Two questions:

1) Does anyone stand behind their products anymore?
2) Have you ever wanted to interactively shove a phone up a giant companies broad backside so deep that they have to floss to get it from being lodged between their teeth?

A little of the back story would help I suppose. I have maintained a long-standing relationship (in which I have spent thousands of dollars) with a cell phone company that rhymes with "horizon..." "Yourizon??" "Myrizon??" Well, if you still don't get it you are simply dense...but back to the story.

Said company replaced my defective phone this past week with...hold your breath now...a defective phone. Brilliant marketing philosophy isn't it. As I talked with their representative (firmly but politely I might add as he is simply a minimum wage employee following the dumba$$ policies of said company)...he informed me that I was going to have to pay the $50 replacement. Get this...pay the $50 fee to replace the defective phone they supplied me to replace the defective phone they had previously given me. Ingenious marketing scheme.

At one point, he even told me, "Well, technically it isn't our phone, it is LG's." To which I reminded him that they have their name on it, use LG as their subcontractor, and market it...thus it is your problem."

So...what has become of this? Absolutely nothing. Thus the need to vent.

I am thinking about sending in payment for my bill...in pennies. And then telling them that the debit card I usually pay for was defective, but that for $50 from them, I will restore its effectiveness.

a visit from the ghost of christian past

I was enjoying a nice little slumber on a warm spring-like day...when all of a sudden there appeared a scary apparition. Dressed like bad memories of my childhood climbing under the pews of the community church, one appeared to me wanting to talk about life and faith and all things in between.

I realized quite quickly, however, there wasn't a lot of talking that this ghost of christian past wanted to do, as talking connotes a back and forth dialogue. No, this "holy" specter didn't really want a discussion but more of a monologue. Thus he began to talk...and talk...and talk. As he continued on, my mind began to fog over as verses flew in and out of his speech. As I would try to drop comments into the "conversation," I quickly realized that nothing I said was being heard as instead of listening, this apparitions mind was formulating it's next movement, it's next thought...sure to be peppered with scriptural reference (with no care for context...but alas...that is the old-school christian way) and "churchy" words.

I desperately wanted to escape this bad dream...for I knew that nothing would come of it. My heart and my mind cried out, "Away from me - thou dreaded spirit. Begone and return no more for I fear what you bring." Soon - though not soon enough - I bid this unholy specter a fond farewell - and made my way out of what had once been a potentially nice dream, but that had turned into a nightmare of epic proportions as this ghost from christian past invaded my senses.

And then...suddenly...he was gone. Will he return? I have my doubts. And I have my hopes that he won't...for the ghost of christian past is a very scary thing indeed.

forgiveness

I had asked a brief question about whether we really have to ask God for forgiveness anymore. Obviously, as i have gone through the teaching series that we are currently in, I do not believe that those who have been forgiven have to continuously go back for "more" forgiveness. Either his blood atoned for it...or it didn't.

So...maybe the question is more one of why we believe that we do. I believe that it is for many reasons:

* we like to control things...including our spiritualgrowthrelationshipwithgodthing.
* we feel like we have to "do" something.
* we have been infested with Catholic teaching that is so unbiblical it's not even remotely funny...esp. considering how many people fall for it.

Oh...I'm sure there are so many more reasons...but I need to head for home so may finish this later...or not...we'll see

simple question on forgiveness

If you are "in Christ," if you are a follower of Jesus - do you still have to ask god for forgiveness?

true gospel

So...been a long while. As we go through a series of teachings, I am amazed at how much the original gospel of Yashua (Jesus) has been altered, changed, tweaked by the church and various teachers over the years. I have to hope that its simply because of ignorance, but I have sneaky suspicions (based off history and knowing human nature) that a large part of the reason is because of control issues from various elements throughout history.

For instance...here is the truth. The Old Covenant is toast. Don't have to follow it. Toss it into the creek, followed closely by those precious 10 commandments. Realize that once you cross the line and begin to follow Jesus - you are a new creation. That means that you are not a sinner anymore. "Yeah - but what about those things I do that are sin...?" not you. not your fault (Romans 7). So...celebrate. Everything is forgiven, has been forgiven, and you don't need to ask God for forgiveness ever again.

Don't believe it? read the bible and discover for yourself what it says.

Thanksgiving thoughts

Just a few things I am thankful for. (in no particular order)

* Healthy and loving (most of the time) immediate family - wife - three kids.
* Healthy and loving ( most of the time) extended family that generally gets along really well
* Very good friends - you all know who you are.
* A God who does not condemn me when I am bad (often) and who loves me unconditionally.
* All the people who make up The Point...and those who someday will.
* The blessings we all have - at least those who are blessed to live in this country. no complaining today...we are blessed.
* The fact that I have never participated in the Black Friday mania.

Hope everyone has a great one.

Coming off the Mountain

So I have spent the last two weeks in the mountains of Oregon chasing the elusive Wapiti. Found one named Ed who liked a good cigar so he joined us and contributed to the camp.

Now, while being in the mountains is always a good time for me as it allows me get away from everything, it is ultimately only a reprieve, an escape if you will. Life in the valley doesn't go away. It remains...whether you want it to or not.

So life in the valley - once again - is the life I must face. A church struggling to find its footing in a difficult town. A economy that is requiring me to find a job to help pay the bills...but even though I have a Masters degree, most employers would say that I am not a good fit because they can't see past their preconceived notions.

Hmm...maybe I need to find a job in the mountains!