Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Red Moon Rising

Taken from Pete Greig and Dave Roberts' book "Red Moon Rising"

Amidst sparkling creativity, spectacular innovation, and unprecedented wealth, growing up in the West means for many a sense of alienation, a hunger for intimacy, authenticity, and hope.

Science vs. God

In this ever crazy world there is always an attempt to pit science against God. The only problem is one is an Absolute while the other is changing. Of course this is all belief, those who do not believe in the existence of God do not believe he is of course absolute. I am in no way claiming science is an illegitimate art as it brings many good things, but to pit it against God is a fallacy.

While God remains true and absolute, the Alpha and Omega, science is in a constant state of change. What is true one day is false the next; what is thought to be right is wrong. It is a belief system that is based upon seeing is believing i.e. empirical data. The problem with this is that it limits the scope of the mind and world. A rock is only a rock after it has been proven a rock and even then it could change to be something else. Remember people used to believe the ocean was flat.

So how does God work into this. God as I mentioned before is absolute, timeless, Alpha and Omega. Sure humans have evolved the perceptions of God even twisting the perception of God, but God has remained absolute even though humans have twisted his role in life. The only confounding problem is the fact human eyes can't measure, test, or hypothesis about God. They are given a text (Bible) and the rest is in their heart and faith. Believers in God are either the craziest people in the world or the smartest. A rocks definition can change over time just as the perception of how the world works changes daily, but one thing will never change God. Maybe I am crazy but I would rather believe that something out there is in fact the Constant State rather than believe in a chance filled world. Kind of an oxymoron, science (measureable) not concrete but God (unmeasurable) is concrete. Ponder that for a while.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Ripple

Ripple by the Grateful Dead....Such a fun song to contemplate.

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come thru the music,
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
Perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

But if you fall you fall alone,
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Inward Prayer

Taken from Thomas Kelly's book, "A Testament of Devotion"

At first the practice of inward prayer is a process of alternation of attention between outer things and the Inner Light. Preoccupation with either brings the loss of the other. Yet what is sought is not alternation, but simultaneity, worship undergirding every moment, living prayer, the continuous current and background of all moments of Life. Long practice indeed is needed before alternation yields to concurrent immersion in both levels at once. The "plateaus in the learning curve" are so long, and many falter and give up, assenting to alternation the best that they can do. And no doubt His graciousness God gives us His gifts, even in intermittent communion, and touches us into flame, far beyond our achievements and desert.

I couldn't have said it better!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Quotes

I thought these were good ones I have never heard....

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal"
--Henry Ford

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
--Johnny Cash

"The west has been lucky its true. It did not grow old-it grew new. As it grew older, it got fresher and bolder. Don't you wish it could happen to you?"
--Patricia Nelson Limerick

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

What a Cowboy Means to Me

Taken from the March-April issue of American Cowboy

What a Cowboy Means to Me
by Clay Gibbons

He has a belief in God, his Creator;
He sees him in the stars, the sunsets, the green grass
And finds his church in the open spaces,
The mountains, a clear creek, the blue sky.
He loves the bawl of a new-born calf almost as
Much as he loves the laughter of a little child.

He treats women with respect at all times,
He always puts family first,
And he works hard cause it's the right thing to do.
He'll be there to help a friend or a neighbor
At the drop of a hat.

He knows it doesn't really matter
What kind of pickup he drives,
What kind of house he lives in
Or how much he has in his bank account.

But he knows what does matter
Is that the world might be a little better
Cause he made a difference
In the life of a child

He doesn't look for fame or glory-
His satisfaction is doing a job right,
'Cause in his heart
It's a victory of right over wrong

I he's lucky
Once in his life he'll have that one perfect horse
That he'll consider his best pard.
And, if he's lucky
Once in his life he'll have a wife
That he'll consider his best friend

His word has always been his bond;
His firm handshake, his signature.
He does right by others
Because he doesn't understand any other way.
His life can be lonely at times,
But he's at peace with himself.
And he knows there's better grass awaitin'
When it's his time to head'er on out to
the other side

It's hard to define a real cowboy,
But when you meet him, you'll know.

I don't know about you,
But as for me,
My heroes have always been cowboys

The Game of Contribution

Taken from "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund and Ben Zander

"I settled on a game called I am a contribution. Unlike success and failure, contribution has no other side. It is not arrived at by comparison. All at once I found that the fearful question, "Is it enough?" and the even more fearful question, "Am I loved for who I am, or for what I have accomplished?" could both be replaced by the joyful question. "How will I be a contribution today?"

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Tim Reynolds

Amazing Set with Dave and Tim

http://stash.nugs.net/dave/031216_mp3.asp?artist=57&show=301&cmd=shows

Pretty Funny..

http://www.stuartdavis.com/node/1138

Tag Heuer

If there is one material thing I love it has to be Swiss watches more specifically Tag Heuer. I love this new watch, now to convince my accountant aka wife aka Andrea. Oh well.

Go Big Red

Go IU beat Gonzaga tonight!!!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Instant Good Mood Songs

There are probably two songs that I listen to that will put me into an instant good mood. Both are by Widespread Panic. The first song is "Aint Life Grand" which speaks for itself. The second is "Coconuts" which plays off the senses and nostalgia of youth. By far if you are having a bad day take a listen to either one. I would say "Coconuts" edges out "Aint life Grand".

What So Amazing About Grace

This quote is taken from Philip Yancey's book "What's So Amazing About Grace?"
This is one of the best books I have ever read and changed some of the ways that I think.....

A counselor, David Seamands summed up his career this way:

Many years ago I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive and live out God's unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness and grace to other people.....We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But thats not the way we live. The good news of the Gospel of grace has not penetrated the level of our emotions.


hrmmm are we Christ's hands and feet or are we acting as the Judge?

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Famous Failures

Didn't know the one about Walt Disney

Check it out


Man in the Mirror

A few selected Questions from the study I am leading.....

If the Rat Race is an unwinnable race, why do you think so many men run in it? What are they trying to accomplish?

Wouldn’t we all like the models for our children to be in the sacrifices and contributions of famous scientists, artists, thinkers, missionaries, statesmen, builders, and other heroes and saints?

When we choose the rat race, fracture lines soon appear in our relationships, and crumbling is not far behind. Unfortunately, all too often, in pursuit of the good life, most men leave a trail of broken relationships. Can you relate?

The secret of knowing something well is to keep “looking at the fish”. What kind of commitment would you be willing to make to self examination in terms of time and effort?

As a lawyer or accountant is no better than the effort he puts into keeping up with his profession, so is the Christian no better than the efforts he puts into self examination of life’s big questions. Are you putting in the effort?