Paul had the gift for busting through theology and cutting right to the essentials, didn't he?
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
- 1 Corinthians 15:41
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A cool tool
Here's a neat item lots of this morning's sports fans can use. It's a calendar that automatically counts down the number of days left Till Next Year.
As of right now it's only 522,716 minutes before the 2009 season gets underway.
Check it out here.
As of right now it's only 522,716 minutes before the 2009 season gets underway.
Check it out here.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Miracles Spoken Here
I've heard Christ's miracles dismissed by folks who have a hard time believing that scripture means what it says.
Like, I've heard some believers suggest that Jesus didn't literally feed 5000 men (and their families) from a single basket of bread and fish, but that his preaching inspired people to share the food they brought hidden in their clothes.
I've heard others argue that Christ's resurrection was purely symbolic ... explaining that Christ's message- but not his human body- is what actually rose from the grave.
Their faith suggests Symbolism matters most.
But can you imagine people who were blind, lame or deaf standing around waiting for Jesus ... so he could lay on his hands and hook 'em up with a terrific and inspiring symbolic healing that proved he was who he said he was?
Wouldn't they all go home feeling enthusiastic and on-fire about how God had revealed himself through Symbolism to permanently change their lives?
-- -- --
Explaining away miracles in terms of legend and symbolism, albeit dismissing scripture, makes us feel more sophisticated and comfortable around non-believers.
Which is what happens every time our focus ignores God and we settle instead on Living Smooth n' Easy and insist that Me = Happy and Content.
-- -- --
Symbolism? Really?
In the first place, eye-witnesses were still alive who could've reputed the gospels' claim that Christ's resurrection was physical and real. Any of the 11 disciples, or any of the hundreds of witnesses scripture reported seeing Jesus alive after the crucifixion, could've stepped forward at any time and clarified for all posterity, "No, you don't understand. He's still dead, we only meant that Jesus' message is alive."
But that's not what happened. The disciples suffered and were martyred, rather than renounce what they had seen.
In the second place: imagine you were Martha, the friend who saw Lazurus raised from the dead, or that you were one of the lame beggars who walked home unassisted. Or that you were the parent of a blind person whom Jesus had healed.
Would it make any difference- or would it all be the same to you- if the miracle you'd seen happen to someone you loved was real... or just purely symbolic?
Like, I've heard some believers suggest that Jesus didn't literally feed 5000 men (and their families) from a single basket of bread and fish, but that his preaching inspired people to share the food they brought hidden in their clothes.
I've heard others argue that Christ's resurrection was purely symbolic ... explaining that Christ's message- but not his human body- is what actually rose from the grave.
Their faith suggests Symbolism matters most.
But can you imagine people who were blind, lame or deaf standing around waiting for Jesus ... so he could lay on his hands and hook 'em up with a terrific and inspiring symbolic healing that proved he was who he said he was?
Wouldn't they all go home feeling enthusiastic and on-fire about how God had revealed himself through Symbolism to permanently change their lives?
-- -- --
Explaining away miracles in terms of legend and symbolism, albeit dismissing scripture, makes us feel more sophisticated and comfortable around non-believers.
Which is what happens every time our focus ignores God and we settle instead on Living Smooth n' Easy and insist that Me = Happy and Content.
-- -- --
Symbolism? Really?
In the first place, eye-witnesses were still alive who could've reputed the gospels' claim that Christ's resurrection was physical and real. Any of the 11 disciples, or any of the hundreds of witnesses scripture reported seeing Jesus alive after the crucifixion, could've stepped forward at any time and clarified for all posterity, "No, you don't understand. He's still dead, we only meant that Jesus' message is alive."
But that's not what happened. The disciples suffered and were martyred, rather than renounce what they had seen.
In the second place: imagine you were Martha, the friend who saw Lazurus raised from the dead, or that you were one of the lame beggars who walked home unassisted. Or that you were the parent of a blind person whom Jesus had healed.
Would it make any difference- or would it all be the same to you- if the miracle you'd seen happen to someone you loved was real... or just purely symbolic?
neighbor in the news
"Clark Rockefeller (born as Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter) is a man who appeared in media worldwide after allegedly kidnapping his daughter Reigh Storrow Mills Boss on July 27, 2008.
"On August 3, 2008 Clark Rockefeller was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland on charges of kidnapping and assault and battery after a week-long search. He had recently purchased an apartment there for about $450,000 under the name Charles "Chip" Smith.
"With the help of the owner of a local marina where Rockefeller had apparently kept a catamaran for the past nine years, FBI agents were able to lure him out of the apartment with a telephone call telling him the boat was taking on water. He was arrested as he left the apartment briefly before Reigh was safely recovered by authorities from inside."
-wikipedia
"On August 3, 2008 Clark Rockefeller was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland on charges of kidnapping and assault and battery after a week-long search. He had recently purchased an apartment there for about $450,000 under the name Charles "Chip" Smith.
"With the help of the owner of a local marina where Rockefeller had apparently kept a catamaran for the past nine years, FBI agents were able to lure him out of the apartment with a telephone call telling him the boat was taking on water. He was arrested as he left the apartment briefly before Reigh was safely recovered by authorities from inside."
-wikipedia
Friday, August 29, 2008
one of the most exciting events in TV history
South Carolina's 34-0 victory last night over NC State was amazing.
The Gamecock defense only allowed 138 yards and set up scores with two takeaways deep in NC State territory.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Crashing and Burning
Years ago, when I was flying regularly, I subscribed to a monthly NTSB safety newsletter that reported the findings of air crash investigations. I wanted to be a better, safer pilot, and hoped to learn something ex tempore - from the mistakes of others- that would help keep me alive.
What I learned was that most problems aren't mechanical, but mental. And that all too often fatal mistakes result from errors of judgment and expectation.
-- -- --
I was shocked at the number of fatal air accidents among corporate pilots, the total pros who have the safest safety record in the sky, that were precipitated by a single underlying event: their bosses were executives who, with full knowledge and awareness that their flight would penetrate deadly weather conditions, nonetheless wagged angry fingers and informed their pilot employees, "If you won't fly, then there's a hundred pilots waiting in line behind you who will."
With the sad result that pilots with decades of experience, professionals who knew better than to challenge thunderstorms or gamble against severe icing conditions, took off and flew their employers, their employers' families and everyone else on board, to their deaths ... rather than trust their own judgment and experience and choose to stay on the ground.
Saying NO to the boss was too hard. Walking away came with too many unknowns.
Those highly skilled, professional pilots ignored their own judgment and experience ... and lost their lives because the boss either had a dinner reservation in Denver that couldn't be missed, or box seats for the big game in Seattle, or simply didn't feel like spending another night in a hotel away from home. But that's what the boss wanted; that's what the boss expected.
You wonder how disasters happen, or maybe how priorities become so confused.
-- -- --
Studying a hazardous weather forecast at an airport in the safety of a pilot's lounge, even in the shadow of a tornado or the lightning flash of a thunderstorm, those pilots somehow still lost focus beyond Just shut up and do whatever it takes to keep your job ... it won't be that bad ...and you'll probably be OK.
They kept their careers intact ... and lost their lives in the process.
Because saying No to the boss was too hard.
What I learned was that most problems aren't mechanical, but mental. And that all too often fatal mistakes result from errors of judgment and expectation.
-- -- --
I was shocked at the number of fatal air accidents among corporate pilots, the total pros who have the safest safety record in the sky, that were precipitated by a single underlying event: their bosses were executives who, with full knowledge and awareness that their flight would penetrate deadly weather conditions, nonetheless wagged angry fingers and informed their pilot employees, "If you won't fly, then there's a hundred pilots waiting in line behind you who will."
With the sad result that pilots with decades of experience, professionals who knew better than to challenge thunderstorms or gamble against severe icing conditions, took off and flew their employers, their employers' families and everyone else on board, to their deaths ... rather than trust their own judgment and experience and choose to stay on the ground.
Saying NO to the boss was too hard. Walking away came with too many unknowns.
Those highly skilled, professional pilots ignored their own judgment and experience ... and lost their lives because the boss either had a dinner reservation in Denver that couldn't be missed, or box seats for the big game in Seattle, or simply didn't feel like spending another night in a hotel away from home. But that's what the boss wanted; that's what the boss expected.
You wonder how disasters happen, or maybe how priorities become so confused.
-- -- --
Studying a hazardous weather forecast at an airport in the safety of a pilot's lounge, even in the shadow of a tornado or the lightning flash of a thunderstorm, those pilots somehow still lost focus beyond Just shut up and do whatever it takes to keep your job ... it won't be that bad ...and you'll probably be OK.
They kept their careers intact ... and lost their lives in the process.
Because saying No to the boss was too hard.
I got a great view from my pew; don't change a thing
Why is it easier to think CHURCH is all about dressing up on Sunday mornings, sitting in the same pew, dozing off to organ music, looking down on sinners (and on congregations actually evangelizing the gospel) ... than it is to follow what Christ commanded?
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
- John 15:12
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- John 13:34
- John 14:15
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
- John 15:12
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- John 13:34
If you love me, you will obey what I command.
- John 14:15
Preparation & Planning: defeated by Routine and Habit
I'd known for days the remnants of tropical storm Fay were heading this way. And that the precipitation was forecast to be heavy.
So yesterday afternoon, knowing the storm was sure to hit sometime after midnight, I mindfully applied a fresh coating of 303 Fabric Guard to all the pesky places where Calypo's 24-year old canvas is bound to leak.
And then completely forgot to zip the top shut before doddering off to bed.
So yesterday afternoon, knowing the storm was sure to hit sometime after midnight, I mindfully applied a fresh coating of 303 Fabric Guard to all the pesky places where Calypo's 24-year old canvas is bound to leak.
And then completely forgot to zip the top shut before doddering off to bed.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Remembering all the times faith made me weak, ineffective and indecisive, or opened my life up to worry and distress
Nope, can't think of a single time.
Not one.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Not one.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Got Butter?
Space is always at a premium on a boat. Especially pertaining to my dorm-sized fridge. So I learned to forgo and do without certain luxuries ... like butter.
Sure it'd be great to know a stick's available when you need it, though butter usually goes bad before I get around to using it. But hold on to your waistline, because now there's a solution:
From New Zealand: Real Butter in a can. Why didn't somebody in the US think of this sooner?
Best of all is what you're already wondering: canned butter has a virtually unlimited shelf life.
Of course I don't actually spread butter on anything; it's used strictly and only when recipe-required.
Like, with popcorn and bagels. And french fries.
Other Canned Items I'd Like to See:
canned lettuce
canned western omelets
canned tuna sandwiches
canned french fries
canned cheesecake
Sure it'd be great to know a stick's available when you need it, though butter usually goes bad before I get around to using it. But hold on to your waistline, because now there's a solution:
From New Zealand: Real Butter in a can. Why didn't somebody in the US think of this sooner?
Best of all is what you're already wondering: canned butter has a virtually unlimited shelf life.
Of course I don't actually spread butter on anything; it's used strictly and only when recipe-required.Like, with popcorn and bagels. And french fries.
Other Canned Items I'd Like to See:
canned lettuce
canned western omelets
canned tuna sandwiches
canned french fries
canned cheesecake
But it beats floating in Crisco
It's true: Calypso is surrounded by 6000 gallons of olive oil.
Workers with the state Department of the Environment and the city Fire Department plan today to flush a 2-mile stretch of sewer leading to the harbor after it was contaminated over the weekend by a 6,000-gallon olive oil spill at an East Baltimore business, authorities said.
While these agencies are involved in cleaning the spill, which leaked olive oil into the area around the Canton waterfront, city police were investigating the possibility that the leak was caused by a vandal who broke into the business and opened a valve on a container holding the oil, authorities said.
source: Olives101.com
Workers with the state Department of the Environment and the city Fire Department plan today to flush a 2-mile stretch of sewer leading to the harbor after it was contaminated over the weekend by a 6,000-gallon olive oil spill at an East Baltimore business, authorities said.
While these agencies are involved in cleaning the spill, which leaked olive oil into the area around the Canton waterfront, city police were investigating the possibility that the leak was caused by a vandal who broke into the business and opened a valve on a container holding the oil, authorities said.
source: Olives101.com
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