tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280632662024-03-23T12:44:47.045-05:00thehalpinatorlivesbecause he lives in meHalpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-51630115739401190202007-09-12T01:06:00.000-05:002007-09-12T01:11:05.805-05:00MOVING DAY >>>>>Apparently, thehalpinatorisdead. I'm moving from blogger to wordpress, and I'm totally changing my blogging "strategy" (for lack of a better word). Join me at my new site, and if you happen to link to this site, please change your links. The blogger site will remain open for a while for the sake of archives. I'm not importing anything over to wordpress.<br /><br /><a href="http://halpinsblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size:180%;">halpinsblog.wordpress.com</span></a>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-54326652871885733562007-07-06T22:46:00.000-05:002007-07-06T23:48:28.540-05:00I FEEL LIKE AN ARTIST...I feel like an artist. I have this strange desire to create some kind of art. I want to write music, I want to paint pictures, I want to write poetry, I want capture everyday life into any kind of artistic venue available. I want to create something that is meaningul. Something that speaks. Something that people enjoy. Something that honors God. The problem is that I don't know how.<br /><br />I sit down and try write out song lyrics or poetry, but words don't come out. I can't really paint or draw well. I have pictures in my head, but they don't translate from my head to my hand and onto paper. I can play my guitar okay, but, again, I have a problem with fitting the rhythms with lyrics.<br /><br />So this sucks because I have a strange, deep desire to create something. It's almost a yearning. But this yearning is just not manifesting itself through my vain attempts at artistic endeavors.<br /><br />Right now the best I can is to pray this prayer....<br /><br />"God, help me to live life in such a way that expresses the beauty of your grace and your forgiveness, the beauty of your creation, the beauty of your love. I want to live a life that is artistic, that is meaningful, that shows people who you are. A life that honors You. A life filled with your love. God, give me the courage to take advantage of every second of every day, to experience the joy of life, to offer myself to You. I don't have long, Lord. Let me live with truth, with peace, with grace, and with uncompromising love. May my life be a song, a painting, a poem, a drama that speaks of Your unending faithfulness. May You receive everything that is good, and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May Your will be carried through in my life. May others see You through my song."Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-49434012961773764592007-07-04T18:39:00.001-05:002007-07-05T00:19:50.005-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!<a href="http://www.guitarzone.com/w-images/5/54/Matthewsbw2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.guitarzone.com/w-images/5/54/Matthewsbw2.jpg" border="0" /></a>September 22 at the Smirnoff center in Dallas, my wife and I are going to see THE Dave Matthews Band in concert. Thus, I will be able to check off one of the top five artists that I want to see live. It's been too long since I've been to a great concert. To jam with Dave, click <a href="http://www.myspace.com/davematthewsband">here</a>.<br /><br />P.S.<br />For a daily update on how little Sam is doing, see the bottom of my web page. Right now, s/he's about 9 weeks old. We find out if it's a boy or girl relatively soon. We can't wait until February!!!Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-78938124433174009092007-06-29T19:24:00.000-05:002007-06-29T19:35:39.874-05:00GOD, I LOVE CHICKEN N' DUMPLINSMy wife makes outstanding chicken n' dumplins. I ate them. They were excellent. My mouth celebrated.<br /><br />And also I want to see <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ratatouille/">Ratatouille</a> (spelling?).Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-71702090806753992202007-06-28T22:49:00.000-05:002007-06-28T23:08:52.225-05:00APPARENTLY I AM IN CAHOOTS WITH A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF ANTI-CHRIST...Yes. I may in fact be in cahoots with the anti-Christ. I am advertising him on my blog. Scroll down to the bottom of my page and look at the bottom link on the right-hand side. Then click <a href="http://ebacprophecy.com/antichristlist.html">this</a> and look at number 4. That's right. Barack Obama is number four on the possible anti-Christ watch list.<br /><br />Number 4.<br /><br /><br />What do I do now? Who do I vote for? I can't vote for Hillary. She's number two.<br /><br /><br />I can't vote for Gulianni. He's a pro-choice Republican. (<em>cough, cough: Satan in disguise</em>)<br /><br /><br />Maybe I can vote for Ron Paul!<br />no... he's against the war in Iraq.<br /><br /><br />I don't know what to do now. I thought I was doing okay by voting for a Christian Democrat, Barack Obama, but apparently he might be the anti-Christ.<br /><br /><br />OH! OF COURSE!!<br /><br /><br />I can vote for the anti-gay, anti-evolution, pro-war, ordained evangelical minister and REPUBLICAN candidate MIKE HUCKABEE even though he doesn't have any shot of winning the presidency whatsoever!!! I can go to heaven now because I'll be persecuted for my beliefs!!! YIPPEE!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://images.ark.org/governor/images/huckabee04.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://images.ark.org/governor/images/huckabee04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p>Sorry Barack. You're a Muslim. And your name sounds too much like "Osama." </p>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-14377792601474768432007-06-26T22:48:00.000-05:002007-06-26T23:00:45.027-05:00LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN?<a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2507#comments">Scot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">McNight</span></a> has some excellent thoughts on how Christians should/should not treat the homosexual community. He communicates well that the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soundbite</span> "Love the sinner, Hate the sin" seems to do more harm than good. When we talk about homosexuality, we often forget that we're dealing with people, and, honestly, Christians can treat the homosexual community like garbage when we act like homosexuality is only a black and white moral issue. Maybe homosexuality is a "sin," but we have to remember to treat <em>all</em> people with respect and dignity. When a homosexual hears "love the sinner, hate the sin," they will generally hear a message of hate rather than love. I agree with Scot that this phrase needs to be done away with. How about this? - "Love people, regardless." Please, read his post and browse through some of the comments right now. It will be worth your time.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-49108325788756103822007-06-25T23:24:00.001-05:002007-06-25T23:33:05.694-05:00STUDYING IS FUN, BUT ONLY WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT...I love learning and I love to study, especially when we're talking about Biblical literature. It literally changes my life. The only problem is that I <em>have</em> to do it right now (test tomorrow that I'm just now studying for). I want so bad to soak this stuff up, but I am having the darndest time trying to concentrate right now (possibly because I'm blogging rather than doing what I'm supposed to be doing right now?). I am never taking summer school again. It's way too compressed and stressful. I'm just not getting much out of it. With Cold Play rocking in the background of Common Grounds (Waco coffee shop), I would think that I would be able to stay focused (Cold Play has such an affect on my brain), but I just can't. I'm exhuasted from school. A break is needed!<br /><br />Okay, okay, I'll stop whining and get back to work.<br /><br />geez....Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-10831515599146977522007-06-19T18:12:00.000-05:002007-06-19T18:30:19.499-05:00FIRST, THERE WAS DARK SIDE OF THE MOON AND THE WIZARD OF OZ, AND THEN CAME 'THE MONTGOMERY REDEMPTION'<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hGPVF95HoDU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hGPVF95HoDU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-76438554251512739752007-06-16T18:42:00.000-05:002007-06-16T18:43:50.179-05:00APPARENTLY I LOOK LIKE THESE FAMOUS PEOPLE...<a title="MyHeritage - share black and white photos with facial recognition technology" href="http://www.myheritage.com/" target="_blank" alt="MyHeritage - share black and white photos with facial recognition technology"><img height="574" src="http://storage.myheritagefiles.com/H/storage/site1/files/57/35/71/573571_298767d3574764rs5arg48.JPG" width="500" border="0" /></a>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-63043991162728979722007-06-16T17:10:00.000-05:002007-06-16T17:14:00.983-05:00THIS IS BLOGWORTHY...Well I haven't blogged in like three months, but I finally found something that's blogworthy....<br /><br />I'm going to be a dad!!! Shari is due sometime in early February to late January. We're thinking about the Sam - Sammy Luke for a boy and Samantha Lynn for a girl. We'll see if we change our minds or not. Not that anybody's reading my blog lately (for good reason), but what do you think about the names?Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-44430134323415701672007-03-26T02:38:00.000-05:002007-03-26T14:52:20.526-05:00WHEN YOU CAN'T SLEEP... TRY POETRY.This is my sad attempt at poetry at 3 in the morning when I can't sleep...<br />Before you get too critical, please realize that I wrote this in 15 minutes. And it was late. And I don't write poetry. Nor do I read poetry. This is new for me.<br /><br /><br />Is this what I am?<br />Pushing and probing and prodding?<br />Am I without a hope or a faith?<br />Am I some wanderer who has lost his way?<br /><br />Some men believe that I am.<br /><br />Is this what I am?<br />Taking my questions<br />and plaguing those men<br />with atrocities of sulfur and ash?<br />Am I so foreign? Am I so strange?<br /><br />But I am a man. This is all that I am.<br />I have no such power or luck.<br />If I may seek all who I am<br />I may find who I am to be truth.<br />I may find who I am to be peace.<br /><br />On the other hand...<br /><br />What if who I am was no such animal?<br />What if who I am was a fluke?<br /><br />The atrocities of such an idea are...<br />Unimaginable.<br />Who I am might smite what I am.<br /><br />But what if the best thing I did<br />was to take what I am<br />and keep prodding and probing and pushing?<br />What if the best thing I did was to keep moving on<br />and let those men say what they might?<br /><br />Then would I become all that I am?<br />Or would who I am just shove me aside?<br /><br />Through all of<br />these questions<br />and struggles<br />and hopes<br />and fears<br />one thing is clear:<br />I am not who I am.<br /><br />And while we're at it<br />neither are you.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-58996792170365875992007-03-20T01:23:00.000-05:002007-03-20T01:43:34.571-05:00THIS IS HOLY WRIT, FOLKS...I love the humanity of scripture. Too often, we forget that <em>people</em> wrote the Bible. In I Cor. 1.14-17, we can see Paul getting anxious to get at his point. Here's what it says in the King James...<br /><br /><em>I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;<br />Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.<br />And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.<br />For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.</em><br /><em></em><br />Now, I'm going to take some interpretive liberties, here, and I'm going to offer the version according Marc:<br /><br /><em>In fact, I thank God that I didn't have to baptize any of you so that no one can say that you were baptized into my name. Well, I didn't baptize anyone except Crispus and Gaius. </em><br /><em>Oh, and now that I think about it I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I'm pretty sure I didn't baptize anyone else.</em><br /><em>But that's not the point! For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.... </em><br /><em></em><br />I love this little excerpt because we can totally see Paul thinking out loud. Most likely, he would have dictated his letters as someone wrote for him, and I love that we can almost see his thought process coming through in the letter. <br /><br />I love that we can see the human aspect of scripture. We don't have to be afraid of the fact that God didn't dictate the Bible. To me, it's just incredibly neat that God used a guy like Paul to write some of the most influential literature of all time. And it's neat to see how God works through real people in real situations.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-25227964499817866722007-03-19T00:22:00.000-05:002007-03-19T00:51:13.299-05:00ON TODAY... OH, AND P.S., ON YESTERDAYI thank God for days like today. I woke up dreading the day. Sometimes Sundays are soooo long. But I love how God can just change your attitude, even when you're not aware that he's already done it. I don't even remember when my attitude changed. Maybe it was in the car on the way to church as I drove with no radio on. Maybe it was when I saw my wife at church. Maybe it was after church. I'm not sure. I just know that somewhere along the line my heart changed, and it wasn't on my own account. <br /><br />Thus, thanks to God, I really had a wonderful day. We worked hard all afternoon, and we experienced what I thought was a wonderful worship time. Plus, any day I get to spend nearly all day with my wife is a good day. <br /><br />It's always good to look back on the day and see how God works. On the other side of the coin, it's always good to look back and see how I've pushed God away. Even still, it's especially neat to see when God works in spite of me.<br /><br />Oh, and P.S...<br />Yesterday, my wife and I got to go back to Mesquite to hang out with the folks. <br /><br />I was able to see my little bro (who is a beast and a half) play some baseball. I only saw one of the games he played in, but he played in four. 2 J.V. games, and 2 Varsity. He had a game tying double in the top half of the last inning of the championship game in the varsity tournament (yes, that sentence had way too many prepositions). Too bad they lost the game in the bottom half of the inning.<br /><br />We also had some wicked good Mexican food with Shari's parents, and some quality home-cooked fishies with my parents. It was a good time in general.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-1888489644044806992007-03-09T16:08:00.000-06:002007-03-09T16:10:49.643-06:00THE 'FUNDAMENTALS' OF THE FAITHJesus Christ is Lord.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-42035752771971552542007-02-23T13:40:00.000-06:002007-02-23T13:50:57.997-06:00THE ARMSTRONG/HALPIN WEEKEND O' FUN<a href="http://www.yanous.com/entrevous/humour/img/ski.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.yanous.com/entrevous/humour/img/ski.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have no idea what that guy in the picture is saying, but I do know that I'm going to go skiing this weekend with my wife and some good friends, Joey and Ashley Armstrong. We're headed to Sipapu, New Mexico, near Taos, Red River, and Angel Fire. It's supposed to snow today before we leave, and when we get there the weather's going to be sunny and beautiful - almost perfect ski conditions, some might say. We leave tomorrow at 6 am, ski Sunday and Monday, and drive back on Tuesday. I couldn't ask for a better time to go skiing. There's not a whole lot of things that can beat going to the mountains, especially in such amazing conditions. So, I'll be back to the blogworld on Wednesday with some pictures and a report. Until next time...<br /><br />Grace and Peace.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-49330390066095209452007-02-22T17:36:00.000-06:002007-02-22T17:46:32.602-06:00WHO STARTED THIS WHOLE DOUBLE TITLE THING? (OR WHY DO I ALWAYS SEEM TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT TRENDS?)Seriously, who started it, and why has it caught on with so many people? It works for me because I am by nature indecisive, and the double title allows me to <em>not</em> choose. Instead, I get to pick both of my ideas.<br /><br />For some reason, I think David Crowder and his Collision CD are to blame, but did he get the idea from somewhere else? If we could get to the bottom of this I would be pleased.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-63323139977857509822007-02-21T14:04:00.000-06:002007-02-21T14:31:24.915-06:00I LOVE MY SCHOOL<a href="http://sbcmc.org/Journal/truett.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://sbcmc.org/Journal/truett.gif" border="0" /></a>As of today, Truett is receiving a recommendation for reaccredition from the <a href="http://www.ats.edu/">Association of Theological Schools</a> for the maximum allotment of ten years. This is quite impressive for a school that is just over ten years old and hasn't even had its own building for more than five years. Truett has risen out of the ashes of an ugly conflict within Baptist life, and it has created a truly wonderful environment in which students entering into the ministry can learn, grow, and ultimately flourish into the people that God would have them become. It's funny how God takes people and situations that are so broken and mends them into something beautiful. I thank God that I get to be a part of such a place, and I look forward to the great things that the people of Truett Seminary will accomplish for the Kingdom of God.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-24165324308630284892007-02-20T13:41:00.000-06:002007-02-20T13:47:25.005-06:00FAT TUESDAY<a href="http://www.lazygeek.net/images/starbucks.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.lazygeek.net/images/starbucks.JPG" border="0" /></a>In honor of fat Tuesday, I will be drinking much caffeine today, and I will probably go to Starbucks again later tonight (I had a lovely grande estima this morning before class). Hopefully the caffeine buzz I will get from today carries over until Easter.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-803326610474956362007-02-19T22:51:00.000-06:002007-02-19T23:26:51.894-06:00HAPPY PRESIDENTS' DAY<div align="center">In honor of everyone's favorite holiday, here's my top 5 favorite presidents:<br /><br />#5</div><p align="center">Lyndon B. Johnson</p><p align="center">It's not so much that I'm a huge fan of his accomplishments or his policies or anything like that, but any man who isn't afraid to pick his nose on television is okay in my book. </p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p><a href="http://movingwalls.artorg.info/images/photos/Early_Work-LBJ.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://movingwalls.artorg.info/images/photos/Early_Work-LBJ.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">#4</p><p align="center">Theodore Roosevelt</p><p align="center">"Speak softly and carry a big stick." That's all anyone needs to say about Teddy. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trp24.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trp24.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">#3</p><p align="center">Abraham Lincoln</p><p align="center">Abe undoubtedly had the most difficult task of any president. The fact that he kept the nation together and was able to free the slaves in the process ranks him pretty high on my list.</p><p align="center"><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/abraham-lincoln/photographs/lincoln4.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/abraham-lincoln/photographs/lincoln4.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">#2</p><p align="center">Franklin D. Roosevelt</p><p align="center">Polio. The Great Depression. World War II. I mean, the man was elected for four terms despite all of these things and then some. George W. wouldn't have lasted a day. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.federalobserver.com/content_images/20_fdr_portrait.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.federalobserver.com/content_images/20_fdr_portrait.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />#1</p><p align="center">George Washington</p><p align="center">One of the great American heroes of all time. A general, a patriot, a politician, and a president. Plus, he was able to keep the federalists and anti-federalists from killing each other while he was in office, which is more than we can say about Thomas Jefferson. </p><p align="center"><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Gilbert-Stuart/George-Washington-Print-C10032257.jpeg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Gilbert-Stuart/George-Washington-Print-C10032257.jpeg" border="0" /></a> </div>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-84522140627655998432007-02-19T16:10:00.000-06:002007-02-19T16:46:29.643-06:00AT WAR WITH MYSELF, AND WHY I CAN'T GET OFF THE LAZY TRAINThere is so much that I want to do, and so much that I want to accomplish. But, man, am I lazy. My goal at the beginning of this semester was to wake up at 6 am each day to start the routine. I would run or do some yoga, then have time for prayer or spiritual reading, then go to class at 8 and start the rest of the day...<br /><br />That lasted a week.<br /><br />Now I have a hard time waking up 20 minutes before class because, at best, I don't go to sleep until midnight. Needless to say, I don't get my workout in, and I have a hard time taking time out for prayer and Bible reading. This is a constant struggle for me. Why can't I just do it? If I would take time out for prayer, I would become more aware of God throughout the day. If I would take time to work out, I would have more energy throughout the week. It sounds to me like this should be an easy decision. Just friggin' do it, Marc.<br /><br />I'll do it tomorrow.<br /><br />You didn't do it tommorrow.<br /><br />Ok, next week.<br /><br />You didn't do it next week, either.<br /><br />When summer starts, I'll be all over it.<br /><br />Yeah, right. We'll see...<br /><br />So what is this thing inside of me that is so lazy? Is it like that little mechanical worm thing in The Matrix? Can I have a surgical procedure to remove it? That would be nice. But I don't think it's possible. Maybe if I ask God to fix me up, that would work. But that hasn't happened yet, either. Paul talks about this in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%207:7-25;&version=31;">Romans 7</a>, but that doesn't provide me with any practical advice. Maybe Joel Osteen can help me, but then again, maybe not.<br /><br />This isn't just a problem of not working out or not praying. It's starting to infect my whole life. I've jumped on the lazy train and it's not stopping. Something tells me I'm not completely alone on this one, though. I think I heard someone yelling in the car next to me. Any advice on how to jump off?Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-66116318116148085942007-02-16T17:29:00.001-06:002007-02-16T17:29:55.909-06:00ME AND HONEST ABE<div align="center"><br /><img src="http://images.similarminds.com/leader/9.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://similarminds.com/othertests.html">What Famous Leader Are You?</a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://similarminds.com">personality tests by similarminds.com</a></span></div>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-87298710754501753082007-02-16T12:42:00.000-06:002007-02-16T15:17:39.634-06:00ON SECOND THOUGHT...I've been struggling lately with how to deal in my own mind with church politics, baptist wars, and things of similar nature. For a lot of people this stuff is old hat, and they're ready to move on. But I'm just recently learning about it as a second semester student at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Truett</span>, and I don't know how to deal with it. Part of me wants to say, "screw it," and then move on and do my own thing and my own ministry, but then part of me can't let it go. That second part, that part that can't let it go, is there for the most part because of my love for the church. I long to see the day when all denominations can work together for a common cause - the cause of the gospel, and I look forward to the day when the Church will stand with one voice to proclaim, "Jesus is Lord." And furthermore, I look ahead to the day when we don't just <em>say</em> "Jesus is Lord," but we live out that belief in community with one another. That's not to say that denominations won't exist, but it is to say that denominational groups can work together.<br /><br />That being said, this is why the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">SBC</span> frustrates me to no end. This is why statements like "voodoo ecumenism" drive me insane (read <a href="http://thehalpinatorlives.blogspot.com/2007/02/voodoo-ecumenism.html">this post </a>for further explanation). Now, I don't have a problem with being conservative. In fact, I would say that it's necessary for growth that there be a tension between 'conservative' and 'liberal' within the church. Disagreement on how to follow Jesus can be very helpful. Disagreement helps us to think outside of ourselves. Disagreement helps us to see another point of view. Disagreement forces us to dig deeper and deeper into the meaning of true discipleship. BUT, when disagreement causes us to shove others away, when disagreement causes us to excommunicate a brother or sister outside of our community without regard to redemption and love, then we have gone too far. And whether you like it or not, that's exactly what the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">SBC</span> has done. They have demonized even moderate baptists as "liberals" and kicked them out. They have fired professors and theologians who, even though they are thoroughly baptist, do not hold to the exact beliefs that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">SBC</span> holds. Apparently, the "liberals" aren't good enough to carry the gospel along with them. I'm not saying that everyone who sits on the "liberal" side of the fence is innocent, but I am saying that they have been wronged.<br /><br />Now, I believe that Jesus calls us to pursue peace with everything we have. In the previous post on this issue, <a href="http://thehalpinatorlives.blogspot.com/2007/02/voodoo-ecumenism.html">'Voodoo Ecumenism</a>,' I had a friend comment and say that it's not the right time for a movement to unite baptists. I responded by saying that maybe he was right, maybe the issues are too fresh in people's minds. Well, after thinking about my response, I recant. No, <em>now</em> is always the right time to pursue peace. Whether we disagree doctrinally or not, Jesus calls us to the cross. That means that we have to die to ourselves and our own agendas and pursue the cause of Christ. We <em>have to</em> cooperate with the Church body in order to pursue such peace. We <em>have to</em> be reconciled to one another. There is no excuse for labeling one another. There is no excuse for demonizing an effort of cooperation. Such action is inherently antithetical to the gospel.<br /><br />Dr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Hulitt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Gloer</span>, in <em>As You Go... An Honest Look at the First Followers of Jesus</em>,<em> </em>says it better than I would ever be able to:<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>... no relationship exists that cannot be reconciled in and by the power of the love of Christ. This love binds people of the most diverse backgrounds into a new community in which they become one. It unites people with widely varying views and lifestyles and, therefore, becomes an incarnation in the world of the reconciling love of Christ.</p><p></p><p>As disciples we must ask ourselves if we are open to those who may be different from us - socially, racially, economically, politically, even religiously. Would people with as diverse views as those reflected by Simon [the zealot] and Matthew [the tax collector] find room in our fellowship? What about those situations where we find ourselves disagreeing over doctrinal matters? Do we rush ahead in our zeal to exclude those with whom we disagree? Are we open to discovering the authenticity of their relationship to Christ and their commitment to Christ's lordship? Are we willing to allow our relationships to be controlled by the love of Christ? </p></blockquote><br />With everything I have, I think that God calls us to pursue peace within baptist life and beyond. That's why it makes me sick to my stomach that we can describe with all accuracy the recent baptist conflicts as 'war.' The issues that were fought over were hardly worth such harsh actions and terminology. And the fact that Paige Patterson himself <a href="http://bpnews.org/bpnews.asp?ID=19963">says</a> that he would do it all over again despite the hurt that it has caused people on both sides makes me sick to my stomach. That's why I will continue to search for peace and reconciliation, even with as small a voice as I have.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-5936962204714295032007-02-14T12:17:00.000-06:002007-02-14T12:28:10.562-06:00HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY -AND- happy birthday mom<div align="center"><a href="http://www.2000greetings.com/cupid.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.2000greetings.com/cupid.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center">Happy Valentine's Day to my most favoritest person in the whole world, and also the most beautifulest, and also the most funnest (pretty much what I'm trying to say is)...<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I love you, Shari.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Also, Happy Birthday Mom </div><div align="center">(not that you read my blog or even know what a blog is).<br /></div><div align="center"></div>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-2854423429688621062007-02-13T23:19:00.000-06:002007-02-14T00:04:21.299-06:00I HAD ONE OF THOSE RANDOM, YET SURREAL 'I LOVE LIFE MOMENTS' TONIGHTDo you ever see God in the little things? I think,more than anything, it's the little things that keep me in love with life and with God...<br /><br />Of all the ways that God shows himself, usually the greatest are in the mundane, seemingly everyday things. It's like in I Kings when Elijah expects God to come in the earthquake, and the wind, and all the other 'big stuff,' but he didn't come. Instead he came in the gentle whisper. Some translations might say sheer silence. Anywho, I had one of those moments tonight. You know, one of those moments when you're just sitting there and it's like this wave of joy comes on you, as if God was physically manifested before your very eyes. One of those moments when you're just glad to be alive. One of those moments when you can actually feel the presence of God in a way you've never felt before. One of those moments when you're thankful for everything you've ever been given.<br /><br />After I'm done rambling and you actually hear the story, you're going to think, "Really? That's it?" And I'll quietly respond, "Yep. That's it."<br /><br />So I was sitting at my computer as my beautiful wife Shari played with the <a href="http://static.flickr.com/28/47985702_b65735e80f.jpg">cat</a>. I was listening to David Crowder on iTunes, and she was chasing the cat up and down the stairs. I just watched.<br /><br />And then it hit me.<br /><br />It was one of those instantaneous experiences when a rush of emotions and thoughts and experiences hit you. You're thinking a thousand different things, but at the same time one thing. You're laughing on the inside, yet crying. It's kind of like your mind is floating away from your body. It was kind of like that nervous feeling you get on a first date, or the sheer joy you feel when the doors open and your fiance appears in that beautiful white dress. It was more of a feeling than anything, so I can't really put it to words, but I'll try...<br /><br />God is here. God is in this thing we call life. God is love. God just is. And God is inside of me, and he is inside of my wife. He is the driving force of our marriage. I am so happy to be alive because I get to try and understand God. And I get to enjoy life in the process. I get to love my wife, and I get to experience her love for me. I get to study and to learn. I get to read and study the scriptures. I get to share my knowledge. I get to work at a church. I get to minister and get paid for it. With all of its faults, God has made the world, and He has made it good. God is in this world, and he is working and he is making himself known. God is good. God is wonderful. God is life. God is our bread, our means, our joy, our hope, our expectation, our strength, our love, our breath, our philosophy, our ideas, our purpose, our reason for living, and on and on and on and on...<br /><br />Basically, I love God, and I love my wife, and I love life itself.<br /><br />I'm about to go to bed. I'll probably sleep like a baby.Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063266.post-3554413274943448412007-02-12T10:11:00.000-06:002007-02-12T11:06:58.916-06:00'VOODOO ECUMENISM'In I Corinthians 1.10-13, Paul begs the church he writes to to be of one mind:<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? </p><p></p><p></p></blockquote><p>When I look at this passage I can't help but wonder what we're doing. Maybe I'm an idealistic dreamer, but I greatly desire for the Church to work together and to be of one mind. Obviously, we're going to disagree on doctrinal issues and things of the like, but why can't we work together for the cause of the gospel?</p><p> </p><p>Recently, I read an article in the <em><a href="http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=5937">Baptist Standard </a></em>discussing a movement led by Jimmy Carter that would unite 40 Baptist denominations in the U.S. and Canada "behind an agenda of compassionate ministry." But, the article reads, "Southern Baptist officials harshly rejected Jimmy Carter’s effort to unite all Baptists in North America under a compassion agenda, calling the ambitious plan “voodoo ecumenism” and a thinly veiled Democratic strategy to woo values voters (if you click on the link, you can read the article)." </p><p> </p>I look at Baptisdom in the U.S. today, and I wonder what Paul would have said. At the very least, he wouldn't be happy with us. If you ask me, he may have said something like this:<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.... I have been informed that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: some of you say, "I will not tolerate anything but a belief in inerrancy of scripture!" others say, "We must have women in ministry!" others say, "I cannot work with you fundamentalists!" and others say, "I cannot work with you liberals!" </p><p>But is Christ divided? Were you baptized into name of the SBC? What about the CBF? OF COURSE NOT!! You were baptized into the name of Christ! For goodness sake - stop badmouthing each other and work together! Stop labeling each other and become united in the love of Christ!... </p><p><br /> </p></blockquote><p>Am I totally off base here? Am I dreaming? It seems to me that the one movement that could become a uniting effort (the one spoken of in the article) may actually further the divide. I'm not going to say who's fault it is on this issue; one, because it doesn't matter, and two, because fault lies on both sides of the fence. </p><p> </p><p>One last beef: why in the world would someone call a uniting effort of baptists 'voodoo ecumenism?' What does that even mean? How could you so blatantly question another Christian's motives - especially when they are trying to unite people? For heaven's sake, they're not even trying to unite baptists with other denominations. This is hardly true ecumenism. They're just trying to get <em>baptists</em> to work together, a task that is becoming more and more difficult by the year because of statements like 'voodoo ecumenism.' </p><p> </p><p>and i struggle...</p><p> </p><p>why, oh, why am I a baptist?</p><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>Halpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12395104110137219553noreply@blogger.com3