Absolutes!

Absolutes!

We went to the beach today; it is about a five minute drive from our condo. It was a public beach and the parking was right up to the sand. Short walk beautiful beach. We caught probably 100 little crab like things. We were calling them crabs but we didn’t really know what they were. A lady walked by and saw them – her first language was Spanish and she said she didn’t know what to call them in English, but she said water cockroaches. They were so easy to catch; you could catch ten at a time by picking up big handfuls of sand. With a bucket if you scooped up sand in the right place you might catch twenty in one bucket of sand.

That public beach didn’t have lifeguards and did have quite a few rocks. They were large rocks and with Bill and Anna heading toward the states the water was somewhat rough. After about 10 minutes in the ocean I told the boys that this was the hardest waves I had ever seen. Just a few minutes later I realized that that statement probably wasn’t true but I had already spoken it. That got me to thinking…. Why is it that I am so quick to think, or speak in absolutes? What do you think? Is it our culture? Is it my sick competitive nature? Just a thought…

Speaking of absolutes, today Bret Favre announced that he would be quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings this year! Now how many times has he been absolutely retired?

I don't know what to think...

I was told yesterday about Obama's address to the public schools on September the 8th and I don't know what to think.

I read today where it is implied that Bush did the same thing, I can't remember or find whether that is true or not.

I remember the tension and fear of discussing politics in a spiritual world. But I fear that "the real church" has been too quite on matters of politics for too long. I am certainly no longer republican or democrat! I better say that again I AM CERTAINLY NO LONGER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT! Today I see positives on both sides, when I work real hard not to only see the negative.

I understand the desire to go to war to protect people who can't protect themselves, and I understand the desire to bring the troops home before too many die or we run out of credit trying to finance the war.

I understand the desire to provide for everyone who can't provide for themselves but I also understand the belief that "if you don't work you don't eat."

I understand the need for health care, but I also understand the necessity of a free economy and capitalism.

I don't know what to think about about a lot of things... I do know that Jesus is in charge and nothing catches Him by surprise.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

I shared with the core group at aplacetotalk last night about our being rejected for membership into the local association, because we might consider allowing a group of people to use our building. (To understand that story read my blog title "REJECTED" from Monday.)

Anyway after sharing that story the core group discussed whether or not we even wanted to be associated with a denomination that would allow an association to reject a church on such a silly basis.

Today I am praying about which path we should take. Is this simply a decision or does this decision set us on a path?

Today I want to acknowledge God in all my ways and believe that He can make my path straight.

Wholly Guacamole!

Wholly Guacamole!

I have made chicken fajitas many times but I have never bought guacamole for my homemade chicken fajitas. I doubt I ever make chicken fajitas again without some guacamole!

The brand name I used this time was Wholly Guacamole, spicy. Wow was it good!

Not Rejected!

Well I heard today about Tony Campolo and how he wasn't rejected at a gay and lesbian event where he was allowed to speak, in fact he received a standing ovation. Of course he was immediately rejected and judged by the religious world, but not by the gays, lesbians, nor his good (conservative, may I add) friend Steve Brown.

Steve heard the entire story before judging Tony. Turns out the gay and lesbian group applauded Tony after he told them the truth about their sin and then began to weep about their situation.

I can't discribe how impressed I am with the friendship of Tony and Steve. Too bad more Christians can't disagree about various things and still have and show genuine love for one another.

REJECTED

aplacetotalk was attempting to join and receive some support from a well known Christian denomination over the past few months. In that process I was asked to meet with the leadership of a local department of that denomination. I prayed throughout the process that God's will would be done, but I now realize that although I would say, and even pray for God's will I really wanted what seemed advantageous for the forward momentum of aplacetotalk. I constantly teach and say that it isn't about an organization (or Sunday morning club, like aplacetotalk) but that it is really about people! Meeting and ministering to people in the name of Jesus Christ and through the energy and power of Jesus Christ is the real goal. Yesterday a group from aplacetotalk built a handicap ramp for a gentleman who had some trouble getting into and out of his house. Yes we worked on a Sunday. I am not even going to take a touch of energy to validate our ministry yesterday. Well the leadership team from that "well known denomination" asked me a series of questions. At the heart of every question was the desire to know whether or not our participation in the denomination would damage their reputation. One of the questions was "What would you do if a homosexual group asked to use the aplacetotalk building?" Now there was a prior question that may or may not have led to this question. One revolved around the question of authority. This isn't a direct quote but the question was basically, How do you make decisions, or who will make decisions at aplacetotalk? I responded that we will discuss the decision as a group and try to come to a saying that pleases the group. I explained that we do things that way based on scriptures where we read "the saying pleased the multitude," like Acts 6:5.

So back to the question, "What would you do if a homosexual group asked to use the aplacetotalk building?" I responded to that question by saying "First of all, let me say that I am glad that I wouldn't have to make that decision alone. I would talk to the people and they would get to decide." Then the "leadership team" of the well known denomination asked me what I would do if there wasn't an agreement and I responded "Until there was an agreement we would have to wait." Later in the conversation I did say that if I believed that homosexuality was sin, just like gluttony, lies, gossip, and murder. I also added that if I believed there was any chance of influencing this imaginary group of homosexuals for Jesus Christ I would have to strongly consider allowing them to use the building. However; we can't forget that I wouldn't make that decision alone. I have no more rights to the aplacetotalk building than any other aplacetotalk partner or participant. We haven't discussed or planned anything about membership or partnership yet either so we need to nail that down someday as well. But that is a different blog post all together.
Anyway I am writing because I got a phone call today and the message was, and I quote "Hey Josh this is _(his name)_ uh, I talked to the leadership team and they said no on signing off on you guys mostly because of the willingness to have open homosexual groups come into the church uh if you need to call me back go ahead... talk to you later, bye."

Are you as surprised by this as I am? aplacetotalk was rejected by this little organization based on the possibility that some "imaginary group" may want to have an "imaginary cookout or meeting" on our property and we might have an "imaginary meeting" and discuss the possibility of allowing this "imaginary group" have an "imaginary cookout" on our property. I am so glad that I don't have to live in that "imaginary world" where human beings have imaginary authority over other human beings. I am so glad that I live in the real world where Jesus (the real King with the real authority) allows blacks, whites, racists, homosexuals, rednecks, democrats, republicans, fat people, skinny people, smart people, dumb people, alcoholics, drug abusers, rapists, rappers, bloggers, and even pastors live on His property and He doesn't toss them out just because they aren't perfect.

Bloody Tennis

Adam wanted to try tennis today. We did. Ever play tennis? Do you remember how hard it was your first time? I do. Have you ever tried to play with someone for their first time?

Well if you have, you know that it is mostly a game of chasing balls. My experience with Adam was the same, until about 20 minutes in. After about 20 minutes we had our first real volley! He hit to me, I returned to him, he returned to me, I returned to him, and he, attempting to return to me, hit the ball with his racket. The ball careened off his racket and directly into his nose, and blood spewed.

The end.