More Than This is recording

We're recording in May, hopefully the CD will be out by September. If you want to be reminded, put your email address in here so we can let you know as soon as it's available (or maybe we'll have pre-release for you).

Nonresistence in action

Finding our self-worth

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Men find their self-worth in what they do. They are defined by their career, and their success in their work. So it is hard in times like these to watch those close to me struggle in unemployment. And it is because I am so intimate with these men who have lost their jobs, I can not point accusatory fingers at them for their failures. In fact I can only point to my own failings and use myself as an example so that any words I speak or write can be used to encourage others to seek the Lord.

When a man finds himself without a job he loses control over his life, and the thing everyone in the world desires, provision for his family. They think themselves a failure subconsciously, and it takes a toll spiritually. Because their self-image is defined by the work of their hands, they lose their identity when they lose their income.

What a time we have now where so many are struggling in this way. We help preserve their dignity in whatever way we can, but only the man can come to terms with himself and with God.

If only we could find our identity in Christ, and define ourselves through our participation in his suffering! If we could truly understand what it means to have our being in Him, and to be known by Him! It is not through our deeds that we are justified, it is through our humility in recognizing it is God's work of adoption that we are who we are: children of God, citizens of Heaven.

Let us find our self-worth in Christ alone. Let us place our truth in His provision. Let us glory in His name together. Hallelujah.

We've been lied to for so long

Previously I have written that "Democracy is a lie" and our present governmental system is really a "plutocracy of sorts." But lately I have become more and more convinced we truly are in a plutocracy. We are a nation ruled by the wealthy.

In the present political climate we hear a lot about capitalism and socialism. The political debates are about the merits of capitalism, and how we can make capitalism work.

But we have been confused as to what, in fact, makes capitalism (is it a sin?). If you were to poll random people out on the street if they were capitalists, they would more often than not they would answer in the affirmative.

But capitalists are, by definition, "a person of wealth" (see: plutocrat). They make their wealth from the labor of others. The common middle-class laborer cannot possibly be a capitalist because they do not control any capital.

When you look at our political system you don't have Republicans and Democrats, you have capitalists. It's a one-party system, controlled by the wealthy, for the benefit of the wealthy. The populist rhetoric and legislation is meant to calm (read: suppress) the proletariat. When the laborers are content, the capitalists can profit from the lower class labor.

I'm going to write more about this later because I have a lot of thoughts about this topic right now. I just wanted to define who capitalists are at this point so I don't have to define it later. We hear a lot about "class warfare" lately from the capitalist talking heads. What this really means is the proletariat are seeing through the façade of the sham. Class warfare has been ongoing for millennia, but it's through passive oppression of the lower classes. We do have class oppression, and I think the oppressed are sick of it.

But it's not all passive oppression, right now the capitalists are talking about bringing all-out war against the laborers. More on this later.

The Christian way to kill someone

Here's a simple guide to use whilst contemplating killing someone in self defense.

• If I choose to kill this person: Does it help my witness for Christ? (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)


• Am I motivated by a desire this person to know Christ? (1 Corinthians 9:23;10:33)


• Does killing them help me do my best? (1 Corinthians 9:25)


• Is killing them against a specific command in Scripture which would cause me to sin? (1 Corinthians 10:12)


• Is killing them the best and most beneficial course of action? (1 Corinthians 10:23, 33)


• Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person? (1 Corinthians 10:24)


• Am I acting lovingly or selfishly? (1 Corinthians 10:28-31)


• Does killing them glorify God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)


• Will killing them cause someone else to sin? (1 Corinthians 10:32)

If you can answer positively on all of those and still kill them, you're doing OK.

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I'm a spiritual consumer

I realized I have been a spiritual consumer recently.

We're now in Lenten season, and I have been thinking about Holy Week in particular. For the past few years my wife and I would visit a Presbyterian congregation for the Maundy Thursday service, an Episcopalian congregation for the Good Friday Tenebrae service (my favorite of the year), and stay home on Easter to avoid the vacant Christians.

I've been accused of this before by some "leaders;" I've been called a "church whore." I went to about seven different fellowships in a given month, and usually four or more any given week. I don't have the time for that anymore. But that was about fellowship with different communities of believers with different opinions and faculties.

Oh, but my Holy Week voyeurism is different altogether. I go there to enjoy the liturgy, not to participate in Christ's suffering. I am on Thursday and Friday what I avoid on Sunday.