I’ll be signing copies of my book, “52 Paths To Heaven” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 22 at Logos Bookstore in Kent.
I’ll also be breaking away to a meeting room to give a brief talk, “How Far Will God Go to Reach You?”
The Record Courier published a feature story about the event.
Please stop by if you’re in the area or let me know if you have friends who might be interested.
Jesus is an interesting person, complex in many ways.
His character is powerfully reflected in a video and the poetry of the late Dr. S.M. Lockridge, a pastor you may never have come across.
The audio is a bit rough, but the message is clear: Jesus has many more attributes than you can fathom at any one time.
If you’re a fan of creativity, writing, oratory and spiritual insight, you may be touched by the way he captures the heart of Jesus (the video images help along with some modern background music).
Here’s an excerpt followed by the Christian video:
“My King”
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captive.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
Could good causes around the globe benefit from just a share of your normal Christmas spending?
How much did you spend on Christmas last year or the year before? What’s your budget this year? Could you cut it by 25% or half and give the money to people or organizations that serve the poor?
Know anyone out of work? Would those you love really love you less if you gave them fewer presents?
It’s a challenge for me. After all, I want to give good gifts to my wife and children.
The notion of cutting back is being championed by the Advent Conspiracy. Check out the bold message.
How can you love those closest to you as well as strangers this holiday season?
Why do we sometimes play fast and free with life, money and time? I know I do.
It’s way too easy to lose track of the fact that who we are and what we own belongs to God; He expects us to be excellent stewards of His resources.
President-elect Barack Obama would do well like me to pay attention to God’s Word. Got Questions Ministries has a great piece about the parable of the talents and how the Lord expects us to act wisely with what He gives us.
Obama’s attitude is wrong from the start. In debates, he knocked the war. Like others, he was too quick to suggest that the $10 billion-plus per month spent on the Iraq war could be better used domestically, including repairing our infrastructure.
I’m sorry, but shouldn’t that money be off limits if it’s not tied to war at some point? It’s borrowed money. The nation is so knee-deep in debt that we should be paying down what we owe, not going on a spending spree. We can’t afford the war, but we’re stuck there for now so nothing will happen soon.
If we need to help poor people or pay for aging bridges, we have to cut spending, raise taxes and/or convince people to donate in one fashion or another.
Playing loose with $10 billion or more - and thinking it’s there for the grabbing - just reflects a poor mindset that’s oblivious to the rising debt.
Maybe God wants us to go into more debt. But it doesn’t seem like a responsible direction.
Do we really want keeping owing China, Japan and other countries? This U.S. Treasury table is staggering.
After all, the famous Durst Organization national debt clock in New York City actually ran out of digits - the $10 trillion debt is just that high.
Maybe Obama was just noting that we have other pressing needs. In time, if the war tones down and troops leave, I hope Obama and Congress focus on paying back what we owe while finding new and more responsible ways to cover priorities on the homefront.
Hopefully their solutions will honor God. While that’s happening, I hope I can do a better job myself.
What about you?
I’ll be the first to admit that some family sites sometimes make movies seem worse than they are on screen.
I saw the new Hulk movie the other day and didn’t even recall the women with low-cut tops and short shorts. Maybe they were on the screen for a second - in the background.
But I have to give these sites credit - they often do provide an honest assessment of the vulgar language, sexuality, gore, etc. Many of their observations are dead on.
Before deciding on a movie, check out a few of these resources. For example, Mike Myers and Adam Sandler have some so-called comedies out this summer. The problem is that they’re loaded with sexual jokes and sight gags. Do I really want to go to a movie with my 12-year-old son Eric (or let him go to the movies with his friends) just so he can see people cheapen and mock sexuality and intimacy?
I read and paraphrased the entire description of one movie for Eric. I think he finally got the point.
The problem is that youth don’t use enough discretion. So I have to be, well, a parent. I’m sorry he’s embarrased to tell his friends he can’t go. Well, maybe I’m not really sorry. I keep telling him to let them know he doesn’t want to see it - that would be a more mature way to address the issue.
Anyway, here is a handy list. Check out a couple before drawing conclusions. In some cases, take in a movie first and then act like a responsible parent before allowing your children to see what Hollywood suggests they view.
Focus on the Family’s Plugged In
www.pluggedinonline.com/
Kids-In-Mind
www.kids-in-mind.com
Christian Spotlight on Entertainment
http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html
ChristianityTodayMovies.com
www.christianitytoday.com/movies
Screen It
www.screenit.com
Parent Previews
http://www.parentpreviews.com
As my book points out, one of our paths to heaven may be a scene from a movie that touches our heart. You still need to be careful about your selections.
Did you see that extremely short, sexy outfit Carrie Underwood recently wore on “American Idol?” I hope not.
What a disgrace.
Another beautiful woman sells out to the music industry - so much for young people who may look up to her. Why can’t a superstar accept responsibility for how he or she comes across?
And now her single “Last Name” is doing real well. In the song, the character has some kind of fling with a guy - didn’t even recall his last name. If you’re going to party on a dance floor with a guy, I guess it might make sense to get his last name. But hey, maybe that’s not the standard.
In Romans 12:2, the Lord used Paul to remind is that we’re not to “conform any longer to the pattern of this world.” God’s will for us is to be like His son, Jesus.
Instead, we go after our lusts.
Life for us is about us. Jesus takes a back seat.
Oddly, Carrie also sings the popular “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” I never cared much for the melody of that song, but I love the message about yielding control.
All I can do is shake my head.
In her concerts, does Carrie sing about “Jesus” right before or right after her new “Last Name” song?
As she “matures” in her career, will Carrie act like an idol worthy of some praise or will she become some kind of sexualized country icon who favors sleazy outfits and strutting over some reasonable level of modesty?
Lord, please surround Carrie with people who will mentor her with your wisdom…
The news media is having a field day with New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer who may have been involved in a prostitution ring. It’s a pertinent news story given how he has come down hard on prostitition in the past. In fact, Spitzer is known for crusading against all sorts of crime.
But there he was yesterday - with his wife at his side - talking about a personal indiscretion. Hmmm. Wonder what that might be?
I felt bad for his wife, Silda. I respect her choice to stand by her man. Any temptation to be critical of her should be supressed.
A man, especially a married man, should keep his private parts to himself. Sometimes, I guess men sleep with hookers because they’re tired or lonely. They don’t necessarily walk away with incurable diseases.
But some people - I guess it’s too soon to say Spitzer - think they’re above the law. Or, they deal with stress in unusual ways. But when we sin, we need to own up to it.
I guess he hasn’t resigned (not because he didn’t do anything bad) because he’s waiting to cut a deal. I can’t blame him. But give it a few days. Why drag it on and continue to embarrass his wife? It’s like knocking a kid against a wall and showing up to chair a PTA meeting the same night even if everyone learns about the abuse.
If he did it - hired a prostitute and made arrangments to get her to cross state lines - he needs to go public with his admission, resign and move on to something better. I hope he’ll go on TV shows and maybe even write a book about his horrific lapse or lapses. Talk to young people about sexual responsibility, commitment, vows, crime, forgiveness.
Be human.
When someone that public goes that wrong, the public can benefit from the way he presents himself in the aftermath.
Sin can be forgiven through a relationship with Jesus, but sin has consequences.
I’m eager to see how he deals with his mess and confronts the public. We deserve to see him do something good with something so foolish - if he did anything at all. In his next news conference maybe he could be more honest. And maybe he’ll be a man and stand alone while his wife holds hands and welcomes hugs from friends - away from the cameras.
It’s probably a good thing that we have such intense debates about capital punishment. Our humanity may be lacking if it were easy to kill someone for killing someone else.
The Bible isn’t clear about when it’s OK to apply capital punishment. In Genesis 9:6, God pretty much sounds like it’s OK to repay blood for blood. And in Romans 13:1-7, we’re pretty much told to honor government and authorities.
Ex-cop Bobby Cutts Jr. made the national press for killing his wife and unborn baby. In the end, the jury decided to spare his life and allow for a lengthy prison sentence. Personally, I think he deserves to die. We’re not talking about a vehicular accident. He took his rage out against her and the child.
When does mercy apply? After all, in John 8:7 Jesus is all for sparing a woman caught in adultry (not sure where her spouse is). The jury had more mercy than I have to offer. I guess I’d have more mercy if Cutts was on the phone admitting his mistake seconds or minutes after his attack. Instead, he allowed days to lapse while pretending he didn’t do it.
Cutts is an enemy of society. Killing him is no worse than killing an opponent on the battle field. His horrific actions have consequences. One day God will deal with Cutts for all of eternity. Maybe I’ll hang out with him in heaven.
It’s a shame that I had to turn off a DVD the other day with puppets…
Jeff Dunham, an amazing ventriloquist, ruined our family evening with his crass humor. He had such a memorable act with some occasional PG humor. Sexual overtones weren’t necessary, but they were few and far between - sometimes over our kids’ heads (not always).
I’m kicking myself for not turning it off sooner when he brought out his new super hero puppet. In real life, the pervert would be in jail.
I finally did stop the DVD - enough jokes about the character’s nose looking like…
I gave up on comedy clubs long ago - way too smutty and cruel. You should see how far down the sewer Carrot Top went in just a few short years.
Few things are safe anymore…I have to work on my judgment skills - even with puppets. What a waste of good talent.
The Golf Channel did the right thing recently by suspending anchor Kelly Tilghman for her stupid lynching remark about Tiger Woods.
Apaprently, Tilghman and Woods are friends, but that doesn’t excuse lousy judgment in front of scores of viewers. But was the comment racist?
It all came down this this: Anchor Nick Faldo and Tilghman were talking about up and coming players who could compete with Woods. Faldo set the stage with his comment that “maybe they should just gang up for a while” against Woods.
“Lynch him in a back alley,” Tilghman replied.
Ouch.
Would she have said that is Woods was white - probably not.|
But does it mean she’s racist because the concept of lynching, black people, Woods and “clever” thinking filled her mind? I’m not sure what racist things I’ve said or suggested, but I know I’ve run my mouth and said some really, really dumb things. The difference is I’m not on TV.
Is she secretly racist? I doubt it, unless it’s a conditioning thing some people can’t avoid - the old “which side of the street would you walk on if you saw white people and black people approaching you on different sides?” I’d like to think I’d choose the side where people look like less of a threat. In my book, on any given day three white men in suits beat three black people with sunglasses, dark hooded jackets and pants dropping to their knees.
Oops…did I just say “beat?” I didn’t mean strike as in beat up.
I think the “lynch” reference is just tied to something under the surface for her. In the public arena, people like her need more training for stupidity, which would also help with the racist overtones that may be other things but not racist.
