In the realms of science fiction, conspiracy theories, and comic books, there are several stories and claims regarding Nazi UFOs. Supposedly, prior to and during World War II, Nazi Germany successfully developed advanced aircraft or spacecraft. Some theorists even claim that these craft have survived in secret underground bases throughout Antarctica, South American, and the United States.
The accounts of Nazi UFOs “appear as early as 1950, likely inspired by historical German development of specialized engines such as Viktor Schauberger’s “Repulsine” around the time of WWII.” (Wikipedia.org) An Italian newspaper article from early 1950 by Professor Guiseppe Belluzzo claimed “types of flying discs were designed and studied in Germany and Italy as early as 1942.”
In 1978, a Nazi sympathizer and author named Miguel Serrano claimed that Hitler was a god and was going to lead a fleet of UFO’s from Antarctica in order to establish a Fourth Reich. An upcoming film titled “Iron Sky” is based on this assumption. The film is set in 2018 when the Nazis return with a fleet of UFOs in order to conquer the Earth.
I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Adolf Hitler was actually planning to put Nazis in to space. Human beings love to make plans. The more deranged among us make the most ridiculous plans. Proverbs 19:21 reads, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 16:1 (NLT) reads, “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.” While it’s good to be ambitious, careful, and responsible, God has the final say. We may have delusions of grandeur or desires to simply have it our way. God wants us to prosper (Jer. 29:11) but his plans might be different from our own.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
30 Minutes or Less
Have you ever considered the level of commitment you have towards your family, job, or to God? Once in a while, for whatever reason (probably lack of sleep), I think about what percentage of my total available effort I am giving to my various responsibilities. Do I do the dishes often enough? Do I plan enough activities for the youth group? Do I dedicate enough of my time to serving God?
This morning, I read a story on foxnews.com about a 19-year-old pizza deliveryman from New York City. Assami Semde, a student at Burkina Faso, has only been in the U.S. for six months. He works for Famous Famiglia 125 pizza in East Harlem. Friday evening, Semde came across two men in a hallway on his way to deliver a pizza to an apartment. The men started to harass Semde, asking for a slice of pizza. When Semde refused, one of the men pulled a gun on him. Semde, 6-foot-4, lunged at the man as he bent over to grab a slice of one of the pizzas Semde had dropped to the floor. Building security happened to come by on a routine check and the two men fled. Before going to the police precinct to file a report, Semde delivered the pizzas. They were undamaged and still hot.
If you find yourself in a position like Semde’s, I don’t recommend attacking an armed man to save a couple pizzas. Semde’s boss, a retired NYPD officer, told his employee to leave the pizza next time and get away safely. I have to commend Semde’s commitment to his job. We are told in scripture to “lay aside the old man” (Eph. 4:22) and “put on the new man.” (Matt. 16:24) We are to follow God without any attachment to who we were before we became committed followers of Christ. We become “living sacrifices.” (Rom. 12) Consider the level of commitment of the persons listed in Hebrews 11. We should model this level of dedication on our lives, willing to make sacrifices for our God.
This morning, I read a story on foxnews.com about a 19-year-old pizza deliveryman from New York City. Assami Semde, a student at Burkina Faso, has only been in the U.S. for six months. He works for Famous Famiglia 125 pizza in East Harlem. Friday evening, Semde came across two men in a hallway on his way to deliver a pizza to an apartment. The men started to harass Semde, asking for a slice of pizza. When Semde refused, one of the men pulled a gun on him. Semde, 6-foot-4, lunged at the man as he bent over to grab a slice of one of the pizzas Semde had dropped to the floor. Building security happened to come by on a routine check and the two men fled. Before going to the police precinct to file a report, Semde delivered the pizzas. They were undamaged and still hot.
If you find yourself in a position like Semde’s, I don’t recommend attacking an armed man to save a couple pizzas. Semde’s boss, a retired NYPD officer, told his employee to leave the pizza next time and get away safely. I have to commend Semde’s commitment to his job. We are told in scripture to “lay aside the old man” (Eph. 4:22) and “put on the new man.” (Matt. 16:24) We are to follow God without any attachment to who we were before we became committed followers of Christ. We become “living sacrifices.” (Rom. 12) Consider the level of commitment of the persons listed in Hebrews 11. We should model this level of dedication on our lives, willing to make sacrifices for our God.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Name Above All Names
First impressions can be very important in a variety of situations. When arriving for a job interview or when meeting your significant other’s parents, it is best not to smell like unwashed gym socks or expired gorgonzola. If invited to meet the president of the United States, I wouldn’t suggest donning a suit of fur and acting like a cat. Well, unless you are a cast member of the show “Cats” and the president’s staff suggests that you stay in character in order to fit the president’s request. Finally, if you are looking to meet that special someone, make sure your name isn’t George or Ann. Wait… What?
According to a study by Professor Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University, “we might subconsciously associate names with those of the rich and famous.” (dailymail.co.uk) People with traditional names that can be associated with powerful individuals like royalty are viewed as successful and intelligent. The way a name sounds also seems to have an effect on one’s perception as female names that are “soft-sounding and end with the ‘ee’ sound” are thought to be attractive. For Wiseman’s study, 7,000 volunteers were given a list of 20 male and 20 female names. They were asked to identify who they thought would be most successful, attractive, and lucky. Fittingly, I am at the bottom of the lucky ranking and near the bottom of the attractiveness standings.
The names of God in scripture have more significance than association with fame or the way they sound. Elohim (Isa. 54:5) means “strong one.” Yahweh (Ge.4:3), or YHWH, comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” Through this name God expresses himself to be self-existent. Adonai (Gen. 18:2), like Elohim, is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” The Greek word Theos is translated “God” and teaches that God is the only true God. (Matt. 23:9) God’s character is multifaceted. He is more than a supreme being. He is our Lord, father, and everything else we need.
According to a study by Professor Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University, “we might subconsciously associate names with those of the rich and famous.” (dailymail.co.uk) People with traditional names that can be associated with powerful individuals like royalty are viewed as successful and intelligent. The way a name sounds also seems to have an effect on one’s perception as female names that are “soft-sounding and end with the ‘ee’ sound” are thought to be attractive. For Wiseman’s study, 7,000 volunteers were given a list of 20 male and 20 female names. They were asked to identify who they thought would be most successful, attractive, and lucky. Fittingly, I am at the bottom of the lucky ranking and near the bottom of the attractiveness standings.
The names of God in scripture have more significance than association with fame or the way they sound. Elohim (Isa. 54:5) means “strong one.” Yahweh (Ge.4:3), or YHWH, comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” Through this name God expresses himself to be self-existent. Adonai (Gen. 18:2), like Elohim, is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” The Greek word Theos is translated “God” and teaches that God is the only true God. (Matt. 23:9) God’s character is multifaceted. He is more than a supreme being. He is our Lord, father, and everything else we need.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Illuminate 2010: Drive
This weekend the youth group made its annual trip to Illuminate, a youth conference at the Rochester Church of Christ in Rochester Hills, Michigan. I am very thankful to everyone that made the trip. I would also like to thank the elders for allowing us to be there. It was an excellent time of fellowship, worship, and spiritual growth.
The theme of this year’s Illuminate was “Drive”. Various speakers and performers throughout the weekend used the word in its various definitions. David Skidmore, a youth minister from Tennessee, spoke about how many of us are running on empty, living without a passionate relationship with God. He mentioned David’s Psalms of lament that might seem depressing but show an authentic connection to the Creator. While introducing the concept of “Japanese Bible Theatre” to us, David Skidmore referenced Jesus’ meeting with Nathanael and Philip in John 1. In this story we find two kinds of disciples. There are those like Philip that immediately does what God commands without hesitation. Then, there is Nathanael, who though skeptical is complimented for his authenticity and desired as a disciple in God’s kingdom.
Finally, Skidmore spoke about “Our song”. Those of us that know God and are driven by our desire to serve Him have a beautiful song that people want to hear. We need to be aware of what our song sounds like. If we are tied down by Earthly pursuits, our skepticism, or if we can’t get past our lamenting, we have a song that few want to hear. We have to be driven people, and not simply people that believe in Jesus. We exist to love and to serve the people in our lives. Like David Skidmore did, I want to challenge you to find one person in your life that you can lead to know Christ. Pray without ceasing and share the gospel without fear to all who will hear.
The theme of this year’s Illuminate was “Drive”. Various speakers and performers throughout the weekend used the word in its various definitions. David Skidmore, a youth minister from Tennessee, spoke about how many of us are running on empty, living without a passionate relationship with God. He mentioned David’s Psalms of lament that might seem depressing but show an authentic connection to the Creator. While introducing the concept of “Japanese Bible Theatre” to us, David Skidmore referenced Jesus’ meeting with Nathanael and Philip in John 1. In this story we find two kinds of disciples. There are those like Philip that immediately does what God commands without hesitation. Then, there is Nathanael, who though skeptical is complimented for his authenticity and desired as a disciple in God’s kingdom.
Finally, Skidmore spoke about “Our song”. Those of us that know God and are driven by our desire to serve Him have a beautiful song that people want to hear. We need to be aware of what our song sounds like. If we are tied down by Earthly pursuits, our skepticism, or if we can’t get past our lamenting, we have a song that few want to hear. We have to be driven people, and not simply people that believe in Jesus. We exist to love and to serve the people in our lives. Like David Skidmore did, I want to challenge you to find one person in your life that you can lead to know Christ. Pray without ceasing and share the gospel without fear to all who will hear.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Gotta Catch 'Em All
This week I will be making, by far, my most “nerdy” illustration. Buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. A big phenomenon among today’s youth (and youthful gray haired folks like myself) are various games based on obtaining a collection of cards, toys, or electronic monsters. Some of the more popular games in this category are Yu-Gi-Oh!, HeroClix, Magic: The Gathering, and Pokemon. An insurmountable sum of time and money is spent purchasing, trading, and competing in these games. Tournaments and other events based on them are held throughout the world.
The one game in this collectable category that’s always gripped my brother and I is referred to as “Pokemon”. In the Pokemon video games, the player catches and battles with various creatures on his or her way to become the best “Pokemon trainer” in the game’s world. The games use an ingenious paper/rock/scissors system. For example, a Pokemon creature that uses fire can be bested in competition by a creature that spews water. In order to win battles against one’s opponent either in the game or in person, one must have a team of creatures that is diverse and skilled in the various elements.
Kids have been enthusiastic about collecting for centuries. When it comes to various virtues and attitudes detailed in scripture, kids (and adults) can be a little less zealous. There are various lists in scripture including the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13, the components of the “full armor of God” in Eph. 6, and the qualities of a Christian in 2 Peter 1. You can see that God (and the Bible’s writers) is very thorough. He wants us to have the “collect them all” mentality. There is always some facet of ourselves that we need to be working on. If we exclude parts of God’s commands, we are left vulnerable and unbalanced. Only through self-examination and training can we resist Satan.
The one game in this collectable category that’s always gripped my brother and I is referred to as “Pokemon”. In the Pokemon video games, the player catches and battles with various creatures on his or her way to become the best “Pokemon trainer” in the game’s world. The games use an ingenious paper/rock/scissors system. For example, a Pokemon creature that uses fire can be bested in competition by a creature that spews water. In order to win battles against one’s opponent either in the game or in person, one must have a team of creatures that is diverse and skilled in the various elements.
Kids have been enthusiastic about collecting for centuries. When it comes to various virtues and attitudes detailed in scripture, kids (and adults) can be a little less zealous. There are various lists in scripture including the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13, the components of the “full armor of God” in Eph. 6, and the qualities of a Christian in 2 Peter 1. You can see that God (and the Bible’s writers) is very thorough. He wants us to have the “collect them all” mentality. There is always some facet of ourselves that we need to be working on. If we exclude parts of God’s commands, we are left vulnerable and unbalanced. Only through self-examination and training can we resist Satan.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
And the Award Goes to...
I have the Academy Awards to thank for my recent movie watching mood. Always a fan of the cinema and a part-time movie buff, it doesn’t take much to send me in to a film frenzy. This time of year, I spend the later part of my evenings catching up on any award nominated movies and performances I might have missed.
I was rather excited to see “The Hurt Locker” receive the Oscar for Best Picture. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy “Avatar” or the other nominees. I just like to see lower budget, more human/character centered movies take home the biggest honor in the motion picture industry. “The Hurt Locker” had a budget of $11 million and is the lowest grossing best picture winner of all time. “Avatar,” on the other hand, cost more than $230 million to make and broke box office records.
“The Hurt Locker” follows a United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War. The script was written by a freelance writer embedded as a journalist in 2004 with a US bomb squad in Iraq. Their job is among the most dangerous and most important in the military. They deserved to be recognized.
The Bible is centered on the lives of human beings with dangerous jobs. It could be nothing more than a simple instruction manual with step-by-step instructions. However, it follows people like Moses, who faced an angry Pharaoh. It tells the story of Job, who remained true to his faith despite losing everything else. It reveals the life of David, who (like “The Hurt Locker”) stood in the face of tremendous odds and conquered a giant. In the New Testament, we read about Jesus and his apostles, who suffered much to forever change the world. Carefully study the lives of these heroes. You will see that “average” human beings can become “more than conquerors.” (Rom. 8:37)
I was rather excited to see “The Hurt Locker” receive the Oscar for Best Picture. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy “Avatar” or the other nominees. I just like to see lower budget, more human/character centered movies take home the biggest honor in the motion picture industry. “The Hurt Locker” had a budget of $11 million and is the lowest grossing best picture winner of all time. “Avatar,” on the other hand, cost more than $230 million to make and broke box office records.
“The Hurt Locker” follows a United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War. The script was written by a freelance writer embedded as a journalist in 2004 with a US bomb squad in Iraq. Their job is among the most dangerous and most important in the military. They deserved to be recognized.
The Bible is centered on the lives of human beings with dangerous jobs. It could be nothing more than a simple instruction manual with step-by-step instructions. However, it follows people like Moses, who faced an angry Pharaoh. It tells the story of Job, who remained true to his faith despite losing everything else. It reveals the life of David, who (like “The Hurt Locker”) stood in the face of tremendous odds and conquered a giant. In the New Testament, we read about Jesus and his apostles, who suffered much to forever change the world. Carefully study the lives of these heroes. You will see that “average” human beings can become “more than conquerors.” (Rom. 8:37)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Few Words About Nonverbal Communication
I am a big proponent of nonverbal communication. I don’t prefer it to verbal communication, seeing as how I’ve spent quite a few years attempting to speak correctly. However, I can’t claim to have mastered the English language and I certainly can’t tell you that I’ve come close to becoming a skilled nonverbal communicator.
Facial expression, gestures, signs, and use of space are all important components of nonverbal communication. An About.com article states, “Multicultural differences in body language, facial expression, use of space, and especially, gestures, are enormous and enormously open to misinterpretation.” A study at UCLA revealed that up to 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. Another study showed that the impact of one’s performance is determined 7% by words used, 38% by voice quality, and 55% by nonverbal communication. Having a very high and occasionally shrill voice myself, I depend highly on nonverbal communication.
In order to understand nonverbal communication, one must practice watching “facial expressions, eye contact, posture, hand and feet movements, body movement and placement, and appearance and passage as [someone walks] toward you.” If you have to choose between reading one’s words and one’s nonverbal cues, it is usually the right choice to go with the nonverbal communication. These cues reveal more than words.
In 1 John 3:18, it is stated that we should “not love with words or with tongue, but in deed an truth.” Anyone can talk about their love for their fellow man or for the Lord, but how many of us take time to show our love? James 2:15-17 tells us that faith without works is dead. More than a gesture or facial expression, acts of service can bond people together and change the world in significant ways. Encouraging words are great, but always look for other ways to serve your fellow man!
Facial expression, gestures, signs, and use of space are all important components of nonverbal communication. An About.com article states, “Multicultural differences in body language, facial expression, use of space, and especially, gestures, are enormous and enormously open to misinterpretation.” A study at UCLA revealed that up to 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. Another study showed that the impact of one’s performance is determined 7% by words used, 38% by voice quality, and 55% by nonverbal communication. Having a very high and occasionally shrill voice myself, I depend highly on nonverbal communication.
In order to understand nonverbal communication, one must practice watching “facial expressions, eye contact, posture, hand and feet movements, body movement and placement, and appearance and passage as [someone walks] toward you.” If you have to choose between reading one’s words and one’s nonverbal cues, it is usually the right choice to go with the nonverbal communication. These cues reveal more than words.
In 1 John 3:18, it is stated that we should “not love with words or with tongue, but in deed an truth.” Anyone can talk about their love for their fellow man or for the Lord, but how many of us take time to show our love? James 2:15-17 tells us that faith without works is dead. More than a gesture or facial expression, acts of service can bond people together and change the world in significant ways. Encouraging words are great, but always look for other ways to serve your fellow man!
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