Monthly Archive for October, 2007

Friday Randomness

Published
by
Todd
on Friday, October 19, 2007
in Baseball, Blog stuff, Politics, Random, TV and Worship
. 8 Comments

It’s Friday. It’s been a crazy week. I’m not blogging as frequently as I should. Thus, a random post.

  • May I make two TV show recommendations? Chuck and Pushing Daisies. Both are great new shows. Both feature charming lead characters and enjoyable plots. Of the two, Daisies is my favorite. It has an irresistible charm to it. Despite the bizarre and depressing nature of the subject matter, it manages to be light-hearted and ridiculously sweet. Don’t miss either.
  • I don’t want to dedicate a whole post to this because it is too polarizing, but the Rush Limbaugh vs. Harry Reid letter feud fascinates me. The fact that the government is trying to punish a private citizen by mischaracterizing his statements (yes, they did) terrifies me. The fact that two of those who signed the letter are the front-runners for the Democratic ticket terrifies me. The fact that Rush is selling the letter on eBay thrills me. That is all I’ve got to say about that. (Unless I am provoked in the comments section.)
    • EDIT: Check out this video from Harry Reid. My personal favorite quote: “I strongly believe that when we can put our differences aside, even Harry Reid and Rush Limbaugh, we should do that and try to accomplish good things for the American people, and this does that.” How exactly did they “put differences aside?” Reid had absolutely NOTHING to do with this auction. He was trying to smear Rush. And now he’s taking credit for Limbaugh’s auction idea. Disgusting.
  • Want to do good AND drink delicious coffee? Check out Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee. If your church serves java, you should definitely check out the website as they have packages specifically designed with churches in mind.
  • Are you linking to my blog and I’m not returning the favor? Let’s remedy that. Leave your blog and a link and we’ll get you set up posthaste.
  • I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I’ve got to say I’m pretty pumped about the Rockies being in the World Series. I’m predicting it will be an Indians/Rockies World Series with the Rockies winning in five.
  • I’m not a worship leader, but if I were, this would be my setlist:
    • To Build a Home – Cinematic Orchestra (played as people were filing in to find a seat)
    • I Stand Amazed – North Point Live version
    • Jesus Paid it All – North Point Live version
    • Mighty to Save – Hillsong United
    • Inside Out – Hillsong United
    • Saviour King – Hillsong United (played during communion – a very long communion)
    • In Christ Alone – Stuart Townend

Well that’s it. Have an awesome weekend. If none of the above thoughts inspire a comment, why not tell everybody what your weekend plans are – unless of course said plans require you to leave your house empty or your spouse alone, in which case, you should probably make something up.

Have fun.

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NOTE: I have no ambition/gifts to actually become a worship leader. I don’t play an instrument, I don’t sing very well, my worship sets would all be more than 45 minutes and I get fixated on worship songs for months at a time. However, if your church is looking for a part-time worship planner, I’m your guy. I’ll tell you what songs to lead and in what order, pick out appropriate contemplative worship background slides and argue about why my choices are the right ones and you hired me to do this job, so you’d better trust me. If interested in hiring THAT type of position, feel free to contact me.

“What are we doing?” — Obligation

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, October 17, 2007
in Why?
. 13 Comments

Question: Why do we come together every week, doing the same thing, with the same people?

Answer: Out of obligation.

Most people probably wouldn’t come out and say that’s their reason for getting up on Sunday, but I know for Hayley and me it’s often a reality.

I believe the obligation reaction comes from two sources (placed in their order of influence):

1. Our fellow church-goers.
I know that if I don’t go to worship on Sunday, someone will notice I’m not there. And, if this not-going trend continues, this noticing will become action and they will call to check up on me. I don’t mind receiving such a call, but it does seem tiresome to have to conjure up some reason or excuse for my attendance slip. It is easier to go to church than have to face the questions of why I didn’t.

2. A sense of our duty as Christians.
I was taught that a part of being a Christian was going to church. This was based on scripture (Acts 2:40-47; Heb. 10:25) and, largely, by tradition. One of the traits of being a Christian was that you were at the church every time the door was open.

So how does a sense of obligation drive our worship? Well, if that is the sole reason we’re coming, there will be little motivation to change anything about what we’re doing — our purpose is to meet, do our duty as Christians and get out. The songs that we sing, the bread that we break and the sermons we hear are all peripheral to the fact that we’re in the same place, at the same time, week in, week out.

Obviously the activities of a church – in worship or out – can’t thrive on obligation. Eventually, that obligation will wane as the grounds to feel obligated become dusty with age or clouded by traditions without reason.

Is your church meeting out of obligation? Are you attending out of obligation? What can we do to combat this mentality and facilitate an excitement and anticipation about coming to worship?

What do you think?

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On the heels of Nobel…

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, October 15, 2007
in Explanation and Global Warming
. 24 Comments

comes this lovely story.

This is the second anti-global-warming link I’ve posted recently. I feel this calls for some explanation.

First of all, I’m pro-environment. I think we should do everything we can - within reason - to care for our earth and make sure we’re leaving it in better condition for our children (they are our future after all) than was left for us. However, the whole global warming and environmentalism message is anti-reason, anti-science. It is fueled by emotion and guilt. We need to step back and look at the facts, the previous research and the overall reaction of the scientific community to Gore and friends’ claims before granting our endorsement (or our prizes).

Secondly, this whole EDIT: the Gore-and-friends-led environmentalism movement seems financially motivated. If Gore truly cared about the environment, he would make personal sacrifices rather than buying carbon offsets - carbon offsets that are sold by a company of which he is the chair.

Finally, I don’t believe that humans have the power to destroy the earth. We do have the power to harm, but not destroy.

What do you think?

Have a good Monday.
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NOTE: My “why we worship” series is forthcoming. (The more I say it, the more I feel accountable to actually do it).

(h/t: Hayley)

Interesting Article

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, October 10, 2007
in Good Read, Link and Random
. 0 Comments

I know, I know…it’s been more than a week since my last post. Since that time, I’ve been to the Catalyst Conference, finished Atlas Shrugged and have been crazy busy with work. Thusly, I’ve had little energy or time for my pastime o’ pastimes, blogging. It’s been interesting, however, that my blog hits haven’t significantly decreased, so thank you for sticking with me during this sad, depressing era for ToddBlog.net.

Unfortunately, this sad time will continue for a little longer - at least until I can get my head back above the water for some whitespace (I love mixing metaphors).

Until then, check out this article from the Houston Chronicle about Tracy McGrady’s visit to Darfur.

Have a good one.
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(h/t: Larry - sorry it’s taken me so long!)

Christian Conservatives Consider Third Party

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, October 1, 2007
in Politics
. 12 Comments
Alarmed at the chance that the Republican party might pick Rudolph Giuliani as its presidential nominee despite his support for abortion rights, a coalition of influential Christian conservatives is threatening to back a third-party candidate in an attempt to stop him.

Read the full article here.

Well, I can’t say I’m entirely saddened by this move. Maybe it will expose the folly of Christians pursuing governmental evangelism. The thing that does sadden me a little is the fact that this third-party candidate will likely guarantee a Democratic president for the next four years.

What do you think?

I promise I’ll get to the blog-series soon. It’s been a crazy couple of days!
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(link h/t: Hayley)