This is a great video. It does have some disturbing, Holocaust images but, even though they are difficult to look at, I think it is important for us to see them just to remind us what happens when people remain silent in the face of evil and don't speak up for the innocent and don't speak out for what is right and true.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
My Goals
Well, I've trailed off a bit. I was doing so good with blogging a couple of years ago. I was doing so good with several areas of my life. Not anymore. I have let myself down in so many areas: 1.) weight loss & fitness; 2.) Bible reading, & 3.) blogging. I feel icky everywhere; spiritually, physically, mentally, &, due to the stressfulness of my job, emotionally.
I've been so-so on the physical front lately. I've been counting calories...kind of...I do great until after work then I am usually too tired to care anymore. I do work out to Dance Central every now & then but not enough to really be very beneficial. I've really got to step it up. I hate that I keep saying that & then I never do. :P I'll be making a post soon about the gym I currently belong to, Lady of America, & what a huge scam they are & of my disappointment with them. If they are not going to let me out of the contract & continue taking my money, I might as well use the gym, so I've started going back to there. I went last week & my anger fueled my workout so I guess it was actually more beneficial. I also used the weight machines...I had forgotten how good it felt to leave with all my muscles tight. I felt stronger the next day & felt the slight pain of having had a good work out & it felt good. I'm going back next week.
Spiritually, I've really fallen off the horse. I haven't been reading my Bible every day like I was. I have a Bible plan but I'll stick to it for a couple of day & then not for a few days. The worst part is that I don't even realize I haven't done my reading for several day/weeks. Ugh! Guilt!
Also, we still haven't really found a church that we feel is doctrinally sound & that we feel comfortable at. The main problem we have is A lives about 45 mins away, so we try to take turns driving back & forth. If when we ever get married, we'll live in my house (unless something changes) so it would be better to find a church in my area. Buuuut, there are nice churches in his area as well. The other issue is, where ever I/we end up, I would like to be involved during the week in Bible studies, ministries, etc... Driving 45 min in DFW traffic with gas prices the way they are just isn't ideal or wise if there are closer churches that would fit the bill. We know we will never find the "perfect" church but it seems like most of the churches are either hard-core Calvinist (neither of us are very Calvinist, we lean that way but not enough that any Calvinist would say we were....definitely not Arminian, though), charismatic (I really don't feel comfortable in a charismatic church), like being at a rock concert (bordering on Emergent/New Apostolic/Seeker Sensitive), or basically dead/dishing out nothing but milk. I don't think we are being too picky...I just believe there is A LOT of apostasy going on right now (& according to scripture will just get worse from this point on). I really would rather wait & find the right place than to get involved in one & either have to leave after friendships have been formed or be compromised due to false teachings.
There is one church we have been to twice now that I really like & I think A does as well. However, both times we have been have been special Sundays when the preacher didn't preach. The first Sunday they had some missionaries speak & it was amazing. Today we went again & they had a guy from Team Impact preach. I was expecting it to be really disappointing but in his first few sentences he had me "Amen"ing him inside. He was an excellent preacher & I was very impressed. We want to hear the preacher actually preach a few time & maybe meet with him before we make any decision but it seams like a pretty decent church so far.
Mentally, well, blogging would certainly help with that...probably the emotional side of things too (I know, I know, working out regularly helps with that as well). I have big plans for this blog but I always have these great plans & then never do anything with them. I like to blog about general, life stuff but I also need a project & I have several ideas.
Here is my biggest: I want to create some very well researched apologetics/polemics postings. Ok, what does that mean? right?
A long time ago, in a series of posts far, far away, I talked about the differences in different world political systems & in American political parties. I had fun doing those posts but I really didn't do much research...more just referencing Wikipedia. I want this series to be different; I want them to be VERY well researched. My main reason for this is I know a lot of people that may take a bit of offense to some of what I present & I want to do it in a loving way & actually REALY know what I am talking about. Another reason is, in my fantasy world, I would like these to be done well enough that I could eventually have them published & then maybe someday write some study material that could be used in small groups & (in a really fantastical part of my dream) eventually go around speaking at conferences regarding it. I know...me & my imagination but, hey, if it does happen like that, fine, but even if it doesn't I'll have learned a lot on the way to nowhere. ;) Who knows, it could come in handy someday.
Anyway, that's my "big" project; probably not one that will come to fruition for a long time...possibly several years.
Smaller projects I have in mind are: a series on the history of the Church (I have a book sample on my Kindle that I'm thinking about purchasing called "The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History"); a series on Christians that have impacted the Church (I have 2 more book samples on my Kindle called "131 Christians Everyone Should Know" & "50 People Every Christian Should Know"); and a series on popular heretical teachings.
I really want to get started on these now but I have HUGE test on Tuesday that I have to have taken & passed by Oct. 15 for work. I'm really mainly procrastinating on that right now & don't have time for another subject to procrastinate on right now. So after Oct, I'll either be fired & have plenty of time to work on these projects or I'll have passed & can start procrastination on them then. ;)
Anyway, just an update & what is going on in my mind. :D
Spiritually, I've really fallen off the horse. I haven't been reading my Bible every day like I was. I have a Bible plan but I'll stick to it for a couple of day & then not for a few days. The worst part is that I don't even realize I haven't done my reading for several day/weeks. Ugh! Guilt!
Also, we still haven't really found a church that we feel is doctrinally sound & that we feel comfortable at. The main problem we have is A lives about 45 mins away, so we try to take turns driving back & forth. If when we ever get married, we'll live in my house (unless something changes) so it would be better to find a church in my area. Buuuut, there are nice churches in his area as well. The other issue is, where ever I/we end up, I would like to be involved during the week in Bible studies, ministries, etc... Driving 45 min in DFW traffic with gas prices the way they are just isn't ideal or wise if there are closer churches that would fit the bill. We know we will never find the "perfect" church but it seems like most of the churches are either hard-core Calvinist (neither of us are very Calvinist, we lean that way but not enough that any Calvinist would say we were....definitely not Arminian, though), charismatic (I really don't feel comfortable in a charismatic church), like being at a rock concert (bordering on Emergent/New Apostolic/Seeker Sensitive), or basically dead/dishing out nothing but milk. I don't think we are being too picky...I just believe there is A LOT of apostasy going on right now (& according to scripture will just get worse from this point on). I really would rather wait & find the right place than to get involved in one & either have to leave after friendships have been formed or be compromised due to false teachings.
There is one church we have been to twice now that I really like & I think A does as well. However, both times we have been have been special Sundays when the preacher didn't preach. The first Sunday they had some missionaries speak & it was amazing. Today we went again & they had a guy from Team Impact preach. I was expecting it to be really disappointing but in his first few sentences he had me "Amen"ing him inside. He was an excellent preacher & I was very impressed. We want to hear the preacher actually preach a few time & maybe meet with him before we make any decision but it seams like a pretty decent church so far.Mentally, well, blogging would certainly help with that...probably the emotional side of things too (I know, I know, working out regularly helps with that as well). I have big plans for this blog but I always have these great plans & then never do anything with them. I like to blog about general, life stuff but I also need a project & I have several ideas.
Here is my biggest: I want to create some very well researched apologetics/polemics postings. Ok, what does that mean? right?
Apologetics is giving a defense of what you believe. Most people have a bit of a hang up with the word (myself included) at first. "Apologetics" does not mean you are apologizing for what you believe. It comes from the greek word, "apologia," which means "speaking in defense." So, you can see how we get apologize from the same root word because when you "apologize" for something you are, at least in today's screwed up word, you are defending yourself (aka, blaming someone else...often former President Bush). It is typically used in conjunction or under the assumption of Christianity. So, in such, usually when people refer to "apologetics" they are referring to defending or "giving a reason for the hope" (1 Peter 3:15) of Christianity.
Polemics is presenting an argument/debate against another view, doctrine, or person. This word is typically used to present the differences between Christianity & other religions/belief systems/cults.
A long time ago, in a series of posts far, far away, I talked about the differences in different world political systems & in American political parties. I had fun doing those posts but I really didn't do much research...more just referencing Wikipedia. I want this series to be different; I want them to be VERY well researched. My main reason for this is I know a lot of people that may take a bit of offense to some of what I present & I want to do it in a loving way & actually REALY know what I am talking about. Another reason is, in my fantasy world, I would like these to be done well enough that I could eventually have them published & then maybe someday write some study material that could be used in small groups & (in a really fantastical part of my dream) eventually go around speaking at conferences regarding it. I know...me & my imagination but, hey, if it does happen like that, fine, but even if it doesn't I'll have learned a lot on the way to nowhere. ;) Who knows, it could come in handy someday.Anyway, that's my "big" project; probably not one that will come to fruition for a long time...possibly several years.
Smaller projects I have in mind are: a series on the history of the Church (I have a book sample on my Kindle that I'm thinking about purchasing called "The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History"); a series on Christians that have impacted the Church (I have 2 more book samples on my Kindle called "131 Christians Everyone Should Know" & "50 People Every Christian Should Know"); and a series on popular heretical teachings.
I really want to get started on these now but I have HUGE test on Tuesday that I have to have taken & passed by Oct. 15 for work. I'm really mainly procrastinating on that right now & don't have time for another subject to procrastinate on right now. So after Oct, I'll either be fired & have plenty of time to work on these projects or I'll have passed & can start procrastination on them then. ;)
Anyway, just an update & what is going on in my mind. :D
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
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