The thoughts of a newly married, recently graduated, christ-seeking, pastor-to-be

Why Christian Teens shouldn't drink, speed, do drugs, etc...

⊆ 11:14 AM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

I kinda laugh because I end up googling around, and these sites all pop up listing all the biblical reasons why Christians should not do anything listed above.

I have a very basic reason for all those listed.


They are illegal. That is right against the law. And hence you should not do them. The sites, I read, did not list this as a reason. Ridiculous.

Yes, this was a rant blog.


Thanks for putting up with my momentary lapses in intelligent blogging. And theirs.

Zach

 

Penny for my Thoughts on Peter

⊆ 1:07 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

I have been thinking of the Reactions of Christians to anything that defies Christ, Christianity, etc...

And usually these reactions that make it to my ears and eyes are through the media, or a blog, which is usually spawned from something from the Media. In this case I am thinking more specifically of the realm of Fantasy Novels and their friction with the Christian mainstream.

When Harry Potter came out, I think many can remember the outrage, picketing, etc... of the Christian community towards this very "satanical literature" which would lead children to flying around on broom sticks and playing aerieal rugby. There was not a lot of kindness to be shared.

Likewise now with Philip Pullman's books His Dark Materials trilogy, and the movie "The Golden Compass." The movement is beginning.

When I hear these things I think of the Garden where Judas brought about the capture of Jesus. When the soldiers came forward to take Jesus, Simon Peter cut off a man's ear with his sword. Jesus promptly reattached the ear and pointed out that this was his duty to handle.

Likewise when someone asks if we are Christians, often time the mainstream answer is to play it off, or sometimes even deny, or makeup another name for what we are. Similar to Peter when he denied Christ three times.

All this to say, I think Peter was the best choice to be the rock of the church, because I think he represents both the positives and the negatives of humanity trying to follow Christ. From the zealousy of defending the faith, to being timid when unsure of how to be a Christian to a stranger.

So take faith Christians, remember in the end it is Christ's fight, and do not worry if you screw up with being faithful to him, he is faithful and just to forgive.

Thanks again for listening,

Zach

 

A thought on Cynicism and Christian Institutions

⊆ 3:20 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

Often in life and more recently in my time bar-tending at the Bistro, the conversations will lead to why the heck a guy like me from Portland is living in Redding, and thent hey find out I got my degree, and what it is, and this eventually leads to some statement about somebody feels a bit burned, and overall cynical of institutions either run by Christians, or made up of Christians, or proclaiming itself to be an ambassador of Christianity. My reply is usually the same, that I am sorry to feel that way, and hope eventually those feelings fade away. But lately I have been thinking about those people, and how actually, I am both not surprised, and even a bit happy that they came away thinking this way.

That being said, this is a great way to find out how you perceive Christianity.

I mean if you think about it, you can do what I did, go to a private Christian institute of higher education, and be immersed in a world of Christians who are all at very different stages in their Christian walk, you can watch the rise and fall of those thought on the outside to be more righteous than others, or observe the dirty underbelly of Christianity not revealed in tracks and glossy brochures of a politically correct, multi-ethnic group of students, smiling and inviting you to join them. This dirty underbelly being comprised of something called.... brace yourself: Humanity. Yes that group of uncouth, degenerate sinners, who have no right to embrace that which is perfect and pure. Yep, that's right humans. You, me, Ugly Betty, all saved by grace, but still all prone to sin, nobody's perfect. What?!? Yup another heresy, we are not perfect.

So I kinda like that people walk away with their beautiful idealistic image of Christians skipping through a field being turned into something not as pretty. Maybe a war-zone, maybe Wall Street, maybe Skid Row. This can allow them to perhaps take a step to seeing Christianity as a bunch of people, who do not deserve to clean up the non-existent snot in heaven, to be viewed as a bunch of people trying so hard, but not always all the time, and not always in perfect fashion to follow Christ. And to realize they too are one of those people.

Thanks for listening again,

Zach

 

I got a case of the not so great

⊆ 8:53 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

Yah, past couple of days have been kinda rough. Got sick at work, more sick on the drive home. More sick after I got home. Whole lot of not great going on. Good news though it appears to be only a 24 hr thing because I ate a cheese burger earlier and I am still alive.

 

Lets get this guy started strong!

⊆ 11:29 PM by Zach Tanksley | ˜ Comments

So I remember when I started blogging I got a few head starts and encouraging words, and I just want to spread the love. So I am adding a new sidebar dedicated to infant bloggers. So head over to Wondergrove today and give some support and encouragement, let them know the blogging community is there to support!