Jesus Junk Award Nomination

Keep the hope Alive!

Helpful dump trip tips

My friend Dan recently had a traumatic trip to the dump. I would like my other friends to avoid such drama. The following tips are based specifically on my experiences with in the Riverside County Waste Management system. I assume other "dumps" might be similar but different.

Tip #1 - ALWAYS COVER YOUR LOAD. If you don't it might cost you $10. If you forget, follow one of the following recommendations. I've actually gone many times w/o and never paid.

Option 1 - Take the shirt off your back and "cover your load".
(This will work for a small load, if you're a big guy)

Option 2 - Ask if you can go through and turn around because you'll have to go home and get a tarp. Usually at this point they'll say... "ah don't worry about it this time". If they just say "yes", resist the urge to speed through in hopes that there will be a different attendant when you head out (This has only worked once, usually it doesn't. It just gets them really pissed!). If they say "yes" ... move to option three.

Option 3 - Sit and wait. Ask the person leaving the dump if you can use their tarp... just for a minute to go over the scales. Someone will help you. If not, you will quickly learn how many other people did not "cover their load". Then you can build a strong case against Riverside County for their discriminatory enforcement against pastors with beards (if you are a pastor with a beard), or again, it's just a matter of time before he or she will let you through with out paying "just this once".

Option 4 - Pay the $10 and try to be like Jesus... this is not worth your salvation.

Tip #2 "MIXED REFUGE" IS CHEAPER TO DUMP THAN "GREEN WASTE"
I don't know why this is. But it will save you big bucks if when you load up the truck with biodegradable lawn clippings and tree trimmings, you throw some never ever gonna decompose plastic trash on top.

Tip #3 GOTTA GET A STICKER
Standard Procedure is to weigh in and weigh out. Next time you weigh out get a tare weight sticker to put on the inside of your door. This will prevent you from having to stop on your "weigh" out in the future. My wife never really dug it but this sticker is a badge of honor in the circles I run with. I went ahead and got two!

Tip #4 NEVER EVER GO IN A RENTED BOX TRUCK
Can you say "terrorist who for sure has chemicals (or at least tires) in there"? While this is a great way to "cover your load", the one time I did this we had every dump attendant watching us unload. Even the guy in the tractor, stopped, got out of his rig, and stood there watching us. By the time we were done I was scared of myself.

Tip #5 AVOID THE OVERLY UPTIGHT COUNTY EMPLOYEES
Go to a "Waste Management" transfer point. "Waste Management" is the private company that contracts to drive the trash trucks here in Rancho Belago. They have these transfer points where all the trash trucks dump in this warehouse right on a concrete floor. The waste, then gets put into larger trucks which make the trips all the way to the dump. Some of these are open to the public. Their rates are the same and the employees are way less uptight.

Tip #6 DONT BE LATE - THOSE FEES WILL KILL YOU!
It really would be better for you to go over your minutes on your mobile phone.

TIP #7 BRING YOUR OWN ORANGE VEST.
I've never experienced the over-enforcement of this one, but technically, that's the requirement. If you forget yours, make sure to have 3 quarters because they cost 75 cents.

TIP #8 CASH or CHECK Baby
I think they take Debit cards now, but don't plan on paying with your Visa or MC.

For more Riv Co W.M. craziness go here.
Anyone else have some helpful dump tips?

A Fair(y) Use Tale

Information Should be free!?! Information Should be MORE free!?! Information should be held tightly by corporate giants? However you feel, this lengthy clip (9.5 minutes) is both educational and entertaining.

(ht to ysmarko)

Monster Pig?

I don't know if you've seen this...But I think there's some trickery involved in the photography? How far behind that pig is the 11 yr old standing? I know for sure he's not leaning on it like a first glance might suggest. Check out the tractor pulling it out of the woods for a photo with less perspective manipulation. Nevertheless that is a big pig. Truth or Fiction? What do you think?

For a real cultural eye opener check out the positive and negative comments! Be warned I wouldn't want my 11 yr old reading them.

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 05

This one is the best. Speaks to my life dreams and inner conflicts! If you haven't seen these you really should go to you tube and watch them all.

Devour Someboby Else... Not me

This was the main application point from our guest's sermon at church tonight. Pastor Ted delievered a whole message on avoiding the enemy. Point number two...steer clear of those false doctrines. Came home and saw this from Dan Kimball...

Which one is truth? Truth? Common? Sacred? Profane?

Can we at least put the pick ax away until we figure it out? I have good friends who might be described as "rampaging fundamentalists". I also have good friends that some might call "hyper-Calvinists". (see previous post) It makes it really hard to have a bithday party. The first group freaks out if you serve beer and the second group freaks out if you don't. Neither of them have enough grace for O'douls, not even the amber! What would it take for us all to hang out on the same rock and try to show the rest of the world Jesus?

Flawed Theological Quiz...Who is this guy?

I've taken the theology quiz twice now. It's amazing to me that just days after my post it ends up as a slice on Relevant. Because I disagreed with my own results, and because it pegged jdf perfectly, I did some research on the author. Here's how he describes himself...

Theologically, I have a background in happy-clappy charismatic circles though last year after lots of reflection I realised that that particular stream of Christianity wasn't for me, and I now attend a wonderful pomo-evangelical church in Longsight, Manchester. I don't have much time for rampaging fundamentalists, hyper-Calvinists, or people who have never bothered to think their faith through in any way. My favourite theologians are Karl Barth, Jürgen Moltmann, and Jose Comblin, and on the biblical side I'm a big fan of N T Wright, James Dunn, Richard Bauckham, and Richard Hays. I think Roman Catholics are still Christians, that the Emergents are not pure evil, and that the scriptures still have a lot to teach us. His name is Steve.

Don't tell my pastor

Here are my results from the theological worldview quiz. Check out the link at the bottom. How do you score? You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 86% Neo orthodox 64% Emergent/Postmodern 64% Fundamentalist 61% Charismatic/Pentecostal 57% Reformed Evangelical 57% Classical Liberal 36% Roman Catholic 25% Modern Liberal 21% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

I look like Orlando Bloom...only more sexy!

God of Wonders...

There is an interesting piece in TIME magazine titled Einstein & Faith. I don't think Al would appreciate me quoting him to support my belief in a loving good God who has a wonderful plan for my life. And I doubt he would agree with me when I invite others to "surrender their life to Jesus" or even when I suggest they "be more open to acknowledging Him and His Kingdom". I struggle with his fatalistic views and then I wonder what he would have thought if he was around today?

I think me and Einstein find common ground in what I would call the "Mystery of God" and I was inspired by this man's thoughts this morning;

"Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in fact, religious."

Me too Al, well said. As a student of theology, and a seeker of truth (as well as Truth), I find this even more applicable in trying to penetrate the secrets of not just nature, but the nature of God. This "veneration" drives my faith, my ministry, and my morality, but also challenges me to hold these things, especially the cultural applications of them, a little more loosely. Does that make me a scientist? Maybe only in the sense that I desire truth. Today I pray a prayer for all scientists.

May God Bless us, and allow us to discover truth... and (forgive me Al) may we be more open to Him and His Kingdom. Amen.

Me and Los writing about the same stuff...

So there's this guy, who leads worship at this church, that is way cooler than me. What do you mean the guy or the church? Yes...they're both way cooler than me.

But he wrote this...

And I wrote this...

Makes me feel way cool! But then says cool isn't important.

My Relevant Secret...

I have a confession to make. My name is Topher and I'm addicted to Relevant. Relevant Magazine (both online and in print) has got to be the coolest thing to come out of Christian sub culture in a long time. I know Cameron Strang (founder and CEO of Relevant Media Group) would be mildly disgusted that I just identified his fine culturally sensitive publishing as part of Christian sub culture, especially since this culture has rejected so much of what he's behind and doing (When Barnes and Noble wants to pick up your books before Berean you must be doing something right!). The whole organization brings up lots of thoughts and issues to me.

Why is our Christian subculture so censored and vanilla-ized (we try to make everything the same... and it's good, just a little boring, needs chocalate and nuts). Makes me think of my friend Paul who has self published two great books but has not yet found effective distribution, largely I believe, because our christian market is not quite ready for such frank material. He deals with sexual addiction in one book and then the false hope of prosperity teaching in the next. Great books, just plenty of room to offend some folks.

Another thought... Would Cameron Strang have been able to develop such a subversive "media group" if he was not a Strang? If this name is not ringing a bell to you, his dad Stephen is founder and CEO of Charisma magazine and ministry. I'm sure he would have. However, his success, at least in the christian market, has to be partly because of daddy's success, stability, and support. This flys right inline with what I believe is happening as older traditional churches begin to plant new and different churches. Why would a church be the financial backing and suppourt of a church they don't totally agree with? Because they know and believe in and even trust people like Cameron Strang. I want everybody I know to be a Cameron Strang. The bridges from this place to the next. You feelin me?

Back to my confession... Relevantmagazine.com is not only my hopepage, but I check the slices all day. The articles often become illustrations for sermons. And many of the user submittted pieces inspire me (maybe one day I'll be an author on relevant... tear tear). Since the relevant store is moving, I have totally depleted all my family's flex money. I just have to get more free stickers and CD's! What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good deal; and now I need a new book shelf.

All confessions aside, today I read this. Deals with many questions I catch myself asking. Hugely biased self serving opinion coming soon... These are the questions I hope to be discussing more and have already been discussing at book club. Are you ready for it... How do we teach our kids about faith? almost... Do we have to take them through this detour path we all seemed to go on or is there a way that's more direct? (I can already hear the comment of JDF praising the orthodox reformed ideas of a Presbytery) just a few more lines... Maybe we should keep our kids out of church and let them decide for themselves. WATCH OUT! That has got to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard of! Isn't giving our kids something, albeit full of faults and imperfections, better than nothing? Let's take our kids along side us on our journey. Let's allow them to go at least as far as we have. Let's allow them to see and experience our faith in a honest and joyful manner. And then... lets allow them to doubt and question. Let's give them good tools to process through these things. Let's allow them to have a "crisis of faith" while they are in our home and even in our church. Let's love them through it and in it and together, may we find Truth.

I think this is officially my second rant. Sorry it took me a while to get there but the pit stops were worthwhile. Thanks for coming this far. Peace.

Nailing YS to the cross.

Today I was at the local public middle school, doing bible study with about ten students. As I walked out, I saw one of the teachers, an alumni from my high school band, wearing a jacket from our cross town rival. "Why is she wearing green and orange?" I thought. And then I remembered, tonight is our regularly scheduled all together BIG youth ministry night at the church I serve. Earlier, I had decided to combine our group with the rest of the church for some "special meetings" we've been having all week. This is kind of an old school thing, and I had been second guessing my choice wondering if our students would be better off enjoying the regular more youth friendly "programming" we normally offer. My thought was... sending youth to listen to an old white haired guy in a suit is kinda like wearing a Poly High jacket when you graduated from Ramona.

Then I came back to the office to read my favorite wednesday afternoon updates. Marko, from YS, has posted a wonderful apology for ys' unintentional role in the overprogramming of youth ministry. While I totally respect Marko, and the entire organization, the whole idea that someone else brought this up angered me a bit. Do I have to throw away all my pre 1990 ys resources? (So you know, I am working on a not yet finished future post on what to do with your Ted Haggard books). Surely there is still plenty to glean from these dated resources. Asking one organization to take responsibility for the so called mistakes of youth ministry is alot like blaming the crucifixion of Jesus squarely on the shoulders of the Jews. Even for Marko to acknowledge ys' part in where youth ministry is today, and then apologize, seemed in a way, to take away from the good that was done. Perhaps God was working in that season, just like he is now. I throughly enjoyed the entry, and don't want my little soap boxing here to come across as a knock on Marko or YS . But maybe it would be good for each of us to own up to our own part of what has happened, instead of blaming others.

The whole thing reminded me how unsignificant programimg is. God used this to bring peace to my heart as I throw out our regualarly scheduled "programming" and ask students to experience worship in our "special meetings" tonight.

God forgive me for being a part of the mess both youth ministry and the church find themselves in. May I be an effective part of the solution. Thank you for the voices you have allowed to speak to me during the journey. May you use tonight as an unique oppurtunity to speak into the lives of our students. Amen.

May you find yourself joining your own prayers to the own I've made above. And may the Rams always rule over the Bears!

Can't... reach... my bag!

Tonight I'm going to sleep in Sacremento. Got off the plane and walked downstairs to see this.

A very interesting article...

http://www.ginkworld.net/yourvoice/on_theology/is%20it%20worth%20it.htm