Baby who wants to love me sexy?

We are without internet at the house, so I am at Starbuck’s indulging in their new program where, if you have a gift card and have at least $5 on it and use it regularly and have it registered online and for the rewards program, you get 2 hours of free internet access.  It’s nice.  Much faster than trying to connect using the Panera Bread’s connection, which is further away and much more slow.

Not a whole lot has gone on recently.  I’ve not heard anything from the church yet.  I am hoping to hear something today.  They said it would be 2 or 3 weeks, and it has been right at 3 weeks.  I am praying so hard for this to work.  I really am.  I won’t lie or hide my true feelings.  I really want this position, and it is exactly what we need…financially, spiritually, living arrangement-ly, everything.  It is perfect.  But, since I’ve not heard anything and not had a lot of contact from them n regards to it, I feel anxious and nervous.  I just REALLY want this to work out.

I like my job less and less every day.  It just getting to be almost unbearable.  And I am unable to find anything else, even to supplement this.  I apply places and hear absolutely nothing back.  Like my waiting to hear from the church, it is just very frustrating.

My friend Derek wrote something today that was very convicting.  He ran into a beggar guy carrying a cross and a sign asking for money or his family would be homeless.  Instead of just going on by, he gave him a couple bucks and then proceeded to walk with the guy for about 4 hours through the richer part of town: the shopping district.  As Derek and the man talked, he told Derek how he got more help in the poor part of town than from the rich.  Since it’s his story, he tells it so much better, but you get the idea.  Just some food for thought.

The Small God We Worship

A general problem with much of Western Theology…is that the God portrayed is too small. It is a god of a tiny world and not a god of a galaxy, much less a universe. - Carl Sagan

The other day, I talked about how, for many Christians, God is dead. He is not present in the things that they do, support, or in the way that they act toward their neighbors. So, for them, He is dead. But this isn’t the only segment of Christianity here in the states. Another set of Christians worships a small god. For lack of a less offensive manner in which to say this, they worship the Biblical God.

God Isn’t There

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:1-2 ESV)

The Christian culture that most of us have embraced here in America is everything but Christian in any real sense of the word. It looks and sounds nothing like what Jesus taught and looks nothing like the example that Jesus set down for us when He was with us physically.

Laughing at Atheists

I hear a lot of different things on the radio when I park people’s cars. One of the most prominent things, aside from country music, is the Mike Gallagher show. I think the man is a nut job, but most of the time I can at least tolerate him. Today, though, something happened on the show that really bothered me.

During a call-in segment about McCain’s renouncing of John Hagee as an endorsement, he flat out laughed at a caller who said he didn’t believe in God. If you don’t believe me, you can listen to the segment here (click the link entitled ‘McCain’s Pastor Problem”; the atheist caller is near the end). I sat there and listened as the caller was chided and then let go from the phone lines. I got out of the car before I could hear any commentary that may have followed.

Legalism in Seven Movements: The Punisher

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your ancestors! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. (Matthew 23:29-36 TNIV)

Deeply ingrained in our Christian psyche is this idea that our sin only effects us and those around us. The idea that punishment for the sins of our ancestors may rest upon us is totally foreign, and some might say unbiblical. Yet this is exactly what Jesus is getting at in this, His final indictment against legalism.

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/

Legalism in Seven Movements: The Bone Collector

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:27-28 TNIV)

This indictment against the Scribes and Pharisees is almost identical as the one that came before it. On the surface, it even looks like He is saying the same thing. In a way, Jesus is, but He is taking it a step further.

Visitation Weekend

The weekend was very relaxed.  We left on Thursday afternoon and had Friday to recoup from the 6 hour drive.  On Saturday morning, we were off to the church for a church-wide yard sale.  This was basically a time for me to meet in person the people who were in the room when I had the conference call and also interact with other church members.  We left there around 1:00.

On Sunday morning, I had an interview with 4 of the people on the committee.  They asked some of the same questions that I was asked on the phone to get some further clarification on them along with, I believe, one or two other questions about missions and the integration of the small group and large group youth meetings and how I would go about that.

All in all, it seemed to go well.  They have 3 people they are talking to, so I won’t hear anything for certain for 2 or 3 weeks.  So…now it is back to just waiting and praying.  Although, we both really hope this is where God wants us.  We really like this church and this seems like a wonderful opportunity.  Just keep us in prayer.

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.

Callback

On Wednesday evening, I received a call back from the church.  I am headed there next weekend for a visit with them.  They have a busy weekend with a church-wide rummage sale and some special services in general, and so they thought that would be a good time for me to come and meet and greet.  There isn’t, at this point, a formal interview, but I was told the people would probably have a lot of questions for me.

Keep me in your prayers as it looks like this just might mean I am hired.