Religion

Posted on by Alan

[This was written by my son, Michael, for an English class assignment during his senior year in high school.]

I want to make a deal with you, the reader, before you read any of this paper. I want you to agree to keep an open mind while reading this. Assume that I have a chance of being right, that we are on common ground, and that, control your gasp, there might be more than science, and that science might be wrong! If you are ready to agree to this, keep reading. If not, stop now and walk away; don't waste your time.

My primary goal is to persuade you to believe. It doesn't matter what you believe in; I want you to believe. My secondary goal is to persuade you to believe in Christianity.

I will attempt to do this without quoting the Bible. It is hard not to, and some might say I need to, but I will try not for those who chose not to accept the bible as evidence. Continue reading “Religion”

And When You Have Turned Again

Posted on by Alan

Sermon Topics

On Wednesday I still hadn't settled on a subject for this week's sermon, and since I was hitting up Barry Duke for a potential ride to our 7:15 activities, I also figured I'd ask him if he had any suggestions for a sermon topic. Somehow in the text messages he thought I had requested one related to Satan…and so when he suggested a topic connected with the father of lies, I thought it a bit odd…but (as he and I agreed)…sometimes we don't put enough consideration into what our adversary is up to when it comes to the battles we face in life.

So…ignoring all the confusion and miscommunication that led up to it…this is Barry's sermon on Satan…although Wednesday night Barry then let me know he wasn't going to be here for it. 🙂

By the way, I humorously told him that I would say one of the Devil's minions suggested the subject :-), but after our conversation degraded to me standing up here dressed as the Saturday Night Live Church Lady…it was best to just leave it at me doing a sermon on the god of this world.

Screwtape Letters

Anybody here a fan of C.S. Lewis? Well, beyond books from the Narnia series?

Although I haven't read a ton of his stuff, my favorite Christian book outside the Bible itself his Mere Christianity. When I first read it I put those little page markers wherever I found a quote I wanted to share in the future on my blog, and by the time I was done there were so many is looked like the feathered wing of a bird. 🙂 I highly recommend it to everyone.

But, today's sermon is better suited for another one of his works titled The Screwtape Letters. It is one half of a fictional correspondence between two demons. One, Wormwood, is actively trying to lead a human to damnation, and the other his uncle, Screwtape…who pens the 31 missives with advice.

Continue reading “And When You Have Turned Again”

Was it a Bad Bird?

Posted on by Alan

In my last sermon I mentioned how social media options like Twitter and Facebook are great places to get topics for talks and articles, but there is one thing that definitely beats both hands-down…

The utterances and actions of a 4 year-old. 🙂

A couple weeks back I had a bunch of stuff to bring into the church, thus requiring a couple trips from my Nissan Cube. During the first one I had left the driver's door open, and when I returned to my car I was pleasantly surprised to find a little bird flying around near the dashboard. It's hard to explain how cute it was—kind of imagine the birds from Bambi flying around that famous deer when he was just a newborn fawn. (At this point I'll have to admit that I am not even sure if I've watched Bambi completely, so those cartoon birds might just be a figment of my imagination.)

The adorable bird, however, wasn't as enamored with its equal surprise at seeing me, and when I went to the other side of the car to let it out it took my absence from the open door to escape. Even though the feathered friend's visit was short, this little episode is my favorite one (so far) with nature during my stay here on the grounds of the Pleasant View Church (although there is also something to be said for the turkeys some mornings and deer some nights).

Naturally, having a story about a cute small bird would immediately make me want to share it with an equally cute small boy, and later that day I described the experience to Augie. He clearly enjoyed the tale, and at one point asked a very simple question. Continue reading “Was it a Bad Bird?”

Heaven...I'm in Heaven Facebook Post

Heaven…I’m In Heaven

Posted on by Alan

The Palazzo Las Vegas

If you preach quite a bit or write bulletin articles, one of the best inspirations for topics are things posted by those you have friended or have followed. I'm not saying that they are a better source of wisdom than the Bible itself—quite the opposite. However, it's amazing how a quick social-media blurb can quickly point you to Scripture for further research.

In this case, a couple weeks back a former coworker of mine checked into The Palazzo Las Vegas and posted this:

Heaven...I'm in Heaven Facebook Post

":)) Heaven… I'm in heaven" with a little heart at the end.

Well, I thought about it a bit…is The Palazzo Las Vegas really heaven? Checking out their web site, it does seem like they have a lot to commend themselves:

  • Based on the pictures the rooms seem opulent
  • There is plenty of entertainment with the Blue Man Show, Phantom of the Opera, Tim Allen, Frank Caliendo [cal-ee-end-o], Robert Davi, David Spade, Rita Rudner, and Joan Rivers. (Of course, if they had Celine Dion then she'd know she was checking into the opposite of heaven.)
  • They list 16 "fine dining" restaurants and 20 "casual dining"…along with in-suite and poolside options. Being someone who obviously likes food (based on my BMI), that does count for a lot…although I can't see how any location could really be heaven without a Del Taco. 🙂
  • They have two nightclubs and ten lounges.
  • And if that isn't enough they have Bags to Go, a pool deck, Azure Pool, gondola rides, the Canyon Ranch Spaclub, a floral shop, a bunch of shopping, Madame Tussauds, Golf, and Pink Jeep and Maverick sightseeing tours.
  • Oh, and let's not forget…gambling!!!

Quite impressive…and clearly heaven to my Facebook friend.

Continue reading “Heaven…I’m In Heaven”

You Prayed for What?!

Posted on by Alan

Have you ever seen a football game where the guy gets the ball and promptly runs to the wrong end zone? Or a basketball game where a player gets disoriented and sinks one in the opposition's basket? Although in some ways it's funny (as long as it wasn't an athlete on your team that made the faux pas) isn't it really more painful to watch than humorous? Well, assuming you aren't a really cruel person. 🙂

Oddly enough, this situation came to mind when I read a Scripture quoted in Hank Hanegraaff's book, Christianity in Crisis: The 21st Century. He used a different translation and didn't include the first verse and a half, but for the purposes of this article:

Two things I ask of you;
   deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
   give me neither poverty nor riches;
   feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
   and say, "Who is the Lord?"
or lest I be poor and steal
   and profane the name of my God (Proverbs 30:7-9, English Standard Version).

Now, I don't know about you…but when I pray for God's blessings I generally am a bit more ambitious than that…and Agur son of Jakeh's words seemed to be those of someone praying against himself. Sure, he didn't petition to be poor, but praying against riches? Seems like someone scoring for the other side…for his enemies who don't want him to be successful. Continue reading “You Prayed for What?!”

Two Trees and a Tomb

Posted on by Alan

Introductions

Before I begin my first sermon here at the Pleasant View Church of Christ, I figure it would be good to provide a quick introduction. I imagine most of you either have met me or are aware of me, but I am a recent transplant from New Hampshire…sent out ahead of my family, half of which will be joining me once my oldest son is off to college for his freshman year at UMASS Amherst.

I have a beautiful wife along with two daughters and two sons…ranging from the ages of 27 to 4. Yes, I got started early and had a surprise late. 🙂 But what a wonderful surprise it was! (Children are always a gift from God.) Hopefully you'll get to meet them all, but initially you'll only get to hang out with my wife, Michelle and Augie, a bouncy blond curly-haired and blue-eyed human who finds joy in the most simple things…and bestows joy to everyone who encounters him…

Continue reading “Two Trees and a Tomb”

How Soon We Forget

Posted on by Alan

It probably comes as no surprise that leaving my home of eight years in Antrim, New Hampshire has, to varying degrees, been emotionally painful. As a whole my mind is busy on other things, but when it is allowed to slow down (for instance, early in the morning or late in the evening) a certain level of depression and regret can set in. I've also found that even reflecting on inconsequential items back home in that small town can bring those feelings to the forefront. For example, this afternoon at work, as I thought about walking across our springtime-wet dirt driveway to the mailbox across the street, the sadness set in because, for all intents and purposes, I will never do that again. That existence is gone.

However, as I was driving home tonight, I also recalled how a few times snuggling with Augie I thought to myself, "If everything in my life went terrible from now on, this would be enough." Perhaps you've had similar experiences? The day your beau went on bended knee and asked you to marry him? The moment that you held your newborn child for the first time? The occasion where you finally completely escaped work, e-mail, and cell phone and napped on that exotic beach?

The time which you couldn't have asked to be more perfect…? Continue reading “How Soon We Forget”

“Whose Damsel is This?”

Posted on by Alan

The first time I visited a Half Price Books was last year in Arlington, Texas. Like Radio Shack, it's the kind of store I like to stop in whenever I see one, but generally I don't buy anything. It's not because there is nothing I'm interested in, quite the opposite. Instead, if I were to buy everything that caught my eye at a Half Price Books I'd soon be broke.

This past Saturday, however, I couldn't help but purchase a rather large Bible. First, the price was right—only $4.99. Of course, value is relative…$4.99 wouldn't actually be a great deal for some mass-market paperback versions. However, when it is "the only Bible of the twentieth century designed and illustrated by a single artist, renowned bookman Barry Moser" that includes 232 pieces of his artwork and is printed on "high opacity 50-pound Glatfelter paper" (with a Smyth-sewn binding)…well, then it is both a beauty to behold and a steal.

And now it's mine. 🙂 Continue reading ““Whose Damsel is This?””

The Gospel for Hair Bands

Posted on by Alan

I'm not entirely sure, but the first time I heard Europe's "Wish I Could Believe" was while listening to the Internet radio station XERS earlier this year. Having an ear for songs that speak to spiritual topics, this portion of the chorus caught my attention:

Cause I, wish I could believe in God
So I can move ahead
I know I can't believe in God
Time to move ahead

Now, I can't say that the rest of the song "fits" the transcendent searching of that refrain, but I think we can all appreciate the longing contained in "I wish I could believe in God."

And we Christians naturally wonder what is preventing the lyricist from believing in our Lord…and what exactly makes him so confident he can't? Continue reading “The Gospel for Hair Bands”

“I’m Sorry if I Offended You”

Posted on by Alan

Although there are myriad other reasons to be aggravated with politicians and government leaders, perhaps one of the most annoying is how they apologize. First, they are unlikely to actually admit they did anything wrong—for instance, they don't say, "I'm sorry I said something really stupid." Instead, they proffer an equivocation like, "I'm sorry if what I said offended you."

You are sorry if what you said offended me?! So, calling me a <fill in the uncivil word or phrase here> is not itself actually offensive or wrong?! Instead, I just took it wrong?! Continue reading ““I’m Sorry if I Offended You””

Three Strikes You’re In

Posted on by Alan

Growing up in Canaan, New Hampshire without a whole bunch of pocket change, baseball was something that entertained my friends and me because it didn't take more than a ball and a glove to enjoy it. Well, it generally was better if there were at least two gloves. 🙂

I suppose just like cricket in other countries, watching baseball is an acquired taste. Many, perhaps most, people find it a bit slow and boring…whereas I can still remember, with a bunch of my buddies, closely listening to a game on a portable AM radio (in our tent made out of black 30-gallon trash bags) as the Red Sox and Yankees went into extra innings. It was the antithesis of boring to us. (Bad news, the Yankees won that game. Good news, as we left the tents to go sneak around town in the middle of the night, we discovered a glow-in-the-dark fungus exists in New England.)

So, do you enjoy baseball? Hate it? Can put up with it, but won't tune into it on television if there are other options? Continue reading “Three Strikes You’re In”

This Means War!

Posted on by Alan

Has there ever been a time in your life where you woke up in the morning convinced you couldn't face the day? Perhaps a distressing situation at work that has gone on-and-on, and you can't take another minute of it? Perhaps the overwhelming grief of loss from the death of a person or of a relationship? Perhaps unbearable physical pain? Perhaps…

Whatever the reason, have you ever awoken one morning unable to countenance that day's battle?

If so, maybe you were lucky enough to have someone who could give you a pep talk—words that either let you see things weren't near as bad as they appeared…or at least let you see beyond that day to a better one.

And often there is nothing superior to a great pep talk to inspire you to fight on. Just imagine you were a foot soldier back in World War II. You had plenty of reason not to look forward to your future, whether bullets were going to be whizzing past your head that specific day or not. Plenty of reason to not want to climb out of bed any morning…assuming you were lucky enough to have actually slept in a bed the previous night. Continue reading “This Means War!”

3,000 Miles and the Tower of Babel

Posted on by Alan

This past weekend I was able to successfully take my wife's Nissan Cube on a 3,000 mile road trip from New Hampshire to California. Even during the dead of winter, the landscapes visible from a northern route on American interstates was amazing. Perhaps more remarkable, however, was the fact that over 72 hours I was able to drive 1/8th the circumference of the entire earth…and that was even taking time each night to get some sleep.

When I was young, our blue planet seemed so impossibly large…but after traveling across the country last weekend…and around the world other times…no location on our globe seems especially distant. Not necessarily close…but definitely attainable. The boy who so long ago grew up in Canaan, New Hampshire never imagined he'd drive or fly where his older, balder future version has. Continue reading “3,000 Miles and the Tower of Babel”

Traditores is Moving!

Posted on by Alan

Well, Traditores isn’t moving, but it’s main writer, Alan is.  Tonight he’ll climb in a car and start a 3-ish day journey to his new job in Pleasanton, California.

There won’t be anything there now, but if all goes as planned you can follow him across country by using Channel 03440 (Antrim, NH’s zip code) in:

http://gps.motionx.com/iphone/liveupdates/

Goodbye Antrim, hello Pleasanton!

 

Friends

Posted on by Alan

As I write this I have a track repeating over-and-over on iTunes. It is a reminder of many things, including the fact that I was once young. 🙂

The main voice is that of Michael W. Smith, and the other is of his good friend Amy Grant. If I remember a conversation with a more recent acquaintance of mine (of all things a friend I would not have if I hadn’t lost my job in early 2011), he actually helped Michael and Amy write the tune I am repetitively listening to.

I assume between the title of this article and what I’ve already written, many (if not most) of you can guess what song is playing through my speakers…”Friends” off (originally) Michael W. Smith’s Project album.

Friendship is on my mind, and although we can always talk about how “blood is thicker than water,” the reality is that Proverbs wisely says: Continue reading “Friends”