I know I'm a nerd but...

...I like this song:



But I also like Jethro Tull which is similar.

Random Thoughts...

*I find this song thought provoking.

Casting Crowns are one of those rare bands that take the human condition and the Bible seriously. They don't seem to have Christian diddies as a musical goal.



*I am reading The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch. Intriguing. One quote jumped out @ me, "Consumerism is an alternative religion." His premise is: we are looking for identity and peace in what we consume. ~ Interesting.

*I really, really, really love my family.

*I am bummed about having missed running over the last week. Strained knee tendon. I overdid it.

*I am going through the book of Acts and highlighting each time a church is planted. It is amazing how much got done w/ little of modern day ministry resources.

*I am firm believer in theological preciseness. Yet, I weary of 'the way' to do such things as ministry. People are complex. Communities are complicated. To think that we can develop a particular way of doing church as the only possible way is naive and frustrating.

Here's my problem...

First off, I reject evolutionary theory and it's Christianized half brothers and sisters. I know there are Christians who embrace it, I know guys like Spurgeon was a fan of the gap theory. But since this is my blog I'll go on record as leaning towards Young Earth Creatiionism (admitting there is still a lot of questions and too many nuts).

But awkwardly forcing Jesus into every nook and cranny where at best it is a non-issue and at worst is silly is damaging to the claims of Christianity.

We have no record of Jesus riding a dino. We have no need for Jesus to ride a dino. Nor do we have a record of Jesus playing soccer w/ kids or bench pressing the Cross.

Why can't we let Jesus be power w/o being a gym rat, a lover of children w/o being the permissive weekend Dad and the ancient of days without being a dino-cowboy?

The answer? We are a people who want to reverse the imago dei. We don't desire to celebrate being made in the image of God. We want God made in our image.

Either that or we are a bunch of shallow rednecks.

And...?

Benched from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

This is my cantankerous comment: Some young Christian guys built a bench at a bus stop.Great. But this thing is flying around the internet Christian world like they had led Osama bin Laden to Christ. Too many normal decent activities are being defined as kingdom work etc. Come on people! Let's stop lowering the bar and making mountains out of molehills.

I feel purged.

Just Because It ROCKS!!!!

Ray Boltz: Coming Out

For those who listened to CCM in the 80s and 90s the name Ray Boltz is a household name. Mr. Boltz may be best known for his song 'Thank You' (a song my wife and I had in our wedding at my insistence. She certainly does not 'thank me' for that choice).

Mr. Boltz has come out of the closet and went public with his homosexuality. You can see the link to the story by going here. WARNING!The link goes to the Washington Blade a pro-gay site that shows ads such as men kissing.

The profile closes with Boltz saying, “This is what it really comes down to,” he says. “If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself."

Although, we can all feel for Mr.Boltz's inner battle with homosexuality, to 'Christianize' it and assume that it is the better choice because he feels better about himself does not justify his actions.

We live in an age where feelings justify actions. Yet, in Mt 15 Jesus reminds us bad actions stems from a bad heart. Feelings have their place. But they are not there to countermand the clear commands of Scripture.

9/11...7th Anniv.

What makes this video unique is it was originally a documentary on NYPD firefighters in training. While on a typical run the WTC gets hit. This may be the only video that shows the first tower getting hit. It also has the first minutes of the firefighters getting to the WTC.

It is said that Americans have short memories. In many cases that is a blessing. But allowing the the attacks of 9/11 to fade into the past is not a luxury we can afford.