Moving to Blogger!

I have decided to move my blog to Blogger. It is easier for me to access and upload information there. I do enjoy wordpress but it does not meet my needs at this time. All of my blogs will be moved to Blogger in a couple of weeks.

A 19 minute interview

http://web.thejoyfm.com/cruise/lightforce/steveninterview.mp3

I give you permission. Go on and listen to the interview first. WAIT! Only listen to it if you are prepare. First of all it is 19 minutes long. Be ready to hear some seriously challenging statements that will make you check what you say, express and even think about how Christians live in the western world. I wish I had a personal copy of this interview to take with me and give to people that sit high on their soap box. Then again I would fall in to their world if I did that. This post is going to be a response to what Steven said and I will post some of the book resources that he mentions.

This interview takes place back around 2005. I really love the music of Anberlin and the message they are trying to convey. I am glad they are taking steps to go beyond the typical “Christian” band. They are pushing into the realm of reality and beyond a four wall building to define the church. I am excited to hear and see the social issues that are addressed here and how to deal with it. In contrast I get disgusted with how, the Christians are that are explained, are trying to evangelize. It makes no sence and lacks all biblical principals of what Jesus taught. We need to know our who are God is and what he has done. We should not shut people off to the gospel. It is the good news for all people. So how is offending people about their shame good news. God in the OT and Jesus in the NT only offended the people that were self righteous, proud and the religious. Being set apart doesn’t mean to walk away from the world. Shunning people makes no sense in the message of Jesus and what He accomplished. At some point in this interview I just can’t comment any more. It is not because I don’t have any more thought, feeling or emotions about it. I just stop to be in awe. I really respect this man, his life and what his heart is. I don’t think this man needs to be idolized or to be the roll model for life, but I think his message stands to say that Jesus is the roll model. Jesus is to be the only idol in our life and nothing above Him.

Resources:

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Case For Christ by Lee Strobel

What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey

Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

Life at home

While at home I have been, for lack of better words, board! I have been staying mostly at my grandparents place. Don’t get me wrong, I love my grandparents but they do nothing. It seems like they are waiting to leave this earth and they will get crabby with anyone that tries to help them. I can’t help myself but to do something around the house. The house smells so I lit some candles, swept the floors, wiped off counters, cleaned out the fridge, need I go on? It is not the fact that my family needs taken care of. The problem is that it feels so lonely here. I was chatting with a friend on-line the other night and the always have the same feelings when they are here. People my age have some many opportunities. From this area they usually only follow a few paths. Stay here, get married and start a family is one. Another is go away to college. The other way is a struggle of the person hiding in fear of responsibility in which the person could either stay here or run away. In essence what I am trying to convey is that there is no one left here. If they are here, their life is rolling and it doesn’t involve much for going out with friends.

Reflecting on what I just said, some of my thoughts come from my own insecurities. I love the work that I am doing, but there is an internal conflict. I want to have a person to share life with. Do I think I am ready for marrage and to settle down with a wife? Probably not, but I keep seeing friend take that step. I think to myself that I want a relationship with someone that is at least leading to marriage. I can only say right now that I am still meeting many new people. All of them are good people and out of the women I just can’t say that I am wholly interested in building that relationship with them.

Thanks for reading my ramblings.