I'll be back....

"Sorry", for those of you who read my blog...all two of you. It's been very busy lately. I'll try and post something of value in the next few days or so....unless it is equally busy =)

Marijuana, the Christian and California

Why are drugs wrong or more pointedly, why is the use of illegal drugs(defining illegal drugs as “pot,” “lsd,” “crack”, “cocaine,” etc...) wrong for the Christian? Many Christians I talk with seem to point to the fact that drugs such as Marijuana are wrong for the Christian because it is illegal to use them and because it does damage to the body that is the “holy” Temple.

First and foremost, drug abuse is illegal. It is not just certain narcotics and other drugs that are off the streets that are illegal, but all drug abuse is. Taking certain drugs, even morphine can be legal with the prescription of a doctor. But taking morphine can also be illegal. So legality for a Christian is something that is not just a small thing to consider. We are called to obey, be in submission to and respect authority and even the government. Second, your body is a “temple” and it is important to be a good steward. But what if you live in the Netherlands and can go to a “café” and purchase what would be illegal here but is legal there like Marijuana? What if our society removes the illegal aspect? What would Christians do? What if there was some type of medical research that shows that marijuana and shrooms are good for the body, what would Christians do? What should we do?

Well that time may soon be approaching. There are already studies that show the medicinal purposes of drugs like marijuana, which is why California has selectively legalized it as a pain reliever. However, it soon will be a talking point politically again due to the ability to raise significant funds to balance our insanely out of whack budget in the great state of California. In fact, a recent article I read today quotes California tax officials stating that a state proposal to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue. Do you really think that Crazy Californians will approve tax increases over legalized pot revenue? If the people in this state vote for and pass legistation for bigger crates for the comfort of chickens over issues such as abortion, well.... So if you remove the fact that it is illegal and it is harmful, then is it wrong? Though the bible contains references to “Mary” you won’t find “Mary Jane” or any other references to specific drugs. But I believe there are strong biblical reasons for the Christian to refrain from such drug use which I’ll post later. Let me know what you think.

The Logos Bible Giveaway

If you are interested in free bibles, Logos is doing one of the coolest giveaways that I have seen. They are giving away 12 premium bibles for the next six months. There are 5 different ways to win so check it out.



Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

Thinking of Zim

Above is a picture I took on a country road in Zimbabwe. I've been thinking about Zim often lately. It's been pretty busy so I haven't posted recently and I am preparing to preach in our main service this upcoming Sunday, on Psalm 2. As I think through that wonderful Millennial Kingdom Psalm (guess you know my eschatological persuasion), I am reminded of the national, economic and spiritual instability of so many nations. People really do plot in vain and rebel against the Messiah thinking that Biblical standards are shackles and ropes that tie the hands. They think they can plan a sucessful coup but the One who is enthroned in heaven laughs mockingly at their feeble attempts. Yet the scary thing is that the King of Kings will rule with a rod of iron and will shatter them like clay pottery. The same "rod of iron" that is described in Psalm 2:9 is described in Revelation 19:15 when Christ returns. If you are rightly related to Christ, i.e. saving faith, then you can take shelter in him (Ps 2:9). If you do not have a relationship with Christ, then it truly is a scary thing to fall into the hands of an Angry God (2:12). One day every king shall bow to the King of Kings. One day every nation will be ruled by the Righteous King. One day all peoples everywhere will confess that He is King. No more terrorism, no more economic woes, no more genocide, no more tyranny. I look forward to the "Return of the King" who will be King over Zim and every other nation.

The Dollar That Traveled Ten Thousand Miles and Back Again

The picture of the dollar bill is one that I got in Zimbabwe during my bartering time at a flea market. Zim’s economy is in shambles but has gotten slightly better since they switched from their own printed currency to that of the US Dollar. The high inflation rates eventually caused the Zim dollar to be worthless and everyone who had money in the bank or retirement funds lost everything in the switch. Yet I find it fascinating that another country can make the US dollar its own currency. Since it is obviously not printed there, people have to rely on others bringing in the dollar. When you go into a grocery store, you cannot get change in the form of coins. So if you buy a Coke and it costs $1.30, then you can give the exact price, find something else for 70 cents or pay $2. On one of my last days there, I bought a coke and a candy bar that totaled $1.90 and decided I didn’t want to look for something for 10 cents. Yet that 10 cents that I disregarded could buy a package of soup. I have seen people scour for things to add for 40 cents. This is even more humbling when you consider the average person in Zim makes $100 a month. So 10 cents is a lot. It was yet again another lesson for me, one that I have seen in other countries but it still hits hard.

I was reminded about this dollar a few days ago at the Burbank Airport on my way to San Jose for a few days. After clearing security for the 8th time in two weeks, I went to buy 2 Dr. Peppers. The guy at the register gave me a total for $6.56 and I laughed….but he was serious. Two sodas for that much, well I was at an airport and they are known for that. Well, I really wanted a DP so I pulled out my cash and there it was, starring at me….a dirty dollar bill that traveled 10,000 miles and back again.

Yesterday I read an article from a Zim online news site. It is called “Can I have a Dollar please?” If you want to read it, and I suggest that you do, you can find it at zimbabwejournalists.com. The gist of the story is that the writer looks at the hard times that everyone is feeling but especially in the rural areas. A cousin, who was only 37 years old dies. This brings a rare occasion for those in the city and those in the rural areas together. So the writer shares the story of how his uncle, who use to live in the village recognizes one of the grave diggers, a former classmate is elementary school. They catch up on old times and this man, aged and broken over the burdens of life in the rural areas asks for a dollar. The request makes him uncomfortable but he asks anyway. He only wanted one dollar. He had never even seen a dollar before. Why did he want a dollar? To process Maize-Meal so he could have Sadza, a thick doughy substance that is the staple food in Zim. Everyone eats Sadza. Yet he needed a dollar to process the maize meal so it could become Sadza. Since he couldn’t afford it, he and his family had been eating boiled maize meal. The only thing I can compare it to for us in the States is being used to eating mashed potatoes growing up and then having only the ability to eat raw potatoes because you lacked one thing to have it mashed. One dollar because his children want Sadza instead of boiled maize meal. Needless to say, that dollar that I looked at as I used other cash to pay for my DP’s makes me uncomfortable in my comfortable re-entry to the US.

The Long Journey Home

Well, after two plus days of travel, I am finally home. Last night was a challenge in sleeping. "Lag" is a mild term describing what the Jets did to me. It was a great trip. I was sad to leave so many wonderful Christians. Zimbabweans are such a sweet people. Yet it was good to be home. I left on Saturday afternoon and didn't arrive home until Sunday afternoon which was really Monday early morning in Zim time. Today I'll spend some time putting thoughts to pen and paper. I'll also try and highlight several aspects in the next couple of weeks too. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Continue to pray for Thomas, Dany and Sam.

Thanks for Praying

Thomas is doing better. He had a fever, the chills, was dizzy and weak. The hospital checked for malaria and it came back negative. They think it was a virus and he is sleeping today. Thank you for praying. Continue to pray for him and for us.

Without him, we're kind of in a holding pattern. We went to a flea market and mall today. You can tell the economy has really impacted people here. Many shops were closed and Mrs Hodzi told me it use to be very busy here. The traffic lights don't even work in many places because there is no money to change the lights. They are using US currency but they don't print it and its hard for them to make change here. No banks and no ATM's. I actually found a 50 billion Zimbabwe dollar on the ground. It's worthless. The average income per month here is 100 US dollars a month.

Many are suffering but they are such a happy and friendly people too. If you know Thomas than you know Zimbabweans. Kind, sacrificial and very sweet. Even in the flea market where I was enjoying bartering, they were friendly and I never felt pushed (which is different for flea markets).

Well, its two more days here and I leave to come home. I am homesick but mostly I miss my wife. It will be a great Sunday! I'll try and update before I head out but I'll have much to say when I am home and able to post pictures.