Doug Van Pelt

Crockett High School, Here I Come!

I've been asked to speak at a high school group called Youth Alive tomorrow. I plan on sharing my testimony and share how I was able to remain sexually pure from the time I "came back to the Lord" as a prodigal son at age 20 to my wedding night at age 29. (It's all by the grace of God, but I'll share some personal stories instead of just repeating "grace of God, grace of God," although that would be just as true!)

I might even stop by Best Buy on the way home and pick up that Muse live DVD if it's still available. I'd also like to pick up that U2 By U2 book at Walmart for $26.

HM Podcast Explodes

Chapter 40 of Genesis is titled "The Cupbearer and the Baker." I like my headline better.

Joseph took care of these two guys (a cupbearer and a baker) in prison. One day they looked really bummed and Joseph asked them why. "We both had dreams and there's no one here to interpret them." Joseph replied, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" He knew exactly where to put the expectations, hope, and glory for this gift. The cupbearer saw three branches, which blossomed and brought forth grapes. The baker saw three baskeds on his head full of bread, but the birds were eating out of it. Joseph told the first guy that he'd be restored to his old position; but he told the other guy that his head would be removed.

Once again, Joseph just said it like it was. He didn't try to puff up or add to the interpretations -- even when they were gloomy. I would have hated to have been the baker.

Sex, Lies, and a Cloak

Joseph had a breakthrough in his situation in captivity. Since he was purchased by Potiphar, he was a slave. He did well in his duties, living in the house and eventually becoming Potiphar's attendant, where he was in charge of the household. It says that the Lord blessed this household because of Joseph. He was being faithful in the little things and staying true even when no one was watching. Being in charge, he had access to all the wealth of this guy, yet he didn't take advantage of that and steal it.

Joseph was a handsome dude, and Potiphar's wife noticed that and apparently wasn't too sly or tactful in her wishes. "Come to bed with me," she demanded. Joseph refused. He knew that it would offend his God.

I remember a time when this idea helped me stay pure. When I "came back" to the Lord as a prodigal son at age 20, I made a vow that my body was His from now on. In the practical sense, this meant to me: "no sex and no drugs." I was very aware of this and counted the cost, knowing that I'd be denying myself pleasures that I was familiar with. Years later I was dating someone that was "marriage material." The relationship didn't end up that way, but I had considered this person as worthy of that. Later on I just realized we weren't compatible. Anyway, to help keep myself pure I had a philosophy that I wouldn't kiss someone unless I was willing to marry them. What that meant was that I wouldn't just kiss any girl that happened to be around. She had to be a potential wife. We didn't have to be married or engaged to kiss, of course, but I just held that special physical affection for someone that I'd actually consider marrying. Anyway, now that I've strayed from the point by a mile... This girl and I would smooch, because she qualified for my self-imposed standard. One time our passions were heightened and we caught ourselves before it went "further." One thing she said really made it all very simple, but very profound. "I don't want to hurt Jesus," she said. If we had forged ahead and had sex together, it would have hurt Jesus (in the sense of letting Him down and, probably more theologically accurate, placed shame and guilt on ourselves that would have interefered with our living relationship with God). That was a useful deterent to me that day.

I'm reminded of Paul's admonition to a young Timothy: "Flee from youthful lusts!" I think that might actually be fleshed out by a young man actually physically running away. Sometimes it takes radical maneuvers to resist temptation. Sometimes it might mean embarrassment or public humiliation. If you run out of a party with your shirt unbuttoned and everyone realizes you were making out with a girl but didn't want to go all the way and you get up and run out of there -- they might laugh at you very loudly, making sport of your actions. Sometimes a believer has to pay a steep price to remain in good standing with God. We can find ourselves in tricky situations where the only way out is fast and determined.

I can imagine some Christian musicians might face ridicule for their beliefs about premarital sex. Who knows how many people might want to see if they can test that resolve. Someone might take it as a personal challenge to "see if they can make the Christian stumble..." I remember a metal magazine telling a story of a metal band touring with a Christian one and the guys in this band wanted and tried all tour-long to get the drummer drunk and "laid." They laughed about it in a magazine. While it is funny to a person that thinks there is no God and all this faith stuff is fairy tale and myth...to a believer that knows God and understands His Word, it's not funny at all. It's just a slightly painful price to pay to stay out of trouble.

Anyway, this tempting scenerio, where Potiphar's wife kept asking him to come to bed with her went on day after day. Yet he refused to be worn down. One day no one else was around and she caught him by his cloak. He took off running, leaving his cloak behind. This cloak was used to frame him. When Potiphar returned, his wife told him that he came on to her "to make sport of" her. Potiphar got angry and threw Joseph in prison.

Framed and thrown in prison an innocent man, he soon was elevated through the prison ranks and was basically running the prison under the warden's command.

Wisdom from Mr. Love

I had the privilege of spending a couple hours with the athletic director and trainer from my high school yesterday. He is a great man that people like to be around. He's cheerful, helpful, and outgoing. When you entered a room, he'd bellow, "How's it going, Van Pelt?" or "What do you say, Ivory?" He'd learn your name and get to know you.

He was an Air Commando back in the 60s. They were the Special Forces of their time. He grew up in a segregated Oklahoma, where his dad taught him to ask the "how" questions, instead of complaining or asking "why" questions when they encountered a problem. He was taught to find a solution. When he entered the Air Force and went through marksman training, his shooting was excellent. He could hit a rabbit on the run with a rifle, rock or anything handy he could throw. He was red-flagged for his marksmanship and added to the Air Commandos, where he served in the Vietnam War. There was two units, numbering about 700 men or so total. Less than 100 of those men made it back home, and he said that when he got back on U.S. soil, he vowed to live for those men.

His character and testimony are rock solid. Anyone who knew him in high school (or any time period, for that matter) probably still remembers him. He invested in people. Without crossing the state lines of preaching the Gospel, he showed character and help instill it in a way that was inspiring. His walk was right on target. He didn't have to open up a tract or mention the name of Jesus the Christ. He preached virtue, and people listened.

I'm so glad I was able to spend some time with him yesterday, sitting outside and eating some good ole Texas BBQ. His son, a classmate of mine, called me yesterday and told me that he'd have a one-hour layover at the bus station in Austin. I took advantage of this time and met him. It's funny, his children tried to talk him into flying, but this bus ride fit into the philosophy he told me about. "One day I will stop living in this body," he said. But until then he was going to live this life. "I'm in no hurry. I have no desire for so-called 'fast living.'" He enjoyed the longer bus ride because it was part of this journey of life that he was enjoying so much.

Even when the Greyhound bus employee was explaining how he'd have to pay $10 more because his ticket was a such-and-such type ticket and even though he was being re-routed from Houston to San Antonio to Dallas to LA back to San Antonio through Laredo and El Paso to LA, he made faces to me and made a fun time out of the inconvenience and different information he was being given.

[I just had to re-type all of this due to inadvertantly hitting a key or keys on my keyboard while I sprayed away dust around my monitor and such. That's always a drag, but I figured I could blow it off entirely, complain about it, or just re-type it and, in turn, make it "tighter" and easier to read, maybe.]

In Genesis 38, we see an example of true Capital Punishment.

But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death.

Judah told his other son, Onan, to lay with his deceased brother's wife (Tamar) so that his brother would have offspring. This was to "fulfill his duty as her brother-in-law."

Whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also.

Some people have called masturbation "the sin of Onan," and pointed to this passage as a proof-text. Problem with that is that's not what Onan was doing; and that's certainly not what was "wicked" in the Lord's sight here.

Judah tells his daughter-in-law to live with him as a widow, thinking that maybe his youngest son can give her children when he gets old enough. Later on Judah's wife dies and Tamar dresses up like a prostitute and Judah propositions her and sleeps with her for the price of a young goat, with his seal, cord and his staff as his pledge until he pays it. Later on he comes back to pay for his sexual service and can't find the prostitute. She had gone back to the house. When it was revealed that "Tamar is guilty of prostitution and is pregnant," Judah pronounces that she should face Capital Punishment. On her way out she sends a message to Judah.

"I am pregnant by the man that owns these...see if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are." Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah."

He was right about the righteous part. That old man would sleep with a prostitute, but as soon as his daughter-in-law becomes a prostitute, he wants to punish her by death.

When Tamar gave birth, she gave birth to twins. The first son stuck his hand out and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his wrist. Then he drew his hand back and the other brother came out. He was named Perez. The one with the scarlet thread on his wrist then came out and was named Zerah.

I didn't make these stories up! This stuff was right there in Genesis 38. Who said the Bible was boring?

No his mind is not for rent...

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them...

Uh, oh ... let the drama begin! (jealousy, rage, murder)

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because h had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. WHen his brothers saw that their father loved him ore than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

It's interesting how they "couldn't speak a kind word to him." I wonder if that's just an expression (probably) or if they somehow couldn't find the strength to say something positive to him. That would be funny if they wanted to pat him on the back and say, "Nice shot!" (in a game of soccer, using a lamb's bladder, of course) and instead had a demonic spirit change their speech to profanity and the slap turned into a swat...

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."

Poor Joseph might've just been naively explaining the trippy dream he had, not knowing how arrogant it was coming off. His brothers were like, "What?! You're going to rule over us? His father even rebuked him about the dreams. I'd hate to rebuke one of my children for a dream they had. How could they control what they dreamed? Wouldn't I be yelling for no reason?

His dad sent him out in the fields to check on his brothers later. When his brothers saw him from a distance, they plotted to kill him. I guess there was some demonic activity (I'd bet on it ... but I could be wrong. The human soul is capable of evil itself -- without the help of Beelzebub or his legions).

"Here comes the dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams."

Reuben talked them out of taking his life (whew! good thing).

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe -- the richly ornamented robe he was wearing -- and they took him and threw him into the cistern. They ended up selling them to some travelling Ishmaelites (an interesting label, sons of Ishmael, born of Abraham). They tricked their father, Israel, by smearing animal blood on his coat of many colors. "Examine this," they told their dad, "to see if it's Joseph's coat." Of course, he recognized it and could not be comforted, convinced of his son's violent death.

Can you imagine the guilt they carried? Those scumbag brothers! They deserved to be beat up by the defensive line of the Chicago Bears. One can only imagine the look of betrayal and shock on Joseph's face as this was happening to him. Isn't it amazing that he was able to forgive his brothers? (more on that later)

Murder in Brentwood (OJ did it)

Genesis 36 lists Esau's descendents. If Esau's mother could see him now! He married a bunch of Cannanite women. She was not into that idea. Some classic tragedies have been written about parents NOT knowing better than their children concerning potential mates (or so it seems); parents are usually a GREAT judge of character and have some wisdom in helping choose a future mate for their children. Who else knows a person and their character traits, their love language, their personality quirks and whatnot ... better than mom or dad?

There's a list of the kings that reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned. It's interesting that these historical people were recorded in Scripture. It probably authenticates the validity of the Bible. It's not a book of fables and sweet little tales to enslave nations of mindless followers. It's a book of poetry, history, dates, times, and even an address or two. It's pretty amazing how it flows together, even though it was written centuries apart.

"We need to split, Jacob"

In Genesis 35, God tells Jacob to go back to Bethel, where He had appeared to him before. Jacob told his crew to get rid of their foreign gods and get ready for worship (to the one true God). God protected Jacob and his family by "terrifying" the towns they went through, so that no one bothered them. I wonder how God did that. I wonder if people pooped in their pants or curled up like babies in the fetal position. I wonder if God appeard in their dreams. It doesn't really tell us how He terrified them, but it worked.

God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham to Jacob once they got back to Bethel. He said:

"I am God All-Powerful, and from now on your name will be Israel intead of Jacob. You will have many children. Your descendants will become nations, and some of the men in your family will even be kings. I will give you the land that I promised Abraham and Isaac, and it will belong to your family forever."

The next verse (in the new Seek & Find Bible, the Contemporary English Version) says: "After God had gone, Jacob set up a large rock, so that he would remember what had happened there." It's cool to set up monuments to remember things. It's a pattern that God's people continued time and time again. It really helps the people remember. What's telling in this verse, however, is the opening line: "after God had gone." Can you imagine how empty a room might feel once God leaves the building? I can imagine yearning for Him to linger a while longer, just letting me take in His presence. I might even beg for Him to return. God is all-seeing and all, but when He pays a personal visit -- that's an entirely different (and very special) thing. I can only imagine the dynamics of emotions that would surround that. Some might say it would be a relief when He left, because His very presence might make your body tremble or react to stress. I can see that, because of some of the Old Testament accounts. But He might have brought His peace and calm, too. That verse just really sticks out. I think God leaving would stick out. There would be a vast difference.

I kind of liken it to how we are supposed to live now. Jesus has ascended into Heaven after His resurrection and His followers are to carry on and live. Jacob had to carry on with obeying and receiving what God had promised. Like it or not, he had to get over the fact that God's very presence had left. In a similar way, we are to live for, talk with, and serve a God that's not showing up in our house in all His glory.

Jacob's beloved Rachel died and was buried outside of Bethlehem. She died giving birth to Benjamin, who she wanted named Benoni, but Jacob called him Benjamin. Jacob's oldest son, Reuben slept with one of Jacob's wives (Bilhah). Of course, Jacob found out about it. At the end of chapter 35 Jacob goes to see his father, Isaac. I wonder if he told Isaac about what Reuben had done...? Isaac died at the "ripe old age" of 180.

FOOT MAGNET

foot magnet
when stumbling in the dark, your bare toes find every solid object on the floor, bludgeoning it savagely. Only the zombie-like numbness of being half asleep keeps you from screaming out (and waking everyone).

I'm a trash burnin' son of a gun

Yep, I got me an old barrell and I burn trash out at the HM Ranch now. I've got my first pile of ashes. That aerosal can of carpet cleaner didn't explode though. Too bad. That would've been fun.

Listening to the new Chevelle album. I hear it's full of anger. I haven't noticed that yet, though. One of the three Loeffler brothers left the band or was kicked out and he sued for back royalties or some other such drama.

We've got our own drame: we're at chapter 34: Dinah and the Shechemites
Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. Another guy in the area -- Shechem, son of Hamor -- saw her. He took her and violated her. The next verse says: "His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her. And Shechem said to his father Hamor, 'Get me this girl as my wife.'"

It plays out almost like a psychotic movie, doesn't it? Shechem rapes Dinah, and then he's seen talking sweetly to her. What a disconnect! I think that's a perfect example of "cognitive dissonance."

Jacob found out that his daughter was raped. He didn't tell his sons right away, but when they came home they were filled in. "They were filled with grief and fury," it says. Hamor went to talk to Jacob. Hamor asked for her to be married and for all of them to live together and take each other's sons and daughters in marriage. Shechem asked Jacob and the brothers for Dinah, stating that he'd pay any price to marry her. The brothers replied that they would only intermarry like that on one condition: that all the males there would be circumcised.

Shechem, Hamor and all the men of the city agreed. While they were still sore from the, uh, "operation," two of Jacob's sons (Simeon and Levi) killed every male in the unsuspecting city. There were dead bodies everywhere. The rest of Jacob's sons looted the city. Jacob rebuked his sons, stating that now the countryside would exact revenge on their small numbers. The sons replied:

"Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?"

Wow. That's drama.

Seeing the face of God

In Genesis 33, Jacob's fears and worry about meeting up with Esau come to an end. Right up until they met Jacob (er, uh "Israel") was fearing for his life and the life of his family). He ushered his maidservants in the front (nice, so they could get sliced and diced by Esau's men), then Leah and her (red-headed step)children, and then Jacob and Rachel. Then he went ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. But Esau ran up to meet him, hugged and kissed him. And they wept.

Esau was very happy to see and meet his brother's family. He tried to give back all the gifts of animals, etc, but Israel refused. He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably." It might be easy to forget, but this guy had actually seen God and wrestled with him, face to face. So, for some ordinary joe to say that is one thing, but for Israel to say it means a heckuva lot more...

I guess he was relieved and pretty happy.
:?)

Things Peter Steele was thinking...

...when he wrote the song "Life is Killing Me"

1. He saw an episode of the Andy Griffith show, where Aunt Bea punished Opie harshly for something he didn't exactly do. It was a veiled reference to "Life is killing Bea..."

2. He's secretly a Christian and was preaching cryptically to his audience that true life is when you die to your self, thus "LIFE is killing me..."

3. Like Rush Limbaugh, he's a staunch conservative, and he wanted to talk about how good books and magazines were, and thus: "Life is killing trees..."

4. He loves honey, thus "Life is killing bees..."

5. He's an Ultimate Fighter, and is protesting the fines and fees they get charged when they kill another fighter in the ring: "Life is killing fees..."

6. His daughter actually won the National Spelling Bee. (I won't even say it)

7. He discovered a plot (on Valentine's Day, of all days) that his bride was trying to cash in on his insurance policy: "My wife is killing me..." (Yes, he kind of scallops the words "my" right into "wife," like those modern day worship leaders who tend to think that the congregations are all pop singers who understand syncopation).

xxx

Subscribe to HM...

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I will try to have a cool devotion up in the morning. I put today's off until I finished this issue I was working on ... and that time (finish it up time) didn't come until 10:45pm.

I don't know exactly how it happened, but this latest deadline for the Heaven's Metal Fanzine really was something that took a lot of work. I just now finished and am "ftp-ing" it to my printer. I'm so glad they print it for me. I was getting it printed at Kinko's and, at a low quantity of 400 or so, that was an okay price. But once it went to several hundred copies, I was getting gyped. My printer jumped in and offered a price that was lower than what I'd been paying -- and for more copies!

I am so tickled...

(isn't that a funny expression?)

...about how this debate we've been having on the hm forum about ministry music vs. regular music and the ever-widening chasm between the two. The crew that works on Heaven's Metal with me has been going back and forth a little bit on this debate and what words are used, etc. But what's funny is how both sides are promoted -- back and forth -- throughout the issue. I'm talking unrelated bands and articles are juxtaposing one another with this topic. It's awesome to see that.

What's not awesome is working in a coat and layered clothing all day. My heater went out again. This happened over the weekend, I presume, because the heater was blowing air out real fast -- cold air! The "heating elements" broke again. Someone came out late yesterday afternoon, and the situation was not resolved today, so the last two days have been frigid inside here. It's like working in a garage in the middle of winter! Good thing I have a convection heater thing on my floor, but it doesn't heat up the whole room too well. I might be in for these conditions for the rest of the week. I hope not, but what else can I do?

St. Valentine's Special

For the next two weeks (only) we are having a killer sale on the following:

Only $9.99 via hmmag.com until 2/26/7

Stem Cell Research

"Why don't they use umbilical cords for stem cell research? They have the same stem cells as fetuses."

This was an interesting question posed to me last night. It seems there is a growing use of stem cells from umbilical cords, which could lessen the debate about using stem cells from human embryos. Lots of parents are now saving their childrens' cords (and/or blood samples from them). According to the New York Sun, as of October 2006, "there are more than 20 private banks nationwide - Alpha Cord, Via-Cord, and newcomer DomaniCell, among them - and many companies advertise in pregnancy magazines and through direct mailings."

Interesting.

I'm shivering with cold in my office today, as my heater's heating element must've broken again. A lousy way to start a day that began with a cancelled breakfast appointment and deciding to rescue my pets from a cold, wet day. At least I have a convection heater by my desk. But for the first couple of hours, brrrrr.

Okay, we stopped in Genesis 32 last week, because we were coming up to a huge subject near the end of the chapter. Jacob was setting up his meeting with Esau. He'd seen the "angels of God" at the beginning of the chapter, but he still wasn't sure if he wasn't about to meet God face to face after his death at the hand of his brother. The night before he was to meet Esau -- who would meet up with Jacob's servants beforehand, who bore many many gifts -- Jacob moved his wives and family across a river. Once he had them and all of his possessions over the ford at Jabbok, he was left alone.

The next verse is one of the most unusual in all the Bible. It says:

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."

That is weird, huh? But it gets wilder:

"When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' The man asked him, 'What is your name?'

"So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.' The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon."

What the?!?

Was this God Himself? Was this a pre-incarnate Jesus? Was it a time-travelling Jesus?

The scholars who wrote the notes in the NIV Study Bible point to this as "'God in the form of an angel,' like in Genesis 16:7. The angel appears to be both distinguished from the Lord (in that he is called 'messenger' -- the Hebrew word for 'angel' means 'messenger') and identified with him. It may be that, as the Lord's personal messenger who represented him and bore his credentials, the angel could speak on behalf of (and so be identified with) the One who sent him." This could be like one of the angels who showed up in Genesis 19 to rescue Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. It's pretty interesting, though, isn't it -- as the reference is to "God."

I bet if you asked 10 people what "Israel" means, only 2 or 3 of them would say, "wrestles with God."

xxx

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It's okay, I'm a doctor

I overheard a dear friend giving advice to someone today. They were leaned on for help and they flowed with kindness and grace.

There's something about helping people that is just awesome. When I have that opportunity, I have some of those "this is why I was created" kind of fulfilling feelings. It's really cool to help someone. It doesn't make me any better of a person, because we all need help. It just really feels fulfilling, like "this is what God made me for." It's not really about me, nor does it fly to an extreme -- like some sort of messiah complex. Ministry is addictive in a way. It's just darn cool to offer someone help -- whether it's practical, like offering some of your food, money, water, or time; or intangible, like advice, a listening ear, or prayer.

Not sure what else to say.
My dad sends me an email with a "Proverb of the day" in it. Today's edition had the following verse:

"Your own soul is nourished when you are kind,
But you destroy yourself when you are cruel."
(Proverbs 11:17)

Doug Giesbrecht is a Canadian

But, as Elvis would sing, "That's alright with mama..."

Last weekend I used a crowbar and dismantled the shower enclosure in our house. It was one of those fiberglass all-in-one shower units, and after tearing out a few parts, the rest was fairly easy to destory and haul to the curb. I felt like one of those guys in the Home Improvement show, making calculated but committed changes to our house. We found out that the crack in our shower, which could have been fixed and re-fixed and re-fixed and re-fixed again and again with a fiberglass or some such repair, that it was cheaper to re-do the shower in tile than to buy another one of those all-in-one units. So now we're in the in-between phase of empty spot and the finished job.

A website asked Doug G and I to turn in a list of "most spun" albums of 2006. Here is that site. I read some interesting info about a hate crimes bill this morning. I'm not sure if it all checks out, but you can read about it here. I'm not too thrilled with using fear to win an argument, even though both sides of most any argument that goes public will do so. For this hate crimes bill, one side will use the very real and very scary story of a homosexual teenage boy getting beaten to death by some savage bullies. The thought is: 'If we have a hate crimes law, we can punish people for this kind of stuff as severly as it should be.' The implication is that the present laws against murder aren't enough. I think that's probably a panic, knee-jerk reaction that seeks to solve a problem without a lot of hard work. The "solution," though, presents a lot of new problems. Enter side B, with the scare tactics of granny going to jail. 'Let's scare this audience into supporting our side of the argument.' Scare tactics should never be outlawed or anything, but I just don't respect them a whole lot and view them suspiciously. I think, 'Why frighten me? Just reason with me.'

I think of the civil rights movement and the hard-fought victories against prejudice. I don't think a hate crimes set of laws would have turned the tide. That was a rough time in our history. I wonder if other parts of the world (as well as us) can learn many lessons from it. I dunno.

Blog a hoax

So, it turns out that the blog here about Jerry Jones hiring HM editor DVP was a complete hoax. Who'da thunk it?

200,000

hmmag.com is now averaging 195,000 unique visits a month. The last two months (December and January) are way over 200,000 a month. This is really good news. A year ago we were averaging 73,000 a month ... and we've almost tripled that in a year. Maybe it's the podcast? Maybe it's Will Farrell? I don't know what it is ... but it's good.

In Genesis 32 Jacob prepares to meet his long lost brother, Esau. On his way, it says "the angels of God met him." This impressed Jacob (as it would anybody). Nothing else is mentioned of this, except that he calls the place Mahanaim. It stands for "two camps," I guess because he camped there and so did God's angels. Shortly thereafter he sends word to Esau's people, telling them that he's Esau's servant, he's been with Laban's people, he's coming back with animals, etc. His people report back that Esau's coming to meet him -- with 400 people in his entourage. Yikes! Jacob splits his group into two camps (interesting detail), so that if one gets slaughtered the other may live.

He prays:

"Oh God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O Lord, Who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'"

It's like he's trying to remind God: "You got me into this mess, telling me to come back, now please help me here!" He also humbly declared that he was unworthy of God's kindness. This is something that is true for all of us. However, the text implies that Jacob really meant it. He felt it. He wasn't just saying the right words. He was probably pretty scared. I'm sure he had his doubts that God would not save him and that he would be killed soon. I don't think he arrogantly or confidently knew that he would make it out of this alive.

[Interrupted by doorbell ringing. A wonderful neighbor dropped by with a birthday cake. How awesome is that?!]

I wonder if Jacob went to bed worrying that night ... or if he felt a peace or sensed God's protection after praying that prayer? Surely seeing the angels camped there earlier must've given him confidence that God was near and watching him. Maybe he felt guilty and thought that God would allow him to die for what he did to Esau. After spending the night there, Jacob put together a little present for his brother -- 200 female goats; 20 male goats; 200 ewes; 20 rams; 30 female camels with their young; 40 cows; 10 bulls; 20 female donkeys; 10 male donkeys. That's quite a little gift! He hoped to pacify Esau with the gifts.

More on this chapter tomorrow.

Eggs Perry Mint

Oh boy ... it's late!

I just discovered something funny over at buzzgrinder.com
Scene Points is the name of a sarcastic and witty video that Seth W does about every week.

I was a JERK on the way to WORK

When you are righteous -- or in the right -- there are options on how you respond to the other party. You can be righteous again and take the high road, or you can take the low road and be all "IN YOUR FACE!" to the other party. Today on the way to work, I took the low road. I was in the right and had the right of way to go first at a three-way stop sign. However, the truck opposite me cut in front of me. What did I do?

Did I take the high road and the defensive driving route and just pause and safely go later? Nope. I followed closely and laid on my horn for about a second.

I reminded myself of a friend of mine in a band (who shall remain nameless). After a festival performance in Marble Falls they pulled their van or bus (I can't remember) into a well lit corner gas station, which was about the only and last station before civilization ended for several miles and we got into Austin. Apparently it was like 11:59 pm and the place closes at midnight. With their vehicle pulled up to the pumps, the pumps suddenly shut off. Instead of politely requesting the manager or workers to please turn the pumps back on and allow them to gas up, my friend laid on his horn. He did so longer than anyone I've ever heard. I'm talking maybe 30 seconds. Just one solid honk. One of the workers came over, perturbed, "Have you got a problem?"

"Yeah, I've got a problem, my friend retorted back, apparently ready to throw down if necessary.

That was funny and embarrassing at the same time.

As I got closer to work, I moved into the left lane and turned my left turn signal on. I would then move into the middle turn lane to make a left on CR 424, which the HM Ranch is on. But someone turning left and coming the opposite direction stayed in that lane much longer than they needed to.

I was tempted to take the wrong attitude again (and glare at them real good when I passed by), but I was able to overcome the temptation and just patiently wait until I could get into that lane and turn left.

It's funny how we can be tested on some very basic and core attitude levels with driving. I think God cares about the character of His Son being formed in us, and driving is a real practical place where that can be worked out ... or not.

A good time to hear God

In Genesis 31 we see that: "Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, 'Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.' And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been. Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Go back to the land of your father and to your relatives, and I will be with you.'"

Things were turning South for Jacob and it sure was a good time for God's advice to come his way. So he split. While they were all getting ready to leave, Rachel ripped off the household gods from her father's place. Maybe they were golden statues that would fetch a sweet price on ebay... So Laban found out that his son-in-law had taken off, along with his daughters and grandchildren ... and his household gods. He pursued Jacob and found him. God spoke to Laban in a dream and told him "not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." Of course, when he caught up to him, he did speak to him. He tore into Jacob, perhaps trying to make him feel guilty for taking Laban's grandkids away from him without even giving him a chance to kiss them goodbye. He didn't give Laban a chance to send them away with singing and music. By this time, though, Jacob didn't trust the guy. He had deceived him with his daughters' marriages and changed his wages ten times. He wasn't about to give him a warning that he was splitting. Laban let him know that he thought what Jacob did was foolish. "I have the power to harm you," he said, "but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'"

Laban then asks him why he stole his gods. Jacob denies it, since he didn't know that Rachel had ripped them off. He said, "Look around for them. If you find them, the thief will be killed." He didn't know what he was promising, but Rachel said she was on her period and anything a woman sat on during that time of of the month was considered unclean ... and Rachel had hidden the gods in her camel bags that she was sitting on. After the search was over Laban asked for a covenant to be made, where at this point (where they made a pile of stones) Laban would not cross to harm Jacob, and vice-versa. They sacrificed an animal and had a meal together.

Isn't it interesting that Laban, who apparently worshiped false gods, was able to recognize and disntinguish the God that was talking to him? I wonder why he didn't repent at that point and realize that the God that had spoken to him was the one true God? Perhaps the spirits and visions of spirits that people saw in those days were so commonplace and/or were able to deceive the people they came into contact with. In our not-so-supernatural Western world, we are slow to believe such things. I wonder why Laban didn't realize at that moment that his gods were lame... Maybe the fuzziness of a dream left room for doubt. Who knows?

Rachel really did a foolish thing, though, huh?

Super Bowl Sunday

I've slacked blogging the past couple of days, as I've coasted into my birthday weekend. I still feel young.

Not sure how many people saw the AFC Championship trophy presentation (I always watch the interviews afterwards and whatnot), but the owner -- the OWNER of the Indianapolis Colts said something like, "First off, we give the glory to God..."

We've all heard a player say something like that; and there's been a few coaches that have been outspoken about their faith, but an owner?!?! Wow. I was impressed. That just NEVER happens. Those billionaires run in different circles, of which I know little. I can't remember ever hearing someone like that speaking up like that.

Even Peyton Manning, who was shown with his head down at the end of the game when opposing quarterback Tom Brady had three-quarters of the field and a minute and a half or so to win the game, and Peyton didn't look up. I thought he was just not looking. He said later he was praying. "I'm not sure if you're supposed to pray about stuff like that, but I was praying." That was funny.

Today I heard the analysts talk about the great precedence that is being set today by two African-American coaches representing their teams in the Super Bowl. This is a great day for a race that has endured so much hardship. It's a bummer to even be talking about race, when it has nothing to do with how great these men are as people and football coaches; but it is significant and now we can easier ignore skin color a little bit. Anyway, each analyst and ex-player working for ESPN today had their little bit to say. The great Ravens middle linebacker, Ray Lewis, had his turn. I really admire this guy. Even when they won the Super Bowl and lots of people didn't like him because he was such a thug or played the thug role and many people thought he was a murderer. I enjoyed watching him play and was glad to see him win the big game because he was such a great player. I love the position of middle linebacker and he plays it so well. Anyway, when it was his turn to talk about this race subject, he said, "First and foremost, it's overwhelming, with the steps that we've made as a culture. It's a huge, huge milestone. But at the same time, forget black or white. I think what sells it all is these are great individuals. Everybody that you meet -- that you run into -- that talks about Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy will tell you one thing: that they are pure hearted people." And then Lewis raised his finger and pointed at the camera. "And I'll tell you something about a great leader: Every great leader is a great follower. And these men follow Jesus. And they are Christian men and that's why they are able to lead the way they lead."

WOW.

He went on to elaborate: "I'll tell you something that impressed me the most. I was with Tony Dungy at the Gospel Celebration the other night. And his humbleness as a man -- just who he is. Take away skin color, take away all of that, at the bottom line, at the end of the day, a great man will walk off this field, winning a Super Bowl -- no matter skin color, no matter race, no matter anything -- and that's the understanding I think we have to have. Great milestone, once again. But I tell you what I love the most: I love both of these guys' hearts. I love the way they treat their families. I like the role model that they're setting for the kids of today's time. I tell you one of the greatest things ever -- one of the greatest things ever: they show love to each other. They show respect to each other, and that's why it's going to be a great game."

The solid analyst/host Stuart Scott punctuated that statement with: "Character is what you are and who you are when no one else is looking."

I love hearing that stuff.

I put pressure on a man that has the ability to fall, but when I hear people talk about humility I think about Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. He treats himself and holds himself in a way that many times embodies humility. I love seeing that and I think it's great when we can point to people and say that about them. That, to me, is Christ-likeness. If that's all someone like Sonny does the rest of his life, if he can maintain that quality about him and inspire others to do the same, that's a great, great thing.

Now, back to the big game: I think the first series that the Colts have the ball will be very telling. The same can be said for the Bears' offense. If one of these teams has to play "catch up" or falls into the trap of "pressing" and can't relax and follow the game plan, it'll make it very hard for them to win. It should be an interesting game. I'm having a small party over watching the game, and I'll find it hard to deal with the end of the game when people want to engage in small talk and will be leaving, but my heart will be glued to the tv set to hear what people and players are going to say after the game.