Jesus & Football

This is one of the better stories I've seen in awhile. I mean how awesome are these people? Jesus seemed to talk about loving people a lot; it's nice to see someone actually doing it. Most people would judge those kids, not cheer for them.

It's also nice that I came across this article on the front page of ESPN.com.

One small note...no disrespect to the author, but the last word of the story should be "Love", or better yet, "Jesus". That's exactly what those people gave them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

The Government Can Not Save Us

I realize the election is old news by now, but I've come across a couple of good links to articles that pretty much sum up exactly why I don't like politics for the most part.

In general, I've never understood how people get so worked up over politics.  Or in their words, why they are passionate about politics.  Call it what you want, but it's never made much sense to me.  I mean sure, I have my opinions, and I vote, but I think you all know what I'm talking about. The people you can't even mention a topic without it turing into a political debate. Just look at those talking heads you always see on the news channels.  Everything, to them, is done for a political reason.

It drives me crazy sometimes how people talk about one candidate or another.  Or about how this candidate will make the USA good again and save us all; or how that same candidate will be a disgrace to everyone.  As if the government or democrats or republicans can change us all for the better? That'll be the day.

As a Christian, I've always found it hard to "endorse" any candidate. For me I always seem to pick the lesser of two evils.  Until Jesus decides to run for president, I don't think I could ever truly endorse anyone.

Anyways...here are the articles. They're both pretty short.  You should read them.

In God We Do Not Trust

Religious Right R.I.P

Irony

There's this online e-book that the pastor of my church suggested that guys should read. It's written by Mark Driscoll, who is a pastor of a church in Seattle, WA. His e-book is about how guys struggle with sexual sin; lusting over girls, pornography, strip clubs, masturbation, etc, and how damaging it can be.  The name of his book is, Porn Again Christian, which I suppose is fairly ironic in itself, but that's not what I'm writing about. It's really good. Probably the best thing I've ever read on the topic. It's pretty blunt and forthright on the topic, so you've been warned.  It's not raunchy or anything like that, but I think you get the drift. Also, with that being said, it potentially could make a woman pretty uncomfortable reading about what goes through the dirty minds of men, so definitely read the introduction first, so as to get a feel for what you are about to get into.

Anyways...after reading about all of this stuff, I was driving out to lunch today and was stopped by a light.  There was a driveway in front of me with a car waiting, so I left some room so it could pull out.  As I was waiting for the light to change, I realized that this driveway was connected to the parking lot of a strip club.  Not only that, but the car waiting to pull out in front of me contained a young woman who definitely fit the profile of an "exotic dancer".  As the light turned green, she gave a smile and a wave, and she was on her way.  I couldn't help but laugh a little at the irony of the whole situation, that only myself and God was aware of at the moment.

If you are a guy and have any sort of struggle with sexual sin (which is pretty much every guy I have ever met), I would recommend checking out the e-book.  It's not a long book, so there's no reason not to check it out really.  Driscoll is preaching on the Song of Songs right now, and is releasing parts of the e-book as he goes.  So at the moment, not all of it is available, but it will be shortly.  The parts that I have read so far have been very informative.  I suggest reading it all, introduction and everything.  Might take you an hour to read the whole thing.  Here's the link:

http://theresurgence.com/porn_again_christian

Religion

I don't get these religions that say they are a "branch" of Christianity and believe in Jesus, or acknowledge Jesus as a true prophet, but then change/add to/take away/alter what Jesus taught. I just don't get it, I don't think I ever will. It makes no sense to me. If you believe that Jesus was who he said he was, and did what witnesses said he did, then how can you include him in your religion but yet change stuff?

If you believe in this Jesus, by default you have to you believe in the Christian Bible and the New Testament. At the end of the New Testament in Revelation (and in other places) it clearly warns about changing things written in the Bible:

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
Rev 22: 18-19

The only thing that does make sense to me is that the people of these religions have obviously been taught or shown a false Jesus. That's the only way they could "include" him in their religion, but not follow him, which is the greatest tragedy of all.