Dear, dear friends, subscribers, groupies, stalkers, and trolls… (by the way, I hate all the links that WordPress is randomly adding to the text!)
Today I read a blog post I just had to share. It dovetails so nicely with an older post of mine about “Prostitots.”
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com | Shandi Lee (as found on Girl Defined)
I rhyme, but I don’t rap. Call it a cultural thing, a matter of taste, or whatever – you decide. But even though there are a few exceptions, I just don’t like rap “music.”
Now, I have heard a lot about Lecrea, but do I have to enjoy his art? No. My daughters like his stuff, but I can’t stand it. Sorry. A lot of people love Steve Martin’s comedy, but not everyone loves his banjo picking (which is incredible).
Nevertheless, it’s not as much about the style as it is the message and intent of the artist. The following video from RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) does a great job with this subject. A question about rap music in church is asked by someone during a Q&A at James Madison University. It’s worth watching.
Filed under music
It’s 1:30 a.m., my wife is out of town, and this is how I feel.
The dog is asleep under his blanket
The crickets are playing their third song
The rhythmic ticking from the cheap kitchen clock
Keeps time as I muddle along
With my typing, spacing, deleting
Of words that seem right, then wrong
It’s late, but I’m doing my best to take stock
Of the reasons I’ve been awake so long.
It’s not so hard when I leave her at home
I guess I tend to focus on the task when I’m gone
But when she leaves I feel disconnected
There are things to do, but I feel misdirected
I need her more than she needs me
I don’t want to go to bed, it’s hard to sleep
The hotel bed is not her spot
The bed at home is where she’s not
I don’t want to roll over and…well… fear
I just like it better when she’s here.
Filed under General Observations, Relationships and Family
Good Thursday morning, everyone! It’s been a little while since I shared my thought on a Thursday, so here we go 🙂 Yay!
I just got back from a 45-minute walk with one of my daughters. At one point we jogged a little – downhill. I don’t jog very well – I jiggle, jostle, and jar. Let’s stick to walking, for now.
There used to be a day when companies would take pride in their products. Now is the day and age when companies put “pride” ON their products.
There are so many things that could be said about the rainbow-clad fat bomb that Burger King has introduced to the San Francisco area, things I’m sure you’d expect from a conservative Christian like me. There’s also a lot that could be said by those who hate the very existence of Chick-fil-A in response to nothing more than the owner’s personal beliefs, rants that can’t get through five words without using “bigot!” Well, I’m not going to go there.
Burger King is a business, people. Burger King doesn’t care a hoot about gays or straights, no matter how proud they are of their Whopper. It’s all about the money, folks.
On the other hand, Burger King’s Fernando Machado said of the campaign in California: “It showcases who we are as a brand. It shows how we, as a brand, believe in self-expression.” That’s evidently why they’ve changed their slogan from “Have It Your Way” to “Be Your Way.” Whatever… I will continue to be my way and stay away – who needs a 1300 calorie rainbow, anyway?
Unless you’re name is Jesus and you are from Mexico, Jesus was not a Christian. However, if you get your theology and history of religion from musicians with rose-colored glasses, then it would not be a shock to find out that Jesus was the first member of an all-inclusive, unifying, pluralistic, believe-what-you-will fan club.
Do you know why so many people are as messed up as Elton John (excuse me, Sir Elton) when it comes to theology? They don’t know the true Jesus. All Elton John would have to do is read Mathew 10 and John 8 to find out how in error his thinking of Jesus is.
Happy Birthday, America! Well, it’s only the third, but who cares?
Filed under current events, Food, General Observations
I know there are some of you, maybe a lot of you, who are “pro-choice;” therefore, I know you disagree with me on this. But that’s OK! It’s your choice (pun intended). I just think you’re wrong.
Some label the subject of abortion a “hot button topic” and avoid discussing it. Many Christians avoid it because they say it’s something that should be left up to the individual to decide. In reality, I think the majority of Christians are uninformed and therefore afraid to say anything.
Well, in the last couple of days I’ve been going back and forth with a foaming-at-the-mouth (in my opinion) abortion advocate (and atheist). The conversation has been taking place on another blog written by J. W. Wartick (click here for link). Even though I’m not the greatest pro-life apologist, I thought I’d at least speak my mind. More of us should.
I have not done much debate on the topic of abortion, so my resources and expertise are limited. Because of this, I have sought out those who HAVE been in the debate for a while.
Therefore, I would like to introduce you to a website that might prove as useful to you as it has for me.
I have added a widget on my secondary sidebar that will link you to a page on their website which offers strong arguments against abortion.
No, it’s not a fun subject, but it’s one I’m sure is close to the heart of God. Even the NIV-users and the KJV-only folks should be able to agree on that.
Filed under Abortion, America, Christian Unity, Culture Wars, current events
Did you ever have other kids make fun of your name when you were young? I did. They always made fun of me because of my last name – Baker.
Smart aleck (sp?) brats with more dirt under their fingernails than brains in their heads would say things like, “Hey, Tony Baker! Let’s call you Bony Taker! You gonna take my bones?” Others would make fun of my name by asking, “Hey, Anthony, why don’t you bake us a cake?”
First, my name is not Tony; it’s Anthony. Second, I don’t bake. Third, in a day when people are getting away with crazy stuff, don’t ask anybody to take your bones…not a good idea.”
Fortunately for me, Howard Baker came along.
Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. (1925-2014)
On Thursday morning I learned of the passing of one of Tennessee’s more famous sons, former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. He was 88 years old.
Politically speaking, Senator Baker (nicknamed the “Great Conciliator”) was not exactly a shining conservative star. But even though he was no Ronald Reagan, he was, however, a decent human being with the same last name as mine, and that alone made him a hero of mine when I was a child.
Yes, when some kids would make fun of my last name, asking who else would have a silly last name like mine, I’d just point them to Howard Baker, Senator, Reagan’s Chief of Staff.
Then came Jim and Tammy Faye…
Howard and I only have ONE “k” in our last name, thank you very much!
R.I.P., Senator Baker. Thank you for helping me survive elementary school.
Filed under America, current events
Believe it or not, there are many who swear that true wisdom can be found in the words of young children. Forget the need for a lifetime of experience, listen to the wisdom of those who just learned to wear pull-ups and cut their own meat.
If we did what the they wanted us to do – listen to the children – what would the world, or at least our country, be like?
* No one would ever work … except those who need to work so that others would not have to work.
* Every day would be Christmas, Halloween, and summer vacation … as long as someone else buys the gifts, provides the candy, and drives them to the beach.
* There would be peace on earth and no more wars … except when someone disrespects you or takes your candy.
* Everything should be available for the asking whenever it is wanted … as long as we don’t have to be the ones providing it for someone else.
* There would be no need for multiple television channels … only Disney, Nickelodeon, MTV, and VH1.
* Everyone would have everything they always wanted, whether they needed it, or not … and still act like brats that never get anything they want and are always mistreated.
* No one would ever eat at home, only restaurants … then complain about their weight.
* Education, if desired, would be determined by what the child thought was important … like “Queer Translation (UC Berkeley 250)” and “The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender, and Media (Skidmore College).”
* Teachers, Doctors, Policemen, School Teachers, and Ministers would be disrespected and maligned … while movie stars, rap and rock stars, and vulgar atheletes would be deified.
* Animals would be considered equal with humans … except when it came to leather clothing and Happy Meals.
* Hate would be outlawed … unless someone disagreed with you.
* Church would be nothing but fun and games – none of that judgmental, right/wrong stuff – with cookies for all to enjoy.
Source: Unknown
Filed under America, Culture Wars, current events, General Observations
I have dreams…
Really, I do! And that is a good thing. Even though I just turned 46, which is 6 years over-the-hill and that much closer to assuming room temperature, I can still dream of things I would like to do while on this earth.
There are some things on my list, or in my bucket, or however you want to say it, that are serious, even profound. On the other hand, there are some things that I would like to do, see, or acquire that are purely for fun.
Check out the list below and see if you can tell which ones are realistic, serious, or just plain crazy.
I would like to…
drive a Shelby Cobra, a 1971 Jaguar E-type, a Ferrari, and a 007-like Aston Martin DB5I would also like to…
I dream of going to…
IsraelI would love to meet…
But most of all, when all is said and done, my greatest wish, my greatest dream, is to hear God the Father say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Everything else – the memories of what I did, the places I saw, the people I met, the things I owned – will pass or fade away. And that’s OK, because nothing will compare to the glory that awaits in the presence of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
In the meantime, if you happen to own a 427 Cobra, or extra tickets to the Holy Land, you could make a dream come true…call me anytime.
Filed under General Observations, places
Last night I had a nightmare which woke me from my sleep. Later, while I was awake – after I went ahead and took the dog out for an early potty walk – some blog post ideas came to mind. Then, because I didn’t write them down, I forgot what they were. Typical.
But what is more important, writing about some inconsequential idea, a loosely relevant theological concern, how coffee relates to living, or the life/death struggle of a Sudanese Christian mother?
Seriously, we writers get on our soap boxes and clutter up the internet with petty complaints about cat pictures and the latest trash (I’m sorry, “art”) from Hollywood, but how often do we rally together for the lives of the innocent?
Really, what is more important?
Let me just be as plain as I can: any government who would execute a young mother because she is Christian is satanic, sadistic, and worth of no respect. Let me also say that any government leader who has in his power the ability to stop the execution, either by way of threat or diplomacy, and does not, is equally satanically influence – if not simply an accomplice to murder. Bold enough?
The government of Sudan, after releasing Meriam Ibrahim from prison, arrested her again, today. At one point she was going to receive 100 lashes for having sex with her Christian husband, then be hung for apostatizing from Islam (even though she was never a Muslim). After enough people rose up in her defense, she was let go. However, they have once again arrested her, but for uncertain reasons.
What’s more, Meriam is married to an American, which makes her newborn son an American. Excuse me, but do we have a president, or not?
I am going to go out on a limb here. Many of you who read this are not from America, so please forgive me – I don’t want to offend. However, if I were the president of the United States of America, one of my first and foremost duties would be to make our enemies, including nations that imprison our citizens, fear what we might do.
For example, Mexico has one of our soldiers in prison, all because he accidentally crossed the border with three weapons in his vehicle. Even though he voluntarily turned himself over to border guards, Sgt Andrew Tahmooressi admitting he had misread road signs, instead of turning him around, they put him in prison. EXCUSE ME, but how many times do Mexican soldiers cross our border?! How man illegals cross our border every day and are allowed to stay? If I were president, I’d say, “Let our boy come home, or the next group of your guys to “get lost” crossing our border as they are protecting drug smugglers will meet with an untimely disappearance.
Iran is holding an American pastor. Despite cries of protest from around the world, they continue to hold Saeed Abedini and torture him. If it were me, I’d say, “Let him go, or else – and you don’t want to find out what the “else” is.”
Gone are the days when a threat of retaliation from America was taken seriously. What would Harry S. Truman have done when Muslim terrorist were capturing our soldiers and contractors, holding them hostage, then cutting off their heads in Iraq? Anyone remember what Japan looked like in 1945?
You see, it’s like this – we still have the power, but no moral authority or guts in those with authority. If it were needed, today there would be no Normandy, Iwo Jima, or even Gettysburg; our leaders, even many of our citizens, aren’t willing to take a stand.
I am simply angry. I am furious. I am indignant. We have politicians who are cowards and a president who won’t do anything if the action may offend a radical, sharia-based government.
We have citizens who are genuinely suffering, possibly about to die because of their faith, and yet we release known killers in exchange for traitors.
A young mother and her family is fearing for her life, but our President won’t do anything about it – yet he goes to a summit complaining about a “war on women” in the United States. A young Christian pastor rots in an Iranian prison, but our President is considering working with Iran to fight ISIS. A young soldier languishes in a Mexican prison, but we continue to allow multiple thousands to cross our borders unchecked.
I’m ticked off, and I have every reason to be. We are no longer a sleeping giant our enemies don’t want to awake, but a weakened fat man with no locks on his doors.
Filed under America, current events, General Observations, politics
Not too long ago Kyle Idleman wrote a book entitled Not a Fan. As a matter of fact, I led one of our adult Sunday School classes through a chapter-by-chapter study of the book. The idea is that we are not called to be simply “fans” of Jesus, but followers.
Let me set things straight – I am a fan of Building 429, not a follower. I simply adore these guys as a band, but I don’t put them on a pedestal, memorize their birth dates and favorite colors, or have posters of them on my wall. All I’m saying is that when I say “I love these guys,” I am not equating that “love” with the “love” I have for the Lord.
I am just a FAN of Building 429.
The word “fan” comes from the word “fanatic,” and some people’s obsessions with music groups are expressed in fanatical behavior. I would consider myself a fan, but not a fanatic.
However, I have to say that every time I have seen these guys perform it has been a blessing. That is why last night I stood in the rain at an outdoor Christian music festival (JFest 2014) in order to hear (and watch) them sing. Some may describe my behavior as “fanatical,” but I knew the show was worth it.
I first became acquainted with the guys from Building 429 when they stopped by the Cracker Barrel in our neighborhood. They were on the road to a recording session when they stopped their tour bus for some Southern cooking, only to be on the receiving end of my legalistic, self-righteous judgmentalism. That lead to a conversation which you can read about HERE.
If you are sadly unfamiliar with Building 429, let me share with you a couple of videos.
The first one is of their latest release entitled “Press On.” Well, it’s called “Press On,” but the actual title is too similar to another song sung by a former Disney star while swinging nude through the air (“Wrecking Ball”).
The idea of this song is that no matter what the world throws at us, we should just “press on.”
The next video is from a couple of years ago, but it has to be one of my favorite songs. The words of the chorus are ones I often repeat: “All I know is I’m not home yet. This is not where I belong. Take this world and give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.”
Oh, hallelujah! I’m not home, yet!
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The Recovering Legalist 