Ele(mental) Challenges

Some folks get a new ball, and leave the old one out in the cold. Is the ball warped from the beginning, or does it grow warped from being uncared for? If so, perhaps it is time to be rid of it? The imperfect Christian thought about how some friends will do each other that way. We tell each other that we love each other, then bail when things get tough. In most cases we neglect to try or give that friend a choice. Jesus even gave Judas a choice. He knew what choice he was going to make, but He gave him the choice. God could have stopped him, He could stop us all, He did once, it was called the flood. But what is even more amazing... most will walk away from, or push away some, Jesus said to Judas, (paraphrasing) Friend, come do what you have to do. (Matthew 26:50) How amazing is that!? The person that was going to lead Him to death He called, "friend."

Peter is another example. Jesus said in front of all of his friends and cohorts... "Get behind me Satan!" (Matthew 16:23) Peter was hurt, but was strong enough to stay with Jesus and understand that Jesus didn't call him Satan, but rather that Jesus was calling Satan, out. He (Jesus) knew that Peter was influenced by the devil, and was not himself. Peter stayed the course, albeit he drifted, he stayed with Jesus. How many of us stick by friends, when times get tough, and even worse, how many of us stick with Jesus until times get tough. It seems more and more the only time we call on Him, or fellowship with him is when we need something.

Friends will leave you over a political figure. They will ditch you over someone that neither of you even know personally. Out of their element, and into the elements, a storm over something that little know what they are talking about, or whom it is that is involved. Sports are the same way. People argue over who has the best team, or that their favorite player is the best, and when someone disagrees, then they are satan, and no longer their friend. The imperfect challenge is to not sweat the small stuff, and not leave your friends out in the elements. Jesus calmed the storm, and brought His friends in with Him, we should strive to do the same.

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J

News From the World of Siv P

The latest news on where I've been or would like to be.

Where the imperfect Christian has been in his life:
LA is my old stomping ground, and there are times when the imperfect Christian misses it. The imperfect one was one of Sly's everyday people, he enjoyed Larry Graham's music as well, and was well impressed that Mr. Graham, and Prince hooked up to talk Christianity at one time. The imperfect Christian thinks Prince is a little more different in his being an imperfect Christian, but a searching Christian nonetheless, and prays for him each day. Like him or not, Prince is one of the most talented performers on the planet. Sly is a great performer in his own right, and it troubles the imperfect Christian to see him living out of a van, although, he claims to be happy in doing so.  
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/soul-music-star-sly-stone-now-homeless-in-la.html

Where the imperfect Christian has been today:
The DQ to get his Peanut Butter, and sugar fix! Five bucks, five minutes, five reasons to eat slower!
http://www.newcouponsfor.me/?path=28&cid=36&kw=dairy%20queen

Weather:
The 60% chance of sunshine is outweighing the 30% chance of rain for now... opppp, wait overcast, nope, suns back.
http://www.weather.com/

Sports:
College Football... good guys 2, bad guys 1. From a reliable source the UNC game could have been a lot worse, but a whole lot better!
NFL... good guys 3 bad guys 0. Yes the One Eyed Bandits to down the Jets! Monday Night Cowboys & Indians... Go Skins!!!
NASCAR... good guys in the chase, and holding their own, but the bad guy (Tony Stewart) has won two straight!
Baseball... good guys... 3 bad guys 3, but only one of the good guys have a shot at winning it all now. Come on Brew Crew! You all should know by now, that the Yankees threw the game against Tampa, so they could avoid the Red Sox... and the Braves choked... again!
Soccer... My guys on the road tonight. Git it did Mounties!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/

No, it really did happen that way!

Had a good day at work, and was on my way home, when I noticed traffic backed up. The south bound lane had a man with a cigar the size of a tee ball bat walking his grocery cart like his dog in the middle of the slow lane! Dude had on an Elmer Fudd hat, and a ganja man smoke, and just strutin' down the busiest road in the city at rush hour! Couldn't get my Storm out quick enough to take the pick, but today I am ready for whatever!

OK later that Monday evening I am on my way to my son's soccer game, my little girl is quoting Chappelle that she heard from her imperfect daddy! "Look no further fella, you found him!" she said proudly as I said hey where is so in so? Well upon safe arrival and not crashing the car from laughing at baby girl I three other groups of parents. One set left with a few of the JV players after the JV game was over. The Varsity game kicked in, and the opposing coach got too fired up! They introduced our squad, and the opposing coach came over and gave each of our guys a fist bump! He is the same coach that had his players stay in the rain and help our kids repair a sloppy field by filling in the divots last year, at our stadium. This coach is a class act! Well they kicked in some AC/DC Thunder Struck on the PA! The kids started bouncing and got pumped up, and the announcer belted out the players names! They all ran out with enthusiam toward their coach and gave him solid high fives, or a mean chest bump, or they gave him a fist bump or something. Then they shook hands with the ref. The Keeper rose from one knee, did a quick Hail Mary, made his Cross against his chest, pounded it like he was going into an MMA fight, and then raced out to his coach being the last player, and a gave him a thunderous up top ten!

It was a late night and a cold one. The game saw us get thumped pretty soundly, but the effort was a solid one. It almost hurts to write about how good the other guys are, so I will skip that part... : )

I got home, and saw that at least my Dodgers had faired well. Sweep the Cards, and on to the winner of the Phils and Rockies!

Well there you have it sports fans, the lightest sports blog I could muster!

Close

Close, but yet so far away...

I am certain that all of you have heard that one before. You get close and then you realize that you were light years away. I was as excited as a kid at Christmas on July 22nd. I was in the Georgia Dome, and had seats four rows from being on the field with Ro-Ro (Ronaldinho), my favorite soccer player of all time! But I was ions from being on the field with him! That's the way I view some many things now. I look at Jesus, and then I look at Judas, and satan. A man that I look up to and respect very dearly told me that we were all closer to Judas in our righteousness than we are to Jesus. Now that's not to say that daily we look to betray Jesus, that's just saying that Jesus alone made the perfect walk. The imperfect Christian knew this already, but needed a refresher. For example we look at a grid that shows a marker on top of the chart, and then in the middle we see another marker, and at the bottom one more. OK we put Christ at the top of the chart, and then we put Moses, Noah, and Paul toward the center. At the bottom goes lets say, Hitler, Bin Laden, and satan. Where do we as individuals go on that list? Well if I am mid way praise the Lord, but reality tells me that even being in the middle is a lot closer to the bottom than it is the top! Christ is up there by Himself. First He had the disciples asking, "who is the greatest Lord, who is closest to you?" Then He has people today ignoring Him and asking others where they stand in this day and age.

I stopped listening to a few Christian radio stations during the elections of '04. They bad mouthed every candidate accept the one that they chose. Every other candidate was the anti-Christ and the world would come unglued and off of its axis if their candidate did not take office. What did I do? I jumped off of the condemn the Pro-Choice people, and onto the condemn the extremist wagon. I am still in awe as to how people look at one form of murder, and sin, and completely overlook another. What I am saying is that in God's eyes a sin is a sin. To us we still have that justice balance. For example: if I curse you out in private you might get a little upset with me, and in God's eyes that's a sin. If I curse you out in public it's a little worse than the private curinsing, however, if I shoot thru your living room window I have waged a war! That too is a sin regardless, but being a mere mortal I would prefer the cursing. I prefer the cursing daily if need be before someone tried to kill me, or before I had to defend myself to the death.

It feels good to be close, but the imperfect one doesn't want to just get close, he desires to stay close and get involved. Involved in love, and not condemnation! Now I am not saying that I would lay down for just anything, I believe in standing for what's right, but I think the world could use a little more peace, rather than war. Well past my bed time, and the pizza has settled so hopefully I am tired enough to sleep through the night, and not experience too many nightmares. The morning may tell, until then imperfect brothers and sisters... Peace, Blessings, and Joy in Him!!! That real PB&J!!!

Mitch You Have Lost Your Mind!!!

I get home, and rest my eyes for a bit, my boys are making a camp fire, and baby girl comes running over from my mother's house to greet me with my daily fix of sugah. I go in the house, and wash my hands and get ready to put burgers on the grill. The NBA Draft i$ now $tarting. The Clippers nab Blake Griffin as the first pick just as everyone predicted. It was the later picks that became more interesting. A few teams passed over Mr. Run and Gun Curry, Tyler Hansbrough went to the Pacers, and then the T-Wolves gave the rights to Ty Lawson to Denver! Wayne Ellington went to the Timberwolves one spot ahead of the Lakers 29th Pick! But the Lakers had a chance to bring in Danny Green and what did they do? They pick up a kid named Beverly. Mickey Gamble was right...Mitch Kupchak has been in Southern California for too long! Well my burgers are done, and they were gone in a matter of minutes and the missus put together a mean batch of taters, and the night was pretty calm. Ty Boog and I had a chance to watch Brazil face a pretty tough integrated South African team, and it was a blessing in more than one way. One I had some quiet time with Tyg, and I was able to watch a nation unite on a playing field and overcome apartheid! So as the world makes changes for the better I pray that the Los Angeles and California sports organization's do too! Here are my requests:

Remove Al Davis from his position. Yes I know he has done a lot for football, and that he owns my favorite football team! I love Al, but you need to go! Second thought get Manny healthy and trade him for money that will bring in new young roid free players in for the future, and Third I a would pray that somebody commit Mitch Kupchak to Bellvue! He is insane! God was gracious enough to spare me a third heart break. Mitch wouldn't have picked Wayne Ellington, and I would have screamed imbecile all through my house! He would then look over Danny Green not once, but twice! Yes he got a fist full of dollars on the first pick, but really Mitch not getting Green on the early second round pick!? Come on! Mitch really, have you lost your mind?!