Welcome to Spootopia:

That's the Spootopian flag. Fly it if you wish to pass safely through these here blogging waters or if you wish to show yourself friendly to the Spootopian cause.

The Phyllobate Terribilis is the most poisonous frog in the world. It has enough toxin to kill up to 10 humans,or even 20,000 mice! This frog is considered the most poisonous animal in the world. If you were to take poison from this frog, equal to the size of the period at the end of this sentence, it would be enough to kill a full grown human.

You're either with us or you're against us.

My Musical Protege:

Please keep in mind that I've only been working with Stanley for a little while. I really feel like he's going to be something special if he will just put the time into practice. Of course, I'm not the best guitar player in the world so I know at some point he'll need a better teacher. Take the jump to check out my pupil. I taught him everything he knows.



I'm proud of him.

P.S. How about that bass player? He's just as sick as Jordan. Stanley Jordan is a freak.

He's not a terrorist:

My friend Andrew over at Call To Die, has decided to give his 10 cents and throw his hat into the realm of politics. Andrew addresses the present presidential election in the case of one candidate and hinges it on what he believes to be the most important issue facing moral human beings today. You can read his article here.

Andrew also blogs over at Strange Baptist Fire, who some of you may remember drove readers here and sparked a rowdy discussion about the Pope.

After the jump I'm going to take a look at Barack Obama and something that has been bothering me. It's not about him, in fact this won't have much to do with politics, although nothing I say should be taken as support for him as president.

Barack Hussein Obama is not a terrorist. Saddam Hussein is not Barack Hussein Obama. They share a common name, but I believe they differ greatly on most other pertinent issues. For example, Barack Hussein Obama is running for President of the United States of America. Saddam Hussein is dead. That's just one of the many differences.

I've received a few emails at this point reminding me not to vote for the hell-soaked devil party. The most recent actually started out telling me why a Muslim could never make a good President. I read it and saw what it was getting at. The whole things was really ham fisted and seemed like a reach, but then I got to the bottom. Where I was shown that the point wasn't to show the superiority of the Christian world view, it was to cripple Barack Hussein Obama's presidential bid. Sheew. . .and I almost voted for him. Thanks email.

Here's the last part of the email.

Therefore after much study and deliberation, perhaps we
should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country.
They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish; it's still the truth.
You had better believe it.
The more who understand this, the better it will be for our
country and our future. The
religious war is bigger than we know or understand.

And Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim, wants to be our President?

You HAVE to be kidding?! Wake up America!

Obama even says if he wins the election, he will be sworn in on the
Quran (Koran)---not the Bible!

Quick point, yes, you can be a good American and be a good Muslim. Just like you can be a good American and be a non-Christian. I think the idea is that you can't be a good American and blow up American buildings. That statement seems more valid.

Alright, so one more quick point. I remember reading about a period when it was healthy to be suspicious of every person who looked Asian. I was born from parents who were raised around the McCarthy era. I myself snuck in at the tail end of the Cold War. Is it really healthy to be suspicious of every Muslim? Probably just as healthy as thinking every, single male who looks creepy is a child molester.

The big print is what bothers me, not because of the bold political statement it's making. But, because it's completely untrue, Barack Hussein Obama is not a Muslim. Keith Ellison is a Muslim. Keith Ellison was sworn in on the Quran. Barack Hussein Obama is in fact a long standing member of the Church of Christ. While they are a bit liberal for my taste I would hardly call them an Islamic organization.

Barack Hussein Obama is not a terrorist. If you are a Christian, please stop telling me that you and I should not vote for him because he won't swear in on the Bible. If he wins, he will be sworn in on his own personal Bible, most likely. If you don't want to vote for Obama, make it because of something worth noting, like his pro-choice stance or any number of policy related issues. If you are going to vote for Obama, make it for something other than trying to be a part of the group who voted in the first African American president. Stop wasting time with trivial garbage.

Finally, I don't remember us declaring a religion war. Though, that's not really Americas style anymore is it?

Let's focus on the adoration of our Heavenly Father to the point where it spills over into our daily lives causing any effect in our surroundings. You can start by praying and reading during the time you'd normally spend worrying about politics.

Wake up America.

Also, here's the Snopes article on all this hot mess.

You bettah work!

The heading for this post, as drawn from the Rupaul song "Supermodel", might sound like a call for girl power if you grew up in the 90's. But, to me, as a full time youth minister in a rural area, it sounds like tragedy. I have plenty of youth who are completely unaware that they are throwing away the only period of their life where they can genuinely focus solely on Christ and building relationships.

Neo-Baptist, a blog I just recently found, posted an article written by a "pastoral colleague" on the dangers of work for Christian youth. Check it out after the jump and don't leave without giving your opinion.

My pastoral colleague wrote this piece on what he thinks the real issue facing Christian youth is. See what you think:

“What’s the biggest issue facing our youth in church these days? Is it the menace of drugs or the lure of sex and alcohol? Could it be that great struggle to maintain a devotional time with God each day? Could it be the struggle for acceptance, which forces young people to give into peer pressure and compromise their beliefs? No!

I believe it’s the economy. That’s right; when I was young I had a part time job that took up a sum total of 3 hours on a Thursday night. I started that job when I was in grade 11 and didn’t get another job until university. I earned the massive total of $60 per month!!! But guess what, I had a life!!! That’s right, I was able to play sport and hang out with friends. I attended youth group and I was a leader in the Boys Brigade.

I had a mentor who would do an hour bible study with me each week and I attended a small group. I volunteered in all types of events and even went on camps. Despite not being the best student, I managed to work hard enough to get an OP that was consistent with my academic intelligence. You see I put God first in my life and Money second. Every time I put on an event at church these days I am met with the worst reason ever for non-attendance….. ‘I have to work’.

Guess what: you do have to work - you will be working for 50 years! Having a part-time job is great, but if it stops you from serving God and growing in your faith then it just isn’t worth it. Parents will look after your basic needs, so what’s the point in missing out on fun and friendship, just so you can own an extra pair of shoes or some nice sunglasses.

When I look back on my high school years, a smile creeps across my face, why, because of all the great times I had. I love life now as well, but a big reason for that is because I grew a strong relationship with God while I was young.

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us not to worry about the material things in life, but to put God first. Jesus even attaches a promise to that, he says that when we put God first, all the other parts of life will fall into balance.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

So, if you want a great life, make sure that part-time job never comes between you and God!”

Just so you know:

27

How many can you take out?

Ignore

(Worship = x)

Solve for X.

There has been a bit of friendly discussion going on over at the Fide-O blog. The topic, worship. The questions have gently bounced around what could be called pentecostal practices. Though they have never bashed them and if anything have asked why they are labeled when the actions are promoted in the Bible. Scott Hill posted his response under the title, "Go and Worship". Here's something that really jumped out at me.

"I really don't know when or how we began to get a deformed view of worship, but I do know that the minute worship became something we get or somewhere we go instead of something we do, we have moved out of the biblical model of corporate worship. Bob Kaulfin said the moment we believe that if we do “X” then it will produce worship we have become idolaters."

As a youth minister sometimes I feel like I'm expected to make idolaters. That people are asking me why I'm not driving teens to the newest and best form of idolatry. Unfortunately, if I look at my ministry I have to realize that I've slipped into that mold of idolatry myself. Whether I was trying to repeat results or give my teens what someone else has, I've made form more important than the function.

What are your thoughts?

Go read the rest of the article here.

Ignore

Sound Method

There are moments where I really pat myself on the back. In those moments the sweeping reality of my fallibility comes crashing down with double the intensity of my initial back patting glee. It's right in those moments that the chunk of my brain solely devoted to pessimism kicks on and reminds me of home much work I have left to do. I'm a youth minister. I'm a youth minister at an average sized(nationally, not according to the media)Southern Baptist church. Thankfully, my church is nestled inside a relatively untouched pastoral area. It's beautiful, but not much happens.

I've never had to drive into town before, now I do. Unfortunately for my youth, they are nestled in a relatively untouched pastoral area. Unless they dig Gospel music singings, which have their own charm, my youth are out of luck on the music scene. So, I got a wild hair that I would bring in a quality group. The only problem is I would have to find a quality group that wants to play within a average size Southern Baptist budget.

This is where the back patting comes into play. I got a call one day from these guys, Sound Method. As good as they are the price feels like I'm stealing from them. Check them out. They one of the newest Signees with Fidelity Music and I genuinely expect to be saying, I had them at my church just before they "Made it".

Check out their music, maybe buy a CD, if you are anywhere near Cartersville, GA. make sure you do not miss this show. March 1st, doors open at 7, tickets are $5 before hand and $10 at the door. Here's the crazy part, each ticket you buy enters you into a drawing for a $75 pre-paid Visa card.

Easy money and good music sounds like quite a happy couple. There isn't a jump to take. Just mark your calendars for the show.

And here is the rest of it.

Dance Monkey, Dance:

The little kid in this video gets played by, what I have to assume, is a family member and more particularly, his father. After watching the video and chuckling at the start, I thought to myself, "I'm going to be a horrible father." Then when things go south I realized that I was no longer laughing and felt really bad for the kid. My belief in my parenting potential went right back up.

I mean. . .I'd never do this to my kid. . .seriously. . .really. Would you? Take the Jump.



Seriously, would you still do this to your kid or any kid? I would like a genuine response. I mean, I might, but not now. That's genuine, grade A, terror.