Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Weird Faith:

In May, the Columbus (Ohio) City Council approved a building permit for the Faith Christian Center ("On Fire for God") to construct a 52,000-square-foot commercial complex centered on an indoor skateboard park, and including a restaurant, arcade and pro shop, named Godz Xtreme Power Park. [Columbus Dispatch, 5-11-04]

A March Wall Street Journal story reported on the growing number of churches that have introduced services aimed at improving the lives, and chances for salvation, of parishioners' pets (at least in part under the belief that some former worshipers would return to church if it were more "relevant," such as by offering prayers for protection from fleas). In some places, clergy accompany parishioners to pet euthanizations, or hold "bark mitzvahs," or dispense Holy Communion to dogs. [Wall Street Journal, 3-10-04]

Two child prodigies from India made the news in June. A boy named Bharanidharan, 13, backed by several adult disciples, declared himself a Hindu holy man and founded a monastery in Salem in Tamil Nadu state, until his parents had him abducted and brought back home. (A judge released the boy back to his ashram and will later conduct a hearing on his rights.) And Akrit Jaswal, 11, acclaimed as a genius by Indian and international organizations, recently spent two months at the Tata Cancer Institute in Mumbai, working with researchers on cancer and AIDS, and at the recommendation of doctors, Akrit's parents sold most of their belongings to finance a research lab for him in New Delhi. [The Independent (London), 6-17-04] [New Indian Express/Indo-Asian News Service, 6-15-04]

7/21/2004 05:53:00 am ::

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Crazy Calvinist :: permalink

And I ain't a kitty fan....but.....

Doesn't this melt your heart?

7/21/2004 05:42:00 am ::

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Crazy Calvinist :: permalink

Whacko Jacko's Cameo Appearance!

There is a definite likeness!

7/21/2004 05:38:00 am ::

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Crazy Calvinist :: permalink

Martin Luther's vision whilst drinking a bitter cup

Well, I think sometimes unless we think we can change the world, in a big memorable way, we think we are useless to both God and mankind.I am continuing to read through Wylies' History of Protestantism, and are currently reading the early life of Martin Luther.If anyone asks which Reformer one would relate to most, Luther would be my choice tho up until now I had very little knowledge of his life. But I did know he often had a tortured soul, constantly in battle and Spritual conflict. I'm sure many on a small or bigger degree can relate to that. But, we all get despondent at times, at how hard life can seem, and not just seem but is. And that will often help stir the conflict. I am overwhelmed at times by a sense of greif and loss, at how at the start of what I hoped would be a better time, seeing as the past is so full of pain, any hopes seemed to have been dashed. By a body wracked with pain and often failing mind. I wonder at the goodness of God in all this. And often to my sin and shame, question it. And the enemy will always be close by during those times, saying, if you had never got close to God, this would never have happened. Return from where you came, before anything else goes wrong and things are worse than even now.Yet also, have felt convicted time and time again, that cos the medical community is so at a loss to treat this thing apart from symptom management, that if not for God, I should be dead now. Probably many, many months ago. I have head accidents in bed at least once a week, often nightly, and yet my brain tho not a true brain of Britian, does not noticably get worse in important ways. And have gone to bed dozens of times, feeling there is only a 50/50 chance of being in this world in the morning, yet "Here I stand" And I was reading about Luther tonite, how when he first found Jerom'es vulgate, he felt after a sickness that he recovered from, but was serious enough for him not to have, he felt God had spared him for a reason, to be used by him. And this has occurred to me over the months, even tho right now the "how" is not clear. And from this event in his life too: Book Fifth Chapter two of Wylies book

Soon after this, he paid a visit to his parents at Mansfeld. He was returning to Erfurt, and was now near the city gate, when suddenly black clouds gathered overhead, and it began to thunder and lighten in an awful manner. A bolt fell at his feet. Some accounts say that he was thrown down. The Great Judge, he thought, had descended in this cloud, and he lay momentarily expecting death. In his terror he vowed that should God spare him he would devote his life to His service. The lightning ceased, the thunders rolled past, and Luther, rising from the ground and pursuing his journey with solemn steps, soon entered the gates of Erfurt.[9]

When I sommersaulted backwards in my wheelchair within two minutes of coming out of church from public worship, I felt it was the hand of God. And even then, tho it wrecked the normal pain issues things could have been a lot worse. I went rolling backwards down a steep slope, having a momentary lapse thruogh seizure stuff.... it could have been disasterous in its outcome. And the fact that it was so after public worship and right outside the building, who else could it be speaking but the hand of God. Even tho I was somewhat frustrated and felt it a direct attack from the enemy, as my pastor has noticed how on Sundays the day comes and I am consistently attacked in one form or another, well, I have no idea what God has in mind. Yet I have hope, that tho not on the scale of Luther obvisously, but the torment of spirit that often comes, and yet so consistently through life both before and after conversion can see God's hand so clearly in events, that its not without purpose, or plan. And that eventually, a little cog in a big wheel, will through the power of God alone, be made fit and strong enough, that whatever the cirucmstances at the time, will die with God's name on her lips, and before then, have been used in some way by Him, and that all these Hand of God scenarios through the years, will become clear and understandable, and will stand strong and firm, knowing that the suffering and torment is not for nought. And that bigger people have gone before us, like Luther and others, who also suffered but in doing so, were being prepared for servicableness.

IAgain from Wylie:
It was indeed a bitter cup that Luther was now drinking, but it could by no means pass from him. He must drink yet deeper, he must drain it to its dregs.

That may have been part of Luther's conversion process, but it was still preparing him for what lay ahead.

7/21/2004 04:33:00 am ::

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Crazy Calvinist :: permalink

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Carrying on Kitty look theme:

This one is cute!!