Top Secret Drum Corps

The precision of these guys is amazing!

If you can't see the video go to http://www.topsecretbasel.ch/en/

Name Calling

I have heard more name calling in the past five years that I did my entire time in grade school. From President Obama who recently called the Senate a bunch of liars when his gun bill wasn't passed to Jeff Foxworthy who calls our government officials idiots. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty as are Christians and non-Christians. It stems from our rights being threatened - the right to free speech (including religion and freedom of the press), the right to bear arms, the right from illegal search & seizure - all found in the Bill of Rights. The name calling also comes from the blatant disregard for our Constitution. These documents are sacred to the United States, created by our founding fathers for the security of our people and for the strength of our country.

God put something fascinatingly simple on my heart this morning - neither the US Constitution nor the Bill of Rights are in the bible. heh - no kidding? Some of our US Federal Laws are found in the bible, but not anything that defines our rights as US citizens. Now before you continue reading, I will say that I do enjoy all of my rights as a natural born United States citizen. I do not like the idea of anyone infringing on my rights for any reason and it saddens me that there is growing support for the idea that our liberty can be breached in the name of safety.

So what rights do I have - as a devout follower of Jesus - according to the bible? I have the right to pay my taxes (Matt 17:25-27) , I have the right to pray for those in authority and for the president (1 Tim 2:1-2), I have the right to love my enemies (Matt 5:44), and I have the right to be submissive and respectful to those who rule over me (1 Pet 2:18).

So if every single right that I have that is defined in my country's Charters of Freedom is taken away by our government what am I to do as a Christian? Am I to resist and get angry? Blast my Facebook page with anti-government propaganda? Join in the name calling? Many Christians are doing this already.

This reminds me of something that I have heard many times in reference to how a wife should respond to her unbelieving husband. The bible tells wives to submit to their husbands, but what about when that husband doesn't know the Lord? Then what? Well, it does not say to "submit unless he doesn't know God", it just says to "submit". As cold as this sounds, it's actually in this submission that a beautiful love can blossom between a husband and wife even when he wants nothing to do with God. It is in this submission that God provides and guides the husband's steps and believe it or not, it is in this submission that the husband is set apart or sanctified for God.

So when this man wants his wife to cook dinner every night, keep the house clean, tend to the children and work outside the home - how does God want her to respond? With love, submission and respect. If he demands her to abort her baby, sleep with another man or do anything contrary to God's precepts, then she is to resist the devil (not her husband).

Taking away my gun, shutting down my church, or raiding my home are not things I need to resist according to God's Word. I need to uphold the constitution of God the Father. If my rights as a US citizen are taken away, He calls me to respond with love, submission and respect. When the government calls on me to help abort a human life - either in the womb, in a wheelchair or in a nursing home, I will resist - the devil.

When the commandments of God are ignored and blatantly disobeyed, it is the work of the devil. We are to resist the devil. We must remember that our struggle is not with an unbelieving husband or the people of our government, but instead with the governing body of this world that is ruled by forces of spiritual darkness (Eph 6:12). That struggle is not to include hate, strife, anger, disputes, dissensions or even name calling because we are not slaves to our flesh. We are to walk in the Spirit of God in gentleness, kindness, humility, love, peace, self-control, patience, faithfulness and joy (Gal 5).

The bible does not say to love my enemies "unless ...", it does not say to pray for the president "unless ...", it does not say submit and respect "unless ..." - there is no "unless". That means, no matter what, I am to love, pray, submit and respect. In this manner I will live a tranquil and quiet life that could set-apart the world to God. 1 Tim 2:2-6 says that it is in this tranquility and quietness that men will be saved (1 Tim 2:2-6).

We as followers of Christ need to be the refuge that people will flee to when their lives are being devoured by the enemy. This won't happen if we are calling those people demeaning names. It's time to stop the name calling.

Boycotting Starbucks

Starbucks has recently made their support of gay marriage public and it hasn't gone over very well among Christians....

Offended by the decision of Starbucks chief Howard Schultz to support gay marriage, a Christian organization is seconding the CEO’s demand that Christian shareholders sell their stock in the ubiquitous coffee chain. “Christians and pro-family groups across the United States have contributed significantly to the economic success of Starbucks,” said American Family Association President Tim Wildmon in a statement. “However, we can certainly honor Mr. Shultz’s request to take our business elsewhere.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/28/christian-group-urges-stock-dump-over-starbucks-ga/

"I'll take a Venti Chai with soy, no foam and I have my own mug" is something I say at least once a week at my local Starbucks. I've never had bad service, never a bad drink and always have kind conversations with whoever is serving me - gay or not. I've been asked a couple times if I'm going to boycott Starbucks because of their stance on gays. My immediate response is that I don't believe in boycotting. But I've put some more thought into this and have more to add.

I enjoy sitting in Starbucks, ~~guzzling down~~ sipping on my tea, watching people and talking with a few. It's a very inviting and relaxing place, no matter which one I go to - in any part of the country. Do you realize that I have a better chance of striking up a conversation with a person who isn't sexually oriented like me in a Starbucks than any other place in town? Why on earth would I stop going there? What better place can I bless a stranger with cup of coffee and have a wonderful conversation with them? It's one of the easiest places in my world to share the love of Christ with those who need it the most. So what if the person is an adulterer, gossip hound, glutton or gay - who cares?

Jesus certainly didn't care when He decided to have dinner with tax collectors and sinners - do you think any of them were gay? The religious guys wondered why Jesus wasn't boycotting them, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus told them He preferred compassion to their religion and that the whole reason He came to the earth was for sinners.

I have no problem with Starbucks supporting gays and gay marriages, they actually support Christians and our marriages too. It's their choice and it's a result of the wonderful freedom we have in our USA. We are supposed to love and bless our enemies. Do you really think boycotting is a form of love or blessing? I have always seen it as a mark of hatred and it's never been in me to do. So, no, I'm not boycotting Starbucks!

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors (gays) do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus (Matt 5:43-48)

Be still - The Plank

This is a plank. It's one of the best moves to strengthen your core. The hands are under the shoulders and the body is straight from the shoulders to the heels. This exercise involves zero motion. All you do is try to hold the position for as long as possible. Concentration is key to holding still. The longer you hold it, the more you will start to feel your back and abdominal muscles kick in to keep you in place and straight. As I was doing this today I thought about how this relates to spiritual strength. I wrote before about how our spiritual core is in the same region as our physical core (made up of lower back, abdominals and gut). A strong core is essential to stillness and requires self-discipline.
As I go through my day-to-day life, the best way to keep my spiritual core strong is to be still and know who God is. At first being still may not be too hard, but the longer you try to maintain it the more one needs to concentrate on being still - just like doing this plank. In the physical realm being still involves maintaining your muscles and your mind. If your mind is convinced that you can't hold this position, then your body will soon weaken and collapse. In the spiritual realm your mind is even more important since it's where the devil likes to aim his arrows. Maintaining spiritual rest requires disciplining the mind to focus on God. The more you do this, the better you will be able to maintain it.

In my plank, I can make it more intense by lifting a foot off the ground. This requires quite a bit more strength. Only by keeping the same stillness will my body become stronger. Quite frankly this is uncomfortable - not painful, just uncomfortable. It is not a normal position for your body to be in and it will want to rebel and put that foot down. Keeping your body still and balanced will bring even more strength to your body. When God brings you through a season of being uncomfortable, it is by keeping still in the Lord that you will begin to mature in God's strength. When I'm faced with opposition or unkindness, it requires concentration to be still and not retaliate. To say "oh Lord help me" means keeping quiet and holding my position under God's authority (the Greek word for "still" is actually "quiet"). My soul wants to defend myself, but it's only when I learn how to let God defend me that my spiritual core is strengthened. The end of 1 Peter 2 says that while Jesus was suffering, He kept still and didn't retaliate by entrusting Himself to the one who judges righteously. He set the perfect example for us to follow!

This is the hardest plank position of all! I'm barely strong enough to hold my foot and arm off the ground at the same time, but this is the ultimate isometric work for the core region of your body. To maintain stillness in this position means there are all kinds of little adjustments occurring in my muscles to stay balanced. All those adjustments to keep still are doing some fantastic things for my middle. When I'm in this plank position, my mind is constantly rebelling saying, "this is not right!!" My body is literally fighting to put my arm and leg back down because it is very hard to keep my body centered and balanced.

Holding this hard position is exactly what it feels like to hold fast to God's Word when firey trials come your way. Being spiritually balanced involves knowing what is right for you as defined by God. 1 Cor 6:12 states this perfectly, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will be mastered by nothing." This chapter goes on to say that our body is not our own, we were bought for a price. It's through that acquisition that we are even able to maintain a spiritual balance since it's not possible to do it on our own. Being balanced for me means taking all those lessons the Lord has taught me and employing them in my life. I've walked out of some serious sin and am an overcomer, but in order to maintain this position I must remember what God has done for me and what He has taught me. I must know in the forefront of my mind that only by maintaining my spiritual balance in the Lord will I continue to be an overcomer when tempted with those same sins.

Being still in the Lord is not a mindless, lazy activity. It requires concentration, strength and balance.

Roman Pasta

This is a recipe that I never want to loose and this is the best place I can put it to ensure it's safety :) I first came across it on Lydia's show on PBS and have modified it over the years. Now I'm not a foodie or even a food blogger, so don't get too excited over the pics or my format. And please forgive me for not having measured amounts - I add what seems right to me. One thing I will say. I've made this for people who don't like anchovies and they say they didn't even taste them. These little fish add a wonderful rich flavor that isn't anchovy at all :)

First thing, get some water boiling for pasta - use more water than usual because you'll be using it to make the sauce.

In a hot skillet add some grapeseed oil, a whole can of anchovies, 1/2 jar of capers, dried tomatoes, 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped and a chopped shallot.

Once your water is boiling add whole wheat spaghetti.

In the skillet, once the anchovies are completely dissolved add in a couple ladle fulls of pasta water and keep stirring until reduced. Add some more pasta water until you have a nice sauce.