Sermons back on line

After a series of problems that came about because of changing my firewall software, the sermon hosting should be up and running again. Sermons from Bethel Exeter

What Can They Change With Photoshop

One of the things that is often forgotten today is the amazing power that advertisers have to change the images they use. There has always been the use of airbrushes in the past, but now with photoshop the power to change an image has gone far beyond what was possible before. Check out this video of how much images can be changed.

A Crazy World

I was reading the latest e-mail from Slashdot.com and they had a link to a CNN story reporting on how a school has banned the game tag at recess. Once again the paranoia over lawsuits, and the strange idea that children should never be involved in anything rough and tumble have prevailed. I always enjoyed tag as a child, but I guess while the schools out there are promulgating a secular, postmodern, godless world-view, we can at least be sure that no child will ever run into another child and cause them to fall down or skin their knees/elbows/hands or anything else for that matter.

Next Great Awakening

On the Ref21 blog Philip Ryken posted a very thought provoking quote by David Gelernter about where the next great awakening may start. Check it out

Videos

If you have been having trouble viewing the videos that I have posted, there is a good reason. Apparently there is currently a problem with Livejournal and a few different video hosting sites including photobucket. Since I use photobucket, the videos will not be visible until this problem is corrected. Simply know that they are looking into it.

Radical Right Wing? So the federal Liberal claim.

Apparently Christians who are part of organizations like Focus on the Family, are now considered to be part of "Radical Right Wing Groups" according to the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. The article talking about this can be found here. I have to say that if these jokers get back in power it will be a difficult time for Christians in this country. I encourage all Christians here in Canada to write letters to your MP concerning this, and to spread this around so that people are aware of the views of the Liberal Party of Canada.

More on Brakes

Well, I seem to be having a problem that I can't nail down. I did the front brakes, replaced both calipers, pads and rotors. Took it out for a test drive and all seemed well except the rear brakes were making horrible noises. I did the rear brakes replacing both drums, shoes and springs. Now when I brake, I get a repeating thumping noise that slows down as the vehicle slows down. I'm not sure what the cause is. At first, since I didn't notice it when I had done the front brakes, I figured it was the rear brakes not being quite adjusted even though it felt and sounded like the noise was coming from the front drivers side. Checked the rear brakes again to make sure everything was the way it should be. Took it out for a drive still heard and felt the thumping. Decided to do the drive by test with my wife to see where the noise was coming from. She heard it from the front drivers side. So, I pulled that side apart, but everything looks good. It could be a defective rotor, so I may just get it replaced, but then again, it could be a defective caliper, or something I else I am overlooking. If anyone who is experienced with brakes reads this, suggestions are always appreciated.

Sermon Series on James

I have been regularly adding streaming mp3s of the sermon series we are going through at Bethel. The last two sermons are: It Isn't Nothing, It Is War -- James 4:1-10 (Part 1) and He Gives More Grace -- James 4:1-10 (Part 2) The whole series can be found here.

Will The Youth Stay?

Here is an interesting article discussing a current concern in evangelical circles that only 4% of the teens will remain in the church when they grow up. I'm not sure how true the numbers are, but I debate some of the approaches I have seen that are attempting to keep the youth. If we think that we can do so by putting on a better 'show' than the world or by providing things like rock climbing walls, I think that it is doomed to fail because the world will always do that better. Those may be tools to get them in a place where you can teach them, but too often the teachings I have seen in those settings are mere moralism, not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Too often the attempt is to inculcate Christian 'values' without realizing that the problem is one of world-view. I am still thinking of this, and having few teens in our congregation due to a church split that happened long before I arrived on scene, I am far from an expert, but, I do that the word of God seriously when it teaches that faith comes from hearing the word of God preached. That faith bring a change in world-view so one is no longer modern or post-modern or whatever else, but Christian in their world-view. I am rambling, and the brakes of our car are calling. I will have to re-read this and think more to clarify things.

Brake Jobs

I am quite pleased with myself. I did the front brakes on my wife's Mazda Protege. I always thought that brakes were something really difficult to fix. But, compared to putting a computer together, it is no more difficult. In fact, it actually easier. There are only two springs, two pins, two bolts, two pads and one rotor. Now the front brakes work wonderfully, but the rear not so much. Now that the front brakes are quiet you can hear the rear drum brakes making lots of noise. I pulled them apart, and found that they are disparately in need of repair, so that is the next thing on my list. My hopes are, that although they are more complicated, they will be as quick to do as the front brakes. I have the parts on order, and they should be in tomorrow. I have the car jacked up and the drums off, so I am ready to go tomorrow.