Scary!

[CBS News]

Scout leaders are being ousted at a rate of 1 every two days because of molestation.  

Tim Kosnoff, an attorney analyzed the numbers of child molestation in Scouts and came to this shocking conclusion: Before 1991, “a Scout leader was being tossed out for child molestation at the rate of one every three days,” he said. “Post-1991, the rate was one every two days.” That includes people suspected of abuse.

Read about it here.

[Houston Chronicle]

1 in 3 females online daters report first date sex.

Women who date online are likely to take precautions to protect their personal safety when first meeting a man face-to-face, but often are much less careful about protecting their sexual health once that encounter moves to the next level, a Houston-based study has found.

While the women who were surveyed went to great lengths to screen online acquaintances before meeting them, nearly a third reported having sex on the first date and three-quarters of those said they did not use condoms, according to the study by The University of Texas School of Public Health.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I admit I have a spiritual bias here.  Take that out I think even those without Jesus can see the dangers here.  I was in the Boy Scouts and I can’t believe that there are not more precautions taken to make sure that they have to kick out a leader every other day.  Wow! That is scary.  This is scary for Church leaders too.  If the Boy Scouts have those kind of sickos in their midst, I’ll bet churches have more than we would like to admit.

The second story is unbelievable.  How can people give away such an emotional part of themselves on a first date?  I admit I have a spiritual bias and think sex should be saved for marriage only.  But I would think even un-spiritual persons can see that sex is more than physical.

What do you think?

Breaking News–I never did….

1. I have never failed a doping test and never added to my blood while riding in the Tour de France.
2. I’ve never gambled on sports on changed the outcome of any game. (although I did come off the bleachers two weeks ago in the championship game of the softball tourney and went 3 for 3 & we ended up winning)
3. I’ve never done steriods. (accept from the dentist)
4. I’ve never bet on dog fighting, beaten or killed an animal.
5. I’ve never added performance enhancing drugs to better my golf game. (its beyond hope)
6. I’ve never added illegal parts or substances to my car. (unless you consider cheap gas)

Sports used to be great for illustrating teamwork and perseverance. Now it has become great for illustrating the dangers of living illegal lifestyles, cheating and ruining your life. Are there any heroes left?

What do you think?

Why do people act differently…

Recently my associate pastor Mike and I went to play golf. We were playing by ourselves so the Marshall added a single to our party. I always welcome people to play along because it usually gives me an opportunity to share my faith some time during the round. The guy who was playing with us was from New York and we struck up a conversation immediately. I found out that he used to work in the high tech industry, his wife died a few months ago, and he is semi-retired. We also heard every profanity known to man and in some unique combinations. If you have gotten to know me for any time you know that I never have or will act holier than thou when people who aren’t believers act like it.

About the 16th hole he realized that we were pastors and all of a sudden his language changed. He started saying “darn” and “dang” instead of the choice words he was using earlier. Then he told us that playing with him helped his game.

Not too long ago I walked out to take the garbage to our trash can in back yard. I noticed that half our neighborhood was a one our neighbors having a cookout. One of the guys said “hey Kev” and I said hello back and went back into our house. Within five minutes the person who was having the party knocked on our door to invite us to the party. Now this was a birthday party. We had no gifts, we were eating dinner and we weren’t dressed to go to a party. Had we been invited at the same time everyone else was we would have gone. In all honesty I don’t believe they wanted to invite us because I’m a pastor. Every party we go to in our neighborhood we are ignored by many but not all. We don’t drink but we never make a big deal about it. I’ve never said “NO! THAT IS A SIN!” I usually just say no thank you. I think it is easier to “party” when we aren’t around.

Why is it like this? We aren’t judgmental. We don’t make comments about people’s language or the beverages they are drinking? Why is it people think they have to act differently around ministers? Why would someone feel guilty around me? What makes this happen? Is it a Holy Spirit conviction and having me around reminds them of that? Just wondering?

What do you think?

New Hampshire Repeals Parental Notification Law

[From Christian Post]

New Hampshire became the first state in the nation to repeal a law requiring that a parent be notified 48 hours before a minor has an abortion.

Read about it here.

[From me]

How can parents be parents if the government is working against us? I guarantee a hospital would call before removing a kidney or gall bladder from a minor? How can we raise children to be responsible citizens when our own government undermines our authority?

What do you think?

Church dress code?

[From Yahoo News]

The Roman Catholic Church in Manila has laid down a dress code after parishioners complained they were being distracted by women wearing skimpy shorts, plunging necklines and men wearing sports jerseys during Mass.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I’ll admit I’ve seen my share of skimpy clothes especially while I was in youth ministry.  For those who were church members I would take them aside privately (with my wife present or a female youth worker) and explain that they were causing guys to stumble with the way they dressed.  I even had to get on a couple of guys with their pants that were worse than the “refrigerator repairman” on SNL.

Every year when we went to the beach I would tell the girls they had to wear one-piece swimsuits and the guys couldn’t wear Speedos! 

However, what do you say to unbelievers?  That was a tough one. Don’t we want them coming to church to hear about Jesus?  Where do we draw the line?

What do you think?

Puzzled…

The older I get, the less I understand human nature. I would have thought I’d be better at understanding personalities and life. I don’t understand why I get angry or sad. Why do I laugh or cry? Some days I feel great others I want to hide. There are times when I put hours of study, prayer and effort in a message or lesson and I get the “Buller, Buller” look. Then other times when I think I’ve bombed I get compliments.

Monday was my anniversary and I posted a post as a tribute to my wife. Then the thread gets hijacked by Mormonism. I’m not angry –I’m just puzzled. Even as I type this I’m laughing about it. It seems that controversy gets noticed. Honestly, I would rather not get noticed sometimes.

I admit I see things in Black and White. When the Bible states something is a sin or that we must do something–I take that as law–something written in stone. I take it seriously. I don’t apologize for that. When the Bible is silent then I try to ask how would Jesus react or is it the wise thing to do?

Life is a trip. Sometimes it is a roller coaster and other times it is a Sunday drive. I guess I won’t ever understand you, me or God until I get to heaven. Man do I have a lot of questions.

How about you?

Does no one care about abortion anymore?

[From Christian Post]

Despite wide attention on issues such as abortion in the 2008 presidential race, America’s registered voters indicate abortion is not a top-tier issue. Only 40 percent of all registered voters mark abortion as very important to their vote, according to the latest survey by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Abortion is a low priority among Democratic-leaning voters (38 percent) and even Republican-leaning ones (43 percent). Voters overall rate the economy and the war in Iraq as leading issues.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I don’t think anyone should be out yelling ugly things to women who are in a crisis pregnancy.  I also disagree with violence towards those who perform abortions.  But why doesn’t it matter anymore to voters?  I believe our nation is becoming more and more selfish.  Americans are more worried about their pocketbooks then they are the millions of innocent children who are butchered in abortion chop shops every year.  Believers should be more concerned about those babies who are being ripped from their mothers wombs than their IRA and 401K’s.

What do you think?