Life in Tennessee

Which?

2007-06-15T07:26:00.001-05:00

Elijah likes to ask “Which ____?” For example, when we are going to go out to eat, Elijah asks, “Which restaurant?” When going to church, he says, “Which church?” It was kind of cute until last night at VBS. He was doing something that was getting annoying, and his “nana” who is too nice to really discipline said, “now, stop that Elijah.” Didn’t phase him. Then mommy said, “Elijah, please

When I grow up...

2007-06-01T11:17:00.000-05:00

Elijah is beginning to understand the concept of time and growing up. Twice in the last week he has stated his desire to do something in the future. We were watching the end of “October Sky” when it showed a clip of a space shuttle launching, and Elijah inquired, “Where is that plane going?” We told him it was going into outer space, or more specifically, his favorite celestial

Safety Patrol

2007-05-30T11:46:00.000-05:00

Ever since Elijah figured out how machinery works, he has been very careful. Though we have never used the phrase “Safety first” around him, that seems to be his mantra. When we pile the family into the van, everyone must be buckled into their seats before the vehicle is started or he will go ballistic. Just yesterday, I was at camp doings some things in preparation for our

Back, but different

2007-05-25T10:53:00.000-05:00

I have been out of blogging since October because of busyness. After brainstorming with some of my friends we have begun a new journal called ChiRhoLive. This blog will continue probably mostly as anecdotal stories about Elijah and Sophia. And, the website with the pictures of the kids will continue as well.

An end to Islam bashing?

2006-10-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

Many Christians approach Muslim people with memories of 9/11 resonating in their minds. They see a people bent on the total destruction of other nations and religions, especially Judaism and Christianity. They see hatemongering, warmongering elitists who are bent on jihad. These reactionary Christians even take the time to justify such perceptions with quotes from the Q'uran, citing various

Return to New Orleans

2006-09-28T12:25:00.000-05:00

Monday night marked the first return of a major sporting event to the hurricane ravaged city of New Orleans. I watched with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it was a far cry from the scenes that are engrained in my mind from just a year ago:People wading through water with babies in handPeople lootingDead bodies floating in the waterDead bodies covered with sheetsDescriptions of the breakdown of

New Video Camera

2006-09-18T14:48:00.000-05:00

Carrie and I finally got a video camera to capture Elijah's funny and entertaining moments. So, I have posted two such events as an effort to see how transfer and quality go. So, here they are. Hope you enjoy.

Stained Glass Memories

2006-09-12T07:21:00.000-05:00

Not knowing what God has planned for our families future, and knowing fully our own desires, Carrie wanted commemorate our time in East Tennessee. The opportunity came to do a stained glass window with a wonderfully talented woman, so we jumped at the chance. After 2-3 days of cutting glass, arranging pieces, soldering, etc., we have the masterpiece below. The picture does not do it justice as

The best laid plans…

2006-08-30T08:29:00.000-05:00

I had in mind to continue posting regularly, but life had other plans. Last week was a week which, if ever repeated, may lead to my demise. It was supposed to be a busy week anyway. My teaching responsibilities at King and Milligan began on Wednesday. I was also slotted to preach on Sunday. And, our youth group was going to spend all day Friday and Saturday at the Bristol Motor Speedway

Bizarre Brownie Commercial

2006-08-21T17:12:00.000-05:00

I don’t know if you have heard, but Domino’s is running a new promotion where they include fudge brownie bits free with every purchase. You read correctly. Brownie and Pizza. Let me paint a picture of how it was presented to me on TV. I just got finished watching the trailer for “Crossover” which looks like a combination of “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Bring it on,” and “You Got served” – but I

The Calm After the Storm

2006-08-20T07:18:00.000-05:00

A storm rolled through last night, and then there was this eerie glow. I wish I had captured it better.

Daily Snapshot

2006-08-19T15:46:00.000-05:00

Jaime Wetzel’s blog links to another blog called 10 years of my life that is an experiment in taking and posting a picture every day. I think that is an interesting idea, for a couple of reasons. First, it documents a brief episode from your day. It is history writing in a slightly different way. Second, it makes you more aware of your surroundings, looking for a memorable scene to capture.

A Personal Holliday

2006-08-17T06:39:00.000-05:00

Today is a special day. It is Elijah’s birthday – 2 years on this planet. Unbelievable that he has been in my life that long. He is an awesome kid – smart, stubborn, funny, full of life, with a touch of OCD for good measure. He has taught me that patience and grace are better teachers than strict discipline. Though he may never read anything I write, he has influenced me more than I or he

Browser Business

2006-08-15T20:13:00.000-05:00

The above picture is of course the logo to Mozilla Firefox, which has been stomped out as a crop circle. Firefox is quickly becoming the most used browser in the world. For those who don’t know, it has automatic pop up blocking (Internet Explorer just recently added such a feature). It also has tabbed browsing which means I can have another page loading while finishing the page I am on. Anyway,

Statement of Faith

2006-08-12T09:05:00.000-05:00

I may have mentioned that I will be teaching Old Testament Survey at King College in the fall. Since they are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and I am not, they have asked me to include a “Statement of Faith”. Having never written one, I googled it and found some interesting things. Some of which I agreed with, some of which I did not. What follows is a work in progress – a first

Stork Mail

2006-08-09T07:58:00.000-05:00

She’s here!! My little girl – Sophia Caris. The first granddaughter on either side. It only took 7 tries. Fortunately, my sister is also having a daughter in a couple of months so she will not be alone. Everything went extremely well. For those “in the know”, Carrie went from a 5 to full delivery in 40 minutes. Unbelievably fast.This baby is quite different than Elijah. Elijah was

An Update

2006-08-07T15:56:00.000-05:00

Teen week went well. The students and I both enjoyed the activities. I am looking forward to what the fall has to offer including a renewed commitment to the body of Christ (by both the students and myself) and excitement about the young leaders that are present in the group. Carrie and I are going into the hospital tomorrow at 6:00am so that she can be induced. That is one day after the due

Full Week

2006-08-01T16:14:00.000-05:00

The posts this week will be sporadic, if at all. This week is “Teen Week”. Basically, I planned a different event each day with the youth group leading up to their returning to school on Monday. All credit for the idea goes to my youth minister, Andy Timm, who dedicated a week every year to taking us to do all sorts of things. Sunday was the lake. Monday was a crazy scavenger hunt. And

Monastic Life

2006-07-24T08:01:00.000-05:00

“Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or else we shall never find Him.” Saint JosemariaI read an article that came from Kevin Miller who was asked to advise a Sunday School curriculum company about the following: “What would you recommend for spiritual formation in our time?” His response was simple: “The Monastery.” They didn’t get it. They, like so many of us when

Worship Ministry Vision

2006-07-21T07:59:00.000-05:00

As a worship leader, I consistently evaluate what I am doing and what I am accomplishing in the Sunday Morning service. Obviously, facilitating praise and worship of God is at the top. But is that it? And, how tangible is such a goal? I often get frustrated, feeling the need to appease tastes while trying to accomplish said goals. Then one day I had an epiphany. It was as if God spoke

Give 'em the Finger

2006-07-19T07:28:00.000-05:00

Church Softball season is over, and let’s just say I went out with a bang. No, I didn’t hit a homer. I got blasted in the pinkie by a forcefully thrown ball from the left fielder while trying to put the tag on at third base. It hit right on the tip and compressed the finger. People around here thought I “stoved” it (if you have any information regarding the origin of this phrase, please share

In Other Words...Kingdom

2006-07-17T08:21:00.000-05:00

*** I recommend reading Matthew 13 before reading this post***When we think of “kingdom” our thoughts often go to Camelot, castles, horses, Robin Hood, etc. Or maybe we think of England where the queen just turned 80 years old. Since we live in a culture of democracy where everyone gets a vote and no one is told what to do, we have a hard time understanding what it means for one person to make

Bowling Bits

2006-07-13T08:21:00.000-05:00

I took the youth group “Cosmic Bowling” Saturday night. For those who have no clue, it is bowling with an ambiance of black lights, strobe lights, other flashing lights, and typically Hip-Hop and R&B piped through the crappy sound system. I don’t know if other cultures have such an event, but it is something if you have never done it. Now, with all that said, I made some observations while

In Other Words...Wrath

2006-07-07T16:21:00.000-05:00

I love this a far side comic. In fact, for a while I had a shirt with the same comic on it. As if God is just up there dropping pianos on people’s heads for fun. There is also a line from Bruce Almighty, when Bruce says, “Fine! The gloves are off pal! C'mon, lemme see a little wrath! Smite me, O mighty smiter!” He implores God to actually come down and act, because as far as Bruce can see.

Worship 101

2006-06-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

I constantly feel like the Sunday worship service is being turned into something it is not. People complaining about styles of music, songs, preacher, they didn't get anything out of it, etc. So, I wrote the following article for our newsletter. It probably won't help, but I needed to get it out of my system.*******************************************************When is the last time you

2006-06-20T09:10:00.000-05:00

So, I have been doing a lot of various things. Nothing major, but it has kept me busy. In addition, my laptop has been down, so I have not been able to multitask (i.e. watch Elijah and write blog posts). So, as you can see, my last entry has been a few weeks. But never fear - I wrote an article for the newsletter that I will post the next few days. Until then, reread something I wrote in

Acoustics—Day 4: The Cries of the Oppressed

2006-06-08T19:47:00.000-05:00

Parents often become desensitized to the cries of their children. They are concerned but eventually know that things will work themselves out. So action is delayed, put off onto someone else, or frustration sets in. Yes cries can be tuned out somewhat easily. It is no different with the cries of the oppressed, the weak, the starving, and poor. All is not well with the world as we would like

Acoustics--Day 3: The Song of Creation (is a lament)

2006-06-07T19:46:00.000-05:00

We live in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains. It is a beautiful area of the country. Mountains. Trees. Blue skies. Creation is beautiful. God is good. And often we hear that God has created all of this for our enjoyment. But is that it? Is all of this just to make us happy? What is creation saying to us?Scripture indicates that creation is more than just a passive pleasing sight

Acoustics—Day 3: The Voice of Others

2006-06-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

Consider your response when someone tells you they hear voices. Immediately we assum they are crazy, insane, ready for the nuthouse. It is just not a normal thing to hear voices. In fact, our society encourages isolationism—a removal of self from our surroundings. So even though voices ring out across the world, we only hear what we want to hear. After all, hearing voices makes one crazy.And

Acoustics—Day 2: The Clamor of Culture

2006-06-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

We are bombarded by messages from our culture. The loudest reverberations in our lives come from the agents of popular culture. Granted many of the messages disseminated thereby are unwholesome and anti-Christian, but many are not. Most are promoting a lifestyle that you should engage in so that you are happy, fit in, and contribute to society. Companies tap into this ideology and sell

Acoustics--Day 1

2006-06-04T16:54:00.000-05:00

Today begins camp and begins the task of both discerning and evaluating the influences in my life and the lives of the campers. The theme is “Acoustics.” There is plenty of noise floating through the air—TV, Radio, News, Music, etc. So do we as Christians have a filter for hearing properly what we hear, or do we take it in without another thought? And if all truth is God’s truthm then God’s

An Update

2006-05-30T08:31:00.000-05:00

Well, May is almost over, and I have to say, “Thank God!” IT has been a busy month--some expected—some not so much. Let’s run down the list, shall we:Carrie finished her school year, and ideally two adults around the house full time would have made my load lighter. Instead, she is figuring out all sorts of new things for me to do.The youth group summer is about to kick into gear, so I have

In Other Words...Glory

2006-05-17T16:23:00.000-05:00

“Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.”“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face

Mother's Day Sermon Part 2

2006-05-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

I want to look at each of those individually to teach us what it takes both to be a good mother and a faithful Christian. First, a Spirit of Power. I don’t always think of mothers as powerful, but perhaps I underestimate them. They are a powerful influence on the lives of their kids. My mom has been here a few times and some of you have met her. I doubt any of you would term her powerful. She is

Mother's Day Sermon Part 1

2006-05-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

Mothers do so much for us. And they are indeed deserving of recognition. But perhaps the most important responsibility of a mother is not just to change diapers or clean up messes, but to provide a spark that encourages and fosters faith in children. In the passage for today from 2 Timothy, Paul implores Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God.” He wants to see Timothy on fire for Christ,

I'm a Van Guy

2006-05-11T07:28:00.000-05:00

Carrie and I finally did it. We joined the ranks of the millions of others in middle class America and got a mini-van. I suppose 2 parents, 2 kids, a 125 pound dog, and parents hundreds of miles away made us great candidates. So, we got a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, 34,000 miles, stow and go seating. We are all pretty happy with the purchase, especially Shadow. He can actually stretch out now.

Gas

2006-05-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

So gas prices are over $3/gallon in most places. Most people just want to talk about how atrocious thus situation is and how something needs to be done soon or we won’t be able to gas up our boats, SUVs, 4-wheelers, and NASCARs. And do you know what I say? GOOD! I am one of the few people who am somewhat pleased about this turn of events. No, I don’t like paying out the crack for gas. But I

Enacting Change the "24" Way

2006-05-03T07:49:00.000-05:00

I have just begun watching 24 this season. Though entertaining, highly interesting, and action packed, I've noticed an ethical and moral problem. Jack regularly puts people in situations that makes them choose the lesser of 2 evils, and if they don't choose the lesser one, they are going to destroy the world. Then there are other times when he switches reverses morality. The right choice

In Other Words...Gathering

2006-05-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

There are clubs, organizations, societies, and groups of all kinds in the world. Some meet once a year, once a month, once a week, or even every day. There is a group called the Red Hat Society. Their motto reads like this: “The Red Hat Society is a social organization where there is fun after fifty (and before) for women of all walks of life.” Basically they all wear these gaudy red hats and go

In Other Words...Journey

2006-04-27T07:36:00.000-05:00

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Life is a journey.” Or “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” The metaphor of journey fills the Bible. Words like enduring, traveling, and racing all talk about some trip that ends with a destination. Even salvation and faith seem to be part of such a trip, not just a one-time occurrence. And to be honest, I think that many Christians have a skewed idea of

The Storm of God

2006-04-24T08:14:00.000-05:00

We’ve had quite a few big storms as of late, complete with strong winds, thunder, lighting, and heavy rain. I personally love storms. Every aspect of them. After all, it is a complete package. Often times people like rain for the refreshment it brings, but don’t like the depressing gray clouds. Others like the beauty of the lightning, but the scary thunder and inherent danger of electrocution.

House of Selfishness

2006-04-22T11:15:00.000-05:00

I am a big “House” fan. The main character (Dr. House played by Hugh Laurie) is a sarcastic, manipulative, egomaniacal jerk who shows glimpses of compassion and kindness when no one is looking. I suppose he reminds me of myself sometimes. This past week’s episode, “Sleeping Dogs Lie,” relay delved into the issue of bio-ethics, which is an increasingly more difficult field to traverse.

A Lesson from a Mower

2006-04-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

I decided to buy a mower this year. I have been using hand-me-down mowers since I left home, and I am tired of it. It usually takes me an hour to get the stupid thing started, then something breaks partway through and I have to deal with fixing it. I just want a mower that starts when I pull the cord. Period. So, I decided to bite the bullet and purchase my first mower. I had in mind just

Victory in Jesus

2006-04-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was of course Easter and ended the season of Lent. I gave up pop, soda, and coke (depending upon what part of the country you reside) as well as online poker. I really wanted to give up most online activities, but I am getting free high-speed internet service, so I decided to wait until that ran out. I learned a few things from the experience. First, I was addicted to sugary sweet

Symbols of Service - Part 4 (conclusion)

2006-04-10T08:19:00.000-05:00

When we serve one another throughout the year, helping one another in our real needs, we are obeying the spirit of the law of Christ. How about putting the Sermon on the Mount into effect and doing such things as going the second mile, giving to him who would borrow of us, not speaking harshly, treating one another with respect, or forgiving when people don’t deserve it? How about looking to

Symbols of Service - Part 3

2006-04-10T08:18:00.000-05:00

In v. 13, Jesus refers to the titles of "Teacher" and "Lord" in order to make it clear that that he acknowledges and accepts these titles, but his act of foot washing does not compromise his dignity and honor. Rather, as Jesus suggests further in vv. 14-16, foot-washing is an example of a new way of living based upon a "servanthood" paradigm:“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your

Symbols of Service - Part 2

2006-04-10T08:17:00.000-05:00

He rises from the dinner table during mealtime and begins the lowest of services. The time arrives for Jesus to wash Peter’s feet, but Peter is embarrassed by the socially-debasing act of his Master. His protest is understandable: how could we possibly picture the supreme God stooping liking a slave, clothed only in a loincloth? It just doesn’t make sense. This picture can only make sense with

Symbols of Service - Part 1

2006-04-10T08:16:00.000-05:00

It seems that bizarre things happen around the dinner table. Confessions and announcements are made. Fights break out. Insanity ensues. It happens in a lot of movies. What is about the dinner table that causes such bizarre behavior? Apparently we continue the legacy that Jesus began because we see Jesus set the bar high for doing unexpected things at the dinner table. What a strange

In Other Words...Holy

2006-03-28T11:04:00.000-05:00

Holy grail. Holy book. Holy Land. Holy Crap. What does the word “holy” mean? We sing songs about holiness. We use it in as a swear word. We use it as an exclamation of surprise. So what does it all mean?Well let me give you the Biblical view of holy. The word holy is a word used to make a distinction. On one side is holy (that which is set apart and has a special relationship with God) and

In Other Words...Justice

2006-03-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

I think most of us would agree that the commonly held definition of justice is “getting what you deserve.” And it works both ways really. In some countries if you get caught stealing, you get your hands cut off. If a guy gets caught in adultery, he gets something else cut off. As I have heard it said, “Don’t do the crime if you aren’t willing to do the time.” But we also see that justice

Spring is here?

2006-03-20T12:44:00.000-05:00

Click on a picture below to see the wonders of spring in Bristol.

In other words...Lament

2006-03-18T19:02:00.000-05:00

What is the worst situation in your life or your friend’s life right now? Consider such a question as you read.The world is full of lament, of crying out to someone or something. Lamenting takes place when we realize that the world is not as it should be. Somehow, the order has broken down. God desires peace in this world and we all know what life is like and that peace does not exist. There

In other words...Sacrifice

2006-03-06T09:25:00.000-05:00

Why do most of us sacrifice? Why do we really give things up? There is a common saying that answers that: “No Pain no Gain; No guts no glory”. People give things up so that they can gain something. In other words, we have to sacrifice things to get what we want. Sports guys talk about how hard they have worked to get to where they are. News people love heralding people who have tried

Confessions of an Olympic Naysayer

2006-02-21T09:04:00.000-05:00

So, I have spent a lot of time lately bashing the Olympics. There are certain events that are beyond lame and a waste of everyone’s time. There are some I will never understand. And almost all of them are tweaked to get more out of them then they are worth. And the pinnacle of this waste is figure skating. 15-year girls with bigger thighs and smaller chests than I have and “flamboyant” guys

In Other Words…Covenant

2006-02-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." Deuteronomy 7:9The Old Testament centers around the concept of covenant. The concept of covenant is the overarching theme of the OT. From the beginning God was making covenants with his creation in an effort to relate and

Olympic Discrimination

2006-02-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

I want to hire the NAACP and the ACLU to bring a lawsuit against the Winter Olympics for geographical discrimination. It is not fair to some countries because they have neither cold weather nor the resources to compete in these events. And I am not just talking about those really small countries of which you have never heard (yes I am talking about you San Marino, Liechtenstein, and Kyrgyzstan).

Putting the Saint back

2006-02-14T15:05:00.000-05:00

Well, today is St. Valentine’s Day. A day that initially had spiritual and religious roots that has been so commercialized that we have lost touch with such roots. One history I found had the following description:“There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up

Baby Illustrations

2006-02-13T09:45:00.000-05:00

Last night, Elijah woke up around 4:00am. I was awake, as sometimes happens. And, as he sometimes does, he began to play with a mirror that has buttons and a spinny thing on it. When he presses a button or the spinny thing a song plays for about 15 seconds. Anyway, he played with that for about 30 minutes, and then cried out for mommy to come and feed him. And Carrie, the dutiful wife and

In Other Words…

2006-02-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

In the beginning was the word…what words were in the beginning? Or what words have shaped faith over the years only to be lost in our modern vernacular? I am starting a new lesson series in youth group called “In Other Words.” Clearly many words have changed or lost their meaning over time. I cite just a few obvious ones: gay, cool, fag, awesome, and of course just about every “swear word” you

Why I Liked "Napoleon Dynamite"

2006-02-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

I know I am WAY behind the times, but I saw “Napoleon Dynamite” over Christmas and thought I would post my thoughts about this movie that has shaped much of pop culture in the last few years. Let me preface the following by saying, Napoleon Dynamite was one of the dumbest movies ever. At the same time, it was one of the funniest. Did I like it? Sort of. Perhaps I should put it a different

Shabbat 2

2006-02-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Just saying, “The Sabbath day is a special day and should be observed” does not necessarily correlate into a meaningful and proper celebration. I don’t advocate a certain day, but some day or time during the week should be set aside to allow God to work through our cessation of work. Unfortunately, for most traditional churches, Sunday seems to be busier than other days. For those on staff or

Shabbat

2006-02-01T10:28:00.000-05:00

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbathand from doing as you please on my holy day,if you call the Sabbath a delightand the Lord’s holy day honorable,and if you honor it by not going your own wayand not doing as you please or speaking idle words,then you will find your joy in the Lord,and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the landand to feast on the inheritance of your father

The Place of Education

2006-01-29T21:49:00.000-05:00

“We need neither years of study nor thorough knowledge of both testaments to profit from lectio. As God’s penultimate revelation to humankind, holy Scripture is applicable to our lives and is the primary sourcebook for our devotion.” (From Soul Shaper p.37) It seems that there are levels of meaning that can be found. The simple surface level of meaning from a cursory reading is available to

Spectatorship

2006-01-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

Spectatorship (a blending of “spectator and “worship”) is ruining the worship experience within congregations every week. We live in a society that touts individual expressions of faith. We even hear such thinking make its way into our churches as we speak of our “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” People start thinking in terms of what 'they' want from church. If they are displeased

A Sad Day

2006-01-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

I had not planned on posting anything today (as I am working on a sermon for Sunday), but I wanted to ask for your prayers for a family that I don’t even know. I had a student in my OT class last semester that was a great guy. His name was Steven Hunter. He was kind, funny, and a good student. He even came over to watch the Michigan-OSU football game. Yesterday while working out in the field

The State of the Church

2006-01-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

I serve a church that has been losing some regular attendees (I shun the use of the word “member” because it has lost its meaning) over the last few years. Everyone has an opinion and a solution. I hear it all: We need more stuff for the kids and the parents will come. We need more contemporary worship. We need more traditional worship. We need a more charismatic preacher. We need more

Shrug it off

2006-01-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

I hadn’t planned on posting today, but I got my ire up at an ETSU basketball game. Now let me say that I don’t have much of a fashion sense, and I don’t particularly care about fashion because I consider it to be a waste of time and money. But seriously, who designs some of this crap! Who sits around saying, this will look good. And then, who agrees with them?!?Case in point, the new

The Peace of Christ

2006-01-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

I wrote this over the Christmas break but am just now getting around to posting it. Hope it is encouraging because the next 2 I have are less so.-----------------------------------------------At the Christmas Eve service I attended at Elk Rapids Baptist Church, an interesting question was asked and offered for those in attendance to respond. Simply asked, “What does Jesus mean to you?” As I

TCTC - 4 (final)

2006-01-14T09:41:00.000-05:00

This will be the final entry based on TCTC. The speaker was John Stonestreet from Summit Ministries. They focus on training students in worldviews that are prevalent in today’s society and refocusing students onto a Christian worldview. Now, though I am not a big apologetics guy because I have seen such “defenses” used to belittle other’s belief systems, this presentation was thoughtful and

TCTC - 3

2006-01-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

I came to a realization about myself last weekend—I talk too much. Perhaps it is the nature of my job (always being up front, in charge, leading people, directing them). Or perhaps it is the nature of my personality. Or perhaps it is a lack of discipline. I think in the end it is a combination of all three. I always am directing people because my calling has agreed with my personality. And

TCTC - 2

2006-01-09T22:26:00.000-05:00

One of the things I like most about TCTC is the variety found in the worship services. Different groups bring different offerings and that all blend together to give glory to God. Granted, some don’t particularly care for one special or another, but in the end each is a sacrifice of praise brought from each person’s heart. With that being said, the dance troupe Relentless brought interpretive

TCTC - 1

2006-01-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

I have returned from the big weekend with 3700 other Christians (most teenagers) and I have to say, I actually feel better than when I left. I left sick and down in the back, and both have improved (albeit modestly) from when I left. So praise God for that. But my condition allowed me to have a different perspective on the worship service. Friday evening and most of Saturday I could not talk

Big Weekend?

2006-01-06T08:40:00.000-05:00

I am leaving today and heading to Gatlinburg, TN for the annual Tennessee Christian Teen Convention. Normally I look forward to this event, and though I am anticipating a good conference, I expect it to be rough for me personally. I have a head cold, which seems to be dissipating. However, the coughing seems to have triggered my sciatic nerve to flare up again. So, though the conference will

Isolation as Preparation

2006-01-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

This picture is one of my favorites spots in the whole world. It is located in Kalkaska, MI, Carrie’s hometown, and though I give her a hard time about the city it really is quite a nice place to visit, especially her parent’s house. They live on a somewhat secluded piece of land which allows Shadow and I to take peaceful walks. My walks usually bring me to this place pictured. Though I am

The "Holiday" Controversy

2006-01-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

We just finished up another holiday season. It seems that more attention was paid to society trying to take Christ out of Christmas than to actually celebrating Christ in our lives and the lives of our families. As I consider the following events—companies enforcing a “holiday” rather than “Christmas” season; Christians getting ticked off that churches are closing on Christmas Sunday; and the

Holiday Travel=Blog Sabbatical

2005-12-17T09:45:00.000-05:00

This will probably be the last entry for the year 2005.I am leaving soon to visit my in-laws in Kalkaska, MI. For those who don’t know much about Northern Michigan, imagine Siberia. Now think of the most desolate spot. Now add 3 feet of snow. Now drop the temperature about 15 degrees. That’s where I am heading. To say that there is no high speed internet is an overstatement. At times, my in-laws’

Manna from Heaven

2005-12-15T11:01:00.000-05:00

I like to have substance on my blog and not talk about the silly events of the day, but I can’t help myself. I went to McDonalds today because I saw an add on TV that promoted 2 McGriddle sandwiches for $2. I love getting deals at fast food places, so I bit. Let me tell you, I have found manna from heaven, and is in the McGriddle sandwich. Seriously, they were amazing. They combined the

Seeing God Through Different Eyes

2005-12-14T09:06:00.000-05:00

My newest favorite artist is Matisyahu. He is a Hip-hop/Reggae musician who just happens to also be a Hassidic Jew. He has a great flow, good beats and music, and his words are very thought provoking. You can check out a video of him on the Jimmy Kimel Live show here (stick around for the interview afterward).And I think the reason I like him so much is because of his lyrics. They remind me

Lesson Learned

2005-12-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day of my Old Testament Survey class. The students took the final and left. As I reflect over the semester, I can’t help but be reminded of the third day of class when there was quite a confrontation between a couple of students and myself about the historical accuracy of the Genesis creation account, specifically did Adam and Eve actually exist. It was a pretty good

Wasting Time...even faster

2005-12-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

I got a cable modem installed about a week ago. I will have it free for 6-months. It was the settlement from a class action lawsuit against Charter (our monopolistic cable company) for hidden and unnecessary charges. I also hooked up a wireless router so am surfing and multi-tasking like crazy. I would like to say I am getting more accomplished, but I sort of doubt it. To be honest I feel

Candle of Peace

2005-12-06T10:21:00.000-05:00

A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed.I am an idealist and believe that peace is attainable, but perhaps not. Perhaps greed and selfishness will always cause enmity, fighting, and war.

Candle of Hope

2005-11-28T08:27:00.000-05:00

***This is the first in a series of Advent Meditations***We’ve all heard the quote, “The light at the end of the tunnel.” That phrase signifies hope after a long period of despair. After a time of struggling through, relief finally arrives.And in a world filled with darkness, we all need a little light.Whether it’s a great flame that shows us how to win back what we lost,Or a powerful beacon

Prevaliling Prayer Sermon Part 5-Conclusion

2005-11-18T07:13:00.000-05:00

Prevailing Prayer means that prayer permeates our lives. That prayer is a constant from the time we get up until the time we go to sleep. Praying without ceasing is being able to pray in the moment. I believe that much of the power of prayer is that your heart is changed as much as the heart of God:When you praise him you begin to understand your place in this worldWhen you seek His healing

Prevaliling Prayer Sermon Part 4

2005-11-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

Psalm 13How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD

Prevaliling Prayer Sermon Part 3

2005-11-14T10:11:00.000-05:00

Psalm 6 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weepingand drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they

Prevaliling Prayer Sermon Part 2

2005-11-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

Psalm 8O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and

Prevaliling Prayer Sermon Part 1-Intro

2005-11-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

I preached on Sunday about prayer. The next few days will include exerpts from that sermon. Hope you enjoy._________________________________________________“Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve

Health Care Reforms

2005-11-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

I just happened to turn on “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” on CNN the other night, and the one and only Ted Nugent was on the show to talk about various topics from gun control to his desire to run for governor of Michigan in 2010. Now most people outside of the Michigan Militia consider him a right wing wacko whose ideas are impractical and at times downright dangerous. I clearly disagree

Interpretive Lens

2005-11-07T10:41:00.000-05:00

I had an epiphany/revelation/breakthrough of some sort on Friday. Perhaps it is nothing new to you, but it was something to me. I have been wondering for some time now why people do not grow spiritually. Or, to put it more specifically, why don’t people’s understanding of the Bible go beyond a surface level reading? Many people have been in the church for a long time. They have heard

Skydiving Adventure

2005-11-01T08:20:00.000-05:00

I went skydiving this past weekend. Yes, you read correctly. If you don’t believe me, you can see the full set of pictures on my website. I didn’t tell many people because I didn’t want to hear, “That is so stupid. You are going to die. Why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane?” And so forth.It was pretty amazing. People ask if I was scared, and I reply, “Not really.” Truthfully, I

Leave the cases cold

2005-10-28T09:08:00.000-05:00

While watching CNN yesterday, I saw a story about a new Justice Department office that would investigate and prosecute ''cold case" murders from the civil rights era. The goal of this office would be to investigate and then attempt to prosecute unsolved homicides motivated by racial hatred that occurred before 1970. The annual budget is $5 million.The bill was inspired by efforts to reopen the

Racism Overreaction

2005-10-27T09:17:00.000-05:00

So I hear that the Air Force Football coach, Fisher DeBerry, made some “inflammatory” remarks after their big loss to TCU. To sum up, he basically said that black athletes by and large seem to exhibit more speed on the football field. As he looks at it, his team needs more speed (i.e. more black players), especially based on the thrashing his team had just taken. He didn’t say that other races

Busy Bee

2005-10-25T08:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a crazy last few weeks. The number of activities I have been in charge of or involved in has almost been overwhelming. But, we got through, and now have a short respite with only the normal responsibilities.This past weekend was our annual youth retreat. I thought it went well. The students seemed to grasp the concepts. I made it a point to really challenge them this year.I

Sacrificial Worship

2005-10-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

I was teaching my Old Testament class this week from 1 Kings, and came across the story regarding the split in the Kingdom. Rehoboam was unwilling to ease off the people’s labor and caused the Northern Kingdom, led by Jeroboam, to begin a separate monarchy. But what is most intriguing is Jeroboam’s shrewdness in keeping the people from returning their allegiance back to the Southern Kingdom and

In Memorial

2005-10-06T09:46:00.000-05:00

I’ve been meaning to write this all week, but have not had the time. Our church suffered a huge loss this past Saturday. The chairman of our eldership, Larry Smithson, passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack. He was only 61 years old and was the catalyst for much of the growth and positive activity that occurred in at Central Holston Christian Church. He was committed in so many ways

Resume

2005-09-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

You may have seen this floating around the internet. Maybe not. EIther way, it is both humerous and telling in light of the many people who lie on their resumes. This is an actual job application a 17-year-old boy submitted at a McDonald's fast-food establishment in Florida. They hired him because he was so honest and funny. Enjoy some humor on this Friday.JOB APPLICATIONNAME : Greg Bulmash

Unfettered - Francis of Assisi

2005-09-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10From the USA Today:“Todd Marinovich was born on the Fourth of July and programmed to be a great quarterback. His father Marv, a former Oakland Raiders offensive lineman and assistant coach, drilled him from infancy with NFL stardom as the goal. For a while, Todd responded. The 1987 All-USA Offensive Player of the Year

Unfettered Part 1

2005-09-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

I started a new series last Wednesday in Youth Group called “Unfettered.” The goal is to subvert culture’s dictating who we must be by following the example of other faithful people. Then we can live unfettered by the world’s story prescribed for us, and follow Christ freely. This first lesson focuses on Jesus and His true calling for us.***************************************“Then Jesus

2005-09-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

Thank you for all of the responses to my last post. That entry easily had the most posts under it in the history of this blog. The response reminded me of a few things.Theodicy (in my opinion) is the most difficult question for any faith to answer. We can try to explain away the trinity, the incarnation, and various other theological quandaries. But trying to reconcile a loving, all-powerful

Theodicy

2005-09-07T16:08:00.000-05:00

I have been slow in getting a secondary response out regarding the Hurricane tragedy and its aftermath. The coverage has been difficult at times for me to watch. I feel so helpless, and so frustrated by the state of the world. I have been asked a couple of times various questions by people (teenagers especially) seeking to come to grips with theodicy (figuring out how the existence of a