My Journey to Manhood is Now complete

Note: This is not what you think

I always felt I was different from the other guys. I could never put my finger on the issue, but something just felt different. As we purchased our new house and had a larger yard and covered patio, the yearnings and desires grew. As much as I tried to fight it or put off dealing with my issues, I knew sooner or later, I would be forced to complete the summer rite of passage into manhood.

A few weeks ago on a moonlit night, I finally took the final step and gave in to my feelings.

I GOT A GRILL!!!!!!!!!

Not just any grill, mind you, a duel mode grill. One side is for propane grilling, the other charcoal. Since I could not decide on what kind to purchase, I decided to get the best of both worlds. Since my joke to people is "my journey to manhood is now complete," I've taken to calling my grill a Mangrill.

That night I had a cookout where myself and a more seasoned grilling veteran cooked some hamburgers and hot dogs. Since then I have cooked burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and pork chops. Wednesday I got some husked corn to try . Just last night, I grilled a couple chicken breasts for WW and me. When they were done, I basted them with BBQ sauce. She had no complaints.

Sooner or later I want to try some veggies, shrimp, and some salmon. My dad is a Grill Master of the umpteenth degree so I'll be asking him his advice. Oh lest I forget, steaks are also on my to-grill list too.

I've had a few setbacks learning the art of becoming a Grilling Master. A church member put it this way. "Grilling is easy once you get the hang of it, but every once in a while, you have to offer up a few burnt offerings" The worst I've done is offer up six burger patties to the god of grilling. But hey, it's a learning curve, you can't walk before you learn to crawl. Thankfully Mardel's had a Weber's grilling book on sale. I not only got some good recipes to try, but this book has several guides to cooking meat, how long, what temperature, etc. It has proved very useful.

Any you grilling vets have any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear em.

Christ Will Come Again

Ac 1:11 "Men of Galilee," u they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back v in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)


"He shall come again to judge the quick and the dead." (Taken from the Apostles Creed)



Let us remember the Ancient Liturgy.....Christ Has Died


Christ has RISEN

Christ Will Come Again!

Not only did Christ die and raise from the dead. This same Christ, the victor over sin and death, will one day return to to forever defeat this enemies.

Christ's first advent, he was the Suffering servant. When he returns, he will be the Conquering King.



What will the Second Coming of Christ be like?



The Second Coming will be literal. Christ did not raise as a spirit, nor is the Resurrection symbolic; I already discussed that on the last post. If his raising and Ascension were literal, so will be his Second Coming. This was made clear in my introductory verse. Those who witnessed Christ's literal Resurrected body were told that, just as Christ literally ascended to heaven, he will return "in the same manner." Think Christ's Second Coming is symbolic? Then explain his coming in Revelation 19.

Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open c and there before me was a white horse, whose rider d is called Faithful and True. e With justice he judges and makes war. f
Rev 19:12 His eyes are like blazing fire, g and on his head are many crowns. h He has a name written on him i that no one knows but he himself. j
Rev 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, k and his name is the Word of God. l
Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, m white n and clean.
Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword o with which to strike down p the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." 23 q He treads the winepress r of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: s

Now, let's proceed, but, lest we think Christ is anything but the Son of God, the second person in the Triune God, check out his title.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds u flying in midair, v "Come, w gather together for the great supper of God, x
Rev 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, y free and slave, z small and great." a
Rev 19:19 Then I saw the beast b and the kings of the earth c and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse d and his army.
Rev 19:20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet e who had performed the miraculous signs f on his behalf. g With these signs he had deluded h those who had received the mark of the beast i and worshiped his image. j The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake k of burning sulfur. l
Rev 19:21 The rest of them were killed with the sword m that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, n and all the birds o gorged themselves on their flesh.

Wow. That's an awful lot to symbolize. Other parts of Scripture make it clear that the Second Coming of Christ is literal.

Not only literal, but Christ's Second Coming will be VISIBLE. There is nowhere in scripture to indicate that Christ will come "spiritually" When he returns, EVERY eye will see him.

So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
Mt 24:27 For as lightning e that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming f of the Son of Man. (Matt 24 26-27)

Now, I'm not talking about the Rapture, I am one who tends to think there will be a Pre Trib Rapture, that is a different conversation. What I am talking about will be the visible Coming of our Lord. Here's another.

Rev 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, u and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; v and all the peoples of the earth will mourn w because of him. So shall it be! Amen. (Rev 1:7)

Christ will come and REIGN. His coming will set up his kingdom. Revelation says he will rule the nations with a "Rod of Iron" This is not original material. Check out Psalms 2.

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son 4 ; j today I have become your Father. 5 k
Ps 2:8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations l your inheritance, m the ends of the earth n your possession.
Ps 2:9 You will rule them with an iron scepter 6 ; o you will dash them to pieces p like pottery. (Ps 2:7)

Christ's Kingdom will begin with his thousand year reign on earth. This reign will be a holy one. Justice will be swift and perfect and, according to the Old Testament, the word of the lord will go out to all the nations.

Those whom peirced him (the unbelieving Jews) will come to faith in Him. His kingdom will be a time when Israel will be blessed with the convenant due them as God's chosen people. For the church, we too will enjoy blessings thanks to our Savior.

It is also important to remember Christ's Second coming has not yet occurred. Church History is full of those who wish to "date set" He has not come "spiritually" in stages, nor will his coming be secret. Trust me, we will KNOW when Christ returns.

We are told to observe the Lord's Supper till Christ's Secomg Coming. Why continue to celebrate the Lord's Supper if Christ has already returned?

As a Believer, my job is to live for Him. I look forward to seeing Him face to face. I also anticipate seeing all those who have gone before. What a joy, talking with the saints of old! But until then, I am to live my life sharing the Gospel and witnessing through word and deed.

Until that wonderful day, let us again recite the ancient liturgy.

Christ Has Died
Christ Has Risen
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!

Amen.

Christ has Risen

Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes s in me will live, even though he dies. Jn 11:25.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Mt 28:5-6.

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! (Hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Charles Wesley)

Let us remember the ancient liturgy, Christ has died,
Christ has risen.....



HE IS RISEN

CHRIST THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!!!!!

DEATH IS VANQUISHED!

OUR KING LIVES FOREVERMORE!!!!!

That's right, cults and false teachers may deny this truth, but regardless, their statements cannot change this very fact.

He is risen!!!!!

Who has risen?????

CHRIST HAS RISEN!!!!!

CHRIST HAS RISEN INDEED!!!!!

This day our salvation was paid for. This day, when Christ was raised from the dead he proved, once and for all, not only that he was God. he also proved God, the three-in-one Triune God of Scripture has power over sin and death.

Christ rising from the dead is the same Resurrection in store for all of us on the lat day.

Christ was indeed dead. He did not pass out on the cross, nor did he fake being dead as some critics claim. Check out the following passages. The first is a description of his death.

I'll take you back a little ways. Because the next day was to be the Sabbath, the Jews did not want anybody hanging on the cross because it was unlawful. to follow their Sabbath laws, they had asked that the condemned legs be broken. This was a common practice in Roman crucifixions to speed up death. If not done, the criminal could languish for days.

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. JN 19:33-34.

Notice the "sudden flow of blood and water" the blood was beginning to separate. This is what happens when a body dies. Christ was already dead when the Roman solider thrust his spear. Now, look at Christ's own words where he himself says he was once dead.

Rev 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! i And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Get that? "I was ONCE DEAD and am alive FOREVERMORE. I love our Lord's last words....."And I have the power over death and Hades" Sorry Christian Scientists, you'll have to go somewhere else if you want to prove your false notion that death is only an illusion.

Not only did Christ literally die and raise from the dead, but his Resurrection was BODILY. The Resurrection account is not symbolic nor did Christ raise as a "spirit being" Here is an example of Christ breaking bread with two on the road to Emmaus.

Lk 24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Last I checked, spirits don't break nor eat bread. Christ was a resurrected body. Here is another passage of Christ appearing to the disciples.

Lk 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
Lk 24:37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. d
Lk 24:38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
Lk 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; e a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Lk 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
Lk 24:41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
Lk 24:42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
Lk 24:43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Lk 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: g Everything must be fulfilled h that is written about me in the Law of Moses, i the Prophets and the Psalms."
Lk 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Lk 24:46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer l and rise from the dead on the third day,
Lk 24:36-46

Notice, Jesus said himself he was not a ghost. His body is a glorified body that is different (and ours will be too) than the shell we inhabit here on earth. Also, last time I checked, spirits cannot hold nor eat fish. Here is the famous "doubting Thomas" passage where Christ actually asks Thomas to TOUCH his body.

Jn 20:24 Now Thomas q (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
Jn 20:25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." s
Jn 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Jn 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Jn 20:28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jn 20:29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; w blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

How can somebody touch nail and spear marks if the deceased is a ghost? Thomas was seeing Christ in his BODILY form. Sorry Jehovah's Witnesses, you'll have to look elsewhere to prove your false teaching that Christ rose as a spirit and not a body from the dead.

I find it amusing that many who deny every supernatural facet of Holy Scripture want to then cling to the name of Christ. You can't pick and choose. Just like Christ's Virgin Birth and the miracles, The Resurrection is part and parcel of the Gospel message.

1Co 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection x of the dead? y
1Co 15:13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
1Co 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, z our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
1Co 15:15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. a But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
1Co 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. b
1Co 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep c in Christ are lost.

If you follow Christ but deny the Resurrection, you're an idiot. Think I'm being too harsh? Check out the scriptures. The Bible also tells us that our having Eternal Life is tied DIRECTLY to Christ raising from the dead. Christ conquered death by himself raising from the dead. Because he conquered death, he has conquered it for us. Check out where Paul continues to explain this. It's long but lays out the case for The Resurrection nicely.

1Co 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1Co 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits f of those who have fallen asleep.
1Co 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
1Co 15:24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he "has put everything under his feet." 45 Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
1Co 15:28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, u so that God may be all in all.
1Co 15:29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
1Co 15:30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
1Co 15:31 I die every day —I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1Co 15:32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus z for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 46 a
1Co 15:33 Do not be misled: b "Bad company corrupts good character." c
1Co 15:34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God —I say this to your shame. 1 CO 15:12-34.


Other leaders of great religions are dead and gone but Christ is alive and has defeated death.

HE is risen.....
WHO is risen.....
CHRIST is risen.....
Christ is risen indeed.....

Christ Has Died

"Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. John 1:29

Jesus called out with a loud voice, i "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." j When he had said this, he breathed his last LK 23:46.

Let us remember the ancient liturgy. Christ has died.....

"Man Owed a debt he could not pay. Christ paid a debt He did not owe." Anslem.

"How deep the Father's love for us,How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One,Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom (How Deep the Father's Love for us, Stuart Towned)


When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss,And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most,I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine,Demands my soul, my life, my all. (Hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Isaac Watts pub 1707)

Today is Good Friday and is a day every Christian should have a heavy heart.

This day marks the observance (can we please have one thing that is somber in our modern church?) of Christ's death for the sins of the world.

Christ was arrested, tried by a kangaroo court and put to death. His death was the method of a common criminal.

Amazingly this was foretold centuries before it occurred.

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

Perhaps one of the longest passages comes from the prophet Isaiah:

“Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” Isaiah 53:1-12).

Think all the Psalms are Happy clappy songs about our victory in the Lord? Think again. This is part of Psalm 22 which depicts the way Christ would die.

Many bulls w surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Ps 22:13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.
Ps 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. c My heart has turned to wax; d it has melted away e within me.
Ps 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, f and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; g you lay me 41 in the dust h of death.
Ps 22:16 Dogs i have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced 42 j my hands and my feet.
Ps 22:17 I can count all my bones; people stare k and gloat over me. l
Ps 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots m for my clothing.

The prophet Daniel, writing cir. 536 B.C. foretold that Christ would be "Cut off" meaning he would be killed. This was one of the important events relating to his famous seventy weeks prophecies about the end times.


After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off k and will have nothing. 32 The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: l War will continue until the end, and desolations m have been decreed. n

When Christ died, he took our place on the cross. As a wonderful hymn says "Every sin on him was laid" (In Christ Alone) sums it up nicely. When Christ died, not only did he die an extremely painful death, but he took the entire wrath of God in our place. All this so we may have Eternal Life through Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And check out Romans 5: 6-12 which gives the reason and results of Christ's death for all those who are saved.


Ro 5:6 You see, at just the right time, s when we were still powerless, t Christ died for the ungodly. u
Ro 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. v
Ro 5:9 Since we have now been justified w by his blood, x how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath y through him!
Ro 5:10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, z we were reconciled a to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! b
Ro 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. c
Ro 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, d and death through sin, e and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned f —

But how is one to have this precious gift? The only way is by God's Grace through faith. In other words, by putting faith in Christ death for your sins, ergo, trusting that he is all you need for salvation will turn you from a Child of Sin to a Child of God. Here are some verses.

9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 2 TM 1:9

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

:Eph 2:8.
For it is by grace v you have been saved, w through faith x —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Eph 2:9 not by works, y so that no one can boast. z

All this because Christ paid such a high price so many years ago. Am I thankful he did? Yes. Am I somber and with a heave heart because of what it cost God's son?????

You bet.

Safe?

Disclaimer: I have never ridden or driven in an electric car. This point of view is based simply on visual observations.

Last night, WW and I attended the Home and Garden show. We thought, there is no better place to get some home improvement ideas.

While there, I stumbled onto particular booth. To be honest, I don't even remember the sponsor, that's not important. It was what was on display that was the cause for my curiosity.

I asked WW if that was one of those electric cars whereas she replied "yes" I had to double back because I never saw one up close. Allow me to give my thoughts.

The car, kinda of purple/pink was SMALL, I mean, modern looking box on wheels. I thought to myself "there is no way in hades I could get anybody but myself, and WW in this thing" I guess they guy either saw the look on my face or others had the same issue because the person manning the booth said "it is bigger than it looks" After touching the hood, which didn't feel very durable, and still trying to wrap my head around the small size, I blurted out to a couple of ladies what was on their mind too. This was the real concern I would have driving one of these small Ken and Barbie cars. I said "I would not feel safe either driving or riding in one of these things." They both replied they felt the same way. Then I blurted out "This is an Eco loon car" (You know, it's electric and more "green" than an evil gas guzzling car). I walked away partly perplexed partly disgusted.

As a husband and father, there is no way in hell I'd put my family in one of those things no matter how many spotted crapbettles driving one would save.

Sorry Eco loons, I do not buy into your global warming nonsense.

I also feel, no matter how many trees will feel better me driving an Eco Lon car, I have a bigger responsibility. That is to put my family in something I have total confidence is safe on the road.

Didn't Take Long Did it?

WW and I were at the mall Thursday night when I saw a bumper sticker with the following.....

"Don't blame me I voted for McCain"

Didn't take very long for those bumper stickers to show up.

Where can I get mine?

I don't exactly want to brag I voted for Amnesty John but I can say when the Spendulius Bill hits the fan, don't blame me, I didn't buy any of Barracks "Change" BS one bit.

Rock and Roll All Nite (And Work Everyday)

In recognition of our achievement, my work pays its employees an annual bonus. I was very thankful to get one given the shape of the economy.

After the government redistribute my wealth (er, contributing to the common good) I had enough to pay off some bills and splurge a little.

WW and I decided to purchase a game consul and a game we wanted for some time.

I am now the proud owner of Guitar Hero World Tour.

Unless you've lived under a rock for the last four or five years, you probably have heard of it. You play a guitar (or a base, or drums, or vocal if you bought the entire band set, which I did not) and rock out to a song. The game allows you to progress and earn money there by unlocking other songs.

I used to play this quite a lot when we would go to Best Buy. WW would look at her stuff and I would leave saying "Honey, I'm going to go play with the band" At first she thought it was the stupidest game until she started playing it at our friend's house. After that, she was hooked.

I am now able to play guitar (of sorts) and make a complete ass out of myself.

Not being marterialistic, just looking for a way (besides excersing) of relieving stress.

What Jesus?

Christianity is about doctrine, pure and simple.

Our view of all human life precious in the eyes of God stems from what God himself says about life in the Holy Scriptures.

We love others because Jesus commands us. Why do we take the words of somebody who lived 2000 plus years ago so seriously? Why not listen to Buddha, Mohammad, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell or your inner light? Why Jesus?

We follow Jesus because of WHO Jesus is, pure and simple. Let me pause on Jesus for a moment; we'll get back to Him.


This post is about a pet peeve I have. I'll get to it, but first, I need to make an argument defending the necessity to believe cardinal doctrines of Christianity. These doctrines have been held throughout the history of the church.

Something sadly lost on too many of today's Christians is that in order to be considered orthodox, certain beliefs must be held. Compromising or flat out denial of one of these will compromise others.

For example, if you deny salvation by grace alone through faith alone, you deny the effectiveness of Christ's death. You also deny, whether you know it or not, the sovereignty of God. How can God be the complete sovereign of the universe if he does not have complete victory over sin and death? if his death on the cross was not payment enough does this mean Satan has some power God does not have? How can God keep you unto himself once you come to faith if he cannot completely defeat sin proving he's not sovereign? This denial also elevates humanity higher than it ought, it says "God needs our help (again compromising God's sovereignty) so we must help him, and, after all, we're not too sinful if we can corporate with God."

Take the scriptures. How many Christian leaders pay lip service to scripture but then turn around and say some of the Bible contains errors? The statement goes something like this....."The Bible CONTAINS the word of God rather than IS the word of God.

If this is the case, might I ask what parts contain errors and could they please tell me how they came to this conclusion? If one part is erroneous, even though Paul tells us in his writings, that ALL scripture is God breathed, than how can we have complete confidence in the rest of the Bible? This is not to say I understand completely Holy Scripture, and I don't have questions. This does not also mean I do not hold certain doctrines such as Christ's full Deity and humanity or God electing some to salvation but man's responsibility to respond, in tension. What it means is God's ways are not my ways and he has given us more than enough evidence to trust in faith the truthfulness of his word.

One other unintended consequence of compromising Scripture is obvious. When you second guess its reliability, you must also second guess the DOCTRINES found therein. If the flood did not occur, is God really sovereign? If Daniel did not write Daniel and his prophecies were fakes as liberals claim (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary) Does this mean Christ was not God since he referred to Daniel as a prophet? And if the miracles done at the time of Moses and Joshuah were fakes than does this mean Christ was not born of a Virgin? How can Christ be the sinless lamb led to the slaughter if he was born no different than you or me? Wouldn't that make him just a man? Can his death be payment enough since Romans tells us "All have Sinned and have fallen short of his glory" If we compromise the Virgin Birth, who's to say Christ rose from the dead? After all, if other parts of the Bible are not reliable, what says this part can be trusted? If I take this approach, I might be inclined to question my own salvation and what God says about keeping me unto himself not letting me fall from His grace since those are all found in Scripture. Denying parts of Scripture would cause my faith to unravel like a ball of yarn in the hands of a kitten. I think I've made it pretty obvious. There is no middle ground; either you take ALL the Bible or you take NONE.


Our faith is based on foundations found in Holy Scripture. This means certain doctrines must be taken and accepted if one is to call themselves a Christian. It is the responsibility of the church to, rather than avoid these doctrines, to teach it's members what they are, why they are to be believed, how to convey these beliefs to a lost and hurting world, and how to apply these beliefs in their lives.


Which brings me back to Jesus and quite frankly, one of my pet peeves. How many have heard the following statement? It is dressed in the guise of sounding more "spiritual" The person will stand up and say, "You know, I don't understand all these doctrines, and I don't need them.....(Then you hear the keyboard do a nice musical trill of notes) I just want to love Jesus." (More trills ) Doesn't it sound soo cool? More "spiritual" that somebody just wants to love Jesus? I mean, who could argue with that? Don't get tied down with all these gosh darned doctrines, just "love Jesus"


I hate to rain on their "spiritual" parade but I have to ask one question. Which Jesus would they like to love because I can provide several for them to choose from. Allow me to name a few.


One can love the "Jesus" of the Watchtower Bible and Tract society, aka the Jehovah's Witnesses. This Jesus is not God but Michael the Archangel. He was the first and greatest creation of Jehovah God and is only the son of God because he is the first creation. This "Jesus" came down to earth as only a man, died on a torture stake (not a cross) only for Adam's sin, and rose as a spirit being from the dead where he has already returned to our planet as a spirit, not a body.


Then there is the "Jesus" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, aka Mormons. This "Jesus" was the brother of Lucifer, both of them were born of Elohim, the God worshipped on earth who has a body of flesh and bones just like you and me. Christ came to earth, was born to Mary through a physical relationship between her and God. Anybody who converts to Mormonism can become a god just like Christ did.

We also have the "Jesus" of the "Jesus Only Movement" This group, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, denies the Trinity. To the Oness group, "Jesus" is actually a "mode" of God. Rather than God existing as one but three persons as orthodox Christians hold, the Jesus Only Movement holds that god reveals himself in three different "modes" much the same way an actor changes consumes in a play.

One can love the "Jesus" of the liberal church. This Jesus is simply a man, nothing more. To the liberal church, Christ was not born of a virgin, did not die for the sins of the world, nor did he raise from the dead. Jesus' bones are buried somewhere in Israel.

Last but certainly not least, a person can love the Jesus of Historic Christianity. This Jesus is the second person in the Triune Godhead. He is the Alpha and Omega proclaimed in scripture. His coming was foretold thousands of years before the incarnation. The Jesus of the Bible is the Great I AM, the one who holds the keys of death and hades . He will wipe away every tear and whose death and Resurrection holds victory for all who have faith in Him. This Jesus is not Michael the Archangel, a "spirit" brother, a mere man, or a player in God's cosmic magic show going from mode to mode. This Jesus is the sovereign creator of the universe who has paved the way for salvation. THAT is the Jesus one should love.

But how is one to know the right Jesus to believe in? I have shown at least five different "Jesus es" who would hardly recognize each other. Simple, the only way to tell is to familiarize yourself by knowing what the Bible says, i.e. getting your doctrine right.


One last item, just because there are cardinal doctrines does not mean there is not room for genuine disagreement between Christians. Our faith is not an "all or nothing" religion. Whatever one's view of the proper mode of baptism, whether Christ and Israel will reign on earth, the sign gifts, or the type of worship music, remember, those are secondary issues. I may not attend a church because of some secondary issues, but I would not exclude them from the fellowship of believers based solely on non essentials.

We, as Christians need to have an intelligent faith. The world is asking what we believe in and why. Hopefully I've demonstrated an "I love Jesus and live for Him" is not enough. What Jesus do you love, and why do you live for him?