he wears his faith on his sleeve — and head

[Yahoo News]

John Kitna has worn baseball caps emblazoned with a cross since 1996, when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Several years ago, while playing in Cincinnati, he started ordering 500 at a time to give away. Kitna gathers his teammates for a prayer circle after every practice and game, and about a dozen of them come over each week with their wives and girlfriends for Bible study.

Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer said Kitna brought teammates closer by sharing his faith.

“He’s a guy you want to talk to, you want to be around, you want to listen to, because he’s full of knowledge,” Palmer said Wednesday. “You know he knows any religious question you can bring to him. A lot of guys have different questions, whether it be about the Bible or about any religion. You feel comfortable going to him because he’s not going to give you a one-sided answer. He’s going to give you the truth.

Even though Kitna is a self-described “Bible-thumper,” the subtle signs of his religious beliefs inside his home match up with how he acts around his teammates.

“He’s not a prophetizer with his words,” Lions president Matt Millen said Tuesday. “Jon offers his life as his testimony. I think he does that because he’s been there. The reformed are usually the best examples because they understand.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

This is the way all believers should act around their friends, co-workers, families and neighbors.  INVEST & INVITE.

What do you think?

His religion has gone to pot…

[Courant.com]

A Norwich man’s religious beliefs were not enough to reduce his jail time for marijuana possession. Vernon Smith, 43, is a Rastafarian who believes his use of pot is a God-given right. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell after police found him with more than 20 pounds of the drug in July.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Oh my.  What passage of Scripture does he use to support his beliefs?  Why do people use God and religion to justify their bad behavior?

What do you think?

Thanksgiving really a time of mourning?

[World Net Daily]

Seattle school officials are telling teachers that Thanksgiving actually is a time of “mourning” since it represents “500 years of betrayal.”

The message to all “staff” in the Seattle Public Schools comes from Caprice D. Hollins, the director of “Equity, Race & Learning Support,” and other officials including Willard Bill Jr. of the “Office of Native American Education.”

“With so many holidays approaching we want to again remind you that Thanksgiving can be a particularly difficult time for many of our Native students,” the letter said.

For many Indian people, ‘Thanksgiving’ is a time of mourning, of remembering how a gift of generosity was rewarded by theft of land and seed corn, extermination of many from disease and gun, and near total destruction of many more from forced assimilation. As currently celebrated in this country, ‘Thanksgiving’ is a bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal returned for friendship,” the website describes.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Is this true? I would be interested in hearing from some Native Americans on this issue.

For me Thanksgiving is just that–being thankful for what God has done for me and my family. I am thankful for the relationship I have with Jesus. I am thankful for my family. I’m thankful for living in a nation where I can worship freely. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it isn’t about buying stuff–it is about being thankful. That is what it means to me.

What do you think?

atheists sue over crosses for fallen highway patrol officers

[ABC 4]

The fate of more than a dozen crosses honoring fallen UHP troopers was left in the hands of a federal court judge on Tuesday. The issue was taken to court after a group of atheists sued the state claiming the crosses violate the constitutional separation of church and state. The group is now asking the Utah Highway Patrol Association to remove the 12 foot-crosses because they denote the death of Jesus Christ. However, the state and UHP troopers say they are memorials to brave public servants and not religious in nature.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Why would this bother someone? The officers are dead. The only way I would agree with one coming down is if a specific officer was an atheist. Most of them were probably Mormons anyway. I surely don’t agree with their false doctrine but I wouldn’t have a cow over honoring their service to the local government. Why do people feel the need to cause pain for grieving families. Who does this hurt?

What do you think?

Using the Bible as a scapegoat?

[From Knoxville News Sentinal]

A Maryville couple who profess to be “bondservants” of God were bound over to a Blount County grand jury Friday on charges they operated a plant nursery without proper state certification.

During their preliminary hearing both Wendy Gail and William Albert Roseburgh said they are prevented by their religious beliefs from signing any type of agreement with anyone or any organization, and they faced the court without the aid of an attorney, quoting the Bible as saying God will give them the proper words to speak.

The Roseburghs also raised concerns of faith about the number of a Tennessee Department of Agriculture certificate formerly held by William Roseburgh that was carried over onto the paperwork related to Wendy Roseburgh’s uncertified nursery. The number is “996,” which Wendy Roseburgh says she equates with “666,” the “number of the beast” that is related in Revelation 13:18.

Read about it here.

[From me]

First, 996 isn’t 666. My initiation number in my fraternity was 669. I didn’t protest it. It is easy to use the Bible to make cases for things we don’t want to do. I don’t know these people but man they are doing more harm to the cause of Christ by refusing abide by a law that protects all citizens.

What do you think?

New Orleans Mission Trip (Nov 07)-Day 4

Last night we went out to eat and had voodoo rolls.  Ummmm….   We walked across the street to see the progress that has been made on the pumps to the levies but it was cold and the wind was coming off the lake.

Today there is a group from Maryland working with us.  It is great to see so many churches and Christians coming together to help people they don’t even know.  I can’t put into words how bad it still is in the Gentilly area and the lower 9th Ward.  I would say in Gentilly only every 10th house is occupied and that may be an exaggeration.   Edgewater has been ministering to these people since Katrina hit.  This church is very important to the community.  I’m glad we got to be a small part.  This is my 4th time down here.  I’m very passionate about helping these victims because I lived through Katrina and 5 other hurricanes.  As I read about Cyclone Sidr slamming  Bangladesh, killing at least 1,100 and forcing 650,000 to flee I am heartbroken for them.  When you see how it affects people in person it moves you.

We were able to get the doors finished on the front of the church.  We stained and glossed about 30 doors.  We fixed holes, hung sheet rock, did plumbing and electrical all week.  We are tired but I wouldn’t trade this week for anything.  My 13 year old son Jacob was able to come because he is homeschooled and it was special to work with him.

Well, we are headed back to the Riverwalk–maybe we will see another New Orleans wedding.

New Orleans Mission Trip (Nov 07)-Day 3

Last night we went to Edgewater and had supper with them.  It was great to see Joe Kennedy and Jason Sampler again.  Jason is now married and made some crack about my spiky hair but at least I have hair!

 

By divine appointment there were two bartista’s from Starbucks who were in attendance last night and they told us where one has been reopened closer to the church than going to Kenner.  So we hung out there a while and there was an outdoor festival across the street.  Above Jack is trying his first Venti Mocha!

 

Today I have been busy staining and painting doors as well as mudding and taping.  Mike, Donnie Rae and Ray are putting in the door frames at the front of the church and hanging the new glass to go over the stained glass.  I can’t wait to see how good that looks.  I’m sure that will be exciting to the church members.  My son Jacob and Jack are removing concrete so they can put up a ramp.  John and Barry are working in the downstairs restroom as is evidence by the picture of Barry.

 

We are working hard but it is great fellowship hanging out with men who pay their own way to serve people they don’t even know.  God is amazing!