randzig

This clip was shown at my church today.  Yeah, I know I don’t go to church its true. 
What do you think?

Check out snopes if you need more info.

Joe Eszterhas who is the author of Basic Instinct and Jagged Edge is now a practicing Christian. He had quite the conversion experience. Article here. Here are a few highlights.

He and his second wife, Naomi, had just moved from Malibu to a suburb of Cleveland… A month after the move, Mr. Eszterhas was diagnosed with throat cancer….Mr. Eszterhas reached a breaking point. “I was going crazy. I was jittery. I twitched. I trembled. I had no patience for anything. … Every single nerve ending was demanding a drink and a cigarette,” he wrote…for the first time since he was a child, he prayed: “Please God, help me.“…he felt an overwhelming peace. His heart stopped pounding. His hands stopped twitching. He saw a “shimmering, dazzling, nearly blinding brightness that made me cover my eyes with my hands.“… He went from doubting if he could make it through life without tobacco and alcohol, to knowing that he could “defeat myself and win.“

Have you ever had an experience like that? Man I sure wish I could. For how much I think on spiritual issues you’d think I’d make one up. Sometimes I feel like there is something wrong with me because I’m so …not… spiritual. I can be emotional if thats what it takes but usually it takes something like this... which truly amazes me. I mean God does amaze me but I’m also amazed by how much I don’t know about him that likely would amaze me too. In other words I tend not to get “amazed”, spiritual, or emotional when singing Chris Tomlin’s latest song. Playing guitar and being in a band for many years has definitely jaded me to most praise music and I accept that fact. I don’t try to hold it against others who enjoy it. It obviously brings the masses into communion with God to know him more… intimately…thats why the world is so… good.

I can’t help but notice how customized Joe’s Christianity is. Not like its wrong or bad but because of his past and preconceived ideas of Christianity he had to make it his own. You know the whole thing of “yeah I’m a Christian but I’m an edgy one. I’m a rebel like Jesus”. Its pretty common and I have done it and still do it. But why do we do it? Why do we add on so much?

Love thy neighbor as thyself which should be good enough… but then some other kewl shtuff.

I’m not the only one.

I posted recently about Third Days apparent rip off of Radioheads Hail to the Thief album cover. Well aparently somebody else noticed. Then Tim Keel from Jacobs Well saw that post and he posted his own thoughts. He used the possibility that it was “ripped off” to expand on a larger issue. Then Scott Knight noticed and posted Tim Keels thoughts on Emergent Village. Now of course people are conversing.

Eventually this will make it to the band and they will have to say something. In all honesty I don’t think it was “intentional” in the sense of “ripping off”. (Explanation here) However I guarantee several of the band members if not all listen to Radiohead(duh) and I see the likely hood of being in the business and not noticing the similarities as fairly small. I could of course be wrong about all my guestimations.

For me the point is that even if they didn’t rip it off it is an unfortunate fact that “Christian artist” have created for themselves a climate in which they have to watch stuff like this with a close eye. The current generation, that listens to multiple genres of music, sees this stuff or the appearance of it from a mile away. Even if you are an authentic artist playing the Christian circuit the truth is many have a disposition that is skeptical of you. You have to work extra hard to earn respect. I personally watched Third Day when they were just starting play at the New Earth Coffee House. I personally haven’t seen them live or bought any albums since then. For me they were similar to many…I didn’t like them.

So you got a band. You are all Christians. You play a bunch of big churches, christian festivals and what not. There is this whole industry that is separate from the rest of the music industry with its own stores, methods, distribution, studios… You can easily do well financially in this industry and make money if you are doing what the execs what you to do. Even if you are an authentic artist there is an opportunity cost here. And I’d say the stakes are even higher because you are coming off as a completely guilt free artist. You may be singing truth about Jesus while your conscious is in turmoil. Its possible. I began feeling that way when I was in high school and playing in a band. Maybe I’ll post about that sometime. Thats all I’m really trying to say.

Sometimes people get a little skeptical of what is currently happening in Christianity.  I understand the skepticism and questioning.  But just so there is no miss understanding I want to point  to what I believe.  This.

Recently a friend sent me some mp3s of Dr. Bruce Ware discussing The Sovereignty of God. These thoughts were insightful and easily applicable so I thought I’d share them.

We always choose to do what we most want to do(its human nature to most always look out for self). Your “want to dos” never match up with what God wants you to do. You have to change “your want to dos” to His. We have to have our “most want to dos” transformed.
We act not what we know, (an addict knows better) we act out what we have the strongest affection for. We need to develop new appetites and taste for what God wants us to do. Its called His Will.
Reading our bibles, evangelize our neighbors…we might not “want” to do these things all the time but this is the Kingdom way, the new story, the good news.
We have to pray that God gives us hearts that we would long to do what God wills us to do. Love what God loves, hate what God hates.

Dr. Ware is very reformed baptist yet I found Brian Mclarens comments on repentance below to go in stride with Dr. Wares.

Repent - Realize that our entire way of seeing things is wrong. Stop believing the other stories(religions, patterns of the world) there is another story going on. Jesus said I’ve got better news, a better story.
Ceaser made peace by shedding other peoples blood…Jesus made peace by shedding his own blood. Christians are to be living in this story.

These thoughts ring true for me not only spiritually but for any area of life. You could easily use these thoughts as motivation not only for “churchy purposes”(read your bible) but also for practical purposes getting out of debt, eating healthier… I personally think those are spiritual too but for the sake of those that haven’t made that connection yet I stated them as separate.

It has become a ritual for the past 2 or 3 springs for me to hop online and shop for a bicycle. I can be stingy with money and sometimes I can be…broke. There is always something that prohibits the purchase. Mostly the being broke thing. Maybe if I felt it was that important I’d buy a Dave Ramsey envelope and just save up for a while and get one. I don’t do that either. He charges for envelopes you know. I have spent hours searching over the past few years. You know looking at the brand names like Trek, Giant, Gary Fisher…among others. This year was pretty normal in that regards. Dreaming of taking our gear off the bike rack on our brand new 2010 Honda Odyssey and riding with the family on the Katy Trail on our brand new reliable comfortable Trek bicycles. Hybrids of course, because you never know when daddy might want to get a little dangerous and go off road.

I have a streak in me that wants my purchases to be new and brand names. I think it has something to do with the way I was raised. Actually I think it has something to do with the post WWII generation that was able to place confidence in brands and corporations. Back when companies could be trusted reliable name brands made you feel comfortable, stable. These days for the most part though I can resist buying the new expensive stuff. Which really has become a justice issue in regards to the environment and people who manufacture the “expensive stuff”. (Excluding the IPOD of course. Couldn’t resist that.) I also tend to have a streak of wanting to be intentional about using second hand stuff. Hence my obsession interest in thrift store finds. Now its becoming trendy. “Reduce Reuse Recycle“. In some circles you are really uncool if you have everything (stuff) you want and its all new. Thats cool by me…to have not or the lack of having everything. The way I look at it my kid doesn’t neeeeed leap frog…he has a dad. I mean we got a frog, named leap apparently and he sings the alphabet but I’ve been known to sing a few songs in my day too. I’m just sayin. Do not conform to the patterns of this world…you know that sort of thing.

Luck have it. I have ended up this year with 2 bikes and a bike trailer. All for $55. Which is pretty good when a single name brand bike would have cost $2-$500. The trailer carries things like leap frog…kids and what not. My friend from work sold me the trailer for $35 and my bike which is a Gary Fisher(brand name) was left in my inlaws yard one night and never claimed. It was just sitting in their barn for the past year so they just gave it to me. Yeah, not a bad deal. Don’t know a ton about mountain bikes but everything is working great. The best find was Morée’s bike. Schwinn American. We found it at a garage sale for $20. Its vintage and everything she dreams of. She always talked about having a cruiser with a basket on it or even one of these. Its her motherly dream to be able to live close to a city market where she can ride a bicycle(thus leave the kids with me) and go buy fresh produce for the days meals. I support this idea too but I don’t see the suburbs completely restructuring for us. Although there is always that new subdivision….you know the one thats neo urban…or faux community…just like every other authentic attempt of cubicle people to feel alive like they are connected to a deeper cultural experience.

I think one of biggest mistakes the average “american consumer” makes when making purchases is the need to have the best most expensive product even when the cheapest does the same damn thing. In this case, I’d rather have a solidly made Schwinn bicycle over even a cheap $200 dollar job from Walmart. Seriously its not like I need the most expensive model because we are going to ride a lot. Yeah you know how it goes. You want something really bad you dream of using it everyday and then it gets left collecting dust never to be used but for a couple weeks. Oh don ‘t get me wrong I’m excited about the $20 find but I know I’ll use it maybe a dozen times. Plus its got one gear with feet brakes. Why would you possibly need a new bicycle?
We have neglected as a Christian culture to define ourselves as people who Reduce, Reuse, Recycle because its wise, prudent, and Godly. Why do we have to wait until the rest of the world has already done these things to start doing them?

Composting is spiritual. There I said it. I’m a total treehugger now right?
I know Rob Bell said “Everything is spiritual” and I have yet to see the presentation but I’ve already decided that if he is talking about composting he is right.

Multiple studies have been done that show the health benefits of gardening. The people of Japan are the healthiest in the world with the longest life expectancy and what do you think they have in common? Among other things, Gardening. There is something in that. Not only eating healthy food but also the act itself. Most gardeners love it so because of the mediative state it puts you in. You have the ability to get work done all the while able to contemplate life in a prayerful attitude. But you ask: How can something that is literally the decomposition of waste be spiritual? Good question. Below I listed my 12 reasons why I think composting is spiritual and another form of worship. Yes, I said worship. (more…)

How important is your cell phone? Is it important enough to disregard the fact that the mining of nickel for cell phone batteries causes birth defects in babies in the Dominican Republic?

Via Shawn Groves

In this small community dozens of children have been born deaf mutes - some born without any ears at all and others born with additional birth defects like white hair or Down syndrome.

A university is conducting research to determine for certain if the nickel mining is causing these ailments but the locals are positive, research or not, that the mine is to blame. Chemicals used in the mining process flow into the local water supply unrestricted. Ever since the mine came to town this community’s children have been born disabled with alarming frequency.

People always assume, “We are giving people jobs and building their economy!”…”They should be grateful”, “The corporations aren’t bad”. Which is true in part except for the fact that the corporations use foreign countries not only for the cheap labor(often slave labor) but because they are not regulated. The nickel mining is a perfect example (and here is another example regarding how our sugar prices are kept so low.)
I know full well that as Christians we don’t necessarily need to boycott cell phones however we do need to require these corporations to follow the same regulations that we would require them to follow here in America…Missouri…Lee’s Summit…our own backyards.

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Might makes right“. Unfortunately thats the premise Corporations have fed themselves and their customers. They can to a large extent do whatever they want because they have the power. However look at what Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg address:

“LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.”

This quote addresses what I believe is one of the fundamental problems in America. Too many people have placed their faith and even hope in government and corporations. As you would learn in the documentary Corporation, corporations by law are legal entities with the same fundamental rights as a person yet protected in ways that an individual isn’t. Meaning that for example a corporation can manufacture goods for people in America while causing harm to people in foreign countries and still maintain good standing with its customers. So Nike can get away with stuff a local shoe maker/repairer would have never gotten away with.

I’ve discussed similar issues with some coworkers. They asked “Why should we care?”. One mentioned that they “feel like there is so many issues that you couldn’t possibly do anything”. I’ve struggled with both of these concerns but have come to the conclusion that we not only should care but are required to as Christians. Just as Abraham Lincoln was required by his own moral standards to free slaves so are we. And there are things we can do. You vote everyday with the things you buy.

I often hear people say we have enough issues of our own why don’t we just focus on those. That is literally a fallacious argument. What I mean by that is the distance from Missouri to the Dominican Republic doesn’t change The Greatest Commandment. Would you want your kid to be born without ears and mute?

Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Morée and I are trying to work these things out. We currently can’t afford to “adopt” a Compassion kid however there is likely something we can give up to do so….what is it?

Kyles picture

I have to say that I was ministered to by being apart of my brothers wedding this weekend. (more…)

I’ve been delaying this post for a couple months now. I wanted write a fairly detailed post with various facts, figures, and statistics to authenticate what this video is saying. However I haven’t made time to post about it and since then everybody(and their mom of course) have mentioned it. I would embed it but I don’t think the whole thing fits into one youtube video(plus the quality is better on the site). So please reserve twenty minutes to enlighten yourself if you haven’t already. Let me know what you think. I might post some thoughts later.

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