Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Baptists, Lent and Peanut Butter

Is there something you really like? Think about it for a minute. How about a favorite beverage. Some people drink Dr. Pepper everyday, not because they're addicted, but because they like Dr. Pepper. For some it's that morning cup of coffee. Maybe it's not a beverage. It could be a favorite TV show or, gasp, emailing or something at work.

For me it's peanut butter. Life seems to revolve around peanut butter. I'm not addicted but if it's in the house it must be eaten. I'll eat it on just about anything. Toast, potato chips, cold pizza or a bake potato. It doesn't matter. Peanut butter makes everything taste better. It's a life enhancer. Some friends would say that coffee is my thing. Coffee is great and is imbibed from morning until late at night. But peanut butter... that's a different story.

Since our pastor, Rick Thompson, arrived a few years ago he's challenged us to participate in Lent. For most people being Southern Baptist means you don't participate in Lent. Nobody really knows why. The Catholics have had that corner of the market since anyone can remember. But for Baptists it's rarely, if ever, done.

Lent is that period of time that begins 40 days before Easter, Resurrection Sunday. In a nutshell Lent is a period of fasting, praying and alms giving. For many Lent has been the the tail end of a joke. But the purpose Lent is to give up something that's important to us so when we think about it we're reminded of what Jesus gave up for us, His life.

Prayer is naturally of utmost importance. How else can you communicate with Him? Oh sure, you can say you can pray while you're on the golf course, but you don't go to the golf course to pray. Prayer should be something you come to a complete stop to do. Yes, you can pray while walking but when you're quiet before the throne of grace your mind can focus on God. During Lent we it would do us all good to find a time of quiet and focused prayer and Bible reading that's different than normal.

Alms giving is giving of your time or money to those in need. It doesn't have to be someone you don't know. You have neighbors and relatives. Think about being kind toward people for 40 days and you'll be better for it. What are you like in traffic? That would be a good start wouldn't it.

Lent is good and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Correction...

I made a slight mistake in the last post about "God the Father" being translated "God the Parent" in the Holman Christian Standard Bible. 1 John 5:1 (HCSB) says, "and everyone who loves the parent also loves his child." Well, the word translated as parent is literally, "he who begats". Parent is a legitimate translation.

I should have translated the verse before making the remark.

Don

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Church and Sermons

I had a gig at a local church this last week end. The music was a lot of fun and the musicians were very good. I've always enjoyed being asked to sub for my bass friend, who is an excellent player.

There were 2 services. After the first service I did my usual thing and sat up front to listen to the sermon. I don't know about you but I like being close to the front. There's a sense of involvement or participation up close that I don't get when sitting in the back. I'm not the type to sit and soak.

At any rate, the pastor did something I hadn't heard in a long time. He preached from the Bible and the Bible only. He didn't quote one single man. I was refreshed. Wow, I thought, this is great.

The Bible I took was the Holman translation. I don't like it and am going to put it back on the shelf for reference. One phrase was "God the parent". ACCK! It's supposed to be "God the Father". That's what the Greek says, I know I read Greek.

Back to the sermon. The pastor wasn't fiery or flamboyant. He just preached from the Bible. I hope the word gets out. If there's one thing we don't need it's sermons filled with what man has to say. That's why we're in deep trouble. God's Word is what we need to hear.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Quiet Please ... and Remove Your Hat

I like going places. It doesn't matter where. A nice restaurant where the food is good and puts a smile on my face or just a drive. Long trips are the best. When I was a kid it was like going on an adventure.

One thing I remember is that everybody would dress up when they went somewhere. Men would wear a coat and tie and women would wear a dress and jewelery. Even if you went to a baseball game the men dressed nice. And you never saw a man with a hat on his head if he was inside. It just wasn't done. If there was a rude chart then wearing a hat indoors would have been near the top. That's something that bugs me. No matter how nice the restaurant is half the men are wearing a stupid cap. I want to go over to them and yank it off and throw it on the floor. What's the big deal about wearing a hat anyway? If you're reading this and you wear a hat indoors then stop it right now. And don't let your kids do it either.

I love electronic devices. Laptops, Pocket PC's, MP3 players and cell phones are too good to believe. The Internet is tremendous. Hooray for the guy that invented it. He was a genius. Since he was a genius we know algore couldn't have anything to do with it.

There's one thing about them. No matter where you go someone is being rude with their electronic device. There's something about them that impair the senses. I think it's because you can't do two things at once unless one of those things is natural, like breathing.

It'd be a great thrill if the world would discover etiquette. Over the past few years I've tried to imagine going to a restaurant and not hearing someones phone conversation from across the room or listen to somebody trying to sing while listening to their MP3 player. How come only the people who can't sing always sing in public? And why do people have to talk so loud when they're on a cell phone?

HELLO. I'M HAVING A QUIET DINNER...

Think about how rude is it to have your phone go off in the restaurant. There ought to be voluntary electronic device free zones. I don't think the government should get involved.

The next time you go out anywhere remember to turn off the phone and take off your hat.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

More on the Global Warming Hoax...

If you're like me there are occasions when the discussion of global warming comes to the point when the frustrated supporter asks you to name just one scientist that thinks global warming isn't the fault of humans.



Enter the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISM). If you need the name of a scientist you can go to the link (located in the title of this blog) and access one of, get ready, over 17,000 scientists who know global warming is a lie. You can even access them by state.



Another fact that has been making the news is that most who say they believe in global warming receive funding. If you don't believe then you don't get paid.



Does that mean "follow the money trail?"