Theology

I found this on another blogger site. It is really is heartwarming to see other people that seem to be caught up in a movement of Christian Spirituality that is focused on how we can better show the love of Jesus on the planet.

Christmas Time

I grew up in a house that really wasn't into big presents. Mainly socks, sweaters, and practical stuff. No underwear though, at least not that I remember. In my family all Holidays were about the food, and Christmas was no exception. We made fudge, well Mom made fudge. It apparently was pretty good, because when I made it one year and tried to pass it off as my mother's. People could tell the difference. In fact the Rabbi's wife (from the Messianic Jewish Synagogue that my father went to) was rather frank at how unimpressed she was with my poor attempt. Any way we loved food, and still do. We love the Hams, and Roasts, and cookies, and every other kind of treat you can think of. It makes me wonder what kind of traditions I want my children to grow up with. I wonder if there is a way to take out the material nature of Christmas for kids now. I wonder if there is some balance that I can achieve with my children about showing them love with traditional gifts but also give them perspective on how many others in this nation and in the world have so little. Maybe a tradition of working at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter a couple of nights during the season. Showing love to people in a real and tangible way...the way that Jesus calls us to. The way that Jesus shows us with his unconditional love. If we can show that love to others, we can bring the Christ back into Christmas.

My Mighty Miami Dolphins

The following is a excerpt from Ethan Skolnick's Q&A about the Dolphins road to the playoffs. Please pray with out ceasing that God's glory may be shown through the Mighty Miami Dolphins playoff run.

'...If the Dolphins emerge as the second-place team in the AFC East, they have an outside shot. But then you need either Cincinnati or Jacksonville to lose the rest of its games. And you need Denver to finish worse than 9-7 (the Broncos are 7-6), and the Chiefs to lose at least one (maybe two) of their final three, while the Steelers lose at least one.

Priorities

I heard a guy speak recently about why it is that parts of the world look at Americans with disgust. I had already understood their perspective, that isn't what was disturbingly captivating about the teaching. It was the shear statistics that were used to show the example of exactly how wealthy we are in the US. It was like a train wreck, I couldn't stop listening or thinking about it. I can't remember all of them. One of them stuck in my mind. We spent in America on the Friday after Thanksgiving over 9 billion dollars on gifts/retail sales. That is about the estimated amount of money it would take to establish plans, supplies, and technology for clean water for every community of people on the planet. Jesus says in Mat 25 that He is somehow there when we give people something to eat, drink, clothes to wear. I wonder how Jesus feels about how we in America have the money and resources and technology to help the planet get clean water to drink from without the threat of disease, and we are busy shopping and voting against gay marriage. Oh, don't forget we must continue fight against the war on Christmas. You can listen to the guy that did the teaching if you like. They guy's name is Rob Bell, he is the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids Michigan. Hear is the link, just go to the listen tab, and listen to the most recent teaching. www.mhbcmi.org

I'm the WINNER

I received an autographed picture of a local Roanoke celebrity at a Christmas party!

Hooray for Roanoke

In a recent Roanoke Times article famed/fallen Meteorologist Jamey Singleton gave an interview and launched his new web site. For those not familiar with Roanoke issues, Mr. Singleton was excused from WSLS Channel 10 news for violating a morals clause in his contract when some schmuck took a compromising photo of him in the shower and the image made it around the the WSLS office. He also was in rehab about a year a go for substance abuse issue. Now it seems he is becoming a bit of a anti-establishment hero here in the Roanoke valley. He has also been in the Roanoke Timescast poking some fun at himself and the situation in which he finds himself. So I visited his web site and found it very cool/ghetto/fun. Check it out at www.jamey-singleton.com

I have been busy studying so I haven't had time to give any deep thoughts lately. I know there are vast millions of you out there waiting anxiously to hear from me. Sorry.

A wonderful supper with my wife

I just got home from a wonderfull meal with my wife. Now I am sleepy.