Who is God: Walking by the Spirit

Ok....

Galatians 5 gives us an example of what God, through the Holy Spirit, causes us to do and not to do. Let me list those things (Taken from the ESV).

H.S. causes:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control

H.S. doesn't cause:

1. Sexual Immorality
2. Impurity
3. Sensuality
4. Idolatry
5. Sorcery
6. Enmity
7. Strife
8. Jealousy
9. Fits of Anger
10. Rivalries
11. Dissension
12. Divisions
13. Envy
14. Drunkeness
15. Orgies
16. things like these above

I can understand why the atheist have a difficult time believing that God holds up to this. The see stories in the bible where God has Fits of Anger, jealousy and kills. But I'm afraid that they don't even understand that they are sitting in the same position as those people were. They mock God. Some may even sincerely be trying to discover if there is a God, but they refrust to leap out on faith because they assume logic is not in our God.

So I guess I need to figure out, with my question of "Who is God?", discover how God is true to

Why are we here? or Who is God?

At the website: A Christian and an Atheist, Narsil and Emery do a podcast together that has really helped me with an issue I wasn't sure how to express. Maybe I will expand on what I've learned later. Maybe I will think that what I've learned was incorrect. However, some issue are foundations to understand and I think this is a foundational issue: Who is God. And I am going to take the illustration from Narsil, give some scriptures, apply it to the DNA of our church called t-life and use it here.

As a christian, we believe that God doesn't exist because someone in the past wanted to create a fearmongered society to control people. We believe that God exists we say it or not. He doesn't exist because we say He does. He doesn't exist because someone in the past said He does and then wrote about it in a book that we call the Bible. He exists and created everything and had to be created for Himself. We believe He exists and has always existed and will always exist. He is.


I'm going to expand more on this....one post at a time.

What am I politically?

Lately, I've been searching the waters of politics to understand who i want to vote for President. Am I becoming a liberal? Have I changed my feathers? Is the Republican party not for me anymore?

I think Barack has a great radio presence. I think he is a little stale in front of a podium. I certainly would like him to "lay the smack down" as I perceive he possibly could do. But he look tired to me. He looks worn down. I can certainly understand why, as i try to use the 70x7 to remind myself that people make mistakes and deserve second, third and more chances. The media has a great way of painting pictures, though they may be true, the colors are used to dramatize an emotional response, instead of just give facts.

The real story: The sky is blue with some cumulus clouds coming in. The boat is old but still is good enough to keep the fisherman safely fishing. The fisherman holds his both hands up to show the size of both fish he caught. They aren't big, but certainly a catch.

The media's story from 100 feet away: The sky is dark blue with dark clouds heading in making a fishing trip seem to be cut short. The boat has a hole in the bottom supposedly, but its been plugged. We have no confirmation if it will even stay afloat. Meanwhile, the fisherman has given us the sign that he has caught the lakes largest fish.

What should we take from soundbites? Truth? Yes, some. Factually 100% truth? Unless you have been given an enormous amount of evidence to support it in that way, you can't take it as all true.

Is Barack Muslim? No. But the media wants to use his middle name to give the people a Muslim thought. Should people think of me as a Jew killer because my name is German? No.

What about Hillary? Does she have a point about her electability over Barack's? Very possibly. Based on manipulated people using their emotions to vote over the "truth". Should she have the right to continue all the way to the democratic convention? Sure. But this is politics. Political parties don't want to have stife between their constituents. They want the cancer to be between parties.

The more I listen regarding the elections, the more I feel as though the best leaders are not even in congress or have a chance to be elected as president. I don't think the country is doomed. But I think we have Rome happening here, in a different way. I feel as though corporations and heavily funded interests groups are what control this country. And to get the right thing done is impossible. At least right now.

I feel as though my voice will be meaningless this year. I don't think I will vote republican for pres. I'm not sure I will vote democratic either.

I'm a centrist, politically. A lot of my views depends on the circumstance. However, religiously I'm very conservative. i've come to seperate my religious views from my political views. The reason is because I want my political views to be based on the understanding that God is in control. If I am in Vietnam, the political rules all different, but God is in control. If I am in Iran, the political rules are different but God is in control.

America is a ever changing soup of ideas. It doesn't stay the same. You look back 40 years and the soup has changed dramatically, yet God is in control.

I'll pick my choice later for pres. But no matter the outcome. no matter if America because the most taxed nation ever. No matter if we stay in Iraq. No matter if we drill in the ANWR. No matter if the america's christians decides to wake up and change for the better or stay in their cozy middle class surburban houses and think they are good, God is in control. No matter if I change for the better or for the worse, God is in control.

Housing to improve...but gas $5.00?

Forgiveness possible?

This past week, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas had one of their associate pastors get arrested in a sex sting operation.

It truly is a tragedy to see something like this happen. It affects a lot of people, starting with his wife. Yes. He is married.  

Then there are the countless singles who he was over. Then there are the families of kids and teens who have to try to 

keep their thoughts straight that they had nothing to fear.....we hope.

Joe Barron, by law of the United States of America, committed a felony. Will those in his church forgive him? Will they treat

him as a vagabond? Will they talk about how upright their church is and that no one else in their church would do such a thing?

Or will they look around and say, "that could have been you". Will they say, "Lets work to help them work out their problems, because we are all sinners". Or is this too close to home in this politically correct day and time, so they must reject any counseling for this man and his wife and those affected.

I have no idea what Prestonwood has done, except for what I've seen on their site. Credibility is hard to gain back from those who feel they have been let down. I'm not sure what my church would do either. Its a stunning event. A video doesn't tell what the church will do to help everyone affected.

But one thing I know. Sin is a very damaging. Some don't hurt others as much as it hurts ourselves. Been then there are those sins that truly damage many.

Well, I'm wanting to...

Well, I'm wanting to write about the iPhone. The iPhone is such an amazing product. I just can't wait for the new one to come out. I didn't get the first one and the reason for not getting the first one was because I didn't want to pay $600 for an iPhone, for a phone. I've never paid anything for any phone. It's a phone and it does nothing but, well, just take your messages or call people and I don't use a phone for work, so it's phone. But, the iPhone, wow, that is an awesome phone. I mean, it's supposedly(?) suppose(?) to have 3G, it's supposedly have GP... listen

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I really want to be...

I really want to be able to write well. I just fail a lot of time. I wish that I could express myself better, so this is why I'm writing right now. I don't think this is very good english, in fact I'm talking by blog. So, I hope that all my ____ are not in my blog. But if they are, so beat it. It's blog and it's [unclear speech] my life and what other people think if they read it you know. If anybody has any encouragement, please feel free and I hope that people enjoy this, including me. Bye. listen

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If I was an atheist....

What would I feel like if I was an atheist?

I believe for the most part, I would feel like there are a bunch of hypocrites running around.

I would feel as though my rights as an atheist are not given to me as freely as for those who are religious.

I would feel like I had more free time on my hands over the weekends.

I would feel as though people are wasting their time and energy on a genie in a bottle, when if they really cared, they could just go to the local shelter and help.

I would feel like church is a social club, more than a spiritual place as people claim.

I would feel like religious people are trying to push their ideology on me in school when I don't want it.

I would feel like the churches are just filled with morons because they are so blinded by their beliefs they don't see the mounting evidence that the universe wasn't created in 6 days.

I'm a christian. And this is just my opinion if I was an atheist. I really don't know what atheist feel. I'm only trying to see if I am close.

Tell me how you feel as an atheist.

Bill Maher and HBO

Bill Maher is an atheist. He is as dogmatic of an atheist as they come. I don't think you could expect an "apology" from him about his Pope and Catholic Church comments. He is a comedian and many comedians will dish out hatred in the name of a joke. And the public is okay with that. I guess if the public is okay with that, I'm not going to gripe about what he said.

Well, there were many people who were angry about his comment. I think there anger could be better served in turning the cheek, or dropping their HBO subscription.

That is another thing. Many of those outraged over this AND have HBO subscriptions, probably are not going to drop them. So why are they crying fowl? I don't have HBO. I don't have any movie channel subscription. It's my choice to show i don't like what they put out. I've never had there services, except for when i get it free 30 day trial at the beginning of a new service with another provider. But that is it. It's obvious I don't have to pay to hear his stuff anyway. So why should I pay if YOUTUBE gives it to me.

Is networking with the corrupt bad?

I have to admit.  I'm not quite up on who, what where, etc. with the Obama issue regarding his pastor.  Can a pastor have such an influence that no one disagrees with him, yet still stays at that church?  Is it possible to only tied to a pastor via friendship, yet not be tied to his platform of belief?

I think I can, at least, empathize with the black community and their struggles.  I can appreciate Louis Farrakahns, whether or not i agree with his beliefs.  I can see where Jeremiah Wright can be frustrated over the past and present sins which were heavily influenced by slavery.  His church does a lot of great ministries for their people.  I feel a sense of shame that they feel this way.  I tried to understand if they feel that it is all white people or just some.  

At the same time, I feel a sense of sadness that these blacks have been taken advantage of all by James Cone.  However,  I agree with him to an extent, if i was to at least view his words from afar.  However, it seems as though James Cone is preaching a belief of using religion to empower black people, instead of religion to what that religion says to do and follow.  My pastor has said over and over and over that if someone wants to live christianity to its fullest, then they need to follow the Sermon on the Mount to its fullest.  I dare say that there are not a great many doing that, including blacks and white.  I do think many white people have used christianity in america as a way to abuse blacks and other people.  I also think it is the same way with blacks, by using christianity to express their own hate.  Christianity in america is far from what it ought to be lived, as  a whole.

James Cone makes an ABSOLUTE statement.  "If you are part of the dominate group in this society, then you are being violent".    I really hope that he doesn't really think every single white person is violent.  I hope this was said out of the emotion of the moment, than an absolute belief.

I really want to root for Barack.  Maybe it is because I think he sounds like The Rock and carries himself like him.  I think he could be a good leader.

Amazing Tornado footage

Nothing gets the heart pumping like being near a tornado. This must of been incredible to be able to be this close.

An Intense Friday...and it was good.

This is hard to watch. If you can't take blood and violence, then this isn't for you. But I have one question: Do you think this is inaccurate?

PLAY T-BALL!!!!

I hate baseball. I've never understood the game. People may say there is nothing to understand and it is a very simple, yet complex game. To me, it's boring.

You wait for the batter to go to the bag.
You wait for the pitcher to get a signal.
You wait for the batter to step out of the box and recompose himself.
You wait for the pitcher to get another sign.
You wait for the pitcher to check the runner.
And the pitch....zzzzzzooom.
1-0 is the count.
Repeat the process, which could take 1-4 minutes before the ball is even hit.

However my son is now in his 4th or 5th season of T-Ball. Why? Because we want our son to be well rounded in sports. He's played soccer, t-ball, basketball, tennis and swimming lessons (real swimming lessons that could eventually get him on a team). T-Ball has to be one of the most boring forms of kid sports. There is truly nothing to play for. The kids are as bored as I am. I can tell. They're playing in the dirt. And as soon as the ball is hit, the whole team runs for the ball.

Well, I would imagine this year of T-Ball will be different. The coach is teaching them a lot about playing. Jonathan has already learned more about baseball in his T-Ball league than I have a clue about.

I just wonder if others feel the same. And I'm pondering whether it is time to put him in football.

I have....Oooo Mavericks Won...

One thing I battle with all the time is my inability to stay focused. I would say it is A.D.D.. I've never been diagnosed with it, but the symptoms are there. So technically, I can't say I have it. But I doubt that you can convince my co-workers I don't have it.

I would love to say I have lots of friends. I do, but not like a friends that I actually hang around with all the time. My family has become my "hangout buddies". I have a hard time commiting to things. It isn't that I don't want to do things with others, but I'm so spontaneous, and have certain interests that all my other friends don't have. And most of my friends are people from church and work. However, I don't ever hang out with people from work, because I want to go home and hang out with my family, because I want to make sure I always keep them happy.

It's a crazy game of cat and mouse, in my head. I want more friends to hang out with. I want more friends to network with over the internet. Yet I have a hard time commiting to anything. I love photography, but I can't concentrate that long to make myself really good at it. I love games, but I can't concentrate long enough to be good at that. I love lots of things, but I can't concentrate long enough to get good at any of it. I wanted to finish college, but I have a hard time concentrating that long to get through it.

I wish there was a cure for concentration, besides someone pushing me. That's the one thing I love about work. No it isn't some pushy person. It is the knowing I have a deadline that I must get something done or else you are gone. That keeps me focused. The fear of failing.

I had a .5 GPA in community college...COMMUNITY COLLEGE...before I was threatened with a letter that if I failed one more class I would be not allowed to take anymore classes. The fear of failure helped me get a CADD associates degree. But it was harder for me to go any further.

2008 Honda CRV EX-L with Navigation

It took nearly two months to decide on a small SUV and we have learned a lot about buying a cars.  There were several vehicles that we looked at and considered buying, and we changed our reasons for buying several times.   We finally decided on the 2008 CRV. The Honda CRV is a very nice vehicle which deserves its high ratings at Consumer Reports.  We are not suprised that it is one of the most popular small SUVs in its class.

There were a few basic criteria that we had during our vehicle search.

1. Dual A/C.
2. 4 wheel disc brakes.
3. either Bluetooth hands-free phone calling or navigation.  Like to have both.

The Honda had all four, though it did not have bluetooth.  We realized from past experiences with rental cars that Dual A/C is a want, but it is a REALLY nice convenience.  Especially when the temperature needs of my wife and I are different.  With the navigation, it is going to be easy for my wife to get around to places that she wants to go.  And if she knows the general idea of where she is going, she doesn't have to follow the entire route planned by the unit.  It will re-route the trip after leaving the route.

The ride seems smooth and appears to have enough power to get up and go for what we like.  The model we bought came with a moon roof and visor, which will cut down on wind noise, mud flaps, cargo rubber mat, front tinted windows to go along with the EXL standard rear tinted windows and a roof rack.

Some of the features I didn't care for were the middle back seat is not comfortable and the the placement of the shifter.  However, my wife loves the location of the shifter.

One more thing I like about the vehicle is that you get a lot of bang for the buck.  A RAV4, which was the main competition for the CRV, would not have come with leather or the system information

3G IPhone

I'm waiting for the next Iphone. The first one came and I didn't have any desire to get it. There just wasn't enough on it for me to want to spend the money. But I have a co-worker that I live vicariously through to get my fix. I know more about the phone than she does. I don't have one apple product. Not even a Ipod. Yet, I've turned my back on the pc already. The Iphone will be my first purchase outside of the microsoft universe. I'm as much of a fanboy for apple already than those who have a mac. I'm in love with what they do, and they do what I want them to do.

I think the 3G Iphone is going to be a huge boom for Apple. i could be wrong. The software that will be available after June could be an incredible lift for the Iphone and the mobile platform in general. We are seeing the start of a massive mobile computer market beginning now. The previous attempts will look like cheap imitations.

Chris Pirillo show backlog

I really enjoy the the chris pirillo show. I've recently taken on the goal of listening to all his podcasts from the archives. WOW! are there a ton. I can't believe all there is. The interaction between Ponzi and Chris is interesting. They definitely have a unique relationship that works for them. I can't imagine having to put my life on earth with my wife. I'm not too sure how she would take to that. But I'm grateful to him for giving us great information to learn from, along with his wonderful wife.