Archive for December, 2007

No more Fantasy Football.

Published
by
Chris
on December 25, 2007
in Sports
. 1 Comment

My season is over. Last night as I sat at Travis’ house watching Monday Night Football, I realized that I would not be returning to the Super Bowl. In 4 seasons of my fantasy keeper league I have made the playoffs all four. Twice I have made the Super Bowl and expected to again this season, but it just wasn’t to be. I went into the night trailing by 39 points. My opponent the Orange Crush was finished. I however, had my secret weapon left to play, as well as a wide receiver. Ladanian Tomlinson and Chris Chambers both play for the Chargers. The Chargers were going up against the absolutely horrible Denver Broncos. This should be a field day for L.T. and the Chargers. I should get the forty points I need and be on my way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately things didn’t work out that way.

You see, the Broncos sucked so bad that they never made a game of it. LT had 107 yards rushing and a TD early in the third quarter. Chris Chambers also had a TD. I only needed 1 point to make the Super Bowl. Then the Chargers coach pulled both my players from the game. Since the Broncos sucked so badly, he decided 23 points was all that they needed. They didn’t get another first down the rest of the game. They didn’t need to. The Broncos even got down to the 1 yard line. An opportunity to stick it in and make a game out of it. This team sucked so bad that they couldn’t pick up one yard on 3 straight attempts. They turned the ball over, and never even got close to the end zone for the rest of the game. This Broncos have got to be the worst team in the NFL. Yes, even worse than the Dolphins. At least the Dolphins make a game of it. Usually.

So, this season is over. It could have been great, but it wasn’t. If McGahee didn’t break his ribs, and had scored me more than two points. If I had only started Nate Burleson, instead of Calvin Johnson. If Larry Johnson hadn’t missed half the season. It could have been so much better. But, it wasn’t. So now I must get over my horrible defeat, and look forward to next year. A whole 9 months til I get to draft new players, and try again. My favorite worthless activity. The only thing I do just for fun. Nine months.

So, Orange Crush and Red Devils, which ever one of you win. Enjoy it, because next year, Mass Destruction will be back. And there will be nothing left of the competition. I promise you that.

What are we anyway?

Published
by
Chris
on December 23, 2007
in KJV Issues and Religion
. 0 Comments

My family is in a time of transition. We really don’t know what we should call ourselves. We have long been associated with a movement. The Independent Fundamental Baptist movement. That really doesn’t say a lot about us, because there are so many unique “camps” that call them selves such. Most all of them in our area are associated with King James Onlyism.

There are numerous other “convictions” which the various independent churches hold to. These “convictions” vary from one extreme to the other among these churches. Many times when one church holds a “conviction” that another church does not, the church holding the “conviction” will feel it necessary to separate from the other church declaring it as “worldly.”

Examples of these “convictions” are things like: women wearing pants; Christians attending movie theaters; listening to Contemporary Christian Music; listening to Bluegrass; listening to Southern Gospel; owning a television; owning a computer; and many other such things.

The reason I put the word conviction in quotes was because I do not see them as true convictions. If they are convictions, I do not believe they are from either the Scripture or the Holy Spirit. Thus, in my opinion, they are just preferences.

But if they are preferences, why would they be reason for one group to separate from another? What do I mean by separate? I mean, not cooperate; not support evangelistic meetings; not support missionaries supported by another; and such. So why is this? I could give you their reasoning, but it doesn’t even make sense to me, and I was one of them for years.

There are also legitimate doctrinal issues which the different “camps” split over. These are things such as the interpretation of the word “repentance;” the doctrine of “Lordship Salvation;” the differing views of eschatology; the views on creation; views of soteriology; the meaning of “husband of one wife;” and a host of other things which one might think to be better left to the individual believer.

Anyway, we lived by many of the “convictions” of our camp because that is what was expected. In order to be a “good Christian” you had to do this, this, and that. No problem. It wasn’t that big of a deal, and in many cases it was also my preference. Then one day all that changed. We went public with our belief on the KJV. Once we did, we were no longer welcome in any of those camps. That was the one thing that most all of them had in common. The KJV was God’s Word for English speaking people, and people who support modern versions aren’t welcome. So, we no longer held to that position. We left our church. Still believing the same on all the fundamental doctrines, we had to decide what we would now be.

What are we? That is something I am still trying to figure out. I know that I am Baptist. I believe in local church government. I believe in a pastor(s), deacons, and voting congregation. I believe in Baptism by immersion of Believers. I believe in the observance of the Lord’s Supper by believers. But there are so many different types of Baptist. Who do we belong to?

Since the only thing that really drove me out was the KJV issue, maybe I should just find an exact replica that doesn’t teach Onlyism. That’s not the easiest thing to do where we’re from. Besides, why not find one that is more like us in other ways? A church that doesn’t have personal “convictions” which aren’t found in the Bible. (At least ones which we don’t find there.)

Finding that church will be impossible. All churches have standards, and believe their standards are based on a proper interpretation of the Scriptures. All I am asking for here is honesty. If the Bible is not specific in this area, don’t be so dogmatic. Just call it a standard, and give the individual believer the liberty which he or she has in Christ. There is no need to break fellowship. And please, get out of this second and third degree separation crap. It reeks of Pharisaism.

So what am I?

Here is what I believe.

  1. I believe in the inspiration and total innerancy of the Scriptures.
  2. I believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
  3. I believe God literally created the universe and man, without any mix of evolution.
  4. I believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on a cross, placed in tomb (fully dead), and raised again on the third day.
  5. I believe that all humankind is born in sin, guilty before God, and can do nothing of themselves to improve their state.
  6. I believe that salvation is by the grace of God, with no mix of anything.
  7. I believe in a literal burning Hell for all people who die without being born again, and a literal heaven for all those who pass on from this life and have been born again.
  8. I believe Jesus is literally coming again and will set up His kingdom on earth.

What do these beliefs make me?

A Bible Believing Fundamentalist

These above beliefs are what I consider fundamental to the Christian faith. I believe that anyone who holds to these core doctrines and has been born-again can be called brother or sister in Christ. I believe these are the core doctrines required for fellowship and cooperation in evangelistic efforts.

But for joining a church I need to be a little bit more specific. The following are areas which I do not believe disqualify an individual from fellowship, but are based on my personal interpretation of scripture, and that the church I join must hold to.

  1. I do not agree with the charismatic movement
  2. I do not believe in modern day speaking in tongues
  3. I do believe in eternal security of believers
  4. I do not believe in a Limited Atonement
  5. I do believe in man’s ability to accept or reject the Gospel
  6. I believe in a Dispensational interpretation of Scripture
  7. I believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church
  8. I believe in a literal 1000 year earthly reign of Christ
  9. I do believe in the Baptist Distinctives as I stated above
  10. I do not believe that women are to hold the position of pastor or deacon
  11. I do believe that believers should be separate from the world
  12. I do believe that believers should be relevant in the world
  13. I believe in the Great Commission

So what does this list make me?

A Bible Believing Baptist Fundamentalist

So why am I so confused?

Hi everyone that just clicked here from Rachel’s blog

Published
by
Chris
on December 21, 2007
in Other
. 0 Comments

Yes, Rachel did pressure me into starting this blog. I don’t expect anyone to actually read it but whatever. I don’t intend to offend anyone. Well, not most of you anyway. I just plan to give a little bit of insight into our life, and what is going on with me. I realize that I write in my own unique way, and sometimes I will be misunderstood. I apologize myself for anything you might read.

Anyway, hope you enjoy. God bless.

Morning Thought

Published
by
Chris
on December 20, 2007
in Devotional
. 0 Comments

Recently I watched the movie Amazing Grace. The title of the movie is of course in reference to the great hymn that John Newton wrote. In the movie the character who played John Newton makes the following statement:

“Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I’m a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.”

It has been weeks since I watched the movie, but the thought just keeps coming back to me. He is indeed a great Savior. I just don’t think we realize how great of a Savior He is some time. Even as a born again child of God, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and ordained by God to live holy and do good, we are failures. We have already been washed of our sin, and yet we still sin. Why does He give us a second chance? Because He is a great Savior. He saved us so great, we can’t help but be saved. He saved us eternally. Eternally is forever. Forever never ends. He saved us of all future sin, as well as the sin we had already committed. He didn’t say that He will eventually save us forever, He said He would save us forever.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hallelujah to God. I know that some people argue this. They think that they have to keep living right to be saved, but Paul said something about Him remaining faithful, even when we aren’t. It isn’t my faith that keeps me saved, it is His. That is why He is a great Savior. Why save you, to throw you back? What kind of Savior would He be? No, this Savior was God enough to save me, and keep me that way. And the writer of Hebrews said, “how shall we escape if we neglect, so great a salvation.” Salvation so great that we must serve him. We must honor him. We don’t serve Him to stay saved, we serve Him because we are saved. Good gracious.

God is good. He is indeed, a “Great Savior”. All day long, He is a “Great Savior” and I as a “great sinner” should live for that “Great Savior.” I love Jesus. That is one thing, I hope I never forget, but even if I could, He will never forget me.

Fantasy Football

Published
by
Chris
on December 20, 2007
in Sports
. 0 Comments

I love Fantasy Football. It has been my only “hobby” for the past few years. There are tons of things I love to do, but I just haven’t had time. But every year I play Fantasy Football.

For those of you that don’ t know what Fantasy Football is, well, it is just fun.  If you like football at least. The concept is to draft a team of players from the pool of actual NFL players. Then when the season starts, you compete against the other teams in your league. The points that the players on your team score are determined by the amount of points that they score in real life. For instance, if I have Peyton Manning on my team, and he throws 4 touchdowns in week 1 against the Titans, then I get 24 points for the 4 touchdowns he threw. Exciting huh?

Well, not to everybody. You have to love football.

Anyway, I am in a keeper league which I started 4 years ago.  In a keeper league you are allowed to sign contracts, and keep a certain amount of players just like a real team.  Well, in my keeper league I have now made the playoffs for the 4th straight year.  I have already won the Super Bowl once, and was runner up a second time.  So this year, I am attempting to win my second Super Bowl Championship in 3 years. I am attempting to build a Dynasty.  You gotta love it.

So, to all you losers in my league, be good and I might let you touch the trophy.

Hah! I love it.