Cool Blog ...

Just thought I would mention this blog by Carla Rolfe called , Reflections of the Time, its worth checking out and fun too. Plus if you are craving that John Calvin t-shirt to be the life of the party at your next church meeting , this is your site.She has a great site link to stuff she designs and guess what , they are all solid reformed minded stuff to wear , a tote bag to carry all those stuffy reformed minded books . coasters etc ... Just think of having that morning coffee with Calvin on your mug , cmon , you know your were predestined to drink that cup of coffee!!

Madonna , McCain and the Art of Self Importance

Lets be straight up , I'm all for free speech. If a culture is to be totally free , we need the freedom to debate ideas and convictions in the public arena. However , having said that what I find disturbing and maddening is when celebrities use their self inflated egos , thinking that they are somehow more savvy bout certain things to rant or put forth a idea without warrant , and then are afraid to step into the fray of debate. Madonna , who is on her new tour in Europe , apparently compared presidential hopeful , John McCain , to Hitler. Just as the Dixie Chick's did a couple of years ago when they called President Bush dumb, using a platform to personally attack a person's character , but not really engage in real debate over the issues or positions they disagree with and then offer alternatives . But this is a real low point, to portray or depict Senator McCain as a type of Hitler. It once again shows the self inflated importance celebrities have of themselves. It was a cheap and sick tactic on part of this shock queen , who has done stuff like this forever just to get her name in print , because it sure will not be her music . Of course her fans ate this up like pablum , loving every moment , not even realizing they are mere sheep in the hands of a master manipulator of the media. What is sadder , she was not called out by her fans to grow up. She should have the decency to apologize to this war hero ,and true patriot, but then again, that would take someone with a shred of decency, and Madonna has long showed , she has none.

That Being Said..

In the last post I was a tad harsh on the athletes competing at the games . I posted after reading of the ongoing confinement of Chinese Pastors , who are targeted randomly and confined for no reason . So I was a bit worked up. But certain athletes have been exceptional , no question . What Michael Phelps has done is nothing short of amazing, 8 gold in swimming, totally unheard of . The same could be said of the Jamaican speedster , Usain Bolt, who set 2 world records and took gold in both the 100 and 200 meter . Amazing ,no question, but I still hold that there is a taint on the games .

Hypocrisy in Olympic Land

So it seems that the some are putting pressure on the IOC to withdraw the 2014 games from Russia, due to the invasion of Georgia. While I believe the aggression shown by Russia should not come as a surprise from any one who has watched the developments over the last couple of years , it is the height of hypocrisy to scream , no games for you while they are in China. The oppression of free speech,the on going persecution of Christians and home churches , the occupation of Tibet , the Sudan crisis and China's role in the terror there , the continuing polluting of the earth without restraint , need I go on. It is laughable for the international community to cry out and try to get the games changed because who has boycotted or cried foul over China , no one. I contend that every medal won has blood on it and every western country should be ashamed ,as well as the athletes who line up to take medals. It just shows winning is everything and human beings who are marginalized and under China's tyranny are nothing. I guess gold and money is indeed what makes the world go round , not justice .

I'm Back , Bigger and Louder Than Before ...

After some very long breaks on this blog , I have a solution to get my hands on the keys. I'm a opinionated person , I always have been . Sometimes I have been called a bit , well abrasive . Sometimes I rant , sometimes I preach and well you get the drift. So going forward I will be more myself . I will pull no punches but will try to filter all I say through the lens of the grace of Christ. So stay tuned and ready because here I come .

Just Wondering......

Have you ever wondered why ....... why does this happen or why did I do that .......I'm just thinking about the why.....

......Weep With Those Who Weep...Romans 12: 15

Yesterday on my routine travels in the land of the internet , one site I go to for news concerning Christian artist , I was shocked and saddened to read that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter Maria , was killed in an accident at their home. It appears that their son accidentally struck the little girl with a vehicle in the drive way when he didn't see her move into his path . She was later pronounced dead at the hospital they had flown her to. I was overwhelmed with a grief that moved me to tears . You see Steven's music has been a part of my life for almost 20 years . He through his music has encouraged me, convicted me and comforted me along many of my life's struggles and pains. Plus over that time I have watched his family grow and now through the internet and blogging , have watched his children grow and have gotten to know them in a real fleshed out way ,as best you can as a fan. So as I read about this profound tragedy , my heart broke knowing that this sweet little girl , who was just 5 years old ,would no longer brighten this families days with her smile,laughter and kisses.
I cannot fathom the pain this family is going through . Losing a child is one of the most difficult things one can experience. As a fellow Christian , I hold that all things are appointed by God . But at times like these it is not time to engage in those type of semantics , but as the Bible commands us , we are to weep with those who weep. It is a time to lift this family before the throne of grace and trust the beautiful promises of our Lord Jesus Christ ,that he will comfort those who mourn and are broken. For as believers we do not grieve as ones without hope , but in Christ we have one who has gone before to death and conquered the grave . I'm confident that little Maria was received in the arms of God , and has seen her Saviour Jesus face to face and all pain and tears are no more . May God bless the Chapman's and comfort them in this dark hour but the dawn will come for, God will heal their hearts.
I have a link to his site where you can read more about this precious little girl .