DISTRACTED

I spent part of my day watching a number of video posts which featured some of the "heavy hitters" in today's Church gathered around tables and having some interesting discussions. They ranged in topics from theology to practics in ministry. I must confess, the dialogue was quite engaging and really interesting to me.

Yet, I was a bit frustrated at the argumentative nature of some of these guys. I am well aware of disagreements in things like theology. I just can't understand the fervor to publicly go after someone you disagree with or think is wrong. How can that not be a distraction from what we really need to be doing?

Maybe, as a Pentecostal, I am used to whack-jobs and certain 'colleagues' who seem to be way off base theologically, Scripturally or in methodology. Sometimes I have seen this in my own fellowship. And, yes, there have been occasions in which I felt I had to speak up and say, "this is wrong!" Here's one such example:

CLICK HERE

But, to make this (naming names and making sure everyone knows how wrong they are) into a regular practice seems to be a HUGE distraction from seeing people get saved and find hope in Jesus. The single mom needs to know Jesus can help her and her kids...not whether some preacher is a Reformist or not. The addict needs salvation and help from Jesus...not a debate on whether it's proper for a preacher in California to use secular music in his church.

I guess I have always felt my church and the people I minister to need to know what's wrong with sin and right with Jesus. They don't care who Mark Driscol is. {I'm a bit of a fan of his, even though we disagree theologically on some things}. They don't give any thought as to whether Perry Noble is to edgy or not. {I love the guy, by the way.} They need to know how Jesus can change them and become the Lord of their lives.

I fear if I become distracted by looking for everything that is WRONG with Christianity and the Church, I will rarely share what is RIGHT with it.

Thanksgiving 2011

What follows is a listing {Some serious...some not-so-much} of various things I am thankful for this year as we come to the Thanksgiving holiday:

I am thankful for the love and grace of Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Him, I would be absolutely nothing.

I am thankful for my beautiful wife, Annette. I am more in love with her now than I was 23 years ago when I married her.

I am thankful for my son, Jonathan. I am more proud of him now than I ever have been. I am blown away by the young man he is becoming.

I am thankful for my big green blanket and my recliner. Together, they combine to give me the ultimate in relaxation and escape from reality.

I am thankful for my brother, Matt. An awesome uncle and possibly the wittiest man other than me you will ever meet.

I am thankful for my church family. I am blessed to serve some of the greatest people you will ever meet.

I am thankful for my choice in sports teams. Together, they are my greatest source of humilty.

I am thankful for American Idol. For some reason it has given me an Internet platform which I STILL can't understand why so many people like.

I am thankful for Jon Lynch, my golf partner. The guys teaches elementary school kids and is a parent of an energetic toddler. Yet, his greatest test of patience is golfing with me every Monday.

I am thankful for hot chocolate...because I still think coffee is freaking disgusting.

I am thankful for the Greater Akron area...whom I serve as presbyter. I am amazed they trust me to serve them in this capacity.

I am thankful for Keaton Jones who makes me feel like a super hero every time I see him.

I am thankful for butter. I LOVE BUTTER! Butter is wonderful.

I am thankful for the Akron Metro Futbal Club who has made my son a better soccer player than he ever was before.

I am thankful for the day Amy Rasnake told me about putting a little bit of oil and vinegar on my subs. Everything changed from that day on.

I am thankful for Kent Papczun. The man is a comic genius and one of the best story-tellers you will ever listen to. He also has one of the biggest hearts I know of.

I am thankful for Sarah Palin. Because she's a conservative. And a great leader. And hot...

I am thankful for Mixed Martial Arts. I am addicted to watching it and can do so for hours.

I am thankful for my best friend, Rob Ruiz. How many people have YOU been close to for over 20 years? Rob and I have been the best of buds for longer than that. I love him like a brother.

Penn State

I have been watching and listening to the coverage of the Penn State Scandal. This is sickening.

In case you have not read the grand jury testimony, here it is and, I warn you, it is alarming:

CLICK HERE

Boy after boy was victimized by former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky...an absolute monster whom I personally hope finds himself in a cell block full of very angry, very burly and very perverted men.

You may wonder why Joe Paterno was fired? He didn't molest anyone? He didn't touch any kids.

He knew about at least one of these of these instances and DID NOT TELL THE POLICE. He didn't fire this pervert! One of the assistant coaches actually was an eyewitness to what happened in the locker room shower. Did he call the cops? My Word NO! Did he rush in and rescue this 4th or 5th grade boy? NO!

Parents, are you reading this? I am the parent of a very promising 12-year-old athlete. I can't imagine what the parents of these kids have felt to see their boys' hurt in this way.

How do you allow a 10 year old boy to be raped in a shower in the Penn State facility? How do you allow the possibility of it EVER happening again? Everyone who KNEW about this and DIDN'T go to the authorities should be disciplined.

You think I'm being too harsh? Watch the end of the movie, "A Few Good Men" and tell me how wrong I am:




Penn State students have been rioting over the loss of their coach. I would like to know where the outrage was over the loss of at least eight young boys' innocence.

Christians Who Vote

Well, it's that time again...a November election. There are certainly some incredibly emotionally charged issues out there---probably none more so than Ohio Issue 2. {not gonna give my opinion on that issue here...sorry}

I am always blown away by some of the lengths or depths some will go to in order to see their candidate, issue or levy "go through." I can greatly appreciate passion; but, I cannot tolerate manipulation or deception. Here is a look back a few years ago or so to one of the biggest slimeball-ads I have ever seen:

CLICK HERE

Regardless of the above example, we are blessed to live in a democratic society and, therefore, have the ability to have a direct influence on who governs us and what laws are passed in our own society. That in itself is an amazing privilege, If you don't believe me, go to a number of other countries in our world and prepare to be blown away by the freedom we have. It's amazing! This morning, I found myself really concerned for the body of Christ and their involvement in this process.

How should a Christian vote? Are we all Republicans? Are we only allowed to vote for born-again believers? Does morality matter?

Well, let me give you some thoughts on this topic and encourage all of you who consider yourselves followers of Christ as you head to the ballot box on Tuesday:

1. Vote! You have no business complaining if you choose not to vote.

2. Do your homework. I am amazed how easy it is for us to enter into a ballot box and not know a thing about who is running for important areas of government within our own community. If you want a good resource, check these links out: ISSUES CANDIDATES CHRISTIAN VOTERS GUIDE

3. Regardless of the results, pray for your leaders. Paul said this to Timothy:

1 Tim 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Currently, I have a president whom I tend to disagree with more than I agree. I have a governor whom I have been a fan of since he was my congressman when I lived in Columbus. They BOTH need my prayers...regardless of my opinion. You will not hear me publicly criticize either of them. I honestly believe God put them BOTH in their current positions. So I will submit to them both and pray for them. I encourage you to have the same attitude toward all of our leaders.

4. Don't vote merely on the basis of your favorite party. I can honestly tell you there are Republicans I would NEVER vote for and Democrats I would NEVER vote for. On the flip side, there are Republicans, Democrats and Independents whom I am a big fan of. There is corruption in both of the 2 big parties and there are a lot of really good people in both parties.

5. Remember, disagreement is OK. If you and I differ on which box we color in at the voting booth, you are still my brother and sister in Christ. We can still get along! We can still enjoy each other's company, go to church together, laugh together, cry together, etc.

Let's approach the election prayerfully and trust God that HIS will is done in this process!

I Don't Get It

I recall the Apostle Paul talking to a church which he started in Galatia and wondering where things went wrong with some of them:

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

I have to be honest and wonder the same thing about all too many 'Christians' I know. How in the world can we just walk away from the parameters and boundaries of the Bible and pretend that's OK? I just don't get it! Why in the world would we settle for anything less than God's best as we conduct ourselves in the very society Jesus calls us to live as "salt" and "light" in? For example:

NO...everybody does NOT cheat on their spouse. Some of us actually MEANT the vows we took at our wedding.

Speaking of weddings, when did they become drunken bashes? I thought they were a celebration of the new life of a couple. Not a contest to see how fast you can get wasted or laid.

I am able to believe homosexuality is a sin without being a hatemonger. Homosexuals don't need justice...they need saved. I love anyone who needs Jesus.

I have to laugh at people who post their adult beverage of choice on social networking sites...trying to justify it to the rest of us. Nobody posts, "thinking about drinking some Ovaltine this Saturday night."

If some believers put as much trust in God as they do the lottery, they would be blessed beyond measure.

Like it or not, there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. If there were any other way, Jesus would be the biggest fool who ever lived.

Well, I could go on and on; but, you get the idea. God help us. We need to stick with the promises, commands and guidance of the Word of God. The Bible cannot be filtered through our own beliefs. Out beliefs have to be filtered through the Word of God!

Things You May Not Know About Me

Not that you really care; but, what follows is a random sampling of some interesting and not so interesting facts about me:

• I've never had a formal piano lesson

• I absolutely LOVE playing Mafia Wars on Facebook

• My IQ is 132...darn near close to genius level

• I hate watching baseball on TV until the playoff's

• I am beginning to learn to like NASCAR...but we have far to go still

• My biggest pet peeve of the many I have is hearing people eat their food. Very few things put me "over the edge" like listening to a person chew. Oh my Word!

• I am a comic book movie NUT! I love all the marvel comic movies!

• My favorite past time is Geocaching...yet I don't get as many chances to do it as I would like.

• My second biggest pet peeve is lateness

• My wife makes the best taco's in the world

• Say what you want about John Kasich. He's not afraid to do what he feels is the right thing while it is a very unpopular thing. I love that in a leader!

• I realize I may have some people who will hold that previous opinion against me...and that is sad.

• I live vicariously through my son. I'll admit it.

• Country music doesn't disturb me like it used to

• I suck at golf

• I wish I could have somehow frozen my kid as a 9 year old. I don't like seeing the teen years approaching. Ugh!

• Sometimes my job is incredibly overwhelming

• My humor and sarcasm is not a front or a cover-up of something I am trying to hide. I tell jokes and make people laugh because I am a pretty funny dude

• I really don't tell jokes. I make reality funny. You don't have to make things up to be funny. Find the humor in the things of life and learn how to talk about it.
  

• I consider it a personal achievement if I make a total stranger laugh.

• My car is older than my 6th grade kid.

• I do too many things in my church. I am going to try to change that.

• I hate ladders...they really scare me.

• I know I am getting old. Sometimes I really don't care HOW I look when I leave the house.

• I love hearing a good preacher. I am his/her biggest "Amen-er." It's almost becomes a conversation between the preacher and me the listener.

• A part of me died when "24" was cancelled.

• Keaton Jones may be the cutest kid I have ever met in my life!

• I LOVE the Dallas Cowboys...which drives Keaton's father absolutely nuts

• I SO badly want to write a book...maybe this year.

There's No Such Thing as Fashionably Late

Fair warning...this post may ruffle some feathers.

I will NEVER understand lateness...never. I hate it. Especially as it pertains to God and the things of God.

I am one of those people who would rather be one hour early than one minute late...and that is no exaggeration. So, since the title of this blog contains the word "rant", I am going to throw it out there and brace myself for the feedback.

BEING LATE

1. It's rude!

2. It's not cute. It's not funny. It gets old really quick.

Let me pause here and say I am not talking about the "I got stuck in traffic" or "the kid threw up" kind of tardiness. I get that! No problems there. I'm talking about the habitual offender who really has no excuse. Got it? OK---continuing...

3. If you were as late to your place of employment as you were to your ministry or your church service, wouldn't you would be fired?

4. Being late tells everyone else who is on time that they are not important...especially if we are depending on you for something.

5. "I just can't be on time" is not a reason or an excuse. That's ridiculous.

6. Get outta bed earlier, plan better and quit blaming the rest of the world for your lateness.

7. Ask yourself..."Am I always (or ever) late for a concert, a movie, a dinner reservation, a tee time, the start of a race, a ballgame, etc?" No? How about God-stuff? What's more important? Maybe we should charge admission for church.

8. You will consistently make the effort to be on time for those things that mean the most to you.

Don't hate...