The Golden Compass...What should I do?

The release of the movie "The Golden Compass" is upon us and much discussion of what to do or how to respond in Christian circles has already occured. There is something inside of me that wants to rebel against the well intentioned boycott solution that often gets mentioned. Now, I have not decided yet whether or not I will go see the movie...but personally I think I would like it, at least this first of the trilogy.

One thing that history has told us over and over again is that boycotting often just puts the spotlight on the subject. I came across the Christianity Today artice
found at (http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/fearnotthecompass.html)
and invite you to read the response the author gives to Not fear the Compass. I like his thoughts and hope you will chose to read them too.

A bible passage that I believe we always need to keep in mind is found in 1 John 4:16--18 (NIV)

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Sigh. If only Pulman (author of The Golden Compass) had this understanding of God instead of the misunderstanding he does have of Him.

Let me what you think and if you plan to see the movie version of the Golden Compass or not.


Roger, over and out

An X-MAS Quiz

Don't you just love this time of year!!! I know I do and I believe I know much about the reason for the season. I came across this little quiz this morning and thought it would be fun to see how well you do in answering the questions. I did not get them all correct and don't want to be alone so please post your answers and on Friday I will reveal the correct answers.

The “12 Duhs” of Christmas Author: Jim Liebelt


We know everything there is to know about Christmas, right? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Here’s a fun family quiz with a dozen questions to test your knowledge about Christmas that will help you separate fact from tradition and sometimes, plain fiction. The following are all true or false questions…

1. The innkeeper in Bethlehem told Mary and Joseph, “There’s no room for you in the inn.”

2. Jesus was born inside a barn/stable.

3. Xmas is a disrespectful abbreviation for Christmas – taking Christ – so to speak out of Christmas.

4. Jesus wasn’t really born on December 25.

5. “The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes…” (from Away in a Manger).

6. The “wise men” followed the star in the sky to the manger where Jesus was.

7. The “wise men” who found Jesus were not kings.

8. A ‘manger’ is a stable for domestic animals.

9. The first candy cane was made to be a visible reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

10. The Bible says that three “wise-men” visited Jesus.

11. Our nation’s earliest colonies insisted on making Christmas a holiday.

12. Jesus’ birthday was not celebrated by His earliest followers.


Roger, over and out!

Jesus and Me

Checkout below the weekly report from the minister of the Colonia 89 church. I love reading his updates because of how he relates to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to talk about Jesus as easily as he does? I know, I know, he is not talking about our savior Jesus. My question though is, how real is Jesus to you and how often do you consider him in all you are doing?

Roger, over and out!

Colonia 89 Report
Reyes Medina
October 2007

Monday, Oct. 22
This morning we visited with Veronica and we put a tarp on top of the roof. We visited with Jesus and I had a class with him about evangelism. I prepared my lesson for Tuesday. We visited with Jose and he asked us to have bible study with him in the morning.

Tuesday, Oct. 23
Today I prepared my lesson for Friday. We took Jesus to give a bible study with Fabiola, Elizabeth and Lilia, he talked about God’s love, John 3:16, Genesis 3:15 and Galatians 3:16. In the afternoon we had class for all at the church property, I talked about 1 Corinthians 13.

Wednesday, Oct. 24
Today we visited with Juana, she knows some about the bible, this time I talked to her about John 1:1-18. We had bible study with Jessica and we invited her to church with us, this time I talked about Romans 3:23. Noe and I visited with Jose and I had a bible study about Marl 16:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 6:3-4. Chanita had class for women.

Thursday, Oct. 25
Today we visited with Modesta, Maria and Azucena, and we invited them for church with us. Noe and I visited with Irma and had the bible study about John 3:16, Genesis 3:15 and 3:16.

Friday, Oct. 26
This morning I met with Noe and Jesus about the church activities. Jesus said he wants to help with class on Tuesday or Friday. I went home and I finished my sermon for Sunday. In the evening we had bible class fro all, and this time I talked about tips on how to evangelize the family, the friend and the neighbor.

Saturday, Oct. 27
Today we went to the youth rally in San Quintin.

Sunday, Oct. 28
This morning we met for worship and we had 29 adults and 24 children. We had $683.50 pesos in the contribution. After worship we had fellowship Sunday, and we also had cake for the ones that celebrate their birthday this month. After the get together Gerarda decided to be baptized so we baptized her for the remission of her sins, she came here for the first time when we had the medical campaign. In the evening we had bible class with Santos and Patricia, and I talked about Mark 16:16, Acts 3:38 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
We thank God for this week we had a couple that came to visit the church, they are friends of Brother Stan and Sister Carolina. We pray for them.

Reyes Medina
Chanita Medina

Parenting

Parenting has gone through many changes over the last several generations. An old adage concerning children and adults was “children should be seen and not heard.” While I know many great parents doing a wonderful job in raising their kids today our culture has slowly shifted from parent-centered to child-centered families.

My parents, like those of today did not want me just sitting in front of the TV all day but they did not go out of their way to provide an alternative. They just shooed me out of the house and told me to be back in time for dinner. Now, parents fill up their day with a schedule of programmed organized activities and all we end up doing is reducing or even eliminating the time they have to be alone with other children their age to figure the world out on their own.

Parents are quick to rush to the defense of their child and even side with them over other kids and even those we entrust them to during the day such as teachers, principles, bus drivers, daycare providers, other parents, etc. When I was a child and got in trouble at school, church or in the neighborhood I was punished and not excused by my parents. They even encouraged other adults in authority to discipline me when I did or did not do what I was expected to do and then come and tell them so that they too could disciple me.

I ran across an article on parenting the other day and the writer made some very good points about how parenting has changed. See if you agree or disagree with this quote:

WHAT’S FASCINATING IS THAT WHILE many of us over-parent when it comes to promoting achievement, we under-parent when it comes to things parents prior to us were fanatical about for centuries: manners, courtesy, respect, responsibility. It’s not that we’re pro-brat, but that we’re so uncomfortable being figures of authority that we can’t demand those things of our kids.
Last fall, my colleague Amy Donohue Korman wrote a piece, “The Death of the Chore,” that chronicled how so few of today’s kids are expected to help around the house. It was a wonderful essay, and it was only one example of our instinct to indulge kids, to make them see us not as “The Man” but “da man!” Five-¬figure Sweet 16 parties and six-figure bar mitzvahs, kids with platinum cards and more borrowing power than many major American cities, frequent massages (the kind of pampering once reserved for women in Beverly Hills), boob jobs for graduation, Senior Weeks spent not in Wildwood but in the ¬Caribbean or Europe … And don’t even think about ¬chiding someone else’s child for being rude or irresponsible; today’s parents always side with their offspring.
The result of all this is a group of kids with a depressingly skewed sense of values and a shocking sense of entitlement.

God has given parents an important job to do. If we do it right the next generation will be blessed but if we don’t take it seriously we may be cursing them instead.

Proverbs 22:6 (ASV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.



If you would like to read more of what he had to say go to the website below.

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/bad_parents/

Roger, over and out.

IMHO

Thanks for all the responses to my question on why believe the bible. Your comments were very well stated. The exercise was not so much to come up with a definitive answer for all people but to put thought to our belief and faith in God. I said I would give my thoughts on it and so here they are.
I grew up in a Christian family like those of you who responded. I went to church three times a week. I attended Sunday shool both on Sunday and Wednesday night, VBS in the summer as well as church camp. All I ever heard about God, Jesus and the bible were taught to me by family (both physically and spiritually). I am very grateful and blessed to have been raised the way I was but to be totally honest had I been raised in a Muslim family, a Buddhist family or an atheistic family I would have believed what I was taught by them. So at some point I needed a better defense of why I believe in the bible as the word of the one true God.
The Bible as we have it today claims to be God's gospel to mankind (John 3:16) and many have put their faith in its promises, truth and hope for the future. It was written by numerous authors over a large period of time with their writings being supported by historical and archeological evidence.
But belief that the bible is God’s word takes faith, not blind faith or unaware faith but true faith. The choice is ours to make and it is both an intellectual issue and a heart issue. These are not and should not be in conflict with each other.
Peter says we should be ready to give an answer to what we believe not out of arrogance but in humility, love and grace just as Jesus did.

1 Peter 3:15-22 (NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

I believe in my heart and in my mind we have a great big GOD!!! I believe that Jesus is his Son and that he came not just as my substitute for punishment satisfying God’s demand for sacrifice but also as my redeemer and friend. I believe it so much that I decided to live out the life of Jesus in my daily walk so that not only would the things I do, say and think give glory to God but also give opportunity for others to engage me in conversation on why I believe as I do.

Roger, over and out!

Why do you believe the bible?

On Wednesday night during class I asked the teens to respond as a group to a number of comments a critic of Christianity might make. The list of six comments were...

1. Christianity is for weak willed people and is only a crutch.
2. The bible is just a book written by humans and is only a fairytale.
3. Churches are full of hypocrites
4. People cannot be sure they are going to heaven
5. How can you say God is love when so many bad things happen in the world?
6. Christianity forces itself on others.

The class did a good job in responding to each of these six comments...except for number two and so I asked them to consider it over the upcoming week.

Often we believe something as an adult just because we were taught to believe it as a child. Why do we believe the bible to be more than just a nice collection of facts, with a little philosophy and some interesting stories? I believe this is a valid question to consider.

So, without being rude to those who do not hold the bible up as the Word of God what are some of your reasons for believing in it?

Please share your thoughts and in a couple of days I will share mine. Let's see what we come up with.

Roger, over and out!

Body Life

Small groups have been a part of Denbigh Church of Christ for many years and on September 16 we begin our 11th Body Life season. I came across a quote that I believe sums up the purpose of Body Life small groups.

Small groups are a PLACE TO BE and not just another THING TO DO.

To me being in a small group is a no brainer. I've been either a leader or a participant in a group for almost 20 years. During that time I've gotten to know other group members more intimatly and they have gotten to know me. Had it not been for these groups the deep sharing of our lives would not have happened had I just relied on Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night church gathering.

In the 1980’s sitcom “Cheers” their theme song mentioned the bar as a place to go where everyone knows your name. We all need relationships and our reason this ministry exists is to provide a place for relationships to grow. Whether you choose to connect with an affinity group, or with an intergenerational group you will find family. It will be a place where everyone will know your name. It will also be a place for you to be ministered to and to minister to others through friendship, service opportunities, prayer, and bible application. Paul said in Ephesians that when we share with one another our gifts out of love we build up the body of Christ and grow to be like Him (Eph 4:14—16).

True friendship is not to be taken lightly. It is a risky adventure that draws one into the life of another. Jesus told his disciples that no greater love exists than to lay down your life for a friend (John 15:13). This is the opportunity we have in Body Life, to lay down our life needs so that the needs of others are met. It was not just a nice bit of teaching on Jesus’ part because he goes on to tell them in chapter 16 that that is exactly what he was about to do for them…and us.

When you commit to a small group you commit to serve and be served. In the show Star Trek Mr. Spock would sometimes say “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” but another episode he said “the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.” This is true in small group ministry. At times service is giving your needs up for others and at other times it means allowing others to serve you.

A third opportunity in Body Life is the privilege to pray for one another’s health (physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually). Spending group time in prayer is an important task but everyone is also encouraged to pray throughout the week for the group concerns mentioned.

Finally, spending time together and sharing with one another what we’ve learned from God’s word is immeasurable. When we allow God to make us new through his word we will come to live more like we were always intended to live. This year many groups will use the Sunday morning sermon as a discussion starter and seek ways to apply the message to their daily life.

Your Response Desired:
Have you ever participated in a small group? If not why not and if so do you plan to be a part of another group?
What have you gained (good or bad) from your small group experience?
What would you change about small group ministry to make it more effective?
What are some common mistakes you've witnessed or heard about in a small group setting?

Roger, over and out!

City of Children Mission Trip

What a great week we had at the City of Children. I want to thank all our teens and adult staff because without them and their efforts the mission trip to the City of Children would not be the same. Our oral report will be given next Sunday, August 26 at 6 PM.

If you have never gone on a mission trip let me give you an idea of what our week looked like at a glance. We all gathered Friday morning at our church building at 3:45 AM. Len Causey, Byrdie Hawley and Tressa Tucker transported our group to the Richmond airport for our flight out at 6:40 AM. After arriving in San Diego we were shuttled over to the Holiday Inn for a nights stay.

On Saturday we boarded the bus and headed to the local In-n-Out Burger for lunch. I wish we had one of those in VA! Good fast food with an efficient work crew, what a great concept! Anyway, after lunch we headed for the border and crossed without any problems. We arrived at the City of Children around 2 PM because of the quick lunch and border crossing.

After unloading luggage we went to play with the children. It is so much fun to see and play with them again since our last visit.

On Sunday we enjoyed church in Spanish and realized once again that God’s Family is composed of many people from many cultures and languages. Following morning worship we had a tour of the facilities and lunch prepared by the women at the City of Children.

On Monday through Wednesday our groups were divided into three teams to cover the three areas of service (home construction or visitation in Maneadero, painting Mexican staff quarters and picnic areas at the orphanage, and dorm cleaning and playing with pre school children). While concrete was in the dreams of our group, painting was joyfully done instead…oh well, maybe next year!

Thursday morning we went to La Bufadora for some shopping. The familiar call “give me a chance to rip you off” was heard as we walked the gauntlet of vendors down to the blowhole. Ashleigh Blackwell and I enjoyed a fish taco but no one else seemed interested in one at 10:30 in the morning. I don’t get it!!!

Our week went by quickly as we closed out our time at the orphanage with a devotional at the amphitheater and the tucking in of our Lil Amigo’s. On Friday we started our long trip back home and arrived back at the church building around 3 AM.

Thanks again for all the support you provide so that we may serve our great God through this mission effort.

Saying Goodbye!

One of the hardest things to do is say goodbye. Whether it is a parent, a spouse, a child, a sibling, a friend or a neighbor it does not matter, saying goodbye is tough. Next week we must say goodbye to our neighbors across the street who just happen to be great friends and more importantly our family in Christ. Bob, Kate along with their son Jack and yes even Hailey their dog will be moving on to Houston, TX. They have made a lasting impression on our congregation and on me and I am eternally grateful.
It will not be the same around here without the Looney’s. From Kate providing me with weather updates, or assisting Bob to acquire the need for a new ladder, or helping Hailey go potty, or just enjoying getting to hold Jack for a few minutes. Yes, things will be definitely be a little different after they move away.
But they made an even bigger impact on our church. From the very first time they walked into our building they got involved and added some spice to our church. Bob and Kate worked together in most everything they did, and they did a lot. They led the Teens4Him high school youth group, took them to youth rallies, mission trips, service projects, and taught in Sunday School. Both Bob and Kate could be found serving on the Praise Team or behind the scene in the control booth. If there was work to be done at the church building they got involved. They also help move people in to their home by helping unloading their boxes and furniture, as well as helped pack up boxes and furniture for those moving away. They are truly servants in their attitude and speech, their sacrifice of time and effort, and their love.

When you get a moment please leave a note or blessing for them on this blog or maybe better yet give it to them directly.

For me I say thanks Bob/Kate/Jack/Hailey for the blessing of being family with us. Thank you for being my friend! You will be missed greatly at Denbigh but will be without a doubt a blessing wherever God leads you to serve.


Paul’s words to the Ephesians says it all.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT) When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.

Love and learn

In my years of going to church I have sat through many classes and Sunday sermons that expressed scripture in theory but with little, practical application. Because of that I tend to lean more toward the practical side of things, relying on what I’ve been taught growing up to support what I want to apply to living the Christian life. The problem is not everyone has had the teaching background (good or bad) that I’ve had. What those who sit through my classes or small group meetings probably hear from me… more often than I want to admit… is lots of how-to advice and less scripture. I think I/we need more balance in this area both scripture and application. For example I ran across this marriage tip posted by Debbie Simler-Goff for better communication in relationships.

Nonverbal signals carry five times the impact of spoken words. So understanding your mate's body language can go a long way to avoiding arguments and strengthening your relationship. Here are six strategies for communicating without words.
1. Watch your mate's shoulders. Hunched shoulders may indicate defeat, or that she's feeling overwhelmed. Squared shoulders convey confidence and could mean he's ready for battle. Observing the difference can defuse potential conflict before it strikes.
2. Sit and tilt your head when asking your mate to share what's upsetting him. Sitting shows you're open and ready to listen, and inclining your head indicates sincere interest.
3. While making dinner, puttering around the house, or when on a date, lean your body toward your spouse. Leaning conveys, I want to be closer to you.
4. Pupils dilate when you experience attraction, so gaze deeply into your mate's eyes to signal your love.
5. If you're arguing, hand over a glass of water. Gestures and emotions are directly linked. If your wife is defensive, her arms will likely be crossed. Getting her to uncross them (to accept a cold drink) will help dissipate tension.
6. Smile. Science has proven that smiling causes others to react more positively to you. Just smiling at your mate can generate good feelings for you both.

It is good to have tips and suggestions like those mentioned above when looking for practical advice on what to do. But we cannot get the cart before the horse in any relationship. There must first be love and concern for the other person. Without love all the practical advice in the world is only at best, manipulation (if I do this they will do that). Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that all the efforts, gestures and words we express end up ringing hollow and manipulative without love.
Good communication including reading the others body language whether in marriage or in any relationship begins with concern and care for the other person(s). That is when practical advice will make a difference. I like how Romans 12:9-10 reads in The New Living Translation.

Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Now, which listening technique will you try next? I like number 5.

Roger, over and out!

Jason's Return

It has been an interesting five months since our son, Jason left his home and family to go to Iraq. In some ways it was a blessing for Keri and me as well as Brittany's mom because we got to see a lot of Brittany and Ethan while Jason was deployed. But the time was bittersweet in that he was sent away to war.
While the communication lines were open for us to email him we mostly waited for his phone calls...which BTW he was able to make frequently. Hearing his voice was so much better than reading an email.
This past Sunday he made it safely back to American soil in Baltimore. Keri and I spent about $80 in gas traveling Sunday afternoon for four hours through heavy DC traffic and then turned around Monday morning and did it all over again just so we could see him for a few brief hours. And believe me it was more than worth it because seeing the look on Keri's face when she saw him at the airport was priceless.
Maybe that is a shadowy picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns. As good as it is to have his written word and as wonderful as it is to have the Holy Spirit to comfort us how far greater it will be when he comes again...and He will come back again!!!

John 14:1-3 (NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

I'm back!!!

Well, it has been a while since I last published to this blog. I am sorry for all of you who have been enslaved by my blog and have been checking it daily since the last entry only to find it has not been updated. Thank you for your patience and guess what, it has been updated.
This past weekend was our annual Marriage Retreat held at the Glen Allen church of Christ just outside of Richmond, VA. Eight couples from church attended and enjoyed spending the time away from home focusing on their marriage.
Terry Lafferty, my good friend from Western PA came down for the weekend and did a terrific job facilitating our discussion time. He used material from the book GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME by Barry and Emily J. McCarthy to focus our attention on some key components of a successful marriage. What Terry was able to add to the message of the book was a spiritual approach and some personal examples from his marriage.
Terry mentioned that respect, trust and intimacy are core to any marriage (chapter 2) but that a marriage lacking God could not be as successful as one that included God.

Questions begging for response:
1. What do you believe constitutes a successful marriage?
2. Do you believe that have a successful marriage you must be one with God? Why or why not?
3. What do you do to make your marriage a success?

Do Something, Take a Risk

I think for a time we in America believed that as long as we did what we were supposed to and stayed away from a reckless lifestyle, harm would not befall us. I know that is how I thought when I was growing up. But now I am sure it was just an allusion. Even if there was no such thing as natural disasters or even accidents we still have to deal with ourselves.
Man has always gone out of his way to harm others. From the time Cain killed his brother till the disturbed young man took the lives of all those college students and professors mankind has been in harms way.
I suppose we could try like some families in the 50’s and bury ourselves in an underground shelter like the comedy "Blast From the Past" dipicted or a more modern version hide in a safe room in our home and never come out. But that just means we die to others while we are still technically alive. It may be the safe thing to do but what kind of life is that?
If holing up (being perfectly safe) is not what we were put on this earth to do then what are we supposed to do when life is dangerous? Some people believe vigilantism is the way to stay safe (fight fire with fire). Others, through demonstration believe they can bring about a better and safer world, and still others, say forcing or outing people will call attention to the problem and bring peace and safety through understanding.
The Apostle Peter gave us his spiritually devined plan for life in the face of danger. He says in 1 Peter 4:7-11 that we are to stay clear headed so we can pray. In chapter 5 Peter tells us to cast all our anxieties on God because he cares for you.
We are to also love others above everything. 1 Corinthians 13 says that love keeps no record of wrong, in other words it forgives. Through love we also show the world that we are His disciples.
Finally Peter tells us to be hospitable toward others and use our gifts to serve one another.
These are what Peter says to do in our daily life. They may or may not seem to you all that big a deal, but to a world that is afraid and in need of hope and comfort they can be a true lifesaver. Why not be a risktaker and just do something?

Virginia Tech

I sit here at my computer not knowing what to say in the face of yesterday’s senseless tragic shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech with more than 30 students and professors losing their lives. May God bless each of their families during their grief.
Please, in your prayers don’t forget to pray for those God is using and will use to minister and counsel those affected.

Chocolate Jesus

A few weeks back Keri and I along with Brittany and Ethan traveled up to Washington, PA to visit with Keri’s parents and to bring back a pick-up truck for Aaron. While there we decided (read I decided) to go to Sarris’, our favorite homemade chocolate shop. There is no where that I know of that compares to the smooth mild milk chocolate that they produce. Anyway, while we were at Sarris’ I came across their Easter section of shaped chocolates and was taken back by what I saw. Along with the traditional Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs of every size there were other items for consumption, but the one that really made me wince was the chocolate Last Supper. While I do not find the Leonardo da Vinci painting especially sacred, I for some reason was offended by this edible version. Of all the things you can mold chocolate into why the Last Supper scene? Nothing new here, but I feel that we have, like Christmas, rendered Easter a consumer product. And although he is a “sweet” savior he also is our judge. Check out the passage below and notice how the Holy Spirit describes the Son of God.

Hebrews 10:29-31 (NIV) How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

While molding The Last Supper into chocolate is in my opinion “poor taste” what we do with His name and how we represent Him in our daily life is more important. I know for one that I am guilty of using the name of God and Jesus lightly in conversation and in joking around. I have been graced by God with His patience and I do not want to test the length of it any longer so I have decided to change how I represent Him in my speech and actions. Why not consider doing the same starting with this Easter and maybe the world will notice the change and if we are blessed maybe, just maybe they will ask us why we believe and do the things we do. What an opportunity!!!

Happy Easter

Roger, over and out!

American Idol

The top rated TV show this time of year is American Idol. For those who have been living under a rock it is a show all about promoting unknown wannabee singers. During the many weeks and months while it is on the air each performer gets a chance to sing in front of a panel of three judges (Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell) and then listen to their critique afterwards. Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul often side with each other and are usually nice in the way they critique the singer but Simon is another story. He is abrasive and harsh and his analogies are off the wall and often demeaning. No one is exempt from listening to his comments as everyone ends up having a bad week it seems at some point.

As the selection process continues usually the cream rises to the top and the lesser singers are weeded out …except maybe this year. 17-year-old Sanjaya Malakar is still one of the contestants remaining. He is a good looking soft singing teenager that will not go away. Each week the viewers have to watch him muddle through his song and then listen to even Randy and Paula dis him in front of millions of viewers. So why is he still in this so called singing competition? The rumor is that an underground movement is a foot to make him the winner of this competition in spite of his bad reviews from the judges. Due to this unwise movement this nice young man continues to get through week after week and causes a lot of disbelief and laughter at his expense.

The premise of the show is that the American audience knows who they want to listen to and will call or text in their vote based on who they like. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, and Fantasia Barrino are just a few of the success stories in the years this show has been around. But if the movement to keep Sanjaya in the competition continues it may be the undoing of an otherwise thriving show.

The Bible says in Proverbs… “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Prov 14:12-13 (NIV)

Humans have never been perfect in judging what is best for them. We tend to be rebellious when we even know that the outcome will be bad for us. I don’t know if this show will survive this situation, but I do know that in the competition for our soul those who put their trust in God will move on eternally.

Romans 7:21—25a (NIV) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!

BTW: Who do you think should be the winner in this years American Idol? I think it will be… Melinda Doolittle. When she was asked what her personal goals in life are she said “to represent Christ well and do everything 150%.” I kinda like that!

Roger, over and out!

You Want Fries With That?

'McMissile' Lands Mom in Jail
Driver Gets Felony Conviction For Tossing Cup of Ice Into Car

The above headline appeared in The Washington Post a couple of weeks ago and adds a new twist to Jesus' statement of "giving a cup of cold water..." How often do we allow ourselves moments of frustration like this mom experienced and do something we would not ever consider otherwise? Ms Hall's actions last July has landed her in jail since Jan 4. The judge was merciful and reduced the sentence from a potential 2-5 years in prison to 5 years of probation and paying of all fines/court costs. In my opinion I do not think she will allow herself to react the same way again.

When we are honest with ourselves even Jesus' simple statement to "turn the other cheek" or the more difficult one he tells us in Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" are superhuman. These verses make for nice comments in bible school but living them out daily is beyond us. It truly is a God thing! So next time you are tempted to say/do something out of anger remember the lesson of the "McMissile" and let God lead you to respond gracefully instead!


Roger, over and out!

The Prize

The message at Winterfest last weekend revolved around Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Through worship songs led by Watershed, drama by Unbound, comedy by 3,2,1 Improv, to testimonials from an astronaut and another one by a two time Olympic gold medalist, and talks from Jeff Walling and Mitch Wilburn the theme for Winterfest was reinforced. We have a God who loves us and has promised us a “Prize” far beyond our wildest imaginations.

It reminded me of the Geico Insurance commercial with the Gecko spokesanimal telling the interviewer that not taking them up on lower rates is like being asked to stand up if they want to save loads of money and the interviewer choosing to remain seated because he already is so rich. Who would do such a thing? But don’t many do just that when they are given the opportunity to become a child of God. We become content with the material trash in our lives and do not consider the real treasure of Heaven.

These are some of the things that I will remember as I participated with our chaperones and teens at Winterfest 2007.

For those who attended last weekends rally, what impressions did you have from the largest gathering of churches of Christ in the world on Sunday?

For those who missed out on this youth rally what were some of your memories from previous years?

Roger, over and out!

Winterfest 2007

The Prize
The weekend was great and the teens and adult chaperones had a wonderful time together with 14,000 of their closest friends in Gatlinburg, TN. Jeff Walling presented terrific lessons from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. For those of you who have never had a youth rally experience as a teen or chaperone it is a little hard to explain…but let me try.

We gathered Friday morning at 6:45 and left the church parking lot at 7:00 AM. By the time we made it to Richmond we had to take one of many bathroom breaks and this one took over 20 minutes before we were back on the road again. We stopped again to pick up Bob and Kate in Charlottesville, VA. His parents live there and they were going to watch the baby while we were at Winterfest. We again spent about 20 minutes at their home for “potty break” and then filled up with gas at a local service station. From there we traveled down the road for a couple of more hours and then stopped for lunch at Subway. Again we loaded back into the van and continued our journey to Gatlinburg stoping one more time in Sevierville, TN for gas, and of course another bathroom break. Are you getting the picture yet??? The remaining 18 miles to Gatlinburg took over an hour due to traffic from the other 14,000 inconsiderate attendees who thought to arrive at the same time we did. Finally after checking into the Best Western Motel (they gave us the Honeymoon Island rooms because the management thought that it was probably best for us to be separated from their regular cliental) we walked into town towards the convention center and got some dinner. We decided to meet at the convention center about 30 minutes prior to the beginning of our session (this became our standard time to meet) and stood outside until we were allowed into the building for the second of the two sessions that night. Many of our group then realized that it can get quite cold in freezing weather and that there really is such a thing as a wind chill factor…and the next morning brought snow on top of the cold weather.

After enduring these conditions four times during the 36 hours we were in town we were back in the vans heading home for another repeat journey, but this time with a crew of cranky tired kids and adults. Actually I was very pleased with the attitudes of all those who went this year. We finally arrived back where we started around 10 PM at the church building.

What would cause a group to endure such a trip? The experience, adventure and hanging out together is one reason why but mostly it is the message of the gospel delivered in a “teen friendly” environment. Was it worth it you ask? You bet and if God blesses me with the opportunity again next year I will once again get in the big green pickle and drive.

Roger, over and out!!!

Romance Is In The Air

I heard this morning on “The Daily Buzz” that the average guy spends around $160 on his Valentine while the average woman spends around $70. I don’t fully know what that means other than maybe guys try to make up in one day what their sweethearts do all year long. WHat do you think?

For you married couples in blogland let me pass along a great Passion Plan that will improve your relationship with your spouse. I cut and pasted the article below from Jim Burns “HomeWord" email I received this morning.

Have a romantic day!!!

Roger, over and out!



Here’s The Passion Plan:
1. Kiss passionately for at least 15 seconds every day. This releases feelings about each other that say, “I love you; I want to be with you; you are special to me.” This is not about sex, it’s about romance. Also, there is no rule that you have to keep it to fifteen seconds – go ahead and splurge!
2. Take 15 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week to connect and talk. Frankly, if there is not emotional intimacy or connection there will be little interest in healthy romance. The kids can take a 15-minute break, your church doesn’t need you for those 15 minutes and this investment speaks volumes to your spouse.
3. Date and court your spouse for at least 1.5 hours a week. This is not a time to talk about insurance, the bills or your work problems, but rather to focus on each other. The question I have to ask myself as I prepare to go out with Cathy is, “Am I only giving Cathy my emotional scraps?”
4. Schedule into your life 1.5 hours a week for sexual intimacy. I know the word schedule probably caused you to stumble, but marriage authorities do agree that a scheduled regular time for sexual intimacy can bring a spark back to the relationship quite quickly. Believe me, if you do this you will suddenly get past the word schedule!

If you aren’t winning in the romance department you can improve very simply as you become more proactive about your romantic relationship. These four easy steps can also been found in my book, CREATING AN INTIMATE MARRIAGE.

Jim Burns, Ph.D., is President of HomeWord and host of Homeword's 30 minute daily radio broadcast, 30 minute weekly broadcast, and the 1 minute daily broadcast. Each weekday in cities across America, over a million people hear Jim through his radio ministry to families. His passion is communicating to adults and young people practical truths to help them live out their Christian lives. Jim is a three time Gold Medallion Award winning author and has written books for parents, youth workers, and students. His books include The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family, The Youth Builder, and Devotions on the Run.

Valentine’s Day

Have you thought about how you will treat to your loved one on Valentine’s Day? I just finished reading the Christian Chronicle and on the front cover was an article on marriage around the world. The opening lines begin… “To the Makua people, buying flowers for your wife isn’t romantic. It’s absurd. If you really want to please your wife, you need to bring home rats for her to eat, me from the tribe in Mozambique told missionaries during a discussion of Christian marriage.”

The article’s point is what works for most marriages in our Western culture may not work in another. Not only are cultural ideas on marriage different but each individual marriage is different from another. As married couples we need to learn what works and does not work in ours. So I ask you how will you treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day?

Keri has never been impressed with flowers and I never really knew why, now I do and I am looking for a good buy on rats. Any ideas? 

Roger, over and out!

To LOVE and GIVE

Recently through Bible Class, Small group discussion and daily bible reading I have been reminded of my purpose as part of God’s family. In my Sunday morning class we discussed the idea of our relationship to our heavenly Father. God is the giver of all good things and I am the receiver. John 3:16 is all the proof I need to be reminded of that fact. “For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE…” Because He loved and gave I have life!

God has called me to do the same for my wife, family and for others. I am to LOVE and to GIVE just as He did. In Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT) it says

Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with LOVE for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and GAVE himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.

It is only through LOVE that we can GIVE the gift of forgiveness. Peter wanted some clarification on the idea of this type of giving when he asked Jesus how many times he was to forgive someone. In Matthew 18 Jesus told Peter that he was to do it basically without limit. That is what LOVE does. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving. We probably all can relate to Peter’s question on forgiveness. We want protection from abuse. We desire limits on how far we should reasonably love and forgive. But when we ask God, He just reminds us of His example to follow.

Can you think of a certain person (spouse, child, brother, sister, friend, co/worker, etc.) who needs your love and forgiveness? Why not follow God’s example today? Through love and forgiveness we show that we are God’s children and God is honored.

Roger, over and out!

Play Nice!

In last Sunday mornings Parenting class we discussed the idea that most of what our children learn from their parents is “caught and not taught.” We often teach our children unintended lessons such as “how to raise your voice in an argument’, or “how to belittle the other person while proving your point”, or “how to be ungrateful when given a gift that you did not like.” Our children are always observing and often pick up on what they hear us say and see us do.

In a two parent household our children’s first observational experience is the relationship between mom and dad. If they see constant stress, confrontation, and hear “bad language”, and threats then they will begin to put into practice those same relationship behaviors with siblings, parents, and friends and later on, if not corrected their spouse. What they are picking up may be the same behavior their parents were exposed to when they were growing up. As much as we hate to admit it we tend to repeat what we grew up experiencing. The good news is that teaching bad behavior can end with us. Instead, by being aware that little eyes and ears are open we have opportunity to lovingly show godly behavior. Paul knew this was important and told the Philippians to live out what they saw in him.

Phil 4:8-9 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Why not make a commitment today before God with your spouse that you will intentionally put into practice what Paul suggests to those at Philippi many years ago? Your changes will make a difference in the lives of future generations.

God Bless!