Rich Mullins, October 21, 1955 - September 19, 1997

Today is a somber anniversary.  The 15th anniversary of the passing of Rich Mullins.  I actually had the pleasure, scratch that, the privilege of getting to know Rich.  Rich used to do praise & worship at Pro-Life rallies before Operation Rescue National came to Wichita in 1991.

I think it was in the early Spring of 1991 I came to Wichita for a weekend (I was living in Ingalls, KS) for a weekend of saving babies at Tillers abortion clinic.  We always had praise, worship, & prayer on the Friday nights before we went out Saturday mornings to save babies & since Rich lived here in Wichita at the time he quite often would take time out of his busy schedule to lead our praise & worship (yes, the praise & worship was extremely Holy Spirit empowered!).

This one Friday night at the end of the service people were asked to raise their hands if they needed a place to stay as local people graciously opened their homes for out of towners.  I raised mine & Rich invited me to his place.  I found out what a truly humble man he really was.

Later that year at the conclusion of the Summer of Mercy we hosted had a weekend long nationwide rally here in Wichita at which I was one of the two people in charge of VIP security, bodyguard if you will.  I shadowed Rich & most other VIP's that weekend including several very prominent world renowned Christians.  I will never forget going out to eat with Rich & several other musicians after the Friday night concert.  Some of the things that Rich said that night still to this day blow my mind!  In fact some of what Rich said took several years for me to fully comprehend the depth, complexity, and the insight to what Rich had to say!

Move forward six years.  Rich was scheduled to play a "homecoming" concert at LD Stadium, here in Rich's adopted home town of Wichita on Saturday, September 20, 1997.  In the dark of the previous night Rich & Mick were heading to Wichita in Rich's Jeep when for an unknown reason the Jeep lost control, overturned, & Rich was killed.  That night LD Stadium sat eerily dark, silent, & empty.  No concert, no joyful homecoming, just a lot of hugging & crying trying to somehow fit the misplaced pieces of the end of Rich's life together. 

A couple of days later I heard a report that at the time of Rich's accident and death there was in the sky a very bright and pronounced shooting star.  I still wonder to this day if Rich went to heaven like Elijah. 

2 Kings 2:11 (NLT)  "As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven."

Here's a link to a YouTube for Rich's song "Creed."  If you're familiar with the South-Central Kansas area you'll notice that the first part of the video was shot out by Eldorado Lake.

http://youtu.be/5Tpq4MoRVV4

Here's the song that made Rich a household name in the Christian community, "Awesome God."  Please pay attention to what Rich has to say at the start of the video.  Those words will give you a slight glimpse into to heart of Rich Mullins.

http://youtu.be/MJL_bChiTI0

Rich Mullins

October 21, 1955 - September 19, 1997

God of Hope, Strength, & Love

Hey, so what I'm about to say might sound bad, and so does starting off with that line, but hey it's true. It also might encourage you to stop reading, great even better. Okay here it is, are you ready, here we go: I support traditional marriage, meaning one man, one woman, and sex inside marriage only. Woah, shocker right? A Christian standing by their Bible based beliefs? Don't worry I'm a bit surprised myself. I'm like a teenage girl version of Dan Cathy, you know the Chick-Fil-A, traditional marriage guy. Wait, wait before you stop reading, listen, well look actually at what else I have to say. 

I do like gays, scratch that, I love gays, or at least try to. I try to love everyone, it's a Jesus follower thing. This past school year I had a friend come out to me that they were gay. After they told me I told them you know my views, but I'm here for you no matter what, and that was that. We're still friends, we just have different beliefs, and we don't try to shove our beliefs down the other's throat. C'mon you don't make friends by doing stuff like that, it's just not very friendly...

Actually with that being said that leads me into my next little point thing. I have no intention whatsoever to change anyone's views, get them to think, yes, a 180 view change, no. Also the last thing I'm here to do is judge, I have no right to. I am just as human as the next person, and I think we all are aware of how humans can be; very humany wumany. (Hehe Doctor Who reference for all the nerds)

Hey the only way I can say something like, "I only support traditional marriage," is if I have some to back it up. My back up, I am absolutely 100% convinced there is a God in heaven, the God of the Bible, and he is the only God. Now, I must confess, that I have had my fair share of doubts, but maybe my doubts are what lead to my rock solid faith. I had to doubt to God to really know he was there, kinda ironic really.

For me I have no reason to support homosexuality, because my God, the God of the Bible abhors it. Why would I support something that goes against everything I believe in? It makes no sense, so I don't. I hear so often, "But God creates people how he wants them to be." True he creates them with the power to choose; the power to choose him or the power to choose the world. He wouldn't be a loving God if he forced us to choose him. Since he gives us the choice, who am I to judge, who am I to condemn? I'm not, and I try not to, but as a Christian I'll be the first to admit I fail... miserably. I only fail though because I try doing it in my power. I forget that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Phillipians4:13

I believe in God because of who he is and what he's done, not just in my life, but in the lives of others. If someone can give hope to the hopeless, then there's something there worth following. If he can take the kid headed to jail, caught up in gangs, there's gotta be something going on here. If he can take the formerly gay or the woman in the Roe v. Wade case and do a 180 on them, then this is someting huge. If the God of the universe takes time to transform the lives of individuals everywhere, then he's someone worth getting to know. But if he's never done any of this, then he's not worth it. If he's done even just one of these he's so worth it, but if he's done all of this and more, then he's indescribable. The God I believe has done all of this in more, so I give my life to follow God, not the world, cause my God is greater.

Obama Invited to New Hampshire NASCAR Race

Here's a great headline for you!

President Obama Invited to New Hampshire NASCAR Race, Has Tickets Waiting On Him.

Jerry Gappens, President of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, sent out a press release stating that he has left free tickets to the July 15th NASCAR Sprint Cup race.  Many are questioning not only the motives but even the sanity of Jerry Gappens doing this.  Here's my take on it.

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Great move by Jerry Gappens!  Anyone want to guess on the chances of Obuma actually showing up?  I'd say those chances are somewhere between zip, zero, zilch, & not a chance! 

Why did Jerry Gappens do this?  My guess is that it is two-fold.  First it's a publicity stunt, that's the biggest reason.  If Obuma really wanted to come to the race you wouldn't see him or any of his entourage at the Will Call window.  They'd plan this well in advance, spend millions of our tax dollars on his security detail & the logistic costs which include both Air 1 & Marine 1.

The biggest reason I'm hoping Jerry Gappens did this is to expose Obuma's bitter discontempt for everything NASCAR stands for.  These include the freedom to openly & publicly pray to Jesus or to whomever we choose, open & blatant support of our military personnel, & the open support of American business.

The policies of the liberal left & Obuma have severely damaged the livelihood of all Americans & no one knows this better then the fine folks at NASCAR who now are having to deal with declining attendance & corporate sponsorship due to the simple fact that people in this country are hurting financially & just can't afford a weekend, or even a day at the races anymore.

Obuma couldn't pick a much more hostile environment to show up to then a NASCAR race.  This would be the irony of all ironies of this election year if Obuma showed up.  But then on the other hand none of the people I associate with have ever accused Obuma of "being of a far superior mindset." 

Maybe Obuma will show up & be ran right back out of town.  Either way this is a great move by Jerry Gappens!

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Be Blessed!

Big

2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Shelby GT500

If you're a car lover like me you gotta watch this! I've owned several Mustangs over the years & driving this one is now on my bucket list!!!

Awesomeness Defined!!!

2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Shelby GT500

Coscience Act

In today's Wichita Eagle newspaper there is an aritcile titled " Brownback signs ‘conscience act’ letting pharmacists refuse to provide drugs they believe might cause abortion."  http://www.kansas.com/2012/05/14/2334608/brownback-signs-conscience-act.html#storylink=cpy 

Needless to say those that oppose freedom, especially the Right to Life, have been screaming their heads off in the comments section of this article.  I've lost track already in the number of posts I've made here refuting the rantings of the liberal leftists which have included avocation up to and including socialistic Nazism! 

Here's the one definitive post that I made that sums up what this "Conscience Act" is all about. 

Let me try to focus on the real issue here.  Insuring the right of an individual to not be compelled, coerced, or forced to perform a task or labor to which they are ethically or morally opposed to.  This is a matter of freedom people, not about the taking away of one's rights.  Forcing someone to perform a task or labor to which they are ethically or morally objected to is not freedom.  At best its socialism.  At worst its tyranny! 

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it the abortion proponents that are screaming for "freedom of choice?"  If those of you who are abortion proponents truly believe what you say should not that "freedom of choice" extend to all people or are you being hypocritical?

This law does nothing to prohibit a woman from acquiring Plan B, RU-486, or any other abortifactant.

Here's the words of German Pastor Martin Niemöller, Anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor.  Arrested & held without due process by Nazis 1937 - 1945.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

"Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It."  George Santayana (1905) Reason in Common Sense, volume 1 of The Life of Reason

I for one will not stand by while the rights of others are taken away one by one.  I remember what has happened in the past & I will fight so that we as a country will not repeat it.

Where do you stand?  Please give me feedback!

Be Blessed!

BIG

When Nothing Created Everything

Sometimes I run across something that someone else has penned that I find worthy of sharing. This is just that case. Here is a satirical piece by a fellow by the name of Joe Carter. Please read it & see if it makes any sense to you as it is what is being taught in our public schools and universities today.

Be Blessed!

Scott

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When Nothing Created Everything

By: JOE CARTER

I've decided to take the elements of materialism and shape them into a purportedly accurate, though mythic, narrative. This is what our culture has been missing for far too long – a creation story for young atheistic materialists.

Throughout history people have been awed and thrilled by retellings of their culture's creation story.

Aztecs would tell of the Lady of the Skirt of Snakes, Phoenicians about the Zophashamin, and Jews and Christians about the one true God – Jehovah. But there is one unfortunate group – the children of atheistic materialists – that has no creation myth to call its own. When an inquisitive tyke asks who created the sun, the animals, and mankind, their materialist parents can only tell them to read a book by Carl Sagan or Richard Dawkins.

But what sort of story are they likely to find? Should they be told, as famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking claims in his recent book The Grand Design that “the universe… create[d] itself from nothing”?

Since Hawking's explanation is a bit too drab and nonspecific for bedtime reading I've decided to take the elements of materialism and shape them into a purportedly accurate, though mythic, narrative. This is what our culture has been missing for far too long – a creation story for young atheistic materialists.

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In the beginning was Nothing, and Nothing created Everything. When Nothing decided to create Everything, she filled a tiny dot with Time, Chance, and Everything and had it expand. The expansion spread Everything into Everywhere carrying Time and Chance with it to keep it company. The three stretched out together leaving bits of themselves wherever they went. One of those places was the planet Earth.

For no particular Reason – for Reason is rarely particular – Time and Chance took a liking to this little, wet, blue rock and decided to stick around to see what adventures they might have. While the pair found the Earth to be intriguing and pretty, they also found it a bit too quiet, too static. They fixed upon an idea to change Everything (just a little) by creating a special Something. Time and Chance roamed the planet, splashing through the oceans and sloshing through the mud, in search of materials. But though they looked Everywhere, there was a missing ingredient that they needed in order to make a Something that could create more of the same Somethings.

They called to their friend Everything to help. Since Everything had been Everywhere she would no doubt be able to find the missing ingredient. And indeed she did. Hidden away in a small alcove called Somewhere, Everything found what Time and Chance had needed all along: Information. Everything put Information on a piece of ice and rock that happened to be passing by the former planet Pluto and sent it back to her friends on Earth.

Now that they had Information, Time and Chance were finally able to create a self-replicating Something which they called Life. Once they created Life they found that it not only grew into more Somethings, but began to become Otherthings, too! The Somethings and the Otherthings began to fill the Earth – from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the sky. Their creation, which began as a single Something, eventually became millions and billions of Otherthings.

Time and Chance, though, where the bickering sort and were constantly feuding over which of them was the most powerful. One day they began to argue over who had been more responsible for creating Life. Everything (who was forever eavesdropping) overheard the spat and suggested that they settle by putting their creative skills to work on a new creature called Man. They all thought it was a splendid plan – for Man was a dull, hairy beast who would indeed provide a suitable challenge – and began to boast about who could create an ability, which they called Consciousness, that would allow Man to be aware of Chance, Time, Everything, and Nothing.

Chance, always a bit of a dawdler, got off to a slow start, so Time, who never rested, completed the task first. Time rushed around, filling the gooey matter inside each Man's head with Consciousness. But as he was gloating over his victory he noticed a strange reaction. When Man saw that Everything had been created by Time, Chance, and Nothing, his Consciousness filled with Despair.

Chance immediately saw a solution to the problem and took the remaining materials she was using to make Consciousness to create Beliefs. When Chance mixed Beliefs into the gray goo, Man stopped filling with Despair and started creating Illusions. These Illusions took various forms – God, Purpose, Meaning – and were almost always effective in preventing Man from filling up with Despair.

Nothing, who tended to be rather forgetful, remembered her creation and decided to take a look around Everything. When she saw what Time and Chance had done on planet Earth she was mildly amused, but forbade them to fill any more creatures with Consciousness or Beliefs (which is why Man is the only Something that has both). But Nothing took a fancy to Man and told Time and Chance that when each one's Life ran out, she would take him or her and make them into Nothing too.

And that is why, children, when Man loses his Life he goes from being a Something created by Time and Chance into becoming like his creator – Nothing.