Thursday, October 30, 2008

About The Mike Lyons Show

Okay, so I recognize that my web site features that which may appear to be a contradiction. So, here's what iBelieve about The Mike Lyons Show.

The iBelieve portion of the web site features random slices of my religious beliefs. As the main page says, it's largely sermon notes and crap like that. It also clearly states that I don't actually expect anyone to read it.

What about the Quote of the Day? There's all sorts of inappropriateness there, isn't there? Well, maybe. First off, you should know that many of those quotes are carefully selected so as to remove any and all context, casting the original meaning into the abyss of the unknown, leaving only the precious original quote which, for whatever reason, entertains me. You should also know that the vast majority of the quotes don't come from me, and come from a variety of sources that I run across every day. Finally, I think it's okay to repeat what someone has said. I think it is wrong to misquote someone, but if they said it, it must be okay to put it in print. I'm a fan of truthiness.

Privately, I receive a little bit of protest for the attitude reflected in The Not Celebrity Not Fit Club. The general theme of these complaints are along these lines: You shouldn't judge people by their appearance. You should love people for who they are. Blah blah blah.

Look. I never said that you shouldn't love people because they are a fat tub of lard. My belief, however, is that your body is the temple of God, and therefore one should take reasonable steps to maintain it. And it's not that I think everyone needs to be fit and healthy, either. I just see our self-abuse as one of the prominent sins of our culture. We're quick to tell people that they shouldn't smoke, they shouldn't drink, they shouldn't do drugs. But how is eating a roasted chicken for breakfast any less destructive than drinking a few shots of vodka? Gluttony, you may recall, is one of the seven deadly sins.

Again, I am a fan of truthiness. If someone is unattractive, they are unattractive. It is what it is. It doesn't make that person less valuable as a human being, even if it might make them less appealing to me in my humanness.

Finally, the main blog, or as I sometimes call it, my big bucket of ridiculousness. If I ever say anything inappropriate, feel free to call me out on it! For the most part, it's just what I'm thinking about whatever is going on out there. Jesus prayed that his followers be "in this world but not of it." I'm afraid of the Christians who are of absolutely no earthly good because they are so caught up in their religious nuttery. My faith doesn't stop me from being opinionated. I'm not saying that I'm right about any of it. Yes I am. I'm right, iBelieve.

All that to say that if you can't tolerate my ridiculousness, please disrespect my unreligious nuttery in the same way that I disrespect your religious nuttery--quietly on your own blog.

Success

Poorly written notes = poorly written blog. Deal with it.

Four Ingredients of Success
  1. Consecration. To devote to a purpose with deep dedication.
    • We must be disciplined. All Christians are called to discipline.
    • We must come into the presence of God.
    • Romans 11:29 "...God's gifts and God's call are irrevocable."
    • Psalms 55:21 "His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords."
      It's not good enough to know the Sunday School answers. We must have changed hearts and changed lives.
  2. Character Formed by God.
  3. Spirit of Conquest.
    Whatever you do not conquer conquers you.
  4. Never Get Used to Mediocrity.
    We can't ever accept things the way they were. I hate to quote RFK, but "There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why... I dream of things that never were and ask why not?" That kind of thinking will lead to all sorts of crazy stuff like praying for the people that you think are going to hell instead of shaking your head at them. What? I'm just sayin...
And, what if we don't?
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." Judges 2:10