My President

This President isn't like other Presidents, for obvious reasons (to start with, he's not even white!). Originally there was something in me that just didn't like him, or his message. Plus, it wasn't like he came with a long resume of experience in world politics. But if you really take a good look at him, it's hard to argue with some of his major decisions so far. I mean, instead of going at foreign policy problems with threats of more war and violence, he's actually talking to the enemy. We can't blame him for the corruption, since he inherited it from his predecessors. And yes, there was that issue not too long ago about his "Wife," but that was just a media creation. I'm not sure why so many supposedly 'religious' people are against his emphasis on the poor (isn't that, after all, pure religion?), but I'm all for it. It's going to take time for this nation to mature and work through some of its issues, but I truly believe he's the man for the job.

Teens

I am not a youth pastor. In fact, I quite stink at doing youth ministry. Nevertheless, I will be doing some teaching with our youth group over the next three Sunday nights. I have already decided my three topics: The 3 Views of Hell (I was asked to do this one by my wife), Financial Stewardship, and the honor due to one's parents. Since I'm a misfit for this task, I want to 1) Ask for your prayers and 2) Share my appreciation for all of those regularly involved in youth ministry :)

The Routine

My weeks are pretty routine. For better or worse, I pretty much know exactly what I'll be doing most every hour of every week. Here's the run-down.

Sunday:
Preach @ Lockport
Teach SS @ Hess Rd.
Attend 2nd service @ Hess Rd.
Eat at soup fellowship
Finish prep for PM service
Teach PM service @ Hess Rd.
Enjoy evening with Katie

Monday:
Get organized for week
Prepare men's group
Lead men's group
Play basketball w/guys

Tuesday:
Do Houghton assignments
Prepare for small group or meeting
Lead small group/attend meeting
Enjoy evening with Katie
* one Tuesday night a month is free

Wednesday:
Finish Houghton assignments
Prepare Prayer Meeting
Visit nursing home
Lead prayer meeting
Enjoy evening with Katie

Thursday:
Sleep in
Go to Houghton Program

Friday:
Prepare Lockport Sermon
Prepare Sunday School
Prepare Sunday night service
Enjoy evening with Katie

Saturday:
Keep as free as possible
Finish prep if necessary

Tattoo

Last night, I got my ring tattoo. I imagine that over the next few weeks I'll have the same five questions asked, so I thought I'd prepare some answers in advance:

1. Are you serious?
This question will either come from people who aren't physically in my presence OR people who think I just used a marker to draw a line on my ring finger. The reason for disbelief is understandable. It is actually surprising that I got a tattoo. I don't like tattoos in general. I am still completely un-interested in getting any other tattoo. But my answer here will have to be yes.

2. Did it hurt?
Well, I wouldn't do it just for fun... but it didn't hurt as much as I expected. I was given the impression that mine would hurt moreso than most b/c it was all the way around a finger. And that makes sense. But it didn't hurt nearly as much as I had expected. It was very tolerable.

3. Isn't that unbiblical?
It was wrong for Israelites to get marks on their bodies in worship of false gods or to harm their bodies in hopes of attaining a better ability to mourn the dead. But tattoos, in general, are not a moral issue. God gave Cain a tattoo. God commanded Israelite men to cut their bodies (circumcision). The act is not moral. It's the content of the symbol that is at issue.

4. What motivated you to do that?
So what's the content of the symbol in my case? I have 3 basic reasons for getting a wedding ring tattoo. 1. I don't like wearing jewelry (how's THAT for Old Testament allegiance!). 2. I look forward to conversations about a Christian's relationship to the Law that it may provoke (edifying conversations) and 3. In this age of temporary marriages, I liked the idea of a tattoo ring so as to symbolize the permanence of the commitment I made to Katie. A ring can be discarded quite easily. It would really hurt for me to go back on this!

5. Isn't that the mark of the beast?
No. Get real.

Ohhhhh Bama

I have been slightly embarrassed, this week & today, about the emotional state of the American people (or, more specifically, the American media). This is a love fest. I've seen a few inauguration days, but nothing like this. Big name news anchors are glowing with expectation and love, bordering on worship (and I mean that seriously). This may, of course, sound like a bitter blog from a guy who didn't vote for Obama. But I'm the kind of guy who will allow President Obama to start with a clean slate. This is not an anti-Obama post, but an anti-idolatry post. And I think the festivities are, at best, borderline.

NLF Predictions

Predicted NFL results:

Pittsburgh over Baltimore
17-13

Arizona over Philadelphia
31-28

So, if you want to gamble
Pick Baltimore & Philly

Knew News

* My 2nd Semester @ Houghton started yesterday. I'll be taking 2 classes. The first is hermeneutics. The second is contemporary theology. The work-load seems like it might be a bit lighter this semester, although the final projects are larger in nature.

* I will probably be getting my ring tattoo within the next 2 weeks

* Katie & I finally have usable TV. We bought a 37 inch Vizio

Tech No

I have been doing a fair amount of reading on the Amish-Mennonite tradition. It is a myth that the Amish consider technology evil. The real issue they have with technology is that it connects them to evil influences. When a new technology hits the market, the Amish will actually hold a meeting and debate the pros and cons of said technology. I think this is an interesting idea. Instead of just accepting all the latest gadgets, we should vote them in our out. I'll start

OUT
Cable/Satellite TV (expensive nothingness)
Cell Phones (need I explain why?)
Cars (no more personal automobiles)
Credit Cards (more trouble than worth)

IN
DVD/Netflix (You get to choose)
Internet (good for research, debate, IM's)
Projectors (makes good content bigger)
Nintendo Wii (good family fun in winter)

$75

I have another illustration of government corruption. On my last day coming home from Houghton (after 10pm, December 15), I got pulled over by a Cop. It turned out that my back license plate light was out. Now, in most cases, the officer will just let the driver know and the driver will get it fixed. In this case, however, the officer actually issued the infraction. He told me "It's not a ticket" and "you won't have to pay a fine." He also told me that the form said I had to get it fixed in the next 24 hours, but that in reality as long as I got it done in the next few days it'd be alright.

Well, the next day I made an appointment to get some work done on my car and informed the mechanic I'd also need that light changed. I took my car in that night. I got it back and sent the form in, marked on the 18th (3 ='s a few). About a week later I got a $75 bill from the Alabama town court. It said I owed that amount b/c I hadn't returned the form in 24 hours.

I then tried about a dozen times over the next few days to get a hold of them using the numbers on the mailing. Usually no one answered (even during office hours). Sometimes I left messages, but got no call backs. When I finally got a hold of someone they told me to call back at 7pm this past Tuesday night. When I did so, they informed me that the officer shouldn't have told me I had a few days and they had no choice but to inform the 24 hour rule.

Here are my issues:

1. The officer shouldn't have done the paper-work. If he would have just told me to get it fixed, there would be no problem.
2. The officer shouldn't have mis-informed me about how many days I had to fix it.
3. The town should answer their stupid phone
4. The 24 hour rule is ridiculous. Am I supposed to take a day off work to get it fixed and have someone sign off on it?
5. A $25 penalty is reasonable, I suppose, but a $50 filing fee? Give me a break.

My only other option is to change my plea to not guilty (as if my light wasn't out?!?) and go to court to fight the penalty. This involves 2 trips to the Alabama town court, a likely court fee, and the possibility that I still won't win the case. So it's another example of the corruption of our government. The citizen loses no matter what option he chooses. He either wastes a bunch of his time, a bunch of his money, or both.

I will pay the $75 dollars, but I will place curses on the money.

My Library

Today I re-arranged and organized my office at the church for the new year. For the first time ever, pretty much all my 'Christian' books are in one location. I even arranged them by category and put labels on the shelf defining each section. Here are the categories I ended up with:

The Bible (20)
Church History (11)
Worship/Music (8)
Creation (15)
Eschatology (17)
Denominations (6)
Wesleyan (25)
Class Texts (5)
Bulk Books (21)
Videos/DVD's (5)
Family Life (8)
Cults/Religions (16)
Apologetics (20)
Contemporary Culture (12)
Church Growth/Evangelism (7)
Ministry (8)
Leadership (9)
Life & Teachings of Jesus (21)
Various Authors A-Z (26)
Reference (18)

2009

I have returned and am ready for a fresh new year of blogging. Katie & I went to Berlin, Ohio (Amish Country) for our honeymoon. We give high reviews to Donna's Premier Lodging. It was a great trip and now we are overwhelmed with the cards, gifts, and cash we've received upon our return. We both have tomorrow off before finding our new routines on Tuesday. Thank you all for your congrats :)