A Little Boys Dream

A five year olds dream is about to die this week and it is very sad. Way back in 1980 a little boy was sitting in his front room, the only light was from the large 35 inch console TV. His family had just got cable and they were going to watch there first movie on HBO. The movie was Star Wars, and that little boy sat there in total amazement at what he was seeing. He had never experienced anything like in his life. He so desperately wanted to be Luke Skywalker or Han Salo. He wanted to fly the x-wing or duel the Evil Darth Vader. That was a five year old boys dream that spurned a passion for sci-fi as well as an interest in astronomy and the space program. I am That five year old little boy.

I was so excited Wednesday to see Discovery take off after over two years of waiting. The first thing i did when i got home from work was to get on the computer to watch the launch. I was saddened to learn that there again was a problem with the foam insulation and that the shuttle program will be grounded. From what i am reading it may be 2014 before we are back in space. i applaud NASA for being safe, it is just sad for me.

I hope we continue our adventures in space, and i hope the private sector gets involved because i think that is the only way people like me will ever get into space in the next 50 years. Before i die that is what i would want to do. It would be the culmination of a five year olds dream that right now looks a little bleak.

May the force be with you.

The Birth of a Princess-Sophia Bell Caulkins

Sophia Bell Caulkins was born Saturday July 16th, 2005 at 7:02 A.M. She weighed 7lbs. 4oz. and was 20 in. long, and according to everyone she has met, she is perfect.

I waited till now to post the announcement, because I wanted Kathy to be the first. To read the whole story visit her blog, The World According To Snazzkat. There will also pics soon at The Jaimez Photoblog.

I AM NOT ALONE-YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking that I was the only Baptist interested in this emergent thing. I am so glad to find out that I in fact am not the only one. Yeah!!! The following link is to a blog portal of many SBC leaders who are in some way talking about the emergent church. I also found out today that Chris Seay pastor of Ecclessia in Houston, Texas is in fact a Southern Baptist. I would have never guessed. I reacently heard him speak on a feed from the Young Leaders Summit of the SBC. It was awesome!! The whole summit is worth listening to, so click on the link.

This is an important time in the life of the church, I'm just praying that God can use me somehow.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-Don't Touch those Squirles Nuts

WOW!!!!! We just got finished watching Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. It was GREEEEEAT.
I will say I liked the origanal better, its what I grew up on. this new on is good though. Jonny Depp is awesome, i am torn wether he or Wilder makes the better Wanka. I don't quite like the umpa lumpas in this one. Other than that Tim Burton is just a genious. I was worried that my son would not like it since the first one is one of his favorite movies, but he laughed all the way through. Oh yeah, the music is much better, unless you liked that I am one an acid trip stuff in the first one. I give it five stars, two thumbs way up, you gotta to go see it.

Why I am interested in the emergent church

It has been a little over a week since I posted last. Not that it really matters. I don't suppose that there are many people reading this blog, but just in case I will continue on.

I have been reading a lot about the emerging/postmodern church "conversation". It is very intriguing. I used to be in ministry in the American Baptist Churches and now attending a Southern Baptist Church. In between that, we (my wife & I) were involved with a new church start(split) that was going to be different. It wasn't at all. Different consisted of the pastor no longer wearing a tie. Different was having cell groups in homes instead of Sunday school. We had no facilities so we had no place to do Sunday school. Those cell groups never really worked. Oh yeah, instead of deacons (a biblical word and concept) we had a pastors council, you didn't nominate the members you approved the pastors selection. We also had no committees, the four letter word for that church. While efficient it placed all the ministry in the hands of a few individuals. Most of the church had no idea what was going on and were only told about the big things. This was suppose to foster a church were there was little infighting and dissenting on any level was really not allowed. If you didn't agree with what was going on it was as if you were against the very Spirit Of God. The end result was church that in a few cosmetic areas looked different, on the inside the church in my opinion, wasn't at all. It's very existence was reactionary to the church it was splitting from. The things that were changed were things that in some way had hurt those in leadership. To this day I still see lots of bitterness and unforgiveness a they continue to compare themselves with the other church.

What does that have to do with the emerging church conversation. I have always wondered is there a different way to do church. I don't mean change the message ( as some would do... that is scary) but change the method radically. One critique of the emerging church is that if it is the future of the church the church in 100 years will not look like the church. News flash the church of today looks nothing like the church of the 1st century. That should not be the issue. The issue is how can we honor God with our lives, and live in such a way that others come to know him.

Our churches are full of people who apathetic in faith, there is no real faith journey happening. They met God joined a church and are waiting for heaven on the other end. There lives are not lived for God. They are moral people, good people, but that is not living for God. God is not a God of the good moral code. Don't get me wrong we are suppose to be moral and good, but if we don't radically live our lives in God we have missed the point. What does that look like. I don't know, I know that if we were doing it there would be life and vitality in our churches that doesn't exist now.

I in no way exemplify what I am talking about. I fall far short of living this type of life, but it is the desire of my heart. Now, there maybe some who read this that go to the church that I attend now and may ask themselves do I feel the same about it? In some ways yes. That is not to say there are not good things happening. I am not naive to think that there is a perfect church or church method, that would be nice. Instead I am hopeful for a community experience
that is dynamic where all are involved in the life of the church and the gospel is preached and people enter the kingdom of God.

Is this emergent some may say yes, some will say no. I don't know if I even care. I will just pray and seek Gods face on the subject and see where He leads.

Disclaimer: I intentionally left the name of the churches I was involved with out of this post I did so to promote harmony with them. This post is my view of the past and do not mean to judge or discredit or harm those churches. I have forgiven them and hold no hard feelings toward them, I pray they feel the same.

A Day Of Premieres

For all you sci-fi fans tonight is the premiere of the new sci-fi Friday. Give three cheers to new episodes of my favorite shows on TV, Stargate SG1 and Battlestar Gallactica. I can't wait to see all the action, but it may not be tonight. Why, you may ask? Because there is a bigger premiere underway and that is the birth of our best friends new baby girl, Sophie. As I am typing this Kathy , or snazkat, is in labor. I am waiting for the news with the camera ready to take lots of pictures of the new little princesses.

VBS

I have been a little lax in posting because I have been working on VBS stuff. VBS starts tomorrow so I will probably not be able to post very much until Friday. I will try to keep the Quote of the Day current but that will be about all. See ya in a week.

You Might Be A Constitutionalist If…

As some of you might know I am a recovering Republican and have no love for the unconstitional two-party system. I have been considering joining the constitutional party (they are recognized in Kansas),and after reading Chuck Baldwins article "You Might Be A Constitutionalist If…" , you might also consider joining them.

I'm Yoda

I always liked that green little guy and he's good with a lightsaber.

Happy Forth Of July

Just writing to wish everyone a happy 4th. Since this is a holiday I won't go into my usual rants and ramblings about how our founding fathers would turn over in their graves to see our nation today. I will not go into how we need to throw off the constraints of an illegitimate 2 party system that's only purpose is to keep themselves in power. I will not point out that we have an out of control judiciary, and an executive branch ready, and now able to wage war on anyone and everyone. This is the 4th Of July and what I will do is wish everyone a happy and safe 4th, and pray that in fifty years the USA will be a place where there is freedom, liberty and justice for all

Where Will it Stop?

I was watching the news yesterday and let me tell you I could not believe my ears. It was on The Big Story w/ John Gibson, on the Fox News Channel. The story is about a man who is in the middle of a divorce and the presiding judge has ruled that he can not practice his religion in front of his son. Now, he is a wiccan, and the judge said that wicca is not a mainstream religion, that is why he made the ruling. Now, I know lots of people who in my circle who will think this is great. I am not one of them. Don't get me wrong I don't support wicca, it is a religion straight from hell. Here is the problem, if we start telling parents what religion is appropriate to raise your kids in, where will it stop. Are we living in the United States of America? More and more it is looking more like the USSR. The Patriot Act single handedly stripped us of many of our liberties and now they are working on a National ID card. Where are the conservatives, the real conservatives not these neo-cons who got us in the mess with Iraq. I know I am ranting, and getting off point.

If we begin interfering with the religious upbringing of children, where do we stop. I can tell you this; Christianity is next. Well, the Christianity that calls sin, sin. The Christianity that is not afraid to speak the truth in love. The Christianity that still believes in absolute truth and moral authority. Let me stop beeting around the bush, the Christianity that is opposed to the homosexual agenda. If we continue to remain silent our religious, political, & civil liberties will continue to stripped away given to the idols of national security and tolerance. It will be our children and grandchildren who will pay the price. I want my boys to grow up in a country were they are free to live how they want & to practice their faith without the government telling them how. Liberty is a very fragil commodity, and when you begin to toy around with it, you might just lose it.