The Right Score

#30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

2012-01-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I noticed an intriguing trending topic on Twitter - #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

It was a topic in my wheelhouse. So I started posting answers to the question and of course I numbered them. And I realized that every time I did, it made me smile because I couldn't wait to share those moments with someone. Some are based on memories, some are based on dream.

They're all based on who I am.

So below here are all 30 tweets just as they went out. Enjoy!

1. Tell her you think she's a princess #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

2. Give her flowers for no reason #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

3. Pray for her #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

4. Tell her you think she's amazing (and mean it) #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

5. Always think of her through the forgiving love of Christ and not her past #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

6. Be a friend when she needs you to be a friend #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

7. Bring her Chick-fil-a #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

8. I was going to say open a door for her. But that's too small. Open your heart. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

9. Be geniunely interested when she talks about nothing #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

10. Smile at her. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

11. Let her pay for parking. (Because you paid for dinner) #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

12. Buy her something small and stupid, just so she knows you were thinking about her #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

13. Hug her outside while it's snowing. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

14. Take her to see @timchaddick at @realityla. Always make me smile :) #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

15. take her to a baseball game and let her wear your hat. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

16. Blow off work to go see her. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

17. Be vunerable #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

18. Let her pick the radio station in the car. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

#19 make her a youtube playlist #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

#20 texts, calls, facebook messages are all great. But write her a hand written letter.
#30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

21. Let her win at Words with Friends #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

22. Cheer for her team in the Superbowl (even if you can't stand Tom Brady) #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

23. Enjoy the stew that she cooks for #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

24. Let her drive your car. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

25. Ask her to become Facebook official #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

26. Give her a custom ringtone in your phone. (But you'd have to tell her cause she'll never call when ur together)

27. Laugh at her jokes. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

28. Tell her she looks great when she thinks she doesn't but you think she does #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

29. Make your first kiss the last first kiss either of you ever have #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

30. Tell her you love her. #30WaysToMakeAGirlSmile

Major Social Media Announcement from @StaberzZ

2012-01-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

This decision has not been made lightly and I have thought about it for several weeks now.

But a couple things have forced this issue.

A lot of people have noticed how sad my recent tweets have been.

I've been feeling really in the dumps recently and as I try to seek answers from God I often vent through twitter. It is the easiest way for my closest friends to know how I'm doing since I'm very much alone on the East Coast. Unfortunately, I'm not doing well.

I've also realized I wish I could tweet a lot more. I know that might sound crazy but I have a great job and I wish I could tweet about my job more. The problem is that I use my twitter for 3 purposes; to tweet about politics, tweet about God and tweet about my life. Well I never liked mixing those.

As a result I've decided to begin using my long held but never utilized twitter handle @MichaelEscoto.

I am going to keep @StaberzZ very active. In fact, probably even more active than before. but only tweeting about politics and work.

@MichaelEscoto is where I will tweet all my personal stuff, good or bad. It will contain all my personal thoughts, expressions and feelings as I try to live my life in a world I don't understand. At the same time praising God for His perfect will.

So depending on what you want to hear about, I'll let you decide which account you want to follow. Or follow both if you really love reading 140 characters at a time.

Enjoy and God Bless!

What Country Music can tell me about how I feel right now.

2012-01-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have the words to explain how I'm feeling. This was one of the best weeks I've had in a long time - personally, spiritually, emotionally. Then it became one of the hardest weekends I've had in a long time - personally, spiritually, emotionally.

As many of the people who will read this might have noticed, on Friday I listed my status as 'in a relationship' on facebook. Saturday, I changed it back to 'single.'

And as I continue to try to process what happened and pray about it, there are several important takeaways I've come to.

Many of them are contradictory and confusing, but that just falls in line with how I feel, a walking confusing contradiction. And as I put these thoughts together I realized that the music I was listening to really fit my mood. So rather than just write how i felt, I uploaded the music that describes how I felt.

Of course its all country music.

1. I'm going to remember this for a long time.

I'm the type who is very sentimental and unfortunately I'm going to think about this alot. For me I guess I'm going back to January.

2. It's God's will

And I can't stop God's will. And I will always praise Him for His will.

3. I failed as a spiritual leader

I tried to be faithful and keep Christ in the center. And no matter what is said, the responsibility falls on me. So I deserve this.

4. What i thought were God's blessings were actually his wrath

God works in mysterious ways and sometimes He gives you something just to take it away to make you look to Him more. I really felt God answered a prayer. But now I think he just answered a different prayer by punishing a sinner like me.

5. She's the best thing that ever happened to me.

She never believed me when I told how amazing and incredible she is.

6. The cover up is always worse than than the scandal

There wasn't a cover up or scandal. Its a political saying. The point is that what happened wasn't as bad as how I reacted. I reacted badly and have made things worse for me.

7. I didn't prepare my fields for rain.

This isn't a music video but I watched this movie when I feel uninspired. And this scene was the inspiration of this post. I prayed for rain, the rain came and I wasn't ready.

8. I'm meant to be alone

I don't remember exactly where I first heard this but a pastor once talked about the gift of 'singleness.' Maybe I should just accept that 'gift.'

9 . I'm going to have to fake it for a while

For everyone's sake I have to put a good face on. No matter how broken I am right now, I can't let that consume me as I have other priorities and goals.

10. It's not over

I prayed really hard to get to this point. And while God has shut this door, He can always open it. And I have to have faith and hope in that. But first I must continue to have faith and hope in Him.

11. I'm going to a meeting

My biggest fear is that when I get upset, I have the greatest urge to drink. And as a recovering alcoholic that's the last thing I need.

12. I'll always be there for her

The hardest part of this whole thing is that I was totally prepared; through prayer and faith, to just be friends. But once we weren't just friends, going back has been tremendously difficult. So no matter what, I need just need to be a good friend to her and i need even more prayer and faith to be able to do that.

Tim Tebow made me a viral video hit maker

2012-01-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

After Tim Tebow and the Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend in a shocker, I was up late and decided to make a funny video from a familiar Internet meme: Hitler reacts. Below is the result

It was put together quite quickly, within hours of the victory. And to be honest I made a couple mistakes. Kyle Prater? And I could have made a couple lines more witty.

But how can I judge? At the moment I am writing this, the video has been watched almost 400,000 times in 4 days! [UPDATE: its hit 400,000 views]

WOW!

A number of radio stations have posted it on their blogs like the Fox, 961kiss and Bleacher Report.

Well the question becomes what happens if Tebow beats the Patriots.

I've got to make another video, right?

But do I use the same clip or a different meme?

And I need new material.

So if you have a line to throw me, let me know and I'll make sure to credit you in the video.

Tebow Victory Broken down by bible verse

2012-01-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

After The Denver Broncos, behind Tim Tebow, beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime, I do as I usually do after a Tebow win and peruse twitter.

I saw this tweet and thought it was pretty amazing.

@Michael_Fabiano

Did anyone else notice how many yards Tebow threw for? 316...or 3:16. You can't make this stuff up!

So I wanted to know what else the bible could tell us about Tim Tebow's stats today.

To start off, Tebow threw for 316 yards as mentioned above. (Update #1: A reader points out that he also averaged 31.6 yards per completion)

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

He also completed 10 of 21 passes.

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. -Luke 10:21

I think people will agree God has definitely hidden Tim Tebow from the wise NFL analysts and that Denver beating Pittsburgh was definitely an act of god's gracious will.

Tebow also ran 10 times for 50 yards.

And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. -Mark 10:50

Throwing? What is more prophetical than that?

Let's look at the score. 29-23

For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob -Isiah 29:23

And who is sanctifying His name more than Tim Tebow right now?

Tebow, accused of not having a good arm, had a QB rating of 125.6 today

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith -Romans 12:5-6

This is to say, this was a team effort. We all have different gifts. For Tebow, that gift is Winning.

But let's not forget the team around Tebow. (Please bare with me on this one). Demaryius Thomas had 204 yards receiving, with that game winning touchdown of 80 yards. That totals to 284. Add those three numbers (2+8+4) you get 14. He also had 4 catches for 1 touchdown. Add those (4+1) you get 5.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? -John: 14:5

Wow! For this Thomas and the Denver Broncos, the way has been Tim Tebow.

(PS, if you have suggestions for other stats/bible verses, comment them below and I'll add them to the post)

(PPS) in case you missed. All he does is win

(PPPS a quick video i made to make fun of the haters)

---------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE #2: From Julie

Passing: Tebow completed 10 of 21 passes...

"The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fall completely, and their flocks are scattered."
- Jeremiah 10:21

Rushing: Tebow had 10 attempts and his longest gain was 11 yards...

"Say this to those who worship other gods: “Your so called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens”"
-Jeremiah 10:11

What it must feel like to win

2012-01-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

10 blogs you didn't know I read

2012-01-01T20:40:00.000-08:00

As an aficionado of social media/new media, it shouldn't come as any surprise the I read a lot of blogs. Now based on the existence of my own blog, it should be obvious that I read blogs like The Resurgence, Politico and MLB.com.

But there are several blogs that I peruse quite often on a personal level. These are blogs from authors whom I know/met personally. It would be selfish of me not to share them with the world.

So here are the 10 blogs you didn't know I read in order of how often I read them:

10. www.travisandjennyadopt.blogspot.com by Travis and Jenny Cramer

This is a brand new blog by Travis and Jenny regarding their journey toward adopting a child. My heart goes out to them as they take us through their experience

9. www.evolvingkarilynn.wordpress.com by Kari Shipman

Kari's observations are often about happenings around Sacramento and while I don't consider Sacramento my home, its nice to see what's going on in my old hometown - as well as my old friend.

8. www.emilybecklund.com by Emily Becklund

I don't know how I know Emily. I met her at USC at some point and we became facebook friends. I don't think she even remember me. But I find her musing about life fascinating and often I agree with their insight.

7. www.geninuscm.blogspot.com by Gen Nakamura

Gen would be lower on this list but he is prolific blogger and I can't keep up with his posts. But they are short posts so its not too bad reading several at a time.

6. www.coughinggirlnextdoor.blogspot.com

I find her strength admirable and I truly wish I got to know her better when I had the chance. She lives life with cystic fibrosis; something most of us will never understand. But her posts help us understand just a little bit.

5. www.langleyla.blogspot.com by Jonathan Langley

He doesn't blog very often but I drop in on the site every time I miss him.

4. www.ifyoucandreamitdoit.blogspot.com by Lindsey Caldwell

No one will ever accuse me of be a close follower New York fashion trends. But when I want to know about what's going on in a world I rarely venture in, I enjoy Lindsey's thoughts. Mixed with a generous dose of faith, this Texas girl with a good head on her shoulders has created a fun read.

3. www.blog.seahawks.com/author/benmalcolmson by Ben Malcolmson.

I'm not a Seahawks fan but I enjoy reading how Pete Carrol is doing, and even bigger fan of how Ben Malcolmson is doing.

2. www.kimiyo-brown.blogspot.com by Kimiyo Brown

Anytime I want to know how the Japan mission field is doing, I go no further than Kimmy. And while I don't always agree with their methods, I want to know how the Church in Japan is doing.

1. www.foxsportswest.com/pages/stephanie_graves_index by Stephanie Graves

I love USC football. And there are plenty of people covering the Trojans. And while I find their insights interesting, no one brings the coverage to a more personal and unique level than Stephanie Graves.

2011 Year in Tweets

2011-12-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

In 2011 I tweeted 1279 times. I looked through all those tweet and determined the 100 that best represent my year. They are either thoughts, experiences or acknowledgement of events that most shaped the year for me. I learned 3 things from this review: I dream a lot, regret even more and I don't spell very well when I tweet.

Without delay, here is the list in chronological order:

1 . 1/1 - RT @timchaddick @JohnPiper God promises new troubles (Mat. 6:34), new mercies (Lam 3:23), and new hope (2 Cor 4:16) for every day this year

2 . 1/1 - The real testament of Christian athletes aren't if they praise God when they win. But if they praise God when they lose. @JoyGenLicon

3 . 1/5 - With rushmore, tron and sideshow discussing autism, vaccinations and life (@ Juns Sushi) http://4sq.com/h3QVM7

4 . 1/7 - @Sarah_Kelley please don't do anything that will mess up those beautiful eyes of yours.

5 . 1/8 - Prayers to Rep. Gifford, her family and Staff.

6 . 1/11 - Accidentally drilled a hole into my thumb

7 . 1/15 - My (very liberal) roommate and I can't stop saying "Reince Priebus"

8 . 1/16 - The memory of trying feels much better than the regret of not trying

9 . 1/20 - Its done wonders to my self esteem to know that she didn't get my text messages. I just thought she was ignoring me.

10 . 1/22 - After a failed week; beach, ocean and a cigar really rejuvenates

11 . 1/25 - I own up to a lot of things but when I'm accused of something I didn't do it pisses me of to no measure. Going to break things now.

12 . 1/30 - The thing about going to @realityla is that parking really teaches u about patience God's grace (@ Reality LA) http://4sq.com/eNr2Cu

13 . 2/7 - Best First Date. Ever

14 . 2/22 - Call of Duty zombie ascension level 54. Enough said

15 . 2/26 - Had to leave because we didn't bring the proper paperwork (@ Yard House w/ 3 others) http://4sq.com/dKPxnl

16 . 3/6 - If Michael Ewert had a facebook account, I would unfriend him right now

17 . 3/7 - Writing letters and blog posts while listening to Taylor Swift. Bad combination.

18 . 3/10 - I've always been a "Belieber"

19 . 3/12 - Francisco Liriano for $16. Somoene in Minnesota is sad right now

20 . 3/20 - Did Tom Del Beccaro just advocate to "expand the universe". I think so!

21 . 3/26 - RIP Geraldine Ferraro.

22 . 3/27 - Crazy dream. They should make it into a movie. All I have to say is #zombiesontheplane

23 . 4/4 - Mars showed all earthlings we can all be one family

24 . 4/6 - Blame me RT @smithlorenzo: Rumors revealed on Sunday: 1) The teaching pastor @realityla cusses from the pulpit 2) We are Calvinist

25 . 4/8 - 18.5 hours until the federal government shuts down. Party anyone?

26 . 4/9 - He threw away our cows -Ross

27 . 4/10 - Meeting new friend & Hanging out with a special friend (@ Daily Grill) http://4sq.com/geUO28

28 . 4/11 - Had a scary dream about anger. I thank God it was only just a dream. #praying that such sin isn't a part of my life right now

29 . 4/12 - Just built an electric fence to protect us from a zombie invasion.

30 . 4/13 - When has the phrase 'end of discussion' ever ended a discussion?

31 . 4/19 - People need to learn to keep their damn mouth shut

32 . 4/22 - w/ @mlukemartz & super late @ccushmanbryan (@ Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. w/ 2 others) http://4sq.com/gVG52t

33 . 4/24 - I'm going to get baptized @realityla on Easter Sunday http://bit.ly/eJqVL5

34 . 4/25 - Beamer! (@ Newman Recital Hall (AHF)) http://4sq.com/hCw2uV

35 . 4/29 - I didn't think you could offend all Christians and all alcoholics at the same time. Well some moron found a way.

36 . 4/30 - You're welcome RT @LangleyJonathan: Kind of love getting girl advice. :) Thx @rushmore08 @ohkate89 @StaberzZ and Amy.

37 . 5/1 - Sorry if this is too much information. I am literally crying at the moment. #America #Winning

38 . 5/4 - With the 'general' and the 'owner' (@ MIX Downtown Rooftop Lounge w/ 2 others) http://4sq.com/juqy1V

39 . 5/6 - Just bought shorts, sandals, and an ipod. Ready for summer.

40 . 5/16 - I rescued a baby bird. Now it is dead. Story of my life

41 . 5/19 - It was under glass so I wanted it (@ Crate & Barrel w/ 3 others) http://4sq.com/lkWV2d

42 . 5/22 - Who ever said its easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar has never tried to catch flies before.

43 . 5/23 - Better name for Ross Wyngaarden: Gary W. O'Dressan, Darren Swagsony, Randy Awengross

44 . 5/26 - Drove 4 hours to watch the hangover 2 (@ United artists) http://4sq.com/k5p974

45 . 5/29 - @realityla hey, I just became 4-square mayor of reality la. Don't I get a parking space or something now. LOL

46 . 6/18 - If you were to make a fake facebook account, I doubt that you would make the last name 'Hacker'

47 . 6/22 - There was this pollen in the air today that smelled like kissing

48 . 6/25 - Help us hit our goal RT @MLukeMartz: Good news! @StaberzZ and I have #SupporttheBryanUnion yard signs! Make sure you pick one up!

49 . 6/26 - Tip of the day: People like @millanpatterson who have 'reliable' sources know everything. EVERYTHING #KeepYourEarCloseToTheRail

50 . 6/27 - I have 2 types of friends. People who lie for a living and people who work in politics.

51 . 7/5 - I didn't follow most of the Casey Anthony trial but watched the closing arguments. I was not convinced and not surprised by verdict

52 . 7/8 - RIP Betty Ford. A God send to alcoholics and addicts.

53 . 7/9 - I think the guys from American Pickers should visit some of the people from the show Hoarders

54 . 7/15 - #carmaggedon is keeping me away from Los Angeles. Harry Potter is keeping me off my computer.

55 . 7/22 - The war on terror contines. Pray for Norway. http://bit.ly/pYRblz

56 . 7/23 - Either that was an earthquake or the result of my heart dropping because @ByAnyName is leaving :(

57 . 7/25 - Watching President Obama speech while eating captain crunch. Not sure which will cut my mouth more

58 . 7/27 - In celebration I just bought a new chef's jacket

59 . 7/31 - its official. Ross Wyngaarden is the most symmetrical person I know #1:1.618

60 . 8/11 - Yesterday was Denny's, the Beach, Yard House for @GuiRGs97. Too tired to get out for @imJEZkidding. Getting new brakes for the car today

61 . 8/15 - Volleyball, buffalo and a smoke. What a day

62 . 8/15 - No tweeting at El Cholo (@ El Cholo Restaurant) http://4sq.com/oSEYF1

63 . 8/19 - I refuse to go where I'm not wanted.

64 . 8/20 - For leslie's b-day (@ Verdugo Bar w/ 3 others) http://4sq.com/pE9yMb

65 . 8/21 - So I've narrowed it down to a high ankle sprain, shin splints or a torn muscle..

66 . 8/24 - I've been smoking 30 lbs of pork for 9 hours. 3 hours to go

67 . 8/26 - Okay, so I realized I haven't made any type of social media announcement yet so here it is. GOT A NEW JOB. I'M MOVING TO VIRGINIA TOMORROW.

68 . 9/3 - I realize most people won't get this but I like Coach Lane Kiffin #USC

69 . 9/6 - First day of work (@ Targeted Victory) http://4sq.com/o8J3S2

70 . 9/13 - If you feel your faith is weak, stop doubting your faith and start doubting your feelings

71 . 9/17 - I am about to totally go Todd Cranney on this printer.

72 . 9/18 - Dear @MattShupePR I hope you don't plan on working in politics because you just screwed yourself. #dontpissoffthegeneral

73 . 9/20 - Everytime I get a first paycheck I realize why I'm a Republican again #TaxesAreTooHigh

74 . 9/23 - I really like cucumbers and it saddens me when they become pickles. But occassionally I like a good pickle. Most pickles aren't good pickles

75 . 9/27 - @KaelaMari btw, love the profile pic. She is incredibley gorgeous. oh, and LC is pretty cute too :)

76 . 9/30 - I wish I were on a train right now

77 . 10/4 - Watching marriage proposal videos on youtube all night gives a guy ideas. http://youtu.be/Su1YLAjty-U

78 . 10/5 - I think the fact that I've never owened an iphone or mac (bought ipods in my life) really lessens the affect of steve jobs' death

79 . 10/18 - Just had a dream about an amazing date. Alarm went off, I hit snooze, went back to sleep and she broke up with me :( #quitwhilwyoureahead

80 . 10/20 - I'm 1 for 2 for the day. Batting .500 aint bad but from a moneyball perspective, not good.

81 . 10/22 - nv official makes itself irrelevant MT @politico: NV GOP Central Committee moves the date of caucuses from Jan 14 back to Feb 4

82 . 10/23 - I think the tebow era has begun

83 . 10/30 - #trojanfanspeakstoosoon

84 . 10/31 - I'm the only one who dressed up for halloween at the office

85 . 11/2 - I'm no lawyer but if a she accuses @justinbieber of being her baby daddy isn't she also admitting she raped a 16yr-old? http://bit.ly/sWGrgp

86 . 11/8 - MW3 (@ Best Buy) http://4sq.com/rGpB3E

87 . 11/10 - Conflicted over the Joe Pa firing. I know it had to be done but i really believe he did everything asked of him.

88 . 11/13 - It is a great night of country music on the radio. Maybe I just don't spend enough time in the car #wishmycommutewaslonger

89 . 11/14 - Drop something on ur foot? RT @MLukeMartz: Ouch RT @StaberzZ: My phone rang, I was happy for a second. Then I realize its just @mlukemartz

90 . 11/17 - Is it me or is #occupyWallStreet a modern version of Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm?

91 . 11/22 - Don't let forgiveness get in the way of Grace -me

92 . 11/22 - With David Alley, Nick Wilson and 3 smokin' hot heaters (@ Bonaventure Brewing Co) http://4sq.com/t3Lbrm

93 . 12/1 - Disappointed in Christians who doubt others' walk because you don't buy into their mission. #ThankGodForUnansweredPrayers

94 . 12/4 - “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” -Saint Francis of Assisi. http://bit.ly/taGXoX

95 . 12/5 - I went 29 and 3 playing MW3 with my new gunnar optiks glasses. #believer.

96 . 12/10 - Very amused when people ask me if I don't drink because of religion. #FreedomInChrist

97 . 12/12 - 8 years http://bit.ly/tcAdSH

98 . 12/19 - I think God didn't help Tim Tebow beat the Patriots today so He made up for it by making sure Kim Jong Il died

99 . 12/22 - Its official @mattbarkley statys a trojan.

100 . 12/25 - Christmas is about Jesus, not religion.

8 years

2011-12-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

There are 2 really important days in my life.

The first is the day I became a Christian - April 6, 2000.

The second is the day I stopped drinking.

For years I've fielded questions regarding why I don't drink. I'm amused when people ask me if its because religion which I generally answer "No, there's great freedom in Christ." Sometimes I'm asked if its because I hate alcohol. I usually confuse them when I say "Its because I love drinking alcohol."

I don't drink because I'm a recovering alcoholic. I have been sober for 8 years today.

It hasn't been easy but I've had some great people around me and an organization in AA which has helped me sustain my sobriety for years. I've got a great sponsor for years who I go to with my struggles. And it has been my privileged to help other people with the same affliction.

Someone recently challenged me as to what was my mission field. And for obvious reasons (the nature of the organization is anonymity) I never openly discuss it unless directly asked. But helping other alcoholics realize that there is grace and forgiveness in Jesus has been my mission field. And that mission is furthered by the fact that I move from city to city because of the nature of my professional industry. Its been a crazy ride and I never thought I would get here, but I am.

8 years.

If there is anyone to thank it has been the men of AGO who's compassion and understanding has helped me with my struggles and my AA sponsor who has been with me from the beginning (and will obviously remain nameless) and got me an awesome new chip.

For 8 years I "take it one day at a time" and remember to "keep coming back." And with the support and prayers of friends around me I hope to stay sober and continue spread the message of hope in Jesus to a community that desperately needs it, because as a member of that community I've desperately needed it.

I was in a Paul Kim video - sorta

2011-09-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

So several months ago while I was sitting around doing nothing, Nicola Aversa called me desperately that he needed extras for a film shoot. I agreed since I had nothing else to do. Eight hours later (yes, you heard right, EIGHT hours later) it was finished.

I get that the video wasn't about me but I thought I would get some decent screen time. Well, I was wrong.

The video is below:

Didn't see me?

I don't blame you.

There are 2 instances when you can see me.

First is at the 3:38 mark (highlighted screen shot below)

And then again at the 5:35 mark (highlighted screen shot below)

I guess this wasn't my big break but a little more face time would have been nice. I'll always have Fox Sports West Documentaries

The Ben Malcolmson Documentary!

2011-09-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

I have written and documented the Ben Malcolmson story extensively here and here. Now the documentary is available on Vimeo!

Ben Malcolmson, USC Trojans Walkon - "The Write Stuff" - FSN from Ben Malcolmson on Vimeo.

Also, for more info on Ben's impact, watch the video below.

Courageous: Another Christian Movie

2011-08-30T02:21:00.000-07:00

I realize people will make fun of me but I've loved all their other movies. I can't wait to see Courageous

President Bush Looks Back

2011-08-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Anderson Cooper Laughs like a girl

2011-08-18T01:47:00.001-07:00

To be fair, the commentary was quite funny.

America isn't ready for another (BLANK) President

2011-08-16T02:17:00.001-07:00

I went to dinner with a large group of people and naturally they asked me my thoughts on the Presidential Race.

I gave them my honest assessments. One comment made me think; though I had heard it several times before.

'America isn't ready for another Texas President'

This of course was in reference to Texas Governor Rick Perry jumping into the race and his instant ascension as a first tier candidate. Is he too much like our last Texas President, George W. Bush?

What struck me about the statement is that it fringes on racial discrimination without the overtones.

Think about it.

Replace the word 'Texas' with any other people group descriptor. The first comes to mind is 'Black.' Imagine if President Obama loses re-election and in 2016 another African-American candidate runs. Could you see Chris Matthews or Rachel Maddow asking 'Is America ready for another Black President?'

Most people would see that as unadulteratedly racial. I wouldn't blame them.

But when describing Texans, some how its okay. Texas is a people group with a shared history and culture all their own. Don't believe me, go talk to someone from Texas.

It doesn't matter how you pre-judge someone; whether by race, color, creed or religion. Judging someone based on geography is just as prejudice as the aforementioned common discriminators above.

So if you're a Republican and you hear someone say 'America isn't ready for another Texas President' tell them that's racist; and mean it.

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My Prediction for the Ames, Iowa Straw poll

2011-08-11T15:31:00.001-07:00

Tonight is the Fox News/Iowa GOP Presidential primary debate featuring eight hopefuls. Saturday is the infamous Ames Iowa straw poll. Rather than make debate predictions as I have for the last two debates, this time I decided to predict the results of the straw poll itself.

(Note: These predictions are my honest opinions and analysis of the very fluid race and are not tantamount to an endorsement or un-endorsement of any candidate)

So here goes my top 11 (there are only 9 people on the ballot)

11. Gingrich - Sometimes a campaign shake-up is just a bump in the road. Other times its the end of the road. With no money or organization and very little rationale to the campaign, Newt will come in dead last

10. Santorum - This one I struggled with the most because I didn't know where to put Santorum. His appeal to evangelicals is genuine, but with other legitimate social conservatives in the race I don't see him doing very well.

9. McCotter - The Michigan congressman may not be in the debate but he does have a booth at the straw poll and can talk up a storm. I mean have you seen him on Red Eye? I see that garnering a number of votes that in the end put him in this spot.

8. Palin - She's not on the ballot but people who love her LOVE HER. The activists running their independent campaign trying to recruit her in should get some people to write her in. Knowing the media, placing eighth will be talked about as a defeat, even if it was an under the radar, unsolicited, unfinanced write in campaign

7. Cain - Even with Mike Huckabee playing bass for him, the Hermantor has lost steam. His statement that he needs to finish in the top 3 might lead him to be the first to exit.

6. Huntsman - No one knows who he is except the media. I think a breakout debate performance tonight will give him some momentum to finish in the middle of the pack in a state he says he has no plans competing in.

5. Romney - He had to finish somewhere. Not competing while saying he's not not competing makes it hard for him to finish higher. No tent, no buses. Finishing this low will be seen as a blow but not as big of a blow as Perry announcing.

4. Paul - This will also be seen as a defeat for the straw poll expert. But I think too many campaigns have too much infrastructure for his minions to overcome this time. I don't think he's going to help himself in the debates either. He'll attack Romney for the "corporations are people too" comment"

3. Perry - What?! He's going to announce on Saturday and the buzz will be with him. A lot of straw poll voters are going to gravitate toward a write in option who instantly becomes a first tier candidate. He doesn't need to participate at the debate or have a tent or even be on the ballot.

2. Bachmann - I think Bachmann is most hurt by the Perry entrance and will cost her the straw poll. She might slip up during the debate when my first place candidate goes on the attack. She is popular with the right but still many see her as unelectable. They won't have that problem with Perry and that's why she'll lose votes to him.

1. Pawlenty - To fight another day. The straw poll is a test of organization and know one is more organized than TPaw. Between Huckabee's daughter running the show and his relentless stomping through the state, I believe he pulls this one out to the surprise of many people. That's not to say he'll win the state or be a first tier candidate again but reports of his demise are premature.

(NOTE: I wrote this on my blackberry so forgive any errors or mistakes. I'll add some links later on today, before the debate)

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Who is Ahmad Awadalla

2011-08-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

Perusing on Facebook this morning I noticed Tim Pawlenty's new ad seen below

I rather enjoyed it.

I also noticed a peculiar comment from Ahmad Awadalla which simply said "Go to HELL!" (screen shot is below.)

What I didn't understand was what Mr Awadalla was responding to. I assumed someone said something negative about the president. As I expanded the comments I realized he was responding to pretty much nothing.

But I mean who cares because he's just some random guy commenting on a video that he disagrees with which is normal. Then I clicked on his profile for curiosity sake.

I was astonished to learn that he is, according to his profile, a "Fall Fellow at Obama for America - DC" (Screen shot below)

I think someone over at Obama for America should be more closely monitoring what their employees are posting on facebook, especially against potential rivals. I'm not sure what Fall Fellows do at Obama for America, but representing the campaign is one of them, whether they like it or not.

Cameron Ernst is awesome

2011-08-09T02:21:00.001-07:00

My Reality LA notes 7/24 @realityla

2011-07-24T18:36:00.001-07:00

Pastor Lorenzo Smith

MAY BE MY LAST TIME AT REALITY LA FOR A WHILE.

Access with God__

1 Samuel 23:1-14

David Saves the City of Keilah

1 Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors." 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the Lord said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah." 3 But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand." 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars." 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." 10 Then said David, "O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the Lord said, "He will come down." 12 Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the Lord said, "They will surrender you." 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
----------------------

Sometimes we demand things of God

The bible is God's revelation of Himself to us

I'M FEELING A BIT DISTRACTED. MIGHT STOP TAKING NOTES JUST TO LISTEN

God will never contradict what He has already revealed

No bible roulette

Fear can hold us back

LORENZO SMITH IS CANADIAN. THERE ARE NO FENCES ON THE CANADIAN BORDER.

Lived 3 years with no income. Wouldn't send support letters. I KNOW HOW THAT FEELS

God is happy to confirm what has already been revealed

The devil wants us to believe God is far

LORD, THANK YOU FOR THE ACCESS YOU CONTINUE TO GRANT. MAY I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ACCESS AS I DECIDE MY FUTURE IN THE COMING DAYS. I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LOST OR REGRETFUL. HELP SHOW ME THE DIRECTION TO GO. THANK YOU FOR THIS BODY OF CHRIST WHICH HAS BEEN A FAMILY. I WILL MISS IT.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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10 things I expect from tonights GOP presidential debate 6.13

2011-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

In 20 minutes the first New Hampshire GOP debate will begin. Below are my thoughts and expectations regarding the debate.

10. Michelle Bachman will say something unelectable. Not sure what it will regard but something along the lines of Social Security being unconstitutional. I think she's smart but often too smart for her own good.

9. Someone will quote the bible. It didn't happen in the South Carolina Debate so I think its an appropriate time

8. Obamneycare. I know Tim Pawlenty said he wouldn't use the new coined phrase. But I think he won't be able to help himself with the catchy meme.

7. Romneycare is a free market approach. Romney is going to say this again and the audience isn't going to be impressed.

6. Jon Huntsman will never be mentioned. There aren't enough candidates not there to start mentioning other candidates like Giuliani or Perry.

5. Sarah Palin will be mentioned. They are still Republicans and the obsession will bleed through.

4. Someone will out untax TPaw. Tim Pawlenty released a comprehensive new tax plan. Someone will try to out due him with even lower rates.

3. Ron Paul will end all wars. Regardless of the question Ron Paul will say he can solve it by ending all the wars. He will shine a bit more without fellow libertarian Gary Johnson.

2. Newt Gingrich will be a new type of candidate. He will claim his resurgence will come from facebook and twitter. He doesn't need the establishment to win. Its okay, he won't have it.

1. Herman Cain will win the Luntz poll. People like this guy. Not sure why.

My Reality LA notes 5/29 @realityla

2011-05-29T18:34:00.001-07:00

FINALLY BECAME FOURSQUARE MAYOR OF REALITY LA

The Downward Spiral__

Hosea 12:7-13:16
7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
he loves to oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin."
9 I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.

10 I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied visions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11 If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
their altars also are like stone heaps
on the furrows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel,
but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
2 And now they sin more and more,
and make for themselves metal images,
idols skillfully made of their silver,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
It is said of them,
"Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!"
3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist
or like the dew that goes early away,
like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor
or like smoke from a window.

4 But I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
you know no God but me,
and besides me there is no savior.
5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness,
in the land of drought;
6 but when they had grazed, they became full,
they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;
therefore they forgot me.
7 So I am to them like a lion;
like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.
8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;
I will tear open their breast,
and there I will devour them like a lion,
as a wild beast would rip them open.

9 He destroys you, O Israel,
for you are against me, against your helper.
10 Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities?
Where are all your rulers—
those of whom you said,
"Give me a king and princes"?
11 I gave you a king in my anger,
and I took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
his sin is kept in store.
13 The pangs of childbirth come for him,
but he is an unwise son,
for at the right time he does not present himself
at the opening of the womb.

14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from Death?
O Death, where are your plagues?
O Sheol, where is your sting?
Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he may flourish among his brothers,
the east wind, the wind of the Lord, shall come,
rising from the wilderness,
and his fountain shall dry up;
his spring shall be parched;
it shall strip his treasury
of every precious thing.
16 Samaria shall bear her guilt,
because she has rebelled against her God;
they shall fall by the sword;
their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,
and their pregnant women ripped open.

How did we get in?_
•choosing life apart from God
•rejecting warnings
•justify our position
•refusing help
Like drinking poison and not taking the antidote offered
•continuing in our course

How do we get out?_
•by the rescuing help of God
-the only helper
-the willing helper
-the greatest helper
Hosea 13-14 only a prelude to dealing with sin and death
God's perfect law reveals sin

How do we stay out?_
•by the preserving help of God
It wasn't just the reduce but the preserving power of God
Using the show Hoarders as analogy of help from God
You truly understand the gospel when we fail
God is not the helped you but is the God who helps you now
Every single time we've been tempted, God provides a way of escape
Will I be a spectator or a recipient of God's help

GOD, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PROVIDING A WAY OUT OF SIN AND PROVIDING A WAY INTO YOUR GLORY. I'M SO UNWORHTY YET YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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Tim Pawlenty makes it official

2011-05-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

I really like the video. It's inspiring.

My Reality LA notes 5/22 @realityla

2011-05-22T19:04:00.001-07:00

FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS I've BEEN "ONE DAY AWAY" FROM BECOMING FOURSQURE MAYOR OF REALITY LA.

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Post judgment day service!

Hosea 12: 1-6

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a covenant with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.

The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah

2 The Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
He met God at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the Lord, the God of hosts,
the Lord is his memorial name:
6 "So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God."

What does it mean to struggle well

Many things we wrestle with are secret

Recognizing weakness_
•by looking back to the past
We all manipulate in one way or another
Don't pretend nothing is wrong

MY TEMPER ISN'T A SMALL ISSUE. ITS SOMETHING I STRUGGLE WITH. I DON'T KNOW IF I'm GREEDY. CAN YOU BE GREEDY IF YOU HAVE NO MONEY?

•by looking into the heart
Religious people build their kingdom to make yourself right and accepted by God - and then He will accept me
The kingdom is something you receive
Irreligious people build kingdom to make yourself right and accepted by other people

Encountering grace_
•at the hand of God
Angel could take out Jacob at any moment
Jacobs resolve to receive a blessing
Sometimes in His grace he takes good things away from us
LIKE MY CAR
•according to the promise of God
Promise received at the hands of God
Its one thing to receive a promise
Its another thing to depend on a promise in weakness
Weakness is allowed so we may discover grace
2 cor 12 - thorn in the flesh
Weakness is another opportunity for God's power to be displayed
God allows weakness that we recognize grace
Heb 2:18

Discovering strength_
•to turn
•to follow

HEAVENLY FATHER I FEEL LIKE I'm IN A MALAISE RIGHT NOW. NO JOB. RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. WORRYING MORE THAN EVER. THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT I DO NOT DESERVE. LET ME RELY ON YOU MORE.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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Mitt Romney: $4 a button fundraiser

2011-05-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

A lot of news has been made by team Mitt Romney and the astonishing $10.25 million he raised on May 16. You can read about from Real Clear Politics, MSNBC, NY Daily News, Chicago Tribune, CBS or the Boston Globe.

The amazing haul solidifies Mitt Romney's intent to run and why he is the presumptive front runner.

But the mind boggling numbers made me look deeper at the metrics of it all. Consider this: The fundraiser had 800 volunteers calling for 8 hours. Lets assume the callers averaged 40 calls an hour (a well established rate for calling from my phone bank experience). Now lets break down the numbers.

$10,250,000 / 800 volunteers = $12,812.50 raised per volunteer

That's astounding enough considering people brought in their own Rolodex. But dive even deeper.

$12,812.50 / 8 hours = $1,600 per hour per volunteer

$1,600 / 40 calls = $40 per dial!

That doesn't include bad numbers or people not home or people who don't donate. That is an average for every 10 buttons pressed on the phone.

$4 per button pressed!

WOW!

Now that is amazing metrics.

How the RNC could use my help

2011-05-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

In my daily perusing of political articles, three particular pieces caught my eye in the past couple days all dealing with the RNC.

From the Wall Street Journal:

...a group of political advisers to former President George W. Bush would establish an outside trust for the purpose of updating the committee’s prized voter list...

...It could also return responsibility for the voter list to Republican operatives who made it a valuable asset – one of the crown jewels of American politics...

...Since its establishment about a decade ago, the RNC’s voter file was the envy of everyone in politics. The database, which is frequently updated through a program called Voter Vault, was widely credited with the Republicans’ successful turnout operation in 2004...

...Gathering up-to-date information on a person’s interests and tendencies is a central task as campaigns try to mobilize voters to go to the polls. Politicians and the political parties spend years and millions of dollars collecting data to pinpoint likely supporters...

From Clickz:

...some worry the Republican National Committee's digital operation is nowhere near ready to take on the 2012 campaign season....

...The RNC is seeking to hire an engineering project manager and a digital marketing director...

...the digital marketing director would be responsible for the online voter-facing stuff - the email marketing, the social media marketing, the web ads, the YouTube video content, and the GOP.com and other RNC web properties...

From National Journal:

...The Republican Party’s turnout operations, which can suck up millions in funds during the critical last days of a campaign, are much weaker than those of their Democratic counterparts. And without a serious investment soon, the turnout gap threatens to undermine Republican efforts to win key contests in the 2012 election cycle....

...Though Republican operatives are loath to publicly acknowledge the shortcoming, it is common knowledge among senior strategists that turnout operations are underfunded and out of date...

...“I believe that the 72-hour task force means the last month. My idea of a 72-hour [get-out-the-vote] effort includes the entire month of October and November,” Priebus said. “You cannot have a get-out-the-vote effort anymore in the last 72 hours, especially with absentee ballots and early voting going on around this country.”...

The reason I found these so interesting is because I have a passion for all these aspects of campaigning and they are not independent issues. They are very much related. And without a lot of self promotion I feel I am very well if not uniquely a qualified expert on all three areas.

Data makes social media possible and metricable. Data drives a voter turnout operation. Social media is powerful if effectively connected to a voter file and goes a long way in expanding your voter turnout operation. Voter Turnout is expensive and tedious without data. Voter Turnout requires social media to reach people not touched by traditional media.

I'm not sure what the future of the RNC holds but if they are truly looking to organize, modernize and implement these systems and programs I would love to be involved. If only they would ask.

What's going on in room 8

2011-05-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

A lot of my time spent in LA has been in room 8.

The generous guys allow me to hang out in their room, usually playing Call of Duty, charging my cell phone, or eating steak. I wanted to share a little bit about them as they have all just graduated from USC

Jared is a video game designer. I really want to play his new game Paradox Shift. Soon, everyone will.

Nicola is an aspiring film maker. He will revitalize the Giant animal versus Mutant creature genre. But one of his true passions is violin

Ross is a talented actor who has already starred in one of my favorite movies of all time. In the meantime (a.k.a. before he becomes super famous) Ross spends his time making out with hot women (on film of course)

10 things I expect from tonights GOP presidential debate (post debate revisted)

2011-05-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

I wanted to re-look at the 10 things I expect from tonight's GOP presidential debate and see how I did. I included the headlines for reference. You can read the original post here.

10. They are going to ask about waterboarding. It was one of the first things that was brought up directed at Pawlenty. The field said they would waterboard in specific situations except Gary Johnson and Ron Paul

9. Someone will spell out their website. Pawlenty did. So did Gary Johnson. Pawlenty shouldn't have. Gary Johnson had to

8. No one will mention Obama's birth certificate. Called it!

7. Herman Cain will get plenty of applause. And according to instant reaction from Frank Luntz, Cain won this debate. That worries me because his charisma will draw people but I feel it will be too much like Obama drew people.

6. No one will notice Gary Johnson. Gary Johnson had to point out to the moderators that they hadn't asked him a question. Not sure what the rationale of his campaign will be

5. Ronald Reagan. Pawlenty mentioned him briefly in regards to Qaddafi. I expected a lot more Reagan. But I'm not surprised Pawlenty is the guy who did it.

4. Ron Paul will say something crazy. He says we would have gotten Bin Laden had we not been in Afghanistan. Does anyone believe that?

3. There will be more questions about candidates not there than candidates who are there. They did a whole round on candidates not there. Earlier reference to Mitt Romney and RomneyCare were also asked. People are upset more candidates weren't there. I understand some had excuses but what is Mitt's? I'm surprised there wasn't a direct question about Palin referenced by Gary Johnson in a very peculiar way.

2. Tim Pawlenty is going to raise his voice. It concerned me that Pawlenty stopped the first bell rang. He got loud but others got louder.

1. No one is going to remember this debate. Too early to tell.

10 things I expect from tonights GOP presidential debate

2011-05-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the first official GOP Presidential debate held in South Carolina hosted by Fox News. The cast is less than inspiring. Outside of Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty; the remaining debaters include Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnsor, Former Senator Rick Santorum, Former pizza CEO Herman Cain, and the always entertaining Congressman Ron Paul.

The disappointment is that other major candidates definitely running like Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich aren't in there. Nor are the media speculative candidates like Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin.

So what should we expect? Here are my top 10 clairvoyant views.

10. They are going to ask about waterboarding. This would never have been a question a week ago but with the death of Usama Bin Laden and the 'enhanced interrogation techniques' which were used to obtain some of the information that lead to his death, it is a legitimate question.

9. Someone will spell out their website. Its a classic rookie mistake but the field of candidates on the aren't exactly a class of veterans. One if not more of them is going to say something along the lines 'check on my website' and then proceed with 'www'.

8. No one will mention Obama's birth certificate. If anyone really wanted to talk about it, Trump would have been there. A week ago this may have been a question but no one is talking about it now and no one will tonight.

7. Herman Cain will get plenty of applause. This is not an endorsement of Cain but from what I've seen, he is quite charismatic and can suck a crowd onto his side. He's going to throw a couple of fire balls which the crowd will react positively to.

6. No one will notice Gary Johnson. Gary Johnson couldn't get people to show up to a USC college republican meeting. How will anyone remember him on stage between a tempered Pawlenty and bomb throwers like Paul and Cain?

5. Ronald Reagan. The Gipper's name and memory will be invoked often as republicans continue to try to pick up the great communicator's mantle. A debate won't go buy without Reagan's name being mentioned early and often. This will be no different.

4. Ron Paul will say something crazy. I don't know about what yet but I think it will be about aliens. Because I think he's gotten past being a 'truther' or a 'birther' and probably won't get into the 'deather' race. But he's still got some crazy in him.

3. There will be more questions about candidates not there than candidates who are there. Because frankly the candidates who aren't there are going to be the headlines. Chiefly, what do you think about RomneyCare. But I expect a Bachmann shout out or maybe even Haley Barbour. I don't expect questions about specific candidates on stage because frankly, there isn't much to ask about.

2. Tim Pawlenty is going to raise his voice. Pawlenty has the most to gain from this debate in terms of exposure and getting rid of perceptions about him. And if he can use it to create one 6 second clip that can be used to shed his quiet man narrative then he should definitely take the opportunity. The question is whether it will sound authentic.

1. No one is going to remember this debate. This debate will not be the defining moment for anyone. No serious candidate ***cough***pawlenty*****cough**** is going to make any waves. No unserious candidate is going to make big enough waves. This debate will come and go. We're going to have to wait until the summer before we get a clear match up of the major contenders after they stop playing coy and things get real.

FYI: I am an unaffiliated GOP operative not connected to any campaign or candidate - at this time...

My Reality LA notes 5/1

2011-05-01T10:40:00.001-07:00

JUST WALKED IN LATE, EVERYONE IS PRAYING IN GROUPS. NOT SURE WHY. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO RUNNING INTO ALLYSE AT THE COFFEE TABLE BUT SHE WASN'T THERE. I GUESS ITS HER DAY OFF. I DID SEE 'NEW VICKY' TRYING TO PARK ON THE STREET. SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE. HOPED SHE MADE IT. IT WAS VERY COMFORTING TO GET A CALL FROM ROSIE THIS MORNING.

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Hosea 9

The Lord Will Punish Israel

1 Rejoice not, O Israel!
Exult not like the peoples;
for you have played the whore, forsaking your God.
You have loved a prostitute's wages
on all threshing floors.
2 Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them,
and the new wine shall fail them.
3 They shall not remain in the land of the Lord,
but Ephraim shall return to Egypt,
and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.

4 They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the Lord,
and their sacrifices shall not please him.
It shall be like mourners' bread to them;
all who eat of it shall be defiled;
for their bread shall be for their hunger only;
it shall not come to the house of the Lord.

5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival,
and on the day of the feast of the Lord?
6 For behold, they are going away from destruction;
but Egypt shall gather them;
Memphis shall bury them.
Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver;
thorns shall be in their tents.

7 The days of punishment have come;
the days of recompense have come;
Israel shall know it.
The prophet is a fool;
the man of the spirit is mad,
because of your great iniquity
and great hatred.
8 The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God;
yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways,
and hatred in the house of his God.
9 They have deeply corrupted themselves
as in the days of Gibeah:
he will remember their iniquity;
he will punish their sins.

10 Like grapes in the wilderness,
I found Israel.
Like the first fruit on the fig tree
in its first season,
I saw your fathers.
But they came to Baal-peor
and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame,
and became detestable like the thing they loved.
11 Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird—
no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
12 Even if they bring up children,
I will bereave them till none is left.
Woe to them
when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow;
but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.
14 Give them, O Lord—
what will you give?
Give them a miscarrying womb
and dry breasts.

15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of my house.
I will love them no more;
all their princes are rebels.

16 Ephraim is stricken;
their root is dried up;
they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them
because they have not listened to him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Are You Listening__

If you believe all the Christian stereotype of judgment, you won't be disappointed today

Easy to live in an environment of deceit
People tell us not to do things all the time and we don't listen

Listening to warning_
•in the present
Having a party but judgment was coming
Israel playing the whore
HMMM, WHORE IS NOT IN MY BLACKBERRY DICTIONARY
They were attributing their gifts not to God but to other god's like baal
Being afraid of syria, they paid them taxes rather than turning to syria
•from the past
Things were that bad

'Days of gibeah' from judges 19-21
-Levite had concubine
-did not follow God
-levite gives concubine to city to be raped and beaten until dead
-levite starts war over death

'Baal-peor'
-people having sex with moab's

•for the future
Description of God's just wrath
Israel to have no new children
'Passive wrath'-experiencing natural consequences
'Active wrath'-causing consequences
NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND ACTIVE VERSUS PASSIVE WRATH

Warning help you experience misery before they do it
Israel warning were necessary
You never break any commandment before breaking first commandment of not loving God -martin luther
You won't have a listening ear if you don't have a listening heart
Getting what they really want, what they deserve

•From God's word
Watchmen warn the people of coming threat
Prophets were spiritual watchmen
We need to warn each other
Matt 18
'I prayed about, didn't think it was a sin'
Praying about it is not a trump card to do whatever we want
Sometimes God sends someone with the Word of God to warn
Nation as they knew it would end
Hosea 9 is not the final word. Hosea 11:9
Hope beyond what they deserve
Hosea 9 show length God could go, should go to deal with sin
Gospel shows length God would go with sin
Gospel of grace does not spare them to continue as is but be born again

Listening to grace_
•heals you
Jer 31:34
•helps you
Listening heart when you realize the one warning you loves you
Warning a part of His love
Is 55:3

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

My Reality LA notes 4/24 Easter Sunday @realityla

2011-04-24T13:27:00.001-07:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

John 20: 24-31
Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The Purpose of This Book

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

SUPER NERVOUS

The end is just the beginning__
They were not looking for Jesus to rise from the dead

The end_
The disciples had no hope
No one expected physical resurrection
No pagans believed in resurrection
Jewish people believed in physical resurrection - on the last day
•hopes had died when Jesus died
When the king dies, so does the hope of the kingdom
WHAT HOPES AM I CLINGING TO?
CHADDICK KEEPS USING THE TERM 'CAMPAIGN'.

The new beginning_
Thomas refused to believe
He had unnecessary non-negotiables
WHAT ARE MY NON-NEGOTIABLES?
Most of history is from eye witness
People put 'faith' in peoples eye witness of food establishment cleanliness.
Women not acceptable as legal witnesses
Disciples would not have used women as witnesses
1 corinthians 15 - 100's people say Jesus, ask them
•Hopes had risen because Jesus had risen
In the presence of Jesus, Thomas is changed
IRRESISTABLE GRACE
If Jesus is risen then everything Jesus said was true. That was good news
1 peter 1:8

The greatest challenge
•to beliefs
WHY AM I SO NERVOUS?
•to authorities
How political that is
Greatest authority on earth is not final authority on Earth - Jesus is
All authority must face a new reality
A living Jesus requires not our pity but our worship
We are spiritually dead outside of Jesus
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin
If what Jesus said about judgment is true, what Jesus said about salvation is also true.

The greatest change__
•in life
Its is what God has done for you, not what you can do yourself
Skeptic doubters can come to amazing revelations
John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
THERE ARE EASTER LILIES ON STAGE
Jesus resurrection is proof of our sin being forgiven
Brought from guilt into favor
No one can earn it, that's why no one can take it away
PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
The same holy spirit that raised Jesus is also in us if we believe
•in death
It is because of sin that death exists in the world
John 11: 25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live
He is the forerunner of what our resurrection is like
Jesus will make all the sad things untrue

Where are you?
WHERE AM I?

I AM CONVITED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. I AM JUSTIFIED BY CHRIST. I AM CONTINUING TO BE SANCTIFIED IN LIFE. I WILL BE GLORIFIED IN DEATH. NOT FOR WHAT I HAVE DONE BUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME FOR HIS GLORY.

The resurrection creates urgency. For those being judged and those sharing the gospel

John 11:25
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live

LET'S GET BAPTIZED

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

I'm going to get baptized @realityla on Easter Sunday

2011-04-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

After a lot of careful prayer and consideration I've decided to take the plunge (pun totally intended) and get baptized at church on Easter Sunday.

What really pushed me over the top was a facebook comment post and a little 'Call of Duty' quality time with a friend.

I don't really know how this all works so I'm flying a little blind. I just got an email to be in the courtyard between Reality LA services at 2:15. I guess that's where I'll be.

Last week the church asked that if you wanted to baptized to fill out this form. It had 3 questions on it. For the spirit of baptism I figured I'd share my responses:

Please briefly summarize the Gospel.

Man, existing in a state of total depravity due to sin, has a moral inability to repent from sin or pay the debt owed to God. God, desiring to save a great multitude of people, sent his only son Jesus to die on the cross and rise from the dead to be a propitiation for our sins thus fulfilling all attributes of God including love, grace, mercy and justice. Now God sends the Holy Spirit to fundamentally and effectively change the hearts of His sheep through a spiritual rebirth. God assures His sheep hear the Gospel message and respond with repentance, belief, justification, sanctification, and eventually glorification; all under God's absolute sovereignty for His glory. Once born again no agent can then separate us from God once again. The uniqueness of the Gospel is that it is not a message of what you need to do but what has already been done for you.

What is baptism and why is it necessary?

Baptism is a public declaration that you have responded to the gospel - an act we are called to do as followers of Christ. While Baptism itself does not atone for sin, it is necessary that you recognize that your sins have been atoned through the cross.

Please describe your salvation experience. If possible, please give an approximate date.

I was raised Catholic so when I first came to college my attitude was I could do anything I wanted as long as I could confess my sins to my priest later and be absolved of my sin. That's how I lived. My freshman year I met a guy who asked me if I thought I was going to heaven. I told him 60%-40. After a lengthy discussion regarding my beliefs in God he shared with me his beliefs and asked if I wanted to accept Jesus as my savior. I said no. That guy was the USC director of Campus Crusade for Christ. While not accepting Christ, I occasional went to bible study and Cru meetings. A few months later I was involved in a car accident. When I woke up after being knocked out, my car windshield was covered in blood. I thought it was either my own or someone I must have hit. While neither was the case, I walked away from the experience completely terrified about life. I went from thinking that I always had the time to make up for my sins to realizing that I could go at any moment. I ended up sitting in my room for the next 3 days petrified from leaving. During the 3rd day I prayed for the really the first time in my life asking for forgiveness and strength to continue on with life. I finally left my room and the first person I ran into was the USC director of Campus Crusade for Christ. I told him I finally understood what he had been trying to teach me all this time. So on April 6, 2000 I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.

What should I do this Sunday

2011-04-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

On April 6th, 2000 I gave my life to Christ. Actually, the way I look at it, He took it from me. If you're curious how I remember the date, click here.

Since then, I have never been baptised. I've always wanted to be but have always find excuses not to. Either I wasn't at a church for very long or never had the time; something along those lines.

For the last couple of years I've been attending Reality LA. I love the church as it has helped me solidify a foundation in the gospel and desire for biblical exegesis teaching. What I don't have from Reality LA is community.

I don't attend any of their community groups, and I always make a point of sitting alone, not making an effort to meet new people.

Well this Sunday, Easter Sunday, Reality LA is having baptisms between the second and third service. When I heard that I wasn't sure how I felt. I really want to do it. But then in my mind came another objection.

Who would come?

If baptism is supposed to be an outward expression of your faith in Jesus Christ, shouldn't people you know see this outward expression? I love the people at Reality LA and I know lots of people who go there but my relationship with them isn't connected to the church; rather outside of it. If Reality isn't my community then why publicly confess to them?

As I read the 'Baptism Request Form' I realized 1. how serious a decisions this was 2. how available this was to me 3. how confident I am in actually answering these questions.

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do. I'll continue to pray about it and let you know what I decide.

My Reality LA notes 4/17 @realityla

2011-04-17T18:42:00.001-07:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Baptism next week. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

The Marks of Messiah__
Isaiah 53: 1-6
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Why should such suffering be celebrated?

I CAN'T BELIEVE EASTER IS UPON US

SURPRISED CHADDICK DIDN'T MENTION HIS TRIP TO THE GOSPEL COALITION MEETING

Obscurity_
Our deliverer will come like a sprout
•unrecognized
Demons always recognize who Jesus is
•unimpressive
No form or majesty.
We want to be known and noticed
One of our greatest fears is to be unvalued
I OFTEN FEEL BEING VALUED IS IMPORTANT
Our choices are made to what we value more
Satan's job to keep Jesus unvalued to us

Agony_
•rejected
•afflicted
Isaiah 52:14

Victory_
Like 'twilight' fans, Christians are obsessed with blood
You would not see the cross a victory is if you didn't see yourself as a sinner
•through His substitution
References exodus as sacrifice
WONDER IF CHADDICK IS PULLING FROM KELLER TALK AT TGC11
Jesus wasn't crushed because He was a sinner. Its because we are sinners
•that brings reconciliation
Romans 4:25
Jesus meets His death with satisfaction
1 @peter 2:24-25
Anything that diminishes the penalty for sin makes sin not that bad.
DEFINITELY BEEN ON MY HEART RECENTLY. SIN BEING THAT BADH

HEAVENLY FATHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SAVING GRACE. THANK YOU FOR NOT REQUIRING THAT I SAVE MYSELF FOR I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE SIN IN MY LIFE. CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME AS ADVENTURE THROUGH THE WORLD YOU CREATED AND NEVER LET ME FORGET THE GREATNESS OF THE CREATOR OVER CREATION.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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My Reality LA notes 4/10 @realityla

2011-04-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

I JUST ADDED 'CHADDICK' TO MY PHONE DICTIONARY SO THE SPELL CHECK WILL SKIP IT

Hosea 10
1 Set the trumpet to your lips!
One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord,
because they have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
2 To me they cry,
"My God, we—Israel—know you."
3 Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.

4 They made kings, but not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
5 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6 For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.

7 For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as a useless vessel.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.

11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
Now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces,
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.

Where is your confidence__

God forbid we hold our identity in anything other than Him
Only a matter of time until they crumble

False foundations_

•tradition and religiosity
TRADITION IS WHATEVER YOU DO TWICE
Just because we have the law doesn't mean we have God
America has been called a Christian nation
America built on 'some' Christian principles

•the work of our hands
Building our own idols
Identifying by our career
WHAT IS MY IDENTITY?

•alliance with others
Israel whoring themselves out to syria but they are paying
Are we identifying with the people we surround ourselves with

These things are wrong when in competition or contradiction of God

Failed foundations_
Having something stolen from my car
I CAN EASILY RELATE
Their foundation is to bring you down so they have no remorse
People get angry about sexual morals and ethics because they're foundation is sex
Deut 8
Israel built identity with hands but who made your hands
•leave us in ruin
It doesn't matter to us because we are deaf without grace TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Galatians 6:7-8
Matthew 7:26-27
Chaddicks concern for the church is the foundation not being solid
THIS WAS MY PROBLEM WHEN I STRUGGLED WITH FAITH. UNTIL I CAME TO REALIZE GODS PERFECT SOVEREIGNTY

Firm foundation_
We believe God should affirm everything we do
We believe Love requires that. God is kind and loving by knowing God. Source of comfort.
-that we should belong to Him
-that we can belong to Him
-that we do belong to Him
-that we will belong to Him
1 peter 2:4-6

You don't build to belong. You build because you belong
Because Jesus is the cornerstone he will give us confidence for our failures, shame and loss

We have value in what we do

HEAVENLY FATHER. THANK YOU FOR BLESSING ME WITH FAILURE, SHAME AND LOSS. ONLY THROUGH THOSE HAVE I RECOGNIZED MY BROKEN FOUNDATION. CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE ME AND STRENGHTHEN MY FOUNDATION.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Party like its 1995!

2011-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

In about 10 hours the federal government is going to shut down.

It doesn't really affect me very much since I wasn't planning on visiting a museum or national park. And I still haven't done my taxes so I guess its a pretty good excuse to wait longer.

I'm just counting down the hours, watching Fox News, wanting to government to shut down.

To quote a joke I stole:

I wanted to have a party to celebrate the government shut down. We were planning on one but no one could agree on how much to spend. I wanted a small, tasteful party, and my friends across the street wanted to buy everyone health care.

My Reality LA notes 4/3 @realityla

2011-04-03T18:43:00.001-07:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Hosea 6:7-7:16

Spiritual Collapse__

FUNNY TO SEE BRAD SCHELL HERE

NICE TO SEE COLLEEN DORAN

I STILL FEEL LIKE THROWING UP

Symptoms of spiritual collapase_
•spiritual collapse leaves you
-unfaithful
Priests were more concerned with personal agenda than life
-unrestrained
Like fire of unwatched oven
REMINDS ME OF THE GREASE FIRE I STARTED THIS WEEKEND. I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION
-undone
Like half baked pastry
Its possible to be lukewarm (revelations 3)
-unaware
What am I blind to that everyone else can see?
IT IS A SCARY THOUGHT
-unstable
Makes sense trusting idol to idol
The minute the thing you trust in wavers, you jump to the next idol
-ungrateful
God saves israel but moves on beyond Him
-unsafe
Like a broken weapon

The Cause_
•a foresaking heart
They walk on the covenant like dirt
•a forgetting heart
Practical disbelief in God's judgment

REALLY NOT FEELING WELL, I'm GOING TO TEXT IN A PRAYER REQUEST

Using the credit card debt analogy. Was just thinking about this driving here
•a faking heart
Convicted of sin but instead of repenting they do other things
How can you be healed when you don't believe you're sick?
How can you be healed by a doctor you're convinced is an enemy?
Behavior modification does not answer sin; it assumes the desire to good exist (TOTAL DEPRAVITY)
ALCOHOLICS LIKE MYSELF NEVER WANT TO NOT DRINK
We need the examination of the work of God
Scripture will tell you how bad the problem is

James 1
King David sin of sleeping with woman/killing husband

How did we get there? We don't just wake up and do what we do. What was our desire?

The root is that we believed a lie

All sinful behavior isn't weakness; its unbelief

"Sin is pleasurable for a season but will always bear bitter fruit"
WHO SAID THIS?

Romans 1:25

"For the fruit of a tree to be changed, the root of a tree must be changed"
WHO SAID THIS?

Psalm 103

The Cure_
•the love, mercy and grace of God
•By it we are forgiven, healed, redeemed, honored, satisfied, renewed

Jesus is not our enemy but our savior
Healing in Christ doesn't make you better but new

"Many-sided is the character of our heavenly Father, for, having forgiven as a judge, he then cures as a physician. He is all things to us, as our needs call for him, and our infirmities do but reveal him in new characters."
-Spurgeon
SO GLAD TO GET A GREAT SPURGEON QUOTE. ITS NOT REALITY LA WITHOUT SPURGEON

Phillippans 3:12-14

HEAVENLY FATHER. I REALIZE I FEEL DECIEVED BY THE WORLD. WHO AM I? WHO ARE THE PEOPLE AROUND ME? YOU GIVE ME AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO RELY ON YOU BUT I TRY TO RELY ON MYSELF. I'd LOVE TO GET BAPTISED BUT BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF FAITH. WHO WOULD COME? WHO WOULD BELIEVE

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

College kids have sex on a roof. Who Cares?

2011-04-01T05:23:00.000-07:00

Last week while perusing facebook I noticed that a disproportional number of my USC friends were posting about some scandalous sexcapade that occurred on campus. One friend posted a link to evidence of the 'scandal.'

I didn't really care.

When I went back to USC to visit some friends after a long cross country trip everyone was talking about it and asking me if I heard about it. And my old fraternity's leadership had to go to some meeting to discuss it. And the Greek row was 'shut down' for the night.
I still didn't care.

Then I was on my blackberry after playing a ridiculous amount of Call of Duty lying on a couch uncovered because someone took my blanket. I checked the websites that are important to me: Real Clear Politics, Politico, fantasy baseball. I like to end my night with the Drudge Report. I enjoy Drudge because the format is easy because I don't have to think too hard about what I'm supposed to think on issues (that's for my readers who think its right wing propaganda).

To my astonishment one of the headlines was regarding this stupid USC kid and his escapades.

To understand why i think this is so ridiculous look at the article headlines around it. One is about a nuclear meltdown and another is about our President claiming my colleagues are trying to kill children with their policies!

Look, I do not condone what the kid did. But honestly, people sometimes have sex on public. Its illegal, its immoral, its wrong but its not too important relative to nuclear meltdown and 70,000 dead children. I'm sure it happens more often than we think. The only difference is this stupid kid got caught.

I don't even buy the argument that his crime is because it was so public. I mean he did it on top of one of the tallest building on campus and was only caught by someone with a decent zoom lens on their camera.

I think the more serious offense is the fact the two love birds were trespassing on the roof. I disapprove of my friends when they tell me they're going to try to get on this roof or that roof. That's way more dangerous and irresponsible than having sex in public.

It is ridiculous to me that the combination of the 2 crimes (getting on the roof, getting it on in public) has escalated this to a world wide story. (Not an exaggeration, its a world wide story). I mean had they just been caught getting up on the roof (no pun intended) NO ONE would care.

And I would argue that having sex in public NO ONE would care. I say that because when I was in college I was living in a dorm. One night a bunch of people on the floor were all huddled in one room looking out the window. I asked what was going on and they pointed to look out across the courtyard to an adjacent dorm. A guy and girl were having sex in his room. They unfortunately neglected to close the blinds. But essentially they were having sex in public as much as the kid on the roof, right? Well all we did was call over to the dorm and inform the residential advisor and they closed the blinds. Case closed, no media spectacle, no affect on the lives of hundreds of students.

That is how I see this case. Should the kid be punished? Absolutely. And he will be. But I don't want him to be the scapegoat for stupid people doing stupid things. Lets not make an international incident of this.

I want my Drudge Report to keep reporting on the important things like how Global Warming causes earthquakes or why is it so hard to find President Obama's birth certificate.
As for college kids having sex on a roof, I DO NOT CARE

Rebecca Black makes me proud to be an American

2011-03-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

So my friend Xander showed me this video of Rebecca Black singing this absolutely aweful song called Friday by a shady production company called Ark Music Factory. (It's below for reference. You don't have to watch it you don't have to)

There are plenty of haters out there for this cookie cutter type of music which has produced over 35 million views. Well the truth is I'm not hating on her or this company. In fact it makes me love America even more.

First, only in America do you get to live your dream like this. From Justin Beiber to now Rebecca Black, the freedom we have has allowed people with a camera and a dream (and lots of post production) to become discovered and successful.

Second, only in America can you make money like this. This is all about making money and in the middle of a tough economic downturn how can you hate anyone trying to make money.

Finally, only in America can you ignore the elitists of an industry. The real upset people are the elitists who think the only good music is music they like. I mean I don't like the video but I don't claim to be an expert. People watch what they enjoy (or enjoy to ridicule). In the end, its all about freedom, especially freedom from the elites. If we were a communist country, this sort of stuff would have never been made.

After watching the "Friday" video I was curious about other Ark Music Factory products. They're all pretty much the same. Except the one below I found actually pretty good and catchy. But personally, you shouldn't put pre-pubescent girls in bikinis.

But if you want some really good undiscovered talent check out Christina Grimmie. Just another example of people living their dream by picking up a camera and singing. I think this girl will be REAL successful soon.

Can this please be part of the first official AGO dance party?

2011-03-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

I just find this hilarious

Andrew Guirguis is a good guy

2011-03-07T06:42:00.001-08:00

He cares about his friends.

I’m lucky to be one of them.

He challenged me tonight and that was refreshing. While I completely reject his advice, I appreciate that he gave it.

Should women pursue men?

2011-03-07T02:51:00.001-08:00

My Reality LA notes 3/6 @realityla

2011-03-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Hosea 3: 1-5
1 And the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins." 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, "You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you." 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

"If you can breath for 5 minutes, you know people can hurt you"

I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I TOLD A WOMAN TO STOP BEING A WHORE?

How people deal with hurt
Denial
Call it quits
Take them back and make them pay

I'm NOT SURE WHICH ONE I AM

I'm THINKING ABOUT BUYING SOME RAISIN CAKE FOR SOMEONE

Desperate condition__
Isral turning to too many idols
Baal-furtility religion
syria
• Debt
• Disgrace
We must not just be aware of our own sin but sins against us. People who have been raped or molested feel sham and enslaved
• Destruction

We like to paint 2 dimension picture of people who sin against us

Redemptive measures__
• To the rescue
WOULD I BE STRONG ENOUGH TO RESCUE THOSE THAT I LOVE?
Hosea pays to buy back what is rightfully his
God does the same for Israel
• To restrain
-from continuing in evil
Discipline is part of love
Must be done to grow and learn

HAVE I WOUNDED ANYONE. WILL THEY EVER LOVE ME

IN A WAY I FEEL DECAF HAS WOUNDED ME. I'll LOVE HIM AGAIN

CHADDICK IS MAKING FUN OF T SWIFT. CLASSIC

I'm WANT TO APOLIGIZE. MAYBE THAT SHOULD WHAT I WRITE IN THE CARD. WILL SHE RESPOND WITH 'K'?

I've BEEN SUCKED INTO THE 'BLACK VORTEX OF CONFUSION'

Boundaries are good

Loving reutrn__
• The test of sincerity
How can israel return to God without the sacrificial system?
How can they hold devotion to both God and King?

ANSWER TO BOTH IS JESUS!

GOT IT RIGHT!

Men and women shouldn't reject Jesus for boyfriends, girlfriends, careers

Ephersians 2:12
John 8:34
We've all sinned. We are all slaves

God does not affirm our present condition -nonreligious person

Nor does it say we can clean ourselves us -religious person

Jesus came not so we pay for our sins but for Him to pay for our sins

Jesus betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

We are cleansed of our sins and sins done against us

Jesus does not call us into light to shame us but to heal us

IF I TOLD THE WOMAN I WILL LOVE MY SEXUAL PAST WOULD SHE JUDGE ME?

WHY AM I CRYING AND THINKING ABOUT CHELSEA REDIGER?

THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WEEK SPIRITUALLY

I WISH GUYS IN AGO SAW ME AS DRESSED IN WHITE AND NOT SHAMMING ME AT EVERY TURN

Hebrews 12: 10-11

LORD, I DON'T KNOW WHO I AM SOMETIMES. I DON'T WANT MY SIN TO HOLD ME BACK FROM LOVE. I DON'T OTHERS SIN TO HOLD ME BACK FROM LOVE. I AM CONSTANTLY SHAMMED BY THE LIGHT. I WANT TO BE HEALED. I PRAY FOR CHELSEA REDIGER THAT I FIND STRENGTH TO BE A LOVING BROTHER TOWARD HER. AND I PRAY THAT MICHAEL EWERT AND AMY MORLEY'S NEW RELATIONSHIP BE GLORIFYING TO YOU.

ALL CAPS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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Relations suck because of Relations that suck

2011-03-06T04:12:00.000-08:00

If I had a major pet peeve its guys who date girls they don't like.

Never has that been more true than after the 3am phone call I received to turn my car around, drive back to the house I was just at, pull up to a couple of guys to tell me this news. That he is now in a relationship with a girl he has repeatedly told me he does not like. A girl, by the way, I have been trying to ask out since the moment I met because unlike him, I find her beautiful and amazing.

But in my court there is this girl who has been ignoring me after I asked her out, found out that ignoring me irks me to no end, and now purposefully ignores me in a crazy game of playing hard to get. And she knows that I know that she knows that Its driving me nuts. And with every silent awkward yet playful moment I realize how its making me more and more attracted to her. I think all she really wants is for me to step up and be the aggressor. And I think she's right.

I also have a lovely female friend who feels she is behind in life because she's not getting engaged at 22 like many of her friends. WHAT!

About a week ago I was sucked into a conversation with 3 women as to why men (specifically christian men) are so timid about dating. My honest statement was that men take the path of least resistance. So rather than fight for a woman, they settle for the one who already likes them. Rather than go out on a limb and ask a girl on a date they'd rather hang out as 'friends' and cross inappropriate boundaries. They'd rather Define the Relationship (DTR) before they even get to know each other.

Well you know what, I need to take some of my own advice and stop being scared and stop settling. Because at this rate, if something doesn't change, relations are going to continue to suck.

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My Reality LA notes 2/27 @realityla

2011-02-28T02:57:00.001-08:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Hosea 2

The unfaithful heart revealed__
•through accusations
"If God is severe, the fault is ours" -Calvin
•concerning actions
•and attitudes
Attributed gifts from wrong source thus worshiping that source

The unfaithful heart resisted__
Listen to your heart assumes all desires of the heart are good
•with difficulty in its pursuit
•with destruction of its pursuit
God will make it difficult in your pursuit in sin

2 corinthians 7:10

The unfaithful heart renewed__
•by God's alluring love
In the wilderness do we realize our dependency on God
•by God's redeeming love
•by God's covenant love
Renewed heart comes from God and not from our ability

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSON THOUGHTS

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My Reality LA notes 2/6 @realityla

2011-02-06T14:29:00.001-08:00

CAN'T WAIT FOR 5PM SERVICE AND EXPOSITION TEACHING OF HOSEA

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Reaching Together

Mark 10:32-45
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."

The Request of James and John

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Seeking___

I'M HAVING TROUBLE FOCUSING TODAY

In seeking a position we may be seeking ourselves
•jesus sought the lost
•His church should do the same
TIM MADE A REFERENCE TO 'TOTAL CHURCH' WHICH IS A RE:LIT BOOK BY TIM CHESTER http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-8596835-5529457?a=1433502089

Jeremiah 29:4-9

Christopher wright: mission of God
Our mission means our committed participation as God's people, at God's invitation and command, in God's own mission within the history of Gods world

IT IS TIMES LIKE THIS THAT I WISH REALITY HAD A PRINTED HANDOUT
-God didn't change our desire but the definitions

Serving___
•Jesus came as a servant
•His church should do the same
-working for the common good in all ways that reflect God's character
We didn't deserve grace.
"What if our theology changed the way we live"

References Tim Keller "if christians leave a city, city should have to raise their taxes"

No missions programs, just a mission

Sacrifice___
Jesus either the most arrogant or most humble
Came to save the world

People like the idea of Jesus but are offended by his death
•Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world
•the church proclaims this to the world
WHY DOES MY BATTERY DIE SO QUICKLY
Bible says were not on the right journey. We want the journey on our own terms. City okays seeking so much that its okay to never reach destination
We are not seeking, Jesus sought after us.

John Piper "we should strive relieve all suffering especially eternal suffering"

IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER AND DEPTH OF REFERENCES. IS IT ME OR HAS TIM REFERENECED FEWER PEOPLE THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS

Everyone has an inner motive, the question is whether the motive is righteous.

Truth begins by talking about the negative

You will lose reputation but gain in brothers and sisters

Not defined by success or shame. Defined by Christ

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSON THOUGHTS

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My Reality LA notes 1/30

2011-01-30T10:53:00.001-08:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Worrying is another form of greed

How we handle money shows what we treasure

TI M KELLER SAYS GREED IS THE SIN FEW ADMIT TO BECAUSE ITS MORE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE IN YOURSELF

Americans are very individualistic

We can diefy or demonize it.

1.The giving practice
• Old testament tithing
• new testament generosity
God gave us more in the testament
1 tim 5 generosity to family, widow, pastors
1 cor 9 employment of ministry
Gal 6 generous to all especially to household of faith
Generous in the mundane: tip well

2. The giving principle
•reap what you sow
•God enables the sowing an reaping
MY ANGER CAUSED ME TO LACK IN GENEROSITY.
If we base our contentment on lust, it leads to a bottomless pit
The more is for sowing
Generosity doesn't always come back financially
281 people give over $85 a month from 2000 attendees
HOW DOES REALITY KNOW HOW MUCH ANY PARTICULAR PERSON GIVES TO THE CHURCH?

I THINK ITS AWESOME THAT GOD PROVIDES THE RIGHT MESSAGE FOR MY HEART ON A WEEKLY BASIS THROUGH PASTOR TIM AND REALITY LA.

3. The giving posture
Christians only give out of guilt is wrong posture
Don't try to earn our salvation
•is thoughtful
John Stott - rarely will have to give out of compulsion on the spot
•is without reluctance or compulsion

MY BATTERY IS DYING. HOPING I CAN GET THROUGH THE END.

•is cheerful
Giving hurts a little

4. The giving power
Generosity reflects what you believe
How do we see God?
God is either giver or taker
If God is taker, then we are a taxpayer
• Supplied by God's grace
-God is the cheerful giver
Problem is not God giving but Man taking
-God is the generous giver
He gave His son. We do not all receive
NOIT SURE ABOUT THAT. HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE GOD GAVE TO WHOM HE ELECT.
-God is the sacrificial giver
Everything we have belong to God

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSON THOUGHTS

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My Reality LA notes 1/16 @realityla

2011-01-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

Pastor Tim Chaddick

Ephesians 4:1-14

All people believe the lie: to worship creation rather than creator

All stand under judgment of God
Avoided 2 ways
1 either nothing is wrong: stop saying were not healthy. "Check our beliefs at the door"
2 achieve health as community by earning it or separating for unhealthy

What does it mean to be a member of a local Church

How do you know if you or your community is spiritually healthy?

Believing Together
•A community is shaped by a shared belief
-All community is faith, just faith in what
•shared belief in Christ shapes the Christian Community
IT IS DIFFICULT TO TYPE WITH ONE HEALTHY THUMB AND
ONE THUMB WITH A HOLE IN IT

Ephesians 1:13
1 corinthians

Bonhoffer
Christian community is Sound doctrine WHY I LOVE THIS CHURCH

Sound Doctrine
•teaching who God is according to the Gospel
•teaching who we are
-we are called Saints
1 peter 2:9-10
•teaching of what we are to do
•teaching of how we are to do it

IS REALITY LA MY COMMUNITY?

Compromising truth not the path to healthy community. Early church held closely to church. That's why they thrived

2 timothy 4:1-2
Titus 1:9, 2:1
1 timothy 6:3-5

AM I SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS CONTROVERSY? SHOULD I REPENT? I FEEL MY BELIEF IN SOUND DCOTRINE HAS LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE I ENJOY CONTROVERSY.

What issues are primary, what issues are secondary

Church should minister. Leadership equip ministry
Ephesians 4:12

Wrong doctrine seeks out similar community.
Lose our goal and purpose
2 Timothy 4:3

I DON'T WANT TO SERVE IF NOT FOR THE RIGHT REASON. DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT TO SERVE TO MEET PEOPLE.

Sound doctrine both Faithful and fruitful

Proper response is worship
•the expression of our belief
-don't just give heart. Give whole body Romans 12:1
•which results in
-unity
-maturity
-activity

Mark 2:16-17

AM I HEALTHY? I KNOW THAT I'M SICK.

THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR MERCY AND CONTINUED MERCY. MAY THAT LEAD ME TO SERVE YOU. IF I AM NOT READY TO SERVE PLEASE HELP ME PREPARE TO SERVE. HELP ME FIND COMMUNITY NOT FOR THE SAKE OF COMMUNITY BUT FOR YOU.

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

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My Reality LA notes 1/9

2011-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Pastor Lorenzo

Text your prayer request to 347.450.7729

Luke 19: 1-10

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Tax collector shunned by society. I OFTEN FEEL SHUNNED BY SOCIETY

People believe that Jesus' calling a validation of Zacchaeus but Zacchaeus has been redeemed

Zacchaeus redemption shown through generosity, restitution. Proof of change.

Story not about Zacchaeus. Its about Jesus. Jesus is what really matters

We don't seek Jesus. Jesus seeks us.

John 6-44

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

God imparts to us His righteousness. New spirit, heart, desire, passions.

Zacchaeus gave half. Jesus gave all

Jesus knows us and stuff we go through. Sin has alienated us from Him.

Romans 3:23-24

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Outcast becomes family.

Jesus always the hero. Comes to heal, reconcile. Turn our lives for His glory.

Our past haunts us with shame and guilt. DEFINITELY HAVE THOSE NIGHTMARES.

Jesus sets us free from those.

God would never withhold from us since he sent His son for us. God's forgiveness is available to sinners who have been redeemed.

God can redeem the outcast. He is seeking us out.

Gospel isn't for those who don't know Jesus. Its for all of us. Jesus will glorify himself through our lives.

PRAYER: GOD, GIVE ME STRENGTH TO WIN THE BATTLES YOU'VE CHALLENGED ME WITH. YOU'VE OPENED THE DOOR ITS TIME I WALK THROUGH IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND TRUST. TIME FOR ME TO TRUST IN YOU.

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSON THOUGHTS

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Top Ten Things I want to Blog about before the end of the Year

2010-11-21T03:10:00.001-08:00

I have not blogged in a long time. Campaign work makes it difficult to find the time and appropriate subject matter. Well the campaign is over so I want to catch up. So I've committed to at least these Ten Topics to do a post regarding by the end of the year. (In no particular order)

10. Trojan Football
9. TSA screening procedures
8. Sarah Palin
7. Tim Chaddick
6. AGO
5. My Car getting stolen
4. I book review of George W Bush's book (still reading)
3. A dream I have not yet had
2. Zombie entertainment
1. The girl I really want to ask out (again)

So someone hold me accountable to this. Or talk me out of it

And if you have any topic suggestions, please let me know.

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Meet my new facebook friend: Susan Yenser

2010-10-25T11:46:00.001-07:00

What we are fighting for

2010-08-10T18:08:00.001-07:00

12 Weeks from Republican Governors Association on Vimeo.

My reality SF notes 7/25

2010-07-25T12:12:00.001-07:00

Mark 6:45-56

Stories meant to be read continuously, not in parts.

Mark is building a story.

Legion
Flow of Blood
Feeding 5000

Disciples were supposed to understand something but didn't understand what loaves were pointing too. Was supposed to help them perceive who Jesus was.

DIFFERENT RESCUE
Disciples saw Jesus perform miracles yet when he waked on water they assumed He was a ghost.
When things go wrong we always think its Satan.
Disciples not in trouble during this miracle.
Not like storm in chp 4
Disciples couldn't make progress - all physical effort, spiritual effort
Jesus went to rescue them from unbelief
Couldn't apply who Jesus was to where they were in life

DIFFERENT REVELATION
Sends through a different storm
When Jesus asks us to pass through the waters and storms its to reveal to us who He really is
I discovered more of Christ through suffering than in blessings-Merrick
Job 9:8
Psalm 77:16,19-20
Nothing too trivial or great for Jesus to handle

DIFFERENT RESPONSE
Jesus is not rebuked
When we recognize He is the son of God

PRAY FOR DAISY

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The mystery of the Facebook Message

2010-07-08T23:43:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure how this cultural phenomenon began but Facebook Messages baffle me.

Why would people who know my email address and/or phone number send me a Facebook message instead?

Is it because we find it less intrusive? In our blackberry/iphone world, we get facebook messages as soon as anything else - often sooner.

Is a phone call, text message or email too personal? Probably. I think its because its still socially acceptable to ignore a facebook message while ignoring calls or texts or emails is just rude.

Personally I still enjoy writing letters to people but that's often seen as WAY too intrusive.

I rarely respond directly to facebook messages. Ironically I get annoyed when people don't reply to mine.

I recently sent someone a facebook message letting them know that what they had posted on facebook was very uplifting for me and spiritually helpful.

No Response.

When someone sent me a very thoughtful facebook message I was very moved. But I failed to respond.

But what really gets me is that I'm really waiting for a facebook message from someone else. Just an acknowledgment, or a simple thank you or at least a stern rebuke. I expect it as a Facebook message because while I know she has my phone number and email, she generally only communicates through facebook messages.

But I do the same thing. So I am essentially the pot calling the kettle black.

Are we at the point in society where guys don't call after a date or where girls don't give out numbers. Instead its a facebook message or an invitation to facebook stalk?

Its all just a mystery to me.

Maybe I'm just the mystery.

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I need to rant

2010-07-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a long time and i just need a moment to rant. So there is no real subject or objective or purpose. I just need to write and get it out there.

I ask too many questions but mine will always be why don't you?

I'm a recovering alcoholic and all I want to do is drink.

Even my facebook wall posts don't work.

I wish I went to RESOLVED this year

I sent a girl flowers. She'll either politely thank me for them (which I'll still not know where we stand) or I'll never hear from her again (which is what I expect).

I need to read more (and finish this Francis Chan book)

I want to be in L.A. (and not for the weather)

This is the most spiritual affirmation I've had in a while.

I haven't been to church in a while and I'm not going for a while. I want to.

McDonald v Chicago went the way I expected. But I was astounded that Christian Legal Society v Martinez totally delegitimized 1st amendment rights and essentially called for an end of my Christian Fraternity

I'm too old for this

The Faith and Freedom Coalition is my new favorite PAC

I need new shoes

I can't believe its 8:45

No one would miss me if I were gone. So I'm going to stop saying goodbye.

My Reality SF Notes 5/30

2010-05-30T12:10:00.001-07:00

Mark 5:22-42
Pastor Dave Lomas

Kingdom of God is like seed

Jesus is not a product of our own thoughts. Such a jesus would be impossible to change us.

DESPERATE BELIEF
-Jesus can handle belief based on our (desperate) need
-sandwich technique: story of sick child and bleeding woman
-bleeding woman seen as result of sin/outcast of society

IMPERFECTBELIEF
-woman believed she would be healed by touching his garment
-she wanted to get away but Jesus went looking for her
-our relationship with jesus full of superstition but jesus accepts us anyway
"Jesus stopped her so that they would be in an open relationship"
-jesus draws her out to build relationship, not just heal
-woman thought touch healed her but it was faith in Him

STRUGGLING BELIEF
-jarius disappointed in jesus that daughter is dead
-when do u stop believing? When u don't get what u pray for? When everyting u touch breaks? When God delays? Death?
-Jesus told jarius don't fear just believe
-Keep on believing
-woman got more than she bargained before
-jarius got a resurrection not just a healing
-Jesus pursues

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Answering Melanie regarding Reality LA

2010-05-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

The following comment was left on this blog post. I haven't been able to blog very often so I didn't notice it for several days but I wanted to respond.

Melanie said...
Hi there.. I know little about Calvinism, but does it not teach that God completely "ordained" or chose those who would follow him -- that is, there is no actual "choice" in it for humans, he either chose us or did not?

I do not believe this is what Tim Chaddick teaches. Looking back on his sermon on Romans 9, he expressed God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are completely compatible... that is, God will give man over to the desires of man's heart... it is man's choice (and there is always a choice) of what he will choose.

Do you disagree -- because you say "..if you walk away from Reality LA believing Tim Chaddick is teaching free will exists...then obviously something is being lost in the message."

Do you attend Reality regularly?

First, I really miss Reality LA but have found a good home at Reality SF. I wish I could go as often as I would like but circumstances often keep me away. I haven’t missed a sermon at either church in several years. When I first attended Reality LA they were in the middle of the Romans series. In a few weeks I caught up and had listened to every sermon. So I feel adequately equipped to claim my position.

As for God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility being completely compatible, I think that alone shows the Calvinist teaching. All compatiblists are Calvinists. Often referred to as Soft Determinists, they do not believe in free will as one might recognize it. This page is a great resource to explain that.

Man has a choice but his choice is limited by his desire. His choices are ‘free’ because they are not coerced. A sinful man cannot choose God because our sinful nature does not allow us to have that option within our desires. God must regenerate our heart first then the man’s desire is free to choose God the way it was meant to.

And these are all concepts that Reality LA teaches – Total Depravity, Election, Common Grace, God’s Effective Calling, and the promise of salvation. These are the tenets of Calvinism.

I didn’t understand these either until I started really spending time in the bible. And I don’t mean that to be a self-righteous slander against others. Just that my walk struggled until I came to this understanding of the Gospel.

Does it matter? Of course. Believing in Jesus is only part of the equation. What you believe about Jesus is more important. But you can of course disagree.

Melanie I really hope you get to read this.

My reaction to the LOST series finale

2010-05-24T00:49:00.001-07:00

I didn't watch most of it.

I hadn't seen the show since the middle of the 4th season when I got behind and never caught back up.

I didn't even know tonight was the finale until I got to work after church and saw it buzzing all over twitter and facebook.

I didn't want to watch it.

Instead I sat at my desk in the empty office and wrote a letter to a friend.

Around 11:15 I was flipping channels when I realized the Lost finale was still on. I knew I had no idea what was going on but once I saw Locke stand from his chair and forgive Ben and Jack's father hug him I shed a tear. Not because of the show completely out of context. But because it made me realize how much I missed my friend. And like the show, I hope fate brings us back together.

PS I'm definitely going to be buying some seasons soon and sending that letter in the morning.

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Songfest Champs Again!

2010-04-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations AGO and Alpha Phi

BTW, props to ADX for second

10 things I notice about the first 10 days of Fantasy Baseball

2010-04-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

10. I shouldn't have kept Gio Gonzalez and Chris Iannetta (already dropped)
9. Prince Fielder has yet to Homer
8. My hitting in general is atrocious! (close to or last in HR, RBI, K, AVE, SLG)
7. My Pitching is outstanding (close to or first in L, ERA, WHIP, QS)
6. A lot of prospects are being held on to
5. A great spring does not mean a great start (Matt LaPorta, Hunter Pence)
4. Closer is very fluid position in a 9 person league
3. This is a dynasty league
2. Keepers is a big issue (still)
1. I can win this thing!

FANTASY BASEBALL IS BACK

2010-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve seriously written about baseball, but with this weekend’s epic draft of the Delta fantasy baseball league, I’m all geared up.

With my new job, it’s been tough doing research and with the league’s new structure, I wasn’t sure I had to. We decided to basically change to a dynasty league in which a manager can keep as little as no players and as many as all 25.

Ironically, we voted on this provision without anyone writing down what we wrote; so much like health care reform, we voted it on it before reading on it and most of us weren’t sure what was in the bill when it passed.

Without getting into the minutiae of the details, we weren’t clear as to how our new system affected draft order or waiver priority. But after a very confusing conference call, all was decided – I guess.

But I really want to get into my draft analysis. I finished in 8th last year and surely wanted to do better this time around. Of my original 25 man roster I decided to keep the following 16 (in no particular order):

Fielder, Prince
Papelbon, Jonathan
Carpenter, Chris
Markakis, Nick
Martin, Russell
Wainwright, Adam
Longoria, Evan
Liriano, Francisco
Garza, Matt
Uggla, Dan
Iannetta, Chris
McCutchen, Andrew
Franklin, Ryan
Drew, Stephen
Gonzalez, Gio
LaPorta, Matt

I flirted with the idea of keeping 24 of 25 players, but when I analyzed the draft by round value, I realized it wasn’t the smart move. I also considered dropping all of my players (under the false assumption that draft position was tied to keepers kept) but didn’t see any long term benefits to me.

I basically wanted to keep my core hitting group together. My team can rake but struggled with batting average (I had David Ortiz, Carlos Quentin and JJ Hardy on my team last year). I also kept younger guys like LaPorta who I invested heavily on, Gio Gonzalez for long term projects. I also went with much heralded but underperforming players like Liriano and Iannetta who I believe both will have break out seasons this year. My draft of 9 remaining picks reflects what I kept and didn’t keep.

My needs were batting average and experience (aka consistency).

With my first pick I went with Hunter Pence. This was a top 50 pick a few years ago but I got him in the 17th round. This was the steal of the draft for me since his O rank was around 100. I simply wanted the best hitter available and I knew in this format someone would drop to me. I could have taken Lance Berkman in this spot who is a more proven hitter, but I have enough flat out smashers, I wanted a younger more rounded player. The draft couldn’t have started out better for me.

My next pick I went with Billy Wagner. I needed experience. I knew Papelbon would be solid, but I doubt that Ryan Franklin would duplicate his stellar 2009 campaign. I needed a veteran anchor and Wagner is it. I realize he was hurt all last year but that just means his arm is fresh and he’s eager to perform.

Jeff Niemann was my next pick. I was real hesitant about his youth and playing in the AL East. But I liked what I read about him and think the Rays are going to provide plenty of run support. My core pitching staff of Carpenter and Wainwright and Garza was plenty solid. Plus, I just read about him a few minutes before the draft.

My next two picks were Rich Harden and Tim Hudson. Similar in story because of injuries but I really believe in redemption this year and I think both provide late round experience to my relatively young staff.

I can’t believe I got Chris Coghlan in the 22nd round. I really didn’t have a Left Fielder and thought I could re-draft Johnny Damon late. Damon was available but so was Coghlan. Coghlan might not hit the homers but he’ll hit for a better average and steal a few more bags (something lacking on my team last year). He’s also younger. I assumed I might start LaPorta in Left, but Coghlan has the opening day spot on my team. Basically my outfield (Markakis, McCutchen, Coghlan and Pence in the Utility) are boring but consistent and well rounded players.

The next round I picked up Joba Chamberlain. I don’t even care if he is a starter or reliever. The fireballer will rake up K’s for me. And if he is a reliever, He has SP eligibility.

My final two picks I didn’t want to make but couldn’t help myself – Howie Kendrick and Alex Gordon. I really wanted two more pitchers; young guys who I could try out. But I couldn’t believe that these two were still there. Kendrick is a future batting title winner. And he’ll be a real compliment to Dan Uggla’s sub-par batting average. Alex Gordon was the most heralded young hitter for a long time but has been plagued by injuries. If he turns out to be HALF the player he’s supposed to be, this will be a steal of a pick. I don’t expect him to be the next A-Rod but I don’t think it’s a stretch to think he’s similar to Ryan Zimmerman. But that’s great value with the last pick. I’m just not sure where he fits in on my team. I already have Longoria at 3B and Pence in the utility.

Basically I got everything I wanted out of my draft. My homerun hitters (Longoria, Fielder, Uggla) are complimented with a very well rounded outfield. I have great pitchers followed by a combination of young fireballers and experienced veterans who know how to get W’s. My only concern is SS where Stephen Drew is still an unproven commodity. But if he has a decent year, I should be in good shape. Or else I may need to make a move soon. I’ll need some guys to really shine to make a serious run at this league. But that’s true of any league. We all start at zero today. I’ll let you know how it goes from here on out.

If home is where the heart is Then my home is where you are

2010-03-07T22:44:00.001-08:00

On sunday I moved to northern california where I accepted a campaign position that should keep me here for the next 8 months.

I wasn't sure what if anything I was leaving behind. Saturday was a long hectic ordeal of packing and hanging out. I ended up only getting 2 hours sleep as a result of waiting on friends, late night texting, and an early non-breakfast appointment.

I wasn't sure how I would survive the 5+ hour drive but I committed myself to going to Reality LA church one more time. My plan was to leave directly from there. Little did I know before entering that this would be the last time I would ever go.

My non-breakfast went late which I figured was okay. I generally don't leave for the 9am service until 9am so I can skip worship and the obligatory meet your neighbors time. But I got there much later and struggled to find parking because the lot was full.

I was a full 45 minutes late. I considered just bailing and heading straight up. But I had already committed myself so I decided to stay.

The message was good even if I didn't catch the beginning. I'll probably have to listen to the podcast later. Because I was so late I couldn't sit in the back like I usually do. The usher helped me find a seat in the very well packed auditorium. It was the furthest up and center I had ever sat before. I felt rather uncomfortable.

Unlike most sundays, I didn't bolt right after the message concluded but stayed for most if the worship. After the third song I decided to check out a few books in the courtyard to read in the coming weeks. I ended up buying "Prodigal God" by Tim Keller and "Scandalous" by DA Carson.

As I turned toward up the dark aisle toward the door I nearly physically ran into HER.

She was like a recently bloomed flower swaying to the warm night summer winds; gently rocking back and forth as the song of the darkness amplified her radiant beauty.
I had heard rumors she went to Reality LA but never confirmed until now.

The last time I saw HER was at a church in Santa Monica called Shoreline. It was at the beginning of the service and I ended up leaving the hall and hiding in the men's room the entire time. I don't know why she has this affect on me but she does. And she doesn't even know. Even the mere mention of her name causes me to break down where I stand.

Well this was no different. My heart began to race, my knees began to shake. I passed HER quickly and made the mistake of looking back. She had no idea I was there, she was too busy worshiping an all-powerful sovereign loving God to notice depraved sinful lowly me.

The moment I made it out of the auditorium I collapsed on the floor and began weeping uncontrollably. I couldn't stop crying. Only when an usher came over to check up on me did I compose myself and leave for Nor Cal.

While driving to Nor Cal I received a curious text message from a complicated 'acquaintance' which forced me to be introspective about whether or not I'd be missed. I wasn't sure what I thought until a particular song played on my ipod. I always play a random mix of Relient K songs when I do this drive and "Taking you with me" played while I was thinking about what had happened at church The lyric "If home is where the heart is Then my home is where you are" suddenly made sense to me.

I might be moving to Nor Cal for several months but its clearer than ever that L.A. is my home.

Its always been clear to me that she has my heart.

That might make me a hopeless romantic or a fool. Or I'll simply realize that hopeless romantics are all fools.

So I'll be back because she's there.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

ICYMI, I'm moving to San Francisco

2010-03-04T12:13:00.001-08:00

I realize I'm a rather sentimental person in many ways but I've never been good at goodbyes. Goodbye denotes finality, and if there is anything I've learned, its that you rarely have true finality. And I really don't enjoy the drama of goodbyes.

That's why I haven't told a huge number of people that on Sunday I am leaving Los Angeles and moving to San Francisco for likely the next 8 months.

I've taken a position with the Meg Whitman for California Governor campaign as their field coordinator. I'm really excited about the opportunity. I'm glad to get involved in statewide campaign of this magnitude. And I believe Whitman is a great candidate who can fix the broken Golden State.

There are a tons of people who I'd love to say goodbye to, have that last cup of coffee with, enjoy one more hug before I leave. I just know I can't. Its not that I necessarily don't have the time. I don't think I can emotionally do it.

There would be so much I want to say to people. I categorize them in three different ways.

First, people who want to hang out before I leave. I appreciate their concern and I'm trying my darndest to accommodate but if I don't get to you remember that its only 8 months, I'll likely be in LA often and I'm only a phone call, text message or wall post away.

Second, people I want to hang out with before I leave. I probably haven't even told you that I'm leaving. But you should know that I really appreciate you because you've had a profound affect on my life and you probably don't even know it. I'll probably text you and let you know. But I won't be as bold to try to take up your time. And I really believe that I'll see you again.

Finally, people who are happy to see me leave. You have every right to think I'm creepy. But I want you to know that my intentions have always been pure and I accept if you don't like me for who I am. I think your great. That doesn't mean I wouldn't come to your aid at a moments notice if asked. That's just part of who I am. But we'll cross paths again. Hopefully we can be friends. If not, it wouldn't be the first time.

So wish me luck as I partake on this new adventure. And remember this isn't goodbye. Just a future opportunity to say hello.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Rick Perry Changes the Game

2010-03-03T01:07:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Texas Governor Rick Perry won over 50% of the votes in a three way primary against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Tea Party candidate Debra Medina avoiding a run-off election for the nomination.

I believe Perry should be considered a legitimate contender for the 2012 Republican nomination having been the executive of the second most populous state for what will be 12 years.

But what caught my eye most regarding the coverage were these lines:

The Perry campaign from the beginning took a big gamble and chose not to use yard signs, recorded phone canvassing, or direct mail, and instead concentrated on social networking on the Web, grassroots community organizing and, of course, TV.

The campaign saved millions and got a response they say exceeded their expectations, and has re-written the GOP book on field organizing.

If a major campaign like this can make that commitment I can only imagine what will happen the rest of the 2010 cycle. Really good for New Media. Not so good for Old Media.

You're so Vain; You probably think this Blog is about You

2010-03-01T04:49:00.001-08:00

About a year ago I was really into this young lady named Sarah. I thought she was gorgeous and talented and had a real story to tell. I really wanted to get to know her. But before I got that chance I impetuously sent her an anonymous flower - a single red rose. I realize how stupid that was.

Well it became this big deal because all of her friends wanted to know who the flower was from. They talked amongst themselves and amongst my friends. It was this big mystery.

I don't exactly remember how it went down but this other girl; whom I barely know, asked my friend if I was into Sarah. When I heard about this I asked the girl if she wanted to have a cup of coffee and talk since she clearly wanted to ask me something. She declined - vehemently.

(As for Sarah, it didn't work out)

The other night I walked into a room where my friend was skyping with this same girl. It was really awkward because he turned his computer so I could say hi. I had a short chat with her and asked her how her study abroad program was going. It was literally the most I had ever spoken to her.

I hold no ill will toward her. But briefly talking to her reminds me that what's recently been going on around me isn't the first time.

A lot of people are talking behind my back right now. And the rumors get more outrageous everyday. But that's not what bothers me. I don't care what a group of 18 year old girls think or say about me.

I work in politics. I have a thick skin. I'm used to getting thrown under the bus. I've gone head to head with disreputable government bureaucrats, corrupt union activists, and a few elected officials. I practically had John McCain yell at me at town hall meeting once.

These things don't bother me. A bunch of college freshman who like to gossip isn't going to get underneath my skin.

What bothers me are my "friends."

When my "friends" perpetuate lies they know to be false, I'm really hurt. When my "friends" don't defend me to people who refuse to have a conversation with me, that's really counter-productive.

I assume my "friends" do it because they think its funny that these individuals despise me. (My "friends" let me know how much these girls don't like me all the time.) Its not funny. It's hurtful, its divisive and counter to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which they claim to believe in.

I can deal with people who don't like me because of things I say, things I do or basically who I am. I'm very direct, I'm very forward and I realize that can turn people off.

But I don't think it is reasonable to have to deal with things I haven't said, haven't done or basically who I'm not.

If you don't know who I am or what I've said or what I've done; ask me. I'm very open. Don't talk about it with people who don't know me equally as well. If you think this blog post (or any post) is about you; just ask me. Here's my number (213) 948-5151 send me a text. Don't text your friend who text their friend who text my friend! Just ask me!

For the Love of God (literally) JUST ASK ME!

I'm willing to talk to you about anything.

But for those of you who think this might be about you, its probably not. For the vast majority of you, this has nothing to do with you. But it's not going to stop you from talking about it.

So for those people please enjoy the clip below:

Smoke for the Glory of God

2010-02-28T03:05:00.000-08:00

I recently bought a humidor and filled it with a collection of various cigars and I wanted to share them with friends. I packed a few up and brought them over to my old Christian Fraternity where a national convention, when chapters from around the country came into L.A., had just ended.

The current President and Vice President of the Fraternity shared in my cold February night smoke. Another member had his pipe and a visiting member smoked my hookah.

As we were close to finishing our fine products, a member walked up to the front of the house where we were smoking and asked: "How does this look."

We assumed he was asking our opinion about what he was wearing. I thought his shirt and hoodie were fine. But he actually meant the sight of Christians smoking.

I realize there is a stigma regarding Christians and tobacco. But you also must realize that there was a stigma in Christ's time regarding eating with prostitutes and tax-collectors.

Do I feel its a sin?

BY NO MEANS!

I have maybe a handful of cigars a year. Now that I have a humidor, I assume it will be much more, but not much more. I only have a cigar on two occasions; while reading my bible and with Christian brothers.

In the morning I will probably go to Reality LA for church. And there the great Christian orator Charles Spurgeon is often quoted.

Well it is Spurgeon whom I draw my inspiration from regarding a fine cigar

When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name

So that's what I will continue to do as I go toward that refreshing sleep tonight; having promoted Christian fellowship with brothers new and old, shown the community that there is great freedom in Christ and enjoyed the glories of the night that which God has graced us with.

As Spurgeon put it, I will "smoke for the Glory of God."

Fewer Apologies and More Thank You's

2010-02-27T01:45:00.000-08:00

Thomas Sowell recently wrote on the unnecessary culture of apologies in our society. In it he wrote:

Aimless apologies are just one of the incidental symptoms of an increasing loss of a sense of personal responsibility-- without which a whole society is in jeopardy.

He was speaking of political apologies but it put into perspective a recent apology episode I had. I received a message from a young lady regarding a personal issue we had. I'm not going to get into the specifics of what happened but sufficed to say, I received the message and was truly confused by it.

My first reaction was that it was an apology despite the fact that it never uttered the words 'I'm sorry' or 'I apologize.' This young woman and I aren't friends but we share several friends and I consulted some of them.

They assured me it was an apology. I wasn't convinced. They thought I was crazy.

So I asked; in a pretty straight forward way. But in reality I thought it was a shot in the dark and assumed I would never hear from her again. (Wouldn't be the first time)

To my astonishment she responded and admitted that it wasn't an apology! I was floored.

My reaction might seem a odd but I was overjoyed and ecstatic. I couldn't stop smiling. I really gained a lot of respect for her. Apologizing is the easy way out and I tried taking the easy way out.

She didn't. She stood her ground. She didn't apologize. And that takes a lot of confidence and personal responsibility. Now I would love to be her friend but I doubt that would happen any time soon.

But while I want fewer apologies, I also want more 'Thank Yous.'

Last night someone told me I was very generous. That was particular nice considering he doesn't often have many nice things to say about me.

Well also last week I had two tickets to a Brad Paisley concert at the Staple Center. I got them at the last minute and had no one to go with. I asked one young lady if she would like to go. She said she had plans on hanging out with her friend. Well I asked if her friend wanted to go if I could get another ticket.

It wasn't easy getting an extra ticket to a sold out concert at midnight the night before. But I did it. I traded in the tickets I had for three tickets somewhere else. It wasn't cheap either. But I didn't ask or expect them to pay for any of the tickets.

We went. I think we had a great time, at least I did. I finally got to hang out with both of them which was fun.

But I never heard from either of them. I wasn't expecting much. Not even a card or note. Maybe just a message or appreciative text. Alas; nothing.

And I only bring this up because maybe that too is indicative of our loss of personal responsibility. We expect apologies too often because we continually feel wronged by those who do not wrong us but we don't say Thank You enough because we assume we are owed something by those who owe us nothing.

Well I'm going to take from these incidents a simple lesson: stop apologizing and say thank you a little more often.

Senator Scott Brown Crosses The Aisle

2010-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

Was anyone really surprised by this?

As much as Scott Brown is heralded as the conservative voice of change, he's still a Massachusetts Republican who quite clearly said he would be an independent voice for his state. And its not like he alone voted to break the filibuster. George Voinovich, Kit Bond, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe all voted against the filibuster. The jobs bill, a mere $15 billion (satire emphasized), is nothing compared to what the Democratic majority initially wanted and not even in the same galaxy as the $950 billion in the new Obama health care plan. I'm sure Scott Brown will keep to his word on being the 41st vote on it.

I think Scott Brown is keeping to his word and/or making a smart strategic play of playing himself off as a bipartisan servant of the people. The first question is whether or not this jobs bill will work. The second question is whether he'll vote for the final passage of the jobs bill. I guess the final question is if he want to be on a national ticket in three years. If he does, this was a good step.

In a completely unrelated note (only because I saw the clip on the related posts) Bristol Palin will have a guest role on the ABC Family teen drama "The Secret Life of the American Teeanger" playing herself. Let's see how upset left wing bloggers get over this.

Justin Bieber needs to keep his hands to himself

2010-02-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't say I'm a huge Justin Bieber fan but for whatever reason his latest single "Baby" has been caught in my head. I don't hate the kid for being successful or the marketing/PR campaign on his behalf. But as I watched his latest video, I found something utterly appalling.

I think its fine if you're 15 and you've lost the "love of your life" but that gives him no excuse to ever put your hands on a woman (or more appropriately a girl). I think it sends a horrible message to young boys and girls who watch this video.

Numerous times Bieber is seen grabbing or touching the young girl's jacket, clearly without her permission or appreciation. Its fine to "fight" for the woman you "love" but that never includes putting your hands on her. And the fact that in the end of the video they walk away holding hands that physical pressure may actually work.

I truly hope no one (whether they are 15 or 45) walks away thinking this.

My Reality LA notes 2/21

2010-02-21T11:34:00.001-08:00

AN UPDATE ON MY THOUGHTS

I THINK TIM CHADDICK IS A GIFTED TALENTED TEACHER AND I FEEL CONTINUALLY BLESSED BY HIS SERMONS. LAST WEEK HE SAID THIS WEEK WOULD BE "CONTROVERSIAL" BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION. WELL IT WASN'T VERY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE WHILE CHADDICK DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF EXPLAINING AWAY THE OBJECTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION, HE NEVER REALLY EXPLAINED IN CLEAR CONCISE WORDS, WHAT THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION TEACHES. THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION TEACHES THAT IT IS GOD WHO CHOOSES WHO WILL COME TO HIM IN HEAVEN AND DOES NOT RELY ON HUMAN WILL (FREE WILL) OR EXERTION (WORKS). WITHOUT THIS FOUNDATION, THE REST OF THE SERMON SOUNDS GOOD WITH LITTLE TO ARGUE ABOUT. I DON'T FEEL A CHURCH COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH ESSPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SO CLEAR TO ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION AS TO WHAT THEY BELIEVE. SOMEONE SAID CHADDICK SHOULD SHY AWAY FOR FEAR OF TURNING PEOPLE OFF. AS CHADDICK CITED JOHN 8:45 "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me," I FEEL THE SAME SHOULD BE TRUE WITHIN THE CHURCH. JUST PREACH TRUTH (OR TRUTH AS YOU SEE IT) AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

**************************************************

Romans 9:14-29

Doctrine of God's sovereignty and election UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Tension theology WHAT THE HECK? I THINK HE JUST MAKE UP A THEOLOGY
-God is sovereign
-Man is responsible

Is the will free?
-our will is not absolute
-comes from modern mind set
-our will is influenced by many things
-will tainted by sin
-voluntary choice

Extreme arminiast vs hyper calvinism NEITHER ARE TRUE

Charles Simeon

JI Packer -evangelism and the sovereignty of God
-"antinomy"

Spurgeon
-no need to reconcile friends

Douglas Moo
-balanced perspective

John 3:16
John 6:44
Gen 50:20

Wayne Grudem - Christian Belief pg83

Shouldn't criticize paul
-god's justice is being questioned
-no resolution is possible

If God is sovereign in saving does that make God unjust?
-any saving action is mercy and compassion, not justice
-if u want justice, go to hell DRISCOLL IS HAVING AN EFFECT ON HIM
-mercy implies guilt
-grace, not human ability
-any judging action is just and deserved

How can God harden someone?
-pharaoh hardened his heart and God hardened his heart
-Did God harden pharaoh's heart-yes MOST DEFINITE STANCE I've HEARD YET FROM CHADDICK
-how did God harden pharaoh's heart? -mercy and compassion REALLY GLAD HE MADE THIS POINT
-did God have to send Moses or several chances? No
-God does not turn neutral people into sinners

If God is sovereign in salvation then how can we be blamed?
-created cannot stand in judgment of the creator
-we are blamed because we are guilty
•human responsibility is never denied because of God's sovereignty ARMINIASTS WOULD ARGUE GODS SOVEREIGNTY IS DENIED BECAUSE OF MANS WILL

if I am unable to choose God, judgment seems unfair? GLOSSED OVER THIS POINT TOO QUICKLY
-moral inability is a desire to do something else (desire to sit in chair than do dishes) TOTAL DEPRAVITY
-natural inability is a sheer inability (chained to chair)

John 8:45

Holy spirit comes and convicts us of our sin and turns out to Jesus
-Gospel call goes out to everyone
-John 6:37 ELECTION AND PRESERVATION OF SAINTS
-JI Packer
-John Stott

What of God's character is shown in His sovereign choice
-in wrath He demonstrates the evil and seriousness of sin
-Hell preserves God's character of justice
-God could have wiped us out but he didn't - patience
-God is patient

NOT THE BEST SERMON ON ELECTION I've HEARD BUT PRETTY MUCH WHAT I EXPECTED. I THINK HE FAILED TO CONNECT THE BIG POINTS EVEN THOUGH ALL THE POINTS WERE THERE. IF MAN IS NATURALLY INABLE, THEN ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT ALLOWS HIM TO CHOOSE GOD. (I now believe I misunderstood this point. Man is Morally unable.) THE POINT IS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT ENTERS FIRST AND THEN THEY CHOOSE GOD. ALSO, DESIRE TO CHOOSE GOD AS A SIGN OF ELECTION. CHADDICK SHOULD HAVE BETTER CONNECTED THIS WEEK TO LAST WEEK. ALSO NOT IGNORED BIG TERMS WITHOUT DEFINING THEM (PREDESTINATION, ELECTION, FREE WILL, ARMINIANISM, CALVINISM, HYPER-CALVINISM) THAT COULD LEAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSED. I BET STEVE WHITE STILL FINDS NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THIS.

http://www.realityla.com/

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Is Tim Chaddick a Calvinist?

2010-02-21T06:02:00.000-08:00

Will Tim Chaddick stand up this morning and say the words "I'm a Calvinist."

Probably not.

If you've attended Reality LA and really listened to the messages he gives in context, I doubt there is any dispute regarding how he feels on the subject whether you want to call it Calvinism, Reformed or Monergism

But I know there are still a lot of people I know who attend Reality LA and argue with me (quite vehemently) that Chaddick is not a Calvinist.

But lets look at the evidence

First, look who Chaddick often cites. He's one of those preachers who regularly quote others including authors, scholars and other pastors. It is not uncommon for Chaddick to quote Martyn Lloyd Jones, JI Packer, John Piper, DA Carsons, Tim Keller or Charles Spurgeon. All of whom are very well known Calvinists.

Second, look at the events Reality LA has hosted. They recently hosted an event put on by Mark Driscoll, the face of resurgent Calvinism in America. In fact it was through Driscoll's Facebook Page that I found Tim Chaddick and Reality LA as a church. And Chaddick hopes to host an event with DA Carsons in the fall.

Finally, look at what Chaddick says about himself. He says he's a compatibilist. Well there is no such thing as an Arminian Compatibilist. On October 11th of last year, Chaddick said that the bible taught two things; Total Depravity and Common Grace. Those are both pretty Calvinist doctrine.

On Octboer 11th of last year, Chaddick said, "Some of you are waiting for me to open up the Soteriology can as it were and that can will be opened in chapter 9." Well Chapter 9 is here and last week he said that God's promises transcend human expectation, exertion and selection. That sounds pretty Calvinist to me. Hopefully today he will get all the way there.

Is Christ a servant of Sin?

2010-02-17T00:50:00.000-08:00

After watching Monday night's episode of 24 I checked my blackberry which I left in my jacket.

On it was a text message from someone with a single verse reference and nothing else - Galatians 2:17. I opened the bible app on my phone and read it:

But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

I was curious why, without any context, send me this message. I quickly made two assumptions. First, he must believe that I believe that Christ is a servant of sin. Second, he believes this proves that Christ is not a servant of sin.

On the first assumption, I believe he thinks I believe Christ is a servant of sin because I am a Calvinist. I believe God is in sovereign control of everything including sin. While this is not the time or place to get into this lengthy discussion, a great resource to examine this position can be found in John Piper's book Spectacular Sins. I found this book because it was recommended by Pastor Tim Chaddick of Reality L.A. on the church Blog.

For the record, I do not believe that Christ is a servant of sin. At least not in the way my friends believes this verse refers to (an important distinction).

On the second assumption, like all bible verses, context is everything.

First, what does "servant" of sin actually mean? My translation is the ESV, and I thought it most appropriate to use this translation because I know that my friend also reads it. In different versions various words are used: minister, led us into, promotes, agent. Based on the various translations its clear that the question asks whether Christ wants us to sin, not that Christ is a slave (a different term for servant in biblical lexicon) to sin. The answer is quite emphatic. NO!

The context of the verse is referring to the ongoing debate between Paul and the Judaizers Christians. According to my NIV Life Application Study Bible, a Judaizer Christian can be defined as:

Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore, any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.

Paul rebukes this stance in Galatians 2:15-16

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

A "Gentile sinner" in this context refers to one whom does not follow Jewish dietary law because for they lack of a simpler explanation, they are not Jews and have never done so. They are sinners by default because they made no attempt to follow the law. The verse does not suggest Jews are not sinners. Of course Jews were sinners just as all were sinners. "Gentile sinner" refers to this narrow type of sin.

Paul is saying that we are justified by faith and that the dietary laws are not necessary so Gentiles have no need to follow the dietary laws in order to be Justified in Christ. By extension, Paul is also saying that the Jews don't need to follow the dietary laws as well! Justification by works is unnecessary and lacking in merit toward God.

In verse 17, Paul is admitting that Justification by faith and faith alone means that he is technically sinning under the law since they no longer observe the dietary laws. What Paul denies can best be explained by John Piper:

But (Paul) denies emphatically that this makes Christ an agent of sin. Why? Because it is not sin to be a "sinner" in this sense. It is not sin to free yourself from the ceremonial Jewish laws in order to walk in love toward Gentile Christians. It is not sin to stop depending on works. Christ is not the agent of sin. He is the agent of freedom. Freedom for God, and freedom for love. That's Paul's answer to the Judaizers: Yes, Christ frees us from the works of law; no, he is not thereby an agent of sin.

Because what the Gentiles were doing (not following the dietary laws) is not a sin because of the Gospel.

I believe my friend took this verse out of context in trying to prove his point. What that point is, I'm not entirely sure. In response, I sent him a text message of a single verse 2 Chronicles 18:22.

Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.

He can chew on that one for a while.

Valentine's day is Complicated, Jesus is Simple

2010-02-15T03:48:00.001-08:00

I couldn't let Valentine's day go without saying something.

And it was a complicated day.

I went to Reality LA and really enjoyed Tim Chaddick's soteriological coming out party. (More on that in an upcoming post) I was really proud of some friends. I felt betrayed by another friend (I use the term friend loosely at this point) I played some tennis and lost intentionally. I broke a dinner reservation I made three months ago. And I was taken advantage of by some single guys who like their boneless wings. I finally got to hang out with a new friend. And I got to vent to a young couple.

A lot could be said about today. And I wasn't sure how I felt as I sat in front of this computer and decide exactly what I would write. I wasn't sure if I were upset or if I were happy. I wasn't sure if I wanted to write a deeply researched exposition or a complete rant. I considered everything from a top ten list of why guys don't ask girls out on Valentine's day to connecting how God's purpose of election fits thematically with mans futility in finding love.

Not knowing to feel, I decided to check how other people were feeling about today. I checked facebook status' and tweets. I came across this:

so thankful that with Jesus she doesn't have to be happy all the time but she can ALWAYS have His undeniable joy and living hope

This changed my entire attitude. I was making Valentine's day complicated and with every twist and turn it became more complicated. And all that did was show me my total inability and made realize the true peace of simplicity which is found in Jesus.

I responded to the status I found with this:

you're a real blessing. Sometimes simple wisdom is the most profound. I've had a weird day not knowing exactly how to feel sometimes and I realize its mostly my fault. But you've reminded me that God blesses the broken road toward Him and the joy and peace of His promises.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I end with a music video my friends put together. I feel my day would have been better had I listened to the lyrics earlier and not later. Of course it's God who willed how this day would go and I humbly thank Him for that.

My Reality LA notes 2/14

2010-02-14T10:51:00.001-08:00

D.A. Carson may come for an event in the fall

Romans 9 is controversial. The bible teaches God's sovereignty and Man's responsibility

Today is about election. The text is about Israel not election. Today will be a cliff hanger.

Romans 9:4-13

How can I trust God's promises?
-we are tempted to assume God is unfaithful to us
-has the word of God failed?
-those who were in were out and those who were out were in
-Israel (the chosen people) weren't guaranteed anything
-gentiles included, jews reject jesus
-what happens to God's calling to Israel?

God's promises transcend human expectation
-expected all ethnic israel to be saved
-answer in verse 6b: there r 2 israels
-one is physical one is spiritual
-in chapter 2: circumcision comes from the spirit
-not all physical israel will be saved
-The Remnant: trust in the living God

Isaac v Ishmael
-Abraham is called that His seed will the world be blessed
-Jesus the true seed
-abraham 100 sarah 90
-abraham sleeps with handmaid hagar to produce ishmael to try to fulfill the promise
-but God meant Isaac (physical and spiritual according to God's promise)
-both have offspring
-"its grace and not race that counts"
-salvation is not a birthright
-God owes us Hell
-John 8
-there is a visible church and invisible church
-we don't know who is saved (though evidence exists)
-the promise of God exceed human power or exertion

Transcend Human Exertion (TOTAL DEPRAVITY)
-God's initiative by supernatural means
-Salvation is supernatural
-spiritual birth has nothing to do within us
-we rebel by nature and choice
-john 1:12-13
-promise of god seem impossible because seen through lens of human ability
-seen through mary's virgin birth
-the whole christian life is an impossibility
-cant be perfect but possible by grace
-Moses called to speak, god made his mouth
-we are rightly humbled by our inability
-god gives us power for obedience
-no room for boasting
-no room for disobedience
-trust in human ability is futile
I REALLY HOPE BRAD COMES NEXT WEEK

Transcends human selection
-ishmael came from different mother as objection
-Isaac had twins: jacob, esau
-same origin
-jacob younger
-not for anything they had done
-not based on works but on God's call (UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION)
-works are general human activity
-Jacob not a better person than Esau
-God choice an act of grace
-Grace is a central factor or nothing would happen
-man is responsible but not contingent

Jacob v Esau: Love v hate
-nations or individuals
-jacob is israel: Esau is Edom
-in the Old testament, refers to nations
-in romans, refers to individuals
-Hate not an emotion but an action
-hebrew idiom for preference
-love steak, hate chicken: no emotional wrath for chicken
-love v hate refers to preference
-Jesus uses word in this matter
-Luke 14
-God Sovereignty never mitigates Human responsibility
-no claim on God except God's justice
-no duck, duck, damn
-question is not why not save anyone but why save anyone at all?
-God's election is based on grace and not us.

Charles Spurgeon (I LOVE SPURGEON)
What was there in you to suggest a motive why God should call you? Oh, Beloved, we can hardly ask you that question without tears rising in our own eyes—

"What was there in us that could merit esteem,
Or give the Creator delight?
'Twas even so, Father!' we ever must sing,
'Because it seemed good in Your sight.'"

Some of you were drunkards, were profane, were injurious. Many of you cared neither for God nor man. How often have you mocked at God's Word! How frequently have you despised God's ministers! How constantly has the holy name of the Most High been used in a flippant, if not in a profane manner by you! And yet for all that, He fixed His eyes upon you and would not withdraw. And when you spurned the Divine Grace that would have saved you, still He followed you, determined to save, till at last, in the appointed time, He got the grasp of you and would not let you go until He had made you His friend, turned your heart to love Him and made your spirit obedient to His Grace!

I think, throughout eternity, if we had this problem to solve—"why did He call me"—we should still go on making wrong guesses! We could never arrive at the right conclusion unless we should say, once and for all, "I do not know."

LORD, MAY YOU CONTIUE TO HUMBLE ME BY THE MYSTERY OF YOUR TRANSENDED DIVINE GRACE AND PURPOSE. I AM DEPRAVED NOR WORTHY YET YOU CHOSE ME AND CHANGED ME. I DESERVED HELL AND YOU SAVED ME. FOR THAT I WILL ALWAYS GLORIFY YOUR NAME.

RealityLA.com

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Lovelife Hashtag

2010-02-13T09:02:00.001-08:00

Quick correction

I'm going to use the hashtag #sosLA not #lovelife for livetweeting the conference today
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Lovelife with Mark Driscoll at the Orpheum

2010-02-13T08:57:00.001-08:00

Today I am attending Pastor Mark Driscoll's conference as he teaches through the entire book of Song of Solomon. I realize that some people (people I respect) highly criticize Driscoll for being a little crass and irreverent at times esspecially during this series. Well if that's true then I'm definitely going to enjoy this because I'm a little crass and irreverent.

And I'm really excited to listen to Pastor Mark. He's definitely one of the major influences that brought back into the faith. His podcasts from Mars Hill Church in Seattle have been a blessing.

I'm going to be live tweeting the event (twitter.com/staberzz) with the hashtag #lovelife. If you have questions for Pastor Mark you can actually text them to 206.659.6277 and maybe he'll answer them.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The big four sports and under-representation

2010-02-12T04:54:00.000-08:00

A recent article by Justin Lewis of Pi Sports Kingdom claimed that America only cares about the "four" big sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey. His conclusions are narrow minded and totally off base.

With the beginning the Winter Olympics, its quite clear that there is plenty of viewership to go around. Snowboarding, Ice Skating, Curling, speed skating, downhill skiing; these are about to get real popular real quick. Yes, they are not year round events but of course no sport is. That's why we have seasons.

And lets not give him a pass on his assertion about the "four" major sports. His Sporkle game clearly asked for sports franchises. Most sports are not franchise based. Hockey is as popular as drunken darts in America. Mr. Lewis is forgetting the gran daddy of American Sports in NASCAR; one of the largest, most popular and fastest growing sports in America and the rest of the world.

The fact that he includes erroneously includes Hockey doesn't forgive the rest of ridiculous conclusions. First he claims

I think that the idea of an “American” sport is seen as crucial to American interest in it. Baseball, football, and basketball, all of which originated in the United States, are routinely the most throughly covered sporting events. The only other sport that is considered to be a major sport in the U.S. is hockey. But even then, hockey is well known to be the least popular of the major four.

Americans do not require ethnocentric reasons to love a sport. What about Golf where the origins are clearly not American yet America leads the world in Golf viewership and spending?

This line of thinking is just another left wing smear to say that Americans only care about Americans. Americans love winners and as a country we only embrace sports we are good at. That's why soccer (sorry; futbol for you international types) will never be a "major" sport in America until our youth become better at it. As long as it is more cost efficient for cities to build basketball hoops than soccer fields, this will continue. After the Winter Olympics, what ever sport America wins the most medals in will suddenly see a jump in interest. Guaranteed.

Mr. Lewis' second line of erroneous thinking is as follows.

I think that because of this lack of interest, many major networks, such as ESPN, NBC, and CBS have left the lesser covered sports to be covered only by those who are interested enough to actively search them out on their webpages.

Has he turned on ESPN recently? How often is Poker on ESPN? (Yes, I consider Poker as sport merely by the fact that it is on ESPN) I've seen more poker on TV than Hockey which primarily plays on Versus. Even MMA gets more airtime than Hockey.

The point is there are plenty of sports fanatics and they can get their fix in various ways. There is not chicken and the egg problem here. Just because it is slightly more difficult for Lacrosse fans or Ultimate Frisbee groupies to get their fix doesn't mean its unfair - its just capitalism.

And by God's good Grace, this is America and capitalism still rules.

I love American Mediocrity

2010-02-12T04:19:00.000-08:00

My roomate often complains to me that he hates country music because he hates celebrating 'American Mediocrity.' He believes that God's plan for all of us is to live big dreams and that there is little honorable about working hard, getting married, and raising kids as being your ultimate legacy. He believes that Hip-Hop which celebrates living large, with their bling and Cristal, is what God really wants us to strive for.

Well I fervently disagree. And below is a collection of country music songs celebrating the type of 'American Mediocrity' I love!

The Reason for God by Tim Keller: a book review

2010-02-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

The Reason for God is one of the best books I've ever read on Christian apologetics. Tim Keller, of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York has put together a comprehensive critique of Christianity that helps both the believer strengthen in faith and be more equipped to defend their faith and the skeptic realize many fallacies of their objections to God - specifically a personal loving God of the bible.

As a Christian, I've never looked at God, the bible, the gospel, and sin in many of the ways Tim Keller describes. And Keller readily admits not all arguments are going to speak to everyone but of course nothing does.

Rather than get into specifics, I simply pulled out my favorite few lines out of every chapter (and their page in the paperback version). The passages I list aren't meant to be summaries nor are they even the focus of the chapters. There are so many golden nuggets in there that I would hate to take those revelations away from your experience of reading it. But the book is rich with them. The passages are simply things that caught my curiosity and concepts i had to explore further and i think you would enjoy as well.

There Can’t Be Just One True Religion
How could you possibly know that no religion can see the whole truth unless you yourself have the superior, comprehensive knowledge of spiritual reality you just claimed that none of the religions have? 9

How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?
People, we believe, ought not to suffer, be excluded, die of hunger or oppression. But the evolutionary mechanism of natural selection depends on death, destruction, and violence of the strong against the weak – these things are all perfectly natural. On what basis, then, does the atheist judge the natural world to be horribly wrong, unfair, and unjust? 26

Christianity Is a Straightjacket
Disciplines and constraints, then, liberate us only when they fit with the reality of our nature and capacities. A fish, because it absorbs oxygen from water rather than air, is only free if it is restricted and limited to water. If we put it out on the grass, its freedom to move and even live is not enhanced, but destroyed. The fish dies if we do not honor the reality of its nature. 47

The Church Is Responsible for So Much Injustice
What if, however, the essence of Christianity is salvation by grace, salvation not because of what we do but because of what Christ has done for us? Belief that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling. The people who are fanatics then, are so not because they are too committed to the gospel but because they’re not committed to it enough. 58

How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?
Can they look at the religious texts of the world and conclude that God is a God of love? By no means is that the dominant, ruling attribute of God as understood in any of the major faiths. I must conclude that the source of the idea that God is love is the Bible itself. And the Bible tells us that the God of love is also a God of judgment who will put all things in the world to rights in the end. 85

Science Has Disproved Christianity
There would be no experimental model for testing the statement: “No supernatural cause for any natural phenomenon is possible.” It is therefore a philosophical presupposition and not a scientific finding. Macquarrie’s argument is ultimately circular. He says that science, by its nature, can’t discern or test for supernatural causes, and therefore, those causes can’t exist. 89

You Can’t Take the Bible Literally
For a highly altered, fictionalized account of an event to take hold in the public imagination it is necessary that the eyewitnesses (and their children and grandchildren) all be long dead. 105

The Clues of God
Evolutionists say that if God makes sense to us, it is not because he is really there, it’s only because that belief helped us survive and so we are hardwired for it. However, if we can’t trust our belief-forming faculties to tell us the truth about God, why should we trust them to tell us the truth about anything, including evolutionary science? If our cognitive faculties only tell us what we need to survive, not what is true, why trust them about anything at all? 142

The Knowledge of God
If a premise (“There is not God”) leads to a conclusion you know isn’t true (“Napalming babies is culturally relative”) then why not change the premise? 162

The Problem of Sin
So, according to the Bible, the primary way to define sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. 168

Religion and the Gospel
If you are avoiding sin and living morally so that God will have to bless and save you, then ironically, you may be looking to Jesus as a teacher, model, and helper but you are avoiding him as a Savior. You are trusting in your own goodness rather than in Jesus for your standing with God. You are trying to save yourself by following Jesus. 183

The (True) Story of the Cross
How can God be a God of love if he does not become personally involved in suffering the same violence, oppression, grief, weakness, and pain that we experience? The answer to that question is twofold. First, God can’t. Second, only one major world religion even claims that God does. 202
The Reality of the Resurrection
I sympathize with the person who says, “So what if I can’t think of an alternative explanation? The resurrection just couldn’t happen.” Let’s not forget, however, that first-century people felt exactly the same way. 220

The Dance of God
If God is unipersonal, then until God created other beings there was no love, since love is something that one person has for another….However, if God is triune, then loving relationships in community are the “great foundation…at the center of reality.” When people say, “God is love,” I think they mean that love is extremely important, or that God really wants us to love. But in the Christian conception, God really has love as his essence.

God's Foreknowledge

2010-02-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

I've been attending Reality LA and Grace Community for the past several months. This Sunday, I went to Reality LA where Tim Chaddick preached on his continuing expositional teaching on Romans. We went over Romans 9:1-3.

You can find my notes for the service here.

At the end of the service he referenced a few verses from Exodus 32:30-33

The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book."

Well a friend of mine approached me after church and asked me if that were evident enough that the fact that God blots people out of His book proves that the "book of life" is not constant but changes therefore our salvation is not preserved as my doctrine believes.

It began a discussion on God's foreknowledge and predestination.

His view was that we are all predestined to go to Heaven. But God's foreknowledge of who will accept Him in faith is what happens in election. Basically, everyone's name is in the book of life (predestination) but only those whom God does not blot out remain (election).

Well logically this has several flaws, specifically regarding the verse mentioned.

First you are assuming that the 'book' referred to in the verse is the 'book of life.' In fact, it just says 'book.' I believe it is actually referring to the 'book of the living' as referenced in Psalm 69:28, a book that does change because it lists all people alive at any given time. The context of Exodus makes this even clearer. In verses 34-35, God responds by killing them. The 'book' did not refer to salvation but to life itself.

But lets suppose it was the 'book of life.' My friend makes a point that names are never added to the book but only blotted out. I'll accept that for a moment. That means the verse makes even less sense if you believe it universally applies to people. It says 'Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.' Well we've all sinned so we've all been removed from the book of life with no chance of being written back in? That doesn't make sense to the Christian narrative. Either God is a liar or the work of Jesus' death ineffective.

Also, why do you assume that since no names are added to the book of life, that all the names are there in the first place? Isn't it possible that both are true-names are blotted out but not all the names are there in the first place? That would put a huge hole in the all people are predestined to go to heaven theory.

Another question remains, what is the purpose of God's foreknowledge and when did He write the book of life?

Ephesians 1:4 makes it clear that we were chosen before the foundation of the world. If God wrote the book with EVERYONES name in it before the foundation of the world, and then used His foreknowledge to look into the future to see whom would choose Him and then elect those people, when did He begin blotting out names?

If you listen to verse in Exodus, it would suggest that God blots out names as history progresses. What is the point of that? His perfect foreknowledge already knew before the foundation of the world that the Israelites in the desert were going to create a golden idol. Why wait until Moses comes to Him to blot out their names? If the names were blotted out before the foundation of the world (since there seems little point in waiting) then when were the names even there? And did the conversation with Moses have any real affect?

I believe that the book of life was written with the names that God predestined, called, justified, sanctified and glorified before the foundation of the world; all of which are the same. These are God's elect. I demonstrate this concept in the Venn diagrams below:

My friend would have you believe that all are predestined. Some are called. Some of the called are justified. Some of the justified are sanctified. And finally some of the sanctified are glorified. That diagram is below:

(please note that with both diagrams, do not take the size of the circles into consideration. They are not to scale because I would have no idea what the scale is and am not making a point about how many are elect)

The problem with his theory of salvation is that since we are saved by grace it seems to make grace rather ineffective since every step of grace on his chart results in people falling away.

I realize the basis of my theory is that some people were meant not to go to heaven. That may be unpopular to say that but as Tim Chaddick put it the truth will often be perceived as unloving.

I do not believe ANYONE who is elect falls away. God's work upon salvation is perfect according to His will. You can have confidence and hope in your salvation. Salvation isn't a crap shoot, or more appropriately a dart board. If you believe it is a dart board, how can you be confident in where your dart will land?

I had the Perfect Birthday

2010-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

A couple days ago, it was my birthday.

I've never been a huge fan of celebrating my own birthday. I never plan a party or even small get togethers. I don't even post my birthday on my facebook account. And every time someone remembers or figures it out and surprises me with something, I end up feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

I don't like to think of my birthday as a time to reflect on my present but rather look into the future. So as a tradition, all I do on my birthday is I plan on having dinner with one person I don't know very well.

I had made plans with a relatively new friend but they backed out on me at the last second. A little frustrating but I could deal. I figured out that I create all these lists and I should use one. I had a list of women I wanted to get to know better and decided to revisit it. Hopefully one of them would be willing to hang out with me on my birthday (despite the fact that none of them knew it was my birthday).

Well one wanted nothing to do with me. Another was studying overseas. Another had a retreat. It was the "half-birthday" of yet another and she celebrated that with her grandmother and was busy every second the rest of the weekend.

That just left one person.

I don't want to get into the particulars of our discussion but she accepted. We went to dinner and dessert and had a great time (I think). We're just friends and we went out without any other agenda or ulterior motive. It was really good to finally get to hang out with her and get to know her finally. I mean I did meet her close to a year ago.

So to me, it was the perfect birthday. No one spent money on me, I didn't get any presents, no one went out of their way. But hopefully a made a new or better friend. And that's all that I needed.

My Reality LA notes 2/7/2010

2010-02-07T12:36:00.001-08:00

Romans 9:1-3
Pastor Tim Chaddick

To love people is extremely difficult
•heart grieves for them balanced by joy
•but what about those we get no joy from?

Christ calls us to love our enemies
•almost unbearable
•possible through the gospel

Cant look at world as good and bad
•because of sin we all share

By grace we can love
•we were enemies to God

The Christian life is one of joy AND sorrow
•love involves anguish
•CS Lewis "the four loves" pg 169
•we mourn over petty things
•heart should increase in anguish for others

Spurgeon
•worry about mens souls and petty concerns wash away

Nothing can separate us from Christ's love
Chapter 9 is transition from celebration to laminations
Paul is anguishing over Jews salvation

HAHA, I WANT TO GET INTO ROMANS 9 AND THEOLOGY!!!!! BUT I APPRECIATE THIS INTRO.

Why grief?
•they trusted in their own righteousness
-cant be sinless in obeying law
-law is to point to righteousness
-rom 10:3
-became our own savior
-whats wrong with a crutch? WHEN WE LIMP
•they rejected the only thing that could save them from the curse of the Law
-they reject jesus
-not because they are worse
-no spiritual switzerland
-Gal 3:13
-Common Grace points toward God
-God of wrath because of His love
-the problem of sin is its all of us
-dealt with sin by sending his Son
-we receive salvation by faith. HOW DO WE GET FAITH?
-we have sign points toward God but we trust in the signs themselves
-CS Lewis "problem of pain" chp 8

Why express grief
•people doubted Paul's love because of the message he preached
•paul writes not from superiority but sincerity
-talking about judgment is often interpreted as hate
-was: i disapprove of what you say but defend to death your right to say it
-now: if I disagree with what you say is hate
-God of love can't disagree WRONG
-God determines what is right
-god can't love u unless he accept you is to disregard Jesus -comes off as superior
-we are defined by what we are against
-USC wifi signal "UCLA sucks"
-only by sheer grace do we have relationship with God
-1 tim 1:12-13
-explaining change is difficult
-the only people who can feel superior are those who haven't realized their own depravity

How is grief expressed?
•with sincere emotion and sacrificial desire
-we mistake mourning without truth as love
-we must proclaim and grieve
-Paul wishes he could be damned so they would not be
-not possible request, not a perfect sacrifice
-Exodus 32:30-32

AM I WILLING TO GIVE UP GLORIFICATION FOR OTHERS - IF I COULD? LORD, BREAK MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND ME....

www.realityla.com

ALL CAPS ARE MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Trevor Smith is my Hero

2010-02-03T00:38:00.000-08:00

I walked into a room last with three people I respect greatly. But they were three people I disagree with regarding theology.

I don't really know how I became the resident Calvinist. I know there are others out there but it appears I'm the one generally called upon to defend the reformed faith.

I don't want to get into the meat of our discussion because it was all over the place and could fill volumes.

Well the three of them were discussing their 'heros' spiritually. They started naming off (I assume) pastors, church leaders and 'prophets'.

I looked at them and told them that one of them; Trevor Smith, was one of my heros. If you consider a hero to be someone who has profoundly affected your life for the positive without regard for themselves, then Trevor Smith would fit that bill.

Trevor has taught me two important life lessons.

1) You never know if you're standing next to the girl you're going to marry (not an applicable lesson in this discussion)

2) He challenged me on my beliefs on the world.

The second is the one I'm focusing on. I was in a really dark place for a long time, very upset by the Christian community, the Christian church and the Christian God.

I wouldn't say I was an atheist. I always believed in God, I just really hated him because I assumed He hated me.

Trevor challenged me as to why that is by simply asking me what the definition of a single word was - Love.

As a result of that conversation, I continued on a long soteriological journey and by the Grace of God (pun totally intended) I had refound my faith. I have never been more interested in the bible, in discerning the Word, in growing in relation with the Lord.

If it weren't for Trevor Smith I wouldn't be Christian today. Of course, to his dismay, I would also not be a Calvinist.

I felt a huge reason I struggled with my faith for so long was that I had no framework by which to correlate my faith into practice. Basically I was a dry sponge as a new Christian and I took all messages within the big umbrella of Christianity and tried absorbing it all with out discretion. That left me a confused person without the tools to discern false teachings and I was sucked into many things that I now recognize were fruitless.

Now I truly feel I understand for the first time the truth of Gospel.

That God never allows anything but rather sovereignly and justly wills everything. That the work of salvation is singularly a work upon the Lord. That man's will can only do what it is capable of doing. That we are worse than we think we are. That sickness and suffering are forms of God's Love. That the clay can never tell the potter what to do.

Such a moment of neccessary discernment came up during our lively conversation. The three of them challenged me on Hebrews 6:4-6 which says:

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt."

My friends would argue that this verse proves that a regenerated Christian can choose to lose his faith. When they mentioned it, I really had only a vague understanding of the verse. My previous self would have simply taken their assertions at face value and continued to be confused by the clear contradiction with the rest of the bible.

But once I studied it further I realized that it does not refer to a regenerated Christian but by one who was never regenerated and never will be. The missing component was the theological concept of common grace. Common Grace allows the wicked and unrighteous to be enlightened, taste heavenly gifts, share in the Holy Spirit and have the word. None those suggest that such a person received saving grace, only that they enjoyed the love and community of the church.

John Hendryx put it best when he wrote:

Tragically, the very next text (which is crucial) is also often left off by those who claim regenerate Christians can fall away ... a text which qualifies the preceding text. The writer of Hebrews in verse 9 says, "Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation." If the author of Hebrews is confident of better things of the persons he is speaking with, things that belong to salvation, then obviously falling away does not belong to it. This is a clear statement that the author was not describing saving faith of those who are in danger of falling away in the preceding passage, because the kind of response that falls away, he says, are not among the "things that belong to salvation." So whatever the things the author just described about falling away in Heb 6:4-8 are not the characteristics of true regenerate persons. People can be enlightened and taste and partake .... They may be externally a part of the church and receive external blessings, yet if they abandon trust in Christ for ritual or something else, there is no hope for their salvation. They were never regenerate to begin with for falling away does not accompany or belong to true salvation, according to the text."

For the full commentary you can find it here.

Trevor and I greatly disagree on this point but the point is without him, I wouldn't be around, equiped or motivated to argue it.

Thanks Trevor. You're my hero

Mass Effect 2, Water on the Row, Free Hugs and Jesus

2010-01-29T04:53:00.001-08:00

Mass Effect 2 recently was released. I had never played Mass Effect 1 or really even heard of it so it meant very little to me. But I came across a room of guys huddled around a television as one person played the new game.

Its a first person shooter with and interlaced RPG story. I had caught the game play in the middle of talking to friendly characters.

I watched as the hero of the game had a discussion with an AI counterpart. He said a line that would be very profound for the rest of the night.

"You talk about yourself like you're a tool to be used"

I committed myself to use that line sometime that night as I went out to Water on the Row because I thought it was clever and relevant if I got into a good conversation. I couldn't imagine the events that would proceed.

For several years, my Christ-Centered Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Omega (AGO), has had a ministry where they hand out free water to the students of USC who frequent the Greek Row on Thursday nights.

It has taken different forms over the years. Sometimes its been totally supported by AGO. Other times the fraternity has distanced itself from it. Sometimes its accompanied by food, conversation and hanging out. Other times it seems like they give water out at an incredulously high rate without rhyme or reason.

My personal feeling regarding Water on the Row have. teetered back and forth over the years. Sometimes I love it. Other times I want to throw it out with the bath water.

Tonight I went to the first water on the row for the semester with a good heart and open attitude.

One of the new guys was giving out a bottle of water when someone asked him why we were doing this.

His response floored me.

"I don't know"

I began to press him on his statement. How could he not know after doing this all last semester. He asked me for an answer but I didn't want to tell him until I did a little more investigating. I wanted to know what other guys thought. As expected, the older guys had a good strong idea. The younger guys seemed like they had no clue.

The answer is simple. Water on the Row is an act upon which the Gospel is ultimately shared. You can say it however you want but the answer is always Jesus.

The same guy who had no answer later came by a group of people I was talking and asked for a pen. He decided to make a sign that read "free hugs" since they had run out of water to give out.

He wasn't very successful with the sign until he handed it over a cute girl in a short black dress.

EVERYONE wanted to hug her.

In fact, I went over to hug her and then continued on with my conversation a few steps away. As I watched her continue to give hugs out, I was curious about exactly what was going on.

I went back over to her and asked her what she was doing. Her response floored me even more. She told me she was jewish, believed in Jesus but was not a christian. She like giving hugs for the attention.

I looked her straight in the face and said, "You talk about yourself like you're a tool to be used."

Thank God for inspiration through animated video game characters!

It started a conversation. We went back and forth as to why she wasn't a christian and how she could become one. I invited her to church and assured her there was no condemnation Christ couldn't atone for. I told her she really didn't have to give out free hugs.

What she did next both heartened and disheartened me at the same time. She continued to give these free hugs out but began telling people that they should love Jesus or believe in Jesus or become Christians.

This cute Jewish girl who was a self proclaimed non- christian was proclaiming the name of Jesus more than any AGO guy had ever done during Water on the Row.

Was the situation the best? No. Was it super effective? No. But it was infinitely more effective than handing out water and not knowing why you were doing it. She got it. Why couldn't the guys.

Its all about Jesus.

Later she told me she appreciated the fact that I was straight with her about Jesus and that I didn't take advantage of her. We swapped numbers and I'm serious and intentional about pouring the Love of Christ into her because God has clearly put her into my life for a reason. Hopefully I can hang out with her more and take her to church (which she has never been).

Water on the Row is a ministry event. If you're not ministering, why are you out there? Be intentional and be bold for Christ is bold within you.

I ask you to pray that the Holy Spirit can come into her heart and pray that the Holy Spirit more easily present himself in our lives.

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President Obama wants to socialize College Education

2010-01-27T23:06:00.000-08:00

There are a thousand things that can be written and will be written about the State of the Union address tonight. I’ve already done a little channel surfing.

Rachel Maddow talked about how President should be more liberal.

Sarah Palin called the speech a lecture, unconnected to the American people.

Keith Olberman repeated that the GOP is the party of “No.”

Sean Hannity points out how often President Obama blames President Bush.

Steven Nunez said concerning paying for success, “on that same note we should eliminate welfare.”

To me, it’s clear that President Obama wants people to become more relient on government and turn toward socialized everything.

As a certified professional political hack, I don’t pretend to claim the necessary knowledge to make a lot of insight on the various policy discussions (unlike a lot of talking heads). I know what I like and I know what I don’t like. President Obama said a lot of things.

It’s what he didn’t say that I found most surprising; Public Option, Cap and Trade, Don’t ask Don’t Tell or War on Terrorism. Same ideas, different words. And he’s already lied concerning a number of promises: health care debates on C-SPAN, closing gitmo, having no lobbyists in his administration, unemployment not going over 8%.

But there is one issue I find I have to discuss. President Obama announced a total overhaul over student loan programs. Let me give you a small outline of President Obama’s plan.

First, he wants to federalize all student loans meaning that the federal government will be the only entity by which you can obtain a loan.

Second, he wants a $10,000 tax credit for families who send their kids to college

Third, he wants to cap loan repayments to 10% of a person’s income.

Fourth, he wants all loans to be “forgiven” after 20 years.

Finally, he wants all loans to be “forgiven” after 10 years if you work in “public service.”

Those all sound good but the devastating affect it will have on higher education.

First, there will be no competition for student loans. And with the government having that much power, they very well could use that influence to decide what majors you can study, or even schools you can go to.

Second, schools (including Junior Colleges) will no longer care about holding down tuition. In fact, they will be encouraged to raise tuition, forcing their student body to “borrow” more money and bring more money into the school’s coffers because under this system, schools will be paid regardless and student payments for their loans are never going to be higher or longer.

Third, the vast majority of these loans will never be paid back. Lets say you make $48,000 a year for 20 years. That would be a max pay out of $96,000. There are a lot of people who loan out more than $96,000 when you include interest.

Fourth, it encourages graduates to work in low paying jobs to keep their repayments at low levels. I recognize this as the weakest of my arguments withouth further explanation.

Finally, it’s basically bribing people into public service which everyone should recognize does not create wealth or is self sustaining. We need private sector jobs, not public sector ones.

What President Obama said might have sounded good, buts a clear road to the destruction of higher education or a signal of what President Really wants – to socialize higher education the way he wants to socialize the rest of America.

Jennie Yang needs our prayers now more than ever

2010-01-25T23:39:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, So if you hadn't heard yet, Jennie and her family found out today that the osteosarcoma (hip cancer) that she had and recovered from during high school has come back. Even though she's beat it before, the treatment process is very intense and difficult and so many more issues now come up in treating both the osteosarcoma and glioblastoma she had last semester. Basically, this is the 4th cancer she's had now and things aren't looking good. From what I heard, she was in really broken spirits today and her whole family is pretty shaken again.That said, please be in prayer for her and her family. God is so so much bigger than any cancers or any side affects or anything else against her body or their family's well-being. Also, if you know her, I'm sure a text message, a wall post, or an e-mail would be super encouraging for her!

Much love, deneel

p.s. This is her last CaringBridge post if you hadn't read it.

"I had several doctors appointments this week for my 6 month check ups for my osteosarcoma. On Thursday, I met with Dr. Wilkins, my orthopedic surgeon. My left hip has been swollen and growing in size. Because of this, Dr. Wilkins wanted to confirm it wasn't a tumor. He took a needle biopsy and we got the results back today. It turns out that the osteosarcoma I had over four years ago came back. We do not know the details of exactly where it is in my left hip, or what stage, and have not even gotten a hold of my oncologist, Dr. Albano yet. I suspect that I will be undergoing the same chemotherapy I recieved last time. This treatment was significantly more difficult that the one I am recieving for the glioblastoma. We will have to discuss how I am to be treated for two different cancers simultaneously. This is obviously extremely disappointing news, and we will be meeting with Dr. Albano soon to work out details. We will update you as soon as we know! For now, please be praying for the staging tests I will be getting this week, and that they show no evidence of cancer elsewhere. Also, I have been feeling especially fatigued and nauseous the past couple of days."

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If I were trying to steal someone's girlfriend (which I am not)

2010-01-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

So recently a friend of mine accused me (mostly jokingly) of trying to "swoop" in on his woman of interest. As we were driving home from pinks he asked me if I had any music to act as my "theme song" of me trying to take his woman. Well I only had one song and we had a good laugh. But I was curious what else was out there. So here's a compilation of videos I found (the first is the one i had in my car). Let me know if I missed any good ones.

AND TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYONE FROM ANYONE

No Wildcat, play the Kiffin

2010-01-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine with ties to USC football program (not Ben Malcolmson) told me that highly touted recruit Dillon Baxter recommitted to USC following the Pete Carroll exodus and Lane Kiffin homecoming on one condition - USC would occassionally run the wildcat.

This doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense with a sophomore QB in Matt Barkley as a pocket passer. I'm not even sure Kiffin has the wildcat in his playbook.

Basically Baxter is a running back who played QB in high school. Now while the depth chart may keep his legs off the field his freshman year, I asked myself why it needs to keep his arm off the field.

Now I'm not saying bench Barkley. In fact, my idea is more radical.

The concept of the wildcat is that playing with no QB confuses defenses. My idea is the same concept in reverse.

Play with two QB's!

I call it the Kiffin (working title)

Basically you play in a split shotgun formation but instead of a QB behind center with a Tailback on either side; you have a Tailback behind center with a QB on either side.

The center could snap the ball to either of the three. A snap to Barkley could be thrown or handed off for a draw. A snap to Bradford could be a run or simply a hand off to either QB for a pass. And a snap to Baxter could be a run or pass.

The combinations are endless. Baxter passes to Bradford. Bradford hands off to Baxter. Barkley throws to Baxter.

With all the threats in the backfield, it will completely shut down defenses. If you have to commit a linebacker or defensive end to each QB, you both severely diminish the blitz and create a lot of one on one match ups down field.

Below are three plays I've crudely drawn up. Now if I could only get someone to try it out.

TB Sweep Left: Snap to QB1 (Matt Barkley) and hands off to the TB.

Quick Slant: Snap to the TB, hand off to QB1. QB2 runs the seam while TB goes into the flat. Option 1 is the slanting WR
QB Speed Option Pass: Snap to QB1 and bootlegs left. Options to TB, throws down field or throws back to QB1 for another pass

Coakley Lost Because She's a Woman

2010-01-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

Martha Coakley, a woman, lost to Scott Brown, a man, in the bluest of blue states, Massachusetts.

Its historic, amazing, and nearly unbelievable. A Republican hasn't been elected to the Senate from Massachusetts in a generation. And while that is quite a feat to break that streak, the real noteworthy streak is that Massachusetts has never elected a female senator.

And while the liberal media bicker over who is to blame for this debacle, no one is saying the obvious.

Martha Coakley lost because she's a woman.

Now do I believe that?

Of course not!

But if Coakley had been a republican, you can guarantee her gender would be part of the sniping between local and national democratic leaders as well as the media narrative. We've already seen that with Dede Scozzafava in NY 23

Politico wrote:

Conservatives say they pushed Dede Scozzafava out of the House race in New York’s 23rd District a week ago because of her left-of-Republican social views — and not because she is a woman.

But the growing schism between the Republican Party’s ascendant right wing and its shrinking moderate core has clear gender undertones — and Scozzafava’s departure raises fresh questions about the GOP’s ability to recruit, elect and even tolerate the sort of moderate women who used to be part of its ruling mainstream.

ABC News wrote:

But some believe the right’s ideology police will swoop down on more women candidates. Scozzafava, they say, is only the first Republican woman to be targeted. Next on the chopping block, says author Linda Hirshman, is Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. Senator Hutchison is in a tight primary race for Governor “and unwilling to say women should go to jail for their abortions,” writes Hirshman, “She is the next duck in the barefoot and pregnant shooting gallery.”

I can only imagine Keith Olberman opining that a republican Coakley in a red state lost because of the chauvinistic bovine white men with their wacko conservative religiosity.

But that won't happen.

Instead the left wing media, livid by the loss, will continue to make excuses. Rachel Maddow said on her show after the Brown acceptance speech, that voters clearly didn't know that Brown was of all dreaded things - a conservative. I love it when liberals are upset by an election or a poll its because the voters are uninformed or just plain wrong like when Coakley claimed 61% of voters were wrong.

Olberman claimed brown won by positioning himself a moderate for change when he clearly wasn't based on his partisan voting record. Sound like any other politicians we know? And its not the Massachusetts voters who are sexist, but only Scott Brown.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

There is one thing that I take away from this election.

And no, its not that the GOP can win anywhere and everywhere. This is still a special election with special circumstances. While remarkable and a great victory, shouldn't be seen as an easy path ahead. We have work to do.

What I take away is that it appears that it is democrats who have a hard time electing well qualified women.

Hillary Clinton, the overwhelming favorite in the 2008 Democratic primary lost to a good looking, little known, charismatic Senator in Barack Obama.

Martha Coakley, the overwhelming favorite in the special election by sheer demographics and history, lost to a good looking, little known, charismatic State Senator in Scott Brown.

Both have been accused of running bad campaigns, taking votes for granted and underestimating the anger or frustration of their opponent's side.

For me this plays out at home. I still feel the likely republican candidates for the California governor and senate race will be women. This race is already trickling down to how it could affect a blue state like California.

Let's see if the gender card is in play with GOP women in 2010 as it has not in this election.

And let's not forget Sarah Palin in 2012.

The Day After

2010-01-15T03:52:00.001-08:00

On wednesday night I went over to her place to give her the gift. More importantly - to have the conversation I had been thinking about for weeks.

Well she absolutely loved the gift - no surprise.

More importantly - I was finally able to have the conversation we needed to have.

While the conversation didn't turn out to be the best possible scenario I finally had answers to the questions that were plaguing me and closure for a relationship that never was.

And now I'm really happy.

I realize it didn't turn out the way I would have liked but it means so much more to no longer be confused and stand on solid ground with myself.

Thursday night I was perfectly content to hang out with some people, cook some food (something I haven't been doing enough of) and see what else was out there.

Then she walked in.

I wasn't sure how I would react the next time I saw her. I knew that I inevitably would, I just didn't realize that it would be the day after.

I don't know why it didn't occur to me that she might be there. But it didn't and she was.

She looked amazing - like a shining moon on a clear winter night. I could almost swear she was glowing.

I looked like I had just come out of a meat grinder myself - a T-shirt and jeans and grilling for several hours covered by the unavoidable blanket of smoke and fire.

I bit my lip and smiled with a salutation of shock and surprise. I hugged her; different than times before, but still a little more special than an average friend.

I asked her if she wanted some food. She let me know what she wanted and casually walked away. I hand delivered her food, the only occasion I did all night. I went back to the grill and feed a couple more people.

She hung out with other people throughout the rest of the night only coming back toward me for some more food. I didn't make an effort to notice what she was doing inside.

As most people had eaten, they left me outside to frolic inside. I made myself a burger and ate, sitting on top of a cooler in the middle of a stagnant pool of rain water.

As I sat there I began to laugh. I had realized just how happy I was. I had realized that I was alone and for the first time in a long time, happy to be alone.

The day after wasn't so bad, it was in fact great. I had true closure, true answers and true happiness about it.

I didn't notice her leave.

I would want to send her a text message or a facebook post telling how it was a great to see her or sorry that I didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

But I can't because I would do those things to show that I still really care about her, which I greatly do. I just recognize that its not my place to. I don't have that right - if I ever did.
But I hope she knows that if she ever wanted an ice cream, or a hot chocolate on a rainy night or just an extra piece of bacon; I'm only a call, a text, a message away.

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The Definition of Love (and other things)

2010-01-12T23:51:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I was having a frozen yogurt with Trevor Smith and he asked me for my definition of "Love"

I thought for a second an replied honestly.

Love is an inappropriate response to negative stimulus.

My answer caught him off guard. But as I explained my thoughts further, I feel he understood better while still not completely accepting the definition.

But the reality is that the definition is only one of a spectrum - a spectrum I felt was important to lay out visually.

Basically, I feel all relationships can be defined as a combination of two factors - stimulus and response.

There are positive stimuli and negative.

There are appropriate responses and inappropriate ones. I think the chart is pretty much self explanatory.

Let me know if you have any questions or tell me what you think

Kirk Cameron, a beautiful model, and the trunk of my car

2010-01-12T04:28:00.000-08:00

The other day I watched the Christian movie Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron.

I realized as I began watching it that many of the Christians around me frowned upon the cinematic piece because, for a lack of a better description, it’s wanting cinematic quality.

I don’t pretend to understand them. Most of them are either aspiring actors of directors so I suppose they have some right. But do they have a right to attack the closest thing I do to worship?

I don’t enjoy or appreciate worship music. I usually arrive at church late or leave early just to avoid it. But I would never walk into a worship session and actively criticize people for their simple guitar chords and pitchy voices. It’s how they choose to worship God and I respect that. It saddens me that they can’t respect that when I watch a movie like Fireproof or Facing the Giants, that’s tantamount to worship for me and they have no reservation regarding it.

Well I loved the movie and it really made me think about things.

I’m not married so it might not seem all that relevant to my life on the outside but I think it spoke into my heart regarding spiritual leadership and what it means to make an effort through Christ.

It gave me perspective on a conversation earlier in the day with a woman – who is just a friend. She’s a beautiful person and an amazing model. We were walking back from Taco Bell when she was telling us about this guy, a friend of her parents, who was super ancient (25).

Apparently he’s been quite 'persistent' with her; asking her to coffee and whatnot over the Christmas break. And when she came back to L.A. from the break, he would ask her when a good time to call would be. She describes him as a nice guy and a 'legit' Christian. Never really got to the “but” of the situation.

Every time I seem to get into a conversation with Christian women about relationships, they always talk about how they wished Christian guys were more forward, more intentional, more persistent and would pursue them.

So the conversation with my model friend really made me laugh because that’s exactly what the guy is trying to do.

It also makes me laugh because I actively do the same thing and I’m often rebuked for it. Well what I’m about to say is really going to cause some people to rebuke me.

Women are liars.

No matter how often they’ve told me, they do not want guys to be more forward. They want guys they like to be more forward. And the guys they don’t like, they politely string along or straight out ignore. If I were to give advice to women (and believe me they should hesitate to accept it) learn how to say no. Don’t say you’re busy, don’t ignore us and don’t talk about it with your friends.

Just say no!

You can’t expect guys to be straight forward if we can never get a straight forward answer.

And I realize I’m in just such a dreaded situation now.

I feel that right now I’m being strung along and it’s not relevant whether she’s actively or passively doing it.

And I don’t really mind because I genuinely like her and while in my mind I’m always wondering, in my actions I assume nothing is wrong.

But I realize after watching Fireproof and this discussion with my model friend, it is time that I know. In the trunk of my car is a gift for her and when I give it to her, I’m going to find out how if this is worth pursuing or if I’m just spinning my wheels. I realize how awkward that sounds, but if this is a “relationship” at all, it has got to survive some awkwardness.

I’ll let you know

Contradictory Health Care Narratives

2010-01-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

There exist two diametrically opposed narratives regarding the passage of the health care bill by the liberal establishment.

One suggested by many pundits is that health care continues to do poorly in polls primarily because of misinformation or simply a lack of general knowledge of what's in "the" bill. I use the article "the" loosely since we really don't know what "the" final bill will resemble.

Syndicated columnist Froma Harrop wrote:

Yes, most Americans have told pollsters that they don't approve of the health care legislation. But an even greater percentage -- I guarantee you -- has little idea what's really in it.

The other narrative; completely contradictory to the first, put forth by the administration is that Americans have enough or even too much information regarding health care. Then candidate Obama suggested during the campaign to open health care talks to unprecedented transparency via c-span. A compilation video can be seen below.

C-Span has now reached out to the Administration to make good on its promise in a letter sent earlier this week.

President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system. Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between Chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American.

But now President Obama believes such a promise is no longer necessary because the President's talking head Robert Gibbs has announced that Americans know too much about the health care bill. Check the video out here:

It will be interesting to see which narrative gains a foothold moving forward. Either Americans don't know or they know too much. Will liberal commentators, bloggers and talking heads admit that the American public knows all they need to regarding health care and that's why its doing so badly in the polls. Or will the Administration admit that there are still a lot of questions regarding the health care bill and that transparency; which they fervently promised, not speed is necessary.

I doubt either will come to those conclusions.

My belief is that these narratives will both turn against liberals as a message of "you're too stupid to understand" and "nothing is gained is trying to explain it to you." Both are standard messages of the liberal elite whether it be media or government.

We'll see how that message works for them in the mid-term elections.

2009 Year in Review via Tweets

2009-12-30T20:55:00.000-08:00

A lot of people are publishing their "Year in Review."

Well I wanted to do the same except with a slight tweek - or more appropraitely - tweet.

I downloaded every tweet i made in 2009 (all 2000 of them) and went through and identified the 100 most memoriable, significant or important tweets this year.

Some are news related, some are political, some are insights, some are fond memories, some are not so fond memories. If they don't make sense out of context, you just have to understand that they are important to me.

So here it is. My 100 top tweets:

1. I just won $250 on the Trojans Victory. Fight on! 5:43 PM Jan 1st

2. Did not watch the inauguration 12:14 PM Jan 20th

3. Finished a project and got grilled for it! Loved every minute.... 8:10 AM Jan 27th

4. Is going to be in Michigan for and hour and a half and hopes he doesn't get arrested. 9:26 AM Jan 28th

5. Congratulations chairman michael steele 1:15 PM Jan 30th

6. Just found out sarah lynn kelley is 25! Out of this world 12:09 AM Feb 4th

7. Congratulation neil patrick butler. Welcome to the world! 11:55 AM Feb 6th

8. Glen Beck has made me fall in love with Fox News all over again 2:41 AM Feb 8th

9. Mr. President, bipartisanship doesn't mean republicans becoming your yes men. Thank you Sen Gregg. #TCOT 6:42 PM Feb 12th

10. First George W Bush shout out at CR meeting with applause. #tcot #cagop 3:18 PM Feb 21st

11. Thank you to @davidall & @techrepublican for posting my #rnc video application to their website http://tinyurl.com/ah4r4u #tcot #techgop 1:39 PM Feb 24th

12. I have an interview with a direct mail company who wants to expand into social media in 10 minutes #tcot #techgop @TheRightJobs 1:22 PM Mar 10th

13. My life is in my car (as are two pledges) 11:38 AM Mar 20th

14. Contemplating why Christian women are so complicated. Why can't I find a nice atheist to date. Oh yeah, already tried that-epic fail 6:46 AM Mar 22nd

15. Why is it everywhere I go SHE miraculously shows up?!?! I serious can't get her out of my life. I might as well ask her out again. 7:38 PM Mar 24th

16. Met a girl named susan marie tonight. She was nice but I'll probably never see her again. 1:38 AM Apr 1st

17. sometimes a head on someone else's shoulder is like a boot crushing your broken heart. 10:29 PM Apr 1st

18. She likes "when men take charge". Take charge! | I'm totally failing at this right now 5:02 AM Apr 6th

19. Just Because @}--,---'--- 11:23 PM Apr 6th

20. I was just told that I am undateable. Probably true. 8:56 PM Apr 8th

21. A single text message (not even sent to me) just made my day. 3:57 AM Apr 9th

22. Beat geoff at chess. Now eating mushroom caps 1:24 PM Apr 12th

23. I'm turning in my shingle. Oh wait, I already did 10:14 PM Apr 13th

24. Happy tax day! Why is it happy? Because today marks the beginning of Americans taking back their country with #teaparty protest! #tcot 2:22 AM Apr 15th

25. Watched ADX become a force on campus, ate chinese food with friends, walked songfest directors home, and "she" liked the hat. Great night! 4:23 AM Apr 18th

26. Brad Schell is my favorite new active (not to be confused with my new favorite active) 2:10 AM Apr 19th

27. Changing a friends tire, dinner at soup plantation with @stevenmw8 & jensen, driving around L.A randomly, quite the adventure 8:20 PM Apr 24th

28. She's getting married today. I wish her the best of luck. Hopefully I'll get over her soon but for now my wasted heart remains alone 8:40 AM Apr 25th

29. Like moonlight through rustling branches on a cold spring night; my faith may tremble or quiver but in the end never fail to shine 2:25 PM Apr 26th

30. RT @VBSchmuck: Sen Specter just switched to Democrat. #patcot #tcot see www.pagop.org for soon to be released statement by the PA Rep. Party 10:47 AM Apr 28th

31. I promised elizabeth stinnett that I wouldn't tweet during el cholo. 6:57 PM Apr 28th

32. MY FRIEND DOESN'T HAVE SWINE FLU!!!!! 10:11 AM Apr 29th

33. I may not be a prince but she'll always be a princess to me 4:28 PM May 2nd

34. My problem isn't that I fall in love too easily; its that I fall out of love too hard 9:49 PM May 5th

35. The sweetest milkshakes are often the ones you never taste. 12:37 AM May 10th

36. She had to bring up dodger date night. 8:27 PM May 18th

37. Kris allen wins american idol! Red states win! 10:05 PM May 20th

38. Everytime I look at my phone I see that smile and it it keeps me awake. Maybe that's why I feel I haven't slept in days. 12:34 AM May 29th

39. Totally exhausted, the meg whitman john mccain event was fun but tiring. Thanks @bryanwatkins for lunch. Sleep now. Door build tomorrow! 2:52 PM May 29th

40. Just found out that the last girl I "kissed" ended up joining the army. 9:24 PM May 30th

41. At the yardhouse for @justincgrubbs going away dinner. 6:46 PM Jun 3rd

42. I hate when people text me claiming to be my friend when they never talk to me except when they want something. 1:00 AM Jun 6th

43. At the 2-9 with angelika and bob. 7:57 PM Jun 6th

44. My prayers go out to the victims of the holocaust museum shooting 2:22 PM Jun 10th

45. What I wish I could say to her- "You're amazing, you're perfect & I would willingly give you my heart but unfortunately you already have it" 10:26 PM Jun 10th

46. I hated (absolutely hated) "she's just not that into you" 12:04 AM Jun 16th

47. Success doe not equal freedom. But failure equals tyranny #iranelection #iran #tcot 1:17 PM Jun 20th

48. From TMZ: Michael Jackson has died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, RIP 2:53 PM Jun 25th

49. Love is an inappropriate response to negative stimulus 8:53 PM Jun 30th

50. Sarah Palin announces she's resigning down as Alaska Governor. #tcot 1:12 PM Jul 3rd

51. Tricked into lunch, and my Heart for Jesus has been reinvigorated. Also reaffirmed that a BLT has no turkey :) 11:46 AM Jul 16th

52. I got an annymous mention in #jakeandlindsay wedding slideshow as the "other fraternity guy". So sad I wasn't memorable 9:35 PM Jul 23rd

53. People think I'm wasteful for throwing away my socks. Well my country is thrwoing away perfectly usuable cars. 3:53 PM Aug 3rd

54. I had a dream that I found a new girlfriend who was amazing and made me want to be a better person. Now I just have to find her. 5:25 PM Aug 8th

55. I'm at a party with a bottle cap bowl. How classy 4:54 PM Aug 22nd

56. Edward kennedy is dead. May God bless his family and friends 10:45 PM Aug 25th

57. Found a Piper book in the quint. Sticking around to read 6:44 PM Aug 31st

58. AMEN RT @joyfulrhythm: God is in sovereign control over all things according to His wise, gracious, Christ-glorifying plan. 11:11 PM Aug 31st

59. Watching a Mark Driscoll podcast on friendship, was just praying about this yesterday. Amazing God! #RFML 3:03 PM Sep 2nd

60. Ponce just told me to "shut the F* up". Good work AGO 5:46 PM Sep 6th

61. If you get beyond the liberal undertones, GLEE is amazing! 10:00 PM Sep 9th

62. Never Forget... http://bit.ly/gfn14 8:57 PM Sep 11th

63. We're Trojans- it's what we do 9:23 PM Sep 12th

64. "True freedom is slavery to Christ" -Tim Chaddick #RFML 4:42 PM Sep 15th

65. Win, we praise Him. Lose, we praise Him 3:49 PM Sep 19th

66. The left wing light show nearly killed me. Thanks #DTLA 12:01 AM Sep 20th

67. Meeting someone for the first time you've only tweeted with is so much fun because small talk isn't neccessary. Thanks @ReporterHaley 1:04 AM Sep 24th

68. Just got hit on by a hot republican cougar. 4:57 PM Sep 25th

69. Anaheim Angels paying tribute to adenhartj who was killed by a drunk driver, by pouring beer on his jersey. Outrageous! 6:25 PM Sep 29th

70. Going to the house of pies with 2 ADX pledges, switchleap and his roomate. 12:02 AM Oct 4th

71. You can't beileve how difficult it is to get a box of jellybeans through airport security. 12:49 PM Oct 4th

72. RT @PeteCarroll: This is stafon...thank you all 4 the prayers and love I truly feel it... We ride 2gether we die 2gther umma TROJAN 4 LIFE 2:36 PM Oct 4th

73. I had a good time tonight. I learned that I was an introvert and I'm okay with that 11:07 PM Oct 8th

74. Going to vegas.... Don't know why 3:16 PM Oct 11th

75. I agree completely! RT @hiphoponpop: I would be *lucky* to have a woman as committed and loving as Terri Schuester. <3 her. #Glee 10:59 PM Oct 14th

76. I enjoy it when people re-friend me on facebook after un-friending me. It actually made my day 1:29 AM Oct 19th

77. RT @marinalynn: How come in college simply dating is practically unhear of?! College boys are so timid. Ask girls on dates!! We like it!! 10:12 PM Oct 21st

78. Chase Edler: in life I barely knew you. In death, you changed my life. Happy Birthday... 11:45 PM Oct 21st

79. At the Hat, saying goodbye to Don 7:11 PM Oct 22nd

80. I will never go to Lucky Boy’s ever again http://bit.ly/4DDpLk 5:22 AM Oct 25th

81. PLEASE PRAY FOR JENNY YANG http://bit.ly/1AbOCS 12:18 PM Oct 30th

82. For halloween I'm going to be myself; because its the biggest mask I ever wear 7:59 PM Oct 31st

83. Sometimes a single message can start the week off right :) 12:19 AM Nov 2nd

84. RT @mindyfinn: Prayers for #fthood victims' families. Tragic. It's one of those events we won't forget soon. House calls moment of silence. 5:43 PM Nov 5th

85. A celebration of the fall of the Berlin wall without a single mention of Reagan but chants of "Yes we can." Seriously people! 1:29 AM Nov 9th

86. Thought I'd be sweet and get someone ice cream but ended up just buying two couples some. Atleast they're happy.... 12:08 AM Nov 15th

87. No Believe... In Holiday Magic tonight. More time to spend with friends on my last night in D-Land. 9:46 PM Nov 15th

88. Congratulations barejumper, buddy, knack, sixty, porky, ltd and planeteer. New AGO E-Board 7:15 PM Nov 16th

89. Congratulations Tim Callahan and Bonnie Hui. 12:24 PM Nov 28th

90. Cooked for a couple hundred people, made food float on an indoor river, got caught checking out a girl; now am officially exhausted 1:04 AM Dec 7th

91. I know I should punt but I just keep taking delay of game penalties 10:33 PM Dec 8th

92. Enjoyed President Obama's nobel peace prize speech. There is evil in the world, and jihadists are a disservice to faith. #tcot 5:22 AM Dec 10th

93. What the difference between tiger woods and santa clause? Santa clause stops at 3 ho's. LOL 10:34 PM Dec 11th

94. A woman called me stupid for liking Sarah Palin and that she exploits her downsyndrom baby. its sad to see Palinphobia in real life #tcot 11:11 PM Dec 11th

95. Just finished writing a letter that took a month and a half to write. 1:01 AM Dec 21st

96. Sitting on the phone with Toys 'r Us on hold for an hour and a half is like being at the dentist without the cute nurse to look at. #itslove 5:36 PM Dec 21st

97. Rudy Giuliani won't run for office in 2010. I would have followed him anywhere #tcot 8:34 AM Dec 22nd

98. Why is it when someone needs something broken into they call me? 3:28 PM Dec 23rd

99. I saw Michael Buble on Glenn Beck the other day so I bought his CD and haven't stopped listening to it ever since. 11:05 AM Dec 24th

100. #USC 24 BC 13. Its cold and my phone is about to die. 8:28 PM Dec 26th

The Gift of Generosity, the Perfect Christmas Present and Michael Buble.

2009-12-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas Eve. And the reality is that I haven’t bought a lot of gifts for people. But I bought one gift for someone that is incredibly thoughtful; and I realize just how in trouble it is going to get me into when I give it to them.

A few months ago I was sitting around a campfire with some people and like most such situations of similar vein; we were talking about our feelings and lives.

And someone said to me that I had the spiritual gift of giving. I buy people lunch or dinner all the time, if I know someone will like something I’ll get them a present, and I help out when I don’t need to. And I don’t mean to say these things so that I should boast. In fact, my generosity has generally gotten me more in trouble than it’s worth.

I often give to my own detriment; financially, in terms of time and even socially. The same person who said that my spiritual gift was giving also said that sometimes my generosity is mistaken for some ill-willed purpose.

Let me give you an example.

A few months ago I wanted to hang out with a particular someone. They told me they couldn’t go because they had to study. I realize a more cynical person could have believed it was their way of blowing me off but I assumed they were genuine. I felt bad they couldn’t hang out so I bought them their favorite pie from my favorite pie place. Now I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to be friends and thought it would be a nice gesture. But after I gave this gift I really never heard from them again. We’ve never hung out, we’ve never really talked. I don't know why, I don't think about it. I just accept it. I’m just glad they enjoyed the pie. And that was enough for me.

Another example of this happened recently (or might happen soon).

I was shopping with my sister on Monday. She was looking for an Easy Bake Oven for her God-daughter. I was just walking up and down the aisles looking for nothing in particular for anyone in particular.

An advertisement taped to one of the shelves in the store caught my eye. Initially I don’t know why. It was a simple white piece of paper that just the word SALE on the top with a generic description of the item.

Out of almost pure curiosity, I searched the shelf for the mysterious sale item but I couldn’t find it. It was the week of Christmas and the store looked like a stampede of three-legged bulls had run through the aisles. (Four legged bulls would have done a better job at not knocking stuff off)

Being a member of 24/7 connected grid, I searched for the item on my blackberry via the item number on the advertisement. Remember I had no idea what it actually looked like.

And when I saw the picture on my phone, I was instantly floored by what I realize I was looking for. It was the perfect Christmas Gift. And I knew I had to get it.

I don’t want to explain what it was or who it is for (because I don’t want to give away the surprise, especially if this gift is for you) but you just have to realize for the point of this story that is incredibly thoughtful and they would love it tremendously and I knew that. It was one of those gifts that couldn’t be more perfect.

Maybe it was fate that I find this gift for this person and had the means and compulsion to give it to them.

But I had two problems.

My first problem was that I knew that this could end my relationship with this person. I know that sounds weird but I’m used to it.

I like this person – a lot. And I’ve made no secret in terms of my effort in trying to hang out with this person more. I’ve had a great time every time we’ve hung out and I’ve been very intentional and not vague about this. Unfortunately she (first gender specific pronoun I’ve used in this but I think it should be obvious at this point) hasn’t reciprocated the way I would like. She hasn’t blown me off or anything. But I like her enough to believe every excuse she gives me. But I’m legitimately trying.

I realize that the gift isn’t something you would give to just a friend. And if/when I give it to her, would she see too much into it because the reality is if I didn’t like her, I still would probably get it for her. And there is no way for me to prove that to you. But that’s just who I am.

And if she does perceive too much of it, she may get freaked out by me and not want to see me anymore. But she would still love the gift; there is no doubt about it. Basically my dilemma is whether her moment of joy is worth the risk never having another moment with her.

But before I got to that point, I had another problem.

I realized that the store that I was at didn’t have any. I went up to the customer service counter and asked if they had any in the back. They said no.

I checked the website of the store and it said it was out of stock online. I called the store’s national customer service hotline and asked about it. They said it was a discontinued item and whatever is left at stores is all that there are. And because it was discontinued, they don’t track their availability so to find it I’d have to call individual stores.

Not so bad I thought.

Several hours on the phone later (mostly on hold), a few hours driving and a couple days later there was literally not one of the items I was looking for in any one of 100 stores in a 100 mile radius.

But I wasn’t deterred.

I expanded my search and found one 400 miles away.

THANKS BE THE LORD!!!

I knew of one person who was willing and able to go to a particular store and buy it for me. I gave them a call and they did what I asked without question (except for the obvious “who is this for” which I didn’t get into). They bought it for me so now after my vigilant search I have one sitting at an apartment a couple hundred miles away.

I’ll have to wait a couple days to pick it up and give it to her, but that’s okay, she’s not around anyway (travelling for the holidays).

So while my second problem has been solved (By God’s plentiful grace) my first still exists.

Should I give this gift at all?

On one hand I could give it to her and she would love it, understand that I was doing something nice for her and everything will be okay. On the other hand I could give it to her and she would love it, but think she is leading me on or think we are moving too fast and she’d break all ties with me.

Or I could not give it and continue to move slowly and everything will be okay. Or I could not give it, and she already thinks she’s leading me on or thinks we are moving too fast and she’d break all ties with me.

It’s like I’m back in my political foreign relations class discussing game theory.

Going back and forth on the issue, I was watching Fox News and Glenn Beck had an hour long interview with Michael Buble. Intriguing as I found it, I had never been a fan of Michael Buble, but after the interview I checkout some of his music. I bought his CD and haven’t put it down yet.

He’s newest single “Haven't Met You Yet.” The opening verse is as following:

I'm not surprised.
Not everything lasts.
I've broken my heart so many times I stopped keeping track.
Talk myself in.
I talk myself out.
I get all worked up, then I let myself down.

I tried so very hard not to lose it.
I came up with a million excuses.
I thought I thought of every possibility.

And I know someday that it'll all turn out.
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out.
And promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get.
I just haven't met you yet.

It basically sounds like my life right now.

I’m never surprised. Nothing lasts. My heart has been broken. I talk myself into way too much, trying to convince me of something. I think too much and then get disappointed. I try not to lose it, I clearly have excuses everywhere, and my game theory is basically every possibility. My faith encourages me to believe that it will all work out.

But the line that really spoke to me was giving more than I get. It’s exactly what I’ve been thinking about all day and night. The exception of course is maybe I have met her. Who knows…?

I’m going to give her the gift and let the chips fall where they may.

Wish me luck (or talk me out of it)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

6 Reasons Jesus is Not Homeless or Poor

2009-12-21T03:06:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my roommate the other day and in the progression of our discussion, which are always interesting, he mentioned an interesting belief – that Jesus Christ was homeless and/or poor.

It was an idea propagated and forwarded to him by his pastor; Erwin McManus, of Mosiac "church." I quickly rejected his supposition regarding our mutual Lord and Savior. It became the topic of discussion for the several days following.

Now I want to outline my top 6 argument for why Jesus was not homeless or poor but first a few caveats regarding this issue.

First, I realize that the arguments for a wealthy Jesus are often used in the Health, Wealth and Prosperity Gospel. I do not subscribe to the health, wealth and prosperity gospel; technically. I believe that God grants us health, wealth and prosperity but only relative to the fact that we deserve nothing as sinful depraved humans. I do not believe God wants all of us to have Ferrari's.

Second, I do not believe Jesus was "wealthy." The point of this discussion is to refute that he was poor. Basically I'm coming at this from the hypothesis that Jesus was a middle class individual in the least.

Third, the question is going to arise why this matters. Well it matters because Christian folk lore has often been confused with the true gospel. Especially during the Christmas season its important to have a true vision of who Jesus was and what exactly he did in his life. There was no drummer boy at the birth of Jesus. Does this change the fundamentals of the gospel? Absolutely not. But just as it is wrong to say Jesus was a blue-eyed white guy, its equally wrong to say that Jesus was an impoverished homeless guy.

Well back to my main points regarding Jesus not being homeless or poor; here are my 6 main points. The first three are refutes of common arguments made that Jesus was homeless or poor. The later three are evidence that he was neither homeless nor poor.

1. It is often said to be of clear evidence that Jesus was poor by the fact that He was born in a manger. Well that only supposes to prove that Jesus was born poor. It says nothing to how he lived the rest of his life. Bill Gates may have been born into poverty but you cannot conclude that he is now poor as a result. But lets examine the bible more closely. It says in Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

It does not say that Mary gave birth in a manger because she couldn't afford to stay at the inn. It says there was "no room for them" suggesting they had the money for an inn. The inn was just full. The truly poor wouldn't even try to stay at the inn.

2. Eight days later after Jesus' birth, Mary brings Jesus to the temple to be circumcised. She must give an offering according to the law. People who use the poor Jesus narrative say that the fact that she uses "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" according to Luke 2:23-24 as evidence of their poverty. Its an offering to those who cannot afford a lamb. But just like the point above, its simply proves that they were poor at the time - not for the rest of Jesus' life. And evidence suggests that Mary and Joseph did not remain poor. Matthew 2:11 is clear that Jesus receives gifts from wise men including gold. Now unlike the traditional Christmas narrative, this did not happen at the time of His birth but rather a couple years later. Do you suppose that the wise men gave Jesus gifts the way you give a homeless man a quarter? That may be one of the problems with the homeless Jesus narrative. The wise men considered Jesus to rightly be the King of the World, and I believe they treated him as such. They gave exorbitantly to Jesus and his family and Jesus and his family most likely lived off this gift and probably funded Jesus' ministry.

3. The evidence that Jesus was homeless comes from Matthew 8:20

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

I think this verse is taken out of context by those who believe it suggests that Jesus has no home. The verse before it says:

And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.

The context of Jesus' statement is an allusion to his future death. The scribe is asking to follow Jesus and Jesus is responding by telling him that where Jesus is going, no man can follow nor should they follow. It is not a reference to having no where to sleep. In fact Jesus has used this type of figurative speech before. In John 11:11 Jesus refers to death as sleep once again.

After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."

4. In fact, I believe the bible makes it quite clear that Jesus has a home. In Mark 2 in the English Standard Version, it makes two references to Jesus' home.

Mark 2:1

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home

Mark 2:15

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Now part of the problem with this argument is translation. In the NKJ, the first verse suggests that it was someone else's house. In the NIV, the second verse says that it was Levi's house. I've become a bigger and bigger fan of the ESV and generally turn toward it for my readings (though I own no ESV bible, only an NIV and NKJ). For further study of the Greek you can check out this website and look at it yourself. But I believe that a proper translation says that it was Jesus' home.

5. Now lets examine Jesus' ministry as evidence of Jesus' wealth. In John 12:4-6 it says:

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

How many poor people had treasurers? Basically Jesus had an entourage (which included doctors, tax-collectors and successful fisherman) and enough money that someone else was in-charge of it. But I believe the verse actually speaks more about Jesus' wealth.

Many argue that the money that Judas carries is the ministries and not Jesus' personal wealth. That makes sense but not when you examine the verse closely and understand who Jesus is. Its very clear that Judas is stealing from the bag which he is in charge. What that says is that it isn't a small amount of money in the bag. If you're going to steal and remain unnoticed, there needs to be a significant amount of money in there. It also infers that Jesus knows Judas is stealing from the bag. I mean Jesus knows that Judas is going to betray Him. It's very likely that Jesus knows that Judas is stealing from Him. Yet Jesus does not confront Judas or stop him. If it is the ministries money, then it is a sin for Jesus to not prevent the theft. But Jesus is sinless, as the bible teaches. There is only one explanation that continues Jesus' righteousness in this situation - The money is Jesus' and Jesus' alone. Judas is stealing only from Jesus, Jesus knows and continues to forgive him (as he continues to forgive us) , therefore Jesus remains sinless in this transaction.

6. The most compelling argument for Jesus' humble background is that he is carpenter and the son of a carpenter. I don't believe either are true. Matthew 13:55 says in reference to Jesus

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Mark 6:3 says

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

First, Jesus never admits to this claim. The people "accuse" Jesus of being a carpenter. That doesn't make it so. Jesus is also accused of being "a glutton and a drunkard" in Matthew 11:19 and no one takes those accusations at face value.

Second, lets suppose the accusations are true. Is carpenter the right word? I think not.

The word used in the Greek is "tekton" which properly translated should not mean carpenter. In the least its more like an architect or artisan. The word does not suggest that Jesus is a blue-collar worker; rather, a white collar planner. he basically has a middle class job or better. Again, an example of the Christian narrative polluted with tradition rather than scripture.

In conclusion; Jesus was neither poor nor homeless. He may have been born into poverty but not abdject povery. He was given gold worthy of a king. He owns a house, keeps a treasurer with him and had a good job before starting his ministry.

Now I realize some of you may now think I'm a heretic so I'd love some points of view. But hopefully I've taught you something you've never heard before.