Please Welcome Greg to the blogoshere...

Greg Coverdale is a good brother in the Lord and now a fellow blogger. Drop by and welcome him into the blogosphere.

Pop that bubble!

Pop that bubble! The gated community "gospel" has got to go. We are supposed in the world but not of the world. Most of us actually have it the other way - we're of the world but not in the world! Lord, help us.

Those are my comments in response to a very insightful post written by Aaron Saufley entitled "Living Differently". Check it out.

A Hero?

I was thinking about often I hear the word "hero" these days. In my estimation it is an overused word. It regularly gets applied to entire groups of people - literaly millions of people some times, just because of their jobs. We hear about our "heroes" in the military. Our police, firefighters and even teachers are touted as "heroes" too. Certainly some in these groups are heroes but everyone of them? Now, I realize this might be a sensitive issue, but may I ask, "Do we really think that all of the aforementioned folks qualify as 'heroic'?" Consider these definitions from Merriam Webster...

Hero - 1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage.

Heroic - 1: of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes especially of antiquity2 a: exhibiting or marked by courage and daring b: supremely noble or self-sacrificing 3 a: of impressive size, power, extent, or effect b (1): of great intensity : 2): of a kind that is likely only to be undertaken to save a life.

If every soldier is a hero than what do we call the soldier who rushes into enemy fire and is wounded trying to aid a fallen soldier, yet still drags his brother to safety? Is he a "hero" along with the guy who works on jeeps back at the base? What do call the firefighter who almost loses his own life rescuing someone? Is he a hero along with the guy who cooks back at the firehouse? (Somehow "superhero" doesn't seem to work.) There are more examples but I think you get my point. Maybe it's because we lack many genuine heroes that we "dumb down" who can be one. Or perhaps it is a desire for more credit than we deserve that this happens. But, I'm convinced, that if everyone is a "hero" then no one really is.

Obsessive Obama Supporters Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Escape boredom...

And get serious about follwoing Jesus Christ.

Erwin MacManus wrote, "Somewhere along the way the movement of Jesus Christ became civilized as Christianity," he writes. "We created a religion using the name of Jesus Christ and convinced ourselves that God's optimal desire for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, worry about nothing. Yet Jesus’ death wasn’t to free us from dying, but to free us from the fear of death. Jesus came to liberate us so that we could die up front and then live. Jesus wants to take us to places where only dead men and women can go."

Have you noticed that someone can “come to Christ” & years later remain basically the same person and no one seems to mind? Honestly, I don’t fear that many "church folks" will renounce Jesus. I do fear, however, that many of them are living with a less than serious, dare I say “shallow” commitment to Jesus. Big Question: Could it be that today most people no longer associate following Jesus with what it means to be a Christian? Seriously, we have innumerable church members who dont' seem to "get it." What are the expectations for these people in most places? Attend… Give… & BEHAVE! Do we expect radical transformation into Christ-likeness? Do we expect absolute commitment? No, but Jesus does...

Luke 14: 25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Kutless - Your Touch

This is a great song. It's booming through my nano when I'm at the gym.

All Night at the Shelter

This past Sunday/Monday I worked at the local homeless shelter with about 20 or so folks from Olivet. This was our third time doing so and I'm always surprised with how well everything goes. Our folks are divided into teams with differently responsibilities all functioning together. We do the evening meal and breakfast the next morning and everything else in between. One of our guys took full leadership of this ministry team (from me) this year and did a tremendous job. It was nice to do my job without having to be concerned with everything & everyone else. Working at the shelter always provides an interesting perspective and a time for some introspection. You wonder what you would so in a similar situation. I think of how these people might have ended up here. I try to see ways out for them and wonder who is stuck for the long term. Some are just here for the night while others are regulars. Some have substance abuse issues. Some have mental deficiencies. Some are criminals. I'm on the all night crew and that's the most fun for sure, but this year was pretty quiet. I did see one guy who went to high school with me. The deputy working overnight said this guy had been a frequent guest at the city jail. It's ironic because he seemed to be on that path back in the day. After staying up all night I returned home a little bit sicker (with the "crud") but a lot more thankful that I have a home..and that I don't have to stand in line for a meal or sleep on a mat on a hard floor...that I can take a shower every day and that I have family and friends who would be there for me.

Take a moment and consider how blessed you really are.

I'm sick...

Sick and tired...literally. I'll be back later.

Standing Firm?

There's a song that says, "Everybody talkin' 'bout heav'n that ain't goin' there." And this includes some church folks who are doing the talkin. Some disagree and suggest that no true Christian could ever be lost. What does the Scripture say? Consider...

-Specific warnings against apostasy (Hebrews as a whole & 2 Pet 2:18-22)

-The conditional nature of salvation (The “IF” passages: John 8:31; John 15:1-6; Rom 11:17-22; 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Col 1:21-23)

-The naming of apostates: Hymenaeus & Alexander (1 Tim 1:19-20); Demas (2 Tim 4:10)

-Charges to protect the flock: Acts 20:28-30

-Passages naming those who have fallen away and prove to be a danger to others (1 Tim 1:18-20, 2 Tim 2:16-18)

-Passages in which the author complains that their work may be in vain among believers (Gal 4:9-11, 1 Thes 3:5)

-The possibility that a person’s name can be removed from the book of life. (Rev 3:5)

The BOTTOM LINE: There are some in the faith who won't stay in the faith.

1 Corinthians 10:12: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

For the husbands...

It's a simple thought, but it needs to be said.

Ephesians 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Guys, you can’t be wrong with your wife & right with God!

REMEMBER: If she's not #2, HE's not #1!!!

Election 08 - My Quick Take

The blame game has begun. I'm guessing Governor Palin will be a big scapegoat and, of course, President Bush will be blamed too. In as much as they represent the GOP they should get the blame. The bottom line is that the GOP lost because they didn't get it done when they had the chance. They had the Congress & the Whitehouse and DROPPED THE BALL. They became the big government boys that they had impugned in the past. And I'm not sure that they can pick that ball up any time soon. I used to think that that pendulum would swing back in four years and the Repubs would bounce back. Maybe, but I'm not so sure any more. Pat Buchanan says, "demography is destiny" and he is likely right. Typical GOP voters are simply shrinking as a part of the electorate while democrat leaning constituencies are rapidly rising. Consider: The baby boomers are aging and becoming more government dependent (democrats). Immigrants are swelling and typically vote for more goverment and the democrats. Even the once solid evangelical vote is waning as the neo-social gospel leads some to vote for more government solutions for the underclass. Virginia is a prime example of this shift in the last several years. We once were solidly republican at Senator(s) and Governor. Now those posts are all occupied by dems. The demographic shift in the electorate produced democrats in office.

The obvious needs to be noted before I close. The Republicans have to stop nominating lame candidates. This will be ignored and/or explained away, I'm sure, but John McCain was a loser from the jump (just like Bob Dole before him). He stuck his finger in the eye of the right for years and arrogantly expected that they'd still carry his water. Of course, the GOP will analyze the results of this election and surmise that they need to move to the center in order the win. Meanwhile back at the farm the democrats will be expanding goverment and growing their constituencies too.

Reflections on this campaign...

Here are some of my random thoughts on this campaign.

I was frequently wrong...

• I was sure Hillary would win the nomination & Obama would be her VP.
• I thought McCain was done & had no chance at the GOP nomination.
• I thought Romney was going to be the GOP's guy.
• I thought McCain would go with a moderate for VP.
• I thought McCain would close the gap before election day.

I still think I'm right that McCain is just Bob Dull (Dole) all over again.

The turnout is huge! Our church building is next to a voting spot. Our parking lot is almost full with the overflow & people are parking up & down the street to.

At my voting spot this morning I noticed the biggest turnout I've ever seen. The demographic make up of the voters was noticebly different too.

I believe the GOP has dropped the ball big time & is suffering the consequences.

I believe the natural gravity is for things is to move increasingly toward socialism.

This was the LONGEST campaign I can remember and I'm glad it's over.

It looks like the lesser of two evils argument will be with us for a long time.

I'm increasingly tired of politics. I think I better understand the apolitical crowd.

This election has certainly stirred the passions of many.

I was thinking it would get worse before it gets better, but maybe it will just keep getting worse.

I'm surprised by the political thinking of some of my friends. Some in a good way - some in a not so good way.

Mark Moore is "ProLife and ProObama"

Ozark Christian College professor, Mark Moore writes,

"I am voting for Obama because I am pro-life. There is no question that John McCain and Sara Palin have a more pro-life stance on the abortion issue which I truly believe represents the heart of God as well as biblical principles. Obama's misstatement (usually repeated without full context) that he did not want his daughter's "punished with a baby" is a horrible way of stating things but hardly a reflection of his true views on babies, particularly his own children whom he appears to cherish and nurture. His vote against banning partial birth abortions was not, according to his own explanation, because he favored them, but because the law, as articulated, was flawed for other reasons." To read the rest go here.

Having read and listened to Moore for a few years now I am not surprised by his views. (I don't agree however). Moore is unpredictable and definitely makes you think. His position is atypical within the conservative ranks of evangelical Christendom and, I'm convinced, represents a flawed view of government. The government, I would argue, has hurt the undersclass with its innumerable efforts at "fighting poverty", etc. Redistributing wealth via socialism is not the answer for the poor (or the rich for that matter). Neither is it the answer for curtailing abortion.

What say you?

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM NOAH’S ARK...

(I don't remember where I got this)

-Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
-Don’t wait for your ship to come in, build one.
-Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
-Don’t listen to critics -- do what has to be done.
-Speed isn’t always an advantage. Cheetahs were on board, but so were tortoises.
-Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
-No matter how bleak it looks, if God is with you, there’s always a rainbow on the other side.
-Don’t miss the boat.

Old School Candy

I know I'm getting old when I see the reimurgence of candy I loved as a kid. I went to one of these old school candy shops in South Carolina last summer. It was greast: lemon heads, fire balls, now & laters, chick-o-sticks, mallow cups (my #2), caramel creams, etc. How about those classic candy cigarettes? I also see some of these timeless treats occasionally show up in mainstream stores. I think my all time favorite is caramel creams. My mom stopped by the other day and dropped of a bag of these babies. I ate like 50! I simply could not stop -they are the best (IMHO). I like lots of other candy from back in the day but caramel creams are still at the top of my list. I remember consuming an entire bag of caramel creams while watching then #1 UVA (remember Ralph Sampson?) lose a basketball game to Notre Dame. So what's your favorite retro candy?