The 4th

July 4th is almost here. Time to get out on some water, fish, and then grill.



I like fire.

LOST Fathers

While I was out driving one day last week, a thought began to form in my mind. An observation became theory, and then theory became conviction. Have you ever noticed that almost all of the main characters on Lost have problems with their fathers? Think through it for a bit. Jack's father was an overbearing drunk. Kate killed her father for beating her mother. Sawyer's father killed his mother and then himself. Hurley's father abandoned him when he was a child. Clare's father (same as Jack's) was unknown to her for most of her life due to his "real" family. Aaron's father was a dead-beat. Walt's father Michael has numerous issues in their relationship. Locke's father was a con artist and tormented him. Desmond and Penny were troubled by Penny's father. Jin and Sun's problems mostly all came from her father. Even Ben had problems with his father, the drunk who blamed his son for his mother's death.

So, here's the question: is this "Father Phenomenon" a key part of the script, or is it merely a sad commentary on our society?

By the way, no problems here with my Dad. He's cool.

Quotes

One of the abilities that I've worked diligently to develop over the years is my ability to remember an assortment of quotes from a wide range of sources. I've spent years honing this craft, mostly when I was supposed to be writing a paper. Nevertheless, I feel a moral obligation to challenge you, my faithful readers, to pack your brains with trivial (and not so trivial!) quotes. Therefore, today I am submitting to you a short quiz. I will write out five statements from memory, and I invite you to take a crack at identifying each quote. Whoever correctly identifies all 5 first will receive a free audio copy of one of my recent sermons. (Yes, I do realize that I'm a cheap jerk.)

Please identify both the medium (film, book, tv, personal quote) and the title or speaker.

1. "Thrice he was offered the crown, and thrice he denied it. But Brutus has said he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man."

2. "The reports of my death are extremely exaggerated."

3. "In sleep he sang to me; in dreams he came. That voice which calls for me and speaks my name."

4. "You sold my dead bird to a blind kid?"

5. "Who's never wrong, but always right? Who'd never dream of starting a fight? Who get's stuck with all the bad luck?

Six Words

Last week the Fort Worth Star Telegram ran an article challenging readers to think about writing their memoirs in six words. Some were insightful; some were dumb. No matter the case, I simply had to try it out myself.

"Love God. Learning to love people."

Now it's your turn. I'd like to challenge all of you to write your own memoir or motto in six words in the comment box. It's a simple exercise, but I believe you'll find it to be quite thought-provoking.

Oh yeah...

I forgot to announce that we bought a house a couple of weeks ago. We have already gutted the bathroom, removed all the carpet and demo-ed some 70's era brick tile in the inner walkway with a 30 pound jackhammer. I'll post some nice before-during-after pics in the near future. In the mean time, I need to go ice my hands.

C. E. U.

Ok, class, our word for the day is baluchitherium. This word originates from Latin, meaning "beast of Baluchistan." It was a primitive, hornless rhinocerous, and is the the largest known land mammal ever to exist.

It is also the name of one of the coolest instrumental songs ever by Van Halen.

I'm just sayin'...

Three ideas American Evangelicals need to consider:

1. God has not obligated Himself to the United States in Scripture. While there are principles that do apply to every nation, we must recognize that we cannot substitute our country into the promises for Israel in the Bible.

2. The New Testament Church did not view their primary mission to be to lead the charge to bring a resurgence in morality throughout the Roman Empire and the world. They recognized their primary mission was to "make disciples of all nations."

3. Doing God's work means more than just voting "right."

What are the implications for the the American church if these three statements are correct?