Part of a heated discussion I had with an older coworker today:

Upon finding out that I’m studying to become a Physician Assistant, my never-shy colleague interrupted: “I never see PAs. I’m paying good money for that visit and the last thing I want is some nurse or PA to diagnose me. If I get stuck with a PA I ALWAYS ask for the doctor.”

I was quick to respond: “Well, you might not have to worry about me ever seeing as there is a good chance that I’ll end up working overseas in some sort of [free?] missionary clinic.”

The next 15-20 minutes were dedicated to my coworker telling me that I’m wrong for wanting to work in a overseas missions clinic when there are plenty of needy people right here in the United States.

She wasn’t quite sure what to say when I challenged her with this: “Well, how about this: while you’re busy helping the needy in THIS country (intentionally calling her out for NOT), I’ll help another country. That way we’ll be doubly effective!”

“I’ve been to Mexico! I’ve seen the slums of Costa Rica! I’ve seen the world’s needs,” she pleaded. I couldn’t help but chuckle as her comments reminded me of the clearly racist person who says, “I’m not a racist! I gave a speech on MLK in the 6th grade!”

“The United States doesn’t care about [some poor country] because there is no financial gain us,” she continued to argue.

“Well,” I responded, “fortunately we aren’t limited to caring about only the things/places that the United States cares about. We are free to give our time and money to any cause we find worthy.

“We should help our own country first,” she commented.

“I disagree. What makes us more valuable than people in other countries? What makes my life more important than that of the person in Kenya?”

We finally agreed to disagree. I ended the conversation thanking her for her comments. Just as the embrace of our hug was released, she got the last word:

“You’re young. You just don’t understand politics or our world.”

I remained silent and smiled.

(also posted at the eBay atheist)

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Of course I love Jesus. I’m a Christian, it’s what I do, right?

Consider this quote:

When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You’ll drive for hours to be together, even if it’s only for a short while. You don’t mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, not annoying. You’ll willingly spend a small fortune on the one you’re crazy about. When you are apart from each other, it’s painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together.

This quote accurately describes the way I act towards a girl whom I love.

This quote does not accurately describe my relationship with Jesus like I wish it did. It’s my goal and prayer to never become stagnant in my pursuit of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ.

The quote is by Francis Chan and is from his book “Crazy Love.”

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The Nicaraguan church that we worked with had concrete floors, plastic lawn chairs for seating, oscillating fans as an a/c substitute, and a garden hose tied to a sink as a source of running water. 

As the worship band warmed up on stage before the Thursday night service, naturally, my expectations were low.

…

The worship band was, and I exaggerate not, louder than any concert that I’ve ever been to. Literally. I almost had to sit down a few times. 

The music was CRANKIN. I looked around…nobody was putting on a show. These people who had nothing were singing out to God…eyes closed…hands raised…giving thanks…praising…joyful.

I wonder what Mr. “church music should only consist of a piano and a hymn book that smells like moth balls” would have thought about this experience.

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I served the people of Nicaragua on a team of 22 individuals. We were an interesting group to say the least. Take all of our baggage and throw it into a barrel. Reach in and you might find…

• rape
• verbal abuse
• physical abuse
• abortion
• molestation
• homosexuality
• drug addition
• alcohol abuse
• abandonment
• divorce
• death of parents
• death of best friends
• anxiety
• depression
• promiscuity

It’s incredible how God can take a group of beat-down and busted-up nobodies and bring them together for the glory of his kingdom.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Believe it or not, there are people in the world who have significantly less “stuff” than we do. They don’t have an iPod, they don’t have a car, and they don’t have a pair of Crocs…

yet they are happy.

There is mud on their shoes. Their shower water is cold. Their “wardrobe” consists of 2 shirts and a pair of shorts. But it’s ok - all is good!

I’ve found that a lot of my “happiness” comes from my “stuff.” I like stuff. I like to have a lot of stuff. I like gadgets, gizmos, and doohickies. When I don’t have my stuff, I tend to be cranky.

I’d love to get to a place where I can be joyful regardless of circumstance.

PS - I turn 29 today. There’s not a whole lot of joy to be found in that :-/

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I feel bad for single pregnant Christian girls.

They know they screwed up. Now the result of their sin is on display for the world to see. 

And boy do we love to judge a pregnant Christian girl, don’t we.

Can you imagine if we had to wear our sins so the world could see us for who we really are? Maybe that would take the ol ego down a notch or two, huh?

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Edit: The poll wasn’t working. It should be fixed now.

It’s incredible how little about the bible that many (I include myself) Christians know. Prove me wrong:

RSS Readers: Click here to vote

I’ve been listening to Ray Vander Lann’s Follow The Rabbi teachings. He is a scholar in the Jewish faith and 

culture and speaks fluent Hebrew. The guy is a genius. His teachings blow my mind. He does something that I’m starting to believe that every Christian should do: he approaches the bible as an Easterner would, not a Westerner. It makes sense, right? The bible was written by Jews who lived in a Jewish (Eastern) culture.

Let me give you an example. In Matt 5:13, Jesus teaches:

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Typical Western intrepretation teaches that Christians are called to be salty: we preserve the gospel and we purify/fertilize the world, etc, right?

A Eastern/Hebraic translation would be much more interesting. Back in Jesus’ day, manure was burnt to heat ovens. Salt, when mixed with the manure, made the fire hotter, stronger, and longer-lasting. A Hebrew reads this scripture and understands Jesus’ teaching as this: I am calling out of your little believer bubble and telling you to go mix with the “manure” of the world (those who the world rejects).

Incredible, isn’t it? This isn’t even scratching the surface.

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I try to live a very simple Christian life: love God and love each other.

Yesterday I spent some time reading blogs authored by Christians whose sole purpose in writing is to tear down “Pastor so-and-so,” “denomination X,” and/or “church X.” The arguments were similar at each site:

• Their music is too [loud, modern, repetitive, instrumental, lively, etc].
• Their growth isn’t biblical.
• They focus too much on numbers.
• The pastor didn’t graduate from seminary.
• They spend their money wrong.
• They don’t respect God.
• They are a mockery of the faith.
• They put too much emphasis on X and not enough on Y.

I wonder if these people know that they’re modern day Pharisees.

I don’t want to love these jerks. I want to backhand them and tell them to get a life. I can be honest with ya, right?

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Many of the social groups who are trying to outlaw spanking your child are outspokenly pro-choice. 

So we can’t spank our kids but we can kill them?

Irony?

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I know a family who quickly introduces themselves as Christians whenever they can. This same family constantly has empty beer cans, liquor bottles, and cigarette boxes scattered all over their porch. I have a very hard time not judging them. Would you?

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