As regards President Bush, I disagree with most of the things he stands for. The environment, women's rights, separation of church and state. But I fully support his foreign policy. If this was a time of peace, I'd go for Kerry. But because the war is ongoing, and al Qaeda is a living, breathing thing, I'd say Mr. Bush will do a better job. If you have cockroaches in the kitchen, you don't want somebody to come in and have a conversation with them. You need an exterminator. And exterminators are not popular guys. They stink up the house. They're not fun. You don't want them around, but they're exactly what you need when you have cockroaches in the kitchen. Mr. Bush is doing what exterminators need to do: go out and find out where the roaches are.
-Gene Simmons from Kiss
http://www.thunderstruck.org

This book looks interesting...no reflection on my lovely and hard working wife. It just looked funny. 

Currently in the tape player in my garage. 

When I read the list of people who are supporting Kerry, if I wasn't already a Bush supporter, I would have immediately switched. Linda Ronstadt? Don Henley? Geez, that's a good reason right there to vote for Bush."
-Alice Cooper http://www.thunderstruck.org/
 

That news is too good...?

I used to think Jesus did things that angered some people and it got Him killed. It finally occurred to me that none of us get in trouble for preaching a God who's too angry, too harsh, too punitive or too judgmental, but you start preaching a God who's too loving, too forgiving, too merciful; and you will be in trouble. There will be people who will get you for preaching such good news and it's what all of us are called to do.

-Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop.

 

Wow, that is some incredibly keen insight.

 

This is a controversial issue for sure but I think it is one of the defining issues facing a new generation of believers. I personally am not satisfied with the answers that I get from the typical religious think tanks on the issue; and if I do agree with the ideal truth...I'm still not OK with the living out of that truth in most churches. I know and have walked with many who are homosexual or lesbian. Some have been wonderful people, others not. I wish there was more intelligent and non-combative, bible-thumping conversation about the real issues facing us who are friends or pastors of homosexual people.

 

I do not think God hates fags...in fact I think, He hates how we have lived out the truth among those who are fumbling for truth. In some ways our wrestling with the issue has revealed more about our own sinful hearts than anyone else's.  

 

There are many things I hope are going to take place and a few things that I know are going to happen. There is some stuff that I pray will happen as well.
I am tired of people telling me what is going to come...but doesn't.
I don't want to be one that seems like this scripture:
These people are as useless as dried-up springs of water or as clouds blown away by the wind – promising much and delivering nothing. They are doomed to blackest darkness.
-2 Peter 2:17.
It seems a lot of prophesy is mist not rain. A lot of talk but not much change.
Some people live in the potential so much that they are of no use in the immediate.
So please don't tell me what's going to happen, don't spray me with mist...I need the rain.

 

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad,and whose princes feast in the morning.
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time, for strength and not for drunkenness.
-Ecclesiastes 10:17

To say that a thing good in itself is bad because sometimes abused,
is as absurd as to say that the beautiful Ohio river is an evil because it at times overflows its banks. -Walter Forward.

I like beer...but not any beer, I am particular about what I drink.
It always comes out of a tap or a bottle and never from a can.
It's not cheap and isn't drunk for the purpose of getting hammered.

Drunkenness is a sin (see lev. 10:9, Eph. 5:18 and 1 Timothy 3:3) and if you are drinking to get drunk, you are on the wrong path and it will lead to trouble.

If you are not 21 than you are breaking the law.

As a Christian we are called to obey the law and live our lives within the safe perimeters of God's law. His word is given to liberate us and set us free from destructive paths and false ideas, presumptions and beliefs about a truly spiritual life and how to live it.

Beware of excess and don't turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.
Learn to be in control of your flesh and it's appetites.
Practice self-control and learn to be an example in how you use the things God has blessed us to enjoy. Slobbering drunks do not give God glory and neither does the typical conversation or actions that often comes when people drink too much.

All of that is the sign of immaturity and reveals that you are becoming overcome by what you are partaking in. By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. -2 Peter 2:19  

There are four things I do not understand...the way of a man with a maid. -Proverbs 30:19 After doing a number of weddings this year and a lot of premarital counseling, I wish I would have had this wonderful teaching tool.
 

I've encountered this religious spirit this week. I have been deeply troubled by it. I do not want to be lumped into this crowd at all. It saddens me to see us form our opinions and judgments about other people along more narrow lines than Jesus did. What is it about looking down on others that makes us feel better about ourselves? What good is a faith that pushes seekers away by the stench of our self-righteousness. Why do we think that God accepts us on some other basis than the shed blood of His Son? Why do we think that our eating habits, worship preferences, religious attire or specific historical traditions somehow make us more chummy with Jesus? Why are we so concerned about what other people think about us? Religion has a sick way of hurting people. It maliciously seeks to define, categorize, label people and is drenched in a host of usually false assumptions. how about you just getting off your spiritual high horse and quit thinking your so pretty smelling. You're hell bound as fast as the next guy...get over yourself.

 

My oldest Son Christian, had a lump removed from his throat. It had been there off and on for the last 2 years. We had it looked at once before but they thought it was just an infected lymph node. But this last week they took it out. It was tested and was determined to be just a cyst. Thank God.
 

us 

Destiny and Rachael, one of the most beautiful brides ever... 

Destiny and Austin at Dave and Rachael's Wedding 

Nîn o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nˆn Bruinen dan in Ulaer! -Arwen
(Waters of the Misty Mountains, listen to the great word, flow waters of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!)
In my morning prayers and evening youth service the Lord used this scene from LOTR to speak to my heart. I have been riding hard over the last year, desperately fighting against pressing foes. It's been a tough ride with many moments of desperation and almost defeat. I've been carrying a wounded generation in my arms. Pushing with all my strength to carry this generation to a place of healing, a sanctuary of hope. It's a generation that needs courageous and valiant leaders that will risk their lives for a younger generation. This generation is desperate for help from those who will face the enemy and carry a generation to safety. God will send His mighty moments of deliverance at waters edge. But He needs riders, those willing to put everything on the line for the broken and dying. You will be hunted, pursued, attacked but ride harder, ride faster, dare to push on...
 

Gaz is a friend from England and he sent me this picture. It shows a baptism taking place during the 1904 Welsh revival. Gaz is sending me a black rock from this spot in the river. I pray it becomes a stone of remembrance for 2004...thank you Gaz.
 

I sure wish I could spend an evening sinking a few balls with Mark Twain...who would you like to spend an evening of conversation with? 

One of the biggest lies I have seen swallowed hook, line and sinker by teens is that they can date people who are not christians. I've heard countless youth justify their unbiblical wisdom with all kinds of crazy hooey. Here is a site just for you if you are finding yourself being lured by the siren call of missionary dating...www.datetosave.com  

Some friends sent this picture of this dog that has adopted this fawn. Pretty amazing. 

An old curmudgeon

The tragedy of life is not in the fact of death...

But rather, in what dies inside many of us while we still live.

-Norman Cousins

 

Yesterday I was sitting in the hospital with my son Christian; he was having a minor surgery to remove a small lump in his throat. As we were sitting there, I could over hear an old man in the next curtained off area going off about various post surgery bowel problems. 

 

He was using colorful language inspired by years of military service.

He didn't want to take antibiotics because he never needed them before.

He said he lived up in the hills, where there is still clean air and where germs don't go. Not like the valley down where we all live.

He was talking about not being able to shower for three days and having to get some lady to come over with a big sponge...

 

He had one of the most captivating personalties...he was an old curmudgeon.

 

At one point the nurse came and asked him if he felt much pain.

He paused for a while and I thought maybe he didn't hear her but than he spoke.

He said he was thinking about the times and places he had been. How he had been in many fox holes, muddy pits and godforsaken places and how in those times he had told himself that if he ever made it out alive...he would never complain about anything again.

 

In light of that, he said, he was doing pretty well.

 

I was mesmerized by this old soldier, they just don't make them like that much anymore.

 

It's a shame.

I turned 34 today...I have now lived a longer life on the planet than Jesus.