“Will the World End in 2012″ by Raymond Hundley

About 2 weeks ago I finished reading, “Will the World End in 2012: A Christian guide to the question everyone’s asking” by Raymond Hundley, PhD. The book explores the top ten predictions being circulated about the world ending in 2012- most of them deriving from or centering around either the Mayan long-count calendar or the increase in solar storms starting next year. Dr. Hundley does a great job of detailing each prediction in a concise and understandable way. Previous to reading this book, I had heard of several of these predictions, but was not familiar with any of them in great detail, and now at least feel more educated about how some people are saying the end of humanity will come.

I do, however, take issue with the subtitle of this book, “A Christian guide to the question everyone is asking”. While reading the book, I discussed it with several different people and I did not run into one person who was asking the question, “Will the world end in 2012?” Most people had heard some of the predictions but none really believe any of them to be true. So I am not sure that Dr. Hundley’s proposition is correct that everyone is concerned with what will happen to the world in 2012. I also didn’t like the wimpy way the book ended. The first ten chapters lay out the predictions in detail and then the last two seek to answer the question, “will the world end?”, and how someone should react to this information. The answer to the question is “maybe, maybe not” (which seems a weak conclusion to a book dealing with the question) and the answer to how someone should react is just a listing of the steps of salvation. I just think that if people are asking the question, “will the world end in 2012?”, they need a little bit more than just a sermon on how this person believes salvation takes place.

Chronological Guide to the Bible

Chronological Guide to the Bible is the best book I have so far reviewed for Thomas Nelson Publishers. The editors of this reference book did a superb job of organizing Scripture into more chronologically digestible pieces by dividing it into 9 historical epochs. I did not just read this reference book, but actually incorporated it into my own personal Bible study to decide its true value as a guide through Scripture.

I believe the editors of Chronological Guide to the Bible have put together one of the best all around study supplements. First, they did really well with balancing scientific discovery and the Biblical literature. Admitting that there were many differences sometimes between the two, they did not try to belittle one and elevate the other. They aimed for harmony and did really well with hitting that target. And where harmony was not possible, they mentioned the differences and moved on.

Secondly, they provided the right amount of ancient anthropology, geography and history without overwhelming readers who are not generally drawn to such topics.

Finally, the layout of the pages made it a visually enjoyable read. Plenty of pictures, charts, and grafts laid out in modern styles added to the overall greatness of this book.

Love in Stereo

I love seeing people who are really out there trying to use their talents and gifts for the benefit of others. The other night at the Love in Stereo kick-off party I got to witness first-hand a new generation giving birth to a new movement. Check out what they are doing. Exciting stuff. Makes me want to shed my old skin.

Ohhhhh nooooooo! I was just wonderin’ about that paper boy. Just…wonderin’ when he’s gonna come back by? :D

So, I joined this formspringme deal expecting some good questions.

Well…here is the first one I got- “Ohhhhh nooooooo! I was just wonderin’ about that paper boy. Just…wonderin’ when he’s gonna come back by? “

Not sure what to make of it? Me either. I tried googling it to see if it happened to be song lyrics. It wasn’t. So I urban dictionaried paper boy to see if I was being called something I didn’t understand. This is what urbandictionary.com had for me:

1. noun, slang, technical. Someone who still reads books on paper instead of an e-book reader.
2. A “Graffiti Writer” that claims he writes but only does graffiti on paper
3. Someone who deals drugs, usually heroine.

Though I have been known throw up some mad tags, I typically try to do that on the abandoned ware houses around town and not waste good paper; and though I have been known to deal some heroin when I needed something really bad; I am going to say that (if this person was urban-dictionary-referencing me) the first definition must be the one this person was going for.

It is true that I can’t stand reading e-books. The words seem too far away and the brightness of the screen gets to me after a while. Plus the feel is just not the same. I love the smell of a real book, the texture of the pages, the weight of it in my hands. At my house, when an Amazon order arrives, we say, “it’s a great day.” There is just something so much more intimate about lying in bed with a good book than booting up the old harddrive. The stories are more tangible, the characters much more real, the experience just all around better.

I love technology, but this is one thing that will never change.

I almost got you this.

Daddy/daughter Dance

Well, tonight I took Layla to her first daddy/daughter dance. Which, consequently, since she is my only daughter, was also my first daddy/daughter dance. It was real cute. I actually got really excited about getting dressed up (which never happens) and taking my gorgeous little 3-year old to the local YMCA and dancing the night away (well, at least until 8:30). She was adorable! Her mommy- also gorgeous- curled her hair, painted her nails and had L dressed in a red silk gown with “matching” pink glittered princess slippers. I had on a suit (I know, take a minute to let that sink in) with a matching red tie. Once all dressed, we were both really excited about our dance! It was real cute. There was food and dancing, balloons and pictures. It was real cute. She danced on my shoes, and I held her for one dance. She danced with many other kids and you could really see the joy in her eyes all night. It was real cute.

In the course of the evening, I came to understand one new thing about my daughter. She is a blessing to people. No matter who it was (except for one little snooty 4-year-old) everyone wanted her to dance with them. She approaches people without fear and with a true sincerity to befriend them. I love seeing this in her. Even though she is only 3, she is reflecting back to people the love of God that lives inside her. This new understanding has brought great joy to me tonight and I wanted to share with you. I am posting some pics below of our dance. As you are reading this, I hope you are also have something or someone in your life that is bringing you great joy. If not, seek them out.

Ghosting

Who wants to try this with me?!

Eating Animals…boo! (a.k.a Toying with becoming vegan)

I have found myself in a dietary quandary lately. I finished reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer about 3 weeks ago and since then have not been able to eat many meals with relative moral comfort (don’t get me wrong, I am still eating whatever I want but am just feeling bad about it afterwards). Not since reading Gandhi- which catapulted me into vegetarianism 2.5 years ago- have I been so convicted of the far reaching effects my eating choices have.

Normally a fiction writer ( Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close), this is Foer’s first stab at a non-fiction work. It is based on his own journey with dietary choices set off by the upcoming birth of his first child. Though definitely not a book that champions the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, it is one that will cause you to think about how the choices you make at the grocery store or restaurant impact more than just your waistline or pocketbook.

At least it did for me. Can I eat sushi now that I know 140 other animals are killed in the process of catching enough of the right fish to make me one Spicy Tuna Roll? Can I eat that pound of shrimp now knowing the trawling it takes to collect them destroys miles of underwater ocean environment that takes years to replace? Can I buy eggs from Walmart or Kroger knowing that more than 250 million male chicks are slaughtered at birth each year simply because they were not blessed with the right parts to lay eggs while we mock with this waste the 250 million+ people around the world who go hungry each day? Should I, as a father, make bold dietary decisions now for my child so that a new generation grows up that is aware of these issues and takes action to make things better? Needless to say, every time I sit down to eat something other than a salad or potato, these questions constantly swarm through my head.

So, I have been toying with taking another step in my dietary evolution and becoming a vegan. The mockery we have made of the blessings we have been given, I can no longer ignore. We are dishonoring created life through our gluttonous drive to have more meat, eggs and dairy products sooner- regardless of the negative side effects it has on us, our children, and the animals used to produce these products. But there are several problems with me becoming a vegan:

1. I don’t really know any vegans so I am a little unsure of how to truly become one
2. It seems expensive. Can my budget handle it?
3. I am not the only one in the house. Can my wife and kid make that commitment as well? If not, it would be nigh impossible to make it happen

Any helpful thoughts out there would be greatly appreciated. I did want to give a shout out to a new blog- Soundly Vegan - that I ran into over at E’s blog. I respect their decision to go vegan because, in their own words, “we’re now a part of a much bigger cause by honoring life”. That is something I can get behind.

I have plans to make the Guajillo Chili Bean Burgers here soon. If you are around Jtown next Tuesday let me know and you can sample them with us.

The Gospel According to Lost by Chris Seay

So, I was really excited when I found out this was one of the books I could review and as soon as it became available I signed up for it. Being a huge fan of the show Lost, I ripped into the package and began immediately to read what I was hoping would be a great book linking my favorite earthly obsession with my favorite heavenly one.

Here’s how my reading of this book went. Read Prologue….love it. Read chapters 1-3….still love it. Read chapters 4-9….is this really all it is going to be about? Chapter 10….maybe not, maybe it has more. Read chapters 10-13….nope, this is really all it is going to be about? Put book down for 2 weeks….remember I have to finish it to get a new one. Read chapters 14-16….maybe I am missing the point of the book; maybe it is a lot better than I thought. Read chapter 17….nope.

The premise of the entire book is to revel in a story without being concerned with the conclusion. Chris wants you to do this with the TV show Lostbut, more importantly, to do it with your own spiritual story. Just as most viewers of Lostreturn week after to week despite the constant confusion and seemingly irreconcilable plots; so too must we be enthralled with our own spiritual stories without always having to know where we are being led.

As far as bringing me to revel in the story of Lost , this book did an excellent job. It presented the best Judaic-Christian interpretation of LostI have ever heard of personally pondered (I mean, which one of us hasn’t considered it to be purgatory, heaven and hell, etc.). But, sadly, this is all it had to offer. Each chapter is filled page after page with character’s stories and how they might represent some Judaic-Christian principle or person. However, there was very little in any chapter (and none in some) that would connect me to my own spiritual story and rejoice in it.

If you are looking for an excellent Judaic-Christian interpretation of Lost, I give it 5 out of 5 muffins.
If you are looking for a book to connect deeper with God through a look at your own spiritual story, I give it 1 out of 5 muffins.

Jesus Holding the Inspired Word- the Constitution

Watch video below then my comments at the bottom.

more about "One Nation Under God – Jon McNaughton", posted with vodpod

After watching this video, I sat dazed in front of my computer screen for several minutes pondering what I had just witnessed. Really!? Jesus holding the Constitution of the United States in his hands while past Presidents, patriots and current military heroes bow a knee as if they are witnesses to the truth that Jesus came to reveal? What ignorant arrogance. When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”, he didn’t follow that up with, “and, one day, I will bring forth on a new continent a great nation, conceived in liberty and founded on the proposition that all men are created equal.”

It is crap like this that makes me less and less proud to be an American. We take the tag line, “one nation under God”, to mean that we are the new Israel. That we are the new anointed ones of God. That we are the guardians and barriers of his standard of truth to the ends of the earth. What poppycock! The arrogance it takes to believe these things is outstanding to me. And on top of that, a Christian shared this with me because they believe in this message. And as long as it is this message that Christians are promoting, the true Message that was sent into the whole world will never be heard.

Done. I have to puke now.