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.

Everything is so amazing and nobody is happy.

This guy is my HERO right now. I have said this for years, that the youth of today (yeah, that includes you - anyone under 40 - yes I said it) is so self centered and unappreciative of what they have today.

Every single word this guy says is absolutely TRUE - I have heard it, seen it and experienced it. The worst part is that my generation, the over 40's... ok, the over 45's, alright already - the nearly 50 year olds and older are starting to treat our world this way. Snap out of it!

I have told my children that the decade of the 1980's was the last decade where we, as a country truly made great leaps in technology and advanced out culture into the techo-savvy world we have today.

That's right kids all those conveniences you enjoy, were invented by my generation (or prior). What has come from today's generation - that wasn't an 'improvement' from a prior invention... um, NOTHING.

Think about that - today's group of 20's. 30's and early 40's have contributed NOTHING to our society except CONSUMERISM and entitlement.

In the 1970's here is some of what was invented/achieved:
Pong - 1972
Post it notes - 1974
Rubik's cube - 1974
Gore-tex - 1976
The Walkman - 1979
Rollerblades - 1979
Microwave oven sales begin - 1975 (invented in 1945)
space station - 1971
LCD - 1971
Microprocessors - 1971
Pocket Calculators - 1971
MRI - 1971
CT scanners - 1972
Hybrid vehicles - 1974 (Victor Wouk originally invented it)
digital Cameras - 1975
The Personal Stereo (hand held, boombox) - 1977

Here is a brief list of the most amazing technology advancements/inventions of the 1980's:
The artificial Heart - 1982
CD-Rom - 1985
Apple Lisa - 1983
Apple Macintosh - 1984
Windows OS - 1985
ACE inhibitor - 1982
Camcorder - 1983
The Internet (first TCP/IP network) - 1983
The instant bread maker - 1986
Digital Light Processing (DLP) - 1987
MS/DOS - 1981
The PC - 1981
High temp super conductor - 1986
Disposable cameras - 1986
Disposable contact lenses - 1986
Doppler radar - 1986
HD TV - 1989
Nintendo NES - 1980
Motorola "brick" mobile (later renamed 'cellular') phone - 1983
oh and that small achievement called "The Space shuttle"

And then came the 1990's:
DVD - actually an improvement of the CD. So you can be entertained in your home.
Viagra - Oh, nothing need be said here
Wi-Fi - 1997 invention - legitimate way to sit anywhere and be self absorbed.
GPS - actually wasn't invented in the 1990s but achieved 'operational status' in 1993.
The World Wide Web (WWW) - was invented much earlier - but entered every household int he 1990s

How about the 21st century... Here is what the great inventors of our time are giving us:
Youtube - 2005
Translucent concrete - 2004
No-contact jacket - 2003
Blue tooth - 2002

What I am saying is there is a very, very notable decline in the ability for our current 'inventors' to think outside of personal space. Where are the new technologies for improving our way of life?

Just makes me think that as a parent, I really need to teach my children to be PRODUCERS and not CONSUMERS. This is another reason why Dawn and I chose to homeschool our kids - I firmly believe that our public school system creates workers and not entrepreneurs - we need 'out of the box' thinkers in our society - contributors - not 9 to 5'ers.

Just my rant for the day - (please note that I warned you with the heading on my blog, you might get offended - 'specially if you are under 40!

Bible Study Magazine Giveaway!

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

Valentine's Day Dinner 2009

This year - the economy what it is - Dawn and I agreed to have a quiet dinner at home instead of dropping $100's at a restaurant (remember last year...)

Anyway - Ashley was going to join us as Garhett was at the "Anti-Valentine's Day Concert" at the HUB for RevolutionX. Now, what to make - you know it is the husband's job to make the Valentine's Day dinner... I decided on Filet Mignon, cold raised Lobster tail, prawns and haricots verts (fancy string beans) with a spinach and strawberry salad, chilled 'apricot' sparkling cider, clarified/drawn butter and a fancy desert. It literally took me less than 30 minutes to make everything.

(um, I set the table - so no commentary from Miss Manners about the placement of the glasses or flatware...)

Here is what it looked like:

Hungry yet? Just wait... The dessert:

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with creme fraiche coated strawberries in a cured brandy/pure vanilla sauce lightly dusted with fresh ground cinnamon and an even lighter dusting of powdered chocolate, drizzled with dark chocolate and strawberry sauces, topped with fresh banana, strawberry and the final touch, mini marshmallows! I call it an 'adult' banana split!

Dawn LOVED it - and now Ashley tells me she really likes lobster (bad move dad...). Best part - The whole meal, Dinner for 3, plus beverages and dessert, all under $50! (props to Ralphs, double coupons - j/k)

Ok gentlemen - next year... Your turn!

Books I am reading...

Yes, I said reading - Yeah, most (ok, all) of you know I don't like to read. I would much rather see a movie. But lately I have found the following books interesting and I am currently reading all of them.

There are days when I get so confused as to which concept comes from which book - that lends itself to some interesting conversations...

Think about this...

A friend sent me this... I can't get past how simple this presentation is.




(h/t Dave Peeters)

Tax Cut or Spending bill? You be the judge...

The Obama 2009 Stimulus package, now named, "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" is being touted as the answer to our failing economy. However, this is really just an attempt by the liberal democratic regime to realign our countries values along their liberal agenda. WHAT?!

Yep, of the 1588 page, $850 billion bill less than 2% of that money is earmarked for tax cuts. The rest is NEW SPENDING with an emphasis on expanding the Federal Governments controls over our lives!

But - don't take my word for it - do your due dilligence as an American and read it here .

This bill is so bad NOT ONE house republican voted for it. You would think that a bill that has not one republican vote and 11 democratic NO votes would deserve to be examined more.

Now that this was passed in the house it moves to the Senate - read the Senate version here.

Here is breakdown in an excel spreadsheet of the funding proposed and the entities which will receive the funds.

This is the GOP alternative bill being proposed.

If the country is in such a crisis right now and NEEDS this bill passed - why is it that the spending won't happen until 2010 and beyond? See the CBOs report here.

All I know is that there appears to be a huge rush to spend money we don't have on programs that don't work to promote jobs that won't materialize to help an economy that is in the toilet due to democratic supported programs like 'sub prime mortgages' and the like. It didn't work under Clinton, and Bush paid for it - and we are about to do it again.

The bottom line seems to be that if you tell the American public that they are each going to get a refund "stimulus" check (free money), they yell YES - instead of seeing what the cost really is.

Children of our future - I am sorry for what is about to happen - you will be paying back our debt and so will your children and your grandchildren.

Today would have been Ronald Wilson Reagan's 98th birthday, the chief executive with the most successful economic policy of the 20th century.

- in celebration of this day - give a listen to this speech and think about what he says - then compare his truths to this stimulus package...

"A government bureau is the nearest thing to an eternal life we will ever see on this earth."

As we recall his ideas — and affirm them ourselves — we will be better equipped to debate the issues of the day. When others call the republican party’s attempt to block a spendthrift “stimulus” as obstructionist or rejectionist, tell them that in opposing this boondoggle, we are not merely rejecting a proposal which, we believe, will be harmful over the long term, we are affirming the vision of Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Let us always remember the Gipper’s guiding idea: "Freedom. Freedom. Freedom."

And the less government intrudes on our freedom, the better off we are. And the stronger our economy is - and ultimately will be.

Stay out of the Shack...

Mark Driscoll is probably the best Pastor on the planet right now - here is what he says about this book that many, many christians are reading.



Chuck Colson chimed in on it - check it out here.

I must post a disclaimer - I haven't read the book - don't want to read the book - and if I want to understand the trinity or have a closer relationship with the Lord - I would and do read the Bible. The issue I have is that many Christians today (albeit - nominal) take this type of literature as 'scriptural' and take the parallels indicated in the book as gospel truths instead of just reading it for fun. It is a christian allegory and not biblical fact.

If you want truth - read the Bible - not a novel.

**UPDATE: 2/6/09: I am reading the book - and let's just say, my opinion is NOT changing so far!

According to LOST

Latin is the language for the Enlightened...

"Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae,
et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum,
qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine,
passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus,
descendit ad ínferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,
ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Patris omnipotentis,
inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem,
remissionem peccatorum,
carnis resurrectionem,
vitam aeternam.
Amen"

They could be right!

I just love these guys!

Another RED state update: Academy Award Nominations...




They pretty much say what I am thinking...

NEXT....

A fun day topped off by a yummy dessert...by Dawn Bambrick

Let me begin by saying - nobody faint. Yes, it's me, Dawn, actually posting on a blog - shocker I know, but I've been inspired by a divine and beautiful dessert.

My girlfriend Teresa, brought over her daughter Tara today to play with Ashley. Well Teresa and I ended up having a cup of tea and chatting. Before long, we were having lunch and playing a new game that Lynnae and Chris taught us - Farkle. The girls joined us for a rousing round of the dice game and two more addicts have been added to the Farkle club.

After Teresa left, the girls spent hours playing with the Easy Bake oven. (BTW - I mentioned to them that they are old enough to use the real oven). They were so cute -13 years old and having a blast with the Easy Bake Oven. Unfortunately, all the Easy Bake mixes were seriously dated and the flavor proved that there is a shelf life to Easy Bake oven food and apparently Ashley's has exceeded that date. Yuck! So, then they decided to make my Grandma's top secret chocolate pie, sans the crust, essentially making chocolate pudding. (For Christmas, Ashley got me martini glasses for presenting pretty desserts, but as of yet I haven't had the opportunity to use them.)I broke out the martini glasses and the girls went to work. I made homemade whipped cream for them. The girls layered whipped cream, bananas, and chocolate pudding, then drizzled chocolate sauce on the top. The finished product was soooooooooooo good!!!!!It was both beautiful and yummy.

It was good for my heart to have the girls (who have been friends since pre-school)actually play together, instead of spending hours watching tv or playing video games. It reminded of when they were little - very cool.

Ah- ha ha ha ha ha ha...

Favorite line: "I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple"

Merry "Vintage" Christmas to all!

Global Warming hits Las Vegas, Palmdale and Malibu

Check it out

Las Vegas - 3.6 inches

Palmdale - 6 inches

Malibu - 5 inches

I don't think that it is Global Warming or Climate change as much as it is a redistribution of the cold weather. Something the next president is big on - redistribution....

Global Warming/Climate change supporters... HA!

This makes me smile!!!

If you haven't heard - perhaps you should be reading the news more...

Rates have dropped!

An early Christmas present to homeowners that have mortgage rates they can't afford -

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081218/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown_45

If you need a refi - and you want a referral - I have been appraising homes for over 15 years now and would STRONGLY recommend:

Patrick Magee - patrick.magee@prospectmtg.com

He is Christian man who will be really honest with you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS homeowners!

This weeks Christmas Movie!!!

Holiday Inn (1942) - One of the BEST!