. Sometimes I am expecting some staff problems and sometimes the sermon isn't ready and I know it is going to be lees than engaging. But Sunday is always coming, so I just suck it up and sulk in the afternoon. And other times I am excited about preaching and seeing all of Canoe Creek Church gathered together, but then someone makes a comment that is negative (Usually about music) that just takes the air right out of me.
*
There are those occasions though where I am filled and excited. This week was one of those occasions. I was ready to preach on Thursday, those are rare occasions and you take everyone you get. So I knew that I would be ready come Sunday. It was the first day for our new youth minister and his wife. But the icing on the top was the power of the Spirit.
*
When we were just getting started and there were only 2-3 people at the school setting up, one of the Canoe Creek family was walking up to the building when they stopped. I could tell that something or should I say someone (Holy Spirit) encouraged them to not walk inside but rather walk down to where I was emptying my truck. They were emotionally moved and started to tell me about how the past two years had been the most difficult they had ever faced and if it had not been for Canoe Creek they would have never made it.
*
So fling your arrows, fall asleep during the sermon, complain about music, tell me everything that we are doing wrong and why we are not spiritual because of it. Negative comments or bad days may take some of the wind out of my sails for a little while but just one experience like the one I had on Sunday can fill my sails years. Canoe Creek Christian Church is serving a purpose in God's Kingdom. I am full of joy.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Proud Moment
If we played Fantasy Flag Football I would draft my son first. (Click on the images to make them larger. They are high rex files and awesome clarity. Open them and save to your computer.)
Monday, September 10, 2007
A Whole New Meaning For "Easthigh WILDCATS"
You may not have heard of High School Musical, but I have two young daughters and I have endured both of the Disney specials, High School Musical 1 & 2. My daughters enjoy the characters and the singing and Disney has done a good job of putting together a mostly innocent and enjoyable show for kids.
The recent and unfortunate news is that another teenage beauty queen actor/singer is going down in flames while her popularity goes up in stock. Vanessa Anne Hudgens, the female star of the show has recently showed off more than her singing voice by taking inappropriate pictures that have found their way to the web. She says she is embarrassed, but is she?
It appears that girls like Brittany Spears, Pairs Hilton, and possibly Vanessa Hudgens feed off any attention they get, even if it is negative. It is sad to see such talented young girls (With the exception of Paris Hilton--If she has a talent other than spending money it has yet to surface) feed off such negative attention.
It is so sad how the world we live in can take such innocent and enjoyable things and twist them all up and ruin them. I am reminded every day of how important it is for me to love and hug on my daughters and tell them how special and beautiful they are every chance I get. It is essential to help young girls understand the differences and the good rewards for seeking positive and healthy attention rather than any attention at all.
The recent and unfortunate news is that another teenage beauty queen actor/singer is going down in flames while her popularity goes up in stock. Vanessa Anne Hudgens, the female star of the show has recently showed off more than her singing voice by taking inappropriate pictures that have found their way to the web. She says she is embarrassed, but is she?
It appears that girls like Brittany Spears, Pairs Hilton, and possibly Vanessa Hudgens feed off any attention they get, even if it is negative. It is sad to see such talented young girls (With the exception of Paris Hilton--If she has a talent other than spending money it has yet to surface) feed off such negative attention.
It is so sad how the world we live in can take such innocent and enjoyable things and twist them all up and ruin them. I am reminded every day of how important it is for me to love and hug on my daughters and tell them how special and beautiful they are every chance I get. It is essential to help young girls understand the differences and the good rewards for seeking positive and healthy attention rather than any attention at all.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Missed My Boat
I remember when I was a little guy. I was standing out by the street waiting for someone to pick me up because I was going to go to the beach that day. I stood there with my afro kicking, my red-stripped socks pulled high and my short shorts. My towel was thrown over my shoulder and I had already been lathered up with sun-screen.
I stood on by the street an hour past the time my ride was supposed to come. I never get picked up. It was a horrible feeling and I know you know the kind of feeling I am talking about. It is the kind of feeling I am experiencing this morning. I was supposed to meet with some friends to pray, talk, and just enjoy some time with like kind. It was going to be the first time I met with them but I forgot to set the reminder on my outlook and I forgot. I remembered at 9:00 and the meeting was at 8:30 in Orlando. There was no reason to even rush out. Now I sit here frustrated and feeling a little empty like I missed something.
If missing out on things in life can cause such a sinking empty feeling in our stomachs, imagine what it will be like when we see Jesus coming on the clouds and watch as he separates everyone realizing that we are in the group that is going to miss out. I don't think anyone can begin to imagine what that will truly feel like.
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God...And so we will be with the Lord forever" Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
I remember when I was a little guy. I was standing out by the street waiting for someone to pick me up because I was going to go to the beach that day. I stood there with my afro kicking, my red-stripped socks pulled high and my short shorts. My towel was thrown over my shoulder and I had already been lathered up with sun-screen.
I stood on by the street an hour past the time my ride was supposed to come. I never get picked up. It was a horrible feeling and I know you know the kind of feeling I am talking about. It is the kind of feeling I am experiencing this morning. I was supposed to meet with some friends to pray, talk, and just enjoy some time with like kind. It was going to be the first time I met with them but I forgot to set the reminder on my outlook and I forgot. I remembered at 9:00 and the meeting was at 8:30 in Orlando. There was no reason to even rush out. Now I sit here frustrated and feeling a little empty like I missed something.
If missing out on things in life can cause such a sinking empty feeling in our stomachs, imagine what it will be like when we see Jesus coming on the clouds and watch as he separates everyone realizing that we are in the group that is going to miss out. I don't think anyone can begin to imagine what that will truly feel like.
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God...And so we will be with the Lord forever" Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
More Than A Respected Relic. John 1:3
The apostles looked at Jesus as a contemporary (By contemporary I mean close to or of the same age). We think that seeing Jesus as the apostles did will change our faith, maybe, and maybe not. It could be that the apostles struggled to see Jesus as God because they there with him and even though they saw Jesus' divine miracles they also saw His humanity. Jesus ate the same foods they ate, He wore the same close, they saw where He grew up, they heard Him snore, and smelled His breath.
Jesus who is timeless stepped into time. I wonder what kind of jet lag that causes? The fact that He is timeless eludes us as well. Jesus was a contemporary of the apostles and this could have caused some gaps in their faith. For us Jesus is a relic that is respected. We sometimes look upon Him as a child does an adult. But, do we look upon Him as a timeless God that existed long before His brief moment of humanity? If we look at Him as a relic to be respected our faith is to weak to seem Him in his true glory, when He was there when "all things came into being."
The apostles struggled to believe for their reasons and we struggle to believe for our own. If Jesus were here today would that solve our faith issues? I doubt it. John knew that accepting Jesus as God would be a struggle so he begins his gospel with the proclamation, "the Word was God" and he ends it with the confession of a doubter, "my Lord and my God" (John 20:29). The following statement by Jesus is encouraging to us today. Jesus said, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
The apostles looked at Jesus as a contemporary (By contemporary I mean close to or of the same age). We think that seeing Jesus as the apostles did will change our faith, maybe, and maybe not. It could be that the apostles struggled to see Jesus as God because they there with him and even though they saw Jesus' divine miracles they also saw His humanity. Jesus ate the same foods they ate, He wore the same close, they saw where He grew up, they heard Him snore, and smelled His breath.
Jesus who is timeless stepped into time. I wonder what kind of jet lag that causes? The fact that He is timeless eludes us as well. Jesus was a contemporary of the apostles and this could have caused some gaps in their faith. For us Jesus is a relic that is respected. We sometimes look upon Him as a child does an adult. But, do we look upon Him as a timeless God that existed long before His brief moment of humanity? If we look at Him as a relic to be respected our faith is to weak to seem Him in his true glory, when He was there when "all things came into being."
The apostles struggled to believe for their reasons and we struggle to believe for our own. If Jesus were here today would that solve our faith issues? I doubt it. John knew that accepting Jesus as God would be a struggle so he begins his gospel with the proclamation, "the Word was God" and he ends it with the confession of a doubter, "my Lord and my God" (John 20:29). The following statement by Jesus is encouraging to us today. Jesus said, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
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