Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Favorite American

Okay, so Independence Day is a week away and people around here are gearing up for it, showing their American pride, etc. But then I read this today, which makes me shudder.

There was a poll of people in the U.S. asking who the greatest American is/was. Reagan won, good choice. Elvis made the list, not my favorite choice. But near the bottom was someone who I like but who should not have been there.

Jesus.

That's right. 1% of Americans voted Jesus as the greatest American. Now seriously, that's too much. Do people even know who Jesus was? Think, if 1% of people said that, and that's a representation of the U.S. as a whole, then 3 million people think Jesus was the greatest American. And that means even more could think Jesus was a great American, He just wasn't the greatest.

Now I've been in the U.S. a few years and I know there are a lot of people who take "One Nation Under God" too far and believe God is an American, but 3 000 000 people? Is it possible?

I really question how many people truly know God and how many simply make it up as they go, naming their new imaginary friend "God"...

T

Monday, June 25, 2007

The Isle Of Man

Pictures of the parade are on the website under the pictures section (www.fumcfireandwater.com). But this is about something completely different. Something I read and had to write, it was just great.

I am slowly working through a lot of old Irish folktales and came upon the story of Mac Cuill, one of the Children of Danu, or a god of years gone by. Being a god, his soul was immortal and would be reborn in people. His last rebirth was as one of a thief, a great thief who did so well at stealing it caught the king's attention and it took the king to capture him. Showing no remorse for his actions, but also being a Child of Danu, the king came up with this punishment. He put Mac Cuill in handcuffs and flung the key into the sea. He then put Mac Cuill in a boat saying "he will have the judgement of the sea."

So Mac Cuill floats for a few days and ends up on an island where he meets two wise men, Conindri and Romuil. Now here's where I was floored. The two wise men had "heard the words of the Son of God, and preached the new religion of love and forgiveness." Should sound familiar...

So these two guys take in Mac Cuill but cannot release him from his bonds. Instead, though, they tell him about the Creator, His Son, and the religion of love and brotherhood. But Mac Cuill thinks it is a waste. They tell how the poor in spirit are blessed, but Mac Cuill has no wish to be poor. They tell how if someone strikes one cheek, to turn the other and how if someone steals your cloak, to offer your coat also (all teachings of Jesus if you aren't following). So Mac Cuill decides to stay thinking that he can make a killing from these people, since if he steals from them, they'll do nothing to stop him.

But this fails on his first attempt. He meets Blaanid who offers him jewels and fine stones. Mac Cuill is disappointed, he doesn't want people to give him things, he wants to steal them. So he gets upset realizing that he can never truly steal again. That is when Blaanid takes him down to the depths of the ocean, where he sees other Children of Danu that hate this new religion and want to live as thieves too. They live at the ocean's depths, stealing from ships that sink. It is then and there Mac Cuill sees that this is the future of his life as a thief, and it is then and there he decides to become a member of the new religion of the Son of God. He goes back to Conindri and Romuil to learn more "about your God and His Son." It is there they catch a fish to eat for dinner and in the belly of the fish, Mac Cuill finds the keys to his chains and he is set free.

The very next day, Mac Cuill dedicates his life to telling everyone about this new religion, a loving God and His Son. He taught this to everyone, even the Druids. But this angers one of the old gods since they believe that once you stop believing in a god, he cease to exist. Yet Mac Cuill explains how this new philosophy "is the destiny of the world" and he cannot stop, so he makes a deal with this old god, the god of the sea. Mac Cuill will still teach the new thinking, but he will rename their home after this god so he will be remembered. The land was renamed the Island of Manannan Mac Lir, or for short, the Isle of Man.

Sorry, it was really long, but it was too great of a story. Everybody says that God changes lives, but so few people today seem to act like it, and here, in the old Irish history and folklore, is a story about God doing just that to such a degree that the island is renamed and it still holds Mac Cuill as the patron saint except under a new Christian name St. Maughold. Did God change your life? Does anyone know about it? Mac Cuill's was changed and it will be forever remembered...

T

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Fishers Freedom Festival

We're in the parade tomorrow. Come out and cheer us on and get a free pen! Pics will be up next week.

T

Monday, June 18, 2007

Opaque

For all of you that complain that your life is just a little too hard, check out this place.

It's a restaurant in California that serves you food only in pitch black surroundings. That's right, you're blind. All the waiters are blind so they don't walk into tables, etc. (they're used to it).

In exchange for you losing a sense, the restaurant boasts that your other senses heighten (which is true), so your sense of taste gets better making the food taste more amazing. But is that a trade you'd want to make permanently? As I was reading about it I kept thinking about how thousands of rich, upper-class LA type people will go, experience blindness for a night, then come out and complain about the color of their car (I can get you a video on that one too if you like.) It's amazing what we take for granted.

Colossians 4:2 ~ Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God.

T

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Do You Need Forgiveness?

I know, lots of questions lately, but this one hit me today while watching a movie. One of the characters had seen something violent on TV, and I don't mean bloody slasher violent, I mean like WWE Wrestling violent. He asked someone what they thought of this and the other person said, "You should pray for forgiveness."

And I remember thinking why. What's the big deal? He just watched something stupid. Why ask forgiveness? Why pray?

That's when I realized I'm screwed up. Um, shouldn't we be asking God to forgive everything we do wrong, no matter how big or how little? When did I decide what was worth forgiving? When did I get the power to decide what's bad and what's really bad? Then I started wondering how many "insignificant" sins have I piled up?

Maybe we should be praying for every little thing...

Jeremiah 16:17 ~ I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me.

I John 1:7b ~ Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.

T

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

How Much Is Enough?

Yeah, it's been a while, I'm sorry.

So last week at Drink Deep we talked about tithing and money, and this week we had some people mention how hard it is. I've always wondered about this because it's a percentage, it all comes to budgeting. I have two examples.

I was talking to someone last week who gambles. He was mentioning how the family was taking a road trip and they didn't want to stop for a hotel because it would cost $160. But then he said, "It's funny how throwing away $300 on a horse is okay, but $160 for a hotel, that's an unnecessary expense." Yeah, funny isn't it.

Then I read this today. In 1783, the Prince of Whales, George, was given a birthday gift equivalent to $6.2 million in today's currency. His father, King George III also set him up with an annual allowance of $5.2 million. Still, by the time he was in his mid-30's, Prince George had managed to be $70 million in debt. $70 million!!!! How does that happen?

We can blow money like that, but we can't give afford to give any to God?

Proverbs 21:20 ~ Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 ~ Even wise people are fools if they let money change their thinking.

T

P.S. I became an uncle today! Lacey Marcella Wood was born to my sister this evening!