The Deliberate Ruminator

While I sit here in my 2000+ square ft home

While I sit here in my fau-leather recliner

While I sit here in a temperature controlled environ

While I sit here typing into cyberspace via wireless internet

While I sit here eating nuts out of an amazing can that keeps them fresh

While I sit here, my laundry cleans itself, my dishes clean themselves

While I sit here…

Children are buried in rubble

Children have no idea what I just wrote above, saying

“It cleans by itself?  The food stays fresh? What’s a square ft? What is temperature control? Wireless what?”

Children have drowned in Myanmar

Children have been crushed in China

People have no perceived need for wireless internet

No need for a recliner

They need food and shelter

They need help

Oh, but my child needs more Go-gurt and a McDonalds Happy meal.

God wants me to take care of MY family

Oh, but Deal or No Deal will be on soon (or LOST or Grey’s Anatomy)

Gotta watch those, they WON AWARDS!

Myanmar and China, I don’t recall them winning awards, must not be good shows

128,000    15,000  probably more

It will happen again

What will you and I do?

Watch TV, say a prayer, send some money, fly over and provide relief, die trying to free someone who is stuck?

Or will we just ignore it, since it is inconvenient?  Or find a new way to be amazingly lazy?

THINK.  DON’T IGNORE

The book of Acts has all sorts of confusing stories about baptism and the Holy Spirit, but to me they are all easily reconciled.  Here’s why:

Well, it seems that there are two major ideas about baptism that get debated regularly.

1.  When should one be baptized?

2.  How should one be baptized?

In reading the Bible there is ample text to show that baptism is something that you are to allow happen to yourself.  It’s not a work.  The need of baptism in conjunction with belief is a clear requirement for salvation.  (See links below for references)  Baptism washes away our sins, it represents a burial and rebirth when performed, especially via immersion.  Baptism AND belief are an indicator that you are ready to receive the Holy Spirit.  This can happen at various times, just read the book of Acts.  The Spirit came before baptism in a few recorded instances.  Although, even if the Spirit came before baptism, the believers were STILL baptized!  Now, there are some interesting points that get made regarding the baptism of infants, or waiting until a time of decision (coming of age).  In the links below, both claims are fairly and scripturally backed up in a logical manner in my opinion.  So, in fairness, I see an easy resolution.  Baptize as an infant AND baptize at the time of decision.  In this manner, everyone can be happy and we are not “missing” some important point from the bible, nor praying that God will be merciful if one way is wrong.  How can two water baptisms be bad for a soul?  That’s my take on the “when”.

Now, the “how”… This one has been the easiest for me personally.  Do it like Jesus did it.  Get dunked if at all possible.  If you are in the desert, they dig a hole, place a tarp in it, fill it with water and immerse the believer.  If they can do it in a desert, then they can do it just about anywhere.  Sprinkling came about due to the difficulties in immersing infants (for those choosing to baptize an infant).  Now, correct me if I am wrong, but don’t families take babies swimming when they are very young?  Don’t they go under the water and have a natural reflex to hold their breath (usually)?  I could be misinformed on that, but sure seems I’ve heard that many times before.  So, to me Sprinkling is a “man-inspired”, “choice of convenience” method of baptism, no disrespect intended.

So, the “how” comes down to immersion or some other method, sprinkling or pouring etc.  I choose immersion and I feel this method is the most biblical.  It is the method described in the bible, arguably, as some feel the translation of “baptizo” is not always “immerse/submerse”.  Again, the argument about the translation of baptizo seems heated.  I will point to one argument in link 3 that I failed to grasp, and that was that “if baptizo meant ‘wash off’ in some instances (i.e. hand washing) aren’t the hands immersed in the water and not just sprinkled?  Again, see the links below for some intriguing arguments regarding baptism.

I hope you find these links as interesting as I did.

Links:

1. http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml

2. http://www.catholic.com/library/infant_baptism.asp

3. http://www.catholic.com/library/baptism_immersion_only.asp

In Christ,

Jeff

Well, I like Mike for many reasons, but for one, he is out of the race, yet he is still visible and supporting his party.  I feel Mike Huckabee is unafraid of the establishment that our government has become.  He is unafraid to present ideas that will stir-up feelings.  Like the Fair Tax…  What a wonderful idea, yet what a difficult change to try and make happen.  Yet, it is a GREAT idea!  So, why won’t anyone else push for it?  My guess, because it’s not “popular”.  What is the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!  Does this sound like our tax system, or maybe how certain politicians get reelected over and over and continue to do the same amount of “nothing” they did the previous term!  Huck also holds to my views on abortion, which is my #1 issue I look at when selecting a candidate for anything.

As one who has lost a significant amount of weight I too feel America needs a wake up call from the pity party we are in regarding health-care.  For many (not all) we have put ourselves in the hole we are in all by ourselves by eating like pigs (I’m guilty) and exercising our hands on a remote control (yep, me!).  Mike says we need to encourage America to get off the couch and work just a little and see what happens (if you are able).  He suggests that you try eating a bit healthier (or at least take a hard look at what you do eat and THINK about it) and he suggests you work on bettering yourself intellectually via music, reading, study in school, not just math and science.  These are not new ideas, but they are NEVER pushed by politicians like Mike has pushed for them.  These are only some of the reasons I support Mike and will if he runs again for office.

Go Mike!  www.huckpac.com

~Jeff

 ”I cannot forgive Osama Bin Laden”, “He deserves hell even if he repents!”… Have you ever heard yourself talk this way, or think this way?  Why?  Believe me, I’ve thought things like this before, but then my anger subsided over time.  I’ve been reading in the book of Acts, and I’m at the point where Saul is blinded by Jesus and starts his conversion from a persecutor of those that follow “The Way” to a great missionary of Jesus Christ.

I am reminded of 9-11, and I am reminded of a men’s retreat some time after that sad day.  A terrible thing happened.  Innocent lives were lost and in essence we were persecuted for our beliefs as a nation.  Bin Laden claimed responsibility and we all were furious.  Most have gotten past that initial reaction, some are still furious, and still others have become missionaries to the Middle East.  The bible is clear, Jesus is clear, that we are to ‘love our enemies’, ‘forgive’ and we are to be aware that ‘you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies’.  So, this calls for the question.  When God presents that table and somehow Osama Bin Laden is sitting there, what will you do?  You can’t tell me, “He won’t be there, SHUT UP!”  Saul who became better known as Paul is sitting there and he killed many, many Christians.  “He doesn’t deserve it!”, just the same as Osama doesn’t deserve it.  How do we reconcile our feelings?

I can only say that God did it for me.  His Spirit moved me to forgive unconditionally.  During the men’s retreat many years ago now, several men could not get past the raw emotion of what happened on 9-11.  This is understandable.  Many were downright angry when a few of us proclaimed the truth of Jesus’ words regarding forgiveness and loving our enemies.  You learn a lot when you are confronted with these truths and you have to digest them.  It is clear that if you cannot forgive then God will not forgive you.  Does this line up with scripture?  Yes.  I would challenge you that if you cannot forgive for any reason, then you just might not understand how God wants to forgive you of your sins, lies and many transgressions that have offended Him.  If you do not grasp the importance of forgiveness, then how can you accept the free gift of forgiveness that God hands out and portrayed through Jesus’ ‘white lamb’-like sacrifice.  Talk to a pastor a strong believer and get your feelings straightened out.  Your salvation may be at risk, but only you can determine that truth.  Remember, sin=one lie / sin is seperate from God / blood sacrifices = Old Testament forgiveness of sin / Jesus’ blood sacrifice = Final sacrifice needed through belief in what He did and represented / Belief = salvation.  You cannot be saved if you do not understand why you need saved!

I pray all terrorists repent and come to know Christ; Saul did.  I pray all who have broken a commandment of God repent, I did and I pray you and everyone will.

In Christ,

Jeff

Scripture references: Matt 5:44 (love enemies); Psalm 23:5 (table w/ enemies); Matt 16-14-15 (forgiveness of sin)

Ministry opportunity, you know, all those committee’s and organizations, sales and outreaches, all the OPPORTUNITIES to serve God and the church.  Of course, the ministry you are involved in is the one EVERYONE should help with, right?  I hope you say, “No”.  But, I wonder if you or someone you know has ever become frustrated about the lack of help for a particular effort that is close to your heart?  Have you ever caught yourself begging for help (I have) and then accepting help from those that really weren’t gifted for that ministry?  Hmmmmm.

Well, the 6th chapter of the book of Acts discusses this exact situation.  Did you know the Bible is relevant to today’s world?!?  Here is the key excerpt:

…the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ^2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ^3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ^4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

The Holy Bible : NIV Acts 6:1-4

There are some key solutions presented here.  First, the problem or need is recognized and NOT ignored.  Then, the church leaders present the obvious recommendation that they CANNOT do EVERYTHING, and others must be appointed to this ministry of feeding the widows.  After all, they are fully involved in their own ministry of spreading the gospel.  Next, they choose leaders based on their knowledge of those around them.  They seek Godly, wise leaders.  They hand over the responsibility and then they go back to their own ministry duties.

I wonder, have you ever been given a job to do, but no power to do it?  That seems to happen a lot in churches today.  “I need you to do this, but do it my way”, or “Here, help with this” but never bother to find out if you are good at it or gifted to do it.  You see, I was involved in youth ministry.  I learned I was gifted in being able to get to know the kids and gain trust.  I am gifted in knowledge and teaching a bit.  BUT, I learned I am not a manager.  I learned I needed to give up power and let others do the jobs on their own.  It’s not easy, but I learned I needed to really seek out others who were gifted to work with youth.  It takes work and unfortunately most people aren’t ready to raise their hands for some reason.  You have to seek them out and find the right cards for the deck, no jokers.

Well, it comes down to the church leadership needing to be ready to appoint others to do work, then they can do their own job to the best of their ability.  Seems simple, and as written in the book of Acts it used to be simple.  We are the ones who have made it difficult.  If you are unsure what ministry you may be cut out for, check out this entry:

 http://tree63fan.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/tough-truth/

In Christ,

Jeff

A wise man once said, “Just leave them alone, and they will go away if they are not from God”.  This is a paraphrase from the book of Acts.  A wise member of the Sanhedrin, ‘a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people’ made a similar statement regarding Peter and the apostles who were teaching in Jesus’ name.  This assembly of the elders of Israel was for the most part in agreement that the apostles should be killed, but Gamaliel made them change their minds with his words.  Here are his words:

“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ^36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ^37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ^38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ^39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” The Holy Bible : NIV Acts 5:35-39

And, here we are 2000 years later, followers of the message these apostles preached are still being persecuted, killed, and silenced.  I wonder if those behind these acts will prevail?  I wonder if the believers in Christianity are about to fail?  I wonder if they haven’t failed because the fight is against God?

In the battle between human desire and God, I know who I choose.

~Jeff

P.S.  It is rumored that a man who spent much of his life trying to destroy Christianity, bibles and the faith, who also said something like ‘Christianity is a fad and it will be gone within 100 years’; upon his death, his home was soon converted into a workshop that created bibles.

Those nice eco-friendly light bulbs, you know the ones that are all curled up to fit where regular enviro-evil incandescent bulbs fit, are toxic.  Yep, read the fine print on the packages of these environmentally friendly light bulbs and you will see they have mercury in them and they must be disposed of properly.  This means that putting them into regular trash is a BIG no no.  Isn’t it interesting how we NEVER hear about this?  Don’t trust me, go to a store and read the label, if you can find it on the label…some just have special recycling symbols.

As commonly seen at various websites:
Disposing of Energy Saving Bulbs at the End of their life Energy saving bulbs need special disposal, do not dispose with household rubbish. Dispose at your local refuse station; ask staff if they have recycling facilities as most materials can be recycled.
Disposing of Energy Saving Bulbs: The primary hazard associated with broken Ecobulbs is broken glass, so be sure to wear gloves when collecting fragments. In addition, broken bulbs fragments should be swept into a bag (NOT VACUUMED) and again taken to your local refuse station for recycling.

~Jeff

P.S. To be fair, many claim the amount of mercury in these bulbs is less than the amount of mercury released through the burning of coal needed to power a regular bulb…. BUT that mercury is not located directly in my home in a breakable container.  Your choice, but I use the eco-bulbs since it does save me money.  I’m just EXTRA careful not to break them.

Well, this was an overall good week!  Saturday was a challenging day, but through prayer and humility the day became wonderful.  Today we hopefully get the “carpet challenge” resolution moving along.  Looks like it was a bad installation, but we will see.

We also have a new project starting up…replacing the floor of our little half bath.  Camden had a little too much fun with clogging the toilet and continually flushing it, so the floor had to be ripped out and now we need a floor in there.  I love kids!  At least this bathroom was directly on top of the sump pump in the basement, so nothing damaged down there!  Praise God!

My friend is recovering well from back surgery so that is good too!  More later.

~Jeff