New Zune! WooHoo!
Apr 28, 2008 General
Introducing the new Zune. I had an iPod for a while, and have no regrets, but due to price, and the fact that my iPod was having hard drive issues (it was its 2nd hard drive) I got a new 30gb Zune when it went on Clearance at Target for about $120. I have a pic (on left) next to an iPod (on right) below. It is slightly larger, but then again I had this older iPod, so it was only 20gb.
Overall, it is very compatible but here are some things in favor and against (comparing to the 4g 20gb iPod):
1) Zune software STINKS! You will need MediaMonkey… (Score 1 for iPod as iTunes was good) I dont understand why they did not integrate the use of WMP, but supposedly it may be coming.
2) Zune equalizer is basically non-existent. This is something I used alot on the iPod, escpecially the “smallspeakers” setting for using small headphones, and feeling like I got some bass out of ‘em.
3) Zune is Color! WooHoo! The 4G iPod was not…
4) Zune plays video and pictures! WooHoo! The 4G iPod did not…
That all being said, neither the iPod or the Zune put out enough volume I think. I always have to crank my home system for volume. Oh well…
Overall I like it better due to the color, pictures, capacity and videos. I used MediaMonkey anyway, so that was not as big of a deal for me. I am up to about 18gb of “good” songs on growing. (Good means only those songs I like, I do not rip entire albums of b side and junk)
BTW, kudos to Amazon for selling MP3’s now! Yea!
(sorry to all the old folks who got lost on this geek post…at least I can still talk the lingo a little with the youngsters!)
Setting a pattern to follow
Apr 28, 2008 Christian
In verses 13-14, Jesus went out to John to be baptized. At this point, no-one knew Jesus really, unless they had him build them a house or a were a priest remembering him teaching them as a child. There was no big following, I presume, just another guy going to John to be baptized. He may have been even waiting in line for a while (think about that, our Lord waiting in line!)
In any case, when he gets to John, John immediately recognizes Him, and can’t understand why he would baptize Him? He thinks it should be the other way around!? Wouldn’t everybody? I think it is another key example of how even those who were prepared their whole life for Jesus coming, just did not expect what He was really here to do.
Jesus says to baptize Him, “to fulfill all righteousness”. Hmmm… That is not very straightforward on what it means on the surface, but I believe it has to do with Jesus taking the steps and being an example for us through His life. As Christians, we should be baptized as an outward sign of our salvation to others. Jesus took these same steps, and by taking the same road as us (and in most cases a much harder road to the Cross!) we can know we have a Lord who can empathize, understand and know what we are going through.
Is your sacrifice a sacrifice?
Apr 17, 2008 Christian, General
When working on the last post, I came across a mention of 2 Samual 24:24, and it made me think, so I am going to deviate from Matthew this week, and mention it. 2 Samuel 24:24a says:
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
The key part is the last part to me. Putting it in context, a plague was upon Israel, and David was going to sacrifice to the Lord to stop it. When Araunah offered everything for free, David said, “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God…with that which cost me nothing” (combined NIV and NKJ, same meaning)
It made me think. When I want to give something back to the Lord, when and what do I give? I generally give what I think I can, and when I think I can give it. I can generally afford Tithe, so it is not really a sacrifice, it is just being obedient.
So when did I last make a sacrifice for the Lord?
uh…?
(Thats why this verse made an impression on me!)
Sorry…because you should be, or because you are?
Apr 15, 2008 General
Just a quick post about something that came up in Sunday School this week.
If you are doing something wrong, or if you did something wrong, and may do it again…what the Lord (or anyone else for that fact) wants is repentance, not an apology. You can say your sorry ’till your blue in the face, and I don’t think the Lord really gives 2 cents. What He is looking for in a repentant heart. So what does this mean? It means being truly sorry enough that you are willing to make a change so that it does not happen again! HECK, even the Washington Post was able to get this right in an article (which is saying something!) on 4/28/07, “Apology and forgiveness do not in themselves imply change. Repentance does.”
Next time, before saying your sorry about what you did, how about apologizing with some truth behind it: “I’m sorry that I am probably going to do it again” Doesn’t sound too good does it? Well then take some time, think about what you did, and what you can do to change it BEFORE you act like you are repentant of what you did.
Also, if you are thinking of praying to change the circumstance to make it easier for you, how about praying for strength of character to be able to make a change? As I saw a quote by John A. Lavender, “Before you pray for a change in circumstances, you should pray for a change in character.”
Christ is Unexpected…
Apr 15, 2008 Christian
In verses 11 and 12, John talk about the coming Messiah. If you read how he talks, you can see impressions from the whole Jewish culture on how they expected the Messiah to come. Now this was John, who was “to prepare a way” for Christ, so if anyone should know what to expect, it was John. That being said, for any man, without libeties & freedom, under rule, for such a long time and a people with a history of being in captivity and slavery…it is bound to influence what they read in the scriptures and put a little spin on their expectations.
Here John talks about the Holy Spirit coming as well, and also how Christ will distinguish the unbelieving from the believers, and those unbelieving will go to hell. Though if you read how he puts it, it comes across as one that we would see as a militant leader who will rally the people, and strike down the false leaders. He even recognized Jesus (I believe through the Holy Spirit’s leading) when he came to John to be baptized in v13-17.
After that, lets just skip forward to Ch 11, v2-3, “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”. Obviously, after watching Jesus’ teaching and preaching and his humble and gentle approach, John seems to question what he knows. Jesus clears it up for him, but still the doubt is there.
I think this says a lot about us these days, as well. The world is much more attuned to a leader with a false message, than a humble servant with a true message. I think it goes back to our sinful nature that adores power, wealth, comeliness and the things of this world. That is what leadership qualities demonstrate, and that is why a true leader in the Church is so rare a thing (ala Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, etc). I think the world has a hard time accepting a Savior who provided teachings, love and a true message, and then gave himself up to die for us. In the truest sense, this is the best, most courageous, most honorable, most loving thing a man could’ve done….but it appears to the world as weak.
Jesus is unexpected, and people in the world will have trouble accepting a Christ who does not meet their worldly expectations of a leader, but make no mistake; the is POWER behind the throne, and the acceptance of what Christ did for us in the ONLY way to fulfill our needs and desires!
In the future, we should try looking at the message, and not at the leader. This will give you a better perspective on what is according to God, and not according to the world.
Speak out against whats wrong
Apr 3, 2008 Christian
In v7 Paul sees the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to him.
I read a good description of them in an article on the web, ” A perhaps-overly generalized way to think about the differences between the Pharisees and the Sadducees in the times of Jesus was to see the Pharisees as Scripturally liberal (because they added oral traditions to its commands), but conservative in politics (because they opposed the Romans); and the Sadducees as Scripturally conservative (because they rejected oral tradition), but liberal in politics (because they sought to fit in with the Romans).” They were generally presented as proud hypocritical men, who were threatened by Jesus’ teachings, and as a result in conflict with Him.
So as they came out to see him, probably to see what the big deal was (see the prior post). When John saw them coming, it was very obvious to a man of God that they were generally up to no good. He does not pay them respect or honor and take them aside to confer, as they probably would at least expect, but he confronts them in front of everyone! Why do this? I think that it may be the only way to get thru to them, and also to point out to the people at the same time, that they need to be wary of these ’so-called’ leaders of the community.
In most cases, these groups would rely on the fact that they were Jews, God’s “Chosen” people, and so they were above anything, (ala descendants of Abraham). John corrects that fact, and lets them know that your heritage means nothing! (note the stones comment!) It’s all about a repentant heart, and if they dont have it, they better get it fast, or they will be “de-throned” like a tree being cut down.
I could see how John’s teaching in this would encourage the idea of a Messiah that is a more militant leader, who is going to take charge and lead changes and the people. Even John seems confused later on when he sends his servants to ask Jesus if He is the one, though when Jesus shows to be baptized, there is no question. I think everyone (Jews) was confused with their perception of the Messiah they had built up in their minds over the years.
In any case, it was obvious that the Sadducees and Pharisees were in the wrong here, and it teaches us to speak out against that which we know is wrong!
