Tough Times on the Outside

Where's Jeff Foxworthy when I need him? Well, allow me to fill his shoes.

"You might be a redneck if you EVER DO THIS."

The Religion of Peace

WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC MATERIAL. ADULTS ONLY, PLEASE.



I would comment, but frankly, I am sick to my stomach right now.

Peccadilloes

I was about 13 years old the first time I broke the law. I grew up in a small farming community in southwest rural Idaho. It was a lazy summer Sunday afternoon and I was growing bored of playing baseball (using a tennis ball) with a couple friends of mine. There was not much to do in the way of recreation for a restless teenager such as myself, not to mention the added "I dare ya" that sprung from the combined wit and wisdom of my two best friends. Now, I could say what I did was completely against my will and that I was just another victim of peer pressure. I could say that, sure. Or perhaps I just made a rash decision without thinking everything through. I'm sure we've all been there. So there I was, the butt end of an "I dare ya". In fact, it ended up being a "Triple-dawg dare". Everybody knows there are some things you just don't do as a teenage boy. You don't kiss your mother. You don't acknowledge the existence of younger siblings while at school. And you never, ever, ever, EVER, back down from a triple-dawg dare.

So there I was. I was on the candy aisle at the local grocery store. Now, being that it was a small town, it was a fact of life that everybody knew everybody. To make matters worse, my mom was the corporate office manager for the owner of this particular chain store. She didn't work at this particular location, but she knew everyone who did. So not only did they know me, but they probably knew my grade point average and whether I wore tighty-whities or not. So, anyway, I'm standing there on the candy aisle trying to fulfill my mission and prove myself to my buddies. I told myself, "The most important thing is to not look suspicious." So I decided to not turn my head in either direction down the aisle, for fear of looking like I was checking to see if anyone was watching me. My logic was simple. They won't watch me if I act like I'm not watching for them to watch me. So, I tried to look out of the corner of my eyes without turning my head. Needless to say, I had a migraine after about 30 seconds of that. Try it. I'm not kidding. Then I thought the old "cup and ball" trick would be the most successful tactic. I grabbed several bags and boxes of candy all at once and then proceeded to put some back and pick others up, while at the same time slowly working myself down to one knee. From one knee, I made it appear that I was tying my shoe while stuffing about 10 dollars worth of candy bars into my socks. I was a genius!! No one was looking and there was no way I was going to get caught. But just to be safe, I walked around the store to see if anyone was following me. Nope. I was free to make my exit. So toward the front I advanced, like a soldier fixed on the front lines. Then the manager came out of his office. He knew me very well, as, of course, he knew my mother. I was busted, I knew it! I made a quick sanctuary out of the magazine rack near the front door. He came up next to me as I grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on--a copy of Family Circle. "Reading anything good?", he asked, with just a hint of glum sarcasm in his voice. "No, not really". I choked down the vomit that was making it's way up my throat. "Okay, then. Tell your mom hello for me." And he left as quickly as he had appeared, casually utilizing his feather duster on a display of pickles as he walked away.

I wanted to die. Did he know? Was it a coincidence? Was my conscience just guilt-ridden and causing me paranoia? If he knew, why did he let me go? Was he gonna call my mom? Should I even go home again, ever?? These, and thousands of other convicting thoughts raced through my mind as I walked out of the store, with 2 dozen candy bars melting inside my sock.

So, you're probably wondering what the point of all this is, right? Yeah, me too. But actually, even though it seems like a comical story about a harmless shoplifting incident I committed 22 years ago, as a Christian, I want to show that it really couldn't be any further from "harmless". For starters, let's turn to Exodus 20 and check off all the Ten Commandments I willingly broke:

1. "You shall have no other gods before me."

Fact is, I didn't believe in God at the time. BROKEN

2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image"

Fact is, I had many idols, first of which was my self. BROKEN

3. "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain"

Fact is, when it came down to brass tacks, I'm certain I hastily asked the God I didn't believe in to save me from the wrath of the store manager and my parents. BROKEN

4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Fact is, I spent an hour in a grocery store attempting to steal candy and the only time I was on my knees was when I was shoving it down my sock. BROKEN

5. "Honor your father and your mother"

Fact is, I dishonored my mother and father, in the company of those who knew them best. BROKEN

6. "You shall not murder."

Fact is, in my heart I would have murdered, if it would have prevented me from being caught and my shame exposed. BROKEN

7. "You shall not commit adultery."

Fact is, given that I was a pagan 13 year old boy with a couple of buddies, I'm certain our idle talk consisted of that which would be characterized as adultery by Jesus in Matthew 5:28. BROKEN

8. "You shall not steal."

Fact is, need I comment further?? BROKEN

9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Fact is, I did not tell the truth when I was confronted by the store manager and had the opportunity. BROKEN

10. "You shall not covet."

Fact is, I coveted the respect of my peers, even at the expense of my reputation and everything my mother and father had taught me. BROKEN

So, in all this, what we today might call a peccadillo, I managed to break every single one of God's commandments. Yet God's justice does not recognize any distinction in degrees of sin. Sin is sin. Lawlessness is lawlessness. "The soul that sins shall die" (Exodus 18:20). I deserved DEATH for my "peccadilloes".

I don't even need to describe all the rampant sin and debauchery that went on in my life for 10 years after this prior to the day God converted me. My guilt is made evident in my peccadillo.

What impresses me most about my Savior Jesus Christ, is not that He has forgiven all those ghastly terrible things I have done, but that he forgives all the "little" sins that I commit every day. By his grace may those acts continue to decrease in my life and in yours. Flee from sin!

General MacArthur Speaks

Here are some interesting quotes from World War II war hero, General Douglas MacArthur:

I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.

One cannot wage war under present conditions without the support of public opinion, which is tremendously molded by the press and other forms of propaganda.

Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor - with the cry of grave national emergency.

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.

Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it.

Americans never quit.

We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Exalted Worship

Here is a worship CD that I highly recommend to every man and woman of the Christian faith. It features an introduction by Pastor John MacArthur. It also follows a pattern of liturgical worship, alternating between spoken word and prayer by Kirk Cameron, and hymns composed by Scott Krippayne. I have been listening to it every morning at the beginning of my shift at work and it has been a blessing. You can purchase it as Amazon and at iTunes. Last I checked it was $6.99 at Amazon and $9.99 at iTunes.

Thoughts on the BSU-Oregon game

Boise State's win over the Oregon Ducks will be yet another nationally televised football game that is the talk of college football fans everywhere. Not necessarily because the Broncos "plucked" the Ducks, but due instead to the post-game antics of the Ducks' starting tailback LeGarrette Blount. In spite of the NCAA's 2009 focus on sportsmanship, Blount punched Broncos LB Byron Hout in the face after the game Thursday night. Hout's knees buckled and he fell, but popped right back up with a smile on his face. Blount was literally carried off the field by Oregon coaching staff, Oregon players, and security guards. On his was out Blount tried to fight with BSU fans as well. I suspect he will be suspended for the rest of the season, if not removed from the team altogether. Since Blount is a senior, it really doesn't matter which road is taken. In effect his college football career is likely over. I would be very surprised to see Blount play again.

To the game itself, I was very impressed with the Bronco defense. The first half was an utter embarrassment to the Ducks, who were held to 14 yards of total offense and converted no first downs. The offense, led by phenom sophomore Kellen Moore, opened the game with an impressive 95 yard drive to the Ducks 1 yard line, but failed to even get a field goal out of it. The next drive was similar. There were a lot of first game mistakes made by the Broncos on offense. Kyle Brotzman missed 2 field goals in the first half before making one prior to halftime. The plague of bad snaps and fumbles carried over into the second half for the Broncos. The second half was especially sloppy for the Bronco offense. But that's not all bad. BSU has always been known as an offensive powerhouse. But against Oregon, it was just the opposite. The defense clearly led and supported the team. The offense has a lot of room for improvement. If the offense would have performed at the level I've come to expect, I think the Broncos could have easily doubled the points they put on the board. So I am excited that the BSU offense could play quite badly, yet they still were able to win against a nationally ranked Pac-10 team who was looking to avenge the loss they took last year at the hands of the Broncos. What really has me excited is if that defense is as good as they looked Thursday night, and their offense cleans up all the mistakes, then I really think they can play with the BIG BOYS. BCS buster?? Yeah, I think it's very possible.

Old Time Religion

I ran across a great blog tonight while surfing the web, and the author had recently posted these videos from YouTube. I enjoyed them so much, thought I would do the same. HT: Barbara

Duck Hunting on the Smurf Turf

I absolutely cannot wait for the college football season to begin. It's no secret in my house that I am a college football fanatic. Forget the NFL. Now, particularly dear to my heart are the Boise State Broncos. I grew up near Boise. I remember the Big Sky days when our biggest games were against Montana State and the University of Utah. Now we are in the bigtime. Many, if not most, of you probably think BSU is just an overrated WAC team who never really plays anybody significant. That's fine. But we are still ranked 14th in the nation to start the year, with our biggest test of the season right coming right out of the gates. The Oregon Ducks (rated 16th) will be visiting Boise in a rematch of last year's 37-32 opening day loss to the Broncos. This game should be a battle to the finish, as it is one of only 4 top 25 opening day matchups. My prediction: Boise State--48 Oregon--20

From Shrill to Schilling

Orel Hershiser took up professional poker. Roger Clemens joined the pharmaceutical industry. So what's the latest development in the world of high profile professional baseball pitchers? Apparently Curt Schilling is considering the bull pen. I say "bull" in reference to the late Senator, Edward "BS" Kennedy, whose vacant Senate seat Schilling is considering. I recall Schilling being a conservative, but if his curve ball is as good as it used to be, he may have a shot. I hope he digs his heels in and fights for the seat. Here's the story.

Has this game been rated??

Every once in a while, there comes a game so realistic, so fantastic-yet-close-to-home, so undeniably addictive that you must quit playing it and go tell your friends. That is what I'm doing now. I've been playing this game for 14 straight hours. I'm talking a serious buzz it's given me. Hopefully, I'll have it mastered in the next 24 hours. I mean, I better get it mastered, 'cause I don't think I can handle eating any more lint out of the carpet and I'm too lazy to get up.