Is there such a thing as a Calvinist who ...

... believes he/she's either not "chosen" or "elect" ... according to their definition?  I mean, would you want someone who believes they're predestined to hell to be your pastor?  

Would you feel confident of their leadership, vision and spiritual authority?  Would you even bother reading their blog?

So how does a Calvinist know who's saved and who's not ... or where his/her own eternity will be spent?

No sir; Calvinism only helps those who place their trust in themselves.

Pan Cubano Fresco ... by mail

That's right, fresh Cuban bread delivered to your door.  Three eight-ounce loaves ... that's enough to make 9 Cuban sandwiches ... for just $16.99

contact Cuban Food Market

I've got Hypnagogic Myoclonus!

That's when your body jerks, often accompanied by the sensation of falling, as you drift off to sleep. 

Can also be accompanied by involuntarily kicking the pew in front of yours.

:-)

iPod Tele?

(blog lite)

I don't have lots of CDs or DVDs on the boat but the ones I do have swallow up lots n' lots of precious space. So a friend suggested I take a look at refurbished iPods as a potential solution.

I liked what I saw ... then I noticed something interesting in their styling and appearance. An iPod seems so familiar, yet I've never owned or even held one.

What could it be?



Spock: Yes. As I always suspected.

Even Paul had his share of critics inside the church

Tried falling asleep; the term "super-apostles" kept coming to mind.  So I got up and logged onto the web to find out what Paul meant.

Then I came to this:

For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."

- 2 Corinthians 10:10

I'm guessing Paul had a sense of humor, too.

Thank You again for stopping by ... have a life-changing Sunday!

Leaks, Holes and Patches (updated)

Rained all day today. 

It rained hard and I discovered so many new leaks in poor Calypso's 24-year old canvas top, I thought it'd be easier to just take a picture of what needing fixing, instead of scribbling down a lengthy list and hoping I hadn't missed anything.

Then I thought, Why keep doing spot treatments and touch-ups for the next month, pretending "Overall, things don't look so grim," then fiddle around a little bit here and maybe a touch-up over there, hoping I didn't miss anything (but dreading the next heavy rain).

Why didn't I just face the situation: This is a big problem because the boat's top is leaking, with holes that can't keep being patched.  Band-aid solutions won't be enough anymore?

--   --   --

When churches become "Fix-ated" on patching, instead of restoring their ministry (unless it's approved and in the budget) and adopt a siege or "Us vs Them" mentality, is it any surprise that their ministry doesn't gain any ground, either?

Stagnant, water-treading churches can too easily look backward and become comfortable with skipping and reminiscing through the glorious past.

Like the glowing morning when the bell was first hung in the steeple, or the Easter Sunday when the choir got new robes donated by a member who wanted the Youth Building Annex named in his honor. Or the business meeting when the congregation agreed the decrepit church bus was too old to maintain, and voted to scrap it.

A church finding itself in such a situation might feel like shutting themselves off completely, arguing "We were on-track 50 years ago, so why should we change now?" ... because the past is so subjective and safe.

When the reality is that people without Christ are lost and it is our responsibility to reach them ... even if that means leaving the pew and Reaching Out.

Instead of reaching in, and holding each others' hands.

--   --   --

We're facing an enemy willing to use any means available to achieve his goal: to usher as many people into hell as he can.  

Remember he's the one who was so arrogant he appeared before Christ, and tried to tempt him with wealth and power?  Satan's yet to be faced with a challenge he thought was too big, or took too much time, or cost too much money, or might involve feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed, or needed more votes from a committee before taking action, or required too much help from volunteers to accomplish.

No, sir: the enemy believes in his purpose 24x7x365.  So we can't expect he'll ever tire of digging in and putting up a fight to claim just one more soul, either.  

Nor can we expect he'll ever get mad and give up, turn off the lights and lock the gates to keep people out because he likes hell real small and cozy and familiar.  The kinda place where everybody knows each other.

Shoot, the devil throws his gate open wide and tries his hardest to make sinners feel welcomed and wanted.

Not like some of our churches.

Peculiar Personal Priorities

3:40 PM

Moving to the new marina required some perspective re-adjustment: the boats here aren't anything at all like I'm used to seeing.  Especially not within arm's length.

I mean, there's some huge yachts here ... the same boats used for the cover shots of glossy boating magazines.  I'm talking boats capable of crossing oceans without stopping for re-fueling and yes, even boats big enough to land helicopters on their foredecks (the aft deck being reserved for the Range Rover).

There's multi-million dollar trawlers piloted here from California, 80-foot sailboats with decks like bowling alleys, brand new catmarans that look like lunar landing modules and daily-polished long-range cruisers with uniform-wearing full-time live aboard crews.

But even the plain white-bread boats, like the 40- to 60-footers, sport state-of-the-art toys and accouterments, like:

27" HDTV satellite dome- $7500 plus install

Satellite Telephone Dome- $5500 plus install

72" 4kw open-array radar- $8800 plus install

Back-up 3kw Diesel Generator- about $8000 plus install

Not to mention fuel cost for a generic 50-ft boat cruising along on 2 engines: about $160 per hour

So a 14-hour boating weekend (that's 4 hours on Friday and Sunday, 6 hours on Saturday) costs about $2240 bucks.  (In case you're wondering: Nope, Calypso has not left her slip since I got here, not even once.)

After I'd ooh-ed and aah-ed the first few weeks I started noticing something peculiar.

Seems that a boat can have $50,000 of gee-whiz electronics and $10,000 bucks' worth of the latest cold cathode fluorescent accent lights flowing down its polished teak staircase, strictly for show ... yet nary a life raft to be found.  But then a brand-new, basic life raft is $2000.

What's with the life raft shortage?

For the person with the kind of disposal cash to afford a sleek head-turning yacht, it must be that the prospect of catching fire, capsizing, punching a rock through the hull or otherwise being forced to wake up their friends, wives, and children in the middle of the night to announce that it's time to Abandon Ship! and go for a swim in the ocean is too inconvenient, or embarrassing, to warrant wasting the bucks.

Especially when a new plasma TV for the guest bathroom can be had for the same price ... in dollars, anyway.

Awed and Assured

 Vernon just this minute added a new post to his blog:

There has been much going on (as usual) but the most pressing thing right now, are the preparations for the grand opening of the church building for Madizini.

This church was started by pastor Patrick Mgaya of Kidudwe Tanzania. Patrick is our student and friend, and we are grateful for his vision for starting a new church out of his existing church in Kidudwe.  Dedication day is October 5th.  We truly want to ask for your prayers for this day, that:

A  it would be well attended by the people of Madizini
B  it would be well attended by local officials
C  that the evangelistic efforts will bear fruit on that day
D  that the day will be a wonderful kick start for the Bible Baptist Church of Madizini.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for the ministry in Tanzania.

Wow.  Wow.

Clothes make the man? Sometimes

I met a man in Africa I'm likely to never forget.  He was a preacher who lived in a hut in a tiny village without roads, telephones, running water or even a sewer system.  He grew sugar cane for a living, and during the week he was visiting I never saw him change his clothes a single time.

Every day was the same shirt, the same slacks, the same shoes and the same thread-bare jacket.

He'd arrived in Arusha by bus so I knew he had space for luggage ... so why just a single set of clothes?

Because he was so on fire with the gospel that he was saving his money, almost literally every penny, to buy a used scooter ... so he could travel to neighboring villages and share the gospel. He figured it would take him almost three years to save $800.

But he could reach four, maybe five villages who'd never heard of Christ if he had a scooter.  And he was already well on his way to his goal.

When I saw Vernon during his last visit he told me yes, Patrick got his scooter.

--   --   --

Some people enjoy ... and insist upon ... dressing in their best for church.  So others will know what they've got and who they are.

But then there's others who don't pay attention at all to their clothes and can't wait to share the gospel with the un-churched instead.  So others will know the assurance they've got ... and who Christ is.

Just imagine if Patrick had a Harley.

Something's been bugging me and I want to gripe about it right now

On the other hand, who cares if I feel entitled to start whining ... but me?

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

- Nuumbers 11:6

W@?

- from 12:11AM September 25, 2008 (no web connection)

Wow.  The Australian Bible Society translated the entire Bible into SMS format ... so you can now read scripture on your cell phone.  It took one person four weeks to convert all 31,173 verses of the Bible.

ITYK.

For the tech-social challenged still tied to land lines, cell phones can send text messages that often contain cost-saving abbreviations that look something like this:

sum1 = Someone

IMSB = I am so bored

ITYK = I thought you knew

So a Bible verse received on your cell would look something like this:

Wrk hard at wateva u do. U will soon go 2 da wrld of da dead, where no 1 wrks or thinks or reasons or knws NEting. 

- Ecclesiastes 9:10

WTH?

--   --    --

R U already wondering What's the point or thinking Unless you already know what it means, that verse doesn't make any sense?  (at least, compared to the KJV  :-)

Yep, but I find myself doing the same thing on an almost daily basis without even being aware I'm doing it.  Like when describing my faith with "Righteousness itself will not cleanse you of your sins and iniquity."

Iniquity?

Talk about rock-solid conversation terminators: Sure it's scriptural, I mean I know what I'm trying to say, but who uses words like that any more?

Clear, effective communication is difficult enough ... and just gets harder when we try sharing the gospel by rote instead of from our hearts.

You have a call on Line 1

(religion in the news)

Verizon Wireless is now launching a new cell phone service in the United States that will allow subscribers to receive messages from the Pope.

Subscribers will pay 30 cents to receive a daily missive based on the homilies, speeches and messages of Pope John Paul II, under a deal with the Vatican and Italian wireless services provider Acotel, based in Rome. AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless will follow quickly with their own versions.

- source

Hovering

(Friday blog light)

I'm still amazed at what you can find offered for sale on ebay. Like this Bell 222A light commercial twin-engine helicopter.

I rode in a helicopter once but will choose flying with wings every time ... because I like being able to see what's holding me up.  

Fixed-wing pilots are often suspicious of rotary-wings and generally define a helicopter either as A hundred aerodynamic errors spontaneously cancelling each other out or as 10,000 parts temporarily flying in formation.

But it might be fun having one to avoid stadium traffic during home games.

The 222A's maximum speed is about 150 mph with a range of just under 324 nautical miles.  In case you're interested, the current bid is just over $670,000.

It's a night in a gale

Virtually no web connection today, probably due to the gale conditions that moved in this afternoon. Very cold and windy outside; expected to get worse overnight.

But better tomorrow.

Soul Sacrifice: Calvinism vs Christ (part 4)

When Paul wrote of being "chosen" and "elect" he was not sowing Calvinistic seeds; he was emphasizing the point that God's grace is the Almighty's gift ... to remind us that we are not saved by our own efforts, nor by our own righteousness or because we were predestined to enjoy our place in a heirarchy of salvation ... but that God's will and plan is eternal: we are redeemed through Christ's choice to die on the cross in our place.

Calvinism can never supercede Christ's love and sacrifice: nothing can.

--   --   --

Christ's suffering and death on the cross was a choice: his choice ... one he made from love and for the forgiveness of our sins ... and his resurrection proved that God's promise of forgiveness for anyone who believes in him is true.

Calvinism has nothing to do with redemption, and grace has nothing to do with self-gratifying theologies of who is "elect" and who is "chosen."  All have sinned, all have fallen short and we are only saved ... not by predestination ... but by grace.

Calvinism chooses to stand apart from God's love, mercy, grace and forgiveness ... and aggrandizes itself by secreting away the relationship with the Almighty that Christ made possible, beneath a man-made veil in a dark temple of vanity and self-importance.

Soul Sacrifice: Calvinism vs Christ (part 3)

As bad as the pain seemed I knew it could not compare to the agony Christ experienced as he was flogged, forced to carry his cross, and crucified with spikes hammered through his hands and feet.  Knowing what was ahead, who would choose to willingly die such a horrific death?

Jesus did: to the best of my knowledge no one else in history willingly agreed to be flogged and die by crucifixion.  Much less endure the ordeal in someone else's place.  But Jesus did.

Christ was infinitely more righteous and more loving than me: I surrender to him and trust his will.

I don't feel superior or entitled; I feel amazed, unworthy ... and humbled with incomprehension.

--   --   --

The idea that God, being sovereign,  predestined certain people to be chosen,while others had no choice but to be condemned, is appalling.  

It's the worst sort of spiritual arrogance, self-righteousness and pharisaical piety.

--   --   --

As human beings we like things to make sense to us, and feel comfortable applying rational concepts, like linear time and Cause and Effect, when we're challenged by the unfamiliar and faced with the infinite.  We prefer safety and security to being awed, and without realizing that we're doing it, pretend logic and deductive reasoning can help us understand what God must be.

If ants had the capacity for cognizant thought, who could blame them for looking at us and feeling confident that they understood our lives are also dedicated to moving sand piles around ... just on a much larger scale?

But God said I am.  That's BIGGER than just large ... and I believe him.

Soul Sacrifice: Calvinism vs Christ (part 2)

By the fourth day I could hop around a little bit without holding myself up like a gymnast on the parallel bars; at the end of a week I managed to pull myself off the boat onto a borrowed set of stairs, and hobble-walked to the end of the dock.  

Looking out over the water felt like total, absolute Freedom ... as if I'd just experienced being mobile for the very first time.

--   --   --

My knee didn't hurt much during the day but nights were excruciating and sleep became iffy.  Sitting up was OK but something about lying down and becoming horizontal brought my knee to life and made it sing ... to the point of tears and nausea.

--   --   --

Prior to this event the worst pain I'd ever experienced was from a tooth that had worn away sufficiently to expose the nerve.  The oral surgeon told me women who've experienced both describe childbirth as about 70% less.

In a previous post I wrote I didn't know why insomnia kept me up all night on Monday but the fact is that no matter how I tried to position myself when trying to fall asleep, within a few minutes my knee would wake up and start feeling like it was being pulled out of socket and twisted from my body.

And so I prayed.

Soul Sacrifice: Calvinism vs Christ (part 1)

Three weeks and two days ago tonight I was climbing aboard Calypso when my left knee suddenly seized and went Pop! like a firecracker.  A hundred feet away you could have heard it and I knew right away something significantly bad had happened.

For the next 3 days I literally couldn't walk; my knee was no more than a wet rope under my thigh.  Searching online for my symptoms suggested an ACL tear; ACL tears are serious business and will not heal without surgery, which includes weeks of crutches, months of recuperation and up to a year of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Even with arthoscopic surgery the prognosis for complete recovery is nowhere near 100% (especially at my age).  So I wasn't surprised when my doctor said I should get an MRI right away.  

But I live on a boat about the size of a bathtub and the prospect of not walking again, at least without a severe limp, much less ever running ... asserted itself as a very real proposition.

We'll talk about pain in another minute.

Close yourself into a space about the size of a minivan for three days' worth of staring at the walls and ceiling as often as you like.  You'll have no trouble making a long list of all the bold new things you find about about yourself.  

And about your faith, too.

Changing the deck chairs

"A deckchair is a folding* chair, usually with a frame of treated wood* or artificial material* (for protection against the weather*). It is meant for leisure*, originally on a big cruise ship's* deck, which explains the origin of its name.

It is easily transportable* and stackable*. The classic deckchair can only be locked in one position*." -wikipedia

Wonder why these never caught on in churches, instead of pews?


* emphasis added

Measuring others so they'll know when and how they fall short

Feeling aggravated?

Ready to browbeat or berate others for falling short ... and not measuring up to your expectations?

Stop doing it.  Now.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

- Luke 6:38

The Sermon on the Mount

I don't know where to start.

Because you can't even skim through Matthew 5-7 without something sticking ... and sticking hard.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

- Matthew 7:7

For Geeks Only

(technology)

(a) I noticed Dell has a new driver available for my sound card that's supposed to address "issues" with Windows Media Player 11, but I chose not to install it. I've learned- the HARD way, usually by waking up to a non-functioning sound card courtesy of Windows' thoughtful "update while U sleep" feature- if it works it ain't broken, so don't touch it.

(b) Disregarded (a) and installed the latest version of PicLens from Cool Iris.

(c) Finally figured out how to un-install Sony's Sound Forge 9 demo (Audacity is free).

(d) Finally installed LanguageNow!'s "Learn Chinese Now!" I found this disc at Target for a couple of bucks, and figured Why Not ... my Mandarin needs some polishing. Nee how mah?

(e) Still looking: I can't find a DVD recorder capable of recording true anamorphic 16x9 footage without "squeezing" the image. Is this a big problem? No, but finding the solution is.

(f) Ever wondered how to wire a boat's electrical system that's got two alternators and three batteries? Nearly leaped for joy after finding this at BoatFix.com:

(g) I hate Vista's power-saver feature: it turns off the audio mixer every time my notebook goes to sleep. Which means there's no sound, until you click the mixer open and re-enable all the applications. Looked for a way to disable this nifty unwanted aggravation, but no success so far.

What I almost blogged at 4:00 AM this morning

(humor)

About four months ago a pharmacist in Anderson took the time to give me some very practical advice about how adults diagnosed with ADD can follow a simple mental exercise to improve their memory skills.

I forget what it was, however.

Night without End

Went to bed last night at 8:30 PM; got up at about 5:50 AM.

You're thinking, "Wow ... you scored 9 hours of ZZZ's!" but nossir, I logged zero hours at the slumber controls.  That's the first time ever that Insomnia's taken me the full 15-round distance.

Tried reading two different books* three different times, tried counting**, tried doing 3-place multiplication in my head (like 627x398), which is usually FOOL PROOF and guaranteed to put the lights out pronto, but not last night ... I kept forgetting what numbers I was trying to multiply.

Anyway I'm up now and figure by not sleeping last night, I got the privilege of living the equivalent of one extra day.

* The Historical Reliability of the Gospels; Purple Cane Road

** My interior voice didn't sound like me; it sounded like someone standing behind me  :-)

Separation of Church and Status

I've heard people say "I could never feel comfortable in a megachurch because I wouldn't know anybody ... and I have lots of friends at my church."

That's different than saying, "My friends go to my church" because we often think of "friends at church" and "friends at work" as two separate, distinct groups ... and be honest, there's generally not much mixing between the two.

Which makes me wonder, Why?

Because evangelical Christians are encouraged to share the Gospel with others, the Baylor researchers found that more than half of megachurch members said they shared their faith with strangers in the past month and more than 80 percent witness to friends -- far more than those who attend small churches.

Researchers say that probably explains why four of 10 megachurch members say that at least half of their friends attend those congregations.

-source

Just figures

Windows TV Ads made with Macs

Using Adobe Creative Suite 3.

-read more here

ps.  Hi Ken

Just gets better ...

- con't from previous post

The Baylor researchers found that megachurches tend to be more evangelical than small churches.

Ninety-two percent of megachurch members believe that hell "absolutely exists," compared with just over three-quarters of small-church members, the survey found. And eight in 10 megachurch worshipers believe that the Rapture -- when followers of Jesus Christ believe they will be taken to heaven -- will "absolutely" take place, compared with less than half of those who attend small churches.

In addition to their evangelical mission, megachurches thrive because of the social experience they provide and their emphasis on music. "The same things that made them popular -- contemporary music and practical, applicable sermons that apply to people's daily lives -- remain a real draw for folks," said Scott Thumma of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

Who woulda thought THIS?

Big Churches Not Always Impersonal, Study Finds

By Jacqueline L. Salmon

Washington Post Staff Writer 
Friday, September 19, 2008; Page A06

Congregants find megachurches offer more personal worship and sense of community than smaller churches, according to a study released yesterday that challenges the conventional wisdom that some large churches are too big to offer a spiritual experience.

Researchers at the Institute for Studies of Religion, who defined megachurches as those with more than 1,000 worshipers, found that their members were twice as likely to have friends in the congregation than members of small churches. They also displayed a higher level of personal commitment to the church -- attending services and tithing more often than small-church members.

Megachurches are often criticized for having "all sorts of flaws," said Rodney Stark, co-director of the institute, based at Baylor University. "They're big . . . they're kind of cold, they have kind of like theater audiences -- all wrong."

- full story here

Wooden-ship

John Robert Wooden (born October 14, 1910) is a retired American basketball coach.  His 10 NCAA National Championships in 12 years while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. 
John Wooden 

Ability is a poor man's wealth. 
John Wooden 

Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then. 
John Wooden 

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. 
John Wooden 

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. 
John Wooden 

Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. 
John Wooden 

I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent. 
John Wooden 

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? 
John Wooden 

If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes. 
John Wooden 

It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. 
John Wooden 

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. 
John Wooden 

Never mistake activity for achievement. 
John Wooden 


Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts. 
John Wooden 

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. 
John Wooden 

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team. 
John Wooden 

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones. 
John Wooden 

There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer. 
John Wooden 

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. 
John Wooden 

Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character. 
John Wooden 

You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one. 
John Wooden 

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. 
John Wooden 

Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters. 
John Wooden 

Me Worry? Are you kidding?

Woke up around 3:30 AM, not sure why.  So to help myself fall back asleep I started worrying.

After about an hours' worth it dawned (sorry) on me that the things I was worrying about weren't centered on "Am I following God's will?" or "What kind of impact am I having for the kingdom?"

Nope.  I was thinking about things that focused on me ... instead of the things me is capable of doing something about.

Hating Paul, Loving Paul

Last week I met a 30-something man who'd dropped out of seminary, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Eastern Philosophy.

I asked him why he'd become disillusioned.

He told me he felt the apostle Paul had subverted Christ's message, and substituted Rules and Legalisms for Love and Forgiveness.  I asked him to give me an example so I could see for myself; he said, "It's my impression."

--   --   --

Years, many years ago, I had the same impression of Paul.

But re-reading his letters now, Paul's love, compassion and total conviction about Christ is undeniable.

--   --   --

What did I do?

I told this man I'd felt the same way ... until I'd re-read Paul's letters to see what he said, instead of reading to confirm what I expected he'd said.

About Doubt (updated)

What's doubt all about ... and where does doubt come from?

Why are we sometimes hesitant to face new challenges, especially if the solution involves the sticky prospect of doing something that makes us feel uncomfortable?  

Perhaps it's not difficult situations in themselves that create doubt, but rather, it's our unwilligness to stop focusing on the negative outcome we anticipate.  

I think we like having a little doubt in our lives, because doubt keeps us safe ... by preventing us from taking action and moving toward the unfamiliar.  Like the night Peter stepped from the disciples' boat in the middle of a storm, and began walking across the waves toward Christ.  Until what happened?  

Doubt happened, and Peter began sinking under the weight of his uncertainty.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

- Matthew 14:31

After he was crucified, resurrected and appeared to them in the flesh, some of the disciples still couldn't shake off their doubts.

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

- Matthew 28:17

He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

- Luke 24:38

What did Christ say next?  Did he instruct them to watch Dr. Phil?  To buy Oprah's new book?  To form a study group and discuss an action plan for approval?

No, the answer to doubt comes in one simple word: Believe.

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

- John 20:27

Seminary 101

I wonder if Calvinists study for midterms?

Where the earth meets the sky

As fledgling photographers, we were taught to watch the places where the earth meets the sky ... whether at the horizon, over the mountains or at sea.

My God is mighty to save

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

Let mercy fall on me

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

- Mighty to Save, Hillsong

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, 
       as the waters cover the sea.

- Habakkuk 2:14

Praise be to his glorious name forever; 
       may the whole earth be filled with his glory. 
       Amen and Amen.

- Psalm 72:19

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

- Matthew 17:20

Running from-or out of- zeroes

The proposed Federal bail-out of US financial and investment markets is estimated to have a cost of $1 trillion dollars.  That's a million billions, right?

For comparison, the 2007 total budget was $2.8 trillion.

Let's forget that the trillion dollar figure is a Friday estimate: next Friday, and next month, it's likely to be much higher.  And never mind the big automakers who've already asked for their share of the Federal bail-out pie, too.

I'm still waiting however, to hear how that trillion dollar bail-out debt breaks down per person; what's the average cost per US citizen going to be?

Does that work out to about $5000 per person for every man, woman and child ...  $20,000 in new taxes for a 4-person family ... to bail-out the guys who got paid the big bucks to make smart financial decisions?

I'm steering clear of politics, but just one observation: maybe the nation's health care industry should declare bankruptcy next?

So un-PC

(humor)

Thought I'd better post this on a Friday, while all my friends with Macs have the day off ... and are unlikely to see it.  :-)

Don'tcha just love those "Hi, I'm a Mac" TV spots?  Aren't they clever?  Don't they make ya wanna run out and take a bite outta the big Apple?

Sure.

It only took about a year for Bill Gates to fight back ... he just chose to do it with a dull sword.

Old, not BOLD

 Unfortunately for those of us who cherish our PCs, the first volley in Windows' counter-attack goes far to prove that Tired n' Uninspired might be a mindset in Redmond, instead of just a state of mind.

Pseudo-Assurance: grant me my wishes

Why do Bad Things happen to believers?

If we're saved, and God loves us, then why does he allow bad things to blow up our lives?

But if we're saved and trust Christ, why do we believe we're immune from having bad things happen?  Is the idea that "Bad Things don't happen to Saved People- unless they've been bad" scriptural?  

--   --   --

I don't believe Christ died on the cross to create a prosperity or "well-being" gospel.  Nor did he preach "I have come that they may have life, and enjoy it to the full" nor "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will live on Easy Street" nor "How easy it is for the rich to enter the kindgom of God!"

Kinda makes you wonder about the difference between "being blessed" and being rich.

--   --   --

Then why do bad things happen ... most often when we least expect it?

I don't know... but I do know Jesus was not Genie Christ on a cross.

When bad things happen in my life, I try to keep reminding myself that my faith is in Christ and I'm here to serve him ... and that he didn't die on the cross to serve me and grant all my wishes.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

- Romans 8:28

Evolution: on the poo fast track

This fungi spore has the fastest launch in nature, accelerating from a standstill to 56 mph (90 kph) in one-millionth of a second.  That's like a human being going from zero to 5000 times the speed of sound in 1/1,000,000 of a second.

Scientists used very high speed 250,000 frame-per-second video cameras to record the event, which occurs so quickly it can't be detected with the human eye.

So what's the spore's need for speed?

"It is the need to get their spores away from the pile of poo on which these fungi live that drove the evolution of their dramatic ability."

Poo, oh yes indeed.

Nukin' Mickey

Muslims: We must kill Mickey Mouse

Tuesday September 16, 2008 Israel Today Staff

A prominent Saudi Islamic cleric has issued a fatwa, or religious edict, against Mickey Mouse, whom he characterized as an agent of Satan sent to corrupt young minds.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Munajid told Saudi Arabia's Al-Majd Television that his beef with Mickey is that he is a mouse, a creature that Islam sees as "repulsive and corrupting."

Al-Munajid explained that Islamic law refers to the mouse as "little corrupter" and a creature that is "steered by Satan," and grants permission to all Muslims to "kill [mice] in all cases."

Therefore, according to Islamic law, insisted the sheikh, "Mickey Mouse should be killed."

- read more here

Saudi official: OK to kill owners of immoral TV

updated 3:11 p.m. ET, Fri., Sept. 12, 2008

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's top judiciary official has issued a religious decree saying it is permissible to kill the owners of satellite TV networks that broadcast immoral content.

The 79-year-old Sheik Saleh al-Lihedan said Thursday that satellite channels cause the "deviance of thousands of people."

- full story here

RAFSANJANI SAYS MUSLIMS SHOULD USE NUCLEAR WEAPON AGAINST ISRAEL

TEHRAN 14 Dec. (IPS) One of Iran’s most influential ruling cleric called Friday on the Muslim states to use nuclear weapon against Israel, assuring them that while such an attack would annihilate Israel, it would cost them "damages only".

Analysts said not only Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani’s speech was the strongest against Israel, but also this is the first time that a prominent leader of the Islamic Republic openly suggests the use of nuclear weapon [sic] against the Jewish State.

- Iran Press Service

What I do in my private life is my business: a dialogue

If I'm saved and can't lost my salvation, then can't I sin when, and as often, as I want to?  

Nope, not at all.  

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

- John 14:21

That's your interpretation, and sounds so legalistic.  What difference does a little sin-on-the-side really make?

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

- 1 Corinthians 3:16

But life is complicated, and sometimes there's gray areas.  Who can say what's good and what's not?

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

- Matthew 19:17

But I'm dating someone who's not a believer and he/she says there's no such things as 'sin' when two people love each other.  So what's the worst that can happen?

If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

- 1 Corinthians 3:17

Come on, be serious.  Nobody thinks like that any more.

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.

 - 1 Corinthians 3:18

Blue Book Bank Redux

- from Friday, December 14, 2007

We're from the bank and we're here to help you: Now stick 'em up

Bank of America, Wachovia, PNC Report New Loan Losses (Update3) 
By David Mildenberg and Hugh Son

Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp., Wachovia Corp. and PNC Financial Services Group Inc. said losses tied to bad debt will be worse than expected, providing fresh evidence that credit markets aren't returning to normal. -original source here

Hmmm, ... wonder whether our Bank Buddies are gonna shrug off their losses with big red faces, admit their unbridled avarice ... and learn a lesson about fiscal responsibility?

Will banks finally wise up n' buckle down ... no longer writing risky loans or issuing "credit cards" to folks who're already over-extended & unable to make minimum monthly payments?

Or, can we expect them to:

1) Raise interest rates & minimum monthly payments for "marginal" borrowers (folks with variable-interest mortgages and debt cards)
2) Mass-mail enticing new offers to "even more marginal" borrowers/debtors
3) Lay off "non-essential personnel" (i.e. bottom-tier bank employees; not the folks responsible for banks' lending practices) "as a response to the disappointing current economic downtrend"?
4) Resort to predatory lending by writing increasingly-risky loans (before their competitors do)
5) Increase fees & service charges; create new ones; offer fewer services
6) Argue that "Stealing isn't stealing when stealing is protected by law"

But isn't that Free Enterprise? Ain't that how Capitalism works? 

Banks hire lobbyists and make huge political contributions to manipulate the legislative process and enact laws penned in their corporate board rooms intended to guarantee their profits.

That how we end up with The Best Government Money Can Buy.

- from Thursday, July 13, 2006

Somebody Slap Me

I wouldn't know Joe Sangl if he walked up and slapped me in the face.

But I wish there was a time when he'd come up and knocked me flat silly. That's why now I'm hoping he'll lay one upside your head, too. Joe blogs about personal finances and how to become (and stay) debt-free.

It's not a gimmick or get rich quick scheme. Joe presents solid, 100% reality-based insights on how "only a little" debt snowballs, affects our choices, takes over our lives and turns us into slaves. Joe's blog is packed full of solid advice about getting your finances under control and keeping them there.

It might be hard to believe but there was a time when being a "debtor" carried a social stigma ... sorta like being an alcoholic who couldn't function without a drink, or an addict hustling the streets looking for the next fix.

Be Honest with Yourself: If racing down to the mall with a wallet (or purse) full of plastic is your idea of fun or recreation then you need to listen up.

Being out of financial control and accumulating DEBT is Not Fun. Paying 22% finance charges is isn't just STUPID ... it's a hint you might be addicted to spending.

We've been brainwashed with temptations like 0% interest and No Money Down Easy Credit Terms. But credit cards don't convey social status and aren't proof of your financial success, no matter what their advertising claims.

A credit card is your Debt Slave ID Badge and only impresses other people that you're a debt "ho" who's borrowing money from a credit pimp to buy stuff you really can't afford.

And pimps don't care about anything except getting their money paid back with 22% interest.

You need to start getting out of debt today ... and there's no better time to take the first step than right now.