Moderation Is A Good Thing

Last month I had a post on whether Christians who drink are pushing this belief on those who don't. This lead to a good deal of response on the matter. I am attempting to read a rather heady book from Blaise Pascal. The guy was a mathmetician and physicist so of course it's going to be a bit on the heavy side. Still, there is a part of me that likes the way he thinks:

Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth; give him too much, the same.

The guy was French, wine may have been an aid to him. If you want to muck around this work there is a free online version from Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Other worthwile reads:
Strange Culture talks about the meaning of success and does it more successfuly than my own timid attempts.

Pastor Chryst share's his most recent sermon.

And Wilmer shares wisdom from Dave Barry.

Surviving Junior High Sunday School

I wasn't nervous. Not at all. I wasn't confident either. As I stated recently it has been almost 10 years since I have taught a sunday school lesson and for good reason. I wasn't nearly as patient a person as I am now. I yelled a lot. We have a challenging group of 6th - 8th graders. A lot of new faces to the church, a pastors kid, ones from broken homes, a few who are uber-boy/girl crazy, and the one or two who are quiet and don't want to be noticed. A normal group of kids. I was asked to teach kind of that last minute the day before Thanksgiving. Thusday I was all turkey'd out so it wasn't happening then. Friday..... still recovering, but managed to pull out a lesson on being a servant from John 13:1-17. My predecessors have been trying to teach them how to be more loving towards each other and less self-centered. Yeah right. I was just hoping that one little seed gets planted to sprout sometime later. I asked them four main questions.

1. Why did Jesus wash the disciples feet?

2. What does it mean to be a servant?

3. Why does God want us to be a servant?

4. How can we serve our church, our communities, and our family?

Thinking back on these questions now it makes me wonder how I can possibly be more of a servant to these kids? To properly humble myself and put them before myself. To not just tell them about the love of Christ, but to show it to them.

Turn Of Events

I am doing something I swore I'd never do again, teach junior high sunday school. The usual guy is not going to be around this weekend so the youth director asked me to fill in. Ugh, I tried it once a number of years ago... it didn't turn out so well. On top of that, the current teacher is planning on stepping down to focus on something else and the youth director asked that I take it over permanently. He says I was the first person he had in mind and the only person he asked. I'm not going to like, it kind of scares me a bit. For the past 10 years I have been strictly in a support capacity. My ministry has usually been to just make myself available.

Speaking of the youth director, this wednesday we had our thanksgiving dinner at church. He was holding his young son when he said, "Say Hi, to Uncle....". It brought up some old wounds. At a previous church the youth director there had his children refer to me as Uncle.... Sadly, he eventualy put my friendship aside. I didn't realize how much it had hurt me to be brushed aside like that. Especially after all the history we had.

Happy Thanksgiving

RIP: Andre Waters

Andre Waters had a long career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He had fame, fortune.... he did what so few people get the opportunity to do: get paid well to do something he loved to do. What happens afterwards? The clapping becomes quiet, the offers become few and far between, and you are older having to leave behind the things you love. What are you left with? I don't think a person alive doesn't get scared thinking about the future when we are old and gray waking up in the middle of the night with the question:

What have I done with my life!?

It scares me to think of it. Praise God we do have a greater hope.
Pray for his family that they may find peace.

Rattle Online

Rattle is one of the better lit journals out there. They just produced their first online version of the journal.

And I also joined the 3rd day blog roll mainly because I thinkt hey are an awesome band. I do not necessarily endorse any of the blogs on there, so bear that in mind if you check any of them out.

UPDATE
Here is the link to it. Because of some problems re-loading I had to start again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe5p1BXNCQM

Slacker's Hues Of Midweek

If any of you get the chance check out reforming slackers hues of midweek. She always picks out a great painting to post and it really adds a little beauty in life.

Hat tip to Slacker.

Fallen Leaders

I debated on whether I should post a link to a pictorial of fallen religious leaders and their offenses from Beliefnet, but I have to admit it can be seen as a cautionary tale to those of us in ministry to be cautious about believing the hype.

And I debated on having this video of the farting preacher. What can I say? Working with youth has definately brought out my childish side.

Technocrati

Technorati Profile

Another attempt for me to get more readership!

RIP: Jack Palance

The man, the myth, the legend has passed. Jack Palance is the man. There isn't much I can say about him. He was the tops, and for years forgotten. I didn't know he was nominated for oscars twice before he finally won. Watch his big win below.

RIP: Ed Bradley

Though I haven't made it a habit of watching 60 minutes, I'm still saddened by the fact that Ed Bradley has passed.

RIP: Ed Bradley

Though I haven't made it a habit of watching 60 minutes, I'm still saddened by the fact that Ed Bradley has passed.

The Way Rock 'N Roll Ought To Be

I am not as aware of Black Angel's music, but I can safely say The Black Keys are the real deal. NPR describes their music pretty well and offers a sample of a recent concert in DC. Fat Possum Records first discovered them and I don't think anyone else would have done them any justice. The lavel started by finding old blues men who had long been forgotten or never got the opportunity to record. Many of which were in their 80's and 90's and hadn't been heard outside of the Mississippi Delta.

More On Haggard

I wasn't planning on commenting on the whole Haggard fiasco (engouh people are doing that for me), but I found an interesting article at the huffington post. And Art has some sage words on the subject. I wasn't as gleeful as Art was, but I do admit I did have a sense of, "See I told you we shouldn't turn pastors into idols" smugness. Maybe it's time we stop following these guys around like they are Bob Dylan and see them as men of God with a gift who can still fall.