Good Friday

The reason for our celebration on Sunday began today (Good Friday) more than 2000 years ago.

Hebrews 2:14-17
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

As good as chocolate Easter Bunnies taste, remember the reason to celebrate Easter is the ultimate sacrifice of Christ - given in place of us.

Audacity to Hope

As most people around the world have seen on the news this last week, Rev. Jeremiah Wright has said some rather controversial things in his past from the pulpit in Chicago. Because on the limited remarks of which there is video, people are speculating that Obama has similar views on America and want to know how Obama could have Rev. Wright as a spiritual mentor.

I don't necessarily agree with Obama's stance on most "government" related issues, but think he is getting a raw deal for some of the comments the Rev. has made. I do like Obama's response to ABC News.

Reverend Wright is like “an old uncle who says things I don’t always agree with.” And the candidate said Saturday, “I completely reject” the statements Wright made in those sermons.

Here is the sermon by Rev. Jeremiah Wright from which Obama got the name of his book. You will be surprised if you get your news from the mainstream media or even talk radio - it pays to be well informed.

Deeds, not Creeds

Random Thoughts after Super-Duper Tuesday:

The government is not the answer to the problems within our society (e.g., lack of fresh water/food, homelessness, education disparities, economic woes, civil rights). The answer to these problems are the People that make up society. Its the "People of the United States" that makes us great, not the government (and for those that haven't figured it out yet - we live in a representative republic, NOT a democracy).

Society and culture is never going to be changed as a result of laws passed - you can't legislate morality. In order for a change to take place within a culture / society, there has to be a heart transformation of the people. The basis of the heart transformation must come from the local church. Not the church that focuses on the hot-button issues of politics (church and national), but the church whose focus is beyond their walls, creating and strengthening authentic relationships among its community (both inside and outside its walls).

Rick Warren thinks it is time for a Second Reformation within the Church.

He wants to promote personal responsibility and restore civility in American culture.

"I just think we're becoming too rude," he said. "You have no right to demonize someone just because you disagree with them."

Changing the culture, he said, is not done only through politics but also through things like art, music and sports.

"Outside the Beltway politics is just not that important. No kid in America has a poster of a politician on their wall," he said.

Bloggers getting LOST in Uganda

The following bloggers are off to Uganda with Compassion International to use their eyes, hearts, and high blog hits to bring attention to the need of humanitarian aid to the people of Uganda.

Keep these guys and gals in your thoughts and prayers (not to mention on your RSS feed or favorites).

Evangelical Outpost
Family Research Counsil
BeliefNet - J-Walking
Ethos
Chris Elrod
Ragamuffin Soul
Whittaker Woman
Rocks In My Dryer
BooMama
Flowerdust
Heartlight Magazine
HM - The Hard Music Magazine
Shlog
Spence Smith
Brian Seay
Keely Scott

Drought in Georgia

Don't know the source of this official drought information, but:

It's so dry in Georgia that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling; the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.Now THAT's Dry.

Snowy, Dark Day

On Sunday morning Denver (and the rest of the US) woke up to some frightening news coming out of Arvada and then a couple hours later out of Colorado Springs - a young, white man dressed in a black trench coat went on a shooting spree through Youth With A Mission (Christian Missionary Training Center) and then to New Life Church. By the end of the day 5 people had died - 2 from YWAC, 2 from New Life, and the teenage assailant. There were also up to 5 others wounded in the shootings.

It is an incredibly sad day for all the families involved in the shootings at both houses of worship - keep all family and friends of those involved in the shootings in your prayers:

Works Family (2 daughters killed)

Tiffany Johnson

Philip Crouse

Matthew Murray

Reading the small blurbs of each of the victims on Monday really brought to heart the struggle that goes on in our world. In reading how the hearts of the 4 victims of Murray's rampage had been changed by God provides a peace that they are in Heaven sitting with their Father. But also brings about sadness for Matthew and his family during this tragedy.

Míshlê Shlomoh

Starting on Saturday (12/1) I am challenging myself to a duel.

I am going to read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the calendar day. I got the idea from Calvary Fellowship's head dude - Bob Franquiz. The idea is simple - have a portion of my day dedicated to reading the Word.

Hey - Bob if you happen to be blog-stalking (I am sure you have better things to do), I am totally into how you teach. Awesome stuff!

Favorite Quote of the Day

You don’t deepen your relationship with Christ with books; you do it by showing up with other people who are taking care of the poorest, hungriest and most marginalized. If you want to find where Jesus is, you’ll find Him close to the poorest of the poor, the suffering, the terrorized people.

Anne Lamott (article in Relevant Magazine, issue 27)

Shift Happens

If you have the time today, tomorrow, or this weekend watch this entire presentation "Did you know 2.0?". The presentation was developed to get conversations started at local schools about the curriculum they are using to prepare students for the future. The presentation is just about 8 minutes long, but is an important piece to watch and to think about (if you are a parent, a student, or ever planning to have children).

Are the schools you are currently sending your children to preparing them to solve the problems of tomorrow?

1-800-READS-A-LOT

I am sure that this has been seen by everyone on the planet, but I just found this last night and thought it was awesome!

In need of a dentist...

I have been listening to the podcasts from NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC these last couple weeks, and they have been kicking me in the teeth! The 5 series that I have been listening to, I have had on my iPod for about a year, but never got around to listening to them (MySpace, Lord of the Rings, What if?, Cars, and Girls Gone Wild).

God's timing was for me to listening to them this week, because they have been aligned with my own questions and thoughts this last month or so. I can't wait to hear what is in store for me on my commute home tonight (if you were stuck in your car 2-2.5 hours a day and your radio was inconsistent at best, how would you spend your time?).

Here are three of the verses that jumped out at me today.

Romans 8:1, 38-39

1"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"

You past's actions, thoughts, words, and deeds no longer matter because you are made anew! Who you were and how you acted no longer is the person you are today when Christ lives in you. You are given a clean slate.

38"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And what is most important - no one can take that away from you! Through Christ, I am unconditionally loved.

Help

We have had a hard couple days this week. Please pray that God will continue to lay His healing hands on the doctors, nurses, family, and friends this week.

Ephesians 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"

Introducing Margaret and William

They are here! They are here!

The babies arrived this afternoon and are doing great. Please continue to pray for everybody (Christy, William, Margaret, Jackson, and Brandon - wow, that is a lot of people)! Here is the link to Christy's page (in case you can't find the blog link on the left side bar).

Norris Updates

Was that a fig leaf or poison ivy?

Here is further proof that no one can ever say, "there really isn't a place God can use me or my gifts". There is a ministry for every person and group. Check out the article about the Christian Nudist Convocation in Cherokee County, TN.

Read the article and see if you find anything a bit out of place. (I'm not talking about the pictures with fig leaves.)

This sort of jumped out at me:

"...Jesus was nude when he washed the feet of his disciples..."

I have never heard this before, nor have I ever read it.

Medical Mystery Tour 2007

So the Medical Mystery Tour continues on for the Lemmings' Household here in Hot-Lanta! I found out yesterday that I have been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholingitis (PSC). This is the same disease that I was told 5-7 years ago that it was probable I had, but not likely, when my liver enzymes first went out of whack.

Because of my elevated liver enzymes over the last 4 years or so, I have been unable to get any sort of real life insurance. Last Fall I began the up hill battle to get life insurance again because my enzymes were "normal" across the board. Yet again I was denied coverage because of the "probable" diagnosis from the liver specialists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

So, Jen and I decided that I needed to get an update for my medical records. Two weeks ago I went to a doctor here in Atlanta and had him put in about 25 different lab orders to get to the bottom of my weird liver history (in case you are wondering 25 lab orders equals to about 11 vials of blood being sucked out of my arm). Because I was already going to the lab to get blood drawn, I had them add a marker identifying test for Cystic Fibrosis (there may be a slight chance that because of the brain tumor, the infertility, and weird liver stuff that I could have a rare, asymptomatic form of CF - blood tests are not back as of 7/25).

My blood results and an MRCP (MRI of the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, etc.) came back this week, so I met with my new liver doctor yesterday afternoon. The results were that my liver enzymes have again increased dramatically, with 73% of the elevated enzymes coming from the liver; I have the marker for PSC; and my MRCP (MRI) came back completely normal.

What does this all mean? It means that I have been officially diagnosed with PSC - which is a liver disease (really it is a problem in the bile ducts around the liver) that has no known cure, but thankfully is slow moving. I have attached a link if you want to get more information:

What is PSC? (on a side note - because they found this disease so early, I have "more time" than a typical person diagnosed with PSC due to liver destruction. I am 100% healthy when it comes to this disease, but have the pre-pre-pre stages of PSC.)

I won't be making in real changes to my lifestyle as it currently stands - I don't take Tylenol because its effect on the liver; I can't becoming a raging alcoholic (drat!); I really don't think that I can exercise anymore than I currently do - maybe some weights?; I try to avoid lots of fried foods (don't want to be a lard-ass AND it screws with my cholesterol - and I can't take any cholesterol medications because it screws with my liver enzymes); and I'll continue to take a good multivitamin because I am a nerd AND because PSC can eventually block the absorption of the fatty vitamins (A, D, E, K).

What will I be changing? I'll still be changing diapers for the near and present future; I have begun to take a prescription medication called Urso Forte (500 mg) twice a day with food; and I'll change lanes without using my blinker (just to make Jen mad!)

Prayer Requests:

(1) For Jen, Morgan, and future babies. The diagnosis is not immediately bad, but does not bode all to well once the disease is in full force (average life span after diagnosis and symptoms is about 10-20 years; liver transplant; etc.). (2) For my family and friends as they hear the latest medical news and help them to understand that it is not in medical hands that I find encouragement, but through the Spirit and how He moves those that I come into contact with.

Much love...

Prayer

Let my eyes see the opportunities You set before me.
Let my heart understand the needs of those around me.
Let my hands do the work You instructed me to do.
Let my feet carry me in strength through the world.
Let my mouth speak with an authentic voice.

Its...like...umm...

For the last year or so I have been meaning to find a copy of Relevant Magazine. But every time I think about it I am either in an airport book store or on the way to work in the morning. Today I actually found it online (duh!). You would think that I would have thought of finding it online sooner, but I am just a little behind the power curve with some things.

Here is an excerpt from one of the articles about the movie "Funny Ha Ha" written and directed by Andrew Bujalski. The article questions the type of young adult produced by our current culture and worldviews.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

The characters in his movies stumble over language, feeling the need to qualify or immediately retract every statement they make. They’ve been educated on the power (and misuse) of language to the point that when they have something on their minds they’re too cautious or unsure to verbalize it. Instead they fill their speech with placeholders such as “like” and “um.” Their talk is dotted with awkward pauses, mispronunciations and verbatim repetitions of what someone else just said. The result is an increasing inability to say what they mean and mean what they say—or say anything at all, for that matter.

Here is the rest of the article. Are his films are seen as a barometer of our culture of the postmodern generation? (I guess that is to be seen, but they sure sound like it to me)

D-Day

Here is the prayer that President FDR delivered for the troops and the American people on this day (June 6th) in 1944.

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day without rest - until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a countenance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.

Pres. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, June 6, 1944

How would American people today react to the prayer? How would they react the thousands of lives lost in the name of freedom?

Are you feeling sexy?

Rob Bell has an article at Beliefnet talking about what it means to be sexy. Here is an excerpt:

You can’t be connected with God until you’re at peace with who you are. If you’re still upset that God gave you this body or this life or this family or these circumstances, you will never be able to connect with God in a healthy, thriving, sustainable sort of way. You’ll be at odds with your maker. And if you can’t come to terms with who you are and the life you’ve been given, you’ll never be able to accept others and how they were made and the lives they’ve been given. And until you’re at peace with God and those around you, you will continue to struggle with your role on the planet, your part to play in the ongoing creation of the universe. You will continue to struggle and resist and fail to connect.

The other day my five-year-old son asked my wife, “Mom, what does sexy mean?”

She thought about it for a second, and then replied, “Sexy is when it feels good to be in your own skin. Your own body feels right, it feels comfortable. Sexy is when you love being you.”

Because it all starts with being sexy on the inside.

Go read the rest of the article and pick up Rob's new book (Sex God)!

GodTube?

Here is an interesting web-site that I stumbled upon in an article of Business Weekly - I think that is the name of the magazine. Any way, I had some extra time this afternoon and went through the web-site and found this Casting Crowns video.

If you look closely, you'll see Berry College! (Good song too)