2010: ?

Wow, it seems like it’s been quite a while since I last sat down and cranked out an article. In the meantime between this article and the last, I’ve been thinking about the future. This is a typical and often dangerous habit of many. 2010 is nearly upon us and the future has not turned out quite the way many have predicted. “Project Plowshare” was an effort to use atomic explosions in large construction projects. (boston.com) Many predicted that if dynamite worked well for demolition, nukes would get the job done in a fraction of the time. Speaking of jobs, the 40-hour workweek, mandated during the Great Depression, was supposed to have been reduced to 30 or even 20 hours. It was once assumed that we’d be retiring around the time our first gray hairs started to appear.
Scientists, learning more and becoming more curious about animal behavior and even animal psychology, speculated that if could figure out the vocabulary, we’d be speaking to dolphins and whales. There are probably people out there that do believe they can speak fluent whale or dolphin. I predict that in 2010, these folks will not be invited to many dinner parties. They certainly won’t be arriving to the parties in flying cars, often thought to be the next logical leap forward in common transportation. Many hypothesized that there would also be more marriage choices in 2010, including polygamy. They came close, but will receive no cigar.
As I have mentioned in several past articles, we can’t predict the future and don’t need to spend nearly as time worrying about it as we do. Jesus gives some great instruction on how to deal with worry in Luke 12. He tells us to avoid greed, consider God’s provisions for all of his creatures, give to others, and seek out the kingdom of heaven. Our personal futures often don’t turn out the way we would like them to. In God, they don’t have to. “God works for the good of those that love him.” (Rom. 8:28)

Conniving Kittens

Today I read an article (cracked.com) that proves to me that cats are indeed maniacal masterminds bent on world domination. I was a little shocked to discover that some of my cat’s adorable actions serve more purposes than making me say, “awwww” or get out the camera for a YouTube video. A recent study (that’s how you know it’s serious) revealed that people can tell the difference between a cat’s average meow and a meow that is pleading for food. Apparently, there is a remarkable similarity in frequency between this soliciting meow and a human baby’s cry. Cats adjust their meow to manipulate us! Another fact that I found disturbing is that when a cat rubs itself against you, it is not showing affection. It’s marking ownership! Powerful scent glands that a cat uses for communication are located on the tail, the side of the body, and the face. When a cat rubs itself on you, it is leaving its unique scent.
Cats, like many other animals, employ mimicry as a form of defense. When a cat puts its ears down, shows its fangs, squints, and hisses, it is trying to resemble a snake. It’s a fact that just about every member of the animal kingdom fears snakes, not just Indiana Jones.
Finally, you may have seen or heard of cats bringing dead animals to their owners. This is not simply the presenting of a gift. Cats do the same thing to their young to provide training. When your cat drops a dead bird on your foot, it is telling you that you are a terrible hunter and need to learn to feed yourself. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul talks about false apostles. There are quite a few people attempting to win our loyalty. Whether an affiliation is to a political party, church, or simply a brand name, we have to be discerning as individuals. Instead of accepting everything on a whim or at face value, we should carefully make sure that everything we do is according to God’s will. If we are not identifying the truth, we are looking at Satan as an innocent kitten.

Avoid Holiday Arguments

By the time many read this article, Thanksgiving will already have passed and their respective maws will be filled to the hilt. For those of you reading this post Thanksgiving, you might be able to use this information for future family gatherings. Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley and a couple others discussed how to avoid family fights during Thanksgiving by derailing various political arguments. For instance, one can lead a heated discussion of health care in to a conversation about Charla Nash, the woman injured in a chimp attack. She is currently awaiting a face transplant and learning how to live without hands or a face. Barack Obama is always a battleground, angering those who refer to themselves as either liberals or conservatives. If your family starts talking about an Obama, try to make it Michelle Obama, who with a 63% approval rating has started a garden, supported military families, and won Banana Republic on stage.
If the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan become a topic for discourse, try to put the focus on the respect we should have for the men and women serving overseas. Show your family videos of soldiers reuniting with their loved ones or their dogs. Finally, if Al Gore or the general subject of climate change comes up, lead the exchange towards the tornado chasing Henne family and the now famous “Balloon Boy.” At the very least your family will seem much more normal.
Satan feeds off of our arguments. He wants us to be split in to as many groups as possible. Ephesians 4:2-4 tells us be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. We are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Paul brings unity up quite often. Paul tells Titus (in chapter 3) to remind people to submit to the government and “to be ready to do whatever is good.” We were saved by the kindness and love of our God when we least deserved it. We are to avoid arguments and instead do good to all of God’s people.

Electronic Polar Bears

I came across an odd story this morning from the Riverfront Times, a St. Louis new blog. Apparently, the St. Louis Zoo hasn’t had much good fortune in the area of polar bear longevity. The zoo’s last polar bear, Hope, was euthanized last April when veterinarians discovered she had cancer. In May 2005 a polar bear named Churchill ate a fatal amount of cloth and plastic. Churchill died during stomach surgery. Just five weeks after that, a bear named Penny died from infection. She had two dead fetuses inside of her uterus. Zoo officials didn’t know that she was pregnant. According to a commenter on Riverfront Times, zoo keepers can only observe the bears from about the same distance as visitors This is due to safety reasons and not the zoo’s negligence.
The very strange part of this story, which references a photo from the Post-Dispatch (Google it!), is that employees with James Trogolo Co. installed a family of electronic polar bears where the real bears once lived. I can’t decide if this act is in bad taste. Evidently, James Trigolo Co. installed the electronic bears to promote their holiday decorations. Due to a rebound in the sale of commercial decorations, James Trigolo Co. is opening a new office in downtown St. Louis (exciting stuff... I know).
The world should not have to be subjected to a pale imitation of Jesus Christ. When Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” in 1 Cor. 11:1, he wasn’t telling the church in Corinth to work on a good voice impersonation or to do a couple things like Jesus would. He was telling them to become an exact reflection of the character of Jesus. In 1 Cor. 12, Paul tells us that we are the body. The Spirit of God dwells in us and we are witnesses in every way that we allow the Spirit to be seen in us. (1 John 5:6-12). Too often we use our imperfection as a crutch or exit strategy. We all are able to be Jesus for people that have yet to get to know Him. Don’t wait for others to be Jesus.

Bi Bi's Dilemna

This week’s interesting news that leads to discussion of more spiritual matters comes to us from Victoria Australia. Sue Drummond was walking her maltese/shitzu mix on Brighton Pier when the dog was suddenly swept off the pier and in to the bay waters by a gust of wind. Drummond watched helplessly as the poor pooch, appropriately named Bi Bi (pronounced “bye bye”), struggled to stay afloat in the waves below her. A young man named Raden Soemawinata heroically stripped down to his skivvies and dove in to save the water logged canine. It was discovered by the “Herald Sun” that Soemawinata was at Brighton Pier to spread his grandmother’s ashes in to the bay. The humble hero stated, “It was pretty cold and windy, but it wasn’t such a hard decision to jump in.” He also said, “I’m a part-time model, so getting into my jocks isn’t so different to what I do for work.” Some fantastic photos tell the story better than I can. Google them at your earliest convenience. Be forewarned that the tasteful photos involve underwear.
To many, a dog in distress isn’t something that inspires much of an emotional response. Not having children and owning the first two dogs I have ever had the pleasure of caring for, I can certainly empathize with Sue Drummond’s plight. I would most definitely be in tears if one of my dogs fell in to a bay. I would jump in to rescue them, but I don’t think I’d be able to stand the embarrassment of dropping my pants to do so. If I was an angel at the time Jesus was sent to Earth, I would probably think to myself, “Why embarrass yourself to save pitiful, sinful creatures like men?” Even as a man it’s impossible to fully understand why the Son of God had to die for me. Who in heaven would miss a shaggy wet dog? God would. He loves us unconditionally and demonstrated His love in the greatest way possible. He gave His own life for sinners like you and I (Rom. 5:8). We should never fail to appreciate this gift.

Fast Food Christianity

Ever experience discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food? This desire for food, known to the masses as "hunger," affects millions of Americans daily. The solution for a working individual such as myself is often visiting a local establishment known as a restaurant, pub, or "fast food joint." The experience associated with these ventures is always two-fold. The first part of the experience is the quality of the food, typically consisting of simple carbohydrates soaked in fatty oils. The second is the quality of the service. I've attempted to work my experience at "sandwich shops" such as Subway, Quiznos, and Blimpie's, down to a science. The "sandwich artist" typically asks,"What would you like on your sandwich sir?" to which I respond, "Everything except tomatoes and jalapenos." (for I believe tomatoes to be a forbidden fruit not to be ingested in their pure form) After this response I occasionally receive an expression of confusion, a long pause, and several questions such as "Do you want pickles?" and "So, you want tomatoes, right?" This is truly a great enigma. Does not the exclusion of certain items infer that the remaining sandwich toppings are acceptable?
We often apply the same “choose your toppings” ideology to our faith. We are only able to accept God in the right environments and under ideal conditions. Anything apart from these circumstances becomes difficult for us to grasp. James 1:17 tells us,“every good and perfect gift is from above.” We shouldn’t experience God exclusively in a church building or strictly among other Christians. Every thing that you have in life and every moment that you live is a gift from God and should be treated as such. These gifts are to be enjoyed with gratefulness and adoration directed towards their source. We might not always understand why we are presented with certain “toppings” in life. People are not going to act the way we want them to 100% of the time and we aren’t going to receive 100% of the things we wish for. According to Romans 8:28, God works for good when we give him 100% of our lives.

No More JuJuBees Please

Since Halloween is just around the corner and more than a few of you will be passing out goodies to children dressed as Miley Cyrus and the Transformers, I wanted to share a few of my least favorite Halloween treats. I do not mean to offend so much as I mean to inform. If you want to be the most well loved person in your neighborhood, you do not pass out things like my first item, “Good & Plenty.” While you may love the taste of black licorice wrapped in soluble plastic, the average child does not. Next up is toothbrushes, often passed out by the dentists in the neighborhood. Dentists do great work, but why not take off one out of 365 nights in a year? Dentists will come in quite handy if a child attempts to digest the next “treat” called “JuJuBees.” It’s possible that this candy was invented so that people with reluctant children could rip out their children’s teeth without pliers or strings tied to door knobs.
I don’t think I went a single year by without me receiving the next two objects in my collection of holiday delights. The first is “Double Bubble.” If you’ve ever looked at a piece of chalk and wondered what it would be like if someone made bubble gum flavored like that piece of chalk and coated with the same white residue, you might be interested in trying “Double Bubble.” You can purchase a piece or two using dirty pennies, something else I’ve found among much more useful Halloween handouts. A good reason to use hand sanitizer, dirty pennies should be melted down and used to construct a husband for the statue of liberty (or at least a large copper dog).
It’s odd that we occasionally have high expectations for free gifts. I will probably revisit this subject when I think about all the Christmas gifts I was openly unhappy with as a child. There is even an expression for this common response: “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” God has given us and continues to offer us many blessings. In the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25, three men are trusted with varying amounts of resources. The last man, given the least, squanders what he is given and produces nothing from it. Enjoy what God has given to you and make the most of it!

Why Do We Blush?

Because it’s my birthday this week, I was tempted to give you a summary of the last 30 years of my life. However, I am going to spare you that boredom and instead reference another great article from the world wide web, courtesy of Cracked.com. The article I read this morning discusses a few things our bodies do every day that science has yet to explain. The first of these, which I have often pondered, is yawning. Long believed to be the method by which our bodies compensate for low levels of oxygen in our blood, yawning doesn’t seem to have a purpose. Yawning, in fact, tends to decrease our oxygen intake. It also seems to be oddly contagious, even among animals.
You may also find yourself wondering why we dream. Several books, web sites, etc. discuss the idea of dream interpretation. Freud called dreams the “road to the unconscious.” No hard evidence exists that dreams are manifestations of our unconscious fears and desires. There is evidence that dreams can be influenced by noises, scents, and even the Earth’s geomagnetic activity.
A final conundrum among our bodies’ daily activities is the “most peculiar” human expression known as blushing. Some believe that blushing is an at of submission while other see it as a method of revealing one’s passive aggression. When one is embarrassed, it is believed that their anger is expressed involuntarily through blushing. Knowing God is one of the most sure fire ways to avoid shame. Shame is mentioned several times in scripture. Blushing is even mentioned a few times in Jeremiah. One of my favorite shame passages is 2 Tim. 1:8-11. Timothy is told to suffer for the gospel because of the grace given to us by Christ. Not everything about life has been revealed to humanity. However, we have seen the Savior and his power. We have also been told that his grace is sufficient. The life of a Christian means avoiding the shame of sin and testifying to others regarding the grace of God.

God Surveillance

For this week’s article, I am referencing another article from Cracked.com. The content of this web site, while not always acceptable for younger audiences, is chock full of interesting tidbits of information. The entry on Cracked.com that I read today lists a few techniques by which average citizens are secretly monitored. This information might fuel existing paranoia or develop new delusions, so read this at your own risk. The first technique listed is TV cameras with audio recording installed in passenger buses. In 2001, way before “9/11”, Chicago spent more than $3 million to have this equipment installed in over 300 city buses.
The next technique is bit more unsettling than bus cameras. Anyone can download software from the internet that allows one to take a cellular phone and tap it. This software even allows one to turn on a phone’s microphone while not in use. One study estimates that 3% of cell phones in the U.S. are already tapped. Yikes!
I found this next technique to be rather interesting. Supposedly, several laser jet computer printers can imbed every sheet of paper that passes through them with a microscopic code that identifies the specific printer that the paper came from. While it is unsettling that such technology exists, one can see how useful it can be when trying to put a stop to criminal activity. Psalm 139 tells us that God knows everything about us. We can’t fully understand our creator or hide from him. God’s knows what is best for us. Though what is currently happening in our lives may be frightening, God knows what we need and if we put him first in our lives, we will have that which we need. If God is first in your life, you won’t have to worry about any level of monitoring.

Futuresketch

This week my article is going geek (as if there weren’t geeky references already). According to Gizmodo, the “gadget blog”, “Photosketch is an internet-based program” that can take a rough sketch and turn it in to a beautiful montage. Until I watched the video online at Gizmodo.com I was very skeptical of this computer program. According to the authors of Photosketch, the software can take any rough sketch with each shape labeled (i.e. crude drawing of bear with the text “bear” next to it) and find images that correspond to each drawn element. The program then judges which images best match the shapes and seamlessly merges them in to a single image. Photosketch’s “blending algorithm” (I hope I didn’t lose you there) analyzes the images that it finds, traces the images, and matches the scene by adding shadows and lighting. So, you can have that photo of you and Batman fighting a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the center of a volcano that you’ve always wanted!
I wanted to mention this program not only because I am a Photoshop nut and it’s revolutionary, but because reading about it instantly made me think about the dissonance that sometimes exists between the plans we have for our lives and the plans that God has. We really have little idea of what our futures will look like. One can speculate on what type of person that he or she will marry, what job that he or she will have, or where he or she will live but only God knows for sure. We only know that, according to Jeremiah 29:11, God has “plans to prosper” us. Those who live in Christ have hope and can live knowing that God will not harm them. It’s acceptable to draw a rough sketch for your life and to make the choices that lead in certain directions but ultimately, it is left up to God to fill in the details. The process involves faith and dedication, but God can create a future more beautiful than we can possibly imagine.

We Are Pots Made From Clay

I love art formed in a variety of disciplines. Whenever I am traveling, I make a point to stop by as many museums and art galleries as I possibly can. What usually catches my eye more than art placed in a museum is art found in urban settings or contrived in innovative mediums. I am always looking for the next “I wish I’d thought of that” expression of creativity. For instance, when I was playing with my Lego blocks, I’d never envisioned creating life-sized replicas of real world objects or detailed murals from them. Google Nathan Sawaya and be amazed by his constructions. A few weeks ago, I was looking at a Lego advertising campaign that used huge posters on the sides of buildings to make the buildings look they were made of giant Lego blocks.
When doodling with my Etch-a-Sketch, I never thought of making photorealistic portraits of my friends and famous celebrities. Greg and George Vlosich do amazing things with an Etch-a-Sketch. Today, I found a painter who’s medium is unwashed cars. Scott Wade, the artist, is truly gifted with drawing elaborate, shaded works on the windows of filthy automobiles.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I often feel like I have worked myself in to a corner. I get the feeling that I have nothing more to offer the world. I sometimes regret the choices I’ve made to the point that I believe I’ve ruined my life. I tend to look at the relatively young age of 30 (which I am less than a month away from) as the end of the road for me. Passages in Isaiah 29 and 64 refer to us as the clay and God as the potter. The clay isn’t allowed to claim that the potter doesn’t understand it and can’t make anything from it. We are the works of the hands of God. God has given us unlimited potential and plans for us to proper as we use this potential to its fullest.

Getting Out of the Crawl Space

My wife and I are quite grateful for our home. It is easy to take care of and doesn’t require any major renovations. We have plenty of space and use it to entertain guests as often as we can. This is not a complaint (as it isn’t something I personally have to deal with), but my house presents a unique challenge to those installing services such as cable, internet, and home security. My house lacks a basement and its walls are almost entirely brick. Almost every installation technician entering my house experiences some level of frustration. When the first cable guy came to install service at my house, he turned completely white upon first glance at the crawl space beneath the house. A mold inspector had no problems spending time in the crawl space and claimed it to be clean and moisture free. The man installing DirecTV in my home today had a different perspective. While not fearful or completely aggravated, he did say that numerous creepy creatures inhabited the crawl space. Apparently, a nest of beetles attacked him. I apologized profusely feeling awful that this confrontation took place.
A fear of the dark is not always disconnected from reality. A number of dangerous critters become active in and inhabit darkness. Various crimes and other misdeeds take place in the dark. A few verses in Job 24 talk about the rebels and adulterers who “make friends with the terrors of darkness”. In Isaiah 29:15-16, the prophet condemns those who “hide their plans from the Lord”. Those who wish who do wrong attempt to hide their bad choices from those who would condemn or judge them. But, there is no hiding from God. Daniel 2:22 states that God “knows what lies in darkness” and that “light dwells with him”. Rom 13:12 tells us to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”. We don’t have to live in a crawl space with beetles and spiders. We can walk in the light of God, living prosperously without the guilt and shame of sin.

The Source of All Joy

I don’t know if it’s just me that notices this, but there seems to be a general lack of joy among the world’s population. Most of this can be linked to the current state of the economy. (I’m sure you’ve never heard that theory before!) Could it be possible that we don’t experience happiness because we are looking for it in all the wrong places? I will get back to this question in just a few sentences. Until then, I would like to share a few tips for living happier that you may or may not have thought about before.
The first tip is one that I always dread, but have never regretted. One way to live happier is to get more exercise! (I can hear the sighs and groaning as I type this) What you might not about exercise is that it “lowers the body’s levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.” (HowStuffWorks.com) Exercising also produces endorphins, a mood boosting chemical.
One must also learn to accept emotions, whether positive or negative. If you really pay attention to your feelings, you may find that your anger or sadness is related to something as simple as temperature or hunger. You should also learn to accept the feelings of others. It’s acceptable for other people to feel unhappy at times. Trying to understand the source of someone else’s discomfort (and possibly helping them with their problems) can make you happier.
As a final tip, did you know that having pets can make you healthier? The responsibility of having a pet can be tough but it can give one a sense of purpose, companionship, exercise (there it is again!), and general stress relief. As great as these bits of advice may be, true happiness is found in knowing God. Numerous scriptures support this fact, but Jer. 9:23-24 contrasts strength, wisdom, and riches to the understanding of God. Feel free to boast about knowing God, the source of all joy.

Unexplained Mysteries of the Universe

Though modern scientific research is moving along at a rapid rate, explaining many of the mysteries of the universe, there remains a number of natural phenomena that science is unable to explain. One of these is the “Naga Fireballs.” In October, along the Mekong River in Vietnam, tens of thousands of red lights rise from the bottom of the river and are lifted hundreds of feet in to the sky before disappearing. The “Naga Fireballs” haven’t lit any fires or caused any harm. It is theorized that the lights are caused by “fermented sediment in the river” releasing “bubbles of self-immolating gas that rise to the surface and combust.” (Cracked.com) Look the fireballs up on YouTube.
Another odd, unexplained natural act is the appearance of “blue jets and red sprites” above the clouds during a lightning storm. Only visible from space or a plane, these beautiful displays of light are only justified by unproven theories. Another light show has been observed in the skies minutes before major earthquakes. Thought to be gases released by earthquakes and then charged in the air or the result of a disruption of the Earth’s magnetic field, the beautiful displays of light remain a mystery.
For several hundred years, people have reported seeing animals fall from the sky in various placed throughout the world. Frogs and toads rained down in Japan. Worms rained in Louisiana. Fish fell from the sky in Singapore and Rhode Island. Some think waterspouts and tornadoes are responsible, but this doesn’t explain why the rain comes as a specific species. I like that there are still phenomena in the universe that only God can explain. As much as a lack of knowledge and awareness can cause fear and a feeling of insignificance, it can also cause humility and a respect for God’s creation. Rest easy knowing that God even knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).

False Psychology

I received my bachelors degree in psychology several years ago. I have to boast about this fact because a bachelors degree in psychology is not worth much more than bragging rights. I worked hard and learned a lot, but I will have to go to graduate school before I can do much of anything in the world of psychology. However, there are a few things I picked up in psychology classes that make for interesting conversations and contradict common thought. Many people fancy themselves to be amateur psychologists without knowing the statistics that can either support or completely negate their opinions.
For instance, did you know that letting your anger out isn’t the best way to deal with your anger? Studies show that expressing your anger, even towards inanimate objects like pillows and stress balls, reinforces your motivation to become angry. Being creatures of habit, we can become addicted to outward expressions of anger. If a pillow or stress isn’t available, one’s habitual anger can be directed any number of completely inappropriate places.
This next idea may seem a little confusing, but stay with me. The concept that simply believing in one’s self will lead to success is a tad backwards. Having confidence in one’s self can be a component of success, but individuals who have an inflated sense of self-worth can become very aggressive when their superiority is questioned. Instead of teaching kids to feel worthier, we should be teaching them the skills that will lead them to pride and success like good social skills and appropriate ways to deal with anger. It is great that this helpful idea as well as others can be found in scripture. The Proverbs alone are full of advice that is supported by several modern studies. God truly knows us best.

Living With Purpose Instead of Anxiety

This past weekend, I performed my very first wedding ceremony. This was no average wedding. This particular wedding joined my wife’s beloved sister and her husband in holy matrimony. After weeks of fearful agonizing, the wedding is over and I think I did fairly well. Again, I discovered that when I divert my self-centered thinking, remove my control, and allow God’s authority to reign, everything works out for the best. I can’t the times I’ve had to learn this lesson and I am certain I will have to learn it again quite a few times before my life is over.
The desire to see specific results in life can be the root of all kinds of evil and negativity. I heard someone summarize anger recently as the result of something that doesn’t take place as one intended. This might seem like an excessively simple definition of anger, but it’s a great one to meditate on (especially in times when anger starts to show its ugly face). Lately, when I find myself getting frustrated, worried, angered, etc., I start to think about my motivation for producing these various emotions. Just like a performer needs to find her character’s motivation to properly convey the character’s emotions, one must determine her own motivation to put one’s thoughts in the proper perspective.
We need to live a purpose and with motivation that comes from God. I wasn’t performing a wedding ceremony to score points with my wife’s family or get to impress the pants off some random strangers. I was fulfilling part of God’s plan for the lives of Sara’s sister and her new spouse. I was being used as an instrument. In 1 Tim, Paul makes Christian behavior personal, relating it to the nature of the church. The next time you find yourself getting upset about a situation you find yourself in or about the outcome of a situation, try to look at your position from God’s perspective.

Leaving Behind the Invaluable

Yesterday I came upon an interesting article that tells the stories of various items thought to be junk that turned out to be valuable artifacts. The most interesting tale, in my opinion, was that of an $800,000 Stradivarius violin. Called “The Duke of Alcantara”, this 267-year-old violin was donated to UCLA. In 1967, the violin was loaned to a member of UCLA’s string quartet (the university must have really trusted this violinist). After stopping to get groceries, the violinist found that his car was left unlocked and the Stradivarius was missing. 27 years later, a violin dealer found himself repairing the Stradivarius. Recognizing its significance, he did some research and found that the Stradivarius was missing from UCLA. The valuable violin was owned by a woman who received it through her divorce settlement. This woman’s ex-husband was given the Stradivarius by an aunt who found it on the side of the freeway in 1967. It appears the UCLA violinist left the violin on top of his car and drove away forgetting it was there.
It’s amazing how much value we attach to certain objects. I know that I would be panic-stricken if I lost my laptop computer. Though I treasure it, I’ve left my computer in places where it could be easily stolen. I tend to do the same thing with my faith and my morality. I’ve not always made the best choices in the people that I associate myself with and how I spend my time. I’ve often found myself in situations that cause me to compromise my representation of Christ. I’ve found myself beginning to doubt God. In 2 Peter 1:1, Peter uses the phrase “precious faith”. 2 Corinthians 5:7 states that “we live by faith”. Several times in scripture our faith is compared to food and water. We can’t live without it! One’s walk with God must be focused and persistent. Faith is not something that should be left behind like a cup of coffee on a car’s roof.

Prayers Answered at Auto-Zone

I must admit to you that I often neglect the power of prayer. Over the years, the countless sermons, classes, and personal studies regarding prayer have drilled the importance of prayer deep in to my brain. So deep, in fact, that I often become numb to the reality of prayer’s power and the connection it gives me to the creator. John 15:7 states that if we “remain” in Christ and His words “remain” in us, then whatever we wish will be given to us. I believe this means that if our intentions are pure and directed towards serving God, we will find satisfaction in our prayers.
I had an excellent time at VBE. All of the teachers and volunteers did fantastic job. I must give a shout out to the teens who gave up their evenings all week (and days for a few of you) to decorate, sing silly songs, make videos, and generally attempt to keep some sense of order at VBE. I bring up VBE in the middle of this discussion of prayer because I believe God answered many prayers on the last evening of VBE. Up until Thursday evening’s session, the weather report predicted lighting and rain. We scrambled to find alternative entertainment for the kids and considered canceling the outdoor activities. Well, the weather cleared up just in time to allow us to head outdoors. I was knocked out of my socks by this occurrence.
To add to my amazement, another prayer was answered for Sara and I this past weekend. After a trip to the DIA, our car began to buck like a wild bronco every time it went idle. We were both frustrated by and left with worry over our only means of transportation. While having the car checked at Auto-Zone, a stranger offered to look at our car. He solved a problem that had been plaguing us for weeks in about 5 minutes. And, he didn’t even want our money! One might consider these two situations to be coincidences, but I see them as answers to prayers at times when extreme doubt began to fill my head. “Be alert and always keep on praying”. (Eph. 6:18) Trust me when I say that our prayers are both heard and answered.

Thanks From the Roseville Youth Group

I want to use this week’s article to share with anyone reading this (all 4 of you), how well things are going with the youth ministry at the Roseville Church of Christ. Many may not know this, but we actually have an organized group of young men and women who meet on a regular basis in order to share in fun, fellowship, and service. My wife and I are extremely thankful that the Roseville Church continues to support this ministry. We believe that it is very important to give our youth an alternative place to enjoy themselves while growing as Christians. I know that I personally would not be the person I am today without being part of an active youth ministry. My parents were involved in ministry from before I was born. Youth ministry is just one way to get involved in the church.
I have seen tremendous maturity in the youth at Roseville. There are teens here that are willing and ready to learn the Bible and serve the Lord when they have countless alternatives. I have had the pleasure of seeing a few of them grow up from wide-eyed children in to mature adults. This is a testament to the work done within the church, particularly by the parents. Youth ministry would not exist without strong parents and the many incredible volunteers willing to give their time to the ministry.
2009 has been the busiest year yet for the youth group. God has provided a large number of activities and services for us to become a part of. Everything from Winterfest to Cedar Point has been well attended and well supported. Visit http://rosevilleteens.com or http://www.rosevilleyouth.com to keep updated on youth group events. If you have ideas or would like to be a volunteer, contact me at (248) 420-0842 or send e-mail to epsilon_rc@hotmail.com. Paul tells Timothy to not let anyone look down on him in his youth and instead set an example (1 Tim 4:12). Because of the youth ministry at Roseville, the teens are able to know Christ and set an example that reflects him.

Christians Deserve Forgiveness Too

After reading the title of this article, you might a little confused. Hopefully, you are intrigued. This will be a difficult concept for me to explain (especially in less than half a page), but hang in there with me. Lately, I have been considering what I’ve said about my church experience. More specifically, I’ve been considering what I’ve said in the presence of those who are not Christians. There is a particular relative of mine that I’ve wanted to become a follower of Christ since I was a young child. I’ve sat with this person countless times in attempts to discuss the wonderful things about being a follower of Christ. This person, like so many others, tends to see the negative side of Christianity.
In the news, there are countless stories about Christians who commit violent acts in the name of Christ. Based on a twisted reputation, many believe that Christianity consists of nothing more than punishment and criticism. The biggest detraction is that my relative has met individuals claiming to be Christians that live no differently than other people.
What I have noticed very little is the part that I myself play in my relative’s perception of Christianity. In my high school and college years particularly, I would complain about the church in the presence of my relative. I would talk about how I tire of hypocrites, judgmental individuals, and those who distort the teachings of Christ. Who would want to become a Christian when a Christian finds so many faults within the church? 2 Tim. 3:16 states that scripture is useful for rebuking and correcting. It is also useful for teaching and “training in righteousness”! We need to be willing to forgive each other the way that God does. Christians are humans and humans make mistakes. If you see a problem in the church, do your best to lovingly correct the problem as Christ would! Complaints just fuel the fires set to destroy Christianity. “Come now, let us reason together.” (Isa. 1:18)

The Blue Screen of Death

Forgive me if this illustration is redundant. I don’t keep a very detailed catalog of every one of my illustrations so this could be a repeat. I can’t begin to count all of the times that I’ve had to troubleshoot a computer. I try to be incredibly careful with my computers, but I frequently find myself attempting to fix some hardware or software problem. Don’t let my experiences cause you to fear and shy away from computers. I wouldn’t be able to do much of anything without them. The hours, days, and weeks that I’ve spent on various computer-related difficulties have been worth it for the productivity, communication, and entertainment that computers provide for me. It’s really a love/hate relationship that keeps me on a constant emotional roller coaster. One day I am happy as a pig in mud, photoshopping myself having breakfast with Barack Obama. The next, I am literally ripping my hair out while writing down the error codes from an ominous blue screen. They might as well add maniacal laughter to this screen.
The human condition comes with its own share of troubleshooting. The parallel concepts between our lives and the “life” of a computer are numerous. For one, there is a lot of regular maintenance required. Galatians 5:25 tells us that we need to live and be guided by the Spirit. Living in the Spirit prevents a lot of problems. However, as stated in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned”. It’s difficult to free one’s self from sin. No matter how spiritually mature we think our selves to be, there is room for growth. Proverbs 26:12 says there is more hope for a fool than man who thinks himself to be wise. We have to be aware of our own shortcomings and do everything we can to overcome them. Remember that God is ready to forgive. We just have to be willing to change.

Look Mom! I'm Eating a Sandwich in the Pool!

You might want to sit down while reading this. I have some shocking news for you. Ready? Your parents are not always right. As wise and intelligent as they may be, your parents might have passed some inaccurate bits of medical advice on to you. An article in USA Today states that sugar, according to 12 different studies, does not make children hyper. 30 studies including a total of 11,000 people found that vitamin C has no effect on one’s ability to resist catching a cold. Here’s one I learned a few weeks ago that completely floored me: Going out in cold weather does not make you sick. Colds and flues are seasonal, striking most often in the winter. Did you know that you could go swimming directly after eating? You might be uncomfortable, but eating before swimming doesn’t cause life-threatening cramps. I don’t know how this advice came about, but you can wake a sleepwalker without hurting him or her.
Once about every week or two, I learn that I’ve been sharing an inaccurate piece of information. Some of these, like the belief that cold weather leads to sickness, have directed the way I live. I don’t plan to join the Polar Bear club and swim in artic waters, but I won’t make keeping warm my only method of preventing sickness. Even the most educated people in the world get it wrong sometimes. It’s not that we can’t learn from other people, but we should constantly seek growth in God. In 1 Cor. 3, Paul urges his readers to start with Christ as a foundation and build themselves up from there. Paul states that though we begin as infants in Christ, we become his buildings. No matter how much we know, there is always more to learn and more learned information to reinforce.

What Would God Twitter?

For those who are unfamiliar with the concept, Internet based social networks are currently the latest craze for everyone from teens to savvy older folks. Myspace and Facebook are the biggest names in social networks. One creates a profile adding various bits of personal information, photos, or whatever else he or she wants to share. Then, he or she contacts friends, relatives, or whomever else he or she wants to connect with. It can either be the biggest waste of time one encounters or an opportunity to stay in touch with individuals living on the opposite side of the country or maybe even completely outside of the United States. I’ve read this type of interaction can strengthen the mind by helping us recall facts about individuals and past events. I use Facebook to communicate with several people from the Roseville church. I first announced the Tigers game there.
Twitter, getting more popular by the second, is a streamlined type of social networking. One shares a message (no more than 140 characters long), called a “tweet”, with those visiting one’s Twitter web site or those who connect to Twitter through portable devices. Some individuals use Twitter to tell others what he or she is doing every 5 minutes throughout the day. Today, I found a Twitter entitled “What Would God Tweet?” (WWGT) Here is a sample entry: “Day 1: Lighting system installed, brb. Day 2-6: Some assembly required: sky, plants, cows, people. Left humans in charge, lol. Day 7: Siesta”. This Twitter reminded me that God and His word are very accessible. He has not made a puzzle that can only be interpreted by an elite underground society. God walks among us (Lev. 16:12). God wants us to know the truth and be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

A Love Poem for God

At one point in my life I, like many other boys, began to develop an interest in the fairer sex. I relentlessly pursued the hearts of various young women in hopes of finding true love (that makes me sound like a creepy stalker, which I believe is something all young men border on becoming). During this particularly awkward phase of my life, I knew very little about how to win the affect of lovely maidens. The only weapon in my arsenal was ridiculously sappy poetry. Here is an excerpt from a poem entitled “Come Into My Heart”. Feel free to hurl insults at your discretion. I won’t cry… much.

“Show my heart what it has yet to see,
open it up and set it free.
Give to my heart a love unending,
so we will end all pretending.
A place in my heart will always be,
for one as beauteous as thee.
A heart like mine is ever alone,
until the day it finds another of pure gold.”

I wrote this type of poetry to a couple girls I barely knew. I even recycled a poem once by giving it one girl and then another. I handed the second girl the poem as I exited the school bus and walked away as quickly as possible with my head down. I used to spend so much time and money on unrequited love. What if we had more passion and love for God than anything else? He certainly has an infinite amount of unconditional love for us. Let God know that you love him. Keep God’s greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37-38). Keeping God’s commands speaks volumes. It means God’s love is in you (John 15:9-10).

Where Moths and Rust Destroy

I read a story this week that, in light of recent economic circumstances, may frustrate you. However, this story reminds me of a concept that I often ignore. The article I read, located on msn.com, shares the account of Augustine Fou. Mr. Fou and his wife earn around $400,000 a year. He works in marketing and has a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology while his wife, Lisa, is a dentist with her own practice. They live in a one-bedroom apartment located on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue with their two children. Though it may seem Mr. and Mrs. Fou have a life to be envied, they are affected by the state of the economy. They rent movies instead of going to the movies. They go to restaurants only once every 3 months. They buy their holiday gifts after the season has passed and do the bulk of their shopping at Wal-Mart. You might be thinking that the Fous are merely penny-pinching members of the upper class. Due to the cost of living in New York, a drop in the value of investments, and the possibility of losing their jobs, the Fous are nervous and fearful just like you and I.
I constantly have to be reminded that there is never enough money. I often think that money will solve my problems. With money, I can have a new house, a new computer, a new car, and whatever else I want. These things can never bring fulfillment. With all of these things there is just more risk involved. What happens to house payments when one loses her job? And, when we have more things, we often tend to want or need more things. Luke 16:13 states that we can’t “serve both God and Money”. Matthew 6:19-21 tells us not to save riches for ourselves here on Earth, “where moths and rust destroy”. We need to be content with what we have, like it is stated in Hebrews 13:5.

A Shooting Star Leaping Through the Skies

Hang on to your hats! It’s time for an exciting journey in to the world of astronomy! Last week, a faint gamma ray burst (GRB) was captured by NASA’s Swift satellite. This particular GRB is significant in that it destroyed “the record for the earliest, most-distant known object in the universe”. (skyandtelescope.com) The burst, named GRB 090423 in honor of its discovery date lasted for 10 seconds. Based on how much the light was red shifted (stretched) through the expansion of the cosmos since the burst first happened, it was determined that the gamma rays traveled 13.1 billion years before reaching the Earth. The GRB comes as the result of the explosion of a massive star. When the right kind of star collapses in just the right way, narrow jets are produced that can send gamma rays streaming towards the Earth. I hope that you are still reading at this point. I know not everyone is as fascinated by astronomy in the way that I am.
I love astronomy because it is the scientific discipline that humanity has covered the least ground in, relatively. We have much to discover about our own planet, but we only know a tiny fraction of what exists beyond it. It is difficult to wrap one’s mind around light traveling 13.1 billion years. We are accustomed to flipping a light switch and instantly seeing light. God has existed since before GRB 090423. He knows our origin and our finale. It’s easy to worry when we consider the current recession began in December, 2007 or that the swine flu vaccine could take several months to develop. I love the perspective given in Ecclesiastes 3 regarding time. The writer states that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” and that men “cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (vs. 11) God has always been in control and always will be.

Learning From Failure

Due to the current economic climate, many Americans are experiencing failure for the first time. An increasing number of individuals are losing their jobs, their homes, and their savings. One’s initial reaction to failure is often to immediately reject it and remove themselves from it as quickly as possible. A recent article in Reader’s Digest shares the stories of several individuals who approached failures as opportunities to learn important lessons and to eventually find success. J. K. Rowling, one of the richest people in England due to the success of her Harry Potter books, was “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain without being homeless”. Bob Williamson, a 62-year-old man from Florida, was a drug addict who had to sell a pint of blood for $7. He recently sold his 9th business, a software company, for $75 million. Randi Ketchum’s husband left her on the day she graduated from college. She had a 5-year-old and was pregnant with her second son. Though overcome with the loss and a massive amount of debt, Randi obtained a job as a kindergarten teacher and earned her master’s degree in education.
There were several other stories contained in this article and I will gladly help you find the article if you wish to read them. One thing I didn’t mention about Bob Williamson is that his faith in God helped him overcome adversity. Hit by a car, Bob was in the hospital for 3 months. He read the Bible, the only reading material available, and began to feel forgiven. He also learned that “God seems to show his strength and power through weakness”. Romans 8:35-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. This passage states, “in all these things we have victory through him who loved us”. We are to forget the things that are behind us and reach for things ahead. (Phil. 3:13)

National Moaner's Summer Vacation

What is the biggest complaint you’ve ever had with your vacations? Maybe it was way too hot and crowded the day you visited Cedar Point. Maybe there was too much noise and alcohol abuse at the campsite you visited with your family. Maybe the hotel you stayed at was incredibly filthy and the shower was too difficult to control. These are all common and valid complaints. A simple inconvenience during one’s vacation experience is amplified ten fold as we are supposed to enjoy this time away from work.
The Association of British Travel Agents has put together a list of the most bizarre vacation complaints (news.com.au). One tourist complained stating, “The beach was too sandy.” Another was made upset when she found fish swimming in the sea. Her complaint read: “No one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled.” Yet another tourist complained, “I was bitten by a mosquito – no one said they could bite”. One man, not realizing he had been eating gravy, claimed the “soup was too thick and strong.” Finally, one woman held her hotel accountable for her pregnancy!
It is easy to find things to complain about. We are temperamental creatures, requiring certain conditions to allow us to remain comfortable. A few degrees separate a tolerable climate from an unbearable one. During the Exodus, the children of Israel were full of complaints even though God had provided for them. Paul tells us to “do everything without complaining or arguing” (Phil. 2:14) Instead, we are to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

Earned Love Average

I’ve come to accept that Michigan lacks a spring season. As much as I enjoy the perfect climate typically provided by this time of year, I know that I will only see a handful of perfect spring days. Despite this saddening factoid, I wear a smile upon my face when I hear the crack of a bat and smell the finest hot dogs $10 can buy. Baseball season has begun. I have loved the game of baseball since my early days of self-awareness. I even played on a team during high school. However, I remain uncertain and ignorant in the area of baseball statistics. There is a ridiculous amount of data and calculations made in baseball. I will attempt to explain a couple of the more confusing statistics. A pitcher’s earned run average (ERA) is the total number of runs that did not come as a result of errors or passed balls multiplied by 9 and divided by the number of innings pitched. WHIP stands for walks (BB) plus hits divided by innings pitched. I won’t even get in to extrapolated runs.
While statistics are very usual in professional sports, as well as a variety of other areas, they don’t often help our relationships. Imagine if you were assigned a number based on the number of selfless acts you perform on an average day. What if your friends and family wrote down every time you sinned and loved you based strictly on how often you did? One dimension of love that I personally have a difficult time grasping is that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:4-5). We are to fight the urge to blacklist people. No matter what someone has done to you, we should never be unwilling to love our fellow man. By loving others, we know that “God lives in us, and His love is truly in our hearts” (1 John 4:12).

Are You Locked In?

Not to ruin it for you, but last night’s episode of the show “House” featured a patient suffering from “locked-in syndrome”. The character, portrayed by hip-hop star Mos Def, was almost completely paralyzed. He could only communicate through blinking his eyes. The paralysis was supposedly a side effect of Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease carried most commonly through animal urine. With that disgusting side note behind us, I will further discuss locked-in syndrome. Caused by a brain stem lesion, locked-in syndrome has been described as “the closest thing to being buried alive”. Imagine being completely awake and aware, yet unable to use any of your voluntary muscles. Your cognitive functioning is in full working order, yet you remain trapped within your own body. It’s pretty scary stuff.
In 1999, 16-year-old Erik Ramsey suffered a stroke after a car accident that led to locked-in syndrome. He is now working with doctors to develop a communication system that uses a computer to translate electronic brain signals in to words and sounds. Currently, Erik can only communicate by moving his eyes up or down. While Erik most likely yearns for the ability to speak, so many of us remain silent. We lie still, as if we are slaves to our bodies. Each of us has the ability to incite change and bring hope in to this world. I constantly go back to Romans 12 in which Paul talks about us all being part of the body of Christ. The gospel should not be locked in the body of Christ. We should be using every resource, ability, and gift that we have in order to be Jesus in this world.

Spider-man is From Thailand?

I had a few stories and illustrations to choose from this week. Because I decided to end last week’s entry with a quote from the amazing Spider-man, I am starting where I left off with a real life story featuring Spider-man. Yes, you read that correctly. A REAL LIFE SPIDER-MAN saved a boy in Bangkok, Thailand. The boy, afflicted with autism, climbed out of a classroom window and on to a third-floor window ledge. It was the boy’s first day at a special needs school. His new teachers tried their best to convince the boy to come back inside, but he continued to cry and ignored them. A comment by the boy’s mother regarding his love for comic book super heroes inspired fireman Somchai Yoosabai to run back to the fire station in order to change in to a Spider-man costume. The costume, typically used to entertain children during fire drills, comforted the boy. When the boy saw Spider-man holding a glass of juice for him, he quickly threw himself in to the firefighter’s arms. If this doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, I worry about you.
I could see myself in the same situation as a boy. I don’t know that I would have climbed out on to a window ledge, but I did have some scary first days at new schools and I still love Spider-man to this day. Throw in juice and you’d have my unconditional support. Today, when I am feeling scared and alone, I try to throw myself in to the arms of Jesus. Despite what many people in the world say, Jesus is real. John 1:1 states that he was God in the flesh. Luke 24:34 informs us that he is the risen Lord. Jesus is our savior (Acts 5:30-32) and he came to die for sinners (Rom. 5:8). We today need to look at Jesus with more love and adoration than a young boy who sees Spider-man holding a glass of juice. There are a lot of people out there claiming to have the answers and purporting to show the way to the “good life”. Jesus is the only way. He is our super hero.

Above Average

This morning I read an article about a 6-year-old named Pranav Veera that has an IQ of 176. According to the USA Today article, Pranav can recite the names of the U. S. Presidents in the order that they served in office. He can also say the alphabet backwards and if given a date back to 2000, Pranav can tell you the day of the week on which the date fell. One person in 1 million has an IQ of 176 or above. It is said that Albert Einstein’s IQ was 160 while the average IQ is 100. Pranav, just a few months past age 4, could recall the colors of various sets of alphabets. His photographic memory makes it difficult for his family to keep his attention and spur Pranav on towards more learning. Despite his above average intelligence, Pranav plays like an average 6-year-old. He climbs on the monkey bars and enjoys playing the Nintendo Wii. Pranav’s parents hope to keep him “as normal as possible” by considering his social needs.
Quite a few individuals have told me that the story of Jesus seems like a fairy tale or comic book story. God comes to Earth in the form of a human and walks among us. He walks, eats, sleeps, and participates in all the mundane activities of every day human life. Hebrews 4:15 states that we have someone “who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin”. It was completely necessary that Jesus took the form of a man. He taught us at our level, leading a perfect example and showing us that it is possible to live free of sin. As difficult as it might be for Pranav to fit in among his peers, imagine how difficult it must have been for the creator of the universe to become a lowly Homo Sapien. No matter where you fall on the IQ scale, you have to appreciate this act. You also should be aware that Jesus could have done anything he wanted with his power but he used it to help people. We might not have IQs of 176, but we have great power. And, as the immortal Spider-man says, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

How to Really Beat the Dealer

I have found myself fascinated with the concept of card counting. Apparently, American mathematician Dr. Edward O. Thorp is considered to be the father of card counting. He wrote a book entitled “Beat the Dealer” that outlined various strategies for one to use in the game of blackjack. Various individuals have been incredibly successful in the game of blackjack before the publication of this book. Al Francesco invented blackjack team play and taught Tommy Hyland and the infamous Ken Huston how to count cards. Huston became the subject of a 60 Minutes feature. Teams run by these men, along with various groups from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are said to have earned millions of dollars through blackjack play. The MIT students are the subject of two films: “The Last Casino” and the more recent film “21”. These films, along with many others highlighting the world of gambling have sparked my interest.
Though interested, I’ve never been one to gamble, as I am well aware of its possible consequences. One risks losing his or her hard earned money and can lose much more in what can become a powerful addiction. I am not writing this particular article to expose the dangers and evils of gambling, though they exist. I am writing to make known the hazard of gambling with aspects of one’s life that are beyond money. We are often guilty of giving our effort, attention, love, etc. to anything but God. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus tells us to “seek first” the kingdom of God and his righteousness. He tells us to stop worrying about the things that the “pagans seek”. Everything in this world fades and is far from flawless. We need to invest more of ourselves in the sure bet that is our Lord and master. We can discover systems, but in the end everything is meaningless without God.

Oh Mandy, You Came to the Mall. Now We’re Aching.

This is probably one of the oddest illustrations I’ve ever used. Something struck me about an article I read this morning that reflects an issue I find to be too prevalent in our world. Maybe I am really reaching here, but you can be the judge of that. An article from the MSNBC web site states that the New Zealand city of Christchurch is having problems with unruly teenagers in their outdoor malls. The teens “spread rubbish, spray graffiti, get intoxicated, use drugs, swear and intimidate patrons”. It’s shocking, right? What makes this world news is the method being used to hopefully get rid of or at least pacify the teens. The malls are planning to use the “smooth, gentle tones” of Barry Manilow’s music as a weapon against the teenagers. You read that right. Barry Manilow is expected to alter the behavior of teenagers. If it works, I will have to stand and applaud the progressive city of Christchurch. If not, they might have to enact my plan to forbid the sale of caffeine to minors. My Plan C involves elderly citizens giving them hugs.
I know the theories and explanations for it, but I will never fully understand why some people’s favorite pastime is to bother and frustrate others. I know I was a weird kid (and still am), but I didn’t spend my time pushing boundaries and people’s patience. Though I constantly argued with my father about going to church services and Bible studies, I truly believe that well-spent time helped shape me in to the person I am today. 2 Tim. 3:16 states, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” While there are many useful techniques that can reform one’s behavior, there is no instructional manual or Manilow album that can be compared to the Bible. Spend your time and your family’s time in scripture. You won’t regret it.

Winterfest 2009

We had an excellent time in Gatliburg on our annual trip to Winterfest. For those reading this who are unaware of what Winterfest is, it’s the largest gathering of teens from the Churches of Christ in the nation. Nearly 13,000 people were there this past weekend to share in worship, education, and entertainment. There are great speakers, worship leaders, actors, and other performers who together make up the Winterfest program. The teens that come on the trip grow closer to each other and always seem to return with more dedication to knowing and serving God. I’ve always been impressed with the work that goes on through The Winterfest Group. We learned about several mission trips supported by Winterfest as well as various Christian colleges and Christian organizations. The youth group and myself are very thankful for the support provided by the Roseville Church. Without your generous donations and encouragement, going to events like this would be impossible.
This year’s theme for Winterfest was “Love God. Love Others.” The theme scripture for the weekend was Matthew 22:34-40. In this passage, Jesus states the two greatest commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”. This weekend, it was stated that our responsibilities as Christians boils down to these two commands. If we love God and love others, worship and service will be natural outcomes. Loving God means being fully dedicated to Him. It means that people recognize God living in us. Loving God should naturally lead to loving other people. When we realize what God has done for us (particularly through the sacrifice of Jesus), we should be excited about sharing God’s love with other people. This means putting aside our differences and our comfort as we do everything in our power to serve the people living in our world.

Consequences

This morning, I read a story about a woman who embezzled funds from an Ann Arbor hockey league. The Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association (AAAHA) had been putting money in to a special fund for decades. The money was to be spent on the construction of “an independent ice rink for children in the local hockey league”. (mlive.com) This plan was terminated due to the fact that Kimberly Knight, an employee of the AAAHA, spent close to $1 million of the AAAHA’s funds on gifts and a vacation for her family. She apparently purchased some construction equipment for her family’s struggling business, expensive jewelry, extravagant clothing, a 2005 Cadillac Escalade and various other items. Knight had been embezzling the money from 2005 through 2007. It wasn’t until August of 2007 that a forensic audit showed the missing funds and Knight was fired.
This case was discussed on the radio today. The on-air personalities found it odd that this woman’s conscience wouldn’t stop her from committing this crime. A lot of emphasis was put on consequences and how people so often avoid considering them. It was hypothesized that this type of activity is an addiction, leading one to become obsessive and gain a “high” from illegal activities. I always find it fascinating when morality is discussed outside of a Christian perspective. Motivation should come from one’s desire to follow God’s commands and represent him. I remember times in my life when I committed certain acts because I knew there was a slim chance that I would be caught. I also remember doing certain things because I feared the wrath of my parents and other authority figures. God doesn’t need forensic evidence to know we are guilty. He also doesn’t need statistical research to know the consequences of sin. He gives us logical instructions in the Bible that if followed, will help us be freed from sin. God knows our potential, both good and evil. He wants us to live for and fear Him first.

Personal Ads

I can’t tell you privileged I feel to no longer be a part of the “dating scene”. Looking for a mate was an excruciating and ultimately worthless pursuit. This might not be the case for everyone, but in trying to find the love of my life I only found problems. As I’ve mentioned before, I completely believe that God brought someone to me only after I completely gave control over to him. Before I gave up jurisdiction over my love life, I attempted to meet women in several places including: high school, chorus, summer camp, church, college, and even the Internet. One thing I never tried was personal ads.
This afternoon, I came across a personal ad featuring a chubby engineering student that seeks an Asian woman of a very specific height, weight, and build. I began searching around and found several other examples of humorous personal ads. The first is: “SWM, old, fat, balding, many disgusting habits seeks SWF with money. Send pictures of your house, car, RV. This could be your lucky day.” You have to appreciate his honesty. Another reads, “SWM into chainsaws and hockey masks seek likeminded SWF. No weirdos, please.” Even the stars of major motion pictures have trouble finding love! Finally, showing that one’s priorities change with age: “When I was thirty my dates had to be young, slim, tall, handsome, rich, intelligent. Now I'm 64, they only have to know how to read and use the telephone!”
James 4:8 states that if you draw near to God, “He will draw near to you”. God has put out a personal ad for us. He seeks a loving, intimate relationship with his creation. If we answer this ad and devote ourselves fully to God, it is easy to see how strong God’s presence can be in our lives. We have someone to confide in that provides everything we will ever need. Do you “consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ?” (Phil. 3:7-8)

The Wide World of Sin

From time to time, in the news headlines, we read stories about adored athletes who make bad decisions that forever tarnish their reputations. It wasn’t all that long ago that Michael Vick, a former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was found to be the proprietor of a massive dog fighting complex. He was suspended by the NFL, lost his promotional agreements, and was sent to prison. The last I read, Vick is supposedly heading to a halfway house program. Sean Avery, a former left-winger for the Dallas Stars, lost his spot on the team for publicly insulting another NHL player regarding this player’s relationship with Avery’s former girlfriend. Plaxico Burress’s future in the NFL is in question because he was found to possess a handgun illegally after accidentally shooting himself in the leg. Most recently Michael Phelps, the winner of 16 Olympic medals, was photographed using marijuana. There is talk that he will lose sponsors.
There is much that we can learn from these athletes. First, we discover that there are consequences for even the wealthiest and most well known people in the world. Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us “a man reaps what he sows”. Second, we learn that we can’t hide from these consequences. In Psalm 139, the writer speaks of God’s omnipresence. The worst thing about the situation involving Michael Phelps is that those representing him attempted to cover up the mistake and bribe the newspaper that original published the photo. Finally, and possibly most importantly, we must remember, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). These men have made mistakes that our Lord is willing to forgive them for. We should also be willing to forgive the sins of others.

Tale as Old as Time

I know I’ve probably mentioned my dating life in too many sermons, lessons, articles, and every day conversations. Before marriage, the pursuit of the “fairer sex” took precedence in my life from a very young age. I like to blame Disney movies for planting this desire deep within my soul. I know that Disney movies get blamed for a lot of things (like the supposed subliminal messages planted in various scenes), but almost every Disney movie pushes the idea that a man is not complete until he has found that special woman to compliment him. Snow White had her prince. Aladdin had his princess. Even the lady found her tramp. Who was not touched during the scene in which one pooch in love pushed a meatball across the table to its companion? That’s amore! Can you feel the love tonight? It’s obvious that Disney’s target audience is not single men and women.
Before reaching manhood (however you define that), I had crushes on teachers and gave valentines to girls in my class. This developed in to “Do you like me? Check yes or no” notes and the typical fare of awkward interactions and gestures. Once, I literally threw a poem at a girl and walked off of the bus as quickly as possible. I worked so hard to get attention from girls. I don’t think that I’ve ever pursued God with nearly as much vigor and intensity. In Philippians 3:8, Paul states that he considers “everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus”. When I was finally able to put aside girls and seek more intimacy with God, God provided me a woman more wonderful than I could have comprehended. Whether single or as part of a couple, God provides the things that we need when we genuinely try to know Him. In contrast to having a relationship with our Lord and master, other relationships are meaningless.

The Fear of Failure

I know that I myself, and many other people living in the world today, have a fear of failure. There are numerous opportunities to fail in the various pursuits one engages in. We can fail in relationships, education, and careers. We can even fail to accomplish remedial tasks like cooking an egg or tying our shoes. Now that I have you excited to go out and face the day, let’s step back and consider how we define failure. Is our definition of failure determined by the world? Do we live to impress our fellow men and climb above them on the ladder of success or do we live to fulfill the will of God, striving to please our creator? One might find himself like Jesus, completely unpopular in the eyes of humanity only to be lauded and praised by God.
God views failure quite differently than the average person does. Romans 8:1 states that there is “no condemnation in Christ”. God forgives mistakes much faster than the world. God’s first action is not to criticize and punish one who fails. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him in Luke 22:31-32. However, he knew that Peter would turn back. We can all turn back from failure as God constantly gives us the opportunity to do so. Romans 8:28 lets us know that everything works out for those that love God. God allows us to profit from our failures. We learn and grow stronger from failure.
We will all fail at one point or another in our lives. Everyone makes bad choices and mistakes. However, we must never fall away from God. Our lives must be constantly centered on him. The failure that we must fear is displeasing God. When we take control of our lives away from God, we displease him. When we live without fear of consequences, always trying to satisfy the world, we deny God and fail him.

Give Careful Thought to Your Ways

When it comes to surveys, I am a glutton. I can’t take enough of them. I don’t know if they are a stroke to my ego, making me feel like my opinions actually matter. I don’t know if it’s the feeling of satisfaction I receive in helping to shape psychology, entertainment, restaurant service, or whatever realm a particular survey might be rooted in. I believe this love affair started in college. Taking a couple classes in statistics introduced me to the importance of assessment. How can anything be tailored to a population without data gathered from that population? How can problems be solved without properly evaluating the problems themselves?
In one of my classes, entitled ‘Research Methods’, the class was prompted to not only learn about methods of research, but we had to construct our own studies. Each individual was important to my study of the effects of cinema on one’s mood. In order to receive accurate and unbiased results, I had to find as many people as possible to participate in my study. It was a very interesting and potentially useful. A couple people even cried.
Various passages of scripture remind us to “give careful thought to” the way we live our lives. (Haggai 1:5,7) It’s important to sit back and ask one’s self, “Am I really living the way that I should?” Even if you feel confident with your choices, it is necessary to constantly be asking yourself tough questions like this. There is always room for improvement, even in the lives of the most diligent Christians. Lamentations 3:40 suggests that we “test” our ways and “return to the Lord”. It is never too early or too late to take at honest look at one’s life and make the necessary changes or enhancements.

The Digital Age

In recent years, I’ve become fascinated by the processes by which various physical objects are created. Just looking around any given space, one can find hundreds and thousands of man-made products with a variety of purposes. Have you ever considered the process by which natural materials are converted to plastic? Our world does not require us to have this knowledge. Different people have different skills that fulfill the needs of others. Since man first had to depend on his own skills to provide for himself, we have been learning more and more about how to manipulate our world. We created tools, using physics and chemistry to create objects. The industrial revolution gave us manufacturing processes, allowing former craftsmen to pursue other interests.
Eventually, computers were invented and have since become a valuable part of our every day lives. Minds formerly taught to deal with a physical plane of existence are now learning to operate within a world of software. Computers are very complex and just a few years ago, were incredibly difficult for the average person to operate. Our children are growing up in a world where computer software is more simple and elegant.
It is important that no matter how far we advance in to the digital realm, we continue to remember where we came from. If you are reading this, you are most likely alive. This means you’ve at least had your basic needs met up to this point. And, if you really stop and consider where you stand today, you will see that you are blessed far more than many people living in this world. I constantly have to go back to Matt. 6:25-34 to be reminded that God continues to provide for me. Even with all of our understanding and labor, it is God who ultimately provides for us. We don’t need to continue to worry about tomorrow.