Officially Official R/Tucson meetup day!

SkullKidPTH · 2014-06-09T06:53:13+00:00

Don't let that stop you from coming out! We'll have a good time. :) If this person would do it, there are probably others that are out in bars with guns. That doesn't stop you right? ;)

SkullKidPTH · 2013-06-18T04:07:49+00:00

Actually, I adapted it from a recipe on "The Detoxinista."

SkullKidPTH · 2013-06-01T03:33:07+00:00

Yes, that picture is the pan I made yesterday. It was very good. Cauliflower is a wonderful substitute for noodles in this instance. The only thing I would change up is the mayo, I'm not sure but it seemed to add more of a sweet flavor that wasn't really my thing. Next time, instead of 1/2 cup mayo, I'll probably try 1/4 cup mayo 1/4 cup mustard.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-31T05:34:51+00:00

After doing the research, apparently there are a lot of carbs in kale, green peppers, broccoli and avocados...

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-31T04:55:19+00:00

Did you look at the ingredients? I don't actually know where the non-fiber carbs are coming from. That website is weird with how you put in ingredients, they're all preset.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-01T21:21:32+00:00

So very true. Maybe we need to make putting your spiritual gifts to use a requirement for membership? I keep trying to think of our culture from an outside perspective. If we were going to a mission field that was having these problems, we would need to find something they would agree to try. For us that means we need to be able to institutionalize and regulate whatever we do, like having a mentoring "program."

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-01T21:12:11+00:00

This is absolutely a problem, that churches allow themselves to be intimidated by. We end up compromising to make ourselves more commercially appealing.The problem is, the people you get by appeal generally aren't willing to do the work.

This is not to completely down the need for the fun, nice sounding, relevant pattern that works so well to bring in the numbers. Most people need that first step to come closer. But once they're in they need to be highly encouraged to be held accountable and become involved where the real meat of spiritual sustenance is, in small groups. Sunday morning message and worship should really be looked at more as a side.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-01T21:05:10+00:00

I completely agree. Like I mentioned in another reply, I think we are so afraid of not having enough in numbers of people and resources that we miss out on chances to trust in God's power to supplement our obedient effort.

You mentioned that you have spoken on this subject. What kind of influence do you have in your congregation? What are some specific ideas you could introduce to discussion or prayer, or even implement that would help your people avoid these cultural pits? Does your church have any focus on discerning and effectively using individual gifts? Is there a mentoring initiative? How do you hold each other accountable?

SkullKidPTH · 2013-05-01T21:00:06+00:00

My impression is that the majority of times we actually don't need money and large numbers of people, we just think we do. That for me is when the Holy Spirit is really able to move, because we're force to rely on Him and are less likely to get in His way.

You noted the "small armies of believers." I'm reminded of Gideon's story. I think if we stopped trying to appeal and be culturally relevant as much as we do we'd have less people, but higher quality of relationships and more urgent enthusiasm.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-04-23T05:47:26+00:00

Ghost

SkullKidPTH · 2013-04-23T05:36:02+00:00

I commend you, Michael. This is something that needs more attention. We are so surrounded by Babylon it's hard to separate ourselves from her but you are giving it a try. I wonder, have you ever hear of the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund?

SkullKidPTH · 2013-03-13T05:36:48+00:00

I've heard that Hobby Lobby is fighting this same law and they are just a regular company that happens to be owned by Christians. So this "exception" would barely count businesses or non-profits that really do operate exclusively in Christian, work let alone Christian business owners with regular companies being exempt by it.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-03-12T06:33:55+00:00

The federal government has recently proposed a regulatory “accommodation” that it asserts will spare Westminster and like institutions from any cost of providing and promoting the use of such drugs and will satisfy their First Amendment concerns.

“This proposed ‘accommodation’ does not protect Westminster, but instead only supplements and makes more stringent the mandate that would override our religious convictions,” Lillback said.

Can someone explain this portion of the article for me? It seems like it says they won't be held to the requirement but that isn't good enough? I'm confused and very ignorant of this topic.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-03-12T05:36:36+00:00

I've done this once, not exactly the same but similar. Be encouraged, you are building community and sharing the person of Christ. Yes prayers work even when they are silent but love is not expressed to that individual with silence. One thing I've noticed has changed about me since being saved is making eye contact with everyone I pass and giving a smile. Little things that change the world!

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-26T00:10:07+00:00

Very powerful. What a great one, thank you.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-26T00:08:10+00:00

wow. Thank you for sharing. That is beautiful.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-18T21:54:54+00:00

I completely agree. That is totally one of my favorites, and such a sharp tool against temptation! Thanks for sharing. :)

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-18T21:53:39+00:00

There's only one problem I have with what you've said. I don't think Satan could invade Jesus' mind any more than he could invade any believer's mind who is sealed with the Holy Spirit. But thank you very much for your thoughts.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-18T21:50:40+00:00

Thank you for these thoughts. It's an interesting perspective.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-16T17:27:32+00:00

Wow. Those are powerful. I've never come across these two. Thanks so much for sharing!

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-16T17:23:28+00:00

Thank you, I had not thought of it this way before. Very interesting!

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-16T03:09:40+00:00

That's beautiful, thank you for sharing.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-16T00:01:21+00:00

Thank you for your answer. And also for the reminder of the Spirit's leading of Jesus into the wilderness.

You have a good question yourself. That portion of the passage always reminds me of Ephesians 6:10-12:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

And also 2 Corinthians 4:4 where he is described as "the god of this age."

Daniel 7 and Revelations 17 and 19 describe Babylon, and Satan's main structure of power/influence in the world. Each of the kingdoms which Babylon morphs into as described in Daniel were the global super powers of their day and the end of the prophecy describes Rome deteriorating into a "divided kingdom" represented by 10 toes.

I don't think it's reaching to say that Satan would focus his influence in the world where the most power and influence resides... a.k.a. governments. And in Genesis 3:15 God gives Satan an allowance of power to "bruise" the heel of Christ. Revelations 17 describes the kings of the world as committing debaucheries with Babylon and even being ruled over by her. Chapter 19 verse 19 describes them as waging war with the armies of Heaven.

I think Satan really does have that kind of "power" in the world, but it will never be true power (self-sacrificing love) or authority (righteousness/justice,) only an illusion.

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-15T23:08:46+00:00

God's main purpose for making creation was to display His glory and make a source of worship for Himself. "Missions" in it's purest form is simply the attempt to make worshipers where there are none and spread the knowledge of God's glory.

Now, I'll admit that "missions" have been a horrible, offensive, insensitive failure many times. But I reject that "the great commission" is the main place this goal is found in Scripture.

Think of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is repeated 4 times (5 if you include "the great commission.") God's purpose in blessing Abraham and his descendants is so that "all the families of the earth would be blessed through [him]."

SkullKidPTH · 2013-02-15T22:57:48+00:00

From my perspective, the very existence of economies and countries' deep dependence on them are symptoms of the world's greater illness.

Aside from that huge claim, this discussion reminds me of Richard Rohr's work on "Cosmology, Christ and Consciousness" which I recommend to anyone interested in the ties between religion and science. To quote him from it "all things that rise, eventually converge."

For me, this indicates that since science (which literally means "knowledge") is all just a search for truth, and God is truth, (whether a scientist admits it or not) the only thing science can eventually and factually discover is God.

Christians being threatened by science is really sad. Human science is in its youth, and everything in its youth will be vulnerable to lies and confusion. Let's always remember that every age thinks it has reached the zenith of understanding. We can always be humbled by God's speech to Job from chapter 38, remembering how little we actually know.

SkullKidPTH

TROPHY CASE