Category Archive

I want it all, I want it all, and I want it right now is the theme music behind a new credit card commercial I just on TV.
Yep, 8:03 pm on a Saturday night and I’m sitting at home watching TV and blogging. In my defense, I just put my 17-month old son to bed and my wife is out of town at a funeral, but I’m afraid those two factors may not have contributed much to the previous sentence.
Back on track…In the commercial the wife says to the husband, “You’re right, we need a new TV.” At that moment the husband runs out of the house with his credit card and cell phone. The point of the commercial is that one can have his/her credit card balance texted to them “so you know how much to spent,” so says the ad spot.
I understand wanting things and immediate gratification…I just bought a new set of golf clubs two weeks ago. However, I didn’t check my credit card balance, I checked my bank account and planned budget. I paid cash for the new set of irons. To base what you can “afford” on how much is left until your credit card is maxed out is not the way to purchase luxury items. Yes, TV is a luxury item. It’s not a smart way to buy anything, but sometimes it is necessary.
I don’t know, maybe this commercial just summed up common culture too much and made me write this.

My coworkers and I talked about these new Christian toys earlier in the week. A news story this evening on ABC said that Wal-Mart is going to start selling these along with their other religious material, especially books.
My mind isn’t made up on these yet. My son has a Noah’s Ark toy that he enjoys. I’ve had religious toys in the past. I’ve never worn or owned a shirt that has Jesus or God on it. I’m not against my Christianity, just for me, my savior’s name doesn’t belong on a shirt.
What I have to get past is making a deity a doll. To me it just seems strange. What makes it even more strange is that these action figures talk. I believe they mostly quote scripture.
What I do like about these toys is the fact that kids can learn Bible stories and such through playing with them. I would love for my son to emulate Jesus at play to learn to emulate Jesus through life. However, as with most boys I’ve seen play, it wouldn’t be long before toy Jesus would end up on a battlefield, run over by a tank or strapped to a rocket.
Does this diminish Jesus? Does this teach about Jesus’ life?
So, for me, I’m still undecided about the toy Jesus.
Any insight for me?

I did it, I broke my 2-year unintentional hiatus from movie theaters. My wife and I after a 12-year-anniversary supper went to see “Evan Almighty.” I really enjoyed the movie and don’t think it was only because of the company. It was cleverly written and I like both Morgan Freeman and Steve Carell. The movie even has some good, strong biblical references and insight into God’s character and about being good stewards of the earth God has given us. Perhaps my favorite scene is when Evan finally gets it that he is to build an ark. He and God (Morgan Freeman) are sitting on some “gopherwood” and Evan begins to question why him. God refers Evan back to his prayer in which he asks his family to be closer and to change the world. The reply was (may be slightly misquoted due to memory) “If a man prays for patience, do you think I give him patience or opportunities to be patient. If a man prays to be closer to his family, do you think I make them closer or give him opportunities to become closer.”View a behind the scenes and how they made a “green movie.”

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

We’ve reached it: a self-debasing low for humanity. 

This new Dutch “reality” show is set up for a terminally ill patient with an inoperable brain tumor to choose the person who will receive one of her kidneys before she dies.  

Should it run? Sure. I’m not into censoring media or expression. Should it have been created? No. Is it in bad taste? Yes. I do think the show has accomplished one of its stated objectives – publicity for organ donation. There are thousands of blogs on this topic, news stations are covering it and news websites are certainly all over this. The people in the Netherlands are even talking with their government about it. 

A quote from a yahoo! news story, “Viewers will be able to vote for the candidate they feel is most deserving via SMS text message, but “Lisa will determine who the happy one is,” BNN said in a statement.”  How could one choose? How could one try to beat others in a game for a human organ? 

Imagine you were to vote, to choose; what criteria would you have for your candidate of choice? A good person? A bad person so they could change their ways? One with a great personality? One who offers you money? The youngest? The oldest? 

Lost hope. Once “Lisa” and the text voters decide, there still a good possibility the transplant will not take place with that individual. Tissue samples have to match up and the doctors have to make sure the cancer has not spread to her kidneys. Imagine that, having beaten out two dying people for an organ that one of them could possibly have used if their tissue matched and no cancer spread.  Notice I didn’t say “won.” If the losing, non-chosen contestants die without getting a needed kidney and the “winner” does this person could have one of the worst survivor complexes seen in quite a while.  

Would I want to lose? No.
Would I want to win? No.
Should this even be a game? No.

I’m excited about the new series of “Heroes” starting this evening. But I’d like to know why this show is so big. Why are heroes popular? I assume that it’s because everyone wants to be able to make a difference or have a positive impact on humanity. I’d like to say it’s because of the storyline. But, try to explain the story to someone who doesn’t watch the show without making it sound ridiculous. I have and it did. My explanation sounded as ridiculous as a friend’s explanation of the show “Lost” which I have never watched.
True heroes don’t need super powers. Actually, if a person has a super power that say prevents them from getting hurt, does stepping in front of a bus to save a child qualify as heroic? If there is no risk, is someone acting brave? Dictionary.com defines a hero as, “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities” (it carries the same definition for heroine so as not to leave the females out). Wikipedia defines a hero as, “From the Greek ἣρως, in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) usually fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. Typically the willingness to sacrifice the self for the greater good is seen as the most important defining characteristic of an hero.”
By being a Christian and conducting ourselves accordingly, we have an opportunity to impact individuals, people and humanity in a positive way. None of us have super powers like “Heroes” characters but can have an impact on something greater than one’s life on earth.
The website heroes.com lists a few heroes in a few different categories. One such category is sports, which actually only a small percentage care about or remember. Another category is Activists/Humanitarians. This group contains ordinary people, many of whom are or were impacted by their faith and all of whom sacrificed the self for the greater good.
Another site, MyHero.com, allows people to post people they see as heroes and why. Take a minute and go through that site. None of them have super powers either.

Admittedly, I didn’t find this. A friend’s blog has this and thought it was enough fun to share.

Find out the religion of your favorite superhero.

Found this on youtube and maybe you’ve already seen it. I thought it was quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on youtube. Probably because I like Mac and I agree that a troop withdrawal plan is needed. I don’t think an immediate withdrawal makes sense but there certainly needs to be an exit strategy (maybe there is one that isn’t public knowledge – which could be a good thing).

Perhaps the biggest reason I like this is that it hints at President George W. Bush’s arrogance.

Also just got a CNN feed on a funding bill. Thought it would be applicable. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/29/us.iraq.ap/index.html

Every time I hear about people winning money or about wealthy people (I recently received my issue of Forbes magazine which listed the worlds top billionaires) I wonder what I’d do with that much money.

My first thought is always, well I would have less worries. But honestly, I don’t think I would – they just may be different worries.

Second, ashamedly, is about buying stuff – probably stuff I don’t need and wouldn’t really use.

Third – giving some away. I don’t know how much I’d give away. Of course some to church, some toSamford
University and some to missions emphases I like. But then what? Touching people the way this Japanese millionaire did for native Hawaiians is great. He’s helping people who can’t afford to live in their native land because other nations are driving up home ownership.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2951718&page=2

Well, this basically a continuation of the thoughts in John Eldridge’s book “Wild at Heart.” There are some accurate aspects to it, some are carried a little far. I don’t think it is a “feminizing” of men, but more of the political correctness taking over. We aren’t as bold in some aspects as others. I’m not. Probably because we are taught to “play nice” and not upset the waters too much. On the other hand, if I didn’t curb myself in some aspects, I wouldn’t be too much fun to be around and would get rid of friends and fire people too easily.
Yes, we need to stand up and make statements as Christians and not worry about what others think and “will we lose churches” but it needs to be done as Christian men, not just as men in search of power. Bottom line is I don’t think a church being “feminized” has anything to do with women taking leadership roles. I think he is addressing how men are reigning in their “jalapeno factor” (as he put it).If we aren’t “nice” in some ways, no one will follow. Eldridge and this guy are correct in some ways, but people like “Rand the Conqueror” just aren’t needed in society – at least in the way we think of conqueror. His point about porn is interesting too – Eldridge’s theory is that men are attracted to porn because it is “safe” as in no interaction with a wife. 
I could go on…Men do need to act like men but that doesn’t mean being a obnoxious or angry – just strong.

Monday night on the National Geographic Channel I watched a show (Conspiracy Moon Landing) dedicated to proving/disproving the fact that the US astronauts landed on the moon.
To be honest, I have accepted it as fact that man has walked on the moon, but also had a doubt about the technology at the time. Well, this show removed doubt for me.
The one-hour program took every major conspiracy theory revolving around man walking on the moon and gave scientific evidence to the contrary. The final nail in the coffin for the conspiracy theorists came at the end of the show (why would they put that at the beginning?). The McDonald Observatory would send a laser to the “reflectors” placed on the moon’s surface by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The laser would then reflect back to earth giving precise measurements of distance and location in the solar system. This was the only aspect that received no comments from the conspiracy theorists – they simply didn’t have an answer.
The whole show was fascinating to watch.

In a Feb 12 Newsweek article, “Girls Gone Wild: What are Celebs Teaching Kids,” the authors, Kathleen Deveny and Raina Kelley, address the question, “Who’s teaching our kids morals?” The authors cite the numerous examples we see in the media (outside movies and TV shows) of pop-stars acting inappropriately. “Like never before, our kids are being bombarded by images of oversexed, underdressed celebrities who can’t seem to step our of a car without displaying their well-waxed private parts to photographers.”

They also talked with teachers and parents from around the country about this. One from
San Diego gives examples of how 7-year-olds’ vocabulary has changed. A mother from LA uses a new term to me, “prosti-tot” to describe young girls who dress and mimic the actions of the “Brit-pack” (Britney Spears, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan from this article). The profound affect of all the sex scandals is a coarsening of the culture and a devaluation of sex, love and lasting commitment.

The authors cite experts who say that attentive parenting, strong teachers and nice friends are an excellent counterbalance to increasingly sleazy culture.

As Christians, this shouldn’t surprise us. However, it should underscore the fact that “parent” is a verb. I have a 7-month-old son and amidst my drug post yesterday and this posting today, I’m already trying to balance age-appropriate freedom and parental control in my mind.  Parents are to guide their children. In order to guide, we need to live accordingly. This also means talking with our kids when “questionable” actions or even words are done/said on TV in their presence.

The authors discuss that being a parent is the key. “Kids learn good morals and values by copying role models who are close to them,” Michele Borba author of Building Moral Intelligence.  Parents need to understand and talk about the things that interest their kids – even if it is what
Paris is wearing – without being judgmental.

As parents, we control the purse strings. Few middle-schoolers have the disposable income to buy their own clothes, get breast implants, etc. It is ok for parents to say, “No.” Be a parent and then a friend.

Info from the article:
“For teens who aren’t getting strong messages about abstinence from their parents, the media can become a sort of ‘sexual superpeer.’”
A study from the Journal of Pediatrics concluded that 55% of teens exposed to a lot of sexual material had intercourse by age 16, compared with only 6% of teens who rarely saw sexual imagery in the media.

This is just appalling. If you haven’t read/heard/seen the two-year-old being given pot by his 5-year-old and 17-year-old relatives you can read the story. I didn’t post the video because it is just horrible.

A culture that puts so much emphasis on drugs and “feeling good” in which a 17-year-old uncle (who laughs at the stoned baby) gives a baby pot frequently enough for this child to be able to exhale the smoke through his nose just pisses me off. God never promised us an easy road, just that the path will be evident.

This whole thing shocked and enraged me more than it did my wife. Not that she’s for 2-year-olds, or anyone else for that matter, getting stoned, but she is a psychotherapist and routinely works with individuals who have been smoking pot and doing other drugs since they were 5. Yes, 5-years-old. Pot is not the biggest problem that this country faces, but we certainly need to be more aware of its prevalence in society and the negatives that result from using it for non-medicinal purposes.

This incidence reminds me of Aldous Huxley’s book Brave New World. This novel deals with creating a utopian society by basically keeping everyone doped up on soma. It also tackles other issues such as reproductive technology, biological engineering and sleep-learning to change society. It was published in 1932 and set in
London in 2540. Huxley didn’t think we’d get as far as we did in just 75 years.

People are looking; let’s make sure we are there with an answer.

I’ve received questions asking, “What is a ‘moderate Christian?’” First, let me separate the two words because it is not moderately being a Christian, but being a Christian who has a moderate or middle of the road or sitting on fences world view.

We hear so much from the “Christian Right” (which by the way is neither in my opinion) and how they are judging, excluding and overlooking the very people Christians are to serve as evidenced in Jesus’ life on earth. We hear so much from them because they are trying to take over the political system to further their power and beliefs. I’m all for sharing my beliefs, but not forcing them. “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words,” St Francis of Assisi.

Now, what it means – according to me. I grew up Baptist and still hold Baptist beliefs (while attending a Methodist church because that is where my wife and I feel God wants us to be). Many of the following thoughts are traditional, unchanged Baptist doctrine – not the creeds some want to sign and enforce.

Jesus Christ – born of a virgin, died, rose and lives.

Priesthood of the Believer – I believe that every person has a connection with God through prayer. Jesus and the Holy Spirit enable this link.

The Bible – God’s revelation of Himself to us. God used divinely inspired men to write it.

Meeting human needs – we are called to minister to those who need help.

Sanctity of human life – I am for life. I also think the government shouldn’t tell people what to do on a personal level.

Creationism - How God did it be it through big bang, evolution, whatever doesn’t matter. Interesting discussion and learning about science but that initial spark, the action that set it all in motion came from God.

Environmentalism – God created the world. We are earth’s stewards and must take care of what God has given us responsibly.

Life – there are so many applications here that it could fill pages. Wine and alcoholic beverages - drink them if you want to, just don’t get drunk or lose control of yourself.

Freedom of religion – the government shall make no law prohibiting or enforcing a religion.

Worship – worshipping God can happen anywhere at anytime. You don’t have to be in a specific location, just a specific state of mind.

Love – God loves all his creations more than we can imagine.

Grace – God’s grace is freely available to all who ask through Jesus.

The above post also now appears under the “defined” link above.

I just listened to a speech/sermon by the executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas., Dr. Charles Wade. I know there are some negative things circulating about Baptists, but let me tell you something - this group of people want to be Jesus’ representatives here on earth. They want to meet peoples’ needs - hunger, rights, poverty, environment. These are the people Baptists should be seen as, not those in the “new conservatives” who now run the Southern Baptist Convention and exclude the very people they should be reaching.

As I watch Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Derek Shepherd is talking with a guy in the waiting room about Meredith. The sub plot of this episode is death, afterlife and what happens surrounding death. Losing someone is hard. Death and its finality, is hard. In the world of reruns and crazy reintroductions of “dead” characters we don’t see death as final. It is. Miracles do happen. Anyway, Derek and this guy share the names of their loved ones and the stranger says, “I guess its in the hands of the doctors.” Derek agrees. Then the stranger says, “I’ll add Meredith to my prayers.”
When I watch shows that deal with death, I pay attention to how and if they address God. At first, solely because I don’t understand how anyone who is not a Christian could possibly deal with death and it’s finality without Christ’s promise of eternal life and reunion with Him and others.
Now there’s another reason. On a tour of the Huntsville, Texas, prison, known as “the walls unit,” through which every male release is discharged - either alive or dead and a private tour with the warden of the death row and the lethal injection chamber, the warden started talking about the men who had been put to death in that room. The warden must attend every lethal injection that takes place in his prison. One story he told will always stick with me. “No matter the person on the table, athiest, agnostic, whatever religion, they always cry out to God just before the end.”