Biblio-meme

Ok, so usually I don't get too into memes. They're typically annoying, in that, they make me think way too much. But I ran across this book-themed meme (rhymes!) posted by Chantell on Ninety and Nine, and thought it might be fun to pick through some books I've loved and hated. Besides, it's been a while since I've posted.

Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life: A Call To Die - David Nasser: A 40 day journey composed to teach you to die to yourself and seek the mind of Christ. I've only successfully completed the book once, but I attempted it 2 other times. Proceed with caution!

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli: A touching story about an orphaned boy who returns a town near where his parents lived. The town is seperated by intense racism, but "Maniac" is innocently blind to the feuding. His actions help each side (the town is literally separated down the middle) a little closer to understanding one another. I first read this book in the 5th grade, and read it more than 15 times through Middle School. Then I read it one more time in High School. I'll probably go back and read it again now. It's a book every kid should try and read, especially if he/she lives in an area affected by racism (from any ethnicity).

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Bible - "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (Proverbs 3:9-10). As long as I can build a make-shift barn, I should be good.



4. One book that made you laugh: The Calvin and Hobbs Treasury. No other comic strip has ever been more honest and insightful into the life of a 6 year old boy.

5. One book that made you cry: Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls: Still cry every time I read it....only a little though. No boy should have to bury his dog and watch another one suffer from grief.

6. One book that you wish had been written: Every Answer You've Ever Needed, Spelled Out Perfectly: Vol 1-100 - God

8. One book you’re currently reading: And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie: There's actually quite a few I'm "currently" reading, but I've just started reading this one again, and Ican't remember how it ends. I'm pretty excited about it.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Church Marketing 101 - Richard L. Reising: I started it over a year ago, and never made it half-way through. It's really a fascninating book regarding marketing your church to nonbelievers.

This was actually a lot of fun. I realized that most of the books I've read that have had some sort of significant impact on me, were read when I was still in Middle School. That's kind of interesting, because that was before my family got a TV. Coincidence?

Articles like this bother me. Not so much the subject matter, but the people who raise their voices crying "Infringement upon civil liberties!"

Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.

The program, which is already raising questions about civil liberties, is based on the premise that parents are so fearful of gun violence and the possibility that their own teenagers will be caught up in it that they will turn to police for help, even in their own households.

In the next two weeks, Boston police officers who are assigned to schools will begin going to homes where they believe teenagers might have guns. The officers will travel in groups of three, dress in plainclothes to avoid attracting negative attention, and ask the teenager's parent or legal guardian for permission to search. If the parents say no, police said, the officers will leave.

If officers find a gun, police said, they will not charge the teenager with unlawful gun possession, unless the firearm is linked to a shooting or homicide.

[...]

"I just have a queasy feeling anytime the police try to do an end run around the Constitution," said Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant who now teaches criminology at Boston University. "The police have restrictions on their authority and ability to conduct searches. The Constitution was written with a very specific intent, and that was to keep the law out of private homes unless there is a written document signed by a judge and based on probable cause. Here, you don't have that."

The truth is, that the 4th ammendment to the Constitution does not, in fact limit VOLUNTARY searches of personal property.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
-United States Archives

If an individual who owns property VOLUNTARILY allows the police to search that property for their own security, what CIVIL LIBERTY has been thwarted? Who came up with this term CIVIL LIBERTY anyway? The Constitution and its subsequent amendments was drafted for the security of the American People, by process of limiting the power of the Federal Government. It was not drafted to keep cops from finding illegal guns. It was not drafted to protect the rights of non-citizens (actually the very first Article of the Constitution addresses the legal process for immigration). It was not drafted to "protect my privacy." "My Personal Privacy" has become a cry by people who fear that their illegal or immoral activities may be discovered. A Christian who serves Christ faithfully should NEVER have any fear of his/her privacy being invaded.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not in favor of Big Brother. I just hate when people try to "interpret" the Constitution to meet their own agendas. It's right there in black and white (or rather Black and Parchment). Take it, or leave it...or attempt to Ammend it. But PLEASE don't misinterpret it!

(also, the Bible is not open for interpretation either. That's for Bro. Derek :D )

12 Reasons to vote Huckabee

Here are 12 reasons (actually 13) why Mike Huckabee is the best candidate for President in 2008:
(Quoted from an article by Jeff Bristow from The Bristows Dot Com)

I have a friend who was asking me who I thought they should vote for in the Republican primary. So, I told them who I think is the best republican candidate for the job and why. They then told me I should ‘officially’ endorse them. So I decided to go ahead and do just that.

Here are my 12 reasons to vote for Mike Huckabee.

1. Mike’s understanding of the 1st Amendment. “The First Amendment requires that expressions of faith be neither prohibited nor preferred.” - Mike Huckabee

Read More

The Screwtape Letters

Be sure to check out the new blog by Uncle Screwtape. It's his instructional letters to his nephew, Wormwood. Learn how the Devil thinks. Awesome new blog!!!

The Screwtape Letters

This Model is gonna kill me!

This is a pic that I took at youth service this past Wednesday. I thought it looked really neat (love that texture on the right, still don't know what it is), but the "model" said she'd kill me if I put it up. Personally, I think she looks great. Happy and ready for church! Kinda wish the shutter would have been about one stop quicker, and my focus would have been a liiiitle closer, but it's still fun. What do you think? Pretty "artsy" for an amature huh?

Why kids rock!

Most people think I'm weird and/or atypical because I'm a twenty-three (and a half) year old guy who is almost as excited about having kids as I am about getting married. The truth is, I don't ever want to not be a kid myself.

I idolize people like Lloyd Squires, Bill Cosby, Jim Carrey, and other "big kids." I'm so nostalgic for my youth, that I'll spend hours on Google Earth and Microsoft Live Maps looking at the home of my childhood, and regretting that the woods behind my house were torn down for a school (a great school that I never got to attend).

It's no wonder why I love Children's and Jr. High Ministry so much. Lori tells me that she would never have the patience to deal with some of the things I thrive on dealing with (teenagers...bah!). And it's true, few people really have what it takes to minister to these up and coming, soon-to-be hormonal basket-cases. But There are times when it's so magical.

Every now and again there's a glimpse of hope for our very dreary future. Every now and then there's a Crusader camp where over 200 kids are filled with the Holy Ghost and used in miraculous ways. Every small once-in-a-while, there's a 12 year old like Logan who speaks the incredible truth of God's love after he's had to "put down a calf."

Thank God for Young People who desire to be used of God. Thank God for Deuteronomy 6 Parents who care enough about their children to "train [them in the way they] should go."

Click here for more information about Logan, the 12 year-old who asked God why he had to "put down" a calf.

Here's his phone call.

We're going on a cruise!!!

...well, after we're married, of course!



We're taking a 7 night exotic Western Carribean cruise aboard the Norwegian Spirit, out of New Orleans.

Our ports of call are:

• Roatan, Honduras


• Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala


• Belize City, Belize


• Cozumel, Mexico

Needless to say, we're quite excited! We finally know where we are going and what we are doing for our honeymoon. We'll get to go underground rafting, zip lining horseback riding, snorkeling, Mayan exploring, and...other things....

Go to our website to vote for which excursions we should do. There's still a few we haven't decided on.

Also, if you haven't already, check out our engagement pics at Matthew Foster's Website. Let us know what you think (about Lori, we already know what you all think about me...man, I'm fine).