Is being radical good or bad? I mean, if you mention that word alongside the teenage mutant ninja turtles, its all smiles and laughter, but if you mention it with religion you will more than likely get a completely different response. We have all seen horrible acts committed by different religious groups and the media has labeled them as “radicals” or “extremists.” With the mention of radical religion, you may start to think about 9/11 or Isis. Maybe you start to think about the Westboro Baptist Church, the Spanish Inquisition or even the crusades. I don’t know exactly where your mind goes, but I’m sure when you hear radical and religion together, you get a pretty clear picture in your head. So my question: is it a bad thing to be a radical Christian? Is that going too far?
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Why I Will Not Coexist!
Coexist: we have all seen the bumper stickers. You may see them and think it is a great idea; a call to world peace. If so, then you probably read this title and thought that it was a very hateful statement. I thank you for clicking on this post anyway and giving me a chance to explain myself. My hope is by the time I am done, you will see that my refusal to coexist is actually driven by love; love for God and love for all people, all of whom bear the image of God. Although, the image and movement were likely created with the best of intentions, it is clear that they were created from a world perspective instead of a biblical one. The individual that created it probably meant well, but I believe that he was unknowingly being influenced by a much darker force. Coexist is not a call for world peace. It is a call for religious reform.
The Desires of Your Heart A Prayer Series part 4 of 4
How do you pray? What do you ask God for? Do you stick to the basic necessities, emergency solutions, and safe travels? Do you ever pray for the things you want? Do you ever just open up and ask God for the desires of you heart? I remember my wife asking me if it would be wrong to ask God for a million dollars. What do you think? Is it wrong to ask God for a million dollars? Is it wrong to ask God for your dream house, dream vacation, the perfect job, or a brand new Ferrari?
Stealing God’s Identity A Prayer Series Part 3 of 4
Have you ever had your identity stolen? Do you know somebody that has? Identity theft has kind of become the adult version of a true nightmare in recent years. There is only so much you can do to prevent it. It can happen at any time, and if it happens it can do massive amounts of damage in an instant. I had a friend that had his identity stolen, his account overdrawn and it took months to take care of it. He struggled financially during these months because he had to wait for the bank to complete an investigation to take care of the overdraft fees. I have heard of more severe cases that took even longer to fix and at times it is impossible to eliminate all of the damage.
Show Me The Money, Kaepernick!
Well, I thought I had put everything that I had to say into “Star Spangled Kaepernick,” but as it turns out, I’m not done with the subject. There seems to be a popular school of thought that Kaepernick needs to “put his money where his mouth is.” For the record, he did announce that he was donating a million dollars to charities that aid communities in need, but just the same, this sentiment confuses and, quite honestly, upsets me a little as well.
When God Tells Garth Brooks No A prayer series Part 2 of 4
In the song “Unanswered Prayers,” by Garth Brooks, the chorus states “some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” Well Jeremiah 33:3 says “call to me and I will answer you.” So, the idea of unanswered prayers would seem to be false. Don’t worry; I’m not here to tear Garth Brooks apart or to say the song is an attack on Christian beliefs. I actually like the song and I understand when you are writing sometimes a little poetic license is necessary to make it all work. However, this song does help to illustrate the point I want to make.
Texting Jesus A Prayer Series Part 1 of 4
It’s the middle of the night and everyone is asleep except me. The house is completely silent and the only noises outside are some crickets, A/C’s blowing and the occasional car driving down a street that I can’t see. I love the night. I love the quiet. It’s the type of quiet that somehow makes me feel completely alone and right at home at the same time. Some may think I love the night because I have 3 small children that are anything but quiet when they are awake. The truth is I’ve always loved the night; I’ve always been a night owl.
The Star Spangled Kaepernick
Before I even begin, I feel like I should probably state that what I am about to say is probably not going to be all that popular. Although when I first heard about it, I shared the same sentiments that so many others seem to have. How disgusting. That is absolutely disrespectful. What a jerk! I can’t believe he would do something so absurd. Clearly, I am speaking of Colin Kaepernick not standing for the Star Spangled Banner. I was appalled just like so many others. In shock that a man that was making millions of dollars in an American sport would choose to sit out during the National Anthem. However, over the last week I have had time to think not to mention countless Facebook posts, news articles, and blog posts to read on the subject. Apparently, this is the hottest subject in the world right now.
Seriously, Grandpa Joe?
Have you ever gone back and watched movies from your childhood? Most of the childhood magic is now gone. Sure, there is some nostalgia, but when you watch these movies as an adult you start to notice plot holes that you never picked up on as a child. Tonight, my wife and I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a way to remember the great Gene Wilder.
The Fear that Surrounds Me
I can’t remember the last time I was afraid of the dark. As a kid I had a dinosaur nightlight in my room, but I don’t remember when I stopped needing it. However, at 32 years old, that was clearly quite some time ago. I’ve never been a huge fan of horror movies. It’s not that I have some moral objection or I’m too scared; actually, it’s that they don’t scare me at all. I don’t watch comedies that I don’t think are funny either. I really can’t think of any one thing that actually causes me to be in fear.