What if Jesus had never been born? (Audio)

A couple years ago, I listened to this podcast called Way of the Master Radio (now called Wretched Radio) and I really enjoyed the Christmas episode where the host, Todd Friel, read something by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy on the practical implications of the thesis, what if Jesus had never been born. I really think that this episode will bring to light some of the things we've taken for granted as Christians.

Shaving

P.s., I will never do this again unless I am in a legitimate courtship relationship.

How to get the most of your buffalo wing experience

This has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity or missions whatsoever. I just thought that this was interesting.

The Purpose of Knowledge

"Knowledge, rightly applied, will promote the happiness of all. And it is true now as it was then, that if a man is a miser in knowledge as in wealth; if he lives to accumulate, never to impart; if he is filled with a vain conceit of his wisdom, and seeks not to benefit others by enlightening their ignorance, and guiding them in the way of truth, he has never learned the true use of science, any more than the man has of wealth who always hoards, never gives." (Albert Barne's Notes on the Bible, Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8:2)

Moralism + Christianity = Epic FAIL!

Sometimes, I get really sick of conservative Christians. Especially with this Carrie Prejean scandal. Today, I was listening to Christian talk radio for what will probably be the last time for a while and the host was talking about how immoral Carrie was for getting implants, wearing a bikini, and enabling men to lust after her and yet she stands for traditional marraige.


What I don't get is how Christians can speak out of both sides of their mouths when it comes to morality. We confuse Vurtues and morality for the vicarious penal substitutionary attonement of Christ as our gospel. To be honest, morality will never equal salvation.


What I find very interesting is that some of these people in discernment ministries harp on churches that teach lots of law and very little gospel actually teach lots of law and very little gospel thmselves. They are very consumed with protecting family values and keeping God in America (as if He wasn't omnipresent in the first place) and not concerned about the heart of the very person. Where is the passage in the gospels where Christ commands us to make everyone obey our rules to make everyone like them? I'll give you a hint, it really isn't in there.


Don't get me wrong, I believe a person's life will be better if they read the Bible and do what it says. Yet, I think that the more that we confuse family values with the gospel that bids us come and die to ourselves daily, the more the world will see how pathetic the Bride of Christ is acting.

So, how would I handle the Carrie Prejean situation? I would tell her this, that we all are broken and are in need of signifficance in life. Even though you have stumbled by making these tapes doing things that God frowns upon, there is nothing beyond forgiveness. If we confess that we have sinned and we have no idea what we are doing with our lives, Jesus can come in and give you signifficance in His grand design for life.


And to her religious accusers, I would say this... Religion sucks. Stop trying to recrucify the Christ with self righteous moralism and repent. Worry about your own households before you hit somebody with the 2x4 in your eye.

Bum Knee

It has been a long while since I actually blogged about myself here. So I figured that I'd blog about something I have been personally doing. I've noticed that I've been the heaviest I have been since DTS. My sister has told me that I need to get a hobby. So, pretty much I have joined a gym to be more proactive about my weight. But for a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) enthusaist like me I want to go to a gym that I would actually go to, even if I have to ride the bus for an hour.

So for the past month, I have gone to the Tapout Research & Development Training Center to learn how to do MMA. I highly doubt that with my Cerebral Palsy I can actually compete or sport. But at least it is boosting my confidence and getting me out of the YWAM base. I usually go on Thursdays for no gi Brazilian jiu jitsu, then on Saturdays I try and do a three or so hour chunk of MMA and muay thai. But last night I was trying to go for a rear naked choke and something went awry.

I tried to get my hooks into my opponent and somehow I had my left leg possitioned wrong and I did something to my knee. I ended up on the mat screaming. I knew that I did something wrong. So the jiu jitsu coach put some sort of gel on my knee to help the pain. Despite that, I had to have somebody drive me to the bus stop and then have someone come and pick me up from Washington and Valley View because I was in quite some pain.

Today, I've been doing better. I'm trying to keep my knee elevated and put some frozen veggies on it to kind of deal with the pain. I'm limping a little, so my goal today at work is to be kind of low key. Tonight I am going to give my knee an ice bath and hopefully I don't make things worse. Maybe in a few days I'll be back at the gym with no more problems.

For those are wondering, I think this video is how a rear naked choke is correctly done.

bullying in the church

So, I have been thinking lately about how different causes and the way people try to get other people involved. I don't have a problem with people getting other people interested in Darfur or social justice issues because Jesus did have concern with the poor. To be fair, these are well intentioned people that want to make a difference for the kingdom. Yet I've noticed that there are at least three main tactics people use. there are probably more than these, but for the sake of argument I'm only going to focus on these three. (note: This is not true of ALL churches, these are just some trends that I've noticed.)

1.) THE WORD COUNT FALLACY - Basically these people really like looking at their concordances and say, "The Bible talks about this topic x amount of times, therefore we should be really focus on this." The problem with that is the fact that the Bible covers A LOT of topics and doctrines. Thus, we should interpret the Bible in light of other passages of scripture that talks about other stuff.

2.) THE EMOTIONAL APPEAL - This is another common practice, mostly used by charasmatic people. It usually consists of one person who has had a life changing experience overseas and so they really want you to be involved with what they themselves. The only problem is that not everyone is called to be an eye, or a hand, or a foot. (see 1 Corinthians 12:14-18) God's heart is way bigger than what you and I can even comprehend. Sometimes, He reveals different parts of His heart to other people and yet the same time they are all connected to the same big main thing that is on His heart... that none would perish but come to the saving knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)

3.) ETHNOCENTRICISM - This one is more of a shot at Conservative Christians who have warmed the same pew since third grade. They've done things their way and that's just about the only thing they know. When you approach them with a new idea to do outreach, they'll flip out because you've just violated their social norms. They are more concerned with orthodoxy, and less concerned with orthopraxy. With them, they will think that unless you do things their way, they think that you are automatically think that YOU are the heretic. Other less strict churches will do the same with orthopraxy, or with their adgendas.

So, what is a Christian supposed to do? The best way would do what Paul told Timothy.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. " (2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV)

It isn't bad to get involved with different causes. But when people start bullying me with "you should be involved with this cause or that cause." I just keep in mind that I really only have one cause. And that cause is Jesus!

In what ways have you experienced bullying in the church?