My Enneagram:

What do you think?  Is this me?

So Your Cat Wants A Massage?

Dissecting God

"Sometimes I think today's Evangelicals have dissected God, put Him in jars, labeled all the parts, and then breathed a heavy sigh of relief.  'Whew.  Job done,' they gasp.  'now we have no more confusion about God.  Now we have a God we can market.  At least now we can be excruciatingly confident that 'our team' is right.'" - This Beautiful Mess p.6

I wonder if you or I could be found guilty of dissecting God and missing the forest for the trees?

What is your problem?

**In light of the recent finding about Charles Ramsey’s past and the involvement of other people in the saving of the abducted women, I stand by what I wrote.  He can be a hero even if he has been a grade A douche.  My rant remains petty.  My points, as pointless as ever.**

That’s what I want to ask one of my contacts on Facebook who felt like the most appropriate way to chime in on the Charles Ramsey story was by saying,

Seems every time something happens in this country, our society finds one special kind of idiot to have on the news and make a scene out of. Now they've gone too far making some type of hero out of this moron who did nothing but open a door. 

What a disgrace... Ya think maybe we could be as passionate about prosecuting the pieces of crap that kept those girls captive and ruined their lives forever?Our county needs help, it needs prayer, it needs God.

Seriously?  He’s an idiot and a moron?  All he did was open a door?  What is your problem?  For those who may not know the story, here’s a video of Charles Ramsey after he found and saved Amanda Berry.

Here is an article that helps explain the backstory a little bit and what happened to this woman (and two others) over the las decade.  What follows is me being passive aggressive and maybe even gossipy.  I just don’t feel like starting an argument about this on the internet with said Facebook friend.

So, there you go.  It’s a story of a guy who saved a group of women from abductors because he responded when someone called out.  Maybe he was awkward in front of the camera.  Who wouldn’t be?  He just had a day that no one is ever going to be prepared for.  I feel like his genuine answers should never be taken for a dull mind.  He is clearly a keen preceptor of the understood social rules of the area he lives in.  This is more a problem with society than himself.

Why would you take the time out of your day to put this dude on blast?  There is a reason he is on the news.  Not because he said things strangely, but because he is a hero.  He ran into a potentially dangerous situation and saved three women and at least one baby.  That baby, by the way, was the product of the rape that occurred in the house while she was trapped there . . . for a decade.  He’s a hero.  

One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”  For the purposes of this post, I welcome the claims that I am being small minded.  However, friend, how small is your mind that in the wake of a great moment of humanity, instead of celebrating, you decided to belittle and diminish another person?  I hope my irritation is seeping through.  I’m doing my best to blunt the edge of my words.  

Here’s the other side of the story, Ramsey is not accepting the reward.  He works as a dishwasher.  He could use the money.  He would rather the money go to the women he helped free.  A hero who runs to the aid of someone he doesn’t know and then won’t accept the monetary reward.  Yeah, what an idiot.  It takes a real moron to, not look to your own interests but to the interests of others.  Oh, it just got real, I’m referencing Bible verses now.  That was Philippians 2:4.  

Thankfully, I just remembered the verse that said not to be contentious or repay insult with insult.  So, I’m going to draw this to a close before I become something less than Christian.  One last verse though, "In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.”  Psalm 138:3  

Good Job, Charles Ramsey, you did exactly what God does.  You reached out when someone needed you and you saved them.  No doubt you gave those girls strength in their souls that they had forgotten was there.  Amanda didn’t even think to kick out the screen door herself.  She was completely in bondage.  Job well done.  I hope you get a life time supply of McDonalds.

Can You Feel It - Michael Jackson & The Jacksons

If you were hoping to make the greatest video of all time, too late!  Lil’ Mikey and his bros did it about two decades ago.  Space peacock brings us peace if you will just accept it!

Imagine Dragons- for Tyler Robinson

This is some powerful stuff.  It’s hard to quantify how much this moment must have meant for the kid fighting cancer.  I hate that it got the best of him.  At least he had a really transcendent moment.  What I wouldn’t give to know what the lead singer told him.  RIP Tyler.

Key & Peele: East/West College Bowl

At the Super Bowl outreach I went to this video came up in a conversation.  It makes me laugh every time I watch it.

How to Write a Worship Song (In 5 Minutes or Less)

How sad is it that when he plays his fake song I was like, “Not bad”?

Being Luther

That’s what my dad has always said (jokingly?) he would name his autobiography.  Luther is his first name for those of you who no have any idea who I am or who my dad is.  Luther is the name he uses to filter junk mail and phone calls as no one on Earth refers to him by that name.

He got a facebook profile about a year ago and has slowly been working himself into a groove on the social media giant.  Recently, I’d say he’s hit his stride.  My dad may be writing a manifesto.  At first I didn’t pay much attention because the posts were really long and I didn’t want to have to hit the “more” link.  My wife being the more patient of the two of us took the time to read it and informed me my dad said basically said I am the last great American.  I have no argument there.

I think in the next couple weeks I’m going to see if I can’t get my dad to let me post his stuff on here in hopes of getting him to start a blog.  A word of note: my dad’s blog would consist of political diatribes, beer reviews, and discussions about the three or four obscure movies he loves.  I don’t know about you, but that smells like a soon-to-be viral hit!

Recommended Reading . . .

I got a chuckle when I opened up the recommended reading file from Liberty for my current counseling class.  I’ll hop right on this.  For what it’s worth, you may actually enjoy some of the books on this list if you have an affinity for therapeutic thought.  Only one of the books is actually part of my course work.

Recommended Reading

PACO 507

Adams, J. E. (1979). More than redemption. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.

Allen, R. B. (1984). The majesty of man. Portland, OR: Multnomah.

Anderson, N.T. (2007). Restored: Experiencing life with Jesus. Franklin, TN: e3Resources. ISBN: 193338399.

Anderson, N. T. (1990). Victory over the darkness. Ventura, CA: Regal Books.

Anderson, N. T., & Mylander, C. (1994). Setting your church free. Ventura,

CA: Regal Books.

Benner, D. G. (1992). Strategic pastoral counseling. Grand Rapids: Baker Book

House.

Berry, C. R. (1988). When helping you is hurting me. New York: Harper and

Row Publishers.

Bobgan, M., & Bobgan, D. (1989). Prophets of psychoheresy I. Santa Barbara:

EastGate Publishers.

Carlson, R. & Leman, K. (1989). Unlocking the secrets of your childhood

memories. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Collins, G. R. (1993). The biblical basis of Christian counseling for people

helpers. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Crabb, L. (1988). Inside out. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Crabb, L. (1999). The safest place on earth: Where people connect and are forever changed. Nashville, TN: Word Publishing.

Day, L. G. (1994). By design and in God’s image. Portland, OR: Mt. Tabor

Press.

Erikson, E. H. (1982). The life cycle completed. New York: W.W. Norton &

Company.

Gottman, J. (1994). Why marriages succeed or fail. New York: Simon &

Schuster.

Guinness, O. (1976). In two minds: the dilemma of doubt and how to resolve it.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

            Hart, A. D. (1992). Me, myself & I. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant

                        Publications.

James, R. K., & Gilland, B. E. (1998). Theories and strategies in counseling and

psychotherapy. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Jones, S. & Butman, R. (1991). Modern psychotherapies: A comprehensive Christian

appraisal. Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Kilpatrick, W. K. (1983). Psychological seduction. Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers.

Kollar, C. A. (1997). Solution-focused pastoral counseling. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan Publishing House.

Kroll, W., & Miller, G. D III. (2000). Hope grows in winter. Grand Rapids:

Kregel Publications.

Lewis, C. S. (1961). A grief observed. New York: Bantam Books.

MacDonald, G. (1985). Ordering your private world. Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers.

Mackay, D. M. (1974). The clock work image. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press.

Malony, N. H. (1983). Wholeness and holiness. Grand Rapids: Baker Book

House.

McGee, R. S. (1990). The search for significance. Houston: Rapha Publishing.

McMinn, M. (1996). Psychology, theology and spirituality in Christian counseling.

Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Miller, W. E. (1994). Forgiveness: The power and the puzzles. Warsaw, IN:

ClearBrook Publishers.

Narramore, B. S. (1984). No condemnation. Grand Rapids: Ministry Resources

Library.

Nee, W. (1972). The latent power of the soul. New York: Christian Fellowship

Publishers.

Nouwen, H. J. M. (1972). The wounded healer. New York: Doubleday.

Olford, S. F. (1997). Not I but Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Oliver, G. J., Hasz, M., & Richburg, M. (1997). Promoting change throughout

brief therapy in Christian counseling. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Peck, S. M. (1983). People of the lie the hope for healing human evil. New

York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Rychlak, J. (1973). Introduction to personality and psychotherapy: a theory-

construction approach. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Schultz, D. (1981). Theories of personality. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole

Publishing Company.

Seamands, D. A. (1988). Healing grace. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Sharf, R. (2004). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling. (3^rd ed). Pacific Grove,

CA: Brooks/Cole.

Shields, H. & Bredfeldt, G. (2001). Caring for souls: Counseling under the authority of

scripture. Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Springle, P. (1989). Codependency. Houston: Rapha Publishing.

Swindoll, C. R. (1991). Secrets of your family tree. Chicago: Moody Press.

Thurman, C. (1995). The lies we believe workbook. Nashville, TN: Thomas

Nelson Publishers.

Wagner, P. C. (1979). Your spiritual gifts can help your church grow. Ventura,

CA: Regal Press.

Welch, E. T. (1998). Blame it on the brain. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing.

Willard, D. (1966). The divine conspiracy. New York: Harper San Francisco.

Wilson, E. D. (1985). The discovered self. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press.

Wilson, S. D. (1990). Released from shame. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press.

            Wilson, S.D. (1995). The world according to me. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Wilson, S.D. (1993). Hurt people hurt People: hope and healing for yourself and your relationships. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Help me be a winner!

Click this link to attempt to win an iPad mini and Logos 5, as well as some books.  I hope you don’t win though so that I can win.

Click me - http://ptab.it/snUg

Best Thing To Come Out Of 2012

I have watched this a hundred times and it has got me hoping for a MC Hammer comeback.  I keep waiting for the whole thing to swing into a dubstep bass drop.  So good.