Snowy Backyard Photo
Nov 30, 2008 Uncategorized
I just took this picture of my backyard. The two lit trees are about 125 feet or so from my house. I ran lights out to them to see how it would look. I love seeing them out the back windows. I wonder what the neighbors think.
(Click on it for a larger image)
Quote of the Day
Nov 28, 2008 Uncategorized
From my new favorite site: The Art of Manliness:
If your shirt needs ironing, iron it. And don’t try to convince yourself that by not ironing it, you’re capturing a sort of rugged New England-I-spent-the-day-sailing look. No, you look like a tool who didn’t iron their shirt.
Amen.
The Gratitude Project
Nov 26, 2008 Uncategorized
Thanks to Steven Furtick for this idea just in time for Thanksgiving.
1. Pick someone in your life (the first person who comes to mind is probably the correct choice) who has blessed you-whether they know it or not.
2. Send a letter, email, or post a blog telling them thanks.
3. Be specific in what you thank them for. Specificity is more meaningful than profundity. You don’t have to write outstanding prose. But if you chronicle in detail some ways they’ve blessed your life, they’ll savor every word.
4. If possible, do it before the sun goes down tonight.
I have been trying to get better at thanking people in person, via email, and small notes over the last couple months. It has been really cool because it has taught me to have my radar on all the time for people to thank.
Happy thanksgiving, all! I am thankful that you take the time to read my blog.
Poverty Gospel
Nov 25, 2008 Uncategorized
Yesterday, I posted a clip from John Piper about the “Prosperity Gospel.” This is a theology that is gaining steam in many parts of the world, but quite honestly I don’t run into too many people around these parts who buy into it.
It seems we deal more with the other extreme, which is also dangerous: “Poverty Gospel.” This is the school of thought that says Christ-followers should be poor or should at least redistribute their wealth. It is almost becoming the cool thing to “be poor for Jesus.”
This idea stems from the same problem as the “Prosperity Gospel,” and that is a lack of “Razor’s Edge Living.” Instead of seeing the paradoxical way the Bible calls us to live, we jump to one extreme or another. It’s simpler, it’s less complex, and we can ignore parts of the Bible we don’t like. In fact I just got done reading a very popular book (that has been recommended to me by tons of people). The author basically calls Christians to live with or like the poor and gives us the impression that to do so is more godly than to live in the burbs and drive your new Honda Accord to church.
There are a ton of verses we could look at, but I’ll just slap up one passage. Note the underlined parts:
1Timothy 6:17-19 - Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
See it? God richly supplies us with things to enjoy. This is not “Prosperity Gospel,” but God giving to us as he sees fit. And part of his plan is that we enjoy these things. But it doesn’t stop there! We are also to be generous and ready to share. It’s a both/and thing.
The reason I wanted to write about this is the current economic times. I am concerned that when things get a bit tenuous, Christians tend to run to one of the extremes. In these times, especially in a state that is so tied to the auto industry, we should all be on guard against both of these errors.
Prosperity Gospel
Nov 24, 2008 Uncategorized
There are two equally dangerous traps followers of Jesus can fall into when it comes to our material things. The first is the “Prosperity Gospel.” This trap says you will be materially blessed if you are in “right relationship with Jesus.”
In other words, sanctification comes with bling, an Escalade with rims, and a Chinchilla jacket.
I was going to write a bit on this, but my friend Joel sent me an amazing video from John Piper, so I’ll let him take if from here.
Tomorrow, I’ll write a bit about the opposite trap.
Free Dr Pepper!
Nov 22, 2008 Uncategorized
Thanks to Nate for this link from Yahoo! News. He knows I am a fan of both Dr. Pepper and GNR.
LOS ANGELES – Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” is a reality. The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. “Chinese Democracy,” infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.
Make sure you go to DrPepper.com tomorrow!
The Killers
Nov 21, 2008 Uncategorized
OK, so I am a huge fan of The Killers and I can’t wait for the new album to come out. (iTunes says next Tuesday, November 25)
This clip from the MTV Europe Awards is absolutely sick (the good kind). (via hellofrancis):
WWJD?
Nov 19, 2008 Uncategorized
I have to say I am seriously torn.
This Sunday, Riv is hosting our first national music act, The Avett Brothers. The show is going to be awesome.
The problem is it happens at the same time as “24 Redemption,” the two hour 24 prequel.
I know I can DVR it, but I keep asking myself “What Would Jack Do?”
I just may have to torture Dan for bringing the Avett Brothers in on this particular day. I fear it may be my only choice.
Oh, BTW, check out this shot of Jack in Africa.
See it? That’s right. Even when he has a backpack on, he’s still carrying the Jack Sack.
