live from the guillotine

Compare and Contrast

God works in mysterious ways.  My cousin, Ron, sent me a link to a blog with a 90 second stick figure recap of 24, just for giggles.  It was funny, but the blog itself really interested me and I read several other posts.  As the matter of fact, I'm linking it now and thanks to Brant Hansen for his blog and this wonderful story.

Remember that Christian high school basketball team recently in the news that destroyed the opposing team and keep right on going until the final score was 100-0?  From ABC News:

A Texas high school girls basketball team has apologized for winning big. The Covenant School, a private Christian high school in Dallas, defeated Dallas Academy last week in a blowout: 100-0.

And:

During the lopsided Jan. 13 game, spectators said the Covenant School ran up the score, playing aggressive offense, even with their 59-0 lead at halftime. The girls kept on the pressure until they scored the 100th point.

The Dallas Academy, a small private school with 20 girls, is for students with learning disabilities. With eight girls on the varsity team, these young women are used to challenges on and off the court. Despite hours in the gym practicing each week, the Bulldogs haven't won a girls basketball game in five years.

I wanted to write about this earlier in the week, because both my older kids played on teams with 8 players at the varsity level.  The basketball teams weren't as bad as the 8 player football team, needless to say, but we've lost nearly as ugly here at the guillotine.  I'm a sports fan, so I understand playing the kids hard and working not only for the current game but also the next game.  I can understand Covenant up to the half, but beyond that, what the hell were they thinking? 

What Covenant did to Dallas Academy was unsportsmanlike, tacky, and at the very least, beneath the values that Christian parents hope for when they send their kids to private school hoping to take care of their children's academic and moral training.  Not a single player came out a winner in this game, as Covenant showed absolutely no class, let alone Christ-like qualities. 

After reading about that game, imagine my delight in coming across this story at Letters from Kamp Krusty.  It seems a Christian football team from Grapevine, Texas decided to do the right thing and their coach initiated it.  This is a Christian school I'd want my kids to attend:

It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.

"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"

Who were these Gainesville boys?

But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas. Every game it plays is on the road.

This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents. Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery—many of whose families had disowned them—wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.

So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."

Do yourself a favor and find out what it meant to the Gainesville boys by reading the whole thing.  

God's talking to us every day.  Coach Hogan was listening and everyone was a winner that night. 

Do You Agree?

Since my mom is out of town I thought I'd find something thought provoking to post on her site. This is something a friend of mine, that I don't always agree with, wrote. 

Right now I don't have time to comment about this, thought some of yall might like a chance to voice your thoughts. I will try and post something on it later.

God.  How can he be great?  Or at least how can he be greater than his nemesis?  Almost no Christian refers to the devil even half as often as he refers to God.  Yet all would concede his existence.  They have to; it is part of the belief structure required by the Christian church.  (Lucifer was a fallen angel that went against God.)  Most don’t ever consider both in the same thought process.  If something good happens, it is the will of God.  If something bad happens, it is the will of God.  Yet if the occurrence is unmoral or exceptionally bad, it was the Devil’s doing.  And even then the Devil isn’t given the LOGICAL credit he is due.  If something bad happens to a Christian, why don’t they ever say it was the will of the Devil?  Why must every event that is unsatisfactory be some divine plan of God’s to teach you humility or acceptance or many of the things that human nature does not possess naturally?

The obvious response is that this is the basis for the Christian religion.  To be Christian means that you put your life in God/Jesus/holy spirit and that you have to accept that whatever happens is his will and part of some greater plan; because God is all knowing and man is not.  To say anything else would be blasphemy and admit that God is not in control.  Such a point would topple the entire Christian belief structure.

An eloquent response to be sure, yet not one that merits any credit.  This is, of course, a cop-out for not having an answer.  The basis for God being all knowing is a blind faith response that still refuses to address the obvious counter-point. 

I will be the first to agree that any arguments for the Devil are seemingly quite disturbing to any without intelligence.  Only those that can think intelligently can see an argument where the Devil is supported as a point with reviewing.  Those that refuse to listen or to concede the point simply are not worth the time it would take to explain the idea.  Now to the point:

To believe in God is to believe in the Devil.  To believe in the Devil is to concede that God is not all powerful, otherwise he would have destroyed the Devil and restored “goodness” to the world.  This is, of course, countered by the idea that God does not want to destroy the Devil, it is in his divine plan to allow the Devil to continue to do his work.  But if this is true, then we are back at the point that the Devil exists and works on a level opposite of God.  And in doing so, when was a beast ever able to be fully contained by its master while the master still allows the beast to do harm?  Such control is, of course, not possible.  And even if it were possible, than the ONLY possible argument is that the Devil’s work is the same thing as saying God’s work.  But in society, it still continues that the Devil’s work is horrible and sought to be destroyed while God’s work is praised and accepted. 

Is this simply conceded as truth by all that humans are so inferior that we refuse to accept that which we do not like? 

It is more probable that humans do not even consider this point and are fully inept in their own belief structure. 

Furthermore, to follow on this line of thinking, the entire Christian belief structure is wrong.  There was some time in which Lucifer was a “good” angel and had not fallen from grace yet.  Yet this would imply that there was no “good” before Lucifer’s fall.  How can there be light when you have no darkness to compare it to?  The existence of each depends on the other.  Therefore, it would be more logical for Christians to be thankful for the Devil because his existence, and his existence alone allows for the possibility of God.  If each is dependent on the other than once again we are back to the point that neither is stronger than the other.  If God is not stronger than the Devil, how can one possible worship him as the all-powerful savior?  He is more of a semi-powerful symbiotic being. 

You Use to be one!

Posted by Wilma

This is another excellent article from World Magazine which says what I have been wanting to say our response as  Christians should be on immigration...only Joel Belez says it much better.  Christians have a responsibility to understand our place in society.  It is not that we should ever support people who break the law...but we should "lovingly" show them the way...Please, Please....look at the big picture..and search your heart as you do...

 

You used to be one

A theology-based policy for immigration | Joel Belz
Go read it here

The Gospel of Judas

This is a great Post by John Reynolds...read the whole thing.

Posted by John Reynolds on April 8, 2006

Imagine that someone told you that Hugh Hewitt was a secret agent for Howard Dean. With breathless assurance, he tells you that Hugh has been given instructions to act as an advocate of Republican or conservative values as part of an elaborate plan. What is the plot? Dean is betting Bush will implode during his second term. This implosion, better than a narrow Kerry win in 2004 will, according to Dean, set up the White House for a true progressive in 2008. Hewitt was recruited by Dean from PBS in order to advance this deep plot to deny the Republicans the White House long term and to revive the far left. Hewitt attacks Democrats in order to help them.

Found While Wandering...

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

Enough Already!

I've had it up to my eyeballs with writers who ask questions that have long been answered.  Take this for example:

The weakness of the conservatives is that they think the essence of the West is our religion, our "Judeo-Christian tradition"—rather than our Enlightenment legacy of individual rights and unfettered reason. Conservatives try to evade the clash between religious authority and freedom of thought by claiming that religion provides the moral basis for liberty. But the clash cannot be avoided,  and conservatives are forced to choose where they will draw the  line: where respect for religious prohibitions, in their view, takes precedence over respect for the individual mind. On this issue—involving a religion alien to American traditions—most conservatives have had no problem drawing the line in favor of freedom. But will they draw a different line when their own religious dogmas are challenged?

The lines were hashed out and drawn at the Constitutional Convention, then ratified across the land.

This is the final lesson of the cartoon jihad. The real issueat stake is not just censorship versus freedom, but something much deeper: the need to recognize the real essence of the West.  The distinctive power and vibrancy of our culture, the source of our liberty, our happiness, and our unprecedented prosperity, is our Enlightenment tradition of regard for the unfettered reasoning mind, left free to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

And this controversy has given our minds plenty of evidence to follow, and plenty of fearless conclusions to draw.

It occurs to me that about the same time the Constitutional Convention was going on, another group was having a similar discussion.  Following their Enlightenment tradition of regard for the unfettered reasoning mind this was their fearless conclusion:

If we're going to engage in ridiculous moral equivalency games, riddle me this? Is it the conservatives with Judeo-Christian values or the worshipers of the goddess reason who most resemble the angry mobs chanting in the streets and demanding off with their heads for the cartoonists?                              

Church Folk

Veritas and I were talking today about a poll indicating that people who attend church on a regular basis divorce at a lower rate than those who rarely or never attend church.

Veritas wondered why that would be true and I think I know at least part of the answer.  Going to church causes many responses in us, but one part is the willing submission of personal reflection to a pastor, teacher, or priest who will spend an hour asking that we look into our own hearts and strive to become better individuals.   This shifts the focus of what a spouse might be doing that irritates us right back onto ourselves and our own shortcomings. 

It is a weekly reminder to focus on the log in our own eye that calls us all to personal accountability and self examination, rather than a default mode of trying to lay the blame for problems at another's feet.  Marriage is certainly a difficult task at times, but it is made infinitely easier when we acknowledge our own shortcomings in the relationship. 

In this way, we open the door to our occasionally hardened hearts and welcome in grace.  Not only because we desire it for ourselves, but because when we see our own daily need of grace, we then extend it all the more to those we love.   

Loving others, be they spouses, children, friends, or co-workers requires us to extend a good deal of benefit of the doubt compassion to all we deal with on a daily basis.  Recognizing and affirming our own need of those things during a weekly church service makes it so much easier to deal compassionately with those we live with and especially our spouses.

Church Humor

On Sunday, the message was partly about what heaven will be like.  The Handypastor read a scripture about heaven and eternity.  I forget the reference because I didn't write it down, but is was about marriage in heaven and the scripture said something to the effect that there will be no one given in marriage or husbands or wives as we know this concept in heaven. 

And Willard look at Mr. G and I, then at the pastor and his wife, and raised his hand.  "So...after you get to heaven, you're free to date?"

Everyone about died laughing and then one of my girls, I think Veritas, said, "Yes, Willard.  Heaven is an eternal singles bar."

Friday Reading

Scrolling through the 65th Christian Carnival of bloggers, I came across this post at The Upward Call, Wearing the right garments:

I think my husband was wearing compassion, kindness and humility. I know that Paul is addressing believers here, but how much more should this attitude should be shown those who are not believers? There is nothing we can do as human beings to cause people to feel conviction of God; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing we can do to convert people to Christ; ultimately, that is the job of the Holy Spirit. But we can do something to turn others off ever wanting to be with Christians, and that is to misrepresent Christ through being judgmental and harsh. Yes, Christ condemned sin, and we can lovingly point out errors, but point out is all we can do, and we need to be careful about how we point out error. There’s a big difference between using a great big stick and a gentle word.

This one's for Val, who has been at the receiving end of the stick in the last year.  I've been trying to think of a nice way to say this all week.  I often struggle with gentle words when in the company of those who dedicate their lives to alienating believers and unbelievers by beating them to death with criticism.  Who on earth would be attracted to this brand of Christian fellowship?  "Come to church with me.  Not only do I feel the need to share, but  I have lots of friends who can't wait to catalog your faults right along with me."

What a great way to cause people to run screaming from the church, and Christ as well.   What ever happened to they will know we are Christians by our love?   

Easter Blessings

Christian parents want to raise their children to be followers of God, saved by Christ.  I am no different.  I want my kids to not only profess believe, but dedicate their lives to acting on those beliefs 7 days a week.  One of the things I required of Valentine when she went to college was she be involved in a weekly fellowship of her choosing.

As small children, my sister and I sat at my Mother's feet and listened to her teachings.  She insisted.  And when we would moan and groan that we'd heard it all before, she often told we girls she was commanded by God to nag teach us at least 4 times a day.  Her proof:

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 - Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.      

She would quote this scripture and count aloud: "4 Times a Day!  Sitting at home, walking along the road, lying down, and getting up.  That's at least 4!"

She rarely failed in her duties, needless to say.  Come to think of it, I might possibly have mentioned this scripture to my own children once or twice.  (Pause for laughter of said children to die down.) 

Having been taught so well and often,  I figured if I wasn't going to be around to personally nag Val, she should at least go have someone else nag her at least once a week, right?

So although the girls and I went and shopped for Easter clothes yesterday, I was sad that Val was not with us Sunday morning.  I was glad to know, however, she was in her own fellowship in Collegetown, hearing the Easter message of hope for us all.  She has Bible Study leaders to help and love her and she has Christian brothers and sisters to sustain her when I cannot be there.  This gives me great peace.

I know people sometimes scoff at special shopping and clothing for Easter, but I've always thought if we can get all dressed up to celebrate weddings and graduations we ought to get dressed up to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.  It is by far the most important of our celebrations on earth.  Christ is risen and I am alive with and through Him. 

People who complain about standing through the length of the praise and worship portion of the  service also perplex me.  If we can stand for 3 straight hours during an intense football game, we can surely stand during a few songs on Sunday morning for the Lord of the universe.  Still, that rant is for another day.

Aside from Valentine, all of my children and my new grandchild were with us for Easter services.  As each family separated to partake of communion together, Viagra came over and demanded I hand over his daughter so he could lead his own new family in prayer and recognition of Christ's blood and body, sacrificed for us.

Initially, I was irritated and hurt because many families were praying together with all the generations combined, but I quickly realized that I was wrong.  Viagra was taking his responsibility to be a man in his own home seriously.  He was leaving his mother and father, cleaving unto his wife, and starting a new generation of Christianity, traditions, and family for himself.  Exactly as it should be.

And I was overcome with thankfulness and gratitude for my two grown children.  Even as they grow apart, living their own adventure that is this life, they are followers of God.  What a tremendous blessing to see two of my greatest prayers  answered for my children.

Now on to making sure my other three greatest prayers, Veritas, Vision, and Willard come to pass.

Update:  Veritas is greatly offended by this comment.  Duely noted.  As it happens, while I continue to pray for Veritas, I am not in the least concerned about her spiritual well being.  I'm dead certain she is just fine and will continue to be so.  After all, if I've lived through Viagra's childhood and he's turned out okay, all things are truly possible for those who love the Lord!  And people say they don't witness miracles anymore...