Thanksgiving

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(Psalms 51)

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Thanksgiving here was good, in that it brought our family together, but as with some family gatherings, there were it share of misgivings that put a damper on things. I'm just praying that I remain strong through this attack on our family unity. I praise God that He is with Mary and me  through this time. I pray for peace.

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 11:21 Working short term today. Today is only an 8 hour day. I'm tired. No Caffeine available. #
• 16:09 Just cleaning a few things up. will be out the door shortly. #
• 17:44 We are kicking back. The food is almost done. #
• 17:45 The rest of the family will be here shortly. #

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It seems like a lot going on

Today, while it was a day off, seemed to have a lot happening. It started around 1 pm when Brandon came home, rather unexpectedly, and said that despite getting clearances to work for the Mountain, there was a hold on him working there from personnel.

That leads into the second thing. Brandon had been paying the truck payment when he lost his job. We have no margin in our finances right now, because our renter didn't have a job until recently, and hadn't been able to pay their rent the last couple of months. They are now planning to move out in another week. Oh yeah, the truck, so I get a call from the credit union about the payment. Luckily, the bank person told me that if we pay $50 we will be out of being 30 days overdue.

Mary came home around 4 pm and we got dinner started with Ben, Trisha, and Boys coming over. I  made spaghetti. It was a good time, but then we had a long talk with Brandon, he's not sure that the hold will come off of his job at the mountain.

So we are now praying and holding down the fort. Things seem to happen just when they need to, but it does make for busy time.

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:05 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6888ja #
• 08:56 This is going to be a busy day. Snow moving in and the snow is a little heavier. #
• 18:56 I'm at home now. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:05 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5ek7ve #
• 06:57 Awake! #
• 08:25 Long term again. I slept well, but I still am a little on the tired side this morning. #
• 10:05 The guys are looking at the obs in far northern Canada. I think it is to drive the blues away. They don't like our early winter start. #
• 10:36 Ministry & Meteo?: This wouldn't fit on Twitter tinyurl.com/6roq9v #
• 12:52 Okay, I need to concentrate on the forecast for Monday through Wednesday. Having a hard time concentrating today. #
• 16:57 Logging out of the workstation. Time to go home. #
• 21:01 At home with the family. Mary is having a slugfest with Word Press as she creates another website. #

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This wouldn't fit on Twitter

I have a Google gadget on my iGoogle page that daily gives me C. S. Lewis quotes. Sometimes if I like them I twitter them. In this case it is too big to fit the 140 characters. Here it is:

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. -C. S. Lewis

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:05 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6bw37x #
• 08:45 Back at it again. On the long term desk. The weather should be much quieter today. #
• 12:20 I'm starting to drag after having worked last night. More caffeine is required. #
• 17:31 Day is done. I'm at Walmart now, picking up stuff. #
• 18:03 Leaving Walmart. #
• 22:11 A quiet night at home. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 01:05 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6oxhdf #
• 14:18 Lake effect snow is still plaguing us. Although it looks to be winding down for now. #
• 15:16 Another tough forecast. The start of the snow season still. #
• 16:25 Phew...another forecast done. Now I only have 5.5 hours until I leave. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 11:50 Just west of us, it's snowing HARD. The snow band is moving inland as the wind is shifting. #
• 12:17 I'm working the long term desk and just got out of a Tech webinar. WOW! There are some neat things people have come up with for our web page #
• 13:30 More snow in the offing, Although there will be a few breaks. #
• 15:49 ping.fm/p/FzLpP - Heavy Snow #
• 16:50 Phew! the day is winding down. The first snow storm for me to forecast for the season. Always a little rusty on the first one. #
• 17:03 Time to go mobile! #
• 18:34 Got home. Then off to Bay Harbor for dinner. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:06 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6mrwum #
• 08:17 Back in at work on an Admin shift. #
• 13:38 Just got out of a webinar about some chat software. Next up, Training session for winter weather. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 01:35 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/57qwgl #
• 08:36 Starting my morning ritual. I'm waiting for Itunes to finish downloading the NBC Nightly News. Itunes got turned off last night. #
• 09:32 A Peculiar Prophet: Church of the Second Chance: Empowering A New Generation of United Methodist Leaders (ping.fm/0oe6N) #
• 16:36 ping.fm/p/PC5vs - Testing Ping.fm with Mia #
• 19:35 Mary and I are both surfing next to each other. She is looking for inexpensive things for the gkids. #
• 21:33 Mary and I are still surfing. #
• 22:06 I'm stopping. Will read and sleep. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 08:33 Just found out that pictures I Ping in from my phone can go to Flickr and Facebook! #
• 10:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Vote for Mary! tinyurl.com/62e7zs #
• 12:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Tyra 'shocked' by risky teen sex tinyurl.com/5d3tvq #

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Tyra ‘shocked’ by risky teen sex

Tyra ‘shocked’ by risky teen sex - Parenting & Family - TODAYshow.com

I guess Tyra doesn't get out much. While I don't doubt some of the information, this survey is skewed by who goes and takes it. It doesn't have any scientific validity, so I question the statistics.

But when some of girls surveyed came onto her show and described their sexual activities, “I was shocked again,” she added. "I don’t think they were trying to be sensational. I really do believe that they were telling the truth.”

Well, some of them may be telling the truth, but knowing that people fake stuff just to get on Jerry Springer, then I think that Tyra is really naive.

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Vote for Mary!

Mary's Wii vote link

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 09:58 Up and showered. waiting for the family for church. #
• 10:54 We turned around this morning. US-131 was a mess. #
• 11:25 Wow! big huge snow flakes outside right now. #
• 11:30 Watching the snow fall. 15s.viddler.com/jslutz/e14ac432/ #
• 11:32 Watching the snow fall. ping.fm/vyOjN #
• 13:53 Feeling blah. Maybe nap. #
• 21:10 Amazing! Pittsburgh squeaked one out against the Bolts! and PSU trounced IU #
• 22:24 I'm working on a post. #
• 22:49 Post done. Twitterfeed should be updating my twiter stream soon. #
• 23:06 Ministry & Meteo?: A response about stem cells and legalization of marijuana tinyurl.com/6pwer3 #

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A response about stem cells and legalization of marijuana

My Bro-in-law asked some questions on my wife's blog the other day. I'm going to try to answer some of these bit by bit as I have time.

Stem cell research is a hot button for sure. What about unused in vitro embryos? A great many would be destroyed anyway. Is that destruction as abhorrent to you as stem cell research? I'm kind of agnostic on the stem cell issue, so I'm not baiting you here, just curious (this goes for you, too, Jeff).

As a first point as I have learned more about in vitro the more I am against it. Simply because of the reason you state. Although, the extra embryos don't have to be discarded. There have been successful adoptions of the "snowflake babies." I feel that it is under utilized. I feel for people that want a baby, but I would much rather see children adopted than the use of in vitro. I put my feelings out about the stem cell issue in a previous post.

Next he asks,

"Also, you reference statistics that indicate increases in violent crime being linked to medicinal marijuana legalization. This doesn't jive with my experiences living in one of the states that passed medicinal marijuana laws. I'd love to read your source, if you've got it handy."

To be up front about the vote, I voted for the medical marijuana prop. One of the local politicians who was against it said that we can't keep other drugs from being abused so we shouldn't do it with this. I think that's an awful answer. With that logic, we should get rid of most of our prescription drugs.

Mary said that she had a big post in response, but the post was lost in the transfer. She got her statistics the Michigan Family forum voter's guide. I had to dig out the cached version to find the pdf. I have to say that one point is from anecdotal evidence. Which is that it leads to more crime. I saw an article from the LA Times prior to the election that would imply that, part of which was letting people grow their own, and when word gets out then people begin breaking into homes looking for it. To me that is anecdotal evidence, if the state regulates it strictly, then you just have to worry about prescription abuse. Here is one quote from the forum about "pot shops" in malls:

Proposal 1 allows one person to grow and provide marijuana for people “in an enclosed, locked facility.” Pot shops in strip malls are a reality in California and a dangerous possibility in Michigan under Proposal 1. There are more than 400 pot shops in Los Angeles. Where located, information shows a rise in serious crimes such as robberies, burglaries and aggravated assaults has followed.

That will have to be monitored and regulated by the legislature or by proposition. They were a little low on siting statistics to research, so I can't vouch for the veracity of them.

But like I said, I voted for it, on the grounds that if it is a drug that helps and it can be regulated, then there shouldn't be a block on the medicinal use.

I'll try to do some more tomorrow. I have a couple more days off coming up.

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 23:35 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6ymk2x #
• 10:43 Family is slow to wake up this morning. I just got up, and was followed by Karlie, and then Mary. #
• 11:47 A minor catastrophe, an ink pen open in the dryer with Mary's and my clothes. #
• 13:06 Ministry & Meteo?: Day-by-Day Cartoon from 11/15/2008 tinyurl.com/5brj2b #
• 13:06 Ministry & Meteo?: tinyurl.com/56hjk8 #
• 15:06 Ministry & Meteo?: Students say the darnedest things tinyurl.com/5gxol9 #
• 15:36 Ministry & Meteo?: The Pro-Life Obama Voters: What Do They Want? tinyurl.com/6hby9v #
• 15:46 Finished clearing out my RSS reader. Wrote a few posts which are trickling onto my Twitter feed. #
• 18:35 Ministry & Meteo?: WAHM Blog Contest tinyurl.com/5gx868 #
• 21:12 Mary and I are chillin' #
• 21:57 I'm trying out this service. 15s.viddler.com/jslutz/bb2417fd/ #
• 22:04 I tried a service on viddler.com that lets you record 15 s of video to put the link on twitter. #

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The Pro-Life Obama Voters: What Do They Want?

My brother-in-law pointed me to site on his twitter feed the night of the election, or somewhere around there, about this. It was about a pro-lifers who support Obama. Then Scot McKnight posted a link to this beliefnet.org article on his Jesus Creed.org This was the breakdown of the statistics.

So what do they [Obama pro-lifers] believe? They are fundamentally different from McCain Pro Lifers because they simply don't believe that criminalizing abortion is the most effective means of reducing the numbers.

Here's the key:
11% believe the best way to reduce the number of abortions is through legal restrictions
87% believe the best way is "by preventing unintended pregnancies (through education and birth control) or providing financial assistance to pregnant mothers."

Just as surprising, is that a third of McCain pro-lifers, and 42% of McCain voters, agreed that the second approach was more effective.

The Pro-Life Obama Voters: What Do They Want? - Steven Waldman

I have stated (maybe not on the blog) that I could vote for someone even if they don't want to reverse Roe v.Wade, if they have good plans to do the "preventing unintended pregnancies (through education and birth control) or providing financial assistance to pregnant mothers." However, I didn't see enough proof of that from Obama, and a few other things. I didn't vote for McCain for the same reason I didn't for Bush Sr. v Clinton (I voted for Clinton.), no vision and a disorganized campaign.

I really would like a two pronged attack on abortion. It would be both of these options. Surprisingly to most, I came to my beliefs about abortion through my science roots. The fact that I oppose all life ending things (death penalty, abortion, euthanasia, etc.) comes from my faith as well. I look at life starting from conception and ending any life should have legal consequences. However, I think that before we can get to that point we need to look at how we defend the weak and oppressed. I think that there are better ways than to terminate a pregnancy when one comes along. I think that a child should be looked at as a blessing, whether that blessing is meant for the mother, or possibly to another if she carries it to full term.

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Students say the darnedest things

This site is hilarious. Some youth workers put the statements of some of their youth on the site.

Students say the darnedest things.

HT: Youth Specialties blog

Day-by-Day Cartoon from 11/15/2008

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 23:36 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6bbfog #
• 00:16 Getting ready to leave now. Just cleaning Things up. #
• 01:00 Just got home. I'm hungry. #
• 12:06 Retweet Weekend wx: Update 14-16 November 2008: I promised updates to the forecast. Now.. tinyurl.com/5oruzb #
• 12:59 My phone is acting funny. Kind of like Mary's just before it died. #
• 14:48 Got through my news feeds and twitter posts and Facebook things. Wow! I wish my laptop would recharge faster. #
• 18:46 We are at Karlie's play. Mary was here last night too. #
• 19:06 The play is starting. #
• 21:21 Back from the play. Karlie did great! #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6qmuzd #
• 00:17 Going home. #
• 02:36 Retweet Weekend wx: 14-16 November 2008 Forecast: If you looked at the previous post, t.. tinyurl.com/6ontp8 #
• 13:18 Have to go in early today. Am scrambling to get things done. #
• 14:40 Into work early doing a lake effect snow training simulation. #
• 19:35 I'm going to try a test with Ping.fm and SpinVox. #
• 19:55 ping.fm/v/Vm1z9 - "This is a test for Pane Data FM for my social network." #
• 20:02 I used SpinVox to do voice to text for my social networks. It is going to have some problems, but it's not too bad. #
• 20:54 Uncorrelated shear is this time of year needs to be turned off. Tornadoes just don't spin up in a stable/stratus rain pattern. #
• 21:35 This is my last evening. I get a good break over the next few days. Praise God! There is so much that I need to do at the house. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 23:40 Listening to Imago Dei Community sermon. They had a guest preacher on 11/2, Gary Haugen, director of International Justice Mission. #
• 23:51 Time to sign out, and prepare to go home. #
• 00:06 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6m4e6v #
• 01:36 Retweet Weekend wx: Preview of 14-16 November 2008: If you are hoping for tracking snow.. tinyurl.com/6a8o6t #
• 02:06 Ministry & Meteo?: Advent Conspiracy for this year... tinyurl.com/5c6b4d #
• 13:14 Workng through my routine and make food. #
• 16:36 Since the time change the beginning of each shift is so much busier as some products are due a lot earlier. #
• 20:38 Balloon went well, although it popped below 30 km. Boo! With the rain over the region, the forecast is falling into place. #
• 20:42 my Twitterank is 20.12! twitterank.com/?u=jslutz #

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Advent Conspiracy for this year...

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 23:45 15 minutes and counting. #
• 00:11 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/3kmyne #
• 14:16 After getting up around 1130a, I have been getting caught up on mine normal morning routine. Am about to leave for work. #
• 15:09 I just paid less than $35 to fill the car! #
• 18:37 Got the TAFs and AFD out. Not too much left, but the update of the grids. #
• 21:23 I just joined Socialmedian.com it is news stories meets social media. Kind of like Digg.com, but there are some differences. #
• 23:40 Listening to Imago Dei Community sermon. They had a guest preacher on 11/2, Gary Haugen, director of International Justice Mission. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 02:09 Ministry & Meteo?: I would like to rant... tinyurl.com/5n6t5f #
• 02:09 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6k8v2g #
• 08:26 We got some more snow, but not as much as near Gaylord. #
• 21:09 I have been working since 3 pm. I almost forgot to update my status. #
• 23:31 Just a half an hour. I'm tired tonight. Not sure why. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 07:52 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5pjfob #
• 12:16 A white morning. We had snow! Church was great. #
• 13:43 We are making lunch. #
• 16:08 Ministry & Meteo?: Band Name meme tinyurl.com/6boorn #
• 18:15 We had a great meal. We are really starting to get into crock pot cooking. #
• 18:55 The Steelers game is going great. I wasn't sure how they would do against the colts. #
• 19:17 Boo! The Steelers lost. #
• 19:38 I just saw that PSU you lost to Iowa. Double Boo! Oh well, it was a great weekend of ministry. #
• 22:25 Doing justice and showing mercy, are from my Methodist roots. I do this because of the risen Christ. #

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I would like to rant...

however, I can't. There have been some things that go on with youth pastors and churches that I can't elaborate on at this point. Part of the problem is that I have a heart for the hurting youth pastors, who have been used and abused by churches. I once attended a NYWC in Pittsburgh in 2002. There I saw a seminar entitled "The Church has Fangs," or how some churches don't always act very Christian-like, with Len Evans. My church at the moment is pretty good. We have some typical things, but most of those things seem to have smoothed out as grace has been applied. I need to remember that grace when I get angry about situations where the church has shown its fangs.

Since that seminar, and then later during a guided prayer session in Dallas (2004) at another NYWC, I saw youth workers crying and in my heart, I felt God whispering in my spirit of me being a pastor/spiritual director to youth pastors. In the meantime, I read everything about youth ministry. I talk to kids. I look for ways to speak into their lives. In short as "Tiger" McLuen once said, "Be a Bob." (I won't tell the whole story, but it has to do with building a relationship with kids.)

This has taken my faith into radically new directions at times as I question what the Christian church really wants.

I question those that think that their buildings are more important than their kids.

I question those that don't look at the youth as worth the effort. They question why the need for a youth program.

I question those that seem to stay in their comfortable country club and think that their tradition is the only correct theology. There is a difference, and I have to constantly go back to God to question whether I am letting that interfere with my relationship with Christ.

That last one was a poke at some denominationalism that I have run into as of late.

I like to think that when I get mad at a church that it is a holy anger. I'm just not sure that I always channel it constructively like Christ did when He healed on the sabbath in the book of Mark.

On a twitter post I said something about the Republican party hijacked Christianity. I don't agree with the Republican party because they have some unholy planks that most ignore. The Democrats are no different. I look for who agrees most with me.

Instead of spreading the wealth that Obama would like, if Christians were just generous to the poor and oppressed, Show mercy and do Justice, their wouldn't be a need to spread the wealth.

While I agree with a couple of big issues that the political parties talk about, most ignore the mercy and justice that needs to be done at their own home.

I wrestle with these things.

Someday, I'll write what I am trying to not rant about, but it is too soon for the things to have happened, and I can't even speak in generalities at this point without tipping my hand.

However, as I think about it, all of this has to do with pride, and being self centered. I admit that I struggle with that. I know that I am not always right.

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Band Name meme

I voted today (wearing shorts!!!)
Originally uploaded by Olive Talique.

I saw this on ysmarko's blog.

1. band name comes from a Random wikipedia entry
2. latest album title comes from the last four words of the first quote on the random quote generator page.
3. album art - taken from the interesting photos page of Flickr

So here is what I came up with:

Band name: Kiev Opera
Album: Hold of the Hammer
Album art see right -->

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 04:09 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/6z495p #
• 04:09 Retweet Weekend wx: : Update 7-9 november 2008A quick update as the low a cold air is a.. tinyurl.com/6422z3 #
• 06:16 Up way to early after the late night. #
• 07:55 We're eating at the church. #
• 12:09 another good but busy day. The speakers have been awesome! #
• 12:13 ping.fm/p/WjXcb - We are all dominoes. #
• 12:21 Johnny V. is rocking the house. #
• 14:57 ping.fm/p/iCyOF - Downfront at Chosen #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:08 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5lqv97 #
• 13:30 We are getting the Chosen youth conference ready. #
• 13:37 Things are a little chaotic, but rolling along. #
• 14:51 Coordinators meeting! #
• 14:52 Counting down. A little over 4 hours until the start. #
• 15:14 I must be important. I get a radio. #
• 21:59 Been Busy with the conference. Things are going great. #
• 22:01 Sevenglory is on stage. #
• 22:58 A great day. We think we are around 900 teens and adults! Praise God! #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:08 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5rm4ct #
• 07:08 Retweet Weekend wx: 7-9 November 2008 Forecast: Well, there is good news and bad news. .. tinyurl.com/6b4kyp #
• 08:17 Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one. - C. S. Lewis #
• 08:19 At work on an admin shift. I have a meeting in St. Ignace most of the day. Wildland Fire Protection association meeting. #
• 22:01 Mary and I are chillin'. She got her replacement phone. Yea! #
• 23:03 Going to bed. We have the Chosen youth conference tomorrow and Saturday. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/58vhnf #
• 09:27 "internetmonk.com » Blog Archive » Bob is Angry on Election Day," or The difference between a Christian Warrior and a Christian Disciple ... #
• 09:30 The difference between a Christian warrior and a Christian disciple (ping.fm/3IoHo) #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:08 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5l2f5j #
• 11:08 Ministry & Meteo?: I love elections! tinyurl.com/6ox76o #
• 11:39 Ministry & Meteo?: Vote today!!! tinyurl.com/5wahgj #
• 16:27 I voted this morning. I want you al to get out and vote. #
• 16:55 Just testing my Ping.fm. I didn't get a status change on Facebook. #
• 17:02 I got the leaves raked, the floor vacuumed, and am awaiting for the roast to finish. #
• 17:07 I am soooooooooo hungry!!!!! #
• 17:37 Ministry & Meteo?: My Guilty pleasure starts soon! tinyurl.com/6pgbho #
• 19:08 Ministry & Meteo?: How I view the embryonic stem cell debate tinyurl.com/5pfvnx #
• 19:18 We are stretching the router's range. Maybe I can get the range extender to work. #
• 19:26 I'm hoping that the range extender is working. #
• 20:21 Well, I kinda got the range extender working. #
• 20:40 The election is going as I figured so far. I didn't vote for Obama or McCain. With all of the negative stuff, voted third party. #
• 22:25 So far I am one of 22 who voted libertarian in the 105th state House. I couldn't stand the state house people either. #
• 22:29 No, I didn't vote for Bob Barr. #
• 22:36 I'm watching Fox, because Michael Barone is great at slicing and dicing and is one of the few that calls it down the middle. #
• 22:37 Retweet Weekend wx: Preview of 7-9 November 2008: Well, the snow that looked likely a c.. tinyurl.com/5j3x35 #

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How I view the embryonic stem cell debate

Those who know me know that I like science fiction. That's why I am reminded of this episode of Babylon 5. It's called "Deathwalker." The main idea is that a wanted war criminal walks onto the station and has the secret to immortality. Besides being wanted for war crimes by several species, it is found out that to make one vial of serum, and you have to kill another being. Some want to get their hands on it, but as the character and her vial of serum is transported, a very ancient race steps in and destroys it all saying, that we aren't ready for immortality. I look at the embryonic stem cells research in the same vein, what right do we have to pull apart any sentient being for us to gain immortality.

My Guilty pleasure starts soon!

Vote today!!!

I love elections!

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 00:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5puhrl #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 17:40 We are at the Church for the Annual Banquet. Lots of good food on tap. #
• 17:41 Mary's phone is broken. She has been using mine. I miss my phone. #
• 22:05 I'm tired and restless. I need to chill a bit. #

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Twitter posts of the day!

Here's the summary of my day:

• 23:37 Ministry & Meteo?: Twitter posts of the day! tinyurl.com/5zvdbf #
• 23:55 5 minutes to go. Closing my browser and packing up. Yea!! Several days off! #
• 13:13 I'm now awake. I have 4 days off. We are working on our budget. Hopefully, we don't lose the truck. #
• 19:23 Well, we have a plan for our finances. I think that the bank will let us keep the truck. #
• 19:54 Okay, time to sort our file cabinet. #
• 21:05 The filing is done. This helps with our spending plan. #
• 21:38 Retweet Weekend wx: Another early Preview of 7-9 November 2008: I know that it isn't an.. tinyurl.com/5uazeg #
• 22:07 Ministry & Meteo?: The Canaries in the Mine tinyurl.com/5hkh6s #
• 22:37 Ministry & Meteo?: evangelical teenagers and sex tinyurl.com/6kdmxw #
• 22:37 Ministry & Meteo?: An Extended Youth tinyurl.com/6xh57q #
• 23:07 Ministry & Meteo?: Theosis -- according to John Wesley tinyurl.com/5gw6s6 #

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Theosis -- according to John Wesley

I commented on Pastor Brian Zahnd's blog recently when he talked about a reformation. I agreed with him. I have been looking at the fact that those who want to be othrodox don't always do anything after the initial salvation.

Here's a great quote:

"Revivalist altar calls have given too many people the impression that anything beyond initial conversion is optional."

As one commenter said on his blog was that there are people from all denominations trying to put the orthodox and the othropraxis. In this case, the article comes from Christianity Today via the UMC Reporter's Blog.

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An Extended Youth

This is an interesting article which I'm not sure what to do with. If this is the case, then the church has some serious work to do in training up its leaders, or place more emphasis on "youth ministry."

The youth market has always been defined as tweens, teens, and sometimes college students, but Viacom's recent "Golden Age of Youth" study reveals that marketers should begin including the 25-34 age group as part of their youth target. Call it the Peter Pan syndrome if you will, but the survey found that contemporary twentysomethings prolong their youth and delay "the onset of adult responsibilities and stay emotionally and physically younger for longer."
Why do you think the "youth market" has expanded? Boomeranging millennials moving back home? Youth culture as pop culture? What's behind this alleged case of arrested development?

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HT: ypulse.com

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evangelical teenagers and sex

The hat tip goes to ysmarko with this. Although, I read the article from the youth marketing site called Ypulse. It brings about a good point that behavior doesn't always follow attitude, especially with teens.

interesting article in the new yorker about evangelical teenagers and sex. important reading for youth workers (and parents).

here’s an extremely key sentence:

Regnerus argues that religion is a good indicator of attitudes toward sex, but a poor one of sexual behavior, and that this gap is especially wide among teen-agers who identify themselves as evangelical.

(ht to ypulse)

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The Canaries in the Mine

I get tired of the Cellphone is a health hazard meme. This article from the Amatuer Radio Relay League points out some great information.

Amateur Radio is more than 100 years old. At one time, hams were virtually the only people in the world exposed to RF signals. As time progressed and radio communications technology has been developed and proven -- largely by radio amateurs -- its use was made available to the masses and the number of RF signals in the air greatly increased. This has reached a zenith today, with a majority of people walking around with RF transmitters in the form of cellular telephones.

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