Freethinker777

There's something wrong here.

2009-12-08T07:06:00.001-08:00

America's Incarceration

Micro-finance loans

2009-12-07T22:14:00.001-08:00

This would be a cool Christmas present, eh?

Kiva.org

Ban Divorce.

2009-12-01T20:34:00.001-08:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120969156&sc=fb&cc=fp

The NTTA Sucks

2009-12-01T09:14:00.001-08:00

The North Texas Tollway Authority is ridiculous. I got a bill about 2 or 3 weeks from them a couple weeks ago for like $250 in tolls. Actually it was like $5 in tolls and $240 in fees. I never received a letter from them prior to this. Then this week I get one from the NTTA for like $300 with $10 in actual tolls. I called them and they said that you could just pay the toll on the original bill, but now I have all these fees. They even said they sent the original ones to the wrong address, but they refused to drop the fines.

This is completely absurd. Hey! "I'm going to fine you whatever the hell I want to. Then I'm not going to mail you the bill. Then I'm going to fine you even more." It's a racket. If they want to issue an official citation, I'll go to court about it. I don't care.

I emailed a Texas Senator Jane Nelson who apparently has taken issue with the tolls as well. I suppose I'll see what happens.

Guilty? Great!

2009-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this story about a Methodist church in Arizona being ruled against for feeding the poor? Yeah, the argument is that they're breaking zoning rules. They're acting as a dining hall in a residential neighborhood.

Wow. I wonder if they'd ever try to come after a church like ours where we meet in homes. I suppose brick and mortar churches are just easier targets.

May we find all of our churches to be found guilty of such things. May we be found guilty of acting as a place of shelter where hotels are not supposed to be. May we be found in violation of giving clothes away where storefronts are expressly forbidden. And may we be found with enough evidence to convict us for loving those who we'd rather forget.

I hope this church continues to feed. I hope they try to shut down the church. Then I hope the pastor, who lives in the neighborhood, begins to invite them over to her own home. What happens then? Will you tell us who we can feed within our own home?

The ACLU has offered to help the church in this suit. I'm really interested to see what comes about. The next hearing is in December. Sometimes you just have to feed some folks and piss some others off.

2009-11-11T12:50:00.001-08:00

"If there is no God, everything is permitted." Fyodor Dostoevsky born today 1821

Thanks

2009-11-09T07:07:00.001-08:00

Someone makes a deposit of $20 at least every month in our church's bank account. I don't know who it is. But I want to say thank you. Really. You're an amazing person. We're trying hard to make sure we're wise in how we use that money.

I'm not sure who you are, but thank you.

It sits empty most of the week, right?

2009-10-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

It feels like it's been an eternity since I've crossed the threshold of a church building. But that didn't stop me from reaching out to a couple of them this past week in an attempt to get some help for our rag tag group of Jesus followers. We're trying to do a couple ministry endeavors that involves mentoring and fixing up bikes for kids.

We need a place where we can work on bikes and keep them out of the rain. I thought maybe a church could point us in the right direction. So I sent out an email.... no response. Then I realized that most of these churches are part of the local Baptist Association. So I contacted them. Know what they asked? They asked if we were a member of their association. I let them know we were associated with the state convention. And we lived in their area. So I guess we'd be apart. They told me to fill out an application.

An application? Huh? Do we need to pay dues? (Probably.) Is this like a college rush thing? It was at this moment that I realized how far from Baptist life I am. I would have expected this a couple years ago probably. But the way we've operated for the past couple years is by talking to one another. Whether it was in our community or another community. We said, "Hey... can we help y'all somehow?" Not, "Fill out an application and I'll get back to you on the status of our willingness to assist."

I can post a need on facebook and within an hour have over ten churches see it and possibly respond. Or I could go through an association or state convention where it would take weeks and the results would likely be the same. What is this association for again? Are you telling me that you don't have any churches with empty space where someone could store stuff? Or are you saying that you won't tell me unless I'm part of the club?

I received an email this morning from the Director of the association and he wanted to understand why I didn't want to join his fraternity of churches. He pointed out that the association's membership was much easier than the state's which I had mentioned. I think he wanted to know if we were just too lazy to sign up or if we actually didn't want to enlist.

I explained to him we don't pay for a building, a staff, and we don't put requirements on people associating with us. So it's really difficult to justify why we would agree to those things by enlisting with them. I just thought the director of the association of church buildings would have a lead on a building for storage. I then invited him to meet with me anytime and let him know we'd be an available resource and friend anytime. We told him we'd like to cook dinner for him and his family as well. We'll see if he responds I suppose.

I'm not sure we're cool enough to be part of an association anyway. Besides, it's easier to go around these types of structures than to go through them. That's part of the beauty of the internet. It makes things more connected. The structures are essentially sidelined. Unless the structures change, they will simply die off.

I told the gentleman, "The mission is too big and too difficult to be putting requirements on who will join us in the endeavor." And that's what has me scratching my head. I'm just not sure we're about the same mission.

southwestern theological

2009-10-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

this is ridiculous. what has happened to swtbs? they've lost their collective mind. skip to the 23rd minute or so after you pick your jaw up off the floor.

Wow.

2009-09-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what to say about this. Unfortunately I think he's more right than wrong.

"Death Panel" Lady

2009-08-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

The lady who came up with the term "Death Panels" has a rather lengthy and frank conversation about her views of the legislation. This was fantastic.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive - Betsy McCaughey Extended Interview Pt. 1

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive - Betsy McCaughey Extended Interview Pt. 2

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

2009-08-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do this at Walmart as well.

I Choose The City

2009-08-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

by Francis Dubose

I choose the city...
Not simply to live in it,
to see it,
to hear it;
But to touch it;
yes, to embrace it,
to hold it,

To feel the wild glory
of its pulsating soul,

To move over its wide,
hurried broadways,

To stand stilled and sobered
at the nowhere of its dead-end streets,

To be trapped with it in its
pain and problems,

To be at once chilled by its ill
and covered with its confetti.

I choose the city because I choose God,
Because I choose humanity,
Because I choose the divine-human
struggle--

The struggle which will be won
Not in the serene path through
meadow and wood,
among the bees and birds, and flowers,

But in the city street
Made by the hand of man
Through the gift of God--
Main Street: the final battle field,
The scene of the ultimate struggle,
Where man chooses right
Because he is free to choose wrong.

Babylon, dirty and daring--
Babylon, yes--
Babylon today--

Tomorrow...
The New Jerusalem!

(Mystic on Main Street, Chapel Hill, NC: Professional Press, 1993, pp. 78, 79.)

God made us in his image and we returned the favor.

2009-07-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Know any minority women who are Calvinists? I look at the American landscape and see the Neo-Calvinists as predominantly white and male. Why do you suppose that is?

I know one staunch calvinist (Voddie Baucham) who is black. I'm not aware of too many others...

The Faithful Faithless

2009-07-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Atheists are even starting their own churches. They just don't call them churches.

Everything from weddings to "de-baptisms" where they use blowdryers. Classy.

Then you have other groups who don't have rituals and like that they can meet to say whatever they want because no one is offended. ...sounds like a few churches I've been to.

Atheism: it's a new denomination. Whodathunkit.

Just throwing this out there.

2009-07-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

I know it's random. It's a bit embarrassing as well. But... McDonald's has stepped up its game. I can count on one hand how many times I've eaten at McDonald's in the past ten years. But a couple weeks ago I was stuck pretty far from home and starving, and Mickey D's was the only thing in sight. So I pulled in the drive-thru thinking I would try to force something down. To my shock, they had large sweet tea for a buck. That made me happy. Then I noticed that they had like "chicken select" sandwiches... what the hell. Let's try one. To my horror, it was actually really good. Since then, I've been to McDonald's like five times in the past couple weeks. I'd say their chicken sandwich gives even chic-fil-a a run for their money. But yeah... McDonald's is apparently not just for the homeless and people under 8 anymore. Go figure.

Peace Out

2009-06-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

The little big church down the street from me, Broadway Baptist, has been given the big "heev-ho." The big "wave goodbye." The big "syanara." The big "boot in the butt." Yes, they have been officially kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention! *round of applause and cheers* This liberal bastion of over educated idiots were found to not be in "friendly fellowship" with the SBC. What did they do that wasn't friendly? They failed to add a check box to their membership card in order to weed out the gays.

For most churches, when you want to join, you fill out a card. A few questions such as:

Have you ever accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Yes or No

Have you ever experienced baptism by immersion?

Are you moving your letter from a sister Baptist church?

Would you like a minister to contact you?

Well that my friends was just not good enough. The SBC wanted something like this added:

Are you gay? Yes or No

If yes, you're living a life of sin and need to change.

I would suggest a followup question would be in order:

How gay are you?

a) I like Dane Cook

b) I have a small dog that's less than five pounds

c) I watch baseball to look at the cute butts

d) I talk with a lisp even though I don't have a speech impediment

And since Broadway didn't feel this was appropriate, well the SBC considers them to be too gay friendly and too SBC unfriendly and decided to kick their ass out of the convention. If you aren't able to be kicked out of the SBC these days, well friend, I'm just not sure you're doing anything of worth. Jesus would be kicked out of the SBC.

I sat down to chat with the interim pastor after he got back from a little meeting in Nashville with the Executive Committee. He had flown there with the head of that bastion of Baptist enlightenment Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to discuss with these kind folks what it means to be in friendly fellowship. He seemed in high spirits about the meeting and reflects a bit on it in his blog.

The whole gist of it came down to this, chastity is not a requirement of membership at Broadway Baptist. Or any church that I've come across. So whether you're getting it on with a partner of the same sex or the opposite, churches just don't ask these questions. It's not because churches don't care. But most have enough sense to know that it's a slippery slope with no end in sight. So Broadway welcomed everyone and entered into a relationship with them where the Holy Spirit, scripture, and the Holy Spirit would transform lives. I suppose they could have done an exorcism like this. But you know... those tend to make headlines.

I have only visited Broadway once and spoken with their pastor once. But I tell you. They're good people. I'm all for the SBC kicking out whomever they wish. And I'm all for Broadway welcoming whomever they want. But it doesn't mean the SBC is any better for it. It just shows how completely lost in the woods the SBC and their followers really are.

The Insufficiency of Christ

2009-06-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Jesus is not sufficient. It’s true. Jesus is not all I need. I’ve heard people talk about the “sufficiency of Christ" and about how God is all we should need or want. The truth is, it just isn’t so. So, you over there raising your hands and singing, “You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed…” Shut up. You’re lying. And to the girl who has given up dating because she wants to prove that Jesus is all she needs… stop. You are robbing people of yourself. If Jesus was really all we needed, no one would ever get married. To the American who consumes with little thought of conservation and reuse because God will provide for the poor… stop. You are the resource many are waiting on. Jesus isn't going to magically provide for their needs as you ignore them. To the missionary from Michigan that once came to my old church and spoke about how hungry children need the word of God more than food… shut up. Needs must be met with real food and not just spiritual thought.

Jesus told Satan, “Man does not live on bread alone.” Conversely, it is also true that man does not live on God alone. Jesus demonstrates this when he breaks his 40 days in the wilderness fast. He could not just hang out with God forever and neglect everything else. It’s just part of humanity. We need things other than God. We need food, love, shelter, clothing… you know… the stuff Maslow talks about. And this isn’t a bad thing. This doesn’t somehow diminish God’s glory. God created us that way and that’s the way we function.

I can see the objections coming, “What about the garden of eden?” “But God can provide for all our needs.” Blah, blah, blah. Yeah... first, let's not base our ideas of reality upon a utopian idea like Eden. Secondly, it’s quite convenient to talk about God meeting our needs here in America while just south of the border we have children dying from malnutrition and lack of clean drinking water in Mexico. How’s God doing at meeting their needs? (ouch.)

No, God created us to be dependent creatures. Yes, we are dependent. ( It’s quite humorous when we act like we’re these autonomous and independent things that need nothing and no one. The reality is that these people who are so called "independent" place their trust in the power of work and the dollar bill more than God.) Part of worship is recognizing who we are in relation to God. So we must recognize our dependency in order to live lives that are pleasing to God.

This dependency works two ways. We give and we take. We are in need of love from others. We need their words, touch, and protection. And so we receive from them as if receiving from God. But we must also give. We must not overuse or abuse our neighbors across the border or even across the street. We have to question whether living with our wants may rob someone else of their needs. It even works the same way with the earth itself. We take from it, but the question is what are we putting back? Are we simply depleting? We are dependent upon others and other things and they are dependent upon us. And that’s the way God made it.

It is irresponsible of us to act like we need nothing in this world but Jesus. It is even more immoral to act like we don't have a responsibility to helping our brothers and sisters out. We can't use the excuse that "God will meet their needs." Yes, God has created a means to supply our needs. But that means is quite oftentimes me and you. We cannot simply be sponges that suck everything up. We must give back and pour out.

So rejoice in your dependency. Squeeze your friends tight when you hug them. Savor that sip of ice water. Slurp the cereal loud. Sleep an extra half hour. You’re in need and it’s all right.

wolfmen

2009-06-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

Totally true and honest conversation:

You know the Geico guys. Is that make up and hair or are they wolfmen?

Wolfmen.

I was wondering. I bet the wolfman community doesn't like that.

Yeah, it's kind of like when midgets do stuff for showbiz. The community rejects that sort of thing.

I bet they're like wolfmen outcasts.

Probably...

I think started cracking up a couple minutes later.

"Wolfman community!" Hahaha

2009-06-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of enjoying watching the old school and neo school calvinistas debate the merits of "vulgar" language from the pulpit. Even Ed Young has chimed in with a video blog. (Ed Young annoys the hell out of me. Ooops. Sorry about the "hell.")

I would suggest this is a generation thing. I'd suggest that the younger generation is in a more correct place in viewing all words as inherently neutral and not stuck on one side or another of some Platonic divide. There are way we use words for lifting up and tearing down. There are words that are appropriate and controversial in certain situations. But to say some words are "dirty"? Well it's just plain empty. Perhaps they can give me a list of the dirty words and upon whose authority they've been deemed bad. I'd like to give them a list of my own words I find offensive and would like them to refrain from using. In the end, we'd both be protecting our own world views of social mores and acceptable behavior instead of fully engaging the other. We all get to control what we allow to be offensive. It's sad when we're offended by such petty things while horrors happen all around us.

I feel like this harkens back to the days of colonialism. Missionaries would go to other cultures and teach them how to become "civilized" (aka: put on clothes and look american) in order to be a better Christian. Isn't this the exact same thing? But instead of clothes, we're dressing ourselves up with arbitrary words and phrases? It's all for not I'd suggest.

Prop 8 Protest

2009-05-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well she's kind of right... lol

2009-05-21T21:41:00.001-07:00

Apparently even the BBC picked up on the shirt.

I may have to buy this.

2009-05-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

3 Wolves Shirt. Read the Amazon Reviews of it. Hilarious.

2009-05-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Boyd reviews the Patriot Bible.

It's not until things like this come along that I realize just how bad things have gotten in many circles. I keep finding myself referring to them as "these people." I have a fiery anger for these people that fail to hold to the scripture they claim to be lifting up.

It's all mom's fault.

2009-05-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

I suppose I should just blame my mom. It really is her fault. She's the one that made life so difficult for me. People ask me why I do things a certain way. I just point to her. It's all her fault.

For instance, "John, why are you still single? Why haven't you settled down?" I suppose any woman I'm going to give the time of day to has to measure up to a huge iconic figure in my life: my mom. She has to be able to love well, work hard, and display a balance in life between serenity and tenacity. You know, the type of grit it takes to deal with three boys all the while not losing one's mind. That's my mom. She has always loved me well by teaching me to take care of myself all the while taking care of me. She served while teaching to serve. She loved while teaching to love. She embodied what a mother, wife, and woman should be. All women should tread lightly when speaking to any of the Young boys. You have large shoes to fill.

She's the one that allowed for me to become the man I am today. Don't blame her for where I may fall short, but lavish praise for anything good that may have come about. You see, I don't live up to all my mom's expectations. But in those few moments that I may... they're brilliant. I somehow stumble into the shadow of greatness. Not greatness as in fame, fortune, or power. No, that's not what my mom taught me to pursue. Instead, it's greatness in meekness, love, patience, and kindness. My mom helped send me into life after things that last. Things that matter. You won't find her blinged out or in the shopping mall. No, you'll probably find her serving the little ones and their families in her community.

Yet you can also blame her for some of my rougher points. My uncompromising pursuit of these things that are good can be seen as stubborness. My unwillingness to settle can be considered arrogance. And that's fine if you'd like to think of it as that. I chalk it up to that side of the family. From my grandfather to my mom, we don't know anything about settling for second best. We do things all the way and with a propensity to kick up a little dust. So if you find me frustrating. If you can't stand that I'm hard nosed and a bit over the top. You can blame my mom for that. She taught me that if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

It's worth noting that my mom is pretty much super mom. If you know me and my siblings, then you know my mom has to be one of the strongest people in the world. We're all quite different from each other, yet all free spirited. How many mom's can deal with this diversity? Heck, the military can't even deal with it. They dress people all the same and make them walk in straight lines. Yet mom let us be whatever we wanted. She loved us in our diversity and even in our bad decisions. Sure, there may have been times when the cops may have been on our tails or we may have made mom cry. But you shouldn't blame mom for those moments. Those are moments of learning and growth that good moms must allow for. It's a catalyst for maturity. It's a demonstration of love.

Yeah, if you find anything of worth in me... If you find the slightest bit of charm or responsibility... If I stumble upon some act of loving kindness... Don't look at me too closely. Just blame my mom.