tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332597372024-03-06T02:36:55.438-06:00Simple ThoughtsThoughts on life, love and God from the heart of a poet and a lover.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-92074117558108212152014-03-30T01:46:00.000-05:002014-03-30T01:47:27.323-05:00A story, A moive, An outrage The New 52 #14So it seems like every person with a pulpit has an opinion on this Noah movie. So for what its worth here are my 2 cents. I'm really hoping that this is a little more of a fair and unbiased "review" of the movie. Let me being with this. I'm a fan of Aronofsky. I first saw <em>Pi</em> when I was in high school and I was hooked. I think T<em>he Wrestler</em> is an amazing piece of story telling about the ungraceful aging of athletes and what it means to lose ones identity. I've been waiting for this movie since I first heard about it's concept, I believe some time around <em>The Passion of the Christ</em>. Also I believe the story of Noah is a historical account of judgment, mercy, and grace. A story I love yet one that I never do justice to because its ingrained in my brain as a brightly colored children's book. <br />
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Now on to the movie.<br />
I really like Aronofsky's work as a story teller and artist but this movie simple wasn't his best. The movie relied heavily on some real lame cg. I mean it seriously looked like it should have been on Syfy. That's right a multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster with the same kind of special effects as <em>Sharknado.</em> While the story had some really interesting meta-arcs it is ultimately held back by some predictable, contrived and clichéd story tropes. (The crazy-magical old man, the over protective mother, the fallen faithful, wickedness man abusing nature.)<br />
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Oh yeah it wasn't really that accurate and lets face it no one is surprised by this. Hollywood can't even retell a classic story, looking at you Peter Jackson and everyone involved with <em>X-men Origins: Wolverine</em> (I promise that is the last time I'm going to acknowledge that movie exist), without adding and subtracting from it. What is funny is the weird things they went out of their way to add, magical rocks that burst into flame; a piece of fruit that looked like a beating heart, and the simple details they left out or changed. FYI props for including the waters from within the earth. It wasn't just rain ya'll. I mean seriously Noah ate meat and sacrificed animals. If they could have just presented this as an epic myth and distanced themselves from the name Noah it would have a completely different reception but then again controversy creates cash.<br />
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With all that said there are some things that I really appreciated from the filmmakers. I believe that there were also some elements we as Christians can use to help us reclaim the truth of the story from the pastel walls of the nursery room. I like how they referred to God as "the Creator" considering that this was the biggest way God had revealed himself in the Genesis account thus far. Also big kudos to them for really holding on to the whole image of God stuff especially in the face of evolutional creation. I like how the ark was a big square box. I loved how they camped out on the idea that all men, even Noah, were wicked which is something that we need to reclaim from misunderstanding. In fact I really like the character of Noah a lot. I mean who single mindedly followed the creator even when it would have been easier not to and struggled heavily with the consequences. PTSD anyone? I like how they emphasized that the flood was a punishment of wicked man which is often something we lose as we remember Sunday school story time. The other two big things I'd like to see reclaimed from the story besides the previously mentioned wickedness of all is that 1) the flood was an <strike>amazingly</strike> horrifically violent event; the amount of life lost is simply unimaginable of course Noah was messed up, everyone outside of his lineage was dead. 2) That sin has a wide effect. All though 2 of each animal were preserved to carry on countless were killed. People were killed regardless of an "age of innocence or accountability" or the mental capacities to understand wrong doing. Our sin effects our neighbors and our children we forget that often.<br />
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God was Just in wiping it all out, he was merciful by allowing a remnant, and he was gracious because he picked an unworthy man to build a box. <br />
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ps. they really could have used a giraffe.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-14981803548692046092014-03-06T21:02:00.002-06:002014-03-06T21:02:45.272-06:00The new 52 #13 (yes its still a thing)This is a something I just wrote for Melissa. In the process of forging one life out of two friction happens. In these I need to be reminded just how much I need and love my wife. She is a treasure I don't deserve. She doesn't even know about it because she is sleeping in the other room. Its going to be a little surprise in the morning. I'm sorry baby.<br />
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When I said “I do”
what I really meant to say is</div>
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I'll do my best to give
you my all.</div>
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I'll sacrifice myself so
that you won't have too.</div>
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I'll do all I can to
provide for us.</div>
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I'll fight for this
marriage in-spite of myself.</div>
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I'll say I'm sorry as soon
as it hits me I need to.</div>
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I'll say I'm sorry a lot
but mean it every time.</div>
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I'll set you up for
success.</div>
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I'll take the blame for
failing.</div>
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I'll sleep in the guest
room because you need space.</div>
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I'll grovel at you feet
when I forget to treat you with respect.</div>
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I'll need forgiveness
daily.</div>
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I'll push the limits of
your grace.</div>
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I won't every get being
married figured out.</div>
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I'll love you more today
than yesterday.</div>
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Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-18572492945195857862013-10-07T21:31:00.000-05:002013-10-07T21:31:03.101-05:00Hey you, You're cancer. The New 52 #12(caveat this is ruff and barely edited but also the only way I was every going to pick this back up, sorry Jenna don't judge me too harshly) <br />
How strange would it be if a doctor walked up to one of their patients and said that they were cancer, not that they have cancer, or are infected with cancer but that their identity is tied in to their cancer. Its a crazy idea right?<br />
To label a person's identity to an infection they carry around. Yet if your going to label someone by their infection you can understand cancer right. I mean cancer is so unpredictable and invasive. It consumes and destroys those that have; and while it may go into remission there is always that fear that it might come back, that it never really went away. In many cases cancer seems hopeless. While identifying some one as cancer may seem ridiculous think about sin.<br />
Sin is a lot like cancer. Sin is invasive and consuming. It destroys things we love and hold dear. Its unrelenting and always waiting for us. Sin is hopeless. Sin, like cancer, is also an unnatural thing. While cancer is a mutation in health cells, sin is a mutation in our souls.<br />
Yet so many time we have very little problem labeling some one a sinner. How many times have you heard some one begin a gospel presentation with "You're a sinner." We have no problem labeling ourselves as sinners, in fact its so easy for us it is mockingly called "worm theology"<br />
As humans we weren't designed to sin. While we may be <i>born into</i> sin, we aren't <i>born to</i> sin. We are designed to share in the likeness of God, to bear his image and radiate his glory. We are more than a hopeless walking infection, we are image barriers. From time to time we may sin, or live a life of sin, the good news is that we are more than our sin. There is a remedy to our infection and it is the person and work of Jesus. Through him we can be health, we can be made right, be made whole.<br />
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The world may be sick but there is a cure. We are so much more than the thing that ail us.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-67051857918284857892013-06-04T22:16:00.003-05:002013-06-04T22:16:38.207-05:00Sinful Justice The New 52 #11 <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What did you expect, scales?</td></tr>
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I like to think of myself as a man who loves justice. If you asked my family they would agree. During a recent contest between us all, I was the one that was easily the most strict person when it came to adhering to the rules. I love justice because God loves justice. In Micah 6:8 he says it is one of the few things that he requires from us and yet justice isn't always easy. <br />
It is easy to dispense justice when you are the one wronged. As a boy, I remember when I got to spank my brother because he allowed me to be spanked for his crime. It was such sweet justice to be the one welding the paddle. In a perfect world, justice would always be easy because we'd always be in the right. But this isn't a perfect world.<br />
We are in a world tainted by sin and wrong doing. Even ones who love justice, like me, do wrong things. A few weeks ago I made a series of poor choices the culminated with me sitting on the side of the road receiving a ticket. As I sat there waiting for the officer to finish up his task I couldn't help but put my love of justice aside and pray for mercy. I wanted so badly to be let off with just a warning, something less just than I deserved, but all I could thing of was the rest of Micah 6:8... to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.<br />
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Mercy shouldn't be something we long to receive, it should be something we desire to show. Just likehow justice isn't about handing out punishment to those that have wronged you, as much as it is about admitting your wrong doing to others and accepting the punishment. Because when we walk humbly with God, it begins with Him showing us mercy by giving us grace for justice.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-47127968841115812892013-05-11T20:42:00.000-05:002013-05-11T20:42:34.334-05:00Magic and the Prayer of Jabez The New 52 #10While I was growing up a book was written and an empire spawned off a single verse. That verse was 1st Chronicles 4:10. The verse tells about a man named Jabez who prayed a prayer and God granted it to him. From that one verse nine books and a worship experience were created. The main point of the book was a challenge to pray Jabez's prayer for yourself everyday and watch as God would honor it. It was of course a best seller. Not long after that I remember movements in churches based of 2 Chronicles 7:14, possibly sparked from a certain song. When I got to college I was told about this thing called the "prosperity gospel" that was growing like wildfire in Latin America and lower sociology-economic groups. Along with that was the rise of the "feel good gospel", that preached that God wanted you to be happy, successful, and wealthy. It found its home in mega churches that didn't say the word sin and spoke more about living a good life then following God. The problem of all these thoughts is that they claim to have some sort of power over God. If you pray this special prayer, or do these certain things, then God is obligated to act in a certain way. That's why these thoughts are so popular. It turns Christianity into some sort of magical superstition were we have control over the powers of the universe.<br />
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When we buy into this, we forget who God is. I, along with a large number of scholars, believe Job was the first book of the Bible recorded. In it we see God's dealing with a just man. The final chapters of the book are made up of God's reply to Job's questions regarding his circumstances. God never answers Job, instead he reminds Job who He is. He gives Job Himself. God reminds Job that He is the creator and Job is the creation. In response to this Job repents. The first recorded book of the Bible serves to remind us that we don't have some special power over God, and that He doesn't owe us anything. Also, that we can't manipulate Him into doing our will. When we do our dealings with God, we need to remember that we are His and it is not the other way around.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-70198397686947155912013-04-13T11:04:00.000-05:002013-04-13T11:04:20.446-05:00Being Grafted In The New 52 #9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend Melissa and I were invited to attended a church with some friends. It was different. It met in an elementary school lunch room. They meet on a Saturday nights. Not only was it different but it was small and familar. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but the Spirit inside me did. As soon as we walked in we were met at the door. We weren't just greeted, but welcomed and brought in like family. It was like being a part of the same body. After the service ended, we were invited to share in the traditional post service ritual of eating out at the usual spot. It was an awesome time of fellowship. I'm sure that if any one was watching our group they would never have know that we had just meet a couple of hours earlier.<br />
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The week before that a dear friend came to visit us for a week. I marveled at how well she was brought into the family, from being spurred on to participate in her first Easter egg hunt, to being forced to find her hidden basket. Our family brought her in and made her their own. I was so proud to be a part of that.<br />
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I guess the trick about grafting a plant is that both stems need to be cut. It takes openness and willingness from both sides, one to embrace and one to be embraced, to make Spirit-led community happen. Have you been greeted and grafted in? Are you willing to open yourself up to the lives of others?<br />
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<br />Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-41225138354720045782013-03-29T16:21:00.000-05:002013-03-29T16:21:11.101-05:00Is grace gray? The New 52 #8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My wife and I have a special place in our hearts for the show Les Miserables. We have seen the Broadway production twice, own the movie and I think two copies of the book. My favorite character is Javert. I love how he is black and white. He sees himself as the law and as such things are either legal or illegal. To him it doesn't matter why a person broke the law but simply that the law was broken. He is summed up in this quote "Save your breath and save your tears, Honest work. Just reward. That's the way to please the Lord." He is a pharisee; plain and simple, some one who loves the law. The saddest thing about his character is that in his zeal for the law there is no room for grace. In fact when he is shown grace he can't understand it and is incapable of handling it. His only recourse was to deny the grace Val Jean extended him, and take his own life.<br />
This has got me thinking about grace. As we seek to make more of grace, must our worldview become less black and white? Does embracing grace decrease the firmness with which we can stand? I don't know what those answers are... but I do know that the more I learn to embrace grace, the more grace must change me. The more I must rely on it. The more I must draw on it. The more grace must change how I interact with the world around me.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-33791730648206637332013-03-14T18:34:00.003-05:002013-03-14T18:34:52.059-05:00A ringer gets you eternal life! The New 52 #7A few weeks ago I was talking to some students about living a life that is imitatable. The general response was, that all things considered, their lives were "better" than most. The "all things considered" being that no one can live up to Christ and they weren't as bad as some. I challenged them to make Christ the measuring stick of their lives, not other people. This got me thinking about a game of horseshoes I was playing. I noticed that as I was throwing the horseshoes, they had a tendency to fall to the right. So instead of adjusting my throwing motion to hit the mark, I stepped to the left and changed the spot I was aiming at. I didn't hit the mark. In fact, I just had to keep moving around and changing my target. It was easy to feel like I was still doing good. I was still scoring points, and I even won a few rounds. That was only because I was getting close to the stake, but not hitting it.<br />
Isn't that what life with Christ is like! We aim to become like him, but over time we start looking left and right. We lose the mark and become comfortable with just hitting the target and being closer to the bulls-eye than others. We get comfortable with sin, you know that area between us and the bulls-eye. Just like in that game of horseshoes, I/we need to take a moment to fix our aim back on the mark. We need to adjust our throwing motion, so that we can become less comfortable with the sin in our life. <br />
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<br />Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-73061364278605357812013-02-23T20:00:00.001-06:002013-02-23T20:00:54.859-06:00Harder than I thought: The New 52 #6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I set out to do this one new entry a week thing aka 52 new entries in a year I thought that it would be challenging but not difficult. I mean with all the hours I have during a week, how difficult would it be to find two to sit down and write a post. Well it has been a lot harder than I thought. Its been difficult to not only find and take the time to write but to also seclude myself so when my wife listens to her music or radio it doesn't break my train of thought. Its been hard to not feel pressure mounting as I miss one blog, then a second, and now all of a sudden I'm three weeks behind with a new one due in two days. So really I need four post by Monday AHHH! While I realize this is a personal challenge and no one is going to come walking up to me in December and say "Hey, I noticed you only got 49 post written. For shame." but it is important to me to meet my mark. Yeah I'm just that kind of guy. I like to meet my goals. Yet the single most difficult thing I've found about this so far is the creation of a post. Having a thought, fleshing it out, writing it down. Its a process that takes time. Creating engages me with God in a special way, it makes me more like him. That being said it is daunting, its more difficult than I remember it being, but it is more than worth it. I hope you are enjoying this journey.<span id="goog_522637489"></span><span id="goog_522637490"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think some thing, Think some thing...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now go be like God and create something.</span></div>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-13113540983760854862013-02-12T21:22:00.003-06:002013-02-12T21:22:53.136-06:00Without limits: The New 52 #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I have been trying to live a more fit life, which means eating better and exercising more, I noticed that I'm very comfortable. I've noticed that I have a tendency not to push myself. I noticed that instead of forcing my muscles to push out the last rep or pull up the extra weight I'll just call it done a few reps early or leave that little bit of weight off the bar. Why run... when I can just walk my 5k? I'd like to say that it was just physical exercise that I was slacking off on but when I looked at my life I realized in just about every area I allowed myself to be comfortable. I positioned myself well behind the boundary of my abilities to keep my life easy. Maybe you can relate? When I thought about my life I realized that I haven't been pushing myself physically since high school and mentally since college. Sure there were moments of testing my metal, like Marriage: year one (yes that is a reference to comic books) or packing up everything I own and living out of a backpack for 3 months Czech, but in reality my life is comfortable. But I want that to end. No in fact that is ending. Just the other day I started to run during my nightly walks. I can't even remember the last time I ran for anything yet alone just because its different from walking. I'm going to start teaching Sunday school to teenagers which mean I best be bringing my "A" game. I mean you know teenagers in the morning. Maybe you feel the same. I think it is natural for us to desire comfort. It is a rare human being who pushes their limits continuously.What if Paul was hinting at this concept in 1 Cor 9:27 and in Romans 12:2. What if pushing our limits, pushing our humanity, is something God wants from us?<br />
<br />Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-33591975365557087072013-01-27T21:58:00.000-06:002013-01-27T21:58:36.291-06:00"No you move." the New 52 #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Its no secret that I like comics and base some of my ideas on life from the stories I read. While I haven't always been a Captain America fan one day I encountered to following panel and thought to myself that is the truest understanding of integrity I've ever heard. From then on out Cap has been my favorite Marvel super hero. While this might be a little weak as for as original entries go I just wanted to share this with you. I've come back to this over, and over again used it in lessons and tried to live it out in my own life. It has always been a challenge. Not bad from a comic book huh<span style="font-family: Arial;">?</span> Guess they're not just for kids anymore.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazing
Spider-Man # 537 copyright Marvel comics</span></td></tr>
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<br />Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-40090980168090831362013-01-27T21:12:00.000-06:002013-01-27T21:12:02.775-06:00Imago Dei the New 52 #3Sorry for the delay I got busy then I got sick and when I get sick I just stop caring about everything. So I guess this week I owe two post. So lets get this thing started.<br />
Do you every think about what you are saying? Do you think about how you talk to our about people? I've noticed that we, as people, have become very at ease with speak our judgement about people. Judgements that are based solely on our personal opinions about people we don't even know. The evangelical world lit up this past weeks with the inauguration, the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade and countless other things. I've heard sports media running off the rails about the personal struggles of a young man. I've slowly become sickened with state of how we relate to one another.<br />
While I'm all for having and experiencing personal opinions, I think that before we share them we need to ask ourselves three questions.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Does this need to be shared?</b> You can ask me on my opinion on a great number odds are I have one but that doesn't mean that it is accurate, informed or necessary. The world doesn't need to know my opinion on Manti Te'o, it doesn't need to be shared. (Yes I did have to check on how to spell his name.)</li>
<li> <b>Is my opinion informed?</b> This has two parts a) is it rooted in fact b) is it rooted in a relationship. Its easy to lob shots from for away with out facts, with out knowledge, and with out a supporting relationship. I don't need to call into question the salvation or beliefs of the president because I have a twitter. I don't know the man and the evidence I do have actually speaks the opposite. When we share our uninformed opinions we are acting like lighting rods and talking heads stirring up controversy for our own gain.. Jesus was controversial because he said he was the son of God coming to take away the sins of the world not because he said Caesar was a jack-ass.</li>
<li><b>How do I respect the Image of God?</b> When we answer yes to the first two questions we are left with one last thought How can I share my opinion while honoring the image of God inside me and inside the other person. We can say how so and so is the worlds biggest idiot and dumbest liar or we can say Jimmy that wasn't the wises choice you could have made no was it really in line with what you have presented as the truth. When we speak not only are we speaking about others we are revealing things about ourselves to. Especially as a Christian, I represent Christ with my thought and deed, I best be sure to speak in truth and love not ignorance and disdain.</li>
</ol>
So what are you doing with your tongue?Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0Pompano Beach, FL 33069, USA26.2286939 -80.15960410000002426.1147559 -80.320965600000022 26.3426319 -79.998242600000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-62091300101205699282013-01-14T21:35:00.000-06:002013-01-14T21:35:03.417-06:00The Right Fit. The New 52 #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVWl-go9HESQyD5cWOY9lwZ8SGu30SXxHDlwXeCZ-EaMUp4_T7jFnGY0zbRf13qcZfjP3SBNZModmnMenMMGZp-CrlTDpYDXOqGQKIrNcz7SQOTnrqyn6VtLD3feBCTU4w70wHg/s1600/puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVWl-go9HESQyD5cWOY9lwZ8SGu30SXxHDlwXeCZ-EaMUp4_T7jFnGY0zbRf13qcZfjP3SBNZModmnMenMMGZp-CrlTDpYDXOqGQKIrNcz7SQOTnrqyn6VtLD3feBCTU4w70wHg/s320/puzzle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have often thought about life as a puzzle. In this puzzle we are the pieces, and we run around tying to find the right fit. Imagine dumping one of those 5,000 piece puzzles out and trying put it together blind fold. You couldn't start with the edge pieces because you couldn't find them. You couldn't look at the picture as a reference to make sure that things were progressing as needed. You couldn't even be able to tell if all the pieces were right side up or on the table. Sounds chaotic and difficult if you ask me, some would even say it is impossible.<br />
No imagine talking all of those pieces and giving them to 5,000 people, one piece a person. How long would it take to but that puzzle together? No picture, no borders just pieces; how would you start? Where would you start?<br />
This is life. This is life together lived in community with others.<br />
We walk around with our piece. We use our desires and feelings to define our edges. We look at friends and relationships trying to find the perfect fit. We take our pieces to work placing them into the scope of the company making sure our pieces fit just right, or at least well enough that it can be managed. Sometimes we fit into a spot we find thinking its perfect but after time and close examination we see were there is a slight gap between our notch and the others groove or we see that the other is the mountain peak and we are the reflection in the lake and we move on. Yet still sometimes we find a piece and we know its spot is close at hand but we just can't make sense of it yet so we but it some where close by waiting for the picture to become more clear.<br />
That's what happened to Melissa and I. After stepping out in faith believing that this was going to be the year that pieces fell into place. This was the year that we were going to move forward, raise support for the mission field, and figure out where we were headed for the at least the next couple years. We were told that we really like your pieces, we really want your pieces but we just can't see where they fit right now.<br />
So here we are almost a year later. Almost a year after committing to journey to Czech , to put life a hold and explore something new, to press our pieces together and see if there was a fit. We are left with the same pieces, in the same places, with the same mismatches trying to figure out were we fit in now.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-12840794025334439622013-01-06T22:03:00.001-06:002013-01-06T22:03:59.415-06:00Something new...my new 52 #1<p>When I started this blog, I planned on it serving as a creative outlet. A place where I could write and share my thoughts. At first I was intimidated and scared. I was scared to open my ideas up to be read and critiqued by others. The thought that someone, some faceless nameless person, would have acces to this intimate thing was hard to get over. Timidly I shared on, and to my suprise people liked it. I was given feedback by others that it was good, they like my poetry, were challenged by my thoughts, and enjoyed getting to walk some of my journey with me. I was no longer afraid to share myself with others. Yet sure enough like any good narrative a new problem arose. <br>
	I became overwhelmed with the task of creating. I found the challenge. For me, it isn't to just have a thought, but to nurture it into maturity. My mind is filled with half-thought blog posts and partial stanzas of poetry. Creating wasn't difficult. Well... creating the spark wasn't difficult, but fanning that spark into flame was the part that got to me. Over time I became full of ideas but lacked the time, desire, fuel to turn them into something share-worth. That is now going to change!<br>
	It's a new year. A time when we make goals and plans to change ourselves. We accept new challenges and push ourselves to try new things. For some it is a picture a day, others seek to read a set amount of books or lose weight. Well, to borrow an idea from DC comics... I'm starting a new 52! This year my goal is to write 52 new blog post. That is one entry a week, for a full year. I'm excited, intimidated, and curious. Join me for my new 52 and we can journey together for a little bit.</p>
Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-29269164327993464542012-06-04T08:42:00.001-05:002012-06-05T08:11:51.827-05:00Like breath like rain<div><div><p>Back in 2008, I was attending a church in ValMez, one of the Czech youth groups I've worked with, and one of the elders gave me a prophetic word. This was my first introduction to the more charismatic gifts of the Spirit. I've encountered some of these gifts a few more time since then, but only from the outside and as an outsider. After graduating from MBI, I'd say that I was a skeptic to this kind of working of the Spirit. I would clothe my skepticism with the phrase "God will chose to work in natural ways over supernatural ways." As I worked alongside churches like Valmez and talked more with people that believed they were given these sign gifts, my skepticism began to fade. I began to see that for some these gifts, especially that of prophecy, were in some ways a burden. Yet, I was still just an outsider.<br>
Over the years I struggled to understand how to uses these blessings for ministry and their place in the church and my life. But to say that my struggle was just in regards to the sign gifts would be too simple. I felt an over all lack of the Spirit in my life. I looked to friends who seemed to be more in tune or sensitive to the Spirit, ones that could say they've heard God talk to them, ones that are more active in seeing, feeling, and discerning spiritual warfare. I shrugged it all off by saying that God had blessed me with just being a spiritual ditz.<br>
Yet sometimes, in the deepest of doubt, I would wonder if there was something wrong with me. I questioned if I was doing something wrong because the only time I felt the the faintest of communication with God was about  a monumental event. I literally questioned the depth and truth of my faith because I could not point to any real activity in my life in the spiritual realm.<br>
As Melissa and I began our journey over to Czech one of the things that I started praying was that I would be more willing to hear God. I prayed that He would speak clearly to us. I was more involved in the reading the Bible and discussing the Spirits work with others. It was as if I believed I could will a better relationship with God. Even in our journey God had to speak to me through Melissa and through the JV missionaries. As our team was given to us I noticed that all my interns come from a charismatic background. One has the gift of tongues and one the gift of interpretation. I jokingly asked if my team was given to me because I needed more of the Spirit in my life. While that wasn't the case I wondered if maybe that was God's way of saying to me I needed more of His Spirit. Over that last few days at intern training we've been talking about the Holy Spirit and we've been challenged to draw closer to him. I'm not sure what God's plan is this summer and what part His Spirit is going to play, but I'm excited for what lies ahead. I feel Him with our team in a very real way and I'm taking the challenge of drawing close to Him very real this summer. I'm excited to breathe in the breath of God.</p>
</div></div>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0Malenovice, Malenovice49.57539 18.40375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-13279645929488338772012-04-16T21:54:00.002-05:002012-04-16T22:14:56.439-05:00Step two...if you haven't heard the news<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">For all of you who haven't heard the news, my wife and I are going to Czech...again...for the whole summer! After last summer, Melissa and I were invited out to lead an intern team. We spent a lot of time praying and thinking about what God wanted us to do this summer. We decided to step out in faith and follow Him. We are </span>really<span style="font-size: 100%;"> excited to experience what God is doing there. Now we are packing up, moving and getting ready for what God has in store for our future. To get a better idea of what we are doing, you can read our support letter here. <a title="View Siewert Missions Letter 2012 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/89735864/Siewert-Missions-Letter-2012" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Siewert Missions Letter 2012</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/89735864/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-1k219crul3m08thklqph" height="true" ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" id="doc_6139" width="100%" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></span>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-49397392349132491342011-12-27T17:20:00.003-06:002011-12-27T17:47:26.019-06:00Christmas postI know its a little bit late but I wanted to post my annual Christmas blog. I usually talk about how we need to make Jesus glorified with our gift giving, which is true, but this year I decided to go with another thought.<br />I've heard the Christmas story every year of my life. Every year it seams to become more wondrous. Instead of getting old and tired I find the story getting more amazing and enthralling. Every year something new jumps out and this year is no different. As the story was being shared in church some thing struck me for the first time. It was... yep that. The ... between Malachi 4:6 and Matthew 1:1. It was the first time I ever connected the birth of Jesus with the 400 years of silence. If you haven't read Malachi in a while stop reading this and go read that right now! Its really short! Trust me I can wait. Amazing isn't alright no go read Luke Chapters 1 and 2! Is that no incredible. The last thing God says is<blockquote></blockquote><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23144"></sup><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23144"></sup><blockquote><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23144">5</sup> See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23145">6</sup> He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.</blockquote><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">That's</span> um...great. I'm going to send Elijah and he is either going to bring delicious redemption or I'm gonna destroy everything.<br /><br />400 years. Then<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24984"></sup><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24984"></sup><blockquote><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24984">10</sup> But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24985">11</sup> Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24986">12</sup> This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”</blockquote>No I know that technical this isn't the breaking of the silence but lets be honest how many people do you think heard about Zechariah's little interaction in the Holy of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Holies</span>? This is Gods first mass communication with common people and man is it amazing. Lights, sirens, all the bells and whistles. Today the savior has been born! Today! 400 years of is God every going to speak again? Is he every going to send the anointed one? Will he every deliver us? God answers that with one grand announcement.<br /><br />Today it is here!<br /><br />I think that is really awesome.<br /><blockquote></blockquote>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-37630080567989505672011-10-01T22:44:00.003-05:002011-10-02T00:02:55.922-05:00Coming to termsChildren begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them. – <a target="_top" href="http://encyclopedia2.tfd.com/Wilde,+Oscar">Oscar Wilde</a><br /><br />This was the Random quote of the day on my blog and while I didn't intend on writing on the topic I was so struck by this quote and a few other events of the day that this blog happened as a result.<br />I have to reactions to Wilde's statement. The first is simple. I love my parents. I only hope that the understand the depth of love I have for them, how honored I am to be there son. I feel like I fail to comunicate the depth of respect I have for them and the sacrafices they made to give me the upbringing I had. I think that I can never express my thankfulness to them to make the hard decisions I couldn't and doing with out so my immaturity and appetites could be appeased. I am beginning to understand that not only is this what love is about but also the struggle of being some ones child/parent. On one hand as a parent there is no end to sacrifice and no true way to be thanked. On the other there is no way that I as a son can every really give back or even begin to thank my parents for what they have done. My only hope is that by carrying on the cycle my parents might understand how much they mean to me and how proud I am to be their child.<br />The second thought is along the same vein but relates to how we view God. Justin McRobets (a long time favorite) has long challenged my through his writing to set in the tension between a sovereign good God and the evil that is rampant on the earth. (Check out his blog. The link is on the right! Just right click and open in a new tab.) That and for some reason Ellie Wiesel's writings came to mind. His story is a great and remarkable one but for this instance its his journey of faith that is the most pertinent. He begins life as a good Jewish boy devoting his life to the Torah and then the "night" happens and it is a long journey from despair and judgement. His memoirs are a great read.<br />I've learned that first stage of reconciling the "problem of evil" is that God no more needs my forgiveness then he does my permission. Because forgiveness implies that I am owed some reconciliation that I have some authority to judge. This brings me back to sitting in the tension of a good God and a broken world, sitting with a frustrated, angry and broken heart.<br />If I ever get past the first step I'll let you know.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-70006350026493112962011-09-13T21:16:00.003-05:002011-09-13T22:00:32.350-05:009/13/11One of the reasons I find myself not writing as much as I used to, as I'd like to, is that I try to be witty. Well at least what I think is witty which usually passes of as one of those half silent one sound chuckles. I'm not even sure how to write that sound to fully explain to all you readers what it sounds like in my head. So...I'll just assume you understand.<br />That is basically my way of saying what I'm about to give you is raw thought. I've had thoughts running around my head for awhile and the never made it to paper because I couldn't take the time to make them witty and fun. My writing in general has suffered from this read: no new poetry :( This is the reason there isn't some catchy title at the top of my entry. I wanted to finally get this stuff out.<br />I recently lead a small missions team over to the Czech. As I prepared and planned to lead this team I took stock of all my past trips. I thought about my first time over and how awesome it was to see what God was doing there. I remember how excited all of us where. Many of us from the trip wanted to continue partnering with JV, few of us have. Which isn't a bad thing because being a missionary to an Atheist country isn't for every one and lets been honesty as Christians we should get excited to see what God is doing and want to be a part of it. I remember that first summer, only two of us from that spring trip went back. And to my knowledge Josh and I were some of the first Moody Students to pursue internships with JV because of the spring break trips. Yet I have seen God use those trips to form a strong bond between Moody and Josiah Venture. While it may be unspoken it is encouraging to see my friends from my trip and the following spring breaks partnering with God and his work in Josiah Venture.<br />During my time in '08 JV was starting this thing called the 2x3 campaign. The purpose of this was to double the fruit of the ministry in 3 years. I was planning on moving to Czech and being a big part of this God had other plans for me. My involvement with JV became less and my plans changed.<br />Then towards the end of the campaign God brought me back to this place. In his good timing he brought me and my wife to lead a new team of 3 people who had never even heard of Josiah Venture till We asked them to join the trip. We were supported by two churches who were discovering what God is doing in the Czech for the first time. One of which had never sent a missions team until our trip! That's 4 new people, 2 new churches and all to work with 1 new Czech church. Not bad for a 2x3 Campaign drop out.<br />It was a blessing to share my passion not only with my wife but our team and see them develop a similar passion for the God's work. I loved getting to introduce two Churches to the need of the Czech Republic in hope that those relationships become something deep and lasting.<br />Most importantly I loved sharing the part of my life with my wife and turning the one missionary in training spot into two. Please partner with us on our journey.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-30102624250445229492011-02-08T06:28:00.001-06:002011-02-08T06:31:04.750-06:00its on again<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13882548" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13882548">Next Generation</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4418927">Josiah Venture</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />My wife and I are going!Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-14851512452467663552011-01-15T09:06:00.003-06:002011-01-17T21:32:58.068-06:00call me...Husband-man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/kingdom-come/3-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 642px;" src="http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/kingdom-come/3-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I love super heroes. I find no same in that. I'm a sucker for a comic based movie although the usually stink and for Christmas most of my list was filled with ideas about Batman or Spider-man (yes the hyphen is the proper spelling). I love the idea. I've often dreamed about running around saving people with some emblem emblazoned on my chest and a cape draped across my shoulder. I think the one thing that always attracted me to the masked men of comic lore was the idea of protecting the weak. I just finished reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Kingdom Come</span>, highly recommended, it begins in a world where the heroes have stopped protecting and started doing what ever they wanted. It really illustrated how important it is for the heart of a hero to choose to protect, to choose life. It also showed the destruction that can happen when those with responsibility forget to do what is right.<br />Its not that I'm a super hero but I am married. Although I don't have a large city to protect or a galaxy to defend I have a wife. I feel that in some ways the long standing desire I have to be a caped crusader is fulfilled in my marriage. I need to protect my wife, its my duty as her husband so it is all the more heart breaking when I choose to act in a selfish manner. Not only do I not protect her I'm the one that actually hurts her. I go from super hero to evil villain, although I enjoy a well written amoral hero, thats not cool. I hate hurting her.<br />So to my wife I'm sorry. I'll try harder to be the superhero you deserveJerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-47102856663063397822010-11-25T10:24:00.000-06:002010-11-28T14:43:37.621-06:00My grown-up Christmas listOver the last few years I've been struggling with Christmas. I've been captured by the idea that Christmas needs to be more about proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven and celebrating the Messiah, the Deliver, the King and less about packages with ribbons and bows. The last few years as this conviction as been examined and etched out in my soul I never really had to confront it because... well I didn't have much and always seemed to be in-transit. This year was different, is different. I'm working a steady job that pays well and although Melissa and I aren't loaded we aren't scrapping the bottom of the jar for peanut butter. Plus I have some roots I have a place that is home and a community in which I plan to be a part of for awhile. So this is the year when I stop thinking about these things and do something about. I'm planning a Christmas party for the youth group with this in mind so that as we celebrate we also act.<br />I wish I was a goo din my own life. The other day my wife asked me for a list of ideas for her family which I was able to come up with. Yet now as I think about the list I realized that I forgot this idea. So I'm taking the chance to update my list. For those of you whom this is a little to late. I'm sorry I didn't get this sooner and thank you for the present I know that it will bring a smile to my face and joy in my life but for those that are still searching here are things that will grip my heart. Give a gift in my name send a donation to these places.<br /><br />Josiah Venture<br />http://www.josiahventure.com/<br /><br />4 Kids of South Florida:<br />http://www.4kidsofsfl.org/events_and_activities/Gift-of-Hope.cfm<br /><br />For what I really want is the gospel to be proclaimed and the hopeless to find hope.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-49577288206269232712010-09-22T09:30:00.003-05:002010-09-22T10:24:54.371-05:00Does the salt go over the right or left?Recently I was examining my life and faith...which tends to happen at least ever couple months it seems this past year and a half. As I faced yet another big decision and life change I noticed something in my thinking. I looked as saw how easy it was for me to lean upon my faith like a superstition.<br />All my actions toward God became this scripted event that I had relieved many times before. My admission of short coming and dealing with guilt of sin. Followed by my panic stricken pleading for some wisdom and guidance as if I God would speak in some supernatural way if only I could convey to him my great need. Then I wait. I wait for some sign a song on the radio, my Bible to open to some special verse, a stranger on the street or some mystical feeling of peace and fulfillment. Its funny how when I am longing for a sign I forget that God gave me intelligence and a free will. I become so involved in not missing the supernatural sign I'm waiting for that I begin to make everything into the sign I'm looking for and I begin to interpret these signs into saying what I want them to say.<br />That isn't how it works is it though, God doesn't open the heavens and write on the wall. I'm pretty sure if he did I'd be more freaked to see a hand writing on the wall then to catch the message. No Instead God created us in his image. He gave us the ability to make decisions and a free will to enact them. He tells us to trust in him and his sovereignty. He constantly is reminding his people that He is not a God that is constrained by people groups, state lines and legal jurisdiction. He promises to be with us then tells us to move.<br />This time I made me decision I didn't barter with God. I didn't lay out a fleece. I simply trusted. I trusted that he wouldn't allow the wrong decision to be made. I trusted that he would be with us. I trusted that he wanted what was best for Melissa and myself. I trust that dealing with the consequences will help shape us into better reflections of Christ.<br />To be honest there is no peace in the solution. My gut it still in knots, my brain still mulling over pros and cons. My superstitious nature still wants to test and challenge and barter. Instead I choose trust knowing more deeply the God I love.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/05-wd1109-superstitions/823894-1-eng-US/05-wd1109-Superstitions.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 428px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/05-wd1109-superstitions/823894-1-eng-US/05-wd1109-Superstitions.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-44541501064757342512010-08-13T09:56:00.002-05:002010-08-13T11:13:42.465-05:00Fun with Morality<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDc4CJg8BVLawupEQ-cC1krV6TGBy-EerwQNi6Ucj82jAcNkgO_joGBnHsbp0kNBA8qa2oOyIZnRYsAwmIPbfzzT1RntXvi_gjPL5KH8L5w67OjIGE-OlyM4WfxRYMbz93DoZrA/s1600/gallup.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 563px; height: 538px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDc4CJg8BVLawupEQ-cC1krV6TGBy-EerwQNi6Ucj82jAcNkgO_joGBnHsbp0kNBA8qa2oOyIZnRYsAwmIPbfzzT1RntXvi_gjPL5KH8L5w67OjIGE-OlyM4WfxRYMbz93DoZrA/s1600/gallup.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I always find public opinion polls interesting. I like to see where we as a society stand on moral issues. Its also a secret for me to indulge that guilty side that delights in being judgmental. I can sit here and judge Joe Shmoe for being too narrow minded or for not being moral enough. Its the man inside me who sits curling his handle bar mustache while laughing diabolically. mmmuHahaha excellent, excellent. (That is my laugh I hope when you read this you insert the appropriate sound image there. Also the excellent are where the mustache is curled.)<br /><br />I find there are a few things of note for starters look at the categories relating to death.<ul><li>Look at the exact split on Assisted Suicide. How crazy is that.</li><li>Also with all the clamor made about abortion its only viewed favorable by around 1/3 of the people.</li><li>I want to say something about the 77% of people who find suicide morally wrong but the only thing I can think is how much that speaks of the desperation that is suicide.</li></ul>Look at the issue of cloning. I think its strange that we live in a world were cloning is considered a moral conundrum. I how cool is it that we deal with a problem that has been regulated to Science Fiction most of its life.<br /><ul><li>Only 9% percent of people are for cloning humans...I guess those 9% are the remnants of the Galactic Empire...Star Wars...any body, any body? Fine moving on.</li><li>Why is it that I think 2/3 of people are against cloning animals because they are afraid to eat them. Remember how big it was when Dolly the Lamb was cloned?</li><li>Then there is the growing issue of embryo stem cell research. (Notice the pun, I thought it was really good) only 32% of people think it is wrong. Interesting isn't especially when you look at it with the number on abortion. It feels like the public opinion is opposite from what we are lead to believe.</li></ul>No lets look at sex.<br /><ul><li>More people find sex between unmarried people more acceptable than having a baby outside of marriage. Sure its only 5 points but does any one else find that odd.</li><li>40 percent of Americans believe you should be married to have a kid yet Hollywood is encouraging the idea that a woman doesn't need a man. ie <span style="font-style: italic;">The Switch and The Back-up Plan</span> plus the real life example of Angelina Jolie Then again Hollywood always pushed the limits</li><li>People will want to point to the numbers for Homosexual relationships and talk about how they are more acceptable. Yet I find the almost universal view that adultery is wrong to be more shocking, not that the belief is shocking but that 92% of Americans hold it.</li><li>Looking at the acceptability of divorce 69% one would question the importance of marriage in our society yet with all the other stats pertaining to marriage and sex one would be foolish to dismiss it. I think this really just goes to show you that divorce is messy thing.</li></ul>I think that is enough oh my opinions for now. Let me know your thoughts and observations please, the comments sections would be a good place to start doing that. Remember whenever we talk right and wrong it is best done in community.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33259737.post-51562149317959817732010-07-09T11:24:00.002-05:002010-07-09T12:04:00.969-05:00The secret of my success<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fleersports.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/we-are-all-witnesses-lebron-james-546522_1024_768.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 624px; height: 368px;" src="http://fleersports.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/we-are-all-witnesses-lebron-james-546522_1024_768.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />These last few weeks I've had the chance to observe a lot of people; my classmates, the hundreds of other people at the training center, the kids that participated in WOW and the other people I've encountered around Dallas. I was reminded about how important confidence is. This week was the week we took the first of our three test for dispatch training. Our instructor was saying that on average a person will drop 10 points on the test from their practice test scores. I've never really understood this occurrence. I don't really understand how someone can do worse simply because its a test. I've tried to understand it and reason it out and the best I can come up with is that its a confidence issue. Which means it ultimately an identity issue. I'm a firm believer that confidence is directly linked to our identity. Watch how people carry themselves. I bet you'll find that the ones the carry themselves with the most confidence are the firmest set in their identity. I feel like this is a good point to make a side note talking about true confidence and weak confidence that is usually covered up by loud boasting. Its important not to confuse the two.<br />With all this talk of Lebron James its really funny to see how people describe him and as good as he is there is always some one to point out that he isn't a champion. Scoring titles, MVP, the King, the second coming of Jordan....no NBA titles. Its a unique study watch his reaction to all this. To watch him and his carefully crafted image and his identity all revolve around his lack of championships. Even know the only question any one is asking about him is how many titles will Miami win?<br />So as I sat around in a little room for 5.5 hours with this big test on my mind. 5.5 hours of waiting that shouldn't have happened. 5.5 extra hours of pressure and anxiety. I slept. I actually became more calm as the time passed. As every one was talking about how this must really effect you and totally ruins your day. I just sat back and smiled. Not because I knew the stuff. Not because I had some extra study time. I just sat there a thought of what defines me. <br />I will never lack confidence because I am defined by God's love for me. My Identity as a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, and a victor over the enemy will always mean more than my test scores, my looks, my performance...you name it.<br />I guess that is why people that lack confidence move my heart.Jerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04732877105201128945noreply@blogger.com0