Eid Ul-Fitr Pictures

Here's some pictures of me and friends at a KSU event to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Just click on it and view the slideshow.

Eid Ul-Fitr Celebration

I might try to see if we can have a KSU sponsored educational event about Christmas because our community seems to have been flooded with many people who don't truly know the reason for the season.

On Authority

In our day and age there is a resistence to any kind of authority. I've thought about this a great deal before. Why is there that resistence? There are many reasons I'm sure but a new thought popped into my head the other day as I was leaving my humble abode on Green Ave. Here 'tis...
Why in the world would we reject the leadership of someone or some people that have been put in a position by others? Why do we know what's best? Do we really think that if we were to do it our way somehow it would be better than their way? What makes us so much better? We probably don't really think we're that much better decision-makers, we want control.
Moreover, we probably question the leaders' intentions towards us. Now why would we question others' intentions? Well, probably because we recognize that our own intentions are selfish most if not all of the time. So we project our own selfish intentions onto others. This is probably a safe projection because we all share in this humanness. So where does that leave us? We need to have a shared goal. If we have a shared goal then it is best for the whole community if we are each selfish. If my personal good is within the communal good then we're good to go.
How does this happen? My answer is that the common goal must be rooted in the glory of God or else we will fail as leaders and followers every time. I won't unpack that here but will stop for now.

my wife is beautiful

What a wonderful smile!

The Cracked Pot

There once lived a water carrier in India. He used two large pots for his task. He suspended a pole across his neck and attached a pot at each end of the pole. One of the pots had a big crack in it while the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water from the stream to the master's house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full each day.
For two years this water carrier made the same journey. The perfect pot became proud of its accomplishments. The cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. Finally, one day by the stream, the cracked pot spoke to his owner about his bitter failure, "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize that I have only been able to deliver half my water to your house. There is a crack in my side which causes water to leak out. Because of my flaws, you don't get full value from your efforts."
Then the water carrier replied, smiling, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
On that trip from the stream, the cracked pot looked around.
"Did you notice there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" the master commented. "That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we passed these spots, you watered them. Now for two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace his house."

the supremacy of Christ in a postmodern world

By supremacy of Christ I mean the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. By postmodern I'm not exactly sure what I mean if you know what I'm saying. Us country folk here in the Midwest tend to be behind times for some reason. So I want to help some young thinkers out there grapple with some present issues. Maris and I are going to a conference at the end of September that addresses the issue of postmodernism. Check out some of the videos for this conference here.

Unfortunately you can't attend the conference because it's SOLD OUT!

Let me know your thoughts...

it is not the critic who counts

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
check out Teddy's mugshot here: http://www.jimpoz.com/quotes/images/speakers/tr.jpg

I've been thinking about this quote recently because I can be a critic at times. I'm trying to discern the difference between godly discernment and ungodly criticism. I ask You, Oh God, for wisdom because I lack...

Four!!!

"Four" is the expression used when golfers tee off, or maybe it's "fore," I'm not sure. At least that's what I remember from when I was younger. At any rate, I recently went to the driving range with my good friend at Colbert Hills. You can read all about our experience on his blog (http://praveenramanan.blogspot.com//). Praveen and I, the inexperienced guys, met up with Ben and Tom, the golf pros (perhaps I should just include Tom in that category). Our trip took me back to the one time in my life that I've attempted to golf an entire 18 holes, maybe it was just nine, I don't remember. Frustration overtook me by the final few holes. I found myself trying to smash the ball into the nearby apartment complex. For 45 minutes I was out for the demolition of an entire building. Needless to say, I never connected with the ball in those 45 minutes. (We all know you can't golf mad.) What a snapshot of an angry, immature person. If I hadn't grown up (at least a bit) I wouldn't share that experience with you. Perhaps now I am in a place where I can humble myself and enjoy a trip to the local golf course and play a round of golf (at least 3 holes). The County Club is next on our list. If you'd like to join us let me know...

spider

This guy is about 5 in. in diameter. I met him at Troy's house. With a little photograph manipulation he looks pretty cool. I know it's crazy but I am intrigued by the intricacy of these creatures. God put so much care and attention to detail in this guy. How much more did he craft us in an amazing way. Later...

Ivan Speaks about Grandpa

My Grandpa passed away July 30th, 2006. Here are some remarks about his life from his younger brother, Ivan.

My Grandpa feared not death for he knew the love of his Creator. As we gathered around his hospital bed in his last hours of life, singing hymns, tears came to my eyes as I thought of my friends who don't know their Creator. My life is about helping people know their Creator.

My Grandpa died peacefully, excited to be at rest in Jesus. He finished well. That's how I want to finish...but not until my work on this earth is finished. Lord, have mercy.

Daiki fights Rob

This is Daiki's last evening in the U.S. He got to spend it fighting an Ultimate Fighter, Rob Kimmons (a.k.a. the Rosedale Reaper). Rob is actually a good friend of mine from high school. He recently rededicated his life to Jesus Christ and is trying to share the love of Christ in the Ultimate Fighting circles. Currently he's ranked 13th in the world in his weight class. I hope you enjoy this little fight...