Remember Sam Harris?

Man, I'm getting old! I remember watching this back in the day. Sam was the original American Idol. I sure wish he would've gotten better producers, etc. He never made it "big" but he has done well nonetheless.

Sermon Intermission?

If you've ever preached in a church setting or taught a group of people somewhere then you'll probably know where I'm coming from. Have you ever looked out at the crowd and noticed someone with that glazed over, dear in the headlights face? Sure you have. You likely have also seen the sleepy face or the I really don't want to be here face. I was thinking of introducing a sermon intermission for such folks. I could pause and give everyone a chance to get up, move around and greet each other. Then I could say something like "If you are bored, not interested, perhaps sleepy, or you really just want to leave...this is an ideal opportunity for you to slip out inconspicuosly and get an early start on lunch." Hey, who wants to sit through a sermon when you really aren't interested? I'd rather speak to those who want to learn anyway. Wouldn't you love to see the faces of the people who heard something like that? Sure, they'd be mad at me, but I wonder if they'd appreciate it more if I simply didn't listen the next time they felt compelled to bend my ear.

Say it isn't so!

Mitchell's report is in and he names Clemens, Bonds, McGwire, Tejada, Sheffield, Pettitte, and many others as users of performance-enhancing drugs. Well, at least the sports radio guys will have lots of material for the weeks ahead! What will happen next? Half of the guys are no longer playing, so they are likely free from any penalty....but what about the current players?

The Toaster

I do this almost every day: I plug the toaster in, use it, then unpug it. Does anyone else do this? I caught myself today and wondered why I do this. I thought it must be a fire hazard or something, but then I looked around. Virtually every outlet is in use 24/7! Are toaster inherently more volatile than lamps, TV's, etc? Maybe...maybe not, but I have a feeling that I'll keep unplugging the thing.

Duck Huck!

You better duck Huck! Mike Huckabee is in for a beating. He's surging in the polls and seems to have a refreshing authenticity BUT HE'S NOT going to get the nomination. Trust me. The GOP big boys aren't going to let a Baptist preacher be the nominee. Believe me, it ain't going to happen. They've already started the hatchet job and it's just beginning. He's being branded as a whacko. He's soft on crime...he raised taxes... he rejects evolution... he's wants to quarantine people with aids, etc. More will come and he'll be branded as "unelectable" and too overtly religious. Guliani is the annointed one, so just relax and watch it unfold.

Hitman Hatton

Rick "Hitman" Hatton will meet Floyd Mayweather this Saturday night in Las Vagas for for Mayweather's Welterweight title. Hatton is the current Light Welterweight champ. He's moving up in weight. This will be a tough bout for Ricky because he's moving up in weight and because he is a at a significant reach disadvantage. Both men are undefeated. There's been a big build up and Mayweather has been doing a lot of talking (what else is new?). In Hatton's last fight he KO'd José Luis Castillo with a body shot.

Sexual temptation and men

Many authors have written voluminously about men and their struggles with sexual temptation. Books abound. Accountablility systems are available. Worshops. Retreats. The list goes on, but Mark Moore (from Ozark Christian College) has written a concisely yet practically on his blog about this subject. He concludes, "If you can't be a good man you better be a wise man." Check it out.

Whatcha talkin bout Willis

Pretty much says it all.

Happy Holidays?

Soren wrote an great piece on the "Happy Holidays" issue. Check it out. Now my thoughts...

While I basically agree with everything Soren wrote I've decided to add my perspective. Frankly the move to "Happy Holidays" is increasingly irritating to me and i actaully find it refreshing when someone says "Merry Chrstmas." Let me emphasize that my irritation with the whole "Happy Holidays" jive is cultural not biblical. It doesn't bother me if Christians do or don't celebrate Christmas. I don't even care if they want to celebrate Christmas as a purely secular holiday. So what society does in this regard is not important to me from a Christian/Biblical perspective. My problem is now we have to give equal time to every "holiday" even made up ones!

My oldest daughter sings in the chorus at her elementary school. I went to program where they sang three songs obstensably as part of a celebration of the "season." They did three numbers. The first song was instrumental with kazoos and some plastic pipes they tapped for percussion. I have no idea what kind of song it was. The second number was unfamilar to me since it was a Japanese New Year song (sung in Japanese). The final number was a Kwanzaa song. Happy Holidays!

Of course the greens and reds of "Christmas" were around with the obligatory candle, snowflake and snowman thrown in to boot! Yet, not one Christmas song, not even the non-Jesus ones like Jingle Bells! I'm sure they'll get one in during the next and larger program along with a Hanukkah tune of course.

Here's my beef the social engineering in schools would leave one with the impression that all of these holidays are to be valued equally and are equally practiced. I wonder what's next...Ramadan? Yeah, I know it's already here. Pluralism, mulitculturalism and a holiday season. Oh boy!!!

Christmas?

My buddy Soren has written an insightful and provocative piece about the "Happy Holidays" issue. That has given my inspiration to weigh in on these matters. I'll cover it in two parts. First, let me address the Christmas holiday...

I used to be one of these "keep Christ in Christmas" guys but I've moderated my position over the years. I basically see four approaches to Christmas taken by Christians.

1. It's not biblical, so we don't celebrate it. (Also, some troubling issues with it's pagan and catholic origins might be involved).


2. It's a CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY. Less than blatant expressions of a Jesus' birthday approach are unacceptable. Hence, Santa, Rudolph & Frosty must go!


3. It'a a secular (non-christian) celebration. Bring on Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and everything else, just don't give me that Jesus' birthday nonsense!


4. A little of all of the above. That's what I do.

I read Luke 2 and watch Charlie Brown and sing Silent Night as well as Jingle Bells. I do Christmas Eve service and Santa. I concede it's not biblical, but I still think it's nice to focus on His coming in a special way.