Wheatstone Academy - year two!

Well, my boy is growing up so stinkin' fast... he just got back from a missions trip to New Orleans and now he is off for a week at Biola with the Wheatstone Academy.

I follow along with what they are doing via their blog.

They went to Disneyland last night - not to have fun, but to examine the following poser from Dr. John Mark Reynolds;

"Do you want to grow up?” Before we headed out to Disneyland with our small groups, Dr. Reynolds asked some serious questions about the things we consume, which, over time, have the capability to get us stuck where we’re at and stop growing. How do you know when you’re stuck: Most 45 year-old college educated adults read at an 8th grade level, but they consume TV the same as if they were 14. This is where Disneyland comes in, by showing us how Walt Disney took entertainment to the next level - for both kids and adults."

They examined how Walt made Disney timeless - how the myth's created at and around Disney and how they access the dreams of millions.

I love the quote from the Wheatstone Blog;

“Suggest to yourself, how can I grow up? Do I want to grow up? Do I want to be a 45 year-old narcissistic, self indulgent Peter Pan? Or, am I willing to get the stretch marks of life?”

Garhett gets to have all the fun!


By the way - Garhett is the kid with the flaming orange hair wearing the "Epic Monday" T-shirt he designed.

Love ya G-man!

What is the Church...

As I begin my journey as a pastor I am studying, studying and studying, listening and reading, hanging out with other pastors that are doing the job we are called by God to do, so when a friend told me about this video from one of the BEST pastors of our day - I had to listen and watch.

It's about Jesus, it's always about Jesus - if you aren't about Jesus - you need to quit.

As Pastors our job is to preach the gospel. Not be cowards and fear man. Wow - this is a powerful message. A message I completely agree with - not just parts of it - but the WHOLE message!

As Revolution searches for a new lead pastor - this is the type of leader I pray God sends to us!

Taco Bell goes green - or Why I don't eat fast food

DC second post....

Today we spent our last day in DC visiting Ford's Theatre and touring the Spy Museum - which I might say is by far my most favorite museum. If you ever get to DC and if you have a love of spy's and their life... you should go through the 1 hour "Operation Spy" and then it quite easily will take you over 2 hours to go through the museum.

You have to assume a "cover" with a backstory and details about your visit to DC... You are an undercover agent on a mission - throughout the museum you have interactive monitors that "check your status" to see if you can keep up your 'backstory' and can keep your 'cover'. When you leave you are asked by the agent one final time to recap all you learned about your trip through the museum to see if they will allow you to leave...

I assumed the cover of "Dimitri Ivanov" a russian fisherman from Kirov Russia who was visiting family here in DC with a final destination of Boston Mass. I was to be here for 5 days with the assignment of meeting my contact at the local baseball park with the cover story of searching for potential baseball recruits for a russian team. I was given code words for contact and names for fellow agent contacts. The details are classified and so I can't give you any more detail... it's eyes only stuff!

Well, Ashley and I were successful, Garhett tried to cheat and Dawn was restrained from leaving the country due to some 'inconsistencies' in her story... I loved it. This museum uses some of the most innovative and unique methods to display the information - you just don't walk up to the exhibits and view them. Some are interactive and some are computerized - well done and very well put together!

Well tonight is our last night in DC - I get to go rent a car tomorrow morning to drive to Gettysburg where we will visit the historic battleground then check into our hotel. In the morning we will go to Hershey and visit the "chocolate lab" and tour the hershey museum and hershey gardens. We are going to Chocolate World too! I know some of you readers are really jealous right now!

I know the two women I am travelling with can't wait!

Newsflash: Bambrick family in Nation's Capital on a 15 day tour!

That's right - we are on the 4th day of our 15 day trip around our national capital and I have realized a couple of things:

1. The historical significance of the monuments, memorials, buildings and museums are overwhelming.
2. Our founding fathers were amazing Godly men.
3. The building materials used in states where earthquakes are not a factor are amazing.
4. Other than the historical significance, this city stinks. Quite literally. People say Los Angeles smells and is full of smog - but it doesn't smell like this city does. PU!

You can't walk more than a block without running into a building, statue or park with historical significance. It is truly amazing how much has happened here - and what this city stands for...

We have visited quite a few things already:

• The Capitol building
• The White House & visitors center
• Nearly every building of the Smithsonian (there are 19 of them folks!!)
• The Washington Monument - yep, went to the top!
• Mount Vernon, Estate, Grounds, Museum - and took a "National Treasure" tour of the grounds! (my favorite so far... haven't been to the spy museum yet!) George Washington was an AMAZING humble and Godly man. The current President could learn a whole lot from him.
• Nearly every monument/memorial - gonna do those again at night next! Oh, did this on Memorial Day - very touching stuff.
• The Bureau of Engraving and Printing - saw billions of $$ printed - no samples though...
• The Holocaust museum - very, VERY moving and quite scary
• Watched "Night at the Museum 2" at the Air & Space Museum in IMAX
• Had lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn - Colonial food - yum!
• Saw some CIA "black SUVs" filled with sleeve talking fed's chase someone down the street. Oh, yeah... don't think I wasn't looking for Jack Bauer...

My wife has done an amazing job of planning each day out - my feet are blistered and hips are sore - but it is very worth it!

I will post some photos as I get them uploaded - but there just isn't time! Each day starts at 7am or earlier and doesn't end until 11pm usually.

Oh, and what's up with Starbucks on the east coast - they are located nearly 2 to a block and all close at 4 or 6 PM, the latest I have seen one close is 7pm. Thanks for nothing - when I have been walking all day in 80 degree heat with 90% humidity, I need me a venti-iced green-tea PRONTO - yet can't find one to save a parched and dehydrated soul...

• Well, tomorrow it is a visit to the National Archives then the Supreme Court, botanic Gardens then a night time tour of the monuments and memorials.
• Library of Congress, Ford's Theatre and Spy Museum on Friday.
• Saturday is a drive out to Gettysburg.
• Sunday Hershey Gardens & Chocolate world.
• Monday drive to the Amish country, Wheatland and the Christmas Center.
• Tuesday PA here we come! Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Christ Church and a night tour of the city of Philadelphia.
• Wednesday - New York! Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty and an evening on Broadway where we will see Wicked!
• Thursday - Drive back to Baltimore after a visit to the Empire State building. Then Fort McHenry.
• Friday we visit some friends in Maryland
• Saturday we head home!

Whew!

More later... gonna head off to bed for the night!

And I thought being independently wealthy was a good thing...

If you thought the American Dream meant owning your own home, running your own business or being independently wealthy - you better think again. That can't possibly happen under the current government structure.

After paying my taxes this year and seeing the cuts that are going to affect my business next year, as well as the reductions in credits for my status as a "family" I am left with no other options. In reality I can earn more money if I closed my business and applied for welfare, filed bankruptcy and let the bank foreclose on my house - at least then I would get back a big chunk of the taxes I paid over the last 15 years back...

Oh, but wait - I am responsible, intelligent and able bodied - oh and an obedient follower of Jesus - that means I can't do that. I have to do what is right and be a good steward of the gifts that have been given to me. Imagine if more people did that...

Want your head to explode... watch this:

The Truth - a focus group

Unfortunately most Christians today know very little about what they believe or why they believe it. Many are biblically illiterate, and most are not operating out of a biblical worldview. That is, most believers simply bring a secular worldview to bear on the issues of the day, and fail to integrate the biblical message with the big questions of life.

The Truth Project is designed to correct this problem. It is a Christian apologetics and biblical worldview teaching kit designed for small groups. The set includes 12 one hour lessons on 7 DVDs, as well as a study guide. Taken together, the kit provides a comprehensive and solid presentation of what a biblical worldview is, and how we can think biblically about every aspect of life.

In the presentation, the teaching is done in a classroom setting, headed by Dr Del Tackett. Short snippets from various experts are also included, featuring outstanding Christian thinkers such as Ravi Zacharias, Os Guinness and R.C. Sproul. The course provides a comprehensive and systematic exposition of the biblical worldview, and its application to our world today.

The content is very rich and full, thus the need to break the whole package down into 12 parts. All the big worldview questions are addressed, such as: Is there a God? What is man? Is there such a thing as truth? How can we know? What is right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? And, is history meaningful?

Also, biblical foundations are laid for the various important spheres of life: law, politics, economics, history, science, the arts, sociology, education, and the media. All of these crucial areas are examined in terms of the biblical worldview, and we are taught how to apply biblical principles to all these key fields.

The cumulative effect of all this is transformation: transformed minds leading to transformed lives. And that nicely fits in with the goal of the apostle Paul when he wrote in Romans 12:2 that we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Unfortunately too many believers seem to read that passage as if it says we are to be transformed by the removing of our minds.

The mind is important. God made us in his image, and that includes the area of intellect. But for too long Christians have ignored the mind, minimized learning and ignored biblical worldview thinking. But that error must now be abandoned. We must love God with our minds as well as out emotions, our will, and so on.

R.C. Sproul rightly says that this may be the most important project Focus on the Family has undertaken. It is absolutely vital that believers today love God with the totality of their person, and offer clear biblical understanding in the key areas of thought and action today.

For too long we have marginalized ourselves and our faith, and allowed a growing secularism to call the shots in every area of life. But the Lordship of Christ demands that we extend his kingdom in every sphere and every domain. And this teaching series will help equip believes to do just that. It is a much needed tonic for the relativistic, secularist and postmodern times we find ourselves in.

Did you know that less than 1% of the youngest adult generation in America has a biblical worldview? And, only 9% of ALL American adults have a biblical worldview!

Here is a sample of some of the content:

Dawn and I are starting this as a focus group (others may be doing this as well) are you interested? It is a 12 week committment and trust me - you will gaze upon the face of God, and He will change your life!

Give me a comment and let's talk about it...

Twitter/Facebook/blogs... what?

I saw this post on another blog and it reminded me about a conversation I had over dinner last night - then I saw this video...

A couple years ago I was coerced into blogging by a dear friend. This friend has since tried to get me to 'twitter' - I have resisted. I couldn't put my finger on why - until now.

Is Facebook, Myspace and Twitter causing us to create shallow acquaintances rather than real friends? I realize there is some benefit to these electronic means of communication - but really, do I need to know your every thought or every personal accomplishment? You really aren't that important to me. Really, you aren't. Sorry to burst your Narcissistic bubble.

Rachel, the author of the blog post that started me thinking said, "As our ability to easily interact with more people in more places increases, it’s easy for us to get spread too thin; to have many shallow relationships instead of a few solid relationships." I really agree with this thought.

Yeah, facebook has reconnected me with some folks I haven't seen or talked to in over 20 years - but, in reality - there was a reason I didn't talk or socialize with these folks. There is a reason most people choose to be 'friends' with others.

Do I really want to hang out with beer swilling, gang banging, dive bar visiting, cohabiting smokers that think a good night out is tossing back a keg and getting laid?

Absolutely not!

Why? Am I better than them? No. So why would I "friend" them - and then read about their latest conquest or how hung over they are - or how difficult it is to get a job. I do pray for them, but I could do that anyway - I should be doing that anyway.

Anyway, I digress, but the realization remains - should I have 219 facebook "friends" - are they really friends - some are - most aren't. Why are they called friends anyway? Just because some programmer (who probably is a huge introvert and has very few real life friends chooses to build his self esteem up by calling electronic acquaintances "friends") called them that... I don't know -

What if they were called something else? Electronic Buddies (EBs), Digital Communication partners (DCPs)... Think about it.

Rachel gives some really good advice: "The key to avoiding selfish and inane “conversation” is to not follow the people who offer it - and to not be one of those people yourself."

So, for that reason, I have decided to end my Facebook time - I won't be twittering it to all my virtual friends. I will resume calling my friends to communicate, sending a letter to them, going out to breakfast, lunch and dinner with them.

I find Facebook really dangerous lately - A friend (at dinner) told me (face to face) about a college counselor that found out one of her students passed away over facebook - what a way to find out! Today, many April Fools day jokes about wives being pregnant were posted on facebook. This caused people to respond with joy and happiness - it caused me to wonder why someone would announce such a wonderful event over a distant, non personal way. It really troubled me.

I guess it's no different than using the paper for an obituary or birth announcement - but the fact behind that communication is once you read about it you would call the party involved to give your condolences or congratulations - you wouldn't post an ad yourself saying "I'm so sorry". That would be silly...

Our society is becoming more and more narcissistic. More and more 'self' centered. More and more self absorbed. More and more LAZY. All of our communication is being reduced to one line updates on a rotating basis. That's wrong and it is troubling and I can no longer participate in that downward spiral.

Goodbye Facebook.

Everyone should hear this message!

There are on occasion messages that, once I hear them, I think immediately - wow, EVERYONE needs to hear this message...

This is one of those messages - I urge everyone to take the time to listen to this message - it is so very, very applicable. Jesus is the only perfect man to ever live. Because most men fail to look to Him as our example, there exists 2 extremes in men: chauvinism and cowardice. Pastor Mark Driscoll preaches to men about being real men who love God and serve their family well in this sermon from Trial.

Guys - take the next 70 minutes and listen... You won't be sorry!

1 Peter 3:7
Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

Do all roads lead to God?

I stumbled upon this list on one of the blogs I read regularly and thought I would pass it on. Especially since I have had some friends ask me the difference between some beliefs.

So for your edification here are the beliefs, practices and anti-theistic theroies that have a strong influence in our world - specifically as they relate to healing/health/medicine:

Christian Faith

• There is one Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• Humankind is made in the image and likeness of God.
• God’s Word, the Bible, is the infallible Word.
• Salvation is found in no one but Jesus Christ.
• Humankind is inherently sinful and in need of redemption, which comes only through Jesus Christ and his Atonement.
• Through the divine will of God and the deity of Jesus Christ, who came to earth in human flesh, his death and resurrection is the meritorious atoning work of God.
• Freedom from sin is only possible through salvation in Jesus Christ and no other.
• True healing is from God (the Great Physician) alone through the work of Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
• Eternal life is the Christian’s reward, where there is banishment of all suffering, sadness, and grief. Life in the everlasting peace and love of God is the Christian’s hope.

Hinduism

• 
  There is no single Hindu idea of God.
• All souls are eternal and accountable for their own actions.
• Karma is the debt of one’s bad actions for which one must atone.
• Hinduism denies the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Atonement, sin, and salvation by grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• Hinduism replaces resurrection with reincarnation, and replaces both grace and faith with human works.
• Healing depends upon Karma.
• Ultimate healing is evident in reincarnation

New Age Movement

• Man is inherently divine
• All is one and all is God. God is an impersonal conscious and power.
• Jesus was an enlightened teacher.
• Salvation is accomplished by good works and reincarnation.
• There is no absolute truth. All beliefs are valid.
• Spiritism, Theosophy, Christian Science, Unity, Baha’ism, and Rosicrucianism are spearheads of New Age teachings and the healing philosophy also found in practices of alternative medicine.
• Healing is possible through self-empowerment.
• Practices that heal are good and true regardless of their origin.

Buddhism

• Buddhism shows a heavy influence of Brahmanism, gods, and goddesses in Buddha’s history and teachings.
• At the center of this teaching lies the concept of cosmic consciousness, a nonpersonal essence also called a Void.
• Many “buddhas” were followed, but there is one Buddha that enlightened ones follow.
• Discoveries of the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path is consistent with traditional Chinese belief, which is evident in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine.
• The Pali text is considered the most reliable teachings of Buddha. Other sects of Buddhism often add to this text.
• Man suffers because his desires are fixated on the illusion of self, which confines him to non-permanence within the laws of Karma and reincarnation.
• Self-salvation is achieved by following the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. The ultimate goal is to reach the state of Nirvana, where self becomes extinguished in the Void.
• Buddha heals if Buddha wills.
• Ultimate healing occurs in the state of Nirvana.

Theosophy

• Theosophy teaches a pantheistic, impersonal Supreme Being.
• Theosophy is Gnostic in origin.
• Jesus Christ is not unique: Jesus is a reincarnated being separate from “christ.” All men become christs.
• Mahatmas or Masters communicate esoteric truths through reincarnated emissaries, of whom Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant are among the few.
• Draws its authoritative teachings from Hindu, Buddhistic, and early Gnostic sources. The Bible is used minimally to proof-text preconceived Theosophical notions.
• Embraces Eastern healing cultural practices and transcendental teachings in mind healing.
• Embraces Metaphysical healing.
• Healing is based upon a pragmatic view that whatever works must be good.

Spiritism

• The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
• Continuous existence and a path of endless progression.
• Communion of spirits and ministry of angels.
• Personal responsibility.
• Compensation and retribution in the hereafter for good and evil done on Earth.
• Healing comes by self-empowerment and positive healing affirmations.
• Healing is the ultimate good of God. Sickness is the result of evil and all that suffer with sickness are the result of evil. Good people are not sick.