What Ever Happened to Sin?

Several years ago I asked my Sunday morning adult Bible class to list all of the things that used to be viewed as unacceptable Christian behavior (SIN) that are now considered quite tame and perfectly acceptable.

The list was pretty amusing:

Dancing
Card Playing
Shooting Pool
Men with Long Hair
Social Drinking
Eating at a restaurant that served alcohol
Buying groceries from a store that sold alcohol
R rated movies
Women wearing pants to church
Shorts
Shopping or going out to eat on Sunday
Mowing your lawn on Sunday afternoon
Lottery tickets

A few items on the list elicited moans and signs of continued disapproval from some of the older folks in the class. Most of the items on the list elicited laughs and disbelief from the younger folks in the class.

My question is this: Was it innocence or ignorance?

What do you think the list will look like in the year 2025?

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Thanks Jonathan for an Awsome Weekend

Thanks to Jonathan and Jessica we had a great time in San Fransisco. Jonathan is an awesome tour guide and an even better taxi driver. He showed no fear. I admit, I had to close my eyes a few times while flying through the narrow crowded streets of China Town. I am surprised his mirrors are still attached to his car.


It is a shame that such good friends live so far away.


If you have facebook, go check out the rest of our pictures.
http://www.new.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1385319656

Counting down the days.

I am not complaining or grumbling! I am merely stating the facts.

My preacher will get me if I complain or grumble about anything, or if I criticize or speak negatively about anybody at all.

You see Russ challenged the Maury Hills church to try to make it one whole week without mumbling groaning, complaining, criticizing, or being negative in any way. (what was he thinking?) (oops .... sorry) We are on a criticism fast.

So I will choose my words carefully.....

If my calculations are correct, this is day 50 of 90. Of these 50 days I have been to the gym a grand total of 47 times. I have racked up an impressive total (relatively speaking of course) of running 48 miles. My goal, if you remember, is 100 miles in 90 days.

I suffered a calf muscle blowout along with some pretty impressive shin splints a couple of weeks ago (fat people should not run) So, for 14 days I substituted 11 miles on a bicycle (30 minutes at a heart rate of 140 bpm) per day to count as one mile running. I am fairly well healed now and am back to running. I have stepped up the pace now to 2 miles per day. That should put me in at well over my 100 mile goal by my 51st birthday.

That is all great positive stuff! (OK Russ, you can stop reading now)


The trouble is my weight has basically remain unchanged. I started out at 244.8lbs. I am still bouncing around 336 - 237. That is pretty discouraging. I was really expecting to look like Brad Pitt by now.

I must still eat faster than I run.


236/49

Got Faith?

I don't know why I do it. It must be some type of psychological disorder. When it comes to religion, I seem to have this warped deep seated need for everyone to agree with me - as if somehow their agreement and approval is needed to validate my own beliefs and faith.

The ironic thing about my disorder is the fact that I do in fact receive affirmation and agreement from 99% of the Christian community at large. Contrary to recent reports my ideas are neither radical nor liberal. My core beliefs line up and are right in step with most all main stream conservative Bible believing Christian Churches.

It's not that I agree with 100% of the things taught and practiced by the 99%, I just happen to agree with the important stuff - the core stuff. They all have their quirks mind you, but if you check their basic beliefs they all are trusting in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They all preach Christ and him crucified. That puts us on the same team. That makes us brothers.

Our differences, though many, do not make me crazy. I do not fret and lose sleep over the fact that the Pentecostals disagree with me about the subject of Spiritual gifts. I don't worry about the fact that some of the Baptist believe in eternal security. I don't care that the Church of Christ uses accappella music. In my little mind, those thing all fall under the heading of Romans 14 and do not in anyway dilute or change the message of the gospel.

But i must admit, It's that last 1% that really gets under my skin. They know how to push my buttons. They know that I can't resist. It is like waving a twinkie in the face of a fat guy on a diet. One mention of religious intolerance, Spiritual exclusiveness, or self imposed doctrinal supremacy, and off I go. When will I ever learn?

I was raised on a steady diet of sermons about how different we are, and frankly
"I am full of it" (my critics will appreciate that pun) I simply choose to live out the rest of my days focusing on how much we are the same. I shouldn't have to apologize for that.

Should I??

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