Sunday, December 17, 2006

Isn't There A Line?

Santa Claus, kneeling, his eyes fixed upon the baby Jesus.

The head of Santa Claus, on a pole.

A Helicopter, propeller moving, carrying Santa Claus.

Two snowpeople who appear to be ... attempting to create a third through natural methods.

A giant snowman, standing in a balcony, hands stretched out like the Pope giving an imporant address to the people.

What do these things have in common?


... I'll give you a moment to ponder your answer



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got a guess?


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If you guessed "Things scene in Northwest Ohio in people's front yards" you win!!!!

"Elf Puke" has simply gone too far. And has stopped making sense. I love houses who compiment their beauty with simple white lights on their porch, or even running across their house. I love a nice display in a front yard that is well done. I really enjoy driving down the street and seeing a wonderful and festive display.

What I don't get are people who feel the need to cram a decoration on every square inch of their property. People who mix and match with no need or desire for a theme. People who spends what i have to estimate at thousands of dollars in lighting bills (not to mention the cost of the decorations themselves).

Isn't there a line? Isn't there a point where common sense should kick in?

How I hope that I never join these people in elf puking my house. I've decided to enact a "Betts Law" (think man law, only ... just me and Rachel). Any external decorations we buy and put up, we have to give matching time and money to a charity.

I hope that will keep us from losing our senses and going overboard on the decorations.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Need This, We Do Not

Left Behind: Eternal Forces

That's right. A video game about the prohetical-fictional end times.

And not just any video game. A video game where you kill non-believers who refuse to convert to Christianity.

Because I know how I'd react if someone told me I had to covert to Christianity or die.

Wow. I'm pretty speechless when it comes to this game. here is a nice article about the game, highlighting some thoughts, and giving viewpoints from some people way out there.

I'm just left with one question ...

Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?

Thursday, December 14, 2006

My Hope

So, as I mentioned previously, we went to see "The Nativity Story" last week. While there were a few things that went counter to what is in the Bible, there was nothing that was major among those, and I think they did a really good job painting the story, and the few things they took artistic liscense with were good things to do so with.

The major theme of the movie, to me, seemed to be the desperation among the Jews for their Messiah. The despair among the people, the opression of the Romans, the cruel living conditions ... all made them cry out and call out for their King to come and save them.

I've been reflecting on that. How desperate have I been for my King? How many times have I honestly said "You are my hope" or "nobody but you can rescue me?"

A couple, for certain, but not often enough, I think.

Anyways, it brings to mind another Skillet song ...

Times are hard, times have changed, don’tcha say?
But I keep holding onto you
It’s hard to keep the faith alive day to day
Leanin’ on the strength I’ve found in you
You’re the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You’re everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope
You are my hope

Far beyond what I can see or comprehend
Etching your eternity in me
Nations dream and angels sing “Jesus reigns”
And every knee bows down
You’re the hope of all the earth

You are my hope
You are my strength
You’re everything, everything I need
You are my hope
You are my life
You are my hope
You are my hope

Carry on and I sing of how
You love and I love you now
All the times that I start to sink
You come and you rescue me
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope
You are my hope


And my prayer is now that my hope truly be on the shoulders of my King. That I yearn to see him rescue me from every pit of despair I find myself in, regardless of the circumstances that bring me into that pit.

Friday, December 08, 2006

We have good friends

So, yesterday, I'm at home working on a few things (chief among them, I believe, was Kansas clinching the Big 12 North title on my current season of NCAA Football 2005 for the Nintendo Gamecube with a thrilling come-from-behind 36-35 victory over rival and then-#5 Missouri), and Rachel calls to talk to me about Small Group. Our Small Group meets on Thursday evenings, but a few of our members had other obligations last night, and it was supposed to be myself and my wife, Terry and his wife, and Karen.

Karen had a scheduling mishap, which was what Rachel was calling to tell me. So that left us with a choice, to either cancel group for the evening, or just have a really small group with just the two couples. I thought it would be good to see Terry and Caddie, but we ultimately left it up to them.

A call came while Rachel was still at job #3, and Caddie asked that we refrain from eating supper until Small Group, so we could have a meal together. So that was fine, as we usually don't have time to eat until after Small Group anyways. What happened next completely blew me away.

The door bell rang at about 6:15, and Terry stood on our door with a box, and asked the simply question "do you have room in your fridge for a ham?" I could only mutter a simple yes, as astonishment took over my mind at the love being shown to us in this simple and small way. This was followed by a trip around the back roads of Findlay to Tony's Restuarant, a local place, where Terry and Caddie treated Rachel and I to dinner (mmm ... steak sub was excellent, and Rachel tells me the chicken pot pie soup was, too).

As dinner was wrapping up, they asked if we had any plans. Rachel's big plan was to catch up on some of the ironing, and my big plan was to watch the Browns-Stillers game. Terry mentioned that if those weren't too pressing, they'd enjoy treating us to a viewing of "The Nativity Story" at the theatre. Blown away again by generosity and love, Rachel and I accepted, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the movie.

We have such great friends. And such a great God who has put us in position to live life with them. I literally was crying today as I was driving and reflecting on the agape shown to us last night. Love given without any expectation of a return. Thank you Terry, thank you Caddie, and thank you God.



Oh, and for those of you who have been praying about this, I have an announcement to make ...

I Have A Job!!!