Product of the Week

At times I fear that I won't be able to find a suitable Christian Product of the week. Sometimes it keeps me up at night and I consider giving up on this segment (which is scary because this is only the second entry). Though just when I feel like giving up all hope I'm presented with just the right thing...so if you haven't been introduced already then let me be the first to turn you on to a product that will turn your life upside down:

Moses Wasn't Fat is available on Amazon.com for the get out of town price of $19.95 and comes with the description:

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Moses Wasn't Fat is a powerful, new diet and health book based on the wisdom of the Bible. If you've been on a diet merry-go-round and are ready to finally get off, here's a book that will teach you a safe, healthy, effective and Godly way to conquer your weight problems once and for all. No gimmicks, no unhealthy diet programs, no quackery. Just sound weight loss and health-building advice straight from the Bible.

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I'd be lying if I said I'd read the book because I haven't, but I am intrigued because of the picture on the cover. Here we have a mystical, almost Santa Clausish (minus the tummy), fairly Caucasian Moses offering up a pretty decent fruit basket on a starry night. I'm not sure if this is an accurate portrayal of Moses, but I'll agree that this Moses isn't fat and I find myself wondering, "What's his secret?".

Though I wondered if I could find out what Moses ate just by reading some Old Testament...what I found was that Moses walked in a desert for 40 years and ate a lot of manna until he died at the age of 120..which by my calculations is pretty old. I wonder if the book says that I should wake up extra early tomorrow collect some the food God leaves me on the ground, sell my car and walk everywhere until I get old. Because if that's the case I find the fruit basket truly misleading.

Sin City

Today I was on USA Today.com and found an article called "Has the 'notion of sin' been lost?". It's an interesting article and the first sentence poses the question "Is sin dead?" My first thought-Sin's dead? How could this happen? I also wondered how old sin was when he died and if maybe he wasn't dead, but just missing and if his family was ok.

Essentially, the article was about how people in the post-modern world thought of sin and what was considered sin and pastor concern regarding said sin. There were a few things in the article I found funny or interesting.

A new survey by Ellison Research in Phoenix finds 87% of U.S. adults believe in the existence of sin, which is defined as, "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective." - Apparently sin is now living next to the Easter Bunny and is dating the Tooth Fairy.

The article then gives the results of the survey by ranking specific sins in order from worst to not so bad according to the percentage of Americans who view the specific sins as actually being sins.

Topping the list are adultery (81%) and racism (74%), but other sins no longer draw the majority of condemnation. Premarital sex? Only 45% call it sin. Gambling? Just 30% say it's sinful. - Premarital sex really needs to get with it...come on gambling 30% you're just embarrassing yourself!

Also on the list were swearing (46%), smoking pot (41%) and not attending church regularly (18%).

Referenced in the article is Michael Horton, a Westminster Seminary professor, who discusses the notion that most people know what sin is despite not believing in it anymore. He says that people are trading happiness for holiness without the reference point of God.

In short, sin isn't trendy. It makes people feel bad and nobody wants that. I guess I'm wondering how sin became a noun? Is sin dead?, 87% of people believe in the existence of sin. Is sin really something I can believe in and change the definition of?

I've got a wacky idea, what if sin is a verb?

Instead of being something I can make a list of and check off what makes me feel bad or what things I don't do, what if sin were something else.

What if sin was the action of doing something that damaged my relationship with God or other people?

Hear me out kids...what if gambling (30% on the list) wasn't defined as sin that I either did or didn't do based on how bad I thought it was. What if gambling became sinful when it damaged my relationship with someone? For example, I became addicted to gambling, stole money to pay off debts, lost my girlfriend and wound up in jail...

Or what about sex before marriage (45% on the list). What if virginity wasn't something I checked off at night so I could rack up more Jesus Points. What if sex before marriage is discouraged because it could simply make make someone get emotionally attached to me and then it not work out?

Don't confuse me for a saint...because a saint I am not, but sin has never seemed like a check list and doesn't seem like it should be based on my definition of right or wrong. Jesus once answered a question, once, by saying that the two greatest commandments were to love God more than anything and to love others more than yourself. It seems doing anything adverse to this would be sin. This would make being grouchy a sin. On my own I can't fix this problem because I'm grouchy a lot...and if God hates things that hurt relationships with others and won't let these things (lumped together to be called sin) into Heaven...then I'm out...I'm not going...

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I may be able to apologize to someone for saying something hurtful, but there will always be a little damage left over...and for God to allow any of that hurt relationship in..the left over distrust or unspoken resentment...it would dirty up His house...He'd be less than Holy. The only way for me to repair my relationship with God...the only way to be where He is would be to have a Savior...someone who could take this sin from me and make me holy instead of me trying to be just good...someone who could restore and heal the damage I'd done...someone like Jesus.

The Future is Now

Recently I wrote a blog entry about Bible Bars. Bible Bars are tasty biblical treats that are inspired by scripture and I'm a huge fan. I read scripture pretty often and I've never been inspired to create bars like the Sweet Shalom bar, Noah's Nuggets or the Jacob's Ladder bar. I imagine your people are very smart to concoct such things. I appreciate that each bar is a gluten free way to remember God and witness to people who love granola.

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I feel that the people at BBI have only just begun to tap into the world of healthy Bible snacks and I'd like to lend a helping hand. Below is just a sampling of ideas I have rolling around...Bible Bar people you are free to pick any ideas that you think would help further the cause. I've perused the Bible and have now felt the inspiration too!!!

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So with the magic of computer technology I present to you a sampling of the future of Bible Bars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Balaam's Ass Bar is a nutritional treat mixing the healthy goodness of organic cocoa, dried grapes, dates and nuts. It's a good pick me up for when your ass wants to sit down.
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27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. (Numbers 22:27-29)

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Also I have:

The Sodom Snack is a bit different...it's jam packed full of tasty goodness such as Acai berries, carrot bits and almonds. It's more designed to keep full of energy, alert and focused on the road ahead.

23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:23-26)
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I don't mean to brag because I'm not a marketer or food maker...but I knocked these out in just under 20 minutes plus I have a lot more ideas that aren't even shown here. It'd be a hoot to see a Sodom Snack next time I'm at the Family Christian Store!!! I could look at the cashier and say, "Hey, I thought that one up!!!"

Product of the Week

Often times I wonder what the people of the Bible ate. I mean if there's one area I find the Bible lacking it's the food department. Want to know what miracles Jesus performed...they're all there, want to know how God freed the slaves from Egypt...read Exodus my friend...but want to know what Elijah snacked while taking a 10 from prophesying...well me too, but wonder no more thanks to House of David 'America's Premier Distributor of Biblical Health Products.

He snacked on the tasty Elijah's Fire Chocoloate Treat (think granola bars, only Jesufied), complete with complimentary verse. In this case the verse is 1 Kings 18:38: "Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water in the trench"... Reading that makes me hungry for a gluten free chocolate snack...but is it tasty..let's see, My Elijah's Fire this bar is a tasty treat!!!

Logia also makes these tasty snacks:

• Sweet Shalom...Also fun to say...SWEET SHALOM, I've never had a better almond bar!
• Jacobs Ladder...gave him nutrition as he climbed.
• King David's Cranberry Nut Bar...we all know how nutty King Dave was for his Cranberries
• Noah's Nuggets...I don't even want to know what this is.
• Seeds of Samson Bar..it's what all the cool youth group kids eat!!!

Thank you House of David for letting me authentically eat what the Old Testamenter's ate. No more of those Quaker Oat heathen bars for me!!!!

Dear Jesus...from imperfect

Dear Jesus,

Hey, thanks for the great day. Sunny with the promise of a fresh start and fresh starts are important ya know. Yesterday was a wreck and pretty much the day before that. I don't think I'll ever quit believing in you, but right now I feel like I have more reason to believe in satan than you. If apathy is in his aresenal...then consider it his greatest weapon against me. Could I be more apathetic?

I want to do great things. I do. Really. Write a book, start a movement...just meet my neighbors...smile more than I frown. I'd just take that. Just when I feel the edges of my lips curling upwards the bombardment begins. What if I fail...what if they knew...bad habits...bad thoughts...nevermind. Just stay below radar...don't draw attention...don't face the faults...who did I think I was.

Jesus remind me you love me despite my faults. Remind me that I'm normal. Tell me life is more than just getting through this day. Maybe the greatest miracle would be to not consider myself not good eneough for your plan.

David was an adulterer, Paul killed your followers, Thomas doubted, Peter whacked a guys ear off, Moses ran away...do all of your followers doubt themselves...do we all look at the storm around us instead of at you? Is it possible I'm in good company?

Thanks for reminding me I can be loved and happy not despite my imperfections, but because of them. I'm not above or beyond or below your grace.

Thank you,

imperfect

For the God who has everything

Do you ever wonder what the perfect thing would be to show your love for God would be? I know I do. I often think to myself...man what would really be a great gift for the God who has everything...What would really show the man upstairs that I really love Him. I did some internet based research and I think I've found just the thing. A giant statue! That's right, a giant statue.

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Nothing says I love you Lord than a 50 foot likeness of the Son of God. But why stop there...maybe a huge set of praying hands would do the trick....or maybe the largest cross west of the Mississippi...because God knows that size matters as the size of my statue directly correlates to the size of my love for J.C.

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Here's a slide show of some of the all time biggest statues around....feel free to vote for your favorite

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on a side note, I found that these statues could be found all over the world. I do believe that some, if not all, were truly erected with an honest desire to glorify God. Though I'm not sure I always feel like it's a good use of finances or if God's really all that impressed? I'd love to hear your thoughts.