« November 2004 | Main | January 2005 »

December 31, 2004

Boise State...

Lost 44-40 to Louisville...

Yahoo! Sports

John L. Smith is Coaching at Michigan State now, But I bet these seniors and juniors for Louisville where recruited by him. I bet John L. never lost to BSU while he was at Idaho.. Might be wrong about that...

Since we can't blame God, Blame the USA...

The Australian: Gerard Baker: Tsunami must be fault of the US [December 31, 2004]

INEVITABLY, confronted with a tragedy of unimaginable scale, the human mind looks for someone to blame. In the Dark Ages, disasters were ascribed to the wrath of God. Now, in an odd inversion that we like to think of as progress, they are adduced as evidence of no God.

In the absence of a deity to decry or appease when the earth moves in such devastating fashion, humankind reaches for the next best thing - worldly authority. Authority should have known it was coming. Authority didn't do enough to prevent it. Authority was too preoccupied with its own nefarious priorities to care.

How true is this in all aspects of life today? Society doesn't want an almighty to trust and obey, but they certainly want an almighty to Blame and sue when nature takes its course..

Life and death are outside of our hands. We all die. It is not a matter of if, but of when. It doesn't matter who built the ladder you fell off, or who built the car that you crashed, if you had not died from that, something else whould have gotten you later.

No matter how many companies or gaverments the lawyers put out of business, people are still going to die.. No company has power over human mortality.

Yahoo keeps that undefeatted team nameless.

I have the coolest bug in my yahoo. It has been happening all year, and I don't know why.

The Boise State- Louisville game is listed like this:

vs. 0 3:30
Louisville 0 ET

As an Idaho Vandal fan, I have been quite pleased not to have my yahoo page defaced with reports of Boise State winning all year.. It sure is a weird bug... I don't think I will report it though.

When I was going to school at Idaho, I believe we where working on a 13 game winning streak over BSU.. I am pretty certain they are in the process of returning the favor now..

Sick..

I have been really sick all week. 102.3 degree tempurature whenever I don't take drugs....

Also have blistery things on the back of my throat, a nasty cough that makes it difficult to breathe sometimes... All and all it is pretty fun... Antibiodics don't seem to be doing much for it either...

Just thought i would share.. I am going nuts being in bed all week...

December 21, 2004

Doctors believe

Science or Miracle?; Holiday Season Survey Reveals Physicians' Views of Faith, Prayer and Miracles

I wonder if folks will say it is just because they are uneducated and ignorant?

Constantly inconstant

Don't put all of your faith in Science... There are a lot of things that we only think we know.

Yahoo! News - Gravity May Lose Its Pull

Chad needs a blog

Chad Pennington, if you heed Mark's advice, I will read your blog.

Hey Chad , get a blog ! - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com

December 20, 2004

Just be glad

That you didn't win the $314.9 million jackpot..

Yahoo! News - Jackpot Winner's Granddaughter Found Dead

Doesn't sound likea dream come true for this guy, two dead young ladies, 2 DWI's, and sexual harrassment lawsuits, just to name a few of his troubles.

It is a scam!

Yahoo! Sports - NFL - Gambling revenue proposed in financing for new Colts stadium

Doesn't it seem like this gambling stuff is becoming a big Ponzi scheme? It really spread like a Pyrmid scheme. It started with Nevada, and New Jersey, then it spread to State Sponsored Lotteries, then it spread to Indian Reservations, Then to Indian casinos just outside of town, then to card rooms in your neighborhood. Now it is trying to spread into Video poker machines in ever gas station and supermarket...

Each layer has the state skimming some off the top, and paying the rest back to the gamers. As the States become more and more dependant on that revenue to build their schools and stadiums, eventually the gamblers will run out of money, and the whole scheme will collapse.

If you fund your society by making people lose money, eventually you will become a society of losers.

"Responsible Gambling" is as oxymoronic. It is like "Responsible Bull-riding" or "Responsible Base-jumping" If you engage in high risk activities, you will get hurt. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. Yes, you can be very lucky, but it is not likely.. Especially if they are building Schools and Sports stadiums with your losings..

December 19, 2004

More Bibletalk

I love the story of Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20

2chron20:15-17;

15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

It seems that often we do not trust God with our battles. We either storm onto the battlefield, or we run away. We are not patient to see how God's plan works out.

I had a friend when I was in college named Bart Wilcox. Bart was a very likeable, friendly and smart kid who's life really testified to the Love of Christ. To meet Bart was to know Bart. He was authentic with everyone. People like him are very hard to find. Bart planted some seeds in the few months that I knew him that flourished into a relationship with God once my heart was softened years later.

I distinctly remember Bart standing his ground on one occasion or two. Our fraternity was engaging in activity that Bart didn't approve of. Bart was the only member out of the 70 or so who stayed home. I think that most of the members respected him for his courage, even if they did not agree with his position. He didn't make a fuss about it and attack anyone for thier belief. He didn't compromise his own convictions and go with the flow. He stood his ground, and let the truth speak for itself.

Jesus prayed


John 17:15-19

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Knowing that we have the Son of God praying for our protection, we should have courage to stand our ground as well. We should not run from this world, but stand firm against it.

I haven't seen my friend Bart in nearly 14 years. During spring break the year I met him, he decided to devote his life to God, and has broken off communication with everyone he knew. Last I heard, he was a nomadic wanderer going by the name Zephaniah. He travels the country with members of his fellowship, discussing the bible with college age kids, and trying to get them to devote themselves in the same way that he has.

In many ways I really respect Bart. He was willing to give up everyting to serve Christ. He is reaching out to youngsters and exposing them to the Word of God.

I love my church for many of the reasons I love Bart. There are a lot of young idealistic people who live by faith. Many of them left their communities and moved to Spokane to start the church. One of the church's values authenticity, one of the main traits that attracted me to Bart.

What greives me about Bart's current situation as I understand it is that the steadfast willingness to stand his ground that I admired so much is gone. His group is nomadic because they fear persecution and they fear temptation. They are constantly on the run from their families.

If we are effective servants, Satan will find a way to tempt us. There is no avoiding this fact. Avoiding temptation is a temptation in and of itself, and if we fall for this temptation, Satan can use our fear to herd us and manipulate us. It is hard to have an effective ministry if we are constantly on the run, or are trying to remain anonymous.

The Godly response to temptation would be to stand firm, and put on the full armor of God,


Eph 6:10-18;

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

December 18, 2004

Free Speech Unleashed

Here is an excelent article discussing how technology is finally giving the governed power over the goverment.

OpinionJournal - Wonder Land

Until recently, one-party or no-party governments had a standing list of answers for people with a different notion: a) we don't care what you think; b) shut up; c) we kill you. There's no sure cure for c, but Plans a and b are becoming obsolete. Once impervious political authorities must now face the possibility of having their information monopoly hammered by an array of mostly American-engineered technology--smart cell phones, communication satellites, e-mail, Web logs (or "blogs") and a seemingly endless stream of information-sharing programs whose arcane names (RSS, Atom) hide their great power. The mass-market power of the older media--radio, TV, print--is also being integrated with the precision targeting of new technologies.

Faithfulness

I have been quite taken with Hebrews 12:1-3 lately.


1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


I feel that we are often hindered in our own faith by worrying about the faith or unbelief of others. While we should be witnesses to the truth, there is grave danger in fixing our eyes on the broken world around us rather than the perfection of Jesus.


We should lead by faithfully fixing our eyes on Jesus, and the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that result will witness to those who are lost.

I believe that as Christians when we see a lie, we should call it a lie. We should also expect most fallen men to believe the lie, and sin. We should forgive the sinner for being deceived. We have all been tempted and deceived at one time or another, and we should forgive as we have been forgiven.

If we don't live this way, we erode our witness. We are not fully trusting God's promises. We are buying into a deception ourselves. We become entangled in the sins of others, and fail to persevere on the course that God has marked out for us.

2 Corinthians 2 :5-11;

5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven if there was anything to forgive I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

December 15, 2004

I don't have time to build these

But I want to.

The Goldfish Online

December 8, 2004

Here is where I will be in 10 years

IIf my kids don't straighten up in the next 10 years or so.

Yahoo! News Search Results for Benjamin Barnard

2036 presidential canidate?

Nanaimo - canada.com network

Time will tell!

December 7, 2004

Washington State - Agent of the Devil

I am quite irritated by the Washington state lottery these days. They have put big yellow vending machines with the lie "It's good to play" in nearly every store that I visit.

Today, I heard a radio ad where they where telling stories of thier winner's generosity to others.

The kicker was the story of a lady who shared her 50k winnings with her family. It mentions that she borrowed the money to buy the lottery ticket from her Brother.

So the message from Washington State: "If you want to be good, borrow money from your relatives so that you can buy lottery tickets, get rich, and pay them back"

December 3, 2004

Dreamhost Continues to Rock

My favorite web host, DreamHost, just added a very cool feature. I can now install a wordpress powered Blog on any of my domains with one click of a button!

I have been a happy dreamhost customer since 1999.

December 2, 2004

Nearly half on drugs.

My Way News

The annual report on Americans' health found that just over 44 percent of all Americans take at least one prescription drug, and 16.5 percent take at least three.

Nearly 25 percent of children under 18 are medicated as well.

I would like to know what these percentages would look like if we included over the counter drugs.