The great state of Tex-afornia

Who are our spokepeople?

Here is a Time article about the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. I will save most of the comments. I am glad that people like Packer and McLaren made it on the list. Unfortunately, most of these white males seemed to be more interested in fighting abortion and homosexuality than anything else. Just an observation

posted by Kevin @ 3:28 PM 0 Comments

A rousing evening

Last night I took one of our high schoolers to class with me so he could get the "Seminary Experience". I had high hopes that he would enjoy the classes and those hopes came to fruition. It has been fun watching students I have known for 6 years grow. Puny little sixth graders who can now hold a theological conversation with the best of them. I am awed at how God works through someone like me.

Tonight we have a birthday party at a dance club called "Gismo's". It is definitely in a shady part of town, but if you knew the couple throwing the party you would completely understand. I just hope I don't get knifed by someone in the club.

I am also proud to announce that the wifey and I will officially be judging our second food contest. Last time it was BBQ (ribs and brisket). Tomorrow it is chili and beans. MMMMMMMMM Beans! ahhhhhhhhh!

Everyone have a great weekend enjoying the Lord in your own personal way.

posted by Kevin @ 10:35 AM 0 Comments

Old People's Party

So, Friday night the wifey and I went to a 40th B-day party for a co-worker. We were definitely the youngest people there. I realized that I don't like big old people parties all that much. I am not a good mingler by any stretch of the imagination. I have a hard time making meaningless small talk. I have to admit that the food was good which is the one benefit of the old people party (they actually make good food).

So, while everyone was toasting the guest of honor my wife, a few ministry volunteers and I were cracking jokes in a side room. I felt very irreverent, but it was fun. I realized that either I haven't grown up as much as I should have or most people over 35 are boring. It's probably a little of both.

posted by Kevin @ 2:40 PM 0 Comments

Putting your faith in morality

Last night I was watching the Bachelorette (ok I know that sounds questionable for a man to watch, but a guy from our church was on the show). The guy made a big deal about the fact that he was saving himself for marriage. While that is an honorable thing, I question the reasoning of making that your platform in a dating show. First, it's kind of wierd to have someone open up to you about their sex life before you really know them. Secondly, it seemed as if the faith he was preaching on the show was not a faith in Christ, it was a faith in abstinence. I know that the guy was probably edited heavily, but you know that going on the show.

I would much rather have a person make a fool out of themselves being pushy about Christ, than about virginity. To the world, this guy was all about abstinence (once again a noble and honorable thing). Many Christians will applaud this young man for "making a stand". In my opinion he was making a stand for morality, not Christ. Is that what the world needs to hear? My hope is not in how pure I can keep myself (thank God). My hope is in the grace of God to cover my shortcomings.

We American Christians (myself included) make much of the morality we hold, but fail to make much of the centrality of Christ. We speak out against gays and liberalism and living together before marriage. We often neglect the other issues of morality (like greed and gluttony). Why can't proclaim Christ instead of "morality". Christ came to save us from such "morality". Don't get me wrong, living with righteousness is the calling for every Christian. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control should be central to our lifestyles as Christians, but we cannot proclaim our own ability or morality as Christianity.

The words to a hymn comes to mind:

My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

Amen

posted by Kevin @ 9:48 AM 0 Comments

In honor of Mr. King here are some exerpts taken from his famous "I have a dream!" speech.


I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

posted by Kevin @ 11:15 AM 0 Comments

"Eat what they place in front of you"

I was reading Luke 10 the other day. Jesus is giving instructions to his disciples as he sends them out for a time of ministry. He tells them to find the houses that will be accepting and stay with those people. They are to look for God's peace resting on these households. Once they find welcoming houses they are to remian with them, and not to look for a better offer. One statement really hit me, "Eat what they place in front of you." When we find our place we should eat what God has placed in front of us. That is my prayer for the coming months. As some of you may or may not know I am graduating soon. God is leading my wife and I to the next step, we just don't know where or when. When we find it, though, I hope we don't waste time looking for more tasty grub.

What meal has God placed on your plate? Are you eating it or looking for something better?

posted by Kevin @ 10:45 AM 0 Comments

Back in Business
Last week I had an I-term class on Humanity, Angels and Sin. I thoroughly enjoyed the week despite how intense it was. I have a few more projects to complete and I will be done comepletely with the work. My prof had a way of bringing culture into the themes of creation, fall and re-creation, which I really loved.

Lately, I have been listening to a lot of U2. Their latest album is not only enjoyable, but dripping with meaning and spiritual depth. I especially enjoy the track "Yahweh". I can't seem to get the truth of this song out of my head. It is a simle prayer of dependence. Bono calls this a scary song to sing because he is using the name "Yahweh" which is forbidden for Jews to utter. How I desire the simple faith in this song.

lyrics taken from http://lyrics.astraweb.com/

posted by Kevin @ 4:26 PM 0 Comments