Apr 172012
No inspiration at 4 am…and I’m on the road all day.
It’s all yours.
69 Responses to “Open Blogging”
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No inspiration at 4 am…and I’m on the road all day.
It’s all yours.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
God keep those of you on the road today safe and happy.
Dose James MacDonald Have Too Much Power?
The funny thing is, James MacDonald has absolutely NO power. As long as people can get up and leave, what power or authority does he have.
Now, the Russians when they built the Berlin Wall in 1961 (I was living next door in France at the time) now that is power and authority.
What MacDonald has, and it may be better than power and authority, is that he has a bunch of mindless followers!
Who is James MacDonald?
An interesting tweet by Rick Warren was forwarded to me on FB:
“I believe in the absolute inerrancy of Scripture, I do not believe in the inerrancy of my interpretation – or yours either.”
Driscoll’s humorous/satirical response to the “kerfuffle” over his upcoming appearance at Liberty University:
http://pastormark.tv/2012/04/16/an-official-response-to-the-kerfuffle-at-liberty-university
And, this press release on Ed Young’s book Sexperiment…
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dallas-pastor-ed-youngs-teachings-gain-popularity-as-marital-intimacy-becomes-hot-topic-2012-04-17?reflink=MW_news_stmp
…which includes the following excerpt: “In fact, Ed Young’s Sexperiment has drawn media attention for its candid discussion of marriage and sex, as seen through the lens of Scripture. But where other pastors, like Mark Driscoll, find their teachings on sex to generate controversy, Ed Young’s book is noteworthy primarily for how pragmatic it is.”
It looks like certain strands of American Christianity are unraveling.
speaking of travel…my son Taylor departs for Afghanistan tomorrow morning for deployment to an FOB in a rather isolated, dangerous region of the country. With the spring Taliban offensive underway, we are concerned and apprehensive (or something in that neighborhood) for him and all the other soldiers deployed there. Taylor is my second son and this is his first overseas placement.
filbertz: praying for your son. I think of him when I order Green Beans coffee for the troops…
Please keep us posted.
Fil
We will be praying for Andrew.
Suggestion to bloggers, Driscoll’s given you a very clear message–you’re getting colder rather than hotter if Driscoll opens his yap to opine on something in 2012. Brierley, Jakes and LU are interesting but ultimately insignificant. Scott Thomas, James Noriega, Bent Meyer, Andrew, Lance, member discipline, Redemption Groups and the 2007 firings are more interesting and more important. Driscoll has avoided saying anything about those people or subjects.
When MH PR said they let staff go months ago for overstepping spiritual authority I noticed that was when Noriega vanished from leadership. MH PR has not been doing the church any favors if they mention cutting staff loose because people who keep track of who is and isn’t on staff can start putting together that “maybe” Noriega was one of those people. He did, after all, vanish from the leadership rosters in the time during which MH PR assured us that things were dealt with long before bloggers or journalists heard anything. Whoever privately contacted New Reformation about the “confluence” related to Andrew probably shouldn’t have done that. It makes it easier to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
If you could please remember a family member in prayer, thank you.
#5 = ‘like’
#11 = don’t understand
filbertz, i pray regularly for “our” troops over there, will call out your son’s name when i do now . . . my heart aches for you and your wife, such a test of Faith – God keep all
since i didn’t change my ‘handle,’ i guess i’m done . . . but i sure hate to see offenses rising, pray they don’t deteriorate into personality over truths . . .
OH, oh oh – one more . . . i am in love . . . with a word . . . Kerfuffle, where have you been all my life?
now i’m done
Brian,
Happy to.
Em’s parting shot, Driscoll’s opined publicly on scandals or controversies he can anticipate and control. Thus, Brierley, Jakes and LU. For scandals that were not foreseen and that MH can’t completely control, A Call for Reconciliation.
Hatchet, I will say that his “response” is important in one sense: MD reinforces the stereotype that bloggers are stupid, dumb, divisive, idiots not worthy of one’s time, especially since men like him are doing “real” work for the Lord.
On an related note, those items you mention as more interesting and more important are definitely more important, including in the realm of influence. How does MH’s discipline process influence other churches? What about the Redemption Groups – to which I can actually speak to, having spent some time in one? Is the potential for abuse there limited to MH or will it extend to those churches which embrace the concept?
MD and MH’s strategy seems to be silent on the more important issues and use LU, Jakes, Brierley, and their like to speak derisively about bloggers and critics.
You can tell allot about a person by the car they drive. We drive a 1999 Subaru Forester, because we could afford it. When I used to make money, I went through quite a few cars, including the coveted Impreza WRX, Jeep Commander Limited Overland, Honda Ridgeline, and even a Subaru Bratt at one point.
To get my mind off of things that piss me right off, like Mark’s little LU bash, I decided to think about what car I would own beyond a shadow of a doubt, money no object. Because that is a pointless and silly thing to do, and I had nothing better to think about while fixing 7 broken roof top air-conditioners today, I decided that I would want something that is so totally overpowering and elegant that even the uber-rich would envy my car. So I decided on this…
http://www.bugatti.com/en/super-sport.html
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Top Gear performance test seen here…
http://youtu.be/LSFX9vrwJf8
It is an estimated 1,184 break horse power cocoon of carbon fibre and leather. It looks like no other super-car in the world, holding a degree of prestige rather than looking like something that gets fired from a cannon. 0-62 in just under 2.5 seconds. 267 miles per hour capable.
Otherwise a simple Toyota Pickup would do.
What is your dream car?
I’ll take a smaller car, like a Civic, with great gas mileage and frills like power windows, sun roof, satellite radio, navigation, the works. I’d go with E85 or natural gas fuel if I knew they were going to be around for the life of the car. Which, by the way, must be great on maintenance. I do not want to throw two car payments every month fixing something that goes wrong.
in Spring a young (married) man’s fancy turns to thoughts of hot cars?
sigh . . . i’ve know one or two in my day . . . but that was long ago . . . however, i do enjoy my unexpected blessing of an unfashionable, but pretty 2005 Chrysler Pacifica with all the frills that i picked up at a bargain price a couple years back . . . i suspect it is capable of more than i ask of it in my 1,000 or so miles per year driving style . . .
i’ll bet Mark Driscoll drives . . . a big, late model black Toyota 4 runner with dark tinted windows
Em! Don’t torture Reuben!
BrianD, I think allot about mileage friendly. Honda makes the Fit which gets great MPG. But I always seem to need a truck. The 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma standard transmission gets OK mileage for a truck.
I use a courier service just about every day to get parts in a hurry delivered to jobs. He drives a Tacoma pickup with over 400,000 miles on it. All he does is change the oil.
Em, I had to go to Cleveland to set up a charity poker tournament hall on the river some years back. I had ordered a Tahoe to pick up at the airport, which they did not have when I got there, and wound up with a Pacifica. It was a nice car, I must say. I was not sure if it was a mini-van or a station wagon, but it was nice.
Dream Car…… Long and low, sleek and powerful, red and convertible.
I drive a 1995 Camry. Bought it from someone who was told to get a new engine. I bought it for $500 and my neighbor fixed it for the cost of parts only. Oil had gotten into the coolant and we just flushed it out and replaced a few things. I’ve been driving it for maybe seven years. Not a ton of repairs and God blessed us a few years ago when the state picked it to test as they made repairs and gave us $500 for our trouble!
If I could drive any car it would probably be a newer Camry. Long as I have air and music I’m good to go!
Funny story. I had been hearing ads on the radio for an entry level car that talked about great pricing, great features, great fuel economy. At the end of the add it talks about how great the “sink” is. In my head I imagined the old saying “this thing has everything including the kitchen sink” I wondered why the car company was using an old saying while trying to market to a young crowd. I probably heard that advertisement half a dozen times before I realized they were not saying SINK but SYNC. Every time I hear it now it just puts a smile on my face.
Dream cars
BMW need I say more?
Mommy car- new forester or maybe the TriBeCa fro. Subaru.
Dream dream car- knight industries two thousand. Because it does all the work and has weapons.
My wife needs this…
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/vehicles/2012/m/m3convertible/default.aspx
The M3 would be a fun car for mom and dad!
http://knightrideronline.com/
Rueben, “nice?” seems to be, it was a shot in the dark, but God is kind – feels good to drive and hauls grandchildren and my favorite pit-bull when i’m babysitting – quite a switch from the Landcruiser that i drove for nearly 23 years . . . i’d still be driving it, if i’d know a mechanic i could trust . . . my daughter’s boss has it now
i’d feel really good going down the road in a brand new Camry, E . . . i’m probably on my last car and that feels weird . . . B of A is canceling my VISA because i won’t keep a checking account there, the next thing to go will probably be my driver’s license . . . sigh . . . maybe i’ll die first
hmmm . . . drive a brand new sink? funny, funny – kind of joke i love, thanks jlo for the smile
everybody here has excellent taste in cars today IMNSHO
P.S. on that B of A thing i mentioned . . . i’ve had their VISA card for nearly 40 years and never late for a payment – not once! . . . i think it’s because i don’t carry a big, unpaid balance . . . now if i could just write a song about it, get some of you guys to put it on Youtube, we could all get rich . . . remember “United breaks guitars?”
“Listen to my story as sad as it is
Grandma’s goin down, waayay down . . . cuz
Bank of America breaks Grandmas’ hearts?
Yeah, that ol B of A breaks old ladies’ hearts” i can hear it now
God keep all close and comforted
i’m presuming on the thread – i’m done now
I always wanted a Porsche 911 from the year I was born. That would be a cool car.
It would also be cheap as dirt.
Like Em, #5..like!
brian..praying for your family member
Filbertz….praying for your son and will continue to do so, along with peace for you and your wife.
Dream Car….MINI Cooper Countryman, standard transmission…feel the acceleration!
Linnea, that is a fabulous car! I had a longing for a Mini when they had a turbo coupe model. Not such a practical idea now with a 4 year old son. That Countryman looks like a super cool ride. The S All 4 is the model I like.
my favorite car that i actually owned was a red 1986 v6 2.8L Pontiac Fiero GT with a moon roof. cool car, but it kept breaking down and i needed a more dependable vehicle. so i got a 1998 or 99 white 4 door Saturn ‘sedan’. what a come down…
eventually totalled it coming home from worship band practice with my bass guitar.
now i have a 2001 Ford Ranger extended cab.
This past Saturday at the swap meet I bought three CD’s in perfect condition for $2.00!! Third Day, Michael w. Smith, and Avalon. There were other excellent ones but I already own them. The dude that sold them to me didn’t speak a word of English yet he had a nice collection of CD’s for sale. I always wonder where folks at swap meets get their stuff, especially when they have no idea what it is they have.
You know what Grandfather’s watch with their 2 year old Grandson’s??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavUpD_IjVY
I love looking at photos from many years ago such as of the people on the Titanic or those building it. Fascinates me.
Don’t like the NHL. I don’t know if they’ll ever be more than a fringe sport here in the states. I detest the fighting that marks the sport. Yet I love the NFL. Go figure.
If you were a overweight and famous singer who was overweight would you regain your weight after having lost it if your lower weight diminished your voice??
Watched a movie free on Netflix the other night titled “The Music Never Stopped.” An excellent indie movie that would touch you, especially if you hold a deep appreciation for the music of your youth. It’s not fast paced but tells a beautiful story.
The wolves prey at late night on cable television. Can’t believe the outright garbage that is being peddled. Sad, sad, sad.
I wonder if anyone enjoys their music as much as I do mine. Always been a huge part of my life. Wish they still had those CD clubs where you buy one at full price and then get four free. Getting a friend to sign up got you three free ones as well.
I’m back to Words With Friends but it’s really slowed down in the seven weeks I was away.
When my mother talks she has no filter. Makes for interesting times!
Go Lakers. Go Dodgers. Go Angels. Would love to say that for a football team.
Good night Gracie!!!
mic broke a car with a guitar
em
yup, i ‘slayed it’
.. or rather sleighed it
I’m not big on cars…….
nothing like a Chevy truck…. I drive a 22 year old Silverado 4×4
nothing like a Harley Davidson motorcycle…. especially the one in my garage
something very special about adopting and gentling a Kiger Mustang…. some day….
two outta three ain’t bad 8)
Interesting questionaire on Spiritual Abuse
http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/abusequestionnaire.html
Jamie Moyer just went into the record books. He pitched an awesome game. Awesome.
The Dodgers played like the Rockies and lost.tonight
dream car…been the same since they were new–’69 Camaro SS white, with orange stripes–Indianapolis 500 pace car edition. They go for about 150k. That’s why it’s a ‘dream’ car.
In my “spare” time, I’m helping my son build his dream, a 72 Chevy short bed pickup. I already gave my oldest son his, a early 70′s Dodge Charger, black with a 400.
Well, oh great disciple, the Rockies won tonight. So there is that…
Fil, a great dream car.
I drove a 64 Shelby Cobra. 427. Real. Not a reproduction. Blue. White race stripes. Roll bar behind the driver seat. I learned how to slam shift in that car. The power was overwhelming.
centorian, we visited Frenchglen long while back – saw your horses
if i was a guy and this was all guys, the best parting shot just crossed my mind . . .
thanking the Lord that the owner of the web-site is home and that he closed that blog . . . once that stuff gets going there’s no way to deflect or “humor-ize” it away
also there was a Nomans sighting tonight and that’s a good thing
God keep all close and comforted this night
Cent, my husband feels like a new man when he gets on his bike and rides. I encourage a good ride.
I drove a 69 Corvette 350/350hp 4-speed that was flat out scary, but it would pale in comparison to a Cobra. Unbridled beast!
Worship tonight was greatly humanized by the death of my guitar pickup’s battery. Faced with a full band, 3 more songs to lead and no amplification, we brought it down, grabbed my vocal mic and pointed it at the old acoustic then went old school like it was Bob Dylan at Gaslight Cafe.
Such a forgiving gathering
G–good save.
The make the “mini” cars just down the road from me. They are out of my price range though. But I do love to see the truck loads of them driving down the road and picking out which one is the prettiest. I’d love a convertible for those 3 or 4 days a year of sunshine we get!
Em,
I used to watch them run in the wild in Nevada. Majestic creatures. Unfortunately, the land cannot sustain their increase in numbers. I have a friend who has four of them, all once wild, and they are the sweetest horses. They just wanted attention from me and licked my hand like a dog. Every Kiger that I have been in contact with seems to really want to please their owners.
Even worse, they have become a pawn in the arena of politics. And as usually the case, those who don’t live in those areas have little understanding of the complexity of the enviroment in which wild horses live. Their best intentions can lead to disasterous results.
I really do appreciate the prayer, it was extremely hard to ask, I dont know why I am like that. Needing anything makes me physically ill, silly but it is how I react. The person came home, I have helped care for my mother some time, of course she cares for me as well. I am very thankful for her but it hurts to see her hurt. I am so sick of my attitude concerning money and power its crap I know most 96%+ of Christian ministries and ministers are not like that just the opposite. Money is just a tool nothing else it is what we do with it that is what counts. Please forgive my cynical view I have not slept real well for a few weeks and this new research class on top of a full time job and my part time work tires me out.
BrianD, yeah, you’ve got a point there. William Wallace II never went away, he just set himself up as an unfireable executive elder. It’s just one of those mundane ironies that he blogs about bloggers as though he’s not one of them.
Alex, please don’t do this. All the mods have 9-5 gigs and need to be able to work and make money and buy food and such. I don’t want to have to start dropping all your info into the blocked list. It is a pain on the phone.
Mods, I am on a roof all day. Readers, if things blow up, reuben68@mac.com and I will get to it as soon as possible.
centorian, we should take a lesson from the creatures as i think we’re fast becoming “pawns in the arena of politics,” too.
as i was growing up i was exposed to several aspects of the retail business – i can remember folk who, like Alex, had developed a real contempt for the human race after some years of dealing with the general public
i wonder . . . seen church workers develop the same jaded view – i wonder if the arrogance and feeling of superiority that developed in Israelites’ priesthood is the natural course of serving without a heart for it?
still working on the difference between commitment and surrender, spun off of MLD’s post on a slightly different subject . . . i remember when preachers used to preach surrendering to Christ (instead of “committing” to Him) . . . sometimes what they really meant was surrendering to their church program . . . but it left us wondering how to do that, at any rate . . . we need to develop the mind of Christ, then the rest falls into place IMHO today
Hatchet, the other point I wanted to make was that Driscoll is making it impossible for true, honest discussion between he/Mars Hill and them to occur. He’s setting his own rules for discussion and debate. He mocks the opposing side and tries to portray them as divisive fools, while making himself look sympathetic – and in the right – to his church and his/their supporters.
Obviously he doesn’t want to engage issues on an equal footing.
As to how Christ-like his/Mars Hill’s strategy is….I suppose – to paraphrase Michael Newnham – you’ll have to make your own application.
Em,
My sister worked for a large SoCal church for a number of years and jaded arrogance among the PASTORS certainly was her experience.
I have a hard time blaming the problem on the job though because it is NOT a job….. it is a MINISTRY.
If you are no longer SUITED for ministry, GET OUT!
Take a sabbatical or retrain into a secular career but, GET OUT!
If you really love God’s people and GOD…… GET OUT!
thot i was done pontificating this morning, but just discovered that there another new translation of our Bible . . . Professor David Capes at Houston Baptist Seminary . . .”The Voice” eliminates the word “Christ” among other things . . . might be good – dunno
Barker Man, i hear you . . . kind of like stealing from the Lord’s people and not fair to one’s own soul either
Can’t wait for the NFL Draft, baseball is like watching paint dry sometimes. Love the NHL tho as my Blues are up 2-1 on the Sharks. If they advance I’ll be going to a Kings-Blues playoff game in the Campbell Conference Semi’s
Solomon Rodriguez, baseball is anything but watching paint dry! It is a dignified sport of athleticism and skill, requiring brain power and muscle power.
Besides that, we already have Manning, Tebow is going to be a CB from now on, so what could possibly be left to get excited about?!?
know what makes baseball boring? the announcers . . . we have a local league of some kind that takes the town’s a.m. radio station in the summer and this one year one of the pitchers teamed up on the radio coverage and he made the game interesting . . . talked about strategies ‘n stuff that us commoners have no clue about . . . things a little deeper than telling us to look for a bunt from the guy at bat because bases were loaded, the score is tied, the tying run is on third and there’s 2 outs (which is pretty easy to figure out without the announcer’s help). . . what did he say, can’t remember, but it made the game interesting and i left the radio on
I used to love baseball and it still has its great moments but once the 94 strike happened it was never quite the same for me
Got Michael’s book. Loved it. Strange how a guy can take skate park and cats and use them to bring real lasting change in my heart. The lessons were simple, but had a depth that really did cause me to make my own application in several areas of my life..