Don't Blame the Culture
According to a survey of Christians, the number one threat to the family is the anti-Christian culture. This was the topic of the sermon last Sunday. After reading through the sermon outline, I was expecting a message that focused on how much better things used to be, and I felt confident this would be tied into the mid-term elections. I was pleasantly surprised as I heard an insightful and hopeful message. Interestingly the early Church found in Acts also lived in an anti-Christian culture. Likewise, the early Christians focused on God and benevolence, and their numbers increased (Acts 2:47). Because of the secular culture that surrounded the early church, their impact on the community was more noticeable (their light shined brighter). The same is true for us today. Instead of focusing on things that divide us and set us up for hypocrisy, we should focus on God and caring for the needs of others. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well." Many of us probably grew-up in a culture that seemed more Christian than our current surroundings. Likewise, our faith then may have been a cultural faith. In other words, it was easier to be a Christian, and we may not have been earnestly seeking Him (Hebrews 11:6). Today we are challenged to support our beliefs and this makes us stronger, more faithful, and hopefully more genuine. My main take away, is to challenge those that blame the current culture for all of our problems, and instead see the secular culture as an opportunity for our impact on the community to be magnified. Acts 2:47: Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Continue reading Comments (4) Nov.04.2006.
Largest District Paper Endorses Congressman Spratt
This morning The Herald, the largest newspaper in the SC 5th district, endorsed Democrat incumbent John Spratt. The endorsement was well written and pointed out many reasons why the re-election of John Spratt would benefit the people of South Carolina.
The Herald reflected on Spratt’s tenure as a moderate voice, his increased responsibility in the House of Representatives, and his thoughtful positions on immigration and global warming.
During the debates I was shocked by Ralph Norman’s comments on global warming. During a debate in Rock Hill, Norman said that global warming was imagined by "a lot of pointy-headed bureaucrats who just want a grant." I couldn’t disagree more. In fact, I believe that by addressing global warming we also fight global terror by reducing our need for foreign energy.
Continue reading Comments (0) Oct.29.2006.
My Ideal Landscaped Yard
This yard is very low maintenance which is the main reason I like it so much. I also like the wrought iron fence and entrance.
Continue reading Comments (0) Oct.28.2006.
Individui SMS Text Messaging for Real Estate
If you've ever browsed a neighborhood for a home, you know the frustration associated with trying to call the number on the for sale sign to obtain the specifics and the price. When you call you get the Real Estate office receptionist or you get voice mail. A start-up company based in Celebration, Florida has a "why didn't I think of that" solution. The company, Individui, will allow house hunters to use two-way SMS text messaging to address the problem.
It works like this. The real estate agent sets up their listing on the Individui site. They then advertise the listing and instructions on how to retrieve that information using SMS text messaging. These simple set of instructions will then be integrated into the for sale sign at the property. When the potential home buyer requests more information via the SMS text messaging protocol the information selected by the real estate agent is pulled directly from the multiple listing system (MLS). The real estate agent is then instantly notified of the home buyer's request.
Continue reading Comments (0) Oct.27.2006.