1 Peter

1 Peter 2: 17-25

In this passage, Peter talks about the way we should live a good and upright kind of lifestyle. He states that this can be accomplished if we love and respect one another, fear God, and submit to our Earthly authorities. And he also says that if we do live for the Lord, we will surely suffer for the Lord, as well.

Jesus led a sinless life, and yet He suffered greatly for it. To me, Christ set the ultimate example of how to live, and how to suffer. In Luke chapter nine, Jesus says to us, "Take up your cross daily and follow me." And, I think, that in our day to day living, the more we live our lives like Christ, the more we will be treated like Him, and more we will suffer like Him. John 15:18 and 19 says "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own." Surely, if we are not experiencing any persecution on any level, then we must be leading a lifestyle opposite to that of Christ's.

We have to keep our hope and faith, and remind ourselves that God only gives us problems or puts us in situations that He knows that we can handle (1 Cor. 10:13). So, when you think about it, the greater the suffering that we endure for God, the greater His confidence in our faith. So, we can actually consider it an honor whenever God chooses us to suffer for Him.

(1Peter 2:17-25)
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth."

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for giving us this day. Thank you for your holy Word, and for being very clear in your instruction to us on how to live our lives. Help us to remember and apply the principles of this passage during the coming week. Remind us that Christ is our example, and we should strive to live like Him at all costs. Give us the wisdom to recognize that suffering for you is a daily part of the Christian walk, and give us the strength to grow in faith and continue on that walk. Amen.

Public DNA

Recently, DNA has been brought to the forefront of social attention. Whether it be CSI and NCIS, or it be the massive media coverage of such cases like the Duke University Lacrosse scandal or other cases where people are convicted or exonerated because of DNA evidence. It’s apparent that DNA wields undeniable power in the courtroom and in the public eye.

CoDIS (Combined DNA Index System) is the national database of DNA profiles. It is actually a collection of state, local, and federal databases. So who is actually in CoDIS? Well, right now, all people convicted of a felony offense, all evidence from unsolved cases, and a few others get tested and uploaded into the national chain. Things are working effectively and properly, but some want that to change.

In the early 1990’s, states began passing laws ordering the collection of DNA samples from offenders of murders, rapes, and other violent felonies. This rapidly changed to offenders of all felonies. This is all very good and useful. In 1998, however, officials proposed taking DNA samples from all misdemeanor offenders, and now proposals currently on the table of state legislatures are contemplating collecting DNA from all arrestees. There is no proof anywhere that people arrested for petty crimes are any more likely to commit violent crimes than any other member of the general population. And the word on the street is that movements to take DNA from the entire population are in the near future.

Collecting DNA from the entire population is ridiculous. A few of the major reasons why are easily derived. First is the simple fact that most people are not and never will be criminals of any kind, much less violent offenders. Why then must we surrender our privacy to politicians with needles? And, do we really trust the government with our DNA profiles. Although our DNA profile does not include things like a physical description, home address, or social security number, it does last forever. Our genetic profile will be the same the day we’re born to the day we die (barring any bone marrow transplants), and it will rest eternally in hanging folders and on computer screens in buildings across the country, available to anyone with access. Another problem is the unsettling notion of the types of people with this access. I just have visions of weak willed police officers being paid off or accusation happy prosecutors indignantly pointing crooked fingers when they find an innocent person’s DNA at a crime scene even if there was a legitimate reason for it to be there. On a more fundamental level, labs that test the blood and oral swabs to develop useable profiles are not perfect. Although error rates among accredited labs are very low, they still exist. As long as human beings are responsible for the bench work, there will certainly be mistakes.

Right now, America needs to focus our energies on the task at hand. That’s the testing of all convicted felons. Across the nation, huge backlogs of convicted offender samples rest neatly arranged in boxes, on shelves, in closets, waiting for their day to be profiled. Some wait several months while their donors may be responsible for unsolved crimes. And worse yet, some of these criminals may have been released from prison and are at large in the general public. This resolution of all convicted felons has to be accomplished and can be by improving existing laboratories, and recruiting and training new DNA analysts. The technology in the forensics field is amazing, it just needs to get put to use.

DNA databanks are an extremely useful tool in the discovery and indictment of criminals, and there is an unlimited benefit in the expansion of DNA databanks, as long as it is done in an ethical and just manner. Don’t let these databanks be turned into overgrown bargaining chips for bureaucrats or means for wrongful imprisonments. Let’s work together to give the innocent their privacy and keep CoDIS for whom it was intended: criminals.

i am

I AM: a work in progress, in all aspects: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I WANT: true happiness, or a boat, whichever.

I HATE: food chewed with the mouth open, and being late.

I MISS: a few of my friends from college and even fewer from high school, but I truly miss those few.

I FEAR: that I won't be able to make my wife happy, that I won't be able to provide her the kind of life she desires.

I HEAR: that people can live richly without a lot of money (so I hear).

I WONDER: what people hear when they chew their food with their mouth open in a quiet room.

I REGRET: my lack of effort in my relationship with my dad, sister, and God.

I AM NOT: a liar or a hypocrite, uh, er...

I DANCE: at work, behind closed doors and thick walls.

I SING: like a bird, a crow (carry the light)

I CRY: when I watch Rudy.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: in control of myself and therefore not always a good example of a Christian.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: sweat.

I WRITE: with the hope of receiving complements.

I CONFUSE: myself when I try to study God's Word.

I NEED: to go to bed, but also I need words of affirmation from my wife.

I SHOULD: be a better servant, friend, son, brother, and husband.

I START: too many projects and books.

I FINISH: my dinner, guaranteed.

Gideon and faith

This is a little embarrassing, but until recently, I didn't know what the Gideons group was. I viewed them as somewhere between a protestant denomination and Jehovah's Witness. Well, my grandfather joined the Gideons and I decided that I had better learn a little more.
Gideon's story can be found in the Old Testament in chapters six and seven of the book of Judges. Gideon was a scrawny, unimpressive man whom God selected to save Israel from the army of Midian. Even after an angel appeared to Gideon to deliver this awesome news, Gideon was unsure. He tested God by asking Him for a series of ridiculous signs, all of which God graciously fulfilled. By doing this, his faith in God's promise of victory went from pathetically weak to mediocre at best.
Before Gideon's army of 32,000 men engaged in battle, God told him that he had too many soldiers. He separated 300 men out to enter into battle and sent the rest home. Using a little trickery and excellent military technique, Gideon's men defeated the Midians, who were "as thick as locusts, and whose camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore."
Why? Why the diminutive group of men led by a shrimpy man with weak faith to take on a well equipped and fully staffed army? Well, think about it. Now, you tell me, who was responsible for Gideon's victory? Gideon was no four star general, he was no military strategist. It would be impossible for him to best the Midians without some supernatural help. It sort of seems as if God was setting Gideon up to fail, when in fact, He was setting Himself up to receive the glory of the victory. I love the way God uses the most unlikely of people to bring the giants of this world to their knees. If you think God is calling you to do something you think is impossible, listen closely to what God may be saying to you. Even if your faith is weak, He won't turn His back on you. He honors your faith, and He will use you for great things, if you'll just let Him.

By the way - The Gideons International expresses its mission as follows: To win others for the Lord Jesus Christ through association, personal testimony, and placing the Bible-God's Holy Word.

Luther quickly

Last Saturday morning, I attended my monthly Church History class (that's right I said Church History) which is held at my church and led by my pastor. We are just now beginning the Reformation Period, so we spent most of our time on Martin Luther. Now, I must disclaim that I am NOT a bible scholar, nor am I a historian, nor am I educated to any significant degree in any kind of Christian theology whatsoever. So, if you have a question, you will probably have to wait for an answer, until I can adequately research the topic, or until I give up completely and refer you to someplace else. And I highly recommend, as my pastor says, please don't take my word for anything, check my work against the scriptures. Okay, now back to Luther. He was an awesome man, who probably saw God more clearly than anyone in his time. He did many great things, not only for the reformation of the church, but also for Christians everywhere, in his time and those to come. One of the great things about my pastor, is that he doesn't sugarcoat anything. He'll give it to you straight up, and to be honest, sometimes that's very uncomfortable. Well, he began to tell us some of Luther's flaws. He listed some of his character shortcomings, as well as some of his misguided publications. Luther is a very interesting subject, one that I would like to pursue further. I think it would not only be edifying mentally, but also spiritually. The take home message of the day is - "The best of men, are men at best." Not sure who said that originally, but still a humbling and hope giving reminder that even the most righteous man is still part of the fallen race and cannot taste God's kingdom without the redeeming power of Christ.

Introduction

Greetings to you the reader from me the first time writer/blogger. As you can probably tell, apart from the initial test, this is my maiden posting. As you will soon be able to see, I am very interested in a wide range of topics. And while I do possess some knowledge in many areas, I am a master of none.
I have to tell you that I've been seriously considering creating this blog for at least two months. Why have I waited so long, you ask? Well, I believe in honesty, so here you go. While I do have to factor in a busy schedule and a significant portion of laziness, the chief reason has to do with my writing ability. I enjoy writing, but I only write when I have to. My wife and family tell me that I am a good writer, and so my authoring ego is inflated. See, I am the kind of person who is afraid of failure. Thus, I would rather not try than risk bombing. I consider this a big step for me. And please don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not fishing for compliments, I'm just laying it out there for you. We shall see.

test post

Obviously this is a test post, so, please regard this post as a test post, as that is what it is, a test post. link Now, a test post draft.