April 4, 2003 Why the Chicken crossed the road redux (anonymous)

GEORGE W. BUSH We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us, or it is against us. There is no middle ground here.
AL GORE I invented the chicken. I invented the road. Therefore, the chicken crossing the road represented the application of these two different functions of government in a new, reinvented way designed to bring greater services to the American people.
COLIN POWELL Now at the left of the screen, you clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.
HANZ BLIX We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI (Iraq ambassador) The chicken did not cross the road. This is a complete fabrication. We don't even have a chicken. SADDAM HUSSEIN This was an unprovoked act of rebellion and we were quite justified in dropping 50 tons of nerve gas on it
RALPH NADER The chicken's habitat on the original side of the road had been polluted by unchecked industrialist greed. The chicken did not reach the unspoiled habitat on the other side of the road because it was crushed by the wheels of a gas-guzzling SUV.
PAT BUCHANAN To steal a job from a decent, hard-working American.
RUSH LIMBAUGH I don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but I'll bet it was getting a government grant to cross the road, and I'll bet someone out there is already forming a support group to help chickens with crossing-the-road syndrome. Can you believe this? How much more of this can real Americans take? Chickens crossing the road paid for by their tax dollars, and when I say tax dollars, I'm talking about your money, money the government took from you to build roads for chickens to cross.
BILL GATES I have just released eChicken 2003, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook and Internet Explorer is an inextricable part of eChicken.

April 4, 2003 Purpose Driven Life Study- Latreia (Service, Worship)

Here is the handout supplemental reading for this next week. It's called "Unpacking the Great Commission". For those who could not attend- we only have two more meetings. this is posted for your edification and meditation. We talked about Purpose 4- Shaped to Serve Others. A couple of quotes:

We talked about the difference in fruitfulness and success.

This last quote bridges naturally from last week's discussion on conformation to the likeness of Christ about which Bonhoeffer had much to say in the Cost of Discipleship.

Following Christ means passio passiva, suffering because we have to suffer. That is what Luther reckoned- suffering is among the marks of the true Church. Being somewhat freed from preoccupation with self we are freed for solidarity with others, especially those who suffer. This is not altruism; its a condition of discipleship. We find our lives as we lose them in the love and service of others. That gives koinonia much greater significance than often allowed for in the modern church.

What's the difference in altruism and latreia?

We focused on the notion that we are to serve God preeminately and as an outflow we will serve the least of these. The same goes for ministry. We are all ministers unto the Most High. All true ministry is as unto God, else it is not ministry. All that is not done in faith is sin.

We talked about the real indicator of developing a servant heart- how we react when someone treats us as a servant. Here are some of the points (SHAPE) that guided the discussion.

Spiritual gifts- authentic identification of them and the nurturing of latent giftedness. Why Briggs Myers indicators are not a test. Anthony's Magic Bean theory of identifying gifts (ask me about it).

Heart-Developing a heart that beats after God's own heart. Malleableness versus brokenness on the potter's wheel.

Ability- If we are able to do something does that mean we have God's sanction to do it? What do we do with talented, self sufficient believers? And is what you do in the world a good indicator of what you should be doing inthe church?

Personality- is personality static or is it conformed by its sanctification? Look at Peter, Paul and John. And by the way, how do we serve other Christians who have lousy personalities?

Experiences- What is the value and danger of experience in determining how we serve. Is "Experiencing God", as good as it is, seriously flawed? On second thought we will discuss that another time.

Os Guiness defines calling (paraphrased) as that place at which your great desire and the world's great need intersect. Do you think that is true? Why or why not?

I note that Insight For Living's book of the month is The Call by Guinness. There is a good prayer there as well vis a vis the war.

Why do you think the translations of latreia are alternately service or worship based on what version you are reading? Word study time.

April 3, 2003

Yes, I decided to change the format for the date.

April 3, 2003 The Man Who Walks Backwards

When a man turns his back on someone and walks away, it is easy to see he is leaving. But once there was a man who, through practice, became very adept at walking backwards. While with appearance and glance and salutations he greets the person, he gives assurances that he is coming immediately. He incessantly reassures, saying, "Here I am"., although he gets farther and farther away by walking backwards. Yet with every renewed intention and promise it may seem he is moving forward. - A parable by Kierkegaard

03:04:03

Took off an hour early from work yesterday to go home get Earnie's car and drop it by the dealer before they closed yesterday. At 9AM this moorning I got a call at work from the dealer that the alarm system had been set. The tech was opening the car door as we were leaving the parking lot. If Earnie hadn't set the system OR if I had just recognized what was happening OR if the tech or anyone from the dealer had just given us a voicemail, I could have done this on the way in this AM, but I guess God intended me to be out of the office for 2 hours this morning. Anyway here I am now venting before I dig in. So what can I learn from all this?

Alarm systems are great when they work the way you want them to. I wonder if there are times when I am too careful and allow my need for assurances and insurances ruin the risky business of being a Christian? Who am I keeping on the outside of my life by locking down, being invulnerable (I remember when I first encountered that term- it was in a comic book) Reminds me of the following I wrote some time ago.

Key to the Kingdom

We stand in lines with armored minds
And soon we find the price of admission
Exceeds the sum of recognition.
All the parts are fading into paradox.
This door never opens to intentions
Nor to masters of invention
Who move in their parade
Inside an obstacle box.
They move with ease
And rattle their keys
Not knowing that someone changed the locks
We are
Empty vessels, vestiges
With labels, yellow, curling...
Forming cloaks of ambiguity
Seeking lost realities
Silent is our tomb
Reflection is our sin...
Best bleed a lie that blinds.

Anthony Foster Somewhere in time

02:04:03 Brick Testament

The Ninth Plague

If you haven't checked this out, go ahead viewer discretion advised.

02:04:03 The old switcheroo

Appellate Court Rules Media Can Legally Lie

On February 14, a Florida Appeals court ruled there is absolutely nothing illegal about lying, concealing or distorting information by a major press organization. Caught this link via Evan williams who blogs on. And on the other other hand, as Geraldo proves it probably should be illegal to tell the truth at times...

02:04:03 Tunes Running in My Head today

My favorite "Christian" song is not Christian per se -here are the lyrics -Hummability factor of 8.

Once in a Red Moon

Artist : Secret Garden
Song : You Raise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me upŠ To more than I can be. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me upŠ To more than I can be.

There is no life ­ no life without its hunger; Each restless heart beats so imperfectly; But when you come and I am filled with wonder, Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me upŠ To more than I can be. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me upŠ To more than I can be.

02:04:03 I'm Baaaaack

Haven't Blogged for a while due to illness. Now an allergic reaction to medication and I have hives and headache...sigh...I hate it when I have a day off and feel so bad I can't accomplish something. Well actually I think a lot was accomplished- I had time to think and ponder about the war.Here are some results for discussion and argument's sake, and just note that I am willing to listen to opposing views and may even be influenced by them.

Pat Apel in Nine Great American Myths marks Myth number 9 as America as the Christian Nation. I have been seeing lawn signs proliferate in my neighborhood at a rate that outstrips what i saw after 9-11. God Bless America is everywhere. I remember when I saw this injunction posted on the portable marquee sign at a local nudie bar on the way to the Mall. Something just didn't add up.

It's about time America blessed God. In fact the pursuit of God's glory and the acts of blessing Him are the only path to blessing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not a call to America, but to Americans or anybody who want to be God's people and be called by His name.

02:04:03 The Rod of God?

I have had questions about the morality of the war and the concept of a just war in light of this being a preemptive strike, and yet have resolved to support our troops wholeheartedly. Many of them are Christians. I have had doubts about the reasoning of the administration I helped elect but have resolved to trust that some decisions are being made based on information it is not possible to disclose to the general public. That is a leap of faith- trusting God for others and it may well be one of the last territories God intends for us to tread in. There are plenty of armchair Generals in the fray and I know for a fact I was not cut out to be a real one at such a time as this.

Lessons from world Wars I and II.

God only has ever had one chosen nation- and the good old USA ain't it. I don't see us even mentioned in eschatological passages in scripture. Yet God is sovereign over the nations and it well may be that we are being used as a Rod of God much like we were in WW II in the overthrow of the powers of Nazism. while I respect the right of protesters to protest ( I am Protestant after all) I need someone to enlighten me as to how the positions of so many in the emerging church are really so different from that of many churches preceding WW 2.

The Pope's warnings about an impending religious catastophe reminds me of the church's stance in WW2 when it looked the other way while Germany went to Hell. Catholic redactionists would anecdotally seek to refute that but the record seems clear.

So is this politcally correct or incorrect? who cares? Note that nations that have been used as God's Rod historically have not necessarily been the recipients of His blessing,(i. e. Assyria and Babylon) because it's not about us, it's about His sovereign will for His Kingdom purposes. The church is the agent of redemption on Earth but God sovereignly uses nations as a corrollary to waging war in the heavenlies. That brings to us as a people to fight not because of vengeance which is God's but to repent of our own sins and do what is right no matter the cost.

So, I am inclined to support the war because of the proliferation of documentation of the atrocities against the Iraqi people, and, in the final analysis, ³All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.² (Edmund Burke).

Maybe we need to go into Sudan while we're in the vicinity.

JordonCooper found this link -I don't agree with Jordon's stand on the war but he has some extremely good points about manifest destiny and Great American Myth#9.

02:04:03 April Fool's Day

Made it through the day without being humiliated once. Earnie the practical jokester is losing her touch. I think the war is wringing the silly out of us all.

April foolishness? You decide

A Nipchee the size of an end table. The mutated sandwich cracker was created last week. Link via Dave Barry.

In case you missed it here's the Cheeto

Voice of the Prophets

The greatest need, the greatest deed The coming of the chosen seed The hour is late, the news is great So tell the world that they may heed

The Voice of the Prophets tell of Glory The Voice of the Prophets sing the song The Voice of the Prophets tell the story But how long will we ignore them? For how long?

With a voice not born of arrogance or anger Or a spirit that wants to hear from itself It is born out of suffering and waiting On the Living Lord who would manifest himself.

Writing from their woundedness And breaking forth in cries The prophet is a man of God And to himself he dies

The prophet acts his lessons in a drama And the prophet crafts his words as poetry The prophet is an artist on an altar And teller of a tale of purity.

Speaking from their anquish And standing all alone The Prophets still are telling forth The word God would make known.

The Voice of the Prophets tell of Glory The Voice of the Prophets sing the song The Voice of the Prophets tell the story But how long will we ignore them? For how long?

Anthony Foster revisited from 6-18-02