Let’s face it no one really likes pain. In fact, most of us go out of our way to avoid pain.

However, if we are going to accomplish our goals and ”complete the race marked out for us,” we must endure some pain along the way. If we seek to “Fix our eyes on Jesus,” as suggested in Hebrews 12:1-3, then we must look at adversity (pain) the way scriptures looks at it.

Jerry is training for the Ironman (which is insane) although he is also a pastor at my church (he’s in charge of the youth).

While I do like people who encourage (what my senior Pastor is awesome at), I love the blunt talkers, especially those who encourage you to survive the trials, regardless of how bloody it might be.

As an aside, I personally love Jerry blunt sermons (i.e. improve slacker or perish), although I think I’m one of the few who do.

(Image via Endless Cycle)

–Posted from my iPhone

Here’s one example (as there are plenty more):

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

~Matthew 5:43-45

I’ve heard people talk about these verses forever, but I have seen very few actually live this out as if it were a natural way of living.

I mean if you met someone you REALLY didn’t like, would you want to bless them with a Christmas gift? Or a happy unbirthday present?

Perhaps I should use an exmaple here.

Let’s say this man below…

Despite the fact he is screwing over the economic future of America by spending (tax payer) money faster than a drunken sailer at Vegas? (can you say deficits!!)

Perhaps.

But unless I somehow obtain 10% of Jesus’s love for humanity, there is no way on I can fully live up to this commandment.

– Posted from my iPhone

If you love God, tithe to the church (Malachi 3:10-11) and don’t forget to help out the poor too (Luke 14:12-14). If you love your country, pay your taxes (Luke 20:22-25)–even if that includes universal healthcare (LORD help us all if that massive behemoth of finacial doom passes, but that’s another rant for another day).

Anyways, a scenario arose, and guess what? It once again involved money (boo!).

Basically in my “perfect wisdom” I forgot to plan ahead for an upcoming bill due on a certain date, creating a temporary cash crunch.

That left me with 3 options:

• Whip out a credit card, something King Solomon might see as foolish (Proverbs 22:7)
• Ask friends for a temporary loan (something I have not done in years)
• Pray and trust that God would provide the funds without me having to go into debt or pull favors

Yeah, that last point came from this verse (Provers 3:5-6):

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Since the “ever positive media” were reporting on banks attempting to raise interest rates, I decided against option 1.

Option 2 & 3 looked good, so I attempted to do both of them at the same time–or rather option 2 and simply (out of hope) use the third option as a backup.

To make a long story short, friends & family were unable to help (even those I’ve given money freely in the past), so option 1 was starting to look REAL good again.

Fortunately an hour before the bill was due, the funds came and the bill was paid.

So much for my faith.

While I’m glad the bill was paid off, this scenario has forced me to reexamine myself to determine where do I place my real confidence in.

And I think I won’t like the answer.

So I finished reading a book called The Shack by William P. Young.

Overall I found the book to be slightly “emoish,” although it’s one of those few books that I find that can alter ones perception of God (regardless of your perspective or philosophy regarding him).

Like most books nowadays, I read it on my iPhone (thanks in part to ScrollMotion) which has really rekindled the bookworm within me–but more of that later (on another blog).

Anyways, The Shack started off really slow. I felt like I was watching a LifeTime show produced by the 700 club (which I would not recommend anyone watching–especially the latter).

Half way through the book started improving (although it was still slightly corny) but the end justified the $16 I paid for this book app on iTunes.

Overall the book tries to paint a very simplistic “I love you unconditionally” view of God, and his constant fascination of humanity.

What I liked about the book was it’s constant focus on improving relationships with friends and family. Love is a verb in this book (and not a noun) and whether you agree with its theology or not (note: many conservative Christians may not), The Shack pushes you to reexamine your relationships and do whatever is neccessary to improve them.

What I thought was lame about the book was it’s portrayal that independent people are somehow evil, which might not thrill those of you within the Libertarian group (myself included).

Overall the book was okay, and if I had to rate it I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars (I would give it 4 if the intro wasn’t so underwhelming).

– Post From My iPhone

While I was reading the scriptures this morning, I noticed a humorous in Leviticus:

“It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.” ~Leviticus 3:19

Blood I understand, as it may contain all those fun bacteria that can usually kill you in your sleep (or when you’re awake, which ever comes first).

But it seems humorous to me that this health tidbit given over four thousand years ago (give or take a few centuries) is currently being ignored by most fast food restaurants in the US today.

Perhaps this is the reason why health insurance is so expensive here?

It looks like there is a new musical in town starring one of Bin Laden’s groupies…or rather a play about the life of one.

Called Jihad The Musical, the show is apparently playing in Scotland.

I wonder if it will ever come to the US?

(Hat Tip: Hot Air and Little Green Footballs)

So a friend of a friend passed away at church, and we held a memorial service in his honor. It's ironic, no matter how often onehears about death or sees it in the news, you never get use to it.

Iran seems to be doing another random crack down in order to keep women of the cloth, under the cloth.

One lady decided that was not her cup of tea.

Sugiero provides the explanation:

I do not condone violence but having the moral guardians telling you, indirectly, your a “slut” can’t be very amusing… This woman won’t take any sh*t from the female undercover police:

Even in the land of Mullah’s, the hope of freedom burns brightly.

Well, today I just discovered why time management is important. And why I need to upload more of my life on Google’s servers (this time via Google Calendar).

Basically, I contacted a friend and let him know that I would be getting in touch with him later on today this evening.

Ironically, I discovered an event at church that is happening around the same time (give or take an hour). Although I have not committed to the event, everyone is probably expecting me to be there because I attended the same event last year.

And to make matters worse, one of the church members emailed me to make sure that I am wearing red (I think it’s a theme or something, although I hope it has nothing to do with star trek).

I may be able to make the opening ceremonies, but I am definitely going to have to miss the dinner. I’ll probably get some flack for it via MySpace (that is if I both check it next week) but that would be better than disappointing my friend.

Whether they’re Jewish, Arabian, Druze or anyone else I left out, one thing about middle eastern women (or rather middle eastern people in general) is that they are passionate, no matter what they believe.

Here is a “secularist” (who use to be Muslim) giving her spin on liberty, Islam and the political way.

Hat Tip: IsraelReporter.com, via YouTube)

And don’t forget to watch her previous video.