If we are denied our conjugal rights, maybe we should take a page out of this guy's book.
umm.... that'll get you hurt. or a life abstentia.
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Monday, April 14, 2008
ben stein
I thought I'd repost something my friend Kelly put up several weeks ago, as the time is now drawing near!
Ben Stein's new movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (on Intelligent Design) is coming out this week: Friday, April 18. Check out more at http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php
Ben Stein's new movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (on Intelligent Design) is coming out this week: Friday, April 18. Check out more at http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
conspiracy theory #5
Has anyone noticed the uncanny similarity between Presidential hopeful Sen. Fred Thompson and Steven Hill (played the character of Adam Schiff on Law & Order)?
Fred Thompson
Steven Hill
p.s. title is from third day cd
Monday, September 10, 2007
links
Top 100 speeches (guess who's #1). ht: Brother Maynard
Madeleine L'Engle died a few days ago. Read this memorial post by Chad. I, too, loved her books, though I haven't read "Walking on Water." I might just have to pick it up.
And, well, yeah... just read for yourself!
Now, I'm really off to relax (although reading my fav. blogs have helped...)
Madeleine L'Engle died a few days ago. Read this memorial post by Chad. I, too, loved her books, though I haven't read "Walking on Water." I might just have to pick it up.
And, well, yeah... just read for yourself!
Now, I'm really off to relax (although reading my fav. blogs have helped...)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
either funniest or worst title ever...
Why Al Qaeda Supports the Emergent Church
OK, so from my readings about the emergent church and direct writings of emergent pastors, I think this article is a little (read: a whole heck of a lot) wrong on the goals and beliefs. Bad conclusions.
But, I have noticed that many (most?) emergents are definitely not conservative (whether or not they call themselves anything at all) politically. Is this a fair observation? If so, is it hard-wired into the mind-set of emergent-type-thinking or just a coincidence?
As someone who is in seminary and learning about church history, thinking about the type of pastor I want to be, and where the universal church (and UM church) is heading in the future, these things have been on my mind lately...
your thoughts?
OK, so from my readings about the emergent church and direct writings of emergent pastors, I think this article is a little (read: a whole heck of a lot) wrong on the goals and beliefs. Bad conclusions.
But, I have noticed that many (most?) emergents are definitely not conservative (whether or not they call themselves anything at all) politically. Is this a fair observation? If so, is it hard-wired into the mind-set of emergent-type-thinking or just a coincidence?
As someone who is in seminary and learning about church history, thinking about the type of pastor I want to be, and where the universal church (and UM church) is heading in the future, these things have been on my mind lately...
your thoughts?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
the director of evan almighty
from an article at Christianity Today with Director of "Evan Almighty" Tom Shadyac:
But are you afraid of being pigeonholed? Of people saying, "Oh, that Shadyac guy, he's that Christian director who makes movies for Christians."
Shadyac: Again, I don't like the label because of what the word Christian has become today, unfortunately—many people think it means "judgmental" and that it carries certain political ideas. I'm a Jesus freak. I respond to Jesus, the messages of the Sermon on the Mount, to this guy who talked about loving your neighbor and loving your enemy. I know what's moving me, and I know what I want to be true to in my work. And if people pigeonhole me for that, I don't really care.
What do you want people to walk away from Evan Almighty thinking about?
Shadyac: Hopefully they'll walk away entertained. But also, I think we all have this "idolatry of magnitude," thinking that if we don't do something huge for the world that we haven't done anything. We forget the story of the widow's mite. We have this idea we have to do something huge, when we don't take seriously enough the idea that it's just the way you say hello, the way you treat somebody, the way you conduct yourself at work or in your car, or how you treat the earth. I hope this idea sparks just a little different way of thinking of how we can all change the world.
I love both of these answers. He admits the truth that Christians are seen as judgmental which he doesn't want to be or think Christians should be, but yet still says he will follow Christ with his whole life. I also think this "idolatry of magnitude" is something overlooked by most people. We want to be the hero of whatever field we're in, but it's really in the small things that defines our impact on people. I watched the All Star Game earlier this week and was really blown away by an interview with Willie Mays before the game (he's one of the all time greats). At the end of the interview he was asked what he wanted to be remembered for. His reply was roughly (not a direct transcription by any means, watch it for yourself): "it wouldn't be baseball, it would be how I treated the guys and the game." And I think that's what people will remember him for. Sure, he made some spectacular plays and amazing stats in baseball, but watching the other players around him showed that the immense respect came from a deeper place than just feats- it was how he treated others and supports the game (his "business," if you will).
So, maybe even this seminary student (yes, we have dreams and desires on large proportions too, their just not normal- preach in front of 1000's, people getting saved in droves, etc.) can learn from these two successful (by all standards) men, and begin to have dreams, but not just any dream, small dreams of how I can change the world a person at a time through the small things.
ht: tallskinnykiwi
But are you afraid of being pigeonholed? Of people saying, "Oh, that Shadyac guy, he's that Christian director who makes movies for Christians."
Shadyac: Again, I don't like the label because of what the word Christian has become today, unfortunately—many people think it means "judgmental" and that it carries certain political ideas. I'm a Jesus freak. I respond to Jesus, the messages of the Sermon on the Mount, to this guy who talked about loving your neighbor and loving your enemy. I know what's moving me, and I know what I want to be true to in my work. And if people pigeonhole me for that, I don't really care.
What do you want people to walk away from Evan Almighty thinking about?
Shadyac: Hopefully they'll walk away entertained. But also, I think we all have this "idolatry of magnitude," thinking that if we don't do something huge for the world that we haven't done anything. We forget the story of the widow's mite. We have this idea we have to do something huge, when we don't take seriously enough the idea that it's just the way you say hello, the way you treat somebody, the way you conduct yourself at work or in your car, or how you treat the earth. I hope this idea sparks just a little different way of thinking of how we can all change the world.
I love both of these answers. He admits the truth that Christians are seen as judgmental which he doesn't want to be or think Christians should be, but yet still says he will follow Christ with his whole life. I also think this "idolatry of magnitude" is something overlooked by most people. We want to be the hero of whatever field we're in, but it's really in the small things that defines our impact on people. I watched the All Star Game earlier this week and was really blown away by an interview with Willie Mays before the game (he's one of the all time greats). At the end of the interview he was asked what he wanted to be remembered for. His reply was roughly (not a direct transcription by any means, watch it for yourself): "it wouldn't be baseball, it would be how I treated the guys and the game." And I think that's what people will remember him for. Sure, he made some spectacular plays and amazing stats in baseball, but watching the other players around him showed that the immense respect came from a deeper place than just feats- it was how he treated others and supports the game (his "business," if you will).
So, maybe even this seminary student (yes, we have dreams and desires on large proportions too, their just not normal- preach in front of 1000's, people getting saved in droves, etc.) can learn from these two successful (by all standards) men, and begin to have dreams, but not just any dream, small dreams of how I can change the world a person at a time through the small things.
ht: tallskinnykiwi
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day Speech
Pres. Bush-
"On Memorial Day, we rededicate ourselves to freedom's cause. In Iraq and Afghanistan, millions have shown their desire to be free. We are determined to help them secure their liberty. Our troops are helping them build democracies that respect the rights of their people, uphold the rule of law, and fight extremists alongside America in the war on terror. With the valor and determination of our men and women in uniform, I am confident that we will succeed and leave a world that is safer and more peaceful for our children and grandchildren.
"On Memorial Day, we also pay tribute to Americans from every generation who have given their lives for our freedom. From Valley Forge to Vietnam, from Kuwait to Kandahar, from Berlin to Baghdad, brave men and women have given up their own futures so that others might have a future of freedom. Because of their sacrifice, millions here and around the world enjoy the blessings of liberty. And wherever these patriots rest, we offer them the respect and gratitude of our Nation."
full speech here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070526.html
"On Memorial Day, we rededicate ourselves to freedom's cause. In Iraq and Afghanistan, millions have shown their desire to be free. We are determined to help them secure their liberty. Our troops are helping them build democracies that respect the rights of their people, uphold the rule of law, and fight extremists alongside America in the war on terror. With the valor and determination of our men and women in uniform, I am confident that we will succeed and leave a world that is safer and more peaceful for our children and grandchildren.
"On Memorial Day, we also pay tribute to Americans from every generation who have given their lives for our freedom. From Valley Forge to Vietnam, from Kuwait to Kandahar, from Berlin to Baghdad, brave men and women have given up their own futures so that others might have a future of freedom. Because of their sacrifice, millions here and around the world enjoy the blessings of liberty. And wherever these patriots rest, we offer them the respect and gratitude of our Nation."
full speech here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070526.html
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Chocolate that's not so sweet...
In January, it came to my attention that children, women, and some men are being enslaved- specifically in the cocoa fields (which supplies our chocolate companies). This is not the only area, but definitely one that affects most of us. I've been praying about my part in this and checking out some to see if it was a valid claim. It is a complicated issue, but one I believe there are some clear cut issues on.
What can we do to right this wrong?
(See a video on this topic:)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj9grEe_7uY
Check out the Stop the Traffik website, sign the Declaration which will be handed to the Secretary General of the UN in November 2007, don't eat any chocolate (or eat less) that isn't labeled as fair trade (which means there's a guarantee that no slave labor was involved), and write the major chocolate companies (Hershey, Mars, Nestle) to ask them to put into practice the labeling of chocolates that are not coming from slave labor.
From the little research that I've done, it seems that these companies are interested in making a difference (Hershey's even has a section on their website related to this) because they are all involved in the International Cocoa Initiative, which is working towards a solution to slavery among other abuses in the cocoa industry. But, none seem willing to step out and label their products as free of slavery... possibly because it's hard to track the produce to their company... possibly because they haven't been given a reason good enough to make that step.
We can help give that reason by stopping our eating of chocolates for a short time & letting these companies know why. Both are important. One without the other just won't send an effective message.
Hear me when I say I'm not calling these companies evil and that we should bad talk them. I don't think that is true or effective. I think they need to hear from their customers who see that a difference can be made to take this next step in their making a difference.
(Timely issue to bring up since the release of Amazing Grace was this past month!)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Dem bones Dem bone (Are they Jesus' bones?)
(This picture of the Talpiot tomb courtesy of the Discovery Channel via the Toronto Star article).
Too easy to poke fun, so I'll just give a few links on this important/interesting topic:
Discovery Channel - Who claims they have Jesus Christ's bones in a tomb with his wife and kids
Short Rebuttal - from Time, no less
Longer Rebuttal (but very much worth the read) - from an Asbury prof with connections to the archeological people involved.
Discovery Channel - Who claims they have Jesus Christ's bones in a tomb with his wife and kids
Short Rebuttal - from Time, no less
Longer Rebuttal (but very much worth the read) - from an Asbury prof with connections to the archeological people involved.
Update: Washington Post released an article with several Jewish archeologists refuting Discovery Channel's claims.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
listen to music, you'll have more sex
First off, read this article, it's a good one, then think through what's being said (mainly what the title of this post is).
I personally thought the quote from Yvonne K. Fulbright, a New York-based sex researcher and author, was interesting, though a little short-sighted:
"It's a little dangerous to just pinpoint one thing. You have to look at everything that's going on in a young person's life," she said. "When somebody has a healthy sense of themselves, they don't take these lyrics too seriously."
OK, good thoughts, but really who among us had a healthy sense of ourselves in high school (which is who this study is about)?
As evidence of this, two lines later, this was said by David Walsh, a psychologist who heads the National Institute on Media and the Family :
'The brain's impulse-control center undergoes "major construction" during the teen years at the same time that an interest in sex starts to blossom, he said.'
My thoughts are, how can anyone whose brain is undergoing major construction have a healthy sense of themselves. Our personality, body, and emotions have yet to be established so there's no way to have a healthy sense of ourselves. Now, I'm being overly general with this. I know there are a few special people out there who were mature for their age, but I think I'm safe in my thoughts for the general masses out there.
If I'm not, please rip me a new one through the comment section.
I personally thought the quote from Yvonne K. Fulbright, a New York-based sex researcher and author, was interesting, though a little short-sighted:
"It's a little dangerous to just pinpoint one thing. You have to look at everything that's going on in a young person's life," she said. "When somebody has a healthy sense of themselves, they don't take these lyrics too seriously."OK, good thoughts, but really who among us had a healthy sense of ourselves in high school (which is who this study is about)?
As evidence of this, two lines later, this was said by David Walsh, a psychologist who heads the National Institute on Media and the Family :
'The brain's impulse-control center undergoes "major construction" during the teen years at the same time that an interest in sex starts to blossom, he said.'
My thoughts are, how can anyone whose brain is undergoing major construction have a healthy sense of themselves. Our personality, body, and emotions have yet to be established so there's no way to have a healthy sense of ourselves. Now, I'm being overly general with this. I know there are a few special people out there who were mature for their age, but I think I'm safe in my thoughts for the general masses out there.
If I'm not, please rip me a new one through the comment section.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Emaciated Children Partying
(Sorry for the 1 day late posting. Today was Joanna's first day with students so she got first dibs on computer usage yesterday. Stupid elementary school...)
(Still having issues with adding pictures. This post, I could only add one picture, though I had one more. Anyone know what might be going on here?)
I started work yesterday at the Physical Plant (code name for: Custodian Worker Center) on campus and have been learning how to use the carpet cleaner and floor buffer. I've almost learned how to keep from putting holes in the walls with the buffer. (If you've never used one, the bottom circulates, so you have to control the direction by lifting up or pushing down- opposite than normal directional machines where you turn left or right.)
I've been lucky to work with a man named Emmanuel who is from Kaduna, Nigeria (which is in the continent of Africa, on the planet Earth, in the Milky Way Galaxy, etc, etc....). He has already earned a Christian Leadership degree and is working on his Doctor of Ministry currently. He's been patient and I can honestly say, taught me everything I know about custodian work in the guy's dormitories. We had an interesting conversation yesterday that really got me to thinking.
I mentioned to Emmanuel and another girl at the Physical Plant that my wife and are really lucky because I have a few scholarships, good jobs, and I don't think we'll have to take out a loan, but we'll be on a tight budget.
Emmanuel went into a lengthy diatribe about how most people, especially in America, think that a tight budget means you can only rent one movie or go out to eat twice a week instead of their normal amount (busted). He reminded me that most people in other countries really have tight budgets. In Kaduna, only the most well to do families have even one car, and that takes them over 45 years to buy. Emmanuel ended by saying basically all he needed was food, shelter, and clothing- and everything else was just unneeded. (He did say he would watch tv sometimes to find out the news. Talkin' being wasteful- he just lost 30 minutes of his time to watch news? OK, all you CNN, FOX NEWS, and MSN junkies start berating me...)
So, maybe I'm not on a tight budget after all. It's just less loose than it previously was. And maybe I should start seeing my economic situation in light of the whole world rather than Southeastern US (actually, I could just be honest and say my worldview really is the neighborhood I live in). Maybe that would pierce my heart more to be tithing more, to be giving more, to be sacrificing more, to be wasting less more.
A little cynicism to finish out my thoughts for today. I also heard on the radio a few weeks ago a person talking about kids wasting food and the typical parent response: "Don't waste your food, Johnny, there's starving kids in Africa!" His response? "So, you're telling me that when I eat my potatoes and scrape my plate, that little emaciated children in Africa are having a party and thanking God that I didn't waste any food?"
Eat well (see picture of kids partying in the other post from today (8/15/06)!
(Still having issues with adding pictures. This post, I could only add one picture, though I had one more. Anyone know what might be going on here?)
I started work yesterday at the Physical Plant (code name for: Custodian Worker Center) on campus and have been learning how to use the carpet cleaner and floor buffer. I've almost learned how to keep from putting holes in the walls with the buffer. (If you've never used one, the bottom circulates, so you have to control the direction by lifting up or pushing down- opposite than normal directional machines where you turn left or right.)
I've been lucky to work with a man named Emmanuel who is from Kaduna, Nigeria (which is in the continent of Africa, on the planet Earth, in the Milky Way Galaxy, etc, etc....). He has already earned a Christian Leadership degree and is working on his Doctor of Ministry currently. He's been patient and I can honestly say, taught me everything I know about custodian work in the guy's dormitories. We had an interesting conversation yesterday that really got me to thinking.I mentioned to Emmanuel and another girl at the Physical Plant that my wife and are really lucky because I have a few scholarships, good jobs, and I don't think we'll have to take out a loan, but we'll be on a tight budget.
Emmanuel went into a lengthy diatribe about how most people, especially in America, think that a tight budget means you can only rent one movie or go out to eat twice a week instead of their normal amount (busted). He reminded me that most people in other countries really have tight budgets. In Kaduna, only the most well to do families have even one car, and that takes them over 45 years to buy. Emmanuel ended by saying basically all he needed was food, shelter, and clothing- and everything else was just unneeded. (He did say he would watch tv sometimes to find out the news. Talkin' being wasteful- he just lost 30 minutes of his time to watch news? OK, all you CNN, FOX NEWS, and MSN junkies start berating me...)
So, maybe I'm not on a tight budget after all. It's just less loose than it previously was. And maybe I should start seeing my economic situation in light of the whole world rather than Southeastern US (actually, I could just be honest and say my worldview really is the neighborhood I live in). Maybe that would pierce my heart more to be tithing more, to be giving more, to be sacrificing more, to be wasting less more.
A little cynicism to finish out my thoughts for today. I also heard on the radio a few weeks ago a person talking about kids wasting food and the typical parent response: "Don't waste your food, Johnny, there's starving kids in Africa!" His response? "So, you're telling me that when I eat my potatoes and scrape my plate, that little emaciated children in Africa are having a party and thanking God that I didn't waste any food?"
Eat well (see picture of kids partying in the other post from today (8/15/06)!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Worse Than Your Toilet?
Okay, so here's your gross news for the day... I know it's early, but this will wake you up in a hurry. I watched Good Morning America this morning and they were interviewing Dr. Gerba who had done a study on germs in the office place. At one point he stated that a computer & keyboard have 400 times the germ amount found on a toilet seat (because people never clean their computer & keyboard and they use them almost constantly)!!! 
That is just nasty.
So, stop what you're doing and clean your keyboard and desk area... and your toilet while you're at it.
That is just nasty.
So, stop what you're doing and clean your keyboard and desk area... and your toilet while you're at it.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Ebay Atheist Hired by Off The Map
http://www.off-the-map.org/idealab/articles/idl0602-1-atheist.html
Interesting way of looking at things, both from the guy auctioning himself and "off the map." I'll be checking to see how their relationship progresses.
Couple of pictures I found (from a while ago) of me and some friends... Enjoy!
Interesting way of looking at things, both from the guy auctioning himself and "off the map." I'll be checking to see how their relationship progresses.
Couple of pictures I found (from a while ago) of me and some friends... Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)