Got this list from the pre-marital class. This is going up on our refrigerator. And our bedroom door. And our dining room wall. And maybe in a tiny card in his wallet.

1. Thou shalt not take thy wife for granted, but will honour and respect her as they equal. (1 Peter 3:7)

2. Thy highest allegiance, except to God, shall be to thy wife, not thy relatives or friends. Or thy computer game, food or toys. (Genesis 2:24)

3. Thou shalt frequently tell thy wife how important & valuable she is to thee. (Philippians 2:3; Proverbs 31:10-11)

4. Thou shalt hold thy wife’s love by the same means that thou won it. (Song of Songs, 5:10-16).  [Bridezilla translation: Keep doing what you did when you were courting her!]

5. Thou shalt actively establish family discipline with thy wife’s help. (Ephesians 6:4).

6. Remember to do all the little things for thy wife when you say you will. (Matthew 5:37) 

7. Keep thine eyes on thy own wife, not thy neighbour’s wife. (Proverbs 5:15-20; Job 31:1; Jeremiah 5:8)

8. Thou shalt make every effort to see things from thy wife’s point of view. (Genesis 21:12)

9. Thou shalt not fail to kiss thy wife every morning but not with thy morning breath. (Song of Songs 8:1)

10. Thou shalt not be stingy with thy wife when it comes to money. (Esther 5:3) [Bridezilla aside: This should be Commandment No. 1 lah!]

See? I told ya they teach good stuff at PMC!

1.  Thank you to John Wesley. We missionals/emergents like to stir things up a bit, raise  some hell, speak out boldly against injustice, reach neglected communities, and open the church doors in real ways to those who wouldn’t step foot in to a church in a million years.  I think the life and works of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, grants us that permission even if the established church frowns on or is disinterested in such  activities.

2.  Thank you to the early church. Despite the overwhelming violence and power of the Roman empire, these earlier followers of Christ  persisted and still show us 2,000 years later that love wins and that another way is possible.

3.  Thank You  to the prophetic church. Yeah, somewhere along the way (think Constantine but probably way before that as the church became more and more succesful) the church lost its way.  But the link between  mainstream religion and injustice is an age old problem ( the need for social propehtics like  Micah, Amos, Isiaiah in the first place).

Instead of liberation and community, the churches began to preach and practice and protect the status quo.   Whether it was St. Francis of Asissi, Dorothy Day, John Wesley, Dr. Martin Luther King, or countless others whose names history has forgotten, these communities figured out creative ways to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ, in spite of violent threats and raw military and economic power or just plain ole’ apathy.

4.  Thank You to EmergingUMC2 and beyond. Much thanks to the 30 or so United Methodists who gathered this November to talk about the possibilities of restoring missional methodism.  As a participant, it was inspiring to hear all the amazing things going on across the country as Methodists struggle to rethink church. Let’s hope this conversation keeps going.

5.  Thank You to the Emergent Conversation. I first started hearing about the emergent conversation a few years ago and it saved my faith or at least my participation in a church.

6. Thank You to no More George W. Bush in public office. Yeah, this is a cheap shot, but it is a little disconcerting that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney both claimed to be United Methodists.  That presidency might say more about the failures of the United Methodist church than anything else.

7. Thank You to the GBOD worship website. If you ever find yourself needing help with a worship service, check out the General Board of Discipleship’s worship webpage. Consistently updated and always helpful.

8.  Thank You for some good Methodist blogs. Check this blog’s home page for them.

9.  Thank You to The Future. More and more, it looks like the future of the church  will be missional and emergent.  Here is Phyllis Tickle’s take on it.

10. Thank You to Jesus Christ.  Not in that cheezy I just won the super-bowl kid of way, but for not letting fear or the quest for prestige and power get in the way of God’s plan.

The seven-book set of Harry Potter books autographed by author J.K. Rowling are seen at the National Braille Press in Boston, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Bizuayehu Tesfaye)

I read all the Harry Potter books, I went to all the Harry Potter movies and next I will visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Here I have compiled some things that I hope to find in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter during spring break 2010.

The Wesley Home

Harry Potter’s second home the Wesley’s house.  Mr. and Mrs. Wesley treat him as their own child.  I would feel as if I were in a dream touring through the multiple floor wizard home, which features altered muggle’s gadgets.  My fascination with wizarding items is comparable to Mr. Wesley’s fascination with muggel gadgets.   A rollercoaster through the house would be perfect.  They could shape the coaster vehicles like the flying car.

A 3D model of Hogwarts Castle just imagine the ride you could experience within.

Hogwart’s Castle

Rumors on the internet say Hogwarts Castle is going to be a roller coaster. A few must have rooms that are crucial for me to have the best experience.

• The dining hall where the choir is singing and the sorting hat displayed
• Living quarters, starting first with Gryffindor and moving to Slytherin house
• The forbidden floor where I can see the fluffy the three-headed dog, play a little chess and move on to see the mirror which displays all your desires
• Then to Professor Dumbledore’s office
• Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom
• The basement where Potter fought one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes
• Lastly the Room of Requierment

The Three Broomsticks

The Three Broomsticks a popular hangout for Potter, Granger and Wesley is where I will first experience a non-alcoholic butterbeer. This local hangout will definitely be in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.  Universal Studios is keeping a lot of attractions secret about the park, but the Three Broomsticks is one attraction they are promoting.  The pub’s menu will consist of tasty treats such as Irish coffee, beer or ale, and shepherd’s pie.

In addition, to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando is creating another attraction called the Great Orlando Wheel.  Check it out in the video.

Hogwart’s Castle Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons

“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can”  Wesley

Depois de semanas de espera, eis o Post Music Spectacular! (P.M.S.), um post o qual mostrará os nomes de algumas das músicas mais legais do mundo! E eis agora o P.M.S.:

Post Especial!

Post Music Spectacular! (P.M.S.).

Este post mostrará algumas das músicas mais legais do mundo Internacionais que são Super Espetaculares!

(P.M.S.)

Baixe as músicas á seguir com um compartilhador P2P, as músicas aqui mostrado podem ser talvez não encontradas, então procure no Ares Galaxy, pois as músicas aqui apresentadas foram retiradas do Ares Galaxy. Para certeza de estar adquirindo a mesma música procure de preferencia do usuário Wesley Ignacio.

Para baixar o  Ares, clique aqui. Se não abrir o download automaticamente clique em direct link.

Alguns Cantores Espetaculares:

-Smash Mouth

-Jimmy Cliff

-Jonas Brothers

-Celina dion

-Akon

-Justin Timberlake

-Elvis Presley

-The Beatles

-Michael Jackson

-Bonnie Tayler

-Elton Jonh

-Bob Marley

E etc…

Algumas Músicas espetaculares:

-The lion Sleeps tonight (The Beach Boys)

-Carro de Fuego (instrumental)

-Wonderful World (Jimmy Cliff)

-I can see clearly now (Jimmy Cliff)

-Power and The Glory (Jimmy Cliff)

-Houding Out For a Hero

-On the road again (Willie Nelson)

-Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley)

-Samba regaee ( Jimmy Cliff)

-Super Mario Brothers Original (Nintendo)

-Evil Woma

-Pretty Woman (Elvis Presley)

-De volta para o futuro (trilhas sonoras temas de filmes)

-Smack My Orinocco Falls Up (Enya vs Prodigy)

-Mud on the Tires (Brad Paisley)

-I need some sleep (Eels)

-Why Can’t We Be Friends

-Many Rivers to Cross (Jimmy Cliff)

-My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)

-Two Tear Drops (Brad Paisly)

-Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (The Beatles)

-I Wish I Cared (Aha) [toca-se na Rede Record, quando se fala de Jornalismo]

-Funkytow (Lipps, In) [do Shrek]

-Who’s Loving You? (Michael Jackson) [quando a banda era jackson five]

-The rebel in me (Jimmy Cliff)

-Hallelujah [ou aleluia Shrek]

-Twist and shout (The beatles)

-Yeah (Usher Feat. Lil’ Jon and Ludac)

-Im a Believer (Smash Mouth)

-Peace (Jimmy Cliff)

-More Bells and Whistles [criação de áudio: Wesley Ignacio, Engraçado e legal]

-Thriller (Michael Jackson)

-People ain’t no good (Shrek)

-Don’t Let Me Down

-No navegare nunca mas (Disney/Pixar [Toy Story])

-You’re So True (Joseph Arthur)

-No Justice (Jimmy Cliff)

-Stand by me (John Lennon)

-Then The Morning Comes (Smash Mouth)

-Let It Snow (A Fine Frenzy) [Existem 2 tipos: De natal e comum]

-Sorry (Madonna)

-Tears in heaven (Erick Clapton)

-ABC 123 (Michael Jackson) [Jackson Five]

-Oh! Susanna (Miller, Mitch)

-[Show de Músicas Antigas, duração: 1:10:22; busque da seguinte forma:](Musica) compilation disco anni 70-80-90

-Sad Movies (Lovers Reggae)

-As Lovers Go (Dashboard Confessional)

-Walking on the sun (Smash Mouth)

-Livin La Vida Loca (Shrek 2)

-Reggae Night (Jimmy Cliff)

-Esporte Espetacular (Rede Globo)

-Elton Jonh O Rei Leao [busque desta forma]

-Power And The Glory (Jimmy Cliff)

-So Sick (Ne-Yo)

-Canon Rock Guitar Play by JerryC

-Me Love (Sean Kingston)

-Soft Rock – 80 s (Bonnie Tyler)

-Free Loop (Daniel Powter)

-All Star (Smash Mouth)

-Whiskey Lullaby (Brad Paisly & Alison Krauss)

-Oh Happy Day (Neri per Caso)

-A puro dolor (Son by for)

-I Wanna Love You (Akon ft. Snoop Dogg)

-Bartender (Feat. Akon) – (T-Pain)

-Beautiful Girl (Sean Kingston)

-Apologise (Timbaland ft. One Republic)

-We are the world (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson)

-Mission Imposible (Theme)

-Wonderful World (Jimmy Cliff)

-Windows Welcome music (microsoft)

-Tema da vitória (Ayrton Senna – Rede Globo)

-My Favorite Game (The Cardigans)

-Sunshine reggea (Jimmy Cliff)

-Let It Be (The Beatles)

-La Bamba (Gipsy Kings & Los Lobos)

-Kids of the Future (Jonas Brothers) [Do filme: A Família do Futuro]

-What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

-Microsoft Remix 2008 (Windows XP)

-YaYaYa (Zoo) [Matsuri Dance]

-Don’t Matter (Akon)

-Fear and at the same time happiness Onestop

-Alegria (Cirque du Soleil)

-Alegria mix

-Everyday Superhero (Smash Mouth)

-I’m On My Way (Proclaimers)

-Immortality (Celine Dion & The Bee Gees)

-Birthday (Wesley Ignacio) [Mid]

-Dolly Song (Holly Dolly)

-To the left (Beyonce)

-Magic Works (Jarvis Cocker)

-Coca Cola Christmas Song (Christmas Song)

-As Lovers Go (Dashboard Confessional)

-Lumos (Hedwig’s Theme)

-Because I Got High (Afro Man)

-Halloween Theme Song (Halloween Theme Song)

-Hey Jude (The Beatles)

-Holding out for a hero (Shrek 2)

-Dont Worry Be Happy (Jimmy Cliff)

-Coca Cola (Ana Torroja Mecano)

-Hoy quiero que me mires (Coca-Cola Verano 2009)

-Livin’ La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin)

-Ballade pour adeline (Richard Claiderman)

-Oh Suzana (The Band Road)

-We will rock you (Queen)

-Mr. Lonely (Akon)

-Miss Jamaica (Jimmy Cliff)

-Pica Pau (Temas de Filmes)

-All Out of Love (Air Supply)

-Figaro (Luciano Pavaroti)

-The Pink Panther Theme (Henry Mancini) [Pantera cor-de-rosa]

-Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You (Glen Medeiros) *

-Billy Jean (Michael Jackson)

-Rock, o lutador (Tema de Filme) [inglês]*

-Changes (David Bowie)

-She Loves You Ya Ya
-Close My Eyes (Astroline)

-You Sexy Thing

-This Is It

-Im A Believe

-Get Up

-Tears In Heaven

-Windows Microsoft Error Song (Techno)

-A puro dolor -Microsoft Remix 2008 (Windows Xp)
-Dragostea Din Tei (Ozone) **** [ Saiba mais sobre esta Super Música no final deste post]

Dragostea Din Tei é uma música conhecida podemos dizer internacionalmente, que foi criada originalmente por Ozone (U.S.A.)/(E.U.A).

Dicas: Procure Dragostea Din Tei no You Tube e veja o vídeo clip da música, se preferir veja agora:

Procure no Ares Também:

Dragostea Din tei : Chinese, Japanese, Remix e etc.

Escute algumas das músicas ditas aqui: Mas antes digo que os nomes podem não corresponder com os ditos aqui. A música The Lion Sleeps Tonight é diferente do que fala aqui.

Para escutar clique sobre os links: 

Carro de Fuego

Microsoft remix 2008

Dragostea Din Tei remix

 Visualise sempre este post eu irei postar mais músicas talvez.

Deixe um comentário e/ou avalie este post somente clicando sobre o título dele. Se não sabe mesmo assim clique aqui.

                                                                                                                         Wesley Ignacio

12h04 – Essa Casa Tem História – Couto Pereira

– Sabe Como? – Carteira de Trabalho

– PR399 – Rio Negro

– Aqui é Assim – Patrimônio

– O Dono da Rua – Marechais

– Tá na Lei – Crimes na Internet

– Tempero da Terra – Pintado na Telha

– Sabe Como? – Farmácia Popular

– Onde Você Estava? – Homem na Lua

– O Dono da Rua – Rocha Pombo

13h05 – Resumo da Semana

13h30 – Mundo da Fotografia – Marcos Piffer: Paisagem do Mar

14h00 – Ciranda Cultural – Revista Joaquim

14h40 – Mundo da Alimentação – Churrasco à Gaúcha

15h05 – Mundo da Arte – O Artesão de Ilusões: Wesley Duke Lee

15h30 – Plano Geral – Bolsa Família

16h35 – Memória Política – Evandro Lins e Silva

17h35 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

18h00 – Essa Casa Tem História – Couto Pereira

– Sabe Como? – Carteira de Trabalho

– PR399 – Rio Negro

– Aqui é Assim – Patrimônio

– O Dono da Rua – Marechais

– Tá na Lei – Crimes na Internet

– Tempero da Terra – Pintado na Telha

– Sabe Como? – Farmácia Popular

– Onde Você Estava? – Homem na Lua

– O Dono da Rua – Rocha Pombo

19h00 – Ciranda Cultural – Revista Joaquim

19h40 – Essa Casa Tem História – Instituto de Educação

– Serviços Públicos – Defesa Civil

20h00 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

20h25 – Memória Política – Evandro Lins e Silva

21h30 – Plano Geral – Bolsa Família

22h30 – Onde Você Estava? – IMI 70

–Aqui é Assim – Pianista

– Essa Casa Tem História – Hotel Cataratas

23h05 – Assembleia em Debate – ONGs

– Perfil Parlamentar – Antônio Anibelli, Fernando Scanavaca, Antonio Belinati, Luciana Rafagnin

12h04 – É Seu Direito – Café

12h35 – Resumo da Semana

13h00 – Onde Você Estava? – Queda do Muro de Berlim

13h30 – Mundo da Arte – O Artesão de Ilusões: Wesley Duke Lee

14h00 – Urbanidades – Judeus

15h05 – Mundo da Alimentação – Churrasco à Gaúcha

15h30 – Marca Paraná – Engenharia Reversa

16h25 – PR399 – Contenda

– O Dono da Rua – Augusto Stresser

17h00 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

17h25 – Mundo da Fotografia – Marcos Piffer: Paisagem do Mar

18h00 – É Seu Direito – Café

18h35 – Onde Você Estava? – Queda do Muro de Berlim

19h00 – Urbanidades – Judeus

20h00 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

20h25 – Memória Política – Evandro Lins e Silva

21h30 – Marca Paraná – Engenharia Reversa

22h35 – PR399 – Contenda

– O Dono da Rua – Augusto Stresser

23h00 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

23h30 – Cine Pinhão – Romance Edmottês

– Perfil Parlamentar – Pedro Ivo Ilkiv, Alexandre Curi, Luiz Accorsi, Edson Praczyk

http://www.humo.be/images/kabouter-wesley-tv.gif

That would be Mary. She is so grown-up these days. It is….astounding. Wonderful. Sad. Funny.

She’s started calling me Mom (as opposed to Mommy). “Thanks, Mom!” “No, I got it, Mom!” “Hey, Mom? Can you come get me a paper towel?” (not a good sign, that last one). No one told her to do this; it’s like she learned it at secret underground Big Kid School.

Anyway, she is very grown-up. Wesley, as well, is heading for adulthood at breakneck speed, which is dismaying and adorable at once. This morning, Wesley figured out what pretending is. That’s right–he figured it out! Mary was crawling around and barking. I said, “Are you a doggie?” He looked at Mary, then looked at me, then shouted, “Is a doggie!” and began petting Mary’s hair. He laughed hysterically every time he petted her and she barked. So. Cute. Seriously, so cute.

Anyway. The actual purpose of this post is PICTURES!

Check it out: they actually sat together, without pushing, crying, pinching, stealing toys, or otherwise creating mayhem!

Granted, they were watching “The Muppet Show,” but still.

Last weekend, we went on a family outing. Linny’s Deli, the park behind our old apartment, Daedalus Books, sushi. What more could we ask for?

Mary, eating potato chips–she was delighted:

Wesley, eating potato chips–he was mistrustful, but he got over it.

Because, you know, he loves food. All kinds of food.

Mary had her first grilled cheese ever. Wesley got a quarter:

By the way, Mom–I told Mary you like to make grilled cheese sandwiches. She expects one when we visit you.

Then we went to the park. Mary hit the ground running.

Gah! Like I said. She’s a big kid.

Nothing scares her now–look at the size of this thing.

Then there’s Wesley: he likes to stay close to the ground. (Actually, that’s not really fair. He is a tentative kid but somehow climbing is usually exempt from his normal Principle of Being Hesitant.)

Since Mary is such a big kid, they can swing together on a swingset with one baby swing and one regular swing!

Or, Conor can swing with Wesley.

Mary pops out of a hole, looking very self-satisfied:

Just to prove I was there, here I am with Wesley. He is snuggling me in this picture and saying, “Oooo hoo hoo,” which is his noise he makes when he cuddles someone or something. It is ridiculously cute.

Conor tried to take a family photo. (Note that we are all sort of in it, if you count his shadow.)

A: they all bind you through fear.

Pensées on Seeing the Effect of these Three Influences in Hong Kong

In the sense that Communism, Superstition and Legalism bind people through fear, they are all religious. Because of this they are also in a curious way attractive, at least to certain types of people, but maybe to all of us, just in varying degrees.

Many people like to be told what to do. They like not having the responsibility to think through things for themselves. I think this is a fundamental and perhaps universal human flaw.

Fear and faith also have a lot in common; in both cases you believe that what you cannot yet see will happen to you. The difference is that fear is not based on trust. In fact in many ways fear could be said to be the opposite of trust.

The word religion comes from a Latin root which means to bind. Under communism, superstition and legalism, human beings find themselves bound to act in certain ways, not in the end because they trust those who have dictated things to be so, but because they fear the consequences of resisting and not doing what they are told to do.

The kind of questions they are faced with are: What will they do to me if they find out? What will my fate be in their hands? What will others think?

Fear is not based on reason. In fact fear undermines reason to the extent that people who allow fear to dominate their lives eventually stop thinking reasonably for themselves.

Faith, especially the Christian faith, invites reason, encourages reason, is a healthy environment for reason to flourish. Faith is based on trust, and where there is trust there is progress. You can talk openly, you can even disagree. You confess that you are on a journey together and that you do not know all things but have much to learn.

A few Christians might subscribe to communism (but I don’t know any personally!) Some Christians are strangely superstitious in their behaviour. But there are many more Christians who remain sadly bound by legalism as if it were the acceptable face of being a Jesus follower. As if you blend in better with the religious world by so doing. The deeper sadness is that most do not even realise it, thinking instead that this is as good as it gets in the Christian life.

As we meandered around the Hong Kong and learned more of the diverse cultural history of the city and its environs it made me think about the legacy of these influences today. Eastern Mysticism in its plethora of manifestations, from Buddhism to Taoism/Daoism (neither of which incidentally is especially theistic) has held people in superstitious bondage to a greater or lesser degree for years; rooted in animism and with so often the common thread of reincarnation these -isms, religions and philosophies still focus on a human being’s individual moral obligation to do right things and abstain from wrong things in life in order not to be punished in the future. Thus this fear is a major motivation and the onus is totally on the individual’s responsibility to earn the right to a better life. Communism more recently has built on this culture of fear and perhaps even in its less vicious modern incarnation mixed now with the demiurge of materialism is still overshadowing Hong Kong’s future with its claws of control; in this case Big Brother is certainly watching, not only next-door but now lurking in the corridors of power waiting for an opportunity to inflict its crushing fear. It was indeed Mao Zedong who professed “Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.” The fearful question is then ‘Who is the enemy?” and the supplementary one is “Have I become the enemy?”

Now the impact of Christianity sadly has also often done little to thwart, in fact sometimes it has added to, this oppressive weight of the culture of dos and don’ts, ask not and question not, tick all the boxes and feel proud; for this is the bewitching effect of legalistic Christianity, which can come in and immediately attract those who have grown accustomed to this lifestyle based on other fear-founded -isms.  The Apostle Paul goes so far as to call this “another gospel… no gospel at all” [Gal 1:6-7] It is surely not the Gospel, for it is not good news at all. And yet it has and still is masqueraded as the Gospel around the world by well-meaning ministers. It is not even new news, for it is based so much on the worldly concept of earning favour – do good = be accepted, do bad = be rejected. It just perhaps seems more holy when wrapped up in Christian paper.

The Gospel of Grace in the Lord Jesus Christ is the exact opposite. He gives rest to the heavy laden. We simply come to Him and ask. [Matt 7:7, 11:28; Luk 11:9, 13]

So it is basically this ungospel of legalism that Rob Rufus and others like him are vehemently seeking to see stamped out, and I for one am glad for it. We must pray for this glorious good news to go out far and wide, especially in a place like Hong Kong sitting, as it has for centuries, like a gateway into China and the East. But currently City Church International’s impact on Hong Kong, and on locals, let alone on China, is, in reality, minuscule. It is out of proportion to the thousands of downloads of Rob’s sermons in the rest of the world via the web. So we must pray too for churches like The Vine whose impact in Hong Kong is growing rapidly and currently have, I believe, at least the nascent strategic apostolic and administrative gifting to reach out and sustain evangelism and church-planting within Hong Kong and into mainland China. In my humble opinion these two mixed together would be a lethal weapon against the kingdom of darkness, much like Wesley and Whitefield might have been if they’d been able to work together more often!

Last weekend was Wesley’s 2nd birthday party. Last year was a jungle theme (see picture below), and just when you thought it couldn’t get any cooler, Erin covered the entire room with glitter and metalics creating an out-of-this world robot party. It was decorated better than any dance I had attended in high school and the coolest child’s birthday party I’d ever seen. Complete with robot cupcakes, robot gift bags (pop rocks included!), and “bot juice” – it was a memorable evening full of fun games and delicious food. Wesley is a lot of fun to be around and is always amazing us with his advanced vocabulary (other than the fact that he sometimes calls me Uncle Beth…) and humorous faces. It will be fun to see little Anna grow to do the same!

Birthday #1:

Birthday #2:

These robots knew how to throw a party.

Wesley didn’t realize just how cool his Wall-E glasses were.

Or how cool his motorized jeep is. A sign of road rage at an early age?

November 9, 2009

In his view, the Fall was essentially a matter of wrong growing up. St. Irenaeus believed, as did many of the early Christians — in marked contrast to the traditional Jewish belief — that Adam was created as a young child. The reason why he was forbidden to eat from the tree of knowledge was simply that he had to grow up first, and that takes time. Unfortunately, Adam was impatient; in trying to anticipate his adulthood, by seizing the fruit before the time was ripe, he thwarted the process of true maturing. St. Irenaeus recognises that one aspect of this is the disorder that afflicts human sexuality, and in fact we might say that his presentation of the Fall is, essentially, as a mishandling of the crisis of puberty. The result is that man can now only grow up properly by a painful dismantling of his false grown-upness. To this end, the Son of God “came to be a child with us,” so that we could be led back to childhood and then grow up again, this time in a true way, till we come to the full stature of Christ himself (Eph 4:13).
from Prayer by Simon Tugwell

I have neglected my spiritual practices for months. It shows. I am losing faith, losing hope, falling deeper into despair and confusion. I find myself in a ministry that does not work for me. It is not a fit for my passions, experience, gifts, and abilities. I have very little experience and feel unqualified to work with youth. From the very beginning the youth did not want me as their youth group leader. I do not feel that I am doing any ‘good’ and certainly not all the good I could be doing. Where is my God? Has God forsaken me? Is it, or is it not, part of God’s plan for my life for me to be learning how to engage in ministries with youth and children at this late stage in my life?

When I read this passage by Simon Tugwell, it sheds light on my current confusion. I have a deep desire to help people connect to experiences of God’s grace. I am frustrated by the attitudes of the middle school and high school youth at FUMC Salem. They already believe they do not need to ‘grow up’ in their faith, to grow up into the full stature of Christ. They already have a false sense of grown-upness. They would argue with me about this, but you see even their parents, even I am guilty of this. We generally do not recognize our own spiritual immaturity.

John Wesley’s concept of sanctifying grace, and ‘moving on to perfection’ is similar. God’s grace is everywhere and always present, beckoning us into a deeper more mature relationship with God. When we accept that we need to grow up, that we do not possess all knowledge of good and evil, that we are incapable of choosing between right and wrong by our own discernment and effort, then we have access to God’s transforming grace. We must come as a child or we do not have access to the realm of God, God’s kindom on earth or in heaven.

The message for me in this text is my current work with young people and families with children at FUMC is important work. I do not need to know what to do. God will guide us all if we admit we are powerless, and we do not possess all knowledge, skills, and abilities. My role is to communicate the importance of this work. My role is to reveal what is inauthentic, what does not work, and enroll adults and youth in a transformed vision for children’s and youth ministries at FUMC Salem acknowledge that Christian education and faith formation – growing into the likeness of Christ – is a life long process.

Buffy Anne Summers "The Slayer"

So I have a confession to make. In my oh so hallowed opinion (cough cough) Buffy the Vampire Slayer was, and still is, one of the best television series ever made.

I began watching it when I was 12, waaay back in 1997. From that very first pilot, I was hooked. A gorgeous, sassy blonde that tackled head on both the evils of high school and the insidious vampires (And other creatures) that roamed the night. Along with her tight knit group of friends, Buffy Anne Summers spent Seven Seasons growing up the hard way. On the hell mouth.

Now, this show has a massive and extremely loyal cult following. Despite the show wrapping up several years ago, people are still chatting daily about the show. Interviews of the stars on Youtube still get thousands of hits, comic books and novels are still being created along with so many fan-made websites a person couldn’t possibly have time to look at them all. Why? Many people turn their nose up when they hear anyone mention this show. I think thats sad. They really are missing out on a true gem.

Over the years, in an intricately woven, poignant plot written beautifully by creator Joss Whedon, we watch Buffy and her crew (Giles her Watcher, Xander and Willow her two best friends) grow up in Sunnydale. We watch them fight evil in the form of supernatural forces – vampires, werewolves, witches, demons and curses to name but a few. The show started with a very tongue in cheek feel to it, quite light, with lots of humour. Well as the years went by the quick, flippant jokes never stopped flowing, but the show grew up and so did it’s characters. Everything became darker, the themes went from mildly childish to unabashedly adult.

Here’s a few things that happened to shape this show:

Willow, Buffy’s best friend goes from a geeky little schoolgirl crushing on her friend Xander to the girlfriend of a werewolf named Oz who plays guitar in a rock band. She later becomes a hardcore Witch, and a lesbian after Oz leaves her. She falls in love with a fellow Witch called Tara who is later shot and killed, causing Willow to lose her sanity and almost end the world through her powers. 

Xander, Buffy’s other best friend throughout the series, goes from a dorky teen always trying to pick up chicks, to dating the most popular (If not bitchy) girl in school, Cordelia. He later goes on to become a builder after many failed career attempts, and falls in love with an ex vengeance demon named Anya. During the final season he loses one eye when it was gouged from his face by a minion of The First Evil. But throughout, Xander continues to be absolutely hilarious, his sense of humour really making the show what it is.

Then there’s Giles. Buffy’s stuffy British Watcher sent to guide her through the perils of slaying, who ends up becoming more a friend and father figure. Giles starts off very rigid, but throughout the seasons his dry sense of humour becomes his main trait. He falls in love with Jenny, a gypsy, who is murdered by Angel. Her body is left in his bed for him to find, an event that haunts him forevermore.

And then there is Buffy herself. Buffy fall’s completely in love with Angel. He is a vampire, but the only one in the world with a soul. He loses his soul through one moment of happiness with Buffy (Take a guess at how ) and turns evil, forcing Buffy to kill him after he goes on a mass killing spree. Angel is brought back from hell by The Powers That Be, but can no longer be with Buffy due to the risk of him losing his soul again. He leaves Sunnydale, but neither of them ever get over loving each other. Along with that, Buffy dies twice and is brought back, she gets kicked out of school and runs away from home, priests insert a Sister into her family one day using magic and most tragic of all, her Mother dies from complications associated with cancer. From that you see a very human superhero. She grieves, she has to pay the mortgage, she has to make sure her sister does her homework, all the while dropping out of College and working at a fast food joint.

The show is a masterpiece of darkness and humour, of the unexpected and the every day stresses of life. It is sex and sin and wit, but most of all, heart.

Buffy cast - Season 4

Buffy crew - Season 2

I will forevermore adore this show, because it truly is brilliant. I have every episode on DVD, and continue to watch the show on and off whenever I need a pick me up.

Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Feathers on my breath
Gentle impulsion
Shakes me, makes me lighter
Feathers on my breath.

^Massive attack…wonderful group, wonderful song.

Not completely why I’m here though. Last night, I spent a bit of time with both my girlfriend and (non-blood) brother for the first time in ages. Due to conflicting schedules, that brother of mine and I just don’t get to hang too much as of late. It was nice being around both of them though. If there’s anything I would classify as family right now, it would be the 2 of them. They’ve been around enough to have seen just about every side of me, and still be around. To me, that’s the difference between family and friends. Yes, I have some really close friends as well that I still keep in touch with, but it’s just not the same by any means.

Christina makes me ponder love and everything I’ve ever thought about it. She brings forth the question of “what am I really ready for?” and “what can I really handle?” but I have also grown quite a bit emotionally and romantically thanks to her. I can’t say I’ve become a different person, but she has done a lot to bring out the person I truly feel I am. If it wasn’t a matter of bringing it out, then it was certainly a matter of finding it.

Over the years I’ve done a lot of soul searching, mainly because it’s just hard to get people to stick around, and for many years of your life, your friends and your relationships define you almost exclusively. Eventually however, there comes a time where you must define yourself. I remember reaching that point where I felt it was necessary, but Christina and my brother Wesley gave me the freedom to find such definition.

Wesley, the guy lived with me for a solid 5 months. Without us ever killing each other, or even attempting to. For him to be the brother I never had (when I indeed have 3 brothers) speaks multitudes on its own. We’re not the exact same, but we work which to me is what family is all about. You don’t have to be the same, it’s a bond you develop, and yet it can’t be developed by just any two people. There’s a lot that goes into it. I like to think so anyways.

Well, turns out I have to get going. So I can go home, and hopefully hang a bit with my homies.

Ciao.

Hi!

Finally it’s Saturday been waiting for this day (no reason though)
It’s 13 days left until the Twilight: NEW MOON PREMIERE!! Sooo have to watch ^___^

Oh I watched Vampire Diaries just now, ep 8. : ) I like it.
The guys Damon and Stefan are soo hawt *drools*
well I’m gonna continue watching series.
And now I’m going to watch Supernatural (gorgeous guys as well)
but first I have to play Guitar Hero Rock band with my brother (me on drums and bro on the guitar) ^____^

PEACE!!!

hmm..I’m thinking about writing in Swedish,
but I guess we’ll see what happens xD

I don’t know. I thought I’d make a post on how I came to my theological standpoint. However before I start, I will go back to what I said in earlier posts, these are points that are worth discussing, but should not bring division in the Church. If we can all agree on regeneration and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, I think that’s enough to bring us together in fellowship. But I have my personal convictions and I wanted to share them a little bit here.

Before, in an earlier post, I said to not call me a Calvinist or Arminian. I said that more to stress fellowship and how we should not be divided over the two sides. I am a Calvinist. And when I say that, I mean that I agree with the 5 points that John Calvin taught. I am not a cessationist like John Calvin was and I’m sure there’s other stuff that he taught that I don’t agree with, but I don’t know because I haven’t read any of his writings. This is just an issue of the 5 points. I don’t take the label of Calvinist to say that I agree with every little thing John Calvin said. In fact, John Wesley, a definite Arminian, is someone who I agree with on a lot of points.

I used to be against Calvinism. I think to the immature Christian, Calvinism seems absolutely ridiculous and doesn’t make sense. However when I opened up and began to study the two views, I came to the conclusion that it was Arminianism that didn’t make sense. Perhaps I didn’t get a clear explanation of it and I’m not saying a mature Christian can’t be an Arminian. However, for me, as I’ve matured my views have shifted.

So anyways, the 5 points of Calvinism use the letters TULIP to spell out the first letters of each point. The 5 points are as follows:

Total Depravity of Man

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, all men are born into sin. All men are naturally evil. Everything they are and do are evil. They hate God (maybe not with their words, but with actions) and they want nothing to do with Him. Their hearts are evil. They deserve the full force wrath of God.

Why do I believe this? In Romans 3:9-18, Paul states it pretty clearly:

9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
13“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16ruin and misery mark their ways,
17and the way of peace they do not know.”
18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

To my natural ears, I don’t want to hear that everyone is evil. In fact, some might think that I sound like some fanatic when I say that. But this is not to come from me. Everything we believe has to line up with the word of God. So when I read this, how can I not agree with that? It’s true. Man is evil. We have turned from God completely. And why would we deserve His grace? We don’t. That’s what makes the love of God so amazing. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Unconditional Election

Because man is naturally evil and wants nothing to do with God, he can not choose for himself to turn to God. God must first enable the sinner to come to Him.

Here’s the one that people attack. Predestination. You may think this one’s crazy. God chooses who He desires to save? Yes. However this does not discount freewill. If I were to say that freewill didn’t exist, then I would be wrong. Freewill exists in scripture. We have freewill. But let me give a visual explanation of what I’m talking about.

I walk to school everyday. However I don’t have to. I could ride the bus, or perhaps get driven by someone. Those are my options. But can I choose to fly? No, of course not. That’s not even an option for me. I don’t have wings. So do I not have freewill because I can’t make the decision to fly to school? No, I do. Flying is not of my nature, therefore I can not make that decision. The same goes with this. Because I am naturally evil since birth and I want nothing to do with God, I’m not going to choose God nor will my evil heart want to. First He must enable me and then I can make the freewill choice to come to Him.

Bible verse?

John 6:44:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Also, you may look at the example of Pharaoh with Moses (Exodus 4:21). God hardened his heart. It didn’t say that Pharaoh chose to not let God’s people go. It said that God hardened His heart so He would not let His people go. Why? So God could be glorified. God’s in control of everything.

Limited Atonement

The atonement of sins through the sacrifice of the Son Jesus Christ saved only the elect of God.

This probably isn’t the greatest term to use for the subject and I will say that this point was not something I had an easy time agreeing with until it was properly explained to me.

This should probably be called sufficient atonement. Limited atonement just doesn’t sound great and it kind of makes it seem like God doesn’t care about the rest of the world. The sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for all of man. If every man were saved, the sacrifice would be sufficient enough for them. However, here’s where I understood the point.

If Christ died for everyone, then that would have to mean that everyone is saved. We know this isn’t true because scripture tells us that few will find the narrow gate and narrow road (Matt 7:13-14) and that men must repent and believe to be saved (Mark 1:15). So really, it’s not such a horrible idea as it originally sounds. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for all of man, but it is only done for those that are/have been/will be saved.

Irresistible Grace

The grace that God gives to man for his election can not be refused.

Why would you resist it? When the grace of God comes on you, it’s too beautiful and amazing to resist. When I was saved (or at least became confident of my salvation), I paced around my room saying “I’m saved!” because I just couldn’t believe why God would love me so much to elect me into His kingdom and desire to use me. When you receive it, it puts you in awe. I will say that once you have received a revelation of Jesus Christ, you will not refuse it. It will drive you to your knees in repentance. It’s beautiful.

There was a period of time before I came to Christ where I guess I was enabled. God had revealed Himself to me and then as time went on, He kept on enduring in me and pressing Himself upon my soul until I came to the point of repentance and faith in Him. This is God’s irresistible grace.

Perseverance  of the Saints

Once man has been saved, they don’t lose their salvation. They are eternally secure in their salvation.

This isn’t really a point for Calvinists. There are many Calvinists that do not agree with this and there are many Arminians who do. My view: I do agree with it.

Ephesians 1:13-14:
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

It’s almost like saying, “Now that I’ve been reborn, I will go back to death and then become the way I used to be.” It just doesn’t make any sense, at least not to me. And how powerful is the work of Christ if I have to keep coming back to it to seek my salvation once again? It almost seems like it’s saying the work of Christ wasn’t good enough to save me and I must be good to be saved if eternal security were not true. According to the Prophet Isaiah, our righteous works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We can not do enough good. If our salvation depended on a scale of good and bad things we’ve done, I guarantee you that the bad would weigh down and break the table it sits on.

So that’s my views in a nutshell. I could go into a little more detail probably if I was asked, but I figured I’d just make a post of this stuff. However, I want to stress that this should not cause divisions and quarrels among believers. Our personal convictions should not be added to the word of God. Let love be on the forefront of our minds. Let the Arminian and the Calvinist fellowship with one another. I guarantee you’re not right about everything and neither am I.

It is a well known fact that a pitfall of “holiness” traditions (those that trace their spiritual heritage to John Wesley) is legalism.  Rules rule our lives.  We often find “holiness” in a list of what NOT to do.  I’ve heard it said, “don’t drink, smoke, cuss, or chew – or go out with girls that do.”  Leagalism.  Rules.

One reason for this slide into legalism is that rules are easy.  If I cannot drink or smoke or go to movies and that equals holiness, then it is easy to know if I am holy and easy to see who else is.  (Though people may drive way out to Wickenburg to avoid being caught watching Gone with the Wind – a true story from my own family history.)  Lists and rules make Christian perfection easy.

But – and this is a big but – but that is not what Christian perfection is really about.

In my denomination we have a Manual.  It is a document that describes our history, doctrine, and polity.  It also includes (to my great disappointment) a section called “The Covenant of Christian Conduct.”  This section contains twelve pages of rules.  Rules about how to live a holy life.  It says that these rules “should be followed carefully and conscientiously as guides and helps to holy living” (section 33.2, p 48).

Do you know what admonition I failed to read in that entire section of rules?  The command (or law or rule or whatever you want to call it) ominously missing is the only one that belongs: “love.”

If those twelve pages don’t betray us as a denomination of legalism, I don’t know what would.  What makes this even worse is that it is not true to Wesleyan holiness – the very thing we claim to be about.  Read what Wesley wrote in A Plain Account of Christian Perfection about adding expectations and rules to the one rule of love:

‘But he does not come up to my idea of a perfect Christian.’  And perhaps no one ever did, or ever will.  For your idea may go beyond, or at least beside the Scriptural account.  It may include more than the Bible includes therein…Scripture perfection is, pure love filing the heart, and governing all words and actions.  If your idea includes anything else, it is not Scriptural; and then no wonder, that a Scripturally perfect Christian does not come up to it.  60

Worth repeating:  “Scripture perfection is, pure love filing the heart, and governing all words and actions.  If your idea includes anything else, it is not Scriptural.” My denomination has gone well “beyond” by adding twelve pages of “anything else” but has completely omitted the one command that matters:  “Love God & love others.”

Here is another important and relevant section of A Plain Account:

It were well you should be thoroughly sensible of this, – the heaven of heavens is love.  There is nothing higher in religion; there is, in effect, nothing else; if you look for anything but more love, you are looking wide of the mark, you are getting out of the royal way.  And when you are asking others, ‘Have you received this or that blessing?’ If you mean anything but more love, you mean wrong; you are leading them out of the way and putting them upon a false scent…[Y]ou are to aim at nothing more, but more of that love described in the thirteenth chapter of the Corinthians.  You can go no higher than this , till you are carried into Abraham’s bosom. 99

Worth repeating:

“If you look for anything but more love, you are looking wide of the mark.”

“If you mean anything but more love, you mean wrong.”

“You are to aim at nothing more, but more…love.”

And yet we aim at twelve pages – and the command to love is nowhere in them. What a shame.

I would be quite happy to have a “Covenant of Christian Conduct” in the manual if the entire section contained only these words:

Christian Perfection “is nothing higher and nothing lower than this, – the pure love of God and man; the loving of God with all our heart and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves.  It is love governing the heart and life, running though all our tempers, words, and actions.” ~John Wesley

I don’t know what else is necessary.  Anything more than love is simply legalism.

May the God of Grace help us get away from our silly rules and fill us all with perfect love.

So, last night, Wesley woke up around 1 a.m. and didn’t go back to sleep until 6:15. That’s right, 6:15. I do not know why. I do not know if he’s going to do the same thing tonight. I do not know anything. Partly because my brain is fried from getting 1.5 hours of sleep.

I have to grade 23 papers tonight, minimum. Of course, this means that the kids’ Neediness Index is at an all-time high. In the past hour, the following things have happened:

* they have eaten four bananas between them and have fought over every one [although I keep pointing out there are plenty to go around];

* Mary has dumped a potty-full of urine on the floor [on purpose];

* I put Mary in time-out for this and she promptly announced, while I was cleaning up the pee, that she had pooped on the stairs;

* Wesley has pulled a book down on his own head, cried, and then tried to tear the pages out;

* Mary has insisted, weeping copiously until I complied, that I get a bowl for her to put blocks into, so that she can feed the blocks to her new imaginary dog, Ralph, who lives in the bathroom.

AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH. That’s all I have to say about today.

One of the biggest sticking points, when people consider Wesley’s teaching on Christian perfection, is the issue of being sinless; living without sin.  The problem seems to be that we all seem to continue to make mistakes in our lives.  This level of perfection – living without sin – seems unattainable.

In fact, this should not be an issue, for Wesley, according to what he wrote in A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, did not expect anyone to live a sinless life:

“Not only sin, properly so called (that is, a voluntary transgression of a known law), but sin, improperly so called (that is, an involuntary transgression of a Divine law, known or unknown), needs atoning blood…Therefore sinless perfection is a phrase I never use, lest I should seem to contradict myself.” 53

Note definitions.  Wesley makes a distinction between two kinds of “sin.”  Most people I know call any  wrongdoing “sin.”  Wesley, however, seemed to prefer to use the word “sin” only for a truly rebellious action, “a voluntary transgression of a known law.”  Other transgressions or mistakes (or missing the mark), according to Wesley, should not be called “sin.”

But the issue at the center of Christian Perfection is not avoiding sin but of “love governing the heart and life, running through all our tempers, words, and actions.” People filled with love will still make mistakes (call that sin, if you wish), but according to Wesley:

“all men are liable to mistake, and that in practice as well as in judgment.  But they do not know, or do not observe, that it is not sin, if love is the sole principle of action.” 53

So, in a sense, if we make all our choices from the motivation of love by the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot “sin” (in the “proper” use of the term).  However, mistakes will still haunt us.  Wesley clearly states his views on ongoing “mistakes” (call it “sin” if you must) in this statement:

“For neither love nor the ‘unction of the Holy One’ makes us infallible; therefore, through unavoidable defects of understanding, we cannot but mistake in many things.  And these mistakes will frequently occasion something wrong, both in our temper, and words, and actions….The holiest of men still need Christ, as their Prophet…they still need Christ as their King…they still need Christ as their Priest… Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.” 82

In the same section of argument, Wesley continues:

“But even these souls [who are filled with perfect love] dwell in a shattered body, and are so pressed down thereby, that they cannot always exert themselves as they would, by thinking, speaking, and acting, precisely right…yet as even in this case, there is not a full conformity to the perfect law, so the most perfect do, on this very account, need the blood of atonement, and may properly for themselves, as well as for their brethren, say, “forgive us our trespasses.”  84

These statements seem worth repeating: “The holiest of men still need Christ…Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.”  And “ sinless perfection is a phrase I never use.”  No, we are all prone to mistakes, wrongdoing, and in constant need of Christ, no matter how “holy” we may be.

All of us need to utter the wonderful little phrase, “forgive us our trespasses.”

Since photos are obligatory…

Wesley the tiger immediately [and permanently] shed his sweater, making him….a kid with a tail.

Mary the fairy eating candy:

After trick-or-treating, we went over to Grandma’s. Mary and Wesley helped her hand out candy.

Mary says, “Would you like some tea?”

“It’s delicious. Have some.”

Mary contemplating the vending machines at Jiffy Subs:

Wesley was intrigued by the video games.

Mary also wanted in on the video games.

Never mind candy. She wants french fries.

So does Wesley.

covered in chocolate and ketchup–sign of a good day.

last but not least–our pumpkins. Mary’s is the less representational one.

I recently read John Wesley’s little book, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, written in 1777 as a summary of his teaching on Christian perfection (also knows as entire sanctification).

As a result of growing up in a Wesleyan denomination (Nazarene) and of my studies as a theology student, have come to terms with the doctrine – but others are not so sure: denying it outright or misunderstanding it badly or both.

So, what is Christian perfection (or entire sanctification)?  What did Wesley mean when he used the words?  This quote sums it up wonderfully:

Christian Perfection “is nothing higher and nothing lower than this, – the pure love of God and man; the loving of God with all our heart and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves.  It is love governing the heart and life, running though all our tempers, words, and actions.”  A Plain Account of Christian Perfection 55

That last bit is outstanding:  “It is love governing the heart and life, running through all our tempers, works, and actions.” Wow.  How simple.  How to the point.  How beautiful.  Love.  It is all about love.  (In fact, another synonym for Christian perfection is “perfect love.”)

This is the basic idea:  once someone begins to follow Christ, they grow more like him every day (the process of sanctification).  At some point, after continually seeking God, one may enter a state where  “love [is] governing the heart and life….”  When all we do is motivated from love, that is perfection.  At this point there is still growth – getting better and better at loving God and loving others.  Perfection is not about actually being perfect (only God can do that), rather it is about the perfect motivation from which we live our lives: Love.

I’ll be writing several posts about entire sanctification over the next few days (possibly weeks).  I’ll address some important nuances, misunderstandings, and so on.

Until then, join me in praying that God might fill us all with perfect love.