Bikinis and Band Camp

By Steve Case

Every time a new “teen sex” movie comes out there will always be parents who are up in arms over how this generation is going down the tubes. Sometimes it’s helpful to take a step back and see the bigger picture. A few years ago people saw American Pie as proof of a generation of degenerates. The next time you have a parent or adult who feels the need to decry sexual content in movies or television, remind them of the days of wholesome entertainment when Frankie Avalon starred in classics like How To Stuff A Wild Bikini and Beach Blanket Bingo.  Sure, today’s youth may quote “This one time at band camp…” but their grandparents were throwing out lines like “I got ideas… and they’re all vile, baby!”  This is also an opportunity to launch a discussion with your youth about whether or not teenagers change significantly over the years.

Source: http://www.thejournalofstudentministries.com/

Details? and a thought…

I have been asked a couple of times for some details about the congregation and church that I am being considered as youth pastor for, and I have avoided doing so for quite a few reasons.  But, here are some things that may be of interest, although I am keeping it pretty vague until I have had a chance to make my visit.  The church is Presbyterian, evangelical, mid-sized, and interested in the lives of its youth, hence why they have been moving fairly quickly in securing someone to lead them.  That is all I will say for now.

On a completely different topic, Jenna Bush got married this week, which is cool and all.  But does it really matter that it was closed to the media?  Who really gives a rip as to what the ceremony looked like?  No offense to anyone, but…Jenna Bush is no different than any other 26year old young lady.  She wanted to get married, and did.  Big deal.  Could it be that she didn’t want to be a spectacle and that her father wanted to protect her from stalkers?  Gosh…such horrible things.

New day, new book

I have recently been reading the Harry Potter series as my fiction fix here recently. Today I finished the third book, and was considering reading something different. I kinda want a brief break from the wizarding world. I am enjoying the books. They are wonderful. But I just am in the mood for something different.

While Auni and I were at Barnes & Noble today, I was buying her a new Palahniuk book. I’ve been considering reading something by him. Maybe Invisible Monsters? Anyway, as we were walking out, purchasing Survivor, I noticed an interesting little treasure laying on one of the bargain tables. A book called The Raw Shark Texts by Stephen Hall. I know nothing about this book other than what is on Amazon and what the cover itself of the copy I got says. But it is artsy, intriguing, different. I am reading that for my fiction fix and my brief break from Hogwarts.

I have a couple of job prospects. One is at an Evangelical Presbyterian church and a couple of Methodist churches. I am just praying for God’s hands to work in that stuff. I am more than ready to work in a church context. I love being free to minister to people how I want, but I miss the structured life of working in a church. In a way, it was really nice.

In case you hadn’t noticed, I finished that whole inerrancy thing. In a few days, I will be back to my old self. I hope those posts helped somebody…especially the friend who was struggling with the matter himself.

I think I’m gonna go rest and wait for dinner…which is exciting because my Auni made up a new recipe…Alfredo Lasagna…And when I say “made up”…I mean made up…like…she is making everything from the alfredo (involving tofu and spinach and stuff) and everything…I’m pretty excited…I’ll let you know how it is…

***UPDATE***

It was total vegan goodness!!!

Recommendation: Vintage Jesus

I finished reading Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears yesterday. I have to say, it was a pretty good book. It is completely about Jesus, which is a great plus. And it also promotes a decidedly Reformed understanding of Him, although he makes some statements that a dogmatic Calvinist may find hard to swallow, such as saying that Jesus’ life and death was more inclusive than we tend to want to think it is.

Many people condemn Driscoll as being vulgar, but the most vulgar thing in this book, as far as I’m concerned, is when he says that Jesus died to free us from all sins and mentions being a “religious prig” as one of those that Jesus paid for on the cross. His discussion of the Virgin birth was probably the best chapter in the book and the brief explanation by Breshears regarding the Genesis text about the seed of women stomping on the serpent’s head was one of the best explanations of that text I have ever read.

I feel, though, that the book fell flat in the last chapter. Whereas in every other chapter he made a lot of blunt points and awesome truth statements, in this chapter, those stopped about halfway through. And the book ended kinda like a lot of other systematic theologies end…with little climax.

All in all, it was a wonderful book, especially if you love Jesus and take Him seriously. I do highly recommend it.

Flashback to a…different…time

Recent readings and happenings…

Today, via a link on TheOoze, I found a book entitled Thank God for Evolution. So, out of curiosity, I downloaded the free PDF of the book and then did some research on the author.

In my research I came across something called “Deep Ecology.” I find it interesting. Especially since, Last week at church, Pastor Edgar gave a sermon continuing their series entitled “Deep Economy.”

Important

I had an issue with my cell phone.  Namely, one of our cats peed on it and now it is completely dead.  Not only that, but it fried the SIM card as well.  So…I need all your numbers again.  If you are a personal friend (as in you know me in person and I had your number before) I need it again.  Just send me an email or a private message or something so that I have it.  I will call or text or email you in response with my new # when I get it in a couple of days.  Sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.

A longer update

This year, I am going to start writing my book. I don’t have the whole thing mapped out yet, but I do know the direction that I am going.  As I think I said when I previously when I mentioned my writing goal, it is going to be a series of essays on various topics connected with a common theme.

Needless to say, this will most likely be cutting in to my time on here.  I will still post from time to time, but maybe not with the same frequency that I have previously.

I am going to finish the series on “A Different Jesus.”  I have just not had an opportunity to write it.  Frankly, I have just not felt a sense of inspiration.

And that is a problem with me.  I don’t feel inspired as I once did.  I believe in God, I believe God, His Spirit is dwelling within me, but I don’t have that same sense of inspiration that I once did.  Some would say this is because I haven’t been going to church regularly, but I doubt that.  I am just having a hard time hearing Him through all the noise of life right now.

Things just seem so hectic.  Things just seem so noisy.  Within and without.

I will be continuing to send resumes.  I have a few more out there, and a couple of churches are considering me.  But I don’t know where God wants me.  I am simply trusting Him to reveal His will to me.  But it would be nice if He would do so a little more quickly.

Journaling…

I believe that it may be time to take a different approach to how I conduct myself when I write theological blogs.  It seems that no matter what I say, I manage to upset someone in some way.  I may even have offended a close friend.  This is not good.

From now on, I write only to defend Jesus and His teachings and my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I will only attack and denounce damnable heresy.  I will strive to write only to build up, and never to tear down.  I will continue to strive to not become embroiled in stupid debates and will strive never to resort to slander and name-calling.

I am a Christian emerging from a postmodern and post-Christian culture.  I am a Calvinist.  I am a follower of Jesus.  I am evangelical.  I am driven by a purpose: To glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

Do you wanna help out?

So here’s the scoop. I found this place that is kinda like myspace. There’s nothing particularly special about it. I don’t really like it all that much. But it is a wonderful opportunity. Why? Because they pay you. That’s right. They pay you.

As many of you know, I have been praying about starting a church. Well, this is a way for me to raise some money to get that started. All you have to do is join and I get an incentive for the referral. It’s that simple. I don’t even think you have to really do anything there. But I only ask that you go to the site below and sign up and help a brother out. And if you’re an atheist, I would ask, if you’re a friend, do it for no other reason than that. I would much appreciate any help I can get with doing what I believe that God has called me to do.

Thank you.

http://www.yuwie.com/yuwie.asp?r=57864