Here are five personal answers to a common question asked this time of the year-

 
"Are you ready for Christmas?"

1. Since my Myers-Briggs Personality Type is ENTP, understanding the "P" in me, you will already know the answer to the question.

   Therefore, if "Are you ready for Christmas?" means, "Am I done shopping for family and friends?" you realize this isn't a meaningful question until next Thursday morning.

2. My mother-in law and father-in-law are coming Saturday, and so I am getting ready to be a host and a guest of mom's great cooking, Also, I am ready to listen to them tell the kids what they should be doing about their lives. Grandparents' prerogative. There will be an "eye-rolling festival" coming real soon…

3. Considering it is Nancy's birthday on Sunday, that is the focus at this point, of course.

4. Considering it is Kristina's birthday on the 27th, the countdown isn't to Christmas, it is nine days to go until she turns 21. I know this because she has reminded us every day recently. When your kid turns 21, what happens? Will, my gut just drop over my belt for good and I have to go out and buy Sans-a-belt pants in four different styles?

5. If you mean "Am I ready to celebrate the incarnation of the Living God into our space/ time dimension, ripping an opening to heavenly eternity? Or simply, "Am I ready to celebrate heaven?" Ala Dallas Willard's, "Heaven is God breaking into our reality?" If that is what you mean then the answer is-

   "YES, YES, A THOUSAND TIMES, YES!!

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

My friend, David Householder, recently asked for comments on global warming, and I wanted to be helpful. Also, I wanted to come at this topic from a slightly different angle. Enjoy…

An immediate disclaimer: I am primarily of Danish descent. My great-grandfather was a businessman in Racine, Wisconsin, which has the largest population of Danes in North America (back off, Solvang). Our family name was spelled in the Danish fashion, "Hansen." My great-grandfather changed it to "Hanson" and used this as a business branding technique. "Hansen with an 'O'."

Interesting that his gravestone, which I have seen, reads, "Hansen." He probably just didn't want to continue in eternity misidentified.

Now let's talk about Denmark. The UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is in session. Undoubtedly, you have already heard about these proceedings. What you may not know, however, is the strong presence in Denmark of scientists like influential physicist, Henrick Svensmark, (who actually just had a heart attack in a climate debate in Denmark this week!) and organizations, like the Danish Space Center. 

These Danes are on the leading edge of those who are questioning some of the research and conclusions being drawn concerning "climate change."* So, having the UN conference in Denmark is deliciously, quite "ironic."

It's not that Danish scientists are hard core climate change deniers, or, My Lord (more appropriately, "Not My Lord"), far right religious fanatics (Denmark has one of the highest percentages of self-professed atheists in the world and traditional religious practice there by the Danish population is virtually non-existent).  No, they are not right wing nut jobs or religious zealots.

They are just Danes.

Stereotypically, Danes will not be browbeaten, guilt-ed, politically correctivized, or talk downed to. I guess Viking genetics is still alive and well. This "stubbornness" and "tenacity" can bring about blessing or curse.

Blessing, in noble causes, like the fact that every Jew living in Denmark during WW II was saved from the Nazi's by the Danish resistance who orchestrated their escape (Unless the Jewish Danes refused the help and chose to remain in country. Some of them were murdered. As a result of their bravery and compassion (or stubbornness), still today, Danish people are called, "Righteous Ones" by many Jews and Jewish organizations).

Or, curse, as in the case of holding on to depraved values, no matter what anyone else thinks. Like the fact that bestiality is legal in Denmark and there are actually animal brothels!

Stereotypically, Danes follow the beat of their own drum. So, when you have a Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, don't be surprised you also have an alternative conference sponsored by the Danish group, Climate Sense, with speakers from the Danish National Space Center, among other Danish science organizations.

Then there is also the small matter of Bjorn Lomborg, to contend with. This is the Bjorn Lomborg, the leading critic in the world today, of the methodologies being considered or chosen to address climate change.

And a Dane.

If Al Gore is the face of climate change, Lomborg is his doppelganger. , Bjorn Lomborg is the best known, and most often quoted skeptic in the world- The world of proposals by scientists and governments, of human responses to combat the negative consequences of climate change . Lomborg is the author of the famous (or infamous) books, Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It!. Lomborg is hardly a climate change- denying fanatic. One Lomborg quote will suffice:

"Global warming is real, it is caused by man-made CO2 emissions, and we need to do something about it. But we don’t need action that makes us feel good. We need action that actually does good."

No, not a fanatic, he just thinks this issue is so politicized that we are going down exactly the wrong path. Not a "flat earth," anti-scientific fundamentalist-

 - but he is a Dane.

My favorite Lomborg story happened in 2007, when Al Gore was riding the wave of "An Inconvenient Truth," and traveling to promote the book and film. He agreed to an interview by Lomborg (who was guest reporter for the largest Danish newspaper, "Jyllands-Posten"), while he was touring. The interview was set up months prior, and then suddenly canceled the day before! It appears Al Gore and Gore's agent didn't know who Bjorn Lomborg was until the day before the interview!!

The world's leading skeptic of some of the research and conclusions touted by Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth," and Vice President Gore and his agent had never- heard- of- Bjorn Lomborg. It would be like the Red Sox not knowing Derek Jeter…  Priceless!

No interviews and no general press conferences.

No one allowed to inconveniently ask questions about "An Inconvenient Truth." This was the procedure adopted by the Gore tour. Except Mr. Gore forgot one thing. 

Lomborg is a  Dane.

Here is Bjorn Lomborg getting a chance to connect with Vice President Gore, after all. Two years later. A little defensive, perhaps??

Don't take my word for it. Do your own research. Here is one of Lomborg's websites. You decide how fanatical he is.

What does this have to say about the global warming debate?

First, when someone like Al Gore, who I am sure considers himself well-meaning and a man of goodwill in all of this controversy (no sarcasm, I really am sure he is not trying to bring in some sinister conspiracy to rule the world, or something), says something like, 

"It's kind of silly to keep debating the science,"

then I know this topic is not going to go away anytime soon.

No honest scientist with integrity would ever make such a statement on an issue so complex, unless there is another agenda at work. That may be why Vice President Gore received a "Nobel Peace Prize" instead of, oh, say, a Nobel Prize in Physics…

Second, you couldn't have absolutely picked a worse group of people to try to verbally manipulate, scientifically ostracize, politically strong-arm, or culturally ridicule.

I mean, has everybody forgotten this so quickly?

* "When did "global warming" become "climate change," you ask. I'm happy to oblige.

The term, "global warming" is not currently in vogue and has been replaced by "climate change." Probably due to the fact that global temperatures have been cooling recently. So, even though this is considered a temporary blip in the trend where temperatures are definitely getting warmer, "climate change" is a no-brainer because it covers all bets. Global temperatures increasing or decreasing and, voila, you still have "climate change."

It's kind of like betting on "black" and "red" at a roulette table. You win either way. Well, not really, you simply break even…but, wait a minute, you get free drinks while placing those bets and so you do win!

Except you forgot about STUPID "0" and "00" coming up and losing all your bets, anyway. But, you will go to the sport's book and bet on horses and drink free anyway. Sure, just put 2 dollar show bets on carefully selected "Best Bet of the Day" favorites and drift away on a Vegas afternoon…Except, do you know how many times favorites don't come in??**

** I have all of this on good authority from a friend of mine who had this experience, and though I don't understand all of this gambling stuff, I believe him…

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

My friend, Hous, is writing about new media and how important it is for a "preacher" to understand and participate. Good stuff.

For anyone interested in blogging, these are two must-read sites to follow. Here and Here.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

Sermon 06 December 2009 by Pastor Dana  
Download now or listen on posterous

Introverts and Extroverts.mp3 (9152 KB)

How we are wired plays an important role in our faith life, which is
real life, after all.

Posted via email from LIFEhouse

Just returned from a visit with my mom and dad and brother, Steve, who all live in Fort Lauderdale. It was a dad/ daughter trip, as Kristina enjoyed her first days of winter break by heading to the original site of "Where the Boys Are." Trouble was, not too many boys when you're traveling with your dad. We drove by the Elbo Room every day but never stopped. Ahh, she will have to return again with her Florida friends she met in Paris.

We had a wonderful experience just hanging out though. One thing that continues to intrigue me. It is always a bit unsettling when you see "the boys" eying your daughter. No full on rudeness, again, daddy in tow, but the glances and "check outs" are hilarious and at the same time a bit creepy.

As a dad, you have to make the call early. Am I going to frown at every guy who even glances at his daughter and give a "What are yooou looking at" stare? Or worse, say it like Travis, from "Taxi Driver," "You talkin' to me?"- style?

Settled on sucking in my gut, straightening my posture, and blessing them.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

"Heaven" is the dimension where you are fully present with God. The most helpful picture of "heaven" is at the Baptism of Jesus.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11)

"Heaven" in this context is where God is fully present in eternity and His eternal dimension intersects with our earthly dimension in Jesus. In this way the fulfilled Kingdom of God breaks into the present world. The future intersects with the present.

Stay with this and let it steep.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

Sermon 18 November 2009 by Pastor Dana  
Download now or listen on posterous

victory over evil.mp3 (6983 KB)

Our lives connected with Jesus, hidden in him, we are the ones with power, not Satan.

Posted via email from LIFEhouse

Sermon 22 November 2009 by Pastor Dana  
Download now or listen on posterous

confidence in God.mp3 (5316 KB)

Confidence in God always wins out over fear. Whose side are you on?

Posted via email from LIFEhouse

One friend. One brother.

Jeff's birthday is today. If you read my blog yesterday, you already know that.

When you have been friends with someone for over 40 years who is not related to you genetically, you realize there is way more to the "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice" teaching of Jesus than  than you might realize.

Jeff is my dear friend. Jeff is my brother.

We have shared tragedy in our "family" from a very early age. Over the years, we have had our share of sickness and suffering, both our own, and especially those who are most dear to us. We have experienced deaths that take part of your very soul and you just have to give that broken piece to God and let him shape it and put it back. Through it all we have experienced the extraordinary power of God's grace.

And we have shared triumph; in particular the absolute gift of marrying amazing women who have joined with us in raising some pretty "healthy" kids.

Children "blessed" with the experience of having to be coached in basketball by two dads reliving their own shared experience of playing together in that J.I. Case Fieldhouse so long ago. Two dads who were freaks.

Alright Katherine, Greta, Sam, Kristina, Greg and David, you probably have heard these goofy anecdotes (and you know how crazy we still are), but some of these readers may not have heard about your dads.

May not have heard about one of us who was such a freak he who would do pushups in he middle of the game right in front of everyone in the stands, right there on the court before the ref handed him the ball to shot free throws; the same guy who would smile and say "Give me more!" when he was elbowed in the gut, and then there is the other freak, Mr. OCD, who would eat the same pregame meal of steak and toast with honey on it, and then in the locker room just before tipoff, he would wet his hair down (when he had hair), so it looked like he was a bit psycho (actually Norman Bates was his model for this), singing "Bethcha' By Golly, Wow" by the Stylistics over and over again until the ball was tossed…

We tapped into our inner Dennis Rodman before anyone ever heard of Dennis Rodman.

So, to the one whose wisdom has been absolutely critical at key kairos moments of my life, to the one who is still my "go to" guy whenever I need to deeply hear from the Lord concerning family, ministry, and life itself, I love you as my brother and I thank God for putting us in Beebee School together so long ago. Two guys still being expanded by each other, out from the "hood," S. Elmwood Dr. to Daisy Lane…

Happy Birthday, Jeff. I don't know why, but the tune in my head at this very moment is "Doing the Racoon" (player piano melody and all).

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

"…a day which will live in infamy."

Pearl Harbor Day was part of my childhood. Like D-Day, we would talk about it in school. Remembering what happened. Looking at pictures. Even in grade school.

These two days were always bittersweet. My best friend, Jeff, has a birthday on December 8th, and so today is a "Jeff's birthday is tomorrow" day.

And my birthday is June 6. D-Day or "Dana Day," if you will.

I suppose I age myself when I realize I was born only 12 years later than that original landing at Normandy. I remember vividly 12 years ago, because it was the last time the Packer's won the Superbowl. Obviously, that was just a game.

There will not be much mention of Pearl Harbor Day in school's across America. Yet, the "America" that has schools would we totally diiferent if it hadn't occurred. Same for the world.

Thank you to those who gave themselves freely to insure freedom. You are not forgotten.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!