Dangerous Radio.

So a few posts back I mentioned "safe Christian radio" and a desire for some "dangerous Christian radio"... What would that look like anyway?

Even more so, what is safe about Christianity, when the early job description for the faith included the fact that you were probably going to end up dead. As a matter of fact, it still does if you happen to live in certain geographic areas.

How do we balance not ignorantly inviting demons into our life by making everything permissible while on the other hand secluding ourselves into a frozen chosen safety tower located in the Christian ghetto?

So let's build a programming schedule for an un-safe Christian radio station. Any ideas?

Igloos and icy roads

It's a snow day here in Canada. Some might be thinking, isn't it always? After all, don't you need snow to keep your igloos going? I actually saw an igloo yesterday. Someone built a very impressive one in their front yard. But actually, we don't get a ton of snow in south western Canada. My boss called to tell me the roads we're a bit tricky and to stay home. Not bad. Not bad at all. I am currently sitting on the couch next to my son as he watches "Franklin". He's home from school sick with a cough. Although I've noticed he hasn't been coughing over the last couple of hours... Hmmm... Nothing like a snow day!

Driving to work.

So I have a commute. In the beginning I tried to be spiritual and prayed and listened to sermons. Now, I just try to stay awake and listen to sports talk radio. Well, the Canuck's have been losing a bit lately and nothing drives me crazier than the 100,000 or so hockey coaches that call up and have all the Canuck's problems figured out, or the callers that are full speed ahead into doom and gloom mode.

So I flipped over to the Christian radio station and realized why that drives me equally nuts. Their slogan is "family safe and family friendly" radio. Does that strike anyone else as odd? Is that meant to attract people or scare them away? Is there some pagan out there driving around thinking, "Man... I really need to find a radio station where all the music sounds like 1990's power ballads with virtually the same sounding guy singing everything... and they have to have the same song covered by at least four different people... that would be safe for my family... and NO Gwen Stefani or Matchbox 20!"

Are the sermons they air that come on from the Chuck's (Swindoll and Smith) and Dr. David Jeremiah really suppose to be "safe" and "friendly"?

I guess they might be talking about their on-air DJ's. They won't use any crude humor and if your lucky they will play the "Guess what this sound is" game is and give away tickets to the Third Day concert at the fair.

I don't really begrudge them for their on-air content. People like it and I'm sure it ministers to people. I just am not down with the way they are marketing themselves as "safe". That is all.

I really want a family dangerous Christian radio station to start up! I'm sure that would fly :)

The greatest blog posts I've ever read.

Here they are. I think I would like permission to post these on our blog.

This is great!

????

Now onto a real post!

So here is a question...:


A few weeks ago I was reading a blog post about how this person mentioned that he thought God is confusing. So I commented that I wondered if it isn't so much God being confusing, yet we as fallen creatures are confused. He responded that he thought it was both, God is confusing and we are confused.

Now this wasn't meant to be some sort of deep discussion but it has stuck with me a bit and I've been thinking about it.

- Is God purposely confusing us?

- Does He allow us to be confused?

- Are we just unable to not be confused by Him because of our sinfulness?

Or as I have been thinking, God is more mystery than confusion...

Confused yet?!?!

Vote no on Billary!

So I needed to post something to get rid of that hideous picture below. My greatest fear of Hillary getting elected won't be her policies as much as the backlash of a nation of angry red-state republicans who have sat by for 8 years watching their president get lampooned by everyone. That will lead to years of Billary smack and everyone polishing off their slick-willy 3$ bills and t-shirts. Man, that is the worst part of it. The hatred that the opposing parties have for whoever is sitting in the place of their party.

But the picture is funny.

And, vote Christopher Walken Pres in 2008.

Scary...

Heaven Help Us!

Meet your fellow Polycarpers! Introducing Terrence (Terry/BigT) Wills

So in the second installment of the Meet the Polycarpers! series, I present to you Terry. I know from experience that Terry enjoys a good pulled pork sandwich, Volvo's, sensitive touchy-feely acoustic guitar musicians and taking photos. He also is very skilled in touching the computer.

Without further ado;
20 questions for Terry Wills

What are your nick names?

I had t-dog in high school along with “the vat of useless information” (Ed. note - I was looking for donkey personally...)

What was your first car? 1978 T-bird

What are the 5 c.d.s and 3 books you would need if you took Tom Hanks place on that island in "Castaway".

CD: Gordon Lightfoot - greatest hits, Donavon Frankenreiter – Move by yourself, Gary Jules – Trading snakeoil for woldtickets, Xavier Rudd – food from your belly & Ray Lamontage – Till the sun turns black

Books: Bible of course, Confessions of St. Augustine & probably some book on how to survive and get off an island for dummies

What websites to you check to most? Facebook, wikipedia, craiglist & a scrabble cheat site that’s top secret

Do you have a passion for hand tools? A passion…I have a great use for them but I don’t know about passion.

What is God teaching you right now? Grace…grace for people, grace for myself and grace for the church

What is a theological truth that you would die on the side of a mountain for? A truth that is non-negotiable to you…? Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourselves supersede your judgment on others and should be the foundation of evangelism and our walk in this world.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Good question…either Japan or somewhere else in the world that God has lead me to.

Who would you say your best friend is? Jesus. On earth, Brianna

What would your dream concert line-up be? Donavon Frankenreiter, Gary Jules, Xavier Rudd (going to see next month), Ray Lamontage, U2, Rage Against The Machine, Massive Attack, Journey…how long can this concert be?

How does it feel to finally have made peace with the motor vehicle dept.? Of course…It’s only money.

What is your favorite bible passage? Matthew 9:13

Where would you rather spend a Saturday: at a conference on missional theology or a car show? Depends on the cars…and on the theology to be honest.

Are you a good cook? I love to cook and I’ve been told I’m good. I think I have a long way to go though.

If you were commissioner of the church for the day and could change one thing, what would it be? I would teach about grace for the church more.

What quality most blesses you in other believers? Humility

What thing that masks itself as spiritual but you know its not, would you like to change about the church? I don’t know but I think that sometimes people get so caught up in an emotional response that they mistake it for the Holy Spirit. Again, God has grace for us and our mistakes.

What person from your past would you most like to reconnect with? My Big Brother. He moved to Nova Scotia and then to the UK.

What three people from history or present would you love to have dinner with? Oh man… Jesus, Mother Teresa and Audry Hepburn.

If I told you to make an acronym from your first name what would it be?

That excentric runderful ravishing yak? You do one.

It's Raining....

Nothin' much going on, 'cept it's raining here. Unseasonably warm lately. Boring post.
Good night everyone.

Very Socratic.

FINALLY!

A candidate I can fully support.

Thursdays with David...

David, tell us one interesting thing that you learned in bible college today?

(Or better yet, what do the readers think Dave learned in bible college today...???)

So I have a question

Out of the 6 guys in the photo above, which one am I and why?

And I can't be the vanilla white guy...I'm way blacker than Jason and Dave.

Meet your fellow Polycarpers! Introducing Steve Oberg.

I thought a great way to introduce everyone to each other on the blog would be an old fashioned interview.

First up is Steve. Get this, he was my youth pastor many years ago. I was blessed to reconnect with him sometime ago. I hope he knows how much God has used him in shaping me. He should also know that all those rides to youth and the free guitar lessons has produced one heck of a virtuoso with the acoustic guitar.

Anyway, now Steve lives with his wife Beth and four, count them four sons somewhere in Illinois. He drives a jeep and is still spreading the joy of music and show tunes to the world.

Now onto the interview. I met Steve at the local Denny's. We grabbed a few milkshakes and began, So Steve...

Just kidding I sent him a list of questions. He filled them out. Here they are. Take some time to read it, Steve has some great insight. He's a very smart guy. (He even went to seminary!) You should also check his blogs here and here...

Where did you grow up?
I was born at the hospital in Lancaster, CA. and then spent my first 7 years in Quartz Hill, then we moved to Lancaster. Basically, I always say that it is a great place to be “from.”

Do you miss it?
I miss the people. I don’t miss the traffic, the crime, the price of a house in California – all that stuff.

Who would you consider your best friend?
I know it sounds trite- but definitely my wife Beth. She has put up with me for more than half of our lives. I most enjoy spending time with her. What more can I say.

What is God teaching you right now?
To wait and trust Him. He is definitely telling me to slow down, not to try to fix things myself or make things happen. We are kind of in a holding pattern in certain areas of our lives right now. I’ve been learning that it is o.k. to say no to a lot of “good” things and just be obedient.

If you were on an island… What 5 CD’s would you want to have with you.
Syncronicity – the Police (a classic that still gets me goin), Passion One Day Live (It’s old – but hey), CA Worship Band Live (Some nostalgia – I used to go there), My own Best of the 80’s compilation (just because), and the Best of Louie Armstrong (He has influenced EVERYTHING we hear).

What 3 books?
My Bible, My Greek Text, & my Douglas Adams compilation.

What is a theological truth that you would die on the side of a hill for?
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to Love your neighbor as yourself. Too many of us emphasize one over the other – we are great at loving God – our worship is fantastic, our preaching is solid and we feel great but we aren’t reaching our neighbors. On the other side of the coin we have churches full of folks who do nothing but serve others but really don’t have a walk with the Lord. They put others down for not doing enough about social issues. Jesus said both were equal. Love God and Love People - the Second command is like the first. I believe James has a lot to say about that too.

In his first letter to the Corinthian church Paul says "and now remain faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is Love." In the church lately, we’ve turned it around and now we say – “…the greatest of these is TRUTH.” I’m a bit guilty of that myself.

Read the rest of Steve's interview here... (There is even a surprise ending where I change one of his answers so it makes me look like the hero! )

Resolutions.....

So....., Jason asked for some fake resolutions - here goes.

This year:
10. I will wear Men's underwear.
9. I will devote much of my time, energy, and resources to spreading the "good news" that in large part, the Monkees didn't play their own instruments.
8. I will try out for a spot on America's next top Model.
7. I will gain at least 30 pounds.
6. Me and my family will move back to California and open a tanning salon in Newport Beach.
5. I will watch more T.V. - I've just been missing out on lots of good stuff.
4. I will avoid the Dentist at all costs.
3. I will give up fishing and hunting for good - it's just barbaric.
2. I will not miss watching even one pro sporting event if it is being aired on my local TV network. (Football, Baseball, Basketball or Hockey) I promise!
1. I will quit giving to my local church and instead support all of Oprah's pet causes.

My funny pic of 2007

Ok, this picture is disturbing but makes me laugh every time.

My first favorite picture of 2008