Retired & Thinking

This video is making the blog rounds and I understand the sentiments being dumped on Officer Cheeks. BUT, I can't help but wonder if the same segment of the American public would be aghast if Officer Cheeks confronted Ms. Cindy Sheehan of Camp Casey fame? I doubt it. Background for where I'm going. I've voted for 9 presidents. I've liked and disliked most of them at one time or another. I was raised a democrat, have often voted a party ticket and will die a democrat, although saved. My undergraduate degree is in Political Science because I really like the chaos that revolves around political systems. My politics are not where they once were and they aren't where they will be and that's okay with me. For followers of Christ we walk a thin line between Acts 4:18-20 and Romans 13:1-8 . Of the word and ideas that jump out at me are speak, teach, obey God, established by God, God's servant (3 times in Romans), pay taxes, respect, and honor. God has been doing a ...

As a pastor I've had to deal with the tough question of whether or not our pets go to heaven when they die. I try to be consoling to the kid who lost their guppy, puppy, kitty or whatever and still be somewhat theological consistent. But now, the ultimate question has been answered. What happens to your pets when Hal Lindsey [that dates me] is right and the RAPTURE occurs. A hat tip from Jack, a OLD senior high kid from seminary day sent me Eternal Earth-Bound Pets . I don't if I'm more concerned for the Christ followers who will fork out the money or for the spiritually blinded who are willing to take the money and run. All I know is that it is just too doggone funny to not share.

Got an email today from Portland's Rose Garden that sparked a memory from a week ago. I had driven by and on the reader board I just caught the end of an announcement of an up and coming event . Immediately after it was the event for Rev. Osteen . The quick glance made it appear that they were linked. Then again, perhaps that's not so strange. Alan

Updated August 4, 2009 because I thought the picture was worth the work. Here's a little news story that I haven't seen on Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, or the other pundits of either liberal or conservative. Florida court rules Fox News can lie. The reason no one mentioned this is quite obvious, it's money. If the Russ' and O'Reilly's can lie then they'll get more people upset and sell more advertising. If the New York Times or NBC can lie then they can sell more advertising and make us either feel better or more worried about things. When I mentioned this to Mr. J, my youngest, he said, "What, that's just stupid." And his succinct, insightful and thoughtful response was exactly right. One comment on the Fox news was great, "they should change their motto from "Fair and Balanced" to "Telling You What You Want to Hear." Does is surprise you that the yellow journalism of Hurst fame is now legally protected? And what'...

H/T to Agnusday for a great post this Trinity Sunday. Also another great example of the new technology coming to terms with truth at Church Crunch . Read and enjoy. Peace Alan

Where does compassion come from? For some, it apparently springs from having superior fire power. For your wonderment: NEW YORK (Reuters) - An owner of a New York store thwarted a robbery only to take pity on the perpetrator, who claimed he could not feed his family, and gave the man $40 and a loaf of bread, a video of the incident showed. A video posted on Tuesday by the Newsday newspaper on its website www.newsday.com showed a masked man wielding a bat as he entered a convenience store in Shirley, Long Island, just after midnight on May 21 and demanded money. But when the store's owner, identified by the local Channel 12 TV station as Mohammad Sohail, pulled out a rifle, the masked man dropped to his knees and appeared to beg for forgiveness. "He said 'I am sorry, I have no money, no job, my family is hungry,'" Sohail told the TV station. "Then I feel bad for him ... I take $40 for him." Sohail said he was not planning to press charges. Peace, Alan

Continuing Easter theme check out this Christianity Today article. It is really good in light of the Jesus Seminar type arguments. Don't forget to go back and listen to the music by Keith Green in the previous post. They are GREAT Easter songs. Peace, Alan