Home Alone

Over the Christmas break (or rush, whatever you want to call it), I had just a little bit of free time. So, I decided to be intentional about giving some of it to my son. Little did I know, I would be wishing for some of it to have never happened.

I thought I would be a cool dad and watch a funny movie with my son. I even thought maybe we could start some sort of tradition by watching the same movie every year. Naturally my mind starts playing through the Christmas movies I watched as a kid. (If you have read my post about Santa, you would guess that movies about Santa, Frosty, or Rudolph were pretty much thrown out right off the bat. lol!) All of the sudden, I think of that hilarious, innocent child who outsmarts the robbers in very clever ways.....Kevin McCallister. Little did I realize how long it had been since I watched that movie and how little I remembered about it.

I'm almost certain my face looked just like Kevin's did above when we got just a little bit into the movie. The entire movie was filled with what is unfortunately today's young child. He called his mom a "dummy." He was very rude, disrespectful, and irresponsible (imagine that). The entire movie continued with this as a theme, including the young Kevin cussing the robbers in the scene where he has set up all the traps.

Although the robbing scene is pretty violent and has that one cussing part, I would have to say that is the cleanest part of the film (it is definitely the funniest), especailly when you take into account Kevin's attitude and his family's attitude toward him. 

Needless to say, Home Alone will not become our father/son Christmas movie tradition!

The Man who made no sense

Most things in life make pretty good sense. In fact, there is a law that states something about that. It is called Newton's Third Law of Motion. It says, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  When I was in high school I used to play alot of pool. I actually got pretty good at it after many all night episodes of doing nothing but shooting pool with one of my buddies. I can remember shooting for what must have been 8 hours straight....maybe even more a few times. This was a regular event for weeks.

Pool is a game of skill. Sure, any Joe Blow can come in, knock the poo out of a few balls and get lucky a few times. But I am talking about the pros (unfortunately I was never a pro). They have skill. Its as simple as that. They depend on Newton's third law. Whether they know it or not, they have studied and mastered it also. It takes just the right amount of strength from the cue stick. You have to hit the cue ball exactly in the right spot. Then the cue ball must hit the other ball in presicely the right spot, sending that ball on a predetermined angle to make its way into the pocket....lots of geometry (which I hated in school). It's all based on the fact that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It makes sense.

We can look at the court system. We see people getting in trouble and we see people receiving punishment. We can see here the same principle again. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Makes sense to me. If a man is convicted of rape, it makes sense that he should be punished and locked up. If a man is convicted of murder, it makes sense that he should be punished and locked up. The action is breaking the law, the equal and opposite reaction is punishment. Makes sense to me.

Then we can go on to relationships. A man is caught cheating on his wife with another woman. The equal and opposite reaction is divorce and she's gone. Makes sense to me. A relationship is built on trust. If you break that trust, as is the case with adultery or anything else, you can expect an equal and opposite reaction. Of course, that is the lack of trust. It is a devastation to character. You get the point. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It just makes sense.

Everything just makes real good sense until we get to the New Testament. There we are told about this Man named Jesus. Allow me to tell you just a little bit about this Man. He is the one who healed the blind on the Sabbath. That may not sound like much but understand that Jewish people are not allowed to do anything on the Sabbath that has to do with work. To this day, that is why the most conservative Jewish people live so close to the synagogue. They cannot get in the car, start it up, and drive it. That's too much like work. They don't flip on light switches. They don't cook. They don't clean. And they certainly don't harvest food. Remember when Jesus was walkng through the field and His disciples started picking the grain because they were hungry. The Pharisees hated them for that! And they hated Jesus even worse because He allowed them to do it! It just didn't make any sense!

Jesus was the King of not making any sense to people, especially religious people like the Pharisees. Let me give you a rundown of a few more things Jesus did or said that didn't make any sense......and still don't to the world: He was born of a virgin (Luke 1). He left the 99 to go find the 1 (Luke 15). He said if one "doesn't hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14). When questioned about how many times we should forgive others, he said "seventy times seven" (Matthew 18). When people were caught in the very act of sinning, He let them go (John 8). He ate and talked with the people who had the worst reputation in the whole area (Matthew 9). He took the job of the lowest person in society.....washing feet (John 13). He came back to life after He was killed (Luke 24).

Time and time again Jesus amazed people by the words He said and the things He did....mostly because they didn't make any sense. Why should we look any different? Are we not called to be followers of Christ? Did Paul not encourage his listeners to "imitate me as I imitate Christ?" Are we not called to show the same exact love and grace that God showed sinners while He walked the earth? Has He not shown you that very same love and grace over and over and over? I know He has shown it to me. He has shown it to you too. The question is......do you even realize it?

To me, the beauty of the Gospel is that it makes no sense whatsoever. Holiness demands that I be sent to hell because I am not holy. That makes sense. But the fact that I get to go to heaven based solely on what Jesus did.......that makes no sense at all. I don't have to pay for what I have done wrong? That's crazy! Everyone must pay for their mistakes....at least that's what makes sense. But Thanks be to God for His loving Rescue Plan, Jesus Christ, who took my sin and your sin and paid for it fully, so that we need not do anything except reach out by faith and accept His forgiveness!

So how about it? Do the things you do and say look like what everyone else is doing? Or do they look like what Jesus did.....and still does to this day? Do they make sense to the rest of the world? Or do they make sense to Jesus?

As always, thank you for reading! I would love to hear from you on anything I write. Many things that I have written are also available to view at http://www.plunkett1.wordpress.com/. Right now Ben, the editor of the site, is posting a paper that I wrote on marriage and cohabitation in series form. Feel free to call me stupid or smart. You can say I'm right or wrong. You can tell me to jump off a cliff or encourage me to keep writing.....or you can just bite your tongue and not say anything at all. If you would like to, contact me through the blog, facebook, or email (carneylawncare@yahoo.com). Merry Christmas!

The Truth about Santa

  When I was growing up, I was a huge fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Heroes in a half shell, turtle power!!). The technodrome was the base for the TMNT's villans, Krang (the little brain guy) and Shredder, the leader of the foot clan and partner with Krang. Who could ever be able to fully play TMNT with only the turtles?! In order to really go all out you must also have the bad guys, along with their base. I will never forget waking up one morning to get the Technodrome from Santa. That was one great morning!

I remember making Christmas lists for Santa. Also, getting my picture made in his lap at the mall. Santa was a pretty big deal in my house as a child. Not huge. But it was big enough that I can remember wanting to go to bed really early so the morning could hurry up and I could get back up to retrieve my presents. But before I went to bed, I always remembered to leave out the milk and cookies. I just knew that jolly ol' Santa would be extremely upset without his milk and cookies.

I don't remember how the terrible news came to me that Santa wasn't real. I don't even remember how the next Christmas went. One thing is certain though, Hudson, nor any of my children will ever have to wonder what is was like. My wife and I made the joint decision to never do the whole Santa routine. You probably think I'm a jerk, a terrible father, and no fun. If you do, I hope to change your mind (or at least get you to thinking) by the end of this. If you don't do Santa either, I hope you will agree with most of what I'm about to say. Here are some of the reasons we don't do Santa:

1. I need my beauty sleep. It's not easy keeping up this charming appearance that you are blessed to see each day. It would be devastating to have to get up in the middle of the night. Santa is obviously not concerned with his figure and appearance like I am.

2. It is a lie. I know it's just being creative, using your imagination, and going with the flow, but the fact is, its simply not true. There is no Santa, no north pole, no flying reindeer, no elves, no rudolph, no toy factory, no sleigh, and no delivering toys all around the world in one night. I'm sure I left some stuff out but you get the picture. One lie leads to the next. Its not just one little lie (although that wouldn't be alright either), it's a big, elaborate system of lies........to your very own children. The ones who trust you, look up to you, and want to be just like you.

3. It breeds receiving, not contentment and not giving. Children that are at this age soak up everything like a little sponge, not just words either, but also behaviors and actions. How many letters do they write asking for more things when they already have more than they could ever play with? The Bible is very consistent on its teaching to be content and to live a life full a service and giving. In fact, Paul goes so far as to say "God loves a cheerful giver." How are we going to teach our children to be cheerful givers if all we ask them is "what would you like from Santa this year?"

Paul also says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This is probably the most commonly misused verse in the Bible. This doesn't mean that we can fly off the couch like Superman or that we can hold our breath under water for three days because Jesus will give us the strength to do these supernatural things. The context of the verse is Paul in prison...suffering. This passage is one of being content, being happy with what you have, learning to make do with much or with little.

4. It's message communicates the exact opposite of Christ's. Santa has two lists......the naughty list and the nice list. If you are good enough, if you behave, if you earn it, then and only then will Santa bring you presents. Otherwise you will be getting switches and coal. The consistent teaching of the Bible is that we are saved by grace through faith "and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one may boast." Children earn Santa, but in reality no one can earn Christ.

5. Santa is not biblical, if anything, he is an idol. He comes before Jesus every Christmas. How many letters have children written to Jesus? How many times have they prayed to Jesus? I would be willing to bet its no where near the number that Santa gets. How many times do children bring up Santa in conversation around Christmas? How many times do they bring up Jesus? What about you in your conversation with children and not just your own? Chances are when you see a child you never say the first word about Jesus, but its "What is Santa bringing you for Christmas this year?" It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Santa is the focus (or idol) this time of year.

6. Santa is the world's way of taking Christ out of Christmas. The world always wants to take anything having to do with Jesus out of the spotlight. The Ten Commandments, the Pledge, Tim Tebow, you name it, they want it gone. Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the Incarnation, God "becoming flesh." He left the heavens to "dwell among men." He came "to save the world." The One who "grace and truth were realized through." What better way to distract everyone than to take the focus off of Him and onto someone who brings us anything we want if we behave. Is it not the same with Easter? A time that should be spent celebrating the Resurrection, is spent hunting for eggs laid by a rabbit! Another example of how the world takes out Christ and replaces Him with something else.

7. I don't like milk. My wife hates it when I eat a bowl of cereal and waste all that milk at the bottom. Of course I need my beauty sleep, but besides that, why would I want to disturb my beauty sleep to drink something that I don't even like?

8. Santa Claus originated from St. Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was born in the 200s in what is now the modern day country of Turkey. In his day the area was primarily Greek. His family was very wealthy. His parents died while he was at a young age. However, they were Christians and they raised him to be one who follows Christ. Upon inheriting a very large sum of money at the death of his parents, he chose not to blow it all on fancy things for himself, but rather to give all that he had to the poor, the sick, and the needy. I am certain he had James 1:27, 2:14-26, Luke 12:13-34 and many other passages in mind when set out help those in need. America has done an outstanding job of perverting what St. Nicholas intended to use to reach out as the hands and feet of Christ.

I am not trying to be holy or religious by not playing Santa, just wise. I never want to hear my children say, "Dad, is Jesus like Santa? A person you just made up?" I want to hear my kids say, "We are so thankful that Jesus came down to earth and made us a way to heaven and a way to restore our relationship with God."

I am not saying that playing Santa is sinful. I am asking you what Santa communicates to kids and to the rest of the world? I am asking you where your focus is during Christmas? I am asking you why you look so much like everyone else?

 We still put up a tree. We still send Christmas cards. We still give gifts....even to our kids. We still have dinner with our families. The difference is we do it as we keep Christ at the center, not an old, fat man, who lives at the north pole, flies behind reindeer and only shows up one time a year.

Joshua bravely says it like this, "Fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We are far from Egypt and the River. You don't live in the land of the Amorites, but you do live in the land of the Americans. They aren't much different from the Amorites. You have a decision to make in this land......choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve!

Country music, Christmas, and Christ

I have always wanted to write about country music, but have never taken the time. I actually thought about writing my theology and culture (a youth ministry class at bible college) paper on religious themes in country music. Then I found out that it had already been written about in the past by another student. Plus I really wanted to study cohabitation as a movement, so that's what I did.

Country music is very popular. When I was growing up that is the only thing I listened to (ok, so I had a little rap stage that I went through but it wasnt that long). Garth Brooks was my absolute favorite. I loved singing the song called "Rodeo," then there was "Friends in low Places" and all his other hits. Later it was Kenny Chesney and "Back Where I Come From," "She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy,"and all the hits that followed. Along with Kenny Chesney was Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire....you get the picture.

Today the country music scene has changed a little. I'm sure an older generation could say the same about the artists I mentioned above, because they remember the ones like Hank Williams Jr, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and all those. But now they have rolled over again. The big names now are Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Carrie Underwood, and Brad Paisley.

I don't know where they all stand in terms of their faith. I do know that in the beginning of Carrie Underwood's career she was a devout Christian who would always mention Christ when winning awards and things like that. One of her first singles was even titled "Jesus Take the Wheel." Sounds pretty biblical....right? I mean that's what I want. I want nothing more than to give Christ the steering wheel of my life and let Him drive me in the right direction. Then on the very same album as "Jesus Take the Wheel," there is a song called "Before He Cheats." I don't know how familar you are with that song, but the chorus goes like this:

I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4 wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires
And maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

Alot different than "Jesus Take the Wheel" right? I once heard Bro Barry Raper say the lyrics should have been "Jesus take the bat," which I thought was pretty funny. Then her next album goes on to a song called "Last Name." This is a song about a woman sleeping with a man and she doesn't even know his last name. I could go on with other songs but hopefully you get the point. There is a mix. There is no consistency. Jesus on one hand, sex with a guy you don't know on the other. And we wonder why Christians are being called hypocrites!

Country music has just enough talk about God, Jesus, heaven, devil, and church to make it dangerous. People hear those words and automatically justify listening to it. The truth is, there might be 1 out of every 5 songs that is actually worth listening to as a Christian (and that's being generous on my end). I'm talking about songs without any cussing, drinking, cheating, gambling, violence, and whatever else Christians should have nothing to do with. If the lyrics don't line up with your beliefs, why do you continue to enjoy it? In fact, how can you? Just because Brad Paisley sings "When I get where I'm going," that doesn't make it ok for him to sing "Bigger fish to fry" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiXjRg6O4wI, you really need to hear this if you haven't, BAD theology!). One song is supposedly "christian" and the other is basically mockery of the Gospel. Mockery might be a bad word, but I can guarantee that if you get your theology from that song, you will have serious problems in the future. Same singer, different message. Country music is about selling records and making money. Those people don't give two cents about your soul or what the Bible says. If they did, their music would prove it.

Every year during the country music christmas extravaganza (or whatever its called) my blood boils. It drives me crazy that they actually have the nerve to sing all that trash throughout the year, and then give one night to Christmas songs. There is something wrong if you can joyfully sing "My kind of party" one day and "O come all ye faithful" the next.

I know I have been hard on country music. I know you probably think I'm an idiot. And I'm not saying that listening to country music is a sin (you be the judge). I just want you to think about the words that you are letting inside your body, the temple. I'll guarantee they never went through Christ's temple. All I'm saying is think about what you are listening to. Don't just listen to it because someone else does, or even because you always have. Honestly, I would listen to nothing but Jason Aldean if I was not following Jesus. But, now I am following Him and I have a responsibility to act like it. You do the same. Music is powerful. Listen to something that gives glory to God, listen to something that builds your faith, listen to something that is biblical.

Always Learning

This past week, we had the opportunity to go to Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving. It was the first time that I have ever traveled on Thanksgiving. I figured it would be like a ghost town. I thought most people stayed home with their family. I tend to forget that most families are spread abroad since mine is not. In case you are wondering, Gatlinburg is the farthest thing from a ghost town at Thanksgiving! There were people everywhere! Apparently lots of people travel for the holidays. Many are probably meeting family halfway and things like that. I even heard one man say that he and his wife went there for their honeymoon and have been every year since. It has become a tradition. This was not the only thing I learned while I was gone. Please allow me to share a few.

1. Tony Roma's is a great place to eat a steak!

2. Hearing people say the word "you-uns" never gets old. I don't even know if that's how you spell it or not. I think I have seen it like this also "y'uns." Either way, it makes me laugh. I'm sure people laugh when I say y'all, so we can just laugh at each other.

3. False teeth entertain small children. This man who stayed at the B&B with us was very good with kids. Hudson took an immediate liking to him. Later on, he decided to show off one of his tricks. Every time Hudson would squeeze his nose, he would pop his bottom row of teeth out of his mouth and right back in. I must admit it was pretty funny. It definitely never got old to Hudson!

4. NEVER forget the stroller. We ended up spending $13 dollars in stroller rentals. Plus a dollar and some change at the candy store right beside the stroller rental station to break a twenty to get $1 bills to go in one of the rental machines.

5. People will lie in order to keep their children from finding out the tooth fairy isn't real. One of the ladies that worked where we stayed was telling us that her son looked in her jewelry box and found teeth amongst the jewelry. He couldn't believe it. He asked his mother where all those teeth came from and she said they were from an old halloween mask. Seriously?

6. Blue Mountain Mist is a great bed and breakfast to stay at. It is right outside of Pigeon Forge. The owners are good Christian people. I would be shortchanging you if I failed to tell about "temptation station." That is the area by the kitchen where they put out the delicious desserts. Probably around 6 or 7pm every day they put out two or three tasty desserts for you to snack on when you get in from supper. They also make one fine breakfast! I highly recommend it!

7. The Legend by Max is one bad Italian restaurant on the strip in Gatlinburg. When we got hungry, this was the closest place by to eat. My wife didn't really want it, but I convinced her that it would be good. WRONG! It was terrible, even the spaghetti. An Italian restaurant with bad spaghetti has no business opening its doors. (That should be a law.)

8. There are no coincidents. As we were eating at Italian nastiness, my wife got up the nerve to ask where our waiter was from. Due to the accent, we knew it wasn't from anywhere around here. Turns out he was from Russia. Of course, that is where our son, Hudson, is from. As we shared our adoption story, we were able to talk about the Lord.

9. There are lost people every where. At some point as we talked about the Lord, he claimed that he "was not very religious." To that I asked what he meant by religious. From there we entered into a discussion about creation, morality, humans, and Jesus. He didn't accept Christ but it was clear that he was searching for truth and purpose. We can only pray that we either planted or watered a seed. I hope to see him in heaven someday.

10. You can witness anywhere you are. Although I am always trying to think of ways to share the Gospel in all situations that I am in, I never expected to be doing it in an Italian restaurant in Gatlinburg with a man from Russia. It doesn't matter if you are getting your haircut, standing in line at the store, at work, at a ball game, at a family reunion, or sitting down to eat in a restaurant, people in those places need Jesus. No one is excused. No one can make their own deal with God. There is only one way to heaven.....through Jesus Christ.

11. We are weird. Ok, I already knew that but I didn't realize all the different ways. 1) We tell people about Jesus. We live in a day where this is rare, even for Christians. I don't know of very many Christians who talk about Jesus or the Bible or faith outside of the church walls. I can't help but wonder why this is. 2) We don't do santa or the easter bunny or the tooth fairy. Basically, we don't pretend that something is real when its not. Because of this some people look at us funny or think we are bad parents. More on this later.......

We can always be learning. It might be from a book, a person, a movie, or from vacation. Just like we can witness anywhere, we can learn anywhere. All you need to do is pay attention!

A God like us

As I was preparing for my Wednesday night class last week, I googled "pics of the christian God". This is one of the more common images that appear.



I understand that we have this desire to know what God the Father looks like. It is natural to wonder that. It is how our minds work. We want a face to go with a name. We aren't the first! Remember what Thomas said? "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Ever since Adam was banned from the Garden, I'm certain that most, if not all, have wondered what God looks like.

This is a picture on an atheist's website. (It seems a little strange for an atheist to have a picture of God on his website!)


I think this just goes to show that everyone has their own view of what God looks like. The bad part about most people's view is that they just simply aren't biblical.

There are only a few descriptions of God the Father in the New Testament. Here are the ones that come to my mind. 1) Colossians 1:15 "[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God......"  2) Hebrews 11:27 "..........for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen."  3) John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  4) 1 Timothy 1:17 "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever." I'm sure there are others. Those are just some that come to mind right off.

It seems clear to me that the Bible describes God as being invisible, unlike us. When we draw a picture of God, we draw a picture of a manlike being. Genesis 1:26 reveals God as saying, "Let Us make man in Our image and in Our likeness." He is not in our image, we are in His. I know its hard to think about God the Father without a body, but that is what the Bible teaches. We err when we create a God like us.

"The Age of the Screen"

It's always a good thing to take the kids to the doctor for a checkup. It's not so good when they have to get shots, but this last time wasn't too bad. Hollynn did fine, unlike the time before last when she ended up in the hospital due to vaccines. And Hudson didn't have to get any this time. Of course, learning that the kids are healthy is great, but I always enjoy hearing what their pediatrician has to say.

His name is Dr. Prine. He is a great doctor and a great christian man. He is always up to date on the latest findings and trends of young children. Two things that he said stood out on this last visit. 1) The percentage of young children that are obese is rising very quickly. He said it is approaching 50%. This is no surprise to me or to you either if you deal with many kids. The most alarming part about it was that alot of these kids were getting up to 20% of their calories from cokes. 20%!!!! Not to mention those are the worst calories anyone (kids and adults) could consume. Of course, we all already know this, we just choose to ignore it.

The second is one that you may not be aware of. It deals with the amount of time children are in front of some sort of screen. Notice I didn't say the show that is on the screen. It is the simply the fact of watching, not consuming the content. I would like to think that screening the content is an understood for responsible parents.



Now we need to go a step further beyond monitoring the content, but also monitor the amount of time. According to Dr. Prine, even "too much educational programming" is affecting children in a negative way. It wasn't only in one way either. He said that too much tv has an affect on all aspects of a young child's developement, socially, mentally, physically, and everything else in between.

The funny part was as soon as I got home, I read a post from Al Mohler's blog saying basically the same thing. His article stems from a recent meeting of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). That is the best part about it. This is not only a finding among Christians, but this is beginning to be reinforced by the secular world also. You can read Al Mohler's blog  (its way better than mine haha) at http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/10/21/in-the-danger-zone-raising-our-children-in-the-age-of-the-screen/.

I am not saying that tv, cell phones, computers, and all other screens are evil. Neither are they. It is just apparent that we have come to a place in America where we not only depend on them, but we abuse them. Reckon the food choices and screen time are tied to the obesity? Surely not.

Give it some thought and evaluate your situation. By the way, I would argue that this is not only true for children, but adults also. We just simply weren't made to sit in front of a screen 24/7. We are made to be social (face to face) and active.