Because Public Schools Create Social Genuises…

Social Outcasts.

Oh yeah, my kids are gonna be homeschooled.

Nothing Obama can do about that.

…

Now back to my “abstaining” from the news.  It is a lot harder than it looks.

New Zealand

I have wanted to visit Down Under for years now.  Since I was a young child, in fact.  Recently I have been reading up on New Zealand.  Sure, it is well known that the land is beautiful.  Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy established that some years ago.  And beauty is exciting.

What I’ve been trying to find out is about their culture.  Sure, they are a mostly Caucasian society that speaks English, so they share some cultural similarities with America.  On the other hand, they only have 4 million inhabitants.  So while I understand they have some amount of socialism, it seems to be a lot smaller than the American version.

So maybe in the long term, my wife and I will consider New Zealand as a possible escape if America grows out of control.  I love America, but I have to do what is best for my wife and kids.  If that means packing it up and moving to a remote nation on the other side of the world, then that is what I’ll do.  In the meantime, I will try to make the best of the situation we are in and pray for God’s wisdom.

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Pictures of Winter

Here’s a fine act out of my hometown area, Enfield, CT.

The video is kind of funny.  I think this band has a decent shot at going large if they keep it up.  You can check out more music at http://www.myspace.com/picturesofwinter.

With the amount of crap out there on the radio (cough K-rock cough), you can always turn to the local bands for something new and different.  POW seems to be inspired by the brutal Blood Has Been Shed, mixed in with some Zao, and the more melodic sounds of Shadows Fall.  This group is on the uprise, as they’ve improved musically since their first EP came out a couple years ago.

Remember, always support your local starving metal band!

Husbands love your wives

A colleague and I had some lunch.  At lunch, we read through 1 Corinthians 7:1-16.  Basically there are two sections here, “Principles of Marriage” and “Keep Your Marriage Vows” (these are how my NKJV bible chooses to title them).

The first section seems to deal with the physical passions that are necessary in a marriage.  Don’t, as a husband, neglect her.  And vice versa.  It is interesting how Paul mentioned that those who have that desire and have a tough time controlling, should get married.  Paul was a very wise man indeed.

Also, to note, our the biblical roles.  God has ordained the man as the leader, and head of the household.  The wife, the helpmate.  No role is above the other, rather they are equal and perfect when attuned to God’s will!  We as men are not called to Lord it over our wives, and also, our wives should support us.

Marriage truly is two becoming one.  She is mine, and I am my wife’s.

I have been married almost eight years.  I really have forgotten what the single life is about.  Frankly, I don’t care much to go back to those days.  Unlike much of the world, I don’t feel locked down with a ball and chain when married to my wife.  You know why?  Because, also unlike the world, we realize our roles.  The world says we should have equal sharetime in our roles.  We should both be leaders and helpmates.  Right.  The world has also produced a + 50% divorce rate.  No thanks!  Too many chiefs and not enough indians, is what I say.

So, keep your marriage vows.  Know your roles.  Love each other and trust God.  I think you’ll be better in the long run.  And remember, it ain’t always a bed of roses.  It isn’t always peachy.

In which I take a sabbatical from the news.

Today I have decided to take a break from current events.  There is no doubt that I am a news junky and I believe that I can be prone to letting the day’s news effect my attitude.  Lately I have been asking God to show me ways in which I can improve myself.  I think He is asking me to just take a break from the news.

Easier said than done.  I won’t be able to avoid the office talk especially regarding the election, but I will be able to hold off on contributing.  So, if it gets a bit quiet over here at Arrogand New Englander, you’ll know why.

Is Conservatism Dead?

This may spell the death of the GOP as we know it.  For years, we have allowed the neoconservative movement run things, and frankly, people were fed up.  Since most of the left believes Bush is representative of true conservatism, they swung more socialist by electing the most liberal senator.

Congratulations, GOP, you may finally be on your way back to your libertarian roots.  It will take years of infighting and grassroots movements, but I hope and pray this spells the death of the neocon super power.

Am I worried about our president elect?  No, not really.  Sure, the man is for breaking the necks of newborn babies, but he will have to contend with God with his decisions.  I pray the man starts reading some non-socialist literature, embraces Austrian Economics, and shrinks the fed.  Fat chance.  Maybe after four years of an Obama presidency, Americans will tire of the liberal wings of the Republican and Democrat parties.

You see, we had our chance.  Ron Paul.  Here was a man of sound economic and diplomatic principals.  A man who warned us about Fannie and Freddie and the implications of government sponsored enterprises.  Unfortunately, the media stifled him, and the neoconservative establishment ridiculed him.

Fortunately, he’s not done.  Just go to http://campaignforliberty.com/ and sign up.  Start to bring real change to this country.

Walk at lunch

I took a walk at lunch today.  This really helped to clear my head.  I’m not too concerned about the election, because the two main candidates are not appealing to me.  I really hoped that by now, the Christian right would be through with the Republican party, but apparently they’re not.  I guess McCain knew what he was doing when he chose Palin.

I like Palin, but I don’t think she’ll be an influential VP.  She won’t be like Dick Cheney, that is for sure.

I ran into no lines this morning when going to vote.  The entire process was simple.  I wrote in Ron Paul.  Maybe we’ll see a man like Ron Paul in the White House years from now.  For now, I believe we’re in for some fun and socialistic times!

The Treasure Principle

So at the suggestion of my pastor, my wife and I started reading through a Bible study called, “The Treasure Principle”, by Randy Alcorn.

The first chapter starts as an introduction to what the Treasure Principle is, and the reward it entails.  My wife and I were impressed by the fact that storing up worldy treasures is pointless, because our worldly treasures will fly away like a bird.  When John D. Rockerfeller died, his lawyer was asked how much he left, and the answer:  “All of it.”

As a Christian living in the US, I can be easily distracted by bills, and necessities, and material things.  We frequently struggle with paying the bills, but somehow we are able to do so each month.  Recently we have started to prioritize our tithe before our expenses.  Not that this is some magic formula, but in the last month, I have received $100.00 in Gift Cards, and a family member is offering to supply us with some money so that we can install a picket fence, and repair some household items!

The Treasure Principle means two things.  First, our giving (whether in money or in self) should be done joyfully.  The reward is that once in heaven, we will receive three types of treasures:  Jesus.  Heaven.  Physical Treasures rewarded a hundredfold!  Second, our giving rewards us with joy.  Joy is underrated and underutilized.

As we start to change our focus of tithing, I think we have become more aware of our expenditures.  We have definitely cut back on eating out all the time, and buying unnecessary material items!  God has shown that He has been blessing us, but we have been poor stewards of our blessings.

This is not something that has occurred over night.  Years ago, we were about $40,000.00 in debt!  We prayerfully considered our actions to cause that situation and immediately cut our credit cards.  When the credit cards were gone, we were able to quickly pay off our school loans, car loans, and personal loans!  We were out of debt within a couple years of praying about it.

Sure we had our ups and downs, but God blessed us.  Had we known then what we know now, we may have had a tidy savings, instead of an empty bank account.  This is our next step, I believe.

Yes, I know I’m more focused on our personal income, but this all ties together.  I have to take care of my family, and it starts with being a good steward.  Good stewardship takes manly discipline.

If you are interested, you may purchase this short book for only a couple of bucks at Amazon.  I think it will open your eyes to some Biblical principles that are largely overlooked these days, but are perhaps just as important as ever in Christian history!

We will be reading a chapter each week, so I’ll update this site each time and try to be upfront about our progression as we seek to be joyful givers!

Greece, Rome, and now…

It is no secret that societies which embraced and accepted immoral attitudes eventually fall.  Maybe it is more of a sign of a society that is already fallen.  A culture that became so weak, that the small minority of those who accepted such obscurities became outright vocal and powerful.

Rome had those boy slaves used by the upper class and nobility.  Greece had its share of immoral behaviors.  These two empires eventually failed.

Of course, I’m not trying to say that immoral behavior is the main reason these empires failed.  Again, I think it is probably a condition of a weakened society.

Over the past few decades, America has grown more decadent.  When marriage is no longer safe, we know we are in for a heap of trouble.

Look, we have economic failures as a result of greed.  Abortion is a failure because we promoted free love and sex without the consequences.  AIDS is a reality because of the immoral choices we make.

Yes, the blatant acceptance of immorality is a sign of weakness.

Do I stand here like a fierce God and condemn everyone?  No.  This is not my job, and frankly, I don’t have the qualifications to attempt it.  I’d have to condemn myself first.  It is my job to warn others, though.

I believe the church is largely at fault too.  We Christians have become somewhat exclusive in our ability to love thy neighbor!  I’m guilty.  We also have those pretending to be Christians while promoting hatred towards sinners.  Fred Phelps would have been kicked out of the temple like the money changers!

Sin.  This all boils down to sin.  And as Paul said, of which I am the chiefest.

And there are consequences to sin.  Whether you stand as an unbeliever like the three monkey trio.  The fact is, your unbelief will not make the truth a myth.

Some societies were eventually wiped out by the hand of God as a result of their sin.  I don’t take God lightly.

There is hope.  People can be changed.  If they are truly open minded, they will receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!  Those who are truly open minded have done so.  Those with a narrow-minded stubborn pride will continue to deny God’s existence, therefore leaving no chance for change.

Also, God wants you to come as you are.  If you are gay, come as a gay person and let God sort out your issues.  If you’re a crack head, don’t feel you have to quit the crack before receiving the Messiah!  Let God sort that out.  If I thought I had to be perfect before becoming a Christian, why would I need to go to God?  I’d be perfect.

Our society is failing.  God isn’t.

So, um ehum, how about those Celtics?

So as my memory begins to fade, I almost forgot that earlier this year, the Boston Celtics were crowned the NBA Champions.  This is what I’m taking solace in, my friends.

Yeah, we Boston fans have become just a tad spoiled.

So sue me.

Tampa Bay was the better team, and I have a feeling they are going to throw the Phillies to the side like a cat throwing a dead mouse in a busted alleyway.

The Red Sox?  Time to update that lineup.  The bottom three of the order stranded too many people in key situations during this year’s ALCS.

Oh well, there will always be game 5, right?

At least the Yankees didn’t even make the playoffs (repeat that to yourself).

And, the Celtics should be competitive.  17!

I’ll be honest, folks.  While not shocked about this outcome, I am a bit annoyed.  The Red Sox have made the comeback series a fashion statement, and this year they became like other teams who came back only to lose at the last minute.

Have we entered the Curse of the Mannytrade?

Only time will tell.

For now, at least I’ll be getting more sleep.

And, at least the Celtics look good.