Friday, July 31, 2009
Does this Surprise Anyone?
Ex-Idol Contestant Says Show Is Rigged, some ousted season 8 American Idol top 36 semi-finalists including Felicia Barton, Kendall Beard, and Ju'Not Joyner participated in an online chat with the Idol website AI Now today. And during his frank online conversation with fans, Ju'Not came right out and said that the TV talent show is in fact rigged, and that its contracts are unfair to contestants. Full Story Here.
This is a New One
W.H. makes CEOs pay for lunch. Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama,but even for powerful CEOs, there’s no such thing as a free lunch: White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president. Read Full Story Here.
The Danger of Criticism
Criticism is something that lures and entices people, and can destroy relationships, and cause major problems in the church, we must be vigilant and take personal inventory of our lives and see if we fall pray to this. Today I took some interesting thoughts from my time with the Lord dealing with this same subject, I was reading from Romans chapter 14. This is what I took:
We may find it easy to judge and criticize others who are still struggling spiritually. We might even be tempted to show them how "strong" we are by participating in activities that would cause them to stumble, tempt them to sin, or even offend them. We must realize that even if we have progressed spiritually to the point that certain circumstances no longer trouble us, we still need to be sensitive to the fact that our friends may be led astray by our activities. I know that we might say that is a big responsibility, but is what Jesus expects of us. And our love for others should lead us to avoid activities that might lead to their downfall. I found that the more mature we are, the more responsible we will be to respond to others in a loving way.
At times we may be tempted to point out and criticize the failures of others instead of looking critically at our own lives. But let me remind you that it isn't our primary responsibility to "straighten" out other people's lives. Besides, the job of "straightening" out our own lives is more than enough to keep us busy. If we spend our time pointing the finger at others, we will never make progress ourselves.
We may find it easy to judge and criticize others who are still struggling spiritually. We might even be tempted to show them how "strong" we are by participating in activities that would cause them to stumble, tempt them to sin, or even offend them. We must realize that even if we have progressed spiritually to the point that certain circumstances no longer trouble us, we still need to be sensitive to the fact that our friends may be led astray by our activities. I know that we might say that is a big responsibility, but is what Jesus expects of us. And our love for others should lead us to avoid activities that might lead to their downfall. I found that the more mature we are, the more responsible we will be to respond to others in a loving way.
At times we may be tempted to point out and criticize the failures of others instead of looking critically at our own lives. But let me remind you that it isn't our primary responsibility to "straighten" out other people's lives. Besides, the job of "straightening" out our own lives is more than enough to keep us busy. If we spend our time pointing the finger at others, we will never make progress ourselves.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
They Don't Get It Do They?
Despite the questionable impact of the first stimulus package, there is actually discussion of a second stimulus package. So far, the states have spent roughly 10 percent of the $787 billion package, but it has yet to register on the "recovery" radar. In fact, the only thing that seems to have changed is the unemployment rate and not in the direction the President had hoped.
Given where the money's been directed, maybe none of us should be surprised. Mark Kelly of the Heritage Foundation did some digging on where the House Speaker funneled her District's dollars, and the list of projects is enough to send taxpayers through the roof. Let me put it this way: Nancy Pelosi is trying to stimulate a lot more than San Francisco's economy. While the average American is worried about losing his shirt, Congress is funding actors who aren't wearing any!
Here are some of the Speaker's pet project that are being funded with yours' and mine hard earned dollars:
According to Kelly, $50,000 was sent to an initiative called CounterPulse in San Francisco that just sponsored a "Perverts [Sleep Around]" event on July 25, urging people to "Join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun!"
A company called Jess Curtis/Gravity, Inc. will receive $25,000, presumably to help boost their Symmetry Project, which features nude couples in compromising positions.
Other programs are too crude and embarrassing to even mention. But shouldn't that say something to the third most powerful leader in America? If these projects are too obscene to talk about, what business does the U.S. government have funding them? This isn't just waste it's reckless, indecent garbage sponsored by Congress and paid for by you and me. If these are the priorities of America's new leadership, then we should definitely get a second opinion on their vision for an issue as significant as health care. For more on Pelosi's "waste" line, visit Mark's blog here.
Sources: FRC. Mark Kelly
Given where the money's been directed, maybe none of us should be surprised. Mark Kelly of the Heritage Foundation did some digging on where the House Speaker funneled her District's dollars, and the list of projects is enough to send taxpayers through the roof. Let me put it this way: Nancy Pelosi is trying to stimulate a lot more than San Francisco's economy. While the average American is worried about losing his shirt, Congress is funding actors who aren't wearing any!
Here are some of the Speaker's pet project that are being funded with yours' and mine hard earned dollars:
According to Kelly, $50,000 was sent to an initiative called CounterPulse in San Francisco that just sponsored a "Perverts [Sleep Around]" event on July 25, urging people to "Join your fellow pervs for some explicit, twisted fun!"
A company called Jess Curtis/Gravity, Inc. will receive $25,000, presumably to help boost their Symmetry Project, which features nude couples in compromising positions.
Other programs are too crude and embarrassing to even mention. But shouldn't that say something to the third most powerful leader in America? If these projects are too obscene to talk about, what business does the U.S. government have funding them? This isn't just waste it's reckless, indecent garbage sponsored by Congress and paid for by you and me. If these are the priorities of America's new leadership, then we should definitely get a second opinion on their vision for an issue as significant as health care. For more on Pelosi's "waste" line, visit Mark's blog here.
Sources: FRC. Mark Kelly
Respect for Authority
I posted before that in my opinion one of the reasons society is so messed up is because of the lack of accountability, no one wants to be held accountable for their actions. Well today I look at another reason I think is promoting the decline of society and that is the lack of respect for authority. Yet as I read my bible i see that God is very clear about this subject. this morning I was reading the 13 chapter of the book of Romans and there we see how God defines authority and what our duties are.
In this chapter, Paul is very clear in pointing out that government (authority) exists because God allows it to exist. Therefore, we are told to submit to the government as we would submit to God Himself. And we may wonder how God could want us to submit to authorities who do not always act with perfect justice. Well this too is addressed in the Bible, for example we see in the book of Acts 4:13-22 that there is a place for civil disobedience. Sometimes we need to resist evil, even if it is sanctioned by the governing authorities. But we must remember that we are called to support and obey authorities that seek to uphold justice. However, when governing authorities stand in direct contradiction to God's will, we need to seek the support of others and try to change the situation.
In this chapter, Paul is very clear in pointing out that government (authority) exists because God allows it to exist. Therefore, we are told to submit to the government as we would submit to God Himself. And we may wonder how God could want us to submit to authorities who do not always act with perfect justice. Well this too is addressed in the Bible, for example we see in the book of Acts 4:13-22 that there is a place for civil disobedience. Sometimes we need to resist evil, even if it is sanctioned by the governing authorities. But we must remember that we are called to support and obey authorities that seek to uphold justice. However, when governing authorities stand in direct contradiction to God's will, we need to seek the support of others and try to change the situation.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Accountability
It's my opinion that one of the main reasons why our society is so messed up is because no one wants to be held accountable for their actions. We see the perfect example in corporate America, we see how companies are run irresponsibly and when they get in trouble instead of accepting responsibility, what do they do? They run to the government and ask for a "bailout". And is not only businesses, we see it too in individuals. We see how people spend irresponsibly, and buy things they can't afford, creating great amounts of credit card debts, but when is time to pay, they try every available loophole to not pay. Well as I was doing my devotions this morning, I found that the Scriptures have a lot to say about accountability, here are some of my thoughts:
When we are ill-equipped or unprepared for a certain role in life, it is important that we find a godly mentor to give us direction and hold us accountable. All of us need the help of a godly mentor who knows what we are going through. We must avoid the tendency to "go it alone". We need to ask God to provide others who will hold us accountable, help us grow, and preserve our spiritual gains.
Procrastinating when God has shown us what He requires is a form of disobedience and a lack of accountability. plans to do God's will "tomorrow" should never be mistaken for obedience. If we know what God wants us to do, we need to get on with it.
So now we understand that we need to be accountable and that we need people around us that will help us in this endeavor, but we also need to be open for their help, why do I say this, because when we are confronted with our sin, it is tempting to deny its existence. But instead, we should admit it, repent of it, and seek God's forgiveness. Then we can redirect our course and praise God as He redeems our lives.
And finally let's remember that we all must take responsibility for our actions. While we may realize that some of what we suffer is a consequence of our parents mistakes, we must not use this as an excuse for our own failures or lack of accountability. We need to take responsibility for them. We also need to take responsibility for how we choose to deal with the suffering brought into our lives by others. We alone are accountable to God for our actions and reactions.
When we are ill-equipped or unprepared for a certain role in life, it is important that we find a godly mentor to give us direction and hold us accountable. All of us need the help of a godly mentor who knows what we are going through. We must avoid the tendency to "go it alone". We need to ask God to provide others who will hold us accountable, help us grow, and preserve our spiritual gains.
Procrastinating when God has shown us what He requires is a form of disobedience and a lack of accountability. plans to do God's will "tomorrow" should never be mistaken for obedience. If we know what God wants us to do, we need to get on with it.
So now we understand that we need to be accountable and that we need people around us that will help us in this endeavor, but we also need to be open for their help, why do I say this, because when we are confronted with our sin, it is tempting to deny its existence. But instead, we should admit it, repent of it, and seek God's forgiveness. Then we can redirect our course and praise God as He redeems our lives.
And finally let's remember that we all must take responsibility for our actions. While we may realize that some of what we suffer is a consequence of our parents mistakes, we must not use this as an excuse for our own failures or lack of accountability. We need to take responsibility for them. We also need to take responsibility for how we choose to deal with the suffering brought into our lives by others. We alone are accountable to God for our actions and reactions.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Some Thoughts for Tuesday
Here are some thoughts I took away from my devotions this morning:
Conflicts can help me pinpoint problems in my life. Once I see them, I should accept responsibility for them and ask God to help me redirect my course. There have been times in my life were I have rebelled against God and after those times I have realized that I need to repent and renew my commitment to Him. I have found that He is always willing to offer me a fresh start no matter how serious my failures have been.
Sometimes doing right requires careful planning. Even when I entrust my life to God, He expects me to take action.
As I face difficult circumstances, I can find encouragement in the fact that God is ultimately in control. If I entrust my life to Him, He will lead me through even the darkest situations.
Regardless of what my spiritual heritage has been, however, I must accept responsibility for my own life and for my relationship with God.
When I feel cut off from God, I may be tempted to doubt that He is able to rescue me. It is at such times that I must rely not on feelings but on facts. I must remember who God is and what He has done for me in the past.
Conflicts can help me pinpoint problems in my life. Once I see them, I should accept responsibility for them and ask God to help me redirect my course. There have been times in my life were I have rebelled against God and after those times I have realized that I need to repent and renew my commitment to Him. I have found that He is always willing to offer me a fresh start no matter how serious my failures have been.
Sometimes doing right requires careful planning. Even when I entrust my life to God, He expects me to take action.
As I face difficult circumstances, I can find encouragement in the fact that God is ultimately in control. If I entrust my life to Him, He will lead me through even the darkest situations.
Regardless of what my spiritual heritage has been, however, I must accept responsibility for my own life and for my relationship with God.
When I feel cut off from God, I may be tempted to doubt that He is able to rescue me. It is at such times that I must rely not on feelings but on facts. I must remember who God is and what He has done for me in the past.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Killing Cockroaches
During my vacation in the Bahamas last week, I had the chance to read the latest book from Tony Morgan, Killing Cockroaches. The book is a quick read (I read it in three days) with some pretty insightful information that have great application for leaders in the church and pretty much for anyone doing ministry. Here are some of the key thoughts that grabbed my attention and kept me thinking:
"It is God's church, so I am confident that his intentions will ultimately prevail".
"All leadership comes with responsibility. And even though it's God's church, I have a job to do".
"The only problem is that safety breeds contentment, which ultimately limits the need for faith. We have to find that place of healthy tension between being confident in our calling and knowing that we cannot complete the mission without God's intervention".
"Leaders must battle the status quo. We have to challenge the existing process and identify new methods for fulfilling our mission. Yes, the message is the same, but we live in an ever-changing world".
"At some point we'll all have to give an account for what we've done with our lives and for that which the Lord has given us".
"I've found that knowledge can get in the way. We can get consumed with knowledge. It can slow us down".
"You get to decide where your time goes. You can either spend it moving forward, or you can spend it putting out fires".
"But we learned long ago that to try to make everyone happy, you have to be comfortable with mediocrity".
"It's important that my kids have a great experience. If you can't convince me this will happen, I'm probably not going to risk visiting your service".
"If your church shut its doors today, would your community know it?".
"If you have to manufacture excitement, it's probably something you should stop doing".
This book has really had an impact on me and it has made me rethink about how to do ministry, there are a whole lot more thoughts I got from the book and I will post some more later. I do think that if you are doing ministry or are in any kind of leadership position this is a must read.
It's Better in the Bahamas!
I remember a few years back the Bahamian tourist people started a campaign to bring attention to their islands, and they made commercials that always had the phrase "It's Better in the Bahamas". Well this last week my family and I were blessed with the opportunity to find out if the phrase is true. Yes we spent a whole week in Freeport. We had been to the Bahamas before but i don't count those times because we were there on cruises and to me that is like the movie Vacation were they stopped at tourists spots for about ten seconds. Anyways, this time we really got to spend quality time on the island. I must say that we were not disappointed, we got to do a whole lot of relaxing and hanging out at the beach working on our tans. To me is very important to spend time with my family and I did just that.
During our stay we got to meet the locals and I must say that I found them to be friendly and courteous, wow what a difference from, oh never mind, I won't go there. We also got to do different things like para sailing, yeah my daughter and I did just that. I got to tell you that I don't much like heights but I felt that i needed to 'conquer" my fear, and besides my daughter kept pestering me about it. I must say that it was an awesome experience just to see the island from the air and feeling like you are flying, if you never done it, give it a try.
Getting ready to strap the chute.
Getting ready to take off.
Coming in for the landing.
A vacation is not complete unless you hit the local eateries, and we did just that, I got to say there were two things that I found delicious, one was the "Bahamian style" pizza and the other was the local dessert called guava duff. Man I could eat those two things all day long. All in all the week went by too fast, but I thank the Lord that I got to experience the Bahamas with those that are most important to me, my wife and daughter.
So over all I had an amazing week, awesome time with my wife and daughter. These are the things that matter, spending time with those you love. And is true It is Better in the Bahamas.
During our stay we got to meet the locals and I must say that I found them to be friendly and courteous, wow what a difference from, oh never mind, I won't go there. We also got to do different things like para sailing, yeah my daughter and I did just that. I got to tell you that I don't much like heights but I felt that i needed to 'conquer" my fear, and besides my daughter kept pestering me about it. I must say that it was an awesome experience just to see the island from the air and feeling like you are flying, if you never done it, give it a try.
Getting ready to strap the chute.
Getting ready to take off.
Coming in for the landing.
A vacation is not complete unless you hit the local eateries, and we did just that, I got to say there were two things that I found delicious, one was the "Bahamian style" pizza and the other was the local dessert called guava duff. Man I could eat those two things all day long. All in all the week went by too fast, but I thank the Lord that I got to experience the Bahamas with those that are most important to me, my wife and daughter.
So over all I had an amazing week, awesome time with my wife and daughter. These are the things that matter, spending time with those you love. And is true It is Better in the Bahamas.
Musings on a Monday
Well vacation is over and the new week has started. I had a great time but it's good to be back home. One of the things I really enjoyed on this vacation was the times of devotions I had, I really felt the Lord speaking to me. I really want to continue with that discipline and in doing so I will share what I feel the Lord is saying to me; so here are some thoughts on today's devotions:
As I reflect on my life, I must judge my past performance by God's standards of justice. I must also look honestly at my failures, and avoid the tendency to get defensive.
I have come to realize that if I'm fearless in my stand for truth and honesty, I will then build the foundation for true spiritual growth.
God is in charge of my world! He is master over all peoples and nations!
As I learn to believe in God's control even when things aren't going my way, I find that my life can still be serene in the midst of conflict. I can know that God desires what is best for me. Seeking His will and obeying His direction for my life is always best.
Tolerance may be a virtue, but endorsing sin never is, and the consequences of sin can last for generations.
If God is on my side, even the greatest of difficulties will not stand in the way of victory.
I have noticed that the most common command in all of Scripture is "Do not be afraid".
God shows me time and again that no matter how terrible the circumstances, He is able to give me victory, all I need to do is trust in Him.
I don't know about you, but is hard for me to give up control. I want to do things my way, and of course I want to take the credit for success. but that is exactly what God says not to do. He tells us to surrender all to Him. I need to learn to give my battles to Him. Whether I like it or not the truth is that I can't win them alone. But with God's help, I have found that no enemy is too large or terrible. I have found that if I'm willing to put my life in His hands, He will give me the victory.
As I honestly reflect on my spiritual condition, I come to realize that my strength comes from God as I seek Him through prayer and meditation on His Word.
As I reflect on my life, I must judge my past performance by God's standards of justice. I must also look honestly at my failures, and avoid the tendency to get defensive.
I have come to realize that if I'm fearless in my stand for truth and honesty, I will then build the foundation for true spiritual growth.
God is in charge of my world! He is master over all peoples and nations!
As I learn to believe in God's control even when things aren't going my way, I find that my life can still be serene in the midst of conflict. I can know that God desires what is best for me. Seeking His will and obeying His direction for my life is always best.
Tolerance may be a virtue, but endorsing sin never is, and the consequences of sin can last for generations.
If God is on my side, even the greatest of difficulties will not stand in the way of victory.
I have noticed that the most common command in all of Scripture is "Do not be afraid".
God shows me time and again that no matter how terrible the circumstances, He is able to give me victory, all I need to do is trust in Him.
I don't know about you, but is hard for me to give up control. I want to do things my way, and of course I want to take the credit for success. but that is exactly what God says not to do. He tells us to surrender all to Him. I need to learn to give my battles to Him. Whether I like it or not the truth is that I can't win them alone. But with God's help, I have found that no enemy is too large or terrible. I have found that if I'm willing to put my life in His hands, He will give me the victory.
As I honestly reflect on my spiritual condition, I come to realize that my strength comes from God as I seek Him through prayer and meditation on His Word.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Loving the Unloved
God specializes in loving those who are unlovely and undeserving. The fact is, not one of us deserves God's love, and those of us who think we deserve it are refusing to see the truth. God's love is bestowed on all who admit their need and respond to His love for them. Sometimes those who are despised by society are the first to admit their need for God. That is why such people often have the most dramatic stories of how God has transformed their lives. No one is innocent of wrongdoing; yet no sin is too great for God to forgive. Therefore, those who have admitted their failures are better off than "respectable" people who are refusing to see the truth about their need for God. Admitting that we have failed and need that we need God is essential. We must not allow pride and social standing to keep us from admitting our need for God at any point in our spiritual growth process.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Glorious Fourth
In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams told her of the actions of the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. "The second day of July, 1776 [the actual day the Declaration was signed], will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever."
As we celebrate Independence Day, as John Adams so aptly predicted, we must not forget nor overlook the intense struggle our Founding Fathers faced. Their Christian faith played a critical role in an era that altered the history of the world.
There is not a better example of this seamless devotion to God and country than Samuel Adams. In his time, Sam was far more famous than his cousin, John. Sam was known as the last of the great Puritans and the father of the Revolution. It was Sam Adams who organized the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence. (By the way, if you're going out to a Tea Party on Saturday, historians believe that the first tea party, the one in Boston, was organized by Samuel Adams. It was that Boston Tea Party that lit the fuse of the American Revolution).
When Sam Adams was elected to that First Continental Congress and traveled to the gathering of leaders in Philadelphia, he thought the Continental Congress needed to begin its work on its knees--in prayer. But when the motion was made to call in a local clergyman to lead the worship, John Jay of New York and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina objected. We are too diverse, they said. We could never agree on whose prayers to say.
Rising to his feet, Sam Adams spoke: "I am no bigot," he said, "I can hear the prayer of any man of piety and virtue who is a friend to his country." Deeply moved, the delegates voted to approve Sam Adams' idea. The next morning, amid reports of the British moving against the people of his hometown of Boston, Sam knelt in prayer with his fellow delegates, as the Rev. Jacob Duch? prayed. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me, and fight against them that fight against me."
That inspired move by Sam Adams did much to overcome suspicions among the delegates. Joseph Reed of Philadelphia called that prayer "a masterly stroke." Those Founding Fathers could now work together for liberty.
Soon, Sam Adams would sign the Declaration of Independence. Alongside Sam Adams' name you can find that of Charles Carroll, a delegate from Maryland. Carroll was the richest man in Congress and the only Roman Catholic. Nowhere else on earth in 1776 could you find an Evangelical like Sam Adams pledge "his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor" alongside a Catholic like Charles Carroll. They both risked death by hanging for signing that great Declaration. But they served the King of Kings and had no fear of King George III.
In our efforts to maintain the freedoms won by our forefathers we must be like them--people of action and prayer. We must never sever our personal faith from our public stand for faith, family and freedom.
Resources: FRC
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