I just have to say something real quick. I’m really glad that I don’t have a blog filled with comments like:

You’re right! Good blog!

I feel the same way. Great writing!

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Woot!

Read the rest of this entry »

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A letter to the future love of my life. My soul mate. My wife.

Honey, I try daily to show you how much I love you. I don’t ever want to become complacent in my efforts. You are one in a million and nothing short of a blessing. Thank you for everything you do. I love you.

Today is an important day. Today I take a stand. Today is the day that very well may go down in the book of man history. Today is the day that I tell you of the next major chapter of my life:

I’m installing a urinal in the bathroom.

Now, before you tell me I’m being impulsive and silly, I’d like you to read my preemptive rebuttal to your likely responses.

• It’s quick. Baby, as you know, my goal is to spend time with you. The less time I spend “going,” the more time I’ll have for you! The truth is, I’ve never enjoyed my bathroom time as much as I’ve enjoyed my quality time with you.
• It feeds my “man-ego.” I, along with every other man, have been given a gift from God - I can pee while standing up. I’m gonna let you in on a little secret - a guy will never feels as manly as he does while “going” on a tree. The urinal, though made of porcelain, almost acts as a “mock-tree.” A man’s place is outdoors. It’s where he feels most comfortable. This urinal, upon installation/use, will reconnect me with my true place of happiness. I, my beautiful wife, will be the man of all men when I install my wall-mounted testosterone bowl.
• It’ benefits you. No more leaving the toilet seat up! It’s easy to clean (for both of us). It’s space efficient. You have a happier husband. Really I’d say this is more for you than it is for me.

:-)
Anyone else ever wanted a urinal?

Have an awesome weekend!

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Continuing a trend I’ve seen on other blogs lately, I’d like to ask these two simple questions:

• If you could travel to any two places in the world, where would you go?
• If you could change two things about the world, what would you change?

I’ll answer later tonight.

Let’s hear it!

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…it seems like you’re just trying to convert people to your religion. Like they’re notches on some sort of spiritual belt. But they’re not. They’re people, they’re people that God loves. They’re people that Jesus wants us to love. They aren’t statistics, they aren’t numbers, they aren’t possible conversions. I mean, if I’m loving somebody with an agenda, then it really isn’t love, is it?

Before I continue, I’m well aware of the arguments I may be starting right now. Although I completely agree with the above quote, many Christians will disagree with it. They will tell me that unless I’m preaching hell/brimstone to a person then I’m not really loving them. They’d say that I’m allowing them to remain inflicted with a terminal disease and not offering them the cure. They’d say that it’s not true love if I’m allowing a person to remain “sick” and eventually die. They would be angry with me. “You have the antidote and you’re keeping it all to yourself.”

I disagree. I believe that it’s not my job to convert people. Anybody that spends 10 minutes talking to me or reading my posts will know where I stand/what I believe. I truly believe that this site would be failing if all I did was tell people that they’re going to hell - turn or burn! Get saved or microwave! Dumb.

I’m all about loving people, serving them, helping them and forming relationships with them. Typically, as a result of these actions, people will see the Jesus in me. That is my form of evangelism. That is how I contribute to society. Christians, if you think that’s not good enough…if you think I’m not doing my job as a Christ follower, that’s fine. I’ll answer to God one day just as you will.

In the quote above, the last sentence reads:

…if I’m loving somebody with an agenda, then it really isn’t love, is it?

So let’s hear it. Is it possible to love somebody if you’re trying to convert them? Is it possible to love somebody if you have a hidden agenda?

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Person A was woke up late this morning. He drove an average of 10mph over the speed limit in order to make it to work on time.

Person B murdered her parents last night.

Many people argue the case that sin is sin to God. They say that sin does not have a level of severity to God - it’s either sin or not. Person B is the same as Person A - a sinner.

For you nerds, think in binary terms - it’s either a 1 or a 0; on or off. Sin or not sin.

In our world today we put a degree on sin. Gluttony, breaking minor laws of the state and getting drunk aren’t considered nearly as evil as murder and rape.

Does God put a degree on sin? Is sin really sin in they eyes of God? If Adolph Hitler asked for forgiveness shortly before his death, could he really be forgiven and in Heaven just as easily as the next guy?

Let’s get this conversation rolling!

Invite a friend to participate. Let’s see what we come up with!

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I’m an idiot.

I love torture.

Self-mutilation is my middle name.

I am cursed.

I am a [tag]Detroit Lions[/tag] fan.

Two days ago the Detroit Lions were 2-0 in the [tag]NFL [/tag]preseason. As an avid reader of many local Detroit Lions web sites, I noticed an unusual optimism in the articles and comments across the web:

This team has my full support and i see a competitive season ahead

Well its an exciting day lions football is here and i will be in [tag]Ford Field[/tag] tonight baby

and the ever famous…

Go Lions!

The Lions drafted the #1 wide received in the draft during the off season. Many of their star players are finally healthy. After approx 40 years of suffering, could this finally be the season that every Detroit Lions fan is waiting for - the one that is finally the turning point of the franchise that takes of from annual loser to…well, competitors at least??

Enter the [tag]Indianapolis Colts[/tag]. Yesterday [tag]Peyton Manning[/tag] and his crew dismantled my Lions 37-10. This morning I paid my usual visit to some of my favorite Lions sites:

I’m going to burn all my lions gear.

I have been optimistic about the Lions all off-season, but that was pathetic.

This game wasn’t ugly, it was putrid. Putrid like maggots on roadkill on a hot summer day. Putrid like the worst game I’ve seen this team play in several years, and that includes the 2-14 and 3-13 seasons.

(each season for a Lions fan included 1-3 “worst game I’ve ever seen” comments)

I hate the fact that I love the Lions. I hate how pathetic it is that I watch every week.

Can I pause for a second to laugh? If you guys only knew the pain that comes along with being a Detroit Lions fan. I can relate to each of the above comments.

Ok, lemme end this mess. I find it so easy to be as hot/cold for [tag]God [/tag]as these people are for their Lions.

When things are going great - go God!

When things are sucking - why do I even bother…?

For me, it’s not a question of faith or sincerity - I believe and I’m serious about it.

I tend to take things out of God’s hands time after time. I feel certain that I can do things better myself, regardless of how many times I’ve failed in the past. It’s funny, if I look at the times I’ve allowed God to remain in control, the results speak for themselves. Though sometimes I fail to see how God was at work until much later, he’s never let me down.

I don’t want to be a fair-weather [tag]Christian[/tag]. I’m a firm believer that God’s plans for me are far better than any I can think of. I believe that he wants to teach me and grow me. I also believe that his way of thinking is far more advanced than my limited ways. Why is it that whenever things don’t go the way that little ol me planned that it’s so easy to think that God has turned his back on me……or just straight up doesn’t care?

Anybody else ever been a fair-weather fan?

Go Lions!

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Here is a list of ten things that I’ve learned over the past 2 weeks:

1. I refuse to live a life of [tag]regret[/tag]s. I will not live a life of fear. I’m taking chances. I’m going for it all!
2. Pursue your dream job. Don’t settle. Money does not equal happiness.
3. Pursue big things. One [tag]Christian [/tag]writer put it like this: Go after a dream that is destined to fail without [tag]divine intervention[/tag].
4. Allow your faith to be challenged. Allow yourself to grow.
5. Step out of your comfort zone. You’ll be surprised how much there is to enjoy/learn/contribute to.
6. Eating greasy food for a majority of your meals will eventually take a toll on your body.
7. If you miss a court date for a traffic violation, your license can be suspended.
8. There is no such thing as the “perfect time.” You’ll always think the sun will be shining “tomorrow.” Cease Seize [oops] the day. Act now. Go for it!
9. I lose 10-15 years of maturity when I step foot into [tag]Medieval Times[/tag] yet I don’t mind.
10. I love hosting [tag]FriendlyChristian.com[/tag]!

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I’m journeying through [tag]Hemant Mehta[/tag]’s [tag]I Sold My Soul on eBay[/tag]. I am going to take one or two points from each chapter that stand out to me and make comments.

Chapter 1, page 13 (emphasis mine):

[tag]New Testament[/tag] scholar (and atheist) [tag]Gerd Ludemann[/tag] delivered a speech at [tag]Middle Tennessee State University[/tag] a few years ago. He lectured on the “hoax of the Resurrection.” The vast majority of the student population strongly opposed his appearance on campus. Yet the students who ran the school newspaper defended the decision to invite Ludemann to speak. The newspaper’s editorial contended, “The reason we’re [in college] is to immerse ourselves in original, new ideas and subject ourselves to diverse arguments. Every student should attend at least one lecture that differs from his or her current beliefs; if those beliefs can’t stand under scrutiny, they aren’t worth believing.”

I loved typing that just as much as I loved reading it.

For years I’ve gone to church. For years I’ve sung the songs. For years I’ve lived under a rock with a big Christian fish on it.

Recently the rock was lifted. The heat has been turned up and reality is setting in.

Through this site (amongst other resources) my faith is challenged on a daily basis. If a Christian stumbled across this site, if it weren’t for the big “[tag]Friendly Christian[/tag]” banner, I doubt they’d figure it was run by a Christian! Maybe [tag]God [/tag]has me hosting this site just to open up my eyes. I don’t know.

I’ve noticed that I don’t get many [tag]Christian [/tag]commenters lately. If it weren’t for God’s Gal, Darla, myself, and a few others, FriendlyChristian.com would pretty much be dominated by Atheists. I wonder how many Christians want to comment…but don’t. I wonder if they feel intimated. It’s real easy to feel that way. I have to fight it daily! The truth is, though, this site challenges a Christian’s faith like crazy! If a Christian is looking to get their faith stroked and gently held, this prob isn’t the place for them to visit.

I, however, can’t stay in my bubble anymore. I refuse to. What good is it for me to surround myself with nothing but people who agree with me and tell me what a good Christian I am?

After all, if my [tag]faith [/tag]can’t stand under scrutiny, is it really worth believing?

Thoughts?

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Hi everyone - Bill kindly invited me to be a guest blogger here and this is my first post.

A bit about me: I’m almost an atheist; I was a Bible-believing Christian for about 17 years. In ‘real life’ I’m a stay-at-home Mom. Online I’m blog manager for Off The Map and I host the blog Conversation at the Edge for them.

Onto my question for today: I’m curious about how differently Christians and atheists (evidently) see the world. The other day Gods Gal was saying she can’t look at the world outside without seeing evidence of God. hoverfrog, writerdd and siamang responded that when they look at the world outside they don’t see God at all. (That conversation is in comments #49-#52 on What If…)

Why do we see things so differently?

• Do you think it’s because you’re open to what’s real, but those who see differently are too biased to see clearly the way you do?
• Do you think you’re smarter than those who see differently from you?
• Do you (if you believe in God) think people can only see evidence of God if he lets them see it - and that’s why some see it and some don’t?

Here’s the tricky part See if you can answer these questions without offending those who see differently from you.

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I’ve written about poor [tag]customer service[/tag] many times. For those who’ve never read, allow me a quick sec to sum up my thoughts:

If you don’t want to smile, be polite, and play your part, don’t work a job that requires customer service skills. I can’t stand the attitude of most people that work in customer service related jobs.

I could go on and on. It really burns me up when I get that “you don’t know me” or “how dare you come into my store” immature attitude. Three words for you, sport: get another job!

Last night I was fortunate enough to have a birthday dinner supported by a man who loved his job as a waiter…or so it seemed.

Is it just me or does anybody else prefer it when your server is a man? Not a boy, a man. This guy was polite. This guy was helpful. This guy was quick! He didn’t stop by our table every 2 minutes asking if we were “still working on that?” On the contrary, he wasn’t one of those servers who brings your food and you don’t see again until you get your bill. This guy has it figured out.

Every time I get this type of customer service, whether it’s at [tag]McDonalds[/tag], over the phone, or at a fancy restaurant, I always make sure to tell them how much I appreciated them. My speech typically goes something like this:

I just wanted to thank you for providing such awesome customer service tonight. It’s so rare nowadays to find somebody like you. Most people have that “I don’t care attitude.” The way you did things tonight is the way I feel it’s supposed to be. I just wanted to let you know that you’re doing an awesome job and that I definitely appreciated you tonight.

I hope to be similar to my waiter from last night. I hope to leave a lasting impression on people that I encounter. “Wow, what’s the deal with that guy?” “How is he so happy?” “When he asked me how I was doing, it seemed like he actually cared to hear my answer!”

Anyone have any stories of somebody going above and beyond and how it made the feel?

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