I'm not sure what brought this topic up in my mind, but today i was thinking about our American Gospel Enterprise. Now, considering the fact the the President of the Bible school that i graduated from, Dr. Michael Brown, had written a book sometime ago entitled "The End of the American Gospel Enterprise," which was basically smashing the whole idea of marketing the gospel of Jesus. Let me start off by saying that my collection of books is rapidly growing. I'm a book junkie. Since coming down to FIRE, my collection has grown by leaps and bounds. Of course, a portion of that might have to do that while I was in school, our 'textbooks' were books that people had written.
I can remember the a popular Christian music artist, Stephen Curtis Chapman, has a song about it even. About the fact that we as American Christians have conferences on just about every topic known to man. We have prophetic conferences and financial conferences and tons of other things as well. And they're all well and good and all, for the most part. Now, my concern is is whats the difference that's being made? There had better be some sort of difference that's happening in our lives. I used to be a 'conference junkie'. meaning that i was going from conference to conference to experience something. and thats fine and i'm not coming down on those who go to christian conferences for whatever reason. but again, what is the difference being made.
You look at other parts of the world and they don't have conferences and seminars for all sorts of things. But the gospel is spreading the Christendom is growing at a rapid pace.
I personally don't watch much Christian programming on tv or on the radio at all. I just personally can't stand it much. People point fingers at them and accuse these people of all sorts of wrong doing. I don't necessarily have anything against the stuff, but what change is made.
I also get different music cds every month (meaning like 3-4 a month or so).
I just personally ask people what is the point of it all? some of it may be well and good... but i know for myself, i don't really want to need to go to a conference to experience God and to have a relationship with Jesus. if you so desire to go to a conference or seminar on whatever topic, go for it. I won't stop you. It's your money and your time. but i can't wait to see the fruits from it all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Something ain't right here..
A personal note here... I received this in an email just the other day. And from my standpoint, i've never lost anyone to a horrific incident such as 9/11 or the Oklahoma City bombings. My heart does go out to these people and I would love to talk with them and see how they're doing.
But from another standpoint, i'm just like "come on folks, give me a break here! Unfortunately, there are people out there with a sick and twisted mindset. And unfortunately, those people sometimes do things about it." but how long are we going to keep asking others to pay for their deaths? Sometimes we have such a victim mentality. Did the families of the soldiers who died in Pearl Harbor seek compensation to this degree? Honestly folks, can we please grow up?
Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head.
By Rush Limbaugh:
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.
Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.
We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well.
You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing Make sense?
However, our own US Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.
I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits an d lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.
"When do we finally do something about this?"
But from another standpoint, i'm just like "come on folks, give me a break here! Unfortunately, there are people out there with a sick and twisted mindset. And unfortunately, those people sometimes do things about it." but how long are we going to keep asking others to pay for their deaths? Sometimes we have such a victim mentality. Did the families of the soldiers who died in Pearl Harbor seek compensation to this degree? Honestly folks, can we please grow up?
Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head.
By Rush Limbaugh:
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million. If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.
Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.
We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well.
You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing Make sense?
However, our own US Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now equal to being millionaires plus. They do not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7, they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.
I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and join ranks before they start cutting out benefits an d lowering pay for our sons and daughters who are now fighting.
"When do we finally do something about this?"
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Immersion 2007
Well, perhaps for the two of you who might check this site out from time to time, i'll quickly fill you in on whats going on.
FIRE School is about to start a whole new trimester. So we decided to retreat into the hills on the western side of North Carolina to immerse this new class into FIRE. So, we rented a retreat center out in Marion, NC and we brought the students out here. We're splitting this whole week into two segments. Wed-Sat. is the new students and then Sat-Mon is the returning students. What is my job throughout all of this? It's basically to be here 'on staff' and make sure things run properly. I'm like the handy man around here. I got here Tuesday afternoon to bring food up. We've been building things since we got here. Wednesday morning before the students arrived, we made 8 3-tier bunk beds. Those go in the girls dorms. So, we the guys have put a lot of care into that. not only are we constructing them, but we're putting them together w/ loves of TLC for our precious sisters. This is a super quick overview of whats going on considering my time constraints. I actually got a nap in today for the first couple days! Amazing.. i know! i actually had time. Because Tuesday i got here and was working ever since other than sleeping and eating.
That's about it for now.
FIRE School is about to start a whole new trimester. So we decided to retreat into the hills on the western side of North Carolina to immerse this new class into FIRE. So, we rented a retreat center out in Marion, NC and we brought the students out here. We're splitting this whole week into two segments. Wed-Sat. is the new students and then Sat-Mon is the returning students. What is my job throughout all of this? It's basically to be here 'on staff' and make sure things run properly. I'm like the handy man around here. I got here Tuesday afternoon to bring food up. We've been building things since we got here. Wednesday morning before the students arrived, we made 8 3-tier bunk beds. Those go in the girls dorms. So, we the guys have put a lot of care into that. not only are we constructing them, but we're putting them together w/ loves of TLC for our precious sisters. This is a super quick overview of whats going on considering my time constraints. I actually got a nap in today for the first couple days! Amazing.. i know! i actually had time. Because Tuesday i got here and was working ever since other than sleeping and eating.
That's about it for now.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Authority comes with responsibility
Just this past week, the new young teen movie High School Musical 2 came out. I watched it here at home, and i thought it was a cute movie. It got me thinking to my high school days. That was 5 years ago already! That's not fair! lol. But it brought back some memories...
All my years of going through school, i was never one of the popular people so much. You might be thinking "Seeing what what you say here on your blog, i can imagine why.." and you might have a point there. But I've realized one important thing over there years: Your actions can speak louder than your words. People are watching you even when you don't think they are. And it usually happens that your misdoings go noticed much quicker than your good things.
I've come to realize that i did have a good bit of authority actually in high school. People knew me and they knew that i stood for something. With that comes a lot of responsibility. Some time ago, my mom ran into an old school friend. this friend moved into our town when she was in 3rd or 4th grade. her family was missionaries in Indonesia for a number of years. We were in some of the same classes in elementary school. I'm not totally sure what happened to her after elementary school. I can't even say that i remember seeing her much at all in middle school and then in high school. I know she was still around there, but I don't remember having much contact with her at all. From what i can remember though, she was still there and i think we even graduated together. My graduating class in high school was in the low hundreds from what i can remember.
In any case, my mom had mentioned that recently, she ran into this girl at the store. My mom didn't know her from anyone, but someone she recognised my mom, i guess with my last name and she took a chance of a relation. And she even asked about me. My mom filled her in briefly as to what i was up to. And she said that in her high school days, she went through a time of really just questioning God. But she mentioned that she remembered me and remembered what a firm stance i took.
Thats humbling for me. Sometimes you just never know what kind of an impact your making. With this comes a good amount of responsibility. A responsibility to keep your life clean. If and when people are looking up to you to represent Christ, that gives you an amount of responsibility and authority in their life. However, that needs to be handled with care. It's not something to lord it over w/, but to be used humbly. Keeping ones life clean isn't always easy.
All my years of going through school, i was never one of the popular people so much. You might be thinking "Seeing what what you say here on your blog, i can imagine why.." and you might have a point there. But I've realized one important thing over there years: Your actions can speak louder than your words. People are watching you even when you don't think they are. And it usually happens that your misdoings go noticed much quicker than your good things.
I've come to realize that i did have a good bit of authority actually in high school. People knew me and they knew that i stood for something. With that comes a lot of responsibility. Some time ago, my mom ran into an old school friend. this friend moved into our town when she was in 3rd or 4th grade. her family was missionaries in Indonesia for a number of years. We were in some of the same classes in elementary school. I'm not totally sure what happened to her after elementary school. I can't even say that i remember seeing her much at all in middle school and then in high school. I know she was still around there, but I don't remember having much contact with her at all. From what i can remember though, she was still there and i think we even graduated together. My graduating class in high school was in the low hundreds from what i can remember.
In any case, my mom had mentioned that recently, she ran into this girl at the store. My mom didn't know her from anyone, but someone she recognised my mom, i guess with my last name and she took a chance of a relation. And she even asked about me. My mom filled her in briefly as to what i was up to. And she said that in her high school days, she went through a time of really just questioning God. But she mentioned that she remembered me and remembered what a firm stance i took.
Thats humbling for me. Sometimes you just never know what kind of an impact your making. With this comes a good amount of responsibility. A responsibility to keep your life clean. If and when people are looking up to you to represent Christ, that gives you an amount of responsibility and authority in their life. However, that needs to be handled with care. It's not something to lord it over w/, but to be used humbly. Keeping ones life clean isn't always easy.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
A New Day
I got home from work today to find that i got my ipod back! yippee!! so i've been busy then working with that. to put all those songs and pictures on that thing... now i'm just waiting for my computer to get here.
I get frequent emails from a friend of mine in Israel. Which, by the way, I still stand with Israel and will always stand with them. They're God's choosen people and will always be God's choosen people. The church hasn't replaced them. We're lucky to have been grafted into their world. If your truly a Christian, you will stand with them. The Bible commands it. Don't call yourself a Christian and go against Israel. That's blatant stupidity and ignorance. In Genesis it states that if you curse Israel, you will be cursed. If you bless them, you'll be blessed. We need to pray for our leaders to see whats really going on. Giving land to the Muslims for peace is a dead on failure. They won't be happy until they have the world. We need to quit caving into the people who threaten us.
I get frequent emails from a friend of mine in Israel. Which, by the way, I still stand with Israel and will always stand with them. They're God's choosen people and will always be God's choosen people. The church hasn't replaced them. We're lucky to have been grafted into their world. If your truly a Christian, you will stand with them. The Bible commands it. Don't call yourself a Christian and go against Israel. That's blatant stupidity and ignorance. In Genesis it states that if you curse Israel, you will be cursed. If you bless them, you'll be blessed. We need to pray for our leaders to see whats really going on. Giving land to the Muslims for peace is a dead on failure. They won't be happy until they have the world. We need to quit caving into the people who threaten us.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hate Crimes Bill
This is what can happen should we not speak up. This is something that our children will be dealing with. Lord, forgive me for sitting passively by and watching your Word tarnished. I want to make something VERY clear: I do not hate those who practice homosexuality. I reach out to them w/ the Love of Christ. Just like I don't hate anyone who practices any form of immorality. Quite the contrary. Should someone who practices homosexuality or a Muslim or anyone practicing a sin comes to me and wants help, i will be glad to reach out to them and see them set free.
I do hate the sin of immorality though! I don't condone sin. I don't condone practicing things which are against the Word of God. I want to make that perfectly clear. thanks again.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Beef..its what's for dinner
I enjoy getting books that are thought provoking and tell a good challenging story line. I like to watch movies and read things that challenge me in every sphere of life. I can't stand sitting and listening to sermons and reading books that just tell me that i'm a good person. it's just one of my pet peeves. if i go to the doctors office and i would have a serious medical condition, i don't want him to say "well Shawn, you have some problems here, but ur an overall nice guy and i really like you..." well doc, thats great, but whats the problem? i'm not paying you $20 copay to sit here and for you to stroke my ego. same goes for cars. if my car is having a problem, i don't just wanna go there and have them tiptoe around the problem and just tell me i'm a nice guy. b/c at that point in time, i'll be a nice guy w/ some serious car problems or other issues.
same goes for preaching of the Word. i can't stand to sit there and listen to a preacher just tell me nice things. now, if its the word of the Lord, then ok... so be it. but lets get over the nicey nice stuff and see what the Holy Ghost is saying to the church. lets dig deep, get over our own little offenses and change this world. sometimes, i can understand how someone might be offended at something a minister says. but sometimes, i'm just like "get over yourself you wimp." and usually when there's an offense, something was taken out of context. sometimes its that the speaker does need to hone some of their speaking skills, admittedly i'm sure i've said stuff in the past that i now regret.
i guess all this is coming from the fact that i just got Jesus Freaks Vol. 2: Revolutionaries. People who have made a lasting impact in our world. i'm sure numerous times through it i'll be questioning my own salvation. what makes me think i'm soo revolutionary...? but sometimes, you gotta take things into perspective...
Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life. Its more than just living and going to work or school. Its not about what you can get from it. it's about you giving of your life. It's not about you receiving Jesus into your heart and him giving you a nice car, house, pool in the back yard, 2.3 kids, dog Spot, white picket fence, living in suburbia America. all that stuff is fine and not to say that if you have those things, your in sin. God looks at your heart. what are you doing for Christendom? what are you doing to impact your world? what am I doing to impact my world?
just something to chew on here....
same goes for preaching of the Word. i can't stand to sit there and listen to a preacher just tell me nice things. now, if its the word of the Lord, then ok... so be it. but lets get over the nicey nice stuff and see what the Holy Ghost is saying to the church. lets dig deep, get over our own little offenses and change this world. sometimes, i can understand how someone might be offended at something a minister says. but sometimes, i'm just like "get over yourself you wimp." and usually when there's an offense, something was taken out of context. sometimes its that the speaker does need to hone some of their speaking skills, admittedly i'm sure i've said stuff in the past that i now regret.
i guess all this is coming from the fact that i just got Jesus Freaks Vol. 2: Revolutionaries. People who have made a lasting impact in our world. i'm sure numerous times through it i'll be questioning my own salvation. what makes me think i'm soo revolutionary...? but sometimes, you gotta take things into perspective...
Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life. Its more than just living and going to work or school. Its not about what you can get from it. it's about you giving of your life. It's not about you receiving Jesus into your heart and him giving you a nice car, house, pool in the back yard, 2.3 kids, dog Spot, white picket fence, living in suburbia America. all that stuff is fine and not to say that if you have those things, your in sin. God looks at your heart. what are you doing for Christendom? what are you doing to impact your world? what am I doing to impact my world?
just something to chew on here....
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