Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Today on OCTOBER 31st I went to pick up our children from school.  I usually flip from ESPN radio and the local Christian stations based on the music or if I like the topics on ESPN radio.  Then I heard something I couldn’t believe.  On OCTOBER 31st, the local Christian radio station was playing Silent Night.  Then every song is Christmas music.  They even had a commercial saying that if you want to listen to the regular music you have to have an HD receiver.  Uggh!

How many times have I heard Christians complaining about the commercialization of Christmas?  It doesn’t help when Christian radio stations bypass Thanksgiving.  Who wants to listen to Christmas music for 55 days? Needless to say I will never listen to that station again because we will be moved by the time they start playing regular music again. 

Also, while I’m ranting… Christian music stations are not geared towards men either.  The music is usually wimpy and the DJ’s talk towards women.  We need some manly Christian stations that will play some Pillar, Skillet and even some Switchfoot.  

What do you think?

Yesterday following weeks of work we finally put our home in NC on the market.  The sign will be in the yard today just in time for Trick or Treat.  There is a lot to do to get a home ready.  We had to replace a coil that was under warranty but still cost $800 in labor.  We’ve been painting, shampooing carpets, etc…

Why in the world God would want us to sell a house in this market is beyond me.  But I thought the same thing in 1991 when we knew God was calling us to move to Texas from Huntsville, AL to attend Seminary. But I didn’t think “we” could sell the house so I tried to manipulate going to seminary by trying to attend an extension in Birmingham.  After having God kick my tail for 6 months we agreed to try to sell it.  A realtor told us in a sweet motherly tone, “honey, I can’t sell your house.”  So we struggled trying to figure out what God was doing.  So we prayed and decided to sell by owner.  We had our Sunday School class pray on the day we put it in the paper and by that afternoon we had 2 offers.

Now we also had a house on the market for 9 months.  But in all reality we didn’t need to sell it quickly. When we finally had a new ministry opportunity, the house sold in less than a week.  Then following Hurricane Katrina our house sold in less than 24 hours.

I have no idea what is going to happen.  Will the house sell at all? The worst thing that could happen is we give it back to the bank.  I pray that doesn’t happen but I don’t have the money to make two house payments.  It looks better than when we bought it and if we could purchase it in Birmingham we would.  But that isn’t an option.  God may not chose to sell it at all.  We may lose everything.  Who am I to question God’s wisdom?  All I know is this, God called us to this new position now and it is up to Him to sell in a market that is down.  We’ve done all “we” can do.  The rest is up to God.  If you have a chance, will you pray that God sells our home soon.  Also, my mom is having back surgery today and could use your prayers too.

I’m praying that this whole move will be a testimony to what God can do, not me.

[The Daily Telegraph]

A BACKYARD cameraman from Sydney’s west reckons he has proof Jesus is watching us from the heavens - a Christ-shaped cloud he filmed and posted on YouTube.

The footage, by tubeoffroad, depicts a large cloud over Raby which amateur videomaker believes is an image of Jesus with his arms stretched out from his sides.

Does it look like Jesus? Watch the video below and tell us via the feedback form

Eagle Vale Anglican Church minister, the Reverend Craig Hooper, told our sister paper the Macarthur Chronicle he was keeping an open mind about the cloud.

“There’s nothing to say that it couldn’t have been the face of Jesus in the cloud but we don’t really know what he looked like because there were no photos when he walked the earth 2000 years ago,” he said.

Read more here.

[From me]

O my.  The Bible did say Jesus would come in the clouds.

[HT] Steve Thompson

As the Presidential election nears I here rhetoric on both sides about who has the “evangelical” or “Christian” vote.  I’m old enough to remember when the Moral Majority was a major influence in politics.  Later it was the Christian Coalition.  But even though candidates who were endorsed by Christian organizations we have yet to see Abortion abolished.  Our society has become more violent and sex craved than ever.  People from both major political parties are being indicted for all kinds of crimes.  We can’t even trust ministers to obey the law or keep their clothes on.

The point is this: is there really a candidate that God would endorse? God used Pharaoh to give Himself glory when Moses asked him to let the Israelites go and worship.  Jesus didn’t come to earth as a political messiah. He came to offer us eternal life.  Next Tuesday no matter who wins…God is in control. He knows who is going to win. It may not be the candidate that matches my morals or standards but I’m not believing the sky is falling. 

I’m not suggesting that either major candidate is evil. But even if one of them happened to be the Anti-Christ we can’t change that. (I don’t think either of them are) We can’t take God’s will in our own hands.   Our duty as believers is to glorify God, tell the world about Him and be good neighbors.  That includes being good citizens.  So I will vote next week.  I’m not thrilled about either Presidential candidate but I will vote.  But if my choice loses I won’t worry. I will pray for the new leader of our nation because he will need it.  

What do you think?

[The New Republic]

rom that LAT poll of Florida of Ohio (here is the PDF with all the numbers):

Already Voted:

Florida: McCain 49%, Obama 45%, Don’t Know 6%

Ohio: Obama 57%, McCain 35%, Don’t Know 3%

That’s right: Almost 5% of Florida and Ohio voters that have already voted don’t know who they voted for.

Read more here.

[From me]

How can you not know who you voted for?  Is that the intoxicated vote?  

What do you think?