21 posts tagged “2007”

crosspost from MyLifeOnThisEarth

First of all I wish to apologize for the long post but sometimes you can't sum things up in a couple of paragraphs...

Flipping the channels and came across a 60minute reporter interviewing Joel Osteen and called his ministry a "Cash Cow". I just shake my head. It's amazing that many pastors can not catch a break. We as a nation dog them out one way or another. I like Osteen, I don't follow him as close as my lovely wife. I tend to lean more toward the men and woman I mention in this post. Earlier this morning I began jotting down people of God I truly respect. Some of the names people may or may agree with me but for me this morning was a turning point in my life. I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley and I looked at his congregation and a humble spirit came over me. I truly enjoy watching and listening to Dr. Stanley.

I have mentioned this before but when I watched away from God and when Dr. Stanley would come on television it was something about him that made me just stop and watch him and when I came back to God he was one of the very first men of God I listened to, supported, and I hope I get a chance to meet him before he goes to be with the Lord.

Here is my list of people I try and listen to on a daily basis...

The reason why I truly love their ministries is there is no "hooping and hollering"...they truly teach the world of God. They seem very humble, they teach unity, they make learning God's word simple, they stick to God's word, no compromising. When listening to these individuals it's truly a blessing.

Greg Laurie I have to say makes me smile each and every time I hear him preach and teach. His sense of humor may be "corny" sometimes but all and all most of his jokes are funny. One thing I truly enjoy is that he reaches the young people. He never compromises God's word but at the same times lets you know that God words always stays the same and that he love you us very deeply.

The late J. Vernon McGee was one of the first men I listened to when I first gave my life to Christ Jesus. When first listening to him it was kind of hard because of his voice but over time I have grown to love his "southern drawl" and his knowledge of God's word is very awesome. I truly love his "Question and Answer" segments on Saturdays, I learn so much.

The Adrian Rogers is a man I wish I could have had as a Theology professor. His love for God's word and the way he prepares his messages is pretty cool. I also enjoy the he researches his data to truly connect with the congregation.

Pastor Paul Sheppard I just began listening to him last year but to hear him speak God's word and bring it home makes me stop and just listen time and time again. What Pastor Sheppard brings to the table is realness. He takes you along with him, his ups and downs. He in St. Louis he comes on at 5:30am but to me he's worth it (and if I miss him I can catch him on oneplace.com)

Dr. David Jeremiah I find myself listening to his sermons over and over again. I believe I have mentioned that when Zondra and I ever visit San Diego we will visit his church. A cancer survivor he knows being in the valley and is not afraid to share his fears, he weaknesses and his lows. One of my favorite series by him was his "loneliness". If you go on oneplace.com look them up and they will help you out so much. He tackles the loneliness of singleness, being a spouse, of being older and other situations.

Love her or hate her I really like Joyce Meyers. She is not as dramatic to me as Paula White (I know many, including my wife really likes Paula but I just can't get with her. She works for my wife but I can do without the "slap your neighbor in the back of the head" routine---that really gets under my skin). Joyce to me is one of those aunts that tells it like it is and even though it may come off harsh in reality it's really out of love. Mrs. Meyers shares how when she was in the world how she painted herself a victim and when she became saved how she was sometimes because too religious and over time she learned to become love instead of judgmental.

I know people (and again speaking of my lovely wife) she can follow T.D. Jakes, Paula White, Cleflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long) but I just can't relate to them. Maybe it's because I grew up in churches like theirs, I don't need the "over the top" preaching...just teach me, there is a time for praise and worship and there is a time for preaching but I feel when men and women of God have to yell, shout, and say stuff like, "watch this, watch this, watch this" over and over to get my attention I find that insulting. I don't need someone to keep telling me, "turn to your neighbor" Why do some pastors do that? I really do not like that.

While I can not get with these speakers I also have a hard time listening to men like D. James Kennedy and Dr. James Dobson. I have listen to some of their programs but in my opinion I think most of their messages are geared toward White America. Some people may not feel that way but for me I feel the only times when they wish for people of color to unite with them is when the matter of any gay issue is on tap and after that has died down it's like, "okay, back to the cellar." That may sound harsh but I think men like Dobson do not realize that we as African American find abortion, teen pregnancy, living together outside of marriage, having children outside of marriage just as crippling as White America.

I know we do not live in a perfect society but as I commented on a fellow Christ's sight, Adrian Rogers said it best, "Christianity is the only army that shoot it's own wounded." There is no perfect church nor perfect Christians but as I have said to my wife, "the church is somewhere we are suppose to be able to relax, not be judge, to be able to share our hurts, not tense up and worry about who is going to use our pain against you."

I love God's word, I love followers of Christ but this year I have found more peace with Christians and geeks online than within our church but hearing and seeing Dr. Charles Stanley made this Sunday worthwhile and as I have said time and time again...

Thank you heavenly Father for placing men and women in my path that loves God and keeps me focus on God's word and not people actions.

DSCF4121-1

Where's The Leash?>>>more
From RBC Ministries

I like the name of this devotion because so many people, Christians and non-Christians feel this way many times when it comes to following God's ways. I think many times people feel like God's ways keep us from having fun and for me that is the opposite. My opinion I wish I would have learned his ways years earlier. God does not want to keep us on a "tight leash" so to speak.

Think of it at times with our own children. We have one child that when we tell them something to do once, we tell them the consequences for their actions(good and bad) they get it and we rarely have to tell them again. We are not saying that this child is a saint but the responsible they are the more freedom they have because they can be trusted and we as parents do not mind giving them perks. Now the other child we have to stay on them constantly. They wish to do their own thing but do not wish to deal with the consequences for their actions. They complain, they whine assisting that life is not fair, they are always getting singled out but do not want to deal with the fact his troubles is his own causing and this is how are with God at times.

We know deep down the road choices we make will either bring us joy or pain and what's really sad many times we think we are pulling the wool over on God. I love how the devotion says that "God gives us a long leash" so to speak but if we do our best to live by his principles we do not have to worry about looking over our shoulder to see if God is "gonna zap us". And to be honest God is not that way, he has given you and I free will but has made it very clear of the blessings and curses we will receive if we live by his word of rebel against his word plain and simple. He knows we are going to make mistakes but I look at life like this...life is hard enough so why add unnecessary heartache to it?

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
and Have a Wonderful Weekend/Christmas.

Tech Stories for Saturday:

• Gems in the back of a closet
• Top 10 Gadgets of the Year
• Apple to adopt Intel's ultra-mobile PC platform

Why the Shepherds?
(Dr. David Jeremiah)

Tech Pick:
Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy 414
(Leo Laporte)

crosspost from theologyNtechnology

Here it is close to Christmas, hardly any money, no job (as of yet) but yet I am so at peace I can't believe it. Maybe I'm cool that all of our bills are getting paid, maybe I'm okay for the fact that my grades for this semester was cool and looking foward to when school begins again. Maybe it's because I have met more people this year via web.

It's all the above. This year I have had my share of ups and downs but who hasn't right. But when you Christ Jesus in your life and the wonderful people that I have in my Vox/Twitter and now Utterz neighborhood I can only smile. I have said this once and I will say it again, being a Christian and being a geek is the best thing in the world. One thing I have learned this year is to truly love people for who they are, be real with people, share your ups and downs and people respect that because it shows that we all make mistakes, we all have flaws but when you respect a person for who they are most people will do the same for you.

This year I have met people who has taught me to love music even deeper, I have met geeks that are approachable, I have met more poets, more photographers, more people who love life and has made me dig deeper into my soul to let me know, "it's okay to hurt sometimes but you are not alone." I have met more Christians, non Christians, people who when first chatting with them they make you feel, "where have you been all my life?"

This year I have had to go through some serious storms but it has made me stronger, draw closer to people I have never met in person but it's all good because in the end, we are all on this same boat. It may sound sappy but it's the truth.

Thank you to my new Vox, Twitter, Utterz peeps for making 2007 one of the best year ever.

crosspost from MyLifeOnThisEarth

Doing Good>>>more
from RBC Ministries

I read this devotion, I read the passage and the life application notes in my Bible and I have to admit, not only staying positive but not speaking out is one of the hardest things to do especially when you have been accused of something false. You see it all the time played out in the public when one person has been accused of something and how one person goes either to the media and tries to clear their name. I am not going to lie that's a hard pill to swallow when you know you are innocent but that is what our Lord and Saviour tells us to do.

I don't think I have ever had to face something like the person in this devotion and I know I have never had to go through what Jesus Christ went through but I am realizing that it's best to remain quiet when someone tries to smear your reputation. I'm learning that so much energy gets waisted when trying to prove your point especially in this day and time. I have learned that no matter how you try and bury the truth it finds it way to the surface. Does this still means you do not suffer through that time? You will suffer because since we live in a fallen world sometimes we suffer for during the right thing.

When you strive to do it God's way it may cost you some friends along the way because your path may be different from the path you was once on and sometimes friends, family members may not like the path you are on but in Matthew 10 Jesus is clear in explaining the cost when following him and the road is not an easy road but to me it's worth the trials because in the end I know where I am going to end up when it's all said and done.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
and Have a Wonderful Thursday

Thursday Tech Story Picks:

• The Second Coming of Apple TV
• Fair Use Vs. Free Speech in the Internet Age: The Lane Hartwell Problem
• Japan's largest mobile operator confirms Apple talks

Finding Sexual Fulfillment in Marriage (Part 2)
(HomeWord w/Jim Burns)

A gossip betrays a confidence;
       so avoid a man who talks too much.
~Proverbs 20:19

Technology:
net@nite 41: w00t
(Amber MacArthur)

MacBreak Weekly 70: Happy Life Day
(Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, Chris Breen, Merlin Mann, and Scott Bourne)

A Real Christmas>>>more
from RBC Ministries

This devotion truly sums it up for me, Christ did not die on the cross so we could treat him like a "Genie in the bottle", to just snap our fingers to make our problems go away but he died for us to (1) have eternal life (2) To give us peace in time of conflict (3) To be the light for others. I have said this before but we as Christians sometimes get it twisted when it comes our heavenly Father. Sometimes even as Christians I think sometimes we treat God like he is an Monopoly "Get out of Jail" free card. The Holy Bible is an instruction book on how to live our lives.

There are so many awesome things about His word. First and foremost God used people with some serious flaws and I think that is where we as Christians has to get that point across. I mean really think about it, he used a man (Saul at the time) who was a persecutor of Christians, who gave the okay to arrest, imprison, and execute Christians. Peter who denied Christ 3 times in order to save face with the public. King David who not only slept with another man's wife but had the guy killed. So many others in the Bible who was flawed, who made mistakes by accident or on purpose God still used them to do great things and that is why I love God so much because goodness knows I have made so stupid mistakes.

We as followers of Jesus Christ have to let the world know that when you give your life over to him things are not going to get easier, to some degree the walk will become more tedious because we are going against the world tide now. We have to let people know we are not better than anyone because we are still flawed, we will make mistakes, we still from time to time will miss the mark but the great thing now is that more our walk becomes closer with God the more humble we become and that when we die we do not have to worry about where we will spend eternity. We also have to let people know that when God has told us things not to do he is not trying to keep anything away from us because he sees the end results and he does not want us to suffer unnecessary pain because we go through enough pain as it is when dealing with the world. The older I get the more I realize that though I do not wish to go through some things in my life it makes me stronger, wiser and it makes me more sensitive to others in need.

My Tech Stories Pick for Today:

• Widgets are the new ad kid on the block
• F.C.C. Reshapes Rules Limiting Media Industry
• David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music

One thing I have always loved about the late Adrian Rogers teaching is not only his love for Christ but how he digs down and get facts about certain subjects. This message truly gives me an understanding that Jesus Truly is the "Reason for the Season"

Why did Jesus Become a Man?
(Turning Point)

If and when Zondra and I visit San Diego Pastor David Jeremiah will be one of the first churches we will visit. I truly like the way he teaches God's word with such conviction and such warmth.

Tech:

TWiT 125: John's Nuts

One of the funnest podcast from TWiT in a while when Leo talks about the Santa bot. Not only is this episode informative but when Dvorak is on board you never know what to expect.

net@nite 40: Fishing From The Company Pier

Not only was she voted the "sexiest female geek" but she has the smarts to back it up. I really do like this podcast because she keeps Leo on his toes and I love the websites she finds.

Forever Joyful>>>more
from RBC Ministries

I am beginning to realize more and more that I do not want to be happy and I am not seeking happiness anymore. I'm I am being a "downer"? Nope, far from it. I am learning that I wish to have joy in heart and my spirit and I wish to share joy with people more so than happiness. I am learning that when you have joy you are content with what you have in the moment. This is not to say that you do not strive to better yourself because God wants you and I to have fulfillment in our lives but He wants you and I to have our priorities in place when seeking to better ourselves.

When you focus on God's word first, read his word, do the best that can by living out his word the blessings are endless. He knows we are going to slip up from time to time but when you repent and truly mean it his mercy and grace is with you always. Where we go wrong is when we take our eyes, mind, heart away from his principles, striving just for material things is when we begin a downward spiral. We lose focus of family, friends, what is truly important to us day in and day.

The more you train yourself in God's word the more you realize that day by day you will be thankful for what you have, you are content with what you have and before you know you will not only be God centered but he will truly give you "the desires of your heart" while not losing focus on what truly brings you joy.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and
Have a Wonderful Monday

My Tech Stories Pick for this morning:

• Top 10 Tips for New Bloggers from the Original Blogger Jorn Barger
• Science Cafés Tap Nation's Fascination With Research and Discoveries
• Apple charged in defamation suit against BET

Listening to this message this morning gave me more insight on the book of Revelation. It makes me strive to learn more about the last book in the bible. Dr. Woodrow Kroll for me has always has a "down to earth" way of teaching God's word.

What We All Got For Christmas
(Enduring Truth) with Paul Sheppard

I'm going to be honest, some people may not like this message and some may. Pastor Sheppard breaks it down giving the true meaning of Christmas. What's best about this message is that he encourages us to surround ourselves with people who walk with God is deeper than ours so we can really appreciate God's ways.

Technology:
Windows Weekly 44: 100 Million w00ts! &
Windows Weekly 43: The Release Candidate
(TWiT)

Yesterday while taking the grandkids to have their picture taking I had a chance to begin catching up on my tech podcast and I was drawn to Paul Thurrott's latest podcast with Leo Laporte. Love windows, hate Windows...we will come across this OS whether we want to or not. I truly enjoy the way Paul teaches the ins and outs of Windows. I have a Vista machine and while I have it I might as well try and learn some of the tricks on this OS. Whether or not it will be with us in the long time will tell but for now it never hurts to learn every now and then.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
      but dwelling on it separates close friends."

~proverbs 17:9

Maybe that's not a fitting title but I have to get back to myself. Three weeks ago me and the place where I was employment "went our separate ways" so to speak and to be honest I have been kinda of down; not because of the job but not working and I have been in a funk ever since. I have not wanting to blog, to listen to podcast, not do anything. I have shut myself off from people that I know care for me and as of tonight this "funk" is coming to a end. Tonight I went for a walk. It was cold, dark, wet (icicles coming from the limbs of trees) but I needed to get out and spend some time with God. I have drifted away from him because I have not wanting to get in His word and I know that is straight from the pits of hell.

So I got out of our home, took my iPod, listened to Greg Laurie and some of the Friday Favecast (Happy one year anniversary guy) and I as I listened to Greg, Fave, looking at the townhomes, the villas around me I began to come alive again. Then once I came back inside (my right foot felt like it was wet) I sat back in our bedroom and watched Joyce Meyers with the Mrs. and it truly was an "on time" word for me. I been having a pity party...as Joyce Meyers said tonight, it was like Satan was winding me up making me feel sorry for myself saying, "what about me, what about me, what about me." She also mentioned about being a blessing for others and not looking for anything back from people and she hit the nail right on the head. I have being in this mode of "writing something when I feel like it" and every time I felt like it another feeling would have me saying to myself, "you really do not have anything to share."

Everyone has felt this way one time or another but as one friend has said, "do not let it overtake you" and I think it was getting to that point. I'm not saying I'm a Superman but I know being down for this long is not who I am and I can't wait until I "feel" like writing again to begin writing again. I have so much to be thankful for and I was allowing Satan to cloud my blessings. I have a wife who loves me, I have God's word to get me through this, I have friends via internet, my geek brother in Florida, my iPods, podcast to encourage me.

This may sound superficial to some people that I'm thankful for gadgets but for me it's not. For the longest I was at a job where I could not listen to my podcast, to write, to listen to my music and I was miserable. I sat around people all day which I had nothing in common with and I now I have a chance to get back to what I truly enjoy. I know I will have to find another job down the line but I have been blessed to get back into school and I may just wipe my blogs out and start fresh because sometimes you have to tear some things down to get a fresh look at where you need and want to go. One thing I have a bad habit of doing is posting and not going back and reading them because sometimes you have to remind yourself how far you have come, how far you have grown in order to see why you began what you started. I started my blogs to help common folks in the tech world. I never said I knew it all and many people know this about me but what I know I ask God to help me share it because every little bit of wisdom helps. I also started my blogs because of my love for God's word, for the music I love and after working at my previous job I lost that focus and now God is giving me a second chance to get back to what he put into my heart.

So here I sit in front of my computer just keyboarding away and I think this is what God has been trying to tell me this week, "Get back on the horse. You are not perfect, share with others how you feel because you are not an island to yourself. Just be true to yourself because that is all you can do. As long as you are not bringing shame to my name, to your wife and you are helping people to the best of your ability that is all that matters. As Joyce Meyers said today, begin your day by asking God, "Who can I be a blessing to today" and when you lay your head down ask God, "Okay, did I bless someone to the best of my ability?"

It's about pleasing God, helping others, saying yes when I can, saying no sometimes and just letting yourself know as well as others that sometimes you have to get turned upside down in order to know where your true source of strength lies, who you need to depend on and that you can not please everyone and people like you for who you are and not what you have.

crosspost from MyLifeOnThisEarth

When reading Friday's devotion from ODB (Our Daily Bread) it made me think of this topic, why many churches still view the internet as a bad thing and how they can not understand how people can form friendships with people they have never met. It's amazing how many churches still think of many people that use the web as "very lonely souls." They wonder how can someone befriend someone who they have never met or how can someone "hook up" with someone via internet?

I have to be honest I have been in the blogging community for over a year on Vox and this year I have been on Twitter and late this year I have joined Facebook I have met some very cool people last year and this year. It may be said in the eyes of some pastors that people can form friendships with people they have never met, never seen but what is really sad to me is that people can form stronger bonds with people in a internet community than church members.

It's amazing how we as Christians are sometimes the last to know the true meaning of some mediums...we trash it then after a long, hard look at it we accept it but by that time many in the secular world dismiss what Christians have to say because we many times, "shoot first(with our words) and then ask questions later and it's sad to say but it seems it takes many church community sometimes to adopt and adapt to current times. Not to do as the world does but to use the electronic tools that God has blessed the secular world to use. Yes pornography is one the web and yes we MUST monitor what our youth on the web on a daily basis but many youths use the web for good day in and day out and many adults use the web for good on a daily basis as well. What churches need to ask is "why" people are turning to the web instead of the church instead of bad mouthing the internet community.

One thing that the church community gets wrong time and time again is that people are upfront and "fake" when it comes to communication on the web. One of the best things about being a geek is that we are not afraid to say when we do not know something. If we need help on trying to figure out something whether it's coding, tagging our music, moving files, we throw the question out there and we try and give an answer to the best of our knowledge. We don't go behind someone's back tearing them down, trying to make them feel stupid because we think back to when we were starting off using computers, searching the web. Why can't that same principle be applied in our churches? Have the time when pastors tell their own congregation to meet and greet one another we do not move out of our own aisle to meet someone. Now I know there is no perfect church, never has been never will be but why in the blogging community most times we are quicker to forgive than in the churches?

I think one of the main reasons is that even Christians think we have to paint ourselves as "perfect" in the eyes of others and our Heavenly Father throughout the Bible used many "imperfect" individuals for his work. I think that sometimes this is the reason that many of our youths turn to someone on the web instead of the church because they see sometimes the hypocrisy in our churches and children are not looking for people to be perfect, they are looking for us as adults to be honest. God knows we are flawed, the youth know we are flawed why can't we as adults and Christians allow them to see us flawed at times?

I'm not painting the entire church community still living in the stone age because many church organization now have podcast of their programs, wonderful websites, mp3 downloads of their services (biblegateway, Harvest Online, Crown Financial Ministries, Enduring Truth) and as a said in the beginning no church is perfect but maybe if not only the outside world but members could feel that oneness inside the church than via web more churches would be packed.

I know what keeps me balanced is what an older Christian taught me years ago, "You got to know that man(God) for yourself." and "Never stop learning because once you stop learning you become old." I have not and will not tell Christians to compromise God's word because being a Follower of Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me and there is nothing in the world I could go back to for me to turn away from God but we as Christians have to realize that just because people chat online does not make them "lonely souls".

I just think many on the web realize our flaws more so than the "church folks".

Be Blessed, Be Safe
and have a Wonderful Day.

Don’t waste your breath on fools,
      for they will despise the wisest advice.

~Proverbs 23:9

crosspost from theologyNtechnology

Wishing Well

Sch�nherz And Scott

Inspired by today's devotion from
Our Daily Bread...rbc ministries

This past month I have found a new love for writing, blogging again. To be exact it happened last Saturday morning around 3am after going into my new found "prayer closet"(our bathroom...it's amazing sitting on the side of the tub reading God's word can do for a man) and finding out what I need to do when it comes to posting blogs, finding insight on what to write. I found that my focus was on the wrong place.

I know we all go through this spell when sometimes writing because a "job" and not fun. We sometimes put unnecessary pressures on ourselves and forgetting why we began blogging. For me I found myself paying attention more to who was commenting than writing and when you begin down that road that's not good because after a while you begin to seek approval from people. And let me tell you, True bloggers, true readers are not stupid at all, they know when you are writing from the heart more so than trying to please the public so in the end you only hurt yourself. When you begin looking for comments, and lets be real...it's praise it turns into pride and when that creeps in you begin thinking it's all about you and to be honest it's not all about you. That is how I was feeling for a while but again having to Christ Jesus bringing me back to why I began in the first place I am back where I am when it comes to writing...to seek, find and share information with others, it's not "all about me." As a Vox buddy has told me time and time again, "it's about having fun, not about work." (thank you again Patrice )

This devotion from this morning shouts out to me that by putting God first in EVERYTHING I do, a heavy weight is lifted from my shoulders. I learn that I am writing for him, what brings him joy, what I do needs to satisfy him and when I put all of my just in him, apply God's word to my life(there it is again, doing my part, Christians need to get out of that habit of treating him like a Genie in a bottle, He's not having that) and do it on a consistent basis I will be just fine.

I did small things to help this process along like clearing out my Firefox toolbar with my blogs and replacing them with sites that I get my information from to share with the masses. By me having my blogs up there it made focus on them first thing in the morning to see who posted a comment...again the focus on me and not what I should be doing, gathering information. Another thing that I began doing is the first site I go to is either RBC, In Touch, or Harvest.org to get God's word in me. I can't tell you how that makes the rest of my day go so peacefully.

Next after I have read the devotion I read a chapter of Proverbs. I may have shared this but I heard this is what Billy Graham does. Proverbs has 31 chapters and most times there are 31 days in a month so I try and keep to that schedule. I slip up sometimes but I'm getting better.

Next I pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, keep me alert and then I LISTEN for him. Sometimes we pray so much we don't give God a chance to talk back to us.

And then I go about my day applying his word and I always keep in mind that his time and my time are on two different time schedules. Many people think if God doesn't do it in "microwave" time it does not work. Think of it as gaining and losing weight at times. You didn't gain it over night and it takes time to take off the pounds through exercising(they it is again...doing something about it, putting things into motion). These habits has began to keep me grounded and keep me focus on Him and not reward I get from man because that comes and goes with a quickness.

Just like in the devotion how Hezekiah found his way back to God to lead his kingdom I have found my way to Him and finding peace in my life again, finding blogging so much fun and loving sharing God's word, music, tech news with the masses again.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and
Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

crosspost from theologyNtechnology

Back To Avalon

Kenny Loggins

Now why couldn't they have come out with this article yesterday when I needed it. Oh well, better late than never. ^_^ Wisdom never gets old.