Sometimes I am embarassed to Be a Christian!

So I have been looking around for a good topic to blog about for the past several days. Outside of the political world I haven’t had much to talk about. For some reason I don’t want to write a lot of political stuff. So I was just browsing some of the news sites I read from time to time. I came across a new item that is coming out soon called (are you ready for this) “Guitar Praise.” When I read this I thought it was a joke. Nope it isn’t a joke at all it is real. Guitar Hero with praise music for $100, hey I can plug into your trendy Mac as well.

Yes that is a knock off of Guitar Hero for us Christians. I mean what is more arrogant than the freakin Christian marketers just ripping off stuff, not making it new in anyway except adding some stupid Christian music. I know I know some of the music is good, but for the most part the corporate Christian music is worse than the Top 40 stations on the mainstream. Why do we feel we need to not be original, not think for ourselves to come up with good ideas. Not use a successful idea from someone else steal it and add the word God, Jesus, Church, or Praise to make it “Christian.” I wouldn’t be surprised if the Devil himself (Family Christian Stores) had a hand in creating this crap.

I mean we have so many problems as believers to not be thought of as arrogant, selective, judgmental, mean bastards by the world. Now we create this crap along with the “Christian” mints, “Christian” pot holders, “Christian” crack rock, and more. Just because you put a cross on something doesn’t make it “anointed” by God. It definitely doesn’t make it cool or awesome. Example Bible Man, Bible Man, Bible Man! These things makes us look like elitists, I know you should have an alternative to the violent themes of the “superheroes” on TV. You know what why not come up with something for your child, and not rely on the poor marketing of cheap toys with crosses on them so your child can be ridiculed by his peers. Wait you probably home school the poor child.

Look I don’t want you to think I don’t like things that are for the Lord, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Those things don’t try to look like, sound like, or pretend to be the “secular” thing.
Example, I like Todd Field’s music, now he doesn’t take non-Christian songs and changer the lyrics to make himself more appealing. No he writes what he wants or is lead to. That’s why I like him. Veggie Tales, I know it is for kids, but it was very original and it was well written. They both Todd Field’s and Veggie Tales are “Christian” things, but they are original and real. Not reformed like the potato head Christian products that just slap a cross on an item and double the price to sell in the “Christian” store. I mean you are loved more by God for shopping at the “Christian” it’s like showing up at church twice on Sundays. (though the crappy revelation movies are quite a riot, I mean if you absolutely nothing to do)

I have heard all the objections to what I have said. I know I might have offended you. I know. It’s just Jesus didn’t come to earth and hang out at the Jehovah Java all day with his Christian friends and go shopping at the LifeWay Christian Store for his music. No he was with the hookers, murderers, tax collectors, liars, adulterers, and more. In fact the people he had the worst taste in his mouth for was the people outside the temple like in John 2:12-25. So why do we feel the need to make ourselves separate from others with our trendy little “Christian” only stuff. When if we were original it would minister to people.

Olympics

It has been a little odd i have been out of the loop with the Olympics this time. But then again i never really watch the summer Olympics. But i have been spending more time alone with my lady. That is way more awesome than some olympics!

My Letter to the Next President!

Recently my church did a series called “Letters to the Next President” the pastor (Andy Stanley) talked about what the bible would say to the next leader of our country. He ended up forming three letters from different stories about leaders in the bible and how they led in hard or difficult times. North Point also created a website for the general public to write their own letters to the next president. Not a specific person but to the one who ends up getting elected. Well I almost wrote one a few different times but for one reason or another I decided to not. Well this afternoon I did write one and I have put it below. I encourage you to write a letter. I mean he probably isn’t going to read but you never know. You don’t know how maybe God could inspire you and it could speak to the write person even if it isn’t the next president.

Dear Mr. President,

I know I have said I know what I would do that would fix the situation and I know how I would act as president. Even when I was a high school kid I wanted to actually have your job. After growing up I now realize I wouldn’t get the votes, but I would still like the job if I had the opportunity. Moving on I would like to say I know that what I see as an American watching news, reading blogs, and forming my own opinions that I do not know what you know just from the very nature of your position. So I know I would say I would do things a certain way, I pray that you can seek counsel from God and your staff to do what is right not just what makes you popular. Now I know Andy Stanley said that and if you were going to read these letters his would be the first ones and you wouldn’t make it to this one. I also highly doubt that you will make the mature correct decision for the people. I just pray that you will. Now I know you will get into office with the first 90 days of your campaign planned out and it will be what rallied you in, in the end. You will then probably take office realize what you wanted to accomplish will not be as easy to do and you will “distract” us from the goal you laid out. I already am, ok with that. I am bouncing off the letter Chuck Colson of the Nixon administration said and ask you to start your day with a devotional and scripture. I totally agree with him, have your quiet time with the creator before coming out and ruling the “free world.” Though I sort of envy your job, I do not envy your time of taking office. There is a lot of things changing in this nation and you are going to be in one of the strangest times of office.

So I pray that you do seek God, and I pray that you are humble enough to REALLY put the needs of the American people before yours.

Sincerely,

Joanthan Hoover
Amercian Citizen

Farewell to one of my childhood hero’s!

Farewell to a childhood icon. Listening to Skip Caray all of my life growing up watching Atlanta Braves baseball. He died Sunday of heart complications in his sleep. I wish more people could pass in their sleep peacefully. Working as close to a few days before his death. He was a phenomenal announcer and a part of the history here in Atlanta. He will be missed glad his kids are doing announcing as well. What a dynasty in announcing.

There some wonderful memories, of him calling the Sid Bream slide into home plate to win the NLCS, to the braves winning the world series. He actually made the radio listen a good experience. In fact when the braves were on national television and they had the Tim McCarver’s announcing and we would mute the TV and play the radio broadcast.

Beheaded Canada bus man

I was reading a story this morning about a man who killed a young man on a bus. Actually removing his head, walking to the front of the bus and presenting it to the passengers. Who were then frightened. So I was interested in his story, it is sad the young man’s life was so tragically ended this way by a man he didn’t know and for no apparent reason. The story said that the murderer was emotionless and cold when he went to the front of the bus, as in he wasn’t mad, crazy, or any of the normal emotions you would think that would warrant a man do stab someone 16 times and cut off their head. It is a horrible story and the more you think about being present the more you would realize the crippling fear you would experience when that happened. While all the news people are talking about security and all that in the bus travel industry.

I am pondering what snapped in a persons mind like that?

How do something like that happen without a fit of rage?

How does human life then become so impersonal that you could snuff it out like that with as much reactions tying your shoes?

I bet a lot of people wonder why would God allow someone to do such a thing?

Or Why that kid, who was said to be funny and “bubbly?”

You would hear in church that things happen for a reason and God is weaving a tapestry and we cannot see the ultimate picture. That pain and suffering is a “megaphone of the cross” to steal Louie’s words. I am not going to answer that cause there are far more intelligent communicators who can explain that better than I can.

What I want to discuss, is how does a man or woman snap like that? Personally I notice when I do something difficult or tough the first few times it is hard. Then it gets easier! Had this man done this before? Another thought I have is God says he loves everyone, Does he really love this man?

The answer is yes, and this man still can be forgiven by the blood of the savior. He is one of the ones the church leaves out to dry, I dunno if it is cause some people don’t care for them to be loved since they showed no mercy or compassion for someone to cut off their head.

But we look at television and see a man named Jack Bauer cut off a man’s head to help solve the situation. Jack did this with no remorse or visible pain. Now I know it is television and it was the good guy doing something to bring down the bad guy. But on the show we would forget and even overlook this action by Jack Bauer. I know you are thinking, yeah this is a silly comparison. My point is that murder is murder and it is wrong. But like murder there are other things that are wrong and doesn’t make a person bad. We all have done things we wouldn’t want others to know about and would be shamed if they did. But actions don’t make our whole selves bad. I am not condoning or saying that the murderer is a good man I do not know him.

What I am saying is that this country has this “damn them to hell” attitude with people who commit crimes.

We have this “oh, I cannot believe they did that!” When you have thought about the same action! We say, “Eye for an eye, they killed a little boy they should be put to death.” Then they say they believe the bible and love Jesus. Not doubting that they love Jesus but, Jesus was the largest advocate for love, grace, mercy, and compassion EVER! He was with murders, prostitutes, thieves, and he loved them. He didn’t damn them to eternal suffering. He didn’t stone them for being a whore, even when he could have. He showed them love and compassion. Now the bible does say that there are consequences to wrong doing. (Gal 5)

How can we as a people and body of Christ sentence someone to death for their crimes we caught them doing?

How can the person who says they were appointed by God to lead the nation, send more people to death than any other leader?

I am not saying they should be set free, or they should work with our children of course not. What I am saying is that even the worst of the worst (Paul) can be changed in an instant by God. Even the man going out to slaughter a whole group of people for believing something can be stopped changed and go on to lead that group.

So let’s have some mercy let’s show people, “hey even though you messed up you are still lovable.”Cause Jesus did and God calls us to. I know you will say, “can you love a killer?” I want to answer yes, but the truth is through the Holy Spirit I know I can. Just because you have written someone or something off cause you think there is no hope. DON’T put God in the box! For He CAN change that man’s heart. And God may want to use you as the segway into his spirit.

So let’s pray for the persecuted and the persecutor that they both find their way to the Lord!

-hoov