| I've been reading through Genesis and have become convinced that it has to be the most fascinating book in Scripture. It's amazing how it covers such terribly ancient events, yet each of them deeply resonate with our present culture. One area that has grabbed me is the morality level, or should I say lack of morality level, of our father, Jacob. Basically, the baby birthing contest between his two wives, their desire to offer "help" through their maidservants, and Jacob's willingness to go right along with all the antics, sounds more like an episode of Jerry Springer than anything else. While a sad commentary on Jacob and his family, we find such assurance that even through continued sin, God remained faithful and displayed His great love, mercy and grace to Jacob by continuing the covenant He made with Abraham. I guess there's hope for us all. |
posted by Christie
 You can now keep up with Relevant Magazine via thieir blog at myspace. The site doesn't contain much right now, but I'm sure more updates and articles are on the way. Maybe it'll be worth checking out. |
posted by Christie
Monday, January 30, 2006
| On January 17 Larry King hosted a discussion concerning homosexuality and specifically homosexual marriage. The impetus for the conversation was none other than Golden Globe award winning, Brokeback Mountain. King's panel included a wide spectrum of guests such as conservative Christian, Al Mohler - to openly gay activist, Chad Allen. You can read the transcript here and will likely be pleased by the excellent job Mohler did of presenting sound biblical insight into this ever growing debate. Mohler seems to have spoken with truth and love, often an uncommon balance, and told Larry King, the panelists and viewing audience, "What I hope for is that persons, heterosexual and homosexual, will come to know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, would come to know new life in him, would come to understand that sinners can find the only help that is...worth finding and the only salvation and solution to our problems is by coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then understanding that God, our creator, has the right to define every aspect of our lives including our sexuality." |
posted by Christie
Friday, January 27, 2006
| For the first time, in a very long time, my car is clean. I used to be a fanatic about keeping it spotless, infact Rickie always said I was the only girl he knew who detailed her car. However, as life progressed and time became of the essence, I opted to keep things clean, like my home, instead of my car. People always say you can look at a woman's vehicle and tell what kind of house she keeps - but that's not true with me at all. Really it all fell apart when I started school at Brewton-Parker. At the end of exams the first semester I popped open my trunk, dumped my books, and there they remained until just a few days ago. Same thing happened at the close of my second, third and fourth semesters. Oh and did I mention that the Chair of my department cleaned out his office and gave me about 50 books. Yep, they fell into the dreaded abyss as well. Thankfully, I graduated and that ended. But, that didn't bring a stop to many a moldy cup, half eaten sandwiches, grocery store bags, small animals, chocolate cakes, Doritos and old bananas. However, after its recent fumigation my car looks almost new and smells surprisingly pleasant considering some of its former contents. I hear if you deal with what's in your car each day, that the situation above won't repeat itself. Maybe I'll experiment. |
posted by Christie
| I didn't like this weeks Friday Fiver, last weeks was far more interesting. So, here it is. 1. What do you normally eat for breakfast? A grapefruit and some source of protein, either a small piece of cheese or some peanut butter. 2. Are you more likely to drink coffee or tea? I love flavored coffee and blended coffee drinks, but sweet tea is certainly the nectar of the gods. Of course, in Georgia it has to be made with two cups of sugar per gallon. A syrupy delight. 3. Would you consider yourself a good cook? I guess I'm a better cook than some. Since Rick and I have been married, I've only had one meal I had to throw away and another that should have been thrown away because Rick couldn't eat it. I have to give him credit though, he did try. 4. What is your favorite meal? Nothing too exotic, probably spaghetti or chicken and rice. But not together. 5. Green eggs and ham: would you eat it? I'll eat most anything once. |
posted by Christie
Thursday, January 26, 2006
 Although not a New Year's resolution, around the first of January I decided that I desperately needed to drink more water. What a harrowing realization that was for me as this epiphany came while the sweet essence of Cherry Coke still lingered in my mouth. Like a soldier, I hunkered down and decided I would at least try to ingest more of the tasteless liquid than I currently was and cut back on the 12 ounce cans of carbonated heaven I so frequently indulged in. And now, almost four weeks have passed and I've had nothing to drink except, you guessed it, water. Really, I don't miss the sodas at all. Never even think about the deliciously fizzy beverages in which I'm being deprived of. And only occasionally do I shake uncontrollably, convulse and black out for hours at a time. I'm handling it so well. |
posted by Christie
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
| Be sure and keep up with Mark Driscoll's blog, Resurgence. He has two recent posts that cover his meetings with both Chuck Colson and Ravi Zacharias. |
posted by Christie
| You can read Christianity Today's artcile entitled "An Unfiltered Webb" here. It's an interview with Derek Webb about his newly released album Mockingbird. Concerning the new work, Webb says: "Mockingbird addresses the question of, 'We are set free, but unto what?' If the thing that I've been talking about on these records, if the message is about being set free and liberated by Christ, if that's true, then the big question becomes, 'How do we live in light of that freedom?' What are the fruits of that freedom? There's a point at which the rubber of our theology must hit the road of ethics. There's a point at which, if we pride ourselves in knowing about God's character, our knowledge of that character must inform the way that we love and live with people." |
posted by Christie
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
| A new day, a new template. Three columns this time. I'm still working out some kinks, but I really like it. |
posted by Christie
Monday, January 23, 2006
| I've heard numerous opinions regarding "End of the Spear," the movie released this past weekend by Every Tribe Entertainment. For what it's worth I'll give you my take on the 111 minute flick that I watched at the Saturday matinee. I don't pretend to know much about art or film. Infact, concerning both of those areas, I'm pretty clueless. However, I'm not so clueless that I failed to observe the fact that "End of the Spear" was not particularly good movie making. Much of the story was very one dimensional, the characters were not well developed, and on top of that, the Indians had bad wigs. Obvious inaccuracies scattered the film, supposedly to make the movie better, but I think instead that they worked against it. I don't think the movie even came close to doing justice to the real story, but I didn't go into it thinking it would, so I was prepared for the disappointment. My biggest problem with the movie is that it seemed to overlook the passionate relationship with Christ that the missionaries possessed. Although there were a couple references - the film didn't present a faith that would cause someone to give up their life. I'm not asserting that the movie should have been made for the purpose of evangelizing or that it should have ended in an altar call, but just for the sake of accuracy and in fairness to the real events, the faith of the men and their families should have been more prominent. However, despite a slew of negative things I could recount, I disagree with many who say that the movie contained no element of the Gospel. Although the name of Jesus was not spoken, and the plan of salvation was not given in Christianese - we were presented with a beautiful story of how God (the Waodini term was used) had a Son who was speared, and did not spear back, so that we might live well. While a very simple explanation, it was powerful to me because it showed the fact that the Gospel transcends culture and is relevant to even the most savage tribespeople in one of the remotest parts of the earth. Overall, I wasn't particularly pleased with the movie, but I don't regret watching it. However, I would recommend the books that cover the events over the film any day of the week. |
posted by Christie
Thursday, January 19, 2006
posted by Christie
 Further proving to myself - and everyone else - that I have become a well seasoned groupie, Rick and I will be traveling to Stone Mountain, GA tomorrow night to see Derek Webb in concert. He's going to be playing at Christ Community Church, along with his wife, Sandra McCracken. We saw his November show at Murray Hill Theater in Jacksonville, but that was before the release of his new album. So, it'll be nice this time to actually know the songs he's playing and have already begun to understand and digest their content. I predict an excellent evening. Good music, friends and food usually facilitate that quite well. |
posted by Christie
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
 During much of the IMB controversy, I've heard talk about Landmarkism. I thought I would just go ahead and confess, before everyone finds out themselves, that the father of the Landmark movement, James Madison Pendleton is my great, great, great, great something-or-other. In 1854 he authored a work entitled, "An Old Landmark Reset" which became an impetus for the campaign within the Southern Baptist Convention. Along with Pappy Pen were Amos Dayton and James Graves, who became known as "The Great Triumverate" of the Landmark movement. Pendleton didn't work alone, so it isn't entirely the fault of my ancestry. Go ahead, hurl your remarks. Just don't tell me that we favor and we'll all get along. |
posted by Christie
Saturday, January 14, 2006
| Just in case any of you are interested, Mark Driscoll is now blogging. The site is meant to be a connecting point for those who desire to retain evangelical theology and combine it with an effective biblical missiology. There is only one post up right now, but we're promised that more are on the way, and that they will be good. I have no doubt. I think I'll add it to my links for easy access. |
posted by Christie
Friday, January 13, 2006
| Once again, the Friday Fiver. 1. Are you timely or always late? I'm usually five minutes early. 2. Do you wear a watch? Not on a regular basis, I don't really like anything tight around my wrists. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't even button the cuffs on long-sleeved shirts. 3. What is the most important event you have ever been late for? I was very, very close to being late for my wedding. The lady who styled my hair and did my make-up took several hours longer than what we had originally planned. I was agitated to say the least. 4. What kind of system do you have for keeping track of your bills? I have a great system, his name is Rick. 5. What is your favorite time of day? The evening when Rick and I are home together. |
posted by Christie
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
| The IMB trustee meeting has come to a close and a press release, detailing its decision, is due out around 3:00 p.m. and should be posted on the Baptist Press website. Wade Burleson will also issue a statement following the release from the IMB, and you should be able to view that on BP as well. Early reports indicate that the meeting did not turn out as many of us had hoped and prayed that it would. I guess we'll have to wait and see. |
posted by Christie
| Last night, for the second time I watched "Beyond the Gates of Splendor." The piece is a documentary that chronicles five young couples, including Jim Elliott and Nate Saint, who gave up the comforts of the United States for lives in the jungle of Ecuador. I'm sure many of you know the story of the men attempting peaceful contact with the often violent and savage Waodani, and shortly following, their tragic deaths at the hands of those they so desperately desired to help. The men could have defended themselves, but they refused to kill a Waodani who they knew was not ready for Heaven, and instead gave up their own lives because of their unwavering belief that they were. In few places have I ever seen such beauty, sacrifice and love. That same love is what drew several of the missionary wives to remain in Ecuador, and what called Elisabeth Elliot, and Rachel Saint (Nate's sister), back to the very people who had brutally killed their loved ones. In her book, "The Savage my Kinsman", Elisabeth Elliot said, "The fact that Jesus Christ died for all makes me interested in the salvation of all, but the fact that Jim loved and died for the Aucas [Waodani] intensifies my love for them." It would have been so easy, expected and understandable for her response to be anger and hatred, yet it was anything but. A beautiful story of healing follows for the family of the victims, the Waodani, and many others who have been touched by the unbelievable display of death to self and complete abandon to God. |
posted by Christie
| You can read Mark Driscoll's most recent article found in the Faith and Values section of the Seattle Times, here. |
posted by Christie
Monday, January 09, 2006
| If you haven't seen the Southern Baptist Convention's recent TV spots, you can watch them here. Although I haven't viewed all of them yet, so far, the productions seem to relate a message of care and concern that we, foremost as Christians, but also as Southern Baptist people, should be known for. However, on the flip side, I don't think that national marketing is necessarily the way we are called to demonstrate Christ's love. That happens as we encounter people on a day to day basis. I'm afraid that self-promotion isn't going to get us very far. But maybe the message is more for Southern Baptist's than anyone else. What do you think? |
posted by Christie
Friday, January 06, 2006
| One evening, at our previous church, our minister of music held an old fashioned "favorite hymn" night. At my beckoning, Rick raised his hand and requested my favorite hymn, "Come Thou Fount." After we finished singing, our pastor stood and gave a short dissertation about the fact that we often sing hymns without really understanding the meaning behind the words. He then began speaking about the phrase, "here I raise my Ebenezer," from the second verse of "Come Thou Fount." However, he decided that since Rick was the one who had requested the tune in the first place, he would let him explain its meaning to the crowd. Upon being asked, Rick looked up nervously and without even thinking blurted out, "It was actually Christie's favorite." Thankfully, I'd done my research, and after shooting Rick an evil glance, explained the meaning behind the phrase as it's given in 1 Samuel 7:12. Rick breathed a sign of relief and thanked me for rescuing him from his lack of knowledge concerning 1700s hymnody. I smiled and reassured him that it was no problem. |
posted by Christie
Thursday, January 05, 2006
| I don't really like to take medicine. Once, I went to the doctor for a fairly insignificant rash that was on my face - and he prescribed a topical lotion that warned of side affects including death. I decided I would take my chances with the red itchy patch and forego the above medication. Of course, I take antibiotics when needed - but unless a prescription is necessary or a sickness is overwhelming, I usually just tough it out. This week, I once again found myself disregarding the doctors orders. I scheduled an appointment due to a fever, congestion, cough, etc. As expected, the doctor discovered that I had a sinus infection and a nasty case of bronchitis. However, he also noticed an ulcer in my mouth. Although I considered it to be pretty harmless, he decided he would be helpful and along with an antibiotic, give me a prescription for Valtrex. Yes, I said Valtrex. You've seen the commercials, you know what it's for. But the doctor said it works for my sort of ulcers as well. Okay, first of all, I'm not taking medicine for an ulcer that isn't particularly even bothering me, and secondly, as small as our town is, I'm not going to Wal-Mart to get that prescription filled. Although it might not be listed as a side affect on the actual medication, death could very easily be a possibility. |
posted by Christie
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
| I've been hesitant to post about a certain situation, but really, I'm not sure why. The particular story has made local, state and even national news. You may have even heard or read about the incident yourself. Everyone else is talking about it, but I haven't. Until now. It goes like this. Brandon was a teenage boy who was part of our youth ministry for quite some time. He was an - albeit troubled - but seemingly polite, funny and thoughtful kid. One of those that you couldn't help but love, even when he was irritating. Brandon moved away a few months back, and we had actually seen him once or twice since that time. However, the weeks passed following our last encounter with no news, until we received some of the worst I could have ever imagined. Brandon brutally murdered an elderly lady, stabbing her upwards of two dozen times. I was overcome with disbelief, shock and horror at the realization of what had transpired. I felt such grief for the family of the victim. She had children and grandchildren whose lives would be drastically altered, and who would face a terribly difficult holiday season. I can't even begin to describe the emotions that I felt for that family. Yet, even though part of me tried not to, I experienced the same sorrow for Brandon as well. As I looked at the pictures of him that the news stations posted on their web-sites, I had a hard time seeing a murderer. Yet, I was met face to face with mounting evidence to the contrary. The situation reminds me of the fact that depravity is probably a term far more hopeful than our actual state. Certainly, we are all capable of committing painfully mind numbing atrocities, beyond our comprehension. Yet, I still confess - I never thought Brandon would. |
posted by Christie