SHOULD I BLOG? PODCAST? BOTH? NEITHER? ALL OF THE ABOVE?

Sifakas (and mirror), Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Park

I don't remember who it is, but I believe they were told they needed to have a podcast. How about me? Should I?

Am I being old school in continuing to blog? Would I have more of an impact if I did a Podcast?

I'll admit - I find starting a Podcast more intimidating. Is there a cost? Or can I start it just using my little camera and talking? If I want to work in power-point (another bit of technology I've always wanted to use but never got started with), would that work, or am I making things too complicated? (I have a way of doing that.)

But I'll be honest - I don't watch many Podcasts. Some of them are about an hour, that's a longer investment than I usually want to make. So why should I think others would want to make that time investment to see my podcast?

For that matter, is a podcast something that I'd accomplish anything? I'll admit that I have it hard sticking to one subject, as here. I definitely would be doing interviews, and they may do well. But will I have a regular following, or will I have a spike on one episode because the interviewee has a loyal following who will watch that episode and pay no attention to me afterwards?

Some of the same questions on podcasting are equally true when it comes to blogging. Is my blog something that God is using? I have a hunch that this blog has broken into the top billion in readership. 

Reality? God may be using this blog even if it looks like this is something that nobody reads. It doesn't help that it's not easy to leave a comment to the blog.

So what are your thoughts?

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 21 OF 48 (PENTECOST VERSION) - PSALM 67

Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis

 

1   God be merciful to us and bless us,
    And cause His face to shine upon us.
                                                    Selah
2  That Your way may be known on earth,
    Your salvation among all nations.
3  Let the peoples praise You, O God;
    Let all the peoples praise You.
4  Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
    For You shall judge the people righteously,
    And govern the nations on earth.
                                                    Selah
5  Let the peoples praise You, O God;
    Let all the peoples praise You.
6  Then the earth shall yield her increase;
    God, our own God, shall bless us.
7  God shall bless us,
    And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
                                Psalm 67:1-7, New King James Version

 

This is my second favorite Psalm (we looked at my favorite a few weeks ago). One reason is this is a millennial Psalm, looking to the Kingdom when Christ reigns over all the earth from Jerusalem, Jew and non-Jew alike.

That theme makes it fitting for this Psalm to be looked at on Pentecost Sunday. Why? Because when the Spirit was poured out, the message started in Jerusalem and spread to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Revelation 7 mentions that every tribe and language will be represented before His throne. That is not true yet - there are thousands of languages and people groups (the Biblical equivalent of "nation", as opposed to our idea of nations).

Aren't you looking forward to that day?

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW - LOST BITS BY KERRY NIETZ

 How did K-404 end up in this pile of discarded technology? Why is there a disconnect of years in his memory? And can he protect his friends, humans that distrust him, and himself from annihilation?

If you enjoy dystopian science fiction and you have yet to discover Kerry Nietz, shame on you. And "Lost Bits" is the place to start. Those who are familiar with the Dark Trench Saga, the Peril in Plain Space trilogy, "Mask," and his "Rhats!" additions to the Takomo Universe, you enjoy his creative new novel.

I'm not a super geek, but this book has some inside jokes I got. For example, you'll notice that on the title has a zero and a one in the title, the two numbers of the binary system. Likewise, each chapter is designated by the typical arabic numbers (such as 21) and the binary counterpart (0001 0101). Not to mention the dreaded 404 code when something's not found. But you'd expect no less from the computer programmer who wrote of his experiences with Fox Software in his autobiographical "Fox Tales."

One thing I enjoy about Nietz is that he deals with community and friendship. I enjoy his friendships of ThreadBare and BullHammer in the Dark Trench Shadow series and with Frolic and Abs in the Rhats books. Here, we find 404 befriended by Sam, Wes, Blue, Fuzzy, and Radial. 

As usual for a book by Kerry Nietz, I highly recommend this story.

 

THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM PETTING ZOO AND A MENAGERIE OF OTHER THOUGHTS

Becky visiting with her gorilla friend, Louisville Zoo.

 Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! 

And if we take Isaiah 11:6-10 as a literal prophecy, in God's Kingdom this is the petting zoo!

Becky and I have been to over 40 zoos, and we've had a lot of wonderful experiences with animals. For example: 

• The first time we went to the Cincinnati Zoo, we observed the Indo-Chinese tiger exhibit. As I often do, I speak to animals, and those who don't know me may not know I have a deep voice. The tiger rumbled back his reply. Note, I did not say roar. It sounded deep but friendly, and the tiger's expression echoed that observation.
• At the Nashville Zoo, we saw the caracal exhibit. One of the four caracals paced in front of me, and rubbed the fence in front of me, like a cat would rub your leg. I walked a little further down the exhibit, and the caracal extended his pacing route so he could rub the fence in front of me. (Note - when Becky and I lived in Nashville, TN, they had two zoos open about the same time: The Nashville zoo which was a 15-20 minute drive out of Nashville's city limits and Grassmere Park where they had North American animals (mostly) in the heart of Nashville. Since then, they merged the two into The Nashville at Grassmere. The zoo I'm talking about was the out of town one.)
• We visited the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend on a fall day when there weren't a lot of visitors. Several animals that day seemed happy to see us. Most notable were a trio of alpacas, the equivalent of a blonde, a brunette, and a red head in coloring. When we walked around the back of the enclosure, they ran so they could see us.
• Becky and I started a tradition of kissing when we were under the waterfall at Opryland Conservatory. That tradition extended to being in front of waterfalls to fountains to any running water. At the Louisville Zoo, there was a waterfall in the mountain lion exhibit, where one was watching us. Well, we kissed because of the waterfall, then turned to look at the feline. He looked absolutely shocked! I guess he never saw people kiss before.
• In this case I was more of an observer, but at the Indianapolis Zoo they had small Asian otters. A mother was holding her infant daughter so she could see them. The otters looked up and started cooing at the baby.
• Speaking of otters, at the Cincy Zoo I walked by the river otter exhibit, where an otter was lying down. I spoke to it. He looked up, saw me, and immediately ran into the water, doing typical otter tricks, and looking at me as if to say, "Am I succeeding in being entertaining?"
• We've had several nice experiences with apes, especially gorillas. The best memory was at the Louisville Zoo where one of the females was sitting near the window. Becky sat down on the ledge and they just watched each other. It seemed the gorilla got more comfortable and sat with Becky like a pair of good friends.
• Becky thought about taking a camel ride once at the Warner Park Zoo in Chattanooga, but seeing how far she'd be above the ground, chickened out. The camel, named Bradley, turned her direction, as if to say, "Was it something I said? I'm disappointed you're not riding me!"

In the Kingdom of God, I believe that the fear that exists will be gone. The passage above talks about wolves and lambs lying down together, and about children being with lions and cobras. I know it isn't true now, but I long for the time when little birds don't fly off in fear when I walk to feed a feeder. When I could have a white rhinocerous to mow my lawns.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 20 OF 48 - PSALM 92:1-2

Richie Woods Nature Preserve, Fishers, IN

 1  It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2  To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
    And Your faithfulness every night,
                Psalm 92:1-2, New King James Version

Another passage I don't really need to elaborate on. It is good to give thanks to God. And verse two gives a great idea - declaring God's lovingkindness in the morning, and His faithfulness at night.

 

TIS THE SEASON FOR FESTIVAL ANXIETIES AND DILEMNAS!

 

Divine Martyr, Get To The Point Festival. (Thought you might rather see them performing than the often used photo of yours truly with the band.)

Okay, who do I go listen to this year? Divine Martyr for the second time? True Revival for the first time? The Daniel Band for the first time in person, 42 years after the first time I heard them perform on a radio program?

And where's "Get To The Point" festival when you need it?!

Two years ago, I learned of Always One Ministry and their concerts: the two day, two stage summer Kingdom Come Festival (which expanded to 2 1/2 days last year) and the Pit in the fall. Unable to make it to either of those festivals.

And the same was true last year as well! However, I had an alternative. Did you ever hear of "Get To The Point" festival? Oh yeah, I did mention that a couple of paragraphs earlier.

This year? I might finally make it to KCF this year! It's only an hour away, after all. Though it had some competition. I have to choose between which two of my favorite bands I should support! Do I go hear True Revival at a bikers rally? Or do I go hear Divine Martyr and others in Kokomo?

Hush Harbor at Get To The Point

One thing I'd love to do is get better photos of artists. I had a photo of another of my favorite groups, Reclaim The Day, but it's blurred. (They'll be at KCF, but unfortunately on Friday, while I'm working.😢) I also took one of Scott Shireman, drummer of Hush Harbor, but it's also blurred! (Hush Harbor will be at KCF, but unfortunately they'll be at the Thursday night kick-off while I'm getting ready to sleep so I can work Friday.😥.) I did get a good one of me with Divine Martyr. Fortunately, I didn't take that ... I mean, it wasn't blurred.

Last year's Saturday line-up was fantastic, but it would have had me going from one stage to the other a couple of times. This year, Saturday has a good line-up, but this time, the artists I want to see are all on one stage, starting out with BRVVE (who I heard at "Get To The Point", performing as Brave WRSHP). 

Reclaim The Day, with BRVVE on left

Of course, there are bands I'd like to hear that I won't be able to. Undefeated will be there Friday. Zahna has a Friday acoustic set (I'd love to hear that) and closes the festival at midnight on Saturday (definitely past my bed-time). Theody, Forsaken Hero, and True Revival were there last year but not this year. And Worhol and Daniel Band have yet to be there!

Speaking of Daniel Band, they're going to be in concert on Labor Day weekend! But two things against hearing my favorite metal band. 1) They're further away (in Ohio). 2) Unlike KCF, it costs!

Back to KCF. I'm thinking of volunteering, so please pray about that. Should I spend my first time at the festival just enjoying it, or should I serve my brothers and sisters in Christ? Also, I want to be an encouragement to the fellow musicians, so pray about this. 

And keep KCF and other Christian festivals this summer up in prayer (including True Revival's Biker Rally this Saturday). Allow me to post the schedule so you'll be able to pray for the artists.

 

IF I WAS RICH ENOUGH TO START A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR?

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary/Boyce College, Louisville, KY

As the title indicates, no, I don't have enough money to start a scholarship program. But if I did, what would I make it for? Well, I have a clear-cut answer for that! Not a list of possibities: my mind's made up!

My scholarship will be specifically for singers/songwriters to get a degree in Bible. No, not a minor in Bible with a major in music. The major should be for a Bible, theology, pastoral studies, or apologetics degree. 

The scholarship would also be only for certain Bible colleges/seminaries. Of course, it would be one that believes the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant. It would not only teach that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), but that they are training students to go into the world and evangelize. 

Is that controversial enough? Let me go further. That school will also be teaching recent creationism and dispensationalism! Essentials for salvation? No. But both of these views are based on the Bible meaning what it says. A school that doesn't agree with this does not deserve a penny of my money.

What is the purpose of this scholarship? I believe there is a place for musicians in Christian ministry. I also believe there's a need for musicians releasing Biblically based music. For that reason, I'd put most emphasis on a Bible major; the theology would depend on the school. I would see how homiletics training may be of value (which is why I included Pastoral) and I would be excited to see Scripture defended via songwriting.

Any thoughts on this?

 
 

 

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 19 OF 48 - PSALM 86:11

Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN

 

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
            Psalm 86:11, New King James Version
 

This is a wonderful prayer. I love the thought "Unite my heart to fear Your name." 

What does it mean? Scripture warns us against being double minded. Psalm 119:113 says, "I hate the double-minded, but I love Your Law." James 1:8 says of one who doubts when asking God for wisdom that he's "a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." Later, James exhorts "Purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

Could another way to put a "united heart" or an "undivided heart" "whole hearted?" It means we're not divided by trying to fit in with the world and be in fellowship with God, because since the world's not in fellowship with God, we can't be whole heartedly following our Lord if we're spending a lot of time in the goat pen.

May we be taught God's way. May we walk in His truth. And may our heart be united to fear His name. 

BOOK REVIEW - CANYON SURVIVAL BY CONNIE QUEEN

 

 "What am I doing in this canyon? Who are these little children with me? Who is this man in the red truck who's offering help? Who am I, and why are other people shooting at us?"

Canyon Survival by Connie Queen is an exciting story with an exciting cover. The plot has more twists and turns and surprises dropping in on you than a canyon road with falling boulders. The characters will pull at your heart as well. 

One of the best stories I've read this year, and I highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW - I WOULD DIE FOR YOU: ONE STUDENT'S STORY OF PASSION, SERVICE, & FAITH BY BRENT AND DEANNA HIGGINS

What does it look to live a life totally surrendered to God, being obedient to him? Is it possible to display such total abandon to our Creator? Is there an age limit on being too old ... or too young?

I Would Die For You: One Student's Story of Passion, Service, & Faith is the story of B.J. Higgins, a teenager who lived out his love for God and the world, with a call to missions. He spent two summers ministering in Peru, and returned home with an unknown but deadly disease.

B.J.'s parents, Brent and Deanna Higgins, wrote/edited this book. Besides their contributions, it includes several journal entries, devotionals, and blogs by B.J., as well as comments from family members, friends, B.J.'s fellow summer missionaries, and others such as Bart Millard of MercyMe. It also includes several photos of B.J.

This is not a negative, but I found this book a challenging read on several points. First, if you're human, a story about a teenager who dies will of course be a challenge. Second, I found the book being a collection of memories from various people than it would if it was written as typical prose and then having a few quotes at the end. Finally, it's a challenge for me to stand up and be counted, to take up my sword and serve God as He wills.

I highly recommend this book.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 18 OF 48 - PSALM 85:13

 

Maumee Bay State Park, Oregon, OH

"Righteousness will go before Him,
        And shall make His footsteps our pathway."
                     Psalm 85:13, New King James Version

Psalm 85, like a lot of other Psalms is a blessing. But I want to focus on the final verse. 

Is righteousness making God's footsteps our pathway? Or are we prone to go to the right or the left?

There's an excellent book Turn Neither To The Right Nor To The Left by Eric Schansberg, focusing on politics. But we must not assume "right" and "left" deal solely with politics.

Going to far to the right can refer to a legalistic mindset. It also can refer to a reluctance to change but maintain the status quo. There's a book titled The Seven Last Words of the Church: "We've Never Done It This Way Before." (I once say a cartoon where there was a banner reading "Week Two of The Church Plant," and one person said, "We didn't do it this way last week.")

While the right side has the danger of not changing things that are at the minimum don't hurt being changed and at the maximum things that really should be changed, the left side is the opposite, changing things that should be left alone. (Pun unintentional). 

Some of the changes are to be seen as "being compassionate," accepting cultural norms instead of the truth of God's Word. Some of the changes are to be seen as "being intellectual," assuming scientific theory is more valid than Biblical fact. And sometimes it is us just being selfish, defending things we like and not wanting to be judged (sometimes that judgment is what Jesus is condemning in Matthew 7:1, sometimes it is an attempt to turn a sinner from the error of his way in James 5:19-20.

Are we asking God to make His footsteps our pathway?

POST PRIMARY '23 THOUGHTS

Christians United Church, Indianapolis.

 

 After looking at the ballot for Tuesday's Republican primary, Becky asked if I wanted to run for City Council. 😱

Let me give a little background, and then I'll share some thoughts. 

We are in the city of Lawrence (Indiana), which is in Marion County; Marion County and Indianapolis are one in the same. Thus, I live in two different cities, represented by two mayors and five councilers (Indianapolis 10th district, Lawrence's 3rd, and three at-large Lawrence representatives. At the moment, all except the Lawrence mayor are Democrats.

I'm typing this on the day of the primary election. There were five candidates for Indianapolis Mayor on the Democrat side (including the incumbent, Joe Hogsett, running for his 3rd term) and four Republicans. For Lawrence Mayor there was one Republican and two Democrats (the Republican candidate probably finished due to term limits?). 

The primaries are over and I will predict that in the Council races, the Dems will maintain their majority in both Indy and Lawrence. Why? Out of the 25 seats in Indianapolis, 12 have no Republican candidate. In Lawrence, same is true for half of the half dozen districts; true, there's three at large seats which are contested, but if the Dems win either those three seats or two of the contested seats, they've got the majority.

Okay, that's enough for the background. My thoughts?

• Have the Republicans given up on Indianapolis (and Lawrence)? Is it better to save money and work on races that aren't expected to be won, or to fight on the ballot even when the odds are against them?
• Related. Is the thought that partisan control of a city does not make a difference as much as it does with state and federal government? Thus, is the GOP saving up for the seemingly more important races?
• If the Libertarians got aggressive and ran for every seat the Republicans are ignoring, would the voters there realize that there is an alternative to the Democrats and encourage them? Or do Republicans (and Democrats) think it's better to let the "bad guys" have control than to let the revolutionaries (e.g. third parties) provide some needed choices other than the two bullies?
• Are we heading to a point where a single party has control? And is there anyway that this is good for freedom? 
• We have open primaries where you can vote in one party's primary, even if you are probably voting for the other party in the November elections. Is that good, or should the selection of the November candidates be done by those registered in a certain party?
  
• The Republican running for Indy mayor spent 1 mil of his own money to get the nomination. With the money involved, is running for office any different than gambling? And does that make money spent in campaigns money that could be used more effectively elsewhere? 
• By the way, except in the case mentioned in the above paragraph, who pays for the Bully... I mean two major Parties' primaries? Yep, us taxpayers. Should we put an end to that?
  
• Let's move from the unimportant to matters of faith. As Christians, do we either a) ignore battles we should be fighting (should the Republicans and Libertarians make sure no seat is unchallenged) or b) spending time and money for earthly things (even in the church) instead of heavenly things (should the Republicans not challenging a seat being wise)?

Yes, of course I'd love to hear your thoughts on these questions. And should I run for office? (Honestly, I think Becky would be a better candidate than me.)

BOOK REVIEW - SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION (2ND EDITION) BY ANDREAS KOSTENBERGER AND T. DESMOND ALEXANDER

 

 Does the Old Testament contain the concept of mission, and if so, is it the same or different than the New Testament's? How does Paul's view differ from Peter's and John's?

As far as I know, only one book of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series has two editions and two different numbers in the series. This one is Andreas Kostenberger's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth. (The original is book #11, this is #53.) I have not seen the first edition, but the intro points out that T. Desmond Alexander added a section on the Old Testament. 

Kostenberger divides the views of the New Testament into four groups. One would expect one of the groups to be the four Gospels, but no - each group includes one of the Gospels together. He combines the writings of John in one section and combines Matthew with the Jewish mindset of the epistles of James and to the Hebrews. Mark is linked with Peter and Jude, and you might want to bring a lunch when you tackle the 100 page chapter focused on Luke, Acts, and the epistles of Paul.

This is a very insightful book, pointing how there is a unified message through Scripture of God's desire to save the lost through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As the others I've read in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series, I recommend this volume.