Chuck is on a rant again

Check out this article on Costco. I aint no ciphering wiz, but his guys gonna make more in the long run while making a difference in a lot of people's lives.

I have a different world view than most. I don't see the difference between a world leader and a small child living in abject poverty. We are all on the same level. The link to this article will make one think.

I think we have it too good, and forget that we are in the minority when it comes to the rest of the world's population. Being poor in the western world is not like being poor anywhere else. I grew up poor in this country and I do not remember going without food. We had times where we ate the same thing for weeks on end, but we did not starve.

PAPA (people against poverty and apathy) fest is coming up in June. I will make a link so anyone who is interested can check on the progress of the event. I dare you to look at this site and others like it. (like the Jesus Radicals link to the right)

In a recent conversation, I was confronted with my views on our current administration. I was made to feel that I was less Christian(not intentionally) than those who support the Right. My reply to this is pretty to the point, God is not for one political ideology, God is for God.
We end up ralling around a cause, or group and end up forgetting about God. At the end of the day, we have blown a lot wind, but done nothing to make to better(me included). The whole post modern, emergent or whatever stinking name it wants to use, has made a living out of this soap box posturing. So has the religious right.

It comes down to getting into the trenches. Doing the dirty work and, look out, getting dirty.

Now that I am done posing on my soap box, I will step down, kneel and ask for forgivness for my apathy, and pray for the strenght to actually do something..

chuck

Chuck is on a rant again

Check out this article on Costco. I aint no ciphering wiz, but his guys gonna make more in the long run while making a difference in a lot of people's lives.

I have a different world view than most. I don't see the difference between a world leader and a small child living in abject poverty. We are all on the same level. The link to this article will make one think.

I think we have it too good, and forget that we are in the minority when it comes to the rest of the world's population. Being poor in the western world is not like being poor anywhere else. I grew up poor in this country and I do not remember going without food. We had times where we ate the same thing for weeks on end, but we did not starve.

PAPA (people against poverty and apathy) fest is coming up in June. I will make a link so anyone who is interested can check on the progress of the event. I dare you to look at this site and others like it. (like the Jesus Radicals link to the right)

In a recent conversation, I was confronted with my views on our current administration. I was made to feel that I was less Christian(not intentionally) than those who support the Right. My reply to this is pretty to the point, God is not for one political ideology, God is for God.
We end up ralling around a cause, or group and end up forgetting about God. At the end of the day, we have blown a lot wind, but done nothing to make to better(me included). The whole post modern, emergent or whatever stinking name it wants to use, has made a living out of this soap box posturing. So has the religious right.

It comes down to getting into the trenches. Doing the dirty work and, look out, getting dirty.

Now that I am done posing on my soap box, I will step down, kneel and ask for forgivness for my apathy, and pray for the strenght to actually do something..

chuck

America is addicted to oil.....Ya think?!

In other news..

Chuck Scott bought tires at Walmart. He is looking for the nearest priest so he can confess this sin.

He is also addicted to oil..

So it goes.

I saw quite a few people from IHOP at Walmart. Now, imagine this, what if we were to see more people from Walmart at IHOP? That would be standing room fo' sure......

chuck

America is addicted to oil.....Ya think?!

In other news..

Chuck Scott bought tires at Walmart. He is looking for the nearest priest so he can confess this sin.

He is also addicted to oil..

So it goes.

I saw quite a few people from IHOP at Walmart. Now, imagine this, what if we were to see more people from Walmart at IHOP? That would be standing room fo' sure......

chuck

I wil post this and stop with my political ideology.....for now...

Chuck

I wil post this and stop with my political ideology.....for now...

Chuck

John O'Keefe, at ginkword has some pretty good comments and thoughts about the 'emerging church'. I must warn you that it has some possibly offensive language. My personal opinion is that we tend to look out side for answers, when all we need to do is look inward, toward Jesus. I challenge you to come up with your own opinion.

Randy has a pretty interesting post that mentions my favorite Christian icon, Pat Robertson. Pat has made some comments that have offended some. Not all of Pat's comments offend me. It is when he back peddles on his position that does. It reminds me that he is a politician at heart.As I usually do after Pat eats his penny loafers, I checked his web site for retractions. It looks as if Pat is going to stick to his guns for now. You go Pat...

I am going to the prayer room an hour late today. The ice on my truck is making it look like a glazed doughnut.


Have I ever mentioned how crazy the weather is here in Kansas City? Yesterday it was fridgid and snowing/ freezing rain. Today it will be 50 to 55 degrees. How do you plan for that?

I'm going to thaw my truck.

Chuck

John O'Keefe, at ginkword has some pretty good comments and thoughts about the 'emerging church'. I must warn you that it has some possibly offensive language. My personal opinion is that we tend to look out side for answers, when all we need to do is look inward, toward Jesus. I challenge you to come up with your own opinion.

Randy has a pretty interesting post that mentions my favorite Christian icon, Pat Robertson. Pat has made some comments that have offended some. Not all of Pat's comments offend me. It is when he back peddles on his position that does. It reminds me that he is a politician at heart.As I usually do after Pat eats his penny loafers, I checked his web site for retractions. It looks as if Pat is going to stick to his guns for now. You go Pat...

I am going to the prayer room an hour late today. The ice on my truck is making it look like a glazed doughnut.


Have I ever mentioned how crazy the weather is here in Kansas City? Yesterday it was fridgid and snowing/ freezing rain. Today it will be 50 to 55 degrees. How do you plan for that?

I'm going to thaw my truck.

Chuck

Stanley"Tookie" Willams lost his chance at life today. He will die by lethal injection in California a few hours after this post.

I do not claim to know if he is guilty or inocent. I do not care. What I care about is that we are murdering a person for allegedly murdering. We, in our infinite wisdom, seem to miss the fact that execution is murder! Killing for killing is murder!

Chastity and I had a talk with Myah, our 9 year old daughter, the other day about murder and war and the supposed justification of soldiers killing. To a 9 year old, it is confusing to hear about soldiers killing in the name of our freedom and safety, that is not being threatend, and then to hear about the execution of a prisoner, then to hear about the numerous murders commited each day in Kansas City.
"Isn't it murder?" she asks in reference to the news reports.
"Yes, it is."
"Isn't it muder, what that guy did in California?"
"Supposedly." I reply
"Isn't it murder when the army kills people in war?"
"No. They have uniforms on and therfore are justified."
She looks at me, puzzled, and says, "Huh?"
"I'm kidding honey. It is all murder."

I will probably get a lot of flack for this post. So be it. I would rather be a lone voice in the wilderness, than part of a larger voice saying the wrong thing.

James 2:8-13 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.(NKJV)

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

Stanley"Tookie" Willams lost his chance at life today. He will die by lethal injection in California a few hours after this post.

I do not claim to know if he is guilty or inocent. I do not care. What I care about is that we are murdering a person for allegedly murdering. We, in our infinite wisdom, seem to miss the fact that execution is murder! Killing for killing is murder!

Chastity and I had a talk with Myah, our 9 year old daughter, the other day about murder and war and the supposed justification of soldiers killing. To a 9 year old, it is confusing to hear about soldiers killing in the name of our freedom and safety, that is not being threatend, and then to hear about the execution of a prisoner, then to hear about the numerous murders commited each day in Kansas City.
"Isn't it murder?" she asks in reference to the news reports.
"Yes, it is."
"Isn't it muder, what that guy did in California?"
"Supposedly." I reply
"Isn't it murder when the army kills people in war?"
"No. They have uniforms on and therfore are justified."
She looks at me, puzzled, and says, "Huh?"
"I'm kidding honey. It is all murder."

I will probably get a lot of flack for this post. So be it. I would rather be a lone voice in the wilderness, than part of a larger voice saying the wrong thing.

James 2:8-13 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.(NKJV)

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

I turned 40 the other day. Everyone has asked how I took it. Well, I ponyed up( i promise to never use that again), and managed to live through it. I actually didn't give it much thought until I went to bed. As I lay there thanking God, I realized how much I really have to be thankful for. Folks, I should have been dead many times over. I know that it sounds kinda cliche to say that, but I REALLY mean that. God has been most gracious to me. I am going to try and share some of the more amazing stories soon. God is too cool..Words will always fail to express how great God is, so I use the word cool. sort of like, 'God is good, ......All the time'........Oh how many times I have used that while preaching.

So I am 40. My beloved Chastity tells me I am getting crow's feet. I checked out my feet, and agree that they are ugly and sort of resemble my father's feet. As I was looking at them she asked what I was doing , so I told her. She handed me a mirror and pointed to the outside corners of my eyes and said, "Crows feet."
"Oh.."
Wisdom does not necessarily come with age. Neither does intelligence.. I am trying though.

I was listening to U2's 40. Did you know that it was taken from the Bible?!!! Ok, I did know that. I was trying to be funny.
Humor does not come with age, although , I have seen some funny old men.. I hope to be one. I think that I will resemble that old man on Benny Hill who always got patted on the head and Gollum. I will wear more clothing than Gollum..

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

I turned 40 the other day. Everyone has asked how I took it. Well, I ponyed up( i promise to never use that again), and managed to live through it. I actually didn't give it much thought until I went to bed. As I lay there thanking God, I realized how much I really have to be thankful for. Folks, I should have been dead many times over. I know that it sounds kinda cliche to say that, but I REALLY mean that. God has been most gracious to me. I am going to try and share some of the more amazing stories soon. God is too cool..Words will always fail to express how great God is, so I use the word cool. sort of like, 'God is good, ......All the time'........Oh how many times I have used that while preaching.

So I am 40. My beloved Chastity tells me I am getting crow's feet. I checked out my feet, and agree that they are ugly and sort of resemble my father's feet. As I was looking at them she asked what I was doing , so I told her. She handed me a mirror and pointed to the outside corners of my eyes and said, "Crows feet."
"Oh.."
Wisdom does not necessarily come with age. Neither does intelligence.. I am trying though.

I was listening to U2's 40. Did you know that it was taken from the Bible?!!! Ok, I did know that. I was trying to be funny.
Humor does not come with age, although , I have seen some funny old men.. I hope to be one. I think that I will resemble that old man on Benny Hill who always got patted on the head and Gollum. I will wear more clothing than Gollum..

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

Today, my 5 year old, Josiah, informed me that grace is a lot like bologna. Being the father in the shadow of such a brilliant little child, and because curiosity kills me every time, I asked, 'How's that Jojo?'.
' Because after you eat it you get a second chance.'

This kid is my retirement plan...

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

Today, my 5 year old, Josiah, informed me that grace is a lot like bologna. Being the father in the shadow of such a brilliant little child, and because curiosity kills me every time, I asked, 'How's that Jojo?'.
' Because after you eat it you get a second chance.'

This kid is my retirement plan...

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

It's Buy Nothing Day...........

Buy Nothing Today...


Little do you know, but I have encripted this post with subliminal anti-advertising. You will not buy, you will not buy, you will not buy..

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

It's Buy Nothing Day...........

Buy Nothing Today...


Little do you know, but I have encripted this post with subliminal anti-advertising. You will not buy, you will not buy, you will not buy..

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

My oldest, Elijah, got his first mohawk today. Handsome little booger. The other 2 pictures are from 1994, the year that Elijah was born. It was then that I became an adult. I didn't realize it until a few months ago. That little baby is Elijah. As you can see, we havn't forgotten to feed him.

I will post a picture of Chastity, Elijah and me from around the same time. Chastity and I had orange hair a la The Flaming Lips.

Sing it with me, Ta a a angerine.

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

My oldest, Elijah, got his first mohawk today. Handsome little booger. The other 2 pictures are from 1994, the year that Elijah was born. It was then that I became an adult. I didn't realize it until a few months ago. That little baby is Elijah. As you can see, we havn't forgotten to feed him.

I will post a picture of Chastity, Elijah and me from around the same time. Chastity and I had orange hair a la The Flaming Lips.

Sing it with me, Ta a a angerine.

Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

I took this picture some time ago. It is from the capstone on the old sign at our church in Illinois. It has since become dust. The capstone, not God. Contrary to popular belief, He is alive. I am tickled pink...





Peace and God Bless,
Chuck

We moved to California when I was eight. My mom said it was to be closer to my dad who had moved there with his new family. I wanted to think she missed my dad, and was going there to get him back. Before that we were living in Des Moines Iowa.

I liked Des Moines. It had all that I had known to that point in my life.

I liked California also. I still do. I’m not too sure about Des Moines though.

We had visited my dad earlier that year. I did a lot that year. I flew in a jet for the first time in my life (something that I still get excited about). I went to Disneyland. This was when they still had ticketed rides, I had a few left over and saved them in a shoe box of important stuff (stuff that is important to eight year old boys). My brother, Andy and I rode our wagon down a 16% grade hill (at least it looked that steep), and survived! I also got to ride in the back of a red 74 Volkswagen Bug. I think it took us four days to get from Des Moines to Orange County, California. It was a fun ride for us kids. It was fun for our Siamese cat, at least he didn’t seem to mind it. I don’t think it was fun for my mom. I don’t know why?

When we got there we had no place to live. We stayed in a motel for two weeks while my mom looked for a place. What little stuff we had moved, was sitting in the moving company storage. Mom found a place in Stanton. The first night there we slept on the floor. On the next day, our furniture was delivered. Andy and I were disappointed to see that the guys delivering our stuff were different than the guys that loaded it in Des Moines. It wasn’t that we had become attached to them, or anything like that. We just wanted to see the fat guy with the plumber’s crack. At that age seeing a fat man’s butt crack peek out from his belt line is funny.

Come to think of it, at forty, it still is. I think I’ll call Andy and see if he still thinks it’s funny.

Somehow, I did not notice that my mom had sold our beds in Des Moines. We slept on the floor for about a year. Then we got mats.

We were camping. At least that is what my mom would tell us when we got discouraged, which wasn’t often. Discouragement usually came after visiting our friend’s, and seeing their bedrooms full of all sorts of stuff, including a bed.

One friend, Patrick, had a stool in his room that was made from a elephant foot. For one brief moment I wanted that stool instead of a bed.

Life seemed a lot simpler back then, and it was. We didn’t have much. We didn’t expect much. We had a few channels to chose from, so sitting around, watching TV was not that fun. We spent most of our time outside. We would run around our neighborhood, looking for things to do. Sometimes we would play baseball, ride bikes and skateboard. Sometimes we would throw dirt clods at each other. Sometimes we would go over to Eck’s house. Eck was around eighty. His face was full of deep lines, gray stubble and chewing tobacco spittle. Eck was a good guy. We would do things that I know had to aggravate him, but he never let on. The only time that he would raise his voice was when one of us would reach down to pick up one of the many discarded chewing tobacco plugs. I guess we thought that they were dark dirt clods.

It seems that life for kids is much harder. I remember that our parents used to say that things were easier for us when we were growing up. They were right. Kids are too serious now. I had to take the Gameboy from my kids because of the intense moods the games would create. Little kids are not supposed to have high blood pressure. I overheard other kids talking about designer clothes and the latest gadget they are going to get. I am constantly shocked when Chas and I try to buy clothes for our daughter. What ever happened to cute little outfits that covered the entire body? My nine year old does not need to expose her midriff to be cool. I just want my little girl to be a little girl.

The next time you go out to a mall or store, pay attention to the conversations between parents and children. Kids are not settling for second best or nothing. Advertisers know this too. They target the minds of kids. As a result, parents will give in just to quiet their screaming kids.

We recently got rid of cable, limited the video game play and started making the kids play outside. I look out the window to check on them. I noticed that they were using things that they found around the neighborhood to play with. Mostly sticks and rocks, but they were playing. Sticks and rocks are cheap.

I wonder if I can get away with selling their beds?

Peace and God Bless,

Chuck