Sunday, May 25, 2008

Granda Pa David


Grandpa david just died at the age of 95, what a life, full of zest in all he did. I will miss you and your sayings. Give Grandma David a kiss in heaven for me!

Your Grandson, Czechfest

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Stone

Stone on a Saturday afternoon, looking sporty


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Saturday, August 04, 2007

Sinking Ship

 

The real Noah
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Prayer

Can we be the disciples and community of the early church without prayer?What does prayer look like in an emerging church?Do we meditate and do mystic chants?Do we rap our worship?I just think it is a fundamental component and not sure how to approach this other than what I have been taught and shown.I am open to new methods of building my relationship with God so can somebody suggest some.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Convicted and Busted

I have been convicted lately of showing little love-mercy and not seeking justice. Seems like I am good at following rules at lot of times but that's not what Jesus did nor was it what he taught His disciples. Well thank goodness Jesus gives me more times to pass the test, he said 7X77 I think. I only hope I can get to 7.

Friday, May 25, 2007

WorldView: Another 'Me Generation'?

WorldView: Another 'Me Generation'?
5/24/2007
By Erich Bridges

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Baby boomers have long taken the rap for being the most selfish generation of Americans ever, but we finally have some competition.

Our children and grandchildren are coming up fast in our rearview mirrors, and they’re about to leave us in their dust when it comes to narcissism and self-absorption.

I’m not just talking about the little thugs and thugettes who run amok in stores and restaurants while their clueless parents ignore them. I’m talking about at least some of the intelligent, ambitious young adults graduating this spring from American colleges and universities. Too many celebrity commencement speakers are telling them what they’ve heard for years from parents and others:

“You are special. The world revolves around you. The future belongs to you.”

In other words, they’re being sold a bill of goods by their indulgent boomer elders, who should know better by now. The world doesn’t revolve around 20-somethings any more than the sun revolves around the earth. Why are we telling them so? It shortchanges them and cripples the mission of the church, which needs a new generation of selfless servants – not a new cult of self-worship.

Don’t get me wrong. I know many young adults who are living out a passionate desire to serve God. Some of them are making history right now on some of the toughest mission fields in the world. But they’re swimming against the tide of our times, not flowing with it.

Before you dismiss me as a grumpy boomer, read on.

Recent studies on parenting and child development by Christian researcher George Barna find that the typical worldview of Americans in their early 20s “promotes self-centeredness, the right to happiness and fulfillment, the importance of personal expression in all forms (and) the necessity of tolerating aberrant or immoral points of view; allows for disrespect of other people and use of profanity; and advances forms of generic spirituality that dismiss the validity of the Judeo-Christian faith. Largely propelled by postmodern thought, [this] worldview … does not facilitate respect for life, acceptance of the rule of law or the necessity of hard work, personal sacrifice, paying dues or contributing to the common good.”

I know, I know. Every older generation complains about the behavior of “kids these days.” But the sense of entitlement on display among many young Americans today actually reflects years of conscious indoctrination by parents, teachers and coaches. These authority figures see their main mission not as educating and developing character in the young but as building “self-esteem,” according to Jeffrey Zaslow of The Wall Street Journal.

“Now, as this greatest generation grows up, the culture of praise is reaching deeply into the adult world,” Zaslow writes. “Bosses, professors and mates are feeling the need to lavish praise on young adults, particularly 20-somethings, or else see them wither under an unfamiliar compliment deficit. Employers are dishing out kudos to workers for little more than showing up. … Certainly, there are benefits to building confidence and showing attention. But some researchers suggest that inappropriate kudos are turning too many adults into narcissistic praise-junkies.”

America’s “praise fixation,” Zaslow warns, “has economic, labor and social ramifications. Adults who were over-praised as children are apt to be narcissistic at work and in personal relationships.”

He cites a multi-university study involving more than 16,000 college students over several decades. They took a standardized “narcissistic personality inventory,” responding to such statements as “I think I am a special person.” The average college student in 2006, according to the study, was 30 percent more narcissistic than the average student in 1982.

Praise and encouragement are wonderful tools as we love our children and guide them into adulthood. Mindless adulation, however, creates as many problems as condemnation. It deceives young people into thinking any effort at all is their best effort. It prevents them from discovering their true abilities, developing their potential or forming discipline and character. It hurts their chances of building loving relationships with others.

Worst of all, it distorts their understanding of God’s world and their role in it.

American-style Christianity already over-emphasizes the personal benefits of faith and neglects its responsibilities: Jesus loves me. He saved me. He blesses me. It’s all about me. The narcissistic “culture of praise,” as Zaslow calls it, only encourages this tendency. What about loving God, serving Him, following Him – and demonstrating such faith by loving and serving others at home and around the world?

Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, a 2005 book published by Oxford University Press, explored the inner lives of more than 3,000 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17. The study found that in contrast to the rebellious boomers, today’s teens tend to believe in God, listen to their parents and willingly adopt their parents’ religious views. If parents model a shallow faith with few demands, however, their children imitate them.

Biblical faith is about a very different “culture of praise.” We praise and serve a God who lavishes unconditional love and undeserved grace upon us – but He expects our all in return.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Missing

I am finding that my prayer life both privately and publicly is missing something. I have a hunch it’s the power of the Holy Spirit which comes from spending time with God. I am talking about time spent as the Bible describes in the “secret place” alone. I am having trouble with being still because I am out of sync because of stress. If somebody reads this please ask God for: Shalom-wholeness in life and a fresh anointing of the Spirit in me.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Iron Sharpens Iron

 

I hate it and like it when people ask tough questions about my life. It brings me back to the very fact that my sinful nature is full of Pride and Lust.
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Letting Go

I have been learning the lesson of letting go, again. I keep thinking one day that i might make progress in this area but like those people who wandered in the desert for 40 years-they just never got it and that scares me. I like to have stability, predictability, make your plan-do the plan especially in my workplace- I actually like a lot more spontaneity at home,weird huh. I have been in a tough time of testing.I don't like being in the hot fire and that's where I am, I complain, get sad,angry, blame people, pray for wisdom and grace, most of all try to understand why my perspective gets so screwed up.My stress level shows up in 2 ways: I forget conversations from minutes earlier as my brain can process no more and I get severe stomach issues-most call it ulcers. I have come out of these episodes a few times now and look back to see what I learned about myself-and the God i love.

Well He is constant-I am not, thank goodness God loves me all screwed up along with the most awesome wife and 2 sons. They know my flaws and hang ups and still like me for the most part.

I have been thinking about Daniel, from the OT in the Bible. This guy worked for his God and not others, did things for others, was respected and successful-in fact some hated his honesty and character.You know I love how he kept praying to the God of Israel even though he knew it might cost him his life. Being thrown into the furnace will get your attention and yet he lived and came out even more dedicated to give God glory! May it be so with me today, I give glory to my God!