Fun Around NC

The last couple weeks have been somewhat busy, hence the lack of activity here on my piece of the net. Well... Here's what Lisa & I have been up to: Pictured here is New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn, whom we were able to meet at a book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte on November 10th. Mr. Flynn (who insists on being called "Vince") is currently promoting his new book, Act of Treason, which hit stores last month.


Yes, I did make sure to get my own copy signed!

Lisa & I only recently started reading Vince Flynn's novels, and we've found a new "favorite author" to add to the list! If you're a fan of the tv show 24, then you MUST read this guy's work. The folks who write/produce 24 were adapting ideas from Flynn's works for the show. Flynn caught wind of this, and, rather than sue, he figured that "imitation is the greatest form of flattery" & became a consultant for the 5th season of the show. Whereas 24 follows the exploits of Jack Bauer, most of Flynn's works follow a character named Mitch Rapp - anyone who reads the Mitch Rapp novels & watches 24 can see the blatant parallels between Rapp & Bauer. Ironically, Rapp first appeared in the 1999 novel Transfer of Power, whereas Bauer didn't show up on TV until November 2001. I must recommend, however, that one start with Flynn's first novel, Term Limits. So far I've got 3 people hooked on Flynn by recommending Term Limits - lets see if I can run that number up a bit higher :)

Now that I've finished shamelessly providing free advertising for Mr. Flynn...

More recently, Lisa & I got to go to Raleigh yesterday with our friends, Wayne & Leah, who recently moved here from Colorado. We were hoping to see the Claude Monet collection at the NC Museum of Art, however, tickets were sold out for the day (we'll be going back in a couple weeks - with tickets!). We didn't let that bog us down, so we checked out the museum's other galleries, then we checked out Triangle Mall. Last, but not least, We had the privilege of introducing our friends to NC-style barbecue (the way barbecue is supposed to be!).

We've only known Wayne & Leah for a month or two, but its amazing how much we have in common! We keep finding more things too (like, how we have the same dishes from Target). After 3.5 yrs of marriage and 2 years in Greensboro, this is the first couple we've met who we really click with. Time just flies by when we're together :)

OJ Simpson - Admission of Guilt?

(entry updated 11/16/06)

Twelve years after being acquitted in his criminal trial in which he was accused of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson & Ronald Goldman, OJ is going to tell the world how he did it!!! According to this article I found on The Seattle Times' website, OJ is going to have a FOX tv special detailing "how" he did it, "if he did it". He also has a book coming out November 30th titled If I Did It. He is reportedly being paid 3.5 million for the book deal.

What the heck???

I understand that in our country you cannot be tried for the same crime twice (and that is a good thing), however, this is a blatant abuse of that law. WHY would someone actually want to associate himself with a crime that he was innocent of? Even "hypothetically"? I understand that he was found guilty in his civil trial and owes over $30 million to the families of the deceased, but this is outrageous.

If he is going to be able to make millions by telling his "If I did it" story in graphic detail, then the state of California should be able to re-open the case against him. He shouldn't be able to laugh all the way to the bank by telling all and then prefacing if with an "if".

New York Daily News columnist David Hinckley hit the nail on the head when he said "The upcoming Fox special... could be the most offensive idea in television history. There is no sense in which it is not tasteless and exploitative" (see article)

If I were to be tried & acquitted for a murder that I did not commit, then writing a book about how I would have done it if I did it would be the last thing I would do.

OJ is making a mockery of the justice system in a whole new way, and we're paying him to do it.

Should the case be re-opened? Should our laws be amended to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future? Give me some feedback people - what do you think?

Rightly Dividing, or Just Dividing?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

Midterm elections are being held today across America. It seems that there is more interest in this year's midterms than in other midterm elections in recent history. The last 2 months, the news media, be it print, tv or internet, has been hyping-up this election more and more each day. There has been much division in our country over how the Bush Administration, as well as the Republican-led congress has been leading our country. I doubt that I'm the only person who will be happy once all the results are in - if for no other reason than just because it will be over, and thus the amount of political mud-slinging that we witness in the media should decline for a while.

While thinking about all of the debating and division that our nation is going through politically, it got me thinking about how much needless division there is amongst Christian (specifically protestants) today.

Allow me to provide some background: When I was 5 years old my family left the Roman Catholic Church & began worshipping at a Southern Baptist Church (which I will henceforth refer to as SBC, standing for Southern Baptist Convention). I became a christian, entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at age 6. I continued to be actively involved in the SBC until I was 20. At that time, I was attending a SBC seminary in Wake Forest, NC. I left to join a non-denominational missions organization called Arc Ministries, which was based out of southwestern Michigan. During the 6 months that I toured with Arc, I was surrounded by other christians with varying denominational backgrounds. It was as a member of Arc Ministries that I met my wife, who, incidentally grew up going to a non-denominational church that was, theologically speaking, similar to Presbyterian-reformed (a la R.C. Sproul).

The first church that I ever became a member of that was not a SBC church was a small church in the San Diego area called Oak Hills Church. Oak Hills was part of a denomination known as the "Evangelical Covenant". I remember meeting with the pastor & listening to him describe the denomination's theology. Without going into great detail in this blog, one of the things he said was "We major on the majors & minor on the minors". This struck me as interesting. I thought to myself - what is THAT supposed to mean? The dilemma is contained in what that body of believers deems to be major & what they deem to be minor.

My wife & I now worship @ Westover Church, which is an independant non-denominational church. Again, going through the new members class, I heard this concept of majoring on the majors & minoring on the minors. What was so different about this is that through 15 years of being involved in the SBC, it seemed that the SBC had an opinion on every aspect of scripture, and that the SBC viewpoint was taught as being equivalent to scripture. "The Baptist Faith & Message" (basically the constitution of the denomination) is held in too high a regard. I saw way too much in the way of "church politics" within the SBC (througout the convention, not just in one particular church)... Too much of a "good old boys club" mentality. I saw believers tearing one another down over whether or not one called himself a Calvinist, over opinions on "christian hedonism", over whether one interpreted the book of Revelation from a premillenial, postmillenial, or amillenial viewpoint. There are many who are ready to condemn a believer for things such as: purchasing a lotto ticket, consuming any alcohol, a guy having long hair (I used to have long hair), listening to rock music (or playing in a band, as I did), listening to secular music having body piercings and/or tattoos, the list goes on...

I say this to illustrate a point: Why is there such division amongst believers about such issues? When there is agreement about the fundamentals of scripture there should be unity. As christians, regardless of one's denominational affiliation (or lack thereof), we need to be able to agree to possibly disagree about some of these "minor" issues that are not central to faith in Christ. Such division is not pleasing to Jesus, and it is repels non-believers. Our identity is that we are christians - not that we are SBC, Methodists, Presbyterians, charismatics, Lutherans, Wesleyans or non-denominational. Not that we are Calvinists, Arminians (or anything between the two), not that we are pre/post/amillennialists. It does not matter in the kingdom of heaven whether we baptize by immersion or sprinkling. It does not matter in the kingdom of heaven whether we use organs & pianos in church or guitars & drums.

I must quote the words of one of my favorite "modern" songs of worship in closing: "I know that Jesus is the way! I know that Jesus is the truth! I know that Jesus is my GOD!"

PS - Brownie points to whoever can name the song title or artist :)

Ted Haggard - an analysis

Prior to last week, I'm not sure that I had ever heard of Ted Haggard. Today, anybody who stays on top of the news knows who he is. The media is eating this "scandal" up. I don't know what his theology is like, but I do know that this man has, for many years served the Lord in ministry.

Rather than joining the masses in blasting Haggard, I appeal to my brothers & sisters in Christ to pray for him and to learn from him. Pray for his church, New Life Church of Colorado Springs, CO. Pray for the National Association of Evangelicals, which Haggard has presided over for the last 3 years. I am sure that New Life Church and the NAE will weather this storm & continue to effectively serve our Lord under different leadership. Pray for unity within Haggard's marraige, and within his family. Pray for Jack Hayford & James Dobson, who Haggard has turned to for counseling.

Through this there is a warning for all believers: Be mindful that we do not allow ourselves to drift far from the Lord. How many believers, just like Haggard, have ever stopped spending time with God each day? How many pray less & less? How many do these things and yet still go through the motions of going to church each week, only to live the rest of the week otherwise? As you read this, ask yourself this question with me: How am I any better than Ted Haggard? Perhaps you haven't ever used methamphetamines. Perhaps you've never used or purchased any kind of illegal drug. Perhaps you've never engaged in any kind of extramarital affair (heterosexual or otherwise). When I neglected my relationship with Jesus my language became coarse and I started smoking. I was not being an effective witness to those around me. I blew it. Ted blew it. Chances are, you've probably blown it at some point too. What next? What did you do about it? Or, what are you doing about it???

Draw near to God. Start praying again - regularly. Spend time reading the Bible regularly. Remember that we are saved by grace, and that there is absolutely NOTHING that we can DO to earn God's favor. He will enable you to overcome whatever temptation you are experiencing.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." [James 4:7-8a]

Philippians 4:5... A "gentle" reminder.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all." [Philippians 4:5, NIV]

About 2 months ago, I met a guy named Phil. He is a coworker of mine at Keystone Automotive. The first week he worked here, I noticed that he didn't act quite like everyone else. Wheras many people here have PhD's in grumbling, Phil maintained a pretty good attitude most of the time. 90% of the people in my office smoke, but not Phil. An even higher percentage of the employees here swear like drunken sailors, but not Phil. I didn't think much of it at first - after all, I've seen other guys come in here just like him, who, after 2 weeks are blending in perfectly. People often "mind their p's & q's" the first week or so at the new job before letting their hair down - that's nothing new.

Phil didn't "let his hair down" after 2 weeks. 8 weeks after having been hired, his cheerful, helpful attitude still persisted, his language hadn't deteriorated and he hadn't decided to help boost the local economy by taking up smoking. Something was different.

Thinking that I knew what response I would get, I asked him a couple nights ago "What's different about you Phil? You're not like the other guys here. I see something different about you."

His reply: "Its Jesus Christ living in me."

Bingo. I knew it. God sent another christian to Keystone. Our numbers have been few as long as I've been here, then they dwindled to even fewer, then the 2 of us who were left both started backsliding, losing our witness in the process. Needless to say, Phil & I had some great conversation for the next 20 minutes before we both went home.

3 days later, I find myself reading from Philippians 4. Phil's gentleness shows. His relationship with the Lord shows, without ever quoting scripture or saying anything specifically about "God" or "Jesus". Isn't this the best kind of witness? St. Francis of Assisi thought so when he said "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Uh-oh... Gut check time. I was both convicted and encouraged by the conversation with Phil, and then reading Philippians 4:5. I had taken my eyes from the prize. Over the last year, I had lost focus, and was not relying on God to supply all my needs.

In closing, I turn to Romans 5:10-11: "For if , when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

"Back at it again"... Or, "The Total Depravity of Man"

Once upon a time, 2 years ago, I began blogging. First at this site, then later at MySpace. Fed up with the incessant "Internal Error" messages at MySpace (which never seem to get resolved), I have decided to return to Blogger.com & start fresh.

That being said...

Last week, the movie "Saw 3" debuted in theaters across America. Having heard much about this series from coworkers over the last couple years, I decided I would watch the first film in the trilogy. What a mistake that turned out to be. It is roughly 90 minutes long - I endured about 45 minutes before shutting it off.

It wasn't that I couldn't stomach the grisly scenes of the movie - in that capacity, war films such as Saving Private Ryan or Black Hawk Down could just as easily turn one's stomach. Honestly, I was overcome with disgust over the path that the entertainment industry is continuing to go down.

Much like the days of the Roman Empire, we now have a multi-billion dollar industry in which people pay to watch people suffer prolonged pain & gruesome death. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that people shouldn't be able to watch a scary movie, or that we can't/shouldn't have any movies that in any way depicts people hurting or dying. However, the line has been crossed when we have several major Hollywood films produced each year which, despite whatever so-called plot is constructed by the producers, largely relies upon unique (or bizzare) ways of killing people in graphic detail over the course of 90 minutes. As far as entertainment value, the plot of such movies plays second-fiddle to the grotesqueness. People are becoming more and more desensetized to graphic violence. What's next???

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine about this, and he brought up the point that the same people who keep this industry afloat are also the people who scour the internet to find videos of westerners being beheaded in Iraq. Why MUST this be made available on the internet??? Why do people feel the need to watch it for themselves??? Don't give me some "freedom of speech" or "freedom of the press" CRAP!

As a society, we have devalued human life. We hurt people for pleasure, or watch people pretending to be tortured/mutilated for pleasure... and we actually PAY for it.

Are we any better than the Romans?

Why?

Or why not?