Christians

Jenna Elfman: b. 1971, California State, USA. (aka: Jennifer Maria Butala Elfman). American television and film actress. She is married to the musician Bodhi Elfman. Raised in the Roman Catholic Church, she is now a member of the Church of Scientology.

Jeri Ryan: b. 1968, Munich, Germany. (aka: Jeri Lynn Zimmerman) American film and television actress. Roman Catholic Church.

Kate Mulgrew: b. 1955, Iowa State, USA. (aka: Katherine Kiernan Maria Mulgrew) American film and television actress. Roman Catholic Church.

Dakota Fanning: b. 1994, Georgia State, USA. (aka: Hannah Dakota Fanning) American film actress. Southern Baptist.

Elle Fanning: b. 1998, Georgia State, USA. (aka: Mary Elle Fanning) American film actress. Southern Baptist.

Complaints About Mandatory Evacuations

This should come as no surprise to you. There are many sarcastic and unreasonable people on the internet.  This was evidenced by the people who were sarcastically  complaining about the mandatory evacuations ordered in the United States by the governors of the Atlantic Coast states last week in the face of the arrival of Hurricane Matthew. The complaint was that “nothing happened!”

Actually Matthew caused massive damage in Haiti and the eastern coast of the United States. Over 800 persons were killed in Haiti, followed by five in the State of Florida and at least seventeen in the Carolinas. (Update: 12 October 2106. The United States death toll has risen to 27.) Matthew brought millions of dollars of damage in its path bringing major flooding and spinning off several tornados. People are reporting nails, screws, pieces of shredded metal, and large shards of glass all along Matthew’s path. The number of people left without electricity numbered close to two million in Florida and at lest four hundred and fifty thousand in the states North and South Carolina which suffered a direct hit instead of glancing blows along their coastlines. Only the fact that Matthew mainly stayed along the United States coastline kept the death toll as low as it was.

The mandatory evacuations ordered by the governors were proper and necessary. The governors were fulfilling one of the God- ordained functions of government: to protect the people. I say God-ordained because the Bible is quite clear that governments are in power only because God wills it and allows it. He is sovereign. Read Romans 13 and 14.

Do you think that you have no skills which can be used by God for His glory?

Do you think that you have no skills which can be used by God for His glory? He has given each of us skills and abilities.

http://www.alabamas13.com/story/25751305/cutters-for-christ-helping-bessemer-bounce-back-from-tornado

Mike Royer, the news anchorman who appears in this video, is an outspoken and committed Christian. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutters-4-Christ-Inc/245762302169254

The similarly named Cutters 4 Christ, Inc., is a for profit professional lawn and landscaping service in Marietta, Georgia (USA). Their Facebook page shows that they do excellent work.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Some of those listed may surprise you.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Bob Newhart: ((b. 1929, Illinois, USA; aka: George Robert Newhart) Stand-up comedian, television and film actor. Roman Catholic.

Virginia Quinn Newhart: Wife of Bob Newhart. Roman Catholic.

Chloe Grace Moretz: (b. 1997, Georgia, USA) Child film actress most known for her controversial roles in Kick-Ass (2010) and Carrie (2013).  She says that her family is “very Christian.”  I am not sure what she means by that and whether or not she, herself, is a Christian.. 

Reginald Howard White: (b. 1961, Tennessee, USA – d. 2004; aka: “the Minister of Defense”) College and professional football player and a member of the Hall of Fame at both levels. Ordained Baptist minister and evangelist.  His views on race and homosexuality became very controversial.  Late in his life, he learned Hebrew and studied under Nehemia Gordon, a Karaite Jew, who is based in Jerusalem.  White's profound interest in Torah led many to believe that he became a Jew, but he never renounced his Christian faith.

Daniel Meyer: (b. 1957) World’s only Christian sword swallower. Clown, juggler, stilt walker, fire eater, glass eater. 

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Some of those listed may surprise you.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Rene Joseph Letourneau: (b. 1929, Massachusetts, USA – d. 2013) Korean War veteran. Alabama Bowlers Hall of Fame. Roman Catholic.

John Brown: (b. 1763, Ireland – d. 1842) Presbyterian minister.  President of the University of Georgia (USA) from 18111-1816.

Johann Valentin Andreae: (b. 1586, Germany - d. 1654: aka: Johannes Valentinus Andeaea)  Author of Christianopolis (1619), a novel about a democratic utopian society governed by scholars and artisans.  He became interested in esoterics and the occult and was involved in the foundation of Rosicrucianism.

Zewditu I: (b. 1876, Ethiopia –d. 1930; aka: Askala Maryam; Queen of Kings) Daughter of Meneiik II of Ethiopia, Empress of Ethiopia 1916-1930.  She was known to be intensely devout. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo.

Angela Dorothea Kasner Merkel: (b. 1954, West Germany)  Chancellor of Germany 1994-1998.  Lutheran.

Written Georgian Was Created So That The Bible Could Be Read

Georgian is an ancient language spoken today by about 6 to 7 million people, with about 4 million of these in the country of Georgia.

There was no written form until 326 AD/CE, when the conversion of the Georgian aristocracy to Christianity led to a desire for a Georgian translation of the Bible. The written form of Georgian is similar in construction and function to Aramaic, the literary language of pagan Georgia.

The oldest surviving literary work in Georgian is the "Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik" (Georgian: წამებაჲ წმიდისა შუშანიკისი დედოფლისაჲ, Tsamebay tsmidisa Shushanikisi dedoplisay) by Iakob Tsurtaveli, from the 5th century AD.

Roll Tide! War Eagle!

I have spoken before about how football is almost a religion in Alabama.  People are born into Alabama or Auburn families and sons of players at one school almost invariably play at the same school.  Most approach this in a rational fashion and take good natured pokes at one another.  As with anything, a few become obsessive to absurd levels.

Today is the first game day of the 2012 season.  Auburn is playing the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta, Georgia and the currently second-ranked Alabama is visiting the Michigan Wolverines in Dallas, Texas. 

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Roll tide

War Eagle flight

The origin of Crimson Tide and Roll Tide:

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is where the Alabama team won their first four national titles (a total of fourteen.)  The national sports writers spoke of the team looking like a tide of red, a Crimson Tide, pouring onto the field.

The association with an elephant (the mascot: Big Al) began because the sports writers noticed a picture of a red elephant on the personal storage trunks the players brought with them.  The trunks were supplied to the team by a local Birmingham luggage company, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk, whose business logo is a red elephant.  The elephant logo refers to the strength of the trunks which they sell.

The origin of War Eagle:

The Auburn Tigers mascot is Aubie the Tiger.  The eagle, also, became associated with the team very early in Auburn history. In 1892, an eagle circled over the football field during a football game and the fans pointed into the air and yelled “War Eagle!”  

The True Meaning of Success

At the 2012 London Olympics in the men’s 1600 meter relay race, Manteo Mitchell ran the first 400 meters, slowly.  The internet erupted in criticism with angry Twitter tweets at his poor performance.  Here is what really happened.  As Mitchell started to run, he heard a loud pop and felt a sudden pain as his left fibula snapped.  He finished his portion of the relay race to make sure that the United States would qualify for the next round.  The event rivals the historical importance of what Kerri Strug did at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in her Gold Medal winning vault.

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

  

What Mitchell had to say: “I felt I upheld the Olympic standard to the highest degree.  It’s not finishing first or second, it’s doing your best.”  He explained that he felt that he had to “do what I was called in to do.”

Christians are called to be witnesses (the Greek word is  μάρτυρας "martyrs."), even if sometimes doing so is uncomfortable or even dangerous, even if no one seems to be listening. 

In his book, Share Jesus Without Fear, William Fay points out that, for Christians, "success is sharing your faith and living your life for Jesus Christ.  It has nothing whatsoever to do with bringing anyone to the Lord.  It has everything to do with obedience."  Obedience , not results, is success for a Christian.  Results come from the work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit indwells every believer.  "... we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, living in us ..."  

Constantine Was Not the First?

The conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 380 is considered to be one of the watershed moments in Western history.  It may surprise you to learn that Constantine was not the first Christian ruler, or the second, or even the third.  Those places of honor belong to King Tiridates of Armenia, who in 301 declared Christianity to be the country's state religion; the number two position belongs to King Mirian III of Georgia, who, in 319, declared his country to be Christian; followed by Queen Sofya of Ethiopia in 325, converted by her son's Christian tutor, Frumentius.  Sofya's sons Ezana and Se'azana both became Christians.  Ezana ruled as a Christian king.

Pray for the People of Alabama

Today is a beautiful sunny mild day.  Yesterday was sheer terror.

Yesterday there were at least 164 tornadoes in six southern states (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky) of the United States.  At least 280 people died, with 195 of those in Alabama.  They are still finding more and many are still missing.  Hundreds were injured.

Please pray for the people of Alabama.

The tornado which hit Tuscaloosa and Birmingham (it was the same mile-wide tornado) was probably an EF3 - EF5.  An EF3 tornado has wind speeds of 158-206 mph while an EF5 has speeds of 261-318 mph.  The EF ratings are part of the Fujita Scale devised by Tetsuya "Ted" Fujita (1920-1998) in 1971 at The University of Chicago.

The authorities are discouraging people from showing up to help because of the danger; you can not safely just begin to pull and tug on some of these buildings or they might collapse on you. The National Guard, police, and firemen are doing that work.  Local churches are helping in another way; preparing food for the hundreds of rescue workers.  This is a noble work by the churches.  Please pray for them, the rescue workers, the injured, and the families which have lost loved ones.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama

Cullman, Alabama

http://tweetbeat.com/events/16695-tornado-strikes-cullman-alabama?mqhom=car

30 Incredible Pictures of the Tuscaloosa Tornado

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/30-incredible-pictures-of-the-tuscaloosa-tornado?s=mobile

Stacked up cars

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150562248780293&set=a.10150162584525293.415108.261724115292&type=1&ref=nf

12 photos

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150172071421336&set=a.10150172070936336.296372.15704546335&type=1&ref=nf

Film Comment: Fireproof

A man who is willing to run into a burning building to save strangers is allowing his own marriage to go up in flames and burn to the ground.  He's an accomplished fire captain, respected by everyone, but his personal life is in total disarray.

Him: I work hard and do what is right. At home I just want to relax.  All she does is nag.  She doesn't respect me.  I look at internet pornography because she always says no.
Her: He doesn't care how I feel.   He doesn't understand my emotional needs.  He just married me for sex and cooking.

The man is challenged to try an experiment, to follow a daily plan based on biblical concepts.  To his surprise, and to the delight of his initially suspicious wife, their marriage is saved.  They learn how to make their marriage fireproof.

Fireproof  (2008) is an anomaly, an independent film produced by a local church in Albany, Georgia rather than a large Hollywood studio.  There are only two professional actors in the film; the rest of the cast, who are remarkably competent for non-professionals, are all members of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.

Two other films, Flywheel, and Facing the Giants, were also produced by the same group.  Of the three, Flywheel is my personal favorite.

Merry Christmas from the North Point iBand

These guys are using iPhones and iPads to make their music. They are members of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Hello, Georgia!

გამარჯობა, საქართველო. მოგესალმებით ჯგუფი მკითხველთა დან ორმოცდაექვსი სხვა ქვეყნებიდან, რომლებიც ასევე მოინახულებს ამ დღიურში. იმედი მაქვს თქვენთვის ზოგიერთი შეტყობინება სასარგებლო ან აზრიანი.

Dispute Resolution Within the Church

Eddie Lee Long (b. 1953, North Carolina) is the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia (USA).  Under his leadership since 1987, the church has grown from  a membership of 300 to 25,000.

Pastor Long has had civil (not criminal) lawsuits filed against him by several young men alleging that he used his influence as their pastor to seduce them into sexual relationships.  Whether or not the allegations are true, (and Pastor Long has not said "I didn't do it." but instead said "I am not that man,"); whether or not the men are colluding together to tap into Pastor Long's million$; none of this is proper.  Listen to what Paul had to say about taking a Christian brother to court before unbelievers.

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.   Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded?  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren.  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. “ 1 Corinthians 6: 1-11

Jesus himself told us how to go about the dispute resolution:

"If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."  Matthew 18:15-20

A Gravestone Inscription in Atlanta, Georgia

On a gravestone in Atlanta, Georgia: "Gone, but not forgiven."