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Tuesday, December 08, 2009 
Had the opportunity finally to sit down and watch Bill Maher's documentary "Religulous" last week and for the past few days had the opportunity to process my thoughts and I think i'm ready to right down a review.

I guess I should start off first explaining that Personally I really enjoy Bill Maher, I'm actually a regular subscriber to his HBO show downloads. Even though I probably only agree with him 30% (which is pretty high for most people) I find him very likable while most find him repulsive. I honestly don't get offended very often soo nothing about Bill has ever made his show unapproachable to me. I find great pleasure in his style of comedy. I appreciate his very witty, smart, sarcastic, and real approach to life and comedy which can be very refreshing. I also thinks most of the time he asks questions that need to be asked.

I've always known about Bill's despise for Organized religion but I had always thought it different from his thoughts on politics. His insight on politics despite being cynical in nature always seemed to be much more logical or at least have more substance. Actually in the political realm I find that Bill makes alot of sense even though if at times I still strongly disagree. But Bills aproach to religion seems on the surface to be educated, informed, and enlightened but in reality seems quite the opposite.

I found his documentary to be rather disappointing. See, i've heard his views here and there during his shows, but never had the chance to really hear his reasoning in a full picture type of way. I was really hoping to see that brought to life on film, a presented in satisfying way. But I walked away from the film discontent. A film I hoped would offer very ground reasoning, intense spiritual questions, and really try to shake the Christian faith, Instead I got more of the same.

I watched a film that did what Bill does best, Entertain. It was really funny but failed to find its legs at actually challenging the church. The film was great at preaching to the choir, ranting and raving yet never inspiring real thought, but instead just shouting "i'm right" and "you're wrong". Bill Maher finds the dumbest people and most of the time asks the dumbest questions. They're some rare gems in which Bill asks questions that Christians need to be asked and should know the answers too.The film majors on questions that just prove Bill's ignorance of the Christianity more than anything. 

Religulous is a film that shows the power of a cynic and not the down to earth reality of a skeptic. While a skeptic might question and provoke thought, a cynic finds anyway to poke fun at his opposition so he never has to confront a real debate. A cynic just works at making the opponent look stupid Instead of proving that he is. Cracking jokes instead of allowing the audience time to debate, discuss, think, and come to real conclusions. 

Bill is what you would probably call a "new atheist" or an "anti-theist", a believer that religion is harmful to humanity and must be stopped instead of left alone. Its an evangelist type of Atheism that works to remove religion from society. Others in this category would be the likes of Richard Dawkins (God Delusion), Sam Harris (End of Faith), Christopher Hitchens (God is not Great). The problem with this new movement of so-called "reason" is that they appear to be just a bunch of pissed of kids with more angst against the church than people with actual intellectual arguments. Which if that isn't the case Bill, Dawkins, and gang need to find a better way of communicating their thoughts and move themselves from a cynical stance and really begin to answer the questions in an honest way, and acknowledge its a little more complicated than they make it seem. Otherwise they're just as embarrassing to other atheists as the "Christians" in this film are to the true church.

One thing Religulous does though is challenge the church in another way. While watching this film I never found my faith shaken in the least, what I did find though was an embarrassment at times to be linked with some of the people in the film as well as parts of the church as a whole. I found it embarrassing because the church in the mainstream has failed again and again at being what its called to be. While I personally believe that is changing and GOD is moving in the church across america, but what is true is the failings of the church in the past. We've failed in actions, words, teaching correct theology, answering the questions, loving the world, and administering justice. If anyone needs to confess sins it should be the church, for we have failed at showing the Bill and the world a church worthy of the name we bare, a faith worth contending for, and a Christianity worth dying for. The Church has failed at painting a true picture of the GODstory, its no wonder some of these questions were being asked in this film its because Bill has been preached a "Disney" version of what Christianity is. He has no understanding of GOD's purpose in salvation and humanity and to top it off He has only seen what happens to a church that is filled with people that haven't died to themselves and instead have only learned to stop thinking. Oh the need for the world to see a true expression of the church. The Church is in desperate Need of GOD again and until the church finds that its no wonder the world will want nothing to do with the GOD we profess to know.

And for this challenge and I thank Bill greatly, the church and all of us need to be reminded of our failings once in a while, even if that comes in the form of embarrassing us. Thanks Bill for entertaining us in the process.
3:28 AM 
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Sunday, December 06, 2009 
Don Miller book (million miles in a thousand years)
42in Plasma (samsung/panasonic)
Nintendo DS lite
New transmission for a 2004/ mazda 3
Ibanez Handmade Tube Screamer Pedal
Old Yeller Guitar Pedal
Carbon Copy Guitar Pedal
Washboard 
New Harmonica
Wii Games (new super Mario bros, metriod trilogy, punchout, Crystal Bearers, dead space)
New shoes (macbeth or converse)
Pictures Frames.
Cool Artwork for house.
Tattoo.
Iphone.
New Djembe Skin/head.
Random Tshirts.
Winter Jacket.
Minnesota Wild Calendar.
Ibanez Jetking 2 or 4.
35lb Free Weights.
CD's (theAlmost, Relientk, Mewithoutyou, Mika, Switchfoot, Weezer, Mat Kearney, David Crowder, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Derek Webb, Corey Asbury, Thrice, Sufjan Stevens, Becoming the Archetype)
3:27 AM 
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009 
Can you believe this world's got the nerve to insist that it won't trade in for a better one?
Can you believe this world's yellin' out in the dark it wants to be left alone?
Can you believe this world never would'a had the chance without us giving it blood?
Can you believe this world lacks the common courtesy to thank us all for the love?

Can you believe this world's like a glassy eyed swiggler caught sipping another one?
Can you believe this world's like a tyrant taking over anything that it wants?
Can you believe this world's like a wounded model warrior whose commitment is gone?
Can you believe this world's like a vagrant in the gutter talkin to what is wrong?

Can you believe this world's just a double dealin joker, gonna stick to his cards?
Can you believe this world's just a television blaring, a million devils at once?
Can you believe this world's just a chommer in the sky with a lie in his soul?
Can you believe this world's just exactly like we built it, running out of control?

Set it on fire.

-Mutemath.
3:26 AM 
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Monday, November 30, 2009 
There's been much confusion and debate over the years about the "kingdom of heaven"...many believers sadly don't know what it means, its more cliche' than anything, and even more heart breaking is most Christians don't care to know....but it seemed to be the heart of the old testament prophets, and the MAIN message of Jesus...

Many people try to write the kingdom off as something spiritual or metaphorical, or spiritualize it away like they also do with other scriptures, and where I can see where they get that error...I would like to point out that it is an error...a large one...and without a proper understanding of the kingdom you can't fully understand GOD's plan or our inheritance as saints, I believe a gospel that isn't centered on a right kingdom understanding is barely a gospel, if at all.

Where did the idea of a kingdom first come from? it was a promise to David in 2 Samuel 7, GOD responds after telling David he's been in too many wars to build him a house..and instead GOD will do something for David.

'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body (his family line), and I will establish HIS (david's) kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM (david's earthly throne in jerusalem?). I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and YOUR KINGDOM (an earthly kingdom?) will endure FOREVER before me ; YOU THRONE will be established FOREVER.' "-2 Samuel 7:11-16

GOD seems to promise that the nation of Israel would be established forever through David's line.....this is also the idea that GOD speaks thru the prophets in years to come....Jewish understanding (and a proper one) was that a king was coming to rule the nations, destroy sin, establish righteousness, destroy death, create Israel the CENTER of praise and would not stop until that happened. Jews believed and looked forward to a worldwide kingdom affecting every sphere of life (political, economic, spiritual, educational, agricultural, family, media, arts, technology, environment, social institutions, etc). (Revelation 20:1–6; Isaiah 2:1–4, 9:6–9, 11:1–16, 51:1–8, 60–62, 65:17–25; Psalm 2:6–12, 110:1–7; Deuteronomy 8, 28; Matthew 5:5, 6:10, 17:11, 19:28, 28:19; Acts 1:6 and 3:21).This Messianic hope of the prophets was carried over and echoed in the words of John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Paul and others.

Now the confusion jumps in.....All OT prophecies speak of what seems to be a physical kingdom that will be established ON THE EARTH with Israel as the capital of this empire, Jesus also seemed to echo these ideas talking much about it...but there are a few verses that at first seem to contradict this idea.

Two Large ones being (Luke 11:20, and Luke 17:21) which imply that the kingdom is already here...or is within you and not physical reigning of a king...or by Pauls words that the kingdom isn't made of flesh and blood.

I can see where the confusion comes from....some people believe that the kingdom is wholly futuristic others that it is fully manifest now in the church, but to base a theory fully on either of those is to totally ignore numerous other scriptures of the old and new testament..and quiet silly in my opinion.

You'll find that MOST scholars ride the middle as I do as well (as the scriptures point to both, as well as the apostles lifestyles)..believing that the kingdom Jesus spoke of will be FULLY established at his return when he becomes that king at the time of restoration...but is also in the process of breaking in now through the church...meaning the church and Jesus have an effect on the kingdom when its not fully manifested in the earth at the present time...but will in the second advent with the resurrected saints (Revelation 2:26–27, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4–6, 22:5; Matthew 19:28, 20:21–23, 25:23; Luke 19:17–19, 22:29–30; 1 Corinthians 6:2–3, 2 Timothy 2:12 and Romans 8:17, etc)

The 12 and original disciples had a hard time grasping this as well....they had good knowledge of the OT scriptures and the messianic promise...many would suggest they didn't understand the scriptures right, because they were just metaphorical..i would say that is incorrect...check it

In Matthew 16..Jesus takes his disciples on a pow wow, tired from the crowds he gets away for minute...asks his disciples who they think he is....Peter eventually responds "your the messiah" (the king/savior--not forgiver of mankind)..Jesus says you're right..then explains how he's going to die, this not registering to there theology (you just said you're the king...your not going to die! what are you talking about)...Jesus then rebukes peter...and explains how he must die FIRST but will surely come in glory...

Later Jesus is killed and raised...Luke records that he spent the 40 days after explaining the scriptures to the disciples (not just the 12) about the KINGDOM.....and if it was all Metaphorical..you would think Jesus would of explained this to them...but what is still the question after all of that and right before the asscention? (acts 1:6)

"So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."-acts 1:6-8

wow..not only did they still have the question...Jesus doesn't correct them...just states they wont know the times, implying its still a future thing not just a now thing....

Later in acts 3...peter after a great healing preaches to the crowds surrounding that gathered because of the miracles..explains about Jesus dying and rising again..they kinda believe...but being jews are wondering "where is the kingdom?" "where did he go?" "what happened, to the promise"...peter responds to there frustration:

"He must remain in heaven UNTIL the time comes for GOD TO RESTORE EVERYTHING, as he PROMISED long ago through his holy PROPHETS."-acts 3:21

Surely if apostles believed the kingdom was fully manifest now peter wouldn't of preached this message to the jews.

So again I believe that the kingdom is both...that today we should live out the beatitudes or what i like to call the (mandate of a kingdom citizen), pray for justice, love, mercy, righteousness today and wait until the time comes for GOD TO RESTORE EVERYTHING, making Israel the center of praise (isaiah 61 and 65), and rule over the nations with his saints ( Ps. 2, revelation 20-22) as he promised through his prophets.

I think the false view comes from simple miss understanding, ignorance, bad teaching, and false doctrines of end times and salvation....but must be restored in the church today...i believe GOD will bring clarification.

In the present age we're to pray "Let your KINGDOM come and will be done on Earth as it is in heaven!"...its the prayer of asking GOD's kingdom to fully break in to the earth...little by little and eventually being fully established at his return.

If you think i missed something...or would like to discuss...please please talk.
12:26 AM 
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Saturday, November 21, 2009 
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak
'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently consent when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings
'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

--Derek Webb.
prob the most controversial Christian song ever written.
3:24 AM 
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 
If you're interested....here's a link to a sermon I preached sunday night...might just offend everybody...including me.


I'll be blogging about the same subject soon...try and make it more articulate.
6:35 PM 
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009 
I am made of parts that freeze and ligaments that atrophy 
Though they look they'll never see 
They don't know something's wrong with me 
And just as well, I'll never tell what's underneath the scales 
I've worn to thin to honor you, my every effort fails 
Bury me with Israel and cover up my tracks 
Leave not a trace of what I was, I'm never coming back 
And if you're mercy falls upon he whose blood is cold 
Unearth me with your hands of love and never break your hold 

The world is full of ones like me 
Who need to see the truth 
But the truth is never truth indeed 
The truth is only you 

Jesus bless the crocodiles, forgive the cobras and all the snakes 
Open up your arms to carry all of our mistakes 
Suck the venom from every bite and vomit every drop 
Some of us may bite your hand but some of us will not 
And every knee will bow before you, each forked tongue confess 
My selfishness will rot in me and I will seek your rest 
Still some lizards flee from you, ashamed of all they've been 
So Jesus take myself from me, never bring it back again 

The world is full of ones like me, who need to see the truth 
But the truth is never truth indeed, the truth is only you 
The world will soon become extinct, the age will pass away 
And all will know that you are God, hallowed be your name 

Jesus bless the crocodiles, forgive the cobras and all the snakes 
Open up your arms to carry all of our mistakes 
Forgive the basilisk, forgive the moccasins and adders too 
Have mercy on each alligator that never lived for you 
I myself hatched from an egg, no white light from above 
Just another ancient serpent that never earned your love 
But still you find me underneath the rocks and in the ground 
I cowered there just short of air and never made a sound 
It's true that I'm in love with you, and even in my shame 
You wipe away the imperfections and take away the pain 
You wrap your loving arms around this wretched thing called me 
Your love is all I'll ever need, your love has set me free 

The truth is only you. 


-Showbread.
8:18 PM 
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Monday, June 29, 2009 
Looking to figure out the constants vs variables in my life.

I struggle with trying to find a perfect fit mentally of my life for I tend to be slightly OCD when it comes to knowing how everything works and ticks. I have a tremendous need to make sure I have control and understanding of the path ahead. 

The hard part is that life comes with what I call "variable's and constants". Some things are constants, the anchors that everything else in life must orbit and surround. Not just "basics" either, I'm talking about purpose and calling. Vision and my reasons for living.

Other things are variables, things that can be moved around the constants to make the equation come together and make sense. The problem comes when I turn many of the variables into constants, when I take things that dont matter in the large scheme and treat them as the center of my life. Some of these things being jobs, comforts, friends, lifestyles, etc. All good things but should be worthy of sacrifice in sight of a bigger goal, but usually pulled close to my heart as I allow them to distract and confuse. Other times the equation is broken by turning some of the constants into variables, when I begin to ignore the callings and overall dreams for an easier path. When I loose sight of the end, become apathetic in my pursuit, and comprimise my larger greater dream for something thats passes as only "Good" instead of "Great".

I want the best result...I dont want to grow lazy or confused in the process of life...I want to give it all to gain the best, even if that means less comfort now for a greater reward. GOD never let me confuse the equation. Help me find whats inmovable and what gifts to let go of.
3:34 AM 
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 
Its kinda weird, this sunday we'll all be celebrating with our fathers and even grandfathers. But this year has me thinking especially hard, Yesterday I found out I'm having a Baby Girl (unnamed still) around Sept 29th...which makes me a dad this year.

But at the same time...she wont be born by fathers day, but i'll still be a father. Most likely i'll spend part of it with my step dad, make a couple calls to grandparents, and then with shane. I wont have my daughter to tell me "how great I was as a dad this year", instead I'll have an unborn child asking "what kind of dad i will be this year" . I have a feeling there will be a chunk of time dedicated to thinking about the next three months and what kind of DAD i'll make. What things I wont do that my parents did...and the things I will do that they didn't. What kinda of girl she'll turn out to be and how exciting that will be.

I look forward to eternity with my child and i'm sure we'll be great parents, but I need more time to figure out the broad strokes of the years ahead and how to prepare for many more fathers days.
10:00 PM 
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Friday, May 29, 2009 
"Sometimes I feel the weight of the world
And its so heavy and its bringing me down"

Wake up to another day
Gotta get to work gotta get the big pay
I got car notes and rent and the other nonsense
That's slowly turning me into a slave
But its ok because I look good
I got the best clothes and the best neighborhood
And that's what it's about the American dream
In a rat race but the rats want cream
In an obscene amount more than I can count
So I won't recognize that I'm drowning deep
In the oceans of life my breathe full of strife
And my head aches the stress just pounding me down
Hear comes the tears of a clown
The hottest name in the whole town this time
But the frown that's inside is hidden by my pride
Cause everything I want is mine

"But sometimes I feel the weight of the world
And its so heavy and its bringing me down"

Wake up to another day
Gotta peek out just make sure it safe
Cause these times are changing and reshaping
Into something I cant face and it feels strange
We got religious people judging the whole world
We got pimps and hoes once boys and girls
We got the media telling us whose to blame
But whose the media who's really running the game
Gotta get up gotta shake it off
Cause life is long as an unsung song in the dark
I'm getting confused I'm getting upset
Things don't work out I'm hunting a check
Regret is creeping up my window
My life is reachin a crescendo
I gotta numb it with drank and endo
Not chasing a dream I'm wasting time
Cause everything I want is mine

"But sometimes I feel the weight of the world
And its so heavy and its bringing me down" 

I'm having a great day everythings ok
I'm doing fine just don't look in my eyes 
I gotta get up I gotta get up 

"But sometimes I feel the weight of the world
And its so heavy and its bringing me down"
11:38 PM 
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"Everybody Loves Travis ™ "

Travis Harger


Last Updated: 11/27/2009

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Gender: Male
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Age: 24
Sign: Cancer

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State: Virginia
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