Archive for January, 2005
It’s NOT about personal holiness
January 31st. Ozzie threw this down…
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
How many times have you been guilty of thinking that a person’s salvation was dependent upon your behavior and holiness? I do it all the time. It’s good youth ministry! Don’t drink, don’t cuss, don’t smoke, and don’t marry a girl who does those things either. Doesn’t that sound like a life-giving, exciting relationship with Jesus?
Don’t get me wrong – most of the stuff on the don’t list are good ideas. (Of what NOT to do.) It’s just that I think most of us see that stuff as EVANGELISM and it isn’t. I’ll just be a good witness and people will ask me why I live the way I live and I’ll tell them JEEEESUS! I got two words for that – horse hockey.
Most people are too self-absorbed to notice how someone else is living. Plus – that kind of emphasis steals the spotlight from Jesus and shines it on us.
Galatians 5:9, The only thing that matters is faith manifesting itself through love. Proclaimers of the good news – in both word and deed. That’s faith manifesting itself through love.
Some requests for the CCM world…
For those of you who don’t know – CCM stands for Contemporary Christian Music. Which of course proves that we have not yet exhausted all oxymorons in the English language.
While I question the need for yet another distinction between secular and sacred (a much longer blog), I do have some suggestions/requests/begs for the CCM industry.
1. No more Boy Bands/Girl Bands. There is a reason that O-town, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, and N’Suck crashed and burned. If we are going to have CCM, let’s produce substantive, deep lyric writers – not smoke and mirror, shallow acts.
2. No more versions of God of Wonders. I love the song. We sing it at 5.36. But every album I pick up now has that song on it and they sing it the same way Jars/3rd Day did. Just leave it alone.
3. Compilation Albums. Why? You’ve repackaged the same stuff for years now. If you are going to do a compilation album – do it of new music. Not music that has been out for a year, worn out, and redone (see above).
4. Engage the Culture. You’ve got a couple of bands that are attempting to do this on a larger scale. Jars – you guys had it going on with your first album. The ones after that have failed miserably at engaging the Jesus-less culture. Switchfoot is trying, Sixpence, POD…the list gets short now. Instead of making more money on one more album that sounds remarkably similiar to the one you released last year, stretch yourself. Start asking and answering questions the real world is asking.
5. Worship Albums. Two words – Original Music. The majority of your worship album if you do one should be songs that were birthed by you and your band. We want authenticity, please.
6. Get involved. If you are going to be in the CCM industry – get in a local church with some folks who love you but aren’t impressed with you. Give them access and permission to jack your world up when you aren’t following Jesus. Please don’t tour around the country telling me I need more of Jesus if you aren’t putting yourself in a position to get “more” of Him yourself.
Thank you, I needed to get that off my chest.
The Crop, Good Uni Conference
These are all strong unis. There really isn’t much of a difference between 2-8. Depending on diet and mood of ranker, they could all switch places.
5. Saints – I love this look. Gold and black. Saints do it best. Spanish cross on hip in gold, black pants for both home and away unis. Solid jerseys for both home and away. Great looking uni.
6. Steelers – Genius of the look is half their fans get to enjoy a sweet logo. Number on front of helmet is incredible. Shoulder patch, solid black stripe on yellow pants, 3 stripe sleeve all awesome.
7. Jets – Old School. J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. Whole look works. Would be a top 4 uni if they would return to solid jersey color for home look. Black shoes make the look complete!
8. Giants – The New York Football Giants. Great look, numbers on front of helmet is awesome. Classic look, nothing fancy. Simplicity rules.
Great Looks, Good Uni Conference
Okay all you haters. Up to this point, I’ve tolerated your whining. But here is the deal – all of the remaining 12 teams got it going on. You’d be hard pressed to take any of them out and replace them with someone else. Enjoy The Great Looks Division.
9. Packers – The pants and helmet match, the jerseys are solid. The logo is traditional and drawable. Green face mask helps highlight uni. 3 stripe sleeves are a great touch.
10. Chiefs – I feel the same way about KC as Oakland (see below). Their logo is awesome. Simple, sharp, drawable. 3 stripe socks look awesome, good use of gold/yellow to highlight.
11. Raiders – The Raiders suck. Al Davis sucks. Oakland sucks. Their unis rock. Silver and black. Solid black stripe down pants like they’re federal inmates out on weekend pass. It’s painful to give them this rank.
12. Bears – There is nothing offensive about this uni. How the team plays is a whole other story. Love the GSH on sleeves. 3 striped socks are keeping with traditional look. Logo is crisp and drawable.
Blogger Etiquette?
Okay here is the situation.
You are in a restaurant and you notice 4 tables away someone who looks incredibly familiar. A couple of minutes later, you recognize the face from a blog that read religiously.
To make a smaller world, smaller – the party you are with KNOWS that person.
What do you do?
I’ll tell you what you don’t do. You don’t just sit there and walk out of the restaurant not saying ANYTHING. Which is exactly what SOMEONE did.
Best Nomination Letter
First of all – thanks for the nominations. It’s such an honor to be nominated. I’d like to thank the Academy and…oh, where was I?
This was the best e-nomination:
I would like to nominate Stu’s Rants for Best Blog – Youth Pastor, Best Blog – Humor, and Best Blog – Overall. He is funny, insightful, incredibly intelligent, and probably the best youth pastor in the world! And if he doesn’t win, I will personally hunt everyone of you down.
Sincerely,
His Mom
You gotta love moms!
Acceptable, Good Uni Conference
We’ve moved into good uniform territory – barely. These uni’s are a lot like the Very Close Division. They are only a few details away from either rising or falling. Overall, these are the hardest uniforms to rank – the tweeners.
13. Texans – This is an awesome first franchise uni. Love the red look. The team name across front is nice touch. Number font is great. As usual – put some detail in pant stripes.
14. Eagles – It’s basic. It’s got the eagle head on sleeves. I have suggestions. Stick with black pants, dark green jerseys, dark green socks. Keep road uni all white. Font is awesome.
15. Redskins – Thank God that PC uni of last year is gone. A spear? Are you freakin’ kidding me? Still need to work on pants & socks. Sometimes yellow socks, other’s maroon. Stick with maroon pants.
16. Titans – Quandry Uni. Like color scheme, logo is ridiculous. Sleeve logo is cool but bi-blue color jerseys are ugly. Stripe detail is atrocious, but helmet stripes are cool.
To Blog or Not To Blog
Quote found on Stumin Discussion Forum:
I’m torn. For me, I don’t know if the lite stuff will bear fruit with me or others. And the heavy stuff gets weighty and hard to conjur up. I’m looking for a balance and tring to find the benefit and not the burden. Keep it honest.
Here’s what I think…
1. I think blogs should be both heavy and lite, serious and funny. Because that is how most of us live. We have moments in both places – our blogs should reflect that.
2. I think Youth Workers who struggle to find time to have face to faces with students OR when they do find time, struggle with what to say – this is a great tool. Read this for more.
3. I think nothing replaces face to face/life on life journeying together with Jesus. Spiritual Transformation is dirty and often caught, not taught.
Very Close To Good, Bad Uni Conference
I realize that for many you – the dream ends today. The Cowboys are in the Bad Uni Conference. They should be and I have definitive reasons why.
1. Jerry Jones’ daughter designed their current uniforms. Need I say more?
2. Don’t go mixing blues on the same logo in different places on the uni.
3. I lived in Dallas for 5 years. Most of the players look better in orange jumpsuits or stripes.
Otherwise, these unis just need some attention to detail to move up.
17. Seahawks – I love the ‘pewter’ blue. Minor details – add some touches to the pants. Go with solid jersey colors for this scheme, ditch the colored sleeves. Would like different logo but not sure what so this is fine.
18. Ravens – This year they added black pants – big no-no. Too much black. Bring back the white pants, with crest on hip. Change font on jersey numbers and this is a top 12 uni.
19. Cowboys – I’m going to get grief over this one. See Miami – too many unis. Pick a look – I prefer the blue that is the SAME color as the star on helmet. Too many different shades of blue, bring back star on hip.
20. Vikings – Good: Purple, emblem is okay. Bad: same pants for away and home unis. Better logo is on sleeve of jersey. Should use the trim on away jersey for home. Add logo on pant stripe.
I Give Up
Some of you already noticed a couple of comments on yesterday’s blog. Despite my incredible Greek, Hebrew, and Pig Latin skills, I am at a complete loss as to what these mean…please post with your translation.
hello even if we do not know ourselves I would want however to speak with you about problems with the PC etc you answer me to the aziendaferrobattuto.blogspot.com in order to chat insomma. the 28/01/05By aziendaferrobattuto, at 5:30 PM
and the follow up post that was supposed to clear things up for me…
they are still I that aspects send to me and mail or what you want on my situated one you write where seems perche e’ a brothel there to you my situated aspect one yours and mail.ma six vivo?o not? that aspects!!!By aziendaferrobattuto,
Yeah, that helped.
So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance!!!
SWEET REDEMPTION!!! There is a Youth Pastor category!! I’ve got a chance to be nominated because most of us CAN’T READ!!!!!
But would nomination compromise my journalistic integrity? (I don’t know if someone who ranks NFL Uniforms can legitimately ask that question.)
And the Winner Is….
Okay – they are giving out Blog Awards for Evangelicals. More on how to make an angel even later, but for now I’m not really sure how to feel about it.
When Worship.com came out with the worship awards – I had a definite opinion. “Great! Another event we have to watch Michael W. Smith and Sandi Patti smile through.”
But this – part of me thinks I actually have a chance to be nominated…then again looking at the categories – I don’t fit anything. I’m not serious enough for the “Headliner” awards. My humor tends to offend at least three people a day so there’s no way I fit there.
And they don’t have a “he thinks he’s funny and insightful but he’s really a pain in the butt with to much time on his hands” category. I mean ranking the NFL uniforms – is that really an accomplishment to nominate?
The Halo conversation would have been but I didn’t take the PC stance on it. I think we should all play it, so that kinda sinks me there.
Oh well.
Greener Grass?
Met a guy yesterday who is in the middle of trying to figure out if God is calling him to the ministry. Lot’s of questions, right? Should he go to Seminary or not? Look for a church job or “secular” job? (I hate that term – secular.) He is a friendly, nice guy. I liked him – at least my first impression.
He wants a job that he loves getting up to everyday.
Join the club, we’ve got jackets.
I admit – I do love what I do and there is only one other job I would trade this one for. (My own sports radio call-in show if anyone is wondering.) On most days – it’s great. It’s the getting up that’s hard…but I digress.
There are some days that you just want to go home, quit, and be a video game tester. There is always someone else who needs you “right now” – which is ministry. There is always an event to go to – every night of the week. There is always just a little more you could do at the expense of something else in your life – study, family, X box time.
But isn’t that true of any job? The harder question is are we leveraging our jobs for the Glory of God? Are we seeing that job as an opportunity for God to show off to others who don’t know him?
And that can get lost in the fog…even in ministry.
Needs Update, Bad Uni Conference
These uni’s have glimpses of hope but are ultimately overwhelmed by elements of horrific taste. All are in dire need of an update, not necessarily major – but significant.
An example is the Dolphins. They have the making of a top 10 uni but they go schizophrenic on their fans – that and they want to make more money – by having 6 different versions of their uniform.
The Niners are on the list more out of disappointment than anything else. With that many gays in one place – their uniform ought to be a lot better than what it is.
21. Dolphins – There’s lots to like & hate with this uni. 6 versions. Too many. I like the orange look but blue is worn most. Logo is cartoony but trim on jersey’s and pants is good. Pick a look, Miami.
22. 49ers – Remember their throw back unis? Neither do I – looked the same. They do have cool logo on hip. Brass should not be a team color. You’d think with all the queer eyes in that town – they’d have a better uni.
23. Colts – The black shoes elevated rank (Johnny U!). It’s just boring. Needs one more color – somewhere in the scheme. Away uni’s are atrocious – Indy Medics.
24. Bills – Stripes, stripes, stripes! Everywhere you look, this uni has stripes. Mascot should be Candy Canes. Plus 3 different kinds of blue. Logo is Cartoon Network material.
Not Much Better, Bad Uni Conference
The only reason these teams aren’t in the bottom of the barrel division is because we didn’t have enough room on the paper. Major issues with these uniforms. It is no coincidence that these teams are either expansion teams or relocated teams. My theory is that relocated teams ought to have brand new logos and unis – like the Ravens/Browns. The Colts should have been in this category but their tradition and black shoes moved them up.
25. Rams – New Ram look ain’t working. Loved the brightness of the old look. Ram head on side of jersey SHOULD be new logo on helmet. The Ram horn on the side never really worked…except for drug users.
26. Jaguars – What’s up with the logo? No kid on the planet has a shot at that. Plus – the stripes on the corner of the Jaguar mouth? What’s up with that? Teal boring color that will put you to sleep.
27. Cardinals – I like red but the cardinal head goes way to far back on the helmet. The stripes make the pants look like candy canes. No definitive or distinctive touches on unis beside home shoulder patch.
28. Panthers – I’m not sure why I’m down on this uni. It’s boring. It’s hard to draw. The stripes are extremely too wide. I do like the black shoes but not the baby blue outline on the dark color – no definitive color scheme.
NFL Uniform Ranks
For all of my readers out there – both of you – I now will give you the NFL Uniform Ranks. Because this is the boring week between the Conference Championships and the Super Bowl, we need something to keep us focused on the NFL.
Before we break out the rankings, a couple of things to remember about uniform ranking.
1. It is an art. Not everyone should try this because quite frankly, not everyone has good taste. Just leave this to the professionals – namely me.
2. Details are important in a good uni. Ex: The team crest located on the hip of the Baltimore Raven’s uni. A nice detailed touch to an otherwise bland uniform.
3. Quality of the team did not bear into quality of uniform. Ex: New England Patriots, great team, horrible uniform. What is it with Captain America on the side of the helmet? Bring back the squatter with a canon ball.
4. Tradition is only as good as it looks. Those who argue the Detriot Lions have a great uniform because it’s been there since 1961 – I got this to say. The Lion logo sucked in ’61, it sucks now.
5. Bright colors are encouraged.
6. Shoes really do make an outfit. Black shoes work with the Colts, not with the Falcons. Why? I’m an expert, I don’t have to explain why.
7. Last, but not least, drawability. The worst thing in the world for a 12 year old in class, bored to tears yet he can’t draw his favorite team’s helmet or logo because it is so ridiculousy ugly or complicated. See Patriots again.
I broke the 32 teams into two conferences – The Bad Uni Conference and The Good Uni Conference. The Division Breakouts and Ranks are as follows:
Bad Uni Conference
Bottom of the Barrel (29-32)
Not Much Better (25-28)
Needs An Update (21-24)
Very Close To Good (17-20)
Good Uni Conference
Acceptable (13-16)
Great Looks (9-12)
The Crop (5-8)
The Cream (1-4)
Bottom of the Barrel, Bad Uni Conference
The Bottom of the Barrel Division. Every team in this division needs a drastic uniform change, immediately. They are all just horrible.
29. Lions – What’s up with the logo? Deadly mistake of face mask color. It should either be helmet color OR a primary color of team. Not a completely different color from the scheme.
30. Browns – When your team is named after a owner whose name is a color – bad things happen. Bland. Boring. UPS Crash Helmets.
31. Patriots – Captain America? No school children can draw this logo. Pewter helmet + white uni = what the heck? Red face mask isn’t the same red of decal. Numbers look goofy.
32. Bengals – The worst uniforms and helmets in the NFL. Then let tiger stripe invade black pants of unis. Too much black on home unis. Images of spandex and ’80’s glam rock bands.
The Cherished Prize of God’s Heart?
Right now, God is revealing the identity of the church as a cherished bride – the cherished prize of God’s heart.
Mike Bickle
I don’t know if there are words available to communicate how much I disagree with this statement. How’s that for an opening line? The author is a pastor in Kansas City and his whole premise is that once people understand that the Church is the “bride�? of Christ and how much he loves her, they will respond to Jesus.
There is only one problem with this. It’s the exact opposite of what Jesus said. Minor detail, right?
If I am lifted up, I will draw all people to the Father. Jesus.
He is either extremely arrogant or he knows something we don’t.
It’s not about lifting up the church. We are broken, bruised, and in dire need of redemption. At our worse moments, we have done more damage and harm to mankind than any other organization. We (the church) struggle with forgiveness and grace, enjoy power trips, prefer seclusion over interaction, and think talking about the poor and homeless is as good as actually helping them.
Someone who lifts up the church as the Source will be still be thirsty. Are we the cherished prize of God’s heart? I don’t think so. “But Jesus died for the Church!�?
Not entirely. He died because it was how he was going to bless the nations and keep a promise he made back in Genesis 11. He died to make His name famous. He did it to take care of the sin problem and consequence. The church gets to enjoy that.
Cherished prize of God’s heart? No. I think He is the cherished prize of His heart – and that is good thing.
“Braveheart” becomes Christian Role Model
Article coming out of Rueters about “Wild at Heart” leading movement to shed “nice guy” Christian image.
I don’t know what is more disappointing about the article – that it took them this long to find the story or if the reason it took this long is because most Christian men are still acting like pansies.
My Graceland…
I have found how I am going to waste the rest of my life on the internet.
It’s called the Society for Sports Uniform Research. Oh……my……gosh.
Do you remember the World Football League in the mid-70s? I do – I lived in Birmingham and went to a couple of their games. All of their helmets are here.
How about the USFL? The Denver Gold helmet? Now my much anticipated NFL Uniform Rankings will be coming soon.
Check out the site – only if you have PLENTY of time. Great resource if you play Madden and want to create your own team.
NFL Playoffs – Conference Championships
(Click above to waste hours ready ESPN’s coverage of playoffs.)
Ahhh, conference championships! Have I told you how I feel about them? Below are my prognostications.
Cool post for you fantasy football players here. I do think what we have in the Conference Championship games this year are the best defenses and quarterbacks in the league. While the QB’s may not be as dominant in their stats, they know how to lead and do whatever they need to for their team to win games – which is more important than throwing for 49 touchdowns.
Weather is a huge factor which means running game. Atlanta – 3 backs (Duckett, Vick, Dunn) that can go yard on any given play…and at least one of them touches the ball every single offensive play. Defensive Coordinator Nightmare.
Eagles played sloppy last week and was gifted the win by the Vikings. Westbrook is good, but not that good. McNabb has been awesome – but unless he can throw it to himself 15 to 25 yards downfield – he gets to wait one more year.
X Factor: Special Teams. Both defenses are good – not great. Both offenses have capability to score points in a hurry or stall in a hurry. Atlanta has a huge edge in Special Teams. If you don’t know who Allen Rossum is – you will by tomorrow night.
The Birds! I only wished they were wearing their red unis. The second best looking uni’s in the NFL. (That’s another blog.)
Weather again huge factor. That puts both teams relying on their running game more than their passing games. Both teams have defenses that will knock your helmet off, slap your face, score on you, then talk about your momma.
Quarterbacks: Brady is The Man. Big Ben – lots of mistakes last week. Capable of stepping up but see weather.
X Factor – Corey Dillon. He didn’t play in first game. He’s playing tomorrow. He might have been a malcontent in Cincy (who wouldn’t be – terrible team, terrible owner, great airport) but in NE he has QUIETLY made this team dominant…like it needed any more help.
New England – and for such a great team they may have the 2nd worse looking helmet/logo in the league. (Cincy again takes 1st place in that category.)
Is Halo a game Christians should play?
The entire discussion posts/forums are at the link above – get a cup of coffee, click the link and read away.
There were 4 questions thrown out and after weeks of chatter – I guess I ought to answer them…
1. Is playing a game where you kill others a good witness?
Questions like it – Is drinking/smoking a cigar/watching R rated movies/having an earring/fill in the blank a good witness.
Dangerous place to start a dialogue. Leads to using outside measuring sticks to determine inner placement/maturity.
Personally – it was my inroad into the youth culture in West Little Rock. Almost every high school boy had an X-box and played Halo when I moved here. I had a PS2 and played Madden religiously. Something had to give – I decided it was going to be me. So like Paul – I became like one not under the law to reach those not under the law.
2. What are the advantages of such an activity? How does this form Christ in you?
Better question. I think the post hits most of the highlights of this and my blog on January 8th.
3. Should people under 17 be playing M rated games?
No. Because then they couldn’t kick my butt in those same games. Seriously – check out my blogs on Video Game Ratings – both volume I and volume II.
AND I still go back to what I said in the discussion – parents are the best gauge as to what a student can handle and what he can’t.
4. When does playing a video game take the place of God in your life?
See JLo’s blog on Halo 2 Survival for that one!
I think we kicked that dead horse in the forum – from the 3 litmus questions I threw out to the “It’s not that you play Halo, it’s are you having to say no to Jesus to do it?” quote.
There – now I need a nap…or a good game of CTF.
Back to The Halo Rants.