Wherein I reflect on gay marriage and just a wee little bit upon marriage itself. Please note, I really have no business writing this stuff. But I just don't have the sense…
Okay, so during my one-hour drive home from work a couple days ago, I was listening to public radio and heard a story about a woman who was undergoing a divorce from her spouse — another woman. (Turns out it's as hard to get a legal gay divorce as it is to get a gay marriage in some states. That's why the story…)
Partway through her narrative, this lady described how, after the wedding, she and her lover stopped at a homey little restaurant for dinner, mentioning that they had just gotten married. A few minutes later the server delighted them when he arrived with compliments from the chef and
Christianity Today released an article this month titled, Willow Creek's 'Huge Shift'. Since a friend asked what I thought about this, I thought I'd share it with you, my faithful readers and random visitors with hope that you will further sharpen my thinking. Or (gasp!) correct me. This is my big-picture view — and not necessarily the right one, at that — So, enjoy! (Then comment!)
The study by Willow Creek was been years in the making but only splashed across the blogosphere with its sensational headlines late last year. (Read: "Mind-Blowing!" - "Painful!" - "Revolutionary!") I'm not sure why CT is still doing stories on it at this late date except that their publishing schedule is generally 3-6 months out. (I first heard about the Reveal study in
A few days ago, a friend from an Assemblies of God-oriented discussion group raised an interesting topic. Since I haven't posted much here for a while, I thought I'd share my thoughts and joyfully invite your comments.
The Good Pagan
Carissa wrote:
« I think, and this is a lay person's humble opinion, that a person can live a good moral life without knowing Christ as Savior. »
Amen, Carissa!
It's a sad myth among us Christians that people can only act "good" by knowing Jesus when, in fact, Christianity is proof of the fact that good behavior is possible while not helpful at gaining eternal salvation. When the rich young ruler came to Jesus, he was not condemned by Jesus for bad behavior. The young man, in fact, kept all the commands since childhood. He said as much and Jesus, knowing
Wherein I describe my first day on the job after a harrowing 14-month unemployment ordeal.
So, there hasn't been much news on this blog lately, mostly because I've been busy, I've been distracted, and I've been unemployed. Somehow, not having a job makes me less productive in my blogging alter-life. Go figure.
Here's the news: I've been hired!
I didn't want to spend a lot of time talking about interviews and possibilities and potentialities, getting hopes up, and boring you with my uneven work possibilities. But after leaving Tennessee just before Christmas, I contacted Zondervan for a new open position I'd found on their website: Senior Editorial Manager. I expressed my interest.
Then I moved. Jennifer and the kids and I packed up and moved to Muskegon to live with my father-in-law while we sorted things out, worked on selling the house, and licked
So, it's been a wee little while since I last posted. Some of you have contacted me via email to find out what's happening and to be sure everything's okay. I appreciate that -- I really do.
So I was sitting here tonight with pretty much nothing to do except wait for the Super Bowl to begin and I thought I'd take the time to post a brief update via my little four-year-old PDA.
Here are the highlights: We are all nicely settled into my father-in-law's home. I have a nice little private space in the basement where I can pay bills and work at a desk. (This is important because since I lost my job back in 2006 we've gotten behind in some bills. We haven't totally caught up yet, but my recent two month's of full-time employment really helped.) I've spent several thousand dollars in the past keeping creditors happy View the rest of this post… »
First off, I apologize for not spending much time in this space over the past couple of months.
If you've followed my blog activities (and inactivity!), you know that on October 22, I accepted a position as marketing and media director at one of the Assemblies of God's 100 largest churches. I was thrilled not only to have a job but to be in a position that required top-notch creativity and performance from many areas of my skill site — and many areas I was eager to acquire new skills in.
As marketing and media director I designed several promotional and in-house printed pieces, I wrote press releases, I worked with vendors, I approved and gave guidance for the video and broadcast editing (though not much of that because
Wherein my wife and I describe a day without meds, without sleep, and concluding with a horse tranquilizer. For AJ, that is.,
Intro
So my son has a pretty severe case of ADHD. And lest you nay-sayers pooh-pooh that notion, let me say that even when merely undermedicated both his pediatrician and psychiatrist remark that his is one of the more extreme cases of hyperactivity they've ever seen. Yet when properly medicated with methamphetamine salts he's calm, collected, and controlled. (Mostly.) When completely off his meds? He's a a wildcat on crank. But once in a while, even under meds, AJ will space out for a few seconds and lose time, lose his thread of thought, and just stare off into space. When he resumes he carries on with whatever catches his attention first. The docs thought,
This is my pre-published version of an article I wrote for Christianity Today International's Resources department. It is part of a larger downloadable study exploring Church rental issues. Here, with the help of a few friends, I consider the advantages and disadvantages of renting worship space.
The urban landscape is becoming increasingly crowded — and expensive. While churches have been moving out of the city to the suburbs, the cites have been growing. The North American Misssion Board reports that nearly 6 out of 10 Americans live in the 50 largest cities. And while establishing a new congregation in a populous city context poses many challenges, the lack of affordable space for church property is one of the most daunting. Purchasing facilities for worship in most large cities, especially for a church plant, is often impossible.
Wherein I opine on the culture war between Christianity and those of homosexual persuasion, and their supporters.
So, breaking news, San Fransisco is a gay-friendly town. Oh, more breaking news: Chrisitanity is anathema to a sinful lifestyle. And it's an easy target for sinners.
So the 24th annual hedonistic fetish event, San Fransisco's Folsom Street Fair (wiki definition), created a poster playing off da Vinci's "Last Supper." Instead of tableware, there are sex toys. Instead of Jesus and his disciples, there was "Sister Roma" and " "half-naked homosexual sadomasochists" (WND). And, of course, there were sponsor logos.
The fair is scheduled for September 30, three days from now.
Predictably, the Christian community at-large has recoiled in disgust and lashed back with angry diatribes and calls for apologies. The poster, itself, has been labeled an "unprovoked attack against Christ and His
As previously noted, this is my week for presenting at GospelCom's meetup: "The Internet Ministry Conference."
I successfully captured audio for today's presentation: "Relationship Blogging." So as soon as I can get my audio editor software working, I'll upload it as an mp3 file, and I will also upload a flash version of the powerpoint file for your enjoyment as well.
I don't think there was any video of this presentation, so I'll spare you that!
Stay tuned for details.
Tomorrow I'll be giving my "Integrity on the Internet" presentation. The presentation has been updated from my earlier 1998 version. Hopefully It'll go well!
More later. But, meanwhile, for all who were interested in the books I mentioned, see:
I recently received an email note from a friend. She wrote:
"I am curious if anyone knows of some Christian articles dealing with internet flirting or cyber sex … I just can't seem to find anything that I can relate to or identify with, and I know that there must be some other folks who have encountered the same thing."
Not just a guy thing …
Indeed, there are a number of articles online dealing with this issue. Reviewing them reveals something interesting, if not downright scary. Pornography usage and cybersex traditionally have been viewed as a "male problem," because men are thought to be more easily excited by what they see. But now women are at risk too.
George O. Wood has been elected to the office of the General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God
George Wood is a prince of a man who is not only well-educated, but sensible. In my experience in interacting with him not only in meetings but when I provided support on his computer (for some time he was the only executive to use one), he is considerate, a gentleman, and actually listens to the people around him, regardless of their status or stature. He understands missions, being the son of missionaries. He understands contemporary culture, and he is one of the smartest men I've ever met — next to Rich Hammar.
Sometimes business meetings can be funny in their own little way. Especially when politicking gets heated.
Oh, the hi-jinx of business meetings. I actually laughed out loud at one minor General Council tempest that could have had massive implications for the vote for the general superintendent on Thursday.
During the nomination process, pastor Tommy Barnett from Phoenix, Arizona (pastor of one of our fellowship's largest churches) announced he wasn't interested in being nominated as he didn't want to surrender his pastorate, there came a resolution to clarify language regarding the role of the General Superintendent. (The resolution stated that the GS would be responsible to "cast the primary vision" for the fellowship along with other executive officers, to "provide spiritual oversight and leadership" to headquarters personnel, to "strategically
Tomorrow, the 52nd biennial business-meeting for the General Council of the Assemblies of God begins. On Thursday, our next General Superintendent will be selected. Here are my thoughts on matters over which I have no input or influence, and which are probably inappropriate for me to publicly opine over. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop me from writing! If you read this and think I'm an idiot for writing it, just remember: you read it!
On the resignation of the Assemblies of God's current superintendent, Rev. Thomas Trask, and the chaos that is in its wake. Wherein I opine on matters explicitly not my business.
I'd like to make it perfectly clear at the outset: I am not a credentialed Assemblies of God minister. I'm not a credentialed anything really. I'm blogging on this matter because it's of interest to me as an Assemblies of God churchgoing Pentecostal who loves his Fellowship and because it's also of interest to you, my faithful readers.
Oh, also because I tend blog on this sort of thing, and I promised you that I would.
What you are about to read (if you read it) is opinion mixed with some facts. I will try to source
Hey, I thought I'd give you, my faithful readers, a chance to let your voice be heard.
Give me a call at my voicemail number:
(630) 524-2255 (You get three minutes, unless you call back for more.)
Leave me a message on, say … anything! I'll review the messages, delete any that are inappropriate, and the rest? Well, I'll feature them right here on this blog.
So, here are some suggested topics for you to opine on:
What do you think about the recent resignation of Rev. Thomas Trask as the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God? This is the first time in our history a sitting Superintendent has resigned before his term was complete.
Overheard recently: "I'm wondering what's the difference between church and the bar?"
In church you pray for the Spirit. In a bar you pay for the spirits? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Anyways...
Everybody knows your name…
When Jennifer and I lived in Springfield, MO, and worked at the Assemblies of God headquarters, our friendly pagan neighbors invited us to join them at a neighborhood bar for lunch. We were on our way back home from church where we had invited them, so we figured a little tit for tat was probably in order.
Tammy Faye Messner, the former wife of Jim Bakker of PTL fame, has passed away after struggling against colon and lung cancer for several years.
On July 17, just three days before her death, Messner's last message on her website announced that she had gained 5 pounds: up from her recent low of 65. In that same message she extolled the virtues of a good hamburger:
I crave hamburgers and french fries with LOTS of ketchup! When I can eat that again, it will be a day of victory!
Friday, July 20, was a day of victory for Tammy Faye.
Over the last few weeks I've noticed the amount of search engine queries landing on this site have shot heavenward for Carlton Pearson. The searchers have typed:
As far as I can tell, Carlton Pearson's "badness" quotient has gotten no worse than when I wrote my semi-definitive exploration of his doctrine of inclusion back in early 2006: "Carlton D. Pearson: The Charismatic Bishop of Heresy." I've read that
The Rev. E. Thomas Trask, General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God, has announced his resignation. I will prepare a report with more details soon. Really. I will.
Well, really, I'm more tortured, than artistic. And it may be argued that the artistic is more artifice than artful. But I try, nonetheless.
Folks who don't know me well (meaning just about everybody) don't realize I have this creative half that doesn't wield its powers in the company of friends and coworkers until long after we meet. In fact, not knowing myself as well as I ought, even I remained largely unaware of this need to create until the beast was unleashed during my final year of high school. My more "public" facing personna tends to be bookish, I suppose — and there's a good reason for that: I'm rarely without a book. Even in good company.
I try not to post too many things close together, but I was too excited about this to let it slide without posting.
No, I didn't get a job.
Tonight I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought it was a reflection off the rim of my eye-wear. Then I thought, Wait, is that a spider dangling in mid-air? So I looked, and I saw what I at first thought was the hugest arachnid I'd ever seen clutching the wall of my house.
But, no, after I stopped screaming hysterically (at least, in my head), I looked more closely, adjusted my spectacles, and realized I was seeing a beautiful dragonfly.
I gently encouraged the little critter up on my finger and, cupping my hands
For the second time in my short life as a blogger, I've been meme-tagged by an evil blogging compatriot hoping to provoke me into playing a silly blog-tagging game, generating more content, and generally surrendering to mass hysteria.
Okay. I'm in! But only because I'm a sucker for attention. And because, like the "One Book Meme," this question interests me, and I like it.
By the way, I was tagged by Carl Thomas over at the Revival Blog who, believe it or not, actually got a touch snarky with me in his post. This is a bit like playing touch football, only instead of being touched, or tagged, or merely pushed, you get a wedgie:
Rich — If he completes it, (remember that "imminent" post on Ted Haggard
Back in May of 2006, while in the employ of Christianity Today International, I was asked to do a little something for my boss, Kevin Miller, a CTI vice president and leader of the Resources division.
Kevin's a great guy, a good friend, and an excellent manager — a true joy to work with. When his 20th anniversary at CTI came due, we wanted to do something to poke a little fun at him while still honoring him for his 20 years of service.
CTI took a huge risk asking me to put anytng together, knowing my style of humor (many waited with bated breath and crossed fingers, dreading the final result, and eagerly looking forward to the entertaining train-wreck it was sure to be). Who's great
![Spec[tac]ular Focus, by BlogRodent (Rich Tatum)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2312403203_e45b05f4ae_s.jpg)
For the second time in my short life as a blogger, I've been meme-tagged by an evil blogging compatriot hoping to provoke me into playing a silly blog-tagging game, generating more content, and generally surrendering to mass hysteria.
