goodbye

I'm closing down the blog for the next 40 days. Believe me, this hurts me more than it hurts you. We're going down to Nashville on July 7 (see video below - it's different from the ones I've posted before), and TheCall is ... um ... calling for a 40 day food and media fast to "consecrate ourselves to go before the Lord." Being as the blog is media that is not necessary for work, I'm putting it on hold.

There are other wonderful bloggers listed to the right, and a myriad of good websites to browse if you're looking for good web content. Or you may try a media fast of your own.

Special appologies go out to Bianca. I'll see you all again on July 8th.

Tarquin

This is Tarquin (not sure if I'm spelling that right). He belongs to a cool couple - friends of some friends we see maybe once a year. He likes to scream - for no apparent reason.

get behind me

Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33 recount the "rebuke fest," as Pastor Brian Zahnd likes to call it. Jesus prophecies of his crucifixtion, Peter gets upset, Peter rebukes Jesus, Jesus rebukes Peter.

I noticed the other day that in both passages, Jesus uses the language, "Get behind me, Satan!" in rebuking Peter. ("Satan" literally translates "Adversary.")

Jesus used identical, harsh language when He was tempted of the devil in the wilderness. The third temptation was when Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world if He would worship Satan. Jesus replies, "Get behind me, Satan ..."


So I couldn't help but wonder if He quoted His rebuke because the offence that inspired it was the same. In Luke 4:8 He casts Satan out of His presence in response to a call for idolitry. Around the time of Rebuke Fest 0001 He responds to ... what? Peter's plea that Jesus rethink His plan and deny what He was sent to do. And mere moments after Peter receives revelation from God that this Jesus is the Christ. A god that suffers and dies (and that has called Peter to follow) was not the kind Peter was looking for. Peter first confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, and then insists that He become the kind of Christ Peter is most comfortable with. Jesus rebukes idolitry.

I can't help but think about the great falling away that is coming. When America starts to feel the "terrible" part of the Day of the Lord, and hearts grow cold and offended. How much of the western Church will be left standing when the Jesus we hang on our walls is not the Jesus that splits the sky?

Will I be standing? I think I will ... but everybody does. Will I have so taught my heart to love and trust Him that I will be able to stand in that day without offence and without doubt? What about when all my eschatology falls through the floor and He does something I wasn't prepared for? Hmm.

question

I think I have a pretty good grasp on some of the hard topics regarding God. I understand why we have a free will, even though so many of us choose wrongly. I see the necessity of certain paradoxes, such as "the great and terrible day of the Lord." I'm okay with God's decision to allow suffering to strengthen love. I'm even comfortable with the fact that there are just mysteries to God that we probably will not understand in this life.

As I was listening to a body-builder explain the fall of mankind last night, though, a question arose in my heart that's been plauging me for some 12 hours: Why put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden in the first place?

Before you start explaining theology to your computer screen allow me to reassure you that I understand the following:

1. Hell was never intended for people.

2. God does not send people to hell; people send themselves to hell.

3. We have free will.

4. God is just and good.

My question, though, is, from the very begining of the whole thing, why put the tree there at all if He didn't want them to eat from it? With the ability to see the end from the beginning, God must have known that Satan would convince them, that sin would enter the world, and that thousands would never escape it. He must have known from the very beginning that some would reject Him, and later reject Christ, and suffer an eternity of torment for it.

Assuming the tree was somehow necessary, why create man at all? Again, knowing that some would suffer so much for so long. Why create someone hoping for the best, but ultimately knowing his eternity would be unspeakably horrible? Wouldn't it be a greater expression of love to deny Himself of His desire for man because He knows that some will condemn themselves? Because I'm sure if you could ask anyone in hell, they'd rather to never have been alive.

Read through the four assertions above again. I know these things. All I'm asking is, "Why?" On day four of creation, looking down the horizon of time into eternity, why didn't He see those suffering for all time and scrap the whole plan?

I'm not backsliding, here. Not doubting. Not foresaking my salvation - because whether or not I understand or agree with it all, I know it's true. And I'm sure there's an answer that someday I will understand. I'd like it to be today, though.

100 japanese men

What would happen if you got 100 guys to just run at some unsuspecting stranger?


For more funny, Asian video, check out Dave.

evan almighty

I hadn't heard of this. Has anyone else heard of this? Why didn't you tell me?



I wonder how it ends. Does the whole world really flood? Does he wake up?

I wonder - while I'm wondering - what the motivation for making this was? Whose idea was this? And why? The timing certainly is interesting. "As in the days of Noah" keeps emerging in strange ways. It's almost like Holy Spirit's letting the anticipation get a little sarcastic. If He delighted to manifest real quick I'd share a chuckle and a high-five with Him for sure.

hindsight is 20/20

This is hilarious. Check the date at the top of the page and read through some of the comments. Thanks to Church Marketing Sucks for the info.

Reminds me of the record producer who wouldn't sign the Beatles because he thought guitar bands were on the way out. Or the multi-millionare computer geek who said the Web would never be very useful.

this just in ...

Rev. Jerry Falwell was pronounced "dead" two hours ago after being found unresponsive in his office. Heart failure. He was 73. Fox News.

spiritual authority

If you don't know Lou Engle or TheCall or what's going down in Nashville this July, get yourself caught up real quick:



It's going to be a good time. Last week I got an email from Lou (we're buddy's - you know how effective I am with email) about a recent advance. It seem the state of Tennessee's been talking about Lou. They issued a resolution dated April 9 about him and TheCall. I won't post the whole thing, but it ends:

WHEREAS, the program for TheCall places a strong emphasis on prayer, worship, and repentance, with brief speaking segments that relate to the main topics being addressed; and

WHEREAS, as a pastor in this region and founder of such a notable and worthwhile gathering, Lou Engle epiomizes the spirit and commitment that are characteristic of a true Tennessean; and

WHEREAS, this General Assembly finds it appropriate to pause in its deliberations to acknowledge and applaud Lou Engle for his efforts on behalf of believers in the State of Tennessee and our nation; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we hereby honor and commend Lou Engle for his initiaive, unfailing faith, and meritorious service to the State of Tennessee through his work with TheCall, and extend to him our best wishes for every future success.

Tennessee is begging for revival this July. Begging.

omit faith and good works

I'm sitting in Panera ... with my unsweetened iced tea because Timothy and I have foresaken sweets for a week ... and can't help but hear the conversation two guys behind me are having.

It was interesting at first, as one described the culture of "his village" to the other. He talked about medicine, then death, then ... you guessed it, "the Afterlife." They bury people within hours of death because they're in a hurry to get onto the next thing. The white guy muses he probably wouldn't want to delay heaven, "... unless you were out clubbin' all the time and you ... uh ..."

"Well we believe that everyone's got good deeds and bad deeds and if your good deeds out-weigh your bad deeds then you go to heaven. If your bad deeds out-weigh your good deeds, then you're punished for your bad deeds but eventually go to heaven anyway."

That's a new spin on the whole "good deeds" philosophy. Even if you do more bad than good, you still ... after doing time in hell ... get to spend the rest of forever in heaven. Now, not only do you not have to know Christ, you can be a total jerk all your life and not dim the light at the end of the tunnel.

They changed the conversation when I tossed a thoughtful glance over my shoulder. Final word? "Well that makes me feel better ... *beat boxes a club sound-track* Haha."

mutilating teenagers

Teenagers had 244,124 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2006! I posted about it at Battle Cry, so rather than reinvent the wheel - as they say - go here.

history of modern music

The ninja inspired a lot of conversation about "scene kids" (no, not "seen" kids), so allow me to catch up some people. I'm not going to start at the very beginning with the whole, gospel led to blues and then rock 'n roll ... If you don't know that stuff I can't help you.

We'll start with punk. They're angry; their music is angry. Damn the man. You can go a lot of places from punk.

Door #1 is hippy-punk. These are the dirty, do-it-yourself-ers that look a lot like modern hippies. Key differences: they're still pretty angry, and more socially active ... which I suppose makes them more hippy than most 21st century hippies. Their music is better, and they've held onto some key fashion points that keep them more punk than hippie. They like to host rock shows in basements, and most of them are vegan. These are what I call "real" punks. They're my favorites.

Door #2 is goth. This is usually considered something close to backsliding. Goth kids are angry, but they don't care. They wear black almost exclusively, and a lot of jewelry. These are often people who tried to be punk, but realized it was too much work and they're rather master the art of eyeliner than fight about whether or not it should be tested on animals. Their music is angry and bad. Probably, again, because their musicians were bad punk rock bands.





Door #3 is emo. Yes, that's short for emotional. Emo kids look like they have little sisters who are punk, and they're sad because she's the only one with clean laundry so they have to share. Something like that. They're a little more colorful than goth kids and when you ask what's wrong they usually hang their heads and sigh - whereas goth kids get mad and insist nothing is wrong, this is just the way they are. They started the long hair in the face thing, and they like to take pictures of themselves from above them.



From emo, we got "scene kids." A "scene," first of all is an unofficial collection of local bands and the people who like to see them play every weekend. Very, very easy to mistake for emo, but for goodness' sake don't call them emo, because they really don't like that. It's like tapping on the glass at the aquarium, though, in that people always tell you not to but something about it is so darn tempting. My theory is that scene kids (also sometimes refered to as "scenesters") were emo kids who decided emo was stupid and they didn't want to have to be sad anymore. I think this is why they don't like to be called emo. This is reflected in more colorful tight clothing, hair dye, and eye makeup - thought they haven't gotten over having hair in their faces or taking pictures of the tops of their heads.

Hope that helps!

stream of consciousness

I think "stream of consciousness" is a nice way of saying, "you have no skill for writing." Which is fine, because I'm tired right now and confident I have little skill for much of anything.

There's this boredom that's beginning to weigh on my heart. I can feel it - like a lump of lead in my chest cavity anchoring me to the same boring state day after day. One can only float dockside for so long before something has to give. Has to. Just because all the world would be unbearably unjust if something didn't. You say the world may, in fact, be unbearably unjust. It can't. Something has to, and it's probably me.

Timothy posted about an interesting conversation he had yesterday.

And Bound4Life is redoing their website. Not much is up, but you can get spiffy wallpaper for that thing you're staring at right now.

Something has to. I've heard romantics talk about that restlessness that comes just before a breakthrough. That'd be nice, but I don't know if I'd call it a guarantee. It's probably me.

There must be more than this, O breath of God come breathe within.

Dwayne Roberts ... I mean Randy Bohlender has re-entered the blogosphere.

I'm losing serious blogger-points for this.

And this is cool:

That's 65,000 very small cigarettes. Because 65,000 American teenagers under the age of 18 get addicted to cigarettes every month. Chris Jordan is his name. There's zooms on his website, and more statistics in art form.

Maybe I need a vacation. Maybe I need more prayer time. Maybe I need to slip under the radar somehow. Maybe I need to stop running to Ask A Ninja and clever art exhibits when my spirit begins to cry out.

85 days until India.

Oh, and no one answered my question about the disciples praying for Peter with all their unbelief, so I'm sticking with Rhoda. Childlike faith in a room full of doubting upcoming-apostles can free a man from prison. Maybe I need Rhoda.

embarassing

I don't want to sound pessimistic here, but ... *sigh*

Why are Kirk Cameron, a preacher, and two self-proclaimed atheists coming together in a church this weekend? Because Cameron and preacher Ray Comfort claim that they "can prove the existence of God.

It's going to be on ABC News tomorrow at 2 pm and on Nightline at 11:30 pm.

Cameron you know - Ray Comfort you may know. They market an evangelism strategy called The Way of the Master. Our church hosted a series of Sunday morning classes based on their material, but I only went to one. The strategy appeals to people's morals and a fear of hell. My problem with this strategy is two-fold.

1. Jesus (the "Master" implied herein) didn't usually talk to nonbelievers about hell. He talked to the disciples and the Pharisees about hell, but He usually fed nonbelievers, taught them how to live, and preached eternal life. I haven't studied this out and looked at every instance, so correct me if I'm wrong.

2. I was vehemently opposed to Christ for almost a decade and hell was the last thing I was worried about. Christians would approach me and I'd argue with them, point out what I thought were flaws in their theory and intimidate them out of a coherent answer. They'd default to "what if" and threats of hell and I'd laugh. People that don't believe in hell, usually aren't afraid of hell.

The atheists are the ones behind the Blasphemy Challenge ... which is also based on a poor understanding of scripture.

You see why my stomach kind of turns at the idea of this? It's like those Science of the Bible shows on National Geographic (or whichever channel they're on): it's interesting to hear what other people think about scripture, but it irritates me at the same time. I don't want to doubt Kirk and Ray ... I should probably just pray that the Holy Spirit would shut them up and speak Truth through them. Because Ray's strategy, according to ABC, is the following:

Perhaps you think that anyone who says that he can prove the existence of God is a dreamer. Maybe, like most people, you believe that the issue is a matter of "faith." Then we must be dreamers, because we can prove that God exists, scientifically, absolutely, without mentioning faith or even the Bible.

God help us.

Batman

Okay, so Batman came up again recently and as I started to get defensive, my husband Timothy suggested a blog entry ... perhaps because he didn't want to hear me get defensive.

I am tired of people trying to tell me that Batman's not a real superhero. The debate comes up time and time again, so I'm just going to settle the issue once and for all here.

1. Batman is a hero. Webster defines "hero" as "an illustrious warrior," "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities," or "one that shows great courage." Batman is, similarly, super - especially at being a hero. "Super" is defined as "of high grade or quality," or "exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree." No one can argue that Batman is neither of those things. Thus, he is a super-hero.

2. As shown above, no - one does not need super powers to be a super hero. One only needs super powers to be a freak.

Exhibit A: Spiderman. Bitten by an infected spider and unwilling took on spider-like characteristics: Freak.

Exhibit B: X-Men. Mutated chromosomes. I like X-Men, but you have to admit you're really splitting hairs about the more appropriate term: "super" or "freak." They're superheros because they're heros of a high grade or quality, not because, say, their skeletons are made of an indestructible metal. They're superfreaks because their skeletons are made of an indestructible metal.

You can't even really make the argument that said freaks are super-human, given Webster's positively infalible definition. Review: "exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree." There's nothing human about being able to control the weather, scale buildings, or suck the life energy out of someone.

Then someone always brings up Superman. Superman, let's not forget, is an alien. That's all. We don't refer to any other alien sightings as "superhero sightings," so why this guy? Because he has a weak spot in his heart for the human race? If I deposited you on a planet of intelligent, self-aware slugs they'd worship you too, but that doesn't make you a superhero. Again: superhero because of actions, not because of physical abnormalities.

All that said, Batman's just as much a superhero as the rest of them. If not more, in certain circumstances, because we all remember the issue when Spiderman tried to quit vigilantism. Sissy.

And when it comes down to it, if you were in a dark alley at night in Gotham City, you'd be wishing you had a bat signal.

national day of what?

I was just reminded that today is the National Day of Prayer. Happy National Day of Prayer. In honor of the holiday, I'd like to cut and paste President Lincoln's proclaimation regarding the National Day of Prayer, Fasting and Humiliation. Of course, that's not what we call it anymore because fasting and humiliation are unreasonable requests to make of most Americans.

It took the rest of the nation some time to catch up. Lincoln gave this speach in 1862. The National Day of Prayer wasn't written on the White House calander until 1952 (Truman).

Anyway, here's most of Lincoln's address. I should probably make this shorter, because bloggers extrodinare will tell you that long posts are a turn-off, but it's so good I just can't:

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been
preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

... And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

Amen.

steve got my email

That's right: I send Steve Jobs an email and he pays attention. Maybe not, but I got in on that issue at the right time. The same day I sent my email about a Greener Apple, the company posts an official reply.

Of course it's not everything, but it's a good start ... oh and it stinks of bitterness, but as long as they get the job done I guess they don't have to like it.

It is generally not Apple’s policy to trumpet our plans for the future; we tend to talk about the things we have just accomplished. Unfortunately this policy has left our customers, shareholders, employees and the industry in the dark about Apple’s desires and plans to become greener.

Ya. Welcome to the digital world, guys, where company secrets = company silence = company's disinterest in her market. Consumers don't like to be ignored or treated like children on a need-to-know basis. I realize I probaly sound bitter now, but that's just weak, "Oh we're working on it, we just didn't want to tell you until we're all done." Please.

BUT they're changing their policies. The plan is to completely phase out PVC by 2008, which is way ahead of other companies that plan to phase it out by 2009 (and way, way ahead of HP, who plans to release a plan for eliminating PVCs by the end of this year). Their recycling policy is improving ... if you're living in the U.S. Accoridng to Greenpeace's study, Apple is not making similar recycling promises to the rest of the world.

So there you go. Mac lovers everywhere breathe a sigh of relief. Oh, and if anyone else has any social or environmental causes on your heart - let me know and I'll send someone important an email.

a greener apple

I know we have a lot of mac lovers here, so I wanted to share.

Apparently, our beloved Apple is a little behind the times regarding environmental concerns their products are causing.

For example, the toxic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is something that other tech companies have set dates for removing from their products. Apple hasn't, and major new product lines still contain PVC. It's not just bad for the earth, it's bad for the kids in Asia who live near Apple's dump sites, and who frequently dismantle the remains for parts. These kids are thus exposed to PVC, which wreaks havoc on one's life expectancy.

Apple's take-back policy is also lagging. Dell and HP both have extensive take-back policies that appropriately dispose of their old, unwanted equipment. Apple has some in countries that require the policy, but their policy in the U.S. is falling far short. A take-back policy is not only good for the environment, but it would inspire the production of more efficient products. Because Apple wants your outdated laptop about as much as you do. If they knew they'd have to take back the obsolete models, maybe the next iPod upgrade would be a component that could be swapped into your existing one - instead of buying a whole new iPod.

There's all kinds of information, ideas and involvement opportunities at Green My Apple. I sent an email to Steve this morning. Check it out. Send an email. 'Cause we love our macs (or we're severely branded and just don't care), but environmentally friendly macs would be better, no?

as in the days of Noah ...

That, friends, is a replica of Noah's ark that is currently anchored in Holland. Johan Huibers built the thing as a testament to his faith and his conviction that we are living in the last days. He hopes it will inspire a renewed interest in Christianity in the Netherlands.

The boat is two-thirds the length of a football field, and as tall as a three-story house. There are life-size models of animals inside, as well as a 50-seat theater where kids can watch the story of Noah and we're anticipating a petting zoo on the open upper-deck.

Johan did most of the work himself, though using modern tools. It's big and impressive, but Noah's ark was five times the size of Johan's.

There's a CNN article here, and a short video tour. Spiffy.