Shut up and go to my church!

I often hear people complaining about their church. I have heard friends and family say that their church is dead or boring or even Biblically incorrect and I wonder why they still go there. I'm not talking about the sham that Obama is trying to pull with that church in Chicago, I'm talking about people that go to the same church every week and leave feeling, acting, and living the same as they went in. Maybe they are going for the wrong reason to begin with. I understand that some people go to church out of habit or because they feel pressured to by someone or some thing or because it makes them look good or feel good just to go somewhere.



To be honest, I didn't really want to go to church this morning. I have alot of things going and I had several semi-valid reasons for not getting up, getting dressed, getting in the car and driving thirty minutes to church today. I'm sure everybody has days like that but as soon as I got there I was glad I made the effort. I know my church is not for everyone. Being the youngster that I am, I like to have my music pretty lively. I also like my pastor to be pretty lively and I like a Bible Fellowship or Sunday School that is not afraid to tackle hard questions (even if the teacher could be better at asking them sometimes). But even if my kind of church is different than your kind of church, you need to find a church that fits you.



Sometimes finding a church that fits is difficult and I am not promoting leaving the church you are in just because some little thing has made you uncomfortable. No church is perfect because it is filled with imperfect people and that includes the pastor and staff. It breaks my heart to find out somebody left a church because somebody sat in their seat or the pastor didn't smile big enough when he said hello or that music director talks too much! It's time to get smooth over that piddly stuff and start worshipping in spirit and truth like the Bible says. But you have to realize that your pastor is not the one that is being worshipped and, yes, sometimes the pastor has to realize that too. Pastors make mistakes like all of us do but they also have incredible responsibility and I love and appreciate my pastor for being who he is and what he does day in and day out. It has to be difficult sometimes.

As I looked around in our worship time this morning and I saw my close, dear friends and I saw faces I had never seen before, I felt God's presence in a real way. I saw friends who were hurting deeply and lifted them up in prayer. I had other friends tell me they were praying for me. I opened my Bible and learned more about who Jesus is and not once was I bored. I never once felt intimidated, embarrassed, or pressured. I left that place different than when I went in and I know others did as well.

Again, I know that my church is not for every one. People like different things or are accustomed to "doing" worship different and ours is not necessarily the best way but I love my church. I look forward to next Sunday already. Maybe you don't feel the same way. Maybe you dread going to church. I hate that for you. It shouldn't be that way. Your relationship with Jesus Christ deserves better than a dead church so if that is the case with you then quit complaining and put out a little effort and find the church that is right for you. I hope it is Hulen Street Baptist Church but if not, I pray you find the church that is right for you. It will be worth it, I promise!

Condi comments

I started to do the usual "I read Todd's blog 10 times a day" caption but I know there are better ones. Here's a couple to get you started:

Aw, C'mon, George, just one more game of patty-cake!

Everybody now! Put ya hands in the air like ya just don't care!

Push 'em back! Push 'em back! Waaay back!

Eight little, nine little, ten little Native Americans...

Please Governor Spitzer, I said No!

The better to see you with, Part II

I never noticed it before but I think Chelsea has my eyes!

Two wrongs make a Democrat

I know! I know! When his pastor was found out to be a racist, bigoted, anti-semitic , anti-American hate-monger, Obama should have just said, "I have a different memory about him than that" and that would explain everything!

Her time to go...

Just so you don't have to look at my whopping eyes at the top of the page, I'm posting this webpage and my thought that this is pretty much God leaning down and pointing His finger at you and saying, (use your best God voice here)"Time's up!"

The better to see you with, my dear!

Forgive the light posting lately, for some reason I have a pretty good headache! Could be because the doctors removed some bone around my eyes. Or it could be work stress!

Terrorists are funny!

I couldn't keep a straight face and try to write this. There are just too many things that make me laugh! First, what exactly is a "bycott"? And "religious violation"? Is that what the two guys on the far right are doing? Can't you just hear them all singing, "Put your hands up and SHOUT!"? Little bit louder now. Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Classy!

I only wear it for the articles!

Just say "NO", Moses!

The truth has finally come out this week about the embarrassing drug habit of one of our religious founding fathers. I am sad to admit that the 12-step program Moses was in (yes, that Moses) could only take him so far and that to really have several of his other-worldly experiences he turned to smoking the Biblical equivalent of a doobie. We now realize the burning bush was really a burning blunt and that his mountain top experiences were trips provided by his dealer Aaron. It is sad to have to acknowledge the reason God provided manna in the desert was just because Moses had the munchies and the millions of people following him just wanted a sample of that sweet Canaanite Gold. So remember: Friends don't let friends get 10 commandments!

I'm #2! I'm #2!

Hey, Hillary how many chins do you have and how many times a day do you read "Blog? I thought you said dog"?

It's already happening!

Is it just me or has anybody else noticed that during the hottest part of summer is when the global warming theorists talk the most but now that winter is here they are already saying this! I mean, these "scientists" are aware of the seasons aren't they? Hotter in summer and colder in winter! Which one will kill us first? Probably old age. Or zombies. It could be zombies. I'm just saying.

**Update**

I had no idea how close I was to right when I posted this yesterday! Looks like it may not be zombies after all but, get this, "killer robots"!!

***Updated Update***

Have no fear. Just buy the insurance! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-191388800018857925

50 Years!!

Today, Valentines Day, is an important day in the life of my family. My parents have been married for 50 years today and I learned something as to the secret. Our whole family got together for lunch after church Sunday to celebrate and as we all sat in the restaurant talking, eating and laughing, I asked my Dad the question. "So, Pop, what's the secret?", I asked. My Dad, who was sitting across the table and down a few chairs didn't answer. He just kept eating. "Pop! What's the secret?", I asked a little louder. Still nothing. I asked him one more time and still he didn't hear me. Finally, my brother-in-law, who was sitting next to him replied, "Evidently, the secret is not being able to hear very well!"
I'm sure that is a big part of it sometimes but I know there is more, not the least of which is both putting Christ at the center of the marriage and leaving divorce out of the question from day one. Thanks, Mom and Pop, for your example and if anyone sees them, please congratulate them on putting up with each other for so long. Just say it loud!

How do you know?

My question is, "How does anybody know it's that cold?", because shouldn't anybody who's smart enough to look at a thermometer have moved away from there by now?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080211/D8UO9P3O1.html

Flag Etiquette

I was at an event this evening and realized we all needed this reminder:

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove the headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
Section 6
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform shall stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.

Evidently, the woman in front of us knew of the optional position for your left hand to be squarely and firmly on your husband's buttocks.

From: Public Law as amended July 7, 1976 by the 94th Congress of the United States.

Not exactly Pamplona

Walking slowly with the bulls...

in the Fort Worth Stockyards today.

Pathway to what?

What could these people possibly talk about on Sunday morning, the weather?

http://www.pathwaysuu.org/

Speling

Hay, pa, yous the best speler in tha familee. Go put a sine on tha frunt dor so peeple will kwit tryin to use are batroom.

Similar thinking

Eli Manning said something interesting the other day and credited it to his brother Peyton. Eli, quarterback for the Super Bowl winning New York Giants, said his brother told him before the Big Game that it was better to go into the last few seconds of the game down by four points than three points because it made you fight harder knowing you had to go for the touchdown to win instead of a possible field goal for a tie. Maybe it is that type of thinking that makes a great quarterback: very "Type A", "left-brained", "all or nothing".

Some conservatives are saying or at least implying that John McCain winning the Presidency would be the worst-case scenario for the United States in the long run. The thinking is that if the country goes to hell on a sled it would be better that it happen on the Dems watch and not ours and then the nation would wake up in four years and elect a real conservative to drive down the field the rest of the way. If that happens, one has to hope that the game is not too far over to win.

***Update***

Dr. James Dobson was on the Glenn Beck Show this morning.

GLENN: Okay. Can you vote for John McCain?

DR. DOBSON: No. No, I can't. And people are livid about that and I understand it. I mean, I have always voted. Ever since I've been an adult I've voted. But this time, I'm telling you I'm backed up against a wall.

He specifically said he would vote for the other positions on the ballot but not for the Presidency. Does he really think not voting at all is the best way?

So many jokes

When I tell you that I am home sick today it will become funnier to you in a moment when I tell you what I just saw on the news. I am sitting on the couch watching the channel 5 news and in the middle of all the news stories, the female newscaster comes on and apologizes for the story they ran yesterday that said, "a man's health could be improved by looking at womens' breasts", and how it turned out to be untrue. She apolologized and assured the viewers they made every effort to verify the stories before they aired them.

Please keep comments rated G.

Tuesday

So is today more "Super" or more "Fat"? And being from Texas, should I really care? I don't understand either one well enough to care. I mean, I understand Valentine's Day which is coming right up and I understand President's Day which is also right around the corner. I have enough to think about with those days on my calendar. Valentines cards and a nice dinner, deciding on appropriate lingerie to honor our past presidents, and also, what to get my wife? I have alot to think about.