If it seems like all I do on this blog is direct you to other blogs, you're almost right. I guess I don't give myself enough time to have an original thought. Maybe it's because I work in a callcenter and talk about the same things every day. Who knows?

Anyway, Brant Hansen has some good thoughts on "sacred vs. secular." For instance, "Your computer isn't secular. If you mop a floor at work, you're not mopping a secular floor. If you're mowing grass, you're not mowing secular grass. It's God's grass, man."

When I was at Greenville College, that was a big thing they talked about- "All truth is God's truth." It doesn't matter who it comes from, truth is truth. There are no degrees of truth, just as there are no degrees of sin (ie- homosexuality is no worse than gluttony).

Look at that, an original thought. Cool.

You can read Brant's post here. While you're there, browse through some other posts. He's posed some interesting questions, like "Was Jesus a good teacher?"

Enjoy!

Wow. It's been a month since we've posted anything. Gracie is about 7 wks old already.

If you have kids, plan to have kids, or have been a parent for a long time, read this essay. If you've read this blog before, you probably know that I usually like and agree with what the Internet Monk (Michael Spencer) has to say. The link above is about how religious/Christian parents screw up their kids. It's quite interesting and unfortunately true, to a degree. See what you think!

I know that nobody really reads this, and most people who do read this already know this, but Grace Gillian was born on March 3, 2007! Finally! Mommy and baby are doing great. We'll put some pictures up here soon.

So, today may be the day. I have been having some significant signs of labor and they are even increasing when I am doing things around the house, which is a good sign. So, maybe when Clint gets home from work today they will be enough to go the hospital. Please just pray that this is the last time that we go to the hospital for Grace. We are trying to be patient, but every day we think she may come, but nothing comes out of the contractions. We would really like to meet our new baby girl. That's all for now. Please pray that this time will be it and we don't have to wait anymore.

I’m tired of hearing people put labels on their faith/beliefs.
“I’m Truly Reformed.” “I’m Reformed Baptist.” “I’m Southern Baptist.” “I’m Conservative Baptist.” “I’m Emergent.” “I’m a 5 point Calvinist.” “I’m Lutheran.” “I’m Presbyterian.”

I’m a follower of Jesus. I refuse to put a label, denominational or otherwise, on my faith. I can kind of understand why people might like to. Maybe it gives them some sense of identity or community. Maybe it helps them to have a set of guidelines or tenets of belief. But personally, I don’t need that. I have Scripture and I have access to great teachers from many denominations and backgrounds.

A few months ago we started going to a new church, after being at the previous one for 5+ years. It is one of the many “non-denominational” churches, and it has been, for lack of a better word, refreshing. We don’t take up collections for the denomination’s mission board, Christmas offering, or Easter offering. We don’t hear about how the denomination had a large presence in New Orleans after the hurricane, second only to the Red Cross. We don’t get the feeling that the denomination is more important than the message. We hear about how the church is teaming up with other churches, regardless of denomination, to build houses and a community center in a town in Mexico. We have the ongoing opportunity to provide food and other necessities for a poor, mostly Hispanic community near the church. We also have the opportunity to help an organization serve the poor, underprivileged, and homeless in South Phoenix. It is true faith set in motion. It goes beyond lip service to action.

The label “Christian” is even kind of sketchy. The word “Christian” has come to mean so many different things and has been dragged through the mud by so many who have used that label for personal gain. I think “follower of Jesus” says it best. If you truly follow Jesus and His teachings, you can’t be in it for personal or corporate gain. The phrase does not bring with it thoughts of rules and lists of do’s and don’ts. It doesn’t make you picture televangelists with slick hair and even slicker rhetoric.

I’d love to get thoughts and opinions from the 3 people who read this. Let’s hear it, Trav!