Change your bookmarks.

That's right. All three of you who read this should change your bookmarks and/or RSS feeds to http://kevinpporter.wordpress.com/

Time for a fresh start...

What a monster....

Today's sign of the Appocolypse...

Oprah gave a whole bunch of people this....

A TV with a refrigerator in it...

Now if that doesn't scream 'obesity' I don't know what does. Wow.

Halloween!

Here's a few pictures from some trick or treating we took Eli to this weekend. It was a lot of fun. I'll probably post some more after real Halloween. What cute kids...

KP

Nora Grace...

We had a baby girl last night! For more info, go here:

http://noragraceporter.blogspot.com/

Whoo hoo! Mom and baby are doing great. Eli is a tad bit jealous thought...

I'm an old man who listens to talk radio.

It's true. I'm now "that guy." I think I probably listen to FM radio about once a month in my car. The rest of the time, I listen to the NPR or my iPod. Today, I was browsing through my AM presets and I stopped on Dr. Dina Dell (spelling?). To my credit, I seldomly listen to guys like him (I have to hang on to at least a shred of my dignity).

So the good Dr. is talking about this study that such and such group conducted on people with heart attacks. Basically, they studied to see if people who prayed (people of Judea-Christian faith only) while in heart attack recovery healed quicker or became more healthy than people who didn't. Then he went on about how he expected that due to the placebo effect that they probably did. Well, it turns out that they didn't. There were some mental and social benefits, but no physical ones. Then he talked a bit about the implications of that and how they pertain to his own doubts about the existence of some sort of a divine being.

I found myself being a little put off by the whole thing. Honestly, I don't much care if the Doc spent his whole show tearing down the existence of a Creator. That's his prerogative. That didn't bother me at all.

What really bothered me is the trite view of our faith the church has projected to our culture. We've dumbed down who God is enough that we've trivialized him as a vending machine to the culture around us. We really just don't get what it's about do we? We spend our time in our churches praying for Aunt Louis who has a strange growth on her left toe and Uncle Steve who has lung cancer now (after smoking a pack a day for 10 years) and then throw out a prayer or two for the missionaries we throw money at every month. Then we go home till the next time.

Resultingly, our culture now sees the Almighty God as a weak man's way to make it through a harsh world. He's dumbed down to a nice grandfather in heaven who's chief concern is our sick friends and relatives.

But, I'm convinced that we're missing it. I've been studying John the Baptist a bit lately. That guy got it. He understood that this Jesus guy was coming to do something big. Something that was worth standing in opposition to the culture around him and shouting from the roof tops. Something worth loosing his head over... literally.

When did we let it become what it has become? When did it stop being something worth dying for and become not much more than something we cling to for comfort. Let's not forget that everything in the Christian faith is dependent on the willing humiliation of a God who took on flesh. I'm quite certain if he was willing to endure it all - the scorn, the suffering, the humanity it wasn't just so that we could pray for the quick recovery of our loved ones.

So then, what do we do? I'm tired of people like me screaming out problems with the church at the top of their lungs and offering no solutions.

Certainly, there is a place for praying for the sick, the hurting, the dying. Jesus did. Just look at the story of Lazarus. Over and over he tells us to take care of these people. And we should. And an element of that is certainly praying for them. But we need more than that. We need action. And not just in a every now and then programmatic way. We need need to be more like John the Baptist. We need to devote our lives to crying out "Prepare the way" and messages of true healing. And that happens in word AND DEED. We need to expect that of our brothers and sisters in Christ. If I'm not doing it, then they suffer. We're one body and we need each others gifts and strengths.

I guess for me that means I need to do a better job reflecting Christ to Century Business Systems in my speech and my actions. Even when I feel like I'm getting taken advantage of. Even in the midst of hardship, Christ models a response of grace (not read passiveness). And to my neighbors who love to drink beer in their truck bed with the radio cranked at 11pm at night.

It's hard though. It's easier to just read nice stories from the Bible and skip the hard parts and tell people that "we're praying from them." Or tell ourselves that God loves us so much He'll make it all better and the hard part will go away. But, sometimes He loves me so much that he doesn't make it all better.

And it's a disservice to the grace we've been give to live a faith that expects life to be that way.

Thanks for letting me rant.

I'm reconsidering Nora's name....

I'm thinking Superwoman... or maybe 4Fake. Sound stupid? It is. But sadly, it's real. Go here.

For those of you that wasted your childhood like I did...

Check this out! It's Tecmo Super Bowl from NES, only someone updated it with current rosters. Incredible. Good thing it's Friday and I have nothing to do at work...

World "Losing Fight Agains AIDs"

BBC currently has an article on their front page about how the world is "Losing Fight Against AIDs" Read the article, it's informative and horrifying. Especially in light of the fact that the problem is worsening in Africa and that Asia is well on it's way to the same infection rates. AIDs is changing what the world looks like. It's hard for me to imagine. The numbers of people dying are so large that I can't wrap my mind around it. Read the article if you've got a minute - it's got some pretty staggering stuff in it. Like:

Only a quarter of the people needing treatment were receiving it, meaning the other three-quarters would continue to spread the epidemic, which was still in its exponential growth stage, Dr Gazzard said.

For every one person that you put in therapy, six new people get infected. So we're losing that game, the numbers game," Dr. Fauci said.

It's a pretty terrible "game" if you ask me. If you're of the mind to pray, go to http://oldnaledi.blogspot.com We keep a weekly update of what's going on with our sister church in Old Naledi there. Clearly AIDs and it's aftermath are something we can't overcome on our own. But as Luke 11 reminds us, we have a Father who loves his children and hears their prayers. So, even if we can't all study, reasearch, give money, or go... we certinaly can and are called to pray. Here's a real tangible way to do that.

Summer Fun

Here's a few pics of the boy having fun at the pool. He loves the pool.

I was right all along...

I've always thought that Jane Austen was pretty much the most terrible author of "classic" literature ever. Apparently, so do most of the major publishing agencies once you change the titles and the names of the major characters. That's pretty funny. Thanks Ruetgers.com

The Old Naledi Church

Hey Friends,

Sorry I haven't updated this too much lately. Mostly, I've just been lazy. I sit in front of a computer half the day bored for work - I'll try to do a better job. Besides, I have some great pics of Eli to post.

Regardless, the Old Naledi church has started to send out a weekly(ish) update of what's going on with them and good ways to pray for them. I'll be posting in to the Old Naledi/Harvest Fellowship Partnership Blog. This would be a great way to find out about the work Erine and I will be joining in and the place we will be living in a year or so. Plus, they value your prayers. So here's the link. Go check it out.

Blessings,
KP

George Bush Sings Sunday Bloody Sunday

This is really funny.

Minnesota Trip

We went to St. Paul, MN over the weekend. Did some fun stuff. Went to a river town, a Twins game, and the zoo. Here are a few pics.

A Christian Society

I've been talking a lot with people about the both the church and the Church universal and how being a part of it should affect the life of the believer. It's tricky because most of us live it out through either 1. trivializing it to a Sunday morning and Wednesday evening 'institution' of sorts or 2. idealizing this unattainable (read Anninia and Siphira) sort of communal living living we see in very small part of the scripture (Acts 4:32-37) and living in constant disappointment. It's pretty interesting to me. Everyone I've talked with (present company included) has a lot more ideas of what the church shouldn't look like than we have ideas on how to change it to be a better reflection of the glory of God. Maybe it's just me. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Anyways, I read this little bit from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity this morning and found it to be pretty interesting and relevant. All italics or bolding are my additions.

"The New Testament, without going into details, gives us a pretty clear hint of what a fully Christian society would be like. Perhaps it gives us more than we can take. It tells us that there are to be no passengers or parasites: if man does not work, he ought not eat. Every one is to work with his own hands, and what is more, every one's work is to produce something good: there will be no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. To that extent a Christian society would be what we would now call Leftist. On the other hand, it is always insisting on obedience - obedience (and outward marks of respect) from all of us to properly appointed magistrates, from children to parents, and (I am afraid this is going to be very unpopular) from wives to husbands. Thirdly, it is to be a cheerful society: full of singing and rejoicing, and regarding worry or anxiety as wrong. Courtesy is one of the Christian virtues; and the New Testament hates what it calls 'busybodies.'
If there were such a society in existence and you or I visited it, I think we should come away with a curious impression. We should feel that its economic life was very socialistic and, in that sense, 'advanced', but that its family life and code of manners were rather old fashioned - perhaps even ceremonious and aristocratic. Each of us would like some bits of it, but I am afraid that very few of us would like the whole thing. That is just what one would expect if Christianity is the total plan for the human machine. We have all departed from that total plan in different ways, and each of us wants to make out that his own modification of the original plan is the plan itself. You will find this again and again about anything that is really Christian: every one is attracted to bits of it and wants to pick out those bits and leave the rest."

-- C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity

I thought this was pretty interesting. I especially like the first paragraph. I think churches would be wise to follow what this Christian society "would be." Particularly the bolded parts.

No passengers or parasites - after all it is a body right? Everybody's got their part, yet it seems like to many of us are just along for the ride. Worse than that, we suck the life out of the people who are doing their part - because those people are also doing our jobs because we're to busy watching. Nothing about the Christian faith was ever advertised as easy... being a part of the body of Christ is no exception.

no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. - I think this one explains itself. Do we really need a 250,000 dollar sound system with subs and plasma tv's to put the words to our music on? I think not. Nor do we need to whore ourselves out by pouring all our time into looking 'hip' or 'relevant.' Just be the church. It's a reflection of Christ. That's attraction enough. We don't need dress it up with overdone sound systems and swag events. Seriously...

insisting on obedience - The Church is the hands, feet, and mouth of God (the Body) yes? Then, I don't think it's unfair to argue that God has given it authority unlike any other authority on the whole planet. Yet, the church is afraid to call sin what it is. We like to beat around the bush. Not to say that we should be harsh, unloving, and ungracious. By no means. But we also should not compromise. Yet, look at the church here in the US. There are some shinning examples, but there are also a lot who are becoming more and more tolerant of sin within the body. The church really should insist on obedience, because when we don't we all suffer greatly and more than that look just plain foolish - both in the local church and the Church universal.

cheerful society - this one is my favorite. It really should be. The church should be the utmost reflection of joy. By far we have the most to be joyful about.

Anyways, that's my long winded way of saying that I think it's a pretty interesting bit of writing. I'd love to hear what others are thinking.

KP

Psalm 63

Psalm 63

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped

Longing for a bit more...

Tonight find myself having quite a lot of longing to be in Old Naledi, Botswana. Not too sure why. Maybe a bit too much time on the old BBC Africa new site or reading about the KSU students who recently got there or maybe it was seeing Becky for a short while. Regardless, I'd really much rather be there tonight. Not so much in an angry or sad sort of way. More of an anticipation I suppose. I guess what I mean to say is that it's a rather good thing. I can't explain it too well. A joyful longing is about the best I can do.

Then I got to thinking about how if I really understood God for all that He is I would yearn to be worshiping in heaven with every part of me. Old Naledi - this small glimpse of what a beautiful God of restoration and grace we serve stirs up such a longing in me. For me, it's one of the exciting ways for me to tangibly see the character of God. Yet, even though it's about the best I know it's really just a very poor reflection of the tiniest part of the vast richness and beauty of God.

I pray that He would teach us to see Him more completely that we might learn to yearn for the only real thing that will fulfill us. The only real thing worth pursuing.

"Teacher Stages Fake Gun Attack on Students"

Wow. Talk about the worst idea ever. You'd think that being a teacher would disqualify you from thinking this was a good idea. Apparently not...

Zig Ziglar!

I knew I had to go to a seminar for work tomorrow on time management and motivation and such... but I never would have guessed that it was featuring none other than Zig Ziglar! Not sure who Zig Ziglar is? It's this guy...

That's right. You so wish you were coming too.

There's also 6 other speakers or so. Including Bill Self. I should be quite a day. If I can find a link about the seminar I'll post it.

~Jim Halpert

Summer is around the corner...

and Er and I are turning over a new leaf. We're trying to figure as much cool FREE stuff to do with friends, together as a family, or as a date as we can. It should be fun - maybe a good way to get people in the church spending more time with each other outside Sunday morning. After 20 minutes of brainstorming here's what we got.

Fun Things We Like To Do For Free
1. Go on picnics
2. Go on a walk
3. Arts in the Park Music Series
4. Go swimming at City Pool (thanks for the pool passes Poulsons)
5. Take Elijah to the park
6. Go to the Riley County Museam
7. Go for a walk out at Konza
8. Go out to Pilsbury Crossing
9. Couple's game night
10. Grill out at city park
11. Pot Luck/Sand Volleball Night at City Park with Friends 12. Fly a kite (Thanks to Chris Barker for 12-14) 13. Go for a bike ride 14. Walk around campus We'd like some more good ideas and cool people to do them with if you're intrested...