don't call me Veronica: non-partisan christianity?

non-partisan christianity from don’t call me veronica?

Check out Tony Campolo on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report.

Though Campolo is “hit or miss” for me, I liked what he said on the Colbert Report though. Glad this was posted.

A Collision of LIfe and Death by Russ Breimeier

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Though I don’t know Kyle Lake and his young family, I too was very upset by this tragic accident this past fall. He was a talented young pastor, writer, and all his friends had great esteem for him. This interview is with David Crowder, one of my favorite musicians, a worship leader who understands both the heart of worship and great music. His style is considered a little too heavy for church but I think that’s why it is so loved. The Crowder band led worship at Kyle’s church, (University Baptist, Waco, TX) and apparently this is David’s first interview since the tragedy of his friend.

“Things started off well in 2005 for the David Crowder Band, which got its start as the primary worship band for University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. In September they finalized A Collision or (3+4=7), which released to strong reviews—it earned high placement on our year-end Best Albums list. Soon after, the band embarked on a headlining tour. And then tragedy hit: Kyle Lake, the band’s friend and pastor at UBC, was electrocuted and killed while adjusting a microphone during a baptism. It was hard enough for Crowder and his buddies to be away at such a difficult time, asking all sorts of challenging questions in light of it. What’s more, A Collision was created as a worshipful response to death—before Lake’s passing. After months of silence on the subject, Crowder was gracious enough to share some thoughts about his friend’s death, and the role Lake played in the album’s creation.”

Remembering the Armenian Genocide


Though a couple of days late, I’ve been catching up on some reading and was moved by this.

Remembering the Armenian Genocide

“In 2006, Monday, April 24th marks the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. More than 1.5 million Armenians died in this period.

On Sunday, April 23rd a special Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Vartan Cathedral followed by a blessing of Madagh.

Please see the Diocesan Calendar for other special events to remember Armenian Martyrs Day.

Send a commemorative e-card to remind others of this important day. You are also invited to light a candle online in memory of a loved one or for other intentions and to post the names of your loved ones who died or survived the Genocide on our online Memory Wall. The Diocese also invites survivors of the Genocide to share their experiences; selected experiences will be posted in this section.

Useful resources found on this site and on other websites to educate yourself and your children about the terrible genocide the Armenian people survived…”

A Brief Overview of the Armenian Genocide

Should Christians Boycott The Davinci Code?


Boycott? No! Let’s JIHAD it!

My real opinion is that if your convictions feel that you should not see it. Don’t see it.
Want to see it, go ahead. There’s a lot hype around it, maybe you will find yourself in a conversation about it. I am passionate about what I believe but my personal evangelism is not resting on the movie theater. I believe we ought to be relevant and be faithful. See it and don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine too. Again, I believe that we ought to be faithful in the opportunities that we are given, it’s not going to rise and fall on The DaVinci Code.

A Greater Miracle: Jesus Walked On Ice


See, there’s always a rational explanation to these things. This report came out a couple of weeks ago. I guess I am naive, but I didn’t think anyone would take it seriously. I guess I naively underestimated the gullibility of others. That’s ok. I beleive in free will. Anyone has the freedom to believe this or anything. (Doesn’t mean they are right, or even smart but truth isn’t partial to the intelligent – it’s given to those that discover it).

Back to subject – this is similar to the “hovering theory” that I made up 3 minutes ago. Maybe Jesus invented minuature hoever-craft sandals that created the illusion of walking on water. Or the “suspension theory” that I made up two mintues ago. That one is fellow conspirator Judas holding Jesus up with fishing wire. Where was Judas? Take your pick, on the second floor of the fishing boat, in the helicoptor, on Superman’s back, there’s gotta be a rational explanation.

Ridicoulous right? How about believing that an entire lake of water became ice in a desert climate. Furthermore, a group of men, several of whom work on the water as fishermen decide to go out into a sea of ice!

Sure walking on water is unrealistic and takes faith to believe. That’s exactly why it’s called a miracle. But when conisdering that the Christian belives that Jesus is the Son of God, I am not sure which of these above options takes more faith to believe.

Reflecting on "God or the Girl"


First, I didn’t think I would be interested in this show but I caught all the epsiodes this weekend and watched the finale last night (Sunday). Three out of the four men decided not to become priests.

Though I find most of the the idea of reality tv exploitative, it was a decent show. This is probably the first reality show where I actually felt a great deal of sympathy for each character. Although at times, they were a little too cliche, that could be the problem with the medium. Personally, I know I am unable to quantify all of my thoughts, nor could I make it interesting enough for television.

My reaction after watching the show is, “This is why I am Protestant”.
I have some theological issues with the Catholic Church, but I also have a great deal of respect for them as well. And as a brother in Christ, I feel for them because they are missing out on great men by not allowing their priests to get married.

God is the new drug of choice for young rebels.

Interesting article.
It goes both ways though. Many X’ers and older Millennials grew up in conservative Christian boomer homes and have abandoned their faith in God.

Denouncing Fred Phelps


Speaking of protests, this one is almost as ridiculous. I say almost only because no one was killed. Nevertheless, people like Fred Phelps repulse me and I am angered by his continued actions and statements that are an absolute disgrace to the Christian faith.

I pray that those who see this idiot will not assume that this is an accurate depiction of Christianity.
I also pray that God would convict Fred Phelps and his ignorant, un-Biblical congregation of legalists.

Furthermore, any 5 minute investigation will find that the vast majority of Christian evangelicals despise this man’s actions.

More Violence In Egypt Following Muslim Attacks

“Police fought back against Coptic Christians, who were encircled by a security cordon around the Saints Church in downtown Alexandria after hurling stones and bottles from inside the police line. Fellow demonstrators tossed Molotov cocktails from the balconies of nearby buildings.
Police could be seen repeatedly beating a boy of about 12, who was among the crowd of Coptic young people who fled into the church, slamming the doors behind them, or dashed down narrow streets surrounding the church. Most of the protesters were between the ages of 12 and 25.”

Later in the NY Times article, it says that a Muslim 24 year old Muslim man was killed. If he was killed out of retaliation, that was wrong. If he was killed out of self-defense as he was rioting, that is different.
“We have warned the government that Alexandria is a volcano that could erupt at any time,” Dr. Sewiris said. “The Coptic youths overreacted to this incident, but their response comes after long years of violations of our civil rights. These tensions are the harvest of 30 years of Muslim fundamentalists spreading hate speech from the mosques.” Coptic Christians constitute at least 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 71 million people.

As claimed, a crazy man kills a Christian (although there were three separate incidents happening simultaneously). More likely – only one man was apprehended.
1. Why is only one man considered “crazy”
2. What is with the Middle Eastern’s infatuation with this word?
3. For me to believe this is true would make me … crazy.

My other problem is that why is their rioting form Muslims? (They like that word too. It’s like a past-time). They are the guilty party. If they are trying to label the attacker as “crazy” and separate themselves from this act, then why not offer condolences and denounce this man’s actions? Instead they riot.

“Violence subsided Monday but sectarian feelings remained high,” the news service reported. Bishop Bemwah Ghali told the AP, “There was a sort of a truce, but this is not the end of the crisis. We really need a radical solution that can quell this anger.” As CT has regularly reported in the past, it’s hard to be a Copt in Egypt.”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/116/31.0.html


Egyptian muslim protesters throw rocks past a burning gas canister near the St. Maximus Church in the northern Mediterranean city of Alexandria in Egypt Sunday, April 16, 2006. Police fired live ammunition into the air and lobbed tear gas into rioting crowds of Christians and Muslims Sunday
in a third day of sectarian violence in Egypt’s second-largest city. (AP Photo/Nasser Nouri)

Jack White and the New Coke Cola Commercial


I think Jack White is an interesting guy and I enjoy the White Stripes’ music and look forward to listening to his new project the Raconeteurs. This is his second Coke commercial he’s done. Aside from sharing the colors of red and white – I am still not sure why he is into the jingles. But hey, it’s Jack White.