This & That

I resolve

2011-12-28T21:12:00.001-08:00

In 2012... I want to be a better worshipper.

Ever Feel Like a Fraud?

2011-12-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

Feel Like a Fraud? At Times, Maybe You Should

Stare into a mirror long enough and it’s hard not to wonder whether that’s a mask staring back, and if so, who’s really behind it.

A similar self-doubt can cloud a public identity as well, especially for anyone who has just stepped into a new role. College graduate. New mother. Medical doctor. Even, for that matter, presidential nominee.

Presidents and parents, after all, are expected to make crucial decisions on a dime. Doctors are being asked to save lives, and graduate students to know how Aristotle’s conception of virtue differed from Aquinas’s conception of — uh-oh.

Who’s kidding whom?

Social psychologists have studied what they call the impostor phenomenon since at least the 1970s, when a pair of therapists at Georgia State University used the phrase to describe the internal experience of a group of high-achieving women who had a secret sense they were not as capable as others thought. Since then researchers have documented such fears in adults of all ages, as well as adolescents.

Their findings have veered well away from the original conception of impostorism as a reflection of an anxious personality or a cultural stereotype. Feelings of phoniness appear to alter people’s goals in unexpected ways and may also protect them against subconscious self-delusions.

Questionnaires measuring impostor fears ask people how much they agree with statements like these: “At times, I feel my success has been due to some kind of luck.” “I can give the impression that I’m more competent than I really am.” “If I’m to receive a promotion of some kind, I hesitate to tell others until it’s an accomplished fact.”

Researchers have found, as expected, that people who score highly on such scales tend to be less confident, more moody and rattled by performance anxieties than those who score lower.

But the dread of being found out is hardly always paralyzing. Two Purdue psychologists, Shamala Kumar and Carolyn M. Jagacinski, gave 135 college students a series of questionnaires, measuring anxiety level, impostor feelings and approach to academic goals. They found that women who scored highly also reported a strong desire to show that they could do better than others. They competed harder.

By contrast, men who scored highly on the impostor scale showed more desire to avoid contests in areas where they felt vulnerable. “The motivation was to avoid doing poorly, looking weak,” Dr. Jagacinski said.

Yet if feelings of phoniness were all bad, it seems unlikely that they would be so familiar to so many emotionally well-adapted people.

In a 2000 study at Wake Forest University, psychologists had people who scored highly on an impostor scale predict how they would do on a coming test of intellectual and social skills. An experimenter, they were told, would discuss their answers with them later.

Sure enough, the self-styled impostors predicted that they would do poorly. But when making the same predictions in private — anonymously, they were told — the same people rated their chances on the test as highly as people who scored low on the impostor scale.

In short, the researchers concluded, many self-styled impostors are phony phonies: they adopt self-deprecation as a social strategy, consciously or not, and are secretly more confident than they let on.

“Particularly when people think that they might not be able to live up to others’ views of them, they may maintain that they are not as good as other people think,” Dr. Mark Leary, the lead author, wrote in an e-mail message. “In this way, they lower others’ expectations — and get credit for being humble.”

In a study published in September, Rory O’Brien McElwee and Tricia Yurak of Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., had 253 students take an exhaustive battery of tests assessing how people present themselves in public. They found that psychologically speaking, impostorism looked a lot more like a self-presentation strategy than a personality trait.

In an interview, Dr. McElwee said that as a social strategy, projecting oneself as an impostor can lower expectations for a performance and take pressure off a person — as long as the self-deprecation doesn’t go too far. “It’s the difference between saying you got drunk before the SAT and actually doing it,” she said. “One provides a ready excuse, and the other is self-destructive.”

In mild doses, feeling like a fraud also tempers the natural instinct to define one’s own competence in self-serving ways. Researchers have shown in careful studies that people tend to be poor judges of their own performance and often to overrate their abilities. Their opinions about how well they’ve done on a test, or at a job, or in a class are often way off others’ evaluations. They’re confident that they can detect liars (they can’t) and forecast grades (not so well).

This native confidence is likely to be functional: in a world of profound uncertainty, self-serving delusion probably helps people to get out of bed and chase their pet projects.

But it can be poison when the job calls for expertise and accountability, and the expertise is wanting. From her study, Dr. McElwee concluded that impostor fears most likely came and went in most people, and were most acute when, for example, a teacher first had to stand up in front of a class, or a new mechanic or lawyer took on real liability.

At those times feeling like a fraud amounts to more than the stirrings of an anxious temperament or the desire to project a protective humility. It reflects a respect for the limits of one’s own abilities, and an intuition that only a true impostor would be afraid to ask for help.

Article written by BENEDICT CAREY, originally published: February 5, 2008 in New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/05mind.html)

A Calling Into Higher Education

2011-10-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

This blog post is a short pseudo-apologetic for higher education.

My first premise is simple and it is:
1) We are all gifted and called to be ministers
2) We are not all called to "pulpit" ministries

My second premise is built upon the first premise and it is:
1) If a calling into pulpit ministry naturally compels us to bible college and/or masters programs in divinity, then
2) Non-pulpit ministries should also cultivate their callings, certainly up to and including college

There are undoubtedly those who can succeed and be effective in the scope of their callings without higher education. For those men and women of God, that works. That makes sense. But, to avoid higher education because we just need to "trust God to provide" is shallow thinking, and at the very least an incomplete scope of perspective. This mindset would be akin to the thinking that "waiting on God" is loafing around. We know, this is not the case.

If a man or woman of God is called into a professional field for the sake of the Gospel, he or she cannot expect to have accidentally ended up there without proper training. People who pursue careers in these fields- like medicine, law, engineering, education, business, or others- devote years of due diligence and personal time sacrifice cultivating their calling.

Is this different than the person called to a pulpit ministry? I propose that it is not. Gifts are gifts. Callings are callings. To each individual, God has purposed an intended sphere of influence and pathways that are ordered to cover this earth with His glory. Every calling and gift must be cultivated to produce anything worthwhile and effective.

Legacies Without Limits

2011-09-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Its official! I have secured the domain! Exciting new grassroots projects on the horizon... looking forward to building this thing from the ground up: www.legacieswithoutlimits.org. Stay tuned!

Also, you can follow us on Twitter @ username: worldlegacies

Worship Thought

2011-08-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

When we enter worship, we ought to press through until the weights have been exchanged: Exchange the weights that easily beset us for the weight of His glory.

Worship until we've felt a release- that's when He is glorified. The only thing that gets between God and His people is ourselves.

Worship is throwing our crown at His feet. Worship is getting ourselves off the throne. Worship is getting our eyes affixed on Him. Worship is kneeling before sovereignty. Worship is reestablishing His kingship in our lives.

New Song So Good To Me- ROUGH CUT

2011-07-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

SWEET JAM. WANT TO BUST THIS ONE OUT IN YOUTH... SOON.

GOD THOUGHT

2011-06-24T18:20:00.001-07:00

If I told my son over and over again to not run in the street and he does... then gets hit by a car, I would not expect or desire my son to run away from me or hide with life-threatening injuries. His disobedience would not push me away... my love for him, my concern for his wellbeing, my lifelong investment in his growth and maturity would compel me to show mercy.

It is too often Christians find themselves spiritually banged up or in duress from our disobedience... and too often we hide (like our earthy father, Adam, hid) or we run away perhaps fearful of reproach or (allowing our pride to reign) concerned with how our disobedience makes us look. Our mind conjures up everything but the truth of God's love and mercy to deter us from finding safety and redemption in Him.

If we live by this one rule, we will without a doubt, endure 'til the end: WE SHOULD ALWAYS RUN TO GOD, NEVER RUN FROM GOD

His grace is still sufficient. His mercies await.

Is that LIPSTICK on Kirk Franklin?

2011-06-01T16:07:00.001-07:00

Worship Thought

2011-05-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

Worship can be defined as our privileged response to seeing His glory, mercy, and worth.

If our corporate worship is every lacking in energy, it's not because our God is not worthy, rather, it's because we haven't seen Him clearly yet- our vision is skewed or distracted.

The Password: Jesus

2011-05-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this song... and I love it. Some parts are a little bit street... but its kind of like a "Jesus Chant"... enjoy:

Tithing- HILARIOUS!

2011-03-21T18:16:00.001-07:00

Easter Worship Material

2011-03-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Easter is only a month away....

Any worship material (choir, special group or otherwise) out there you want to share?

Heres a short list I've been compiling:

Unfailing Love- Jonathan Stockstill-
Worthy-Jonathan Stockstill
True Love-Phil Wickham
At The Cross- Hillsong
Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher)- Israel Houghton
My Savior Lives- Ross Parsley
Beautiful Exchange- Hillsong United
They Didn't Kn0w- Kurt Carr

God's best,
Scott

Who's Responsibility Is It To Help The Poor? (Part II)

2011-03-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

Garrett Hardin, though knowledgeable and learned, does not speak from the same worldview as us Christians. His pragmatic worldview and alarmist methods runs wild without the bridling of the gospel. There certainly are only limited resources on this planet, a statement that we can accept. However, there are times when we are instructed to “trust in the Lord” and “lean not unto [our] own understanding” (Proverbs 3.5). In a case, like this, where scientific data and our Christian principle to trust God may not corroborate completely, we do not haphazardly toss our foundations out the window. We live by faith. That means we trust that God is in control, will provide, and we show that we believe this by continuing to live out our lives gospel-centered & Christ-pleasing. This includes, but is not limited to giving to those in need, helping the widow and the orphans (James 1.27), and loving our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10.27).

On the other side of the “solution spectrum” there is Peter Singer. His ideological solution to world poverty is very commendable, especially since he is not a Christian. You see, the gospel agrees with Singer’s overarching worldview that: a) there are bad things happening, and b) we can do something to prevent some of these bad things from happening. Singer’s solution, in the New York Times, goes on to imply that humanity is morally obligated to donate to charities and that we are essentially killing people if we do not give most of our money away. I would argue that humanity, without the gospel, has an incomplete moral compass and is unable to uniformly know what is right to do. The gospel acts as a beacon of light that directs Christians amongst dissonant storms of opinions, logic and emotion. Living out a gospel-centered life is more about our self-denial than our self-preservation, because the bible is clear we are to “seek first the kingdom of God”(Matthew 6.33). Though, contrary to Singer’s assertion, how much we give is not truly the issue. The Reverend Andrew Murray summarized it best when he said, “How different our standard is from Christ’s. We ask how much a man gives. He asks how much a man keeps.”(Stearns 210). We also are told in the Old Testament that through us, “all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 22.18). This sobering responsibility is, again, reminded us in the New Testament when we are told that “to [who] much is given, much is also required” (Luke 12.48). Singer, without the gospel, has a tough task in urging Americans (or any affluent population) to buy into a never ending giving campaign to helping people who will continue to be needy. Singer’s solution is laced with attempts to point to a higher, more divine order of humanity- morality. Unfortunately, morality has become so relativistic and easily dismissed in secular society that his argument only falls on apathetic ears and unwilling bystanders. While Peter Singer also insists that we must give out of moral obligation, I propose that we, instead, give out of our love for God. Richard Stearns, CEO of WorldVision and author of The Hole In Our Gospel wrote in his book, “If we truly love God, we will express it by loving our neighbors, and when we truly love our neighbors, it expressed our love for God”. I’m insisting that this is our mandate- to “love the Lord [our] God” and “love [our] neighbor as ourselves]”(Luke 10.27).

“Christianity is ranked as the largest religion in the world today with approximately 2 billion adherents”. There are almost believed to be nearly 200 million just in the United States. Can you imagine if each and every Christian gave every month, every year, every decade, and so on? In itself, that would meet the needs of many impoverished in our world. Some estimates say that “an investment of $30 billion per year in agriculture of developing countries [will] double food production by 2050 and ensure the basic right to food for all people”. We need to be concerned about pleasing God until our hearts are compelled to do something, even if it be counter-cultural, to change the fates of those in need.

World poverty seems so far away from some of us. And because it is so, it is easy to be Christian enough to be concerned but not Christian enough to be moved. We are told that “faith without works is dead” (James 2.20). It was Martin Luther King Jr. writing from the Birmingham Jail in 1963 who penned the words, “If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning…”. Logical arguments and reason, at times, are enmity to our spiritual directives. Similarly, we cannot trust our hearts at times because they are “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…” (Jeremiah 17.9). Regardless the perceived efficacy of our giving, we are mandated to give, and love. We are to give freely because He gives freely and love without restraint because that is how Christ loves us. Christians are not to be principally governed by secular arguments or the inward appeals of our fickle emotions. Instead, we are to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3.27) and allow Him to be the transcendent force that governs our lives and decisions.

*Note- this was an essay written with a prompt to contrast the idealogical solutions to world poverty presented by Hardin and Singer.

Who's Responsibility Is It To Help The Poor? (Part I)

2011-02-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

Here’s a staggering figure for you. Nearly 3 billion people in our world live on less than $2.50 per day. Furthermore, 80% of the entire human population lives on less than $10 per day. So what if most people make only a few dollars a day- what’s the big deal, right? It is true that low income, in and of itself, is not a pressing or urgent issue. However, we use income to define the level of poverty within a population, and “poverty is the principal cause of hunger worldwide”. Once a population is hungry, they cannot help their society. When left unchecked, the society loses the benefit of precious human resources. This self perpetuating cycle places that population into a downward spiral because hunger “caus[es] poor health, low levels of energy, and even mental impairment” which creates “greater poverty by reducing people’s ability to work and learn”. Clearly it’s not as easy as telling these populations to pull themselves up by the proverbial bootstraps. The problem of poverty is more real than that, though it is not a new issue.

Many solutions, some radical, have been bantered about over the years. Some people, like Garrett Hardin, who taught many years in the University of California system, believe that “the quality of life and the quantity of it are inversely related” and “calling a ubiquitous problem a ‘world problem’ is useful only if there is a plausible worldwide solution.” In stark contrast, there are people like that of Australian philosopher and renown bioethics professor Peter Singer, who embrace a staunch utilitarian ideology- “that is, one[s] who judge whether acts are right or wrong by their consequences”. Singer’s views suggest we are killing people if we do nothing and that we are “failing to live a morally decent life” if we are enjoying anything that resembles a plush life by spending money on inessentials, rather than giving to overseas aid organizations that saves lives. Hardin appeals to the rational and logical side of our humanity suggesting that overpopulation is bad due to lack of natural earthly resources. Meanwhile, Singer makes it his responsibility to appeal to everybody’s morality on the principle basis that there is a right thing to do and we all can do it. Hardin admonishes us to listen to our logic and preserve our own future by letting needy populations die off. Singer contends that we listen to our heart and make a radical move to our pocketbooks. I am asserting, however, that we as Christians are governed by a supernatural law, a divine order- not logic, reason, or an elusive secular argument of what is morally right. The act of selfless giving of time and money by Christians, is a way that we fulfill our decree to spearhead this injustice of world hunger and poverty; not only because giving helps, but also because the bible instructs us to do so.

(To Be Continued)

Worship Sets

2011-01-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

I've thought, recently, that there is a lack of collaboration among our fellowship when it comes to worship sets and music/matieral. I think it would be awesome to collaborate on such a thing. I know that when I lead a service, I prayerfully try to choose songs that flow together in theme or thought so that worship can flow... seamlessly... purely... allowing Jesus to do His thing.

I understand, also, that even among Christian churches there are such grand differences in ideas about what is "worship material". I tend to stay away from "concert-ish" songs, personally, and focus on congregational choruses and/or call & response material. Additionally, every church has very different service orders- for example, some churches may sing 5 songs straight for worship, while others may have 2 separated by another, etc. etc.

So, my question... What would be a good forum to share these ideas?

"This Song Is About Heaven"- Kirk Franklin (From The Rebirth)

2011-01-17T12:33:00.001-08:00

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

2010-12-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

Taking it back... waaaayyyy back....

The Bystander Effect and Social Conformity

2010-12-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

BYSTANDER EFFECT

ELEVATOR CONFORMITY

A Beautiful Exchange- Worship Song

2010-09-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've been having this one on repeat for the past few weeks...

The words to the chorus... so simple... but thats just how worship is sometimes. Enjoy!

When only love could make a way
You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange
When only love could break these chains
You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange

Holy are You, God
Holy is Your name
With everything I've got
My heart will sing how I love You

PEAK 2010- RAW FOOTAGE

2010-08-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

Twitterverse

2010-06-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

You can follow on Twitter- Quick Follow WILDERNATION

Expect- Goofy quips, ChickFilA free food notifications, upcoming youth events, thoughts about worship and perhaps a sporadic deep thought.

I Love Your Presence- Bethel

2010-06-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

Original song performed by David and Nicole Binion. Good remake though. They've slowed it down a bit and added a vamp.

Jocelyn Brown- Leaning/ Praise The Mighty Name of Jesus

2010-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Youth miniStarZ

2010-04-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Funny. Somebody shared this with me. "Do the awkward side hug" haha

Keep Your Hands Up

2010-03-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

Life or circumstance got you on the ropes?

Don't you dare put your hands down-- keep your hands up (think worship*)! All moments aren't equal.

Don't Text and Drive

2010-02-15T09:57:00.001-08:00

This is a good (dramatization) reminder. Its never that important.

Deadliest Catch News

2010-02-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

Discovery Channel: 'Deadliest Catch' captain dies

Read About It Here

Another Haiti Relief Song...

2010-02-09T14:39:00.001-08:00

Michael W. Smith co-wrote it... can't wait 'til it comes out. Sounds good (there is a rough clip on YouTube)!

I believe its called "Come Together Now". Be on the lookout.

Kirk Franklin & Friends- Haiti Relief Song

2010-01-27T16:27:00.001-08:00

New Years Resolution- Just a thought...

2009-12-12T18:53:00.001-08:00

What would our spouse's New Years resolutions be FOR US, if we asked them? LOL

Would make for an interesting convo, for sure...

THE CHIP- IBM COMMERCIAL

2009-11-30T09:18:00.001-08:00

LAST SECOND LATERAL PLAY RESURRECTED

2009-11-21T08:20:00.001-08:00

IRS UNCLAIMED TAX REFUND DATABASE!

2009-11-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

DOES IRS HAVE MONEY FOR YOU?

BABY EINSTEIN- DVD REFUNDS!

2009-10-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

In an unprecedented refund campaign, Baby Einstein is offering parents a refund of up to $15.99 for returned Baby Einstein DVDs that were purchased between June 5, 2004and September 9, 2009. No receipt is required, but the DVD must be returned to the company in order to receive the Baby Einstein DVD Refund Offer Too Good to Be True? refund. In lieu of the refund, parents can opt for a new DVD, a Baby Einstein CD or book, or a 25% off promo code for Disneystore.com. There is a limit of 4 DVD returns per household.

http://www.babyeinstein.com/parentsguide/satisfaction/upgrade_us.html

Pretty Insane Kid

2009-10-26T15:43:00.001-07:00

I'm Sending The Fire

2009-10-07T17:39:00.001-07:00

Is Creationism Really Possible?

2009-10-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Todays News Headline:
Oldest human skeleton offers new clues to evolution
The oldest-known hominid skeleton was a 4-foot-tall female who walked upright more than 4 million years ago and offers new clues to how humans may have evolved, scientists say.

Many scientists (and specifically, athiests who set the locus of their beliefs solely on what science can prove) would say this is further evidence to refute the Judeo-Christian story of creation. I say that it is not impossible for the fossils to be that old. Was there a world before the world we exist in? Perhaps. Genesis gives us only a few clues. We DO know that when God created man, He made man in HIS image... and interestingly, He created man FULLY GROWN. So, perhaps when He created the earth, He also created it fully grown- millions and millions of years old. Who knows? The fact of the matter still remains, however, that researchers are having a difficult time trying to pinpoint when the two lineages -- chimps and humans -- split from their believed 'common ancestor'. I submit to you, they never will.

I believe that the idea of founding ones 'faith' on science alone, they have restricted their capacity for knowledge. If God truly controls the elements (II Peter 3) and that one day the elements will "melt with fervent heat", we know that in Him nothing is impossible. Funny, Christ talked about the elements before Dmitri Mendeleev fathered the periodic table of elements in 1869! I love my Jesus! He's a smart one! Definitely a keeper!

Touching Story... Healer...

2009-09-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

Paul Baloche- Your Name

2009-09-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

Bible Gets A Makeover

2009-09-01T18:58:00.001-07:00

Best-Selling Bible for Conservative Evangelicals to Undergo Revision

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Associated Press

The top-selling Bible in North America will undergo its first revision in 25 years, modernizing the language in some sections and promising to reopen a contentious debate about changing gender terms in the sacred text.

The New International Version, the Bible of choice for conservative evangelicals, will be revised to reflect changes in English usage and advances in Biblical scholarship, it was announced Tuesday. The revision is scheduled to be completed late next year and published in 2011.

"We want to reach English speakers across the globe with a Bible that is accurate, accessible and that speaks to its readers in a language they can understand," said Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Christian ministry that holds the NIV copyright.

But past attempts to remake the NIV for contemporary audiences in different editions have been plagued by controversies about gender language that have pitted theological conservatives against each other.

The changes did not make all men "people" or remove male references to God, but instead involved dropping gender-specific terms when translators judged that the original text didn't intend it. So in some verses, references to "sons of God" became "children of God," for example.

Supporters say gender-inclusive changes are more accurate and make the Bible more accessible, but critics contend they twist meaning or smack of political correctness.

Acknowledging past missteps, the NIV's overseers are promising that this time, the revision process will be more transparent and that they will actively promote what they describe as a long-held practice of inviting input from scholars and readers.

The NIV was first published in 1978 and more than 300 million NIV Bibles are in print worldwide; its publishers and distributors say the translation accounts for 30 percent of Bibles sold in North America.

The Committee on Bible Translation, an independent group of conservative scholars and translators formed in 1965 to create and revise the NIV, will oversee the new revision.

An effort earlier this decade to create a separate version of the NIV that used more gender-inclusive language in an attempt to reach a younger audience fell flat with groups that felt it crossed the line.

That edition, Today's New International Version, will cease publication once the new-look NIV is released, said Moe Girkins, president of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Zondervan, its North American publisher.

"Whatever its strengths, the TNIV has become an emblem of division in the evangelical Christian world," Girkins said.

It was the TNIV that ushered in changes from "sons of God" to "children of God," or "brothers" to "brothers and sisters." In Genesis I, God created "human beings" in his own image instead of "man."

Many prominent pastors and scholars endorsed the changes. But critics said masculine terms in the original should not be tampered with. Some warned that changing singular gender references to plural ones alters what the Bible says about God's relationships with individuals.

The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution saying the edition "has gone beyond acceptable translation standards."

"We fell short of the trust that has been placed in us," said Danby, of Biblica. "We failed to make a clear case for the revisions."

Danby said that freezing the NIV in its 1984 state was also a mistake, however. He emphasized that in the revision, about 90 percent of the NIV will be unchanged.

Douglas Moo, a professor at Wheaton College and chairman of the Committee on Bible Translation, said the group is committed to "a complete review of every gender related change."

"I am not sure how it's going to come out," Moo said. "We have a genuine, authentic review process ... Everything is on the table."

One of the most vocal critics of gender-inclusive translations, Randy Stinson of the Louisville, Ky.-based Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, said the group supports updating the NIV. He credited organizers for their openness.

"We're still probably going to differ on the way they handle some of the gender language," Stinson said. "But we're open and anxious to see what they come up with and we're really going to be reserving judgment."

Most changes will have nothing to do with gender inclusivity, Moo said. And the TNIV provides a glimpse of likely changes: In the '84 NIV, Mary is "with child," but in the TNIV she is "pregnant." In the NIV version of Psalm 146:9, "The Lord watches over the alien." The TNIV used "foreigner" instead of "alien."

I'm Just Sayin'...

2009-08-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

Me and Jesus... we are blood related!

You Are For Me

2009-08-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Bought With A Price

2009-08-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

How do you treat something you paid good money for?

Are you quick to throw it away? At the first sight of imperfection, are you inclined to toss that investment out and give up on it?

The likely answer: no.

So it it with our Christ. He paid the ULTIMATE PRICE and we belong to him. That tells me that we're worth something to Him. Often, we grow up viewing God as this judgmental, quick-to-punish-us type of God whom we tiptoe around feeling like He's sitting on His throne just waiting for us to make one wrong move to condemn us to eternal punishment. I am proposing that this is a wrong view of our God. Will He judge our sin? Ultimately, yes. He is our Father. He is LOVE. He is slow to judgment. He came to SAVE that which was lost, not condemn it. He's got a lot invested in this creation called mankind. Just as we would care for something that we give considerable value and just as we would maintain that treasure, so it is with God. He loved us so much that he died so that we could know Him. No greater love than this, that a man would lay down his life for a friend. A healthy fear of God will drive you toward his mercy; an unhealthy fear of God will drive you away from his merciful reach.

I'M NEW TO THE MAC WORLD

2009-06-20T09:01:00.001-07:00

OK... so I finally got myself an iPhone. Now... there's only a million apps to sort through.

Can you help? Wanted to get all of your opinions- what app(s) are an absolute MUST that I should be downloading??

Obama is killing John Galt

2009-06-01T11:54:00.001-07:00

Obama's plan to save GM: bankruptcy, $30 billion

"President Barack Obama pushed a humbled General Motors Corp. into bankruptcy on Monday and said the federal government will act as "reluctant shareholder" when it assumes a 60 percent ownership of the smaller carmaker that emerges."

SPRITE SLAM DUNK WINNER

2009-05-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

Why Does Inhaling Helium Make Your Voice Sound Funny?

2009-05-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

Helium’s atomic number is 2 and its atomic weight is 4.002602. It’s boiling and melting points – -452.07°F and -458.0°F, respectively – are the lowest among the elements. It is the second most abundant element in the known universe (after hydrogen). And it makes your voice sound really funny when you inhale it.

A Crash Course in Sound
When you speak, air travels up from your lungs and through the larynx, where it meets the vocal cords (or vocal folds), twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the larynx, and hits their underside, causing them to vibrate. The vibration of the cords excites air molecules in your vocal tract and sets up resonant frequencies. The vibration of the vocal cords influences the pitch (the perceived fundamental frequency of a sound) of your voice, the vibration of the air in the vocal tract influences your voice’s timbre (the quality of a sound that distinguishes different types of sound production; remember that for later, it will be important) and manipulation of the vocal tract – moving your tongue, lips, etc. – creates different resonant frequencies and allows you to make the different sounds of speech, likes “oohs” and “aahs.” Your voice finally leaves your mouth in the form of waves, oscillations of pressure transmitted through a medium.

Voice, Meet Helium
In addition to the vibrations and manipulations that influence the sound of your voice, what another person hears when you speak also depends in part on what the space where the sound is created contains. The air that fills a room where you might be speaking to someone is made up of roughly 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide and tiny amounts of other gases. Nitrogen, which makes up the majority of our air, has a mass roughly seven times greater than that of helium. Because helium is lighter than air, sound waves travel through it faster. In a room where the temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, sound travels at 344 meters a second through air, but 927 meters a second through helium. When you inhale helium, you’re changing the type of gas molecules in your vocal tract and increasing the speed of the sound of your voice.
Some people think that helium changes the pitch of your voice, but the vibration frequency of the vocal cords doesn’t change along with the type of gas molecules that surround them. When your vocal tract is filled with helium, your vocal cords are vibrating at the same frequency as usual. It’s actually the timbre (again, the quality of a sound that distinguishes different types of sound, also known as tone quality or tone color) that changes because those lighter-than-air helium molecules allow sound to travel faster and change the resonances of your vocal tract by making it more responsive to high-frequency sounds and less responsive to lower ones. Your voice winds up flat and Donald Duck-esque and listeners perceive this as a change in pitch.

More Fun With Gases
If a lighter gas like helium gives us a squeaky-sounding voice, you might to assume that a heavier-than-air gas would amplify the lower resonant frequencies and make it deeper and richer (trading Donald Duck for Barry White, if you will). You’d be correct; gases like xenon and sulfur hexafluoride slow the speed of sound and lower the resonant frequencies of your vocal tract. As this video demonstrates, xenon can also make you a little loopy.

No Fun With Gas
As amusing as the results are, inhaling helium is not so great for you. While you’re inhaling it, you’re not getting the oxygen you need for normal respiration. Breathing helium continuously can cause asphyxiation within a few minutes. That light headed feeling you get from a few inhalations is a sign you need to take a break. And please don’t ever inhale helium directly from one of those pressurized tanks. The high flow rate can rupture your lung tissue or send a concentrated mass of gas into your bloodstream, after which it can lodge in the brain and cause a stroke, seizures and death.

originally posted on blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/24912.html by Matt Soniak

Oh Happy Day Promo (Jonny Lang)

2009-04-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

Chip off the block...

2009-04-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

I was rummaging my photo boxes last night trying to find old pictures of a good friend that tragically passed away in Alaska over the weekend. In the boxes of pics, I found this old photo of me as a toddler. Does that look like Jacoby or wha?

NorCal Youth Revival Tour Continues...

2009-04-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

April 16th and 17th @ The Rock Church

Speaker: Evangelist Randy Williams from Pueblo, CO

ITS TAX DAY- YOU DESERVE A BREAK!

2009-04-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

From national retail chains to local mom and pops, many businesses are offering freebies and special sales to taxpayers this week. National boutique hotel chain Kimpton Hotels, for example, is eliminating the room tax -- as high as 10% -- for guests who book its Sweet Tax Relief package through the end of April. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro plans to knock 15% off the total bill for diners on April 15 (MY WIFE'S PERSONAL FAVE), while L’Institut Sothys Spa in New York will cut the price of its $135 hour-long massage in half until the end of tax week.

Here's Some National Deals I Found:

Chick-fil-A

Visit a participating restaurant April 15 and hang onto your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30 to receive the same order for free.

Cinnabon

Stop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 for free cinnamon-roll bites (regularly $2.49 for four).

Kimpton Hotels

Through April 30, ask for the Sweet Tax Relief Package and the hotel will pay the tax on your room. (At the Sky Hotel is Aspen that saves you the 10% that would have been tacked onto the $187-per-night deluxe room.) Dine at a property's restaurant, and they’ll pay the sales tax there, too.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery

On April 15, get one free scoop of ice cream.

McCormick & Schmick’s

On April 15, the chain offers a $10.40 menu of entrees. (Entrees regularly range from $16 to $33.) Each diner also receives a $10.40 “tax relief” gift certificate for a future meal.

PF Chang ’s China Bistro

Dine at one of P.F. Chang's 130-plus restaurant locations across the country on April 15, and save 15% on the total bill.

Taco Del Mar

Sign up online to receive a coupon for a free taco (regularly $1.89) during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion April 15.

T.G.I. Friday’s

On April 15, diners receive a $5 gift card when they spend $15 to $25. They earn a $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

Zazzle.com

Save 10.4% (it's advertised as 10.40%) on all orders at this T-shirt and apparel web site using code TAXDAYZAZZLE at checkout. Offer only good on April 15.

Walgreens

15 Free Prints online with code TAXDAY. Upload them online and pick up instore for free. Have them developed at a loved ones local Walgreens store and have them pick them up as a surprise gift!

HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY JAMES!

2009-04-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

JAMES WILDER

To a pretty cool brother- Happy Birthday! God's doing amazing things in and through our lives- brought us a long way! Let's keep moving on in our goodly heritage! I love you, bro! Thanks for being the man of God you are.

Scott

TIME HAS FLOWN...

2009-04-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOBY! Mommy & Daddy love you more than you know!! You amaze us every day! Your life is joy in our world, even when the circumstances surrounding us are not always. I understand the deep love of the Father a WHOLE LOT BETTER since you came into my world! I'll tell you what... if you love Jesus as much as Boz and Elmo, everything will be alright! =) Let's be true worshippers and God chaser's all our days! (I know you can't read- YET, but maybe we'll print this out and give it to you in a couple weeks... or years! We'll see how potty training unfolds first =P)

JACOBY'S FIRST GLANCES INTO THIS WORLD- JACOBY LESS THAN 10MINS OLD

JACOBY & MOMMY- JACOBY NEWBORN

JACOBY ENJOYING SOME TUNES WITH THE HEADPHONES ON- JACOBY 7WEEKS

JACOBY & UNCLE JAMES and AUNT "MIMI"- JACOBY 8WEEKS

JACOBY AT HIS FIRST STATE FAIR- JACOBY APPROX 4MONTHS

JACOBY & RORI POSING FOR THE CAMERA- JACOBY 6MONTHS

TIGGER...err....JACOBY & THE PUMPKINS- JACOBY 7MONTHS

JACOBY & HIS LOOK-ALIKE GLOW WORM AT "SIDNEY VANILLAWAVA's" BIRTHDAY- JACOBY 7MONTHS

JACOBY & AUNT "ZAZA" (LACHRISHA)- JACOBY 8MONTHS

JACOBY WEARING UNCLE "SIS'" CHRISTMAS GIFT (He cant quite yet say CHRIS)- JACOBY 9MONTHS

JACOBY'S DEVOTION TIME/ DIGGIN' INTO THE WORD OF GOD- JACOBY 10MONTHS

JACOBY & CURIOUS GEORGE AT HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY- JACOBY 12 MONTHS

JACOBY & HIS FIRST "MOP-CHOP"- JACOBY 13MONTHS

JACOBY & RORI CATCHING SOME CALIFORNIA 'RAYS- JACOBY 16MONTHS

JACOBY & WYATT AT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL- JACOBY 18MONTHS

JACOBY & HIS BALL AT APPLE HILL- JACOBY 19 MONTHS

JACOBY & PASTOR YOUNG COUNSELING EARLY- JACOBY 20MONTHS

JACOBY's REACTION TO "SANTA CLAUS" (aka BOSTON YOUNG in COSTUME)- JACOBY 20 MONTHS

JACOBY & RORI IN THE AISLE BACKING UP THE PREACHER AT YOUTH SERVICE- JACOBY 23 MONTHS

Random Expression

2009-04-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

I was driving down Waterman Road last week by myself... and when I drive I usually think a lot. As I was driving I began thinking about all that has happened since 2000 when I came to The Rock... how blessed my life has been... how deep my life is now... how enriched my life is now... and how God has blessed my family. Then I began to think of the years that preceded those years... the teenage years of teeter-totter, ups-N-downs, and identity crisis and confusion.

Out of the blue I thought of a guy who I, in retrospect, consider a Godly influence in those formative years. He was much older, at least 10-15 years older... but his genuine personality, candidness and positive words of encouragement always stayed with me. I don't think he even knows how much it meant to me when he would say things to this 15 year old boy, like "God has so much for you Scott", or "God is going to use you, I can see it bro". Whether he really believed it or not, those words lingered and effectively helped me through my decision making. I got out my phone and text him to tell him thank you for believing in me and for always encouraging me in God. I haven't seen him in probably over 7-8 years... he lives in North Carolina. I didn't text for a response, only to express sincere feelings of gratitude. He texted back and was (obviously) suprised to hear from me and said that the text made his week. It felt good to let somebody know that what they've done- no matter how small or insignificant it seemed- went a long way with me.

Often we overlook some people in our lives that have lasting influence... or perhaps not neccesarily overlook them, but fail to acknowledge to them what they mean to us. Friends, family, leadership, mentors, etc. It doesn't have to be a 5 page letter... how about a little notecard mailed to them, a text message... a billboard (just kiddin')... something out of the ordinary day-to-day to say it a little differently... to accentuate that the feeling is authentic and it's not just words in passing.

Think about it. When we're dead and gone... those that meant something to us may never have the opportunity to know how much they mean to us unless we express it.

Ravi Zacharias- The Existence of God

2009-04-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

Kids Talk Marriage- FUNNY

2009-03-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan , age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen , age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille , age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick , age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori , age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette , age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin , age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig , age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam , age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt , age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard , age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them..
-- Anita , age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is.........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky , age 10

Tim Hawkins- Praying For Food

2009-02-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

This guy is pretty funny...

You Are My God- Justin Whittington

2009-02-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

This guy is the guys that sings with Eddie James on his albums. He sure can blow-Gotta appreciate a white boy bustin' it out like a brotha. I found this song on an independent site promoting a single he wrote/produced- enjoy!

ETRADE LAUGH

2009-02-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

My friend, Chad, told me a while back that Jacoby reminded me of this Etrade baby since he loves playing with iPhones and laptops... I finally got to see it... hilarous... bet you can't just watch it once!

LIVE Worship Music

2009-01-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

Found this artist linked up with another artist whose music I follow... clean worship tunes! "He Is", as sung by William McDowell. Enjoy!!

Tough Times, Good Times

2009-01-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

Today, the national unemployment rate rose to 7.2% in December, the highest it has been since 1993. That's obviously not good news. Market experts think the numbers will reach nearly 10% in 2009.

Still, I'm believing God to take care of his people through all of this. As the good book says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread". As much as I may not be head over heels in love with my job, I am thankful for having a good job that pays well with a company in which I have favor.

I made up my mind a long time ago... my worship will not be predicated on my bank account or what I have or do not have. I learned a lesson through Job that my worship and lifestyle will always be tied to my perception of my God's worth... and that should never decrease! A young preacher recently said, it's when you feel you're in the valley- at your lowest point- that our relationship with God is really rooted.. that the spring or well is the closest and all it takes is a little digging. 2009 will be a year of good changes... let's embrace them all and be found faithful. Praise is what I do!

The Worst Best Man

2008-12-31T17:18:00.000-08:00

Worst Best Man Ever @ Yahoo! Video

ANOTHER FRIENDLY TIP...

2008-12-18T16:22:00.001-08:00

Its been COLD COLD COLD lately! OK... downright FREEZING for Sacramento weather. the past couple mornings when I have gotten up to leave for work I have been greeted by 1/2 inch think sheet of ice/frost on my windshield! No better way to start your morning... I mean, I haven't even had my coffee this early.

So anyhow... the tip...I did it along time ago in the snow and it worked GREAT... I tried it again last night and it worked again.

To shave a few minutes off your morning ice/frost detail, simply place an old towel over the portion of your windshield and/or other windows. In the morning, just pull back the towel and "VOILA- PRESTO"- no scraping, or pouring water on the windows needed. Pull off the towel, shake off, place in car, drive to work! Thats my tip for the week! Enjoy!!

GET THE SAP OFF!!!

2008-12-10T18:16:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas... All the "Fake Christmas Tree" peeps need not read further... all the rest of ya... holler...

You ever get annoying bits of Christmas tree sap on your hands from cutting it down? Loading it? Moving it? Setting the thing up in the tree stand? Tearing is down? That stuff is the WORST at gettings off your hands/arms/face!

I was told about a home remedy a few years back that I've been keeping secret... I know it sounds crazy but it works- wash your hands with BUTTER (or MARGARINE)! You're all welcome... cuz I know you'll thank me later!

Sara The Walrus

2008-12-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Little Drummer Boy

2008-12-02T12:06:00.001-08:00

Hayden Aldritt

This little guy would be my third or fourth cousin (my Aunt Frances' great grandson)- his dad is a minister of music in a church in Portland, OR.

He's off the hook for only 30 months old!! Give it up!

CLICK HERE

No-Text Messaging While Driving

2008-11-11T09:52:00.001-08:00

No-text Law Goes Into Effect January 1, 2009
Starting January 1, 2009 a new law will go into effect where writing, sending, or reading a text-based communication while driving will be against the law for all drivers in California.

This new law applies to electronic wireless communications devices used to manually communicate with any person using text-based communication, including, but not limited to, communications referred to as a text message, instant message, or electronic mail.

Violating this law is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. With the addition of penalty assessments, fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.

Terrible Terry Tate ROCKS the Vote!

2008-11-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Jacoby- 18months

2008-10-30T23:11:00.001-07:00

Pose for the camera.

Jacoby and his really pretty friend Rori taking a stroll.

Jacoby and his new friend, Wyatt. He shares... sometimes!

He's handsome! Love him!

OBAMA HALLOWEEN

2008-10-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

"Spreading the Wealth"

Happy Birthday Chris

2008-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

It seems like overnight little funny Christopher became BIG funny Chris and man of God. You made some tough decisions at integral moments of your life. I'm proud of you little bro. There is no "half" when I call you brother... keep walking with God and reach high. "He that doeth the will of God abideth forever..."

I love ya!

Daylight Savings Ends- Nov 2nd

2008-10-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

DONT FORGET!! FALL BACK!!!!

Interesting Thought

2008-10-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

A person's makeup cannot measured by whats on the inside, it must be measured by what we do (actions)... for if what we are on the inside never manifests outward, then who are we really?

NEW ARTIST- Check it out

2008-10-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

BJ PUTNAM- Live at Christ For The Nations

Review: Now, I have only listened through the CD once, but I have to say I am overall satisfied. This album has an Israel & New Breed style feel... groovin' beats... good sound... from easy listening to some tunes having a more dynamic church sound. Enjoy this latin influenced jam (above)- Shout Joyfully!!

Resistance Training

2008-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Resistance is what makes us stronger. If that is true, then there is an implication that that without resistance we are then weak and do not grow.

I thought about these small examples...

Vaccinations and Weight lifting/ Exercise
A vaccine works by exposing you to the very thing it was created to fight off. Our bodies then create proteins called antibodies. Our immune syatem stockpiles these antibodies so they are available to fight off the disease if exposed later on.

When we lift weights or excercise, the adverse weight upon us is what develops the muscle. Sometimes there is difficulty and grunting through the lifting and running, but we know that we're becoming stronger because of it. The path of less resistance never builds strength. Sometimes it hurts after we lift, but we know we did the right thing and we will be stronger because of it.

So it is true in our walks with God. Resistance is what develops us, spiritually. If we never faced tough times... if we never found ourselves head to head with adversity, then we would never grow. If we were never exposed to certain things in our lives, then we may not know how to handle life down the road.

Bro. Cody Marks preached on Friday night of PEAK... referencing Jesus after He was led and/or driven (depending on the biblical account) into the wilderness to be tempted. He faced aloneness... adversity... trials... and RESISTED the enemy in the wilderness... and because He RESISTED the enemy, He then had strength and authority. He had authority when He taught (Matt 7:29), and in the working of miracles. Also, the next time you see Jesus face to face the evil spirits it was in the demoniacs of the Gadarenes... and they were no longer feeling bold... for now Christ had the dominion and authority and power. They were sore afraid (read Matthew's account- Matt 8:29).

Referencing the weight lifting analogy... you cannot lift 415lbs until you make repeated resistances (reps) with a lesser weight. That is to say, we cannot expect the great things of God until we can be found faithful in the small things.

"Resist the devil and he will flee"

"He that endures to the end shall be saved"

Be Strong. Be Vigilant. Resist!

Where In The World?

2008-10-10T09:03:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I enter the prayer room all by myself. I make my way over to the northern wall and I place my hands on the world map- different continents and countries around my world. I pray for my world. Praying for God's kindgom to be established. Praying His will be done. Praying the gospel is spread to all nation- every tribe, every tongue.

If you could go anywhere for a 1 year mission trip- expenses paid, your day-to-day life on hold, and no concerns but the focused task of doing the will of God in another country, where in the world would you like to go?

Personally, I've always found Australia interesting. I'd even like to go to Latin America on a long missions visit. Australia would be the simplest for the simple fact that I know their language- English. Other than the value menu's at Taco Bell, I'm not too fluent on my Spanish or other Latin dialects! =P

This world is so in need of Jesus. Even if we can't take a year to do the work of the Lord abroad, we are able to fufill our purpose in our city... in our state... in our great nation.

The fields are white, but the labourers few! I'm glad to be a part of what God is doing in these last days!

It's Election Season

2008-09-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

NO-Bama '08.

Been so busy...

2008-09-23T09:18:00.001-07:00

To all 4 of my faithful blog readers, I wanted to apologize for my lack of recent posts!

I haven't even seen my own blog in a couple weeks.

A lot going on- job crisis (my company- IndyMac Federal Bank- is on the block and is being shopped around to be bought), school has started and the first test of the semester is this Thursday- I need to study (trying to knock out some more college credits), and I've been sick (still trying to get my voice back to somewhat full strength)!

Will update with a good post soon!

A Quick Thought...

2008-09-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Whatever the cost may be... HEAVEN is CHEAP at ANY price!"

Play-by-Play Spoof- Worship Service

2008-09-04T11:28:00.001-07:00

"Healer"- My Response

2008-08-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

With details still trickling out about the truth behind the song, Healer, and the life behind the song, I am truly overwhelmed with compassion. The initial claims by many people (myself included) surmised that Michael Guglielmucci was yet another "Chrisian icon" who lived a double life and took pleasure in deceiving others all for the sake of money.

After reading more about this young man (only 28 years old) and his lifelong struggles I have felt my response to the shock change from introspective feelings of 'I feel like a fool' to extrospective feelings that 'this guy has real bondage- he needs a deep God experience in his life'.

For those of you who do not know the story here is a statement that I am told was read by Danny Guglielmucci (Michael's father) to a packed congregation:

"Today is a very sad day for our family and church family.

For many years our son, Michael has suffered from unexplained illnesses. We have been worried as we have seen him suffer and spend periods of time in hospital.

Two years ago our lives were totally turned around by the sad news of our sons' cancer diagnosis. The love and support shown by our local church and all of our many friends around the world helped us get through a very difficult situation.

During the last two years we have experienced the favor of God, his love and grace, and also the constant pain of the possibility of losing a son.

On Tuesday 12th of August we received a call to come and meet with Mike and Amanda but weren't ready for what we were about to hear. Mike began to share how he has lived a lie for the last 16 years of his life because of addictive behavior he couldn't break free from.

He loved God and would throw himself into prayer, worship, and serving God with full energy and enthusiasm but still couldn't break free.

In September in 2006, Mike had an accident and went to hospital. It was at this time, because of his torment of living a double life, Mike thought he could escape the pain by creating a diversion from his addiction to adult pornography, so he created the cancer scenario.

The pain of this addiction was so deep that he started something he couldn't stop and proceeded on a downward spiral that led to him experiencing pain and suffering that resulted in constant vomiting and many other symptoms of a genuine sufferer.

Sharonne and I witnessed these episodes and pained and wept over his suffering. Michael wrote the song Healer because he wanted God to set him free from his addiction but hid it behind the lie of a fabricated illness.

Once he had started down this track he felt he couldn't stop so he continued to act out this sickness, feeling he had gone too deep into the lie.

I can't begin to tell you how much this is hurting us on the inside. A few weeks ago Mike had a dream of Jesus on the cross looking down on him saying, 'the truth will set you free' and so he decided to confess and bring everything out into the open.

I immediately contacted our National Executive and submitted to their advice and council. Church, our family needs your prayers at this time. We are so, so sorry to bring you into this.

I have lead you with openness and integrity and declare that we have not lived a lie before you. We fully understand the questions, shock, disbelief and even anger you may feel over this announcement. Please pray for us and we will pray for you.

Michael is struggling with a different kind of illness and is receiving professional help and will do so as long as is needed. On the council and advice of our executive and board, after our up and coming Edge conference, we will take time to be with Mike and get him all the professional and spiritual help he needs to come to full recovery.

We have an amazing team. Thank you, executive, board, staff and church, for your love and support. We will do what is right before God and man and see this situation turned around for the glory of God. We love you. "

The truth of the matter is that his shame manifested itself physically. He needed a healing. He needed a healing God. The bible speaks that the greatest miracle is the miracle of salvation... and I believe that in writing the song Healer, Michael was crying out to his God for a real healing, a genuine healing... a deep healing from the inside out. His cancer story was just another lie to hide his shame, but his song was a sinner's prayer... a sick man's plea... a literal cry for help.

How many times have I seen a saint of God fall and then their sins perpetuate like a virus when they lay dormant, hidden in their hearts and covered up? Sins to cover up sins. Lies to hide lies. None of us are exempt from sin. Even the greatest of men and one of Israel's greatest kings found himself on a slipperly slope- caught in his own web of sin and deceit. God speaks through many avenues (sickness, circumstance, preacher, etc), but his purpose is the same- redemption not condemnation.

The psalmist David wrote one of the most powerful psalms upon being confronted by the prophet Nathan. David found ensnared by lustful desires, and then acted on and fulfilled those desires in commencing an adulterous affair with Bathsheba. To cover up his own transgression he committed yet another sin and killed her husband, Uriah that she could then become one of his wives and hide the pregnancy. It was in that instance that David, acknowlegding his secret sin penned one of his most powerful songs in his cry for mercy and help:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Sin is not commited against man (Psalm 51:4). Though fellow man experiences the impact, repurcussions and consequences of sin, sin is committed against God, and God alone- and it is He alone that can truly heal the sinner's heart and bring ultimate healing. Only a HOLY God can give true WHOLEness.

Jehovah-Rophe: "The Lord Who Heals"

From rophe ("to heal");
Implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jeremiah 30:17, 3:22; Isaiah 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit--all levels of man's being.

What is a "KOOP- DAY- TAH"?

2008-08-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Coup D'état

Forcible takeover of the government of a country by elements from within that country, generally carried out by violent or illegal means. It differs from a revolution in typically being carried out by a small group to install its leader as head of government, rather than being a mass uprising by the people.

OREOS v.s NUTTER BUTTERS (rd2)

2008-08-21T09:51:00.001-07:00

A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, ROUGHLY 60 HIGH SCHOOLERS OF THE ROCK GROUP UNKNOWINGLY ASSISTED IN A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED AND SCIENTIFIC HEAD-TO-HEAD FACEOFF BETWEEN OREOS AND NUTTER BUTTERS. IT IS WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT TODAY THAT I PRONOUNCE TO BLOGLAND THAT NUTTER BUTTERS, INDEED, WON IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY - AMASSING NEARLY 50% MORE "SILENT VOTES" THAN ITS OPPONENT, THE INCUMBENT OREO!!

Anybody suprised by this? Where does your loyalty lay?

PEAK 2008- Inaugural Event

2008-08-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

The World We Live In

2008-08-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Man Sues Church for $2.5M After Being 'Felled by Holy Spirit'

Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —

A man says he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while worshipping.

Now he wants Lakewind Church to pay $2.5 million for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Matt Lincoln is suing after the church's insurance company denied his claim for medical bills, he said.

The 57-year-old has had two surgeries since the June 2007 injury but still feels pain in his back and legs.

He said he was asking God to have "a real experience" while praying.

Lincoln said he has fallen from the force of the spirit before but has always been caught by someone.

Lawyers for the church said other congregants saw him on the floor laughing after his fall. They said he failed to look out for his own safety.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

I Dare You To Try It

2008-07-29T11:54:00.001-07:00

Have you ever said in prayer, "Lord I want to walk with you!"?

To steal from an uncited source I reiterate a question for reflection- "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?". Imagine God walking with you. From sunrise to sunset, imagine Christ walking beside you. There are some things you will say (and wont say), some things you will do (and wont do), and some places you will go (and wont go). You'll begin to talk to Him just walking down hallways, or driving in your car... you'll be more in tune with what's going on around you... you'll begin to see opportunities to witness because when you really believe that God is walking right beside you, you are sensitive to His very presence.

A great man of God told me a long time ago when I was young (er) and skinny(ier)-"Obey God's voice in the small things every day and He will entrust in you His voice in the bigger things more and more."

I dare you to try it.

A Blast From The Past...

2008-07-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

"I knocks the pride out of them..." -Evangelism Linebacker

Just A Thought...

2008-07-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Remembering Christ's words, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

In the very moment that Jesus cried out those words-- at the height of his sense of desolation and no doubt feeling an indescribable loneliness, he was in fact in the very CENTER of God's will.

Be encouraged.

"...Okay... Then What?"

2008-07-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt of a post from my TRGYC blog over a year ago... worth re-posting... because the question will forever remain.
*-*-*

What makes a young person tick? I mean, what is the THING that eventually turns them to where they can see the BIG picture- the REAL picture? Why is their identity to others more important than their identity to God? Many times young people live double lives… hiding in crowds or circles of others just like them... but really, the façade that is put on is so obvious- they only fool themselves and spurn internal anguish.

The question that helps place decisions into eternal perspective...

“…Okay…THEN WHAT?”

I started by thinking about life… and thought about my tomorrows if I lived after the flesh… giving myself the best case scenario…

I go my college of choice on a full ride scholarship… Okay…THEN WHAT?…
I get a great paying job with a large company… Okay…THEN WHAT?…
I fall in love with the woman of my dreams… Okay… THEN WHAT?…
I get married to the woman of my dreams… Okay… THEN WHAT?…
I buy the home of my dreams… Okay… THEN WHAT?…
I have the picture perfect family… Okay… THEN WHAT?…
My kids grow up, get married, and move out… Okay… THEN WHAT?…
I retire and vacation around the world… Okay…. THEN WHAT?…
I have multi-millions in the bank… Okay… THEN WHAT?...
My wife dies… Okay… THEN WHAT?...

I DIE

Okay...

THEN WHAT?...

What happens then? I now face eternity.

What is most important then?

Things of this world always pale in comparison to eternity. I came to the stark realization that nothing else really mattered. It was at that point that I told myself…I am going to dive in head first and really, really, really, live for him… to try this God I heard being preached about all growing up. I didn’t wait until I had a doctorate in theological studies. I simply turned my heart to God… in my defining moment. I was tired of carrying all the junk I was carrying. I gave it to God, He filled me with the Holy Ghost and life has NEVER been the same.

Mark 8:36 says- “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Life is too short & Eternity is too long to be uncertain about WHO I AM, and WHERE IM GOING.

I heard it best said like this; “Heaven is CHEAP at ANY PRICE”!

1 John 2:17 brings it all home when it says, "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Signs of Praise - "Awesome Wonder"

2008-07-19T14:19:00.001-07:00

NEW STATE OF THE ART HANDS-FREE DEVICE

2008-07-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

According to new law that goes into effect July 1, 2008 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving in California unless you have a 'hands free' adapter. Other states may follow suit. I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone. Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot. These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly!!

Secret Indulgence

2008-07-10T08:49:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't like Adventures in Odyssey? It's story time for kids young and old!

Being a dad, I am able to join in listening to the shows and just pretend that Jacoby is the one that really wanted to listen!

No more having to wait in the car until the story is over, or banging on the radio and moving the antenna attempting to make the static go away. Any time you want, you can listen to shows- past OR current by going to their website HERE!

Another cool song...

2008-07-09T10:33:00.001-07:00

Deep Thoughts

2008-07-06T01:31:00.000-07:00

Jack Handy's contributions to society:

"I wish I had a dollar for every time I spent a dollar, because then, yahoo!, I'd have all my money back."

“I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain, because later you might think you're having a good idea but it's just eggs hatching.”

"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."

“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.”

“Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and nobody got scared”

" When I found the skull in the woods, the first thing I did was call the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns."

“Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny.”

"If you ever crawl inside an old hollow log and go to sleep, and while you're in there some guys come and seal up both ends and then put it on a truck and take it to another city, boy, I don't know what to tell you.”

“When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges.”

"If you're in a boxing match, try not to let the other guy's glove touch your lips, because you don't know where that glove has been."

Intent or Content?

2008-06-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

I was listening recently to a world renown apologetics orator speak on the topic of atheism. One line he spoke really stuck out the most was "intent is more important than content".

To sum it up as to not write a novel length synopsis, he qualified that most atheists stand on the principal of "show me indisputable data from X and Y source (usually science), that unequivocally proves the existence of God".

This speaker, after citing a number of different flaws in an atheistic worldview said none of the evidence matters anyways... because intent is greater than content and desire is greater than data.

I've heard the term "worldview" defined as "a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or as a set of presuppositions which we hold about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being."

The odd thing to me is the fact that many attempt to use science as a primary source in proving or disproving the existence of a spiritual world. Science can only measure and explore things of physical nature. For many atheists their worldview has created unrealistic expectations and inaccurate direction as to where and how to search for truth.

This same great apologetics speaker (and I paraphrase) likened it unto a person making a claim that "there does not exist any planet in any unknown galaxy that has Crayola Red and Hot Pink square clouds". To make such a declaration is ignorant and would be self defeating. To affirm a negative absolute is self defeating. The only way one could know with 100% certainty is by having absolute knowledge. Atheists do not believe in such a thing. Additionally, there is no scientific data that could disprove such an existence. Atheism is essentially, an evolving worldview since new data provides a new reality. What they believed yesterday may not be what they believe tomorrow.

The conclusion of the short discussion I listened in on is that regardless of the number of quantifiable, compelling and "evolving" scientific data, man must DESIRE truth and have a heart INTENT on knowing truth, EVEN IF it’s GOD.

Man cannot form a true opinion of a God without first believing in the possibility that it can be, and then surrendering wholly to it. We don't come to God as a theist or an atheist... we come to God as 'fallen man'.

Experience speaks louder than semantics when our words fail us.

Think... "Back In The Day"

2008-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

...Carmen, Bryan Duncan, Rich Chocalatey Ovaltine, TIGHT Pants(Oh wait, they're apparently coming back- AGAIN!- YuCK!), mollets, skinny ties (we're revisting this one again too!), whitewashed jeans, Pegged pantlegs, TieDye, Air Jordan high tops, Roller SKATES, PSR, GIRLS with hairdown and CURLED, British Knights, Doc Martens, Oregon Trail, Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego?, Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan, 88 Reasons, Grange Hall, Sing Unto The Lord songbooks, OJ Simpson, Hush Puppies, Motor City Bad Boys, Brown Hose (for all you LADIES!), Penny Candy Store, Pacman, Atari, Sega Genesis, NBA JAM, and $0.99 per gallon gasoline!

These are just of few things from BACK IN THE DAY that I could compile...

What do you think about when you think... BACK IN THE DAY?

I WANT IT ALL BACK!

2008-06-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

I always enjoy hearing Apostolics singing, worshipping and ministering with excellence! Good job here!

One of my favorite songs...

2008-06-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

two corinthians chapter five verse seventeen
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

2008-06-09T10:49:00.001-07:00

I know I'm a little late. JUNE 4th was last week, and I forgot!!

June 4, 1989... it was 19 years ago that I (and actually my brother James, too) was baptized in the name of Jesus.

Not sure if the proper title is Birthday? Anniversary? OOO....I know... how about Baptismversaryday!!

Real Life Spider Man

2008-06-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

French 'Spider Man' charged in latest New York stunt
2 hours ago

NEW YORK (AFP) — Alain Robert, best known as the "French Spider Man" for climbing buildings and monuments around the world, was charged in a Manhattan court Friday and released on parole for scaling the New York Times skyscraper, court officials said.

Robert, 45, was charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, making graffiti, criminal trespass in the third degree and disorderly conduct. He was released on 2,000 dollars bail.

"It is a misdemeanor, it all depends on the judge, but reckless endangerment in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor. He could face up to a year in jail," said Manhattan District Attorney spokeswoman Jennifer Kushner.

Robert is due back in court on June 11, she added.

The daring climber on Thursday scaled the 52-story, 228-meter (748-foot) high, Renzo Piano-designed New York Times building to protest climate change. Halfway up the climb, he unfurled a banner reading: "Global warming kills more people than 9/11 every week."

"I am climbing with my bare hands as a peaceful way to create support for far greater and urgent action from world leaders on global warming," Robert said in a statement sent out before he began the climb.

Police handcuffed Robert when he got to the roof of the building, and placed him under arrest.

A few hours after the stunt, a second climber, Renaldo Clark, clambered up the same building and was also promptly arrested at the top. He is scheduled for indictment later Friday on the same charges as Robert, Kushner said.

In mid-April Robert scaled a top Hong Kong hotel, also to highlight the fight against global warming. Police arrested him when he reached the roof, but he was later released without charge.

Robert was kicked out of Brazil in February after security guards prevented him from climbing the 46-story Edificio Italia building in central Sao Paulo.

In 2007 Roberto was deported from China for illegally conquering its tallest building, only to have officials invite him back in November to legitimately climb a mountain in central China as a tourist attraction.

Robert boasts on his website that he has made it to the top of 70 buildings and monuments around the world in his 12-year career.

This & That

I resolve

Ever Feel Like a Fraud?

A Calling Into Higher Education

Legacies Without Limits

Worship Thought

*New Song* So Good To Me- ROUGH CUT

GOD THOUGHT

Is that LIPSTICK on Kirk Franklin?

Worship Thought

The Password: Jesus

Tithing- HILARIOUS!

Easter Worship Material

Who's Responsibility Is It To Help The Poor? (Part II)

Who's Responsibility Is It To Help The Poor? (Part I)

Worship Sets

"This Song Is About Heaven"- Kirk Franklin (From The Rebirth)

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

The Bystander Effect and Social Conformity

A Beautiful Exchange- Worship Song

PEAK 2010- RAW FOOTAGE

Twitterverse

I Love Your Presence- Bethel

Jocelyn Brown- Leaning/ Praise The Mighty Name of Jesus

Youth miniStarZ

Keep Your Hands Up

Don't Text and Drive

Deadliest Catch News

Another Haiti Relief Song...

Kirk Franklin & Friends- Haiti Relief Song

New Years Resolution- Just a thought...

THE CHIP- IBM COMMERCIAL

LAST SECOND LATERAL PLAY RESURRECTED

IRS UNCLAIMED TAX REFUND DATABASE!

BABY EINSTEIN- DVD REFUNDS!

Pretty Insane Kid

I'm Sending The Fire

Is Creationism Really Possible?

Touching Story... Healer...

Paul Baloche- Your Name

Bible Gets A Makeover

I'm Just Sayin'...

You Are For Me

Bought With A Price

I'M NEW TO THE MAC WORLD

Obama is killing John Galt

SPRITE SLAM DUNK WINNER

Why Does Inhaling Helium Make Your Voice Sound Funny?

Oh Happy Day Promo (Jonny Lang)

Chip off the block...

NorCal Youth Revival Tour Continues...

ITS TAX DAY- YOU DESERVE A BREAK!

HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY JAMES!

TIME HAS FLOWN...

Random Expression

Ravi Zacharias- The Existence of God

Kids Talk Marriage- FUNNY

Tim Hawkins- Praying For Food

You Are My God- Justin Whittington

ETRADE LAUGH

LIVE Worship Music

Tough Times, Good Times

The Worst Best Man

ANOTHER FRIENDLY TIP...

GET THE SAP OFF!!!

Sara The Walrus

Little Drummer Boy

No-Text Messaging While Driving

Terrible Terry Tate ROCKS the Vote!

Jacoby- 18months

OBAMA HALLOWEEN

Happy Birthday Chris

Daylight Savings Ends- Nov 2nd

Interesting Thought

NEW ARTIST- Check it out

Resistance Training

Where In The World?

It's Election Season

Been so busy...

A Quick Thought...

New Song So Good To Me- ROUGH CUT