The Virginia Tech Shootings

A week after the tragic April 16th shootings at Virginia Tech we are still struggling through the standard array of 'why' questions. The heartbreaking event also provides a spiritual struggle. Why does a loving God allow evil to prevail? Where was God when these promising, innocent lives were taken?

I recently received an e-mail from Priority One Associates with some very good articles that help with these issues. I hope you find them useful ........

Living without an answer

Where is God in the midst of tragedy?

So why do bad things happen?

Doesn’t evil and suffering prove that God doesn’t care?

Easter Sunday At Chimney Rock

Our family spent a beautiful but cool day visiting Chimney Rock Park in the mountains of North Carolina on Easter Sunday.

Click here to see a few more pictures!

Jesus: Democrat or Republican?

I've seen bumper stickers recently that proclaim 'Jesus is a liberal'. I'm sure there are a decent number of Democrats who think that if Jesus were in the United States today He would be a Democrat. And I'm sure there are the same number of Republicans who are convinced that Jesus is a Republican.

Everybody wants Jesus on their side! But I wonder if people really knew what Jesus said, would they still want Him on their side?!

I think that what both Christians and non-Christians often forget is that Jesus was and is counter cultural!

Click here to read more!

Famous People Follies - Special Edition 1

Rules of the game: A picture of a famous person is posted on Life Hound. The winner of the challenge is the first person who posts a comment below correctly identifying the famous person. The winner will in some way be honored on Life Hound. If a few days go by and the famous person hasn't been identified. I will add hints to the posting until we have a winner!

This famous person created 'New Rules for 2007'. Here they are:

New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Lobster?

New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: Do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.

New Rule: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is that the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

Can you identify this famous person?! If so, add a comment below.

Hint 1 - April 15th - An American comedian.

Congratulations to Goob from California for correctly identifying this controversial American comedian! See Goob's comment below for the correct answer.

Blue Collar - White Collar?

Awhile ago I was speaking with a gentleman who is in full time ministry. He is associated with an organization whose objective is to minister to individuals in the work place. He shared with me some information that I found interesting but not surprising.

If you were to compare white collar workers with blue collar workers which group would you expect to be most receptive to the salvation message? (The 'salvation message' is the New Testament message that Jesus died in our place on the cross so that by casting our lot with Him, we can have a relationship with God and spend eternity in heaven after death. Casting our lot with Christ involves faith in Him, a confession of sin, and a decision to follow Him.)

This minister told me that blue collar workers are far more likely to realize their need for Christ and to give their lives to Him than are their white collar counterparts. I asked him what he attributed this difference to and he indicated that since white collar workers generally perceive themselves as being more successful and are generally better off financially, they don't perceive that they need God as much as blue collar workers.

The Bible records the warnings of Moses to the children of Israel before they entered the promised land. Moses warns the Israelites not to forget about God once they enter the promised land and 'become full and prosperous'.

The writer of the the book of Luke records an incident where a prostitute enters a home where Jesus was dining. The prostitute washes Jesus' feet with her tears and pours perfume on them. Jesus contrasts this act of love with the boorish behavior of his well respected and upstanding dinner host. Why did the two respond differently to Jesus? Luke records Jesus words 'she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love'. (For scriptures see comments below.) The inference is that those of us who 'have it all together' are less likely to love God and realize our need to have a relationship Him.

I fear for those of my friends who are successful and don't know Jesus. We're so reluctant to seek God's help when we have it all together. And yet we need God so much. The Bible says that our sin separates us from God but in Christ we can have our sins forgiven and enjoy our day to day life in the presence of our Creator. Jesus said 'I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly'.

Famous People Follies - Challenge 9

Rules of the game: A picture of a famous person is posted on Life Hound. The winner of the challenge is the first person who posts a comment below correctly identifying the famous person. The winner will in some way be honored on Life Hound. If a few days go by and the famous person hasn't been identified. I will add hints to the posting until we have a winner!

Can you identify this famous person?! If so, add a comment below.

Congratulations to the amazing Rus from North Carolina for correctly identifying #15! See comments below for the identity of this football great.

While The Wife's Away ........

My wife went out of town this weekend with some friends and that left me in charge of our three children. She left on Friday afternoon so that meant that Friday night's dinner was at Friendlies Restaurant. We had hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, a salad and some ice cream.

On Saturday morning the kids fed themselves breakfast and then we brought the twins to a birthday party. We dropped them off at the party and then Hannah and I went to Chillis for lunch. I had a buffalo chicken salad and Hannah had ribs. For dessert we split their delicious chocolate cake with ice cream. For dinner the five of us went to the Chinese food buffet. I had one of everything. The kids ate a hearty meal and then each had two bowls of ice cream. On Sunday morning the kids fed themselves breakfast again. For lunch I cooked steak out on the grill and we ate that with barbecue chips. On tap for dinner tonight? I'm gonna cook up some frozen corn dogs and we'll eat the second half of the bag of barbecue chips.

This is the nourishment that my kids get when mom's away. I would never let my family eat like this on a regular basis but when mom's away this is our way of 'letting our hair down', enjoying a little freedom and independence!

It's interesting that in the Old Testament God appointed holiday's for the children of Israel to observe. There were festivals and celebrations. Many were meant for the Hebrews to remember a historical event or God's works in the past. I believe that God created these events to help the Israelites remember and He used an effective tool: mankind's love of celebration.

The Bible records that Paul wrote to Timothy "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." (1 Timothy 4: 4 - 6)

This weekend my children did not get very good nourishment but we had fun! In this scripture Paul encourages Timothy to be nourished on the words of the faith and on sound doctrine. God's will and wisdom and truth are recorded in the Bible. We need to give ourselves a steady diet of that truth! The Bible shows us the way that we can be forgiven of our sins and be reconciled to God. It also teaches us how we can have a close relationship with Jesus.