Owner: my friend ivan URL:http://natewatson.blogspot.com Join Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:12:04 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Christian, non-emergent, leaning orthodox, non-postmodern, slightly political, writings of a guy in his late 20's Site statistics:Click here
Russian Doomsday Cult 2008-04-02 21:29:00 I was impressed with myself when recently I was offered the opportunity to join a local religious cult. Yes, I have arrived.I have long been fascinated by the belief systems of modern cults. I admire their tenacity and commitment to belief. Labeling a movement as a "cult" and all the implicit negative connotations that accompany the term is risky, since it is such a subjective label. And besides, all the characteristics of a "cult" are evidenced in early Christianity: Extremist (at least in perception), living in unconventional manner under the guidance of a charismatic leader, esoteric, apocalyptic focus...With all the cults that have popped up in recent years (Koresh, Heaven's Gates, Jones), I think America assumes we own the market on all things cult-ish. Not so. Enjoy the pictur Read more:Doomsday
, Russian
Muslims Outnumber Catholics 2008-04-01 09:14:00 Catholics--1.13 Billion or 17.4% of the worlds populationMuslims
--1.3 Billion or 19.2% of the worlds populationFor the first time since the birth of Islam, the world sees a demographic shift. I find it fascinating that in the 1400 years since Islam was birthed from the revelations of Mohamed, the tide turns in mine and your lifetime.However, throw protestantism in the mix, and the scale is still heavy on the Christianity end, unless you are one of those who believes that Catholicism is an apostate, non-Christian cult. But for the two groups with a bitter history, this is monumental. Some wonder if the recent conversion and baptism of Magdi Allam is a public statement that tide may change once again.What does it mean? It means somewhere, this information has spooked someone to the point Read more:Catholics
The Confines of Governement and Christian Civic Responsibility 2008-03-27 20:23:00 Ivan came across a great post today that inspired him to overcome his apathy and write on subject that has been a splinter under his flesh for the past year or so. Up front, Ivan must enter the confessional and state that he is far from being an expert on politics (and just about everything else), so please do not quote him like King James.Before going further, it would be helpful (but not necessary) to read the aforementioned post, HERE.The topic, which will be spread out over at least two posts, of which may not be sequential, has to do with the issue of poverty/social welfare, the role of government, and the Christian
civil response. Ivan will barely scratch the surface.The Dilemma Part One: The American people (some of them) are broke. 35.9 million Americans live below the national Read more:Civic
, Responsibility
Thanks!!! 2008-03-27 20:18:00 Thank you to all who took time out of your routine to offer up a prayer for our little Gabs. Today her fever was gone and she was back to her old, lovable, sassy self (although she still has to shake the pneumonia). What good friends I have!On a another note, I am ready for Winter to realize that technically it is Spring here in Toledo. My three year old, Aylah, called me on the phone today with similar irritation and told me that she wanted to go to the beach and get water in her eyes and nose. Sounds great to me! I stepped outside tonight and got snow in my eyes and nose.
Read more:Thanks
Missionaries, Living with the Mek Tribe 2008-03-25 20:15:00 While TV is overrated, over viewed, and an overgrown jungle of commercialism, there are shows that I enjoy. In particular is a program called, Living
with the Mek Tribe
: The Adventures of Mark and Olly, on every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on the Travel Channel. Every week I look forward to the scenery, the simplicity, and the sage wisdom spewed from the mouths of the naked inhabitants of Papua New Guinea.Dig out any cultural anthropologists dictionary of dirty words, and you will discover the vile language uttered and discussed on this weeks episode: MISSIONARY. It is true, isolated cultures world wide have been eternally altered by crusaders of various religious messages. More often than not, they are credited with atrocities by anthropological academia; disease, cultural decimation, exploitati Read more:Missionaries
No title 2008-03-23 20:11:00 I haven't been able to blog recently.Our youngest girl, Gabrielle, or "Gabs," as we call her has been sick and running high temperatures. In fact, last thursday as we were letting the kids play outside while the weather was pleasant, I heard Sandra cry, "Nathan!"I came around to the front of the house and saw her holding up her little one year old body. She was unconscious, and her lips were blue. I gently shook her and called her name, but she was unresponsive. Sandra picked her up and cradled her. We saw her eyes roll back into her head and her body started convulsing in seizures. I have never bee so terrified--for the first time as a parent, not knowing what was going on, I was afraid of loosing her.Sandra told me to call 911, and the paramedics took her and Sandra to the hospital where
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Barack Obama 2008-03-18 18:00:00 The worship of political figures is nothing new. The pharaoh of Egypt was basically considered the son of Ra. Roman imerial cult elevated the Emporer to a state of divinity. Haille Sellasse is elevated (but not quite worshipped) as the Messsiah--Jesus reincarnate--in Rastafarianism.I can't help but notice striking similarities in factions and essence of the Obama
campaign. The key difference being Obama worship isn't truly believed to be divine (as far as I know, and believe me, I looked around), it is more of a secular messiahship. I don't need to recreate what it is already out there, if only for mere bemusement, or to see shining examples of Obama Worship, check out Obamamessiah. After spending about ten minutes on the site, I myself was nearly converted.Now, Obamaites, please do not be Read more:Barack
, Father
Capricious American Spirituality--the Pew Poll 2008-03-11 20:14:00 The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released an interesting report on the American
religious landscape. The blogosphere was immediately filled with responses. Ivan himself almost posted on the subject post haste, but either apathy or reluctance got the best of him.The results of the report are far from surprising: A dilluted, confused, spiritual amalgum hosted by a confused and fickle populous. Here are a few highlights:• Roughly 44 percent of American adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether. • The number of adults who said they are not affiliated with any particular faith today (16.1 percent) is more than d Read more:Spirituality
Ron Paul 2008-03-11 20:10:00 He's not out of it yet, but it would take a tragedy (like McCain succumbing to some horrific disease or catastrophic event) for Paul to see his name on a final ballot.
Read more:Ron Paul
Abortion and the Christian Vote 2008-03-06 19:39:00 Greg Boyd writes an interesting piece on Christian
ity, politics, and abortion, with the purpose of providing insight on how the Christian can engage politically, with social tact, to achieve the most productive kingdom outcome. Boyd is extremely pragmatic, which is not always a bad thing, in my opinion, but I also know that the ends do not always justify the means, and pragmatism is a slippery slope into this fallacy.I first read the article, Christians, Abortion, Politics, and the Kingdom of God, after reading a few reviews of Boyds work by another blogger. I wholeheartedly agree with boyd that Christians often go about politics in a happhazard manner, letting one key issue (in this case abortion) trump all others.Boyd's solution in this article is to compromise, which isn't easy for him.
The Rapture 2008-03-05 19:23:00 One man’s eureka moment brands him a fool in the mind of another. My Eureka moment cannot actually be fixed to a precise moment; rather, a span of time of about eight years. When my parents decided to follow Christ they settled into a wild non-denominational, dispensation-ally minded church. There my indoctrination on the rapture began and continued for the next 20 plus years.The first inkling that I may have been mislead was in Bible college. While sitting in a class on Assemblies of God History and doctrine, the defense of the premillennial rapture of the church was laid out…in about fifteen minutes. I remember thinking, “That’s it? That’s all the scripture they can come up with to ground one of their 16 fundamental truths?”In what should be a major work, I will briefly expla Read more:Rapture
Random Stuff 2008-03-01 13:45:00 I recently read an interesting blog post about Hell, so I thought I would post a picture of my dog, Oscar, who looks somewhat like a demon. Sometimes I get the impression others find my blog boring so I thought this might spice things up a bit.Last night I saw an old Seinfeld episode in which a character consistently spoke in third person ("Jimmy's new in town...Jimmy likes you too...etc.") and have decided to speak in the third person here and there in this blog. Ivan thinks it is a good idea, do you?Did you know that 1 in 100 American adults are behind bars? That's 230 million adults. Beurocrats blame poverty. Michael Moore blames a dysfunctional health care system. Last night Ivan watched 3:10 to Yuma. Subsequently he had a strange desire to rob a stagecoach to pay off his mortgage. Iva Read more:Random
A Tribute to Our Friend 2008-02-28 10:21:00 Passing from this life to the next in anonymity is an unsettling thing to me.This morning Sandra called me at work and said our neighbor, Sally Lester, had passed away on Monday, alone in her bathroom. Her sister, Peggy, who lived next door discovered the tragic scene and called Sandra to tell her the news. Neither Sally, nor Peggy have any living family, and only a handful of friends.So, I am posting this brief article so that perhaps Sally will have more than Peggy, Sandra and I, and the one family besides us mourn her passing, and hopefully a few of you will keep Peggy in prayer. Sally was a wonderful person. She encouraged Sandra and I as parents. She always praised the rehab work we were doing on our house. She loved our kids like they were the grandchildren she never had. To get to k
Separation of Church and State...Brittish Style 2008-02-23 13:15:00 When most Americans hear the phrase "separation of church and state," they regard it as a uniquely "American" conundrum waiting to be solved. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Anyone can see by my last post the need for the issue to be raised in Iran. Iran's new buddy, Russia, has witnessed Putin's reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church
as an instrument for promoting nationalism. In both cases religion has been used to accommodate a political agenda.Lately eyes turned towards England when Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, made some controversial suggestions towards religious inclusivity. To put it simply, the Archbishop, realizing the devout Muslim population in England is not only growing but there to stay, suggested that elements of Sharia should be adopted to fo Read more:Separation
, State
, Style
God Judges Those Who Oppose Nuclear Energy 2008-02-20 08:38:00 Is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei--Iran's Supreme Leader--deluded? Is his passion for God and his passion for country so overwhelmingly intertwined that he actually believes that God's fiery fist of judgment is raised and ready to crush any opponent of Iran's controversial nuclear program? Or is it just an example of a tyrant using religion to scare subjects into obedience.As reported by the Associated Press, Khamanei said, "The Iranian people openly announce that they will defend their rights... God will reprimand them if they do not do so," this in reference to the program.Whether or not Iran should be allowed this capacity is not for me to decide, nor the point of this blog (although I must point out Iran insists, as per evidence suggests, that they have no intentions of using nuclear fuel for Read more:Energy
, Nuclear
Waxing Nostalgic with the Boss 2008-02-14 17:58:00 Every so often a tune, an image, a smell, etc. comes my way that instantly transports me to the past, to a time when life was simpler. Doesn't it seem that the older we get, the more crap we have to deal with, whether it be secure employment, the IRS, or tatterred relationships? Things have changed. When I was kid, I never saw presidential candidates on Nickelodian. I just remember cartoons!Everytime I hear this song, released on Bruce Springsteen's 2007 album, Magic, a wave of nostalgia washes over me, and everything seems alright, everything feels so much simpler; if only for a few minutes. I feel like I am my son's age; five. Here are a few things that I am reminded of:I think of my mother kneeling and praying, asking God to find a beautiful godly wife for her son...it worked!I think Read more:Nostalgic
How to Vote 2008-02-09 14:11:00 Wednesday, February 6, I came across a blog of triumphant overtones. In this blog, the author detailed an arduous caucus line he endured in freezing temperatures, rain, and sleet to vote for Barack Obama. I admired his tenacity, until I read the last paragraph that explained he had endured so that he could tell his future offspring that he stood out in the harsh elements just to vote in the first black president of America.Before I go any further, allow this disclaimer: The following does not stand as any endorsement of any candidate.Besides the fact that voting based solely on the color of one’s skin is racism (Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, and Paul don’t stand a chance based on this criteria), it is stupid. Voting based solely on anything other than platform is unfair not only to Americ
It's That Time of Year 2008-02-05 18:01:00 It seems that nobody knows what Christianity is about anymore. Everyone argues about best practices, relevancy, and doctrine.…and in many cases, I am right there with them. Both sides of Christianity (liberals and conservatives) are hurling subtle attacks at each other…and again, in many cases I am guilty. Maybe at times, I’m leading the pack.As I read through the Psalms today, the contrite, broken spirit spoke volumes to me. I thought, “here, this wreck of a man, this adulterer, this humble sinner is who YHWH chose to lead a nation, this flawed man was the chosen progenitor of the Christ.And this led me to think about the season of Lent, which is now upon us. My first taste of Lent was at Trinity Lutheran School in the 5th grade. The non-denominational church my parents attended t
Apocalyptic Vomit 2008-01-30 19:18:00 A friend, Russ, asked me to put up a post about Revelation 3:15-16. Actually, my tenth semester of Greek I was assigned to translate the entire book of Revelation. I still wonder why the interim professor assigned this, because Revelation is easy (to translate, not understand). The grammar is simple, besides introducing some apocalyptic vocabulary, it really didn't stretch us much...but it did make me realize that anyone who thinks they can divine the future from Revelation is full of themselves.Either way, it is a fun book. I was going to post my notes with my translation...unfortunately, there was nothing in the grammar that really shed any new light on the subject, besides one particle I'll hit on later. So I think the focus will be contextual, and due to my time and space...brief and l
Mrs. Ivan (Big Head...Little Body) 2008-01-29 20:23:00 Before you read any of my pedantic wanderings, stop by Big Head
...Little Body, my wife's new blog. You will be hooked. You'll love her.I think that you'll see we make a great team. As I read her first post I thought, "Man, she is such a nice person." I am so critical...I try not to be in this blog, but I am. Where would I be without my wife?
Keeping it Weird 2008-01-29 19:27:00 Occasionally I read something on a blog that is worth repeating, so keep reading for repetition.I work for a non-profit Christian youth organization behind the scenes fundraising, planning, and keeping us legal. I have very little interaction with teens, which is good, because last time I spoke to a group of teens I realized I wasn't funny, didn't look to cool, and all my jokes brought waves and waves of laughter; errr, I mean awkward silence.But I do enjoy spending time with teens in smaller, more relaxed settings like I did on Monday at a local High School. We sat in the room and planned for this spring semester. The conversation turned to how "weird" these kids felt being Christians in a largely non-Christian setting. I could relate! The kids said while they know their ultimate goal is Read more:Weird
State of the Union 2008-01-28 20:48:00 As I write this blog post, president Bush is wrapping up his State
of the Union
address. At the outset of his address, Bush was clear in admitting the actual state of our Union: Shaky. He admits that the economic condition of the US is worrying Americans sitting at their dinner tables all across the nation. Thus said, Bush's address can be seen as a pep talk, so to speak.I doubt that anybody, myself included, could ever agree with 100% of what Bush had to say, or any president for that matter. I think anyone placed in leadership should be careful about publicly espousing their views, so as the director of a non-profit organization, I'll try to practice what I preach, and reserve my opinions for private conversation, lest I offend anyone who labors beside me.I do feel this was a unique add
Joel Osteen...Give Him Some Credit 2008-01-25 22:55:00 Bloggers of all faith stances love to poke fun at Joel Osteen as a fraud, a fake face, a prosperity preacher, etc.I won't lie...I have been tempted to several times, but who am I to judge? I don't know the guy; I don't have a church of 40,000 members; I don't bleed charisma. But I had to give Osteen credit after reading this article in Newsweek.Osteen could benefit from publicly supporting a candidate, and certainly 40,000 (at least...Osteen is televised) votes would benefit any candidate. But Osteen prefers to keep his political prefrences private. He claims he takes after his dad in this matter...probably so...but maybe he actually knows that Federal regulations are placed on non-profit organizations when it comes to this sensitive subject.
Pope Benedict XVI to Visit the United States 2008-04-10 10:18:00 Pope Benedict
XVI plans to make his first US visit to New York and Washington DC. The theme of Benedict's visit: Christ Our Hope. Check out his appropriate salutation...I believe this is the first of it's kind for any pope. I would guess that nearly all readers of this blog our protestant, and many feel a perceived disconnect between the Roman Catholic Church, and the bizillion protestant denominations in the US. After viewing the video, what is your reaction?
Read more:Pope Benedict
, States
, United
, United States
Florida Teen Beating and Net Neutrality 2008-04-12 10:12:00 Atrocious acts are only proliferated through gross repetition, so you will not the disturbing and widely circulated clip in which 8 Florida
teens participate in the brutal beating of their sixteen year old peer, but for sake of context, you can find the footage here.Watching the video and reading press coverage reveals that the act was absolutely baseless and at best animalistic. As the victim of pack aggression is being knocked unconscious, her attackers repeatedly call out, "why don't you like us!?" and, "come on...fight...defend yourself," clearly stupid motivation.The teens' video never made it to its intended definition, YouTube, due to police intervention, but the very fact that the intended result was mass exposure via the video networking giant, coupled with the instigation lying Read more:Net Neutrality
, Neutrality
Texas Cult, Religious Freedom, and the Law 2008-04-17 21:34:00 Everyone is blogging about the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints group in Texas
, and besides the fact that I hate to be left out of the fray, I have been following the news and am intrigued. Not too long ago I blogged about another "cult," which is more fascinating, and in my opinion, errrr...honorable? But that is a mere subjective statement.Let it be noted, as has been said by this author before, I admire the tenacity and religious zeal of various sects; however, that is not to say I agree in the least with their ideologies and subsequent practices.Thus said, on to the group under scrutiny.One must step back and consider why the group's religious privileges have been suspended and taken court: sexual abuse, a most loathsome crime. The accusations, at this po Read more:Freedom
Another day, another church...and infant baptism 2008-04-20 13:47:00 The nature of my occupation requires me to frequent different churches on a regular basis. Quite regularly I wake up early on Sunday wishing I could sleep in or relax comfortably in the pew of the church I call home. Regardless of my attitude any given Sunday, these experiences leave me delighted and dismayed at the diversity in the church, and have consistently forced me to reconsider the my own theological leanings, balancing both Scripture and tradition, which are nearly and neatly inseparable.This morning's occupational adventure brought me to Church of the Cross United Methodist Church. It was small, but nice with a mix of traditional and modern elements in the design. The worship service was a consonant treat as the organ belted out ancient hymn after hymn filled with words that
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