Random Rantings Friday

Ladies, and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, Welcome back to another wonderful day of randomness. Brought to you by the numbers 2 and 7 and the letter R. Yes that’s right folks it’s Random Rantings Friday… Lets party!

I love black licorice. I realize the majority of planet earth loathes this tasty treat, I however absolutely love it. If anyone ever wants to get me a gift, a bag of black licorice Red Vines, or a bag of Black Jelly beans will always put a smile on my face… hint hint

My Dad is in town this weekend! I love it when Pops comes to town. I’ve said it before, he’s a really good man.

Ahmadinejad is continuing his Islamic conservatism by requiring law officers to enforce the traditional Islamic dress code for women.

Humans are eternal beings, really! Meaning that whether in the eternal city or the lake of fire, Human beings live forever. I guess that T-shirt I used to sport in Junior High was spot on: “Life is Short, Eternity is Long… Hope you know Jesus.”

The Virginia Tech professor, Liviu Librescu, who died saving his students lives, was 76 years old, and a Jewish holocaust survivor. He was buried today. I pray that before he was put to sleep that he knew Jesus.

Little Stephen Hawking is completely geeked out that he’s going get to experience Zero G’s.

I’m a musician, but I don’t feel like one. I’m a drummer at IHOP, I’m also approved to play the guitar. I studied music theory in High School for 2 years, and 2 outside of High School, yet I’ve really never felt like a musician. I walked into the Drum store to buy drum sticks this week, and I felt like I had crossed the tracks into another gangs territory… I’ve never quite understood why.

Unemployed and need a job? I got an Idea you should set fire to the only unemployment office in your city! Well at least that’s what this guy did… (story)

An update on the girl I like. Thanks to Sliker her identity isn’t much of a secret anymore, however I choose ambiguity. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite people, so many reasons why. She is the perfect blend of so many things I like, and she’s so pulchritudinous that it’s almost painful. I’m really enjoying the journey of becoming her friend.

I won a free 3 day 2 night all expenses paid trip to Orlando Florida last month. I’m taking J, we’re going max and relax with lemon aid and good times. I can’t wait.

Here are some random tid bits about my favorite things:

Jupiter is my favorite planet, Purple is my favorite color, Violets are my favorite flower, I love Mexican food, driving with the windows down, and exploring places I’ve never been. I live for Today, trust the Lord for tomorrow, eat the word, pray for revival, and drink coffee during every event. I love Burger King Whoppers, National Public radio and This American Life. I read the New York Times, study theology, and frequent TED conference recordings. I enjoy working out, listening to Elvis Costello, and being on time. I think Warren Harding was a bad President, and Woodrow Wilson was a good one, my favorite President was John Adams. I’m conservative on domestic issues, liberal on world issues, John McCain is my favorite Politician. My favorite Book of the Bible is Ecclesiastes, my least favorite book is Catcher in the Rye (well written, but more negative than the bottom side of a battery.) I LOVE reading, and I love Books, I hate TV, but enjoy a good documentary, or Family film. I hope to one day vacation in Bora Bora, own a bookstore/coffee shop, and change a generation. Ranting is my favorite, blogging is another favorite, yet randomness takes the cake!

What are some of your favorite things?

Oh and I’m finnaly getting my gutters fixed professionally so they’ll last! (random ain’t it great)

I’m out like a Bush appointed attorney…

an aquatic paradise

Do I care that my header changes so often? not really. Enjoy the eternal chameleon that is my header.

Today was one of those wonderfully glorious rainy days. A day when for a few hours water occupies the space between heaven and earth. It’s an atmosphere that causes my heart to long for eternity. The rumbling of thunder, the flashes of lightning, the closest earthly expression of the throne room that exists, this side of the tribulation. It’s days like this that bring peace to my heart. As if something from heaven is being expressed in the natural. In fact, I would go as far to say that thunderstorms are an expression of Heaven breaking out over the Earth.

In Job 38, God talks about how every bolt of lightning comes from his hand. They patiently stand in line awaiting there fate, as he directs the path in the sky that they are to travel. Every time I see a flash in the sky, I gasp. It’s one of few times in this Earthly assignment , that I can actually see God do something before my eyes.  FLASH! “God just told that bolt to go there! HE is so cool!” Sometime I selfishly, but lovingly, think he does it just for me. Because he knows my heart sink with every flash, he constructs a light show no fireworks display could rival.

Thunder is even more beautiful to me. I once did an extensive study on thunder in the Bible. You’ll find it astonishing that Thunder is never recorded in the Bible as only describing something in the natural. Thunder is always recording God doing something in that area in both realms. Moreover the Hebrew word for Thunder is the literal voice of God. When ever it Thundered in the Bible it was God speaking to that region. I believe the same is true today. When I hear the cavernous bellow of thunder, I close my eyes and pause. “What are you saying beautiful God?” God is never silent but I believe thunder is a physical expression of his statuesque vocabulary. It moves my heart to no end.

All this to say I LOVE MY GOD! I am so thankful I got to experiance a manifestation of his glory today. I can’t wait until the day he returns, and I get to see the real thing around his throne!

Slowing down and Shouts Out

Dear friends and readers,

During the course of my rather successful blogging journey, I’ve had pauses in my consistency. I love blogging and plan on continuing to share my thoughts and experiences with the masses. However my life is growing in responsibility, and I find blogging is beginning to take up time that needs to be dedicated to other things.

Don’t worry I’m not leaving, just going to post a little less. So keep an eye on your feed aggregators, for when a post does come, it’s going to be sweet.

So now for some Shout outs:

Brent Steeno’s bachelor party last night, planned by the ever competent Dave Sliker, was some of the most fun I’ve had in years.

Bret Mavrich said he disagreed with my post on Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness. What’s funny is Bret does actually agree with me, he just put a different spin on it. And his spin is really good, so check it out.

Speaking of Bret (who is now on the blog roll) I have also added Mr. Ben Hailstone. Ben has been a faithful reader of this blog, and a faithful blogger. I read his blog regularly, check it out.

I would also like to thank Dave for adding both hilarity and complexity to my life yesterday… here’s to you… retribution will come…

I want to throw out a shout to the Song of Solomon, A book that I’m falling in love with all over again, and for the first time. I’m helping to teaching a class on the book and I’m studying it and praying through it with ferocity. I love it.

and lastly a shout out to the to Jackson Bohlender. A brilliant blogger, just not on my roll, yet.

peace out, and if you have a shout out you’d like to leave throw it up in the comments!

Blog Roll Update

My blog roll has seen a face lift. Some names added, some removed. Feel free to browse the names and take a visit. I like to keep a shorter list of names on my blog roll, so if your name has been removed it’s not personal, it’s blogging! All of the names on this list however are primo!

So seriously give um a browse!

If you think YOUR name should appear in the blog roll, make your case in the comments below! I’m open to added 1 or 2 more…

I leave you with a quote I recently heard:

“You know somthing God doesn’t, your sin! He’s forgotten it!” - Paul Cain

Random Rantings Friday coming later tonight so stay tuned…

the Great American Heresy: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

This post is going to be very short and to the point. People over the ages have often asked the question, “why do bad things happen to good people?” I was recently posed this question in a very combative way. The purpose of this question usually stems from an idea of God lacking in justice. When actually it’s us that lack both righteousness and understanding. The answer to this question is simple, Bad things DON’T happen to good people, we are all wicked. Harsh words? I believe Thomas Jefferson did us a disservice when he stated life was summed up life into: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are entitled to Hell, period. That is the only right we as humanity have earned. Truly harsh truth to grasp, however once grasped only then can HOPE be found. Eph. 2, We were all dead in our transgressions, but he made us alive. Col.3 for we were once dead but have been made alive and are now hidden in Christ, until we appear with him in glory. (verses summarized click link for further reading) Truth is there are no good people outside of Christ. Which isn’t so much an accusation to humanity, as much as it is a plea to know Jesus. I don’t care if you donate all your money to the poor, raise your kids well, end world hunger, and find a cure to aids. Without Jesus you still burn in hell. I leave you with this:

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

Disagree with me? Tell me why, and we’ll talk. 

Random Rantings Friday (Saturday edition)

Well Friends I’m back for another random rantings Friday… though coming to you on Saturday Night. The girl I like finally discovered my blog, controversy of whether or not you can lose your salvation, and Kristine accusing me of not being able to spell, while misspelling her self. (she’s right I kant sell) So much to rant about! Let the wonderful world of randomness commence!!!

Did you know that if you Browse using Mozilla Firefox, you don’t even have to go to Google to search things. You can type a question in the Internet browser and it takes you to a site with the answer! I was elated to find this out while searching for tax help today!

The average American watches 29 hours of TV a week. Almost as many hours as their full time Job demands.

You know what I miss? Big League Chew! man that stuff was great.

“This American Life” is the greatest radio broadcast in the history of the world. Listening to it is like eating a 60% chocolate truffle for the mind, absolutely delightful!

The girl I like found out about my updates, when she stumbled across my blog this week. I think they made her smile more than anything, which is a good thing. To update you further (even though she probably reads now) We are starting to become good friends, which makes me happy. I hope and pray this trend of friendship between us grows. I’ve said it before but she is a truly wonderful woman.

I’m not going to edit my spelling errors in this post simply to bug Kristine. She is however right, I’m a horrible speller. My brilliant mind thinks so fast that I somehow always seem to over look minor details such as spelling… that’s how I see it at least.

In Highschool I tried out for the Cheer Squad, I was the only guy…

It snowed here in K.C. last night. It was the weirdest thing in the world to see a winter wonderland 2 weeks from May. Sadly the change in pressure systems has thrown my sinuses for a loop… and I think I’m getting sick…

Meanwhile Hamas never fails it’s evil as it calls for the Genocide of the Jews.

Tomorrow is Jackie Robinson Day and the sports world from Nascar to Baseball will be sporting the number 42 in commemoration to the First black player in baseball. Really in professional sports.

I’m not going to post part 2 to my answer on the issue of Salvation. I feel I’ve said what I need to say. Those who disagree and were waiting for part 2, bless you. I feel another post would just be saying the same thing over in a different way. So state you peace there and we’ll talk!

Ben Hailstone dedicated a blog entry to me where he asked me some questions about my life. click the link if you dare to read the interview detailing my coolness. Thanks Ben!

I’m a retired DJ, yet I keep getting DJ jobs these days. I did a wedding last week, and I’ve got 2 weddings and a surprise birthday party to DJ this month. All of these gigs are favors to friends, but good news is I’m getting paid, so rock on!

Jared has been out of town, and I can’t say that I don’t miss him. I’ve decided the best comparison for Jared and I is Joey and Chandler on friends. (Jared being Joey, and me being Chandler) Jared does his goofy, crazy stuff while I trying to maintain order in my own dry, goofy way. We’re a great team. Hurry up and come home J, we gotta finish working on ceiling fan!

I grew up watching Star Trek the Next Generation every night.

My favorite restaurant in K.C. is a greasy, Mexican drive through in Westport called Pancho’s. It’s open 24 hours a day, so many times I’ve made the 2am dash for a Chile Relleno burrito. Oh it’s like going to heaven in a Sombrero!

Peace and God Speed!

Things I Don’t Understand…

Feeewww!!! Let’s call this post a comic relief. Before I go back to the discussion about whether or not you can lose your salvation. (If you want to jump in the discussion feel free to click the link.)

There are many things in this world I don’t understand. Maybe you have some things that you would like to share, that you don’t understand. Here are some quandaries that simply baffle my intelligence, and of cousre in absolute random order…

I don’t understand:

Guys wearing Girls jeans…

People who carry thier cell phone around in their back pocket. What happens when they sit down?

The allure of Jimmy Buffet. All his songs are the same chord progression! Some of the worst moments of my life were when I had to DJ a Caribbean themed wedding reception, and all they wanted was Jimmy Buffet… I’m flabbergasted!

The ‘Fo-hawk’ … shiver… quite possibly one of the worst trends of the modern era…

Nancy Pelosi, I’m bewildered by her very existence.

Why I’m so cool, certainly a vast mystery resides here.

Why Randy Bohlender stopped blogging. Kidda reminds me of the day Tupac died. People wore black with fists raised to the sky, singing choruses of ‘WHY!’

Modern Art. I frequent art galleries, museums, and I love art. However, I don’t understand pulling a chair from a dumpster and slapping a price tag for $5,000. on it because it supposedly makes a “social statement”. That’s not art, it’s activism. I could continue but I wont…

How my keys always seem to be somewhere other than where I thought they were whenever it’s time for me to walk out the door.

Bumper Stickers, I’m left completely bollixed as to why you would ever want to de-value an automobile in this way.

Why people don’t like George W. Bush. You don’t have to agree with his foreign policy, or the way he’s handled the war, I don’t. But He is a great man, YEAH I SAID IT!! great man! He sticks to his guns, and does the best job he knows how, is loyal to those in his shpere, and is a strong leader. I say that, and I’m not even a Republican. Sure disagree with him, but I don’t understand the hatred that men accost him with…

Girls who wear those cut off Jackets that stop mid torso. Not efficient for warmth or style.

Amelia Earhart, she vanished… vanished!!

The metric system… I’m an American, nuff said.

How Barbra Streisand ever had or kept a career…

Why some of the worst presidents are represented on our money… Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Alexander Hamilton? Hamilton wasn’t even president. I mean we might as well put Richard Nixon, Warren Harding, and Franklin Pierce on our money…

and lastly… Sweater vests. Is it a sweater? Is it a vest? Is it a form of membership to the ‘culturally out of touch’ club?

hmmm

oh to understand!

My answer to ‘can you lose your salvation?’ in 2 parts

This week in Phoenix, I met with tons of friends, pastors, and ministers. Ironically this subject of ‘can you lose your salvation’ some how came up in my meetings with most of them. I spent the week contemplating how I would best respond.

First I want to talk about thinking philosophically, vs. thinking biblically. Often in discussions such as this, one is tempted to have an opinion or view of God based on a philosophical view, personal sentiment, or a feeling about how they think God should be. I will first say that the feelings about God are valid, however I believe that they are the testimony to what the word already says about God. God’s word is living and active, if an opinion disagrees with what the word says I question its validity. Therefore when studying biblical concepts such as salvation, it’s end, or answer can only be found in the word. It can not be found in a philoshically idea about how God should be. I say all that for a reason, because in discussions like this an understanding never can be found unless all parties are on the same plateau of thought. In this case when talking about Salvation the answer can only be found biblically.

I’m dong this response in 2 parts simply because I can’t stand reading blog posts that are longer than a page, so I’m assuming you are the same way. however I won’t post a part 2 if it’s not necessary, i.e. everyone agrees or understands and no further explanation is needed. So with that said, here is my answer to the question; Can you lose your salvation? YES, but it’s yours to lose.

(Eph.2) Salvation is a free gift from God, and can not be earned, or improved upon. You become a new creation, your sin is nailed to the cross, and you are forever justified by faith. (Romans 1&6) (Col.3)(Gal. 2:21) “if righteousness could be gained by the law, then Christ died for nothing.” We are his righteousness, outside of him we have no good thing. So does God take away the gift of Salvation? No. It’s a gift given to you, therefore since we are justified by faith, one can lose their salvation by refusing the gift, and turning from the faith. This is where the doctrine of sanctification comes into play. Sanctification simply put is the walking out of ones salvation. Where we are renewed in the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Phil. 2:12)“work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Our gift of redemption must be taken seriously. In Matthew 24, Jesus is very clear that in the last day the love of many will grow cold, and many will fall away from the faith. Hebrews 12 warns the church to do away with bitterness least we fall from grace. Jesus in Matthew 6, warns us that if we do not forgive those who have wronged us, our heavenly Father will not forgive us our sin. Revelations 3:5 Jesus promises to those who overcome, that he will not ‘blot out’ their names from the book of life. Hinting that names can be blotted out.

In conclusion: can you lose your salvation? Yes, but it’s your gift to lose. It will not be taken away from you by an act of sin. It’s taken away from those who lose heart, and turn from the faith. Therefore love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as your self, this is the whole of the law. If you love Jesus, and know that you live before his throne. You’ll be fine.

In Phoenix

So I’m going to write my response to my post very soon, however I’m currently in Phoenix. So Postoned a bit, but till then I’m in the Phoenix Sun and it feels great!

Can you loose your salvation?

Is the idea that once saved always saved true? If you are made alive in Christ, how then can you die again? Is God an Indian-Giver with Salvation? Do I have to fight to keep my salvation?

I held a 3 hour question and answer time the other day with my interns and was posed with these questions. One guy brought up the question, I went with it, and it opened up a can of controversial worms. I already have a clear answer to this this question, and intend to write a post expounding on what I believe and why I beleive it, based on Biblical evidence.

BUT I first want to pose the question to you; Can You Loose Your Salvation? It’s not often the reader gets the first word in on a subject. In this case I’m first giving you the floor before I break out my belief on the matter. So here are the rules:

1. Answer the above question with Bible verses, this will not be a philosophical debate, because It’s a biblical question. Therefore answer it using scripture.

2. Present your answer and comments to others, with the same type of grace and love that Christ has given you.

That’s it, so tell me what you think, yes, no, maybe, talk to me…