TechSun

It still hurts

2007-01-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Interesting news from Gallup

2007-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big follower of polls, because I know that being right has nothing to do with a majority/numbers game.

56% are satisfied with the influence of organized religion, but 63% are dissatisfied with the moral and ethical climate. think the two are related?

***update reading the study a little deeper the "unsatisfied want more","unsatisfied want less" and "unsatisfied keep the same" groups all together make up the 39% dissastified on religion.

Jumping to conclusions

2007-02-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

From the AP today we are being bombarded with the picture of 5,000 year old skeletons supposedly trapped in an embrace. They are even being called Romeo and Juliet.

My question is...how do we know they aren't two people who died strangling each other?

Make it So

2008-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

The London Telegraph is reporting today that former president Bill Clinton was telling friends that if Obama wants his support he would have to "kiss his a__" to get it.

We have proof the support is coming.

Cart before the horse

2008-07-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend Obama has stated that he is refining his position points on Iraq prior to his trip there so he can clarify his position.

Shouldn't he go there and see what is going on before deciding what he wants to say about it?

It is well

2008-06-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

We sing this hymn quite a bit, but for some reason this one hit me hard this Sunday.

It Is Well With My Soul was written in 1873 by Horation G. Spafford (lyrics).

The third verse is what really got me.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

I do not have a cross to bear because it has been carried for me through the streets of Jeruselem. I don't have the burden because the Son of the only God took so he could be tortured and killed on it.

It is well with my soul...thank God

One Mediator

2008-06-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the
testimony given at the proper time.
1 Tim 2:5-6 (ESV)

How many mediators do we need? I guess the catholic thought would be that you need a priest to go to Mary, who in turn would go to Jesus, who would go to God. Because, of course, a son would never turn down a request from his mother.

I only need the One.

But what does the "proper time mean". Earlier in Galatians Paul tells us:

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of
woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so
that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has
sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So
you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Gal 4:4-7 (ESV)

I have faith that I will be treated as a son, because God told me so. Please excuse me, I need to go talk with my mediator.

Obama's Minster(s) Problem

2008-06-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

Obama seems to have a lot of problems with selecting his spiritual advisors. Either its not important in his life, or he is a bad judge of character.

How do those churches keep their tax exempt status with those kind of comments?

The scariest problem is not what these apostate ministers preach or say. The scary part is all the people clapping, dancing, and fanning themselves from the excitment. The fact so many people are agreeing should be frightening to the world.

Not sure if they have read 1 Corinthians or not. But nothing seems to be going on decently or in order.

Maybe he'd be better off if he were a muslim

2008-06-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Obama's lastest attempt to distance himself from an out of control "minister" is weaker than the first.

He doesn't denounce anything that was said, but just says that he doesn't want his church under scrutiny any more.

Is the Christian attitude one that begs not to be under scrutiny? If you belong to a "church" that doesn't want to be scrutinized, run away and pray they are turned over to Satan and will someday repent.

Churches that don't want scrutiny don't have the scriptures on their side. They put themselves before God and hide in the shadows. God does not live in the shadows.

New DVD

2008-05-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

Our church has been participating in a neat project called
www.newtestamentchurchtoday.org

Hopefully more churches will join in this effort to assist churches around the world. DVD's were sent to churches all over the US featurning, Dr. Jack EVans, Dr. Jack P. Lewis, Dr. Everett Ferguson, Dr. Bill Humble, and Robert Oglesby (my personal favorite).

It's a really neat discussion on "Why Acapella".

Bible Study

2008-01-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

I'm one week into a new weekly bible study. It has been over two years since I was involved in one.

I had been a little distracted by the lying and apostacy of the elders of the former Pitman Creek Church of Christ and the Highland Oaks Church of Christ. But it's good to be back on track.

I don't know the guys I'm meeting with that well yet, but I'm looking forward to getting to know them.

I was involved in a good weekly study for about 3 years with a pretty good bunch of guys and I had thought we were pretty close. Of course I realized that wasn't the case after our second child was born and we didn't get a call, card, or even an email from any of them for almost a year later asking why I hadn't been at bible study.

Oh well, we are on to bigger and better things.

Doxology from Jude - Enough Said

2007-05-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen

Are ya sure?

2007-03-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
2 Peter 1:10 (ESV)

4For we know,brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
1 Thess 1:4-5 (ESV)

Sometimes Christians are criticized because we seem so sure we are going to heaven. Well, that is part of being a christian. If you are not sure, you have a weak faith.

The qualities listed in second Peter are over and above your faith. You must also have virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

All of these require confidence. Confidence in the Gospel. Confidence in your faith. How can someone evangelize if they are not confident.

We are saved and should be proud of it.

17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
2 Cor 10:17 (ESV)

Grenade Arguments

2007-03-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

I read quite a few blogs related to the churches of christ, restoration movement, etc.

Some of the common posts say something along the lines of..

"The churches of christ don't recognize the importance of grace".
"The message is all 'hell-fire' and brimstone"
"the CoC require baptism for admission into their churches"
"the CoC think they are the only ones going to heaven"

It is very odd. I have attended the churches of christ all of my life. I attended probably one of the most conservative colleges in this fellowship. I subscribe to restoration minded magazines. I attend university lectureships.

I don't say this to brag or think this makes me a 'super christian'. But only to say that I have never heard any of the four items listed above.

I can think of dozens of sermons, classes, studies about grace in just the last 2 years. (Most of these are followed by only about a 10 second invitation on how to be able to partake of that grace.)

I have yet to hear a 'hellfire and brimestone sermon'. (I have read Jesus's parables however).

I do not know of any admission requirements to attend a church.

I have never heard anyone preach the churches of christ are the only ones going to heaven. The bible is actually very clear on that in Roman's alone.

I guess I consider myself lucky to have never experienced these things. The gossips that spread these rumors are the wolves that Paul warned us about. (Unless you think the bible is cultural for a specific time, in that case just ignore the whole thing)

This probably is a good demonstration why local congregation autonomy is the perect defense against apostacy (way to go biblical pattern!)

Military Hospital Scandal?

2007-03-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

So the bad conditions at VA hospitals for the last 40 years rests squarely on the shoulders of the current administration? I don't think so.

At least now everyone can see what a universal healthcare system looks like in our country. Once again, no thanks.

Beginning...End...Beginning...

2007-03-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

The bible begins with the creation of heavens and the earth.

The bible ends with the creation of a new heaven and earth.

Now the big Matrix question....how many times has this new heaven and earth happend?

Sin of conscience?

2007-03-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

Recently, our church leaders decided to "merge" with another congregation. Merge is an interesting choice of words since there is no merger. We were told input would not be taken, but they

We were given the "traditions are meaningless" sermon by our soon unemployed minister last Sunday. Following soon should be the Rick Warren's example "if you don't like it, leave". Which is sad for those whose faith and resources have built and sustained the church.

One of our church shepherds is known to say "if you don't change, the liberals will leave. If you do change, the conservatives will stay but complain". He tends to go for the butts in pew approach.

So now I come to the question of the day. Is there such a thing as a sin of conscience? By this I mean:
1. Would be a sin to violate my conscience to give up on what I believe to be scriptural traditions?
2. For someone with the opposite view, would it be a sin for them to violate their conscience by not standing by their beliefs on scripture?

I am leading towards yes on both. If either of "us" were to violate our true principals on what we truly believe would not be a good thing.

This new merger brings changes to worship, leadership, and the overall purpose of the church. All of which are admittedly "new ideas" in the eyes of the incoming church.

I'll miss that place, but it's just a place.

Flashback

2007-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

Ah the good ole days of 2004. Does anyone remember this?

Peanut Butter Greatness

2007-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

I realized a new guilty pleasure this morning. There is a bit of a thrill to be the first person to stick a knife in a brand new jar of creamy peanut butter.

For a while I flashed back to those Reese's peanut butter cup commercials when a guy is walking down the street eating out of a full jar of peanut butter...who does that? A guy coming the other direction eating a chocolate bar bumps into the first guy. During the crash, the chocolate bar winds up in the jar of peanut butter.

Hey, you've got your chocolate in my peanut butter! is the accusation
You've got your peanut butter on my chocolate! is the reply

Then these two strangers do one of the most unreal things in TV history. They decide to eat the combined new food from a stranger on the street. I'm just glad these two guys weren't chewing gum. It would have been worse than that Snickers commercial during the super bowl.

Last Football Post until summer

2007-02-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

It is official, football season is over. Manning was able to prove he is better than Grossman, what an achievement.

Bob Sturm of Dallas radio fame came up with a formula years ago on calculating the best NFL franchise of all time. The formula is simple:

Points in the Sturm Formula:
1 point for each year of making the playoffs
3 points for losing in the AFC/NFC Championship games
5 points for losing the Super Bowl
11 points for winning the Super Bowl

1. Dallas
2. Pittsburgh
3. San Francisco
4. Oakland
5. Denver
6. Miami
7. Washington
8. New England
9. Green Bay
10. St Louis
11. Minnesota
12. Indianapolis
13. New York Giants
14. Chicago
15. Buffalo
16. Kansas City
17. Philadelphia
18. Tennessee
19. New York Jets
20. Cleveland
21. Tampa Bay
22. San Diego
23. Cincinnati
24. Seattle
25. Baltimore
26. Atlanta
27. Carolina
28. Detroit
29.Jacksonville
30. New Orleans
31. Arizona
32. Houston

I finally figured it out

2007-02-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

I think I have finally found the first instance of someone using the smoke screen claim "It's not a salvation issue".

2007-01-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

This story was so ridiculous I can't help but comment.

A London prison is changing the direction of toilets to accomodate Muslim prisoners.

Islamic code prohibits Muslims from facing or turning their backs on the
direction of prayer when they use the bathroom. Muslim prisoners complained of
having to sit sideways on toilets so as to not break code.

I guess they were getting tired of looking like they were worshipping a toilet in their cells. Not that it would make much of a difference.

Failed Policy

2007-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

I heard Ted Kennedy talking yesterday through his chins calling preemptive military action a "failed policy".

Since the idea of preemption is to attack an enemy before we ourselves are attacked. The history of preemption didn't begin with Iraq.

World War I
World War II (excluding the Japanese)
Korean War
Vietnam (thank you Kennedy and LBJ)
Bosnia (thank you Clinton)

The policy of preemption is not the problem in Iraq, its the "Paper Tiger" mentality that Osama said the United States has. He is wrong on religion, wrong on morality, but right on the nose with that.

Hillary is bad news for democrats

2007-01-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

Below is a paste from an email I recieved. It is a conspiracy thoery email that has been going around a while, but it just occured to me. Hillary as president could be a way to remove the democrat majority in Congress.

1-James McDougal - Clinton's convicted Whitewater partner died of an
apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key
witness in Ken Starr's investigation.

2 -Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997
at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened just
after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in
the White House.

3- Vince Foster - Former White House councilor, and colleague of
Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose Law firm.
Died of a gunshot wound
to the head, ruled a suicide.

4- Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman.
Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist
close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top
of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his
death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his
willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The rest of the people
on the plane also died. A few days later the air Traffic controller
commited suicide.

5- C. Victor Raiser II- Raiser, a major player in the Clinton fund
raising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.

6-Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director
found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, September 1992. Described
by Clinton as a "Dear friend and trusted advisor".

7-Ed Willey - Clinton fund raiser, found dead November 1993 deep in
the woods in VA of a gunshot wound to the head.
Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey
died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton
groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was
involved in several Clinton fund raising events.

8-Jerry Parks -Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in
Little Rock. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection
outside Little Rock. Park's son said his father was building a
dossier on Clinton. He allegedly threatened to reveal this
information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from
his house.

9-James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he
had a "Black Book" of people which contained names of influential
people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.

10-James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an apparent
hanging suicide. He wasreported to have ties to Whitewater.

11-Kathy Ferguson- Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson, was
found dead in May 1994, in her living room with a gunshot to her
head.
It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed
suitcases, as if she were going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a
co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit.
Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones.

12-Bill Shelton - Arkansas State Trooper and fiancee of Kathy
Ferguson.
Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in
June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site
of his fiancee.

13-Gandy Baugh - Attorney for Clinton's friend Dan Lassater, died by
jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client
was a convicted drug distributor.

14-Florence Martin - Accountant &
sub-contractor for the CIA, was
related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. He died
of three gunshot wounds.

15- Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he
was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back
of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.

16-Paula Grober - Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf from
1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car
accident.

17-Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter.
Investigating Mena Airport
and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists,
apparently, in the middle of his investigation.

18- Paul Wilcher - Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport
with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise"
was found dead on a
toilet June 22, 1993 in his Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a
report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death.

19-Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust
Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington, Virginia apartment
balcony August15, 1993. He was investigating the Morgan Guaranty
scandal.

20-Barbara Wise - Commerce Department staffer.
Worked closely with Ron
Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown.
Died November 29, 1996.
Her bruised, nude body was found locked in her office at the
Department of Commerce.

21-Charles Meissner -Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John
Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small
plane crash.

22-Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health
Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a
small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's
advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and
brother.

23-Barry Seal -Drug running pilot out of Mena Arkansas, death was no
accident.

24-Johnny Lawhorn Jr. - Mechanic, found a check made out to Bill
Clinton in the trunk of a car left at his repair shop. He was found
dead after his car had hit a utility pole.

25-Stanley Huggins - Investigated Madison Guaranty. His death was a
purported suicide and his report was never released.

26- Hershell Friday - Attorney and Clinton fund raiser died March 1,
1994 when his plane exploded.

27-Kevin Ives & Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case.
Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena Arkansas
airport drug operation. A controversial case, the initial report of
death said, due to falling asleep on railroad tracks. Later reports
claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks.
Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come
before a Grand Jury.

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES/HENRY CASE:

28-Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a
truck, 7/88.

29-Keith McMaskle - Died stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988

30-Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.

31-Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash
dump in April 1989.

33-James Milan - Found decapitated. However, the Coroner ruled his
death was due to "natural causes".

34-Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of
his pickup truck in June 1990.

35-Richard Winters - A suspect in the Ives / Henry deaths. He was
killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.

THE FOLLOWING CLINTON BODYGUARDS ARE DEAD:
36 -Major William S. Barkley Jr.
37-Captain Scott J . Reynolds
38-Sgt. Brian Hanley
39-Sgt. Tim Sabel
40-Major General William Robertson
41-Col. William Densberger
42-Col. Robert Kelly
43-Spec. Gary Rhodes
44-Steve Willis
45-Robert Williams
46-Conway LeBleu
47-Todd McKeehan

She's Running

2007-01-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hillary made it official this weekend. She was forced into finally admitting she is running for president...duh.

The Hollywood primaries seem to be underway as the media can't decide who to back yet. If you can stand reading foul language, a funny read is "I've Always Been a Yankees Fan: Hillary Clinton In Her Own Words" .

If elected, I wonder if she will still use the term "we" a lot when talking about decisions made in the whitehouse.

Evidently one of her important platforms will be universal healthcare. Which means universally bad healthcare. Insurance is a consumer product, not a right...that's why its called a "benefit".

I'm usually very interested in politics, but so far I'm not interested in even participating.