Dunk's Dissemination

A blessing that looks like an inconvenience

2012-01-26T08:17:00.000-08:00

As many of my close friends know, I was hit by a pickup truck while riding my bicycle in 2005 & required immediate brain surgery. God performed a miracle & I survived, & I seem to be pretty much back to normal. The only remaining effects of that day are: I'm a little more hesitant when riding my bicycle (I got a new one about 5 years after the accident), I'm a bit more uncoordinated (not that I was that coordinated before), & the biggest one is short-term memory loss. I am able to still function normally as long as I write things down & record appointments on the calendar in my cell phone. Sometimes it's a little inconvenient when I have to retrace my steps until I remember what I went upstairs to do, but I've gotten used to it.

In many ways, this abnormal memory is a blessing in disguise. I may forget what I had for lunch that day, but I clearly remember something from 15 or 20 years ago. Forgetting things can be a blessing, too. You know that negative thing someone said that you just can't get out of your mind? That doesn't happen to me much, anymore. Also, I can read a comic book that I've read several times before & still be surprised!

It's funny what you realize when you look back...

2011-12-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sure glad that God is in control & that he has a plan for me. To take that further, I'm glad he is directing my steps even when I have no idea where I'm going.

I've known Jesus as my personal Savior since I was a little boy. I vaguely remember when I was 14 committing to do God's will with my life, and that was a true commitment, but I had my own ideas of what that would probably mean. I went to New Tribes Bible Institute after I graduated from high school. I figured I had to go to some sort of college, because that's what you do after high school, and you can't go wrong learning the Bible. That much was true--the Bible education I got at NTBI was a great foundation. When I graduated I still didn't know what I was supposed to do, though, & I still hadn't found a wife, so I transferred to Appalachian Bible College to finish my Bachelor's degree. I wanted to be a missionary, because even though I understood that not all Christians are called to be missionaries, I thought the really good ones were. I wouldn't have said anything like that then, but I'm pretty sure that's what I thought--I wanted to be one of the elite. I think my goal in going to ABC really was to find a wife more than anything else, though. (I was growing as a Christian & not quite as shallow as that sounds, but life looks more black & white when you think about it in the past tense.)

By God's grace I did meet my wife, Angelina, at ABC. She could see who I was a lot better than I could, and she knew a lot more about real life than I did, too. In 2005 & 2006 I was able to take a better look at who I was (that's another story), and I realized that I need to use the personality and gifts that God has given me in a task I'm suited for, not the one I think all the "best Christians" do. I am not really a self-starter, & not very good at meeting people, & those qualities are important in the kind of work I thought I was supposed to do. As a Christian I need to share the Gospel, and I need to make an effort to meet people even if it doesn't come naturally. However, it was important for me to find a vocation I was suited for. I care about truth, and helping people learn it.

Now I am the Librarian at Appalachian Bible College, & I can't think of a better place for me to use what God has given me. The best advice I can give to you is trust God & see what happens! As long as you are living in obedience to God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit, wherever you are, that's God's plan for you right now!

Starlight & Time: Solving the puzzle of distant starlight in a young universe.

2011-05-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

I believe in the absolute authority of the Bible because it is God's word. I also believe in true science using the scientific method ("the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses," http://www.merriam-webster. com/dictionary/scientific%20method). By this definition, not everything that is called science is really science. I do not claim that we can prove anything for certain about the origin of the universe by using science because we cannot observe it happening, and none of us were there when it happened. However, I believe that God inspired men to write down his word, and he was there!

The main point I am trying to make is that the biblical account of creation is true, and because it is true, what we discover today using the scientific method will not contradict it. The Bible says God created the universe in six days. With Adam being the first man, and he was created on the sixth day, the Earth has been figured to be about 6,000 years old; give or take a few thousand, but nowhere near the billions of years that many "scientists" claim. From what is discovered about the Earth today, I have no problem believing that the Earth is that young. When we consider the size of the Universe, however, and how far away the stars are, I had a hard time understanding this: if the stars were created on the fourth day, why are we able to see them? I still believed the Bible, but I couldn't explain this very well.

Starlight & Time: Solving the puzzle of distant starlight in a young universe by Dr. D. Russell Humphreys, Ph.D. really helped me to understand. I would definitely recommend reading this, because it made a lot of sense to me, but I can't promise it will make sense to you. Remember, this is a physicist who believes that the creation account in the Bible makes more sense than the evolution taught in public schools. The basic truth is that time is relative to gravity and distance. Dr. Humphreys quotes Stephen Hawking and explains Einstein's theory of relativity to make this point. For this reason, something that takes 6,000 years on our planet could be equivalent to billions of years in distant space! (p. 37)

(photo from www.amazon.com)

My testimony: 2001-2011

2011-03-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to see how God has worked in the past 10 years since I graduated from New Tribes Bible Institute (NTBI)! I remember at that time thinking I was doing pretty well, but the truth is I still had a lot of growing to do. The summer after I graduated I went on a short-term missions trip with Pioneers to Buryatia in Siberia, Russia, and I thought maybe I would be a full-time missionary there, but I needed to pursue further education first. After working as a cook at NTBI Jackson for a year, I went to Appalachian Bible College (ABC) in West Virginia, where I met my future wife, Angelina, and got my Bachelor's degree. Over those years the church in Buryatia had been growing—praise the Lord!—and maybe I wasn't as suited for that ministry as I thought I was...

While I was at ABC I went on a couple missions trips to Utah, and I saw that as a mostly unreached place dominated by the LDS, so my wife and I thought maybe that would be the place for us—but we had to pay off our school loans first. We settled in Columbus, Ohio to wait for the Lord to direct us to the next place. I got a job at Wal-mart nearby our apartment, so I rode a bicycle to work. Six weeks after Angie and I were married, I was hit by a Ford F-250 truck as I was riding my bike. I needed immediate brain surgery, but there were people praying for me all over the world, and after 3 weeks I was able to go home. I wasn't able to work at all for about 6 months after that, but God provided for us in many amazing ways, and I had a lot of time to think. Even though I didn't suffer much injury in the rest of my body, the head trauma did present me with some limitations I didn't have before, so I had to learn what I could do and serve God with that. I realized that much of what I had planned on doing was because I thought it was what I should do, and I didn't really think about whether it was what I was designed to do. Angie helped me a lot with that, and getting hit by a truck helped me get my head on straight, so to speak.

I was so focused on life in church groups and Bible Colleges that I really didn't know anything about real life—and there's a lot more to ministry than getting good grades. God used the "accident" to help me slow down and see what is going on in the world. I learned that I am an intellectual, information guy, and while Angie helps me to care about people more than I used to, I needed to use the skills God produced in me. It was time for me to become a librarian.

Looking back, I could see how God had been directing me towards this all along—I had worked in the library at ABC all 3 years I was there, never knowing what it was preparing me for. I worked for Legal Services for the state of Ohio, and during that time I developed some handy computer skills. I went to Clarion University of Pennsylvania to get my Master’s in Library Science, and I was kind of expecting to become a Young Adult Librarian at a public library somewhere. I worked in the public library while I was in graduate school, and I was amazed at the opportunities I had to share the gospel being a part of that community. Then God worked it out that it was time for ABC to look into getting a new librarian, and everything fit together. I am now the Associate Librarian at Appalachian Bible College, assisting students as they prepare to go into ministry all over the world! I never could have seen this coming—God is totally in control!

Believin' don't make it so

2011-03-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I can't believe in a God who would _______."? Maybe you've said it yourself. Think about that for a second. God is who he is and who he has always been, and what anybody believes about him doesn't change a thing. If you believe with all your heart that it will be a sunny day, does that make any difference at all whether it will rain or not? God has revealed to us who he is through the world he created, and in more detail through his Word, especially in what we read about his Son, Jesus Christ--that is who God is. Often people try to reach beyond that to make God more like a human so we can understand him better, but it doesn't work like that. True, all humans are created in God's image, so all life is precious, but we are just a shadow which has been distorted by sin. We are commanded NOT to try to create God in our image (Exodus 20:4-6).

God is infinite, which means for all eternity there will be more learn about him and his ways. For now we have the Bible. The Bible is full of both clear truth and mystery. From the beginning the only way God gave people to be made right with him is by faith. Every human who ever lived--except for Jesus Christ--is a sinner who commits sin. Jesus came to Earth from Heaven to die to take the punishment of every person on Himself. Even that is something we cannot imagine. Because Jesus is the one sinless man, God was satisfied with his sacrifice in place of all humankind. Because Jesus is God he rose from the dead, never to die again. Christ died for all, but only those who accept his sacrifice are God's children. That's enough from me--just read it for yourself:

"What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

You will say to me then, 'Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?' But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:14-24 ESV)

You think you're all that, but you're not!

2011-01-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

Ezekiel is a very interesting prophetical book if you take the time to read it. For several chapters God tells Israel & Judah that he will use the surrounding nations to punish them for their unfaithfulness. The surrounding nations couldn't have done it if it wasn't God's plan. Then God turns to those nations & tells them that he will destroy them for what they will do to Israel. The nations will think they destroyed Jerusalem on their own, but God will make it clear that he is Sovereign.

Does this seem unfair that God would use a nation as his sword to punish sin, & then punish that nation for being his sword? Or is he punishing them for taking the credit instead of giving him the glory? Think about this, but be careful that you do not limit God to human standards.

Tolerance

2010-12-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

In my studies to become a librarian I was made aware of many secular issues that I was not exposed to before. Without losing my biblical worldview, I think it was beneficial for me to be able to see things from a more worldly perspective. I'll never be able to reach anyone from the world if I do not respect them as people, and that includes respecting their worldviews, even if I do not agree with them--and I must know why I don't agree with them!

The Bible is my authority, not necessarily everything I've always been taught. It is important for me to think about and understand whether what I've always been taught is true, and to be able to defend it if it is true.

I learned a new acronym as I was studying library science: GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender). One argument that comes up between conservatives and liberals regarding these people is whether it is a personal choice or if they are born that way. First of all, Scripture clearly teaches that this lifestyle is unacceptable and sinful (read Romans 1:24-32 and Leviticus 18:22-23).

Coming from a conservative Christian mindset myself, I was always of the understanding that since it is sinful, it must be a choice--no one could be just born that way. However, I believe there is some objective evidence to support that individuals who live the GLBT lifestyle often have something physically different about them.

I would like to propose that the important question is not, "Is this lifestyle a choice ,or does it come naturally?"
Rather, a better question would be, "If a person is born that way, is it a sin?" The truth is, every human is born a sinner, with a sin nature or a bent toward sin. Therefore, just because a person is born with a leaning toward homosexuality does not make it acceptable to live that way. (Click here for several passages on the human sin nature.) Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose again to pay for all sin, including homosexuality, and if you trust Him alone for your salvation, His Holy Spirit will enable you to overcome any sin.

It is also important to remember that all sin is equal before God, who is Holy. Yes, homosexuality is sin because the Bible says so, but it is not any more or less a sin than heterosexual relations outside of marriage, lusting, or telling a lie. No matter who you are, you are just as bad as everyone else, because all have sinned.

Everyone's in such a hurry!

2010-12-22T09:27:00.000-08:00

I have been reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court on my lunch break lately. One thing I noticed about the story is that the protagonist is living in the 6th century for years, and doesn't seem to think anything of it. He never gives a thought about returning to his own time, but makes plans as if he expects to live there for the rest of his life, so he might as well make the most of it. In a way this reminds me of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, where Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy remain in Narnia as kings as queens for many years before returning to their own world.

I think in the past people had the mindset that, if you were to have any sort of an adventure, it would have to take a long time. People just don't think that way anymore. For one thing, everyone expects things to happen immediately, and we do everything in our power to make them happen as quickly as possible. Also, if you find yourself in the predicament of being somewhere you did not choose to be, the only thing on your mind is to get back to where you came from (e.g. Back to the Future). What happened to the attitude of : "Well, here you are; you might as well enjoy it"?

"I'm a Good Man, But..."

2010-11-04T10:56:00.001-07:00

I'm a Good Man, But... is a devotional published by Regal Books in 1969 and edited by Fritz Ridenour. Each chapter focuses on a different life issue with biblical references from the Living Bible, illustrations from various sources, and open-ended scenarios to give the reader opportunity to think about it. Included in the illustrations are Peanuts comics used by permission.

Even though it is an older work, the content is quite applicable for today. (A reference to IBM cards reminds the reader how old it is.)

I would recommend this book, especially for young adults.

LC 75-96702
SBN 8307-0049-8

Review by David Dunkerton

The Oath by Frank Peretti

2010-10-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Oath by Frank Peretti is a great story on its own, and it also has an excellent spiritual application. There is a dragon that is real in the story, but which is also a metaphor for the sin nature. The suspenseful writing makes it a thrill to read--quite a few characters do get eaten by the dragon, and that's always fun! The main character is not a Christian throughout most of the book, so he is not initially convicted for his sin, but the story shows the consequences of sin. True, most people who commit adultery are not eaten by a dragon, but remember that the dragon--while it is real in the book--is a metaphor for us.

Steve learns that not everything can be explained scientifically, but that does not make the intangible any less real. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a great read whether you learn anything from it or not--but you just might learn something!

Review by David Dunkerton

"Weird Al" Yankovic - White & Nerdy

2010-09-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

Someone else's perspective

2010-07-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

As a Christian, and especially as a summer missionary with Child Evangelism Fellowship, I have always thought a lot about the unsaved person praying to receive Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior. We usually call it a "profession of faith" because the prayer itself doesn't save you--you must first understand that you are a sinner and the Jesus died to take the punishment for your sin, and that He came alive again. Personally, my mom led me in the "sinner's prayer" when I was almost 5 years old, but I don't actually remember that day. Does that mean I wasn't really saved then or that it wasn't meaningful to me? No! It means most little boys don't remember what happened when they were 4 when they are 10 or older. I know I am saved and going to Heaven because of what Jesus did for me, and I accept it. I know the Holy Spirit is within me because I see how He works in my life.

I have been reading Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist 1 by Michael J. Fox. It is a very interesting read, and I feel that I have much more understanding and respect for stem cell research. Part Three of the book is titled "Faith," and I was very interested in what the actor who played Marty McFly had to say about his personal views. He is a faithful husband and loving father who seems to be generally moral, and he believes in a higher power who is looking out for him, but he apparently never saw the need to accept Jesus as his Savior from sin. Growing up he had a friend named Russ who came from a Christian family. Here is an excerpt from the book:

"He reminded me that during a New Year's party, 1972 into 1973, in our friend Rusty's basement, I had accepted Christ as my personal savior. Myself, I was a little fuzzy on those details. I remembered that I had a deep and spiritual interest in Rusty's rapidly developing big sister Karen, a born-again herself and a major player in the crusade to win eighth-grade souls for Christ. Anyway, it seemed to have had more of on impression on Russ over the years than it did on me."

It made me kind of sad to read that, but everyone has to make a personal decision. Maybe Michael will come around, but being a relatively good person doesn't cut it--salvation comes through Christ alone!

1 Fox, Michael J. Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. New York: Hyperion, 2009.

Chosen

2010-06-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Green Lantern is different from other superheroes because he wasn't born with superpowers or aspired to become a hero--he was chosen.

Kal-El (a.k.a. Clark Kent, Superman) was born on the planet Krypton shortly before it was to explode, so his parents Jor-El and Lara sent him to Earth where they knew he would have special abilities because of the yellow sun, Sol. They wanted him to be a hero on Earth and carry on their legacy. Because of his powers he knew what he was meant to do. He could be compared to Moses or Elisha, or even as a type of Christ.

Bruce Wayne (a.k.a. Batman) saw his parents killed right before his eyes when he was a young boy, so he devoted himself to bringing justice to Gotham City. He worked hard to make himself a superhero, and he might be compared to a scribe or Pharisee.

Hal Jordan was a test pilot, which was a pretty cool job, but he had no aspirations to be like those "capes." It was the Green Lantern ring that chose him and gave him the power to be a superhero. Now this is just an analogy, so don't take it too seriously, but those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior were also chosen in God's eternal plan and foreknowledge to live for Him, and we have the Holy Spirit to empower us to carry out God's will for us.

"They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:8b-9 NLT)

Guess what! Season 10 is the last season of Smallville!

2010-05-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Apparently Tom Welling spilled to some people that season 10 is going to be the last season of Smallville, and I guess he's been given a hard time about it, but it's not like it's any secret. Smallville has already been going longer than anyone expected it to, and it can't go any longer because it's time for Clark to be Superman! I suppose Clark could go a few more years without being called Superman, but he was supposed to be able to fly when he was 18, and he's already 23 and still not flying. When they made the "No Flights, No Tights" rule when the show started in 2001, I don't think they expected it to still be running 10 years later. They probably didn't anticipate including other members of the Justice League, either, but that was a great decision. Superman without other superheroes is kind of boring, but he's a great leader for the others because he is the conservative one who brings balance to the team.

I am a loyal fan of Smallville, and I've been watching it ever since I saw "Bo Duke" was playing Jonathan Kent. I think it would be great if the show continued with Clark as Superman working with the rest of the JLA, but it can't be Smallville any longer than another season, because Metropolis is his city. Smallville is just where he grew up, and he's all grown up now!

Already shared on facebook

2010-05-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I have been learning about the importance of a credit report, and it reminds me of my salvation. Even though I, like you, have sinned, Jesus Christ paid for my sin with His death on the Cross, so now there is no sin on my record. Anything done through me by the power of the Holy Spirit is credited to my account. My record is clear no matter what, but I want to live to match my record!

Someone said that the Bible says God will not hold it against you if you did not have a chance to know about him, but I'm pretty sure the Bible does not say that. God does not send anyone to hell--we are all already going to hell because of our sin, and only by accepting Christ's sacrifice for sin are we saved from hell to go to heaven. God has revealed himself to the world through his creation, and the law of God is written on our hearts (i.e. we know right from wrong), so there is no excuse. I believe the punishment for those who have heard the gospel and rejected it is greater than for those who never heard it, but only those who have accepted Jesus Christ alone for there salvation will go to heaven--so it is very important for those of us who know him to share the gospel with the whole world!

True Story!

2010-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I understand that the products you buy at Walmart are more likely to break, even if they are the same brand, than the same product bought anywhere else. For instance, Mongoose is a good brand of bicycle if you buy it in a bike shop, but the ones sold at Walmart are lower quality. In addition to that, the people at Walmart who assemble the bikes are not professional bike assemblers, so good luck.

I bought a watch at Walmart almost 2 years ago and I really liked it and had no problem with it, until this weekend. A friend of mine who used to work at Walmart was explaining how scientists at Walmart take otherwise good brand name products and figure out ways to make the ones at Walmart cheaper. Just as she finished saying this, my watch spontaneously broke apart beyond repair! What's up with that?!? I guess I'll just have to look at my cell phone to know what time it is until I find a place that sells quality wristwatches.

Free Comic Book Day

2010-05-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little behind, but today was the first time I ever went to a comic book store on Free Comic Book day, so I didn't really know what to expect. Would I have a choice of any one comic book for free, would there be a selection of free comic books to choose from, or could I get lots of free comic books? It turned out to be a combination of B & C--there was a table on which there were a lot of free comic books to choose from at one's leisure, but the rest of the comic books in the store you still had to pay for. There were also discounts on used comics, but it's too much work to sift through them all. I got a good selection of free issues that I wouldn't have taken if they weren't free, and I bought a few new issues, too. It was a fun experience!

Let's go save the world!

2010-04-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

A lot of my friends and family members like to play games like "World of Warcraft," "Axis and Allies," and "Age of Empires," but for some reason I never got into those games. I was thinking about why that is, and about the kind of things that I like. My first passion is to follow Christ and live to please Him, and in that to be a good husband for Angie, but I know that most of my friends and family share that kind of passion. One can be a Christ-follower and still fantasize about conquering the world if he/she is into that, but that's not really me.

I really like superhero comic books, mostly DC Comics, because for the most part these are heroes who want to save the world, but they will not kill the bad guys. I came to the conclusion that it is my desire to save the world, not to conquer it. Either way, that's a lot of responsibility!

The truth is, I'm the one who needs saving, and Jesus is my Savior. [Read ch. 7 of Wild at Heart by John Eldredge.] I'm actually pretty useless on my own, but Jesus Christ died on the Cross to take the punishment for my sin, so I am no longer guilty. He came alive again, defeating death, so He can give me the power to live for God's glory. When I try to do things in my own strength I mess up every time, but when I give up God will use me. (Sometimes He still uses me when I mess up because He is that great, but it is better when I give myself to Him!)

Paul was talking about how he had a weakness that he wanted God to take away from him, but 2 Corinthians 12:9 reads, "Each time he said, 'My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." (NLT)

As I said, I'm useless on my own, but God is powerful enough to use me when I yield to Him. (Still, it's fun to imagine I have superpowers and can save the world!)

Honor the king

2010-03-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

"My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?" (Proverbs 24:21-22 ESV)

Even though in the United States of America we call our Commander-in-Chief the "President," for all practical purposes he is our king. Whether or not we agree with everything he does or if all his motives are godly, God has appointed him to be our leader for the present time, so it is not for us to rebel against him. We have the right to state our views and convictions, and it does make a difference, but we are obligated to obey the law. The only time to disobey the law is when it requires us to disobey God, and for now we are able to live godly and obey the law. Sure, people get away with things that are ungodly, but they must stand before God for the choices they make.

Blankets by Craig Thompson

2010-02-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Blankets is a graphic novel by Craig Thompson that is marketed to young adults and is in the Young Adult section of our library, but I decided not to put this review on the Young Adult Book Reviews blog, because I do not think it is really appropriate for teens. It is about a young man who grew up in a fundamental Christian home and how he dealt with worldly influences and personal decisions. It is a well-written story, and I found that I could identify with much of what the protagonist was going through. Unfortunately, he ultimately made the wrong decision, but every individual must decide for himself/herself, so it is a very real story. I would say the reader must use great discretion because the book is perhaps too real in places (i.e., there are some drawings of naked people), but it does address some good things to think about, so I thought it was still a valuable read. I was 29 when I read it, and I don’t think I would have been ready for it when I was any younger, so be warned. However, be careful not to dismiss everything because of certain elements you find inappropriate. In other words, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Young people, let your parents censor what you read, because they are your parents!

Review by David Dunkerton

Heroes 2.1.10 "The Wall"

2010-02-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Heroes ever since the show began a few years ago. I don't like it as much as Smallville or Chuck, but it's about people with superpowers, so how could I ignore that? I liked how Pastor Trent Kirkland introduced his overview of Revelation on Sunday with comments about why people like superheroes. Whether it's the Greek gods or the Justice League, people like imagining heroes who are kind of like them, but more powerful. Superheroes are flawed individuals, and even though they defeat the supervillains one day, the supervillains always come back to pose another threat. From the beginning people have tried to make God into their own image, but God is Holy, without fault and totally different from us. Jesus is the only Hero who will completely and finally defeat the enemy, and that is what Revelation is about.

Last night's episode of Heroes, "The Wall," stood out to me as having a great message. Peter had gotten a glimpse of a future in which Sylar, a super-powered killer who had murdered Peter's brother Nathan, had a part in saving thousands of people. The story itself is complicated, but Peter and Sylar were trapped in Sylar's mind and couldn't get out. There was a brick wall that they knew they needed to break through, but no matter how many times they hit it with sledgehammers, nothing happened. Through this we see that Sylar had repented and didn't want to be a killer anymore, but Peter felt he could not forgive him for killing his brother. In time Peter admitted that Sylar was no longer a killer, and it was implied that he had forgiven him. The next time Peter hit that wall it started to break apart! That was a clear message that it was his unforgiving spirit that kept him trapped, but after he forgave Sylar the wall was broken.

Superman 2010

2010-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Superman = Santa Claus?

2009-12-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

I had an interesting thought today. Superman is very similar to Santa Claus! They both live at the North Pole, can travel around the world at tremendous speed, and are seemingly immortal. Superman and Santa Claus are probably equally well known around the world, too. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were Jewish, so they probably didn't celebrate Christmas or think about Santa much, but I thought those were some interesting parallels.

The Horrendous Kablooie!

2009-11-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

In The Days Are Just Packed! by Bill Watterson, Calvin is discussing the origin of the universe with Hobbes. His reasoning is that if scientists could imagine all the molecules of the universe coming from something the size of a pinhead, why couldn't they come up with a better name for it than "The Big Bang"? I loved how he put that!

So many people have bought into the concept of the Big Bang Theory (which is also a funny TV show about nerds) because scientists thought of it and everyone assumes they know what they're talking about. Don't get me wrong--I am a very rational thinker and have a high opinion of science that is done right. I love watching Mythbusters because they test everything scientifically, which must involve repeatable results. They cannot test the creation or evolution myths (and "myth" does not necessarily mean it's not true) because it is not repeatable!

There is evidence of some Natural Selection, which fits perfectly with the biblical accounts of Creation and the Flood, but no evidence that convinces me of everything coming from an amoeba. Natural Selection doesn't take millions of years, either--my nephew has blue eyes because his mom and dad both have blue eyes. It doesn't take millions of years for a canyon to form--it took a couple days after the eruption of Mount St. Helens. An approximately 7,000-year-old Earth makes a lot more sense to me than an Earth that is billions of years old. When archaeologists discover bones of dinosaurs and people, how do they know how old they are? Carbon-14 dating is inconsistent in its results, but we don't hear much about that. We don't hear much about the bones of 12-foot giants that have been found, either.

On Fox & Friends this morning they were talking about how there is an app on the iPhone that will translate a baby's cry for you, and that scientists have done research and found that you can tell exactly what a baby wants by the sound of its cry. How consistent are their findings, and are you going to buy that? Don't believe everything you hear, no matter who says it!

Adopted

2009-11-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week and I can't believe it's Thursday already, but I wanted to write some thoughts about Trent's message in church last Sunday. He used the examples of Oliver and Annie to talk about how we were all orphans, but God adopted us and gave us all the rights as His children, and we are part of a new family.

When I think of orphans I immediately think about how most of the superheroes are orphans. Think of the example of Superman: Kal-El was born on Krypton shortly before it was to explode (stories differ on what caused the explosion, but that's not important to the story). His parents, Jor-El and Lara, only had a spaceship large enough for one baby (it was a prototype and they didn't have enough time to build the full-sized one), so they sent him to Earth where they knew he would be taken care of. He was adopted and raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent and named Clark. He was a Kryptonian, not a human, but when he was adopted he not only became part of the Kent family, but of the human race.

For Bruce Wayne (Batman) it was different. As a boy Bruce saw both his parents shot to death right in front of him. He still had the butler, Alfred Pennyworth, to take care of him as he grew up, but he never became part of another family. Instead, he separated himself from any relationships and devoted himself to fighting for justice in Gotham City. It wasn't until he took in Dick Grayson (Robin/Nightwing), another orphan, that he found family again. Bruce didn't become a doctor like his father, but Dick became a crimefighter like his adopted father.

Other superheroes are orphans, too (e.g. Peter Parker/Spiderman), and they all have their own stories about finding their roles, but I'll leave it to you to see the principles for yourself.

Trent also pointed out that as Christians, and the children of God, we are expected to take on the family business, which is searching and sending for God's glory. I've never been big on the whole "family business" deal. For instance, I always thought "What if Richard Smucker doesn't want to make delicious jams and jellies when he grows up?" However as a Christian, part of the Church family, I am glad that I know what I am supposed to do!

There are no coincidences

2009-11-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

In Library Science we talk a lot about serendipity. In a broad sense this word means coming upon something that you weren't looking for. In the library sense it is how, often when you are looking for something, there will be something nearby that you didn't even know to look for, and it is even better than what you were looking for. Librarians know this happens because of classification, but it's still neat when we see it happen!

As a Christian I am not afraid to say God is in control of every little thing that happens. Even when we do something wrong that isn't in His plan, He is still able to make it work out for His glory. Knowing this, it's still exciting to see things work out. Let me tell you about what I saw today.

It's getting to be past the halfway point of the semester, when we kind of know what we're doing better than we did at the beginning of the semester, but more stuff is starting to be due at the same time, and I haven't done enough work on it yet because I was still learning about it. This gets a little stressful, but I reminded myself that I need to stop worrying about what I need to do later and just do what I need to do now! I remembered the verse that says "...do not worry about tomorrow..."

Then I decided it was time to do my devotions and get to the other stuff afterwards. Right now at Zion Church we're doing our annual "40-Day Journey," and we have a devotional book written by some members of the church that we can all work through. Today's reading was about the freedom we have in Christ that the world cannot give us and no one can take it away. Last night I watched the first episode of the remake of the series V, and I was reminded of how a totalitarian government can make what they have to offer look really good, but it really takes away everyone's freedom. I don't think that parallel is a coincidence.

Usually in the readings in this devotional there are some lines on the page to take notes on after the Scripture reading, but today there weren't, so I went to my personal journal to write stuff down. My journal has random Scripture verses on every other page, and the next page today had Matthew 6:34 printed on it--the same verse I had been thinking about earlier about not worrying about tomorrow. God is showing me that He knows what I am thinking and feeling about today, and He has always known that today I would turn to that page in the journal and that would be the verse I needed to read.

There are no coincidences--watch the last part of the movie Signs for similar examples, but it means more when it happens in real life!

The Church=The Bride of Christ

2009-10-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

This week Zion Church is learning about God's image of the Church as the Bride of Christ. In Revelation we read about the Bride of the Lamb having been made ready/prepared for her husband (19:7; 21:2). That's what our temporary life on this temporary Earth is for. Everything we go through is for our learning and edification (i.e., building up). As Christians we are learning how to live rightly before God, so that when Christ returns and we are presented to Him as His Bride, we will be pure, beautiful, and ready.

I was thinking about our wedding day, and how my bride was an example of this. We kind of rushed through the wedding preparations, as many young people right out of college do, because I am the strong-willed one and a couple months seemed like plenty of time to me. (I'm still learning, but I know my error.) The amazing thing is that as much as I drove Angie crazy in those days, when she walked down the aisle to become Angelina Dunkerton, I had never seen her more confident. She was ready. Neither of us knew what would be coming in the early months of our marriage, but that day--even with all the crazy, unexpected things that happened that day--she was ready!

This life seems so crazy and we keep making mistakes, but when we are presented before the Lamb as His Bride, we will be ready, because He has made us clean!

The Cross Is Everything!

2009-10-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

I know that most of the people who read my blog already know this, but I feel compelled to proclaim the Gospel here, and maybe others will read this, too. Also, I want to bring up some points you might not have thought about before.

Today I was reading Galatians 2 for my devotions, where Paul challenges some of the Jewish believers for acting like the law justified them before God. They knew that salvation only comes through Christ by his work on the Cross, so by adding anything to that they were cheapening the truth.

Christ died once for sin, and he was buried, and on the third day he rose from the dead, having satisfied the Father that sin was paid for. Anyone who trusts him for salvation is forgiven of sin and no longer destined for hell.

I need to proclaim the truth, and I am going to offend some people right now (whether anything of them will read this I don't know). The Jews who rejected the gospel believed that keeping the law justified them before God, so Christ's death on the Cross was pointless. Muslims believe that Jesus was only a prophet. Catholics believe that Jesus is sacrificed again every time they take communion. The LDS (Mormons) believe that the atonement happened in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus sweat drops of blood, making his death on the Cross not that important. Any belief that says salvation comes any other way except through the Cross is wrong!

And I thought I was a perfectionist!

2009-09-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

One thing that kind of bothers me about being in the Library Science program is that this field is full of people who worry about every detail! I know that I'm a very detail-oriented person & that drives some people crazy, but I'm not as bad as some. Why do some of the other students have to keep asking the instructor exactly how something needs to be done? If it wasn't stated in the assignment instructions to do it a certain way, the instructor probably is not that concerned about it. If you try to make it sound more complicated than it needs to be, what will that mean for the rest of us? In many cases I already finished the assignment & turned it in, so I don't want to think maybe I did it wrong. Just follow the directions & then don't worry about it.

It is unlikely (but not impossible) that anyone in my classes will ever read this, but I had to get it off my chest.

Billions of years?

2009-07-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

I just had another important thought:

Scientists talk about things taking billions of years in space, and then in the next sentence they talk about how time is affected by what's going on in space. A year is based on how long it takes the planet Earth to get around the Sun. Other planets and stars move at different speeds, and the speed of light and great distances seem to affect time and space. When people say "billions of years" in the context of outer space, what are they talking about? I don't think anybody really knows.

Life, the Universe, and Everything

2009-07-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

As I've been reading about how big the universe is, as one does, I had a thought:

First read Genesis 1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. ESV

What is written in Scripture, if taken literally, seems to suggest a young Earth. Looking at all the evidence found on Earth, I have no trouble believing that the planet Earth is less than 10,000 years old.

I believe that the Bible is the final authority and should be interpreted literally unless it is obviously figurative. I do wonder about the Universe, though. The Universe is so big that even with light traveling at 186,000 miles per second, it may take over 1 million years for the light from some stars to reach us because they are so far away.

God created the Universe, God is eternal, and there is no limit to what God can do. Here is my thought:

Maybe Genesis 1 is not about the Universe being created, but just the Earth, or maybe this Solar System. It says the Sun, Moon, and Stars were created on the 4th day. Maybe this means:

God created all the stars in the universe on the 4th day and sped up the light so we could see them--in other words he created the universe with age, and that would account for supernovas and black holes, etc. (This is what I thought until recently.) OR
God created the universe millions of years ago and created our solar system within it more recently. "Stars" in Genesis 1:16 might even be referring to the planets.

I believe the Bible and I believe science, but I believe the Bible first if there is a contradiction. The one thing that is clear is that God created life, and the most important thing is that our eternal salvation is through Christ alone!

Life is for service

2009-07-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I look back on the past few years and wonder how we got to where we are today. I know that it is all from God because we are in a great place and it is clear that this is where God wants us to be and we are doing what he wants us to be doing right now. But several years ago while I was in Bible college I thought I was so sure of where I was supposed to be headed, but I wasn't really. A public library didn't sound like something you train for in Bible college, although I always liked going to the library and I even worked in the college library. It's clear to see that everything I did was preparing me for where I am right now, and everything I'm doing right now is preparing me for whatever God has for me next.

So how was my time at Bible college preparing me to be a librarian? The motto at Appalachian Bible College is "... because life is for service." A librarian is a service position! Think about it: just about everything you get at the library is free--that's service! If I find a book for someone in Jesus' name, I have found a book for Jesus.

When you don't watch TV

2009-07-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

I'm taking an online class this month called Libraries, Literature, & Young Adults, and I'm learning some valuable stuff! Actually, the only online part of the class is that our syllabus and assignment sheet were posted online, and we have to post our thoughts on a discussion board to share with the class. Other than that we just have our textbook to read from and some assignments, which include a 4-page critical response to a book of our choice from a list, two 2-page reviews of articles from VOYA magazine, and annotations of 24 YA books that we have read. Aside from actually going to class, this seems like a normal amount of work for a 3-credit-hour course, but instead of it being spread out over 3 months, we have 1 month to do it! All this reading seems like a lot, but I'm finding that I'm able to do it. It's amazing how much reading you can get done when you cut down on the TV viewing. I feel a lot better as a person after reading a book than after watching TV, too!

Don't get me wrong, I still like watching TV sometimes, but it's good to take note of how you spend your time each day so that it is not wasted. (That applies to time spent on the internet, too...)

Riding a bike again

2009-07-18T12:52:00.001-07:00

I rode my bike approximately 11 miles today, and it felt good to do that! I had to walk it up a steep hill in a couple places, but other than that I was able to keep a good pace. I've had this bike--a Cannondale--for a couple months, but this was the first time I rode it any good distance, and I'm glad to have it. The Raleigh bike I had in the summer of 2005 was a good bike, too, but it is no more...

Before today I hadn't ridden this far in about 7 years! I want to get back into it, but I still don't like riding up steep hills.

New Blog

2009-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Please take note of my new blog: Young Adult Book Reviews (link on the left of the screen). I'm trying to start something helpful for the teens at my public library that they could get involved with, but we'll see how it goes.

Progressive

2009-06-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2008/10/1020progressive.html
It's good to see I'm not the only one! I have MetLife and I'm happy with it, but I do enjoy those Progressive insurance commercials!

Mysterious

2009-06-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

I've never seen myself as a mysterious person. I'm different from a lot of other guys in that I don't really like guns or sports all that much, but I'm pretty sure people know who I am & what I'm all about. I think a lot of people are mysterious but don't realize how mysterious they are. That, or maybe there just isn't much too them...

In pursuing my Master's in Library Science, however, I think I've become more mysterious. Most people really don't know what librarians do! All most library patrons see is the person who checks out books to them & put books back on the shelves, but those people are usually not even librarians--they are usually library assistants or volunteers, although the librarians do that, too. Some of my family wonder, "What is Library Science? Why do you have to go to grad school to check out books?" Someone may ask, "So, did you put away a lot of books today?" I do spend a good amount of time putting away books, but that's not the main thing. Lately I've been doing a lot of cataloging of new books. Think about all the books, movies, etc. that are in the library. Most of the time we are able to find whatever you are looking for in a few minutes. How do you think that's possible? Until you have actually worked in a library, & sometimes even after that, you will probably not understand what Library Science entails, so I guess that makes me mysterious!

As long as people know what it means to me to be a Christian & what I believe about the Bible, I guess that's all they really need to understand.

2009-04-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

I just read Batman: R.I.P., & it was a really good book (graphic novel). I had read comments online about Bruce Wayne dying in the comics, but either the people posting are trying to confuse people, they never actually read the whole thing, or they were confused by it themselves. It's a really complicated story because the bad guys are toying with Batman's mind in an effort to clone him, & the end it's hard to tell what actually happened & what were implanted memories. From what I can tell, though, Batman is not dead at the end, Thomas Wayne was not a sinister villain, & Bruce Wayne is still Batman.

In addition to keeping you glued to the page, it gives a great summary of all the important parts of the Batman storyline, including Richard Grayson becoming Robin & then Nightwing, Jason Todd becoming Robin & being killed by the Joker, Barbara Gordon being shot & paralyzed, and Tim Drake becoming Robin.

What upsets you?

2009-04-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

As American Christians many of us are quick to judge superficial things, but are we bothered by the most important things? Yes, sex outside of marriage is sin, & drinking alcohol is not a good idea because of how it affects you mentally & physically, but is it right to shun people who practice these things? God shows love & mercy! As Christians who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we know better than to practice sinful lifestyles, but people are at different levels in their spiritual growth. I think a lot of people understand this, & some probably take liberty too far, but that isn't the main point I'm trying to make.

What should upset us that doesn't? The Bible is God's Word, & it is completely true! The things that are figurative are obviously figurative, & everything else should be taken literally in context. Does it bother you when people try to make God who they believe or want Him to be instead of who the Bible says He is? Does it bother you when people say certain parts of the Bible aren't true? God is not okay with people belittling Him & His Word, so you shouldn't be, either.

Is Bruce Wayne going to stay dead?

2009-04-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know if Google searches bring up my blog, but maybe if I write about something people care about, more people will read my stuff. I wonder if anybody does read my stuff... Not very many people comment...

Anyway, I haven't read Batman R.I.P. yet--it's in the mail--but from reading other people's blogs it seems that Bruce Wayne was killed & someone will replace him as Batman. It doesn't surprise me that DC is going to kill another main character, but will he stay dead? Superman died, but since he's Kryptonian I think he was just mostly dead. Oliver Queen died & was even replaced by his son, but somehow Hal Jordan brought him back. Hal Jordan died & came back, too. Are we just going to have to wait & see? Barbara Gordon was shot & paralyzed, & she's still paralyzed, so maybe this is for real! (Even though none of it is actually real, is it?)

Remember

2009-04-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

I was reading Psalm 77 today, & I could relate to what Asaph was saying. Sometimes when I'm stressed & I cry out to the Lord, I don't feel any better because the circumstances causing the stress haven't changed. There are lots of things that cause stress, & I think there's usually physical sickness or lack of sleep involved. Sometimes it seems like there's no response from God. One thing to keep in mind is that God is eternal, so what seems like a long time to you is no time at all to God. Besides that, God's timing is always perfect, & He knows about factors that you don't know about. Asaph's comforting thought was to remember the wondrous works that God has done. Think about how He has blessed you so far, and trust that whatever the new thing is will work out well, too, at the right time.

What new adventure does God have for you when this chapter is finished?

Awesome!

2009-01-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

A little over a month ago, on my birthday, my mom & I went to watch Bolt at the movie theater. She had seen it already, but I hadn't, & I thought it was a great movie! My favorite line of the movie was when Rhino, the fat little hamster (or guinnea pig or whatever ...) said, "Sometimes things seem impossible, but you can make them possible if you are awesome!" (or something close to that)
In the context of the movie it was just funny, because Rhino & Bolt both thought Bolt had superpowers (i.e., he was "awesome"), but he really didn't--at least not in the way they thought he did. At first it sounded like a motivation for anyone to take on a challenge, but there was an underlying thought that you must be a superhero.

Let's think about that on a broader scale, though, & apply it to Matthew 19:26/ Mark 10:27/ Luke 1:37; 18:27. We overuse the word "awesome" (which doesn't bother me as much as when people misuse the word "literally," but that's another topic). As Elly told Devon (a.k.a. "Captain Awesome") on Chuck, "If everything is 'awesome', doesn't 'awesome' then just mean 'mediocre'? (or something along those lines)
The truth is, God is "awesome" for real, so we shouldn't doubt that anything is possible for Him!

Serendipity

2009-01-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

"Serendipity" is a term that comes up fairly often in Library Science in the context of research. (For some reason when I think of this word an image of a purple dragon comes to mind--does anybody have an idea why?) The definition in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: 11th ed. is as follows:

serendipity: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.

Perhaps you have experienced in searching for a certain item in the library, not finding the source you are looking for, you find something even better nearby. In the majority of such cases it is because of the cataloging & classification in the library--in other words, resources about the same subjects are shelved together in the stacks.
Sometimes, however, things just seem to come together. For instance, I am by nature better at presenting my own thoughts & opinions than listening to others. For me to be the husband Angie needs, however, I need to be a better listener. Understanding this, I find that the classes I'm taking this semester in graduate school, particularly "Introduction to Research," teach me to be a better listener. The purpose in the class is so I can help people find what they are really looking for, even if they don't know themselves. I think that this mindset will help me listen & pay attention to my wife better, & to respect what she has to say without feeling the need to give my own input.

Is serendipity just one of those things, or is there a reason? I know what I think, but I'll leave it up to you...

(Revelation 4:11)

The Real Holy Spirit

2009-01-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Pastor Trent K. at Zion Baptist Church started a new series on the Holy Spirit this morning, & it had a real impact on me. More on that in a second...

I know that when I accepted Jesus as my Savior the Holy Spirit came to dwell within me, & he will never leave. God exists in 3 Persons: the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit, who each have distinct roles but are equally 1 God. Jesus, who is God's Son, & the Holy Spirit were both with God the Father at Creation. Before the day of Pentecost in the 2nd chapter of Acts, the Holy Spirit existed & filled certain people for certain tasks, but filling was only temporary. That's why David could write in Psalm 51:11 "...take not your Holy Spirit from me." Indwelling comes immediately upon receiving salvation through Christ, & it is permanent, at least for as long as we live on this Earth.

Pastor Trent pointed out that, as Jesus expressed in John 16:7, it is better that we are filled with the Holy Spirit than if Jesus were physically with us on Earth. When Jesus was physically on Earth he could only be in one place at one time doing his work, but when he ascended into heaven he could send the Holy Spirit, who is ever present with each believer & he works through us!
A most important thing to remember about the Holy Spirit is that he is here to point to Christ & to help Christians. When people claim to be performing miracles, etc. by the Holy Spirit, consider this: Who is getting the glory? When the Holy Spirit is at work the glory will always go straight to Jesus, not the person doing the miracle, not the place, not the miracle itself, not even the Holy Spirit--Jesus Christ alone is to receive the glory!
Satan masquerades as an angel of light, & sometimes he can heal people, too. He wants to distract glory from God, so don't be fooled.

Inaction figure

2009-01-04T15:14:00.000-08:00

I was watching a little Phineas & Ferb this afternoon, & in this episode the 2 main characters wanted to make an "inaction figure" of Perry the platypus (who unbeknownst to them is "Agent P"). They invented a toy that doesn't do anything so it has an infinite market. Brilliant, eh?

Hearing that term made me realize something. As a boy I had a collection of action figures--Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Firestorm, & probably some others--& I was quite offended when my mom would call them "dolls." The toys I had were truly action figures, because they did something. Superman & Batman could both punch when you squeezed their legs. Robin (who back then didn't wear pants) would kick if you squeezed his arms, & the Flash's legs moved as if he was running when you squeezed his arms. (Don't think dirty; they were awesome!)

One regrettable day I went against my better instincts & sold my action figures at our family garage sale, so I have had to recollect them. I have a Buzz Lightyear with karate chop action, so he's a legitimate action figure, but none of my other superheroes do anything. Sure, they are moderately posable, & a few of them can even bend their knees & elbows, but can they be classified as "action figures"? In truth, they are little more than figurines. I still will never call them "dolls," though!

2008-12-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Don't expect to find a Superman exactly like this on sale anywhere. I'm not one to collect & preserve my action figures for resale value--I take artistic liberty & make modifications as I see appropriate. Doesn't he look cool?

Perhaps I need some different characters in my collection. Which one is Bruce?

Space-Time Continuum

2008-10-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

It seems to come up a lot in writing that every action affects the future. In Star Trek they have wormholes that take you to a parallel universe that is mostly like ours, but one different choice made somewhere along the way dramatically changed the outcome. In DC Comics they similarly have alternate universes that you can access through a "Boom Tube" or other means, & when the universes overlap there is a "crisis." On Back to the Future whenever something Marty or Doc does leads to someone from that time period doing something differently, when they come back to the future there's evidence of that change; sometimes dramatically as in the case of George McFly's success & confidence, & other times minimal, like the "Twin Pine Mall" being the "Lone Pine Mall" or "Clayton Ravine" being "Eastwood Ravine." The same thing happens on Heroes with everybody bouncing around through the space-time continuum willy-nilly.
Ironically, with all this emphasis on actions having consequences, many people live in total disregard for the consequences of their own actions, but that's not the point I'm trying to make today.
I won't say that time travel is impossible, for nothing is impossible with God, but I don't think it's anything we can figure out how to do as humans. It's true that actions have consequences, & our choices don't always please God. However, if we fear we'll mess up God's plan by making wrong choices, that's kind of arrogant on our part! God knows what choices we'll make, & even though it is never His will that we make wrong choices, He can use even our wrong choices to carry out His good plan! We are not powerful enough to mess up what God is going to do.

"And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God--I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)

New Place

2008-07-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog my wife & I lived in Columbus, Ohio, & I was a legal assistant. Earlier this month we moved to Clarion, Pennsylvania. It's a smaller borough than Columbus, but it has a different kind of charm. We upgraded a little bit from a 1-bedroom apartment to a 2-bedroom with a garage, & I must say it's nice having an office! I'll start working part-time at the library in town next week, & this fall I'll begin studies at Clarion University for my Master's in Library Science.
It'll be nice for me having a job in the community so I can meet people, & one of the neatest things is the church we've decided to go to - Zion Baptist Church. It's a church with a larger congregation than the one we went to in Columbus, but there are a lot of avenues to meet people & build Christian relationships. As always, we'll have to wait & see what the future holds, but it's exciting to see what God is doing!

What would you do...?

2008-06-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

An old friend of mine asked a question on facebook, & it got me thinking... [Well, she's not old - she's actually a little younger than me - but she was my friend back in the day. Actually, she was more my wife's friend before we got married than my friend, but I knew her, & it was actually not all that long ago... What about her? I lost my train of thought...]
Oh, yeah, she asked a question! This was the question: "If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do?" I think a lot of people ask themselves or others this question, & most people would answer something like "go skydiving" or "go bungee-jumping", & then someone else would say something more spiritual/noble like "do more to help others", & make everyone else feel bad. I suppose this is a good question to think about to see what you value in life, but it more specifically addresses what you have always "wanted to do".
I think for the Christian it's different, though. Having almost died once myself, I want what I do in life to be valuable. Here's the other thing: If there's something you dream of doing, & you know Jesus as your Savior, & you die before that dream is fulfilled, don't worry about it! You're coming back! This life isn't "it" & for any good thing you want to do now, you'll be able to do it so much better on the New Earth in Eternity!
Sure, it's great to do neat things now, especially when it glorifies God & helps others know Him, but if you're a believer in Christ alone for salvation from your sin, you're never going to miss out on anything!

By request

2008-04-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Someone approached me last week about whether or not I had posted on this site for awhile, & I guess it has been several months. I guess stuff has been happening, but not the kind of stuff you write about, knowwhatImean? I post on the kryptonsite forum about Smallville from time to time, & I posted something good today on my other blog if you want to read that. I'll probably write some more before too long...

The Difference Words Make

2008-01-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

I was just reading a little bit of my sister Emily's blog, & I recognized that she is a better writer that I am! I guess "better writer" is always a matter of opinion ("like you can even know that..."), & God gives us each different personalities & ways we do things so we can glorify Him in different ways. In any case, read Emily's stuff (see the link to the left); the way she writes really impacts you. Being "all grown up" we've gone our separate ways (although Michael, Lisa, & Emily are all at the same place...), my little sister has grown up so much! My other little sister is a mommy now - I feel so old!
Sorry for the digression... Emily words things in such a poetic fassion (hey, that almost rhymes!), & I don't so much. I love writing, but I tend to be more concerned with the information presented & using correct grammar than I am about what it sounds like. Some people try harder to make it sound good, & for others it just comes naturally. I can recognize artful wording, though, even if it's not really my style - although I do have a thing for alliterations from time to time.
Another anecdote: I was listening to someone express how helpful it can be to keep journals, & I've kept journals in the past & it meant a lot to me at those times, but it doesn't happen continuously. I like blogging because I can journal my thoughts, & share them with whomever wants to take the time to read them.

Rocky the Flying Squirrel

2008-01-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

2007-12-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

Current Justice League of America

2007-11-23T12:33:00.001-08:00

These are the current (2007) members of the JLA: [clockwise from top left] Green Lantern/ Hal Jordan, Wonder Woman/ Diana, Superman/ Kal-El (Clark Kent), Batman/ Bruce Wayne, Black Canary/ Dinah Lance, Red Tornado/ Ulthoon (John Smith), Vixen/ Mari Jiwe McCabe, Red Arrow/ Roy Harper, Black Lightning/Jefferson Pierce, Hawkgirl/ Shayera Hol (reincarnation into Kendra Saunders).

Justice League of America

2007-11-23T12:28:00.001-08:00

Some of the best (clockwise): Batman, Wonder Woman, "Martian Manhunter" J'onn J'onzz, Aquaman, Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern John Stewart.

Justice League of America

2007-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

This is one of many "incarnations" of the JLA - including most of my favorite individuals. (From left to right: "the Atom", Dr. Ray Palmer; "Hawkman", Katar Hol of Thanagar, a.k.a. Carter Hall; "Aquaman", Orin, a.k.a. Arthur Curry; "the Flash", could be Barry Allen, who was killed, or his nephew, Wally West; "Wonder Woman", Diana of Themyscira; "Superman", Kal-El of Krypton, a.k.a. Clark Kent; "the Batman", Bruce Wayne; J'onn J'onzz of Mars; "Green Lantern", Hal Jordan; "Green Arrow", Oliver Queen; "Black Canary", Dinah Lance.)

How'd I forget that?

2007-10-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

Emily left a comment with the quote from Boris, the philospher, "Miserable being must find more miserable being. Then... is happy!" I remembered the quote, but until I did a little Google research just now, I forgot it was from The Lady & the Tramp, which was my favorite movie ever! I'm only 26; I should not forget things like that!

Birth Order Bias

2007-10-19T12:48:00.001-07:00

There was a story on the Today show this morning (I couldn't watch it because I had to leave for work) about scientific support of the theory on how birth order affects personality, etc. I was somewhat familiar with this concept, & I would expect you've heard of it, too. I looked it up on Google, which is how you find out things, & there are a lot of places that talk specifically about this theory. I picked the reference to Wikipedia, & it was interesting to read what some have said. I'm the first-born in my family, & I have to say that what they said about the first-born, both pros & cons, sounded like a description of myself. How far can you take this, though? I know several first-borns who are very different from me, but I'm guessing they would also identify with this description.
The problem with this study is that the people finding this stuff out are themselves either first-borns, youngest, one of the middle-children, or only-children, & that would give them a bias on their opinions of their own & other people's categories. The only way to get an objective viewpoint on this would be from a scientist from outer space. Even androids or computers with Artificial Intelligence would be influenced by the bias of their programmers. This can apply to many arenas of study, can't it?

Life Purpose

2007-10-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a book called What Should I Do with My Life? by Po Bronson, & while it's not from a Christian perspective, it gives you some interesting things to think about. An illustration that came up is of 3 men laying bricks. Someone asked one of them, "Why do you lay bricks?" & he answered, "To make money." The second man was asked the same question & he said, "To provide for my family," which sounds a little better. But the third man answered, "I'm building a cathedral." His job was for something he found worthwhile & valuable! I'm not "building a cathedral" with my current job, but I have to remember something else - everything I do throughout my life, while it seems pointless aside from paying the bills at this point, is preparing me for my greater purpose. I'm learning about myself & what is valuable to me. I already know what is eternally valuable, & I pursue those goals in other arenas, but I'm talking here about more temporal value, which is still value. The Lord puts us in situations to learn about ourselves & know better what we ought to pursue. For some it takes longer than for others, but "peoples is peoples..."

Analogy Explained

2007-10-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite $5 DVDs is Muppets Take Manhattan. My favorite part of the movie is when the Russian owner of a NYC cafe gives advice to Kermit. He begins with, "Peoples is peoples..." & continues to use a bunch of metaphors that don't make any sense to Kermit. Kermit replies, with the confused expression only a frog puppet can make, "Thanks... That helps a lot." If you think about what the man said & use your imagination as to what the metaphors might have meant, though, you might actually make some sense of it.
I sometimes adapt this monologue to say, "Peoples is peoples. Is tomatoes, is pumpkins, is sea turtles, heh? Peoples is peoples." Here is what I mean: When people do things that don't make any sense to you, remember something I've heard Chip Ingram say, "Everybody does what makes sense to them." People are all different! This is where my analogy comes in (if you've read my previous blog "Grapes & Pumpkins", this is along those same lines). Some people are like tomatoes, in that they need structure to bear fruit. Some people are like pumpkins, because they will grow better if you leave them alone. The "sea turtles" fit more into the big picture. "Let me tell you what is:" hundreds of sea turtle eggs are laid on the beach every year. When they hatch, though, most of the cute little baby turtles get eaten by birds & lizards, what have you... but the ones that make it to the ocean can live over a hundred years! I'll just let you think about that one...
Let people be themselves; people are different, so don't be afraid when people don't do things the way you would do them.

Weasel Stomping Day

2007-09-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

~Weird Al Yankovic~

Faces filled with joy and cheer
What a magical time of year
Howdy Ho! It's Weasel Stomping Day

Put your Viking helmet on
Spread that mayonaisse on the lawn
Don't you know it's Weasel Stomping Day

All the little girls and boys
Love that wonderful crunching noise
You'll know what this day's about
When you stomp a weasel's guts right out

So, come along and have a laugh
Snap their weasely spines in half
Grap your boots and stomp your cares away
Hip hip hooray, it's Weasel Stomping Day

[Sounds of weasels getting stomped on, with bone-crunching and rodent-screeching effects]

People love them down the street
Crushing weasels beneath their feet
Why we do it, who can say?
But it's such a festive holiday

So let the stomping fun begin
Bash their weasely skulls right in
It's tradition, that makes it okay

Hey everyone, it's Weasel Stomping
We'll have some fun on Weasel Stomping
Put down your gun, it's Weasel Stomping Day
Hip Hip Hooray, it's Weasel Stomping Day

Weasel Stomping Day
Hey!

"Lordship Salvation" is deceiving

2007-09-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

From time to time I've listened to "Grace to You" with John MacArthur. We've brought up issues with him before, but I thought I'd give him a chance, & most of his messages I have no problem with. Today he started a series entitled "Examine Yourself", & some of his statements were true. In this message he said you have to come to salvation on Christ's terms, not your own, & there's no doubt about that. But he came out & said that believing in Christ is not enough to save you. If he was just thinking about how, "the demons believe & tremble", that can be backed up, but I think he was taking it farther than that. He said that true Christians live "righteously", which is true, except it sounded like he was implying that it's our own responsibility to live righteously - but we can't live righteously without the Holy Spirit! He was using the Sermon on the Mount as a pattern that Christians must live by, without saying that we can't live that in our own strength. I think because of when the Sermon on the Mount was preached - the context - it was like the Law, showing us that we don't meet those standards & need Christ to interceed. It's true that true Christians will bear the fruit of the Spirit, but that's the result of salvation, not the means of salvation. I guess my point is this: John MacArthur is preaching truth, but emphasizing the wrong things. He needs to better explain what the words "believe" & "righteousness" mean, because from the context of his sentences, one could get the wrong interpretation. The Law is a mirror to show us our sin, so we need that! But "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us..."

Just a thought

2007-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about the way the King James Version of the Bible sounds. Sure, words like "Thee" & "Thou" are still recognized as synonyms for "You", & they sound more formal. But what about words like "cometh"? Did people really talk like that? I wonder if someone was dictating who had a lisp, & the scribes wrote it down like it sounded. He meant to say "comes" but it sounded like "com-th" so the scribe wrote "cometh". None of us were there to hear if English-speaking people spoke that way back then, hence this theory. Go ahead & prove me wrong & I won't be upset; it's just a fun thought.

Maybe some Christians reading this are of the "King James only" persuasion, & I don't mean to judge or offend you. I don't know why you feel that way, though. The Bible is inerrant in the original languages in which it was inspired by God, & while we don't have the actual original manuscripts (if we did, people would probably worship the paper instead of the God they read about), we have some mighty old ones, that when compared with each other are practically identical (some words might be different here & there, but it doesn't change the meaning anywhere). When scholars study the original & compare it with translations in different languages, they can tell whether the translation fits with the meaning of the original languages. English-speaking people needed the Bible in their own language so they could read it, & the KJV was one of the first, but even it has been adapted over time. If we don't speak that way anymore, why should we have to read the Bible that way? It's just another translation - not the original! It's fine, but other translations are fine, too, & people should read something that they'll understand what it means. There wasn't anything special about the people who translated the KJV - the Word of God is powerful, & it is meant to be understood. [On the other hand, we have a lot of English translations already, so translators should focus on the thousands of languages that have no Bible translation.]

Don't check your brains at the door

2007-06-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Our common culture has given the impression that faith & science don't mix, & the sad thing is, many Christians would go with that. They would rather ignore what "science" teaches & just say "I live by faith", but as a Bible-believing Christian & an analytical person, I want to discourage that. First, we have to understand what "science" means.
Here is a dictionary definition: science~ The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Science makes use of the scientific method, which includes the careful observation of natural phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis, the conducting of one or more experiments to test the hypothesis, and the drawing of a conclusion that confirms or modifies the hypothesis. If that's what science means, Bible-believing Christians have nothing to worry about. Don't be afraid to take Genesis 1-11 literally, either; there's factual evidence to support it!
A danger is, there is so much twisted material out there, people have a hard time making & defending decisions about anything. I found a website - www.truechristian.com - that sounds good until you actually open it. I don't know what the intent of the founder is, but it makes Christians just sound stupid!
Everyone is taught that macro evolution (Darwinism) is science, but by the above definition of "science", macro evolution can't be defended. Creation can't really be called science, either, because no human alive today was there to see it happen. But the Bible was inspired by Someone who was there! From what I've learned from objective study - Christian & secular - (as objective as can be expected, because everyone has biases), the Bible fits with historical & scientific evidence. Believe the Bible because it's true, & study the evidence. Anything you believe & practice takes faith, but I want to put my faith in something that can be defended!

Helping Others

2007-05-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

When you see someone who seems to need help, or asks for a favor, for what reasons might you hesitate? Yes, there are some areas you need to be discerning about. For instance, if someone on the street asks for some money, you probably usually shouldn't just hand them money, because the truth is, they might spend it on alcohol or drugs, & that won't help them. But what is okay to do? It's up to you & the leading of your heart, but I'm of the impression that giving someone some food to eat or gas for their car - for some examples - isn't going to hurt anything. But what if it's a scam & they don't really need your help, or what if they're bad people & helping them might hurt someone else later on?
The first example that comes to my mind is Clark Kent (a fictional character). Some of the people he saved turned out to be bad people, & if he had not saved them some other people would not have been hurt later, but at the time he saved them he didn't know that. He came to the realization that it was his responsibility to save anyone he had the opportunity to save - whom to save & not save was not his call. We don't have superpowers like Clark Kent, but I think the principle can apply to us, too.
Maybe you think, "I have needs, too; why should I help someone else?" Sometimes that's a valid argument, & it's no reason to feel guilty if you're unable to give; but the widow in Mark 12:41-43 & Luke 21:1-3 who gave everything she had comes to mind. If you know Jesus as your Savior, just do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Checkers

2007-05-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Re: previous post - If you don't like to think of yourself as a "grape" or a "pumpkin", "tomatoes" & "watermelons" would also fit the analogy. The point is, true Christians all bear the same fruit of the Spirit, but it can grow different ways.

I thought of another analogy that fits with the sovereignty of God in our salvation (keeping in mind that no analogy fits perfectly, but they can help you think) People are kind of like checker pieces that God moves around. He is able to move every piece, but when a piece is "kinged" it's kind of like when a person is saved. First, his identification is with the King (Jesus Christ), & also now he can be moved around much more - more useful to God. People are responsible for the choices they make, just like checker pieces reap the consequences of where they are moved. Now God doesn't make any mistakes as a person playing checkers can, so the analogy breaks down there; but the point is Someone Else is in control of your life, so yield your life to Him!

For sale on EBAY

2007-05-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

John Schneider (Bo Duke/ Jonathan Kent) is selling the General Lee on EBay! You got $2.5 million just lying around?

Grapes or Pumpkins?

2007-05-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest things I've had to learn that I am still learning, is that people are all different, & because they are different, they do things different ways, & the things that work for one person won't work for another. That may seem obvious to you, but let's analyze it a little more (because that's the kind of person I am!)
Some people are like grapes -- I am one of them. Grapes grow on vines, but they need to be hung up & given structure or they won't grow. For me, without structure I couldn't function. It seems everyone in my immediate family is like that, so for a long time I was under the assumption that everybody is like that. But my wife, Angie, has taught me that not everyone can work that way -- some people work better without structure! Angie & I were talking about this last night, & we came to the conclusion that some people are like pumpkins. Pumpkins also grow on vines, but if you hung them up like grapes, they couldn't grow! They need to be left alone to grow along the ground -- & they bear fruit!
God has created you to be the way He wants you to be, & if you have accepted His Son Jesus as your Savior, you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, & you will bear the fruit of the Spirit; but different Christians bear the same fruit in different ways.

New Update

2007-04-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'm still working as a temp here at the Legal Office. When I started here just over a year ago, I didn't like it all that much & was looking forward to working somewhere else, but as I've gotten to know people better & learned how to do more things, this job has kind of grown on me, & I'm hopeful that it will become a permanent job soon. Angie just started working at Michael's the arts & crafts store, & from what she's told me it's a fun job! Her younger sister Margaret is getting married in June, & the wedding's on the beach in New Jersey, so we're looking forward to that! Life is a growing process & we don't know all that the Lord has for us, but we're okay!

Why do we make mistakes?

2007-04-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

I get so frustrated with myself when I do things wrong. Most of the time I don't know if a decision was the wrong decision until later, but I feel still bad about it. I know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior; He is the Lord of my life & I know He guides my decisions -- so why does He allow me to make bad decisions?
For one thing, I learn from my mistakes & am better prepared for the future. I always remember what Rafiki said on the Lion King: "Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it. Ha! You see? Now what are you going to do? It loses something when you can't hear the accent, but you know what I'm getting at...
It's more than what you learn, though. There are some people I know who seem to have it all together, & while I love them as my brothers & sisters in Christ, the truth is they frustrate me! It's the people who struggle with the same things I struggle with that encourage me. This applies not only to mistakes we make, but the hard things that happen that are beyond our control (my problem is sometimes I feel guilty about those things, too; but I shouldn't). Maybe God lets me make mistakes & deal with the consequences, as well as go through hard times, so I can be of more benefit to others who go through the same things. & there are always a lot of people who have it much worse than me!

Things we've learned...

2007-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

David & Angelina Dunkerton – What we learn together:

It’s nearly May 2007; we’ve been married 1 year & 9 months. We could’ve been better prepared for our future together than we were—it was my error. At the time I was so set on being married (in my thinking I’d wanted to get married at age 20 or 21, & 24 seemed way too old, so we had to hurry up …).
Everybody I had known got married in college or right after, so I didn’t know anything else. My problem was that I had no idea how expensive life was, & I didn’t listen to Angie about it. Still, sometimes God uses our poor decisions to put us where He wants us, & I believe it was God’s will for us to get married when we did. I have so much to learn about life that Angie has already learned, & I need to be with her to learn these things. But we will still make sure our kids are better prepared than we were!
This is a song that, while it doesn’t completely describe Angie, makes me think of her, especially certain lines:

"She's Everything" (Brad Paisley)

She's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She's “I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie”
She's “I can't find a thing to wear”
Now & then she's moody

[Chorus]
& she's everything I ever wanted
& everything I need
I talk about her, I go on & on & on
'Cause she's everything to me

She's a Saturday out on the town
& a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck
& a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath & candles
”Baby come & kiss me”
She's a one glass of wine
& she's feeling kinda tipsy

She's the giver I wish I could be
& the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet
Of my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees & praying
She's the answer to my prayer
& she's the song that I'm playing

She's the voice I love to hear
Someday when I'm ninety
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she's the one
That I'd lay down my own life for

And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me
Yeah she's everything to me

There are a lot of things that we both have learned since we’ve been married, mostly from mistakes we’ve made:
I’ve learned that over the course of time, a couple can’t live on $7 or $8 an hour. A “Health Plan” is not the same as insurance, & it’s most likely a scam. Insurance is important, but it’s not always available.
Angie knows how to do things, & I need to go along with her plan instead of always insisting on mine. You need to look ahead & count the cost before you make a big commitment!
God has different ways of providing for you than the obvious ones you would prefer. When it comes down to it, for myself, I know God has a plan for us, & I need to not be so hard on myself. We can get what we need (& clothes & vacation can count as needs sometimes), trusting God to provide for it in His timing. We’re doing the best we know how—keeping in tune with God’s will & setting godly priorities—& that’s all the Lord expects from us. We can just be grateful that He’s in control!

Just had a thought...

2007-02-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking about who God uses & how He uses them. In the beginning of the church, none of the church planters had set out to be church planters, because the church was brand-new. Peter (among others) was first a fisherman, & Jesus called him to give it up & follow Him; this was the general pattern with the 12 disciples. Paul, on the other hand, made tents, & it is said in Acts that even as a traveling church planter he still made tents; that is, in fact, how he made some of his contacts. In the same way Luke, as a doctor, traveled with Paul & others, but I'm under the impression he was still a doctor ("doctor" or "physician" may have been different back then from how it's considered today, but that's beside the point).
Today God has blessed us with many preachers & missionaries, many of whom did other things first, & many of whom went straight into vocational ministry. My dad, for example, was a computer programmer who gave up being a computer programmer to go into the ministry. Just as much, though, God uses people who have various occupations-- who also know His Word-- to serve Him in the local church as lay people. Any kind of ministry that is effective is completely by the grace of God, & He can use anyone, & He will put the people who follow His will whom He has chosen where they need to be, doing what they need to be doing, to bear fruit for Him. Today I am an office assistant in a Legal Office in Columbus, Ohio. Maybe God wants me to do something else someday, or maybe He wants me to stay here, but in either case I know He will use me. If you know Jesus as your Savior, & are studying God's Word as your authority, & are willing to do what God wants you to do, God will use you no matter how pointless you feel your occupation is!

White & Nerdy

2007-02-01T07:06:00.001-08:00


"Weird Al" Yankovic's music video from his new album "Straight Outta Lynwood" (in stores Sept. 26)

Conan the Librarian

2007-02-01T06:20:00.001-08:00

I should be a librarian!

Feedback from Chip Ingram...

2007-01-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to a lot of archived broadcasts from "Living on the Edge" online lately, & today I was listening to a message: "Trusting God when He doesn't make sense", & Chip Ingram said something that meant a lot to me... Just like Lazarus had to die so Jesus could raise him from the dead, I had to die to my own agenda before Jesus could be the "resurrection" for my life. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a little boy, I died to my sin nature because Christ died in my place & was my resurrection for a new life. I still sin as a Christian & have to confess my sin & ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9)-- the sin nature is still there-- but I am no longer controlled by that sin nature. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, that's what the history of what happened with Lazarus (see John 11) means for you-- that you need to believe & accept that Jesus died in your place for your sin; & in accepting this you have died with Christ & are dead to sin; & as the "Resurrection & the Life", Christ will be a new life for you.
I have been a Christian for over 20 years, but I have realized that there is another application for me now. I am a person who likes to make plans & see them happen, & I had an agenda in mind that I was going into vocational ministry someday. I always felt like I was open to whatever God had for me to do, but I have since realized that I wasn't really as open as I thought I was or needed to be. After settling in Columbus, I always would say that Angie & I were in a period of "transition", & that we were open to whatever God had for us for now; but someday we were going to an unreached place to serve in a church plant. That's all well & good, but it could well be that's not what God wants us to do. I had to die to my own agenda & accept wherever God places us-- & now it looks like God is making things happen. God has a plan for me, & I just have to let my own plans die & wait & see what He will do!
In posting my thoughts on a blog, I hope that people will read this & God will use it to help others to grow; but even if nobody reads it, it's still helpful to me, because writing & sharing is how I think & learn (that's why my posts are so long!)

Smallville "Justice"

2007-01-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

Getting out of my comfort zone

2007-01-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

I just thought of something else related to a previous blog I wrote. I've heard so many Christian speakers talk about how important it is for us to "get out of our comfort zones". Even though I can't think of any specific passages of Scripture that say that off the top of my head, I do believe it's a biblical principle. The trouble is, whenever this topic is brought up, the context is generally how attached somebody is to their own hometown, job, school, friends, etc.; and how going on a missions trip or something like that would make a big difference in their lives. This is so true for many people, and while it's true that the missions trips I've gone on have changed my life in many ways, I couldn't really identify with being out of my "comfort zone". The truth is, people have different comfort zones that they have to deal with. My wife, for example, has always had a hard time with change; but I have a harder time with things staying the same.
The first time I really felt like I was out of my comfort zone was when I moved to a suburb, got an office job, & started living a "normal" life. Siberia wasn't nearly as much of a change as this-- and the bigger change was my attitude: I had to learn to be okay with not being in the "ministry". I had to learn that my attitude about life & my relationships with others are more important to God than what I "do".
The "ministry" is my comfort zone. God can't use you until He has broken you, because He wants you to understand that nothing good comes from you; so He has you do things that you can't do yourself so you know it had to be Him. I'll try to say it another way: I can preach and go around the world and serve in camps, etc. all by myself, but I can't bear any fruit on my own-- that is only from God! Also, personally I have a hard time seeing my current job as being a benefit to mankind, but I had to learn that having a job to support my wife & future family and to have a nice home so we can show hospitality to others is important enough! God wants me to learn more about the average person's life so He can use me to serve others; & maybe He'll put my wife & me in vocational ministry someday, or maybe He won't. I'm still learning and growing, but I see progress, because I had to learn that "ministry" is my comfort zone, and once I knew that I had to be okay with being out of that comfort zone. I know this makes me different from the majority of the people I've met, but maybe someone who reads this can identify.

The Purpose of Prayer

2007-01-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

I've always known that it's important to pray, & to pray according to God's will--& I have always prayed out of obedience. I have to admit, though, that I didn't quite understand why God commanded us to pray, knowing that He knows what we need better than we do, & also that He will do His will whether we ask Him or not. God is eternal & in control, & He has known exactly what He's going to do in every situation from way before we prayed for it. (I know that it's more complicated than that, because the Old Testament does talk about God changing His mind sometimes, but that's not the point...) I had thought that God wants us to ask Him to meet our needs even though He already knows them because He wants us to acknowledge our dependence on Him, & I think that's part of it. But I heard something John MacArthur said that I hadn't thought of from this perspective before: We pray because that makes us a part of what God does, & when we see an answered prayer we glorify God! I don't think we have the power to change God's mind or move Him to do something He wasn't going to do already-- He doesn't need us to ask Him before He can do what needs to be done-- but He commanded us to pray so that we can recognize that when our needs are met it's from Him, & so we will glorfy Him; that's what He created us for!

I think I'm backwards!

2007-01-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about how the Lord has been working in my life, what He's been teaching me, & what I've been learning-- how things have changed. You know, as a Christian, one of the most important things you need to do is say to God, "Do whatever You need to do to teach me what you want me to learn; to get me doing what you want me to do." If Jesus is your Savior, you need to acknowledge Him as your Lord & live your life His way. "Salvation" & "Lordship" are not the same thing, & they don't happen at the same time, but a godly life is the result of being indwelt by the Spirit, which starts the moment you accept Jesus as your Savior.
I digress (but it's an important digression-- read through the book of Romans & think deeply about it to better understand where I'm coming from). When you ask God to do this, you don't know what He's actually going to do. God's plan is often different from what we expect.
I hear so many testimonies from people who were set in good jobs; & it was a big deal for them to drop them & go into the ministry-- & praise the Lord that He works that way in them! For me, however, it was the opposite. I remember when I first told the Lord that I was willing to do whatever He wanted me to do with my life-- I was 15, & a trainee at Summer Missionary Training School with Child Evangelism Fellowship. The Lord gave me so many opportunities to serve over the years, & He used me & I grew in Him; but I may have also gotten a wrong message because of my own pride & a narrow mind. I was so set on going into vocational ministry, that establishing a career never was on my mind. It wasn't until after I got married that I realized that life is expensive! I was always fine with other people working to make money & being the ones who support missionaries, but I was sure that Angie & I were supposed to be the missionaries whom the "business people" support. I would always tell people, "We're in transition, & we don't know what the Lord wants us to do yet"; but what I was really thinking was, "Our life hasn't started & we aren't doing anything valuable until we are on the mission field." I would tell other people, "Where you work is a mission field, & church plants need lay people to serve there"; but I never thought I was supposed to be one of the "lay people". But now I'm starting to understand that my family comes first over "ministry" (& that "ministry" is not always equivalent to an obedient relationship with God, which comes first over family), & that having a job for the purpose of supporting my family, along with showing hospitality to others, is valuable. This has given me peace that for now I am working for the state of Ohio in a Legal Office, & my first priority is to provide for & develop my family; & God can use me here in my local church for as long as He wants me here. I know a lot about what the Bible says & what the principles mean, but I need to learn about real life to know how the Bible teaching can be applied. My pastor called this process "seasoning", & that's what I need to be more effective wherever God places me.