Churches

I have been listening to some Lutheran podcasts that Michael Spencer turned me onto. They make lots of sense. They have shown me things in the Bible that I have never heard preached before or preached in such a different way than I have ever heard. I can't find any churches around here like the ones that these guys pastor. Are Lutherans the only ones who teach the Gospel? That can't be so, but I sure can't find anyone else right now. We have left our previous church and are now attending a Calvary Chapel that some other friends are going to, it is slightly different than the previous but not what I'm looking for either.

Garden

Want bigger land but don't seem to be able to do that. Trying to make due with what I have. Got one rain barrel up and working. Still got lots of greens growing, built a compost drum the other day. Gotta get started on spring beds. Lawnmower won't start, that sucks.

Hiking at Alderman's Ford

We are going to hike at Alderman's Ford today. It is cloudy and cool but not raining, it should be a fun time. The kids love to hike with me and I am glad that they do so I don't have to go alone. I love to be able to share the outdoors with them and teach them the things that I know and discover new questions that I need to answer.

A Year!!!!

Wow, it has been over a year since I put something on here. I will need to be more punctual.
I still havn't figured out any of my questions but I am learning what the options are. I have been listening to a lot of Lutheran and other reformed teaching lately. So I know what they believe and I think I know why. I don't know how much that helps me.

Communion

Is communion the sharing of a meal between believers who are using the opportunity to commune with one another and remember the body and blood of Jesus? Is is a Holy thing consisting of special bread and special wine that represents or even becomes the body and blood of Jesus?

I have heard the scriptures taught to say both ways. I have not done in depth study, but it seems even when people have they come out of it with whatever it was they presupposed the answer to be.

I know the Lords supper recorded in scripture was the passover meal. It consisted of more than just bread and wine. When Jesus said, "as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me" did He mean as often as you celebrate passover? Did He mean as often as you eat food together as believers? Did He mean as often as you share this ceremonially special piece of bread and wine?

I would love to know the real answer to this question, but I'm not sure if anyone knows it. Maybe we should do it all.

Maybe we should remember that Jesus is the true passover lamb as we celebrate the passover annually. Maybe we should remember His blood and body every time we gather as believers for a meal. Maybe we should remember Him during the ceremony with the special bread and special wine whenever we do that.

I would guess that the one that makes the least sense would be the special bread and wine celebration. Yet, that seems to be the one that is mostly taking place within the christian body, Protestant and Catholic.

Makes me wonder still....

Palin

You know why everyone likes to make fun of Sarah Palin? Because she is an example of the majority of Americans who get up in the morning and go to work to provide for there family, and raise there kids the best way they know how. We don't care that much about all the rest of the crap that people like McCain and Obama and Biden do because we are busy trying to get by. This is also the reason people get away with making fun of her because we are just those little people that don't make a fus, we just get things done and keep this country going. We don't expect anything from our government except to leave us alone and allow the Military to do there job protecting the sovereignty of this great country, which we love rather than hate by the way. She represents people who have the audacity to think that a human life is worth whatever it takes to care for and keep alive and healthy, regardless of how inconvenienced we may be by it. She is just one of us who has fought her way through the politicians, lawyers, sexism and disdain that the elite of this country has for the people who accually work to make it a better place. I'm sad the see the way people have been treating her. She is our Mr. Smith. I hope that one way or another she will be Madam President Palin by 2012. Then maybe the people will have an advocate in the Whitehouse.

Question

Should a Christian pastor encourage people to pray to there demonic gods? If what we believe is true, the Bible says that the false gods of the world are powered by demons, fallen angels, whatever you want to call them. So, when a Christian person, pastor or not, is in a multi religious setting, leading a prayer is it appropriate to encourage the people to pray to there demon gods?

I have noticed this happening a lot lately. I know some of these people may only be pretending to be a follower of Jesus but some I think are true believers and are swayed by the all inclusive, tolerance based society that the US has become. Opening prayers, closing prayers, joint prayers with Muslim Clerics, Buddhist Monks, Hindu leaders, Etc., it happens more frequently these days. Another point would be too, if you are praying joint, "ecumenical" prayers with these others, what god are you actually praying to? I know each of them would be quick to say that they are not praying to Jesus, the tri-une God. So why is it a problem for Christians to say I am not going to give the demon gods the same due and True God?

Just some thoughts...