Gaming
Sep 30, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Gamey | CD: Veggie Tales Music }
You may remember that Grace and I invested in a state of the art gaming system a few months ago. This was the system:
Well, some people thought I was depriving my children of all the wonderful worlds that could be open to them with a more cutting-edge gaming technology. We have finally obliged. He bought them this one:
Yes, I know, we are amazing parents.
Dialogue
Sep 29, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Decent | TIVO: Ironically, “Queer Eye for a Straight Guy }
Today, I was reading my friend Aaron’s blog and I came across a post about Christians, homosexuality, etc. This spurred a great and ongoing dialogue between the two of us today.
If you want to read his post and our email dialogue (and I encourage you to do so)…continue reading by clicking on this: Read the rest of this entry »
GRRRRRRRRR
Sep 29, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Upset | ITUNES: “Thank You” – Beulah }
I am running a Microsoft Update because Word and PowerPoint are hosing up my system and making me mad this last week. When I ran the update, here is Microsoft’s description of what it will fix:
This update fixes an error in the AutoUpdate download progress bar, which did not accurately display the progress of the download. While this update is downloading, the progress bar might not accurately display the status. After the update is installed, the download progress bar will accurately display the status of future downloads.
Super.
Volcano
Sep 29, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Explosive | ITUNES: “A Perfect Day” – PJ Harvey }
Apparently, Mount Saint Helen is gonna blow soon. Click here for a live webcam.
Grace
Sep 29, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Conflicted | ITUNES: “Let’s Get Retarded” – Black Eyed Peas }
Chey posted this interesting thought regarding a conversation she had with my wife:
Grace Heikkinen: “Don’t you ever feel like there are just not enough hours in the day to eat all the food you want to eat?”
Me: “That is hilarious.”
So, I don’t feel like that. I really don’t. That is about the craziest thing I have ever heard made all the more amusing by the fact that Grace is easily half my size and has this love affair with food that is (in my life) unparalled. She’s a riot. Only a skinny person could say something like that with a straight face.
My wife has given me persmission to post her quote with the question “Does anyone out there feel the same way?” So I ask the question…do you?
Republican vs. Democrat
Sep 27, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Ick | ITUNES: “Ataypura” – Yma Sumac }
I just read something that irritates the crap out of me. It was link off Studylight.org, a site I totally dig. However, this was just gross. I bring it up, because it is a classic example of going to the Word with your mind made up, and looking for examples that support your case instead of looking to the word, willing to let it contradict you. For more on this, read Dan’s blog.
Anyhoo, this article was entitled “Should a Christian be a Republican or a Democrat?” Here is the first paragraph, which looked promising:
To start out, let me say that as a tax-exempt non-profit organization, Got Questions Ministries is not allowed to endorse political parties or candidates. What we can do is tell you what the Bible says about political issues and allow you to make a decision from there. In all actuality, few political issues are truly spiritual issues. As an example, personally, I prefer lower taxes. The Bible does not endorse low taxes, all it says is that we are to pay our taxes honestly (Romans 13:6-7; Matthew 22:15-21). Taxes, and many other issues (social security, universal healthcare, education funding, prescription drugs, etc.) are not spiritual issues the Bible specifically addresses. As a result, Christians can in good conscience have disagreements on these issues.
Now this was a good start, but then the author lists (as examples) two places where God “takes sides.” Issue one: Abortion ; Issue two: Gay marriage
Then, he basically takes the character qualities of a leader in the church and says that applies to the government as well.
That’s it.
What drives me crazy is his selection of two issues that are political hotbeds and his implication that those against these two things would be the best choice. In other words, despite his cute little preamble, he is basically saying that Christians should be Republicans.
What about other issues the Bible takes stands on?
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. (James 1:27)
Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15-16)
The Bible sure seems to be drawing a line in the sand. (Of course, I understand these are all directed at the church, not government, but they are sure things that are on the heart of God.)
I say this as a person who will most likely vote Republican this year (Presidentmatch.com told me I prefer Bush over Kerry in 58% of my beliefs.
Oh well…off my soapbox now and back to work…
Wow
Sep 27, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Contemplative | QUICKTIME: “World on Fire” – Sarah McLachlan }
Thanks to Travis for pointing me toward this video.
Perspective.
Brasstown
Sep 27, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Here are some pics from our trip:
This is Snow (he was the drummer for the band as well as the organizer of our poker night, which I lost terribly at). He owns his own production company called Big Snow Entertainment
This guy won the poker game. I hate him.
This is Nate. He was the bass player (although like many bass players, he “is really a guitar player.”) I like him because he is really into Maroon 5 and he looks like the Unibomber.
Here are two pictures of our Suite. Yes, I said “Suite.” And yes, that is a fireplace.
Here are some shots from the resort. The bummer is we didn’t have time to do any hiking or anything.
This, is the self-proclaimed “World’s Most Handsome Man,” my friend Brad. Yes ladies (and gentlemen, I suppose) he is single and available.
The Church
Sep 27, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Decent | NOISE: Entourage telling me I have mail }
Thanks to Dan for this quote:
What we call “church” is too often a gathering of strangers who see the
church as yet another “helping institution” to gratify further their
individual desires. One of the reasons some church members are so
mean-spirited with their pastor, particularly when the pastor urges them to
look at God, is that they feel deceived by such pastoral invitations to look
beyond themselves. They have come to church for “strokes,” to have their
personal needs met. What we call church is often a conspiracy of cordiality.
pastors learn to pacify rather than preach to their Ananiases and Sapphiras.
we say we do it out of “love.” Usually, we do it as a means of keeping
everyone as distant from everyone else as possible. You don’t get into my
life and I will not get into yours.
-Stanley Hauerwas
We’re Back
Sep 27, 2004 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
{ MOOD: Slightly Headachy | NOISE: Boys… talking… playing… fighting… yelling… ah, it’s good to be home… }
So we are back from Atlanta. The place we stayed in was awesome! You can check it out here. And they really hooked us up with an amazing huge room! I’ll throw a few pictures up later.
Suffice it to say, it was a great time. I am not sure how used to an interactive style of teaching everyone there was. It took a little pulling to get them to talk to me from stage. However, once we got going it was awesome. We did this message / discussion on community Saturday night and they really got into it. Man, that is a topic that people are dying to talk about.
I also met a lot of cool people. It was cool to hear of this Fiji house on Georgia Tech’s campus that started a small group a few years ago. It has now grown to over 1/3 of their frat! In fact, the president of the frat has encouraged everyone to be in small groups (and he isn’t even a Christian, he just likes what he sees!). Cool stuff.
Anyhoo, glad to be home.
