thoughts on a sunday night

what would have happened to the story of Jesus if the three magi had not listened to the angel and gone back to Herod? story is found in Matthew chapter 2

who were the wise men? what did they do during the day? what was there trade? why were they called the wise men.

not that God was trying to hide Jesus in the house he was in but why would God put a star above the house. remember that Herod wanted to kill Jesus, just seems kinda crazy.

knowing how great John the baptist was, why was he not a disciple? him and Jesus on the same team is like Jesus and moses on the same team. simply indestructible.

Merry Christmas

merry chrismas all!!!! I hope all of you have a great day and a happy time. or as I have been saying happy Jesus is born day!!!!

ACCEPTED

I found out today I was accepted to North central University! so I now have this in front of me as of January 10th. wow this is happening so fast and is so crazy. road trip to minneapolis with my buddy peter. now all I have to do is get a loan, get classes, a room and a job. other than that im so ready to go start a new adventure in my life. exciting times in my life.

Simple Church

disclaimer- I don't know much about the simple church movement, I have read about it and my conclusions are my own. if you feel the need to give me more information about this movement please feel free to do so.

here are the values I found...

As in any decentralized, spontaneous movement, a variety of values are expressed in simple church. Due to the influence of some key groups and Acts 2:42-47, three overarching values have emerged in many circles:

Paul Kaak and Neil Cole originally articulated these values using the organic metaphor of DNA:

D - Divine Truth : Truth is the foundation for everything. By Divine Truth, we mean the dynamic and living presence of Christ and His Word. A recent variation refers to the "D" as "Divine Connection" and views the Word of God and prayer as two primary means of maintaining that connection with God. The DNA metaphor is thus extended to include four overarching values instead of only three.

N - Nurturing Relationships : Healthy relationships are what make up a family. Love for one another is to be a constant pursuit of the family of God. This is the most basic of Christ's commands.

A - Apostolic Mission : Apostolic means, simply, “sent.” Just as Jesus was sent on a mission, so we are sent out on a mission for Him. Our mission is to go into the world and disciple the nations for their good and God's glory

here are some criticism I found...


Leadership: Who are the leaders and what is the leadership structure? Is the simple church understanding of leadership biblical? Is there enough control to prevent abuse, cultism, and heresy? Are the lay leaders in simple churches qualified for the care of others?

Longevity: According to sources within the movement, the average lifespan of a simple church is only 6 month to two years. This leaves critics to wonder how Christianity can survive in such a transient movement. What will be the long-term impact of simple church when it lacks the sticking power of more traditional forms of church?

Teaching: It is rare for simple churches to have sermons or bible classes in the formal sense. Critics wonder when teaching occurs and how people are formed educationally and doctrinally in simple churches. Without concentrated teaching, sermons, and bible classes, how will believers be educated?

Orthodoxy: Without denominational control or pastoral oversight, who will maintain orthodoxy among simple churches and its participants. Isn't it a breeding ground for people with wild theologies who would get drummed out of more traditional and more orthodoxy churches?

Cultural Accommodation/Syncretism: Has simple church sold out to a culture that sinfully refuses to go to church? Is simple church just caving in to postmodernism? Does simple church promote the West's tendency to worship the individual and individualism?

Relationship with Established Churches: Is simple church another movement pulling people away from congregational churches? Is simple church a threat to more traditional models? Do simple church practitioners condemn or criticize other forms of church? Can simple churches and traditional forms of church work together?

my own thoughts...

I just cant see how following a movement can help us as a church. we need to listen to Christ and not books. the only book we should follow is the bible. I know there are a lot of build a better church books out there with really good ideas, but that works for that church. I cant see how a movement that worked in Nashville, Tennessee can work anywhere besides that place. ive seen youth pastors use what worked in other places fail when the ideas failed.

please if anyone has a better more educated view on this go ahead and give it to me.

just a thought... this may be blasphemous

I was listening to yellowcard tonight, the song only one was playing. as I was singing along and listening to the words I started thinking this could be a pretty good worship song. the lyrics would have to be altered a little bit but the message is the pretty much the same.

Broken this fragile thing now
And I can't, I can't pick up the pieces
And I've thrown my words all around
But I can't, I can't give you a reason

I feel so broken up (so broken up)
And I give up (I give up)
I just want to tell you so you know

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you
You are my only one
I let go, there's just no one that gets me like you do
You are my only, my only one

Made my mistakes, let you down
And I can't, I can't hold on for too long
Ran my whole life in the ground
And I can't, I can't get up when you're gone

And something's breaking up (breaking up)
I feel like giving up (like giving up)
I won't walk out until you know

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you
You are my only one
I let go, there's just no one who gets me like you do
You are my only my only one

Here I go so dishonestly
Leave a note for you my only one
And I know you can see right through me
So let me go and you will find someone

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you
You are my only one
I let go, there's just no one, no one like you
You are my only, my only one
My only one
My only one
My only one
You are my only, my only one

just a thought...

I know a guy....

my mentor is gone... life wont be the same without him. hes not gone forever but hes not as accessible as he has been. Friday morning wasn't fun, Friday as a whole wasn't fun. Sunday at church was so weird, I looked at his seat and it was empty. he has taught me so much about life, love and God. the most influential person to me ever. hes been my friend, mentor, and most of all a person that has shown God to me in a way I never knew possible. I wish them both the best for there lives and amazing times. I'm gonna miss them, passion pacific, jamba juice talks, reading scripture, acting like 9 year olds, and all the camping trips. pretty much I'm gonna miss them but I love them and wish them nothing but the best.

PK you da man...

you know your a dodger fan when...

1. when you wear your Dodger cap daily
2. when you rather watch a Dodger game instead of watching a football game on sunday
3. When its a law in your family to hate the Giants
4. you know your a dodger fan when you have the dodger logo tatted on you
5. You know your a Dodger fan when it sounds like your the only one yelling his lungs out while Nomo strikes out 16 Pirates and Piazza belts two Homers.
6. When you see somebody wearing orange and black, and you hate them, for no other reason than what they're wearing, you hate them.....
7. when you get gose bumps when you watch the gibson Hr game over and over
8. when you have the Gibson call on your ring tone
9. When your Dodger hat looks 15 years old, but you wore it out in 2 years.
10. when you have over 100 Dodger hats
11. you know your a dodger fan when its about 4 months till season and all you can think about is the possible lineups we can have
12. when you write Lasorda and offer to play for the Dodgers if they have to field a team during the "94" strike.
13. you know your a dodger fan when you have a Nomar bobble head hitting a angel rally monkey at your desk..
14. You know you're a Dodger fan when you quit your job because it conflictswith watching Dodger Baseball
15. When you can watch the Dodgers with Charlie Steiner doing the play-by-play and still enjoy it.
16. When you hear another person say the word "Doyers" and you know what they're talking about
17. You are still upset about Jeff kent and JD Drew's bonehead running play from 2 years ago.
18. If you can name Jacksonville 5 (Bills, LaRoche, Kemp, Loney, Broxton)
19. when you attend your cousin's birthday party, but you and your cousins/uncles are huddled around a handheld TV to watch the Dodgers game
20. you know your a dodger fan when you go to church and you take your cell phone to watch the game
21. You check to box scores of all the Dodgers minor league affillates each morning.
22. you have tickets to a concert and blow it off to see a spring training game
23. you know the meaning of 9-18-06
24. you skip class just to watch a dodger game
25. you think juan pierre sucks when the rest of the league thinks he is great

I had fun with this one. I relate to six the most. I guess number 26 would be you are thinking of the dodgers in december. this is courtesy of the dodgers message board.

help me

I dont know how to put a blog roll on my site. how do I do this. someone please explain this to me or show me how to do this.

so it seems the prediction I made in my last post was not true... oh well playoffs are a different story and we will beat them if we play them.

finally please pray for me... I feel God moving me to minneapolis, mn. please pray for this decision I am about to make and pray that I do what God wants of me. thanks all

steelers vs patriots

steelers vs patriots

I guess you can tell who im rooting for. anthany smith guarantees victory, I love it. Go Steelers beat the pats.

prediction:

steelers 35- pats 21