ChetOS.net

I finished reading Frank Viola's Pagan Christianity for the second time the other day.  

Forget for a minute that he is biased towards house churches and "organic Christianity" (whatever that actually means).  The questions he raises in his book are perfectly valid.  And I believe that many (but not all) of his conclusions are correct.

The Restoration Movement has always been about returning us to the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.  As we have introduced worldly thinking into Christianity, it has been diminished.

I fail to see how we can be upset when modern Christianity is diluted with neo-paganism but get mad a Frank for pointing out that our whole history has been one of dilution with occasional factions that attempt restoration (Protestantism, Reformation, Restoration).  None of these movements get it perfect, just closer.  I think Frank's book provides an impetus for us to move even closer.

I don't agree with everything in the book, particularly his view of the Lord's Supper and the role of Christian Education (or lack thereof), I think we need to "test everything and hold on to the good."

Excellent read: Restoring Movement to the Restoration Movement by Dr. Roger Chambers

Abdul Kalam, former President of India, is giving a speech at UCF today about his World Space 2050 vision.  Basically we need to build an international body to explore space.  He is also pushing for no militarization of space so that it will be owned by everyone, rather than individual countries.

If outer space provides anything of value, then it will be fought over and militarized.  In the short term, if the moon has any valuable resources (minerals, colonial expansion opportunities, strategic/tactical advantages, even astrographic benefits, etc) then there will be people/countries that want access and will want to prevent access.  This is the recipe for battle.

Space also provides a "high ground" for Earth, so above and beyond extra-terrestial colonization (which is a good enough reason to fight on its own), control of it means potential control and reconnaisse of all earth-based activies.  This is something that our enemies will want to prevent, therefore battle.

It's politically sensitive, but it's going to happen. Some people don't want to hear this, and it sure isn't in vogue but -- absolutely -- we're going to fight in space. We're going to fight from space and we're going to fight into space...
General Joseph W. Ashy
Former Commander-in-Chief U.S. Space Command (1994 - 1996)

Even though there is a lot of it (space, that is), any place of value that we can reach will be fought over.  Anyone who thinks that we could live in a universe where we will not fight over a resource is ignoring history.

If we have learned anything from history, it is that men haven't learned anything from history.

Sometimes people skirt debate and disagreement by beating you with a club engraved with the word "Unity".

Not allowing people to disagree and thoughtfully working out issues causes isolation and despondence.  If we want openness and honesty in church, and society, we must be allowed to express our thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

Disagreement is not an anathema to unity.  True unity only comes through resolution, not simple insistence that we be unified.

Today is my last day at Manatron, Inc. (which purchased Software Techniques at the beginning of the year).

I go to a better place, but I leave many friends behind.

Monday I start as a software engineer at Clear Village, a company that specializes in automating government processes.