Do we miss "the point"

I recently read a couple of things that are quickly changing the way I think.  The first one was a book by an amazing author named Brennan Manning called " The Furious Longing of God".  Brennan, (cause he'd be insulted if I called him Mr. Manning) in my opinion understands God's Grace and Love just about better then any other person I've ever encountered in word or in person.  This book is about just that, God's unconditional love for his people and how much he desires to be with us.  There are some choice passages from the book but I really suggest just buying it.  It's a quick read.  One of the main things I took away from my experience with this written work was that we miss "the point" a lot. At least I do. 

I also recently read a little article on home schooling.  This was a propaganda piece where the writer used many verses and a story about a bunch of kids in 1212 that tried to evangelize a nation only to meet their demise, to his points benefit.  I am not posting a link to this article because I don't really think anybody else needs to read it.  It is my opinion that the author of this article, and many others like it, have manipulated scripture to fit their agenda.  This is what I'd like to call Christian propaganda.  It certainly doesn't appeal to me and I would venture a guess it does even less for those who don't know Christ yet. 

There is a lot of this around these days in many aspects of life with a lot of "hot topics".  Christians are always on the forefront of the arguing ground.  I am not above it.  Until now I hope.  I have often gotten caught up in the fight and the rules, what is right, what is wrong.  A lot of this arguing is going on between only the Christians, with the rest of the world just looking on and laughing. 

This brings me back to Brennan's message.  Something he took a lot of heat for in the upper level theological circles.  That's the message of Christ.  I'm not going to use this blog to preach at you.  If you have a bible get it out and read it.  If you don't you can get one free on the Internet at youversion.com.  Read about His life.  What did He come to do and how did He do it.  After all, His life is the one in which Christians are to model theirs after right? Did He use propaganda or sling hate?  Was there bullying or strong arming people to do things His way?  Throughout history these types of tactics don't seem to get anybody anywhere. 

But Love.  Maybe that's one of the biggest examples and gifts we were given and always seem to over look.  What if love was just a little more important than the rules?  Just a little.  Then what would happen?  It's too easy to forget the real message in these times of right's and wrongs and competitions and pride.     

I'm going to wrap up today by saying I'm very grateful there are parents out there that are willing and capable of home schooling their children.  It is a gift to be able to spend so much time with them and pass on a legacy of knowledge.  I also want to say how grateful I am for all those out there who have taken public education on as a profession and a calling.  There is no greater calling in this world then passing on the gift of education and a society's history.  With all the rules and regulations today these teacher have a tuff job.  I believe both are following the scriptures, putting children first, and raising them up in The Lord.

                                                                                                                                Gal 5 (emphasis 6)

www.findingnineveh1.blogspot.com

facebook.com/findingnineveh

Honesty is costly!!

“Great to see you folks, I’m glad you could all make it today. The reason I wanted to gather all you media giants together today is really pretty simple.  See we seem to have a major piracy issue on our hands.  It really isn’t getting any better.  So I wanted to throw this idea at you and get your thoughts. 

~ Let’s increase the cost of production DVD’s. 

~We can start charging people basically the same price for digital copies and just give it to them a few weeks early.  Then we don’t even have to print or ship.

~We’ll add a new kind of disk called a Blu-ray and charge even more for that.  Then we can put them together and bump the cost even more for the combo. 

~I also want to delay DVD release for as long as possible and then when it does release only release it to certain vendors like Blockbuster.  Everybody else will have to wait an extra month.   

~We can also continue to pay “the talent” more and more every year into the tens of millions so ticket prices at the theater are astronomical.

With all those new and improved options out there,  I believe nobody will want to get their Smartphone out of their pocket and watch our movies for free any longer!”

I don’t believe that those words have ever been spoken.  Although to be honest I’m getting a little tired of the game here.  Let me tell you why. 

Due to the fact that my wife and I have young children and are both busy and broke we were able to get to the theater a grand total of 3 times in the last 15 months.  I am a self-proclaimed movie buff, or was at one time, so that is very sad and pathetic.  That means we have to wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix.  In my area there are a few choices.  Blockbuster, Redbox and Netflix are really the big three.  Then there are of course online renting deals such as Apple.

Well I waited until Tuesday of this week for my movie to finally come out on DVD.  It must be said that it came out digitally a month before this week.  I went to the local Blockbuster to finally satisfy my cravings only to find out that blockbuster is closing its doors and no longer renting DVD’s.  So they don’t have it.  Redbox won’t get it for at least 3 or four weeks if I’m lucky.  That leaves me a little stranded (and as you can tell irritated).  I can buy the DVD for a minimum of 17.99 or rent it from Apple for 5.00 dollars!!  This is all after an insanely long DVD release time.  Considering the DVD was probably just about ready at the time the movie came to theaters. 

So I’m mad and it’s not even because I just want to see my movie.  I can truly live without it.  We don’t even subscribe to a TV service in my house for basically the same reason (and haven’t missed it for one second). I’m mad because we have crazy technology right at our fingertips.  I live just barely north of Hollywood, and there is currently no way for me to rent this new release movie without paying a premium.   I wonder if the studios ever take a look around and think before they make their anti-piracy plea’s.  By the way quite a bit of this happens in other countries where it’s not illegal so are we being charged for their loss overseas?

Nobody wants to bend a little bit and meet the public half way?  I understand that everybody needs to make a living but REALLY?  There’s nothing better we can come up with.  No better solution to this problem on either side of the coin. 

We’re being charged the same basic rate for a digital copy of something today that we got in a case a few years ago.  So where’s all the extra money for printing and shipping and so forth going?  What’s the incentive to buy digital?  I wonder what people’s limit on what they will spend for 2 hours of entertainment is? And how long they will wait.  A hundred years ago we could pass our books around and going to a state park was free. 

Now??  Not so much…

WE WILL LIVE FOR YOU!

Dear Girls,

Life is confusing.  Let there be no doubt in your mind that in your life you will encounter many difficult decisions, many hard lessons and many tuff choices.  But rest assured that you don't go alone.  For One has gone before you and He choose your mother and I to be here for you every second of your life.  In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. 

See girls, you are to young now to understand what I am saying.  You are too young to understand a lot of things.  But your mom and I will not let you down.  We will be here to make decisions for you.  We will be here to pray for you and to guide you.  We will not give up.  We will not give in.

We will not give in to what society decides to accept.  We will not give in to exhaustion.  We will not give in peer pressure.  We will not even give in to you.  We love you that much.  Even when it causes us pain and sadness.

We don't have all the answers.  There is quite a lot that we are learning ourselves.  But we are adults enough to realize that and ask those that have come before us for help.  We do know what you are going through now as we have gone through it our selves.

We also know that a lot of what you hear in mainstream society is wrong.  Many parents these days expect their children to make very important life decisions that they are incapable of making.  Decisions about, gender, sexuality, body modification, medical care, religion and schooling.  Your mother and I do not expect you to make such life altering decisions and would never place that kind of burden and stress on you as a child.  We will shoulder that weight and teach you as you grow. 

While you are a child we desire nothing more than for you to enjoy your childhood.  For we know that we have been chosen to shape and mold the future. We vow to lead by example.  If necessary we will give our lives for you.  But please hear this... THIS is much more important!

No matter the cost.

WE WILL LIVE FOR YOU!

Here's a tip…Don't eat yellow snow!

Is there an over abundance of people ready and willing to accept tips these days.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I am a pretty gracious tipper when you earn it.   I spent more then 3 years in the food service industry as a waiter and bar tender so I know what tips mean and how hard some work to earn them.  But let’s jump to what started this thought in the first place.

 

The other day I was at Starbucks, which I rarely go to, and I noticed a tip jar.  The tips of course are for the barista.  This got me thinking.  Do we tip a barista?  If so how much and why? I just paid seven dollars for a medium coffee, wasn’t the making of that seven-dollar coffee included?  Then while I stood there and waited I thought about all the other tip jars I’ve been seeing lately. 

 

When you really think about it, 

Do it …

Go ahead and think of all the places you go that accept tips. 

 

OK good. 

What did you come up with?  Probably the same thing that I did.  Who are we supposed to tip these days and why?  I see tip jars at the ice cream parlor, the car wash guys, even at one of my local Panda Expresses.  They had a tip jar at the end.  I mean really?  What am I tipping you for, scooping out the orange chicken with speed and accuracy!  I think the tip jar at 7-11 is really what put me over the edge.  HA!  You stood there and took my money so let me tip you. 

 

Here’s the flip side to the tipping debate.   The poor pizza guy!  Next time you order pizza take a look at your bill.  Did you know that the pizza place charges you for delivery, usually between 2.50-3.50.  They are very specific about that charge not going to the driver.  If it’s not going to the driver where is it going???  I delivered pizza for about 6 months and they did give us a very small reimbursement.  But not all companies do that.  So basically I’m being charged an extra few bucks just for the convenience of delivery. But wait a minute…the pizza business is kind of a delivery business!!! ISN'T IT? 

Maybe everybody deserves an extra few bucks for doing the same thing they have been doing for the last 20 years? Maybe we should all just carry around tip jars and hope for the best!

Yeah, that’s right, A REAL BOW

So last week was Halloween.  I pulled up to a local middle school to drop of my wife and we were sitting there saying good bye for the day I see a young man, dressed as some kind of hunter, carrying.... wait for it...a real compound bow.  Now I didn't see any arrows, which is good.  But he was in fact carrying a bow.  BUT it was part of his costume!! So that makes it ok. 

So lets talk about a few things here.  I mean really mom and dad.  A Bow or weapon of any kind regardless of it having a projectile with it and regardless of day.  This is the same era when children...yes CHILDREN...are getting suspended and expelled for biting their pop tart into a toy gun and wearing shirts that have weapons on them.  And you thought it was ok to let your kid out of the house with a BOW!! 

Now I want to qualify my thoughts on this.  I am not an anti-gun or weapon person by any means.  Guns and weapons don't kill people, people kill people and I personally think we have gone a little to far with this whole crazy gun control deal.  Some schools around the country have even requested that uniformed police officers not bring their guns when they drop their kids off to school I mean really.  A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER!!!  Let me tell you, I was a little boy once and I am a grown little boy now and I can remember many games of cops and robbers.  We just used our fingers, which they can't take away.   I believe in education not stupification.  (I'm pretty sure I invented that word but it works really well I think) A lot of kids in the mid west learn about guns when they are nine and ten years old.  They know how to handle them and they know how to respect them and what they are used for.  EDUCATION! 

Now back to the issue at hand.  So when did parents stop paying attention to their children?  I know we've talked about this in the past but Halloween seems to really bring a lot of issue to light here.  The same people who are complaining and whining about gender stereotyping, and violence are letting their kids leave the house in outfits that are scandalous if your a girl, and down right indecent these days.  And some of the costumes I've seen the guys in aren't much better. 

Everybody seems to think it's ok because it's Halloween.  But let me ask you this, if it's just because it's Halloween, why are your children choosing to go out half naked in the first place. Why do they want to be a psycho killer even if it's just for play?  Where does that thought process start? 

Since we brought it up let's talk about the way the young ladies are dressing these days.  What happened here?  Are the mom's trying to re-live their youth? Do the parents just not care about what messages their sending out? Or maybe it's that they just don't care about their daughters. Yep, I said it.  The outfits I see some young ladies in these days are "lacking" to say the least.  So let me spell it out for you.  Ladies, you don't want the attention you're getting by wearing tight revealing clothing.  Nothing good can come from it, and if you're a parent of a young lady.  Do her a favor and TEACH HER what a real man is and what real men look for in a woman.  Teach her how much she is worth and that that worth doesn't come from her looks or her body.  The adults need to be setting the standard and building our children’s confidence and self esteem from within!

I would never tell a parent how to parent their child.  That is really up to them.  What I will tell you is what the outcome of your decisions is going to be.  That really isn't hard to figure out.  It's in the news every day.  But for some reason people are missing it.  So start paying attention and start parenting!