Alot has happened since my last blog so I’ll sum it up: PuertoRicodoctorworkvacationworkchurchChristmasworkeyedoctorfamilyfriendcalledoffhiswedding

soulsearchingbusinessslowdownelectionandsomemorestuffthatI’msurewasimportantbutIdon’tremem

beritrightnow.

I am addicted to talent shows.  I can’t seem to get enough of them.  I just love the stories behind these people.  I guess its because they’re real…for the most part.  I absolutely love it when someone gets on stage who obviously has never done it before and blows me away with a talent they don’t even know they have.  I just watched this on youtube and I was reminded of why I love these shows.  It may be lame…but I don’t really care.

Anyway, see you next time

But here’s the most troubling news: You can die from eating chilli.  A man who was studying to be a chef in London died after eating incredibly hot chilli in a contest.  His girlfriend said he went to bed and started itching all over and when she woke up the next morning he was dead.  Imagine that, a chilli so hot it could literally kill you.

I’ve never understood some people’s infatuation with eating the hottest thing they can put in their mouth.  My Dad is that way.  He doesn’t think food is good until it makes him sweat from being so spicy.  I have seen him eat a jar full of jalapenos in one sitting just to see if he could.  I, on the other hand, have absolutely no desire to eat something so spicy it could melt paint.  I like to taste and enjoy my food, and if I’m busy dousing my tongue in anything liquid on the table I can’t really enjoy my food.  I eat by the motto: “If I could die by eating this, then I shouldn’t eat it.”

On a lighter note, Russia really does want to take over the world.  I think Vladimir Putin is secretly building the Death Star in a basement apartment in Moscow and is waiting on approval from the Emperor to put it into action.  This guy has some serious issues.  In a story in the Global Politician Putin has even taken to re-writing history to further his cause:

The new textbooks he has commissioned and closely overseen erase the mass murders and concentration camps of the Stalin era and view the Cold War as a plot by a hostile America to destroy the USSR. Regarding the Middle East, the whole story of Moscow’s own machinations is omitted and students are falsely told that the UN branded Israel as an “aggressor” in 1967, a war that the Soviet Union is largely responsible for starting.

It goes on to say that Putin views himself as the savior of Russia.  I have a feeling this guy is going to be on our radar for a long time and I hope that Luke Skywalker can foil his plans before it gets too ugly.

Maybe he should give him some really spicy chilli.

My wife is a HUGE Palin fan. I mean huge. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just giving you some perspective. We have been in Florida on vacation and we found out Palin was going to be here so we HAD to go see her. We drove 2.5 hours, stood in the 95 degree Florida sunshine for 7 hours, and enjoyed the aroma of 25,000 people while waiting for Sarah to speak.

The event was at an old folk’s community so there were people falling out left and right, which got us closer to the stage (is that wrong?). This place was like Donald Trump’s retirement home: there was a Barnes & Noble, Jos. A. Banks, and a plastic surgeon on the property. What surprised me was it seemed like the whole place were Republicans. I thought most old folks were Dem’s, anyway…Sarah finally came out and the place went nuts. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much excitement for a Republican candidate. This lady draws some serious crowds.

She spoke for about 30 minutes on the economy, oil independence, and values. She really is a great speaker. The highlight of the day was when my wife got to talk to her. I think she will be walking on clouds for a while. I am so glad that she is involved in politics. I couldn’t imagine being married to someone that doesn’t know the difference between a primary and a general election.

All in all it was a great day for my wife…which means a spectacular day for me.

This Sunday my pastor, Chuck Lewis-pastor of my church-the @nchor, was talking about choices.  He was telling us that every decision we make every minute of every day is a choice.  We choose to be busy.  I started to roll that around in my brain a while to let it sink in and came to an understanding.  I told myself, “Self, it’s time you stop choosing to be busy and start choosing to spend time with God.”  So that’s what I’ve been doing.  I’ll tell you something, it has been an eye-opening experience.  I had forgotten what life can be like when I get out of the way and let God work.   I found out that God really does love me and wants to be my friend. 

I used to do this thing when I was a kid and talk to God all the time.  I would talk to Him about every little thing and I never felt like God wasn’t interested in what I was saying.  Then I started to get “too old”  to be doing such a thing.  I would think, “Imagine what my friends would say if they knew I was praying all the time.”  When we’re young, we don’t really think about what other people might think of us.  Then somewhere we start worrying more about other people’s view of us than about God’s view.  That is even true now that I’m 27.  I have been choosing to live my life in what the world would think of me rather than what God would think of me.

So, I started talking to God again.  I see now what I have been missing.  My relationship with God has been put on the back burner and it has showed.  I’ve been going to church and even been heavily involved for some time now and I haven’t even once turned to God and said, “What’s up man.  It’s just me saying how you doin’.”  I’ve been doing this for a day and a half now and I have felt so at peace with life. 

I hope that if you’re reading this and you have been in the same boat as me for a while that maybe you’ll choose to talk with God again.  He really can change your life.  So if you’re driving down the road and see some dude who is talking to himself in the truck, don’t laugh.  It’s probably just me catching up.

A guy walks into a fast food joint.  He steps up to order his sandwich and notices a tip jar on the counter.  He orders his sandwich and sees the cashier eye the jar and then eye him.  Two things pop into his head; 1. if I don’t leave a tip, is that rude?, 2. if I don’t leave a tip, will they do something ungodly to my sandwich? 

I have seen this jar at many different establishments and I get truly pissed every time.  If you are at a business where you have to have a jar for tips, then you don’t really deserve a tip, think about it. This means that you have performed no service to the customer except taken their order and their money, they came to you.  I don’t see why anyone should have to tip someone for doing their job.  A tip is supposed to be for someone who has gone above their general duties to serve a customer.  Here is some jobs where a tip should be acceptable:

a waiter/waitress- Their job is to take your order, bring your food, and fill your drink.  If they do it well and fill your drink often and with hospitality then yes, by all means, tip them.

a pizza delivery person- They bring your food to your doorstep and inspire thousands of x-rated movies.  You should tip them…or pray for them.

valet parking person- they park your BMW because you are too lazy, fat, or stuck-up to walk from your car to the building.  Tip them, and if you like your car, tip them well.

The list could go on but you get the idea.  These people provide a service for you that is above the normal requirement.  A guy at Subway who takes your order, makes your sandwich, and gives it to you should not have his handout for a bonus.  Likewise, the person at Starbucks does not deserve a tip for making the coffee you ordered and calling your name to come and get it.  Imagine if this trend were to catch on.

I would start expecting a tip from my boss for showing up to work.  You might put a tip jar in your car when you drop your kids off at school, “Have a good day at school honey…(eye the tip jar)…”  This has to be the most ridiculous display of “I want something for nothing” I have seen yet.  Someone call Starbucks and tell them they are a bunch of idiots.

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When Jesus was walking the Earth the people of that day were completely bound by laws and regulations that the church had put into place.  It was as if the church wanted the people to know that only through them could they come close to and experience God.  The pastors of that day, the pharices, walked among them like Gods themselves.  So when Jesus came around and started talking about, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” The religious leaders were up in arms.  This was an attack not only on their system of beliefs, but also on their livelihood.  They had established for themselves a way to profit from God’s work.  Not only were the laws so ridiculous that noone could possibly follow them, but in order to stay in God’s favor the people had to give all of their money to the church.  On top of that, they were hooking up their buddies by allowing them to sell “approved” items to use as tithes and offerings so the people could “get right with God.”

Then comes Jesus.  He starts to say that God is everywhere; not just in the temple.  He said that anyone can get close with God no matter how much money you have.  Imagine how pissed you would be if someone came in and talked to your customers at your work and said that they don’t need you to get what they want?  The “pastors” were threatened by Him. 

So what’s the point?  Well, I believe that one of the most powerful messages Jesus gave, other than salvation, was that power and money can corrupt even the clergy.  In today’s new, progressive style of church where there is a lot of emphasis on Sunday mornings as “the big show,” church leaders can get caught up in how much it costs to have this kind of service and forget about what it’s all about.  They may even give special treatment to those who are, or may be, big givers.  They lose the faith that got them into the ministry in the first place! I’ve seen some start to promote the “church” and what it can do for a person rather than what Jesus can do.  Reaching the lost is not about getting more people to finance the church.

So, yes, Jesus was a religious rebel.  He challenged the status quo and brought about a radical change in people’s perspective of God.  He stood up to the “pastors” who were using the ministry for their own personal gain and self-importance.  He gave his life for it, and for us. 

I thought it was interesting.