Salem Snow Storm 2008

So we've been without internet since sometime Sunday. Why? This:





I figure we got about 6-8" total, plus a couple inches of ice. The latter caused a 6 hour power outage and the loss of internet. I have only lived here about 10 years, but I've never seen it like this. Normally power outages can range from a minor inconvenience to fairly fun. This one would have been except for the fact that the sump pump had no power, meaning I had to perform its duties. I have a new respect for that little half-horse motor. I hauled apporximately 30 gallons of water up the stairs every hour. Ooof. We're going to start saving for a little generator, because I don't want to do that again, let alone if we are gone.
Once again the feeble driving ability of Salemites was on display. There is no moderation. Some drive as if exceeding 10 MPH will instantly cause their vehicle to careen off the road. Others are apparently under the misguided belief that driving faster is the better way to go. They put the pedal to the floor the moment the light turns green, paradoxically causing them to go nowhere. So half the people drive 5 MPH, the other half like a bat out of hell. All of them have chains, of course, even if there is no snow anywhere near the road. We saw several drivers south of Salem on I-5 sparking thier way down the road. I saw a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (on wet pavement) with all 4 wheels chained. Now (Dec. 24th) it is in the upper 30's so things are melting.

Tonight we are going to St. Paul's because "Services will be held, no matter the weather." It will be our second Christmas there. We know there are some things we don't agree with there, but that's going to be the case no matter where we go.

Happy Christmas all.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord”), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
So the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thought of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

This makes Bob happy

What On Earth Are We Doing?

American Christianity has turned Paul's admonition on its head.
Paul said,
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Ro 12:2).

We've changed it to
"And be conformed to the world, just make sure it has a veneer of Christianity so that we can claim we're only trying to reach the lost."

Exhibit A.

Is this church or a concert?

Is this a concert or church?

I'm really confused why the American Christian church has decided that worshiping God should look like the world's worship of its idols. I've heard all the excuses:
-I can't worship doing all that old fashioned stuff.
-We want to be relevant!
-People won't come to church unless we make it entertaining.
-Making Sunday service shallow and entertaining is the only way to be evangelical (i.e., it will draw the "unchurched").

Since when is worship about making sure we are satisfied? Since when did worship stop being about assenting to God's glory, and ascribing Him worth (which is the root of worship)? Since when did worship become nothing more than a vehicle for getting people to come in the door? Since when did we decide that church should be, "entertaining, attractive, not judgmental, and not invasive"? Since when did worship shift from God-centered to man-centered?


Exhibit B.


So we have Christian My Little Ponies. Is that so bad? I suppose you could make an argument that this is a harmless way to indulge in Western culture's obsession with providing our children endless forms and ammounts of entertainment. Heaven forbid they use their imaginations, much less in this case learn that Christianity is slightly more than pithy catchwords and jargon slapped onto the sides of rubber horses. Nevermind the fact that My Little Pony is fully pagan:


But then we have exhibit C.



Really? Really?!?!!!?!!? Is this where we are?

According to the manufacturer,
"Finally, a fasion doll you can feel good about giving your child or grandchild! God's Girlz are modest [if grammatically challenged -ed.], yet fashionable, and with meaningful content to encourage thoughtful play. Each 12" doll is fully posable and fitted with the latest fasion styles."

Let's look at a little Scripture:
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ^you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ^but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Ex 20:4-6."
Recognize it? Yeah, that's Commandment #2.
A lot of people are going to say, "Wait, that's the Old Testament. We're not under the Old Testament, so we can make carved images (dolls) if we want. Besides, we aren't making them to be worshipped."
Jesus said, "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Mt 19:17).
As far as worshipping, what is the purpose of this doll? I would argue that it teaches little girls how they are "supposed" to look. This doll represents what the world (and in this case American Christian culture) thinks women should look like, what little girls should emmulate. That is worship. That is the "thoughtful play" these dolls actually will encourage.

Is there a qualitative difference between these two? Be honest.

One is supposed to have "meaningful content" while the other is said to "sexualize young girls." I can't figure out which is which.

We can argue over whether it is appropriate to let little girls play with fashion dolls, but let's quit adding a Christian facade to secular culture - secular culture that we Christians are blaming for the moral degradation of morality in said culture. It's kind of like someone who wallows around in a pig's mud pit and argues, "But at least I'm not a pig!"
On the manufacturer's website, they encourage retailers to carry their stuff because, "Christian/Inspirational products account for over $4 billion in retail sales annually."

Truly we are of the world, but not in it. Most of us spend our entire life immersed in this pseudo-Christian subculture, thinking we are glorifying God because we are participating in that subculture. We would never be caught in a Nickelback concert, but we have no problem going to a Sunday service that is indistinguishable from one. We would never buy our child a Bratz doll, but we "feel good about" giving her a doll that looks just like one. We don't want our children playing with "pagan" My Little Ponies, but we will buy them "Praise Ponies" that are exactly the same, but for the little symbols on thier haunches.