The Heart of Worship

The Rub of Truth

The Vision of Christ that thou dost see
Is my vision's greatest enemy:
Thine has a great hook nose like thine,
Mine has a sunb nose like mine. . . .
Both read the Bible day and night,
But thou read'st black where I read white.

-William Blake

It is truly difficult to understand how people can start with the same set of data and draw such varying conclusions. I guess the reality is that we don't start with the same data. Our own experience colors how we see things. Until experience is uniform, understanding will be diverse. This is why we must triumph dialog. Until I truly understand you, I will not understand your theology.

How We do Evangelism

Click to see a funny but flippant clip on door-to-door evangelism. Where does "wise as serpents, harmless as doves" fit in to all of this? I also find the YouTube comments on this clip to be revealing. Especially the ones about how "hot" hell is.

P.S. I found this clip at "Life as a Cultural Adventist." Here is the YouTube address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPjoP0woZ0s&eurl=

Why Did I Have to Be Right?

I was against the current war in Iraq from the beginning. I made my feelings known to anybody who would listen... I said we could not win such a war... taking down Saddam is not central to the war on terror (even though he was a very bad man). Unfortunately, almost everything I said came true (which just goes to show, you don't have to be a genius to come to these conclusions).

But four years ago I said something else too. I said, if we go in, we will have to finish the job. This is why I cannot decide where I stand on the "surge" issue. I cannot agree with the those who say, "We took down Saddam, gave them elections, now it is up to them to rule." That is complete garbage. How can we expect the Iraqis to take ownership of a bad situation that they didn't create? America is to blame for destabilizing their country. How could we think of leaving now? We have to do everything possible diplomatically, militarily, and politically to help rebuild Iraq. If the Military can still help, we have to double and quadruple our efforts and our troops.

At this point, the only reason we should bring back our troops is if there is no longer a military option, which may or may not already be the case. The point is, America still has responsibility for Iraq. Bush screwed it up, now America has to pay the price and fix it. Whatever it takes! I am open to the possibility that a withdrawal of troops might very well be the answer. The point is, America must act, not react. Most who are calling for withdrawal are reacting, not acting.

And if we fail [likely] to bring peace to Iraq, we will collectivly pay for the imbicility of one man, Dubya, for generations.

Fixing My Car

I love fixing things. Nothing gives me a testosterone rush like fixing one of my cars. Today I had one of those perfectly manly experiences. My alternator went out. I discovered this after I replaced the battery and still had trouble running. Cold weather is hard on electrical systems, especially the battery, and we have been hitting sub-zero temperatures every night for nearly a week! So I went to AutoZone and had them test my system just to confirm my diagnosis (I don't know if I should've trusted them because they then sold me the alternator I "needed").

When I got home, I backed into the garage and went to work. It didn't take me long (good thing too, it was a manly 15 degrees when I started). I soon had the old alternator out, the new alternator in, and the car started. Am I a stud or what?

My advice to you reader: get some tools and try something manly! And if you fail, have parts left over, break, or otherwise damage your victim don't feel bad. That is manly too!

I Like Big Bibles!