The Gospel According to Conan

I'm not sure but I think Conan O' Brien just gave me a bit of Gospel truth.



Like a lot of other people I've been following this NBC feud very closely. And as it's gone on my respect for Conan has grown immensely. I've always been a fan of Conan- but watching this controversy play out has allowed me to see a truly good man in the television industry.

That respect reached a pinnacle tonight. His final monologue was full of humility and grace- thanking NBC for his opportunities. He said something that stopped me in my tracks: " I'm asking this particularly of young people that watch- Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere." He's right! It got me thinking about how our cynicism in dealing with "the world" chokes out the gospel. How my constantly questioning others motives only leads to bitterness and promotes no good thing. The only thing cynicism seems to do for me is weigh-down the freedom in my soul. I'm not saying I've decided to abandon common sense. But i am saying maybe there is something more to being positive- to seeing the good in things- in people. To give respect even when another trys to take mine. To extend love before skepticism- mercy before judgment.

That's a tall order for me. But with the Almighty's help, well worth the undertaking.
Thanks for the preaching Conan. I hope I see ya in September.

Good Friday

Have a meaningful Good Friday everybody.



dig it.

Let's Talk About Mary

There is a broad gap between how Catholics and Pentecostals feel about Mary the mother of Jesus. Catholics venerate Mary very highly- above all other saints. While Pentecostals for the most part believe that she was simply chosen because she was willing and obedient. What do you think? Was she immaculately conceived? Did she ascend into Heaven? Is she the Queen of Heaven? Most importantly, should she receive more veneration then we currently give her as Pentecostals?

Well? So what do you think?

Murder in the City

The Avett Brothers are definitely worth looking into. You'll like this.


dig it.

The Low Anthem

If your a fan of good Americana music or just a fan of good music in general, do yourself a favor and check these guys out. No seriously, you need to check it out.

The Prosperity through Pain Gospel. Part 2

(Note: This blog is not meant to be a complete treatise on why we have pain. For a good start on that subject check out C.S. Lewis' The Problem with Pain.)

We need to realize pain is a part of our fallen world. We were never promised what we consider a fair deal; that if we work hard we'll be fine. We we're never guaranteed physical and financial well-being. Jesus said we would have trouble. It was a guarantee. But he also said to fear not because he has overcome the world.

Through Christ everything works for are good even if we never understand why or how it works for our good. It is important to remember when the hard times come (and if they haven't, they will) that anything God allows to happen to us is for are ultimate good and even more importantly, his ultimate glory.

He really does love us and even if he disciplines us it's out of a heart that defines the word love. He is not angry at us. We are his children and he does everything out of his perfect love for us.

All the pain that we experience, that our Father allows us to experience, is so that we might become more like Christ. That is where true prosperity is found.

dig it.

The Prosperity thru Pain Gospel: Pt. 1

Your Cross

The everlasting God has in His wisdom
foreseen from eternity the cross
that He now presents to you
as a gift from His inmost Heart.

This cross He now sends you
He has considered with His all-knowing eyes,
understood with His divine mind,
tested with His wise justice,
warmed with His loving arms
and weighed with His own hands
to see that it be not one inch too large
and not one ounce too heavy for you.

He has blessed it with His holy Name,
anointed it with His grace,
perfumed it with His consolation,
taken one last glance at you
and your courage, and then sent it
to you from heaven,
a special greeting from God to you,
an alms of the all-merciful love of God.

St. Francis de Sales


"In this world you will have trouble..."

Where did we ever get the idea that our American prosperity is the way life is supposed to be. Or worse, that we deserve it; that we're entitled to it. We need to realize we we're never promised financial abundance (at least as we commonly define it), that the financial blessings we do receive are so that we might help others.

Americans (myself included) have squandered a lof of our provisions on our selves, indulging in the gratification of possesion. Bigger cars, bigger houses, aquire, aquire, aquire. Bigger is better. More is better. In short, our stockpile is our security.

But now our chickens appear to be coming home to roost. Our economy is in deep, deep, trouble. Thousands of people are losing their jobs at an alarming rate. We can no longer depend on our savings, investments, or 401 K; and if this current Congressional plan doesn't work we'll be in more debt than ever.

I'm not sure where all of this is heading. I'm not saying our downfall is near. Obviously, I don't know. But I am sure as Christ followers we need to examine our perception of prosperity and pain. What would it mean for Christ followers if we we're totally stripped of our financial prosperity and security?

More to come...