Vintage21 has posted a series of satirical videos that demonstrate how some people see Jesus. (source: Adam Ellis)

I actually got 3 new CD’s last week. For Father’s Day, I received the new Jason Morant disc, Open. I bought Morant’s first CD, Abandon, over a year ago and listened to it a little, but in recent months had been playing it a lot more than when I first bought it. I”ve grown to really love it, and so I was looking forward to the new one. I have not been disappointed. It is also very good. Christianity Today says that “if Travis or Coldplay made a worship album, this might be it.”

I was also looking forward to Cut and Move, the new disc by Day of Fire, which I picked up with a birthday gift card I’d not yet used. I really liked Day of Fire’s first (self-titled) disc. Fronted by former-Full Devil Jacket singer Joshua Brown, I really liked their sound a lot (I heard and enjoyed Full Devil Jacket’s debut disc a number of years back.) Brown nearly died of an overdose, and then, while in rehab, became a Christian. After some time out of the music business, he returned with Day of Fire. While their lyrics are not the best, there’s something about Brown’s voice that I really like. It’s nothing special, but their style of music along with his voice is a good combination for my tastes. So, I haven’t been disappointed in Cut and Move, either. I’m not yet sure, after only a few listens, if it’s as good as their first one (which I really liked), but it’s still very good.

Track List Intro Breathe Into Me Let Go Already Over Lost Pieces Break Me Down Wasting Time Gave It All Away Hide Already Over, Part 2

But, the third disc was one that I was not familiar with until last week. It is the debut disc by Red, titled End of Silence. I came across it last week online and listened to a few clips. I liked the sound and used the rest of my birthday gift card to pick it up along with the Day of Fire disc. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the disc as a whole, having only heard a few clips of it, but figured it’s free (using the gift card), so I’ll take a chance. I’ve not been disappointed at all - I can’t stop listening to it.

They are compared to the likes of Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Chevelle. I’ve not really listened to any LP that I’m aware of, but I’ve been a big fan of both Chevelle and Evanescence, and would agree that the influence is there. With the heavy guitars, the piano and strings, and lead singer Michael Barnes’s voice, there’s just not a bad song on this disc. Also interesting is that Red and Day of Fire will be touring together, and that’s a show I wouldn’t mind seeing.

I watched ABC’s World News Tonight Sunday evening and saw a couple of stories worth mentioning.

Jesus Loves Porn Stars

First was the story of Craig Gross and XXXChurch.com. Gross is a pastor who’s ministry is directed to those addicted to pornography. They travel to porn conventions, set up their own booth (inside the convention, not outside), and distribute Bibles. The Bible they’re distributing this year has a cover that says “Jesus Loves Porn Stars”. Many think the title goes too far, although I’m not sure why. (Doesn’t Jesus love everyone?) They are a unique ministry - not often do you find Christians attending porn conventions and getting to know the people (as opposed to standing outside picketing or barking at them.) I read Gross’ book The Gutter : Where Life Is Meant To Be Lived last year and he discusses a lot about their ministry in that book. It’s worth a read.

Buffet to give away billions

Also was the story of billionaire Warren Buffet, who plans to give most of his fortune to charities - around 85% of his 40+ billion - beginning next month. The largest gift will go to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Evidently, he had planned to give most of his money away only after his death, but has changed his mind and will begin doing so right away.

This story brought to my mind the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18). I’ve never read that as a command for all of us - i.e. that we should all sell everything and give it away. I believe Jesus told him to do this because he knew that was what was keeping him from truly following Him. The man loved his fortune and was unwilling to let go of it.

Another story that came to mind was one I wrote about in a post last fall. Here’s the paragraph:

One thing that was revealed about Rich Mullins after his death in 1997 was that he didn’t receive his checks from his record company. His producer once asked him about how much money he brought in. Rich said he didn’t know. His producer asked him why he didn’t know. Rich told him that he didn’t receive his checks - they went to the elders of his church, with whom RIch had made an arrangement. From the money he made, the elders then gave him an annual salary equivalent to an average working man in America, which at that time was about $24,000. A little more was put into a retirement account. The rest was either given to his church or given away to those in need.

Hearing about Buffet and remembering Rich’s story made me wonder what would happen if more people did what they did. Maybe not give away 85% - because certainly 15% of 40 billion still leaves quite a bit to live on, but that would not be true of one making $24,000. But, what if we all took only what we truly needed to live - without all of the luxuries we love and hang on to - and gave the rest to people and causes that desperately need it? How much more good could be done? I admit that it is an incredibly difficult charge to consider. And I admit that maybe Jesus wasn’t speaking only to the rich young ruler, but also to me.

Andre Agassi announces at a pre-Wimbledon press conference that he will retire after this year’s U.S. Open.

I know… horrible title. But it’s late.

So the series that appeared to be over after 2 games - when everyone was saying Dallas was going to roll on to victory - ended after 6 games tonight. But, Miami - not Dallas - was the one that rolled on to it’s first NBA championship by winning 4 straight. The Mavericks were up 13 with 6:00 to go in game 3 and it appeared that the predictions were correct. The Heat stormed back and won, and hasn’t lost since.

I didn’t see much of games 1 or 2, but the last 4 games have been fun to watch. They were some pretty good games, you know, for NBA basketball.

For some reason, I found myself wanting Miami to win it. I’m not sure why. I think there are more reasons I shouldn’t want Miami to win. Let’s see:

Pro Miami

• Wade - I wanted him to win.
• Shaq - I’ve actually grown to like Shaq over the years. I used to not like him at all.

Con Miami

• Pat Riley - I’m a die hard Celtics fan. Well, not as much since the Bird, McHale, Parrish era. But I hated Riley and the Lakers in the 80’s and I still don’t like him.
• Alonzo Mourning - Never liked him. Thought he was an arrogant punk. And still do.
• Antoine Walker - Also a punk - and a punk that played at Kentucky, so that’s even worse.
• Gary Payton - Another punk who evidently has never committed a foul in his career.
• Jason Williams - Again, punk. Played for Donovan at Florida, too, so that’s almost as bad as Kentucky.
• Udonis Halsem - Not sure if he’s a punk, but the snarl needs to go. And, again, Donovan, Florida.

Pro Dallas

• Avery Johnson - Johnson seems like a nice guy. I wouldn’t mind seeing him win.

Con Dallas

• Mark Cuban - The sum of all punks mentioned above doesn’t add up to Cuban. What a moron. I can’t think of anyone I’d like to see lose more.
• Jerry Stackhouse - UNC. No additional commentary needed.
• Josh Howard - Never liked him at Wake. Probably a punk.
• Marquis Daniels - Auburn. Sure, he didn’t play football, but it’s still Auburn.
• Texans - And especially Texans from Dallas. I’ve never hated the Mav’s like I do the Cowboys, but everyone I knew in college from Texas - especially Dallas - acted as if Texas and/or Dallas was the greatest gift God has ever given to mankind. Get over yourself. Anytime I see a Texas team lose, it warms my heart.

Well, I suppose an itemized list makes it comes out pretty even. But I think maybe the Cuban factor and the Texans factor weigh more heavily and tips the scales in Miami’s favor. I’d just as soon seen some other team win rather than either of these two, but considering the choices, then, yeah, I’m glad Miami won.

I’m going to bed.

Mark Elrod has posted a good story about Alabama teen Ava Lowery and her website, Peace Takes Courage.

During the past week, I’ve managed to watch several hours of soccer via the World Cup coverage on ABC and a Spanish station that’s a part of our cable package. (For World Cup coverage beyond this single sentence, check out Mike’s blog.) Now, I’ve watched some of the battle for the Stanley Cup as well. Not much chance of that ever happening again in the same week.

I used to watch some hockey in college - usually, of course, during the playoffs. This was in the mid-80’s when Gretzky, Messier, Fuhr and the Edmonton Oilers were winning all of their titles. I enjoyed it then, but it didn’t really last. I have not paid much attention to it since, although I will occasionally catch some of it during the Winter Olympics. I do remember getting interested in the NHL finals a few years ago and watching it to the end, but that’s been about it.

I happened upon game 5 last week between Carolina and Edmonton when it was beginning the overtime period, which I watched to the end. I missed game 6, but figured a game 7 would be worth watching. And it was. I think people in the South don’t care much for hockey because they don’t play it and probably, like me, don’t understand all of the rules.

But it can still be very exciting to watch. I usually don’t watch much of it because the only hockey shown is the NHL and I just don’t watch much pro sports at all until the playoffs (or, in tennis’ case, the Grand Slams). I generally find pro sports boring unless the game really means something, and that only happens in the playoffs. (Most of the players look bored until the playoffs, too.) And since the NHL playoffs are usually on at the same time as the NBA playoffs, I tend to watch basketball instead. It would tie up too much time to watch them both.

But last nights game was very good, very exciting. I was hoping for an Edmonton win - I guess I was an Edmonton fan in the 80’s and it’s stayed with me. Carolina was up 2-1 until the final minute, when they scored on an empty net with Edmonton trying to rally at the end, and won the game 3-1 and, therefore, the Stanley Cup. The game actually made me wish it wasn’t game seven. I’d like to have watched a little more, and wished I’d tuned in to the finals earlier. I suppose I’ll pick back up with the NHL next May or June.

In the meantime, I’ll just go back to watching the end of the NBA finals, to a sport in which I know all of the rules, and get ready for Wimbledon next week.

I’ve purchased and read several books from Relevant Books over the last few years. A couple of months ago I added the book God’s Gravity : The Upside-Down Life of Selfless Faith to my list to look into further, and it’s scheduled to be released this coming week.

I came across this within the last couple of weeks and have been meaning to post it, as I was checking out some more info on the book. It’s the blog of the author, Craig Borlase, and an experiment he did just a couple of weeks ago. He decided to attempt to live for one week on $1 per day - seven days on seven dollars. Why is he doing it? He says, “because that’s the way that life is for more than one in five people around the world.” He posted on his blog each day, usually more than once, about his experience and has since added some related posts.

He didn’t live strictly on $1 a day, keeping a couple of appointments where free food was available, and he states plainly that he’s aware he’s not really living like those who live on $1 per day - he still lived in his home, had a comfortable bed, running water, etc. But it’s still a very interesting read.

You can begin reading his blog entries here on June 6th, which was the day he started.

Here is the synopsis of his upcoming book:

Everyone’s in this thing for themselves. The entertainment world. The business world. The political world. And, sadly, even the religious world. More and more, the Church is buying into a self-absorbed faith, pursuing health, wealth and spiritual high-fives at the expense of the Gospel we’re supposed to be pursuing. God’s Gravity, by Craig Borlase, deconstructs the myth of success that infects today’s Christians. Drawing from the story of Job - a guy who does everything right and still sees his life fall to pieces - Borlase challenges a new generation of Christians to disavow the so-called “prosperity gospel,” rediscover the importance of sacrifice and embrace the vital connection between social justice and a life of authentic religion. In a culture where even Christians are adopting values contradictory to the ethics of Jesus, God’s Gravity dares us to turn our lives upside down and live them the right way up.

You can read the first chapter here (pdf). Here is a quote:

We resist the pull of responsibility. We shrug it off like so many awkward garments, twisting like preteenagers forced into formal clothes for a family wedding. Is someone else’s misfortune our concern? Is it up to us to work on their behalf, regardless of whether we have been part of the initial problem?

It is tempting to write that we live in a culture that validates our rejection of responsibility. It’s tempting because it is partly true. We live under the banner of freedom and independence, of being empowered to make personal choices, of taking control of our own destiny. These are good words, too, seductive words - the sort that can read like a brochure for a particularly impressive product. Of course we want to sign up for this type of life. Who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to craft a decent future for himself?

The trouble is that in our hands, these concepts of empowerment and freedom and independence become stale, pale reflections of what they should really be. We make them into our own personal Christmas elves, there to serve our own needs and nobody else’s. Everything becomes about us. We’re supposed to be able to have the kids and keep the career, to have the career and keep the marriage, to have the marriage and keep the freedom, to have the freedom and keep the kids. It’s all about us, barely ever about anyone else.

I hope to read the entire book soon, so I’ll try to post more about it.

As Christians, what kind of neighbors are we? I found this post - The Merciful Stripper - over at Allthings2all.

I just took this quiz - “Which Princess Bride character are you?” - which I found via Lee Hodges blog. Apparently, I came out as Fezzik. I’m not sure what that means, but I would’ve rather been Inigo Montoya.

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti